#And it wouldn't have ended that way of I hadn't chosen violence

[baku-usagi]

Hey sometimes healing is violence.

Sometimes getting better and truly repairing broken bits of yourself is being angry and letting that anger out.

Sometimes it's OK to not forgive until you've had the chance to rage.

[pretty-little-mind33]

Tangerine x fem!reader

Summary: Your best friends promised never to tell you about their dangerous job. However, all goes to shit when you find out another way.

Genre: Angsty fluff (happy ending)

Warnings: protective!Tangerine, home invasion, mentions of blood and injuries, swearing, sexual innuendo/implying sexual harassment (really not as bad as that sounds lol i would just rather put a warning)? murder, violence

TANGERINE MASTERLIST

Tangerine always knew you were too kind for the life he had chosen.

He wonders if he hadn't known you so long or if you weren't as much Lemon's best friend as his, then perhaps it would have been an easy decision to cut you out of their lives.

Only, the decision wasn't easy. It was selfish and it eats him up inside, but both him and Lemon had agreed they couldn't lose you. So, they'd made a deal that they wouldn't tell you the true nature of their job. That way, you would be safe. 

You, on the other hand, aren't as innocent as they think. You've known them long enough to know their expressions and whenever you mention their profession, they become eerily silent and tense. You've seen the blood under Lemon's fingernails and the bruises on Tangerine's knuckles when they visit you after one of their so-called "work trips".

However, after countless evasions on their part, you've stopped asking questions. Now, you stay content without knowing because you don't want to lose them either. 

One evening, you hear a knock on your apartment door and your smile widens. He's early. He's usually never early. You stand up from the couch, pulling up your fuzzy sock as you rush over the wooden floorboards to open the door for him. "Hi," you start but your throat locks when you're met with three burly men in black, threatening, masks. 

You don't have time to scream out as one of them presses his hand against your mouth and forces himself inside. The other two follow quickly and you stumble backwards. The man holding you presses his gun into your side and you whimper, tears falling down your cheeks as your mind races. 

Another man hands you what looks like a burner phone from his pocket and says, "Call him."

Your vision is blurred by your tears and when the man's hand leaves your mouth, you ask. "Who?"

"You know who, girl," the last man laughs and your chest tightens. Your hands are shaky when you type out Tangerine's number. You have an icky in your stomach telling you he hadn't been the one to ask you to hang out this evening.

Hesitantly, you hold the phone to your ear and whimper when the man with the gun pushes you over to your couch. He sits closer than necessary and teasingly moves the barrel against your cheeks and up into your hair.

"Hello?" Tangerine answers, his voice hoarse. Your heart leaps hearing him. It doesn't matter how mad he sounds because it's his voice. He'll make sure no one hurts you.

You turn to the men, as if asking them what you should say. All three of them smirk and the one holding you just shrugs.

"T-tan," you whisper, your hold tightening on the phone. Your voice comes out as shaky as your hands. You want to scream but as the seriousness of the situation sinks in, you can't make your mouth work properly. 

"Y/n? Is that you, love?" Tangerine sounds much more awake now, the annoyance in his tone completely gone. 

You're the only person who calls him Tan. 

"I-I don't know who — and I don't know what they want from me, but t-they have a gun," your word vomit tears a whimper from your throat and you hear curses and movement from the other side of the line. "And I'm so scared. Please, h-help me. I need you."

Suddenly, the phone is ripped from your hands and you let out a shriek of surprise and then another whimper when the gun is pressed to your temple to shut you up. The man chuckles darkly and his arm slides around you so you don't dare make another sound.

"Yes, yeah, we know—mmhmm, yes, we will be waiting with your little friend here," the man holding the phone grins at you, "She's a pretty one, ain't she? Such gorgeous eyes when they're all glossy with tears—" he chuckles, "well shove one up yours too. Don't fucking make us hurt her. You know what we want, bring us the money and she'll survive. Yeah, yeah." 

He grunts and throws the phone across the room, causing you to jump as the other man holding you presses the gun harder into your temple.

The man who was just on the phone pinches his nose and mutters, "Bloody fuck," he turns to you and points his index finger accusingly, "You're a lucky girl, you know. Because, if we didn't really need that money, you would have a bullet stuck in that fucking pretty head of yours for the way your boyfriend speaks to me."

You shiver, wincing. You can tell the man means it. "He's not my boyfriend," you whisper. 

"Whatever, darling," he rolls his eyes and leans forward to take your arm, "Just be a good girl for us and shut up."

* * *

Tangerine feels like he's living his worst nightmare. As soon as he heard your voice on the line, from a masked number, he couldn't think straight anymore. He's currently trying to unlock the drawer where he keeps his gun, fumbling as furious tears prickle in his eyes. 

He can't shake the sound of you crying out his name. He sees you, your skin bruised and bloody as tears stream down your cheeks and he wants to punch his fist through the drawer.

He should have protected you from this. He should have known. 

Lemon walks into his room, frowning when he sees how distressed his brother is. "Woah, mate, what's wrong?"

Tangerine finally thrusts the drawer open and shoves his gun in the back of his pants. He stands and runs a hand through his hair, rushing towards the door. His voice is strained when he says, "Someone has Y/n. They're hurting her." 

Lemon's entire face drops. "W-what? H-how?"

"I don't fuckin' know," Tangerine snaps, "Now, are you fuckin' coming or not?"

* * *

You shift your hand, the ropes burning against your wrists, as you sit on the ground of your bathroom. Blood trickles down your eyebrows from when one of the men hit you and slammed your head into the sink.

The gag they had used cuts painfully into the sides of your mouth. The men had used a pair of your panties they'd found in your dresser and bound the lace around your head, finding it hilarious. You didn't find it funny, the embarrassment still lingering as you sit in the darkness of the bathroom.

Suddenly, the faint laughter from the men in your living room stops and, after a moment, you hear loud crashes. You jump, squeezing your eyes shut as you listen intensely. You hear the slamming of doors until the bathroom door opens and you hear a familiar, "Fuck."

Your eyes snap open and Tangerine kneels in front of you. He quickly unties your panties from around your mouth, his eyes dark with anger and his eyebrows scrunch with worry. You whimper, embarrassed by him seeing you like this. He tosses your panties to the side, not commenting on them but fuming inside as he cups your cheeks gently and inspects your injuries. 

"Shit, does it hurt, love?" he asks, looking at the cut on your forehead and the bruises littered across your skin.

You train your eyes on his appearance. Sweat beads at his hair and splatters of fresh blood adorn his cheeks. It doesn't look like it's his considering he looks unharmed. Tangerine looks you over quickly. "I- did they touch you?" he asks hesitantly, insinuating something from the panties in your mouth and he is clearly a little nervous to know the answer. 

You shake your head and his eyes soften. "Oh, thank fuckin' god. I'm so sorry," he says and unties your hands, wasting no time scooping you up into his arms. You lean your head on his chest, still too shocked to form any words. Tangerine places his hand over your eyes as he walks into the living room and you hear shuffling and curses from what sounds like Lemon.

You turn to look but Tangerine keeps your head still and soothes you, "Shhh, you're okay, c'mon," 

Cold air hits you and you hear Tangerine open the door to his car. He places you inside and kisses your forehead. He kneels next to the car and his thumb touches near your cut, his eyes still dark with anger. "I have to check something with Lemon," he says again and his heart breaks when you grab his arm, 

"Please, don't l-leave me," you manage to ask, your voice hoarse.

Tangerine rests his hand on yours and tries to explain, "I won't be long, darlin'. I can't leave Lemon in there alone but we'll be quick. Trust me."

On any other day you would wait for a better time to bring this up, but your mind is still all fuzzy so you whisper, "Trust you? H-how can I trust you after what happened?" you see the hurt and guilt written on his face as the truth in your words sink in. 

Tangerine has never been good with strong emotions. He doesn't like them. They make him feel weak. You watch as his expression hardens and he looks into your eyes. "I'm sorry, Y/n," he says but mechanically closes the car door on you. You hear a lock and Tangerine disappears into your building again. All you can do is bury your face in your hands and cry.

Later, Tangerine is pacing his room. He hasn't changed out of his bloody clothes and he hasn't calmed down since they'd showed you to the guest room.

You'd asked to be alone and while that was understandable, he's worried sick. Lemon is sitting on his bed, which would usually annoy him because he'd made it that morning, but Tangerine couldn't care less about that right now.

"I basically slammed the door in her face! How could I have done that?" he's obviously panicking. 

"You had to come help me clean the scene. You did the only thing you could think of," Lemon tries to reasons, something he's been doing for the last twenty minutes.

"I- I shut her out. She probably hates me."

"Y/n could never hate you. She loves you."

Tangerine lets out a groan of frustration and turns to look at Lemon, his eyes round. "Don't you understand that's the fuckin' problem? I love her. I fuckin' love her and I've been lying to her all these years and now she's hurt because of it. It's all fucked, fuck, fuck, fuck."

Lemon stares at his brother with a deadpan look on his face. "I cannot believe you just admitted you love her."

"Pardon?"

"You're in love with her. It's been eating at you for years now. It's fucking obvious, I just didn't think you were this self-aware," Lemon rolls his eyes and stands up.

He walks over to Tangerine and crosses his arms. "Shit, mate, what are you even doing in here? Y/n was just attacked in her home and she doesn't understand why. She's probably scared shitless and tending to her wounds all alone —

After you disappeared in here like a baby I asked if she needed help and she said no, but you aren't the only one who is her best friend. I know her. She doesn't want to be alone, you idiot, she just didn't want me. She wants you." 

Tangerine feels like his heart has been beaten up to a pulp and he can barely breathe. He doesn't speak and he leaves his bedroom in a hurry.

As he walks to the guest room, he feels like he's in a daze. He knows he should but he doesn't knock on the door when he rushes in. He finds you sitting on the ground, dressed in one of his shirts he must have left in the guest room by accident, applying some alcohol to the wound on your head.

Your tears have dried but when you look at him, he sees how bloodshot your eyes are and he wants to kill those men all over again.

He doesn't speak as he crouches down and pulls you into a hug. He wraps his arms around your body and holds you tightly. He hears your small sigh as you wrap your arms around his torso. Tangerine doesn't care when you unconsciously climb into his lap and hug him closer. He nuzzles his head in your neck and kisses your exposed shoulder. He's never given you this type of intimacy and while his head is screaming at him to run from you, his heart won't let him. 

"It was so scary," you whimper against him. 

He cups your head with his hand as he soothes you, "I know, darlin', I know it was. I promise you're safe now. I'm here. 'm not leaving you, doll. I'm so sorry this happened," he pulls away and caresses his large hands down your face, brushing some hair from your eyes. 

"Why'd you open the door, darlin'? You'know you can't open the door to strangers, mm?"

He isn't blaming you, he just wants to know. 

You avoid his eyes. "I thought it was you."

Tangerine frowns.

"I think they somehow sent me a text from your phone and it said you wanted to come over and I-I said yes," you feel your cheeks burn and Tangerine anger bubbles. They'd used him to hurt you. He leans his forehead on yours as you continue. "I did think it was a little weird, but I—"

Tangerine wipes at your new tears with his thumb, interrupting you, "It's okay. You couldn't have known. I'm so sorry."

"I should have known," you whisper.

"No," he shakes his head, pressing his lips to your forehead. "I should have prepared you for something like this. Lemon and I should have warned you."

You lean your head on his chest again, your breathing harsh. "I knew your job was dangerous, but I didn't think you were killing people," you whisper and you feel Tangerine tense. He rubs his hand up and down your back. 

"I-" he doesn't know what he can say to you. 

You pull away and look into his eyes, "I don't want to know," you say, "not today. Not now. You can tell me later but now I want you to hold me and tell me it'll be okay." Tangerine nods, you sound a little in shock, but your voice is serious. 

"And I want you to kiss me."

Your words almost knock Tangerine out.

"Fucking pardon?" he says, instantly regretting cursing.

You move to hold his cheeks in your hands, leaning in closer. You wait for him to make the first move, your heart beating as quickly as his is.

You don't care about his job, or that he'd lied to you, and you know he's probably not an honorable man like you'd wished him to be, but none of that matters because you need to feel his lips on yours.

You need to know he's here.

Tangerine closes his eyes and kisses you. His entire body feels like it's on fire and if he thinks too hard, he might combust into ashes. His hands find your waist and his head tilts so he can kiss you better.

Fuck this. He's so in love with you.

You kiss him back with more passion and he almost loses his mind. If he had lost you today he would have burned the entire world to make those men pay. Killing them would have never been enough.

You pull away, tears streaming down your cheeks. You look into Tangerine's blue eyes. You want to tell him you love him. You're in love with him. However, no words can leave your lips.

Tangerine sees your expression and wipes his thumb under your eye. He stands and pulls you up with him as he whispers, "Shh, you don't need to talk. You need sleep."

He looks at your wound again, making sure it's clean and then cups your cheeks and tilts them upwards so he has your attention. "Lemon and I are just around the hall, okay? I- I lo-," his sentence dies and he starts a new one, "I lo-oked over your injury and it shouldn't hurt that much anymore but if it does, you know where my room is."

Tangerine leans down and presses one last kiss to your lips. He pulls away and says, "You're safe now, my darlin'. Okay? Nothing will ever happen to you again. I promise."

He says it with such security, you nod again. Your lips tingle from his and you savor the moment, wrapping your arms around him. Tangerine is surprised but he kisses your head and whispers just quietly enough for you to miss it, 

"I love you," 

And for the first time in his life, those three words don't stay clogged in his throat. Tangerine's shoulders relax and he sighs. One day soon he'll be able to say them loud enough that you hear him. And, hopefully, you'll say them back.

[justwritedreams]

House Of Cards | San

San x Reader, exes to lovers au!, mafia au!

Word count: 12.013 (hehe)

Genre: angst, suggestive, fluff at the end

Warning: mention of crimes and violence, suggestive, language, San in a pool bc that's a warning. If you don't feel comfortable DON’T READ IT!

Author: Maari

Note: Ok so that was an imagine that i wrote with got7 yugyeom but reading again i decided to repost with san, because i think it fits him more.

Summary: It seems like your ghost from the past came at the best time to save you.

Taglist: @foxinnie8

⪢ Ateez Masterlist

“Miss Y/N.” She heard her own name echo through the corridor and turned around, coming face to face with one of the security guards whose name she hadn't yet memorized.

"Yes?"

“Mr. Kim wants to see you.”

She took a deep breath. She had just arrived at the hotel, he himself had told her to go up to the presidential suite

“Tell him I’m coming.”

“Now, miss.” His serious tone made her stop in her tracks and look at the security guard with some concern.

It wouldn't be good to go against Seungho's rules. It never was.

She nodded and followed him, the shower she planned to take would have to wait a little bit.

A while ago she would have sighed at the elegance of the hotel but unfortunately for Y/N, she was starting to get used to that life.

Well, used to wasn't quite the word. Conformed was more certain.

As she predicted, the security guard took her to a private area of the hotel, she was sure that Seungho had requested that only he frequent that place and with the great influence he had, it wasn't denied.

Y/N approached him alone and in silence, seeing him sitting in an armchair staring at the glass of whiskey he held.

"Wanted to see me?" She crossed her arms behind her body and swallowed hard when he looked at her.

She hated the weight of his eyes on her.

"Come here." he patted his own leg and she got the message, taking a deep breath before sitting on his lap.

Seungho ran his free hand down Y/N's back and stopped at the base of her lower back, the smell of alcohol was permeating his pores and it was enough for her to realize that this wasn't the first glass of whiskey.

Y/N didn't understand the sudden affection until he approached and kissed her lips, as always in a thirsty and quick way that caused absolutely nothing to Y/N.

Except disgust.

"You didn't call me here just to kiss me, did you?" she questioned, raising her eyebrow.

"No, but that doesn't mean I can't enjoy it." he approached once more but Y/N immediately avoided it. "Alright, I need you to stay by my side while I partner up."

He held out the glass of whiskey and she held it, reluctantly, her brow furrowed.

"Why? You're not going to introduce me as your girlfriend, right?" His eyes dropped to the small neckline of Y/N's dress.

She would have shifted uncomfortably if she hadn't been in his lap, that might have given him ideas she didn't want him to have.

"Don't be silly, of course not." Seungho's cold tone didn't even shock Y/N. "You know women with your beauty make business easier."

She blinked and blinked, in disbelief.

"Do you want me to seduce a future partner?" she asked, not as incredulous as she would have been in the past. This had been quite common, actually.

"No, I don't want you to go to bed with him." He responded possessively and angrily. "I just want you to give us the privilege of admiring your beauty." his hand ran up the spine to the back of Y/N's head.

She took a deep breath, she hated having to do that ridiculous act but it wasn't like she could say no, she never could.

"Okay, I'm just going to change my clothes." She got up from his lap, she was ready to get out of there, but Seungho held her by the hip.

"No, he's already coming." Seungho got up from the chair and moved his hand away from her body. "You look pretty sexy anyway." he spoke quietly, making her understand that his partner was closer than she imagined.

She lowered her head to look at her own heels, she should have chosen another dress before going to the hotel. That one seemed too short for her own taste but what could she do if Seungho had liked it and the pair of black high heels?

She lived to please him.

Noticing that she was still holding the glass, she downed the whiskey in one go so that she could gain a little more confidence to do the dirty work.

"Mr. Kim." the partner spoke friendly and Y/N swallowed the alcohol, which went down her throat and felt her heart stop when she heard his voice.

She knew that voice…

"Please, call me Seungho. Sit down."

Y/N lowered her head and opened her eyes, watching as Seungho pointed to the front seat and the two did so, with shaky legs she sat in the seat next to Seungho's and her eyes stopped on the future partner's hands.

Years could pass, but she would never forget those hands, not when they showed so many times the love that their owner felt for Y/N.

With complete certainty that this was really who she thought, she raised her head after letting out a sigh and her eyes met his for the first time in so many years, making her press her fingers against the empty glass she was holding.

Y/N felt a mix of emotions, her hands started to shake just with his eyes fixed on her, she didn't fail to notice that he analyzed her quickly before turning his gaze to Seungho, she got goosebumps from head to toe and asked herself how could he still do that to her? And what was he actually doing there?

"Choi San, right?" Seungho asked, making Y/N return to reality.

"Correct."

"Your secretary called me."

"We are very interested in a partnership with you, Seungho. I believe it will bring benefits to both parties, as my partner has already explained everything to you." the two maintained a rigid posture but unlike Seungho, San was elegant.

Of course, the gray suit San wore was very different from the hoodies he had and that she remembered, it suited the formal atmosphere they were in but it went beyond his appearance.

San's aura was different, as he was ready for that.

"Yes, it was a very productive meeting."

"I'm just here to finish the deal." San quickly looked at Y/N and a smile appeared on his face.

This disconcerted her, and she left the glass on the arm of the chair and clasped her sweaty hands to try to hide her nervousness.

"Well, I can pay you the first million right now if you want." She rolled her eyes discreetly, Seungho loved showing off how rich he was. "Just a minute." He got up from the chair and looked at Y/N quickly, walking away, leaving her alone there and ready to collapse.

If Seungho wanted her to seduce San now, that was a bad time.

But it wasn't surprising since he had never learned to read the atmosphere when she was near, he never noticed when she was uncomfortable or happy, because for him it didn't make any difference.

She looked back at San, still feeling vulnerable about being in front of him again after so many years and took in every detail of his face that she had never been able to forget.

He was different. His face was no longer so thin and youthful, now his features were stronger, more masculine.

The black hair that she remembered falling into his eyes was now perfectly pushed back and the side cut made him look much more handsome and mature.

Even in a suit and tie, she could see that he wasn't as thin as he used to be.

He was no longer the boy she had known, he was a man and very attractive one.

Her body vibrated for her to come closer and she felt her fingers tingle to touch his face one last time, like she hadn't had the opportunity in the past.

He continued to analyze her from top to bottom, much longer, which made her tremble all over.

Taking a deep breath, she decided to find the courage to do what Seungho had told her to do.

"You're getting a great deal, you'll be very pleased." the attempt to use a seductive tone failed due to the way her body was reacting.

She looked like a robot programmed to say that.

“That’s what they say, but it’s not the business I’m interested in.” San seemed to know very well how to use his voice in a low tone and something inside her warmed in a way that hadn't happened in a long time.

Y/N was left with no response and Seungho returned, probably thinking she had gotten what he wanted.

Little did he know that the spell had turned against the sorceress.

“What do you say we play poker while we settle the transaction, San?”

"It would be amazing." he got up from the chair and Y/N's eyes followed him.

She got up from the chair but made to go to the other side towards the uncovered part of that area, but she didn't even take two steps as Seungho held her arm tightly.

"Where do you think you're going?"

“I think the little act of being your luxury slut was enough for today.” she responded firmly and he tightened his grip on her arm, to the point of hurting it.

“Don’t play with me, Y/N, I want you by my side until the transaction is over.” His eyes were fixed on her face and for a brief moment, she was afraid.

Looking to the side, she noticed that San was watching them a little further behind Seungho, with his jaw clenched and with a rigid expression.

“I’m not going to sit at that table and watch you play that fuck poker that destroyed my life.” she turned her gaze to Seungho who now seemed to have understood. “You really like torturing me, don't you?”

“One day you’re going to have to stop blaming the cards, my love.” he let go of her arm, and Y/N controlled herself from crying.

It would be pointless and pathetic.

He walked away from her with a wry smile and passed by San, who stood there for a few seconds staring at Y/N until he shook his head and followed him.

She left there, feeling suffocated and her legs were shaking like never before, no longer able to control her tears, she leaned against the wall and looked at the clear sky, all the memories that she had been forced to bury came back with much more intensity.

[...]

7 years ago

“Get out of my house, please.” she begged without having the courage to look into his dark, gentle eyes, she would weaken if she did, especially if he was crying like her.

“Y/N, explain to me what’s going on.” he pleaded and she had to choke back a sob.

"It's over. Go away." She touched the door handle with her back to him, she was about to open it when he gently grabbed her arm.

“Something happened, right?" she took a deep breath before looking at him, feeling her heart break into thousands of pieces and sink into her stomach.

“What happened is that I don’t want you anymore, San. Don't insist." Her voice came out shaky and she knew she hadn't convinced him yet, she was about to break down in front of him but she couldn't. “We’re too young, it would never work.”

"Are you sure about that?" San slowly let go of her arm and looked at her completely lost.

She didn't respond, just opened the door with a silent message for him to leave.

No scene broke her heart like that when she saw him leaving with his head down, hands in his pants pockets and a tear running down his face.

She needed all the strength she didn't even know she had left to ignore the urge to hug him and tell him how much she loved him. Instead, Y/N closed the door and fell to the floor, now without needing or being able to control her crying.

She cried about so many things, she couldn't even list or understand what he cried most about, but she was sure she had made the biggest mistake of her life.

She had never felt so empty.

She was angry, scared, sorry and most of all, she was sad.

Because she had lost the only joy in her life, for a mistake that wasn't hers, for a decision that wasn't hers.

“Daughter…” Y/N looked at the stairs and saw her father coming down the steps, deflated and with a guilty expression.

She passed her hand over her face, drying her tears and got up from the floor. With long and silent steps, she walked past her father with the intention of locking herself in her room.

She would still have that night to sleep in her bed.

"I'm so-"

“Don’t finish that sentence.” She turned angrily, glaring at her father as she sighed. “I did what you wanted, now leave me alone.”

[...]

In recent years, Y/N has tried to erase that memory from her head. She didn't want to relive it like she did in the first nights when her life had changed, when she was brought back to reality with nightmares.

She didn't want to feel again the hurt she had towards her father for doing that to her and even less did she want to feel her heart break again when remembered San being devastated because she had broken up with him.

Even though she had managed to bury that day in the depths of her consciousness, that emptiness was always there.

And now here she was, being haunted by the ghosts of her past and crying like the heartbroken teenager she once was.

She wiped her face, thankful for her makeup being waterproof, approaching the balcony and surveying the bustling city.

A wave of nostalgia washed over her. She missed home, the happy moments she lived that were now just memories, she even missed her father. But mostly, she missed who she used to be.

The girl who had dreams and insecurities, which were always hushed up by San.

He was always everything for her, the kisses he distributed on her face and the convinced way he said that she would achieve everything she dreamed of, made her believe at the time.

She stayed there for a long time in silence, alone and without security guards watching her every step, making her feel free.

“It’s a wonderful view.” Y/N jumped in fright when she heard San's voice so close.

Looking to the side, she noticed he was next to her.

How and when did he get there?

“Yeah, the city is amazing.” she replied, still feeling her heart beating faster, she just didn't know if it was because of the scare or just because of him.

“I wasn’t talking about the city.” she felt San's eyes boring into her and a shiver ran down the back of her neck.

Since when was San so direct like that? Who had he learned to be like this from?

“Aren’t you supposed to be playing poker or something?” she changed the subject, still looking at the city.

“An hour ago I was.”

Y/N frowned.

Hour? Had she stayed there for an hour?

“So you closed the deal.” She took a deep breath and found the courage to look at him.

San nodded silently.

“You don’t seem very happy about this.” he smiled sideways, leaning on a pillar.

Happy? She didn't even know what that was anymore.

“I just hope you know what you’re getting into.” she shrugged, sighing.

“Why don’t you explain it to me?” San looked at her intensely and she returned it, unable to look away.

She could, a part of her screamed at her to do so, but she knew what she had to lose and she couldn't risk it, not now that he was there and she couldn't protect him from Seungho's fury.

"You wouldn't understand."

“Maybe I should warn you.” he took a step towards her while keeping his tone serious, without looking away.

“I'm not kidding, San. Be careful."

 Y/N's intention was to get out of there quickly, but he stopped her from continuing when he gently grabbed her wrist.

The contact made her stop, her heart beating faster. Feeling his touch again was everything she had asked for, being close to him was much more than she thought she deserved.

“So let’s be clear that I’m not kidding either.” She could practically feel his breath, his face was so close she could touch it at any moment if she stayed there. “In nothing I did or said today.” She swallowed hard and looked at him, seeing the conviction in his dark eyes and once again, she was left speechless.

She wanted to cry, for so many nights she had dreamed of those same eyes and it seemed like a dream that he was there so close to her and at the same time so far away, because even though he was the San she knew, he was no longer the same.

He had a certain power, a fire in his iris that she had never seen before, that she couldn't identify.

But it was very different from the way Seungho looked at her as if she were his property.

Y/N's eyes went down to San's lips, they looked extremely inviting and she wondered if it still tasted the same, the attention she returned to San's mouth didn't go unnoticed by him as he wet his lips with his own tongue.

Before she could get even closer to him, Y/N blinked a few times until she remembered where she was and who she was with, if Seungho arrived at that moment it wouldn't be good, especially for San.

Thinking about it, against every cell in her body she pulled away from San and his touch.

“Have a good day, San.”

She got out of there as quickly as her feet would allow her before she did something she would regret later, she didn't look back and was thankful once again that she was without security guards.

She arrived at reception and Seungho was leaning on the counter with his phone to his ear.

“Y/N!” he called with his free hand and turned his attention to someone else on the other end of the line. “Matt, I already took care of all that.” She approached him paying attention to the conversation, it was probably something related to their return. “You know she's good for much more than that. Okay, I’ll be there.” he hung up, huffing.

"Problems?" Y/N asked without the slightest interest.

“I have to receive a load today from the other side of town and they require my presence.” he informed, irritated.

“I’ll go upstairs and get our bags then.” she pointed to the elevator and was ready to go when he stopped her, raising his hand.

“No, Y/N.” he scratched his head and she knew something was wrong. “I haven’t finished the entire transaction with San yet.” she crossed her arms, waiting for him to finish. “And you know this hotel does business with me.”

"I know that."

That part of the city was heavily influenced by Seungho. Hotels, banks, even the hospital operated when and how he wanted.

“A luxurious dinner will be held to welcome Mr. Choi.”

“What’s all this-” she frowned.

“I need you to accompany him to this party and explain that I had an unforeseen event but we will finish tomorrow when I arrive.” he interrupted her and Y/N felt her expression fall.

Would she be alone with San for a whole night by his side?

"What?" She didn't want to show despair but it had become difficult after that. “No… I can’t… I can’t.”

Explaining to him what was really going through her head was out of the question.

“I need this partnership. Matt will be with me and you are the only one who can be here representing me.”

“Postpone receiving the load then.” she shrugged and he took a deep breath, visibly irritated. “I’m not you, I don’t have to deal with your business.”

It wasn't part of the role she had played in those years. For business, she was just the statue that if she winked at the partners, with the right clothes, she could make them close the deal faster.

Seungho was too jealous to let her be alone with a man for two hours, let alone an entire night.

This then meant that whatever the deal was with San, he didn't want to risk losing it.

Annoyed, he held Y/N by her arm with a somewhat unnecessary force, making her look into his eyes, to see that he was serious.

“I'm not asking you to accompany him, I'm ordering you to.” In fear, she lowered her head, giving up. “Don’t worry, my love.” He got closer and his mouth met her ear. “Tomorrow we will have all day to make up for the time we lost.”

She wanted to laugh but held back, sleeping with him was the last thing on her mind at the moment.

In fact, her mind was too busy with images of San in a suit.

[...]

Y/N spent the entire afternoon getting ready for dinner at the hotel with the help of a small team that Seungho hired to make her look magnificent.

Small because she had begged him, she wasn't a Hollywood actress after all, a football team taking care of her appearance for a simple dinner was unnecessary.

He had made it very clear before leaving that she must use every trick to convince San to wait until tomorrow. For Seungho, this was her only role, to seduce his partners.

Seduce, never go to bed with them.

Because for Seungho, she had to have her eyes focused only on him, and according to his theory, the more instigated to have Y/N, the more the partners would be committed to maintaining an agreement.

Basically, she was there to make these men fools, believing that one day they could have something with her behind Seungho's back.

At eight o'clock at night she was ready and couldn't deny that the job had been well done.

The red dress was long with a strap on one side and a detail at the waist that made it much more elegant, black sandals on her feet and ruby earrings that Seungho had given her, like the countless expensive jewelry she had been receiving in recent years.

She believed that he gifted her with expensive and luxurious things just to keep her with him, as if it made her wonder if she could live without flaunting the good life she had achieved.

Each piece of jewelry increased her indifference towards him, because it made her feel like she had been bought by him again.

The makeup had highlighted Y/N's face in an elegant way and she insisted on wearing red lipstick, she was trying her best to do the job, finally her hair was left loose but left aside.

She even tried to take a deep breath when she left the room but she couldn't lie to herself in that situation, she was nervous. More than that, she was anxious!

Seungho had left one of his security guards to take care of her, of course he wouldn't be that stupid, but when she arrived at the main hall and saw San smiling at some people he was talking to friendly, Y/N totally forgot about security or anything else.

It would be cliché to say that she couldn't take her eyes off him, but it was the truth, he looked wonderful. Breathtaking.

He wasn't as formal as he was in the morning, he was wearing a suit but without a blazer, just a black vest, the sleeves of his white blouse were rolled up to his elbows with the first two buttons open and his tie was slightly loosened.

He had his hair pulled back but with a few strands in his face.

God, even if he tried hard for 20 years he wouldn't be able to get ugly.

San realized he was being watched and looked towards Y/N, smiling brightly at her and he came to meet her quickly.

“Miss Y/N.” He took her hand and kissed it gently, like a perfect gentleman and it was enough to make her heart skip a beat, and her legs tremble slightly. “You look gorgeous.”

She smiled restrainedly.

“Thank you, Mr. Choi, I must say you look really nice too.” she tried to keep her tone formal to keep the theater for security.

"Would you like something to drink?" he looked at the security guard and she understood what he was planning.

"Of course." she replied and he put his arm through hers, she looked at the security guard who was watching them closely. “You don’t need to follow me, I’m fine.” she ordered and he agreed, stopping where he was and San took her away.

“The compliment was true.” he said without looking at her face.

"So was mine." she replied quietly, feeling her cheeks burn.

“You got a babysitter from your boyfriend, huh?”

Y/N could feel the jealousy in his voice and it made her smile discreetly.

“The babysitter isn’t for me, it’s for you.”

They arrived at the mini bar and he ordered two drinks.

“Is he afraid you’ll fall for my charms?” he turned to face her and got closer, making Y/N get lost in his scent.

That was it, she was intoxicated by everything about him. The smell, his voice, the heat of his body, which wasn't enough because she knew he was much hotter than that, she just needed to get closer.

“Actually, he’s afraid you’ll run away.”

“And you’re here to make sure I stay?” he asked, raising his eyebrow.

She searched in her head a decent answer but all that came out was just the truth.

“I’m here to make you stay.” she said even though she wished she could do otherwise.

If she had the power, she would make San move far away from her and Seungho, for his own good.

“And how do you intend to do that?” he took a step forward, their bodies practically touching. It was incredible, it seemed like he could read her mind.

Because she wanted to get closer, enough to put her hands on his broad shoulders.

“He asked me to seduce you.” she replied quietly and couldn't take her eyes off his mouth.

“Can you do it or will I seduce you first?”

Y/N didn't imagine that San would be so sexy like that and as dangerous as that game was, she was loving it.

What she remembered was a much shyer and not so confident San.

She held back the urge to bite her lip.

“You’re going to need a lot more than whispers to seduce me.”

Of course, as if she could convince herself of that.

He had just approached her and she was already feeling weak in the knees.

“That’s what we’ll see.” San smirked and walked away at the exact moment the bartender brought the drinks.

He handed the drink to Y/N who drank some while observing the room.

She managed to identify at least three more Seungho's bodyguard, and it wasn't surprising since she knew he would never leave just one of his men watching her.

Not when she had already tried to escape from him a few times in the past, without success, obviously.

No matter where she went, whoever she asked for help, Kim always found her and brought her back.

She was so lost in her analysis that she didn't notice when San brought his mouth to her ear to whisper.

“Can I show you something?”

She suppressed a smile and took a deep breath before looking at him, seeing him smile so close to her.

His smile still had the same effect on her, as if the sun had risen in the cloudy sky. It was the light in the midst of darkness.

It wasn't like she had the strength to deny it.

He held out his free hand and she took it, being led out of the room soon after.

The party took place near the pool and only a thick, red curtain separated the two places, Y/N sighed as she observed the full moon, which was brighter than usual, she had never seen it so beautiful.

San let go of her hand only to sit on one of the lounge chairs, she turned to face him when she felt the touch disappear and came closer but still remained standing.

“What did you want to show me?” she asked, quite curious.

“Nothing, I just wanted to be alone with you.” he confessed, resting his hands behind his head after placing the drink on the floor.

Y/N swallowed hard at the movement, as his arms were in evidence and she thought it more prudent to remain silent, this time returning her gaze to the crystal clear water of the pool, feeling not only her cheeks heat up but also her heart.

It seemed like even if she wanted to bury the old version of her that night, she couldn't.

“I know it’s been years, but I want you to know that I never gave up on you.”

She looked at him at the same moment, San didn't take his eyes off her and spoke with such conviction that it left her speechless.

All she wanted was to be able to throw herself into his lap and kiss him all at once. Only if the situation had been different, if they hadn't met again like that...

But time wasn't fair to them, it wasn't in the past and it wasn't now.

“I think I prefer it when you flirt with me.” Unable to contain herself, she spoke out loud and wanted to beat herself up for it.

“I can do that too.” he shrugged, getting up from the lounge chair. “I can do a lot of things.” He got closer and she felt her body go still at the short distance. This was the time she should take a step back, right? “Especially the ones you want.” she felt his hand on her wrist, going up her elbow in a pleasant way and making goose bumps go up her arm.

Damn it.

Y/N held the glass tightly, trying her best to remember what she was there for and especially what she shouldn't do.

San noticed the tension and took the dronk out of her hand, ending the sudden affection, placing it on the floor but Y/N wasn't prepared for what would come next, thinking he would just stare deeply at her like he had been doing.

But one of his hands found her waist while his mouth found her cheek, placing a soft, lingering kiss on the warm skin.

“You shouldn’t tease me like that.” She closed her eyes, letting herself go for a few seconds.

“Afraid to like it?” he asked close to her ear and his mouth went down to Y/N's chin, involuntarily one of her hands tightened on the arm that was holding her waist.

"This is wrong." Her voice was nothing more than a whisper.

It was? Wasn't she on board with Kim's plan?

“But you want that." He bit her chin, and she could feel him smiling.

"No." although her mouth said something, Y/N's body said the exact opposite. She dug her nails into San's arm and felt her body getting weaker and weaker.

She mentally begged him to kiss her and end that miserable tension.

“Y/N…” she stifled a moan when she heard her name being spoken so quietly by San’s seductive voice.

It was wrong and dangerous, but why did it feel so right?

She felt that San was about to kiss her, she felt his breath against her mouth and no matter how much her rational side screamed for her to stay away, her emotional side was controlling everything because that was what she wanted from the moment she saw him in the morning.

She had missed so much being in his arms, feeling loved, protected.

She felt San's lips so close, her own hands going up to his shoulders and she was ready to give in, when his lips touched hers just enough to make a slight tickle, the image of Seungho with a gun appeared in her head.

"No!"

Y/N pushed San and suddenly he no longer held her, not even his perfume covered the radius they were in, she opened her eyes to find him startled.

She took two steps back, placing her hands on her forehead, now regaining lucidity.

What was she thinking? How could she think of putting him in danger like that?

“Don’t do that” she trembled, feeling her eyes tear up. “I’m trying to protect you.”

“But, Y/N…” he took a step towards her and she raised her hand, asking him to stop right there.

He obeyed, confused and hurt.

"You wouldn't understand." she shook her head to get the image of Seungho finishing him off from her mind.

“Maybe if you explained it I could.”

She ran her hand over her own arm, not knowing what to say. If he continued to insist, she would eventually give in and things wouldn't end well.

San followed the movement and his eyes stopped at a specific place.

“What’s that scar on your arm?” he asked and she automatically stared at her own skin.

Y/N blamed herself for not choosing a long-sleeved dress, mainly because the scar was recent so it was lighter and she hadn't even remembered about it.

"I need to go." Once again she deviated from the subject, if she continued there she would end up saying everything she shouldn't have and that was definitely out of the question.

She would never forgive herself if something happened to San because she had told him everything, even if that was her wish. To finally clear things up, after so long.

She ran out of there as best she could, avoiding passing through the room where that damn party was taking place and hoped that San wouldn't go after her, deep down she knew he would leave her alone after that outburst but she only became calmer when the elevator doors closed with a bang, her inside that cubicle.

Unable to control it any longer, she let the tears she had been holding back for a long time fall, it seemed like an eternity before she arrived at the presidential suite.

She stumbled into the elevator because of her tears and took the opportunity to take off her heels right there, she no longer cared about her appearance as she had been taken care of for hours. Seungho's plan hadn't worked anyway so screw the party, the appearances and all that stupid luxury.

When she arrived, she threw her heels in any corner of the huge, cold room as she closed the door behind her, ran her fingers through her hair and took off her dress without any will.

All she wanted most was to lie in bed and sleep for a good twenty years.

And even she tried, she knew it wouldn't be easy to sleep that night, not after everything that had happened and to make even worse, everything she had tried to forget about the past was playing intensely in her head.

The memories she had with San, all the first times with him, from when they met until the day she broke up with him, her happy childhood and her difficult adolescence of having to deal with her father's addiction that affected the entire family.

Hugging the pillow, she let the tears fall again as she lay there alone once again, as it had been repeating since her father had spoken the harsh words that had changed her life.

[...]

It was already past 10 am when Y/N decided to leave the room and go to the pool, the weather was nice to take a few dips and that would help her forget everything that had happened, at least for a few hours until she was away from that hotel.

She put on a very simple white bikini, a long white button-down blouse so she wouldn't be walking around the hotel with nothing covering her body, white flip-flops and big glasses to hide the dark circles under her eyes from last night.

Luckily for her the pool area was empty and Seungho's security hadn't come after her so far, which meant she was free for who knows how long, she left her things on one of the sun loungers and her sunglasses were also left behind.

It didn't take long to enjoy the warm water, trying to wash away any traces of guilt and uncertainty.

After wetting her hair and swimming a little, she leaned against the edge, closing her eyes and feeling the sun on her skin as if it were giving her strength back.

She tried not to think about anything, just wanted to enjoy some time she didn't usually have, alone and quiet with her own conscience.

She felt the water become more agitated but she didn't pay any attention, she was feeling so light that she didn't even care that someone was there too.

The pool was big enough for that.

However, when she realized that someone was too close, she couldn't help but open her eyes and look at whoever it was.

Y/N need to rest her arms on the edge of the pool when she saw San standing in front of her with a shy smile and no shirt.

She had a very privileged view of San's bare torso, she knew he had gotten stronger but she couldn't imagine how much and she couldn't even disguise the way her eyes observed San's broad and strong shoulders, going down his chest. She couldn't see his abs clearly because the water was getting in the way of having a clear view of how defined he was, but realizing that he was there in just black swim trunks made her lose her train of thought completely.

Even with the water distorting a little, she could see how thick his thighs were.

Okay, San had turned into a personification of some Greek god and she couldn't stop looking at him to burn every bit of him into her memory, which conflicted when she remembered what he was like in the past.

She had never imagined that he could be so… hot.

She cleared her throat, trying unsuccessfully to hide it, and looked away, missing the opportunity to see his raised eyebrow.

“I didn’t think I’d see you so soon.” she spoke quietly.

“I was worried about you.” he admitted firmly and she swallowed hard.

“Let’s not talk about last night, please.” she pleaded, sighing and looking back at him.

San was serious, not mad at her, but he seemed to be trying to figure her out.

“We will need to talk one day, Y/N.”

“If that's why you came here…” she started to leave, but was stopped by San who put his arm on the edge of the pool and brought his body closer to hers, still without truly touching her. "What do you want?" she asked, pretending to be impatient.

He put his other arm on the other side, trapping her there and Y/N had nothing to do but look him in the eyes.

“Does he hit you?” it was simple and direct, making her jaw drop slightly.

"What…?" She released a breath that until then she hadn't even realized she had been holding. "Who?" She tried to pretend she didn't understand.

San cocked his head to the side, only to stare at her more intensely.

“Kim Seungho.” he spoke the name between his teeth. “Does he hit you, Y/N?” he asked, this time his tone became more serious and his eyes locked with hers.

He already knew the answer without her even answering, but he wasn't going to give up so easily because the only thing he needed was for her to tell the truth and then they could find an alternative.

"No!" she replied desperately, her voice became even thinner. “I mean, where did you get that idea?” she crossed her arms, trying to be defensive but she was actually scared.

If San found out the truth, she didn't know what he might do.

“That scar wasn’t made for a silly reason and now seeing you in that bikini, in addition to seeing that your body is still beautiful, I can also see some purple on your legs and belly.”

She swallowed hard, trying to think quickly of a convincing answer.

“The scar… I've had it since, uh, I was a kid” she forced her throat to stop stuttering but his attentive eyes weren't helping. “and the purple ones… well, I’m very distracted.”

“Do you think I don’t remember all your scars, Y/N?” He brought his face closer to hers and she didn't have the strength to turn away. “I had the image of your body in my head for years, I remember every inch of you.” she felt her body shiver and sighed slowly. “Tell me the truth, Y/N. Please." he pleaded.

One of his hands touched Y/N's face, making a pleasant caress and she couldn't stop herself from closing her eyes when she felt the soft touch.

“That’s a low blow.” she spoke quietly, fighting her eyes that insisted on closing.

"And yeah?" she could feel he was smiling. “You know, I remember you loved a kiss below your ear.”

Of course she loved it mainly because only he knew about it.

She couldn't think about much or open her eyes because his mouth was already practicing what his voice announced.

Y/N put her hand on San's shoulder and found that the sun did a great job of warming their bodies, but their skin wasn't the only thing that was hot there.

Her hand squeezed San's exposed skin, suppressing a moan as she felt his breath right next to her neck. She was unable to reason with that sudden approach, nor even breathe properly like a normal person.

"So?" he asked, lips touched her skin as he spoke but Y/N was too lost in that sensation to remember what his question was.

San moved his face away and she opened her eyes at the same moment, missing the contact, he looked at her, urging her to respond.

"What?" was all she could say.

“Y/N, I’m waiting for an answer.” He raised an eyebrow and she felt her legs tremble again.

Her mouth suddenly became dry and she had to use her own tongue to wet it, a movement that didn't go unnoticed by San.

“Do you think… I have the capacity… to talk after this?” she was panting and hadn't even kissed him.

San laughed softly, his dimple showing.

“Good to know I still have some power over you.” he said, cocky.

“It’s so much more than that, Sannie.” he smiled sadly at the old nickname. “I have always loved you and I will always love you.” her hands went to his face, making him look deep into her eyes. “But I can’t tell you, forgive me.” she said, seeing him take a deep breath. “Please don’t continue with this transition, cancel this damn partnership. This is all too dangerous and I would never forgive myself if something happened to you. I just…” she looked down, unable to continue, water was calm but a storm was still coming.

San brought a hand to her chin, making their eyes meet again.

"Just…?" he urged her to continue.

“I’m afraid of losing you again.” she confessed, straightforward.

San didn't say anything and neither did she dare continue, she had already said too much, he then brought his face closer to hers and ended that distance once and for all, Y/N could only close her eyes when San's soft and warm lips touched hers. So softly that it made her sigh against the kiss.

He didn't deepen the kiss or move his lips, he kept the touch for a few seconds that lasted for eternity and Y/N felt her eyes water even though they were closed, the hand that was still on Y/N's chin went down to her the back of her neck when he broke the kiss and her heart seemed to want to jump out of her mouth, she didn't even know how she was still standing.

Without the courage to open her eyes, because she knew she would cry like a child in front of him, Y/N didn't expect San to hug her so tightly that it sounded like a goodbye, the kind that leaves you breathless.

She grabbed him by the neck and rested her face on his shoulder while the tears ran down her face and got lost on San's skin, she could have stayed there hugging him forever.

San ran his hands down her spine and caressed her, feeling his breath on the back of her neck, Y/N closed her eyes to enjoy the feeling of being safe even if for that brief moment.

The sun burning on their skin lasted as long as the hug, which none of them had any idea how long it had lasted, but it had been enough to strengthen Y/N.

“Never forget what I said.” she spoke quietly and walked away, feeling cold and empty again when she no longer had San's warmth surrounding her, and swam towards the stairs.

She wanted to keep that image of him smiling and welcoming her, that was the reason she didn't look back as she got out of the pool and picked up her things from where she had left them.

She hoped that one day San would understand why she kept a secret from him and who knows, he could even one day forgive her. 

She knew that she had hurt him in the past but it wasn't because she was cruel, she was just trying to protect the one she loved. Including San.

She looked at her feet on the way back to reception and was ready to go to her room, but that wasn't exactly what happened.

A pair of expensive shoes stopped in front of her, stopping her from continuing on her way and she would have been rude if she hadn't been taken by surprise.

Seungho was in front of her with his arms crossed and his expression not at all pleasant.

“Beautiful scene, I think it deserves applause.” his voice was cold and he didn't even blink, she knew what was coming next and even so it didn't stop her from starting to shake with fear. “I’m just going to ask once, what the fuck was that?”

[...]

Y/N tried not to sob loudly but despair and fear were speaking louder this time, she didn't even know which floor she was on and she couldn't even think about stepping into reception.

With all of Seungho's security guards downstairs, all that was left for her was to sit on the floor of one of the floors of that hotel while she felt weak and helpless.

She brought her hand to her mouth to try to muffle the sound but when she felt liquid in the corner, she pulled it away and stared at the blood on her finger.

Her blood wouldn't be the only one that would be spilled, she felt anger take over her body and rubbed her hand with the other to try to get the blood out.

“Y/N?”

She looked to the side and even though her vision was blurry because of her tears, she recognized San and sighed with relief. 

San knelt in front of her and touched her chin, the lighting in the hallway was low but it didn't stop him from noticing some things, Y/N brought a hand to San's face to make sure he was really there with her.

"What happened to you?" He made to put his hand on her face but decided not to when he saw the tears that were still flowing. "Come with me."

He picked her up slowly, Y/N felt her ribs throb but ignored it as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

He walked to the end of the hallway and opened the door to one of the rooms, from which she could see that it was the one he was staying in. 

San placed her carefully on the edge of the bed and ran to lock the door, turning on the light in the room and Y/N's eyes watered even more.

In addition to irritation, shame too.

“Can you turn off the light, please?” her voice was weak and choked, she saw San's shoulders sag and looked away from him.

He did as she asked, leaving the room for a few minutes until he returned with a first aid kit.

Y/N took a deep breath and he approached, kneeling in front of her and held her gaze, when she saw that he wasn't going to say anything she looked at him and nodded, accepting that he would treat her injuries.

San did everything necessary and when she hissed in pain, he gently stroked her arm, looking closely at her.

“It was him, wasn’t it?” asked quietly after a quite time in silence, she noticed that he was controlling himself to remain calm.

Without the courage to respond and without any confidence in her own voice, she just nodded, listening to him take two deep breaths.

“How long has this been going on?” Y/N stared at him firmly this time, seeing him with his jaw clenched.

She wasn't ready to hear the answer but it was fair to him, even more so now that he was in danger.

"7 years." she replied quietly, shrugging her shoulders.

San got up from the ground, scratching the back of his head and then clenching his fists.

“That’s since…” his breathing got heavier. Since she had broken up with him, yes. “Y/N, you need to report this guy.” He knelt in front of her again and looked into her eyes, which were already teary again. “You need to step away.”

Carefully, San held her hands, bringing the comfort she needed at the moment.

"I can't."

"You must." he encouraged her and she shook her head, looking in any corner of the room.

“San, I can’t.”

"And why not?" he asked in disbelief.

“Seungho is influential. If I send him to jail for a few days, he might…” she trailed off, completely panicked just thinking about the possibility.

"Might what?" he instigated, he needed an answer and one that would convince him.

“Go after the one I love.” a sob was stuck in her throat. “You don’t understand, San. I have no choice, I can’t betray him, I can barely say no to him.”

He slowly pulled away and she took the opportunity to bring her hand to her face, wiping away the trail of tears.

Her head hurt, her eyes burned, her body was tired and she didn't know what to do. She was terrified.

"What do you mean by that?" He narrowed his eyes and she looked down, already knowing where he was going. “Can’t you say no to anything?”

She nodded silently.

It was difficult to speak out loud, even more so to relive everything she had been through with Seungho in recent years, even though she felt absolutely nothing for him other than contempt, touching those wounds hurt.

“If I dare to say no, this happens.” she pointed to her face.

San looked at her worriedly, his gaze more attentive than ever.

“Y/N…” she fell silent, waiting for him to continue. “Did he force you to do something you didn’t want to?”

San didn't need to say or emphasize the specific word because she didn't need to, she just lowered her head in shame. She couldn't look him in the eye.

"Yes." Y/N didn't even hear her own voice admit it.

All that seemed to have been enough for him, who was now shaking and keeping his hands clenched, the vein in his neck was popping out and he stared at the wall behind Y/N with hatred.

“I will kill him with my own hands.” he spoke slowly, getting ready to get up

"No!" she held San by the hand, preventing him from taking any steps. “San please don’t go.”

She despaired. That's what Kim was wanting.

After having "taught her a lesson", Seungho was very clear that he wouldn't stop until he killed San for having dared to touch what was his, for having had the audacity to kiss Y/N.

She couldn't even say anything, it wasn't like she was going to tell the truth about San's identity or else things would be much worse. Seungho wouldn't only kill San, he would torture him for finding out that he was the one she loved.

And she knew he wasn't joking, his bodyguards were in the lobby to make sure San wouldn't leave there. It didn't matter if he was alive or dead.

"Don't ask me-"

“Don’t leave me here alone.” She tried to get out of bed in a hurry but all she managed to do was trip over her own feet thanks to her throbbing leg.

San was faster and held her by the waist, helping her sit on the bed again very carefully.

“Y/N, don’t get up.” His hand stopped on her thigh, checking if she was okay.

“I just want to forget everything that happened.” she sighed, looking at him sadly.

Maybe it wasn't the best time for it, but San was the only person who could make her forget even her own name and that's what she needed.

“I want to be your Y/N again.” she touched his face, the words seemed to have an effect on him, he understood what she meant but was reluctant. “I just want to feel your touch, even if it’s for one night.”

Y/N's hands slowly trailed down his neck to his hard pecs and his eyes wavered momentarily.

“You’re hurt,” he reminded, voice lower. “I can't-” she put her finger to his mouth, shushing him.

“The only thing I can’t take anymore is this distance.”

San swallowed hard and held her wrist, still undecided whether to push her away or not. It was clear that he wanted this as much as she did, but he was afraid of hurting her.

“I thought that’s what you wanted to do in that pool.”

He looked at her firmly, reading if she had any trace of doubt, but when he realized that she was convinced of what she wanted, he brought his body closer to hers so slowly that it left her intoxicated and his hands went to her waist. 

His eyes focused on her mouth and he brought their faces closer, leaving her anxious for what was to come.

But San didn't rush things, quite the opposite, still without putting their lips together he ran his nose along the length of Y/N's face from one side to the other, feeling the soft texture of her skin against him, one he had never forgotten.

Y/N sighed and closed her eyes, her hands still on San's chest, and her heart beat even faster when she felt his lips gently touch hers, making her grab his shirt.

San kissed her carefully and affectionately, his warm, wet lips dictated a slow rhythm that indicated he was just savoring and making up for the time they had lost.

San broke the kiss and she was already panting, without the strength to open her eyes, and then he started a new kiss a little faster.

Y/N took the opportunity to bring him closer, pressing their bodies together and made him move, leaning forward, taking his hands from her waist to rest on the bed as their tongues finally met again, thirstier than ever.

Y/N hugged him around the waist with her legs while her hands went to his back, while San took the opportunity to rest his elbows on the mattress so that his body weight wouldn't hurt her.

He treated her like a porcelain doll, fragile to the point of breaking and although she found all that care very cute, it still wasn't what she wanted.

So, she grabbed his shirt and pulled it up, that useless piece of clothing was just getting in the way anyway, he broke the kiss just so he could take it off while her hands went back to his chest, going down to his abdomen that she stroked.

She felt his skin crawl between her fingers and smiled, now she could see perfectly how much he had worked out over the last few years and she just couldn't stop feeling the texture of his warm skin, as if she could memorize every inch.

"Surprised?" he asked, his husky voice making every hair in Y/N's body stand on end.

She bit her lower lip.

“Not quite the word I would use.”

San laughed softly and brought his face to her neck, where he began to distribute wet, hot kisses, making her rub her hips against his and scratch his abdomen while she closed her eyes.

“There’s someone desperate here.” he confirmed and bit her earlobe, making her squeak softly.

Not because it hurt, but because she liked it. Very much.

“You teased me enough at that party” she replied and he decided to move the kisses to her chin, smiling.

"Thank you love. Red looks great on you too.” He bit her chin as he spoke, now kissing her neck and chest even further. “But I prefer you in that bikini.” He moved the neckline of the dress she was wearing enough to sink his nose between her breasts and her hands automatically went to the back of his head. “Or maybe without it.”

One of San's hands found the end of her dress and began to lift the fabric, he moved his own torso enough to be able to remove the piece from her, which she desperately helped him pass over her own arms.

He took the opportunity to kneel on the bed and observe her in just her underwear, she felt not only her cheeks but her entire body heat up, he looked at her as if she were the most beautiful woman in the world, enough for her to forget the bruises on her face and body.

He tilted his body to stay on top of her, still without letting all his weight fall on her, he distributed kisses along the entire length of her shoulder while she sighed, she was at his mercy and just wanted to enjoy the caresses he distributed over her skin.

San could do whatever he wanted with her. It could be dangerous, uncertain and even wrong, but she wasn't strong enough to fight it and being there with him, she knew she would be okay.

After years she would finally be where she always dreamed, back in his arms being enveloped by the love he still showed for her, which seemed to be ever greater than the last time.

There with him, sighing and moaning his name, it was as if no time had passed.

[...]

Y/N slowly woke up, her body still hurt and her eyes burned from the brightness of the room. So she brought her hands to her face to rub her eyes. 

It was then that noticed she wasn't in the presidential suite, patted the other side of the bed that was empty and remembered the night before.

Taking the sheet that covered her body with her, she sat on the bed, brushing her hair away from her face and at the same moment San came out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist.

She smiled discreetly as she stared at his bare and strong torso, memories of the previous night flooded her mind and her cheeks burned.

She had no reason to be shy, but she really was after what they had done last night.

"Good morning, Sleeping Beauty." San smiled widely and came over to give her a peck.

"Good morning." She replied and he stopped, looking at her with a twinkle in his eyes.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" She asked, narrowing her eyes.

"Nothing, it's just that… it's good waking up with you by my side."

She smiled, feeling like a fool in love.

"You say like you never slept with me."

"Well, when we were dating everyone thought we didn't sleep together." he shrugged and sat next to her on the bed, tucking her hair behind her ear. “That we were two inexperienced innocents.”

"That's because no one knew you were a pervert." she replied jokingly and his fingers moved to her shoulder, giving her a nice caress.

"You didn't complain about that pervert." He pouted and she laughed, tilting her head.

"Because I love him." she replied, moving closer to kiss him.

However, before they could make an intense noise of sirens could be heard throughout the hotel.

Y/N pulled away, scared looking around as if she could guess what was happening and San sighed.

"What is that?" she asked more to herself and watched as he got up from the bed.

"I wish I had told you sooner."

She frowned.

"Told what?" asked but San didn't respond immediately, he approached the suitcase that was on top of the armchair in the room and opened it, taking the towel off his waist and leaving himself in just his underwear in front of Y/N who was watching him curiously.

She saw San put on dark pants and then a white t-shirt, which really highlighted his torso, but the shock came when he took off a vest and she felt her jaw drop when she realized it was bulletproof, she knew because she saw the word police written on the front. 

Feeling her head spin, she had to put her hand on the bed to keep herself standing, or in this case, sitting.

"San, what is this?" the weak voice asked and he finished putting on his shoe.

"Come with me." he asked and she looked at him confused. "Do you trust me?"

She didn't even need to think about the answer.

"Always."

San approached the bed and reached out to her, Y/N held it and got up from the bed.

He separated his own clothes for her to wear besides her thin dress and she did so, still not understanding what was happening, San made her wear a blazer that looked huge on her but covered most of the bruises on her arm.

He took her out of the room and they took the elevator, she was distressed because San didn't say what was happening even there alone, keeping his hand on her waist and his expression too calm.

She was already internally biting her cheek and when she got out of the elevator she saw that the place was full of police officers, uniformed and armed.

Y/N followed with her gaze a police officer who passed in front of her with a very large gun, hearing San's low laugh that made her continue walking forward.

In the hotel lobby, she was able to get a sense of the situation. Several of Seungho's henchmen were kneeling on the floor with their hands on top of their heads while some of the police officers watched them quite angrily, others walked around the hotel looking for something.

"Detective Choi."

Y/N turned her head so fast it made a noise, San patted her back before reaching out to the approaching police officer.

"Kang." he greeted his colleague, adopting a more serious pose.

"Everything is in order, the evidence and witnesses are being taken now."

San nodded and the officer turned his attention to Y/N. "And Miss-"

"Don't worry, I'll walk her to the police station myself." San spoke firmly as her eyes widened.

Police station? Would she go to the police station?

The police officer nodded and left, leaving San and Y/N alone.

"What is happening?" she asked quietly, and he held her shoulders gently.

"Follow me." she wanted to understand what was happening but his eyes said that everything would be fine and she believed it.

That's why she silently agreed and let San take her outside, towards a black car, he opened the passenger door for her and she got in without question. San got in on the other side and started the car while Y/N put her hands together to play with her fingers, waiting for him to start talking.

“Where do you want me to start?” he asked, keeping his eyes on the street.

Y/N shrugged, laughing lightly.

"You are cop." she confirmed and looked at him, seeing him nod his head.

“When you broke up with me 7 years ago, I knew something was wrong.” he took a deep breath. “I was always convinced that you would never do that to me if you didn't have a very strong reason, we always talked about plans for our future and one night you just didn't want it anymore?” He glanced at her, seeing that she was immersed in the explanation, he continued “The next day, I returned to your house, I was determined to talk to you more calmly but when I arrived at the corner I saw that you were leaving with your bags from home, what surprised me most was the fact that you said goodbye to your mother but you didn't even look at your father's face.”

Y/N took a deep breath. That scene of saying goodbye to her parents was like a blur in her head, the only thing she remembered was that she began to understand the meaning of being alone.

“Your father was your hero, your rock and you simply ignored him before getting into a car that had never been in your house before.”

“It wasn’t the easiest day of my life.” she commented, resting her head on the car seat.

“I know, me either.” San stopped the car at the traffic lights and turned to face her. “That’s why after I saw you driving away in that car, I knocked on the door.”

Y/N's jaw dropped.

"What?"

“Your mother answered, she was devastated but it seemed like she knew I was going to show up, when I walked in… Your father was drinking, he was crying and saying he had destroyed your life.”

Y/N felt her nose itch, indicating that her eyes were about to water.

“I asked them to explain to me what was happening, I don’t know, I wanted to be able to help in some way.” he shrugged and the car started moving again, with San turning his attention to the street again. “Your father told me he bet you on a game, that he was an addict and that he had lost the only thing that mattered. At first I didn’t want to believe it.” he laughed, humorlessly. “That was the script for an Italian mobster movie, but your mother confirmed the version and said they were forced to hand it over to you or else everyone would suffer the consequences.”

She took a deep breath, staring into space.

That was the truth.

She never chose Seungho, she was forced to or he would start killing everyone she loved, starting with her father. 

“After a few days of crying like a teenager I was, I went to talk to Hongjoong. His uncle was a police officer and heard the story, he told me who the Kim family was and what Seungho was capable of since at the time he was starting to take over a good part of the west of the city. He told me that there were rumors among the police that he had gone after your father and instigated his addiction to cards because he wanted to have you.” she swallowed. She already knew this version of the story and still reacted the same way. “He had become obsessed with you and had done everything on purpose. I was so angry, I had never felt such hatred as I did that day. I didn’t even know I was capable of feeling that.”

Y/N looked at him, there was a certain anger in San's words and his jaw was clenched.

“That day I promised myself that I would take revenge, that I would make him pay for everything he had done to you, for stealing your life. Our life.”

San looked at her and smiled sadly.

“And I joined the police, I wanted to do things the right way.” she smiled lightly, it was obvious to her. San was always very correct. “But it wasn’t that easy. I needed to prove to everyone that I was capable, I went through a lot of things in the police to reach the day when I would finally have the opportunity to start investigating the Kim family.”

“And you didn’t deny that chance.” It wasn't a question.

San parked the car and she looked outside, seeing that they were already at the police station, he rested his arm on the steering wheel and turned towards her.

“I couldn’t, we would only have this opportunity to catch him. He didn't know my face, he didn't know who I was, we created a way to bring our team closer to him. And it worked, he believed it.”

She took off her belt and turned to San.

“You already knew you would find me.”

He nodded and held one of her hands, giving it a gentle caress.

“I know it will seem strange but I followed your every step, it was part of the investigation.”

She felt a shiver run down the back of her neck.

“Am I going to be arrested?”

San pressed his lips together in a thin line and brought his hand to caress her face.

“No, you are the main witness in this case, everyone knows that you were just one of his victims. With all the evidence I've gathered, you're all clear. But you need to tell the police everything you know.”

Y/N felt butterflies in her stomach and took a deep breath.

“Okay, if that’s what I have to do to end this story once and for all.” she nodded and he smiled widely at her. “What about last night…”

He laughed, scratching the back of his head with his free hand.

“Well, you don’t need to say.”

She laughed too.

San approached and kissed her forehead, making her sigh.

“I’m here with you and I’m not going anywhere.”

“I thought it was impossible for me to love you more, but I do.” she shrugged and saw his eyes light up, just like they did last night. “If I stayed sane all these years, it was thanks to you.”

San kissed the tip of her nose.

“I would do anything for you, to keep you safe. I love you, Y/N.”

“What about us?”

"Us?" he pretended to think for a moment and she narrowed her eyes, smiling. “I think we still have a lot to make up for.”

[saphflare]

I am so emotionally well after seeing Luxintrus posting those Oceania screenshots, and I just can't help but think about what might have happened if Ocean Lux hadn't dropped specifically into our c!Lux's world and gave her the anchorblade. If then she never had a reason to reconcile with Rat and part of me wonders what would have happened then.

If that would have been enough to make the difference when she and Nox found the broken charter piece and they discussed testing it on Rat. If she never chose or had reason to care for Rat again, she likely wouldn't have been chosen and given the Charter piece to personally strike at Rat. She wouldn't have been close to him after all. Would that distance be enough for her to be willingly complicit in condemning Rat, even aid and watch Nox or even another member of Oceania use it to possibly rid of someone in the most permanent and worst way she knows of. Watch it again as she had witnessed Winsweep done so twice before. That whether it worked or not, have that sit in her heart knowing she let it happen again, even if it was for "the greater good."

Would it have mattered, would it even be the only breaking point, when she would need to watch the members of Oceania grow hungry enough to want more and set their eyes on Spawn. That would she agree to partake in that conquest that was for glory and vanity rather than for the betterment that she strived for, trod onto the familiar path of violence that haunted everyone and broken her down more times than she knows perhaps at this point. Would she have done so if she was a "good" person, not even against some villainous monster, but against people that have done nothing or little to her and, maybe among those, friends. And if that follows, then she might find herself confronted again with Winsweep being recruited by the people she trusted to have her best interests at heart.

Would she have been able to put aside her own morals in trying to be someone good, swallow down the bitter grievances just to stay with them and have that place she had belonged to or would it have ended all the same and she would be alone again, this time not even a log cabin far away to crawl to as shelter.

Alone again and wandering with no where to go, like every other reflection of herself that are lost from worlds they can't return to.

[gorogues]

It is an on going puzzle for me to find romantic matches for the Rogues and I decided to look at all the female characters that DC has. DC has in total about 3000 characters. So you can imagine what it was like sifting through most of it. One of my problems that I was having was that I wasn’t quite sure what I was looking for. Romance is tough and it’s harder when you’re trying to fit characters together.

Usually when I watch a show. I can figure out the love interest in a couple of episodes but I imagine the writers have something to do with that.

Writing a romantic story is an entirely different thing and should be a neat experience for me. The problem I’m having is the 2 chosen characters Patty Spivot & Angela Margolin. There side characters that work with Barry so finding the goods on them would be immensely difficult. So I was wondering if you’d be interested in making a profile on them for me.😅

As well as pointing me in the right direction for the comics that showcase their personalities best. Please.🥺

Sure thing, though Angela was a Wally West-era character, not one of Barry's (she basically replaced him when he left). She didn't appear for very long, so I think Kelson Vibber's biography of her has everything you need, including a list of notable appearances. Plus, here's her bio from Flash Secret Files #2 so you don't have to look for it.

Kelson also has a biography + issue list for Patty which you might find interesting, though it hasn't been updated in a while and doesn't cover her modern history. So I'll give a run-down of what Patty's done since about 2010.

She first began appearing again in Flash: Rebirth #2, as part of a retconned flashback to Barry's early days. It was a minor appearance, but introduced her to a modern audience. In Flash v3 #1, we were told that she'd left Central City to work in Blue Valley because she'd gotten tired of David Singh's attitude and all the big city murders. In Flash v3 #9, Barry called her to help with a murder case, and despite Forrest's pessimism that she wouldn't come back, she returned in #10 and had a fond reunion with Barry. She insisted she wouldn't help because she was tired of murders, but got pulled into it nonetheless, especially because there was a child involved (spoiler alert: the child was Eobard). She managed to crack the case with her forensic skills, and acknowledged to herself that she left Central City due to her unresolved feelings for Barry (who was married), but then Eobard re-aged himself and tried to kill her. She was rescued, but Barry tried to convince her to stay in Central City and she confessed her feelings and said that's why she had to leave; he said they'd always be friends and she agreed to think about staying.

Then Flashpoint happened, and in that altered timeline she became Hot Pursuit after the murder of the first HP. She stated that she did in fact reluctantly return to the job in Central City, but the Hot Pursuit gig called to her and then she found herself in Flashpoint with memories of the original timeline. She was killed while helping Bart Allen, but then Flashpoint ended and the timeline was reset with the New 52.

The New 52 really bums me out, so I'll be brief with it. She and Barry had just started dating when Flash v4 #1 began and didn't know he was the Flash, and she blamed the Flash for Barry's 'death' after he fell into a wormhole. Stuff happened and Barry didn't tell her about his secret identity, but she found out accidentally in the midst of a battle and was okay with it -- she stood by Barry and they continued dating even though he hadn't been honest with her.

But eventually Barry was replaced by a meaner version of himself from the future, and he horrified Patty with his violence. She convinced him to be better and find a less murdery way to stop a villain, which he did, but she was decidedly unimpressed by his claims/bragging that he stopped a guy without killing him, and she told him she never wanted to see him again. The present-day version of Barry returned, but the two of them broke up off-panel anyway, and she hasn't been seen since. It was pretty abrupt.

Basically, Patty's modern self -- she had a lot less characterization in the Bronze Age because that was the way of comics in those days -- is that she's kind and caring above all else, and that tends to override her better judgment at times. She didn't want to return to Central City and its violence, but did so anyway because she cared about others, especially a vulnerable kid. She stuck with Barry when he needed her despite his lack of honesty because she loved him and knew he needed her. And she became Hot Pursuit and gave her life to help Bart because she was brave and determined and maybe was more of an action junkie than she might admit to herself. I guess you can extrapolate from that, leaving aside the weak plot decision to have her break up with Barry off-panel. I think the new writer on the book wanted to go in a different direction, but that was a crappy way to do it.

Flash: Rebirth #2 Flash v3 #10-12 Flashpoint: Kid Flash Lost #1-2 Flash v4 #1-40, plus annuals 1-3

[himbo-in-limbo]

“The newcomer”

Tw kidnapping, gore, violence, intimidation,death,Blood

Yautja!Raian x Y/N the servant! (Gender neutral reader) //Chapter 1// guess I’m making more than one 💀

You don't know what god you might have pissed off to wind up like this...but surely no punishment could have ever warranted this!

All of your life you were treated like scum of the universe...being dragged off one space ship to another. Oh the horrors you've witnessed...

At this point you've become so numb the only feelings you had left were fear...and even that was starting to slip away as you started embracing the thought of the afterlife...

I mean hey, it can't be worse than this right?

Well...I guess you spoke to soon as your current prison

I mean ship was under attack...again...but this time things were looking really bad.. so bad in fact everyone just dipped and decided to abandon ship

There were limited escape pods and seeing how desperate everyone was already fighting for the rights to one you instantly gave up the idea of landing a seat in one...

So you just crawled under your bed and decided to wait for death to come knocking on your door...

Well there was definitely loud knocking and crashing sounds now...ohh lots of screaming too...ohh this was way to much so you just covered your ears and prayed it'll all end soon...

Eventually things got real quite, all those insane noises you heard were replaced by blaring alarms that rang throughout the ship...

No mop could ever hope to clean the bloody mess that laid out before you... skinless body's hanging.. everywhere...organs strewn about...the halls were just filled with blood...it was a total gore fest...

You cupped your mouth to stop yourself from gagging...ough the smell...you were very cautious when making your way to the escape room.. however...it looked like nobody was even able to take one... everyone was dead... EVERYONE...

Not that you had any family to begin with here but...who could have killed them all?! And so damn fast!!!

[a deep growling could be heard]...oh you didn't want to turn around...and you wouldn't have had the chance to, because before you knew it

Something grabbed your neck from behind.

[you screamed in terror of the being that was lifting you with such ease] it's like you weighed nothing to them!! Their hold on you was firm, there was no hope in escaping. And they knew that.

The alien was massive... easily 7-8 feet tall..you could feel how high off the ground you were! It began to inspect you and it made you face him. His skin was as pale as the moon, but at the moment they were drenched in so much blood...you now know who was doing all of the killing.

They began to speak...[HAHAH!!.. Thinking you could escape from me?! Piglet?!] Tears began to swell up but aside from the initial jump scare...you didn't protest much...you just kinda accepted the fact that this is where it'd all end...

The alien began to tilt his head in confusion..[Hah? Your not squirming as much as the others were?... we'll aren't you a brave one 🖤] he began to click in curiosity...

"Yautja!Raian...stop messing with the ooman that isn't our target...these beings are fragile you know..[another alien spoke] this Yautja!Raian fellow growled in response [Feh...] He loosened his grip and you fell hard to the floor gasping for air...you hadn't realized how much you were struggling to breathe

[If there's nothing more for me to fight here then I'm leaving] the burly looking alien stomped away while you were left behind with the other one..

Keep in mind you have absolutely no idea what they were saying...the only thing you could make out was that they were arguing and some how you were chosen to be spared???...you still think you were being punished by a god somehow...

Well the next thing you knew you felt something hit the back of your head and you blacked out...

You slowly woke up to a padded floor...way more softer than your old cell

I mean room, and very quickly you realized something was different with your attire...

Your ears, your neck, your ankles...they all had... jewelry?! Oof the neck piece was a tad bit heavy...ohhh no it's not coming off...and neither was the rest...

As a matter of fact your entire wardrobe was changed!! You were dressed in a white gown [in however manner suits your style] you started to take things slow and analyze your surroundings..

Then you heard a voice..."your the new one aren't you?" You quickly turned around to see other humans next to you! "We didn't want to scare you so we waited until you saw us.." they appeared to have the same jewelry as you....

"don't bother trying to take these off.. their tracking collars to make sure we don't escape..."

Oh good lord...you saw that they were at least 10 other humans with you..and you immediately began to ask questions about anything and everything...

"Were being kept as servants...if you do as your told….there not so bad…but don’t take their lack of aggression for granted!!! If you try to fight them THEY CAN AND WILL KILL YOU!!”

“So if you care about living just do as your told!"

Well you weren't going to protest against that...not like you had much combat experience anyways...

"So is no one going to tell them who their new master will be?" ……..

Huh? Why did everyone go silent? Why did they look so scared all of a sudden?

eventually you’d soon find out why…

[peachymilkandcream]

Kingdom of Ash and Greed|Part 10|King Levi x Evelyn

(A/N: Just note that the wedding portion was taken from one of my oneshots simply because that's how I wanted it to go down in this series and why write it twice, right?"

WARNINGS: noncon/dubcon, big age difference, kidnapping, slavery, violence, power imbalance, implied somnophilia, forced pregnancies, mind breaking, yandere behaviour, yandere themes, forced cuckolding, etc.

===============================================

Petra had made Evelyn's life hell since that night. Never missing a chance to humiliate or belittle her. Whatever it took to bring down her self esteem.

But it wasn't enough, and Levi still chose to bring her to his bed.

However, she had gotten him to follow her wishes once. She could do it again.

==============================================

Once again she sat beside him while he ate, trying her best to seem feminine and sweet, hiding the malicious and cruel nature she kept underneath her mask.

"My King, you have been so gracious to me. I know I do not deserve it but I implore you for one more favor."

"Save me the flattery and speak."

As she opens her mouth with her request a maid enters and curtsies. "Begging your pardon my lord, I would never wish to disturb you but I have news I believe you would be most anxious to hear."

This gets his attention, his head snapping up. "Well? What is it?"

"My lady Petra's maid-"

"What about her?"

"I fear she's missed her time of the month sire, your mistress is with child."

All of the color drained out of Petra's face as her world crashed down on her. She was too late, she hadn't used her charms well enough and now the harlot was pregnant.

This bitch would be a threat to her rule and her children's, she had to convince him to dispose of her immediately.

Levi stood, and she feared the worst. "My king?" She asked.

"Not now Petra, I have to go see her."

"Where were you planning to send her?"

He raises a brow. "Send her?"

"The child she carries, it will be a threat to our children's throne. Born of a lowborn whore you wouldn't want a child like that on your throne."

His eyebrows knit together in anger. "I am not sending her or my child away."

Panic creates nausea in her stomach. "Then begging your pardon my lord, what will you do with her?"

He stands up straight and takes a deep breath. "It seems I'll have to plan a wedding."

Shock runs through her. "W-Who will you be wedding, sire?"

"Who else? The one who carries my child."

Her entire world was crashing down all over again. "But- what about me-?"

"I will return you to your father."

"Please my lord, do not send me from your sight-"

"I have decided, trouble me no more about this."

He brushes past her and leaves her there alone, wondering what she should do now. How could she go back to her family disgraced when her own king has chosen to marry his slut while she must remain alone.

She wiped tears furiously. No. This wasn't the time to cry, it was the time to plan.

She wouldn't take this lying down. She'd find a way to make him take her back.

================================================

Within a fortnight the wedding ceremony was held.

To say Levi wasn't getting any younger was an understatement. It seemed like he was just sliding into his thirties one day and the next he was facing his forties looming ahead.

Before he had only seen those years as the end of his bloody conquests before passing into oblivion when an heir took his place. But now he realized that in order to have a legitimate heir he needed it to come from a queen. The son of a concubine slave would never be taken seriously in this cut-throat world, the empire he had painstakingly made would be lost all because of a few legality issues.

There were always more "advantageous" matches being shoved in his face at every waking moment, but women who threw themselves at him, or were thrown by greedy fathers, disgusted him. He craved a challenge, which is why he started his bloody campaign, he wanted that feeling of conquering. That desire to torture and beat down until a thing submitted. These women were broken, willing to worship the ground he walked on if he would just give them titles. It wasn't true devotion to him, but to greed. The chances of his heir being a bastard son of some lord was a risk he wasn't willing to take.

He wanted his queen to be devoted to him alone, not caring if he were the mightiest of rulers, or the lowest of peasants. To be completely, utterly, dependent on the air he permitted her to breathe. A woman wasn't born like that, she had to be made that way. By a man like him.

Which was why he chose Evelyn. Nothing would sting his bitter rival more than his only child completely devoted to the man who decimated their lands. To see her so needy for him she blesses him with heirs out of pure gratitude to be in his presence. The shock and betrayal might kill the old bastard. The icing on the cake.

Levi sighed, it was unavoidable now. He'd have to plan an entire royal wedding.

And tell his lucky bride.

==============================================

Evelyn had been numb in shock when Levi told her of his plans. To the point she believed he was joking. Why would the most powerful man on earth pledge himself to a defeated foe? Did he just revel in her humiliation that much? She had believed that eventually he would grow tired of her and release her to go back home. Evelyn could be safe from that monster and try and have a semi-normal life taking care of her aging parents. But Levi's plans and determination only solidified one thing that had been keeping her awake at night.

He had no plans of letting her leave, ever.

There was no way she could willingly go along with this. To be on his arm as a queen to a nation that hated her, a man that viewed her as an object? She wanted more out of life. It was all a big gag to Levi and his people, she was a circus act to be seen and mocked. The high and mighty princess reduced to a life of slavery and babies. How far she had fallen.

She would not have it. She would not sit idly by and be a joke to anyone. Not anymore.

===============================================

Nothing was more humiliating to Levi than to be left at the altar on his own wedding day. The ceremony itself was private, but the few who had come witnessed this utter outrage that his bride had caused. A display of weakness that he couldn't control his prisoners, that he should have chosen another girl instead of rebel trash.

But he wasn't going to let this go so easily, if she wanted a chase she would get one. Did Evelyn really think that he would allow her to escape that easily? He would humiliate her just as she had him. It was what she deserved.

===============================================

Evelyn ran through the forest, her heart pounding and her head barely believing that she had went through with this. She must be mad to try and escape. But here she was, running free while the ground beneath soared by. She would be free, free to live how she chose and not how Levi allowed her to live. Her own person.

Until she heard the pounding of hooves behind her.

Evelyn continued to run, desperate to get away, delusional in thinking that she could outrun a horse on foot. How long had it been since she left? How did he find her so quickly? It was all over, he'd kill her, throw her to dogs, she was dead she was-

Scooped up with ease and sat firmly against the hard chest of the man she hated the most.

Daring to look up she saw the dark glint of anger in his eyes, she knew she'd done the unforgivable. One could only imagine what he would do with her when they returned.

Evelyn's stomach churned as she thought of her fate.

===============================================

To her surprise, instead of a torturous death, Levi marched Evelyn right up to the altar in front of his few gathered witnesses and held her in place.

Despite her struggles and clear repulsion to the whole event Levi held her still, answering for her and making sure she didn't squirm too much until the ceremony was over and her fate officially sealed.

No going back now.

The reception and announcement to the world was a blur. All Evelyn could process were the leering and mocking faces, the pointing and laughing that she was now their queen, the very people she hated sworn to look out for and protect.

What irony.

==============================================

The wedding night was even more monstrous than her first night with him. Her defiance to his authority was not treated lightly, and Levi made sure Evelyn knew exactly what he thought of her rebellion.

Her body would be sore for days.

It was what she deserved though, she was a fool for thinking she could come up against such a devastating man and come out the other side. She should have just accepted her place long ago, then the pain would at least be lessened. To him, it's all she was good for.

His plaything, his queen.

==============================================

A coronation followed, the entire nation eager to see that their King had finally found them a Queen.

When she was announced the whole country looked on her with smug satisfaction that their fearless leader had tamed the bitch from the West. Her place would forever be to serve the people as if they were her subjects and give the nation heirs.

It was as if the child within her knew of its mother's fate, squirming at all hours and begging to be unleashed. If it was anything like its father, Evelyn knew she would never feel peace or happiness again.

[tonguetiedraven]

If your taking asks right now, how about rin and bon taking a bath together? Maybe a little hurt comfort for Ryuuji too?

I went with an aged up Ryuuji and Rin, post mission, with some hurt comfort and a get together in the end. Hope you enjoy!

It was a ritual at this point. The bad nights, the ones with too much blood, too much violence, too much loss, Ryuuji would linger after everyone else. He would take longer to unload his gear, longer to undress himself, longer to put away his articles, and longer to get to the baths.

It was an attempt to be alone, and didn’t work more often than not.

He would go, he would rent, carefully washing away any residue, carefully covering any injury, carefully getting his breathing under control.

Then, usually when he was alone, or at least most everyone had left, he would rise and he would go to the baths. He would get in, exhale heavily, and soak.

The soaking was necessary. It forced a certain slowness from him, and made him release some of the tension. It heated him up, because trauma always seemed to bring a chill, and it was the closest to meditation he could get himself after something happened.

It had been a habit for at least a decade at this point. He was never quite sure when he had picked it up, only that it had cemented itself into his routine.

On the nights he couldn't out linger his fellow exorcist,  very little changed. He just might have to be a bit more talkative than meditative. Unless it was one of a few people. They let him be quiet.

It was looking to be one of those nights.

Ryuuji couldn't even be surprised by it. The attack had been violent, and they had lost one of the possessed. He had spoken the spell as quickly as he could, implementing Light's hard learned method, but even that speed hadn't been enough to save them all.

Yukio had disappeared, and that cemented in Ryuuji's mind that there was going to be a talk. Or at least an attempt at one.

That was another ritual, though it was the other way around more often than not. Neither of them took it well when they lost someone they were meant to protect, and they were both the first to try to comfort the other. They could spill all the facts and cliches and arguments there were for why it wasn't their fault that they lost someone, but only for the other. They could never quite accept those facts and those arguments for themselves.

They would join each other in victory baths as well. Those soaks were more to soak in their victory and the joy of having succeeded. The joy of a job well done without casualties. They'd relax stiff and well used muscles and plan the proper victory dinner or lunch. They joke and laugh and Ryuuji would try not to smile too much or stare too much.

A decade hadn't changed that either. He doubted another decade would either. Some things stood the test of time. Rin's endearing and annoying charm seemed to be one of them. Or maybe it was just that Ryuuji was entirely slow to change.

Regardless, he got up from the shower head and turned the water off. Rin was lingering on the edge of the bath, seated on the tile with his legs and tail draped in the water. It was rude and relaxed, something that spoke of comfort and confidence in the fact that he could be relaxed here. Ryuuji had worked hard for that confidence and comfort. 

“The water is warm,” he offered with a slight flick of his tail.

Ryuuji nodded and brought the towels over. He set them next to the heater so they would be warm, a small luxury that he allowed himself on these nights. One that typically resulted in Rin's tail wagging as well. 

He sought that out on nights like this. He always got a joy to see Rin's tail wagging and know it meant Rin was happy and relaxed enough to show it, but that's small reassurance was an immense comfort on nights like this.

“You hanging out?”

It was a pointless question. It was obvious that Rin had made up his mind to stay. Ryuuji wouldn't likely admit it without some prodding, but he was grateful Rin had chosen to stay.

“Yep!” Rin declared and slipped into the water, causing some to splash over the edge. That was always the next step in their strange little dance. A few more, and they'd really start to talk. Right now they were just assessing each other. Easing into the steps and the expectations. Slowly relaxing their guards, even though it had been ages since they actually felt like they needed them with each other. It was more of the task of taking off the armor they wore for the rest of the world. Relaxing into the water and melting away those protections. Protections that weren't needed with the decade they had as friends.

Friends… such a strange word for what they were. He was pretty sure they had both described each other as that from almost the beginning, and from almost the beginning, it had not felt quite right. Too simple.

Ryuuji climbed up the side of the bath and lowered himself into the hot water. It almost seemed to burn as he settled down, covering him entirely and leaving him no place to avoid it without climbing back out. It wasn't something he could turn away from or pretend wasn't there. The heat forced its way into him, and forced him to come to terms with the fact that he had been thoroughly cold. That his body ached. That it was more than his body.

His very soul seemed to ache.

It was strange how the heat always made him shiver. As he was forcibly dropped back into his body and made aware of it all, he shivered with a cold and the loss of adrenaline and the lingering emotions of whatever he had endured.

He'd wipe out when he got home. He would probably sleep half the morning away. He would wake up to a message from Konekomaru who would have heard about the failures by then, possibly Yukio if Rin was up enough to fill him in.

“It was a 12-hour one?” Rin asked, having floated closer at some point when Ryuuji wasn't really paying attention.

“Yeah. Jefferson called in sick so I didn't get my back up.”

“What?!” Rin squawked. “How are you even talking?”

Ryuuji laughed a bit gruffly. “Practice.”

Practice at talking, practice at saving his voice, practice at pushing through whatever came up. Practice at staying focused, and not letting it get to him.

He never quite gotten that last one. He could ace the others, but never that. He had been proud of that when he was younger. Now, as he got older, he realized that moving on with more of a protection and allowed him to do more and save more people. Guilt made you overthink and made you slow. People should be mourned, but they should not be held on to so tightly that he couldn't operate.

He had learned that it was a problem, but he had never figured out the solution.

“Well, since you can talk, tell me about it.”

It was a fairly quiet order, but an order nonetheless. One that Ryuuji made more often than not. Rin was usually the one that wouldn't be vocal.

“Not a lot to tell.”

“Tell it anyway.”

Rin had drawn still closer. He was sitting along the same wall as Ryuuji now. His hands were settled on his knees, where Ryuuji's arms were on the back wall.

The heat had properly seeped into Ryuuji at this point. It was forcibly melting the chill he had picked up. It was forcing his overused muscles to relax. Still, a knot of icy failure and defeat was in the core of his chest. It wouldn't melt from this bath. Not for a few more hours at the very least.

“Same as always. We were understaffed, and I wasn’t fast enough.” 

Rin’s tail settled on his calf, and there was a time when that touch would have stolen Ryuuji’s breath and made him blush. The feelings hadn’t changed too much, they’d deepened, if anything, but he had learned to at least control the way they showed. 

Endless missions with Rin, not to mention their schooling, had made that necessary. There was only so much blushing Ryuuji could do.

And those emotions right now made him feel guilty. He should hardly be thinking about them when there were so many other things that deserved his thoughts. 

The motion, aside from making Ryuuji’s heart ache a bit in a bittersweet and familiar way, was also a silent request. 

It really had become a ritual for them. Soak in the victories, and try to rinse off the defeats. The soaking worked better than the rinsing. 

Ryuuji told what had happened, slowly, not too surely, and Rin listened, offering a few comments, but mostly just sitting with him and letting Ryuuji talk at the speed he wanted. Letting him ramble and go silent or talk too fast.

Letting him exist and grieve until—

“You didn’t.” 

Ryuuji’s voice drew to a halt. “Rin.”

“Don’t ‘Rin’ me. You didn’t fail. You saved a lot of people. A demon did the terrible stuff. You were alone and fought as hard as you could. True Cross failed.”

His head tilted over, leaning against Ryuuji’s shoulder, making him feel the weight of it.

“They shoulda got you back up. Anyone else wouldn’t have done half of that on their own. They were lucky you were on it and shouldn’t have gone forward with the mission like they did.” 

“It was a shitty situation,” Ryuuji confirmed, but didn’t agree with the rest. “There wasn’t a lot of time for anything.”

He wanted to lean his head against Rin’s. He rarely allowed himself that. Rin had never had any sort of personal space boundaries, and that had made Ryuuji’s high school years a bit torturous, but it was comforting now, even if he couldn’t let himself do more. Not like this.

“We didn’t have a lot of time.” He repeated, trying not to let his mind go to that and all the other failures. 

“True Cross never has enough time. It’s ‘cause Mephisto is shit at managing it.” 

“He’s the Demon King of Time.”

“Iconic, ain’t it?”

Ryuuji snorted. “Ironic.”

“Yeah. That.” His tail flicked on Ryuuji’s leg. “I’m sorry it happened.”

“Me too.”

Ryuuji’s eyes slipped closed and he made himself take in a deep breath and slowly release it, just sitting there in warm silence for a few moments. Rin’s weight at his side was something to hold onto and focus on. Comforting and familiar and not the heart break of failing and lost life. Rin was someone who got the ache and who—

Ryuuji’s eyes opened back up and narrowed a bit in sudden confusion. 

“Why are you here? You didn’t have a mission today.” Rin had the day off. He should be pretty much anywhere but here.

Rin hummed and didn’t comment, though his tail gave a nervous little flick. It tickled and sent a different kind of ache through Ryuuji. A bitter sweet one that was old and familiar. 

“Why are you here?” He repeated, grinning a little through that ache. “I’m gonna need more than that.” 

Rin rolled his head on Ryuuji’s shoulder so he could look up at him. 

“Cuz you’re here. And Yukio told me what happened. Figured you’d probably be in here all night beating yourself up.” 

Ryuuji scowled, but there wasn’t any real heat in it. “Not all night.”

Rin snorted. His tail lifted up out of the water to poke Ryuuji’s cheek. 

“All. Night.” Each word was emphasized with a poke. “I wasn’t gonna let that happen.”

Ryuuji’s cheeks warmed up and it wasn’t the heat of the water. 

Rin caught his hand and gave it a squeeze. “You hang after for me all the time. And I wanted to make sure you got a dinner too.”

“I’d have gotten take out.”

“Great. We’ll get it together.” He poked Ryuuji’s cheek again. “Something unhealthy.” 

“Wasn’t planning on making it healthy.” He hadn’t planned on anything. He probably would have just skipped dinner without Rin pushing him. 

He dared to curl his fingers around Rin’s, squeezing in a silent thanks that Rin would probably not realize meant more that. A thank you was enough for Ryuuji right now. For Rin to know he was grateful and he understood what this was.

Rin squeezed his hand back and let his tail slip under the water again. 

“You’ve got tomorrow off?” Rin asked quietly after more endless moments, still holding Ryuuji’s hand. It took Ryuuji’s mind a moment to focus past the way his hand fit around Rin’s—it had always taken him a moment to think around that— but he hummed his agreement.

“Yeah. Nothing till Friday.”

He’d probably spend it cleaning the apartment and then meditating. Maybe take a trip to the temple and do some work there. Something to distract him and allow him to slowly work through it. 

“I got tomorrow off too.”

Ryuuji’s breath sounded loud in the quiet around them. “Yeah?”

Rin drew in his own loud breath. Then he used their joined hands to raise Ryuuji’s arm and slip under it. He pressed closer, and Ryuuji, in a moment of personal daring, wrapped his arm around him to keep him there.

“We’ll do something,” Rin decided.

“We, uh… yeah.” Ryuuji swallowed, tempted to suggest more. He had waited a decade. He could wait for tomorrow.

“Good,” Rin sounded breathless, “it’s a date then.” 

“Take out tonight and a date tomorrow?” It was better than beating himself up. Endlessly better than beating himself up.

“Yeah,” Rin’s tail curled around his leg again. “I’m going to cook you something for it.”

Ryuuji hugged Rin closer and let his eyes slip closed. 

He would mourn for a little longer, and he wouldn’t have to heal alone.

[sillygeeseys]

How I think Creepypastas would react to finding a stray child:

((My first official HC post!! Please feel free to go in my ask box if you'd like more!!))

Pastas featured: Jeff, Toby, Masky, Hoodie, LJ, EJ, Liu, and Slender

Tw: Death, canon typical violence, this is NOT going to be fluffy in most places

Jeff:

-He's so uncomfortable at first, especially if it's CRYING.

-His older brother instincts eventually kick in, he uses a voice he almost forgot he ever had, and hums a tune he hardly remembered knowing

-He wouldn't keep it for long, he can't, his lifestyle is far too dangerous for a child. (And so is he)

-In fact, he'd probably kill it. Claiming it's an act of mercy, it wouldn't survive long anyways after he abandoned it.

Toby:

-They FIRST thing he asks is if he can take it home with him.

-He'd be terrified to pick it up/touch it, especially with his tics, he wouldn't want to drop a kid.

-He sees so much of himself in that child, he begs to not abandon it all alone

-He's still a child himself, so he wouldn't make the best parenting decisions if Slender miraculously allowed it

-If Slender said no, he'd take the kid somewhere safe, probably the police or an orphanage, or somewhere the kid would have to be legally cared for by SOMEONE.

-He's probably so playful when he crosses the hurdle of his fear around potentially hurting the kid, always connected at the hip.

Masky:

-He's the most collected out of everyone, he's been at this for many years so this is probably not his first or last kid incident.

-He uses nicknames like 'champ', and 'buddy', and settles them down

-Younger kids seem particularly drawn to him, he has no clue why, even if someone else brought the little missed period cycle home, they somehow always end up passed out on Masky while he carries them around the manor so they stay napping

-He would've absolutely been a father if the proxy life hadn't chosen him, but he'd never tell a soul that.

-Slender usually sends his kids away to human families, or something awful happens, and Masky loses them somehow. It kills him a little.

Hoodie:

-They honestly don't notice the kid at first until they spot something wriggling around in the background of their camera footage

-Kid has to approach THEM

-They do everything to try shaking the kid off at first before eventually accepting the situation

-They stop for McDonald's on the way back to the manor, while calling Slender to explain what's going on

-They're just as scared as the kid is, in fact they probably stress eachother out the longer they're together

LJ:

-Eats them.

-Eats them, and tosses the bones to smile dog.

-Is probably the 'awful things' that keeps happening to all the kids Masky tries to raise.

EJ:

-Is probably 'awful things' #2.

-He doesn't eat them though, kidneys are still way too little, and he doesn't like how squishy they are at that age, way too sweet too.

-But he'd certainly attack/fatally wound a kid if they approached him in a way that startled him

-He usually blames LJ though because he feels way too awful for anyone to know it was him

Liu:

-He's so so gentle, and patient

-He remembers being that terrified, he remembers being that child that needed someone when they were at their most alone.

-He probably wraps them in his trench coat, he keeps them in his bedroom where they're safe from the riff raff of the manor (JEFF)

-He hums that tune Jeff used to hum to him when they were little

-He eventually has to give them up, he stalks many families for weeks until he finds the perfect one. He still keeps tabs on some of the kids he's rehomed.

-They're probably scared of his stitches/scars/overall facial deformity from Jeff's attack, and it breaks his heart

Slender:

-Literally all the Creepypastas are stray kids to him. (He sees them more as 'pets' but that's for another HC)

-He keeps tabs on the kid, if it dies then its too 'weak' for his standards, if it survives he'll monitor it's life until he can yoink the little bastard, and stamp it with a proxy mark.

-He's sick of his proxies getting attached, and bringing them home. He keeps having to remove kids from Masky's care because Slenders worried it'll affect his work ethic negatively.

-He's probably the reason this kid is all alone anyways, and he's way too exhausted to care. If he picked up every kid he found in the woods with bones sticking out, he'd basically be running a daycare for anyone ages 3-45.

[sucker-for-yanderes]

Keisuke x Reader (pt3)

Contains: yandere behavior, heavy smut, overstimulation, misogyny, mentions of sexual assault, violence, kidnapped reader, dubcon, virgin reader, virginity loss w/ blood, dacryphylia, cock warming, and angst.

He was as loyal as a dog for you. Ever since the orphanage. Following you and your brother around like a lost puppy. Your brother was his best friend, the only one who could understand him and not treat him like an outcast, like a nobody. And then there was you, so beautiful and special. Keisuke reminisced the accumulation of his feelings for you. From when you came to his aide to help him when the other kids were mean to him, to the time Keisuke came to yours -stubborn as you were- as you were clearly injured for fighting his bullies. Then there was the incident. Akira had died while street fighting in Bl@ster. After that day, you'd taken on the title of the strongest and with it, a cold and quiet demeanor. Though, you hidden naivety came to surface at the face of a new challenge when you were framed for the death of an opponent that Akira faced before he died. Apparently, you were chosen to pay for the sins of your brother, though to your apparent objection. Lawyers weren't much help, especially when poverty-stricken areas didn't happen to be favored. That is why Keisuke did everything he could to help. After you'd told him to leave you alone, Keisuke hadn't stopped poisoning himself, starving and staggering in the eerie streets of Toshima. That was when the drug Line mysteriously ended up in his hands. He'd come to the realization that all he needed was power in order to become stronger. He needed to be strong, not a burden. That's all he'd been so far. A lost puppy that was burdening you. Keisuke knew he needed to be powerful in order to save you.

In the few encounters he'd had with you beforehand, he was poisoning himself in a different way; hurting you. In so many ways. Physically, emotionally. Hurting you by his own infliction was the worst thing ever in his book. It kept him up at night. He knew things would never be the same. His mind and judgment were completely clouded with an overwhelming darkness and sense of power. Toshima had been corrupting him. With a sudden realization, Keisuke came to the conclusion that he was a burden now more than ever. And how could he fix it? By doing what he's always wanted to do. To protect you. To save you. That's why he's here in the first place. He shamed himself for losing sight of it all. Needless to say, Keisuke is eager to come back to you. There is only one thing he wants/needs in this world and that is you. He'll do anything to have you. Keisuke takes another dose of the glowing green potion and sets off to seek you out once more. Keisuke came to a stop after endless searching as he finally found you... beaten in the arms of multiple men fighting to take off your clothes. A gang of thieves took advantage of you while you were weakened in an attempt to steal your tags, with raping and killing you in mind. You struggled still, even though rendered vulnerable. Your tags were grasped firmly in your teeth with great resistance shown in the gleam of your eyes. "Woo! Watch out boss, we've got a spunky one." One of them whistled. "Don't do anything stupid, we'll kill you for real!" Another one remarked. "We'll see how long that lasts." The leader scoffed. "Besides, women don't have any other significance here, other than..."

The voices faded out as his vision reddened, his hand gripping onto the blade he stole from Takeru. With great speed, Keisuke began his assault on the gang. Managing with his injuries, he finally killed the leader with a single lunge. Keisuke shifted towards your position on the street. His rage simmered down after killing the low lives. Although, it wouldn't last long as he saw the state you were in. Cut up, dirtied, bruised, and some of your clothes ripped. You'd watched him in disbelief as he ruthlessly killed your assailants. Is this how he took the lives of those at the club? For fuck's sake, we were in a neutral zone. Keisuke had dug an even deeper grave. But of course, he made sure to give those dirtbags what they deserved. They were dead the moment they laid a finger on you.

Panic ensued inside you as you tucked your tags inside the pocket of your jacket, now would be a good chance to escape unnoticed. You attempted to get up quietly, but your knees buckled and you tripped over anyways, knocking the tags away from you. You warned Keisuke and then inquired him after he grabbed them from off the ground and into his pocket. Of course, he wouldn't answer you.

"Well, look what we have here. If it isn't (Name). You looked pretty helpless back there." He mocked as you grit your teeth. "There's a reason why you don't see women out here in Igura. Women really have no place here. They just lose too easily, and also..." You cut him off. "I don't care about any of that. I don't need to be saved. Actually, you can keep the tags. I'll just get more. I can do this on my own-" Just then you let out a wince of pain as you stumble away.

"You're injured. Let me see." Keisuke held out his hand as he stood in front of you, preventing you from going anywhere. "Just hold still." You scoffed at his attempt to seem nice now. But no matter if you stepped left or right, Keisuke stood there in front of you once more. This lead to a struggle between the two of you. "Look, just stop being stubborn and let me take a look at you." Keisuke recalls a memory similar to this moment when you fell down after some bullies pushed you. Akira faced off with them while Keisuke tended to you, you'd sprained your ankle and got a couple of scrapes. You hated the feeling of rubbing alcohol on your open wounds, as any child did.

Keisuke had no choice but to knock you out and bring you back to his whereabouts. As Keisuke held you in this place against your will, you scanned the room to map out an escape plan. Keisuke was aware of this of course. He knew you. Very well. "Don't bother. If you run, I'll just catch you. Or better yet, I could just wait for you." Something about the tone of his voice set you alert and you resumed your struggle against him. Keisuke pinned you down shortly after.

"Awe no~ don't do something stupid like that. If you pull that again I might have to hurt you. Please don't make me hurt you, sweetheart. You know it hurts me more than it hurts you." His frightening statement sent goosebumps all across your skin. You gulped and decided to play it cool, for now... Despite the instability of the situation, there was another tension that demanded attention.

Keisuke pushed his body on top of yours. You love him, it was an undeniable truth, and your poor heart was beating so fast. You'd been longing for him for so long, but... your brain was screaming at you to listen to your moral compass instead of your heart. But the feelings seemed to triumph over logic and reason.

The moonlight flickering through the darkened clouds of the night sky provided the only light, and yet, the both of you couldn't keep staring at each other. Your arms were pushing him away, but when his lips finally locked with yours, you couldn't help but take him in and let him invade you. As oxygen became a necessity, you finally managed to break away, only to be rudely returned back into an even deeper kiss. It was as if Keisuke were trying to devour you. You knew those feelings of hatred and resentment were there, but his passion for you was stronger. Perhaps that's true of your feelings for him as well, whether you admit it or not.

"You were my first kiss." Keisuke breathed as his finger twirled and played with your hair, his dark brown eyes piercing into yours. "Was I yours?" You refused to answer. You didn't know what to say... I mean, you could simply just answer but, you had no experience with love. You've never even had a real, honest conversation about love or crushes for that matter. You'd never had the time. You and your brother's only concern was your guys' next meal and looking out for each other. As far as you were concerned, you had no romantic experience whatsoever. You just now realized how awkward and insecure you felt now now being faced with the situation at hand. All you could do was nod yes, much to Keisuke's liking.

Your shirt had lifted slightly above your belly button after Keisuke had pushed your back on the bed and your loose spaghetti straps had drooped down a bit. Keisuke's breathing had gotten heavier as he eyed your body and that shy expression on your face. He loved the way your body reacted to the way he dragged his tongue up from your collarbone to your neck, not once taking his eyes off of you.

"You were right."

"It's still true. I'm following you around like a lost puppy." He lays his head down on your chest and grabs your hand, placing it atop his head. "Play with my hair." You obey his command, hesitantly. "I'm starting to think that it's in my nature to follow you wherever you go. I can't leave you alone." His comforting words were definitely contradictory to his actions as of lately, to what he'd been putting you through. But at the same time he was making sense. For a moment, he wasn't acting crazy.

"Mmm that feels nice." Keisuke's voice was muffled after he shifted his head face down into your chest, causing you to blush. You would tell him to stop, but Keisuke was finally opening up and not acting crazy for the first time in so long. You wanted to hear him out. "I just..." He rose his head and shifted closer so your eyes could meet as he towered over you, "wanted to hear your voice again." Keisuke's genuinity tugged at your heart strings, tear droplets forming in some corners of your eyes. He would say things like "You're the one for me, (Name). The one I want, the one I need. I couldn't imagine my life without you in it. Let me show you how much I need you."

But even then, he would speckle in those lies. "I promise I won't hurt you." and "I'll be gentle." and "Just a taste, that's all."

It wasn't long before Keisuke's hands continued their downward path, reaching your bottoms. He could tell from your reactions that your sensitive body had never been touched like this before. He couldn't hold himself back any longer. Before you knew it, you had been stripped of your clothes and brown hands were palming at your delicate skin. Your protests were reduced to groans and harsh whimpers as Keisuke's lips had you muffled. The two of you had to break the kiss as air became a necessity, leaving the both of you panting. The only other sounds were the pitter patter of rain tapping on the window and roof as it had began to thunderstorm. The rumbling and sudden crashes of the storm causing you to slightly jump, Keisuke letting out a small chuckle at your reactions every time.

"You feel so good, sweetheart. I wanna make you feel so good. I'll make sure you're protected, my sweet girl." Keisuke's hand finished massaging your breast and traveled down to the slick that had been waiting for him in betrayal to you. Much as he wanted to plunge himself into the hot and tight depth between your legs, he wanted to savor it even more. Your body was responding very well to Keisuke, you couldn't help the sighs and moans of pleasure. The sheer noises you were making sent a thrill up his spine at the sounds. No doubt you would be even louder when he was inside of you. You couldn't bring yourself to tell him to stop because of how good he was making you feel. For the first time in so long, Keisuke was making you feel good. And for the first time, you felt good in such a way...

And it felt so good when he rubbed you down there, despite it feeling so wrong at the same time given the circumstance you two were in emotionally. Keisuke noticed your sweet moans when he rubbed his palm on your clit. "You like that? Am I making you feel good, (Name)?" Keisuke's expression was filled with lust. Your thoughts went a mile a minute. "N-no, please... stop touching me. We shouldn't be doing this-" At this point, you couldn't tell if it was your body that was betraying you or that stupid mouth of yours. "Oh, but we should. Don't lie to yourself, (Name). You like it when I touch you. I like it too. And I wanna touch you more. I wanna see that expression on your face more often, the one you're making right now. Especially when I rub you like this." Keisuke applied more of a pressure to his rhythm on your clit, causing you to squirm and try to push his hand away. Of course, it was only right that he slapped it away. "Nuh-uh. Don't try to stop it. I will make you feel good. Because that's how much I love you. I wanna make you feel good all the time. Even if it seems like torture to you. So just let me."

Keisuke slammed his lips into yours as he began to slide his fingers on your slick. Just when you were already melting into his words, your eyes widened as Keisuke shoved in two fingers at once. "I'm going to make sure I claim you before anyone else does. You're my love, nobody else's. I'll kill anyone that lays a finger on you, I swear." Keisuke became angry just thinking about it, causing his pace to become rapid and harsh. The veins in his neck bulging as he remembered the state he found you in with those thugs. On the ground all thrashed around and your top off. He would make sure you never have to see the likes of them again. Yeah, that's what he'll do after this. He'll kill the ones that got away. Those thoughts and his red vision came to a halting stop when the erotic noises you were making faded back in.

It was clear to him now. Keisuke couldn't think about anything else right now except making you his. His hand grasped onto the supple skin of your breast, squeezing on it. His eyes were heavy lidded with lust as he saw the state you were in now. Completely hot and bothered. Panting, flushed, a hot mess. Like putty in his hands.

You couldn't help but steal prolonged gazes at his body as he discarded his clothing. You bashfully looked away as he tossed his trousers to the floor beside the bed. His hard member revealed, you couldn't bring yourself to look. It didn't feel right... But at the same time... Keisuke brought himself back down in between your legs and began to work on you yet again, so eager to please you as if to prove himself even more. To prove that he is the man for you, the only one for you. Your cute little noises seemed to have him hypnotized as he drank up your sweet juices. He buried his face in between your legs, not coming up for what seemed like too long. Keisuke's member became painfully hard as he envisioned himself pounding you into his bed, and oh how you'd scream in pleasure begging him for more... He couldn't wait much longer.

Keisuke took out his fingers and shoved them into the back of your throat after he got a taste of you. "You taste so sweet, wouldn't you agree, princess?" You moaned in shock. Fuck, he needed you now! "Let me taste you more~" Keisuke took his time savoring you as he continued yet again to slurp you up. He rubbed his face in it, twirled his tongue on it, thrust his tongue inside you, played with your clit and fingered you as he lapped up your juices. He enjoyed holding onto your thighs that were defensively trying to push him away by crushing his head, but your soft thighs had no effect in stopping him. Keisuke also held onto your hands after catching your attempt to stop the hands that were fingering your cunt and toying with your clit. Keisuke particularly enjoyed torturing you by sucking on your clit and paying attention to it while staring deep into your eyes. It's like he was a succubus trying to snatch your very life force from you as if he'd been starving for it his whole life.

"Keisuke, I... wait... stop, I feel weird." You were inching closer to your orgasm of course. Keisuke knew what was coming, and he continued, disobeying you. He continued to suck on your clit while his fingers caressed that sensitive spot inside you. A foreign heat was igniting in your chest, burning like a fire that filled your veins. You couldn't help but hold onto his head like you were going to fall if you didn't hold onto him as you reached your climax. You could barely make a sound, your hot body shook like an earthquake. The build up inside you had finally snapped. Keisuke watched you in awe as you came. He couldn't help but want to feel as good as you.

Keisuke fisted his erect member in his hand. It was thick in girth, heavy. Its color hazelnut brown with a pink tip, decorated with twisty veins. He had some stubble of pubic hair, not too much and not too little. To your surprise, Keisuke plopped his length of 8 inches on your stomach. You looked down at his daunting size in fear. "W-wait, aren't you satisfied now? You got your taste, can we please just stop?" Keisuke cocked his head to the side, not once taking his lustful glare off of you. His hand cupping your cheek, "Stop? But aren't you feeling good? It wouldn't be good for either of us to stop now, (Name)." Keisuke began positioning himself and you, pulling you by your hips down on the bed as you squirmed in protest.

"N-no, please... I'm not ready. That can't go inside me, I-I don't know what'll happen.." You held your trembling hands to your hot face, peeking through your fingers at Keisuke. At first, he didn't know what to say. Never before has he seen you like this. What was with you? Your cool demeanor had totally shattered along with your fight. Keisuke had been breaking you, enjoying it too. His lips slowly curled to a sick smile.

To tell the truth that Keisuke would never, he was deeply insecure. Although, it's not much of a secret... He never was the strongest, your brother held that title and then after Akira passed, that title went to you instead of Keisuke. I mean, it's not like Keisuke cared about things like that. Rather, he had a distaste for violence, the pacifist he was. Keisuke wanted to be there for you. To protect you.

Ever since entering Igura, Keisuke developed this deep insecurity as he was unable to protect you on more than one basis. You had no idea the pressure he put on himself to help you, it was breaking him. And when you snapped at him, that was the end of the Keisuke you knew. The last of him disappeared behind a corner of a building. Now here he was, stronger than you, faster than you. It was impossible to fight him as he possessed strength and his knowledge, knowing where to hit you where it hurts. His past threats seemed to have an emptiness to them now. Keisuke protected you, rescued you, and was determined to make you feel good. I mean, he did make you cum once already...

Keisuke shushed you in an effort to comfort you, leaning in close to move your hands away from your pretty face. "Why so quiet, I wanna hear your voi-..." Keisuke was shocked to see you crying and sniffling. And yet... "You're such a pretty crier~" He couldn't hide the pleasure on his face. His cock twitched at the sight of you. He'd never seen you cry before. Despite the sick and twisted nature of it, he enjoys seeing you cry. Not only were you at your most beautiful when you cried, he didn't know you still could, worried you'd grown cold and heartless. Now he knows, you feel like he does. You feel pain like he does. Keisuke's lips curved to a smile. He positioned his hips with yours as he guided you to lay back down whilst kissing you.

You covered your face again while he lined himself up to your entrance. "Hey, don't do that. Let me see your face. I wanna savor the expression you have when we finally become one, 'kay?" Keisuke cooed with a smirk as he pinned your hands down beside your head. And Keisuke had been savoring this moment while you remained powerless against him. The expressions you'd make as he took you with reckless abandon, he couldn't wait to sink into you any longer.

Slowly, Keisuke forced himself inside your slimy, puffy entrance inch by inch. He gave kisses of comfort and encouragement, he could tell you were uncomfortable by your labored breathing and clenched eyes. His extremely thick tip caused him to be restricted inside of you, he could already feel himself melting. You cried out in pain as he pierced your hymen. Keisuke comforted you through your sobs. "Fuck, princess... you're bleeding all over my dick. It's so hot." Keisuke looked down in admiration as if he was praising you. He wrapped your arms around him, telling you to hold onto him. Your sobs continued for a while as he did not stop until he was sheathed to your deepest point. You could feel every vein on the cock that was inside you, pulsing with desire. As Keisuke began to move, your sobs slowly turned to cries of pleasure.

You'd no choice but to hold onto him for dear life as you were being fucked within an inch of yours. Keisuke enjoyed his view. His little princess beneath him, panting and letting out little moans and whines that he incited, your breasts bouncing with every thrust he gave, and your teary eyed expression gazing into his passionate ones. Keisuke let out audible moans at the sight. "You're so fucking beautiful. And so. fucking. mine." He stated between thrusts. Keisuke's pace quickened as he felt his lust rage like an inferno inside him as his hips bucked against yours. He pinned your hands to the bed as he sped up his thrusts, wanting to bury himself as deeply in your body as he could. Your body began to shake as that coil became almost unbearable within you, drowning you in pleasure. Perhaps it was because you had never felt something like this before, or perhaps it was because you were doing this with the person you cared for the most.

The sounds of wet skin slapping on wet skin mixed with sighs and groans filled the entire black room, along with the rain and thunder outside. Keisuke's tip had been hitting you in all the right places. You had no time to think about anything else right now besides how good he'd been making you feel. The knot inside your tummy had been tangling again... Repeating his name over and over again, Keisuke filled your mouth with his tongue. Your tongues danced as the knot inside you finally burst as you came on his cock. Your climax resulted in that pleasureful heat inside him burst as well, drawing a long, low moan from his throat as the two of you continued your french kiss. Keisuke let out his cream deep inside of you despite your squirming protest. He thought it was cute that you still had some fight left in you. Just because of that, he made sure to press himself right up against your cervix, causing you to cry out.

You were just so damn attractive and irresistible that it made it hard for him to keep himself under control. Your slightly hitched breath and fucked-out expression was just so sexy, his length hardened inside you yet again. Your horrified expression only added to your sexiness in Keisuke's eyes. With a lick of his lips, he pushed himself back inside you and then out again. Continuing to thrust into you once more over and over again. A low, dark chuckle rumbled from his lips as you rebuked him. He knew you wanted this deep down inside you. Your delicate little pussy was sucking him in, there was just no way he could ignore you. Keisuke held your legs up and began to fuck you into a mating press as he pinned them behind your head. His girthy tip was searching for your sweet spot once more, which was pretty hard to miss in this position the two of you were now in.

Keisuke locked his lips onto yours yet again, only breaking the kiss to lick your lips and play with your tongue to tease you. You let out squeaks as he slapped your ass at times. Your soft and shaky moans filled him with more fuel and desire. He didn't wish to part from you for a single second. Your skin was soft and warm. Your lips pillowy and reluctant. The hitched gasps and mewls that left your parted lips made a familiar heat grow within his chest. Of course, you were feeling the same. The fire inside you demanded attention and you began to feel a small ache between your legs, like something was missing or burning for friction. Before you knew it, you unconsciously began to rock your hips against his, getting caught up in the bliss that the very movement sent through your body.

A sly smile pulled at Keisuke's lips as he was pleased to watch you finally give into him as you began to grind your hips on his, letting out a small chuckle of approval. You panted breathlessly as your arms draped over his shoulders, hands running through his messy hair. Your eyes were closed, mouth slightly open as you relished in the feeling you were receiving and he couldn't be more thrilled. Keisuke was watching you fall apart in his grasp. He was losing grip on himself as well. The warm and slimy heat that met his straining length drove all other thoughts from his mind. Keisuke grinned down at you as he watched you writhe beneath him. Your lust-glazed eyes met his as he released his cum inside you yet again.

Keisuke took advantage of your dazed state to move you to the side of the bed closest to the wall, all while making sure his cock never left your throbbing hole. You made a sound in confusion and then a small shriek left your parted lips as he sheathed himself inside you yet again as you were on your side. Keisuke shushed you and moved your hair out of the way so he could easily give you kisses on your cheek and neck. Never would he part from you ever again. Keisuke leans in close to your ear, the hot breath from his voice making you shiver.

"I love you."

The pitter patter of the rain was now mixed with the noises you made as you slept. Of course, Keisuke was watching you for hours until eventually he succumbed to his slumber as well.

[league-of-sam]

As Grim as the Reaper | Simon 'GHOST' Riley PREQUEL

Ghost x Reader, Graves x Reader

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Phillip Graves x AFAB!Reader!OC 18+ MINORS DNI! t.w // angst, mental health, language, violence, death, sexual themes/SMUT, military inaccuracies, language inaccuracies (google translate).

As Grim as the Reaper: Masterlist

Walking through the halls of the huge base, your head hung low.

Lights were dimly lit, and the place was practically empty. It was way past hours now, but you'd chosen to stay, occupying your mind.

There was still no news on Alex - he was still missing in action, presumed dead, and the information weighed heavy on your heart. 

It felt like no one was doing a fucking thing to find him. You'd spoken to Farah countless times since it had happened, and she was hurting just as much as you.

You couldn't help but blame yourself a little. If you could have held on, if you didn't get injured when you did...if you were able to have continued the mission, maybe he wouldn't have had to sacrifice himself.

But it was no good to dwell on a bunch of fucking what if's. 

That's why you'd stayed late, trying to occupy your mind with the mounds of paperwork you had to go through (one thing no one told you about in this job).

You hadn't heard from John in days, but you knew he was busy in setting up his new task force; 141. Your brother, the captain of his own task force. The thought made you swell with pride. But he was late for your arranged call, and it made you worry.

Then there was Laswell, being sent here, there and everywhere to sort out a multitude of messes across the globe.

So you were alone, and on your birthday, no less.

You continued walking in the direction of the break room - footsteps almost silent on the tiled floor after taking your boots off some hours earlier -  desperate for a good cup of tea, when a light caught your attention, more specifically, the light to the room you were going to stop at on your way.

Sneaking up, you peered through the almost open door, finding Phillip Graves sat at his desk, hunched over a similar mound of papers.

One hand rested on the side of his head, propped up by his elbow, while the other scrawled words, knuckles white from the grip he held on the pen. 

The light was coming from the single desk lamp, angled to shine over him, illuminating his blonde hair and casting dark shadows over his features. The sight had you lick your lips a little - you'd be a fool to ever deny that the Commander of Shadow Company was attractive.

In all truth, he was bloody gorgeous, a classic southern gentleman.

You'd also be lying if you said his incessant flirting over the last year you'd spent in Special Ops hadn't been slowly (quickly) wearing you down, especially after the way he'd not left your side in the last months.

Smirking, you pushed the door wider, stepping into the room.

"Ya gonna kill me if I put this on your pile, Commander?" You spoke.

Graves looked up, almost agitated that someone had disturbed him, until he was met by your sweet voice and pretty face. Then, his shoulders relaxed, his lips curling into a soft smile.

"Do it and find out, princess." He challenged.

His response made you giggle, and so, placing the folder behind your back, you tiptoed over until you reached his side of the desk, and added it to his never-ending stack. 

After a moment, you released a dramatic breath, perching on the desk next to him, "Well, would ya look at that, I'm still alive!"

He chuckled, leaning back in his chair, looking up at you. 

Now, you had a full view of what he was wearing; dark jeans held up by a leather belt with an obnoxiously large concho depicting a horned bull. Tucked in neatly was a grey cotton shirt, the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, with the first few buttons undone.

Such a cowboy.

"So you are." He smirked at you. "You know it's almost 10, right? The hell are y'still doin' here?"

"Same as you." You shrugged.

"See, now I know you're lyin' to me. Ain't no way you've got enough paperwork to keep you here as late as me. Talk to me."

He'd been there for you through it all the last couple of months. So much so, he'd gotten to know you a little too well. All of your little quirks, mannerisms, the way you carried yourself. He could read you like a book.

You cocked your head, drinking in his features, "First of all, I actually do have tonnes of paperwork. I'm applying for a promotion, so there."

"You are?"

"Yeah. Alex always said I'd be a good leader, thought maybe it was time to do it. For him."

"That's great, you'll make an incredible lieutenant."

"You think so?" You blushed, and he nodded, smiling softly at you.

"Absolutely...Lieutenant Reaper. S'fuckin' hot."

You rolled your eyes with a shake of your head, "Shut up."

He chuckled, holding his hands up in mock defeat, before rubbing a finger over his lips, coming to rest on his chin, "That ain't what's bothering you, though, so what is?"

"Do you ever get lonely here?"

Your question shocked him; the last thing he expected you to admit to him was that you were lonely. 

Yeah, he knew how much losing Alex was hurting you, and despite his ill-feelings towards the guy, he knew you loved him, and so it pained him too. 

But...he never thought you'd feel like this. You were too beautiful, too sweet, too kind to feel lonely, and he was kicking himself for not doing enough to help you through that.

"Graves?" You spoke, leaning a little closer, pulling him out of his thoughts.

"Uh- y-yeah...yeah. I guess it can be pretty lonely here sometimes, but I just go find one of my guys, they're usually up for hitting the bar for a few or using the foosball table in the break room."

"Right."

"That what's up?" He leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees, "You feelin' lonely?"

You nodded, almost ashamedly. "Don't get me wrong, I'm pretty accustomed to it by now, after losing my parents when I was a kid. But sometimes it gets the best of me- fuck, I'm sorry, I shouldn't be unloading this on you-"

Moving to leave, you were stopped, a hand softly gripping your wrist, pulling you back just that little bit closer.

"I don't mind. You don't gotta apologise to me, I asked, I wanna know."

"It's hard. I've only been here a little over a year. I miss Alex...I fucking refuse to believe he's dead. No way."

"You spoke to anyone about it?"

"Farah called last night...she's hurting. I know she loved him." You sighed, running a hand through your hair, pulling at the tangles, "And then John- I've not heard from him today."

"Is that a bad thing?"

"Not usually, we both understand that we can get busy with this work, but he never misses this day...never. If we're apart, he always calls, he always makes time."

"What's so special about today?"

You smiled a little, playing with the loose strings on the rope bracelet on your wrist; a simple black bracelet with a single charm of a bucket hat. It had been your present from John the year before.

"It's my birthday."

Graves looked at you with wide eyes, waiting for you to say you were joking, but you didn't, and so his jaw dropped. You were lonely on your birthday?

Not on his fucking watch.

He stood up, and you jumped back a little, before he grabbed your hand and his wallet, dragging you to the door.

"Phillip, what the fuck are you doing?" You laughed, trying to resist.

"I'm doin' what's right. No way am I lettin' you feel lonely on your birthday! We're goin' t'get pizza."

"No, we're not."

"Yes, we are."

"We have paper work to do!" You protested.

"That can wait! You're not going any longer without celebrating, not on my watch." 

"Phillip Graves!" You yelled, making him halt, "That form has to be complete by tomorrow, I have to do my paperwork!"

He thought for a moment, pursing his lips, before dropping your hand, "Stay here."

Graves didn't give you chance to answer before he was jogging down the hall, disappearing around the corner. You let out a confused giggle, but decided to stay right where he left you. Barely two minutes later, he reappeared, wheeling your chair in front of him, where your considerably smaller stack of paperwork rested.

"What are you doing?" You laughed.

He panted as he approached you, pushing past until he stopped the chair next to his own, "We're still gettin' pizza, but now, you don't gotta do your work alone. Ya can sit here with me, okay, darlin'?"

You bit your lip to suppress the giant smile that wanted to break through, crossing your arms over your chest. The gesture was incredibly sweet, and it made your cheeks burn pink.

"Okay, fine. You got me."

He took your hand once more, leading you to the break room, where he had you set up the pool table as he ordered a pizza for you to share.

There, you talked, laughed, played several games of pool as you waited on the pizza, until it arrived and you strolled back to his office.

The two of you sat close, the pizza being devoured quickly before you began on the paper work. Every now and then he'd nudge you playfully, and you'd laugh, shoving him back. Being around Phillip Graves was fucking easy, too easy.

And subtly, you edged your seat ever so slightly closer to him, until your knees were rubbing together under the desk.

Maybe this birthday wasn't so lonely after all.

You had to admit, it was nice not to have to do your paper work alone. Sitting beside Graves in his dimly lit office, pizza box half-heartedly discarded, was comforting.

It felt...right.

By now, you were the only ones left on the entire base, save for the security. It felt quiet and private, despite you being sat at work.

With a slam of your pen, you let out a gleeful yelp as you shot your hands into the air, signalling your triumph at yet another bet.

"And I beat you again, Commander."

"God damn it! I have no idea how you women write so fast, my hand's all crampin' up!" He said, massaging his palm.

You pouted mockingly, "I told you that you couldn't handle it, I kicked your arse, again."

Standing up, you moved over to the bin, tossing some of your scrapped papers in there.

"Excuse me?"

"Beat ya, just like I did at pool." You shrugged.

"You didn't fuckin' beat me!" He accused.

"Yeah, I did."

"No you didn't!"

"Oh, but I did!" You sang, a smug smile on your face. "Not my fault you turn everything into competition!"

You took his silence as defeat, and began revelling in yet another win, but a faint gasp left your mouth as you turned to find him directly behind you, the fright causing you to stumble. He reacted quicker than you did, grabbing hold of you before you could go toppling over.

You had him pressed against the file cabinets that lined the back wall of his office, leaning against his body slightly. Both your hands were firmly on his chest as you'd braced yourself for the fall that never came.

His breath fanned your face from how close you were, the tips of your noses practically touching.

"You fallin' f'me now?" He whispered with a smirk.

His tongue darted out of his mouth, wetting his bottom lip, preparing himself to return whatever snide remark he'd expected you to say, only for his actions to freeze when you whispered back.

"I think so."

His eyes widened, and he watched the blush creep onto your cheeks as you looked up at him, eyes big and doe-like. One of his hands was light on your hip, while the other raised, tucking a loose strand of hair behind your ear.

Your eyes flicked to his lips, as his did the same, and you leaned closer.

Closer.

Almost there.

[analyzingadventure]

Okay so, canonically speaking, in Adventure while there are hints at The Villians Being In Cahoots, it is never explicitly confirmed during the story, and post-Adventure content would seem to go as far as suggest it wasn't canon at all.

But The Villians Being In Cahoots is canon in the novels, and while the novels did change some things around, you can also kinda see how the Cahoots-part could've worked out in Adventure

So we can look at Adventure in a vacuum and speculate about how it could've worked, but if we're being real, it could be confirmed to be Turbo Not-Canon in any future Adventure-verse installment so it kinda doesn't matter

But yes, the novels did confirm that all the villians were working under the Dark Masters, Devimon being under Piemon's army specifically. Devimon and Etemon had been given similar jobs, to spread infectious darkness through out the lands, Devimon filling the entire File Island with his Dark Gears and Etemon building and spreading the Dark Network. Considdering how the Digital World ends up being turned into the Spiral Mountain by the end, both of these things may have been steps in doing that (being able to move the entirety of File Island, where the Village of Beginings is, would've been an important duty).

Killing the Chosen may have been more of a side-task for them given when the kids came to the Digimon's respective territories (it probably would've become Vamdemon's job too if he hadn't been too busy waltzing off into the Human World), and Devimon and Etemon taking on that task differently may have been both a result of the difference in their personality (Devimon would've been in no-rush, Etemon was just aching to go), but also once Devimon got taken down Etemon would've been under a little more pressure, as the kids would've proven that they shouldn't be taken too easily.

As for why Metal Etemon decided to attack Pinocchimon, there's a few ways to look at it.

For one, it's possible Etemon might've been forced to work for the Masters with threats of violence, and considdering the difference in power levels, Etemon probably would've had no way to refuse. But after he evolved, he would've been on-par with the Masters. So add his wish for vengeance and blind rage to the mix, and suddenly he doesn't have to care about what his former employers had to say, since he had the ability to fight back.

Another thing is that we don't know whose army Etemon belonged into; like I kinda wanna make an assumption Etemon might've been under Mugendramon's Metal Empire, but regardless of who he was working for, as long as Etemon wasn't a part of the Wind Guardians then it is totally possible he and Pinocchimon had never met before. (Also Pinocchimon is tiny, so regardless of if Metal Etemon knew that was one of his employers or not, he could totally look at the kid and figure he could whoop his ass. It's not like going up against a mountain of steel or a giant sea serpent)

Third, we need to considder the source of Etemon's power, how he had evolved in the first place. See, it's possible Etemon might've evolved from the influence of Apolycalymon (as Apocalymon was the source of all the evil in the DW and had given power to the Dark Masters too, it's kiiinda implied that the darkness the Dark Network was spreading was from Apocalymon), and if he did...

"Apocalymon must have sent its thoughts through the “Wall of Fire” into the Digital world. It planted the idea into the Dark Masters’ minds to unconsciously reject “evolution.” The Dark Masters’ plan would permanently destroy the function of the Village of Beginnings. It was possible that, to the very end, they had been unaware of it. In other words, the construction of Spiral Mountain took “evolution” away from the Digital World."

In Novel 3, Chapter 7 (New World) (linked by Shiha), it is said that Apocalymon must've been influencing the Dark Masters, making them do things that they wouldn't have done under normal circumstances. Like destroying the Village of Beginings; it seems like a smart move until you realize that by doing so they also sealed their own fates, ensuring that if any of them died, they too would remain dead, unable to be reborn.

So if Apocalymon's influence was making the Digimon lose their minds a little bit, making them do things that would result in as many others perma-dying as possible (which is kinda what Apocalymon wanted), and if Etemon was under that same influence... Yeah, Metal Etemon going for Pinocchimon could've been self-destructive behaviour.

There's also like other stuff like how we're told that Devimon hid the Crests and Tags, but then Vamdemon has the eight one for some bizarre reason, while we're explicitly shown Piemon stealing the Crests and Tags from Gennai. This would seem like a plothole but if the other two were both working for Piemon then it all kinda adds up and makes sense. Piemon stole them, gave Vamdemon the 8th Crest as a treat because he's a Special Boy with a Prophesy and told Devimon to hide the rest. It works out so neatly!

But yeah I think that's the TL;DR of The Villians Being In Cahoots-thing, I hope I might've illuminated the subject a little bit???

I apologize for the rambly question but something has always bugged me about the baddies in Adventure. Just how connected were they with each other and the Dark Masters, if at all?

Devimon didn't really get involved with the kids until episode 8 and I first assumed he wanted the kids dead because they kept freeing the Digimon affected by the dark gears. But then you have Etemon talking about how he calculated where the kids should be appearing and how he plans on killing them from the get go. And then there's Devimon's warning of even stronger and more evil Digimon than him beyond File Island.

That would imply that all the baddies, from Devimon to Vamdemon, were in on the Dark Masters' agenda. However MetalEtemon and Pinocchimon fight each other while seemingly meeting for the first time. So that implies that all the baddies were independent.

Am I missing or forgetting some crucial lore here? If they weren't all in on it, what was their motivation for going after the kids when they barely knew anything about the digital world?

There's nothing you're missing, and honestly it's a question that's been eluding us for a while. Like I said, I think the last Adventure novel is really all we've got at the moment.

Maybe @analyzingadventure could help here?

[theficthatwaspromised]

Amusement II (Aemond Targaryen x Reader)

PART ONE.

The people asked for a part 2, and the people shall be satisfied.

Pairing : Aemond x Female!Strong!Reader

Word count : 3k

Warnings : 18+ (MINORS DNI), explicit, choking, slight mentions of blood and violence, Aemond being a sassy little shit (again).

To say that the day had been tempestuous would be an understatement. The reunion with Aemond alone would have been enough amusement for at least a whole year, but the dinner that had just ended in a quite heated way had provided you with your dose of entertainment for the century to come. It all had started well, though, but while Viserys' words touched the hearts of some, at the other end of the table there was a disturbing mix of tension and indifference that did not bode well. Sitting like the prince he was, straight and elegant, Aemond seemed quite indifferent. But the rare times you felt his gaze on you, it burned you like fire.

Everything had escalated very quickly: a mocking laugh from Luke, a very special toast from Aemond, a few punches and provocations later, the sweet family dinner had come to an end. You hadn't even had time to take sides, and to tell the truth it wouldn't have been of much use. It was like an infinite loop, lulled by strong jokes and resentments too old to be erased so easily.

Your mother's instructions were clear: go back to your quarters. However, it would have been far too frustrating to go to sleep after a dinner like this. All these childish provocations probably affected you less than your brothers, still you could feel the headache they were starting to cause. It's a big breath of fresh air that you needed, so, discreetly, you took the path to the place that felt most familiar to you here.

At such a late hour, the training ground should be deserted. But the familiar sound of metal clattering makes you realize that you're not the first to have had this idea. As you quietly descend the stone stairs, you begin to make out his slender figure in the half-light. The silence is broken only by his growls and furious breathing, punctuated by the sound of his sword striking the armed mannequin in front of him. The moonlight reflects off his blade and his hair, it almost softens his concentrated features. Like you, perhaps, he needed to let off steam after his “final tribute”. His pride must have been piqued by Daemon's interruption in the little game he had been leading so far. Without too much effort, armed only with his charism and his finely chosen acerbic words, Aemond had almost succeeded in provoking a war.

Walking silently along the walls, you end up leaning against the table on which the weapons are laid out during the day, a little further back. There is something quite hypnotizing about Aemond, in the way he stands, moves, speaks or reacts. He has both this very diplomatic, noble and proud look, and this frightening facet, the one that lets you know that everything can flip in a thousandth of a second if he wants it to. 

He lands a final blow before sheathing his sword, his heavy breathing raising his shoulders as he stands still with his back to you. You gulp as you hold your breath, silently admiring his build. His leather outfit is flattering to say the least, perfectly fitted at the shoulders and cinched at the waist. Your secret admiration is interrupted by a confident voice that is more hoarse than usual.

“Come on out,” he commands, his smirk almost audible. “Even a deaf man could have heard you coming.” 

You roll your eyes, an amused smile tugging your lips. “And even a blind one could notice your… discontent,” you answer, taking only a few steps forward. You stay a few feet away from him – as a precaution – with your arms crossed on your chest, as much to make you look confident as to fight the cold.

“The only thing that discontents me is your presence,” he replies, turning around to face you. “You could do us both a favour and retreat to your chambers, as your dear mother requested, if I recall correctly.” He imitates you, crossing is arms, and raising his eyebrow. He really can't help but be an ass, can he ?

“What can I say, I guess not all of us are sweet little mommy’s boys.” You shrug, offering him your best sarcastic smile, although you were not lying : Aemond probbaly was the scariest guy in this castle but the way he looked and spoke with his mother had not escaped you.

“That is not what I am usually depicted as.” He scoffs, looking half amused, half pensive.

“And how are you usually described then ?” The question comes out of your curious mouth before you can even think it over, and the sudden interest you demonstrate doesn’t go unnoticed. A discreet but mischievous smile crosses his face while he once more stares down at you, like he just won a first round by winning your curiosity. 

“Less pleasantly,” he answers, without wanting to offer you more information and without seeming touched. On the contrary, he seems almost amused, satisfied.

It's not hard to guess that he likes verbal jousts as much as sword fights. And it's not hard to notice how much he seems to enjoy having the upper hand in this game either. What would happen if he was, say, destabilized?

“Yeah well, I'll admit you really can be an asshole when you want to,” you shrug, as impassive as possible. “But at least you're a pretty one,” you add, a playful smile on the corner of your lips as you revel in the short look of surprise on his face. 

Aemond stays silent for long seconds, staring right back at you, as if to know if you're really mocking him or if there's a hint of sincerity behind your words. Years of self-depreciation mixed with a certain indifference to other people's opinions must have made him a little impervious to compliments, whether sincere or sarcastic. Nevertheless, you regain control thanks to this confusing reply and that's what seems to annoy him above all: this conversation is not innocent, it's a game and you both want to win it.

“Have you got nothing better to do but to mess with the pretty asshole that I am ?” He quotes as he steps closer, the sudden realization that this time there’s no one but the two of you in this training yard making you gulp. 

You don't let yourself be intimidated—or at least you don't show it—and try to ignore the familiar warmth that creeps into your belly as he approaches. “I find this quite entertaining,” you admit and he chuckles.

“Did our earlier encounter and tonight’s supper not entertain you enough ?” He questions, now clearly amused, easily guessing the real meaning behind your words : you’re enjoying this little game just as much as he is. But you want to go further, sting him so that he really reacts, even if you’ll probably regret it. The temptation is too great, the duel too natural, the feeling too pleasant.

“It was indeed a lot of amusement. I especially enjoyed the part where you left with your tail between your legs,” you innocently call back, immediately noticing the way he tenses up a little. There’s a gloom in his eye that lets you know you’re starting to get what you want, but you also know he won’t let you win without a fight. 

“A bloodbath would have been rather inappropriate. Although Harwin Strong’s blood wouldn’t be a tragic loss,” he smirks, and now it’s your turn to tense. Coming from anyone else, you probably could have ignored it. But this name coming out of his mouth, and this perfectly assumed and insolent violence makes you boil. He really is an asshole. That smug expression he bears is enough to make your jaw clench, though you refuse to break eye contact and admit this one did affect you. Your heart is beating faster and he probably can hear it from where he’s standing, waiting for your reaction. 

You sigh as you pull yourself together, crossing the distance between you to come and plant yourself right in front of him. He doesn't move, stoic, but staggers slightly when your cold hand cups his cheek. You ignore your racing heart and the jolt that runs through your whole body against his skin, and give him a fake sympathetic smile. “How frustrating it must be, hiding behind witty jokes and provocations, when all you really desire is the attention you will never obtain,” you whisper, outlining his defined jaw all the way from under his ear to his chin. “You are and you will always be nothing but the second son,” you pout, and before you can mimic the cheeky expression he was sporting just seconds ago, his hand grips your wrist tightly. He holds it hostage next to his face, his furious glare betraying his rising anger.

“You know nothing about my desires,” he growls, tilting his head until his mouth is just next to your ear. “And dare not speak of them when you are too stubborn to accept your own,” he murmurs and you can feel his content smile against your ear. His thumb wanders over your wrist until he finds that perfect spot where he can feel your pulse, and thus guess how flustered you are just with those little words. The effect he has on you is obvious and it drives you mad. Without allowing him to have control any longer, you opt for the easy and safe answer, turning your head to face him, your noses almost touching.

“I accept them,” you lie, stolid. “But not all desires should be satisfied.” You frown when he snorts at your answer. He doesn't let go of your wrist but he pulls back a little, licking his lips.

“How disappointing,” he chuckles. “What a proud coward you have grown to be,” he says, an insult all the more vexing because you know it to be false. You glare at him and pull your wrist away from his hand, making him groan. Aemond likes control, and you like taking it back.

“At least I've grown. You’re still that weak little boy, too scared to ask for a dance,” you spit, eyes locked in his. The tension between you is more than palpable, it emanates from your two boiling bodies, but he furiously crosses it to come and grab you by the neck, pushing you back until you are wedged between him and the table behind you. All the restraint he has shown so far seems to have disappeared to give way to his ferocious nature. He tilts your head back by lifting your chin, both your hands grip the rough table for balance as he pushes his body against yours. 

“You’re the one who should be scared, my dear.” He pushes his thigh between your legs, the material of your dress far too thin to protect you from this delicious pressure and he notices it, smirking at the sound of your quiet whimpers.“Should I ever wish to really dance with you, I highly doubt you could handle it,” he says, his lips trembling over yours, both in anger and in lust. You squeeze your thighs around his leg, making him groan, your body burning with anticipation as you use your last ounce of willpower to speak clearly, wanting him to know you're the one in control.

 “There’s only one way to find out,” you reply and without giving him time to process your words, you close the distance between your lips in a furious kiss. He growls against your mouth and he grips your hair tightly, making you moan in pain and pleasure. He presses you against the table and one of your hands grips his collar, pulling him even closer. There's nothing romantic about it, it's an exquisite blend of fury and desire, as your tongues fight for dominance while your bodies push, pull, and collide. He pulls your hair back and you gasp, allowing him to attack your mouth again, his tongue marking it as his territory. His moves are feral and you’re a thirsting mess already, and the feeling of his own arousal between your thighs only flusters you more. 

His free hand finds your hip and he holds you tight, grinding languidly against your craving body. This fucker sure knows how to turn you on, and when his fingers move all the way down to lift your dress in a hungry movement, you bite his lip hard enough to make him groan. You smirk as he takes a step back, fuming, his eye shining with sin. You take the opportunity to take a deep breath, panting, but soon he grabs you by the neck, turns you around and has you bent over the table. You whine as your chest and cheek hit the rough wood, cutting your skin. He's pressed firmly against you, holding your wrists in place flat on the table. 

“Still think you can handle it, hm ?” He groans, and you feel him hard against you as he slides his hand under your neck to pull you up quickly against his chest, holding you in place thanks to his grip around your neck, your head pressed against his shoulder. Your back is fully pressed against him and you are unable to move, his arm keeping yours glued to your chest. With his other hand he lifts your dress again, as his mouth brushes your cheek. The heat between your legs grows more and more when he leans in to lick the wound on your cheek.“I’ll have you begging on your knees for more,” he murmurs and your eyes close as you feel his fingers brush against your thigh, slowly sliding up to reach your undergarments. They quickly make their way underneath it, and you gasp when his rough fingertips run through your slit, your legs shaking under his touch.

 “Aemond,” you whine, and the sound of his name coming from your mouth is exquisite. He groans again, louder. Your lips part and a strangled gasp escapes when he starts playing with your wet and sensitive skin, your clit rolling under his fingers. It’s rough and messy but it feels so good, and when he pushes his fingers inside of you, you purr his name out again, only making him harder against your back.. 

“Look at you,” he exhales against your ear and you start shaking as you feel the pleasure grow more and more every time his fingers move in and out of you, but he holds you in place, his hand still firmly gripping your neck. “So vulnerable,” he smirks. “So docile around my hand.” 

He feels you tightening around his fingers and, in a pleased grin, removes his hand from your throbbing cunt. So close to release, you let out a hungry moan you can’t contain, expressing just how much you ache for his touch - and he fucking loves it. He licks his lips and the sound it makes right next to your ear is enough to have you throwing your head back on his shoulder, pleasure and frustration driving you mad. 

“Hm”, he growls, taking a moment to fully savour his dominance to the sound of your tortured whimpers. You are soaking wet, the warmth spreading from between your thighs to your belly where his hand is now resting. Your pleading eyes look up only to be met by his ferocious gaze, the smirk covering his lips widening. “Some desires do need to be satisfied, do they not ?” he murmurs, staring down at you, his hand sliding down oh so slowly. His fingertips brush your skin and leave a trail of shivers on their way to your aching clit, barely caressing it. 

Your eyes roll back as you try so hard not to give in, to resist the urge to scream for him to release you from this torture, and the sight of you biting your lips to cover the exquisite sounds of pleasure coming from it only make him want to push you more - to make you beg, to give you what you deserve. He starts drawing circles around your most sensitive spot, his thumb moving so slow, making you convulse each time it passes over it. It is getting harder and harder for you to breathe, to think, to resist. You moan loudly into his ear when two of his fingers are buried into you again, moving in and out languidly again, and again. It feels so right, you don’t care how wrong it is any more. He stops only for a second, and that is enough for him to make you turn to face him, his hand moving from your neck to grasp your hair. Aemond’s trembling lips brush against your own as his other hand finds its way back under your dress, right to where it was - where you want it to be. 

You can’t take it no more, barely standing on your legs, you grab his vest with trembling hands in a silent plea for him to give you release. He pulls you closer. His gaze doesn’t leave yours and there’s a spark in it that conveys an order : keep fucking looking at him. With whimpering lips you give in, desperate and craving for more. “Aemond,” you whine, almost inaudible, “please.” And that is all he needed to hear. 

His grunt is feral, and now his palm swirls in circles around your clit as he pushes his fingers into you, deep and precise, such perfectly timed thrusts that have you clinging to his chest. Your mouth opens as you almost reach ultimate pleasure and he crashes his lips against yours, swallowing your cries when you cum loudly in his mouth. Your thighs tighten around his hand, your whole legs shaking, but he keeps going, holding you firmly. 

When he decides it's over, that you've had enough, he releases the panting mess that’s left of you and steps back just a little, admiring his work. He smirks, proud and victorious, and you can easily read the “I told you you’d be begging” on his face, even though he doesn’t say it - he doesn’t have to. Instead, he simply readjusts his vest, now back looking like the decent man he claims to be. 

“Enough amusement for today, I think,” he hums after a few seconds. “Let’s save some for tomorrow, shall we ?”

[cherrycola27]

Karma

Warnings: Language, Violence. Mentions and Descriptions of attempted SA. Minors DNI 18+

Vixen beat on the door of the bungalow she knew Rooster shared with Bob and Hangman. She shivered from the unusually cold summer rain. Her feet and calves were screaming, though she hadn't planned on running six blocks in these heels when she had chosen them earlier that evening.

Her fists pounded on the wood until the door finally opened to reaval Jake Seresin.

"Vix?" He questioned. "Jesus it's pouring get in here" he said pulling her inside.

She stood in the foyer shivering.

"Is Rooster here?" She chattered out.

"No he went to go pick up some food... should be back soon." Hangman told her as he looked over her.

"Vixen, what, what happened are you okay?" Jake asked, concerned.

"I... I.... no I'm not okay." Vixen admitted with a sob.

"I was out with Lt. Matthews at the Hard Deck. I wouldn't go home with him and he got angry, so angry, he... he t..t..tried to...but I fought back. And then I ran all the way here. I knew it would be safe. I was afraid he would try to come to my place." Vixen confessed still shaking.

Jake took a step back and took in his fellow pilot's appearance. She was soaked from the rain, her hair clung to her face. Her makeup was smeared. She had a black eye and a busted lip. Bruises were forming on her wrist, there was a red mark around her neck, and her dress was ripped. She looked so frail standing there.

"Okay, here's what we are going to do. We are going to get you some dry clothes and a hot shower... sound good?" Hangman asked her. Vixen nodded back weakly.

"Bob, can you grab some of Rooster's sweats for Vix please?" Hangman asked the WSO who had been silently taking everything in. Bob quickly rushed to the laundry room and reappeared with some sweatpants and a shirt for her.

"Great, now let's get you a hot shower and then you can wait in Bradshaw's room until he gets back." Jake said leading her to the bathroom.

Vixen shut the door behind her and stripped off her wet and ruined dress. She had kicked off her shoes by the door, they were trashed now.

She turned the water on and up higher than she probably should have, but she wanted to scrub every inch of her skin where Kyle Matthews had touched her.

She should have listened to Bradley when he told her Kyle was bad news, but he had charmed her into a few dates and she thought he was a good guy, boy was she wrong. His hate filled face flashed before her eyes. If she hadn't have gotten that right hook to his nose who knows what would have happened.

After she felt as clean as she could, she turned off the water and dryed off. She grabbed the clothes given to her and pulled them on. She could smell Rooster on them.

She came out of the bathroom into his bedroom. She probably shouldn't have, but she was so exhausted and upset she crawled into his bed and let out a sob.

Fifteen minutes later Rooster Bradshaw returned home.

"Bob, Jake, did one of yall invite a girl over while I was gone to get pizza?" Rooster asks noticing the pair of high heels by the door.

"No, they're, they're Vixen's shoes" Jake says with a somber tone.

"Why is Vix here? She's supposed to be out with Matthews." Rooster questions with an edge if distain in his voice."

"Bradley." Hangman begins with a serious tone. I need you to listen to me right now and not go off the deep end." Jake states. Rooster knows it is serious if Hangman is using his actual name.

"While you were gone, Vix...she showed up here looking for you, scared of her mind." Jake begins to explain.

Rooster's fist ball up as his jaw clenched.

"She said that Matthew's, tried to... he attacked her. She was soaking wet from the rain and her dress was ripped, she ran all the way here from the Hard Deck. Bob lent her some of your sweats to wear. Jesus man. She looked... she looks... its" Jake couldn't finish.

"She's in your room, she's terrified." Bob tells him. Rooster pushes past both of them and heads to his bedroom. He knocks before entering.

He sees her there laying in the middle of his bed curled up, shaking, crying. She looks so small and frightened. Nothing like the fearless pilot he knows.

"Vixen." He speaks softly coming to sit next to her. She sits up but doesn't meet his face. She has her hair pulled covering her face from his view.

He tilts her chin up and gently brushes the hair away from her delicate features. He takes them in.

Her busted lip, her black eye, the angry red marks around her neck, the bruises on her wrists.

It takes everything in his power not to fly off the handle.

He pauses and inhales sharply.

His eyes darken before he speaks:

"Who did this to you?"

The question was rhetorical. He knew who had done this. He knew where she was supposed to be tonight. He just needed to hear her say the name, that was all she had to do... just give him a reason.

Once she spoke it, he wouldn't hesitate to drive all over San Diego to find the motherfucker who had done this to his girl and rip his fucking heart out while it was still beating.

"K...k...Kyle Matthews. He... he did this because I wouldn't go home with him... he... he... he tried to." Vixen stammered out before another sob racked her body.

She collapsed against Rooster's chest. He held her tightly against him.

"Shhhh." He cooed to her "It's alright, you're safe now." He whispered against her hair.

She pulled back and looked at him. "I'm sorry." She spoke "Sorry for what?" He asked her confused.

"I'm sorry I didn't listen to you when you said he was bad news. I'm sorry I didn't take your advice. I'm sorry I only went out with him to make you jealous. I'm sorry for being here and ruining your plans and being so stupid." She cried out.

"Vix, baby girl look at me. You didn't do anything wrong. And I promise you, I'm going to find Matthews and make him pay for this." Rooster spoke his tone was dark and serious.

"You're going to stay here with Bob and Jake, and I'm going to take care of this." He assured her.

"No! Please don't leave me. Please... he isn't worth it." Vixen begged him and she clung to him.

"Okay... I'll stay right here with you. Rooster assured her. And he did. He held her all evening until she was finally asleep. When he was sure she wouldn't wake up, he slipped out of his room and went into the living room. He was happy that Jake, Bob, Coyote, and Phoenix all sitting there.

"I see you all got my message." Rooster began.

"Yeah we did... what's up Roos?" Coyote asked him.

"Someone hurt Vixen." He stated plainly. He didn't want to go into details, that statement was enough to anger everyone in the room. Vixen was their friend, their ray of sunshine, if someone messed with her, they messed with everyone.

"What I'm about to ask you to do is strictly off the books. After tonight we never talk about it because it never happened. We were all here hanging out together and drinking if anyone asks." Rooster starts.

"But we're going to go hurt someone and you can never ask me about it, but just know, they had it coming. If you aren't up for that you are free to leave." He tells them.

"We aren't going anywhere Rooster." Phoenix speaks for the group.

They all nod in agreement.

"Bob, can you and Phoenix stay here in case she wakes up or someone makes an unwelcome visit?" Rooster asks them. The pilot and her backseater immediately agree.

"Hangman, Coyote, you're with me." Rooster commands as he slips on a black hoodie.

"One question Bradshaw." Javy states before they leave... "Who's car are we taking?"

"We're taking my truck." Jake tells them. "No offense Rooster, but the Bronco isn't the best for an incognito mission. Not many of them on the road, but there are several black Silverados out there." He reasoned with them.

Rooster nodded in agreement as the trio went out into the night.

Jake hopped in the driver's seat, Rooster slid into the passenger's side and Coyote hopped in the back.

"Well gentlemen," Rooster spoke "Let's go get this fucker."

Hangman backed the truck out of the drive and headed to where he knew Matthews was staying. They would look there first. If he wasn't there, they knew a few of his other hangouts. Unfortunately when they turned onto his street his rental was dark his driveway was empty.

"Well this is a bust... where to next?" Jake asked.

"He's at the beach club on Sunset St." Coyote states showing them his phone. Kyle Matthews wasn't smart enough to have his social media set to private and Javy was easily able to pull up his Insta story and find him.

"Hot damn. Good job Detective Machado." Rooster joked as the truck rolled onto the street towards its next destination.

Jake steered his truck into the parking lot of the club. Rooster immediately spotted the mustang that Lt. Matthews drove. Hangman parked in the space next to it. The three men sat in the truck and wait for him to exit the venue.

"Roost, I know you said he hurt Vixen." Coyote spoke up breaking the silence in the truck. "Did he... you know?" Coyote asked afraid to speak the word.

"No, the son of a bitch tried though. Apparent she hit him with a right hook to the nose and ran for her life." Rooster informed him.

"Let's make him pay." Coyote said confidently.

"You don't put your hands on a woman. Every self respecting man knows that." Jake added, his Texas draw becoming more prominent. It always did when he was angry. The other men nodded in agreement. All three if them hailed from the south, and that sentiment was driven into them at a young age.

"Asshole incoming" Hangman said as they say Kyle make his way out of the club to his car. They all quietly exited the vehicle. Thankfully the douche had chosen to park in the darkest part of the lot, he wouldn't see them coming.

He fumbled with his keys as he walked towards his car.

"Lt. Matthews" Rooster called out from the shadow.

"Who's there?" The man spun around looking for a face to go with the voice.

"Your worst nightmare." Jake said as the trio stepped forward.

"Hangman, Coyote, Rooster? What are you doing here?" Kyle asked them once he saw who was there.

"We have business with you Matthews." Rooster spat out.

"What business?" He asks and edge of anger in his voice.

"We came to finish was Vixen started" Coyote almost growled at him.

"Really? You guys are here to defend that bitch? She almost broke my nose! Did she tell you that?" Matthews yells at them.

"Yeah she did. She also told us about how you treated her and what you tried to do to her." Rooster shoots back.

"The skank was asking for it I meam Jesus Christ who doesn't put out on the third date. Her call sign is VIXEN for crying outloud!" He shouts trying to somehow justify his actions.

"Well if you think call signs are what the person should act like maybe we should change yours to Coward considering that's what you are." Coyote states taking a step closer.

"You know you Yankee bastard, it might be okay to put your hands on a woman where you are from, but where we are from, that's about the lowest thing a man can do. We respect our women around here, and take care of those who don't." Hangman states, his voice low, and his southern twang thick.

"I don't have to stand here and listen to think. Fuck you assholes, dumb bitch got what she deserves, though I will have to say it was pretty hot hearing her beg for me to let her go, too bad I didn't get to--"

Lt. Matthews doesn't get to finish his sentence. He is cut off by Rooster's fist connecting with his jaw. The force of it sends him staggering backwards and to the ground.

"The fuck Bradshaw!" He curses out getting to his feet. He lunges for Bradley only for Jake to land a right hook to his torso, forcing the air out of his lungs.

Kyle doubles over which gives Javy the opportunity to deliver a swift kick to the ribs. He groans out in pain.

Rooster picks him up by his shirt collar and pins him against the side of his car. His fist meets the other man's face a few times. There is a nasty crunch followed by a pool of blood, Rooster knows he has broken Kyle's nose. He had stayed silent most of the time, but as Rooster raised his fist again he spoke

"You think that bitch is going to put out for you now? If she does let me know if you enjoy hearing her scream and beg as much as I did." He states before laughing.

Rooster's body flooded with anger. He drops his fist and wraps his hands around the other lieutenants throat, squeezing the air from his lungs. If Hangman and Coyote hadn't been there to stop him, Rooster would have surely killed him.

He let's up just a little before bringing his face close to Matthews's. "If you ever get near my girl again, I swear to God himself I will rip your heart out of your chest and have it for breakfast. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes" Matthews stammered out.

"Yes what?" Rooster groans

"Yes sir." Matthews replies before Bradley finally releases his grip.

"And if anyone asks you what happened you tell them you tripped and fell down some stairs or off a curb, I would hate for us to have to meet again like this." Jake tells him as Kyle climbs into his car.

"Understood." He says before peeling out of the club.

The group gets back into Jake's truck and enjoy a silent ride home. They share a silent understanding that this night never happened. Once they get back to the bungalow, Rooster is shocked to find Vixen standing in the living room with her arms crossed and shooting daggers at them with her eyes.

"Hey Vix! Glad you are up." Rooster begins trying to act casual.

"Oh no you don't! Just where have you three been! Rooster you promised me you wouldn't go after him.

"Sweetheart, we just went out for a little drive and some air. Nothing to worry your pretty little head about." Rooster replies.

"So that isn't Kyle Matthews's blood on your knuckles then?" Vixen asks with a matter of fact tone.

The boys shrug. "Ugh I can't believe you. I told you not to do anything!"

"Vixen, honey, relax, we didn't anything." Rooster said stepping closer to her and pulling her in his arms.

"Karma did." He finished looking down at her.

"Karma huh?" Vixen shrugged looking at everyone.

Before she became a pilot she never had anyone in her corner, but now, standing in the living room at one of her lowest points she realized that the people infront of her weren't just her friends, they were her family.

"Well, since Karma did me a favor. How do you suppose I repay them?" Vixen asks.

"I could think of a thing or two." Rooster says before pulling her in for a kiss.

Tag List: @dreamingathighaltitude @shanimallina87 @luckyladycreator2 @mak-32 @katieshook02 @samhapner6 @rosiahills22 @thedroneranger @roosterforme

[peachymilkandcream]

Ready or Not|Part 9|Yandere Levi x Evelyn

(A/N: So the next chapter will be the last in this series, I'm not going to draw it out too much as much as I like these two. That doesn't mean they're going away however. All of these are pre-written weeks in advance but by the time this goes up who knows we might have another Levi and Evelyn series chosen to start next. Hope you enjoy and comment to be added to the taglist!)

WARNINGS: noncon, dubcon, manipulation, domestic abuse, yandere themes, forced marriage, forced pregnancy, stockholm syndrome, graphic depictions of violence, mind breaking, misogyny, etc.

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Levi wasn't a complete animal, he'd give Evelyn a chance to see reason and agree to come back with him. Most likely it was that bitch of a physician gaslighting her into believing there was a better life out there, that she needed to be rid of him to be happy. His wife had always been incredibly naïve, if she came along quietly he wouldn't punish her as severely.

A firm knock on the apartment door announced his return into her life, any minute now he'd hear the door unlock and she'd run into his arms with his son, tearfully apologizing for how cruel she's treated him.

A minute passes and this doesn't happen, adding to his annoyance.

"Evelyn it's me, don't do anything stupid and open the damn door." His fist pounds on the wood.

Again there is nothing.

"Look, I know you're scared, but it'll be fine. I'm not mad, just disappointed. After all this time, all we've shared, I thought you got over your little temper tantrums. You know there's no escaping me so stop making it harder on yourself and just open the door."

With more time passing he takes a deep breath, trying to calm himself enough to think rationally.

"Fuck it."

He kicks the door open, splintering the wood. Stepping inside he surveys the cramped living space in search of his child and wife.

Clean but empty was the best way to describe it. Evelyn had come here with no much more than the clothes on her back and the meagre change she stole from him, of course they didn't have much.

Levi couldn't help but smirk, he bet she missed his extravagant lifestyle. There was something about having everything handed to you on a silver platter versus crawling up the corporate ladder to make enough to survive. Poor girl, he was saving her at this point.

As he explored, he captured glimpses of what her life had been void of him. A life of a working mother trying to make ends meet, all of her bills on the coffee table printed with long overdue dates on them. She needed him more than she thought, someone to take this mental tole of responsibility from her, reducing her to a blissful life of children and carefree days.

The bodies found in various states of disposal made him stop, she had always claimed she would never stoop to his level and kill those who came in her way. However it seemed like her own self-righteousness had come to stab her in the ass, she was just like him, cutting down victims to get ahead in life. Never had he been more proud.

Her bedroom was where he spent the most time, knowing she had slept in that bed, undressed here, made his heart race and blood rush to his dick.

The bed looked barely slept in, indicating nights where worried kept rest at bay. With him she always slept soundly after being filled with his cum.

He bent to pick up a pair of panties in a dirty clothes hamper, taking in the intoxicating sent before tucking them into his coat pocket. Clearly she wasn't here, but she hadn't fled, knowing he had come for her. But if her schedule followed that of a normal work day she would be home in a few hours, he could go out and find a nice spot to relax and plot their reunion before returning and pouncing on her happy life.

With that thought tugging his lips into a smile, Levi exited the apartment, not bothering with the door, if her things were stolen it was her own stupid fault for betraying him in the first place.

"It seems like this game is over my dear."

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The sun beat down on Evelyn and Furlan while she was on the hunt for a job. All of her employers had mysteriously been disappearing after they fired her, and so her list of job opportunities was growing thinner and thinner by day. Anywhere she could she'd beg for a job, the fear of finding some way to pay rent looming behind her.

She caught herself wishing Levi back into her life, wanting that life of stability. But as soon as she thought it she shook it away again, after all this, how could she even allow her brain to think of that madman? She was betraying everything she had done until now. No, she'd find a way to make it work.

As she walked through the crowded streets Furlan tugged on her hand. "Papa-"

Evelyn groaned softly. "No sweetie, Papa's gone away now, I know you miss him, just come along darling."

However he still pulled, begging for his father. Evelyn still hadn't gotten used to this, the constant reminder that her child longed for the man that abused her cut her deeply. She didn't know how to break it, she just wanted him to be happy without Levi.

Finally fed up with being told to hush, Furlan slipped out of Evelyn's hand, running into the crowd while she was talking about a possible job position.

"Furlan? Get back here right now- Furlan-!" Her heart jumped, panic setting in as she chased after him.

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Levi felt the small form hug his leg, slightly startled, he looked down to shoo off whatever child had mistaken him for his parent. Only to be met with his own son clinging to him like he had missed him dearly.

He ruffled his hair before kneeling to his level and pulling the boy into his arms. "There you are, I've been looking all over for you."

"Papa play hide seek?" He asked innocently, as if all of this heartache was a simple children's game.

"Yes son, and it seems I won. But I'm still looking for Mama, do you know where she is?"

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Evelyn chased Furlan until she saw him being held by a man bent over, unable to see his face. "I'm so sorry he got away from me-"

Her eyes meet his and her entire world went numb. Terror filling every inch of her body as she stares into those eyes, those cold eyes.

"Levi-"

"Seems like we found her Furlan, I guess that makes me the winner." He smiles at them both. "Now my dear. Are you ready to go home?"

[simplepotatofarmer]

techno & doomsday as a deliberate choice

aka 'it makes sense that this is the fight c!techno chooses on his own'

i've been thinking about this a lot, about c!techno and the fights he's been in, and how he's felt used and lied to about most of them. the imagery from the recent sad-ist animatic definitely inspired some of my thoughts here.

through some wild miscommunication, c!techno genuinely believed that the reason he was called in to support pogtopia to get rid of the government, especially after c!wilbur said that he was on board with the whole anarchism thing. so while techno went into this fight of his own choice, it wasn't for the reason that he thought. if he had been approached and told, 'we're going to overthrow this government and set up a new one, without an election, in its place', he wouldn't have agreed in the first place. the goal and the end result of this fight wasn't one that he would've chosen himself.

unsurprisingly, there aren't many conflicts/fights that c!techno has been in but those also conflicts that fall under 'for someone else' or 'not by choice'. the pet war was something techno wasn't involved in except through c!tommy, who called on him to back him up in the fight. techno certainly did it and he did it willingly (though i don't doubt that it influenced his opinion; when techno says 'you only ever saw me as the blade', he's not just talking about nov. 16th) but it was for someone else.

the next example would be the confrontation with the butcher army. this is one that techno was quite literally forced into. he begged them multiple times to leave, that he didn't want to fight, and only resorted to violence when it became clear they wouldn't leave him alone. this was not a fight he entered by choice. (and arguably i'd say that, while i've been leaving 1v1 conflicts off the list, the fight between him and c!quackity is the same.)

but doomsday is different.

doomsday is something c!techno had been planning since his execution. it was personal, it was revenge, and while if certain things hadn't occurred his involvement might have been different, it was something he chose.

at the green festival, c!dream asks techno if he wants to help him destroy new l'manberg and techno asks if dream is 'calling in [his] favor' to which dream says no, because techno would do it anyway, something that techno readily agrees with.

there is no hidden motivation: dream is clear he intends to bring the city down to bedrock. it'll be gone. all the resources used by techno are things that he had already gathered for the same purpose. techno brings his ally and friend, c!phil, into the plan despite dream's initial attempt to keep him out of it.

all three of them have equal part in the plan: phil is given the wither skulls by techno so that he can act as a distraction (a smart move because it effectively stopped them from focusing on dream), techno is on the ground because his hound army is pretty much exclusively affective there and because his reputation is one that will draw a lot of focus (during the battle they call out to focus on the withers and then 'the blade', never focusing on dream), and dream focused on the redstone to bring l'manberg to bedrock.

(the risk is also equal, tbh, and there's a bit of irony in the fact that people erase both techno and phil's part in doomsday, that dream is essentially the only one to face consequences, and that people think of doomsday as another instance of someone using techno as a weapon when it's the battle he's picked.)

techno chooses this fight; it not only aligns with his ideals (getting rid of the government) but also his personal grudges (which is more of a factor). and it's clear that techno himself feels this way.

'i'm choosing what i fight for now', he says.

and what i find really interesting about that line is the fact he's stayed true to it.

the red banquet was a choice that techno made. he didn't want to team up with c!quackity but this was a moment to truly fight for his ideals and nothing else. he made that choice, to put any discomfort he felt by working with quackity aside because it was the right thing to do. it's what he wanted to fight for, what he's always said he wants to fight for.

to me, there's something interesting about how techno came into the story, called in to serve as a weapon for a cause that wasn't exactly what he thought it was, fought for his agency and to be seen as a person, and now is able to decide what he fights for. and the how of it as well, now able to change his tactics as seen with the syndicate.