#Help m.e

[oddfluphenazine]

someone’s gotta get ghostwalker to stop trying to go through walls because it hurts

[bearenthusiast2224]

sick

[flunkett]

the sisterrrsss sthe sisters ssivsnsnaggd :(((( the sisterss :((((( hfssisters ...... :(( love them :((

i love tgem...... :((((((((((

[chronicallyuniconic]

When the pain has cut through your limit & is now all you can focus on✨

I'm not ok

[welcome-to-green-hills]

I'm obsessed with Lego Amy catapulting grapes

❤️🥹❤️

[acespeon]

I really think about how different Knuckles might’ve handled things if he’d been the protagonist of Prime or used chaos energy to keep himself from being shattered

[sconesfortea]

It's about that heat of year again when I spare a thought for my fellow disabled babes (gn) who need to use heat to treat aches & pains.

It's 30°C+ (86°F) here this week, I'm sitting here, fan on full blast, heating pads on multiple muscles 😮‍💨

Ain't it a bitch that hotter temperatures don't work the same as heating pads or hot water bottles?!

[ask-the-three-of-chaos]

oh.

M.E. you are being manipulated by THEM.

You do belong! Just not with THEM.

Bruno isn't a bad person but The OTHER fellow is.

i can only suggest you find other people to be around.

I know you don't want to hear this and I understand it might upset you but I'm worried about you and your health.

You might be corrupted by THEM. And that's the last thing we want.

Or well.

The last thing I'd want.

There are very bad anon's out there anf you shouldn't trust every anon.

If you need i suggest you go call for tally.

Sure he has done very bad things in the past but he's genuinely becoming a better person.

He's become such a sweet nice man.

He's much better to stay with than these people you're with right now.

Much safer too.

He's a father and knows how to take care of and treat people.

I'm sure he'd be glad to help you with that.

Keep safe little one.

-Motherly anon.

|| M.E. doesnt say anything for a minute just kinda stares || || A misty shadow is nearby, speaking to him || || M.E. sighs Before finally speaking || You do you all... keep attack me? making me question things...? shes nice to me...

[atikas]

The restraint I show for one to two weeks a month not to plaster the internet with extremely long-winded rants about anything that’s ever bothered me

[kittenscookie]

Little tid bits about the Modern Epic PJO Au, anytime I reblog this it's because I've added something.

• Luke is only "big brother" to half the camp, he is the other half's DAD in all but blood. Yeah, he has been parentified to hell and back.

• No one outside of Hermes Cabin carries cash on them at camp. Because it will be stolen

• Luke and Chris see "your money" as "our money". They see any thief off cash as borrowing—they'll pay you back by the end of the week

• Travis and Connor see "your money" as "my money". You will never see that cash again

• M.E Hermes is basically the unclaimed's foster father and he takes that role very seriously. He glares hard at anyone who's left their child with him longer than a month. And if you don't get that kid by the end of the sixth one it's his and you aren't getting it back.

• On that note, when Percy made the other gods start claiming their kids M.E Hermes nearly killed a couple of them—as stated above, anyone who stays in that cabin longer than six months is HIS. At that point "your child" is either "our child" or "his child". (God of thieves indeed, out here stealing custody)

• Annabeth and Malcolm have a giant flemish rabbit—M.E Athena didn't understand that the Easter bunny is a mascot the first year they celebrated and yeah, the Athena Cabin has a rabbit now—name suggestions would be appreciated. (Hermes hasn't let Athena live that mistake down)

• Any message (say a happy birthday, a card, money, gift, etc.) from a god to their claimed child has to go through M.E Athena because M.E Hermes refuses to send them. His visitation is already shaky and he's just not willing to risk when he's got his own children to think about.

• Whenever the Ares Cabin wins capture the flag M.E Ares sends enough money for his kids to go out to eat and/or to the arcade.

• When the gods were given the go ahead to see their kids M.E Ares kicked the cabin door down and rounded his kids up to go make up for loss time. He also got Clarisse a motorcycle.

• Clarisse has a greek warrior teddy bear that M.E Ares got for her when she was eight. The bear's name is Madea (after the witch) and Clarisse will kill you if you touch her.

• Aeolus is trans 🏳️‍⚧️

• When Luke starts college Chris takes over as the camp's "contraband kid", the torch will then be passed to Travis, who will then pass it to Connor.

• This should go without saying but Luke has an apartment. Sometimes he opens the door to said apartment to find like 9 teenagers just chilling in his living room.

"I thought I gave you that key for emergencies Percy?"

"The wifi at camp went out."

"...Fair enough! Everyone good with chicken alfredo for dinner?"

• Warrior of the Mind is a lullaby M.E Athena sings to her kids here

• M.E Ares did NOT approve of Chris, like whatsoever. Sometimes Chris catches him glaring at him from across camp.

• Annabeth and Luke met once before canon when Luke was seven and Annabeth was fresh out the brain. M.E Athena was in the area with baby Annabeth while M.E Hermes was out with Luke—he held baby Annabeth. He did not realize Annabeth was the same baby until M.E Hermes pointed it out while they were on their way to camp.

• M.E Hermes calls M.E Athena's children owlets

• Luke despises Fredrick, genuine visceral hatred. Fredrick hates him just as much

• M.E Hermes relationship with Apollo can best be described as It's-on-sight.

"I didn't know!"

"It was your damn Oracle! How didn't you fucking know!?"

• When Luke was sent on his quest M.E Hermes was not allowed to help him whatsoever, that goes for the rest of the gods as well. When on a quest you are completely on your own—which is why Hermes was so hesitant to send him

• M.E Athena is demiromantic and asexual

• M.E Athena has both platonic and romantic brain babies. She cannot truly control the brain babies, if you're close enough to her there's a 25% chance one's popping out.

• Annabeth was a tiny ass baby, like most of M.E Athena's children are small because the head is not big enough for a full sized infant, but Annabeth was small

I'll probably add to this as more comes to me :P

[mismatched-sockss]

Kiss it better

» Pairing: Emily Prentiss x fem!BAU!Reader » Wordcount: 2,4k » Warnings: hurt/comfort, established relationship, non-sexual nudeness and touching (except for maybe a short allusion but emily turns reader down), reader has female anatomy (breasts are mentioned), mentions of unsub beating up reader and the resulting injuries, reader takes unspecified pain medication, pet names (honey, my love, baby) » A/N: no detailed body description --- pls take a look here for more info about my reader descriptions in general

⚶ masterlist ⚶

You tried to muffle the pained groan when you leaned into the shower to turn the water on, so Emily wouldn't hear. You didn't want her to worry her again. Still, not even five seconds later she slithered into the bathroom, almost slipping on the floor with her socked feet as she ran to the door.

"What are you doing?", she asked warily, her brows furrowed as she watched you like a hawk.

"Taking a shower?" You slowly turned to her and simultaneously started to unbutton your shirt. Your knuckles ached slightly from the movement, but the pain was not bad enough that you would have to stop.

"Yes, I can see that. Why are you doing it alone?"

"Because I'm a grown woman and can tak- ow!" Pain shot through your whole upper body when you shrugged the shirt off and moved your arm wrong. You tried to breathe through the pain and shot Emily a thankful smile when she helped you to fully remove your shirt.

She gasped when she saw the full extent of your injuries when she turned back to you after she threw your shirt into the laundry basket. She had been busy dealing with the Unsub and the local police earlier when the EMTs checked you, so she only knew what happend from what you told the team. This was the first time she saw the result of what the man had done to you.

Hotch had sent you to interview a potential witness, but when you knocked on the door the guy freaked when he saw your credentials. You fought with him but he got a couple of good kicks in once he had you on the floor.

Luckily you only had a couple of small wounds were the skin on your knuckles had split from the punches you were able to land, a cracked rib or two and a slight concussion. The big bruise that covered your right side looked really bad; it reached over half your stomach and your ribs up to your shoulder blade, shining in an angry mixture of different shades of red and purple.

As long as you moved with caution the pain was manageable so far and the bruises looked a lot worse than your injuries actually were. You could only imagine how bad it must look to Emily right now.

"Oh honey", she breathed out as she stepped closer. She reached out for you, her fingertips just barely touching the skin of your shoulder as she traced them along the bruise. Even though the bathroom had gotten warmer as it slowly filled with the steam from the hot water, her touch send a shiver down your spine and goosebumps started rising on your skin. "I'm so sorry. I should have gone with you."

You smiled at her as you took her hand between yours. "It's not your fault, okay?" You squeezed her hand and started to draw soothing circles on her skin with your thumb. "We had no way of knowing that Keller was the Unsub, when I left to interview him. And I was the one who insisted I would be fine on my own. Also, you already were halfway to the M.E.s office by then, so you wouldn't have been there either way."

"Still. Reid could have gone to talk to the M.E. alone. Then I could have gone with you." Emily raised her other hand to your cheek and softly stroked her thumb over your cheekbone. "I don't like seeing you hurt."

"I know, baby. But I'm okay." You crooked your head to the side as you leaned into her palm and rolled your eyes as you corrected yourself, because physically you were far from okay. "Okay, more like I'll live."

"You better...", she pouted.

You laughed and after she joined in, a sign that the tension was slowly leaving her, you leaned in to close the space between you both and kissed her.

Emily smiled when you parted and nodded her head to the running shower. "Let's get you cleaned up." She helped you to take off the rest of your clothes and then took off her own so she could join you in the shower. She insisted to do all the work and ordered you to "just stand there and look pretty."

The both of your stepped inside the shower stall and a deep sigh left your lips when the warm water hit your skin, immediately relaxing your tense muscles. The water pressure was light enough that it didn't hurt when it landed on your skin.

Emily reached behind you to grab one of the bottles and signaled you to turn around and face away from her, before she flipped the lid and squeezed some of the flowery smelling stuff into her hand. You closed your eyes when she started to shampoo your hair, her fingers gently massaging your head. She giggled when you hummed. “Feels good?”, she asked. You just hummed again and let your head fall back. When she was done with the shampoo, she unhooked the shower head and rinsed your hair out, then she worked some of the conditioner in as well. Every step - shampoo, rinse, conditioner, rinse - she softly massaged your scalp.

She proceeded to lather her hands up with shower gel. While she was doing so she planted a small kiss onto your right shoulder, right above the edge of your bruise. Emily's hands glided over your skin, washing your arms and your back, and she made sure to move over your injuries as softly as she could so she wouldn't hurt you.

By the time she made you turn back around, her touch had done much more to you than just washing your body. With a new portion of shower gel she started on your collar bones and worked her way down, over your breasts and stomach.

Your breathing quickened and you put your left hand on her waist to pull her closer. You tried to kiss her, but Emily turned her face away and chuckled. “Nope.”

“Mean”, you said and pouted. She kissed your nose before she bend down to wash your legs.

"I'm not being mean, but you are hurt. You'll have to wait until you're better, my love." She looked up at you and the sight alone - Emily on her knees in front of you and the way she was looking into your eyes, paired with her hands on your thighs - almost drove you insane. Like you said. Mean.

You groaned and rolled your eyes playfully. "Why do you have to be so responsible?"

"Because I love you and because I'm your boss."

"Just because you've been in the BAU longer than me, doesn't make you my boss”, you laughed.

Emily shrugged, a wide smile on her lips. "Tomato, tomahto. It's pretty much the same thing."

After the both of you were done in the bathroom - freshly showered, bodies lotioned and dressed in comfortable clothes - Emily gave you some pain killers and sat you down on the couch so she could apply new bandages on your hand.

“It's really not that bad”, you said. She held your right hand in both of hers, examining your knuckles - split skin accompanied with light red bruises that were already turning purple.

She shook her head. “It's bad enough. Just let me do this, please?” Emily didn't wait for your answer, didn't even look up at you, before she dabbed some disinfectant on your knuckles; then she wrapped the new bandage around your hand.

“Okay”, you breathed out, giving in. You could tell she still blamed herself that you got hurt, heard it in the way her voice had cracked just now. If dressing your wounds and tending to your every needs would help that she felt better about it, you'd let her.

You didn't blame her. Or even Hotch. The only person at fault was Keller. But you knew, that if the roles were reversed and Emily would have gotten injured in the field while you weren't around, you would blame yourself as well. Probably even if you would have been around.

So you let her do her thing. You let her fix you something to eat, let her wrap you up in a cozy blanket and let her brush your hair. You would lie if you would say, that you didn't like it.

It was still early enough in the evening that you had time to cuddle up on the couch with each other and watch TV while sharing a tub of ice cream. Emily had you sitting between her legs, your back to her chest, so she could hold you without you having to lie on your side. One of her hands had found its way back into your hair, her fingers playing with your hair and untangling the knots that were back in your hair after she had brushed it earlier.

You had stopped paying attention to the TV a long time ago, fully focusing and enjoying her touch. From time to time you felt her planting a quick kiss here and there - the side of your head, your neck, your shoulder.

Slowly but surely it lulled you to sleep, you eyelids getting heavier by the minute. You adjusted your position, turning your head to the side to lean your forehead against her neck. Just when you were about to drift off, your hand slit off Emily's thigh and it collided with the empty ice cream container next to you. You jumped, not because it hurt your hand but because it had startled you in your half conscious state. Immediately after you doubled over in pain; which you regretted the second you did it as it only made it worse.

“Woah, hey, hey.” Emily grabbed your shoulders to hold you steady.

Tears shot into your eyes and you whimpered. It felt like your whole right side was on fire. Now with the sudden movement and since you had rested for a while, your more than sore muscles ached even more than they had before.

A sob fought its way out of your throat and before you knew it, you were full on crying. The crying didn't make it better: your head started to pound again, your side got worse as your body shook with every sob and when you started to hyperventilate your ribs violently protested against having to hold your lungs in.

Emily held you against her, making sure to not hurt you any further of course, and brushed the hair from your forehead. She stroked your hair as she was trying to calm you and she whispered “Shhh, it's okay... It's okay. Just breath.” into your ear over and over again. It hurt her, that she couldn't do anything to help you, to ease your pain. To take the pain away.

It took a while for you to calm down, until your breath evened out and your sobs stopped, only soft whimpers leaving your lips now. Emily asked you if she could get you anything and when you asked for painkillers, she sighed and kissed the side of your head. “It's too early to take another dose. I'm sorry, baby. We-”

“I don't care”, you cried. “Please...”

For a short moment she fought with herself. She wanted to help you, but you only had taken the last pill about two hours ago; the prescription said to wait at least four hours between doses. But with one look into your eyes, she dismissed all caution and nodded. If it only had been 30 minutes, it would have been a different kind of story. And not keeping to the advised time frame one time, shouldn't hurt.

“Okay”, Emily breathed out and carefully got up to get the medication and a glass of water. When she came back, she took a seat next to you and placed the pill in your hand. You took it and after drinking some of the water you gave her the glass back. “Thank you.”

“Of course”, she said and placed the glass down. “Why don't we get you into bed, huh?”

You just nodded. All you wanted to do right now was sleep. You were so tired. From the day, from the crying, from the pain.

“Do you want to go now, or do you want to wait a moment for the medication to work?”, she asked and brushed a strand of hair behind your ear. God, you hoped the pain killers would work their magic quickly.

“Now please”, you said in a low voice.

Emily took your hand and helped you stand up, walking you slowly over to your shared bedroom. You stopped at your side of the bed, waited for her to pull back the blanket and then carefully laid down with her help.

“I'll be right back”, she told you, once you were all set. While she was gone, you closed your eyes and hoped, that your pain would stop soon. It had dulled a bit by now and lying down had helped your body relax. Right now, your headache was hurting the most in your body. Luckily it had stopped pounding in the rhythm of your heartbeat, but there was still a constant, sharp pain that felt like your head was about to split open.

You laid your wrist over your eyes - the bandage felt both soft and rough on your skin – and you kept it there, not moving it even when a soft clink on your nightstand indicated Emily's return; presumably with a fresh glass of water. You could hear her walking around the room and shutting off the big room light before she climbed into bed.

She softly touched your wrist and moved it away from your face so she could hold your hand in both of hers in between your bodies. “Are you feeling better yet?”

You turned your head to look at her, watching her pull your hand closer to her face and planting the softest kisses on your bandaged knuckles, one by one. You smiled at her. “A bit, meds are slowly kicking in, I think.”

“Good”, Emily said as she smiled back at you from behind your hand. “I'm glad. Try to get some sleep.” She sat up slightly and supported her weight on her elbow so she could lean down. First, she kissed your lips, then she planted a kiss on your cheek and one on your eyebrow.

“Good night.”

“Good night.”

[lazorbeanz]

Another continuation to my list of random thoughts and reactions to STH3

(Part 3🫠)

!spoilers ahead duh!

- NOOOOOOO TOM!!!! HE CANT BE DEAD!!! SHADOW DID NOT JUST KILL TOM (I was literally shaking AND oh was I on the brink of tears too aakdjsjsnjs)

- more parallels 😭

- omg the new suits looking like how they do in the games o yaaaaas

- uhm someone care to help eggman he looks like he’s having a seizure

- okay now I definitely feel bad for stone :(

- idk why but this part in the movie I could NOT stop rambling to myself about it

It was after the ambulance had driven away with tom and maddie

How Sonic was just filled with so much anger and hurt he was willing to break the promise he made with his team about not using the M.E

Knuckles ofc was fully against the idea as using the M.E could be too dangerous, especially using it for something like vengeance. Then also saying that Sonic is in no right to make any decisions esp in his emotional state

Because emotions (especially anger) can cloud your judgement. you’re not always thinking straight therefore leading to irrational decision making

And knuckles, always being known as the hothead, short tempered, sometimes leaping into battles with just fists and no brain. He of all people probably knows what happens when you make decisions based off your emotions

And iirc doesn’t the power of the Master Emerald (or the chaos emeralds) reflects (or is based of) the person’s heart? Having someone who is feeling a whole pile of negative emotions wield such power can have severe consequences (which I’m pretty sure has already been demonstrated)

But anyways Sonic couldn’t care at the moment, he was even fine with going solo if no one “had the guts” Hecc, he was even ready to throw hands with Knux just to win it over and I was like “oh shiz it’s gonna be STH2 all over again” cuz y’know they both got all charged up

But then Knuckles was reminded about the OTHER half of their promise…to trust each other, and he was going to make sure he kept that promise even if Sonic broke it on his end, even if Sonic chooses to go with what could be a very reckless choice. When knux swears a ✨sacred oath✨ he is bound to keep it regardless.

So he stands down and lets Sonic have his way

Idk did that not just scream maturity or character development to you?? Bc knux usually wouldn’t make a stretch like this esp with the M.E. Idk maybe I looked too far into it help

(Also I’m not in any way condemning Sonic for being the way he was…poor guy has been thru a lot from dealing with another hedgehog, to 2 eggmen, GUN, and now his “dying” father. He has every right to be pissed)

- oh is it who I think it is-

- OH MY GOSH WADE HAHAHAHA YESSSSS THE NEW FEARSOME GUARDIAN OF THE MASTER EMERALD ALL QUIVER BEFORE HIM

- BUDDY YOU DIDNT EVEN LOOK LIKE YOU TRIED-

- NAAAAA NO MORE SAD FLASHBACKS :(

- OH STUFF’S ABOUT TO GET REAL

- SUPER SHADOW ENTERED THE CHAT!!!!

- SONIC JUST PUNCHING SHADOW ACROSS THE WORLD DAAAAYYUUUUMM BROS ON A WHOLE NEW LEVEL OF VIOLENCE

🎶Brazil, Morocco, London to Ibiza-🎶 (shh it’s totally accurate)

- I’m crying WHAT IS THIS SORCERY

- SONIC SHED A TEAR I REPEAT SONIC SHED A TEAR I SAW IT

- ahh yes beautiful trauma bonding

- OMG OKAY ITS HAPPENING EVERYBODY STAY CALM

- AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

- LIVE AND LEARRRRNNNNNN

- old people and insects…

- BANGER SCENE + BANGER SONG = PEAK CINEMA PT.2

- THEY DID THE THING!!!

- oop there goes eggman

- WAIT WHERE DID TAILS AND KNUCKLES COME FROM DID I MISS SOMETHING?

- lmfao Gerald gets his ass zapped by his grandson and then incinerated by pure chaos energy the karma is reallll but uhm rest in pepperonis ig

- THEY PISSED ON THE FREAKING MOOOOOOOON

- AAAAAHHHHH TAILS SEES HIS BIG BRO PLUMMETING TO HIS DOOM AND-

HES IN TEARS IM UNWELL

- YESSSS GO SAVE YOUR BUDDY!!!!

- sayonara Shadow the Hedgehog and Dr.Robotnik 🫡

- NOOOO TAILS LOSING CONSCIOUS YOU TRIED ITS OKAY

- YEEEAAAAHHHHH HERE COMES KNUCKLES TO SAVE BOTH HIS LIL BROTHERS!!!!! 💪💪💪

- TEAM HUG AWWWWW LETS GO

- DONUT LORD IS ALIIIIIVEEEE YESSSS

- MORE DOGGY TRANSLATIONS :D

yes ozzy u get all the loveeee

- YES WE GET THE REAL RACE THIS TIME TO TOP IT OFF

- I love this movie

- *proceeds to jam out to the credits*

- welcome to the SCU Amy 🩷 ALSO GURL UR SO PRETTY WOWZERS

- I need STH4 NOW

[bullet-prooflove]

Safe: Leroy Jethro Gibbs x Reader

Tagging: @kmc1989 @riley-kore @ilovemark1951 @love-affair-with-fandoms @mishkatelwarriorgoddess

Companion piece to:

The Ice Queen - Gibbs meets The Ice Queen for the first time.

Break The Ice - A act of decency helps Gibbs to break the ice.

Umbrella - Gibbs gets more than he bargained for when he offers you his umbrella.

Grave - You and Gibbs bump into each other in an unexpected place.

The thing that Gibbs likes most about you is that you don’t give damn about what anybody else thinks. That becomes blatantly obvious over the months he continues works with you. You’re a consummate professional, a fierce victim advocate and the most compassionate woman he’s ever met.

The way you speak to the families, it’s an art form.

He could only wish for more people like you. People who haven’t become desensitised by everything they’ve seen. People who still give a shit.

“I don’t know how you do it.” He says to you one night over drinks at a bar he’s already forgotten the name of. “How do you stay sane after seeing so much death?”

Meeting up like this, it’s starting to become a regular thing between the two of you. You’ve been doing it ever since the day you ran into each other at the cemetery. Most nights he grabs a few drinks with his team but Thursdays, he reserves those especially for you.

“I know that people think I’m cold, detached…” You say as you swirl the ice cubes around whiskey glass. “But when I look down at them, I see the person they were. Lieutenant Colchester’s calloused fingers from where he played guitar, the scar on Ensign Lopez’s knee from a cycling accident. They all had hobbies, a life, people who care about them.” You take a sip from the glass. “I guess that makes me driven.”

“It’s a good way to be.” Gibbs tells you, his gaze meeting yours. “You fight for them, even when the lead on the case tells you, you shouldn’t.”

He’s talking about the blow up they all overheard coming from Family and Sexual Violence and Threat Management Unit this afternoon. You have a dead Corporal on your table and Special Agent in Charge LaRue is shoving the file to the bottom of the pile because the deceased used to be hook to put food on the table before she joined the service.

“I’m gonna be person non-grata in that department for a very long time.” You state as you signal to the bartender for another round. “They’ve already requested another M.E.”

“It was the right thing to do.” Gibbs tells you as if it’s something irrefutable.

That’s one of the reasons you like about spending time with Gibbs. There’s no platitudes, there’s only frankness. He’s a man without an agenda and you can not express just how refreshing that is.  

“I know.” You say, pushing your used glass away from you. “I’d do it again in a heartbeat if I thought it would bring any of them justice.”

You damn well would too, he knows it.

It’s an hour later that he begins to tug on his jacket. It’s the same everytime. Eleven o’clock hits and he walks you home. Only tonight you aren’t pulling on your coat, your still sitting there, your finger tracing around the top of the glass you’ve been drinking from.

“Maeve?” He questions, tilting his head to meet your gaze.

“I think I’m gonna stay a while.” You tell him and he sits back down on his stool.

“Alright, well I’ve got nowhere else to be-”

“Jethro.” You say softly, your hand coming to rest on top of his ensuring you have his full attention. “You know that feeling you get, that frustration that builds and builds until you end up starting a fight. I get that too, only I fuck it out.”

“Oh.” He says as it dawns on him. “I’m cock blocking you.”

“You look like a big strapping Marine, ready to beat the shit out of anyone that approaches me.” You inform him and he supposes he kinda does.

“I’m not sure how comfortable I feel…” He begins because his momma taught him a lot better than to leave a woman alone in a bar.

“It’s not about your comfort.” You remind him, your voice turning brittle. “It’s about me getting what I need and what I need is to get fucked.”

He doesn’t like it, not because of the sex but rather the danger it presents. You’ll be taking home you don’t know, someone who could hurt you or worse. He also knows he can’t stop you, that you’re going to do this no matter what he says because it is a need, one that he recognises all too well.

“Will you call me or page me?” He asks you as he raises to his feet once again. “Just so I know you’re safe.”

You sigh, rapping your fingertips upon the surface on the table. He gets the feeling you aren’t used to people actually giving a shit about you. Well tough, he does and you’re just gonna have to get used to that.

“Maybe.” You concede. “If you leave within the next five minutes.”

Maybe…

That’s the best he’s gonna get for now.

It’s a couple of hours later that his pager chirps. He’s doing push ups in the dark on the bedroom floor, trying to chase away the images of another man touching you, tasting you, fucking you. He’s not a jealous man but he is protective, he would go to hell and back for the people he cares about and apparently you’re one of them. He picks up the tiny black device, his gaze fixating on the letters as they scroll across screen.

S-A-F-E.

Safe.

Love Gibbs? Don’t miss any of his stories by joining the taglist here.

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Like My Work? - Why Not Buy Me A Coffee

[neysaadept]

Prometheus Chapter 8

Emily Prentiss x Female CIA Reader

Chapter 8 - Excision Part Two (Criminal Minds Case Time)

Tags: Limited use of y/n but established last name. Swearing, mentions of the pandemic and human and sex trafficking. Canon typical violence. Sexual innuendos. Drinking. Smoking. Slow Burn. Murder. Depictions of Flaying. Implied Rape. Mentions of Date Rape Drugs. Strangulation. Restraints. Mental Institutions. PTSD. Childhood trauma. Psychological Trauma. Implied references to child abuse. Minors DNI.

Word Count: 6k

AO3

Chapter 7

You were hanging out in Prentiss' hotel room later in the evening. She was able to reserve three rooms for you all at a hotel in Indio to be close to the unsub’s hunting grounds. You all decided to eat dinner together while processing the information gleaned from the M.E. and Rossi’s interviews, which ended about an hour ago. You all felt you could think clearer here than at the station. Sheriff Grosch was breathing down yours and Prentiss’ necks every step of your investigation since the tox screen came back. It was unbearable. Even you being direct that you needed space to work without constant interruptions that had nothing to do with the case fell on deaf ears. So, the two of you said fuck it and called Rossi to meet you at the hotel. The station knew how to contact you if anything further came up. Local law enforcement had given you everything you needed and were just in the way at this point and explained you would have the profile nailed down soon to announce at the station late tonight.

Garcia had given you a brief update on the ‘Home Team’. JJ, Luke, and Tara almost had the unsubs but were distracted by them hacking into the Bluetooth speakers to lead the BAU away from their exact location in the house. They were able to flee the scene with two more dead guards to process. They worked out the profile and announced it to local PD. They believe they’re local so they’re hoping they can make an arrest soon.

You also feel that the unsub is local based on the geographical profile you worked out that was taped on the mirror over the flatscreen. You had marked up the dumping grounds of both bodies, where they lived, worked, and where they were last spotted. There was far too much overlapping for the unsub not to be familiar with the area. They were staying inside safe hunting grounds.

Dave was able to find out that McGarth was meeting a woman for drinks at the bar. It wasn’t just a wind down and hopefully get laid. The meet up sounded like a date. Unfortunately, his boss and the other members of the firm had no idea who this mystery woman was. Garcia was running through dating apps to see if there was a match with McGarth, but the guy was a player. He had several apps and lots of ladies that he was chatting it up with. That would take time on top of Garcia working with the home team in tracking down the security guard murderers, but she assures you all that she’s got this.

Sulliven’s family and his assistant were not helpful. The timeline indicated that he left work like usual but never made it home. His family thought he was working late at the office, which was not unusual.

You also learned that neither victim was sexual assaulted nor had any trace residue of semen. That was the part that was baffling the three of you – the method didn’t match up with the assault.

Rossi was sitting at the desk, using a fork to eat his orange chicken which made both you and Prentiss poke fun of him since the two of you were using chopsticks.

Prentiss was currently on the bed plucking out a peapod. “So why drug them? I get the sedation but drugging them with no signs of sexual aggression doesn’t add up.”

“The drugs were used on both victims,” says Rossi. “It’s possible that’s what they had access to.”

“But flunitrazepam isn’t sold in the US. Even doctors barely use it in other countries” you add before munching on a steamed shrimp. You had made yourself comfortable on the floor sitting cross legged.  

“But they can?” Rossi leans back thoughtfully. “Not common but possible.”

You shrug. “Not unless you bring a script to your local drug dealer. And by script, I mean cash.”

“With how meticulous our unsub is, I find it hard to believe that they’d visit a drug dealer.” Prentiss shakes her head and motions animatedly with her hands, keeping a firm grip on the veggie between chopsticks. “They like being in control. Everything’s done with precision and going into the wrong part of town meeting a drug dealer gives up a lot of control.”

“A lot of countries have access to it. Australia, Japan, Mexico … quite a few countries in Europe.” You were well aware of this having worked with Interpol investigating a serial rapist in the UK and Ireland. Despite being legal, flunitrazepam was used as a date rape drug in other countries as well. “Can always narrow down our doctor pool with any international travel.”

Garcia’s search brought back over five thousand surgeons in Thermal area. With the flaying technique used, you narrowed it down to plastic surgeons but that only got the suspect pool down to over two thousand. You were in California. There were a shit ton of plastic surgeons.

“And with the bodies being relatively untouched, the unsub is probably female,” says Rossi. “Majority of rape victims are women. Especially with the use of date rape drugs.” He pauses in consideration. “Is it possible that our unsub picked her victims because they’re sexual offenders?”

Prentiss immediately facetimes Garcia on her laptop who immediately appears with a friendly wave. “Hello my fine furry friends. What’s up?”

Emily stabs her chopsticks into the food and sets aside the container. “Cross check police reports on our victims.”

“Anything specific we’re looking … Oh…” Her voice drops solemnly. “Am I looking for something extremely bad like rape charges? Cuz, I’m finding that both of them have that in common. As in they both were charged for the same incident.”

“They were convicted?” you ask in bewilderment since nothing came up on their background checks.

“Uh, no. Both of them had the charges dropped. Oh, get this. Alcohol was involved and it was indeterminate if consent was obtained or not and the poor darlings took some time before they reported the assault. Both men lawyered up really good, which is not surprising for a paralegal and a psychiatrist. One being able to use connections and the other having the money. They just up and ran with the lack of physical evidence even though hair samples on the victims detected our unsubs drug of choice. There was no way to prove these jerk faces did it.”

“Who pressed charges?” Rossi asks.

“Uh, Desiree Villanueva and Lauren Conway. Couple of friends trying to have a nice girls’ night when … ah damn. There was a third man involved. A Robert MacDonald - some banker at Wells Fargo.”

“Lovely. Little rich boys club wanted to play and wouldn’t take no for an answer,” states Rossi with disgust.

“Are either victim on our plastic surgeons list?” Prentiss questions next.

“Nope. Waitress and jeweler.”

“But we’re on to something with the unsub being a woman. How many are those plastic surgeons are female?” you request of Garcia.

“Little over four hundred.”

“Any of them show up on McGarth’s dating apps?”

“Ah … yes! Dr. Sandra Duncan! Has a practice in La Quinta.” Garcia brings up her driver’s and medical license. She had short brown hair with wavy bangs and piercing blue eyes. She was caught in mid-smile.

“That’s in our geo profile,” you confirm.

“Has she been a victim of sexual assault?” presses Emily.

“Unfortunately. She accused a Benjamin Riley of drugging her at a bar called The Treehouse in 2015. They were students together at Standford. Charges were dropped in a similar manner like our victims. After that, she went on to finish medical school, get married to an engineer named Drew Arnold. Oh no…” she whimpers while continuing “… her daughter, Charolette, died of leukemia six months ago. Then her jerk of a husband served divorce papers.”

You, Rossi and Prentiss share a knowing look and immediately leave dinner where it is and grab your coats.

“Two triggers in such a short time is more than enough to make someone lose control,” you state. “The family she had to ground her is gone, so she’s turn vigilante. Helping those women when no one helped her.”

Prentiss nods. “And she’s taking off their faces, their masks as you said, to show them for the rapists they are. She’s angry they got away with it and regressed back to when this happened to her.”

“And being a physician, she has access to drugs like midazolam,” says Rossi as you all walk out of Prentiss’ hotel room, already on the phone with the sheriff station to get the location of Arnold’s personal residence and place of business. “We’ll need a unit on Robert MacDonald, DOB 2/23/97, out of Palm Springs. Our unsub’s going for him next if she doesn’t have him already,” he explains to dispatch.

“Any chance she’s gone abroad?” questions Prentiss as you all head outside to the parking lot where the two SUVs waited. Garcia was now talking over speaker phone.

“Why yes she did. Two months ago, in fact. Visited a cousin in Ipswich, just outside of Brisbane. Happened after the divorce.”

Prentiss stops in front of the vehicles. “Garcia, work with local law enforcement to get us warrants ASAP on Duncan’s home and work. Does she have a business partner?”

“She does not. All solo.”

“Good. We don’t have to wake anyone else and waste more time. Once those warrants are in have SWAT meet us at both locations. Rossi?” Prentiss calls out to get his attention. He places the phone against his chest, giving her his full attention. “You take Duncan’s home. We got the clinic. No moving inside without the warrants unless there’s signs of a victim. Clear?”

“Crystal. I’ve got Grosch on the line who’s grumpy about things moving so fast …”

“Fucker’s always grumpy unless he’s calling the shots or up our asses,” you mutter while leaning against the front of the car.

Rossi chuckles. “Yes, but he’s waking the judge to get everything legal. Units will meet us there and set up a perimeter. They’ve got a squad car heading to MacDonald’s right now.”

Prentiss nods. “Let’s roll.”

“Be safe my loves!” Garcia says and hangs up.

Without warning, Prentiss tosses you the car keys and you deftly catch them in surprise. “You’re letting me drive?”

“Why not?” she says, opening the passenger door. “Or is driving twenty miles too hard for the maniac driver of the CIA?”

You grin ear to ear. “No, Ma’am.”

A Toyota SUV with no headlights on makes its way down the driveway of a multibuilding business center. It slows and makes a right and then swings around to back up into the driveway for deliveries at the one-story single building at the far end of the complex.

The garage opens and the SUV disappears inside. Only until the garage door closed, did the driver side open. Dr. Sandra Arnold was dressed in nice blue jeans, black boots, and an off the shoulder floral blouse. Hair and make-up were pristine, complementing her features for the faux date. She made her way to the patient cart that was already set up with sheets and pushed it over to the side of the trunk. With a quick wave of her foot under the car, the trunk slowly opened revealing an unconscious Robert MacDonald.

She brought the cart around, locked it in place, and then slid Robert onto it by the sheet he was laying over. After a few adjustments of scooting him around, she pulls up the slide rails, hovering over his face with blue eyes filled with malicious intent.

Her black gloved hand gently strokes down a chiseled cheek, then chin, and repeats the gesture back up the other side. Fingers play with brown strands of short hair. She roughly combed her fingers through it and looks at his face objectively, pulling it side to side to finish making the mental notes required to mark her incisions.

She pulls back, nostrils flaring as her eyes closed. Hands ball into shaking fists as she breathes through the rage building inside her, stopping herself from injuring this bastard. She had plans and could not ruin them with a violent outburst. Her heart now races with anticipation knowing that the victims that could not find justice just like her would have the peace they deserved. The peace that was denied them with a broken system easily manipulated by rich men who didn’t want their careers ruined.

Can’t have a career if you’re dead. Can’t hurt another woman if you’re dead, too.

“And how many more women did you rape since then, huh?!” she hisses with clenched teeth as she unlocks the cart and roughly pushes him into the next room.

Captain Robles met you and Prentiss outside La Quinta Cosmetic Surgery with a warrant in hand close to sixty minutes later. In that time, you and Prentiss were vested up as SWAT had set up a perimeter around the stucco and modern style office building. It was closed to 1am and there was little public to redirect since this area was all businesses. The building itself was dark with no vehicles in the parking lot or immediate surroundings. Chances of Arnold and or MacDonald here was slim after the first walk through around the building, but you all had to move fast to be sure.

Chattering over the radio indicated Rossi and Sheriff Grosch were about to enter Arnold’s residence after no response to announcing FBI presence.

Now it was your turn.

Prentiss had already ordered Robles and his officers to set up positions by all exits of the building. You, Prentiss and the SWAT team were going to coordinate entrance on the section chief’s orders. You and Prentiss had your guns at the ready, pointed at the ground, as you flanked the doorway together.

You lock eyes with Prentiss who gives the go ahead and you speak into the radio that Robles provided both of you. “Ready in five … four …”

You go silent as all units would finish the count down and on one, a SWAT officer came swinging in with the two handed breaching tool to place right between the lock and jamb. With two soft slaps that sound like a piston, the door is breached and Prentiss heads in first, shoulder blocking the door fully open.

A cacophony of clears starts echoing in the empty rooms. You call some out yourself as you clear a utility closet and bathroom and work your way with Prentiss and SWAT down the hallway. You all fan out to cover the rest of the rooms. There were two offices and six examination rooms. All empty.

One of the officers comes up to Prentiss, assault rifle securely pointed to the floor. “Building’s secure. No one’s onsite, Ma’am.”

Holstering her Glock, she licks her lips in thought. “Spread out and search for anything connecting Arnold with the victims or where she’s at.”

You already wandered away from her to do just that and landed in the supply room to look around at all the basic medical equipment an office like this would have. All the sterile processing of surgical tools would be done somewhere else. You were about to turn around and leave when something caught your eye. A white strap dangling out of a floor cabinet. You lean forward to open it and feel a rush of memories.

“FUCK YOU!” you screamed, spitting at the male nurse’s aide’s face. Two of them were trying to grab your flailing limbs as you thrashed about on the bed. “I’M NOT GONNA GO!”

“Damn it!” the one orderly huffed, shaking his head along his shoulder to get his eyes clean of saliva.

It gave you the chance to kick him in the stomach when his grip loosened. But with the commotion you were causing, two more men came in to assist and grabbed ahold of you. You were outnumbered as they forced your hands and feet into the padded restraints.

Then there was the hated sharp sting into your thigh of forced medication …

You come out of the memory, not realizing you were already cradling the wrist restraint. With a hard swallow, you now know why those indentations seemed so familiar with the victims. You had them yourself at one point when some asshole tech tightened your restraints too hard. Of course, part of you still wondered if you deserved the rough treatment. That guilt that since you were a bad patient, you deserved the treatment you got. You were always physical and uncooperative with staff, and you didn’t give a shit who you hurt back then …

“Hey, Whitlock?” Prentiss’ voice forces you to look up and you curse the fact that you just know your cheeks are burning. There is no way she didn’t notice it, but she didn’t press. “Got something?” she asks instead.

“Uh, yeah.” You toss the restraint over to Prentiss and she catches it. “Pretty sure this is what Arnold’s using on her vics.”

She turns it over thoughtfully. “And we found midazolam in the med room. Arnold’s home’s empty but Rossi did find untouched ampules of flunitrazepam.”

You free the phone from your belt and call Garcia. “The princess is in another castle. We’re 0 for 2 here.”

Prentiss looks up at you but was unable to catch your gaze. You were focused on the call with Garcia. She did have some reservations with how you reacted to the restraint she was now holding and wondered if it would affect your ability to remain in the field.

“Let’s see what my crystal ball can tells us. Ah! Arnold did set up shop at a different office before the one you’re currently standing in. About eight months ago she moved from there before her whole world unraveled. Former office locale is currently vacant and just like that, you have messages with the address.”

You take a peek at your texts before responding. “Thanks, Garcia. We’ll keep in touch.”

“You better, missy!” You wince, hearing the commanding tone of wholesome concern. “Queen Penelope out.”

You start moving out of the room while pulling up directions to the office. “We’re six minutes away.”

You were focused and the section chief would keep her concern to herself and stay close to you as this unfolds. Prentiss’ voice carries loud and clear throughout the hallway as she leads the way. “Alright everyone, we’re moving out!”

Fully gowned with hair tied back under a blue surgical cap and face covered by a mask, Arnold adjusts her goggles as she leans forward to inspect her work one last time. MacDonald’s face was centered inside the hole of the surgical drape to where the markings were clearly visible. His neck and upper torso were covered as well with wrists and ankles secured to the cart by restraints.

With a practiced hand, she reaches for the instrument tray to pull closer. She slides a finger down the length of the scalpel handle before picking it up. Despite her malevolent intentions, her grip was gentle as she tilted his head to secure him for the first incision.

But she was interrupted by the double doors to the exam room being kicked open. Her eyes widened in terror as officers start shouting orders.

“FBI!!!” Prentiss yells, gun lined up for a shot as two SWAT follow suit to cut off Arnold’s escape routes.

“FREEZE!!!”

“LOWER YOUR WEAPON!!!”

You watch Arnold pull the scalpel closure to MacDonald’s neck, securing his head in a headlock. “Get away! Get the fuck away!!!”

All four of you had a clean shot to take Arnold, but there was a chance she could still do irreparable harm with how close the blade was to MacDonald’s neck.

“Sandra, you need to put the scalpel down,” Prentiss says firmly.

“Like hell I do!” she shouts back. “He fucking deserves this! They all fucking deserve this!”

“It’s bullshit the justice system failed you. Failed Desiree and Lauren. But this won’t take the pain away of what happened to you. To them,” Prentiss implores.

“No … but at least there’s some justice,” she hisses, the blade digging in just enough to draw a bead of blood on his neck.

“But is it really? Justice?” you ask as you lower your gun. Prentiss quickly looks at you and wonders what the hell you’re doing.

“Why wouldn’t it be?” she bites back, puffing her chest out arrogantly. “With him gone, that makes three less rapists in the world.”

“Alright. Let me ask it like this.” You hold your hand up as you put your gun away. Arnold remained engaged. “Does it feel like justice to you?”

She blinks her eyes several times and looks around the room, passing over Prentiss and the officers without focus. Your question stumps her. You can see how she is struggling to reconcile what justice means to her. You could even see the face mask crinkling as she was trying to find her words.

You nod with understanding, your eyes betraying the same conflict that Arnold has in trying to reconcile the feelings of violation and anger right now. You fight the shiver that threatens to run down your spine, needing to stand firm as the two of you share the same haunted look that does not go unnoticed by Prentiss.

“It’s doesn’t. It never will, Sandra. Even if you were able to find the one that hurt you, that you do this to him and declare justice in victory, through their death,” you slowly motion with your hand to the guy on the cart, “you’re trying to find peace.” You lick your lips as your throat tightens, regaining the control you need to get through to Sandra. “But there’s no peace.” You shrug tearfully. “It never comes. It never will. You just … have to find a way to live for yourself. Every day. Every hour. Every minute. You just have to find the strength to survive.”

You watch as Sandra’s throat bobs up and down several times as you all wait to see how this will go. Will she surrender or cause someone to pull their trigger and end this stalemate.

But then you hear her sniff as she blinks back tears. “You know.”

A statement that you affirm with a nod. “I do.”

She fights back a sob. “I was really trying to help them …”

Your watery eyes soften as you sadly smile. “I know.”

And it was in that moment that Arnold made her decision to step back, letting the scalpel fall to the floor with a loud clang. SWAT immediately went in to put cuffs on her and read her rights as you vaguely were aware of Prentiss calling in for a medic. Right now you are focused on watching Arnold being escorted away. The two of you kept eye contact, her watching you over her shoulder until more officers came running in to obscure the view.

“Hey…” Prentiss voice was like a loud boom that went off by your ear. The anxiety of forcing yourself to come back from such raw memories heightened everything around you.

“Huh? Oh. Yeah.” You look passed Prentiss as a group of officers’ start assessing MacDonald.

She places a hand on your shoulder and since you didn’t flinch, she squeezes. “You did good getting her to surrender.”

There was a lot to unpack with what happened here. The enigma that you are just grew with what Prentiss learned tonight. It already started with the faraway look you had holding the restraints back at Arnold’s office. This unsettling revelation amplified so many questions that Prentiss wanted to know about you.

“Thanks,” you say, offering a forced half smile at her. “Better than her getting shot, right?”

She drops her hand and nods. “Yeah. She’ll get the help she needs.”

At that you laugh shakily. “Remains to be seen, but yeah. Hope so.” You felt conflicted about knowing that MacDonald was going to live because you understood where Arnold was coming from. There was a reason you didn’t share with Sandra that you personally rid yourself of your abuser. You would have lost the connection of trust built on shared trauma.

Prentiss watches you shambling off, unsettled with how your eyes had lost its luster. Seeing you sullen and devoid of your usual concealing humor was concerning.

Prentiss catches up with you after giving out last minute directives to secure the area until forensics arrive. Emergency lights flash brightly as officers were carrying out orders. Robles was here delegating tasks to where his people would contain the crime scene in and outside the building. You heard MacDonald moaning as the paramedics guided the gurney passed you to the ambulance. Whatever they had given him started to get the guy into some conscious awareness.

Rossi was waiting outside waiting for the two of you with a satisfied smile. “Sorry I’m late, but clearly you didn’t need me.”

You had stopped off to the side of Prentiss with hands tucked into your vest, your attention on watching Arnold being put into the backseat of a squad car.

“Whitlock talked Arnold down.” Prentiss explains with a small nod your way.

“How ‘bout that.” His smile grows and fights to catch your eyes. He raises a brow in question if he should push things, but Prentiss lightly shakes her head no. Getting the hint, he shifts gears. “Should we pull an all-nighter to tie things up on our end?”

“Might as well. I’d like to get the hell outta here. How about you?” She looks at you still staring off. “Whitlock?”

You didn’t acknowledge her, and Prentiss calls out your first name. That jars your attention as this was the first time you heard her say it. “Yeah?”

Rossi smiles patiently. He knew Whitlock was a seasoned officer but everyone’s first case with the BAU had a track record of rattling an agent. “We’re going to the station to get things squared away so we can hand it off to local PD. Sound good?”

You nod firmly with a tight smile. “Definitely.”

“It’s unfortunate this case’s a bust regarding Sicarius.”

“True. Maybe JJ and the others fared better.” Prentiss nods in agreement as both her and Rossi watch you wander off to the SUV.

“What happened in there that spooked her?” Rossi asks, moving closer to speak with Prentiss.

It didn’t feel right to explain it so candidly what you had gone through. It was best that Rossi read what the official reports said that you and she would write up. Anything more just invites a difficult conversation that she knew you wouldn’t be ready for. There was a burgeoning trust that had sparked between the two of you over drinks and she didn’t want to fuck that up.

“I think she just needs some time.” She watches you climb into the driver’s seat. “Like we all do when shit happens.”

You were sitting alone on one of the four seaters close to the window as the pilot confirmed you were at a safe altitude to move around the cabin. Rossi was passed out on the couch and Prentiss had just gotten up to head to the back of the plane.

You barely noticed, too focused on the music playing in your earbuds as you debated how to answer the text from Brian.

Dad sent 0330: How are things going?

You got that at the station over an hour ago and made a note to answer once the BAU wrapped things up. You were grateful that Prentiss and Rossi took the lead on what was needed to secure the case and that their official reports would be completed midweek. You tried to make mental notes on these protocols but your mind was elsewhere. Once you all signed off on what was required onsite, you drove the team back to the hotel to pack up and then it was off to the airstrip. An officer met you there to take the loaned vehicle.

You barely said a word except what was necessary. You hardly smiled. There were no quips, and you offered non-committal, I’m fines, when the two of them asked how you were. Prentiss was already piecing things further silently and was concerned. There was no way that a crime like this rattled you like Rossi had presumed. She knew you had seen far worse, and she can imagine in great detail what those situations were, having lived through many herself. You just hadn’t anticipated old wounds being ripped open with memories of darker times in your life to surface that made you feel like that lost tween Brian had recruited.

A soft thunk on the table startles you and you see Prentiss taking a seat across from you. There were two tumblers of whiskey before the both of you.

You stop the music with a furrowed brow in silent question. Prentiss explains gently. “Rough day. Thought you could use one.”

“Uh, yeah.” You take the glass to swirl the liquid around. “Though, isn’t it a bit early to drink?”

She shrugs. “Not in our line of work.”

You bring the glass up to your lips with a cleansing breath and figured, why not? You note the smell of whiskey and … “Did you just make me a Jack and Diet Coke?”

Prentiss’ head tilts slightly to the side, pleased you noticed. “I did.”

You raise your glass and give her your first genuine smile since talking Arnold down. “Thanks. Really.”

You both take a well-deserved drink and close your eyes at the warm burn that moves down your throat before radiating towards the rest of your body. You didn’t immediately relax, but the thoughtful gesture helps to provide focus. Enough so you found the strength to really look at Prentiss. You’ve seen enough as her brown eyes narrow in concentration, working on how to broach the unspoken but known.

You quickly lick your lips and set down the glass in a rush. “Don’t.”

Prentiss cautiously questions your reaction. “Don’t what?”

“Look at me like that. With pity.” You curl a hand into a fist to stop it from visibly shaking, but you watch in dismay that Prentiss already spots it.

She remains resolute in maintaining a steady eye contact once she has yours and emits a level of comfort and understanding. “It’s not pity. It’s understanding …”

Your felt your stomach sink, your chest tighten as a breath of surprise escapes without permission. You attempt to recover by clearing your throat and ask with hesitation. “Um. Really?”

That was a such a fucking dumb response to a monumental admission. Prentiss took the need for affirmation in stride. “Really.”

You pinch your brows and swallow hard, your lips trembling ever so slightly. “Well …that really fucking sucks.”

Prentiss chuckles bitterly. “Ain’t that the truth.” She opens a compartment under the table and pulls out a deck of cards. Tapping the case on the table, skilled fingers open the lid to remove the cards and starts shuffling. The methodical way she splits the deck and layers it back together with a rippling noise was comforting to you. “Did you wanna talk about it?”

You shrug still watching slender fingers be in complete control of the cards. “Do you really need to ask?”

“Well, it’s usually polite.” Her face scrunches up coyly.

You half snort and appreciate what she’s attempting to do. You finally look up at her. “What’re we playing?”

“Anything you want. Gin, poker, cribbage…?”

“Well, Rossi’s sleeping.” You sit up just enough to confirm he still was and sit back down. You thoughtfully rub your cheek as Prentiss finishes shuffling. Her compassion had truly touched you and even though your emotions were not fully boxed up as tightly you liked, you decided to say fuck it and have some fun. You waggle your brows, showing Prentiss you were feeling a little better. “There’s always strip poker.”

Prentiss cackles and you shush her, waving your hand to lower her voice. She starts dealing for a five-card draw. “There’s the Whitlock I know.”

You take each card that comes your way to sort them in your hand after rolling your eyes. “Figure you were missing her. I know you just love my antics.”

She wouldn’t admit it just yet, but she was. She fans the cards in her hand and studies them. “Possibly.”

You fall into companionable silence taking turns picking up cards, sipping your drinks, and showing your hands. You play several rounds and the two of you end up being even for wins and losses.

It was your turn to shuffle and you off-handedly ask a question that’s been on your mind. “Did they get the guy that hurt you?”

The two of you gaze intently as she slides her cards over. “Yes.”

You set the deck between you and reach for your glass. “Is he dead?”

The answer is immediate. “Yes.”

You take a healthy swallow as you debate on asking your next question. You slide your tongue along the front and back of your top teeth and find the courage to ask. “Did you kill him?”

She shakes her head no. “Someone else pulled the trigger.”

You lean back, shoulders slumping forward as the small similarities that could exist between two survivors ends. You fiddle with the cards, forcing them to ripple against the table as Prentiss waits you out calmly.

“I pulled the trigger,” you confess quietly. “I didn’t have to do it. But I wanted to. So … I did.”

 With no response from Prentiss, you dare to look up but see no judgement, just an attentive listener that sought whatever you wanted to reveal.

 “It’s partially why I was recruited.” That admission caught both of you by surprise and you try to backpedal. “I … fuck. I shouldn’t have said that.” You roughly sit up and lean over the table to get your cards in order. You’re such a fucking idiot!

“Hey, it’s alright,” she says gently. “I won’t say anything.” She could tell you weren’t convinced by how your eyes darkened with fear. She reaches out to lightly touch your arm and was glad you didn’t pull away. The warmth of her fingers soothed the fast-paced beating of your heart for fucking up again. Though this one was far worse than letting slip up about the AWOL matter. You really should have cut Rebecca off when she mentioned it and not join in the frivolity.

She takes a chance and squeezes your arm. “Promise. It’s like you keeping the sleepovers in my office a secret.”

Prentiss’ cheeky remark made you smile. Then you chuckle. “Okay, to be fair? You sleeping on your office couch isn’t a national secret.”

“Work with me here, Whitlock.”

“I am!”

You both share a smile and when Prentiss starts to pull away, you place your cards face up so you can cover her hand. She found it impossible to hide the astonishment at your gesture. “Thanks, Emily.”

She pauses for the right words to say, further touched by using her first name. She softly says yours and simply adds. “You’re welcome.” Then brown eyes look to the hand you gave up and tsks at you.

You’re confused. Did you do something wrong? “What?”

“Honey, you gave up a pair of aces.” She gestures to the cards as you both finally untangle your hands.

“Well, fuck me, I did.” You chuckle and pull out your phone after sliding the cards to Prentiss. “Here, get us started. Just gotta check in with Brian.” You point an accusing finger at the section chief. “And you especially can’t tell him anything about this conversation.”

She scrunches her face playfully. “What conversation?”

You grin brightly. “Exactly.” And then finally type up a simple response to Brian.

Whitlock sent 0527: Going very well.

Chapter 9

@unkonw00 @ara-a-bird @rayisaknight @sevyscoven @maybe-a-humanbean

[hxney-lemcn]

would you ever do a gotham [pre-riddler] ed nygma x a gn reader oneshot?? like the readers an assistant M.E. to dr. thompkins and they let ed come and help them examine bodies or something like that idk

btw i love ur fics ur writing styles rlly nice <333‼️

Gotham! Edward Nygma Befriending gn! M.E. assistant! reader

tw: mentions of death and dead bodies.

a/n: ok, so my requests aren't open but since I'm in a riddler mood I decided to write this anyways lol. Also, ik you said one shot but headcanons worked out better for me. I'm glad you like my fics sm! This can be seen as platonic or romantic

wc: 0.4k

Master List

❥When you were first hired as an assistant M.E., you hadn’t expected to stumble upon the forensic scientist examining the body you were supposed to. It was your first assignment on your own, given to you by Dr. Leslie Thompkins. He stood there, hands inside the body, his hair slightly falling into his face. You weren’t sure how to proceed as you both just stared at each other awkwardly. 

❥That’s how you met Edward Nygma. The lovely dork of the precinct. He was surprised when you didn’t raise your voice. You didn’t give him a dirty look and you didn’t ask him to leave. No, in fact, he couldn’t believe his ears when you asked him to help. It was your first time being unsupervised after all, so it was comforting that someone who also seemed knowledgeable in your field was there. 

❥What you thought was a one time thing ended up happening more often than you thought. Ed would join you, help you inspect the body, then take anything he needed to analyze as the forensic scientist. It became routine. The times he wasn’t there felt off, though he did have his own job to do. You enjoyed his presence. Being surrounded by death on the daily, his odd mannerisms and riddles brought some life into the environment. 

❥The first time Dr. Thompkins, or Lee as she insisted, walked in on you two hovering over a body, she wasn’t surprised in the slightest. She didn’t even pause to process. Why would she? She had put two and two together forever ago. At first you were mortified. It was your duty to make sure policies and protocols were being followed so that any evidence found couldn’t be thrown out. You and Ed were definitely breaking protocol. He wasn’t trained after all.

❥She just continued on like it was the norm. In fact, it was the norm. Ed had been doing this since before she was hired after all. Best to just let him. He knew what he was doing after all. It got to the point that if anyone needed Ed, they’d just go to the M.E. lab. He was there 9/10 times after all.

❥It didn’t help that Ed found himself liking your presence. You never judged him, you weren’t afraid to ask him for help, and most of all, you didn’t push him away for his ‘unusual’ mannerisms. You genuinely tried to answer his riddles. You never got short with him, and if you couldn’t handle them you would tell him upfront. He thought of you as his safe space. Before, the M.E. lab was a safe space solely due to the bodies being like riddles. He found solace in trying to piece together the puzzle of how and why someone was killed. Now, you were a part of that.

[free-queer-books]

Romance Book Blast: April 22nd, 2025

An enormous one-day event with over 1100 free ebooks (and over 120 free books tagged with LGBTQIA+ characters!)

This book blast is so large that it's separated into different webpages by genre. Each book is only categorized into one genre - there are no repeating books on the subpages.

I've put the queer books tagged by representation in a list before the read-more. Each entry has en emoji marking its genre subpage to help with finding that book:

💨 Steamy Romance, page 1

🥵 Steamy Romance, page 2

🫧 Sweet & Clean Romance

🏘️ Small Town Romance

🏒 Sports Romance

🎭 Romantic Comedy

🔪 Dark Romance & Romantic Suspense

🦇 Paranormal Romance

🦄 Fantasy Romance

🧳Young & New Adult Romance

🏺 Historical Romance

🚀 Science Fiction Romance

♨️ Erotica & Erotic Romance

Bear characters

🏘️ One Reason to Stay by Ryder O'Malley

Bisexual characters

💨 Olivia's Loving Threesome by Tamara Earthsong (multiple stores)

💨 The Royal's Pet by Adora Crooks (Amazon)

🥵 A Thousand Sunsets by Kayla Martin (Amazon)

🥵 Flying by Jordana Blake (Amazon)

🥵 You Don't Know Jack by Anna Sparrows (Amazon)

🥵 Fake it 'til You Make Out by Isla Olsen (multiple stores)

🥵 All the Oceans by Polly Emorie (Amazon)

🥵 Learn the Rules by Leighton Greene (multiple stores)

🔪 Stalking the Mafia Man by Tierney Storer (Amazon)

🔪 Heartline by Emily Klepp (Amazon)

🦇 Gold Dust Grimoire by Billie Nicks (Amazon)

🦇 Born Anew in Blood by Maria J. Hart (Amazon)

🦇 Penance Paid in Blood by Maria J. Hart (Amazon)

🦄 Our Fae Queen by Traci Lovelot (Amazon)

🏺 El & Em by M.E. Samm (Amazon)

🚀 Swords Will Cross in Space by Kaylee Pike and Kristin Lance (Amazon)

🚀 Savage Planet Embrace by Kassie Keegan (Amazon)

♨️ When He's a 10 But He's Your Wife's Brother by Ezra Dao (Amazon)

♨️ Neighborhood Sex Secrets by Ruan Willow (Amazon)

♨️ First Day Frolic by Scarlett Anise (Amazon)

♨️ Here There Be Monsters by EC Garrett (Amazon)

♨️ Fair Winds by Hank Dolworth (Amazon)

Bi4Bi

🥵 A Thousand Sunsets by Kayla Martin (Amazon)

Demisexual characters

🦇 Broken Out (By the Human) by L.E. Eldridge (Amazon)

🦇 The Flavor of Us by N. Slater (Amazon)

F/F

🥵 All the Oceans by Polly Emorie (Amazon)

🥵 Lasting Impressions by Cassidy Langue (Amazon)

🏘️ Their Search for Ms. Right by Janet Lee Smith - I think this is multiple F/F romances and not polyamory (multiple stores)

🏘️ Her Second Chance at Christmas Love by Jess Brady (Amazon)

🏒 Hunks Who Puck by Lina George - collected series with F/F, F/M, M/M, and FMF (Amazon)

🦇 Her Unforgotten Bear Mate by Arizona Tape (multiple stores)

🦄 Heart and Soul of the Wolf by Ariana Jade (multiple stores)

🦄 The Light of Eternity by Megan Cutler (Amazon)

🦄 Conviction of the Damned by Tierney Storer - three different protagonists with F/F, F/M, and why choose (Amazon)

🦄 Unbound by Midnight by Amanda Austen (Amazon)

🦄 Between Salt and Serenades by Marissa Serrao (Amazon)

🦄 The Forgotten and the Feared by EC Garrett (Amazon)

🦄 Between Mischief and Magic by Marissa Serrao (Amazon)

🧳 Tides of Love by Harmony Noble (Amazon)

🏺 Beautiful Little Fool by Sarah Zane (Amazon)

🏺 Bitter Winds by Marina Tempest (Amazon)

♨️ Punished by the Boss by Josie Bale (Amazon)

♨️ My Roommate from College by Kitty Keen and Trixy Treat (Amazon)

♨️ Lost & Found by Kitty Keen (Amazon)

♨️ First Time Wet Nurse by Isla Flox (Amazon)

♨️ First Day Frolic by Scareltt Anise (Amazon)

F/M

💨 Three Months in Spring by Cecelia Conway - M/F (Amazon)

🥵 A Thousand Sunsets by Kayla Martin (Amazon)

🥵 Flying by Jordana Blake (Amazon)

🫧 Never too late to love by V. Wynters - M/F (Amazon)

🏒 Hunks Who Puck by Lina George - collected series with F/F, F/M, M/M, and FMF (Amazon)

🔪 Stalking the Mafia Man by Tierney Storer (Amazon)

🦇 Gold Dust Grimoire by Billie Nicks (Amazon)

🦇 The Vampire's Thrall by Jade Church - M/F (Amazon)

🦇 Torn Pages by Ashley Chapman - M/F (multiple stores)

🦇 Immortal Lives by Hannah McGuire - M/F (Amazon)

🦄 Protectors of Poison by Laura Greenwood (multiple stores)

🦄 Conviction of the Damned by Tierney Storer - three different protagonists with F/F, F/M, and why choose (Amazon)

🦄 Curses & Thunder [Curse and Thunder on Book Blast page] by April Gaisford (Amazon)

🦄 A Thief's Bargain by V.H. Peña (Amazon)

🦄 A Traitor's Trial by V.H. Peña (Amazon)

Gay characters

🥵 Learn the Rules by Leighton Greene (multiple stores)

🎭 Mr. Right Now by Isla Olsen (Amazon)

🦇 Broken Out (By the Human) by L.E. Eldridge (Amazon)

♨️ Taken by the Boss by Rod Langdon (Amazon)

♨️ Rattled, Rubbed & Railed by B.J. Powers (Amazon)

Lesbian characters

🥵 All the Oceans by Polly Emorie (Amazon)

🥵 Lasting Impressions by Cassidy Langue (Amazon)

🦄 Indecent by Gwin Savage (Bookfunnel)

♨️ Punished by the Boss by Josie Bale (Amazon)

♨️ My Roommate from College by Kitty Keen and Trixy Treat (Amazon)

♨️ Lost & Found by Kitty Keen (Amazon)

♨️ First Time Wet Nurse by Isla Flox (Amazon)

♨️ She Loves to Serve by Maya Quinn (Amazon)

M/M

💨 Brutal Souls by Penny Fox (Amazon)

💨 Fledged by R.O. Riley (Amazon)

🥵 Footballer Follies by Merry Farmer (Amazon)

🥵 Boy Issues by Morticia Knight (Amazon)

🥵 The Root of It by K.L. Thorne (Amazon)

🥵 You Don't Know Jack by Anna Sparrows (Amazon)

🥵 Fake it 'til You Make Out by Isla Olsen (multiple stores)

🥵 Bunny Hop Beau by Lacey Daize (Amazon)

🥵 Learn the Rules by Leighton Greene (Amazon)

🥵 Married to the Mobster by Leighton Greene (Amazon)

🥵 Fully Exposed by Cyd Sidney (Amazon)

🫧 Crunchy Orange Chicken by Trey Lari (Amazon)

🏘️ Never Too Late by V. Wynters (Amazon)

🏘️ One Reason to Stay by Ryder O'Malley (Amazon)

🏘️ Hearts We Claim by Christina Berry (Amazon)

🏘️ His Coffee Shop Crush by Elle Waters (multiple stores)

🏒 The Longest Pucking Year by Lina George (Amazon)

🏒 Hunks Who Puck by Lina George - collected series with F/F, F/M, M/M, and FMF (Amazon)

🎭 Mr. Right Now by Isla Olsen (Amazon)

🔪 Soverign Daughters by Emily Kelpp - definitely has M/M, but unsure if among main or side characters (Amazon)

🔪 Breaking You Open by Ally Avery (Amazon)

🔪 Just Another Servant by Daniela Campos (Amazon)

🦇 Mistakenly Departed by Jennifer Carter (Amazon)

🦇 Gossamer Muse by David Gray (Amazon)

🦇 New Alpha on the Block by MM Farmer (Amazon)

🦇 His Mate By Vengeance by Mel Aitchess (Amazon)

🦇 Broken Out (By the Human) by L.E. Eldridge (Amazon)

🦇 Love Bites by Ann Katrin Byrde (Amazon)

🦇 Stalked by Shadows by Lissa Casey (Amazon)

🦇 Safe Word Lobo by E. Concepcion (Amazon)

🦇 Magic and Mayhem by M.A. Innes (Amazon)

🦇 Hollowood Falls Series by Will Forrest (multiple stores)

🦇 Finding Nessie by Edwina Lindsey (Amazon)

🦄 From Frost to Flame by Viola Vines (Amazon)

🧳 Shuttered Hearts by Trey Lari (Amazon)

🧳 The Peace I Know With Him by Malcom White-Kraft (Amazon)

🏺 El & Em by M.E. Samm (Amazon)

🚀 20% Stud 80% Muffin by Chris Redd (Amazon)

♨️ When He's a 10 But He's Your Wife's Brother by Ezra Dao (Amazon)

♨️ Taken by a Stranger by Lara Flare (Amazon)

♨️ Priest and Harbinger by A.D. Young - definitely M/M, but may be MMM+ (Amazon)

♨️ Taken by the Boss by Rod Langdon (Amazon)

♨️ Male Room by B.J. Powers (Amazon)

♨️ Rattled, Rubbed & Railed by B.J. Powers (Amazon)

M/NB

🦇 Hollowood Falls Series by Will Forrest (multiple stores)

🦄 Another World's Stars by Kel E Fox (multiple stores)

Pansexual characters

♨️ Here There Be Monsters by E.C. Garrett (Amazon)

Polyamory

💨 Knot Worthy by Miss Renae - MFMM (Amazon)

💨 Temptation of Knight by Lenore Danvers - MFF with probably F/F (Amazon)

💨 Olivia's Loving Threesome by Tamara Earthsong - MFF with M/F and F/F (multiple stores)

💨 The Candy Man's Harem by Mack Landry - MFF+ (Amazon)

💨 The Royal's Pet by Adora Crooks - MFF (Amazon)

🥵 Mediterranean Waves by L.E. Minx and T.J. Fox - polyamory with at least MFF, LGBTQ relationships (Amazon)

🥵 The Ex Project by Jennifer Aline - why choose (Amazon)

🥵 Bubblegum Pop by Abby Hunter - polyamory (Amazon)

🥵 Yours by Shaw Montgomery - MMM (Amazon)

🥵 Running from Love by Teal Rose - MMFM (Amazon)

🏒 Finding the Forward Part 2 by Jane Handler - MMMMF (Amazon)

🏒 Hunks Who Puck by Lina George - collected series with F/F, F/M, M/M, and FMF (Amazon)

🔪 Godsfall Books 1-3 by Adam Gaffen - I think F/F from Book 1, and "queer, poly" relationships in this collection (Amazon)

🔪 The Family Firm by S.L. Sinclair - why choose with M/M (Amazon)

🔪 Heartline by Emily Klepp - polyamory (Amazon)

🔪 Burning Passion by Lily Prince - MFM (Amazon)

🦇 Halloween Treat by Kristin Lance - MMF with M/M (Amazon)

🦇 Bonds of the Damned by Jesi Donovan - MMFMMM with M/M (Amazon)

🦇 Child of the Outcast by Elizabeth Dunlap - why choose (Amazon)

🦇 How to Raise the Dead by Leigh Kelsey - reverse harem with F/F (multiple stores)

🦇 Deadly Reunion by Salem Myers - MMF (Amazon)

🦇 Omega's Revenge by N. SLater - MMMMFM with M/M and MMF (Amazon)

🦇 The Flavor of Us by N. Slater - MMFF (Amazon)

🦇 Hers to Rule by Coral Alejandra Moore - MMF with M/M (multiple stores)

🦇 Two Dragons, One Mate by Silvana Falcon - MMM (Amazon)

🦇 Born Anew in Blood by Maria J. Hart - MMF (Amazon)

🦇 Penance Paid in Blood by Maria J. Hart - MMF (Amazon)

🦄 Conviction of the Damned by Tierney Storner - three different protagonists with F/F, F/M, and why choose (Amazon)

🦄 Our Fae Queen by Traci Lovelot - polyamory with M/M (Amazon)

🦄 Scales of Sapphire and Gold by Emma Alisyn Fae (Bookfunnel)

🦄 Indecent by Gwin Savage - FFF (Bookfunnel)

🦄 The Fifth Horseman by Freida Kilmari - reverse harem with M/M, F/F, and MMF

🧳 Choosing Love, Namaste by Harmony Noble - MMF (Amazon)

🚀 Swords Will Cross in Space by Kaylee Pike and Kristin Lance - MMF with M/M (Amazon)

🚀 Savage Planet Embrace by Kassie Keegan - MMMMF (Amazon)

🚀 Claimed by the Alien by Nessa Claugh - MFM (Amazon)

🚀 Red is for Roxy by Meg Stratton - MMFFMM (Amazon)

🚀 A Treat for Her Mates by Lola Blix - MMF with M/M (Amazon)

♨️ First Time by Gemma Addison Dove - FFF (Amazon)

♨️ She Loves to Serve by Maya Quinn - FFF (Amazon)

♨️ Here There Be Monsters by EC Garrett - MMFF with FF

♨️ Fair Winds by Hank Dolworth - polyamory (Amazon)

Trans and nonbinary characters

🦇 Hollowood Falls Series by Will Forrest - nonbinary character (multiple stores)

🦄 The Fifth Horseman by Freida Kilmari - genderfluid character (Amazon)

🦄 Another World's Stars by Kel E Fox - nonbinary character (multiple stores)

LGBTQIA+ protagonist, but specific representation unknown

🧳 Of Seafom & Saltwater by Kay Leyda (Amazon)

🧳 Of Magic & Moonlight by Kay Leyda (Amazon)