#Heart of a Hunter

[muchamusedaboutnothing]

Heart of a Hunter Act VII - Ch. 19

Heart of a Hunter Act VII - Ch. 19

Characters: Dean x doctor!Reader, Sam Winchester

This story is Act 7 of a saga.

New to the story? Get caught up on the Heart of a Hunter Saga here.

All your favorite Winchesters are alive, in spite of the curse that nearly took them from you. After coming so close to losing the only family you have left in this world, you’re taking matters into your own hands. There’s a witch to hunt.

Series Warnings:

Character injuries/sickness - Take note that no one is excluded from this.

Canon-typical violence and language.

Lots of whump.

Lots of caring for hurt characters.

Smut (18 Only. NSFW. You were warned.)

Angst.

Fluff.

Medical talk. Is that even a warning?

Image Credit: bing image search, google image search, @hallowedbecastiel , @heytheredean , @jensen-jay

Wordcount: 2236

See Author's note at the bottom please.

Chapter  19

"You guys ready to go?" you called out when you heard Sam and Dean coming down the hall.

"I think so," Sam answered, stepping into the mess hall first. "Do I look okay?" He was so adorably unsure as he gazed down at the his white and blue plaid button-up and his new jeans.

You gave him the once over and smiled up at him. "You look great, Brawny." He smiled and bent to kiss your cheek. "Want to grab the cooler?" you asked, gesturing toward it as Sam nodded and went to retrieve it.

Dean stepped up next and you looked him over, too. He had on a plaid button-up he'd left open with a simple black tee underneath. He was also wearing a new pair of jeans that were oil, grease, and bloodstain-free.

"You look handsome, too," you told him.

"Might as well disappear standing next to you, sweetheart," Dean said with a smile.

You grinned and Dean took your hand, turning you in a slow circle so he could admire the way your leggings hugged the curve of your ass, and the way the thigh-high boots made your legs go on forever. When you were facing him again, he lifted your chin with a finger, kissing you slow and sweet.

"Save it for the camera," Sam said as he brushed past you to head for the garage.

"You do know you're on the other side of the camera, right?" Dean called after him.

Dean picked up Jonah where he sat in his car seat a few feet away, and you glanced around to make sure you had everything before you followed after Sam.

You opted to sit in the backseat with your son and let Sam ride shotgun when you all piled in the car. Dean turned on some soft music and Jonah promptly fell asleep ten minutes into the drive, just as you'd hoped he would.

"He's out," Dean observed after glancing in the rearview mirror.

"I'm telling you, a nice warm bottle before a car ride," you said. "It's the magic combination."

Just shy of an hour later you'd reached your destination, or at least, as far as you could go before setting off on foot. Dean parked the car and cut the engine, and you got out and stretched as Sam grabbed the cooler again.

You grabbed the backpack with the water bladder in it and double-checked the baby’s sunscreen, pacifier, bottle, and diaper-changing stuff was all inside before you rolled up the thin blanket you'd brought along and slung it on your back. Just then Jonah woke up and started to fuss in his car seat.

Dean unbuckled him and pulled him out of it, speaking to him as he did. "We’re here, buckaroo. Come on, let's get you settled." He laid Jonah down in the backseat of the car and changed his diaper for a fresh one, snapping his onesie back up and pulling the tiny little jeans back around Jonah’s waist, and straightening his little button-up plaid shirt that was fitting of the smallest Winchester.

Sam had a baggie ready to go and caught the balled-up dirty diaper when Dean tossed it to him over the car. Sam tied it off in the bag and set it next to the front tire to wait until you returned.

Dean tucked the baby up against him snuggly as you fit the baby wrap up and over Dean's neck and shoulder. The two of you had done this enough times that you had it down to an art, and a moment later Jonah was safely swaddled against Dean's middle.

"Alrighty," Dean said. "And we're off."

There was a little game trail alongside the river, and Sam led the way with you and Dean falling in step behind him.

The river water was fresh and clean, and you couldn’t help but notice all the Rainbow Trout that were visible swimming just beneath the surface. A slight breeze caressed your skin, and the sunshine kissed your face in between the shade from the tree limbs.

"I needed this," you admitted as you walked.

"Yeah, me too," Sam agreed.

Dean nodded for you to go first when a large rock temporarily narrowed the trail. "I need to bring my pole sometime. From the look of things, the fishing oughta be great here."

“You should,” you agreed. “You don’t get to do enough fishing.”

Jonah was perfectly content to be swaddled against his father as the three of you walked along the riverbank. You found a pretty little spot where the water slowed just before a small tributary led into it. There were several large rocks near the water’s edge, big enough to comfortably sit down on, and some trees provided light shade just yards away.

“I think this is it,” you said as you all stood and gazed at the scenery.

“Yeah?” Dean asked.

You nodded. “It’s perfect.”

You set your backpack down against a rock and pulled Jonah out of the baby wrap Dean wore so Dean could remove that, as well. Sam walked around the area, judging the shadows created by his tall form, and gauging the angle of the sun in relation to the light along the riverbank.

“What do you think, Brawny? Do you agree?”

“Of course,” Sam said. “The light is perfect right now.”

And that’s how your little Winchester family photoshoot began. Using Sam’s phone, he took a bunch of different pictures of you and Dean with Jonah, you and Dean alone together - although you wondered how those would turn out as Sam wore Jonah in the baby wrap at the same time as he snapped photos - and then pictures of you holding Jonah by yourself, and Dean doing the same.

When Sam was satisfied he’d gotten shots you would love, you took the phone from him and took pictures of all three of the guys together, as well as shots of Dean and Sam together, and Sam holding Jonah by himself.

With a little finagling and a lot of laughing, you managed to prop the phone up at the spot where a little branch jutted out from a tree trunk. Using the phone’s timer, you also took several family shots of all of you together with the river babbling in the background.

By the time you’d taken your fill of pictures, you’d all worked up an appetite. You spread out the blanket on the ground, pulled a bottle out for Jonah, and sat, shielding him from the sun with the baby wrap while he drank in your arms.

Dean crouched down nearby, gazing into the water with a soft smile playing on his lips.

“Penny for your thoughts,” you offered.

He cocked his head to look at you. “Just happy to be alive, sweetheart. Happy to be here with you and Joey and Sammy. Thanks for planning all of this today.”

You smiled. “Thanks for being on board.” He chuckled softly. “What?” you asked.

“It’s just that I haven’t had my picture taken that many times since our wedding day.”

“I’m fully aware,” you said with a smirk. "We were long overdo."

“I don’t think I’d get your hopes up yet as far as photo quality,” Sam said with a laugh as he opened up the cooler to start pulling lunch out. “You haven’t seen ‘em yet.”

“I have faith in you, Brawny," you told him.

Sam chuckled again. “Save your faith for my vampire-beheading skills, or my research skills. Hell, shooting almost anything else, but shooting pictures is not my forte.”

“I think what she’s saying is beggars can’t be choosers, Sammy,” Dean added with a smirk.

“If I get my way, you’ll be getting plenty of practice from here on out,” you told Sam. “We need to do this more often.”

Sam nodded, smiling as he handed Dean a sandwich.

Dean held the sandwich out toward you. “You sure you don’t want me to take him so you can eat first?”

“You go ahead. I’ll finish giving him lunch first.”

Dean got to his feet and opened up the sandwich. He’d made several of them for your picnic lunch before leaving the bunker that morning. There were also individual snack-sized potato chip bags and bags of mini-carrots as an alternative. You couldn’t help but notice he even ate a bag of carrots himself, even though he chose to finish off a little bag of chips afterward. It was still progress, and it made you smile.

When Jonah finished his bottle, Dean took him from you and moved to the edge of the water. Sitting down on the ground and holding Jonah in his lap, he pointed out the trout that swam lazily in the water, telling Jonah what type of lure he’d try when he came back to the spot.

That night, back at the bunker, you'd pulled up the photos from the day on your laptop. Despite Sam's doubt in his photography skills, the problem didn't lie in trying to find good shots you wanted to enlarge and display on the walls, but rather in narrowing it down your selection as there were so many to choose from.

Three weeks later the pictures you'd ordered as metal prints arrived in the mail. You and Dean took Jonah for a ride into town and picked them up at the post office before driving back to the bunker.

Dean offered to feed Jonah and put him down for his nap so you could go through the metal prints and start hanging them up.

For the bunker's library, you chose to hang two shots of all four of you that you'd captured using the timer on Sam's phone. In one image you were all smiling, poised, and perfectly happy. In the other, Dean held Jonah while you'd hoped on Sam's back spider monkey-style and you'd all chosen to stick out your tongues and screw up your faces while Dean flipped the bird at the camera. Staring at the last one made you smile so wide your face hurt.

The pictures perfectly represented the line the Winchester family walked between domestic bliss and crazy-ass chaos. You wouldn't have changed a thing.

You also hung another photo in the library, this one of Sam and Dean standing together and overlooking the stream with Dean's hand resting on Sam's shoulder. They looked like they'd come straight out of a clothing ad in a Cabelas magazine. You loved it.

You took a few metal prints to Sam's room that you'd had made just for him. One was a copy of the crazy shot where you all looked like you'd lost your damn minds, and the other was a picture of Sam leaning back against a tree trunk and holding Jonah in his arms. It was peaceful, serene, and Sam's face was so full of love as he gazed at his nephew. You knew if you stared at it too long you'd be wiping back tears.

You hoped Sam would like them. He was down in the bunker's shooting range when you left the prints on his bed for him and carried the rest to the room you and Dean shared.

You hung several metal prints on the walls in your bedroom. One large print was of you and Dean up close with Jonah sandwiched between you, each kissing one of his chubby little cheeks.

You had two smaller metal prints made, one with Dean sitting next to the river on a rock with Jonah lounging in his arms, and one of you holding Jonah up towards the sky and smiling up at him.

You hung another shot Sam had somehow managed to snap when Dean dipped you back for a kiss, surprising the hell out of you.

You'd chosen a large print for a moment when Dean had pulled you close, trapping your hand over his heart with his own and giving you that sexy smirk that always makes you smile like a schoolgirl with a crush.

You were still surprised at just how perfectly the photo captured the intimate gesture you and Dean had shared over the years.

"Did he go down okay?" You asked as Dean walked into your room just then.

"He was fighting it a bit." He sat the baby monitor down on the desk. He's good now, though. Out like a light." Dean put his hands around your waist from behind, gazing at the prints that were now hung on the walls. "Wow. These turned out great."

You nodded. "They really did." You turned in his arms, gazing up at him, and he leaned down enough to kiss you.

"I don't know how you do it, sweetheart," he said. "You somehow manage to keep finding ways to make this place feel more safe and cozy than it already is."

"Family does that," you told him. "That's why Baby will always be home, too."

Dean smiled, eyes locked on the picture of him dipping you back to kiss you. The next thing you knew, one of his hands wrapped around the small of your back, the other going to the back of your head as he dipped you again, making you squeal in surprise. He cut you off with a kiss that was soft and slow and made the blood rush to your head a little more than gravity already had.

This is the end of Act VII.

Author's Note: The Heart of a Hunter series has been a labor of love. These characters have occupied my heart for years now, and I have enjoyed every second of it. This saga has also been the catalyst that brought me friendships with so many of you. I can never tell you all enough just how much I have appreciated your support for this story and my writing.

While I do have Act VIII plotted and outlined, I cannot say for sure when or if I will get to finish and post it. I've been through some big life changes in the last year and may need to focus my time on my career and family in the foreseeable future.

If I do manage to post Act VIII, I will tag those on the Heart of a Hunter tags list. Tags are open again now (details below - feel free to add yourself now or ask me to if you haven't already) so you'll be notified.

You can also find the Heart of a Hunter saga HERE ON AO3 if you'd like to bookmark or subscribe for the future. Any future Acts will be added to AO3 as well.

I do hope to finish and post Act VIII, but can't be sure what the timeframe for that would look like at this time. (The chances are high that these characters won't leave me alone and I'll be writing whenever I get a hot minute. I may surprise us all.)

I do plan to do a Q&A with Dean, our fearless Reader, and Sam very soon, so be on the watch for that. I'll tag if you if you're on the list. I'm sure you all have a lot of fun and interesting questions for our little Winchester family after everything we've all been through together.

I love you and appreciate you all! If the story touched you, please reblog the masterlist and share the reason why. Reblogs are how new readers get to experience this journey with us and join the Heart of a Hunter family. Thank you!

Act VII Masterlist.

You can find the Masterlist for the Heart of a Hunter Saga here.

Please consider supporting my writing by buying me a coffee. In my case, it’s Dr. Pepper, but a little caffeine goes a long way when it comes to writing and posting this labor of love.

Being on the Heart of a Hunter Tags is the best way to stay up to date with the updates, news, and be notified of spur of the moment Q&A sessions about the saga. Add or remove yourself from my tags HERE. Or feel free to message me to do it for you.

*HOAH Text divider by the brilliant Talesmaniac89

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[batcavescolony]

Katniss is such an unreliable narrator. She says "Then something unexpected happens. At least, I don't expect it because I don't think of District 12 as a place that cares about me" girl you deliver strawberries to the Mayor, you hunt and trade for the district, when you fell at Prim being chosen someone caught you, when you went to Prim people parted for you, when you volunteered EVERYONE stopped. Idk how to tell you but I think you're a pillar of the community.

[themetalhiro]

Line the next one up, breakups are hard.

[ayellowapple]

Phone call

[taytei]

Yoojin is right - we need more Peace in the world

[ganondoodle]

jerren on his way to beat miquellas ass once he learns what he did to radahn

(Elden Ring)

[kykyonthemoon]

How to babysit a wounded little Hunter

Injured after a mission, you now indulge yourself in his special tender loving care.

ಇ. Character x Female Reader fanfic,

including Caleb, Rafayel, Xavier and Zayne

ಇ. Tags: fluff, domestic fluff, early stage of established relationship

A little heads up: The writer will not take responsibility for any side effect (such as toothache) that might come after reading the fic.

ಇ. Word count: 4k

ಇ. Requested by Wytchie Pie and x

ಇ. Masterlist ♡ Request a fic ♡

���𝒂𝒍𝒆𝒃

You dimly sensed footsteps in the bedroom, and then one side of the bed sank. The acquainted scent and warmth embraced you. A cool hand rested on your forehead. In an instant, the heat in your body subsided.

So as soon as that hand was gone, you seized it.

"Don't go…"

You mumbled in a daze. There was a quiet laugh close to your ear, and then that palm brushed against your forehead again.

"If you don't let go, how can I take your temperature then, pipsqueak?"

You recognized that voice. It was Caleb's. So you acted even more aggressively. You yanked his hand tighter, so much so that his entire body appeared to collapse into the bed, just a little above yours.

"Huh? Aren't you a little too strong for someone who is sick?" Caleb laughed again. The sort of laughter that made you feel considerably better.

"I'm not sick." You were persistent, still. "Just feeling a little sleepy."

Caleb's hand tried to pull away from you. But perhaps he kept it that way on purpose, since given your current state, he would have no problem withdrawing if he truly wanted you to let go.

Caleb's hand patted you a little tenderly. He managed to grab the thermometer with his free hand. He took your temperature, then exclaimed: 

"Almost forty Celsius!"

You exhaled heavily, almost a moan. Every part of you felt irritated and heated. Despite this, you dismissed it, saying:

"I'm not... sick..."

Caleb used the chance to release his wrist from you. You opened your eyes slightly and gave him a disappointed expression.

"You have such a high fever, yet still saying you're not sick?" Caleb mumbled, but you caught every word. He handed you medicine, but you did not take it.

"Too bitter." You said.

"Quit whining. "Just take it and go to sleep."

"If I take it… you'll have to stay here with me, okay?"

Caleb sighed. "Only until you sleep, pipsqueak."

You smiled faintly and fast to accept the pills from Caleb's hand. You clutched his hand securely as you drifted off to sleep, dreaming of the Wanderers, the escapes, and the secrets in which you were a part of. Then, when you woke up again, you noticed Caleb seated beside the bed.

“You're awake now, pipsqueak?” He smiled at you. He was rather relieved. He put a hand on your forehead again. “Yup. No more fever."

Caleb's presence seemed to chase the nightmares away. You removed his hand from your forehead and held it tightly.

“How long have I been sleeping?”

"Let's see…" Caleb brushed his chin. "When you arrived home last night, you went to bed right away. You got a high temperature around early morning. From the time you took the medicine and fell asleep until now, I've finished a whole movie, cooked a delicious pot of porridge, and measured your temperature three times."

"What nonsense are you talking about?"

Caleb laughed. He squeezed your hand once. "You've just been asleep for a few hours. But it is past noon now. Are you hungry?"

You shook your head.

"Are you sure?" Caleb asked again. "I made a super delicious pork rib porridge for you though."

You opened your eyes wide and looked at him. Pork rib porridge was a dish he would often cook when you were sick and no longer in a mood to eat anything. That dish always helped you feel better, even just hearing about it was enough to make you crave food again.

"Pork rib porridge…"

You could only whisper that much when Caleb pressed the tip of your nose and said:

“I knew right away that you couldn't resist food.”

A minute later, the room was filled with the aroma of a still-hot bowl of porridge. Caleb put it on a little tray over the bed. You lay back against the cushion, staring at the meal in front of you as if it were a rare delicacy, despite the fact that the ingredients were absolutely basic.

You looked over at Caleb. He was observing you. "What's wrong? Still no appetite?"

“It's too hot…” You pouted. “Besides,… both my arms and body are aching…”

It took a quite difficult mission in extreme weather, and a high fever to receive special care at your bedside. How could you not enjoy it?

Caleb read you right away. He said: “What? The Hunter in Linkon wants me to feed her? Weren't you delirious this morning, saying you had to go fight off Wanderers?”

“When did I say that? But it's okay if you don't help me. I don't want to eat anymore.”

“Are you still a three-year-old then?”

Even though he grumbled, Caleb still smiled very gently. He scooped a spoonful of porridge, blew on it to cool down, then held it out to you.

You opened your mouth really wide, making him chuckle. When he saw that you were eating well, Caleb felt relieved. He teased:

"I thought you're a grown-up now and wouldn't need me to take care of you anymore."

You replied, still with a mouthful of pork rib porridge: "When you lose your cooking skills, I won't really need you anymore then."

Caleb laughed aloud. He patted your head and said: "I didn’t expect my vacation to turn into a part-time job for babysitting. If I catch a fever from you, you must take care of me in return.”

You rose up in a sudden and pressed your still-hot face into the crook of Caleb's neck, nearly dropping the porridge spoon.

“Then I’ll cook pork rib porridge for you. Just heads-up though, even if it tastes yucky, you must eat it all!”

𝑹𝒂𝒇𝒂𝒚𝒆𝒍

The door to the hospital room opened. Rafayel's curly purple hair appeared. And immediately, your phone lit up with a text message from Thomas:

[The little devil is coming for you. Sorry, I did my best.]

You exhaled. Clearly, he had not done his best. That was why Rafayel was here, staring at you with such a deep gaze from the entrance.

"Er… "Hello, Rafayel..." You waved your arm, attempting to greet him with a warm smile.

"Rafayel?" He frowned. "Do you still remember that we know each other?"

"Huh? Why did you...?" You left your sentence incomplete as Rafayel surged inside. He placed his hands on his hips, his expression filled with slanderous words as he accused you.

"Who are you? Do I know you? It's been eight hundred years. Jellyfishes are walkin' naked. Sea turtles climb trees. Sharks are eatin' grass for free! And finally, you remembered me?"

You frowned. Why was there something that rang so familiar with this scenario? Yet it was still off.

“Rafayel, I—”

“When are you going to tell me you're hurt?”

Rafayel pointed a finger directly to your shoulder, where the white bandage was visible through the hospital gown. That was the real reason he was precisely distressed.

“Even Thomas knew you were injured. Yet you didn't say a word to me?! You left me waiting alone for three hours at the exhibition. I can't believe you stood me up!”

You lifted your hand, intending to remind Rafayel to keep his voice down because you were both in the hospital. But he gave you no opportunity to speak.

"Do you realize how scared I was? When Thomas told me you couldn't come, I thought about all the things that could happen to you!”

"Rafayel…" You finally found a chance to interrupt him.  “Let's calm down first. I didn't mean to hide it from you, it's just... I haven't told you yet..."

Rafayel crossed his arms. He was still irritated.

“I can't believe it! You deliberately manipulated me with your innocence so that I would let you get away this time!”

You felt dizzy in the head, and your ears were ringing with Rafayel's nagging words and accusations. The injured one was you. Why did you feel as if you had just committed a great sin?

"ARGHHH!" You shouted and clutched your bandaged shoulder. "It hurts!"

Rafayel quickly forgot the rage in his heart. He moved right away to the bed and gently raised your arm. His eyes were full of concern and anxiety.

“Are you hurt? I'll call the doctor here right away!”

You grasped Rafayel's hand, urging him to stay with you.

“See? I'm still very strong. Just a little hurt."

"How much is a little?" Rafayel frowned. You could feel his hot glare on your shoulder, soaking into the bandage and searing your wound.

"… This much." You clasped your thumb and index finger to form a circle, then held it up for Rafayel to see. He grabbed your hand and placed it on his chest.

"I don't believe you anymore." He continued to speak with a condescending tone. "I have to check it out with my own eyes."

"Huh? What do you mean?…” You suddenly blushed. Rafayel looked at you with serious eyes, yet very sincere. He replied:

“Your wound. I want to see it."

The mere notion of Rafayel wanting to look behind your garments made your cheeks flame. You withdrew your hand and refused:

“I told you I'm fine… Don't make such a scene…”

“If I don't see it, how can I be sure you're not lying to me? This isn't the first time you've hidden your injuries..."

That was all Rafayel said. You gazed at him for a second. Aside from being concerned about you, he was also saddened since you had repeatedly hidden your wounds from him. A great deal when you did not want to bother him, he always found out and became much more frustrated.

"Alright then…"

Eventually, you had to give in. You turned your back to Rafayel and carefully slipped the shirt collar down your shoulder, displaying the neatly wrapped bandages around your torso.

You could see your reflection in the front window. Your face turned crimson. And Rafayel stood next to the bed, attentively investigating you, his fingers softly caressing the gauze, causing you to bow slightly in pain as well as anxiousness.

“Yet you said it was just a little wound.” Rafayel muttered. It was his hand that drew your collar back up. And the next thing you knew, you were upgraded to the best room at the hospital.

You weren't used to how wealthy people spent their money. You looked at Rafayel, who had constantly been by your side during your hospital stay. He requested you to remain in the most advanced hospital room, with the greatest level of care. More than that, he refused to leave your side even when you asked to be alone.

"You don't have to do this, Rafayel." You spoke as he was peeling the fruit for you.

"Open your mouth." He handed you a slice of mango. Even if your lips stated it wasn't required, you nevertheless welcomed all of his attention.

"I'm serious…" As soon as you finished swallowing the mango, he gave you another slice. "Really, um... This mango is truly delicious..."

"Do you crave anything else?" Rafayel purposely ignored every time you told him he didn't need to stay there all day and night to care for you. Your wound had improved significantly.

“I think I can be discharged from hospital and get back to work now…” You said. “I don't want to bother you anymore…”

"What's that?" Rafayel pretended not to hear you. “I think I heard the sound of abalone porridge just being delivered to the hospital. Let me go grab it.”

You sighed. Another expensive meal he had prepared for you. But you knew how much you would miss these things when you left the hospital at last and could no longer benefit from his tender loving care.

“Maybe I'll stay here one more day... You're spoiling me too much...” You muttered beneath your breath, but Rafayel overheard everything. He pinched your cheek and responded:

“You're staying because of the delicious food, not because of my devoted service? This is so heartbreaking! Then, after you've recovered, I'll make you repay everything. You have to work overtime as my bodyguard too!"

𝑿𝒂𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒓

You crept along the hospital's vacant rear door. You were just hospitalized in the afternoon due to an injury suffered while on job. Even though the doctor advised you to stay for additional examination, you believed the damage was minor. On top of that, the mission was not yet over. You needed to get back to headquarters.

Unfortunately, your escape did not go well. You ran into a familiar shoulder before you could complete the corridor.

"X-Xavier?" You became pale, but not because of the pain. It was only that you were astonished and a little ashamed when caught red-handed.

His look was incredibly complicated, ranging from apprehensive to serious and somewhat furious.

"Where are you going?" he inquired.

You didn't dare to reveal the truth, so you invented an excuse: "Ah... well... The hospital room is quite boring, so I decided to go for a stroll."

"From the back door?"

"Er… I heard the nurse say this is a quicker shortcut to the garden..."

Xavier gazed at you for some time. You clutched your hand tight, terrified that he would not believe that ridiculous excuse. Yet, Xavier nodded at you: "Then let's go together."

Before you could respond, Xavier grabbed your hand and led you outside. It was night time, the wind blew, sending you a slight chill. Xavier took off his coat and draped it over your shoulders. That incredibly gentle gesture made you feel more guilty than ever for lying to him.

“Lead the way.” He told you shortly. For some reason, you had the impression that he was in extreme anger over you.

During the stroll, you didn't dare to speak, and Xavier did the same. He strolled close to you, as if keeping watch rather than walking together. You wandered about for a long time, but there was no trace of the hospital's garden anywhere. Xavier continued to follow your every step in such silence. Him being like that evoked even more guilt in your heart.

At last, you couldn't take it any longer and had to confess: "Xavier... Actually... The truth is, I don't know where the garden is..."

At that point, he spoke up and asked: "So why did you leave your hospital room?"

You didn't dare look into his eyes, so you just stammered an explanation: "Ah... My injury is nothing to be concerned about... That's why I... planned to return to headquarters..."

You noticed Xavier's hands clenching into fists. Fearing he'd be upset, you added: "The doctor also said my injury wasn't too serious— Ah!"

Xavier abruptly pulled your wrist, causing the wound on your arm to hurt. He read through your face which was miserable but still faking a smile. His voice turned sharp:

“If I hadn't caught you, would you really have sneaked away from the hospital?”

Your body convulsed in pain, but you were more concerned about Xavier's rage. You said, "I'm sorry... I was wrong... I'll return to the hospital room right now..."

"Good." Xavier responded curtly. Then he quickly leaned down and held you up in the attitude of a princess being carried.

"W-What are you doing, Xavier?"

"Let's take you back to the hospital room." His expression remained frigid, making you both terrified and embarrassed to be carried by him in such a manner.

Xavier did not return to the same path you had taken. Instead, he took you into the front entrance, where many people, including patients and hospital staff, could see you.

"Xavier? You... put me down! "They are looking at us!"

"I want them to see, so they know you intend to escape the hospital and will monitor you more closely."

Your cheeks became scarlet with humiliation. You swore you saw a kid pointing at you and chuckling, "Mom! I want to be carried like that princess, too!"

And you swore you saw Xavier smirking at that.

After an embarrassing journey, you finally arrived at your room. Xavier set you down on the bed. He chose to remain silent with you as punishment for your unsuccessful escape. You saw him sitting in the corner of the room, peeling a red apple for you.

“Xavier?”

You called out, but he didn't look at you and just replied curtly:

“Rest.”

“Are you angry with me?…”

Xavier's silence revealed the answer. You groaned and pulled the warm cover up high, as if to conceal yourself away from Xavier's rage, but he remained as quiet as a cloudless sky.

When he finished with the apple, he brought it over and gave you a slice. "Eat."

You did not enjoy this cold and distant demeanor of Xavier. If he was upset with you, he should have expressed it directly. You knew it was your fault, and he was so concerned about you that he got mad when you lied to him like that.

"Xavier, I'm sorry…" Your hands seized Xavier's wrist, which was clutching the apple slice. Your eyes widened as much as possible, even giving the impression that you were going to cry.

In the end, the ploy worked. His gaze had softened completely. He placed the plate of apples on the bed and used his other hand to elevate your chin a little. He said: "If you know your fault, then obediently eat all of these and rest."

His hand softly separated your lips, and his other hand inserted a slice of apple for you to eat. You were back in the sunshine, coaxing him to sit on the bed next to you.

"I'll give you three days to recover." Xavier spoke, his voice still agitated, but you could feel his boundless care and love.

"Then I shall bother you to watch over me for a few more days!"

𝒁𝒂𝒚𝒏𝒆

You had just returned to your private cabin at the icy mountain base when you heard a tap at the door. You answered the door, wondering who was seeking for you at this hour, and there was Doctor Zayne, holding a first-aid kit while standing outside.

“Zayne?” Your eyes caught the blood on his face and neck. Snow adhered to his dark hair. You took a step back and allowed him inside. "Why are you here?"

Your team had accepted the mission of rescuing people caught in an avalanche created by a group of Wanderers on the mountain. You had learnt that a team of physicians from Akso Hospital was also on their way. But you did not expect to see Zayne here.

Zayne set the first aid pack on the table and then turned to you. He went on to say: "I'm here to do my duty as a doctor."

You widened your eyes and inquired him again, "Your duty as a doctor?"

Zayne pointed to your abdomen, which was soaked from your own blood oozing through the gauze you had recklessly covered earlier.

"Oh dear…" You cried out. You were so engaged in battles that you didn't have time to look at your wound. Your head began spinning as a result of excessive blood loss.

Zayne's powerful arms directed and assisted you to the table. He put you to the wooden table and took a chair to sit in front of you.

"Doctor Zayne, what are you going to do?"

You noted this when you found his hand on the hem of your shirt. He seemed to want to lift it up.

"Treating you."

You knew that. But you were still extremely nervous when thinking that he was about to lift up your shirt. So your hand was still securely grasping his, preventing him from moving any further.

“I've already bandaged it. A nurse also helped me stitch up the wound earlier..."

During the turmoil, you recalled being stabbed in the abdomen. A nurse assisted you in stitching it up, but because there were so many others with more serious injuries, you let her tend to them while you put bandages over yourself and returned to the battlefield. Perhaps your clumsiness caused the wound to bleed a great deal more.

Zayne used his other hand to remove yours before pulling your shirt up. The gauze surrounding your abdomen was drenched in blood. He slowly withdrew it as you writhed in pain and embarrassment.

"Try to sit still for a bit, will you?"

Zayne's soothing voice burst out, calming you down a lot. You sat on the table, your hands lifting your body up while you looked down at the doctor who was treating your wound. The fact that you had to display your skin beneath his gaze made you uneasy and desire to cover your face. But Zayne was quite professional. He remained silent and entirely concentrated on his work. He cleansed the wound and applied a new layer of gauze. His warm breath occasionally wafted against your skin, causing you to tremble slightly. Even when his frigid fingers touched you, it seemed like you were being scorched.

"It's done."

Zayne said after fixing the new layer of gauze. You were a little discontent when his fingers left you. You were ready to pull your top back down when Zayne lightly rubbed his fingers against your abdomen.

“Ouch!” Even though the place he touched was not wounded, you were still startled and embarrassed.

“Just checking it again.” Zayne elaborated. He had you sitting on the table, your bandaged abdomen at his eye level. You could feel his stare through the gauze, pausing a bit too long in areas that were not covered by anything.

“Doctor Zayne… Are you done now?”

You attempted to keep your speech cool, but your crimson cheeks could have given you away. Zayne appeared to flash a little smile. You felt the icy sensation of his fingertip on your skin again as he slid it beneath the hem of your shirt, then pulled it back down.

"I am now." He answered while returning the supplies to the first aid kit. "Don't be so reckless next time. You have to care for yourself first before you can save others.”

"Hold on." You stopped him. You altered your position and stared into his eyes. "You always say so, but can you actually do what you say?"

Zayne tilted his head to look at you. You took advantage of the moment and raised his chin to have a better look. He had a minor cut on his forehead, and the blood on his body was most likely someone else's.

"You rushed here to take care of me, while you, yourself, are in this condition."

You spoke. His hand found your wrist.

"I barely got a few scrapes. Not as concerning as someone who rushed into the battlefield with a bleeding stomach."

"Whether the wound is big or small, it can be critical." You stated precisely what Dr. Zayne told you whenever he saw you injured, even if it was only a little cut.

Realizing that he had just tasted his own medicine, Zayne let out a small laugh. Then he tugged your hand, causing you to almost lean towards him. He gazed into your eyes for quite a while.

"So, my doctor, will you treat me?"

You blushed again. Zayne relinquished his hand, allowing you to properly wipe the blood off his face. You had to confess that you were a little awkward, owing to your unexpected closeness to Zayne in such a private and calm setting. He probably could hear your heart racing. He supported your hand which was holding a sterilized cotton pad and said:

"If you want to become a skilled doctor, in situations like this you must be even calmer."

"I'm not as professional as Dr. Zayne." You answered with a little caustic tone. "You were able to treat my wound so calmly just now."

Zayne gazed at you for an instant. His face remained calm, but his eyes were not.

"I'm a skilled doctor. Yet, it doesn’t imply that I wouldn't feel anything while treating the girl I like in such a... condition."

[smallpapers]

thank you for loving me

(Edit: now available as a print!)

[mirrorcatcreditcard]

Your honor, they were watering down my favorite character and not letting them be a jerk.

[crosshairslongasslegs]

this. this is one of my fav moments from the entire show. this shot itself is just everything. how they both helped each other to the bridge. crosshair steadying his blaster on hunter’s shoulder. both their expressions towards hemlock, ready to do anything to save their sister. hunter reassuring crosshair that he can make the shot. crosshair trusting omega with just a single look. omega running towards them, embracing crosshair in their first ever hug and then taking both brothers in her arms. this family is my everything

[lizzieheartsfanclub]

The most effective thing about Ever After High is that every student has their own personal struggle that adds another element to just how life-ruining the destiny system is.

Apple is so terrified of what will happen to her if she doesn’t follow her destiny, that she is willing to compromise everyone else’s happiness to make sure it happens. This disregard for other people is only encouraged by the influential adults in her life.

Ashlynn has to be a servant to an abusive family and live knowing that the ultimate end to her supposedly happy ending is dying to set the stage for her daughters traumatic backstory, starting the whole cycle over again with no chance for any of them to escape.

Blondie feels so pressured to fit in to a deeply classist/monarchist society and ashamed of her parentage that she constantly presents a fake version of herself to everyone she knows, even her best friends.

Briar has to spend her whole life waiting for the moment her destiny comes and she falls asleep for a century. She knows that when she’s woken up, she will be forced to marry a boy dozens of years younger than her who she’s never met and live knowing that everyone she ever loved is dead and gone, the very things that she watched cause her mother’s emotional breakdown.

Cedar’s father was so afraid of watching her repeat his mistakes that he overcorrected, making it impossible for her to ever learn lessons for herself. She is also forced to share incredibly personal details with anyone who asks her questions, and can’t be trusted by her friends with any of their secrets, and it’s all because of her father’s past trauma.

Cerise has to hide who she truly is and never gets to see her family together and happy despite the fact that her parents have potentially the most healthy and mutually beneficial marriage in the whole franchise.

Daring was groomed from birth for a destiny that ends up not actually being his at all, leaving him aimless, feeling as though he has no purpose and has wasted his entire life.

Darling is forbidden by patriarchy and destiny to become a knight, the only thing she really wants, and at which she would be better than both of her brothers. She has to hide who she is and what she loves from everyone she knows

Dexter lived his whole life never knowing what his destiny would be but also knowing that whatever it was he’d have to commit to it forever the moment he discovered it at Legacy Day.

Duchess has spent her whole life knowing that the story she’s commited to living out ends in tragedy for her, and then had to watch the very people she’s been jealous of for years because of their seemingly happy endings give up those endings, while Duchess, loyal and rule following Duchess, is still stuck with her tragedy.

Faybelle tries so hard to commit to what she sees at her destiny that she’s never had a real friend in her life. Even still, no one recognizes her for all that effort and all she’s given up to be a suitable villain. Everyone is more afraid of Raven, who doesn’t even want to be evil.

Hunter has to constantly go against his moral compass to fulfill his destined role as a Huntsman and to try and make his father proud of him.

Kitty has been taught over and over again to value her Mother’s approval over all else, even at the expense of her friends. Her destiny is to create mischief, but how much more mischief can a dissolving world take before it’s too much?

Lizzie finds it almost impossible to express love or care for anyone else due to her mothers excessive conditioning that’s nearly akin to brainwashing. The saddest thing might be that her mother is actually, in her own way, trying her best to prepare Lizzie for a world that will only ever see her one way—as a villain. Now she lives in Ever After, princess to a kingdom that might not even exist for much longer, having given up everything for a destiny that may soon be impossible.

Maddie is a refugee forced from her home into a world she barely understands at a tender age. But she cannot express any angst or negative feelings about this circumstance, because to do so would go against her character. She lives in a world obsessed with destiny and stories while not even knowing if she’ll ever be able to return home and live out her story.

Raven is judged by almost everyone around her for her mothers crimes, many of which were required of her by destiny in the first place. She is nearly forced to commit to becoming a tyrannical megalomaniac (and almost falls into it herself, several times) who would be sentenced to lifelong punishment and torture for committing acts that weren’t even her idea in the first place, and the one punishing her would have been the very girl who begged so often for her to stop being so difficult and just follow her destiny.

[muchamusedaboutnothing]

Can you add me to the heart of a hunter saga list please? :)

Consider it done. 👍

The series is on hiatus currently. It's finished up through Act VII (though I hope to one day finish and post Act VIII.)

I'm currently shadowbanned on Tumblr for some reason, so getting the masterlist updated and current has been tricky, but I'm working on it.

Thank you so much for your interest in the story and your support. It means the world to me.

If I do continue the story with Act VIII in the future, you'll be tagged in it.

Thanks again, and have a terrific day!

[iloveabortions]

Hunter x Hunter (1999)

[themetalhiro]

Its getting super cold so I’m thinking about how this guy is a super powered heater.

[archivewriter1ont]

Bad Batch Incorrect Quotes

Rex: So, how's adjusting to your new squad going? Echo: Well, my net worth has certainly gone up. Rex: *confused* Uh, what? Echo: Yeah, you know. What you're worth when you're caught in a net. Rex: Rex: I'm sorry can you please explain that. Echo: We were running out of fuel on our last assignment so we landed in a Separatist port and Hunter put on a disguise and turned Tech in. We got six thousand credits for him. Rex: Six. Thousand? Echo: Yeah, turns out he's the lowest-value option at the moment, but Wrecker said he got turned in the last time. He's worth ten thousand, because he's blown up, like, a ton of important stuff, apparently. Hunter and Cross are probably in the eleven to twelve k range but they can't agree on who's worth more. Rex: Rex: You sold your brother!!!??? Crosshair: *offscreen* Are you even brothers if you haven't sold each other once? Tech: When we were cadets I sold Crosshair to Hunter for two credits. Crosshair: Those were imaginary credits, Tech. Tech: Which was the agreed-upon currency at the time. That transaction has never been voided, by the way. Legally, you still belong to Hunter. Hunter: Please, void it. I don't want him anymore. Here, take your two fake credits. Wrecker: Don't say that! Come here, Crosshair. I want you. Rex: *still on the comm* YOU SOLD YOUR BROTHER? Echo: We obviously got him back, Rex. Chill out. We fueled up in like ten minutes and went to retrieve him. He's fine. Rex: So you sold him and then you stole him BACK? Tech: Obviously. This squad would not survive without me for longer than the time it takes to refuel. That is why we usually sell Hunter or Wrecker. Additionally, they do not require extraction as they usually do that on their own.

Echo: I'm worth three thousand at the moment. But ten thousand is coming, wait and see! Rex: *frightened ori'vod noises*

[velo-cats]

Pebble Heart