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#“so and so told me you were born here but i still don't really believe it”
cordeliawhohung · 15 days
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omgggg so cordelia isn’t ur name this is going to alter my state of mind for a week
LMFAO unfortunately not. no one can pronounce my real name. i get weird comments all the time at work when people look at my tag. so i find pretty english names and slap it on my online persona <3
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cheeseceli · 4 months
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When you struggle to eat
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Pairing: Ot8!skz × Gn!reader (individually)
Genre: hurt/comfort, fluff, reactions
Request: reader thinking she eats "too much" and decides to eat way less for her body image, and how the skz boys would react to that.
Warnings: eating struggles will be discussed; reader has body image issues; mentions of food multiple times; use of petnames in Chan and Changbin's
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Disclaimer: this was made with the purpose to comfort anyone who's going through a similar situation. If I made a mistake and made someone uncomfortable/aggravated the situation, please do tell me and I'll correct or delete this post immediately, whatever is preferred. Topics related to eating disorders will be discussed here, please don't read if that's something that triggers you.
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Bang Chan - is ready to listen to all your worries
‌We all remember Chan's Room right?
‌He's ready to spend hours if needed just to understand what you're going through ‌and where your insecurities are coming from
‌At the same time, he will never judge you
‌So you know he's your safe place
Constantly checks up on you even if he's far away through texts and calls
And if there's someone who's aggravating the situation or making you insecure, you can bet he's gonna solve the situation himself
"Talk to me baby. What's going on in that mind of yours, hm?"
Lee Know - eats with you
Probably the first to realise something's off, considering food is almost his love language atp
Likes to have as many meals with you as possible
‌He usually makes a mountain of food in his plate, so you don't worry about the amount of food in yours
‌And he also runs errands with you
‌Especially those like buying food
‌You don't even gotta ask, he would be volunteering on the first opportunity
‌Also cooks for you, whatever you want
"Do you want to eat anything? I can cook"
Changbin - Hype man
‌Your personal hype man fr
‌Is ready to compliment you in absolutely everything
‌The best part is that you know that his compliments are always genuine
‌What do you mean you didn't like that trousers?? You looked fantastic in it! That shirt made you look even more gorgeous
‌He has known you for so long and still, he always finds something new to compliment you on
But even if after all the reassurance you want to change the way you look, he will be by your side to help you do it in a safe and healthy way
"You look perfect, baby. I promise. Actually, I still don't believe I managed to pull someone so beautiful like that"
Hyunjin - has all meals with you
‌And with that, I really mean all meals
‌Breakfast, lunch, dinner, you name it
‌Even if you can't really get out of your work place or your university, he's going there then
‌He just doesn't want you to be by yourself
‌He also always has something to say during those meals
‌News about their comeback, gossip at jyp, stories from his childhood...
He never fails to admire you a lot in those moments as well, never letting you forget how much he loves and appreciates you
‌He does that hoping it will distract you from the food, so you can be more at ease
"Have I ever told you about the time Kkami bit my ankle? I think I still have the scar."
Han - makes you feel beautiful
‌He truly doesn't understand how you don't think you're the most beautiful human being to ever set foot on this earth
‌In his eyes, you were born perfect
‌So, naturally, he makes it his mission to make you see yourself in his point of view
‌Compliments and adores you
‌Will make you feel beautiful, pretty, sexy, cute... Whatever you wanna be
‌Above all, he'll make you feel loved
"No matter what size, you'll always be my love. Don't forget that."
Felix - distracts you
‌With that, I mean that he tries to take your attention off food and body image related subjects
‌Before and after eating, he will always bring you along to activities where your mind can be turned off
‌So many fun dates!!
‌Even during the meals he'll have a similar idea to hyunjin and simply won't shut up
‌Most of his compliments don't involve around your body, so you really don't think about it
"I love this hairstyle of yours. It looks wonderful"
Seungmin - protects you
‌In a sense that no one even dares to comment on your looks/habits
Even if he isn't there with you
‌That because he made it very clear that everyone should watch their mouths around you
‌For as long as he's around you, he will do his best and more to protect you from harmful comment
Also tries to experiment a lot of different foods with you all the time, so you never feel like that's a burden or a bad thing
"Hey, have you heard about the new restaurant close to home? The food is peruvian. We could have dinner there tonight."
I.N - physically reassures you
‌He loves you and every single part of you, including your looks
I believe he was a bit lost in the beginning, not exactly sure on how to help you
‌But even if his words aren't exactly his biggest strength, he still wants to reassure you as much as he can
‌So he does that with his touch
‌Holding you on his lap, kissing all of your "imperfections" and tracing patterns in your skin
‌Anything that can ground, reassure and give you comfort at the same time
"Have I ever told you how perfect you are? I should tell you that more."
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Masterlist | you'll probably like: when you're overworked (ateez comfort)
Thank you for reading<3 I hope this was able to help someone
» I won't put the taglist on this one as I don't want to tag anyone in something that can possibly trigger them «
Dividers by @/cafekitsune, images 1 2 3
Thank you so much for the beta readers: @duhgurl @beebee18 @applekiwi3202 @elqivxstxr @mrsunshine999 @msauthor
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Second Part to Sleepwalking Eddie
Eddie still had his doubts when it came to him sleepwalking. So, Steve did what anyone else would do in his situation. He bought a video camera. Of course, it was right after he bought it that the sleepwalking seemed to stop for a while. Was Eddie fucking with him or was it his kind of luck that this had happened?
Because of the whole sleepwalking naked incident, Steve made sure word got around for everyone to call first before coming over. Eddie had a tendency to take naps after he ate lunch, and it was one of those days. It was also the day when Dustin decided that Steve was just bullshitting them and popped in unannounced. Steve had groaned when he opened his front door to find a grinning Dustin.
"No! You can't come in," Steve hissed. "Eddie is napping."
"So? I promise not to wake him," Dustin said and made his way through the door. "Unless. . .is he really napping, or did you get so annoyed by his presence that you finally killed him? After everything we did to save him. Damn, Steve."
"No, you shithead. I did not kill your precious dungeon master," Steve said, rolling his eyes and closing the door. "I'm gonna call Hop and tell him you broke into my house, though . . . And I actually like having Eddie around, for your information."
"See, I told you that you two would be great friends," Dustin said with his back to him.
Steve rolled his eyes as he mouthed the words with Dustin. He knew he would say something like that. He followed Dustin into the living room and watched him as he flopped onto the couch, propping up his feet onto the coffee table.
"Hey! Feet off the table! God. Were you born in a barn?" Steve asked.
"Boy, wouldn't that just embarrass the hell out of you if that were true?" Dustin asked.
Suddenly, Eddie walked into the room, his eyes closed slightly as he wore nothing but his boxers and one sock.
"Shit," Steve cursed and grabbed Dustin before he went to greet him. "Don't wake him."
"Why?" Dustin asked with wide eyes. "Oh my God! He's cursed, isn't he?"
"What? No. No! Wayne told me you're not supposed to wake a sleepwalker," Steve said.
"Why?"
"I don't know."
Eddie grabbed the blanket and wrapped it completely around Dustin. He pulled him to the couch and sat down. He laid Dustin down in his his arms and began to rock him.
"Steve? Steve?! What is he doing?" Dustin asked.
"I think he's rocking you to sleep, man," Steve replied.
"Baby sleepy, shh," Eddie mumbled.
"No, baby is NOT sleepy," Dustin said and then muttered, "Baby just had a nap. . . Steve! Don't just stand there! Do something!"
"Hold on!" Steve exclaimed and ran off.
When he came back, he had something black and rectangular in his arms.
"What is - Steve, is that - is that a GODDAMN camera?" Dustin asked.
"Eddie doesn't believe that he sleepwalks. I need proof," Steve said. "Can you just give it a few more minutes?"
"Fine," Dustin grumbled. "But you should know this is absolutely humiliating."
"You owe me. One, for showing up without calling and two, for walking in here like you own the place. All without an apology," Steve said.
"Don't use logic against me, Steve," Dustin replied. "Why does he have a country accent? Maybe this is his real accent, and he hides it."
"Maybe," Steve said as he adjusted the camera on his shoulder.
"Baby hungry?!" Eddie asked.
"Steve? STEVE?!"
"Shit!"
Steve stopped him before he could press Dustin against his chest.
"Baby's been fed, remember?" Steve asked Eddie.
"By bats?!" Eddie asked.
"Uh, yeah, he's been fed by bats," Steve replied. "He's also had a nap. Can I hold him?"
Eddie grumbled before pushing Dustin away from him and walking out of the room. Dustin unwrapped himself from the swaddle.
"Well, that was strange," Dustin said.
"Dustin, if you tell anyone about his sleepwalking or joke about us being your parents ever again, I'll show the tape to Max," Steve said.
"You wouldn't!"
"I would."
"Fine."
"Steve?! Why the fuck am I in the kitchen and why do I have partially eaten block of cheese in my hands? I'm lactose!" Eddie called. "And don't say I was sleepwalking again!"
"Magic! It was magic, okay?!" Steve yelled back, rolling his eyes.
"I fucking knew it!"
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corruptedcaps · 1 month
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The Chavs and the Chav-Nots
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"Look, Heidi, I know this sounds crazy, but trust me, it's going to work. The plan is solid. I take the Chav juice I invented, and bam I'm a chav for 24 hours. A full day to go undercover as the ultimate chav bitch. I'll be just like them, blending right in with those girls who make our lives hell. I know you're worried, but it's our only shot. We’ll get the dirt we need to stop them.
Here’s the thing, though, once I drink it, I won’t remember being me. I’ll be all in, completely believing I’ve always been a chav. I might not even go by the name of Jess anymore. And that means… I might come after you too. I might bully you just like they do. But you have to remember, it’s not really me.
When the 24 hours are up, I’ll be back to normal, and we’ll have everything we need. It'll be tough, but it’s worth it. We’re so close to turning the tables on them, Heidi. This is our chance. Just hold on for one day, okay? Ok here goes nothing."
"What the hell am I wearing? I must have blacked out from all the partying and stole your loser clothes. Thankfully even in these fucking shit outfit and virgin glasses I’m still a fuckin’ knockout.
I need to get out of here before someone actually sees me with you. Do you know what that would do to my rep? Being seen with someone like you? Ugh, it's disgusting just thinking about it.
Honestly, I don't even know why you even go to school. It's not like anyone actually likes you. You're just this sad, clingy little parasite, always hanging on, hoping someone will notice you. Spoiler alert, they don’t. You're invisible. You’re fuckin’ nothing, not like me.
Ugh I feel like your ugliness will rub off on me if I stick around any longer. I need some new sexier clothes. Out of the way fugly and if I see you again you’ll wish you were never born.”
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"Heidi… oh my God, I’m so sorry. I remember everything. All the horrible things I said to you as Jessi… that’s what I… I mean she, calls herself. It’s like I was trapped inside my own head, watching it all happen. I felt every nasty mean thing she did. I didn’t mean any of it, I swear.
Thankfully I got a lot of juicy dirt on those evil bitches but you’re not going to like this…. I need to become Jessi again. They opened up a lot to her but I could tell they were still wary of her. I just need to spend more time with them and do what they do and gain their trust.
Thankfully Jessi bought some new clothes while she was in control. I know they are slutty and revealing but they are they perfect to fit in with them. Jessi is a perfect chav.
Of course it helped that the juice transformed my body too. I didn’t expect the big tits, the fake tan, the blonde ponytail, or the press on nails but it certainly helps sell the look. I even think some of the chavs are jealous of Jessi.
And, I can’t believe I’m saying this, but it was kind of… nice? I mean, not the whole ‘being a complete bitch’ part, but having them be jealous you know? Anyway I better go get changed into my ‘Jessi’ clothes. Sorry in advance.”
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“I thought I told you I’d beat the shit out of you if I saw you again loser. What are you even doing at this party, it’s only for hot studs and bad bitches like us, isn’t that right girls?
This is the fuckin’ train wreck I was telling you about girls. Oh you know her? Yeah I guess she is hard to miss, like a wart on a diseased foot. God, just look at her. Honestly, Heidi, you’re a joke. I mean, who even lets you out of the house looking like that? Where’d you get those clothes? A charity shop? They’re so tragic. And that hair… yikes. Ever heard of shampoo?
She’s starting to make me gag girls. Kayla, kick this bitch out will you, I don’t want her putting me off fuckin’ Derek later. So long dork.”
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"Heidi, I’m sorry… again. I know I was awful, but you have to understand, I got even more dirt on those girls. We’re so close to taking them down for good!
Did I have sex with Derek? As in Delinquent Derek the hardest guy on the estates? No… I don’t so? I mean it’s all a little blurry, Jessi was drinking a lot. I only have patches of the night but I’m sure she didn’t. He was texting my phone this morning calling me a bad bitch so I’m sure she told him off.
Oh these hoop earrings? Yeah they’re Jessi’s but I find it’s an easier transition to being her if I’m already wearing some of her stuff. Sure her body fits everything so much better but she’s likely to question everything less if she’s ready to go. Plus I kind of like the way the look on me, they’re sort of sexy don’t you think? Do you think should wear more makeup? Then again what would you know? Anyway I better go get ready for Jessi.”
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"Aww, look at you, Heidi, crying like a little baby. What, did I hurt your feelings? Pathetic. You should be used to it by now. You’re so weak it makes my stomach turn.
I’ll let you in on little secret though. I know all about Jess, my loser alter ego. The more she’s transformed into me the more of her memories have slipped into my mind. The more control I’ve taken. Her smarts have let me take over the gang. They are all dumb sluts so it was easy to manipulate them into making me their leader.
But it’s a two way street. I’m sure you’ve noticed Jess has become a little bit meaner, a little bit hotter, and a little bit vainer. All thanks to yours truly. Poor little Jess thought she could control me, use me like some tool to get her way. But she didn’t realize how strong I am.
Just a few more times, and Jess won’t exist anymore. She’ll be gone, and it’ll be just me, Jessi. Forever. And you? You’ll be stuck dealing with the real me, the one who doesn’t give a fuck about you or your pathetic tears. I love being an evil chav bitch and soon Jess will too.
But don’t you go getting any ideas about telling her what I’m up to. I’ve got her dosing on juice everyday but she could still reject me and try and go cold turkey if she’s convinced, so this will be our little secret.”
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"Heidi, what are you talking about? Jessi’s plan? Jessi doesn’t have a plan, she doesn’t even know about me. You’re just overreacting. I’m in control here, not Jessi. I know what I’m doing.
You’re just jealous because the juice has had some delicious side effects, like making me fuckin’ tasty. I’ve had to wear all the clothes Jessi bought because they’re the only things that now fit me. The fake tan, nails and makeup is just to compliment it all.
Or maybe you’re just jealous because the Chavs have stopped bullying me entirely. In fact they kind of fear me. Maybe that’s what’s really bothering you. You liked it better when I was just plain old Jess, right? Anything to draw attention away from you.
And come on, Jessi taking over? That’s absurd. I know who I am. I’m still me. Kind. Smart. Caring. And sexy as fuck. Maybe I’m just... improving a little, that’s all. What’s wrong with that? You can’t handle the fact that I’m finally stepping out of my shell.
Honestly, Heidi, you’re starting to sound like a paranoid freak. You’re just trying to hold me back because you’re afraid of being left behind. Maybe you’re the one who needs to change, to toughen up a bit. Ever think about that? Anyway I have better places to be now.”
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“Well, well, Heidi. Look at you. I didn’t think you had it in you to try and tell Jess about my plan. Gotta say, I’m impressed. Didn’t think you had a backbone. But that’s why I had the girls tie you up and bring you to me.
See, I’m so close to making sure Jess is gone for good, and I can’t let you derail my plans. You’ve always been such a little thorn in my side, but something Jess said to you made me think that maybe I could get your pushiness to work in my favour. Maybe it’s time YOU changed.
Open up, Heidi. You’re about to get a taste of what real power feels like. Just a little modified Chav juice, enough to see things my way. Thanks to Jess’ brilliant mind I’ve adapted it to make you into everything I need you to be. Come on, don’t make this harder than it has to be. It’s time for you to join the winning side.”
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"You know I wasn’t sure at first that your idea of you imbedding yourself in with Jessi was such a good idea, especially because she really seemed to hate your guts but these past few days I’ve seen flashes of you and her hanging out and you’re as thick as thieves. You’re very convincing. It helps you’re started dressing like all the other Chavs too. Don’t get me wrong, you look proper fit now babes. I mean… you fit in so well with Jessi and her crew!
Speaking of which I’m so glad you’ve changed your mind about me taking the juice, you get that it’s only going to be a few times more and then it’ll be over. I wasn’t sure you’d see things my way, but now you’re being so supportive, so encouraging. It makes this whole thing feel so much easier.
And I have to admit… I do enjoy being Jessi sometimes. She’s so fuckin’ hawt and nasty. A proper slag. Oh sorry about that, she slips out out from time to time. A lot more recently. It just feels so freeing to not have to worry about anything. She’s a real bitch and gets what she wants. As she should!
Shit I was going to wait a few hours but what harm could it be to take some juice now? Thanks Heidi you’re so supportive. But you know what first? Let’s you and I get dolled up so when Jessi takes over she’s ready to go with her ‘bestie’.”
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“Mmmm yesss that did it. I can feel the last of that loser is out of my system. I have to hand it to you babes, this would have taken weeks to do if I didn’t have you by my side. I always knew you had potential, but damn, you’ve become the loyal bitch I needed. Together, we’re going to run the school, no doubt about it.
Funny how Jess tried to go undercover with the chavs and what brought her down was me her better half infiltrating her world with you as my perfect hawt weapon.
And as for me… just look at me. I’m the perfect chav now. In fact I’m the fuckin’ chav Queen! Shedding that weakling Jess was the best thing I could have done. I’m everything she could never be.
But you, you’re my best creation. A slutty bestie who is unwavering loyal and a fuckin’ stunner to boot. Mmmm the trouble we are going to get up to is making me so wet.
After I dosed all the other girls with anti-chav I needed to start building a better gang anyway. They were just posers compared to us. It’s going to be so much fun converting the other nerds into chav babes and bullying our old enemies.
We’re the Chavs now and their just the chav-nots.”
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reticent-writer · 8 months
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Hey! Well, actually, I really like the set of stories about Teen!Reader and Alostor where the reader is classified as an assistant, I would like a story that shows how they met and how they get to the point where they consider him an assistant and their confidence to say him dad? Thank you, I'm sorry if the request was very long. (Writing this I remembered the fight Alastor and Lucifer had over Charlie about who she calls Dad, I felt it would still be a good scenario for indignation)
An: I had a storyboard for this exact thing but its messy and if you don't know me you probably wouldn't understand how my mind works but basically i have ocs for this
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This took a bit longer because it happens before Alastor and reader dies plus I gave reader a family so...... some basic info
Y/n was born into a family that was picture perfect on the outside
father was a factory worker Mother was a dressmaker
Doll House by Melanie Martinez fits them perfectly
Y/n was the middle child of 5
When Y/n was born the eldest (Atticus boy) was 10, Second eldest 6 (Alma girl), Middle child (y/n)
when y/n turned 4 their parents had twins (Giles boy, Gideon boy)
This is a glimpse into my mind. It might not make sense.
✿✼:*゚:.。..。.:*・゚゚・**・゚゚・*:.。..。.:*゚:*:✼✿ 
-1920-
Y/n is 10.
Your parents were perfectionists, especially when it came to the public eye. The L/n family was always the center of attention in your little town, deep in Louisiana.
You and your siblings were constantly dressed in Sunday's best.
"Kids make yourselves look presentable. A client is coming soon." Your mother called out from her 'workspace'. kids aren't allowed in there.
"Can't we just stay in our rooms." Atticus complained from his spot on the couch.
"Get. Dressed."
Atticus groaned as he got up to go to his room. On his way, he knocked on your door before opening it.
"You're supposed to wait for a response, Jackass."
"Next time you curse at me I'm poppin' you." He threatened but you knew he wouldn't do anything, "Mom said get dressed, tell Alma."
He closed the door before you could complain. You heard the shuffling of his feet as he ran to his room.
His room was at the end of the hall. the hall was short with 2 doors on each side. Alma was across from you and the twins were next to her.
Right across from your room is Alma's. She's going into her preteen years and started to spend more time in her room. Your mother says she's adjusting to becoming a woman and needs her time alone. She's also becoming very snappy.
You slowly opened your door to stare at hers. You slowly walk into the hallway and up to her door. You knock three time and wait for a responce. She didn't open the door.
"I heard Atticus." Her voice was horse and strained but you believed what your mother told you.
That was all you needed to get yourself ready.
-------
Your mother made all (except for Alma) of you sit in the living room and wait for the client.
*knock knock knock*
"He's here. You better behave." She says before opening the door with a smile only guests see, "Alastor, It's so good to see you again."
"Good to see you to, my dear and my my look at the children. They all seem to be in good health." He greeted all of you with a smile.
"Hello sir." Atticus spoke for all of you.
"You seem to be missing one." Alastor commented, making your mother chuckle.
"She's been feeling under the weather as of late, come along I need to take your measurements. Atticus, Y/n prepare some tea." She ordered.
Alastor and your mother went to her workspace and she shut the door.
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That night went smoothly until your father got home. He didn't like the fact that your mother was in her workspace with a man and the door closed, even if he was a client.
It caused fighting -well more than there normally is anyway- between your mother and father. It's always been easy to make your father mad.
It got worse when Alastor took notice of it he came by more often with the excuse of having gifts for you and your siblings.
He gave you a radio to listen to him when he went on air. Atticus was offered a job at the radio station. Alma got a set of jewelry.
This angered your father more and instead of taking it out on Alastor or your mother he took it out on you and your siblings. Atticus tried to protect all of you.
One day your father and Atticus got into a really bad fight and your brother was shot. He didn't make it.
It was around the same time when a horrid smell started coming from Alma's room. Your parents said she caught a fever and no one noticed but you didn't believe them anymore.
From then on you started distancing yourself from your family and growing closer to Alastor.
--------
When you got older (16) you started working with alastor at the radio station. He taught you how to live life without worry.
He treats you like your a person and not just your parent's child.
Your parents treated you like a decoration. Alastor treated you like a child he didn't know he wanted.
You found out he was a murder by accident. You forgot someone at the station late at night and went back to get it to see blood spattered in the talking booth.
At first you thought it was Alastors so you took a gun that the station had in case of emergencies and followed the trail.
Opening the back door you saw Alastor dragging the body. The two of you made eye contact. Your body moved without hesitation and helped him hide the body.
------
Sadly, there are times a birth parent is a dud.
✿✼:*゚:.。..。.:*・゚゚・**・゚゚・*:.。..。.:*゚:*:✼✿ 
This is long and not what I usually write but it's been stuck in my head for a while.
A/n: I've decided to cut the twins and make y/n the youngest. I had something for them originally but it's better for just Alma, Atticus and Y/n
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Art by @ghostly-one
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silent-stories · 3 months
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Out of the castle
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(Eddie Munson x F!reader) fantasy au
It's dangerous to leave the castle without any protection, without guards. This is what you had been told your whole life and yet, until that moment it was the only way you had found to have fun, relax and spend some time alone, without anyone telling you to walk with your head held higher, how to eat or what to say.
You had the opportunity to feel the grass under your feet, the sun's rays on your face and the wind in your hair, smell the scent of flowers and spices, meet new people or walk through the town market without everyone staring at you or worse, bowing.
You had never understood that stupid gesture that made you feel extremely embarrassed every time. You lived in a castle doing almost nothing every day and you were born with the privilege of getting to learn how to read and write while the common people worked hard to feed their families, sometimes giving up their daily meal for the sake of their children, and they were the ones who bowed when they saw you?
They deserved much more respect than you and your family.
However, your parents didn't seem to understand it.
You didn't know how far you had gone from the castle that morning, but that had never worried you since its towers were visible in every part of the the city, and perhaps the kingdom, from how tall they were.
The narrow path you had walked, wound through the trees and the leaves formed a green roof over your head, filtering the sun's rays. The ground was soft beneath your feet, covered in moss and some dry leaves.
You thought that if your mother found your muddy boots hidden in the closet again, she would kill you and the kingdom would be left without heirs.
The clearing you had reached was surrounded by many tall oaks and a lake, calm and serene, stretched out in front of you. The crystal clear water reflected the blue of the sky.
The frogs croaked undisturbed and some birds, hidden among the branches, were singing.
It seemed like one of those fairytale places that you only read about in books and you wondered if there were sometimes fairies there. You didn't know if they really existed or not but you had read so many legends about creatures like them, that you had started to believe them.
The "crazy" old man who preached outside the bakery a few days earlier was sure to talk to them every night.
“I thought I was the only one who knew about this place.” A voice coming from behind you almost made you fall into the lake. Luckily it didn't happen: you can't teach a princess to swim.
Turning around, you looked at the young man in front of you for a moment. He was wearing a beige shirt (buttoned the wrong way), dark pants with a seam on one knee, and a brown belt around his waist. He didn't seem to have any bad intentions and looked at you with only slight curiosity painted on his face. His curly hair was messy and his brown eyes were still staring at you.
"Since we're both here, I guess you were wrong." You finally spoke.
He softly chuckled under his breath. “How did you find this place?”
“I was just…exploring.”
"Mm." He looked at you like he thought you were lying. “Well, I often come here to fish, so as long as you don't steal my fish, you are allowed to stay.” He added with a smirk.
“Allowed” You repeated to yourself, chuckling. You almost wanted to say that that place was technically yours, considering that one day you would be queen, but you didn't.
"Wait a minute," he said, his eyes widening, "we've seen each other before."
"Oh, I don't think so." You were quick to deny. "I don't leave my house much, I like... reading and painting."
You closed your eyes for a moment, sighing. They were the richest activities anyone could mention, dammit.
"But we did!" He exclaimed as a smile formed on his face, dimples on his cheeks, "You gave me a gold coin a month ago."
He was definitely prettier than any man your father wanted you to marry.
You shrugged. "I don't remember."
So he was the boy singing sat on the sidewalk that everyone was ignoring that evening.
"That's impossible! I was playing my lute outside a shop and you left a fucking gold coin in my hat! My uncle and I got three meals a day for a week thanks to that, and I even bought new boots! I never had the chance to thank you because a moment later you were already gone and I always wondered how the hell you managed to have such a coin and why the hell you decided to give it to me but now-" his babbling suddenly stopped.
"What?" You asked.
"No way." He murmured. "God, I'm so stupid!" He added, suddenly starting to bow.
That was always the worst part.
"I'm really so stupid. I don't know how I didn't notice before, I beg you to forgive me, I never meant to disrespect you and I'm deeply sorry for any-"
"No no no. Please stop. Don't." You grabbed his arm before he could bow.
He stopped mid-action, his knee almost about to meet the ground, and looked up at you, surprised.
"I'm serious, really. There's no need" You added, helping him up.
"But you're the princess." He murmured, confused.
"I know. But it's not that important, really."
It sounded funny, you had to admit that.
When he stood up and you realized you were still holding his arm, you let your hand fall to your side.
“So I won't have my head chopped off in public?”
You laughed.
"I'm serious!"
"I'm sorry. No, your head will be on your shoulders for a while longer."
"Okay, in that case." He grabbed your hand, bringing it to his lips for a kiss that barely touched your fingers. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Princess of Hawkins. My name is Edward, Eddie to my friends, at your service."
“Call me Y/N, please.” A smile was on your lips caused by his theatrical ways.
"Wow." He murmured then, looking at you.
"What?"
"It's just... really weird. Seeing you here. Alone. Without twenty men ready to rip in two anyone who comes near you. Why aren't you...?" He raised an arm, pointing to the castle towers visible despite the tall trees. "I won't take 'I was exploring' for an answer."
"I ran away."
Eddie looked at you in surprise.
"I'll come back. I always come back. I have to. But sometimes I need time outside that castle. I can't spend my life locked inside those walls when there's a world to explore outside. So... I was really just exploring, actually."
"You have any idea how many people could like- kidnap you and return you to your family in exchange for chests full of gold? Assassins, pirates, hitmen..."
“Oh god, you sound like my family!”
He chuckled. "Sorry."
You never thought you'd find a friend outside the castle walls, someone you could talk to as if you weren't the heir to the throne and yet that morning, you spent it all talking to Eddie on the shore of the lake that only you seemed to know.
You realized that maybe Eddie could become your first friend ever.
You liked the way he laughed at your jokes and how he rolled his eyes, apologizing every time you scolded him when he called you “princess.”
"Do you know that your shirt is buttoned in the wrong way?"
"Princess, you live in a castle. You don't know the latest fashion trends."
You loved the way his brown eyes had so many shades of gold when they were hit by the sun's rays filtering through the leaves.
You liked the way he could weave fantasy with reality and confuse you, leading you to believe that the magic he claimed to be true actually existed.
"Of course fairies exist! They are small shiny beings and are only kind to those who are kind to them. A bit like all of us, isn't it?"
You liked his humor, sometimes you wondered if he did it on purpose or was he was just like that.
"What about dragons?"
"You telling me you've never seen a dragon?"
"You telling me you saw a fucking dragon?"
"Hey, you know that for a princess you talk a lot like the people who work at the port, sometimes?"
And after hours, when you realized that if you were gone too long, they would find out about your absence, you had to say goodbye to him.
"Do you... do you think I'll see you again?" You asked then.
"Hey, I told you. I come fishing here often. And you can find me sitting on some sidewalk playing my lute."
You laughed. "Of course. See you then."
"See you."
You laughed when he gave an awkward bow.
The moment you started to walk away, you remembered something.
"Hey, Eddie!" You called out to him, before pulling a gold coin out of a pocket in your dress and tossing it to him.
He caught it.
And like the time before, before he could thank you, you were already gone.
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a-dauntless-daffodil · 4 months
Text
au where vaggie has another little secret she didn't even know was a secret still (spoiler it's Mortality) (spoiler charlie Isn't Happy) and when she sits down with charlie for a hotel talk it goees like (TRAUMATIC EMOTIONAL SPEED RUN AAAAHAHAHA)
Vaggie: "Alright sweetie, the hotel's going good so far, one soul redeemed, minimal fire damage this week, so we should probably start planning for the next hundred years of operations."
Charlie: "YAY!!! Planning planning planning~ What's first on the list??"
Vaggie: "Start looking for a replacement manager."
Charlie: "You don't wanna keep being manager? OH- we can be CO-FOUNDERS together! WE COULD HAVE A PARTY FOR IT! And plan for the next one too- Charlie and Vaggie's centennial wow the hotel is still here celebration...!"
Vaggie: "That's sweet, but I'll be dead by then either way, so we still need to deal with the staffing shortage before then."
Charlie: "....dead... tired?"
Vaggie: "Dead as in dead. Doornail style."
Charlie: "What?"
Vaggie: "Expired. Shit, when did we last check the hotel fridge..."
Charlie: "Vaggie wait, I'm, I'm not hearing you right, what are you saying?"
Vaggie: "Heaven born don't live forever? Especially not down in hell, turns out."
Charlie: "I don't understand."
Vaggie: (chuckles) "Sweetie, thanks for ignoring my eyebags and zombie groans while getting out of bed in the morning- but my wings are already GREY, for fuck's sake."
Charlie: "Yes they're, grey. Beautiful and- aren't they supposed to be-?"
Vaggie: "And I'm pretty sure it's not just from the stress of running a business for a few months. Being hotel manager isn't that hard."
Vaggie: "....Mostly. Compared to, some things...." (sigh)
Vaggie: "Think anyone would believe that if we put it in the want ad?"
Charlie: "But-"
Vaggie: "No buts. We really need to get a head start on this."
Charlie: "....but you're a winner."
Vaggie: (SNORTS) "In my dating life, yeah. Anyway-"
Charlie: "But none of the other exorcists' wings are grey! So, so THEY aren't aging- so YOU aren't aging!!"
Vaggie: "They've got halos to protect them from the whole physically getting old thing-"
Charlie: "Halos???"
Vaggie: "-so we- they- can keep fit and ready for fighting our- THEIR whole lives, but duh we don't live forever. Lute and Adam left me here to die, not chill for all eternity."
Charlie: "Wh.. but-"
Vaggie: "Can you imagine how much heaven would've freaked if one of their actually immortal souls had gotten killed down here in hell...? But it was just one of us Adam's girls, and it was up to him to deal with it. With more murder. Bastard."
Charlie: "...."
Vaggie: "Uh.... Charlie?"
Charlie: "....your mortal?"
Vaggie: "I'm, yeah.... wait, Charlie..."
Vaggie: "...people know that about exorcists, right? You didn't... think heaven would risk putting winners in their rank and file army and send them down to hell?"
Charlie: "I thought you were a sinner."
Vaggie: "Hostia- right. I keep forgetting, they don't get old do they?"
Charlie: "Sinners don't. They get killed but they don't just. Die."
Vaggie: "I'm sorry. I thought- I really should've told you-"
Charlie: "Angels aren't supposed to die either."
Vaggie: "We did a good job proving that wrong. Exhibit A, Adam's corpse."
Charlie: "He was KILLED- it's not the same!"
Vaggie: "And angels aren't the same either. There's a lot of different kinds in creation- most of us aren't in the higher orders, there's waaaay more exorcists than seraphim."
Charlie: "But heaven is still supposed to be HEAVEN! People don't DIE in heaven! That wouldn't be Heaven! How could- how could it ever be HAPPY up there if, if- if people still left!?"
Vaggie: "Oh, sweetie... the only people who've earned a heaven like that are the winners. The rest of us are just-"
Charlie: "Just what? JUST, WHAT???"
Vaggie: "We're there to make heaven a good place for them. Keep it running smooth and safe. Mostly it's the higher ups who deal with winners personally, the rest of us stay back and stick to our jobs, try to keep some distance so no one... gets too attached... shit that sounded a lot less fucked up before I said it out loud-"
Vaggie: "Look- it's like that with hellborn too isn't it? The imps and hellhounds and-"
Charlie: "NO! YES? But this is HELL! Of course it hurts and isn't fair! You're not FROM hell it's not supposed to BE like that for you!"
Vaggie: "Or for my girlfriend."
Charlie: "I'm not the one who's dying!"
Vaggie: "You're kinda freaking-"
Charlie: "IM NOT FREAKING OUT!!"
Vaggie: "Right. I meant, you should've had more warning. I'm sorry I didn't say... I wasn't thinking that far ahead."
Charlie: "WELL I WAS! And I'm not- we're not losing that."
Vaggie: "Charlie-"
Charlie: "We're getting you your halo back."
Vaggie: "Pretty sure it's already been recycled-"
Charlie: "THEN WE'RE FINDING ONE FROM ONE OF THE DEAD EXORCISTS and you are WEARING IT until we FIX THIS."
Vaggie: "Sweetie- heaven collected all the halos from our battle-"
Charlie: "They didn't pick up all the spears and stuff, maybe they also missed-"
Vaggie: "No they wouldn't have. Halos aren't, they're not like the weapons. Heaven doesn't care if sinners kill each other with some left behind divine steel, but a halo? They store and conduct heavenly power or whatever. No one's gonna leave one of them lying around."
Charlie: "Fine. FINE- let me think-"
Vaggie: "Can we think less and focus more on you not shaking like a damn leaf first? C'mon, sit down-"
Charlie: "-the angel Carmilla killed. We'll use that one."
Vaggie: "We could use a deep breath right now."
Charlie: "It's head was missing when heaven picked up the body."
Vaggie: "Yeah? An Overlord probably has it hanging on their wall, big whoop, Charlie please slow down-"
Charlie: "If it's head was left behind then maybe it's halo was too! If we find the Overlord-"
Vaggie: "No. No more deals with Overlords."
Charlie: "I'll make as many damn deals with them as I want!"
Vaggie: "But not for ME, alright! If it's about me then you don't get to sell your fucking soul! Or bind it or whatever! You can't make me be the reason for that!"
Charlie: "Vaggie- we NEED that halo."
Vaggie: "No we don't. I don't."
Charlie: "You're dying without it!"
Vaggie: "I KNOW I am. But that's just, life!"
Charlie: "LIFE? Dying so soon isn't-!"
Vaggie: "Charlie, you're half seraphim. You mom was the original demon, your view on life expectancies is kinda skewed."
Charlie: "You said the halos let you live longer!"
Vaggie: "I said they keep us young. It's not the same thing."
Charlie: "It's still SOMETHING!"
Vaggie: "We don't even know that would help at this point, I've been in hell for years-"
Charlie: "Oh so we shouldn't even try!? Just, sit back and go 'well we haven't don't anything to stop this but I guess it was just completely unavoidable'-"
Vaggie: "It probably WON'T help. No, listen- It worked up in heaven and for short runs down here- that doesn't mean it'd have any power to draw on in hell. It's probably just a fancy looking hoop down here."
Charlie: "Then we'll get you back to heaven until we can make it work."
Vaggie: "I'm not going back to fucking heaven!"
Charlie: "AND I'M NOT LETTING YOU STAY HERE AND DIE!"
Vaggie: "You can't kick me out- this is OUR hotel, not just yours."
Charlie: "YOU- you-"
Vaggie: "We need. To calm down."
Charlie: "CALM DOWN! Every second you spend down here your body is-"
Vaggie: "Not dying anytime soon, okay? I'm fine. This whole talk has gone way too far way, way to fast. That's my fault for not thinking about all this sooner, but. Just. Take a breath. Let's just take a breath, take a break, and come back to this when we're both had a moment."
Charlie: "....."
Charlie: "Did you plan all this."
Vaggie: "What?"
Charlie: "Owning the hotel together. Making sure you couldn't be forced out of hell."
Vaggie: "That's not why we started the hotel-"
Charlie: "No, that's not what I was thinking when we started it. But were you?"
Vaggie: "Charlie... you're connecting dots that aren't there..."
Charlie: "You're here. You're here and dying and don't want to leave."
Vaggie: "I'd be dying up in heaven too."
Charlie: "But your wings wouldn't already be GREY, would they?"
Vaggie: "They'd still be an exorcist's wings, if I'd never left-"
Charlie: "Well they're not anymore and going back wouldn't change that. All it would do is help you stay alive."
Vaggie: "I don't want that life."
Charlie: "It's that or die."
Vaggie: "You're being dramatic-"
Charlie: "You've always said you liked that about me. Was that a lie too?"
Vaggie: "No."
Charlie: "Do you want to die, Vaggie?"
Vaggie: "Of course I don't- I could've just let Lute-"
Charlie: "Die, not be killed. Does it make you feel better about all the people you've killed? You'll die and join them, sooner rather than later?"
Vaggie: "......."
Vaggie: "... I want. To spend my life. With you."
Charlie: "No you don't." (voice cracking) "You can't do that when you're dead."
Vaggie: "That's not my fault."
Charlie: "Your choice though, right?"
Vaggie: "It’s not same thing-"
Charlie: "Yes it is. You want to be one who leaves."
Vaggie: "....... wouldn't you?"
Charlie: "...."
Vaggie: "..."
Charlie: "I don't.... want it to b- be like this."
Vaggie: "I know."
Charlie: "I want US! Not like this."
Vaggie: "I know, sweetie, I know... I'm so sorry-"
Charlie: "Stop it." (muffled in vaggie's hair) "You don't want this either, stop apologizing for it!"
Vaggie: "... I shouldn't have let you think, it could be different."
Charlie: "...."
Charlie: "It will be."
Vaggie: "Okay. Denial, that's a, normal step in-"
Charlie: "No- It WILL BE. I- We going to- we'll MAKE it different."
Vaggie: "I don't think we can..."
Charlie: "We will."
Vaggie: "Charlie-"
Charlie: "Damnit just trust me! If we can save a sinner's soul, then we can f-fucking save you."
Vaggie: "....."
Charlie: "Please, Vaggie. Can we try?"
Vaggie: "...it'll be a waste of time."
Charlie: "No it won't."
Vaggie: "We're already not gonna have forever together, sweetie. Why not just. Enjoy what we do have?"
Charlie: "I will! We will."
Charlie: "But we're going to have longer than one century for it."
Vaggie: "Half that, maybe..."
Charlie: "That's not the sound of trying. Vaggie. Please."
Vaggie: "...well... if you're gonna look at me like that about it..."
Charlie: "Don't joke about this."
Vaggie: "I'm not." (smile) "I just know better than to doubt Charlie Morningstar when she gets an idea into her cute, stubborn head."
Charlie: "All my head needs right now is an answer. One word. Clear. Honest."
Vaggie: "... alright. Yes. We can try."
Charlie: "Thank you." (kiss) "Thank you, thank you, thank you..."
Vaggie: "But you have to promise me. No deals. No selling souls- not for my sake, not even a little bit. Got it?"
Charlie: "Why are you so strict about this-"
Vaggie: "Because it's your soul."
Charlie: "-people make deals all the time! YOU made one with-"
Vaggie: "And it creeped me out even though it wasn't with my soul. Do you promise?"
Charlie: "This is a heaven thing isn't it?"
Vaggie: "Do you promise."
Charlie: "...."
Charlie: "I won't make, deals with anyone in hell, to save you."
Vaggie: (breathes out) "Then... we'll start by talking to Carmilla tomorrow."
Charlie: "TOMORROW!? But that-"
Vaggie: "Will give us time to figure out what we actually wanna SAY to Carmilla. She's still an Overlord, Charlie. Any info we give her she'll want to sure to keep her family safe first."
Charlie: "I know the fucking feeling..."
Vaggie: "So we're slowing this down and doing things carefully, so we do them right. Right?"
Charlie: "Right." (grumbling) "Fools rush in- blah blah BLAH."
Vaggie: "That's my girl."
Vaggie: (hesitates) (tentative smooch)
Vaggie: "Feeling better?"
Charlie: "Fine. I wish you'd stop asking ME that."
Vaggie: "Just glad you're not shaking so much anymore. Kinda scared me for a second."
Charlie: "I'm fine." (sighs) (hugs vaggie) "I didn't mean..."
Vaggie: "I didn't mean to scare you, too."
Charlie: "It's fine. You'll be okay."
Vaggie: "Mm. Already am."
Charlie: "And we're NOT looking for a replacement hotel manager."
Vaggie: "We're gonna need-"
Charlie: "NO."
Vaggie: "-okay. We'll hold off on it. We've got time."
Charlie: (holds her closer) (glares at distant light of heaven)
211 notes · View notes
wordsvomit101 · 4 months
Text
I would put him as a "sad old man" on my contact list if I were MC.
Sometimes I gotta be a bit petty for MC cause they don't do it for themself. Credits to @shyanimeboi and their friend on X: https://x.com/shyanimeboi/status/1795183592961655077/video/4
Warnings: Sexual content, complicated brainstorming about guilt and legacy.
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Of course, you would say that- No but honestly, I would be pissed as hell if he said that to me directly, cause sir your brother lowkey put MC's parent on the news, made their friend see his ancestor temporarily, and then almost put them in the casket as well. It's a miracle that they do not blindly hate everything relating to angels at this point. (Although I'm glad that you at least find closure from it you dismal oldster ╮(─_─)╭)
It's a little heartwarming that he shows that he still loves his brothers a lot, given how he said: "traces that Gabriel is alive and well". It got me thinking about how it could very likely mean that he believes at some point in the future, either the other kings kill his brothers or Lucifer will have to choose between Hell (repentance) and his love for them when put in a corner he cannot back out, and with him being the Sin of Pride, I don't think he would either.
Also, if he is happy just by seeing the brand alone then his brothers either avoid attacking Paradise Lost personally or he didn't face them directly after he told off Michael more than 100 years ago and he did say that he "can no longer meet to ask how he is doing".
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This first option seems like something Solomon would say. As his descendant, how MC presents themself in the daily chats and some of their options are probably the closest we get to see how Solomon would act when he was still around. An example would be how they question the goofy 3 rules policy in Paradise Lost that was set by the nobles, I will admit, I didn't think of that either. I was affected by the devoted behaviors of the nobles from both the event and the beginning of the prologue, in turn, I put Lucifer on an unreachable pedestal and I love that MC boldly questioned it and presented their opinions and rationale that bring Lucifer closer to the player and shows more air-headed sides to the nobles. They bring new perspectives and challenge the assumptions albeit in a small but significant way. I love it, I hope they do it more in the future.
He also finally said it, the holy words of every prideful bastard I know on media, "How dare you", it took 4 chats but we finally got here.
How he process his brothers' wrongdoings and his own? Very understandable and something, in my opinion, most victims would rather want to get from their offenders' family members, acceptance and acknowledgment of the issues and the damage that was done, and a genuine effort to do the right things. Familial love is very complicated, and it is… difficult to hate and condemn someone you come to love first naturally in your life. I think Lucifer, besides God (but also not really), first loves his brothers, probably the first angel to do so for their kind, and by reading the Seraphs’ comics it clearly shows how they either don’t care or hate each other guts yet still capable of loving Lucifer. He raised them, he's both their brother and their second parental figure, and he show them love outside of their devotion to God.
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And how he addresses them in the chat, he calls each one of them a "child", he was being very quietly affectionate by focuses on their well-being when he saw the brand on MC. He also only does this with them and Gamigin, so it is clear how he sees them from a caretaker standpoint (the allegation of him being born in his 30s and raising his brothers is not so far-fetched now, honestly, he is the true dilf here, not God). He knows his brothers ruining other people's lives but when they turn around and love and treat him so dearly that it can feel like what they have done to others is an illusion.
When that illusion doesn't cloud his judgment and beliefs anymore? It will hurt and it can feel like his perception of his brothers are lie. It can be easy to deny the first time but since it happens again and again he has to accept the change and it ain't gonna feel great to realize how he is not the bystander here and directly or indirectly enable his brothers' atrocities (maybe join them in it too at some point, but this is just my thoughts). It gonna rewire how he views a lot of things and it gonna run back from the beginning to the current time, and with how long Lucifer lived? That's rough buddy.
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Now, humans are insignificant in these guys' eyes and a single death is nothing to them in the vast universe, yes, but like Lucifer said, God made humans and with how he said it after that, humanity is a part of God's legacy. Legacy is fundamental to what it is to be human to many, something to be carved on their graves and will at the end of their time, it also helps people who live beyond them to remember and let their spirits or unconscious presence remain on the world. So despite humanity in the grand scheme of things, humans are still the work of God. By referring to God as "Our Father," besides asserting his connection, he also indirectly extends that connection to humans. It suggests a shared lineage and inherent value in all of God's creations.
If I interpret what Lucifer said correctly, then the duty of the Seraphim has always been to protect and care for all beings created by God, ensuring the preservation of His legacy. This duty encompasses all creations, whether great or small, beautiful or flawed. To destroy these creations and leave only themselves as His legacy would be a betrayal of their responsibility. A legacy, regardless of its nature, is not to be forcefully erased. Those who seek to erase it tarnish the very legacy they are meant to safeguard and were entrusted to honor.
So if they can't even accept all of God's legacy, no wonder why they can easily go hunt down every single child of one (1) man they are jealous of. Perhaps this is my speculation on what they did with Solomon, who seemed resigned to being forgotten by the devils in chapter 5. They sought to erase his entire bloodline, his descendants, and his legacy, ultimately aiming to make him extinct from the world (like how poachers do it toward endangered animals). For someone like Solomon, this, in my opinion, could be the most terrible fate for him. I honestly wouldn't put it past God's plan to make MC a part of this war for Solomon.
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This option is more like the canon MC than the Solomon option from before. They felt more personal here in their anger.
The desensitization for guilt and emotional detachment is strong in this. Lucifer acknowledges the gravity and permanence of the sins he and his brothers have committed and accepts that he must coexist with his guilt and remorse, but how he goes around with it is mostly for himself. Lucifer mentions that he "voluntarily fell to Hell", a form of self-punishment despite his brothers' protests (but also calling Hell the starting point of sadness is wild cause honestly? Not that wrong, I can't see truly happy devils, and if there is, their development happened off-screen).
Lucifer’s remark that the MC is "not that meaningful enough yet" is his emotional detachment from others. His focus remains on his own internal experiences rather than on the perspectives or forgiveness of others. This detachment suggests that his pursuit of guilt is inward-focused, rather than being about seeking forgiveness or redemption through the eyes of others. Selfish and very prideful, very fitting for the Sin of Pride. The idea that Lucifer is almost addicted to the feeling of guilt points to a self-destructive aspect of his personality. It indicates that he may be using guilt as a way to continually punish himself or a way to keep feeling alive through suffering.
Now this leads to my next point:
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Lucifer's search for guilt and remorse indicates a need for intense emotional experiences. Witnessing someone cry, especially if he has caused the tears, could provide a powerful emotional release or catharsis for him. This could momentarily alleviate his own feelings of guilt by transferring some of that emotional burden onto others.
Control. By inducing tears in others, he might be exerting a form of control that he lacks in his own life. This dynamic could satisfy a deep-seated need to reclaim some semblance of power over emotional outcomes.
Witnessing tears might serve as a mirror to his own inner turmoil. It externalizes the pain and suffering he feels internally, allowing him to confront it more tangibly. This externalization can create a twisted sense of connection or empathy, aligning with his need to constantly grapple with guilt.
Lucifer's enjoyment of seeing others cry could be intertwined with his own cycle of punishment and redemption. Inflicting emotional pain might be a way for him to project his self-loathing and need for atonement onto others. It creates a scenario where he can experience the aftermath of guilt without direct self-harm.
Causing others to cry could validate Lucifer's sense of guilt and reinforce his belief that he is deserving of punishment. This validation can be perversely satisfying, as it confirms his self-perception as someone who commits unforgivable sins.
Tears are often a sign of vulnerability. Seeing someone in a state of emotional rawness might create a sense of intimacy that Lucifer finds alluring. This intimacy could particularly appeal to someone who feels isolated by guilt and sins.
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isoliawrites · 1 year
Text
I'm here
Sully Family x Son!Reader
Word count: a lot
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01 02
Prologue
⚠️ : Blood, Swearing
Y/n was the second youngest member of the sully family. Born on 2157, he is one year younger than Lo'ak and Kiri. Y/n was born with a streak of white hair and the color of his skin was lighter than an avatar. He was also a bit small compare to his siblings. Physically Y/n was told that he would be weak and not as strong as a normal avatar, this was said by the other scientists seeing that Y/n had a hard time breathing right after he qas born, but Jake believed that Y/n is just as strong as his siblings.
One thing that concerns them is Y/n's hair. It was never seen before and Jake had to explain to Neytiri back at Earth there are some people with heterochromia that could result different colors in their body. Neytiri might still be confused about it but when she saw Y/n for the first time she immediately loved him. The only left is how others view him.
Growing up Y/n never really interacted with others because he could feel the weird stares from them even if he was a child. Some of them have already gotten used to Y/n's appearance but the other kids might see his hair a bit weird, resulting in Y/n finding it hard to make friends. But he got his family so why should he be worried?
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"Wait for me!!" Little Y/n said as he tried to keep up with his siblings, the kids were running through the forest trying to hide from their parents as they were playing a series of police game their father taught them. "Don't be too loud Y/n! They'll hear us" Kiri said to him while running. Neteyam leads the pack as they went under the leaves and roots of the trees. He stopped and looked at his younger siblings, "Let's split up so we don't lose immediately like last time"
They immediately scattered and Y/n follows Neteyam to his hiding spot. "Y/n? Go you need to hide" Neteyam pushed Y/n away "b-but we always hiwde together" Y/n said as he grabs Neteyam's hand with both of his own. "Y/n..." Neteyam can't stand his baby's brother cuteness "Alright alright you can hide with me but don't be noisy" "Yay!"
"Y/n!" Neteyam shushed him as he giggles
Not even a couple of minutes both of you can hear Lo'ak screaming and running away as your father's voice was not far heard. Neteyam peaked through the small crack between the rocks and saw Lo'ak being drag by his father to the jail area. "Alright, Y/n I need you to stay here until either I get back or dad"
"Okay...but return fast" Y/n held up his little pinky to Neteyam. He smiled and seals the pinky promise, then he sneakily went outside to try and save his stubborn other brother.
Y/n was left alone in a dark hiding spot, minutes went by and he hide there patiently waiting for his parents or Neteyam to find him. He was getting tired and bored of waiting.
He can't help but get excited when he heard a rustle, and thought it was someone coming to find him so he just gets out of his hiding spot. But when he got out he instead saw an adult thanator looking at him. Y/n screamed and runs away as it started to chase after him.
Jake and Neytiri were busy chasing around the other kids and keeping them in place when suddenly they heard Y/n's scream. They both looked at eachother with panic in their eyes "Oh my Eywa, Y/n!" Neytiri shouted, Jake took off running towards the direction. Praying and hoping he'll be alright.
Y/n ran as fast as his little legs can take him but the thanator was getting close and closer every minute. Luckily Y/n saw a small opening under a tree that was located near a ledge that leads to a pond. He immediately tries to get there but before he could the creature clawed one of his leg, causing Y/n to fall over the ledge. He rolls down and landed near the pond. At this point Y/n was shouting and crying for his dad, the pain on his legs didn't make it better either.
The creature landed infront of him, ready to attack again when Jake finally caught up and throws the spear at the creatures abdomen causing it to immediately fall and scram. Luckily he had a spear because he had just finished hunting today.
"Y/N! Oh my god, no no no.." Jake held Y/n in his arms carefully, his hand was stained with Y/n's own blood. "D-daddy..I-I'm scared" "I know baby, I know come on we'll get you home. Stay awake for me alright?" Jakes tries his best to stop the bleeding but then Y/n screamed "It hurts daddy!" Jake was shaking at this point because Y/n was loosing blood. He carefully lifts him up in his arms and began to ran back while carefully trying not to make the pain worse.
"I-It..hurts..." Y/n managed to say as his eyes were getting drowsy little by little. "Y/n! Wake up! Come on don't sleep, everything's going to be fine- baby come on be strong. We're almost home" Jake keeps on repeating it but as much as Y/n tried to stay awake, the pain and exhaustion gets to him eventually.
Y/n can hear his father shouting for him but he can't make up the words. Before Y/n passed out, the last thing he hear was Neytiri's scream
Y/n slowly opens his eyes and saw that he was in a room full off machine and some are attached to him. Y/n began to panic and tries to get up but the doors immediately opened "Y/n!" He saw his mother came into the room and his first instinct was that he wanted to be held by his parents.
He reaches for Neytiri and she went to Y/n's side, holding his hand and hugging him. Y/n sobbed a little as Neytiri kisses his forehead to comfort him while thanking Eywa for saving his life.
Not long after Y/n heard another footsteps and it was Jake, with a baby in his arms. Y/n knew immediately that it was his baby sister. Jake gives the baby to Neytiri and went to lay next to Y/n carefully and he leans into his father's warmth.
Jake wipes away his tears and also kisses his forhead. After Y/n stopped crying his attention shift to the small sleeping figure. "What is her name?" Neytiri smiled at him before answering, "Tuk. Tuktirey te Suli Neytiri'ite" "Tuwk. She's so small" Y/n repeats, and Jake chuckles at his son.
Y/n tries to remove the wires attached to him but Jake quickly stops him "Don't, Y/n."
"But.." Y/n quietly say as Neytiri held his hand. "I know... we'll get if off as soon as you're better alright?" He said as he stroked your hair.
"Is your leg still hurting?" Jake asked and Y/n shakes his head "Can I still play with Lo'ak, Nete, Kiri and Spidew?" Y/n asked
"Of course you can, but first you need to rest so you can get better" "But I want to sleep in my bed with daddy and mommy... I don't want to sleep here.." Neytiri squeeze Y/n's hand reassuringly. She can't stand seeing her child in this state. When Jake came back with Y/n, she was scared to death seeing him bleeding and unconscious. She was also close with her due and she doesn't want to lose a child on an important day.
Y/n was out for a couple of days and Jake had to make sure that Neytiri isn't stressing out because it might harm the baby. Neytiri was heartbroken because Y/n was so excited to meet his little sister. Thankfully Neytiri was able to deliver safely and the baby was healthy.
Y/n had to stay there for a while and he hated every single second of it. He felt scared and alone. He cannot see his siblings yet other than Tuk who was aslsep in his mother's arms mostly. Neytiri and Jake make sure to take turn to visit Y/n every single day.
He thought that everything would be back to the way it used to be but since that event Y/n was forbid to be out of Jake's sight or even go out to the forest alone or with his siblings. He was only allowed to go if either Neytiri or Jake was with him. In result Y/n spends his time almost everyday at home.
At first he was alright with it, thinking that Jake just wanted to protect him. But as time passes he started to notice that he also was constantly overlooked by his father and when he asked him to go and train together with Nete and Lo'ak he would always refused. Sometimes Y/n was upset with his father and often felt ignored by him until to the point where he felt like his father forgot he existed. All of this started when the sky people came back, of course it was the more reason he wasn't allowed to go out to the forest.
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<Present day>
Y/n was with his grandmother, Mo'at. It was really something he would do around the camp. He only ever went out with either his parents and it was only on special occasions. Y/n was dying of boredom and he would always felt sad and jealous when the others can go out and play while he would have to stay behind. Tuk would sometime sneak out with the rest but Jake was too soft on her and she would get away with it.
Well let's say that Y/n didn't have the same privilege as Tuk. And sure the event he had was traumatic but sometimes he longed to be in the forest. He had asked Jake about it and his answer was always like "your not careful enough"
He would spend his time learning about making things from scratch, listening to music/radio that Jake gave him, and helping around the camp. Sometimes helping Kiri tend to the wounded.
Suddenly Tuk came in jumping with joy "Y/n! Come on! They are here!" Before Y/n could react Tuk takes his hand and drags him out of the tent.
Outside he saw Kiri and Spider "Y/n do you feel better?" Kiri asked, and Y/n responded with a nod. "Why did you sneak inside there bro? You know that place isn't for playing around.." Spider commented. "I was just curious" Y/n folded his arms in annoyance. "Plus dad already scolded me, so sadly I don't need anymore scolding monkey brain." Y/n chuckles a bit before running to catch up on Tuk "Hey! It's monkey boy. Not monkey brain!"
Tuk ran to their mother while Y/n noticed that their father looked pissed. He looks at his brother, Neteyam and noticed that he is injured. He knew where this is going so he just greeted his mother first, "Are you feeling alright Y/n?"
"I'm okay" he responded quietly and hugged his mother. Neytiri hugs him back and stroke his head, yesterday Y/n accidentally inhaled a black powder from opening a bullet in the armory. He coughed uncontrollably and had a hard time to breathe, luckily Norm and Jake was there.
Neytiri never hated those weapons more in her life and for sometime she was upset that they are raiding the sky people's weapon. As he was treated Neteyam and Lo'ak stayed beside him, Y/n was always their 'baby brother' since they were kids. Not only that, because of his white hair he was always picked on by other kids and his brothers are the one who always defended him.
After greeting his mother, Y/n stared at Neytiri and asked "Mother, when can I join you and dad? Also can I please try and seek my own ikran? I'll be careful.." Neytiri couldn't resist his son's pleading but she can't do much if her husband hasn't agree with it. "When the time comes you may, you know your father is very cautious of the sky people" "But what if my ikran comes by itself and friendly? Like Kiri" Neytiri chuckles "Your not Kiri, you are Y/n." She caress Y/n's cheek gently as he huffs in disappointment, then Tuk joined the conversation "What about me mommy?" "You know the answer Tuk" Neytiri said as she picked her up
Y/n looked at his brothers who were being scold by their dad, Y/n couldn't stand it anymore, it is always the same thing again and again. Lo'ak gets into trouble and Neteyam always tries to protect Lo'ak from their father's wrath. But this time their father keep on scolding them while Neteyam is injured. Finally Y/n speaks up "Neteyam is hurt." Jake looks at him "Yes. I am aware-" "then we should treat the wound" Y/n cuts him off. It was silence for a moment until Jake speaks again "Kiri, help with the wounded."
"My brother is also injured" Kiri said implying to what Y/n said earlier. "Father, I take full responsibility" Neteyam tried to ease his father's wrath but Jake responds back "Yes, because you are the oldest and you must behave accordingly." Y/n grabs his mother's hand and looked at her. Neytiri understood what he meant and finally speaks "Ma Jake, your son is bleeding"
"It doesn't matter, mother."
"Yes it does. It could get infected" said Y/n. Jake looks at him before looking at his wife. "Go in and get patched up" Neteyam was dismissed and the others went along with Kiri except Y/n.
Jake looks at Lo'ak "You must be aware that you almost had your brother killed. You are banned from flying for a month." Lo'ak stayed silent, accepting the punishment
Since the sky people invaded back Jake has been quite hard on his sons and Y/n being the youngest was also included. Despite that Y/n still can't venture out to the forest anymore since they have to go on hiding and he was forbid to go to the forest alone even though he was already old enough. Lo'ak and the others were allowed only until eclipse but Y/n was still not allowed. The worse part is that he never gets an explanation from Jake.
Y/n remembers the time back when he was younger his father was not this strict and he nevers get mad at them, "Look at me" Y/n was snapped back to reality. He looked around and Lo'ak was already gone.
Jake crouched down to look at his youngest son, Y/n slowly looks at him. He never spends anymore more time with his father as he grew older because Jake was so focused on Lo'ak and Neteyam. "So how are you feeling?" Jake asked, Y/n was surprised by the question "I'm fine.." was all he could say. He wanted to hear those words since yesterday but Jake left because there was a problem.
"Y/n...I know how much you want to be out there but we both that you're not ready yet" he said while looking at Y/n. Jake always knew deep down he can't keep him forever in the camp because Y/n was just as stubborn like him. This wasn't the first time Jake disscuss this with Y/n because he would always ask him if he has the chance. Y/n wanted to protest but he can't because he still respects his father.
Jake then stands up and began to walk away, Y/n looked back at his father and mustered up the courage to stop him. "Dad! Then can we please spend time together? I want to go out and explore....and I missed you" the last part was very quiet but Jake hears it. Jake thinks for a moment before looking back at Y/n, his eyes was not as grumpy as before. "Underneath the big old tree?" Y/n's ear perked up, he was happy that his father still remembers that place. Y/n nodded and Jake left to do his other work.
Y/n went inside the tent and as usual it was lively and noisy because mostly it was Neteyam hissing from the pain while their grandmother treat his wounds. "You alright Nete?" Y/n asked, "Never been better- ow!" he winced again. Kiri voiced her opinion about using Yalnabark to Mo'at but she reminded her who was the tashik here, Y/n knew that Kiri was going to be a great tashik one day, after witnessing her relationship with Eywa he couldn't help but be amazed by her. He sat beside Lo'ak and stroke his hand, although he was younger than Lo'ak, Y/n has always been there to comfort him. Lo'ak looks at him and leans his head on Y/n's shoulder.
Outside, Neytiri approached her lover "What is it" Jake asked. "Neteyam and Lo'ak try to live up to you. It's hard for them."
"I know" Jake answered
"And Y/n. You are hard on them." Neytiri added, "I'm their father. That's my job" he told her. Neytiri puts her hand on his shoulder and looked at him "This is not a squad. This is family" Her tone serious. Jake stops whatever he was doing and exhale for a moment "I thought we had lost him. It's the same feeling when Y/n had that accident and that memory replays on my mind"
Neytiri looks at him for a moment. It was a traumatic event for the family especially when Y/n was the youngest at that time. Neytiri cups his lovers face and makes him look her in the eyes, "Ma Jake. He is here, with us. Alive and safe, can't you see that?" "He was only four when that happend. If only I had been quicker on-" Neytiri interrupts him with a kiss which is something rare "Stop blaming yourself for something that you cannot prevent" Jake still blames himself with what happends to Y/n and just hours ago he almost lost his other sons.
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Y/n's POV
The next day went just like I predicted. I was so stupid to think that it could come true. Dad has problems to take care of so he can't spend time with me. Again. I can only think positively that there would always be a next time or a next day. I was extremely sad and upset with him so I went inside my tent to make an accessory for Tuk, at first I felt fine when dad said that to me.
But then now I felt like someone that's.. not even there, useless compare to my older siblings. I wasn't strong like my brothers, or smart and special like Kiri or even as bright and joyful like Tuk... A tear suddenly dropped down from my eye without me even realizing, dad doesn't care how I feel. Am I really that weak?
Suddenly someone came into the tent, I quickly wipe my tears "Y/n are you crying?" It was Lo'ak...Shit, I forget he was grounded.
~~~
Y/n was silent for a while to calm down his feelings, "I was just upset the accessory didn't came out as I wanted" Lo'ak rolls his eyes "You'd never cry over something like that, are you having a bad day?" "I'm not having a bad day."
Lo'ak replied a bit mockingly "You suuuree? Is it because of you getting rejected by a girl again?" "Stop it Lo'ak. I don't like anyone" "So why are you crying?" Y/n looked back at him "I'm not!" "Woww getting defensive are we, yea....you were probably crying"
Y/n clenched his fist and throws the unfinished accessory to Lo'ak "Ow! That hurts you meanie..." "Leave me alone you skxawng!! I HATE YOU!" As much as Y/n loved his brother, sometimes he gets on his nerve "So what if I'm crying?! It's not your business!!" Y/n was shouting at this point and his eyes began to water again. Lo'ak realized that something was really hurting his baby brother. Out of instinct he hugged Y/n.
Y/n hits Lo'ak shoulder "Let me go! You idiot!" He tries to get away from Lo'ak hug but that plan quickly failed.
After calming down, Y/n felt his brother stroking his head trying to comfort him. It was something Y/n would always do to Neteyam and Lo'ak whenever they had a bad day. "It's because of dad isn't it?" Y/n stayed quiet. "Y/n listen to me your not weak" Lo'ak says but Y/n scoffs in response "I can't even defend myself from the bullies and I don't have any kind of freedom. If I'm not weak I could've joined you guys out there"
Lo'ak pulls away from Y/n and holds his shoulder. "Then how about we go an a little adventure?" Lo'ak was smiling at this point and Y/n knew he was up to something. ".....you mean like going out?" "Yeah, while your big brother is here let's go out and explore. I'll take you to our hideout!"
Y/n hesitates for a while, he was afraid Jake would get mad at him. "We'll be home before they'll be here, no one has to know" Y/n thinks for a while before saying "Alright. I haven't seen the forest for some quite time either"
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Y/n can't believe this, he was really going out again into the wilderness. Lo'ak was leading them at front and Y/n was at the very back of the line as he was watching over Tuk. Honestly, Y/n didn't agree with her coming with them but everyone always loses with Tuk.
"Lo'ak, are you sure it's safe for Tuk to come with us?" Y/n said as he jumped from one root to another. "It's fine, there's me, Kiri and you"
"But why would you bring her in the first place?" Lo'ak turn to Y/n and Tuk "The honking princess. I'm gossiping. You must not go out to the battlefield. I'll tell mom if you don't take me." Lo'ak said mockingly and Tuk sticks her tongue out in response. "Come on guys! You're so slow" Spider said and they continue their little adventure.
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After entering the forest, the others went along while Y/n stayed back for a while. It's been along time since he went into the forest and it was as beautiful as he imagined. He sees various types of plants and animal, and he can hear small chirps here and there, he even met his favorite animal the fan lizard. He slowly walked through the forest admiring everything. He then came across Kiri, sleeping on the forest ground.
He planned waking her up but he saw that she looked so peaceful. It was as if Eywa was with her, the ground around her beating as if it was alive. He decided to give her some time and went somewhere else.
As he went deeper he was stopped when a woodsprite approaching him.
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Y/n smiles and overs his hand to it and as it landed on Y/n, his stripes glowed and he felt like a tingle resulting in him giggling. Another woodsprite came and land on his head and another.
His stripes glows even brighter and brighter, Y/n suddenly heard his name being called so he pulled away from the woodsprites and as he walks he saw the ground around him changed, it was full of flowers
"What the.."
"Y/n! Where are you?!" He heard Lo'ak shouted. He thought that maybe he just didn't noticed it before so he ran back to his siblings.
Time passes and they were walking back home when Lo'ak suddenly noticed something on the ground. Y/n looked over it and saw that it was like a na'vi footprint but different.
"We're always supposed to be home by eclipse" Tuk said commented
Lo'ak and Spider looks at the footprints again "Way too big for a human" "Avatars?" Spider asked. "Maybe, but they're sure not ours" they began to follow the footsteps "What are you doing?" Kiri asked. "Shh, I'm tracking" Y/n knew Lo'ak was going to follow it
"I don't think we should follow it" He said to them but none of his siblings listen to him. Lo'ak keeps on moving while the others follow.
Y/n sighs and grabs Tuk hand, hoping one of them would at least listen to him "Let's go home" "No! I also want to know" She refuses. Y/n turned to Kiri and saw her following the rest. Y/n had no choice but to follow his siblings since he wasn't familiar with the way home.
'Dad is going to kill me..' Y/n repeats those words in his mind
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The atmosphere was quiet and no one dares to make a sound. Y/n immediately knew where this is was. He remebers their father warning them not to come here. Y/n was about to say something but Lo'ak covers his mouth and pointed in front of them. Y/n froze when saw avatars surrounding the old shack.
"Dad is going to ground you for life" Kiri whispered but Lo'ak just shushed her in response. "Bro, we've got to check this out, let's go" "Lo'ak no!" Y/n shout-whispered at him while grabbing his arms. Lo'ak looks back at Y/n, "We might need to report this to dad, me and Spider will go out so stay here" He answered whispering back. Y/n gave him a 'you serious' look and whispered back "I'm coming with you, if anything both of you are very stubborn" "sounds fair then, let's go" Spider said before going first silently
The three of them sneak from behind the bushes and trees to take a better look. "Bro, that's where your dad and my dad fought" Spider said and Lo'ak commented "That's your dad actual suit" "Holy shit..." both of them looked amazed
"Both of you are unbelievable.." Y/n mumbled grumpily. He saw the avatars going outside and talks to eachother about something. "Better call this in" Lo'ak said. "No bro, we're gonna get in trouble" Spider protest but Lo'ak just takes Y/n's hand and drags him along "Let's go"
Lo'ak immediately called Jake and the others we're listening while Y/n just wanted to get out of here as soon as possible.
Y/n then heard Lo'ak mentioning their names hesitantly "There's me, Spider, Kiri... Tuk-" Y/n looked at him dead in the eye hoping he wouldn't say his name but Lo'ak didn't seemed to get it
"-and Y/n" Lo'ak looks a bit scared talking to his father and admitting he brought Y/n who was not allowed to go. Y/n can't listen to his father's voice because he doesn't wear any device but then Kiri takes his hand and Tuk's as Lo'ak said "Yes sir, moving out."
"What did dad say Kiri?" Y/n asked. "Of course he told us to get out of here, it's dangerous" Kiri replied and added "Lo'ak is going to be in a lot of trouble and none of us can save him now"
Y/n looked at her "Believe me, I wish his ass get spanked by dad"
Y/n's POV
We immediately stand up and began to retreat. Kiri kept on saying to Lo'ak that he's going to be in so much trouble and hoenstly I agree. Tuk was running infront of us so I immediately catch up to her and grab her hand. "It's almost eclipse, come on" Tuk said and in a second I heard something near us and immediately pushes Tuk behind me as we keep walking.
I turn my head to the group "Lo'ak there's something-" Suddenly someone grabs me and pulled my tsaheylu causing me to scream. The avatar from before held me still so I can't move.
"Y/N!!" My siblings shouted for my name and just like that we were surrounded by the avatars before. Lo'ak and Spider immediately prepares to fight them but they were holding guns.
"Put it down! Or I'll shoot!" I hear one of them say. I tried to fight back the avatar that was holding me but she yanked me up the ground by my hair and held a knife to my throat "Drop it or he gets it!" All of my siblings looked at me and I saw Tuk crying.
"L-Lo" I managed to say while I was in pain. Lo'ak looked at the avatar holding me furiously and finally said "Drop it" Spider lowers down his weapon and they immediately take a hold of everyone and forced them to kneel down harshly. "Get down on the ground. Stop fighting" one of them said as they harshly grab on Kiri's hair. "Check them for weapons" "Kiri!" Everyone was screaming and my head is hurting.
I can't focus on anything, I look at Lo'ak who was treated roughly and Spider. Tuk was scared and crying as they did the same to her. I was also finally set on the ground but her grip was still the same, not letting go and tears rolled down from my eyes seeing my siblings in pain. Tuk was so frightened..
"Tuk.. Tuk calm down, it's alright Tuk" I say to Tuk hoping she would calm down but she saw me crying shouted my name's and Kiri's.
"Be calm" Kiri said to her suprisingly calm although I knew she was also hurting. The soldiers checked us for weapons. After that they gathered us in a circle, the avatar women still has her knife up to my throat so I can't struggle much.
Tuk was looking at me, "Look away Tuk" I said to her shakingly and she did. I prayed to Eywa that our parents can find us soon and I heard the leader speaks, I turn to look at Lo'ak and he was also looking at me. I could see guilt and worry in his eyes, all of us are held captive by some unknown avatars.
~~~ (There's a lot of hair pulling in this scene I don't even know why 💀)
The colonel takes a look at the kids "What have we here?" He said and looked at Spider, probably confused to why there was a human but quickly shifted back it's focus on the others. One of them held Kiri's hand "Look, Colonel. Check it out. 5 fingers, We've got a half-breed" Kiri struggles and the avatar pulled on her head again.
He then turned to Lo'ak "Show me your fingers" Lo'ak looked back at him and raised his middle finger at him. Colonel only chuckles as he turned to Y/n. He sends a signal to his comrade and she lowers her knife from Y/n. "Would you look at this, a new hybird I suppose" Colonel said as he strokes Y/n's white hair. "You reminded me of someone.." he mumbled and Y/n stayed quiet. Eyes glaring at the Colonel as he reaches out and inspects Y/n's face left to right.
"You're his, aren't you?" He asked
Y/n tries to move his face away but the woman yanked his head upwards causing him to winced in pain. Lo'ak hissed at them "Don't touch him!"
He turns to Lo'ak amused. He walked towards him and grabs him by the hair, "Where is he?"
Lo'ak looks at him innocently "Unfortunately I don't speak english...with assholes"
Colonel answered him with a broken na'vi "Where is your father?" Clearly pissed. He pulled on Lo'ak's hair making him groan. Y/n's tail flicked left and right, scared that the soldier will do something to Lo'ak.
"Really? You wanna play it this way" He pulled out a knife and held it infront of Lo'ak.
Y/n's POV
"Don't harm him you fucker!" I shouted to him in english and he immediately stops. Lo'ak and Kiri stared at me before panicking.
He drops Lo'ak and approched me instead. "Y/n!" "No! Stop!" Kiri and Lo'ak shouted continously. "You seems to care for this little crybaby" He grab me from behind so I was facing Lo'ak and he inched the knife closer to my throat.
"Y/N!!"
I can feel the sharp edge piercing my skin. My siblings looked at me in horror and Lo'ak was fighting and pleading for him to stop.
"Hey! Hey! Don't hurt him please, stop it!" Spider shouted to the colonel and he got his attention. The colonel looked at him and drops me to the ground as I breathed out relieved.
"What’s your name kid?" He asked Spider
"Spider, Socorro" The colonel looked at him and asked him to be let go. He kneels infront of Spider and spoke out a name that I haven't even heard before "Miles?"
Spider looked at him with hatred "Nobody calls me that."
"I'll be damned. I figure they sent you back to Earth"
"Can't put babies in cryo dipshit." Spider replied and Colonel just looked at him as he stands up.
He uses his device and started to send coordinates about where we are. They pulled us up and force us to go back to the old shack.
They tied our hands and I was pushed to the ground beside Lo'ak. "What a freak" I hear one of them say. I completely stayed still, even though I've been hearing it for years it still bothers me in some way.
Lo'ak helps me sit up and hissed at them while they laughed. "You alright? Don't listen to them" He pulled me close and looked at my wound. "It's not that deep, I'm fine." I reassure him. His face was upset and sad so I just leaned on him. Sure the wound stings but it's bearable.
He held my hand, trying to comfort me. I was exhausted and my whole body ached at this point.
I heard an audio being played and they are pointing out it was dad and mom. I peeked over behind me and saw that they were watching a video of them battling. The colonel looked at me "Now I know why you're so familiar. A spitting image of your mother"
I hissed at him and turn away from them.
Hours passed by and the sun had already set. It was getting pretty dark. I was being held by the avatars when I suddenly hear a familiar calling. My ears perked up, trying to locate where the sound was. I look at Tuk and she seems to notice it too.
It was mom, I let out a small smile knowing that our parents are here. The others began to notice and stand on their ground on guard.
I saw that Kiri was praying to Eywa, the avatar told her to shut up but she didn't listen. But then in a flash the avatar that was holding her got shot in the head.
~~
The soldiers pushed away the kids and began to fire at Neytiri. Lo'ak triggers the smoke bom on the soldier and began to bite his way out of their grip. The others followed and as they began to run one of them grabbed Kiri's hair but got shot. Y/n was behind her and the colonel grip his hair, pulling him back as he fall.
"Lo'ak!" Y/n shouted in full panic. Lo'ak turned around and tries to go back for Y/n but Spider holds him back. "Lo'ak! Keep going!!" "LET GO! THEY HAVE Y/N!" "DON'T BE RECKLESS! JAKE AND NEYTIRI IS STILL THERE!" Spider shouted back at him. Lo'ak was conflicted but he knew that if he goes back the situation might get worse.
Quartich pulled Y/n beside him as he take cover. Y/n tried to run but Quartich wrapped his arm around him and reloaded his weapon. Y/n shouted in pain and his wound was pressed down. After he was done he covers Y/n's mouth to prevent him from making any noise and points his gun at him.
"Is that you, Mrs. Sully? I recognize your calling card!" Quartich shouted. Neytiri's breath hitched as she knew her son was being held by him. Quartich instructs one of the soldier to sneak around and kill Neytiri. Y/n tries to shout to warn his mom but his mouth was shut.
"Sh sh... don't want to ruin the surprise now do we?" Quartich said.
"Why don't you come on out Mrs. Sully? You seemed to drop one of your kids here. Why don't we have a little trade hm? Your son for our unfinished business."
Neytiri thinks for a while very carefully as she also ensures her other children are already at safety. She took a deep breath. Now she only have to save Y/n and kill the man holding her son.
"Demon! I will stop you as many times as I have to." She censored some of her words because she doesn't want Y/n to hear it.
"You and the corporal have been pretty busy haven't you? Got yourself a whole litter of half-breeds, I found one here looking exactly like his mother."
Quartich drags Y/n out of hiding. "Would be ashamed for this one to pass on early". Neytiri could hear Y/n muffled scream.
Y/n saw one of the soldiers pointing to where his mom were at and he started to trash around hoping his mother would noticed. As the soldier attempt to fire, an arrow suddenly shot him. Neteyam came in view.
Neytiri quickly shot quartich in the shoulder resulting his grip on Y/n to fall. Y/n quickly ran to where his mother were, he tried to go to Nete but the soldiers were in the way and he saw Jake pushing Neteyam out of the way.
"Mom!" Y/n shouted. Neytiri was not far up the branch above him. She quickly pulled Y/n up and began to run. As they were running, a rocket gun was fired at them, Neytiri and Y/n falls down to the ground but Neytiri quickly gets back up "Y/n! Get up!"
Y/n's ear was ringing but his mother pulled him up and they began to run again. They met Kiri who was shouting for Spider's name. Y/n looked down as saw he was hit, the soldiers were coming closer and Neytiri drag Kiri out from there.
Y/n was upset that Spider was taken from them. But that feeling soon was replaced with huge relief as he saw the rest. "Nete!" Y/n shouted as he ran to hug him. "Y/n! Are you okay?" Neteyam was looking for injury and saw that Y/n's neck had a cut. Neteyam looked at Lo'ak who were looking down. "I'm fine Nete" Y/n said as he looked at Kiri who were crying that Spider was taken
Y/n's POV
"Y/n." Dad called me, I looked up at him. His emotions were unreadable, I didn't know if he is upset or what. "Dad-"
Before I could finish talking he immediately noticed my neck "Don't talk, your wound might get worse" he said to me. I instinctively shut up and look down.. dad is probably mad at me after what I did. "I'm sorry" I whispered. He walked closer to me and pulled me into a hug. "There's no need to apologize I'm glad your safe"
I hugged him back and Tuk joined. Definitely was not expecting a hug but I could use some of that. After a while all of us went back to the camp. Mo'at was taking care of my wound when Tuk suddenly came inside
"Y/n, I think we are leaving"
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makeitmingi · 5 months
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The Cat and Dog Game [Chapter 33]
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Genre: Romance, Fluff, Comedy
Pairing: Yunho x Reader (y/n)
Characters: Chef!Reader, RestaurantOwner!Yunho, MaitreD!Hongjoong, Waiter!Yeosang, Waiter!San, Waiter!Mingi, SousChef!Seonghwa, SousChef!Wooyoung, PrepChef!Jongho
Summary: Yunho's dream was to open and run his own restaurant. But he doesn't know anything when it comes to cooking. Until you came along and accepted the job, bringing with you a small crew. How will the black cat tame the energetic golden retriever?
Word count: 3.3K
"Yunho..." You raised your head from your pillow, slight hesitation and worry in your voice.
"Hmm?" He hummed, eyes focused on the game that he was playing on his phone. You and him were slowly growing accustomed to staying at each other's places. And tonight, Yunho was staying over at your place.
"Would you like to visit my mom?" You asked.
That's how you ended up in your position now. Yunho drove, worried that you were too distracted to drive. He was right, you couldn't focus on a single thought for more than 5 seconds.
"Thanks again for coming." You blurted out, hands dripping the material of the pants you were wearing.
"(y/n), there's no need to thank me. I should be thanking you for introducing me to her." He said, reaching over to place his hand on yours.
"I'm a littler nervous. Going there always sends me spiralling." You confessed. But it also acted as a warning to Yunho of the state that you will be in when you reach.
"It's okay, I'll be with you all the way, alright?" He squeezed your hand.
"You can tell me anything, I'll always listen." He added. You nodded with a hum, turning to look out the window but you never let go of Yunho's hand. Although the memories of your mother are fond, they always scared you. So Seonghwa made you promise that you'll never come here alone.
"When I think about my mother... She's an amazing person. Seeing her regress to the state she was in before she died... It still haunts me." You told him.
"I understand that, considering how close you were with her..." Yunho empatised.
"And on top of that, my father was detaching himself. I could tell, when she got sick, he just wasn't there." You sighed.
"He left your mom alone?" Yunho asked in disbelief.
"Yes and no. He was there but he didn't visit her room, buried himself in work... almost as if she was already gone from our lives. And right after she died, he got together with my stepmother." You sighed.
"It's like he didn't even care to mourn for her. I became invisible to him, just forgotten. The father that I knew and counted on growing up was gone. And I know a part of me still cannot reconcile with that." You said.
"I can't imagine you having to go through that all on your own, especially at that age." Yunho replied with a small shake of his head, he really didn't like your father.
"You know, I always wondered how different things would have been if my mother was still around." You chuckled bitterly.
"Or is this just his true colours?" You thought out loud.
Yunho didn't reply to that. He has never met your father and mother But he knew he hated your father and was angry with him for treating you that way when you were little and just lost your mother.
"That's the only good part. Your mother isn't around to see how your dad truly is." Yunho said. You hummed in agreement.
"For a long time, I thought maybe that's just his way of mourning. Maybe he just blames me for making my mother sick. He always said she started getting weaker after she gave birth to me. That's why I don't have a sibling. It made me believe my mother would still be alive if I wasn't born." You said.
"That's not true. It's not your fault and your dad shouldn't blame it on you, you're his kid." Yunho frowned.
"It didn't help my case that my stepmother and I hated each other from the start. He hated that I 'embarrassed him'." You scoffed.
"Was she mean to you as a kid?" Yunho probed a little more. He was glad that you found this opportunity to share more with him so he could learn more about you.
"She saw me as a threat so she tried to erase me from my father's life. Little did she know, my father already didn't care for me at that point. But she knows she'll never be my mother." You said.
"What about your stepbrother?" He asked.
"Oh, just as bad as her. But he was the perfect child, wanting to be a doctor, so of course my dad was fine with paying for everything."
"My mother was a respected woman. Everyone loved her, no one can come close to her. She was philantropic, humble and confident. Everyone knows my stepmother is only in it for the name and the money. She'll never replace my mother. Even Seonghwa's parents hate my father and stepmother now." You shrugged.
"What parent would just ignore their child like that...How could he just leave you to be on your own after your mother died." Yunho shook his head.
"It was hard and I barely survived it but that's a discussion for another time." You forced a smile, patting the back of his hand.
"Thank you for telling me all that."
"Nothing to thank me for. I never want it to happen but if you meet my father and stepmother some day, I just want you to be prepared for how they will be." You said.
"I hope I never run into them." Yunho clicked his tongue. You assumed it was because Yunho was afraid of your dad. But no, Yunho just knew he would not be able to fight to urge to punch your dad.
"Is this this place?" Yunho stopped the car and leaned forward to see the sign overhead.
"Yeah, you can go straight ahead and park there." You pointed. Yunho nodded and continued driving until you told him to stop and park the car. When you both stepped out, Yunho went to grab the offerings from the boot.
"Are you cold?" Yunho asked, seeing you wrap your arms around yourself as you waited. You shook your head with a small smile.
"I just... hate it here." You looked away. It was hard explaining all the emotions you felt when you came here. Yunho came forward, holding your hand to walk with you.
"It's okay." He kissed the back of your hand. Although Yunho walked in front, you guided him to where your mother was.
"There she is." You nodded to the headstone that was by the big plum blossom tree.
"Hi... mom..." It felt like there was a rock in your throat you just couldn't swallow. Yunho saw your apprehension but didn't point it out or rush you.
"I'll set up." He said softly, opening the picnic mat. He placed down the flowers, fruit, Korean rice cakes and alcohol. Thankfully, he called his mother to ask for help the night before. You watched, rooted to your spot as Yunho picked off the weeds and used a clean, damp cloth to wipe the headstone.
"Done." Yunho informed, carefully folding the cloth and setting it aside. He didn't greet your mother yet, wanting to let you go first. You gulped nervously, kneeling down on shaky hands.
"H-Hi, mom... I-It's been a while... I'm s-sorry about that." You stuttered as your brain refused to form coherant sentences.
"You go. I don't know what else to say." You said with a clenched jaw. Yunho nodded, patting your head.
"Nice to meet you, omonim. My name is Jeong Yunho, I am (y/n)'s boyfriend. (y/n) has told me a lot about you and she continues to do so." Yunho smiled, bowing deeply.
"I own the restaurant that she's currently working at. She's amazing, her and the whole crew. They saved my business." He continued.
"Thank you for leading her to me." He smiled.
You looked on at how Yunho spoke to your mum, tears slipping down your cheeks. Hearing his words, maybe he was right. Your mother led you to Yunho, knowing what a patient, kind and amazing person he would be in your life.
"He's a big eater, mom, just like Hwa is. You would have loved feeding him." You whispered. To which, Yunho grinned proudly, nodding in confirmation.
"I promise to take care of (y/n)." Yunho quickly added.
"You already take such good care of me, Yunho." You said. He turned to you, wiping your cheeks with his thumbs.
"I know that. And I'll continue to do it. I just have to reassure your mom that her daughter is in good hands, don't I?" He chuckled with a charming smile, reaching over to pinch your cheek.
"I don't really know what you like to eat but I hope fruits, sweet rice cake and the soju is okay. I'll bring more next time." Yunho said.
"She's not a picky eater. She'll be grateful no matter what." You informed with a soft smile. It made your heart swell when Yunho said 'next time'.
"Here, sit." Yunho brushed the mat for you to sit. You hesitated before taking a seat beside him with your mother's headstone opposite. It was a new feeling, you never wanted to stay here for too long. Seonghwa always had to convince you to stay a little longer before you ultimately rushed out of there.
"Can you believe how long it has been since you left, mom? I'm still not over it..." You sighed. Yunho reached over to hold your hand, rubbing the back with his thumb to comfort you.
"When you left, dad left too. Things have never been the same, our family is gone." Your tears fell into your lap.
"But it's okay, I'm okay. I have a new family of my own, a better one." You looked up at Yunho with a sad smile. He smiled back at you.
Yunho wrapped an arm around your shoulders, pulling you to his body and kissing the crown of your head. You wiped your tears with your sleeves.
Then it all happened, the same thing that always happened when you came, the flashbacks of memories of your mother. The happy ones and then the sour ones leading up to her death and after.
"Let's go." Pulling away from Yunho, you stood up and brushed your pants. Yunho looked at you in shock and confusion.
"Are you sure? There's no rush and-"
"Yunho, now. Please." You begged. Seeing your pleading eyes, Yunho nodded and stood up as well.
"Why don't you head to the car first? Start up the engine. I'll pack up and be with you." Yunho suggested kindly. You didn't need to be told twice. Taking the keys from him, you trudged down the small path and headed to the car.
"Forgive her, omonim. It's still hard on her..." Yunho bowed politely as he began to pack up. He pour the soju over the grass patch and put the fruit away then folded the blanket.
"Watch over her and protect her, please. She doesn't deserve all this. I'm sure you know that..." He sighed as he patted the headstone.
"We'll be back soon." He gave a final bow before leaving. You were already settled in the passenger seat.
"Hey." Yunho put the things in the boot and came to the driver's seat. Usually, he holds your hand but this time, you were so quick to grasp his hand, as if you would go crazy if you didn't.
"Hey, hey. It's okay..." His other hand came over to cup your cheek.
"Let's go home, hmm?" He smiled softly and you nodded. Yunho drove to your home, sensing that you would prefer the familiarity.
When Yunho arrived, you both went upstairs. Yunho placed the bag of fruits down on the counter and you immediately glued yourself to him, hugging his waist tightly and burying your face against his chest. Yunho hushed you, one hand on the back of your head and one on your back to hold you.
"It's okay, it's okay." He whispered as he felt your tears soak the front of his shirt. Yunho let you hold onto him for as long as you needed, he wasn't going to be the first to let you go.
"Sorry, let me shower." You mumbled.
"Don't be sorry." He patted your head. You shuffled to your bathroom to shower while he quickly showered in the other bathroom.
"Yunho, I'm sorry. I... I..." You struggled to find the words as you both sat on the bed after your showers. Yunho offered to help you dry your hair so you could sleep.
"Love, I told you, there's nothing to be sorry about." He told you, daringly trying the new affectionate nickname.
"I just have this whirlwind of emotions when it comes to her." While you didn't address it, you didn't react negatively so Yunho took that as a win.
"I understand, it's normal." Yunho said. When he was done, you combed your hair while he put the hair dryer back. He got under the covers and you scooted close to him so he could wrap his long arms around you securely. You felt safe with him.
"Yun, thank you." You murmured.
"You're very welcome." He smiled, brushing your hair away from your face, staring into your eyes.
Holding his bicep, you lifted yourself slightly to be on his eye level and pressed your lips to his. Yunho's eyes widened but kissed back, pulling your body closer to his. You pulled away first to breathe.
"Are you okay?" You chuckled, hand resting on his warm cheek. He grinned and pounced over, showering you in kisses.
"Argh! Yunho!" You yelled out as he placed multiple kisses all over your face like an excited puppy.
"That was amazing." Yunho grinned happily. You rolled your eyes jokingly, putting your face against his chest so he wouldn't see you all shy and embarrased.
"Go to sleep." You slapped his chest.
"I expect a wake up kiss later." He declared before returning to the original position as before. You let out an audible sigh then closed your eyes to sleep. Yunho let out a soft laugh, seeing you fall asleep to quickly. He was just teasing you but was glad that you took the first step and you shared your first kiss as a couple.
"Goodnight, my love." He rested his cheek against your head and joined you in dreamland.
"Oh, Seonghwa hyung." Yunho greeted, quickly adjusting his post-sleep hair when he saw that your best friend had arrived. He closed your bedroom door, not wanting to disturb you.
"Hey, thanks for contacting me." Seonghwa greeted Yunho with a brief hug.
"She's sleeping but I thought she might need you more than she needs me... to comfort her." Yunho rubbed the back of his neck.
"Yunho, you know that's not true. She needs you too, you've become such a big part of her life now, provided her protection and comfort." Seonghwa smiled softly.
"I'm guessing you both haven't eaten." Seonghwa raised an eyebrow. Yunho nodded his head shyly.
"It's early for dinner but considering it's your first meal of the day, I'll get started on cooking." Seonghwa informed. Before going to the kitchen to cook, Seonghwa went into the room just to be with you for a bit and see how you were.
"Let me help, hyung. I want to cook for her." Yunho said, standing in the kitchen, when Seonghwa came back out. Seonghwa chuckled as he nodded.
"I'll learn from you. I can't cook a full meal by myself but I can help." He said with determination.
"Sure, ask questions if you have any." The older began to look through your fridge, reading the labels on all the stuff.
"Put these on the counter for me?" Seonghwa requested. Yunho took the vegetables and deli containers, putting them on the kitchen island to be used later.
"Do you know what you're gonna cook right away?" Yunho asked.
"No. So I took out stock because you can always use stock in cooking. Then these vegetables look like they're going to spoil so I took them out too." Seonghwa explained, finding a knife.
"(y/n) removed you from knife duty, right? I don't want to face her wrath for disobeying her." Seonghwa teased.
"Ah, hyung~ Come on. I'm sure all of you got hurt in the kitchen before too! It was just a little cut but she doesn't let me near the knives anymore. I don't want to go back to weighing ingredients. That's so boring." Yunho whined. Seonghwa laughed and let Yunho use one of the spare chef knives.
"So we'll use the stock and braise the leeks. That's easily done in the stove then thrown into the oven. There's also some beef, we can do rice bowls." Seonghwa said.
"Okay, I'll follow your lead." Yunho began.
"Oh, let's make a quick pickle. Green papaya, radish and carrot. You can use this slicer. Use the guard though." He instructed.
"Alright, so to draw the water out, we put salt and let it sit for a bit. It's thinly sliced to it should be quite quick. In the meantime, we have prepare the pickling liquid." Seonghwa taught Yunho.
The two of them prepared the meal together, Yunho learning and remembering the little tips Seonghwa taught him.
"Yunho?" You woke up and found the bed empty. Groaning, you reached over to turn on the bedside lamp. After checking the time, you got out of bed and went to wash your face. You assumed Yunho had gone home.
"So you want to baste the steak to add flavour, grab the handle and tilt the pan like this." You peeked over to see Seonghwa teaching Yunho how to cook.
"What's going on here?" You blinked. The two men stopped and looked over at you.
"You're awake." Yunho bound over to you, putting his arms around you to wrap you in a big bear hug.
"Hey, Hwa." After hugging Yunho, you went to hug Seonghwa. He wrapped an arm around your waist while you took a a few seconds to rest your forehead on his shoulder.
"You okay, sweetheart?" He whispered. You didn't say anything, your silence was a sufficient response. He patted your back.
"Aren't you supposed to be off knife duty?" You raised an eyebrow, turning to Yunho.
"Aww, (y/n). Come on~ I was careful. Look, no cuts." Yunho wriggled his fingers to show you. You gave him a skeptical look and went to the fridge to pour yourself some cold coffee, wanting the taste and aroma to really help wake you up. Yunho reached over to steal a sip from you.
For the first time, you didn't cook, on insistence by Yunho and Seonghwa that they'll handle it. They only allowed you to sit by the counter to watch them.
"Shall I make you a bowl?" Seonghwa offered.
"Can you let me slice the steaks, at least?" You asked back. Seonghwa gave you a flat look but gave in easily.
"Alright, let me assemble my bowl." You laid the slices of steak over your rice, making a well in the middle to put a raw egg yolk and sauce. Yunho placed the pickles they made onto a sharing dish.
"Perilla leaf kimchi?" Seonghwa asked. You nodded and he went to put a plate of kimchi there.
"Thank you for cooking, you two." You said before digging into the food with them.
"This is so good! Seonghwa hyung is a great teacher." Yunho said between his chews, clearly impressed that he helped put together such a delicious dish.
"And I'm just chopped liver... Maybe next time, you should cook with Seonghwa and help him with his prep, since he's such an amazing teacher, you know?" You scoffed, feigning offense. Yunho's face fell as he tried to defend himself.
"You know that's not what I mean!"
~
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apomaro-mellow · 1 year
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Steve's parents compete to matchmake him with someone 1/?
Jonas and Diane Harrington sat in silence as their son's confession hung in the air. They'd met homosexuals before. You didn't travel as much as they did and not meet different people. But it had never occurred to them that someone so close to them - that their own son might be...
"Can you guys say something? Please?", Steve begged.
"Oh honey...", his mom started. "...Was Tommy?"
"What?", Steve pulled back at that. "Tommy? And me? Me and Tommy? No. We were never like that. Ever."
"Well, good for you son. You can do better", his father said, leaning back in his chair a little.
"He was so smarmy. You deserve someone who'll actually take care of you", Diane said, putting her hand on top of Steve's.
He looked down at the point of contact. "What's happening here?"
"Well, you being, you know, in your way, doesn't change our conversation", Jonas said. "We still think you need to stop sleeping around and find someone to be a little more serious with."
Diane nodded. "It's not good when all the gossip at the hairdresser's is about who your son is messing around with. Oh! What about Matthew?"
Steve raised a brow. "Your hairdresser?"
"Not mine, but he did fix me up when we were in New York, you remember the gala? He's nice, worldly-"
"I'm sorry", Steve interrupted. "I just told you guys for the first time ever that I'm gay, and you immediately try to set me up with someone?"
"Your love life is getting out of hand", Jonas said. He leaned forward and tented his hands on the table. "There's bets down at the bar. On who you're gonna knock up first."
"But if you're gay, we don't need to worry about surprise babies, right hon?", Diane smiled.
"Actually, I have a question about that now", Jonas started before his wife sent him a glare. "But we can save that for later. Point is, you need to hold on to someone for longer than a week."
Steve shook his head. "I can't believe my parents are talking to me about dating. What makes you think I can even get a guy? Can't exactly put the moves on them like I normally would."
His parents looked to each other, proving that neither of them really had an answer. With a sigh, Steve asked to be excused and when they granted permission, he went up to his room.
"Our Steve...a...a queer", Diane whispered.
"You think it's because I made him play football when he was a kid?", Jonas asked.
Diane shrugged. "If anything it's because of all those musicals we watched together. Then she released a heavy breath. It couldn't have been easy for Steve to tell them. And it couldn't have been easy for him to go on all those dates with those girls.
And if the rumors were true, he'd done more than date them. Jonas reached out and grabbed his wife's hand. From the moment their son had been born, all they had wanted was for him to be happy and healthy. Sometimes the healthy part meant leaving him for extended periods of time. Clearly, he'd been left on his own for too long. Surely they would have caught onto this sooner if they'd been around more, been involved more.
"What are we going to do?", Diane asked.
"You and I knew what we were going to do when we started this conversation", Jonas said, standing up from the table and putting his hands on his hips as he paced about the kitchen.
"Jonas, we can't give him Noelle's number now."
"Not Noelle, we just switch gears. Find a...a Nolan instead", Jonas decided, nodding as if to convince himself.
"Jonas, even if we can find another gay guy in this town, how do we know Steve will like him?"
"I know my son, I've got a decent idea what he likes."
Diane shook her head. “You just don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I don’t know what I’m talking about?”, Jonas questioned. “What, I can’t see what makes a man attractive?”
“Not the way Steven would. I think I understand this a little better than you.”
Jonas’ hands went to his hips. “Oh you do? You think I can’t find our son a date? You don’t think I know a handsome man when I see one?”
“Name one then”, she challenged.
“….Robert Redford.”
She crossed her arms, unimpressed. "Easy shot. Now name five that are actually our son's age."
Jonas looked put out and rolled his eyes. There was...there had to be some rock star, who was Steve listening to nowadays? Did he have a poster of someone? Who was in the movies? Maybe he had mentioned a boy at school at some point?
"Well, the bar is very high Diane. Steven is obviously the best looking boy at his school."
Diane grinned and stood up. "Was. He graduated, remember?"
"How can I forget? The grays won't stop coming."
Steve's graduation had been what had sparked this evening. Not getting into college, their son had seemed directionless. And messing around with too many girls had been the cherry on top. They had agreed to a gap year for him if he could use the time to get his relationships in check.
If he was into men, that made it slightly more challenging, but they wanted to give Steve the freedom to find himself. It was more than either of them had ever had. And what good was all the money if they couldn't spoil him a little.
"So, maybe I don't know what he's into. Doesn't mean I can't find him a good guy", Jonas said.
Diane wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed his cheek. "You do know a good thing when you see one."
They went upstairs to check in on their son only to find him halfway out the window with a packed duffle bag.
"I'm sorry", he said, leg hanging out. "There's just no way you guys were this cool about this."
"For god's sakes Steve, get back in here", Jonas grumbled, grabbing his son before he cracked his head on the ground.
"Believe it or not, your parents are capable of higher brain functioning", Diane said, already setting to unpacking the bag and putting the clothes away. "Some of this stuff doesn't even fit you anymore", she noted as she looked through his closet.
"Hey, how's about we all take a trip to the mall tomorrow?", Jonas suggested. "Refresh our wardrobes for the summer!"
"Oh that sounds perfect!", Diane agreed. "It's been a while since we Harringtons turned heads as a group."
Steve sat on the edge of his bed, looking tense, yet hopeful. "You guys don't...you don't think I'm any different? You don't...", his voice got small, "hate me?"
"Oh Steven!", his mother wailed and sat next to him in a rush, holding onto him tightly as she cried.
Jonas cleared his throat. "Di, there's no need for tears. There's nothing sad happening."
"I'm not crying because of Steve", she said defensively. "I was thinking about Matthew. I really hope he and Otis worked it out. And that he knows he always has family who love him. And that even if the world beats him black and blue he can always come home, okay? Always, you can always come home."
"Yeah mom, I know", Steve said, eyes wet as he got her thinly veiled meaning.
Jonas sniffed and patted Steve's shoulder. "And if the world does decide to put its hands on you, remember your old man's got mob connections."
Steve gave a watery laugh at that but thanked him anyway when his mom lit up in recognition.
"Oh! What about Ricci?"
"Ricci? For Steve? Get outta here", Jonas waved her off.
"Who is Ricci?", Steve asked.
"He's a nice boy", Diane answered.
"He's a numbskull is what he is. I'll do business with the mob, but I'm not giving them my son", Jonas said as he walked towards the door.
"Who said anything about giving? His family's well off, he can take Steve nice places", Diane said as she followed him.
Jonas threw his hands up in derision. "Mobsters are like five year olds with their dames. Once they lick it, it's theirs."
"OKAY good night!", Steve closed his door to shut out the rest of their talk.
"We're going to the mall at ten, honey! Be ready for breakfast", his mother called out, then continued her conversation with his dad. Probably debating whether or not to set him up with a closeted senator's son.
Steve rubbed his face and let out a sigh. He'd confessed tonight to get any talk of girls out of the way for the summer.
Mission accomplished?
Part 2 coming soon
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queer-reader-07 · 9 months
Text
you know what i think really gets me as a good omens fan who also grew up catholic? the very human approach it takes to morality.
i can’t speak for every denomination of christianity, but i can speak to catholicism. i grew up in the church, i went to catholic school, i was confirmed for fuck’s sake. i know the catholic church. the ways in which it eats away at your self esteem. the ways in which it makes you feel like you are a terrible person because you’ve sinned in one way or another. the way you’re taught the concept of original sin as though it isn’t deeply unsettling to believe that all humans are born corrupt. you’re taught that you were born tainted by satan, you as a baby you as a child you who doesn’t even know your place in this world yet. you are sinful because you are human.
there is no room for shades of grey in catholicism. you have either sinned or you haven’t. you are either good or you are bad. you are either going to heaven or you are cursed to damnation. (yeah yeah purgatory and all that but if i’m being honest the diocese i was a part of never really talked about it)
we all know the church is corrupt. every catholic knows that, but whether or not we ever admitted it to ourselves and accepted it as truth is another story. you cannot deny the staggering statistics regarding catholic priests assaulting and molesting children. you cannot deny the financial corruption that has been present in the institution for centuries. but you can ignore it. you can ignore it and pretend like the church is perfect and good because if you allow yourself to admit it’s issues, you admit that maybe your entire world view is flawed. that maybe the idea of morality as being black and white is wrong.
that's what i grew up with. with these contradictory beliefs. these adults in power telling me i was inherently sinful because i was human while also being told that God loves me. that God will save me from myself. so i grew up thinking someone else could fix me. because if i was inherently bad i couldn't fix myself.
but of course, the truth is, i don't need fixing. i'm not broken or bad. i'm human.
when aziraphale described adam as "human incarnate" i got EXTREMELY emotional. because to be human incarnate is to be not good or bad. it's to just be. be whoever it is you are. make the best choices you can. will they all be perfect? of course not. but will you be trying your damndest? yes.
good omens is a breath of fresh air for me and my religious trauma because the thesis of the story is that black and white thinking is unproductive at best and actively harmful at worst. you cannot live a fulfilling life while also believing there is only Bad and Good, and that Bad and Good are inherent.
good omens is a comfort because it reminds me in more ways than one that i'm worthy of love. i'm worthy of life. i don't have to be perfect, far from it. i'm allowed to be messy and make mistakes, but none of that means i don't deserve to be here. none of that means i'm a Bad Person. i'm just, A Person.
i'm trying. i've always tried. tried to love the best i can, tried to be the best person i can be, tried to live my life to the fullest, tried to cultivate joy for myself.
my brain is a mess. and 15 years, give or take, of being fully immersed in the catholic church (including 7 years of catholic school) definitely didn't help. i am still riddled with catholic guilt and toxic mental frameworks because of the time i spent in the church.
but good omens helps me work through it just that little bit more. it's there in its corner of my heart saying "hey. you're human. you're not Bad or Good, you're You. and you're trying."
it's... comforting. yeah, i think that's the right word.
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selfloverrrrrr · 4 months
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Hiiiiiiiiiiii.....so a request about reader being born in a wealthy family called the (l/n)...reader was born with beauty and all..as she grew up her parents decided who she should marry and came to a agreement to get her married to Noaya..cause he was her niece son and cuase they wanted to keep the family together💀soo for her 21st birthday..they made a party for her and invited alot of people..including the gojo clan....reader is aware of the wedding and she can't say anything cause her parents are strict and evil behind closed doors...as they are greeting the guest the gojo clan enters and y/n parents calls her over to greet them...as she gets near she is met by a well looking family and also someone with blue eyes and white hair....she greeted them in a respectful way and just stood still while her parents were talking...reader had a tight long black dress on and with a slid on both sides..she looked HOT...she felt eyes on her and saw that satoru was staring at her with a smirk and eyeing her..she felt uncomfortable and excused herself...reader parents spoke about y/n marriage and satoru heard and got mad(what so ever)but he didn't show..as he heard who she is getting to marry he almost choke and excuse himself...he started searching for reader and when he found her in a room standing by the balcony..he locked the door as he entered and hold by her waist..this made reader flinch and she turned around(you can continue from here)😁💓
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She's Mine~
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Warning: smut , heavy smut, unprotected sex, Noncon, Kidnapping, physically and emotional abuse, biting, torture, size difference....
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( All characters are aged up/18+)
Masterlist
Minors Do Not Interact
Read the warnings carefully....if you don't like my stories block me not report
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I was born in the l/n family. It was a very wealthy family. We're one of jujutsu's famous clan. But I didn't learn about curse technique. Because I can see curses but don't have any curse technique. as I grew up my parents started finding who I should marry.
After starting to find someone to marry me they came to a agreement to get me married to Noaya. Just because he was my mother's bestfriend's son?! and they wanted to keep the family together. I hated Noya from my childhood. I never liked his misogyny attitude. I told my parents that I don't want to marry him. But they forced me!
It was my 21st birthday. My parents made a party for my birthday. They invited alot of people. And yeah including the zenins! I was aware of the wedding so I can't say anything cause my parents are strict behind closed doors.
I had a tight long black dress on and with a slid on both sides. My parents were at the gate greeting people. They were greeting the guest. A few time later the Gojo clan enters. My parents were greeting them. They obey the gojo clan so much because that was the most powerful and rich clan of jujutsu society.
My parents called me over to greet them. As I get near I met a well looking family and also someone with blue eyes and white hair. And he was really handsome. I greeted them in a respectful way. Then my parents told me that is Gojo clan and the guy with white hair is Gojo Satoru. I couldn't believe my eyes! That's Gojo Satoru? The Strongest sorcerer?!
I just stood there still while my parents were talking. I felt someone was watching me and then I saw that satoru was staring at me. He was smirking at me and eyeing me. I felt kinda uncomfortable and went to my bedroom giving some excuse. But didn't noticed that Noya was already there who was starting at me. 'fuck she's prettier than last time I saw her in childhood.... It's gonna be fun to make her my housewife ' he thought with a smirk on his face.
My parents talked with them about my marriage and satoru did not liked that but he didn't said anything and remained silent. But as he heard who I was getting married he almost choke. He knows Noya and they are great rivals!!!
After a while he excused himself...he started searching for me and when he found me in a room standing by the balcony alone....he went inside silently and locked the door. I turned around at the sound of locking door. When I saw Gojo. I got shocked.
"what are you doing here?" I asked. "Maybe just missed you" he said with a smirk. He started walking towards me. "My parents are chatting outside and it's boring... And I thought I should do what I found interesting" he said and stand beside me. "And what's that?" I asked. "Ofcourse you... I better talk with you instead of hearing shitty talks of my parents" he said. I giggled.
"Oh look I made you laugh" he said leaning against the balcony. I laughed again. " You are gorgeous " he said looking at me. "Thanks" I replied with a smile. "I'm so lucky to see someone as gorgeous as you" he said again. "Mr. Satoru Gojo this is wrong to flirt with a woman who's marriage is soon" I said with a smile.
"Hmmm but you are not married yet " he said. "Yeah " I replied. "Do you wanna marry him?" He asked. I looked at him. "W-what?" I replied with shock. "Do you wanna marry him? I don't wanna take his name" he said. I just looked at him.
Suddenly he grabbed my waist and pulled me towards him. My eyes widened. " Just tell me y/n.... And I'll stop this marriage.... Fuck you don't know how much I want you.... I'll love you, give you everything you want... anything!!!" He said looking at my eyes. "Why do you hate him?" I asked him. "Oh come on... You don't know? We're rivals...we hate each other... And I hate because... there's nothing not to hate him... he's a fucking misogyny!" He said with disgust. "What do you say.... My parents wants me to marry too... They would be happy to have you as daughter in law " he said. His face was so close to mine. Our lips were almost touching. I stared at his lips and said "yes". With that he pressed his lips on mine.
He kissed my neck. I blushed. "stop...we can't... now" I said "why not?" He whined like a baby. "Someone may find out" I whispered. " I'll blow their eyes if someone sees us" he whined again and pressed his lips on mine. He took off his glasses and placed it on on the table.
He took me towards the bed and we both climbed on the bed. He kissed me roughly. Making me breathless. He didn't took off my dress or bra. He pulled out my boobs from it and I gasped. He started playing with my nipples with his tongue. " Mmhhhmmhm" I moaned. Gojo smirked. He slowly reached for my panties and took off it.
he rubbed my clit and I gasped. He smirked. He got up and took off his shirt while staring at my pussy. Then he again came near to my face and kissed me. I heard a unzipping sound and when looked down saw Gojo was stroking himself.
He lined himself with my pussy. He looked at me. I moaned slightly. He slowly pushed himself in. I grabbed on his shoulder taking deep breath. He give me some time to adjust it. Then he slowly started thursting in and out. He started increasing the speed. I was a moaning mess. He was so huge. His dick was touching my deepest parts. His speed became faster and harder. I dig my nails on his back. My pussy clenched around him tightly.
He flipped me. Now I was lying on my stomach. He reached for my ass and spanked me harshly. He pushed his whole length inside me again. In this position he was going much more deeper.
He thursted in and out roughly. I was moaning his name repeatedly. After a few minutes I came. My walls clenched around him tightly. " G-god... You're so tight, baby... F-Fuck...." He moaned and with that he came inside me. Then he cleaned me and him. He took his glasses and wore it. I also wore my pantie.
"don't worry... I'll buy you pills" he said. I blushed. "Oh and btw...as your birthday gift what do you want?....or U want a baby as a gift?" He said with a smirk. "Now shut up!" I said with blush. He cackled. "I'm joking!... Take it... this is my black card. Buy whatever you want darling" he said. "You don't have to give me, Gojo" I said. "Please?... Mrs. Gojo?" He said with a smirk. "Fine!" I said with a blush.
We went to the door and when Gojo opened the door Noya rushed into the room. He grabbed gojo by his collar and pinned him to the wall. "You mf... how dare you?! She's my wife!!!!" He screamed. "No she isn't" Gojo said. "Noya let him go!!!" I said but he didn't even listen. "Her family has a agreement with my family!!! She's going to marry me!" He said. "Do you think her family gonna do even after I tell them not to do?" Gojo said with a smirk. "I'm gonna kill you!!" Noya said with grinded teeth. "Why are you saying something that you can never do?" Gojo said raising his eyebrow. Noya let go off his shirt.
After that day Gojo talked with my family. But they didn't say no cause the whole jujutsu society was afraid of Gojo. We got married. But the suprising thing is Noya didn't do anything to stop it or something. Did he accepted it or....he was planning something?
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Give me your requests guys....
I love when you give me your requests 💕
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bluebeary-jay · 1 year
Text
scattered thoughts / sharp focus
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Joel Miller x f!Reader
Summary: Joel is taken away from you and upon finding him almost-dead... something in you snaps ((kinda part 2 to clouded judgment / clear mind, but you don't necessarily need to read that one))
Tags: ANGST, angst with happy ending, near death experiences, Joel has surprisingly little screen time but you'll see he was there in spirit
Warnings: REALLY graphic descriptions of violence, small panic attacks, KINDA torture(?) 😳, choking, lemme know if i missed something
Word count: 7.5K
A/N: i can't believe i've finally finished it! i aimed for a worthy successor to cj/cm aaand i hope i managed but jeez was it hard. also i told myself i won't be writing sth like that again but i kinda have an idea for the final part (would be hurt/comfort 🤭) so let me know if it's sth you'd like to read. anyway as always happy reading!! 💕🥰 comments and reblogs are greatly appreciated, i absolutely love seeing what you think of my fics!
𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟
You swallowed your tears and rested the chin on your hands, trying to push back the wave of panic threatening to drown you.
“Tell me again.”
Tommy sighed, his own eyes empty and worried.
“I don’t know who those guys were, but they obviously knew Joel. There was a dark man leadin’ them, and I think he had somethin’ wrong with his lip, but it was too far for me to take a good look. The group consisted of five, maybe six people? And I shot one of them, but he appeared to still be alive when they were leavin’.”
You were silent for a couple of seconds, trying to make sense of it all.
“And where did they take him?”
“I reckon to the old ski resort on the top of the mountain. We ventured pretty far from here to investigate these tracks.”
You nodded and steeled yourself, taking a deep, trembling breath and quickly drying your tears.
“Okay. I’m going.”
“You’re not.” Maria leaned over the table, her expression unyielding. “The decision is final.”
“I am going,” you repeated fiercely, slamming the flat of your hand against the tabletop, but Tommy gave you a stern look, which made you bite your tongue. “Look, I get that you don’t want to lose even more people in a rescue mission–”
“This is not what it’s about,” Maria retorted, almost looking hurt by your words. “Believe me, if I wasn’t carrying another human being inside me, I’d already be going after them. But you have to take other things into consideration.”
“She’s right,” Tommy spoke up quietly, though equally irritably, and you turned sharply to look at him in disbelief. “The route to the resort is very advantageous to fall into an ambush. They could shoot us off like ducks and we’d have nowhere to hide.”
“I don’t care,” you ground out, looking from one to the other. “We can’t leave Joel. He’s your family, for goddamn–”
“You think I don’t know that?!” shouted Tommy abruptly, bringing his hand down onto the table, too. “He’s my fucking brother and was family way before you were even born!”
“Tommy.” Maria kicked him under the table, keeping one hand on her belly. Her husband flared his nostrils, clearly agitated by your words, but you were too angry yourself to care right now. You two glared at each other for some time before Tommy clenched his fists and turned around.
“M’goin’ to get some air,” he said gloomily over his shoulder, already at the door leading outside. Maria sighed and looked at you again.
“Please. Don’t do anything stupid, and I swear I’ll send a group out as soon as this blizzard ends.”
“He can be long dead by then,” you answered gravely, really set off by Tommy’s reaction and his words. You tried to will your tear ducts to hold any signs of stress and worry, not wanting to show your friend how broken and helpless you felt inside. “If it was me, he’d already be halfway there to save me, Maria.”
“I know. But just think about it. If something happens to you…” She shook her head. “How do you think I’d be able to look Joel in the eyes and explain why… how…”
She genuinely seemed at a loss of words, and you sighed, rubbing your eyes tiredly.
“I understand where you’re coming from, I really do. But I need to get him home, Maria. I have to.”
With that, you stood up, feeling like you were going to suffocate if you stayed in the room any longer. You didn’t look back even when you heard Maria calling your name softly.
There wasn’t any sense in discussing the matter with any of them – you made up your mind to go and save Joel and there was no way anyone would make you stay. He wouldn’t hesitate to go and get you if anyone dared to lay a hand on you.
You remembered that one time when he killed a group of men who wanted to use you as a bargaining chip to gain entry to Jackson. And how afterward you told him you’d do the same for him, unable to bear the painful and guilty expression on his face.
Now you planned on doing just that.
You were scared – of course you were, you weren’t stupid – and the nerves were practically eating you alive, gnawing at your bones and hurting your muscles from the inside out.
But the worst was the fear of never seeing Joel again. Of something happening to him. And you couldn’t live with yourself if you didn’t at least try…
“I’m coming with you.”
Your head snapped to the side. There stood Ellie – dressed in a warm jacket and a hat that didn’t cover her ears. Her eyes were full of fire, and you recognized the anger and determination in her expression as the same which were almost suffocating you.
Of course she was eavesdropping on the conversation. It was Joel that it was about, after all, her dad in all but one sense.
And suddenly you understood what Maria meant by not being able to look Joel in the eyes if something happened to you.
“No,” you said curtly, walking past her and out onto the street in the direction of your house.
“I’m not asking for permission.” Ellie was right behind you, and the force of her steps showed just how angry and frustrated she was – just like you felt. “I know you’re gonna go after those guys, and I’m coming with you.”
“You’re not,” you repeated more sternly, not turning around to face her. You reached your house and fumbled to open the door. “You’re staying and that’s fina–”
You stopped yourself and sighed, pressing your forehead against the wooden surface.
It was unfair. You were unfair. If those exact words spoken by Maria have set you off so much, you wouldn’t be surprised if Ellie…
“You’re not my fucking mom, remember?” the girl barked angrily, and you let out a shuddering breath, stressed to your limits with everything that happened in the last few hours. “You can’t tell me what I can and can’t do just because you’re older!”
It’s okay. It’s gonna be fine. Everything is gonna be okay.
“I know,” you whispered after a couple of seconds of silence, still not turning around. “I’m sorry.”
Ellie didn’t answer. You repeated your quiet mantra and glanced over your shoulder at her. “But Ellie, I… I can’t let you go. Joel would never forgive me if something happened to you.”
Jesus. Exactly like Maria.
Ellie still looked pissed at your earlier words, and she crossed her arms over her chest.
“Well, you’re not the only one who cares about him, you know?”
“Yeah, I know. But you’re the one he cares about the most.”
Ellie opened her mouth. Closed it and furrowed her eyebrows, but the irritation in her eyes dimmed. You gave her a small, apologetic smile, trying not to burst into tears.
“He’s gonna be fine, you know,” you lied smoothly, opening the door. “And Maria said she’ll send a group to retrieve him as soon as the storm eases up a bit.”
You didn’t even need to look to know that she didn’t believe you. To be honest, you wouldn’t believe yourself either in this situation.
You waited several seconds to see if the girl wanted to say something else, but after a few moments she spun on her heel and went back, not saying anything. You stared after her, but when the thick snow made her figure just a fuzzy shape, you gently closed the door and pressed the heels of your hands to your eyes.
It’s going to be fine. You’ll get Joel back and all will be okay.
You took a couple of deep – albeit shaky – breaths to pull yourself together, and when you were pretty sure you weren’t about to start crying, you made your way into the kitchen. And stopped short.
At your table sat Tommy, fiddling with his thumbs.
“Fuck, Tommy,” you mumbled, trying to calm down your pounding heart. “You scared the crap out of me.”
The younger Miller looked up, but stayed silent. You looked at each other for a few tense moments, but ultimately you sighed and left him in the kitchen, going to your room to get a backpack and another, more fitting, set of clothes.
He was still there when you returned to the kitchen with your stuff, but you didn’t even pretend you weren’t preparing to head out. The man watched silently as you put the backpack down by the door, went to retrieve and reload your gun, and gathered some essentials on the table, not once glancing in his direction.
You were persistent in ignoring Tommy’s presence, but then he finally spoke up.
“We can go before dawn. I’ll get the horses ready and we will take the fourth gate.”
You froze and stopped what you were doing, then turned around and placed your hand on your hip.
“We can’t take horses up there. Not in this weather.”
“We’ll leave them at the fifteenth checkmark. That place in the East where there are so many swallows durin’ spring.”
You nodded, and your gaze softened when you looked him over. Tommy was just as worried about Joel as you were, you knew it. He was just better at hiding it.
“I’m sorry for what I said,” you murmured, feeling terrible that in such a short amount of time, it was a second person you were apologizing to. “But you know I have to go after him. You know that.”
“Fuck,” he swore quietly, sighing. “Yeah, I know. There’s no way I ain’t goin’ either. Just… I just hate doing somethin’ behind Maria’s back.”
You didn’t answer – because what could you say? That he didn’t have to go with you? As much as you wanted to save Joel, pretending not to care about the dangers or anyone’s opinion, you knew you’d probably die if you went alone. But it didn’t mean you were going to ignore all that Tommy was risking by coming along with you.
“You don’t have to, Tommy,” you whispered. “You have your wife to think about, after all. And your–”
“I know,” he interrupted glumly. “Don’t worry. All of us will come back.”
You nodded. You really hoped he was right.
*****
At first, everything was going according to plan.
At least, until Ellie decided to show up.
She surprised both you and Tommy a couple of miles outside of Jackson, probably thinking that it was far enough that you won’t try to send her away.
You tried anyway. You were understandably furious, not only because she didn’t listen to you, but also that she trailed after you both for so long in this weather. Her reveal caused a short screaming match and a couple of nervous tears shed by you, but eventually you and Tommy decided it’d be more dangerous to make Ellie go back to Jackson alone. So she continued with you to the house where you left your horses, then past it and in the direction of the ski resort.
You didn’t know how many people were at the resort, and there were only the two of you – well, three, counting Ellie, but no matter her stubbornness, you weren’t going to let her go in – and an attack was too risky in this situation.
So you decided to sneak in. To distract and draw the kidnappers’ attention long enough for you to get Joel out.  It was still stupidly risky, but it wasn’t like there were much more options that wouldn’t end in those guys killing all of you. The plan was that Tommy would find a vantage point and be on guard to take down any threats with his sniper rifle if you were noticed, while you go get Joel.
Ellie… Ellie didn’t take no for an answer. And as much as you hated that she tagged along on this dangerous rescue mission, you had to admit that she came prepared. Apparently some time ago Joel taught her how to make trap mines and she pitched the idea of planting some up the mountain to create an avalanche.
Well, you and Tommy were both very much against setting off a full-blown avalanche, but it wasn’t a bad idea per se. So it was agreed that Tommy will help her set the bombs in some strategic places while you wait for a signal to go in.
The sneaking in part was surprisingly easy. The people staying there didn’t leave any guards outside, probably because they didn’t expect that someone would actually look for them in this weather, and it seemed that there weren’t that many of them inside like you feared. You had a vague idea where Joel might be, based on the positioning of the people present, so you reckoned it’ll be the wisest to wait nearby.
It took about an hour of hiding in one of the empty rooms (you had to change your hiding spot once, because someone decided to randomly sweep the perimeter) before you heard distant explosions and panicked, angry yells, and then a rumble of the mountain. You suspected a fair amount of snow was falling down the slope, and you prayed that Ellie and Tommy were in a safe place when that happened.
You heard the sound of footsteps getting further away. Then more of it. It was eerily silent, and you counted to ten in your head, before slowly exiting your hiding spot.
Just as you suspected, Joel was held in the lobby, tied to one of the decorative columns, and even though his back was to you, you’d recognize him anywhere, even by hands or the back of his head alone. A quick glance around the room confirmed that there was no one around, but still you preferred to stay on guard. You silently tip-toed to where he was sitting on the floor, mindful of all the debris scattered on the floor and keeping your head low, and breathed a sigh of relief when you finally reached him.
“Don’t move,” you whispered, barely moving your lips. Your fingers touched his wrist and he budged slightly. You angled your face closer to the left side of his head, hoping he’ll hear you better this way. “It’s me, Joel. I’m gonna get these off you, okay?”
Not waiting for the reply, you took out your knife and started to cut the thick, coarse rope binding Joel’s wrists. You winced at the burns underneath, but you managed not to cut him, which was a feat with how tight the ropes were. He was very still, probably not wanting to handicap you.
“Okay,” you whispered when the last of the thick strands were cut through, and you carefully slid the remnants of the rope from his wrists. “Now follow me, Tommy is…”
Your voice died down when Joel’s arms loosely slumped down, along with his head, and a second later his torso started tilting to the side before heavily hitting the ground.
Your heart stopped in your chest.
“No.” The whispered word escaped you when you hurried around him, now not caring about staying hidden. “No, no, no, please…”
You rolled Joel onto his back and only now saw the damage done to him – his nose broken, face covered in blood, a gash under his left ear, and a still bleeding gunshot wound in his arm. He didn’t look dead, didn’t have that lifeless emptiness around him, but his eyes were closed and his chest was still. You put your ear to his mouth, desperate to feel his breath on your skin, but…
No, it can’t be, it can’t…
You couldn’t feel anything.
“Joel,” you said quietly, taking his face between your hands, but tears were blurring your vision. “Come on, please open your eyes.” A choked sob broke out of your throat and you shook your head when he still didn’t even as much as stir. “Love, please…”
That’s when your eyes landed on a small, glass vial lying discarded some feet away. You looked from it to Joel, tears clouding your vision, and scrambled forward to check it out.
As you suspected, the syringe – because that’s what it turned out to be – had the traces of a thick, translucent liquid in it left. There wasn’t any writing on it, but the glass was clean, unlike various other bottles and wrappings scattered throughout the facility. You stared at it for a couple of seconds, then fixed your gaze on Joel again.
Just as the sound of footsteps started to echo down the hall.
You froze and strained your ears to make sure you didn’t imagine it, then took a look around the room. The doors were slightly ajar, but whoever was coming here, they couldn’t see you just yet. Panic seized your insides and you turned to Joel again.
“Sweetheart, please wake up,” you whispered pleadingly, shaking his shoulders and slapping his cheek lightly. “Come on, look at me, open your eyes…"
The steps were getting louder by the second. You tore the glove off your hand with your teeth and tried to very quickly check Joel’s pulse, but either in your panic you couldn’t find it, or the heartbeat was too slow for you to pick up.
You didn’t consider any other option.
There wasn’t much time left, so finally you left him and quietly went to hide behind the door, waiting for the incomer to walk in. Your hand reached for the gun on your belt.
And paused.
There couldn’t be any other option… right? Joel was alive, you just failed to find his pulse. He…
He was lying, still in the place you left him, and you couldn’t see his chest moving. The blood was flowing from the wound in his arm, staining his jacket and the floor… Your hand, the one holding the pistol, was covered in it, too…
Then you did something you never expected of yourself.
The gun stayed in its holster, and you went to grab from the ground one of the heavier pieces of debris you noticed before, a long metal pipe. Your hands tightened on the metal, and your eyes stayed on Joel’s lifeless form. You took a stifled, nervous breath. Then a deep, steadying one.
The person in the hall was really close now. Joel still didn’t appear to be moving or breathing, and it made your own chest feel tight and painful.
He couldn’t be dead. He couldn’t.
But if they did this, if… if he won’t ever open his beautiful brown eyes again, say your name in that entricing raspy drawl…
The doors to your right opened and your face twisted in rage and resentment. Your muscles tensed and focus sharpened.
The man who walked through the door made a noise of surprise at the sight of Joel lying on the floor – and that inhaling sound, that maddening noise seemed to taunt you, because how dared he breathe when Joel’s own breath was stolen from him, when you weren’t sure if it was still there – right before you stepped forward and swung the pipe with all your might.
The man – dark skin, with short hair – fell down with a loud cry when the harsh metal hit him right in the temple. Your eyes scanned his figure for a weapon, and you hit him again, this time somewhere near his stomach, when he made a move to reach for his knife.
“What did you give him?!” you asked with malice and venom that were so alien to you, you almost didn’t recognize your voice. The man’s eyes focused on you for the first time when you kicked his blade away, and his confusion turned to anger.
“Crazy bitch!” he spat, heaving for air, and lunged at you, but the open wound in his skull must’ve slowed him down, because without any problem you managed to raise your makeshift weapon before he could grab you.
Since you met him so many years ago, you always had Joel to watch your back. Now you were alone, but somehow that thought didn’t scare you. It exhilarated you.
An unpleasant, hair-rising crack echoed in the room, followed by the stranger’s scream, when the heavy metal smashed the bones in the forearm.
“I asked… a simple, fucking, question!” you snarled at the man, bringing the pipe down again, aiming for his hand this time. He moved it away at the last second, which enraged you even more, so with a mad, frustrated scream, you smashed his knee, using the pipe’s momentum when it bounced off the floor. “What the fuck did you do to him?!!”
He screamed, loudly and terribly, cursing at you with every shaky breath he took, and–
You felt so unlike you, so… out of your skin, somehow… but you wanted to make him suffer. You wanted to know this inhuman cry of pain that was reverberating through the walls of the resort was your doing and your power over this bastard. Because of what they did to Joel.
Then a loud bang rang out in the air, and you instinctively ducked your head when a part of the door to your side was shot off. You dropped the pipe – no use for it now – and drew your gun, noticing with surprise that your heart was steady and your breath even, as if you didn’t almost get shot just now.
Another bullet was sent in your direction, and a woman’s voice yelled something inaudible, while you stood still and counted the seconds.
Three, two…
In a rapid movement, you came out of cover and aimed at the person standing in the hall, firing twice. The first bullet hit the woman in the arm while the second seemed to burrow itself in her stomach. She fell backwards with a curt cry, and the man lying at your feet roared with rage.
“No! You fucking bitch, leave her alone!!”
Your motions were almost automatic as you put your gun away and picked up the metal pipe again, its end splattered with blood. The man in front of you had to see something in your eyes – despair? emptiness? hatred? – because his face fell and he started quietly begging for you to stop and let him go. At least that’s what you assumed he was saying, because you didn’t listen to him one bit.
“Do not…” you started, unexpectedly calmly, bringing the end of the blunt weapon down. The impact caused his shinbone to break, and you lingered for just a moment to hear the bitter cracks of the shattered bones, “fucking… go anywhere. Don’t you dare move, hear me?”
The man didn’t answer, just cursed and wept in pain. The sound was horrible, but you almost didn’t notice it – or more accurately, didn’t care. Which would be even more concerning if you weren’t aware of the woman lying injured in the hall behind the door, and Joel, still unmoving and cold to the touch on the other side of the room.
Slowly, not hearing the black man’s cries or distant gunshots from where Tommy probably was taking down the enemies, and not caring about the blood of a stranger covering your jacket and pants, you dropped the pipe and took out your gun again. Then you made your way down the corridor, your eyes locked on the woman who shot at you.
She was groaning in pain, clutching at her stomach. When she noticed you, her hand reached for the pistol which lay discarded next to her, but you quickly lifted your own and aimed at her before she touched it.
“Don’t move,” you murmured, which would sound almost soft if it weren’t for the empty look in your eyes. The woman scanned you up and down, and slowly lifted her hands.
“Who are you?”
“What did you give him?” you asked like you didn’t hear her, coming closer to kick away her gun to the far end of the hall. The woman’s eyes followed the weapon, then shifted to you.
“Do you even know what that man did? What is he guilty of?”
“I know. Now answer the damn question. What did you give–”
The door on your left slammed open and you only had time to turn your head before a heavy body collided with you, pushing you to the wall. Your head hit the bricks with an echoing crack, knocking the breath out of you. A man who surprised you grabbed the material of your jacket and slammed you into the wall again, but you managed to grab his hair and yank it hard, which allowed you to step to the side and away from the point of disadvantage that being trapped against the wall was.
The man – taller than you, with a black eye and without one of the front teeth – was quick to recover, however, and catched the wrist of your hand that held the gun, pushing it to the side when you pulled the trigger. From the corner of your eye you could see the woman you shot curling up and covering her head, then trying to scamper away, but the wound in her stomach was a significant impediment.
You fired again, trying to wrestle the gun from the man, but his grip was strong and after a few seconds of struggle he managed to knock the weapon out of your grasp, sending it flying to where you kicked off the woman’s one earlier.
Not sooner than your hands were empty, his elbow collided with your face, hard, and you cried when a gush of blood started pouring from the broken nose and a cut on your lip. Fear washed over you, and sheer luck caused you to duck to the side in time, avoiding a fist to the temple.
You stumbled backwards a few unstable steps, breathing heavily. The guy was smirking, acting like he already won – but you weren’t about to die in this sleazy, stinky place, leaving Ellie all alone and never knowing why they abducted Joel in the first place.
Joel…
“You’ve made a huge mistake,” said the man quietly, taking one, then two steps forward and swinging again. You backed away a second time, feeling your heart pounding in panic and knowing you didn’t stand a chance against a man of his stature.
Finally your luck ran out, and the man managed to hit you in the jaw, making you taste blood on your tongue. Before you could recover, one of his hands shot forward and grabbed you by the throat, and then, still keeping his big hand on your neck, he brought your entire torso down, slamming you to the ground. You hit your head hard and the glass shards on the floor embedded themselves in your skin, but in the next moment the sound of your painful scream was cut short. The grip the man had on your throat tightened, and you started to have difficulty breathing.
Your eyes budged in fear as realization of what was happening dawned on you, and you started to kick and struggle wildly, reaching for your attacker’s face, but he moved out of reach, still putting his whole weight down on you.
Your fists were hitting his forearms, your nails scratching his cheeks, whatever to make him let go. But he didn’t, his hands still squeezing your throat so strongly and crushing your esophagus.
“After I kill you, I’ll go kill your friend,” your attacker snickered, smiling viciously as he watched ice-cold panic enveloping you. “He’s not worthy of keeping him alive that long, anyway.”
Something ignited inside you at his words.
Joel.
You suddenly remembered the many self-defense lessons Joel had given you, so that whenever he wasn’t there to protect you, you could do it yourself. He was always so afraid for your life…
Slowly and with great effort, your fingers crept down, searching for the handle of your hunting knife, while dark spots started to appear before your vision, partially covering the sneering face of the man crushing your windpipe. He said something else – something you didn’t even hear because of the ringing in your ears…
And then with the last bit of your strength, you yanked the knife out of its sheath and buried the blade in the side of his neck.
Several things happened simultaneously: the man cried in surprise and let you go, the woman shouted a warning – too late – and you swung your leg over him, straddling and stabbing the man over and over again. His neck, his chest, his face, you didn’t even see what you were hitting. Screaming your lungs out and burying the blade in him again, and again, and again.
And again.
With an outraged, desperate cry, the woman lunged at you, but the adrenaline coursing through your system made you not even register something cutting deeply the skin of your arm, your veins and muscles giving way. You spun around, tumbling with her to the ground, but quickly managed to pin her down, blocking her arms in place with your knees, and pressing the tip of your knife to her chest.
She immediately stopped moving.
“Last fucking chance,” you croaked with difficulty, your neck bruised and swollen. “What… did you give him?”
You didn’t know if it was the sight of you, bloodied and wounded, the fact that you just violently killed her friend, or something else entirely – but now the woman looked scared.
“Okay,” she whispered, trying not to breathe too deeply, and glanced nervously at the blade pressed against her skin. “Okay, I’ll tell you, just don’t… It was a tranquilizer. Nothing dangerous, we just put him to sleep for a couple of hours. He was putting up quite a fight and the guys were getting antsy that he’ll pull something off before–”
“He’s not breathing,” you rasped viciously, sputtering blood onto her face. The woman flinched and took a shaky breath.
“His heart rate is slowed down, but it doesn’t– it shouldn’t kill him.”
You clenched your teeth, then exhaled. Inhaled.
You have to take a grip of yourself. He is alive. He has to be…
Should be.
The weight with which you had pinned her to the ground became lighter, and the woman sighed with relief when you removed the sharp end from her chest.
“It shouldn’t… kill him?” you repeated emptily, trying to dismiss the pain in your throat when you were speaking.
“No.”
Your head was still buzzing, but you tried to push it to the side, to focus on what was important right now.
“Why… did you take him?”
And just with that one, quiet question, the woman’s expression changed. You were considering letting her go, since you already hurt her pretty badly, but the sudden shift in her behavior set off alarm bells in your head once more.
“He’s a murderer,” the woman said, as if it was the most obvious answer. “A monster that would do everyone a favor if he got put down.”
White, blinding fury flooded your veins and it felt almost as if electricity was cracking above your skin. Your hand held the knife tighter.
‘Put down’, like… like an animal. She was talking about the man you loved–
You weren’t able to stop the hatred and rage flowing out of every pore of your skin. In one swift motion you plunged the knife into the woman’s chest, making her choke and gasp in surprise.
“You cannot call him that,” you spluttered, barely able to speak from the pain. “You…”
And then your hand forced its way lower down, still holding the handle of your weapon. Cutting through the woman’s – now struggling and screaming in agony – abdomen and guts.
They went so far as to abduct Joel, they took him from you, hurt and shot him, wanted to torture him, to make him suffer before they ultimately kill him…
But they didn’t, he can’t be dead, he can’t–
The woman was conscious the entire time as you were ripping her insides apart, and her screams died down only after you reached the navel.
Your vision was blurry and faltering when you stood up, but your heart was still beating steadily. There was an echo of a scream in your ears, though you couldn’t tell if it was your or the dead woman’s voice.
There wasn’t anyone else in the hallway. In the back of your mind you hoped that Tommy took care of any remaining enemies, because if they’d come running here, you didn’t think you’d be able to hear them in time.
Clutching your injured arm, you slowly made your way to the room where you left Joel and the man who attacked you first. Your gun was lying near the entrance and you picked it up before pushing the door open and staggering inside.
The man wasn’t where you left him. Instead there was a big pool of blood, forming into a wide, smeared path leading further into the lobby. At the end of it you saw him, groaning and crawling to the exit.
You reloaded the gun and walked closer. At the sound, the man turned his head and his eyes widened when he saw you.
“You fucking psycho!” he spat, bracing himself on the elbow of his left arm – the only one still working. “Do you have any idea what you’ve done?! When she sees it, they’ll come for you, and they’ll make sure that the two of you will fucking pay for it!”
His words were flowing through you as you struggled to keep your vision focused. You felt weird – almost like waking up way too early and finding your body not listening to you entirely.
Then you realized. The hungry, burning anger was gone, the embers of hatred slowly dying out. There was only smoke and emptiness left inside you.
“I don’t care,” you mumbled, not loud enough for the man to hear you, but that didn’t matter – two seconds later he was dead, his brain splattered all over the floor behind him.
Your hand was shaking. Cold crept up your limbs, embracing and almost choking you as you breathed in, out, faster and faster as you finally comprehended what you did.
Your eyes moved down to the man’s indented knee, completely smashed into a bloody mess. The other limb was all wrong, his foot sticking in the opposite direction and no wonder he had to crawl to get away from you, you destroyed his legs, you…
You staggered backwards, your pupils darting to the hallway just for a second before returning to the battered corpse in front of you. The back of his skull was gone now, but how did he stay conscious for so long after you smashed his head with a metal pipe? There was so much blood on it… How much pain he must have felt after you left him?
And that woman… He begged you to leave her alone, and you… you ripped her open…
You moved back, back and further away, before tripping and falling to the floor. Your breaths were fast and shallow, and you reached for your neck, sore and swollen from almost being strangled, trying to will your lungs to work.
They were bad people. They took and hurt Joel, and planned to kill him. You had to kill them, they’d kill you in a heartbeat, they…
It wasn’t like you’ve never taken a life before, but it was the first time that you inflicted pain on somebody on purpose – not in self-defense, but because you wanted to retaliate. It was done in revenge.
You didn’t know for how long you had sat there when you heard someone saying your name. It sounded like… No, it couldn’t have been his voice, he was unconscious, he wasn’t breathing…
Suddenly, Tommy’s face appeared in your blurry field of vision – of course it was him, their voices were so similar, after all – and there was a deep crease between his brows. He looked worried and fearful, and–
“Snap out of it,” he said firmly, shaking your shoulders harder than he should have. Your name fell from his lips when you didn’t answer, and his eyes followed yours to a battered body on the floor. “Look at me. Look at me.” Tommy forcefully turned your chin in his direction, and his eyes were full of sorrow and pain. “You did what you had to do.”
You shook your head, swallowing the tears that streamed down your face. He didn’t know what you did. He didn’t understand what happened here, what happened with you… You yourself didn’t know what happened to you.
Tommy brought you closer to his chest, enveloping you in his strong embrace and the smell of leather and gunpowder. You choked on air, unable to stop the sobs racking your body, and deaf to his words, for the only thing you could hear were cracks of bones, screams of pain, and your own vengeful cries.
It was so loud in your mind that you almost missed a quiet grunt coming from behind you.
*****
Joel slowly opened his eye, then groaned and closed it again. He felt like shit and it was so hard to breathe, but he pushed through the pain and discomfort from the wound in his side, and tried again.
The first thing he saw was the greenish curtain, hiding the rest of the room from him, but judging by the fact that he was lying in bed, alive, with apparently all his wounds dressed, he figured it wasn’t the same place that group of angry youngsters took him to.
Lifting his head and turning it to the other side was a tremendous task, but it was so worth it – because there was you. Sitting in a chair next to him, asleep and with your head lying on folded arms on his bed. Joel smiled softly, but then furrowed his brows as a pang of anxiety shot right through him.
Your face was a mess, with cuts and bruises healing, your brow was split, and one of your forearms had a bandage wrapped around it, now a little dirty around the edges. Joel couldn’t see clearly, but your neck seemed… dark, as if the skin was bruised there, too.
What the hell happened?
He lifted his arm – the tingles and needles pierced his stiff limb – and brushed your cheek lightly, trying to wake you.
“Darlin’...” he murmured, and you stirred. He tried to say it again, louder this time, but his throat was scratchy and he winced at the feeling. There was no need for it, however, because in the next moment your eyes fluttered open and then widened when you took in the sight of him, realizing he’s awake.
“Joel!” Your hands – God, he missed the feeling of them – cupped his face gently, and your eyes filled with tears in the matter of seconds. “Oh my god, baby…”
“Hey, hey, I’m fine,” he breathed out quickly, not wanting to see you cry. “It’s okay, darlin’... I’m here.”
You sobbed with a dazzling smile, your beautiful eyes dancing across his features before you darted forward and pressed your lips to his firmly. Joel could almost taste the desperation and worry in your shaky breaths and tears that fell from your eyes and onto his tongue. He wanted to tangle his fingers in your hair and bring you in closer, but a sudden, sharp pain pierced his arm when he tried to move it, and he hissed into your mouth.
“Sorry,” you whispered and moved away quickly, letting out a broken laugh and brushing the unruly strands of hair away from his forehead. “I’m just so happy you’re okay.”
Joel wanted to ask what exactly had happened while he was out, but before he got a chance, you leaned in again and started softly peppering his face in kisses – first his cheek, then his forehead, then the tip of his nose and his chin. And Joel didn’t have the heart to stop you.
And that’s how Ellie found you both. She gagged when she saw the display of affection, but there was a grin on her face when he looked over at her.
“Gross,” she scrunched her nose. “But I’m glad to see you awake.”
“Yeah, well, I still feel pretty shitty,” he grunted, scanning the kid for any injuries, but she didn’t look any worse for the wear. His eyes strayed to your neck again, and the concern came back double-barreled. “What happened to you, sweetheart? Where–”
“I’ll… go get the doctor.” You stood up abruptly before he could finish, and looked over at Ellie. “Will you stay with him?”
“Yeah. Sure.” The teen shrugged, but now was avoiding Joel’s eyes, and he felt more uneasy and agitated by the second.
“Okay. Be right back, love. Gonna grab you some water, too.” You squeezed his hand and smiled. Joel’s eyes escorted you, and when he made sure you were out of the earshot, he turned to Ellie.
“What happened?”
“Well.” The teen blew out her cheeks and went to take a seat you previously occupied. “You were attacked during the patrol…”
“Yeah, no, that I remember,” Joel interrupted quietly. “They shot me, took me to that ski resort. But how am I here? Did she…”
He trailed off. Ellie looked at the curtain you disappeared behind, then back at Joel. “Listen, I wasn’t there, so m’not sure,” she mumbled quietly. “But after she and Tommy got you out, she was sorta… different.”
“Different how?” he asked sharply. Ellie bit the inside of her cheek, looking away. “Ellie.”
“I don’t know, okay?” she answered in a sudden burst. “She looked like hell. You saw her neck, I think someone tried to choke her, and she had an ugly cut on her leg, a fuckton of cuts and bruises… And the doctor spent hours getting all the glass shards out of her.”
Joel got up as much as he could, feeling a pit of anxiety rising in his chest. Ellie was silent for a while before she spoke again, this time surprisingly softly.
“Remember when you beat the shit out of that soldier when we were escaping QZ in Boston?” Joel nodded slightly – she did, too. “Yeah. She had a similar… kind of look on her face, and it looked… not exactly scary, but alien.” The teen looked up. “My guess is she did some fucked up shit to get to you. Tommy said she’s been having real bad nightmares since then, but he doesn’t want to tell me–”
Ellie snapped her mouth shut at the sound of footsteps, and a few seconds later you emerged from behind the curtain. You had a tall glass of water in your hand and a small, hopeful smile that grew when your eyes fell on Joel’s face.
“I know you’d probably prefer something stronger, but water will do you good,” you said, seemingly oblivious to the fact that they were just talking about you. Joel watched as you carefully sat down at the edge of his bed and put down the glass onto the table to his side. “One of the nurses will come here in a couple of minutes. You were unconscious for a couple of days so they want to make sure everything is okay.”
“I told you I’m fine, darlin’...”
“Please.” You gently took his hand in both of yours, staring at him with concern. “For me?”
Joel looked you over, his eyes lingering on your bruised neck and the bandage around your thigh which he didn’t notice before. Then he glanced at Ellie with worry, not knowing how to approach this problem or ask what exactly happened to you.
Your eyes were a little red and puffy, and he briefly thought about what the kid said: that you have had terrible nightmares, that apparently you went through some sort of hell to save him. It seemed that whatever you had done, it took its heavy toll on you. And he couldn’t bear it.
Joel hated the thought of you risking your life for him, of the experience branding you so deeply that you lost sleep because of it.
Because of him.
The only thing he could do right now was to be there for you. And maybe – just maybe, if he tried hard enough – to do something about those of your scars that he couldn’t see.
He lifted your hand to his lips and pressed a kiss to it, keeping his eyes on yours the entire time.
“Okay,” came his soft answer, to which you smiled with relief. “Whatever you wish, darlin’.”
No snarky remark, no groaning or muttering could be heard from Ellie, and that worried Joel much more than he’d ever admit. He exchanged a worried look with her while you were distracted, drawing patterns on the back of his hand with tender fingers.
“It’s gonna be okay,” he heard you say quietly, though it was unclear whether you were talking to him or yourself.
Either way, Joel squeezed your hand tighter, now feeling oddly afraid of letting go.
“Yes, darlin’,” he confirmed in a soothing manner. “Everything’s gonna be okay.”
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cirilla-fiona-riannon · 9 months
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Make Me Feel Alive Episode 3
Gilbert von Obsidian's Birthday Story
This is simply a fan translation and is not intended as a replacement for the game. Expect grammatical errors.
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On Gilbert's birthday, there was an unusual tension hanging around the castle.
(Is his birthday really taboo?)
(No one talks about it, and no one's preparing a celebration.)
As I whisked the cream into the bowl, I couldn't help but think about it.
(I always thought it was normal to celebrate birthdays.)
(But I guess not for him.)
------------Flashback-----------
Gilbert: "Will you also celebrate my birthday at the risk of your life?"
Emma: "........"
Gilbert: "Even if it's you, I might still find it unpleasant."
---------Flashback Ends--------
(He really meant those words.)
(If my expectations are wrong, things could get really messy.)
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My heart raced so rapidly that it seemed like it might burst out at any moment. Even my hand holding the bowl was trembling.
(No, I need to be more confident.)
(I'm his fiancée, so I gotta keep it together.)
Taking a deep breath to dispel the anxiety and tension, I unconsciously resumed what I was doing.
Emma: "I wonder if he'll be happy."
???: "Mhm, it's really delicious."
Emma: "!?"
I turned around and saw Gilbert already devouring the sponge cake.
(What the hell? When did he get here!?)
Gilbert: "Come on, don't stop. If you don't keep your hands moving, I'm gonna eat everything."
Emma: “Wait, please don’t eat it!”
(The cake will be gone before it’s finished!)
Hastily taking the sponge cake from him, his refined face twisted into an unhappy expression.
Gilbert: “Do you really have to do that?”
Emma: “If I run out of sponge, I won’t be able to make the cake.”
Gilbert: “It was delicious as it is.”
Emma: “Even if it’s delicious, it won’t be enough!”
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Gilbert: “Ehh? I prefer quantity over quality.”
Emma: “I’ll bake a lot of cookies later, so can you please let this slide?”
Emma: “I really want to prioritize the quality of the cake. I want to make this birthday cake special.”
Gilbert: “Hmm. You’re really brave.”
He brought a chair over and sat down, looking up at me intensely.
Emma: “This is just my speculation, but I don’t think you don’t want your birthday to be celebrated.”
(Since he’s the one who told me about his birthday.)
Emma: “It’s just that you hated lies.”
Emma: “On a special and important day, you couldn’t tolerate it being tainted with corruption and deception.”
Emma: “I thought maybe that’s the case.”
(His mother and older brother were kind to him in the past.)
(Those two surely celebrated his birthday when he was young.)
(But that day will never come again.)
(The only people left around him were the corrupted aristocrats.)
Gilbert: "Fufu. As expected, you really love me."
Gilbert rested his hand on his chin and laughed briskly.
Well, he was right.
Gilbert: "Will you really celebrate my birthday wholeheartedly?"
Emma: "Of course."
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Gilbert: "I've killed many people before, and I might kill many more in the future."
Gilbert: "Would you still celebrate it and support me if I continue executing those who wish me a happy birthday?"
Emma: "........."
I felt like he was testing my determination.
(Birthday celebrations are a way to say thank you for being born.)
(It's also a day to hope that you will continue to live.)
Celebrating the birthday of a notorious villain who shook the entire continent is not something one can do half-heartedly, and those who celebrate might, in a way, bear a certain burden of guilt.
Emma: "Yes."
(Even though he might be an irredeemable villain, I want him to find redemption.)
(Despite his numbness to human feelings, I believe he has the most beautiful heart in the world.)
Emma: "Even if you've turned the whole world against you, I'll still celebrate."
Emma: "I'm already a pretty bad woman just by being here, so it's too late now."
Emma: "Please don't underestimate my feelings for you."
(It's his birthday, yet it's hard to even genuinely celebrate.)
(This is the price he has to pay for his position and for seizing control of the evil empire.)
(Celebrating a birthday with such determination to the point of risking one's life is a first for me.)
Gilbert: "Fufu, sorry. I might have teased you too much."
(Huh?)
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He stood up from his chair and reached out to touch my eyes.
His cold fingertips scooped up a single drop of tears that even I hadn't noticed.
(I hate this. I didn't mean for it to be like this.)
(However, I can't help but wonder how many years he has suppressed his birthday to protect his memories from being tainted.)
I forcefully wiped my tears and peered into his red eyes.
He was smiling as usual, but I was surprised to see a noticeable wavering that made my heart ache.
(No, these tears aren't mine.)
(He's the one who really wants to cry.)
(I wonder what he has been thinking about every time his birthday comes around.)
(I'm sure he was lonely at first, but then he probably forgot how lonely he was and didn't feel anything anymore.)
(But now he remembered the loneliness. Is that why he told me about his birthday?)
With an overwhelming impulse, I reached for his cold cheek and lightly kissed it.
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Gilbert: "What is it?"
Emma: "I can't give you the cake right away, so here's an alternative gift."
Gilbert: "It's rather shabby for a present."
Emma: "Then, how about this?"
I placed the bowl on the table and wrapped my arms around his neck.
Then I kissed him deeper than before, and he bit me hard on the lip.
(Ouch!)
Thankfully, there was no blood, but the bitten spot throbbed as he licked it with his tongue.
With this, he took control, overpowering the initiative I had held.
His cold fingers pried open my lips and gently devoured my tongue.
Feeling weak, I leaned against the worktable, and he lifted the hem of the black dress he gave me, forcibly inserting his fingers into my inner thigh.
Emma: "Gil, it hurts."
Gilbert: "Yeah, I'm doing it on purpose."
Emma: "Why?"
Gilbert: "Because you don't like pain."
(You're really saying that?)
The pain quickly turned into another sensation as his fingers worked inside me.
It was like a mark of affection that Gilbert used to engrave on my body every night.
(That's why I can't hate it.)
Gilbert: "See, you're already enjoying it."
Gilbert: "By the way, this is the kitchen. Aren't you going to stop me?"
With a squelching sound, his cold fingers increased to two.
Just before my mind was about to go completely blank, he stopped, and I unconsciously let out a sigh.
Emma: "Just for today."
Emma: "No matter what you do, I'll endure it if that's what you want."
Gilbert: "Because it's my birthday?"
I nodded and wrapped my arms around his head, pulling him close to my chest.
Emma: "I won't lie to you."
Emma: "So until you feel at ease, feel free to continue as much as you want."
Emma: "I want you to know that I genuinely want to celebrate your birthday."
Emma: "I'll keep telling you until you believe it, no matter how much it hurts."
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Gilbert: ".........."
Gilbert: "What? So you already figured it out?"
(As expected, there's always a reason behind his threats.)
Emma: "You're probably much easier to understand than you think."
Gilbert: "I think those are words only someone who faces me head-on can say."
Gilbert: "It's really a pity to be liked by a troublesome man like me."
He suddenly laughed and bit my neck.
(Erasing all the suspicions built up over the years might be difficult, but if I can convey that he won't be lonely on his birthday, that alone would be enough.)
While enduring all the pain and pleasure he gave me, I somehow managed to finish the cake.
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After celebrating together, we naturally embraced each other's bodies.
After being thoroughly teased during the day, my body immediately welcomed Gilbert, and all that remained after we reached the climax was the sound of our heartbeats.
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Gilbert: "Fufu. Your heart is still pounding."
Emma: "I can hear the sound of your heartbeat too."
Wrapped in each other's arms with nothing between us, the sound of our heartbeats resonated.
(His heartbeat is proof that he's alive.)
(I want to feel this every time I celebrate his birthday.)
When I put my arms around his back, he slightly furrowed his eyebrows.
(There are scratches on his skin.)
Emma: "Sorry. It's probably because of me."
Gilbert: "It's fine. I like it when you hurt me."
Gilbert: "It would've been nice if you left not only scratches but bite marks as well."
His fingers traced along my arm, where the bite marks were.
(Not just the arms. I feel like I was bitten all over today.)
Emma: "It's difficult because I don't know how to control my strength like you do."
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Gilbert: "Then let's learn together. Shall we master it by my next birthday?"
Emma: "You'll celebrate with me again next year?"
Gilbert: "Who knows? Whether it will be the last or the first is up to you."
Gilbert: "If you love me a lot, I might change my mind."
Emma: "........"
Gilbert: "But your celebration this year wasn't unpleasant."
Gilbert: "Thank you."
Emma: “.........”
(I’m gonna tear up.)
(I might start crying again if I let my guard down.)
He smiled and gently stroked my hair. His expression was more readable than usual, possibly because the eye patch was off.
Emma: “Then, how about inviting Roderich and Walter to the party next time?”
Emma: “I’m sure both of them really want to celebrate your birthday.”
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Gilbert: “That’s not happening.”
(Not happening, huh?)
Gilbert: “I don’t need other people’s celebrations. As long as I have yours, that would be enough for me.”
Gilbert: “Because I only love you.”
Emma: “I’ll shower you with lots of love, so please let me celebrate next year, too.”
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Gilbert: “Fufu, got it. As long as you’re you, I’ll let you celebrate.”
Gilbert: “Continue loving this beast with your pure heart, okay?”
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Episode 1 ╎ Episode 2 ╎ His POV
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and for dessert?
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pairing: javi x reader
cw's/tags: smut, oral sex, spanish? (i don't speak spanish), unrealistic scenarios, steve voiceover dialogue at the beginning to explain the strange plot
summary: reader is a shy hotel housekeeper of sorts (probably a CIA spy), and brings javi his room service with a special treat
a/n: 'there's a reason magical fake-ism was born in liz's mind..."
this is for @undercoverpena's birthday bash! my color for the color palette was ganache brown, and somehow, ganache is what got us here.
wc: 2k
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[Steve Voiceover]: And if I told you that the CIA gave us an all expenses paid vacation at a 5 star hotel with women dressed like French maids providing around the clock service, including "special favors", would you believe me? No? Good. Because that didn't happen. Even if it did, they'd be expecting something in return -- to talk about one thing or to shut up about another. Peña and I aren't liars, but if we were on trial, and the CIA had any stake, this is how they could've won us over. At least, this is Javi's version of the story. 
Sitting in a California king size bed, wearing nothing but a robe embroidered with hotel's logo, Javi sifts through his own guilt to find some self-pity that'll allow him to enjoy this period of respite amidst the general chaos that comes with his career. He and Murphy are given separate rooms -- must be a real special case, considering how much the DEA does to cut corners, thereby cutting costs, and god only knows how much this room would cost him for a week. Escobar levels of cash. 
He gets room service, fresh towels, and a cute girl who delivers them daily. When the CIA wants to influence your testimony, they've got to butter you up first. Actually, they don't. They could torture Javi, threaten his family, even disappear him. Maybe there's poison in his breakfast -- which he eats in bed while watching pay-per-view movies.
The steak you bring him for dinner is good, but the uniform you wear is great. He knows he's being sedated, and he takes it willingly. His dick takes it eagerly -- that specific part of him is the opposite of sedated. 
For the first time in his life, Javi gets tired of jerking off.
"Goddamnit. Really?"
He must be going stir-crazy, talking to his dick like that.
It'd be more convenient for him to stay naked, but he keeps his himself covered out of respect for you. He figures you probably don't get paid enough to wait on nude men, though he doubts it'd be the first time you'd walked into a hotel room to find a man in his birthday suit. Men are gross. Javi can be nasty, but he understands that timing is key. Keep it classy until she asks for it not to be.
Javi's not stupid enough to think the CIA can't hear his phone calls. He doesn't know why they even leave the phone in the room. Maybe for the typical American illusion of freedom or maybe they're just too lazy to come and unplug it.
He could call the concierge, he might even be able to call you. But for some fucking reason, he's on the phone with Steve, who's right down the hall. 
Just to fuck with him, Javi asks, "What are you wearing right now?"
"Uh, A T-shirt and boxers… why?"
"I was joking. Never had phone sex?" He figures the CIA doesn't pay whoever's listening to these calls enough, so he'll give them a little tease as a treat.
"'Course I have." Steve's not the stud that Javi is but his wife's on a different continent, so he'd believe it. "Are you trying to have phone sex with me?"
"I'm not that desperate yet."
"Haven't gone through all the porn on TV yet?"
"Not yet. Still making my way through the stepmom shit. Not really my thing."
There's a lull before Steve suggests something so out of character that Javi would think he was joking in any other circumstance.
"Is your, uh, housekeeper… nice?"
"By nice you mean hot?"
"Yeah."
"Very."
"Wonder if we have the same one."
Javi describes your appearance in detail to Steve - he'd do great as an eye witness if he only had to remember gorgeous women. Steve's description of his housekeeper is more brief but enough to confirm that they are attended to by separate women.
"Guess attractiveness is part of the qualifications," Steve remarks.
"Well, better hope you still have a job after all this 'cause you're sure not getting one here."
"Fuck off. Just 'cause you fuck around doesn't mean you're the hot one in this partnership. In case you've forgotten, I'm the one with the beautiful wife."
"Yeah, and she's way outta your league. Still don't know how you pulled her."
Steve ignores Javi's comment, and continues to brag, "plus, Little Miss Housekeeper said I'm very attractive."
"Oh yeah? How much did you pay her?"
"Nada. Did yours call you 'hermoso'? Did she offer you any extra favors?"
"Extra favors?"
Javi can hear Steve's smug grin on the other end. "She told me 'we do anything to ensure our guests have a pleasurable experience'."
"You think that's real or she was just coming onto you?"
"Dunno. You should try asking your girl- speak of the motherfuckin' devil." And Steve hangs up the phone.
In less than a minute, there's a knock on Javi's door.
"Agent Peña?" He hears your sweet voice say from outside the door, and while the fantasies fly through his head, he forgets a crucial mistake he's made which is not bothering to put on clothes after he'd taken a shower, leaving him in only in a towel when you open the door.
And he's rock-fucking-hard.
You walk in with room service. Fuck. He forgot he'd ordered dessert. Typical display, silver platter atop white tablecloth plus utensils and other expected accoutrements. You're focused on pushing the cart so at first you don't notice but when you do, you apologize profusely.
"Oh my god, Agent Peña. I am so sorry, sir." You turn away from him, fidgeting awkwardly as you stand facing the wall.
"No, it's my fault. I'm sorry. I forgot that I ordered dessert. I'll get my pants on so you don't have to see anything."
"Oh. I don't mind--I mean, that's not my concern. I just want to respect your privacy."
"My privacy? If I could walk around naked all the time I would."
"You would?" You take a glance over your shoulder and he's managed to put on his boxers, and is now reaching for a pair of jeans. "You don't mind people seeing you?"
"No," he says, stopping with one leg halfway in his pants, unsure of what you want.
"Well, you are an attractive man, so--I hope you don't mind me saying that."
"I don't. I just hope they pay you well to dish out compliments."
"The compliments are not required by my contract. I was just thinking out loud…" You trail off, shyly looking to the side.
"In that case, I hope you don't mind me saying that you're a very attractive woman."
"Thank you, sir."
God, it goes straight to his dick. There's not much he can do to hide it since he's given up on the jeans idea. (And, let's face it, those jeans leave nothing to the imagination). 
"So, I brought dessert," you transition. 
Usually, you're incredibly professional and prepared, like you've practiced every word in the mirror, but now, you look flustered. It's adorable when you struggle to find the words to describe the dessert. It's almost like you've forgotten what it is until you pull the lid off the tray to reveal it.
"Wow," he says, genuinely in awe of the decadence presented before him.
"It's a chocolate cake with chocolate ganache and strawberries on top… as you can see."
"It's probably poisoned, but I'll risk it anyway. This looks really fuckin' good."
You smile hesitantly and nod, periodically glancing towards the door like you're trying to figure out how to exit the conversation.
"Well, I'll leave you to it," you say, turning to leave the room.
But before your hand reaches the doorknob, Javi says, "Stay."
"Huh?"
"If you can -- If you want to."
"I can, yeah." You walk back towards him, slowly, stopping at the edge of the bed like you're unsure where to go from here.
"Need help getting up here?" he teases.
"No, I can do it," you say, though it does look taxing to climb up onto the tall mattress in those heels.
You sit so prim and proper like a little doll, perfectly posed, which makes Javi feel particularly ill-mannered as he's already devoured almost an entire slice of cake.
"Want some?" he asks, sucking icing off his finger just to see your reaction. And it's even more delicious than the cake itself.
"O-okay." You nod.
He grabs a bite of cake on his fork and brings it towards your mouth like you're newlyweds at your reception. You let him feed you, maintaining eye contact while eat and lick your lips clean. You're playing his game. You must be.
"So, your job here- is it mostly delivering food and towels or is there other stuff you do?"
"We do whatever the guests want… within reason."
"Give me an example."
You not-so-subtly glance at his boxer-clad cock, and then back at his face. "As long as it's legal, we can do whatever we want for the most part."
"And what do you want?"
When you look down, away from his eyes, getting all nervous again, he lifts your chin. "Dime lo que quieres," he says, much softer.
"I want you. I want to make you feel good."
You get closer to him, he thinks you're going for his lips but you're not, your hand brushes his bare stomach and slides down, but you stop at his waistband.
"May I?"
"Fuck yes."
For a shy girl, you sure know what you're doing. You get him riled up with playful licks around the tip, a flick of the tongue up the slit that makes him gasp, and you press sloppy kisses down his length, leaving lipstick marks all along his shaft.
It's not long before he feels his orgasm start to build, so he swiftly pulls you up, so that you're on your knees. You look almost dazed, especially so with your makeup all messy. He coaxes your hips up further until your core hovers over his face.
Javi has a one track mind when it comes to these kinds of things. Pussy makes him stupid. Earlier that day he fantasized about what color panties you might be wearing under your skirt. He had to force himself to look away when you bent down to grab something you'd dropped, he'd feel like a creep knowing he'd get off to a mishap like that. But he imagined you in pink, red, white, lace, satin, and everything in between.
He's surprised to find that you're not wearing any of those, you're not wearing anything at all.
He quirks an eyebrow up at you. "Brought me dessert, huh, hermosa?"
You nod. Yes, of course you did. Warm and glazed with your arousal.
"Quiero saborearte," he whispers, dragging you towards his eager mouth. 
You're perfectly pliant for him. His grip on your hips, your ass, your thighs is steady but gentle. He tries to take his time. A woman is a delicacy. He should savor you. He gets lost in the sweetness, buries his face between your thighs and allows his restrained dedication to become messy and reverent.
You call him by his first name for the first time. Javier. It's all he recognizes in your jumbled sentences.
He hums an affirmation. Mm-hmm. You're okay. Mm-hmm. I know. Mm-hmm. Please, give it to me. Let go.
Your climax hits so hard you lurch forward and grab the headboard while Javi guides you through it. With how loud you're being, he's certain Murphy will be calling him to congratulate him on his good work.
But before that, he realizes the mistake he's made -- a cardinal sin if making love is a religion (and the way Javi views it, it should be) -- he hasn't kissed you.
"Dame un beso," he says.
When you kiss him, he finds that your lips are just as sweet as the other pair between your thighs.
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