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acupofinkedblood · 2 days ago

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Katana and owl-hybrid reader

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝

• Hybrid demons are definitely one of a kind. Whether it’s their gear’s doing or life has just granted them a so-called curse under the disguise of a blessing — or maybe it’s another way around, it’s a matter of perspective after all — no one can deny the fascination that bounds with people’s curiosity whenever they a hybrid demons with animalistic traits in the flesh. It’s not too common after all, so please excuse their inquisitive behaviors. Though most of them are different in letting people know in their own way — like how Ducky has a small little duck tail behind her or how Grav’s tail is quite noticeable — you on the other hand, your avian traits are definitely one of a kind

• Certainly the fact that only the SFOTH deities or demons related to them are the only ones with the ability to summon their wings at will and use it. But that doesn’t mean a very slight possibility of a demon who doesn’t have anything to do with the deities can harbor that gift of having wings. You are the prime example of what people thinks won’t happen anytime soon in the next few decades: A demon who bears the attributes of an owl. Don’t question how that manages to happen, just think of it as the spawn has been running on deadline so bad that it literally lets you pass with that extraordinary characteristic of yours without consideration— I jest, but hey, take it easy

• You’re still young, spawned into this world with little knowledge of what is happening at the very moment. It feels like you have just been dragged away from the warm embrace of nothingness into the world’s system without any relatable guidance to your circumstances. Sure, you still have at least someone to look out for, but it still feels weird nonetheless. Your differences compare to others don’t make it easier, now do it? It’s not everyday that people see demons like you with the promising capacity of soaring the sky once you develop enough. They look at you like an exotic specimen, not as a normal demon. Being the certain of the spotlight at such age, it’s hard to tell whether or not do you enjoy such attention

• It’s quite annoying to take care of your own need as an owl hybrid. Most people don’t get the little idea of how that dissimilarity, which is usually what they praise you about, can be such a pain in the ass. That little birdbrain of yours fails to grasp the philosophy of why are you such an outsider to your fellow kins. And don’t get me started on those idiots who picks a fight with you just because they can. Bullies are the worse kind to have a difference around. Such a hassle, no? It’s understandable to feel that way. Maybe that’s why the wilderness keeps calling out to you, so you might be given an opportunity to feel at home. And you did follow that sound, feeding your curiosity the moment you know how to spread your wings to some extent

• The unknown has been quite the surprises for you to discover new things daily. There are quite a lot of things you have on your to do list — or for the lack of better words, your to discover list — while you keep flying on track. But finding a parental figure is definitely not what you have in mind, at least for the time being. And the fact it’s Katana out of nowhere makes things even more hard to believe. Be as it may for people to find it baffling, that’s still the case in your situation

• How did this happen? There are two main scenarios that has led to this outcome: One is your stubbornness has worked its charm when pestering the man nonstop. Let me enlighten you about the possible reasons why you keep tailing Katana around even when he has warned you about the lurking danger following everywhere he goes. You might feel intimidated when sensing the older demon around your area, as owls are often stressed by stranger’s presence due to feeling threatened and out of their element. Though it can be helped - Katana does look scary in a kid’s eyes like yours. Yet it might slowly develop into curiosity. It’s only natural to feel so, and the fact that you aren’t fully aware of typical pleasantries when dealing with someone as strange as Katana. From that moment on, you keep following the man around as if you’re a lost little owlet

• Katana might be bothered by your continuously insistence on being around him. He did try to shoo you away a few times before, but it seemed to backfire his intentions as you just doing whatever you please to do. The older demon technically gave up when he realized that no matter how much he pushed you away, you will just fly back to his direction and observe every movement of his from a reasonable distance. Slowly but steadily, you start to grow onto him. It’s just the matter of time Katana finally gives in and decides that he has another responsibility to keep on his shoulders as a responsible figure

• Two is that Katana seems to see a piece of familiarity in you, probably in a sentimental manner. Maybe you reminded him of someone in the past. He has been wandering for who knows how long on this journey of cleansing the corruption after all, so it’s safe to say he might have met a few people that left an impact in his memory. Or maybe you reminded him of something good in the midst of chaos - a peculiar demon child that he suddenly felt the urge to protect out of nowhere. It didn’t feel right to leave a child like you without knowing that you would be safe the next day or not. It was odd of him to decide to take care of you like that, though comes to think of it, no one can really read what Katana has in mind anyway

• Katana isn’t that good with simple words for children like you, so he will rely on his actions to make sure that you know he cares for you. He is like those traditional father figure who looks intimidatingly quiet but loves his child deep down no matter what

• Whatever is it that has the familiar bound between the two of going on — you convinced him or he convinced you — it doesn’t matter. You’re his child now, and although Katana would say that he isn’t the best father figure to someone your age when he looks at the other family, that doesn’t mean he won’t try for you. Katana wishes for you to be comfortable with telling him what’s in your mind. You need not to worry about anything behind your father’s back, you know he will lean an ear on anything you want to say. Katana is a great listener after all. And maybe his wisdom can aid you through the hardship you are experiencing right now

• If you have a rebellious phase, this old man will definitely have a massive headache while he figuring out how to deal with that attitude of yours in a fair way. Children are already hard to understand, but you will probably make his horns grayer sooner than he’d like. How is he going to talk some senses into you when you’re puffing those feathers of yours out to appear bigger and loudly chittering or hissing at him? Not to mention if you decide to land on a high branch out of his reach. The sight is pretty funny in some way though, an old demon of a father just keeps looking up at an owlet hybrid as he doesn’t know what to do. That is a ‘what if’ only though, but just keeps in mind that he still loves you as always

• He definitely has to do his research carefully before officially takes you in under his wings. Katana does enjoy bird watching in his free time, but he can’t just compare you to those things. Questions are expected, as he wants to know all of your needs to make sure that you don’t have to put up an act to pretend that you’re fine with the new living conditions. In case even you don’t even know what to answer him because you too have no ideas, Katana doesn’t give up that easily. This man will quietly get around and ask anyone he deems that have enough experience with taking care of an avian then selectively choose what shall be the most suitable for you. He won’t tell you since that’s just how he is: Figuring things out on his own so that it won’t stress you out

• Clothings are definitely on that main list for him to think precisely given the wings and the few feathers on your body that just get in the way. Hate to break it to you, kiddo, but don’t expect this man to be able to sew a shirt without the need to intensely glare at the needle to put the thread through in the next three hours. He’s a fighter, not a professional homemaker or anything. One thing he will do, however, is to take you to a trustworthy yet inexpensive tailor in Thieves Den to design a few new outfits for you to wear comfortably. He knows he doesn’t have to do it since he can just cut the back of your shirt a little to make space for your wings, yet he just does anyway. Who is going to stop him? He knows what is the good price for something, no one needs to worry

• Some of your current behaviors are still heavily influenced by your owl’s instinct. From little things like being observant to just have an instinct to fly outside to hunt out of nowhere just because you’re bored. And those actions, which you may think are not that big of a deal, can definitely cause your father to freeze midway when he sees you

• When he first brings you back home, you almost give him a heart attack when you do that infamous yet iconic head turn that pretty sure if it’s not Katana in front of you, people might have called an exorcist to deal with you. Random knowledge, but do you know owls technically can’t turn their head a full 360 degrees motion but rather 270 degrees? Yeah, the same case applies to you. Whatever the degree, you certainly scared your guardian a lot of times before. Poor Katana literally drops his tea cup the moment you turn around looking at him directly into the eyes as you were just turning your back at him earlier when he calls your attention for something. Give him a few moments to get used to that stunt of yours, he’s old now

• One more things that Katana has to take a deep breath while mentally questioning his knowledge is when he sees you regurgitating pellets for the first time. Listen, demons don’t need to eat, remember that alright? And when the two of you want to have a treat all of a sudden, Katana will take you out to the vendors to get a snack or two. Basically most of everything he feeds you are digestive. But then that little birdbrain of yours just swallows if not anything you feel like it’ll be a good idea when it’s obvious that those things are barely edible. This man’s heart rate has done the lambada on a thread when he sees you gagging out pellets of said things out. He immediately takes you to see a doctor and then just facepalm when understand what happened. It doesn’t harm you though, but damn does it give him one hell of a shock

• You know the basics of how to fly, but it’s still clumsily done as you barely have anyone to tell you what to do properly. Flying is like second nature to you, an instinct that only you can understand. Katana doesn’t have that much of information on how should he help you in something only you have full knowing on how. Katana believes that it’s best you learn on your own, but he will also be there to encourage you. Don’t be afraid if you fall again after a short while of practice on flying around in long distance, your father will always be there to offer you a hand to get up on your feet again. Not all the times he will help you up, though he will be there no matter what to keep an eye on you carefully

• Preening is definitely the thing you have to inform him about. You can still do it on your own, but there are some places that you can’t help but groan as you struggle to reach to. You can keep your ego on top of your head if you want instead of asking Katana for help, but don’t be surprised when your wings feel so awful and heavy all of the sudden. Of course, Katana notices that clear change of demeanor in your expression. He knows that avians preen themselves as an act of taking care of themselves. This old man will lean you a hand when he knows you can’t deal with it yourself after numerous attempts. He does know a thing or two about it, but feel free to correct him on anything he does wrong, he appreciates it a lots. You’re his child after all, he doesn’t want to keep making mistakes which might accidentally hurt you

• Since you’re pretty much still an owlet in some sense and not fully developed your hybrid traits to adulthood, your napping schedule definitely amuses Katana. Owls usually get active at night, even though different owls come with different behaviors, but that’s usually the case. It’s not a surprise when you spend most of your time in the day sleeping whenever you feel like it and then proceed to cause havoc when the night falls. And since you’re technically an owlet, you have quite the obnoxious amount of nap time that just hits randomly. Katana isn’t too startled anymore when he sees you slowly drifting away to sleep for a few minutes before bounce back like nothing has ever happened. He’s used to your oddities by now

• The fact you even sleep face down on your stomach while turning your head to the side immediately when you want to sleep is something your guardian finds endearing. You look ridiculous in some ways in a lighthearted manner. Sometimes you even do it in the middle of anywhere you see fit at home but your room when you’re feeling comfortable enough. Picking you up when you’re sleeping the day away on the living room’s floor then bring you back into your bed — which funny enough, it’s literally a nest of pillows and blankets together that you make yourself — is somewhat a typical routine to Katana

• The ronin usually prefers to stay and relax at home if he has a choice. Although when you come into his life, he sometimes insists to take you out to go on a walk with him just so you two can bound together. Maybe a few idle chit chat to catch up on each other’s day or to talk about what has been troubling you. You don’t need to force yourself to have a conversation with him if you have nothing in your mind, he just wants to bring you out to have some fresh air. Walking around the forest can clear up one’s mind in peace after all. You can also fly around freely while Katana takes his time to follow you. Maybe he isn’t going to catch up given that it’s his moment of relaxation, but he still knows where are you, so don’t worry about loosing his track

• If you want to follow him around when he is going to travel, you have rely solely on your logical points to debate with him for quite a long period. In his eyes, you’re still his owlet. No matter how much you try to prove that you’re capable of fighting alongside with him, there is just no way that he will put out you in such unknown danger in which it can make him regret his decision forever. Please understand that he doesn’t baby you, Katana knows better than to spoil you too much, that’s just his way of nurturing you to be independent yet still staying right beside you whenever you need his aid. But you’re just too young. Hell, if you were older, then he might reconsider about this talk once that happened. Though for now, you’re not allowed to come with him. It’s for your own safety, and he makes sure that he explains it in details for you about the potential consequences of it

• Katana genuinely cares a lots about you and your well-being. If anything happens to you, he can’t bring himself to ever let his guilt rest. He has already lost enough, he doesn’t need to put you on that list of people who he values deeply yet has fallen down unfortunately without him able to do anything. You’re his child, his dear owlet, and it’s his responsibility as a father to protect you from the corruption itself. He can’t let his precious pride and joy be taken away by death’s hand. He knows your nature as an avian will urge you to give in to the temptation of exploring the sky. Katana supports that, he knows that soon you will mature and leave his embrace to go on your own journey. However, you are not ready for that future just yet, so it’s his duty to look out for you until you grow up

• That is to say, whenever he has one of those so-called business trip again, he makes sure to leave you with the Thieves Rest trio so that they can look after you with upmost care while he’s away. Although yes, they do bother him with useless deeds sometimes whenever they’re done with business at Crossroads and return to Thieves Den, but at least he knows they aren’t too bad. Especially Slingshot, who he tolerates the most out of the trio. Katana has to think throughly before makes that decision. As much as he’d like the idea of bringing you to Hyperlaser instead, he feels like the idea isn’t really the beat idea. At least with those three, they will know how to keep you entertained while also safe. He has to give them a throughout list of matters that concern you before leaving too, he can be strict when he needs to

• Remember Prince? Yeah, he’s your companion now. He is the first owl in this household that has been accompanied Katana for longer than you have ever been. Maybe at first you two will just stare at each other without blinking out of curiosity or something else, but then you will soon grow on Prince as he accepts you as not a threat. Owl’s minds that think alike, perhaps it’s the case for the two of you. Prince usually do Katana a favor by delivering hand-written messages back and forth to him, so there are more than just a few time when you see Prince appear absurdly without a warning to send you a letter from Katana while he is away. Or when he wants to call you back as he’s at home, Prince will just peak the heck out of your head to drag you to go home without a message

• You’re definitely mentioned in his stories to tell Hyperlaser about when the two old men go out for a drink together. If Hyperlaser can talk about his cat daughter that he loves with everything in this life, why wouldn’t Katana do the same with you, the child he holds dear in his patched cold heart? He is pretty much that type of father who will always keep the family photo with you and him — maybe Prince too — in his robe so that he can pull it out anytime to remind himself of how much he should keep going. Hyperlaser is pretty intrigued of this side of Katana. But even him is a cat dad, he has no intentions to judge the ronin for his fatherly love towards you. That’s something they both have in common unexpectedly after all

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝

Note: Sorry for delaying this request! But I’ve decided to take a break-then do these requests-then a break again so I can recharge myself properly ( ´ ▽ ` ) Thank you for all your patience !

Note 2: This is for those who have daddy issues in general (°▽°)

#phighting x reader #x reader #phighting!#katana x reader #katana phighting #phighting katana #shui mo’s black tea

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things-arent-what-they-seem66 · 2 days ago

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Trials of Apollo Au

@fanofstuff01 @beef-brisket

Sera tried not to throw a fit, she was too mature for such things but this was her baby. How could she not get upset?

Sera: Michael don't do this. Adams just a ba-

Michael: That's the problem, he's not!

It has been pointed out to Sera that she babies Adam, the angel of music too much. She always wanted a child but angels don't have babies the normal way.

Adam was made to replace Samuel, the fallen angel and devil down in Hell. When he opened his perfect golden eyes he took right to Sera and she knew she had to protect him from everything and everyone.

But that came at a price. Sheltering Adam like that made him naive, uncultured and lacking proper knowledge. And the fact that God made him the first gay angel meant Sera had to keep other men away from him. They only take advantage!

But now they want Adam to lead the Extermination Day army, Sera didn't understand why. He was too sweet too soft. Adam didn't have a real mean bone in his body.

Sera: He's my baby!

Michael: He needs to learn about the world and life! He can't do that with you sheltering him. He's going to earth to help a human better their life, without his powers.

Sera: WHAT!?

Michael: Or would you rather he go to Hell?

Sera winced, she didn't want either thing. She looked at her sleeping son, he didn't know what was going to happen and it wasn't fair.

Sera: No...... But no powers?

Michael: The more he helps them he'll start to get them back. Say goodbye it's time.

Down on earth, Lucifer and Charlie were laying in their normal dumpster watching the night sky. The brother and sister duo were about to fall asleep when they saw a shooting star.

Lucifer: Make a wish!

Charlie crossed her fingers and closed her eyes. She wished for a miracle to save them from the streets.

Charlie: Done!

That's when the shooting star...... Started coming for them!!

#adamsapple #hazbin hotel adam #hazbin hotel lucifer #lucifer x adam #guitarduck #adam x lucifer #trials of Apollo Au

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writingdevil · 3 days ago

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Tongues and Teeth Epilogue (STP)

(THANK YOU SO MUCH to everyone that read and liked and reblogged this story.Knowing that people liked it and seeing all your reactions to it gave me just pure joy every time I saw it.I love this fandom and this game and all the voices,and I'm glad that I could write something and put something out there to show my love.Paranoid and Opportunist are some of my favourite voices,and I wanted to try and experiment with what their relationship would be like,and I'm glad that people enjoyed my interpretation.I'll keep writing stories,you can send in any STP prompts you want,and I hope that you all will keep enjoying it as much as I do.Once again, thank you and enjoy the finale!)

"Has anyone seen Jitters?"

Opportunist flew up into the air to try and get a better view of their home,but couldn't see Jitters anywhere.Then,he saw Contrarian giddily waving at him from down below,hopping up and down and all.He knew Contrarian didn't know,but he still flew down to meet him.

He landed in front of Contrarian's house,to which the clown was lying on the roof with a playful smile. "Hey,Oppy."

"Hi,do you know where Jitters is?"Contrarian shook his head."Nope."Cool,great.Just as he'd thought.

Contrarian had always marched to the beat of his own drum,and that hadn't changed one bit since they settled down and built a home for themselves. Contrarian liked to go around and annoy people-Opportunist being the main target-and subject them with either terrible jokes or drag them into whatever chaos he and Cold had cooked up.

Almost once a day,Opportunist would find Contrarian in unusual locations,and he found find himself talking and teasing Contrarian for hours, with the clown giving it right back to him.

Although it didn't look like Contrarian did anything for the flock at a first glance,Opportunist knew that Contrarian liked to visit everyone throughout the day,checking in on them,and cheering them up when they were down.He just loved to make everyone smile.

"What is it you want then?"

"Wanted to run something by you."

Opportunist rolled his eyes."No,you cannot be in charge of cooking."

"Why not?!"

Opportunist glared at him and flapped his wings in annoyance,flying him off the ground."Because you keep suggesting to put poison in the food for 'a little kick.'Not even Cold would do that!"

Contrarian giggled nervously and looked away, trying to hide behind his wings as he said,"Well, speaking of Cold-"Opportunist groaned loudly. "What's he done now?"Contrarian burst out laughing,his feathers shaking at the movement.

He continued to laugh and not answer him,so Opportunist reached forward and plucked a single feather out of his wing.Instantly,he went,"Ow!"and Opportunist smiled in victory,even as the other said,"Hunted will have your head for that."

He shrugged."I don't mind.Anyways,what were you saying about Cold?"

"I was just gonna say that he was talking to Jitters today,so he might know where he is."He straightened up instantly.That was actually useful information.He flew higher into the sky and called down,"Thanks!Don't be late for dinner or I'm throwing it out!"

He chuckled."We both know you won't!"

He was right,but Opportunist didn't want to admit that,so he just stuck his tongue out at him and then flew off.

Who knew where Cold could be?He tried flying high and scanning the area,but that didn't help,so he flew back down and decided to walk around.

He sighed,twisting his head to take in their home. The very centre of the area held a huge bonfire,with a spit and a stand over it to help cook the food. Around the unlit fire were small,cut up sections of logs acting as seats for everyone.

To the right of the firepit,was a wide and lovely garden,currently being tended to by Smitten and Broken.

He walked over,his eyes transfixed on the blossoming bursts of colors that Broken was watering,his expression nervous and unsure,wings tucked in tight as he concentrated.Opportunist was planning on making a comment,but decided that he shouldn't throw the other bird off.

Usually,Broken liked to be left alone,holing up in his room and only coming down for dinner.He knew that he was trying to move on,but some days were just harder to have the energy for it than others. Cheated knew that this obviously wasn't a good way to live,so he took it upon himself to drag Broken on walks every few days,sometimes accompanied by either Hunted or Jitters.

The walks certainly helped to bring him out of his gloom more,but Broken still felt a little aimless-as they all did-until Smitten recently offered to teach him how to garden,and it seemed to be going really well,and he would catch a small smile on Broken's face when he thought nobody was looking.

He shifted his gaze over to Smitten,who was beaming at him while juggling a variety of vegetables in his big arms.Opportunist chuckled and walked over,leaning against the fencepost as he asked in amusement,"You need some help there, farm boy?"

Smitten managed to wave him away without dropping a single vegetable-which was impressive-and said,"Nonsense,my friend!I am quite alright! Just gathering the ingredients for dinner."

Smitten was one of the ones who took life without the two Gods the hardest,followed by Hero,then Skeptic.In the beginning of their transition,it was evident that he had no idea how to behave,so he just clung to anyone he could and tried to assist them in anything they were doing,just wanting to help and uplift the others.

It was alright at the start,until it started to feel like he was in the way,so he ended up clinging to Skeptic a lot.It was honestly hard to watch the extravagant and passionate Smitten become lost,to have all this love but with no way to express it.

But after a few deep talks with Skeptic and Hero,he eventually found something that he could happily devote his time to-gardening.It allowed him to care and devote his time to something without becoming too attached to it.He would grow flowers at first,but then found out that he could grow vegetables,and he discovered his talent for cooking.

Smitten had now become their resident chef,and the act of cooking and making warm meals to give to his flockmates as an act of love satisfied all his desires of love.

Opportunist decided to leave him to it,giving him a wave which Smitten reciprocated,before a handful of potatoes inevitably fell out of his arms. Opportunist chuckled and left him to it,his attention being immediately caught by the sound of yelling and grunting.

To the far left of their home,were huge stacks of rocks,branches and leaves that acted as their resources.The two people responsible for gathering these supplies were currently in the middle of sparring-Stubborn and Hunted.

Opportunist walked over to watch the fight,but didn't get too close,until he squinted in the distance,peering into the shade of the edge of the forest that surrounded their home,finding Cold leaning against a tree and observing the fight.

Opportunist gasped in surprise,then began to fly over to him,careful not to get in the way of the fight.He watched the crazed grin on Stubborn's face,fingers twitching at his side and panting heavily,before he rushed forward,bringing his fist down towards Hunted.

Stubborn was the flock's muscle and protection-no surprise there.He was the one that was in charge of carrying all the heavy materials back home,and he wouldn't let anybody else help him,determined to do it on his own.He once was gone for hours,and when he came back,he had full,ripped up trees across his back,and a victorious smile on his muddy face.

He was also surprisingly okay with just helping anyone that needed his strength.Stubborn would often help Smitten carry vegetables such as watermelons or pumpkins,or go off with Skeptic when he was on one of his investigations,or even indulge Cold in his weird requests.

As the self-proclaimed protector,he was the first person to throw himself at a monster whenever it showed up,to the point that he would try and go out and pick a fight with a monster.Hero and Jitters were quick to scold him and stop that behaviour.As an alternative,some people agreed to spar with him.His usual opponents were Hunted and Cheated,but sometimes Cold and Skeptic joined in when they were in the mood for it.

When he was sure he was safe,Opportunist landed on the ground and walked up to stand next to Cold, just as Hunted swiftly sidestepped away from the blow.Stubborn's fist slammed against the ground, sending dust flying everywhere.

Hunted may be smaller but he was definitely faster, as he swiftly climbed up the arm that had tried to attack him,running all the way up to Stubborn's shoulders and the back of his neck.Stubborn squawked in fury and tried to reach back and grab Hunted,but the smaller bird easily dodged the grabs with a duck of his head.

Hunted then grabbed a fistful of Stubborn's head feathers,yanking him back and making him stumble,and with his other hand he leaned down and grabbed Stubborn's wrist,twisting it behind his back.It was only a matter of time before Stubborn lost his balance and fell forward on the ground,with Hunted above him-the winner of the match.

Opportunist cheered and clapped for him,only making Stubborn growl in irritation,making Opportunist snicker,because he knew that Stubborn hasn't won a fight against Hunted yet.

Hunted was another self-proclaimed protector,but whereas Stubborn was focused on solely protecting them,Hunted was more concerned with protecting the area they lived in.

Almost all day,everyday,Hunted would be seen doing a walk around the area,crouched low and on the look out for any danger.Sometimes he managed to catch wind of an approaching monster early,and had the pleasure to inform Stubborn so that he could take care of it.

Hunted would also go out and gather any food supplies that they needed,but it was mostly meat that he caught and brought back for Smitten to cook,who was appreciative but still had trouble looking at the dead and skinned animal.

He used to also bring back certain herbs for Jitters for his work,but then Smitten just started growing them in his garden,so now Hunted usually spends his free time making sure the flock was okay,or sparring with Stubborn.It surprised Opportunist that Hunted even wanted to fight,given how Stubborn initially treated him,but then he found out that it was actually Hunted that had asked to spar, once they had settled down,and seemed happy enough to indulge Stubborn.

Opportunist watched as Hunted helped Stubborn to his feet,whose annoyance was quickly replaced with a fiery determination to win next time. Opportunist finally turned to look at Cold,who was already staring at him.

"Hello,friend."

"What do you want?"

"Enjoying the show?"Cold shrugged."I knew Hunted was going to win.I just wanted to know how this time."Opportunist glanced back at the other two, and Stubborn shot Cold a quick glare before being dragged away by Hunted.

"I thought you and the clown would be up to something by now."Cold was silent,then leaned in closer to quietly murmur,"Hero's been on our case, so we have to wait for him to be distracted before we start again."Opportunist chuckled in amusement,as that would explain why Contrarian was just lying on a rooftop.

Cold tended to do a bit of everything around the place to stave off boredom,such as one day be out foraging with Hunted,or helping fight a monster with Stubborn,or will stick to Jitters and bother him a lot-unlike Contrarian,whose next actions depended entirely on how funny it would be.

Speaking of Contrarian,the two of them had become quite the partners in crime.Cold would always be roping Contrarian into doing dumb and reckless things,all in the name of amusement and not feeling numb,and it didn't take much to convince Contrarian.They never did anything to intentionally harm the others,but they always wound up getting a lecture from Hero,so they had to be sneakier when causing trouble now, apparently.

"Well,you didn't hear it from me,but I believe that Hero plans to join Hunted in his foraging trip tomorrow."He glanced back at Cold,who was staring at him with a raised brow,and Opportunist smiled sharply at him and said,"But I didn't tell you that."

"Is there something you want me to tell you?"Cold asked,and Opportunist looked away in embarrassment,still not liking how predictable he was becoming,and sheepishly asked,"Do you know where Jitters is?"

Cold nodded towards Jitters' house and said,"He should be back home by now.Skeptic wanted to talk to him earlier,but he should be all alone now."

Opportunist gave him a grateful smile that he tried to not stretch too far,to just let his smile be natural, but it still felt like an effort he had to make.

He swiftly walked off before Cold commented on it, blurting out a quick,"Thank you!"as he went.

He sighed,letting his shoulders slump in defeat as he walked off.It still annoyed him at how hard being genuine was,to not put a mask up in front of his flock.Old habits die hard and all that bullshit.

He was so deep in thought,that he didn't notice the two other flockmates,who were engaged in an intense conversation,until the three of them crashed into one another.

He grunted in pain,wings flapping frantically,and he managed to keep upright.Unfortunately,the same could not be said for Cheated.

Cheated had landed right on his feathery ass, glaring up at Opportunist,while Skeptic giggled down at him,a hand covering his mouth.Cheated's glare predictably went to Opportunist."Can you not look where you're going?"he snapped,but Opportunist just smirked and retaliated with,"Can you not keep yourself from falling for more than five minutes?"

Skeptic laughed with a snort,only earning himself Cheated's anger as he got to his feet.He poked a finger into Skeptic's chest and said,"I don't know what you're laughing about!Half the time,you go days without sleep for your research and can barely hold your own weight!"Skeptic's amusement was quickly erased,and he frowned at the other silently, before whacking him with a wing.

The two of them had become quite the pair.

Skeptic found it hard to adjust to this new life,but he was nothing if not determined and headstrong, so he quickly made himself busy with work-too much work.

He was trying so hard to ignore all the questions about the princess and wondering about this world, that he ended up almost completely ruining himself with stress and exhaustion.

The longing for something to work out,like a puzzle or a problem-really dragged him down.The Shifting Mound had been an ever-changing mystery where Skeptic's logic was useless,thus making Skeptic more hungry for the truth,but after having sorting through his problems with Smitten and Hero-he managed to turn himself around.

He set his mind to figuring out the things that he could-like the monsters and what their whole deal was.He had many theories,but none that he could determine to be the truth,but that only made him more passionate in his investigations.

He had his own little workplace a little bit out from their home,because there was only so much Skeptic madness that Opportunist could take.He didn't know what Skeptic did,but he did know that he would sometimes get Stubborn and Cold to help capture and dissect a monster for him.Opportunist never asked for the results.

Cheated could never stomach those days,but he was involved with every other aspect of the research.

After they reunited,it took a day or two for Cheated to forgive Skeptic and Smitten for how they didn't prioritized the flock at first.Once they got settled, Cheated was just as interested and passionate about figuring everything out as Skeptic was,so they became research buddies.

But Cheated didn't quite let the investigation consume him as Skeptic was prone to allowing.He could often be seen sparring with Stubborn,and he expectedly never won,but that never stopped him from trying every time,and Stubborn seemed to love his enthusiasm.

Cheated also liked hanging out with Broken a lot.He wouldn't even necessarily talk to him the whole time-just sit in silence with each other,which Broken greatly appreciated some days.More often than not,if Cheated wasn't with Skeptic,he was with Broken,watching him tend to the garden.

Once the two of them had calmed down,Cheated turned back to look at Opportunist,merely raising a brow as he asked,"You going over to see Jitters?"

Opportunist's feathers puffed up as a hot flush took over his face.God,was he that easy to read now?The evidence was all over his face,so he just nodded and Cheated said,"Okay.Tell him I said hi." then walked off.Skeptic followed him,but not before sending Opportunist a small,playful smile and patting him on the shoulder.

He took a deep breath,spent a few minutes preening and fixing his feathers,then made his way to the stairs.

The stairs to all their houses winded around multiple treetrunks,mostly for the birds that couldn't fly up to the houses in the trees.

It took a few weeks of discussion,but they eventually came to the decision that building houses in the trees felt the most safe,and least triggering.It allowed them to have a high vantage point of the forest,so that they could see if a monster was approaching,and it just felt nice to create something for themselves that they knew for a fact was real,that they could call theirs.

As Opportunist walked up,the sun that had previously been in his face was suddenly blocked off,and he looked up,only to find the one and only Hero flying above him,his wings blocking the sun.

Hero smiled,and it somehow looked as if the sun was creating a dazzling halo around him. Opportunist swore that it felt like the universe just favored Hero more.The wind would sway his feathers in just the right way,the sun would illuminate his smile,the fire would make his eyes shine in an almost hypnotic way.For some reason, this world just bent to please Hero.

Jitters thought he was crazy,and he knew it was bad when the paranoid one was calling him that.

"Hey Oppy,"Hero said,waving down at him,using the nickname that,for some reason,everyone started to use.He didn't actually mind it.

He smiled up at him."Hello,Hero!What are you up to today?"Hero shrugged and gazed out at their home."I'm just checking in on everyone.It's actually been pretty calm lately."

'Tomorrow won't be,'he thought in excitement, wondering in glee what Cold and Contrarian would do in Hero's absence tomorrow.Opportunist loved to be their spectator.

Hero floated down,leaning in closer to say,"By the way,Para is looking for you."

"Really?"he replied sarcastically,although Hero didn't seem to pick up on it,"I had no idea."

Hero just smiled brightly,and Opportunist couldn't help but smile softly back."Yeah,well,he's just up in his house.See you at dinner,Oppy!"and with that, Hero took off into the skies.

Out of everyone,Opportunist was most happy for Hero.Once everyone was together,he tried to pretend that everything was okay,and that he hadn't tried to open a cabin door and drag the Long Quiet back into a terrifying loop of death-but that obviously wasn't possible.

He tended to be more reserved and in his own head the first couple of weeks,but when someone spoke to him,he would be all smiles and happy to help anyone,but there was nothing to hide the pain in his eyes.

Missing the Long Quiet took its toll on everyone, but it hit Hero the hardest,and he would fly off into the skies for hours at night to clear his head.

It was only when he was out for an entire day that they all aired their concerns,worried sick about him. Hero had just looked at them all as if not believing that they actually cared about him,which was ridiculous.

But it was still the wake up call he needed-and maybe Hero will always miss and wonder about the Long Quiet,but right now,he seemed to be thriving by being the leader of their flock,taking care of everyone and making sure they're all safe.

Opportunist personally couldn't of asked for a better hero for them.

He sighed,then continued up the steps,until he was in front of a wooden bird house with a bouquet of lavender in the windowsill.All of them had some sort of flowers courtesy of Smitten-Opportunist currently had peach roses in his house.

He didn't bother knocking-he just came in through all of their doors,but with Jitters he at least opened the door softly and called out,"Jitters?Heard you were looking for me?"

He peered into the room,finding it a perfect halfway point of messy and clean.Some spaces, such as the bedroom,were spotless,but there were also papers strewn about,and blankets thrown haphazardly about the place.

The culprit in question suddenly rushed out from the balcony,and Opportunist felt his wings and shoulders relax as Jitters stopped and smiled tiredly at him.

He saw the way Jitters' body relaxed as well as he said,"Hey Oppy."He motioned towards the balcony he had just been at."Come over here."

Opportunist followed him out,and realised why as they had a perfect view to the sun starting to set, pink and orange mixing in between the clouds.

Opportunist looked over at Jitters,at the way he gazed out at the sky with a fond look.There wasn't a lot that could make Jitters fully relax,but staring at the sky seemed to be one of them.Maybe it was because the sky couldn't hurt them.Maybe it was because they had never seen the sky like this before.Either way,seeing Jitters be at peace like this was sweet.

Jitters looked back at him,his wings twitching at the feeling of being watched,but he merely scrunched up his face in confusion and said, "What?"

"What did Skeptic need you for?"Jitters groaned, leaning forward against the wooden rail and said, "He kept asking me all these questions about reality and what's real or not,and if the monsters were actually real or just a figment of our fears or whatever."

"Well the concussion that one gave me certainly felt real."

Jitters chuckled,then said,"Yeah,he wanted me to inspect the monsters-"

"Did you?"Opportunist asked in sudden fear, straightening up and studying Jitters for any bruises or marks."Of course not!"Jitters said in outrage at the very thought.His wings spread out, then swiftly hugged him in comfort."I didn't go anywhere near those things,and I told Skeptic that he could figure it out on his own!"

Opportunist released a breath of relief,then found his attention drifting to Jitters' wings.The once thin and weak feathers were now beginning to grow more healthily,no longer an overpreened mess, instead shaping Jitters' wings into limbs that were almost capable of flying.

Jitters had been determined to try and not ruin his wings,to be able to fly for himself one day,and had even convinced Broken to try and fix his wings as well.Everytime Opportunist looked at his wings,he felt immense pride for his flockmate swelling up in him.

"Oppy?"his attention was suddenly brought back to Jitters,who was giving him a curious look,his wings no longer wrapped around him.Jitters tilted his head to the side."What are you thinking about?"

He chuckled nervously,turning to look out at the sunset,but he could still feel the other's gaze against his feathers.He shrugged,ignoring the warm feeling in his chest as he answered,"Just thinking about how long it's been since we've talked."

Lie,and Jitters knew it was,but he just giggled and said nothing of it.

They literally talk all the time,but admitting that for some reason was something that Opportunist couldn't bring himself to do.It was even worse that Jitters could tell that he was lying,and wasn't bothered by it in the slightest.He almost wished that they could go back to when Jitters wouldn't trust a thing he said,instead of actually knowing him well enough to know when he was saying a harmless lie.

When Jitters wasn't talking to him,Hero or Cold a lot,he was busy being the flock's medic.He asked Hunted to teach him how to treat wounds and infections,and Jitters clearly had a knack for it, picking up the skill instantly,and he was constantly picking up herbs from Smitten's garden,and always made sure to bring enough supplies wherever he went.

When Opportunist asked why he wanted to learn to be a medic when he already had his chant,Jitters explained that his chant could only do so much,and he felt better and safer knowing how to help the others in different ways.

In that moment,Opportunist felt Jitters' heavy, worried gaze on him,and he knew what event had led to his decision.

Jitters liked to keep tabs on everyone,and there was often someone that needed patching up, Cheated and Cold being the main culprits.

But everyday,Jitters always made sure to talk to Opportunist,whether that be by sitting and having dinner with him,or chatting while he made salves in his house,Opportunist always found himself next to Jitters.

'"You know what's weird?"Jitters softly asked,and Opportunist smirked as he said,"You think everything is weird,Jitters."That earned him a wing to the face,and he burst out laughing as he swatted the wing away.

"Shut up!"Jitters exclaimed with a grin,waiting for him to calm down before saying,"It's been three months since we've ended up like this."

Opportunist paused."Wait,really?"

"Yeah,it's-"

"You've been counting the days?"

"Why are you on my ass today?"Jitters snapped,and it was the only way to ignore the weight of those words,to poke fun at Jitters.

Eventually though,Jitters was looking at him more seriously,and he rolled his eyes as he said,"Yeah,I guess it is a bit weird to think about."

"Right?"Jitters said,"It feels like forever since I've seen a princess or heard an Echo."He chuckled nervously."Almost makes me feel like what we went through was just a bad dream."

Opportunist took a step closer to him."Is that a good or bad thing?"

Jitters smile dropped,and he shrugged."I don't know,"he admitted,and Opportunist didn't even think about it before he draped his wing over the other's shoulders,noting how he had been subtly trembling beforehand.But the moment his wing touched Jitters,the fear in his eyes vanished,and he sent Opportunist a soft and thankful smile.

After a few minutes of silence,Jitters spoke up,"You know what else is weird?"

"What?"

"It's been three months since we've become friends."

Opportunist froze,and he knew that Jitters could feel how his wing tensed up,and he started to preen his feathers in comfort,while Opportunist processed that.

Friends.Flock.Family.

All things that Opportunist wasn't once sure he deserved.

Opportunist spent the majority of the last few months learning how to be honest,and to not put on a mask when he doesn't need to.

Some days it's easy to be himself.A lot of days-it's not.It's hard to rip off a mask that's been glued to your face for so long,even if you're around your precious flock.There were days that he wasn't feeling the best,but once someone asked,he immediately sent them a reassuring smile and said that he was fine.It was harder to do it around Jitters,but that's just because he calls him out on it in private,and lets him drop any and all performances.

It wasn't that he didn't like being trusted-it was just weird knowing that people could look past his act and see what he actually was like.There was just something nerve-wracking and terrifying about the whole thing.

To distract himself,he focused on helping Hero around.He found that he really liked designing his house to be what he wanted,to feel safe and warm and inviting for all the others to come in.

He realised that he could create and design things for others,to express how he feels,even if he verbally couldn't,and he actually liked that a lot.

He loved it even more when he designed every single bird house for every member of his flock.

It was so gratifying in a way,to finally be able to do something that expressed his true feelings,and it wasn't about safety at all.It was just about love.

Finally,he smiled,and looked back at Jitters,who was giving him such a concerned look that it made something inside him burn.

He made himself look Jitters in the eye as he truthfully said,"I'm glad we're friends."

Jitters' feathers puffed up in embarrassment,and Opportunist just smiled wider at the sight.Jitters giggled nervously and quickly looked back at the fading sun."Yeah,well,I guess you were right about one thing.We do make a good team."

Even if Opportunist mouth may still be sharp and cruel sometimes.

Even if Jitters' mind was still poisoned with heavy, fearful thoughts and nightmares.

They loved each other,and they were fine with everything happened-if it led them to this beautiful life.

#slay the princess #stories #my writing #stp paranoid #stp cold #stp contrarian #stp hero #stp voices #stp skeptic #stp stubborn #stp smitten #stp opportunist #stp cheated #stp broken #tongues and teeth #stp hunted #stp #Love that I only incorporated the lyrics of the song in the epilogue #Anyways-Thank you again for reading!!

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adrift-in-thyme · 1 day ago

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I originally wrote this for Whumptober but couldn't find a prompt that really fit even before I lost the energy to keep participating lol. So I'm sharing it now!

Summary: Wild remembers someone dear to him

CW for discussion of death/referenced child death

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A young girl’s hands are in his hair.

They snatch a shoulder-length strand, twine it, clumsy, graceful, youthful, enthusiastic, around another. A third meets them in the middle.

Humming, she pulls them tight.

“Pretty!” She says, sing-song, like the chirping chickadee in the chesnut tree.

“Mm,” hums the ghost who sits a short ways from Wild, silent and steadfast. He smiles and it is a tiny thing, a whisper of what once was. “I’ll bet it is, Aryll.”

“Mhmm.”

Fingers tanned by chores accomplished, adventures undertaken in the sun meet with shimmering gold. A pink tongue sticks out from a small mouth. Concentration drags down pale brows toward cerulean eyes.

“My braids are always pretty. Know why?”

Wild steps closer. There is a tug in his gut, a painful pull he should recognize.

His eyes are locked on the girl. The other, he only sees in his peripheral.

The girl is all that matters here.

…breathing is troublesome.

The wraith tilts his head in false contemplation.

“Because you’re pretty?”

The girl — Aryll, Wild hisses to himself, her name is Aryll — giggles.

“I am pretty. But no.”

A ducked head that elicits a huff of annoyance. Battle beloved fingers take delicate shoots of grass and rip them up from the root.

“Can I guess again?”

“Mhmm.”

Another smile, like a passing comment. There is a blue flower, its petals skirted in white, settled near his worn brown boot. The ghost scoops it up, offers it to Aryll.

“Because you always put the most beautiful of flowers in my hair when you do it?”

Another eruption of giggles as the gently composed petals tickle her cheek.

“Nu-uh.” Then, a light smack across a cheek, forcing the wraith to settle back into his straight-backed position. “Now, stay still!”

He laughs and Wild’s chest aches.

“Okay, okay. No need for violence!”

Aryll huffs. More flaxen threads meet one another and join hands beneath her attentive care.

“You’ve got one more chance, big brother. Guess again.”

“Last chance, huh?” The wraith raises his eyes to the sky. Wild follows his gaze to where an eagle circles, following the guidance of the currents. “Is it because…”

Someone calls out, calls his name. A man’s voice, young, urgent.

A messenger.

Footsteps pound an earthen path.

The ghost’s voice splinters, shatters. He picks up their pieces, sets them into a box, locks it and swallows the key.

“The king summons you! He summons you on an urgent matter! You must come to Hyrule Castle at once!”

“Big brother?” Aryll’s eyes are wide, frightened.

Gently, the wraith nudges her fingers from his hair. The braid is only half finished. A thing of beauty it would have been, a waterfall of gold. But only half of his hair has been tamed. The other falls, reaching for his collarbone in gentle waves.

He stands and the wind whips it back.

“It’s alright, Aryll.”

He hardly speaks the words. They are a whisper upon the breeze. That throat was never meant to give voice to anything louder, anything more joyful.

Don’t.

Wild tries to move, tries to hold out a hand.

Stop. Don’t do it.

Don’t walk away from her.

“Big brother, please.” Tears bubble up, spill down. Wild feels their warmth upon his own cheeks. “I’m lonely when you’re gone.”

The wraith doesn’t quite smile this time. The expression lifts his lips like the levers that raise the drawbridge leading to the castle. It doesn’t manage to reach his eyes.

“It’s alright.”

A step. That is all it takes. All it takes to bring everything crashing down.

“I’ll see you again.”

Wild screams and no one hears.

“I promise.”

Wild screams and the world goes white.

“Your big brother will always come back for you, you hear?”

Wild screams and blood floods his senses.

“Always.”

Wild screams and the memory breaks.

The world careens back into focus, and with it comes the worried faces of his brothers.

Twilight’s hand is on his shoulder. He throws it off, whirls around, runs.

They call out. He doesn’t answer. They pursue. He doesn’t stop.

His feet can hardly go fast enough to carry him away, away, away….

When he does manage to stop, his heart is pounding out of his chest. His breath comes in gasps. His throat is so dry he has to focus just to force saliva down it.

His legs give way. He crumples, falling to his knees in a pile of leaves that have been burnt by the sun. The forest reaches out and pulls him into its bosom.

He closes his eyes and lets the tears come.

Aryll.

He whispers her name, speaks it, then screams it, screams it as he digs his fingernails into his palms and grinds his forehead into the dirt.

Aryll.

He sobs it. He murmurs it. He etches it into his consciousness so that he will never, never forget it again.

How could I? How could I forget you?

“Cub.”

Time’s voice is soft, softer even than the footsteps Wild had not heard.

He doesn’t lift his head.

A hand settles on his back. Its weight is warm and welcome, even in this eternity of self-imposed winter.

Wild’s breath hitches.

“What happened?”

It smells of iron and mold. He closes his eyes.

“You remembered something.”

Time’s voice is calm, level, knowing. Sorrowful. Wild remains silent.

A pause that gives way for the gentle song of nature. The whisper of bowing trees, the scurry of tiny feet, the lilting calls of birds.

“You remembered…someone.”

It rises within him, drawn like a moth to flame at the sound of the understanding in Time’s voice. Wild lacks the strength to keep back the agonized whisper.

“My sister.”

There should be a sharp intake of breath, an exclamation, a silence weighted with poignance. Time allows none of those things. He is quiet, but only so that when Wild’s words come tumbling forth, they have space to land.

“I can’t believe I forgot her! I loved her, Time, I loved her so much. I promised to protect her, I swore that I would and I didn’t! I didn’t!”

He shoves himself up, eyes crazed, hair bedraggled, dirt carved in the grooves tears have carved upon his cheeks and neck.

“I let her die!” His voice shatters and this time he cannot shove it in a box, cannot lock it up and swallow the key. To do that would be to perish himself. “I’m her big brother and I let her die.”

Time regards him with surging emotion and chilled detachment. Wild lacks the will to try and decipher what terrible things he must be thinking.

“Come here, cub,” he says, when a short moment of eternity has passed. And he is sitting close, close and it is a simple thing to collapse into his open arms.

“I’m sorry.”

The words penetrate, burn their way towards his heart. Wild hisses, choking on salt that sears.

“We lose much upon this rocky path. I wish it were different.”

Bloodied fingers fisted in Time’s white tunic, Wild briefly contemplates wiping the snot from his nose. He decides against it. Lifting a hand is more than he can manage right now.

“I will not pretend that you can reunite with her, even now that you have regained your memory. Which was not taken of your consent.”

Time’s fingers are in his hair. He brushes the tangled mass back and away from the muck that cakes Wild’s face. Gently, he pries the strands apart, coaxes them into sections.

“One thing I know for certain, however.”

He takes one group of silken gold, twines it with another. A third meets in the middle.

“Every meeting leads to a parting.”

One trio joins another and another until the endless tresses are united cascading cords.

“But that parting need not be forever. For those who are gone, are never truly. They are with us, even now, standing by our sides, waiting for the day when we will meet once more.”

Wild lifts his head, tucks a mischievous strand behind his ear. His fingertips brush the silken petals of a blossom.

He draws it out, gazes at it.

“One more guess, big brother. One more.”

Time smiles, soft, kind, so vulnerable he looks more like a timid child than their stalwart leader.

“At least, that is what Malon says. And I’m inclined to believe everything she tells me.”

Wild’s lips quirk up even as tears turn his vision to swirling orbs of color and light. He cups the flower with careful hands, reaches up, tucks it behind his ear.

“Fine. I’ll just tell you!

“My braids are pretty cause you taught me.

“You taught me, Link.”

#trin writes #linked universe #linkeduniverse #lu wild #lu time #angst #hurt/comfort

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hugherin · 3 days ago

Text

HEAVEN CAN'T HELP ME NOW.

when zaya decides to spend her vacation in Davos to escape from reality, but ends up crossing paths with Nico Hischier, who has the same goal. pt. 1, pt. 2, pt. 4 and pt. 5.

pairing: nico hischier x oc! reader.

warnings: none <3

You hesitated, the cold of the night feeling even sharper as the voice echoed again. Slowly, you turned around, already knowing who you would see.

"Andrew?"

He was there, standing with the same confident posture as always, but something about him was different. Perhaps it was the contrast between New York and Davos, or perhaps you were the one who had changed.

"Zaya. I knew it was you." He took a few steps closer, his face illuminated by the warm lights of the lobby. "What are you doing here? In Davos, I mean."

"Vacation." you replied, trying to keep your voice neutral. "And you?"

"Same. Needed a break from the city. Isn't it funny?" He chuckled softly, as if the coincidence were some sort of private joke. "Two New Yorkers ending up here, on the other side of the world."

You offered a brief, forced smile. "Yeah, funny."

An awkward silence settled between you, heavy with unspoken words and memories neither of you wanted to revisit.

"Are you okay?" Andrew asked, tilting his head slightly. "I mean, since... well, since we broke up."

Your eyebrows shot up, surprised by his directness. "I am. And you?"

"Yeah, of course. It’s just... you seem different." His gaze lingered on you with an intensity that made you want to escape.

"Maybe because I am different." You crossed your arms, whether to keep warm or to shield yourself from the conversation. "Time does that to people, don’t you think?"

Andrew smiled, but there was a trace of sadness in his eyes. "I guess it does. Well, I won’t bother you anymore. It was nice seeing you, Zaya. Maybe we’ll run into each other again?"

"Yeah, maybe." You kept your tone distant as he walked away.

Pulling your coat tighter around you, you stepped outside the hotel. The air was icy, biting, yet strangely comforting. The northern lights were already dancing above, as if they had been waiting for you. Shades of green, lilac, and gold swirled together, undulating like a melody only the universe could hear.

You found yourself on a wooden platform that extended beyond the hotel, a space designed for guests to marvel at the natural spectacle. Alone, except for your thoughts, which gathered like snowflakes — silent but persistent.

Andrew.

Seeing your ex-boyfriend here, thousands of miles away from where you thought he belonged, left a strange unease in your chest. It wasn’t sadness or longing. It was something deeper, more unsettling: a mirror he had held up, showing a version of yourself you barely recognized.

For the past few years, your life had been a race against time. Endless meetings, unreachable goals, nights too short and days even shorter. You always justified the exhaustion by telling yourself you were building something, but now, looking back, you weren’t sure if you had built anything other than a gilded cage.

Andrew had been part of that. Not because he was toxic or problematic — he wasn’t. But your relationship had been an extension of that same suffocating routine. Planned outings that felt like obligations, conversations squeezed between phone calls. Nothing flowed. Nothing grew.

You sighed, your gaze fixed on the sky, as if seeking answers among the stars. It was ironic how only now, far from everything, you realized how stagnant you had become.

And somehow, Nico was the opposite of that.

The way he talked about the simplest things as if they were extraordinary. The taste of the local coffee, the texture of the snow, the way the sunrise painted the mountains. He had an almost irritating ability to find beauty in the mundane, something you had forgotten how to do.

But it wasn’t just that. Nico made you feel alive.

When he was around, it was as if a part of you, long dormant, was waking up. You laughed more. You felt more. And for the first time in years, you wanted something you couldn’t quite name.

As these memories danced through your mind, the aurora seemed to grow even brighter, as if the universe wanted to join in your thoughts.

"I need to change." you whispered, the words nearly swallowed by the wind.

You needed to leave behind the safety of a predictable, monotonous life. You needed to embrace the unknown, even if it was terrifying. Deep down, you knew that staying as you were wasn’t living — it was merely existing.

Meeting Andrew had been a painful reminder of that, but also a gift. He had forced you to face the truth: the life you had in New York wasn’t enough.

And Nico... He was the spark you didn’t know you needed. You weren’t sure what that meant or where it might lead, but for the first time, you were willing to find out.

You stood there a while longer, breathing in the frigid air and letting every nuance of that night imprint itself on your memory.

You thought you were alone — until the sound of footsteps echoed on the wooden platform behind you. Your heart quickened as you turned.

Nico appeared, hands stuffed in the pockets of his coat, an easy smile on his face.

"Do you always sneak up on people like this?" you asked, still startled.

"No." he said, tilting his head slightly. "Do you always step out into the cold alone to think about life?"

You shrugged, wary. "What are you doing here?"

"Some teammates are staying at this hotel. The bar was getting unbearable, and then I saw you step outside..." He paused, glancing at the northern lights. "I figured this would be more interesting."

"Interesting? Or just spying?" you teased, crossing your arms.

"Let’s call it intellectual curiosity." he replied, stepping closer. "So, what brought you out here? Escaping something too?"

You hesitated. "Not exactly. I guess I just needed some air. Things can get... stifling sometimes."

He raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "Stifling how?"

"You know, expectations, the kind of stuff that makes you feel like you’re stuck in a bubble." You looked at him, surprised at how much you were sharing, and quickly added, "Anyway, I just needed to clear my head."

Nico fell silent for a moment, his gaze fixed on you before he smiled in a way that made your stomach flip. "You should pop that bubble, then."

"It’s easier said than done." you retorted, looking back at the sky.

"Maybe it’s easier than you think." he said, leaning casually against the platform railing. "When was the last time you did something just because you wanted to, without worrying if it made sense or was practical?"

You thought for a moment. "I have no idea."

"Exactly what I figured." His sideways grin was both infuriating and endearing. "I bet you have a mental list of things you’ve always wanted to do but never dared to try."

"Like jumping off a cliff?" you joked, raising an eyebrow.

"If that’s on your list, let me know. I’d love to see it." He laughed. "But seriously, Zaya. You should try doing things that have absolutely nothing to do with your routine."

"Like what? Give me an example."

"Ah, that would ruin the surprise. And I’m terrible at making lists on the spot." he said, tilting his head as if analyzing you. "But I guarantee that if you try, you’ll feel more alive."

"Alive?" you echoed, skeptical.

"Yeah. You know... that feeling where the whole world is buzzing around you." His smile was playful, but there was genuine warmth in his eyes.

You rolled your eyes, unable to suppress the smile tugging at your lips. "Alright, poet. I’ll think about it."

"Just think?" He took a step back, already starting to walk away. "I thought you were braver than that."

"Good night, Nico." You tried to sound firm, but the amusement in his voice disarmed you.

"Good night, Zaya." He glanced back one last time before disappearing into the lobby, leaving you standing there, still smiling, his words echoing in your mind.

The muffled sound of snow falling outside was the first thing you noticed as you woke up. The room was quiet except for the faint hum of the heater, and the soft light of dawn seeped through the curtains. You stretched lazily, your mind still clouded with memories of the night before.

Dragging yourself out of bed, you pulled a cozy sweater over your pajamas before heading to the small kitchenette. Making coffee was almost a ritual — an anchor.

The coffee machine hummed softly as you waited, your eyes drifting to the fogged-up window. Outside, the world was a sea of white, with snow blanketing everything in an untouched layer. It was beautiful, almost too perfect.

The smell of coffee filled the air, and you poured yourself a mug, cradling it in both hands to absorb the warmth. As you turned to walk toward the armchair by the window, something caught your attention.

A folded piece of paper was tucked under the door.

Frowning, you set the mug down on the table before bending to pick up the note. The fold was neat, and your name was written on the front in casual handwriting.

"Zaya,

I figured you could use some ideas to step out of your comfort zone. Consider this a challenge.

— Hischier.”

Your curiosity grew as you unfolded the note, revealing a list:

Zaya’s List

- Jump into a frozen lake (I bet you won’t dare).

- Ski off the trail (but only if you survive the lake).

- Hike up the mountain to watch the sunrise (bring hot chocolate).

- Sing karaoke at the tavern. Pick a terrible song.

- Attend the town’s Masquerade Ball. (Don’t you dare say no.)

You chuckled softly, surprised by his boldness and how he seemed to know exactly what you needed — a little push.

But one thing still puzzled you. How did he know your room number?

You hesitated for a moment before grabbing your phone and dialing his number. He picked up on the third ring.

“Zaya, calling me already? I thought you’d ignore the list.”

“How do you even know where I’m staying?” you asked directly.

“I have my ways." he replied, laughing.

“Ways? That sounds suspicious.”

“Let’s just say I’m good at finding things out. What do you think of the list?”

“It’s ridiculous.”

“Ridiculous but brilliant, I know.”

You rolled your eyes, even though he couldn’t see it. “You seriously think I’m going to jump into a frozen lake?”

“I’m certain you will.”

“And if I don’t?”

“Oh, you will.” The confidence in his voice was both infuriating and oddly captivating.

“I should ignore you, but…” You hesitated. "What’s the address and time for the masquerade ball? Since it seems so essential.”

He laughed, a warm, light sound. “It’s in two days, at the hall in the main square, 9 PM. You’ll stand out, I’m sure of it.”

“We’ll see.”

“Can’t wait, Zaya.”

Before you could reply, he hung up, leaving you with the note in hand and a smile you couldn’t quite suppress.

The night arrived shrouded in mystery. The hall in the main square looked like something out of a dream — a mix of classic elegance and magic. Delicate lanterns hung from the arched ceiling, casting a warm golden glow over the space. Masked figures glided across the room like characters from an old tale, their elaborate outfits catching the play of light and shadow.

From what you’d read, it was a charity ball benefiting a nearby retirement home. It wasn’t surprising Nico had invitations—he was not only born here but also a well-known figure.

You hesitated at the entrance, adjusting the mask that covered half your face. You’d chosen something understated yet elegant, with black lace details to match your dress. You didn’t want to draw too much attention, but there was something thrilling about hiding behind a mask— like you could be someone else, just for a night.

Your eyes scanned the room, searching for a familiar face—or rather, a familiar mask. Nico had mentioned he’d be there, but the hall was crowded, and he had a knack for disappearing.

A waiter passed by with a tray of sparkling wine glasses, and you grabbed one, taking a sip to calm your nerves. The string music filled the air, its rhythm making your body instinctively want to move.

And then, you felt it.

A light touch on your shoulder, followed by a low, amused voice in your ear. “I like the dress. It suits the whole mysterious vibe.”

You turned, and there he was.

The mask Nico wore covered most of his face, intricately detailed in silver that shimmered under the lanterns. But you recognized the smile. He held a glass in one hand, the other tucked casually into the pocket of his perfectly tailored black suit.

“And you? Do you frequent masquerade balls, or are you just an expert at looking out of place?” you teased, hiding your smile behind your glass.

“Out of place? I thought I was nailing the mysterious alter ego.” He tilted his head slightly. “You look stunning, by the way. But I imagine you already know that.”

“And you’re still laying it on thick with the compliments.”

“If it’s true, it’s not overdoing it.” He extended his hand, his eyes glinting behind the mask. “May I have this dance?”

You hesitated for a moment, but there was something about the way he looked at you—a confidence that felt impossible to resist. Setting your glass on a passing waiter’s tray, you took his hand.

He led you to the center of the room, where other couples were already dancing. The music shifted to something slower yet still lively, and Nico’s steps were surprisingly steady, as if he’d done this a thousand times.

“I didn’t know you could dance." you remarked, trying to keep up with him.

“There’s a lot you don’t know about me.” he replied, a playful smile on his lips.

“Like what?”

“For example,” He spun you effortlessly before pulling you back, closer this time. “I like making strange lists to help people stuck in their routines.”

“Yeah, I figured that one out already.”

“Okay, then another: I’ve never been to a masquerade ball before. I’m improvising.”

You laughed, relaxing more in his arms. “You’re doing pretty well.”

“And you? How are you doing with the challenge?”

“I’ll jump into the frozen lake tomorrow morning if that’s what you’re wondering,” you said with complete sarcasm.

“That’s one I wouldn’t miss."

The conversation flowed easily as you danced, and for a moment, the rest of the room faded away. The music, the people, even the masks—none of it seemed to matter besides his presence.

When the song ended, Nico didn’t let go immediately. You stayed there, close enough to feel his warmth, your eyes locked. Behind the masks, it felt like there were no secrets—just the electric tension of something new and unexpected.

“I told you this ball was essential." he murmured.

“And I still think you’re exaggerating.”

He tilted his head, as if about to say something else, but then smiled. “Maybe. But I have a feeling you won’t forget tonight.”

Before you could respond, he pulled you into another dance, as if the world outside could wait. And for the first time in a long time, you believed it could.

The space between you shrank with every step. His scent—warm and woody—mingled with the slightly crisp air drifting in through the open windows. You found your gaze straying to the details of his mask, as if trying to read something hidden there.

“Are you analyzing me?” he asked, raising an eyebrow behind his mask.

“Maybe." you replied with a playful edge, a smile tugging at your lips.

“And what have you figured out so far?”

“That you love attention but pretend you don’t.”

He laughed — a genuine, contagious sound. “You’re good at this.”

“Not as good as you are at making ridiculous lists.”

“Ridiculous, but effective.”

The silence that followed wasn’t uncomfortable. Instead, it carried a certain ease, amplified by the way his eyes remained fixed on yours, as if he were seeing beyond what you allowed.

“You said you’ve never been to a masquerade before.” you remarked, breaking the quiet. “What made you come to this one?”

“Because you came.”

The answer was straightforward, without hesitation, and you felt heat rush to your face, even with the mask partially concealing your embarrassment. He didn’t look away, and you realized he hadn’t said it to impress — it was simply the truth.

“And if I hadn’t come?”

“I’d probably be at the tavern with my teammates. But something told me you wouldn’t miss this.”

He smiled again, and you realized you were smiling too. As the music ended, you both stopped dancing, though he didn’t let go of your hand right away.

“Want to get out of here?” he asked, his voice low.

“Get out?” you repeated, raising your eyebrows.

“Not literally. Just… away from the ballroom. There’s a balcony out back with an amazing view of the mountains.”

The idea of escaping the crowd seemed tempting, especially with him. You nodded, and he led you through the room, effortlessly weaving past other dancers.

The balcony was wide, illuminated by a few lanterns hanging on the stone walls. Snow fell in light flakes, melting as they touched the warm wood of the floor. Outside, the air was colder but purer, and the view was breathtaking: snow-capped mountains glimmering under the soft moonlight.

“Definitely better than the ballroom.” you remarked, hugging your arms against the chill.

“Agreed,” he said, slipping off his jacket and draping it over your shoulders before you could protest. “Better?”

You nodded, feeling the immediate warmth.

The two of you stood there, side by side, silently taking in the mountains. The wind toyed with strands of your hair, and you noticed Nico watching them, as if trying to decipher something unspoken.

“I didn’t expect this." you said finally, breaking the silence.

“This what?”

“This trip. You. Everything feels… different from what I imagined.”

“Different is good?”

“It is. I think it is.”

He smiled, and the way his eyes softened when they met yours made your heart race.

A stronger gust of wind sent snowflakes swirling, sparkling under the moonlight. You pulled his jacket closer, inhaling the faint scent of him that lingered in the fabric. There was something about it that warmed more than just the cold night.

Nico was still beside you, closer now. He leaned on the railing, staring at the view like he was trying to absorb every detail. The confident smile he often wore had faded, replaced by something more thoughtful.

“Enjoying the night so far?” he asked, his voice quiet.

You turned to him, meeting his gaze through the mask. “More than I expected.”

“Good. My reputation depends on it.”

“Oh, really? And if I’m not impressed?”

He tilted his head, his smile returning, but this time with a hint of challenge. “Then I guess I’ll have to try harder.”

“And what else do you have to offer?” you teased, though your voice came out softer than you intended.

Nico didn’t reply immediately. He studied you, his eyes glinting as if he were reading something you hadn’t realized you were showing. Then, he stepped closer, until the space between you felt almost nonexistent.

“I could show you." he said, his voice so low it was nearly a whisper.

Your heartbeat quickened, but you didn’t pull away. There was something in the way he spoke— each word deliberate yet impulsive.

“Are you always this confident?”

“Only when I’m sure of something.”

“And what are you sure of right now?”

He smiled, a blend of assurance and tenderness. “That you want this as much as I do.”

Before you could respond —or even think of one — he closed the distance.

The kiss was warm and unhesitating, as though he knew exactly what he was doing. At first, it was firm, almost teasing, but then it softened, growing deeper and more consuming. His hands alternated between your waist and your hair, and the world around you seemed to vanish. No more cold wind, no more snow, no more mountains—just the heat of him, the pressure of his hands, the way he tilted his head to draw you closer.

Time blurred. The kiss carried a rhythm that shifted between bold and gentle, as though he were exploring every nuance while still leaving room for you to take the lead.

When you finally pulled apart, it was just enough to meet his gaze again. Your breath was unsteady, and his smile had returned—smug yet impossibly endearing.

“Impressed now?” he murmured, looking into your eyes like he didn’t already know the answer.

#hugherin #nico hischier x reader #nico hischier imagine #nico hischier fanfic #nicohischier #nico hischier #nico hischier au #nh13 #nhl x reader #nhl fanfic #hockey player x reader #hockeyfic #hockeyfanfic #nico hischier x you #nico hischier one shot #nico hischier series #new jersey devils x reader #new jersey devils imagine #WDhugherin

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hellishjoel · 1 day ago

Text

guardian angel

536 words / pairing: frankie morales x f!reader

← masterlist | notifications blog | seasons of life challenge masterlist

word: freezing

warnings/information: war, injury, blood, medical-related stuff, angst, frankie harbors secret feelings for you

a/n: I wrote half of this whilst at the car dealership for 5 hours so you all get ANGST! my banners are by @saradika-graphics. shoutout to @berryispunk and @lady-bess for putting this together on @fanfictionoverload!

The chopper’s blades roar above you, but with each heavy blink, the sky turns brighter, and the rhythmic whoop whop whoop in your ears grows distant.

All sounds echo and leave a ringing sensation that makes your head feel a strike of pain. You whimper and writhe against the stretcher, willing yourself to pass out to evade the agony.

Every time you open your eyes, you see something different: the tail rotor spinning, the doors to the cockpit closing shut, and the air thickening as you take off until your body feels weightless.

“Easy now,” a protective voice barks. The man’s dark waves whip around in the wind, his hat keeping them tame. The roar of the chopper faded, but Frankie’s voice stayed steady, a lifeline pulling you back.

The rotors are loud, whipping dust and debris into the air upon takeoff. “What happened?” Frankie’s pilot asks for clarity as they evade an ambush in a country they had no place being in.

His hands tremble as they carefully search you for blood, his vision clouded by panic and his thoughts racing in a frantic blur. His training should take over—it’s what he’s prepared for, what he’s done countless times when life changes in an instant. He knows he should focus: take a breath, assess the situation, and help the person in front of him. But this is different. He’s not just saving anyone; he’s saving the woman he’s loved with an intensity he’s kept buried for years. Out of respect for the bond you share as partners in the field, he’s guarded that love like a secret, but now, with you in his arms, the weight of it feels impossible to ignore.

There was no room in war for love.

The pilot snaps at him again, soaring through the air at a speed that has his lungs chasing lost breath. “She—was caught in the aftermath, there was an explosion, she didn’t pull back when we radioed, I think she was trying to get others to safety.” Of course, you were. War did a lot of fucked up things to people, but your humanity stayed constant.

Every beat of the rotor felt like a countdown, and Frankie wasn’t ready to run out of time.

Your eyes peak open, and he can only imagine the unsteadiness you must feel. “I’ve got you, just stay with me, cariño. You’re gonna be okay.” His tone was reassuring, his hand in yours. Your grip was strong.

His other hand gently cradles your head. His fingers retract at the warm blood that drips crimson down his fingers. “Definitely got blown back. She’s got a hit to her head. Maybe a concussion.”

Frankie’s no doctor, but you’re looking at him with eyes that prays he’s a God, someone who can save you and be your guardian angel.

“Frankie,” your teeth chatter, “I’m f-freezing, please don't let me go.”

Not a moment later, he’s securing a heated blanket over your front and squeezing your hand tighter, not wanting you to lose your hold. “We’re almost to base. They’ll get you patched up, okay? You're gonna be okay, baby.”

You close your eyes and interlock your fingers with Frankie’s. With your hand in his, he silently vowed that losing you was never an option.

← masterlist | notifications blog | seasons of life challenge masterlist

#frankie morales x you #frankie morales fanfiction #frankie morales smut #frankie morales x reader #fuck yeah frankie #francisco morales #catfish morales #triple frontier #triple frontier fanfiction #SeasonsOfLifeChallenge #frankie morales

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skyward-floored · 1 day ago

Note

I’ve been in a Sky mood lately lol. So for prompts maybe something angsty with him? Like him getting used to life after being trapped on the island for years? Or one of the boys trying to reassure themselves that he’s actually back?

I saw this prompt and went HEHEHE I do enjoy me my angst. Especially Incredibles au Sky angst (sorry Sky bdhdbdbdhd)

I sort of mixed your two prompts together? It’s mostly the first one, but there’s hints of the second. And also a different thing entirely XD Enjoy!

(Also warning for a character getting a flashback. It’s seen from an outside perspective, but here’s your warning just in case.)

————————————————————

Sometimes Warriors still couldn’t believe Sky was back.

After over a year of trying to come to terms with his disappearance, wrestling with hope and denial and grief, going to his funeral for Hylia’s sake— having him suddenly come back was... earth-shattering. In a good way, of course, but sometimes Warriors caught himself falling into the pattern of endless questions on what had happened, and had to remind himself that he knew now.

Sky had been tricked, lured away, fought for survival while being hunted within an inch of his life, and then finally made it home alive. Though... not without scars.

Ones that sometimes caught Warriors off guard.

The afternoon it happened, Warriors had stopped at Sky’s to drop off some things he’d borrowed, and ended up staying and talking much longer than he’d intended. He wasn’t complaining though. After thinking he’d never get moments like this again, he’d spend every waking hour with his brother if he could.

“...So then Aryll told me she made a new friend, and asked me if I wanted to meet her, and of course I said yes. I should’ve known better, because five seconds later she whistles, and this huge vulture lands in front of me,” Sky said with a wave of his hand, and Warriors laughed. “I know! Where did she even meet a vulture?!”

“Probably the same place she met those geese that one time,” Warriors said with a grin, and Sky joined his laughter that time.

“Oh I’m sure. She has plenty of bird connections,” he chuckled, leaning back with his wings stretched out on either side of himself. He picked up his glass of water and drank some of it before he continued. “I’m sure she’ll have quite the message system worked out when she’s older.”

“I wouldn’t put it past her,” Warriors smirked. “Heck you won’t even need the mail service if she keeps up like this, just ask her to send letters via pigeon.”

“Hm that’s true... I’d never have to buy stamps again,” Sky said thoughtfully.

“Hey now, don’t forget those stamps help pay my salary,” Warriors grinned. A truck outside beeped as it backed up, and Warriors glanced out the window, before looking back inside. “If I didn’t know better I’d say you were trying... Sky?”

Sky had completely frozen in place, his glass of water slipping from his hand.

Warriors quickly shot out a hand as it hit the floor, freezing the puddle before it could spread, then got off his chair and hurried to Sky’s side. The cup hadn’t broken so he left it where it was, and he looked worriedly at his brother.

“Sky? Are you okay?” he asked urgently, and a tremor wracked through Sky, his eyes glazing over. He’d been fine literal seconds ago, what was wrong? “...Sky?”

“We need to hide,” Sky whispered, his voice hoarse.

Warriors blinked. “What?”

Sky swallowed, shaking as he stared into the middle distance. “We need to hide, they’re coming,” he stressed in a croak, his breathing starting to pick up. “Guardians, they’re close.”

“Sky... there are no guardians here,” Warriors said in confusion, and Sky shook his head, ears twitching.

“There’s one right over there,” he gasped, his breath trembling. “We need to hide, it’s going to—”

“Sky, no there isn’t,” Warriors said slowly, sitting down beside his brother. “There’s nothing there.”

“B-but—” Sky stuttered, twisting his head around to look at the wall. A bead of sweat trailed down his brow. “Yes it is. It is, it’s coming, we need to hide now.”

Sky pulled his wings in close to his body, feathers puffing up, and Warriors looked at him in dismay, unsure of what to do. He knew enough to recognize Sky was having some sort of flashback, but he didn’t know how to help him out of it.

The truck outside beeped again, and Sky violently flinched, nearly falling off the couch as his feathers puffed out even more. Warriors looked between him and the window, then carefully stood and walked over to it, closing it and blocking out the sound. Sky didn’t visibly react to the quiet, and Warriors went back over to him, watching as he trembled in place.

“Sky, we’re not on the island,” Warriors began carefully as he sat back down. “You haven’t been there for weeks now. And I wasn’t ever on the island. How can I be here with you if we’re on the island?”

“I-I...” Sky stammered, his voice faltering. Then he suddenly snatched Warriors’ wrists, eyes huge. “Wars they got you too, you shouldn’t have come, it’s going to be like everyone else,” he choked out, still shaking. “We have to hide!”

Sky began tugging at his wrists, but Warriors resisted the movement, staying where he was. “Sky, there’s no danger.”

“Yes there is! I have a base right over there, we can get to it if we hurry, we can’t let him—”

“Sky, we’re not on the island,” Warriors repeated, slipping his wrists out of Sky’s hold and taking his hands instead. His skin felt clammy. “I promise you we’re not. We’re in your house. We’re safe.”

Sky kept shaking, but he didn’t argue the point, and Warriors felt a flicker of encouragement when he didn’t keep tugging on his hands.

“You’re not back there,” Warriors repeated, and Sky squeezed his eyes shut, another bead of sweat trailing down his brow. “You’re in your house, on the couch in your living room. Sun is at work, and Aryll is taking a nap. Nobody is in any danger.”

Sky trembled in his seat, his eyes still closed tight, and Warriors lightly squeezed his hands, waiting for him to come back. His eyes reopened, still looking glazed, but less so than before.

“Come on Link,” Warriors whispered, looking into Sky’s eyes. “You’re safe here, I promise. Nothing is trying to hurt you.”

Sky swallowed, and Warriors stayed beside him, watching as his feathers slowly began to smooth. Warriors repeated the reassurance that they weren’t on the island, and he kept it up as Sky’s frantic breathing started to even out, and his eyes gradually cleared.

It felt like a long time before Sky’s shoulders slumped, his wings falling limp as he took in a shaky breath. He was still trembling, but much more lightly, and Warriors studied his face.

“You back?” Warriors asked carefully, and Sky looked at his lap, shame coloring his face.

“I... I think so. Sorry,” Sky whispered.

“Nothing to be sorry for,” Warriors said easily, but Sky kept looking at his lap, ears red.

Warriors looked at him worriedly, then lightly squeezed his hands, pulling back so he could deal with the frozen puddle on the floor. He easily pried it up and shaped it into a small ball, then set it on the table, looking back at Sky again.

“Hey. I mean it,” Warriors said when he saw his expression, lightly touching Sky’s shoulder, light enough that he could pull away if he wanted. Sky didn’t, and so Warriors held it a bit tighter. “You have nothing to be sorry for. It’s not your fault.”

“I was the one stupid enough to go there,” Sky muttered under his breath, and Warriors frowned.

“Sky, you were tricked. You thought you were doing something good, it’s not your fault,” Warriors repeated, and Sky didn’t meet his eyes. Warriors sighed. “That looked pretty rough. Do you want some water?”

“I’d appreciate that,” Sky said quietly.

Warriors nodded and stood, giving his shoulder a squeeze before he grabbed Sky’s glass and headed to the kitchen to refill it. It only took him a moment, and when he returned, Sky hadn’t moved, still staring at his lap, faintly trembling, wings lightly wrapped around himself.

Warriors passed him the cup, and Sky silently took it, sipping without a word.

“You need anything else?” Warriors asked, and Sky shook his head. Warriors hummed in reply, then paused as he thought of something. It wasn’t Warriors’ go-to, but Sky usually appreciated physical contact much more than him, especially since he’d been back. “...maybe a hug?”

Sky finally looked up, still shaky and pale, and gave a tiny nod.

Warriors gave him a sad smile, then leaned in, wrapping his arms around his brother.

Sky was stiff for a moment, then practically melted into the touch, a wavering sigh coming from him. He pressed his face against Warriors’ shoulder, and Warriors lightly rubbed his back, feeling equally reassured by the touch. He knew Sky had been through a lot, but the blatant show of it had been a bit frightening.

Oh Sky.

“I’m such a disaster,” Sky said in a wobbly voice, and Warriors sighed.

“Anyone would be. Truth be told, I think most of us became disasters while you were gone, so you’re in good company.”

Sky let out a wet snort, and Warriors squeezed him, Sky still shaking just a little.

“Has this happened before?” Warriors asked after a minute, pulling back so he could see Sky’s face, and Sky shrugged.

“Not... to that extent,” he admitted quietly. “There’ve been... things, but not...”

He trailed off weakly, and Warriors nodded. That was about what he’d figured.

“Okay. We’ll figure this out. Just like old times, huh?” Warriors said with a faint smile, and Sky huffed.

“Yeah. Can’t say I miss that side of things,” he mumbled, and Warriors squeezed his arm again.

“I’ll stay until Sun comes back,” he reassured quietly, and Sky nodded, silently resting his head against Warriors’ shoulder again.

Neither of them said much else after that, and Warriors idly played with the piece of ice on the table, Sky watching him quietly as he shaped it into a small bird. Warriors added some ice to it, and worked on shaping it into a slightly bigger one.

Sky stayed silent as he leaned against him, and Warriors tried not to stare, worry clenching in his stomach. Nightmares were common enough between them, though they’d gotten better as the years had gone on. Warriors had practice with those, and panic attacks, and a small list of the other crap they all dealt with after their superhero careers, but this... felt way out of his league.

We’ll figure this out, he promised silently, adding small feathers to the bird he was shaping in his palms. Sky breathed out a weary sigh, and Warriors swallowed.

We will. We’ll figure it out.

#answers from the floor #lovely adrift in thyme #Incredibles au #Incredibles au fic #IAU sky #IAU Warriors #fic #tw flashback #ask to tag #angst #writing from the floor #Sky is not! having a good time!!#but he’s got lots of support so he’ll be okay

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simp-ly-writes · 3 hours ago

Text

Part of the Band

─────── · · Arcane Band!AU

PAIRING(S): Jayce Talis x gn!Reader, Vi x Caitlyn, Viktor x Sky, Ekko x Jinx

─ · · SUMMARY: What if the cast of arcane created a band? Everyone seems to be paired up with someone leaving Jayce as the last remaining member without a partner yet it is not without a lack of trying and you not being all that receptive to the drummer for his relationship history.

─ · · TAGS: gender-neutral reader, depictions of anxiety attacks and crowded scenes, emotional hurt/comfort, attempt at humour, nicknames/petnames, swearing, not beta read.

─ · · MASTERLIST | TAGLIST REQUEST | WORDCOUNT: 1,800

─ · · A/N: HEAR ME OUT ON THIS PLEASE... (taken from this).

─────── · ·

─ · · Lead Vocalist!Mel, Lead Guitar!Vi, Rhythm Guitar!Caitlyn, Drummer!Jayce, Bassist or Keys!Viktor, Tour Manager!Heimerdinger, Production Assistant!Sky, Social Media Manager and Photographer!Reader

─ · · Musical Duo!Jinx and Ekko with their Manager!Sevika being the opener for the main band. Nobody quite knows if the duo is dating- not even themselves choosing to keep it vague to the public but share many lingering stares while on stage together.

─ · · Heimerdinger and Sevika can be constantly heard fighting backstage- having different visions for how they want to production, management, and finnancials to look as they try and prove themselves to Sky who looks beyond scared standing in between the two, clipboard between her shaking hands, glasses shaking against her nose as she waits for someone to call her away from the madness of these two put together.

─ · · Vi and Caitlyn are a couple as the fans would have it no other way- rivalling Mel for the bands most popular members and holding the most combined followers as they make music together apart from the band while on breaks. The couple often preforms more for each other than the crowd, circling one another, singing along while bobbing heads and knocking shoulders- sharing the occasional quick kiss in between songs.

─ · · Viktor keeps himself off to the side of the stage, looking down at his hands to ensure he is hitting the right notes, head bobbing to the rhythm, long hair casting over his eyes that usually are looking offstage towards Sky for reassurance behind the curtains yet before their eyes meet, both quickly look away blushing and acting like nothing happened (the band has begged them to 'just get together already'- you included).

─ · · Mel and Jayce used to get shipped together a lot and dated in the past in an on-again, off-again relationship before officially calling it quits as Mel started getting serious with actor she met at an awards ceremony a couple years ago and has been going strong ever since.

─ · · Jayce on the other hand had yet to find a long-term partner like everyone else in the band and is was not from his lack of trying. Jayce was playful and a romantic at heart even though it played off as him being a "play-boy." Often having a new girlfriend or boyfriend every few months until his heart got broken by them complaining about him constantly being on-tour or in the studio. Sometimes in the worst of cases, using him for popularity as he built up quite the reputation or even caught some trying to stealing from him (not that he cared much about any of his possessions besides his drum-kits and custom noise-cancelling headphones you gifted him for his birthday- those he was extremely protective of).

─ · · You remember the day vividly, everyone was waiting in the cars to be taken to the airport for the next leg of the tour. You leaned against the black car, camera in hand waiting to capture a shot of everyone in the van together to post to their socials... the only one keeping you from completing your work for the day ahead of a 14 hour flight was Jayce whom Heimerdinger was grumbling about while standing beside you, arms crossed.

"Where is that boy? He's usually the first one out here standing by you." You shrug, unknowing to where Jayce is and now that you think about it... you turn around, glaring through the tinted widows to count the heads within... "I think Sky's missing too," you add before taking back to your position and flicking through your camera roll, double checking all of your shots from last night you had yet to upload.

Heimerdinger huffs, "we're going to miss our flight if Jayce is not here in the next 15 minutes. Can you go try and work your magic? He's not answering any of my calls and somehow always catches yours." You stare down at the tour manager with a raised brow, asking, are you serious? And by the glare and kick to your shin that you receive you are putting a lens back on your camera and rushing through the lobby towards the elevator, phone in hand only to receive no answer.

─ · · When you reach the bands floor, Jayce's door is open, his gear waiting by the door yet no sighting of the man, "fuck!" you hear a man yell and your speed-walk is now a full blown sprint as you turn into the room to find a shaking Sky with her hands hesitantly outstretched trying to soothe the maddened drummer who looks to be tearing his room apart, hair dishevelled and shirt missing as he rips through the bedcovers obviously looking for something.

"Jay?" you call out, placing a hand on Sky's shoulder, tipping your head out the door as she nods in reply, exiting the room quickly. Jayce's head snaps up instantly at the sound of your voice, his chest rises and falls quickly before his breath hitches seeing you walk closer to him, placing a hand on his arm as you look at him worriedly, "whats wrong? can I help you look?"

Jayce bits his lip, looking away from you and squeezing his eyes shut as a blush starts working over his cheeks. "Jay?" you call out again, giving his hand a squeeze, surprised to feel as he takes his away first having never done that before. "Its... stupid, well not stupid but just.. fuck..." he pauses for a minute before turning back to look you in the eyes. Your breath hitches at the sight of honey dripping with sadness, "...its those headphones you got for me and I can't find them anywhere when I knew I wore them last night," he explains.

You nod your head before slowly walking away, Jayce opens every drawer again in hope of seeing something he hadn't seen before as you walk into the hall and reach into his backpack retrieving the infamous headphones in their black-shell protective casing.

Walking back into the room, Jayce sits on the bed, head in hands, "I'm sorry for losing them, I always put them on my bedside not to forget and-" he feels something snap against his head and a song starts to play in his ears as you squat down in between his legs to catch his eyes mouthing, "found them." Before standing and wheeling one of his suitcases down the hall, Sky following after you swiftly with the rest of the luggage in hand that Jayce takes from her once joining you both in the elevator with a freshly equipped shirt.

─ · · You blink yourself back to reality as the curtain drops and you race to change the exposure settings on your camera as the band slowly walks out in a line. Even with your in-ears and sound-cancelling headphones, you can still feel the utter force of their cheers pelting against your back as they scream and shout after their favourite members, you feel as the barrier rumbles as the crowd surges forwards- a security member quickly guides you away.

─ · · You catch Jayce's look of concern as adjusts his sound pack and fixes his hair, somehow always knowing exactly where you were while preforming, nodding towards you while keeping rhythm and staring you down until you nodded back before he would smile and play harder.

─ · · After performances Jayce would walk to the front of the stage, joining everyone in a bow before throwing his drumsticks into the crowd and hastily walking over to you, pressing his face close into the lens of your camera, waiting to hear the click before wrapping an arm around your shoulders that you would try and wiggle out from underneath of- shoulder's tense, "you're all sweaty, Jayce," you complain, nose scrunched up in disgust to hide your hammering heart seeing all the veins protruding from his skin, running up his tired arms, hair sticking to his forehead as he pouts.

"But my arms tried, sweetheart," Jayce explains, eyes glittering with humour as you roll yours at the nickname and sigh, patting his arm before Jayce allows you to slide it off him. Sky runs up and provides a towel and water bottle before darting off again as Jayce slides down against a wall, legs kicked outwards as he unscrews the cap and offers you the first sip before drinking the rest.

"Was it a good performance?" Jayce asks you earnestly, dabbing off his forehead and arms, smiling underneath your stare before you seemingly see something incredibly interesting down the empty hall. "You all are in your prime and have the awards to show for it, don't think you need my voice," you answer, turning your camera back on, "smile!" you cheerily state, glaring as Jayce stares blankly at you.

"I respect your opinion, thats why I ask. Why would I give a shit about some senile board members telling me about modern music?" Jayce counters, standing slowly as he walks over to you while throwing away the water bottle in a nearby bin. You take a step back and begin walking you both in the direction of the green room where the rest of the band was already winding down and taking notes within.

Jayce saunters over to an empty chair before patting his thigh with a raised brow, you shake your head, moving to stand beside Sky in a corner who rapidly jots down notes on her tablet before showing Sevika who signs her signature at the bottom without a care.

You feel Jayce stare on you yet refuse to give him anymore attention, waiting for him to turn back to Heimerdinger and he eventually does once realizing you were not going to look back at him.

"You alright there, man?" Ekko whispers, nudging the older man's shoulder as he has his arm wrapped around Jinx who is passed out beside him. Jayce stares at the couple for a second, looks up and around to all the couples in the room, his heart aches as he nods through the pain, "I'm alright, just wearing off the adrenaline."

Ekko nods slowly, watching as Jayce shifts his head over to you for a second before looking back at Heimerdinger who is finishing up his speech for the night. Huh... Ekko thinks to himself startling as Jinx talks, eyes still closed, "bunch of idiots the lot of 'em." Ekko laughs at the blue-haired girl, squeezing her shoulder, "am I at least your favourite?"

"Nah, why would you ever think that?" she deadpans, laughing herself fully awake as everyone looks at the pair, brows raised. "What?" Jinx states and everyone goes back to their conversations.

─────── · ·

─ · · A/N: what did y'all think? 🤔

─ · · JAYCE TALIS TAGLIST: @sseleniaa @sunshiines-stuff @kiromiix @todorokishoe24 @w2momo @m-arj-1 @reid490 @kaminocasey @chickenlvr123 @peachhiz @hellokittyluvr69420

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coyotecrumb · 18 hours ago

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gojo presents as an alpha. you wouldn't care about this at all, if it weren't for the fact that it's beginning to cause a whole plethora of problems—for you specifically. (fragment from an omegaverse fic idea i scrapped which was listed in my notes as "gojo alpha on alpha calzone")

Pain explodes in your knuckles, rocketing up your nerves and to your brain in a millisecond. You hit something, it tells you. It hurts.

You need to figure out where the hurt is coming from. But the rest of you is lagging behind, stuck on the information provided by your eyes and ears. Sight: Satoru reeling back, glasses askew, his hand rising to his face. Sound: a muted crack.

There is a logical conclusion here. But your mind short-circuits just considering it. No. That's not possible.

This is Satoru. Satoru, who wins every time the two of you spar; who has Infinity and uses it incessantly just to piss you off; who prides himself on being untouchable. You're not even two minutes into training—you were only sending out a testing blow, trying to gauge whether he'd cushion the hit or dodge it. He's going to let Infinity catch it, you'd thought, watching your fist hurtle towards his face, but—

Knuckles. Pain. Crack. And now, a scent: a sharp, metallic tang.

“Shit,” you say, watching his fingertips touch the skin above his upper lip, come away smeared with red. The blood trickles down from his nose—his nose, which is injured. Injured because your knuckles smashed into it when—

You punched Satoru. You punched Satoru?

His blood stands out starkly against his pale skin, glinting in the sunlight like rubies. So, you think, he really does bleed the same as the rest of us.

And, God—this really is your first time seeing him bleed, isn't it? In your two years of knowing him! It takes everything in you to choke down the sudden, frenetic laughter bubbling up in your throat. Hysteria. It's coming for you.

Eventually, you manage to get words out. “Satoru?” Disbelieving smile on your face, you lean forward. One hand comes up to catch his wrist, to guide his arm downwards so you can better study the damage. “Are you—”

He moves so fast that you don't see his hand coming. By the time your instincts kick in, tensing all your muscles, his fingers have already formed a cuff around your wrist, grip unyielding. His fingertips press hard at your pulse point, pushing into the thin skin where your scent gland sits.

The whip-quick threat of a snarl, rising from deep in your chest, startles you. Like Getou, you've always taken great care to keep yourself on a short leash, to avoid snapping or posturing as much as you can.

Satoru, unpresented, shouldn't cause your instincts trouble at all. Is something wrong with me?

You inhale, about to say his name again, and—

Green. A pointed, green scent, like mint mixed with the smell from freshly-snapped flower stems, like standing outside on a summer day. It explodes into the air around you, entirely new, unfamiliar. Your breath catches in your throat.

It's strong, all-encompassing, lighting up your senses. It's the sort of smell you'd expect from an—

Your stomach twists.

Satoru's glasses fell off when you hit him. His gaze is locked on your wrist where he holds it tight between your bodies, pupils dilated till their darkness threatens to swallow up the glimmering sky-blue of his eyes. If his nose is causing him any pain, he doesn't show it. He stands so still you can see how his chest rises and falls with the strong tide of his breathing, the way his nostrils flare to scent the air.

And now that you're focusing, you can tell that the green scent is coming from him, utterly unapologetic, like he's issuing a challenge to the world. The steely grip on your wrist tightens even further.

Oh, you think.

Scent strong, all-encompassing. It's the sort of smell you'd expect from an alpha.

He's presenting.

Late bloomer, Gojo Satoru, finally presenting as the alpha his clan has been praying he would be. Really, this should be cause for congratulations.

But of course Satoru can't do anything the easy way—of course his presentation would kick in in the middle of a spar with another alpha, the perfect opportunity for his fresh instincts to spur him into aggression, into violence.

“Satoru,” you say, strained. Try to reel in your scent, even as you itch to lash out against the impudence he's bleeding all over the damn place, to take him down a notch. Calm, you tell yourself. You are so calm. “You're presenting. We need to get Yaga.”

If Satoru lets you go, you can go and grab him. Or Shoko, if she happens to be around. Satoru won't need any convincing; one of the strongest urges for alphas in the throes of presentation is to chase other alphas out of their space. You remember the bitter rage that had crawled beneath your skin during your own presentation, everything too bright and too loud, your brain screaming that you just wanted to be left the fuck alone.

“I can get him.” You move to take a step back. “Just gimme a few—”

The snarl that rolls up from Satoru's throat is harsh and sudden as a crack of thunder. A clear message: You're not moving. His blood drips, drips—smears red across his lips. And below them: the pearl-white gleam of dropped fangs.

Oh, fuck him.

the outline also featured: * gojo's claws wounding reader's inner wrist and him being so goddamn weird about it * getou having to ask reader to borrow some of ur clothes on gojo's behalf after he's been wrangled * "oh but i thought he was in rut? he smelled like an alpha" "yes he is ! ^_^" "... ???" * gojo repeatedly trying to flirt and it getting misinterpreted as like. death threats * gojo forcefully scenting a bunch of reader's stuff and the two of you almost killing each other in the subsequent fight * reader scruffing gojo. and gojo whining about it

#do i think gojo would be an alpha yes #do i think he'd be able to out-alpha literally any other person #no #gojo x reader #gojo satoru x reader #jujutsu kaisen x reader #jjk fanfic #jjk x reader #jujutsu kaisen fic #fawn writes #i think my posts are getting hidden in tags so basically i'm going to [REDACTED]#this fic was also going to be sfw which might miss the whole point of omegaverse aus but whatever #i wanted to put a pic of sonic knuckles in here so bad

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mysanaf · 1 day ago

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༄ "Weekly" Fic Round-Up ༄

This is inspired by @captainkirkk's weekly fic round-ups which I've found many a good fic from. This is also a collect of fic from all of December as well as this first week of January, but perhaps future round-ups will be more accurately named.

Fandoms: Batman, Batman X Marvel Crossover, Nine Worlds Series by Victoria Goddard

Batman

reset by Valkirin

Black Mask hires Circe to keep Red Hood out of his way for a week. Circe's spell will only last a week and she doesn't think Batman will notice or care that she placed a time-limited memory spell on a minor criminal. Fifteen-year-old Jason Todd wakes up in a future he doesn't understand.

No pressure by Valkirin

Tim starts his night trying to calm down a graduate student with a ray gun. He has no idea that he is part of a time loop. Future Tim (which will be him in three minutes) won a second round of the Titans Tower fight and managed to put Jason on the path to coming home. Past Tim didn't do much other than think he was dreaming when he met a much calmer Jason. Future Tim decided that three minutes was plenty of time to figure out just get everything right and stabilize a time loop on the first try. No pressure.

best laid plans by Valkirin

Tim Drake knows that Batman needs a Robin. When Bruce and Dick aren't interested in what he has to say, Tim makes his way to the cemetery to say a few words to the boy he's trying to replace. Tim has the chance to say far more than he expected when Jason digs himself out of his grave that night. Tim does his best to get Jason home to Bruce. The League of Assassins finds them first.

Redrawing the Lines by BirdChild

Dick finds out that Damian cut Tim's line.

To Be a Bandaid by something_dog

Tim Drake never actually wanted to become part of the Robin-Batman-vigilante outfit. No, really. But the last Robin up and died, and now Batman is going crazy, and no one else is doing anything about it, so...Tim decides to become Robin. He might as well, right? At the very least it'll give him something to do while his parents are gone. Still, Tim's not taking up the mantle until he can put a couple of things in order. Step one? Making sure the Joker can't get it into his head to kill another Robin. Not ever again. (Good thing Tim's not the one with a 'no killing' rule.) And then after that? Well, after that it's only just a matter of keeping Batman from learning Tim's identity and subsequently chasing him off. Not until Bruce can get back on his feet and pick a new Robin, a real one this time. Easy-peasy. Sort of.

just me against the sky by magneticwave

Tim Drake stops stalking Gotham’s nocturnal wildlife when she goes to college. Unfortunately, they don’t return the favor.

A Request:

If anyone has any Cassandra Cain focused fics they love please send them my way, I haven't found any and I'm starving 🥺

Batman X Marvel Crossover

Shake the Devil Out of Me by thepartyresponsible

The first time Jason sees Phil Coulson, he sees him in the soft, flickering light of a warehouse fire. It’s romantic, he thinks, later. Like candlelight.

Do Every Stupid Thing by thepartyresponsible

Jason doesn’t mean for the Winter Soldier to be a present for Tony Stark. The youngest Stark isn’t supposed to be involved at all. The plan is simple: intervene before the Winter Soldier can murder Howard and Maria, tranq the Winter Soldier until he’s sufficiently incapacitated, and then drag him off for further study and let the Starks carry on with their fraught, bourgeoisie bullshit.

Nine Worlds Series by Victoria Goddard

the long way home by ariex09

If Cliopher had to sit around twiddling his thumbs he would lose his mind. “I’m going to legalize the rest of Fitzroy Angursell’s poetry,” he said, without entirely meaning to. To Aioru’s widened eyes and Ludvic’s raised eyebrows, he said, “I need a project, it’s non-essential to government functioning, and he’s Zunidh’s poet laureate now. Having half of his works be illegal for sedition is absurd.” - A political crisis in Nijan prevents Cliopher from retiring after the landslide and reuniting with Fitzroy. What it can't prevent is Cliopher and Fitzroy being ridiculous about each other from worlds apart.

#me myself and i #fic recs #Batman #Marvel #DC #MCU #Nine Worlds #HOTE #The Hands of the Emperor #Jason Todd #Tim Drake #weekly fic round ups

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goddessofroyalty · 2 days ago

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Fandom: Arcane

Pairings: Jayce/Viktor

Tags: mpreg, mention of post-birth pain

I now have two prompt fills that are in progress but not finished (oops). So instead take a “this popped into my head basically fully formed so I had to write it” things – Mel visiting at the hospital after Jayce and Viktor have their first child.

This is a bit more based on modern medical conventions than what I think Arcane would truly be like but, again, not really a thought out thing just words that flowed too easily. Thus it’s really abrupt ending as well. Easy flow stopped then.

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

There’s a knock at the door of the hospital room and Viktor is a little surprised to see Councillor Medarda instead of another doctor come to have a final prod at him before they send him home.

“I thought I would come visit. If you feel up to it that is,” she says. Only coming in when he gestures that she can. A wrapped box carried in her hands like an offering. “Where’s Jayce?”

“Currently trying to bully the doctors into prescribing stronger painkillers to go home with.” Mel’s face twists in question at Viktor’s explanation. “We are, ah, not well designed for childbirth.”

“My mother gave birth to me on a battlefield,” Mel says. Quietly enough that Viktor does not know if he was actually aimed at him or not.

“I suppose we are not all your mother then.” The boredom of bedrest the closest to a battle Viktor fought in his pregnancy.

“No, of course,” Mel says with a small shake of her head. She takes the seat next to the bed with her usual grace. The box settled neatly in her lap. Viktor sure he looks a mess next to her, the bags under his eyes deep from sleep constantly disturbed by doctors or his and Jayce’s son and the hospital gown rumpled and baggy on him.

“I would offer you something to eat but I would not recommend the food here,” Viktor says more out of politeness than actually caring about being a good host.

“I will take your word at it,” Mel says, looking around the room at all the flowers and gifts that they had taken to piling along the walls to deal with once they get home and figure out a routine with a newborn. “Have you had many visitors?”

“No.” Ximena had visited a few times, bringing things from their apartment so Jayce wouldn’t have to leave to get them. Sky as well, with updates on their ongoing experiments and things for the both of them so they can continue working as best they can from a hospital room. Councillor Kiramman and her daughter had visited once, Caitlyn looking terrified when she was offered the baby to hold. That was it. “People keep sending Jayce gifts.”

“I’m sure they are for you as well,” Mel says as she looks over them.

“Yes. That is why they all have only his name on them.” Viktor had never been naïve about how people saw him, or rather didn’t see him, next to Jayce. But he will admit to some annoying in the situation on account of how he was the one bedbound from having their child yet Jayce the one getting all the gifts.

Mel’s lips purse.

“Well, I suppose this one can be for you then,” she says, handing the neatly wrapped box onto his lap.

“What?”

“That is what the rule is, isn’t it – I bring you a present and you let me see the baby?” Mel asks, her tone light. “Only if you are comfortable with it of course.”

“I- ah- yes. I am. Just-“ Naph is in the bassinette at the other side of the room and getting out of bed still rather painful and difficult to do. Not something he wants to attempt with an audience.

Jayce thankfully returns before Viktor has to decide with Mel getting Naph herself.

“Jayce,” Viktor says before his partner can get too into detail about how the doctor was going to write a script for some decent pain relief. A nod to Mel thankfully distracting him from that train of thought. “Can you bring Naph over.”

“Of course.”

“I see he’s taking good care of you,” Mel says as Jayce goes to get their son and bring him over.

“I cannot complain.” Viktor is sure the doctors would be glad to see them off if only so Jayce could not continue looming over their shoulders as if double-checking their work whenever they are tending to either Viktor or Naph.

Mel gives him a humoured smile at it.

“Mel would like to hold him,” Viktor says when Jayce goes to hand Naph to him.

“Oh. Right.” Jayce easily switches to hand Mel the swaddle that is their son instead. “Make sure to support his head.”

“Already an over-protective father,” Mel jokes but her hands are careful when accepting their child. Her expression soft when she looks down at him. “Definitively one of the cuter babies I’ve been handed.”

Jayce beams at the praise for their son as false as it probably is. Slipping into the other chair by the bed and reaching to take Viktor’s hand.

“He looks just like Viktor doesn’t he?”

“I can see the resemblance,” Mel says with a quick glance up at Viktor. It is apparently enough for her to remember the gift. “Open it. Please.”

Viktor pulls his hand away from Jayce’s to undo the wrappings, revealing a wooden box with holes of various shapes and blocks matching to them as well as a small plastic hammer.

“I thought if he is anything like his parents he’ll want to find ways to fill any gap he finds. And the hammer reminded me of Jayce.”

“Thank you.” It is nice to receive something that wasn’t just the first cute thing the person had seen. Or flowers.

#Arcane #Arcane mpreg #mpreg #Jayvik #Jayce Talis #Viktor Arcane #Mel Medarda #Work/Life Balance #Ramblings of the Goddess #I accidently a ficlet

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50calmadeuce · 2 days ago

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Ch. 2: Outside (R)

Disclaimer: This is a work of fanfiction using characters from the Top Gun: Maverick world, trademarked by Paramount Pictures Corporation. I do not claim ownership of the characters and the world that I am borrowing.

The story and situation I am creating are a work of my imagination and I do not ascribe them to official story canon. This work is for entertainment only and is not a part of the storyline.

I am not profiting financially from the creation and publication of this story, but I do hope it give you happy thoughts.

You were lining up your next shot at the pool table when your phone buzzed in your pocket. Setting the pool cue down, you reached in to check the screen. “I have to take this,” you told Jake, glancing over just as Bradley ‘Rooster’ Bradshaw sat down at the piano and began playing Great Balls of Fire. Phoenix joined him, singing along with a wide grin, as others around the bar enthusiastically joined in.

As you headed toward the back door of The Hard Deck, which opened to the patio, a thought lingered in your mind: What’s the real story between those two?

Once outside, you crossed the patio and leaned against the railing. The sun was dipping into the ocean, painting the sky with mesmerizing hues of orange, pink, and gold.

You answered the FaceTime call when you saw it was your son’s nanny. “Hey, Abby,” you greeted warmly.

“Hi, Doc. I thought you’d want to talk to Christian before I put him to bed,” she said with a smile.

“Of course,” you replied, your heart melting as the screen filled with the face of a black-haired, blue-eyed toddler. “Hey, baby!”

“Hi, Momma. You come home?” he asked, his little voice tugging at your heartstrings.

“In just a few days you'll be here, sweetheart, and Mommy can’t wait,” you said with a tender smile.

"I see Aunt Tosh?” he asked eagerly, his blue eyes lighting up.

“Yes, you will,” you replied with a warm smile. “And she can’t wait to see you either. Now, let me talk to Ms. Abby and you get into bed. Love you."

“Otay. Lub you too,” he said sweetly before Abby’s face reappeared on the screen.

“How are things?” you asked, a note of concern in your voice.

“Good. Believe it or not, it’s been quiet,” Abby replied with a small laugh.

“That’s what worries me,” you said with a wry smile. “But I’ll see you in a couple of days.”

“You will. Talk to you later, Doc,” she said with a grin before the call ended and the screen went blank.

You took a deep breath, letting out a sigh as the ocean breeze brushed past you. The sound of movement behind you made you turn quickly.

Jake stood a few feet away, watching you with a curious expression.

“Well, now, darlin’. What brings you out here?” his smooth, Southern drawl asked.

You turn back around and continue to watch the sunset. You notice he joins you and leans against the railing to your right.

“Where I’m from, it’s considered rude not to answer a question.”

You turn your head to the right and look at him. “I’m not too much of a bar person. Needed a break.” You turn back to the sunset.

“And you’re Phoenix’s best friend?”

“Yup. Since Middle School.”

“And you don’t drink?”

You look at him. “I drink.”

He looks at your empty hands and then raises his beer bottle with a questioning look.

You laugh. “Not a fan.”

“What?! And you’re from Wisconsin?”

“Crazy, huh?” You let out another sigh. “Look, Hangman, trust me—you don’t want to get involved with me.”

Jake tilted his head slightly, his green eyes narrowing as he studied you. “Now, that’s an interesting thing to say,” he drawled, his voice low and teasing. “You think you know what I want?”

You shrugged, keeping your gaze on the horizon. The sun was dipping lower, painting the sky in hues of gold and pink, but you could still feel the weight of his attention on you. “I’ve been told I’m complicated,” you admitted, your tone guarded. “Not everyone has the patience for that.”

He let out a soft chuckle, the kind that hinted he wasn’t easily deterred. “Darlin’, I fly fighter jets for a living. You’d be surprised what I have patience for.”

You glanced at him, your expression softening despite your initial resistance. “This isn’t the same as dogfighting at 40,000 feet.”

“Maybe not,” he replied, a flicker of sincerity breaking through his usual bravado. “But that doesn’t mean I’m not up for the challenge.”

There was a pause, a charged silence where neither of you spoke. You weren’t sure if it was the warmth of the sunset or the unexpected kindness in his gaze, but you found yourself softening, even just a little.

“Why do you even care?” you asked, your voice quieter now, almost hesitant.

Jake leaned against the railing, tilting his head as he considered you. “Because Phoenix doesn’t vouch for just anyone,” he said simply. “And she thinks the world of you. That makes me curious.”

You blinked, caught off guard by the honesty in his words. Before you could respond, he straightened up and took a step back, his easy grin returning.

“Tell you what,” he said, tipping his beer bottle toward you. “Why don’t you let me decide whether you’re too complicated? You might be surprised how much I can handle.”

You gave a short laugh, shaking your head. “You’re persistent, I’ll give you that.”

He smirked, his confidence radiating effortlessly. “One of my best qualities.”

Just then, the backdoor opens and Phoenix steps out holding the door. “There you are! You ready?”

You slowly walk towards Phoenix backwards still looking at Jake. “It was nice talking to you, Hangless, is it?”

“Hangman,” he repeats with a grin, lifting the beer bottle to his lips.

You smile faintly, then turn and head back into the bar with Phoenix.

As soon as the door shut behind you, Phoenix crossed her arms over her chest and gave you a questioning look.

“What?” you asked, feigning innocence.

“What was that about?” she pressed.

You shrugged. “He came out, asked why I was out there and why I didn’t have a beer.”

She sighed, her expression softening slightly. “Just be careful with him. There’s a reason they call him ‘Hangman.’”

“I believe you,” you replied with a small nod.

“Good. I just don’t want you getting hurt,” she said, her tone earnest.

“I’ll be fine,” you assured her, offering a reassuring smile.

“Hey, Phoenix! Does Y/N have any requests?” Rooster called out from the piano, his fingers already dancing over the keys.

“Come on,” Phoenix said, grabbing your arm and pulling you toward the piano.

As you moved, your gaze drifted to the window. Outside, Hangman stood watching you, his intense stare sending a shiver down your spine.

Tags: @smoothdogsgirl @alwayshave-faith @devil-angel-winchester @khouse712 @illisea @hookslove1592

#Spotify #jake seresin x you #jake seresin #jake seresin fanfiction #jake seresin fic #top gun fanfiction #hangman top gun #top gun fanfic #top gun maverick #glen powell #hangman fic #hangman #hangman x reader #jake hangman seresin

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shyamanuensis · 4 hours ago

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Boy at the Rock Show - 5

is this messy? absolutely. do we hate mc's sister? mhmm maybe... is sebastian any more trust worthy? hell no. enjoy the chaos inside my head.

Apt 20. The Steeples. Bridge Street. Any time after 7.

What should have been a quick, hello – hi – here’s your phone – bye, had been extended to a being dragged into the apartment and coaxed into watching a film. Something you potentially wouldn’t have minded if it were just Sebastian and yourself but no – the whole band and seemingly potential crew was there squeezed across the kitchen and living room. Between hearing semi-tipsy deep and meaningful conversations shared over coffee in mismatched mugs and the gentle strum of guitar strings pulling your attention away from the tv you were trying to keep your focus on, your eyes darted near playfully yet with childlike curiosity between the screen and Sebastian’s phone which he was adamantly scrolling through. While you’d not searched the phone yourself – your sisters sing song style gossip across the day had fuelled your interest and now you were wondering if you should have pried – just a little bit.

Crammed on a couch between Sebastian and Garreth, you felt the lightest of brushes belonging to fingertips along your legs and looked down to see that Sebastian’s hand were still occupied by his phone; Garreth’s thumb and forefinger drawing the most delectable array of doodles and shapes against the outside of your thigh. He was sure fucking bold to be playing this game. Shifting, you crossed your legs at your knees and leant in towards Sebastian who finally glanced away from his phone for a few seconds to shoot you an expression of concern.

“Not into horror movies?” – you loved them. “Oh – um – no… just wanted to cuddle a little.” – a lie but you’d hope he’d buy it.

And he did. Wrapping an arm around your shoulders with a playful squeeze; Sebastian had you curling up into his chest just the way you’d intended him to. A few more minutes into the film; Garreth’s fingers began to toy with the locks of your hair which fell over your shoulders and down your back; a more brazen attempt at obtaining your attention than earlier; he knotted the silken lengths around his fingers and tugged gently; enough force used to pluck a not so quiet moan from between your lips. This time though, Garreth’s actions hadn’t gone unnoticed and within seconds you found yourself pulled up onto your feet by Sebastian yanking roughly at your wrist.

“We’re leaving.”

Was this to do with Garreth or was it something you had done?

“Alright – to where?” “Where we should have been tonight all along”, Sebastian confirms with a hiss, “..a date.”

Bottle shop. Vietnamese takeout. Abandoned rooftop of an old flour mill just outside of downtown. The night simple and spontaneously last minute but was fucking perfect. Sitting on the jacket Sebastian had sprawled out; you sipped on the deliciously flavoured broth of the meal he’d selected for you and licked your lips once over as he took a swig of lager from a bottle which you were sure by now had turned warm.

“How do you say it again?” you pointed at your meal. “Bún bò huế.”

You smiled at the cute little way his voice changed up a pitch as he repeated himself again with a chuckle.

“If you’re impressed with my ability to order food in Vietnamese, then just wait until you hear my French in the bedroom.”

The burn across your cheeks matched the colour of the broth you’d just been savouring the taste of. Shaking your head to brush away the feeling the comment has crawling beneath your skin; you gaze out over the downtown night sky, this view – a lot different than the one you’d shared with Garreth the other night. The quiet solitude you found yourself in with Sebastian was only romanticized further by thestrals you both saw in the sky and the soft coos of owls nesting nearby. Dropping your fork into the takeaway container you placed on the ground, you hugged your knees tightly to your chest and rested your head on top of them; eyes fixed to the boy sitting beside you.

“Are you always this romantic with every girl you take out on a date?” “Only the ones I really like.” “So – you like me then?” “What’s there not to like?”

That burn across your cheeks only got darker and more intense at Sebastian’s rapid fire responses. Although it had been playing on your mind a little; you managed to take in a deep breath and respond back with a question of your own.

“What’s with the blonde?”

He seemed a little confused by your question given the expression painted on your face.

“The blonde?” “Yeah the blonde”, your breathing faults, “…from band practice the other night.” “You’ll have to be more specific.” “Sebastian..” “I’m being serious. Was she one of Garreth’s guests?” “No”, you shake your head, “The one who called you away for something.”

His face contorts into a series of questionable expressions before finally a smirk crosses his lips without query.

“…ah that blonde. Yeah she’s not blonde anymore.”

That doesn’t answer your question.

“Is she a friend?” “Nope.” “Is she an ex?” “God no.” “Groupie?” “Maybe with the others.”

His aloofness to your curiosity and uncertainty was starting to do your head in. Why were boys complicated? Especially the handsome, arrogant, impulsive, flirtatious ones you were always attracted to like a moth diving headfirst towards a flame ready to commit some form of self-torture.

“You’re not going to tell me who she is… are you?” “I could introduce you to her if that would make you feel better.” “Alright”, you challenged, “When?” “How about tomorrow?”

You considered the offer and nodded will taking another bite of food.

“Tomorrow it is.” “Good. Actually – seeing as we’re asking questions here; mind if I shoot off some?” “Be my guest Sebastian.”

He rested back, arms behind him for support after placing his food down to cradle in his lap.

“Why are you wasting your time on a guy like me?”

Well, that was unexpected. You weren’t quite sure on your answer. Hell, you weren’t sure you even had one; but there was this undeniable pull you felt from the universe when it came to him. Would he appreciate that kind of flowery, billowy answer? Who knows.

“That’s not a ‘rooftop date’ kind of question.” “Oh really?”, he chuckles, “What kind of question is it then?” “A… comfort of my own bedroom question.” “Are you asking me back to your place sugar?”

You smirked and licked your bottom lip.

“Maybe I am.”

Dreams, college application processes, pet peeves, fashion sense, favourite desserts, star signs – everything and anything you both chatted about on the walk back to your place. Although you hadn’t expected it; a few gentle brush of hands as you walked side by side eventually turned into fingers intwined and a small swing of your hands as Sebastian hummed a few tunes beneath his breath, drumming the beat against the back of your hand. As you approach the house; my eyebrow raises towards the unfamiliar car in the driveway.

“Ugh, my sister must have company tonight”, you roll your eyes. “Mhmm… that’s Garreth’s ride.”

#sebastian sallow #garreth weasley #ominis gaunt #boy at the rockshow #my head is ughhhhhhh #garreth and mc's sister????#seb is a lil flirt and we love it

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rexxdjarin · 2 days ago

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Unwritten

The Captain’s Log Prequel

A Captain Rex x OC: Mari Vontas Origin Story

Chapter 4: Discoveries in Uncharted Space

Series Summary: Mari Vontas has spent nearly twenty years of her life rising to the surface of the bustling ecumenopolis of the Republic Capital planet of Coruscant. Now, about a year into the conflict known galaxy-wide as the Clone Wars, Mari finds herself on a Civilian Rights Committee serving closely under none other than Senator Padmé Amidala. Though her passion for justice fuels her professionally, her personal life has yet to catch up. That is, until a night at the clone bar 79s changes her passion for her job, her historically rocky love life and the trajectory of her destiny forever.

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Pairing: Captain Rex x OC Mari Vontas Word Count: 10k Series Rating: Explicit (18+ only, Minors DO NOT INTERACT) Chapter Summary: Mari and Rex's profound indulgence in each other has its roots in an unexpected place, from a near-death experience, with thoughts of a once unimaginable future on their horizon. Chapter Warnings: 18+ Explicit, NSFW, P in V Sex, Oral Sex (F Receiving), Language, Political References, References to Canon Plot, References to Canon, Mentions of the Ethics of War, Cloning and Clone Independence, References to Violence and Injuries

There was nothing about Mari’s surface-level life that she could ever fully grow accustomed to; not the sunlight shining on her face as it rose over the skyline and through her window, not the fact that her apartment was thousands of credits a month instead of government-supplied, and certainly not the fact that she had Republic senate transport readily available for her use whenever she wanted.

She was fully content to take the tram or local hovercabs everywhere. She had been an average citizen for most of her life so far–maybe less than average if she was honest with herself. A lift through the lower levels from a droid didn’t bother her the same way it would most of her coworkers, so when she suggested they hail a hovercab or take the tram home from the biggest senate event on the planet, Rex looked at her in disbelief.

They spent the entire ride to her apartment letting their hands wander just enough to explore each others’ bodies without disturbing the driver. Not that Mari cared particularly. She wasn’t the first girl to spend her late-night hours fooling around with a clone, and she certainly wasn’t going to be the last–especially not when he happened to be hands down the hottest hook-up she’d ever had.

His massive, armor-covered bicep slung over her shoulders as he pulled her tightly into his side, keeping her warm enough to stave off the chill of the cool night air. She normally loved watching the illuminated windows of Coruscant’s sky-level buildings pass by her as she made her way through traffic, but tonight her sights were focused elsewhere.

Rex’s beautifully rounded jawline tensed as he focused on their surroundings. Now and then he glanced down at her, flashing her his cute little side smile and turning back to watch their commute to hide the blush on his cheeks. His deep brown eyes flitted over the changing landscape as they sped through the air like he was carefully watching for any danger that could pull him away from this moment and into action.

More than anything, Mari wanted to throw herself into his lap again and steal all his attention away. Yet, watching him scan the world around them was equally as fascinating, and she would’ve paid as many credits as she had to watch him in action. He was a captain after all, so he must’ve been quite the intimidating man in battle. The Separatists wouldn’t stand a chance and she was sure his battle records probably reflected that.

By the time they arrived at her district, Mari was so turned on from watching him all focused and protective that she wasn’t even sure she could walk out of the cab. Well, that and the fact that she was understandably sore from taking him in that empty office only an hour earlier. She mustered up every ounce of strength she had left and followed him out of the transport, letting him take her hand to help her steady herself.

Rex tangled his fingers with hers and stepped forward, starting a leisurely pace to accommodate her. “So,” he started, looking around at the gilded, shimmering buildings that made up her block and laughed softly, “this is home huh? Fancy. Beats the hell out of our barracks.”

“It’s a lot more private if that’s what you mean.” she joked, pulling her dress up to allow her to move more easily. Rex looked at her knowingly and stopped, holding out his hand expectantly.

“Let me help you with that. Don’t want you to trip.”

“No no, it’s fine, really. I got it. I think I can handle holding some fabric.”

“I made it hard enough for you to walk as it is, c’mon let me help.” he chuckled, a twinkle of innuendo-laced mischief sparking in his pretty brown eyes.

Mari dropped her gaze to the street below, her messy curls falling lazily over her shoulder. Now she was the one blushing. “Fine, Captain. I will let you help me, but only because you owe me for ruining this in the first place.” She lifted the satin fabric high enough off the ground to expose her feet and handed him whatever excess he could hold.

He watched her carefully, his gaze roving over her curvy frame all over again. “Oh, I will make it up to you. I promise.” His eyes crinkled into little half moons when he smiled and Mari felt her belly tighten in response to what was clearly a more than suggestive promise. “But I think it might not end well for that dress, Mari. Not with how crazy good you look in it.”

“Oh, that’s ok. I have other things you might like seeing me in,” she replied, biting her bottom lip and blinking up at him innocently. “Or you know… not in.”

Rex’s brows raised and he shook his head in disbelief at his luck tonight. “Come on then, mesh’la. Take me home. You can show me around later.” He took a handful of her dress and urged her forward, ready to follow her lead toward her building only a few blocks up the path. She obliged and started on her way, practically skipping with excitement and swaying her backside more than necessary just to tease him.

They approached her skyscraper and snuck in the backdoor on the speeder platform, preferring to use the more private entrance set aside for the famous and wealthy to use unbothered by the public. It was perfect for sneaking someone out or, in their case, sneaking someone in. It took everything in Mari not to smother him in kisses in the lift up to her floor and by the time they got to her door, she was sure her desire for him must’ve been radiating off her in waves.

She jammed in her chaincode and her apartment doors slid open, the whole place illuminated by the neon signs that dotted the speeder lane her apartment overlooked. She stepped inside and Rex followed, the tamping of his plastoid boots on her solid marble floors filling the air. She flicked the lights on and set her stuff on the shelf, removing her heels and shrinking down another few inches. Rex ran his hand down her arm, reminding her of just how much she had wanted him to get her out of this dress again. Instead, he slowly walked past her, looking around at the size of her place and taking it all in.

Her hallway was dotted with her favorite flimsis of herself and her friends. A large circular portal door marked entry into the main room, a living room with a deep purple flat cushioned sofa and floating white caf table in front of a holoscreen she watched all her favorite shows on. A small white island divided the living room and the kitchen, where an unopened box of groceries sat waiting to be organized into place. Her bedroom door was just beyond the living space off the hallway on the other side and though she was itching to pull him in there, he clearly enjoyed looking around.

“Welcome to my place.” she declared awkwardly, never quite feeling or even believing that it was hers sometimes. “Sorry, I didn’t clean up much. It was a rough week.”

He stopped in the center of her living room to look out the massive circular window onto her small balcony and turned back at her in amazement. “This whole place is just yours? It’s amazing.”

“Thanks. I love it, but it can feel a little too big sometimes. It’s much more than I’ve ever had before.”

“Yeah…a lot more than I’m used to.” he chuckled, “I mean I’ve got my own quarters. But most of the time I’m just on a cot. Don’t have time to make it feel like a home, you know?”

Oddly enough, she did know. She knew all too well.

After her parents died and she was put up in her republic sanctioned boarding house, she didn’t bother to decorate anything. It wasn’t home to her. A single bed in a single corner of a cold, stale building on the lower third of Coruscant wasn’t anything worth getting used to. Wherever else she and Siviee could find to hold up in always felt cooler than republic housing.

This was the first place that truly belonged to her and though she loved decorating it, it still didn’t feel real sometimes. As if she was inevitably going to be taken back underground to one of her secret hideouts any day now. Never staying in the same place long enough to call it home.

Yeah, she understood exactly what Rex meant, but she didn’t need to tell him that. Not yet.

“Makes sense.” She shrugged off the subject and made her way to the kitchen to put away the groceries that her building's protocol droid routinely dropped off at the end of every week. “At least you’ve got all your brothers around. Though having met your men, it seems like you’ve got your hands full,” she smirked, remembering how his men razzed him at the bar the first night they met.

Rex cocked his head in agreement, “And that wasn’t even close to all of them.” He stepped closer, looking nervously at her as if he needed to ask for permission to sit. She had to remind herself she was dealing with a soldier, he would probably do that a lot.

She smiled at him, pulling out a stool and nodding him toward it. “You don’t have to ask me to sit, Rex. You can do whatever you want with me. There are no rules here.” She didn’t mean that to come out as suggestively as it did, but she didn’t feel too inclined to take it back either.

“Uh- right. Just being polite.” he sputtered out with a sheepish grin, taking a seat and making Mari’s insides flutter at his endearing awkwardness. He was so out of his element here it was almost funny. He may not have ever stepped foot inside a civilian residence off the clock. He was like a deer in speeder glowbeams.

“So how many men do you lead then, Captain?” Mari asked as she shut the last of her groceries in her cabinets. “I’m supposed to know this, being a member of the Senate and all, but the details of the Grand Army of the Republic are still fuzzy to me.”

Rex set his helmet on the counter and crossed his arms, the plastoid clattering as he settled into the stool. “Well that depends. Technically, I am in charge of the entire 501st Battalion which is really a Regiment of 2,304 men. Most Battalions are 576 men. You only met some of the boys from Torrent Company , which is 144 men.”

Mari blinked at him dramatically in confusion. “How is anyone supposed to follow that ?” she laughed and leaned on the counter, letting her breasts spill out of the top of her dress just enough to keep things interesting.

He tried very hard to pretend not to notice, but his much slower response told Mari that her teasing was working. Just like before, she wanted to see how far she could push him before he’d make a move. She couldn’t always be the one doing all the work. She wanted to be reminded again of what he was made of.

“Well, as is the case with my General, we don’t. Technically a group our size requires a Clone Commander .” Rex pointed out, his focused stare beginning to wander other places as the lust expanded the dark depths of his pupils.

Mari’s not-so-innocent glare met his as her hands began to wander up the length of his arm while he spoke. She traced the scratches and deep gouge marks on the plastoid, her mind just as fascinated by the stories his armor told. “And you’re not a Commander? Certainly seemed like you could’ve been to me.”

She stepped closer, walking her fingers up his biceps and giggling softly. She unclasped the buckles of his armor, unceremoniously letting his shoulder pauldrons and his chest plate fall to the floor beneath them. He turned toward her instinctively and allowed her body to slot between his knees. “Our…our Commander is the General’s Padawan. I was with her earlier. Besides, I prefer being a Captain…more-more hands-on.”

“That’s the idea.” Mari quipped, sliding herself now chest to chest with him and practically eliciting a whine out of him. “I seem to recall you being very…very good with those hands.” she carefully ran her hands down the length of his arms, removing the last of the armor on his upper body. The standard black issue body glove clung to him in all the right places and highlighted the dips and curves of his muscles beautifully.

Rex exhaled to calm himself, unclasping the armor on his lower half to remove it as well, and grinning at her as she groomed his ego. “I am. They…uhm…the boys count on me. The General trusts me to lead them all, even as a Captain. It’s more work than most Captains ever get, but I’m good at it. I love a challenge.”

“That’s a lot of weight to carry, blondie,” Mari joked, running her fingers along the pale blond fuzz at the nape of his neck. She traced her touch along knots formed along the broad line of his shoulders over a brutal year of war. “on these big, gorgeous shoulders. I don’t know how you manage it all.”

His eyes explored her face, darting between the depth in her brown eyes to the part of her kiss-flushed lips. He chuffed as he smiled half-heartedly, “That’s what my training was for. Besides, all that helps me do this.” Suddenly, his broad hands slid behind her back, hoisting her up onto her counter with ease and sliding her waist flush with his.

Mari giggled in both nervousness and anticipation, watching the familiar lust return to his pretty face. He rested his forehead on hers, pure passion simmering within him waiting for a spark to start the fire again. She could practically feel the blood pumping him full against her center and she slowly exhaled to let the tension build. His focus on her was so powerful it was almost intimidating, but his dominance over her gave her a rush she couldn’t help craving more of.

After a few tantalizing heartbeats and Rex’s battle-worn hands caressing the dip of her waist over her dress, she steadied herself on an elbow and cupped his cheek with her hand. “Well, if there’s anything I can do to relieve your stress-” Mari licked her lower lip and smirked up at him devilishly.

“I’ve got a few ideas.” He muttered, his other hand sliding further up her thigh underneath the blue satin hem. Mari’s chest heaved as her pulse raced faster and Rex stole a pretty obvious glance down at her breasts threatening to pop out of her dress. “If you’ll have me, of course.”

“You can have anything you want, Captain.” She trailed her fingertips down the thick corded vein in his neck, his pulse pounding beneath her touch. The tension in him was wound far tighter than his soldier’s composure would ever betray. She gripped the duraweave fabric clinging to his broad back and tugged upward, motioning for him to remove it. He smirked up at her and followed her unspoken orders, removing his top and tossing it into a heap on her floor. As Mari’s touch ghosted down the tight muscles of his chest and rippled over his abdominals, his weighted palm hooked into the crease of her upper thigh.

“I know what I want...” he muttered as if to declare it to the galaxy for maybe the first time. His fingertips traced across her hip bone and he dragged them tantalizing slowly down her soft skin. “To return the favor, mesh’la.” He smiled, tipping her chin in his other hand and drawing her attention to the passion in his eyes.

Mari let out a surprised sigh as the tension snapped and Rex closed the tantalizing space between them. She let her lips part and his tongue slipped inside, sliding over hers with calculated reverence. His lips were smooth, the faintest hint of champagne still lingering from the gala earlier. He took silent breaths each time he broke for air, goading her into chasing after him for more.

His hands worked twice as hard as his tongue, meticulously working to move her dress out of his way and sliding the delicate straps off her shoulders. His bare fingertips ghosted up her inner thighs, making her shudder the closer he ventured to her center. Mari couldn’t help the way her hips bucked closer to him, desperate for him to feel the heat he was already coaxing out of her.

“You always so needy?” he whispered between kisses, letting his other hand tangle in the hair at the nape of her neck as he held her.

“Oh you have no idea.” she giggled, letting her head drop back to give him easier access to her neck. He took the hint, breaking from her lips to lave his hot tongue along her jaw. She gasped, breaking into a delighted smile as his hand slid further down her back. “Especially looking like you do.”

“Is that so?” he teased, his tongue tracing down the corded vein in her neck. “I could have a lot of fun with you…” His lips closed in on the hollow of her neck, sucking what would no doubt turn into a massive purple mark on her skin. “Could tease you and make you wait hours.” he chuckled, his fingers catching the latch of her bra and snapping it open easily.

Mari whined pathetically, her free hand rushing to grip his bicep. “Please don’t.” she pleaded, catching his eye as he backed up to slip the bra off her chest. He smirked, gently twirling one of her fallen curls around his finger. He moved it aside slowly, brushing it off the curve of her breast so he could cup it in his hand.

He smiled at her appreciatively and ran the pad of his thumb over her pebbled nipple. Dipping back down into the crook of her neck, he traced down to meet where his hand cupped her breast, leaving hot kisses in his wake. “Don’t worry, mesh’la, I couldn’t even if I wanted to.” he muttered, popping off the plush of her breast so hard it was sure to break the blood vessels underneath. “No man could be that strong, trust me.”

“Good because I don’t want to waste another second without feeling you.” Mari said, her free hand scratching along the hair on the back of his neck. She gasped as he suckled her nipple between his lips, his tongue swirling around and sending shivers up her back. “ Oh Rex .”

He hummed with amusement, letting his strong hand massage her other breast lewdly. “You like that hmm?” He looked up at her with a smirk, his breath across her spit-slick skin making her nipples harden at the sudden cold. “Can’t help but worship ‘em. Your tits are fucking perfect.”

“Just like the rest of me?” she quipped, not quite ready to let him win yet. Her back arched as he turned his attention to the other breast, leaving another purple mark to match the first. He hummed in confirmation, his wandering hands now bunching up the fabric at her waist in a decisive effort to remove it.

“Exactly. I see why you’ve got all that confidence I like so much.” he smiled up at her, fiddling with the side zipper on her dress and finally sliding it open. “Those stuffy idiots you work with should appreciate you more. We certainly would.” With a firm tug he motioned for her to wriggle her hips and he slid the dress right off of her. “Bold, outspoken, funny, smart…we clones always take notice of someone like you.”

His palms ran gingerly down her bare sides like he was carving the shape of her from his own imagination. Trailing kisses down her stomach, he let each one linger the closer he got to her core. His warm breath coaxed the flames of the burning desire now swirling in her belly just like they had before. He could work her into a frenzy just like this, so tenderly and so easily. It was a nice change of pace from men in her past who spent practically no time prepping her this intimately before sex.

“You always talk so much? I bet you say such nice things to every girl who likes you.” Mari challenged, biting her lower lip while his hands massaged at the curve of her backside. She could feel his smirk against her skin as he gripped her ass harder.

“Only if it’s someone who deserves to hear it,” he muttered sweetly, kissing just below her navel and turning his grip inward to run over her inner thigh cautiously. “You act like I do this often.” Rex giggled, shaking his head at her in disbelief. She was always someone who took a lot of convincing, especially after all that men had done to her.

“I know what most clones get up to on shore leave. It’s my job to know.” Mari laughed, her breasts bouncing as her chest heaved. Rex couldn’t look away, losing his train of thought as he stared longingly. “Who do you think makes sure the Republic pays the subsidies so 79s can stay open?”

Rex’s brows raised in surprise. “On behalf of my men, you have our eternal thanks, but I lost interest in that kinda thing the second I was made captain. Don’t usually have the time for fun like that…or other things.” He glared at her, almost as if he was trying to reassure her through eye contact alone.

From Mari’s point of view, she had a gorgeous, half-naked, decorated clone captain situating himself between her legs and touching exactly the right places to drive her crazy. Either he had done this loads of times before or this was the fate of the universe bringing exactly the right person to her. After being given absolutely no favors in life and never being graced with the force’s mystical abilities, Mari was far more inclined to believe the former. She could never be that lucky.

They stared at each other for a few tantalizing heartbeats until slowly Rex gripped her inner thigh, his kisses following his hands into the crease. “Don’t worry, mesh’la. I know a guy doesn’t come across someone like you every day.”

Mari shivered as she watched Rex inch ever closer to where she wanted his attention. He slowed down, dragging things out to let the tension build, but keeping his movements slow and his eyes on her. Her heart was pounding, making her cunt gently throb to the rhythm of her pulse. She wanted him to have her all over again and the look in his eyes gave her no indication that he planned on stopping.

Rex backed up, maintaining his mesmerizing gaze as he exhaled a long pent-up hiss. His warm roughened palms slid up the insides of her thighs to just graze the bare skin of her core. “Mari-” Mari’s breath hitched in her throat as he looked down at where his hands rested. He drew little soothing circles against her skin with his thumb and waited for her attention again. “Do you trust me?”

What he was suggesting was a thousand times more intimate than most of the things she’d done with men she had actually dated . She’d only known him a week, give or take a few rotations. Yet, he waited for her approval. He checked in with her and went at a pace she was comfortable with. The haze of lust darkening his brown eyes was as enticing as it was honest and endearing. Suddenly, she was never more sure of anything in her life.

“Yes.” she whined, reaching for something to hold on to and finding his hand already there to receive hers. He kissed each knuckle softly before settling to his knees. Mari parted her thighs and trembled as she exposed her bare core to him. He inhaled sharply, his eyes glazing over with want as she showed him what he had been longing for.

He settled her hand down onto the smooth counter surface and stroked his palm along the inside of her thigh, dangerously close to her heat. Turning his attention toward the delicate exposed skin, he placed painfully light kisses closer and closer to her center.

“My pretty girl…” he muttered, kissing just along the outer folds and making goosebumps erupt across the expanse of her satiny smooth skin. “I want to make you feel as good as you deserve.” The pad of his thumb gingerly traced patterns just above her clit, letting her anticipation build even more. “Like you’re the only person in the galaxy who gets to know pleasure like this.”

His gaze locked with hers, his tongue darting out to wet his lips and just barely grazing the node. Mari let out a shaky exhale, her lower half trembling as excitement and adrenaline overtook her. His eyes blazed with determination and he didn’t look away for a second as he calculated his next move. With a deep exhale that sent his heated breaths of anticipation along her wet lips, he leaned in, pressing a solid kiss to her clit.

“Oh Rex…more kisses… please ,” Mari whined impatiently, feeling the prickling heat of desire rushing into her lower belly all at once. He hummed in satisfaction, the sensation only adding to the tingling at her core. Slowly, he dotted kiss after kiss on her sensitive clit, each one lasting a little longer than the last.

Unsurprisingly, he was just as good with his tongue as he was with his fingers a few hours ago. He held her eager hips down with one hand and parted her folds with the other. His lips wrapped around her clit, earning a high-pitched mewl as it made tingles spread outward from her core. He suckled gently, his fingers circling her wet entrance to tease her more. “That’s it, mesh’la. Taste so good. You want me in that pretty pussy again, don’t you?”

“Mhm. I’m ready, Rex. Take whatever you want. I’m yours.” she whined, rolling her hips toward him for more. His palms slid outward along her inner thighs, holding her steady to prevent her from picking up the pace.

“I know you are, Mari. And you’re such a good girl for me, but we have time and I want to give you the attention you deserve.” Rex cooed, leaning in to kiss her clit again and pressing his tongue firmly against the swollen node. She shook with anticipation, the heat swirling in her lower belly rapidly pooling at her entrance. She tried to writhe for more, but his hands held her steady.

His tongue lapped over the bud with increasing speed, strands of saliva dripping down between her folds illicitly. Mari moaned as the tension carried her higher, her back arching off the cool stone of her countertop. She laid out before him, fully naked, dripping with want, and totally at his command. It was filthy and forbidden and she loved it.

One of her hands gripped at the frictionless stone behind her, the other scratching along the rippling muscles of his bare shoulder. His tongue delved lower with each pass, parting her folds and tasting the wetness coating them. He groaned, his eyes rolling back in ecstasy as he enjoyed more of her.

“You’re…so good at that… Rex .” Mari whined, her thighs beginning to shake as the tension in her belly tightened even more. Her chest heaved as she tried to catch her breath, but the racing of her pulse only made her cunt throb harder.

Rex’s gaze flicked up to watch her tits shifting lewdly with every movement. “I know,” he said as he chuckled with satisfaction. “I can tell.”

He was eating her out like he’d been starved for years and in his defense he probably had been. Clones didn’t often have time for foreplay at all, much less like this. Mari watched him through her lustful gaze. His brows screwed together in determined concentration, his pupils blown wide with desire and that signature grin on his face combined to make him so irresistibly attractive it made her body overheat.

Her opening fluttered around his tongue, just beginning to dip down inside her. White hot desire flared down her spine and she moaned so loudly she was grateful they were alone this time. Rex chuckled in smug satisfaction, the vibrations making Mari shudder with delight all over again. “You’ve been dripping for me since we left the gala, haven’t you? All over that cab too?”

Mari couldn’t vocalize a response anymore. She could barely do more than nod at him. He was overwhelming her much more quickly than before and she was sure one of those wide, strong fingers of his entering her would be her undoing. Just as she thought it, one finger replaced his tongue, slipping inside her opening with ease. Her walls received him eagerly, siphoning him deeper within her and making her whimper at the intrusion. “R-rex…I can’t-can’t take much more.”

He was too lost in her to register her words and he swore under his breath at the feeling of her slick now coating his fingers. “Say that again ,” he asked, licking another stripe over her clit. “My name. Say my name like that again. Sounds so good when you say it.” He pulled back and let a second finger enter with the first, his thumb gently padding her clit to keep the steady burn rising.

The familiar haze of climax was beginning to form inside her and she was barely conscious enough to remember her own name. But she wanted to please him and to let him know that if he kept treating her this well, she’d give him anything he asked. “Rex,” she moaned loudly, the sound making him chuckle with dark satisfaction, “Rex I’m so close.”

He curled his fingers inside her, massaging the spot that she had only ever been able to find on her own. Mari cried out in pleasure, droves of curses following as he prodded at the same spot in perfect rhythm with his circles on her clit. “Right there… fuck ..r-right there.”

Rex's brow furrowed with determination and he let out a few curses of his own as he kept at his mind-melting pace. “See? I know exactly how to take care of you, don’t I? Want to make you cum the way only I can. Can you do that for me, mesh’la?”

His fingertips fluttered against the spot inside her that made her see stars and she could feel the heat inside starting to overwhelm her. Everything about him was making her hot and she wanted nothing more than to give him what he so clearly desired. She whimpered, meeting his gaze as he let his tongue swirl over her clit again. “Cum for me, Mari. All over my fingers so I can taste you, pretty girl.”

Mari’s heart was pounding in her chest, the thumping rhythm of her pulse reaching a crescendo as she locked eyes with him. The passion in his eyes as he devoured her was such a stark contrast to the gentle, complimentary, polite nature he had always shown her. This side of him was maddeningly sexy and more seductive than any soldier-any man -she had ever known. His eyelids hooded in overwhelming desire as he suckled at her clit one final time, watching carefully for her reaction as he pressed his fingers up into her spot again, hard.

Her high collided with her at blinding speed, making her vision go white and a fantastic wave of sizzling tension melt down the entire length of her body. Her opening fluttered around his fingers, her walls clamping down on them inside and flooding her molten heat into his waiting palm. She sang out moans that would’ve made lewd holovid actors jealous and that she was absolutely positive she had never made for any other man before in her life. Mari’s fingers desperately scraped the smooth marbled countertop for something, anything to hold onto as her entire body convulsed with pleasure.

Instead, she was met with the warmth of his free hand again, his fingers tangling with hers and his thumb caressing the soft skin as she rode out her climax. “Easy, cyar’ika. I’ve got you. So fucking pretty watching you cum. Breathe and enjoy it. I want you to remember this the same way I always will.” He muttered, his fingers inside her still very slowly stimulating her as the spasming in her walls slowed.

All the heat in her body was replaced with the pleasant feeling of floating and finality she always experienced after any encounter she’d ever had. Yet none of them ever felt quite as all-consuming as this. If there was ever a way to know what floating in uncharted space felt like, Mari imagined it was something like this.

She giggled with delight, letting her every nerve ending feel the spark of pleasure he had brought her to. There was nothing else in her atmosphere but him. He surrounded her in every way and would keep her in this state of blissful balance for as long as he could.

“Wow…Rex.” she smiled at him, “get up here and kiss me.” Both of her hands grabbed for him this time and he slowly rose to his feet. His chin glistened with her wet release and he lifted her still boneless body into his arms to hold her steady.

“That good huh?” he shot her a cocky smirk, reaching up to wipe his chin with the back of his palm. Before he could, Mari grabbed both his cheeks in her hands and planted a sloppy kiss on him, licking the taste of her off of his lips. He tangled his hands in her hair, his tongue twisting with hers and savoring the taste of her pussy on both their tongues.

Mari broke from the kiss gasping and cleaned off the rest of his face with the pad of her thumb. “So, so unbelievably good.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and held on tight. “So good…that I don’t think I want it to end just yet. If that’s ok with you, Sir.”

Rex chuckled mischievously, “oh you want more , my filthy mesh’la?” he growled playfully, kneading her bottom in his hands. He turned them both around, looking for her bedroom door and finding its location with relative ease. “That can be arranged.”

Her thighs tightened their hold on his waist and she leaned back in his grasp to look at him eye to eye. “Ah ah…but this time I call the shots. I still have to put you in your place for earlier. My poor dress, what a shame,” she playfully tutted, scolding him softly.

His brows raised in surprise, “Yes ma’am. Whatever you say.” He smirked, a twinkle of mischief and excitement sparking in his eyes. He moved to her room faster than his perfectly engineered body could carry him, Mari continuing to dot his neck with little kisses.

She could feel his growing thickness against her bare center, the familiar warmth making her body ache for more of him all over again. Dragging her kisses to just below his jawline, she shifted her weight to pull him further into her room. He stopped in the doorway, grabbing her cheek and turning to lock her into another kiss.

He wanted her, she could feel it in the strength behind his kisses and the urgency in his steps. Faster and faster his heartbeats pounded against where her chest met his. Between broken kisses, he muttered the directive he needed, “Where…do you…want me?”

Mari pulled away, glancing at the state of her room behind her. She didn’t have much time to clean before she left for the gala earlier, but it wasn’t untidy. She couldn’t stand a messy bed, so naturally, that was their best option, thankfully. Rex suckled at the juncture where her jaw met her neckline, making her gasp out loud right before she could answer him. “B-bed,” she smiled, her hands dropping to grip his bicep. “Lay down for me.”

His dark eyes flitted around the unfamiliar room, finding her bed toward the back right wall. Humming in satisfaction he rasped, “Hmm, like it when you give me orders.” Mari giggled in response, unable to hide the blushed heat rising in her cheeks. He made his way toward her bed, spinning to seat himself down on the side of it.

Slowly, she slid her palms down his arms, working to get hold of his hands as she rolled her hips against his lap. “Well then tonight I can be in charge of you, Captain,” she whispered, her voice husky with lust. Her fingers wrapped around his wrists and she threw him down beneath her, pinning his arms above his head. “Understand?”

He exhaled shakily, his cock twitching against her heat and his eyes hooding with want. “Perfectly.” He rolled his hips up into her, the straining cloth of his bottoms catching her clit cruelly. “I’m all yours, gorgeous.”

She sat herself up, flattening her palms onto his lower torso. Her fingertips traced the cushioned muscles, following the subtle dips and curves of his abs until she reached his bottoms. “Since you love teasing me with these, better get them off you.”

Rex snorted, “you act like that’s a punishment for me.” He lifted his hips allowing her wiggle room to slide his black duraweave bottoms down his thighs. He shuddered as she palmed him over his briefs. Her hands stroked the length of him, eager to make him feel as good as he had her.

“Be careful, soldier. I can make it one if you really want me to.” She dipped her head down to where her hands were, eager to leave her faint lipstick stains on the strained fabric of his briefs. Rex nodded at her, following her intention to its logical conclusion and swallowing thickly as he waited in anticipation. She smirked, leaning forward to press a heavy kiss on his still-clothed tip. His head tipped back onto her mattress, sighing in delight as she let the trail of kisses travel down his shaft.

“Fuck…really like that. Such a little tease, aren’t ya.” He groaned, his deep voice gravelly and low as primal desire took over. His thighs shifted uncomfortably, desperate to have her touch him more.

Mari curled her fingers beneath the hem of his briefs and tugged them down slowly, her lips dragging kisses back up his length to meet his now bare tip. Grazing his sensitive head with her tongue, he gasped and bucked his hips into her. His hands flew to her head on instinct, slipping into her hair and holding on as her touch lingered.

She had absolutely no intention of making him wait any longer or prepping him any more than he already was. She needed his perfect, throbbing cock filling her now. But he didn’t know that. His hands cupped her cheek and slipped falling strands of hair out of her face, thinking that more delightful torture was imminent.

Instead, Mari sat up, sliding his bottoms fully off him and letting his cock slap up against his torso. “Oh normally I can be. But I can’t wait anymore to have you.” She slung her leg over his waist, straddling him fully and grabbing his sides for balance. He looked up at her in very thankful awe, resting his hands on her widened thighs.

He stared up at her, his gaze unbreakable and focused and his endearing smile growing on his handsome face. “Me neither,” he muttered, sliding his palms along the curves of her hips to grip her waist. Those beautiful brown eyes of his were never more honest than when they were looking at her and her heart jumped into her throat as the moment froze them both in time for a few breaths.

She broke first to line her entrance up with him, hovering above him torturously and jerking her hips along his length to slick him with the wetness coating her folds from her previous climax. Mari inhaled sharply, her body so desperate to feel him again it was making her shake. His reassuring hands on her waist and hip bone kept her grounded in the moment.

“Easy, my mesh’la, easy. I’ve got you. Take as much time as you need. Look so fucking good like this. Like a perfect dream for me.” His deep voice was as soothing as it was arousing and it gave her the strength she needed to settle herself down on top of him.

A garbled groaning sound cut off his words as she slipped his cock past her entrance. She carefully bobbed her hips up and down, easing him further and further into her heat with each shift of her hips. Her brows knitted together and her lips dropped open in a silent moan as she absorbed the delightfully painful stretch of him inside her again.

Mari could barely find the strength to move. He was huge , somehow feeling even bigger than earlier in this current position. With her every breath he shifted deeper into her and she whimpered as she finally felt him bottom out, her thighs splayed apart on either side of his toned waist. “S-so…big.” Her eyes rolled back and she bit her lower lip as her walls involuntarily contracted around him.

She was so much more sensitive this time. He speared into her so deep it was like he was rooted to her very core. She’d taken her fair share of sizes in her life. Nothing, nothing , felt like he did. The blood pumping him thick made him throb against her walls so strongly she could practically feel his pulse. His cock’s slight curve upward reached everywhere inside her that no other man ever had. He was perfect. He was made that way and he was hers. Right now, he was all hers.

Rex was desperately trying to pull himself together. Words weren’t finding his normally perfectly slick tongue and he looked wrecked with overcoming lust. His hands gripped her waist so hard she was sure she was already bruising and she didn’t care. She wanted to wear the way he held her for the rest of time if she could.

All of this overwhelming pleasure and she hadn’t even shifted a single bit yet. As she rose up and arched her back, the absence of him in the deepest depths of her cunt made tears prick in her eyes instantly. Almost immediately, she sat back down on him fully again. She moaned this time, loudly. The fullness making the heat in her belly feel so good she couldn’t help herself.

She lifted up again, this time finding a rhythm aided by his arms holding her up gingerly. The downright divine friction of his cock splitting her walls open repeatedly had her ravenous. The coiling in her belly furiously ignited the passionate flames of molten desire she’d only known since him. Over and over she rose and fell on top of him, riding his perfect, pounding cock as fast as she could handle.

Rex found his composure far sooner than she could, remembering his strength as her ever-tightening walls pushed his all too human instincts to kick in. He held her with both hands now, guiding her up and down the way he liked and carrying some of the weight to ensure she never tired. She was grateful for that because with how much strength it took her not to collapse immediately onto his chest, she needed the help.

“Rex. I…can’t stop…” she gasped, the rising heat making a sheen of sweat break out over her tan skin. The sounds of skin slapping skin filled her apartment, only broken by the groans and high-pitched whimpers leaving them both. “So deep. I love it just like this.” She reached for his hand and placed it on her breasts, begging him to touch her all over just to add to the pleasure.

“You’re fucking beautiful riding my cock. Such a good girl. Telling me how you like it, taking whatever you want from me. Use my cock. I want you to feel so good.” he urged, rolling her nipple between his fingers and groaning as her walls tightened around him in response.

“I feel…amazing. You’re so good, Rex. So…so good. Love how you fill me.” Mari cried out, grinding her hips down on top of him and watching his strength falter as he bottomed out inside her again. “Fill me better than anyone else, Rex. You’re perfect for me,” she admitted, throwing her head back and moaning loudly as he spanked her cheek playfully.

“I know I do. Want you to feel it all, mesh’la. I wanted to fuck you like this the second I met you. Fuck you so deep you forget everyone else. I wanted to make you mine.” he groaned, sitting up suddenly and wrapping his arm around her waist. Mari bucked her hips into him, the hairs around the base of him catching her clit perfectly and making her whine desperately in pleasure.

“I…I am yours. Fuck me like I’m yours, Rex. Only yours.” she begged, speeding up her hips and grabbing his face in her hands. She wanted to look him in the eye this time. She wanted to see his eyes as he took her away to bliss. The heat between them made their sweaty bodies frictionless and all Mari could do was chase her high against his lap.

Rex met her gaze with fiery determination, holding the hair at the nape of her neck and sharing his every breath with her as their thrusts met in unison. Asking him to make her his was all it took to blast his remaining composure to oblivion. His hips rocketed to life, snapping up to meet her bucking hips. Their volcanic climaxes rocketed toward each other with cataclysmic impact.

“Fuck, I’m…I’m cumming, Rex .” she moaned, looking into his eyes as her climax began to spread through her. She completely lost herself, resting forehead to forehead as the drag of his cock inside of fluttering walls made her vision white and overheated chills roll down her body from the top of her head to the tip of her toes. Her every nerve was set alight with a powerful tingle that dissolved into stardust every time his cock buried into her core. Hot, thick, and tearing her apart, she felt the tension burst, her walls collapsing around him in torturous delight.

He growled, low and so resonant it vibrated in her chest, “You’re all mine, mesh’la. Only mine.” He pressed into her one final time, pausing there as his cock spasmed inside her grip and emptied full ribbons of himself inside her more times than she could count. With an outpouring of curses and the softest whimper of her name, he shuddered a few more times and collapsed on the bed behind them.

Mari pulled off him slowly and gently, sitting back on her palms and spreading her thighs open to let his spend drip out of her fluttering opening obscenely. She panted, moaning softly and smiling up at him as she watched the mess he made of her. “All yours.” she repeated, watching as he smirked up at her with tired satisfaction at his handiwork.

She fell back into bed, laying on her back as she enjoyed coming down from one of her best climaxes ever and by far the best sex she’d ever had. After finally catching her breath, she rolled over on her side, resting her head on Rex’s pillow and drowning herself in the growing comfort of his scent. His arm snaked around her waist, pulling her by the small of her back into his side tightly. His chest rose and fell steadily, the exertion barely making him winded at all.

His dark skin was covered in a sheen of sweat that somehow made him look more gorgeous than before. She rested her hand on his chest and traced patterns over his scars with her fingertips. It was hard for her to avoid the obvious question of how he’d gotten the newest one. Her gentle motions on his skin stopped as she wondered and Rex looked down at her quizzically.

“You ok?” he pondered, the back of his forefinger stroking the dip of her bare waist.

“How did it happen?” she muttered, gesturing to the scarred edges of the now-healed wound with her fingers.

He sighed, “Oh this? Well since it kept me from this for a week, I should tell you the story.” He chuckled dismissively, but stopped when he saw the look of concern on Mari’s face.

“Right. We were chasing General Grievous, he’s one of the leaders of the Separatist Droid Army,” he started explaining when Mari interrupted him.

“Oh I am well aware of who he is,” she said with disgust, rolling her eyes and nodding at him to continue.

“Yeah, so we had ‘em on the run. Their ship was crashing and we were so close to finding him on the planet Saleucami. Just as we were close to tracking them down on speeders, I took a hit to the chest. Probably a Commando droid. Knocked me off my speeder.” he shuddered just slightly enough for Mari to notice and she tightened her grip on his bicep protectively.

He looked down at the scar, breathing deeply once or twice to compose himself again. “Kix and Jesse found me. Took care of me. I wanted to keep going. But the blaster wound was pretty bad. I had to stay behind. Jesse and I came across a farm a few cliks west of us and decided we could ask for some rations, water, shelter or something. And uh well-” he blinked, his brows knitting together in confusion.

“Well what? You found something?” Mari asked, unable to hide her intrigue. He was actually a pretty good storyteller.

“The Farmer. He was a brother. A clone . Had his own land, crops, a home, a wife…kids..everything. All because he deserted the war. You know, clones can get brought in and court-martialed for that.” Rex explained, looking at Mari with an expression she couldn’t quite read this time.

“You can’t be serious. The GAR’s not going to imprison someone because they chose a different life for themselves. That’s insane.” Mari scoffed, sensing Rex himself may not have realized the lunacy of that being labeled a crime until recently.

“That’s the law, Mari. It’s what we’re taught to do in the event one of us runs away from duty. Report them and let the Kaminoans or someone do the rest. I was pretty close to doing so, until the droids came and attacked us.” he sighed, his hand on her waist balling into a fist instinctually.

“Separatist droids attacked a civilian homestead?” she asked in disbelief, thinking of at least seven republic treaties that kind of action violated. Not that the Separatists cared about any Republic laws.

“Yeah, guess the clankers figured we were a threat to Grievous. They saw two clones and just went for us. I didn’t have much range of motion, but I was healed enough to at least protect the family. I owed that to him for harboring me until I healed.” he stopped and looked out the window at the dark sky illuminated with artificial light. Mari watched his expression harden, his jaw tightening as he reminisced.

“So what happened?” Mari asked, gently squeezing his bicep to bring him back to her. He closed his eyes and tipped his head to rest on the top of hers.

“The droids stood no chance against a man and his family. Especially not two clones. His family was fine and I healed up enough to leave the atmosphere again. But after what he, Cut–his name was Cut–showed me…the loyalty to his family, that unending ferocity in battle, it was exactly like what we were raised to do. He was still doing his duty, but for him it was personal. In a way that it isn’t for the rest of us.” He drifted off, as if the action he didn’t take was still weighing on him in some way.

“You didn’t tell anyone about him…did you?” Mari figured, holding her breath as she pieced together what had been bothering him. The secret he kept for his brother could get them both in trouble and it was against everything he claimed he stood for. He didn’t follow protocol and it was haunting him.

“No. I couldn’t.” he muttered, the admittance so quiet she could practically feel his shame. “Everything I have ever been taught tells me I should have. And yet, in the moment, it didn’t feel right. Working under General Skywalker, I am no stranger to breaking rules. We do it all the time. But this time I’m been struggling with it and I don’t know why.”

Mari thought about it from Rex’s perspective. As a commanding officer, he had to show an unwavering commitment to the cause in order to lead his men. If he, or any clones in his position, began to show too much deviation from the rules that made their duty so effective then the consequences must be severe. Possibly even deadly.

In Mari’s political world, the first thing Padme and Bail ever taught her is that just because something is a rule or a law, doesn’t mean it’s morally or ethically correct. The clones' existence as a whole was riddled with moral ambiguity and to keep them in line it seemed that the structure of their entire military relied on denying them basic ethics for life forms.

Cut somehow had come to realize that as a life form with independent thought and will, he was deserving of the same basic freedoms that all other natborns in the galaxy are inherently given. Most clones might never come to that same conclusion and she could see that, for Rex, this realization was hitting him pretty hard.

“Because in this case, the right thing to do is to break that rule.” Mari answered after a long period of silence. “Just because the GAR has rules to keep its structure doesn’t mean they’re always right. Cut made a decision to give himself a choice in the life he decides to live. The same choice you all should have as sentient life forms.”

“And it bothers me because following the rules means denying him his independence. I know we’re supposed to be committed to the war, but I can’t in good conscience betray my brother’s wishes like that. I have a loyalty to them above everything else.” he shook his head, his heartbeat now pounding under Mari’s cheek.

“Is this the first time you’ve met a brother who felt he didn’t want to live a life of war?” Mari reached for his hand and laced her fingers between his. He kissed the back of her hand and rested their joined hands on his chest.

“No. I knew another. A brother who felt that joining the separatists would help free us, but that was more of a betrayal. This is different. Cut wants a life of peace with a wife and a family. I can’t say I disagree. We all want that deep down.” he stopped, his eyes locking with hers immediately as she turned to look at him.

Mari wanted to say something more, a funny little quip about that being the reason he’s in bed with her. But all the words died in her throat as she saw the way he looked at her. He explored her face, his eyes darting back and forth as he focused on one feature and the next. Almost like he was trying his hardest to draw her face into his memory. Speeder light and neon floating signs outside her window reflected in the enticing depth of his deep brown irises, sparking them with the same fire she lit his heart with.

There were no words to explain this feeling. She couldn’t come up with them if she tried. Neither could he. His actions tonight, his presence in her apartment, in her bed with her right now, said it all. Whatever he and Cut had discussed on Seelos, it made him think of her.

On some level, if all clones were thinking about their individual lives beyond war, he was imagining what a life might be like with her . Maybe he was thinking about being something besides a soldier for the first time ever. He certainly deserved to find something to hope for after all he’d fought for already. Yet, never in a million lightyears did Mari think that something would be her. It was too huge. It made her feel too important.

She should be terrified by that much expectation, even if it wasn’t being explicitly stated to her. She should be getting up and asking him to leave since the physical part of their night was over. She should be backing away from yet another hopeless romance with nothing but probable disappointment on their horizon.

Yet, she didn’t move from his hold on her. She didn’t even want to.

“Well I’m glad you have something to look forward to.” Mari managed to whisper softly, tightening her hold on his hand and closing her eyes to nuzzle into his chest.

As she drifted off to sleep surrounded by the comfort of him, she heard one last low, satisfied mumble from deep in his broad chest. “Me too, mesh’la. Me too.”

notes: hi :) I know it's been a while since I've updated any writing. 2024 was a very hard year for me, but finally with all that past me I hope to get back to writing again. thanks for being patient with me. it means so much to me. I hope you like it :)

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