#I can tell when I am entering a situation that is doomed

[daenerysstormreborn]

I love doom I love inevitability I love futility I love trying and failing to fight against the prophecy only to watch it come true I love when heroes fail tragically I LOVE IT

I think that’s why I find characters like Cersei so compelling. She knows how it ends and is in constant denial. Even as she begins to see the prophecy come true around her, she fights against it. I love experiencing a story when we know how it will end—it will be tragic. Not because the ending was spoiled, but because you’re told. Like the dance of the dragons. You go into knowing that the end result is the fall of House Targaryen and the dragons. Another beautiful example is the book The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russel. The story is told in two parts, past and present. Because of the present chapters, you know that everything will go horribly wrong in the past chapters no matter how bright and hopeful they seem. But you still fall in love with the characters and some part of you hopes they can make it through even though you know they don’t. It’s extremely powerful. Also one of the biggest reasons I love time loop stories. A character fighting against a seemingly inevitable fate over and over and over again. I think it’s so moving and special.

[a-common-enemy-story]

A Common Enemy

𝓒𝓱𝓪𝓹𝓽𝓮𝓻 𝓝𝓲𝓷𝓮 - 𝓡𝓲𝓰𝓱𝓽 𝓘𝓷𝓽𝓸 𝓗𝓲𝓼 𝓗𝓪𝓷𝓭𝓼

"Prince Dante."

Dante jumps at the voice behind him, his magic leaving his body the moment the servant enters the room.

"Y-Yes..?" he asks quietly, slowly, slowly turning to the servant, trying to hide his fear, his shame.

"Your parents."

He tightly closes his eyes. No.

"They have passed away."

••••

Dante's room was very minimalistic. A twin bed in the corner of the room, bare wooden walls, shelves filled with books, and a mirror. The most eye-catching part of the room was in the center. A circular rug with one half surrounded by unlit candles and an opened book in the center.

"Ah, that's my, um, my me-meditation area. It's where I perform my m-magic."

"You need to meditate to perform magic?" Theoden asks, picking up the book and flipping through pages casually, not actually reading the contents inside, but still absolutely terrifying Dante. Theoden smirks. So he's the kind of guy who doesn't like people touching his stuff? Theoden could relate, but it was still useful knowledge.

"My level of magic does require meditation.. M-Masters of shadow magic can do it whenever, bu-but I, um, I need to have deep focus and concentration."

"Interesting. So." He drops the book down, startling Dante. "What can shadow magic do?"

"Oh, um, well, my level is that I can, um, create, like, shadow puppets, and, uh, I can manipulate environments. L-Like, I can stop a carriage collision o-or something."

"So you've got quick reaction time?"

Dante clears his throat a bit, feeling it go dry. "Yes, I s-suppose."

Theoden peruses the books on the shelves. "Hm, well, it's not like you can do much. Seeing as how you're always locked in your room."

Dante doesn't say anything for a moment before clutching his hands together. "W-Well.. there's another.. thing."

He smirks, but hides it by keeping his back to Dante. "Oh? Do tell."

Dante shuffles slowly to the center of his mediation circle, standing. "I-I can.. see everything. I can see all over the world if I tried. Th-Though, I just keep it confined to the streets and outskirts of my kingdom. To make sure th-that everything is fine and.. keeping... people.. safe."

He nods along to his words. "What is it like, running an entire kingdom from your bedroom?"

Dante gulps. "W-W-Why does this feeling l-like an interview?" he attempts to joke.

"Bah, apologies. I'm just curious. You're in a very interesting situation and, yknow," he gestures to himself. "New king. Trying to really.. learn the ropes." He has to painfully swallow his pride with his words.

Dante blushes a bit. Theoden wants to learn from him? That is.. quite the honor, especially from someone so powerful.

"I'm not sure I can teach much," he says, embarrassed to say it out loud.

"Yes, well.." He hated the words he was about to say. "Perhaps even a fffffriend could do?" He hated that word. Friend. And with this coward? Absolutely not.

Dante's eyes went wide, shining before a look of horror came across his features. A friend means no magic. He shakes his head reluctantly. "I'm afraid I cannot."

Theoden nods, knowing Dante would decline. "A shame." He glances at the meditation circle. "I am curious, however."

"Yes?"

"Your parents passed when you were young, did they not?"

Dante feels like he's falling just at the mere mention of his parents. "Y... Yes."

"They were also young, though. Not elders like Princess Elira's father. So.. what had happened?"

Dante's breathing became ragged. He did not like the memory. "They died. In a carriage collision."

Theoden nods. "A tragedy."

"Y.. Yes.." Dante then looks around, realizing something was wrong. These questions, the visit...

Theoden smirks and lifts another book from a shelf and Dante takes in a very deep, deep breath as he feels doom begin to set in. "Where is your advisor?"

Theoden smiles. Dante quickly lifts the book that was on the floor when they had entered, holding it protectively to his chest. He realizes it now, an animal like instinct, gut reaction.

He's in danger.

[martialartslover7]

Asuka awakens to her Heritage

Yun has won...

This was it...

We are all going to die here...

These thoughts raced through Asuka's mind, as she clinged to Hwoarang, cradling her onto her thighs, as she sits on the ground, looking badly dented and battered from her previous encounter with Han Jee...

...but this time, there really seemed no way out of this anymore. As she gazed all around herself, having to helplessly witness her friends and teammates fold, due to the severe effects of Yun's snake venom, which began spreading like a toxic gas, all around them. He planned for them to die, not a scream, but a mere whimper.

Slowly suffocating to death, as the venom burns off their inner organs, once it enters through their nostrils or mouths...

This was the best they could do. They have all reached their limit on what an average human being can accomplish, fighting against supernatural beings of the underworld. And there they were, Xiaoyu, Hwoarang, Paul and Lidia collapsing onto themselves, as they tried to fight the poison gas from entering their bodies, but being too weak to even stand anymore...

...the only one, who was still somewhat standing tall, was Jin, but he was too injured to continue fighting. His Devil Gene slowly subsiding, being too drained to keep it consistently running along.

Eventually, even he had to admit:

"I cannot believe this...! Losing to these failed science experiments... of all people...! You will not... get away with this... Yun...!"

Being too overwhelmed by pure exhaustion and his wounds getting gradually the better of him, he fell to one knee, as the poison gas is slowly enveloping him next...

The younger Kazama, who was usually the first to act tough and confident, even in the face of adversion, this time, she lacked the heart to. They have fought a number of times together already, but tried as she might, she just couldn't see an end to this misery. No silver lining on the horizon to be found.

And just this once, despair truly began consuming. She felt so helpless. She hated herself for not being able to save her entire team from certain death. Tears began prickling from her eyes, as she gently presses her face against the now unconscious Hwoarang's neck from the front, as she shakily told him:

"Hwoarang... Everyone... I am sorry... I... I love you all... I-I am so sorry... Some help I am... for being a Kazama... I couldn't even save my teammates from measly henchmen of an accursed Mishima... If only I... I have gotten to you all sooner... I may have been able to prevent this catastrophe...! Always late when it matters... Story of my life...!"

Yun began speaking down on her, as, in his monstrous Devil hybrid form, he loomed tall over the dying heroes like a wall, closing in on them, ready to squash them all to death with his snake venom. Having grown supersized, as all the forms of his teammates he had taken all their powers from, had turned him into an unholy Chimera beast. A tall, curled up snake body, the size of a warehouse, accompanied by frontal horns from the boar, the fox tail replacing the rattler, and the wings from the owl giving him an unholy presence, ready to soar to the skies and spread the venom everywhere, telling the Kazama below with maniacal laughter escaping his lips:

"How tragic. You came oh so far, but alas, this is exactly why, human connections are doomed to fail eventually. The moment you start growing too dependant on them, that is the moment when you leave yourself wide open. It may work for a while. But once it counts, they are never there to have your back. And now look where we stand. You are all alone... In this world, bonds are a myth. All of you just stick together, to lick each other's wounds, but once push comes for shove, they will all leave you behind, at the faintest sight of trouble. ...Now you know, how that felt for me. Have fun with this knowledge. You can take it to your graves."

But despite the bleak situation, Asuka's spirit didn't waver, as she glared up at Yun, feeling nothing but pity for this miserable man, who dared calling himself a leader. Only to then kill all his teammates, once they outlived their usefulness to him. She could already smell the contradiction, telling him in a cold tone of voice:

"That's so rich coming from you, y'know that? You wanna lecture me about what "bonds" are, while you happen to be the same individual to kill your own team, just wanting their powers for yourself...! You have no right criticizing either me, or Jin for being "horrible leaders", when you're as exploitative as they come... Kiss my ass in hell, you piss stain on the fabric of mother nature!"

"Very well, then. You keep on yapping, it will just make your death come way quicker. Fine by me. If it means shutting you up. And first of all... These people were never my true teammates. Only Hwoarang was. And he stabbed me in the back--"

"Shut your mouth, you delusional asswipe! Hwoarang never backstabbed you, that was Han Jee! Don't you DARE talking smack about that one person on your squad, that didn't feel like killing people, when it best suited your interest...! Hwoarang is an amazing person, he is a good man, a cut above many...! He may not be able to see it, because of what you have done to him, but I am living proof, that everything you ever claimed him, was a bold-faced lie! He risked his life to save mine, time and time again...! WHAT DID YOU CONTRIBUTE TO HIS EXISTENCE, OTHER THAN BEING HIS PERSONAL TORMENTOR FROM BEYOND THE GRAVE?!?!"

"...Hmph. Die. Trash."

He lets the poison fog engulf the entire area...

...but as Asuka and Jin felt their lungs burning up, coughing violently, with their vision going blurry...

...out of nowhere, a snow-white dove landed right in front of Asuka. Seemingly unbothered by the smoke. She was covering her mouth, being genuinely confused as to how the bird wasn't even reacting to the venom...

...until she remembered Jin telling her, that his mother's messenger bird, was a white dove. She wondered, if she could send a warning signal with the bird...

...but out of nowhere, the bird telepathically began speaking to her, and the voice belonged to Jun:

"Asuka... It is time. This fight isn't over yet. You should start embracing your heritage, it is the only way you can save your friends, now. I thank you for taking care of Jin for me. My time is limited, as the darkness threatens to envelop me, one more time. But for now... Rise forth. Save those, who are important to you."

The young Kazama responded to the voice in her subconscious, feeling puzzled in many ways. Yet somehow, this power felt so familiar. As if, this is where she belonged.

"...I... Have no clue of who is talking to me right now, but... If it means saving them... What do I have to do?"

"Touch the bird... From this day forth, you shall protect all that is precious to you... as Maiden of the Kazama."

With her rapidly fleeting strength, feeling her vision growing blurry, she reached out to the bird, losing strength by the second to keep herself up right...

...but once she touched the bird, a golden light began engulfing the younger Kazama, as she felt her strength returning to her, rising back onto her feet, feeling no pain. No suffering. No nothing. She felt... alive. And the blue-golden light that enveloped her like a cloak for protection around the poison fog, Yun went:

"What...?! How can you still stand after all that...?! Tell me! How did you survive?!"

"...I am short on time... so I will leave it at... Thank my aunt for this."

She felt the power surging within her, as she decides to gather the light between both her hands to form a sphere...

...before throwing it in the air to cause a light explosion to go off, which dispersed not only the venom fog, it also caused her friends and teammates to heal up, instantly. Feeling their bleeding wounds close up, as the poison inside their bodies was also erased from existence, returning them back to their relatively healthy states.

And once they awoke, Asuka took the opportunity to smile in a cocky, looking at her hands in astonishment, commenting:

Follow me...

I am standing on the border of everything...

"Wow... I feel amazing...! Is this how it feels to be... "complete" again? It's strong... My aura... I feel like I can take on anyone now...! Hehe, you're in deep shit now, buddy!"

"Impossible...! This victory was meant all for me...! After all that I have sacrificed... YOU'LL PAY FOR THIS!"

Yun angrily began firing off multiple poison mud bombs at the heroes, from his mouth...

Listen close...

Can you hear the spirits sing...?

Lost messages of long ago...

...but they could never reach her, as she just raised her right hand, generating a blue barrier, that encircled all those who were down out cold. And no matter how hard he tried, the attack was futile.

But once Asuka threw an earnest glance at Yun, she coldly goes:

"Go on, keep trying. I'd love to see you doing so, until you keel over. Unfortunately, I don't have time to be dealing with you any further! This is where it ends! Prepare yourself, Yun!"

Feeling rejuvenated by Asuka, they all joined up together to gang up on the unholy chimera snake body, with her going:

"Heh... The hunted, become... the hunters. Anyone up for grilled snake meat for dinner?”

[veritas-wish]

That time I manifested a crush from nothing (but went wrong).

Disclaimer: I didn’t know the law of assumption at that time, but what I did was indeed proof that the law of assumption works.

Long short story:

I had this assumption that I would meet a boy that would change me, don’t even ask me why I had this assumption, I just had… so time to go to high school, you know new people, new experiences, etc.

so the interesting part was me imagining meeting this boy that has blonde and blue eyes, extroverted and kind. And guess what? I indeed manifested someone similar to the person in my mind: blonde hair, extroverted, the one that can make the party feel more fun, but the thing is… he was immature, toxic and had no balls to tell what was going on.

The scene played a little bit similar, he got interested in me and had a crush on me. But the way he changed me was in a negative way.

He gave me like hundreds of signs that he was interested on me. He even got the audacity to be jealous because I was baiting him to see his reaction when I mentioned my “secret crush” that wasn’t from our school. Because, I wasn’t show any signs that I was interested on him (but I wasss!! I just hid it so good..) he treated me like a crap and then apologise when he made me cry.

I got more anxious, I cried like thousands of times because of him hurting my feelings and overstepping my boundaries. He didn’t respect me at all, and he was quite similar but opposite at the same time from what I had imagined and assumed. Why though?

If I could go back I should just slap my past self and remind her that she FORGOT to add that she DESERVES respect and love.

Here are the reasons why everything just went wrong with that situation:

: ̗̀➛ my self concept was the most shitty at that time. I treated myself as a crap human being that doesn’t deserve anything in the world. So the eypo (everyone is you pushed out) would reflect how disrespected and awful people can be with me because how I myself projected my idea about me in my inner conversations as well.

: ̗̀➛ I was not specific with the list at that time. Please, PLEASE be specific with your list, as much as you can. You can literally manifest anyone and everyone that you desire with your desired traits. Please remember that those people have to respect you and love you unconditionally and in a healthy way, instead of creating pointless misunderstandings.

: ̗̀➛ my core belief, where all my assumptions are coming from, were all around my past traumas. Trust issues, people are crap in general, the world is shit, I am forever doomed to be misunderstood, etc ruined everything as well.

Then how did I manifest someone that wasn’t part of my life, especially the time that I wasn’t aware of the law of assumption?

: ̗̀➛ believing in my assumption, just like a prediction reading or “I got this feeling and intuition that…” those will help you a lot to feed in your mind that your assumption will become true.

: ̗̀➛ keep repeating the feeling or a specific scene where I just meet this person. Live in the end process.

: ̗̀➛ let go and have this strong feeling that I will meet this person soon. Sort of “creation is done” process. The feeling of how you know that you will receive your package because you just order the stuff that you want and you just know that it will arrive eventually.

This is one of my experiences where it confirms that yes, you can manifest anyone specifically with specific traits. I was unaware and so not surprising I wasn’t specific enough and I messed up a lot as well. Why was I successful in manifesting though? Because at that time I was into spirituality and psychics, I was believing in my “psychic abilities” so of course I would believe in my “predictions”.

He entered my life, changed my perspective and learned quite a lot of lessons, especially knowing what type of man I want in my life. Pretty intense, but he was useful for me to be part of my growth process.

Could things have gone better if I was a pro on knowing Neville’s stuff and manifesting? Yes, absolutely. The ending could easily be much better than what I got.

Can I revise? Yes, I absolutely can, but is it worth it? I don’t think so. I moved on and I have other stuff to focus on.

My purpose was to tell you that you can manifest literally any type of sp that you desire. I even manifested specific traits that I wanted in my friends and boom, I got it.

I can do it again but that is not on my main goal list right now.

My fellow loa believers, this little story is a reminder that we are absolutely god of our reality and the knowledge that we have right now is a fucking cheat code to have a better life and make our life easier than society taught to us.

If you have any questions feel free to drop on my ask box♥️🫶🏻

[thedragonagelesbian]

I’m so sorry but can I also ask what Ranger Cyrus’s relationship with Karlach is like? I’m really obsessed with *in another lifetime we are in love* situations.

Ofc you can ask!!!

At a meta level, i will say... I am really feeling how underdeveloped Karlach's story is on a friendship route. Like it REALLY sucks that her personal quest is two fetch quests, and I got to Last Light immediately after entering the Shadowlands, so like??!!!! Now there's nothing????????? There's such a frenetic and passionate desperation to her romance, the way that her zest for life centers on you is SO hot & intriguing and pulls you into this doomed whirlwind of intimacy that is just. Absent. On the friendship route.

If you're an asshole to Karlach during her recruitment, she takes it in stride, calls you out, and mentions that she knows it'll only be a matter of time before she wins you over. That's still their dynamic so far-- Karlach weathering his jadedness with good cheer, and Cyrus eventually relenting to her insistence that they will one day be friends (altho he's pretty adamant that she not call him 'soldier').

Also Karlach has been biting her nails for weeks waiting for Wyll and Cyrus to stop being stupid about their very obvious feelings for each other, and when she and Wyll are gabbing after the dance date, she squeals SO loud.

By Act 3, I think Cyrus will be out of his shell enough to keep pace with Karlach's intense enthusiasm and big bold emotions, which makes the end of things all the more tragic... i THINK im going to go illithid!Karlach (squid bestie bodyguard/assassin for the latest lords of baldur's gate???) but if i think about the preconditions of karlach's endings too much right now i'm going to be angry for days, so...

On the 'lovers in another life' train of thought... look I've watched exactly two episodes of Good Omens, but I've seen gifsets and I think the vibe is Aziraphale telling Crowley "you're too fast for me" or whatever that line is. They're both falling back in love with life, but the pace at which they're doing that and what they're seeking at the end of that journey (idle domesticity versus endless adventure and travel and exploration and discovery) aren't compatible.

[vulgarmaw]

I call this campaign idea:

Uncivilized Disobedience

Party starts at level one.

The capital city of Althurious, in the kingdom of Leicester is on lockdown due to insurgents. The party, having never met before, finds themselves at a riot where the commoners are storming the jails in an attempt to get a woman named Jocelyn released.

She is a Joan of Ark style of public hero. She has been defending the farm lands in the kingdom from goblin and bandit raids. No one knows if the goblins and bandits are working together, as they have never been seen working together, but their attacks seem coordinated.

The party arrived in the city in order to join a militia that was being created to help quell these attacks as a last ditch effort by the ruling class to keep the people from revolting. Jocelyn openly opposed the creation of the militia unbeknownst to the hero's. She says that she and her band of friends (read mercenaries) have the situation under control.

The commoners are not happy with her arrest and seek to free her. The newly formed militia is called to stop the riots using any means necessary. Shortly after it arrives all hell breaks loose.

The commoners attack the guards defending the jail. Some of them seem to be far better trained than a commoner should be. Others are not so fortunate and get cut down relentlessly.

An explosion (no dc save) rocks the jailhouse from within, knocking the party unconscious. They awake in cells surrounded by guards(12). The guards are covered head to toe with no skin showing and refuse to answer questions.

In the cell near them lies an unconscious Jocelyn or at least a woman who looks remarkably like her posters. She seems to have been severely beaten, but is still alive and breathing. She doesn't wake up the entire time they wait.

Hours pass, the guard changes to only having two. The lights are dimmed as the wicks burn low. And soon those two guards are fast asleep in the corner having failed to play a game of dice. Suddenly Jocelyn arises with her wounds looking healed.

She speaks the phrase "For the king. May his divine right to rule never be challenged and his throne last forever."

The door to the party's cell opens having been unlocked.

"I do not know the phrase to open my own, please escape from here and tell my friends where I am being held. There is an evil corruption in this kingdom and they will need me if they are to save the people."

If the party attempts to free her she will tell them that any cell not unlocked with its specific password will trigger an alarm and they will all be doomed. The only reason she could free them is because a guard was left here alone and she commanded the password from him and commanded him to forget that he told her. She tells them where to find her friends and how to escape without being seen.

When they finally leave the prison they find out they're deep under the castle and they cannot enter from where they left. The doorway is solid stone and can only be passed through from the inside as a way for the king to escape if the castle is ever sieged.

You can make it up from here, but basically they have fun trying to escape, find their weapons, and make it to her friends after a few sessions. From there they start off causing chaos in the city and disrupting law enforcement in order to give her friends a chance to succeed at doing things that will help them free her.

I have other ideas, but I generally don't go past this point in designing campaigns until the players have decided how they want to play it out.

[adleryoung]

"I'm not ready!" I wailed. My heart was still beating rapidly from the terror of the dream I just had, and I started to hyperventilate. "I can't put a whole show together in less than an hour! It has to be amazing! It has to be flawless! These are a bunch of moody, insolent, young social outcasts! AND they're lowfolk! If I don't impress them immediately, they'll lose interest and leave, and spread stories about how dumb and lame I am! The whole project will be ruined!"

"Why would it matter if a buncha losers think you're lame?" Burnside asked.

"Outcasts, not losers," I corrected her. "They know things that the common rabble can never appreciate. These are the kind of people I need to impress, but I'm gonna blow it because I'm not ready! Oh this is awful! Maybe I should just hide."

"Begging thy pardon, Sire," Typantronn interjected. "Standing here panicking is only going to waste time that would be better spent in getting ready. Dost thou really need to put on a huge show?"

"They're not coming all this way to hear me tell jokes and sing songs," I retorted.

"You could charm 'em with Elfsong," Burnside suggested. "That's a thing, right? I remember hearin' about it in the Changeling Orientation sessions."

"It won't do!" I groaned. "Elfsong is only good for hypnotizing and confusing them. We're doomed!"

"What would Miss Vernier think if she saw thee in this state?" Typantronn demanded sternly.

She had a point. I was being silly and wasting valuable time. If I was going to make it as Lone Elf, I would have to learn to think on my feet. There would doubtless be many more situations like this, or even worse, in my future. Time to start dealing with them, now!

"By Fuma," I declared, gritting my teeth and forcing myself to focus. "You're right! Battles are not won by surrendering! He who would succeed must strive with all his will!"

"That's the spirit!" Typantronn cheered enthusiastically.

"I would have liked some time to write a speech and rehearse," I mused aloud, "but instead I'm going to have to improvise. Now then … lowfolk are easily impressed by a bit of theater. The first thing I want them to see when they emerge from the bushes is Burnside standing guard. I gather that she has become a local legend, and it will surely impress them to see that the famous 'Raccoon Monster' is working for me. Or wait … will that come across too grim? I don't want them thinking I'm Unseelie. Hmmm … Burnside, your part will be simple. You just need to look intimidating, but not TOO intimidating."

"How do you mean?" Burnside asked. "Is a fist full o' daggers more or less intimidatin' than a machete? Should I be naked, hunched over an growlin' or dressed, standin' up an talkin' proper? Should I go kill somethin' real quick an smear its blood on me?"

"Uh," I stalled, momentarily losing my train of thought. "Just be sort of stern and quiet, and look mean but not scary. If you still have that assassin's cloak, wear that … and I guess use the machete unless you've got like a wicked looking pole-axe or something. You're the dreaded Raccoon Monster, but you've been tamed in my service. This will give the impression that I am a, what's the term? A bad-ass? Then when the witches approach, instruct them to enter the stone circle if they are worthy and brave enough. At this point they should see that I have more servants, so the Ixies need to be buzzing around, looking busy like they're doing something important. Yeah yeah, we're setting the stage! The Ixies notice these intruders and start rhetorically asking if they're worthy and maybe argue amongst themselves if they are or aren't."

"Soundeth good," Typantronn declared with a nod. "Can we bet on it?"

"Better not," I decided. "We're trying to look professional here. You can argue with each other a little bit and maybe taunt the coven over their 'worthiness' but don't get carried away. Remember you're supposed to be working, relaying messages or whatever, so you wouldn't have a lot of time to dally. Once they're sufficiently softened up, then you, Typantronn, can declare that I am approaching. You all scatter and disappear. A suspenseful silence descends over the stone circle."

"It giveth me chills just imagining it!" Typantronn exclaimed.

"That does sound purty good so far," Burnside agreed.

"Good," I chuckled. "Then you understand the effect I'm going for. Now, at this point I have to be careful. If Rebecca's early behavior is anything to go by, these people turned to witchcraft hoping to gain power to wreak some sort of petty vengeance on society. This is what I want to steer them away from. Therefore, my dramatic entrance should make me look intimidating and powerful but also make it absolutely clear that I am a spirit of seeliness and goodness … an agent of light. Yes, that's it! I will appear with bright lights and a swarm of butterflies, and give myself a godlike booming voice. They'll see immediately that I and my enlightened ways are far more powerful than whatever dark, demonic spirit they were hoping to find. Ooh! I'll declare that they have wicked desires in their hearts and this displeases me. Do a little bit of Elfmind on them and tell them what they're thinking. That will be easy, and it should definitely put the fear of Fuma in them! At that point they should be open to becoming agents of good and messengers of Fuma. Once they're on board, I can dispense with the light show and become a little bit more approachable. That's it. If you have questions, ask them quickly. You need to get in position and get ready, and I need to catch some butterflies."

[maguro13-2]

The Dark Picture REPAINT ~ Origins of the Ink Demon : Operation Drawcia Pt.16 ~

[Eg Control Room by Jun Senoue]

Grim : This must be it.

Seto : So this is Cryptic Castle. The place where you started on your training days as a reaper. I'm impressed that you have fond memories of this place.

Grim : If I could I lead you to where Eggman is...Then I'm sure that he'll give you a good demonstration.

Seto : Right. Time to make a House call.

[Cryptic Castle by Jun Senoue]

*BANGING*

Seto : Knock knock! Time for a house call!

*SMASH*

Seto : Here we are good old...Hang Castle...

*sounds weapons firing*

Egg Pawn : [screaming while being chased around by a black hawk]

Grim : No! What have they done to this place!? This is a place for my training! Not a place for a base!

Seto : You can say that for sure. These baddies have gone too far messing this palace.

Grim : Cryptic Castle was once a place for our training grounds, but now everything has dashed away and the Black Doom has taken it seriously! I bet shadow would understand that he knew this fortress is under taken by Dr. Robotnik himself, wonder why is he using this castle as a place for defense?

Seto : What you're saying that Hang Castle builders was the mad scientist himself, he created that castle for you, but this castle is where you came from during the training days. But now, it is nothing more than a memory itself.

Setsuna : Excuse me, but are you the only hero that ever step foot into this place.

Kuchinashi : *COM Book : I can communicate using words*

Grim : I am grim, this is my apprentice or the Grim Reaper's daughter, Seto. And you are...?

Setsuna : I am Setsuna...Setsuna of the world of Needless and this one over here...is Kuchinashi, she doesn't speak very much, but she has trouble with communicating, we are looking for Mio.

Grim : Mio?

Setsuna : Yes...We discovered that Mio is actually a human grandkid of a famous puppeteer. Kuchinashi on the other hand travels to Arizona where she told that she could be peaceful in the ponderosa forest of Flagstaff.

Grim : You're from the world of NEEDLESS, what happened to that world.

Setsuna : We used to fight against the rebels of the world of Needless by being the Simeon girls, however, the Time Eater destroyed all of it after destroying the Ohkuboverse, and we barely isekai'd here in the real world.

Kuchinashi : *Communication Book : But the thing is...Our world is gone because of us!*

Seto : I see. I used to live in the world of NEEDLESS, but that...that was all gone when the Time Eater and erased all of it. But now, here I am, I'm just a girl, daughter of the legendary reaper. Just a friendly person who cares and protect! And that is why I am Seto, S-E-T-O! Don't get the name wrong.

Setsuna : Please, Seto. I beg of you. Find Mio, Find her, she's in that castle being protected by those machines. If only a hero could understand the languages of 1000 ways, I'm sure that we can do something for it. See this map of the castle? If you really want to know where to find Mio in this fortress, she might be at the source of the palace. Only a reaper can enter the castle using this access pass. But to find mio, You really need to light up all the defenses in the castle. That way the Black Aliens could be scared away, so...You haven't fought of anyone about humans and demons, being an arrogant would ya. We shouldn't tell the authors of the industry about this situation going on lately. Not after everyone died in the world of NEEDLESS, something might happen to one's universe woudl be lucky enough to carry things around.

Seto : No special reason, for a seinen girl like me, I'm just a typical average girl with a Shounen personality, I do games, I do energetic boy stuff wearing boy clothes, and I'm doing a major thing going in the past. So if the World of Needless is gone, that's on us whether the industry ain't talking about seinen's loosing stuffs.

Setsuna : But if that's true, what about the world of Soul Eater? Is it gone or is it erased from existence?

Kuchinashi : (trying to speak) Setsu...na...san...Setsuna-san...

Grim : Speak, young ma'am. What is it that you are trying to speak?

Kuchinashi : Setsuna-san...Setsuna-san is not here. And you are not Setsuna.

Setsuna : What are you talking about, Kuchinashi. I am Setsuna, don't you get it? I am your--

Kuchinashi : Hmph! *STAB*

Setsuna : GUH-!?

[Echo Night - Beyond OST : Track 7]

Seto : Setsuna! Kuchinashi! What are you doing!?

Setsuna : WHY GOD!?!

Grim : Hey! What happened!?

Seto : She's giving her a heart attack! Hold on, Setsuna! I'm gonna give you help!

Kuchinashi : Don't touch her.

Seto : Huh? Why not?

Kuchinashi : This is not herself neither is Setsuna-san.

Seto : So that blue haired speedster is...

Setsuna : Kuchnashi...[voice distorts] Help!

*converts to reveal herself a Nobody creature*

Seto : What the-?! What in the world is that? What creature is this?! Is it a heartless?

Kuchnashi : Negatory. It's only a Nobody.

Seto : A Nobody? What's that?

Kuchinashi : they are creatures from the KH universe. These humanoid beings are referred to those that were from the hearts of one's former self. They had the potential to seek their fortune for darkness as their source of power. On the other hand before Needless was erased from It's existence by the Time Eater's presence, we got ourselves in conflicted for the greater goods and said to be based on religion, but all of that was a massive ploy. After our original selves have lost their selves, the world of Needless began to disappear from it's existence, so that's why Drawcia created us as copies, not the ones that died.

Seto : Original one dead? Wait hold that thought, what does this all mean! Did you say that we the inhabitants of the world of Needless died? Are you saying that I was created by a witch?

Grim : What?

Kuchinashi : Exactly, that's why we were brought into the real world, not the one in the world that we lived in, it was destroyed by the Time Eater.

Seto : So that's why I became a stand alone hero. Kanna, Darts, Solva, everyone else.

Kuchinashi : All but copies to our original selves. That is also why,

Seto : I guess this means, Solva and I are good girls compared to the originals that died when the world of Needless disappeared! Have I been a good that is a copy to who was bad?

Kuchinashi : I know, it's all of humanity's fault that the world of Needless disappeared in plain sight. But don't worry, we can make up ourselves, we're heroes after all. The real Setsuna along with Mio is at that castle. They've been held captive with the machines at the source of the palace.

Grim : Good! Let's go save this castle right away! Then we can save your friends!

Seto : Of course, as a copy, as a Deathless...

[Way to the ARK by Jun Senoue]

*DBZ SFX : Suprise*

Seto : I WILL NOT FAIL MY SWORN MY DUTY AS SHINIGAMI!

Kuchinashi : Good! Then follow me! With have to stop them before they'll suck the life out of this planet, or else the Exception Zone is getting worse.

Seto : Right! Let's go, Master. Shall we do this like old times?

Grim : Like old times, Seto. Let's bring them to honor thy death! This shall be our victory!

*meanwhile in Libya

[Entry Into the Crater (Part 1) by Fumie Kumatani]

*footsteps approaching*

*view from Hi-Tech Goggles*

??? : So...you know what that place is? This is where the Black Blood Facility is.

??? : You're kidding. Black blood? Oh please, more like Bad blood to me. So you think that a bunch of demons exist or was it Heartless? Wait, you didn't hear the whole thing since that war thing with Black Hole, yeah that figures. Since Drawcia sent you to dispose of the facility, when do you think of it saying the world is going to be wrapped in black?

??? : Be my lucky guess. There's no way that the Libya government is going to be easy with authorization. That place is a facility with the usage of Black Blood and I must admit, Black Blood is nothing more than Ink, I wonder why this witch is going to use it to destroy the world?

??? via watch: It's because, they're planning to destroy the legacy. But we can't let heartless villains get away with this!

Sami via Watch : Leave it to ol' Sami of Orange Star. Same goes to you, Eagle of Green Earth.

Orochimaru : Well now. It appears that two people are not against one, but it pleases me that I am going to tear down what is rightfully mine as the greatest snake villain. But let's see if you can get away with something from your plans of erasing this world from your insane ways. However, I'll show you the definition of insanity, bringing justice to those who hold their grudges. Time to make our moves.

*scene then changes*

Eruka : So you're going to help me to destroy that facility?

Inky Albarn : Yes. What is something that you desire to bring yourself out of the shadows and into the light.

Eruka : I want vengeance on the woman for using us in order to destroy the planet. Snake witch Medusa. That b*tch is using us to destroy the planet and it's our fault that we're the ones that have been blamed by the Mashimaverse. The magic that wreaked havoc on earth wasn't us, it was them, the Mashimaverse's inhabitants.

Inky Albarn : Is that so. So this whole conflicting with the witches thing, it was their fault that they had to put the blame on the Ohkuboverse's inhabitants, and you my dearest witchy friend, are one of the inhabitants created as copies, which is why you came from a place of the wetlands in Japan. That's because a swampy creature like you could be fitting for Tokyo's frog zoo for direction.

Eruka : Hey. I am not a subject for disection, and I am not from the wetlands of Japan, I'm from the wetlands of Louisiana.

Inky Albarn : Ehh?

Eruka : Truth is...I was raised in the swampy wetlands of the bayou and this is why I fight back against other women mostly in Baton Rouge.

Inky Albarn : Do you feel like you had free time New Orleans when you like visiting the city.

Eruka : Yeah, like the french quarter I go to. The french quarter was fhe place where I can say about everything in my life and played some jazz and some tasty delicate food. It was my first time eating something like that, since all the cuisine in New Orleans, well...some of that Gumbo stuff or the Jambalaya stuff from the southern part of Louisiana. You know, I did try it out and we even had the dance in this the state's culture. Being a witch living in a french-like state could say "croissant".

Inky Albarn : I'm not buying any references from that one. Anyways, the Royal blood of the Ink Demon should be right here at this facility.

Eruka : It should be right here somewhere.

Sami : Excuse us, but are you two some kind of travelers who came to this heated land of Libya?

Eagle : Yeah, and they're flag is all green and I'm a lean green machine.

[Mystery G by Sota Fujimori]

Sami : So you have the opportunity to destroy that facility? Make way for us war veterans. I don't have to spray it, but you will be helping us on saving all of the human race.

Inky Albarn : That's good talk, cloaked stranger. But I don't know if we can even trust you two strangers.

Eagle : Is that so? I wonder if me and my partner could help you make contact with us, we got a headstart to thinking if you're really the "original" Maka Albarn.

Inky Albarn : How did you know who I am?

Eagle : I thought so. I heard that the only Maka Albarn was the just the name of two single entities, symbols that are the symbols of Dark and Light. One is the queen of the demons and the other is the one who wiped out Japan's population.

Eruka : The other Maka wiped out Japan's population. What an oddly mystery to solve that puzzle.

Sami : So this is the Maka Albarn we knew from the 1930s. This is what I get so hard for not understanding the hardships combat and war, the many conflicts was the only reason that I was a part of Orange star and I was trio of war comrades.

Eruka : We need to get into that facility and this one over wants to reclaim the Royal Blood of the Ink Demon, which was stolen by this snake b*tch that has been using us as tools to destroy this planet.

Eagle : Don't worry help is on the way. I've got my friends under control.

Eruka : Oh really? You and what friends?

*Hears tanks moving*

Inky Albarn : What the-?

[Bad Girl by Sota Fujimori]

Eruka : Are those tanks, red, orange and uhh, green? Those are military equipment! What's going on!?

Eagle : Seek for yourself.

*Removes cloak to reveal himself as Eagle*

Eagle : I am Eagle, leader of the Green Earth Army! But if you want help to dispose of that facility, then leave it to us!

Inky Albarn : Oh great. Nintendo forgot that they gave us a welcome committee. I guess these guys from the world of Advance Wars.

Eruka : Advance Wars. Hope it's not another conflict, this ain't the Hybrid Front, so how can I trust them.

Sami : *laughing* Always the smart one, froggy. I guess that Eagle gave my permission to let me help him...I only wanted to do this for the sake of my friends.

Inky Albarn : What's going on? How did you know that you want help? And what do you mean the sake of your friends. How the hell do I supposed to know, stranger?

Eagle : Don't you forget it. This stranger you referring to her is the commander of the Special Forces of Orange Star.

Eruka : Commander? This one's a commander of the special forces? Who the heck do you think you really are helping for what friends?

Sami : Oh my, that's a cold reception about the powers of friendship and commodores. Now, don't forget that the stranger in a cloak is no stranger for helping Eagle as my partner.

*Removes cloak to reveal herself as Sami*

Eruka : Hold the phone, that's...

*DBZ SFX : Suprise*

Inky Albarn : Just as I expected, You're Sami of the Orange Star army.

Eruka : What? This girl who is one of the trio that fought against Green Earth and Black Hole? And also the one who saved Macro-Land? But how on earth did she exist in the real world?

Inky Albarn : I got questions, What are you doing here, and why are you siding with him? Is this some kind off joke to you?

Sami : Siding? I'm not siding with them, I'm only being his partner so I could live up to my friends reputation. The Blob might becoming soon, with your goal on reclaiming the royal blood...I'll lead everyone out of the shadows and put an end to the many conflicts.

Inky Albarn : Sounds like you got yourself a deal. But I won't be giving up without a meer challenge.

Sami : Is that so, demon queen? Don't worry, I'll make it up to you by taking you down...if it's okay that you are the original Maka Albarn.

Inky Albarn : Just say when...

*Scene later cuts+Ding*

Sami : Drats. You're pretty good!

Eruka : Here have a one up.

*Gives 1-Up mushroom to Sami*

*1-UP*

Sami : Thanks. Interesting for saving my life. You're not bad for the original, I guess I owe you an apology. So now, what we're gonna do is that we need our troops to handle with the heartless business, that snake witch is planning to use the royal blood to cover this whole planet into a sea of black badness. If we don't stop it, this entire world could be the end of us all, and we must not get away with whoever is doing it! So, will you help us and put a stop to a snake witch's scheme?

Eruka : Of course, but only it's just an occasion to save this world, I wasn't born to become a villain, I was born to be a hero with redemption.

Eagle : Lucky for me that I got redemption as well. If only a hero would know best, it'll be the coolest. But first, let's be too hasty. If you want to know what really happened to her comrades I'll explain this to you.

Inky Albarn : Like how?

Eagle : It only happened before our factions accidentally met our demise. But what happened was no accident, but a major accident as well.

"A SOLDIER FROM THE WORLD OF WARS MAKES ALLIANCE WITH THE QUEEN?"

"BUT WHAT REALLY HAPPENED AFTER ALL WARS IN THE WORLD OF ADVANCE WARS HAVE COMES TO AN END ON OMEGA LAND?".

"TO DISCOVER WHAT HAPPENED DURING THAT TRAGEDY, IT'S TIME THAT WE NEEDED TO TAKE PLACE IN THE IN THE AFTER OF THE OMEGA LAND WARS."

~ Mission 15 : Remnants of the Famicom Wars ~

[someone-you-do-not-know]

You know what. As a self proclaimed Pathologic girlie, I am going to argue my boy's demise. Daniil propaganda, HERE WE GO!

Daniil Dankovsky, a man who has made it his life mission to end the very concept of death, has been threatened to have his life work destroyed unless he brings some proof. By the (un)luckiest coincidence, his old friend who lives in a backwater town in the middle of absolutely nowhere has written to him about an immortal man! What a coincidence! Surely, he must go, this is the proof that could give him the freedom to continue his research! So he finds himself in The Town near the Gorkhon river. Mind you, he doesn't arrive in town or steps foot in town. He's already there. Because he was already doomed the moment you opened up the game. The immortal man he was supposed to meet? His friend who wrote to him? They're both dead. He's not even allowed to see the body of the immortal man, because of traditions. He went all this way for nothing. Even worse, he realises there's a plague in town, and he's a doctor – so this is his problem, since the local doctor died. One of his colleagues in the capital writes to inform him that it's a setup and their school of thought is once again being persecuted. This is Day One.

On Day Two, Daniil might as well start digging his own grave. After a bunch of hard work to make the ruling houses of The Town realise they have to do SOMETHING to prevent the spread of disease, those very same measures he approved and installed is what prevents him from leaving. At every turn throughout the game, people lie to him, manipulate him, and on Day Six, halfway through the game, he has to come up with a culprit, a carrier, a solution – OR ELSE. It's not as if he doesn't have a number of people to choose between. But Daniil can't just blame who or whatever, so he goes through all the options scientifically. Only to find that the infection is caused by NONE of it. None of the suspected women, not the weird steppe creature, not the so-called Harbinger. He fails. The next day, the inquisitor arrives, and not only does she tell him that his efforts were in vain: "However, I am absolutely positive that there is not and could not be a human carrier of the disease." and even worse, his life's project is in RUINS. Because he left. To get proof of his theories. Not only is Daniil told that, the woman who informs him deceives him through the rest of the game, pretending to be his friend while plotting against him. The destruction of his life's work is the one thing she doesn't lie about.

Daniil loses sight of everything as the situation around him deteriorates. Everything he does seems to be for naught. He tries to instill safe areas, but the plague knows no bounds, he tries to get the means for a vaccine, accidentally causing the premature death of a young girl (who was going to die from the plague either way), when he gets permission to enter the abattoir, he is brutally beaten by the butchers there, and only rescued by the military. Do note that an inquisitor and the military has been sent to this backwater town to stop a plague, but not a single doctor, nurse, or any other medical or scientific personnel is there. That's because The Town was doomed from the moment you started the game too. The Powers That Be don't care to preserve Daniil or The Town, it's a game of everyone dying slowly. So Daniil puts his hope, faith, and dreams in the last thing that isn't dying around him – the giant construction named The Polyhedron. And he's willing to die for that construction to still be standing. Because we actually don't know if he survives his own ending – if we can even call it that. His ending is not his vision or his dreams coming true, it's those of one of the ruling houses. Daniil was just there, unwittingly helping it along. It's been twelve days, and if you kill yourself, you get an achievement.

You might say, "that sounds pretty bad, he's certainly in a bad spot and has no way of escape, but in universe, he's not that doomed." Well, here comes the spoilers – in universe, there's nothing outside of The Town. It's a sandbox plague within a sandbox town, and Daniil is just a doll forced to play by cruel children – so is everyone else around him. On the last day, he can even be told so to his doll face. Get his own lack of being human thrown at him in the worst ways: "And if you keep being naughty, I'll take you with me next time and leave among the wreathes so that you know better!", "We never liked you all that much anyway... You've always been the scary doll. Playing with you was no fun." and "You're a doll -- ask anyone! Your name is Bachelor. You're the scary clown. You're always the evil guy when we're playing." Every person he has met and interacted with are the throwaways, the unwanted dolls from the bottom of the barrel. He is the evil guy, and the Haruspex (another protagonist from the game) is the bad guy. There's no good guys, only the dolls the two kids don't care for.

Throughout the entire game, even Daniil's quest log taunts him, reminding him of his original purpose of speaking to the immortal man, who is now dead. First after everything has been revealed to be a game does it change. Reminding Daniil and the player of the futility of his plight:

[T]he hero has been bitterly deceived! All this time, the hero took himself to be a living man who was trying to rescue his fellow human beings. Beyond doubt, this belief has filled him with fervour; helped him to reach the finale, and even be somewhat triumphant. In vain, it was all in vain. The hero was but a puppet, striving to help the imaginary population of a town that was nothing more than a drawing. Strangely, there is still not a word to be heard from the Powers That Be. Perhaps they became bored of it all... or were called back home for supper.

When he speaks of his revelation to his fellow healers, one makes it into a joke, while the other knew all along (since Day Nine, at least). Daniil knows at this point there's no winning, only losing, because their gods are unloving children who decided to play a game of epidemic: "You lose. They don't love us, by the way. They're fed up with us. That's why we're stuck here... they've stuck us here." and "You're having fun... Somehow I fail to join in." The only two dialogue choices when asked what he would have done if he knew beforehand are "I would have acted more confidently." and "I would have shot myself." There's nothing for this man to live for, and he was never truly alive in the first place. In the Changeling path, the creators of the game themselves describes Daniil as "A tempted destroyer. He could have accomplished a feat of moral heroism. The strongest, the most straightforward, he was too strongly tempted by vengeance and destruction for his not going through with it to be anything less than... miracle, or something close to one." In this path too, he realises he is a toy, but The People Who Executed The Whole Thing are unconcerned: "his trajectory is so designed as to make it difficult for him to abandon his arrangement. Except by a lapse of judgement-but we're not concerned with that." He is so doomed that even when he gains sentience, there's no reason to worry that he'll undoom himself.

Because they "[planned] beforehand which decision will be free and which won't be? There's no escaping from this loop! So long as you're here, this will last forever."

Vote Daniil Dankovsky!

Doomed by the Narrative: FINALS

If I see ANY of you being rude to the other contestant or getting unreasonably upset at whatever the results are, you are being blocked on sight. Be kind, and bring up your OWN guy without tearing down the OTHER guy.

[lokislastlove]

would you rather obsessive neighbor Peter parker. he always finds a way to finness his way into your apartment. Or Uber driver Bucky. somehow he always ends up picking up your driving request. His car is a super popular car so you arent sure if he is stalking you or it a coincidence

Ok so this kind of inspired a little drabble (seriously how do you do this to me every time?) basically I love creepy neighbors and this is where my mind went…. 😬 🖤🤍🖤🤍

Sticky Situation (Dark!Peter x Reader)

Summary: You develop a crush on a new neighbor.

Notes: no real warnings other than implied kidnapping and dark Peter. It’s a drabble under 2k. 🤍

—

The front door finally gives after a moment of pushing, heavy metal dragging loudly over the permanently scratched frame. Like most people in the city, you look forward to getting home after a long work day. But, for you, the best moment of your day is when you get to check your mail.

Smiling, you walk across the narrow lobby and toward the shining wall of mailboxes. You unlock your box and, like clockwork, the guy from apartment 4E steps up a few feet away before you’ve had the chance to flip through all the junk mail.

It’s been three months since you moved in and not a single work day has passed where he hasn't been there to greet you with a smile and shy “hey”. At first you found it a bit creepy, but he never made a move, or said anything weird, he barely looked at you long enough to make you uncomfortable.

“Please tell me you put this in my box?” He asks pleadingly as he adjusts his glasses.

“Uh,” voice stutters as you read the flyer in his hand, “sadly, no. I am not a member of the building’s doom metal band.”

You fight a smile and he chuckles. Damn, even his laugh is adorable. You flick through your mail one more time, trying to drag out the time before he slams his mailbox closed. You follow quickly, but not too quickly, you don’t want him to think you’re a creep. Stuffing the junk mail into the recycle bin, you hover a couple feet behind him as you wait for the elevator.

He hums along to the song on his single earbud and fidgets with the keys in his hand. Perfectly casual, like he doesn’t even realize you’re there. You take the time to appreciate the view his tight jeans give you, a hint of a shapely firm ass and thighs. He definitely works out.

The elevator dings and you suck in a quick breath as you timidly enter the small space beside him. He smiles at you as he presses your floor and then his floor without prompting. You both have done this so many times it doesn’t need to be said anymore.

“Thanks,” you mutter automatically as you stare at your shoes and hold your purse strap tightly.

“My pleasure,” he returns, smirking when he catches you look up at the way his voice deepens.

The elevator dings and you step out with a nervous, “goodnight,” and small wave.

“See you,” he smiles brushing back his curly locks.

God, why can’t you be cooler? Why can you never think of something funny or interesting to say to keep him talking? Always safer to stay quiet than embarrass yourself, you suppose. You drag your feet to your door, sighing at the prospect of wasting another lonely night of junk food and tv. If only you could be spontaneous for once in your life. 

—

Friday is bittersweet as you celebrate the end of the workweek but also the last day you get to see 4E for two days. You go to your mailbox, smiling in anticipation as you shove in the key and twist. You pull out the measly stack of junk and flip through it slowly as you glance around the lobby for him. He must be late. You move to the trash can at the end of the row, and use up some time cleaning out your purse. Still no sign of him.

You slowly re-read and toss each piece of junk mail until you are left with a single envelope, probably more ads. Disappointment tugs at your shoulders as you sigh at the empty lobby. He’s not coming.

You tear open the envelope, ignoring the hand written address on the front and pull out a single piece of lined notebook paper. You unfold it with a frown and begin to read the hastily written note in black marker.

“Hey 3E! I have to go out of town for a day or two and didn’t want you to think I ditched you on our nightly elevator ride. Truth is I am a coward and couldn’t get the courage to ask you properly on a date. Which makes the fact that I’m asking you for a favor even more embarrassing...The problem is I left my cat, Padme, at home alone. I thought that maybe you could stop in and check on her maybe give her some catnip from the cabinet above the stove to keep her happy. No pressure, though! She’ll survive, she has food and water. But, if you're feeling neighborly, I keep a key taped under the door mat. Thank you so much! I’ll see you soon – Peter (aka 4E).”

You read the note through multiple times in disbelief, laughing again at the post script at the bottom reading, “just please don’t steal my stuff, my cat is very possessive of her things. ;)”

You bite your lip as you think it over, your first thought is instantly, “Aw poor kitty.” You don’t really see a downside, in fact, he’s the one risking the most by trusting a total stranger to enter his home. But the curiosity compels you into the elevator where you promptly press the button for the fourth floor.

You stand outside, staring at the 4E on the door and listening for any indication he might be home… just incase his plans changed. But, there is nothing but silence for several minutes. You nudge the mat with your toe and flip up the top corner, instantly spotting the black duct tape camouflaged across the rubber bottom.

You glance down the hall, nervous to be accused of breaking and entering as you pluck the silver key from under the tape. With a deep breath you unlock the door and poke your head into the dim apartment. Nothing but the stove top light and one standing lamp in the corner to light the entire space.

The floor plan is similar to yours, open kitchen and living space with a bedroom and bathroom down the short hall, though his has a distinctly more bachelor-pad vibe. The dark leather furniture and exposed brick seem to absorb what little light there is and you squint as you look around for the cat.

“Hello?” You call nervously through the still air.

You step inside and close the door, the last thing you need is to go searching for an escaped cat. Seeing his home feels oddly intimate, especially without him there. It makes you fidget, like you’re doing something wrong even though you had, in fact, been invited.

You're pleasantly surprised by the modern decor blended with the nerdy memorabilia. Clearly, he has some style based on cohesive look and his neat placement of his most prized possessions, like the signed replica of Captain America’s shield on the wall, something you would definitely consider stealing.

A soft meow cuts through the silence and your eyes spot the small tabby cat blinking at you from the end of the dark hall.

“Hi, Padme,” you lilt sweetly. “Aren't you a cutie. I didn’t know your dad was such a nerd, but I find that pretty cute too.”

She meows again, clearly unimpressed with you and skitters into the dark back room. You call after her and follow instinctively, listening for her soft mews and the clack of her claws on the wood floor as you get closer.

You reach around the door frame, feeling around for a light switch but find none. “Spspsp, come on Padme. You want some catnip? Come on out baby.”

There is a scuffle and a startled cat cry from within and you panic as you move inside holding your hands out to keep yourself from running into anything.

“Kitty? Here kitty, are you ok?” you worry as you timidly take a couple more steps forward, sweeping your hands out in front of you.

You pull your hand back with a gasp at the feel of something wet and sticky. You pause and slowly put your hand out again, “Padme?”

Your hand runs into a long string like line, and your first thought is a clothes line, but why is it sticky? Ick, maybe it better not to know why. You go to release the line but your hand refuses to open. You bring your other hand up to pull it off of you but you end up trapping both hands to the line.

Panic flairs instantly as you tug against the cord, kicking out in fear as more parts of your body become tangled in the invisible web-like trap. But that’s not possible, or at least... it shouldn’t be.

“Help! Help me!” You scream as your body becomes completely bound in the gluey strands, but no one hears you.

Hours pass and your voice turns scratchy, burning with pain as your body slumps in exhaustion but is held upright by your unyielding bonds. The harder you fight the more secure your restraints become until you are completely paralyzed and hanging dumbly, waiting for someone to find you. 

The morning light rises, and your eyes adjust to the dim light, black out curtains keeping most of the light out even as the peak of the day comes and goes. You have no idea how long you’ve been there crying and pleading to the silence, but as the orange sunset shines through the tight blinds you finally hear the front door open and close. 

“Hello?” You croak, every inch of you aching and stiff as you are forced to listen to the slow steady footsteps.

They seem unhurried, relaxed even, though you know they must have heard you. Your heart thumps loudly in your chest in terror. A light switch flicks on in the hallway, bathing you in a bright light at your back. You watch as a shadow grows along the ground. Its the most you can see as your head is stuck facing the other direction, awkwardly.

“Peter?” You whimper quietly as you feel a heat along your back.

He chuckles against you ear and whispers darkly, “caught ya.”

Tags: @darkficsyouneveraskedfor @queenoftheworldisdead @threeminutesoflife @emberenchanted @buttercupfangirl @needleandhammer @lokiswildheartcantbebroken @thiskindahotkindamusic @caffiend-queen

[aimeeee]

"I could finally breath again" pt1

Pairing : Ashoka Tano x F!Reader

Word Count : +5000

Summary : Y/n is a Jedi who trained with Ashoka, having spent their lives together the two are very close. Her master is Obi-Wan Kenobi. After proving that she was capable of going on missions alone, the Jedi Council offered her an undercover mission within the Sith order. To do so, she must travel to a planet where Count Doku will be waiting for her. Having never met her, he believes that she raised herself and is therefore susceptible to the Dark Side. When things went wrong, they found out who she was and tried to take information from her in any way they could. Held captive for months, she is unaware that Ashoka has left the Jedi order and the Republic military. Having learned of her existence and her history with the Jedi, Maul infiltrated where she was being held before bringing her with him.

Warnings : slight mention of physical and mental torture, fights, lightsabers fights, flirty and arrogant Y/n

[season 7, episode 9] --------------------------------------------------

"They've never been able to get me to talk in months and you really think you can do it in days ? I must admit that you have ambition, spike-head. -Where is Obi-Wan Kenobi ? -Is it possible that the spikes on your head are making you deaf, or were you rocked too close to the wall? I am not telling you anything. -You will talk." And he left the room. I'm exhausted, it has to end.

A few hours passed before he came back to see me.

"We are leaving, get up. -Where are we going? -Mandalore." The tone of his voice made me realize that I was in no position to ask why. We set off in a ship.

Two days later

Still not knowing why we were on Mandalore I began to lose my patience. Locked up and tortured for months, only to be kidnapped and driven from planet to planet by a ladybug-colored spike head, I was almost beginning to miss the training of the Jedi. He had us move to an apartment as soon as we entered the atmosphere of Mandalore. Maul used one of the bathrooms as a cell, all I know about our location is that we are towards the top floors so, very high. If I want to escape I will need to remember what Ashoka told me about acrobatics. I'm doomed. As we passed behind what looked like a living room, I heard several voices and saw red and black armor. Ladybugs soldiers or am I dreaming ? I heard one of them, probably the leader after Maul, talking to an hologram :

"The situation is getting out of control on the surface, head for the underground city, others are already waiting for you. I immediately started being me. - Wait you're taking me for a ride in the sewers? What a chance-"

He interrupted me by putting a kind of mask on my face to prevent me from speaking. I tried to without much success. Shit.

---

Here we are, in the underground of Mandalore, it is cleaner than I expected.

As far as I know we are in the middle of a labyrinth of tunnels, sewers. Maul is still there but this time he is accompanied by a group of Death Watch with their ladybugs armors. He ordered me to sit down, which I did not. Losing his patience, he hit me in the stomach, making me groan, bend and finally sit down. Asshole, I'm going to have a bruise. I thought it so loudly that he must have heard me from the look on his face.

---

Something is happening. All the soldiers are armed to kill thousands of people, they are rushing, orders are received, everyone is panicking. Except for Maul, who seems to be fine with the situation.

There was not much noise, so it was easy for everyone to hear that other people had entered these tunnels, about 20 soldiers went in the direction of the noise. The atmosphere was so tense that you could cut the air with a knife. Then all the noises stopped, no more communications, no more talking or footsteps. Complete silence. Suddenly an echo of voices followed by an explosion was heard, the walls began to shake. Blaster fired, other echoes of panicked voices. A Death Watch approached Maul to whisper something to him that I could not hear. He looked at me, came over and lifted me up with an firm hand.

"We have company.

All but one of the Death Watchers went off in different directions.

- You will follow me and keep your mouth shut if you value your life at all."

The Death Watch guy came up behind me, tied my hands and held me at gunpoint and ordered me to follow Maul. Being run out of options I resigned myself to listening to him.

After following a long tunnel for several minutes, the Death Watcher grabbed my handcuffs and forced me to my knees, still holding me at gunpoint. An execution position. Would Maul have resigned himself to killing me? No, it doesn't make sense, why move, why not do it earlier?

Then everything became clear.

Despite my eyes being clouded with fatigue, I could easily see two blue lightsabers, and Ashoka holding them tightly. She was standing there only a few feet away from me. I could see her so clearly, but because of the darkness and Maul standing a few feet in front of me, it was impossible for her to see me. Maul continued to move forward until he was only a few feet away from her.

"I was hoping for Kenobi's arrival.

Ashoka moved into her attack position.

- Why were you sent?

He advanced toward her. All the Death Watch here had their weapons aimed at her. She had changed so much.

-Ashoka...Tano, unless I'm mistaken. A name that I must admit doesn't ring a bell. - I know who you are.

The determination in her voice gave me chills. - Yes, I guess we have many friends in common. -Friends is not the right word.

He approached her and circled her, slowly, like a prey hunting. Gradually I felt the attention of the Death Watcher keeping me at gunpoint shift.

-No, of course not, but I'm afraid your way of thinking is no longer relevant.

In a brief second, when Maul's back was turned, she pressed a button on her equipment. She was sending her location.

-I was certain, however, that Kenobi would have come in person even in the company of his loyal foal, Skywalker, if I am not mistaken. -Master Kenobi had a much more important mission than killing the dead. -Oh yes indeed. So it is between us that this political moment will be resolved.

Maul looked above him, where daylight penetrated the tunnels. If he wasn’t so focused on the cobwebs on the ceiling, I think he would have been able to hear the steps rushing towards us.

- Why did Kenobi send you? - All you have to do is turn yourself in and then we’ll go and ask him to enlighten us.

He laughed a little. Well if you can call that a laugh.

- Surrendering now would unfortunately not have the slightest sense, for, if I see right, soon, the Jedi and the Republic will no longer be in a position to control the fate of the Galaxy. - And who will be in position ? You ? - No, Dark Sidious."

A chill ran down my spine. Blaster shots were fired from the tunnel to my left. Now. I suddenly got up, hitting the chin of my enemy with my skull, under surprise he dropped his blaster and sent his hand towards my face, trying not to fall but he managed to remove my mask. I threw myself at him with all my weight and crushed his throat in my lap. Once the work was done, I got up and jumped while making my arms pass under my legs in order to have them in front of me and not behind my back. I caught the blaster and rushed to the raging fight.

Ashoka was fighting with Maul and the Republic soldiers against the Death Watch. I managed to raise my weapon and aim and fire properly despite the fact that I was handcuffed and exhausted. One of the Death Watchers saw me and rushed towards me, I was not fast enough to stop him, he tackled me to the ground, raised his blaster over my head and the last thing I could do was scream, so I shouted her name, and everything turned black.

---

I felt lifted from the ground and shaken, someone was carrying me and we were running. I sensed a few voices, especially Ashoka's.

"Did you hear that? -Affirmative, Commander, Maul must have a prisoner. -This voice…"

Then nothing, Maul had managed to lose them. I don’t know what will happen to me but it won’t be pretty.

POV Ashoka -after the communication with Obi-Wan informing him of Anakin's mission-

Rex interrupted the discussion I was having with Obi-Wan. "Sorry to interrupt, but we are under attack. - I’ll let you do it.

I nodded in the direction of Obi-Wan and walked away a few steps before turning around.

- Tell Anakin.. - I’ll tell him." And I got out, followed by Rex and another soldier.

---

We quickly arrived at the scene of the attack. Many soldiers were on the ground.

"We ran into an ambush on our way to help deck C. -Rex ensure the C-Deck is properly protected.

He left and I approached a wounded soldier, sitting on the ground. He reached out to me and called me between coughs.

- It's alright soldier, I am here. Sterling, if I am not mistaken? I squat next to him. - Yes, I must tell you… Maul cough he asked us all one after the other. He was asking about you cough and he realized that Jesse was an older Arc model than we were, I feel like he could read his mind. cough He took him, he took Jesse alive.

I pointed my gaze towards the tunnel that stretched before us, ready to gather the troops and go rescue him. - But… but that’s not all. I frowned before refocusing on Sterling. - Tell me. - cough There was also a girl. She was unconscious and shut out by one of the Death Watchers. - A girl? How did she look? - I don’t know, Commander, I was too busy with the ambush. All I could discern cough was her clothes and the marks on her back. - Marks? Be more specific. - I don’t know… it seemed like *cough" it seemed like scarred flagelation marks, ma'am."

POV Y/n

My body being too weak to keep track of the events unfolding infront of me, I slept in and out of consciousness multiple times during the ride. The air is hot, the voices resonate as well as the steps, we are still in the underground. But there is a new person with us.

"You’re wasting your time, I won’t tell you anything. That voice… I opened my eyes and saw. It’s Jesse. If he’s here there’s a chance the others will go looking for him, I still have a chance to escape. - It’s quite amusing that you are convinced you can say no to me. He laughs. - Clones… Produced for combat, all part of the secret plan. - What secret plan? I heard him struggling. - What are you talking about? - The big plan. The only plan that matters. Even I wasn’t aware of that big secret. But I understood my role well. And do you know how I was thanked? I was simply dismissed. I was forgotten. Damn there's no therapist in the Dark Side ? - But I managed to survive and I intend to take advantage of the chaos that is coming. Saxon, information is one of the most valuable assets. Ensure that the Prime Minister does not become... an asset to our enemies. - Yes, my lord. He went into the depths of the tunnels. - And now. There are certain things I have to know that your friend is very careful to tell me. So you’re going to help me. - Ask me all the questions you want if it amuses you, I won’t tell you a single thing. - Sadly, it’s not up to you. Your mind has to choose between talking, and breaking. If I have been able to hold on to this kind of method it is only because I am one with the Force. Sterling’s gonna have to talk. - Tell me who this Ashoka Tano is." And soon his cries echoed throughout the network of tunnels.

---

Once the necessary informations were received, Maul left to communicate with three people I did not know. Sterling was outstretched as I was able to save my strength. I was way too far away from him, and way too many blasters were pointed at me to get close to him. Saxon appeared out of the darkness.

"What’s going on? - Maul has just told the leaders of the syndiquats to leave. Well, at least I know who they are. Maul ended the communication and turned towards us.

- A long time ago you set me free from Dark Sidious and his apprentice. At the time I thought Doku was an old fool, but now I can see for myself. We were both in the same case, both totally obsolete. Never has the Dark side been so strong.

Even I could feel it. Something horrible was happening.

- My lord, what do you mean? - Soon the whole galaxie will be reshaped. He approached me. - And in the midst of this general chaos, we must seize the power that will come before us. It is not in the habits of your people to live like rats in the sewers. If you should die, I promise you in the eyes, it will happen with pride on the battlefield. He stopped in front of me. I looked up to cross his eyes. - And if you should die, you will face your destiny as a warrior. The soldiers began to cheer loudly. His piercing gaze could through my eye, directly into my soul but I knew I was destabilizing him because when he approached his hand to my face, I saw it shaking. He grabbed my face with a firm hand before getting close to my ear. - Your friend told me everything about her. I know exactly who you are and what your relationship was with Ashoka Tano. You’re her weakness, and I intend to use it. I freed myself violently from his grip. - How dare you pretend to know her, you know nothing about her. She is much stronger than you think. She would do anything to stop you, even if it means letting me die. The cause is too great to stop everything for me. He approached my face to the point where I could feel his breath on my nose. - You know that’s not true. He walked away and stopped one of the soldiers. The soldier got closer to me and pulled out new handcuffs that he hung this time in front of me. He took his blaster, set it on paralyzing and fired. And everything went black.

POV Exterior

It wasn’t very long before Ashoka, Rex and Bo-Katan walked through the doors of the hall. If at first they did not notice the presence of the Sith Lord, Ashoka felt, through the Force, a connection that she had not felt for a long time. Turning her head it is Maul with whom she crossed eyes first, then Jesse and to finish Y/n. If a wave of relief was supposed to invade her, anger was the only emotions she could identify. Bo-Katan, noticing the presence of Maul, took out her two blasters and shot all the way towards him. He managed to deflect the fire and lifted the Mandalorian from the ground.

"My dear, is this any way to treat your rightful sovereign? One second passed and he released her. She fell heavily on the ground, Ashoka and Rex rushed towards her.

- And now, as a sign of goodwill, I will give your brother in arms his freedom. The soldier’s handcuffs fell to the ground. But he hesitated. - Go. You can join them. Jesse got up with difficulty and slowly walked towards Rex. - Is everything all right, Jesse? - I’m sorry, Commander… I couldn’t help it. I had to tell him everything. - It’s all right. Rex take him with you."

An explosion outside made the windows of the room tremble. And seemed to awake Y/n.

POV Y/n

A blinding light, a thud, a tremor, a pressure on my shoulder. That’s all I could feel before Maul spoke:

"Ahh…one of you should go and see what this is about. - Go, your people needs you. Ashoka, she’s here, she saw me. A sudden impulse pushed me to move but the pressure on my shoulder kept me in place. - Looks like your... friend is waking up.

I felt Ashoka’s gaze on me but even opening my eyes seemed difficult, I have to keep my strength. At that moment Maul got up and I felt my body go forward. Without being able to hold it, I went down the stairs to lay a few meters from Ashoka. Surprisingly, the shock woke me up and I was able to open my eyes only to see Maul getting closer to the windows. Noises of steps made me turn my head towards the sound. Ashoka was getting closer to me. I drew a smile. - I would advise you to not approach her. Not wishing to listen to him, she took one more step in my direction and a click emanating from my handcuffs was heard. Suddenly I heard a loud electric noise and a scream, my scream. The handcuffs were electrocuting me. - Back off, Ashoka. Being too shocked to do anything, she did not move. Somehow I managed to beg her to do so, which she did immediately. And it stopped. I was able to catch my breath.

- Look at them. But what blissful ignorance they show.

He said, talking about the fight happening outside. - Are you going to tell me what this conflict is going to bring you ? Or do you want to make these revelations to the council ? - Oh no, no. You are the one I wish to talk to. He slowly approached the throne. - Have you not been rejected from your old order? - No, I left voluntarily.

I frowned, what did I just heard ? And started to slowly get up. - Yes, but you have been pushed to leave it by the nameless hypocrisy of the great Jedi council. I looked at Ashoka, she couldn’t answer. - Ahh we were promised to be the tools of greater power. She took a step forward. - I am only here to bring you to justice. - Justice, as you call it, is only the auxiliary of power in place, a power which, according to my recent calculations, is about to change hands. - And it’s Dark Sidious who’s under it ? - Yes, he is scheming and orchestrating everything behind the scenes as always but soon, very soon, he will reveal his identity to the whole world. - With your precious help the Jedi could stop Dark Sidious before it’s too late. - Too late for what ? Prevent the fall of the Republic ? It is already underway ! You are too blind to see it, there is no justice, no more laws and no more order except for the one who will come to replace the Republic. Taking advantage of his concentration on Ashoka, I gradually moved away from him, one step at a time. - The great days of the Jedi are over now. They cannot defeat Dark Sidious. But together, you and I can. My eyes widened.

- No, Ashoka, don’t listen to him. Standing while talking was less difficult than I thought, probably because of the adrenaline that went up. - You know very well that all the choices you have made, drove you inexorably to this moment. He reached his hand to her. - Ashoka, please, I don’t know what happened to you when I was... away, but you can’t go along with him, we can’t trust him. - That’s enough. - He did not hesitate to torture Jesse and I to get informations. If you succeed in killing Dark Sidious, you know very well that at the slightest opportunity he will eliminate you to take his place. Maul took a step towards me and activated his lightsaber. As a result, she brought her hands closer to hers. - I said, enough. - Everything is not lost, Maul cannot be your last hope. I am here now, we can face it together, it is not the end. - Stop ! Screamed Maul before rushing towards me, lightsaber ready to silence me forever. But at the moment of impact I felt a force me slip away from the danger. I raised my head towards her.

An explosion outside shattered the windows of the room. No one moved, Ahsoka didn’t looked at me once but kept her eyes on Maul instead. - Okay, I’ll help you. No, she would never do that. Maul smiled, satisfied. - But answer a question first. My eyes filled up with hope. - I’m listening. - What exactly do you want to Anakin Skywalker? I frowned and turned my head towards Maul, what does Anakin have to do with this? - He is the keystone of this whole building. - To bring balance to the Force? There was a brief pause. - To destroy everything. He was trained for this long-time mission when my master chose him as his apprentice. I looked closely at Ashoka, I thought I missed a lot of things during my absence but, she looks as lost as me. - You’re lying. - I am afraid I'm not. In fact, I’m so sure of his future destiny that I’ve started this war for the sole purpose of drawing him to this planet with Kenobi, to kill him. I leaned on the wall behind me. Ani fell to the hands of the Dark Side? - And thus remove Dark Sidious from his ruthless disciple. - No, I know Anakin. Ashoka took her lightsabers and activated them. She put herself in combat position. - Your vision is distorted. - I see the padawan is going to receive one last lesson.

Maul reactivated his lightsaber and attacked first. His attacks are violent and ruthless, Ashoka has no choice but to counter his blows by retreating. But she managed to attack several times. The explosions were raging outside. He managed to give her a blow in the nose which destabilised her and made her lose one of her lightsabers which I hurried to it pick up and used it to free me from my handcuffs. By the time I got into the fight, Ashoka had lost her second lightsaber and Maul was preparing to give her a fatal blow. At the last second I managed to get in between. Maul’s strength pushed me to my knees but Ashoka was able to recover the lightsaber and re-engage the fight with him, leaving me time to stand up. With two, it was easier to keep him away. - You know what, spike head, in the end you’re lucky Anakin didn’t show up. You fight like a child, you wouldn’t have lasted a minute in front of him. - You have the same arrogance as Kenobi, your master is not as wise as he claims to be. - It is not the only trait of character she has that will displease you. Ashoka winked at me. The fight resumed but this time Ashoka and I were totally coordinated and Maul had trouble tracking our movements at the same time. It was not long before she managed to send him against a window that broke under his weight and he disappeared on the other side.

We took a second to catch our breath. I put my hands on my knees before chuckling. - Why do I always have to save your ass. She laughed lightly. - Your brain’s been fried, you don't know what you're talking about. I straightened up to stretch. - You don’t know how right you are. Her smile slowly disappeared and a worried look landed on me. - You and I are gonna have to talk. I winked at her. - We kick his ass and I’m all yours. I laughed before jumping through the window through which Maul disappeared by. Ashoka gently shooked her head, a slight smile on her lips and joined me.

I stared at the spectacle unfolding before my eyes while enjoying this acquired freedom. - Do you see him ? Her voice teared me from my thoughts. I nodded negatively and began to look around me. - Y/n up there! She pointed to the top of a building where we could see Maul, trying to escape us. - Ok I have a plan. He’s going to try to reach the top of the city. I heard him talking about it, a ship is coming to get him. You will follow him and I will take another path. I will be with you but you will not see me. I will keep you safe. He’ll probably think I went to help the clones. - Are you sure ? - My love, you know that I am never wrong. And we parted ways.

---

-highest point of Mandalore-

"No, impossible, sorry. My device will arrive at any moment. Die with dignity, Mandalorian. - No wait! He ended his communiation. Ashoka activated his sword. - Obi-Wan was right. You are very difficult to kill. He turned to her. - As I see your are alone. So your… friend decided to go and support the army instead of you. - She must think I can stop you once and for all. And she rushed towards him. Her hard training allowed her to stay in balance on the metal beams they were standing on, she had an advantage over Maul who no longer seemed as agile as on land. Whenever Ashoka was in danger of falling, I would hold her back or redirect her with the Force. Being hidden just above them it was not difficult to have a good overview. - We could have destroyed Dark Sidious! - Just so you could take his place. She managed to give him a powerful blow on the torso which propelled him further but he did not lose his balance. Ashoka threw herself upon him and I could not anticipate what happened. He ejected her several meters behind her and she completely lost her balance to the point of being suspended by the arms above the void. I was prepared to intervene but a blinding light lit up the whole area, Maul’s ship. I managed to get away before being seen and so helped Ashoka to get up at a distance. - Lord Maul, we must leave immediately. He hurried in order to return to his ship but that was without counting on the speed and acrobatic skills of Ashoka who did not sin to catch him. She sent him down on the metal beams and the fight resumed. Maul managed to totally disarm Ashoka but I caught her lightsaber, thanks to the Force, without being seen. Maul cut the beam on which they stood so that it was in permanent imbalance and put Ashoka in a situation of total inferiority. The void was only one step behind her. - I will only ask you one last time. He was out of breath. - Be my ally, or die. - Never. He rushed towards her but she managed to dodge and left me the place to interpose between Maul’s lightsaber and her face. - You didn’t think I was going to leave her with you, did you ? You know me so badly, it pains me. Ashoka took advantage of the situation and jumped over both of us to land behind him. Maul noticed a moment of innatention from me and managed to hurt my hip with his lightsaber. Ashoka hurried to take control of it and cut the beam under our feet. I rushed and jumped back not wanting to crush myself on the ground. With her capability, she was able to hold Maul suspended in the air. - Let me die! - No way. We know you can't. Seeing the allied ships coming closer to us, I decided to sit down and tear a piece of my clothing to examine the root of my wound. Nothing serious even though it hurts like hell. The ships surrounded Maul and the doors opened. Clones and Mandalorians sent cables that came locking him. - You’re all going to die! We’re all going to die! You don’t know what you’re doing! One of the clones I recognized as Rex, thanks to his armor, sent him a paralysing shot and Ashoka was finally able to let him go. - Now you see how it feels, the stun shots. Out of breath, Ashoka laughed before joining me and helped me getting up. She kept my hands in hers. - Are you all right? I hugged her without hesitation. - Yes, I’m safe now."

I could finally breath again. We helped each other get on the ship having taken care of Maul. We are descending to dry land, her hand in mine I feel invincible but I can feel the gaze of Maul burning my back. He’ll kill us as soon as he gets the chance.

[lavendermin]

from sea of flowers, garden of eternity | xiao

pairing | xiao/reader

word count | 2k

genre | pwp, fluff, light angst, brief smut

note | glaze lily spirit reader, you are also in perpetual pain I’m sorry

“Xiao…” he hears your voice meekly call.

The adeptus is already on his feet before you can fully enter the room, his eyes quickly focused on you. He scans your body language diligently, looking for signs of pain or discomfort. It’s become a routine by now.

“Are you…?” His voice trails off when you shake your head apologetically. The slight strain in your smile doesn’t go unnoticed by him.

“I’m alright for now. The pains haven’t started yet. I think I’m set for another few hours, a day if I’m lucky,” you reassure him. “I just— wanted to check on you.”

Xiao gives you a blank look, one you recognize as confusion. “Check… on me…?”

“Just to see how you’re doing,” you clarify with a shy smile. As you make your way to sit on the bed, you gently pat the space next to you.

There’s a slight red upon his cheeks as he chooses to take up your invitation. The bed dips under his weight, and words do not need to be spoken to know both your minds drift briefly to past trysts that took place where you sit.

“I’m heading out to patrol the area in an hour. If you need anything at all, speak my name,” Xiao announces quietly. It’s a brief awkward silence as he rigidly sits next to you—tense almost. You answer him with a simple nod, hands absentmindedly rubbing little circles on your legs to ease the tingles of pain that slowly resurfaced.

Conversation was scarce the past few months you were placed into his watchful guard. The relationship you both harbored was a blurred line you tried not to think about too much for fear of over-complicating it.

And with your entire being, you could say you came to the unfortunate doom of falling in love with him. The emotional distance he kept oftentimes only confused you as much as your own emotions left him puzzled and a little flustered.

He kept you alive. That was the simplicity of the details Xiao was given. Perhaps it was a favor he was doing you, but he diligently carried it out with all the steadfastness of a contract bestowed onto him by the former Lord of Geo.

—

“I’m sure you are aware of the situation near Qingce Village,” Zhongli had brought up upon summoning Xiao several moons after the stirrings of a slumbering god.

Though the situation was previously dire, all was settled—Xiao knew this as a fact, for he was the one that swiftly took care of the aftermath of a dormant god’s power seeping through the earth. So, the battle hadn’t ended then…

“I was careless—“

Zhongli cut him off, carefully setting down his cup in its saucer. “On the contrary, this was in no way able to be foreseen by you. The world has a way of ending and raising new questions, just as easily as it provides answers to those who seek them.”

On the small garden table, Zhongli’s eyes trail to the glaze lily that sits in a small decorative vase. Unlike most, this lone flower is fully bloomed despite the time of day. It glows ever so slightly—weakly almost.

“You are aware that glaze lilies grow in the Qingce area, and there are a few wild outcroppings that shy away from prying eyes,” Zhongli starts.

His gloved finger reaches out to tenderly graze the petals, and at once the flower closes up. The petals take on a dullness, and visibly they start to wilt in small patches.

“The reasons are uncertain, but rumor spread around the village of a wandering ghost that followed the moon aimlessly. A spirit born of glaze lilies appeared after the battle that took place near there. It seems the power seeped deep into cracked earth among the flowerbeds.”

The young adeptus remained quiet, taking in the information. What exactly did this have to do with him, he wondered?

With a hint of apprehension, Xiao asks, “This spirit—has it taken on a malevolent nature?”

Instead of answering straight away, Zhongli wordlessly stands and makes his way back indoors. Xiao obediently follows, curious of the nature of this spirit.

“Nothing of the sort. However, these glaze lilies fell victim to the corruption of your karmic debt and at the same time were nurtured by immense adeptal power. There is a wavering balance that must be kept, for her body is as fragile as a flower’s and cannot withstand the depletion and shifts of adeptal energy.” With graceful steps, Zhongli stops before a door. “No other adeptus has successfully remained compatible with the energy she needs. So far it has only brought excruciating pain for her, and I fear she may die at this rate.”

With a silent nod, Xiao processes this information. His gloved hand is unmoving on the door handle.

“What are the terms of this contract,” Xiao silently asks, amber eyes trained on the door in front of him.

“My time has long passed to give you a new contract, Adeptus Xiao.” Zhongli chuckles fondly at the serious habits of the adeptus before him. “This is a choice I am giving you. It may take centuries for her body to adjust to the adeptal power she now harbors. If she is compatible with you, it is up to you to decide whether you supply her with your adeptal energy, otherwise she may not make it past next week.”

Xiao remains quiet for a brief moment before speaking softly, “Her body is tearing itself apart…”

“Correct.”

There’s something in that fact that stirs feelings Xiao isn’t used to in his chest. He accepts, and the first memory of you that adorns his mind is one that clenches his heart in a way he rarely experiences. The pain that twists and contorts your face as you desperately heave, body seemingly tearing itself apart in a way the naked eye cannot see.

You’re a beautiful tragedy born of moonlight and sweet soil. And in that moment when your eyes meet his, a single tear rolls down your cheek. He cannot fathom the thought of letting your life end as quickly as it began.

The door behind him clicks shut, and he takes your fragile life into his hands.

—

The lights of the house are dim—a subtle golden glow against a comforting darkness in the blanket of night. A meadow of glaze lilies surrounds the little cottage in a sea of fragrance. A prominent mark of your abode.

The little house defended by mountains is secluded, one which Zhongli sent to be made for you while your body stabilizes.

And though the exterior is tranquil, within its walls come soft pants and gasps. Xiao’s brows are knit together in concentration as he ruts against you.

“Please—Ah…nnh a–again,” you beg against your trembling body’s protests.

And he wordlessly complies, folding your legs until your knees are practically at the sides of your head. His hips pick up the pace and his thrusts become desperate, bodies covered in a sheen of sweat. The moans you let out are loud—obscene as he fills you up until you’re overflowing. The pains have long subsided, and you choose to let him overcompensate in giving you the energy that will get you by another few days.

In the serene calm of night, the tranquility is drowned out by the squelching sounds of your bodies meeting each other through desperate thrusts as both of you are sent over the edge. His name falls from your lips in a melody Xiao has grown addicted to. For the nth time that night you come undone beneath him, your essence stabilized.

There’s a swelling warmth in your chest that blooms like spring meadows as Xiao buries his face in the crook of your neck. The tips of his ears are a bright scarlet and though he tries to control it, he is still left a breathless mess as he rides out his orgasm.

“Is it…enough?” Xiao asks between pants, his cock still buried deep within you.

He’s still twitching within you and your entire body shudders with delight at the feeling.

“You… haah—can keep… going if you want,” you offer weakly. There’s a dazed look in your half-lidded eyes that makes Xiao’s chest squeeze. “‘M full but you’re still…”

Hard.

You glance down to where you two are still joined together, the view of his come leaking out of you shamelessly sending heat between your legs again. The tips of Xiao’s ears turn bright red though he tries to remain composed.

“I’ll be fine. You should get some rest to preserve the energy longer.”

He pulls out and ignores the way your eyes look away dejectedly. Before he can stand to go, your hand gently tugs him back down. Xiao allows himself to be pulled against you, his head resting in the valley of your naked chest.

“Stay with me for a bit?”

Xiao doesn’t answer right away, and your heart leaps when he lets out a little sigh and agrees.

“Alright.”

The minutes tick by in tranquil silence. Both tired bodies ignore the sticky feeling of sweat and sex. It’s a feeling you’re both quite used to by now.

“Xiao?” you start quietly after a while. He hums in response, your fingers running through his dark hair soothingly. “Can I kiss you?”

The question is soft, self-conscious almost with the fear of rejection. But you were beyond a breaking point. The feelings were welling up in your chest like a high tide as you felt him tense up at your question.

Sex was common—quite often as a means of easily transferring adeptal energy to you. And because it was a painful process to take in, you found that this method dulled the pain through the twisted pleasures and mixed sensations.

But that’s all it was— a means to keep you alive. You could never say there was a time Xiao kissed you and he always showed restraint in touching your body more than necessary. His bodily needs were never foremost on his mind and he would never tell you how his hands ached to roam your body, how this arrangement became an illusion of a different reality he couldn’t have. And so he locked away his emotions for his own sake.

Xiao lifted his face from your chest, his golden eyes wide with momentary confusion—perhaps even shock. And your face… those wonderful sparkling eyes that glistened with glossy tears on the brink of rolling down your face. He wished he wasn’t the reason you were crying.

In an instant he propped himself up on his forearms, feeling you lightly tremble beneath him from holding back the urge to cry. A quiet hiccup left you as you were overwhelmed by bottled up feelings all at once, his thumb gently brushing your tears away.

“Why?” was all he asked.

Though it was a genuine question, his actions remained tender and calmed the anxiety that gripped your naive heart.

“Because I love you—because I think I love you.”

Quietly you hiccuped beneath him and Xiao gently rested his forehead against yours, eyes closed.

“Then love me if it makes you happy,” he responds softly. The tears that twinkle down your face like falling stars are gently kissed away by his soft lips. “I’m with you until the day I die, and if loving me makes living less painful for you then use me as an anchor to reality.”

Your soft crying is hushed as Xiao presses a tender kiss to your lips. It’s short and just enough to bloom your heart with newfound emotions you had yet to experience. Perhaps you reminded the adeptus of himself in a simpler time—naive, innocent. For that, he took pity on you, and also fell deeply in love with you though he would not know it for a long time.

Simply put, he wouldn’t allow himself to know it.

The flowers that surround the small house glow and dance in the night breeze. They bloom with your newfound knowledge—heartache.

[anaveragebibliophile]

All For Him

Young!Legolas x Thranduil x Wife!Reader 

Summary: Lord Elrond comes to Mirkwood to ask a favor of his oldest friend, Thranduil. However, the stoic, unyielding king isn’t as willing to follow through on the request because of the danger it will put his family in. 

Honestly, when you stumbled into your husband’s study that morning, you didn’t expect to feel so puzzled and flabbergasted. You didn’t anticipate Thran’s summons to be anything more than a request for information about Legolas (which you were happy to provide), a question regarding supper, or an idea for date night. So the last person you expected to see was Lord Elrond, the ruler of Rivendell, arguing with his trusted confidant and friend of many eons near the balcony. 

“Thran, what’s going on? Is everything alright?” you queried as you stepped into the room, incisors biting into your lower lip. 

“Queen (y/n), what a pleasant surprise,” Lord Elrond replied, consequently ending the argument, as he walked over to take your wrist and place a chaste, respectful kiss on the back of your hand. “My sincerest apologies for not seeking you out sooner.” 

“That’s quite alright, Elrond. You know that. I too wish I had known you were here earlier, but I unfortunately got sidelined. We took a short walk in the gardens this morning, all three of us, when Legolas ended up tripping on a very small rock. Thranduil and I tried to utilize the open--and what we thought was a safe--space as a way for him to grow more comfortable walking without our help. That strategy worked well for us. Until today. None of us had seen the ant-sized pebble roll over his tiny heel, making him lose his balance and unknowingly place his hand on a grounded bee’s stinger to stabilize himself.” 

“My goodness! How is he doing?”

“As well as can be expected. As he got himself up, he whimpered a little bit which isn’t normally like him. Even if he takes a tumble, he’ll usually still maintain his normal demeanor--sweet, timid, and smiley. But once we saw his palm start to swell up, we knew something was wrong. Thran rushed him to the healer, who was more than willing to keep an eye on him. Ever since then, he’s been given herbs to reduce the swelling and irritation at the site of the wound as well as water to keep him hydrated. Thank you for asking.”

Once you finished sharing that traumatizing experience, you looked over to your husband, whose face was devoid of color. Out of the two of you, he had been the most panicked over Legolas’ well-being. ‘Is he breathing?’ he’d asked. ‘What if he has a reaction to the toxins?’ he’d wondered. ‘What if we didn’t get him to the healer’s quarters in time?’ he’d said, voice cracking under all the emotions. Unfortunately, the man is an aggressive worrier who feels the most stress when he’s involved in a situation that’s completely out of his control. His son inadvertently getting stung by a bee? Yeah, definitely an event that drove your husband up a wall. 

“He’s doing fine, Thran. He and I cuddled in his rocking chair for about twenty minutes before he fell asleep. Before that though, he did want me to tell you that he loves you,” I said, trying to soothe him as best as I could given the circumstances. 

Even though Legolas is still quite young and not fluent in Sindarin yet, he does have a few sentences that he likes to use every now and again. His favorite though is ‘gi melin’, the Sindarian version of ‘I love you’. Anytime he’s reunited with you or Thran, he’ll smile so wide (with his one tooth showing itself off) and almost shout the words out (as if you won’t hear him clearly without that extra pizzaz). Both you and your husband agree that it’s probably the sweetest thing your little leaf has ever done (and Legolas is the epitome of sweet). 

“I love him too. More than life. Which is why I cannot allow Sauron’s ring and its company to enter Mirkwood. I am sorry, Elrond, but my answer is final. You will not be able to change my mind on the subject,” your husband said. 

“Sauron’s ring? So young Frodo is alive then, is he not? I heard about your daughter saving him from the hands of the Nazgûl but wasn’t sure of its veracity,” you mentioned.  

“Yes. He is recovered and wishes to continue on the quest to destroy the ring at Mount Doom. However, we are trying to avoid the company’s traveling in the open at night and are looking for places for them to seek refuge. I am trying to convince Thranduil to offer his kingdom, but it seems that that has been more difficult than I originally presumed. He fears for your safety and Legolas’ too much.” 

Speaking of Legolas, a soft knock on the door soon presented you with the little leaf in the arms of his nanny, Elva. 

“Legolas, darling, what are you doing up so early?” I asked, my lips perking up into a small grin. 

“Ada, Nana!” he blubbered, pointing to us. “Gi melin, gi melin, gi melin.”

“I apologize, Your Majesties. As you can see, the prince woke up a bit early from his nap. All of the maids attempted to keep him occupied in his chambers, but it was no use. He only wanted to see his nostairi (parents),” Elva explained. 

“That is quite alright, Elva. I have not seen enough of him today. Thank you for bringing him to us,” your husband responded, moving over as Legolas reached out for him, and, once in his arms, began snuggling into his chest. “Hello, iôn nîn. I hope you slept well.”

“How’s his hand, Thran?” 

Your husband took your question as an opportunity to lightly pull Legolas’ right arm out from where it was hiding in front of his stomach. “It is still a tad swollen but not too severe.” 

You let out a sigh of relief. “That’s good to hear.” 

“Nana, gi melin,” your son whispered behind your husband’s robes. 

“Oh, my sweet boy,” you responded, lightly running your fingers through his hair and down his back. 

Watching the interaction ensue, Thranduil softly smiled down at the two loves of his life. The first one--his wife--who taught him the beauty behind exuding kindness, positivity, and light. The one who guided him back to the meaning of life. And the second one--his son--who embodies all the genuine goodness that his wife bestowed upon him in their early years together. He’ll never know how he got so lucky, but that unknown answer will never prevent him from being grateful. 

“Ada, gi melin,” your son quietly hummed as he lifted himself up to kiss Thran’s cheek. 

“Iôn nîn, gi melin as well. Very much.”

But then the unthinkable happened. Your little leaf turned his body away from Thranduil to look at Elrond. “Gi melin!” he shouted, a smile creeping up his face (with his lone tooth on display). 

“Well, I cannot say I am not shocked,” the lord responded, just as confounded as the rest of the group. Although Legolas was a very empathetic elfling, the reality was that he only shared that sentence with two people: his parents. So his sharing that sentiment with another-- a person he doesn’t spend every day with, let alone see once a month--was very odd, yet exciting in its own way. In your mind, maybe this was a sign that he was feeling more comfortable around his parents’ trusted friends. Maybe he saw the camaraderie in the room and felt soothed by it. Maybe he was no longer experiencing such debilitating episodes of timidity.   

“It appears he has taken a strong liking to you, Elrond,” you responded. “And now that you know the depth of his affections, are you truly going to permit an evil, dark presence permeating Mirkwood’s halls?”

He pondered that question in no time at all before saying, “No. I will not be the one to put this child at risk. Perhaps Frodo and his company can stay a few extra days at Rivendell. It really is not a problem.” 

At that declaration, you and Thranduil humbly nodded (hiding your smiles as best you could because this was a serious matter after all). “Thank you, my friend. Your concern for our son is much appreciated and will never be forgotten.”

“I know you would have done the same for me had I been in your shoes. Legolas deserves to be safe and comforted in his own kingdom without his parents having to worry about whether the ring will wreak havoc and harm him in the process. Besides, I want to return to Mirkwood in a few months’ time and still be on his list of love.” And everyone, including Legolas, giggled at that. 

[watchmegetobsessed]

SAFE AND SOUND

a/n: this one took a little longer to write, but im so happy its finally finished! its not what i originally planned, i started a whole different plot but hated it so started again, but i might go back to the first story, so maybe more bodyguard!harry content is gonna come! anyway, hope you’ll enjoy this one!

pairing: Bodyguard!Harry X Reader

warning: use of weapon (no one dies), mentioning of cancer (no one is sick), sexual content

word count: 9.1k

masterlist

“This is not up for discussion, Y/N. What you are doing and what you are about to achieve soon might upset a lot of people that hold great power. We can’t just assume you’ll be fine, walking around like anyone else in the world.”

Your boss, Julian explains it to you, leaning onto his desk, trying his best to keep his cool about your protest to get you a guard to watch out for you and keep you safe. It’s been an ongoing struggle and fight you two have been having these past weeks and it became a burning situation since you’ve made some major progress in your project.

“I’m not some kind of royalty to have security with me all the time,” you grumble rolling your eyes.

“Not just royalties have guards, Y/N. Just accept it, that you’re valuable, your work is very important not just to our company but to the whole world. Do you not realize how big it is? You are close to having the cure to cancer, Y/N! You can easily get a Nobel-prize for that!”

“I know that it’s important, but no one knows me, no one will see me on the street and know who I am or what I do!”

“It’s not about the people on the street. The world is a dark place, darker than you could imagine. Please, just… I want to know that you’re safe.”

Staring back at him with your arms folded on your chest you contemplate his words. You can see the rationality in his words, it’s just that you don’t want to break your routine, you don’t want people around you all the time, you don’t want to end your privacy like that. But Julian is right, your work is important and there have already been a few attempts to steal your researches, but they miserably failed. However that doesn’t mean they will be stopped the next time as well.

“One guard,” you speak up. “Just one. I’m not gonna have a whole fucking team,” you tell him raising your eyebrows. He lets out a relieved sigh, a tiny smile tugging on his lips.

“I was hoping you’d say that.” Reaching out to the phone he presses the buzzer that signals to his assistant, Monica outside and a few moments later she walks in, accompanied with a tall, suited man, his green eyes immediately falling to you upon entering the room.

“Y/N, I took the courage to pick him out for you myself. This is Harry Styles, the best you can find in the city if not in the country,” Julian introduces him as he pushes himself away from his giant mahogany desk, walking closer to the man as they shake hands firmly. You stand up from the armchair you’ve been sinking into these past ten minutes and unsurely hold out your hand to the man.

“Harry Styles, pleasure to meet you,” he introduces himself, a thick British accent lacing through his voice and the way his green irises stare back at you, you can feel your heart fluttering in your chest. Mr. Styles is undeniably the most charming and handsome man you’ve ever met, with his perfectly carved cheekbones and chiseled jawline, pink lips and those enchanting green eyes framed by his thick lashes. There’s something in his appearance, something feminine, but still, he holds so much masculinity at the same time, it’s hard not to be enamored by him.

“Y/N Y/L/N,” you mumble your name, shaking his hand slightly before letting go of it.

“Details about your cooperation have already been discussed with the security agency and us, but of course, your word is what counts, so we’ll walk over the whole plan with you as well,” Julian explains to you and you nod shortly.

The three of you move to the conference room and the next hour goes by with working those so called details out, some of them are ridiculous, some of them you can get used to, at the end you are left with a somewhat bearable plan, but one thing is for sure. Harry Styles will be a big part of your life from now on.

THREE MONTHS LATER

The tiny pack of sugar tears open in your hands, but you put too much effort into it so the countertop is now covered with the content of the pack instead of ending up in your paper cup.

“Fuck,” you growl, dumping the empty pack into the trash before grabbing another one, hoping it won’t end up the same way.

“Let me help you,” a smooth, male voice speaks up next to you and Harry grabs the pack from your hands as he places his own coffee to the counter. You let him tear the pack open easily, pouring the sugar into your drink without problem before he puts the lid back to your cup.

“Thank you,” you mumble, closing your tired eyes for a split second. You’ve been overworking way too much these past weeks, it’s starting to shut your system down, but you don’t want to rest, not when you’re so close to finishing your project.

The past two weeks have been major, you finally made the progress you’ve been working towards for months now, letting you step into the last phase of your work finally. But it’s been a quite stressful time as you’ve been eager to finish as soon as possible, but that meant little to no time spent outside of your lab.

Harry shoots you a reassuring smile before you both grab your drinks and head out of the café in the direction of your workplace.

The past three months were one hell of a ride when it comes to Harry. You didn’t hide your dislike towards his continuous presence in your life, standing by your side wherever you went. It frustrated you, made you feel like you didn’t have your freedom any longer even though he never did anything to make you hate him. He was considerate, respectful and only wanted to do his job, yet you still gave him a hard time at the beginning, right until the need for his work was proved.

Two months ago someone broke into your apartment while you were out, they searched through the whole place, looking for something. Well, not just something, they were clearly interested in anything connected to your research, but luckily, you’re not dumb enough to just let these stuff lay around your home.

Even though you didn’t encounter the person responsible for it, the incident still shook your up. Knowing that someone could get into your personal space so easily, that they could have come at a time when you were home and vulnerable, it scared you. Harry was the person that eased the worry and fear in you, he took care of everything in an instant and upon his best advice, you moved to a new apartment with a higher security level. He even moved to the place next to yours so he could be as close to you as possible at all times. There was a much needed shift in your relationship after that and you didn’t see him as an intruder any longer in your life, but more as a hero.

“So would you like Italian or Mexican tonight for dinner?” Harry asks as the two of you enter the building, using your IDs you go through the massive security gates, the guards in post nodding in your way.

“Isn’t it your night to choose?” you smile at him sideways as you wait for the elevator.

“Okay, then Thai,” he smirks, making you laugh. “Hope you are not planning on eating it here again,” he gives you a warning look and you purse your lips.

“I have a lot to do, and—“

“Y/N, you need to rest sometimes,” he scolds you as if you were just a child.

“I do rest. Sometimes,” you answer with an innocent look as the elevator’s door slides open and you walk in with Harry following you right behind.

“Like once a week? Do you even sleep when you’re at home?”

“I do! Don’t make me look like I’m some kind of crazy workaholic!”

“I’m just worried about you, is all,” he sighs, giving you a hard look.

“Oh, Mr. Styles. If I didn’t know you better I would think you might have a soft spot for me,” you smirk at him teasingly before the elevator arrives to your floor and you walk out without a word. Harry just stares after you with a small smile tugging on his lips as he thinks about your words. It’s funny, especially because you both know something more than just a professional relationship has been going on between the two of you, only dancing around it as the situation is a little too complicated to address now.

It’s not like any rules are tying you down, but you would rather not mix up work with your private life. You might have feelings for Harry, but you refuse to act up on them until he is out of his duty as your personal guard.

Your days are usually the same. While you lock yourself up in your lab, working with no end, Harry stay either with you in there or he hovers around the door, keeping an eye on everyone and everything. Just the thought of his presence never fails to bring you a sense of comfort, knowing that you don’t have to worry about your safety until he is near. It might seem nerdy, but you can easily get lost in your work. It doesn’t feel like a job, growing up with parents who were excellent doctors and pharmacists themselves, you were doomed to be a science enthusiast yourself from the beginning. Learning has never been a task for you but a gift, as you liked to look at it.

Working overtime happens often because you lose touch with time easily once you get down to work. Nothing exists outside of your lab and you hardly realize how late it is until Harry usually warns you.

“I didn’t joke when I said I didn’t want to have dinner in here,” he steps into your sanctuary while you’re in the middle of running tests for the millionth time today. Pushing your glasses up to the top of your head while the machines are buzzing and whirling, you look up at him with a tired smile.

“Let me just… finish this one last test and then I promise we’ll head out.”

“Alright, but I’m watching you. No more tests,” he warns, sitting on one of the stools while you finish what you started.

Harry never really asked you about your work, for a while you weren’t even sure if he knows what you’re doing and why it’s so important. It was never discussed at the beginning and he never brought it up later either. But judging from the time he spends near you at the lab he must have picked up a few things about it surely.

The machines stop working and the tiny beeping sound signals that the results are out. You grab the long printed paper and start scanning the data, chewing on your bottom lip as you hope to find what you’ve been looking for all day. The numbers are coming in great, but it’s been like this for a while, it’s the end that never matches up with your expectations. So when you get there and see the graphs showing the result that you’ve been dreaming of since the start of the whole project years ago, your mouth falls open in disbelief even though it’s what you’ve been working for all this time.

“Oh my God,” you whisper.

“What?” Harry’s head snaps up in alert, jumping off the stool.

“I… I did it,” you breathe out, glancing up from the paper. “It’s my first time succeeding, Harry!” you start laughing, the shock taking over your whole body that you really did it this time.

“And what does that mean?”

“Come on, let me show you,” you tell him in excitement, pulling him over to the computer where you pull up all the data you’ve been working on. A virtual version of a cell comes up on the screen as you start typing, modelling what you want to show him. “This is a completely healthy cell, it’s what you are made of too, mostly,” you ass with a chuckle before another cell comes up on the screen. “And this is what cells that are affected by cancer look like.”

The difference is a lot more complicated than what you can explain to him in such a short time, but he can see it with his own eyes. The color, the shape, everything is different from the first one. Harry examines the screen and nods shortly, letting you know that he is following.

“I’ve been working on a substance that is able to not just detect the cancerous cells but it can also kill it effectively without hurting the healthy ones.”

You bring up the virtualized version of the substance you’ve been working on, a short animation showing how it can tell the two cells apart and only attack the cancerous one.

“I haven’t been able to get the numbers above 60% when it comes to succeeding in the process of selection so my whole project was about finding a solution to that. I’ve been trying to find the right substance to mix with our already existing one to solve the problem, but I haven’t been successful in it.”

“I assume until now,” Harry hum and you nod smirking.

“Yeah. The last test results came back very good, quite promising. It’s still not the end of the process, but it’s a huge step.”

“That’s great,” he smiles at you and though you know he probably understands just a fracture of the whole process, he can still figure out how important it is. “Congrats, Y/N.” “Thanks,” you breathe out, pride filling your chest as you shut the computer off. “I guess this is my cue to end the day,” you smile at him before packing up everything, getting ready to finally leave.

It’s not the first time Harry is spending the evening at your place. You often have dinner together, or watch a movie whenever you get home early enough to do that. Through the time you’ve spent together because of his job you’ve grown to be friends above everything. Good ones, in fact, which is a big deal for you since making friends has never been an easy task for you.

You bought takeout on the way home and as Harry set the table you poured yourself a glass of wine, knowing well Harry would never drink when he is on duty and he is basically working all the time he is with you, so you’re drinking alone. You both sit to the dining table, starting dinner together in a comfortable silence. It’s another thing you appreciate about Harry. He doesn’t try to talk when it’s not necessary, you hate small talk, you’d rather sit in silence than talk about something nonsense and Harry is a partner in that.

“When do you need to leave work tomorrow to get to the party on time?” he asks breaking the silence and you freeze. His eyes fall on you, examining your features for a moment before he smirks. “You forgot about it?”

“I just… thought it’s going to be next week,” you truthfully admit.

“We talked about it last week,” he smirks at you playfully. “And I told you it would be next week which is… this week.”

“I know how the days work, Harry,” you give him a look of ‘give me a break’ before you turn back to your food. “I just…”

“You just forgot it,” Harry finishes for you, and you just roll your eyes at him.

Glancing at him over the table you wonder if he’ll wear something different than is usual attire he always wears. Black suit with a white shirt underneath, the top two buttons left undone, giving you a tiny peek at the tattoos on his chest. You know those are not the only ones, you’ve seen him with the suit jacket off before, the sleeves of his shirt rolled up, his whole left arm is covered in ink and you wish you’ve had the chance to take a better look at them.

Harry is such an intriguing person in a lot of different ways. He definitely likes to keep things to himself, not one to ask for attention and it’s not just because of his work, it’s his personality. However he is good with people, interacting with them, being social. A skill you haven’t really mastered yourself yet and you probably never will. He always seems to know what to say, you’ve never seen him even the slightest bit anxious or nervous before, the confidence he holds is unmatched and it makes it hard to not think about him in ways you shouldn’t be.

After dinner he helps you clean up, just like he always does before heading out, but before he could leave he stops and turns back to face you.

“Oh, a friend of mine is visiting from the UK on Sunday. I already mentioned it to you before, but I was hoping I could get the afternoon off,” he wonders and you nod right away.

“Of course! I’ll be just fine at home,” you smile at him.

“Thank you,” he smiles back before walking out of your place at last.

Because of the party in the evening you are forced to stop working early the next day. It’s weird to leave the office in broad daylight, but you know today can’t be one of those days when you end up seeing the new day in the lab.

Harry was right yesterday, you completely forgot the whole party thing, meaning you didn’t plan anything ahead and you had nothing to wear, so through the day you called your sister, Mara to help you out. She was more than happy to lend you anything you needed. She meets you at the office, beaming to spend some time with you finally. It’s not that you don’t like her company, but you are quite different, is all. Your sister didn’t get sucked into the world of science, though she definitely has the bright mind to take up on any field she would want to explore. But she was more into the world of art, having written her first fantasy novel at the ripe age of twenty, she is now a bestseller author at only twenty-nine with a bubbly personality and basically every trait you never owned yourself.

“Harry! So nice to see you again!” Mara beams at the man as the three of you meet up at the lobby.

“Hi, Mara,” Harry smiles with a tiny nod.

“Alright, I have everything you could need so let’s head to yours!” your sister cheers before you make your way out to your cars.

Arriving to your home Harry splits from the two of you, letting you to get ready in peace and also to get ready himself. Mara didn’t joke when she said she has everything you need, the trunk of her car is basically filled with clothes and shoes, there’s no chance you won’t find something to wear tonight.

She orders you to take a quick shower as she unpacks everything she brought and when you emit from a cloud of steam with a towel wrapped around your body and one on your head, Mara gets down to work.

“So do you have a date for today?” she curiously asks while she does your makeup.

“Huh, yeah, sure,” you huff ironically. “It’s just gonna be Harry and me.”

“So Harry is your date?” her ears perk up, but you’re quick to protest.

“Of course not! He comes with me everywhere,” you mumble with your eyes closed as she is doing something on your eyelids.

“But it could be a date,” she offers and you huff in disagreement.

“You know that’s not how it works, Mara.”

“You are making it more complicated than it is! No one would blame you if you just… went for it! Harry is obviously an attractive guy.”

“Then maybe you should date him,” you bite back bitterly. Growing up you weren’t the boys’ favorite, they always paid all the attention to your sister. It’s not that you blame her or them, she always had a more capturing and lively personality that attracted people naturally. But it made you wonder if there was something wrong with you, spending all your time with your nose buried in a book or doing researches for fun while Mara was out with her friends, living her best life. Even her published books were inspired by her personal life experiences.

“Y/N,” she sighs, her hands leaving your face so you open your eyes to look at her disapproving expression. “You obviously like him so I would never do that and besides that, he for sure likes you too.”

“What’s not true,” you deny right away, but then you look at her curiously. “But why would you think that?”

Mara smirks at you tilting her head to the side, seeing right through your act that you’re not interested in Harry. Of course you are, but you choose to keep it at bay for the sake of his job.

“Y/N, I see how that man watches every move you make. It’s written all over his handsome face.”

“Of course he watches my every move, that’s his job!”

“No, it’s different. You’ll see it sooner or later,” she smiles before ordering you to close your eyes again so she can finish your makeup.

Mara does wonders to your looks, the makeup look she does on you already makes a huge difference since you don’t bother to do anything on your every days. But she didn’t stop there, she made your hair look like you just stepped off of the pages of a magazine and the dress the two of you chose was the cherry on the top. The emerald green dress was tight around your curves, showing just enough of your body to be still considered modest, but also have some spice. And though there are a lot of advantages of the dress, your first and most important thought (to you at least) was how well it goes with the color of Harry’s eyes.

“I’m a genius,” Mara sighs satisfied with her work as you slip on the pair of nude heels and put your necessities into the little clutch you’re taking with you. Just when you’re gone with everything, the doorbell rings and your heart jumps in your chest, knowing that Harry is standing on the other side of the door.

“I’ll get it for you,” Mara smiles rushing to the door as you walk into the hallway, standing a few feet behind her so as she opens the front door and Harry comes into view, over Mara’s shoulder his eyes easily find your figure standing there, feeling a little awkward and self-conscious, like you are about to go to prom with your crush. Difference is that you are not a teenager anymore and you aren’t going anywhere together together. Tonight is just work for him.

But as his bright green eyes fall on your frame and you see his lips slightly part, you can’t help but allow yourself to think for a moment that it’s more than just work. That he feels the same way about it as you do. Though you don’t voice your hopes and just smile at him faintly, hoping you don’t look completely ridiculous in your outfit.

“Harry, come on in!” Mara invites him into the apartment and he walks in, wearing his usual black suit with the difference of having a tie on around his neck, his white shirt is appearing neat and crispy and his sometimes unruly curls are now gently combed back a little so his curls are not falling into his forehead.

“Hi,” you smile at him nervously fumbling with your clutch as he takes a few steps closer to you.

“Hi. You look… beautiful,” he smiles back at you a little breathlessly as he takes a respectful look down your body before his green irises meet your gaze again.

“Thank you. You look great too,” you chuckle softly. “Should we… head out?”

“Yeah, sure!” he nods, offering you his arm and you link your arm with his instantly, hoping you won’t trip in your heels. “Lock the door when you leave, Mara, alright?” you call out to your sister who is watching you smiling.

“Sure! Have fun!”

You wave at her one last time before walking out and shutting the door closed behind you.

This party is held every year at Pharma-Z, mostly this is the time when the brain meets the money. Investors and funders like to meet the people behind the million dollars researches from time to time and this is the occasion where both sides show up. Julian always asks you to be social and try to mingle, but the whole thing feels forced and painful for you. You’d rather just be left alone with your researches and projects without having to schmooze to the people who give you the money for your hard work.

It’s held at one of said investors’ luxurious penthouse, that doesn’t even look like someone’s home with the huge outdoors infinity pool, the spacious and modern interiors and the expensive looking decoration that was put up just for the occasion.

“Y/N! I’m so happy you are here!” Julian approaches you with a drink in his hands and you’re happy to see a familiar face in the crowd. You don’t really know others from work, only your little team you directly work with and of course, your boss, Julian.

“It’s not like I had a choice,” you chuckle giving him a short, friendly hug. Julian is far from a nightmare of a boss some people have to face at their job. He is an actually nice and very smart and intellectual person. The pharmaceutical industry can be harsh and dark, the competition between the businesses is way more intent than people think. This is why you need the protection. Some companies profit off of the fact that cancer has no cure yet. They make money from all the treatments that doesn’t even guarantee full recovery. A lot of big fish don’t want the cure, because that would make them lose a good chunk of their income and some of those would even go to the depth of hurting you for being so close to ruining their business with your invention. Pharma-Z is luckily a genuine company that wants to help sick people and that’s why you’re working there.

“You know how important it is for the company,” Julian sighs, but he understands how uncomfortable these events make you feel, though he can do nothing to help you. “Harry, nice to see you again,” he smiles at the man by your side.

“Julian, nice to see you too,” he nods, shaking hands with your boss.

“Mingle a little so people can see and meet you, alright?” Julian requests and you just nod silently before he moves on to the next group of people.

You get yourself a drink to ease your nerves a little as people start approaching you. Some of them you’ve met last year, but there are a lot of new faces. Your project has brought in quite a few new sponsors and investors and now they want to meet you and talk about the research their money is going into.

You try your best to keep a smile plastered across your face as you tell the people the same thing over and over again, receiving praise and compliments on your work before moving onto the next conversation just to start over again.

You can feel your social batteries running out, not sure you can put up with another conversation with a wealthy investor who wants you to know you have a job because they gave money for your project in hopes of you bringing more money to them.

Harry has stayed by your side the whole evening, and you didn’t notice but he kept examining you every few minutes to make sure you were holding up and he noticed how tired you’ve grown from socializing for so long.

“Y/N,” he softly calls out, his palm finding the small of your back. “Why don’t we get some fresh air?” he kindly offers and you immediately understand that he is trying to get you away from the guests and the overwhelming conversations you’ve been dealing with. Nodding you let him usher you outside, finding a spot where the two of you can be a little alone.

“I fucking… hate small talks and being nice to everyone,” you let out a long and heavy sigh, as you lean against the railing, paying just one short glance at the city’s bright lights under your feet. Harry chuckles shortly.

“I figured. You’ve been chewing your lips so hard I was afraid you’d start bleeding.”

Now that he has brought your attention to it, you realize you are doing it again, so you let go of your bottom lip from between your teeth and it brings out another chuckle from Harry.

“I’m just… not good with these… social stuff.”

“I disagree with that,” he hums, furrowing his eyebrows.

“Oh please, if you haven’t realized it, my number of zero friends is a tell, I think.”

“Come on, it’s not zero. You’re friends with Mara.”

“But family doesn’t count, she is kind of forced to be my friend,” you shrug, making him laugh.

“Okay, but I’m your friend too, aren’t I?” You furrow your eyebrows at him.

“You spend time with me because it’s your job.”

His eyes soften on you as he leans against the railing next to you, looking so effortlessly handsome and charming, you almost need to take a deep breath at the sight of him. And the cheeky smile on his pink lips is definitely not helping your case.

“I know you didn’t mean that. You’re a smart woman, Y/N.” Reaching out he tugs a loose strand of hair behind your ear as he inches closer a tiny bit. “I think we stepped over the line of just work.”

“So… you consider me your friend?” you ask shyly.

“If you have to ask maybe I’ve been doing something wrong,” he chuckles softly, making you smile too. Folding your arms a shiver runs down your spine from the cold evening breeze. “Are you cold?” Harry asks, but before you could even say a word, he shrugs his jacket off and drapes it over your shoulders.

“Oh, thank you,” you breathe out shyly.

“Do you want another drink?”

“Yeah, I think I might need another one,” you chuckle and nodding he tells you to just stay there until he gets you a new one.

Turning towards the view, you enjoy the lonely moments for a little, not too keen on going back inside and keep up the façade of interest any longer. You’d rather just head home, maybe have another drink with Harry on your couch while you watch a rerun of whatever show is on TV and then fall asleep after a hot shower. You’ve been working way too much lately and it’s just now crashing down on you. Next week you definitely should cut back on your hours at the lab, the project is already going amazing, it won’t hurt if you actually had some rest before you lose your mind.

You hear footsteps approaching you and you think it’s Harry returning, but as you turn around you are faced with a stranger, a man who is staring down at you with bloodshot eyes and… a gun pointed at you.

Your breath hitches, your blood freezing in your veins at the sight and your legs almost give up underneath you.

“What… who are you?” Your voice comes out as a whisper, tears already flooding your eyes as you melt against the railing as if you had anywhere to go, but you have no chance against him.

One glance at the gun allows you to see that it has a silencer on, with the music coming from inside and no one around, if he shoots you, he’ll be able to get away before anyone realizes what happened.

The man doesn’t answer, just holds up the gun, aiming right at your chest and you close your eyes, thinking that this is it. This is how your life ends, in the middle of a posh party with no one around to help you. Your lips are trembling and hands are shaking as you hold onto the railing, waiting for the inevitable to come, keeping your eyes shut, not wanting to see your killer as the last thing you see before you go.

And then you hear the muffled gunshot, making you scream in fear, your knees turning into jelly, but the pain never comes. Instead, you hear grunting and growling as a body falls to the ground in front of you.

Your eyes snap open and you see Harry straddling the man, the gun lying near your attacker’s hand and he is trying to reach it, but before he could, you kick it away as Harry throws a punch at his face that stops him from trying too hard to free himself.

The next few moments are so busy and blurry at the same time. Your legs give up underneath you, making you fall to the ground, your whole body shaking in waves. In the meantime Harry gets the man into a position where he can be easily controlled and people start flooding out at the scene, helping Harry while security working at the party take the man, the police already on its way.

When Harry can finally step back from the attacker, his eyes fall on your figure and he rushes over to you, kneeling down next to your trembling body, cradling you into his arms upon seeing how shaken up you are.

“Hey, it’s alright. It’s over, you’re alright,” he murmurs, holding you tight as your fists grab onto his shirt, your breathing is uneven, the oxygen barely makes its way into your lungs as you’re panting and gasping from the shock. “Come on, let’s get you inside, Y/N,” he gently tells you, helping you up from the floor even though your body feels like a pile of brick.

You can feel everyone staring at you, whispering behind your back as you try to hide in Harry’s arms while he walks you back inside, away from the man that tried to take your life. He walks you into one of the bathrooms and closing the lid he sits you down to the toilet while he grabs a towel and wetting it he kneels in front of you, tapping the cloth to your cheeks gently. You haven’t even realized that you’ve been sweating from the shock and the coldness feels amazing against your burning skin.

“I’m sorry,” you mumble, but not even you are sure why.

“Nothing to be sorry for, Y/N,” he gently murmurs, giving your hand a squeeze as you shut your eyes closed. He grabs a glass from one of the cabinets and fills it with water handing it over to you.

“Thank you,” you mumble, bringing it to your trembling lips, but before you could drink it, your eyes snap up to meet his gaze. “And thank you for… what you did.” Your voice dies down at the end, the picture of the man pointing the gun at you still living so vividly in your mind.

“No need, it’s my job after all, right?” he chuckles softly, making your lips twitch the slightest bit before you start sipping on the water.

The police show up soon and they arrest the man who refuses to talk. They also request you to give your statement about what happened, but Harry manages to let you just give them the brief story and go in sometime soon to give them your full statement so you don’t have to spend any more time there. They are quite sure the man was hired by someone who doesn’t want you to finish your project, and it’s scary how far some people are willing to go just for the money, just to keep sick people in suffering for their own benefit.

Heading home you stay silent as Harry drives, staring out the window you let the nightlights of the city pass by you while you still see the same face, the face of the man that held a gun at you tonight. The gunshot is still ringing through your ears, it was so close, so real… of course it was real! All of it was real and your life was on the line. If it weren’t for Harry, you wouldn’t be here right now.

Arriving to your home Harry helps you out of the car and you cling onto his hand as you head up to the apartment. He keys the two of you into your home, flicking the lights on and looking around before you go further inside, just to be sure.

“It’s all clear, don’t worry,” he murmurs as you nod and make your way into the bedroom. Kicking your heels off your feet you sit on the edge of the bed, letting out a long breath, feeling your limbs loosening up a bit for the first time in the past hour.

Harry moves around the place doing whatever before he joins you in the room, kneeling in front of you his hands find your bare knees and your eyes meet his worry-filled green irises.

“Do you want to take a shower?” he softly asks and you nod your head. “Come on, I’ll start the water for you.”

He helps you up from the bed and walks you into the bathroom. You stand there awkwardly, not sure what to do as he starts running the water in the walk in shower before he steps back to you.

“Would you…?” you ask, turning around, needing help with the zipper of your dress. Harry clears his throat as his fingers work on it and a moment later the fabric loosens around your frame as you hold it to your chest with your arms. Turning back around you peek up at Harry and you notice the slight blush on his cheeks.

“I’ll be outside at the door, okay?” He whispers, his fingers delicately touching your cheek as you nod before you watch him walk out and close the door behind him.

The hot water feels freshening, like it could burn away the memories even though it’s still so vivid in your mind. You stand under the running water longer than you intended, but it feels nice and needed. Once you’re done, you wrap yourself into a fluffy towel and walk out of the steamy bathroom only to find Harry sitting at the edge of your bed, waiting like a loyal puppy. When he sees you, he stands from his spot and you don’t miss the way his eyes scan over your body that’s barely covered.

“Alright, I’ll go now, but if you—“ “Don’t!” you gasp, panic taking over you at the thought of being left alone. One of your hands grasps his arm to stop him from moving and he freezes in his spot, staring back at your fearful eyes. “Please, stay here,” you plead, voice barely over than just a whisper.

There’s a heartbeat of a pause in him as he is watching you intently and for a moment you think he’ll say no, but then his hand finds yours on his arm and he gives it a gentle squeeze as he nods.

“Okay.”

You let out a long, relieved breath as you ease into comfort. He’s staying, he’ll be with you all night, protecting you from everything and everyone.

“Can I take a shower too?” he asks softly and you nod, stepping to your wardrobe to get him a clean towel. “Thank you. I’ll be back shortly,” he tells you before walking into the bathroom and shutting the door closed behind him.

You hear the water running again and you find yourself standing at the same spot as you listen to the noises coming from the bathroom. Harry is in there, soaking under the water naked and you can’t take your mind off of how badly you want to be there with him.

It’s not just because of what happened tonight, though it made you realize that you don’t have much time to waste. Nothing can assure that you’ll live another day and you don’t want to deny happiness from yourself. You want to be with Harry and as far as you can make it out, he feels the same way.

Upon a sudden decision, you pad your way over to the bathroom door and open it carefully, the warmth immediately hitting your face as you step inside and close it behind you. The glass of the shower is steamed up, you can only make out the blurry frame of Harry in there and you wonder if he heard you come in, but it doesn’t seem like that. His clothes from the night are lying on the floor in a pile, his watch that he always wears is carefully placed next to the sink.

Your hands grab onto the edge of the towel around your body and you unwrap yourself, hanging it up on the wall before stepping to the shower. Hoping you won’t scare him, you open the door, the steam immediately hugging your naked body warmly and you see him standing there with his back facing you as you step into the spacious walk-in shower.

He notices your presence, you see him freeze mid-movement before he peeks over his shoulder, his eyes falling on you as he slowly turns, facing you completely. Standing in front of him completely bare, you feel more vulnerable than ever in your life. You’re scared that he is going to send you away, that he won’t let you get closer to him and if that happens, you’ll feel humiliated, but he just stands there in his naked glory and doesn’t say anything, so you take it as a chance to shoot your shot.

Reaching up your hands slide to his hard chest, up to the base of his neck as you push your front against his, skin to skin with the hot water running down your bodies. His hands find your waist and you could cry from the feeling of his touch on you. Pushing yourself up to your tiptoes your nose nudges against his as your eyes fall closed.

“Y/N,” he breathes out, stopping you right when your lips could meet. Opening your eyes you see the hesitation in his green irises that appear so much darker than they usually do.

“Do you not want it? You don’t want me?” you whisper.

“I do. It’s not that,” he sighs shaking his head slightly. “But you went through a lot today. I don’t want you to make decisions you might regret in the morning.”

You can’t help the small smile that tugs on your lips at how considerate and protective he is over you, thinking that this might be just something that crashed over you in the heat of the moment, but it’s been in the making from the first day you met him. Despite all your protesting against him, you knew you needed him and not just as your guard. He is what’s been missing from your life all along, you just never realized it.

“There’s nothing I could regret when it comes to you, Harry. I needed tonight to open my eyes. Our days are counted, I’m done running from my own happiness.”

He lets out a long, shaky breath as his hands hold tighter onto your waist while your hands run up his neck until your fingers tangle into his wet locks.

“I need you. And not just because of tonight. I’ve always needed you.”

“I’m here, Y/N. I’m all yours,” he breathes out before his lips smash against yours all wet and hard, but it’s the most heavenly feeling you’ve ever experienced.

You become a mess, tangled in each other, lips melting together as your hands explore naked limbs and torsos, bodies pressing tightly against each other shamelessly. Harry walks you backwards until your back hits the cold tile and you let out a whimper as you arch your back at the sudden feeling, just as his head dips down, lips attacking your neck, kissing and nibbling on the soft skin. Your light leg lifts as his hands wander down your thigh, your hips pressing together and you feel how hard he is, his cock pushed against your other thigh, making you moan at the feeling. Reaching down you blindly wrap a hand around the base, giving him a few slow pumps, earning a guttural growl from him before his lips return to yours, kissing you hard and filled with passion. His hands are all over you, on your thighs, ass, back and chest, as if he was mapping your whole body wanting to remember how every inch feels under his touch.

Without tearing his lips away from yours, he blindly reaches behind him, shutting the water off before urging you to jump into his arms, legs wrapping around his waist. He carries you out of the shower, placing you to the counter next to the sink as he stands between your legs, his hands once again finding your breasts as they knead them, making you whimper and shake under his touch. It’s euphoric and addictive, you already know you won’t be able to go a day without feeling him against you like this.

“Bed?” he breathes out against your mouth and you nod eagerly. Reaching to the side he grabs a towel, wrapping it around you, tapping and squeezing you to dry you off, throwing fits of giggles when you grab it and wrap it around his body as well.

The towel falls to the floor abandoned and forgotten as he lifts you off the counter and brings you to the bed, laying you down and holding himself up above you with one arm. His other hand cups your cheek and turning your head you kiss his palm gently, eyes glued to his as he settles between your legs.

“Are you sure about this?” he breathes out, his lips dancing against your cheek and the corner of your mouth.

“Yes! Harry, please!” you beg with a whimper, your whole body aching to feel him inside you.

“I’ve got you, I’ve got you, love,” he kisses you as his hand leaves your heated face, runs down your naked body until his fingers reach your throbbing clit.

He slides two digits through your already wet folds, but just to work you up even more he starts drawing circles on your bud, turning you into a whimpering mess underneath him. Your fingers dig into the lean muscles on his back, feeling them twitch from his movements and one hand sliding down to his ass, grabbing a handful of him while pushing him closer to you, his erection pressing against your core.

“Harry, I need you!” you moan, not able to contain yourself any longer. You need to feel him, you need him as close as possible.

Reaching over to your nightstand you grab a condom from the drawer, ripping the package open with your teeth before you carefully grab his erection and roll the condom down his length, ready to finally feel him inside you.

He flicks his fingers on your clit one last time before his hand wraps around the base of his cock, giving it a few pumps while his soft lips kiss down your jawline and throat, his face hiding in the crook of his neck. Your arms circle around his shoulders, your chest heaving from the sensation as he positions himself just right, the tip teasing your hole. Harry lifts his head up, his bright eyes finding your gaze just as he sinks into you, filling you up perfectly.

“H-Harry! Fuck—“ you gasp at the feeling, your walls stretching around his thick cock as he stays still for a few moments, letting you adjust to his size.

You draw your legs up, giving you more space to go deeper as he starts thrusting, sliding in and out of you oh so perfectly, inching you closer to your relief with each movement. You cup his face in your hands, staring into his eyes as if you could see his soul in them and for a split second, you feel like you actually do. His lips are parted and the cross pendant is grazing your chest while he fucks into you, never falling out of his rhythm.

You want to beg to him not to stop, to keep moving and moving, but no words can leave your mouth as your back arches, your orgasm building up in the pit of your stomach. You start grinding your hips in sync with his, allowing him to reach deeper into you, making your toes curl from pleasure.

“Harry, I’m gonna—I-I’m gonna—Ah!” You can’t make up one coherent sentence as your legs start shaking, feeling your orgasm taking over your body.

“I know, baby. Let it go. Let me make you feel good,” he pants, his lips kissing you everywhere he can reach, your lips smashing against each other in a messy kiss, your tongue meeting his in the middle just when you reach your high.

You moan and cry out his name, fingers digging into his flesh as you chase your release. Seeing you fall apart underneath him is enough to throw him over the edge, spilling himself into the condom as his mouth hangs agape, your name falling off his tongue as if it was the holiest glorification. Combing your fingers through his hair you hold him to your chest as he collapses on top of you, his head lying on your naked chest as you both try to catch your breath in the sudden silence that came over you without the sounds of your passion.

Rolling off of your body he slips out of you, an empty feeling taking over you right away, but he is quick to cradle you into his arms to keep the intimacy. You lay your head to his chest, a thin layer of sweat covering the both of you, but you couldn’t care less. You listen to his steady heartbeat as you draw one of the swallows on his chest with your finger, running it over the lines of the ink. You want to soak in the moment and stay in it for as long as possible, but you can barely keep your eyes open. As Harry’s fingers are gently running up and down your bare back you let your eyes close and the last thing you remember is hearing his soft whisper.

“Don’t worry, baby. I’ll keep you safe.”

You wake up without an alarm in the morning and it’s the first time for that in a long-long time. You stir and groan before you open your eyes, your hands reaching out next to you, looking for the man that was next to you when you fell asleep, but there’s nothing and no one beside you now.

Panic rises in your chest as your eyes pop open and you frantically look around in the room, hoping to see him somewhere near, but you’re alone.

“Harry?” you call you as you sit up, holding the sheets to your chest since you’re still naked. No answer comes and you can feel your heart rate rising instantly.

Getting out of bed you grab the nearest clothing item you find which is an old hoodie, and you put on a pair of clean panties before you carefully walk out of the bedroom, afraid of what you might find outside, but it’s completely silent and still, no one is around. Harry has left.

“Fuck,” you breathe out, feeling the lump in your throat growing as tears are forming in your eyes.

Where did he go? Why did he leave? Is he coming back? Is he gone forever?

You can’t stop yourself from going into depth you shouldn’t, just because you don’t find him first thing in the morning, but you still haven’t entirely recovered from last night’s events and before you could stop yourself, you are thinking about the worst possibilities there could be.

And then you hear the lock turning in the front door.

Blood rushes out of your head as you freeze, afraid it’s another attacker and this time you won’t be as lucky as you were last night. But as the door opens Harry walks in with a paper bag in his arm and you can’t help, but start sobbing at the sight of him.

“Harry!” you cry out, launching at him and he barely have time to put the bag down before he catches you, locking you in his strong arms.

“Hey! No need to worry, it’s just me!” he soothes softly, his hands running up and down your back and head. “I’m sorry I scared you, just wanted to get you something to eat, baby,” he murmurs, kissing the side of your head as you try your best to hold back your sobs.

“I just woke up alone and I thought…”

“I’m sorry, baby. I shouldn’t have left while you were sleeping. But I’m back and I’m alright.”

You just nod, hugging him a little longer before you loosen your hold around him to lean back and look him in the eyes.

“So… you’re staying? With me?”

“If you want me to, yes,” he nods with a soft smile as he cups your tear-soaked face in his hands. “I’ll keep you safe and sound and I’ll be whatever you need me to be.”

“Just be yourself and… be with me,” you shyly ask him and he nods, his smile growing into a wide grin before he leans down and captures your lips in a sweet, intoxicating kiss.

Thank you for reading, please like and reblog if you enjoyed it!

[liptonsbabe]

Remember me [F.O]

Finnick Odair x female! reader

Summary: President Snow hates the reader for some reason. The eyes and ears of the government are everywhere and Finnick fears you will be harmed. It's the two of you against the president's hatred, or the three of you?

Word count: 1.2K

Warnings: none

A/N: Finnick’s fic yay! I hope you’ all like this. This fic it’s finished but is in spanish so if you want to read the whole thing just let me know. As always, english not my mother language so please let me know if something’s wrong. Enjoy!

Chapter 1: A bun in the oven

My breathing pauses as I glance at the alarm clock resting on the stool. It reads two-thirty in the morning and I hold back a snort of exasperation.

I don't want to stir too much as Finnick is clinging to my waist like a koala. I can feel his breath on my neck and his oh-so-possessive grip on my hips. I must get up. I can't take it anymore

I gently remove Finnick's hands so he doesn't wake up, but suddenly he does and looks up at me. His sleepy eyes glaze over and he takes my hand as I sit on the edge of the bed.

“Where are you going?” he asks startled. I smile at him to let him know he has nothing to worry about.

“Relax. I have to go to the bathroom”

He nods and lets go of me, not entirely convinced.

“Don't spend too long”

I get up and grab the robe that's on a chair inside the room. I look at Finnick and notice how he's trying to fall asleep again, but he can't. He’s tense on the bed and closes his eyes only because he has to. I put on my robe and leave the room.

Ever since we started living together in the Capitol, Finnick has been surly as hell; and I don't blame him. He knows better than anyone what you're up against being in the Capitol with no chance of returning to the District. We can't go back to district four for the simple fact that we are mentors for the kids who every year go up against each other in the games. Finnick is scared because he knows that, if either of us messes something up, Snow would know how to remedy it.

Here we are helpless, kneeling at the mercy of President Snow with no way to escape. We are bound hand and foot

Finnick is scared; I can tell by the way he tries to spend most of his time with me and the way he acts like a rabid dog when anyone from the Capitol tries to engage me in conversation. I notice it, in these moments, when he can't stand me leaving him alone and taking too long to make an appearance. Especially now that we are in a house that Snow has given us as a gift.

I go into the bathroom and lean against the sink, lift my face and look in the mirror. Stress has done its thing leaving big dark circles under my eyes and small freckles on my cheeks; my lips are slightly chapped and my skin has lost a tone. I turn on the water faucet and soak my face as if the liquid could dilute the mask of doom this place has put on me.

I do the necessary and wash my hands, look at myself in the mirror again and bring a hand to my belly; there, where my child is growing. I frown worriedly whether I should tell Finnick or not, fearing he might get more hysterical than he already is.

I walk out of the room and am surprised to see Finnick standing in the middle of the room bare-chested and in his crumpled sleep pants. His fists are tense and he clenches his jaw.

“What do you think you're doing?”

“Finnick...”

“I clearly told you not to be late, you've been out of bed for over twenty minutes!” He comes up to me and grabs my shoulders hurting me. I let out a yelp and Finnick ignores it too angry to realize what he was doing.

“I was in the bathroom, Finnick. I didn't even leave this room”

He walks away as he tousles his hair; then I understand he's not angry, but worried. He turns his back to me and places his hands on his hips.

“Don't you understand? We can't stay away from each other for so long," he mumbles, knowing that they might be watching us.

“Really, you're overreacting, Finnick. I was just...”

“I don't care what you did!” he shouts and turns to me “It's the fact that you don't understand the seriousness of the situation!”

We stand in silence for a moment weighing what's going on. Finnick denies and walks over to me, grabs me by the shoulders this time gently and lowers his voice to a whisper

“Please, (Y/N), this is not a joke. We are not in a safe place”

“And when have we ever been?”I shout, too loud for anyone watching us to hear “Come on Finnick! We live in a place where they force little boys to kill each other for the fame and glory the Capitol can give them. This place is not unsafe, the world is”

“I'm talking about here, about this house” he says with a growing concern in his face- (Y/N), are you aware that we have entered the lion's den? For God's sake, we can't even go back to our District anymore.

“There would be no point in doing so, we would still come back every year to be mentors and watch our tributes die. There's nothing we can do, Finnick. Face it, Snow won”

I plop down on the couch leaving Finnick standing in place without saying anything. I tighten my arms over my stomach and lean back a little.

“I can't take it anymore, okay? I can't stand being with you all the time," I say. He looks at me sadly, "I love you. I really do, but this is getting on top of me. It doesn't matter if I'm with you or not, Snow will know the perfect time to attack.”

Finnick looks at me for the thousandth time and walks over. He gets down on his knees in front of me and takes my hands.

“That won't happen as long as I'm by your side, (Y/N). I know it's annoying and irritating that I'm glued to you all day, but it's the only way I have to protect you, do you understand? I can't let them hurt you. You are the only beautiful thing in my life and I don't want that to end because if that happens.... I would be nothing”

His clear eyes crystallize and his lips pucker holding back tears. I caress his face and begin to cry unable to hold back the secret that has been eating away at me. I close my eyes and my tears gain strength.

“Finnick..." I say and look at him. He squeezes my hand and a tear makes its way down his right cheek “I'm pregnant.”

I can notice his grimace of surprise only a few seconds after I let out the news. Finnick looks down, still squeezing my hand and then hides in my belly. I cry even harder and squeeze him against me.

“I'm sorry” I say” I'm sorry, I know this isn't the ideal time for this and I know....

Finnick's lips land on my robe in my stomach area stopping my speech. He begins to caress my belly and his tears wet my legs. Finnick was kissing his son with such fervor that it hurts.

“It's going to be okay," he assures us in a whisper. He looks at me and I notice the reddish hue in his eyes and nose “We'll be fine. Now there will be no one to stop me from my purpose. I will fight for you. I will give my life for you," he swears. And I believe him.

[the-last-kenobi]

*kciks down door* ReQuEsTs?!??! uh, 18. “Is it all right if I hug you?” with Obi-wan and character of your choice (please, this boy needs a hug so bad)

Hugs!!!! What an excellent ask.

Took me forever to pick a character though. I came this close to writing multiple hugs throughout the years but it would’ve been very long...

It’s still long. Whoops.

Note: I skipped the actual sentence and instead went for ✨vibes only✨

(From this various prompts list.)

_

Obi-Wan is twenty-three standard years old, very nearly twenty-four.

It is a delightful stage of life. (It’s awful.)

He’s growing in independence, so close to Knighthood he can almost taste it. (Is he? Nobody seems to have a clear opinion.)

He’s receiving more and more solo assignments, and on his missions with Master Jinn, the older Jedi makes an effort to at least await the Padawan’s input before making a decision, sometimes even deferring to Obi-Wan’s word. (Only in public, though, is there a sense of equality. Behind the scenes, Obi-Wan is still very much the learner.)

He longs to be free. (He doesn’t want to be alone.)

The confusing clash of thoughts and emotions is, in and of itself, a creator of more clashing emotions, all resulting in a bundle of self-doubt that crouches near his heart, like a greedy bird, picking away at his strength and certainty when he most needs it.

Doesn’t your doubt show you that you’re truly not ready? the pestering creature asks.

Doesn’t your longing for freedom prove you don’t deserve it? it says, tapping against the veins of ice and fear that lie right against the heat of his heart.

Doesn’t your need to be reassured tell you that you’re too hesitant, too weak to be alone?

His desire to fly is wrong. His desire to be sheltered, even more so.

Both together, coexisting in his heart and mind, could quite possibly mean the one thing he had been dreading for over a decade now, the thing older Jedi, real Jedi, had put into words and addressed to his face when he was only twelve, only eleven, only ten.

You are too emotional, they said.

You are overeager, they said.

You are not destined to be a Jedi, Qui-Gon had told him. I will not train you.

He had, in the end, and Obi-Wan has been wondering in the depths of his heart for all these years of it had not been a dreadful mistake. As much as the Force sings in his ears Jedi, Jedi, Jedi, endure, Jedi, Jedi, it felt like everything he touched, everything tangible, argues back failure, weak, selfish, foolish, unwanted, not fit.

Obi-Wan is twenty-three, almost twenty-four, and he is years into adulthood and light years away from proving that he’s capable of handling it.

When will he be Knighted?

Nobody seems to be expecting it from him.

Do they know, he wonders, have they known since the beginning that I am doomed to fail? Has this all been a gracious attempt, a thank you for my actions on Bandomeer, and they have drawn this out and out and out as long as they can?

How much longer can this go on?

Still, there are moments when he is at peace, when Obi-Wan is sure. When he meditates, when he accomplishes something new, when he walks away from an assignment feeling unashamed when he translates his memories into a tidy mission report.

When he has one of his long talks with Master Yoda, or Master Windu, who despite their revered status have taken to talking to him more like a friend than a child, outside of the Council chambers.

When he remembers the Force whispering inside, Jedi Jedi Jedi Jedi, endure, Jedi...

And then, on one of the missions assigned to both himself and his Master - still the overwhelming majority of his assignments - he and Qui-Gon are separated during a violent uprising.

There are bodies in the streets and buildings are aflame; children weep over the bodies of their parents and parents cradle the bodies of their children and scream as if the sound is their only companion left in the world. The standing government has a point, the rebellion has a point, the civilians caught in the crossfire don’t say which point they agree with because they’re too busy screaming and perishing, and Qui-Gon is simply gone.

Obi-Wan, faced with the threat of further bloodshed right here and right now even as the air is still clogged with ash and flame and as another body topples from a rooftop in front of his feet, raises his hand in surrender and calmly proposes a truce, offering himself as a legal hostage against the government that brought the Jedi here.

Obi-Wan is led away with his hands bound behind his back and his lightsaber taken away, and though his face is calm, the furrow between is brow speaks of his inner turmoil, which sounds like tapping against the cracks in his heart and Qui-Gon, where is Master Qui-Gon, I don’t know what I’m doing, if I fail more people will die, if I fail it will be my fault, is this taking charge or stepping aside, am I a leader or a victim?

He spends not days, not weeks, but three standard months as a hostage. He spends a terrible amount of time sitting in a cell and pondering his uselessness, the gravity of his foolishness, but every time someone opens the door and escorts him out to hold parley with the leaders of the rebellion and the ministry of the planet, he holds his head high, tempers his fear, and speaks to them with all he has.

Which is honesty. Humility.

You don’t know what to do, he says. Neither do I.

We all know we must do something. No matter how much blood you spill and how much earth you scorch you will eventually come back here to this table to have this same discussion until either both of you are broken beyond belief or one of you has been crushed, and half your planet’s voice stolen away. And you will have sacrificed two of the Republic’s Jedi along the way, a black mark against whichever victor is left standing.

Or, he says, we choose to pass over the violence and talk here and now, and choose this again and again and again. You have already had your fighting. Your people are already hoping for negotiation.

Are you here for their sakes or to kill them for show?

He does not use these exact words.

He sews them into his brief speeches, hammers in the point sharply when he must, weaves the common thread over and over again.

He knows they fight while he is locked away.

But he believes, from the growing respect in the eyes of these people who hold him both by his and against his will, that he is making a difference. He must be.

And Obi-Wan is twenty-three, very very nearly twenty-four, when he finally walks free to witness the signing of a treaty like this planet has never had before, to witness the formation of a new government, and he discovers not ashes and mass graves when he sees daylight for the first time in three months — but instead, a city and a planet marred only by scattered battlefields, and marked more clearly by the way its people have fought to keep it clean, to keep it safe.

Children race through the streets, unafraid, because they have had real shelter during the war. It has not entered their homes since that first terrible day.

Neighbors from opposing sides of this fight and friends who staked no claim in this war mingle freely. Their smiles are a little hesitant, but they are there.

The dead are all honored equally.

It is leaps and bounds, it is a civilization that propelled itself through years of struggle in three months, and Obi-Wan is awed by them.

He knows it cannot be this way everywhere.

He knows that there will be wars where no one wants to surrender, or where one side will be so certain of their point of view that they would rather raise hell than cease, and he knows there will be people who resist them.

But today it is real.

Obi-Wan looks at his pale and clammy hands, the marks around his wrists where he was so often bound, and feels the way his limbs shake from months of too little sunlight, not quite enough food, and more than his share of fear and doubt and self-recrimination.

As he smiles for a camera that will record this moment forever, he glimpses Qui-Gon amongst the crowd.

Someone explains to him, when he asks, that his Master had been injured during the uprising and spent the first three weeks of Obi-Wan’s captivity in convalescence. The remaining time, he has spent on the sidelines, forced there by his Padawan’s actions. With Obi-Wan a willing hostage, playing negotiator and leverage both, Qui-Gon had no role except to mingle with the people, offer them comfort and aid.

Something Obi-Wan knows his Master loved, but — he had still stolen his Master’s role.

He had thrown himself into a stupid, foolish situation, and how many times had Qui-Gon teased him about playing damsel in distress? And here he has gone and surrendered of his own accord. What would Qui-Gon have done if Obi-Wan had led them all to ruin?

Obi-Wan slowly loses his confidence, his relief, his silver tongue, as the press and the people recede, and he and his Master walk to a room that has been prepared for both of them, as honored guests by this new government.

Qui-Gon says nothing to him.

They walk in silence for twelve minutes.

And then, as soon as the door has shut behind them, Obi-Wan finds himself pulled into a fierce embrace, one of his Master’s hands buried in his hair, Qui-Gon’s chin resting atop his head.

Obi-Wan hesitates.

Does his Master think him a child?

Perhaps Qui-Gon senses his thoughts, because the man pulls away briefly, still holding his Padawan by the shoulders, as if unwilling to let him go completely, else he vanish like smoke.

“Padawan,” Qui-Gon says, and his voice is loud and strong and brimming with warmth that washes over Obi-Wan like sunlight, like water, like an embrace. “Well done, my Padawan.”

And then he is pulled again into Qui-Gon’s comforting arms, and Obi-Wan breathes in and gives in, folding against his teacher like a child, and if a few tears stain Qui-Gon’s robes or drop into Obi-Wan’s hair, neither of them speaks of it.

Obi-Wan lets his Master hold him, lets go of fear and pride and doubt, and finds that he is safe.

~