#“since the start” would that mean as far back as when sidestep was first made?

[imposterpuppet]

The conversation you can have with Ortega in regards to the sexual abuse Sidestep can (optionally) have experienced is genuinely haunting to me when you think about the implications of what's said here

[etrangersvoyageant]

About the Dutch election result from last Wednesday

I’ve been working quite a bit on other things, but if you reblog plenty of political themes and follow politics on various stages, you’re sort of bound to say at least something about an election in your own country, right? So let’s go.

Wednesday there was an election for the provinces and water committees. I’m skipping the latter, that stuff never makes the news. Yes, it’s important we manage the water. But no, it shouldn’t have a political colour.

So, the provinces, what’s up with them? Think of them as federal states, but less powerful. In turn, the people elected select members, who will sit in the first house (the senate). Quick history segment: This house was instituted back in the time Belgium was still part of the Netherlands and the Belgians suggested aristocrats should influence politics and the Senate was created. When Belgium and the Netherlands separated, the Senate stayed, but it and its members are less known newsworthy than the second house (think House of Representatives, they who are elected directly). The Senate has 75 seats, the House has 150. Low numbers, perhaps too low, but I might get back to that some time. End segue.

Anyway, dust has settled and it turns out the pro-farmers party (BBB) won all 12 provinces (22% average). An impressive win and although they were surprised, I think most people saw this coming. (Also, 60% of the country is intended for farming. There’s potential constituency if the regular parties fail, you know.)

Thing is trust and satisfaction have been dropping the last few years. The current government, but also the ones before it have failed to make clear decisions – often meandering between putting another committee on a problem, instead of picking a direction. For how long has that been going on? Say 20 years, but things were still okay. However, if problems arise and you still fail to heed the call, you will lose elections and worse, people get angry.

This is where the pro-farmers party comes in, they won seats in the house of representatives during its last election in 2021, because they wanted to voice their concerns about the situation on nitrogen. And ever since then, they’ve only picked up more steam, because the ruling parties made a couple of missteps, but also because there’s a non-political party called the Farmer’s Defence Force.

To go into their workings would make this even longer, so I’ll try to keep this short. They really set the tone when they started striking and protesting heavily last year. They are very keen on keeping things as they are or even making things easier for the farmers. Keywords are: militant, a little crazy and my way or the highway. This disposition also attracted some political parties of the nuttier kind to their protests, which in turn gave the FDF an even more aggressive edge. However, this also led to farmers not showing up, as they didn’t want to align with this brand of politics. A sign there might be a collective goal, but the route to it may differ. BBB isn’t aggressive in their messaging.

As for other results, the left-wing consolidated its seats, which means the current government could also work with them and sidestep the BBB entirely. And lastly, the loss of FVD (whose leader considers himself a believer of conspiracy theories and aligns himself with Orban and Putin), they went from 12 to 2 seats.  Oddly enough he spoke about potential fraud before Wednesday, but didn’t mention it despite his party’s decimation… Something tells me he’s a little afraid of the FDF. He wouldn’t be the first to receive a couple of deposits of manure in his yard.

Conclusion! (Kudos if you made it this far.) The ruling parties of the current government have said they accept the signal given to them by the people and say they are willing to talk to BBB, but time will tell how things go. In the last few decades multiple parties have shown Icarian life cycles. And although those parties were all different, they did lead to people feeling left out and disappointed after they crashed and burnt. On paper, this shouldn’t happen, but the FDF could still play a role, feeling they were part of the success.  One can only hope things can get better.

[themunofprovidence]

I maxed out my tags so that’s why they end abruptly

OK but trans hunter is so funny to me

Cus

There's a few different things to consider here

Are All the grimwalkers trans???

Did Philip Know Caleb was trans??

Or did he make the first grimwalker n be like, hmmm,,,, that's,,, not quite right, must have gotten the spell wrong,,

Only for it to Keep happening

He's also like, a witch hunter christian from the 1600s, maybe he just Assumes it's a grimwalker thing??? His mind can't like, think up any other explanation

And if it always happens

Does he just raise them as boys, does Hunter even know he's trans??? Dudes never been around other kids his age, so like, gender stuff prob just confuses him

Or does belos just like, sit around, waiting for the next grimwalker to come up to him and awkwardly and timidly explain that they would prefer to be seen as a boy actually,

Only to be pleasantly surprised with how well belos took it, not knowing this is the 45th time he's done this

[phoenixyfriend]

When Obi-Wan gets to AotC, there's also about two dozen Anakin clones on-site. They're all girls because... IDK Anakin is trans. They have a hive mind and are developmentally a few years younger than Anakin himself.

It's incredibly unsettling to Obi-Wan.

It's almost definitely a "fuck with Anakin's already fragile mental health" ploy by Palpatine, along with a "what if Jedi Black Widows, for me, a Sith Lord. Wouldn't that be neat? That would be neat."

Anakin is torn between "this freaks me out" and "GANG OF BABY SISTERS LET'S GOOOOOOO."

(I just finished reading Like Real People Do by glimmerglanger, so this is definitely inspired by that and the obligatory 'lay back in bed and daydream variations on plot points of that fic you just really enjoyed,' and also a little by Same Heart, Same Blood by loosingletters.)

They're physically like 14-16 on average, and Anakin's vibrating out of his skin with a million conflicting emotions, but when he tells Padme she's just like "oh, you have a handmaiden gang!"

I told this to @willowcrowned and she suggested:

Once Anakin decides to repress the part of him that’s weirded out and just regard them as baby sisters he gets. A little strange about it The first time one of them dies he may or may not slaughter every person he can [in response to Padme's comment] Anakin starts worrying that he needs to get them cool matching outfits

I also chatted about it with @firebirdeternal and they said:

Gang of Unsettling Smol Siblings is exactly the Karma that Anakin deserves

Do you think the Clones have a kind of Collective Name that they use at first that eventually just kind of morphs into a new last name? Skysisters or something? Like Palpatine was trying to be clever and name them like the Nightsisters.

I initially went with "functionally one person" hive-mind but I'm torn.

I think maybe they're BASICALLY one person on Kamino but drift into Separate Consciousness once they're far enough apart physically that their minds don't blend from proximity anymore.

Then they start Dating (like half of them are dating Fett clones because they grew up with these dudes, it's like childhood friends romance), and Anakin loses his mind about Protecting Them and They're Too Young.

Padme: You're nineteen and we just got married, they can date. Anakin: THEY'RE EIGHT. Padme: And the Fett clones are ten and dying for us in the field. Get them rights before you panic about their love lives.

Firebird:

it could be worse, one of them could imprint on Obi-Wan. "Anakin I promise I won't yell at you for the next five stupid things you do if you can figure out a way to stop this baby from having a crush on me" (I like the idea of Obi-wan bargaining not with "I won't be mad at you ever" because they Both Know That's Not True, and instead haggling with specific allowances. Like he's handing out Stupidity Coupons)

Please imagine Mace and Obi-Wan's personal responses to the idea of suddenly having to deal with not one, not two, but OVER TWENTY SKYWALKERS.

Plo is delighted to take one off their hands.

So is Yoda.

Willow:

Mace is like. okay suicide isn’t the Jedi way but on the other hand. i physically cannot deal with this Yoda: a skywalker, you say? one who is tall enough to reach the top shelf, you say? such a skywalker, bring me

Anakin would be given at least one because fuck you, suffer with us, but he's still a padawan so Ugh, fine, no.

I want to say one stays on Coruscant to hang out with the Guard, and ends up half-adopted by Padme. She keeps dressing up the Aniclone left with her in handmaiden outfits and sending selfies to Anakin.

"Hanging out with the little SiL!"

Anakin has so many issues about WHEN his genetic material was acquired.

And there's some confusion from the Fett clones about how much of a hive mind is normal for Jedi. They are confused that the answer is basically none, and "this is WHY nobody clones a Jedi"

ONE OF THEM STEALS BOBA FROM THE ARENA ON GEONOSIS.

Firebird:

"I have followed in our progenitor's footsteps and acquired a sibling." holds up a struggling Boba "He bites."

Willow:

Ooooo okay so if they have a sort of hive mind then they probably don’t have names other than their designations on Kamino right BUT When they SEPARATE The one that picks Boba up on Geonosis gets a name specifically for that. Okay what if the one Padmé picks up gets some variant on ‘pretty’ because she’s always being dressed up BELLE Maybe Yoda’s Ani has a name that means thief? Because obviously Yoda is using Anakin to steal sweets

So, to make the timeline work...

I don't think anyone would give Anakin one of his sisters until after he's knighted at least.

So obviously when they're doing initial placements none of the sisters go to him or Obi-Wan.

Once he's knighted, of course they're already all placed with someone, and Anakin instead gets Ahsoka. He loves Ahsoka. She is also a little sister. He said so.

At some point afterwards, one of the sisters is left without a place because the Master that was in charge of her died in the field battle.

That sister then gets placed with Obi-Wan, because he's already mostly-successfully raised one Skywalker, so he can do it again.

Anakin gets to hang out with her basically all the time.

Ahsoka is very very jealous of this girl stealing Anakin's attention.

Anakin is oblivious to the rivalry.

He asks Barriss to look after them while he's discussing Adult War Things with Luminara and Obi-Wan, and Barriss gets an eye into This Mess, which is quickly colored by Ahsoka growing a puppy crush on the lovely Miss Offee herself.

Firebird:

Ahsoka: Ah yes, my nemesis. Anisister: Ah yes, my new older sister whom I want to impress so bad.

"I will impress her by being Stoic and Competent" "Oh my god she must think she's so much better than me what a bitch"

Anakin is oblivious to most things to be fair Anakin: Laser focused precision fighting machine who can read the tiniest body movements and predict your moves seconds in advance, who also cannot understand even the most basic social nuance. I was originally writing this as to Dunk on Anakin but then I made myself sad, because none of those things are really his fault.

So you know that post about like, Sasuke and Brooding, specifically in the context of "Brooding" as it's used to refer to Nesting Chickens? Grouchy and protective and sitting on a tennis ball trying to hatch it because they're just. "These are my Babies." Anakin Broods. Baby sisters. Must protecc. "I'm actually fine and extremely deadly in combat." "MUST PROTECT."

Bad Guy: [catches Ahsoka in a Trap] Aniclone: Must rescue sister! Aniclone: [fights, is not winning fight, gets ouched] Ahsoka tearing her way out of Trap: I lived bitch. Also: stay the fuck away from her. [murders so hard]

Ahsoka catches the Protective Older Sib feels by the traditional method: "Hey, only I'm allowed to be mean to them."

Willow:

Oh Anakin has no clue what’s going on. He walks in on Ahsoka glaring at the Ani and is like!!! Little sisters!!! Bonding!!! When Ahsoka was about three seconds away from tossing her out of the airlock. Ahsoka mistakenly assumes that Barriss has a crush on the Ani, and gets even MORE jealous.

Obi-Wan is like oh god. I can’t take care of an Anakin going through puberty again. He’s great with periods and other stuff because he read about a billion books. He is TERRIBLE with everything else, as he was the first time.

Barriss is like???? YOU'RE BOTH CHILDREN, PLEASE CALM DOWN, I HAVE ZERO INTEREST IN DATING ANYONE, LET ALONE SOMEONE YOUR AGE.

IDK how old Obi-Wan's Aniclone is, probably physically the same age as Ahsoka?

Per @atagotiak on discord:

Also something something, similarities btw Anakin and Obi-Wan where like. "Am I a parent? That seems uncomfortable, I'm too young to be a dad to a kid this age, I mean I'm cool with being a mentor/caretaker but..."

Obi-Wan can't even sidestep parenthood this time.

"Is Anakin basically your dad?" "Uhhhhhh" [Muffled discussion] "So Obi-Wan is your dad." "Okay!" "WAIT NO I DIDN'T AGREE TO THIS"

Ahsoka: She's stealing my brother, that BITCH. Obi-Wan's Aniclone: new sister new sister new sister gotta make a good impression

Firebird:

I feel like the Sister Squad would make very effective interstellar espionage agents Even like, kind of by accident. They just get encouraged to branch out in their interests and figure out what they want to do with their lives and end up all over the dang place, and since they're all pretty dang competent they tend to gravitate towards Important Positions wherever they end up. Except for one sister who just retires to raise Space Sheep.

I like that in this AU Palpatine is just like "I will create an army of Loyal Murderers who will obey my every whim and also be a big psychological lever on my Other Pet Murderer," and then they all just Baby Duckling imprint on the first Jedi to be nice to them instead and he has to just be like "Wait no not like that."

AND one of them Steals Boba

I want Obi-Wan's Aniclone to start dating Fives. All the sisters judge her for it, because he's a Goof. A very competent, ARC Trooper goof! But a goof.

Not as goofy as Anakin, though.

Firebird:

Who expects a clone of Anakin Skywalker to not make questionable lifelong romantic choices impulsively?

[lonely-lost-soul]

Little Hope

(Platonic SBI Famliy x child reader)

Request 6: An imagine or Drabble about sbi family x reader where the reader is the newest adoptee to the family and it turns out they sleepwalk! They do random things like moving stuff around, talking to empty air, and can sometimes end up waking up nowhere near their bed. Just harmless shenanigans that might be spooky at first but are ultimately funny and endearing in a way. 

Requested By: @0melodydrifter0​ 

When Phil brought home a little girl wrapped in a blanket Wilbur was pissed, another child his father had adopted that Phil couldn’t take care of, another child that would end up being his and Techno’s duty to raise. However, something was different in his father’s eyes as he held the young girl close to his chest, 

     “Dad?” Wilbur murmured an eyebrow raised suspiciously high on his head, “What’s that?” He watched his father wince a little cradling the toddler closer to him, 

     “Wilbur...this is (Y/n). She’s going to be your new little sister.” Wilbur grits his teeth and felt rage flood through his veins again, not at the little one, no he couldn’t blame the child for his father’s savior complex. “An old friend of mine village was raided, he asked for my help but by the time I got there everyone was dead, everyone except her.” Phil moved some stray hair out from the kid’s eyes, “I couldn’t leave her for dead Wilbur.” Wilbur’s face softened a little bit, now wasn’t the time to argue with his father, especially since he had just lost a friend. 

      “Could I...see her?” He asked hesitantly as Phil knelt down beside one of his eldest, Wilbur noted the girl had flecks of (h/c) hair on her forehead, her face was covered in soot and ash, he noted she had the brightest (e/c) eyes he’s ever seen. She was quiet, very different from Tommy already, she reached up and touched the side of Wilbur’s cheek with a pudgy hand. The boy was done for after that, vowing up and down that he’d be the best big brother in the world to her even if it killed him. 

Much better than Tommy and Techno too. 

Speaking of the first time Tommy and Techno met you it was quite the experience. Tommy basked in the fact of no longer being the youngest member of the family and Techno was quick to remind him the being the middle child was far worse. Tommy had called him a bitch and Phil told him not to curse in front of his sister which he huffed at, swearing to Phil that her first word would be fuck. 

He got hit on the back of his head for that comment. 

Technoblade was indifferent about that situation, saying orphans were cringe and that you smelled bad, Wilbur was okay with both of these outcomes. As he stated earlier he was going to be the favorite brother whether you knew it or not.

By the time you were ten years old Wilbur’s wish had come true, you stuck by his side and were a quiet staple in his life. He also spoiled you rotten, he made you songs and snuck you cookies when Phil wasn’t looking, he’d do anything to see that smile a smile on your face. However, much to his displeasure it seemed that both Technoblade and Tommy were encroaching on his little happy bubble with his sister. 

It started with Technoblade, he noticed you following him around more often than not. At first, the hybrid was annoyed, he’d lock you out of his room and force you away by threatening to cut off your fingers if you didn’t leave him alone. However, that only made you cry and it made Techno panic if Phil heard you crying he’d be a dead man, and if Wilbur heard he’d be double dead. He began to try to hush you frantically, you didn’t calm down until he stated he would hang out with you a little longer. It shut you up immediately, oh you were a sneaky little shit, he could respect that. He decided he read to you if that was alright, you nodded eagerly, and he carried you into his room. You were a kid of few words and Technoblade could respect that, he pulled out a story about some of the ancient Greek Gods and Goddesses. Figuring the Art of War was probably too much for a ten-year-old, surprisingly he enjoyed himself. You were eager to learn and enjoyed the stories way more than he thought you would, okay maybe you bonded just a little. He had taken to calling you Moirai the greek goddess of destiny, not only that but Technoblade had started bringing you gifts from his adventures, something he never did for anyone else.

Therefore Wilbur was feeling VERY threatened and Technoblade LOVED it. 

However, while the both of them were having their little pissing contest they didn’t notice their younger brother swooping in to join the fight for your attention. As the eldest were at war with themselves, Tommy had taken to sneaking you out of the house to cause trouble by his side. After all, no sister of his was going to be boring like Wilbur and Technoblade, she was going to be as awesome as he was if he had anything to say about it. So when he snuck you out one night against their wishes when they were too busy to notice he decided to take full advantage of that opportunity. He adored hearing your enthusiastic giggles as he tore through the forest with you on his shoulders. 

You were typically a very quiet child, so to hear you laugh because of him made Tommy preen with delight. Your fingers were twisted in his blonde locks as you steered him like a horse, it hurt like hell but so long as it kept you steady he really didn’t mind. 

The joy didn’t last long because Wilbur and Technoblade had found them not soon after he escaped their clutches. Techno plucked you off his shoulders and held you in his arms, you let out a little whine of disappointment and Tommy frowned,

     “Oh come on Technoblade don’t be an asshole!” 

     “Don’t curse in front of (Y/n), Tommy.” Wilbur hissed hitting him on the back of his head, “you can’t just run off with her it’s dangerous!”

     “I can protect her just fine you bitch!” 

     “Oh please, you can barely protect yourself.” Technoblade scoffed as you began to play with his pink hair, hating the tense atmosphere. Tommy snarled at his brother and moved to punch him in the chest but Techno was quick to sidestep them, “nice one genius.” 

     “FUCK OFF!”

You let out a displeased whine and covered your ears at the volume Tommy shouted, 

      “Shut up Tommy,” Wilbur hissed “You’re way too loud and you’re upsetting her.”

     “WE WERE HAVING A LOVELY TIME UNTIL YOU FUCKERS RUINED IT!” 

     “Tom-Tom please shush,” You pressed a finger to your mouth in distress, mimicking a hushing movement. His face faltered, his voice lowering in volume as he apologized softly towards you. “Thank you,” a big smile spread across your lips, and all three brothers visibly relaxed.

     “Alright little one,” Wilbur spoke tenderly running a hand through your hair his heart-melting a little as you nuzzled against it. “Let’s get you home, it’s way past your bedtime.” You groaned in distaste falling against Techno’s shoulder with a soft thud, the man chuckled softly as all three brothers walked back home. 

It was about two months after that when your happy facade came crashing down around you, it had been a particularly rough day. Everyone seemed to be busy with one thing or another and you were left to your own devices and thoughts. They all came rushing back to you, the memories of the day your village got raided and your bio parents passed away. Wilbur was the first to notice something was wrong and had asked Phil to check up on you, so when Phil finally got around to ask what was wrong you burst into tears. That’s when they discovered you apparently remembered more of the incident than you let on. It broke their hearts to see you so upset over something you had no control over, but like everyone else in their family of misfits, you blamed yourself for simply surviving the tragedy. 

They had made sure to coddle you the rest of the day, Technoblade had made sure to make you your favorite food for dinner. Phil and Wilbur tried to keep you busy with music and potion brewing and Tommy played some discs to help you fall asleep. You did so smiling and his heart soared, point to Tommy for getting you to fall asleep with a smile. 

Your found family had gathered that night to discuss what they should do with you moving forward. Phil had declared they all do their best to keep you distracted the next few days, preferably in shifts if that was needed. Wilbur offered to spend the morning with you, he wanted to visit Niki and Sally and both of them loved you if anyone would cheer you up they would. Tommy offered the afternoon and he could bring Tubbo over and you all could play soldiers, Techno said he’d handle the nights with Phil. 

Everyone settled into bed to get a much-needed rest, out of all the brothers Technoblade was the lightest sleeper. So when he woke up in a cold sweat with you standing over his bed he almost shit himself. You had a glassy look in your (e/c) eyes, 

     “(Y/n)? What are you doing? Do you know how late it is?” Technoblade scolded reaching out to grab his glasses, you didn’t respond to him which made his nose scrunch up. “Did you have a nightmare?” His voice got quieter as he reached out to cup your cheek, still no response from you. “Kid?” He sat up as you turned away from him to wander back out the door, “what just happened?” He murmured scratching under his chin, he’d have to bring this up tomorrow. 

Wilbur was concerned and immediately wanted to seek a doctor, especially because you had no remembrance of the event. Phil ran a hand through his hair in thought, “could it be sleepwalking?” 

     “(Y/n)’s too cool to sleepwalk. What the fuck do you mean?” Tommy scoffed and you frowned eyebrows furrowing together. 

     “Well it makes sense, doesn’t it? She doesn’t remember walking around but it clearly happened. Hopefully, it was only a one-off occurrence and she’ll never do it again.”

      “Is it bad if I do?” You whispered shuffling on your feet suddenly self-conscious, “Tommy doesn’t seem to think it’s good.” They all glared at the teenager who winced and rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. Phil knelt down in front of you and cupped your cheeks with his hands, 

     “It’s not bad. We just have to take some extra precautions for you is all, it’s perfectly normal especially after the trauma you went through.” You bit your lip and nodded within his hands, “Tommy’s an idiot-”

      “Hey!-

      “That doesn’t make you any less of a person and it doesn’t make you any more abnormal either,” Phil assured as Techno began snickering behind him, he turned his head to shoot him a look.

     “What? It’s just funny assuring her she’s normal when no one in this house is normal.” Technoblade waved his hand, “we’re all a bunch of misfits- don’t give me that look you know it’s true. Half of us are hybrids and the other half are gremlins,” He motioned to Tommy again who made an indigent sound tired of being the butt of everyone’s teasing. “So she’s never gonna be normal, but she’s always gonna be one of us and we’ll kill anyone who even thinks about teasing her.” 

Phil smiled sheepishly sweat gathering on his brow, “Let’s not kill anyone Techno at least not now. Especially if they’re children.”

     “Now, now dad, Technoblade has a point.”

     “Wilbur.” Phil scolded as Tommy’s face lit up, 

     “Can I punch a child?” You burst into laughter at Phil’s horrified expression, 

     “No Tommy. No, you cannot!” 

     “It’s okay papa I give them explicit permission to beat anyone up who fucks with me!” You shouted and Tommy’s face once again lit up, he grabbed you out of Phil’s arms and held you close. 

     “You said Fuck! I’m so proud I’m teaching you so well!” He spun you around only causing you to laugh harder as the older members of your family glared at Tommy, “Now say it again!”

Wilbur plucked you from Tommy’s arms glaring at his brother, “No. No, she won’t say it again. That’s a bad word you can’t say it till you’re older.” A pout settled on your lips as you crossed your arms in frustration. 

     “But Tommy gets to say it all the time.” 

     “And he’s older.” Phil let out a chuckle at Wilbur's response watching you slump forward with a loud groan of absolute torment. 

You didn’t sleepwalk again until a few months later, everyone had relatively assumed it was a one-off occurrence and their watchful eye was lifted. In the meantime Tommy had started to maybe sort of sneak out; he had his bag all packed and planned to meet Tubbo in the park. They both wanted to go monster hunting on their own, it wasn’t their first rodeo but it still wasn’t something he was supposed to do without his dad's permission.

Tommy didn’t give a shit about permission though. 

Obviously. 

He grabbed his sword from its place in the living room, Tommy held it up with a wicked smile. It shone in the dim light and he could see the reflection of his face inside it, it must’ve been freshly polished. Tommy put his sword in its holster and turned around, immediately letting out a startled yelp slapping his hands over his mouth. You were standing behind him eyes glassy as you blinked blearily at him, 

     “(Y/n)?” Tommy whisper hissed glaring at you harshly, “What the fuck are you doing awake?” You didn’t respond, only walking past him reaching for a sword of your own, his eyes widened frantically and steered you away from the sharp weaponry. “Are you sleepwalking?” Tommy asked in mild concern before a smirk came across his face, “Guess I don’t have to worry about you snitching huh?” He slowly led you into Phil’s room opening the door and shoving you in before shutting the door. Tommy made quick work of grabbing everything else needed before heading out of the house to meet up with Tubbo. 

Phil woke up to you standing over him, looming, and it almost sent him into a heart attack. He knew immediately you were sleepwalking, “Oh honey...come ‘ere.” He pulled you into bed with him and watched your eyes drift close and snuggle up to him. At least you were safe with him, so long as you didn’t start unlocking doors and injuring yourself they could handle this. 

After telling the other brothers about the incident last night Wilbur was only growing more concerned about your sleep state. He offered to take you to the doctor but Phil brushed him off, saying that normally this thing sorts themself out on their own. Since he was feeling rather protective Wilbur slept in the living room the next few nights just to make sure you didn’t go wandering off. Plus, Phil seemed to not only approve of but also grateful for the idea; so long as the old man could get much-needed rest he didn’t seem to care. Another week flew by with no problems, and he decided to spend one last night in the living room just to triple-check you weren’t going to sleepwalk. 

He woke up to the sound of a hooting owl and soft banging against the wall, he tossed his hand over the back of the couch and he blinked blearily. Unlike his twin, he didn’t exactly have the razor-sharp reflexes that Technoblade was gifted with. Wilbur grabbed his glasses from the coffee table and shoved them on his face haphazardly. 

What was that noise? Did Tommy sneak out again? He turned towards the opened door and it took a few moments to process why the door was open. Wilbur scratched the top of his head in confusion before his eyes snapped open in blatant realization. He tossed the blankets off the couch and scrambled out the door. Bare footprints were made in the mud leading away from your house, tiny you sized footprints. 

Oh, he was so fucked. How long ago did you leave? Are you alright? It’s so cold and you weren’t wearing shoes.

Wilbur made sure to grab both of your jackets and shoved his feet in his boots before heading out the door. He saw his breath out in front of him and winced you must be so cold, hopefully, you weren’t dead if you were he was totally in big trouble. He followed your footprints until they stopped at the edge of the woods, he looked around frantically and anxiety prickled at his skin. If the trail went cold here there was no way he would be able to find you, what if you woke up in a completely different part of the SMP. Or worse yet what if someone kidnaps you and takes you away from them? 

He entered the woods calling out your name desperately even though you wouldn’t respond if you were still asleep. Wilbur adjusted his glasses noticing a soft trail of broken leaves, he decided it was his best bet to follow them. Eventually, he came to a bit of a clearing in the woods that led up to a large cliff, Wilbur’s heart sunk. He felt his breathing stop as he walked towards the edge of the cliff, slowly like he didn’t want to know if he thinks what happened to you, happened to you. At the very top of the cliff is when he saw it, the bracelet you always wore on your wrist it was made of gold and Technoblade had gifted it to you after an adventure he had with Phil. He pulled the jewelry close to his chest and let out a shaky breath, tears swelled in his eyes as he peeked over the edge of the cliff. The poor boy couldn’t even see the bottom, Phil would have to fly down and search it, he was going to throw up. 

     “Wilby…?” 

Oh god, he could still hear your sweet, little voice. 

     “What are you doing? Are you crying?”

Wait, that was your voice!

He whipped around to find you rubbing your tired eyes, your feet were bare and you were shivering. Wilbur tore through the bush and scooped you up in his arms, cuddling you close to him as he peppered kisses all over your face. “Ewww Wilby stop!” You said through giggles pushing his face away from your own, 

     “I’m so glad you’re alright. You were sleepwalking again, I thought…” His voice cracked a little as you tilted your head. You looked around his shoulder and eyed the cliff wearily, you nuzzled against his neck and squeezed him tightly. 

     “I’m sorry…” 

     “It’s not your fault.” He whispered against you, “let's get you home though alright? Want to have a sleepover with me?”

     “Please. I’m scared I’ll wander off if I sleep alone again.” Wilbur nodded, running his fingers through your messy hair. For a girl your age, it was important to make sure you get a good night's sleep. As he carried you back home you ended up falling back asleep in his arms, he had a lot of time to think. He couldn’t believe that a few years ago he had despised the girl in his arms, thought of you as just another stowaway Phil brought home. You had managed to melt his heart and worm your way into not just his brain but his other brother’s brains as well. You had brought so much joy and happiness into their lives. Before you entered their lives there was arguing every night. Tommy and Techno were always at each other’s throats, Wilbur wasn’t any better, to be honest, but then you were there and everything changed. They had to get along and watch their language around you, you weirdly brought them together. Made them better and he couldn’t imagine what their lives would be like without their little hope.

[helpimhyperfixating]

Spilled Tea - Jotaro x Reader

Word Count: 6235

After a long week, it was finally Friday. College had been gruelling and despite being let out before noon today, it took you until around seven thirty to finish your work in preparation for the next week.

So now here you sat, in your apartment dorm. You were in the comfy chair in the corner, reading a book that you had started to get into last week. Your eyes weren't really cooperating after a full day of working, but you tried nonetheless and read at a comfortable snail's pace.

That was, until about eight thirty when the door was slammed open.

Surprised, you looked up from your book only for your eyes to widen slightly. Stumbling inside was your roommate, her face in the process of being swallowed by her girlfriend.

Working hard to take off each other's coats, they just dumped them on the floor as they never broke their make-out session, not even noticing you were there in the corner since they only had eyes for each other.

As she walked backwards, your roommate took off her girlfriend's shirt and you were quick to turn your head away, placing a hand on the side of your face to act as blinders as you looked at the floor with wide-blown eyes.

Thank god they walked away from the main room and towards their bedroom, allowing you to take a breath of relief.

Your roommate had told you she was going out on a date today and you had even complimented her on her outfit, but you certainly hadn't expected this.

There was an embarrassed blush on your face at what you just witnessed. You were actually pretty sure they didn't even know you were also here. Or your roommate forgot you existed in the heat of the moment.

You wanted to snicker at that, but the noise was stifled in your throat when you heard a thump of a body being pushed against the door, followed by a low moan.

Taking that as your que, you slammed your book closed as your cheeks burned, quickly walking over to the door and putting on your shoes, opening the door and rushing out of your shared apartment with your coat in hand and one shoe still half on. You figured it was probably best to give them some... ahem... privacy.

- - - -

Having properly gotten on your shoe and coat, you were now just walking around on the streets.

The wind was nipping at your exposed skin while all you could really do was stare at the ground as you walked. You knew that you probably shouldn't get back to your apartment dorm for a while.

About a week or so ago, your roommate's girlfriend came by and started happily chatting with you when your roommate was out buying dinner. She was nice and you really liked her, but she tended to overshare a few things. Such as how 'she and Lily hadn't 'done it' in quite a while and once she got her hands on Li, they'd go all night long.'

Just thinking back on that conversation and what you witnessed ten minutes ago made you squirm a bit from embarrassment. If they wanted to do it then they should go for it. You just wished they'd done it not when you were around.

And now here you were. Walking outside in the frigid night air, your path illuminated by street lamps and the moon.

You couldn't walk outside all night long. You knew that. But what options did you have? Go back in a while in the hopes they were done? Go back regardless of whether they were done or not and just toughen it out if they weren't? Go and rent a hotel room for one night and waste your money on that? No, all of those were bad.

Looking up, you noticed your feet had automatically dragged you to the play park on a twenty minute walking distance from campus. You hung out here with Jotaro all the time, standing around quietly or sitting on the swings as you talked, you lightly swinging while Jotaro just swayed a bit.

That's when it hit you. Of course! Maybe you could go to Jotaro! He lived alone. Maybe he wouldn't mind letting you crash on his couch for one night. He wouldn't, right?

Looking at your watch, you raised your brows in a little bit of a panic. It was getting close to nine o'clock now. If you didn't hurry, you would arrive too late and wake him up from sleeping, disturbing his sleep schedule. You really wanted to avoid doing that.

So, with a pep in your step, you started speed-walking in the direction of his apartment complex.

Ten minutes later you stood in front of his door and anxiously knocked on the wood. After a second or so, you heard some shuffling and not long after, the door opened, revealing Jotaro.

He had an annoyed scowl on his face, his hat nowhere in sight as he stood in casual clothes; sweat-pants and a black t-shirt.

"Pipsqueak." His scowl softened a little as he laid his eyes on you, seeing your nervous form in front of him as you looked at the floor.

"H-Hi." You attempted a smile but it came out a little more awkward.

"What are you doing here?" Jotaro asked the question as he crossed his arms over his chest and leaned into the doorpost.

Letting out a breath, you just deflated, slumping over and just looking at the ground defeatedly. "Can I crash at your place tonight? I'd prefer to not go home for today." Raising your head up and straightening your back, you looked up to see him with a raised brow. "I can just take the couch or a chair or even the floor! And if you want I'll be gone as soon as morning comes so you won't even know I'm he-" Jotaro shut you up by putting his finger to your lips.

"Just shut up and come inside." He took a sidestep so you could pass him in the doorway, although you had to say it was a bit of a squeeze, your body accidentally brushing past his as he didn't bother moving out of the doorway to let you in.

Once you were inside, he closed the door behind you and just waited as you took off your coat and shoes, shooing you further into his dorm once you did.

"Sit." He pointed at the couch and you quickly did as he said, sitting down while he went over to his kitchenette, starting to put on a kettle for tea.

There was a bit of an awkward silence as you waited for the water to boil, the two of you too far apart to be able to converse without raising your voice so instead opting to stay silent.

Pretty soon, the kettle was whistling and Jotaro poured two mugs of tea, walking over and setting it down in front of you before placing his own cup down beside it and sitting next to you.

This surprised you slightly since he had always taken a seat opposite to you. To be fair, whenever you came over, you had always sat down in one of the two chairs he had opposite his couch, but still. Your mind drifted to what you saw tonight, what caused you to come here in the first place and for a split second you wondered if Jotaro had other intentions but you quickly shook your head to get that thought out. Jotaro did not like women. Just because you were his friend did not mean he was automatically in love with you.

"You alright?" Jotaro suddenly spoke up from beside you. He had seen your cheeks flush slightly before you shook your head and was curious what that was about. Were you thinking about him?

"Yep!" You squeaked, leaning forward to grab your tea and hiding your face behind the mug and steam. He always had these giant mugs that were perfect for holding and warming your hands on, now functioning even better since you could hide your face behind the massive thing. "Thank you for the tea and for letting me in." You muttered, your lips pressed against the rim of the cup.

Jotaro just hummed in reply before shifting a little so he could face you. "Why did you need to come here? Had a fight with your roommate?"

You lowered the cup a little and rested it on your thigh, laughing a little awkwardly. "Aha, yeah about that. No, I didn't get into a fight, she's still great. Uh, no, Lily went out on a date with her girlfriend tonight and uh, well what I didn't expect was them both coming home, right in the process of... Y'know."

"I know?" He raised his eyebrow at you.

"Y-Yeah, you know..." You stuck out your chin a bit, waving your hand in a circle as if that would make him understand what you were implying.

"Sex?"

"Y-yEs! You don't have to go out and say it so bluntly!" You frantically called out. "And, they were in the process of it, not there yet." You mumbled afterwards as you looked off to the side.

A deep chuckle sounded from your left and you turned your head to see Jotaro giving you a teasing smirk. "I didn't expect you to even know what sex was."

"W-What is that supposed to mean?!" You called back, undignified.

Jotaro just shrugged, the smirk still on his face. "With how you are. I mean, you can't even say the word."

"I-I can say it." You pouted, your cheeks flushing deeply.

"Really? Then say it."

"Why?"

"Say. It." Jotaro leaned towards you, looking into your eyes.

Having him lean so close to you flustered you and you needed to get him to back up lest you explode. "Fine! They were gonna have sex and I didn't want to be there to hear it! There, good?" You broke the eye contact and bashfully looked to your right.

"Mhm." Jotaro hummed in reply, seemingly satisfied as he sat back up, taking a sip of his tea as he leaned into the backrest of the couch. "You should've stayed around, maybe you'd have learned something from it." He commented offhandedly and you snapped your head towards him, your cheeks burning hotter than ever.

"What!? No! I- I- I- No! Just no!" You protested fervently. Either he meant you would be there to listen to their noises or he was implying that you should join them. Neither were one you were up for!

"See? You're too innocent." Jotaro scoffed amusedly, bringing his cup back to his face.

"You're mean." You pouted softly, trying to calm your heart so blood would stop rushing to your face.

"And you're dense." Jotaro retorted and you sent him a questioning glare, getting no answer in return as you just looked at each other in silence. "You can sleep here on the couch." He then said after a bit.

"Thanks." You smiled, having calmed down a little.

"I'll go get you a spare blanket." He put his cup down on the coffee table and got up with a small grunt, walking out of the main room and into the hall, presumably going to his bedroom to get the blanket.

You took a small sip of the steaming tea in the meanwhile, lowering the cup to sit on your thigh again as you waited.

About a minute or two later, Jotaro returned with a thick fluffy blanket in hand and you smiled at him, standing up to make room for the blanket, only to have your smile wiped off your face as that action caused you to tip over your mug.

The scalding tea splashed over your entire stomach and part of your left arm and a panicked and pained noise left your throat, sounding more like a drawn out grunt than a scream.

Jotaro's eyes widened and he immediately rushed over, throwing the blanket on the couch and taking the mug from your right hand, setting it down quickly before placing a hand on your shoulder and one on your good arm, looking you over.

Your breathing was fast and you quickly went to grab the hem of your shirt but Jotaro grabbed your wrist. "Don't!" He said in alarm. "Just stay here." He quickly let you go and rushed over to the kitchenette.

Grabbing a washcloth, he immediately held it under cold water, sending you a glance before quickly turning off the tap, going back over to you.

Your hands were shaking a little as you went to pick at the fabric of your shirt, trying to lift it off for at least some sort of relief. Right as you grasped it, your hand was grabbed instead and you looked up with a start to see Jotaro shaking his head at you, telling you to not do that.

He lifted your hand away from your shirt, crouching in front of you and pressing the wet washcloth to your stomach.

The water started soaking into your shirt, the coolness of it contrasting with the scalding tea, bringing some much needed relief.

Jotaro's hand was on your hip as he used it to be able to put more pressure on the cloth, wringing the water out as he dabbed it across the stain on your belly.

After a bit, he got up and re-watered the cloth before returning to the position he was in before, continuing to dab.

You hissed a little at the pain it brought when he pressed it on again before starting to chuckle through it. "I'm sorry, that was really stupid." You laughed through the pain, hearing Jotaro sigh as he sat in front of you.

"It was."

"Oi!" You lightly pushed his forearm in retaliation but it did nothing as he didn't even move a finger on your hip. "Aren't you supposed to reassure the person in pain instead of agree?"

"For once, you are right about something. I can't undersell that accomplishment." He tilted his head up a little, allowing you to see the small and teasing smirk on his face as he looked at you through his lashes.

"You're mean."

"And you're still dense. Give me your arm." Jotaro released your hip and held out his hand in front of you. You obliged and he grabbed hold of your hand, pulling your arm a little more in front of himself so he could press the washcloth onto your forearm.

After a minute or so, seeing that it was sufficiently cooled down, Jotaro got up from his crouching position.

"Take off your shirt." He said before letting you go and turning around, walking over to the kitchenette and holding the washcloth under the cold water again. He looked back as he was doing that, seeing you still in the same position, yet looking at him with wide eyes. "Take off your shirt, now." He commanded firmly and you started a bit in place. The seriousness and urgency in his voice caused you to hustle and you started to pull your shirt over your head.

As the fabric rubbed past your burnt and irritated skin, you hissed slightly, especially when the cool air rushed past it. Pulling your right arm out of the sleeve, you were just left with your left arm, the wet cloth sticking a bit to your skin. Yet, thanks to the cool water Jotaro had dabbed on it, you managed to peel it off of yourself without doing more damage by taking your skin with it.

You were so focused on getting your shirt off without hurting yourself that you didn't even notice Jotaro had already moved back to standing in front of you.

As he looked down at you, he swallowed audibly, seeing you standing in your bra in front of him. He had momentarily forgotten that if you were to take off your shirt, you would be standing here in front of him like this. He inwardly cursed himself for leaving his hat in his room, making him unable to hide his blushing face. So instead, he opted to just look down.

"Come, it's best to hold your arm directly under the water." Jotaro seemed to appear out of nowhere for you as he grabbed a hold of your right wrist, pulling you with him over to the sink and positioning you in front of it before turning you to your right so you were standing sideways. He turned on the tap and moved your burnt arm under it before letting go.

He got down on his haunches again in front of you, once again taking hold of your hip while now pressing the washcloth to your bare skin.

It was cold and made the muscles of your stomach flinch, making you giggle a bit nervously. Jotaro looked up for a second upon hearing that but he soon averted his eyes back to your stomach, just looking at the scalded skin where the tea hit. Cause damn, looking up at you from this angle he uh...

You had no idea where to put your right arm, just awkwardly holding it crossed over your chest as you looked to what Jotaro was doing. His face was so close to your bare stomach, you were having a really hard time staying composed, trying not to burst from all the blood rushing to your head.

With your awkward position however, your elbow was in front of part of your stomach. So, to help himself and you, Jotaro took hold of your right arm, moving it until your hand was resting on his shoulder, letting go and leaving it there as he placed his hand back on your hip once again; though it was a little bit higher than before, his thumb and pointer finger now 'accidentally' resting above the hem of your pants.

"You really are an idiot sometimes." Jotaro softly sighed, re-wetting the washcloth in the bowl of water he had next to him. You hadn't even seen him get it.

"As much as I want to object to that, I can't." You chuckled, trying your best to appear normal despite being flustered beyond reason. Clearing your throat, you turned your gaze from watching Jotaro's actions to watching the water pouring down on your forearm. "Can- can I turn the water off? My arm is starting to freeze off."

"Leave it for a bit longer." Jotaro commented offhandedly and you bit your lip a bit. It was starting to get really uncomfortable and you were very tempted to just pull it away. Yet you also knew Jotaro wouldn't take your bullshit and would have no problems with shoving your arm under there again.

You suddenly jumped when Jotaro moved to rest his hand on the small of your back. You caught his gaze and he had raised an eyebrow teasingly. It was always a small joke between the two of you how jumpy you were, where Jotaro was always quick to point out when you startled. But right now, while he still had a teasing look in his eyes, he didn't say anything. It might have had something to do with the slightly rosy colour on his cheeks, but then again, how could you blame him? You'd get embarrassed with anyone if you had to do what he was doing for you right now.

Jotaro continued to press the washcloth to your stomach, now spreading his hand flat and keeping it still on your stomach for a bit.

"I'm sorry but I gotta-" You broke the small silence and removed your arm from under the running water, turning the tap off. "Not only is my arm going to get hypothermia, your water bill is gonna be through the roof."

"Don't worry about my bills dumbass. And, while you can get hypothermia, your arm can't."

"Oh, hurr, hurr. Leave me and my burnt arm to make dumb statements. It's been a long day and I'm tired okay?" You pouted a little, looking off to the side.

"Yare yare daze. You're a piece of work. Keep dabbing it." Jotaro put the washcloth in the bowl of water one last time before shoving it in your right hand. With that, he stood up straight, moving away from you and back into the hallway, going to do whatever.

The moment he was out of sight, you burst; letting out the breath you had been unconsciously holding back for god knows how long. Clutching your head, you freaked a bit as you processed what was going on.

You were in your best friend's house, standing in his kitchen in just your bra. Not only that, but he had been gently taking care of you after you were being an idiot! And, though it was most likely the 'having witnessed your roommate going to have sex in the room right next to you', you couldn't help but think of how the position he had been sitting in was very suggestive. Ah! God! Why must you think this way?! He was your best friend! You can't ruin your relationship with him by having a crush on him!

What were you going to do? What were you going to do? What were you going to do?!

"I thought I told you to keep dabbing." Jotaro's voice cut through the silence, scaring your soul out of your body and making you shoot up straight, which in turn made you whine a little in pain since it stretched the skin on your belly.

Jotaro let out a long sigh as he approached. He had a few items in his hand and placed them down on the counter next to him. You noted an ointment that would help with burns, bandaging and a black T-shirt, most likely pulled directly from his drawer.

"It's really not that bad, Jotaro. It was just some hot tea, It's already just a dull pain, I'll be fine tomorrow." You tried, finding the items a little excessive.

"Shut up." Jotaro spoke but as he did, his eyes slowly glid over your exposed torso, almost as if he was taking it all in after stepping away for a bit. Instinctually, you crossed your arms over your chest, making him snap out of his state. "I don't care, I'm putting it on." He spoke nonchalantly, yet there now was a visible blush on his cheeks upon having been caught staring.

"Y-You're putting it on?!"

"Yes, I don't trust you with it." Jotaro tried to clear the atmosphere with his joke but you were too far gone in your embarrassment. So far even that you didn't realise Jotaro had grabbed your arm and the crème until he already started rubbing it on.

"Ah!" You hissed through your teeth, automatically trying to pull your arm away, only to fail heavily because Jotaro still had a firm hold of it.

"Don't squirm, it'll make it harder." He spoke, completely focused on your arm, and you stopped.

His touch was rough with how he was holding onto your arm, yet surprisingly gentle with how carefully he slathered the crème onto your sensitive skin.

"Jotaro... I-" You started but then stopped. You had no idea what to say.

The man in question had raised his gaze when you spoke his name, but diverted his attention again when you didn't continue, instead grabbing the roll of bandaging.

Without a word, he started wrapping it around your burnt arm, making sure to securely pack your entire forearm where you were hit.

"There, now you can move your arm without worrying about being a dumbass and chafing it past stuff."

You opened your mouth to protest, one finger in the air, but then you realised. "Okay yea, that is a thing I would do, you win with this one."

Jotaro scoffed at that and to retaliate, you yanked the little curl that always dangled in front of his face, earning an angry growl from him. Or at least, what you thought was an angry growl.

"Careful, Y/N." He warned and you stuck out your tongue at him. God, he nearly lost his self-control with that. Oh, how he wanted to be able to shut your smart mouth up by slamming his lips to yours, pushing that tongue back in with his own and kissing you until you saw stars and had to cling to him for support. But he refrained himself, instead focusing on putting the burn crème on your stomach.

"If- if you want I can do that myself."

"No." Was his only answer as he crouched back down in front of you. "Put your hands on my shoulders." He then said and you decided to just do as he asked, placing your hands on his shoulders which kept them out of Jotaro's way for him.

Squirting some of the crème on the fingers of his right hand, he grabbed a hold of your hip once more, holding on firmly as he put the cold ointment on your skin.

You once again flinched slightly and before either of you knew what he was doing, Jotaro had placed a featherlight kiss on your stomach to soothe you.

"J-Jotaro?" You squeaked, slightly squeezing his shoulders in surprise.

All the while, Jotaro didn't even notice, for he had whole other things going on in his head. 'FUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCK, WHY DID I DO THAT?!? Fuckfuckfuckfuckfuckfuckfuck.'

His head was tilted down so you wouldn't be able to see his flustered wide-eyed panic. What was he supposed to do now? What the hell did he just do?! Should he pretend it never happened? Own up and continue? Throw you out of his dorm in a panic and hope that would solve things? No, he still wasn't done treating you, he couldn't do that. His eyes drifted back to your stomach where only a small part of it was covered in the crème.

God, it... felt... good though. Feeling your soft skin under his lips, the warmth radiating from your body. He wanted to do it again so bad... Only to then trail his way up until he reached your lips. Looking into your eyes for a moment before pressing his lips to yours in a silent confession, one that you would accept and return with ferver. It was almost as if he could feel the tingling of your lips on his, making his breathing turn a little bit heavier.

A small squeak made him shake himself out of his daydream and he looked up at you as to why you made the noise only for him to choke on his own saliva.

"STAR!"

Jotaro's voice nearly cracked as he jumped to his feet, seeing the Stand kissing you.

The big purple ghost had his hands on the sides of your face, breaking the kiss as he heard Jotaro's panicked cry and looking back over his shoulder questioningly.

Your eyes were just wide; confusion and fright being the main two emotions on your face, though your cheeks were visibly VERY dark from how heavily you were blushing. But then again, who could blame you. You couldn't see Stands and were therefore just kissed by nothing.

Jotaro tried to push the Stand away, but of course, with it being a Stand, his arms just passed right through. Star Platinum understood the command of his user though and he quickly let go of your face, moving back to hover over the counter with a guilty look. Was he not supposed to do that? He felt the desire in Jotaro's soul and mistook it for a command.

"Why did you do that?!" Jotaro damn near yelled at the Stand, panic flooding through his veins. Wait, why was he so panicked? He hadn't even been this panicked during the battle with Dio.

"Ora?" Star Platinum questioned and poked at Jotaro's chest, right where his heart sat.

"Fuck!" He paced a bit, completely lost in his own world and thoughts.

"J-J-Jotaro...?" You softly spoke and Jotaro's breath hitched in his throat as he turned to you. You were still here, ah shit.

You were in the same position Star left you in; wide eyed and leaned back a little, your lips slightly parted in surprise.

"Y/N - fuck - I'm sorry I..."

"What just happened?" Your question shot a jab through his heart. He didn't know exactly how frightened you were but he fucked up big time now. In an immediate response to Jotaro's emotions, Star reached out to touch you with the intent of comforting you but Jotaro was quick to attempt to slap his hand away and the Stand understood what he meant, retreating his hand guiltily again before disappearing into the body of his user.

Jotaro then turned to you again. "I- shit." How on earth was he going to explain this? His breath was a bit sped up as he looked at you, but then he just decided 'fuck it', and stepped up. Placing his hands on either side of your face, mirroring Star Platinum's touch from before, he made you snap out of your state and look at Jotaro standing so close to you, looking deeply into your eyes. "Y/N..."

Without a second to spare, he dipped his head down and pushed his lips against yours, kissing you.

In surprise, your hands shot up to hold his hands that were pressed against your cheeks.

The word 'fuck' played on repeat in Jotaro's mind as he kept his eyes squeezed shut. He hadn't doubted his every action this much in a long time and he was honestly wondering what he was doing. Yet the feeling of your soft lips pressed against his bigger ones felt so good and refrained him from pulling back.

And then, the most amazing thing happened: you started kissing back.

His eyes snapped open when he felt you do that, his surprised gaze focusing on your face. You had your eyes closed, your eyebrows creased in nervousness and Jotaro's gaze softened, his eyes slowly closing again as he carefully tilted your head back a little, allowing him to press his lips a little more firmly against yours.

It was a tentative kiss, just trying to figure out where the both of you stood yet still serving well enough to express the unspoken feelings.

After a few seconds, Jotaro pulled back. He was unable to open his eyes for a second, feeling the aftermath of your lips on his. The small, barely noticeable, yet obviously there, spark that made him wish he could just hold you close and keep his lips pressed against yours forever.

Slowly, his eyes fluttered open to see your eyes still closed, your smaller hands on his big ones with which he still held onto your face.

Jotaro allowed a small yet soft smile to play on his lips, rubbing his thumb over your cheekbone which caused you to open your eyes as well, your pupils shrinking a bit due to the sudden light, only to dilate again as you focused on his face still so close. A tiny shy smile erupted on your face, your fingers wrapping around his for a bit before you nervously glanced off to the side.

"U-Uhm, can I... put on that shirt now?" Your voice was just above a whisper, your adorable awkwardness shining through and causing his chest to swell.

Jotaro chuckled softly and pecked the tip of your nose.

"Just hold it up so I can continue treating your dumb ass."

"Okay." The word was just a whisper. You didn't even have it in you to say a retort or playful insult back.

Knowing he was the reason for your state made Jotaro smirk a little to himself as he let go of your face and turned around to grab the T-shirt. Feeling the fabric in between his fingers for a second before he turned back to you. "Arms up."

"What? No, Jotaro I-"

"Arms up." Jotaro reiterated, clearly not taking no for an answer and you just raised your arms, letting Jotaro slide the shirt over your head. The thing was way too large for you, making it super easy to be pulled over your head by Jotaro. "Make sure it doesn't touch your stomach."

Listening to the man, you held your arms up near your chest at the front and caught the fabric, pulling it down until it was past your bra yet keeping it from going any further. The back of the T-shirt fell down your back and you swallowed heavily as Jotaro now stood before you, looking down at your still exposed belly.

Without another word, he crouched back down, only glancing up at you once before he resumed the position he was in before as if he had never left it, starting up the process of applying the crème again.

"I still think this really isn't necessary, Jotaro. It's really not that bad, it was just tea." You had an awkward smile as you patted his arm, making him glance up for a second before he refocused on what he was doing.

"I don't give a shit. I'm doing it. A burn is a burn." Finally finishing with the crème, Jotaro stood up and washed his hands real quick before turning back to face you as he picked up the bandaging from the counter.

"Yes but bandaging? I don't have third degree burns, Jotaro." You softly quipped, grabbing onto his wrist.

"Maybe, but what are you going to do about it?" He questioned back, a shimmer in his eyes.

"What if I just not let you do it?" You challenged, earning an eyebrow raise from Jotaro.

"You think you'll be able to?"

"Mhm, I think so."

"Really? But what if I. do. this?" He emphasised each word with a movement, lifting his left hand to cup your jaw as he tilted your head so you were looking up at him, leaning down until his lips were ghosting over yours.

"Do what?" You squeaked, trying to keep a brave face, though your burning cheeks sort of gave it away.

Without a word said, Jotaro closed the last bit of the gap, gently kissing you shortly before already moving away, instead moving his lips to right next to your ear. "This." He whispered and you suddenly noticed something had changed.

The moment he broke the kiss, you had felt something around your waist and you now looked down to- "HUH?!"

Your waist was neatly wrapped in white bandaging, not too tight but not too loose either, sitting nicely and protecting your sensitive skin.

Your head snapped up to look at Jotaro, seeing him smirking slyly while you were just confused. "How did you-?"

"I have my ways." He spoke mysteriously. "Maybe I'll tell you someday."

With that, he grasped the rim of the shirt from your hands and pulled it down so that it was covering your stomach again.

As confused and slightly worried as you were with what just happened, you figured you wouldn't get anything from Jotaro anytime soon and thus just decided to leave it be for now. "So, you happy now? Now that I am all bandaged up and taken care of?"

Jotaro cocked his head a little bit, giving you a once over as if he was yet to determine his answer.

You just stood there, almost scared to move under his scrutinising gaze until he suddenly wrapped his arms around you and picked you up, careful of your stomach. You squeaked and clutched onto what part of him you could, just watching bug-eyed as to where he was taking you.

He walked past the couch where the blanket you were going to use was still haphazardly tossed on it, a corner partially unfolded and laying on the floor while a puddle of now cooled down tea lay to the left of it.

With a few steps, Jotaro turned the corner into the hallway, quickly making his way past a door and into a room and you soon realised this was his bedroom.

Your eyes widened slightly and you didn't know what to say or do until he gently placed you down on the far side of the mattress, sliding in beside you almost immediately as he started fixing the blankets.

Once situated, Jotaro then laid down and wrapped his arm around you. Consciously placing it around your midriff, right above the bandaging around your waist and stomach so that he wouldn't hurt you, pulling you a little bit closer as he caged your legs with his own.

"Now I'm happy." He muttered into your hair as he held you close, one arm wrapped around your torso while the other was tracing little patterns on your arm.

All in all, you couldn't believe the things that happened this evening. You left your dorm because your roommate was going to have sex. And now here you were, lying in the bed of your best friend and crush, his arms wrapped around you after the two of you basically confessed to each other because you spilled a giant mug of tea on yourself.

A wild evening indeed.

[biggest-stupidhead]

Levi x Reader where Levi accidentally hurts the reader during a training exercise.

This was so fun to write! Thanks for sending it in, I loved this idea :)

Summary: Levi takes it a bit too far

Word Count: 2.9K

___

It was a sunny afternoon when they arrived. The trio stood up on the small stage elevated above the rest of the regiment. You were transfixed by the way they carried themselves, so unlike the other people that you had met thus far. The youngest one, a boisterous redhead with sparkling green eyes stood proud, chin held high with a dazzling grin. The blonde stood just as tall, his shoulders squared and blue eyes shining with excitement as the squad leader introduced them. However, the third one seemed hardly interested in giving off a warm or inviting greeting. While he stood just as tall, his arms were crossed and his eyes were narrowed as he surveyed the crowd.

"Introduce yourselves." The man said, stepping aside to give them a chance to speak.

"The name's Isabel Magnolia!" The redhead exclaimed as she gave a sloppy salute. You felt the corner of your mouth tug upwards in amusement.

"Farlan Church." The blonde said simply, his hand fell to the right side of his chest and you heard a few soldiers murmur at his small mistake.

"Levi." The other man said, not even bothering to give the salute.

"Dismissed, carry on with your daily training." The squad leader dismissed the soldiers and you found yourself glancing over your shoulder to watch the trio begin their tour of the grounds.

"Say, that dark haired man was rather mysterious." Hange leaned down to comment as she fell into step beside you.

"I'll say, didn't even give his last name!" You agreed as the two of you set off towards the sparring grounds.

"They sure are an interesting bunch." Hange rubbed her hands together and a blush began to blossom on her cheeks. You swatted her bicep and shot her a sharp glare.

"Don't go getting weird ideas now." You scolded and she whimpered dejectedly.

"No need to worry." She patted you square on the back and you jutted your bottom lip out in a pout.

"That's impossible when it comes to you." You scoffed as the two of you rounded the corner and came into the dusty field the scouts used to spar in.

"You're just being dramatic, now let's get started. I sure hope that you've improved since the last time!" With that, the two of you found an empty space and began to spar. You had been partners since your training corps days, seeing that Hange was so much better at it than you, she had offered to give you some pointers.

Towards the end of the afternoon, a few hours before dinner. The trio arrived at the sparring grounds, standing off to the side taking in the sparring soldiers. The redhead rushed fearlessly up to a group of younger girls who were on a short break. She fell seamlessly in with them and even began to spar with them a bit. Farlan gave Levi a clap on the back before jogging over to a group of men and also slipping easily into a conversation.

"Looks like grumpy needs a hand." Hange nudged you and you shook your head.

"Are you insane?! There's no way-"

"Oi! Levi! Over here." Hange yelled over you and waved excitedly at the man who's brows furrowed at the stranger calling out to him like an old friend. When he made no move to join you, a sense of relief filled you, maybe there was hope that you wouldn't have to speak to the grouchy stranger.

That was until Hange snagged your arm and hauled you in his direction. You stumbled after her, a furious blush filling your cheeks and neck as some soldiers looked up at the commotion. She came to a stop a few feet away from him, holding her hand out to him with a bright smile.

"I'm Hange Zoe! And this here is (Y/n), want to spar with us?" Hange introduced the two of you and Levi kicked the toe of his boot into the dust, causing a small cloud to fill the space between you.

"I'd rather not." He said bluntly and you tugged on Hange's jacket.

"See, I told you to leave him be." You hissed and Hange shrugged you off.

"I'm eager to see what you're capable of, and (Y/n) here needs a fresh sparring partner! I'm afraid she's gotten much better than me and you look like the perfect partner!" Hange shoved you closer and you swallowed thickly as his eyes raked up and down your form.

"Not interested." He stayed firm in his previous standing, however Hange was persistent.

"One match, that's all I ask." She held up a finger, glasses glinting in the light.

"If I do this, will you leave me alone?" He growled and you tried to take another step back, not eager to spar with the stranger.

"Of course." Your eyes fell on Hange's back, where her fingers were crossed at the small of her back out of his view. You let out a pathetic whimper at this.

"Fine." He raised his hands up, fists curled tightly as he widened his stance.

"Go get 'em champ." Hange clapped you on the back and you inhaled sharply, mirroring his stance. You weren't one to back down from a challenge, even if you knew you were about to get your ass handed to you.

"Last chance to back out." He warned, and you shook your head, he nodded in response. In the blink of an eye, he rushed you. Despite his short stature, he was rather fast, closing the distance between you in shocking speed. You narrowly dodged his experimental first blow aimed at your face.

You sidestepped him and swung at his exposed stomach, he blocked you effortlessly with his forearm and swiped at your own open abdomen. You weren't nearly fast enough to dodge this one, taking the blow, you used the force of the hit to take a healthy step back. He was relentless, pursuing you and taking another swing at you. This time you were ready, catching his wrist and steering him away from you. Now that you were back in his space, you tugged him closer, bringing your knee up and landing a solid hit to his lower stomach. You felt the rush of air tickle your face as you knocked some wind from his chest.

He grunted and swung again, this time landing a punch right on your chin, you felt the skin split as your ears rang from the impact. Your head fell to the side and you stumbled back, embarrassment flooding through you as the blood ran down your chin.

"Cheap shot." You growled as he stood back, allowing a moment to see if you fell to the ground, thus rendering him the winner.

"No such thing." He countered before stalking towards you. Your vision was still swimming as he began to rapidly attempt to punch you once more. You narrowly dodged them before spotting an opening in his own stance. You didn't even think before putting all your strength into an uppercut, you felt his sternum through his thin shirt and a small surge of pride filled you when he let out a pained grunt.

It was his turn to take a step back, but you remembered the ruthless way he had come at you moments before and you returned the favor, landing two more hits to his stomach before retreating. On your way to a hasty exit, he snagged your bicep in a vice grip, pulling you against him and turning you around, twisting your arm behind your back painfully.

You felt the joints crack as you were forced into the position. His leg swiped your own feet out from underneath you and you tumbled to the ground with him resting the majority of his weight on you. Your mouth was filled with the taste of iron as the gravel bit into the side of your face.

Even though it was clear that he had won, he remained on top of you, twisting your arm further and further. You finally let out an agonized yelp when you felt your arm slip out of its socket. He grunted, seemingly pleased with his work before standing up once more. A crowd had gathered around to look on in horror as he stood over your pitiful form.

"Anyone else?" He growled, chest rising and falling from the exertion of the fight. When nobody said anything, he turned on his heel and stalked back the way that the trio had come from.

"Didn't think so." He mumbled as he pushed past the few soldiers that had crowded around the two of you.

"Levi! Wait up!" Isabel called after him, the pair followed their friend, shooting an almost apologetic glance back at you as you propped yourself up on your good arm. Once they were gone, Hange rushed to your side, pulling you to your feet with concerned eyes. You hissed and pulled free from her grasp and she winced as you cradled your injured arm.

"I told you I didn't want to fight him." You snarled before storming off of the grounds, blood dripping down your face and arm aching. Now you wouldn't be able to participate in the upcoming mission all because some calloused man had taken a fight too far to boost his ego. Not to mention, the only reason you had been put in that position was because your friend had set you up, knowing full well how prideful you were.

--

You skipped dinner, too ashamed to show your face in front of the others. Instead you camped out in the infirmary, arm tied into a sling and chin covered in a massive bandaid. Not to mention the scratches on the right side of your face from being pressed into the coarse dirt.

As you had presumed, the injury that Levi had given you would take more than three weeks to fully heal, meaning you would be exempt from the upcoming expedition in less than two weeks. You were beyond pissed, you had worked so hard, finally improving in your ODM skills. It felt as if all of your hard work had been lost, and now you would have to work even harder to regain that skill after being prescribed rest with little to no training.

Two weeks later you watched the scouts pack up and head out for the expedition, you stood by the stables, glaring holes into the back of Levi's head as he guided his horse from the stall. He didn't even spare you a glance as he mounted the black mare and spurred her to fall into step with the other soldiers who were filing out of the castle gates.

If he lived, you vowed to approach him and give him a stern talking to. Hange snuck up on you, gripping the reins to her horse in one hand and using the other to ruffle your hair.

"See you soon." She promised and you nodded as she walked the mare out of the stables and mounted it, glancing over her shoulder to give you one last small wave. You nodded and cradled your arm in the sling as you watched your squad leave the grounds, the last group to depart.

The grounds felt empty and you felt even emptier as you wondered the halls of the castle on your own. You kept yourself busy with some chores that the doctor had given you the okay of completing. About halfway through the day, rain clouds moved in and began to weep over the dry earth. You stood near the window and gnawed on your cuticles, thinking of all the issues the storm brought that could interfere with the expedition. You could only hope that the rain had missed them and they were making good time.

--

Of course, luck had not been on the scouts side that day. Not that it wasn't surprising. They crawled back to the castle with their tails between their legs, bloodied and mangled. Only the lucky ones made it back alive, others meeting a much worse fate on the other side of the wall. You stood by the door holding it open for the medics as they hauled in the injured. Hange was helping a young woman in, offering you a pained grin as she passed. Your mouth couldn't even begin to return the smile, instead you nodded and closed the door behind her.

Erwin came in last, Levi following him like a shadow, wet hair covering his eyes as he followed the commander obediently. Your eyes narrowed in confusion, last you had checked, Levi had barely been able to look at Erwin without showing a hint of malice.

"Get some rest." Erwin dismissed him and you watched him split off, marching back towards the dining hall. You debated following Erwin and asking how the mission had gone, but the way his blue eyes avoided yours told you that would be a conversation for another time.

So instead you retreated back to your room, going to dinner would be too depressing. Seeing all of the empty seats always broke your heart.

--

It was months later that you found yourself alone with Levi for the first time. It had been an accident of course, you had crept down to the kitchen in search of a glass of water. The raven haired man was seated at one of the long tables, a cup of steaming tea in front of him. You silently closed the door behind yourself and rushed into the kitchen, hoping to quickly get what you came for and retreat.

However as you stood chugging the water, you couldn't help but feel bad for the man. Of course you had heard of the brutal ends his friends had met, and the harsh words that Erwin had given to him afterwards. You felt bad for him, nobody wanted to befriend him except for Hange, especially after what he had done to you and what he had planned to do to your commander.

So carefully, you set the glass in the sink and rounded the counter that separated the kitchen from the dining hall. You felt like you were walking on eggshells as you crossed the room to stand across the table from him.

"I-I should've said this earlier...but I'm sorry about your friends." You stumbled awkwardly over your condolence and Levi glanced up at you. Smokey grey eyes apathetic as always as he met your eyes.

"Wasn't your fault." He responded as he lifted his cup by the rim to his lips.

"No...but I'm sure you miss them. May I?" You asked, gesturing towards the open seat across from him.

"Knock yourself out." He shrugged and you sank into the seat. The two of you sat in silence for a few moments as you grappled for something to talk about, something to lighten the mood.

"Your arm is healed." He commented, nodding towards the arm he had yanked from your socket. You scoffed and rolled your shoulder, still feeling a small pang of soreness in the motion. The doctor had told you that it was unlikely that you would regain full motion anytime soon.

"Somewhat, no thanks to you." You meant it both teasingly and seriously, just because his friends had died didn't mean that he had your full forgiveness yet. You had lost people too after all.

"What was I supposed to do? Kiss it better?" He asked gruffly, lifting his cup for another drink. You let out a bark of laughter, head falling back as you laughed at his crass words.

"Maybe next time." You chuckled and Levi clicked his tongue in response.

"Surprised you think there will be a next time." Levi's brow was raised in slight amusement as you leaned forward on the table and grinned brightly at him.

"I'd like to get a few pointers." You shrugged and he rolled his eyes.

"Based on our last bought, I doubt you can be taught." He grunted and you gasped in offense.

"Oh come on, I did hit you a few times." You giggled and Levi glared at you sharply.

"Who's to say that I didn't let you have those hits?" He set his cup down and you scoffed.

"As if." You rolled your eyes and shot him a playful grin, he shook his head and slowly stood from his seat, moving towards the kitchen.

"Don't get cocky chicken wing." He called over his shoulder and you felt the blood rush to your face and the backs of your ears.

"Chicken wing!?" You stood and chased after him into the kitchen.

"Who came up with that, tell me or so help me-"

"I did." He shrugged as he began rinsing out his cup.

"Oh so you break my arm and then you call me mean names? What an asshole." You leaned against the counter as you watched him wash the tea leaves out of his cup.

"I didn't break your arm." He clarified and you seethed.

"Not the point."

"Do you want my help or not?" He asked, turning to face you, his expression neutral and a tad annoyed.

"Yes....but don't call me that again." You scolded, jabbing a finger in his direction accusingly, he only shrugged and watched you stomp out of the kitchen.

He couldn't help but feel the small tug of affection that filled his chest, after speaking to you he realized just how alike you and Isabel were. This only made things harder for him of course, after losing those two he became determined to remain detached. But now you and Hange were making that hard for him. And if he was honest, he couldn't say he was all that mad about it.

[izzy-b-hands]

12V

Just like that, we're done! A fight, an unseen reunion, then finally the coast, and home.

TW for violence, that gets fairly graphic towards the end. a lil implied steddyhands NSFW in there too.

---

"Can't," Chauncey pants as he approaches them. "Keep a good man down!"

"Good is maybe a bit generous," Stede says. "You're...not necessarily as bad as your brother."

"Not by very many degrees though," Ed adds. "And that's my like, two day assessment. I mostly saw you when you were presumed dead too!"

"I'm bringing you all back in body bags," Chauncey giggles. "You two as well, Fang, Ivan."

"We won't tell anyone," Ivan scoffs. "You act like this is the first homicide we'd be witnessing. Come on, man."

"It isn't up for debate," Chauncey sneers. "Sound carries, and I heard you. I heard you say you'll let them live. How many others have you failed to kill, and kept a secret from us, hm? Stealing my money, my parents' money!"

He's spitting mad now, literally.

"Seems to me though," Izzy says, stripping off his coat and handing it to Stede with a kiss. "That while you may want all of us dead, we also want you dead. You're outnumbered."

Chauncey glares at him, but nods. "True, but what of it? I can feel what my brother had; what Great Grandfather Petyr had! The power of being beyond death, but holding it in your very hands to give to others-"

"Oh boy," Jack mutters. "Look, that's very fun. I think all of us enjoy that feeling now and again, as vamps, yeah?"

Izzy nods when Jack looks at him. He's killing Chauncey no matter what, but let Jack make him feel small first.

"Thing is, when you say it like that," Jack winces. "You come off like a real dick. And you already seem like one, so doubling down on that is not-"

Chauncey charges Jack midsentence, only to have Jack collar him.

"Alright then," Jack smirks. "You really wanna end up like your brother, huh? You know-"

Jack leans in close to Chauncey's face, even as he pulls away. "I think I still have bits of his flesh stuck in my teeth. Why don't you check for me?"

Chauncey scrabbles away as soon as Jack drops him, and everyone laughs at that. How can they not?

"Izzy, I can tell you want him," Jack says. "We're your backup, but you have fun first."

He knows vampires can differ greatly in what abilities being turned grants them, how strong each ability is.

Still, it's extremely satisfying to pick Chauncey up by the arm, and fling him a good ten feet through the air. Strength isn't a bad stat for him then. Good to know.

"Let me return the favor," Chauncey growls and rushes him, but it's a simple matter of sidestepping at the last second to avoid the collision.

"I don't think you will," Izzy says, watching as Chauncey flails to stand again. "There's a reason most vampires won't turn someone so far past the point of a safe turning. You were pretty far past, by my reckoning. And you know it, don't you?"

He keeps his voice even as he kicks Chauncey hard. "You claim all this power or whatnot now, but you're weak. Your body knows it isn't fit to be back. It would start decomposing if it could. You can feel that too, I bet. Have you even fed since he turned you?"

"Shut up," Chauncey mutters.

That earns him another kick, before Izzy picks him up by the arm. "I won't, actually. I'm having a good time."

Chauncey stares him down, but his lip wobbles the slightest bit.

"You're hungry," Izzy continues. "You're cold, colder than you've ever been before. And tired. How long do you think you'll last like this?"

A tear falls down Chauncey's face. "He saved me. I ignored him and his condition for years, and he still saved me. I won't throw that away."

"He's dead," Izzy says softly. "He won't know."

"Izzy," Ed says sharply. "Come on."

"He made his bed," Jack protests. "Now Izzy's gonna murder him in it. That's the way it goes; you know that."

"That doesn't mean there can't be an ounce of mercy," Ed shoots back.

"This is mercy," Izzy interjects. "Ed, I know you aren't fond of the bulk of the killing. I understand. But this is what I've done for years for you. I've gotten them to where Chauncey is now, or something similar since they still lived. You technically have the final blow, but like I've already told you-"

He looks at Chauncey, leaning against him. "I'm the one who really does the killing. And I know what mercy looks like, here."

"I'll give you two options," Izzy says to Chauncey directly, staring into his eyes. "One, you play nice and I'll finish you off easy. You'll get in the van with us, and be a polite prisoner until we find somewhere to stop and pick up a stake. Or even a sharp branch, if you prefer not to wait too long."

"And two?" Chauncey asks. Tears stream down his face, but his quivering lip has become a wild grin. He licks his lips and Izzy can feel the energy radiating off of him. Like holding a wild animal back.

"Two, you keep being an idiotic ass, and I end you here and now," Izzy replies. "Everyone else got a taste of your brother, but I was out cold thanks to his bullet."

Izzy uses his free hand to gesture to the wound on his head. "I think I can shred and rip and rend like the best of them though. And I am incredibly eager for you to give me a chance at it."

Chauncey opens his mouth wide, and in one rapid movement tries to bite down further up Izzy's arm.

He doesn't intend to throw him into the side of the van, but in the heat of the moment that's where Chauncey ends up.

"Careful!" John calls. "We still need that!"

"Sorry!" Izzy winces.

"S'alright, just fuck him up already!" John replies. "Give us a show!"

There's cheers, even from Ed, who seems to have made some peace with the situation.

He stalks over to Chauncey, and hauls him up again. "You miss him, yeah?"

Chauncey nods, and speaks through broken teeth. "If I had known, I would have been different. I should have talked to him more, should have tried, at least."

"Do you believe you'll see him again after death? Your true death, I mean."

Chauncey nods as his eyes shut, and tears roll again.

"Let me finish it," Izzy murmurs. He's sure everyone is wondering what the fuck he's doing, but like he told them:

He knows what mercy looks like. It can change from moment to moment.

One of his first years with Ed, it was sending a final text to a woman's mother with the location of where he dumped the body later. Per the woman's request, asked so sweetly and softly he couldn't say no.

Another year it was an old man approaching him, hobbling out from a nursing home. Fast enough that it was clear he wasn't meant to be out and about at a late hour. He begged Izzy to choose him. Said he knew what he was doing, what sort of person he worked for. He had no family left and only illness for company. They shared a coffee at an all night diner before Izzy drove him home to Ed, to be bloodlet instead of stabbed or bitten. Ed drank his blood from wooden bowls older than all of them, relics they'd left behind now.

This is what mercy is for Chauncey now.

"It hurts," Chauncey sobs. "Doesn't it hurt for you?"

Izzy shakes his head. "I was turned properly, supervised and looked after to ensure it went right."

"I miss Nigel," Chauncey shakes and slips from his hand to the ground.

"Do you want us dead more, or do you want to see your brother more?"

"Nigel."

He tries to make the first bite quick. A hand over Chauncey's mouth as he digs his fangs into the front of Chauncey's neck. The flesh hesitates to let him tear it.

But only for a moment.

He spits out bits of flesh as he goes. He can't eat those, but he can tear them up as much as possible so most of Chauncey won't be found.

Even if he wanted to feed, there's nothing left in Chauncey. He tastes of decay already, sickly sweet then overwhelmingly rancid.

Everyone else goes silent as he bites and tears through gristle. Chauncey's sobs turn to a strangled choke, then nothing.

"I can finish ripping him to bits here," Izzy says to the others as they slowly approach him. He understands the comparison some make of vampires to animals now. He's never felt more like one before.

"Let us help," Olu says. "One person is still a lot, when you're going that far as to try and hide them that way."

"He tastes like shit," Izzy admits. "But I think he was happy, in the end. I asked if he wanted me to give him a second chance to see his brother. He said yes."

Ed nods solemnly. "You did give him mercy."

"Of a kind, yes."

The other vampires join him in a huddle over the body, while their human companions, Fang and Ivan now included, head into the slightly dented van to wait.

---

The sun is nearly starting to rise by the time they rush into the back of the van. Next to nothing remains of Chauncey, scattered in bits of rent flesh near the start of the field.

"I can't wait to sleep in a coffin again," Ed yawns as they settle against each other. "I'm not meant for van living."

"I hear that," Jim sighs. "We aren't far though now, are we?"

"Much closer," John calls back. "Want me to wake you when we get there, even if the sun is still up?"

They exchange glances.

"Why not wait till nightfall?" Lucius asks. "You did save the rest of us from that idiot. Least we could do is let you all sleep until sunset. Besides, we'll have to talk to Jack's contact-"

"Get a hotel room or something for now," Pete adds. "Just rest. The rest of us can handle it."

Izzy nods. "I don't know about the rest of you, but that sounds like the best idea."

He's warm and snug between Ed and Stede, and the idea of having to move any time soon isn't an attractive one.

Besides that, Stede is already half asleep on his shoulder. A golden curl hangs loose near his forehead, and Stede leans into his hand when Izzy goes to brush it back.

He feels Ed relax more against his other side, and he moves his free hand that way. It's not even a second before Ed holds it, his thumb rubbing over the back of Izzy's hand.

There's no protest, and he drifts off as Pete, Buttons, and The Swede double check the coverings over the windows.

--

"Night," John greets them softly, leaning into the van. "Jack, your contact had so much more ready than we expected-"

"Yeah, Black Sam's always had his shit together," Jack chuckles. "Only vampire I know who's 'retired.' Has his blood delivered via some contact at a blood bank like a goddamn pizza or something. He even golfs! At night!"

"He did say to let you all know you're invited to that, actually," John says. "He had a feeling you wouldn't be thrilled."

"Might not be my game, but we could go sit out on a golf cart or two and drink until it's fun," Jack shrugs. "If that's all he wants for him helping us, well. Ain't really asking for that much."

Izzy yawns and nods. "So where are we going then?"

John grins. "Wait till you see her."

The van is parked near a dock, on a gravel and dirt lot. Dark water laps below, the air cool as it shears off the waves.

The replica ship is grand. It sounds archaic as Izzy thinks it, but there's no other word for it.

Something straight out of the Golden Age of Piracy, and not kitschy as he expected. The colors and carvings are ornate. While it might be used as a tourist attraction, it was clearly still built with dedication and care.

"That's our ship?" Ed breathes. "Holy fuck."

"I love her already," Stede grins. "Do we...I mean, are we staying..."

"Lower decks are staff only except for tours," John explains. "So yeah. We get to live on her. No WiFi or all the modern amenities we're used to, but we have a key to that building just over there. They've got staff bathrooms, showers, vending machines, and WiFi if we don't want to keep using up data."

"I had one other really big dream as a kid," Stede says. "Do you know what it was?"

Izzy smiles. "To be a pirate?"

Stede nods. "This is pretty close, yeah?"

"Close as we can get in this age," Ed replies. "Give it time though, it might come back around to these areas again. History doesn't exactly repeat perfectly, but it gets damn close sometimes."

"Everyone else is on board already," John says. "I'm going to head on and get to bed, but I've got the key out on its hook if you need it, and a copy of the instructions for the building alarm and a whole bunch of other stuff Sam typed up for us...even laminated them."

Jack snorts. "I gotta make fun of him for that. He's such a fucking nerd."

"Maybe so, but we owe him," Izzy says. "Shall we?"

Olu, Jim, Jack, and John head towards the entrance ramp for the ship.

But Stede and Ed stay by him, staring up at the looming shape of the ship. Their ship, kind of. At least for some time.

"Think it's got a bed all three of us will fit in at once?" Ed asks.

"You have ideas," Izzy chuckles. "We just woke up and you want back in bed already."

"I do," Ed practically purrs as he wraps his arms around Izzy's waist.

"It's always good to recover from traveling like that," Stede adds, leaning gently back to kiss Ed, then back forward to kiss Izzy. "Besides, we all could use a bath. Get clean and cozy, enjoy the night, each other."

Ed's grinding against his ass, and Stede alternates between snuggling against him and pressing increasingly desperate yet chaste kisses to his cheek.

"Alright," Izzy sighs, and it feels like letting out a breath he'd been holding for far too long. "Let's call it a night."

[glitter-garbage]

12. — thread

Shadowgast, ~1600 words, gen, red thread of destiny, soulmate au (spoilers for the eiselcross arc)

Sent by @quinn-of-aebradore 💜 ...ps: this is not edited at all (one word writing prompts: send me one and a pairing if you like. I might fill them some day!) ---

When Bren learned he had magic, he also learned that he could see things that not everyone did. It wasn’t natural, he had to focus, and later on, he even found out there was an actual spell for it. Still, on more than one occasion growing up, Bren would see the delicate red threads that connected people around him.

“Those mean whoever is connected to you is your soulmate,” his mother explained, “Can you see mine?”

And, sure enough, his mother had a little thread connecting her ankle to Leofric’s. He longed for his own thread to appear, though his mother explained that not everyone had one.

Bren didn’t have to worry, though. He was only fifteen when not one, but two threads connected his ankle to his best friends of all people. By that time, he had already been whisked away to the Academy along with them and the experiences they shared, the successes, the pain, the power, all of that just cemented their connection in his mind.

Until he broke, that is.

After the fire came the Sanatorium, and for eleven years Bren, now Caleb, did not think about that again. Only when he got out did he notice that his ankle was free. Nothing connected him to anyone anymore. It was okay, he was a garbage person. He didn’t deserve love like that anyway.

---

Nott had a red thread. It vanished out to the horizon, and Caleb never saw the thread move in a way that indicated that her soulmate was closer. He wondered if she knew, for a while. Then, he learned the truth. Veth’s soulmate, her husband, kidnapped, imprisoned. He was happy she had met him though, and confident they'd free him. She deserved happiness, he would help her in any way he could.

Two couples in his little group had threads connecting them to each other from the start. Fate worked in mysterious ways, Caleb thought. Beau and Yasha did not seem that close, though Beau’s attraction was obvious, and cringe-worthy at times, but Caleb was sure things would go well for them in the future. Jester and Fjord’s thread almost made his heart break- he had allowed himself to get way too attached to the two, but neither of them were for him, obviously. Destiny had other plans.

Molly did not have any threads, like him. After learning about his past, Caleb wondered if he had gone through something similar to Caleb, the snapping of a thread after a traumatic event. He allowed himself to grow closer to the tiefling tentatively, allowed feelings to bloom slowly. Molly was warm to him, and he thought perhaps it was another form of destiny that would tie them together.

That had been a mistake.

The last one to join their family was Caduceus. He had no thread too, and Caleb had no curiosity about it anymore. His interest in destiny had all but faded.

He loved his friends. He had friends. That was enough, for someone like him.

---

“The Luxon is the basis of how we've been able to free ourselves from the binds of the lineage the Betrayer Gods left for us and to carve our own fates, choose our own paths and sidestep these destinies placed upon us nonchalantly by gods that use us as playthings.”

The Shadowhand was interesting. Dangerous, powerful, enticing. Caleb considered what he said about freedom from destiny, the ability to find your own way. He had certainly strayed from his path, but perhaps that was not the worst thing.

Essek Thelyss, too, had no thread attached to him.

Perhaps because Caleb was no longer obsessing over what destiny had in store for him, perhaps because he was beginning to accept that his own imperfect path was better than the one that had been set for him, Caleb felt empathy towards the drow even after he had betrayed them.

They were so much alike, and Caleb kept his heart more closely guarded now. He did not feel his heart breaking when they learned of Essek's schemes, and that too helped. In any case, he did not see Essek again for a long time. Did not think much about him. There was too much on his plate for that.

---

Astrid smiled at him from across a dinner table and his stomach dropped. Caleb felt the wheels of time turning, felt again like Bren, determined and ambitious and blind to the truth. Eadwulf looked at him with a raised chin, a smirk on his face. He too remained handsome, impossibly so.

When they walked out of Ikithon’s tower, Caleb could make out the thin red thread that still connected their ankles. He thought he was stronger, that perhaps he was ready for this.

“Race you to the top,” said Astrid with a childish smile, before turning back to the tower.

It hurt. He could feel the emptiness of what could have been, what would never be again in a way he hadn’t felt in a long time.

---

Imagine his surprise when arriving at the Vurmas outpost in Eiselcross, the powerful figure of the Shadowhand could not meet his eyes. Imagine his surprise, when he saw his eyes lighting up when they chose him instead of his old teacher to go down into the ruins. Imagine his surprise when he saw Essek battling, using gravity itself as a weapon, and felt only fondness and admiration for the man. When he showed off his tower and saw the same in the drow’s eyes. And attraction, of course. That went without saying.

It all came to a head when, together, they worked to cast a spell that would shorten time itself and give the Nein their much-needed rest.

Thought it might have felt like seconds to their friends, Caleb watched for long moments, holding magic in his palms to assist, as Essek opened a gash through the fabric of space and time. Real fabric, made of threads of all colors that together seemed to make up what he saw as the world around him. Time seemed to stop around them as Essek carefully worked around the fibers.

“This… Have you been able to see this the whole time?” he asked.

Essek’s jaw was clenched and there was sweat running down his forehead, but he nodded, “Not really. It takes a lot of effort to see this. A lot of energy.”

Caleb hesitated but gave in once Essek’s questioning gaze found his for a moment, “I have always seen the red threads. I- I had my own, for a while.”

“Annoying little things,” muttered the drow, focusing again at the slow-going task of weaving time with his bare hands, “There was a time when I hated them more than anything.”

“You used to have yours, too?”

“Hm? No,” said the drow distractedly, “I hated them because I had none, and I thought I should. The Dynasty looks like a tangled web if you watch for them since so many entanglements are made complicated by consecution. But I never had one, and even though I looked for… someone that could perhaps make it appear, it never did.”

He moved his wrist to the side, and the universe seemed to shift with it. Caleb felt a little dizzy.

“But I had never heard of someone who lost theirs. I thought they were supposed to be, ah, perfect,” Essek smirked, “Unless you did what we are doing right now to yours. That is, changing it fundamentally. Somehow, I do not think that is what happened.”

“Nein,” Caleb chuckled wryly and then held himself straighter, keeping the spell steady as Essek continued his labor. “I… strayed from the path, I think. I did something that was not meant to be.”

Essek looked at him like he was the most fascinating thing he had ever seen, even though the elf himself had the building blocks of reality in his hands at the moment. Caleb flushed.

“I think Caduceus would say that you did exactly what you had to do.”

“Maybe so. But isn’t it hard to know that others will have this… this gift, this sure thing while we will not?”

Essek looped a bright white strand against a colorful, prismatic one while he hummed, thinking.

“I felt the same way for decades. But whatever we will have or not, in that sense, will be of our own making. And isn’t that a gift on its own?”

---

The moonlight shone down on the beach, turning the sea a glittering mass of waves. Other than the full moon, magical globes and luminescent beetles illuminated the space around them. Their friends gathered around smiling tearfully in perfect dissonance. Caleb himself felt his heart beating so fast he thought it might leave his ribcage and seek quietude somewhere far away from his anxiety-ridden body. He stood beside Caduceus, who hummed a sweet song under his breath as they waited.

Finally, the glittering door at the end of the path opened, and Essek slipped out, bare feet delicately touching the sand. Jester came from behind him, and once their arms were locked, they walked on slowly, passing their friends and family on the way to Caleb and Caduceus.

He looked stunning in delicate iridescent robes, and Caleb tried to swallow down his anxiety. Violet eyes framed by silver lines, mouth poised in a gentle smile, cheeks flushed, Essek walked slowly until he was face to face with his intended.

Essek reached for his hand, and they stood silently, gazes locked while Caduceus conducted the ceremony. When it was time, Caleb drew a small spool of red thread from his pocket. Gently, he took Essek’s hand in his and tied a knot around his little finger. He offered the spool, and Essek repeated the gesture, biting his lips nervously. Caduceus cut the remaining thread, leaving their hands connected.

“You are now joined together, not by destiny, but by your own choice. I think that’s very nice,” Caduceus smiled placidly until Veth cleared her throat, “Oh yeah. You guys can kiss now.”

Caleb smiled at the phrasing. He lifted his hand, pulling Essek’s forward until the drow was close enough for him to count his freckles. Their hands tingled as he came impossibly closer. Essek’s mouth was warm against his.

For the first time in Caleb's life, he felt destiny favored him.

---

[honeyabyss]

A humans mortality (Lucifer x Mc)

Summary: Mc suddenly realizes their own mortality and it scares them, but Lucifer is there to comfort and reassure. (This was a request by @number-0-iz, hope you like it!)

Warnings: some random demons threatens you, implied anxiety attack

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It had been a while since the day you arrived in Devildom. By now it felt almost like a second home, demons weren't that different from humans at most times.

Sure they still were supernatural beings who are more than capable of snapping you in half without any effort at all, but you always brushed all these small differences away.

Don't think about them! It had been your very first rule to be established for yourself at the start of the exchange year, to help and get more comfortable around these non-human beings. At one point the bad feelings slipped into the back of your mind, only once in a while emerging from it's deep sleep, for example when one of the brothers snapped yet again. But it didn't scare you anymore! You made friends among the demons, something you would have never thought for possible just one year ago, but here you are!

That doesn't mean though that all demons have accepted you...You were after all still a lowly human, just living under the protection of the demon lords. Some of those of lower ranking found it unbelievable. What did you do to make those mighty demons like you?

Some demons gossiped loudly in RADs hallways even when you passed them, some chose to envy you from the shadows, while others, more bolder maybe also less intelligent ones, tried to threaten you, to make you stay away from the beloved yet equally feared brothers. But as they never truly tried anything, due to one of your protectors being around you all the time, you ignored the comments.

It was late in the afternoon and Mammon had ditched you, it wasn't really planned, but someone he was indebted to had recognized him and started chasing him. You had tried to keep up with them, but they were too fast.

Not wanting Mammon to get into trouble for leaving you behind, you made your way back to the House of Lamentation.

The streets were bustling with demons of all kinds, shopping, going home, meeting and talking with others; it felt just like a normal day in a human realm city.

Though most of them were friendly to you, you didn't want to test your luck and briskly walked through the crowded streets, trying to avoid bumping into anyone.

Unfortunately that was deemed to be impossible and so you accidentally walked into a tall demon you didn't recognize, but instantly had a queasy feeling upon seeing his face.

The demon scowled at you, brushing some invisible dirt off the places you touched him.

A meekly muttered apology came from your mouth. You hadn't meant to cause trouble and definitely not to one that looked so dangerous.

The demon didn't respond at first he just stared at you. As you tried to sidestep around the demon, he moved with you, blocking your way forward.

"Where do you think you're going? Trying to escape? You didn't actually think I'd let you run off, right?"

You didn't answer, didn't even know what would be the best to respond now. All you could think of was that he hopefully wouldn't notice how your heart raced in fear.

"All alone today? None of the brothers are accompanying you? Have they finally realised how worthless you are? Maybe I should do them a favour and get rid of you for the sake of all of us?"

Your eyes were wide open, adrenaline pumping through your veins and your instinct told you to run, to run now, to run fast and to run far in hopes of escape, but your mind told you otherwise, you were no match to a fully grown demon, not even to a small one, running wouldn't help you.

You had always known that demons were demons, that there were distinct differences between your races, yet you pushed them away, for the sake of the exchange year you braved your way through the daily stress in hell, forgetting a small but important fact: you were very much still just a mortal.

Your own heartbeat resonated in your ears, blocking every other sound out, your hands felt clammy with the cold sweat of fear and your eyes didn't seem to be able to focus on anything. You were in absolute shock, desperately trying to find a way out of the situation.

The demon wraps his hand tightly around your wrist, but before he can start pulling you away another hand interferes, freeing you from your captor's bruising grip.

Lucifer is standing between you and the demon looking furious, he is yelling at the startled lower ranking demon in front of him, but you can't make out what he is saying as you're still in your stupor.

Your mind is still racing over time when Lucifer is starting to gently guide you back home. No words are said, and if he did, you didn't notice too caught up in your thoughts.

"I could have died...", you whisper after what feels like an hour later.

"But you're not. You're safe now. I won't let anything like that ever happen again to you.", Lucifer answers having heard your whispering. His hand is still holding yours so gently as if it were going to shatter at any moment.

Your head turns slowly towards him, only now you realize that you were sitting on the sofa in his room, when you had made it here you couldn't really remember. Everything seemed to be a blur.

With the knowledge of finally being at a safe place, your body decides to break down. Tears start to stream down your face and your whole body shakes with every sob. Lucifer's arms wrap around you, holding you firmly, yet not painful, against his chest, one of his hands continuously stroking over your head to comfort you.

Your hands grip the material of his shirt so tight that your knuckles turn white as you sob in the comfort of his arms.

"I-I could have died...I don't want to! I'm scared!", the more you think about it the more scared you get, and speaking it out loud doesn't help calm you down either. Your breathing is getting short and erratic, transporting only enough air into your lungs to stay conscious. The cold feeling of fear keeps spreading throughout your body, trying to consume you completely, only stopping at Lucifer's words.

"Don't be scared...I'm here with you. Let's calm down first before you hyperventilate...", his voice is low and soothing, slowly helping you to normalize your breathing yet a few sobs are still coming through every now and then.

"I'm not going to pretend I know how terrifying the thought of dying is...demons usually don't have to worry about that after all, but I experienced how much it hurts to lose a person, so I might know at least a bit more than others....Death...is inevitable for human beings. You may have a short life, but I believe you also get to spend the most beautiful ones."

You silently listen to him still wrapped up in his warm hug while you hide your tearstained face in his chest.

"The life of a demon can become quite lonely and boring sometimes, after all, living for multiple millennials is a long time, maybe even too long...A thing I enjoy today, might become the most boring thing in the next centuries. Trying to find new stuff to enjoy can be hard and you become unmotivated and sometimes demons even become numb to all joy...If it weren't for my troublesome brothers...it might have already happened to me as well", he lets out a small chuckle before continuing, "anyway, what I mean to tell you is that though your life is short, humans live their life to the fullest, getting to enjoy many different things, never having to worry about something becoming less entertaining in the next century. While humans live in the now, demons tend to forget this and either dwell in memories of the past or the worries of the future. A flower's beauty comes from their inevitability of wilting, because the short time of their lives when they blossom is also the part where they are loved the most! Maybe that is why humans have to die, their colours are too vibrant and beautiful to exist forever."

While attempting at comforting you, he was probably the most open and vulnerable he had ever been, but he didn't seem to mind, as long as it helped you he was happy.

"But your life isn't over yet, not even close to the end...I promise to protect you until your very last breath. And when the time comes to say goodbye to this world I'll be with you holding your hand, making sure you're okay. And afterwards, even when centuries have gone by, I will never forget you, you will live on in my memories forever. I promise you!"

[draggingthedregs]

Hello! I love your writing so much! Can you write some kanej with Kaz being protective of Inej? If not that’s completely fine :) thank u!

a/n: okay so I always really struggle with “protective Kaz” things because I feel like he knows that she can most definitely take care of herself and he respects her for that. So this is what I came up with to try and meet in the middle. There’s that scene in Six of Crows where Kaz sends Inej to get rid of Rojakke (is that how you spell it? Idk he was in one scene, his name is not the point) and then when they’re back in his office that night he asks like “Did he put up a fight?” and she says “Nothing I couldn’t handle” and he says “Not what I asked” so thats where the idea for this came from, thank you bye. 

word count: 2634

There was something about the floor of the Crow Club that set Kaz at ease.

Its endless cacophony of coins bouncing from table to floor, the spinning of Makkers Wheel, the laughter floating onto the street, and, his personal favorite, the flipping that only accompanied a deck of cards. Somedays he thought he’d be content to shuffle at a table forever.

It was then that Inej pushed through the entryway, shaking off the rain that rarely ceased to pour over the crowded city. She pulled her hood down, her inky hair braided into a long rope laying against her shoulder. Kaz traced every inch of her, as he often did when she entered a room: the slope of her nose, the smile she flashed to the greetings shouted in her direction, the knives strapped to her hips. He tried to ignore the voice in the back of his head that reminded him he’d also be content to be with her forever.

There were times he hated the things that he would notice, hated how his brain slipped past the innocent intention of watching to a sinister place of touch and consequence. He flipped the thoughts over in his head, studying them from every angle like he would a card trick, trying to mold them into different pictures. But the images froze in place anyway; the feel of her skin against his burned like fire, even in an illusion.

Most of all, he hated that he couldn’t force these delusions into reality, couldn’t touch her how he wanted, couldn’t force the bile down and only feel Inej’s warmth.  

As she approached him, nodding to the private game rooms at the back of the club, giving him a clear view of her, he saw that something was amiss. Scarlet bloomed through her vest and onto her sleeve, trailing down to her thigh. He followed her, shutting the heavy door behind them and turning its complex series of locks. She’s upright. That’s all you should care about. 

“The Exchange was crawling with Stadwatch. Security must be tight since the incident.” 

“Did they see you?”

Inej practically scoffed, leaning her weight against the wooden table. “No. But I’m sure they’ll find someone who fits their bill. You know as well as I do, the council will want this quieted soon.”

Kaz nodded. Two weeks ago, the Exchange had been robbed, and though it was never publicly released, Kaz knew exactly what was stolen. After all, he had all the stocks and shipment papers locked in his safe as they spoke. 

Roeder had been the one to pull off the job originally, this being one of the few things Kaz had required a spider for while she was busy at sea. He had done a mediocre job, but he was sloppy with locks and leaving the place as he’d found it. Going back to the scene of the crime seemed too risky a gamble but when Inej returned, she knew she could scrape it. And Kaz wasn’t going to start doubting the Wraith’s abilities now. 

He flipped through the file she handed him. To anyone else, it may have looked useless, just pages and pages of numbers and times, scratchy handwritten tables filled with nonsense. But to him, and to a mercher with half a whit, this was key to investing. With the talleys and dates in hand, he would know what shipments to bank on and where to place his shares for the next few months. 

“As always, the Wraith pulls through.”

Inej nodded and pulled her hood up once more. “You’re welcome.”

Kaz gave her another once over, slower than intended. “What happened?” He blurted, his voice sounding like a low growl in his throat.  

Inej looked down at herself, brows knitted, studying the blood on her trousers. “Bullet or two from a guard just shooting at shadows.” With her brief summary of events, she took her weight off the table, readying herself for the journey back into the wet.

Kaz felt a sinking in his chest at the thought of her walking away from him, even if it was just to her apartment, and he hated himself for it. Now especially with her covered in blood, he couldn’t stomach the thought of her leaving. Without meaning to, he had taken himself back to before she had left.

It had been Inej’s last night before heading to sea when they had tried to pretend they were normal, that there wasn’t still so much between them. Kaz sat next to her on his bed, bad leg out in front of him, avoiding her gaze. 

“We don’t have to do this at all.”

But he did. Kaz had to prove that he had come further than this. I can best this… 

When she set sail the next morning, the feeling of failure settled deep within him, right beside the feeling that this time, he may never get her back from the sea. 

Now, he couldn’t help but stop her. “Inej-” he began. 

She turned, her hand resting on the doors heavy handle.

He made up the steps between them to stand beside her. Kaz forced himself to give any semblance of explanation, knowing that he’d promised to give her what she deserved and knowing that he was currently failing. “Let me walk with you.”

Inej nodded, dropping her hand as Kaz unlocked the door and opened it for her. He felt awkward, and quite frankly stupid; opening it as if she was some pretty girl that couldn’t handle the difference between whether to push or pull. She strided through anyway and he followed, silently cursing himself and hoping the grimace on his face looked normal for his temperament. Once they’d made it to the street, she slowed to walk beside him. 

At first, neither of them spoke. Then, in her gentle and hushed tone, perhaps to avoid his inevitable questions about her evening, “Am I getting a personal escort through the Barrel?”

Kaz needn’t look down to feel the smile in her voice. “Is that what you’d prefer to call it?”

“It isn’t exactly an evening stroll down the canal, is it?”

“I suppose not.” He cringed at the sound of his own rasp, smashing against the lift of her voice like waves against stone. Though from what he could tell, she didn’t do the same. Inej only shrugged, tugging her hood forward against the drizzle. 

“I only meant that I should feel lucky to get the King of the Barrel to myself for the night.”

Kaz thought he might keel over. “I am a busy man, but I still find time to survey my kingdom.”

Inej only rolled her eyes and kept her gaze straight forward. A moment of silence nestled between them, leaving only the sound off the East Stave hanging in the air. After fighting with himself for what seemed like far too long, his gaze settled atop her.

“Yes?”

Kaz swallowed hard, “Did you miss Ketterdam?” Did you miss me? 

She considered his question, and to him, the silence stretched through the air like a rubber band about to break. 

“I did. More than I thought I would.” Inej finally relented. Her voice had drifted to a somber place, a quiet stillness replacing the humor she’d had minutes before. 

They had turned down a back alley, the darkness consuming them in sore contrast to the dazzling lights of the Stave. Their footsteps echoed in a syncopated rhythm, his awkward gait and cane paired with her near-soundless steps. 

Maybe it was the high of having her back, walking next to him through Ketterdam as they’d done so many times before, but he hadn’t realized the direction they’d been walking. They approached the Slat, its crooked frame jutting out from the foundation at a welcoming tilt. He glanced down to Inej once more, watching as she took in the building, trying to see it through her eyes, as he wished to see much of the world. 

“Is the Captain afraid of her old nest?”

If he had intended it as a jab, she didn’t take it as such. Inej shook her head once, “It just feels like home…” 

She moved before he did, taking a deep breath of the stale air inside as she stepped through the threshold. There was movement, as there always was, but the Slat was quiet this time of night and Kaz was thankful. It meant that, selfishly, he could keep Inej upstairs and to himself for as long as he could come up with things to talk about. Perhaps they’d even sit on his bed and she would allow him to make up for the last time they’d found themselves there. 

Kaz marveled at her as she took the creaky stairs ahead of him, the steps creaking beneath his weight after seemingly not registering her. His eyes once again wandered to the blood stains that covered her. He felt a hair-pin trigger go off in his chest and suddenly, there was anger. 

Stop that. She isn’t yours to save. 

Inej waited for him to open the door, sidestepping as they both now stood on the landing. If Kaz hadn’t just been studying her, he might have missed her change in demeanor and the way she shifted her weight to the wall behind her.  

“Inej.”

“Hm?”

Kaz attempted to even his tone. “How bad are they?” 

“What?”

His voice sounded like stones grinding against one another, “The bullet wounds.”

She shrugged but he could see the stress of the evening in her features. Her limbs seemed heavy and her eyelids fought to open with every blink. With a shove, Kaz unlocked his office door, forcing the warped wood open and, without hesitation, Inej followed him in, taking in the room as she clicked the locks back into place.

He leaned his cane against the makeshift desk and shucked his gloves off as he approached the cabinet beneath his wash basin, digging through its drawers for gauze and shears. Behind him, he heard the familiar creak of his window opening. The smell of rain against the cobblestones wafted toward him. 

“Your window seat has felt neglected. Your crows too.”

“Does that mean you stopped feeding them while I was gone?”

No. They reminded me of you. I couldn’t let another piece of you go. “They’re scavengers. I’m sure they managed.”

It was then that Kaz turned to see her standing by his bed. Inej looked up, her cheeks flushing red like she’d been caught doing something she shouldn’t have been. He only walked over, setting the bandages on the thin mattress. “So I don’t have to find a heartrender for you.”

“They really aren’t that bad-”

“You’ve bled through your clothes. They’re bad enough.”

Inej cleared her throat as she began removing layers of knives and clothes. Kaz’s eyes roved over her, the pounding in his chest growing louder. He hated it. 

 Her arms and shoulders were covered in fresh scars, some of them still red and scabbed, and the bruises on her ribs were still deep purple. 

“Slavers don’t give up their cargo easily.” Inej’s voice came out with caution, as if she was waiting to see his reaction. 

His gaze met hers, voice carving into the air like a rusted blade. “Where are they all now?”

“Dead.”

A sense of pride cracked through him as a rare smile settled on his lips. Kaz nodded. “Good.” 

She picked up a strip of bandage, wrapping it around the bullet wound on her bicep, silence filling the space between them. Inej didn’t need to look up to feel the weight of his eyes on her. A flush crept to the tops of her ears. “I didn’t want you to see.”

It was rare for Kaz Brekker to be confused and yet, here he was. 

“I thought you might kill someone. Or start to doubt that I could handle myself.”

“I could never doubt you. Only a fool would.” It was only after he said it that he realized it had been aloud. 

Inej tied off the bandage then glanced down to the blood on her pants.  

“I can-”

“No.” She said, finally making eye contact with him again. “Stay.”

For his sake and hers, Kaz turned his head to avoid staring as she shimmied out of the bloodied fabric. 

She sat on the edge of the bed and poked around for any bullet fragments, the muscles in her thigh tensing, the dried blood on her skin looking black. Inej was just as strong as ever; all her limbs built of corded muscle coated in the lithe grace of an acrobat, just as he remembered. Despite his better judgement, Kaz took a long look at her. 

It’s shame that eats men whole. He could feel it gnawing at him as he attempted to push away the image of her bare thighs against his sheets. 

“Kaz, can you-?” She nodded to the scissors, her hands stuck at an awkward angle around her leg, the apprehension on her face clear. 

He picked them up and took a deep breath before sitting down beside her. When he leaned over, he was careful not to touch her. Her breath stirred the hair on the back of his neck. One turn of his head and their lips would have been inches apart. This reminded him far too much of the hotel washroom; he only hoped it would end better. 

Kaz cut the bandage gently, taking the end from her and tying it, his knuckles grazing against her skin. Panic hit him before anything else, afraid he had overstepped. It took him a moment to realize there was no revulsion roiling through him. 

“Inej-”

“It’s alright… Thank you.”

He nodded, grabbing what was left of the bandages and the shears and placing them on top of his dresser. Then he opened one of his drawers, rummaging through the mess of clothes until he found what he had been looking for. 

Kaz handed her a pair of cotton sleep trousers. “I can’t imagine yours are salvageable.”

Inej smiled, sliding them over her legs. They were huge on her. And though they hadn’t discussed her sleeping arrangements for the evening, it appeared she would be staying there. 

He sat back down, staring at his bare hands; the hands that had just graced her without trouble or hesitation. She reached over, threading her fingers through his, and studied him, watching for the shift. But it never came. 

“Will you lay with me?”

At that, he looked up. 

In front of him was a girl who deserved so much more than Dirtyhands. A girl who made the sea cower and made the sun look dull. A girl who could have done anything she wished in life with ease and grace. And yet- she was sat in his bed, holding his hand, and patiently waiting for the semblances of affection he could provide. 

Kaz felt himself nod. 

She pushed herself back until she was against the wooden headboard. They both moved slowly, carefully placing their limbs so there was no overlap. 

Then, he was laying beside her; both of their heads turned to study each other.

“Thank you.” Inej’s voice nearly a whisper. 

The minutes stretched into hours, and Kaz lay listening to her breathing. I will have you without armor. 

Well after twelve bells, the cadence of sleep seemed to grab hold of him, weighing heavy on his body. As his eyes drifted shut, he hoped that there would be more nights like this: nights with Inej close by his side and stillness in his mind. 

He reached for her hand in the dark and promised he would not let go come morning. He would never let go of her again. 

[lyrebirdswrites]

Shrödinger’s Nobara

So we got an update on how Nobara is doing. It was not the update I wanted to see.

My first impulse was to consider this a point blank confirmation of her death. I still think there’s a high chance she will not be recovering, and I would advise all Nobara stans to prepare emotionally for the possibility that she really is dead if you have not done so already. However, I also think it’s possible to make a case for her survival based on the information in this scene and the context from previous chapters, and I’m going to do my best to do so. Hopefully I can provide some comfort to anyone who might be freaking out over the implications here like I was at first.

Megumi doesn’t say she’s breathing or we don’t know or even it doesn’t look good - he says nothing at all. That does not fill me with confidence. But he doesn’t directly say she is gone either. This is a good time to remember the cardinal rule of character death; it’s not confirmed until we see the body. I think until we actually have indisputable proof of her death, we should continue operating under the assessment Nitta gave when he halted the damage caused by her wounds - don’t get your hopes up, but it’s not a zero percent chance.

I don’t consider Megumi’s pessimism to be indisputable proof. It’s damning, yes. But he is also highly subjective, inclined to assume the worst, and not an omnipotent force in the narrative. This isn’t me saying that the only reason there’s ambiguity is because she’s definitely still alive—that would be a wrong assumption to make. But if Akutami is still in two minds about what to do about her, or if he knows but doesn’t want to tell us, this scene is a neat way of sidestepping the need for a definitive answer right now. There’s enough plausible deniability in the framing of this exchange for Megumi’s answer to be read as she’s 100% dead, OR as she’s alive but in super fucking bad shape and it doesn’t look good. Whichever result it turns out to be, the scene can work in retrospect either way.

Which brings me to my not-retroactive interpretation of Yuuji’s immediate reaction. I think he would have been way more distressed if he perceived megumi’s silence as confirmation that she was without a doubt dead. He pulls himself together remarkably quickly for someone who full on had a mental breakdown mid fight at the sight of her injury. In the comments section over on readjujutsukaisen (credit where credit is due, not my analysis) commenter Asinine said “I think Megumi's non-response indicated the severity of her condition. I think Yuji's reaction revealed his pain followed by hope (clenched fist) she'll pull through.” That makes more sense to me than Yuuji thinking she’s actually dead and only having I get it!! to say about it before we rush on with the plot.

I’d really like to read the original raw version of this chapter, because it’s worth noting that the unofficial fan translation phrased Yuuji’s question like this: how is Kugisaki’s condition? It matters whether his question is past tense or present tense, because that positions Megumi’s answer as either past tense or present tense too. Megumi could be looking sad because, past tense, what happened to her was bad. Or he could be looking sad because, present tense, her condition is bad. I think the nuance there definitely affects how we as the audience should interpret this exchange and consequently Nobara’s chances. If anyone knows where I can read the raw scans please tell me.

Speaking of Nobara’s chances—structurally and narratively there is still more than enough room for her in the plot. When she was first taken out by Mahito, I figured she’d be fine because I thought her frequent references to people ‘messing up her beautiful face’ and her argument with Momo about scars on female jujutsu sorcerers/sexism in the jujutsu world were foreshadowing her having to live with that massive scar and a missing eye. If Akutami wants to continue exploring themes of feminism and sexism, as he has indicated through his characterisation of the broader zenin clan, Nobara now has a unique role to play in that aspect of the story: being treated differently after getting scarred.

Similarly, there are some interesting implications when it comes to her cursed technique and the current arc. Theoretically, she could use resonance on any of the newly awakened sorcerers/vessels and do some serious damage to The Brain, because they’re all strongly linked to him through the powers he gave them. She might provide an avenue to attack him later via that method—or Akutami might be deliberately sidelining her for the duration of this arc with the intent to have her recover later, because he saw this massive plot hole coming and he needs to thin out (cull) the crowd of awakened sorcerers first so she doesn’t have such easy access to a really powerful weakness in a major antagonist.

It’s also possible that he saw the plot hole coming and is killing her to fix it. But if that was the case, he wouldn’t have said in one of his interviews that he hadn’t made up his mind yet whether she was dead or not (?? That’s the translation I saw iirc, but I can’t vouch for its accuracy because I didn’t personally translate or cross check it myself).

Every other character’s death has been clear in a very gut punch kind of way, but ever since Nitta showed up this one has been SO ambiguous the whole way through. In my opinion, this scene does far more to increase the ambiguous tension than release it. It’s too vague. Akutami has been pretty good about giving his characters a fitting send off up to this point. I would be genuinely surprised if he broke the news about one of the main trio officially dying via one page in one chapter which doesn’t even give a status update though words, let alone through an actual drawing of her corpse/grave/ashes/funeral. Which loops me back to the cardinal rule of character death: it’s not confirmed until we see the body.

And let’s face it—if Akutami plans to keep Nobara alive, I am 100% sure he would drag the reveal out as long as possible and make it look as unlikely as possible in order to inflict Pain™ on his audience. Of course, if he plans to kill her off, the situation would look equally grim. But you know he wouldn’t hand us her recovery on a silver platter. Things seem bad (and like I said nobara stans this is your wake up call to start preparing for the worst case scenario now) but that doesn’t automatically mean that they are as bad as they seem.

In summary:

[chefdoeuvre]

Under Control

Kelly Severide

Pairing: Kelly Severide x Sister!Reader

Description: Even when you think you have things under control older brothers always worm their way into helping.

Words: 1,595

Requested: yes by @ticklepete; Okay so can you do a Kelly x Sister where y/n is being seriously threatened by someone who she had a run-in with in the past (like an arsonist or former victim, etc) and of course Kelly's overprotective brother side kicks in. Her being the independent woman she is gets a little annoyed but ultimately is thankful. I feel like #46 and #12 would work with this.

Warnings: mention of minor injuries, blood, fluff as per usual.

A/N: I just love Kelly Severide and his overprotective ways. This can be counted as a stand alone or a part two for Rivalry. I apologize in advance for any grammatical errors.

—

There they were again, flowers sent to the firehouse addressed to you. At first, you thought it was sweet how you had a secret admirer. Now after a month and a half of this you were starting to be fed up with it. Of course, you couldn't throw the flowers away they were too pretty for that, clearly, someone had spent a solid chunk of change to get them for you. Obviously, Kelly offered to tell Jay and get him to find out who they were coming from but being the stubborn Severide you are you declined.

The next shift came by in the blink of an eye and this time instead of a large bouquet of fresh flowers you were simply handed an envelope. The envelope didn't have a return address on it only the firehouse's and your name printed on it. You stuffed the envelope into your locker when the announcement system went off signaling a call. The call was a fairly normal rescue. Thankfully, there was a simple solution to saving the victim and it didn't take long to get them to safety.

After heading back to the firehouse you went back to your locker and pulled out the envelope that's been invading your thoughts since you got it. Ripping it open you unfolded the single piece of paper in it and let your eyes scan the words. Reading over them multiple times you felt a pit in your stomach. It was clear to see that they were threats aimed at you. This only confused you, if this wasn't some secret admirer who the hell was this? The words were generic threats you'd expect from a regular old crime show so that's not what scared you. It was the fact that they went through these lengths just to get your attention. Instead of doing what a rational person would do you stuffed the envelope back into your locker and tried to get your mind off of it.

Making your way out of the locker room you bumped face-first into a hard chest. Immediately two arms reached out and grabbed onto your shoulders to steady you. Looking up with wide eyes you're met with the familiar steel blue ones of your brother.

"Hey, you all right?" Kelly asked as he scanned your facial expression.

"Yeah, I'm fine." You nodded quickly.

You tried to sidestep away from him, but his strong arms kept you planted there. Given the fact that he's your brother, he knew you like the back of his hand and he knew what you were like when something was bothering you.

"No, you're not. Talk to me." Kelly urged as you all but looked him in the eyes.

Sighing you shoved his hands off your shoulder and turned on your heel assuring him that you were fine. In truth, you were far from fine but you'd deal with it your own way. Which was being majorly stubborn about it and completely ignoring the fact that you weren't okay. You made your way into the common room and took a seat in between Herrmann and Mouch who were watching an old movie.

Kelly, being the nosy brother he is took it upon himself to check out your locker. Granted he only knew your combination because it was your birthday and as your brother of course he knew you would use that as the passcode for your phone as well. Pulling open your locker the envelope fell out and he quickly pulled it open. Reading the words across the page he suddenly felt the urge to punch someone.

Soon enough, the announcement system went off signaling a call. Apparently, it was a large abandoned warehouse on fire which meant all of Firehouse 51's help was enlisted.

Pulling up to the scene Boden started giving out directions to each unit. Squad was taking the brunt of the work by checking the building along with some of Truck's help. You and Kelly were paired up to go the furthest into the building, biting back a joke about the sibling power duo the two of you were you headed into the burning building. Kelly stood close beside you with a clenched jaw, still angered by the threats aimed at you.

"We're clear on the West wing." Cruz's voice sounded from your walkies.

"Same on the East." Stella agreed.

"All good on the North wing. South?" Casey asked.

You and Kelly were still making your way through the building about to reply when you heard a shrill scream. Looking up in alarm, the two of you shared a glance before setting toward the sound.

Taking the lead you made your way weaving through the crates to where the sound came from. Another high-pitched sound shocked you into place before you started toward the louder noise again.

"I've been waiting for you." A deep, gravelly voice sounded from behind a large crate.

"We have to go, this place isn't gonna last long." Kelly chided looking between you and the wooden crate.

"That doesn't seem to be in my agenda, Lieutenant Severide." The deep voice tutted.

You and Kelly shared a look of confusion. How the hell did this guy know who he was?

"Oh, allow me to introduce myself." The man all but cackled as he stepped out from behind the crate.

In his hands was a familiar-looking bouquet of flowers. He had a devilish smirk planted on his face and dark eyes that made him look demonic.

"It's Charles, but you can call me Chuck." He greeted with a sickly sweet smile and looked dead at you.

Kelly immediately stood to step in front of you and practically growled at the man.

"Cool it, Kell." You shoved your brother aside with a roll of your eyes.

"All right, Charlie was it?" You crossed your arms nonchalantly, "take your flowers and leave or I promise you I'll let the hound at you." You gestured a hand toward your fuming brother.

Of course, you were naturally sassy, but in times of danger, your sass levels would go up by a hundred. Was this the smartest idea to agitate the guy who lit this place up? No, probably not, but your instincts decided otherwise. The man was rendered speechless, to say the least. He was expecting a sobbing woman not a lady who could even out sass Jay Halstead on a good day.

While the man was a blubbering mess Kelly took the initiative to call it into Boden because of course this had to all go down in a burning building. A few moments later you turned on your heel and began dragging Kelly with you.

"What the hell are you doing?" Kelly berated.

"I'd rather get the hell out of dodge before I turn into a crispy treat." You hissed pulling him toward the exit.

Chuck still stood there trying to mutter out a response when he bolted after the two of you. Pushing Kelly ahead of you, you turned around to see Chuck barreling toward you. Grabbing his wrist in a tight grip you all but dragged him out of the building. Just in time the three of you made it out of the building before a huge explosion erupting out of the ceiling.

Out of the corner of your eyes, you caught sight of the Severide sibling's favorite detective and pulled Chuck along with you.

"I think your package was sent to the wrong building." You shoved Chuck forward as Jay pulled the man's arms behind his back and cuffed him.

"Thanks, Y/N." Jay nodded with a smirk adorning his features.

"Anytime, detective." You flashed a quick smile before heading back to your fellow firefighters.

Letting out a breath you didn't know you were holding you ripped your helmet off and dropped it to the ground.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" Kelly placed his hands on your shoulders before pulling you into his arms.

"Oh, come on. That was totally badass." You chuckled.

Kelly stared at you bugged-eyed, tilting his head in confusion.

"Come here, you big teddy bear." You wrapped your arms around Kelly's waist, hugging him tightly.

Locking your hands behind him you pulled back hissing in pain.

"What? What's wrong?" Kelly scanned you for any injuries.

"Damn bouquet had thorns in it. I'm fine though." You scrunched your brows pulling at the thorns embedded in your palm.

"What do you mean you're 'fine'? You're bleeding!" Kelly exclaimed.

"Dude, they're just thorns." You dismissed.

Kelly pushed you toward Gabby and Sylvie wordlessly as you wiped the little bit of blood escaping your hand.

After getting all cleaned up and heading back to the firehouse you went to find Kelly who was hunched over his desk in his bunk room.

"Thank you." You spoke up leaning against the door frame.

Kelly snapped his head toward the sudden voice.

"What?" Kelly asked with a small smirk.

"I said it once, that's it." You crossed your arms with a pout.

Kelly raised his brows and you let out a defeated sigh, "thank you for being my protective brother, even if I don't need you to be." You stepped forward and placed your hands on his shoulders with a small smile.

"It's in the job description." Kelly reached his hand up to ruffle your hair.

"Seriously, how many times do I have to tell you not to touch my hair?" You laughed, pushing his hand away.

"You're gonna be the death of me, I swear." Kelly rolled his eyes playfully.

[thran-duils]

Lost in Zero Gravity (P.4)

Title: Lost In Zero Gravity (Part Four) Summary:  Fem!Reader x Mob Boss!Tony Stark x Mob Boss!Steve Rogers.  Reader is a call girl who runs high end parties. She catches the attention of Tony Stark who invites her back to his room with his friend. She might have performed too well because she becomes their new favorite play toy and they don’t like to share. Words: 2,944 Warnings (for the fic in entirety): Smut, prostitution, infidelity, angst, domestic violence, stalking, possessive behavior Author’s Note: If you don’t like the tags on this fic, just a warning to stop reading because it’s taking the turn that was mentioned all up in the tags

Part Three || Part Five || Masterpost (mobile) || Fanfic masterpost

It had barely been a week and a half and Steve was already calling you. They’d sent you flowers twice and sent Tatiana a check to give to you. But apparently giving you the time you thought you needed was not on their docket.

You answered happily though, “Hey.”

“Hey, how are you feeling?”

“Far better than the last time you saw me. I can guarantee that. But I still don’t look my best.”

“That’s perfectly okay, Y/N. Understandable that you aren’t completely healed up yet,” Steve said. “But, we were hoping you would be up to a small trip.”

“O-oh,” you stammered. “I, uh, I mean should I? I don’t know if I should be getting rough.”

Steve laughed at that and assured you, “I can be gentle if that’s what you’re worried about. But, really. It’s actually important that you come with.”

You bit your bottom lip, contemplating. “I actually haven’t left the brothel since… you know.”

He hummed in acknowledgment. “Mhm, well, it’s secluded. It’s my beach house. Don’t gotta worry about anyone but us and some guards. And we can pick you up directly from your place.”

A beach house? God, that did sound nice. You cleared your throat, trying to joke, “Wives? I don’t need my nose broken again.”

“No. They are going on a small trip themselves separately. We are going on a crabbing trip as far as they know.”

“But what are you really doing then? And why is it important that I come?”

Teasingly, Steve told you, “It’s supposed to be a surprise.”

“Me and surprises really aren’t—”

“Come on, sweetheart,” Steve cut in. “You need to get out of that place. Get some fresh air. There’s a jet tub and a hot tub. You can stay in it as long as you want.” He added and you could hear the smirk in his tone, “As long as you let us get the look we want, that is. Stipulation.”

“Pervert,” you joked, smiling despite yourself.

“It’ll be worth it. Trust me.”

Sighing, you weighed your thoughts. “When?”

“Tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?” you asked surprised. It was Tuesday.

“Yeah, we are ready to go and I’m assuming you don’t have any plans?”

“No.”

“Perfect. We will swing by to pick you up at 4.”

“In the afternoon I hope.”

Steve chuckled, “Yes, the afternoon, dove. So, be ready. You know how punctual Tony is.”

“Don’t want to start the trip off on a bad foot,” you agreed.

“Exactly.”

You blurted, “Hey… can I ask you a question?”

“Sure.”

Carefully choosing your words, you asked, “Did you… were you able to find him?” Steve was silent on the other end of the line. You furrowed your brow and asked, “Steve? Are you still—"

“Yeah, I’m here. And yes,” Steve answered. “We sure did.”

“And…” you prodded, trailing off, your curiosity getting the better of you.

“We’ll come get you at 4pm tomorrow, dove. You should get your things packed,” he said, completely sidestepping your question. “I liked that blue one piece you bought when we were out that one time. The cut out one with great cleavage.”

“Okay, I’ll pack that one. How long are we staying?”

“A few days. Can’t wait to see you tomorrow. I gotta go though, dove.”

“Okay,” you repeated. “I’ll see you tomorrow then.”

When you hung up, you stared down at your phone. Why hadn’t he answered your question? You turned around after a few moments, placing your phone down on your bed. You got onto the floor and reached to grab your travel suitcase out from underneath the bed.

<><><>

Coming down the stairs after you dropped your bag off in the master bedroom and taking a very long bath in the jet tub, you slowed your steps. You were taking in the view, looking out the windows that stretched at least ten feet at the first landing on the stairs. The water was lapping at the rocks outside, the sun just starting to set. It was calming.

“How was it?” Steve asked, coming into view.

“Amazing,” you told him, smiling. “You didn’t come up for your view though. How can I keep up my side of the bargain if you don’t meet me halfway?”

Steve smirked, “Cheeky. Still.”

You noticed he was still dressed nicely and you asked, “Do you want me to go change?” You had thrown on the suit he asked you to bring and a coverup over it.

“Absolutely not. You look fine.” Steve held his hand out for you and you took it. He was quiet, looking at you.

You got uncomfortable and asked, “What’s up?”

Steve looked over your shoulder and you followed his gaze seeing Tony walk in from outside. The two of them seemed to communicate without speaking and you repeated,

“What’s up?”

Steve’s attention was back on you and he asked, “So, you remember how you asked about Jared?”

“Um. Yes?”

“If you had the opportunity, would you want to see him before he died?” Your mouth fell open slightly, unable to find your voice, completely caught off guard. Steve stepped closer, and said, “I know how it feels to see someone who wronged you know they’re about to die.”

“He’s still alive?” you blurted.

“He’s here.”

You stammered, “E-excuse me? Here?” Your heart was beginning to pound.

“Don’t worry, he can’t get out,” Tony said quickly, holding up his hand to you. He saw you were threatening to unravel and he came closer. He explained gently, “And even if he could, he’s pretty dehydrated and he’s definitely starving, so he’s not going to be moving too fast anyway. Plus, you’ve got us here now and we won’t let anything happen to you?”

“What…” you said, trying to grasp what was going on.

Steve explained, “Found him a few days ago and kept him alive after we gave him a good beating. Wanted to give you the opportunity to watch it happen if you wanted to. You don’t have to. Just wanted you to have that chance.”

You were suspended in shock. You thought you were coming here to relax, get fucked a couple of times. And then just head back home. It dawned on you that second that this was the surprise that Steve must have been alluding to on the phone when you agreed to come here. Not the surprise you were expecting; not even in the realm of possibility.

Did you want that? Did you want to see him die? You swallowed sharply, flooded with the memories of all the times he had beat you, cheated on you. You hated to admit some part of you would like to actually watch him suffer. You could never do it yourself, not on your own. And now you had this golden opportunity to have it happen in a way that he would know it was because of you that it was happening.

“Y/N?”

You were taking a long time to answer.

“I…” you started to say, looking in between them. You exhaled slowly and admitted, “Yeah. Yeah.”

“You’re sure?” Tony asked. You nodded and he nodded in return. “Good. I think you should. Give you some closure.”

That seemed a little sadistic but you let them led you towards the door. They walked you out onto the dock that was lit by small lamps. The sunset was beautiful on the water, the waves glowing with the colors. It was a stark contrast to what you were walking out here to do, such a dark deed. There were a few men standing at the end of the dock and you made to stay closer to Tony, keeping an eye on them as you approached.

When you came to a stop, your eyes circled around the group. You immediately got worried, thinking the worst.

Nervously, you asked, “Where is he?”

Tony pointed down at the dock and you furrowed your brow in confusion. “Guys gotta be freezing in this water.”

“O-oh.”

Tony walked over towards the side of the dock where you saw there was a ladder. He began climbing down it and Steve gave you a little nudge. You walked over to the edge hesitantly and looked over. There was another lower dock there, a speedboat next to it. That made sense, this dock was pretty high. They definitely were not going to kill you, you tried to reassure yourself.

You forced yourself to climb down after Tony, his hands coming up to steady you as you got within his reach. You settled down next to him as soon as you saw they were telling the truth.

Jared was tied up to one of the pillars holding up the dock, his body half submerged into the water. He looked absolutely awful, close to death. His face was swollen, bruised. They had not lied about the beating either.

He seemed to recognize you and his eyes narrowed. Something kicked up in him and he shouted against the gag, hate in his eyes. You could not tear your eyes away from him.

“I personally love the sight,” Tony said, standing close. He lit up his cigar and took a long drag, his eyes raking over Jared.

Steve had climbed down now and was standing close as well.

You were still in shock seeing Jared yell at you, struggle against the binding. Tony was right, the water must be freezing.

Something came over you.

“Fuck me,” you said, not taking your eyes off of him.

“Pardon?” Tony asked, choking on his smoke a bit.

“Fuck me,” you repeated. Tony was staring at you, his finger running across his lip. You shrugged and added, “I want another man fucking me where his stupid ass can see it. Right before he dies. I want that to be one of the last thing he remembers. He hated the thought of another man touching me.”

“Shit,” Steve breathed, laughing lightly.

Your adrenaline was rushing now. “That’s what I want. I don’t want to actually see him die. I don’t think I could handle that but… I want this.”

There were a few moments of silence and you finally tore your eyes away from Jared to look at the two of them standing behind you.

“I won’t say no to that,” Steve said finally, grinning devilishly. “I’ll do the honors.”

You stared into Jared’s eyes, knowing you would never have to look at him again after this. You would never have to worry about him ever again because of Steve and Tony.

<><><>

The lobster you were chewing was decadent, too good to exist. You were buzzed now, having to take a couple shots after Steve got done plowing you and then you walked away, without a care, knowing damn well that someone was going to be murdered behind you. The shots had hit quickly on your empty stomach and luckily dinner had been delivered shortly after you had taken the shots. The three of you were sitting at a table on their dock, the table lit by tall lamps.

“You said you were coming back from a job?” Steve asked, before taking a bite of his steak. You eyed him confused and he chewed, swallowing. “That night.”

Revisiting this again. You did not want to think about it anymore tonight but considering the favor they had done, you pushed your uncomfortableness aside and nodded. “Yeah. Some Wall Street guy. Definitely a frat boy who never had to work a real job in his life. He had every drug imaginable ready to just offer up. Obviously I did not partake.”

You picked up your champagne, taking a swig before taking another bite of your lobster.

“No more of that,” Tony said flatly.

Eyes narrowed, you asked, “Frat boys or Wall Street? Cause I really don’t always get to choose.” Another bite. It was so delicious. You had to ask what restaurant it was from.

“Nobody.”

You stopped chewing. Your eyes moved between the two of them, sitting there looking stoic. “What?”

They both exchanged a look and you felt your stomach starting to tighten. There was something wrong; something bad was about to happen.

Steve answered this time, “Nobody else. Nobody but us.”

You almost asked if they were joking but you remembered Tatiana’s words about owing them. And the looks on their faces told you they were in no way joking around. You placed your fork down, straightening up. They were watching you with an uneasy intensity, gauging your reaction.

Giving a light, nervous laugh, you told them, “Uh, I mean… I kind of have other regulars.”

“Why would you feel the need to continue with other regulars?”

“T-t-to keep my options open?”

“That’s… insulting,” Tony chuckled, his smile not reaching his eyes though, turning his head to stare off into the water.

You felt cold, a tightness in your stomach. Insulting him was the last thing you wanted to do.

“What is this? What are we talking about?”

Steve shrugged, “I’m not sure what’s not clear about this, Y/N. You will work for us and us only. You get an actual apartment. Move out of the brothel. So it’s not as suspicious that we are visiting you. Then we will be able to visit you whenever we want and we won’t have to worry about an incident like this happening again. Or worry about you leaving.”

You could not believe what you were hearing. They could not be serious about this. To just upend your life to just be at their beck and call. And to prevent you from leaving if you wanted to? This situation was spiraling way too quickly.

“I don’t want to live by myself,” you argued.

“It won’t be some run-down building, Y/N,” Tony sighed, annoyance lacing his tone as he looked back at you. “You’ll have a doorman. And security.”

“So, you want me to just… depend on the two of you for income and for my housing? Nothing else?” you asked them, flabbergasted.

“That’s what you’re worried about?”

“What rational person wouldn’t be worried about that? I haven’t had the greatest track record with partners as you have seen yourself.”

Steve cocked his head, his eyes narrowing. You closed your mouth, knowing immediately you had said something out of pocket. “I don’t like what you’re insinuating about me. About us. Have we not been good to you?”

“I-I.. that’s not what I meant—”

“You think I’m going to hit you?” Steve asked harshly.

“No—” you stammered, your heart pounding in your chest. He looked irritated all to hell.

Tony held up his hand and Steve closed his mouth, still glowering at you across the table. You averted your gaze to Tony as he spoke.

“You’ll be perfectly fine wherever we set you down.”

Your voice was small, “I can’t even choose?”

“I would like somewhere in our jurisdiction for one. And then the doorman stipulation.” He saw you had shook your head ever so slightly, a reaction more than anything. Tony leaned across the table, staring directly into your eyes. It took everything in you to not look away and to not show fear. You felt like you were probably failing miserably at that. “I don’t think you understand fully what’s going on here, sweetheart, and that concerns me. You won’t have to trick anymore. No more uncertainty of who is taking you home. No more late-night walks. A steady income, your own place. Protection too furthermore; you’ll have at least one guard at all times. Why would you not want that?”

Logically. You would want this. You should want this. You begged them to screw you over your abusive ex hours ago. Practically egged them on to commit murder with acting the way you had. Everything he was saying was positive. But it was ignoring the fact that it sounded like you were going to be owned, your movements dictated by the two of them.

You licked your lips and offered weakly, “It’s not smart of me.”

“Why?”

“My line of business isn’t exactly about exclusivity.”

“Well, I guess you’re leaving that line of business then,” Tony said coolly.

There was not a choice here. You were being told.

You needed to get away from the table, away from their heated stares. You were swimming in anxiety. Standing up from the table abruptly, the chair squeaking, you took off. You did not know where to, you had nowhere to go. You just knew you wanted – needed – to be by yourself, to gather your thoughts.

By the sound of the heavy footfalls following you down the boardwalk, it did not seem you were going to be granted that. You broke into a run, knowing it was futile. There was no way you could outrun a super soldier. Steve caught you without any trouble whatsoever and pushed you up against the wall of the beach house.

“I don’t want to!” you exclaimed.

“It’s either here, secluded, under guard or in your new apartment under guard.”

Tears watered up in your eyes and you choked out, “You can’t do this.”

“I can’t do this?” Steve said, a flash of cruelty in his eyes and an amused smirk on his lips. He leaned in closer and said more quietly, “Dove, we run this city and you are a part of this city. Our favorite part actually and we are securing our favorite part for ourselves.” He stepped closer, glaring down his nose at you. You felt smothered against the wall by his imposing presence. “And that’s whether our favorite part likes it or not. Because we already own it because she owes us.”

~~~

Forever tags: @coconutqueen21

Fic tags: @icant-hangout-imdrumming, @oceaniamaddness, @multifandom-superlover, @imsonick, @holl2712 

[twst-campos13]

headcanons for Rook, Malleus, Silver, and Vil when their m!s/o jumps on their back biting their head screaming nonsense like a mad man. the first year gang coming running and one explains wheezing “mistake in potions, physical capabilities inhanced, out of control, immune to magic, help”

the rest of the day is spent with literally all the twst boys chasing after their insane boyfriend. tears were shed, dignity lost, pride scratched.

by the time he’s caught it’s nearly midnight and none of them know what’s real anymore since he kept screaming very philosophical things.

i await your answer with anticipation~

*weakly grips you,,,* 

it is...finished....i will leave most of my commentary in the notes...also please read the warning tags carefully! 

Warnings: language, mild physical violence, implicit dementia (Vil’s part!), poison, blood, depiction/description of death, goofy’s trial dialogue (Vil’s part), mild gun threat (Vil’s part) << no actual guns were present but was mentioned Tags: male!reader, angst, crackfic

This wasn't supposed to happen. This wasn't supposed to happen.

Ace started it. Deuce aided. Epel volunteered. Jack said it was a bad idea and Sebek warned them. Yet in the end—in the end—they contributed. They helped. And when the smoke cleared from the explosion that shattered the laboratory's windows, beakers, and test tubes, spilling chemicals on the ground—on you—it was too late for Crewel to protect you. For your friends to protect you.

Grim called your name. Once. Twice. Thrice in a yowl of panic as Deuce held him back and carried him away when he tried to get closer to your unmoving body; it's laying in a puddle of liquid. Black? Brown? Gray? He doesn't know the colors—how doesn't know what's happening—he doesn't know and he doesn't care because he just wants you to be safe.

Ace couldn't speak. Deuce couldn't move. Epel started shaking but hid behind a mask of control. Jack's ears and tail were erratic and Sebek broke the silence with a firm command of retreating. Let the professor handle this. Let the adult handle it.

Then you moved.

They watched you rose from the ground like a corpse from the grave.

And hell breaks loose.

➸ Why did you bite his head and messed his hair up

➸ He got no time for games, fool

➸ KIDDING

➸ Granted you did jump at Vil when his Flying Class was done. It startled him and shocked everybody. His face flared because he thought your surprise hugs had gotten too far. It took Mr. Ashton and a few of his classmates to get you off him. He's pretty sure you managed to tear off a few hairs from his scalp—and skin apparently because he felt blood drip down his lashes. 

➸ Okay, that's not normal behavior for you-

➸ You were more than disheveled; your lab coat was torn and singed, blood was seeping from your clothes, and you had a dazed look. Vil fixed himself immediately, of course, but it's natural for him to get worried about you. You looked awful. Vil was sure the chemicals splattered on your skin and uniform was what was making you disoriented. What are these fools doing still holding onto you? You should be taken to the infirmary this instance! 

➸ Vil wasn't prepared for what you did next. The moment Mr. Ashton held your shoulders to lead you to the infirmary, you knocked him out with an elbow strike. What the fuck.

➸ Okay, obviously, you're defensive. Vil took out his pen and—along with a few other students and the professor??—tried to restrain you. Vil was careful not to cast any harmful spells on you but for some reason, the professor and the other seniors seem to go off on casting advanced spells that could quite literally kill you! Du spinnst wohl are they insane?

➸ It took a lot from Vil to not be hysterical. Panicking will not do him any good but having to witness you get blasted by magic and only shake it off while maddeningly laughing is frustrating. He couldn't bear the sight of seeing you get hurt and argued loudly with one of the seniors to go easy on you. The fact that you were spouting nonsense doesn't help your situation at all, especially when you declared this, "ah-hyuck! I'll fucking shoot 'em again."

➸ "Love, will you please cooperate!" was what Vil wished to say, but seeing you in this state brought a jab of pain in his heart. The familiarity of this situation—the confusion, the frustration, the worry, the pain—adds up to the pressure and desperation of just saving you from whatever the fuck this is. 

➸ Vil doesn't even want to look at himself in the mirror. He fears that he'll end up breaking the mirror from what he'll see, but he's pretty sure, with the fight and the chase you're giving everyone, that his makeup is running and his hair is a mess. Amidst nausea and chaos, Vil came up with a solution to restrain you. So, gathering what is left of his dignity and pride, and his love for you, Vil wiped the sweat and smudged makeup off his face and ran back to Pomefiore.

➸ Don't ask why he has a ready-made collection of poisons. Just don't. It's for emergencies—such as this. 

➸ Rook found him hunched over his table with the vials of poison. He calmed Vil down and assured him that you'll be alright. The only fear that Vil has is losing another person he cares about—that includes you. Rook kissed his hand and told him he will bring the poison to you. Rook knows how much you mean to Vil, and because of his devotion to his roi de poison, he will do whatever he can to ensure your safety for Vil's sanity.

➸ Rook advised Vil not to come with him, but he wants to. Vil wants to be able to hold you in his arms and be the first to make sure that you're okay. 

➸ When the deed has been done, Vil rushed to your side. He expected your body to be as cold as a corpse but still, it shocked him. He ignored the whisper of doubt and tended to the wound Rook made to put you to sleep. You've been taken to the infirmary along with everyone else that you caused inconvenience. Vil didn't come for the anxiety settled with the fatigue in his body.

➸ When Vil came back to the Pomefiore common room, sluggish and tired, he found Rook holding Epel's shoulder. The little potato couldn't look at him in the eye and frankly, Vil just wanted to spend some time in his quarters. However, Epel's confessed, and a little bit of energy came back to Vil so he can process what the little potato said to him.

➸ He what.

➸ His hand sprung up instinctively and Epel flinched. But Vil knew this wouldn't undo what happened. He knew it isn't worth it. Vil doesn't have the strength to be angry or blame Epel. It was a mistake, after all. A very stupid mistake. Epel looked pitiful crying for forgiveness so Vil asked Rook to send him back to his room.

➸ It's proven enough just how Vil cares about you.

Vil sat down in front of his vanity table. He could not bear to look at himself in the mirror. All he could do is stare blankly at nothing. Your words made no sense and Vil feared the worst when you wake up. If you wake up.

"Great Sevens..." he muttered and wiped the tears that fell from his face. He knew what he had to do next. He just had to be prepared for it.

➸  Imagine Rook saying "oh mon Dieu" with the most neutral face and surprised eyes as if the explosion was just a mild inconvenience. 

➸  POV: you're Trey Clover 

➸  He and Trey were just cleaning around in the greenhouse when the explosion occurred. Rook knows that you have a special assignment with your friends. You didn't tell him what it is but he doesn't need you to. (He overheard Epel and Ace chill he respects you enough as his boyfriend to not pry into your private life via stalking)

- ➸ He wasted no time dashing to the potions lab. Being a hunter makes you very quickly as well as expecting the unexpected. However, he didn't expect the First Year Gang to be thrown out of the door and you emerge from the smoke as if you were some sort of ravaging beast. 

➸  If you weren't obviously covered in soot and blood, Rook would have fainted from the beauty and badassery you're currently conveying. 

➸  Now is not the time to be in awe—you jumped wall to wall with a speed faster than a cheetah's and Rook was able to deflect your attack by sidestepping. However, a few students got injured in the process. Rook saw your intention despite Monsieur Heart warning the students to not get in the way, lest they hurt themselves. You had no intention to harm—only run. 

➸  Rook has two options: follow you empty-handed or grab his bow and risk losing you

➸  He's confident in his skills in finding you, so he chose to gather information first. By that, well, pulling Epel to the side to calm him down then ask him what happened. Rook managed to understand the situation despite Epel shaking like a leaf. He doesn't feel angry. Such emotion would only intensify his instincts and he might do something that will put you and everyone else in harm more. So instead he thanked Epel, gave his head a pat, and quickly dashed to his locker for his bow and arrows. 

➸  Your boyfriend is a madman before you, for he immediately knows where you were after getting his bow. Rook attained higher heights for a better view and from the roof, he saw your figure dashing towards the forest. Ah, so your instincts led you to where you wish to be. Alright, this isn't Rook's first hunt. 

➸  When everyone else had trouble tracking you down, Rook doesn't. He reminded himself that you're not in the right mind. His monsieur filou is akin to a startled, confused, and defensive wild animal at the moment. Like a little rat, he supposed. Your movements aren't that hard to decipher for a hunter like him plus he can hear your kitchen philosophy from a mile away. 

➸  He has to apologize to Vil for taking a few vials of ready-made poison. But this is a matter of life and death. You are in danger from yourself, and as your knight, Rook will save you. Quiet as he can, he laced the tip of his arrow with the poison and aimed it at you. Rook closed his eyes and reminded himself that he is doing this to save you; not to harm you. 

➸  He notched his arrow—and you caught it with your bare. Fucking. Hand. SINGLE HAND!!

➸  Rook, internally: holy shit that was hot 

➸  Well his covers have been blown and you waved the arrow around screaming something about "I trusted you little guy!" before throwing the arrow with such accuracy while saying "go and take your little mice friend family rat with you!"

➸  Mon Dieu, he does not appreciate being called a rat!

➸  The chase continued and you quite gave everyone a workout. As much as Rook appreciated the stimulating experience you gave him, he much rather wants you subdued and safe, not running around with so many people after you. Luckily, Vil came in and gave him a new vial that is much more potent than the one he stole. He is amazed by the preparedness of his roi de poison but he is much concerned at the potency of the poison. 

➸  Vil strictly stared at him and nodded at the new direction you ran to. "With his state like that, you need to take the risks." Rook took his advice. Vil is always sharp as a dagger after all.

➸  Which means he had to use a dagger than an arrow to subdue you. Yes, Rook took the risk of having the poison close to him and closer to you in a 1 v 1 scuffle. Ah, this took him back to when he wrestled his first bear. Except the bear is his boyfriend and you're still quite human...and he's going to drive the blade of his dagger in a non-critical part of your body.

➸  Finally, the drama ended, and the curtains closed when your body fell into his arms. Your blood trickles into a small stream from where he drove the blade in. Rook knelt to the ground and cradled your body in his arms. Sweat dripped everywhere on his skin but he doesn't care about that. He cares about you. 

➸  Rook reminded himself that you can be cured of your sleep-like death and prioritized the wound that he engraved on your skin. He kissed the place where he stabbed you and solemnly apologized for defacing your body. Worry not, he will have you stitched in the infirmary, and you will awaken with his kiss...atleast he hoped you will. 

➸  Epel was waiting there when Rook brought you in. The poor boy had been crying and he apologized to Rook for the mistake he had done. Rook felt no anger and instead felt sympathy. He too had done his fair share of mistakes, and Epel should not burden himself with those. Instead, he told him, take this as a learning experience as to not do it again.

➸  Rook saved Epel from Vil's harsh scolding. Now, the only one that needs saving, is you.

Even in a sleep-like death, you are still beautiful. Your pale skin is a worrying sight to many but Rook managed to calm himself by admiring it instead. Your body is like marble with blue veins spreading in varied directions.

Rook knew he cannot distract himself by admiring you like a statue of art. You are an art, not a statue. Only histories remain as statues—and you will not become history. He knew what he had to do.

"Oh, mon filou," he whispered against your cold lips, "forgive me."

➸ Just a reminder: Malleus cares for you deeply :))

➸ He was just minding his own business when you suddenly attacked him from behind. Malleus thought you were just being your usual self and lifted his head so you'd let go of his horns. But you didn't and instead, you pulled on it harder that it startled him. He knows how strong you are—meaning something is wrong-

➸ You had quite the vice grip on his horns even when he used his tail to try and pry you off and even shake you off. He didn't want to use his entire strength to throw you but the moment his skin broke under your nails, his instincts came in first, and he threw you across the hallway. 

➸ Malleus was horrified. He didn't mean to throw you much less even hurt you. The panic got to him faster than the pain on his head as he rushed to where you flew. Was it possible to feel overwhelming fear? When Malleus' saw the outline of your figure cut clean on the window, he felt something more than fear. If he had lost you and it was his fault, then his promises for you are broken. 

➸ Then he spots your hand reach through the hole in the window. And you pulled yourself up and through the hole before dropping to the floor like a ragdoll. You were covered in bruises and cuts. Malleus feared that you have a concussion as well for you were muttering loudly about the stars melting and the Moores burning.

➸ Well, Malleus could worry about that later. You were injured and disoriented. The amount of blood coming out of you is increasing and his priority is getting you to safety. 

➸ However, just before he can scoop you in his arms, his knights came to his side. Silver looked like he'd been roused from his sleep as Sebek is disheveled. He made a firm declaration of protecting the Young Master, and that would have been normal for Sebek...if he was standing proud and tall as he said it. Malleus could easily smell the anxiety and lingering guilt from the young fae. 

➸ Things got even more concerning as Professor Crewel, Crowley, a few senior students, and Sebek's friends joined in. Malleus looked back at you and saw your cornered state. He doesn't understand what's happening yet but one thing is for sure—you're equally terrified as he is. Everyone was on guard, the Headmaster and the Professor spoke to you as if you were a wild animal—which you were—but all Malleus could think of is grabbing you and flying you away to safety.

➸ Which he did do despite public opinions

➸ By public opinions, the shouts of protests that soon fell quiet when he grabbed you and disappeared...also the "protest" falling from you which Malleus couldn't really understand. It was philosophy and poetry and a prophecy that he can comprehend little; for all Malleus cares about is you.

➸ "My dear, please, what had happened to you?" The desperation was painfully obvious in his tone as he restrained you with advanced magic. Yet as he tried to call you out of your subconscious he realized that magic is futile. Whatever state you are in you are able to break free from his magic. Malleus stayed on the defense as you attacked him, yet he recognized your attempts of attacking as desperation for help. If you crying and wailing out "save me" and "free me" isn't enough to give it away.

➸ No matter how many cuts you give him, no matter how much he will bleed, Malleus refused to fight you. 

➸ He just wants you to be okay :((

➸  Malleus knew what he had to do but he doesn't know if he had the strength to do it. Your face streaked with tears and pain pushed his heart to do it anyway. So, Malleus shoved you away with a quick pulse of magic, just enough time for him to summon his staff. He blocked your mouth from biting his neck with his arm, and even if it hurts, seeing your eyes begging to be saved hurts more. 

➸ When Lilia and the others found him, he was cradling your body in his arms. His staff laid on the ground and his tears dripped down your face like a fickle rain. Lilia didn't need an answer to know what he had done. 

➸ Malleus pulled your unconscious body close to him, hoping—desperate—to feel your warmth. But he couldn't. He couldn't hear your pulse, your heartbeat, and he couldn't feel your warmth. All he could feel is cold and numbness. But atleast you are at rest. You are saved. You're okay. You're okay, you're okay, you're okay.

➸ But he knows deep down that you're not. Because if you are okay, he wouldn't be noiselessly crying and clinging to your body as if you just died. You're alive but you're also dead. Knowing the cure for this dilemma tore his heart to pieces because deep down Malleus is still afraid. He feels like he lost you even though the truth isn't far from it. 

➸ Your words echoed in his mind before he hit you with his Unique Magic. You started hissing and wailing and finally, you raised your arms in the air and shouted, "this curse will last till the end of time—no power on earth can change it!" 

➸ Can you blame him for putting you in a sleep-like death, a sleep which you will never awaken unless by True Love's Kiss? He panicked :((

➸ Malleus kept your body close to him even when he stood up and looked at Sebek bowing deeply on the ground. He was shaking but his tone was loud enough for Malleus to have an understanding of the matter and of Sebek's apology. 

➸ Hearing that he was an accomplice of what happened to you gave him mixed emotions. 

➸ Sebek vowed his loyalty to Malleus, and when you came into his life, Sebek vowed to protect you as well. And he failed. That is very clear. The poor boy must be getting gnawed inside out with guilt. Well, Sebek did say that he will accept whatever punishment that is will befall him. He should stay true to his words because Malleus is furious. 

➸ Malleus vowed to protect you and raise Hellfire to whoever will cause you harm. He wanted to curse him, burn him on where he stands, and make him pay for what he had done unto you. He could do all of these for he can.

➸ But Malleus won't. He won't do those things to Sebek. He held himself back, swallowed the anger, remained in control of himself in front of the pitiful boy. Sebek is your friend. Sebek is his family. In the end, despite his loyalty, despite his duty, Sebek is still a kid. And Malleus knows that. He won't let this burden the young boy despite him taking full responsibility for the situation.

➸ But Malleus doesn't have the words to say what he wants to say. Instead, he told Sebek to rise from his feet and wordlessly left to bring you to the infirmary. 

➸ In the end, what matters most is you.

Your words remain in his mind to echo along with the voices of his fears. Malleus wished to feel the warmth of your hand again, for when he grasped it by your bedside he could feel nothing.

True Love's Kiss can wake you. True Love's Kiss. But do such a thing exist in Twisted Wonderland? Of course, it does, Malleus, of course, it does. However, seeing your pale lips are more of a dreadful reminder than a hopeful invitation.

The fear settled in his stomach along with his insecurities. Malleus cannot lose you. He can live without you, but he does not want to.

➸ Homeboy was just sleeping under the tree,,, he didn't hear the explosion go off or even heard you running at him at full speed

➸ By that, well, running at inhumane speed and pouncing right on him like a rabid animal.

➸ He woke right up when he felt the pain immediately. It was like getting hit with a spine of a book—it jostled him enough to wake him, at least, and the adrenaline rushing through him was enough to knock you off. Silver didn't have time to get what the fuck was happening but thank the Sevens he was trained enough to be quick-footed. 

➸ He had time to grab his baton but he didn't have time to block your pounce. And damn you hit like a truck! Silver had to use his baton to block your face even if your entire weight was pressing down at him. There was something definitely wrong with you—and it's not just the look in your eyes-

➸ "What's gotten into you?!" the sudden shout made you calm down—thankfully—and Silver thought you're fine again. You looked at him blankly and the anxiety nipped at his skin. "Are you talking to me?" ????? Who else is he talking to??? 

➸ When he talked to you, like, yes dear I'm talking to you, your face contorted into something akin to bashfulness—the tipsy kind of bashfulness. The next thing you said confused and worried him more: "Mrs. Robinsons...you're seducing me."

➸ ???? Who the fuck is Mrs. Robinsons???

➸ Well, Silver doesn't have time to think what kind of enchantment table language you're daying because you're suddenly thrown away from him by a burst of magic—advanced magic that he only saw Malleus cast once because of the sheer force it can create. By that, meaning, one single hit of that magic can KILL A REGULAR HUMAN BEING.

➸ It was Professor Crewel who fired the blast and even he looked astounded at what he'd done. Silver didn't waste any time rushing to where you were blasted off. He was expecting you...dead, remains, fuck...what he wasn't expecting was seeing you still standing. Barely alive with your skin blooded and peeling and regenerating—but alive, nonetheless. 

➸ He locked eyes with you again and the cold feeling settled at the pit of his stomach looking at you. "Hey. Don't look at me like I'm fucking Frankenstein." You opened your arms at him and gave a solemn nod. "Give your father a hug." 

➸ Silver, softly: what the fuck

➸ When Professor Crewel withdrew his wand again you literally hissed like a raccoon. And it looked like he wasn't alone for Sebek pulled Silver away from your range. Ace, Deuce, and Grim were here too. Silver took a deep breath and looked at Sebek wordlessly demanding what the fuck is happening. 

➸ Sebek, as quick as he could, explained the situation to Silver. The quick run-down of things swum around in Silver's head as your nonsensical remarks made him dizzier. Guess that explains your strength and immunity to magic. 

➸ Silver: who did this to him?? Sebek, sweating: it's a funny story, really

➸ Silver stared at Sebek. He didn't have time to process what the fuck Sebek just confessed to because you screamed again. Sebek and he whipped around to see you viciously tearing apart roots and magical bonds set off by the professor along with the senior students that rushed to the scene. "ALRIGHT," you screamed, yeeting Ace, "I'm TIRED of these EFFIN snakes on this MOTHERFUCKIN' TRAIN!" Then you took off running the other direction toward the forest, and the chorus of frustration reminded Silver of the gravity of the situation.

➸ The absurd weight on his entire body made Silver wish this was just a nightmare.

➸ But it would be a nightmare to lose you. 

➸ Even when the night was starting to stretch, and the others were sent by the staff to the infirmary, Silver went to the forest with a heavy heart and his baton in hand. Sebek followed him—for what, a sense of responsibility?—and stopped him before he runs into a tree or worse. Silver snapped at him, the anger finally reaching its surface, and he glared at the young man. Silver isn't the type to fight with his fist nor his words, but this is about you. You who were struck by a mix of potions and magic and currently missing because someone's big head got you in trouble.

➸ Silver knows that Sebek knows how much you mean to him. He's also well aware of Sebek's particular dislike for humans. That remark made Sebek slightly stumble. A flash of hurt and angry was in his eyes but he never tried to hit Silver, despite almost losing control over himself. 

➸ "Fighting would not bring him back, Silver. Arguing will not either," Sebek told him. "I know my apologies will be useless in this situation and that is why I will do everything that I can to fix this." 

➸ Silver is on the verge of fucking tears but it won't compare to Sebek who remains a straight face while his nose turns bright red from holding back tears. Fortunately, before things get worse, Lilia and Malleus came from the trees. In Malleus' arms was you, quiet, and sedated. Silver would have jumped at Malleus and whisked you away but he's suddenly overcome with fatigue that Lilia had to place his arms around him. 

➸ Apparently, the two found you by the river doing whatever then Malleus struck you with his Unique Magic. At that mention, Silver felt cold. He didn't realize how tired he felt, from running around to worrying about you. Despite the heaviness on his shoulders and eyelids, he kept his eyes on you. You looked peaceful but hurt. And Silver wished he can keep you close to him to make you less hurt.

➸ He's glad that you're okay now but he feels dreadful about what's to come next. That dread never left, though, even when the slumber takes him.

"Poor things," Lilia sighed, stroking Silver's locks as Sebek carried the boy on his back. Malleus still has your unconscious body in your arms. His expression is unreadable.

Sebek felt the guilt suffocating him but he remained calm despite the lodge in his throat. "M—Master Lilia—Young master—It...this is..." Sebek stammered, failing to grasp the appropriate words for a sincere pardon. Yet Silver's weight is just as heavy as his sins. Lilia, however, stroked his head. "Save your strength, little one. The best you can do for now is take Silver to the infirmary," the elder fae instructed.

Sebek only nodded and obediently abided.

[worldwidebt7]

Hell[L]ing || 05

§ — Pairing: Chimera!Taehyung x Empath!Reader (with mentions of Reader x Other Members)

§ — Genre: SciFi AU, fluff, angst, smut, horror

§ — Wordcount: 2,974

§ — Rating: M § — Warnings: None. Just an awkward AF encounter.

§ — A/N: Gone for so long, but not forgotten! I love this story, and I don't plan on letting it die any time soon~ I need a manager-- I've got way too many projects! Anyone want the job? LOL

Summary: You moved out into the wilderness to live a calm, peaceful life. Your abilities made it impossible to live in crowded places, so even if you wanted to you couldn’t return. But when something happens outside the realm of even your normalcy, you start to think that maybe having everyone else’s emotions bearing down on you isn’t such a bad alternative to being trapped with your own.

You were definitely beginning to question your decision-making skills, or lack thereof. Any sane person would never let a man they met once into their isolated house on a rainy day— it was an exact recipe that stereotypical horror films follow. And you were to be the soon-hunted lead female. Whether or not you get killed milliseconds before the credits started rolling depended on how you treated the situation henceforth.

Standing in your bathroom, you contemplated your options as your fingers ran over the plush fabric of the grey towel you intended to hand to the soaking wet gentleman currently standing in your kitchen. First, you could continue on the path you were currently set on: heading back down the stairs to help the supposedly sick boy dry off and offer him a warm drink. This would most certainly end poorly if your expertise of the genre was anything to go by. Assist the helpless stranger, let his quirky personality charm you, then die. Not preferable.

You could, adversely, call the police or one of your friends to come save you and distract your company until they arrived. This would be the smarter move, though you have your doubts that the situation warrants such a reaction. Besides what your extrasensory abilities allowed you to perceive, your neighbor has done nothing to make you think he holds any ill-will against you. Having him forcibly removed from your home would only certainly sour his opinion of you.

Your last option, from what you could organize from your frayed thoughts, was to expedite option one, in which you dried him off, warmed him up, and sent him on his way before any amount of intimate time passed. You figured that this was the best option, even if it weren’t particularly the safest. You had no reason to suspect the boy of any violence or threat, but he made you inherently uncomfortable either way.

His emotions began to blip at a faster pace— nervousness, worry— were the rate of his emotional markers linked to his heart beat? That was something new. Well, everything dealing with this boy’s emotions was new to you. Taking a deep breath, you turn and leave the bathroom. You suppose your prolonged absence has made your guest begin to panic, and you really didn’t want to have his sporadic emotions to get more intense; you were already feeling the beginnings of a headache.

Scurrying down your wooden stairs, you felt his interest perk at the sound of your footsteps. Anticipation— but gentle anticipation. Warm, welcoming; you almost wanted to hurry to put yourself back in his line of vision, and as you stepped back into the kitchen, you felt the wave of relief that washed over him. His accelerated heartbeat kept the bursts of emotions abrupt, but they were soothed, a welcomed change from the abrasive concern.

His eyes were locked onto your form, taking in every miniscule movement you made. You made sure to avoid his gaze and cleared your throat as you stepped in front of him.

“Here,” You held out the towel for him to take. “You should probably dry yourself off…” He eyed the soft fabric for a moment, a shy gratefulness melding with slight apprehension. You sent him a warm smile when a few moments had passed and nudged the towel towards him a bit. With that, he tentatively reached forward and gently took the cloth from you. You retreated your hand swiftly and as he brought the towel to his chest you sidestepped towards the counter. “I’ll make something warm for you to drink, yeah?”

As you busied yourself, you didn’t see him lift the towel and softly burry his face in it, drying himself. You did, however feel the warm glow of comfort sprout in the air like quickly blooming flowers. With your back turned to him, you didn’t bother hiding the pleased look on your face. Finally— you thought— an emotion from him that didn’t barrage your senses.

With water heating up in your kettle and the packet of cocoa already retrieved from the pantry, you no longer had anything to distract yourself with. In an attempt to make this spontaneous visit less awkward and less unnerving, you turned to make light conversation. To begin, what on earth the sickly boy was doing wandering about in the rain.

“So…” you started, catching his attention immediately, his nerves returning. “Your name is Taehyung, right?” you received a delayed nod. “I’m Y/N. Ah, though you already knew that, right? From last time?” Another nod. Talkative, this one. You supposed you should get straight to your most burning question at the moment. “I gotta ask… I did extend the invitation, but… is there something I can do for you?” He visibly stiffened and the blips of his anxiety sped up with what, you were sure of now, was his increased heart rate. Oh, the headache. Perhaps you should rephrase. “W-what I mean is, since your health is poor, why’d you come over when it was raining of all days?” This seemed to calm him, as the frequency of his beats trickled off.

He didn’t answer you for a long while, opting to look down at the floor in contemplation. You did your best not to stare— you didn’t want to spike his unease once more— but you were finding it difficult to do so, seeing as the wet boy in your kitchen, now that he was up close and personal, was too beautiful to bear. Your previous appraisal of his other-worldly appearance was far too lenient; how could anyone like him possibly exist at all? And his dark hair— curled more from its damp state and hanging further over his obsidian eyes— only seemed to add more depth to the perfection of the features it framed. How utterly unfair it was for someone to be so beautiful.

“I—” you just about jumped at his voice, breaking the silence, but not cutting through it. The melodic depth of it filled the room. “…bad day…” he was pensive with his words— giving you all you needed to know and no more. There was no deception to him, but he was clearly safeguarding information, keeping it locked away.

You gave a thoughtful hum, but you couldn’t hide the shock and confusion you felt. He came to you because he was having a bad day? Someone he didn’t know and only met once before? You couldn’t help but feel this was… odd, for lack of a better term. And he seemed to realize this as well, as his eyes never once met yours. His apprehension was understandable now, and his fear of being turned away— he really had no reason to be here.

Still, your heart warmed at the thought that he had come to you for comfort, as unexpected as it was. And, slowly, the majority of your concerns over the situation began to melt away. Yes, he was a strange boy, yes, there were things about him that were odd and seemed unnatural, but… there was nothing aggressive, or dangerous about his intentions. He seemed more like a child than anything else with how small his large frame looked; like he was trying to curl in on himself.

A sharp whistle pierced the gentle atmosphere and both you and Taehyung jumped nearly out of your skin. You recognized the sound as your kettle quickly after having your nerves fried, but your guest was immediately on the defensive, his fear refusing to subside as he took a pathetic few steps back from the offending object.

“Sorry!” you called out to him and you turned on your heel to remove the kettle from the stove. His confusion was evident, and mixed with the other strong emotions bombarding you, you were almost inclined to say that he’s never heard the shriek of a kettle. The noise subsided as you lifted the item off the heat, turning the burner off in the process. “Phew— that scared me!” At your laughter, his confusion turned into curiosity, and his fear ebbed away.

You emptied the chocolate powder into one of your mugs and promptly drowned it in the hot water from your kettle, the smell of hot chocolate immediately permeating through the air. You se the kettle back down on the stove before stirring the drink, your neighbor’s curiosity only heightening. You turned back to him and beckoned him forward, placing the mug of hot chocolate on the island in front of him in hopes he would sit. When he did nothing, a breathy chuckle escaped you.

“You can sit down if you’d like,” you offered, hoping he would oblige. You realize that this directly opposes your original plan to make this visit as quick as possible, but his uncertainty had found it’s way into your heart. You weren’t sure if it was because he was often ill, but he seemed so unsure of how to interact with other people, like he hasn’t had much social interaction before. It was endearing in a way, and even though there were still some things that concerned you about the readings you got from him, you felt inclined to spend time trying to unravel him.

Or you could simply be suffering from your own solitude.

Either way, you smiled when he slowly made his way over to the counter and seated himself on the stool that the mug sat directly in front of. He still had the towel you had offered him clutched to his chest and seemingly hadn’t dried much more than his face with it. Cautiously, he eyed the mug of steaming liquid.

“Do you not like hot chocolate?” you asked, suddenly aware that it’s possible for people to have different tastes. Or worse, because of his illness he couldn’t drink it at all? “Oh, I’m sorry! Can you even drink hot chocolate? I should have asked before. If there’s something else—”

“No! I—” you blinked, surprised. It was the first time he had spoken so suddenly or with so much conviction. He seemed shocked by his own voice, and immediately receded into himself, almost as if berating himself for his outburst. He chewed on his lower lip, “…I’ve never had it… hot chocolate…” you blinked again.

“Really?” He nodded, and his hand slid forward, reaching for the mug. When you saw his fingers wrap around it, you realized how large his hands were— yet another ridiculously beautiful feature as you couldn’t help but think about how elegant the lines of hands were curved around the dwarfed mug. If he noticed you staring, nothing in his demeanor showed any discomfort at the attention, but you were quick to correct yourself when you became aware of it yourself. “Are you sure you can have it…?” you didn’t want to accidentally poison your neighbor if he was allergic to chocolate. A shake of his head did little to reassure you.

“I’ll drink it,” he said with confidence. He raised the mug, his other hand joining the action as the ceramic was completely eclipsed. It took you a moment to realize that he may not be are of the heat.

“Oh, wait, that’s hot—!” you were too late, and you watched him take a rather large sip from the cup. You blanched, expecting him to burn himself, but he only lowered the mug back to the counter, both hands still firmly encasing it, seemingly unaffected. Huh. Well then, wasn’t that odd?

After a moment of deliberation, excitement burst through the air and Taehyung’s eyes lit up. He quickly took another sip of the drink and from the rush of emotions you knew he was absolutely thrilledby the taste of hot chocolate. You stifled a good-natured laugh, not wanting him to think you were making fun of him, and settled for an endeared smile as you leaned forward to rest against the island counter. Why were you so scared of this boy again?

“I’m going to guess that you like it?” you couldn’t help but tease him a little, and, thankfully, he didn’t seem to take offense; he was far too enraptured by the sweet beverage before him. He nodded happily.

“Thank you,” he said, cheer popping in the air around him, making you want to squeal at his child-like wonder at something so simple. Still, you had to wonder— how is it that he never had hot chocolate before? And if he hadn’t had something so elementary, what else had he not been privy to and why? You suppose you could chalk it up to him being ill often, and if such is the case, he must have been sick for much of his life. You wondered who had been in charge of his health all these years and why they refused him such small pleasures such as hot chocolate, making you again second-guess giving him the cocoa treat. But the pure bliss he exhibited bade you believe that just one cup wouldn’t hurt and that it was surly worth it.

He had been so wrought with nerved when he appeared at your back door that any positive change in his emotions was a welcome one. Perhaps he would leave having a better day than when he came. You could only hope.

“I’m glad you like it,” you said simply before moving on, trying to keep whatever stilted conversation you had going. “I’m surprised you came here if you were having a bad day… did you and Seokjin fight?”

At the mention of his roommate’s name, he stiffened, some of his anxiety returning. You must have hit the nail on the head, because as his fingers fidgeted around the mug he looked off to the side towards the floor. You felt bad immediately, not wanting to sour his mood again.

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t pry,” you straightened a bit at your mistake, readying to correct yourself if given the opportunity. “If you want to talk about it, um…” What could you offer him, honestly? Why would he divulge the details of his roommate quarrel with you? He barely knew you. Still, he did come to you— as a source of comfort, as a distraction, or as escape, you’ll never know. You did know that you may be his only choice out here in the remote wilderness and so, to an extent, you felt a certain obligation to offer him support. After all, should something happen to you, he and Seokjin were the only ones in miles that could aid you, and you could only hope that they would do so without hesitation.

However, he shook his head, signaling that he didn’t wish to divulge the issue. More mystery then, it seems. You nodded and gave no further attempts to interrogate despite the burning questions that nagged at you, knowing full well about the need to keeps certain things to yourself.

“I…” he began, suddenly standing. Startled, you too took a step back from the counter as well. “I should go…” he placed your towel on the island next to the half-empty mug after a long moment, seemingly disappointed to part with it. Taehyung hesitated, but eventually took a large step away from where he had been seated and began to make his way to the back door.

His sudden, hurried departure had you reeling. You had wanted a brief, eventless encounter, so letting him leave now would probably be for the best. Yet, despite all your concerns, you were still opening your mouth.

“W-wait!” you called after him, stepping out from behind your countertop. He immediately halted in his tracks, shifting slightly so he could see you out of his peripherals. His uncertainty thrummed in the air like drums, making your otherwise silent home ridiculously loud. “The… the rain…” For the first time in the last ten minutes, you peered outside your window, expecting to see the previous torrential downpour. However, to your surprise, it had calmed to a drizzle at some point during your neighbor’s momentary visit. When had that happened?

Sensing that you didn’t have anything else to say to him, Taehyung continued his journey to your glass doors slowly. You watched him with a rock settling into your stomach— this didn’t feel right to you, and as he opened the door, you called out to him again.

“Taehyung,” this time, at the sound of his name leaving your mouth, his head spun around completely, eyes wide and panic vibrating from him. No, not panic; something akin to panic, but not quite so negative. Something warmer… ugh, trying to decipher his emotions was like learning a new language. So, instead of feeding into your present headache, you continued, immediately embarrassed by what you say. “Come back again sometime… we can have lunch.” You felt the heat in your face from your blush and then, unexpectedly, it was as if the very space around you was placed under a heat lamp and Taehyung’s not-panic set your nerves on fire. What the hell was going on?

You didn’t have time to dwell, because as soon as the shocked, anxious boy recovered, he nodded quickly and slipped out the door, taking his blips of emotions and quickly disappearing into the tree line separating your properties.

With his departure, you could finally breathe, and you found that a tightness that you hadn’t been aware of begun to unravel in your chest. Your migraine, which you were hoping would leave with your neighbor, proceeded to hammer away in your skull. As much as you wanted to dissect your more than odd exchange with the onyx-eyed boy, you couldn’t imagine thinking about much of anything in your present condition.

“Bath…” you groaned, massaging your temples and groggily treaded your way upstairs to soak away the pain in scalding, fragrant water.

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