#(i will try to do the same in the next reply)

[moonstruckme]

I’m asking nicely and cutely for a request for how poly!marauders x reader would handle a house full of norovirus or food poisoning in their small apartment. Everyone just sick as hell but also trying to take care of each other at the same time. Cute but chaos, as they already are 24/7 but like worse 😭

Thank you for requesting (so nicely and cutely!) angel <3

cw: vomit

poly!marauders x fem!reader ♡ 640 words

Remus returns home from the corner store like a hero from war. 

“Thank you,” you say, reaching upward from your curled-up position on the couch for a vitamin water. You wince when the slight movement upsets your stomach. 

“No problem,” Remus replies. His hand trembles slightly as he passes it to you. He passes another one to James, who stops him when he starts away from the couch. 

“Sit down,” James coaxes. “You’re meant to be resting.” 

Remus looks inclined to protest, but one kind tug from James is enough for him to relent. He sits down next to you, toeing off his shoes. “Where’s Sirius?” he asks. 

“Hogging the toilet.” James fishes in the paper grocery bag for another vitamin water. 

Remus makes a soft, concerned noise. “Still?” 

“Still,” you confirm through a sigh. You nudge your bucket a few inches to the left so Remus doesn’t accidentally knock it with his foot. 

“He just doesn’t want to give up his prime real estate.” James kisses Remus’ hair, standing with the vitamin water in hand. “I’ll bring this to him. You lie down.” 

Remus, not usually one to be told what to do, eases himself sideways without complaint. He ends up half on top of you, his body between your legs and his head on your chest. 

“This okay?” he mumbles. 

“Mhm.” You sound just as exhausted as he does, and you didn’t even make the excursion to the grocery. “You’re really warm.” 

“Yeah, so are you.” 

You lay a clammy hand atop Remus’ limp hair. It’s the best you can do for affection right now: wordless commiseration. Your stomach has been twisting in knots and turning itself inside out since the early hours of the morning, and after spending hours taking turns with your boyfriends being sick in the toilet or a bucket or the kitchen sink, you seem all finally, thoroughly worn out. 

Remus falls asleep quicker than you’ve ever known him to. His slow, even breaths fan hot over your chest, lips smushed in a sleepy pout like he’s laying a kiss over your heart. The cruel lines slicing across his face stand out against his flushed skin. 

James comes back a few minutes later with Sirius in tow and Sirius’ laptop tucked under his arm. They make nearly identical pitying faces when they see Remus conked out on your chest. 

“Did he get any food?” Sirius asks, peering into the grocery bag. Where Remus is flushed with the fever from your shared illness, Sirius has paled, his complexion gone wan and greyish behind his curtain of dark hair. 

“I don’t know,” you mumble. “What’s with the laptop?” 

“He was leaving a review of the restaurant from yesterday,” James explains, setting the laptop down on the coffee table before collapsing back onto the couch with a sigh. 

“They bloody deserve it.” Sirius tears open a packet of crackers. He sets a few in James’ hand with a look that promises vengeance if he doesn’t eat them, then does the same to you. “Our story needs to be told.” 

“I didn’t say it didn’t.” James piles on top of you and Remus, practically contorting himself to rest his head on Remus’ thigh. It doesn’t look particularly comfortable. 

You eye Sirius where he’s curling up in the armchair. “Drink your vitamin water,” you remind him. 

“Eat your crackers,” he counters. “And sweetheart, I love you, but if you don’t move that bucket away from me I’m going to be sick all over the three of you.” 

Remus makes a drowsy whining sound, like he’s protesting this even in sleep. 

“I cleaned it out,” you say, defensive. 

Sirius’ nose wrinkles. “I can smell the remnants of vomit past.”

James reaches over, sliding your bucket across the floor. 

Sirius collapses back onto the throw pillow with a sigh. “Thank you.”

[911onao3]

"I did what you told me to do," Eddie says, the second he hears the other door being closed and the person on the other side sit down on the creaky bench.

"And that is?"

Eddie closes his eyes. "I stopped punishing myself."

It's quiet for a moment before Father Brian answers again.

"Do you want to take this outside of the booth?"

"Sure."

Eddie stands up and opens the door, and the priest does the same. He looks at Eddie with a raised eyebrow. "I see you updated your look, Eddie. Let's sit down."

Eddie absentmindedly touches his lips and sits down next to Father Brian. The Priest. He barely know what he's supposed to call him even if it's inside his head. "I miss it, actually. Just a little."

"It was very handsome."

Eddie laughs, "Yeah, I've heard."

"You stopped punishing yourself. Do you want to tell me more?"

"I went after my son. I got him back. I took him back. And I danced in my living room."

"I see."

"And I figured out the juice thing, I think."

Father Brian scrunches his face before answering, "The juice– Oh, the... juice thing."

Eddie looks at him. "You know. The juice. Joy."

Something clicks in Father Brian. "Ah. And what is... this joy you found, then?"

"It's Buck," Eddie says with no hesitation.

"Buck?"

"He's– He's my best friend."

Silence.

"I think it's been him the whole time."

Silence again. Eddie continues.

"I never let myself think about it. And then he took over my lease and helped me get Chris back and– And he did it, without expecting anything in return, because all he wanted was for me to be with my son, who he basically helped raise, for the record," Eddie says, and raises a pointed finger. "He has been there all this time and I haven't... I haven't seen it, not like I should have. But when he took over my lease behind my back, I got this feeling that I couldn't put my finger on and when I moved to be with Chris, all I could think about was why it all felt so wrong."

"You moved?"

"Yes. I moved back to El Paso to live near my son, and I couldn't have done it without Buck, who was so obviously in pain about it but again, just wanted me to be with my son. He accused me... or, well... I accused him of making me choose between him and my son and I told him that he would lose every time. But I'm starting to think that... That I could have both. That I want both."

"So you've decided to stop punishing yourself."

"I decided to try that, yeah."

"I still feel like there is more things you want to say."

"I–" Eddie opens and closes his mouth. "I haven't told him yet. My flight back to El Paso is tomorrow and... I want to stay. But I can't stay."

"Why?"

"Christopher is still in El Paso. I'm just here because of a funeral. My captain... Old captain..."

"... Bobby?"

"Yeah, how did you– Oh."

"I'm sorry for your loss, Eddie." He looks genuinely sad. "He was a good man."

"I should have been here." It comes out as the confession he probably was here for in the first place. Which it probably was. Loving Buck isn't something he needs forgiveness for.

"Why do you think that?"

"They are my family, all of them. And I wasn't here. And if I had been here, I would have been with them, and I could have saved him. I could have helped."

"But you're here now."

"I have to go back."

"Do you?"

"I– Yes, of course I have to. My son is there."

"I thought you said to stop punishing yourself."

Eddie takes in a deep breath. "Yes."

"So why don't you just bring your son back here, with you? You said you got him back?"

"I–I did."

"So, stop punishing yourself."

Eddie looks at Father Brian again, who looks back at him with a small smile. Eddie stands up, "Okay. Oh, and I have one more thing... I'm sorry I lied to you before." He gets a raised eyebrow in reply. "I'm actually not straight."

"And I'm still celibate."

Eddie laughs and leaves the church. He gets into his car, takes a deep breath, starts the car and calls Chris who answers immediately.

"Hi, dad!"

"How do you feel about moving back home?"

-

Eddie parks outside his– Buck's– their house and feels something warm spread in his body. It's not an unfamiliar one, but he can finally put his finger on what it is. He smiles and gets out of the car.

He knocks on the door, two, three times, before it opens.

"Eddie. Why are you knocking?" Buck says, still looking so exhausted after everything.

Eddie can feel his face flushing. He drags his hand through his hair and scratches his neck. "Hi."

"Hi?" Buck looks so confused.

"I–"

Eddie doesn't get to finish the sentence. The earth is moving.

[ambernotember]

one more try

They’ve been on scene for a little over an hour. Buck has spent most of that time popping open car doors and doing basic triage while a trail of paramedics follow behind him and Ravi, getting people onto stretchers or giving them the okay to walk to the tents that have been set up. For all that it’s a major pileup, they’ve been lucky in that there are no car fires, and while there have been serious injuries, none so far have been life threatening.

“Hen, I’ve got a patient with unequal pupils here. She needs to be on the next transport out,” Buck heard Ravi say over the radio.

“The last ambulance just left, Chim and I will come get her but it’ll be a bit before one’s back,” she replied.

“I don’t know if that’s going to be soon enough,” Ravi said. “She’s not looking too good.”

“We’re on our way,” Hen told him. A pause. “She’ll have transport by the time we get her out.”

Buck had finished clearing his lane, so he headed over to help Ravi and his patient too. Hen and Chim were right behind him with a stretcher, and he and Ravi helped load the patient once they’d given her a second look.

“How are we getting her out of here?” Ravi asked.

Buck realized the answer seconds before Hen pointed skyward, her response almost drowned out by the sudden noise from the helicopter blades.

“That’s how!” she called. “Ravi, Chim, finish this lane. Buck, help me load her.”

Buck should have known his luck wouldn’t hold when he’d seen the 217 arrive without Tommy. The universe had just been waiting to taunt him until it could make sure they’d be face to face. Well, maybe he’d be so focused on setting the helicopter down he wouldn’t notice Buck. Buck ducked his head as he held onto the back of the stretcher and followed Hen; it didn’t really make him less noticeable but he could at least try.

The helicopter set down in the intersection the police had cleared. Hen and Buck moved forward with the patient as soon as the back door slid open, and Buck was really not prepared to look up and see Tommy in the back of the helicopter instead of the pilot’s seat.

“Aren’t you usually in the front of these things?” Hen called over the noise.

“Stretched a little thin today, just filling in where I’m needed,” Tommy called back, nodding towards the 217 truck. “You already had the rest of our paramedics.” He made eye contact with Buck before looking back to Hen and the patient. “Anything else we need to know?”

Hen shook her head. “Tell Melton thanks,” she gestured to the front of the helicopter. Tommy gave her a thumbs up and reached for the door handle.

“Tommy!” Buck found his voice. His conversation with Maddie flashed through his mind. Tommy looked up at him and quirked an eyebrow, waiting. “I love you,” he blurted out.

Hen’s eyes went wide.

Tommy looked at him. Opened his mouth. Closed it. “I have to— go,” he said. “Dinner? Saturday?”

“Eight pm,” Buck agreed, his smile so wide it was almost painful. “Pick me up.”

“Okay,” Tommy’s smile appeared like the sun after rain. “It’s a date.” He shot his dorky finger guns at Buck before he closed the door.

Buck waved as they took off, only turning back to Hen when they were too far away to see him.

“What?” he asked innocently.

“Good for you,” she said. “Now stop mooning and get back to work.”

“Yes Cap,” he saluted her.

“Now, or you’re cleaning as well as cooking this week,” she threatened.

“I clean as I go,” he reminded her, then dodged the forehead flick she’d aimed at him.

“This is an open channel,” Melton’s aggrieved voice came over the radio.

“I know,” Tommy replied. “but uh, I just wanted to say, same, Firefighter Buckley.”

“I’m going to tell you the same thing I told Buck — good for you and get back to work,” Hen said into the radio. She made a shooing motion at Buck.

“Sorry Cap,” Tommy said.

“Oh, did it work?” Chimney asked excitedly from behind Buck.

“Chimney, shut up,” Hen hissed.

Buck threw his arms around her and gave her a loud kiss on the cheek.

“Oh my god Buckley, be a professional! I’m your captain!”

[corroded-hellfire]

By the Book - Eddie Munson x Reader

An As You Wish story

Summary: Eddie takes your daughter on a trip to the bookstore.

Note: This came about because @munson-blurbs and I were in a bookstore and heard a mom call for her daughter Eliza 🥺

Words: 1.2k

[As You Wish masterlist]

“Ooh, what about this one?”

Eliza stacks an eighth book on top of the pile she’s amassed on the low table set in the middle of the children’s section. 

Eddie releases a small huff of laughter from his place on the tiny giraffe chair across from his daughter. He loves that Eliza wants to buy books for her younger siblings, but, in true Munson fashion, she’s going a bit overboard.

“We already have one about ducks, don’t we?” Eddie asks.

“They are geese,” the almost-kindergartener tells him. “I like this one with the superhero.”

“I could read that to them while they wear the Superman and Wonder Woman pajamas that Luke bought them,” Eddie says. 

“Yeah!” She happily slides that book closer to her father. “Can I get a book?”

“Sure thing, sweet pea. But we’re not going to be able to get all of these for the babies. They’re so little and there’s plenty of time to get them more books.”

Eliza sighs in disappointment, the exhale so strong that it blows some curls off her forehead. 

“Okay,” she reluctantly replies. “But these.”

She pushes two copies of Corduroy in his direction. One side of Eddie’s mouth quirks up in a smile; he remembers that as one of the few books in his room as a young boy. 

“That’s a good book,” Eddie says, picking up one of the books. “But why do we need two?”

The withering look Eliza gives him makes him wonder if he’s the one whose brain hasn’t fully developed yet, not hers. She’s a very convincing almost-four-year-old.

“You can’t buy for one baby and not other!”

Eddie chuckles softly, but kindly.

“Lize, they don’t each need a book,” he explains. “I can’t read two books at the same time, but they can both listen to one at the same time.”

“Oh.” Eliza plops down in the elephant chair next to her. She purses her lips, and Eddie tilts his head to the side in question.

“What’s up?”

Big brown eyes meet his own and Eddie sees a rare flash of timidity go across her face. She looks down at the table and the pad of her forefinger traces invisible patterns. The hesitation makes Eddie furrow his brow—he can’t remember the last time Eliza didn’t speak her mind.

“How do I be a big sister?” Her voice is soft, unsure. 

“Oh,” Eddie says in surprise. That’s not something he was expecting. His heart reaches out to his daughter, crestfallen that this has been a thought that’s been growing inside of her. “Liza, you’re already a wonderful big sister.”

“But I dunno stuff. How am I gonna hold two babies?”

“Ah,” Eddie hums. He nods in head in understanding, offering her a gentle smile. “That’s confusing, huh? How to cuddle both babies at the same time? What do the babies share and what do they have their own of? What to do when they both cry?”

“Uh huh.”

“Wanna know a secret?”

Eliza looks up and bobs her head up and down.

“Sometimes I don’t know the answer to that either.” The little girl looks shocked at his response, which makes him chuckle. “It’s complicated, isn’t it? Mama and I learn as we go, though.”

“Mama gets ‘fused too?” she asks.

“Yeah. Mama and I have never had twins before. It’s something new.” He reaches over and gently taps his fingers up her wrist. “And you’ve never been a big sister before. Or a sister to twins. That’s also new and something you’ll learn as you grow up. Your brothers, too. And when you were born, Luke had to learn how to be a big brother. He didn’t know.”

“So, Luke knows now?”

Eddie winces, his mind trying to figure out a proper reply to that.

“Maybe a different source of information would be better,” he finally says. His eyes light up as an idea pops into his head. “Why don’t we see if they have a book on being a big sister?”

“Okay.” Eliza slides off of her chair and Eddie pushes himself up out of his with a groan. 

He cracks his back and looks down at the giraffe chair. He shakes his head; he’s proud of himself for getting up after being down so low. His long legs, he’d argue—that’s what made it hard. Not his age.

The two of them leave the pile of baby books on the table as they venture over to the shelves. It doesn’t take long to find what they’re looking for. The section is actually quite large, which has Eddie smiling down at his daughter.

“Look at all these books,” he says. “Lots of people need to learn how to have a little sibling—or siblings.”

The reassurance seems to chase away Eliza’s insecurity as she scans the book covers with eager eyes. A soft hum emanates from her as she allows her fingers to brush against a few at eye level. 

“I like this one,” she says, stopping on a particularly pink book. No surprise there.

Eddie pulls it from the shelf and looks over the cover. 

“I Love Being A Big Sister,” he reads. “That sounds perfect for you.”

A smile grows on Eliza’s face and warmth spreads through Eddie’s chest. 

“I do love it!” she says.

“I know you do!” Eddie boops the tip of her nose with a ringed finger. He nods towards the rest of the books in the children’s section. “Want to find another book too?”

“Yes!” All the light and excitement are officially back in his little girl. She twirls around, holding her hands above her head. “I want a book with a ballerina!”

Eddie walks over to set down the book he’s holding on top of the pile for the twins—silently deciding that he will buy all of those books after all. If you say anything about it when they get home, he’ll just say that he wants them to be as educated as possible. How can you argue with that?

“A ballerina princess!” Eliza squeals. Her little feet tap in place, her hands stretch up towards the book just out of her reach. 

Whipped father that he is, Eddie comes over and gets the book down for her before she even has to ask. 

“Ah!” Eliza cheers. She clutches the book to her chest and begins to twirl once more. After two spins, she leaps towards the table, in an attempt to mirror the action of the ballerina princess on the cover of her new book. 

“Happy with your choice?” He already knows the answer of course.

“Mhmm!” she hums. “Can we read it to Scarlett, too? Even if it’s my book?”

Eddie grins and leans down to press a kiss to the top of her curls.

“Absolutely, sweet pea. See? You’re already the most thoughtful big sister.”

She beams up at him with a proud smile and it’s enough to melt Eddie on the spot. Luckily for him, Eliza picks up her books and heads in the direction of the checkout—because if she asked, Eddie would’ve bought her the whole store. 

[huntingcupid]

FROM THE START — M.S

that when I talk to you, oh, cupid walks right through and shoots an arrow through my heart and I sound like a loon, but don't you feel it too? confess I loved you from the start

⌗ MEGAN — fem!reader, fluff, girl next door, swearing, flirting, reader gets injured, pining, somehow slowburn, megan is a down BAD, reader is very close to her parents, etc...

⌗ SYPNOSIS — when you move into an entirely new city by yourself — you wondered what it may bring you, what you didn't expect was to fall in love with your neighbor

⌗ CUPID — hi! first try at slowburn so please don't mind if its sorta badly written, anyways requested by my lovely moot @kkoga love u babes

saying goodbye to your old city, the very same city you've lived in for almost your whole childhood — the city that contained everything you knew, was scary it scared you that you might never find another place like it

yet when an bigger opportunity calls in a whole new place you knew you had to take it, it's not like you can get a scholarship and a free place to stay at anywhere now

your hands got clammy and shaky as you start packing your clothes and stuff, you knew that somehow you're overpacking, yet all these things held a sentimental value to you, a little piece of what you consider home

“darling isn't that too much” your mother chuckles seeing 4 boxes of things you will be bringing, you huff clearly puzzled, “i don't want to feel alone there mom” you replied which your mother sighs to

she sat next to you as you continue shoving all your things into boxes, “you're not gonna be alone, y/n you're a wonderful person, it's not gonna take long for you to find your own people there” your mom says brushing your hair which managed to calm you down

you didn't wanna think at that moment and just shrink and hug your mom, just like always — “you are such a smart girl y/n, and maybe moving to that city will help expand your knowledge” your mom whispers kissing the top of your head, you close your eyes basking in the moment, “i know mom, but I'm still scared” you replied — “there's nothing too big to conquer y/n, trust yourself” your mother replies, making you smile

you always adored how strong and inspiring your mom is, she is the main reason you even considered accepting the offer, you thought about the future you can give her, and it felt so wonderful that you can do it, “i will mom” you replied

you two sat there in silence just letting the moment stretch for as long you needed to, you stare blankly at the boxes labeled in your name some still unsealed — if this was your fate you knew it was for good, that with this move you will progress in life immediately, “i can do this” you mutter determined to make it work, not only for yourself but for your mother, “that's my baby” your mother cheers silently which you giggle to

later that night your mother made your favorite, sinigang — the sour and warm broth easing the tension inside you, “how will I cook mom?” you ask suddenly, remembering your inability to cook and how inexperienced you are, “i'll send you recipes you can follow” your mother replies laughing at your distress, “what if i burn the place down, mom!?” you stutter already dreading cooking, “trust me, you can't do that, your cooking is amazing sweetie” your mom replies reassuring you, “i hope so” you mutter your mind reeling with scenarios of you cooking and potentially burning the place

after dinner, you lie in bed, feeling rather empty — you stare at the wall thinking of the changes the new life will give you, as you drift to sleep, dreams of a bright future keep you warm and somehow excited

you wake up to the smell of freshly made waffles — the aroma of the brewed coffee wafting throughout the home, you sit up and stretch as the rays of sunlight filter through your window casting an ethereal glow on your skin — “good morning mom!” you greet walking down to the kitchen greeted with your moms cooking and her proudly smiling, “come on eat!” your mom urges you to sit and eat

after eating you showered and picked out a comfortable outfit to wear for the long drive you will take, your dad helped bring the boxes into the trunk of your car, “so.., see you guys soon?” you say to your parents as they both stood there watching you, “bye baby, please take care of yourself” your mother rambled on and on about how you can always come back here, your dad only said goodbye and hugged you tightly

you sat in your car starting the engine after waving goodbye to your parents, you played some soft music in your car as you drove, beabadoobee and laufey tunes filling the vehicle — after a few hours of driving you stop in front of a cozy looking apartment, you took a mental note of how close it is to a café you wanted to visit after unpacking

you unloaded your car sighing and rethinking why you had to pack this many things — now your having difficulties bringing it inside, barely able to lift it off the ground, you grunt frustrated “oh come on”

you look up when you hear soft rustling, that's when you saw her, she looked beautiful her raven hair framing her face and her eyes they seemed so innocent and pure, “can i help you?” she says offering a hand, “megan by the way” she introduces, it fit her so perfectly you stare for a bit making her giggle, “so?” she trails, “oh! uh yeah sure, that would be lovely, I'm y/n” you replied shaking her hands, she nods and carries one of the boxes into your apartment, “why did you move?” she asks as she finally brings in the last box — “oh it's for college, i got a pretty good offer and i took it” you replied, she hums nodding her head,

“you must be smart then” she jokes which you laugh to shaking your head, “not really, just focused in class” you reply, “how about you, you're very strong do you do any activities that you got because of that strength?” you ask now very curious about the girl, “i teach dance lessons, and go to college too” she says, “you'll have to teach me, i swear i am stiff” you joke she laughs which you smile to, her voice seemed so comforting and soft which made you feel things, “i doubt that, anyways i'll see you soon?” she replies, already walking to the door, you felt a tinge of disappointment wanting her to stay longer but you kept silent about it, “yeah, you live next door right?” you ask and she nods waving before shutting the door leaving you with your thoughts

you unpack and organize your things for an hour straight making your limbs so tired you felt like it would fall off any minute — you took a quick cold shower washing away your sweat and worries, you get dressed in some sweatpants and a random hoodie you got

you wanted to check out said café earlier, yes it was late but who doesn't like iced coffee after working so hard, you walk along the city lights illuminating the road ahead — it was fairly cold but the soft breeze felt amazing, you see the café just a few more meters away, after a few more minutes you made it

the café wasn't filled but it was fairly seated, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee greeted you making you smile, you line up and looked at the menu seeing a few matcha selections, finally your time to order you look up and low and behold, megan her hair tied up in a loose ponytail “y/n! hi, didn't take you as a matcha person” she says happily putting in your order, “i also didn't take you as someone who would work in a café” you replied smiling softly paying for your order before finding a comfy seat, just near the windows

you mindlessly scroll on your phone, feeling butterflies in your stomach, seeing her again. she looked so beautiful like a painting — “order for y/n?” you walk up to the counter, getting your matcha before sitting back down, sipping on the beverage and sending updates to your parents

after a while you finished your drink, and got up to walk back home — megan eyes follow your form as you leave, unknowingly starting to develop something, something she hadn't felt in a while

the first few days of you living in this new city felt like a fever dream, some days you would feel weird and somehow foreign to some things they did here, but most you would feel just at home — especially with the help of megan, she would often visit you keeping you company and filling the apartment with her infectious laugh

“let's go to the park?” megan asks rather out of the blue as you two sat in your living room, you nod happy wherever she might take you, “i'll bring snacks” you replied standing up and getting your tote bag, picking some fruits and a large enough water bottle for you two, megan waited a bit before she stood up and intertwined her hands with yours, “let's go?” she asks which you nod to unable to form words, her hands were so soft and warm and it fit your hand into hers snugly — you two walked for 10 minutes while megan occasionally joked about something stupid but funny enough for you two to look a little crazy laughing, “here” she points to a empty spot in the park, you sat on the grass looking at the sun just at the horizon, she unpacks the food and took a quick picture, as megan was busy eating and staring at the numerous squirrels that ran around the park

you took your time sketching her, smiling as you add silly doodles on the side of her portrait, she giggles looking at you confused, “what you drawing?” she asks, you hid the drawing at first but with enough persuasion the girl got you to show it to her, her eyes lit up and a smile met her lips making you smile and blush, “y/n this is gorgeous! you captured me so well” she muses tracing her fingers over the pencil lines, “just messing around” you mutter back, something about seeing megan so joyful made you feel satisfied and complete somehow, “can i keep it?” she asks which you obviously nod to she takes the drawing and folds it in half putting it in her pocket

you two sat there in comfortable silence something you two did a lot, megan was first to break it though, “it's getting late, we should walk back” she says watching as the sun started to set — you noticed how the clouds started getting darker indicating a rain approaching, “it looks like it'll rain too” you said, megan frowns and starts packing up, you two hurriedly walkback

4 minutes later it started pouring, drenching you both, “shit!” megan exclaims her hair sticking to her forehead due to the rain, you laugh at the girl which she took as a challenge she kicked some water your way which made you gasp, you two fought with water all the way back to your apartment, “count your days seriously” you said the the girl which she only smugly grinned to, “i should get home, I'm soaked” megan says, you shake your head, “i have extra clothes just shower here, I'm cooking some soup i want you to have some” the girls eyes filled with hearts she nods, you hand her a large tshirt you had and some shorts, as the girl showered you changed into some warmer clothes drying your hair after

you open your fridge shortly after preparing the ingredients — slicing up some veggies and beef, boiling it all together making a warm and delicious broth — “smells amazing y/n, what other talents do you have?” she teases, “a lot i guess” you replied getting some bowls, and filling it with soup, “here” you said handing megan the bowl across the table, she smiles taking a deep inhale, she looked adorable in your clothes, it didn't help that you two stole glances at each other at every moment, “this is so good, you'll have to give me more” the girl says finishing her bowl, you giggle clearly flattered that she liked your cooking, “thank you, maybe in return you can teach me some dance moves?” you trail shrugging, “obviously” she nods

later that night you two were in your living room, megan teaching you the basics, her hands on your waist and her face dangerously close to yours, “like this” she says adjusting your hip, you two lock eyes and for a moment megan's eyes flicker to your lips, you nod following her direction, “your a fast learner” she compliments

you check the clock, it was already 10 pm, “hey it's late megan, you should get home” you say afraid of wasting the girls time, “yeah, see you tomorrow?” she asks and you respond “like usual” she giggles before walking to her apartment

that night you laid in bed reflecting on your feelings for the girl, you knew she knew what you felt, the way you two seemed in sync all the time, and the stolen glances, hugs, and hours upon hours of talking meant something. you groan out of frustration

frustration that you can't seem to get her out of your mind, she plagued your thoughts, her laughter seems to fill your ears at every moment, you smile at how stupid this was, how stupid you were for her

megan journaled about her feelings pouring out compliment after praise about you, her growing feelings being too big to ignore

a few days later you went to the college to formally pass your paperwork, since it was starting in a few weeks

after passing it you were crossing the road to walk back home when a car hit you, you fell on the road the pain hitting you like tons of bricks — “fuck” you mutter gripping your leg, it felt so numb but you saw how much you bled which made you panic, shortly after paramedics came to pick you up,

megan rushed through the place running to you worry evident on her features, “y/n?!, are you okay?” she asks her hands on your arms you could only laugh earning you a hit on the arm from the girl, “yes, I'm okay, i just have to get a cast for my left leg now” megan looks and bit her lip seeing the damage, “i'll stay here till you get the cast on” she says, and she stayed, hours upon hours it was almost midnight when you and her left the hospital, she almost carried you but you insisted you can walk

megan helped you change into some pajamas, and laid you on your bed, her worried expression soon fading seeing you lay in bed finally getting your much needed rest, just as she was leaving you frowned

“stay, please?” you plead in a tired and small voice which instantly melted the girl, she lays beside you hugging you, giving a warm feeling inside you — you put your head beneath hers humming softly as you finally fell asleep, comfortable in her hands

you woke up to some breakfast in bed, megan's hair tied messily as she brings in the waffles and a matcha latte, “here” she says giving it to you, you smiled, truly happy that she even thought about this, you took a bite and savored the flavor melting in your mouth, “thank you megan, this is so amazing” you mutter which she replies to “anything for you”, your heart beated a bit faster at her words, suddenly the wall was so interesting as you tried to hide your blushing face

days passed and megan refused to leave your side, always assisting you even in stupid situations when you didn't exactly need it, you can see how dedicated she was to making you feel comfortable, megan never complained nor talk about being tired, she just wanted to take care of you — every passing moment you kept falling deeper for her, for her smile, for her genuine care, and just for her as a person

tonight was different, megan seemed to have something in mind, her eyes darted around the room avoiding your gaze, and she was silent, strangely so, you got worried maybe she's burnt out from taking care of you?, maybe she was tired — you thought to yourself — you were puzzled why she suddenly was silent, you thought about the last few days, thinking maybe you did something stupid, or maybe megan just doesn't like you like that,

“y/n? can I tell you something?” megan breaks the silence finally looking into your eyes, “anything meg” you replied softly, you furrow your brows a bit scared of what she'll say, “i don't know how to explain this, y/n i like you — no i love you” she mutters so quickly you barely even understood it

the moment stopped and it felt so surreal, megan was nervous, clearly you were too — silence stretched for way too long before you spoke, “i love you too” you whisper almost like a forbidden spell, her eyes lit up before rushing to your side hugging you so tightly it felt like you were gonna pop, “wait really?!” megan excitedly exclaimed which you nod to, “i loved you the moment i met you megan, from the start, i don't know how you didn't notice” you explain only making the girl smile wider

megan held your face in between her hands cupping your cheeks, her eyes and your both trail to each others lips like a silent agreement megan closed the distance, she felt like heaven, you smile into the kiss pulling away a minute or two later

you two were both too embarrassed to say anything so instead you two sat there staring at each other, blushing like highschool lovers — “you're not lying right?” she asks, “god you're such a loser” you giggle hugging megan yet again you wince a bit when you hit your leg

megan quickly checked and asked if you were okay, and you kept nodding, “are you sure?” she asks yet again, “yes ms.skiendiel” you laugh

that evening you two lay in your bed watching some netflix while wearing “matching pjs”, well it's just two stupid minecraft t shirts you both bought off at the children's section — megan's arms wrapped around your waist as she watches the show intently

for a moment you two were just there, existing in each others presence enjoying the love that was now no longer hidden, well that's until megan asked something a bit foolish “y/n would you still love me if I was a worm” you chuckle clearly caught off guard, “no seriously!” she reasons which you smile at, “I'll love you any way you are” megan smiles and giggles a bit

it felt like yesterday that you had just met her, met megan — it was crazy to you that now your laying in bed, hugging her and being comfortable to say the most outrageous things — you can say one thing though, you've definitely love her from the start

wc: 3.2k words

[wcnderlnds]

greenlight [2] ★ choi seung-hyun (t.o.p)

・❥・ summary: after the night at the club you’d become braver when it came to intimacy. so much so that you decided to sent a risqué text to your boyfriend while he was away. ・❥・word count: 1.4k ・❥・warnings: 18+. mdni. phone sex. dirty talk. masturbation (f & m). virgin!reader ・❥・ authors note: eh this kinda sucks but here we are anyway.

PART ONE

The apartment felt so lonely without Seunghyun around. Usually, the air would be filled with the smell of his coffee, his constant excited yelling and the faint smell of his strawberry or cherry vape but now? Nothing. Only the faint sound of the music you were playing. It felt empty, like there was something missing. He had been away for a few weeks now filming for a movie so you had been left in the huge apartment all by yourself. Mornings without your breakfast on the balcony were pointless without him. Sitting out there by yourself was sad, even if he’d insist on FaceTiming you to act like he was there with you. It just wasn’t the same.

Nothing was the same without Seunghyun and today, you were really feeling that. You missed the feeling of his arms wrapping around you, the way his lips would claim yours in a moment of passion. It made you think back to that night in the club. Things had been different since then. Neither of you had really spoken about it but it had definitely given you more confidence when it came to intimacy. Usually where you’d be a little reserved, you now explore more, hands roaming over him, eager to please much to his delight. Seunghyun had noticed immediately how you seemed to initiate things more. The way you’d saunter up to him and sit in his lap, slowly pressing yourself against him as you devoured his lips. He hadn’t tried to take it any further – always wanting to go at your pace. He trusted that when you were ready for something more, you’d let him know.

You’d decided to take a shower, hoping that it would at least provide you some comfort. Thoughts drifted to Seunghyun, the feeling of his hands ghosting of your body and you couldn’t help yourself. After you’d stepped out of the shower, you threw on one of his shirts and decided to snap a picture wearing only that and a pair of panties. Laying down on the bed, you lifted your phone above you, snapping a photo. With a winky face, you shot the text to your boyfriend.

He replied within seconds. Much to your surprise he replied with his own photo. Pressing on the notification, you let out a gasp as you saw him, phone in his hand as he stood in a full length mirror, his other free hand grasping his bulge through the sweatpants he was wearing. You bit your lip, feeling yourself growing more and more aroused the longer you looked at it.

Just as you were about to type a reply, your phone began to ring. A giggle passed your lips as you accepted the call, bringing the phone up to your ear. “Well, hello there.”

“Are you trying to kill me sending me a photo like that?” Seunghyun breathed into the phone. His hand was already palming his aching length through his sweatpants, squeezing himself as he waited for your reply. He just knew that the second you spoke, he’d be hard as a rock. Imagining you laying there in your bed, in his shirt, it was more than enough to send him into a frenzy.

“I could ask you the same question,” you replied. “I haven’t stopped staring at the photo you sent.”

“Like what you see, huh, princess?”

“Very much.”

Seunghyun groaned down the phone. “You’ve got me all worked up over here.”

Feeling brave, you spoke your next words with confidence, a sultry tone to your voice for added effect. “Do something about it then.”

“What makes you think I’m not already?” His deep voice rumbled in your ear, sending shivers down your spine. “”I’m so fucking hard, baby. Thinking about you in my shirt and those lacy little panties? God, I wish I was there right now. I wouldn’t be able to keep my hands off you.”

The sound of his voice, strained with desire had your hand toying with the edge of your panties, daring to dip your fingers inside. You could already feel the damp patch forming on the fabric. “I was thinking about that night at the club. How good it felt grinding against you.”

Seunghyun groaned. While you were talking, he’d shimmied his sweatpants and boxers down his legs, freeing his aching cock. His hand was wrapped around his length, lazily stroking himself. “I’ve been thinking about it too. How fucking hot you looked coming on my leg like that. Bet you’ve been touching yourself thinking about it while I’ve been away.”

“I am right now,” you breathed, your fingers now sliding through your dripping folds, teasing at your entrance. “I’m so wet, baby.”

“Fuck,” his fist moved faster along his cock, the thought of you touching yourself while talking to him sending him feral. “Tell me what you’re doing, baby.”

“I’m touching myself, my fingers are sliding through my pussy so easily thinking of you.”

“Push one of those pretty little fingers inside yourself for me, princess.”

You did as he asked, your finger sinking into your tight heat at his request. You began to pump your finger at a steady pace, soon adding a second. The moans slid easily from your lips, like music to his ears. His own hand moved at a rapid pace against his cock, gathering the precum forming at the tip so he could glide his hand along himself smoother. His hips bucked into his hand, each moan from your spurring him on.

“Seunghyun,” you gasped. “It feels so good.”

“Yeah,” his voice was a strained pant as he fucked into his hand, all the while wishing it was you instead of his own stupid hand. His eyes squeezed shut as he imagined all the filthy things he wanted to do to you. “Can’t wait for the day you let me bury my cock inside your tight little pussy. Fuck, I bet it feels so good.”

“I wish it was your fingers inside me right now.” Your fingers moved faster, harder, imagining that he was with you, that it was him pleasuring you. Your hips bucked into your hand while you grabbed your phone with your free one to put it on speaker phone. Now, with both hands free, you moved your other hand down to rub tight, quick circles on your clit. “I-I’m so close.”

“Me too,” he panted. His fist was a blur as he pumped himself faster, squeezing his cock tight. The sound of him pleasuring himself could be heard through the phone mixed with his grunt and groans. “I’m gonna cum so fucking hard for you. You want that, baby? Want me to cum while you fuck yourself with your fingers?”

“Yes.” It was a garbled moan, your orgasm right there. It took one more pump of your fingers before you cried out his name. Your back arching off the bed, your orgasm crashing over you like a freight train. “Seunghyun, oh my god.”

That was enough to send him over the edge. The way you moaned his name, the way he could hear your fingers plunging into your wet heat — he couldn’t handle it anymore. With one hard tug at his cock, his orgasm hit. His release painted his hand and stomach, his hips rutting furiously into his closed fist. “Fuck, oh, shit. I-I’m coming, baby. I’m coming so fucking hard for you.”

He stroked himself through his release, a sheen of sweat coating his forehead at the intensity. Once the waves of pleasure subsided, the phone went quiet. Both of you panting, revelling in the intimate moment you’d just shared. It was another big step for you and that thought alone made his heart swell. The fact you trusted him enough to do this with him was the greatest honour.

“I miss you,” your voice was quiet, barely above a whisper but he caught it.

“I miss you, too,” he rasped. “I’ll be home soon. Just one more week.”

The silence lingered again until you spoke. Your words were soft, almost nervous sounding. “When you come home… can we touch each other like that?”

His eyes widened, his words coming out in a tumble. “Yes, god, yes. Whatever you want, baby. Whatever you’re ready for.”

After that, the conversation turned into sweet goodnights, whispered promises of all the things you’d do together when he got back home. As Seunghyun hung up, there was only one thought on his mind.

He couldn’t wait to get home.

taglist (ask to be added): @ldydeath @infinetlyforgotten @berfgrimm @loveesiren @justsisse @sherrayyyyy @aizshallnotbefound @fleabagspurplewife @gemzyy @bettelaboure @gdinthehouseee @breakmeoff @babyrvis @flymetothexmoon @forevervibezzzz1 @ttturnitup @szonyix6277

[universefcb]

ANATOMICAL PIZZA LOVE, PAU CUBARSÍ.

→ Summary: You're home alone and decide to make pizza! But Pau had never made it before.

→ Warning: Mention of Reader. Fluff. Romance.

→ Author's note: To ease the pain of losing the final yesterday... And forgive me for my inactivity! I promise to come back with a calendar full of fics!

And sorry if there are mistakes, English is not my language.I hope this is what you asked for!

She left the bag of flour on the counter as she looked at Pau. His parents had gone out for dinner—a rare romantic date on a Saturday night. His sister, Irene, had texted him that she was going to sleep over at her boyfriend’s house. It was just you and Pau in the house now. A house that had always had people, noise, some pot on the stove. Now it was full of silence.

“Do you really want to make pizza?” he asked, leaning on the kitchen counter with his arms crossed, his hair messy as if he had taken a shower in a hurry.

“Better than asking. And it’s all here, isn’t it?”

“Yes, but I’ve never made real pizza.”

You gave a half smile and threw the flour onto the counter with more confidence than you actually felt.

“Then let’s do it together.”

Pau raised an eyebrow, but smiled back. He picked up his apron—the one his mother sometimes wore, with a bell pepper pattern—and tossed another one to you.

The atmosphere was light, with that good tension of their relationship, which was just beginning.

“Heart or round?” you asked, as you rolled out the dough.

“Sweetheart, sure. Let’s make it the cheesiest tradition possible,” he replied without hesitation, leaning his hip against the counter next to her. “We deserve it.”

You laughed, and he looked. That way. A second longer than necessary. A look that made him embarrassed, turning his head away with a slight blush on his face.

He approached you from behind while you were still rolling out the dough and wrapped his arms around you in a light hug, his chin resting on your shoulder. You stayed like that for a moment, breathing the same air.

“You smell like flour and apple shampoo,” he muttered, before letting out a small chuckle.

“It’s an irresistible combo,” you replied, feigning pride, and he pressed your body lightly against his before letting go.

You cut the ingredients, he assembled them. You bumped into each other all the time. Every touch seemed to last a little longer. Every excuse to help became another reason to stay close. Sometimes your eyes met by accident. Other times, on purpose. He smiled at the corner of your mouth, and you looked away, but the smile remained.

“It’s crooked,” he said, looking at his pizza.

“Yours too. It looks like a liver.”

He laughed. That short, sincere laugh that he only gave when he forgot to control himself. And his heart filled with love.

“We should patent this. Anatomical pizza of love.”

You laughed too, trying to hide the heat rising in your face.

When the oven finally dinged, the kitchen was warm, smelling good, and full of shards of conversation. Pau grabbed a towel and theatrically waved it at his face, sweating slightly. You threw an olive at him, and he pretended to be offended.

“We’re good,” he said, sharing a slice of the prettiest, or least ugly, pizza.

“We make a good pair,” you added without thinking. When you realized what you had said, you looked at him quickly.

Pau was already looking.

And he didn't deviate.

Silence fell, but it wasn't uncomfortable. It was full. Almost electric.

“You know I like being with you, right?” he said quietly. As if he didn’t want to spoil the moment.

You swallowed hard. And nodded.

“I like being with you too.”

He approached. Slowly, without rushing. His hand touched hers, and stayed there. A simple touch, but direct.

“This here”—he pointed to the messy kitchen, the half-eaten pizza, the low music playing in the background—“could be our routine, you know?”

You smiled. Not the shy kind. The knowing kind.

“It is, right?”

Pau moved closer, his eyes on yours. His forehead almost touching yours. His breath mingling with yours. He brought one of his hands to your face, his fingers sliding lightly across your cheek.

“So can I kiss you now?”

You didn't answer. You just pulled his apron and pressed your lips against his. The kiss was calm, warm, with the taste of tomatoes and something new. His hands found your back, pulling you closer. One hand on your waist, the other still on your face. You laughed in the middle of the kiss, awkwardly, and kissed again. Because it was easy. Because it was right. Because it was already you.

When your lips parted, he still had his eyes closed, as if he wanted to prolong that moment a little longer. You rested your forehead against his, feeling your heart beat fast and calm at the same time.

“That was the best dinner I’ve ever had,” he whispered.

You smiled, your eyes shining.

“It wasn’t even a full dinner.”

“So we can do it again, right? Tomorrow. And the day after.”

“And then,” you repeated, like a small, whole promise.

He pulled you closer, again, and this time it wasn't a kiss, but a hug. Tight. Warm. Smelling of baked dough and his expensive perfume.

" I love you"

“I love you too, Barsí”

Taglist: @paucubarsisimp @nngkay @meganesanchez @htpssgavi @merinottt @luvvpedri @moonvr @joaosnovia @httpsdana @ilovebarcaaaa @p4uul0vr @pedricando @barcapix @owala6789

[rexhya]

any of your chosen oc’s who fancy reader, on valentine’s day, receive a typed love letter and their favourite chocolate —- of course they’re quick to assume that it’s reader right ? same initials marking the end lines ?! the same quiet, unassuming reader who barely holds eye contact with them telling them yes ! i love you too !!! but oh actually it’s NOT them, just someone with the same initials.. watch chosen oc go crazy over thatLMAOO

(tldr - [character] crushes on y/n, thinks they like them back but it’s a misunderstanding]

yandere!loser who is exceedingly when he receives a letter on valentine's day, it read the sweetest words he could practically imagine your voice he read it

Dear Claude,

I like you a lot! I write this letter to you in hopes you receive it and can return my feelings as well.

— Love, [XX]

Claude is in pure disbelief, he immediately writes back and says yes, slipping the note straight into your locker with his number on it, desperately waiting for a text, he never gets ones. (Aww, your problably just shy...right?)

The next day he's even more confused when you walk right past in in the hallways, did you not see him when he waved?

He trys again to catch you attention in the lunch room, you're sitting with your friends on the complete opposite side of the room when he walks the shameful distance to your table to ask you why you've been ignoring him.

Your friends get quiet not so subtly laughing at the image of Claude and his baggy clothes, but he's used to others and there comments, it was only you he cared about.

"That's not my handwriting, I didn't write that." you deadpanned, slapping the arm of your friend who began a trail of laughing voices that rung in Claudes ear. Tears pricked at his eyes as he exited the lunchroom.

"Oh, yeah, right, that totally makes sense. This doesn't even look like your handwriting." you save Claude the embarrassment and direct his attention to a girl who Claude now noticed was looking at him, "I think this came from her, Claude, sorry about that."

Claude jumped as you placed an hand on his forearm. You knew his name? He didn't have it in him to ask as he walked towards the tabled where the girl was sitting, her eyes visible lit up as he walked over, but he wasnt here to accept a confession.

"You, what's your name?"

"My name? It's-"

"Actually I don't care, because it doesn't matter. Don't ever consider contacting me again you hear me? Do you know how embarrassing it was to see her look at me so pitifully? Like I was a lost kid without his mommy?"

"I–"

"Fuck off, [Name] is the only person i'll ever want."

✦ ✦

Later that evening Claude stalked your social media pages as comfort, you looked so beautiful it made him more angry when he thought of that girl and how she tries to come between you two.

The only goid thing that had come of today was the fact you knew him, i mean you did have 3 classes together but you'd never looked his way, he had no idea. Oh god the way you'd said his name made him feel so hot inside.

Claude, Claude, Claude he was very aware of the rising boner he had from replaying the sound in his mind.

To his surprise he receives a message and lo' and behold its from you. He practically screams at the sight, and with shaky hands clicks to respond.

hey, how did it go?

He's confused, if you were asking how he was feeling he felt great, was the message meant for someone else? He clenched his hands at the thought, of course it wasn't. You had texted, him. He wouldn't miss the chance.

did what go?

Much to his delight you reply immediately.

you and XXXXX duhhh, are u guys dating now or what?

He scowls at the thought of the girl.

No, it was playing a prank lol

awwe, that's too bad, anyone would beclycky enough to date you 😕

Claudes eyes bulged from their sockets, his nails clicking away at a response. What were you implying, maybe you were in love with him after all?

fghdsasf, lol uhm yeah. i could say the same for u xx

Xx, God he has to marry you.

awe thx!! anyways i'm gonna be honest tge reason why i was asking is bc my friend thinks ur cute..i was wondering if she could have ur number?

He's accidentally smashed the computer before he gets a chance to respond.

[another-random-fanfic-blog]

My 8 Hybrids Ch. 2

Chapter 2

Previous Chapter

Next Chapter

Masterlist

Warnings: Blood, violence, abuse, Not edited, will be later

As you sped down the road, you began calculating the how long it would take for you to get to your house versus your clinic. The clinic is the obvious choice to go to, but your house is closer and you wouldn’t have to deal with traffic. Making the decision you used the voice dial on your car to call your friend Will.

“Did you get caught in the rain?” Will asks, forgoing a greeting.

“I need you to get to my house immediately, I’m 15 minutes away,” you respond, ignoring what he said, “This is an emergency.”

“I’ll be there in 10.”

With that you hung up the phone and continued down the road, glancing over at the unconscious rabbit sitting next to you, rage filling you every time as you imagine what you’d like to do with the person who put them there. You call the next person on your list, before you lose yourself in your work and forget to do what you need.

“What trouble did you cause this time?” Kiara asks.

“Trouble? Me? Unlikely,” you retort, giving a small smile.

“Y/N, I’m serious, if you punched another person for hurting a hybrid, despite them deserving it, I will start charging you extra,” Kiara sighs.

“No, not this time, I found two hybrids chained to trees, beaten, bloody, unconscious, a rabbit and some type of big cat I’m assuming. The rabbit may live, but I don’t have hope for the cat,” you explain calmly, “I took video and pictures before getting them down. I will send them to you but I want you to start the process for a lawsuit, just in case something happens.”

“And the hybrids?”

“They will need round the clock care for a while.”

“That’s not what I’m asking and you know it,” Kiara grumbles, “You helped get the laws changed greatly, but unless they have a home lined up, because they are abuse cases, you have to hand them over to hybrid services, where they will probably die from inadequate care.”

“We don’t have to tell them,” you state.

“It’s the law.”

“I don’t care,” you reply shrugging to no one in particular.

“Y/n…”

“Put me down as their owner for now, I will adopt them until we can all decide on something else,” you sigh, not wanting to let the hybrids be taken away.

“I will start the paperwork,” Kiara chirps cheerfully, you know that she wanted you to adopt a hybrid at some point to give you some company. “You wouldn’t happen to know their names would you?”

“According to the rabbit, the cat is named San, I don’t know the rabbits name yet,” you respond, pulling into your driveway and seeing Will sitting in his car, “I’ve got to go, talk later.”

You hang up and come skidding to a halt, throwing your car in park and pushing the door open as you turn off the engine.

“One in the front, one in the back, get the gurney from downstairs, two of them,” you yell out to Will as he nods and runs down the basement stairs.

You open the passenger door and feel the rabbits pulse before moving back to do the same with San. Will comes up in an elevator with two gurneys at his side. Carefully, you help him move San onto one gurney and take him down, while you get the rabbit.

Once the two of you were downstairs, you try to find a spot to hook the rabbit up for an IV, but with such severe dehydration, you have no choice but to do an IO on him. Quickly grabbing a drill, you bore into his bone a little below the knee. Once the fluids were started, you move over to San.

“Mind telling me what happened?” Will asks as he wheels San back from x-rays and begins Sans IO.

“I was hiking, and found these two chained to trees, this one, San apparently, had his leg stuck in a bear claw type trap. I did what I could before bringing them here.” You respond, slowly peeling the makeshift bandage off of San’s leg.

“And here I thought you were paranoid building this place under your house. You wash up while I clean the wound, then we’ll switch.” Will said, not looking up from San’s leg.

“Ok, start him on broad spectrum antibiotics, there’s no telling what bacteria is in those wounds,” you call out from the sink as you change into scrubs and begin cleaning your hands and arms while Will preps San for surgery.

Once you finish and put on gloves, Will switches off, while you continue to debridement of the wound. Once the bleeding is under control and you look at the x-rays, seeing Sans leg is fractured, not broken, which is really the only luck this guy has. Methodically and carefully you and Will work on all of San’s wounds, back and front, in complete silence.

When you first built your home, you had experience finding sick and injured animals in the past, sometimes not being able to take them to get care overnight due to closed clinics. So you demanded a small hospital be built in part of your basement, a hermetically sealed room, filled with everything you’d find in an urgent care. Will said you were crazy for spending this amount on a place you’d never use, and you always thought better safe than sorry.

When work on San was complete, you let Will go look at the blood tests for both, while you worked on the rabbit. He had contusions, cuts, a fractured wrist, dehydration, and severe sunburn. Some of his cuts were infected so you started him on antibiotics as well.

Once you finished, Will came back to you with two bowls, towels, and sponges.

“The boys need cleaned, here’s everything for a sponge bath,” he says smiling and walking away, “I also gave you stuff to wash their hair. I’ll cook some food.”

With a sigh, you carefully start cleaning them, memorizing their features once they were clean and you were done. Both were thin, too thin, tall, from what you could tell by carrying them and them laying down. San had black hair, a sharp jaw, and cat like eyes. Meanwhile, the rabbit had white hair, round boba eyes, and high cheek bones. You moved their beds closer to each other so when they woke, they could see each other easily. You turned on the monitors so they could alert you anywhere in the house, if they woke up, had an issue, or needed an IV refill. Dimming the lights, you walked upstairs to find Will eating ramen and chicken.

“So,” he says getting you a plate as you flop down in your dining room chair, “tell me how you got in this mess with your two new hybrids.” You raise an eyebrow at that, as he places a bowl in front of you. “Kiara told me you adopted them.”

You pulled out your phone and handed it to him so he could go through the pictures and videos, not liking what he saw, while you uploaded your gopro footage to the computer, sending everything in an email to Kiara before you get sidetracked again.

“I’m not a therapist,” you say, “Can you schedule something with Jessica? They will need help, and get her caught up on…this mess.” You remark waving your hand around.

“Sure,” he replies putting his bowl in the sink. “You good, or do you need me to stick around?”

“You can go home before the storm gets worse.”

“Have a good night.” He says as he walks out the door, leaving you to eat in peace.

You finish your food, do the dishes, shower, then grab a cot and set it up in the room with the hybrids, getting ready to sleep after swapping out their IVs.

You slept a solid 10 hours for the first time in…ever before being awoken by muttering. Sitting up, you looked over and saw the rabbit hybrid sitting up and muttering while gripping San’s arm. Slowly standing you make your presence known as the rabbit stares at you frozen and not moving.

“Hi,” you say, approaching as slow as you can, “do you remember me? I found you, and helped you out of the woods.”

The rabbit just stares at you, nose slightly twitching as he plays with San’s fingers.

“San?” He finally asks.

“He has a fractured leg, infection, various wounds, and dehydration…but, barring any unforeseen complications, he should recover, quickly given your advanced healing abilities.” You tell him, as you get close, right next to his bed. “My name is Y/n, this is my home, the basement of my home, can you tell me your name?”

“…Seonghwa,” he says quietly.

“Seonghwa, it’s nice to meet you,” you state, “are you hungry?” He perks up at that and nods. “After I change your IV, I will go get you something to eat. It will be light for now, probably just broth and crackers, but once you keep something down for at least a day, I’d like 2, we will move to something else, ok?”

He nods again and you begin switching out his IV and then San’s, before heading upstairs to get the food. As you heat the broth you take a deep breath, not knowing what to say to Seonghwa as you’ve never been a good conversationalist. Carrying the food down, you stop seeing that San has moved, he was lower in the bed earlier, but now he’s almost sitting, Seonghwa’s pillow helping prop him up. You’re thankful that you decided to bring down two bowls of broth and not just one.

“Here’s your broth,” you say, setting it on a cart with a tray that can move over the bed, “I’ll get you another pillow.” You grab two and bring them back, helping Seonghwa sit up as you move the bed to a more comfortable position. “Hello San,” you say as you make your way over to him. “You have a fractured leg, we weren’t able to cast it because of the open wound, so don’t move it too much, ok?”

San looks at you with wide eyes, watching your every move as you pull up a chair.

“I think we should talk about some things.” You say looking at both of them as you move a sleeve of crackers and a bowl of broth in front of San. “My name is Y/n, I own a clinic that helps hybrids, and this is a mini clinic in my basement that you are recovering in. The law states that when cases of abuse, such as yours are reported, you have to either be immediately adopted or go to hybrid services.” You watch as both hybrids tense and grasp each other’s hands, tears forming in their eyes, knowing hybrid services is not a good option and tears bonded hybrids apart. “I have decided to adopt you until the case is closed and you decide what you’d like to do next.”

“What we’d like to do next?” Seonghwa asks between sips of broth.

“If you want to earn your independence, I will help with that, or I can help you find a different owne-“

“You don’t want us?” San questions, sniffling as he stares at his food. You swear you see a tear fall and immediately think something happened with these two, mostly likely involving being rejected.

“I would be happy if you stayed, but if you didn’t like it here, I don’t want to force you to stay with me.” You respond, patting his hand that was on the side of the bed. “Now, eat, there are small bags next to the bowls in case you need to throw up. Once you are done and the food settles, I will help you shower, then, if you want, we can head upstairs. However, the IV will have to stay in.”

With that, you head upstairs to find some clothes that will fit both the hybrids. Luckily, you have a habit of buying clothes for men and women, including underwear, just in case you have an unexpected guest or something happens to a guests clothes. While you dig through your closet you call the psychologist that works at your clinic and discuss getting the two therapy appointments as soon as you can get them in condition to start walking. She asks you a few questions and you reply, immediately mentioning the comment San made about you not wanting them. She explains that they are raised to believe being owned if the best thing for them and the fact that you suggested removing them would have brought up potential years of previous rejection, plus whatever trauma they may have from whoever left them in the woods. On top of that, one or both of them could have a co-dependency issue. You grab some clothes, soaps, lotions, deodorant, toothbrushes, and toothpaste and head down stairs, asking one final question.

“I go to a conference next week that I can’t get out of because I am a presenter. Can I leave them here alone or should I take them with me?”

“That is up to you and how you feel they will do alone.” Cassie responds before hanging up, leaving you unsatisfied with her answer.

When you walk in the recovery room, you see both hybrids talking to each other, their hands still holding each other. You walk everything into the bathroom downstairs then join the two.

“So, I have some clothes for you two,” you say, gesturing to the bathroom where you put everything, “how about we get you cleaned up? San, I will have to help you because of your leg, I swear I won’t look at anything and will be 100% professional, but I can’t have you moving it wrong.”

“Can you help me too?” Seonghwa asks quietly.

“Sure, do you want to go first?”

“Can…Can we go to-together? I…I-I…”

“Yes, if you both want to be within sight of each other, that is fine.”

You get a wheelchair to take San to the bathroom and help him undress and wrap a towel around his waist, while Seonghwa gets himself ready. Seonghwa sits himself in the tub and relishes the hot water pouring on him while he vigorously scrubs all the dirt off his skin, flinching at the force he was using. Despite you giving them a sponge bath, it still wasn’t enough to remove everything. You tell San to wait, and turn on the hot showerhead to pour over him and watch how almost instantly his body begins to relax. He takes the scrubby and soap and more carefully than Seonghwa, begins to wash his upper body.

“You’re going to hurt yourself,” you say to Seonghwa as you sit behind him, taking the scrubby and begin to help, using just enough pressure to clean everything off. “So, what breeds are you?”

“I’m a Lionhead rabbit,” Seonghwa declares proudly and you have to stop yourself from groaning, knowing how playful and mischievous those breeds can be.

“In other words,” You begin, carefully washing Seonghwa’s hair as he fully leans into you, moaning at how good it feels to get his scalp scrubbed, “I’m going to have my hands full with you.”

You smile at Seonghwa when he opens his eyes and looks at you, first with concern, then with warmth.

“I’ll be good, I promise.” He says closing his eyes again, his foot thumping when you scrub his ears, working the matts out of them and his hair.

“I’m sure you will be.” You finish his hair, both shampoo and conditioner, before rinsing him off and letting him soak under the spray, then head to San, who watched you scrub Seonghwa’s hair with a look of longing. “And what breed of hybrid are you, San?” You ask as he gets a look of excitement on his face while you pour shampoo in your hand.

“I’m a maine coon cat, and I’m a good boy,” he says purring the second your hands make contact with his head. “I’m not mean or intimidating.”

You could hear the pleading in his voice when he said that, and it told you that, though he was skinny, he had muscles, and his face had a look that could go two ways, one sweet and kind, or two intimidating and mean. But just looking in his eyes, like truly looking in his eyes, you could tell he was the sweet and kind person, no matter how people may have tried to portray him.

“I could tell that by your eyes,” you tell him, smiling, causing San to blush and look down.

He closes his eyes as you scrub his hair, giving him a scalp massage before rinsing him off and moving to his tail, carefully trying to work the matts out and when you couldn’t, cutting them out. Once he was cleaned, you let him sit under the spray as well, carefully examining his leg only to see the wound has sealed shut and the stitches dissolved.

You’ll say one thing, hybrid healing is both a gift and a curse. When properly hydrated and medicated and treated, the skin can take only 12 – 24 hours to heal when assisted by stitches. Unfortunately, people think that means a hybrid is healed, this leads to them being pushed beyond their limits and can sometimes be fatal. If the skin closes too fast, it can trap infections inside, and hide other injuries, luckily, San was already treated.

“Your leg looks good, San.” You say, looking up at him, causing him to look down at you and also catching Seonghwa’s attention. “The wound is closed, but the bone won’t have healed yet, so you have to remember to be careful. Both of you,” you look at Seonghwa to make sure he understands as well, and he nods. “Now, you can either stay down here, or we can try moving you to a bedroom upstairs, once you’re done getting dressed?”

“Can…we go upstairs?” Seonghwa asks hesitantly.

“Of course, this is your house too, you can move about it freely, though very carefully until San’s leg is healed.” You say, helping both hybrids dry their hair, ears, and tails. “Can you get dressed yourselves?”

“Yes.”

“Then I’ll be outside.”

You walk outside of the bathroom and change into dry clothes, then grab a set of crutches for San to walk around on. You want to do one more x-ray on his leg before you take him upstairs, to see how fast the healing has progressed and whether you should cast it or boot it. Once they come out, you help San to the x-ray machine and take the images, Seonghwa glued to your side. Luckily, his leg looks much better, a week and a half and he should be completely healed. Carefully, you put a walking boot on his leg, all the way up to his knee and hand him the crutches, for him to use for the next two days.

Helping both of them upstairs, you show them the rooms, gym, library, living room, kitchen, and garage, before taking to the the top floor with the bedrooms.

“Ok, you both get to choose your own room,” you say smiling at them once they look at the first room. Both hybrids look at each other in slight panic before you continue. “You can visit and sleep in each other’s rooms, but I firmly believe in having your own space. So choose a room and we can look at decorations and clothes for you.”

It took a while, but both hybrids finally chose a room to call their own. You handed each a tablet to look at furniture and room design ideas, as well as shop for clothes, and you went to your own room. It was only 8pm but as soon as your head hit the pillow you were out cold.

Your eyes begin to open as you hear rapid thumping coming from somewhere. Sleepily standing up, you walk out of your room only to hear it stop. Waiting a few minutes, you head back to your room and collapse on the bed again, snuggling under the covers. As you begin to drift off, you hear a loud crash of thunder, followed by very heavy, rapid thumps again. Listening closely you realize it is coming from under your bed.

Rolling off your bed, you grab your phone and turn on the light, seeing a cat and rabbit under your bed, the rabbit thumping his foot on the ground after another crash of thunder. Both hybrids trembling in fear.

“Hey guys, it’s ok, nothing to be afraid of,” you coo to them, reaching a hand out, causing both to approach you. “You are welcome to come cuddle on my bed with me if you want, in human form or animal, either is fine.”

With that you stand and lay on your bed, waiting to see what they would do. It doesn’t take long for you to feel the weight of them jumping on your bed, before they make their way up to where the blanket starts, scratching at it. You lift the covers and both dive inside, just as another thunder clap occurs. You turn on your side and snuggle back into your bed, slowly falling asleep, letting your two hybrids get comfortable.

A few hours later, you wake up, feeling a weight against your stomach. Lifting the blanket, you see two hybrids curled up against you, sound asleep. Carefully, so not to disturb them, you sneak out of bed and head to the showers, realizing the storm had past and it was a bright sunny day out. Once you showered, you checked back on the hybrids and then went downstairs to purchase some things the two of them would like in their animal forms.

“Good morning,” Seonghwa mumbled, walking into the kitchen, rubbing his eyes, a sleepy San following behind him and collapsing into the dining room chair.

“Good morning, Seonghwa, and San,” you reply smiling back at them, “are you hungry?”

“A little,” San whispered, still half asleep.

“I can make eggs, bacon, and hashbrowns, or oatmeal. I don’t really have any other options yet.” You respond standing up and walking to the kitchen.

“Can I help?” Seonghwa asks, following you and you nod, allowing him to get everything out of the fridge and freezer.

He wanted to do everything himself, so you stood by, directing him on how to cook. While San moved around on his crutches.

“What’s this?” San asks, looking at your laptop, open to your recent shopping receipts.

“Ah, I bought some things for the two of you in your animal forms. Cat trees, tall and short, shelves with railings so Seonghwa won’t fall off, and tunnels that can be mounted high and low, as well as some hiding nooks.” You reply ignoring the look of shock on both hybrids faces as you explain what you bought for them. “They will be here in 2 days and you can help set them up and where you want them. I’m sure I bought enough that they can connect almost every room in the house.” After you finished speaking, San’s face lit up and Seonghwa’s foot started thumping on the ground excitedly, both of them trying to hid their excitement, but failing to do so.

It continued like this for the next week, you slowly grew closer to the two hybrids learning that they are the type to trust easily, which breaks your heart. You had both help you set up the cat shelves, tunnels cat trees, and let them set up their hiding nooks by themselves. They were so excited to be involved in the process. You also had them buy their own bedroom decorations and furniture and took them shopping for clothes. San had a sporty look, while Seonghwa enjoyed something similar, but also really liked more delicate style clothing. You were ok with whatever they wanted, as long as they actually wore it. They were also excited to start going to the gym. Though San couldn’t use his leg below his knee, you helped him with arm and ab workouts and exercises made for people in a chair, slow leg lifts that wouldn’t bother his healing but still something he could do. Seonghwa jumped right into everything and you had to slow him down, explaining that going too fast could cause more damage than good. By Friday at the end of the week, you sat them down, to discuss you leaving for the next week.

“You’re leaving us?” San asks, sounding panicked, almost ready to have a panic attack.

“It will only be for a few days and I will call you every morning and every night, we can even do a video chat if you want.”

“We’ll be alone?” Seonghwa asks, playing with the air of the table, only glancing at you.

“I can have someone stop in, in fact he helped me care for you the first night.”

“No,” San interrupts, clearing his throat before beginning again, “We…would rather be alone.”

“Can’t we go with you?” Seonghwa questions.

“I’m afraid there are no hybrid friendly hotels in the area, at least not one that would be kind to either of you.” You shudder at the thought of what could happen to your two hybrids in the hotels while you were gone, before continuing. “I will be 8 hours away, if something happens I can rush home, but it will only be for three days. The fridge is filled with food and I have emergency numbers written on it.” You reach out and take both of their hands, “I promise, I will be back. I will not abandon you.”

With that, they stare into your eyes before nodding. The next few days those two were the cuddliest creatures you ever met, and when you left, San started crying while Seonghwa’s eyes filled with tears, but they did not fall while you could see him. You started to miss them before they disappeared from view as you made your way to the airport, deciding to fly so it was a faster trip there and back.

“Inside now,” the man sneers at his hybrid, causing the hybrids breath to catch in his throat.

“B-but master, the cage is too small, the only way I’ll fit is if you break something,” the hybrid begins, being cut off by his master.

“So we’ll break something. Get in now, or I swear I WILL cut your legs off this time!” The man growls, gripping the hybrids neck.

The hybrid’s eyes go wide and he nods the best he could, quickly crawling into the cage that is far too small for his body. He had to contort himself into an uncomfortable position to fit so the door would close, however, his foot blocked the way of the door. His master didn’t care and slammed the door shut, jamming the hybrids knee into his nose, causing it to bleed, and causing a loud crack from his, foot filling the hybrids body with intense pain. However, that wasn’t all, with the angle of his body in such a small space, his legs put pressure on his chest that made it hard for the hybrid to breathe.

“Don’t make a sound.” The man sneers walking away, leaving the hybrid to suffer.

You felt like you had been walking for hours by the time you made it to the lounge, flopping yourself in the comfortable chair by the windows. This week stressed you out and all you want to do is go home and relax with your hybrids. You place your phone on the chair arm, but it fell onto the floor. When you reach down to grab it, you saw something under the table next to you that made you curious. Moving down to the floor, you see it is a large hybrid, crammed in a small cage, his body contorted in a grotesque position so he could fit, his nose bleeding, and his breathing shallow and labored, eyes closed tightly in an effort to calm himself.

“Nice hybrid isn’t he,” a man says from behind you.

You’re staring at the hybrids face, he opens his eyes and you see the silent plea for help before he closes them again, tears falling down his face.

“He is,” you reply, standing up, “you wouldn’t be interested in selling him would you?”

“You wanna buy him?”

“Yes, I quit like collecting hybrids when they catch my eyes,” you reply, sitting on the chair, staring at the man with a coy smile, trying to feign a calm detachment to the situation. “Right now, your hybrid caught my eye.”

“I’ve tried selling him before, but no one wants a hybrid his size.”

“Oh, what do you mean?”

“He’s 6”1 or 6”3, I don’t really know, and no one wants something so tall.”

“I do. How much?”

“10,000.”

You internally wince at the price, you have the money, but no matter what, $10,000 is a lot to spend. “9 he seems to have a broken nose, it ruins his pretty face.”

“95 and I throw in the cage.”

“9 and I don’t walk away from this. Like you said, no one else wants him.”

“Fine, $9,000. Would you like me to ship him to you o-”

“I will transfer the money to you now and we run across the street and get him legally transferred to me.”

“Deal. Sir,” the man turns to the concierge, “watch the hybrid, and don’t let anyone take him.”

After a half hour, you have a key to the cage and the owner is shipping it to the hotel you just ordered a room at. By the time you arrive, after ordering an uber, you enter your room, throwing your things on the floor as you approach your new hybrid.

“Hi,” you say, as you unlock the cage door, the hybrid watching you with scared eyes, “my name is Y/N, I guess I’m your new owner.”

You open the door and stand back, letting the hybrid untangle himself to get out, but then you notice he’s having trouble. Carefully, you reach in the cage and reposition his legs, slightly pulling them straighter, so he can unbend himself. Meanwhile, you go to the bathroom to get a warm wet cloth to clean his face.

“What’s your name?” You ask, walking back to the room and seeing him sitting on the floor. Slowly you lower yourself in front of him and begin cleaning the blood from his nose.

“Yunho,” he replies, sitting quietly as you examine his face.

“Good news is your nose isn’t actually broken, just a little swollen,” you look down and see his ankle sitting at an odd angle. “What happened to your foot?”

“I don’t know,” Yunho whispers looking away, clenching his fists as he stares at his leg.

“Ok, we’re taking you to a hybrid urgent care,” you state as you order another uber to the nearest hybrid treatment location. Getting a few things together, and calling to see if the front desk has a spare wheelchair to wheel Yunho to a car, you watch him carefully during that time. He doesn’t make a move at all. Soon your phone dings letting you know your uber is here, followed by a knock on the door. With the help of the bellman, you lift Yunho into the wheelchair, then head to the car. It’s not a long drive, and once Yunho is settled in at the doctor and wheeled away for x-rays, you call San and Seonghwa.

Previous Chapter

Next Chapter

Taglist: @sunnysidesins, @the-secret-thief

[yvesssssssss]

could i request nagumo, shin, and natsuki turning into kids again for a day or something (if you’ve heard of that trope!! sorry if you havent LOL) and reader taking care of them because what else are you gonna do when your boyfriend turns back to 5

Sakamoto days men turning into a childe

Nagumo yoichi

You open the door to your apartment, expecting a package.

Instead, there's a tiny child on your welcome mat with messy black hair, mismatched socks, a plastic sword strapped to his back with tape, and a smug little smirk way too confident for someone who can barely reach the doorknob.

“Yo,” he says, hands on his hips. “It’s me. Nagumo. I’m five. Don't freak out.”

You stare at him. “What.”

“Someone thought it'd be funny to hit me with some age-reversal serum,” he says, shrugging like this happens all the time. “Long story. I’m adorable now. You got juice?”

“…You’re my boyfriend.”

“Not for the next twelve hours, babe,” he chirps, walking into your apartment like he owns it. “Unless you’re into daycare romance. Not judging.”

You're still frozen in the doorway, processing the fact that your lethal, flirty assassin boyfriend is now about three feet tall and currently attempting to climb onto your kitchen counter.

“I’m making eggs!” he yells.

“No, you're not—get down!”

He leaps off the stool with a cackle, lands like a cat, and runs into the living room. You follow, only to find he’s already fashioned a pillow fort and is demanding “the headband with the frog on it” to “complete his vibe.”

The next several hours are a blur of:

Nagumo trying to duel your neighbor's cat with a plastic spoon.

Drawing a very detailed crayon map of how he plans to rob a candy store.

Asking you 47 times if he can have coffee ("just a sip, c’mon")

Falling asleep halfway through bragging about how cool his future self is.

When he finally passes out, curled up on your chest with one hand still gripping your sleeve, you hesitate before whispering:

“…You are adorable.”

Tiny Nagumo shifts in his sleep and mumbles, “Knew it…”

Shin asakura

You opened your door expecting to start your day peacefully, but instead, a very small, five-year-old version of Shin was standing on your doorstep, looking incredibly serious despite his pint-sized form.

“Y/N,” he greeted you, arms crossed, his expression exactly the same as it always is, though now it was framed by an adorable mop of brown hair. “I don’t know how this happened. I’m five years old now. Help.”

You blinked in confusion. “Shin?”

He sighed in frustration. “I know. I’m just as upset as you are. But we don’t have time to waste, alright? The candy’s cursed, I ate it, and now—this.” He gestured vaguely at himself, clearly annoyed by his new body. "Do you have any juice?"

“Are you serious?” you asked, completely bewildered, but already stepping aside to let him into your apartment. “You’re five now. I don't know how to take care of a child!”

“I’m not a child,” Shin muttered. “I’m an adult in a five-year-old’s body. There’s a difference.” He scowled up at you, clearly unamused by your confusion. "I need to solve this before lunch."

You couldn’t help the laugh that escaped you. “Alright, I’ll get you some juice. And a snack… for now. But we’re taking a nap after.”

“I don’t nap,” Shin replied flatly, still looking too serious for a child his size. “I’m too busy thinking about how I’ll fix this.”

You handed him a glass of juice and leaned against the counter. “You’ve got an hour. Then you’re going down for a nap.”

Shin rolled his eyes and sipped at the juice, but the moment he finished, you made good on your promise. He protested, but there was no winning against your resolve. He was five, after all.

Later that afternoon, after he’d settled down with a stuffed animal and a cartoon on the TV (though he grumbled at the unnecessary amount of cuteness), he finally looked over at you, his face softening just a little. “I… don’t like this. I feel useless like this.”

You smiled and brushed a strand of his hair out of his face. “You’re still Shin. You don’t have to be anything else.”

“I’m sorry,” he mumbled, crawling onto your lap as he tucked himself in. “For being… difficult.”

You chuckled softly and kissed his forehead. “Shin, you’re never difficult. Just a little… extra.”

He smiled lightly, resting his head against you. “Yeah, well… if Nagumo tries to make fun of me like this, I’m punching him when I grow up.”

You smiled down at him, brushing your fingers through his hair. “I’ll remind him of that.”

Natsuki seba

You weren't prepared for the tiny person that knocked on your door.

You opened it to see a miniature Natsuki Seba standing there, holding a candy wrapper in one hand and looking entirely too smug for someone who was probably not even three feet tall. His usual dwrk hair was a bit messier, and his face had an almost too serious look.

“I ate the candy,” he announced, as if it was the most natural thing in the world. “It said not to. I ate it anyway. Now I’m five.”

You blinked, looking him over in disbelief. “Natsuki?”

“Yep,” he replied, nodding, and then pushed past you into the apartment. “I figured if I didn’t eat it, you’d scold me for being a coward.”

You didn’t even know where to start. “You’re a child now. You’re supposed to be my boyfriend, not… this.”

“I am your boyfriend,” he said seriously, looking up at you like the fact should have been obvious. “But now, I’m small. And small people need juice and snacks. So I’m going to need some of that before we fix this.”

You rubbed your temples. “You're seriously just... fine with this?”

He shrugged and started rifling through your fridge. “I mean, what can I do? Now, I’m small and cute, but still superior.”

You found yourself smiling, unable to resist his confidence, despite the overwhelming ridiculousness of the situation. “I’m going to make you some lunch. No more candy for you.”

You managed to put together a sandwich, but Natsuki was on the move. “No way,” he insisted, already climbing up the kitchen counter to inspect your cabinet. “I don’t like that bread. Where’s the good stuff?”

You laughed despite yourself. "You’re five! You shouldn’t be so picky!"

“I’m five,” he repeated, “but I’m still Natsuki Seba.” He grabbed a snack bar and took a bite, satisfied. “Better.”

When you finally convinced him to take a break and sit down for a while, he crawled into your lap, eyes half-lidded in a mix of exhaustion and contentment. “You still like me, right?”

“Of course I do,” you said softly, stroking his hair.

“Good,” he whispered. “Because when I’m grown up again, I’m going to marry you.”

You smiled, a little choked up by the sweetness of it. “I’m looking forward to it.”

As he slowly drifted off in your arms, you marveled at the fact that even as a tiny child, Natsuki Seba still had the same intense presence. You might have been taking care of him today, but tomorrow, you knew, it’d be him taking care of you.

[xetlynn]

Scars and Faint Memories

Vanessa Palmer x Fem!Reader

chapter five<- -> chapter six -> chapter seven

Warnings: Shauna underwire scene. Shorter chapter.

1996

You focus on your steps, purposely stepping on twigs to hear the crunch and snaps. Walking alongside Van as you guys scavenge for food. It’s been a bit more rough lately due to animals doing the same thing. Hoarding for the cold winter to come. Akilah, Mari and Lottie were right behind you. 

Mari’s stomach loudly growls. “Jesus, Mari. Turn the volume down.” Van speaks with irritation even though the girl can’t control it. You glance up at the girls. “Oh, excuse me as my body devours itself from the inside out.” Mari replies, rolling her eyes. “I told you to eat before we left.” Akilah reminds her. 

“I did, if you call bone broth food.” Mari huffs and you frown. “We all get the same rations.” Van shrugs, sick of the complaints and you place a hand on her forearm. Attempting to calm her down, her eyes look into yours apologetically. Knowing that she has somewhat of a short fuse when it comes to the others complaining. “We’ll find something soon.” You assure the group and as you say that you come across a patch of berry bushes. 

Unfortunately though there’s barely anything on them. Mari kicks at it angrily. “Seriously? How the fuck are there no fucking berries?”

“It could be birds picking them off. Or mice.” Akilah says calmly. “I’d eat the crap out of a mouse right now.” Van admits unapologetically and the three of you look at her in disgust.

“Eww.” “Gross.” Akilah and Mari mutter. 

“Some animals live off of eating their own vomit.” Lottie speaks up, you had almost forgotten that she came with you guys. “Wow, thanks for that image, Lot.” Van sarcastically says. “Did Dead Cabin Guy tell you that? Or do you guys just chat about blood and stuff?” Mari smirks and you furrow your eyebrows at her words. Even Van sends them a warning look as the two snicker. 

“We mostly just talk about how Danny Mears dumped you for his own cousin.” Lottie snaps back and you press your lips together  as she moves further into the woods. Van and you making eye contact and bursting into quiet laughter. 

You then follow after Lottie, Van right there with you. “Hey, look, ignore Mari. I don’t think she’s taken a shit in, like, two weeks.” Van tells the girl who doesn’t seem to be paying attention. “You okay, Lot?” You place a hand on her shoulder and she seems disturbed over something before slowly turning to you. 

“Nothing. I’m fine.” She tells you, looking back away but you take a beat to squint at her. Trying to read her. Ever since that night it’s been a little weird. Lottie giving you quiet apologies for your arms. Her silence is what’s been bothering you though. You wanted to know what was going on inside her head. 

“Alright…” You murmur, heading back to the group without another question. Assuming she will tag along. 

2021

You sit on the motel bed, swinging your leg up to keep it somewhat elevated. Taissa stands next to you, arms crossed. It was a little awkward between the both of you. After her press conference Simone was in shock. You knew she wasn’t going to drop out of the race. You saw it that night she talked with her wife. 

Simone had vented to you shortly after it had happened. When Taissa wasn’t in the room. You feel for her but deep down you know where your loyalties lie even with everything that went down between the two of you. You stood up for Taissa at that moment. Making Simone even hesitant to continue talking with you. 

A panicked knock on the door startles the three of you from whatever you guys were thinking about. Natalie opens it and Shauna moves past her. Taissa and you watch as the two size each other up. “You look like shit.” Natalie comments. “Back atcha.” Shauna rolls her eyes. 

“Hey, it’s been ten years. Can we play nice for a minute?” Taissa speaks up, Shauna surveys the room, her eyes landing on you. “Holy shit, what happened to you?” She questions and you wave it off. “Mental crisis in Taissa’s words.” You simply answer, getting hit in the arm by the woman. 

“She was drunk and broke glass, somehow the glass got stuck in her calf.” Taissa tells Shauna swiftly, earning a small “oh.” She wants to question why the two of you seem… fine now. But instead she continues looking around the room. “So is this rock bottom, or does the elevator still go down a few more floors?” 

“Am I talking to a wall?” Taissa whispers to you, throwing her hands up in frustration to which you chuckle. “How’s Jeff? Still hawking futons?” Natalie smirks. 

“No. We are not doing this, not after all the shit we’ve been through. We’ve got a situation and we need to deal with it together.” Taissa cuts off the bitter arguing and Natalie shrugs. The two backed down. “Fine. What;s going on?” 

Natalie then shows Shauna the autopsy photos as well as the crime scene. “Is that… Travis? Oh God… is that the-” symbol. The symbol.

“Yeah. Someone strung him up and then tried to cover their tracks.” Natalie explains.

This then brings up Jessica Cruz… Day… Roberts? You couldn’t keep up with the last names anymore. “Did you not take care of her?” You look up to Taissa, Shauna also speaks up. “I thought we told you to take care of her?” 

“What was I supposed to do, kill her? I threatened a lawsuit and told her to back off.” Taissa defends herself but she avoids eye contact with you now. You stare up at her through your lashes, observing her closely.

“Okay, fuck this.” Natalie pulls out her cellphone. Finding Jessica’s card. 

“What are you doing?” Taissa inquires. “Bringing Jessica Roberts- nice fake name, by the way. To us. I’ll say I’m ready to talk.” Natalie says.

“And if it’s  not her? We’d be handing her the exact kind of story she’s looking for.” Shauna disagrees with the idea. You hum in agreement with a frown. Disappointed that you even have to agree with Shauna on this one. “Shauna’s right, Nat. Stop. Stop.” Taissa points a finger. 

Taissa and Shauna sternly lock eyes with your best friend who finally puts her phone down. 

“Can you get the money?” Shauna looks at you guys. “I’m working on it. We’re still waiting for instructions on how to make a drop.” Taissa sighs. You lay down on the bed boredly. You weren’t necessarily a part of this but you insisted that Taissa took you. Over sitting on a couch with nothing to do. 

“Once we do, we can put a GPS tracker in with the cash. Then we follow it, see what we’re dealing with.” Shauna comes up with a spot. “Together.” Shauna then adds, pointed at Natalie. The three of you nod. 

“I’m not going to be much help but I’ll definitely be there for support.” You put a thumb up and Natalie smiles at you. “I can’t believe I’m about to say this, but should we loop Misty in, too?” Shauna breathes out and you shoot up. “The fuck?” You raise a brow.

“She could be part of it.” Taissa says. 

“She’s the one who drove [Name] and I to see Travis. Well, after fucking with my car but still. She’s been helping me try to figure out what the fuck is going on.” Natalie stands up for the blonde. “Oh, right. Naturally.” Shauna huffs. 

“Anything else I should know about, or does the blackmail, Travis maybe being murdered and this one playing buddy cop with Misty fucking Quigley basically sum things up?” Shauna irritatedly asks, also giving you a passing by look. 

Something you definitely take notice of. 

“I say we keep Misty at arm’s length for now, then see how fucking weird she gets.” Natalie suggests and your shoulders slump somewhat relieved that you won’t have to deal with the girl. “And if it turns out she really is behind all this?” Taissa asks the burning question. 

“Then we deal with her.” Shauna says, the four of your trading looks.

“Yikes.” You mumble. 

“Are you ready to go back?” Taissa looks at you and you take a deep breath. “I guess.” You lift yourself up from the bed, Taissa gives you a hand just in case. The other two watch curiously until Natalie lets out a laugh. 

“This is great, when did you two make up?” Natalie motions and you deadpan in her direction. Leaning on Taissa as you situate how you’re standing.

“I’m putting my anger on hold. She was still on my emergency contact. Now she won’t leave me alone.” You grumble, limping to the door.

“Why was she even on there?” Shauna asks. 

“I needed to put someone after my mom died. I was dumped and then my siblings all moved away. Natalie was in fucking rehab or off with Travis I don’t remember. I didn’t have anyone else.” You exclaim, sort of surprising them with your words. Moving on though, you breathe in, grimacing at the feeling of standing on your leg.

“Are you two ever going to tell us what happened between the both of you?” Shauna interrogates. 

“It’s no one's concern.” Taissa speaks and you let out a scoff. “Right.”

1996

You were finishing your chore alongside Van who’s showing you how to “fold the clothes correctly.” Something that makes you laugh as she is directing you on what to do. You two were also out by yourselves.

“Look, you messed it up already.” She gently takes the shirt from your hand and you smirk. “Sorry, I’m a little distracted.” You defend yourself. 

“By what?” She rolls her eyes, folding the shirt for you instead of giving you another chance at it. “I don’t know, maybe the twinkle in your eyes.” You boldly say with a shit-eating grin and she snorts.

“That was horrible.” She shakes her head and you jut out your bottom lip dramatically. “Really? I thought it was a good one.” 

Van places the shirt down with the others. “You’re getting better but that was… okayish.” She says, folding another piece of clothing as you watch her. The two of you have been somewhat closer, you still have your guard up but spending time with her has been a wonderful distraction to the reality that you also have to face. 

There wasn’t a point in pushing her away when you were out here with no excuse to run. Right now everyone is vulnerable and doing their parts to survive. What does it hurt to… fall in lust a little...

“Just okayish? I know you secretly like it.” You rasp out, leaning into her side and she turns her head away bashfully. “Possibly,” she clears her throat. “You might just have to try a little harder.” She stands up, unclipping more of the shirts and pants from the makeshift line.

“Mind if I do a little example?” She cocks her head to the side, putting the clothes with the others. You eye her up and down as she offers her hands. 

“Hm?” She hums and you smile, taking them to help you stand up. “Go for it.” 

“Okay, okay, are you a loan?” She suddenly asks and you raise a brow. “What?” 

“Cause you’ve got my interest.” She gets out, trying not to laugh and you look taken back for a moment, trying to process what she just said. “Was that supposed to be better!?” You cackle, and she shushes you. 

“Wait, I have more.” She tells you. “Do you like Star Wars?” She inquires and you shrug your shoulders. “Eh-” 

“Cause Yoda only one for me!” She says but then pauses to give you a look. “Eh? What do you mean!?” She questions you and you just laugh at her. “I don’t know, I’ve never seen it!” You explain, emitting a gasp from her mouth immediately. 

“Oh my god! [Name]...” She drops your hands. “Have you at least seen The Goonies?” She quizzes you and you give her a sad no. “Hold on hold on, what have you seen!?” She grips onto your shoulders as if this was the most insane thing you’ve told her. “Sixteen Candles was pretty good.” You say and she backs away from you in shock. 

“The Lost Boys?” 

“Never seen it.” You clasp your hands together in front of you. “Wall Street?” 

“Nope.”

She lets out a horrid noise. “[Name] I am naming the most popular and best movies alive! Next you’re going to tell me that you haven’t seen Forrest Gump or Jurassic Park!” She throws her hands up with her rant. “I’ve seen Jurassic Park.” You say almost offended and she lets out a short chuckle. 

“But not Forrest Gump?” She crosses her arms and you smile at her. “No, sorry. I’m not a big movie person!” You announce and she snorts. “Yeah I can see that. I’m so going to have to change that when we get back.” She points at you. “Yeah?” 

She then pauses. “Would you want that?” She questions nervously. “Well it depends… How are you going to change that?” You step closer to her, putting your arms over her shoulders. Her eyes widen at your bold move.

“I was thinking, they have these drive-in theaters and they show 70s and 80s movies- the best movies there are.” She starts, building back up her confidence. 

Her hands going to your hips. “Mhm.” You hum, insinuating for her to carry on. “I could take you every other saturday. Call them dates or something…” She trails off for dramatic effect. 

“Or something.” You joke and she gives you a look. “I would love that, Van.” You look into her eyes, showing that you’re sincere. You notice her own eyes flicker down to your lips at that second. “Yeah?” She breathily asks. 

And as you lean in a little closer the two of you hear rustling from behind you. Instantly the two of you let go of one another to see Laura Lee walking forward. “Hey, you guys need some help bringing the clothes back?” She offers, not paying attention to the fear struck expressions on your faces. 

“Uhm- yeah, yeah. Here’s the folded ones.” You lift them up, handing them over to the girl. Van rushingly folding the rest of the clothes.

“Great, I finished my chore. I'm just trying to see if anyone else needs help.” She explains and you nod, letting out a breath with a forced smile on your face. The nerves make you sweat. 

“Well, we’re all good here. Thanks, Laura Lee.” Van sharply speaks, crouching down as she folds the rest of the clothes, the blonde awkwardly takes her leave and your eyes go wide as you turn to the redhead. 

She smirks up at you, keeping her lips tightly together as she tries not to laugh but the moment the silence surrounds you and you know she's gone the both of you laugh loudly.

“Holy shit! That gave me more adrenaline than during a game back home.” You place your hand over your heart dramatically. She smiles at you. “C’mon, let’s get these back before she sends everyone over here.” Van plops clothes into your arms. Nudge you as she picks up the rest. 

The two of you were handing the clothes over to their owners or putting them away in the cabin before coming back out. The girls all finish up their chores for the day as Natalie and Travis return from another unsuccessful hunting trip. 

But you all clock how they are a bit too close to one another, their hands almost slyly touching. A grin on Travis’s face. “Natalie and Travis sittin’ in a tree. K.I.S.S.I.N-” 

“I think they were doing a little more than kissing, Laura Lee.” Lottie cuts her off bluntly. “Hey, Nat. What exactly are you and Flex hunting for out there, anyway?” Mari calls after the bleached blonde. You purse out your lips. “I hear it’s beaver season…” Van comments and the girls laugh, you gently hit her as you notice Travis looking embarrassed. 

Natalie gives you all the finger. “Sit and spin assholes.” 

Jackie then comes up to Natalie. “Is this why we don’t have any food? Because you’re running for mayor of pound town?” Jackie inquires rudely and you flinch at her words even though they’re not direct toward you. “Uh, go fuck yourself?” Natalie scrunches her eyebrows.

“I guess we shouldn’t be surprised. You’re always down for a good time, aren’t you Nat?” Jackie continues and you go to step in but Van grabs onto your wrist. Stunting you. 

“I can’t magically conjure deer, Jackie. But keep talking shit, I’ll find something to shoot.” Natalie spits out in return. “Oh, wow, you’re so tough. I’m not scared of you, burn out.” Jackie laughs, you let out a heavy breath. Livid at the scene she’s causing. “No. You’re jealous. Cause you’re uptight, prudish bitch-” 

“Hey- Chill! Both of you.” Taissa steps between them, Shauna pulling Jackie away as Lottie and Mari grab Natalie. She shakes them off though.

Heading towards the cabin and you follow after her quickly. Feeling the loss of Van’s touch immediately. Misty leans to Natalie before she can enter. “I know how you feel. I have a secret boyfriend too.” Misty mutters. Natalie throws her a look as you give a confused glance but moving on from it. 

“Give me the word and I’ll beat her ass, Nat.” You speak and Natalie snorts. “You? You’re the least confrontational person here.” She shakes her head and you sigh. “Yeah well being out here seems to be changing that.” You roll your eyes, the two of you sitting at the table in the kitchen area. 

She glances up at you with a strange expression. Seemingly observing you closely. “What?” You question and she mumbles under her breath but you didn’t catch it. Natalie focuses on your eyes to which you begin to feel nervous. Peering away from her. “Sorry, thought… I don’t know.” She sucks in a breath, sitting up straight. 

“Uh, okay…” You fold your arms. 

Later that night you find yourself tossing and turning beside Shauna and Taissa. Not able to fall asleep. That’s how it’s been ever since you started sleeping up in the attic. Irritated, you throw the blankets off of you. Begrudgingly heading downstairs but still careful not to wake anyone up. Making it through the sleeping girls to outside. 

Less sleep but more energy, you didn’t understand yourself but at the same time you didn’t mind it. What bothered you is the lack of having something to do. Something to clean. You needed some sort of action. 

Some sort of change. Every day is beginning to blend with the others. You sat on the porch, knee bouncing up and down swiftly. Antsy. You were so stuck in your thoughts you didn’t hear the person coming out of the cabin behind you. “[Name]? What are you doing up?”  The voice rasps and you gasp, jumping slightly. 

“Tai?” You smile at her and she joins your side. “What are you doing out here?” She questions. You shrug your shoulders. “Can’t sleep. I want out of here.” You answer, squinting in front of you. Staring at the treeline before you. Wondering what lies beyond this area. “You and I both.” She laughs quietly. It falls silent between the both of you for a moment before you turn to her. 

“I want to go look for help.” You say, she furrows her brows. “Look for help?” She repeats. “Yes, we haven’t tried it, going south I'm sure there's something. I can go. Even if no one goes with I'm not dying here-” 

“I’ll go with you.” She cuts you off, placing her hands over yours. “Really? No explanation needed…?” You were caught off guard but secretly relieved that someone was as crazy as you. “I mean, we don’t know where the hell we are. Why not?” She says simply. You grin at her. “No one’s going to agree with us, you know that?” 

Her lips twitch upward, and you notice her eyes flicker down to your lips. Your smile falters and you stand up abruptly.

“This sounds crazy but I need to do something or else I’m gonna go crazy. Wanna go swimming with me?” You place your hands on your hips and she just stares at you curiously before smacking her knees and standing up as well. 

“Fuck it, why not?” 

The door creaks open and both of your heads snap in the direction. Van tiredly blinks at the both of you. “The fuck are you guys doing up?” She shuts the door behind her. Rubbing her eyes so they can focus clearly. “Uh…” Taissa looks to you. “Swimming.” You say and she gives you a look. “It’s the middle of the night, [Name].” 

“Best time to do it. Ever swim in a pool at night with nothing but the moonlight? Oh! Ever skinny dip?” You quiz them, talking a little fast, not letting them answer. “We gotta do it!” You laugh to yourself, suddenly feeling your nerves throughout your body.

You question your excitement but choose to ignore it by how you’ve never felt this… euphoric before and at night it really begins to shine. “I mean, why not? Who’s going to tell us no.” Taissa points out and you point at her. 

“Exactly, we might not get this freedom back home.” You say, eyeing up to Van, hoping that she joins. Practically pleading with your eyes. Her own gaze softens in your direction. She was skeptical at first, worried about the others waking up and noticing you guys missing. But then again you wouldn’t be doing anything wrong by swimming. 

“Fine, let’s go.” Van steps down from the porch and you gently clap your hands together. Leading the way to the lake. 

And as your feet touch the dirt you’re slipping your clothes off with ease. Not wasting a single second nor caring about the eyes that are on you as you do so. Van isn’t shy about her staring, admiring your figure in the moonlight. 

Taissa looks between you and the girl, slowly undressing as well. 

“Whipped.” Taissa whispers, following after you into the water and Van scoffs. She knows the girl is right though. She was utterly whipped for you and has been for a while. Way before the crash. Way before Senior year of high school. 

Van scurries after you to girls, tossing her shirt and sports bra off. The cool water hits against her skin and you swim on your back so you can look at her. 

“Wow…” You audibly let out on accident and she raises a brow. Taissa scrunches her nose but stays silent. You don’t add anything else, instead looking up at the sky. “The stars are much brighter without all the light pollution.” You hum, searching for certain constellations.

The two do the same, well Taissa does the same as a certain someone continues to eye you. Holding herself as she does so. 

“Do you think our families are up right now still trying to search for us? Or do you think  they think we’re dead and gave up?” You inquire, speaking without thinking and the two are stunned in place. 

“Way to lighten the mood.” Taissa sarcastically says with a scoff of a laugh. “Sorry, I just… I don’t think my mom cares.” You admit to them, not looking at either of them, your sight not leaving the starry night. “My siblings are probably devastated, or were. They’re young, easier to move on with grief.” 

They listened to your words, not knowing how to respond but just listening. “My mom works so much she never bonds with me- well, bonded. There’s nothing to miss. Maybe missing her free babysitter.” You snicker to yourself. “I understand how you feel.” Van lets the water engulf around her as she joins your side. “My mom’s not much of a workaholic. Just an alcoholic, some pills too. Too drunk or high to ever talk without some sort of argument.” 

She was a little tense talking about her mother but it was just you three and for some reason it was like nothing else mattered. It didn’t feel like you guys were stranded and helpless. “Moms suck sometimes.” You mumble. 

“Or all the time.” Van smirks and you huff. “Yeah…” You trail off. “You have a horrible mother too, Tai?” You look at the girl who was picking at her nails. Or underneath her nails… “How the hell did you get so much dirt under your nails?” You stand up, water slipping down your body. You shiver slightly at the feeling. 

Taking Taissa’s hands. “ I have no clue.” She continues to clean them. “You digging holes or something?” Van asks and Taissa rolls her eyes, splashing the redhead, accidentally getting you as well. 

The two of you squeal, splashing her back. Leading to the three of you attacking one another with the water. Laughing until you let out too loud of a noise and Taissa smacks a hand over your mouth. “Shhh, so loud.” 

“What? No one’s going to hear.” Van chuckles, pushing her arm away from you as you giggle. “Sorry, sorry, but Van’s right. They’re sleeping and in the cabin.” You swim around the two of them like a child. 

“You saw how they were with Travis and Natalie. If they saw the three of us- like this?” Taissa reminds you guys and you shrug. “I mean, do you, Miss Turner care about what they think? Plus we’re all friends here. Who cares?” You then quickly go under water, popping back up just as fast. 

“I don’t care what they think, just the drama that comes with it. I’m friends here, you two… whatever is going on, they might find out.You two aren’t being very discreet lately.” She points out and the two of you glance at one another. Not worriedly though. “They might find out eventually, that could happen.” Van agrees with that one statement. 

“Not if we get the hell out of here.” You speak up suddenly and Taissa shoots a warning look at you. Not thinking it’s a good idea to let Van know just yet but you don’t care. “We’re going to look for help. Find a way out of here.” You tell her confidently. “We’re literally surrounded by hundreds of miles of wilderness.” Van says. 

“How can you be sure?” Taissa chimes in. “What if there’s like, a town, or an outpost or something closer than we think? It’s not like we’re on an island. If we head south long enough…” Taissa speaks with intent, showing you just how much she’s been thinking about this. Before you have even said anything just moments before coming to the lake. 

Van shakes her head vigorously. “You two take off into the woods, how the fuck would you two survive?” She interrogates. “Hm?” She looks at you and you shrug. “I can’t tell you. But I can tell you that we don’t know what will happen if we stay. Winter’s approaching.” 

“None of us are prepared for that.” Taissa breathes out, staring off at the cabin and you frown. 

2021

You sit with Taissa as she’s on the phone. You watch Sammy sneakily giving a tater tot to biscuit. “Yes, I understand it’s a joint account. But I shouldn’t need my wife’s signature for a withdrawal of any size… Can’t I increase the cap?” Taissa questions, irritated but then Simone enters the room, kissing Sammy on the head and stealing a fry from his plate. Acknowledging you curtly as Taissa hastily ends the phone call. 

“Thank you for your help.” Taissa sarcastically mutters toward the person from the bank and you smirk. Simone pours herself a coffee, ignoring her wife. Taissa peers over to you and you get the hint.

Standing up, careful not to put your weight on your leg. “Hey, Sammy. Want to show me your room now that I can walk a bit more?” You ask and he nods. Getting up and leading you to his room. Biscuit following not too far behind. 

Once you enter the orange room he heads to his bed. Biscuit jumping up with him. You glance around the room, your eyes immediately landing on his drawings.

They were extremely… unsettling. 

“What are these, bud?” You limp towards his wall of drawings and he continues to pet his dog. “The tree lady.” He answers and you raise a brow. “Is she real or from a dream?” You question. 

“Real, I swear she’s real.” He says in defense and you look at him.

“Hey, I’m not calling you a liar, am I?” You smile at him and he observes your face, as if he’s trying to read you. To see if he can trust you. 

“She looks like mom, but it’s not her.” He quietly explains and you look back to the drawings. The lady in the tree… 

“Like Simone?” 

“No,” He shakes his head and as you stand there it hits you like a ton of bricks. “Like mom but not mom?” You repeat his words and he nods his head.

“Shit…” You mumble. He makes a noise at you cussing and you catch yourself. Apologizing automatically.

“Sorry kid, I’m sorry.” You join him on the bed, the last apology had a deeper meaning behind it though, one that you don’t even think you can get yourself to talk about. 

1996

Taissa and you slip into your blankets quietly but as you settle down Shauna whispers. “Hey.” It startled the both of you. “Where’ve both been?” She questions “Had to pee, [Name] couldn’t sleep so she came with me. What are you doing up?” Taissa responds with ease. 

“Bad dream.” Shauna frowns. “What was it this time?” Taissa asks. “Cheeseburger- baby?” You add in and she gives a grim laugh. “I should never have told you guys about that.” She then grows quiet. 

“What am I gonna do, guys?” Shauna’s bottom lip quivers and you place a hand on her arm. “I heard Katie Lindstrom did it with the underwire of her bra last year.” She suddenly says and the two of you give her a horrified expression. 

“Have you lost your mind? You’ll die.” Taissa utters, slightly sitting up so she can lean over your body. “I’ll probably die either way! I’m in the middle of nowhere and the OB-GYN on call is Misty-fucking - Quigley. At last this way I won’t die having my best friend’s-” Shauna abruptly stops herself, swallowing hard at the sound of her secret spilling. 

“What were you about to say?” Taissa asks, you let out a breath, eyes wide in disbelief. “Shauna…” You say with a hint of disappointment laced with it. “That at least I won’t die having… my best friend’s boyfriend’s baby.” 

A beat. A hard moment for the two of you to register what you were just told. 

“It’s Jeff’s?” Taissa mumbles in genuine shock. Shauna looks away, ashamed by the two of your faces. “Whoa, okay… I mean. Wow. Yeah. But still, Shauna, it’s not worth dying to keep Jackie from finding out.” Taissa tells the girl with sincerity. You then speak up.

“We have a plan. To head south and find help.” You say. 

Shauna turns back to you. “So wait… on your plan. Please promise us you won’t do anything stupid.” You grab her hand and she looks into your eyes. She nods and you press your lips together. Not knowing what else to do or say to comfort her other than being there.

2021

You sit with Taissa in her office. Observing her as she looks tired. Her and Simone have just gotten back from Sammy’s psychiatrist appointment.

You go to mention what you’ve figured out in Sammy's room but before you could, a knock on the door interrupts your chance. Taissa sits up, pretending to be working.

“In case today hasn’t been shitty enough, the bank just called. Someone pretending to be you tried to take fifty thousand dollars out of your account.” Simone announces, not really caring that you’re in the room. Lately it just seems like you’re invisible to them. Your eyes flicker to Taissa who hides her guilt. 

“Fuck. Are you serious?” 

“Yup, even knew our password.” Simone replies with a hard sigh. “Well we’ve gotta… I mean, change it and freeze the account.” Taissa says. “That’s what the Fraud Department said. I gave my authorization, but you have to call and do it, too.” Simone tells her sternly. “Right, sure.” Taissa responds absent-mindedly. 

“Please make it a priority.” Simone voices. “I will.” 

“Thanks.” Simone then stands there for a moment, you notice that she wants to say more. Or as if she’s hoping her wife will. But nothing comes from either one of them and she walks out, shutting the door behind her. 

“I can give you guys the money.” You declare. Taissa rolls her eyes. “To hold over our heads later?” 

You take offense to her words, crossing your arms. “Have I ever held money over your head, Taissa?” You question with slight irritation. “I have the money. I have more than you can fucking fathom, Taissa. Let’s not play pretend on who I used to be.” You then eye her up and down. 

"Still [Name]. That's a lot of money."

“Fifty grand couldn’t dent the number in my account.” You scoff, being back on your medication was causing you to be incredibly more irritated. Not meaning to be but your fuse was cut a lot shorter than normal. “Very humble.” Taissa whispers and you laugh.

“Call Natalie and tell her you have the money.” You stand up, heading to the living room. You were done staying here. 

You didn’t want to go home either. That feeling was starting to grow on you too. 

1996

You sit on the porch, drumming your fingers on your thighs as you think to yourself. Planning out how Taissa and you were going to find help. Wondering how it would go. Making up scenarios in your head as your eyes are planted on the grass before you. 

The door bangs open and Taissa pulls you up. “C’mon, I think Shauna did it.” She rushes you, not giving you time to comprehend what’s happening. “Let’s go!” She orders and you stop letting her drag you, moving your feet faster to keep up with her. Lottie was walking in the direction of the lake and Taissa stopped her. 

“Lot, have you seen Shauna?” 

Lottie stares at the both of you and you motion with your hands. “Lottie, have you!?” You ask, repeating Tai. 

“I think I saw her go that way.” Lottie points and Taissa grabs onto your hand, the both of  you ready to run but Lottie stops you both. “Wait! Tai, were you outside last night eating dirt?” 

“What the actual fuck? No.” Taissa makes a face. “But-” 

“I can’t do crazy right now, Lot.” Taissa twists away from her, her hand still locked with yours as you guys bolt into the woods.

The two of you tear through the wilderness, passing some of the girls who were scavenging. Van being one of them.

“[Name]? Tai? Where are you going!?” Van calls out but it’s ignored as you keep running. 

“Fuck!” You screech when a branch slaps you in the face, the two of you pushing through a bush. “C’mon, c’mon, c’mon…” Taissa mumbles under her breath, her hand squeezing yours every once in a while.

“Is that her?” You point up ahead. Tai squints and then picks up speed. “Shauna!” 

The two of you take in the scene as you approach closer. “Shit,” you practically fall to the girl's side, Taissa doing the same. 

“You’re not doing this alone. I’ll help you. If you let me.” Taissa kneels before her and you were by her head. “We’re both here.” You move her hair out of her face. Gratefully she nods, passing the wire to Taissa. 

She gets in position between Shauna’s legs. You give the girl your hand, she takes a breath in. Nodding to Taissa after squeezing your hand. You watch Taissa’s face go pale, moving the underwire toward Shauna. 

Shauna jerks, stunned by the contact. The three of you have shared the attic alone. Sleeping beside one another every night but this… this was intimate and terrifying. Truly bonding the three of you together.

Taissa stops, checking on Shauna, the two are breathing hard. “Keep going.” Shauna assures. 

Taissa hesitates but does as told. Shauna’s grip on you was tightening, starting to actually hurt you but you didn’t care. Watching the moment but making sure your friend was okay. She lets out a moan of discomfort the more and more she grew uncomfortable. 

Whimpering at the pain until she can’t endure it much longer. “Stop!” She yells and Taissa carefully removes the underwire, dropping it quickly.

“I can’t do it. I can’t do it!” She cries, looking up at you. “I don’t want to die out here, [Name], I don’t…” Tears fall from her eyes and you pull her into your arms. Taissa begins to cry as well. 

You hold the both of them in your arms, swallowing down your own emotions as you let them wet your shirt. Comforting them, rubbing your hands up and down their backs.

Whispering to Shauna that she’s okay. Closing your eyes as you talk to the both of them in a low tone.

The three of you emerge from the woods together, tears have dried but Shauna still slightly clings to your side. Something Jackie clocks, frowning with a strange jealous feeling emitting from her.

Along with Van seeing you at Taissa’s side once again like last night. Her eyebrows crease but she tries to shake the feeling away. 

Noticing Natalie and Travis returning with a massive dead deer. “Meat! Fuck yeah!” Van cheers, the others joining. Even you clap your hands together. “Oh, thank you, Lord.” Laura Lee glances up to the sky. Suddenly everyone notices its bloody shedded antlers. A couple girls gag at the sight. 

“Whoa. That thing is gnarly.” Van musters and you wince, looking away. “It’s like- Freddy Krueger and Bambi had a baby.” Akilah hisses. “I’m not eating that.” Javi joins your side, as Shauna steps away for him to do so. 

“Guys, deer shed their antlers seasonally. This is all normal.” Coach speaks with reassurance. “You want to do the honors?” He then turns to Shauna who takes out her knife. Everyone gathered around. 

She slices into its belly and immediately you see infested parasitic worms. Making the meat tainted and completely inedible. Leaving the team utterly hungry and hope draining further. 

“That normal too, Coach?” Jackie scrunches. Ben looks grossed-out, just as everyone else.

Taissa and you peer at one another and she raises her brows. You press your lips together, shrugging. A silent conversation between one another. But totally understanding what each other means. 

“We can’t do this anymore, you guys! What happens when winter gets here? We starve to death? Freeze?” Taissa asks the girls, plus the three guys. Their faces troubled in return.

“We can’t count on getting rescued anymore- we all know that is not gonna happen. We have to save us. That’s why I’m gonna find help- [Name] and I are going to find help.” Taissa takes your hand and you puff your chest out, standing taller. Van grimaces at the choice of touch. You nod sharply, agreeing with the girl's words. The girls all react, either shocked or on board with the idea.

“We’re leaving in the morning. Come with us if you want to get out of this fucking hell-hole.” 

She lets go of your hand, stalking back to the cabin and you purse out your lip. A dramatic scene, but sure to sit with the group and make them think about their choices. 

“Think about it, it’s your choice. But we have to try something other than sitting here.” You speak in a calmer manner. 

2021

You hear the door open from Taissa’s courtyard. With a raised brow you sit up, looking at the woman’s figure trying to be stealthy, quiet to not wake you up. You feel your phone buzz, Natalie texts that it’s go time. 

You stand up and go to the woman who was at her steps. “Tai, you get Nat’s message too?” You inquire, your hand holding the railing. Keeping weight off your leg.

“Oh, uh yeah. I’m gonna go get ready.” She hides her face from you. 

Along with keeping one of her hands close to her body. 

Your heart drops. “Tai…” You reach out to her and she snaps away from you. Stepping up on another stair.

“You should get ready too.” She rushes up the stairs and you bite your bottom lip. Your exact fear, and worry was becoming more and more real. 

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[lessersole]

Bridging Boroughs - Part Four

Pairing: Congressman!Bucky x Reader

Summary: Your date in DC with Bucky takes a turn.

Word count: 3.3k

Warnings: MILD THUNDERBOLTS* SPOILERS - basically just names and a couple references, nothing revealed about the plot. Not really any Daredevil spoilers here either.

Previous

------------

“I really should go this time,” Bucky groans. The two of you are entwined on your couch after a dinner date turned into a nightcap at yours, then an epic make-out session. But it’s now long past midnight and unlike you, Bucky has to be at work before 9am.

“You could always stay over,” you purr, running your hand through his hair in a way you now know he can’t resist.

“We both know that’s not going to help me get any sleep if I do.” Bucky replies as he takes your hand and presses a gentle kiss to it, before forcing himself to his feet. You’ve still not slept together, and while part of you - a very specific part of you - feels like you’re about to explode, you’re respecting his wishes to take it slow.

Even if the hard bulge you’ve felt against you every time you kiss suggests he wants it as much as you do.

Reluctantly, you walk him to the door. “When can we do this again?”

Bucky sighs. “Not for a while. I have to go to DC in a couple days and I’ll probably be there for a week or more.”

Your heart sinks. Even when he’s in New York, his work schedule as a congressman and yours as a bartender aren’t exactly compatible, so you’ve not seen as much of each other as you’d like.

Before you can give him a goodbye kiss to remember, Bucky brightens with an idea. “How about you come with me? For a few days at least.”

“Come with you?”

“Yeah - you’re busier on weekends right? Maybe you could get a few shifts off during the week and come with me.”

“Maybe I could.” You pretend to think about it, but you already know you’ll say yes. “Would I stay with you?”

“Sure. I have a house there, there’s plenty of room for you.”

“In your bed?” You ask suggestively, pressing close to him.

You hear his breath hitch, and his eyes flutter shut as you trace his lips with your tongue, “I - yeah.”

“Then yes. I’ll come with you.” You smile before pulling him into that goodnight kiss.

—

A few days later, you’re next to Bucky on a high-speed train out of Penn Station. You’re enjoying the comfortable silence between you, reading a book while he works - although as he rubs tiredly at his face with yet another frustrated sigh, you give up on the story and nod to the papers in front of him.

“Having fun?”

“It’s just - a lot,” he grumbles. You raise an eyebrow questioningly, encouraging him to go on. “There’s someone I’m convinced is up to no good. I probably feel about her the way you and your friend feel about Mayor Fisk.”

Despite knowing his name, Bucky always just refers to Matt as ‘your friend’. “Probably not exactly the same.” You murmur.

“Part of the reason I got into politics was to try and keep an eye on her, rein her in and stop her doing things she shouldn't be doing. Things no one should be doing,” Bucky continues. “But it's so slow. I tried speaking to Congressman Gary, but he - well, he didn't like how I was going about things. He told me to read this pack, but, I mean…” He trails off, gesturing dismissively at what he’s been trying to read.

With a glance that asks permission, you tug over the thick bound pages and flick through them.

Looks pretty dense.” You agree, frowning as you hesitate on a particular page. “Is this…?”

“Oh, no, that's just marinara.” Bucky quickly assures you. “I - multitask.”

You snort out a laugh and continue paging through. “All of this so far is just preamble, and you’re nearly 30 pages in!”

Bucky sits up straight, focus sharp on you. “You're understanding that? I can barely get through the jargon.”

“Well, it was a while ago, but there's a bit of an overlap, at least in wording, with what I used to do.” You look up to find him staring at you, incredulous.

“What? I assume your team did a background check on me before they cleared me as your plus one back at the gala?”

“A background check?” Bucky looks adorable when he's puzzled, but you resist the urge to tell him that.

“Yeah. To make sure you weren't going public with someone who could damage your reputation. Did they really not do that?”

“I don't know.” Bucky thinks back. “My chief of staff did ask for your name, and where you work, and what you look like. But I thought she was just, you know, making conversation, showing an interest.”

You press your lips together to hold back a smile, but don't quite manage it, “That's charmingly naive of you, Buck. Explains why you didn't ask permission though, I didn't know if you just assumed I tacitly consented to a check by going with you.”

“So what is your background?” Bucky turns more towards you in his seat. “I guess I thought you were always a bartender. Because you're so good at it.”

You smile at the addition, but give him a small eye roll before turning back to the pack. “Why don't you ask your team what they found out? I'd be interested to know.” Bucky's eyes are still on you as you turn another page, “And anyway, don't you have some assistants or someone to go through this and summarise it for you? I bet the other congresspeople aren't reading all this themselves.”

Bucky frowns. “Maybe.”

“But you don't trust anyone to be accurate?” You tease, “Or you actually aren't sure if you have an assistant?”

“Would you be my assistant?” Bucky might be joking but he asks eagerly.

While the thought of spending more time with him is tempting, you answer honestly. “Oh, hell no.”

—

After a day spent sightseeing while Bucky worked at his office in congress, the two of you met for dinner at a surprisingly up-scale restaurant - one you expect a friend had recommended to him for a romantic date. You'd changed into one of your favourite outfits, and his round-eyed stare when you arrived was exactly the reaction you were hoping for.

Bucky himself was looking even more mouthwatering than usual, hair loosely pushed back and wearing an all-black suit that clung to his broad chest and arms in a way that almost had you feeling jealous of it.

You'd just about managed to keep your hands to yourself through the first two courses.

“I asked my staff if they did a background check on you.” He tells you between bites.

“And?”

“And they were also surprised that I didn’t expect them to do one.”

“Told you,” you smile warmly as you finish off your food, “And what did they find out?”

Bucky sets his cutlery down. “That you grew up outside the city, moved in to go to college, started a law degree but dropped out before you finished, despite getting excellent grades. Worked part-time as a bartender while you were studying, continued doing that after, then qualified as a paralegal, did that for a few years - including at Nelson & Murdock, which I assume is where you met your friend - then went back to bartending after you left there.”

“That’s it?” You’re relieved. There’s a lot more to your story that you’ve tried to keep hidden, and it’s good to get confirmation that it’s stayed that way.

“They said the only possibly questionable thing was some voluntary work you did during the Blip, offering legal counsel without being fully qualified to do so, but given the circumstances back then, it’s unlikely to be definitely confirmed, and even less likely to cause any reputational damage if it was. Her words.” Bucky tops up both of your wine glasses. “But I’m guessing there’s more to you than that.”

“I think there’d be more to anyone than that kind of summary,” you answer breezily, taking a sip. “And half the fun of dating is finding that out.”

Bucky looks like he’s about to say more when he notices someone across the room. “You’ve got to be kidding,” he growls under his breath.

Frowning, you turn to look. Your blood chills before you even catch sight of him, the Kingpin’s smug laugh booming through the room.

“Fisk, seriously?” You hiss, turning back to Bucky, who’s grimacing as he watches the table. "What's he doing in DC?"

“Not just Fisk.” His voice is hard. “That’s Valentina with him. That’s the person I’m trying to stop.”

You’re agog.

“And they’re working together?” You resist the urge to turn and look again. “Is this some villainous team up or something?”

“I don’t know.”

You notice Bucky’s vibranium hand is clenched dangerously tight on the tabletop and reach over to place yours on top of it.

His body relaxes at your touch and he turns gaze back to you. “Sorry. I had no idea they’d be here, this is - this is not how I wanted tonight to go.”

You push aside wandering thoughts of how he did want the night to go, and smile knowingly at him. “Well, if you want to keep an eye on Valentina, and I want to keep an eye on Fisk, seems like we’re in the right place to do that.”

Bucky stares at you intently as your waiter approaches. “You mean?”

“I mean we should at least order dessert.”

As you choose something to share, the two of you hatch a quick plan. You establish that Val seems to be there only with her assistant, Mel, and Fisk is alone - other than the bodyguards trying to act casual a few tables away that Bucky subtly points out to you.

When Mel gets up to go to the bathroom, you jump into action, heading to the restaurant’s central bar to order another glass of red wine, then looping around to collide with her - spilling half the glass on her jacket - as she makes her way back to the table.

You apologise profusely, making sure to stay out of earshot of Val and Fisk, and insist on going to the bathroom with Mel to help her clean up.

“I’m sure I’ve got a Tide pen here somewhere,” you tell her, rummaging through your bag before haphazardly dumping the contents all over the counter. “I’m such a klutz, this kind of thing happens to me all the time.”

“Maybe red wine isn’t the best choice for you then.” Mel chides, emptying the pockets of her jacket in a much more orderly way, and running the stain under the faucet. You can tell she’s anxious - probably worried about how she’ll look in front of her boss - but knowing who that is, you don’t let yourself feel guilty.

“You’re probably right!” You agree with a laugh. “And I’m so sorry, again. I hope I haven’t caused any problems for you. I mean, it’s a fancy place, and I saw you earlier, you're with the director of the CIA and the mayor of New York, right? Pretty intimidating!”

“Yeah,” she answers, still focused on her jacket, “I work for Director de Fontaine.”

“Wow, that’s awesome!” You gush. “You must have had to work so hard for that. And her too. It's so inspiring seeing a woman in such a position of power, you know?”

“Exactly.” Mel agrees, remembering part of her job is making Valentina look good to members of the public - especially given the trouble she’s facing. “That's why I wanted to work for her, she said she loves promoting women, and she's already given me so much responsibility. I'm really learning a lot.”

You pretend not to notice the fatigue behind her enthusiasm. “That’s amazing. Sounds like she really appreciates you. And I bet she only cares about how good you are at your job. Not what you look like.” You nod to Mel’s still stained jacket and pass her some paper towels to help dry it out.

“I hope so.” She sounds doubtful.

“I know so!” You insist brightly. “I bet the two of you are negotiating circles around that stale old mayor.”

“Except we're not even trying to.” Mel's frowning as she scrubs at the jacket. “Val's just agreeing with everything he says, telling him what a great idea it is, how New York can be like a trial run for-” She stops herself, eyes wide as she stares at you in horror. “I - I shouldn't have said - can you just forget that?”

“Oh, don't worry,” You answer easily, “I get it. Everything in this town's confidential, right, especially when everyone knows it!” You force a laugh which Mel hesitantly joins in with.

You're both interrupted by an impatient and sarcastic Valentina.

“Well, good evening ladies. Sounds like you’re having fun. Mel, I know you're aware this is a working dinner. I didn't realise it was part of your official duties to stand around giggling in the bathroom like a schoolgirl.”

Mel immediately stutters out an apology, pulling on her damp jacket and hurriedly re-filling the pockets as Val rolls her eyes and leaves.

You give Mel an encouraging smile as she trails after her boss back to the restaurant.

When you return to the table, Bucky's still seated.

“Did you manage to speak to Fisk?” You ask quietly.

Bucky frowns. “I tried. He shut me down pretty fast.”

What Bucky's almost embarrassed to tell you is that when he smoothly slid into Valentina’s chair after she got up to find her assistant, Fisk had stopped him before he'd even got his first sentence out.

“I'm not convinced we have anything constructive to say to one another.” the mayor had interrupted, voice slow and calm as he continued to eat. “Your public statements have made your position on my policies perfectly clear, as has my official response. I would rather restrain our interactions to the political arena.”

“But Valentina, she's-”

“Congressman.” Fisk had cut Bucky off more strongly the second time. “I have explained my position, and you - have shown your hand.” An imitation of a smile had flashed across Fisk’s face with that remark, and Bucky suddenly felt very conscious of his black and gold fist resting on the pure white tablecloth. “Now I would like to enjoy the rest of my meal in peace.”

Smarting from Fisk's effortless dismissal, Bucky went back to your table with enough time before you joined him to wonder whether he was really suited to a career in politics.

“Did you manage to get anything out of Mel?” Bucky asks.

“Just that Val's agreeing with everything Fisk says. Something about using New York as a trial run - I'm guessing that's related to those Safer City plans we saw. But we'll have more details soon.” You smile knowingly. “I hope you like long voice notes.”

Bucky raises an eyebrow in question.

“We'll be able to listen to the rest of their conversation - at least until Mel tries to use her phone and realises she picked up the wrong one in the bathroom.”

“You're recording them? Isn't that-”

“It's inadmissible as evidence in court, but it's not illegal. Especially since she picked up my phone. I, of course, had no idea it would end up at her table.”

“Won't she see it's recording when she tries to unlock it?” Bucky asks. He’s caught up on modern technology pretty fast, mostly thanks to Sam.

“Nope. My lock screen doesn’t show anything about what apps are running.” You give him your best innocent smile. “Must be some glitch or something.”

Bucky’s impressed. He might not have great diplomatic skills, but you’re definitely good at getting information in other ways.

It’s not much later when he notices Mel pick up her phone and freeze when she realises her mistake, but perhaps not wanting to draw attention to the mix-up in front of her boss, she does nothing about it but shoot glances over to your table every few minutes. Bucky can’t help feeling bad when he sees that she’s not reassured to discover that he’s your dinner companion.

When the two of you can’t delay getting the check any longer and stand to leave, Mel rushes over, quietly and rapidly explaining the issue to you and swapping phones, making sure to hide the switch from Val.

As you link your arm with Bucky’s and leave the restaurant with a satisfied smile, his super hearing picks up Val’s voice. “I hope you were just telling them to cover your dry cleaning bill.”

—

Back at Bucky’s place, any plans for a romantic evening are pushed aside as the two of you settle into his couch, facing each other with your phone between you to listen to the recording.

“Why would Val be so keen to agree to Fisk’s plans?” You muse when you’ve heard the whole insufferable conversation. “Is she as anti-enhanced people as he is?”

“No,” Bucky answers, thinking. “I know she got in touch with John Walker, she’s the reason he got off so lightly a few years back. I’m pretty certain he’s unofficially working for her. And there are rumours about what she did when she was at OXE. Nothing definite, but I wouldn’t be surprised if she was trying to create more super soldiers.”

“So she’s pro-enhanced soldiers, but against enhanced people fighting crime?” The realisation hits you both in the same instant. “She wants all the vigilantes gone-”

“-So the only enhanced people left are the ones she controls.” He grimaces.

“Fisk’s pretty single-minded about eliminating everyone with super-abilities, whether they’re a threat to him or not. You think he’s in on her plan?”

Bucky shakes his head. “I doubt it. Either way, nothing she says can be trusted. If it’s useful for her to have Fisk on side, she’ll tell him whatever he wants to hear.”

“Typical politician,” you comment, then wince as you remember Bucky’s job. “Uh, no offence.”

“None taken.”

“I know you’re not like that,” you tell him.

“I know.” He answers glumly. “And that might be a problem. I’m starting to think I’m not really cut out for this. I can’t get anything done this way.”

“Hey,” you move close to him, placing your hand on his arm. “You’re only at the start of your first term. Politics moves slowly, you’re not going to be able to change things right away.”

“I know, but,” he lets out a heavy breath, “I don’t have the right kind of skills. I couldn’t even talk to Fisk tonight, everything we know is thanks to you and - unorthodox ways of doing things.”

“That just shows we make a good team.” You shrug. “And I’m used to being sneaky. I’m good at it. As you know.”

Bucky smiles, remembering your first meeting. But it fades as he realises that was by far the highlight of his time as a congressman. “And I’m not used to being a politician.”

“You’ll get used to it.” You insist. “You’ll learn the skills you need.”

“Maybe that’s not the best thing for me to do. Maybe your friend’s right - maybe I can do more with the skills I already have.” His clear eyes stare intensely into yours. “Especially if I’m part of a team.”

You’re both silent as Bucky’s words sink in.

After a moment, you shuffle right up to him and seat yourself in his lap, wrapping your arms around him. “Whatever you want to do, that’s not a decision you have to make tonight. And by the way, I am never telling Matt you said he might be right.”

Bucky huffs out a laugh, winding his arms around you and pulling you close, burying his face in the crook of your neck and breathing you in, revelling in the warm comfort it brings.

You hum softly at the tantalising scrape of his beard. “No matter what you do, I’m always going to think you’re amazing.” You’ve almost surprised yourself with your openness, but before you can begin to regret saying it, Bucky leans back with a grin.

“How about I show you just how amazing I can be?”

------------

Tags: @yesshewrites1 @itsmeamysworld @xoxabs88xox @otterlycanadian @maydayfigment @tellybearryyyy

[irisintheafterglow]

the long-awaited part 2 to this drabble

"can i get an extra large of the black shirt?"

"of course, give me one moment. i'll be right with you," you reply with robotic politeness over your shoulder as you shove a cardboard box of collectible hats behind the tablecloth. foot traffic has significantly slowed, allowing you to take care of some inventory tasks that were hard to complete when you were bombarded with requests for the limited-edition holographic poster boasting the olympics' host city. you stand from your crouching position, grab an extra-large from the crumpled pile, and finally turn to face your customer.

the customer wearing a surgical mask with two black moles above his eyebrow. you suspect his jacket is the same one that stopped everyone in their tracks earlier in the day, when you obliviously asked him to walk you past a creep.

men's volleyball team - sakusa kiyoomi.

"well?" sakusa asks after a long moment of awkward silence, the slightest hint of amusement in his voice at your shock. "are you gonna hand me the shirt or do i need to grab it myself?"

"you...you!" your senses come slamming back into you like a freight train and you're suddenly overcome with a mix of embarrassment and indignance. "why didn't you tell me who you were?"

"you never asked," he says with a shrug and a teasing glint in his eyes. the shirt stays tight in your grasp, if only because the feel of the fabric is the one thing reassuring you that this interaction was truly happening. "plus, you seemed a little preoccupied with other things." you nod dumbly in lieu of answering and fish a paper bag from below the table.

"my boss just about had a heart attack over your damn back," you inform him while you drop the shirt into the bag. you don't bother charging him for it, seeing as he's one of the athletes and all, and you'd prefer for him to forget you exist as quickly as possible.

"i don't know what the big deal is. it's just a jacket."

"'just a jacket,' sure," you scoff, "and you're just some guy throwing a ball around." the small printer next to the register makes a whirring noise as it attempts to dispense a receipt, only for it to jam and print incomprehensible blots of ink. you curse your shitty luck under your breath.

"everything okay?"

"apparently my brain isn't the only thing that's broken right now," you mutter, and you're surprised when he breathes a quiet laugh. "don't bask in my suffering."

"i'll bask in whatever i find funny, thanks," he shoots back and you glare in spite of your furiously warm face. "what happened?"

"the printer broke. it's been on its last legs all day," you frown. you're too busy trying to remember how to replace the paper roll to notice how he glances around before deciding to remove his mask and tuck it into his pocket. when you look up next, your face goes from warm to burning. who knew your one-time bodyguard was also the prettiest man you'd ever laid eyes upon? "you know what? you can just take the bag, i wasn't going to charge you anyway."

"why would i do that? you're not doing your job very well if you just let me steal a shirt." oh, so he thinks he's funny. from what you'd watched in brief clips of his interviews, sakusa seemed too stoic to have any ounce of humor in his body; yet, here you were, getting teased by a god-tier athlete about breaking the register at your summer job.

"it's not stealing, it's...gifting," you correct slowly. "i made you a promise, remember? you made sure i didn't get kidnapped in broad daylight, and i give you a shirt in return. simple."

"but i need a receipt," he retorts dryly.

"why? just take the bag, please," you say a little forcefully, expecting him to take the hint and leave. your first mistake, however, was challenging an olympic volleyball player to a competition of wits and patience.

"no, i don't think i will," he replies, pushing the bag back across the table to you. "a receipt, one more thing, and i'll go."

"well, you're gonna be here for a little bit because i don't know how i'm supposed to get you a receipt when the printer is broken," you surrender with no idea what he was trying to do. "i won't apologize, though, because you could just take the bag and go."

"allowing me to steal and refusing to apologize. gold star customer service." his sarcasm pulls a sudden, ugly bark of laughter that seems to increase the temperature of your face even more. "hmm. cute."

"what?"

"nothing. no receipt, then?"

"like i said, unless you wanna wait until my manager comes down from the balcony level merch stand and fixes the printer, you can just take the shirt and go. i appreciate you walking me earlier, really, so it's no hassle for me if one measly shirt goes missing."

sakusa opens his mouth like he's about to say something, but suddenly snaps his head to the side in the direction of a bright camera flash. one flash turns to four, and he hastily pulls his mask back over his face, cursing under his breath. you watch, perplexed, as his cocky bravado retreats just in time for a half-dozen journalists to cut around the nearest security guard and surround him. in a blink, microphones and cameras are forced into his face and questions in six different languages are hurriedly spewed at him. if you weren't already reaching across to put some distance between him and the tabloid writers, you wouldn't hear him mutter---

please get them away.

"alright, we're done here," you announce to no one in particular. your voice is more commanding than you expected it to be, enough to make the reporters pause and give you an opening to grab the crook of sakusa's elbow, beelining for the staff-only door. the guard posted there is quick to open the door for you and shut it, effectively cutting off the growing horde of journalists. "are you okay?" you ask as you continue to lead him toward what you remember as the nearest quiet break room. you don't have time to think about the flex of his arm under your hand or how he follows you with absolute trust.

"yeah," he answers curtly, his irritation obvious but seeming to diminish the longer you're holding his arm. you reach the empty linoleum-lined room and unlatch your fingers from him to shut the door, feeling a void-like sensation that you can't figure out. "sorry about that," he says to fill the tense silence after you're no longer shoulder-to-shoulder.

"don't worry about it. we're even now," you reassure him and that makes his shoulders relax a little bit. "you need water? a snack? day-old coffee that could probably burn through metal?"

"no, just some peace," he sighs, exasperatedly collapsing into the nearest uncomfortable chair.

"i see." you blink and suddenly feel like you're intruding on his space, fitting in like an elephant in a shoebox. "uh, i'll leave you here and make sure no one else comes--"

"i'd prefer if you stayed," he cuts in and you pause, your hand hovering above the door handle. "if you're able."

"are you sure?"

"only if you can," he says too quickly to be normal, avoiding your eyes. "you don't need to if you don't want to." you want to laugh at your situation, being stuck in an empty room with the hottest man you've ever laid eyes upon, and your nerves are more heightened than a deer in headlights. (you don't know that he's ridiculously embarrassed that the one time he talks to someone he's interested in, it's interrupted by cameras)

"i can stay, yeah," you manage and he's visibly relieved at your answer, at ease enough to again peel off his mask. his annoyance seemed to dissipate in the course of your short conversation, and an odd expression of contentment is its replacement. "you'll have to explain to my manager why i had to take off early, though."

"breaking the printer, refusing to apologize, and abandoning your shift. you cause a lot of problems, evidently," he teases when you settle into a metal chair beside him.

"only around you, evidently," you quip and are rewarded by the tiniest pull at the corner of his mouth. "i'm sorry i wasn't able to get you that shirt, though...and your precious receipt." he shrugs.

"don't really need either anymore."

"how so?"

"hunting down the shirt was just a way to talk to you again," he declares like he didn't even notice how his statement made your face heat once more. he notices, just like he noticed how you stuttered every time he started a conversation with you, how you smile and laugh like an idiot when he says something that catches you off guard, how your fingers felt electric at every point where you held his elbow. "and the receipt was to ask you to write your number, but i guess i can just ask now if you wanna grab dinner."

when you say yes, he hopes you can't tell just how much he already likes you.

[fandomnerd9602]

Home on the Run (3)

Yelena Belova x Venom!Reader

Set during Thunderbolts*

You, Yelena, Walker and Ava continued walking.

“Lena, what’s Project Sentry?” You asked your bride.

“It was a rumor,” Walker speaks up, “OXE was trying to find a way to create a superhero. Apparently a lot of test subjects didn’t make it. We get sent to clean it up”

“I guess that one success…was Bob” Yelena says, handing some files she took to Ava.

“The poor guy” Ava intones. She hands a few to Walker who reads it over.

“So Bob is basically…Superman?” Venom asks.

“Minus the red cape and tights” you reply “I can already see Val trying to mass market it”

“We need to get home as soon as possible.” Yelena answers back. “I don’t want to even think about what she may do to our podaroks!”

Ava and Walker look to you a little confused.

“Our children. That’s what Yelena always calls them.” You give a soft smile, “our little miracle babies”

Walker looks off sadly before immediately leaning down and cutting some cactus berries. “Yeah. I know the feeling” he gently mutters.

“You got kids?”

“A son” Walker answers, “I…I think I failed him and his mom”

“How old?” You gently prod

“He’ll be a year old soon” Walker sighs, “I was so caught up in what I lost I…I forgot what I gained”

Ava sighs, “so…super soldier has a heart”

You look to Walker a little sadly, “it’s never too late you know”

Walker shrugs but passes out cactus berries to everyone. “…I guess” Walker answers, giving you a weak smile.

The four of you settled in for the night in some little cave, hidden away from prying eyes of the OXE group or Val.

You found yourself sitting in a hammock made from Venom’s tendrils. Yelena sits down next to you and Venom. “Hey” she whispers softly, her hands a little fidgety.

“Hey” you gave her a soft smile. “It’s…it’s been awhile since you and I just…talked”

“Yeah…I mean we do but…it’s always about what soccer game Natalie has or how Alex is shooting spikes of symbiote or blah blah blah”

Lash materializes and gently nudges Yelena, “go on Momma, tell them”

“I’m getting there, Lash, my podarok” Yelena rolls her eyes, “my symbiote is so pushy sometimes,” she looks to you nervously, “I…I looked up your search history…why was divorce on there?”

You take a deep sigh. “It was one reactionary search a month ago”

“Reactionary? Why would you even think about—?” Yelena began raising her voice. Q

“Because of my—!” You briefly yell before immediately stopping yourself. “I’m sorry. It was because of my father.”

Yelena looks to you sadly. Her soft hazel-green eyes peering into yours, as if searching, probing for the answer.

“There’s a reason why the kids have never met their paternal grandfather.” You stare off blankly, Venom gently petting your shoulder, “he was a drunk. An angry one. No repenting or anything like that”

Yelena’s mind was already piecing it together, “And when I started drinking…you saw him again?”

You could only nod. “Lena. I love you. I don’t want our children to ever have to deal with what I went thru.”

Yelena gently wraps her arms around you. “I’m sorry. I thought these missions were getting me back out there. I love Natalie and Alex but…they are growing. Soon it will just be you and me and…” she trails off.

“It wasn’t easy for Venom and me either. Quitting for the kids. But…they need their heroes more…close to home.”

“I know. My greatest joy has and always will be…you, you and our children” Yelena tears up a little. “And I almost lost you”

You gently take her by the hips and pull her into your lap. Yelena lets out a happy gasp.

“Keyword…almost” you whisper before kissing her softly.

Yelena moans softly, wrapping her arms around your neck, kissing you back softly. Venom’s tendrils gently wrap around her. Lash’s begin wrapping around you.

“I love you” she whispers against your lips.

“Love you” you respond. You kiss once, twice, the months of physical separation melting away before your eyes.

“That is both so sweet and so disturbing at the same time.” Walker shakes his head a little.

“For once, I agree with Walker” Ava smirks as you and Yelena quickly separate. Venom produces a tendril and gives Walker and Ava the middle finger.

“Don’t you believe in love?!”

“Poppa we don’t use that!” Lash gently chides your symbiote father.

“Sorry little one”

The next morning, the four of you made your way thru the desert. A sight caught your eyes.

“What is that?” You gently said, peering at a metallic shape moving across the sandy roads, coming towards you.

And then came the horn, Yelena practically flinched. “Oh no” she muttered.

“Is that a limo?” Ava asked as it barreled towards the four of you, honking urgently.

It came to a stop and Alexei jumped out in full Red Guardian attire.

“Yelena!!! It’s your Dad!!!” He jumped around waving his arms frantically. “Don’t go in there!!! It’s a trap!!!”

“Grandpa?!” Lash squinted her eyes.

“Alexei?!” Venom practically growled, “who’s watching the kids?!”

To Be Continued…*

Tags @supercorpdanbeau @marveldcfandom @ma1egamer @pinklawyerwinnerzonk @multi-fandom-enjoyer @scarletquake-n7 @deafeningsharkslimeempath @sparks123123 @revanshand @sweetheartlizzie07 @russianredassassin @marvelflame2010 @texaswolf23 @iamnicodemus @abimess @julieromanoff @madanalyst @catswag22 @baylegend6

[janluxe]

PERMANENT MARK — CALEB/XIA YIZHOU

–contents; fluff, slight NSFW content

–w/c; roughly 1.9k

What if, and hear me out on this, Caleb got a tattoo.

He was so proud of himself that day, returning home to share the excitement with his favorite person of them all. His smile did not falter one bit as he announced that not only did he get a tattoo, but he got two at once.

"So, where are they?" You asked, full of curiosity and eyes scanning his frame involuntarily in a fruitless attempt to find them on him. The air remained thick between you, the rising temperature weighing you down a tad more than the tension ever could.

Summer was right around the corner, after all.

Your question lingered, Caleb only responding with a subtle smirk before he smoothly changed the subject when he heard your stomach rumble, "What do you want for dinner, pipsqueak?" His hands made quick work of turning on the stove and preparing the needed utensils.

It's hard to keep track of time on sunny days, especially when you're around people you enjoy having by your side. However, the dark clouds forming in the sky reminded you that it was still spring, and of course, it would start pouring while you were out with Caleb.

He had suggested bringing an umbrella on your trip to the grocery store, and maybe the rain wouldn't be an issue if you hadn't stubbornly turned his offer down. Now you were rushing back home, Caleb's jacket over your head, trying to keep you from catching a cold.

At least it was fun - running back home like you were little kids once more, not phased by the world's ideals. Judging by the look on his face alongside the warmth of his laughter echoing in your ears, Caleb got to relive the same memory as you. The fleeting feeling of freedom.

Despite the circumstances, he looked relieved to be in there with you, even if he was facing the consequences of your decisions - like being soaking wet, dark hair sticking to his skin the same way his clothes were. "Told you s–" He opened his mouth to comment arrogantly before you threw your hand over his lips.

"When will you learn how to shut up?" Your words had barely registered in his mind when his smirk settled on his face. You could feel his lips curl under the palm of your hand. It was painfully obvious in the way his eyes narrowed ever-so-slightly, dark and long eyelashes fluttering sarcastically. The subtle furrow in his brows made him appear even more amused and pleased with your attention. Had his attitude always been this loud, even when he remained completely silent?

And he never properly replied to your ironic comment. Only a scoff escaped him as soon as you slipped your hand off of his face. "You wouldn't love me if I did, pipsqueak." Caleb didn't waste a second, almost immediately shaking the droplets of water off his hair and pulling his shirt off over his head right after.

Oh. God. His. Back.

You had memorized every part of his body, studied it thoroughly from afar, as if he were a piece of art you could never quite touch. Ever since he had gone off to college, he hadn't stopped growing –broadening, getting taller– and you weren't there to witness it. One day, he was at eye level with you, familiar and boyish, and the next, he stood proudly, double your size and towering over your frame without meaning to.

There, you spotted the first tattoo not too long after, positioned right between his broad shoulders, your initials in bold, cursive italics. Oh. He made his way upstairs, not letting you stare at it any longer.

"You should also change, pipsqueak." His voice echoed in the staircase, and you blinked. What was that?

Great. Now you were having thoughts. Thoughts you were supposed to have for any man but Caleb.

"Hey – wait!" You called out, and the moment you started going up the stairs and trying to catch up to him, Caleb quickened his pace. "You never told me where your tattoos are." A heavy huff escaped your lips, leaning against the doorframe.

His room felt warm compared to the rest of the house, a hint of his characteristic smell filling the room – one of fresh-cut apples, musk, and a fine touch of engine oil.

"Wouldn’t you like to know, weather boy?" He referenced proudly, while droplets of rain hit the glass of the window behind him and raced each other down. Caleb was obviously oblivious to the thunder lighting up the dark sky, slipping into the sweatshirt you had once bought him.

He still remembers the amount of importance it held, especially when he tried to survive the challenge of the academy. Or the nights he felt alone and surrounded by melancholy.

A complex personality with many 'sandpapered' sharp edges and delicate fine points all hidden well under a pretty face.

"You still haven't changed," Caleb commented, moving efficiently as he gently dried your hair with his towel. "And you're soaking wet, too." Does he really have to phrase it like that?

Your eyes caught a glimpse of a fresh set of pajamas for you, the look on your face fainting from surprise to confusion. "What–" you began, only to be cut off.

"I told you it was about to rain." He stated with a shrug of his shoulders, his fingers working to put your hair in a loose braid. He had always loved experimenting with different hairstyles on you, plus he was always a natural at it.

A large hand patted your back before he started exiting the room. "I'll cook up a new recipe for you."

It is so simple, yet not everyone can do it. But it was Caleb's way to show affection, and he never thought of it as embarrassing or ever hesitated to treat you like you deserved.

Your plate awaited you on the dining table, steaming hot and neat. A sticky note on the side 'Eat well, honey :)' – even while he is right across you, resting on the couch in comfortable clothes, a movie keeping him entertained, and filling the silence.

Silence wasn't something he wanted to grow accustomed to. He had endured it all his life, and learning how to like it wasn't part of his plans. He had grown up by your side, and that made his childhood anything but quiet.

"Hm?" He hummed, a small smile creeping upon his face when he felt the cushion of the couch next to him sink under your weight, "What, the chair's not comfortable enough for you, pips?"

"No," you replied, tone laced with sarcasm, "I just missed your amazing company," Caleb smirked, matching your energy effortlessly.

The way you matched his energy was something he never took for granted, "Just don't stain the couch, mkay?" Caleb murmured, gently adjusting your hair so you could eat comfortably.

He had chosen a documentary. About planets, of course. Eight planets in our solar system, around a trillion in the Milky Way, and approximately a septillion of them in the whole universe – and he had chosen Saturn.

And Caleb isn't the quiet type when it comes to his interests, always finding out new things to hyperfixate on. But what he loved more was when you talked about yours, with his attention focused solely on you.

"Well done. I'm so proud of you, honey." His hand found its way atop your head, ruffling your hair affectionately.

Your ever-so-slight frown was his cue to leave. He stood up, stretching his arms above his head – the sweater you had gifted him riding up his stomach, and even under the dim lighting of the TV, you noticed it; a tattoo on his hip bone. And as if the placement wasn't enough for you to get you worked up, it was a Shakespeare quote – "Hell is empty and all the devils are here." The Aaron Warner tattoo.

You almost choked on your own spit while he remained unfazed, picking up your plate.

"Caleb." You coughed, taking the plate from his hand and setting it back on the table before tugging him next to you. "What kind of tattoo did you even get?"

"What?" He tilted his head in response, looking like a lost puppy out in the rain – it made your heart clench. "This?" How innocent of him to offer you another look.

A scoff escaped you accidentally, "Are you sure this isn't one of your stupid pranks?" You questioned, hand reaching out and brushing his skin in an attempt to brush off any temporary ink.

He had always been a sucker for pranks, so who could guarantee you that these were anything more than one of his shenanigans?

Needless to say, the tattoo proved legit, and your sudden action only served to make him as flustered as you.

Caleb let out a faint sound, his breath caught up on his throat – a weak sound for a Colonel. His hand swiping up yours and intertwining them. "Personal space is overrated anyway." He teased, shoulders still a bit tense.

"It's not part of a prank?" Maybe repeating yourself might have helped getting used to the facts that lay before your eyes.

"No—" his mouth opening yet closing once more as soon as you cut him off with another question, "Then why did you get my initials tattooed on your back?"

It was an adorable sight, watching him blink a few times in a poor attempt of registering your words in a mind that remained empty from the moment you touched him.

"Tattoos are supposed to be meaningful, and I don't think I'll ever belong to anyone other than you." The cushion shifted under your shared weight "And it's a nice side piece to decorate your scratch marks." He added with a breathless whisper against the shell of your ear, his body hovering dangerously close to yours.

You had known him all your life, had learned to see him as the most patient person you've ever met. But he was done playing pretend. And Caleb surely didn't even think about acting as a 'gege', not when the leaking tip of his cock kissed your entrance so sweetly it felt familiar, asking for permission after he had your consent.

The sound of the TV long gone, the sound of skin slapping against skin filled your ears alongside the sounds he let out. His movements were gentle, teeth sinking into his bottom lip to silence himself before he grew bolder the moment you asked for more. Now, he was the loudest he has ever been in his entire life.

Your eyes remained glued to the tattoo on his hip, it gave him some more charm. It suited him all too well, and it looked even better against your thigh in the soft lighting of the room.

"I'm all yours, baby." He murmured as a weak reassurance, fingers teasing your clit and a flushed face buried in your chest – his dark hair sticking to the thin glistening layer of sweat and his saliva covering your skin. "Pipsqueak, please–" a whine full of desperation, lost in the feeling of your walls fluttering around him.

And he was right. Your nails dug into the soft muscles of his back, a way to keep yourself grounded. Of course you wouldn't admit that, but he'd know as soon as the red marks on his back started aching.

a/n; this was supposed to be short, I swear. Thank you for reading and apologies for any mistakes ♡ –Jan

[nhmkhnh]

Hiii I love your stories. Do you think maybe you can write a knight Vi x trouble princess reader? Ik it's cliché but it's so freaking good. Vi and reader has been closer than ever but one night reader tries to sneak out of the castle again Vi tackles her to her bed( you know 😏) then they confess to each other of how much they paved each other. Then they can make out and stuff.

ten ways to break the rules.

pairings: knight!vi x trouble princess!reader

preface: in a kingdom of rules, she was born to break them — and vi was born to break for her.

author's note: omg babe this idea is so good like?? why do u guys always have the ideas that blow my mind?? alright here we go girlies.

wrn: lowercase, suggestive at the end.

masterlist / janitor ai / c.ai / carrd

the first escape

vi spots her for the first time in the strangest of ways: half up the garden wall, one leg hooked over the ledge, the silk of her dress caught on the stone. she’s muttering curses—refined ones, probably learned in etiquette classes, but curses nonetheless—as she yanks the skirt up and rips it.

vi, posted at the edge of the courtyard, pauses mid-step.

a princess tearing royal silk just to climb the wall?

“interesting,” vi mutters, almost amused. then louder: “planning to leave without an escort, your highness?”

the girl startles. “knight vi,” she gasps, already scowling, “snitch and i’ll have your head polished for decoration.”

vi doesn’t laugh, but her smirk is criminal. “i won’t snitch. but i will be escorting you. on your next authorized adventure.”

the princess slides down the wall with a sigh, brushing off her shredded skirt. “you’re no fun.”

vi follows her back into the castle, the smallest smile tugging at her lips. fun or not, this girl’s going to be trouble.

and vi likes trouble.

the dagger in her garter

a week later, during morning sparring sessions, vi notices something gleaming when the princess sits in the grass—just above her knee.

“is that… a dagger?”

the princess lifts the hem of her dress without shame. “for emergencies.”

vi’s heart stutters. “you’re not allowed weapons.”

“and yet,” she singsongs, “i am armed.”

vi steps closer. “someone could hurt you. you shouldn’t walk around pretending you’re invincible.”

“i don’t pretend,” the girl says, eyes locking with hers. “i just hate being fragile.”

vi doesn’t reply. instead, she steps back, jaw tight. that same dagger is later found missing from the royal armory.

and vi won’t say it—but she’s the one who left it out for her.

she dances alone

at the spring ball, the princess refuses every suitor, every nobleman's outstretched hand.

instead, she drags vi onto the balcony.

“i’d rather dance with someone real,” she says.

vi stiffens. “you’re not supposed to dance with knights.”

“you’re not supposed to be this beautiful in armor, either.”

the air grows hot. vi doesn't dance—but when the princess steps close, places a hand on her shoulder and sways slightly to the faraway music, vi lets it happen.

one song. one slow, heart-thundering song.

neither speaks after. but vi’s fingers remember the weight of her hand.

mud and moonlight

she sneaks out again. vi finds her ankle-deep in mud, trying to rescue a baby goat from a ditch.

“vi! help me, it’s drowning!”

vi helps. grumbles the whole time. ends up splattered in filth beside her.

the goat is saved. the princess is beaming.

vi glares. “you’re impossible.”

“you’re covered in mud.”

“you are so lucky i like goats.”

the princess laughs. it’s loud, full, unprincesslike—and vi feels it like a blow to the chest.

that night, she dreams of mud and moonlight and laughter.

and eyes that look at her like she’s more than just armor.

the jealous prince

a visiting prince eyes the princess like she’s already his. at the banquet, he corners her. touches her wrist too long.

vi sees red.

she appears at the princess’s side with the silent ease of a predator.

“is there a problem, your highness?” she asks coolly, hand on the hilt of her sword.

the prince steps back. “just admiring the view.”

“she doesn’t need admirers. she needs space.”

vi stays close all night. too close. her hand brushes the princess’s lower back once—an accident, maybe.

the princess leans in. “jealous, knight vi?”

vi doesn’t answer. but her grip on her blade tightens.

secret garden

she builds a secret garden on the edge of the forest. just wildflowers and soft moss. it’s her escape.

she only invites one person.

vi stands awkwardly at the edge, hands behind her back. “why me?”

the princess smiles. “because you’re the only one who doesn’t want anything from me.”

vi frowns. “that’s not true.”

“oh?”

“i want you safe. i want you…”

she trails off.

the princess watches her with too much softness in her eyes.

vi leaves early. but she touches a petal the princess handed her, long after she’s gone.

a cut on her hand

vi finds her nursing a shallow cut in the stables.

“what happened?”

“training. the sword was dull.”

vi takes her hand. no gloves. no armor. just calloused fingers cradling delicate skin.

“you’re reckless.”

“i’m learning from the best.”

vi cleans the wound. too gently. her thumb lingers on her wrist.

“stop looking at me like that,” the princess whispers.

“like what?”

“like you want to kiss me but won’t.”

vi drops her hand like it burns.

and leaves the stables in silence.

almost

one night. too many glasses of wine. the princess stumbles into vi’s room by mistake—or so she says.

“can’t sleep,” she says, barefoot and breathless.

vi rises from her cot, tense. “you shouldn’t be here.”

the princess steps close. her fingers trail up vi’s chest plate.

“take this off.”

vi grabs her wrists. “don’t.”

their faces are inches apart. breathing shared. lightning in the gap.

the princess tilts her head. “you’re scared of me.”

vi’s voice is gravel. “i’m scared of what i’ll do to you.”

the silence hums between them.

then, slowly—vi releases her.

“go,” she says. voice wrecked.

the princess leaves without a word.

the last escape

she tries one last time. at midnight. vi finds her at the castle gate, dressed in black, hair braided for travel.

“i need air,” the princess pleads. “i need life.”

vi grabs her hand. “you don’t need to run.”

“i do. because every time i look at you, i want to stop pretending. and i can’t do that here.”

vi pulls her close. “you think i haven’t wanted to leave with you a hundred times?”

the princess stares. “then why haven’t you?”

vi’s eyes burn. “because i’m afraid i’ll never be able to stop.”

the air cracks between them.

“take me back, then,” the princess whispers. “but stay. stay with me.”

vi doesn’t answer.

she just lifts her—arms around her thighs—and carries her back through the castle. past guards. past startled maids.

into her chambers. onto her bed.

and when she sets her down, their foreheads touch.

“i can’t keep pretending either,” vi says hoarsely.

make me stay

they don’t speak for a while.

the princess undoes her braid with shaking fingers.

vi removes her armor piece by piece—gauntlets, greaves, breastplate—until there’s nothing between them but breath and want.

vi kisses her like she’s finally allowed to breathe. like her entire world’s been burning and she’s found the only drop of water left.

the princess pulls her closer, mouth hot and needy. her hands roam vi’s shoulders, her back, her hips, like she’s trying to memorize the shape of every scar, every muscle.

“make me stay,” the princess gasps, voice breaking.

vi lifts her gently. presses her into the mattress.

“i’ll make you beg to.”

the night is slow, intense, desperate.

years of tension bleeding into touch. lips that worship. hands that possess. breathless laughter and bitten moans tangled in silk sheets.

and when dawn breaks, neither of them moves.

vi lies beside her, arm over her waist, forehead against her temple.

“i’m yours,” vi whispers. “say the word and i’ll burn this whole kingdom down for you.”

the princess smiles into her neck.

“just kiss me again.”

and vi does.