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cerys-scribbles · 1 year ago

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we save each other

Halsin x F!Reader Wordcount: 2.4k When Orin takes Halsin, you are determined to get him back - no matter the cost. Warnings: blood, injuries

The temple of Bhaal smells of damp stone and blood.

It’s oppressive—the weigh of stone all around, the scent of old and new blood, the whispers, and the sense of being watched. After the nautiloid, the shadow curse, and the assault on Moonrise, you thought no place could truly rattle you.

You were wrong. Because this temple is wrong. And you want nothing more than to leave it.

But can’t. Because Orin took the one thing she knows you can’t lose.

“Come on,” you whisper to the others. Shadowheart has a hand on her weapon; Gale looks thoroughly unsettled; even Lae’zel appears uneasy.

When you enter the temple, you see the altar. Orin is standing over it, her hand caressing the side of his broad face. Your heart lurches in your chest at the sight of him bound and unconscious.

“Halsin,” you breathe.

Orin lifts her gaze to yours and offers the kind of smile normally seen on skulls.

You have little memory of what follows after that. You snarl a challenge, bring up your weapon, and then all the hells seem to break loose. Gale is snarling spells, Shadowheart whirling as she parries blow after blow, and Lae’zel charges through the ranks of Bhaal’s faithful like a battering ram.

But your eyes are the on the altar.

You fight alongside your companions until you can reach him. Then you’re at his side, a knife in hand.

“Halsin,” you say urgently. You touch his cheek, trying to rouse him.

He must have been drugged. You can think of no other way that Orin could have taken and held him. At the urgent sound of your voice, his eyes flicker open. He seems to be making a great effort to drag himself to consciousness. His eyes are glazed, his lips soundlessly forming your name. You set your blade against the ropes and saw through the bindings around his wrists. “I’m here,” you say. “You’re all right.”

It takes a moment for him to find his voice. “You came.”

“Of course I did.” The ropes are infuriatingly thick and you drag your knife back and forth, fraying them. “You had any doubt?”

There is a moment’s hesitation, and it has little to do with his drugged state. He did doubt, you realize. He must have thought he would die down here, sacrificed like so many others. A fierce protectiveness wells up within you. When you’re both free of this place, you are going to tell him precisely how loved he truly is.

The ropes give way and you free his wrists, trying to rub blood and sensation back into his hands. He begins to sit up, but you press him down. “Rest a moment. Then we’ll—”

You feel the impact first. It’s like being hit with a rock—but then comes the chill and the utter wrongness of it.

Halsin’s eyes widen. All of the drugged lassitude falls away from him and he rolls over, his ankles catching on the bindings. His hands reach for you. No, not for you—you realize—but for the dagger protruding from your chest.

One of the cultists was invisible and he came up behind you. You turn, raising your weapon to try and defend you both, but the world tilts sideways.

You can’t collapse. You have to keep him safe. You have to free him.

You fall. There is the distant sound of an animal roar, the clashing of steel, and the smell of coppery blood.

Then, nothing.

Halsin has seen many beautiful things in his long life—the golden hue of dawn creeping across the old forest, the rarest of flowers blooming in moonlight, the sharp cut of lightning across a stormy sky.

But none of those sights compare to this. To her.

She kneels down beside him, as though the chaos all around them is nothing. A knife flickers between her fingers and she begins to free him.

She came for him.

Part of him had hoped—no, he had yearned—to see her again. But Halsin has long been a protector, not the protected. He learned to fend for himself at a young age. Her rescue of him from the goblins was a welcome surprise. After Aradin fled, Halsin thought no aid would be coming. But she did come for him—not just once, but twice.

He should have known better than to underestimate her, he thinks, as her hair falls around them both. She frees his arms, and then she is massaging circulation into his sore hands.

Gentle, always so gentle. So caring. He has never met anyone with such a gentle heart. It’s why he fell in love with her. And he does love her, even if he has not found the moment to tell her yet. There were always other priorities—the shadow curse, the tadpoles, the missions. There would always be time later, he told himself. But then he was kidnapped, and he realized belatedly how precious their little time together has been. He should have told her everything: how he treasures their conversations, how beautiful she is, how her kind heart is a rarity.

And now she is beside him, hope blossoming between them. Once they are free of this place, he will tell her everything.

But then a cultist appears and drives a knife through her back. She makes a small sound, as though the breath has been taken from her. She looks more confused than pained, and when she glances down, it is with a line between her delicate brows.

“No!” The word is yanked from his lips. It is a raw and agonized denial. A plea.

When she falls, it seems to take an eternity—as though time itself cannot bear to see her injured.

A fury such as he has never known howls through him.

The animal takes him and he welcomes the change. The ropes binding his legs snap, and Halsin lunges for the cultist. Bone and muscle give way between his jaws, and he tastes fresh blood. Another cultist lunges and Halsin kills him, too. Everything is a blur of adrenaline and fear and violence. He has rarely allowed the change to take him so thoroughly, but right now animal fury is the best weapon he possesses.

Once the cultists have been driven back, Halsin looks back at her.

She lays on her side, hair fallen across her face. She needs the man, not the beast. With a great effort, he changes back. It feels wrong; his instincts are screaming that he needs to be the bear to protect her.

“Stay with me, love,” he whispers, kneeling beside her. He turns her over, taking her gently in his arms.

His magic is sluggish; his body is still fighting to rid itself of the damn potions that kept him docile.

“Oak Father,” he murmurs, pressing his hand to her wound. “If you only ever answer one of my prayers, let it be this one. Please, give me the strength to save her.” His throat tightens painfully. “And if I cannot, keep her safe until we can meet again.”

He spell takes hold. Her flesh slowly knits back together, but he doesn’t release the spell. He needs to ensure that the internal injuries will heal, that she will not bleed from within.

He pours all of his magic into her, every last bit of strength he has. And when that runs out, he simply holds her.

All around him, the room has gone silent. Orin lays dead, a sword wound in her chest. Lae’zel flicks her blade free of blood with a contemptuous snarl. She snarls a curse in her tongue, and even if he cannot understand it, Halsin agrees completely.

“How is she?” Gale rushes over, kneeling by Halsin.

“I don’t know,” Halsin replies. “But we should get her someplace safe.”

They retreat to a place called the Elfsong Tavern. Gale explains that they took rooms here, and while it is no forest, it’s more comfortable and safe that sleeping on the city streets. Halsin eases her onto a bed, sitting back so that Shadowheart can work. Her spells reinforce his, and her brows draw tight as she murmurs a silent prayer. Halsin tries not to hover, but he will not leave. He cannot leave.

When Shadowheart finishes, she sits back. She is breathing a little unsteadily, having spent much of her own power.

“Well?” asks Astarion. He lingers in the doorway, looking a bit like a stray cat that cannot decide if he wants in or out. “Will she survive? Or do we need to resurrect Orin so Lae’zel can kill her again?”

“She needs time,” says Shadowheart. “For the spells to take, for her own body to take up some of the healing.” Her gaze meets Halsin’s. “She’s past the worst of it, I think. You managed to keep her from bleeding out back in the temple."

Halsin bits down on his lip. He should have been able to do more. If he had not been drugged, that wound would have been healed in a matter of moments.

She came to rescue him, and she nearly paid for his life with her own. The thought makes him feel sick to his stomach. “I’ll stay with her,” says Halsin, settling at her bedside.

The night passes slowly.

The others come and go. Astarion stops by with more blankets while Wyll ducks out to buy more healing potions. Shadowheart urges Halsin to bathe, promising to watch over her in the meantime. He goes, if only to scrub away the blood and the smell of captivity. He changes into clean clothes and returns to his beloved’s bedside.

She sleeps fitfully. Sweat beads at her brow and her eyes roam beneath her lids. “My heart,” he murmurs, taking her hand in his. “Rest easy. You’re safe.”

Finally, near dawn, she wakes.

She tries to speak, but it comes out dry and raspy. “Just a moment,” says Halsin, reaching for a pitcher of water. He pours a small cup, holding it to her lips. She looks as though she wants to protest that she can sit up and drink on her own, but her arm shakes. Her fingers still curl around his, as though to maintain an illusion of control. But when she’s finished drinking, she looks exhausted.

Halsin lowers her back into the pillows, rearranging the blankets around her.

“What happened?” she asks. “Did everyone make it out all right? Are you hurt?”

Of course she is more concerned with the others than herself. “Everyone made it out,” he says.

She reaches for one of his wrists. There are still red marks where the ropes rubbed his skin raw. “You haven’t healed yourself.”

He turns his wrist so that he can take her hand. Hers are so much smaller. “You needed the magic more.” She frowns at him, as though she wants to protest. Halsin smooths her hair back with his free hand. “Sleep. You should rest.”

She closes her eyes and leans into his touch. “What about you?”

“I’ll meditate in a little while,” he says.

Her frown deepens. Then she shifts in her bed, making as though to sit up. He places a hand on her shoulder. “What are you doing?”

“Moving over,” she says. “Or, trying to.” She pats the place beside her. “Please. The bed is more than big enough for both of us. That chair looks terribly uncomfortable.”

It’s true. This is one of those large, goose feather and linen affairs.

He bites back his protests—that he doesn’t wish to harm her by accident, that he doesn’t need sleep. Instead, he carefully lays down beside her. She lets out a small sigh, and curls into him.

She feels so small beside him. So fragile.

“I thought I’d lost you,” she whispers. “When Orin came to me and said you’d been taken.”

Halsin wraps an arm around her. He had wished to save this for a time when she is well, but he has wasted far too much time already. “I feared the same.” He takes a breath. His heart pounds with uncertainty, but he needs to say it. “When you were injured... I realized how much time I have wasted. There are things I want to tell you."

She lifts her gaze to his. “You can tell me anything.”

His hand cups her cheek, thumb stroking back and forth. "I love you.” He feels her go still but he forces himself to continue. “I should have said so before, when the nights were calmer. When we might have stolen away for a few hours to ourselves. When we weren’t in a city on the brink of war. But even if the words have come too late, I have to tell you that I love you. You are a wonder and even if you don’t feel the same, I want you to know.”

He half expects her to pull away. But instead, she snuggles closer. “You should have said something earlier, it’s true,” she murmurs. “Or I should have been brave enough to say it first. One of us should have spoken up sooner.” She kisses his hand, and the touch burns through him. “I love you, too.”

Joy fills him. It has been years since he felt such unbridled happiness—there are no demands on him, no responsibilities other than this. He will keep her safe, ensure that she comes through the coming battles alive. “We will live through this,” he murmurs, pulling her close. “I promise you that. And once you are well…”

He hears the smile in her voice. “What are we going to do?”

He kisses her hair. “Many things, my heart. Many, many things.”

When you wake, you’re still in Halsin’s arms.

It is like sleeping near a fire, but not unpleasantly so. You’re cozy beneath the blankets, his arms around you and your face turned into the pillow. You feel a little dizzy, a little giddy. You can’t quite believe that Halsin is beside you, that he loves you as much as you love him. You can’t help yourself; you snuggle closer.

The moment you stir, he rouses. “You’re awake.”

“I am,” you say. Your voice sounds a little rusty from sleep. “How long have I been out?”

“That does not matter. You need the rest,” he says so firmly that you cannot protest. He smooths a hand over your forehead. “No fever, that’s a good sign. How’s the pain?”

You gingerly touch the bandages around your chest. There’s a deep ache, but you know it’ll fade with time. “Not so bad.”

“You’re staying in bed for a few more hours,” he says. “The others are out shopping and collecting information on something to do with rescuing Wyll’s father.”

Your heart lurches. You try to sit up. “I need to help—”

“You will,” he says, gently pressing you back down into the mattress. “But you must recover first. I’ll speak with the others, and don’t fear, my heart, when we go out to rescue Duke Ravengard, you’ll be there.”

That mollifies you a little. You know he wouldn’t lie to you, even for the sake of keeping you safe. “All right.” Your stomach gurgles loudly and you flush.

“And I’ll see about breakfast,” Halsin says, smiling.

He begins to rise from the bed, but you catch his hand. “Hey.”

Halsin looks back at you, a question in his eyes.

“Thank you,” you say. “For taking care of me.”

His face softens. He kneels beside the bed. “Thank you. For always rescuing me.”

You kiss him—and it doesn’t feel like the first time. It feels natural, like slipping into a comfortable shirt. You both fit together perfectly. “We rescue each other,” you whisper.

End

#halsin #halsin x reader #halsin x tav #baldur's gate 3 #bg3

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luimagines · 10 months ago

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Mr. Blue Sky

Another commission!

A small look into the idea of what it would be like if Sky got a hold of the Four Sword and then split- but I had to focus a little more on their favorite color. not because they asked, but because I know them. XD

Masterlist

Content under the cut!

This was… interesting to say the least.

You had managed to get separated from the group after a particularly nasty landslide. Items were thrown about, people were buried and you had taken cover in a cave with Hylia’s Chosen Hero in a split second effort to get out of the way of the falling mountain side.

You were both stuck in the darkness until you took out your lantern. You consider yourself lucky that you still had your pack strapped to your back.

“Hey…” You crawled over to Sky. He was face down in the dirt and unmoving. It was unnerving.

“Sky.” You grabbed onto his shoulder. No reaction.

“Link.” You shook him. He groaned.

You let out a sigh of relief and all but collapsed onto yourself. “You ok? Anything broken?”

Sky pushed himself up, keeping quiet for a moment before he put a hand to his head. “No, no. I think I’m fine. Just a little turned around. Where are we?”

“I think we got buried under the mountain.” You answer, holding your lantern a little higher. “I don’t know where the others are. They might still be outside.”

Sky sits up and looks around. “Any way out?”

You shake your head.

“Great.” Sky rolls his eyes and forces himself to his feet. Instinctively, he tries to reach for the Master Sword that should have been strapped on his back, but he comes up empty. In a moment of panic, he looks around the rubble, spinning in a circle to see if he can find his beloved blade.

It’s nowhere to be found.

Instead a familiar blade lays near the once entrance. The ribbon on the hilt is a dead give away of who it belongs to. The Four Sword lays innocently on the ground, half buried by the dirt and rock that had fallen minutes earlier. You walk over and pick it up, treating it gently. You still have your weapon, since you kept everything in your pack so you have no use for it. But you can’t leave it behind.

Sky looks concerned even though he says nothing. You hand him the sword. It’s much smaller by comparison and certainly much smaller than he’s used to, but it’ll have to do. There’s not a lot of options.

“We need to move.” You say gently. “I’m sure the sword is fine. I think you actually gave it to Warrior before the landslide. We’ll need to keep this safe when we meet up with Four again. Smithy would like to know that his sword was safe too.”

Sky makes a face but takes the sword, strapping it to his back. “I know you’re right. But… I hate being underground.”

You pat him on the shoulder. Holding your lantern higher, you offer your hand to the young man. “We won’t be here forever. Let’s just keep moving ok? At best, the others are already trying to get us out of here. Knowing some of them… Bombs are definitely on the table. So let’s get away from the entrance.”

Sky takes your hand without question and nods. “...That’s a good idea. I don’t feel like being blown up after everything.”

You laugh and lead the way through the cave.

It’s dark and damp and uncomfortable. Despite the amount of room you both have to walk around freely, you find yourself shoulder to shoulder with your hands tightly held together as your sides are virtually glued together. It’s almost as if you’re both afraid to make any more noise than soft padding of your footsteps make in this cave system.

Where you’re from, many monsters live in caves such as these, but you have yet to see anything like that during your travels around Hyrule. Then again, this could be the moment where you’re proven wrong.

You tug on Sky’s hand. “Did you travel a lot underground during your adventure?”

“I’ve been underground before.” Sky answers. His normal volume sounds like it echoes along the walls of the cave. He quiets himself to a whisper. “This isn’t exactly anything new…. But when you live in an open area for your entire life… the sudden restriction is… stifling.”

“Are you claustrophobic?” You run your thumb over his knuckles.

“Wait a second, what does that me-?”

A creature screeches and turns the corner in front of you. You gasp and hook your lantern onto your hip, reaching for your weapon. Sky is the same, reaching for the Four Sword on his back.

He charges first and strikes the beast in the neck. You trip over your feet and follow up just a second later. It’s hard to see with the non existent lighting. Your lantern swings erratically and fails to do a proper job for lighting the way. You strike the monster in what you hope is the shoulder after making a swing at Sky. It turns to you with a speed faster than you could have anticipated and a limb of sorts knocks you off of your feet.

You hear Sky cry out in anger and a white light suddenly blinds you. You’re stuck on the ground for a few seconds before you hear… multiple Skys.

You get up and can barely see the creature fighting off a small group of people. For a moment you think that part of the group has arrived to help you out, but your dimmer lantern light tells you a different story.

You charge into the fight. Glimpses of the sailcloth dyed in different colors, passes your vision and lantern light as each individual dances through the battle.

Frankly, the battle doesn’t last long with the added hands but you’re left wondering what on earth happened. That bright, blinding light was unexpected. And who are these people then? Who came to your rescue?

You unclip your lantern and hold it higher to get a better look in front of you. Your jaw drops.

Sky is still there, he’s looking just as confused as you feel. But suddenly there’s four of him.

“I think I figured out why it’s called the Four Sword.”

“No kidding.” One of them sneers. He’s in a blue tunic with the same blue eyes that you’ve grown accustomed to seeing on Sky. “Well isn’t this just great! We’re trapped under a mountain, separated from the group, it’s pitch black and we have magic shenanigans happening at the moment.”

“Woah, hey, calm down.” The first speaker walks up to the other one. He’s dressed the most similar to the way Sky was before he apparently split, but he has green eyes. “No need to get ourselves worked up. This can work to our advantage.”

“I have to be honest.” A third Sky speaks up. He’s dressed in purple but the lantern light makes it harder to tell the color of his eyes, but you can guess that they are violet to a degree. “I don’t want to think about it. Why don’t we focus on getting out of here first?”

“Agreed.”

“And how, pray tell, do you intend to do that?” The blue one snaps.

You open your mouth to answer him, reeling from the information and the sight in front of you.

The fourth one starts coughing, cutting everyone off. You turn to him in concern. You notice that like the other three, he’s dressed in a different color. He wears a red tunic and as you approach him, you notice that his eyes are red as well. It’s off putting and it startles you. You’re used to red being the equivalent of danger- but if anything, it sounds like he’s struggling to breathe.

“Uh oh-” The purple one walks over to him. “You need to calm down too. Deeper breaths. Easy.”

“What’s happening?” You ask, holding the lantern closer to the poor man. You can see him struggle to keep the air in his lungs, despite his attempts to listen to his copy. The man in purple, rubs the other’s back, trying to fish through his pockets with one hand. You can see him struggling.

In an instant the other two beside you scramble for your light also looking through their pockets. They seem to bump into each other and they nearly run you over in their… enthusiasm. Is that what you would call it?

The one in red coughs harder. The way he tries to suck in oxygen rattles you to the bone. It’s a wet snapping noise that causes goosebumps to crawl all over your skin. It’s unnatural. He’s clearly struggling.

“What’s happening?!” You repeat louder. Your heart begins to beat quicker and you can feel the way your anxiety spikes at the lack of information.

“Hold on.” One of them says, you can’t tell who.

Suddenly, someone comes up with a rather large green item and gives it to the one in red. “Eat this.”

He does.

He begins to calm down and slowly, he starts to regain his breath. It sounds as if he was on the verge of drowning on dry land.

You’re shaking. Your nerves feel shot. “What the heck was that?”

“Stamina Fruit.” They slowly stand again. “It helps me catch my breath and keep going.”

“I’m… sorry…” You lift your lantern higher again. “I can’t tell which one is speaking.”

The one in green lifts his hand. “It’s a good thing I still have a few. Otherwise this was going to be a painful ten minutes.”

The one in red slowly pushes himself to his feet with the help of the purple one. He raises a hand and waves him away. “...Sorry… I’m ok now…”

“Are you?” You ask again, clutching your hand over your heart. That was a terrifying few seconds. Granted, nothing had really happened. But between the sounds he was making and the lack of information you were given it was hard to keep yourself calm in what was clearly growing to be a moment of decisive action.

He coughs some more, still not answering you. You turn to the others.

“He’ll be fine.” The purple one tries to placate you. “While I haven’t been that bad in a while, there are ways to help with it. Even if there was no stamina fruit left, it could have also just been waited out until it all calmed down again.”

You gulp. “That would have been nice to know before we got here, Sky.”

“Well that hasn’t exactly been a problem for a while now.” The one if blue growls. His foot is tapping and his arms are crossed. “This is dumb.”

The green one turns to him. “I don’t care for your attitude, you know-”

“How do we fix this?!” He shouts, ignoring the other one entirely. “This is just going to make things harder! I think even our inventory was split between the four of us.”

“You’re scaring me.” You say on instinct.

He shuts up in an instant.

The green one smacks his head with the curve of his wrist while the purple one puts his hand on your shoulder. “Come on. Keep your sword on you. I can carry the lantern. We can’t stay here. There might be more monsters. Besides, the sooner we can get back to the others, the sooner we can hopefully track down Four and ask him how to get back into one person. Given that this is his sword and we haven’t seen this ability of his yet, he must know how to undo it.”

“...Ok..” You hand him the lantern. You’re already tired. This is too much information for your brain to handle right now. Between the landslide, the darkness, the fight and whatever was happening with Sky in the red getup- you’re ready to end the day. And it’s only 2pm, you’re sure.

Purple guy takes the lead, holding his sword out with the lantern held high. Greeny and Cherry follow after, arms around each other for support as he tries to catch his breath even more. Blueberry stays behind with you, putting a hand on the small of your back as your now group descends through the cave system.

You try to not think about the way his hand feels against your body. You’re not even sure why he’s doing it. You cough to clear your throat and try to be as quiet as you possibly could. You wouldn’t want to alert any more monsters within the cave- or get on his nerves. Frankly, he still looks pissed.

Eventually, after an agonizingly long five minutes, he removes his hand and walks beside you, keeping an eye on the other three from behind. You hear him sigh and huff but not say anything else.

You decide to be a little brave, now that his hand has been removed, and poke his shoulder. “You ok, buddy?”

“...This is stupid.” He growls.

You try to not flinch and pull your hand back. “It’s… just what it is at the moment. It’s not like this was planned. I didn’t know the sword was capable of that either.”

“Hm.” He kept walking, taking your arm gently before you could trip over the rock on the cave floor beneath your feet. You have no idea how he noticed that. You have no idea how you missed that. The blue one takes another deep breath before, pausing, keeping you by his side. He turns to you. “Are you alright? All the commotion with the attack and I didn’t bother to check up if you were hurt. I thought I heard you fall.”

You blush. “No, no- I’m ok. I got my feet knocked out from under me but you distracted the thing before it could turn on me. Then you blinded it with that weird light from the sword so I got back to my feet fast enough. I didn’t thank you for that yet.”

He waves his hand, taking yours before gently pulling you along to catch up with the others. They’re the ones with the light after all.

“Don’t thank me for that. I think it only made things more complicated.” He pouts, putting his free hand on his hip. His demeanor looks upset but the way holds your hand tenderly tells you that he’s actually quite calm. You’re getting mixed signals.

“Only in the way that I don’t think I can keep calling you Sky for the time being. I think it’s actually increased our chances of survival until we can catch up with the rest of the group.” You try to smile. “We’re going to need new nicknames for you while we have these circumstances.”

He groans. “I don’t even want to think about it.”

“Blueberry.”

“Absolutely not.”

“Night?” You try again with a giggle on your lips.

He gives you a deadpanned look. “Really? Was Twilight not enough then?”

You snort. “No, no! It works perfectly! Greeny can be Dawn! Cherry pie can be Noon! Purple guy can be Dusk.”

“No.” He doesn’t seem too thrilled by your idea. “That’s too corny.”

“Oh come on! It’s cute!”

He doesn’t reply.

“Alright! The other names it is then!” You cheer, patting his shoulder. “I’ve got this all figured out. Don’t you worry ‘bout a thing.”

“I’m worrying about the thing.” He replies, seemingly biting on his tongue to keep the smile off of his face. That’s what you’re telling yourself at least.

You open your mouth to call out to the other three before his hand comes out and covers your mouth. You go fight him off playfully, but something in him changes and you’re pulled against his chest, his grip on your tightens and he pushes you both against the wall.

“Shh..”

You stop struggling as primal fear sets in. You’re a second from kicking into your fight or flight mode, ready to throw him off of you when you hear it. It’s big. It’s heavy and you can’t see it at all.

Slowly, it walks towards you and Night tenses up besides you. He keeps your mouth covered and moves so that his body is on top of yours.

“Stop moving.” He whispers close to your ear. “I’m sure it can hear us better than we can hear it.”

You stop and wait. The air is tense. You’re sure you can cut it with a knife. You realize then, that the light ahead of you- is gone. Either they’re too far ahead or they realized it was coming faster than you and snuffed out the light.

Something huffs and you can feel the air pass over your head. You curl in closer to Night.

Neither of you make a sound. You’re too afraid to even breathe.

Another huff and then it starts moving away from you, shaking the cave as it goes. Step after step, it seems to move away from you and you feel as if you can breathe again. A moment later, Night relaxes and gets off of you.

“Sorry.” He whispers, running his hand over your head. “Are you ok? I didn’t hurt you, did I?”

You shake your head, before remembering that he wouldn’t be able to see it. “I’m ok. You just took me off guard.”

“I didn’t exactly have a lot of time to warn you.” He admits before trailing his hand down your head, over your shoulder and down your arm. He takes your hand.

In front of you, you can see your lantern light be lit once more.

You take a breath and move towards it, desperate to be able to see where you’re all going. “We need to get out of here.”

“We can keep going this way.” The one you’ve now dubbed as Dawn points up ahead. “We can follow the tunnel and hopefully figure the way-”

Something explodes in the distance and you can hear frantic, and frankly, upset yelling coming from very familiar voices. Dawn deadpans with a tired smile. “Or we can follow the yelling and meet up with the others finally.”

“I like that idea better.”

#linked universe #linkeduniverse #linked universe x reader #lu x reader #lu sky

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sanjisboyfie · 5 months ago

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๑ keep safe : navarone - g8 (31)

one piece x male reader

『 prev 』

in their speedy getaway, conis and her father were acting as their guides to the proper exit from the sky islands.

“everyone! we can see it now! if you look forward that is cloud end!”

a bunch of the crew members ran forward to the head of the ship, ooh-ing and aah-ing at the gate that was approaching. it looked like a grand castle, a rainbow right behind it and a very obvious sign saying that it was in fact cloud end.

“i wanna come back here again,” [name] announced, his chest puffed out, “it’ll be so fun to take the trip up!”

“that’s to say if we even can,” nami gave him a swift reality check, shrugging her shoulders, “it was hard enough to find the current, who know-”

“no negativity!” [name] cried out, putting his hand in the air to silence her, “who knows? maybe that old man with the monkeys will lend us a hand again,”

“who knows is right, i guess,” nami said, smiling softly when she looked to the side and saw conis, pagaya, and suu running alongside a fluffy clouded lane to keep up with merry. “at least we’ll get to see them again if we do end up coming back!”

“ah, that’s right!” [name] ran to the side of the railing and rapidly waved his arms, “suu! next time i visit, you better introduce me to more sky foxes! i wish i could take you with me!”

conis laughed at his childish remarks that reminded her of the first time they met. suu jumped into her arms, using his long nose to create sounds of excitement to reach [name]’s ears.

“well then, everyone, i’m sorry! we’ll say goodbye here!” pagaya shouted as he ran along.

“take care, everyone!” conis added.

“thanks for seeing us off!”

“take care of yourself, conis-chan!!”

“remember our promise, suu!”

very quickly, the crew scattered across deck to prepare for their departure. unfurling the sails and standing on alert, they were all prepared for their ride down.

“it’s like a rollercoaster!!” [name] shouted as he held onto the railing of the fast cloudy lane they were riding, “it’s a shame that it ends-”

he cut himself off and rubbed his eyes. he blinked a couple of times and squinted to really focus. and then when he realized his eyes weren’t playing tricks on him, it was already too late.

the cloudy road that they were gliding on was just to set them off to prepare for their journey downward. because in a second’s notice, the cloudy road disappeared beneath merry and they began free falling.

“you gotta be shitting me!!” [name] shouted, his eyes practically popping out of his socket at the sudden drop. the rest of the crew was in the same conditions they were shocked at the sudden free fall.

but just as quick as it started, everything was seemingly back to normal. after face planting back onto the wooden floor boards of merry, the crew was able to see that an inflated octopus had caught them. and as they were gliding through the air, the familiar ringing of the golden bell could be heard throughout the skies.

hearing it from so far away made [name] somber up and realize that they really had left sky island for good, this time. he smiled softly, looking up at the white sky and relishing in the chimes of the bell.

as the sun began to set, [name] slumped on the railing of the ship, using zoro as his pillow as he got a fulfilling sleep for himself. zoro was napping first, so he didn’t notice that [name] was using him for such reasons, so [name] dodged an earful of a lecture with that.

and just as he happily sleeping, there seemed to be a ruckus happening on board. when he blinked open his eyes from their previous sleepy state, he heard sanji yelling and the rest of the crew looking over the side of the railing.

“what’s going on?” he asked in a groggy tone, making zoro slap him on the head and force him to stand upright by his collar.

“what’s going on is that we’re going to die,” zoro growled in an annoyed tone, shoving [name] forward and making him see what they were witnessing.

“huh, guys the octopus is smaller,” he said, pointing to their method of transport, “you guys didn’t think of doing anything about it?”

usopp quickly moved to hug nami’s waist and arms to prevent her from attacking the tall man.

“shut the hell up, you absent-minded idiot! we’re seriously going to die if we don’t do something about it soon!”

“don’t worry, i’ll save merry!” usopp bravely shouted, equipping himself with some sort of suction shoes with his rope belt (the usopp aah-aahhh-ah) and jumping off the side of the ship.

sanji and luffy crashed back onto the deck and everyone was watching to see what usopp had in store. at this point, merry was falling faster and faster with each passing second.

for a moment, their rapid descent was paused. usopp had done something that saved the ship, but it only lasted for a couple of seconds. because soon after, the octopus shrunk down to its original size and they were falling at an even faster rate than they were before.

“shit, there’s nothing we can do now,” [name] grunted, looking at the blue sea that they were getting steadily closer to, “everyone, grab onto something, and hold on tight!”

instinctively, chopper, usopp, and nami threw themselves onto [name] and held onto his torso. he chuckled, wrapping his arms around them and holding onto them as tight as possible. bracing for impact, he was able to keep them as safe as possible and steady on deck. their crash onto the sea floor was harsh, but he was prepared and unbothered when they did hit the waves.

“at least we made it down here without dying,” luffy said with pure relief and happiness on his face. he thanked the miniature octopus that landed on top of his face with a smile and the rest of the crew couldn’t help but agree.

at least none of them were dead.

but their relief was shortlived since blaring lights were turned towards merry, from all directions. [name] shielded his eyes at the feeling of all the lights blaring down at them and tried getting his vision to adjust as fast as possible.

bells starting going off too, sounding like an emergency signal, and [name] was now standing upright with his shoulders square and stiff. then he finally saw it, the emblem of blue that was flying from a flag not too far away.

“shit,” he cursed, grabbing his sword that had landed a couple of feet away and ripping up some floorboards, and throwing it under and hastily putting the wood back on top, “of all places,”

“what? what’s happening?” nami asked, swiping her wet hair to the side and shielding her face from the bright lights with her hand, “why are you freaking out so much?”

“because, we landed right in the middle of-”

“resistance is futile! we have you completely surrounded!!”

the crew all stilled and looked out to see a bunch of soldiers standing all around them. they seemed to be in the position of holding rifles in their arms, prepared to shoot at the given command. and that’s when it finally clicked what [name] was referring to.

“in the middle of a fucking marine base.” he finished, slouching as he realized that resistance could truly be futile.

“come on, guys, let’s go,” he said, nudging their shoulders and forcing them to pay attention, “i’ll create a diversion and then we can escape,”

“and leave merry here! in the hands of these marines?!” usopp cried out, immediately going to say no.

“we aren’t going to leave her here, we just need to run off for now-”

“running away? i never thought your style was to run with your tail in between your legs when times got rough, [name],” zoro teased, a smirk on his face as he rested his hand on the hilt of his sword.

“it’s not idiot marimo, i just know when to use my head!” [name] whisper yelled, “you wanna go and fight all those trigger happy marines, don’t be my fucking guest because i won’t let you, idiot!”

[name] ran inside, got some bandages from chopper’s medical bay and hastily wrapped them around his face.

“i’ll create a diversion, everyone split up and run. they won’t do anything to merry, she’s just a ship with no one on it. if anything, they’ll just keep her right where she landed. but we — wanted pirates, have to beat it,”

“hey, [name], why do we have to run?”

“i’m not answering anymore questions!”

“he’s unfortunately right, escaping and splitting up is the best option for survival,” sanji added in, “also the smartest choice…”

“thanks, sanji!” [name] grinned, glad to hear someone finally agree with him. “i’ll create a diversion, everyone jump ship and we can swim to shore from here,”

“what if you can’t swim?!” chopper asked, wildly waving his hand in the air.

“pair up with someone that can or i’ll throw you,” [name] easily answered. “now, there’s no time to waste,”

without waiting another second, [name] clenched his fists and ran to the side of the ship. the others immediately jumped off, thinking that he was kicking them off, but in reality he was just trying to get closer to the water.

“fucking marines,” [name] scowled under his breath, clenching his fist and watching as the waters became even more rough. he grinned devilishly, licking his lips as he felt sweat drip down his forehead. “i hope you all drown,”

with a swift tug of his arm, the water beneath merry kicked up and formed a tremendous wave. the marines all looked at the sudden formation of water with shock and fear, especially those that were stationed rather close to the ship. and they all panicked and ran away when they saw that it was sweeping towards them. even those that were on high ground weren’t safe as the wave grew to be at a tsunami level height.

the commanded wave chased the perimeter of the shore line and as far as it could go up, reaching any and all marines that it could before dying down.

and when the marines were finally able to focus back in on the ship, they saw that it was completely deserted and there was no one on board.

the strawhats all split up from jumping off board.

nami, luffy, sanji, chopper, zoro, and [name] were all stranded on their own whilst robin and usopp stuck together. they were all scattered on different areas of the shoreline, some further inside of the marine base than others, but ultimately: on their own.

pirates stranded in a marine base.

[name] could almost laugh. he took off the sopping wet bandages off from his face, wringing them out along with his shirt. he sat down on the rock, stretching and spreading his legs out as he was deep in thought.

he ran a finger over his wet hair, wincing at the uncomfortable feeling.

“i can’t go in there all wet,” he sighed in annoyance, laying his shirt and bandages out onto some nearby rocks to dry. “best to wait it out until i’m all dry then,” he said in a sing song voice, happy to take another nap.

he laid down onto the stone path with his hands resting behind his head and ankles crossed over the other. he bathed in the moonlight, thinking of his plan of action. well, obviously, he had to murder every single marine he came across.

just kidding! not unless they find out who he is, then maybe he might have to.

he woke up from his nap at the break of dawn and became keenly aware of where he was. he put his shirt back on then went to wrap his face with the now dried bandages that were laid out the night before.

“i wonder where everyone else is,” he hummed in thought, easily infiltrating one of the nearby doors, “what role should i play? maybe i could be a pathetic little buss boy? or should i instead be an asshole vice admiral visiting from another base? hehe, i like the sound of that one the most. that way i’d get my fill in bullying these assholes,”

just as he finished speaking, a singular marine had walked around the corner and into his chest. they were several inches shorter than him, making him crane his neck down to peer down at them.

“hah?”

“AGH!! a ghost!!”

before the marine could run away from fear, [name] went and caught him by the collar of his shirt and pulled him back. holding him like a stray puppy, he smirked at the look of fear on the marine’s face.

“i can tell, you’re nothing but a newbie,” he taunted, “you got that scared look on your face, your knees are practically shaking. aw, you poor thing~”

“ghost!!!” the marine cried out once more, making [name] grin in happiness.

“yes, that’s right, i’m a ghost. i’m here to haunt you for all your wrongdoings!” [name] continued on, playing on the “joke” the same joke that was scaring the poor marine shitless, “now take me to the kitchen — i’m hungry!”

the marine blinked a couple of times before nodding. good thing that this marine was a scared piece of shit since [name] was able to scare him so easily. he smirked at the way his legs were shaking and he was practically trying to collapse in himself. all that just by a couple of words and the bandages wrapped around his face.

“are we on the grand line?” [name] asked, squeezing the marine’s shoulder to knock him out of his daydream.

“y-yes…”

“what’s your name?” [name] asked, curiously leaning down and closely inspecting his features. he was a young kid, probably only a little bit older than luffy, and had freckles decorating his face. his hair was light brown and a bit on the shorter side, or at least that’s what it looked like underneath the cap he was wearing.

“i-i’m rengen, but everyone on, or all of my comrades call me ren…”

“like a nickname?” [name] asked, loosening the grip he had on the man’s shoulder and letting him walk freely.

“i guess…?”

“that’s cute, i like it,” [name] said, “i also like your freckles, they remind me of someone,”

“oh, that’s nice…” rengen said with an unsure look on his face, unsure whether or not to be flattered or not from the comment. not to mention, the fact that it’s coming from someone so scary looking.

maybe underneath the man’s bandages, he was more friendly looking. at least that’s what rengen would tell himself to ease his own fear. with the bandages on, he sure looks scary…

“what happened to your face?” rengen asked suddenly before turning completely red, “i’m sorry if that sounded rude, b-but it’s just very…”

“scary?” [name] teased, purposely getting close to the man’s face to scare him even further. and it worked seeing as he backed away with sweat streaming down his forehead.

“that’s not what i meant!!”

“i got burned,” [name] lied, looking ahead and backing off from the marine. “you know, if you plan on being a marine, you gotta grow some balls in facing things that are scary,”

“i know,” rengen sighed, looking ashamed in himself. and [name] wondered if it were normal for people to be so affected by a stranger’s words.

“i was just joking, i’m sure you have balls of steel, man,” [name] said, clapping his hand roughly on the marine’s back to “comfort” him. it did anything, but, and only made the marine more anxious.

“i’m sorry, sir, but what exactly is your ranking? you’re not wearing a uniform…” internally the marine was sweating bullets due to how scared he was. the person he was talking to could possibly be one of the strawhats, the crew led by the deadly captain straw hat luffy.

or worse, it could be the crewmate worth even more than the captain: the cursed orphan [name]. the idea sent shivers down his spine. stories of that pirate had been whispered across many different naval stations and he had only heard horror stories of the marines that have fought [name] and survived — which were very rare.

encountering someone with a bounty that high made rengen almost pass out in fear.

“i’m actually apart of a secret unit, ren,” [name] said casually, crossing his arms over his chest, “the commander is supposed to announce my presence tonight, but i thought that i’d scope out the base myself to see how everything is holding up. let’s just say, i report under vice admiral garp himself and have been sent here to question your commander,”

“question commander jonathan? what did he do that required investigation?” [name] supposes the name drop of the marine hero garp was enough to clear any suspicion.

“that’s classified information, ren,” [name] said, putting his finger to ren’s lips and pressing softly against them, “now, no more questions — show me the kitchen,”

”right away, sir,”

“i like how obedient you are, you’re definitely gonna make a great do- soldier, a great soldier,” [name] cut himself off before he naturally insulted the man, smiling sheepishly underneath his bandages at his slip up.

“thank you, sir, i appreciate your input and will remember it moving forward,” rengen echoed like a machine, but the shy and bashful look on his face showed just how sentimental he felt.

[name] genuinely smiled underneath his disguise, finding the look on rengen’s face endearing and adorable. it reminded him of chopper, a little bit. whenever he complimented the doctor, he would immediately blush and then spout some insult. but instead for rengen, it wasn’t insults and just an automated, flustered response.

and rengen was good company for now. the marine was so new to his position and was an easy push over. he would definitely be good to get some information out of.

as far as [name] was concerned, all he had to do was fake it till he made it. if he acted with authority and with a brash attitude, then there was no way that the soldiers would defy him. he hummed in thought, thinking back on some memories to remind himself on how to accurately act.

“you got a cigarette?”

“uh, no, why?”

“i just thought it’d be funny to smoke now is all,” [name] grinned, shrugging his shoulders in thought, “wouldn’t it make me look cooler anyway? unless, i of course, clumsily got half of my clothes set on fire,”

“uh-”

“forget it,” [name] pouted, waving his hand in the air.

“sir, this is the kitchen,” rengen announced, pointing towards a door before hastily stopping [name] from entering, “the thing is, jessica-san doesn’t let anyone enter the kitchen unless it is a specific feeding time. the batches go in a hundred at a time and no one is allowed inside in between that time…so you have to wait, sir,”

[name] put his hand under his chin in thought, humming at the new information. it’d be smarter to wait until mass amounts of soldiers entered the dining hall so that he wouldn’t seem suspicious, but he really was hungry…

“ren!! didn’t you hear?! there’s going to be a cooking competition!! come on, if we go inside now we may be the lucky ones fed!”

“a cooking competition?!” [name] repeated, stars in his eyes. “let’s go, men!”

“hold on-!”

[name] didn’t let rengen finish his sentence as he tugged him along with ease and barged into the kitchen with no remorse.

“sir-”

“food!!!” [name] cheered, but his words were drowned out with a bunch of other people shouting for food as well. he could perfectly blend in here! “man, i miss sanji’s cooking…” he pouted, pushing his way to the front so he got a front row “seat” to the mass amounts of food that was being prepped and served.

”jessica-san’s cooking is just the best, though!” a soldier beside him moaned, hearts in his eyes that made [name] think of the lovesick cook.

“i know someone’s cooking who is definitely better,” [name] smirked, but his expression was hidden underneath the bandages.

“no way!! if you were a true marine of the G8 base, you’d appreciate jessica-san’s cooking the most!”

“like hell i do, sanji’s cooking is the best!!”

“order for 100 soldiers done and ready to be eaten!!”

[name] turned to the table that had a multitude of plates with steaks and vegetables on top of them, free for them to eat and take. [name] swiftly unraveled the lower part of his bandages, allowing his salivating mouth to break free and eat to his heart’s content.

“yummy!!” he cried out into the air, eager to see what the other chef was cooking. he finished about 20 plates, making some of the marines curse him under their breath, but he could care less.

he was just eagerly looking around to see who was behind the stove and cooking their next meal. unfortunately, even with his height as an advantage, he wasn’t able to see exactly who. they were wearing a chef’s hat, but their back was turned to him.

to not focus too much on his still empty and hungry stomach, he just looked at the table and waited for the plates to magically appear before him. finally, after what felt like hours (it was a couple of minutes), plates full of meatballs and vegetables were placed in front of him and the rest of the marines eagerly awaiting.

the moment the food hit his tongue, he looked up in glee. a fond smile was on his face as he locked eyes with sanji, who’s eyes widened in surprise to see [name] hunched over the table and eating almost all the servings of the food he prepared. the rich flavored and meticulous crafted food was only possible by the hands of sanji. that’s how [name] knew he was the one who made the food.

“i knew it was your cooking,” was all [name] said before smiling so wide that his eyes turned into crescent moons. and he finished thirty plates, making the marines almost throw their cutlery at him in fury. then he turned to the marine he was bickering with earlier, smirking down at them, “see, i told you i knew someone who was the best chef in the entrire world!”

“eat shit! you finished all the food before i could even try, asshole!”

“blehhh!” [name] said, sticking his tongue out at the individual and turning away. when he turned back around to give compliments to the chef, who he was going to pretend he didn’t recognize, his face was met with the sight of a mug being shoved in front of him. “huh?”

“a cup of coffee, to quench your thirst,” sanji said, smoothly blowing out smoke and nonchalantly looking away. he was pretending as if it wasn’t a big deal, to not alert anyone of suspicious activity.

“i love chefs who know just exactly what’s missing in my meals,” [name] said, boasting his role perfectly to their small audience, “i should bring you back to my headquarters base where i’d make use of your full potential,”

sanji rolled his eyes at [name]’s grandiose words, not impressed at all. he only shoved the mug into his hands and walked away, back to jessica to hear her observations of his cooking methods. as he stood before her, his eye trailed back over to [name], before blinking at the sight of an empty spot where he once stood.

‘that idiot is gonna get himself caught,’ sanji thought to himself, shaking his head at [name]’s behavior, ‘and honestly, what a shit disguise,’

a grinning and pleased [name] ran out of the kitchen with his face re-bandaged, “now that my stomachs full, time to get things done around here!”

“s-sir!! where are you going?!”

skidding to a halt, [name] whipped his whole body around and his face contorted into shock to see rengen was following him. running after him, even.

“oi, newbie, don’t come following me — i’ve got important business to attend to,” important business, meaning finding the rest of his crew and merry and then escaping.

rengen took a deep breath before bowing deeply, “it would be an honor to see such a high ranking individual such as yourself in your element of expertise, sir! please allow me to shadow you until you meet with commander jonathan!!”

[name] blinked at the request, wondering if this was any bit normal. marines never acted this way, from his memory. all the bases and headquarters he has been in — they’ve only ever acted in their dirty, scheming ways. like all marine dogs did.

rengen was so new to this lifestyle he hadn’t yet developed that behavior. it made [name] grin in pleasure, “have you ever thought of becoming a pirate?”

rengen flinched at the question before his face turned red, “no way! i hate pirates, they’re the scum of the earth and the marines have a responsibility to purge them off the face of the world!!”

“i share the same sentiment!” [name] lied with a laugh, finding his resolve and strong hatred interesting. he nodded in “agreement,” and added on, “good, that was a test to make sure you’ve got what it takes to shadow me,”

rengen breathed a sigh of relief, running a hand over his face in stress, “sir, please don’t test me so suddenly, you scared me,”

“there we go again with you getting scared,” [name] teased, turning around and walking back in the direction he was originally going in.

“you’re right, sir! i’ll be more mindful!” rengen said, taking mental notes as he ran along [name]’s side.

“and also remember this — in the world we work in, fish is the best source of protein to exist!”

“yes, sir!!” rengen echoed, an unreasonably determined look on his face as he shouted in agreement.

“and that it’s only possible to work when you have a full stomach, working on an empty stomach is out of the question. how do you think you’ll be able to purge the pirate scum off the face of the earth? on an empty stomach?!”

“no, sir!”

“good, ren, you’re a fast learner!”

“i’m happy my notes are to your liking, sir!”

“and quit calling me sir!!”

“but…i don’t know your name-”

”who said you had the right to know a high ranking commander’s name?!” [name] was really enjoying this role, it felt like just a big joke. too bad rengen thought it was all very serious and almost buckled in the knees at the feeling of being yelled at by his superior.

“i’m sorry, sir!”

“no sir!”

“then, your name?”

“no name!!”

“understood!”

“good!!!”

[name] dragged rengen around the base, eagerly turning every corner in hopes of finding at least one of his other crewmates. through his journey he kept feeding rengen completely wrong information, for fun, and also just to see if rengen was taking him seriously.

his search was cut short when there was a sudden alarm sounding off throughout the entire base. rengen flinched at the loud sound and hid behind [name]’s figure and nervously looked around.

“that means all the soldiers have to be with their units! that must mean they finally caught the strawhats!” rengen shouted, looking at [name] with newfound hope, “please look out for my performance in unit 88, i plan to capture those pirates and make commander proud!”

[name] almost wanted to coo at how naive the poor marine was. if only he knew he was conversing with a strawhat the entire time. instead, he just gave him a thumbs up and a confident, “you can do it, rennie! i believe in you, capture those pirates and make fools of them! maybe i can bring a good word to admiral sengoku and he will promote you!”

rengen blsuhed, waving his hand shyly in the air, “if that were to ever happen, i’d be very happy to serve under you! that’d be an amazing promotion — i’d get to learn from you directly when you work on the field,”

[name] smiled softly, nodding his head, “definitely!”

poor rengen…truly if only he knew.

“now make me proud and catch that cursed orphan piece of shit! i know you have it in you, ren!”

“i will try my best!” he shouted, with low confidence but nothing but determination painted on his face.

and the two parted ways, making [name] eager to find the rest of his crew and get the hell out of there. he began humming in thought, wondering where his crew might be running to. logically, they’d be going to merry, so he would just do his best in getting to the docks in time.

he could only hope someone was watching over luffy and zoro. the dumbass gets distracted too easily and zoro was shit at directions. he ran through the halls of the base, skidding to a stop when he passed by a grand room full of books.

“oh, i bet robin would love those!” [name] grinned, going inside and looking around, “should i steal some for her?”

“what do you think you’re doing?! state your name and purpose?!”

a hoard of marines, who were probably answering the emergency call, came from around the corner and were pointing their weapons at him.

“[name], stealing some books,” he answered easily, tilting his head to the side as he stared at their guns. “think fast,” he ordered, giving them about three seconds to react.

they just blinked dumbly at him before simply raising their rifles up in the air to shoot.

”please, think faster than that.” he said with a deadpan expression. but before they could fire, he simply moved his arm in a horizontal manner and the entire unit was sent flying to the direction he moved his hand.

they were slammed against the metal walls and all passed out at the brute force.

“what a barbarian you are, [name],” a familiar voice called out, making him turn his head around in relief.

”robin! you already found the library! i was gonna surprise you with some more books,” [name] childishly pouted, his shoulders slouching inward at the realization his surprise was ruined. she chuckled at his expression and disappointment, walking forward and ruffling his hair. he was leaning down a tiny bit, giving her easier access.

“then, to the docks, right? i assume the others are already there,” [name] nodded in agreement with her plan, laughing in glee with the way their path to merry was so clear. he guessed that all the other marines were too occupied with actually catching the others, none of them were on watch in the hallways like before.

“we better hurry or we might miss them!” he called out to her, grabbing her hand and running at full speed. she was able to keep up with ease, laughing behind her hand at his eagerness to escape.

“that’d be terrible — we’d be at the marine’s mercy wouldn’t we?”

“as if i’d let them do anything to us,” he laughed, as if it were a funny joke.

despite the high stress situation, he was still able to so freely laugh. robin liked that about [name], such an innocent trait to have coming from such a supposed terrifying figure.

“come this way, [name], i know a way to make it to the ship quickly,” robin advised, tugging [name] in the direction she was referring to with their still conjoined hands.

“aye, aye!!”

after they made it to the edge of one of the doors, they were able to spot merry sailing on ahead.

“assholes, they were really going to leave without us,”

“well, only one way to stick it to them,” robin chuckled, sprouting a long “vine” of hands to swing them towards merry. he grabbed ahold of her, hugging her figure with all of his strength so he wouldn’t fall.

“robin-chan!!!” the familiar calling from sanji was the first thing they heard, followed by, “shit for brains?! get your filthy hands off of robin-chan, now!!!”

they landed with ease, luffy crashing into [name]’s torso with a carefree smile as nami hugged robin when the older one revealed a map of the fortress that she stole.

just as their escape was going to be near perfect, nami soon realized one thing. they were missing all the gold that they had stolen.

“[name] turn the ship around and get us back into that base, now!!”

“oi,” he slapped the air with a deadpan look on his face, “that’s such a long journey, i can’t do that. if you want me to sink a couple navy ships, sure, but turning merry around and travelling all the way back with waves alone — impossible.”

“how does that make any sense?!”

“it’s something called: limitations to one’s own strength, nami. god, if only you were more considerate of my health,” he sighed in disdain.

“the gold is on the line, idiot! i don’t give a shit about your health right about now!”

“oh, but when i get into a life threatening situation again, then what will you feel?”

“i’m about to put you in a life threatening situation if you don’t listen to me, idiot,” nami threatened, with a calm look on her face as she waved her fist in the air. [name] understood what she was insinuation, zipping his mouth shut to not get her really beating his ass.

the travel back to the marine base all relied on nami’s navigation skills and the current underneath their ship. [name] helped when he could, but he’d have to take frequent breaks to save himself from passing out in fatigue.

finally, the crew was able to come up with a plan that seemed plausible in working. merry was anchored in an unused deck, idea creditted to robin, and trying to come up with a plan for after they got their gold. it was decided that they really weren’t going to leave without it.

“we’ve got to have 80% of the gold go towards my stash though,” nami said, breaking up the discussion of what they were going to spend the gold on. obviously, everyone immediately rejected the idea. so she calmed them down by telling them the truth of what they were really going to use the 80% for.

“repairs for merry?” luffy echoed, eyes wide and blank like a deer caught in headlights.

“yeah, after all, we’ve made so many memories with merry. it’s only right that we fix her up so that she can continue sailing with us!”

[name] grinned, liking the idea. he could tell from the looks on their faces, they were recounting all the good memories they made with and on merry. and he hadn’t been on merry for a super long time, in comparison with the others, but he felt himself smiling as he thought of how important she was to the crew.

a ship that could sail into the sky and come back down wasn’t any ordinary ship. merry was perfect for the strawhats and all their crazy adventures. repairing her only sounded right.

“the going merry’s great repair! i like it!” usopp said, happily throwing his arm around [name]’s shoulder and rocking the two of them back and forth. [name] smiled, cheering to the idea in agreement.

“anything to get her to be brand new, i’m sure she was even more beautiful when you guys first got her,” [name] grinned, “as everyone says — money can indeed fix everything,”

“[name]’s absolutely right,” nami chimed in, beris in her eyes as she thought of what she could spend her portion of the gold on when the time comes.

“here, eat up. they took all of our food, but not the stuff that was in the fridge,” sanji interjected, placing a large plate full of the crew’s personal favorites in front of them. at the sight of a small section of the plate dedicated for [name], he lit up immediately and dug in. suddenly, as he was chewing his food, he felt sanji put a heavy hand on the top of his head. “sorry to tell you this, shit for brains, but they stole all of our coffee beans,”

[name] frowned, cursing the marines in his head and adding that action onto the list of reasons as to why he hated them. but, seeing as what’s done is done, all he could do was sit there and grumble. he also forced sanji to take a seat next to him after he was done catering to the crew. he easily yanked the cigarette that was resting in his mouth out and stomping it out. then he pressed his share of the food against the chef’s lips.

“eat,” he simply commanded, rolling his eyes at the familiar stubborn look on sanji’s face. “eat.” and he didn’t pull away the food until sanji took a hesitant bite, smiling at the sight of the chef eating.

after settling on what they were going to spend their gold on, they had to figure out how they would get the gold back and where it would be hidden. with a simple observation from robin, they were able to deduce where the gold would be (a multi-lock vault that was deep within the fortress) whilst usopp got prepared on how to prevent merry from being stolen again.

he called for the crew’s help in giving merry a makeover, which lasted until the late night. they worked tirelessly, [name] and luffy sometimes goofing around with the buckets of paint. but, at the end of their hard work, it turned out to be a solid plan since she was almost unrecognizable. she now was masked by a bunch of wood and paper to look like a marine warship. but the illusion only lasted from afar.

chopper, who’s fur was covered with some splotches of paint — courtesy of [name] and him playing around, looked amazed at the transformation and eagerly asked when they would set their plan into motion.

usopp broke down the plan of action with ease, but unfortunately did not include either [name] or chopper in it. there were going to be two teams: the gold retrieval team and the waver retrieval team. zoro, usopp, robin, and zoro were in the former whilst nami and sanji were in the latter.

“chopper — someone needs to watch the ship and be on stand by for whichever group comes back first. [name] — you’re too well known amongst the navy, if they really catch sight of you, they might just be too focused on capturing you.” usopp explained, but it only made chopper more disappointed hearing the reason.

“aw, you care about me that much?” [name] teased, batting his lashes at usopp.

“eh, no, it’s more like, if they’re focused on capturing you, they’re focused on capturing us which could turn this whole mission into unsuccessful really fast. at least if you’re not there, they won’t be in a particular rush in killing us on the spot!”

“oi.”

“usopp is partially right, too much attention focused on you could ruin the whole sneaky part of the plan. once we get that gold, we’re gonna be under the spotlight, but until then we need to remain overt,”

“oh, so you’re bringing luffy for an overt mission,” [name] reiterated with an unimpressed look on his face.

“his abilities of being an idiot, and rubber, could prove useful in escaping,” nami said with a wave of her hand.

without arguing more about it for the sake of time, everyone split up and left chopper and [name] on merry on their own.

“i should make some more medicine!” chopper announced, trying to find something to fill his time. “at least i’m not here alone like last time, i’m glad that you’re with me, [name]!”

“i’m glad i’m with you too, chopper,” [name] grinned, “also could you imagine if they ambush us — they’re gonna have to deal with the two of us as the protectors of merry! they’re gonna be so screwed!”

“so screwed!” chopper repeated, an uncanny evil laugh escaping his lips as he proudly stood atop the deck with his hooves on his hips.

“they’ll be put to death on the spot!”

“put to death!” chopper mimicked, holding his arms up in a karate motion as he chopped the air threateningly.

“man, i’m bored already…” [name] sighed, the liveliness of his voice going away almost immediately.

“me too…” chopper joined in, slouching onto [name]’s lap with a dejected look on his face. [name] pet his fur gently, smiling at the youngest strawhat with a fond look in his eyes.

“it’ll be alright, time will pass by faster than you think,” [name] comforted, “until then, how about we play a game?”

“a game? what kind of game?”

“have you ever heard of…chopsticks?!”

when nami and sanji were the first to return, they saw chopper and [name] sitting face to face with one another with a pissed off look on both of their faces.

“i have hooves, how on earth am i supposed to win at this game?!”

“you’re the smart one, you should have come up with a strategy, chopper!!”

“there’s no strategy that would make me win when i’m at a clear disadvantage!”

“well, that’s not my fault then, that’s nature’s fault! don’t blame me!”

“you bastard!”

“raccoon dog!!”

“oi!! what the hell are you two fighting about so loudly?!” nami shouted from her waver, “have the others not come back yet?!”

“no, they haven’t, you two are the first,” [name] replied, walking over to the edge of the ship, throwing a glare over his shoulder at chopper, “and to answer your question from before: chopper is being a sore loser in this game we were playing, can you believe it?”

“hey!!”

“i actually could care less,” nami sighed, waving her hand, “sanji stay with these two, i have a plan in mind, but i need you to stay here.”

“oh, but—”

“no buts, stay here and wait for the others while i do what i need to do!”

“okay, nami-san!!”

sanji jumped on board with nami riding her waver far, far aaway. [name] came running over to him with a devilish look on his face, “wanna play chopsticks?”

when the gold retrieval group came back to merry, usopp quickly informed them of the new plan. nami and luffy went to find the gold themselves, since the vault that they went to investigate came out to be empty. the others of the group were sent back to merry to prepare it for their escape.

upon nami’s request, they were told to set it out to sea and wait for their arrival with the gold. they seemed confident in its location this time, which made the rest of the crew breathe a sigh of relief that their struggles at the marine base might finally be over.

“it was fun to pretend for a while,” [name] sighed, kicking his feeet up against the railing as he laid on his back on deck.

“what do you mean, [name]?” robin asked, “were you perhaps in disguise too?”

a flash of anger could be seen on usopp’s face as he remembered the events that played out between him and robin inside the base.

“a little bit, i tricked a newbie marine into giving me all the information i needed by saying i was some high ranking commander. he was definitely new to the whole thing because he didn’t even question me that much, just answered all my questions like a good little boy,” [name] said, fondly rememvering the nervous wreck that was named renegen. “who knows, maybe i’ll stick it to him one more time before we go,”

“do you just enjoy tormenting innocent people?” robin asked, finding the giddiness of [name]’s behavior interesting.

“no marine is an innocent person,” [name] shrugged, “besides, me and him are bestest of friends, he just doesn’t know it,”

“imagine his shock when he finds out you’re the wanted cursed orphan, though,”

“he probably screamed in anger since he seemed to hate pirates so much,” [name] laughed, imagining the man’s face, “i wish i’d been there to see it,”

“oh, hold on guys! i see them! they’re coming towards us … and they have the gold!!” usopp announced from his bird’s eyes view.

“perfect, let’s get sailing away and merry fixed up then!” [name] said, jumping onto his feet and ready to follow nami’s orders.

the two made it onto merry with little to no problems, safely storing away the gold and the waver before joining the others on deck. nami wasted no time in commanding them to escape, enjoying the way their escape route was plainly laid out for them.

[name] was about to rejoice before he felt that something was terribly wrong. he held onto his stomach, running over to the side of the ship and puking his guts out. chopper, the overly concerned doctor, thought that there was something wrong with the way [name] healed from skypiea, but in reality it was just his body reacting to the water around them.

“nami, there’s something wrong!” he wheezed, holding onto his stomach as he felt like he was going to be sick again, “the currents up ahead…it’s like they’re-” he cut hismelf off with another bout of puking.

nami took his warning seriously, thankfully, and ran ahead to the front of the ship. seeing that the below waters were completely out of control, she looked up in fear.

“we’re about to be stuck in a couple of seconds, goddamit!!” she clutched her hair in worry, “the water is sinking back because it’s about to be low tide too, the bottom of merry is going to encounter some really jagged rocks!”

“what?! what?! what do you mean?!” usopp parroted, looking extremely worried when it came to merry’s condition.

“it means that there are rocks at the bottom of this lake and they’re all about to be exposed since the water is treading back,” [name] replied, standing upright and standing at the front of the ship with nami, “this is really bad. everyone, brace for impact!!!”

they did as told and then merry was sent into an impromptu rollercoaster ride. she shook back and forth, making the crew move with her until she came to an abrupt stop. inspecting the bottom of the ship immediately, they saw hat she was in terrible shape.

“ha, how much gold is it gonna take to fix all that?” [name] said, kicking the broken wooden pieces aside with a sad look on his face, “poor merry, don’t worry girl, we’re gonna get you back to being brand new soon!”

“well, now that we’re stuck here in the enemies perfect line of sight for blowing up, what should be our next plan of action?” usopp, the ever optimistic individual, asked in exasperation.

“i could bring back the tide, but i doubt that’d be helpful with how many holes are the bottom of merry. we’d just sink.” [name] suggested with a frown. nami went over and pinched his earlobe, bringing him down to her height.

“why didn’t you bring back the tide when it was receeding, idiot?”

“do you know how much effort it is to command sea water — nevermind commanding seawater against its natural current of sea water-”

“is that not what you do when you-”

“there’s no point arguing now, let’s just think about how to escape,” robin said, breaking up the two like the responsible individual she is, ��especially with all of them watching now. our escape has to be quick and sure or else we’ll really die,”

as robin said that, the lines from the mountain range surrounding them all turned on and pointed at merry. it was obvious all soldiers were on standby for a quick command to blow the ship up, but for some reason the commander was withholding said command.

he announced to the crew that he wouldn’t have any qualms with allowing the rest of the crew to walk away scot-free, save for [name], luffy, and zoro, who had active bounties on their heads.

but, obviously, surrender wasn’t even an option. luffy wouldn’t allow it, zoro would definitely fight against it, and [name] laughed in the face of it.

so the crew retreated inside and began theorizing plans. with the help of usopp’s impact dial, it was possible that they could have an chance of escaping. but when they realized that there was no point in setting it off if they were just going to crash straight back down.

“if only we had that octopus,” they all moaned in disappointment.

“oh, luffy, you told me you hid it in your pants, do you still have it?” [name] asked, looking to his right and at the grinning captain.

“i have it!”

“oh, he says he has it.”

“he has it then.”

“he damn has it.”

“so, he has it.”

“perfect, he has it!”

“he has it?”

“yeah, i have it!”

cue everyone looking at luffy as if he were crazy, but they were quick in realizing that, for as weird as it was for luffy to hold onto it (in his pants of all places-), it was a situation to be thankful for.

“and if we mix the breath dial with the flame dial, we will be able to inflate him and make him fly!”

“so you do have a working brain,” zoro teased, pressing his finger into [name]’s forehead, where it was very swiftly swatted away.

“so, the plan is we use the impact dial to set us up in the air, robin uses her powers to stretch it out to be across the ship and down the underside, then we use the dials to inflate it…the question is, who is going to shoot the impact dial?” usopp asked, looking around with a scared look on his face.

scared since he saw all the looks everyone else was giving him. grins and stars in their eyes as they knew they were going to be unscathed from handling the dial and that usopp was definitely going to be the one pressing it.

“how about you, [name]? wouldn’t you help your poor crewmate out?”

“usopp, have more faith, you can do it!”

with that weak cheer encouraging him, usopp accepted his fate and everyone got in position to prepare their escape. luffy, zoro, sanji, [name], and usopp were all down at the bottom of the ship with the impact dial. nami and robin were on standby with the still deflated octopus. chopper was in the crow’s nest acting as lookout.

and now all that was left was to execute.

with a quick countdown, to prevent usopp from chickening out last second, they pressed the impact dial down onto the bottom of the lake and shot the merry upwards.

[name] took the brunt of everyone’s weight falling onto him, but didn’t think it as anything hard to handle as he easily shoved everyone off of him.

“did it work?!”

”hold on!” nami called back, before she was ordering robin to spread the octopus out with her devil fruit. after that was done, they were able to blow the air and flame dial upward into the octopus as if he were a hot air balloon.

“c’mon, usopp, one more,” [name] grinned, “i know you got it in you!”

“i really don’t!” usopp groaned, clutching his hand in pain.

“we’ll be here to support you, usopp-sama!” zoro egged on, carrying the man’s frail body to the same slot they were positioned at before and preparing for the impact dial to be set off.

“you’ll feast like a king after this, usopp-sama,” sanji added on, smirking as he got ready and braced for impact.

[name] hugged the sniper’s waist, grinning as he rested his chin on his shoulder, “on the count of 3?”

“3 . . . 2 . . . 1 ! impact!!”

and merry was sent soaring once more, the four being sent flying backwards at the impact. they quickly scrambled up onto the deck to see if it worked, cheering in glee when they saw the view of the ocean beneath them.

their plan worked, the gold was back on board and all of the crew came out of the marine base relatively unharmed.

“perfect,” [name] breathed out, looking back at the base with a grin, “suck it, shit marines. i win again!”

“quit your babbling, idiot,” zoro sighed, covering his ear with one hand.

“oh, zoro, did you miss me while we were seperated,” [name] teased, latching himself onto zoro with a pout on his face. “it’s okay to be honest to what your heart is telling you,”

“my heart is telling me to kill you, so fuck off,”

“zoro, you’re playing so hard to get. keep up this attitude and i’ll lose interest~”

“lose interest faster so i can finally get you off of my back, you fucker,”

“what a way with words, zoro, i could just eat you up!”

“oi.”

inside the g8 marine base, a certain recruit clutched a certain wanted poster in his hands with his head hanging low. rengen looked at the face of the poster once more before hiding his blushing red face behind his hand.

“idiot,” he murmured to himself, crumpling the wanted poster up and throwing it to the random corner in his room, “idiot, idiot!”

he threw himself onto his pillow, but it didn’t do much in hiding his crimson red ears that clearly showed that he was still blushing. he himself didn’t know if he was calling himself an idiot or if he was accusing the man on the wanted poster for being an idiot.

either way, [name] — the cursed orphan with a bounty on his head of two-hundred fifty million beri a, new recruit of the strawhat pirates — was the reason he was a blushing, cursing mess.

fortunately, the man himself didn’t know that so his ego didn’t get boosted up even further.

『 prev 』 ˗ˏˋ꒰ 🌊 ꒱ 『 next 』

taglist (lmk if u want to be tagged ! <3 :

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#≡;- ꒰ ° keep safe series ꒱#ks #one piece x male reader #one piece x reader #x male reader #x reader #male reader #one piece male reader #one piece imagines #male reader imagines #anime male reader #one piece fanfiction #one piece fanfic #male reader fanfic #male reader fanfiction

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imagining-in-the-margins · 2 years ago

Text

Fast Car (S.R.)

Summary: Reader drives a sleepy Spencer home. Request: Dr. I Cannot Drive Spencer Reid trying to convince reader to drive him somewhere Couple: Spencer Reid/GN!Reader Category: Fluff Content Warning: Driving Word Count: 700

MASTERLIST

The Virginia backroads seem longer at night. Most of the world is sleeping and you are wishing for the same, but your bag is heavy and still sitting on your desk.

In the dim lighting of the closed bullpen, you look over at the only other one left. The same man who had offered you a ride to and from work… but was now slumped over, half-asleep on his desk.

You can’t find it in you to be bothered when he looks so sweet—a little bit pathetic with his bedhead and pouted lips—but sweet, nonetheless.

He doesn’t lift his head when you approach him, but he does whine. He shifts like he can turn the desk into the bed he wishes it was.

“Come on, wonder boy, it’s time to go home,” you chuckle.

“Five more minutes,” he grumbles.

You don’t dignify the protest with an answer. Instead, you slowly pull his chair back until he must move.

He does. He groggily pulls himself as together as he can, but it’s you that carefully arranges his hair back into its normal state of disarray, giggling all the while.

Spencer’s face turns pink at the gesture, but he tries to hide how fondly he feels.

He fails, of course. You can see it clearly in smitten eyes that scan your face for any hint of reciprocity. You wonder if he can see it, since you feel it so strongly.

If he does, he doesn’t mention it. He just clears his throat and asks, “Do you… do you think you can drive?”

“Why?” you ask in a very rhetorical manner, “Is something wrong?”

Spencer answers, anyway.

“I’m fine, I’m just really tired. I didn’t sleep well last night, and driving is… exhausting. There is so much to pay attention to, and I don’t want to do any of it.”

“I know,” you coo. You place both hands on his cheeks and squeeze until his yawn turns back into a pout. “Poor sleepy boy can’t do two things at once.”

“It’s way more than two things!” he squeaks.

You smile. You recognize the rant coming from a mile away and decide that no matter how much you love to hear him talk, you’d rather hear something less morbid. Even more importantly, you’d like to hear it on your way home.

“Spencer, not only am I happy to drive, I would prefer it,” you explain.

His offense is immediate as he replies very sternly, “Hey! I’m a very good driver!”

“Oh yeah?”

He catches the smirk on your face; he knows you’re only teasing him. But his competitive nature bleeds into his voice as he huffs, “Better than you!”

“We’ll see about that.”

He accepts the challenge. Or at least, he pretends like he does until the wheels start turning.

It takes him less than five minutes to fall asleep in the passenger seat. You think about waking him just to tease him, but you ultimately decide to let him sleep.

You watch the road but wish that you could watch him instead. You listen to the soft sound of his breath through the ruckus of the road beneath your wheels. You think back to the taunt you’d delivered back at the office.

When you’d mentioned your preference for driving, you hadn’t meant it as an insult. You had simply meant that you liked how peacefully he slept in your company. You loved the way he never doubted that you would keep him safe.

It hadn’t mattered to you who would bear the burden of watching the road; any amount of time, no matter how infinitesimal, would be worth whatever the world requires.

Your foot eases off the gas pedal as you reach a long stretch of road. There are no headlights in your rear view. It’s just, Spencer, and the Virginia night sky unimpeded by city lights.

The car almost comes to a stop before a pothole. You maneuver around it, careful not to jostle the sleeping boy to your side.

For as long as you can, you drive under the speed limit and watch twice as hard for anything that might excuse you to take just a little bit longer.

The car coasts down the road.

Spencer had never slept better.

(Tell me what you thought about this fic here!)

#spencer reid #spencer reid fanfic #spencer reid fanfiction #spencer reid fluff #spencer reid x reader #spencer reid x y/n #spencer reid x you #spencer reid self insert #spencer reid blurb #spencer reid imagine #spencer reid x self insert #spencer reid/you #spencer reid/reader #criminal minds self insert #criminal minds fanfic #criminal minds fluff

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cottoncandyswisherz · 1 month ago

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nick sturniolo x male!oc

warnings: suggests abuse, mentions of abuse, alcoholism mentioned, meet cute

CHAPTER ONE:

The backseat is cramped. The boxes that hold what little life I have left are stacked in the backseat and trunk. I’m 16 years old and all I have to show for it is 12 boxes. I guess that’s what you get when you’ve been a foster kid since you were eight.

8 foster homes, 3 hockey teams, 4 tattoos, and one innocent father later and I’m here. In the backseat of an SUV listening to Mark bitch about how slow Hannah’s driving. I’d love to blame his abuse on him being drunk but he’s sober right now. Later, when he’s had a few glasses is when the full extent of his asshole-ness really shines. But even now, I don’t wanna hear it so I put my headphones, putting on my playlist and allowing Mac Miller to take me deeper into my thoughts.

I don’t wanna move. I somewhat had a life in New Hampshire and now I’m moving almost 3 hours away to Boston.

3 hours away from the cabin. 3 hours away from the woods. 3 hours away from my hockey team. 3 hours away from everything I’ve known my whole life. 3 hours away from my dad.

Dad. I have my license so it’s not like I can’t drive down and see him, but I won’t be able to go every weekend like usual. We’ll figure it out. We always do.

I was pulled out of my thoughts when Mark threw a balled up napkin at me, which irked me just a tad but what pissed me the fuck off was when he used my first name because everyone that exists knows that’s a big no-no.

“Siles!”

God, even his voice makes me wanna deck him.

“What?”

“Go pay for the gas.” he demands, shoving a 20 in my face.

I look at Hannah to make sure she’d be good in the car with him by herself. But she only nodded toward the store with a smile that can only be described as weak.

But we’ve had this talk. It always goes the same. I ask why she stays, she says because she loves him, I get pissed and we argue, which ends in her apologizing, but staying with him nonetheless. The whole routine was exhausting, really.

So I step out of the car, taking one earbud out so I could hear what the fuck was going on around me. The store was empty for the most part, only three or four customers and the guy behind the counter. I decided it was safe to browse the aisles to buy myself some time away from the living breathing dysfunction in the car. But as I walk around the store, I hear the familiar sound of bickering. Sure enough, as soon as I turn the corner I see 3 people. A set of twins around my age and the other one has his back turned to me. He’s a little bit taller than the other two, and he’s louder than them.

“Chris, Skittle Littles and regular skittles are the same fucking thing, one’s just smaller.” Wrong. “It’s not this serious. We’ve been here 10 minutes, searching for candy!”

“They taste different!” Correct.

I figure I’ve heard all I needed to hear, so I move to slip past the group, but as walk by, the tall one steps to side, his back knocking into my front. Either I my balance is stellar, or his is terrible because he starts to fall, and my natural instinct is to catch him.

As soon as my arms wrap around him, he whips around and I notice two things.

They’re not twins. They’re triplets.

Even though they all have blue eyes, his are different. His aren’t sky blue. They’re ocean blue. Pacific Ocean to be exact.

I feel myself drowning in them for a second. Everything freezes and I can’t breathe.

That second passes by quickly, though, and I pull myself together, making sure he’s stable on his two feet, and go about my day.

I pay for the gas, pump the gas, get back in the car, and put my other earbud back in.

We’re at our new house in roughly 20 minutes. It’s small, but nice.

It’s not the cabin, but whatever.

It takes 45 minutes to unload the boxes and get them in their designated rooms. It probably would have take 30 if Mark would have brought something besides his case of beers inside, but Hannah and I managed.

The only issue is that by the time we’ve finished unloading, Mark is piss drunk and knowing what comes next, it’s not something I want to be around for. So I put my hoodie back on, grab my overhead headphones and tell Hannah that I’m going for a walk.

Frank Ocean’s singing to me as I make my journey around this town. It’s not even Boston. It’s Sommerville. Boston adjacent, I guess.

It’s August and the sun is setting so it’s a little chilly, even in my hoodie and sweats. I love this weather. The air is muggy and it makes life even more melancholy than usual.

I decide that since I was out, I might ass well find a job. Partly because I need money and partly because I do not want to be in that house longer than necessary.

Being that it’s fall and people ar going to start using their fireplaces and making bonfires and shit, it wasn’t hard to find a lumber yard that was hiring. The guy I spoke to was a tall, skinny whit guy with th most aggressive pornstache I’ve ever seen. But he was chill and hired me on the spot. So now I have a job… there’s that I guess?

niyah speaks: im writing a series for pat pat (my biggest opp) enjoy guys and lmk if you wanna be on the taglist.

taglist: @patscorner @55sturn @streamermattsgf @mattslolita

#sturniolo triplets #chris sturniolo #nick sturniolo #matt sturniolo #christopher sturniolo #nicolas sturniolo #nick sturniolo fanfic #matthew sturniolo

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chaoxfix · 1 year ago

Note

Hello! For the hurt/comfort dialogue prompts: #29. "Do you know how to use a first aid kit?" + Tails

here u go!!! this was a lot of fun to write, i decided to go with classic!sonic and modern/older!tails <3

///

Tails is halfway through an errand – dropping off seed packets to Vanilla to repay her for the flowers she donated for Amy’s birthday – when a portal appears out of the sky.

A blue hedgehog drops out, which is just par for the course. When Tails was younger, he probably would’ve been worried and called out for him. But seeing as this has happened at least once a month for the last several years, Tails no longer wastes the adrenaline.

Instead, Tails simply reacts. He flies a little faster than usual, and as always, hopes to catch Sonic before he hits the ground.

(Not that he’s all that worried even if he doesn’t get there in time. Sonic has a tendency to break falls with his face, and it’s never done serious damage before, even falls from space. Tails doubts it’ll start hurting him now.)

Still, as Sonic falls, Tails can’t help but think it’s odd timing. He wasn’t really expecting Sonic back yet, seeing as he was visiting the Wisps. It doesn’t take that long to travel to and from Planet Wisp, but Sonic was planning on spending at least a few days there. For once, they really weren’t expecting any trouble from Eggman. Though of course, that’s always what Eggman wants them to think, so maybe Tails should’ve known better.

Either way, Tails will probably get an explanation once his brother has safely touched down.

…It’s not until Tails actually catches Sonic that he realizes his mistake.

This, it would appear, isn’t Sonic. Or at least, not his Sonic.

Tails probably should’ve guessed it, seeing as he came through a portal. Speaking of, he glances up at the portal just in time to see it close, long before Tails ever would’ve been able to fly him back through.

Then, he glances at the little hedgehog in his arms, and does some basic deductive reasoning to find that there’s no way this version of Sonic is the free spirited nineteen-year-old he knows and loves.

For one, this Sonic is less than half the size he’s supposed to be – probably closer to a third. If that didn’t give it away, the short quills and round belly do. Even though Tails has seen Sonic’s younger form a few times, he never stops being surprised at just how small he is. Er, was. Seeing him up close, it’s always hard to believe Sonic was fighting Eggman at this age.

This age being nine, at most. Give or take a few years – Tails was never great at identifying hedgehog growth patterns.

Deductions made, Tails gently deposits Sonic on the ground in front of him. Thanks to Tails’s latest growth spurt, even at his full height, Sonic could stack three of himself and only just barely make it to Tails’s chin. Sonic doesn’t even seem to realize it’s out of the ordinary. Instead, he just squints up at him, hands on his hips.

Right. Shorter Mobians hate it when bigger ones don’t respect their stature. Not wanting to be rude, Tails takes a seat in front of him and waves. “Hey there.”

Sonic – Mini-Sonic, he decides – doesn’t answer. He only looks marginally less suspicious now that Tails is sitting.

“Don’t worry, we’ll get you home again in no time,” Tails says, trying to sound friendly, remembering just how out-of-sorts Mini-Sonic had been last time he’d been flung into an alternate timeline. “It’s nice to see you again, though! What tossed you through a portal this time?”

Mini-Sonic just frowns at him – like he’s the suspicious one.

“It’s okay if you’re upset,” Tails says. “I would be too, if I was in your shoes. But you can trust me. As soon as you’re ready, I’ll take you back to my lab and we’ll start working on a portal to get you back home.”

Somehow, that’s the wrong thing to say. Mini-Sonic’s quills raise defensively, and he takes a pronounced step back. Almost, Tails realizes a beat too late, like he’s about to run off.

“Wait!”

On reflex, Tails reaches out and takes his hand. It’s only because Mini-Sonic is so tiny that Tails manages it. Mini-Sonic, try as he might, is just not fast enough to escape Tails’s grasp. Tails counts his lucky stars. He definitely wouldn’t have been up for chasing down a miniature version of his big brother today.

However… When Tails actually grabs him, Mini-Sonic does not seem thrilled. He doesn’t look scared, exactly – but there’s an annoyance, a wariness, that Tails isn’t used to. He pulls against Tails’s grip to no avail. It’s almost funny how little a difference it makes, how hard Mini-Sonic seems to be pulling and how easy it is to keep him in tow.

“Just tell me what’s going on, okay?” Tails says, not yet letting go. “I promise I’ll help.”

That’s when Tails remembers – embarrassingly late – that Sonic is years away from being able to talk. And he’s not entirely sure that this Sonic is fluent enough in sign to hold a conversation even if he did have both hands free.

Not how Tails saw his Monday going, that’s for sure.

He sighs. It’s bad enough that his Sonic’s somewhere out in space again, nowhere to be seen.

But the fact that Sonic’s younger self is here probably doesn’t bode well. No offense to the little guy, but he never shows up unless Sonic’s in an awful lot of trouble.

Still, it’s impossible to be mad at him. Especially since this version might actually be even younger than usual. Sonic’s usual younger self is usually still a couple of years older than Tails – but now that Tails has grown up a little, this one almost seems to have shrunk, even taking into account Tails’s own greater height. Sonic was definitely a bit of a late bloomer as far as hedgehog species go, but this one barely makes it up to Tails’s knees.

It takes Tails a moment, but he finally realizes that just because he’s met a younger Sonic… doesn’t mean that this younger Sonic has met him.

It’s entirely possible that this one is from even earlier in the time-stream than the ones he’s met.

Meaning Mini-Sonic probably has no idea who Tails is.

Tails stares at the little hedgehog in front of him, and realizes he’s way, way out of his depth.

That’s also when he notices the tiny red spots on Sonic’s socks. Tails frowns, and follows the red up to his spindly little legs, where there’s a purple patch of sticky fur just above his knee.

“You’re hurt,” Tails says, feeling even guiltier for grabbing him now. “How bad is it?”

Of course Sonic didn’t want to be manhandled. He never did anyways, but especially not if he was hurt and didn’t recognize Tails. He barely handled manhandling now, as an adult.

Mini-Sonic still couldn’t talk though, and still showed no sign of recognizing Tails. And as much as Tails would’ve liked to let him go, Mini-Sonic just kept glancing between Tails’s hand and his easiest escape route, meaning that if he gave him even an inch, Mini-Sonic would shoot off, never to be seen again.

Tails sighs. Time to do this the old fashioned way.

“Chili dogs first,” he decides, and easily scoops up mini-Sonic – quills digging into his arms and all – “Then a first aid kit. We’ll patch up your leg, and hopefully by then you’ll realize I’m not trying to hurt you, Sonic.”

Finally, Sonic’s ears prick up. Tails realizes it’s the first time he’s called him by his name. Duh – no wonder Sonic had reacted so poorly.

“I know your name because I know you,” Tails says, and watches Sonic’s face turn doubtful. “...In the future,” Tails corrects, “Which is where you are. The future.”

(Under his breath, he mutters, “Chaos, how does Silver deal with this?”)

Sonic’s doubtful frown doesn’t budge.

Tails wishes he knew how to convince him.

Still… even if it’s not good that Mini-Sonic doesn’t trust him, Tails can’t help but chuckle at the way distrust looks on his big brother’s tiny face, chubby cheeks and all.

It helps Tails stay coolheaded, too, as he flies in the direction of the nearest city, hoping he’s got enough cash for some chili dogs. He’s flying a bit higher than he needs – hopefully the height will be enough of a deterrent to keep Mini-Sonic from biting and clawing him until he wriggles away. Truthfully, Tails is just surprised that Sonic hasn’t done so already. He always imagined Sonic would’ve been a bit more of a gremlin as a kid.

It’s weird that he’s so calm. Tails decides maybe it has something to do with the portal he went through, or the fact that he’s injured.

“Don’t you worry,” Tails says, unable to resist the urge to rub between Sonic’s ears. Huge, shiny black eyes look up at him, clearly unused to the affection, despite how basic it is. “We’re getting you something to eat first, then I’ll fix up your leg. Or – you’ll fix yourself up, if you don’t want me to. Sonic never says much about his early years, but I figure you probably already know how to do it, right? I mean, clearly you have to, no way you got older without ever figuring out how to wash out an injury and patch it up, and…”

Mini-Sonic tilts his head at him.

“You know – patching up injuries,” Tails says, and taps the uninjured skin near Sonic’s knee.

Mini-Sonic, for all that he seems to mostly understand him, just blinks.

“...Do you know how to use a first aid kit?”

Mini-Sonic just scrunches his brows at him, and Tails realizes that his Monday has just gotten even longer. Once the normal-age Sonic gets back, he’s going to need to answer a lot of questions…

But first, he reminds himself with a deep breath, chili dogs. He might know nothing about raising kids, but at least he knows Sonic well enough to have a cheat sheet. Tails has a feeling he’ll need it.

#chaoxfix writes #chaoxfix chaoxfics #sonic the hedgehog #miles tails prower #tails the fox

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katyawriteswhump · 9 months ago

Text

a deep and dreamless love (steddie love month, day 11)

For @steddielovemonth, day 11. 'Love is saving the last bite for them,' from (@acasualcrossfade) Thank you <3

Rating: M WC: 1,630 CW: blood drinking and mild horror. Tags: Vampire au, vampire Eddie, angst and whump with fluffy softness!

…

“You sure you can make it home all right?” Robin climbed out of Steve’s car and paused at the driver’s window. “It’s awfully dark already.”

“It’s cloudy, Robin! Cloudy daylight fries vampires as good as any July scorcher. Now get inside. Before you have to run and fall on your face.”

“Low blow, Dingus.” She curled her lip, muffled her overlong woolly scarf tight beneath her chin. “You know you can always crash h—"

“Robin! If you don’t quit yammering, we’ll BOTH end up as vamp juice-boxes.”

“If we’re gonna play that game, Shit-bird, don’t catch sight of your stupid hair in the rear-view mirror and start fiddling. Don’t wanna find your shrivelled body with my mail.”

“Hilarious. Get inside. Please?”

Steve waited to check she was safe indoors before driving off. He felt bad for being extra cranky, because she was right. He was running late. Their boss had made them stay for extra cleaning at the store, and thick clouds brooded low across an already darkening sky. However, crashing with Robin wasn’t an option.

She was safe now.

Eddie needed him more.

He drove fast, burning rubber round the corners. Nobody enforced speeding laws in Hawkins these days, not this close to sundown. He was halfway home, when the engine spluttered. Then clonked. He hit the break, thrashed at the gearbox. The BMW choked pathetically and conked out completely.

“No.” Steve flicked the ignition key. Nothing. “You gotta be kidding.”

He jumped out, opened the hood. Oil, water. Is the battery disconnected? He could hardly see in the dim light, plus he’d little faith in his basic car maintenance skills.

Especially with his damn stupid hands shaking.

He slammed down the lid, sprinted the hundred yards back to the nearest phone booth. He fumbled a coin into the slot and dialled.

It rang. Once, twice, three times, four times. Steve pushed sweaty hair from his eyes. “C’mon, Eddie, pick up! I really don’t wanna die, 'cos you’re moshing to Van Halen.”

The rings finally cut off: “Munson Mansion.”

“What took you?” Now Steve spoke, he realised he was practically hyperventilating. “I’m in serious shit. My car broke down.”

“Dammit, it’s dark already? Shiiiiit! Must’ve overslept. Okay, calm down.” Eddie sounded, if anything, even less calm than Steve. “Where are you?”

“C-corner of Mason and Sherman.”

“Hold tight, Sweetheart. I’m a comin’.”

Steve pulled the collar of his jacket up—redoubling the defences of the scarf he’d worn all day—and started swiftly back toward the car. The shadows of night slinked across the grey front lawns, swallowing up broken picket fences.

Then swallowing up Steve.

He considered running up a driveway, hammering on somebody’s door—a better option than hunkering down in the car, though only if someone let him in.

Too late.

A tall figure in a hoodie appeared as if from nowhere, and blocked Steve’s path. The vampire’s toothy grin flashed in the chilly twilight.

“It’s rude to sneak up on people." Steve squared his shoulders, battling to keep his voice low and steady. “You hear me, knucklehead?”

He reached into his jacket, gripping the wooden stake he always carried. Before he could line up any kind of aim, the vamp was on him, knocking the stake from his hand. He grabbed Steve by the front of his shirt, lifting him clean off the ground. Goddamn vampire super-strength! Steve kicked the bloodsucker on his leg. Hard. Son-of-a-bitch didn’t even lose his grip.

“Payback time, Harrington.”

“What the—”

Steve attempted a punch, which fell short. He then registered the face behind the leering fangs. It was a football player, who’d graduated a couple of years before Steve.

“Chad Lloyd? Seriously? You’re not still pissed about—”

“You kissed my girlfriend, douchebag.”

“I was lifeguarding! I had no idea she was fake drowning till she shoved her tongue into my mouth. Gimme a break.”

Chad beamed, cheesier than ever. “Oh, I’m gonna break you, Harrington. Before or after I drink you dry.”

“Look, if you wanna keep a date, you really need to work on your one lin—”

He hurled Steve to the ground. Steve landed with a bruising, stunning thud. Then the vamp was upon him, rolling him over, ripping off his scarf and pulling down his collar. Steve kicked and struggled, though he’d almost no hope of escape.

“Hey, what’s this?” Chad tore away the neat dressing tucked under the side of Steve’s chin. “Guess I shouldn’t be surprised that slutty Steve Harrington is someone’s sloppy seconds.”

No. Not there! Nobody else drinks from there!

He rammed his knee up into the vamp’s happy-sacks. Then shoved the tender side of his wrist—and that throbbing latticework of veins—right in the sucker’s face.

Chad snarled, grabbed Steve’s arm, hoisted the whole of Steve upright with it. His freshly erupted fangs ripped deep into Steve’s wrist, and he chugged greedily.

Steve’s vision spotted. The usual woolly, sicky feeling swelled in his guts, fogged his brain. He slumped, helpless and terrified, against the vampire. Who just kept drinking.

Okay… I screwed up… Screwed up bad... I always tried so damn hard to save myself for you... Miss you already, Babe… Oh, Jesus!

He was unsure if he heard the distant roar of a motorcycle engine. Could’ve been the fading thunder of his own blood. Then the whoosh of a crossbow bolt gashed into his waning consciousness. Once more, the sidewalk flew up to meet him. He’d a vague notion that the vamp fell too, smacking down beside him.

Eddie’s worried face filled his vision. His heart squeezed sluggishly, aching with love, and the world disintegrated to nothingness.

…

“Steve? C’mon. Wake up. Please wake up.”

Steve’s eyes fluttered open. “Huh?”

“You’re back!” Eddie squeezed him tight. “You scared the crap outta me.”

This was nice. He’d never object to waking up in bed with his naked boyfriend, and half-naked himself. Apart from… Actually, not feeling so awesome.

Unsettling memories trickled back.

“How you doing?” asked Eddie. “That bastard drank waaaaay too—”

“M’fine.”

To be truthful, the whole right side of his body felt like it’d been slammed by a truck. He lifted his bandaged arm to drape around Eddie’s shoulders and struggled to disguise the effort.

“Nothing the usual routine won’t fix.” He smirked. “You know, water, spinach, lentils. Gourmet steak dinner with red wine.”

Eddie planted a sizzling kiss on Steve’s cool, sticky brow. “Only wish we could afford that for you, Sweetheart.”

“I’ll take sex for dessert. Plus we don’t have to pay for your food.”

Steve’s fingers had barely touched the fresh bandaging on his throat, before Eddie snatched them, kissed them, tucked them away again. “You’ve lost too much already.”

“But—”

“I can go a night without feeding, Baby.”

“If you skip dinner, you’ll be grouchy and pathetic in the morning.”

What Steve really wanted was to wrestle Eddie into submission. He’d tease and goad him into unleashing that vampire super-strength, grappling till Steve was the one pinned to the mattress and then...

Annoyingly, Steve was too feeble to even try and sit, so he sneered. “What happens if I’m dumb enough to get jumped again tomorrow? Or Robin, or Dustin, or any of the kids? As much as I hate to admit it, they need a tame vamp looking out for them, way more than they need me these days”

“Answers still ‘no way in Hell.’ Which I’m heading to for sure, but at least the music will be—”

“Don’t change the subject. Look, I nearly got my arm torn off offering that moron my wrist. All to save the best bite for you.”

Eddie stroked Steve’s hair. “Emotional blackmail ain’t gonna work tonight.”

Good job I’ve learned to play dirty.

This time, Steve ripped the dressing from his neck before Eddie could stop him, revealing the twin fang marks Eddie left last night.

And every night.

“What? Why!?! Don’t want…” Eddie flinched away. “I don’t like this, Stevie.”

Steve snaked his good arm up, threaded his fingers through Eddie’s lush tresses. He tugged Eddie down toward his throat.

As if on cue, a drop of hot blood trickled from the barely healed punctures. A groan shook through Eddie. He clamped onto Steve’s lifeblood, incisors piercing deep.

Steve bit his lip against a keening, desolate cry. Love didn’t only suck—it stung like a bitch, and the tide of Eddie’s hair smothered him. Still, the slip of Eddie’s tongue against his blood-slickened skin always flipped him out, in a not-entirely-bad way. From the corner of his eye, he strained to catch glimpses of Eddie drinking.

Gnnng! Too damn hot.

Soon, little stuttering gasps escaped him, as he teetered on a knife-edge. Damn, if Steve wasn’t already so shattered, so woozy, he’d be so up for sex after this…

…until he wasn’t. It hurt too much.

Eddie ripped himself free, jumped from the bed, and was gone.

Steve lay there, trembling violently, his blurry vision further misted with tears. Completely at Eddie’s mercy.

I’m safe. I'm safe.

Soon after he grew too weak to keep his eyes open, he sensed the skitter of featherlight fingertips. Eddie had returned to bandage him up again. Then Eddie gathered him into his arms and roused him with a tender kiss.

“Wasn’t so hard, was it?” mumbled Steve, lips moistened with his own blood.

“Holy shit, Stevie.” Eddie stuck out his tongue, kinda silly. His eyes shone with fear. “I’m a vampire. A goddamn evil, blood-sucking predator. One day, I might not be able to stop.”

“That’s bull.” No evil could overcome a nature as sweet and soft as yours. “I trust you.” I trust our love. Steve nuzzled into his favourite tattooed parts of Eddie’s chest.

I’ll save the last bite for you. Always.

He slipped away, warm and cherished in Eddie’s arms, and into a deep and dreamless sleep.

...

(also part of my steve whump fic series on AO3.)

#steddielovemonth #steddie fanfiction #steddie #steve harrington whump #steddie fic #steve x eddie #steddie fanfic #steve harrington x eddie munson #stranger things fanfic #steve harrington #eddie munson #eddie x steve #steddie ficlet #stranger things fic #stranger things fanfiction #stranger things

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fictionalsillies · 2 months ago

Text

Even if the sky is falling down I know that we’ll be safe and sound 🎶

Been feeling a bit sick lately , so I ended up making this little JadeBone drawing to try and relax a bit :,)👍

Hope it turned out okay !

Here is the original background :

#fictionalsillies art #monkey wrench #monkey wrench zeurel #monkey wrench oc #self ship #self insert x canon #canon x self insert #self ship art #f/o #f/o community #self insert oc #self insert art #jadebone #Spotify

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louloulemons-posts · 1 year ago

Text

My Year

Eddie Munson X Reader

Summary : When the demobats start attacking the trailer and Eddie goes to protect you what’ll happen?

Word Count : 1.5K

Warnings : Angst, S4EP9, Hurt Eddie, Pet names, mentions of death, mentions of injury, use of Y/N, swearing, not proofread, sad reader, angst with fluffy-ish ending.

Authors note : This is my first time writing angst so please leave any tips 🤍

~ / / / * \ \ \ ~

Running through the darkness, the lightening flashed once more. You could hear Dustin’s faint shouting in the background and the screeching of bats had halted.

“Eddie!” you called out, moving as quickly as you could. Hands shaking, and lungs burning you pushed yourself to keep running. “Eddie where are you?” you shouted once more.

Dodging as many thick vines as you could, the red sky flashed once more, thundering booms echoing all around. He had run out, pulled the rope made out of sheets and ran. Playing hero like he said he wouldn’t.

You and Dustin stacked chairs and got you back into the Upside Down safely. Telling the young boy to stay put and wait for the others, you didn’t wait for his reply as you ran to find the curly haired boy.

Feet thumping against the ground, your heart beat throbbing in your ears, cuts and bruising plastering your skin, you couldn’t stop. You had to find him.

“Eddie!” you shouted out once more. Noticing demobats bodies littering the ground, “Eddie!Eds where are you?” Listening out for any sound, a quiet, “Here, Y/N, here,” came out.

Running round a corner you saw him, lay on the ground, blood covering almost every inch. “Eddie!” Dropping the bat you had in your hand you bolted over to him.

Falling down on your knees you gently pulled his head into your lap. “Oh god Eds, why did you do that huh? Why would you do that?” You eyes began to sting with tears, seeing the boy you loved so hurt, bleeding out.

“I couldn’t … let them … hurt … y-you,” he said between shaky breaths. “Oh my sweet boy. It’s okay, everything’s going to be okay.”

Placing your hands on his bleeding stomach, he groaned out.

“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry,” you said softly, hearing more screeching in the distance. “Eds we’ve gotta go,” carefully you lifted his upper half, keeping a hand on his stomach.

He cried out, “Just … just give me a second,” he whined. You lay him down gently, “Of course, we do this at your pace,” brushing his hair out of his face, you saw blood trickle from his mouth.

His eyes were glassy, “I didn’t run away this time right?”

“No, no you didn’t. You’re the hero babe, you’re my hero,” you said, tears burning your eyes.

“I think it’s finally my year Y/N.”

“It is, we’re gonna get out of here and graduate, and you’re gonna play that solo to the guys when you next practice.”

“I love you,” he said, eyes getting heavy.

“No, no. Eddie come on, you’ve gotta get up now.”

“We both know only one of us is making it out of here.”

“No. Come on,” you pulled his arm over your shoulder, and lifted the pair of you.

“I’m sorry,” you said as Eddie screamed. Wrapping your hand around his waist, he fell on to you. “There you go Eds, lean on me. We’re gonna go home now, see Wayne.”

“I don’t think I’m gonna make it,” he said, breathless. “Yes you are. You’ve got this, and even then, I’ve got you.” Slowly you walked, basically dragging Eddie with you.

“Sweetheart, I can’t.”

“Yes you can. I’m not leaving you here. I won’t, if you stay I stay.” He huffed at that.

“Well we better get out then,” he chuckled, coughing.

“Steady. Take it easy,” you said, rubbing his side gently. You both moved slowly again, coming round the corner, seeing Eddies trailer in the distance. “There we go, almost there,” you said.

He grunted, “Can we … can we take a break, just a minute?” He asked. You nodded, pulling him round so he was almost hugging you. “I’m so tired baby,” he whispered.

“I know Sweet Boy, but we’re almost there. Then we’ll get you to the hospital and it’ll be okay.”

“We both know I’m getting arrested. But hey, I’ll live … maybe.”

“Hey! Don’t say that. Either of those things. You’ll be fine, everything’s gonna be fine.”

He nodded into your neck. “You ready?” You asked. “Mhm let’s go,” grunting as he went, you slowly moved again. The thunder boomed and lightning flashed as you went.

In the distance you spotted 3 figures, you halted in your place, “rest up for a second babe,” you said, stroking Eddies hair, before shouting, “Harrington!”

The boys head popped up along with two feminine figures, Robin and Nancy. They were all okay. “Over here! Help us!” You shouted, the three began sprinting.

“Hey look, helps on the way,” you said to Eddie. He didn’t reply. His eyes were closed.

“Eds?”

~ / / / * \ \ \ ~

Sat on an uncomfortable hospital chair, your back ached and eyes stung. A rhythmic beeping sound, had never made you so thankful.

Eddie was lay in front of you, covered in bandages and connected to multiple machines. He’d lost a lot of blood and the doctors said he was extremely lucky.

Police officers had been round and believed the story that Jason Carver was actually the one behind all of this. Blaming Eddie due to his eccentric ways, saying he had freaked out after accidentally killing Chrissy.

Wayne had come in and out, he was currently getting you something to eat and drink, along with a change of clothes, as you downright refused to leave Eddies side.

You clothes were dirty and ripped, along with covered in blood from you and Eddie. You’d had a few other visitors, Nancy, Robin, Lucas when he could pull himself away from Max. Steve had only just pulled an exhausted Dustin away.

Squeezing on Eddies hand gently you whispered, “Come on Sweet Boy, show me those pretty eyes, that’s all I want to see.”

~ / / / * \ \ \ ~

You shook the boy violently, “Eddie wake up!” You said, as he slumped. “Hurry!” You shouted to the three who were running towards you. “What happened?” Steve asked, as he pulled one of Eddies arms over his shoulder.

The taller boy a dead weight between you. “He ran out, wanted to lead the bats away, they attacked him. We’ve gotta get him out,” you cried, tears now freely falling.

“I’ll carry him Y/N,” Nancy said, gently swapping places with you and Robin held you close, rubbing your arm comfortingly, “Come on Munson, let’s go clear your name,” Steve said, as you four of you began to walk back to the trailer. Eddie being dragged behind.

~ / / / * \ \ \ ~

You, Robin and Nancy had passed him through to Dustin and Steve, even then the boy didn’t come too.

But he was here now, in this bed. Breathing. Heart beating. Doctors and nurses at his call.

You rested your head on the bed, still holding his hand. Face rubbing against the scratchy hospital sheets. You didn’t think you could cry anymore, it didn’t seem possible.

But when you felt a hand in your hair, rubbing gently you didn’t even move as you let out an almighty sob. Squeezing his hand and feeling it reciprocated.

“You wanted to see my pretty eyes and now you can’t look at me?” He said, voice croaky. You laughed as you sat up, wiping your eyes and looking at him.

His skin was pale and his eyes bloodshot but so so beautiful. “I’m okay,” he said softly. You could only cry. “It’s alright now Sweetheart.”

“I thought I was going to lose you Eds! You never do anything like that again!” You scolded him. “Yes ma’am I don’t plan on it.”

You smile at him, “I need to get a nurse let them know you’re awake.”

“Not yet. Don’t go yet. What happened? Why aren’t I cuffed?” He asked.

“Well Nancy, Steve and Robin helped me get you back and Dustin helped get you through. We got you here … blamed everything on Carver. He’s dead Eddie.”

“Did anyone else get hurt?” You nodded, knowing he’d taken a liking to the young redhead. “Wayne?” He asked.

“No! He’s okay, was here’s actually, just went to get some things.”

“Then who?”

“Max. Broken bones, eyes were cloudy. Vecna started what he did to Chrissy on Max. We don’t know if she’ll make it Eds.”

“God,” he sighed, head falling back into the pillow.

“She’s a strong girl. She can do it I’m sure.”

He nodded, both of you knowing the optimism was a lie on both ends. “You’re a free man, we’re gonna get you back to full health. I’ll look after you. I promise.”

“Does it look bad?” He asked. Standing up you smiled at him, “It looks really fucking metal babe,” you pecked him lips.

“I love you,” he said.

You pulled away from him looking at his beautiful face. You hadn’t said those words yet. “You do?” You asked.

“I really do. More than anything, more than I thought was possible. I love you.”

You kissed him again, longer, more passionately. “I love you too Edward Munson.”

You would both be okay. All of you would be. Eddie, Max. Everyone. It was going to be fine.

~ / / / * \ \ \ ~

Thank you so much for reading! Please leave any requests 🤍

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crystalninjaphoenix · 10 days ago

Text

The Pain of the Past

A JSE Fanfic

SepticHeroes AU: Part 35

First Part | Previous Part | Read on AO3 at CrystalNinjaPhoenix

I so badly wanted to work the word "nostalgia" into the title, because fun fact, it comes from the roots meaning "pain" and "homecoming" and I find that factoid really fitting for this chapter. But I couldn't come up with anything good. Anyway! The guys have completed their prison breakout! Now, they have to drop off JJ and his friend somewhere safe. Chase drives them there, and in the process... learns something he never expected to learn. Seems like his life before forgetting wasn't as lonely as he thought... Heh. :3c

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

Chase scanned the horizon once again. It was hard to see much of anything. The sun had mostly set, so he couldn’t quite figure out where the sky ended and the sea began. He idly pressed a finger to the transmitter on his throat. “So... are you guys getting close? I can’t really tell.”

“There is a light on the front of the boat,” Schneep’s voice said through the earpiece. “You will see us coming.”

“Maybe we should turn that off?” Marvin’s voice asked, also coming through the earpiece. “We don’t want them to know where we’re going.”

“I don’t think any of us know how to do that,” Schneep said slowly. “Perhaps we should stick back to the original plan? Steal one of the rowboats to go the rest of the way?”

“I didn’t expect it to be this dark, though...” Gwen said quietly. “I say we risk it. We already took a whole ship.”

As they talked, Chase saw a glimmer on the horizon. He squinted at it. “I think I see you guys? Hopefully that’s you and not any of the guys looking for you.”

“I hope not,” Marvin muttered. “Honestly? Now that I’m out of the Vault, their security was a bit more lax than I expected. It was way too easy to pretend to be a guard in there. Especially for a place that was supposed to be impossible to break out of.” He laughed. “The League’s all bark and no bite these days, I guess.”

The light on the horizon got closer. Chase opened his car door. Frosty, lying in the passenger seat, looked up in response. “Hm... yeah, you’re right, not worth standing up for,” Chase said, closing the door. “It’ll get close enough for me to see, anyway.”

“Who are you talking to, Chase?” Gwen asked.

“Oh, oops.” Chase forgot to turn off the transmitter. “Not you guys, just, uh... talking to Frosty. You know, my dog.”

“Aw yeah the cutie!” Gwen cooed. “I can’t wait to see him again.”

“You might, soon,” Marvin said. “I can see the coast coming up.”

“Oh! So that is you guys, then,” Chase said. “I’m waiting at the place. There’s no, uh... dock or anything. How are you going to get off the boat?”

His rental car was parked on a rocky beach. There was no road to get down here. He’d had to leave the highway, find a random dirt road, then go off that road, careful to go in a straight line so he made it to the right place. He really didn’t want to end up at a completely different spot than the one they’d agreed upon. How did they even agree on this spot in the first place? He couldn’t quite remember... but he had a vague idea that Marvin had found it? By scouting it out on maps or something? Well, it didn’t really matter in the end, otherwise he would’ve written it down.

“We’ll uh... figure it out,” Marvin said vaguely.

The light got closer and closer... and eventually Chase could see that it was, indeed, a ship. The ship pulled up to the beach not too far from the rental car... and then it kept going. And going. And going, beaching itself on the coast with a terrible sound of metal grinding against rocks. Frosty whined, upset at the racket it was causing. Chase pet him idly to calm him down until the ship stopped.

After a moment, Chase saw a rope fall over the side, dangling downwards. Schneep, still wearing full Specter gear, got over and climbed down, looking up. Marvin appeared on deck, pulling the rope back up. There was some movement on deck, and then the rope appeared again, now with a loop in the end. And someone climbed over the ship wall, putting their feet in the rope loop and allowing Marvin to lower them down—

Chase inhaled sharply. That was JJ. Jameson. “Oh my god,” he breathed. JJ looked... awful. It was hard to believe he’d only been gone for around a week. He was wearing this pale green jumpsuit that looked baggy even on his thin frame, and as he reached the ground he staggered and almost fell. Schneep had to catch him.

Schneep and Marvin had to repeat the rope thing two more times, one for Gwen, one for this Soren guy that they apparently picked up along the way (they’d explained everything to Chase while they were sailing towards the meeting spot.) Then, as they started to walk over, Chase opened up the car door again and twisted around to face them fully, his legs dangling out into the open air. “H-hey... JJ.” He gave a nervous smile. “How... are you doing?”

JJ returned the smile. Better now that I’m out, I guess.

“Yeah. You look... bad. That place must’ve sucked.”

JJ nodded.

Soren walked up next to him. “So you’re... Chase, then?” He held out his hand. “Soren. It’s nice to meet you.”

“Yeah, uh, same, I guess.” Chase took his hand and shook it. He could feel the bones through Soren’s skin. “Apparently you’re that Pathos supervillain.”

“Hah. I don’t like the word villain. It removes the nuance from the situation. But at the same time, there’s some style to it, isn’t there?”

“I guess?” Chase said. “Wow. Your eyes are purple, that’s crazy.”

“Like them?” Soren asked, grinning.

“Yeah, they’re really unique.”

JJ stepped forward, moving close enough to force Soren to step back. Alright, back it up. Where are we going now, Chase?

Chase raised his eyebrow. That cutting-him-off maneuver wasn’t really like JJ. “You don’t need to be so jealous, dude, I just think purple eyes are neat, I’m not stealing your friend from you.”

Jameson inhaled sharply. His face started to turn red, but he quickly repeated his question to distract from that. I’m not jealous. Anyway, where are we going now?

“Marvin has a friend who has a safe house,” Chase explained. “It’s back in Daindover.”

JJ stiffened, eyes clouding. We’re going back there? But... that’s where...

Schneep put his hand on JJ’s shoulder. “I know, you are worried about Anti-Virus, the blackmailer,” he said softly. “But Dahlia is probably in the city. I... I want you to be able to see her as soon as possible. And, well... the League will not expect you to go back there.”

“If you want to go somewhere else, we can find a place, I’m sure,” Marvin assured him. “But that’ll take time. My friend has this safe house prepared already, there’s no electronic devices of any kind. No computers or anything. And none of us brought phones. Anti-Virus can’t find you there.”

After a moment, Jameson nodded slightly. Alright. Let’s go.

“Hm... there’s not much room in this car.” Gwen is peering through the window into the back seat. “We weren’t expecting to pick up Uncle Soren, so we’re down a seat.”

“One of you guys will have to sit on the cupholder thing,” Chase said, patting the space between the driver’s seat and passenger’s seat.

“Uh... we’re going on the motorway, that seems really unsafe,” Marvin said. “We can squeeze another person onto the backseat, I’m sure. Gwen, you have the shortest legs, wanna take the passenger seat with Frosty again?”

Gwen gasped. “Yes! Chase, can I pet him right now?”

Chase laughed. “Yeah, go ahead, he’s not working while I’m driving.”

“Yippee!” Gwen circled around the car to get to the passenger seat.

“Everyone else, pile in,” Chase said. “Schneep, get the clothes from the trunk. Try to buckle up, but if you can’t, uh... hold on tight, I guess?”

The guys got into the backseat, sitting really tightly together, legs pressed against each other—even overlapping slightly, as JJ’s leg is partially on top of Schneep’s. Soren and Marvin are on the ends, pushed up against the windows. “Alright, we brought this.” Schneep had gotten something out from the trunk. A backpack. He passed it to JJ. “There is a hoodie in there, put that on over that fucking jumpsuit.”

“What about Uncle Soren?” Gwen asked. “I know we didn’t prepare for him, but...”

“I got it.” Chase took off his jacket. “Now, JJ, don’t get jealous that I’m giving him my hoodie.”

I’m not jealous! JJ protested.

Soren laughed. “Oh? Why not? I think I’m worth getting jealous over.”

I’m not saying you’re not, JJ said. I’m just saying. I’m not jealous.

Chase laughed too. “Alright, JJ. Here, put that on, Soren.” He passed the jacket back, and Soren put it on. Then Chase started the car. “It’s gonna be a long ride, guys, I wouldn’t blame you all for taking a nap or something. Get some rest, I’ll get us back home.”

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

It took about three and a half hours of driving to get back to Daindover, even with Chase going a bit over the speed limit. Marvin did, indeed, drift off for a bit. Chase could see him slumped against the window, breathing slowly. He must’ve spent a lot of energy back during the breakout. The others, though, stayed awake.

Gwen and Soren were the only ones who were talking consistently. Soren was asking Gwen questions about different people they both knew, asking her how they were doing, how she was doing, if she was doing anything interesting in school or if she’d seen any good movies. Gwen was happy to answer. Schneep and JJ were pretty quiet by comparison. Schneep filled JJ in on some things that had happened while he was gone, about how the police and the League knew about Anti-Virus now, but didn’t know about Dahlia’s secret identity. JJ didn’t say anything. Or maybe he did, but just not while Chase was looking at his signs in the mirror.

By the time they got to the edge of the city, it was pretty late at night. Schneep shook Marvin awake. “We are here,” he said. “Where are we meeting Kanchana?”

Chase glanced back at him as he said that. They hadn’t told him the name of Marvin’s friend that they were going to meet after this. Just in case something went wrong and he got caught. Kanchana, huh? That was a very unique name. Had he... heard it from a video game or something? Because despite its uniqueness, he could have sworn this wasn’t the first time he heard a name like that.

Marvin rubbed his eyes. “Where’re we?” He mumbled, looking around. “Okay. Okay. Uh, turn left at Tortoise Street up here.”

Chase followed Marvin’s directions until he told him to pull to the side of the road in front of a small abandoned-looking church. There was another car in the car lot here. “This is it, then?” Chase asked.

“Yeah, that’s one of Kanchana’s cars,” Marvin said.

“One of?”

“She has a couple that she switches around.” Marvin opened up the door. “C’mon. Let’s go.”

The group left the car one by one. Chase was the last, as Frosty hopped out and circled around the car to help him get out. By the time he was out, a woman was approaching, having come out of the old church building. She had long black hair and dark eyes, and was wearing dark brown and beige so she blended into the surroundings. “Hey, Kanchana,” Marvin said. “This is JJ. And this is, uh... Soren. We, uh... ended up getting him out, too.”

Nice to meet you, JJ said, and Soren gave a little salute.

“Soren?” Kanchana asked. “Soren Moizone?”

“Mm-hmm.” Soren nodded.

“Oh, interesting. Well, it’s nice to meet you in person.” Kanchana held out her hand, which he shook. “I run HAUC, I think you’re familiar with that?”

“Oh! Yeah, I got some of my best men from you guys.” Soren smiled. “Good to know you’re still up and running.”

“Hah, yeah. It’s always work.” Kanchana chuckled. She then glanced over at Chase—and her expression shifted to surprise.

Marvin followed her gaze. “Oh. Kanchana, this is that friend I mentioned. The one who drove us?”

“I figured that,” Kanchana said. She gave a little laugh, sounding... relieved? “I never expected the driver was going to be you, Chase.”

Chase felt the wind get knocked out of him.

His name.

She... knew... his name.

How... did she... know his name?

How did she know his name?

How did she know his name?!

“Hah?” Schneep blinked, confused. “Ah, I’m sorry, Miss Yang, do you... do you and Chase know each other?”

“I-I...” Chase’s voice was strained. “I don’t... I’m sorry, I don’t... remember you...”

“You don’t? Well, I guess we only met in person twice, but it’s me, hi.” Kanchana smiled and waved. “Kanchana Yang? How are you, by the way? It’s been three years, a lot must’ve happened. Did you work things out with Stacy?”

Chase’s knees gave out. Frosty was by his side immediately, trying to push him upwards again. When Chase didn’t respond to his attempts, Frosty hurried over to the nearest person—JJ—and started nudging him. JJ took the hint and walked to Chase, offering a hand to him. Chase took it, and JJ pulled him up—a feat which took a fair bit of effort in his weakened state. Are you alright, Chase? JJ asked once he was standing again.

That name.

He knew that name.

Of course he knew it, Stacy was a very common name, but—it was the way she said it. Implying that he was somehow connected to that name. Something about it struck a chord in his very soul.

“I’m... sorry, did it not go well?” Kanchana asked quietly.

Chase swallowed a lump in his throat. “I... don’t... My... I was...”

“Ah... Chase, do you want me to explain?” Schneep asked. Once Chase nodded, he turned back to Kanchana. “Chase was in an accident about two and a half years ago. He lost his memory, among other problems.”

“What? Chase has amnesia?!” Kanchana pressed a hand to her mouth. “W-well... I guess that would explain why you didn’t remember me.”

“We... knew each other?” Chase asked, his voice a harsh whisper.

“Of course. Well, uh, vaguely. Like I said, we only met two times in person. But I know everyone in HAUC. Or, everyone who was in HAUC, in your case.”

Marvin inhaled sharply. “What? Chase was in HAUC?”

“What’s... hawk?” Chase asked hesitantly.

“Henches Against Unfair Conditions,” Kanchana explained. “It’s a henchman order.”

Chase felt like he couldn’t breathe. And yet, he managed to speak. “A... henchman order. Like... like the people who... who help villains. Th-that’s what you... I-I was part of...? So I was a—” He took a step back, bracing himself against the car with a hand.

Schneep shook his head. “There is no way. You must be mistaking him for some other Chase.”

There can’t be many people out there that look like Chase AND share his name, JJ pointed out.

“Well what other explanation is there?” Schneep asked. “I am sorry, ma’am, you must be mistaken.”

Kanchana shook her head. “I don’t make mistakes when it comes to people. My superpower is pretty minor, but it can’t be tricked. I can remember everything about anyone I’ve met. No matter how long ago I met them.” She looked at Chase again. “Chase Brody, right? You’re thirty? Birthday is April 11th?”

Chase nodded dazedly. The world around him felt like it was moving in slow-motion. Distant. Like he was trapped underwater, staring at his surroundings through the glass wall of a fish tank.

“But—But Chase would not be a henchman!” Schneep protested. “He is a good man!”

“Hey, henches are good people,” Kanchana said defensively, folding her arms. “Most of them just want to make a living. It’s just that... the only way they can do that is by working for bad people.”

“Bold thing to say to the leader of a henchman order, Specter,” Marvin muttered.

“I-I didn’t mean—” Schneep stammered. “I stole things for years, I am not objecting to this on a morality premise. I know that... sometimes, you are in a difficult situation, and there is only so much you can do. I just... Chase? Really?”

“What did I... do?” Chase whispered.

Kanchana looked at him, her eyes softening. “Do you actually want to know?”

Chase hesitated, then nodded.

“Well... you’re one of the few people who had experience with weapons before entering HAUC. You could use a handgun really well, mentioned that your dad taught you, but uh, you couldn’t really use those skills after you moved to the UK from the States. Even so, you had a leg up over a lot of people signing up to be grunts. You worked with us for six years, starting when you were twenty-one. I have no idea how you found HAUC, you never told me, but uh, that’s pretty young to be joining a henchman order. You took a lot of driving jobs, shooting jobs, you were on the no-kids list, which is understandable considering you had Abby—oh fuck, you have amnesia, do you even remember Abby?”

Chase felt his legs start to collapse again, but he grabbed onto the car to stop himself. Kanchana listing these facts about him felt so... disconnected, so surreal, like she was talking about a character in a TV show instead of telling him his own past. But the moment she mentioned that name—again, a common name—again, implying his connection to it—the moment she did that, it all clicked into place. It felt real, solid.

“...I’ll take that as a no,” Kanchana whispered.

“Who the hell is Abby?” Marvin asked.

Schneep’s eyes widened behind his goggles. “A... child?”

A noise escaped Chase’s throat, something between a squeak and a groan.

Marvin’s eyes widened. “...holy shit, Chase has a kid, doesn’t he?” He looked at Chase. “Do—Does any of this—Are there memories—”

“I-I don’t... remember, e-exactly,” Chase said slowly. “But it feels... right. I... I-I can’t picture their faces. But... Stacy... a-and Abby... They... I... I know them. I-I do.” He stared down at the asphalt, taking in the cracks and details of the rocks. “K-Kanchana... do you... know them?”

“I never met them,” Kanchana whispered. “You... talked about them the couple times we met in person, though. And... they’re why you left HAUC.”

“Why?” Chase whispered.

“You said that... Stacy found out what your job really was. A-apparently you’d been hiding it from her. She didn’t react well. You said she ‘immediately’ left you, a-and you wanted help getting another job to try and go clean for her and Abby.”

“Did I find one?”

“Well, I sent you to SepTech’s Reformation Program,” Kanchana said slowly. “You emailed me and said they helped you out and you were leaving HAUC. And that was the last I heard of you.”

“And this was three years ago?” Schneep asked. When Kanchana nodded, he turned to Chase, whose eyes were still fixed on the ground. “Chase, your accident was two and a half years ago. At the East SepTech building, when it collapsed. That cannot be a coincidence! You were not just passing by, you were there because—because maybe you worked there?”

Chase didn’t answer. He didn’t say anything for a while. “Why... why didn’t anyone know about this?” He asked quietly. “I—J-just because she left, it doesn’t mean that... that people wouldn’t know... Th-there would’ve been a marriage certificate or something, right?”

“That is true,” Schneep said. “There was nothing for you. Only your driving license. That was the only record you had at all.”

“Which really doesn’t make sense,” Marvin said. “Because if you were part of the Reformation Program, that means you had a criminal record. But there wasn’t anything, was there?”

Schneep shook his head. Silence followed for a moment. Chase finally raised his head...

Just in time to see JJ sign something. Technopath.

“Huh?” Marvin blinked.

“Oh!” Gwen raised her hand. She and Soren had been standing off to the side while all this happened, quietly letting Chase and his friends have their moment. “Yeah! A technopath could totally wipe digital records of all kinds. They couldn’t do anything about the paper copies, but if you had some identification that showed up, then I bet whoever looked into your amnesia would’ve figured that was all.”

Schneep inhaled sharply. “Could it... could it have been Anti-Virus? Could he have wiped your records?”

“Why, though?” Chase whispered.

Marvin frowned. “Well, I don’t know why Anti-Virus would want to wipe some of Chase’s records, but let’s say that he did do it, for some reason. That means that he and Chase probably knew each other, right? Maybe... they met at SepTech?”

Schneep folded his arms, looking thoughtful. “That would be more evidence to our theory about Anti-Virus being Dr. McLoughlin.”

“The head of SepTech?” Kanchana asked. “Why would he want to attack his own business?”

“Well he’s not fully in charge of it,” Marvin said. “The McLoughlin family may have founded SepTech, but it’s run by a board now. He’s not fully in control. Maybe... he wants to be. For some... plan or something.”

Soren coughed. “Well, this all sounds very important, but um... the longer we stand out here, the more attention we draw. And we don’t want that when we’re still stuck in these jumpsuits. Chase, do you want your jacket back, by the way?”

“Oh, uh, n-no, you can keep it,” Chase said. “I’ll pick it up... later. From wherever you guys are staying.”

So you guys are going to know where we’re staying? JJ asked.

“That was the plan,” Marvin said. “We can’t use phones to contact you, so we’ll have to stop by in person to update you on stuff.”

“Don’t worry, there’s a secret way into the house if they need to avoid attention,” Kanchana added. “Anyway, Soren is right, we don’t want to draw too much attention. Jameson, Soren? Come on. I’ll drive you the rest of the way to the place. And as for you three.” She reached into her pocket and pulled out three loose sticky notes, handing one to Schneep, Marvin, and Gwen. “This is the address. Share it with people you trust. Uh... not through text or anything.”

“Oh yeah, definitely not,” Marvin said, putting the sticky note into a pocket in his costume. He looked at JJ. “Well... I-I can check on you tomorrow evening, if you want. See how you’re... settling down.”

JJ smiled slightly. I’d appreciate that. But... well, I’m exhausted. Soren probably is, too. I think we should get to this safe house so we can lie down.

Schneep blinked. “Did you give Soren here a name sign?”

Jameson nodded. Why wouldn’t I? He was one of the few people I could talk to. We... spent a lot of time together. Was his face turning red?

“Mm-hm, mm-hm.” Schneep nodded. “So, what did you two do while you were spending time together?”

That’s not important, JJ said quickly. The point is, I think we should go now. We’ve delayed long enough.

Kanchana started walking towards the car parked in the car lot. “Yeah, come on, you two. As for the rest of you, leave the rented car here, I’ll send someone to take it back to the rental place. Just in case you were trailed.”

“I don’t think we were, but that’s a good idea,” Gwen said. She took off her mask and jacket with the circuit patterns, suddenly looking like any other pedestrian on the street. “We can take the night train home!”

“I’ll ride with you, Gwen,” Marvin offered.

“Thanks, Spitfire!”

“Be careful, Gwen,” Soren said. “Stop by some time, okay? But... not too much. Stay safe, you know? Uh, and don’t tell your parents I’m back yet. Just in case.”

“Aw.” Gwen’s shoulders slumped. “Mom would be so happy to hear that, though. But alright. I know that we gotta be cautious.” She gave him a quick hug. “Good luck, Soren!”

Soren smiled. “Thanks, Gwen. You two.” He patted her back, and then drew away. “Jameson?”

JJ nodded. He looked at Schneep, Chase, and Marvin. I’ll see you three later, then. Tell Jackie... Tell him he was helpful. And that I’m alright.

“I’ll do that,” Chase whispered.

“Stay safe, Jamie,” Schneep said.

JJ gave Schneep a shoulder hug, then hurried after Soren and Kanchana. The three of them got into the car, which then drove off.

“Well... see you guys,” Marvin said, taking off his costume to reveal the normal clothes he was wearing beneath. “Gwen and I are going to the train station on Olive. What about you?”

“There’s another in Midway, I think that one is closer,” Schneep said. “We will go there. See you later.”

Marvin smiled, Gwen waved, and then they started walking, leaving Schneep and Chase alone.

Schneep glanced at Chase. “How... h-how are you doing? That information Kanchana shared... it was... A-are you okay?”

Chase stared back at him, then took a deep breath. “I will be. Just, uh... give me some time.” He picked up Frosty’s leash. “I’ll just go to the train station.”

“Do you want me to ride the train with you?”

“No, your place is in the opposite direction. It’s fine.”

“Are you sure?” Schneep’s voice was gentle, like he was afraid Chase would shatter into pieces if he was too loud.

“I’m sure.” Chase gave him a shaky smile. “I have a lot to think about, anyway. The train ride will give me time.”

“Alright... let’s at least walk together.”

“I’d appreciate that,” Chase whispered.

The two of them walked to the train station in silence.

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

Jackie tried to keep himself busy all day, but the moment Chase left to meet up with Schneep and Marvin at the car rental place, he found he couldn’t concentrate on anything. He tried going on patrol, but with how distracted he was by the dread and anxiety pooling in his stomach, he knew he wouldn’t be able to snap into action if he tried to stop any crimes. So in the end, he decided the police could handle the city for one day and stayed home, trying to relax. But even that was difficult, as no activity could take him away from his thoughts. He switched through things rapidly until he eventually decided to try and go to bed early. It didn’t work. So he ended up just lying under the covers and watching YouTube on his phone.

But finally, he drifted off—only to snap awake at the sound of the front door opening and closing. He sat up, knocking his phone from his stomach to the ground, but didn’t bother to pick it up as he got out of bed and left the room, hurrying to the living room.

“Chase!” Jackie called out to him the moment he saw Chase and Frosty. “How did it go? I-is he—Did you get—Is everything okay?”

Chase looked up at him... but not directly at him. His eyes were... distant. “Uh, hey, Jackie. Y-yeah. It went... I think they had to come up with stuff at a couple times, but... he’s out. He wanted to... He wanted everyone in there to leave with him, but they couldn’t really... do that. But they did get another guy.”

“They got someone else out?” Jackie asked, surprised. “Who? Actually, no, this isn’t the time to talk about this.” They wouldn’t have broken someone out of prison who was supposed to be here, so the guy they broke out with JJ was probably fine. Not too bad with a criminal. Onto more important matters. “Are you alright, Chase? Are you tired or something? You seem a bit out of it.”

“I...” Chase shook his head. He walked over to the sofa and collapsed. Frosty put his paws on his leg and pushed his face into Chase’s, sniffing him worriedly.

“...Chase?” Jackie walked over and sat down next to him. “Did something happen?”

“I have a wife and kid,” Chase blurted out.

Jackie leaned back. “Excuse me?”

“I just found it out now, it turns out that I-I knew Marvin’s friend before I lost my memory, a-and she remembers me, and she works for—she runs a henchmen order and she said I was part of that but then Stacy got upset so I tried to go legit and I was part of the Reforming Program but then I lost my memory—and Anti-Virus might’ve made it so that I wasn’t married to her, like by deleting digital records or something, but I don’t know why he’d have done that but honestly I don’t know if I care when I just found out that Stacy and Abby were there, they were my wife and kid this whole time, and I didn’t remember them, I didn’t fucking remember them, Jackie—”

“Whoa, okay, hold your fucking horses.” Jackie held up his hand. His head was spinning. This was a lot for him to process after just waking up from a nap. “Marvin’s friend Kanchana? She knew you? Are you sure?”

Chase nodded. “She has that superpower, uh, she remembers everyone she’s met. And the second she looked at me she knew me. The second she looked at me, Jackie. She knew my name before anyone told her. Sh-she knew my birthday. She knew me.” Tears began to line his eyes. “She knew about my family.”

“But... you couldn’t be... you couldn’t have been a henchman,” Jackie said slowly.

“Schneep said that too! But it’s the truth, apparently!” Chase laughed. “Apparently I know how to shoot a gun? Apparently I—I-I worked for villains for like, six years? I don’t know! I don’t know what I did! It’s still a biiiig blank up here!” He smacked the side of his head.

“Woah, don’t hit yourself, man.” Jackie reached out and gently moved Chase’s hand downwards. “O-okay, well... if meeting Schneep, JJ, and Marvin has taught me anything, it’s that... villains and heroes aren’t all black and white. So the same thing has to apply to henches, right? You’re still a good person, Chase.”

“What if I wasn’t in the past, though?” Chase whispered, eyes wide.

“Well... then you can change. After all, amnesia is almost like a fresh start, isn’t it?”

Chase didn’t say anything for a second. Frosty climbed up closer, resting his head against Chase’s chest, and Chase absentmindedly petted his fur. “But... I don’t... want a fresh start,” he said quietly. “Not if it means... losing everything from my old life. If it means losing... the two of them.”

“Right... yeah.” Jackie hesitated. “You said you have a wife and kid?”

“Yeah,” Chase breathed. “Marvin’s friend mentioned them. Stacy and Abby. A-and... I feel like... like... I-I don’t know. That sounded familiar. But the memories aren’t there.”

“Well that’s good isn’t it?” Jackie said.

“...I guess.”

“You guess?!” Jackie nudged Chase slightly. “You have family, dude. That’s great! You thought you didn’t, turns out you did, isn’t that great? You have a family!”

“Then why didn’t they come for me?!” Chase suddenly shouted. Frosty jerked back in surprise. “Why didn’t they come for me, Jackie?!” The tears started to fill his eyes again, spilling over. “It’s been over two fucking years! Even if the records were deleted, why didn’t they wonder where I was?! Was I that bad a father? That bad a husband? Did they hate me that much?! Did I do something that they couldn’t forgive me for?! What the fuck did I do, Jackie?! Why didn’t they come for me?! Did they hate me?!” He fell back against the sofa, sobbing. Frosty recovered from his surprise and resumed his position, leaning his whole weight on Chase.

Jackie was speechless. He had no idea what to say. How was he supposed to comfort Chase about something like this? After a few seconds, he just reached out and put his hand on Chase’s shoulder. “They don’t hate you, Chase,” he whispered.

Chase sniffed, wiping his eyes, trying and failing to stop crying. “But—But a-apparently Stacy—my wife she—she left th-the minute she found out about—about the henchman thing. A-and—and that c-can’t be good. Maybe—maybe she—she c-cut contact? Maybe she—”

“Hey, hey, Chase,” Jackie said softly. “You don’t know any of this. You don’t remember, and even if you did, you don’t know what, uh, Stacy has been thinking in the past two years. Maybe she tried to find you, but couldn’t. After all, didn’t you say that Anti-Virus might’ve messed with your records? Maybe—maybe he deleted your phone contacts. Or even Stacy’s contacts. And you didn’t have any social media before this, right? Nothing they found? So... maybe it’s the same for that.”

“What if h-he didn’t, though?” Chase asked. “What if—what if they just don’t want—What if they want to forget about me? What i-if—what if I deserve to be forgotten?”

“Don’t you fucking dare say that,” Jackie said fiercely. Chase looked at him, surprised, still breathing quickly from the crying. “Chase, you are my best friend. You do not deserve to be forgotten. No matter what you did in the past. If you did something really bad, you can still move past that. And, honestly, I feel like if you did something especially evil, someone would’ve recognized you by now, so there’s that, at least.” He gave a little laugh, but Chase just stared at him silently, so Jackie gave up on that. “Look. I don’t know why your family wouldn’t have reached out to you. I can’t... possibly imagine what you’re feeling right now. It’s probably really complicated. But... I’m here. No matter what, I’ll always be here.”

Chase looked at him. “Even if... it turns out I... did something terrible in my past?”

“Well, Marvin’s also done terrible things,” Jackie said. “He admitted to killing someone, remember? And Schneep’s been a thief for years. And JJ—well. Even if he was blackmailed into that, he still did some real bad stuff. Are you saying you’d abandon them because of that?”

“N-no...”

“Exactly.” Jackie nodded. “I may not agree with what Marvin’s done, and I may not have ever done what Schneep did, but... they’re still people. And you’re a person, too. A person who I care about. A person... I don’t want to forget. I-I don’t know how to deal with the family situation. But whatever you want to do about that, I’ll help you with it. Even if you just need me to stay by you.”

Chase started crying again, silent tears this time, trailing down his cheeks. “Th-thanks, Jackie. I... I-I don’t know how to deal with this. I don’t know if I should go looking for them, or... or what. But... thank you. F-for saying all that.”

“Anytime, Chase,” Jackie said quietly. “Is... is there anything I can do for you right now?”

“Hah. I’m just gonna sit here for a minute. Let Frosty do his job.” Chase patted Frosty’s back. “He’s a good boy.”

“He is, he really is.” Jackie smiled slightly. “Hey, uh... are you hungry? We could order pizza. Mara’s does delivery this late.”

Chase laughed quietly. “Yeah. Let’s do that. We can talk about... about the implications later. Like... Anti-Virus and all that.”

“Yeah.” That part in particular gave Jackie a pit in his stomach. The possibility that the villain had messed with Chase before he lost his memory, before all this started... it scared him. But this wasn’t the time to show this. Chase had a lot more to deal with right now. “We’ll talk about that later. I’ll go order the pizza. I left my phone in the other room, I’ll be right back.”

“I’ll be here,” Chase said, still patting Frosty.

Jackie smiled. He stood up and went back into his room, quickly ordering pizza from one of their local places. Then he returned to the living room and turned on the TV, putting on a show for background noise. He could tell Chase appreciated the distraction. And he needed it, himself, too.

Once the pizza arrived, they ate, and then went to their rooms to go to bed. Jackie went to sleep surprisingly quickly, for all that was on his mind. Chase would have lied awake longer, if Frosty hadn’t been a comforting weight by his side, allowing him to drift off and forget about everything he’d forgotten.

#jacksepticeye #jacksepticeye fanfiction #jacksepticegos #septic egos #septic egos au #jacksepticeye au #chase brody #jameson jackson #marvin the magnificent #dr schneeplestein #jackieboy man #brigid writes fanfiction #septicheroesau

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mischiefnevermanaged89-blog · 3 months ago

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Gotta Be Somebody-Part 7

Angel Reyes X Reader

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

My dearest Angel,

I’m writing this in the quiet of the night while everyone is asleep. It’s times like this I miss you the most. I miss how we would sit and stare at the sky all night on my balcony when we couldn’t sleep. I miss you every second of every day. Knowing you’re safe is what keeps me going.

Soon this will all be over and I can see you again. I take any chance I can get to leave compound to do for Adelita in hopes by some chance I’ll get to see you on this side of the border. Sometimes I think I do, but I know it’s my mind playing tricks on me.

You remember my favorite song? Gotta be somebody? All I can think about the last couple of months is how I want to be your somebody and you mine. Don’t tell dad cause he’d kill us both, but I love you, Angel. I know you love me, too. I seen it, that day that I had to leave, in your eyes.

I don’t know what will happen in the days or weeks, hell, even months to come, but I wanted you to know in case something happened to me.

I’ve got to go. Before someone wakes and sees me still awake. Until I can see you again, my angel.

(Y/N)

************************

I sat in the perch of the safe house, taking guard of Miguel’s product for Adelita. She’s started trusting me more and more lately; all thanks to my knowledge of shit from Coco and Gilly. That trust is what I’m hoping works in my favor in the weeks to come. This raid I helped with on dad and the guys is the starting line in my plan.

I was brought out of my thoughts by a whistle from my left. I looked over to see one of the guys motioning at movement in the distance. That was my que to move. It would seem dad gave Miguel my letter and he’s cashing in on that now. I slipped the silencer on my gun as I stood and walked towards the newer recruit.

With his back turned to me, I shot him and was able to catch him before he could fall and alert the others on the ground. I took out a small light from my pocket and clicked it twice, signaling Nestor and his men to begin. Once the gunfire ensued, I ran from my position and started firing.

I managed to get two more of Adelita’s men down before Nestor reached me.

“We meet again.” I said.

“That we do. What’s you’re plan here?”

“Leave me and two others alive. Shoot my arm and punch me so it looks like I was knocked out in the fight and then tie us together before you leave so Adelita finds us. Make sure to knock the others out so they don’t know I was a part of this. I’ll tell her we were ambushed and I was shot at while in the middle of everything and I was attacked from behind and knocked out.”

Nestor nodded. “Ready?”

I nodded in turn. “Yeah.”

After helping Nestor clear out the rest of the men, I helped load the van with Miguel’s product. Nestor showed me proof that dad and the others would get their money once he got back and I nodded. He aimed his gun at me and I felt the bullet pierce through my bicep.

I screamed out in pain. “Oh I’m so whooping your ass in the ring when I get out of this shit!”

Nestor chuckled. “We’ll see. Let’s finish up so I can get your guys paid and Miguel’s product back to him.”

I nodded. “Now, tie me up with those two and get out of here. She’ll know something’s up soon and come to check when I haven’t checked in.”

Nestor did as I told him to then gave me an apologetic look before everything went black.

I woke to the sound of my name being called. I looked around dazed and confused, letting my vision come back into focus.

“What happened?” Adelita asked.

“I don’t know. One minute I’m on perch keeping watch and the next there’s gunfire going off. I was attacked from behind and I don’t know anything else.” I sat up from the bed I was put in and threw my legs over the side.

“Had to be Galindo’s men. Someone is working on the inside here. How else would they know where it was being kept?” Adelita passed back and forth in front of me.

“I don’t know. It’s possible that one of the new recruits could be working for him. I seen a few of them with identical cuts on their left palms. It’s suspicious that suddenly in the last week Mini has found a few more strays on the streets and asked to bring them in.”

“Mini has nothing to do with this.” She yelled.

“I didn’t say she did. But we know how soft and kind hearted she is. She’s still a child and finding someone her age being left on the streets like she was because of the Galindo Cartel, it’s still suspicious. They could be setting us up.”

Adelita stopped and thought about what I said. “You’re right. There was two men left alive with you. Maybe one of them is the rat. We need to find out more information. My best guess is that motorcycle club you raided last week has a big part of it. I intend to find a way to stop them.”

She quickly left the tent and I let out the breath I was holding when she mentioned the club. I had to send a message to Nestor to start preparing. If I knew Adelita, it would be just a few days and we’d be on the move. I grabbed my walkie and swapped channels.

I used the signal I needed to speak. Shortly after, Nestor’s voice come through.

“Yeah.”

“Get ready. She thinks it’s the club. It’ll be a few days. I’ll signal when we move out and to where.”

“Copy.”

I took a deep breath. I had to stop her. I couldn’t let her hurt my dad and family. I couldn’t make my move yet. I had to wait. I began making plans of my own for when the time come.

***************************

Angel

I was sitting at the bar waiting for the rest of the guys to finish up at Templo when my phone rang.

“Yeah.”

“It’s me. I need to talk to Bishop.”

“Aight. Hold up.”

I walked to the door and knocked.

“Yeah!”

“Bish, it’s Nestor.” I replied.

“Come in.”

I walked in and put the phone on speaker so everyone could hear.

“What it is?”

“I just got word from (Y/N). She told me to start getting ready. Said Adelita thinks it was you guys that ambushed the site and took the product back. She said it’ll be a few days, but she’ll let me know when they move out and to where.”

Bishop sighed. “Alright. Wherever it is, I want to know. Knowing my daughter, it’s going to be the final showdown for her to end this.”

“Yeap.”

They hung up the phone and I went to walk out. Before I could get far, Bishop grabbed my wrist.

“Hold on. There’s something we need to discuss with you.”

I nodded. “Okay. What’s up?”

“Take off the kutte and lay it at the end of the table.” Bishop pointed to the far end.

I dropped my head. I knew better than to argue so I did what he told me to. I laid it out, Prospect patch up.

“You’ve done a lot for this club. You’ve done a lot for my daughter. With what’s about to go down, I need to know I have people to have our backs, my back. You’ve shown that the last few months.”

He waved his hand and all of a sudden new patches were laid in front of me on my kutte. I looked at him with a shocked expression.

“Bish, seriously?”

“You’ve earned it, kid. You’ve shown all of us how bad you want this. That’ll you’ll stick your neck out for any one of us. Welcome to the club.” Hank said, slapping my shoulder.

One by one each guy gave me a hug and welcomed me in. Last was Bishop. He hugged me to him and held me there.

“When this shit goes down, I want you by my side. You’re the only other person who loves my (Y/N) as much as me and would kill for her. I want you to protect her at all cost. I brought you in early, don’t make me regret it.”

I shook my head. “I won’t.”

Later that night, I sat up and put my new patches on my kutte. When I was done, I pulled out (Y/N)’s picture and letter she left me and read it again and again. I missed her. I wanted her home. I vowed then I’d make sure she made it home and wouldn’t leave my side again.

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

@ravennaortiz

@spnaquakindgdom

@meera10

#angel reyes #mayans imagine #angel reyes x reader #mayans x reader #mayans mc #mayans fanfic #mayans fx

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soulofapatrick · 2 years ago

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Delirium - Joel Miller x Reader

Summary: Y/N gets injured on patrol and the pain makes you say things you have always wanted to say (I can do a part two if wanted)

Words: 2k

Warnings: swearing; injury; taking pills (literally painkillers)

Y/N’s POV

“FUCK JESSE!” I cry out, trying to wriggle away, not having much of a pain tolerance, but he lays a strong arm over my waist and puts most of his weight on it to keep me steady. I squeeze my eyes shut in agony and I can’t help leaving half moons in his forearm as he stitches the gaping hole in my side. It’s the least of my pain right now, my ankle is either broken or at least sprained while my leg is very much broken.

Jesse decided he had to stitch up my wound first, or I’d bleed out, which means I still have the pain of him resetting my leg to wait for. I’m in so much pain I’m barely self-conscious about being in just my underwear in front of my best friend. We were on patrol when we got jumped by a hoard of 10-20 runners and clickers, and I got thrown off my horse and, of course, tumbled down the most rocky cliff side in the whole area. It was a close one, but we made it and neither of us got bitten, so that’s great but now I’m here in a cabin we don’t know is safe or not; I’m almost butt naked and slipping in and out of consciousness.

We’re staying put because it’s too dangerous for Jesse to try and get me back in the condition I’m in and we’re pretty sure my horse, Cash, would have bolted straight back to town. They’ll send a search party when Cash returns without either of us in tow, so for now I just have to lie here as Jesse tends to me.

I passed out again because I’m waking with a scream of pain and an echoing snap of my leg. Jesse looks up at me from where he’s now sat on the floor with my leg in his warm grip, an apologetic look in his charcoal eyes. His hands move down my leg to my ankle and I begin begging him not to and that it’ll be okay if we leave it. He has to squeeze his eyes shut and taking a deep breath before speaking quietly, “We’ll do it on three, okay?”

“O-Okay.” I nod, hating to see him so mentally hurt by all this and gripping the sheets under me because this is going to hurt even more. I take a deep breath, “O-one,” then another, “Two.” Then I’m screaming again as Jesse popped the bone back into place.

“I’m sorry.” He leans up between my legs and hugs me as tightly as safely possible without opening the stitches or jostling my leg. I hug him back, crying into his shoulder, feeling that familiar light-headedness again and I know he can sense it too because he’s laying me back down, “Sleep, I’ll be right here, okay?”

I nod, gripping his hand tightly in mine as the pain takes over and I’m passing out again.

The sound of a warning shot has me jolting away as Jesse calls into the hallway from where he’s kneeling by my side and his gun aimed at the door. “Who’s there?”

“It’s us Jesse,” I recognise Ellie’s voice and Jesse just falls back against the bed, gun falling to the floor and face in his arms as his knees are brought to my chest. He’s exhausted and I don’t know how long I’ve been out, but from the look of the sky outside, I think I was out for at least half a day. The sun is still rising.

Ellie appears in the doorway, shadowed by Joel as they take in the scene before them. It looks a lot worse than it is as the duvet cover thrown aside, drenched in blood and the sheets I’m laying on splattered with them too, so are my clothes and Jesse’s hands. He used the last of the water to clean the open wounds on my side and the cuts all over my body.

“Check on him,” Joel’s gruff voice brings me back to the land of the living and it dawns me that I’m in my underwear in front of the man I have fallen in love with but his honey eyes don’t show any signs of anything other than concern. Ellie’s guiding Jesse into another room of the cabin while Joel rummages through his pack, pulling out a pair of sweatpants and a shirt. “What hurts?”

I open my mouth to speak but even that hurts too much so Joel calls Jesse back in asking Jesse what happened and I just listen as Jesse’s smooth voice flows like velvet around my pain fogged mind, “We got jumped on the way to the lodge, Cash bolted and Y/N got thrown down the… well she got thrown down the cliff-“

“You mean that?!” Ellie’s pointing out the window at the mountain side that has obvious tracks of blood in the snow as Jesse rubs the back of his neck and nods, “How the fuck-“

“Where is she injured?” Joel cuts Ellie off, as if wanting to get me back as soon as possible.

“I’ve cleaned and stitched up the worse wounds but she’s broken her left leg and her ankle was dislocated, I set them both. I think she’s got a couple of broken ribs, but she won’t tell me.”

“Okay. Jesse, go saddle up, take her pack with you and Ellie, help me get her dressed. We want to get back to Jackson before the storm hits or any permanent damage is done.” Joel directs my two best friends and I feel myself on the verge of passing out again, barely feeling Ellie’s familiar hands on me or Joel’s calloused ones. A rough thumb is on my chin, parting my lips so two pills can be placed on my tongue and then there’s a rim of a bottle. I do as I’m told, swallowing the pills before I’m sitting back on the bed, this time dressed.

The painkillers start to kick in, making me a little delirious by the time I’m sitting on Joel’s horse - Callus - with one of his arms around my waist holding me up as the four of us are on the route home. All I can focus on is Joel’s hand pressed against my stomach, grumbling to myself about there being too many layers between my skin and his hands. I’m leaning back into his comforting body, resting my head on his shoulder and giggling as the snow falling tickles my cheeks.

I’m turning my face to look up at Joel’s cold-flushed one, but he doesn’t look at me. Too busy keeping the horse steady as Jesse’s leading the way back with Ellie behind us. I bring a hand up and lightly scratch his salt and pepper beard; the painkillers getting rid of my verbal filter. It seems as I’m suddenly booping him on the nose and mumbling, “You’re cute. I love you.” It seems it was spoken loud enough for Ellie to let out a choked sound behind us.

Joel’s face finally turns down to look at me with an unreadable expression that has me shrinking in my seat, but my hand doesn’t want to stop gently scratching his beard. He just watches me for a second longer, those beautifully hazel eyes softening before he has to look up a Jesse’s calling to the people on watch to open the gates. He keeps a hold of me as we come to a stop, Maria and Tommy greeting us in the courtyard by the gates, helping me down after he’s jumped off.

I cry out in pain, almost falling face first into the snow, having tried jumping down onto my broken-in-two-places left leg because the pain has generally made me so delirious still. Joel scoops me up bridal style and I’m giggling again, sticking my tongue

out at Jesse, who is shaking his head fondly before he and Ellie disappear to take the horsies home. Joel’s talking to Tommy and Maria as we head towards the building that has been turned into a hospital/infirmary kind of place. I’m not listening to what he’s saying, just watching the way his brow creases with worry and his tongue darts out to wet those pretty lips every so often. My hands moving of its own accord again, moving from where I’ve looped them around his neck to run my thumb over his bottom lip.

He stops talking and meets my gaze, conflict in his eyes as we enter the building. Tommy and Maria are talking to Theo - the doctor dude - while Joel sets me down on the bed but I let out a sound of protest, grabbing his large hand. He signs softly, sitting on the edge of the bed and leaning over me, “Theo needs to check you over, okay? I’ll be right outside talking to Tommy and Maria.” He brushes a strand of my hair out of my eyes and I find myself nodding, eyes slipping shut at the feel of his chapped lips pressed to my forehead before he’s getting up and leaving me to get checked over.

I think I definitely passed out again because the next time I surface I’m no longer in the hospital bed but a very soft one that smells like heaven and there’s a firm body pressed against my side. I groan, stretching until I let out pained hiss the stitches registering with me and the body next to me stirring too.

“Easy now,” His voice is sleep filled and deep, the sound going straight south despite the pain I’m which has me blushing because why does this man have such a hold on me. Turning my head to the right I’m met by those hazel eyes that are rimmed golden in the sunlight streaming through the net curtains. He’s right there, noses almost brushing and breath mingling as we just watch each other. I want to move but I can’t, scared to ruin anything between us, but I don’t have to because he’s cautiously moving closer. His hand that was draped over my waist moves to cradle my cheek while he raises to his elbow so he’s hovering over me with eyes searching for some protest from me and finding nothing.

His lips are gentle and hesitant against mine, thumb and finger gripping my chin and guiding my head as I begin to respond to the kiss and my eyes slide shut. I splay my hands on his bare, toned chest and run them over it, mapping every mole and scar that usually lay hidden under his shirt. He lets out a soft groan and it sends sparks through me but I don’t want this to be rushed, especially with the state I’m in so I pull back a little so I whisper against his lips, “You keep making sounds like that and we’ll be reopening those stitches with the way I jump you.”

It sends a chuckle rumbling through his chest under my hands before his lips are on mine, even more delicately and he’s laying back down while pulling me with him as gently as possible. It works somehow, the cast on my leg removing any pain I thought I’d feel but then again I might just be drunk on everything Joel.

His name slips from my lips like a prayer and his rough fingers are running along my spine, leaving goosebumps in their wake. I don’t want this to end; I don’t want to wake up from this beautiful dream. We have to separate for air but that doesn’t stop my trailing kisses down his throat, nipping at the sensitive skin and hearing how he reacts to every little thing before he’s laying me back down next to him. His chest rising and falling rapidly and those eyes darkened with want as he whispers, “We gotta stop or I won’t be able to.”

“Then don’t.”

“Darling-“

“Joel, you don’t know how long I have wanted this.”

“We have all the time in the world baby girl.”

All the time in the world.

#Joel Miller #Joel Miller smut #Joel Miller x reader #Joel Miller one shot #Joel Miller x y/n #Joel Miller imagine #Joel Miller x you #Joel Miller flulff #Joel Miller fic #Joel Miller fanfic #Joel Miller fanfiction #Pedro pascal smut #Pedro pascal fluff #the last of us #the last of us 2 #the last of us smut #the last of us fluff #the last of us fanfiction

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justagalwhowrites · 1 year ago

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Beskar Doll - Ch. 11: Battleground

The fight has come to Bisneth and it leads to a breaking point that will change things forever. A continuation of Beskar Doll Ch. 1-10, found on Tumblr here.

Pairing: The Mandalorian/Din Djarin x Female Reader

Warnings: Canon typical violence. No use of Y/N. Minors DNI 18+ only

Length: 6.4k

It was surprisingly easy to avoid the Mandalorian while preparing for battle. There was so much to do that you could just find something else when he drew too close or you felt his eyes linger on you for too long.

You really shouldn’t blame him. You’d basically thrown yourself at the man in your sleep and were holding it against him that he wasn’t interested in you the same way you were in him. So he’d seen you as a physical outlet, so what? You were adults, you could give each other orgasm and not have it mean something. He’d made it clear that you were little more than cargo. Friendly cargo, maybe, but cargo. Why were you upset that he was treating you like it?

Everyone in the settlement worked into the night, digging trenches for explosives and reinforcing the hall to withstand attack. You mapped out places for sentinels to perch in the tree line, places that would offer the most safety while getting the most information.

“You should get some sleep,” Keci said eventually as you sat in front of the map you’d drawn in the dirt. You sighed. “We’re all about to shut down. I’m going to set some night patrols, we’ll know if anything goes to shit.”

You looked up, finding Mando easily in the firelight. His damned helmet was so reflective it stood out like a beacon. He was showing someone something you couldn’t see. If you slipped away now, you doubted he’d even notice.

“You need to rest, too,” you said before getting up and offering Keci your arm. She took it and you pulled her to her feet. “This is your fight, your people. You need to make sure you’re not too exhausted to lead.”

“I know,” she smiled. You gave her a nod and started up the hill, the sound of the settlement working together growing quiet as you walked. The stars were bright overhead and you stood in front of your temporary home, looking up at them, remembering just how small you were. Inconsequential.

You went to the bedroom where you’d stored your bag and tried to set up a place to sleep in a corner, one where you’d feel safe. But it didn’t work well. You sighed. You’d gone and gotten yourself dependent on someone else. It had been days - at least - since you’d last slept alone. It was good to try to break the habit now, you’d be on your own again soon enough.

After a while, you gave up on trying to sleep. Instead, you got up and went outside, walking into the woods behind the small house until you found a tree that looked sturdy. It was dark, but you pulled yourself into the thick lower branches, wanting to be up high, close to the sky and all that it held. You weren’t quite sure how long you climbed, but eventually the branches were thin and you could see the haze of starlight. You managed to find a place to be in the branches, somewhere that was somewhat safe though it was still a conscious effort to hold yourself the right way, balancing your weight. You could fall at any time, go crashing to the ground and then it’d all be over.

It was another, oddly comforting, thing to hold your own mortality like that. Alone, inconsequential, a slip away from never longing for home and the dead again. You breathed in the scent of the forest as a star twinkled overhead. At least it was a beautiful galaxy. It had been worth the fight.

You weren’t sure how long you sat there, enveloped by the branches, when you heard him calling for you.

“Mesh’la!” The Mandalorian’s voice sounded strained. You sighed. “If you’re out there, answer!”

You groaned.

“Where else would I be?” You called down.

“Asleep,” he practically stomped over to your tree. You rolled your eyes, looking back at the stars. “I thought I asked you to not get yourself killed. Get down.”

“Still alive, for the record,” you replied. “Don’t need you to babysit me.”

“Doll,” he growled. “If you don’t come down, I will make you come down.”

You ignored him, looking at the stars. Maybe he’d leave if you just stopped answering.

“I’m not joking, Doll,” he said, his voice picking up the same tone he’d had in the city when he’d seen the bruises on your face. “Get down. Now.”

“Fine!” You snapped, turning and starting down, only then truly realizing how high you’d climbed in the darkness. You had to take your time getting down, checking for branches less with your eyes and more with your feet as you worked your way lower. Eventually, you saw the ground and hung from a branch for a second before letting go from higher than you usually would. The force of the landing made you stumble and Mando caught you before you went too far.

“There,” you snapped, looking into his visor, your arm still in his grasp. “Happy? I’m down, I’ll go lay awake and stare at the ceiling for hours since that what the great Mandalorian desires.”

You yanked your arm from his grip, skin tingling where he’d touched you, your body still responding to him the way it had in the morning, longing stretching into your limbs and sinking low in your stomach.

“Don’t know why you act like you care,” you muttered to yourself when you thought he was out of earshot, brushing plants aside with more force than necessary.

“What did you say?” He snapped, coming alongside you so quickly it made you jump.

“Don’t worry about it,” you glared at him.

“Tell me what you said and I won’t.”

You stopped walking and looked at him, eyes narrowed. His chest was rising and falling quickly, his fists clenched. So you’d pissed him off then. Great.

“I said, I don’t know why you act like you care,” you said, chin out. “It’s exhausting. I wish you’d stop.”

“You think I’m acting?” He said, voice dangerously low. He prowled toward you and you took a step back on instinct. In that moment, he was a predator and you were prey. You kept going until your back hit a tree trunk but he met you there, caging you against it, his forearm over your head as he leaned over you. “That I’m pretending to care?”

“Yes,” you hissed. “You just shut down this morning. You left. It’s fine that I was just a warm body to you, I can live with that. But stop acting like you give a shit about what happens to me.”

His hand that was clenched at his side moved so fast that you flinched but he cupped your cheek so gently that it was almost shocking. You instinctively pressed your face into his palm, his fingers stretching over your jaw, into your hair, thumb brushing your lip.

“You think I don’t care what happens to you?” He asked, voice strained. “You believe that I’m not thinking about you - what you’re doing, if you’re safe, what you’re feeling - every second?” His body pressed into yours, pushing you into the rough bark of the tree but you didn’t care. “You think I haven’t been haunted by seeing you hurt? That I don’t want to kill everyone who’s ever laid a hand on you?” His breath was ragged. You swallowed, your hands cautiously going to his waist. His voice dropped to a whisper. “That I haven’t ached to touch you? Does that sound like a man who doesn’t care? I care, Cyare. Far more than I should.”

“You left,” you said softly.

“It has to stop,” his grip on you deepened.

“Why?” You breathed.

“It does,” he said, voice tense. “It wouldn’t work. So it stops. Now. But don’t think it’s because I don’t care.”

He stepped away from you, leaving an ache between your thighs as you fell away from the tree at your back, bark imprinted on the skin of your arms. He took a final, longing look at you and went back to the house.

You gathered your thoughts for a moment before following. Inside, he was kneeling in front of the fireplace, setting it aflame. You frowned.

“What are you doing?”

“You get cold on this planet,” he said, still sounding frustrated. “If you’re not by a fire, you shiver all night.”

“I’m not sleeping in here,” you crossed your arms. He looked over his shoulder at you. You shrugged. “Sorry.”

He sighed and got to his feet, moving to stand almost against you.

“Why.”

“You never ask a question,” you ignored him. “You just make statements, act like you know everything…”

“Doll,” he growled. “Why are you not sleeping in here?”

You shrugged.

“I don’t want to.”

You started to the bedroom you’d picked, hoping that he’d just leave it. He didn’t.

“It’s too open, isn’t it.” His voice was gentle.

You stopped, grinding your teeth. You didn’t want to look back at him.

“Doesn’t matter,” you muttered, still not moving. Your feet felt rooted to the ground, the bedroom only steps away but you couldn’t make yourself go there. He approached you slowly, cautiously, his hand going to your lower back.

“I’ll stay with you,” he said. You could feel him beside you, your body remembering what he felt like between your legs as you came undone.

“I’m not going to force my company on you,” you glared at him.

“I’ll stay with you,” he said again. “Doll. I… care. Don’t make me say it again. Don’t shiver and make me worry all night because you’re stubborn.”

“Fine,” you said eventually. “I need to get my blankets, though.”

“I’ll do it,” he said. “Go sit by the fire.”

You glared at him again but obeyed. The Mandalorian being nice out of pity was worse than him being cold and distant. You might be able to forget how he touched you - or maybe at least hate it - if he was cold to you.

But you settled in front of the fire, anyway, staring into the flames. You weren’t sure what time it was and your body felt tired but you didn’t want to sleep. Din draped the blanket over you before sitting beside you on the ground.

“I’m… sorry,” he said after a moment. You didn’t look at him. “I wasn’t trying…”

“It’s fine,” you cut him off. This was painfully awkward. “You don’t owe me anything.”

He looked into the fire, too. You weren’t sure what to say to him, only that you wanted to tell him something. About the way you felt with his arm brushed yours, how everything was better when you were close to him - something that no one else had ever done. How you were starting to think you didn’t want to go to Dantooine at all, that you wanted to stay with him and do whatever you could to help so long as he was willing to keep you around.

Instead, you just sat in the slightly uncomfortable silence, watching the fire devour the wood. Your head drifted onto his shoulder and he looked down to you.

“You should sleep,” he said after a moment. “I’ll stay with you. You’ll be safe.”

You nodded against his armor. You hated that you believed him.

***

The settlement was as ready as you could make it. Everyone at Bisneth was gathered around several fires, the air full of the tension there always was before a battle. Din knew it well and he knew you did, too.

It had been a chilly two days between you and the Mandalorian. He hated that he’d hurt you by breaking off… whatever there had been between the two of you. He hadn’t let it exist long enough for it to be anything.

Even though you’d been distant, you still gravitated toward him when not doing something else. You seemed to resent it, though. It was like you’d find yourself beside him without thinking about it, your eyes would narrow at nothing in particular, and then you’d go find something to keep you busy. You’d dug trenches, scaled trees - a hobby of yours Din was finding frustrating - or set barricades. But it was done now. The cartel was expected tomorrow and everyone seemed to understand that this was the last night they would all be together. The fight wouldn’t be without casualties.

As had become your habit, you’d settled in beside him, the pair of you sitting on the outskirts.

“You should stay with the vulnerable tomorrow,” Din said after you’d been sitting there in silence for a few minutes. You frowned, eyebrows coming together.

“No,” you said flatly. “Why?”

“Because they’ll need a skilled fighter in case anyone gets through and you have experience protecting people,” he replied. “And you have a better chance of staying alive there.” He knew you were about to protest, but he cut you off. “You need to get them to sign the agreement. You’re the only diplomat here, Doll.”

You went back to staring at the flames.

“You don’t like that,” he said after a moment.

“No,” you said. “And I’m not doing it.”

“Doll,” he growled but your head whipped around to him, eyes narrowed.

“You’re not my commander,” you hissed. “I can back up the hold as needed, I don’t need to hide there. You don’t get to tell me to act like a coward and expect me to obey.”

Before he had a chance to argue with you, Keci slipped around the outside of the ring of people, sitting beside you.

“Do you think we’re ready?” She asked, looking at you. Your face softened before you turned to talk with her, twisting away from Din, seemingly happy to ignore him.

“I do,” you said. Keci looked skeptical. “Really.”

“You probably think we’re crazy,” she said, looking out at the people gathered around fires, sharing food and laughing and dancing. “Fighting this hard for this place. It’s not like we have much here but…”

“No,” you shook your head. “I don’t think you’re crazy. You have the only thing worth fighting for. So many battles over things that don’t matter… credits, power… You’ve got peace here. A quiet, peaceful life with those you love? That’s the only thing worth killing over.” You shrugged. “It’s all I want.”

Keci nodded slowly.

“It just feels small,” she sighed. “But after the war everything feels small.”

You shrugged again.

“The small stuff is what’s important.”

After a while, Keci left and you went back to ignoring Din without an excuse, but for some reason not leaving, either. He wasn’t arguing. He liked being near you - far, far too much. He didn’t mind silence, especially if he got to sit beside you.

“I’m manning a barricade tomorrow,” you said eventually. “You’ll have to deal with it.”

He flinched below his helmet.

“That’s dangerous.”

“I know.”

“So why don’t you care?” He asked, looking at you. You found his eyes beneath his helmet - he almost wished you couldn’t do that with such unnatural skill - and frowned.

“Some things are just worth dying for.” You stood up, brushing off your pants. “I’m going to bed.” You turned to leave but paused before turning back to him. “If I die… do me a favor? Tell my parents I made it somewhere good, that I’m doing well. OK?”

You didn’t wait for him to respond, instead stalking off. Din watched you go, knowing that you would curl up on the floor and not admit that you were cold but would press your body into his in your sleep when he lay beside you.

***

It was about to begin.

The entire settlement had woken up early, everyone tense. If they kept to their usual cadence, the cartel should be there that morning. The almost celebratory mood from the night before was gone, replaced with solemn silence. You helped seal the most vulnerable into the hall and did final checks, readying to take your place at a barricade when the first scout report came in: They were coming.

You were at one of the final barricades before the center of town, ready to pick off runners without real power and try to capture the ones who had control.

It was strange, just how quickly being in battle came back to you. It was like the war had never left you at all. The tension of waiting, the finality on the horizon. Win or lose, there were no half measures. This was it.

You tried not to think about where the Mandalorian was. You couldn’t expect this to go well if you were distracted. The last time you’d been in battle, worrying about someone besides Sosha’s well-being, he’d died. You weren’t going to let that happen again.

Keci fired the first shot. The cartel wound their way up the path to the settlement, growing suspicious at the quiet as they drew near. They didn’t make it as far into the settlement as you’d hoped, but it was enough.

Once the shooting started, it was like an eruption, the fighters screaming and launching themselves at the cartel. You felt it in your stomach when the first body dropped.

You tried to be judicious in your shooting, taking out who looked like the equivalent of infantrymen. One made it to you who was shouting commands over his shoulder.

“Leave him!” You yelled to the man beside you. He gave a stiff nod and you ran out from cover, vibroknife in hand. The target saw you running for him but he was too slow and you were able to duck the one blaster shot he was able to pull off before knocking his weapon free and putting your knife to his throat.

“Move!” You ordered, shoving him out of the line of fire and into a barricade. The woman fighting there pulled him over it and you followed, pinning the man down and holding the knife tighter against him.

“Who’s in charge?” You demanded through gritted teeth.

“Do you really think you can win?” He asked, laughing.

“Who’s in charge?” You pressed the knife tighter. “I’m about to stop asking nicely.”

There was an explosion, one that didn’t sound like it came from where you’d laid the explosives.

“He’s coming,” the man below you smiled.

“So you’re not in charge,” you sighed. “Pity.”

You slit his throat, the man looking genuinely surprised that you’d done it as the life left his eyes. The woman next to you winced as her com came to life.

“East side, east side!” The crackling voice was cut off by blaster fire.

“Shit,” you swore, looking around. The smoke wasn’t far from the hall. You were on the wrong side of it to intercept anyone coming from that side, but you’d have to cross the battle-snarled settlement to get to it.

You looked at the roofline, catching a flash of beskar on a nearby building. You kept your body low and moved quickly before pulling yourself up the building, barely enough foothold to clamber up the side. But you made it to the roof, Din hauling you onto it, rifle still in his grasp.

“Are you OK?” He asked quickly, looking you over.

“I need to get to the hall,” you said.

“I thought you didn’t want to hide in the hall,” he replied. You glared at him.

“They’re blasting their way into town, bypassing the barricades,” you said. “I need to get there.”

He peered over the edge of the building.

“Do you trust me?”

You scoffed.

“Do I have a choice?”

“I’ll clear a path,” he said, looking at you. “I won’t let you get hurt. Just keep moving and trust me.”

“Remember what I said,” you replied after a moment. “My parents…”

“I’ll protect you,” he cut you off.

You gave him a last look and a stiff nod before dropping back down the side of the building, staying tucked against the wall as you waited for a hole. The cartel had to have more than 200 men moving through, the funnel not enough to even the odds.

“Go!” The Mandalorian yelled and you took off, launching yourself over a barricade and into the street. Men dropped in front of you and you heard blaster bolts making connections behind you. You ignored them, focused on moving through the field as quickly as you could. Din kept his word, keeping your path clear until you were through.

You’d barely made it to the hall when you heard a scream from inside. Your eyes went wide. They shouldn’t have been able to make it in.

You ran around the building, crouching low to avoid getting shot, until you found the hole they’d blown in the side of it. They’d brought more charges than you’d anticipated. You drew your blaster and crept inside the opening.

“Please, don’t hurt him!” A woman was sobbing. You slipped into the room, the handful of cartel with their backs to you. A man in the center of the room was holding someone, you couldn’t quite make out who.

“Call off your people!” The man shouted. “And then maybe the boy can live.”

Found the boss then.

You took a quick inventory of your enemies, a total of eight cartel and about 60 civilians, with one cartel you’d need to leave alive. You opened your knife and slipped it up your sleeve. You picked the two cartel you could hit with the lowest risk and fired two shots in quick succession, dropping both of them. The rest of the cartel spun, weapons trained on you - except the leader. As he turned, you saw his weapon to the head of a boy - one who couldn’t have been more than 10. You dropped the blaster and put your hands up. “You’re going to want me alive,” you said before they got a chance to shoot. “And you’re going to want to let him go.”

“Oh yeah?” The leader pressed the weapon tighter to the child’s head.

“Yeah,” you said, voice calm. You stepped forward, arms still raised. A com at the waist of one of the fallen cartel crackled to life.

“They’ve got backup on the ground!” He yelled. “Mandalorian!”

The leader gripped the boy harder.

“Now now,” you said, voice calm. “Let’s not do anything we’ll regret. You heard what’s out there. And that boy? He’s not going to get you anywhere with the Mandalorian.”

It was a lie, you knew. Din would never let a child get hurt.

“So what?” The cartel man snapped. He was stressed.

“I’m the only other off-worlder here,” you said. “Guess why that is? Who I’m here with? You want to get the Mandalorian’s attention? I’m who you want. Let the kid go, take me outside. Maybe we can make a deal.”

“Why are you so eager to cut a deal with me?” He asked, but his grip loosened on the boy.

“Because I know a lost cause when I see one,” you said. “And I want to make it off this rock alive. This isn’t my fight.”

The man considered you for a second, but you were a good liar. You always had been.

“Agreed,” he snapped, shoving the boy toward his mother and turning his blaster to you. You approached him slowly, letting him grab you and pull you into his body. His breath was hot on your ear. “Lets see if your boyfriend will make a deal.”

He shoved you out the way you came, blaster pressed to your head, his lackeys trailing behind him. He walked you to the front of the hall, toward the closest thing the town had to a square. The Mandalorian was already there, his chest rising and falling quickly, blaster drawn but held low when he saw you.

“If you want to leave here alive,” Din said, his voice dangerously low. “You should take the blaster away from her head.”

“I don’t think you’re in a position to negotiate, Mandalorian,” he shouted. You winced, his mouth right by your ear. You adjusted your sleeve slightly, the tip of the blade of your knife slipping into your palm. You raised your hands slowly, exposing the metal to Mando.

“Remember the point,” you said, glancing quickly to your hand then back to Din, hoping he saw what you meant. “What we need.”

He gave you a stiff nod. The cartel leader pressed the blaster harder against your head.

“What you need,” he said, pressing himself into you. “Is to leave here alive. And you’re not doing that without giving me what I want.”

“Start by pointing the blaster at me,” Din said. “I’m not going to shoot you while you have her. Point it at me.”

The man obeyed, aiming for the Mandalorian while pulling you back further into his chest, his arm tight around your body.

You lowered your arms slowly, sliding the knife further forward in your grasp.

“You’re not in the position you think you are,” you said, the handle of the knife slipping into your palm. You looked at Din. “Now!”

He started shooting, aiming for everyone except the man who held you. You took care of him, raising the hand with the knife and thrusting it down, fiercely, into the man’s leg. He let out a scream, instinctively loosening his grip on you, and you pulled the knife free as you broke out of his grasp. You knocked his blaster aside while he was distracted and, in one swift motion, moved to the back of him, shoved him to his knees and pressed your knife to his throat. A dozen cartel lay dead in the square, more shooting and screaming not far away.

“Now,” you said, your lips nearly brushing the man’s ear. “I think it’s time we discuss why you’ll never touch this village again.”

***

You’d made quick work of the leader, laying out the parameters of the agreement with precision. He’d tried to intimidate you, Din’s hand never leaving his blaster, but you hardly seemed to notice. He supposed a drug runner’s posturing was nothing compared to Imperial leadership and he found himself picturing you as a teenaged spy, just a girl holding powerful men in the palm of her hand.

Once you’d forced the cartel’s hand, Din took the leader by blaster point to the remaining fighting, putting an end to it. Keci stood beside him as the remaining men left town, smoke still on the air.

“It’s really over,” she said, almost to herself. Din just gave her a single nod. “We owe you…” He glanced at her.

“No,” he shook his head. “It was… the right thing to do.”

She looked back over the settlement. There were bodies in the streets, some fires still burning.

“Recovery will take some time,” she said. “But we’ll actually be able to get there.”

The cartel gone, Din went looking for you. It took some time but he found you, kneeling next to a body in the square, a man from the settlement who was injured but had survived. You were cleaning a wound at his side, his hand on your shoulder, squeezing it as he winced in pain. He watched you for a moment, the intense focus on your face as you worked. Your sleeve was torn, your upper arm shiny with blood.

Without meaning to, he remembered what you looked like with a blaster to your head. The way his heart clenched in his chest when it looked like you’d been captured. Someone could have stabbed him in the back in that moment and he never would have sensed them coming, he could only focus on you. It was a danger. He’d put you in danger and it was going to get you both killed.

The settlement lost 15 people, small numbers compared to cartel losses but huge when there were fewer than 200 people who lived there. It was going to be a sorrowful time for the people there, a time the Mandalorian didn’t particularly want to stick around for. When the wounded had been tended to, he pulled you aside, the injury at your arm from a blaster shot that had grazed you still open.

“We need to fix your arm,” he nodded to the wound. You frowned at it, like you hadn’t noticed it before. “And we should get back to the Razor Crest.”

You looked at him for a moment.

“Fine,” you said, starting up the path to the home you’d shared while here. He tried not to think about how much it hurt to see you walk away from him, how much it would hurt when it was permanent.

The two of you made your way back to the ship in cool silence, darkness falling as you walked. Keci had tried to convince you to stay for at least another few days, if not forever, but you’d politely declined before hugging her goodbye. Your arm was bandaged now but you’d refused to let Din carry your bag and he was preoccupied by the way it kept snagging on the bandage likely irritating your wound.

He knew what he needed to do now. He couldn’t keep putting you in danger, he was too attached to you to properly protect you. It had been a stupid mistake to get wrapped up in you the way he had. You were cargo and it was time to take you to your destination, where you wouldn’t be shot or have to extract information from slavers or patch up his injuries when he was knocked out. It was the only safe choice.

You weren’t paying attention when he programmed the jump to Dantooine and he didn’t say anything. He wanted to keep you to himself for a bit first, without the goodbye hanging over your heads. You stared out into the stars for a bit before you turned to him.

“Chess?” You asked. It was the first word you’d said in hours. He gave you a nod, and you went into the hold. Din couldn’t focus on the game but he didn’t want to. He was trying to memorize you for when you were gone, the precise way your fingers absently curled around the side of your throat when you were thinking, the way you sat with your back straight and chin high like the crate in the hold was a throne, the way you unknowingly pursed your lips when puzzling something out. The arch of your brow, column of your throat, curve of your breasts. Yes, he’d remember it all.

***

“So where are we going, anyway?” You asked after two days of sullen almost silence from your shipmate. You hated where you’d gotten to. It seemed like, after Layari, you were in a good place. He respected you, wasn’t suspicious of your every move. He might have even liked you. You liked him, more than liked. But the night in Bisneth had taken the first connection you’d had to another person in years and shattered it. You wished you could take it back, even though - as Din went to sleep in his bunk and you stayed on the floor in the hold - you found yourself thinking about it as your fingers slid down your body to where you ached to be touched. It didn’t matter how good he’d felt, how much you wanted to do so much more. That night had broken something you hadn’t even realized you treasured.

The Mandalorian was strangely quiet, even for him, to your question. Instead, he just moved a pawn on the board in front of you.

“Din?” You asked, not bothering to see where he’d placed his piece. “Where are we going? What puck are you after?”

You felt his eyes lift to yours and your mouth went dry.

“Dantooine.”

“No,” you shook your head, resisting the urge to press your hands to your eyes to keep from crying. “No, you have contracts.”

“They can wait,” he shrugged. “I’ve dragged you around enough. It’s time to get you where you need to go.”

“Why now?” You demanded. You were on your feet but you didn’t remember standing. “You weren’t in some big hurry before, why are you taking me now?”

“I told you,” he said, standing up, too, and coming to stand in front of you. “I’ve dragged you around enough. Your father paid more than a fair price for passage. I should have gotten you there sooner.”

“Bantha shit,” you said. “What, you decide to trade me in? Got what you could out of me so you’re going to sell me to the Imps? That why you’ve been so quiet, taking calls in the cockpit? Been negotiating?”

“No,” he said. He didn’t try to defend himself or even sound mad, he just stated it. You knew he wouldn’t do that, he’d never do that to you. But there had to be an explanation for why now. There had to be a reason, even if it was something you knew he’d never do.

You pulled your blaster on him anyway, holding it in front of you and pointing it at his chest.

“I can’t leave you alive,” you said, jaw set firm. A tear slipped down your cheek. “You know too much. It’s too dangerous. It’s too dangerous for my parents, for Sosha, for me.… I have to kill you.”

“You won’t,” he said.

“Try me,” you snapped. “Don’t act naive, Mando. You know that I’ve killed people, you know what I’ve done. Do you think killing you is somehow a bridge too far for someone like me?”

“No,” he said, walking closer to you, slowly, until the barrel of the blaster was against his chest. “But you won’t hurt me. And you know I won’t tell anyone where you are. It’s against the code of the guild. Once the job is done, it never happened. No one will know.”

“It never happened?” you said, gritting your teeth and pressing the blaster harder into his chest. “Really? That’s what you want?”

“It’s the code,” he said. He reached up slowly, his hand covering yours, holding the blaster to his chest. “Are you going to shoot me, Doll? No one will ever give you a clearer shot than this.”

“I hate you,” you seethed at him, ripping the blaster away from his chest. It was lie. But you were good at lying.

“I know,” he said, reaching his hand up to your face, his thumb against your cheek, gloved fingers dipping into your hair. You didn’t want to lean into the contact, didn’t want to want him to keep touching you, but you did. He took his hand back. “We’ll be landing soon. You should make sure you’re packed.”

By the time you joined him in the cockpit, you weren’t crying anymore but he could barely look at you. You thrust a data pad at him, on world coordinates on it.

“That’s not a spaceport,” he said, frowning.

“That’s the point,” you snapped, strapping into the copilot’s seat. “Easier to slip on and off world from farmland.”

He gave you a stiff nod. The planet loomed large in front of you and you wanted to enjoy it. But enjoying what was taking you away from Din and this ship was hard. This is why you didn’t get attached to people. They die or they leave you or you have to leave them. Being alone was better. A man who’s face you’d never seen, who you’d barely touched, and you were trying to keep it together enough to go.

The Mandalorian put the ship down in an open field near a small house. It looked almost idyllic, reminding you a bit of the Naboo countryside. A couple - around your parents’ age - came outside, shielding their eyes with their hands as they watched the Razor Crest touch down. The second the ship was on the ground, you all but jumped up, wanting to cut ties before your eyes betrayed you again.

You grabbed your bag and almost ran down the ramp as it opened, Din following close behind.

The woman, you could tell, was your mother’s cousin. You’d never met her, but the family resemblance was clear.

“You made it!” She said, running to you. She was small, a bit shorter than you, and she reached up and brushed your hair back from your face. “We weren’t sure when to expect you, if you were OK…”

“I’m fine,” you smiled but it didn’t reach your eyes. “My transport just had other jobs to finish first.”

She noticed the Mandalorian then, her eyes going a little wide before looking back to you.

“Thank you for bringing her,” she said, smiling at him. He just gave her a stiff nod. “Would you like to come in?”

“No,” you answered for him, shooting him a glare before looking to the woman. “He doesn’t really like people. Besides, now that I’m here, this never happened. Right?”

He was silent for a moment, staring you down.

“Yes,” he said, voice low.

“Good,” you said cooly.

“Thank you for delivering her safely,” your mother’s cousin smiled kindly, looking back and forth between the two of you. Din nodded to her before looking back to you.

“Take care of yourself, Mesh’la,” he said. You could feel his eyes on you, like he was looking right through you. You weren’t sure if you wanted to shove him back onto his damned ship or run to him with open arms and see if he would catch you and hold you to his chest.

“You too.”

You watched as he went back aboard the Razor Crest, watched until the ship was off the ground, your hair and skirt blowing and twisting in the rush of air as he left, watched until you couldn’t see him anymore. You kept watching where he’d been, like you were waiting for him to come back for you, until the emptiness of your new life swallowed you up and you went inside, refusing to look back again.

#fanfic #mandalorian fanfic #enemies to friends to lovers #din djarin #slow burn #the mandalorian #the mandalorian x reader #the mandalorian x female reader

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