#Delsin Rowe x oc

[pandoradoesotherstuff]

Delsin Rowe x OC DUP Agent Samantha

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A/N: Surprise! It's an enemies to lovers request fic by the very artistically talented @gladii0lus! 🥰 I'm sorry it took so long, but I hope it was worth the wait!

There's angst, there's fighting, there's a little blood, there's Delsin being a flirty little shit aaaaand it has a fluffy ending. ☺️☺️☺️☺️ I may also have rewrote the entire end fight with Augustine to fit my narrative, too, and I can't lie, I'm kinda proud of it. 😂

Enjoy! ❤️

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Delsin sits on the rooftop of a high up apartment block, long legs dangling over the side as he taps rapidly at the game on his phone held in his long fingered hands. Something in the distance catches his eye. The glinting of metal, figures moving rapidly, the echoes of voices from far away. He tucks the device into his back pocket before quickly standing up, climbing up higher onto a nearby antenna tower to get a better look.

It was a DUP agent, higher up than a basic grunt soldier if the uniform was anything to go by. They were chasing someone, probably a rogue conduit or a “bioterrorist” as they liked to call them. (Fucking stupid if you asked Delsin.) He couldn’t quite make out the details of the agent’s face but he could see her long brown hair streaming behind her as she gave chase. The part that caught his attention the most was the type of power she seemed to have. It looked to him like wire shooting out from her left arm. Was her arm itself the wire or was it wrapped around her wrist and could be used at will? He found himself slightly mesmerised by the way she moved. The sheer speed and agility she showed, the way she seemed to propel herself forward with her own conduit power. Not all that dissimilar to something he could do himself. Curious…

Delsin jumps down from the antenna tower and lets himself freefall for a while before turning into smoke at the last minute and landing safely on the ground. He better get moving quickly if he wants to catch up and introduce himself to this new unknown agent.       

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Delsin is a whirlwind of smoke and ash and chaos as he destroys the DUP tank in one foul swoop. The explosion feels warm and almost comforting on his skin, it’d have barbequed anyone else in such close proximity. One of his many perks from being a conduit. He lands in a crouch, right fist against the ground while grinning up at the very unamused agent glaring back at him. 

“Well if it isn’t my very own personal DUP angel here to greet me after a hard day of kicking you guys asses all over the city”. 

“How many times”, she practically growls. Trying hard to ignore the slight flutter in her chest and the dusting of blush on her cheeks. “My name is -”

“-Oh come on, angel eyes. You don’t have to be like that”. He stands up, dusting any remaining ash off of his clothing and takes a few steps forward. “You know there is something between us, don’t deny it”. 

“Get back bioterrorist, I won’t ask again!” She raises her arm that is now made of thick metal looking wire, ending in a deadly point, fully intending on using it to restrain him and worse. He raises his palms up in response, a sign of faux surrender before taking a few steps back, failing to fight back the smirk that now graced his handsome features. 

“Temper, temper Angel. Anyone would think you don’t love me with that attitude”. 

The agent splutters angrily, cheeks flushing red with more than just anger. A blast of wires shoots forward, looking like a ball of angry snakes as they seek to ensnare him. Delsin just manages to dodge out the way, his body becoming nothing more than a cloud of smoke and ash before materialising on top of the now smouldering ruins of the DUP tank.

“Parting really is such sweet sorrow but you have to be faster than that to keep me all to yourself”. Delsin’s laughter echoes down the alleyway as the agent lets loose some choice expletives. 

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Delsin rushes his way through the empty city streets as fast as he can, leaping from roof to roof, gliding in the wind, through smoke and over fences. He had to catch up, he had to do something! Fetch was in danger! That DUP agent he’d spent the past few weeks dancing around, and flirting with, was hot on her tail. She was shooting bolts of neon behind her without looking, Fetch couldn’t afford one slip or the agent would be on her. 

“Fetch!” The two conduits look up, Fetch taking her chance to hit the agent. It hits her side, knocking her spiralling to the ground as his friend makes her escape. 

Delsin stops on the edge of the rooftop, looking down at the agent who was now clutching her side, teeth gritted in pain as a slow trickle of blood pools on the pavement. Ah shit…

He knows he should go after Fetch, make sure she’s okay and has somewhere to lie low for a few days but there’s something pulling him back to the agent. This was stupid, it wasn’t like he owed her anything! All she’d done was try to capture him by any means necessary and yet…

Delsin shakes his head in frustration at himself. “I hope you know what you’re doing”, he mutters to himself before dropping down from the roof and landing softly not far from the agent. 

She raises her wire melee power menacingly, eyes wild and fierce like a trapped animal. Other hand still clutching her side, fingers slick with blood. 

“Woah, hey now Angel. It’s just me. Your friendly neighbourhood conduit”. He raises his hands in surrender, not for the first time with her, hoping she wouldn’t attack. “I’m going to help you, okay? Just…trust me, this one time. Please”. 

There is pause as she stares deep into his eyes, breathing heavily with the pain, before the wire melee power hits the ground with a loud metallic thunk. 

Delsin approaches slowly, keeping his hands raised as she watches him wearily. He crouches down next to her, trying to ignore the conflict churning in his stomach. She hisses under her breath as he carefully moves her hand away to see how bad it is. There’s a lot of blood and a ripped gash in her uniform where the neon had burned through. The skin is raw looking underneath, the wound deep but he thinks he might be able to help. Delsin takes a deep breath and rubs his hands together before placing his palms over the wound, concentrating on sending his power and energy into the skin. The agent hisses in pain, teeth grit again, watching as their skin slowly knit itself back together, leaving behind a pink shiny scar. 

There’s a pause as their eyes meet, something almost soft passes between them before the sound of more DUP agents nearby startles them both. 

“Well Angel, looks like our time is up once again. Take it easy for a change. See ya!” Delsin takes off into the sky before the agent can even answer, vaults over the edge of the rooftop and disappears out of sight. 

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Delsin curses under his breath as he practically slides round the corner, favourite DUP agent hot on his heels. All hell had broken loose in the city, the DUP were on high alert, drones watching his every move, road blocks, check points, blockades. You name it, they were doing it and he was doing all he could to survive. It was getting harder and harder though, even now that he had more powers than before. (Thank you Fetch and Eugene.) But he had to survive, had to save his people, save his friends. Save everyone! 

Maybe his mind was wandering with the pressure of everything, maybe it was bad luck. Hell, maybe he wanted to get caught but whatever the reason, he found himself trapped. Backed into a corner with his Angel bearing down on him. He raises his hands in surrender for the 100th time as he walks backwards, eventually hitting a wall. 

“If you wanted me so badly Angel, all you had to do was ask”. Delsin tries to keep up his nonchalant attitude, his forced easy smile not quite meeting his eyes. He swallows a little nervously, frantically looking for a way out but not finding any as the thick metal wires weave their way towards him. If they managed to get a hold of him, it was game over. No continues. 

But then they just…stop. Delsin’s and the agent’s eyes meet, she frowns as if confused by her own actions. Then with a sigh, the wires slowly retract. 

“You saved my life last time, you could have easily left me but you didn’t.” The agent shifts awkwardly, struggling to get the right words as her wires fully retract and turn back into the regular supple flesh of her hand and arm. “Just…go”. 

“I…what?!”

“Go Delsin! We’re even now, I owe you nothing. Now get out of here!!” 

He didn’t need to be told twice. 

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

The stage was set for the final showdown between Augustine and Delsin. It had all boiled down to this, there wouldn’t be a second chance. All the fighting, bloodshed, tears, loss…it had to mean something. He couldn’t give up now! 

But Augustine was fighting him with everything she had, her black jagged concrete shards shooting up out the ground in every direction. Delsin felt like he was getting nowhere fast, her concrete shield seemed almost impregnable. All his own attacks were bouncing off or barely making a dent. Was this even possible?! No, it had to be! He’d come too far to give up now! He had to think of something and it had to be quick. 

Then, as if it was some heaven sent miracle, there was a clang of metal hitting stone as those familiar wires shot out in front of him blocking a projectile he’d failed to see. 

“Angel…”. He breathes heavily, grinning in disbelief as even she looks shocked at her own actions. 

“You know fine well my name i-”

“-You!” Augustine interrupts with a scream of rage, hurling herself towards them at a furious pace. Her face contorted with rage and betrayal. Delsin and the agent spring apart, narrowly avoiding the whirlwind of concrete that would have ripped them to shreds. 

“I can’t believe I’m doing this but…” There’s another crash of concrete as it narrowly misses the agent’s head, exploding into shards that tear at her clothing and skin. “I can help you!”

Delsin is deflecting projectile after projectile with his chain whip, trying to get close enough to Augsutine to try and stop her. 

“Look at that!” More concrete explosions interrupt his words until he finally manages to make his way over to the agent, handily crouched behind a generator where he could refuel his power. “Now you’re my guardian angel too”. 

“Do you ever stop?! Ugh, don’t answer that. Look, if you can distract her I might be able to give you an opening but you have to be fast. Got it?” 

Delsin flashes her a grin before jumping up on top of the generator. 

“Hey! All mighty leader! Over here! Come get me, I’m a scary bioterrorist off to steal your kids and ruin your perfect neighbourhoods! I use curse fucking words too!” He dashes in the opposite direction, leaving a smoke trail behind him as he goes. He fires blasts of neon and smoke bombs, anything to keep Augustine’s attention on him. Out of the corner of his eye he can see the agent sneaking around the outside of the area, crouching behind different pieces of debris, trying to keep out of sight as much as possible. 

Delsin holds his breath as he sees the agent right behind her former boss. This was it, he wasn’t sure what she was about to do but he knew they only had one shot. Just as Augustine was getting ready to strike again he saw the agent’s wires rise up behind her, quickly striking to grab each individual piece of concrete and tear it away from around her. It catches her former boss by surprise, she falls to the ground and stumbles to her knees. The wires are vibrating and shaking as the fight to keep her shield at bay. 

“Finish it Delsin!” 

He’s only too happy to dive at her with everything he’s got, hands grabbing her shoulders tightly as they slide along the ground leaving a trench behind them. His hands are glowing as he absorbs her power, he can feel it flowing through his veins, concrete shards now coating his arms like armour. He scrambles to his feet, staring down at the woman who had tried to take everything from him. Delsin knew what he had to do. 

He uses Augustine’s own powers against her, coating her in a cocoon of painful concrete as her shrieks are finally muffled by the stone. The only part of her that was now visible was her frightened eyes. 

“I’m told that’s painful”. He spits her own words back at her before turning around to see the now former DUP agent silently slipping away from the destroyed room that had been the battle ground. 

“Hey!” Delsin calls after her, quickly picking his way over the rubble to try and catch up. The former agent seems to have vanished once he reaches the street outside only to just notice her disappearing over the edge of a nearby rooftop. He sprints over, making short work of the leap to the roof, heart sinking at first when he doesn’t immediately see her. Then he spots her sitting on the far corner, legs dangling over the edge as she looks out at the partly ruined city of Seattle. Police and DUP agents scattered everywhere from the previous chaos. It would take them a while to sort everything out again, never mind find Augustine where he had left her cocooned. He didn’t think anyone would be looking for them. Just yet at least. 

“Now look who’s running from who, Angel. How the turns have tabled, or something like that”. Delsin sits next to her, legs crossed underneath him, leaning back with his elbows on the cold concrete. The former agent sighs heavily, rolling her eyes at him, trying to ignore the sheer heat that radiated from him and made her want to draw in closer. 

“How many times, my name i-”

“-Samantha, I know. I’ve always known, I just think you look more like an Angel from upon high”. Delsin tries to suppress a grin as he sees the slight blush form across her cheeks. 

“I couldn’t have stopped her without you, you know. I owe you…a lot”. A quiet moment passes between them as they stare out at the city, he’d almost call it companionable silence if she hadn’t spent the last few months trying to capture him every time they crossed paths. 

“I don’t…I still don’t understand why I did it, Delsin. I can’t lie to you about that. But…” Samantha takes a deep breath before continuing. ���But when I saw you in trouble I couldn’t…I couldn’t help myself. I knew I had to do something, I couldn't let you die!"

The confession seems to surprise Samantha herself as they both lapse into silence again. Delsin tried to contain his glee while she was questioning herself again. 

“What now?” She asks, looking deep into his eyes as though searching for something she hoped to find. He smiles back in response, sitting up so he can gently take hold of her hand in his. 

“The world is your oyster, my Angel. It can be whatever you want. We can be whatever you want”. 

The blush deepens on her cheeks as she returns the smile before slowly leaning in to press her lips on his. 

“I think I rather like the sound of that”. 

[leodoodlesstuff]

the most beautiful colors chase the sun

they wrap up her trail in a taunting gesture

that seems to sing out loud

this is what you’re missing

[ragingdumpsterfire]

Juno + Delsin doodles

[paintsplantspaws]

I’d like to do a very special shout-out to @tamiisnthere. She is a great creator and an inspiration of mine. Thanks to all of you for all the likes!

[pandoradoesotherstuff]

Absolutely gorgeous! I love it!! 🥹🥹❤️❤️ And you're absolutely welcome! Any time. 🥰❤️

Sam and Delsin ballroom dancing? 🫣🤭 Sam didn’t recognize him cause he didn’t have his beanie on 😭 not because of the mask LMAO

A drawing based on this post that the lovely @pandoradoesotherstuff wrote! Thank you again for letting me request again :’))

I gave Delsin a vest cause ya know he wears a vest so why not give him a formal one 🤭 and I made Sam’s dress bit glittery and obviously the strings on the back are suppose to represent her wire powers☝️🙂‍↕️

[secondstarly]

warmup / meme dump

refs x x x

[shenasocs]

Name: Gina Fav Color: Orange Abilities: Spray painting to create illusions. Past: Born in Seattle to African American father & Jamaican mother. Joined a girl gang at 18 & got arrested many times by her dad. Accidentally killed her gang with her powers during a heated arguement. Quotes (*bonus*): “Most of girls in the gang didn’t like me bc I had the most prettiest eyes. Green eyes with hope. Also, I’m really queer” “I was hiding from D.U.P. after the incident. Then, I bumped into a guy with a red beanie. Very cute & devilish at the same time. He told me to watch as he mercilessly kill those poor guys. But then again, I don’t feel sorry bc they tried to kill me” “Delsin is my teacher. He taught me how to spray painting better & to defend myself. I met his minions. Fetch & Eugene, they seem legit” “Dad, you can’t tell me what to do. I’m a conduit since I was young. I kept it from you bc I knew that you would put me in prison just like mommy. You knew mommy was a conduit & a criminal, but you fell in love anyways and I was born. What did you expect? Her power was gonna pass on to me. You didn’t want me to make the same mistakes as her but I already did. I work for the infamous Delsin Rowe. (Laughs) I’m not corrupted, old man. This is the last time you’re gonna see me” “I’m fucked up but I don’t care. I need fucking happiness & pleasure”(talking to evil!Delsin) “(Smokes weed) This some good shit” “You want me to destroy the party with you? Sounds lit. I’m ready whenever you’re ready, bad man” (agreeing to evil!Delsin) “I love tagging & playing with my PSP. I’m gonna play GTA”

[gutankle]

infamous

YESSS I’m so excited to get this thank u,,

these are all gonna be from second son because I’m awful and prefer second son but hey,,❤ Favorite Male: DELSIN delsin I would die for delsin Rowe and come back to life just to die for him again ❤ Favorite Female: fetch! I went through a period of disliking her bc one of my friends I don’t like anymore stanned her but I decided forget my old friend, fetch is great. Betty gives her a run for her money tho.❤ Favorite Pairing: fetch and delsin is pretty cute but the real otp is delsin x my oc, Kian ✖ Least Favorite Character: Augustine or Shane from first light :/✔ who’s most like me: he’s much cooler than me, but probably delsin ideals-wise❤ most attractive: delsin delsin delsin❤ three more characters that I like: Reggie, Betty and Eugene (but also Jenny from first light bc I totally just remembered her when I tried to remember Shane’s name)

[fortheloveofwii]

Ship meme for multi-shippers

@amandashepard tagged me in this and I had to think really hard about it. so many fics, so many ships LOL. but thank you for tagging me!!

Tagging @smokeeconduit, @josmott, @carlstoodard, @kiingdomcome, and uhhh whoever wants to do it

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First ship you ever read fic for: Nick x Ellis left 4 dead 2

First ship you ever wrote fic for: Fetch X Reggie for infamous second son, right here . read at your own caution I haven’t updated it in nearing 3 years

Ship you write the most now: Desmond Miles x Delsin Rowe. I’m not kidding, I have about 5 fics for them

Ship you read the most now: I fandom hop alot but based on my bookmarks uhhh cullrian (cullen x dorian)

Newest ship: probably Nadine Ross x Chloe Frazer

Rare ship you wanna read more of: literally all my favorite ships. Reggie x Eugene, Ajay Ghale x Rabi Ray Rana, Male Shep x Garrus Vakarian (of course i can contribute but do i wanna? sometimes)

Your taboo ship: I actually really enjoy Clay x Rebecca from Assassins Creed. That’s the only one I can think of. That or Shepard x Joker, not enough of that

They never met in canon ship: I can’t think of anything outside of crossover ships

Your unexpected ship: I wasn’t expecting to enjoy mercy76 as much as I do, that and symmphara. Mostly bc I just hadn’t intended to get into overwatch

The ship you always forget to give love to: probably Shepard x James Vega, or anyone frankly that isn’t Garrus...I have a problem. 

Ship your OC with a canon character (if applicable): I mean, I guess if shepards and inquisitors count? I’ve never shipped an oc with a canon character that i can think of. i mostly ship ocs with friends ocs

A ship you’re embarrassed to ship: I’m not really embarrassed, but a while ago a friend and I started shipping something that we’re certain only we know about (cough, the dorks)

Your most romantic ship: How dare I barely mention uncharted. Nate/Elena are the best 

Your sexiest ship: I’m not really a ‘sexy’ ship person to be honest

Your most tragic ship: Alot of them are tragic in their own ways, which i pointedly ignore and write happy things. lies. slander. I’m lying to you and myself

A ship you want more content for:  ALL OF THEM

[condvit]

i was tagged by m’love @glassrunner  💕

Nicknames: I don’t usually go by any really Zodiac sign: Pisces  Height: just about 5′9″ Last thing I googled: icon sizes for tumblr lol Favorite music artists: EXO!!!!!!!!!!! and like so many others you know. my music taste is so varied...  Song stuck in my head: none at the moment bc i’m currently listening to music. so i’ll go with what’s playing. Ready Or Not - Monsta X Last movie I watched: aahhh.... i don’t even know. maybe Resident Evil?  What I’m wearing right now: me favorite hoodie Why I chose my URL: bc i love the shit out of the infamous series also i wanted something short & sweet Do I have any other blogs: several. @ocsofthedas (dragon age oc appreciation), @ocsofthewasteland (fallout oc appreciation), @tiredsaeyoung (mysme writing/etc. blog.... that i don’t update nearly enough), and @memeyeols (kpop blog which i can’t tag bc i legit just changed my url lmao) What my last relationship taught me: UM... well let’s see. idk if i wanna post just on the off chance they see this. so.... pass. but things were learned ye. Religious or spiritual: neither  Favorite colors: all!! but pink rn Average amount of sleep: depends i try to get at least 8 on days i work, but that doesn’t happen sometimes. when i’m not working i sleep way more. (fun fact: from monday night - wednesday night i was running on 6 non-consecutive hours of sleep. worth it for exo.....) Lucky number: don’t have one! Favorite characters: I LOVE SO MANY..... some of my comfort characters/favs are Delsin Rowe, Nathan Drake, Deacon, Elena Fisher, Faith Connors, Cole...... so many others i don’t wanna type a novel here How many blankets I sleep with: just one at the moment.  Dream job: it changes all the time with my interests. anything that puts me in a position to make others happy and meet my favs. how’s that?

[pandoradoesotherstuff]

The Conduit and the Agent: A Delsin x Agent OC Tale.

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A/N: The lovely and talented @gladii0lus once again asked me if I could write something for her kick ass OC, Agent Samantha, and who am I to say no?? A fun little fluffy piece which takes place before the final battle against Augustine but after they've met a few times.

This was so fun to imagine and to write, I hope I did your vision justice!

Enjoy! ❤️

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The Seattle ballroom was a grand old building, marble in structure with pillars to rival a pantheon and the name emblazoned in gold above the glass doors that beckoned the guests inside. There were guards everywhere outside surrounding the building, more than a few inside also but luckily for Delsin he didn’t need an invitation. With a quick adjustment of his bow tie, he slips in through an upstairs vent. He wasn’t used to wearing such formal clothes, they were a little stiff and uncomfortable for his liking. (The jacket wasn’t even his in fact, he’d “borrowed” it from Reggie.) But he needed to look the part if he wanted to be completely incognito. There was important information to be gleaned from such an event. A who’s who of agents to be taken out eventually, maybe an idea of any further plans, a close up look at Augustine for potential weaknesses perhaps? The possibilities are endless. And if he happens to run into his favourite DUP agent while he was mingling with the crowds then so be it. Who says you can’t mix a little business with pleasure. 

Inside the building was like nothing Delsin had ever seen before. There were crystal chandeliers and candelabras everywhere, the candle light glinting off every jewel in the place making the very air seem to glitter. The upstairs balcony, which he was now standing on, was carpeted with a thick burgundy fabric that felt plush underfoot, a dark wood railing ran all the way round, only interrupted by the grand staircase which led to and from the ballroom floor. Delsin catches sight of himself in one of the gold gilded mirrors that were placed strategically around the room to better reflect the candle light. He almost has to do a double take for a second, alarmed by his unusual appearance. Besides the black tuxedo, he’s wearing a sleek black masquerade mask with silky raven feathers adorning the sides minus his usual red beanie that was never off his head. Delsin felt almost naked without it, truth be told, but sometimes you have to make sacrifices for the greater good. 

He leisurely walks around the top balcony, making mental notes of everyone there and acting casually like he belonged. Only a few people were wearing masquerade masks but luckily no one took special notice of him because of it. Then across the room Delsin notices her, his very own Angel. Her arms were folded on the balcony as she leaned over a little, looking down at all the couples gliding effortlessly across the room, an almost bored expression on her face. The agent’s dress was deep midnight black that flowed perfectly over her curves, the back open to show off a series of intricate crisscrossing wires that reminded him of her own conduit powers. Something which was no doubt on purpose. Delsin wondered briefly what it’d be like to have his hands on her skin while they danced before realising he was probably staring for a bit too long and decided it was time to make his way over and say hello. It was only polite after all. 

Delsin carefully weaves his way through the crowd towards the agent, grabs two flutes of champagne on the way and takes a deep breath to prepare himself before reaching her. 

“You know, I just can’t stand seeing a beautiful woman drinking all by herself”. He holds out the champagne flute for the agent to take, using his most charming smile. She looks him up and down with an expression of slight amusement before straightening up and accepting the offered glass. He has to suppress a grin when she doesn’t recognise him. 

“Does that line usually work?” She smirks, examining the bubbling liquid in the glass before taking a small sip. 

“No, but there’s always a first time for everything”. He grins before taking his own sip of champagne, nose wrinkling at the tart taste. It wasn't his usual drink of choice but it seemed appropriate for the occasion The agent rolls her eyes with a snort of laughter, sipping her drink once again. Delsin couldn’t help but notice the way her eyes kept glancing over him, like she was trying to figure something out. 

“So what brings you here? I don’t think I’ve ever seen you at headquarters”. The agent frowns, eyebrows furrowing as she tries to think if she has seen him somewhere before. Maybe that was why he seemed vaguely familiar to her; she might have seen him briefly at the DUP headquarters. 

“I’d like to say it was for networking or some other corporate bullshit but truth be told there is this totally hot babe I’m into. You uh, you might even say she’s a literal…Angel”. 

The agent gasps at the familiar nickname from the conduit, knuckles turning white with her now furious grip on the champagne flute, threatening to break the delicate glass any second. 

“You!” She all but growls under her breath. 

“Me”. Delsin replies with a smirk, casually continuing to sip on the bubbling liquid as if he wasn’t in the most perilous situation ever. “I clean up good, huh? Come on Angel, I know you were looking”. 

“That is the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard in my life. I-I…I wouldn’t, I couldn’t…I-” Her face was flushed, embarassed at her own bumbling reaction and for letting the conduit get under her skin so much. 

“-Relax Angel, don’t get your panties in a twist. I won’t tell anyone”, he interrupts with a wink. The agent flushes somehow darker, she can feel the wires beginning to form under her skin while contemplating her options. She could try to capture him right here, Augustine would probably want her too but…but there were too many civilians here. Too many innocent people would get hurt in the pursuit, at least that’s what she was telling herself. 

“Dance with me?” The conduit takes a gentle hold of her hand, rubbing his thumb lightly over her knuckles, thankful the mask would cover up his own nerves somewhat. The agent sighs, looking conflicted as she glances around at all the people in the room. 

“Do you promise to leave straight away if we have one dance? I mean it Rowe, this is fucking crazy for you to be here.”

Delsin breaks into the most dazzling grin she’s ever seen, almost causing her to forget how to breathe for a second. 

“One dance and I’m outta here, no one will ever know”. 

Delsin pushes his luck to kiss the back of her hand before leading her through the crowd, down the stairs and onto the dance floor, leaving their half empty champagne flutes on the tray of a conveniently passing waiter. He places his arm around her waist, pulling her in close as she rolls her eyes but she couldn’t stop the small smile that appeared on her lips. 

“Should I mention now I’ve never danced like this before?” He sheepishly admits as they start to do some sort of waltzing steps to the flow and sway of the classical music that was playing from a large orchestra. 

“Why am I not surprised?” The agent laughs. “Although I’d be lying if I said I had either. This is…nice, though. We’re probably not doing a correct step between us but it’s…nice”. 

Delsin smiles softly in response, talking hold of just one of her hands to twirl her slowly before pulling her in close again. 

“You look beautiful”. He says, finding himself once again completely lost in those piercing eyes that always felt like they saw right through him. 

“You don’t look so bad yourself, Rowe”, she replies quietly. Almost afraid to say the words louder in case it broke the spell she found herself under. 

One dance became two and two became three as they stayed in their own bubble, passing the odd comment between them but mostly they were silent. Both lost in thoughts of each other and of the body heat they were sharing, revelling in the closeness they were both missing in their lives. 

“I should go”. Delsin finally says, leaning in slightly without really thinking about it. 

“Yeah…” The agent begins to lean in slowly, her eyes never leaving his as the gap between them slowly closes. Their lips are mere inches apart, the smell of her perfume filling his head, almost making her dizzy or maybe it was just the anticipation of what was to come. The sound of someone clearing their throat loudly next to them causes the agent to flinch back, eyes a little wild and alarmed looking. 

“Time and place, Agent Samantha”. Augustine was standing next to them, arms folded across her chest, a look of cold amusement on her face. The agent steps back, clearing her throat with embarrassment.

“Of course, Director”. She holds out her hand for Delsin to shake. “Pleasure to see you again”. 

“The pleasure is all mine”. He replies, placing a brief kiss to the back of her hand while fighting hard to keep his face neutral lest his expression give him away. “Maybe we’ll see each other soon”. He doesn’t wait for a reply but turns his back on them, jaw set tight as he quickly makes his way towards the stairs. 

“Delsin?” The DUP director calls after him. “Don’t let me ever catch you sneaking in here again, it might just be the last thing you ever do”.

[ragingdumpsterfire]

Delsin Rowe x Juno Moore | infamous Second Son OC | 18+ sexual content

___________________

The evening sun pooled through the windows of the empty coffee shop, warm and enticing as the muffled tones of a record crooned, filling the space. As the evening crowd emptied out, rushing towards whatever the dwindling hours held for them, the music slowly evolved into something that the taller of the two remaining employees described as “pot-smoking desert hipster music”.

“Come on, Sam,” Juno teased, elbowing her lightly. “They’re really good, you just have a thing against the singer having a man bun.”

With mop in hand, Sam whipped her head around to gape at Juno with feigned indignation.

“Excuse me, little miss I’ll-fall-in-love-with-anybody-wearing-skinny-pants-and-a-designer-hat. It’s called taste, and you should try buying some at the hipster grocery store you shop at.”

“Okay, first of all, Samara, rude,” Juno stated, throwing her apron at Sam and trying to contain the laughter that was attempting to break out. “Second of all, I’ve seen the customers you flirt with, you’re in no position to be judging.”

Sam’s hands went up in a gesture of surrender, her laughter a sound that always filled Juno with a feeling of home. Of all the people she had met after moving to Seattle, Sam was always one of her favorites. She began as a coworker, and quickly became so much more, like the sister she never had.

“Fine, Juno, you win this round,” Sam said, then added under her breath, “but that man bun is still fuckin’ stupid.”

Before Juno had time to react to her friend’s slight on her taste in men, the gentle chiming of bells filled the background, and both the employees let out an audible groan.

“Come on, it’s five minutes until closing, they can have their coffee up their—oh, hello.” The change in tone caught Juno off guard, Sam‘s voice dripping with threatening flirtation as she threw wagging eyebrows over to Juno.

“It’s your hot guy friend, and you know what he doesn’t have? A man bun—ow!“

Juno frantically rushed around the counter, jabbing Sam in the side on her way past, running a hand through her hair absentmindedly as she stopped short in front of the lanky figure, his hands shoved coolly into his pockets. She was painfully aware of the faint scent of burnt cedar from his presence in the coffee shop, something she would never want to get rid of from her memory as long as she lived.

“Hey Del!” She gave a small wave, and smiled up at him.

Delsin took in the sight of Juno, her slightly tousled hair, the way her flushed face immediately gave clues to her emotions, how her gaze dropped down to his lips for a split second, then back to dance around his eyes. It was cute, the way she thought he wouldn’t notice it. Hot. He couldn’t help the grin forming.

“Hey Junicorn,” he said, then winced slightly. He hadn’t meant for the nickname to stick, not this long. Well shit. He could do better than that.

“How’s your day—“

“So, can I make you—“

There’s a moment of confusion, a soft pause, and then laughter as Juno and Delsin realize they were rushing to talk over one another.

“You go ahead,” Delsin says, gesturing to Juno.

“No, no, it’s okay, you first!” Her soft laugh is mesmerizing, and Delsin can’t look away as she waves her hands at him to continue.

The way Delsin focuses on her so intently causes Juno’s insides to flip, and she notices the warmth building low inside of her, matching that of the heat radiating off of him. He was so hot, in more ways than one. Juno dares to look away first, smiling and glancing down at her hands. There’s a silence between them, something soft playing over the speakers from a playlist Juno created specifically for the early evening. It was sultry and slow, songs that made Sam roll her eyes, yet she still belted the lyrics out after they locked the doors and started cleaning for the night. Neither make a move, afraid to break the moment between them, the building heat drawing their bodies ever so slightly closer to one another. There was no denying the attraction that had built over the past few months, it was obvious every time they were in the same room.

And then there’s a cough, a shattering noise that doesn’t belong in their bubble, causing both Juno and Delsin to jump slightly. Sam sat there, leaning on the counter with her chin rested on hands, the cheesiest of grins plastered on her face.

“I’m just gonna—I’m gonna head out now,” said while gesturing behind her. During the last few minutes, Sam had grabbed her backpack and was ready to leave. “I think I-I left my stove on in my mom…or something.”

Sam passed through the space between Juno and Delsin, turning to wink at Juno and make a crude hand gesture, which led Juno to scoff in vague disapproval.

“Have fun you two,” Sam called from over her shoulder, waving at the room in general.

“Stay safe!” The emphasis on the word was not lost on Juno, and she could feel the way her face reddened. And with the shut of the door, they were alone.

_______

The alley wall digs into the soft skin of Juno’s back, her skirt hiked up around her thighs. Delsin’s hands gripped her tightly as he pulsed into her burning heat, panting against her skin. He was lost in the way she felt around him as he moved his mouth frantically over her neck, rough purple marks flourishing under his lips, marks that would certainly draw attention in the morning. That was a problem for future Juno. As hard as she tried, Juno couldn’t swallow the low moans that echoed in the secluded street behind the coffee shop, not that anyone ever came back here. There was only the garbage, which was the entire reason why they were back here to begin with. At least that’s what they told themselves half an hour ago, but the trash bags were long since forgotten. As soon as they got into the alley way, hands found their way under clothing, desperate to lay claim to any skin that was hidden. One thing led to another, and soon public alleyway sex was something Juno could check off her list.

“Oh fuck, I’m gonna—I’m gonna come“ Delsin moaned, his pupils wild with the desire burning within him. His thrusts were jagged, fingertips bruising Juno’s thighs, touch a little too hot. Juno didn’t mind it though, she just imagined where else his burning touch could go.

“B-birth control,” Juno gasped, rolling her hips against Delsin, craving the way he filled her entirely and then some. The fire in the pit of her core was consuming all of her, her head was hazy with the rolling pleasure.

“I’m on it.”

When Juno opened her eyes again, Delsin’s dark eyes were laser focused on her, bewildered. His mouth was open slightly, and he bit his lip. He was putting together the pieces of what she meant, and when it dawned on him, she felt him falter with his pace.

“Oh, fuck.”

He rested his forehead against hers, slightly damp with sweat, his hot breath mixing with hers, jolting his hips against her.

“That’s so fuckin’ hot,” he breathed out, holding her still as he throbbed expectantly inside of her, thighs tight against his waist. “You definitely sure?” There was a slight hesitation to his tone that she could sense underneath the desperation, a need to clarify the situation, to make her happy and not do anything she’d regret, but straining to hold back.

“I could always—“

“I’m on birth control, Del��fuck—it’s okay. I want it.”

To punctuate her words, she rolls her hips, eliciting a small groan from Delsin. A moment passes, their heavy breathing the only sound in the alley. Juno’s arms are wrapped over Delsin’s shoulders, fingers entwined with the dark hair sticking out from under the maroon beanie. And all at once, Delsin’s mouth crashes on Juno’s, tongue pushing its way into her mouth, his kiss pleading and starving, tasting all he can have of her. His hands pull her down on him, plunging deep into her, over and over, hitting that one spot that causes stars to form beneath her eyelids, and she knows she can’t handle much more. Her moans and cries bounce off the walls, escaping into the Seattle night, and she can feel tension building within her, threatening to snap and expand with the intensity of the forming cosmos. Delsin’s breath hitches at the sudden unexpected tightness, and he comes immaculately undone, pulsing, a burning heat releasing inside of her, as she feels stars go supernova deep within. There’s nothing in existence except the two of them, entwined with each other, alone and part of something so much more in this moment.

A quietness settles around them as Delsin rests his forehead against hers, hot breath mingling and slowly returning to normal, and his grasp on her thighs slackens a little as his fingers tremble. He lets out a soft laugh, holding up a hand, watching it shake slightly. At the sight, Juno unwraps her legs from his waist, letting him set her down, and fixes her skirt as he buttoned his jeans. She notices the way Delsin’s beanie sits crooked, probably her fault, so she stands on her tiptoes and fixes it, murmuring a soft apology.

“Well fuck, Juno, I’m exhausted,” Delsin yawns out, stretching his arms up, then settling them around Juno. He’s holding her from behind, his chest flush against her back, kissing the base of her neck. They were still standing in the alley, but nobody cared.

“Think I can get any caffeine around here? Maybe some place with a hot barista chick,” he teased, grinning against her skin.

Juno laughed, and set her hands on top of his warm forearms, still draped over her chest. She slowly led him back into the coffee shop, an awkward but not uncomfortable feat.

“C’mon, banner man, I think I know of a place.”

[ragingdumpsterfire]

in a blink and in one motion

rope constricts, rips her towards the ocean

[ragingdumpsterfire]

Delsin Rowe x Juno Moore | Infamous Second Son OC

_______________________

The phone sat on top of the quilt, screen burning a hole into the dark room, the digital 11:33pm hanging heavy in the top left corner. Juno massaged her eyes with the palms of her hands, head resting against the wall, and she let out a frustrated sigh.

She knew better than this, to second guess herself and back down and circle around again, until she couldn’t remember why she was avoiding the inevitable any more. And yet, here she was, terrified at the three little words sitting at the ready, just waiting for her finger to pull the trigger.

“Come on, Juno, it’s okay, it’s just—just Delsin.”

Another frustrated sigh fills Juno’s apartment as she flops over on the bed, wrapping herself with the quilt, and she stares out the window. The city lights blossom in the softly pattering rain, illuminating Juno’s gaze with warm hues.

Biting her lip, she slowly reaches over and picks up her phone, the bright light flooding over her. 11:56pm. Her thumb hovers over the send button, and still she hesitates. Surely he must be busy, out saving some conduits, or working on some new art, or with some other—surely he has more important things to do than this? Juno shook her head at the thought, she couldn’t wouldn’t talk herself out of this. It’s okay to be selfish sometimes, right? Ask for what you want? Besides, Delsin was a grown man who had no issues voicing his opinions or standing up for himself. He could say no. He could turn her down, and she’d respect that. And she knew that he knew her enough to know that. And….and……sigh.

Fuck it.

Juno’s thumb flits out, pressing the send button, and she lets the phone fall onto the bed. Rolling onto her back, she stares up at the ceiling, and tries to ignore the quiet of the night. She tries to ignore the lack of phone notification. She tries to ignore the warmth missing next to her.

The rain patters softly, filling her apartment with the gentlest of symphonies to lull her to sleep, and her eyes start to waver, closing gently. But it can’t drown out the unmistakable buzz of the phone. Waiting a moment, two, then one more, Juno opens her eyes, slowly looking over at the phone, and she smiles, hugging her pillow and letting out a relieved laugh. Why was she so worried?

11:58pm

Spend the night?

12:00am

thought you’d never ask 😏

[ragingdumpsterfire]

Infamous Second Son OC: Juno Moore x Delsin Rowe

_________________

It was supposed to be a simple task; take out the DUP agents guarding the hastily assembled holding cells, and break open the chainlink fence holding the suspected conduits hostage. Juno had heard the stories from Delsin of all the attempted arrests he had disrupted, the way he flew in with a dazzling display of smoke, knocked the guards out, and heroically freed the terrified hostages. Delsin had agreed with Juno that it was something she should be able to do with ease, and together, they had waited on a nearby rooftop until they saw their chance. Everything went according to plan, Delsin taking out the guards while Juno dismantled the cell lock. There were five people in the cell, including one young teenager with a hurt ankle. Juno’s fingers flew as she cut the lock with bolt cutters, helping the scared group flee. Delsin glanced over at Juno, warmth filling him as she reassured the suspected conduits, pointing them towards safe spaces with a smile and a gentle hand, and helping the teen to safety.

It was only when Delsin glimpsed the armored vehicle rounding the corner that the plan fell apart, the hulking metal vehicle catching sight of Juno and the teenager limping aside her. Delsin yelled out to Juno, warning her of the oncoming danger, telling her to get away, but he didn’t take into account the way the kid clung on to her, incapable of moving out of danger on their own. In a streak of burning embers, Delsin raced to Juno’s side, standing between her and the tank. He expected her to run to safety, let him handle the new enemy. What he didn’t expect was for her to raise her free arm, and aim her fingers towards the tank, or the way an opaque rainbow formed around her hand and jetted out at the tank’s turret in a splash of vibrant hues. Her fist closed with a sense of finality, and the substance hardened in the turret, rendering it completely useless.

Delsin turned to high five Juno for her quick thinking, but was confused as he saw her face screw up in pain, her body dropping to her knees slowly, so slowly. Delsin’s ears rang, the sound of blood rushing through them, the loud metallic firing of a gun echoing in his head. He barely registered the screaming of the teen that Juno had been helping, or that she limped away to safety. All he knew was the red blood pooling under Juno, the way her breathing was jagged, and the bullets peppering the area around them. Blindly, Delsin shot out exploding cinders towards the source of the bullets, only satisfied once the shooting ceased. Looking back towards Juno, he picked her up, and dashed to safety in a trail of smoke.

____________

Juno’s small body slumped against the dingy alley, one hand gripping her side. Her trembling fingers were slick with crimson as Delsin frantically pressed his hand over hers, warmth and light emanating as he tried to aid her slowly healing wounds. Juno’s brows furrowed as she winced sharply, but she gave an impish, albeit tired grin.

“Think I’ll have some kickass battle scars?”

Delsin’s only reply was an irritated sigh, and he continued healing the bleeding gunshot. She rested her head against the brick wall, letting her eyelids close as she focused on breathing intently through the pain. It wasn’t searing like fire anymore, but it throbbed with an intensity unlike any other she had felt before.

“It’s really not that serious, Del,” Juno mumbled, focusing on the way his fingers brushed gently over her side. “It was just a bullet, I’ll live.”

“Dammit, Juno, it—this isn’t a fucking joke!”

There was a simmering rage beneath his words that caught Juno off guard, and she immediately felt her brows raise with the sudden change in tone. Incredulous, she opened her eyes and stared at Delsin’s face, trying to read his sudden outburst, but he wouldn’t meet her gaze. He only glared at the spot where he was healing. Juno could feel irritation building as the silence grew between them.

“Oh that’s funny,” Juno snapped, “coming from the guy that throws himself at every fucking DUP agent in the entire city of Seattle and then laughs it off.”

Juno could feel her voice rising, and despite the healing aid Delsin gave to her, the pain was still there, clouding her thoughts.

“How many times have you been shot, huh? Tell me, Delsin, how many times? Because I don’t ever recall treating you like an asshole any time you got hurt.”

Juno hated how much her voice wavered, and she gritted her teeth, clenching her eyes shut. She hadn’t cried from the pain, and no way in hell was she going to let herself cry now. The warmth stopped, and she could feel Delsin remove his hands. He had done all he could do for her. The pain of the wound was manageable, her own body could manage the rest of the healing process. Footsteps told her that Delsin had gotten up and moved to the other side of the alley. Juno slowly got up, testing her footing, running her fingers over the area that had been gaping and bloody only a few minutes prior. Her shirt was shredded in the area, but she could fix it. Probably.

She glanced up at Delsin, who had his back turned to her, one hand resting on his waist, the other presumably massaging his temples. This was so unlike him, to be so off, so serious. Minutes passed, and he just stood there.

“Dammit,” he muttered under his breath, just loud enough that Juno could hear.

Delsin turned to face her, all anger gone from his face. He looked tired, scared. His eyes darted down to where Juno’s wound was, eyes softening at the sight of her fully healed skin. His hands clenched, then flexed, and he took a step towards Juno, slowly closing the gap.

“Juno, I’m sorry” he stammered, one hand gesturing as the other rubbed his neck sheepishly.

“I didn’t mean to be an asshole, I just—I thought that you—I’m so sorry…”

Delsin rambled on for a minute, tripping over his words and stumbling for exactly what it was he wanted to tell her, hands gesticulating in a way that caused Juno to relent and crack a smile.

“Fuck, Juno,” he murmured, gazing down at her in a way that extinguished any remaining hostility in her. His warm eyes darted down to her lips, and back up to hold her gaze. He stood in front of her, gently grabbing her smaller, blood stained hands, and took a deep breath.

“I thought that I was gonna lose you,” he softly spoke, thumbs rubbing gentle circles over her skin. He was so close to Juno now, lips a breadth away. So close, so easy to just jump. Juno didn’t realize she had been holding her breath.

“I love you, Juno. I fucking love you.”

And with those words, she jumped.

[ragingdumpsterfire]

Don’t Look Into the Void

Infamous Second Son OC: Juno Moore x Delsin Rowe

Content Warning: Juno gets chased by a very bad guy, bad guy things ensue.

I start this with a warning that I haven’t written much in a while. The ol’ writing brain just hasn’t been there, but the prompt of decay/surrender had me excited. So I gave it a shot. Here is the resulting blurb from the 20 monkeys mashing keyboards in my brain.

__________________________________

Hard concrete comes into contact with heavy boots, ringing footsteps a cacophony of fear as wide eyes dart around, trying to find some vestige of safety in the dark city streets. The dark buildings around held no passing thought for the chase happening in their midsts; they were merely silent observers. Tears start running down windchapped cheeks, a scream threatening to burst forth into the world.

“Juno”. The word is long and drawn out, taunting and sneering and bouncing off the brick walls around the woman. Following her. Chasing her. Hunting her. 

“Look at you run, Juno”.

A moment passes, then a cold, snarling laugh rips through the alley, closer to Juno than it should be. It sends waves of tremors through her body as her feet hit the pavement, a vain attempt to carry her away from her predator. Her hands plead with the environment around her as she runs, trying to grasp any source of energy that would serve as fuel for an attack. Nothing happens as she desperately reaches out, a sob choking her as her lungs burn from the exertion. Juno frantically runs through a route in her mind for the thousandth time, left down here, then right down there, jump the fence if the gate is locked. This is a path she had traveled hundreds of times, and her feet now move mostly by instinct. 

The corner of the alley approaches, twenty feet, ten feet, five, and Juno stumbles, fingers pawing at the ground in an attempt to keep herself upright and moving. She can feel the skin scrape up against the rough ground, but she pushes off the ground with momentum, uprighting her body again and skidding around the corner. She knows there should be pain, but she can’t feel it yet. All she can feel is her heart thumping wildly in her chest and the screaming pain in her body to keep moving. The scream telling her to keep running at all costs is cut short by a different scream, one telling Juno that something is horribly, terribly wrong. 

Oh no. No no no no. NO!

Juno’s eyes look around in a frenzy, a wave of nausea hitting her. There wasn’t supposed to be a wall at the end of this alley. There was never a wall here. Juno had taken this alley many times, hell, a hundred times, just to cut through traffic. There was never a wall here. There was never a fucking wall here.

“Fuck!” The yell reverberates down the alley, muffled sobs breaking the frigid night as Juno slumps to the ground, back against the wall like a cornered, dying animal. There aren’t any fences to climb, windows to jump into, escapes of any kind. Movement at the end of the alley causes Juno to focus on the invader, eyes locking with a tall, dark figure. This man, this monster, stalks towards her, hands behind his back as he surveys his prey. He was dressed in all black, long body blending with the shadows that seem to bend around him. His face was hidden with a hood, always having an advantage over those he hunted. Something oozed from the ground beneath his feet, black as the void and flooding the alley with an acrid scent. It permeated Juno’s senses, burning her nasal passages and filling her eyes with stinging tears. A clicking sound emits from the man, now five meters away, then a sigh. Juno is filled with a burning rage as the familiarity dawns on her.  She’s heard this before. The sound was that of an authority figure before hitting a misbehaving child. 

“Whatever am I going to do with you”, crooned the velvety voice. “You’ve made me chase you all over town. You’ve caused me quite the inconvenience, did you realize?”

Juno’s eyes dart into the darkness under the man’s hood where facial features should be, but the space is unnaturally dark. Something deep inside her screams at her to run, to fight, to do anything. She knows the man is looking right back at her, she can feel his gaze. And for a moment, something like a glint in his eye shimmers. 

“What the fuck do you want from me,” Juno spits out, rage flowing through her words. Her body aches, muscles and ligaments pushed past their limit, body scraped up and powers absent. She glares up at the man as he wanders closer, inspecting her. There’s a soft chuckle, and she can tell that from under his hood, he’s grinning. 

“Well, it’s really quite simple, Juno,” he begins slowly, as one does when explaining to a young child. “Like you, I am also a conduit. Unlike you, however, I don’t get my power source from such quaint places as yourself.”

He paces in the alley slowly, always clasping his hands behind his back, always keeping his gaze towards Juno.

“You, my darling, get your power from…oh what was it…” 

He pauses, cocking his head and putting his finger to his lips, mocking her. 

“Ah yes,” he says in that velvety, predatory tone, causing Juno’s skin to crawl. “You get your power from deposits of pigment in the world, perpetuating brightness and light in a circle of creativity. How adorable.” The last word is drawn out far too long, venom dripping on his lips. But it is the hunter’s next action that makes Juno flinch back, feeling the rough wall digging into her skin. As he drops down into a crouch, close enough for Juno to see glints of light reflecting off his pointed teeth, he gestures to the pool of black tar underneath him.

“You see, I am the antithesis to your abilities, darlin’. I grab life around the throat and throttle the hell outta it.” 

As he lazily waves his hand over the tar, it moved to match his motion, dripping upwards against gravity to meet him, tendrils wrapping around his fingers like a vine. Quiet rustling from the side of the alley catches Juno’s attention, but she doesn’t take her eyes off the man in front of her. She inhales sharply as he swivels his head towards the noise in a hawklike motion, staring down the source. Juno’s eyes trail cautiously over to join the man’s line of vision, and sees a young rat, small nose wriggling as it sniffs and rifles through decaying leaves. It doesn’t heed them any attention, and Juno internally yells for it to run, to just get away from the inevitability that Juno can sense. 

A low growl of a chuckle leaves Juno’s pursuer as he sees her distraught expression, and he raises a finger towards the animal. Like a viper strike, the black tar lunges forward, wrapping around the rat in a tight embrace. It emits a high-pitched series of squeaks as it thrashes against the tar, trying to break free. Juno’s attention is brought back to the dark figure beside her as he clears his throat, peering at her. The rat’s shrieks drill into Juno’s consciousness.

“Now as you can see,” the man explained wryly, “I drain my power source from living things. And depending on how I’m feeling at the moment, I can make the experience quite painless, given—oh no no no, look at me—given my power source doesn’t struggle.” There’s a sinister emphasis on the last word, and Juno shrinks under his invisible stare. The frantic squeaks become calmer now, and when the man nods towards the animal, Juno’s eyes follow. The rat is grayer, more fragile than before. It had aged in moments, its life force slowly sucked out of it by the tar and into the man. A hand darts out and grabs Juno’s chin roughly, bringing her focus back to the dark, faceless hood. 

“And what happens if they struggle and fight back, you ask? Well, honey, that’s when the real fun begins.” 

Juno’s hands rush up to cover her ears as the alley is flooded in a piercing squealing. Her eyes dart back to the rat, and is met with an image of flesh ripping and disintegrating, peeling off in shreds and revealing bones and organs spilling onto the hungry tar. Bile rises in Juno’s throat at the putrid sight and smell, her eyes burning, and the contents of her stomach spill out on the ground beside her. Within mere moments, all is silent once more, and the only remnants of what once was a living creature were bones. Rapid aging and decomposition happening right in front of her eyes, a horrific power for a conduit to wield. She couldn’t stomach the thought of how many people this monster had used this ability on.

Juno wipes her mouth off on her sleeve, trying to erase the image of the tortured animal from her retinas. A hand appears in front of her face and the fingers snap. 

“Hey, hey, look up at me,” demands the voice, and Juno’s eyes follow to once more peer into the void staring at her. “Now I’m going to tell you what I was trying to tell you before you ran off earlier.” A small huff comes from the man, and he continues. “I need a constant living source to pull from to keep myself full. As you can see,” he said, gesturing to the remains of the rat, “can’t do shit once my source is dead. So, I’m gonna give you two options.” He held his v-shaped fingers in Juno’s face to further emphasize the point. “My suggestion would be to come with me all quiet like. I absorb my energy from you, and in exchange I keep you safe with me. As long as you do what I say, you won’t end up like our little friend over there.”

He paused, his demeanor darkening.

“If you decide to fight back, well…..let’s just say I’d much rather you not. I’d really prefer to not have to clean brain matter off my clothing so soon. And trust me, if you make me do that, I’ll be sure to make it as painful as possible.”

The pounding of Juno’s heart had to be audible to the man crouched next to her, and with a sinking feeling, she realized she had no way out of this situation. Become fodder for a fucking vampire conduit, or be brutally murdered in some Seattle alley. It felt like the world was crashing in on her, smothering her and ripping her apart as she lost focus on her surroundings. Fuck, no, this can’t be it. I…I have so much shit I wanted to do…

Juno barely registers the man stirring next to her, suddenly standing up and looking around, but then she looks up, and her brows furrow in confusion. The man cocks his head to the side, seemingly tired of paying her attention. She has no fucking idea what he would be focusing on after hunting her down like this. But then the scent hits Juno’s senses, the familiar, safe smell of burning ashes, and the alley is bathed in a fury of red light and embers that solidify in front of her. Within a split second, a figure kneels down in front of her, arms out wide to protect her, to save her. 

“Delsin!”

And the realization that Delsin is here hits Juno, and she starts sobbing, stinging tears rolling down her face and falling onto her sweater. Relief to not be alone washes over her, only to be replaced by the sudden horror that Delsin will be attacked by this hunter too. Warm, large hands come up and cradle Juno’s face, thumbs wiping away her tears as dark brown eyes look into her own. 

“Hey, hey, it’s okay, it’s-it’s me, babe, it’s me. Shhh, it’s okay, I gotcha.”

“Delsin—Delsin, listen, you need to get the fuck out of here.” Juno’s speech is frantic and racing, her hands gripping onto Delsin’s wrists as her eyes plead with him to escape. “He’s a fucking maniac, Dels—he’s going to fucking kill us!”

Moments pass as the two lock eyes, deep brown into stormy blue, and something inside Juno snaps as she sees resolve in Delsin. He leans down towards Juno, sliding a hand up to gently cradle her neck, and crashes his lips into hers with a burning need. She can taste smoke and ash from a million wildfires on his lips, and in a moment, he’s gone, standing to face their foe. 

No, no—he can’t do this, god no, please Delsin, don’t do this! I fucking need you, Delsin!

Juno can’t distinguish the words being spoken as her head spins, an ocean roaring in her ears as she fights to stay conscious. A cold, harsh laugh. A chain dropping to the ground. Delsin kneeling down on the ground, the ooze of tar nearing him. 

“And you’ll leave her the fuck alone if you have me, right?” 

A deep, quiet chuckle, and a nod. And then the strands of tar surround him, leeching into him, swallowing him up. He’s facing away, but Juno can see the way his skin fades and grows brittle, his hair turns to streaks of gray, the way his clothes start to drape off him limbs and he shrinks and ages prematurely. There was no sound from Delsin, just the quiet acceptance of someone trying to protect their loved one. And as quiet as a whisper, he was gone from this world, leaving Juno alone with his remains and the hunter. The hunter who was now causing the tar to recede back from where it came from.

“Poor fool was so ready to die that he didn’t stop to think about how miserable you’d be. Ah well,” he stated with a smirk, “that’s a you problem, not a me problem.” And with a faint, frigid breeze, he was gone. 

At first, Juno sat there, just staring at the pile of clothes, the bones sticking out. Her eyes locked with it, glazed over. Her fingers absently rubbing over her arms, nails scratching at her skin. Tears poured down her face silently, her vision a blurry world of gray. Her lungs wouldn’t fill with enough air, and she was drowning, chest starting to rise wildly in any attempt to get oxygen. It wouldn’t come. Juno threw her head back and let the scream rip out of her that had been building, fists beating on the ground as she wailed. Her knuckles grew bloody and shredded, scrubbing at her face as if she could just wake up and end all of this. If she could just wake up. Wake up….just….wake up. 

                            ____________

Juno’s eyes burst open as she sat up, arms fighting against something pinning them down. She couldn’t move them, and she screamed a long, mournful wail. She was surrounded by darkness.  

“No, let me go, get the fuck off of me!”

“Juno?! Babe, it’s me, it’s Delsin—babe, you’re okay, it’s okay, just listen to me.”

Juno turned wildly in the dark, only to meet two wide brown eyes gazing at her with concern, brows knitted downward. She knew those eyes, those were safe eyes. Those were Delsin’s eyes. He had his arms wrapped around Juno to keep her from thrashing and hurting either of them, circles under his eyes. He was half covered with their quilt and shirtless, and Juno’s awareness grew to recognize her pillow, the soft moonlight out the window of their apartment, the hum of a fan. They were safe, Delsin was safe. 

“Oh my god Delsin, you’re safe, you’re here—oh my god.” 

Juno’s arms flailed out to wrap Delsin in a tight hug, Delsin readjusting and wrapping his arm around Juno’s shoulders. He tucked a pillow up behind them, getting comfy against the wall behind their bed, and pulled the quilt up to cover them better. He softly grabbed her hand with his free hand, rubbing circles into the skin.

“Hey, hey, it’s okay, I’m here, we’re safe, and I’m not going anywhere. It was just a bad dream, that’s all. Listen babe, I got you. It’s okay.”

Juno nodded slowly, head heavy with exhaustion, and she collapsed against Delsin’s warm chest, closing her eyes again, listening to the steady rhythm of his heart. The room was comfortably quiet, and eventually her heart rate slowed to a normal pace. Now that the adrenaline had worn off, sleep beckoned her. She hadn’t experienced a nightmare like that in such a long time, it had been so real. But the warmth from Delsin and his quiet snores invited her into a deep sleep, one that provided much needed rest.

In the morning, as the delicate sunlight played through the window, Delsin’s arm was still around Juno when she woke up “Hey,” came a raspy, sleep-laden voice, warm as the morning sun. It filled Juno with comfort, feeling the embrace tighten.

“I’ll always keep you safe, babe.”