#( i found her and now i'm just wheezing after searching )

[korinthiakos]

asthma is being a dick right now

[thatwritterbeach]

So About that Alley .3

Jason Todd x fmc

DC masterlist ALL OTHER PARTS FOUND HERE

Unedited***Also I swear Tumblr is messing up my spelling on purpose cuz everytime I re-read something I know I fixed it's wrong again

Alex: short, curvy, red hair, green eyes, redheads go through pain meds way faster than normal people to the point I personally don't even take them, it's a joke, they last 30 min at best

Summary: Alex finds out her bf is red hood, after she spills some not so great secrets to the masked man while stitching him up.

Warnings: Vaginismus* angst, sexual assault, self-harm, depression, drug use by Alex, violence, cursing, NSFW, smut, thigh riding, vaginal fingering, guided masturbation?, p in v (not overly described), pain during s*x, hiding said pain, hickeys?, self-hate, insecurities, eating disorder, weight loss

A/N: I do not own dc booho

"Hey, Jay," she asked in a totally calm totally cool manner the next morning, completely numb thanks to the nice little combo she'd whipped up. Not floating or un-present but not in pain, even where the arm of the couch was digging into her side as Jason squished into her, laying fully on top of her.

"Yes, my beloved?"

"Don't make me take away your books you little dork. I was just wondering if your family knows about you...you know, not being dead?"

"Uh, yeah, why?"

"Just if I happened to run into them I wouldn't wanna be like 'oh I'm dating Jason' and they'd be all 'wtf is wrong with this chick, he's dead' you know."

"I guess. Alex," he said grabbing her hand and pulling it to his mouth," I'm gonna introduce you, I'm not ashamed of you or whatever the hell else your mind is trying to say. My family is...overwhelming for most and I didn't want to scare you off."

"I get it dude, and since I just recently placed you as Robin you would have had to hire a family, or spill you deepest secrets to me. Lucky for you, I am the most understanding woman on the planet."

"I'd argue, but you're right. I'll text Alfred, the leader of the gang, and see when we can come for dinner. Be warned though, it could be tonight, they've been trying to get me to come home for a while now."

It was in fact that night. Alex scurried around for a clean pair of jeans, then after a glance in the mirror at her too large reflection she ripped them off and tossed them to the floor. A dress? No, that one has a tear. This skirt? No, it's too short. Jean short, they're clean but who the fuck wear jeans shorts to a mansion. Business slacks, no that says trying too hard. Ah ha, a superman t-shirt, and black leggings, then top it off with one of Jason's zip up hoodies.

"Is that what you're wearing," he asked with a laugh as he came into the room. In fact the laugh became a full blown fit and he doubled over nearly to the ground clutching his stomach and wheezing. With each second she got more and more self-conscious. Of course she couldn't wear what was basically pajamas to a fancy place, what was wrong with her. With a sigh she took off her boots and slid out of the leggings and switched them for her jeans, that she hated but whatever. Searching in vain for something that wasn't a graphic tee, or a business blouse she was half way through her closet when Jason recovered enough to notice what she was doing.

"No, put it back on, it's great, doll, I wasn't laughing at you, I was laughing with you."

"I wasn't laughing," she said without emotion.

"Hey, come 'er." Much to her wiggling protest he pulled her tight against him and placed several loud kisses along her scalp.

"Everyone else will be in pj's I solemnly swear, in fact I was just about to change into my matching flannel set, someone amazing bought it for me, but I can't remember who," he said tapping his chin with mock thought.

"Really?"

"Cross my heart," he said, though his fingers were crossed behind his back.

"Ok," she conceded trying to get free. He held on for another minute before spinning her out away from himself and winking when she fell back onto the bed. Matching pj's in hand he headed to the bathroom, not for privacy but to send an urgant group chat explicity stating lounge clothes were to be worn.

See masterlist for more

[readychilledwine]

Training Tensions

A second part of Early Mornings (link in masterlist and coming soon) in a way. Showing the beginning of the mateship/courting between Cassian, our illyrian oc (who now has a name), and Nesta. But with a plot twist so I have an excuse for something that may get posted later.

Summary - Nesta can't help falling harder and harder for Irelina. They've been ignoring it for months now, but the dam has to break at some point

Warnings - fxmxf threesome inferred, oral, mentions of a trouple/poly-relationships, husband encouraging someone else to bang his wife (because Cassian is a king), mentions of impact play, wing play, oh and some actually emotionally stuff. It's NSFW but not as spicy as I've been known to post

A/N - I hadn't intended to add to Early Morning much, but when I'm in a writers block, my mind goes back to her, Nesta, and Cassian, and the emotional bond between her and Nesta. So you may occasionally see pieces of them sprinkled between other updates.

"He's just selfish!" Nesta landed another harsh punch that had Irelina smiling with pride inside despite the stinging in her hands growing. "He just thinks he knows everything," another sharp punch landed on her pad. "And for being able to get into people's heads, he understands nothing." 

The final blow caught her off guard. Nesta pulled a move the young female watched her use while she was sparring with Cassian. A faked right into a left into the stomach. Nesta gasped as she doubled over. Eyes wide in shock as she began to cough. 

"I'm so sorry!" Nesta was at her side, a hand gently touching her back. "I-"

"Don't apologize," she wheezed out. She placed her hands on her knees, taking deep breaths through her nose as Cassian ran over.

"What happened?" Nesta backed away, only for Irelina to reach for her hand and hold her there. Electricity shooting through her at the contact.

"She's a visual learner," is all she said. "She took a fake shot on me and it worked because we had hardly even discussed that yet. I'm so proud of you, Ness."

Nesta's face slightly flushed with the praise before she buried it away. 

-

Training the next day involved her and Nesta in meditation. Focusing on their inner self. "I can feel how unsettled you are. Talk to me." It was a gentle invitation. One Nesta took immediately.

"I just do not understand how you all sat there and did not tell Feyre she would die."

Nesta watched her eyes open. "There was not a single day that went by since I found out that I did not want to tell her. Trust me." Irelina paused, looking towards where Cassian and Azriel were sparring. "It just was not my place. I do agree it was not handled properly, though."

Nesta's mind froze, unprepared to have her feelings validated. "You don't think I'm wrong?"

She shook her head at Nesta, eyes closed again. "I think Rhysand, my dearest brother, should have included his mate and wife in decision making regarding their babe and her body. I feel HE should have told her right away and included her in the search to find solutions."

She opened her eyes, finally looking at Nesta with that gaze that reminded the younger female of molten honey. "I do not think you told her from a place of genuine concern and love, though. That is the only thing I do not believe was handled correctly on your end."

Nesta sook her head. "I do love her, it was concern."

"It is not your love I question, Ness. It's your intention. In your heart, yes, you meant well. In your subconscious, no." Nesta studied the illyrian female, her beautiful face and scarred wings. "I think you are grieving so deeply, Nesta, your heart has begun to be poisoned. You are blinded by your rage and hurt. I understand that heartache." 

"We failed you," she continued. "We failed you, and Elain, multiple times. We failed you when you were forced into that Cauldron, we failed you when you were recovering, we failed you when your father died, and we failed you after the war."

Nesta felt her heart swelling, her eyes beginning to water. She had longed to hear those exact words for nights now.

"I failed you," Irelina said softly. "I failed you when I allowed you to go down the same pathway I did of numbing yourself through booze and sex. I failed you when I wasn't there every day and night holding you. I failed you, and I will never be able to make up for it."

She held her hand to Nesta, then gently laced their fingers together. "Everything you are feeling, little dove, every piece of anger, of longing, of sadness, of self doubt, of absolute burning sheer rage, you are valid in those feelings. You are allowed to feel those feelings." She brought Nesta's hand to her lips, kissing the top of it gently, "it's how we move forward in how you process those feelings, how you let them free, that makes the difference in your soul's peace or turmoil."

-

Nesta was awake before her. Before Azriel and Cassian. Eyes locked in the fire burning in the hearth. Her dreams were haunted by Irelina, but not the way her nightmares had plagued her. 

They were haunted by gentle touches, soft whispered words of love, support, and encouragement. 

They were haunted by memories of the two of them, when Rhys would allow her off her leash and the two of them would spend time reading, finger tips running up and down her arm as Irelina jotted down notes for reports or flipped her horror novel behind her. 

Nesta jumped when soft hands found her waist, a kiss placed on her temple. "Why are you up so early, dove?" She shivered at the sound of her voice laced in sleep. "Want breakfast or coffee? I can steal some tea from Azriel too?"

Nesta's mind flashed to the last time they had breakfast alone, to when Irelina served her coffee and the fluffiest pancakes she had ever had. Nesta had hardly been able to control herself around Irelina and Cassian for weeks after that, but her  rage towards Cassian helped. Her jealousy of hearing him make his wife a begging mess helped. 

"I was wondering if we could not train today?" Nesta asked quietly. "Just take a day to relax, you and me?"

"I'd have to ask Azriel," she said. "But I will work something out with him. Did you want breakfast?"

-

Azriel had not let Nesta out of training. Following his orders to a t, much to both of the females disappointment.

Nesta and Irelina were sparring basic hand to hand and currently locked together. It didn't take her but a spare second to take Nesta to the ground, straddling her hips and pinning her hands above her head. 

Nesta's chest was heaving, her eyes wide and mouth parted slightly.  Irelina's brows scrunched together at the same time Cassian gripped his chest over his heart and Azriel's shoulder. 

She was off Nesta in an instant, moving through the House of Wind as Nesta ran after her. 

She locked herself into the bathroom of her and Cassian's room, sinking against the wall. Nesta jiggled the door handle forehead against the cool wood, "Irelina, let me in." She knocked softly. "Talk to me, please. I know you're scared. I was scared when I felt it too, but you've made me feel so safe, please."

She heard Cassian's footsteps. "Lark? Baby, what's wrong?" Irelin didn't answer. Sitting with her head against the wall, a new silver thread gleaming next to a golden one. She tugged them both before closing the bond down. 

Cassian knew the message, placing a hand around Nesta's shoulders as he saw that pretty silver string too. "Give her a little bit, dove. She's shocked."

"You knew?" Cassian nodded at her question.

"Of course, dove. I knew the second I laid eyes on you in that manor you were mine, ours." Lark and dove, Nesta noted immediately. His little birds. The thought spread warmth through her body. The thought of being his. Of being Irelina's. Of being theirs.

-

Irelina skipped dinner, punching her feelings into one of the spare bags into the early hours of night. 

Nesta could feel her confusion, her excitement, her pain radiating through her hands. 

Cassian and Azriel had left for the evening claiming there was an emergency in Windhaven, and telling Nesta to behave herself while they were gone. Nesta closed her book, walking to the training grounds and sitting to watch Irelina.

She was covered in sweat, muscles and breasts shining in the light of the full moon. She struck the punching bag quick, precise, and repeatedly. She was wearing nothing more than a tight pair of leggings and a bra built for training. Her dark hair was messily braided back with a few pieces framing her high cheekbones. 

Nesta felt her eyes trapped on the muscles flexing in her thighs and arms.  Irelina paused, her head turning to Nesta. She shook whatever thoughts were running through her mind off and went back to beating the punching bag. 

The loud flapping of wings and a soft thud next to Nesta ripped her from the inappropriate place her mind was going. 

"She likes to bathe after doing this," it was an emotionless purr that made Nesta growl. "She likes lilac oils and red wine. Plenty of bubbles."

Nesta glared towards Rhysand. "Why are you telling me this?"

"Because Cassian asked me to ensure you took care of her tonight since he won't be here to do it himself. It is your duty, after all, as her mate." Rhysand took off again, flying back to the home he and Feyre were staying in. 

Her mate. The words replayed over and over again like a crescendo in a symphony. Her mate.

-

Nesta prepared a bath for her, pouring the scented oil and wine for both of them, and waited. Irelia froze at the door, already wrapped in a towel. 

Nesta took a step back from the bath, sitting in the vanity chair. "I thought you needed something to help you relax. You don't seem okay lately."

She nodded. "Thank you." She moved toward the tub, stepping shamelessly out of the towel and into the warm water. Nesta was reading her romance novel while Irelina bathed. Her eyes locked on the sultry scene being painted for her between the two female love interests. Her thighs began to squeeze together occasionally, begging for friction. 

Her eyes began to flick to the naked illyrian female. Her breasts were peeking above the water, bubbles hiding the toned body and curves below. 

Nesta was desperate to touch her. To kiss her. To have her. "Your back looks sore," she stated. "Do you want me to come rub it?" 

The scent in the air changed immediately. The lilac oil mixing with something slightly musky. "If you'd like to?"

Nesta swallowed that bit of fear in her bones, moving to the tub behind her and sitting with her legs in the warm water.

The steam in the room was thick as if it was adding to the tension between the two females. Nesta moved her wet dark hair over one shoulder and began rubbing her shoulders.  A soft moan had Nesta almost pausing before moving lower. "Cassian needs to give you a massage," Nesta joked.

"He tries," she laughed out. "He really does. But he gets distracted."

"I can see how." The words came out before Nesta could stop them. They hung in the air like magic. Lingering in their effect on both of them. Irelina turned between Nesta's legs, wet hands trailing her bare right calf. 

"You can't say things like that, Nesta. Our self control with you is already low." She lifted Nesta's long left leg over her shoulder and trailed a few testing kisses up her calf. "There's so many things I long to do to you, Nesta."

The oldest Archeron sister's face had flushed. She pulled her dress up further exposing her legs, then her stomach, then her breasts until it was off and they were both laid bare to each other. "Show me," Nesta whispered. "Show me what you want to do to me."

So Irelina did.

-

Cassian could smell sex in his room the second the door opened. He knew one scent immediately. Pomegranate and currants, his wife. The other a vanilla spicy musk with touches of amber. 

A familiar moan had him hard instantly as he moved mindlessly to the bathroom door. 

The sight behind that door was heaven. Nesta had his mate laid out on the tile bathroom floor, her back arched as her hands tangled in Nesta's freed long hair. 

Nesta had her head between his mate's thighs, tongue and mouth working her timidly but encouraged by each hair pull and breathy gasp. "Like that, Ness, please, fuck." 

Cassian moved the chair Nesta had previously been in, drinking the wine that was opened straight from the bottle. Nesta looked up, seeing him and pausing, ripping a pleading whine to leave his wife's throat. 

"Don't stop on my account," his voice was deep, laced with arousal as he watched Nesta. "Keep going, Ness. Unless you need me to show you how to make that pretty bird sing?"

Nesta's eyes grew dark at the offer. At the thought of learning how to draw the same noises from Irelina the way Cassian did. He smirked, moving to Nesta. He took one of his wife's beautiful legs, placing it over Nesta's shoulder, similar to how she had pulled Nesta apart earlier. "Do to her exactly what you want done to you, Ness." 

So she did, sucking her clit into her mouth and licking that bundle of nerves. 

"Fuck. Please?" Moans turned into whimpers as Irelina pulled Nesta's face further into her heat.

Cassian ran a long finger down Nesta's spine, feeling every bump and ridge. Memorizing every building muscle. Nesta hummed under his touch, sending vibration through his wife causing another crying moan. "Is this okay, Nesta?" She whined in response, arching up for Cassian. "What a beautiful little thing you are, sweetheart. We've wanted you for so long."

"So long," his mate moaned and confirmed. 

-

Nesta woke up between two warm bodies, two sets of wings caging her in like weighted blankets of protection. She turned to her side and traced Irelia's Face and played with her lashes causing the other female to wrinkle her nose and pull her closer. "Did we hurt you?" Nesta shook her head at the sleepy tone from the other female. "This doesn't have to change anything between us, Ness. We can still just cuddle, read, and be friends."

Nesta swallowed thickly. "And if I want more? If I'm ready for more?"

"Then we're more," she whispered. "But he is part of the deal, so you two will need to work on your…. Current relationship." 

"I don't know how."

She ran a hand through Nesta's hair. "Let him train you with me. Stop pushing him away. Talk to him. Cassian can be rough, but once those walls you two seem to fortify around each other melt and bend, you're both these soft creatures needing love and validation. Gentle understanding."

She pulled Nesta to her, kissing her lips softly. Nesta rolled them over carefully, a hand going to Irelia's Delicate wing, making her arch her back. 

"Oh?" Nesta rose a brow. "I thought Feyre was kidding." 

Irelia shook her head quickly. "Pretty serious. Watch." She watched as Irelina danced long limber fingers on the ridge of Cassian's wing. "Get on top of him. Take what's yours, dove. I know you want him back inside of you." She tugged that string, making Nesta gasp. "Shall we turn him to putty?"

Cassian woke up to Nesta on his already hard cock, riding as she kissing Irelina, whose pretty dripping cunt was just in reach of his happily awaiting tongue.

-

Azriel sat with his hands folded at the table as the three of them emerged one by one. The scent of it was overwhelming. The ridiculously pungent bond. The heavy scent of sex.

He rose a brow at Irelina, knowing the female would tell him everything shamelessly to draw jealousy out of him.. "Anything happen while we were gone? Anything I as Nesta's babysitter need to know about."

She rolled her eyes at him, forcing Nesta into her normal seat next to Cassian and taking the spot next to Azriel. 

"You can join us next time if it makes you feel better, Spymaster." Cassian and Nesta's eyes both lit up. "Maybe I'll even let you beat me with a cane or hang me from the ceiling."

Nesta noticed how that immediately got Azriel's attention. His scarred hand flying to Irelina's neck. "You know better than to tease me, little bat." Azriel smirked at the shock on Nesta's face. "Welcome to the throuple, Ness. Excuse me while I go remind this pretty little thing who is actually in charge between the 3 of us." He took Irelina by her neck back up the stairs, whispering in her ear as he moved with her.

Cassian leaned back with a smirk. "Welcome, dove. Might want to start mentally preparing for that one."

[this-lovely-universe]

Welcome, M

It was pouring with rain tonight. Anyone who had the misfortune of being outside got absolutely drenched.

Now, no one wanted to be outside in that, right?

"Are you sure you heard something?!" Anastasia yelled over the rain.

"Yes! I heard a scream clear as day!" Finley responded, shining her flashlight down one of the hills.

They were both already soaked to the bone, and chances were high they were both getting sick after this.

Anastasia sighed. She did believe her, it's more that they were going to be out here for hours, in the pouring rain, praying they were doing this all to find a dead body.

"Alright. Let's start searching."

And searching they did. For a while.

They had both started developing a cough.

Anastasia couldn't feel her feet anymore and felt ready to throw herself down this damn hill.

There were several things she didn't like about this. The rain, the cold, the fact she could hear something Darth Vader breathing.

"Please tell me I'm not losing it and you hear that too?"

"Yep." Finley wheezed. "I hear it."

"Fin..." She said softly.

"I know someone's out here, Annie. We can't just leave them."

"I can literally hear you're getting sick-"

There was a scream from down the hill.

They both looked at each other for a second before sprinting down the hill.

Well, they tried to run down, but ended up sliding on the mud.

"Shit shit shit shit shi-" Finley started rolling down the hill.

Anastasia, quite stupidly, grabbing onto tree to stop sliding, falling face first and also tumbling down the hill. "ow fuck ouch ow ow shit-"

They both came to a stop, hearing growling not far from them.

fuckkkkkk

Anastasia stood up, covered in mud.

Finley rolled over onto her back.

Anastasia looked down at her, silently asking 'you good?'

She nodded, standing up.

There was more growling.

They ran towards it.

They found a monster standing over some girl.

"Is she dead?" Finley whispered.

"I sure hope not..."

The monster, whatever it was, approached the girl, about to make her it's dinner.

"Shit-" Finley ran over.

"FINLEY!" She screamed out.

"OI DIPSHIT!" Finley throw some mud at the monster, like her screaming didn't catch it's attention already.

Why'd I befriend an self surficial idiot?

"YOO WHOO! YOUR DINNER'S HERE!" She started running away

WHY'D I BEFRIEND A SELF SURFICIAL IDIOT????

She went to ran after them.

"ANNIE! OTHER PERSON!"

"BUT-"

"TRUST ME, I HAVE A PLAN." She disappeared from her sight, and so did the monster.

Anastasia wanted to go after her, but she went over to the other girl.

She was covered in cuts and scars. You'd think she'd been mauled by the monster but they weren't opened.

"Don't be dead don't be dead Finley better not die over a dead body-"

"I can hear you?" The girl groaned, holding her head.

Anastasia felt like a deer in headlights. "Uh... Good, you're not dead."

"Jeez, you have Jade's optimism..."

"Who's?" Anastasia asked.

"No one's." The girl said up. "What was that thing?"

"A monster. They-"

"- Attack demigods?"

"... Yeah. I'm guessing you've been debriefed then."

She nodded sadly.

Right, talk about anything but that

"Uh, What's your name?"

"l̸̛̪͉̈͛̿̀͠j̸͉̲̠͔͈̤̃ä̸͉̩̠́ĭ̶̘̥͍̝̈́̐́̅͠ï̶̝̺̇e̴͙͓̪̣̯̰͐͆̚̚͝͝u̷̻͇͗́̈́͝͝ọ̵̻̗̫̲̀̕͜h̴̗̲̱̻͎̭̔̓́̄̕ḣ̸̨́̋̕" Whatever came out her mouth was almost distorted.

"Pardon?"

"l̸̛̪͉̈͛̿̀͠j̸͉̲̠͔͈̤̃ä̸͉̩̠́ĭ̶̘̥͍̝̈́̐́̅͠ï̶̝̺̇e̴͙͓̪̣̯̰͐͆̚̚͝͝u̷̻͇͗́̈́͝͝ọ̵̻̗̫̲̀̕͜h̴̗̲̱̻͎̭̔̓́̄̕ḣ̸̨́̋̕"

"Uh..."

Finley reappeared, even more muddy then before. "Oh, good she's not dead!" She smiled. "I'm Finley."

"I'm l̸̛̪͉̈͛̿̀͠j̸͉̲̠͔͈̤̃ä̸͉̩̠́ĭ̶̘̥͍̝̈́̐́̅͠ï̶̝̺̇e̴͙͓̪̣̯̰͐͆̚̚͝͝u̷̻͇͗́̈́͝͝ọ̵̻̗̫̲̀̕͜h̴̗̲̱̻͎̭̔̓́̄̕ḣ̸̨́̋̕"

"Pardon?"

She groaned. "Why can't anyone hear my name?"

Anastasia and Finley glanced at each other for a second before looking back at her. Anastasia's eyes caught her necklace.

"How about we go with M?"

Get ready, lads and ladies, we have a new oc and they need a whole lot of therapy

Intro post is about to set a world record at this point lol

@arisdaughter @childofthewargod @dianedantedominic @theorphicforest

@that-girl-cupid @ithacas-prince @daonedaonlyskh @hispanic-child-of-hermes @aria-pane @unhinged-waterlilly

@chaos-pers0nified @ariathemortal @i-was-never-sane @gaygirldoodles @smileyalater

@if-i-could-cry-i-wouldnt @startswithahell

If you want to be added, removed or if I forgot to tag you, let me know :)

[allastoredeer]

~Lucifer blanches. He looks around, as if trying to find a sense of Alastor’s words somewhere in the trash-heap he calls a room, before rounding back to him, lips pulling up in disgust. “Are you asking me out?”

“Ahaha!” Alastor laughs, slapping him so hard on the back it nearly takes Lucifer off his feet. “Oh, Heavens no. I’m just proposing we let Hell continue thinking that you and I are,” he waves his hand, searching for the word, “in cahoots. In that way.”~

This is golden comedy right here. Honestly every time I read ur fic I always start wheezing so hard I can’t breathe, u are an amazing writer, hope u know that. When I saw ur last update on the ‘damage control’ chapter i was so excited i devoured it so fast help

Alastor saying he wants to be in ‘cahoots’ with Lucifer it’s so funny to me cause no one use that term anymore, and Lucifer is just downright dumbfounded that they are even having the conversation. I can imagine the shadow rolling his eyes at them, we need more sassy shadow moments, he is so underrated. 😭😭

I love that Lucifer is trying to respect Al boundaries, especially after the ‘incident’ , and doesn’t pry to much on his scars, but now I am curious about what did Al meant. Does he not remember who did that to him? 🥺

Also I am curious about what they gonna tell to the others about their new found relationship. I don’t think Lucifer would want to lie to Charlie, but I also think that it would be too risky to make the whole crew knew they are acting, someone might slip. And it’s not like Al is gonna make it easy for Lucy anyway. If they want to be credible, less ppl knowing it’s best course of action for me.

Last thing~ I really wanted to thank you, cause ur fic really brings me a lot of joy since I recently only been able to find happiness in small things like these , and I I can’t wait to read more🌈

Hehehe, Alastor purposefully refusing to go into depth about their "sexual relationship," and even side-stepping outright calling it a relationship, is what's going to make it all more entertaining when he actually has to commit to the bit. Cuz you see, they're not fucking. They're "in cahoots."

It's different.

(I love Alastor's Shadow being sassy. If it's attached to Alastor, it has to be. I take no critiques.)

😈 Alastor and his scars is something I'm very excited to get into it. I've been thinking about them for a while, and while it may take a bit to actually get the answer, I'm very eager to get there when we do.

The way I see it, Alastor doesn't want to tell the others (as they already know their not actually dating--as he made VERY clear last time), but Lucifer isn't going to be okay with lying to Charlie. Out of the group, Alastor knows he can trust Husk and Niffty to keep it a secret. Maybe Angel Dust too. But he's most worried about Charlie and Vaggie.

Vaggie isn't a good liar, and Charlie's such an open, bright, heart-on-her-sleeves person, he doesn't trust her to keep up the ruse without letting something slip--most likely by accident.

But Lucifer is stubborn. He doesn't want to lie to Charlie, and if he tells Charlie, Charlie is going to tell Vaggie. If Vaggie knows, well, we already know she has a hard time lying on the spot, so if the others see Alastor and Lucifer suddenly "in cahoots," and ask about it, she's not going to be able to come up with a plausible excuse on the fly.

This is all to say, the next installment is going to be full of silly Hazbin Crew hijinks, where Alastor is forcefully enrolled into Chaggies Dating 101 Crash Course, and he is definitely not setting the grading curve. (And maybe we'll even get a bit of HuskerDust thrown in there, who knows. Certainly not me).

And it warms me so much to know that my fic can bring you joy in a time that such things are scarce 🥺 I can't wait to share more of the story with you!

[marchsfreakshow]

Stranger, Lover. (Dandy Mott Imagine)

Imagine being a person on the streets, and finding yourself watching a Freakshow through the peek's of the tent.....

I was tired from walkin'. There were lights ahead of me, so I kept going, kept pushing despite my legs wanting to give out right now. I ran. I ran and ran.

Elsa's Cabinet Of Curiosities, the sign said. I knew I couldn't pay for a ticket, so I sneaked. I snuck around until I peeked my head through a hole, and watched. A two headed lady. The Tattler Twins the police searched for, a few weeks back. Dwarves, Lobster Boy, Amazon Eve. I was happy to be sitting, and watching in the corner.

A tap on my shoulder made me stand up immediately. "What are you doing?"

"oh, uh. Nothing sir. I'm sorry sir...you see."

"calm down." His voice was sharp and quick. I could only guess where he was. "...come with me."

"I can't see you.." I replied sheepishly, but he grabbed my hand and took me around the back, where we found a working carousel. No one was on it. In the light I saw his face. A handsome man. "A carousel? Why here?"

"I think, you need some fun. None of the freaks are interesting. They cast me out."

"Cast you out? Why?" I asked, as he helped me onto a horse. The strange man just joined me on the back of the horse, holding onto me. I guess because there was no where else to hold.

"Because they don't think I'm one of them." Music sung in the air quietly. It was an amazing feeling, riding a carousel.

"Oh, why I'm sure you are though." I giggled. While i think he smiled, the carousel came to a stop almost immediately. The man got off and helped me off after. Lobster boy was infront of me. Two handsome men, I felt fuzzy. Embarrassment came over me, I wanted to run. Running away from my problems was my solution for everything. Flight over fight everytime.

"Lady! Don't go anywhere. Why are you here? With Dandy of all people." His accent was smooth. It stopped me from running, and I turned back around on my heel.

"I...uh, couldn't afford a ticket. Ticket lady wasn't there, so, I snuck in and..watched."

So, the man who rode the carousel with me was called Dandy. I didn't want to look away from his face, he didn't look away from mine. We exchanged smiles, before dandy carried on answering. "I personally, was walking around and happened to see this young woman here. I find you freaks boring. I wanted to show her a better time."

"Scram!! Right fucking now! Dandy you dont belong here, you know that." Lobster Boy continued.

"I hate you!!" Dandy screamed. He took my hand and we ran. Again. Back to running. The pain in my legs became obvious again. Darkness over took me, leaves crunched underneath us. The Freakshow disappeared behind us.

"please! Stop! I feel weak..." I wheezed, sinking to a stop and onto my knees. Everything hurt. I needed water, but I doubted I was gonna find any in the woods this dark.

"Are you okay? Are you hurt pretty lady?" Dandy asked. Pretty lady? That's a compliment.

"No...just..tired. My legs feel like jelly. I'm shaking. I've done nothing but walk and run for the past 3 to 4 hours. I think."

"Oh. Well, build us a tree fort. We can sleep in there."

I raised an eyebrow he couldn't see at him. "It's fine. Do it."

So I built in the dark, leaves, twigs, branches, anything and everything was used. As soon as I was done, I grabbed Dandy's hand and pulled him into the cozy shelter. He was practically ontop of me. "Are you okay to sleep like this?" I asked. He made a face in response.

"No, but It'll have to do."

We slept. He slept ontop of me, almost making me lose my ability to breath. But it was nice. Human comfort and company. Especially with a handsome man like the one on top of me.

Haii, I literally just had a dream about this, so I wrote it cause it was gold lol. It's not proof read, and it's a quick write. I hope you enjoyed!!

@babygorewhore @slvt4jamesmarch @taintandviolent @tatelangdonsweater hi tag list! Enjoy this imagine 💜

[cal-daisies-and-briars]

❄️❄️❄️❄️ (I'm intrigued)

📖📖📖📖📖 (still so excited for librarian buck)

🪞🪞🪞🪞🪞🪞🪞🪞🪞🪞(this sounds awesome and I'm looking forward to seeing what you do with this plot because I can see it going so many ways)

🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨

🔼🔼🔼🔼🔼

🧟🧟🧟🧟🧟

⚡⚡⚡⚡⚡

(the last few Make Me Writes I've been holding back on how many but not how much I ask for so this week I have decided to do the inverse lol)

Wooo I love this! Let's go!

---

12 for ❄️:

---

There’s nothing to say, anyway. Because the more Eddie thinks about it, the more confident he is that it won't actually work. Getting him to open up in talk therapy was hard enough to begin with. Adding a group of strangers to the mix? Not gonna be as simple as Frank makes it sound.

He’s gonna do it. He’s not gonna quit. He wants to be better. 

He’s just not sure this is how to get there. 

A lobotomy? Maybe? That’s the next step. 

---

15 for 📖:

---

That lasts less than a month. Really, Buck finds something not quite right with everybody. 

“That’s not like you,” Maddie observes when he complains about it. 

“It’s not?” Buck asks. 

She nods. “Usually you give people more chances than they deserve.” 

“Do I?” Buck asks. But he knows she’s probably right. He tried so hard with Abby. He’d held onto Taylor even after he realized they weren’t well-suited. Even that firefighter guy… He knew he was condescending after half an hour of one date. And yet he still agreed to the second.

---

30 for 🪞:

---

If there’s any chance she’s not in the laundry room, he hopes she hears them. 

The laundry room is smoky and hard to see inside of when they burst through the doors. Eddie runs right to a line of three dryers and opens all the doors.

“DOVE?” Buck shouts. 

“She’s not in the dryers!” Eddie announces, moving towards the washing machines. Those would be harder to climb in, Buck thinks. It doesn’t seem likely. 

Buck scans the room quickly. There are shelves with laundry detergent, stain remover, dryer sheets, and other necessities. In the corner, there’s a sink. Beside it, a big laundry cart has been pushed against a table. Buck strides over to it and looks inside. At the bottom, under a heap of towels, is a quivering little girl, clutching what looks like a stuffed crocodile. 

“Found her!” Buck tells Eddie. 

Eddie quits his search and informs command over the radio. 

Buck looks at the little girl, and finds her glancing back up at him. Her brown hair is sticking to her sweaty forehead. Her stormy gray-blue eyes are heavy with exhaustion and discomfort. But he can still see the fear in them. She’s wheezing when she breathes.

“You must be Dove,” he says to her.

She gives a little nod. 

“My name is Buck,” he tells her. “I’m a firefighter. I’d like to get you out of here, okay?”

---

15 for 🚨:

---

Like someone reaches forward from the past to knock willpower and sense into him. 

Do you remember what you said?

Christopher’s voice, small but certain. 

What did I say?

You told me I was one of the most important people in the whole world. So you had to keep me safe.

That’s true. That’s still true.

So, don’t be too sad, Buck.

Buck snaps out of his wallowing. He can’t lay down and die. He can’t give up. Even if it means dragging his body back into the warzone, he’s pulling Eddie out of it. And this time, he’s not going to be too late.

Buck takes a deep breath and crawls under the fire engine.

---

15 for 🔼:

---

What if they all secretly despise her for what she’s done to Eddie? To Christopher?

She sticks with Maddie, for this reason. Even though she knows it’s probably just all in her head. Maddie seems to understand and expect the anxiety, and has no problem with it. She’s a good friend. Shannon is lucky. 

When it happens, they’re about the baby. About Jane. She’s officially Jane now. Well, not officially, actually. Birth certificates are the official part. But as far as she and Eddie are concerned, it’s as good as official. Jane Diaz. They’re still just missing a middle name. 

---

15 for 🧟:

---

“Is that?” Chim asks, sniffing.

“Mhm,” Athena confirms, pursing her lips. “Smells like it.”

“It didn’t smell like marijuana last time we were here,” Bobby says. “That’s new.”

Hen looks around the storefront. She walks behind the counter, scanning the shelves. Right in front of where the till used to be, she sees it. An extinguished, crumbling joint. From the looks of the rolling paper and the ashes, it’s not that old.  

“Here,” Hen says, lifting the evidence gingerly. “Someone was in here.”

“And they couldn’t even pick up after themselves,” Chim sighs. “No manners in a zombie apocalypse, I’m telling you.”

---

15 for ⚡:

---

She replies with a thumbs up, a heart, and wine glass with a question mark.

“Fuck,” Eddie sighs. “We forgot to buy Adriana wine.” 

Buck’s eyes flutter open. “Hmm?”

“We didn’t buy Adriana wine.”

Buck waves it off sleepily. “We’ll give her a really big gift card. 

Eddie laughs. “She will remember this.” 

“One day, when she and Ravi get married,” Buck yawns.

“Uh, hey, let’s not rush that,” Eddie interjects. 

“When she and Ravi get married, we will do something big to help. Don’t even worry.”

[secondsonaym]

same anon that was searching for the swap au thingie this morning. Yep, that's the one. Thanks!

...Although, now my curiosity is showing. What would a swap au between Deckard and Star look like?

WHEEZES this is such a good question honestly and it really got me thinking.

So I'm a bit of a nitpicky person for swaps and like to think on the full scope of their swapped status, meaning for these two, they would be swapped right from the beginning, down to determining which lamb is the Lamb of Prophecy as influenced by Shamura, which will cause events to spiral out drastically different in terms of the game's story due to just how different in personality these two are.

So basically, Deckard (or, well, they'd probably go by Azazel in this) as the Lamb of Prophecy, defeating and then choosing to oppose Narinder, while Star is off in the wilderness on her own.

Azazel is basically the inverse of Star in terms of the cult--They run it very well and genuinely care/interact with the followers, and even spend more time with them, while they're terrible with fighting, and end up falling in battle a LOT.

They're also still very meek and under the impression Star is dead, so when the bishop demand them to kneel--well, they do, much to Narinder's fury. They want to be spared, they don't want to do all of this, but what other choice do they have now?

However, as they finally make their way to Silk Cradle, their home, they find somebody they didn't expect to: Star

Turns out she's been off in the wild this whole time, having survived and killed anyone that went after her for the culling. She's also turned to cannibalism as a survival measure, to keep that thread consistent.

However, she doesn't want Azazel to succeed in their mission. She's convinced Narinder doesn't want any good for the world, and if he's returned to power, there won't be life for ANYONE. She wants Azazel to stop their crusade, to submit to the bishops, so the pair of them can at least LIVE, because if things keep going the way they are, then neither of them will survive.

But she also isn't going to fight them over it, so if they decide otherwise, then they should just leave her alone.

Azazel wishes they could comply, happy to know their sister is alive, but Narinder pushes them along, demanding Azazel either kill her then and there or just ignore her and move on.

So Azazel leaves their sister behind.

Then, on the last miniboss fight before Shamura, Azazel is met with a surprise: Rather than a follower turned demon, Star is waiting for them.

As it turns out, Shamura found her not long after the culling, and rather than kill her outright, decided to recruit her. At first, Star just tried to convince Azazel to stop, but now that they are so close to their goal, she has no choice but to fight them, and has been granted power by Shamura.

She transforms, and then the siblings fight, resulting in Star's defeat.

Before she dies, she comments about Azazel's convictions and wonders just how much of their own actions are their own. She admits she didn't truly want to fight them, that Shamura forced her hand, and believes Azazel's situation to be similar.

"Perhaps... Perhaps you can do what I could not, and break your own chains."

----

So when Azazel is to face down Narinder, and manage to defeat him, they don't spare him. They kill him, and then use their new power to bring back Star.

The world may be different from then on, but at least they still have each other.

[sidhewrites]

Chapter 8! Kind of! Flailing in the general direction of a narrative and excessive use of brackets to move the action along!

Project Info

Previous Chapter | Next Chapter

The second Josie sees Renfield, she cries out in relief and pulls him close to her chest, peppering his fat head with kisses. "Thank you, Kaz. [I was so worried]." Now that she's got her cat back, Josie can focus on other concerns. Her gaze drifts over to the circle of light where a valiant effort to get a modicum of work done after all the chaos.

"Josie...?" I warn, but there's not much heart behind it. After nearly losing Renfield, it's hard not to want to give her something nice. Maybe she could at least say hello. I look over my shoulder and sigh. "Be cool. Okay?"

"So cool. I'm very cool."

"I believe you." I don't believe her.

"Do you...?"

She pauses, looking down at Renfield in her arms. He's happy as can be, face buried in the crook of her elbow. I know Josie wants to take him to the vet to get looked at, and she'd be right to, but the risk of missing out on meeting the archivists. It's such a small thing, but I can still see it weighing on her.

I don't want to make her make a hard decision, not after tonight. "Listen, come by tomorrow. They're probably going to be pissed at me in the daylight and want to talk to Mr. Ngo about things. Might as well have you stop by too. Yeah?"

She hesitates before nodding, and despite her exhaustion, there's a distinct glimmer in her eye. "Sounds good."

"Let me know what the vet says?"

"Will do." Josie looks down at Renfield and sighs. "Thank you, Kaz."

"Sure thing. I'm glad we found him."

Josie heads off, and I turn back to the team, plastering my best customer service smile on my face, and get ready to grovel once more.

#

[Kaz checks in with josie in the mormning, renfield is fine and seems healthier than he was in his last visit which is wild. But he's behaving oddly, hiding under tables, and refusing to be pet. So she's gonna keep an eye on him and keep in touch with the vet.

She also talks with the haunted archivists, gets permission to use the video with the cat in it, etc. she gets a selfie with them and ts delightful.]

Josie looks like she barely slept, but the fear and tension is mostly gone from her shoulders.

"Good news, then?" I ask, and she makes a face. I try again: "Bad...news?"

"Weird news."

"Tell me."

Josie pulled out her phone in search of the after-visit summary. "The vet says he's in perfect health."

"Well, that's good, isn't it?"

"As in, perfect health. No bladder infections, no kitty arthritis. Nothing. Even his breathing seem to be doing better."

"Definitely weird news, then." Renfield was a smush - faced cat. He'd been examined back when Josie first took him in the day she found him in the trash, and the vet said he'd likely suffer some issues in his old age. Sure enough, he'd slowly started to huff and sneeze and wheeze a bit as the years went by, though it was a mix of issues that lead to him being less active and more determined to fall asleep in your lap and drool on your pant leg.

"So..."

"I don't know. I scheduled a follow up at the end of the week with his usual vet, and we'll see. But here, look. See? He's totally fine." She flipped the phone around to show me a video of Renfield noisily chowing down on his breakfast.

"Aww, look at him." I cooed. "A little scrungus man."

"Be nice," Josie whined, even as she moved on to the next video of him scratching at his cat tree.

"An old scrunkly bungus."

"No, he's a sweet baby!"

I fully intended to continue insulting her stinky baby boy but the front door swung open again. "Hang on just a second," I said to Josie, then leaned back in the chair to call out the office door, "I'll be with you in a second!"

A familiar voice answered, "No need."

Ah. The Archivists were back. I felt my whole body cringe, hoping against hope they hadn't reported last night's chaos to Mr. Ngo. A quick glance to Josie told me that she matched my dread with her own levels of excitement. "Be cool," I hissed.

"So cool." She nodded aggressively.

Neither of us were capable of being cool. I was fully prepared for another round of groveling and apologizing until Lourdes poked her head in the door with the biggest smile on her face.

"Morning!" She chirped, and waltzed in, followed by Mick and Maddie. I would have questioned their energy levels after last night were they not all sporting cups of coffee from a local cafe. I had similarly loaded up on caffeine before work and had a backup cup ready to go under the office's coffee machine.

"Morning...?"

"Sup." Josie crossed her arms and leaned against the desk, which would have been perfectly casually if she also wasn't visibly restraining herself from fangirling over both Archivists and their manager standing less than five feet away. She does not miss the dubious glance I shoot her way, but manages to say nothing.

"So the three of us were talking last night," Maddie begins, glancing down at notes on her phone.

"Look, I'm sorry. I swear that one wasn't planned. Josie's cat never runs like that, and he--"

"We'd like to use it in the video."

"What?"

Maddie gives me a look that seems to say keep up, we're talking business here! "It's great content. The team's in the middle of a successful [seance? what's the word] and in comes a cat. I think the audience would be disappointed if we don't do a little Q&A with him, too. You know, just as a little bonus."

I glanced to the side. Josie's practically steaming with the effort of keeping her calm. Frankly, I'm more than a little impressed. "I mean, you'd have to ask his owner, right?"

"Of course, yeah," Maddie says, and the team nods in agreement.

"No, I mean... the owner...?" I gesture to Josie.

She waves.

"Oh -- oh, hey, cool! Hi, I'm Maddie." She reached out to shake Josie's hand, and gestured to the other two. "I don't know if you know us...? This --"

"Mick and Lourdes, Haunted Archivists. I know you guys. Um -- that is, I've seen your show, and --"

I kick Josie lightly, and she clears her throat, getting a hold of herself.

"Yep, yeah. So cool. Um, yeah, that was my cat Renfield that you... want to use in the video, apparently?"

[They greet Josie and talk and of course she's excited.]

She talks about some of the local legends, and points them in the direction of the librarian

Tag list:

@adaughterofathena

@ambreeskyewriting

@carnelianflames

@feather-dancer

@halfbloodlycan

@nadunacreates

@serenanymph

@vigilantdesert

[spanishsenpai]

Whumptober 2023 - Day 1

Hey all! I'm steering a little of course from what I usually write lol! I'll update Daycare Attendant soon! I've just gotta write out this sudden obsession with Aitor from Dying Light 2. He's so bb gurl frfr.

What if Aitor had given any sign of life before Aiden bolted for the car factory?

Read it on AO3 if you'd rather! :D

“What the hell…?”

Aiden’s knees felt weak as he struggled to his feet. 

“My head … it's pounding …” He grit out. “What’s happening to me?” 

His throat was sore like he'd been screaming for hours. His body felt like one big bruise.

He lifted his head, looking around in a daze at the bodies on the floor. 

“What happened here?”

His thoughts were cut off with the static of a walkie talkie on the body in front of him. He stumbled to it, searching the pockets until he found the radio. “We’re about to start. Where are you?” 

Aiden’s eyes narrowed. Waltz.

“I’m almost to the car factory…”

Before Aiden could hear the rest, a groan sounded from further in the tunnel. His gaze snapped to the sound, barely processing the blue of a PK body struggling to get its arms under it. His eyes widened. Not just any PK body; Aitor.

His aches seemed to disappear as he stepped closer. How many times had he woken up surrounded by bodies and one was still alive? 

Never it felt like.

“Aitor… ?” He called, a small note of panic in his voice leftover from the adrenaline of whatever the fuck just happened. 

He’d rolled his limp body off his legs. He’d been sure Aitor was dead.

“Aitor?” He called again, sounding a little more confident.

“... Aiden?” Aitor coughed out, the word barely more than a wheeze. He grunted, falling limp on the concrete, speaking the one word seemingly taking all his energy.

Aiden could see his face now. Aitor’s eyes were just barely cracked open. Blood stained his teeth as he grimaced in obvious pain. Aiden knelt down next to him, hands hovering over his body. Should he turn him on his back? What if his neck was hurt?

The walkie buzzed again as someone spoke though Aiden was too caught up in his worry to hear the words. Immediately he was reminded of the stakes though.

“Fuck! Waltz has the key!” he snarled. Aitor didn’t react to this news. He was barely conscious. 

Desperation ran through Aiden. That key was the only way he was going to find Mia. He couldn’t let Waltz get away with it. 

Guilt filled him as he looked down at Aitor’s limp body. He was still awake, just barely though. Aiden had to go. He didn’t have time to get Aitor somewhere safe. 

This tunnel was surrounded by natural light and it was midday. He’d … He’d have to be okay until Aiden got the key back. “I’m sorry Aitor. Hang tight! I’ll be back as soon as I can.” 

Aitor didn’t react to this other than to slowly close his eyes as he went slack again. 

There wasn’t time! Aiden growled, hesitating a moment longer before bolting to the tunnel entrance.

Aitor was tough. He’d be okay until Aiden got back.

Well shit, that was a mess.

“Run!” The sniper screamed, bolting for a building in ankle deep water.

Aiden almost went to follow her but even through the delirium of being nearly choked to death, he remembered Aitor. 

“No! I have to go back!” Aiden turned, bolting for the broken freeway. He was sure he could get back across. 

“Go back? Are you crazy?! He’s transforming!” She stopped going for the building and, seeing he wasn’t turning around, began to chase after him.

“The sun will buy me time!” He was at the edge of the solar panels, scrambling up what little footholds he could find. He didn’t expect to hear footsteps following him, especially after a familiar roar echoed from the factory. 

“Waltz will kill us!”

“A good man needs help!” Aiden yelled back, breathing hard as he climbed the asphalt. “I promised to come back for him.”

He heard a faint “Shit” behind him before the sniper was climbing after him. 

Just as he’d hoped, the sun stopped Waltz from being able to follow them. Even with his terrifying agility and immunity to the UV rays, midday was no joke on a volatile. 

Aiden’s hands shook, nearly making him fall a couple times. Aitor could be dead. He could be risking himself and the sniper for a dead man. It would be dark in only a few hours though and if Aitor was alive, if there was even a chance, Aiden wouldn’t leave him to die like that. He’d taken bigger gambles than this anyway.

His eyes widened as the tunnel entrance came into view. Almost there!

He was gasping for breath as his feet hit solid ground. He vaulted over the few cars and sprinted into the tunnel. The bodies were still here, undisturbed, making Aiden breathe a sigh of relief. No zombies had gotten in then. 

“Aitor!” He called, quickly spotting the group of blue bodies. He slid to kneel next to Aitor’s body, shaking hands reaching for his neck. He hadn’t moved from where Aiden had left him. 

His heart was pounding too hard to tell if Aitor’s heart was beating. He hesitated for only a moment before he carefully began to roll Aitor over onto his back. He nearly had a heart attack when Aitor jolted with a sharp cough as Aiden got him on his side. 

“Oh thank god. Aitor? Can you hear me?”

He didn’t fully process the sniper kneeling next to them. He did look up as she hissed though.

“He’s bleeding. There’s a puddle over here. Not a big one so probably not that serious,” she said, poking careful fingers along Aitor’s spine. “Keep him on his side. If he’s on his back he might choke on his blood.”

Aitor only wheezed as he was poked and prodded. When the sniper gently pressed a palm to the center of his vest, Aitor cried out, trying to flinch away from the pressure.

“His ribs are probably fucked up.”

“Yeah,” Aiden finally said. “Waltz got him pretty good.”

“Fighting Waltz and living? He’ll have serious bragging rights if he makes it.”

“Hear that Aitor? I’d say you’re keeping that promotion,” Aiden called, hoping that Aitor was going to respond. 

He got a huff. He’d call that a win.

“Where are we taking him?” She asked, done with her inspection for now.

“There’s a safe house near here. It’s too close to dark to take him anywhere else.”

“Alright, we’ll have to get him to wake up more if we want the best chance though. Think you can do that?”

“Yeah… yeah I can do that.”

Could he though? He’d try at the very least. 

“Aitor, hey, you need to wake up.” Aiden patted his cheek, wincing when Aitor wheezed a little louder. A few more calls for him to wake up did nothing. The sniper was starting to look impatient and Aiden wasn’t sure he could get Aitor to the safe house on his own. 

Fuck, sorry Aitor. He pressed a little harder on Aitor’s ribs. Hopefully not enough to knock him out fully, but just enough to wake him up. 

Aitor gasped, hands finally moving to weakly push at Aiden’s arm. 

“F-Fu… St-Stop…” he ground out, eyes fluttering open. Aiden felt one of his legs bump him from behind but Aitor was too weak to really do anything. 

“Okay, okay, I’m sorry. You have to stay awake though Aitor.”

Aitor’s eyes seemed to focus on the face above him. Aiden happened to notice the nasty bruise on his jaw and the blood soaking into his hair from his temple. 

“Yeah, just like that. Come on Aitor.”

“Wha... What… hap-pened?” He gasped out. 

“Waltz nearly killed you.”

“... My… s-squad… ?”

“I’m sorry. They… They didn’t make it.”

Aitor looked like he wanted to give up on being awake as he processed the words. 

“No, no! Stay with me Aitor!” Aiden frantically patted Aitor’s cheek as his eyes threatened to close. “Come on!”

Aitor’s eyes opened again.

“There you go. How… How many fingers am I holding up?” When he didn’t answer for a moment, Aiden repeated himself. “Aitor? How many fingers?”

“... F-Fo-ur…”

No, that was wrong. Aiden curled his two fingers back into a fist. That was fine. He could fix that later. For now, thinking was waking Aitor up again. Which was good. Great in fact. Just a little more and they might be able to walk him out of here. 

“Aitor, we need to get up. There’s a safe house we can go to but you have to walk.”

Aitor let out a weak cough that sounded like an “Okay”. 

“Puddle’s a little bigger back here,” the sniper interrupted. “We gotta get moving.”

Aiden swallowed thickly, “Alright. Aitor, get ready to sit up.”

Aitor huffed. 

“I’ve got him back here,” the sniper said.

“Okay, I’m lifting in one, two, three.”

They slowly brought Aitor’s torso off the ground. No matter how slow they went though, it wouldn’t have felt any less painful. Aitor let out a strangled cry, legs weakly shuffling as a hand came up to grip Aiden’s wrist as hard as he could, which wasn’t much. Internally, Aiden winced but didn't stop until Aitor was almost fully vertical. The pain seemed to wake him up further though. His eyes were a little clearer as they darted around, taking in the situation. 

“You with us?” Aiden asked. 

“Y-Yeah-” Aitor gasped out. “My… ri-ribs.” His words were halted and stuttering as his lungs desperately tried to avoid even grazing his ribs. Of course, the effort was futile.

“We know. We’ll take care of it once we get to the safe house.” Aiden brought one of his hands in front of Aitor. “How many fingers am I holding up?”

“T-Two.”

Aiden let out a breath of relief. “Head damage must not be that bad then.”

“Getting to his feet’s gonna be worse,” the sniper piped up. “He might pass out.”

Aitor jolted at her voice, immediately trying to twist around to see who was behind him. He froze mid motion though as his body practically seized from the sudden movement.

“Hey! Don’t do that,” Aiden barked, using his free hand to steady Aitor.

“Wh-o… ?”

“She’s a friend. Don’t worry about it right now.”

A quiet growl was his response. No one would be happy in this situation, least of all Aitor, but he seemed to accept there was little he could do about it. Already, Aiden could feel him starting to tremble. Hopefully it was from pain and not shock.

The sniper had already shifted to a crouch to lift Aitor up. Aiden quickly followed suit. 

“Are you ready to get up?”

Aitor nodded stiffly. Aiden felt him tense up in preparation for the pain that would surely follow.

“Three, two, one, and- up!”

Aitor cried out as they brought him up to his feet. He would have immediately toppled over if the two hadn’t secured their grip on him. He gasped raggedly as he fought to get his jellied knees to hold him. He stumbled before he got them to lock up. 

They gave him a moment to breathe. His body was trembling worse now. God, Aiden hoped that wasn’t shock.

“L-Let’s go,” he gasped out, taking a shaking step forward.

“Wait. Wait a second.” Aiden carefully put Aitor’s arm around the back of his neck, the sniper doing the same before they started forward.

The tunnel entrance, the one leading back to Old Villedor, was a short distance away, yet Aitor’s brow was already shining with sweat. His steps were slow and he practically tripped over his own feet. The only thing keeping him up was Aiden and the sniper. 

Aiden prayed the power to the door was working now. A breath escaped him as the metal creaked with rust but lifted all the same. The zombies he’d cleared out before he’d come in here hadn’t replaced themselves, leaving them a semi straight shot to the closest rooftop. 

Walking was one thing, climbing was another. Aiden hadn’t even thought about how they’d get Aitor up to a roof yet.

“Judging by how walking’s going, I’d say climbing is out of the question,” the sniper said, like she was reading his mind. “We’ll probably have to clear out a few floors in this apartment to get him up there.”

Aiden looked between her and the apartment building they’d stopped in front of, nodding finally. Four floors. Usually he only had to clear out one but he could work with this.

“Can you stay out here with him?” She’d come this far with them, surely she wouldn’t turn on them and kill Aitor now.

She nodded and they set to getting Aitor on the sidewalk. He choked down any cries, but his breath still came out in harsh pants as he was settled with his back against the building.

“I’ll be as quick as I can,” Aiden assured before he quickly slipped into the front door. 

Clearing out the building wasn’t hard. The zombies here were feeble from being locked away with no food for so long. A few molotov’s and one shattered tire iron and the place was clear from the ground floor to the roof.

Back outside, the sniper was collecting an arrow from a zombie’s chest across the street. Aitor looked like he was on the verge of passing out, face pale and eyes barely open. They needed to hurry. 

“Hey!” He called as loud as he dared, “It’s clear now.”

She jogged back over to them. Together they crouched and lifted Aitor up far less carefully than they had the first time. Aitor didn’t complain, just let out a sharp huff. Somehow he was even worse on his feet than before. They had to practically lift him up each step of the stairs as his legs fumbled with lifting that short distance. Whether Aitor was aware of it or not, he had started to grip the shoulder of Aiden’s jacket with an iron grip as they went. Aiden didn’t mention it.

He also didn’t mention how the shiny red spot on the front of Aitor’s shirt was growing. He wasn’t sure where the cut had come from but it couldn’t be helping Aitor’s already feeble balance.

“We’re almost there. There’s a bridge connecting this roof to the one with the safe house.”

“Good. Your friend’s starting to get heavy.”

She was right. Aitor was slowly putting more weight on them as his steps grew sloppier.

“Hear that Aitor? Almost there,” Aiden huffed as they lifted him up the last step. Thank god. The sun was close to setting and Aiden’s own body was protesting that fight from earlier.

“Y-Yeah.” Aitor’s voice came out more like a whisper.

The ramp wasn’t wide enough for them to walk side by side, so they opted to crab shuffle across. Aitor tried but his legs were basically only able to hold him up at this point.

“This is not how I saw my day going,” the sniper huffed as she stepped onto the other roof.

“I don’t think anyone did.”

Aitor didn’t respond.

“There it is, Aitor. Almost th- !” 

Aitor’s leg buckled, almost taking them all to the ground. They righted themselves but the movement was sharp enough for Aitor to cry out again. Aiden and the sniper’s heads snapped to the right as a couple growls responded to the sound.

Unfortunately, while the bridge had been helpful for them to get to the safehouse, another bridge leading to the neighboring zombie infested roof was less so. The zombies stumbled for them. Towards the back, one looked like it was about to start sprinting. 

“Shit! We gotta move,” she snapped.

Aitor seemed to understand as his grip on Aiden’s sleeve tightened. His steps were a little more solid as they dragged him along faster, shaky pained sounds spilling out of him. Aiden’s watch beeped, signaling that it was officially nighttime and they were still several yards from the safe glow of the UV lamps.

“Take him! I’ll hold them off,” she ordered, sliding Aitor’s arm off her shoulders. 

Aitor nearly crumpled to the ground as his arm flopped down and smacked him in the side. “No, no, no, come on Aitor.”

“Sh-Shit,” he wheezed, feet scrambling to keep up with Aiden’s too fast steps. Damn those heavy PK boots. 

A shriek to his right made Aiden jump. A decayed face climbed over the side of the building and bolted right for them. Aiden kicked it in the chest, nearly losing his grip on Aitor as the lieutenant let out a choked cry. His once limp arm grabbed Aiden’s jacket with trembling fingers to keep from falling completely. The sniper was back then, pushing the zombie the rest of the way off the roof. 

As soon as the purple light enveloped Aitor’s face, Aiden breathed out a sigh of relief. The sun was down and zombies were coming but they had made it. Quickly, the sniper came around and flung open the door, allowing them all to shuffle inside. His back was screaming from supporting Aitor for so long, yet as he went to set Aitor down on the pile of blankets called a bed, she came over to help, just as slow and careful as he was.

Aitor groaned as he nearly went boneless once his legs weren’t supporting him. Aiden had to quickly grab his shoulders to keep him up. “Can’t lay down just yet Aitor. Hey,” he called, raising his voice so the sniper would know he was talking to her, “can you-”

“Already on it.” 

She had gathered every soft thing in the little safe house and begun stacking them behind Aitor. The pile was just high enough to keep him elevated. Now he could lay on his back without choking. They eased him down. As Aitor’s body registered something even semi comfortable, he went limp and passed out.

Before Aiden could freak out about it, the sniper spoke. “Well I guess it's time to doctor him up while he’s out.”

“Y-Yeah. Thank you… for helping me get him here.”

“I’d say no problem but it was. Favors are good to have though.” They worked in silence for a moment, carefully undressing Aitor’s upper half to reveal the dark bruises and cut on his front. Even with how gently Aiden was wrapping bandages around his ribs, Aitor’s breath still hitched with pain at any pressure. 

“Hey, since we’re stuck here for the night, you can call me Lawan.”

Aiden’s hand jerked, making Aitor gasp even when unconscious. “Shit!” He cursed, resuming his careful wrapping as he glanced up at Lawan. “I’ve been looking for you for weeks. Dylan sent me with this-”

They talked through the night about Dylan, the GRE, Waltz, all while they checked that Aitor was still alive. A couple hours before morning, Aitor groaned as he slowly became aware again, eyes blinking rapidly to try and clear away his fuzzy vision. 

Almost immediately, Aiden was by his side. “Hey, careful. You’re not even close to being ready to move yet.”

“What,” he took in a sharp breath at the return of the pain in his chest and his face and his back and everywhere really, “What happened?”

“Waltz.”

Aitor had to think for a moment, struggling to remember. His eyes widened and he tried to sit up fully as he gasped out, “My squad.”

Aiden quickly stopped him from sitting up, though his face was somber. “I’m sorry. Waltz killed them all. I’m sure you’re lucky to even be alive right now.”

Aitor coughed out a ruthful chuckle, settling back into the soft pile, “Yeah… lucky.”

“I’m sorry,” was all he could think to say. 

“Where’s my armor?” He asked after a minute. He’d looked down and found himself only in his unbuttoned brown shirt. Bandages covered his chest while a blanket had been put over his legs. 

“Over here. I don’t think you should put it on for a while though. Your ribs are busted up.”

“Yeah. Could tell that from how they feel,” he coughed out. 

“Is there anywhere we missed? Any other place that hurts?”

Aitor squinted up at him. “We?”

“You don’t remember me and her carrying you up here?” Aiden asked, shuffling to the side so he could point out Lawan. 

He was quiet for another moment before slowly nodding. “F-Faintly.” He sighed, relaxing fully into the pile of various pillows and backpacks behind him. 

“I think my ribs are the worst. Nothing is really screaming at me other than that.”

“You’ve also got a cut down here.” He pointed to just above Aitor’s pant line where another bandage and gauze were placed. “One of your knives probably got you when Waltz knocked them out of your hands.” He didn’t say, when Waltz kneed you so hard you passed out. If Aitor didn't have a memory of that, Aiden didn’t want to be the one to give it to him. 

“This is a real shit show,” Aitor breathed out. He brought a stiff arm up to rub over his eyes. 

Aiden didn’t comment on that and neither did Lawan. The former Pilgrim sighed, “As soon as morning comes, we’ll walkie the Peacekeepers to come get you.”

Aitor let out a huff, closing his eyes for a moment. Aiden didn’t envy how he was likely feeling. 

“Thank you Aiden. You’ve helped me out again.”

Aiden gave him a small smile. “No problem at all.”

[reddogf13]

Outlast 2: Deliverance CH 10

Also on A03

Status: Incomplete

Rated: M - Dead Dove Do Not Eat This takes place in the Outlast 2 universe after all.

Previous chap: CH: 9 Uhtceare

Next chap: CH: 11 Dysania

________________

~Ch: 10 Sleight~

Blake rushed with James to the barn. Record book in hand to chart down the damage done to their supplies. “How much was taken?” He wheezed along the way.

“Five rations worth.”

“That's it?” Compared to what he feared, the whole barn emptied, five wasn't bad. “That's not much.”

James gave a snappy tone in mistaking Blake's for lacking concern. “No, but it will be if it keeps happening.”

“Oh, no, I know it will be. But why not more? Only five rations worth? Why not make off with at least a quarter of the barn?”

“Couldn't carry that much? Afraid they'd get caught takin' too long? Who knows with heretics.”

“They're not heretics, they're just people trying to survive.”

“Thieves then. Who need to be dealt with. Stealing food is a hangin' offense.” Opening the doors for Blake to inspect inside. Pointing out the various things missing. “Jerky, pickled vegetables-”

“A few bags of fresh stuff.” Blake marked down. “You sure the kitchen staff didn't take it?”

“Positive, all's accounted for there. Nothin' extra in the kitchen.”

“Help me gather the rest of the lords. We're having an emergency meeting.” Things were going by so fast it took him a moment to gather himself in the middle of the meeting. Arguing had shot off on what to do about the heretics. Turning to topics Blake wasn't approving. “We're not killing them!” He shouted.

“We have to!” Liam shouted back.

Supported by James. “We should've dealt with 'em a long time ago. They think they can take whatever they want. This is just them testin' the boundaries I bet. If we don't act, they'll walk all over us. Stealin' more, if not everythin', next time.”

“And what after that? Right now it's food, but after they get stronger? What if they go after people like before? Picking us off who step past what rusted fences we have left?”

“Should have left those up.”

“NO!” Blake slammed a fist. “They stole food because they want to live like the rest of us. They could've taken a whole lot more than five rations. Could've taken half the barn in the night, but they didn't. They used restraint in how much they took. They're not heretics. They're survivors that escaped Knoth's iron fist and had no direction to go. Or any sort of outside help that could've led them to safety. I'm not going to be the one who executes them after fighting so hard for survival.” He looked at the others at the table. John looked like he wanted to say something, but shrunk from the table over all the yelling. Mathew looked about the same in the crumbling discussion.

Liam huffed. “Still, something has to be done. If you don't then the rest of us will.”

Marta crushing anymore thought of that. “Step out of line and see what happens.”

“Marta.” Blake warned in name. She gave him a glance then looked away, mumbling verses again. He didn't want her shutting things down, even if they weren't in his favor. That would only breed fear and hatred toward him and keep people silent instead of expressing their problems. “Me and Marta will discuss what to do. I won't kill them, but I won't let them keep stealing from us. The rest of you can leave until I think of something.” Waiting until the hall was cleared.

“Should we kill them now?”

“... No…” If I don't make Val a target, then maybe I won't make myself one

“Should we capture them?”

“No…”

“You wish to leave them?”

“If I could-” Locking up at the thought of taming Val, being caught and taken to the jail. Surely her followers would attempt to break her out. The overhanging fear of if she'd escape in the night. He'd be the grand trophy soon as she got out. Waking to the screams of people her and her followers slaughtered. He'd desperately run to hide in some far off corner. They'd search every crevice until they found him. The sounds of her steps approaching. Her voice coaxing him to come out. When he'd come face to face with her again forcing him down. Covered in muck and blood like down in the mines.

“Blake?” Marta's voice pulled him out of it. “You look ill.”

“Ugh, stress is all.” Swallowing his stomach. “I- ...” God, what do I do? I can't tame Val like she's some feral animal. Do I have to chain her up like one? Need to stop thinking of her like that. She can talk, she's a human being, she's not dumb. Feeling sick he hung his head low. I can't talk to her. She won't dare talk with Marta. Is there- ! His head shot up. “I need a diplomat.”

“Why not speak to her yourself? We know where they are. I can crack her if she takes a chance at you.”

“If I get her under control with a diplomat then as long as she follows the rules.” A nervous laugh escaped him. “Everything will be fine.”

The look he got from Marta showed her doubts. Her tone one that Blake hadn't heard in a long time. “She's a lustful demon who brings misery.” Oozing a viscous hatred toward the one she spoke of. “When her thirst for blood returns. She'll use you to fill her cup first.”

“... Do you want to… ?” In every other case she didn't have the spirit without Knoth's reassuring preaching. When it came to Val however...

“... I was always behind her, even under Knoth and she knew it well.” Her hatred filled gaze locked onto the table. “My faith was imperfect after all. When she fled I was given the task to crush her. To prove how unfaltering my faith was… All I could hear was her unending mockery outside Temple Gate, for months. Always behind... I knew one day I'd get my hands on her and she wouldn't receive an ounce of mercy. No matter how she begged or what pleas to God she'd scream. She knows it, and dares not tempt me whilst in reach.” Her eyes rose back to him. “… If I asked you, would you order me to kill Val?”

“No... Do you think I'm wrong to spare Val? Am I too soft?” Doubting himself on handling the situation.

“No. You have not led me astray yet, angel. You have kept your promise, even if I'm not joyful about it this time, for that I will always trust your lead.”

He smiled. “Thank you.”

“Who will be your diplomat?”

“I don't know… Has to be whoever's inside at least. They've lived within Temple Gate, but Val must trust them a lot.”

“How shall we catch them then? They've been slippin' through our grip for days now anytime one of us nears.”

“We need to draw them out a bit. First is solving the theft problem, which will help with the other. Lock it up tight for a few days then leave it unlocked with a trap set.”

“That seems too obvious.”

“Yes, but we'll starve them into it. if they're that hard for food they'll chance it even if they know full well what it is.”

“What if Val calls in a large group to raid the whole barn? She could send in someone from the outside instead of risking those closer.”

“A huge group like that managing it through the main of Temple Gate? And out again carrying huge loads of food. I don't think she could pull that off with the roaming guard. You can see the storage barn clear from your place already.”

“Are we going to ambush them?”

“No, this will be a lot more subtle. I know banks on the outside have explosive dye packs that stain the skin. Robbers accidentally dye themselves from the trap which leads police right to them. We look for anyone who didn't show for work. Or those suddenly wearing gloves. Check their hands and we'll know immediately. I could set something up like a dye without the bursting part.”

“Out of what?”

“Pen ink for one, a lot of it. I'll need to mix it with something to keep it from drying away. Then I only need a way to spread it on the thief in the act.”

“How long 'till we set this?”

“Three days if I figure it out before then. Just long enough to force their hand before starving. In the meantime keep watching that skittish. Maybe we'll find out more as they get desperate.”

“Let's say you do get 'em marked. What if they run? We'll be outta food and your diplomat.”

“You'll be watching. I know you can catch them. Don't hurt them though.”

Having the foundation for a plan, Blake called back James and Liam. Setting out an order to gather up every lockable cabinet or chest. All food would be locked away in each aside from another lock on the barn doors. James was to watch everyone going into the barn and make sure nothing was taken without permission. Blake promised them both he had more planned, but couldn't say. And that the locks were a small measure for now to set things up. When that was said and done he went to the privacy of his room to experiment with ink and various liquids. Mixing some drops into dish soap, cooking oil, and whatever else he found in the grand hall cabinets. His experiments not delivering a satisfactory mixture that would last. He had patches of dots covering his skin that were coming off far too easily. Half were gone from all the scrub tests he was doing.

What's so annoying to remove from skin? Remembering the time he ate a pomegranate that stained his hands red for a couple days. He went out to raid the kitchen for any fruit. Finding jars of jam to be his only option he grabbed one made of black berry's. His next experimental mixture proved itself to be quite the winner. It would keep the ink alive while providing its own dreadful stain age. The annoying stickiness would provide a small bonus of annoying the thieves causing problems. He stored away his supplies for the future, wrapped in a rugged cloth that would complete the trap. It would be what delivered the dye onto the unsuspecting thieves. Dropping the cloth down might miss or not stain enough. It has to be grabbed for some reason. Wrap up a bunch of supplies they have to unravel? Trunk would be best for that, but what if they just pick it up? Double checking any failures that could occur. The barn's new security measures had prevented anymore theft. Keeping to schedule on setting the trap on the next day. No one knew exactly what the trap was. The most James knew was that they'd “accidentally” leave the barn unlocked at the end of day. In his room Blake was mixing up his sticky dye into the ragged cloth. Wearing gloves the entire time he sloshed the bucket around. The cloth itself was permanently dyed by this point.

Next day he went out, holding his record book in one hand and covered dye bucket in the other. With Marta going one way and him heading for the barn to finalize the trap. Meeting up with James as if following the usual record taking schedule.

“What are we doing?” James asked as he followed Blake into the barn.

He pulled out one locked chest to open. “We're going to take out the jars in this chest, fill it with rocks, put jars back and layer them up into this cloth wet with dye. Set it back and keep it open, everything else stays locked. When whoever comes in to steal they'll pick what's easiest to get to. They can't lift it with the added rocks so they'll have to rummage for the jars. Try to unwrap them and get dye all over their hands. With how sticky it is they might make it worse by trying to wipe it off on their clothes. They'll be covered in dye by the time they leave and anyone else who touches the jars.” He explained while helped by James emptying the chest. Large slabs of stone set as evenly as possible at the bottom. Slipping back on the gloves Blake went to cautiously fold the fabric in. James layering jars between the winding over and under folds. Anybody wanting to grab jars had to slip away the cloth or risk yanking out jars that would break.

“You know, we're basically giving this food to them.” James grunted as they moved the chest. It took extreme effort to shove it back into place. Even Marta would struggle to drag it out. A few carrying it into the rugged forest would be impossible.

“I know, at this point it's allowed. I don't want to starve them to death. Hopefully after this we can set up rationing for them too.” Grabbing the jars was what the trap hinged on to tag any thieves. A loss Blake took as natural to help feed those starving.

“You want to feed them? Why, they haven't done any work to earn it?!”

“I want to make a line of communication with them. If we can work something out then we won't have to fear them any more and they get the help they need.”

“We could just get rid of 'em. Solves our problems and they don't get to eat for free.”

“No. I'm going to help them as much as I helped everyone else.”

“You better hope they don't stab you in the back.” James warned on their way to dinner. Barn door left cracked open to bait who came by.

Blake skipped out on eating. Unable to sleep that night under all the anxiety for tomorrow morning. Carving little figures again of wolves and bears to calm his nerves. When the morning light pooled under his door he left his room to meet the lords. Noticing right away that one was missing. “Where's John?”

Mathew was quick to answer. “He's sick, s-said he might be around later.”

“… Anything important he wanted to tell me?”

“No.” Unblinking without daring a glance away from Blake's stare.

Marta jumped on before Blake could reply. “You seen anyone strange around the hunting party? Skulking around that could be spyin' for Val?”

“N-no, I don't really stay with my dad m-much after workin' the hospital.” Ignoring the fact that Marta was aggressively glaring him down. “Should I be looking? I ain't very good at spotting people. I don't think i-id know.” Shaking under the pressure.

“Okay!” Blake stopped them. “… James, anything new?”

“More foods been stolen.”

Feigning surprise. “Shit, how'd that happen?”

“I think someone accidentally left the doors unlocked.”

“Well, we better double check and record what's gone. Anything important from the rest of you?” Receiving many head shakes. “Alright, dismissed. James, we'll meet you at the barn. Marta, and I need to discuss some things.” Waiting until they were alone to discuss the current unveiling. Marta's aggression unfolding in wanting to grab others she thought were traitors. “Johns a filthy traitor. Saw him fleein' the barn last night. Didn't bother to chase the snake after he headed right home. Think he expects to get the dye off before we notice. Should I interrogate Mathew?”

“See anyone else?” rubbing the bridge of his nose.

“Your second shadow. I chased them, but lost ‘em down one of the alley ways.”

“Great, we'll both go talk to John, but only after we investigate the barn.”

“We should grab him now.”

“He won't want to risk his kid. Keep an eye on Mathew, but wait 'till I say.”

She mumbled a chain of frustrated verses. “As the angel asks, but that boy knows more than he lets on.”

“How do you know?”

“You can read anyone like a book if you watch 'em close enough. Even with your poor sight.”

“Hooow?”

“Each persons different. John's shoulders tense up too much when caught in a lie. Deeper you dig the more uncomfortable he gets. Starts shifting them like he slept on 'em wrong. Mathew gets too bold a stare tryin' to spare himself of guilt. Stumbling over his words like a drunk, with piled up words to buy him time to spin a story.”

“Mm, I'll take note of that.”

“He knows somethin' about that kill in the hall.”

“Do you think he did it?”

“No, not sure where his hand in it was. He did more than run right home, I'm sure of that.”

“Hm.” Save his interrogation for later. “After we interrogate John, I want you to look for anyone else who could be tagged. Then we'll look into Mathew.” Walking them out to the barn where they saw the crime scene inside. Chest shuffled from its last position, but not far. Fabric tossed aside to dye the floor. Chest covered in dark hand prints from being handled so much. All the jars filling it were long gone. “Someones definitely tagged. Me and Marta are going to visit a few we think are involved. For today, pay attention to anyone missing, look for anyone with dye on their hands or those trying to suddenly stay covered.” He told James, on the way out with Marta leading the way to johns. Blake approached the front door to knock.

John answered, partly hiding behind the door. “Sir?”

“Heard you were sick. You okay?”

His voice jitterly assured. “Oh, I'm fine.” Rubbing a shoulder with a gloved hand. “Nothing serious, must be a cold.”

“Why are you wearing gloves?”

“Oh, uh, blisters. From work” Shifting his shoulders. “The cold air doesn't help them feel any better.”

“Oh, I can help those. Let me see.”

“No need. It's not that serious. I think I'll go back to bed now. This cold-”

Marta shoved her way inside. “Sit down.” She ordered with a point to his small dining table. Scaring John into following orders. She loomed over him where he sat while Blake sat down across from him.

Blake ordered, “Let me see your hands.” Instead of asking this time.

John rubbed them together as he glanced around for some way out of this situation. Unable to run while under Marta's watch and unable to talk his way out. He slipped the gloves off to reveal skin covered by that dark reddish dye.

Blake sighed at the sight. “Stand up, we need to go talk.”

John went pale. “I know what I did was serious.” Pleading before anything else was said. “It was all me sir, please don't drag my boy into this. Don't lock him up, I swear-”

“John.” The furious look he shot him shut him up immediately. This whole time Blake had to deal with so much anxiety. That all washed away to a burning anger. “Do you realize how much shit I've been dealing with? You've been stealing food and I had to stop the hunts.” John sat in silence. Blake let out his anger in a frustrated breath. “This is serious. We need a long talk someplace private. Don't cause a scene on the way or you'll make things worse.” Getting him up to head out. Marta aggressively followed him the entire way. They stepped down into the jail where they entered a small side room. Marta stood by the door while Blake and John sat at a table.

Where to begin? Blake thought. “You need to answer honestly or else I can't help anyone here. Right now, you and your son could be jailed or banished out of Temple Gate if you refuse to cooperate.” Seeing John swallow at the threat. He took a deep breath to start the questioning. “Why were you stealing food?” He knew the answer, but this was to get confirmation from John as well as something easy to answer.

“Help feed everyone. It was easier with the foraging still high, but with everything dead 'till spring. Hunting was all that was left. They couldn't catch enough.”

“So you set up the hunting party to be robbed?”

“Yes, The meat never lasted. They were starving even before Knoth's death, over half were sick or too injured to help. Their situation never improved after. Had no supplies to farm, barely a shelter or anything to survive on like Temple Gate has.”

“What else have you given them?”

“Only medication on the day you handed it out.”

“Did you set me up when we first headed for town? You didn't want me bringing Marta along.”

“NO! No, no!” He adamantly denied. Shrinking in his chair as if Marta would bash his skull in any moment now. “We were scared of what Marta would do if she found us. They had no ways to defend themselves. If I was leading, You pass by without Marta and they don't get anymore danger over their heads. When the mudslide hit I convinced James and Jacob to split up. Either they found you or Val would after I asked her for help.”

“Then why was I almost killed?!”

“That wasn't supposed to happen. Val didn't want that, It was Ayzel who did it. He still has a bone to pick with Temple Gate. Val was furious when she caught him and worried Temple Gate would come after us for harming you. The plan from there was to take you to the caves and make sure you were okay. I would've been “caught” to give you support until then. After you were better enough we would have “escaped”. That never happened after you ran. At that point nothing mattered. We were past the caves, Marta was there and she wasn't going to leave after that.”

“So Val's not after me?”

“No, she's not after anyone. Her goal matches yours - keep everyone alive. She's been struggling to keep the clan on their feet.”

“A while ago we caught her and a random member of hers wandering some rotten area. The area south east, close to the cave. She was standing by until we let that one go. What was that about?”

“She'd mention a few times about worrying what Temple Gate was planning. Wanting to keep post at night to feel assured that no attack was coming. One talk we had I noticed she wasn't as paranoid as before. Sounds like what you did helped.”

“Great, is Mathew helping her too?”

“... Yes, but not nearly as much as me. If we were caught I didn't want him blamed. Please don't exile him for this. Please.”

“I won't if you help me with Val.”

John froze at what that could mean. “I- how?”

“I want to make you a diplomat. You'll pass messages between me and Val on how to handle issues between us. I can help them, but they're some conditions. She can't keep stealing food, that has to stop or else. If she agrees to that I'll give them rations, but I need to know the exact number of how many of you there are.” I'll also know officially how many of them there are against us.

“I-I don't know if I-”

“If you can't convince her to agree, then don't bother coming back.” His fierce gaze pierced John's soul. “Stealing food is serious and I won't allow you to stay here. Forcing me to worry about what you'll do next. Putting everyone at risk. Your son can stay, but he'll be demoted and watched more carefully. I'm going to let you go today. Starting now, you have three days to work it out with her or leave. Got that?”

“Yes sir.”

[headingalaxys]

Here is my official submission I did for NYC Midnight.

Title: Dottie

Synopsis Farmhand Danny has to reign in his rambunctious cow Dottie that has been wreaking physical damage all through the town. Slowly he becomes aware that this is not an ordinary cow that he’s trying to subdue. 

It was 2:42pm, twoish hours before sundown, and the cloven-hoofed creature approached its first house in the neighborhood. One that had been surrounded by a great Yew tree that had hundreds of years to take root within the healthy soil and form itself around the small quiet house. With only one inhabitant that barely liked to leave, it would be easy for a predator to set up a trap to get the lonely tenant to leave. 

Smells of apples, caramel, and black tea filled the senses of the cow's snout. It wandered closer and closer to not let any living thing be aware of its major presence within the vicinity. With caked-in dirt that filled in the cow's loud bell, it would be impossible for anyone to hear it approach. 

It snuck around to the backyard, which had a small garden and an opening to an underground cellar that must be connected to the more significant part of the house. It had to be. It searched for a way to break the lock, and to its surprise, it found a key still jammed within it. It got to work putting the safety under pressure and finally making it turn even though it had a ton of rust. Access has been granted. Now time to wreak chaos. 

The tenant heard the cow make its way up the stairs. They were too frightened to react. They simply sat at the table with their last meal in hand. She gracefully tapped her fingers against the delicate glass. There was nothing she could do. The cow had already spread its deadly disease. The town was finished; the town was as good as dead. Dottie came in and filled the room with dread. Nostrils flare wide like angry bulls. Smoke arising in the room like hell had just opened its overflowing gates. It needed to let some lava out. 

************

2:43pm, another tick against time. A few red dots began to blow in the wind. It wasn't blood, or at least some of it. He began to latch onto the back of his trusted distressed overalls. 

'Only a few more homes to assess on damage, and then I can head home. But I'm damn tired of that damned cow making my life a mess around this time. I could be at home making love to my wife or tending to the livestock, anything other than this before the snowfall rampages through the town bull.' Agaited that yet again that even his high fences couldn't keep the crazy cow at bay. He runs a hand through his wavy hair.

He bangs his hands down loudly on the door like thunder bringing on a storm. Unaware that he disturbed some of the dust and dots from the cows' earlier visit. 

"Hello? Anyone there? It's me, Danny, the trusted farmhand. I came on behalf of my crazy cow. I need to do a quick damage assessment." He waited for a few moments until a middle-aged woman answered the door. She looked tired and as if a cold was just beginning to catch onto her soul. But there wasn't too much to tell. You have to have a microscope to see where the beginning damage was beginning from within the deepest parts of the skin.

"Hey, there. How are you, Danny?" She asks. 

"I'm fine. I just need to take a statement from you and gather some answers, and I'll be on my way." 

"Sure." 

"Did you come in direct contact with the cow?" He runs a hand through his hair spreading the microscopic parasites through his thick brown locks. 

"Luckily, this time, no. It only came inches away from my face, and scoffed. It wandered away after a few moments. I'm glad I wasn't headbutted by a beast like that." 

"I know. Can you at least tell me which way she went? She decided to bother the ones north or the pear grooves." She pointed over to the west. If you hurry, you can catch her before she terrorizes another home. She coughs a little and wheezes as if she's just inhaled a large puff of smoke. 

"You're allowed to poke around so that you can give me an accurate insurance claim." She starts coughing a little more challengingly with more phlegm. "Pardon me." She excuses herself. And as she left, he had to question all of the numerous spots that appeared on her arms and legs. They looked harmless, like normal chicken pox. But in her 30's? 

"Thanks. Laura-Lee. It should be mailed to you by the end of the week. Take care of yourself and your um. Rashes." 

"Oh yeah, these, nothing that a little benzoyl peroxide couldn't fix." And with that, she hurriedly shut the door so she could tend to the intensifying itch that was beginning to consume her entire being. It was time for the Dottie disease to up the ante. 

Danny scratched his head but didn't want to think about the accumulating dots on Laura-Lee. He left her to her devices and went on his way to continue to look for his rampaging cow Dottie. 

Danny begins to wander up again on the lonely dirt road. There were speckles of red that made little lines in the dampened dirt. He raised an eyebrow. Concentrating on the ground isn't the best thing for now. 

He thought about his sweet wife and all of the fantastic sweets she made during this time of year. Apple Pie with black tea sweetened with honey and cream. As the nights stretched longer, it was essential to be at home where the cold couldn't nip into your soul. He loved the feel of her warm hands. Simply spending time together was more than enough to fill his soul. He always felt more alive and light through the long Winter night. 

3:13pm Danny finally arrives at the next house. It was bigger than the last. It was an old couple's home. They had been there for decades. The two men had built their homes from stone and concrete together in their youth. When he saw that a few of the rocks were displaced by the beast, his eyebrow raised. 

The spots were slightly larger and somewhat visible to the naked eye. They were beginning to slowly inch their way toward his neck. 

'This thing certainly has a lot of underlying strength.' He bit his lip, still trying not to overthink it. He closes the door and knocks. Hoping that both the tenants, Ryann and Clay, have yet to come within close contact with the cow. 

"Ryan? Clay? Are you alright? Are you okay? I saw some of the stones from your house roll away." His rapturous banging continued until one of them finally came to the door. 

It was Ryan, the shorter man of the two. He had a stout nose adorned with spectacles. He was wearing his favorite blue flannel and acid wash jeans that had been torn from the recent struggle. 

"Oh, Danny, hello. I assume you're here to try to get back on the trail of that rambunctious cow? We've already met them, as you can see." He lets out a slight lighthearted chuckle. 

"Yeah, exactly. But are you okay? Your leg is bleeding just a bit." There were beginning to be small patches of blood staining the disheveled denim. 

"Yes, it hurts, and I have to disinfect it. But I'll be alright. If not, I have my car, and the general hospital isn't too far away." He could see the old man's excessive preparation as if he was right above Mauna Loa. And spots. 

"What about Clay? Is he okay?" Worried now that these spots looked just the same as the ones he saw on Laura-Lee. 

"He's fine; he's just asleep; sonny, he's okay." Trying to steady his shaking voice, the dots had begun to override his immune system. And just like Clay, he would not be able to keep the torrent of deadly pinpricks at bay. Danny would be in the same boat soon enough since the dot had begun to spread far and wide on the tattered denim and moved toward his socks and upper leg. 

Eyes wide and curious, Danny does not immediately leave. He needs to get some questions answered to ease his mind for the trek up to the next house. 

He inspected Ryan's form more to see if there were any other things he may be missing. There were mass aggregations of dots that were coming through the side of his neck. 

"What did Dottie do to you and your home? Was the damage extensive?" He asks while subtly trying to look for more of the dots. 

"Well, the back wall is completely gone, and my partner Clay does have a broken leg. So we will have to keep this conversation short." 

Danny retook a quick look at the man's leg once more where the laceration was, and holy moly, there it was: more of those dots with now a green ooze or film spilling out onto his somewhat translucent skin. 

Danny's wide ocean blues connected to the older men's weathered chestnut eyes. Danny had to swipe some of the strange dust that was trying to stay in orbit only near his eyes. 

"It's already too late, son. And that's okay. We've had a good life. But protect the rest of them and especially your wife. Your loved ones are precious because you only have one. She went up that way to that family of four. Hurry, son, hurry. Find the cow, find the cure, kill it before sundown." Ryan shoos Danny off to pursue the cow before it can reach its last house in the line: His own home. The last one that hadn't been ransacked. 

He raced back down the path. To his horror, specks of red painted the ground. Death had begun filling the air. Horrors abound. 

4:01 pm Only mere minutes of sunlight left. 

Danny chanted out the word 'No.' as if it were a magical chant that could buy him some time, spare his poor wife who doesn't know a lot of things about tending to a farm and especially not how to ward off an angered cow that seemed to spread an illness that over time had claimed the entire town. He thought about how each year, three families would disappear and no one ever heard from them ever again. 

His feet pounded against the dirt path. His long sprint was beginning to take a significant toll on his boy. EVELYN! EVELYN! MY LOVELY EVELYN! He runs faster and faster, but his lungs start to collapse. There just isn't, anyway. His lungs collapse a little, and he begins to wheeze. His eyes now face downwards, and he sees the damn things everywhere. All are painted in red. 

No. NO! His eyes roamed the landscape. He was close to the farm, but all he could see was that the lights were on. He also noticed that damned cow banging on the back cellar door. 

BANG! BANG! BANG! It sounded as if gunshots were being fired off to start the race. 

"HEY, DOTTIE, BACK OFF!" Danny was sweating profusely now, and not just from the run. The dots had begun to fill in his vision and make him feel dizzy. He collapsed to his knees, and his legs felt like lead. He finally felt the colony of dots that had accumulated. They were everywhere in this gooey mass. The smell of rotting flesh burnt the hairs within his nose. 

The sound of wood giving way reaches Danny's ears. 

No! 

He dragged himself even though he was beginning to lose some of his vision. There was only about a minute of sunlight left. His body felt heavy and the dots crawling all over his skin felt like an army of fire ants. He moved his decaying muscles forward, and he needed to see her. He needed to save her. Evelyn. 

4:07 pm Dusk was here, and the sun was gone. Danny barely managed to drag himself up the stairs. The front door had been beaten down by the beastly cow. He sees Evelyn's decomposed body full of spotted spores and green goo. If it weren't for her long onyx hair, he wouldn't have been able to tell it was her at all. A shattered saucer and cup surrounded her remains. 

All Danny could feel was pure anguish. He wanted to cry to the heavens of her name and of her injustice. He no longer had a voice, and red spots began to fill in the airway of his throat. He was succumbing to Dottie's disease. 

Before his eyes closed one final time in the corner of the room, he could see the outline of the deranged cow that brought disease and death. Smoke poured off from its nostrils. It let out a loud hellish 'moo,' and with that, Danny, too, died and became a part of the blobby mass right next to his wife. 

[batboymunson]

through hell & back | s.h.

❀ synopsis; not to pat yourself on the back but you're a pretty damn good partner to steve, even in the craziest of situations

❀ word count; 692

❀ warnings; mentions of blood, vague descriptions of violence

❀ a/n; first time writing for this absolute hunk of a mama bear. season 4, vol. 1 spoilers if you haven't watched yet!

THERE WAS NEVER A dull moment in your life, not since you got yourself roped into the antics of Steve Harrington and his posse of world-saving children. Between life and death, you and Steve had managed to find a way to fit love in somehow - it was like the missing piece of the "what else can happen during this shitshow" puzzle. That being said, there's not a single thing you'd change.

Not even as you found yourself sitting amongst Eddie Munson, Robin Buckley, and Nancy Wheeler in a flimsy at best boat atop Lover's Lake, anxiously staring at the spot where Steve had submerged in search for the gate to the Upside Down. One hand sat on your knee as you drummed your fingers impatiently, the other clutching his discarded shirt so tight your knuckles were white.

"(Name)." Nancy placed a comforting hand on your shoulder, giving you a small shake. "(Name), please, it looks like you aren't even breathing."

"It's fine, I'm fine, I just. . . Christ." Your face reflected each emotion as it hit you; denial, fear, the whole nine yards. You never tore your eyes away from the water and when Steve finally emerged, you threw yourself at the edge of the boat despite the other three's protests.

"Jesus fucking Christ." You grabbed at his arms, trying to pull him up as he explained what he found down at the bottom of the lake. "That's great, wonderful. C'mon, let's get--"

The rest of your sentence was yanked out of your lungs as Steve suddenly went back underneath with you in tow. He gripped at your arms in a pleading way and you held your breath, trying to make sense of what was going on. When your eyes adjusted to the murky water, you saw that you both were being dragged back towards this gate Steve was talking about. Said boy stared at you with a bewildered expression, trying his best to free his leg as you tried your best to swim in the opposite direction and pull him out.

To both of your dismay, you found yourself gasping for air as the two of you were pulled through the gate and into the Upside Down. You lost your grip on Steve's arm and rolled off to the side, sputtering and coughing as you tried to quickly regain yourself and follow your boyfriend.

"What the fuck, what the fuck, what the fuck," you wheezed as you got back on your feet, running after Steve and taking in your surroundings. "Oh, what the fuck."

You picked up the pace as bat-like creatures started flying towards the two of you, screeching. Snagging a discarded oar, you swung wildly to keep the hellish creatures at bay while you joined up again with Steve.

"Shit, Steve!" You noticed one of the bats had him by the throat and started smacking it with the flat of the oar, panicked. "Let go, dammit!"

"(N-Name)," Steve sputtered and you felt yourself welling up as your arms grew heavy and the bat still held strong. You had elected to ignore the gnawing they had done to your own skin save for the occasional "shit" that tumbled out.

A sudden feral scream cut through the incessant screeching of the bats and you turned to see Eddie barreling towards the both of you with an oar in his grip, followed by Nancy and Robin. In time, the four of you managed to get Steve free and with his help, all the demobats that had swarmed you were now on the ground.

"We can't stay here," Nancy panted as she discarded her weapon, "and we really need to clean you two up."

Both you and Steve were torn up, bleeding from multiple wounds. He leaned into your embrace, a long and shaky sigh releasing from his chest as you wrapped your arms around him gently.

"I've got you," you murmured and he laughed quietly. "What?"

Pulling back after kissing your forehead, Steve looked at you admiringly. "I'm sorry I pulled you into this - quite literally."

"I'd go through hell and back for you, Harrington," you replied, gesturing around you. "Quite literally, too."

[chill-pills-yandere-haven]

Hello, I apologize if this is not the best idea but would you consider something like how Genshin yanderes, La signora, Ei (alone or as part of trio with Sara and yae) and nigguang in particular, would react to learning that their darling was being abused by their family, non sexually mind you. I am a sucker for soft yandere content, and have had this idea in my head for nearly a week now lol. Sorry if this ask is a mess, I am not used to sending these. I am not even sure you will see this one.

Order up, fellow chill pill! You brain rotted me so now you will reap what you sowed!

Tw: somewhat-explicit gore on Eimikosara's part, yanderes, depiction of abuse, flashbacks if abuse, mutilation (on eimikosara's part), Ei is electric chair, I had to do some very weird google searches for this, lol.

An: Sorry this took so long, I didn't read the message completely so I thought it was only Signora and Eimikosara. When I reread it and found out I was writing the wrong thing I kind of got writer's block. I also forgot to read the fluff part so Ningguang's part is messed up Stolkholm fluff, though there are cuddle scenes in both Signora and Eimikosara's parts. But still, enjoy!

La Signora

A fist pummeled into your stomach.

Your breath was taken away, left with a shuddering wheeze. Stop. Please, stop.

"Why can't you do anything right!" Your father yelled at you, bottle in hand. Why was he yelling at you?

"Worthless piece of shit!" A kick landed on your shin, your body curling up even more. Tears fell from your eyes. You could barely breathe. Stop! Someone, make it stop!

"Mom-please."

"See! This! This is why you're such a fucking nuisance! You cry for your bitch-ass mother all the fucking time. Why don't you grow up? Huh? Stupid little cunt."

No one was coming to save you or stop anything now.

You woke up, hyperventilating in your and Rosalyne's shared bed.

"Shh, it's alright baby, I'm right here." Bawling your eyes out, she pulled you closer into her chest.

You were wrong. Someone did save you.

But Archons, you were so fucking useless without Rosa. You would've passed out by now from hyperventilation if it wasn't for her. She was right. You should be lucky that she takes care of you. You, useless damn mutt.

"I'm sorry Rosa, please don't leave me again! I'll be good, I promise! I'll even be your little pet if you want me to, I can wear a collar if you want!" You nuzzled into her, crawling on all fours into her lap, just like a dog. So pathetic.

"It's okay, love. You've been a very good little one for me. I won't leave you okay?"

"Thank you, Rosa! I love you so much, thank you for taking care of me." You really were thankful. After all, she could've just left you to die like the pathetic mutt you were.

Even after you came clean about your past, she still loved you. She even tortured and killed the ones who hurt and neglected you as a birthday present! She was such an angel.

You were lucky she loved you so much.

Ei+Miko+Sara

Another sleepless night.

Another scream in the dead of night.

Yae Miko curled up next to you in her fox form nuzzling you and telling you that you were okay. Ei had moved from her place beside you and was now spooning you from behind, playing with your hair. Kujou Sara was in front of you, trying to get you to breathe.

"Another nightmare about them, love?"

"Yeah, I'm sorry," You hid your head in Miko's fur.

"You're alright, dear. You're safe with us. I No one else will ever touch you again, okay dear?" Sara comforted you, exaggerating her breathing for you to copy.

"Love, I'll be just a minute, alright?" Ei moved away and went out of the bedroom. Sara taking her place and now spooning you.

Ei would be the one taking out the trash tonight.

The air stank with iron and filth.

Ei would have preferred to have killed them as soon as they were in her hands but Yae Miko insisted that they suffer before they're given the sweet release of death. In truth, they deserved a hundred thousand deaths if not a million.

They all wished to harm their beloved's abusers in revenge for their darling. However, they knew that those pieces of filth would die much too early if all three of them tortured them at the same time. They all alternated days except for Sundays, Sundays were when they were starved.

Their shared lover's parents were held in chains, dried blood practically covering them. Both of them looked like skeletons, their bones sticking out and at some parts exposed by some of Yae Miko's torture. They lived on a special type of food, edible and able to keep them alive for longer but anyone would have preferred to eat their feces than it.

When they saw Ei, both tried to open their mouths. They probably forgot that they couldn't speak now that Yae chopped off their tongues because they kept saying that they were innocent. As soon as Miko saw them on the edge of death, she cauterized the wound and made one of the servants heal them just so they would live to be tortured a little longer.

'Let's start with a little shock. After all, that's how my love has to wake up because of them.' Ei channelled Electro and made them feel about 30 volts coursing through their veins. They let out undignified yelps, though it wasn't like they had any dignity in the first place, not when they hurt her beloved.

Scars of electro and bloodied bruises covered both of them. Their faces were marred by dried blood, electricity, and scars, so much that they were unrecognizable. Mainly due to Sara feeling guilty because they looked like her lover so Yae scarred them beyond recognition. Their clothes were mere oversized scraps as well.

Ei kicked one of them in the ribs. She didn't matter who, all that mattered was that they suffered.

The night was young and Ei wouldn't be sated until they were thoroughly punished for not letting her beloved get their sleep.

Ningguang

"Love? Love, you're spacing out again. Are you okay?"

"Oh, yeah I am, Ning. Just, thinking about them again," you let out a sigh. You were supposed to be having a romantic dinner with your amazing wife, but all you could think about was the past.

Ningguang may have 'forced you' into an arranged marriage with her, making your folks financially unstable to achieve it, but it had been just what you needed.

You were free.

You didn't have to deal with your narcissistic, controlling, asshole parents anymore. You could do what you wanted without having to look over your shoulder every second. You weren't guilt-tripped into giving them money when you were barely afloat. You were living the good life.

All with the bonus of marrying the richest woman in the world, living like the richest person in the world, and having someone to sate your need for affection.

Yes sure, you weren't allowed to leave or speak to anyone other than Ning, but you were fine with that. After all, things could've been much worse. You could've still been in contact with your parents.

You ate like royalty, were dressed in only the finest Liyuean silks, and so on and so forth. You were living in the lap of luxury and all you needed to do to continue doing so was play pet for a nice lady who most likely killed for you in the past. You'd been through worse. Though you couldn't deny that you were a captive.

"Open your mouth," Ningguang spoon-fed you another bite of food.

You might've been a captive, but you knew you'd be lying if you said you weren't falling for her. The way her eyes lit up when you followed her instructions. How her soft yet calloused hand caressed your cheek, making sure you swallowed every grain of rice. Her lips looked so soft right now as well, you couldn't help but bring her lips to yours.

You might've been a captive, but Stockholm was your kidnapper.

[apocalypticgargoyle]

𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝘽𝙍𝙄𝘾𝙆 | 𝙠𝙖𝙧𝙡 𝙟𝙖𝙘𝙤𝙗𝙨 (18+)

edit by 🐓 anon. im still screaming over this.

∘ request: [insert the 14 asking for more Sapnap humor in a pt. 1.5 of Meet the Jacobses]

∘ pairings: edgy!Karl Jacobs x fm!reader

∘ warnings: smut (18+), nsfw, language, drinking, mentions of Todd the frat boy, lots of dialogue, biting, asphyxiation

∘ links: 𐐪 ao3 𐑂 𐐪 previous part 𐑂 𐐪 submit an edgy!karl edit 𐑂

∘ a/n: this one goes out to the babes in the gc. ily.

i stole the Brick idea from the Jesse McCartney movie, Keith. I'm sorry. [tw for that link - sad & jesse mccartney not talking about beautiful souls]

also thank you everyone for your support on this series. when my friends and I conjured this up, I never thought I would be at the point where I get to share peoples art/paylists/etc. I'm so thankful for all of you.

okay I'll stop crying. happy reading and have a great week! :)

The sun beat down against your skin, your mind drifting to whether or not you should apply more sunscreen. Karl jumped into the light blue water in front of you, the water splashing out to almost completely soak you. You frowned at him as he came up for air, blowing you a kiss mockingly.

Sapnap’s cousins started tackling Karl, the chorus of laughter echoing around the pool. You stretched your legs out beneath the table, leaning into the shade of the umbrella as you watched them roughhouse.

Sapnap came out from the pool house, opening a beer bottle for you before taking the seat beside you. He sighed, buttoning the top of his shirt as he watched the boys. “Did you have a good time at the party yesterday? I dipped after an hour,” he asked, pushing his sunglasses to rest on top of his head.

You shrugged slightly, taking a sip of your drink. You couldn’t wait to tell your roommate how lavishly you’d been living. The fact that you were lounging by a heated pool, drinking beer from Copenhagen with the sons of millionaires was nearly mind-boggling to you.

You wet your lips, squinting your eyes as you looked at him. “I honestly have no idea. I was kind of just there as a Karl accessory,” you joked, making him chuckle softly.

“Yeah, I get that,” he flipped off one of the cousins as they threatened to throw water at him. “It’s always the Karl show around here,” he added. You raised your eyebrows at him and he backtracked. “I didn’t mean that in a bad way. He’s a good guy; everyone’s just obsessed with him.”

You nodded slightly. “Yeah, he’s definitely the star baby,” you joked, making him laugh. “I need to ask you…” You bit your lip voice trailing off as you searched for the night words.

He sent you a closed-mouth smile. “About my mom and Karl?” He asked, biting back a blithe expression. It shocked you how calm he was about the situation.

You chuckled nervously. “I swear I won’t bring it up again, I’m just,” you cut yourself off, unable to describe the question marks pulsing through your thoughts.

He snorted, taking a sip of his drink. “I know right,” he reassured. “When I found out, I almost broke Karl’s nose,” he chided. “Not that I was like… angry it was my mom but out of how weird it was.”

“Yeah it is really fucking weird,” you agreed, laughing slightly.

He gestured as if to thank you for understanding. “I mean, Karl’s a great guy. He was my best friend for a long time but…” He made a face suggesting his discomfort and you snicked. “That’s my mom, man.” You giggled wholeheartedly at this, making him laugh too.

“What are you guys talking about?” Karl asked, seemingly appearing out of nowhere, dripping wet from his pool time adventures.

“Speak of the Devil and he shall appear,” you joked, making Sapnap wink at you. “Tacitus’ Annals,” you answered, making Sapnap nod at you.

He chewed on his lip, with a calm expression as he supported your lie. “I was telling your girlfriend how much I enjoyed his love of Nero,” he continued, you bit back a smile.

Karl ruffled his hair out in a towel. “Come on now,” he grumbled, calling the two of you on your bullshit.

Sapnap squinted as he looked up at him. “Karl supremacy. As always,” he answered with a touch of quiet sarcasm, making Karl roll his eyes playfully as he took to the other seat beside you.

Karl ran his fingers into his hair. “You wanna get matching tattoos together, Sapnap?” He quipped; Sapnap sending him a smug expression.

“Why? What were you thinking?” He asked, knowing he was walking into whatever Karl was setting up.

Karl pulled the leg of his swim trunks off his leg a bit, furrowing his brows. “I wanna get your mom’s name on the top of my thigh,” he teased, biting his lip. You rolled your eyes playfully.

Sapnap let out a sarcastic laugh. “Oh my God, that’s so funny. I totally didn’t see that coming.”

Karl took a sip of your beer and you spoke up. “I think you’d look good with a tattoo, Sapnap. All jokes aside, you’ve got a great body,” you mused, sending him a wink. Sapnap bit back a smile looking at Karl, who you could already tell was glaring back at him. “Side note, I was meaning to ask you. There’s a guy that’s in Karl’s frat,” you paused, trying to remember what Karl had said Todd’s real name was when you were pinning his auction number on him.

Sapnap raised his eyebrows. “Oh, Mark?”

You pointed at him. “Yes, the fake Romney.”

Sapnap snorted. “He did that on campus too?” Karl nodded, a look of disappointment spreading across their faces.

“Speaking of Todd Mark, the king of the Brick” Karl kicked his feet beneath your chair before continuing, “I heard there’s a bonfire tonight,” he probed, making Sapnap slowly shake his head in disapproval.

You raised an eyebrow at the two. “What’s the Brick?”

Sapnap seemed to have already made up his mind on the situation. “A fucking cesspool,” Sapnap grumbled, sipping from his bottle as Karl tsked. Sapnap tilted his head. “You really wanna take her to the Brick? People get together and smoke crack over there. The fact that,” he paused to furrow his brows at you slightly, “Todd Mark? is the benefactor should say something,” he stated, lips curling into an uneasy expression.

You peered over your shoulder at Karl as if to ask if he were crazy. Karl swatted off your gesture. “They don’t smoke crack this time of year. All the locals are back visiting for break.”

Sapnap shook his head again in unease. You chewed your lip, leaning back in your chair. “I don’t know… Sapnap, do you wanna have a movie night instead?” You joked, making Karl sigh behind you.

Sapnap mimicked your mock severity. “Yeah, a stay in and cuddle?”

“Of course,” you repeated.

Karl wheezed. “No, we’re going.”

Without missing a beat, Sapnap chimed back. “Maybe you can take my mom instead?” Karl’s expression flattened at his words and you nodded, high fiving Sapnap in mock victory.

Despite Sapnap’s hesitation, you all went to what they referred to as The Brick. In reality, it was a spot on the edge of a lake. They only called it the Brick because of Todd’s dad, a racecar driver who claimed the post back when he was in high school and later bought it. A large bonfire burned in the center of the space, various people around your age and a bit younger were either dancing to the music coming from one of the souped-up sports cars or shotgunning beers. You pushed away the thought of your stingy fire marshall back home who―more than once―had reported you and your family for “overactive cookouts.”

“Overactive,” meaning your dad and Clay were failing at not catching hotdogs on fire when the two would get lost in a chat about a mutual videogame when the families would cross the fence line in the summer.

As soon as you had stepped foot on the gravel, Karl was welcomed back like some kind of celebrity, so you stayed close to Sapnap. He would lean towards your height, pointing people out that Karl had mentioned in the past or those worth noting. You nodded along, soaking in what he had to tell you and laughing at his jokes.

A random guy strolled past the two of you, making Sapnap purse his lips. “Hey, Sapnap. How’s your mom?” One of the countless jokes thrown at him since you’d arrived.

He tilted his head with a mock look of questioning. “Didn’t your parents just get divorced, Jeff?” He deflected. Jeff’s face dropped slightly as he moved on. You always found yourself struggling not to laugh at how well Sapnap was at counteracting the jabs at his mom and Karl. Most of you felt guilty for how long he had dealt with it.

Karl watched you carefully as you sat down beside Sapnap on one of the vast benches; hands shoved in his pockets as the group around him caught up. You were glad to have someone around like Sapnap, despite the fact that you often went to parties. In the past, it was more of a bi-annual thing, but since being with Karl, you found yourself shoulder to shoulder with nameless people in a line doing shots every other Thursday.

You laughed as Sapnap joked about avoiding the drinks at the Brick because of the mites in the water and the STDs in the beer. “So, I never asked how you met Karl?” He queried, sticking his hands into the pocket of his Baja hoodie.

You smiled slightly. “Uh…” Shameless thoughts of you on your knees in a random building when you barely knew his name paced through your head like a quickfire of serotonin. “We had a lecture together and he liked my handwriting.” Sapnap smirked, chuckling slightly at your words.

Karl’s eyes were trained on the two of you, demeanor shifting each time one of you leaned towards the other to hear over the music or the two of you bumping each other’s arms to grab your attention. You knew he wasn’t jealous, but his look of curiosity was almost hilarious to you. Sapnap stuck by your side while Karl introduced you to his friends. He was basically your encyclopedia on the newer people as Karl would go off on a tangent with them.

The fact that Karl was so close to all of them and was so popular made your heart swell with pride. You were used to Karl’s deadpanned glares at most of his frat brothers and his snide comments, but now he was welcomed back like he was some kind of hero returning from the war.

After saying goodbye to Sapnap for the day, you threaded your fingers with Karl’s, enjoying the time where it was just the two of you. He brought the back of your hand to his lips, smoothing a kiss against your skin. “So… Sapnap’s mom…” you began, making him chew the inside of his cheek. “Where… did it happen?”

He looked down at you with a perked eyebrow before raising his sights forward, pulling you off the street where the two of you were walking. You followed him as the pair of you snuck through between the houses and across the backyards until the two of you were at Sapnap’s house again. Through the front windows, you could see him talking to his sibling in the kitchen.

Karl grabbed your hand, leading you along the side of the estate and toward the pool house. You wanted to groan at the thought before he pulled you through the door with him. “Are you serious?” You hissed, looking around at the dark place. Karl fought not to smirk as he peered out through one of the windows, watching the lights in Sapnap’s house turn out.

The moonlight streamed through one of the slender windows, illuminating his face and washing his features clean. Your gaze trailed along his arms; his tattoos peeking out from beneath his hoodie as he reached up to lock the door.

He turned back to face you, walking closer to you. “Did you have fun today?” He asked, plopping down on one of the couches and pulling you into his lap. He moved your arms to rest around his neck, pressing his lips to your skin. “I feel like I didn’t see you at all. Sapnap’s a bogart,” he muttered jokingly, settling his hands on your hips.

You scoffed before leaning toward him, pressing your lips against his. “Make it up to me,” you murmured, raking your fingers into his hair. “I think I selfishly need you to ruin me here; you know. Like a cleansing of you and Ms. Scarlet,” you chided.

He bit his lip, eyes pulsing with lust as he fought not to grin. You pressed your lips against his, turning to lay back on the couch and yank him on top of you. He chuckled into your kiss, as your hands moved to curl into his hair. His lust was a taste you could get drunk off if given the chance as his hands traveled the length of your body, moaning as you ground your hips against his, gripping into his clothes.

He leaned off of you momentarily to pull his shirt over his head as you slipped out of yours, you wrapped a leg around him, pushing him onto the couch instead and pinning him between your thighs as you straddled him, running your hands up his tattooed chest and connecting your lips again.

One of his large hands covered your breast as you began to grind your hips against his. His teeth grazed against your skin as he caressed your body while you moved against him, trying to create as much friction as you could against his jeans. He ran his fingers along the hem of your underwear, his lips curling into a smirk as he moved slightly to get a better look. "These are nice. Did you plan this?" He leered, snapping the elastic against your hip playfully. You rolled your eyes, pulling his chin towards you and pressing your lips against his. Every movement of his body seemed to lick at the fire deep within you.

You smirked breathlessly as his lips settled against your collarbones. “These are my church clothes. I had no other motive,” you jousted. His hand reached up to rest against your collarbone, his fingers lightly curling around your neck.

“Of course, how could I not realize,” he jabbed, pressing his lips and tongue against your neck. You moaned, tugging at his zipper before wrapping your hand around his cock, pumping him into harder arousal. He groaned against your neck, bucking into your hand lightly. His head tilted back against the couch beneath you, cheeks flushed at the attention. His teeth nipped at your skin as you ground yourself against his thigh, basking in his noises of pleasure.

His cock pulsed in your hand, making him grab your wrist and pull you beneath him. He gripped one of your legs, resting it in the crook of his elbow as he pushed himself into you, connecting your lips to swallow your moans. The feeling of him inside of you sent a wave of pleasure through your body. His voice was low in your ear, murmuring your name as if it were a curse. You moaned as he took one of your hands, lacing your fingers together beside your head as he kissed you again, tongue slipping into your mouth.

His thrusts became more rhythmless, his hold on you driving him deeper as the pool house filled with the noises of your whimpering moans. Karl’s breath was warm on your neck as he took advantage of your submissive state. He moved his hand from around your leg, wrapping his fingers around your neck again. Your body shivered, waiting for the pressure of his hand as his hips rocked against yours.

He chuckled darkly, teeth grazing against your shoulder before his lips hovered beside your ear. “Beg for it,” he commented, voice strained as he thrusted into you.

You swallowed, fingers digging into his back. “Choke me,” you groaned, “please.” His hand tightened around your neck, breath hitching in your throat as his thrusts became rougher. He bit back a smug grin at the way you reacted to his antics, relishing in your body beginning for more.

He relaxed his hand, pressing his lips to yours as you struggled to inhale. Heat ran through your body as your leg curled around his waist, nails raking down his back.

You leaned away from his lips, voice coming out unevenly as you moaned his name. His movements became sloppier as you groaned in bliss, tugging the flesh of his bottom lip between your teeth. You tipped your head back slightly as you reached your climax, riding out your pleasure and sending him over the edge as he pulled you closer to him, his hands digging into your hips as he encouraged you to continue grinding against him. You exhaled deeply, pressing your lips against his neck and his cheek before kissing him breathlessly as your movements slowed.

You pulled on your shirt, Karl’s hands moving to rest on your hips as he pressed a kiss to your neck. “Should we leave a note for Ms. Scarlet?” You joked, making him chuckle as his arms wrapped further around your waist, cheek pressing against your shoulder.

“Who?” He teased.

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[i-lovethatforme]

Jess my love I hope you write hurt comfort soon because I need some after nwh </3

day eleven: i remember when you were here

Peter throws the mail on the kitchen worktop. It's the last day of Hannukah and therefore he doesn't have to open overdue bills. It's a rule May made up when they were struggling when he was barely a teenager. It made sense then and it makes sense now.

He wants to pay to have the electricity put back on because it's barley five in the afternoon and it's basically pitch black because winter is a nightmare and he's about to run out of candles but Jameson is being annoying about the series of photos Peter handed in this week and his paycheck is late.

Peter can't argue that fact though, because Jameson is a menace to society but technically, Peter was late with the submission. In his defence, he was trying to keep a bus from falling into the Hudson at the time.

It's whatever. He charged his phone at the café today and he has the candles from the menorah and he's probably going to fall asleep in about seven minutes anyway because he's exhausted.

He flips through the bills even though he doesn't want to because he's trying to be a functioning member of society and he needs to know how many photos he needs to stumble upon for Jameson tomorrow.

Peter needs the electricity back on because his suit is about to tear at the seam and his hand stitching isn't holding. The hot water can wait an extra week. FEAST gave him a bag of food so he's probably fine.

He's about to give up but then his hands reach a letter. It's not a bill and he almost sobs with relief until he remembers it's been almost a full year and no one knows who he is.

But he flips it over and he recognises that handwriting.

MJ.

He tears it open. It's just a small note but he'll put it on the fridge next to his post it from May anyway.

"Hey, Tiger. I sent a video to Spidey's Twitter, stop ignoring my DMs."

He grabs his phone with way too much force, his hands shaking as he scrolls through the DMs on his Twitter searching for her name. He avoids social media as much as possible these days, there are too many people trying to figure out his identity and he fucked that up before.

But he'd find MJ anywhere, so he's not sure how he missed her at all. But he can't find her now - until he stumbles upon an account for Mary Jane. MJ never uses her real name on social media.

Peter takes a deep breath as he opens it, the small flood of messages pouring through ranging from "I don't know if this is going to sound weird but I think I know you" to "Peter you better fucking reply to me" to "I figured out where you live and no I won't apologise."

The last messages are kind, understanding words he would never deserve from her. That she understands if it's too much for him. That she hopes he's okay. That she found something he might like. That she loves him.

He wipes the tears from his face, not really noticing they'd fallen at all as he clicks on the video.

It takes a second to load, the black screen mocking him as he sees there are thirty two seconds for him to rewatch until he's grey.

His chest collapses as he sees his home on the screen, the warm colours of May's blankets and pillows he never got to bring with him, shaking in the view because whoever is holding the phone is laughing too hard. MJ comes into the shot, her hair covered in flour and she frowns.

"May!" she exclaims, though she can't help but laugh as well. Her hands are covered in a dough that's definitely supposed to be way dryer than that.

"Sorry sweetie," May replies and Peter lets out an ungodly sound. They gave May's phone number away so he hasn't been able to hear her voice since his voicemails got deleted and now he can barely breathe.

"I just thought Peter would find it funny," May wheezes.

"I'm never making him anything again," MJ grumbles. And she's beautiful. She's so beautiful he thinks he might just die right here. but then the view changes and both his girls are on screen.

"May," he whispers, his thumb rubbing the screen.

"Hey Peter," she replies. Well, not to him but he can pretend. "Your girlfriend is making you challah," she says, wrapping her arm around MJ even as MJ struggles to getaway. The way they liked each other is one of the only things Peter thinks about when times are hard. He lost them both, but they loved him and they loved each other.

May walks away as MJ goes to wash her hands. She's still smiling at the screen.

"You got a good one there, sweetheart. Don't do anything stupid," she says with a wink.

"I larb you!"

And then the video ends.

"I larb you," he sobs, his head leaning on his arms on the kitchen counter. He watches the video too many times, his phone battery diminishing rapidly until he cements what she's saying into his head.

Don't do anything stupid.

He dials the number he's dialled multiple times before, only to cancel before it manages to ring. He presses the green button, though he's not sure MJ will answer an unknown call. But then it clicks.

"Hello?"

He shudders in a breath at how similar she sounds. Annoyed yet graceful that anyone dared interrupt whatever she was doing.

"Hi," he replies.

"Peter?" she gasps and he can hear her frantically moving, the slamming of a door. "Peter?"

"Yeah - I got - I'm sorry I haven't been in touch."

"It's alright," she whispers and he can imagine the pained look on her face. "Are you okay?"

"Er, not really," he chuckles, never wanting to willingly lie to her. "I'm better now I can talk to you."

"I'm in Boston but erm, I can drive down if - erm, if you wanted to see me."

"I'll come to you," he replies, already packing a bag. She can't come here he doesn't even have hot water.

"You can't swing all the way to Boston, Pete."

"Why not?" he laughs, feeling the familiar warmth through his body at her voice.

"You're so ridiculous!" she laughs, then, "please. I'll come pick you up and if you want you can stay here for a few days - there's crime in Boston you know."

"I'll meet you halfway," he bargains.

"You're the worst... and I miss you."

"I miss you," he says, a sob breaking off his words. "I miss you so much."

"I know," she replies, and he can imagine her hand against his cheek. "I'll see you soon?"

"Okay, see you soon, Em."