#•» ic : i wasn’t always a house on fire ⁄ but i’ve always been full of light .

[novaursa]

Fire and Gold (whispers)

- Summary: Rhaegar chooses you over her. And Ceresi never forgives you for it.

- Pairing.: sister!reader/Rhaegar Targaryen

- Rating: Mature 16+

- Previous part: the spider's offer

- Next part: to flip a coin

- Tag(s): @sachaa-ff @alyssa-dayne @oxymakestheworldgoround @lightdragonrayne @naviaberries

- A/N: Unplanned post. But here it is early, since people asked for it. Enjoy. ❤️

Tywin Lannister stood by the fire in his solar, the flames casting flickering shadows across his sharp, unforgiving features. The silence in the room was suffocating as he stared into the hearth, his hands clasped behind his back. Cersei, seated stiffly in a chair near the window, felt her father’s disappointment like a physical weight pressing down on her, even though he hadn’t spoken yet.

The tension between them had been building for weeks—since the death of the Targaryen prince, the rumors, the whispers that had started circulating almost immediately after. Tywin was not a man who tolerated failure, especially not when it involved his family’s position at court, and she knew what was coming.

"You and your brother," Tywin finally said, his voice as cold and sharp as the steel of a blade, "have done something unbelievably foolish."

Cersei stiffened, her hands gripping the arms of the chair. "We had nothing to do with the boy's death," she snapped, her voice full of venom. "If that’s what you’re accusing us of."

Tywin turned slowly, his golden eyes narrowing at her. "Did I say you had a direct hand in it, Cersei?" His tone was calm, dangerous. "No. But the consequences of your actions are far-reaching, even if you refuse to see them."

Cersei met his gaze, her chin lifting defiantly. "I don’t see how this tragedy can be placed at our feet. We had no part in it. You can't blame us for everything that happens in that gods-forsaken city."

Tywin’s lips curled into a thin, humorless smile. "No? It was you who provoked the queen during her tour, wasn’t it? The scar she now bears is a reminder of your temper. A reminder that the crown sees your House with suspicion and disdain. The boy is dead, and while your hand may not have struck the blow, Cersei, you certainly made yourself a convenient enemy."

Cersei’s face flushed with anger, her fists clenching in her lap. She hated how he could always twist things, always make it seem as if she were to blame for every slight, every failure. "She’s always been the enemy," she spat. "That Targaryen whore was never worthy of Rhaegar. She flaunts herself like she’s the most beautiful woman in the realm—"

"Enough," Tywin interrupted, his voice cutting through her words like ice. "You are a Lannister, Cersei. Act like one."

Cersei’s mouth snapped shut, but the fury still burned in her eyes. She hated the Targaryen princess—no, a future queen now, as Rhaegar had seen fit to make her his wife. The woman had everything Cersei had ever wanted, and it ate at her, a constant gnawing in her chest that she couldn’t suppress. But she knew better than to defy her father openly. Tywin’s patience was not infinite, and she could feel it wearing thin.

"The crown’s disfavor with our house grows daily," Tywin continued, turning back to the fire. "And we can thank you for that. Your inability to control your temper has already cost us the Handship. Now, there are whispers—whispers that you and Jaime may have had a role in the boy’s death. Whether true or not, it damages our position."

Cersei’s anger flared again. "Let them whisper! They can think what they like. It doesn’t change the truth."

"No," Tywin agreed, his tone flat. "But it shapes perception. And perception, Cersei, is more dangerous than truth in court. That is a lesson you would do well to learn."

She stood abruptly, the chair scraping against the floor as she faced him. "I’ve done nothing but try to secure our place at court! If you had secured my marriage to Rhaegar as you promised, none of this would have happened! But no, instead, you allowed him to marry her. You gave up on the crown, and now you expect me to—"

Tywin turned, his eyes blazing, and Cersei’s words died in her throat. "Do not speak of things you do not understand," he said, his voice low and lethal. "You are a fool if you believe your actions have gone unnoticed. Your brother’s behavior, your petty jealousy, your inability to play the game with even a modicum of subtlety—all of it has weakened our standing. I will not allow House Lannister to fall further because of your childish whims."

Cersei bit back a retort, but her mind raced. She hated him for making her feel small, for making her feel as though she was the problem when all she had ever done was try to claim what should have been hers. But her father’s eyes were cold, his jaw set in a way that brooked no argument.

"You will do nothing to provoke them further," Tywin continued, his voice steady once more. "And you will stay out of any affairs related to the prince’s death. Do I make myself clear?"

Cersei’s heart hammered in her chest, but she forced herself to nod. "Yes, Father."

"Good." Tywin turned back to the fire, dismissing her with the cold indifference that he so often used when he was finished with a conversation. "Leave me."

Cersei stood there for a moment longer, her fists still clenched at her sides, before she turned sharply on her heel and left the solar. The door closed behind her with a dull thud, but her anger remained, seething beneath the surface. She would not be lectured, not by her father, not by anyone. House Lannister would rise again, but it would be by her hand, not his.

And as for the Targaryens… they would fall. She would see to it. One way or another.

Jaime stood in the shadow of the throne room’s massive pillars, his golden armor gleaming faintly in the dim light. He could hear the shuffle of feet, the murmur of courtiers, but his mind was elsewhere, stuck on the images that had haunted him for weeks now. The dead prince. The blood. The accusing eyes of Rhaegar and Y/N, the heavy suspicion in their voices when they questioned him about that day.

"You're unusually quiet, Ser Jaime," came Barristan Selmy's calm, measured voice beside him.

Jaime clenched his jaw but didn’t respond right away, keeping his gaze fixed on the far wall. The throne room had become a place he despised—soaked in madness and paranoia. His life as a member of the Kingsguard felt more like a trap now than a calling. Finally, after a long moment, he muttered, "The princeling was killed under my watch, Ser Barristan. Forgive me if I'm not in the mood to jest."

Barristan eyed him, his expression thoughtful but guarded. "That is understandable," he said, voice steady. "Or, perhaps, a convenient excuse."

Jaime’s head snapped toward him, his eyes narrowing. "And what do you mean by that?"

Before Barristan could answer, the door at the end of the hall creaked open with a groan, and all eyes turned to see King Aerys II Targaryen striding into the room, his cloak of deep crimson trailing behind him. His hair, silver and wild, framed his gaunt face, and the unsettling gleam in his violet eyes had only grown more intense since the death of his grandson.

Jaime tensed immediately, straightening as Aerys approached. Even the sight of the king made his skin crawl, the memory of the man he once swore to serve twisted now into a nightmare. The fire of madness burned bright in Aerys’s gaze, and Jaime could almost feel the heat of it.

"Your Grace," Barristan said, bowing respectfully as Aerys stopped before them. Jaime followed suit, though the motion felt forced, stiff.

Aerys’s eyes darted between them, as if he were scanning for something unseen. His fingers twitched at his sides, his lips pulling into a twisted smirk. "My loyal Kingsguard," he said, his voice hoarse but dripping with contempt. "Tell me, Ser Jaime… have you found the ones responsible for my grandson’s death yet?"

Jaime hesitated, his heart pounding in his chest. "No, Your Grace," he said carefully. "We are still investigating. We—"

"You were on duty that day, were you not?" Aerys interrupted, his gaze fixing on Jaime with an intensity that sent a chill down his spine. "My grandson was murdered under your watch."

Jaime’s mouth went dry. He’d known this was coming, but it didn’t make the confrontation any easier. "Yes, Your Grace. I… failed to protect him. I take full responsibility."

Aerys’s eyes widened, his expression suddenly gleeful, as if Jaime had said exactly what he wanted to hear. "Full responsibility?" the king repeated, a manic laugh bubbling up from his throat. "Do you hear that, Ser Barristan? Our young lion admits his failure."

Barristan remained silent, his expression unreadable as Aerys circled them like a predator.

"Perhaps," Aerys mused, his voice dropping to a whisper, "perhaps I should burn you too, Lannister. If you cannot guard my blood, what use are you?"

Jaime’s heart raced, but he forced himself to remain still, his face a mask of calm. He knew better than to rise to the bait, to show fear. Aerys thrived on it, fed off it.

"I serve at your command, Your Grace," Jaime said through clenched teeth, his tone cold but respectful.

Aerys’s eyes gleamed, and he let out another wild laugh. "Of course you do," he sneered, turning away from Jaime as if suddenly bored with him. "And yet, you have served me poorly, have you not? Perhaps I should speak with your sister about this… failure. Cersei seems to have quite a temper herself. Perhaps she could join your fate."

Jaime’s fists clenched at his sides, though he kept his face neutral. The mere mention of Cersei was enough to send a bolt of anger through him, but he remained silent. Aerys’s madness knew no bounds, and the last thing he needed was to provoke him further.

Aerys turned back to Barristan, his demeanor shifting as quickly as a flame in the wind. "What of you, Ser Barristan? Have you any better news for me? Or are you as useless as the rest of them?"

Barristan, ever the composed knight, met the king’s gaze with calm dignity. "We are doing everything in our power to bring the culprit to justice, Your Grace," he said. "But the truth takes time."

Aerys’s lip curled in disgust. "Time? Time is the luxury of cowards. I want blood. I want fire." His voice rose to a fevered pitch, and he turned abruptly, pacing the length of the throne room. "They took my grandson from me! They think they can kill my blood and escape justice? I will burn them all. I will make them suffer!"

Jaime’s stomach churned as he watched the king’s outburst, his mind racing. He had been on duty that day, yes. But something had been off, something he couldn’t place, and now it was all spiraling out of control. And the more Aerys raved about fire, the more Jaime felt the suffocating weight of his position.

The king stopped his pacing and turned to them both, his eyes gleaming with madness. "Find them," he hissed. "Find whoever did this, or I will find you all wanting. And I will watch you burn."

With that, Aerys swept from the room, his red cloak billowing behind him like a trail of smoke. The heavy doors slammed shut, and silence fell once more.

Jaime let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding, his hands still trembling at his sides. Barristan glanced at him, his face hard but thoughtful.

"Convenient excuse or not, Ser Jaime," Barristan said quietly, "we must tread carefully. The king's madness deepens with every day."

Jaime swallowed, his mouth dry. "Yes," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "Yes, it does."

The soft murmur of voices filled the Great Hall of the Red Keep, nobles and courtiers mingling in clusters, sharing pleasantries and secrets beneath the towering columns and vaulted ceilings. You and Rhaegar moved gracefully through the room, as you had done countless times before, fulfilling your duty to the realm. But today, like every day since the loss of your child, there was a weight to your every step, an ache that never left you.

Rhaegar’s hand rested gently at the small of your back, a silent gesture of comfort. His presence, though comforting, felt muted—he was as much a shell of himself as you were. Your grief had woven a bond stronger than anything before, but it had also created a rift, a shared sorrow that neither of you could fully escape. Still, you both had responsibilities. The court expected the crown prince and princess to present themselves, to lead. To be strong. And so you played the part, smiling, nodding, exchanging words with lords and ladies as if your world hadn’t been shattered.

“Your Graces,” a voice greeted you, and you turned to see Lord Gyles Rosby bowing stiffly. He was a sickly man, with the complexion of one who had spent too much time indoors, and his eyes held the look of a man who had learned to navigate the dangerous waters of court. “My deepest condolences on the loss of your son,” he said, his voice grave. “The realm mourns with you.”

Rhaegar nodded, his face calm and composed, though you could see the flicker of pain in his eyes. “Thank you, Lord Gyles,” he replied. “Your words are appreciated.”

You smiled politely, though your heart wasn’t in it. These conversations had become routine, the same condolences offered over and over, the same hollow reassurances that did little to ease the grief that clung to you. You exchanged a few more words with Lord Gyles before moving on, the weight of duty propelling you through the room.

As you passed by a cluster of courtiers near one of the grand pillars, a snatch of conversation caught your ear. You wouldn’t have paid it any mind if not for one word that stood out, slicing through the hum of voices: the boy.

You stopped, your heart skipping a beat. Rhaegar felt your hesitation and glanced at you, concern flickering in his violet eyes. “What is it?” he asked quietly.

“I heard something,” you murmured, tilting your head slightly to listen.

The voices were low, conspiratorial, and you couldn’t make out everything they were saying. But as you stepped closer, pretending to be engaged in conversation with Rhaegar, more words reached your ears.

“…wasn’t meant for him, you know.”

“What do you mean?”

“The boy… I overheard… something else was planned.”

Your breath caught in your throat, your pulse quickening. Whoever they were talking about, it was clear that the prince—your son—had not been the intended target. You strained to hear more, but their voices dropped even lower, the rest of the conversation lost to the din of the room.

Rhaegar leaned closer to you, his brow furrowing. “What did you hear?” he asked softly, sensing your tension.

“I’m not sure,” you whispered, glancing around to make sure no one was paying attention to you. “But someone just said our son wasn’t the target. Something else was planned.”

Rhaegar’s eyes darkened, his grip on your arm tightening ever so slightly. “Who were they?”

You glanced over your shoulder, but the group of courtiers had dispersed, disappearing into the crowd. You didn’t recognize any of them. “I couldn’t see,” you said, frustration creeping into your voice. “But they know something. Something important.”

Rhaegar’s jaw clenched, and you could see the same mixture of anger and helplessness that had been gnawing at you both since your son’s death. “We need to find out more,” he murmured. “If there’s truth to this…”

You nodded, your mind already racing. If your child wasn’t the target, then who had been? And why? And more importantly, who had been behind it? The suspicion that had lingered since that terrible day now grew stronger, taking root in your heart. You had always believed there was more to this than what had been said—something deeper, something hidden in the shadows. And now, it seemed you were right.

But finding the answers wouldn’t be easy. Court was a dangerous place, full of secrets and lies, and the ones who whispered those secrets guarded them fiercely. Still, you knew that if you were to uncover the truth, you would have to navigate these treacherous waters carefully.

“We need to be patient,” Rhaegar said, his voice low but firm. “But we won’t let this go.”

You nodded, though every instinct inside you screamed for action, for immediate answers. But Rhaegar was right—this had to be handled delicately. Whoever was responsible had already managed to kill your son; they would not hesitate to strike again if they felt threatened.

The rest of the evening passed in a blur, your mind preoccupied with the conversation you had overheard. The faces of the courtiers blurred together, their voices blending into an indistinguishable hum. All you could think about was the fragment of information you had gleaned, and how it changed everything.

As you and Rhaegar finally made your way back to your chambers, you felt a new sense of determination settling over you. The grief was still there, deep and unyielding, but now there was something else—a drive, a need to find out the truth, to make sure that whoever was responsible paid for what they had done.

And when you did find them, you would make sure that they burned for it.

[sportswriters]

traveling to his hometown - j. swayman

pairing: jeremy swayman x reader | f | established relationship | wc: 943 | warnings: none | 🖊: namu

welcome post!

you came up with the idea of traveling to anchorage for a few days to take care of your well being. jeremy found it great since it’s break season so he had a free week to enjoy before going back to training. he’s always been connected to nature since he was a kid going to hike with his dad, so it was nice for him as well. jeremy picked you up in the morning to go to his parents house so you could all go to the airport together. his sister would arrive a day later with her husband and the baby.

“hello, beautiful. did you sleep well last night?” he greets you with a kiss, then helps you with the baggage.

“just a few hours. i kept thinking if i was missing to pack something,” you confess. “i probably dreamed about it, i just don’t remember. you?”

“well, me too. can’t wait to rest and enjoy the view with you.”

“i’m so glad we’re going together. so glad you came from such a beautiful place, no wonder you’re the love of my life,” you hug his waist, leaving a quick peck on the side of his neck.

“you’re lucky we can’t be late. i could totally go back up to your place so we could smooch for a few hours.”

you just laugh and let go of him, leaving the teasing for when you’re properly alone.

the trip to his parents house and then to anchorage went by pretty fast. jeremy came from a family full of good people, so it was easy to talk to them comfortably. since it was a long flight, everyone took the opportunity to get some sleep — not even the excitement could control tiredness.

there wasn’t a proper plan to follow during the trip, so you hang out inside just enjoying the coziness of the house, taking every chance to cuddle by the fire or outside on the porch. sometimes you would take a walk around the neighborhood, eating delicious food and buying souvenirs. the other day you went hiking in his favorite place, then when you reached the top, your emotions overflowed when you took in how beautiful the world around you was. jeremy stayed by your side, waiting for you to calm down. he was aware of how hard work has been to you, but the difference was that you couldn’t let out this kind of energy like he did on the ice. he was aware that for now all he could do was being there until you got back.

and you did. within the safety of his arms, you felt lighter while you waited for your breath to normalize and your eyes were still puffy.

“thank you, baby.”

“always, my love.”

you and jeremy have been a couple for almost two years, but after these days being so domestic and behaving like a true dynamic duo in every situation, it made you both realize how great of an idea it would be to finally move in together. neither of you knew you’re thinking of the same thing, so a few hours before going to the airport, jeremy took you to the porch to talk, failing to notice that you said you also wanted to show him something. he was nervous, it’s cute, you would’ve paid more attention if you weren’t as much as a nervous wreck.

it’s not like you’re anxious or anything — neither of you —, it’s the expectation. the realization of how much you love one another. loving someone to the point you wish to spend your whole life with, to wake up beside each other, to wait for them to come home.

“you know you’re my home, right?” he asks.

“i figured i might be one of them, yes” you joke, knowing how important his family is to him. jeremy stares at you for a second with a silly smile hovering his features. he pecks your lips twice.

“okay, smartass. i meant to say you’re someone i’m sure i want to build a home with.”

his straightforwardness catches you out of guard.

“jer…”

“wait, listen. i’ve considered a lot of things, but i know you must have your own conditions…”

“baby, correct me if i’m wrong.” you hold his hands over your lap. “we’re each other’s home, that’s known. now you want us to build a home together? is that right? like living together?”

“yes, if you let me.”

“remember i said i wanted to show you something?” you let go of his hands to open an app on your phone, searching for a picture. jeremy is slightly confused by the subtle change of topic, but quietly waits for you.

you smile when you find it. it’s a picture of a cheesy welcome rug with a bear couple and lots of cute hearts. jeremy smiles right when he sees it, used to the silly stuff you send him everyday, especially the ones with couples that act like you two.

“that’s adorable, for sure… wait.” he tears his eyes off the phone to find you smiling at him with your eyebrows raised. “is this what i think it means?”

“i must add that this is one picture from a quite big pinterest folder. i named it our lil ol’ home, see?” you show him the title.

jeremy looks like he could cry at any second.

“my love…”

you stand from your seat to sit on his lap, hugging him with your whole body.

“we’re in this together. i love you so much, jer.”

“i love you, y/n. can’t wait to start buying couple’s stuff with you as soon as we arrive home.”

[jeffersonhairpie]

Pokemon teams for your local ghost

Exactly what it says on the tin. I’ve tried to build a Pokémon team for each of the Button House ghosts.

I’ve used personality, ghost powers and time period to come up with a full team that I think makes thematic sense for everyone. Where possible, I’ve tried to give everyone the fully evolved forms of all their teammates, but this doesn’t always work out. All Pokémon have been given a Nature, Ability and Item along with a full move-set that feels appropriate for the team they’re on.

My one hard rule for myself was that everyone needed to have at least one Ghost type Pokémon on their team. Less hard but a rule I still stuck to was that everyone gets a full team of six.

This post got super long, so see below for full teams and explanations.

Robin:

Robin’s team is made up of Pokémon that could have been around 40,000 years ago. Robin was part of a hunter-gatherer society, so he would have moved around a lot and had plenty of opportunities to train and catch Pokémon in different locales. Given the presence of a whole lot more animals (and Pokémon) that would have been dangerous to humans back when Robin was alive, it was essential for him to have a pretty tough team that could help protect him from day-to-day threats His fighting style is a combination of aggressive and troll-ish, and he’s not afraid to have one of his team faint in order to deliver a finishing blow. Watch out for paralysis, increased crit ratios and sound-based moves. Just don’t expect your Ground types to be any use here.

The items on all of Robin’s Pokémon are naturally occurring and he would have had to forage for them. None of his Pokémon know any TM moves as these were several thousand years away from being invented. None of his Pokémon know any tutor moves as he wasn’t able to travel far enough to meet any tutors. He would have hollowed out his own Apricorn balls to store these critters, which I would imagine were not particularly good at staying closed. Robin does not have any Steel types because he lived in the Stone Age

 ANNIHILAPE – Fighting/Ghost - Male

Adamant Nature

Ability: Defiant

 Held item: King’s Rock

Thrash

Rage Fist

Screech

Final Gambit

 EXPLOUD – Normal - Female

Naughty Nature

Ability: Scrappy

 Held item: Razor Claw

Thunder Fang

Supersonic

Screech

Boomburst

 GREAT TUSK – Ground/Fighting – Unknown

Impish Nature

Ability: Protosynthesis

Held item: Leftovers

Taunt

Close Combat

Headlong Rush

Substitute

 LUNATONE – Rock/Psychic - Unknown

Modest Nature

Ability: Levitate

 Held item: Hard Stone

Moonblast

Moonlight

Stone Edge

Explosion

 MAMOSWINE – Ice/Ground - Female

Naughty Nature

Ability: Snow Cloak

Held item: Never Melt Ice

Endure

Amnesia

Earthquake

Blizzard

 ROTOM – Electric/Ghost (Fire/Water/Ice/Flying/Grass) - Unknown

Rash Nature

Ability: Levitate

Held item: Quick Claw

Thunderwave

Hex

Thundershock/Overheat/Hydro Pump/Blizzard/Air Slash/Heat Storm

Uproar

Annihilape because there’s something a bit Robin-esque about its stance. Plus, Ghost/Fighting seemed like an appropriate type combo for him to have in his team

Exploud because Robin loves to be loud, and this is as noisy as Pokémon get

Great Tusk because Robin isn’t old enough to have a fossil Pokémon nor young enough to have lived when the technology to revive them had been invented. BUT he is old enough for a Paradox Pokémon and Great Tusk reminds me of a boar and a mammoth, both of which Robin mentions as animals that were alive when he was

Lunatone for the moon.

Mammoswine because it’s a mammoth

Rotom because he needs an Electric type and seeing as he’s always messing around with the Button House electrics, he should have one that can infect different devices. The third move slot depends on what forme his Rotom takes, with Rotom formes being something he’s been experimenting with for the past hundred years or so as electronic appliances have started to appear in the house.

  Humphrey:

Humphrey is a noble from Tudor England, a time when national borders were drawn and they mattered. As such, his team is built entirely from Pokémon found in the Galar region. Pokémon used for hunting and to show off status are a must, and everyone’s into breeding their Pokémon to ensure the best possible offspring, so you’ll see egg moves galore on this team. And would you look at that! Steel types now exist!

TM’s still don’t exist and while most items are still naturally occurring, technology has come far enough (and Humphrey is rich enough to afford) incense as a held item for one Pokémon. Humphrey would have been able to afford for an artisan to make his Apricorn balls from some of the breeds that were being specifically cultivated for catching Pokémon.  

 AEGISLASH – Steel/Ghost - Female

Brave Nature

Ability: Stance Change

Held item: King’s Rock

King’s Shield

Shadow Sneak

Sword’s Dance

Sacred Sword

   BOLTUND – Electric - Female

Hasty Nature

Ability: Strong Jaw

Held Item: Electric Gem

Nuzzle

Bite

Howl

Play Rough

   CORVIKNIGHT – Flying/Steel - Female

Bold Nature

Ability: Mirror Armor

Held Item: Power Herb

Leer

Taunt

Steel Wing

Sky Attack

   HYDREIGON – Dark/Dragon - Male

Mild Nature

Ability: Levitate

Held Item: Dragon Fang

Crunch

Scary Face

Outrage

Head Smash

   RAPIDASH (Galarian forme) – Psychic/Fairy - Male

Serious Nature

Ability: Pastel Veil

Held item: Odd Incense

Agility

Morning Sun

Psychic

Dazzling Gleam

   ROSERADE – Grass/Poison - Male

Modest Nature

Ability: Technician

Held item: Big Root

Grass Whistle

Leech Seed

Giga Drain

Extrasensory

  Aegislash - too soon?

Boltund because, as a noble, Humphrey would have considered hunting a fun pastime and he would have needed a pack of hounds to assist in this. He got the gem on Boltund from his wife as they’re available in Kalos but not Galar. Sadly, this Pokémon isn’t able to make full use of its ability due to TMs not being invented yet but the extra jaw strength does help on the hunt.

Corviknight because, during Tudor times, status was expressed through the birds of prey you flew. Also, for hunting purposes.

Hyderigon because it makes for a great coat of arms. Also, there are legends about how you can cut off one head of this Pokémon and another will appear, which I’m sure he just hates to be reminded of these days.

Rapidash because a horse would have been an essential form of transport and, being noble, Humprey would have wanted the most magnificent horse around. This stallion fits the bill.

Roserade because theatre was all the rage in Tudor England, so Humphrey would have needed in house entertainment to keep high status guests amused. This Roserade probably performer for Henry VIII

  Mary

Mary was a poor farmhand throughout her life and so her Pokémon are intended to serve a more practical purpose than battling. Which isn’t to say that she won’t try to kick your ass when the moment’s right. When she does fight, Mary plays defensive, making sure that all her attacking moves have 100% accuracy and won’t knock any health off her Pokémon with rebound. Come prepared for long, drawn out battles.

As a skilled farmer, and without much time to go foraging for other items, all of Mary’s Pokémon have a berry as a held item, which Mary probably grew herself. Because these Pokémon were caught for practicality above all else, they are all wild caught (save Morpeko, which was a gift) and so none of them have their Hidden Ability. Even if TM’s did exist yet, I doubt Mary could afford one. Like Robin, she would have needed to hollow out her own Apricorns for balls, but I would imagine she was able to do so with a cultivar better suited for catching than the ones that grow wild.

 APPLETUN – Grass/Dragon - Male

Hardy Nature

Ability: Ripen

Held Item: Iapapa Berry

Protect

Apple Acid

Iron Defence

Dragon Pulse

   LAMPENT – Ghost/Fire - Female

Bashful Nature

Ability: Flame Body

Held item: Petaya Berry

Will-O-Wisp

Hex

Inferno

Minimize

   LEAVANNY – Bug/Grass - Female

Docile Nature

Ability: Chlorophyll

Held item: Occa Berry

False Swipe

String Shot

Leaf Blade

Me First

   MILTANK – Normal - Female

Quirky Nature

Ability: Thick Fat

Held item: Ganlon Berry

Defence Curl

Milk Drink

Charm

Body Slam

   MORPEKO – Electric/Dark - Female

Naive Nature

Ability: Hunger Switch

Held item: Lansat Berry

Crunch

Tickle

Agility

Aura Wheel

   SKUNTANK – Poison/Dark - Male

Docile Nature

Ability: Stench

Held Item: Custap Berry

Flamethrower

Screech

Toxic

Nigh Slash

  Appletun because Mary worked the fields throughout her life and apples would have been a big harvest. Plus, in a time before sugar, I bet apple-based puddings were some of her very favourite sweets

Lampent because Mary would have needed to keep a lamp lit to see what she was up to after dark. Also, as a Ghost/Fire type it comes close to being a representation of how she died. Unevolved because Dusk Stones would have been rare and expensive.

Leavanny because it’s a Pokémon known for sewing and weaving, and as a poor woman of her time, Mary would have had to make all her own clothes (and her husband’s, and her children’s) so she could use some help. Also, it helps to have a Bug type to pollinate crops in Spring.

Milkank because having a family cow for milk is always useful. Also, baby wants its nilkies...

Morpeko because Mary is usually pretty unassuming but when she gets angry, she goes apeshit

Skuntank because Mary is the stinkiest ghost, so she needs a stinky pal

  Kitty

Kitty’s a simple woman. She likes pink and purple things, she likes soft things, she likes moves that look pretty and she likes having friends. She also, every now and then, likes to kick ass. Her Pokémon’s moves tend to be selected for aesthetic or emotional reasons, so you can never be quite sure what she’s going to pull on you, and a lot of her Pokémon have been with her since she was a child. Watch out for hard hitting moves out of nowhere, and remember not to judge a book by its cover/Pokémon by its appearance

Being from the landed gentry, Kitty didn’t have to catch many of her Pokémon herself. Her father lovingly arranged for most of these critters to come into her life. As such, breeding moves are more than fair game and you’ll see that we’re getting quite advanced with some of the items Kitty’s able to use. Because she wasn’t catching her own Pokémon, Kitty doesn’t really know much about the Apricorn balls they’re stored in, beyond that they look very pretty.

 BEWEAR – Normal/Fighting - Female

Adamant Nature

Ability: Fluffy

Held item: Metronome

Baby-doll Eyes

Double Edge

Superpower

Rollout

   GRUMPIG – Psychic - Female

Timid Nature

Ability: Own Tempo

Held item: Protective Pads

Teeter Dance

Power Gem

Zen Headbutt

Bounce

   POLTEAGEIST – Ghost - Unknown

Modest Nature

Ability: Cursed Body

Held Item: Big Root

Teatime

Sweet Scent

Giga Drain

Shadow Ball

   SAWSBUCK (Spring forme) – Normal/Grass - Male

Brave Nature

Ability: Serene Grace

Held item: King’s Rock

Horn Leech

Headbutt

Zen Headbutt

Energy Ball

   TINKATON – Fairy/Steel - Female

Careful Nature

Ability: Moldbreaker

Held Item: Clear Amulet

Sweet Kiss

Play Rough

Ice Hammer

Gigaton Hammer

   VIVILLON (Meadow forme) – Bug/Flying - Male

Timid Nature

Ability: Friend Guard

Held Item: Destiny Knot

Safeguard

Bug Buzz

Quiver Dance

Hurricane

  Bewear because it gives the best hugs! Kitty just wants to cuddle a giant teddy bear and really, who wouldn’t?

Grumpig because you know Kitty had to raise a Spoink out of morbid curiosity to see if it really would die if it stopped bouncing. She never could be sure because sometimes she had to sleep, and her sister refused to take turns and watch her Pokémon while she was napping. All the same, Kitty is very fond of her Grumpig and has had it wearing the Protective Pads since it was a Spoink to help it not die from reasons unrelated to bouncing.

Polteageist because you need tea to have a tea party with your friends. Once upon a time, Kitty’s father gave her and her sister each a Sinistea, not realising that one was an Antique and the other a Phony. Kitty got the Antique and her sister talked her into trading, thinking she was being oh so very clever, but it turns out Kitty didn’t care whether she had the genuine article or not, she just likes her teapot Pokémon.

Sawsbuck because it evolved from Kitty’s first ever Pokémon - a pretty pink Deerling that she BEGGED her father for. It has a classic kid’s set up of all damaging moves with a redundant second Grass type attack, all because Kitty thought she was being very clever by picking moves that worked well with her Pokémon’s ability.

Tinkaton because it is the most Kitty-core Pokémon to ever exist. She is going to crush you with her little pink pal. And oh look! It’s wearing pretty jewellery

Vivillon because scooping up caterpillars in the grounds can sometimes give you a pretty pink butterfly.

  Thomas

I tried to give everyone a good team but that simply wasn’t possible here because Thomas is not a good trainer. His Pokémon like him as much as can be expected but they’re not well set up for winning battles, much as Thomas will swear blind that he’s working on a killer strategy that never seems to involve changing anything about his line-up. Expect to defeat him easily, though if anything’s going to give you trouble it’s his Charizard.

Thomas’s ability to relate to his Pokémon, or to see something poetic in their nature, is far more important to him than selecting Pokémon which might actually improve his standing. He believes that tragedy makes people and Pokémon alike stronger, but so far, he hasn’t proven this on the battlefield or in his poetry. Still no TMs, still unable to access a lot of held items and poor Thomas doesn’t really understand how Abilities or Held Items work. His Apricorn balls are made by someone else and bought on the cheap. He’s always grumbling about how Byron could have afforded better balls.

 BANETTE – Ghost - Male

Adamant Nature

Ability: Insomnia

Held Item: Dark Gem

Spite

Will-O-Wisp

Hex

Role Play

   CHARIZARD – Fire/Flying - Male

Rash Nature

Ability: Blaze

Held Item: Charcoal

Smokescreen

Air Slash

Scary Face

Flare Blitz

   CUBONE – Ground - Male

Lonely Nature

Ability: Lightning Rod

Held Item: Thick Club

False Swipe

Stomping Tantrum

Focus Energy

Bonemerang

   SMEARGLE – Normal - Female

Lax Nature

Ability: Moody

Held Item: Full Incense

Fake Tears

Metronome

Present

Sketch

   UNFEASANT – Normal/Flying - Male

Hasty Nature

Ability: Rivalry

Held Item: Destiny Knot

Leer

Feather Dance

Roost

Sky Attack

   YAMASK – Ghost - Male

Quirky Nature

Ability: Mummy

Held Item: Stone Plate

Crafty Shield

Grudge

Shadow Ball

Destiny Bond

  Banette because it has been discarded and is looking for someone to love it and Thomas can relate so hard

Charizard because its whole line will die if the fire that powers them goes out and Thomas can relate so hard. This one’s holding the Charcoal Thomas used to doodle with between poems

Cubone because its whole deal is being sad and Thomas can relate so hard

Smeargle because if you’re an artist of any kind you need the Painter Pokemon on your team. As you can see, Thomas hasn’t been very successful in Sketching decent moves with his, and he has misunderstood the purpose of a Full Incense, but he’s certain that newly open Sketch slot is going to bring him glory

Unfeasant because Thomas needs somewhere to get feathers for his quills.

Yamask because it is always crying about the person it could have been and Thomas can relate so hard. Here he’s misunderstood the type of his Pokémon but he thinks an Arceus Plate adds prestige

  Fanny

Fanny has always preferred animals (Pokémon) to people. What’s more, as a very intelligent and wildly under stimulated woman in a loveless marriage, she became a very good Pokémon trainer. Her team is almost entirely made up of Pokémon based off real world animals and she is a lot closer to being competitively viable than the rest of the ghosts. Expect everything to be thrown at you. Absolutely everything.

Once she was married, Fanny’s finances would have allowed her access to all sorts of fascinating new items now available in the modern age. Breeding and trading from other regions were also no object to the woman trying to have it all with her Pokémon. This of course extended to the latest in Apricorn ball and Pokéball technology, as the first non-organic balls would have been in circulation towards the end of her life. And what’s this? Metagross has an extremely modern move on it. HMs have now been invented!

 BASCULEGION – Water/Ghost - Male

Lonely Nature

Ability: Adaptability

Held Item: Life Orb

Last Respects

Scary Face

Head Smash

Wave Crash

   INCINEROAR – Fire/Dark - Female

Sassy Nature

Ability: Intimidate

Held Item: Heavy-Duty Boots

Knock Off

Parting Shot

Scary Face

Flare Blitz

   METAGROSS – Steel/Psychic - Unknown

Impish Nature

Ability: Clear Body

Held Item: Leftovers

Zen Headbutt

Strength

Meteor Mash

Rest

   MUDSDALE – Ground - Female

Relaxed Nature

Ability: Stamina

Held Item: Heal Bell

Iron Defence

Earthquake

Mega Kick

Super Power

   STOUTLAND – Normal - Female

Adamant Nature

Ability: Scrappy

Held Item: Silk Scarf

Work Up

Retaliate

Play Rough

Last Resort

   TALONFLAME – Fire/Flying - Female

Jolly Nature

Ability: Flame Body

Held Item: Focus Sash

Flare Blitz

Defog

Roost

Brave Bird

  Basculegion because a frail male Pokémon that can still do a huge wop of damage is something that probably resonates with Fanny. I bet she feeds it lots of bitter food and it absolutely hates her.

Incineroar for Apollo the tiger. Plus, it’s one of the most dominant Pokémon in competitive play and has been since its introduction. No way Fanny would be foolish enough to go without one.

Metagross because it’s wickedly smart and very good in competitive play. As a maths whizz, Fanny needs to make sure she’s got a biological super-computer on her side.

Mudsdale for Montague the horse! This isn’t a Pokémon that’s seen quite so much competitive play as her first two, but she loves it and understands the value of having a solid Ground type on the team.

Stoutland for Dante, and because anyone who isn’t scared of this tanky little dog has never had one pop up on the Battle Subway. There’s nothing flashy about Normal types, but they’re a pain to get off the field.

Talonflame for Jasper the Falcon. Another Pokémon that has seen good competitive use over the years. This one, of course, relies on its speed to sweep

  The Captain

When it comes to Pokémon, The Captain is not a particularly complex man. He likes soldiers, so he gravitates towards Fighting types, and he likes defenders, so he gravitates towards Steel types. Appearances are very important to him, so he leans towards Pokémon that give the appearance of being soldiers more than anything. Safe to say, his team isn’t particularly diverse, and you’ll only need a couple of counters to take him down. But if you don’t bring those counters? Expect a world of pain. The Captain’s Pokémon are well trained and always opt for moves that cause the most damage, even if they damage the user. Expect suicide strats and Hail Mary’s and a trainer who treats this as life or death.

The Captain’s Pokémon were probably trained on the Button House grounds, with some to all of them being military issue. A limited number of TM’s had been invented by the time he died, so you’ll see some moves out with standard learn-sets starting to crop up. He would have had access to standard issue British Army Pokéballs so that’s what all his Pokémon are kept in.

 BISHARP – Dark/Steel - Male

Brave Nature

Ability: Defiant

Held Item: Black Glasses

Iron Defence

Retaliate

Iron Head

Swords Dance

 CERULEDGE - Fire/Ghost - Male

Brave Nature

Ability: Flash Fire

Held Item: Power Herb

Shadow Sneak

Sword’s Dance

Solar Blade

Flare Blitz

Escavalier – Bug/Steel - Male

Brave Nature

Ability: Swarm

Held Item: Choice Band

Double Edge

X-Scissor

Iron Head

Giga Impact

   FALINKS – Fighting - Unknown

Brave Nature

Ability: Defiant

Held Item: Focus Sash

First Impression

No Retreat

Close Combat

Megahorn

   MIMIKYU - Ghost/Fairy - Male

Sassy Nature

Ability: Disguise

Held Item: Life Orb

Wood Hammer

Shadow Claw

Play Rough

Pain Split

 SIRFETCH’D – Fighting - Male

Brave Nature

Ability: Scrappy

Held Item: Leftovers

Knock-Off

Swords Dance

Brave Bird

Meteor Assault

  Bisharp because it’s got that straight backed, stiff upper lip temperament that The Captain loves so much. Of course, he hasn’t evolved it, he’s looking for soldiers, not commanders (also evolving Bisharp is hard)

Ceruledge because it’s got that knight in shining armour swag and literally has blades for hands so it can’t help winning fights

Falinks because it’s a little soldier Pokémon that gets in formation and stays in formation

Mimikyu because it has a secret which it hides beneath an exterior it thinks people can’t see through

Sirfetch’d because it’s a proper soldier that comes to battle with its weapon in hand

  Pat

Pat has picked most of his Pokémon for how much help they could be in teaching badge-worthy skills to a group of Scouts, or by how hungry they make him. Being ruled by your stomach doesn’t always pay off when it comes to picking Pokémon, as it turns out, and a few critters that Pat would have liked to have kept on for companionship reasons wound up becoming final evolutions that might actually have some battle utility simply so he could stop thinking about eating them. Who’d have guessed? Expect a mixed bag when battling Pat. You can never be quite sure why he added a particular Pokémon to his team so some are well set up to kick ass and some are...not.

We’ve hit the 70′s! More TMs are on the market and while not cheap, they’re widely available. Pretty much all held items are also now up for grabs, with some being more expensive than others. Pat is proud of his foraging skills though (he’s got the badge and everything) so when in doubt he loves sticking a good Berry or Ore on his Pokémon. Pat has his Apricorn carving badge, but I’m sure his troop would tell you that even using specialised Apricorns, the balls he makes don’t stay closed for long.

   ARCANINE – Fire - Female

Naughty Nature

Ability: Justified

Held Item: Choice Band

Flare Blitz

Crunch

Extreme Speed

Wild Charge

   CHARCADET – Fire - Male

Bold Nature

Ability: Flash Fire

Held Item: Charcoal

Leer

Clear Smog

Night Shade

Ember

   DRIFBLIM - Ghost/Flying - Drifblim

Mild Nature

Ability: Aftermath

Held Item: Flame Orb

Minimize

Gust

Tailwind

Explosion

   EXEGGUTOR – Grass/Psychic - Male

Quiet Nature

Ability: Harvest

Held Item: Sitrus Berry

Grass Knot

Psychic

Sunny Day

Rest

   MUNCHLAX – Normal - Male

Sassy Nature

Ability: Pickup

Held Item: Leftovers

Lick

Stockpile

Swallow

Amnesia

   TOGEKISS – Fairy/Flying - Female

Bold Nature

Ability: Serene Grace

Held Item: Babiri Berry

Air Slash

Aura Sphere

Wish

Thunder Wave

  Arcanine because Pat loves dogs, and he also has a bit of a punitive streak so giving him the signature Pokémon of cops everywhere seems appropriate

Charcadet because it was Pat’s best demonstration Pokémon for his scouts. It’s always raring to go and can show you how to build a fire in no time, plus it keeps the tent warm

Drifblim because Pat is convinced it’s a totally normal baloon. Nothing untoward here! It can held in all sorts of baloon and kite related activities and nothing bad will ever happen.

Exeggutor for eggs. Pat used to think he was never going to evolve his Exeggcute but he wanted to eat them too badly and had to switch them up for something a little less obviously edible. Exeggutor is useful for teaching young scouts how to tie grass knots, mind.  

Munchlax because it’s temperament is Pat-adjacent. Another favourite of his scouts, though mostly due to the problems it caused due to eating everything not nailed down.

Togekiss because it’s another egg that Pay has had to evolve in order to stave off his munchies. Also because it pays to have at least one properly strong Pokémon on your team if you ever need to demonstrate battling.

  Julian

Julian is a dirty old man (affectionate) first and a Tory politician (derogatory) second. His team reflects these key aspects of his personality perfectly. Everything is here either for reasons of sexual innuendo or because he’s trying to swindle you, it’s really not that complicated. But, if he could stand to commit to the bit just a shade less, he might be able to put together a functional team. Expect to win against Julian, not because his Pokémon are bad but because his movesets are trash. Just know you’re going to hate the self-satisfied smirk he shoots you telling his Pokemon to use Lick.

TM’s are now a fully functional part of team building, and while they’re still pretty expensive, Julian has no qualms about spending his constituents’ money on such things. It’s Luxury Balls only for this group of horny shitposts.

CLOYSTER – Water/Ice - Female

Impish Nature

Ability: Overcoat

Held Item: Zoom Lens

Leer

Liquidation

Helping Hand

Blizzard

   GRIMMSNARL – Dark/Fairy - Male

Naughty Nature

Ability: Prankster

Held Item: Leftovers

Flatter

Nasty Plot

Play Rough

Body Press

    FROSSLASS - Ice/Ghost - Female

Naughty Nature

Ability: Cursed Body

Held Item: Absorb Bulb

Double Team

Aurora Veil

Water Pulse

Ice Spinner

 HYPNO – Psychic - Male

Sassy Nature

Ability: Inner Focus

Held Item: Amulet Coin

Pound

Confuse Ray

Role Play

Future Sight

  LICKILICKY – Normal - Female

Bold Nature

Ability: Cloud Nine

Held Item: Binding Band

Lick

Wrap

Power Whip

Giga Impact

  LOPUNNY – Normal - Female

Naive Nature

Ability: Limber

Held Item: Blue Scarf

Baby-Doll Eyes

Bounce

Draining Kiss

Assurance

  Cloyster because we all know what this Pokémon sort of looks like and Julian finds this highly amusing

Grimmsnarl because it’s a ghoulish little goblin, just like Julian

Froslass because Julian 100% would follow a pretty lady into a snowstorm

Hypno because every politician needs a sidekick who can confuse and bamboozle the opposition.

Lickilicky because Julian is a whore

Lopunny for all the reasons that make it the most likely Pokémon for you to run into some unsavoury fanart of

Some closing thoughts:

I like to think that the King’s Rock used here by Robin, Humphrey and Kitty is the same one re-found several times

Let’s not think too hard about how these Pokeon would still be alive so many years after their trainers had died. They’re alive and they can see ghosts! Woohoo!

[bluepenguinstories]

Remoras Full Chapter LXXIV: Baby, It’s Cold Outside

I just realized something: I underestimated my target.

Huh? ‘Target’? What do I mean?

It’s simple, my (personal) mission was to...was to what? What did I expect would happen, and if I expected something to happen, why have I been avoiding making it happen? Could it have been some subconscious guilt?

No. Doubtful.

Any guilt I feel would be conscious. I would know of it.

I already made the mistake of showing up with multiple purposes in mind, each of them clashing with the other. No, I already knew this much:

My purpose was a mistake.

I left those chicks behind. They always seemed to view me as an enemy; every time I went to feed them, they would peck at me, and not at the seeds I tossed down. Why I continued to feed those ungrateful beasts must have had to do with the fact that I too was an ungrateful beast.

I had a great job once, until I decided killing sucked all the life out of me. Most people fall out of love with their jobs at some point, but that doesn’t mean they just quit over it, right? Not to mention it paid well. So what if I didn’t have much freedom to live my life or make friends. When have I ever cared about such things, anyway? The friendliest I used to get was putting the ‘friendly’ in ‘friendly fire.’

No, that’s not even true, as I’ve tried plenty of times to wave to others, only to get dirty looks. Like, so what if I’m cold and you’re not? Does that really give them the right to judge me? Anyone would sour on people if they got nothing but dirty looks all the time, wouldn’t they?

Oh, but then we get to the two most important women in my sordid life: Juniper and Vesuvius. Such strange people, they were, and yet they desired to befriend me. Me, of all people. So what did I do? Kick the bucket like it was a game of football (the American kind or the European kind, it didn’t matter).

Then, I could have continued to have just been Rachel, yet I half-assed that.

I didn’t think hard enough about my new persona. I didn’t put in enough effort to leave that old life behind and allow them to move on.

Guess I should have moved on as well.

If I were to wrap up loose ends, the first thing I had to do was confront my target.

I approached the house, stepping atop the brown grass and the dry soil. Each step made crunching noises, just like my footsteps would have made were I in the snow.

When I entered the house through the creaking door which reminded me of the howling wind during a blizzard and the varnished wood floor which felt like ice skating, I noticed Juniper Bark: target #1. The main target. She sat upon the couch.

“Where’s Ves?” I asked.

When I last left the royal volatile beauty, she was at the dining room table. Now, however, she was nowhere to be seen. Usually, I wouldn’t have cared so much, but this was a delicate matter.

“She’s taking a nap. After you went to feed the chickens, she had a little breakdown,” Juniper explained. Her voice was dull. No cuteness at all, and she sounded rather annoyed that I talked to her at all.

She had her legs folded up on the couch, and her arm between her legs, with a television remote in her hand. My attention turned toward the TV: it was on mute, and the only thing on was crackling static.

The television turned off, which meant either that wasn’t Juniper’s favorite show, or she had already seen that episode too many times.

I slid down and sat to the side of the couch.

“You know who I am, don’t you?” I asked her.

“What do you think?” She asked right back.

Gee. I don’t know. Why do you think I asked you in the first place? Was what I wanted to ask, but god damn it, I had tact.

“How long?” I said instead.

“Since the moment you showed up. No, there was even that suspicion during the phone call.”

There was a sudden draft in the air. You know what that means.

“H-How? I thought I had the perfect disguise. I shaved my head, I changed my name. It’s not even a pun. Do you know how unbearable that part was?”

“Doesn’t matter,” Juniper just shrugged it all off, “your shiver gives you away.”

I shivered again.

“God damn it,” I cursed under my breath. It came out like an icy puff.

“Yeah, I’d say so,” Juniper agreed.

“What about Ves? Why hasn’t she caught on?”

“Oh, I’m sure she has, but she doesn’t want to admit it,” Juniper’s dullness turned to a groan before a heavy sigh, “honestly, it’s exhausting. Both of you.”

OK. That part sounded angry. Was she mad?

“Why doesn’t she want to admit it?” I asked. I could have asked the more obvious question, “why are you mad, though?” But that didn’t seem so productive.

“You really need an explanation?” She sounded even more annoyed than before. Yikes.

“Yes? Why would I ask if I didn’t want an explanation?” I was annoyed right back.

“You’re right. Sorry,” Juniper shook her head. “You’re you. I forgot things like emotions don’t come easy for you.”

“It’s not that I can’t detect emotions,” I corrected her.

“As I’m sure you’ve guessed, Ves doesn’t have any supernatural powers. She managed to get rid of the angel bit inside of her. The side effect being that for a while, it was difficult to get her to feel any sense of joy.”

“Amazing. And just as I said on the phone, it seems like she’s in a better place.”

She nodded, but she didn’t seem very pleased by that remark.

“On top of that difficulty and her tendency to dwell on the negative, she couldn’t shake off the guilt that came with your death. She’d start seeing you in everyone.”

“What, did she see me penetrating them?”

“Not like that!”

“Then like what? No, don’t tell me. Just keep going.”

“She’d compare others to you. When she met Remora, she saw her as a second chance to make things right with you.”

“What was there to make right?”

“You know, she never wanted you to die. She really wished we all could have been friends.”

Juniper lowered her head. I would have done the same, but how was I to get a good look at her if I kept my head down?

“That’s not a burden she should have bore. I told her already, it wasn’t her fault. It was my decision. Isn’t that enough?”

“You don’t see how your actions can affect others?”

I grabbed the hems of my jeans and clenched my fists.

“I was never meant to be known.”

“It’s too late for that,” Juniper waved her hand away. “You already left a strong impression on both of us.”

My ears perked up. If I was a ferret, or an ermine, or even a stoat, I would have rolled around in the snow hearing that.

“I did?”

“Of course. Hard to forget someone who tried to kill you.”

Just like that, the mood dropped like the temperature in a room filled with cool air.

“Can’t we just put the past behind us?” I asked.

“I’d love to, but the past is right beside me.”

“In that case...nice to meet you, my name is Rachel.”

“That’s not going to work this time,” she shook her head. Defeated once again.

“Why not? Why can’t it work? Why can’t I exist beside you guys as someone else?”

“Is that what you want? Then why drop all these hints about who you were, or still are, if you don’t want that part of you to be known?”

“I don’t want to be a ghost, and I don’t want to be forgotten. I had nowhere else to go. My wants may be a contradiction, but both are true at the same time.”

“So you thought this was your solution? You’re going about this the wrong way.”

“What other solution would you have come up with?”

“I don’t know, be honest? Ves and I probably would have understood if you were just upfront, instead of this tiptoeing that you’ve been doing instead. I swear, both of you think you’re doing the right thing for others without ever consulting the people you’re doing these things for. Yet for some reason, you think of yourself as the ‘rational’ one, whatever that even means. If you know communication is important, why don’t you do it?”

“Hey,” I shot back, “I don’t know what you’re scolding me for. You haven’t communicated with your wife about your jealousy. You want me to say what I mean? You should do so as well.”

“You’re right,” Juniper nodded.

What was it with people and not giving the expected reaction? Shouldn’t she have been more defensive?

“That’s why all three of us should discuss this tonight. Get it all out in the open.”

“What?!” I almost got up, I was so shocked.

“Keep your voice down. Our favorite volcano is currently dormant.”

“You could just say she’s asleep, you know.”

“I feel like I could use a nap, myself, and yet I’ve barely been awake today. It’s still morning, for cryin’ out loud.”

“Yeah, well, may as well sleep if you got nothing better to do,” I suggested.

“Nope. You’re not getting out of this one. I definitely have something better to do than rest, and that’s confronting you.”

I gulped.

“You say ‘be honest’ like it’s easy, but look at it from my point of view: if I were to be honest, wouldn’t that have stirred up bad memories? Now do you see why I believed what I was doing was right for the both of you?”

Juniper nodded.

“I understand where you’re coming from, and that’s also what you don’t understand: your presence would have stirred bad memories regardless of who you presented yourself as. You can’t fully hide yourself, and there’s always going to be those little things. It’s going to hurt, and maybe it’s supposed to.”

“Then should I not have come here?”

“That’s not what I’m saying. You, of all people, Ms. Assassin, should know that sometimes pain is necessary. That doesn’t mean we don’t like you or don’t want you here.”

“Okay, first of all,” I stood up and put one finger up, “I am not, nor was I ever, an assassin. My job and the assignments I received often involved killing people, but the correct terminology wouldn’t be ‘assassin.’ The closest thing would be a ‘garbage collector.’ I collected the trash and disposed of it.”

“People are NOT trash,” Juniper looked up and scowled.

“Some are.”

“Human lives have value.”

“Yeah, yeah. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure. I get that.”

“What were Ves and I to you? Trash or treasure?”

“Vesuvius was trash, you were treasure. Until you became spoiled, and then you were trash as well.”

She continued to scowl. I suppose any normal person would have seen that as the point where a falling out were to occur and I was kicked out of the house, left to figure out another place to stay.

I’m sure, in hindsight, as honest and sincere as I thought I was, it only made sense for her to do so.

But for better or worse, Juniper wasn’t like that.

“Then why couldn’t you dispose of us?” She asked instead.

“Because it turns out I was the biggest piece of trash of all.”

“That’s not true, either.”

I stared down at her. Even with that fiery passion which seemed more fitting on Ves, Juniper was as kind as ever.

“I know,” I admitted. “It’s all a figure of speech. An analogy. Dehumanization to make the job more palatable. I understand, at least on some level, that people are more than just targets. Spending time with you two was probably the most dangerous thing I could have done.”

“Why is that?”

“Because...it made it harder to see you two as anything other than...something precious. I mean both statements in the most literal way possible: you two broke me, and I don’t know if I would have allowed myself to be broken by anyone other than you two.”

“You never know. But for what it’s worth, I’m glad we had such an effect on you.”

I nodded.

“It made me wish I could do the impossible: form a connection with someone. I really meant it before when I said it would have been nice if we could be friends.”

“It can still happen.”

“How? Not only are you two different people, but I should have never been in your lives in the first place.”

“Let’s consider that both of those statements are true: does that really prevent us from being close?”

“How should I know? I’ve never been close with anyone, and I wouldn’t have wished to be, were it not for you.”

“Looks like the great and powerful Rhea has a weakness after all.”

For the record, my weakness is cute girls like you.

“Hey! Don’t use that name when a certain someone is around. She could wake up at any minute.”

“You’re going to tell her anyway, aren’t you?”

I groaned.

“I doubt you’ll give me a choice.”

“You have a choice. But you’ll do it because you love us,” Juniper winked.

“Don’t use such frivolous words.”

“Heh,” she snickered, then leaped out of her seat and stood up. “Hey. Let’s go on a drive.”

“What?” Such a statement was made so little sense that it made me wonder if I heard it at all.

“Yeah. We need a few more groceries. Besides, I’m sure Ves could use some alone time, and by the time we get back, we can talk to her.”

I still wasn’t interested in this ‘talk’ that kept getting mentioned. Yes, it was necessary. But without it written out as an assignment in an organized manner, it just didn’t feel tangible.

“Do I have to? If I stay here, I can have some alone time to myself.”

“But if you go, you can have some alone time with me.”

Ugh...talk about a rock and a Juniper place. The age old question: “should I stay or should I go?”

If I stay, I get alone time with me.

If I go, I get alone time with Juniper.

Why must I be cursed with making such decisions?

“All right. If it’s for you,” I concluded after looking around the house.

Besides, if it’s between being alone with (an awake) Juniper and being alone with (a sleeping) Ves, I know which I’d pick.

“Heh. I knew you’d make the right decision!” She grinned.

Ack! She was too bright! Too cheerful!

“It’s only because I’m weak to your charm,” I admitted.

“Hehe,” Juniper was even more elated. The gall.

She slipped off her slippers and slipped on some sneakers. On a rack next to the door were car keys.

“Say, are you a little cold? Would you like to borrow one of Ves’s sweaters? Hers are about your size.”

“A ‘little cold’? Excuse me? I’m a tall cold.”

“Right. Well, it’s up to you. I’m going to be blasting the AC on the way there, as for me, it’s pretty warm outside.”

“Grumble grumble,” I grumbled as I trudged over to the bedroom.

It wasn’t too hard to be quiet in the presence of another, and I was able to slip inside, slip a sweater off of the sweater rack, and slip away.

All that said, for that brief window I was inside, I stole a glance at the bed and Ves, who happened to have her face firmly planted in the cushion of the pillow. Her resting face was, dare I admit, serene. The way the curtains let in just enough light to shine on the side of her cheek and illuminate her shoulder length, golden blonde hair with just a touch of orange streaks.

It was like watching a lemon and a tangerine sumo wrestling.

Yes, I could think of no better analogy.

Juniper had one of those tawdry white pickup trucks. Nothing fancy, and in fact, it looked the opposite of fancy; ready to collapse at any moment. Part of me wondered if Juniper just built it herself from scratch and expected it to run. But she did say she drove into town to the grocery store several times…

We got in.

Her in the driver’s seat, and I in the passenger side.

The car pittered and pattered about. Sputtered as well.

“Is this thing safe to drive?” I turned to her and asked while she was already driving it down the road.

“It might explode, but the more likely thing to happen is just that it breaks down and stops in the middle of the road,” she explained.

“That doesn’t instill any confidence.”

The whole time she drove, her eyes were fixed forward on the road. It just occurred to me that despite all the vegetation on our little crumb of the world, the surrounding area was something more of a desert. I believe I saw a few of those tumbleweeds roll across the barren fields.

Juniper must not have cared. Maybe she’s seen all the highway had to offer.

“This thing’s what they call a gas guzzler, isn’t it?” I commented while staring out the window. We did pass by little tree farms. No other houses, though. The sky was cloudy, but nothing to suggest a chill omen on the way.

“It’s not that bad. Besides, we don’t go far,” Juniper replied, with her usual cheer and smile.

Something told me the fumes coming from the back of this death machine was of no concern to her.

“If it’s not far, why don’t we walk?” I suggested.

“In this heat? No way. Maybe on a cooler day.”

“It’s plenty cold to me,” I shrugged, with my forehead stuck on the glass window. I was sure it would fog up the glass. That was proof enough I was cold, wasn’t it?

“Would it warm you up if you ran?”

“Maybe.”

“So if one day we need to go out for groceries, if you gave me a piggyback ride, you would run to the store?”

“I don’t see why not.”

“How would we carry the groceries?”

“With our hands? What kind of question is that?”

“What if I get thirsty?”

“Bring a water bottle. You’re so worried about the logistics, yet you drive a pickup truck when it’s probably not necessary to do so.”

“It was pretty important when I needed to haul wood and stuff. Who knows when we might be in the mood for building things again?”

“You can’t be serious. Isn’t there plenty at the house as it is?”

“Are you just complaining for the sake of complaining?”

I puffed my cheeks.

“I’m not just complaining. I’m making conversation.”

“All right. I got something I’m curious about.”

“What?”

“Did you fake your death?”

My face clenched. Out of all the things to ask, it had to be…

“Do you think I would go through all that trouble? I wanted to die,” I rasped, just to make the message clear.

Juniper winced and her smile soured, only to bounce right back.

“So what do you think happened?”

“As in?”

“You coming back.”

“I don’t know. There was the coma idea. It’s not like there was no basis for my boxing story. But something tells me it wasn’t just a coma. I was too fresh for it to be that.”

“What do you mean?”

I shook my head. Even thinking of that cold awakening was unbearable.

“The wounds. I was still bleeding out when I woke up. I was told it was a few years later, but if it was a coma, wouldn’t there be some sign that I was being treated for it? No. I woke up in the arctic. Far from where I had intended to die. Worse, such a cold place like that, almost as if I was being mocked by the universe itself.”

“Strange.”

“I’d say it’s easier not to think about it, but I won’t lie, it does bother me.”

“What if...say, you weren’t actually you, but rather someone who looks like you, and with your memories?”

What a rancid suggestion.

“The thought has crossed my mind. I’m not saying it’s impossible; it is. But rather, if I have all the hallmarks of me, right on down to mannerisms, to the point where changing my appearance and my name won’t change who I am, what use is it to consider that I’m anyone else but me?”

“You’re right. Sorry,” she said, and her lips turned all lopsided again.

Please don’t look that way.

“You have every right to ask me such things,” I tried what I thought would ease the mood, “the truth is, that’s still a possibility so long as I don’t know what really happened. That’s always going to linger in the back of my mind until I find the answer. If I can find the answer. But being here with you is all the ease I need.”

That wasn’t the whole truth. No one thing would give me all the ease I needed. Still, that answer should give me a few points in Juniper’s favor which I can hopefully cash in at a later date.

Her lips turned again, this time in the shape of elbow macaroni. It wasn’t the smoothest of smiles, but it was one nonetheless.

“I’m glad. I hope we can all bring each other ease.”

We soon arrived in what looked like...not a town, but more like one of those Wild West towns. You know what I mean? I hope so, because I couldn’t find another way to describe it. I didn’t see any houses for dwelling, just a few wood buildings on one end which housed small shops like ‘wood shop’, ‘candy shop’, ‘electronic repair shop’, ‘horse repair shop’, and ‘thirdhand goods shop.’ I’m guessing with the last one it was like a secondhand goods with one extra hand.

On the right end, the end we were pulling into, there was a large parking lot, then an alleyway, then the turbomarket (like a supermarket but more super, I guess).

The alleyway was just a blue painted wall which divided the parking lot from the supermarket (or turbo, I guess. Really, let’s go back to calling it a grocery store). It had a canopy up top and if I had to bet on what was in that little alley, I’d have said a dumpster and maybe some chairs for the employees to sit down and have a smoke or something. And I bet I’d win that bet, too.

As soon as we got out, a rush of freezing air washed over me and it was almost enough to knock me back.

“Air conditioning too high?” Juniper asked.

“N-No!” I shook my head with vigor, “I think if anything it’s the difference in temperature. I didn’t notice at all in the car, but it’s really chilly out here, isn’t it?”

Juniper extended her arm forward, with her palm spread out.

“Would it help warm you up if we held hands in the store?”

There weren’t many cars around in the parking lot, thank goodness for that, but there could have been eyes anywhere. In the bushes, or staring through the windows.

I looked around, but couldn’t catch the watchful eyes of anyone. Nor anything, for that matter. As far as I could tell, no spy cameras or the like.

“A-Are you sure?” I turned back to Juniper, but couldn’t quite look her in the eye. Not when her hand was so close to mine.

“It will be okay. I’m with you, remember?” Her voice was soothing, but it wasn’t her voice that reassured me, but that soft and radiant smile I was so used to seeing way back in my memories.

My arm shook as I reached out for her hand. At last, I grabbed it with a tight grip so as not to let go.

She swung our hands forward as we walked into the glass doors of the grocery store. Outside were displays of potted plants and other green vegetables.

The whole while we walked, my heart pounded and throbbed and I felt like I was about to break into a sweat and gasp for air. Worse, I started having such obscene thoughts:

I want to lock fingers with hers. I want us to play with each other’s thumbs. This is agony.

Inside was far bleaker, as the walls were some kind of murky blue and the lights above were dim to the point where I had to double check to see if there were any bulbs in there at all.

Between each aisle were baskets full of green things, like meter long zucchini and cucumbers, watermelons, and piles of cabbages.

Worst of all: there were other people. I could spy at least two people at each aisle. Some stood in line at checkout stands. Some worked the cash register at said checkout stands. Why did there have to be so many people? What if some looked at me? What if they tried to talk to me?

Juniper began to walk forward and with her free hand, pulled out some wooden contraption from her pocket which unfolded into a basket. As soon as she jerked us forward, I gasped.

“Aa...ah, right, it’s standard procedure to walk in the grocery store.”

Juniper turned to me and my face began to build up steam.

“Are you okay?” She asked.

“Yes. I know the rules,” I said to reassure both of us.

“What are the rules?” She raised an eyebrow.

“We...uh...buy food here.”

“If it helps, you can close your eyes. Just try not to bump into things.”

I did as I was told. Anything to help Juniper.

It immediately fell apart as soon as I closed my eyes and started having thoughts of several Junipers jumping around on pink clouds.

“Aah! It’s too much!” I gasped and opened my eyes.

“Do you want to go back to the car?”

“No. I just need more time to get acclimated,” I declared. I felt so bold for it, too, even though in reality I must have taken deep breaths between every word.

The rest of the grocery shopping went okay. At one point, I tried closing my eyes again and bumping into someone. I opened them and saw a middle aged lady with brown hair in multiple buns stacked over each other in a purple cardigan sweater.

“Well, aren’t you going to say ‘sorry’ or ‘excuse me’?” She scowled.

I would have done so if she didn’t give such a dirty look. No one was asking her to do that. An accident should be obvious enough.

“You clearly should have known I had my eyes closed,” I informed the lady.

She turned her nose up and walked away.

What is with rude people? Even in such a small area as this, they’re everywhere. Yet I’m somehow seen as the bad guy.

Once that lady was a considerable distance away, Juniper turned to me.

“I know she had an attitude, but you could have still said sorry,” Juniper whispered.

“I was going to until she had an attitude. It’s her fault.”

“If I had to take sides, you know I would take yours, but sometimes we have to pick our battles.”

“What battle? I didn’t even punch her.”

“That’s not what I mean.”

“I could have.”

“Don’t.”

We continued to walk around and I watched Juniper fill her basket. She had all sorts of things, like lentils, pears, and sliced bread. I even asked if we could add popsicles and frozen pizzas and she said yes.

Once we got to the checkout counter, it was fronted by some elderly old man with thinning hair and a nasally voice. He seemed harmless enough, but not above reproach if warranted.

“Good day, Juniper,” the cashier greeted.

“Hey there, Tilty. How goes it?”

“Oh, you know. The dogs help remind me to take my arthritis meds. How about you?”

“Just grocery shopping for the wife.”

“And who is this?”

“This is Rachel,” I heard Juniper introduce and already I felt like a block of ice.

“Well, nice to meet you, Rachel,” Tilty greeted.

“Don’t talk to me,” I replied without even looking his way. “I’m still annoyed with that rude lady from earlier.”

“I see…” His voice trailed off.

“Also don’t refer to me by name until you know me,” I added.

“Oh. I’m sorry.”

“Hey,” Juniper released her hand. “Just because someone was rude to you doesn’t mean you get to be rude to someone else!”

Now Juniper’s mad at me. Even now, things just don’t work well between people and I.

I walked out of the store.

It was clear the whole journey was a mistake to begin with. I was too hasty. I didn’t gather enough information and I paid the price for it.

“Hey! Where are you going?” Juniper called after me. Did it really matter what for?

In the alleyway was where I sat, right next to the dumpster. It stunk, but that was just part of the deal. At least the cold, concrete that I sat on welcomed my bum.

Ever since meeting you two, I lost my edge. Worse, I can’t get it back. Worst still, I have nothing to show for it. Even my rough exterior just comes off as pathetic now.

Across the street from where I sat was a wooden sign with small, black printed text. I couldn’t see what it said, even when I squinted my eyes. But the contents didn’t matter. It was all about the image.

I pantomimed having my rifle in both hands. I knew that was lost forever as well, so a pretend one would have to do.

I squinted my eyes as if I were trying to get a clear view for my target, then…

“There you are!” Juniper’s voice.

I didn’t even hear any footsteps. I was so caught up in the bliss of some faux-glory days that I didn’t even sense any sounds outside of my thoughts.

I looked up. She stood over me, but with the shade of the canopy, she cast little shadow.

“What are you doing?” She asked.

“Daydreaming of a life long gone,” I answered.

“Right. You know, at the store, that clerk meant you no harm or offense. Everyone who shops around here tends to be friendly.”

“Except that one lady,” I pointed out.

“Yes, except her. Except she might have been having a bad day as well. I’m not saying she was, but it’s possible. Either way, you don’t have to be formal, I’m not even asking you to be nice, but can you please try not to be mean?”

“I was just laying out my terms and conditions.”

“Right. And you said how you were still mad with that lady from earlier.”

“Annoyed. And it’s the truth. Was I not supposed to say what I mean?”

“That’s not it. Look, I’m autistic, so sometimes these things are hard --”

I waved my hand away.

“I get it already,” I stopped her. “I know I’m not supposed to be rude to service staff and I even try to be friendly around strangers. I’ve tried saying hello to people only to get called a weirdo, and I’ve tipped people whenever I can, and I still get looked at funny for it. I’ve tried with people, but I don’t get the same treatment back. It only stands to reason that most people would make me uncomfortable.”

“I get there’s a lot of people like that, and may not give you a chance. I’m sure Tilty doesn’t hold a grudge, so you should be fine for a next visit, if you wanted to. But even if you’re nervous, it doesn’t give you the right to be an asshole.”

“No, but knowing how cruel people can be does.”

“No! Hate begets hate!”

“Sure, and love thy enemy is a nice sentiment until said neighbor wants to hang you or put several bullets in you.”

“I love you, though.”

“Stop that!” I leaned back and my face turned pale.

Juniper set down the basket of groceries next to the wall and sat down next to me. I panicked and backed away again.

“What are you doing?!” I demanded.

“I want to see the world the way you see it,” she answered.

“Well, that’s going to be rather hard with you sitting in front of me.”

“Remember way back when you said my kindness was a weakness?” She asked.

She wasn’t totally blocking the view. After all, she was shorter than me, so as long as I sat up, I could still see things just fine.

“Yeah,” I answered, “and I don’t think that’s true.”

“I think you had a point. I think you said that because of how people could end up taking advantage of me. I also know how cruel and cold the world can be, just as I knew then. But I still helped people then, and I know I’ve been taken advantage of before, too. I guess I’ve just been lucky that it’s always ended up resolving itself and turning out for the better. But I know not everyone’s so lucky.”

“I like your kindness, though.”

“Thanks. I also get that you’re more guarded and can be more cautious and even at times aggressive. The life you led couldn’t have helped, either. Not to mention, few people understand your condition or even wish to understand and just judge you for what they see. There’s probably a lot more than that, but I get where your worldview comes from. I don’t think it’s bad to be guarded, either, especially because sometimes caution is needed. It’s just important to know that while it may be hard to see it sometimes, there are kind people, too, and sometimes you need to be kind while also being cautious.”

“Can you show me an example?”

“Later.”

“Can I at least hug you?”

“Not unless you want the popsicles to melt. Come on, let’s head back home.”

“Ugh…”

Back home, I ran in and tossed the box of popsicle sticks into the freezer.

When I ran back out of the kitchen, Juniper stood next to the dining room table with the basket of groceries.

“Hey, you two, where have you been?” Ves asked, emerging from her room.

“We went to the grocery store,” Juniper replied, and pulled out a couple of pears.

“Yay! Pears!” Ves ran over to the pears and took one, then before taking a bite, gave Juniper several kisses across the face.

It was painful to bear witness. Was it because I wanted to be the one to kiss Juniper all over? Or...

Do I want to be the one being kissed all over by Ves?

I cringed at such a thought.

She wouldn’t even have to lean over that much like she does with Juniper. With Juniper it’s like she’s a hen and pecking at bird seeds on the floor.

“Are you okay, Rachel?” Ves asked, tilting her head as she did so.

“Yeah,” I said, while looking away.

It wasn’t that I was jealous, right? Maybe I was disgusted. After all, the very act of seeing people kiss was a fairly normal thing to be disgusted by.

Or maybe it’s just disgusting that it’s not happening to me.

“We ran into a rude lady at the grocery store,” Juniper explained.

“Oh no, is that so?” Ves asked.

“Yeah. But I didn’t punch her. So it’s okay.”

Juniper turned and fixed her gaze upon me. It was either a glare, or a reminder.

Oh, right. The talk.

“You might want to hurry up and eat the pear. You probably won’t have an appetite soon,” I suggested.

“Uh. What?” Ves gave a nervous chuckle.

“Yeah. Finish the pear. Then you should probably have a seat at the couch.”

Juniper then titled her head as well. Both of their eyes were upon me.

“Yeah. You might wanna eat a pear or something, too, Juniper.”

Knowing my recent string of luck, this will probably result in failure.

They both sliced through those pears with their front teeth, like a woodchuck with wood. After tossing them out back where the compost pile was, they went over to the kitchen. Both of them sat on the couch, toward the right end. Juniper sat in front of Ves. Which would have made Juniper closer to me. Any other time, I would have found that a treasure, but it was really the princess I wished to break.

I continued to stand. It felt better that way.

“So what is this about?” Ves asked.

“You know this kinship we’ve been feeling? It’s no coincidence,” I began.

“It’s not?”

I shook my head.

“You see, while I said earlier that my ‘death’ wasn’t your fault, and I didn’t mean to make you cry, it is true that you inspired it. You see, three years ago, I was in the area when you were still a therapist and hearing about you made me want to quit…”

I stopped after seeing Juniper’s jaw hang low.

I sighed. That wasn’t right.

“Fuck it,” I shook my head, “there never was any boxing.”

“There wasn’t? But okay, were you in the area? And how did you know I was a therapist? Also, sorry if you saw me around that time, I was going through a lot.”

“I know you were. And you’re damn right I was in the area. You were such a shitty therapist, and you know why? Because you were a fake. You were never supposed to be one in the first place. Somehow you thought such a job, which you yourself weren’t qualified for and had no idea what to say to others, would bring you happiness.”

“Now hold on a second. Where do you get off?” Vesuvius scowled.

It seems I struck a nerve. That wasn’t important. If anything, it was all a part of the procedure.

“I have every right to get off on you! You caused so much trouble at that time, not just for me, but for others around you. And sure, they may have forgiven you, and I get it was largely not your fault, but seriously? You can’t blame one of those celestials for every action you took. Some of that was on you.”

“Celestials? What? And what do you mean trouble for you? I don’t recall ever seeing you as a therapist.”

“Oh, but you did. Just under a different name, with a different set of hair. Does Clara Waters ring a bell? If not, that’s fine, it’s not one of my favorites. It was a fake name, just like you were a fake therapist. There was also Clair Skye. Do you see what I’m getting at here?”

“What? What are those names?”

“And you wanna say you’re in a better place, and that you moved on, but I heard about what went down between you and Remora. You were waiting for an excuse for your grief to be over that you tried to project onto someone else. Now, I know you’ve moved past that as well, but here you are: saying you’ve moved on still, yet willing to deny what’s right in front of you for the illusion of wellness. So now it falls on me, the ghost of Christmas past, to tell you, Mr. Scrooge…”

“Stop messing around, Rhea!” Juniper scolded.

“Right. I was so caught up in my rant I forgot what I actually wanted to say.”

Tears began streaming down Ves’s cheeks.

“What kind of sick joke is this?” She asked, at first soft, but then she continued, louder, “where did you hear all these things? More importantly, why are you saying such things?”

There was no need for me to plea for understanding or give such a pitiful pursed lip. If my stare wasn’t enough, I didn’t know what was.

“I know I don’t look like a zombie, but I figured the scar would be a dead giveaway. Considering it was a parting gift.”

“Enough!” She shouted and sobbed into her hands.

I stared for a few seconds, but couldn’t think of anything else to reach her with. The truth really wasn’t worth the damage.

“I’ll find somewhere else to go. Thank you for these past few days. Both of you,” I bowed, then walked out of the house.

Not even a few steps outside, and the clouds turned black as it started to rain. First a drizzle, then a downpour.

I continued walking in spite of how soaked I was. My destination was the highway. Where to? Wherever I could dry off.

As I neared the highway, I began to think of that reaction more.

It’s like what I was trying to avoid came true. What was it worth telling her anything? We could have stayed...what? I couldn’t have stayed Rachel. Not like I could ever keep the same name for very long.

Twice in the same day, I made that woman cry.

I made a scene at the grocery store and made Juniper mad.

All I’ve been doing was making life worse for the both of them. What delusions did I have? Some kind of silly fling? In this lifetime? No, not even in the next.

I’m pretty sure I began to cry as well. It could just be my eyes were strained from the rain getting in my eyes, but the drops, which I was sure fell from either my cheeks or my nose, tasted salty. Almost warm, or a little sweet.

This confused sense of warmth was the best I could ask for.

I shivered again. Was it just me or was the rain getting more intense?

Behind, I heard splashing and clicking sounds as if someone was running over. I turned back, and there Juniper was, running toward me.

She was just a few steps toward me when she tripped against some wet soil and almost fell. I caught her hand just in time and held her up.

“Thank you,” she huffed.

“What are you doing out here?” I asked.

“You need to get back inside!”

I looked back toward the road. I wasn’t far. It wasn’t like I was forced to go in.

“I really can’t stay,” I concluded.

“Rhea, it’s cold outside!”

“Yes, and it will be cold inside, as well.”

“You’ll catch a cold.”

“I’m already cold.”

She grabbed my hand tighter and tried to pull me toward her.

“Come on!”

“No. I don’t have a place here.”

“And I’m saying you do!”

“But what about Ves?”

“She’s still on the couch! She wants you back in!”

“What if she’s not?”

“You’re right. She might be in the bedroom getting blankets.”

“Then why would you lie?”

“I’m not! You’ll see!”

“Make sense!”

She stood up on her tiptoes and reached her hand up to my cheek, wiping away some of the rain (and possibly tears).

“Sorry. I’m not one of those ‘kissing in the rain’ types. Besides, I don’t think we’re done talking in there.”

“What will Murphy’s Law charge us with this time?”

“Would you rather speculate or find out?”

I guess I would rather find out, as I ended up following her back in.

Inside, the lights were warm with candlelight on the tables. On the couch was no Ves, however.

“I thought you said she’d be on the couch.”

“Look! Blankets!” Juniper pointed to a spot on the couch where a blanket was laid down and several other blankets hung off the neck of the couch.

I shook all the rain off of me, just like a dog would, then raced toward the couch.

Once I wrapped myself in all the blankets, I shivered about. So business as usual.

Ves emerged from the kitchen with a mug in her hands.

“Would you like some hot chocolate?” She asked. I noticed her eyes were red and puffy.

“Hot. Cold. Doesn’t matter.”

“Okay. Do you like chocolate?”

I glared at her. She glared right back at me. I wondered if my eyes were red as well.

“Yes,” I said at last.

She brought forth the mug and set it down at the coffee table not far from the couch.

She sat down across from me, back at the right end where she was before. She had her legs curled up.

“Sorry about my outburst. I didn’t mean for you to walk out,” she said.

“You’re forgiven.”

“Am I?”

I glared at her, then started to cough.

“What is with you and forgiveness? As if that’s the real issue here?”

“Well, what about you and all that rant about how I caused all these problems and I’m not actually all mentally well?”

“It’s all true.”

“As brutal as ever, I see,” she scowled.

“And you’re still stubborn as all hell.”

“You’re one to talk. We could have worked together on a solution, you know.”

“Same goes to you. I offered multiple times.”

“Yeah, but don’t you see those were bad solutions and wouldn’t have worked anyway?”

“As if you had any better ideas.”

She chuckled.

“It really is you, isn’t it?”

“Yeah, princess. It’s me.”

“How?”

“I don’t know how.”

She reached out and placed her palm on my cheek. It may have been warm. Hot, even. I was just too cold to tell.

“Part of me must have suspected. I felt a closeness with you in such a short amount of time, yet I just didn’t want to believe the possibility that you were actually familiar. I still love Juniper, and I think I have feelings for you as well.”

“Ah.”

“Ah? That’s your reply?”

“Um. Congratulations?”

“I have something to say, too!” Juniper hopped over and tracked mud all over the floor. She crouched down at the edge of the couch and peered up. “I love Ves, and I love Rachel...er, Rhea, as well!”

“Should I start my own cooking show?”

Juniper nudged me.

“Well, the truth is, I’ve had a crush on Juniper,” I admitted.

“That was obvious from the start,” Ves replied.

“No it wasn’t. Don’t just decide something’s obvious when it isn’t.”

“Can I lay beside you?” Juniper asked.

“Is there room on the couch?”

“You can squeeze in if you put one leg over Rhea’s,” Ves suggested.

Juniper crawled up next to me on the left side of the couch and laid to the side, facing right, with her right leg over me. Ves ended up doing the same, only from the left end. They wrapped their arms around my chest, as well, and rested their heads on each shoulder.

“Truth is, I also feel a closeness with Ves. So maybe the reason didn’t start the same as the reason with Juniper, but in the end, I think my feelings for both of you ended up at the same place.”

The room was silent for a while until Ves started rubbing her hand against my chest.

“What are you doing?” I asked.

“You just feel so real,” she answered.

“That’s because I am.”

“Are you sure this isn’t a dream?”

“It’s not one of mine.”

“Not mine, either. I’m too aware for it to be.”

“Not mine!” Juniper grinned. I reached up and ruffled her hair.

“Then if it’s none of ours, whoever’s dream it is doesn’t matter. We’re real to each other,” I concluded.

They didn’t say anything to that, but that they rested soon afterward seemed to indicate it was a satisfactory answer.

[destructive-critic1sm]

My parents cried on my thirteenth birthday. On my thirteenth birthday, when sparks started flying from my fingertips and fire began burning in my eyes. My parents cried on my thirteenth birthday, the day my wavy hair lost its brown for gold and red. 

The gift of fire is a dangerous one. Users are nearly unbeatable in battle, and the king says that’s all we’re good for, but there is a cost. It burns you out. Your soul is consumed by the fire within you, so no pyromancer has lived past twenty-six. No one except me. 

I’d kept my hair long, even though most of us cut it short. They don’t want a reminder of how little time is left, but I liked the soft brush of it against my skin, so I grew it out, letting the sparks in it flicker and frizz. It was my first clue that something was different. I had started out with hair the cool reddish-orange of a dying ember. People have seen it before, and it always means a sooner Fade. The older pyros always started out with white and blue-purple hair- their fire was hotter so there was more time to burn. I’m thirty now, and my hair has brightened, my roots are purple and white. I just keep getting brighter. Hotter.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t the only one to notice. I was nineteen when the whispers started like little hissing embers in the undergrowth. I was twenty-two when the wildfire exploded. My parents cried on my thirteenth birthday because they thought I would die. I cried on my twenty-second birthday because I was the reason they were killed. 

They were looking for me, accusing me of spying and unspeakable magic. It was suspicious that I had never fought for the kingdom. The Aquamancers in their shimmering dresses, the Earthmovers in their armor of stone; what must have been a full battalion surrounded my parents’ house and razed it.

I wasn’t home. I was at the bedside of a seventeen-year-old girl with ash-dust hair, holding her hand as her fire died out. Pyros are seen only for our explosions and blazes, power that is the reason this soldier’s life is short. We are known for our cruel firepower, but all she needed was a little warmth. I sat with her fingers laced in mine and thought of the timid blanket of flames that warm cookies in the oven, of the beauty of a family hearth, and the soft comfort of a favorite candle. I inhaled, felt something in my soul flicker, and wrapped her in soft embers and comfortable flames. She gave a soft sigh, and with a smile, Faded. 

A lock of my hair gently brightened. I’ve never wanted war or violence, the things this cruel kingdom cannot be without, and I rarely use my powers for an inferno or firestorm. This kingdom doesn’t realize that there is power in friendship, there is power in solace, and there is power in easing pain, even if that’s all you can do. This is all I can do, and it used to be enough.

Now I’m thirty, and I sit on trial for stealing others’ flame. How else can I still be alive? They hurl accusations like icicles because they do not understand anything but force. I must be draining others to fulfill myself because that’s all this kingdom knows. They accuse me of selfishness because I have never joined the kingdom’s militia- nearly everyone does, and it’s simply a thinly veiled method of paring down the most dangerous. It is the duty of every citizen, they say, to fight for the king and blaze out on the battlefield. They can’t comprehend a Pyro ignoring the “Wars” and they know only of violence to achieve their ends. They don’t care that they’re burning their soldiers up from the inside. 

I sit in my chains of ice in the Court and close my eyes.

Something in my soul twitches, and the ice around my kingdom’s heart, the blinding ice in their eyes, begins slowly to melt.

(As always, destructive criticism is welcome)

Pyromancy is ridiculously dangerous. Most pyromancers die before they turn 20 and 25 is considered ancient by their standards. You have reached 30 and show no signs of slowing down.

[honeybeefae]

OKAY THAT LAST ERIS REQUEST AB AN ARGUMENT WHERE READER GETS HURT AND HE MAKES IT UP TO HER W SMUTT… PLZ THAT SOUNDS AMAZING!!!!

It only took me a month, anon, but I have written it! Enjoy!

Sticks and Stones (Eris Vanserra x Reader)

ANON: Can you please write Eris and reader one-shot where maybe they get into an argument and he said something rude to her and she is hurt and eris later realizes and apologizes and then smut with like praise kink and a bit rough.. basically hot makeup sex? Pretty please thank you.

Summary// It was well-known that Autumn Court males were hot-headed. They had fire in their veins and if you ever angered one of them, they were quick to strike where it hurt. Eris was no different, though he preferred words over physical altercations, shattering his enemy’s ego without a second thought. It always amused you…until you found yourself on the receiving end after a tense argument.

WARNINGS: 18 +, SMUT, arguing, eris is a dick but we all know it, makeup sex, praise kink, overstimulation, bondage (slight), spitting

Taglist: @crazysocklovingfangirl , @azriels-mate123 , @momlo , @highladyvanserra (if you would like to be added to my taglist, just message me or comment! :))

It had been a long, long day. Eris was still playing both sides between his father and the Night Court, sneaking around to do the damage control Beron clearly had no care in doing. You were trying to help him in anyways that you could but you didn’t hold near as much influence as the heir to the Autumn throne. 

The best you could do was simple spy work or search through the vast libraries of the Night Court to try and find a solution to the problem at hand. It was something but there were times, like today, where you wish you could be of more use. 

As you sat by the window of your small house, the last light of day peeking through the trees and illuminating the book in your lap, you heard the doorknob turn. You sat up straighter just as Eris walked through the door, his long red hair disheveled as if he had his hands in it all day.

“Eris, I wasn’t expecting you. Do you want me to put some tea on?” You asked while placing the book beside you. He grunted as he slumped into his favorite chair, his hands holding his head.

“Of course you weren’t, I wasn’t supposed to be back until three days' time.” He snapped while rubbing his temples. “Briallyn captured two dozen of my soldiers. MY soldiers. All of them taken hostage by that wicked witch.”

Your eyebrows raised in shock, mouth dropping open. “But, how? What happened? How can we get them back?” 

He snapped his head up to look at you with a cruel glint in his eyes, fingers now gripping the edges of the chair. “If I knew how, Y/N, do you think I would be sitting here listening to your ridiculous questions?” 

His words were full of venom and made you visibly flinch back. You knew how stressed he was with everything going on but you never would expect him to lash out at you like this, especially when all you were trying to do was help him.

You frowned and crossed your arms, matching his stare with one of your own. “I’m trying to help you, Eris.” The tone of your voice had turned to ice. “I’ve been neglecting my duties to try and support you through this so think twice before biting the hand that feeds you.”

Eris let out a harsh laugh as he stood up and over you. Heat was coming off of him in waves and you couldn’t stop the small step back that you took, your knees hitting the back of the couch. Any semblance of the man you loved was gone, replaced by the mask he showed to everyone else, the mask you fought so hard to tear off. 

Two tendrils of fire wrapped around your wrists while another twisted around your throat, tightening with each second. He was holding back but barely, his amber eyes wild as he bent down so that you were eye to eye.

“I suppose you think you’re the hand that feeds me? Hm?” He taunted. “You were nothing before me, pet. A lesser fae slaving away until I found you. The Cauldron may have fated us as mates but don’t forget who gave you everything you see before you.”

The restraints started to burn into your skin and you whimpered, tears springing to your eyes as Eris continued on as if he couldn’t hear you.

“You owe everything to me and I…I owe you nothing. I have been doing everything in my power to prevent another war. I have more enemies around me than you or that bastard Rhysand could ever fathom and yet you sit here and lecture me about your sacrifices?” His chest was rising and falling in quick bursts while the heat became unbearable on your skin. 

Using all of your strength, and magic, you broke free from him and shoved him back. He fell back into the chair from the unexpected force, blinking rapidly as if he was just coming back to reality. You didn’t stay to watch him realize what he had done however, tears flowing down your cheeks as you ran to your room and locked the door. 

You knew if he wanted to get in he could but you hoped he would stay far, far away. Eris, your mate, the one you were destined for, had just burnt you in a fit of rage over…what? He had attacked you for asking a simple question and when you matched his energy he had turned into the monster he wanted everyone to believe he was.

It felt like your heart was breaking into pieces as you crawled under your covers and wept, the marks on your wrists and neck already fading away. The burn was still there though…as were his words.

He had broken you down to the core, speaking of every insecurity he knew of in hopes of striking something. Eris saw you as nothing, nothing but a lesser fae who didn’t deserve anything, and it hurt. 

How could he ever say something like this to you? How could he claim to love you if that was what he truly thought?

The thoughts were swirling around your mind like demons, making sure you knew no peace as the minutes ticked into hours. It was quiet everywhere except for your head. You sobbed into your pillow as you covered your ears, trying to force out Eris’s words that kept repeating over and over.

It was so bad that you hadn’t even heard your door open nor felt the bed dip. You almost jumped out of your skin when a large hand stroked down your back. The touch was familiar, soothing, but the person behind it was one who made you shove it away. 

“Don’t do that,” Eris whispered, his own voice hoarse. “Please, Y/N.”

“Get out.” You replied while hugging the pillow into your chest. He watched you like someone would watch a wounded animal, cautious yet sorrowful. 

He didn’t listen, of course, instead choosing to put his hands up to show he meant no harm. Eris’s eyes were full of remorse and though you didn’t know how much time had passed, you could see how red his eyes were. 

As if he had been crying.

“I need to apologize to you. Please. What I said, what I did-” He began but you cut off him swiftly, angrily. 

“You hurt me, Eris. You burned my wrists, my neck, my soul. You picked me apart as if I was your enemy…as if you hated me.” You had thought you had cried all of your tears but were proven wrong as one started to trail down your cheek, catching the light of the lamps. “I have never felt as low as I do now.”

Eris swallowed thickly and ran a hand through his hair, his eyes falling to your wrists to see if the marks were still there. The guilt was eating him alive, of knowing he had hurt you in such a way. It made him feel…like his father.

“I have no excuse for what I said or did to you. I took my frustration out on you when you did not deserve it, any of it. The words I said…I did not mean them at all.” You gave him a deadpanned stare and he was quick to explain, almost fumbling over his words. “You are not nothing, Y/N. I was so angry over what happened with Briallyn and my father that I wanted someone to feel how I was feeling, wanted someone to also be in pain because that seems to be all I have ever known…until I met you.”

He licked his lips before slowly scooting closer to you, letting your knees touch. “You are everything to me. I owe you my entire being. You broke down all of my walls and made me realize I did not have to be the monster I think I am.” 

Another glance down at your wrists and neck made him hang his head in shame.

“The monster I seem to always come back to.”

You were quiet as you took in his apology. He seemed to pour his heart out to you, something that was quite rare, but was it enough to look past what he had done? 

“I love you, Y/N,” Eris confessed, the words hanging in the air. “I am truly, truly sorry for hurting you, my mate. I’m no better than my father.”

If there was one thing Eris loathed more than anything it was Beron. You could see it in the way he looked and spoke of him. His father was an egotistical, sadistic asshole who cared for no one but himself. He would actively encourage his kids to kill each other and treated his entire court as if they were dirt beneath his shining boots. 

And you knew that every time your mate looked in the mirror he saw him in himself, cruelly smirking because he knows that the stain of him is in Eris’s blood. 

You reached out and grasped his hand into yours while running a finger over his knuckles. He watched you with furrowed brows, mouth tight. 

“Despite everything Eris, you are not your father.” You said softly, eyes glued to his long fingers that were now tightening around your hand. “What you did was wrong and it hurt me but the fact that you came here to apologize is proof enough that you are ten times the man your father is.”

He cupped your chin and tilted it up until you were staring up at him, searching your eyes for any deception or judgment. After a few moments, he seemed satisfied and gave you a rare smile, one that made your stomach swarm with warm tingles. 

“Will you ever forgive your stupid, brutish mate?” Eris asked, his smile growing when you let out a small laugh. 

“I think my stupid, brutish mate might need to do a little bit more to earn it.” You teased as you scooted closer to him. “Any ideas?”

Eris’s smile turned into a smirk before he pulled you into his lap, chest against chest as he stared at you with a new fire in his eyes. A fire that you knew meant great things for you. “I think I have a few.”

You rose up slightly and kissed him, melting at the taste and smell of him. He immediately followed your lead, swiping his tongue against your bottom lip until you opened for him. One of his hands palmed your ass while the other gripped the back of your head to tilt you to the side so he could go deeper.

A small moan escaped from you at the unexpected pressure and angle which had him grinning from ear to ear. He loved pulling noises out of you. His tongue danced with your own before he pulled back slightly, biting down on your lower lip on the way back.

“Ah!” You hissed at the pain though it quickly faded. He watched you with hooded lids and without warning, tossed you backward until you hit the pillows. 

“Is that it?” You taunted with a raise of your eyebrow, pushing yourself up onto your elbows. Eris slowly shook his head as he crawled on top of you, his white shirt hanging loosely from his body to give you a peek down his chest. 

This time you were quick to swallow back the noise you desperately wanted to make.

“Oh, princess, I haven’t even begun.” He purred into your ear before biting down on it gently. “I’m going to enjoy every piece of your delicious body until you drown in me.”

A shiver went down your entire body at his words, your eyelashes fluttering as you laid back down on the pillows. He started to pepper kisses across your face and neck, sucking softly over your rapid pulse. You could feel your sex start to slicken with heat at his actions and it was already starting to make you impatient.

Eris knew this. He knew every part of your mind and body, what made you tick, and just how much of a brat you could become if you didn’t get your way quick enough. Usually, he would punish your impatience however tonight was all about forgiveness so he would give you what you wanted…within reason.

You took in a shallow breath when he started to undo the ties of your dress underneath your breasts. His fingers were slow and steady although his eyes told you a different story. Once he had them undone he started to tug on the sleeves until the fabric began to give under him.

After a few seconds of shimmying around to help him, he had the dress thrown haphazardly behind him. The chill of the house had your nipples hardening which had his immediate attention. 

“I cannot get enough of these…” Eris groaned as he bent down to kiss each breast. “I dream of them, the mere thought of you like this could make me burst in my leathers.”

He glanced up at you one last time before taking your left nipple into his mouth and sucking while rolling your right one between his fingers. You cried out and arched your back, closing your eyes as the first waves of pleasure started to creep down your belly. 

It was hard to remember what you were even made about with his talented tongue lavishing your breasts. Your hands were gripping the pillows beside you as he switched sides, moaning around your tits. 

“Eris…” You whimpered when he bit down on the hard pebble. “P-please!”

While you enjoyed the attention you really wanted it between your thighs. He gave your breast one more harsh suck before raising up to seize your lips once more. The kiss was much more intense than the first one, making your head dizzy with lust as he claimed you with every suck and swipe of his tongue.

After he pulled away, Eris could see the dazed look in your eyes that made his heart thump wildly in his chest. He cupped your cheek in his large hand and whispered against your lips. “You are so beautiful, Y/N. The Mother herself couldn’t outshine you.”

The praise made you flush pink which he immediately took note of. “Do you like it when I speak to you like this, pet?” 

You looked away in embarrassment but he was swift to turn you back to him. “Look at me.” He ordered. “Do you like it when I speak to you like this?”

A few tense moments ticked by before you nodded. Eris smirked and kissed you once more before trailing them down your neck and chest. You knew where he was going and you couldn’t control the rise of your hips to try and get him to go faster.

He clicked his tongue in playful disapproval at your actions while giving a small pinch to your hip. “Do not rush me, princess. I want to enjoy the taste of this lovely skin of yours.” 

And with a wink he continued his slow journey down your body, licking and biting every inch of skin he could while enjoying the way you squirmed under him. You could feel the anticipation rise in your stomach when he finally settled himself between your legs. 

It was a sight you would not soon forget, the heir of the Autumn Court growling at the smell of your excitement with a bruising grip on your thighs. You knew you were soaked to the bone and when Eris bent down and forcefully spread you open so he could see for himself, you almost lost it.

“Have I ever told you how much I love this pretty pussy, pet?” He hummed as he trailed a finger up and down your cunt, collecting the wetness while avoiding the two areas you were screaming at him to touch. “Look at how wet you are for me.”

You panted heavily as you rose up halfway to watch him, begging him to stop teasing you. “Eris, please!” You whined, biting down on your lower lip. “Do something, anything.”

Eris watched you for a moment longer before he smiled. “As you wish.”

A long, hot tongue licked a long stripe from your hole to your clit, circling around the bud before he started to flick it back and forth in quick strikes that had your toes curling and head falling back in ecstasy.

“OH, fuck!” You cried out as he went at a relentless pace. He continued to pay extra attention to your clit as two of his fingers started to shallowly thrust in and out of your dripping hole. The sounds that started to fill the room would put a brothel to shame and the two of you were loving every second of it.

“Mmm.” He moaned into your sex as your taste exploded into his mouth. “That’s it, princess, let me hear those desperate cries.”

You could feel your thighs shaking from the overwhelming sensation Eris was giving to you. He had already had you wound up from playing with your breasts so you knew it wouldn’t be long until you came on his tongue. He knew it too, which is why he started to thrust deeper into you.

“I can feel you fluttering around my fingers, Y/N. Are you getting close?” He asked as he curled them into your spot, watching your eyes roll back into your head. “Are you going to be a good girl and cum on my tongue? Hm?”

Without warning he started to suck your clit into his mouth, humming so that you could feel it in your core. The sensations started to become too much and you began to raise your hips up to meet the push of his fingers and tongue. You didn’t have the heart to feel ashamed as your moans and cries grew louder as the feeling in your gut grew and grew.

Eris maintained his pace and within a few seconds, you were clenching around his hand and soaking his face, yelling his name as you rode his face and fingers to prolong your orgasm as long as possible.

“That’s it, pet, that’s it. Look at you…so perfect for me.” He praised while pulling back to rest on his knees. Those long fingers were still inside of you, moving slowly as he watched you melt into the bed in postorgasmic bliss. 

Your entire body felt like jello as you came back down. The sheets beneath you were soaked with your juices and you could feel it sliding down your ass. When you got enough strength to open your eyes you were met with warm, amber eyes. 

“Open.” He cooed, watching as you immediately obeyed him. Eris stuck those two fingers into your waiting mouth and growled when you started to suck the wetness off of them. “If you keep doing that I might just ruin my pants.”

It hadn’t even occurred to you that he was still dressed and when you did realize you sat up to rectify the situation. He was quick to catch your wrists before you could begin undoing his shirt. 

“Let me.” You begged, gazing up at him through your lashes in hopes of convincing him. Eris knew your tricks and rolled his eyes before nodding, letting you push him back so you could start undressing him. 

“Tonight was supposed to be about you.” He said as you finally got rid of his shirt. You smiled and shrugged, looking down at the very large bulge that was straining the top of his pants. 

“I can’t think of a better way to apologize than using this,” You grinned as you squeezed his cock through his leathers. “To make amends.”

He growled and pulled you up onto his lap, ignoring your protests as he thrust his still-clothed dick against your wet folds. The feeling made you gasp and grip onto his arms for dear life, your head falling into the crook of his neck as he did it again. 

“Oh trust me, pet, I do plan on using it,” Eris whispered into your ear, licking the shell of it as you shuddered. “But I know the second I get inside your hot, tight cunt, I won’t last long so I want to enjoy this.”

The confession made you moan into his neck as you started to grind onto his lap, the fabric rubbing deliciously against your pussy. You could feel cock throbbing with each move of his hips and it was making you delirious that you didn’t have it inside of you.

You reached down to try and pull his pants down again but Eris gripped your hands harshly, shaking his head in disappointment. “If you can’t play nice I’m going to have to take drastic measures…”

It took you a moment but you realized he was talking about binding your wrists. Normally he wouldn’t ask permission, knowing your boundaries and safe words, but after what happened tonight he was asking you permission. 

And that meant the world to you.

So with a tender smile, you pulled back to look at him and nodded, watching his eyes grow soft. It was unspoken but you knew this eased his worry you didn’t trust him or were scared of him. 

Eris gave you a gentle kiss on the lips before you felt the familiar warmth of his magic circle your wrists. You bit the inside of your cheek as you sped up your hips to match his thrusts, the heat of his cock and magic making you feel faint with lust.

“I’m close, fuck, I’m close.” You murmured into his shoulder as he grunted above you. Despite having just cum ten minutes ago you were ready to go again, pussy clenching around nothing as Eris ground into you. His nose brushed against your head as you felt his entire body shake, holding back his own orgasm while you desperately chased yours.

He grabbed your bound hands and placed them over his neck so that he could grip onto your hips, setting a bruising pace as he watched you cum again. Eris could feel it seep through his pants and onto his cock, the sensation driving him mad. 

“Such a dirty, greedy girl.” He snarled into your ear as you started to slow down your hips, shivering in his arms. “You’ve made such a mess.”

The fire around your wrists disappeared and you let your arms fall to your sides, trying to remember to breathe as your bare body rested against his. After regaining control of your air you pulled back to look at him, face pink and blotchy. 

You gingerly pushed yourself off of him and sank down to your knees on the side of the bed, ignoring his protest as you undid the ties around his waist so you could free his cock. 

It was harder than you had ever seen it before, the tip red and leaking so much precum that you thought he had cum for a second. Eris watched you carefully as you licked your lips, fingers itching to stroke it. “May I?” You asked innocently.

Eris gritted his teeth and refused to answer, stomach caving in with a harsh breath as you gripped the base of him. His dick wasn’t as thick as others you had but it was long, long enough to bruise your insides if he fucked you hard enough.

The thought made you clench.

Your hand brought the tip to your mouth and you greedily took as much as you could, moaning as the salty musk of his cum hit your tongue. His hands immediately went to your head but you ignored them, setting a fast pace to try and get him to cum inside your mouth.

“Naughty, ugh, girl.” Eris groaned as one of your hands came up to play with his balls. “I know what you’re trying to do.”

You gave him an innocent look as you continued to suck his cock. Your tongue went up and down the sides before rolling around the tip, feeling it hit the back of your throat. It was almost impossible to take him completely in but you were determined.

Without warning, you pulled back, took a breath, and braced your hands on his muscular thighs before taking him down, down, down until you couldn’t breathe anymore. Your throat was protesting and you could barely hear Eris cry out in surprise and pleasure.

He roughly grabbed your hair and pulled you off completely, chest heaving as he reigns back in his control before he finished in your mouth. Drool was coating your chin and lips but the smug satisfaction that was there was what marked your grave. 

“I don’t want to punish you, Y/N, but you have tried my patience.” He seethed while hoisting you back up on the bed, smacking your ass in the process. “Or perhaps that’s what you want?”

Two hands made you roll onto your stomach and lift your ass in the air, spreading you open for your mate. Eris shuffled behind you before you yelped as another smack landed on your right cheek. It was hard enough you knew there had to be a handprint but you didn’t care, the pain making your juices flow even harder.

“Princess, are you enjoying this?” He taunted as he gave you another spank, watching your ass jiggle from the force. “You really are a whore, aren’t you?”

You smirked before looking behind you, holding eye contact as you sent him a flirty wink. “For you? Anything.”

Eris stared at you for a minute before he shook his head in disbelief, grasping his cock and slapping it against your pussy. “Then take it.” He growled before shoving his entire length inside of you, enjoying the way your head fell as he set a brutal pace.

With no time to adjust you were gripping onto whatever you could for dear life as he fucked you like a whore. It was everything you had wanted since the start, the sound of skin slapping like music to your ears. 

One of his hands gripped your hair and pulled, forcing your neck back so that you were looking up at the ceiling as his hips bruised your ass. You cried out in euphoria as his balls hit your clit, the small stimulation adding to the growing fire in your stomach.

“Look at you.” He grunted as you watched his face appear above you. “You are taking my cock so well, pet. So. Fucking. Well.” The last three words he thrust harshly into you, bumping your cervix. 

All you could do was succumb to him, to the feeling of being completely and utterly full of your mate. It was the most addicting thing you had ever experienced. Eris felt the exact same, his balls already tightening with the need to fill you until you were leaking cum for a week.

“Open your mouth, Y/N,” Eris ordered. You quickly obeyed and almost came on his cock when he spat in your mouth, the sheer degrading aspect making your entire body shudder. “Good girl.”

You started to clench around his length and he let go of your hair to grab your neck, pulling you into his chest so that he could reach a new angle. His dick started to hit that spot inside of you that had you seeing stars, clawing at his arms as you started to chant his name.

“Eris, Eris, Eris!” You screamed as your vision turned to white, your orgasm starting to claim you entirely.

 The second your cunt started to constrict his cock he fell over the edge with you, spilling his burning seed inside of you as he bit your shoulder harshly. It only made you cum harder, your head falling back onto his shoulder as your body became boneless. 

“Y/N, fuck…” Eris moaned into your neck as he started to slow down his thrusts, the squelching of your combined cum imprinting in his mind. You didn’t have enough energy to respond, not even feeling him fall forward so that you were both lying down on the bed.

It would be a few more minutes before you could feel his fingers going up and down your arm, goosebumps rising in its wake. You mumbled something and he shushed you, the fireplace in the room coming to life as he kissed your temple.

His cock was still inside your heat but neither of you cared. Eris gathered some of the blankets beside him and threw them casually over the two of you before pulling you into his chest. 

You were already fast asleep and he couldn’t stop the smile forming on his lips. He kissed you one last time before resting his head on the pillow as well, whispering softly into your ear before falling into a restful sleep.

“I love you.”

[rayshippouuchiha]

I read “[Naruto] made budgeting and math his bitch” and all I want to say, to ask, is to consider the possibility that he’s the one in charge of Team 7’s budget? Please and thank you for your time.

It takes Naruto a bit to notice it. Takes a while for all the pieces to line up just right for him to see it.

His team, as talented as they all are, are absolute shit with money.

They're up north, huddled together on the roadside just inside of Tomi, the capital city of the midsized island that makes up Gold Country, when the truth comes out.

Their mission had been long and draining and they're all looking forward to a ship back to the mainland and a stop at an Inn for a night before they start the trek back to Konoha.

The only problem with that plan is the fact that everyone is flat broke.

Everyone, that is, except for Naruto. Which the other three would know if they'd bothered to ask him instead of assuming he was just as broke as they are.

Because Naruto's wallet is basically still as fat as ever despite the length of time they've been gone and the fact that he's done his definition of splurging at the shops in Tomi. He'd put the few hours where they'd split up before meeting again to start looking for a ship back to very very good use.

Supplies were always cheaper for him outside of Konoha proper where the shopkeepers don't know him and he's actually allowed to haggle. Plus their contractor, an ancient silk merchant named Kaede, had taken enough of a liking to Naruto to put in a good word for him at the local shops.

A courtesy that she, apparently, hadn't offered to the rest of the team or maybe just one they hadn't bothered to take her up on. Naruto isn't sure which it is exactly.

But if it's the second option then Naruto's not sure what to think. He'd never turn a discount or chance to haggle down, no matter how small it is. He knows better.

"Well," Kakashi-sensei says brightly. "Looks like we'll be running to the mainland and camping until we're back home. Let that be a lesson to all of us to bring more money next time."

Sakura looks like she's on the verge of either tears or a tantrum and Sasuke looks as blank as always except for the slightly displeased curl of his mouth.

Naruto finds himself a mix of both of their reactions because what?

Bring more money? That was Kakashi-sensei's solution? Just bring more? Like what Naruto knows was in each of their wallets before they left Konoha wasn't a good six months of Naruto's regular budget?

And they've got relatively little to show for the fact that they spent it all?

How??

It's in that moment that the truth hits Naruto directly in the face.

He's the only poor person on this Team. He's the only one of them who has ever had to actually worry about money.

Sakura has parents who actually love and house her, all her mission earnings are pure profit. Kakashi-sensei is probably the shinobi version of rich with his rank and all the high-level missions he's taken. And Sasuke is absolutely the shinobi version of rich with the wealth of an entire Clan at his disposal.

When they run out of money they just ... go get more.

Naruto, with his crumbling apartment and trap-wire thin budget, lives an entirely different kind of life.

They can probably just walk right into the Konoha bank he's sure they all use, the same one Naruto's never been allowed into, and just withdraw more money.

Not Naruto. All of his money, whatever he's scrimped and saved for, has always either been on his person or hidden away in a hollowed space beneath his bed.

For a long moment, Naruto debates with himself. Considers not saying anything and just following along with Kakashi's plan.

But, well, he does have the money and they are his Team.

So ...

"I got this," Naruto huffs out as he holds up his still bulging wallet. "But we're doing it my way and you'd all better pay me back if I spend anything."

He doesn't bother to listen to their protests or whatever they might say or do. Instead he turns on his heel and stalks off towards the docks, intent on finding them a ride to the mainland that doesn't make him want to gouge his eyes out at the price.

Half an hour later finds them settled on the deck of a small fishing vessel, warm pork buns in hand, and Naruto not missing a single yen.

The hoard of shadow clones he has practically crawling over the ship ended up being payment enough for the weathered-looking woman who'd given them passage.

He ignores the way the others stare at him and focuses on eating his lunch, mind already ticking over what Inns he remembers them passing and what he could do to get them a night's stay for the lowest cost possible.

With him in the lead, they manage to make it all the way back to Fire Country without having to pay for much of anything at all. Naruto had bartered everything from his shadow clones to Kakashi-sensei kissing the back of some woman's hand to his own help modeling a kimono while waitressing in his female form at a restaurant in Blouder City for food and lodging.

He'd actually like that last job the most since Tsubame-san had not only let him keep the kimono but he'd made a small fortune in tips as well.

It's not until they stop at the Black River Inn, the last waypoint before they reach Konoha proper, that Naruto finally steps back. Much to the puzzlement of the rest of the team, he lets Kakashi-sensei step up and rent them a room instead.

Tatsuyomi, the man who runs the inn, is the brother-in-law of the woman who runs the Tree Bud in Konoha.

He knows Naruto on sight.

It's not until they're settled into their shared room that night, the others eating a hot meal from the kitchen and Naruto eating the last of meat buns the cook Akira had slipped him before Naruto left the restaurant in Boulder, that someone finally asks.

"How'd you get so good with money, Naruto?" Sakura is the one to break the ice. "Figured you'd blow it all on ramen or something by now."

"He didn't actually pay for much," Sasuke points out quietly. "And nothing full price. He traded and haggled for everything instead."

"Still," Sakura presses. "He's the only one of us who isn't broke and he managed to get us a stay in every Inn we came across on the way home. Kind of weird."

Naruto stops, stares down that the cold meat bun in his hand, eyes squinted almost closed and shoulders tight.

He forces himself to breathe, to let the tension flow off and away.

He takes a bite of his bun.

Chews.

"I've never had parents," Naruto finds himself saying.

Around him the room goes absolutely silent.

"Don't have a Clan or a guardian or anything either," Naruto's shoulders shift restlessly, nails biting into the soft flesh of the bun in his hand. "Been living off the orphan's stipend since I was four. The pay from that is ... there's never been a lot to go around. There's always bills and supplies so I had to learn to make what I had really count. Being hungry for a long time sucks you know? Never want to do that again, not after the first few times. Not unless I have to."

"Y-You get mission pay now though right?" Sakura says, voice low and eyes wide.

"Don't get the stipend anymore though, that stopped when I got my headband," Naruto shrugs again, uncomfortable in his skin for a reason he can't properly name. "And mission pay gets split so ..."

The quiet is thick around them. Sasuke is practically glaring at his bowl and Kakashi-sensei's knuckles are white around the edges of his book.

"But yeah," Naruto finally says as he pushes himself up onto his feet, half eaten bun in hand, and turns to hop up onto the windowsill, "I learned money stuff real young. Probably the only school thing I was ever really good at."

A flex of muscle has him out the window and sitting on the edge of the roof, feet dangling and conversation officially over.

The rest of the night and the journey back to Konoha proper is quiet.

The next time they go on an extended mission outside of the village it's Naruto who's in charge of any and everything even remotely money-related as soon as they pass the border.

And if their mission pay starts getting split three ways instead of four, well, Kakashi-sensei doesn't say anything so Naruto doesn't either.

[silverdelirium]

SWEET TOOTH | J.P

SUMMARY ➠ ice cream man!james fucks you in his ice cream truck

WARNINGS ➠ fingering, dirty talk, semi-public sex, praise kink, humiliation (?), pet names, bit of a breeding kink, not proofread

WORD COUNT ➠ 2.0k

A/N ➠ the long awaited ice cream man james smut ;) oh and this is for @hellounicorn <33

———

you were in that stage between dreams and reality when you heard it.

the small tune that you memorized since you started living in this neighbourhood— he always passed by in summer; and god, were you craving something cold and tasty to munch on when it was a thousand degrees outside.

you hummed in content as you lifted yourself from your bed, stretching your lips and rummaging through your closet in an attempt to find a comfortable and decent attire to meet james; as weird as it sounded, you wanted to impress the ice cream man and it was safe to say that you had developed a small crush— james had always been so nice to you, going as far as giving you free popsicles in exchange for a brief conversation.

the tip of your nerves went on fire as you stepped outside; spotting him buckling his belt. he was wearing a tight fit white shirt that had you drooling and shuddering.

——

“there you go, kiddo” chuckled james after delivering a chocolate ice cream to the last kid of the big crowd that had formed earlier.

he sighed in disappointment when he realized that you still hadn’t come out yet— he had purposely parked the van a few feet from your house, just so you could maybe pop by and have a nice chat with him.

truth is that james missed you. he hadn’t seen you since last summer and it had already been a shitty weather day, he knew you would be the only one to lift his mood up with that bright smile of yours.

james went back to the driver’s seat and as he finished buckling himself up he heard a small scream of his name upfront.

holy fuck— thought james.

you were wearing a small cute sundress that accentuated your figure in the best way possible, and when he let his eyes travel down to your chest, he caught a glimpse of your peebled nipples. leading him to get into the conclusion that you might only be wearing panties underneath that dress. his cock ached at the thought.

he stepped on the pedal lightly and drove closer to you, until the truck was right in line with your home.

“hi there, sweetheart!” he greeted, unbuckling his seatbelt and going into the back— where he was met with your face through the open window.

“hello james” you giggled “long time, no see, huh?”

“damn right you are, honey— i was starting to wonder if you moved out, what took you so long?” he spoke in a querying tone.

the tip of your ears and nose grew hot as you remembered struggling to find something cute for him. “oh— uhm, i was just— looking for my shoes you know?” you awkwardly chuckled, staring down at the five dollar bill in your hand as if it was the most interesting thing in the planet.

he gave you a bit of an amused look before shaking his head “whatever you say, pretty girl” your tummy fluttered as the nickname dripped from his lips like sweet honey.

“what would you like today, hm?”

“oh just— something sweet and creamy, like an ice cream popsicle” you shrugged, not noticing the effect your words had on james.

“i know something of yours that is sweet and creamy” he murmured under his breath. “what was that?” “oh, no nothing” he gave you a tight lipped smile, his cheeks dusting pink.

“right well uhm, the ice cream”

“oh shoot yeah— what uh” he paused to clear his throat “what flavor where you thinking of, petal?” and his sweet flirty persona was back on, as if the thought of having a face full of your pussy wasn’t replaying on his head over and over again.

“i don’t know” you groaned, almost embarrassed at your sudden indecisiveness.

“you can come in you know? take a look at the flavors and see which one catches your attention more” he offered, sparing you a small smile.

“won’t you get in trouble for that?” you cocked your head to the side. “i don’t mind” he shrugged, the corners of his lips still quirked up as he opened up the back door for you; already holding both of his hands out to help you climb in.

what a gentleman, you thought.

“there we go, honey. take your time.” spoke james as he patted your waist twice, sending a buzz of excitement all throughout your body that almost made you shudder on the spot.

the variety of flavours seemed so appetizing you started wishing you would’ve brought your whole wallet to buy all of them at once, but a peach flavoured ice cream would do.

as you went to give james the money he only chuckled and said “you know i wouldn’t charge a pretty little thing like you, your presence is enough” before handing you the sweet and throwing you a wink as he rested his back on the frame of the window.

the way his muscles flexed as he crossed them over his chest had you questioning whether you should’ve asked for his cock instead of a fucking popsicle—

and god… that damn shirt had your core clenching around air as your mind wandered about him fucking you in every position possible, he just looked so elegantly inviting.

“you done staring, sweetheart?”

shit. you didn’t even realize.

“oh my god, i am so sorry, i should probably leave” you nervously laughed, heading towards the back doors, only to have a large hand around your abdomen stop you.

holy fuck. james potter’s body was pressed against yours and you almost let out a moan as his breath fanned over the side of your petrified face.

“you can’t just leave me all alone in here, sweetie” his hand traveled lower down your mid drift. by now, your stupid peach flavored popsicle was long gone somewhere on the floor, melting. almost as much as you were against james’ hefty chest.

you swallowed thickly, blinking a few times to collect yourself as you turned your head to the side, it was hot breath against hot breath now; if only one of you made the first move—

“oh fuck this” he growled, disconnecting his palm from your pelvis and instead linking it with your jaw to have more access against your lightly chapped lips.

the lip-lock was vulgar and enticing since the start, both of you feeling the luscious sparks that it sent to your sex.

“i’ve been way too fucking patient” you heard him mumble as he took your lower lip in between his teeth, coaxing a whine as you felt your core drip with arousal. “bet you think about me when that pretty cunt is begging for relief, huh?”

“yes jamie, i do. i fucking do” you heaved, impassionedly grinding your bum against his bulging crotch. “i’m gonna fuck you nice and long today, baby. until all you can do is beg for more”

his words went straight to your sopping cunt as he waddled you forward, his mouth still on yours, to the window.

his lips detached from yours. “there we go baby, stay nice and loud for me, yeah? want the whole fucking neighbourhood to know who’s stuffing you full.”

your fingers gripped the edge of the window tightly as james nipped at your neck, his left hand bunching up your dress while the right one’s simultaneously prodded at your swollen button. “you came all bare for me, honey? bet you wanted me to fuck you good once and for all” he groaned, not giving you a warning as he slipped two fingers at once, leaving you a gasping mess as your knuckles turned white from holding on to the frame of the aperture you were leaned on.

“james!” you cried out quietly, rocking your hips back onto his fingers as the ones from his free hand made a path to your throat, lightly squeezing the sides.

his digits made wonders to your contracting insides, juices already making a sticky mess on your thighs as he curled them upwards, caressing your g-spot in a mouth-watering manner; the pad of his thumb made way to your clit, soothing it in tight figure eights as your legs shook, pulling small wails after wails from you.

feeling the thrill of the enticing orgasm building up, you brought one of your hands back to tangle itself on the male’s dark curls, only to have him tut at you as he removed his drenched fingers.

“wha— no! please!” you shamelessly begged, not giving a shit about anything else besides the ache on your heat.

james did nothing besides giving you a wicked grin as he let go of your neck, now focusing on lowering down his trousers— which quickly had you shutting up as you stared in fascination.

he was definitely the biggest you have had so far. a nice length with a thickness that would make a barbarous stretch feel so fucking delirious.

“i’m not sure if i can fit in that tiny hole of yours, precious. maybe i should just leave you like this” he fake pouted, a hint of amusement lacing his features as your bottom lip trembled at the thought of not having him inside you in the next fifteen seconds or so. “no! it’ll fit! make it fit” you mewled, rubbing your pooling cunt against his grith.

“so impatient” he chuckled, stabilizing your hips with his hands before forcing himself into you in one single unforgiving push, making you let out a small scream as your eyes shut tight.

james gave you a few moments for you to get comfortable before you rocked your hips backwards into his as a sign of consent. his hand travelled upwards to grope at your breasts as he thrusted deeply.

“my god, you feel like absolute heaven” he grunted, and even though you couldn’t hear him, the strain in his voice gave away that he was probably with his head thrown back, abs clenching and biceps flexed as his chest heaved, a sight for sore eyes truly.

your mouth stayed agape as his tip kissed your g-spot. your vision clouded with small black stars that had you genuinely question whether they were really painted in your house or not.

james started with a brutal speed since the start, the smacking of your skin against his was filthy and loud, you could only hope mr. benson wouldn’t go for a walk today.

the van rocked and lightly squeaked with every thrust of james’ and you tried your best to contain every loud moan and cry that might alarm the whole block. james had other plans though. “say my name baby, don’t hold back, i want to have your pretty moans fucking memorized”

you complied, throwing your last fucks out of the window and chanting his name like a prayer as your eyes rolled to the back of your head, his strong arms moving to hold you up by the bending of your elbows, causing your spine to arch in a perfect C as james continuously grunted in your ear.

“you’re gonna be absolutely cockdrunk after i’m done with you, honey” he groaned, speeding up the push of his hips and biting down on your shoulder as he brought you both closer to the edge.

“james! i’m gonna cum so hard, don’t stop please, don’t fucking stop” you sobbed, moaning uncontrollably as the coil in your stomach unravelled without any form of forewarning.

“there we go, cream my cock so nicely baby” whispered james, still fucking your quivering pussy through the orgasm with an aggressive pace. “oh fuck, this tight cunt is gonna milk me dry, yeah?”

you could only answer him with a whimper as your legs almost gave out on you if it wasn’t for him holding you up, a few more sloppy thrusts and he was spraying your fluttering walls with his cum, whines escaping his lips.

a breathy moan passed through your mouth as he pulled out, his load slowly flowing out of your puffy folds.

“you look so hot when you’re stuffed full of my cum, sweetheart.” rasped james, peppering your cheeks with soft kisses.

———

i’m tagging the people who clicked “all” in my taglist, dm me if you wish to be removed.

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[gladerwolfstarkimagines]

Imagine being Azula’s friend but secretly dating Zuko behind her back

One of the first things you and Azula bonded over was your annoying brothers. Azula told you how her brother had stolen one of her best friends away from her and you related to that. Your twin brother was none other than Sokka of the water tribe, who was also very popular with women. Most of the women you knew liked him, from Yue to Toph to Suki to Ty lee! It sometimes felt like you were the second attraction in a friendship and so you and Azula quickly became close over your shared frustrations.

Then....you betrayed her.

Well, betrayal is a bit dramatic but maybe not given how upset she'd been when Mai and Zuko started dating. You knew that had been hard for Azula to process.  How difficult it had been wondering if her friends really liked her or just wanted access to her brother. So when you started liking Zuko you didn’t plan on acting on it at all. Then Mai broke up with him. 

Zuko was around at yours quite often, whenever he visited the water tribe he stayed in your home and when you visited the fire nation he extended the same hospitality. So throughout the years, you just naturally got closer and closer until....it happened. You started hanging out just the two of you and these occasions felt very date-like until Zuko just outright asked you out. You liked him and told yourself one date was fine, what harm could a single date do? But then as you kept seeing each other and one date soon progressed into many many more you knew your time to do the right thing and tell Azula you were dating her brother was approaching. 

However the idea of doing that idea terrified you. You guessed Azula wouldn’t take it well and didn’t want to lose your friendship with her because of your relationship with Zuko. You wouldn’t break up with Zuko just to make her happy but you also didn’t want to lose Azula’s friendship, so when Katara’s birthday arose you were fairly nervous. There was going to be a large party and all of Katara’s friends were coming...which included Zuko and Azula. You hadn’t been together with everyone since you and Zuko started dating so you had no idea how it would feel. The whole time you and Zuko would have to convincingly act like you weren’t a couple and not make anyone at the party suspicious of the two of you. So when Zuko’s ship got in you fixed your eyes on Azula and tried not to stare at him any more than usual. You greeted him formally and didn’t admire him as you usually would. You fell in step with Azula and decided just to focus on her. It wasn’t hard, you were best friends and very close...however fate was not on your side. You got seated across from him at dinner which felt like some sick punishment and struggled not to get lulled into conversation with him. It didn’t help that Zuko was in a playful mood. He kept making comments about the things you’d done on your date and then sending you sly looks across the table. When you met his eye he smirked blatantly and you lightly kicked him under the table. That only made Zuko chuckled and look adorable so you sighed and decided to just keep your eyes down the whole time to survive dinner. 

However, Zuko had no intention of stopping his teasing. After dinner you set about preparing the party for Katara tomorrow and having sent Sokka, Aang, Suki, Azula and Toph on their assigned jobs turned to your job of decorating. You were hanging streamers in the living room when you felt a hand curl around your waist. “Need some help there?” Zuko asked moving closer and he leaned up over you to hang it. “I could have done that myself” you smiled turning to face him and Zuko shrugged “I know you could’ve, but then I wouldn’t have been able to do this”. Zuko gently kissed your neck trailing down to your collar bone making you sigh. “Zuko...stop” you said faint heartedly and Zuko sensed that smirking "I don’t want to and you don’t want me to either, I can tell by how softly you said my name" he smiled "it’s been so long since we’ve had any time together". Your skin erupted in goosebumps and a shiver went down your spine as Zuko pressed closer against you. But you knew how badly this could end if literally anyone walked in. So swiftly you grabbed Zuko’s hands and twisted your way out of them. You held them tightly in one hand so he couldn’t try and slink around you again and used the other to make him look at you "Zuko we can’t okay, not on this trip. God knows i want to, i’ve missed you too but there’s too much that could go wrong i’m sorry". Zuko sighed but nodded his head "don’t worry i understand". Zuko’s shoulders sagged and you knew your insistance on keeping this quiet was difficult for him. "Thank you for understanding" you said hugging him quickly "i know it can’t be easy for you and I appreciate the effort you're going to for me". Zuko smiled resting his head on top of yours "it’s fine, i’d do a lot more for you if you asked but promise me it won’t always be like this....we will tell everyone soon?". You gulped but nodded pulling away "i promise, i will tell Azula...soon!". Zuko nodded “I believe you” and let his hands drop away from you. Not a moment later Sokka and Aang appeared in the room making the two of you jump. “Zuko just the man we need! We were thinking of making an ice sculpture, fancy some fire bending?”. Zuko nodded “sure” and with a last glance to you left the room. 

Hours later the party preparations finished you returned to your room which you were sharing with Azula for her visit. “Sokka made me blow up balloons” she said angrily “something about fire benders being full of hot air”. You smirked at your brother’s nerve when Azula’s next sentence wiped it off your face.  "Also I think Zuko’s dating someone again" Azula said softly and you paused. "Ow really?" you asked and she nodded "he’s been spending a suspicious amount of time in the southern water tribe lately. Lots of visits which he claims are diplomatic but I can’t work out what he actually does here! He doesn’t know that many people and so it got me thinking, y/n do you think your brother and mine....". "No Sokka's still with Suki" you said shaking your head. Azula sighed “and it’s obviously not Katara, she and Aang are basically married, have you seen him hanging around anyone else? He doesn’t know many people so it should be easy to spot". You paused pretending to think but were really just trying to buy yourself time. "Honestly i don’t pay much attention to him when he visits" you said cleverly covering your back "but i will from now on and let you know". "Thank you y/n" Azula smiled. You smiled back relieved Azula didn’t suspect anything and let out a large breath you’d been holding for this entire conversation. You were now more than ready for sleep and got into bed hurriedly. You laid your head on your pillow and closed your eyes utterly exhausted. 

"Goodnight y/n" Azula called and you nodded. You were very sleepy and after a long yawn smiled "good night Zuko".

You realised the name you’d said seconds after it came out of your mouth. 

You froze

As did azula.

"Did you just call me Zuko...". You blinked "did i? I’m sure i said Azula". Azula was quiet for 2 seconds before she shot up "it’s you!" she cried "you're the one my brother’s dating!". "No Azula that’s crazy!!! We'd just been discussing Zuko, that’s why he was on my mind!". Azula shook her head "you're lying! I can tell by the tone of your voice! You’re the new girlfriend aren’t you?". You sighed "Azula i’m sorry i was going to tell you...". "I can’t believe you" Azula yelled and suddenly the door opened. "What’s wrong?" Sokka and Zuko asked bursting in “we heard yelling” and Azula glared. "You! Couldn't just have Mai huh? Had to take another one of my friends? How about when you’re done with y/n you try things with Ty lee?". "Ow she told you...." Zuko frowned awkwardly. "No i worked it out!” Azula spat “Y/n accidentally uttered your name because she’s so lovesick" Azula cried "you both make me sick" and she strode away slamming the front door hard as she exited the house.

After Azula left you all looked at one another unsure what to do or say next. "So...you two are a thing?" Sokka asked and Zuko paused "yes...is your reaction going to be as bad as Azula’s or can i go deal with her?". Sokka shook his head "go deal with her before she burns the village down”. Zuko went to move past Sokka when your brother put a hand to his chest "but come back and see me after, me and Katara will want to talk to you about dating our sister". Zuko surprisingly looked intimidated and nodded "I'll be right back". "Zuko wait i should come too" you called "this is as much my fault as yours". Zuko nodded "let’s go" and led you outside into the cold night after Azula.

You found Azula trekking in the snow and as she wasn’t in proper shoes you gained on her quickly. “Azula!” you called and she jumped. She looked around and glared “ow look the happy couple, how nice of you to grace me with your presence”. Zuko rolled his eyes “only you’d be so attention-seeking to make this about you”. “Attention seeking? Who’s the person who can’t form his own friendships or respect boundaries? No always have to date my friends, is it some weird way for you to gain power over me? A sad way to boost your ego?”. As Zuko and Azula went to square up to each other you stepped between them. “Alright enough the both of you! Zuko please go back to the house, i’ll handle this”. “But she...”. “Zuko please” you said sharply and he nodded “fine” and with a glare left. You watched him go before turning back to Azula. You’d been about to suggest you go home given that Azula was surely freezing out here in the middle of the night but Azula broke into a rant. "Everyone leaves me for him" she cried "Mai! My uncle! Mother! Even my father...after i was smarter, a better fire bender, more loyal and younger he still gave Zuko every little chance and only crowned me after Zuko literally ran away! When will i be good enough people don’t just choose him without a second thought for me?". "Azula i didn’t choose Zuko over you! Just because i like Zuko doesn’t mean i don’t like you still". "That may be true but this changes our friendship completely, it did with Mai! People always prioritise their partners over their friends so i’ll be second best once again". "Are you kidding?" you asked "Azula now i need you more than ever! Relationships aren’t when you ditch your friends, they’re when you need them the most! Who else are you going to go to for a break or a nice getaway? Who else is going to support and love you in only the platonic way a friend can? Who else can i complain about Zuko to when he annoys me or we fight?" you asked "they’re all things you need your friends for! Desperately and that’s going to be the same for me". "But when Mai dated him...". "But i’m not Mai" you smiled softly "Azula we are good friends, i won’t sideline you because of this. You mean just as much to me now as before i started dating Zuko". Azula huffed but you could see her melting. "So...how about we go inside, get some warm milk and talk a bit more about this huh?". You offered Azula your hand and she took it but she didn’t stop there. Azula threw her arms around you and hugged you tightly. "I’m partly doing this for the cold but thank you" she said softly "nobodies ever tried to make me feel supported when they've chosen Zuko, they just tell me to deal with it but you’re the first to try and reassure me and so i know you mean it, to still be my friend". "Of course" you smiled "you're my best friend!". Azula smiled and linked her arm through yours "i like that!”. 

Zuko stared in awe as you and Azula returned grinning. "How did it go is everything okay?". You nodded "your extremely cool sister is fine with it". "Yes i thought this would be a great way to have an inside scoop on you zuzu". "She’s kidding i won’t talk to her about you...a lot". Zuko blinked "okay if everything's okay then i should go speak to Sokka and Katara, they’re waiting for me in the kitchen". Azula smiled "that’s a good idea, when you come back zuzu find me, i have some threats about what will happen if you hurt my best friend". You smiled at Azula and stepped to Zuko "good luck but don’t worry Sokka’s all bite, Katara’s the one to look out for but she has a big heart, just tell her how good a time we’ve had and you’ll be fine". "Good tips, any for my sister?". You smiled "Azula is one i have not worked out yet" you grinned "but i’m sure you’ll manage, you are the firelord after all". Zuko smirked and you patted his shoulder "after your appointment with my brother and sister and then your sister....you could always come find me in your room?". Zuko smiled "is that my motivation for surviving this?". You shrugged "you can think of it as that" and stepped away from him. Zuko watched you before sighing "alright let’s get this over with” he said loudly and strode towards the kitchen.

You turned back to Azula who raised an eyebrow at Zuko’s sudden confidence and she frowned. "Do i even want to know?" Azula asked and you shook your head "no". “Ow and don’t worry if I’m not in our room tonight”. “Euch Y/n!” Azula cried and you shrugged “what? I didn’t say why”. “I know why” she sighed before she smiled “at least I can have your bigger bed”. “Be my guest” you smiled, you had a firelord to get reacquainted with. 

[astaroth1357]

The Brothers Catch the MC Dancing/Singing By Themselves

So long 2020!!! I’ve been listening to nothing but End-of-Decade Mashups and the 2010s was the decade of club bangers, so excuse me as I write a little happiness at the end of this shitty, shitty year.

Lucifer

Lucifer was in his secret study with the door closed which usually would block out a lot of distractions, but…

The MC was out in the library just blasting this… awful noise!!

Okay, maybe the noise wasn't awful - but as a classical music man, he had no use for the electronic bleep-bloops of whatever the hell they called "music!"

He had tried to put up with it for about an hour… but he had his limits. Soon enough he could feel his fuse dwindling to nothing and he just HAD to open up the door and tell the MC to keep it down!

He just wasn't expecting to find them dancing… while belting their heart out using a feather duster as a microphone…

Oh… wasn’t this amusing~?

For once, Lucifer decided that work could wait for a minute or two as he leaned against the doorframe to watch the MC do their thing, his smile could only be described as somewhere between being highly entertained and genuinely smitten with the off-key goofball in front of him...

The look went away real quick after the MC finally noticed he was there and dropped the feather duster like it was on fire. Shame… They were acting so cute before... 

He still had a knowing smile on his face when he asked them to turn their music down some, but he didn’t blow up at them or anything… What can he say? He enjoyed the show. 😏

Mammon

The MC has a nasty habit of singing under their breath when they’re bored. Mammon knew this, of course, and he never stopped straining to try and hear their quiet notes whenever he could...

It was hard to do since they had long trained themselves to keep it quiet in public, but he was certain that from what he could hear, he certainly wouldn’t mind listening to more!

The only exception was when they thought they were alone… like in their bedroom doing homework for example.

Mammon had just happened to pass by their bedroom door (and not going there directly just to bother them because he felt lonely or anything...) and heard something through the door…

It sounded like the MC but different… rhythmic and melodic… That was it!! They were singing!!!

He knew he had to be careful about this... If the MC realized he was listening, then they’d stop and leave him high, dry, and wanting more...

He had to push their bedroom door in incredibly gently so it wouldn’t make any noise… The House was old - okay scratch that, ancient - and all the doors have a creak to them if you’re not careful… but oh, was it worth it…

He knew, he just knew, that he would like their voice! Good or bad, it was all them! Why did they also sing so quietly?? He felt like he could listen for hours!

 And he just might have gotten the chance if he had been paying enough attention to notice that he was leaning ever closer into the doorway... The second those rusted hinges made a creak, the MC whipped around and snapped their mouth shut.

Busted...

Unfortunately, no amount of begging got the MC to start singing for him again, so he had to go back to the drawing board… Maybe he’d get to hear them again someday… right?

Leviathan 

Levi had been looking for the MC for some time now to see if they wanted to play a game with him but he wasn’t finding them in any of their usual hangouts… 

Their bedroom was the last place for him to check and when he stuck his head in he didn’t see them there… But he did heard the sound of running water from their personal bathroom.

He was going to leave, honest! He wasn’t going to be one of those creeps who listens to people shower (despite absolutely being perverted enough to do so) but he recognized a familiar riff coming from the room…

He knew it anywhere. It was from one of his favorite anime openings of all time!! And what’s more? He heard a new voice joining the singer like accompaniment… It was… the MC??

Levi could have probably fainted from delight right then. Even if the MC wasn’t as good at singing, the mere fact that they were singing that opening made his heart soar! Who doesn’t love to sing along to their favorite songs??

He probably should have thought a bit more before throwing the door open to belt out his favorite part like he did because, you know, even behind a shower curtain the MC was naked and definitely not expecting him... But, hey, for five whole seconds they sounded great together!

Annnnd then he ran out of the room, red-faced and shouting semi-mortified apologies right after he realized what he could have seen by doing that (*cough*nakedMC*cough*)... 

Poor Levi, but at least he just scored himself a new karaoke partner!

Satan 

You ever been so happy about something you just want to go for a run? Or even better, dance? That seemed to have been the case for the MC that day...

The MC’s least favorite subject had just had a test and they received their scores before leaving the classroom the next day. He knew they must have been anxious by how nervously they clutched their paper...

They had been getting tutoring help from him for weeks and it really must have paid off! Satan wasn’t able to catch up to them before they checked their score, but the way their face lit up was a good sign at least.

He was on his way to go congratulate them when… they started to dance. Right in the middle of the school. They kicked up the music on their phone then started dancing down the hallway like nothing could stop them!

It was such a random and carefree act that it frankly blew him away... You’d think a human in a school full of demons would be running, maybe even hiding, but certainty not dancing! What even was their human sometimes...?? 

He had to hold in some laughter to keep from getting noticed and just followed them down the hallways with a grin on his face and his phone in his hand…

He, of course, posted it to the brothers’ group chat and all of them got to see the wonderful view of the MC shaking their ass to their favorite song of all time… Oh, and they aren’t going to forget that, like, ever. Devious little shit...

Asmodeus 

Asmo loves to go clubbing so dancing is just an enjoyable pastime for this man, but he never thought that he’d end up dancing in a dressing room... 🤷‍♀️

He and the MC were on their weekly trip to Majolish and the MC was behind some curtains in order to try on a new outfit he put together for them. Usually during these times, Asmo waits out in front of their stall distracted by his phone, but this time he actually noticed something...

The MC’s feet. He could see them behind the gap of the curtain moving along to the music playing through the store’s speakers… So they liked this song, hm...?

Honestly, Asmo couldn’t help himself. He ended up getting up from his seat and pulling back the curtain a tiny crack just to see what the MC was doing in their stall... Thankfully, they were already dressed, but they were indeed dancing by themselves hidden just out of his sight...

Now, how could he let them dance all by their lonesome~?

Asmo slipped into the stall himself and caught the MC by the hips, frankly any protest they might of had didn’t really last long as he guided their body along with his. 

It was far from their first time dancing together and it always felt amazing when they did… Their every move fit together perfectly like a call and response and it didn’t take long for them to get lost in the music.

Eventually, a store employee began to wonder why they were in there for so long and eventually found two sets of feet in one stall… Really, they got off lucky, because knowing Asmo it was kind of amazing that dancing was all he was doing back there!

Asmo was a far too valuable customer for the store to kick out, so the two of them just got a warning not to do it again but man was it worth it… 

The MC has to wear that outfit to their next club. No exceptions!! 😌

Beelzebub

You know, sometimes you just got a rhythm and beat in your soul and it pops out at the most random times… like in the middle of cooking!

Beel was coming into the kitchen looking for yet another snack for the day when he caught the MC already in there baking and… dancing?

They had their phone out to play music while they worked, hips swaying to the beat. Hell, everything they were doing was set to that pace! Every flick of the whisk and stir of the batter was just a part of their private dance sequence.

For a second, he had to wonder if he had just stepped into a musical or something? Dancing while cooking? He hadn’t seen any of his brothers mix those things before… but it worked?? Like, they made it look natural and even a little fun!

Just imagine the look on the MC’s face when Beel came up behind them and pulled them into a twirl behind the counter. It caught them so off-guard that a bag in their hands slipped and covered them both in powdered sugar!

Not that Beel cared about the mess because he just licked his lips clean and told the MC not to stop what they were doing... Which was how the others found them both covered in sugar and moving to the beat while the MC was icing the cake they just finished. 🤷‍♀️

Lucifer ended up lecturing them both about being more careful in the kitchen but they were too busy sneaking smiles to each other to pay much attention... 

Sometimes the music just moves you, you know?

Belphegor 

Belphie very rarely gets up from his naps without a little help. Sure, even his body needs to wake up eventually, but it normally takes some kind of outside force to drag him back to the world of the living...

So imagine his surprise when he seemingly woke up for no reason in the middle of his afternoon nap with MC… Or well, he thought there wasn’t reason, until he started paying more attention.

The MC was cuddled up to him like usual, but he could feel a hum against his arm that was coming from their chest. Steady and slow… almost soothing.

When he finally heard a noise in the air - equally soothing as the humming and in time with the vibrations - he put two and two together… Were they singing right now?

Belphie kept himself very still and pretended to be asleep just to check his suspicions and… yeah. He could hear the MC softly singing a human world song under their breath.

Must have been a testament to how besotted this cow man was with them that even hearing their voice that quietly could pull him out of his dreams. 

Eventually, Belphie just had to roll over and pull them up against his chest so he could hear them better... Of course, his movement just made them stop, but any idea that they were off the hook got swept away when they heard him grunt:

“Hey, you woke me up… Don’t stop now.”

Let’s hope they know a good lullaby or two...

[chokemeanakin]

Cruel Intentions - Anakin Skywalker x fem Reader (smut)

Masterlist

WC: 6.8k

Summary: It’s Life Day but Anakin is mad and he’s got a dirty fucking mouth

WARNINGS: 18+, some mean talk but it’s not really degrading, oral (m) receiving, p in v, holiday fun?

(a.n. plz, plz, pretty plz get Anakins voice in your head when you read this. watch a video of hayden stuttering his way through an interview or something, whatever, it just wont be the same unless you get his voice saying all this. anyway, continue. and merry christmas/happy holidays).

(Gif from @madeleineengland )

You had always loved Life Day, but this one in particular was going to be something special. Anakin scored time off from the war, and through the help of Padme, you got one of her lakeside Naboo houses all to yourselves for the holiday. 

You arrived before Anakin, as he was finishing up a meeting with the Jedi Council, and passed the time by making cookies. You were having a pretty good time at it too— your hair was up, music blasting, candles lit, and half a glass of wine was slowly disappearing as you danced around the kitchen. Then you heard the door jiggle and open, and a gust of cold air from around the corner signaled that Anakin was here. 

Right away, you could tell he was mad. He walked through the door with a scowl, face drawn in irritation, yanking his robe off and shaking the snow out of his hair. He threw his robe up on the hanger and nudged the door shut with his elbow. He didn’t even take his boots off as he came into the kitchen, still in full uniform.

You considered asking him what the mood was for, but in all honesty, you were afraid of his reaction. Usually he either deflects or gets mad back, and you really don’t want to fight. 

But he was silent as he prowled around the kitchen, taking in your activities, and you wanted to know what was bothering him on Life Day’s Eve of all days. If you could make it better, you’d try. So you softened your voice, and in your warmest, most innocent tone, you tried, “Hi, Anakin, I miss you! I’m making cookies if you want to stay here and help. Or just sit and watch. I don’t mind.”

You thought you’d start off simple. Get him to relax a bit, and then dig into what the issue was. He stood by the doorway, arms crossed, raising an eyebrow.

“You’re not mad that I’m late?” 

He thought you were mad? You were too tipsy to be mad. Honestly, you hadn’t even been keeping track of the time.

“Of course not! You had a council meeting, that’s important. I’m just glad to have you now,” you shot him your brightest grin. “Besides, we have all week to ourselves.”

At that, his shoulders loosened and he smiled a little back at you. It disappeared quickly, but his affections were replaced with two strong arms winding around your waist, one warm and one metal. He huffed lightly and rested his chin on your shoulder, watching you mix the icing in your bowl.

His demeanor was slightly better than you had previously perceived, so you decided to risk it.

“...Did something happen?”

“Just the same old,” he mumbled, nuzzling his face into your neck. It’s cold from the snowflakes still wetting his hair, and you shivered. “The council doesn’t trust me, they still won’t consider making me a master. Windu thinks I shouldn’t even be on the council.” 

You struggled to find words to this. You wanted to take his side, and tell him he deserved to have it all. At the same time, the council was full of old and wise members, and they knew what they’re doing. But you hated how much it was bothering Anakin, hated how under all that anger there was hurt, and a fear that he wasn’t good enough. The council was making him doubt himself, and it you wouldn’t have that.

“It’ll all come in due time, I’m sure of it,” you tell him. “Whether they like it or not, you’re on the council for a reason. You belong there, and I’m sure if you give it a littlest more time they’ll come around to seeing how you deserve the title of master. Besides,” you twist around in his arms enough to skim your lips across his jawbone, pressing a lingering kiss into his neck. “I can call you Master whenever you’d like.”  

This made Anakin freeze, and then begin to laugh. His low chuckles vibrated your body, and you couldn’t help but join in with him.

“I might have to take you up on that offer sometime.”

Your stomach clenched at the insinuation, heat pulsing through your veins. That was one of your goals for the night, admittedly— to be with Anakin. You had a little surprise for him as well, and you were just hoping he wouldn’t be too disgruntled or worked up to appreciate it. That being said... sometimes it was a good thing when he was frustrated.

Anakin sacrificed a hand to reach forward and dip into the bowl, scooping a dollop of blue icing out and placing it in his mouth. You heard him suck it off his finger, beating the dirty thoughts back with a stick. 

“Is it good?” You ask to distract yourself.

“Here, try.” 

You turn, expecting him to offer you a finger with some icing on it but instead he kisses you. Immediately your mouth is flooded with the sugary blue that stains his lips. You open your mouth, tongue tasting his, and he’s sweet. Your cheeks are burning bright as he kisses you, slow and deep and dirty, and it’s such a 360 from the lighthearted atmosphere you’ve created.

When you pulled back, you’re breathing hard, mouth tingling, licking your lips for the remnants of sweet icing. Anakin smiled down at you, eyes dark, and went back to resting his head on your neck, whispering in your ear in a low, rumbling voice. “Finish up. There’s other plans I want to get to.” 

•••

Anakin ended up having to leave again as you were icing the cookies to take one last impromptu call from Obi-Wan, just some last minute tying-loose-ends before his short break. He also took the chance to get out of his Jedi clothes, trading the leather armor and robes for more comfortable sleep clothes— which included loose fitting pants that hung low on his hips, and that damned sleep robe he wears without a shirt.

He came back into the kitchen just as you were finishing up, and you almost choked when you saw him.

“Aren’t you cold? It’s snowing pretty heavily out there and you’re not even wearing a shirt.” 

“I’ve got a fire going in the master bedroom, it should warm the place up soon,” he took some of your dirty dishes to the sink. “Why, do you not like it?”

“No, I—“ you stutter. It’s just the opposite. He’s beautiful beyond words. “I just didn’t want you to be cold.”

“I’m alright,” he smiled at you teasingly, reaching around you to grab the last of the dishes. 

Once they’re in the sink, he found you climbing up onto the counter, putting the spices away that were, of course, in the highest cabinet out of reach. You stretched up to reach it, unashamedly putting on a little show for Anakin as you exaggerate the curve of your backside. 

The action caused the holiday shorts you’re wearing to ride up, exposing the fleshy underside of your behind. You turned around to find him watching you, not even trying to hide it. He leaned back on the counter, arms crossed over his bare chest, eyes thoughtful as he took in the sight.

“Help me down?” You asked him, and he immediately pushes himself off the counter to fit his hands around your waist, lowering you safely to the ground. He held onto you a little too tight for it to be innocent, and you could feel him gravitating toward you, leaning in to start something you wouldn’t be able to stop. You pull away— you're not done with him, in fact your teasing has just begun.

Anakin huffed quietly to himself as you moved around him to start the warm water, soaking the dishes in it so the batter won’t stick overnight. You purposefully shot some water onto your shirt so that you had to gather a wad of paper towels in your hand and dab at your chest, pulling your shirt down so you could get at the wet spots. Anakin rolled his eyes as you grumbled about how clumsy you were, but you could see he was discreetly trying to look.

His resolve was already thin when he walked through the door. He hadn’t been able to have you in far too long, and he was planning on doing something about that tonight. He wasn’t sure what page you were on, though…. You seemed pretty content with baking cookies and then watching movies all night like you had mentioned in the days leading up, so your little teasing games were doing nothing to quell his curious anticipation.

You didn’t even have to try to get him all worked up. The spice cabinet, the wet shirt, those weren’t needed. It was like you didn’t even realize the effect you had on him— every little move you made around the kitchen, every little sigh or gasp or giggle, even the way you bent down to take the damn cookies out of the oven had him yearning for you. 

The last straw was when you needed a rag to clean the countertop, so you reached across his lap where he was sitting to grab it. You placed a not-so-innocent hand on his thigh to steady yourself, brushing against his chest as you did so. He was immediately enveloped in your smell, and the feel of your soft hair against his chest, your hand on his thigh— he needed to have you, now. 

“Y/n, forget the cookies,” he demanded.

“Oh?”

“Let’s go upstairs.”

•••

Your tongues clashed, teeth nipping, breaths gasping for air as you struggled to get closer to one another. All of Anakin’s anger and frustration was pouring out him in bruising kisses, fast and wet and greedy. You were combatting it with your own dirty, lustful responses. It was one of your favorite things to feel so needed by him, even if he was projecting his emotions from the day onto you. You were his outlet, the only thing that could help him, and you would gladly take these punishing kisses for as long as he needed.

The hand that wasn’t threaded through your hair exploded the rest of your body, fitting into each and every curve, squeezing at certain places and pulling you closer, adjusting you on his lap. He slipped his fingers beneath the neckline of your shirt, pulling it to the side so he could suck at the pulse in your neck, when he caught a flash of red.

His eyes darkened, lips twisting into a smirk as he traced the lacey garment. Suddenly his hands were gone, and he was leaning back away from you. “Show it to me.”

 So you stood before him and undressed, feeling small under his steady gaze. It was loaded with heat, and you could practically read his mind as each new strip of skin and the lacy red underwear you had worn specially for this occasion was revealed. He was planning everything he wanted to do to you, drinking you in, and storing away the sight into his memory for later times, when he’s on the battlefield and it’s been months and he misses you. But for now though, his present was waiting for him.

The look of him illuminated by the firelight, eyes scorching as he studied every inch of you had you squirming under his gaze. He leaned back in the loveseat, arrogant posture annoyingly sexy with the way his broad shoulders filled out the chair, long legs spreading before him. 

You needed to touch him. He wasn’t saying anything, or doing anything, so you approached him and settled yourself back on his lap, meaning to restart where you had left off. You trailed your hand down the smooth, hard planes of his body, feeling the ridges of his abs, the soft skin smooth and warm. He kept his arms slung lazily over the armrests, refraining from touching you, but you could feel the steady pulse of his eyes as he watched your every move. 

Those deep, calculating eyes. They made you nervous, but you’d be lying if you said the intimidation didn’t turn you on. 

He let you tangle one of your hands in his hair, feeling the soft curls glide between your fingers as you looked over him. But just as your palm slid near the band of his pants, he caught your wrist in his metal hand and stopped you.

“Get on the bed,” he flicked his eyes behind you, a cocky, mischievous glint in them. He knew you’ll do anything he said, with that voice. 

Hesitantly, you stood from his lap and made your way over to the bed. Your skin was raised with goosebumps, as you knew he was studying your every move. You sat on the plush mattress of the bed, crossing your legs over the knee, and looked at him. He was blanketed in shadows, but stared right back. 

“Spread your legs.” 

Your face immediately heated up in flames. He had always been the one to do that to you, with his hands, and pressed right up close to you. Somehow, having him sit across from you on the armchair and watching you from a distance was even more intimate.

He was waiting, though, so you did as he said. You already felt exposed under his greedy gaze, mesmerized by his beauty and the way the flames flickered off the sharp line of his jaw, the peak of his cheekbone. This dark angel was toying with you, teasing you, and you just wanted him to come over here and touch you. But he remained in that seat, head cocked as he looked you up and down.

“Eyes on me,” he demanded softly, cruelly. You had downcast your eyes, afraid to look at him without losing your confidence. The low tone of his voice left no room for debate, so you did as he said. 

Your stomach churned, heart fluttering as he leveled his gaze at you. He was studying every inch of your lewd pose, smug with himself. He wasn’t even even near you, but he had all the control, and he knew it. 

“Now let me see that pretty pussy.” 

Your breathing stopped. His voice is quiet, yet commanding all the same, and you forgot how dirty his mouth could be. It shocked you more than anything, which is why you hesitated.

“What, are you getting shy on me? That’s not what it seemed like in the kitchen,” he mused. “You wanted me to see you. Now, let me see you.” 

The words rang out in the air, causing heat to build up in your core and leak out onto your underwear. Swallowing your slight embarrassment, you hooked your finger around the front of your panties and pulled them to the side, exposing yourself to him. 

Anakin’s gaze darkened, and he sat up. He rested his elbows on his knees, covering his mouth in his hands as he appreciated the view. You squirmed under his gaze, waiting for him to tell you what to do next as you felt cold air hit your glistening folds.

“Look at you,” he purred. “Already soaking wet, and I haven’t even touched you.” 

You shrank away from his eyes, not having anything to say to defend yourself. The fire crackled but you shivered, his shadow looming over you, and you just wanted his warmth pressed against you, his hands on you, pulling that pleasure from the depths of your body. He knew how to do it just right, and you’d never been able to make yourself feel as good as he does. And now he’s right here, but he’s holding himself away from you. Shifting your hips in desperation, you whined and pulled at your panties, rubbing some friction against your throbbing clit.

“Stop. Don’t touch yourself,” Anakin ordered. His eyes were still lidded, voice sharp. You let go of your panties and dropped your hands to the side, holding yourself up on your elbows. Your legs were still splayed open, the sight of your panties soaking through put on display before Anakin.

“Please, Anakin,” you shifted your hips again, hoping it would provide some relief but finding none. “I need you.”

Anakin tsked at this but stood to his full, domineering height. You craned your neck to watch him as he stood over you, capturing your chin between his metal fingers and forcing you to look him in the eye, the other fitting itself on the soft flesh of your thigh. You keened into the soft touch, nerves lighting off like fireworks. 

“You need me?” He taunted, blue eyes digging into yours. “Or does your greedy little cunt need me?” 

You gasped at his words. Never had he called you something degrading before, like greedy. You’re pretty sure you’ve never heard the word “cunt” leave his mouth before either, but it spilled from his lips like red wine, smooth and dark. Anakin had always been so soft with you, so loving, and his statement shocked you. 

“Hm?” He goaded. “Answer me, sweetheart.”

He shifted his hands up your thigh, sneaking over your pelvis and landing on your mound. He let his thumb graze over your clit, unmoving.

Sparks erupted behind your eyes, and you leaned into his touch. An invisible force held your hips to the bed, stopping you from chasing your own pleasure as he continued with his words.

“Do you want me to fuck you open slowly on my cock? You want me to fill your tight little pussy until you can’t take anymore?” 

The weight of his thumb on your clit was distracting. It throbbed under his touch with every measured, vulgar word, and his mouth twitched as he felt it. “I think I just got my answer.” 

At this, he got on his knees before you. He lowered his mouth to trace his lips against the inside of your thighs, and you squirmed between the tickling sensation and the need to have his mouth on you. He gripped your hips in his strong hold, hard, mumbling into the soft flesh of your inner thighs. “You can’t seem to sit still today....” he sucked a bruising kiss into your thigh, and when you roll your hips into the feeling, he looked at you sharply.

“Behave.”

You flinched at his tone. It was deep, threatening, and pulsing with irritation. Was he angry at you? Your eyes stung, shrinking away from his narrowed gaze again, wandering if you did something to make him unhappy with you.

He lowered his head back to your thighs, purposefully skipping over the part that was throbbing for him, dripping for him. You held your breath, desperately trying to hold yourself back from moving or even making a sound, too afraid that you would anger him further. But his thumb pressed a little harder into your clit, and you fell back against the mattress, whimpering frustratedly. 

To your relief, he didn’t get mad at you. Instead he hooked his finger around your underwear, similar to how you did earlier so he could gage your response to his actions. The low hum he let out was pleased. “Such a pretty little pussy... dripping wet... is that all for me?” 

He was still toying with you, still teasing, and at this point it was getting painful. You would do anything to have his fingers on you, mouth on you, anything in you. So you nodded, and you told him it was all for him, everything was for him. He licked a single line up your slit, the tip of his tongue just barely grazing you. The sensation sent fully body shivers across your skin, and you melted into the bed, ready to lose yourself in the pleasure. He covered you again with the now drenched material.

Did you say something wrong?

“Show me how much you want me then.” 

You were shaking as he released his hold on you, head fuzzy with arousal, cheeks flushed with confusion. What game was he playing?

You swallow your nerves and stand from the bed, feeling so small even as you stood over him. He was kneeling, looking up at you under dark lids, daring you to do something. He was giving you some control, so you decided you’d try to get your sweet Ani back, to soften the energy in the room so he could be happy and playful like he usually was.

He sized you up quizzically as you wrapped your arms around his neck, one hand curling into his hair like before. You tilted his head up so you could lean down and plant a gentle kiss to his forehead, hugging his face into your chest. 

Your body shook as he laughed, dark and mocking underneath you. You pulled back to look at him. “Anakin?”

“If you want me to fuck you, sweetheart, you’re going to have to try harder than that.” 

That’s it. 

You just wanted to get fucked, and he just wanted to tease you. If he wanted you to come to him, then fine. So be it. 

Anger bloomed from the pit of your stomach and you pushed at his chest to get him onto the bed. He did so, at his own leisurely pace, pissing you off further with the smug smirk still on his face. You kissed it off of him, biting his lip in punishment and yanking his hair a little too hard in your fist. He groaned like he liked it, so release him and trail you kisses downward, biting and marking up his body until you get to his pants. You pulled back the waistband and revealed him to you, taking him in your grasp. Any normal man would be frightened of an angry girl with his dick in her hands, so you looked up at him, trying to see if he had been humbled by your anger yet. He was staring back at you, unimpressed.

You waste no time taking him into your mouth, sucking hard, maybe a little too hard. He sighed and leaned back, enjoying it far too much. You tried to convey your annoyance with the punishing pace you set on his cock, sliding up and down with your  mouth and hand. You grasped onto his thigh for stability, feeling the remnants of your saliva drip onto it as you gave him the sloppiest, dirtiest blowjob you’ve ever done. Halfway through, when you realize you’ve gotten little to no reaction, you peer up and see that he’s on his datapad. 

You pumped him up and down in your fist, gathering your breath as you studied him. Does it not feel good? Are you not doing a good enough job? He’s hard, so you must be doing something right. But it was like he didn’t even notice what you were doing anymore, or if he did, he didn’t care. You paused with your hand on the base of his cock, squeezing.

“Why’d you stop?” Anakin didnt’t even look up from his datapad. 

“Am… am I doing good?”

“Of course you are,” Anakin finally shifted his eyes to you, bringing a hand down to wipe some saliva off your bottom lip with his thumb. “Now finish the job.”

With this, he removed his hand and his gaze, going back to the data pad. Fueled by anger again, and a determination to make him react, you took him into your mouth harder, faster, sloppier, wetter. He didn’t even twitch, didn’t even moan or bury his hands in your hair or tell you how good it felt like he normally does.

You wrapped your lips around his tip and sucked extra hard, tongue probing into the skin there and swirling in a circle, over and over. There. He gave an appreciative hum. You thought you’ve finally got him where you wanted when he says, 

“That the best you can do?”

You whined around him frustratedly, just wanting him to feel something, wanting him to feel good, wanting him to feel that way because of you. But he was bored, you could tell by the way he didn’t even spare you a second glance as you took him all the way into the back of your throat, holding him there for longer than you ever have. You were trying your best for him, and usually he’d be writhing and moaning beneath you, but now...

He laughed, pulling you off of him with both hands to halt your frenzied movements. 

“Anakin,” your eyes shone with confused tears. 

“Shhh, baby, none of that,” his voice was sweet again, and he stroked the skin of your cheek as he brought your face to his for a gentle kiss. “Come, sit on my lap.”

You were giving up on trying to figure him out. One minute he was so sweet, the next he was uncharacteristically callous. Your eyes burned in embarrassment, feeling like you’ve failed him as you crawled onto his lap. He positioned you on his thighs, keeping yours spread with his. An arm wrapped around your shoulders, locking you to his hard chest as the other snuck down your body, touching you over your panties.

“Is this what you wanted?” goosebumps erupted all over your body as you felt his lips ghost over your ear. “You wanted me to make you feel good?”

He rubbed gentle circles into your clit with his fingers, allowing you to shift your hips in time with it. For a moment, you forgot about your problems and lost yourself in the way he was rubbing you. You moaned as he played with your clit, more slick gushing out and further drenching your panties. 

“Even though you couldn’t make me feel good?”

Your breath caught in your throat, embarrassment bubbling up in your chest. You were ashamed, accepting this pleasure from him when you gave him nothing in return.

“I can try again,” you offered, hips halting. You didn’t want anything else from him until you could give it back, but he slipped his hands beneath your underwear and touched you directly, rubbing you at a fast pace. Your head fell back against his shoulders, legs opening wider on their own accord as your orgasm built up in time with his hand. You couldn’t help but accept the pleasure, forced to feel it as he held you in his iron grasp.

“Anakin.. Anakin please,” you begged. “Let me make you feel good, too.”

“Baby, you already tried,” he nippd at your ear, voice cruel. 

“I can try harder, Ani— please!” Your voice came out in a shout as your orgasm approached. Before you could finish, he stopped rubbing and kept his fingers on your clit, pressing down, feeling you throb beneath him. 

You could feel your slick dripping down your thighs. Your panties were uncomfortably wet, but your arms were trapped under his and you couldn’t reach down to remove them. He seemed to read your mind.

“Let’s get these off you now, hm? You’re soaking through them, I can feel it on my leg.” 

Of course, he ignores your pleas and shifted the focus to drag your panties down your leg. He was right— you’ve made a mess of his leg, but now that you’re sitting directly on him, it’s even worse. He parted your folds with his hand, middle finger dragging up and down your slit, collecting the glistening fluid. A little hint of satisfaction soothed your worries as you felt his cock twitch beneath you at the sight. 

“You always knew how to take my fingers so well,” he whispered in your ear, pushing his finger into you as he does so. You accepted him readily, walls fluttering around his finger as it relieved some of the ache. You wanted to come, but you couldn’t— not without feeling guilty, for neglecting his needs. How could you be so selfish and take all the pleasure for yourself?

“Anakin,” you whined again, trying to get his attention. You purposefully shifted your hips in a way that would rub against him, but only succeeded in pushing his finger deeper into you. “Anakin please, let me… speak… hmng… I can’t focus…”

“Speak,” he kissed your neck, pushing another finger into you despite your warnings. “I’m listening.”

“I want to make you feel good,” you moaned. His fingers stroked into you slow, deep, and perfect. You gushed around his digits, the sound of it absolutely sinful. He kissed the back of your neck as his thumb began to rub your clit again, gently because he knew how close you were to cumming. “Anakin, please.”

“I know, baby.”

No, he didn’t. He wasn’t getting it. Your hands dug into his thighs, wanting him to stop, wanting him to continue—

“I love you. Please, let me—“

“Enough.”

You gasped, bones turning to putty in his hands. He kept sliding his fingers into you, thumb grazing your clit, but you were so ashamed. He just yelled at you, he’s never done that before. And now you didn’t know how to act, how to feel. 

“Aw, baby, did I scare you?” He taunted, curling his fingers into you. “Did I hurt your feelings?”

The sting of his words brought tears to your eyes, but it was battled by your pleasured haze, vision spotting and feeling honing down to the push and pull of his fingers. There were too many emotions swirling inside you that you didn’t know what to say anymore. All you knew was that you were close to cumming again, you have been for a while, but you weren’t sure if you should accept it.

Your walls pulsed around him and he pulled his touch away, denying you of the orgasm as he spread the slick down your thigh. He reached for his dick, gliding it up and down your folds, covering it in your arousal. He was hot and wet and stiff against you, and you bore down, wanting him inside you. For once, he gave you what you wanted, and you both moaned as he began to sink into you.

The stretch was immediate, and you cried out as you took him inch by inch. He was so thick and the angle was so deep that he had to lift you up and bring you back down multiple times, opening you up gradually until he was fully buried inside you.

“Look at you, taking my cock so well,” he praised, kissing up your neck, along your cheek. He twisted a hand into your hair, tugging it back so he could suck at the sensitive skin of your neck. Your walls clenched around him at the pleasurable sensation, punching an unexpected moan from him.

“Fuck me,” he hissed, sounding like your Ani again for just a moment. 

Your chest swelled with pride. Finally, you were making him feel good. You clenched around him again, shifting your hips, searching for another reaction.

“Y/n, shit—“

“I know what your problem is,” you chanced, realizing you had the upper hand for now. “You’re still— fuck— you’re still mad about the Council.”

Anakin glared, thrusting into you harder. 

“That’s why you’re— hnng— that’s why you’re hate-fucking me.”

“I’m not hate-fucking you.”

“This certainly isn’t love-fucking.”

“Would you just shut up and take my cock already?”

He plunged into you hard and deep, stretching you open so good that you momentarily lost your train of thought. Did he just yell at you again?

“This isn’t— this isn’t fair,” you moaned, loving the feel of his length scraping against your walls . “You don’t get to boss me around like this.”

“Oh yeah?” He raised his eyebrows at you, fist tightening into your hair so that you couldn’t look away. “That’s not what it seemed like a few moments ago.”

“I just wanted to make you feel good,” you slammed down onto his cock, anger winning out against everything else. You had one goal in mind now— if you could make him cum before you, it would even out the playing field.

He caught on to what you were planning immediately, flipping you over so he was fully in control. He grasped your hips, lifting them off the bed so he could drill into you at an angle, hitting the spot that had you arching off the bed and calling his name in a moment of weakness. Your pleasure heightened as he rolled his pelvis against yours, your clit rubbing against him. 

“Fuck you,” you moaned, clawing at the bedsheets.

“Currently doing that,” he gasped.

Oh, he was so going to get it.

You reached up, grabbing at his shoulders to pull him down to your level. He was stronger than you and could have resisted, but he gave in, thinking you were about to cum and just needed him close. He wasn’t entirely wrong— with each roll of his hips, his length probed deep inside you, causing your vision to white out. You could barely keep track of your thoughts as you squirmed beneath him. He held you down, completely negating your ability to try and flip him over. 

What had you been thinking? You had just been trying to get the high ground, but now you were so close— so close— to cumming. Think of something gross. Wet socks? Burnt cookies? Jar-Jar? 

Nothing seemed to be working. Soon, you didn’t want it to work. You cried out with each thrust of his hips, eyes rolling back into your head from the pleasure. Your pussy drooled around his cock, slick making a mess of both of your thighs. The slide of him was so hot, so wet, so good— 

“Stop!” 

You couldn’t think of any other way. Anakin immediately stopped his thrusts, pulling back to study your face in a panic.

“What? What happened? Are you okay?”

You bit your lip hard, heart pounding and walls pulsing around his cock from your denied orgasm. You squeezed your eyes closed, waiting for the heat to dissipate from your stomach before you pushed yourself to a sitting position. 

He gave you room to do so, the worry still clear in his eyes. 

“I’m completely fine,” you kissed his cheek, laughing deviously. “I just wanted to be on top.”

Anakin frowned at you, but switched positions anyway. “That’s not funny. I thought I hurt you.” 

“So you do care.”

“Of course I care,” he grabbed the finger that you had been jabbing into his chest, kissing your palm before wrapping it around his neck. “The last thing I want to do is hurt you.”

“You yelled at me,” you lifted yourself off his lap slowly, relishing in the drag of his of cock inside you. You sunk down again, shivering at the sensation.

“I didn’t know you were that sensitive.” 

“Well… when it’s you…” you moaned suddenly, his dick pulsing into you at a delicious angle. “I just don’t like when you’re mad at me.”

“Then you should behave better next time,” he nipped the words into your collarbone, almost purring again.

“See, that’s not fair—“

“Do you need me to fuck some sense into you?” His gaze was firm, completely serious. Your knees weakened around his waist at the tone, wandering why you found that so damn attractive. He tilted his head at you when you didn’t answer. “Is that a yes?” 

“Anakin—“ your cries took you by surprise as he slid his hands down to your ass, clutching your flesh in each hand and spreading you open so he could fuck up into you, hard. Your nails dug into his shoulders, body bouncing as he bore into your aching hole. 

There was no way you were going to last now, not with the way he was making you feel. You had held your orgasm back for so long, and while it would have been nice to make Anakin cum before you, to give him a taste of his own medicine, you were completely at his mercy. 

“Cum for me, and then we’ll talk,” he appeased, voice dark. Why was that hot? Warmth blossomed in your stomach and you listened to his ragged breathing in your ear, body tingling, pussy tightening around him. He turned your face to him with a hand in your hair, holding you close as filthy words spilled from his mouth.

“Take my cock, baby. That’s it, fuck me, come on,” he chanted against your lips. Always so demanding. You couldn’t hold back your moans as he plunged into you over and over, right into that one spot, the heat in your belly expanding until it took over each of your senses. He fucked you at a rapid pace, hips slamming into yours, fingers bruising your ass. Your walls quivered around him, the ball in your stomach snapping. Suddenly, you were coming all over him, pussy throbbing as he massaged his dick into you in wave-like motions, working you through it. 

“Does that feel good?” He teased, lips tracing softly over your cheek, soothing hands rubbing your shaking thighs. He was being sweet again— another 360 change in demeanor. 

You responded with broken whimpers, muscles twitching as you rode out your high. When he finally stopped, you sucked in a deep breath, shivering from the aftershocks.

“Mmm, I fucked you good, didn’t I?” He planted soft kisses under your ear, down your neck, and over your shoulder. Now he was back to taunting you, his words cruel, but voice so sweet. “Your sweet little pussy just came all over my cock. So pretty. You wanted it so bad, didn’t you? Even though you don’t want to admit it?”

He was like a snake-charmer, hypnotizing you with every slow, filthy word. You knew what he was doing, but at the same time, you couldn’t stop your body’s reaction to it. Every syllable had you melting into his lap, his hands rubbing the flesh of your hips softly. 

“Are you blushing again?” He dragged his cock out of you, and you whimpered at the sensation of it against your overstimulated walls. “Don’t tell me you’re shy, now. Not after what we just did.” 

“I’m not shy—“ Force, you couldn’t focus when he looked at you like that, when he purred in your ear like that. 

“No?” He pushed back into you. “Then look at me when I’m speaking to you.”

You lifted your head to meet his gaze, eyelashes sticking together with moisture. His full lips pulled into a smirk, dewy skin glowing in the firelight. 

“Does this pretty little pussy want to cum on my cock again?” He pulled your hips flush against his, so deep, so thick inside of you. You mewled, blood heating up in your veins.

“Please,” you gave in, allowing him to massage his cock into your walls. 

“Please, what?”

You would get him back for this later. For now, the hot slide of his cock inside of you was too good, too overwhelming. 

“Please, make me cum,” you didn’t think your cheeks could get any redder, his eyes probing into yours as you said this. Never in a million years did he ever expect his shy little baby to say something so filthy. He immediately smirked, pressing a pleased kiss to your lips.

“Good girl.”

Your skin broke out into a hot sweat, hole pulsing around him as he began to rock back into you. His strokes were slower, deeper, pulling ecstasy from the depth of your bones. He kneaded your flesh between his fingers as he rolled his hips into you. You fell forward, moans being dragged out of your sore throat, watching his cock dissapear inside of you.

His thighs glistened with your juices, the sound of him sinking into your leaking hole humiliatingly sinful. He noticed you watching and brought a hand down, toying with your clit. He moaned into your ear as he did so, the drag of his cock becoming difficult as you squeezed around him. 

This time, your orgasm washed over you like a warm blanket, causing you to arch your body into his. You trembled as the waves of pleasure sapped you of energy, rocking your hips in time with Anakin as he spilled his warmth inside of you. The sounds of him cumming sparked a flame in your heart— you wished he had indulged you in his pleasure earlier. Now, all it left you with was a desire to hear him lose it over and over again, and you realized you had your plans all set for the rest of the night.

Anakin stroked his hand up and down your back, lips attaching to your neck as you came down from your highs. He positioned the two of you so that you were laying down, you on his chest, completely limp apart from the occasional post-orgasm shivers. He gave you time to recover before pulling out of you, kissing your quiet whimpers away as he tugged his length out of your aching hole. 

“I win,” he mumbled against your lips.

[onlytaylor]

Harry dies, but instead of Dumbledore, he sees Draco Malfoy

Harry isn’t sure what to expect when he meets Death- the blinding emerald light of the killing curse hurled in his direction is only a symbol of what he’s imagined thousands of times in this very moment.

A nagging voice has always told him it was bound to end this way. Himself and Voldemort, eye to eye, surrounded by the depths of something dark.

What he never expected was a the frigid feeling of ice crackling from his head to his toes, freezing him whole until his eyes opened to reveal a world just as white.

For a moment, there’s nothing. His eyes adjust to the emptiness, and he’s stumbling as he stands and tries to make out the puzzling aftermath of this purgatory. And then, a voice.

“Wasn’t expecting to see you here, Potter.”

He whips around, startled at the voice but allowing the warmth of familiarity to melt his bones.

“Malfoy? What are you doing here?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” He smirks, and it’s the same pull of his lips that Harry’s seen a thousand times. However, something in his eyes is different. Softer. “I’m dead, Potter. And so are you.”

“Dead?” Harry asks stupidly, and then the memories come rushing forward. The battle. Voldemort. The forest. “But- how did you get here?”

This isn’t right. Harry was supposed to die, yes. But not Malfoy. Even an arch nemesis’s demise is oddly unsettling after so many lives had been claimed.

And then, Malfoy does something Harry has never seen before. He laughs, and it’s a whole, hearty sound.

“I’m a fucking traitor, that’s how.” He shakes his head at himself, as if he’s reliving his last choices. “But, want to know something completely mental? I don’t care.”

His lips have pulled into a full on grin, and Harry feels the rest of the ice pool at his feet.

“I was always meant to end up here, Potter. We were pitted against each other from the start. Kinda sad, once you think about it.”

Harry nods, not quite understanding but unable to let this new Malfoy go. He gulps. “Who did this to you?” He asks, and it’s scratchy. Almost as if Harry himself is afraid of the answer.

“Who else?” Malfoy shrugs. “Father found out I had multiple chances to turn you in and didn’t. At the Manor, when I pretended not to recognize you. And in the Room of Requirement just a while ago.”

“Why didn’t you?” Harry asks, and he’s hooked on this selfless version of the enemy that only Death seemed to twist into reality.

Malfoy shrugs. “Didn’t seem right. I was tired of manipulation. I’ve always been a follower, and I figured that if I couldn’t be a leader, I could at least support one. I knew you had a chance at setting the world free from the same bullshit that ended up killing me.”

“Wow, um... thanks.” Harry mutters, unsure of how to respond. What was once a wintry world has morphed into the warmth of an England summer.

“Please, Potter. Spare me the mushy gushy crap.”

And Harry feels his lips tugging upward, a match to Malfoy’s smile. How ironic; only in death would Harry had ever guessed they’d share a moment like this.

“So, what do we do now?” Harry looks around, trying to make sense of everything. Wondering if this was his new reality, and realizing that he wouldn’t mind so much if it was.

“Obvious, isn’t it? You’re going back.”

“What?” Harry’s brow furrows, and Malfoy’s gazing at him like he knows something.

“You’ve got to go back, Potter. You’ve got to save the world while you still can.”

“I- I don’t understand,” he stammers, but Malfoy’s rising and crossing the empty space between them.

“You get a second chance, Harry. Don’t waste your time conversing with me. Go back; do what I couldn’t.” He smiles again, and Harry feels his legs turn to jelly. He doesn’t fully understand, but for some reason he trusts Malfoy.

“You called me Harry,” he says, puzzled but warm.

“Don’t get used to it.” And then Draco Malfoy is lifting a hand and pressing it to Harry’s forehead. The emptiness turns into an ocean of white blur, and it suddenly occurs to Harry that his time here is done. Running on pure instinct, he grasps Malfoy’s shoulders and holds for dear life, pulling him closer until he’s sure that wherever he’s going, he’s bringing Malfoy with him.

***

His limbs feel heavy, and Harry cracks an eye to realize he’s being carried by Hagrid. He stares through the small slit to see a sea of people, dirty with war but standing determinedly. And in that cluster of bodies, his eyes catch the figure of a blonde.

He’s staring up and down, patting himself in disbelief. Eyes wide with confusion. It’s hard for Harry not to smile. It worked. If anyone deserved a second chance, it was Draco Malfoy.

When Harry does come to life, startling everyone and sparking the light of hope and retribution, it’s Draco Malfoy who throws Harry his wand. They share a knowing glance, a brief stare that holds an eternity of secrets and new beginnings. Like anything could happen. Like they could win.

And they do.

When Voldemort falls, dying in a most humanly fashion, it’s Draco Malfoy who stands next to Harry. They share a celebratory moment, a second that extends beyond Life, even Death, itself. And it’s perhaps the most exhilarated Harry has ever felt.

His new life is nothing like his old one.

In the months following the war, it’s Draco Malfoy who quells the nightmares, who pulls up the sheets at Grimmauld Place and holds him when the stench of death hangs heavy. Who helps to re-build the castle, still struggling with the guilt of his former decisions. Who cries into Harry’s shoulder, welcoming an embrace that he’d never known he’d needed.

It’s Draco Malfoy who calls him scarhead while packing his trunk for eighth year, only to be rebutted by Harry lifting his hair: “IT’S NOT THERE ANYMORE!”

It’s Draco Malfoy who kisses Harry one night in the common room, a bit drunk off of fire whiskey and house unity. But it’s Harry who kisses him back, lacing his fingers around the bare skin of his neck and tugging him closer. And in that moment, Harry feels like he’s died and come back to life.

And in a sense, he has. Thanks to Draco Malfoy.

[quicksilverrwrites]

𝐏𝐀𝐈𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆: peter maximoff x reader 𝐒𝐔𝐌𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐘: you can’t sleep and neither can peter, but at least you both know exactly how to comfort one another. 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐃 𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐓: 2.4k 𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒: 18+, fluff, peter and reader are early to mid twenties, british reader 𝐀𝐔𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐑'𝐒 𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐄𝐒: y/n is known by the mutant name “scribe” and is charles xavier’s niece.

It’s eleven-thirty, and you can’t sleep.

Your thoughts shift to your lessons in the morning; to how tired you’re going to be; to that iced coffee you’d had while getting your assignment done after class; about how that drink was definitely a bad idea considering how you’re lying awake now. It had tasted good then, and it had given you the energy you needed to fire out five thousand words in the span of a few hours… but now you regret it.

Sighing, you roll over. Your eyes glaze over the objects on the nightstand beside your bed. Your alarm clock, rectangular in size and wooden in material, glares at you. Eleven thirty six. Eleven thirty seven. The time seems to spiral, and you realise that you might as well do something with yourself if you’re awake.

You eye the books stacked on top of the alarm clock; you’d been reading one before and it had bored you half to death, so you can’t bring yourself to pick up any again. What else? What else?

Your gaze settles upon the picture frame on the dresser next to your nightstand, and you let out a sigh as you settle upon the silver-haired speedster within it. You’re next to him, a mere blur since he’d sneakily taken the camera from your hand and taken a picture with an expression that radiates cheekiness, but you’d liked the picture enough to keep it.

You’ve got a few more picture frames scattered around your room—photos of you with Scott, Jean, Jubilee and Kurt. Even some of Charles. You might not be close, but he is your uncle, after all. He’s still family.

And yet it’s Peter you keep your eyes on. It’s Peter's mischievous aura which calls to you across the room.

What would he be doing right now? He’s probably playing video games or practicing on one of his guitars. You’d been surprised to see him play well; you’d been surprised to see that he actually had the attention span it takes to successfully learn an instrument. You would know: your mother used to nag you about practicing the piano to perfection. Practice makes perfect, she’d always said, and yet she’d always left out how much energy it took to practice in the first place.

Is it too late to reach out to him? The two of you have a specific way of speaking to one another across distances by now, although even the thought of doing such a thing due to the time seems rude. Your mother had always told you that it was your duty to be polite, and your father had by example. You think you picked it up from him rather than her, but—

Don’t think of him right now. Don’t think of what happened. Don’t.

As if in an effort to push the memory of that night from your head, you move. You pull the drawer attached to your nightstand open to reveal a mess of junk inside, but what you need—and what you spy—is a pen and paper. You pull it from the drawer and slam the nightstand drawer shut quietly, and after, you get to work writing:

Are you up? Can I come over?

Your fingers buzz with azure energy as you feel your mutation working in your favour. A tiny portal of blue opens before you, one you could make larger if you wished but one which you keep small for now. It’s no larger than a letterbox would be, and the faint sound of music from the other side tells you that Peter is very much awake.

You slip the note through the portal, and then you leave it open as you wait.

When you receive no response for a solid fifteen seconds but can hear movement on the other side, you wonder if this was a mistake after all. It’s too late, you scold yourself, mentally preparing for rejection. Oh, god, this is going to be awkward. What if he—

An empty Twinkie box falls at your feet.

You blink at it, momentarily confused, and then you pick it up. You glance about the dessert’s display as you begin to turn the box over in your hands. Nothing on the front, but on the back—

Scrawled in pink glitter pen—probably his sister’s—, the box reads on the back: Yeah. Come through.

You grin lazily as you set the box down on your bed and extend the portal with your fingers like you’re prying open a heavy door. The orange light from Peter’s basement slips through and becomes one with the light of your dorm, which is yellow and warm with your room’s wooden accented walls and flooring. And as you slip through the portal and your bare feet touch the soft tartan carpet of his room, you let the portal shut with a soft shum behind you—

But Peter Maximoff does not look his best. In fact, he looks downright miserable.

His eyes are red as if he’s been crying, his hair is messy—messier than usual, at least—and he’s wearing a band tee and some tartan pajama bottoms that look intended for comfort rather than style. You were about to say hey, but you stop in your tracks. You tilt your head as you look at him.

Peter is still. It’s strange, especially since he’s usually so eccentric. He blurts out, “What?”

You frown, momentarily stuck for what to say. “Nothing,” you respond, but it doesn’t seem right.

Peter stares at you. You stare at him. You’re both quite similar, so it strikes you then that you both know that you’re each not telling each other something.

“You okay?” You ask, suspicion clear in your tone.

Peter shrugs nonchalantly. It’s a rigid movement. “Yeah,” he says, far too confidently to be true. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

You narrow your eyes on him. His tone of voice has all but solidified your suspicions. “Okay, first of all,” you say, crossing the small space of the room between you and the sofa, “you use a very distinctive tone when you lie.” You settle down on the sofa as you cross your legs under you. “Second, your eyes are really red. Have you been—?”

“No.”

Crying, you were about to ask, but he cut you off. You narrow your eyes again.

Peter sighs and averts his gaze, running a hand through his hair. “Tonight’s just… not a good night.”

You press your lips together as sympathy wells in your eyes. “Why not?”

“Can’t sleep.”

“That makes two of us."

Peter inhales deeply, and before you know it, he’s sitting on the sofa next to you. You’re used to how fast he moves by now. Something warms your heart in the way he sits with his body angled towards you. Like he’s opening himself up to you.

“Wanna stay here tonight?” He asks.

You glance at the other end of the sofa and then back to him. You’re reminded of how he took the sofa to sleep on that night after you guys got caught in the rain. “Here?”

Peter’s brows rise. “Is my basement not fancy enough for you?”

You know he’s joking even despite the lack of humour in his tone, and you let out a small huff of laughter as you flash him a lazy smile. You sit back on the sofa, reaching out your hand to intertwine it with his. Things between you are still blooming after your first date, but you both feel comfortable enough to do this. Peter’s fingers wrap around yours as he starts drawing patterns on the back of your hand with his free one.

“I just mean,” you murmur, just loud enough to be heard over the backdrop of quiet music, “won’t your mom mind?”

“She didn’t mind when you stayed over last time.”

Your lips quirk upwards in gentle amusement. “That time you slept on the couch. This time I was thinking, I mean, if you want to, then maybe—”

“Oh,” Peter murmurs. His head lifts upwards in a sort of understanding motion. “Yeah, I mean… ah, I can deal with whatever safe sex talk she wants to give me in the morning.”

Your cheeks flush red. “I didn’t mean that. I just meant maybe we could…” Oh, god, embarrassment— “cuddle.”

Peter grins. “Cuddle, huh?” He pauses, until— “Okay,” he murmurs, reaching an arm around the back of the couch to wrap around you. “I guess I could be down for cuddling.”

You snicker softly as you lean into his touch, your head resting against his shoulder. “Do you want to tell me why you looked so upset when I arrived?”

Peter tenses. “It wasn’t because of you, if that’s what you were thinking.”

“Mm,” you murmur, “I think I’m confident enough in our relationship to know that your reaction when seeing me is generally excitement rather than the dread that accompanies sad under eyes and red markings around them.”

He pauses for a few seconds before he lets out a long breath of defeat. “That obvious, huh?”

“Mm,” you murmur, looking up at him. “A little.”

His lips twist to the side as he lowers his gaze. “I was thinking about my dad.”

It’s your turn to pause now, looking up at him in a way you didn’t before. You assess every detail of his body again: the way his shoulders slump, the way his head hangs low, the way his hair falls in the way of his view and his eyes are heavy with something you haven’t seen in him before. He’s usually so full of life.

Is this what he’s hiding deep down?

“Tell me about it,” you say softly.

Peter grimaces. “It’s a long story, and the stupid thing is it’s mostly my fault.”

Frowning, you sit up and face him. “I don’t believe that.”

Peter lets out a humourless laugh that might be bitter if he showed a hint of anger, but he doesn’t. “It’s true. The only time I’ve ever been too slow and it’s in finding the most…”

He trails off, pulling his arm away from around you so that they both now rest in his lap. He continues, “It’s a mess.”

“Start from the beginning."

So he explains, if not vaguely: about trying to find his father, about finding a house empty and police arriving on the scene. Peter had fled at the sight of them, and—

“His name’s Magneto,” he admits. “Erik Lehnsherr. You’ve probably… seen him on TV or something."

Suddenly, it all adds up. You weren’t at school to see what happened with Apocalypse, but you’ve heard about it from your friend group. Peter doesn’t talk about it very much, and now you know why; had he been part of that whole adventure because of his father? He hadn’t been involved with Xavier’s School before, that much you know.

You suck in a breath. Okay, Y/N, push the fact that his dad’s a known terrorist aside— “Does he know?”

Peter shakes his head. “Nah. I had the chance to tell him and I didn’t. I screwed it up. And now I’m right back where I was before all of it, because I have no clue where he is and no way of telling him the truth. I couldn’t even do it for Wanda.”

“Hey,” you murmur, your fingers moving to cup his cheeks. “Fight or flight, right? It’s normal. To see him right in front of you—to have to muster up the courage to tell him? Knowing what a change that would be for you? Peter, that’s normal.”

Peter’s eyes well with softness as he listens to you, gazes upon you, and you think you’ve never seen him look so vulnerable as he lowers his head to your shoulder. He takes in a shaky breath; wraps his arms around you; pulls you into his lap—

“Thanks,” he murmurs into your shirt. It’s not his shirt this time; you’re wearing a pyjama set that consists of blue silk shorts and a top. “Not sure I believe you, but thanks, Y/N.”

“Is there anything I can do to make you believe me?”

Peter takes a deep breath. “Aside from mind control? Not sure.”

You press your lips together and begin to stroke his hair. “To be honest,” you murmur, “I’m not sure I’d believe you if you tried to tell me something similar about my father, either.”

Peter lets out a choked laugh. “Maybe that’s why we work together.”

Your lips curve upwards, still stroking his hair. His face is still buried in your shoulder. “Maybe,” you whisper, pressing a soft kiss to his head.

Peter shifts so that he’s leaning against the back of the sofa and you’re in his lap again. You turn so that you’re straddling his waist, but your fingers find his jaw to cup the skin there. Your thumb brushes soothingly against his skin.

“You mean a lot to me,” Peter murmurs, staring up at you. It’s almost as if the music in the room has stopped; it’s almost as if the two of you are the only souls left in existence. His brows are slightly raised and there is awe in his voice as he says, “I don’t really believe you’re real half the time.”

You let out a soft laugh. “Definitely real, Peter. Definitely here.”

“Yeah,” he says, his tone riddled with amusement, “and here of all places. You could be anywhere. You’re like, perfect and—”

“Ssh,” you murmur, pressing a finger to his lips. “I don’t want to be anywhere but here with you.”

Peter tilts his head up towards you, a silent request for consent, and you kiss him in answer.

He wraps his arms around your waist as he deepens the kiss, your tongue slipping out to meet his own. He makes a low, guttural noise between pleasure and content at the feeling of it, and your free hand clutches at his shirt as your other hand remains at his jaw.

You spend the rest of the evening like that, whether it's on the sofa or in his bed, but in those moments together there’s nothing carnal about it. Your touches are soft and comforting rather than lustful and yearning, and as much as you’ve thought about him that way before, you know that now’s not the time.

Tonight, you both need this. Tonight, your sole purpose is to be there for one another.

“And for the record,” Peter murmurs between kisses, his words random and uncalculated, “I think your tragic backstory’s way worse than mine.”

[monsteronfire]

Fishing for a Star

type;; One-shot (6.4K words)

pairing(s);; fratboy!JK x older!Reader/OC

genre;; Slice of Life, Smut, College AU

warnings;; Drinking, oral (male receiving), shy!Koo, sub!Koo, slightly dom!Reader/OC, Yoongi being a dumbass voyeur, both parties pining for each other like idiots

a/n;; I feel like it’s been a motherfuckin’ year since I’ve written and posted anything. I honestly started this thing probably a year ago. I just really love the chill college parties trope. Might add more to this, but unlikely. Enjoy my pain as I cry over JK in leather.

edit;; Totally forgot to put a read more tag on here, sorry y’all. I even told myself to fucking do it right as I started the post. Also the pic isn’t mine, got it off Google.

------

“Please tell me that’s not what you’re wearing.”

You step out of the way for your housemate, the hoodie you’d picked out momentarily blinding you while you pulled it over your head.

“If I wasn’t, I wouldn’t be putting it on.” You say, finally getting it over your head and shaking the hair out of your face. You blink at her half-way-to-getting-ready state, noting in the back of your head how good she looks even now. Her hair is done, wavy and a little disheveled. The shine of the dark strands makes you want to run your fingers through them, knowing they will be soft. Her makeup is half done and she’s dressed only in her underwear, but she’s beautiful all the same. You can tell she’s planning to doll herself up tonight and why shouldn’t she? It’s one of the biggest frat parties of the year and with it being her last year, she’s aiming to have a good time.

“This is a party, (Y/N). At least try and look a little slutty.”

You snort and grin a little, watching her pop her hip out while she eyes you.

“Why is that, baby?” You reply, reaching up to pull a couple of strands of her hair back into place fondly.

“I plan to get laid tonight. I expect you to too, babe.” She snaps, swatting your hand away.

“Sorry, sexy. I’m fishing for something special tonight and it doesn’t require the slutty look.”

“Oh god, not again.”

“What?” You question, turning back to the full length mirror and carding your fingers through your own hair to fix it.

“You’ve been after this boy for three years, (Y/N). He’s got you wrapped around his finger.” She states, walking away from you and back into the bathroom. You’re still smiling when you check one final time to make sure the jeans you’re wearing make your ass look great before leaning against the door frame.

“That was my plan from the beginning. Now I just need to wrap him around mine.”

She snorts, leaning over the sink and closer to the mirror.

“I said three years, didn’t I? If you haven’t bagged him yet, you won’t.”

You pout at her, but are undeterred. You know what kind of person he is and you’re well aware of how much work he had and will continue to take. You could tell he was not a one and done from the first moment you saw him. He would take time, a lot of it and you were willing to put it all in.

“You know how stubborn I can be.” You chuckle at her. She rolls her eyes, but smirks none the less. She knows she can’t say a word to change your mind.

“Whatever. If I catch you two together, I’m telling him to fuck you already.”

You laugh as you walk away, working on gathering what you’ll want to take to the party.

“You sure I’ll even be allowed at this thing?!”

“Are you kidding?! Everyone is invited to this party. The doors are left open so anyone can just fucking walk in off the street!”

You chuckle, grabbing your bag and stuffing your wallet in it. You’d graduated a couple years ago and while most of the seniors would know you, you sometimes felt weird hanging out at a party in the college you’d already graduated from. A girl has to do what she has to do when a baby boy is on the line, though.

And a baby boy he was.

-

“Jae!”

You smile as you and your friend enter the large, old house. The lighting is dim, the music is thumping and all you can smell is alcohol, sex and sweat. There’s noise all around you, but you and your friend weave through the crowd easily. Nearly everyone greets you as you two pass, guys high-fiving you and girls giggling and touching your arms. You bounce to the music as you follow her, the two of you making your way past the front stairs and down the hall. You make a pit stop in the kitchen- Jae grabbing the classic Solo cup and you pulling a bottle of beer from a cooler full of ice- before heading out onto the back deck.

The backyard is just as crowded as the house, people in the pool, people in the gazebo and people littering about the yard and deck. There’s a large bonfire near the back of the yard and a couple other smaller fire pits in random spots. One of them is up on the deck in a small metal  pit, the warm flames surrounded by the very reason you and Jae came tonight.

“There’s our girls!” Namjoon shouts, lifting his can and drawing the attention of the seven other guys around him to you two. Taehyung, Hoseok and Jin all shout in unison as they spot you, Tae standing and pressing a sloppy kiss to your friend’s cheek. Yoongi and Namjoon lift their hands as you get closer and you reach out to slap each one. Jimin stands to press little pecks to first your cheek and then Jae’s. You all greet each other quietly before Jae slides herself into her target’s lap. She’s been after Jin all year and you haven’t been the only person sitting back to watch their game of cat and mouse. Jin is practically an expert at flirting just enough to keep her hooked without giving her what she really wants.

To be young and in lust.

Your eyes finally find the last member of the group, his silence keeping him out of spotlight unless he’s being searched for. He’s already looking at you when you spot him and his eyes dart down to his shoes while he shuffles behind Yoongi and Jimin. He can only keep his eyes off you for a moment before they find yours and he’s trapped. You smile softly at him, taking delight in how his eyes widen a fraction and his pupils grow. He’s holding a Solo cup, the rings on his fingers glinting in the firelight as he deftly squeezes them a bit tighter. He looks good tonight, his dark hair pushed back away from his forehead to show his strong brow. He’s dressed in all black, black t-shirt tucked into black jeans, black boots and to top it all off a leather jacket. He definitely pulled all the stops on you tonight and you have to make a conscious effort not to drool when you stare at him. He looks like a badass and you know every other girl in this joint sees him the same way, but you know the truth.

“Uh-oh,” Jae mumbles into Jin’s ear.

“She’s spotted her target and is locked on.”

You don’t bother listening to her, instead creeping closer to the object of your desire.

“Hey, Jungkookie,” You murmur quietly to him, leaning in a bit closer, but not too close. You had to be very meticulous with him.

“Hey, noona,” he responds shyly and the whole circle of friends is a sniggering mess for a moment. Pink begin’s to dust his cheeks, but you spare him a little and turn to flick Jimin in the back of the head.

“You lot are pretty curious tonight. Weren’t you all having a conversation before we came up?”

They all snigger some more, but quickly go back to bullshitting around the fire, leaving you and Jungkook in peace. You take another step closer to him, half expecting him to maintain the distance between you, but he remains still and lets you get closer. Threes years it’s taken you to get even this close to him, his overtly shy and sweet demeanor keeping him just out of reach of your darker, more corrupted hands.

“You look good tonight,” you comment and his blush darkens in the firelight. He thanks you almost too quietly, quickly bringing the cup of beer he’s holding to his lips to distract himself somehow and it has you chuckling lowly at him. He looks away from you, avoiding your eyes and you can’t stop the fiendish grin on your lips. You finally give him some respite, turning away from him to join in on the random conversation that the group is sharing around the small fire pit.

Finally…

He get’s his chance and takes it without a second thought. He spent years hesitating in such small matters and found himself either missing out or always caught if he didn’t take the chance when it was presented to him. So he learned. Now when you have those few precious moments where your focus is not on him- where you are off guard for just a beat- he gets to watch you instead. Watch the way your eyes glow in the firelight, or the way your hair just barely shifts as a warm breeze lazes by. He takes in your simple outfit, jeans and a sweatshirt. Nothing like the rest of the girls at every party he’s ever been to. Your smile moves your whole face, your cheeks rising, you lips splitting and even your eyes squinting shut as you tease Taehyung. His lips quirk a little on their own when he notices that your ears shift a little when you smile as well.

Your lashes are long even without makeup, so much so that the first time he’d ever met you he could have sworn they were fake. But then he caught you tugging on them one afternoon while you told old stories with Namjoon. You did it regularly and had told him you could feel the dead ones coming out, you wanted to get them before they fell into your eyes. A quirk he’d logged away to keep safe for the rest of eternity. The beer in your one hand shifts to the other, the rings on your fingers clinking just loud enough for him to hear over Hoseok’s shouting. A hobby of sorts you shared with Jimin. You two wore the same ring size and often went shopping for new ones together, even swapping every now and again. The free hand moves about in the air as you speak and Jungkook thinks it almost weird now to see someone talk without gesturing with their hands so much. How did one truly immerse another in their words if they didn’t show them how it felt as well? When you were angry- fuming for either your own hardships or for those of a friend- you pointed a lot, your head shaking and your hands slicing through the air to signal how done you were. When you told stories of your adventures with the oldest members of his brothers your hands where always in the air; swiping, rolling, falling and twisting. You painted such a picture with only the movement of your hands when you spoke. They weren’t really dainty, your palms wide and your fingers not very long, but they fit perfectly with his hands. A fact that amazes him, but that he’s grown rather fond of. When you laugh, it’s loud. Not soft, not like the twinkling of bells, but like a song. Loud, but still beautiful and it can range from joyous mirth to deep and rich fondness, the type of feeling that fills your chest with warmth and adoration. That’s the laugh he enjoys the most, that deep chuckle. The one you give to him quietly so just the two of you can hear it.

He wants you. He was confused at first, for a long time. Scared of your mature age compared to him and your strength. He always sees you as strong, even if you don’t think so yourself. You always make him nervous, unsure if he is really worthy of the sweet attention you give him. The quiet whispers just between the two of you, the soft touches, the adoring look in your eyes. He fears all your attention, but he can’t deny now that he wants it- needs it. He can’t go a day without it.

-

The party winds down and you are delighted at the sight of mattresses being brought down and strewn haphazardly across the floor in their living room. When Jungkook finally picks his spot you waste no time in shuffling closer to his mattress. Normally you would keep your distance, allowing him his comfort of solitude to sleep, but you’ve already allowed him plenty of his liberties tonight. You will get something out of this evening if not a simple kiss in the dark. He shocks you by saying nothing as you lay down, your eyes just catching a glimpse of Jae and Jin heading upstairs. Probably to his room to finally earn what she’s worked so hard for. She quickly casts you a thumbs up, a large grin on her face as she tries to keep it unnoticed by anyone else in the room. You return the gesture and chuckle, groaning a bit when you body finally hits the not so comfortable springs. You take a moment to sigh before opening your eyes again and focusing them on the object of your desires.

He’s staring right back at you and your breath catches in your throat, lost in the sea of stars in his eyes. They’re wide and shining, staring so intently at you that you almost don’t take notice to the shine of his lips. Like he’s just licked them a few times. Even in the dim light of the moon that filters in through the windows and the very few lights in the house on you can see them glisten, and your eyes are torn between them and his shining eyes. He looks like a lost puppy staring at you, but there’s more in his eyes. He looks in awe, almost afraid and- dare you say it- a little eager. Like he wants something to happen, but it scares him and that thought alone drives straight to your core. A fire alights inside you and suddenly you’re staring back at him with equally wide eyes, your bottom lip trapped between your teeth. The action immediately draws his large eyes to your mouth and fuck if you don’t almost groan when his tongue pokes out to lick nervously over his lips again.

His mouth parts ever so slightly and you swear you can hear him panting a little over the din of people ambling to where they plan to sleep. Someone plops down directly behind you, their back hitting yours as they shift to get comfortable. You’re right on the edge of the mattress, so this person has to be hanging off the one they’re laying on to be this close to you. And by the feel of how broad their shoulders are it’s definitely a man. Your eyes narrow and you almost growl when Jungkook stiffens in front of you and the man knocks against you again. Your head turns just enough to spot the thin, white shirt he’s wearing stretch over one shoulder before you’re shoving back with your elbow. He grunts when you dig into his back, but says nothing else, only leaning away from the discomfort. He’s clearly wasted. Still, he’s too close to you and taking the great opportunity presented before you, you scoot closer to the apple of your eye. He doesn’t shy away and it takes all your effort not to reach out to him when you finally focus back on him.

“Sorry,” you whisper, scooting just a tiny bit closer than you really need to. He shakes his head quietly, mumbling out an ‘it’s okay’ while his body leans closer to yours. God you want to ravage this sweet boy. It’s practically making your heart explode with how cute he’s being right now. He’d looked away in his response, but when he looks back to you he’s dragging his lip through his teeth and you really can’t take it. Again you two are lost in your own little world as you stare at each other.

“Jungkookie… you’re not being very nice to me right now.”

His eyes widen even further- if that’s even possible- and he looks almost stricken at the comment.

“What?” He manages to almost whimper out and you just can’t stop yourself from scooting even closer to him.

“You’re looking at me so sweetly, baby. How am I supposed to play nice with you tonight if you keep staring at me like that?”

You don’t know where all this confidence is coming from. Granted you’ve always been a bit more confident than the young man in front of you, but even still, you never thought you’d get to a degree where you were saying such flirtatious things in such a dominant tone to him.

“Play… nice?”

The glint changes in your eyes and Jungkook visibly shutters at the sight. Your eyes had been so deep and full of adoration just a moment ago, now all he sees is greed and lust. It makes his already hard cock twitch in his pants. Gods he’s been hard from the moment you called him that nickname- Jungkookie. He generally doesn’t like anyone, but the guys saying it. But every time you say it…

He’s almost scared to feel how excited he’s getting every time you scoot a little bit closer. He doesn’t want you to stop. Not until your body is finally pressed to his and he can hold you so tight, and never let go. He’d hoped something would have happened between you two before tonight, but he was always so scared and you were always so cautious with him. He just wants you to ravage him already. He’s dreamed about it practically every night, it might as well happen already.

“Stop,” you suddenly say and he can feel your fingers on his chin, pulling his lip from between his teeth.

“If you lick or bite your lips one more time,” you have to take a moment to calm yourself before continuing, “… I don’t think I’ll be able to stop myself.”

He throbs in his jeans and when he locks eyes with you he’s lost. He doesn’t want you to stop, he realizes that now after feeling your fingers touch his skin. Fire ignites where they trace from his chin and along his jaw. He trembles beneath your touch and you can feel it. Oh you can feel it. You do the opposite of what you just told him, biting your lip to draw his eyes to them again as you two gravitate ever closer.

“Unless you don’t want me to.”

He doesn’t speak, he feels like he doesn’t know how to in that moment. He doesn’t trust himself to anyway, so he does the next best thing. He licks his lips again and is rewarded. Your fingers that had been running along his jaw suddenly snake into the hair at the nape of his neck and you pull him close. He is just as needy as you are, his hands which had been fiddling with his shirt the whole time are suddenly flying up to tug your bodies even closer. Your lips crash against his and he whimpers into your mouth when you both open them simultaneously, your tongue dragging along his. It takes all your conscious effort not to moan, your body melding itself against his. His arms wrap around you and squeeze you to him, his whimpers turning into a little moan when you gain dominance in the kiss.

You pull away, one of your hands coming back to his jaw to to place a thumb over his open lips. You turn to look back at the bodies laying around the room, most of the members of the fraternity still down here, all of them passed entirely the fuck out. The guy just behind you is snoring up a storm and you can’t help smirking a little when you turn back to face Jungkook. He looks so fucked out already, his eyes glazed and his pupils blown wide as he pants lightly against your thumb. Your smile is both devious and full of fondness as you stare at him.

“You look so good baby, but you have to be quiet for me,” you whisper to him and he does nothing more than open his mouth wider. His tongue snakes out and licks against your thumb, pulling it in and sealing his lips around the appendage. He suckles on it hungrily and gods be damned if your panties aren’t soaked at this point.

“Fuck,” you sigh, squeezing your thighs together. You want him so bad it almost hurts. He pulls away far enough that your thumb pops from his lips and he whimpers once again, pulling you as close as he can.

“Noona, please,” he says, his breath shuddering.

“Please what, baby?”

He grabs one your hands and pulls it down between your bodies, pressing your palm to the bulge in his jeans. Your breathing deepens when you palm the hardness through the thick fabric, wondering how you didn’t notice it before.

“Oh baby,” you coo quietly and rub your hand heavily over his bulge. He bites his lip to hold back the moan threatening to break free and you feel his hips start to rock into your hand. He’s so fucking hot, how have you been able to resist him for so long?

“How long have to been this hard?”

He takes a moment to respond, trying to take deep breaths. Your hand stalls to help him regain some semblance of sanity, but he seems against the idea. His hand returns to gripping yours, pressing your palm back against his hard-on.

“Long time,” he finally gets out in a clipped tone, probably unable to speak properly at this point.

“Poor thing.”

You pull closer to him, pressing your forehead to his and lowering your voice so that you’re barely audible.

“Take your cock out for me, baby. Please.”

He keeps you close and groans into your neck, only taking a moment to collect himself before he’s pushing away, and his hands are flying to undo his pants. He struggles with the button for a moment, but you don’t help him, only leaning back to watch with excitement. When he finally gets them undone he’s tugging them down just enough so he can freely pull is cock out and gods is it beautiful. Your mouth waters as soon as he has it out, its pink color and red head making you want to feel the weight of it on your tongue. It’s not particularly long, but it’s thicker than you thought it would be and the precum that glistens on his tip calls out to you. You let out a heavy breath when his hands hover just shy of his shaft, trembling and aching to give the poor weeping thing some relief. Still he hesitates to touch himself.

Such a good boy.

“You’re so gorgeous,” you practically wheeze out, finding it hard to breathe when your twitching hand finally reaches out for him. He’s whimpering before you even touch him and you have to remind him to be quiet when the tip of your finger goes to touch the head.

“Remember, baby, keep it down.”

He nods a little shakily and just as you press into the precum on his tip with your finger, his hands are flying up to cover his mouth. He’s so sensitive and you love it.

“Well, you’re certainly aching there aren’t you? Does it feel good to have me touch you?”

Again he nods and you pout, swirling your finger in the sticky fluid at his tip. His eyes clench shut at the sensation and he deftly thrusts his hips up to meet more of your hand.

“Use your words or I’ll have to stop.”

“Yes,” he whispers out harshly, his hands clenching into fists at his stomach, “… yes, yes, yes, yes!”

You smirk, the high you’re getting from all of this driving you to carry on.

“Good boy.”

You continue to swirl your finger over his tip a few more times, widening your circle until you’re sliding your finger down the top of his length, all the way to the base. He pants a little too heavily, his eyes glued to your hand and what you’re doing to him. You circle around his base to the bottom of his cock before dragging your finger back up and rubbing it deftly over the slit a few times.

“Fuck noona-“

“Language, Jungkookie.” You say with a smirk, your hand finally flattening over the underside of his length so you can palm him a few times. His hips rock against his will and meet you half way every time you press down on him. He looks so pretty like this, his eyes nearly black and so focused on how your palm drags over his length. He’s sweating a little, panting a lot and his gorgeous cock is ready to explode at any second. And you’ve barely even done anything to him yet.

“What made you so hard and needy like this?”

He stays silent for a long moment, only answering when the pressure of your hand lightens and you begin to pull away.

“You… you made me like this. You always… make me like this.”

Always?

“Fuck, Kookie, if you had told me sooner we might’ve actually got it in tonight.”

His eyes are glistening at this point as they shoot up to glance at you before scrunching shut when your fingers finally wrap around his shaft. You pump him slowly, but his hips make up for that and keep the sliding of his cock in and out of your hand at a steady pace.

“I wanted to. Fuck I wanted to, but…”

“But?”

He pants a few times, focused more on chasing his high. Your grip on his cock tightens to the point that he’s forced to stop thrusting, only allowing him to continue when he answers.

“I-I was scared. And you were being so cautious with me-“

“Of course I was! I didn’t want to scare you away. I worked too hard for you, I wasn’t going to mess that up by being too greedy.”

His hips stutter and then pause, his eyes opening to look at you. His face is flush, you can tell even in the dark, and his hair is starting to stick to his face. Still he looks like the sexiest, most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen.

“Why?”

“What?” You ask, not prepared to be questioned back like this.

“Why did you put so much effort into me. You could’ve easily slept with one of the other guys. Yoongi’s always had the hots for you. So has Tae. Why me?”

You take a long moment to mull over your answer, your other hand coming up to push some of his sweaty hair out of his face. When you get some clear, you lean in to kiss him a little more gently this time. Though it isn’t any less heated, it’s more of a deep sensual kiss than one of hunger and lust. When you pull away, you look him in the eyes when you answer.

“The same reason anyone chooses anyone else. You’re the one I wanted, Kookie. I would’ve put in a hundred years of work if I had to.”

His eyes are wide with adoration and awe, but the moment can’t last forever. His cock twitching in your hand reminds you of what is happening and you squeeze it gently before going back to pumping him. He gasps quietly at the sensation, his eyes falling closed and his body slowly starting to roll backwards. You move with him, pressing your body into his side when he’s finally laying flat on his back. His hands are clenching and unclenching against his stomach, desperate for some kind of anchor. A thought pings into your mind while you watch him grasp sporadically at his shirt, releasing his cock and pushing both his hands and the shirt up his abdomen. He whines at the loss of contact, lifting his head to see why you’d stopped stroking him only for his eyes to go wide. He looks a bit panicked, his gaze darting around to the half dead bodies around you two. You could so easily be caught, but most of the occupants of the house were completely wasted and would likely never remember this even if they did see it.

You slide down his body quietly, stealthily, like a cat taunting its prey into the shadows. Your eyes catch his and they hold him, their mischief so palpable that it makes Jungkook’s mouth go dry and his cock pulsate so fiercely it taps against his stomach. Your one hand trails down his side lightly, nails tickling his hip and thigh so that he’s shuddering beneath you. He reaches for you, one hand cupping your cheek- wants to tell you to stop, but his throat is so dry he can’t even whisper. Or perhaps he’s lying to himself and doesn’t want you to stop at all. When you quirk an eyebrow in question and you feel the object of your desire tap against your throat with another needy pulse, you know the answer is no, he doesn’t want you to stop.

A trembling whisper of your name leaves his lips and you can only smirk, tilting your head down to kiss just above his navel and then to one side of it. Down, down, further you trail, your kisses getting sloppier as you descend closer to your target. Your tongue and teeth leave wet, rosy patches as you go and you can feel his muscles quivering every time you touch him until finally the desperately red tip of his cock is right in front of you. He whimpers beneath you and you shush him gently, unable to tear your eyes away from the way it pulses and twitches up towards you.

“Please,” he finally lets out, sounding much like he’s on the verge of tears. You smirk again and glance up at him through your lashes.

“Please what, baby?”

He huffs cutely, his other hand cupping the other side of your face and his thumbs smoothing along your cheekbones like he’s so desperate to just pull you into his cock, but doesn’t want to be too demanding. You smile a bit more when his look gets more and more frantic, one of your arms reaching up to rub his chest under his shirt soothingly.

“Relax, my sweet star. Just tell me what you want and I’ll give it to you.”

“P-please…”

“Go on, baby. I know you want it, just tell me.”

“Please, I want your mouth,” he finally shutters out, but you can’t help yourself and push just a bit more.

“What do you want from my mouth?”

He huffs again and looks away, searching the room to make sure everyone there is truly oblivious.

“I-I want…”

“Want?”

“Please, noona, ravage me with your mouth.”

He looks you directly in the eyes as he finishes and the glee that soars through you practically makes you light headed. You grin broadly at him and bite your lip.

“I’ll give you anything you want, bunny. You just have to ask.”

Before he can really bask in your words you focus back on his cock, the hand that had been trying to soothe him shooting down to wrap gently round his base and lead his head to your waiting tongue. His breath shudders out and his mouth opens to let out a rush of air. The precum leaking from his tip covers your tongue in salt, but you don’t mind, all too desperate to feel the full weight of him at the back of your throat. Still you take your time, only licking at his slit to tease him, another droplet of precum oozing out every time to you do.

He’s panting while he watches you, his hands trembling on your face until one shakily weaves into your hair at the crown of your head. He doesn’t grip or pull, doesn’t try to shove more of his cock into your mouth which is what you’re used to. No, he’s too gentle and sweet to force anything. He only wants and lets you lead the way. When you finally wrap you lips around his tip he can’t hold back the noise, his head falling back, his teeth digging into his bottom lip and what he hopes is a quiet moan leaving him. And you can only smirk at the sound, the subtle shudder in his voice making you even more wet and your stomach clench with desire.

You take the time to generously wet the head of his cock, delighting in its twitches while you swirl your tongue around him. When you pop him from your lips the poor thing looks pathetic, practically weeping in your fingers and you feel all too obliged to take him back in. Only this time you take him all in, or at least as much as you can. You suck him all the way to the back of your throat, moaning quietly around his shaft so he can feel the vibrations. And oh does it make him make the most wonderful of sounds. A surprised cry and the slapping of a hand over his mouth (the one that was lightly stroking his fingers along your cheek) has you trying to smile around him.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck-…”

He lets the mantra trail off quietly, his body arched so you can’t see his face anymore. And as much as you adore the sight of him losing control, you’d much rather see the pleasure on said face. You suck harshly and pull off him, letting him once again pop from your lips. You take care to pump him slowly while you speak, you spit slicking his cock enough that there’s little friction.

“Look at me baby.”

It takes him a few moments, but you wait patiently until he realizes you gave him an order and he follows through. He looks a little lost when he finally locks eyes with you, his gaze a little wild like he can’t really see you at first.

“Noona?”

“Are you with me, sweetheart?”

He looks confused, but nods all the same, probably ready to agree to anything at this point.

“Listen carefully, baby. I want you to look at me the whole time. Don’t you dare look away or I’ll stop, okay? Eyes on me.”

He nods deftly, afraid he won’t be able to fulfill your request, but eagerly wanting to please you.

“Good boy.”

You don’t give him any time to prepare himself and suck him back in as far as he’ll go. He wheezes and squeezes his eyes shut for just a moment, quickly remembering your order and opening them back up to focus on you again. You smirk around his cock to let him know you approve and focus back on your task. When you can’t push him any further down your throat you opt to bob your head, one hand stroking what you can’t swallow and the other massaging his balls. You look up every few seconds to make sure he’s still watching and only have to stop once to make him look at your again. The sloppier his cock and your mouth gets the more he shakes and shudders beneath you, the hand in your hair trembling like a leaf in the wind. He keeps his other hand up by his face, ready to cover his mouth every time he can’t hold back a whimper or moan.

It doesn’t take long, only a few minutes and he’s desperately pleading to you, “I’m cumming, I’m cumming, I-“

You push him in as far as you can take and swallow around him just once before he’s shooting his load down your throat. Tears form in his eyes when he squeezes them shut and you can’t fault him when his head falls back onto the mattress. He did such a good job of watching you, you’ll let him have this one. When the last of his cum is swallowed down, you take care to gently clean what you can off his cock with your tongue. He shakes and gasps beneath you as you do, his head shaking back and forth as if to say he can’t take anymore. You pop off him one last time and kiss his tip softly, grinning when he finally cracks his eyes open to look at you.

He looks madly in love while he stares at you and it makes you somewhat nervous to see such intense emotion in his eyes. You lift yourself and crawl back up his body, pausing to help him pull his pants back up and his shirt back down. You hush him when he tries to button and zip everything back up, pushing his weak and tired hands away.

“No one will notice, just rest baby.”

“Well that was hot.”

You freeze over him, Jungkook’s body going rigid and his eyes widening with fear. You both look over your shoulder and spot Yoongi a small ways away from the foot of your mattress, laying on his side with his head propped up in one hand. He’s smirking at the two of you and while Jungkook looks mortified, you only feel proud. Now someone has witness that Jungkook is yours and no one else can have him.

“Hyung,” he whispers harshly, both his hands coming up to cover his face. You smile fondly at your boy before looking back to Yoongi.

“Well if you’re good and keep this to yourself, maybe next time you can join us.”

Yoongi quirks an eyebrow and grins excitedly, Jungkook letting out a panicked noise when you settle in beside him. He whispers to you quietly as if he doesn’t want Yoongi to hear and you only shush him gently to calm him.

“Lay down and rest, bunny. Don’t worry about him, he’ll keep quiet.”

“But-“

“Shh, sleep.”

You run your fingers through his hair until he finally settles down, turning so that he can wrap himself around you and tuck his head under your chin. You chuckle lovingly and continue to pet him, using your free hand to flip Yoongi off when he makes lewd gestures at you in the dark.

[doveypink]

the one i left behind [technoblade imagine]

summary: you recount the moments leading up to your death. genre: angst words: 5.3k warnings: death, (past) abusive relationships, swearing, general violence a/n: i've been working on this one for a long time. i hope you all enjoy reading this as much as i did writing it!!

[ part two: come and find me ]

Freezing. I was absolutely freezing.

The brisk wind was sharp, leaving pinpricks of its icy touch upon my skin. I could have sworn there was snow, but when my eyes finally cracked open to peer around me, there was only the burning blaze of the sun and lush fields surrounding me. I turned my head to the side lazily, feeling the grass tickle my cheek. My body felt stiff and I stretched my arms out as though clasping the sky between my fingers, and my muscles loosened as I lifted myself from the ground. How long had I been laying there? Time seemed to escape me as I tried to recollect myself. I was just tired, that was all; if I went home now, I’m sure I would remember again. I would make myself a big meal, as well, something hot to melt away my chill, even though I didn’t seem to feel any ounce of hunger within me.

I walked in the direction of a place I couldn’t quite remember, attempting to turn the preceding events over in my mind. The only thing I could seem to recall was the smell of something burning, a bright flash of light, a big bang — fireworks, an image of creation and destruction all at once. It was almost as though I had never existed before this moment, lying in a bed of flowers, untouched by the calloused hands of the living.

I walked through the field, reaching out to pick a single flower from the blades of grass—a blood-red carnation—when I noticed that the shade of my skin had lost its warmth. Where it once had the flushed undertone of my blood, it was now ashen with the impression of death. I flinched, suddenly shivering as my cold bones once again made themselves known. A thought occurred to me, a memory that had slipped my mind in my haze: I only had one life left. 

And I lost it.

Without thinking, my feet began to glide over the earth, kicking up dirt and pebbles as I ran. If I had lost my last life, something awful must have happened. What was it? I tried to pull the memories from the vault in my mind, but it seemed to be locked. All that was left were the shadows under the door, the footsteps in the distance, the keyhole that could only provide a glimpse into a scene.

I smelled it, then, the same scent that I recalled upon waking up, though fainter: something hot and burnt. Up ahead, there was a wisp of smoke floating above the trees, and I hurried towards them. The ground became blackened with scorch marks and, among the ruins of a building I could no longer recognize, I caught sight of blood. My heart sank, and with a start, I realized that there was a crater full of rubble and fires that had long been burning. I stepped through the debris, stumbling over broken doors, shards of glass, golden goblets and picture frames; dozens of signs of life all buried in ash and smoke, melted into a haunting image of destruction. Nothing was recognizable, but I knew what this place was: L’Manburg. Or, more accurately, what was left of it.

I searched the ruins of the country, cringing at the blood streaked debris and discarded weapons and armor that lay haphazardly among the wreckage. I circled the edge of the massive crater, unable to step much further into the space due to its depth. I looked down at the scorched land and moved out, surveying the surrounding area. 

Upon noticing the remnants of a building—someone’s house, maybe? It was too far gone to make out—I felt compelled to search what was left of the structure. I wasn’t sure what drew me to suddenly climb through burnt wood and broken cobblestone; some part of me felt as though I would find an answer to all my questions, a sign, anything to point me in the right direction. I felt desperate to find something to satisfy the tug in my cold heart. My freezing hands sifted through the mess, shoving away rubble and pushing through the debris until my hands were covered in dirt and bruised from the digging. My hands suddenly found something smooth and dense, and my searching became frantic as I pushed through the ruins to find what I had been unknowingly searching for: my bow. I tugged it out from under stone and dirt, running my fingers down the edge of the smooth silver. It remained unmarked despite the destruction surrounding it, the curve of its limbs untarnished and shining brilliantly in the evening light. I searched some more and discovered the hard shell of my arrow quiver and a number of silver-tipped arrows still inside. I stood and slung the quiver over my shoulder with my bow in hand, feeling almost complete with the items on my person. 

The wind picked up and blew through my hair, insisting that I look further. I stepped into the wreckage of the building, an unsettled feeling rising in the pit of my stomach. Then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw a flash of red against pale grey stone; I turned, staring at the scene before me with wide, horrified eyes.

A short distance from where my bow was found, there was a violent splatter of crimson against the rubble. It looked like a balloon full of paint had popped, streaking the cold stones with a sickeningly bright shade of red. Among the drying mess, there was a flurry of scorch marks strewn across the area, a minor crater digging into the earth where the scene lay. I realized what this all was, my hands trembling as I clutched my bow. 

I had died here.

I screwed my eyes shut, plagued with a sudden onslaught of memories that I no longer wished for. Falling to my knees, I held my head in my hands and shook violently, my head pounding with a torrential rain of scenes flashing in my mind. All I could do was be swept away in the flood.

* * * * *

“Are you still mad at me?”

I blinked at Techno with an arrow in hand, sharpening its tip and inspecting the edge. I was mad at him, but I didn’t feel like giving him an answer. If he had to ask, he already knew; we were both smart enough to understand each other like that. He sighed when I wordlessly turned my gaze back to my arrow, stepping towards me and plucking it from my grasp. I jumped up, prepared to steal it back. “Hey—!”

“You know why I had to do this. Don’t get mad at me,” Techno said, his voice low and serious. 

I crossed my arms and frowned. “Right. You have to team with Dream just to blow up a country. You definitely couldn’t have done it on your own or, I don’t know, with me to help, yeah? Because the great Technoblade is always right—”

“We have common interests—”

“And I hate being interrupted.”

Techno went silent after I snapped at him, adjusting his cape while I gritted my teeth. “I thought you hated him,” I said slowly, “and I hated him too. You know what he did, you know how it hurt me, and you still…” I trailed off, feeling suddenly exhausted—exhausted from fighting, exhausted from chasing a peace I could never have. 

Techno placed a gentle hand on my shoulder—a gesture he rarely used, and reserved for me—and met my eyes. “Just this once,” he said. “I still owe him a debt, but this will be the end. It’s within our reach.”

“I could die,” I said plainly. This made Techno pause, his entire body freezing over like a lake in winter, so I pushed further. “I could die. I could lose my last life, and I gladly will for what we’re doing, because I believe in this. I know we haven’t always been right, but I know that this is. I hate that you let Dream in, and I’m going to be angry. I deserve to be angry.”

“You’re not going to die,” he said with certainty. “Not when I’m there.” 

I couldn’t tell if Techno was trying to reassure me or himself with his words, but either way, the weight of the possibilities made my stomach turn with anxiety. “You can’t be so sure. I’m not exactly as talented as you are at everything,” I countered.

“Don’t say that,” Techno insisted, his tone full of frustrated reassurement. “I won’t ever let anything bad happen to you. Never again. And hey,” he started, poking my cheek, “you’re more than capable of handling yourself, anyway. You couldn’t die even if you wanted to.”

“I think you have too much confidence in me, Techno.”

“Cut that sentence 3 words short and I’ll consider agreeing with you.”

I sighed, finally letting myself crack a small smile. “I’m still mad at you, but I trust you. Only out of pity though—I know you couldn’t last a day without me around.”

Techno grinned, his sharp-toothed grin melting the ice as he returned my arrow. “Good thing it’ll never come to that.”

I shook my head, twirling the arrow in my hand while I inspected it silently. Techno turned away to prepare his own weapons, leaving me alone with the aftermath of our conversation. 

My anger had been redirected with my friend’s words of reassurance, now colliding with my resentment for Dream. Even though I did have faith in Techno, I still feared the possibility of Dream playing a trick on us. I sharpened my arrow and considered my choices: I follow Techno’s lead and go along with Dream’s help, or I take matters into my own hands. I finished up with my arrows, placing them neatly into my quiver as I prayed that the latter wouldn’t have to occur.

I already knew well enough that war was brutal.

With a deep, tired sigh, I leaned back and recalled a time not so long ago—just a few years at most—when I wasn’t resentful of Dream. We were friends, once, and I’ll admit that I admired him; I bitterly wondered what would have happened if I had ever found the courage to tell him just how much I adored him, but the thought made some long forgotten part of me ache, prickling my heart with thorns. It was shameful of me to wonder what could have been, even more so to speak it; there was a reason why only Techno knew, and there was a reason why his decision made my blood bubble over in frustration and betrayal. 

I considered the moment I caught Dream shifting, edging away from his former self as his own hubris overtook him, rotting his soul as something else took form. He had always treated me as an equal, and he charmed me with his kind words and gentle gaze. I couldn’t begin to understand how suddenly he was so cruel to me, taking me by surprise when his usual soft tone became sharp and grating, tearing me apart from the inside out. I had only ever been supportive of him, even when he did things I couldn’t agree with; even when his friends turned their backs on him; even when I found myself seeking his approval at every turn despite his cruelty. Nothing I did could ever seem to be enough.

The first time I was separated from Dream was after Techno captured me, initially planning to use me as leverage against his rival to put an end to the government. After finding me, though, he must have seen what I couldn’t: the hollowness that Dream had left behind. The anarchist took pity on me, if you could even call it that; mostly, Techno shook me awake from the nightmare I had been living and made me realize the extent of Dream’s manipulation. I felt dirty for a long while after my realization, plagued with the sense that I would never feel safe or whole again. A part of me still felt that way, even, but at least I had the sense now to not seek out the shadows when they beckoned me over.

Technoblade was a surprisingly good friend through it all. It was him who helped me become myself again, but he would always argue that it was my own doing. He frustrated me sometimes with his monotonous tone and his thirst for anarchy, but at the end of the day, I could never stay mad at him; Techno had a good heart, and his honesty and dedication to his morals was enough to convince me. Even through my fog of anger at his teaming with Dream, even when I questioned whether this was a good idea, a sensible part of me knew that this was nothing like what Dream had done to me. Techno didn’t hide his nature as Dream did, and I could trust him in that.

A knock on the cabin door brought me out of my thoughts. I heard Techno’s footsteps as he stepped back into the room, a knife in hand. “Do you know who it is?” he questioned, scrutinizing the door when I shook my head in response. I stood from my chair and followed behind Techno, who peeked out the window and let out a tired sigh before swinging the door open.

“Hello, Dream. What are you doing at my house?” my friend deadpanned.

Dream lowered his grinning mask, his own lips drawn back into a polite smile. “Oh, just checking in before tomorrow. I wanted to see if you needed anything.”

“You could have sent a message first,” Techno replied, tapping the messenger device on his wrist. “I don’t really appreciate unwanted guests.”

“I figured it wouldn’t be much of a problem since we’re on the same side now. And I tend to find surprise visits are a lot more… Insightful,” Dream mused. His eyes peeked over Techno’s shoulder to meet mine and I stiffened, standing straighter. Dream, perceptive as usual, smiled wider, his eyes crinkling slightly at the corners before he spoke to me in a soft voice. “It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”

A cold hand gripped my heart, the blood pulsing in my ear drums. I hated him; I hated that he hardly had to speak for me to begin to crumble. I attempted to reply in a steady voice despite the slight tremor that shook me. “Yeah, it has.”

Before Dream could say anything else, Techno stepped up as though to shield me. “You know, we have everything we need here. You should probably make sure your things are sorted, though,” he announced. 

Dream’s smile faltered for half a second before returning. “Hm, I think you’re right. Just remember to give me the signal,” he said, beginning to turn away from the door. Dream hesitated, giving me one last look before he addressed me, his words kind, though laced with a cold, haunting tone. “I’ve missed you. Good luck tomorrow.”

It wasn’t until Techno had shut the door and confirmed that Dream had left that I allowed myself to breathe. I hadn’t even realized that I was holding my breath in the first place; I felt lightheaded and weary as Techno sat me down and asked if I was alright. I nodded, watching the worried man cross the room to fetch me a glass of water. With a shudder, I took in the sight of the floorboards and listened to my friend rummaging around the kitchen. My stomach churned and my mind flashed with sudden clarity about what I would have to do.

I was going to kill Dream.

The following day felt like a blur. Every motion leading up to the total destruction of L’Manburg was like a sharp jab of a paintbrush, a swipe across a canvas already drenched in paint. There was a picture here, some greater meaning when you stepped away from it all, but in the midst of things, it didn’t quite matter. All Techno cared about was erasing the country for good and keeping us alive; all I wanted was to get the day over with.

I had spent the entire night trying to decide whether it was truly a good idea for me to go after Dream or leave him be. A part of me felt that it was a terrible idea, a decision that would only serve to lead me to certain death; still, another part of me wanted closure. I didn’t think of myself as anything special compared to Techno, Phil, or even Dream himself when it came to combat skills, but the truth was that I was more than capable of holding my own in battle. I had been through my fair share of wars, and the experience in addition to training with Techno led me to become a skilled warrior of my own. As I considered it, I found myself realizing with a newfound confidence that I had the strength to take down Dream all on my own if I wanted to. My only question was how I would go about this.

The answer came surprisingly soon.

Techno and I had been doing well against L’Manburg’s defense—there was only a scare when Sapnap came close to taking one of Techno’s lives during a fight, but I had stepped in with a nicely timed arrow to his head, which made our enemy disappear into a cloud of smoke as his life was lost. Techno and I chugged some invisibility potion, courtesy of Phil, and hid around a building to watch everyone fight off the withers while we healed ourselves.

“What’s taking him so long? We’ve been at it for—” Techno glanced at his watch, “—thirty minutes! And here I thought Dream was all about punctuality,” my friend griped, taking a bite out of an apple.

“I’m not surprised. Of course he would choose today to take his sweet time,” I assessed, thumping my head against the brick building. “He’s probably going over his plans to sacrifice us next as we speak.”

“We are not getting sacrificed.”

“You never know,” I hummed. “It’s not a bad thing to be cautious, is it?”

Techno snorted. “Well, I suppose not. We’ve survived this long, though, so I have a good feeling about this.”

I nodded, peering in the direction of my friend. We couldn’t see each other due to the potion, but if I focused hard enough, I could catch a shift in the light that alerted me of his position. I felt a sudden urgency within me—some calling to spill my fears, inky and black, before I choked. “I need you to do me a favor,” I blurted.

I watched the light shift and turn. “What? What’s going on?” Techno wondered.

“If something happens to me, if I lose my last life,” I began in a serious tone, “don’t look back.”

“I… don’t understand. What are you saying? You won’t—”

“Techno, if I die, you carry straight through with the plan. Don’t come for my things, don’t try to help me, just go. Please. Can you promise me that?”

The light shimmered slowly, hesitantly. “Of course you choose now to drop that on me,” Techno muttered bitterly, but I could hear the underlying hurt. “I can never say no to you, though, can I?”

“It is your best trait,” I joked, though there was a heaviness in my voice.

The shift in the light leaned back as Techno sighed. “Alright, fine. It won’t come to that, but I’ll do it. I promise.”

“Thank you. For everything,” I confessed, stressing the importance of all that he’s done for me in my reply. 

Before Techno could reply, a resounding boom went off nearby. Dirt and debris flew past us as plumes of gray smoke shrouded our sight. Between the clouds of smoke, I could see a flash of bright green and a bone-white mask.

“He’s here,” Techno mumbled next to me. “Let’s get moving.”

The pair of us sprinted across the land, dodging at the sight of explosives and attacking enemies under the guise of our invisibility. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Dream dropping TNT from the tops of buildings and hurling them at every patch of land in his vicinity. By the time he was finished, I knew there would be nothing left.

The invisibility began to wear off shortly after that, and I watched as Techno’s vibrant red cape began to fade back into view. I followed my friend from a short distance until I realized that Dream was completely distracted in his efforts to destroy the nation. As Techno veered down one path, I caught him by the arm. “I’m heading the other way,” I said.

Techno immediately began to protest. “No, you’re not. Don’t be stupid.”

“I’ll be fine.”

“You were the one worried about losing your last life, and now you’re trying to split? We have to stick together.”

“I’ll be quick. You won’t even know I’m gone,” I reasoned, already turning to leave. “I promise I’ll be back.”

Techno frowned, but eventually his shoulders became less tense as he reluctantly decided to let me go. I gave him a nod of thanks before hurrying off to a building that hadn’t yet been destroyed. Fortunately for me, the citizens seemed to have cleared out, so no one was there to intervene as I leapt over crumbling buildings and the charred remains of the nation. My heart raced in my chest and I clutched my bow tightly in my hand. It would all be over soon enough, I thought, and I would be the one to end it all. 

I reached a building that hadn’t been completely damaged from the TNT and scaled the wall. My fingers were wedged into the grooves of the brick until I reached the ledge at the very top, tugging myself up and throwing my legs over the side. I huffed and looked up to watch Dream, practically gliding on air as he hurled explosives at the ground without remorse. I squinted and realized through the haze of smoke and ash that he had nearly hit bedrock, yet he continued to demolish the same area of land. It was like he wanted to blow a hole straight through the ground, so deep that he’d be able to see the other side. 

I shook away the nervous shudder that ran down my spine and instead raised my bow to aim while Dream was distracted. I glared at the back of his head and lined my sight to him, the familiarity of the motion sending a sort of ease through my tense muscles.

It was an easy shot. I could do it.

I drew a deep breath and held it while I drew my arrow back, pulling the string taut. With a slow sigh, I released.

My arrow soared above the destruction, seeming to transcend the rules of time and space. The light made the metallic edge glimmer as though a star was shooting across the expanse of land, bright and beautiful and destructive all at once. 

Dream was still turned away as the arrow launched towards him, and for a moment I felt sure that I had succeeded in my efforts. Right before the arrow was able to lodge itself in his head, though, Dream ducked, and the arrow flew past his head. He rose again to stand straight and turned slowly to face me, the blank eyed smile on his mask mocking me. My blood turned to ice in my veins and I frantically drew another arrow to fire, this time pointed at his heart. 

Before I could release the arrow, Dream held up a stick of dynamite and pelted it right next to the building I stood on. It was close enough that I took damage and fell back as the earth shook around me. My head smacked against the roof and I groaned at the dizzy shock that sparked against my skull. I lay there, my head pounding, focused on the rumble that rattled my bones as I tried to regain my bearings. 

By the time I had struggled onto my knees, Dream was hovering over me. I glared up at him for one silent moment before snatching my bow and striking his mask, which cracked and shattered to the ground. He stumbled back and I took my chance to load an arrow, but my head was still pounding, my coordination thrown off by the blow I had taken. Dream took advantage of my weakness and kicked the bow out of my hands, where it skidded across the roof and over the edge. I had made a feeble attempt to catch it before it tipped over, but I was too late.

Dream caught a fistful of my hair, yanking me backwards, and I growled, an animalistic sound that scratched my throat as I dragged my feet and struggled in his grasp. I kicked up dirt and clawed at the pale hands that trapped me, yelping when my captor shoved me to my knees. I must have looked ridiculous, like a child throwing a tantrum, as I thrashed and screamed to try and get away. “This is what happens to anyone who doesn’t follow my orders. You really thought you were smart enough to turn on me?” Dream laughed darkly, tightening his grip even as I scratched streaks of red into his skin. “You’re pathetic. I almost feel bad for you.”

“Fuck you,” I spat, attempting to jerk away, but Dream’s grip was unbreakable.

“I hope you’re not this rude to Technoblade. Where is he, by the way?” I struggled while Dream called out for my friend, who I watched sprint towards us between exploding buildings and smoke.

“Dream, what is this?” Techno heaved, meeting us on the building. 

The man in question nodded his head towards me, a warrior bloodied and brought to my knees. “I think it’s about time I used that favor,” he said coldly.

My heart sank to the pit of my stomach, and I felt my body begin to numb with fear. If I wasn’t sure of it before, I was now; this was the end for me. 

It was almost laughable, the irony of this situation; the promises to keep each other safe that I had made with my best friend—the only friend I had left—were tearing apart at the seams. 

“Maybe you should rethink this before you do something you’ll regret, Dream,” Techno threatened.

“Oh, I won’t be regretting anything. But you might.” Dream gestured with his free hand towards the bundle of fireworks in Techno’s hand. “Kill them.”

The situation was eerily similar to another from so long ago in this very nation—when Techno was ordered by Schlatt to kill Tubbo. I could see the realization in his eyes, the acknowledgment of the parallels, the regret and anger and so much fear. I had never seen him so scared, but he remained stubborn. “I won’t do that,” he replied.

Dream’s grip tightened as he jerked my head forward for emphasis. “Listen, Technoblade, you’re going to kill your little friend here because you owe it to me. If you choose not to, I’ll just take them for myself so I can do it instead. You probably wouldn’t want that, though—I won’t be so kind. Oh, and don’t even think about trying to kill me instead. One of you was already stupid enough to try.”

“This isn’t what I meant when I said I’d do you a favor.”

“Isn’t it, though? Look around, Techno. The only reason this is happening right now is because Tommy betrayed you. He could have chosen you, he could have stayed on your side, but he didn’t. This is the consequence, right? And this—,” I yelped as Dream snatched me and held me up as evidence, “—is what happens when I’m betrayed. You all agreed to help me, and now my trust is broken. So pick up a fucking weapon and do me a favor.”

My friend stood frozen as he tried to calculate some way out of this, but I knew I had ruined any chances of a better life for us. It was my actions that were about to get me killed, by the only person who ever truly loved me, nonetheless.

“Do it,” I told Techno. “Please, just get it over with.”

Technoblade looked down at me, his eyes full of hurt as his brows furrowed. “No. You’re crazy, why would I do that? I made you a promise—”

“So did I. But there’s nothing else to do. I fucked it up, so I’m asking you to do this. Not for him, for me,” I pleaded, painfully aware of the grip Dream had on my hair. “I’d rather it be you. No one but you.”

I watched as Techno’s face contorted into a woeful expression. The guilt was bubbling over in the pit of my stomach, an all-consuming feeling that made me sick with sorrow for what I was asking him to do. We were one and the same, him and I, a pair of lonely people made better with the other around. I would miss him and, even if he never chose to admit it, I knew he would miss me too. I could only hope that my absence wouldn’t destroy him. 

Slowly, Techno raised the firework launcher as he pointed it at my head. “You know, I always had a soft spot for you.”

My smile was regretful and watery; I prayed that he could hear my apologies without having to speak them out loud. I prayed even more that he could hear my unspoken words of gratitude, the unfinished symphony that was our friendship. “You’re the only person who ever knew me.”

Behind me, Dream groaned in annoyance. “Shut up with the monologues and get it over with,” he griped. With a harsh shove, the tip of the fireworks were pressed against my forehead. I bit my tongue, the metallic taste of blood in my mouth as I tried not to seem too meager in my final moments. Dream dropped me to my knees as he escaped the line of fire, now peering over Techno’s shoulder in waiting. I watched my friend’s hands shake, the light tremble of his finger as it hovered over the trigger. I wanted to give him some sort of reassurance, but how could I? How do you ease the heart of someone forced to kill their friend?

With a shaky, mournful sigh, Techno looked down on me, his knuckles white as he gripped the weapon. “I’m sorry,” he said. 

I squeezed my eyes shut with tears running hot over my cheeks, trying to recall a better picture in my mind. I thought of when I first met Techno, brainwashed and broken, a person slowly made whole again. I thought of the softness in his eyes even as he yelled at me over some mistake I had made. I thought of the nights he spent hunched over his desk writing about anything until I threw a blanket at him and dragged him into his bed. I thought of the mornings we would wake up early on a day of traveling just to catch the sunrise. I could have seen it a thousand times, and still, nothing would have ever compared to him; no amount of wealth or glory could even come close to making me feel as elated as he did. Techno was, without a doubt in my mind, my soulmate. The universe decided that for us; the sun and the moon and every star in the sky chose to bind us together, and what reason did I have to refuse it? 

My heart ached, jumping as the click of the trigger sounded. There was a bright flash, a pop, an explosion of color and sound—

Then nothing at all. 

[witchywrter]

“Home” (Part 5/?)

Paul Lahote x reader

Part 4

Summary: y/n returns from college in California to her hometown in Forks to find things are not as she left them. She soon discovers that a lot more things have changed then she initially thought.

Warnings: mentions of death, car accident, verbal fighting, cussing, i think that covers it

A/N: i am literally so sorry for not updating sooner guys lmao i’m trying to update all my fics now, especially this one bc i love it. i’ll get the next one out next week. love you all!_______________________________________________

You felt so much pain as you began to regain consciousness and could make out someone calling your name.

“Y/n?”

You turned your head to the source of the sound to see a Doctor at your side, his hand on your arm. He was very handsome. Not exactly your type, but still. He looked to be around your age, far too young to be a Doctor already.

“Hello Y/n, my name is Dr.Cullen. You’ve been in an accident”

Your head was throbbing and you felt pain radiating from your stomach and leg. You looked around to find that you were indeed in the hospital.

You looked down at his hand on your arm. It was ice cold, absolutely freezing. He must have noticed you looking because he removed his hand.

“How long have I been here?” you asked, looking back to the Doctor.

“About a day and a half. Do you remember anything?” he asked kindly.

“There was a man in the road, he came out of nowhere. I swerved to try to avoid him” you said trying to remember.

“Your car flipped four times and caught fire. A piece of glass punctured your abdomen and another your left thigh, narrowly missing your femoral artery. We were able to stop the bleeding and stabilize your condition. You’re lucky to be alive, if your friend hadn’t been there to pull you out when he did, you could have died” he finished, shaking his head.

“My friend?” you asked.

“He’s from the reservation, one of Jacob Black’s friends I believe” he said.

Well that didn’t exactly narrow it done much. Your car was totaled most likely. You’re dad’s car, the one thing you had left of him.

“You’ll be okay, but you need your rest. You can be discharged tomorrow morning and the stitches will dissolve on their own in two weeks” he said has he picked up your chart and began walking away.

“Oh, one more thing. Sherif Swan called me, if you still want that internship, send over your resume and you can start after your two weeks” he said with a slight smile on his lips.

“Thank you Dr.Cullen” you called out as he left to check on other patients.

You looked over to your side to see an array of gifts on the beside table and chair. There seemed to be something from everyone. Flowers with cards from Leah, Sam, Emily and even Charlie and his daughter Bella and a big card from Quill, Embry, Collin, and Brady with all their own little messages and signatures.

The huge, brown bear sat on the chair with a red ribbon around its neck didn’t seem to have a card accompanying it.

You grabbed your phone from the side table and unlocked it. There were a few messages from friends and one from your mom. You opened up your mom’s message and read:

“Why did I have to find out from the Sherif that my daughters been in a car accident. You know what it was like for me when your father passed and the fact that you’d put me through that again is appalling”

This was followed by multiple messages about how horrible of a daughter you were and how you have no excuse for ignoring her text messages.

She had no right to bring up your dad like that. As if you got into an accident to hurt her, as if you were unconscious and not responding on purpose.

Your dad was driving home one night after a long night at the hospital when he was hit by a drunk driver. He was pronounced dead at the scene. You never got to say goodbye. Never got to tell him you loved him one last time.

You turned your phone off and set it on the side table and laid back down. Although you were out for a day and a half, you felt utterly exhausted, mentally and physically. You pulled your blankets back up and closed your eyes, hoping for a full nights rest.

You woke up to the curtains flying back, sunlight flooding the room. Your eyes stung as you were blinded.

“Wake up loser, it’s time for a jail break” Leah said in a very cheerful voice.

“No Leah, I’m not dead and feel amazing” you say in a sarcastic voice.

“That’s exactly what i wanted to hear. Seriously though, are you okay? You scared the shit out of everyone” she said, her voice taking on a concerned tone.

“Yeah, just beat up. Should be at healed up in two weeks” you say, sitting up.

“Here, I brought these from Emily’s house” she said, tossing a long sleeve, pants, socks, undergarments and shoes onto the bed.

After you changed and signed the discharge papers, you and Leah headed back to Emily’s place.

“What a bitch,” Leah said with disgust as she climbed the steps.

“I know, I still can’t believe I’m related to her” you say shaking your head.

Leah opened the front door and you hear “Surprise!” as you walk through. Everyone but Collin, Brady, Quill and Paul were there for your second homecoming.

Jake ran up to hug you, but Leah stepped in front of him.

“You wanna rip her stitches dumbass?” she said like a mother correcting her child.

“Oh shut it Leah” Jacob said, but gave you a much gentler hug than he originally intended.

“How are you?” Jake asked.

“Well I think I might fall over and die if one more person asks how I am” you say laughing. You stop as a stabbing pain shoots from your abdomen.

Sam, Emily and Seth hug you as well before you finally make it to the couch to sit down.

“What happened?” Embry asked taking a seat next to you with Leah on the other side.

“I was driving back here and I looked down at my phone for barely a second and when I looked back up there was a man in the road” you said.

“Well you know what they say about texting and driving” Seth said but the joke fell flat as no one laughed.

“What did the man look like?” Jake asked in a serious tone.

“Pale I guess, black hair, I’m not really sure. Why?” you asked, confused.

“No reason, just wondering” he said looking over to Sam who was sitting on a stool by the counter talking to Emily.

“Do you know who pulled me out?” you asked Jacob.

“What do you mean?” he asked.

“Dr.Cullen said one of our friends pulled me out of the car before it caught fire”

“Oh, uh, Paul did” he said.

Paul. Of all of your friends you had thought it might have been, that was the absolute last person you’d think would save you. If anything he’d probably be the one to toss you right into the flames.

“Oh” was all you said.

The front door opened and in walked Quill and Paul.

“Well I’ve gotta get back to..work” Jacob said standing up.

“Me too” said Seth as he followed Jacob to the door.

“Heal up Y/n!” Jacob yelled over his should and he and Seth left.

Quill came over and sat where Seth had just been and gave you a hug and Paul went straight to Sam without even acknowledging you.

Not like it mattered anyway.

“How are y-“ Quill started.

“Fine” you cut him off.

Through the rest of the day, people started to leave one by one as they had work, school or other things to get to. Eventually Paul said his goodbyes to Sam and Emily and began walking out the door, again without saying a word to you.

You got up as quickly as you could without hurting yourself and momentarily excused yourself from your board game that you were beating Embry in. You walked out the door just as Paul was off the steps.

“Hey!” you called to him.

Paul stopped and slowly turned back to you.

“What?” he asked rudely, not fully meeting your gaze.

Instead of responding with the same attitude, you walked down some of the steps.

“I just wanted to say thank you. Jacob told me what you did” you said gently.

“It wasn’t exactly like there was a choice in the matter” he spat.

“Could you just not be a complete asshole for once in your life? I’m trying to thank you for saving my life” you said, anger getting the best of you.

“Well it would have saved me a world of trouble had I not” he said.

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” you ask, raising your voice.

“Nothing. I-I can’t do this right now, I won’t do this right now” he said, voice equal to yours now.

“No, come on Paul, let it out. Say what you need to say!”

Paul started shaking with anger and as much as you knew you should stop, your anger wouldn’t let you.

“Say. It.” you seethed.

“Paul!” you heard as the front door swung open.

You turned around to see Quill come running down and barreling into Paul, pushing him away from you. Sam came running out too.

“Get him out of here!” Sam yelled.

Quill grabbed Paul and pulled him out into the woods.

“What the hell?” you asked

“Get inside Y/n!” Sam yelled.

“You don’t tell me what to do” you said angrily

“Get. Inside. Now.” he said sternly.

You scoffed but turned on your heal and went inside and upstairs, waking right passed Emily and ignoring her as she called out to you.

Who did they think they were, telling you to get inside. Paul always had anger problems, this wasn’t anything new.

You hate him.

“Well it would have saved me a world of trouble had I not” replayed again and again in your head. You hated him for making you feel less than, for making you feel worthless.

Him saving you meant nothing. He was a dick to you your entire life and you didn’t care that Sam asked you to lighten up on him. No one bit.

As you laid down to sleep, not even bothering to take off your clothes or change, you wiped the single tear that escaped. You hated him and always would.

//////////////

You were walking through the woods to get to your favorite spot again. It was the middle of the night, but Jacob asked to meet you there. The moonlight shown through the thick trees, illuminating your path.

Everything was so green and beautiful, you missed being home.

You walked a little farther when your foot hit something, stopping you in your tracks. You looked down to see a rock jutting up from the ground. It was the same one you fell on the other day. It still had blood on it, fresh and bright and not at all dried. That wasn’t right. You fell days ago, it should be dried or the rain should have washed it off.

*Snap*

You spun around. You could feel your heart pounding in your chest, that same feeling of being watched returning. You shouldn’t be out here. Emily warned you.

You scanned your surroundings, but it was too dark. What happened to the moonlight? You squinted your eyes and saw him-it.

The man from the road, eyes blood red, skin pale as snow, hair dark as the night around him. He cocked his head to the side, watching you.

Where did he come from? Had he been watching you the whole time? Was he in the woods that first day?

You could try to outrun him, you didn’t know how far into the woods you were, you didn’t even remember how you got here. You went to take a step back but he was in front of you instantly and attacked, grabbing your arm.

You jolted upright, breathing heavily. You looked around. You were in your room, at Sam and Emily’s. You were safe. You ran your fingers through your hair as you looked out the window. It was the middle of the night.

There were things that weren’t adding up. Everyone has been acting weird, telling you to avoid the woods, saying that whatever has been attacking people isn’t animal or human, the man in the road, even Paul’s behavior has been worse than normal…something wasn’t right, you could feel it in your gut.

You knew what they told you, the warnings, but with everything that happened with Paul and your mom, you didn’t care anymore. You were gonna find out what was going on, no matter what.

_______________________________________________

A/N: hey guys! i hope you enjoyed this chapter! lots of stuff happened and i swear we’re gonna get more paulxreader interactions from now on. love you all❤️❤️

@that-animebitch @fangirlanotherjust @justdidabadthing @scuzmunkie @ccosmic-illusion

@xthefuckerysquaredx @destroyed-and-damned @classyunknownlover @hglyu @blackloveangel13

@champagnesugamama @bshelley322