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fayes-fics · 2 years ago

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Lessons in Breeding

Lessons Masterpost PREV | NEXT

Pairings: Anthony Bridgerton x fem!reader, Benedict Bridgerton x fem!reader (threesome)

Summary: Fifth story in the Regency Lessons series and it's time-jump time. Things have progressed with our throuple and the Bridgerton Bros are in a race to impregnate their lady…

Warnings: 18+ smut, minors DNI, MMF threesome, BREEDING KINK off the bloody charts, pregnancy kink, dirty talk, oral sex (m to f), light bondage, filthy baby-making vaginal sex, dom/sub dynamics. Emotions, talk of marriages, established throuple dynamics.

Word Count: 5.4k

Authors Note: This is set in Lessons universe, but at least a year after the previous instalment. If pregnancy or babymaking isn't your thing, please don't read this. This is a very belated birthday request fill for @iboopedyournose. I hope you like the way I've interpreted your request for breeding kink threesome with bondage. Thanks to @colettebronte and @chaoticcalzoneranchsports for betaing. Enjoy! <3

You pause in front of the portrait of a naked pregnant woman, taking a sip of your champagne. The intimate parts of her are mostly obscured behind translucent silks. Her pregnant belly is bare as she cradles it proudly, her skin glowing; everything about her looks almost ethereal yet so earthy and powerful. It is such a provocative piece you can understand why it is only being shown at private parties such as this one, hosted by Mr Granville.

“Like what you see?” the dusky voice suddenly at your right ear asks.

You inhale sharply, instantly responding to the mere sound of his voice, something very Pavlovian in it. “Yes, I think she looks beautiful,” you reply quietly, tamping down your need to throw yourself into him, begging for his fingers in your mouth.

“She does indeed,” he is standing so close behind you can feel the heat radiating off him through his shirt. “Would you like to look like that? Swollen so beautifully with a baby?”

It's not something you have thought about much beyond the abstract idea that you wish for children someday. But then, so many things in your life are about to change, and this could be one.

“Maybe,” you deflect.

Large hands encircle your waist. “Mmm, just imagine,” he begins, his chest pressing warm on your spine. “How beautiful you would look, your belly all rounded,” his hands slide up and cup your chest as you moan lightly. “Your breasts so full, and oh gosh,” one hand slides down to the apex of your thighs, cradling it through your dress, “the smell and taste of you, so ripe, so juicy. You would be divine,” he assures.

“Stop,” you scold gently, but it's too breathy, the carnal images he so easily paints with his words haunting you as you rock in his arms.

“Would you like me to impregnate you, my darling?” he murmurs, his teeth pulling at your earlobe. “I could fuck you so hard and deep and leave my seed inside you. Over and over. And you know my brother would do the same in a heartbeat.”

Your breath quickens at the thought. They have always been careful to ensure they do not release inside you; it's a strict pact you have in place that they have always respected and obeyed. But perhaps that may change with what is impending.

“My husband-to-be, you mean,” your eyes cut sideways, and he stiffens.

“Yes, of course, I sometimes forget you are soon to be the Viscountess,” he bows his head, a flare of something in his eyes you know is jealousy.

“Benedict…” you sigh, sensing he needs reassurance; you pull him into a quiet alcove. “You know this is the only way the three of us can be together, for always. I love you just as much,” you vow quietly, touching his cheek. “But you know well I cannot marry you both, at least not in the eyes of the law. There would be many questions if Anthony were to remain unwed much longer. You know it is much easier for you to live with us as an apparent bachelor at Aubrey Hall than any other arrangement.”

All the facts you lay out, well known to you both, don’t stop the imploring look he gives you.

“I will marry you symbolically in a ceremony in the woods, down by the lake,” you whisper, appealing to his bohemian romantic side. “I will wear your ring proudly, too,” you promise. “I am as much yours as I am his. And always will be. I cannot be without either of you.”

He beams and crowds into you, sliding his lips down your neck.

“And yes, I will bear your children, my love,” you sigh as his actions make you pliant in his hands, as they always do. You grab his face to ensure he meets your gaze, his eyes dancing. “Nothing would make me prouder than bearing both of your babies, so yes, my love, the answer is yes.”

You moan gently as he kisses fire across your skin, and your eyes drift back to the painting, the idea of being fertile, ripe, burgeoning with life somehow suddenly so alluring.

——

“Anthony…” you call, but he does not respond; he probably cannot hear you above the whirlwind of activity around him. “ANTHONY!” you repeat, raising your voice, and suddenly, the hubbub of movement and noise in the room ceases.

His eyes meet yours and flash. “Everyone leave the room at once,” he orders to the hordes of people doing god knows what, “my fiancee wishes to speak with me.”

You watch as all the people scurry from the room as if burned.

“There was no need to send them away quite so abruptly, my love,” you state gently.

“Is this not an occasion where you wish me to throw you upon my desk and rut you so hard you scream?” he flirts outrageously.

“For once,” you respond airily, “it is not.”

“Tis a pity,” he smirks, then perches against the desk, crossing his legs and arms. “Then what can I do for you, my love?”

“I want you to make me with child,” you just go straight to the point. He usually appreciates bluntness.

He drops the heavy accounts ledger he is holding, and it slams to the ground with an echoing thump.

“Correction, I want you AND Benedict to make me with child,” you amend.

“What on earth brought this on?” his tone warm but intrigued, ignoring the ledger completely.

“That art party we went to last night?” you offer casually. “There was a scandalous but beautiful portrait of a pregnant naked woman.”

“Did he fuck you in front of it and give you some ideas?” Anthony sighs with fond exasperation.

“No,” you giggle, “for once, he did not.”

“But Tuesday is your night alone together?” Anthony frowns. “Don’t tell me he shirked his duty? I am his older brother. I can have words….”

“Oh, he more than performed his duty, just not in front of the painting,” you clarify.

“In front of one of his paintings, then?” Anthony guesses.

And you giggle again. “Carriage, on the way home.”

“Figures,” Anthony rolls his eyes, “does he ever do it in a bed?”

“Not if he can help it,” you wink, and he laughs.

Then schools his face more serious. “So you want a baby?”

“I want both of your babies. I’d certainly be open to us all getting some good practice in tomorrow,” you shrug playfully.

“I have absolutely no problem with that,” his voice drops low as he raises a sultry eyebrow. “And the desk offer still stands if you want a warm-up?” he concludes, breaking into a handsome smirk.

“It’s Wednesday, our rest day; I have dinner plans with my dear friend Lady Eleanor,” you shake your head fondly. “Plus, I cannot give you a head start, darling; that wouldn’t be fair to Benedict,” you tease. “You can sort it out between yourselves for tomorrow.”

“Why do we have a rest day?” he pouts.

“You know full well, with three people, it is much easier to schedule around six days. I can go one day without either of you, you know,” rolling your eyes lovingly.

“Such a pity,” he sighs in mock annoyance.

“It is just for today, darling, and tomorrow you may complete inside me, so there’s that to look forward to…” and you breeze out of the room, blowing him a kiss.

——

Thursday night is one of your two nights a week with both of your wonderful men.

You spend the early evening bathing in luxury soaps with your favourite scents, readying yourself for a night of untold pleasures. Sometimes you all meet in the bedroom, sometimes in the blue room, and other times, like tonight, you agree to al fresco. You cannot wait to play by the lake under the mid-summer moonlight.

You slip on an ivory silk robe and nothing else except the lariat body chains they each gave you. Dainty gold chains with their initials that wrap around your waist, the A and B matching charms hanging low over your belly, grazing your thatch of hair below—a secret you wear every day unseen beneath your usual clothing.

It’s a balmy evening as you approach the water's edge. There is already a soft blanket laid out and a decanter of brandy with three glasses—Anthony has ensured the staff have prepared for the evening. But neither man is to be seen yet. You settle on the blanket and pour yourself a snifter, enjoying the gentle roar of oil lantern flames dancing in the breeze set out on surrounding stakes.

This evening will be a first, letting them both leave their seed within you. Even though you have been together as a threesome for more than a year and done countless wonderful sensual things together, this is a huge step towards something new. You don’t expect to get pregnant on this first attempt, but the idea is beguiling nonetheless.

You pull open your robe and massage your as-yet-empty belly. Running your hands in swirls, imagining what it might be like to watch it grow and swell with a child—the ability to bring life into the world something so elemental and heavenly all at once. To sustain life through the wonder of your body swirls in your mind as you untie your robe and grab your breasts.

“I see someone started the party already, brother,” a familiar silky voice rings out, and your eyes pop open to see both of them standing there, watching you lasciviously. They are shirtless and only wear britches slung low around their hips, acres of lithe muscle and supple skin.

“Is that not our job, darling?” Anthony chimes in after his brother, already unbuttoning.

“Not that we aren’t enjoying the show,” Benedict adds pointedly, nudging Anthony as if to shut him up, and follows suit, removing his trousers.

When they both let their britches fall to the ground, you moan, seeing them both in all their resplendent naked glory, already half hard and looking so utterly delicious part of you wants to get on your knees and take them into your mouths. You go to crawl towards them, but Antony holds up a halting hand.

“Stay right where you are, lay back; tonight is about your pleasure, darling,” he practically purrs.

Your eyes flash with desire, and you do as told, removing your robe and laying back again, fully nude, running fingertips down the centre line of your torso, fingers playing with their jewelled charms that rest atop your lower belly.

“Then get down here,” you exhale, knowing their gaze is locked on your fingers as you slip them between your thighs.

They drop onto the blanket with you, the light breeze ruffling their chestnut locks. Both are so achingly beautiful with those strong Bridgerton genes. You can’t wait to bear a baby, babies, that look just like them.

They exchange a glance, and it’s their shorthand again—where they silently communicate how they will destroy you masterfully moment by moment. Benedict surges up and captures your lips in a passionate all-consuming kiss as Anthony slips between your legs, pulling your hand away and throwing your feet over his shoulders. Forcing your legs out wide, he laps a determined, deep plough of tongue all the way from the base of your slit up to your pulsing clit. It has you calling loudly into his brother's mouth.

“You taste fertile, my darling wife-to-be,” Anthony groans lewdly and pointedly, and you can’t help but giggle across Benedict’s lips.

“I am certain he is right,” Benedict smiles affectionately, swallowing your noises. “I swear I can smell the difference when you are ripe for us. Your scent is just a little headier, muskier; it makes my cock even harder than normal,” he ponders, kissing across your face as he utters his trademark filth. He knows just a few choice words can have you ready for him—every single damn time.

Anthony’s hand strays up to play with your belly charms as his tongue unfurls its magic. It doesn’t matter that you are with these two men, individually and together, multiple times a week; they never fail to arouse you to the point of aching with just a few expertly deployed moves. Their tongues, whether talking dirty or teasing your body, are your favourite part of them. Benedict shuffles lower and sucks one of your nipples into his mouth. Oh god, yes, it’s definitely their tongues.

“Darling, are we playing tonight, or are we just us?” Benedict asks, looking up from your chest with gentle eyes. Sometimes you like to play with your power dynamic and use your titles, other times since you have grown closer, you are just yourselves, no masks, no games, just you, Ant and Ben, your affectionate shortened names for them.

You stop Anthony’s ministrations between your legs with a tap on his shoulder, wanting his full attention on this question that Benedict poses.

“What would you prefer, my loves?” You ask them, ruffling Benedict's hair, enjoying the feel of its thickness running between your fingers and squeezing Anthony’s shoulder lovingly.

“I want to be Ben, just your husband-to-be,” Benedict says quietly, and you can’t help the little smile that breaks out. “This is where we will get married,” he asserts, looking around, “under the stars, just like this.”

“Yes, my darling,” you confirm happily, “I want that.”

“How about you, Ant, my love? Would you like to be you, or perhaps my lord or my beautiful boy?” you inquire.

“I want to be Ant, your fiancé,” he nods in agreement with Benedict’s idea. “Tonight, my darling wife-to-be, the only lesson is how to breed you like the wondrous Bridgerton you are about to become.”

“Breed me?” You inhale, wanting to be insulted by the term but finding it makes your clit burn hot.

“Oh yes,” Benedict chimes in, “we are going to breed you, darling. You will sire a whole house of Bridgertons. You will never be without our seed—it will be dripping from you every day.”

“Ben,” you stutter, grabbing his bicep as your whole cunt is suddenly slick and pulsing at his crude language. “Tell me more.”

His responding grin is predatory as Anthony chuckles and slinks back between your legs.

“Do you know how many bedrooms there are in Aubrey Hall?” Benedict’s voice is a gentle tease as his nose runs teasing patterns over the swell of your breast.

“I don’t,” you admit, honestly.

“Twenty-four,” Anthony answers for you from between your thighs as he sucks a line down from your inner knee.

“Even with all of our siblings and their future children visiting, that still leaves at least, hmm, twelve bedrooms just going to waste. Until we fill them with our little brood.”

“Benedict, I am not birthing twelve children,” you gasp, half in shock at the very thought, half because Anthony’s tongue curls rough around your clit.

“Maybe not,” he admits, kissing across to your other breast, “but I think we should at least try….”

“Six each, brother?” Anthony chuckles, joining in, lifting his head and resting his chin on your pubic hair, shooting a killer smile.

“Get back there. Have you not heard that female pleasure aids conception?” you challenge, raising an eyebrow.

“Then we will have to make you come at least twice tonight; ‘tis the most prudent path to double our chances,” Anthony retorts with a wink sinking down with a devilish look on his face before his tongue makes you cry out, and Benedict's teeth graze over your nipple, making you cant up into his mouth.

“You’ll have to carry me all the way back to the house if I have many more than that, remember,” you warn, bemused.

“Darling, I would carry you to the ends of the earth and back,” Benedict pledges, the romantic poetry just pouring from him as he surges up and kisses your lips, plundering your mouth with his tongue. “You have bewitched me. Since that very first day in my brother's study, I have been yours.”

Benedict is always more emotional and partial to declarations of love than his brother, whose feelings run just as deep but does not effuse about it so openly—preferring to express his adoration privately and through beautiful, thoughtful gifts.

“Save it for your individual days, brother,” Anthony hums drolly over your flesh. “We have a very special job to do tonight.”

“Indeed we do,” Benedict concurs, picking up one of your hands and entwining your fingers with his.

Then their efforts become more focussed as Anthony sucks your engorged nub deep into his mouth, moans vibrating your sensitive bud as Benedict bites your nipple in just that way you like—an insistent suckling hold that pulls your skin taunt and is a line right down to your throbbing clit being so utterly wrecked by Anthony.

It always stuns you how quickly these two, working in tandem, can rocket you so high, so dizzyingly fast. You are vaguely aware your hands are in both of their hair as you climb so high. Eyes screwed shut as they both mouth filthy encouragements into your skin.

“Come on, darling,” Anthony pleads, “I want to feel you drench my face.”

“Do not stop,” you chant repeatedly, twisting luscious strands of chestnut locks around your fingers.

Benedict’s lips are hot on your ear, biting the lobe as he senses you are so close. “Break for him,” he breathes, “come on, my love, give him that sweet nectar to drink.”

The filthy poet never fails to give you that extra nudge, and sure enough, with a staccato of breaths, they have to hold you down as you fight to buck against the convulsions deep inside.

Anthony growls at you to stay still, even though you know he loves it when you writhe over his face, his jaw clamped hard between your spasming thighs.

“Does that feel so good?” Benedict’s silky voice vibrates your ear.

“Yes, oh god, I need one of you inside me, please,” you twist to look into his face as beseeching as you can, still flushed and mindless from your orgasm. “But please tie my hands first,” you stutter breathlessly, offering your wrists up to him, pressed together. “Above my head.”

“I thought we were not playing tonight?” Anthony says quietly as he lands on the blanket beside you, his face shining with your juices.

“Please, just, please,” you beg, turning to him, “I need it. Use your chains.”

As they flank your body, both of them make a low noise at the idea of binding your hands with your golden chains that bear their initials.

Benedict’s large hand slides down your dewy torso and into your thatch of hair. Then slowly, while you pant lightly and keep your eyes locked on Anthony’s intense stare, Benefict unhooks one chain and tugs it gently from around the dip of your waist.

“Your turn,” he says quietly to Anthony, and you realise they are removing their own chains. Somehow that choice makes you burn even hotter for them, squirming slightly.

Anthony’s hand follows the same path as you breath heavy and hold Benedict’s gaze this time as Anthony unhooks the chain with the A charm and drags it up along your skin, a corner of the letter scraping gently over your flesh, catching your nipple as you gasp.

Then they take an arm each, raising them above your head. Both then bind your wrists as your gaze flits between them, watching their handsome faces.

“Thank you,” your murmur reverential, testing the hold and feeling the precious metal bite into your flesh as they both dive in for a heated kiss, Anthony reaching you first and Benedict settling on your neck until they can swap positions. It’s a deep kiss that is musky and sweet with the taste and scent of your climax.

“Who gets the privilege of being first, my love?” Benedict asks silkily.

“You do, Ben,” you whisper, and his whole face lights up. So often used to being second.

You turn to Anthony as Benedict shifts to lay between your legs. “Thank you, my darling Ant, for my wonderful orgasm,” you compliment and watch as his face turns boyish with pride.

You cry out as Benedict spears into you, splitting your open, causing the gentle ripples of your orgasm to flare again, and he drops his head onto your breastbone.

“Christ, there is nothing like your little fluttering cunt is there?” he groans into your flesh.

“Give it to me, Ben,” you twist from kissing Anthony to declare. Then turn back, desperate for more hot kisses.

His tip feels somehow harsher than normal, a hot spike as he begins to move, your walls clinging to him almost vice-like. It feels so good your eyes roll, and your mouth goes slack against Anthony’s.

He brushes a gentle hand through your hair, watching you through hooded eyes, gently murmuring praise and compliments as you take Benedict's hard thrusts.

“We will plant our seeds, darling, deep in here,” Anthony breathes, a hand sliding down to your belly just above where Benedict’s body meets yours as he surges into you. “Do you want that?”

“Yess,” you hiss, mesmerised, fingers twirling in your own hair, “please.”

“Oh, our perfect little broodmare,” Anthony exhales shakily, surging his leaking cock against the hip he holds open for his little brother, who now curls down over you, biting a nipple. “Do you know how proud we will be? Making your beautiful body swell, your breasts growing so large and sensitive, your belly growing round. With our baby. A little Bridgerton. Or maybe more. We want to plant you with two babies right now, one for me and one for my little brother. Can you do that, darling, for us? Take our seed so good?”

“Yes, Anthony,” you pant, utterly enthralled by his filthy talk. That is usually the expertise of the man now biting your nipples and growling as he fucks you so harshly that your body jerks on the cotton blanket you lay on.

“Let him,” Anthony continues with slightly gritted teeth, “let him fuck you harder than he ever has before.”

“Yes, my lord,” you answer, under his spell, and his nostrils flare as you use the title you call him in play.

He curses, then grabs one of your chain-bound wrists above your head, fingers sliding possessively between yours and forcing the back of your hand down onto the ground.

“Yes, that's it, do as you are told, little one,” he growls through clenched teeth.

And you feel a frisson of something frantic, like you all need something with a little edge. A gust of breeze flutters over your skin and leaves quiver on the trees around you.

“Fuck her harder, brother,” Anthony orders into your clavicle, and you feel it buzz into your bones.

Benedict growls in response and hooks the leg, not being held by Anthony over his flexed forearm. Pulling you open more, feeling so vulnerable, your hands bound, your legs held obscenely wide open by each.

Suddenly the moment feels charged as Benedict snaps his hips so forcefully that you whimper on every stroke, revelling in the sweat splashing from his damp forehead curls onto your breasts. Anthony is sucking on your neck with almost painful intensity as Benedict drops down and bites your flesh over your tricep, making you writhe and call his name. The gold chains binding your wrists dig into your flesh as you move, bringing an edge that just pushes you higher.

You encourage him, calling him sir, begging for more, squeezing his cock with your pelvic muscles as he pounds into you mercilessly. And that constriction is the catalyst he needs. He curses long and low, feeling huge as he spears so deep he nudges your hilt, and you sense a change in him that usually signals his withdrawal. This time his eyes fly open, pupils blown, and expression wild as he grabs your jaw firmly.

“Are you ready?” He barks possessively.

“Yes,” you hiss, realising he is going to climax without waiting for you.

His last few hot desperate thrusts are so harsh your whole insides feel rearranged. Then he stills, and for the first time, you hear that guttural groan right into your ear as he begins to spill inside you, a hot wave that blooms deep inside, feeling like so much more than he has ever come before. It’s a new sensation and feels just wonderful.

“Yes, take it all, my darling girl,” he shudders, and that gravelly tone pulls you over a small edge, you clamping down on his spurting cock as he groans and spasms into you some more, hipbones digging into your inner thighs. His weight is almost crushing as he becomes motionless, your thighs burning from the stretch.

“That’s it,” Anthony whispers against your temple, “lay still and open, darling, let his seed into your womb.”

Those words echo drowsily in your head as you feel Benedict’s cock gradually soften inside you, and he slips out slowly with a slick tide of juices that run down over your bottom cheeks.

“Fucking babies into you is my new favourite thing. Do you have any idea how exquisite it is to come inside you? Fill you up? I never want to come anywhere else ever again.” Benedict gusts as he falls to one side of you, still breathing heavily, and you realise it's a novel experience for him too. “God, I love you,” he admits shakily, landing a kiss on your cheek.

“I love you too. Thank you for my baby Benedict,” you nuzzle his face and kiss him sweetly as his body relaxes, utterly spent.

You twist to look at Anthony, and his eyes sparkle as he climbs between your legs, his cock hard, glistening, and leaking in his fist. “Are you ready?”

“Yes, my lord,” you answer.

He thrusts into your soaking cunt, still leaking profusely from Benedict. He feels even larger and harsher somehow too, and on reflex, you clench around the invasion, feeling the verdant earth beneath your bottom and shoulder blades softened slightly by the blanket.

“My darling girl,” his voice ragged, broken. “You are so exquisitely puffy and swollen. That was quite the mounting you got, wasn’t it? Are you ready for more?”

You croak your assent, and then he begins to move. He isn’t slow. In fact, he starts pounding so hard you gasp, the sensation almost too much, and Benedict's hand slides into your hair, over your bound hands, and you clutch it as he rolls closer, nuzzling your face.

“Feel it all, my darling girl,” Benedict rumbles.

“I am, sir,” you nod and bite your lip. “I can even feel your seed inside me still,” you add with a moan, the chains on your wrist abraiding your skin, leaving marks.

“Good,” he gusts drowsily and warmly in your ear, a hand swirling patterns on your hip. “Let it in, darling, all the way in.”

As a cloud clears the moon, the atmosphere feels softer again, the frantic moment of before ebbing into something more profound; even as Anthony takes you hard, it’s more in an undulating wave, hitting your hilt with a rhythm that feels hypnotic, your cunt clinging to him like a glove, as Benedict's sonorous voice is back at your ear.

“That’s right, get ready, darling girl. We need you to keep this line going. In your belly, you will grow the next viscount. You will bare the heirs of this family. Just you, my wonderful wife-to-be.”

“I want all of your babies too, Benedict,” you breathe as Anthony ploughs on. “I want to give the world more like you. Talented creative, empathetic, loving souls who bring joy to every room.”

His eyes mist over as you declare your truth. “I love you so much it hurts,” he murmurs into your cheek, voice thick with emotion.

“I love you too,” you want to grab his face but can’t; instead, you seal your pact with a sweet, almost chaste kiss filled with affection; even as Anthony takes you towards a big blissful moment, you hope you will hit together.

“Now declare your love to him too,” Benedict orders softly, “you know he needs to hear it, maybe even more than me.”

You nod and turn all of your attention and heart to the Viscount. Still holding Benedict’s hand tangled in your hair, not wanting either to feel left out on this momentous night.

“Viscount Anthony Bridgerton,” you use his title and full name, your pleading tone making his eyes bore into yours. “I love you so much, my lord, my husband,” you state categorically.

He groans and falls over your body, covering you, his scent and heat all-encompassing.

“Darling darling wife, my Viscountess,” he exhales over your lips, his thrusts turning slow and languid, his hands grasping your thighs and pulling your legs up and out, utterly under his command, pinned. “I love you so much,” he sounds almost choked with emotion, and part of you wishes you had your hands to hold him to you.

“Do you want to be freed, my love?” Benedict asks softly, always seemingly able to intuit your needs before you even articulate them.

“Please,” you request, turning to give him a grateful peck as he reaches up and loosens both chains, leaving one delicately but loosely wrapped around each forearm, your wrists pulsing mildly as they are freed.

Instantly you move your arms, wrapping one around Anthony’s back, your nails and the gold chain scraping down his skin as your other hand rounds Benedict's shoulder and into his hair, stroking and petting.

Your hand sliding down, mapping his contours, over the swell of his muscular bottom makes Anthony groan and bite your neck, spearing deep into you as your nails dig in, tilting your pelvis and rocking him deeper into you until you feel that ache so far inside.

Then he pushes up onto his hands and thrusts hard, setting a punishing pace. Every fibre of your being wants this, ratcheting high and fast as each stroke crushes your clit into your frame. Unable to form words except to curse and babble mindlessly. You feel your whole body tense, a release so imminent you grit your teeth and chase it hard.

“That’s it darling, come for me, milk me,” Antony commands, flicking a thumb over your clit, and you are gone.

Yelling and screaming as his cock is the solid mass you convulse around, your entire being spasming, and you feel Benedict’s firm grip, holding you down with a knee and large hands. Making you orgasm hard, entirely still, unable to writhe, all the sensation concentrated on where Anthony’s cock spears you open.

As the blood rushes in your ears, his teeth are biting on the cord of your neck, and with a few pumps, he releases with a throaty whine, pushing the deepest he has ever been, feeling like he piercing through your hilt.

He curses long, low guttural and again there is that bloom of viscous heat inside as he spills all his seed.

“Yes, my darling girl,” he slurs, “stay down, take it all,”

You cry out, and your instinct is to move, but both of them hold you down, so your fingers dig into flesh, and your toes curl as your body is thwarted from its shakes and shudders. Anthony’s weight is upon you as he recovers his breath, feeling even heavier than Benedict as he slumps,, panting into your neck.

“I understand what you mean now, brother,” his tone almost wonderous. “I do not wish to leave my seed anywhere else either, dear god; that was exquisite.” Delicately he pulls backwards so his softening cock slips out of your body, and you groan at the sensation, flopping your head blissfully on the blanket as he falls to your other side.

The gentle sounds of nocturnal nature around you fill your ears as it is just your joint breathing, soothing hands running over you, soft kisses and little intimate moments where you whisper to both of your boys.

“We may have made a baby tonight, my darling husbands,” you murmur.

The look they both give you is brimming with love and appreciation as you curl into both, taking a hand from each of them and placing them over your heart as you drift to sleep, cocooned in their safe embrace.

Your boys. Forever, your boys.

Anthony & Benedict taglists: @makaylan @foreverlonginguniverse @iboopedyournose @colettebronte @aintnuthinbutahounddog @severewobblerlightdragon @margofiore @writergirl-2001 @heeyyyou @enichole445 @enchantedbytomandhenry @ambitionspassionscoffee @chaoticcalzoneranchsports @nikaprincessofkattegat @baebee35 @crowleysqueenofhell @bridgertontess @queenofmean14 @fiction-is-life @lilacbeesworld @angels17324 @broooookiecrisp @queen-of-the-misfit-toys @eleanor-bradstreet @divaanya @musicismyoxygen84 @benedictspaintbrush @miindfucked @sorryallonsy @lilithseve @cayt0123 @hottytoddyhistory @elizah99 @truly-dionysus @fictionalmenloversblog @debheart @zinzysstuff @malpalgalz @amanda08319 @panhoeofmanyfandoms

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streets-in-paradise · 2 months ago

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The Trial of Achilles

Troy (2004) Reader insert fanfiction / Achilles x Mycenaean Princess! Reader - Part 25

Word Count 20 K (yes, i am insane and writing this was a titanical task, but that shows you how passionate for this story I am. )

Warnings: Troy (2004) in brand anachronicisms here and there.

Summary: The chaotic circunstances of his arrival to the island, as the motives for the secretive trip, demand from Achilles some accountability. Fooling Odysseus in his own land is a temporary feat of short span, so he must try to work things out with his old friend. While in the task of proving himself to him and appeal to the good sight of his wife, the warrior gets confronted with his recent past.

So much had changed since he allowed himself enough time to be with the one lady he end up falling for, but it all was too abrupt. As the manifestations of the effect she had on him get tested to captivate the royals, retold memories of his old ways and the natural concecuencies of the dangerous fame he had pridefully crafted reach her as cautionary tales from those with sensical reasons to sustain horrible opinions.

Notes: There may be some typos unchecked because of how long the final word count is. I feel this one turned out more dialogue heavy than usual, but I had to cover so many interactions in order to advance the plot.

Credits to @creativepromptsforwriting, for a prompt I used in the dialogue. This has taken so long to write that I don't remember which prompt list it belonged in, or where was it placed, but still wanted to give my thanks for it.

References: The full neck-covering bead idea was inspired in this one. I like to imagine Penelope has one similar, even if maybe a bit less fancy, cause it's very queen-like.

Tags: @yerevasunclair @mysticaldeanvoidhorse @spideyanakin @spideyanakin-interacts @awakenedevildays @alaysha-of-middle-earth @zoegarfield @helie-brain @legendarypiratecheesecake @felicialawrence

Mischief may have gone too far, but he was after all in the land of the trickster king.

Observing the reception of Paris to his subtle intervention after hearing from him the trojan interpretation of his welcoming act made it irresistable. Achilles could have choosen to be more responsible in his playing, but letting the rumour spread was way more fun. Comparisons with gods were a riskfull game, but he wasn't afraid of feeding a misconception. Incapable of explaining the corpses he left behind in a rush of anger, it turned out trojans were already attributing it to divine wrath.

It was flattering to hear the little brother of Hector implying he suspected of him as a mortal disguise, but if he was going to be mistaken for a god he preferred to mislead the theory in direction of the one he represented the best. Let them say that the Princess of Mycenae was wanted by the god of war and the trojan prince would be a dead man if he intended to have her. Far from the truth, yet metaphorically close to it. Not the god, but his best mortal servant.

Across his years of fighting he had plenty of memorable moments, but never terrified the enemy enough to be mistaken by it for a god taking human shape. Suspicious attitudes and rumours regarding his divine heritage were allways there, but the trojans took that incredibly far. One small proof of the destruction he was capable of causing awakened religious fear in them.

His superiority as a fighter over Hector was inquestionable, confirmation of the fact that helped to boost his infamous pride. It was a calming detail to ease his mind from the circunstantial betrayal of Odysseus trying to match the trojan prince with the princess he loved. He could then feel sure he didn't even need to meet Hector in order to prove he was the best, because the evidence of his work spoke for him.

The lady made him promise he wouldn't mess with him and he had to stick to his words for her. It was clear that over the course of their meeting she had adquired an appreciation for the heir prince of Troy. From what her telling suggested, Hector was not shy to adress her capacities and treated her as a leader of equal rank. They were becoming friends in the way of royals, yet for as innocent as that sounded he got a stronger sense of unease regarding that than while hearing Paris cassually admitting he had lusted after her. The expressed frustration of the youngest prince in the persistent failure on winning her over was like a bad joke to Achilles, but hearing her praise his brother was sometimes more serious to him than it should.

Through her mind games she reassured him despite he never asked her for it, masquerading her confession of wanting to be his wife no matter the cost that choosing him implied. Rejecting a bright future as the queen of a new nation that would unify the world was not the great loss for her that by logical reasoning should be. Whatever Hector had to offer was not enough to make her reconsider it despite talking wonders about him in her descriptions.

Unspoken understandment between them allowed him to leave her for the day feeling a sensation that almost resembled peace.

As soon as he lost sight of her, Achilles started planning their next encounter. Instead of making any prior arrangements on when and where they would see each other, he preferred to keep her guessing because finding the way on his own was an exciting challenge. Exactly like the old stories of lustfull gods developing incredible strategies to cheat the protections surrounding some unsuspecting beautifull maidens, but playing out as a romantic game. She would be waiting for him the entire time, allways excited for the clandestine surprise, while to everyone else he would be invisible like the golden rain of Zeus.

At risk of taunting the lines between an innocent trick and sacrilegy, he wanted them to believe and affirm she was woman fitting for a god. It was the kind of twist that her fame needed to grow on its own, away from the accidental overshadowing of Helen or the control of Agamemnon's expectatives. Fantastic tales would also elevate their union in epicity, for who would dare to deny Achilles to have a woman rumoured of being watched by Ares?

It seemed a perfect move to make, untill returning to the hideout remembered him that he wasn't acting in complete secrecy. There was a campfire already started and the King of Ithaca awaiting calmly like in the scene of a post battle afternoon.

Achilles felt as if they would be about to have dinner in a militar camp commenting on the last bad strategical choice of Agamemnon to prepare for the next battle. That wasn't the case, but Odysseus probably wanted to recreate that ambiance in order to secure a calm discussion.

Smiling at him as allways, he later invited him to approach with a nice salute.

" Welcome, my friend! The men are delayed getting food for us, but they should be back soon. "

Achilles smiled back, but followed him hesitantely with the certainity of fearing a trick.

" How did you find me? I didn't send any heralds to the city announcing my presence. "

The myrmidon knew that his friend would never miss a chance to show off about his cleverness, and so he did.

" I got the message you wrote with blood in the shore of Asteris, I honestly should have guessed sooner that you were going to come because I have something you want. The rest was easy to figure out: you don't know my country better than me and the peculiar way in which you choose to arrive makes clear you would want to hide. This place is the only good hideout I showed you, and if your intentions match my guesses, you don't have time for explorations of the island. "

Before giving him any chance to debunk the claim, he dropped four words forming a well known sentence that Achilles received like a verdict.

" We need to talk. "

The cheerfull arrogance of the hero faded away for an instant as he sat next to the king.

" Odysseus, it's not what you think … I love her. "

Disbelief was the most inmediate reception that his very serious confession got, Odysseus was barely able to hide his chuckling by glancing at the opposite side of the natural shelter to do it before facing him again.

" Like you loved the daughter of Lycomedes? If it wasn't for me stepping in at the ríght time, you would have ruined the life of that young princess … It's all a game to you, isn't it? Seeing how far you can go untill a king will put you in place for touching his daughter? You are lucky I didn't tell her about Scyros, that would have broken her heart."

The weak light of the fire enhaced the anger of the warrior.

" You can't compare them! Back then I was a lad with no idea of what I was doing. "

Odysseus gave him a skeptical glance.

" In that sense, Achilles, you haven't changed much. I never saw you with the same woman twice, so I'm baffled to hear you speak of love. What can you possibly know about that? I heard you mock men who dream with a wife, saying they are sentimentalists conforming with few that will allways find obstacles to reach true glory. Hector is one of those, he wants to be a married man. Wouldn't you rather leave him remove the obstacle for you? "

Being comfronted with his attitudes of the past through that weaponization of his saids showed him in a drastical way how much had changed in such short time. He no longer recognized himself in that.

In fact, the mention of the woman he loved as some problem for his personal ambition that he needed to get rid of upsetted him.

" I have never been more wrong in my entire life, does that satisfy you?"

Odysseus wasn't convinced, but he wanted to keep digging in his perceptions. If what he heard was correct, an old friendly discussion that started the very first time he recommended him to settle down was closing in his favour.

" What happened to your secret advantage against all greek heroes? The man with no nation fighting for himself, living for fighting and having no one else to live for. Wasn't that your plan to outlive us all in history? "

Achilles heard the victorious taunting with exasperation, since it made very frustrating to try explaining himself. Elbows resting on top of his spreaded tighs as his hands covered both halfs of his face untill reaching the strands of hair falling at the sides. One stayed on top of his forehead for a moment, then he released a quick grunt before replying.

" I can't be without her, long distances and uncertain times bring me suffering. I need to know she will be mine, that I will get to keep her by my side. Perhaps you are right and I don't know anything about love, but I can tell she is the onlyone I ever loved. "

Strong words that managed to impress the one currently judging, but weren't enough.

" Can you clearly separate love from a whim? Do you love her or have obsessed with her because she is the only woman in the country strictly forbbiden to you? This could be just the natural evolution of your private battles with Agamemnon. "

The myrmidon answered the question with a counter-offensive ask.

" I love her and I know for sure that she loves me. Why can't you spare two lonely fools that had once rejected love over ambition thinking they weren't meant to fall for anyone untill they found each other ? "

Heartfelt yet sensical argumentation, but it ignored a pivotal detail.

" Can't do it if their foolishness has the potentiality of unleashing a war. "

Odysseus forced him to pay him serious attention before proceeding.

" Achilles, you will never get her without spilling blood. Killing to obtain what you want is not of concern to you, but the consequences would impact harder than you expect. Even imagining you consider this a serious relationship, Agamemnon will never accept you as the husband of his only daughter. You know this, there is no legítimate way for you to formalize an union with her. If you didn't came to steal her today, you will do it tomorrow, and the angry father will release his armies across the country looking for you. Ithaca will be the first place they would check, after Phthia, because he knows I am a friend of you both."

Achilles stood up out of sudden.

" Look arround you!!! Do you think he will ever stop? At least I won't be fighting for him If i become the cause of the war. "

Witnessing a classical reaction of his friend, the king confirmed some things were never going to change.

" Your love for her will destroy the fragile unity that keeps Greece standing, while the prince I found her could be our political salvation. I am still your friend, Achilles, but I won't put my family at risk supporting your madness. "

The myrmidon began to pace like a caged lion.

" Then I want an an audience with Penelope! I bet she still remembers her father hates you. "

The furious mention of what Achilles considered an hipocricy got the first passional response out of Odysseus.

" Penelope chose me and her father understood she would have hated him if he wouldn't have let her following me. He hated me, but proceeded as a caring father listening to his daughter and letting her feelings decide. It's precisely what Agamemnon is incapable of doing! His hate for you will allways come first, even at the cost of her happiness. "

Once again Achilles was sick of hearing things he had been thinking about all along.

" Do you think I feel at ease knowing that my fate is in the hands of Agamemnon Atreide? I will talk to him, I have the intention of doing things right for her. At this point you have to see that i'm trying! Do you know how many times has she offered me her body? How easy it could have been for me to irresponsibly enjoy of her love? I didn't do it because I care for her, and I can't imagine what that monster would do if he finds out of us the wrong way. "

Controlling his impulses was the biggest hardship Achilles had in most aspects of his life. Odysseus usually identified the source of all his problems in his extremely fearless attitudes and incapacity to restrain himself, constants in his healthy advices for the hero. Precisely for that, and despite the young lady had already mentioned that aspect of their relationship, surprise gave the tale some credibility.

Like never before, the invincible warrior felt fear and thought of taking precautionary measures before recklessly following his instincts for the sake of blind courage.

" I've heard of your awakened prudence, and i'm glad to find out it's not an unreliable result of her narration. If I wouldn't be so preoccupied, I would say i'm proud. "

Achilles smirked, giving a few cocky steps towards him.

" You better be, it's a hard challenge. Helps to keep me motivated, but I discovered that self control is even harder when you have real feelings for the woman of your desires."

Odysseus took his hands to the back of his neck, innocently stretching for a moment while matching the pridefull energy.

" First time, eh? I do can tell you what's like."

Achilles chuckled silently, allowing his friend to pat him on the shoulder as he sat down again to hear the description of his experience.

" When I am at the guest of some greater King, like the Atreides, they offer me all what their hospitality can grant. If it's someone who doesn't know me well at least, in which case they get surprised because I don't accept to take pleasures from their girls. They shrug their shoulders thinking is just one more excentricity from the brillant madman, a quirck of Odysseus no normal man should try to understand. If they ask why, I give them a joke matching their sensibilities because I know they don't care for the truth. It's a mundane mistery … How the king of liars could have choosen to be faithful? "

He leaned closer, as if they would be sharing some well kept secret seiling another step in their friendship.

" It's not a moral obligation I assume, but the effect of truest love in my appetites. I would never cheat for meaningless gratification because I want no one else other than my wife. Penelope was made for me and no other woman can compare to her. Those girls exhibiting themselves on command of their masters don't do much to me, what they can offer could never match even the memory of my wedding night. "

The myrmidon remained surprisingly silent, encouraging Odysseus to get more daring.

" Does any of this resonate with you, my friend? Has your insatiable desire been tammered and now you don't recognize yourself anymore? One woman didn't use to be good enough for you, not even one at the time."

The friendly teasing didn't made him proud neither offended him.

" Loyalty is easier than I thought, the problem is being without her. My fame preceeds me and she may be virginal, but she is not naive. Rumours about my bedroom adventures have reached her and I can tell she fears not being good enough for me. She speaks as if i'm sacrificing for her ignoring all the others, but I don't struggle with that. If Aphrodite herself would want to tempt me, she would have to take her shape. "

Odysseus had a hand on his chin, covering part of the mouth in meditative gesturing before composing himself to conclude.

" Something has clearly changed in you and there is no way I can deny that. The disaster of a man we all love and cherish would be making fun of the grounded man I have in front of me. "

The smile Achilles gave him did show pride that time.

" He is still a mess, only a lovesick one. For the first time ever, … at this age. I should be over it by now, this kind of feelings are for kids. "

Focusing on his own experience, Odysseus was quick to debunk.

" There is no age in which you become invulnerable to love. I'm trully glad it has finally found you, but I can't ignore you complicated things for everyone. "

In the progressively more friendly level the conversation was reaching, Achilles finally felt confortable to bring up the most controversial aspect without fearing he would loose control.

" Your trick failed, Hector doesn't want her. "

The glance of the ithacan king adquired a mischievous shine to the provocation.

" That's what she says, but you must know by now that the the gaze of men falling on her is the limit of her sharp perceptions. She used to believe you would never look at her that way. That's how she tried to tranquilize me back in Sparta, but I was perfectly aware she had caught your attention. Now you have fallen for her after just one visit to her palace … What makes you think the same won't happen to Hector? "

The flawless logic raised some concerns on Achilles, who untill then believed himself above petty feelings of jealousy.

" Spill now anything you think to know … "

Getting rid of any will to trick him, the king spoke with what was the true of his perceptions in the observed interactions between the young royalty.

" He may not be in love right now, but after a year of living with her in Troy? He would, I'm so sure I would bet gold on it. "

It wasn't exactly what he expected, but he tried not to reflect that. At least in the outside, Achilles kept calm encouraged by the fresh memory of her words.

" He will never get that far, not with my princess."

The determination in the saids encountered more teasing.

" Since when do you acknowledge the authority of Agamemnon? To claim her your princess, he has first to be your king."

" I won't submit to him, my feelings for her don't change my hatred. The only merit of that vile man is her, but he can't even see it. Ironic how the one who lightens my days came out from his darkness. "

Odysseus nodded affirmatively with a quick movement of his head, raising his eyebrows to match a surprised smile.

" She made you soft … "

Achilles experienced a silent amazement with himself realising the description didn't make him feel as insulted as it should.

After so many years of crafting a very specific reputation that was the opposite of softness, privately admitting vulnerability to his friend was somewhat freeing.

" She made me enjoy life a lot more. And I don't see anything wrong with that. "

The king believed him, but he still had many questions that needed to be answered. Achilles proved himself, but that only complicated the position of Odysseus. As friend of both parts in the pair, he celebrated the positive effect of the princess in the warrior. However, the danger he perceived from his perspective of king in their forbbiden love could not be desestimated. His concerns of protective friend watching over the inexperienced girl were eased, but not those he had as a watcher of the greeks.

It was the start of an understandment, but he would not take sides so easily.

In the palace, his wife was dealing with the remaining tensions the best she could. If his scheming worked in at least one of its goals, that was the undeniable fondness of the mischievous princess that Hector showed in her surprisive absense. Already horrified by the images of death he saw, the sudden dissapearance of the girl awakened his protectiveness. Odysseus begged him not to interfere, while Penelope had to comfort him with logical reminders of how no one would easily vanish from the small island and men who knew the territory better than him would easily find her.

To the surprise of everyone, she received her from the hand of Paris.

Far from an endangered victim, the young lady had the sparkling cheer of one returning from a refreshing walk in nature. When she approached to salute her, the falling locks near her face difficulted the physical aspect of the gesture. Penelope tucked some behind her ears in order to kiss both of her cheeks and noticed her getting abnormally tense, attitude that the queen read quickly.

The loose ends of every mistery conduced again to that girl.

Since Paris was behind them at a prudential distance and his glance would only reach the girl from the back, she was free to do what she had to. In a surprising move, Penelope exposed one of the shoulders of the girl and her eyes easily found the love marks she attempted to hide.

It felt like the image of a mother about to scold her daughter, something she was clearly unused to.

" Paris, darling.Can you search for your brother and tell him of her arrival while I solve this with her? "

The prince smiled and obbeyed, doing a gallant reverence for the queen before leaving them alone.

Penelope was terminant, showing her fast mind had already connected everything.

" This is a reckless mistake, unless your lover painted that on your skin for a reason. Paris is very perceptive for those things, it's a miracle this has a escaped him. "

The mycenaean observed her with admiration.

" You couldn't have possibly … ? Are you … ?"

" The men Hector was after were brutally murdered and there are signs of passion in the inner side of your neck … What kind of fool would i be to not realize what's going on? That poor man lost his mind thinking you could be in danger, we all did! This whole palace was turned upside down, but turns out you were on a romantic adventure with your secret lover. "

The young lady glanced innocently at her before defending herself.

" I had no idea! He lured me near the river and I couldn't refuse. I tried to make him reconsider and follow me here, but he wanted me alone and all for himself … "

Pride in her voice on the last sentence evoked a negative reaction.

" For your own sake, I hope he knew when to stop himself. If you get deflored here, Odysseus will get you married before the disgrace could be traced back to us. "

The warning scared her slightly coming from someone who knew him so well.

" We are not fools, neither animals. "

The queen showed hilarious skepticism, holding her chuckles to not allow her any corner of tension relief.

" Are you sure of that? He knew exactly what he was doing when he did this to you, which is very irresponsible. Now is up to me finding a convincing way to help you cover the evidence of his jealousy. "

Her relative returned the courtesy of her doubting ways.

" He missed me! And he is a man of intense emotions, that doesn't mean he is jealous. "

" Then why did he feel the need of marking you like this? Why did he took matters in his own hands solving the problem of Hector in his bloody way? Perhaps because he wants him out of here as fast as possible. "

The girl chuckled, amused.

" It was a mere coincidence. Those men angered him and paid the price, but he didn't know anything of Hector's motives with them. "

Penelope didn't want to hear any more excuses and simply expressed her verdict.

" I will call your very concerned handmaid so you can tranquilize her, then make a bath be prepared for you in order to fix the suspicious signs in your appearance. Later, you will present yourself to Hector and apologise for the worries you caused him. "

It sounded like an order, not advice.

" … I thought you supported me, but perhaps that was part of your husband's plan all along. "

Penelope noticed the brief shade of dissapointment in her face.

" I still intend to help you, but that doesn't mean I will let you forget your responsabiities. "

Standing in front of the queen made her feel small.

" I owe myself to you and Eny, but Hector has no business in this. He should be starting to prepare his speech for the council that will be mandatory after what happened, not worrying in finding me when I was never lost to begin with. "

Far from worrying for the protest, Penelope remained firm.

" You will do as I say because you still need my help. I enjoy playing the role of your confidant, yet unlike Helen, I can be strict when the situation demmands it. "

The ithacan queen was capable of being quite frightening, but that didn't stop the mycenaean princess from admiring her. Even when she would have to reluctantly obbey her commands, her presence was inspiring.

" … I wanted to keep his scent in me at least for one night. "

Penelope chuckled because she found the frustrating plead relatable.

" If you use your head and handle things carefully, you will someday have it for the rest of your life. "

The mycenaean groaned, but accepted it as the most convenient choice.

Cheer returned to her as soon as she saw her dear friend rushing through the halls. Ereny hugged her like a preocupied sister would and she felt inmensely sorry for the pain she caused her.

Before she could ever get to say it, the servant girl scolded her in an intimate way that would have ashamed any other lady if the would have had the chance to hear it.

" I can't believe you did this to me!! Do you know how hard it was returning here without you after you never came back to me? I told you to get back … Why couldn't you? We could all have been punished, and you could have died ... OR WORSE! I saw the curse coming to terms in your recklessness. See where your madness has taken me? I almost side with my king!!! "

Lena, who had arrived shortly after by walking at a normal pace behind her, showed silent support for the callout that Penelope intercepted.

" Eny, I am so sorry. " The princess apologised in the meantime, caressing the cheeks of her friend. " I take all the blame, you know I would never let any sort of punishment come to you. I would never forgive myself."

She looked at her in the eye and placed a tender kiss on top of her forehead.

" It was important, I wouldn't have left you otherwise. "

Ereny showed her a brief smile and that encouraged her to whisper her a coded phrase that was going to provide all the explanations she needed.

" … The lion came down from the hills. "

For as much as they would try, the presence of the ithacan servant difficulted any more sharing beyond the specifical code talking. The royal handmaid of the mycenaean seemed to forget her rightfull vent in the light of such shocking revelation. It was clear she wanted to know everything about it, but the tasks comanded by the queen didn't allow proper secrecy to share stories.

Precisely because she knew there was something to hide, Penelope wanted secrecy and only one of her maids was there to remain asisting the lady's bath. Lena offered herself for the task and refusing would have been suspicious, but was cleverly ordered by the princess to remain behind her back in order to avoid any accidental peeking of her neck marks.

The mycenaeans giggled to each other when, during one distraction of the ithacan as the lady tried the water, she showed those to her handmaid with a pridefull smirk.

Noticing some inside joke that excluded her was going on, Lena responded with sharp teasing.

" Did you found what you were looking for? "

Too centered on thoughts about Achilles, the princess almost forgot the context of her dissapearance.

" No, I never got to the thief. It doesn't matter, I realized I endangered myself for a meaningless thing. "

The ithacan provided a comeback nobody was ready for.

" That piece of clothing belonged to Achilles, so I understand why you had it in such high regard. It must have been dificult to steal. "

The eyes of the princess went wide with surprise, soon pointing daggers at Ereny for momentarily thinking that she could have shared her secrets with that new servant friend of hers.

Ereny defended herself with an imperceptible negative nod, and her lady started playing her spoiled princess character to deny the claims.

" That is an insane accusation! How you dare?? I think seeing me being soft with Eny has confunded you into believing you can disrespect me. "

Lena didn't back off due to any sudden fear and responded logically.

" I was in charge of his room the last time he visited, I recognize clothes I already washed. I knew it all along, back in the rivershore i tried to make you confess."

The mycenaean instinctively took locks of wet hair to the dangerous spot.

" I don't owe you any explanations, only the respect for this house that my love for your royal family inspires. "

Lena rested her shoulders carelessly against the wall, abandoning her servant-like posing.

" I' ve heard you tell his tales in the great halls, pretending you like to scare the trojans speaking of him because you are the weird daugther of the tyrant used to horrors. Excellent work deceving the men, but I see you are obsessed with him. I can picture your tighs squeezing under the table while your mouth describes his atrocities. I don't doubt you must have instructed one of your servants in Mycenae to get that small treasure for you from his room when he visited. "

She glanced mischievously at Ereny, who didn't have to fake in order to look clueless.

" Was it you, her most loyal one? Doing it again the next time would be too suspicious and she knows you can't replace it, that's why she was furious enough to try going for it herself. "

The handmaid found the guesses hilarious, but her princess felt more offended than she would have been if the cunning slave would have shown full awareness of the truth.

" Excuse me? What makes you think he wouldn't have given it to me? Why do you assume I had to steal it and I couldn't get it after laying with him?"

It made her laugh in disbelief, taking that alternative as a joke.

" You aren't the kind of woman he targets. No mean to offend, but you are too princess-like. The delicate palace flower would break in his hands. "

The lady was furious, even her friend feared she could loose her mind to the accidental provocation.

" I AM A PRINCESS!! HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO NOT EMBODY MY RANK?"

Realising she trully angered her, the slave attempted to explain herself.

" That's not what I mean, you are so up you are untouchable. No matter how beautifull you are, nobody in the country thinks of taking you to bed. You are the precious little virgin of Greece, while Helen is its whore."

Bringing up her aunt was crossing limits, and she warned her of it.

"Be carefull of who you insult, or I will make you regret it. Helen can't be blamed, men only imagine her as a temptress because everyone wants to have her. "

Lena took an instant to rephrase before replying.

" Since when has truth prevailed over the collective imagination of men? She is a whore in their fantasies and that shapes her fame. In their minds you exist to provide contrast as a pretty girl of virginal grace that can't, and shouldn't, be corrupted. If your father thinks he is Greece, then you are the country's daughter. They want you married and having flourishing offspring, but nobody wants to think of your defloration. That's why you have better luck with the trojans, and why they want the son of Troy at your side. "

Ereny mediated the discussion with some harmless logical commentary that could calm her lady.

" Achilles considers himself a rival of Agamemnon despite they fight on the same front. If there is someone here open to fantasize with her corruption, that should be him. "

It wasn't enough to convince the conflictive part.

" That bastard cares for only one thing and he wouldn't hope to find it in a pretty girl deprived of it."

The princess uncovered her shoulder and was about to turn back, only stopped by the eyes of Ereny pleading her not to do any more reckless movements.

" How quickly you declare yourself an expert in the matter! What makes you think you know what he wants?"

The answer was short, but crushing.

" I slept with him. "

Words falling on the mycenaean like a splash of cold water. Despite it was realistic to think someday she would stumble with one of his past lovers, she didn't consider it before, and certainly wasn't expecting it then.

It was a slap in the face.

" Should that impress me? "

She did a good work hidding her real feelings, diving a bit deeper into the bath water as she awaited for the answer.

" You won't take it, little princess … And even regardless of that, If I were you I would pick Hector over him anytime. Achilles may be like a god in the bedroom, but the cold treatment you get afterwards is not worthy. The trojan prince is a real man where he has to be, you can see it in his daily behavior."

Although initially insulting, she sounded well intentioned. A healthy warning from someone who believed herself in a position of better knowledge.

However, the man Lena described hardly resembled the one she knew. His expert performance of passionate moments was a fact they could agree in, but he was never ever cold to her.

" Maybe it's a privilege of my rank, but he has been quite sweet with me from the start … "

Lena didn't believe it, not even for an instant.

" You break my heart, so take this from someone who has been in the spot you crave to occupy. You would be a fool if you reject the chance for an engagement to Hector following your absurd infatuation with that vain piece of rubbish who thinks the world is at his feet. "

The mycenaean responded with some playfull splashing of water, comically exaggerating the disdain to make Ereny laugh.

" Can you be more specific on what makes him so terrible? That description is fitting for every single popular hero in Greece. "

If brutal honesty was what she needed in order to pay some real attention to the advice, the slave had no issues with going for it.

"Once it was done, he didn't let me touch him again. I thought with him it was going to be different, that he wouldn't treat me like it's usual among warlords and palace servants, but I felt like waste afterwards. Is that what you want for yourself, your highness? Is you fantasy to be with a self absorbed man that will turn his back at you when the pleasure runs out? "

Explicit references about intimate details were the last thing she wanted to hear. The maidservant of Penelope was complaining to her about her dissapointment with him, but that didn't make her feel better.

In the tale Achilles was a cold heartbreaker not much different from the men she liked to make fun of with her friends in Mycenae. Her faith in him was being questioned by someone who had valid reasons to do it.

The mixed feelings inspired her and she turned back to face her in order to observe the effect of her own advice for the servant girl.

" At least he gave you a taste of his passion, Hector has nothing for you. Do you think I didn't notice that, from all those excited maids trying to convince me about him, you were the loudest? Your fantasy isn't any less hopeless than mine. Hector is as less likely to take the palace slave of the foreign kingdom as Achilles is of courting the daughter of Greece. "

Being provoked surprised her a bit, but she took it as a good sign.

" I know my place, princess. Being too aware of yours may made you believe that you are special, that you would be the one making him act differently … But you won't, so who of us holds the greatest delusion? "

Silence reigned, since there wasn't much she could refute her with that wouldn't compromise her situation in the action. All the servant girl knew was that the mycenaean princess had an infatuation with the myrmidon warrior, but still remained far from thinking it could be a required one.

The last command Lena fullfilled before being released from her duty was presenting a golden bead, borrowed piece of jewelry that Penelope gave up to help her young relative cover the tracks of her lover from public sight.

Once the right clothing for it was picked and the lady got dressed, her maidservant invited her to sit and secured the jewelry arround her neck.

Noticing she needed some encouragement, she kissed her cheek from behind right before providing a spirit lifting reminder.

" Achilles may be a very physical man, but you are not to him an empty body to be filled. He loves you, and no one else knows how he is like in that situation. Feelings may not transform him in esence, but change the circunstancies of his choices. "

She placed on hand on top of her shoulder that the lady caressed while turning back slightly to show her a brief smile of thankfullness.

" I know, my dear, yet I can't stop the hurtfull thoughts. What if after fighting so hard to be together, he discovers I am not good enough for him? What If I can't satisfy him on my own? He has never been man of one woman … Even if he is making an effort for me, perhaps that will not last forever. "

Understandable doubt that she had to refute.

" Who cares about his wants of the past? That man is loosing his mind for you right now! He misses you so intensely that he has followed you here. "

Back in her original position, the princess toyed with the piece following the curious patterns of the gold with her fingertips.

" ... Lena said he refused to let her touch him later, but In my bed he so quickly falls for caressing that leaves nowhere. "

Ereny started to work on her hair, sounding like the voice of reason from her working placement behind her.

" She tried to disuade you based on her experience and you should be proud she felt safe with you in order to speak so honestly. Remember when you used to say you didn't want to be the jealous wife punishing the slave because the husband called her to his bed? "

The lady felt called out.

" SHE SAID I'M TOO DELICATE FOR HIM!! … That I will break in his hands and nobody has erotic expectations of any kind to place in me. "

Her servant was quick to explain the evident logical contradiction.

" That's just the reputation you crafted, and hers were the words of a stranger who knows nothing else. "

She remained silent for a brief instant, then confessed herself.

" … It hurted my pride coming from the lips of a woman that warmed his bed. I don't doubt she must have meant well, but she made me feel wrong… Inadequate, not fitting for the man of my aspirations."

Ereny twirled her finger in her locks, pressing softly.

" Achilles is a warrior, he may come back home with a war prize girl someday even if he wouldn't have in mind to sleep with her. What will you do then? Try to force him of selling her because you are too jealous? "

It was a good point to think about, if the princess wouldn't have spoiled it with her clever comeback.

" My father is his commander and he allways takes the girls for himself. "

The servant girl pulled her hair, grabbing with the right amount of harshness to show her dissaprobal and making her groan in protest.

" It was a joke! I know you are in the right, that girl is not my enemy … just as Achilles must be aware Hector isn't his. Although that is different, because Hector never touched me and he is not out there talking nonsense about him based on his fame."

She caressed the top of her head as an apologise.

" We are talking of Hector Priamide, any man with serious intentions on a lady shall beware. He charms daughters and their fathers without even realizing of his effect on those who know him."

The description got some chuckles from the princess.

" Penelope said she thinks he is jealous … "

" He has solid reasons! While you worry about his fleeting nights with palace servants, he has to hear of your meeting with a prince known for being an embodiment of the ideal husband. "

The clarification mattered very little to her.

" Achilles is the only one I want. "

" … But he must know he is not the kind of man wealthy families want for their daughters." Her servant friend interrupted, making a guess. " No matter how great his fame becomes, most think he is a brute. Your father speaks of him as if he was a stubborn beast. "

Reminders of that prevalent misconception brought her back to the times when she started encouraging him of rejecting the simplistic aspects of his legend.

" They know nothing of the man he is, Achilles uses that in favor of causing fright among them. "

She stopped for an instant, reconsidering something that had to be asked.

" Do you want to know what really happened to the enemies of Hector?"

It was the startpoint of her tale, what allowed her to share with her close friend most details of the encounter.

Once the question found its answer, Ereny insisted on their need to find a way of letting the prince know the truth, or at least an approximated version of it. Knowing of the mysticism that surrounded the facts and how tense the situation had made him, she considered he deserved to get some sensical response. However, both of them agreed in feeling that to tell him everything would putting too much trust in him. Even if he was an honorable man worthy of it, the secret was too intimate.

Through their bonding process, the princess got to start considering him a friend of some kind, but that didn't mean they were the kind of friends willing to tell each other everything.

Shared excitement temporally faded that concern, specially when she got to tell her close friend the most romantic details. It was easy to notice her loosing herself in the narration as the fresh memories would come back at her, particularly impressing the small audience with the anecdot of the tavern. Hearing that Achilles broke the rules of The Judgement playing by instigation of Paris was to Ereny like a confirmation of their common theories about him, reinforcing the belief of her lady.

His need of her was as strong as his thirst for glory, two mad dreams connected by his intense desire. Which one he intended to obtain first remained a mistery to her, but Achilles made her very aware with his answer that he had her in his highest regard. In the light of the honest advice against him from his past lover, the feeling of exceptionality that evoked became even more remarkable, but also a bit unconfortable. She began to wonder what would exactly mean to be his exception to the rule in the long history of his relationships, and if more girls like Lena shared with her the regretfullness.

Being the one he loved was an inmense privilege, the only of her advantages bringing her joy and one she worked hard for. Still, the invitation to think she could be the meaningfull among the meaningless implied he could have once wronged many of the women who came before her and that thought wasn't beautifull.

Facing duty hushed the will to meditate on details as she searched for the heir prince of Troy in order to calm him with her presence as Penelope requested. It didn't take much, since the trojans were gathered for dinner in an internal yard of the palace near the section of it they were staying in. Their own servants and the ones obbeying the royals of Ithaca were working together to settle the place.

A heated discussion was going on among the men, reason why they didn't realize of her untill she made herself be noticed.

" … I've heard you were looking for me. "

Her soft deviation hushed all the voices as the curious glances followed her, giving her the strange impression that something must have made them look at her as if they were examining her in a different light.

Paris smiled from afar, inmediately raising her suspects, but the brief visual contact with him broke as his brother approached her.

Hector seemed relieved, perhaps even happy to see her.

" … I searched for you as soon as I got the good news of your return, but the queen told us you didn't want to be seen in the state of your arrival after getting lost in the woods. What i find understandable, for a pridefull lady such as yourself. "

Instead of providing a further clarification to the excuse, she deviated the topic with an inconexed reference.

" Sorry about the wasted clue, Paris told me you got there too late. No one would have seen it coming, so I hope you aren't blaming yourself for the failure … Did you at least found any copper in their load? "

The apology was sincere, a prioritization of his problems in order to show she felt bad about causing him any troubles.

Hector smiled, expressing partial acceptance of the gesture.

" There was also amber, found in greater quantities, and luxury ítems of various kind. No signs of captivity in any of the corpses we found, so I can at least feel comfort in knowing no innocent prisoners of the criminals were slaughtered. "

With complete disregard for her situation, she intended to advance in order to find a spot among them and participate on the argument.

" Any leads to the responsible for this massacre? For what Paris told me, the situation remains a mistery, yet that doesn't mean we can't elaborate conjectures. "

Hector stopped her, grabbing both of her hands in an attempt to make her react.

" An army, for as small as it could be, leaves any sort of track. Whoever did this was alone and faded away with ease … When we were back we thought you dissapeared and I feared the worst."

She followed him, but tried to calm him by resting importance to his worry with jokes.

" Let me guess: you thought this asassin kidnapped me and Agamemnon would have made you responsible for it. That must have been frightening for you, it's certain that he would play the grieving father and fake the love for me he never had just to have the war he allways wanted. "

Although well intended, the tease didn't suit well with the prince.

His warm glance searched for hers and once she dedicated him her full attention he spoke with unmistakable seriousness.

" It was never about him, I feared for you … "

Defensive disbelief was her initial reaction and she tried to free herself because of it, but Hector had for her only reassurance of his caring affection.

" … My friend was lost in the woods while a deranged murderer remains on the loose. "

He released her hands only to bring his to the back of her shoulders in a brief hug that she accepted hesitantely knowing well that his men were watching behind them.

" The wellbeing of Troy is a more rational reason … "

He looked down and chuckled, partially agreeing with that yet not seeking to encourage that interpretation.

" … I care, that's who I am. Why do you allways need to unveil some greater motivation when someone shows concern for you? "

She shrank one shoulder, looking at the side as if the answer would come to her from the audience.

" Men claiming they want to protect me are usually protecting themselves, so I am naturally distrustfull. Even Odysseus, a man I love and respect like a father, has his own interest calculated ahead when it comes to me. I won't judge you for it, I believe it's your problem to think I would. "

Perhaps because the situation had limited his patience, Hector scolded her with no filtering in his phrasing choice.

" It's not my problem if every single man on your life has failed you: from now on and for the rest of this journey I will protect you untill you will get used to not endanger yourself. "

It made her back away, nervously observing the reactions.

" … Stop! Your men are staring, and for comments like that one people tend to think we should be … "

He cutted her off before she could finish the warning.

" Married? Do you think that worries me now? After the terrible day I had? And it keeps getting worse! My countrymen now believe we have been warned by an angered god. "

She advanced in slow placing towards them, stiffling a chuckle to avoid upsetting anyone.

" That can be debunked very easily! … Polydamas, what is your profesional opinion? "

The seer noticed her directing him a teasing smirk, indicating she was sure of trusting his verdict.

" I've heard the specific details on the horrrific scene, and the men who escolted you here seem to confirm the thoughts of Prince Paris regarding the strange events concerning you… It's hard not to suspect an omen of some kind. "

Vague reply that didn't satisfy her.

" And of what kind would this one be?"

Paris raised from his seat to confidently proclaim his conclussion.

" The god of war is seducing you, showing off his mighty strenght to prove he is superior to Hector because he must have heard the wrongfull gossips. He caused the accident that got you lost, probably hoping to introduce himself. I came in time to save your honor, so he appeared to us in the shape of the man in the tavern who, let me remind you, never told us his name. "

It was hard to believe the prince could have been so wrong and so right at the same time. Quite close to the truth, yet incredibly distant in his assumptions.

No god was coming down from Olympus tempted by her beauty, but she had the love of a mortal man who embodied all the atributes of the son of Zeus

" Ares? Paris, he was just joking! It was a game that you iniciated, so you should be aware of that."

Hector felt encouraged while hearing the first skeptical voice near him.

" Before I could possibly make him understand the implications of his words he had already spread the insanity everywhere."

Paris remained unbothered and ready to mock his disbelief.

" Laugh now, while you still can, because you may have to marry her pregnant and raise the child only so Agamemnon wouldn't unleash against us a demigod son of Ares raised to admire the brutality of Achilles."

The warning must have made sense to his brother in some extent, because the horror in his eyes spoke for him.

Lysander had abandoned his spot only so the mycenaean could sit in between the seer and the young prince while continuing the debate.

" For a man getting consistent rejections from me, I am very dissapointed by your lack of faith in my resistance. Did it never occured to you that before ruining your brother's life I could reject the god and suffer the curse for it? "

Paris tapped her shoulder with playfull friendlyness.

" I saw you melting with delight to the attention he was giving you, and I don't blame you. When he showed his face I stopped feeling the most handsome man in the room and that is not normal. "

Hector was amused of that clarification never presented to him before.

" Must we believe you saw a god in mortal disguise only because he made you stop staring at your own reflection? "

" He seemed very strong too, the type of man that could fight you and have chances of surviving." Paris cleverly clarified. " How many possiblities are to find a vulgar traveller in a tavern matching my virtues and yours without suspecting he hides a greater identity? "

The thought was clever, but the princess knew the truth and despite she wouldn't reveal it to them all, she wasn't going to allow the madness to escalate.

" Gods don't come down to fertilize princesses like in the old tales anymore. In fact, the House of Atreus hasn't seen a demigod since its foundation and for the sake of your upcoming meal, I will not remind you of how that ended. My misterious admiror is most likely to be a simple man, maybe a mercenary that uses Ithaca as a passing point in his travels. "

" … But you are the daughter of the most powerfull militar leader in Greece! " The young trojan insisted, too proud of his theory to give up. " Your father unleashes war everywhere he goes, feeding Ares like the most loyal worshipper. It would make perfect sense for him to visit the beautifull daughter of the king that keeps him so well served. "

" The god of war is also the protector of wronged women. If he cared to take a look on my family, he would have exterminated the bloodline generations ago. "

She caressed the hair of Paris as a soft calling for his attention as she concluded her point.

" It's very flattering that you think of me this way, darling, but I will have to dissapoint you. No amount of weird dreams or bird signs would convince me of such thing."

The leader of the trojans appreciated her intervention against the strange belief of his brother in the respecting terms she delivered it.

" We don't have any certainity of dealing with the same man, this shameless seductor could not be the murderer we are looking for. Finding him for interrogation could be a good first step, but it may lead nowhere because there is no clear connection. "

Standing right in front of them, he directed his following words to the girl.

" I sincerely hope it could be a coincidence. because If he is responsable for those horrors, I wouldn't want that beast near you ever again."

The sweet concern brought some superficial heat to her face, certainity embarrassement for being too aware of how wrong he was yet how unused she remained of having his protectiveness of friend.

" I can take care of myself, Hector. I am a grown girl. "

He didn't expect any less of her, but insisted.

" That doesn't mean you have to be alone for everything. "

The callout hurted her pride and she responded according.

" I don't want to get too used to have the helping hand of a friend that will leave soon feeling in peace with abandoning me. "

Hector took her hand, gesturally debunking her teasing.

" Who says I won't miss you?"

Paris was quite impressed and didn't miss the oportunity to mock them.

" I don't doubt this is the start of a beautifull friendship, but stop doing that if you don't want me telling bad jokes with Menelaus at your wedding. "

In the spirit of that playfull warning the contact was broken by mutual iniciative.

Under her deliberate request, more tales about the strange news of the day emerged from other members of Hector's crew. She listened with intense attention, having fun while looking invested in the mistery by faking amazement despite she had all the answers. At times, the prince dedicated her secretive gesturings of mutual understanding supporting her disbelief that made the advice of Ereny wander in her mind.

With no consideration for the pragmantical reasons, he reacted like a good friend. Keep lying to him while his men were descending into religious fear due to their inability to explain what happened wasn't easy seeing that Hector trully cared for her. The chaotic situation could be fun, but it was also very unfair for him.

The temptation of trusting in him was there, but fear of his reaction was too great to think of trying it. Like her, Hector had the goal marrying for love, but his context was the opposite of hers. Andromache wasn't for him a forbbiden choice, they were a well fitting couple to the eyes of his people and family. Greed and political ambitions were temporally difficulting things with the finding of another princess that was a better pick for those interests, but Troy wouldn't be too affected if the heir prince would reject that in favor of his romantical feelings.

Even the one act of selfishness Hector was going to allow himself wasn't, in fact, that much selfish. It was understandable to wonder if he would be as tolerant of a more threatening situation where chasing love could affect the political life of the kingdom. París, in the other hand, would support her without hesitation, but she doubted more of his capacity for secret keeping.

For the rest of the night she locked herself in her room to avoid any possibility of facing Odysseus untill the next morning. Preoccupations faded falling asleep to thoughts of her beloved, excited under the inability to predict when and how he would come back to her knowing they were separated by such short distances. The words exchanged with the maid of Penelope still haunted her at moments, but were not completely ruining her bliss.

Doing the riskiest bet of her life placing all her trust in him could turn out disastrously wrong, but he never gave her any reasons to think that. For as much awareness as she had of his fame being a heartbreaker, the man he was alongside her didn't resemble at all those rumours or the dark warnings.

Sunlight brought to her another challenge, given it was evident she wouldn't escape the king for long. Finding him by herself and showing courage to prove her determination was the best option for a start. Approaching the wrong claims of the trojans with irony, she left her room in a red dress with golden borders that matched perfectly with the nice necklace Penelope had given her. A dark robe finished the trick to perfectly hide the problematic area of her skin from public sight.

Unceasing barking and cheerfull screaming guided her in the right direction, eventually finding Odysseus in the middle of playing with his child and their beloved family dog. With them were the trojan princes, probably dragged into the situation for being passive bystanders.

It was the childish simulation of a combat, and Telemachus played in his father's side as if they had developed an ambusch for the brothers. Paris had already fallen in the grownd, his comedically nervous yelling was the echo she had heard before. Odysseus attempted to drag him, but Hector was capable of containing him while playfully fighting the child, scene that made her laugh on the spot.

Her chuckling caused a distraction that allowed the little prince a precise swing of his toy sword. Hector managed to stay in character, pretending a fatal wound that was leaving him in agony.

Proud of himself after sharing a glance with his father, the kid added.

" Worry not, I shall take Priam the corpses of his children. Let no one say the son of Odysseus wasn't taught of mercy! "

Being the onlyone who dared to acknowledge her presence, Odysseus received the myceanean with mockfull inclussion in the game.

" Look over there, my son. It's the maiden of Ares!"

Accepting the gesture anyways, she composed her own character.

" In fact, I am a servant of Hecate, and the goddess sends me to rise this brave heroes from the dead."

She reached Paris first, assuming he was the first one to go, and bent down next to him as if she attempted to check him.

" This will be a work of necromancy. They will wake up as the undead, revenants. Walking corpses obbeying my will, nothing that resembles their past self will remain there. I was commanded to create an army of the dead and I'm resurrecting these fine gentlemen to gross its lines."

The younger trojan stood up clumsily, holding hia chuckling the best he could.

Observing she was taking things into obscure territory, the father of the little boy had to interrupt.

" That's frightening! What's wrong with you? Apart from being raised by Agamemnon, of course. "

The accusation amused her.

" It's not the first time that happens, when I was a kid Nestor used to bring who was then his youngest child to play with me. Antilochus didn't use to appreciate my creativity."

" I wonder why, you are a delight. " Hector commented ironically while rising up. " That was not disturbing at all and I am not fearing for the fate of your future children asking you to play with them. "

The tease inspired her a way to indirectly annoy him and Odysseus at the same time.

" You don't have to, they won't be yours. If I am as lucky as your brother believes, my firstborn will be fearless from the crib exactly like the father. "

The provocation ended the fun for the King, but his curious kid was ready to ask her on the matter.

" Are the stories true? They are saying Ares is in love with you."

She dissapointed him with a vague explanation, lammenting the cuteness of his amazement with the rumour.

" Some people also say Helen was born from a swan egg result of the union of two deities, then her parents just adopted her. They only invented that because they like her, but they don't like my mother."

Paris attempted to rephrase her words in order to help the situation.

" It means she doesn't believe it to be true, for her it's just gossip I created. "

" It's an expiatory explanation for her misbehavior from yesterday. " Odysseus added, closing the topic. " I want the real one, but for that I have to make sure you won't be there to defend her. "

Telemachus understood what that meant in his childish way, guessing his father wanted to scold her, and gave him free space to proceed.

"You are in trouble, cousin."

He made a sound that worked as call for the dog and the animal followed him, getting waved with a cute hand movement by the mycenaean in their way.

Once the distant was enough to not be heard, she deviated the topic sharing her impressions on the kid with Paris.

"I don't know where he got that. ... Maybe it's because our family relation is too distant and confusing. Such a sweet boy, as the only prince he feels the outside pressure from other boys to grow up faster. Good to know he still has spaces to play. "

He showed a weird approval of her words.

"Boys used to mock me all the time, ... the men they have became still do. "

They shared a few chuckles untill Odysseus turned his attention once more at her, denying her of any deviations knowing well she was trying to soft him with a talk about his son before they could get to the controversial matter.

" Are you well rested, little one? My wife suggested me to let you get enough sleep after I came back home late last night. You were nowhere to be found, may I ask how that occured to you? "

She glanced at Hector right behind the king as if she begged for salvation, but the prince was equally interested in the answer.

"One of the clothes I was washing got stolen and I tried to chase the thief, but got lost wandering hopeless untill Paris found me. I'm baffled to hear you didn't return earlier thinking I could have found the way guided by some of your nice subdits. Did Hector convinced you that I could have been abducted by a madman? "

Troubless-looking through the whole exposition, she directly referenced that in order to test if Odysseus would reveal to have found Achilles.

"The search wasn't in vain, I ended up stumbling with an old friend and invited him dinner to talk about his problems. "

Bitting her lip to not show enthusiasm, she paced in direction to the opposite wall pretending to admire a fresco about sealife.

" I hope you were able to work things out with him."

Odysseus chuckled, amused by her confidence.

" Something has changed: I used to think he was stubborn and whimsical, expanding his wants beyond his posibilities just to play with limits. Now I know he is commited to a cause meant to fail from all rational standpoints."

It made her smirk, silent taste of victory.

Aren't you going to berate me for causing this mess? You told me to stay inside, but I gave a walk into the woods and got lost. "

Concern aside, he was impressed by her capacity to keep the conversation so precise yet coded to the banned audience that the sons of Priam represented.

"We are beyond that point, young lady. Warning you has proven to be pointless, so I will take action trusting you to a watcher. One whose vigilance you won't be able to cheat."

Some angry yelling would have been preferable, she was perfectly able to stand that and ignore it. Turning back inmediately, she found the king approaching the trojan leader and muffled a scream.

" Hector! I know by experience that she mocks the surveilance of mycenaean guards for fun, but I believe she won't be able to fool you. "

It surprised him as much as her, even despite he was getting used to the excentricities of Odysseus.

" I won't deny you are in the right, but what am I supposed to do? "

"Entertain her, but keep her at a prudential distance from Paris. He would collaborate in her schemes if he remains unwatched. If it suits you well, we can celebrate council by nightfall when you will be free from her."

Curiosity iniciated by the reprehensive hints made Paris be the first rising voice.

" Nightfall? Do you have any other greater problem requiring you today? "

The lady parted her lips in a soundless gesture that threatened the king with the chance of her spilling the truth.

" My friend will come for an audience and I would rather keep my obligations of domestic kingship separated from our common matters. "

The younger prince insisted.

" What can be so urgent to delay a call for council? "

Odysseus replied him to respond the excitement he guessed would be roaming the girl's insides knowing her warrior would be in the palace.

"He is a noble in decline that wants to claim right to a woman that doesn't belong to him, a beautifull maiden from Same of a greater noble family that would destroy him if they knew he enamored her. The request of audience is mostly to see my wife, he believes his luck will improve convincing her. If we don't give him an answer, he will proceed to do his will without my support. Since both families are from different corners of my kingdom, the conflict demands my arbitration. "

Incapable of perceiving any serious threats in that, Paris simply laughed untill the subtle sanction of his brother made him stop.

" That shouldn't be an issue, you are their king. Just bless the union and her parents will have to accept it."

The princess remained silent, but smirked in support and as a mock to Odysseus.

In the meantime, Hector tried to solve the misunderstanding caused by the blissfull ignorance of his younger brother.

" Paris, the political branching of mundane problems on the local life can have terrible concecuencies. Nobles can pick sides, and those can turn into militar fractions, each of them with the conviction that a fundamental right of theirs is being violated. "

His explanation was flawless, but overturned the greek girl's hopes of finding understandment in him and that got a bitter addition from her.

" ... And the next thing you know is my father comes to invade you taking advantage of the political unstability. Under the promise to bring order, peace and prosperity, his armies would loot your people."

Hector was confused by her cocky tone, product of a dissapointment he didn't know to have caused.

"Precisely the kind of comment I would avoid to not make you uncomfortable, but it's nice to get reminded of your critical awareness."

Odysseus had one last mock for her under the lines of his talk with the prince.

" Good to see you are having fun already, she is all yours."

Almost too angered to pretend, she tried to approach it giving back the same irony.

" Do you call this a punishment, Odysseus? That's very insulting for your foreign guest. "

The king approached her as the precise mix between an older friend and a father.

" I know you better than Agamemnon ever will, depriving you of involvement and information to act as the company of a nobleman is the worst I can do to you. "

He caressed her shoulder as if he intended to comfort her, ironical contrast with the core of his next premise.

" Young princes, mind to await for an instant as I put the child in place? "

He was playing with her, aware it would make her histerical.

" I AM A WOMAN! "

" Not legally untill marriage! " Odysseus mocked her while hugging her sideways, making her walk with him searching for a more private environment to discuss. " In the meantime, you are a responsability of the men in your family and I am the only one available here. "

The hall leading to the throne room wasn't too far from there and the slaves weren't occupying it on any cleaning, so it was good enough to at least whisper her a few words.

She released herself harshly as soon as no one was staring, ready to complain.

" You can't send me away with Hector while Achilles will be here defending our cause! In war and council you enjoy of fooling all sides, but this is different. "

He grabbed both of her hands, softly caressing the wrists indicating the gesture was secretive and not aggresive.

" I heard what he had to say, and the situation is worse than I thought: you were absolutely right. He has fallen for you, madly in love like I've never seen him."

Joy made her give a little jump with the upper side of her body, but he kept her still as insistence in the need for her to stay serious.

" Do you think I don't wish I could celebrate with you? Two dear friends of mine falling in love should be a motive for cheer, but I can't relax knowing the risks … The torches leading to your nuptial bed could as well set Greece on fire!! Achilles doesn't care, he is ready for everything with the hope of having you. "

She couldn't help to keep smiling and, for an instant, he almost considered telling more than what he should.

" Ever since I first meet him, I've allways been able to talk him out of serious trouble. For the first time in all our years of friendship, I doubt he would listen. The way he speaks of you had us both talking about love. "

Inspired in the sudden rush of hope his words gave her, she rushed to hug him.

" I knew you would be rooting for us!! "

Odysseus didn't deny the claim, but tried to remind her that his feelings remained in contradiction.

" What you have done of that man, your impact on him … It's beautifull, I am terrified. "

He kissed her forehead before concluding.

" I can imagine why Penelope must have made you wear her bead seeing that it covers most of your neck, but the image doesn't help to ease my will to protect you. Being honest, you look like a vision of the future showing the princess we didn't conceive yet. "

Traces of her anger were fading to such tender statement, so she pressed to make the hug stronger and later released herself complaining.

" Liar! You just want to make me cry. "

" It's true! Do you think I picked Hector for you only based on political convenience?" He sweetly insisted. " I knew the rumours about him, and turns out everything was right. That is the man every king would dream for his daughter."

She rolled her eyes, sick of hearing that description of the trojan prince, and the king defended his point.

" Don't get me wrong: Achilles is a great friend. I trusted that man with my life countless times and would keep doing it, but if a man like him would be courting a daughter of mine, I would probably loose my mind. "

It made her chuckle, what help her hide the brief dispair that a reminder of the warnings brought her.

" That is my curse, one of your slaves said I am the country's daughter. Most greeks must see their daughters when they look at me."

She looked down, but his glance followed hers untill it did the way back up.

" You are a wonderfull girl, and all I do isn't just for myself or the wellbeing of the country. I do it because the Achilles I know isn't worthy of you, and through this new side of him I discovered he will have to prove me that he can be the man I believe you deserve. "

The sweet exhortation invited her to twist the logic, as if the trial of Achilles could only take place under the secrecy provided by her working as a distraction for the trojan leader. In such terms she accepted, but that didn't calm her expectation for it. Being excluded was unfair, and the worse part of it was being left to wonder for the fate of the encounter.

Once the king settled the space for it and they were left alone reluctantly by a very amused Paris, Hector suggested her going to the beach for a long walk talking of anything she preferred. Given that a council was already scheduled, he even offered himself to share a short summary of her thoughts on her behalf through his speech with hopes of appeasing the anger he witnessed earlier.

A chance fort subtle inclussion in the political activity she was formally banned from didn't get her as excited as he expected. Although physically there with him, she barely paid any attention. It lead him to assume that she remained upset, because he couldn't think of any positive motives for bewilderment keeping her in dreaming state.

The single bother she took before following him was leaving behind the fancy jewelry innapropiate for the situation, while he had fully changed to casual garments. At least during the first instants walking out, Hector noticed her constantly fixing her robe in what he believed to be an attempt of covering her cleavage from any fails in the dress underneath. Particularly odd behavior, never before she had feared of his eyes and, unlike his younger brother, he never gave her any reasons for that.

Intending to ignore it to avoid awkwardness worked for a while, but her vague or simplistically affirmative responses to his attempt of discussing his speach invited him to step in.

"It seems that you are not with me today, or otherwise I wouldn't be talking alone."

He stopped walking out of sudden and her glance, priorly fixated in the sea, was once more back in him as she followed him.

" Forgive me, Hector … What were you saying? "

Exasperated by the situation, he released his frustration in a short groan while turning back.

" Are you still upset because I accepted this? Stop acting as if we were on a date you are determinated to ruin, it's most likely I would have seeked to stay close to you anyways because I am worried … If my brother is right and all facts are connected, there may be a man out of reason following your footsteps. "

The assumption, although partially right, was still very amusing for her.

" Is that how you choose to adress the god of war? So disrespectfull! "

Ignoring the tease, he presented his alternative interpretation.

" I am more inclined to believe we are dealing with a dangerously obsessive man that found his chance in your first long trip away from home. "

The very wrong description had a shade of accuracy, but she made fun of it anyways.

" Now that is talking nonsense! Do you mean a ' you will be mine or everyone else will suffer' obsession?… Please, Hector! If you find a single man in this country caring that much for me, tell me where. I may marry him. "

He turned back to face her only in order to tear down the cynic claim.

" You are a princess! Possibly the most unreachable one for most greeks. It's an unconfortable truth, but you must be aware that many men could be admiring you in silence. The more idealized your fame becomes, the easier is for a madman to pick you as an object of his obsession. "

Her jokes became more agressive, seeking to disgust him in order to close the topic.

" My own suitors wouldn't include me in their fantasies. They probably think of the mountains of gold, the countless cities to rule and all the gorgeous, perfectly trained concubines to satisfy their every need in their kingly bedroom."

The intensity of his eyes forcing her to keep staring back proved her strategy had failed.

" Nothing of that matters!! Disgusting men of nobility are the less of our concerns now. I suspect of a mercenary or professional assasin, something close to a warrior that lacks the virtue and discipline of a good soldier. This man probably frequents nobility circles in a downgraded position from where he lacks proper access to you. He came here knowing his prize would be less custodied, but not anymore … "

The act of theorization on itself, aside from the brillant result, was getting him too invested.

She was impressed, but still needed to do something about it.

" You expanded the idea I gave you! I like how your mind thinks, but I will have to dissapoint you. "

Adquiring some sudden secretive manners, she got too close to him in order to whisper her conclussion.

" Unfortunately, I only know of one man that merely resembles that description and he doesn't waste his time stalking princesses … If he wanted me, he wouldn't have stopped untill having me, and I wouldn't be a maiden anymore. Odysseus and Agamemnon would have no virgin bride to try selling you. "

Far from falling in her game, the prince followed her in his terms switching the logic of her words.

" That is dissapointing, i judged you a clever negociator. Regardless of who would be the man to be arranged for you, purity is your currency for the nuptial transaction and giving it away to that fool would be an irrational waste. "

She briefly raised her eyebrows and settled back the normal distance with a playfull smirk before replying.

" You speak too confidently for a dead man, because that's what you would be if he could hear you insult him. "

Skeptical of the advice, Hector could only share his mind with her.

" Obtaining glory for the sake of glory itself it's a vain, frankly stupid, motivation for a fighter. A so claimed invincible man that lives for the moment of his death? If Achilles doesn't want to be taken for a fool, he should stop acting like one. "

Nature provided her a decent seat on the rocks remaining at a considerable distance from the water and she headed there.

" You don't need to misjudge him in order to prove you don't underestimate me. Achilles allows nobles to think he is a fool, some mindless brute usefull only to do the bloody work that increases their wealth, but he is brilliant. The man knows his worth, no matter how hard Agammenon tries to devalue it in order to exploit him. If you talk to him, he would claim he doesn't care about politics. He was brought there just to fight, but he pressures the powerfull ones with the vital, deadly resource that he provides. Even if he doesn't dispute power in its traditional conception, he is an active political player. It's fascinating to observe, I believe you would benefict from conceiving your advantages in a similar sense."

A sudden realization, or perhaps just his will to tease her over the displays of admiration, guided him in the right direction.

"This silent admiror of yours we are theorizing about ... Would you wish it was him? I thought you were joking the first time we had this talk."

It occured to her that keeping control of the truth and revealing it on small pieces could be smarter than confessing herself to him.

" It doesn't matter, Achilles would never look at me that way. I am just the daughter of the king he hates, his approach is only a game to upset my father. While i'm lifelessly sitting on my throne of princess at the feast, I can only watch as his attention goes to the round of concubines performing their dances. "

Hector took her hand as if he intended to comfort her and she looked down to visually follow the gesture while he deepened it with speech.

" I am relieved, if that is the case. No matter how charming he may appear to you, that man is only famous in base of his rage and violence. His lack of control for anger and rumoured brutal nature could be a threat for your safety."

The observation surprised her not only. because its conclussion was unthinkable for her, but also due to how his argument was strictly directed towards her. From him she could have expected a callout centered on her duty of royal and the need of supressing a possible cause for internal war, or perhaps some dissapointment. If she feared to talk with him about it, that was never imagining his dissaproval could have personal reasons.

In his own contextually misinformed way, Hector tried to give her the advice of a caring friend. However, the wrong assumption made her flinch with disgust.

" I know how it looks, but he is not that kind of man. "

" How can you tell? Sometimes nobody knows untill it's too late. " He replicated, trying to accomodate beside her. " In one way or another, men that live for fighting take the fight home. It's a code of conduct I disencourage on my men: I want soldiers fighting for their country, not ruthless killers that can't survive without war because they need it to release violence that otherwise would be unleashed somewhere else. "

He looked up for an instant, as if he seeked relief or divine inspiration, then glanced at the waves crashing.

" I have heard too many of your horror stories … Do you want to hear one of mine? "

She agreeded wordlessly, simply by accepting to lean closer to him.

" Back when I was a lad, even younger than the young friend of yours you always tell me sbout, one of the many teachers instructing me for combat married this beautifull lady. From time to time we would receive them in the palace. They didn't have kids and Paris was still a child, so she used to stay playing with him while her husband would be training me. He was a formidable warrior, fearless and dedicated to his service. It was as if for him the battlefield was his natural place to be. He married a wife of his choice that had also chosen him and they seemed a normal marriage ... Untill one tragic night of winter in a particularly calm year, they shocked the entire city. "

He made a brief pause, respectfull silence that left implied what kind of tragic end the story had.

" After the funerals, father told Paris the tale of how Hera blinded Hercules with madness into killing his wife and children. It's the only explanation he found: a god that hated his success and happiness drove him mad. I didn't question it, but later in life as a commander of the army I found out there can be excellent warriors that abuse from the secrecy of domestic life to make of home their battlefield when there are no wars left to fight. Not all of them can be victims of divine induced madness."

His sensitive conclussion moved her as strongly as the story and she raised her head to look at him.

" I let you speak because I was intrigued, but your assumptions have gone too far ... Why are you telling me all of this? "

He grabbed her jaw, as softly as he would do to Paris when warning him about his choices.

" Because I would rather marry you, with all the loss that implies for me, than finding out in years to come that you shared the fate of that woman."

He caressed her cheek to soften the impact before concluding.

" In the descriptions I have heard, the infamous rage of Achilles is dangerously close to that image of sudden madness: fury that can't be stopped by any rational means. Before complaining of being invisible to him, wonder what would be of you if you make him angry."

She grabbed his hand to release herself.

" I appreciate your concern, but I need no savior. A lifetime alongside a ruthless man gave me a trained eye to see the difference between a soldier touched by war and a monster. I do not fear the fury of Achilles, it can be nothing worse than what the anger of Agamemnon has showed me. "

" … And don't you think you deserve better than distantly admiring a man that constantly fights with your father because he resembles him too well? "

She raised up harshly.

" Are you trying to provoke me, Hector? You have proven yourself a man I can call my friend, but you have no business in the wants of my heart."

Hector kept a calmer tone in a more practical speech.

" if your wish would come true things could turn out even worse, and this is the honest advice of a friend. I would speak on the same terms to my cousin, or sister, If I had one. "

She intended to walk to the sea, but his words made her stop in her tracks.

" I may appear a functional orphan, but I am not alone. Agamemnon and Menelaus are not my only family. I have others looking after me: Hesione, Helen, … Penelope and her husband. "

He looked down and smiled.

" Unwanted protection comes with the price of being my friend. "

She chuckled and turned back to give one step towards him.

" I know you won't believe this, but Achilles resembles you more than you could imagine. What I like the most about you can often be found in him. He may be your opposite in the sense of picking war over politics, glory over sacrifice, or never listening to kings, but he is loyal to his loved ones and very protective of them. "

Hector didn't seen impressed with the lovefull defense she made. The excuse of Odysseus, very plausible before the findings, was adquiring another meaning in his thoughts.

" I'm willing to pretend we never had this conversation, if you try the water with me. "

For as innocent as he made it sound, she was back in a state of calm looking alarm.

" I wasn't really planning to get in the sea today, just walk and get fresh air. My clothes are not appropiate. "

Hector stood up and grabbed her by the shoulders, barely leaning his hands on top of each while avoiding to effect any strong pressure because that wasn't his intention.

The robe, his fingertips were placed at each side of it.

" For how long would you try taking me for a fool? I know you are hidding something, you have been acting strange all day. An excellent liar like you wouldn't commit such mistakes if not struggling with the wish of being discovered."

Her eyes looked at each side, paying carefull attention to the movement of his hands.

" I told you about my secret infatuation … What else could I be hidding? "

He smirked before replying, amusing expression of his disbelief on the innocent claim.

" You have been unreasonably fearing my eyes since we stepped out of the palace, blame me for believeing this could give me a clue … "

He slowly uncovered her shoulders, revealing the dress underneath the robe, and inspected her carefully.

" … Odysseus has been teasing you all along, it's you crushing in one of his friends. The reason why I disregarded Achilles before was his absense in your tale, believing you would recognize him if you would have seen him. Not by chance you just confessed your feelings for him to me: for the very first time you feel guilty of your lies. "

Her hair fell back to one more delicate movement, with such bad luck that the side choosen by the prince to expose revealed her love marks inmediately. Hector had enough experience to recognize what the sight implied and she had no option but confessing.

" … I can explain, … I wanted to talk to you, but I wasn't sure if I could trust you with something so important. You know well that if my father finds out … Agamemnon would kill me, he won't care to hear reasons. "

Hector covered her again by himself. Once his eyes found hers she found will to go further.

" I love him, … And I know he loves me back. So passionately yet so tenderly. This? I believe it to be effect of his frustration in our intimate moments because he insists in keeping me preserved to avoid the punishment of my father when he can't be there to protect me. That's why you are here, Odysseus thinks he will fix it sending me away"

He released her completely.

" I want to be furious at him, but my anger is stained of understandment. He wanted me because I am the only one you could be trusted to if Achilles is chasing you. Not even him would dare to climb the trojan wall and steal my wife from my chambers. "

Before she would dare to object, he reinforced his leading of the moment.

" I need you to tell me everything that concerns both of us. No more secrets and no more half truths. Regardless of what the terrible reputation of that man makes me guess of him, you know I 'll never endanger your safety. "

Standing heat for the sake of discretion wasn't neded anymore, so she took off the robe.

" I will, but you have to stop talking nonsense based only on his fame. He is an unstoppable force of raw violence in the battlefield, and also a good man ... In his own terms, with a moral code that's the opposite of yours. You will see it if you get the chance, and you may. As it must be clear to you now, he has followed me here."

As her time for true confession approached, she had less oportunity to wonder for the situation in the palace. Facing the judgement of Hector had left her in a similar position to what she imagined Achilles to be enduring in the audience with the royals of Ithaca. Being friend of the couple wouldn't make it easier, precisely because they would be expressing their well intentioned concerns.

It was usual of him to show up in defense of his actions with no speech prepared. Either when insipiring his men before the fighting, or arguing in the council for expressed call of Agamemnon questioning his choices, Achilles would allways let words flow from the passion of his heart. He wasn't famous for the power of his words, but that overlooked quality of his was the delight of the myceanean princess. Far from self perceiving as a sweet talker, proud man of actions over words, she exposed him to a side of himself he didn't conciously cultivated.

Beating Odysseus in the field of words was an impossible emprise, but the basic understandment they had achieved kept alive the hope of convincing him. On a personal level, the loving husband who adored his wife valued the perpective he gained after falling in love. Appealing to that side by keep reminding him he was just another man in love was the best idea, something that would be easier in the presence of his wife.

The good sight of Penelope was an even higher priority for the warrior, since she wasn't a mere influence factor on her husband. As the eldest woman in the family of the girl he wanted to win, her opinion mattered with individual weight. If Helen was already counted among his allies, convincing her cousin would close the circle of undeground support on the level of familiar relationships. While the spartan queen had chances of influencing her husband in his favor, Penelope was the only woman of the family that Agamemnon trully respected.

When the gate leading to the throne room was opened for him, the sight he found was the opposite regarding his last encounter with Odysseus. His friend awaited the arrival keeping the kingly manners, yet smirking at his radiant wife sitting in the throne beside him. The handfull of soldiers that accompanied them the prior night, only subjects of the palace that were aware of his arrival, acted as escolt untill the king ordered them to retire.

Achilles smiled at the queen and she returned the gesture with sweet politeness, something between a ruler in a serious context and a hostess receiving a friend she haven't seen in a long time. When his eyes followed the way to her husband, his expression adquired a certain playfull cockyness.

No matter how he would try to replicate an audience enviroment, Odysseus would never represent the powerfull yet demeaning image Achilles had in mind when thinking of a king.

" I know that we tend to see each other only for war and this is what you do the rest of the time, but it doesn't fit you. "

Odysseus covered his mouth to hide a few chuckles and scratched his chin before replying.

" You requested an audience instead of a feast for your formal welcome to my country in this ocassion. Odd petition of these strange times! I've never imagined you would come to us sneaking like a thief in the night. I underestimated your passion, unforgivable mistake. I should have remembered that the ladies in the lineage of my Penelope can drag men into unbelievable places with their charm. "

The queen thanked the flattery with a soft glance, then interrumpted.

" His particular choice will surprise Greece, I have no doubt. Everyone has been looking at the wrong threat, now we have him here claiming ownership of the last unwed lady in the family ... Marking her like a possesive beast protecting its territory. What do you have to say of that, estimated friend of this home? Is the introduction to a foreign prince enough justification for such irresponsibility? The woman you pretend to obtain is a princess, and her body is under constant scrutiny. What's the point of preserving her for her safety, only to expose her to the doubts of gossipers talking down? "

Achilles accepted his guilt, even despite he was still a slightly proud of being discovered.

" I never meant harm to fall on her, but I must admit I wasn't carefull when I pampered her with my passion and that isn't entirely casual ... I do wish for those who praise the son of Priam with insistence to find something else to talk about instead of pressuring my princess to aim for the throne of Troy. They will know Hector didn't do that, he frustrates them because he wouldn't touch her."

Penelope measured her words with the right amount of care to warn him without angering him.

" His brother would, everyone knows he tried to seduce her during his first days here. Only once he gave up they gained authentical friendlyness. Has she told you that the prince is giving her shooting lessons? Paris behaves properly now, but it would be easy for people to assume that he kisses her neck from behind to reward every good try. "

" Prince? That man is a joke. " Achilles recalled in a mock. " He has no chances, frankly it's hilarious to envision so I didn't consider it. If rumours would point at him, Agamemnon would suddenly see I am not the worst option and the brilliant scheme of your husband would be over, because Hector wouldn't be available anymore. "

Odysseus did his contribution using his own argument against him.

" What would have been more clever and usefull to your cause than making Paris believe you are the mortal disguise of the god of war. One thing I learned about trojans is that their religious sensitivity is higher than ours: they are loosing their minds. "

" All of them, except for Hector. " Penelope corrected. " You may have alarmed him, but not deceived him. That is not enough to make him run to his ship and go home. "

She made a brief pause before getting into more intimate territory with her questioning.

" What is wrong with you? I know you enough to assume you are allways looking for a challenge. Why is it different now? "

Despite she aimed at his feelings, Achilles read it as questioning on his courage and directed towards her with arrogant pace.

" Hector has never harmed me, and I would never fear him simply because I fear no one. I don't waste time occupying my thoughts with childish jealousy, but I resent his presence because the popular perceptions of him damage my chances of fair judgement to get the right to my bride the way it's meant to be. Answer yourself with this question, queen. If she was your daughter, which one of us would you want for her? "

The smile in her face, product of circunstantial amazement, showed contrast with the answer he expected. Instead of listing his lacks, Penelope valued his intentions.

" Hearing you speak of her as your bride is a delight … Don't you remember how I used to warn you that this day would come? I once promised you make a peplos for your bride, and you responded me with some sarcastic joke about how you were never going to get married. Don't you think Odysseus had rational reasons to believe you could be taking advantage of that girl? We responded looking for a prince that would be safe marriage for her once you would flee. That doesn't mean we don't have faith in you. For as long as you denied the posibility to yourself, I always knew that someday the fine daughter of an achaean would tempt you with it."

Her encouragement was a relief for his heart.

" I didn't lie, never before I imagined we would be having this conversation, … but I fell in love with a princess and that changes everything. I know what I have to do if I want to be with her. Odysseus has his doubts, but I am not the lad he saved from the wrath of the King of Scyros. "

The speech pleased her, but it wasn't enough to satisfy her.

" Would you marry her because you want to or because you have to, Achilles? There may be no relevant distinctions for you, but I believe the implications can lead to completely different outcomes. "

" I want her in my life for as long as I have left of it to live. " The myrmidon replied terminantly, staring then the flow of words for his improvised, heartfelt defense." When I think of how I wasted two years since our meeting being already aware that I liked her … Maybe back then I suspected that she could be my temptation, that opening that door would make me vulnerable to wants I had for so long denied to myself. I returned home pretending nothing happened, but she didn't. For those years that sweet girl dreamed of me. … She was waiting for me, but I didn't show up, and instead of facing dissapointment she searched her way to me by herself even when she expected nothing. "

His voice adquired a sweeter undertone as he revisited for the judges his side of the story.

" I received her in my home for one day with its night and part of the next. That's all it took for her to remind me of how much I liked her once, and to make me like her even more. The chance came for me to find hospitality retributions, and as the unconfortable guest of her father I found the fate I used to reject more than death. Love of the real one, the kind of human feeling that turns a mortal woman into a goddess in your eyes. Now I dream of her, but lack of her blessed patience. "

Applying the same brutal honesty he had for everyone else on himself for the exceptional ocassion, his speech concluded directly for the queen.

" I was a coward, Penelope. In the time I spent running away from that sparkle between us your husband noticed ahead of everyone she could have been arranged to someone else. If he would have acted then, her wedding could have been our next opportunity to see each other again after Helen's. I won't risk that, her waiting is all what stopped me from losing the right time to discover her to my own foolishness. "

His intensity was not only a matter of introspective justification, but an impulsive release of repressed thoughts.

" She had strenght to remain silently infatuated with me while I was far away despite hearing the gossips about my lovers. Her only hope was seeing me again, believing I would never be for her. Now it's my turn and I can't wait, even if I know she is mine. I don't want any new princes arranging playdates with her, or gossips discussing of who should occupy my place. If someone else convinces her father before I would get the chance of doing the proposal, I will lose my mind. "

After such honest and extensive exposition of his case, the royals shared a complicit glance as if they would be guessing each other's thoughts. Penelope felt more inclined to use her judgement of woman and Odysseus, despite famous for his rationality, didn't have a heart of stone.

She abandoned her seat, standing right in front of the warrior.

" The fabulous descriptions we have heard from her fall short. "

In her brief pause she proceeded to kiss both of his cheeks, formal salute of welcoming friendliness.

" As a firm believer in marriages of love like the one I was blessed with, It is my personal will to support you. As the queen of this kingdom, I accept you need to provide us with some securities for our deal to be completed. "

Odysseus followed the interaction carefully untill she released him, aware that she wasn't trying to deautorize him. Her fair words where the bridge between the two extreme positions: letting Achilles walk free with the girl on the sake of love, or give her away to someone else before he could start a war against Agamemnon. After hearing the most intense speech his friend had ever given in his presence, conciliation of interests was the only wise option.

" Prove that you will not cause any more massacres in her name and I will seriously consider advocating for you to the father. If you want my full support, you must understand victory is not granted. I failed when endorsing Diomedes' proposal to Helen, and compared to yours, his goal seemed possible at the time. Used as you are to be invincible, you have to face the posibility of defeat ... "

He stood up, facing him close for his conclussion allowed by the distance that Penelope allowed to leave him space.

" ... No bloodbaths if Agamemnon's will works against you, Achilles. "

The myrmidon looked at the queen as if he aimed for a second opinion, but her reprobatory smirk let him know he was alone in that aspect. Even if he didn't believe much in it, the first try would have to follow the way of the king.

Surrender wasn't in his nature, so the forbbiden option wasn't completely banned.

" If she allows me to do it, or if he picks an old pig over me, I reserve my right of killing him for her honor. I am not Diomedes, no oaths will stop me. "

Odysseus let loose of his crossed arms.

" Seems fair to me, we shall reserve it as an extreme resource in case the vileness of the myceanean king may surprise us all. "

He gave him a path on the shoulder and they chuckled together like the old friends they were.

Penelope celebrated their agreement inciting their closeness with sweet encouragement.

" If the new perspective challenges you and you find yourself in need of advice, Odysseus is the best husband you can consult. The bright of his reason illuminates paths that remain dark for most men, and his eyes are the light of my life. "

Absolute adoration transformed the semblance of the king and Achilles resisted the urge of teasing him about it.

" I know I am not, by any means, the man a princess should want to marry. Never before I pictured myself as someone's husband, there is a lot to learn, … but I want to do it."

" A lifetime of training doesn't make her any more ready than you. " Odysseus comforted him. " We have talked about it. Being a wife used to be a natural part in her future she accepted with resignation, not a matter of love … I guess that, if our emprise succeeds, she would have to learn from the best wife to ever bless a husband with her love in the land of the achaeans."

With the formalities extinguished, Penelope approached her husband for a fleeting peck on the lips. Twirling later so she could face upfront with him embracing her from behind, she confessed herself to the guest.

" I am already taking care of it, girls get curious when love strikes. "

Achilles had a vague idea of what she meant that kept him gratefull and excited.

" What a bliss that you are, pendant of every detail. Although it surprises me you haven't allowed her to participate of our defense. "

Odysseus lightly confessed his own guilt.

" There is nothing she could add I didn't hear before, so I sent her on a playdate with Hector. They will be back for the pacted time for council I will celebrate with the trojans. If you act with discretion, she is yours for the night. "

The proposition pleased him and for so he showed himself willing to ignore what otherwise could have upsetted him.

" No palace maids or nurse slaves sent in your behalf to control me? "

His clarification didn't shock his friend, who calmly delivered a precise instruction.

"You know me enough to be aware that If you deflore her before marriage in my own home that will be the last time you would be welcomed in it for a long while. I don't care for how serious your intentions would be afterwards."

He didn't expect any less, but it was quite sweet to see his care for the girl was so genuine.

" Does Agamemnon know that you parent his daughter for him? "

Teasing was more in his style than admitting the process had made him feel like a suitor asking for permission of the father when talking to his own friend. Only the commentary of Penelope was helpfull to remember contexts, particularly in the progression of her seriousness fading. Their trial staged for him on that audience worked practically as a personal test. Surviving the critical judgement of Odysseus was hard, but nothing compared to the self centered, capricious mindset of Agamemnon already fixated on his hate for him.

Victory wouldn't be granted, but every small triumph deserved its celebration.

He couldn't wait to be with her and the waiiting felt too long knowing she would be back by sunset, but Penelope insisted on entertaining him with proper hospitality arrangements in the private comfort of her lounges. His deal with the royal marriage implied he had to remain in obscurity untill their matters with the trojans would be on a relative state of order the next day. Then, he would repeat a colorfull lie explaining the confussion he had caused without mentions of his romance with the princess.

Only one slave girl was trusted to his service on the ocassion. Old keeper of the secret, the loyal friend of the mycenaean lady attended him like if he already was her prince. Achilles took his chance of apologising to her for the concerning disruption and cheered her with news of Eudorus. Nothing of his conversation with the rulers of Ithaca was divulged, fearing she could accidentally spoil the surprise, but he made her an accomplice sharing her his plans for the night.

A pacted liberation of the zone for him would occur at a specific time safe to steal her for a while under the noses of the too distracted foreign guests. Once the door of the throne room working as agora of late hour council would be shut down in her face, she would be found there trying to catch details of the political arguments with intense curiosity.

Hidden once more as a stalking shadow when the moment to strike presented, Achilles observed the guesses coming to life. He easily spotted his girl walking like an intrusive presence among the trojan cortege. The form of her body was completely buried in a long, loose robe secured in the chest with a brooch, sight that made him smirk thinking of his passion driven mischief from the day before. He paid attention to the men she followed, noticing Paris walking beside her and shortly ahead of them the leader of the march participating of their conversation.

Distance from him was difficulting the communication and, given she was placed right behind him, at moments she would get closer to speak directly with him. Her rush looked like excitement, but his demeanour to reply was calm. His every gesture irradiated a sense of sophisticated confidence that was drastically different from what he had observed in Paris. Far from that hedonist ellegance, the royal bearing of a man born for kingship.

Achilles realized that his first sight of Hector matched the usual descriptions, except he seemed slightly taller and better looking in person.It was a temporary conclussion obtained from a very brief look before he vanished inside the room to be followed by all the men, when he catched him smiling at the lady as if he intended to reassure her for something.

An accord of some sort closed between them, he believed it to be probably of political nature.

The gates were custodied by two of the soldiers that saw him enter that room earlier in the day. Their presense was blocking her hearing of what was going on inside and they commited the crucial mistake of trying to expulse her from the spot. Watching her behavior escalate to their negatories was quite funny, specially because as he approached he got to hear her powerlessly talking down to men. Soldiers following the orders of those arguing inside, her closest outlet for protest.

When he emerged in arrogant pace, the argument had her so absorted that she didn't notice him heading right behind her as she kept critizicing the guards.

" … By the laws of our country I am banned from speaking, but nothing forbids me from listening … So I'll stay here untill you'll get sick of staring at my face in front of you. "

Achilles showed for the men a playfull smirk of complicity and their amused reactions confused her enough to realize something had changed.

" You will get tired first, pretty princess. "

She froze, turning back inmediately to find her beloved warrior smiling at her. In her eyes he appeared even more handsome than the last time she saw him, wearing a short black tunic that matched great with his long leather footwear.

" What are you doing here? "

Despite she knew of his arrival to the island, some of her surprise was genuine in the sense of not expecting to see him there at that precise moment.

" I came to see you, turns out I can't get enough of you. "

Achilles leaned a hand on her shoulder and sneaked the other to her waist, gently pushing to bring her closer.

" Leave her to me, brothers. I have it easier applacating her. "

With that trust sounding inside joke he dragged her away avoiding further questioning.

Nightfall kept most of the servants occupied on the kitchens preparing the meal that would follow the council. Depending of the halls choosen to navigate, desert spaces could be found while deciding which door would hide them that time.

He haven't had released her through the walk, but instead deepened the contact rounding her waist sideways with one arm. Everytime she tried to scape, he mockfully squeezed tighter.

" Odysseus didn't want to tell me about the audience, or where you left afterwards. " She finally spoke in clarification for her reaction" He said I would find out the result later … Now I see what he meant with that."

He proceeded to tell her the good news with some of his usual humor.

" He will support us only if I prove him i can behave … How was the playdate with Hector? Has he fallen for you already? "

The reminder made her chuckle a bit louder than usual.

" He found out about us, I had to tell him everything after he discovered the not so subtle gift you left me with yesterday. "

Better outcome than what he ever expected. It took him only one instant of peeking for any intruders in their moment before he pushed her against a wall so he could rip off the brooch and make her robe fall to the sides, observing his work with pride.

" Good, now he knows who you belong to. Is he afraid of facing me? "

He placed one delicate kiss in the affected skin, soft like a caress from his lips.

It made her giggle, covering herself later to resume the walk.

" Not at all. At best, he thinks you are a fool. At worst? That your violent tendencies and irrascible temper would become a dangerous problem for me if awakened during our arguments. "

The implications in that sentence shocked him, what kept him wondering out loud with certain frustration.

" Why everyone always expects the worst of me? "

She took his hand and assumed the lead, picking the next hallway that would take them to her room.

" It's a downside of your reputation, my love. For years you encouraged tales about your anger and brutality. When they describe you for him, most talk of you as a killer beast he shall beware of."

She gave him a peck down the cheek, reaching the side of his jawline, then concluded.

" Don't worry, he is aware of his mistake because I spent the afternoon telling him plenty of examples about how wonderfull you are … At least with me, I started to think I am an autentic privileged among the unlucky women that stumbled with you. "

The ironical tone in the strange phrase made him suspect something was wrong. His first guess was believing that his friend told her some unflattering stories he knew, maybe the one of his first failed adventure with the islander princess.

The tone of his voice adquired a sudden seriousness that was absent from the moment since the very begging.

" Whatever Odysseus told you, I can explain. "

She tried to be honest without compromising her informational source.

" He didn't have to, I had a close encounter with one of your girls. By far she doesn't recommend you. Aparently, you made her feel used after you were done with her. "

He tried to do a concious effort in remembering, but no idea of who was she talking about came to his mind.

" I've been in bed with many people, often drunk at some point of the action. "

The answer was quite frustrating for her.

" Is that your brilliant excuse? You dissapointed her so badly that as soon as she found out i have intentions on you she questioned my inteligence. "

They reached the right door just in time for his defense.

" My sentimental life was a sad mess before you came along, Odysseus made me realize of that when we talked. If I acted like a bastard, it's probably because I was avoidant of romance … I never gave myself the chance of properly meeting a woman I liked, untill you made it impossible for me to get away. And I am glad you persisted, because you opened my eyes to something new ."

#troy 2004 #achilles #brad pitt #achilles x reader #brad pitt x reader

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anon-sect · 5 months ago

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Picture source: internet

Story request by the winner of the 1K followers celebration contest: @pup-jaxx

Kyle had been looking for a handler who was a good fit for him for quite a while. He had been with several, but mostly didn't have much time for pup play due to a busy life.

One day, Kyle was messaged by a handler named Eric the Dom. After an exchange of numbers, he had a good conversation with Eric to see if both would want to proceed forward. He did.

Kyle met with his handler two days later at his house. Eric had given specific instructions for him. He was as to have his hood on upon arrival at his house and be ready to play.

Kyle rang the doorbell. Eric looked to be 6'1" tall muscular hunk with a hot body. He walked in after invited. He immediately noticed the collar and leash in his hand. After Eric had closed the door, Kyly got on all fours. "Good boy." Eric said as he placed the collar and leash on him. "Now follow." Eric commanded. Kyle crawled behind his handler to the den. Kyle received a rub on his head.

For the next two hours, Kyle was instructed to roll over, play dead and fetch the ball. He enjoyed every moment of it. During that time, Eric had him lick clean the tops of his shoes and lick his feet. Kyle saw that he was pleased with their first session of pup play. The last part ended with him cuddling next to him on the couch for a nice movie. Eric was pleased how obedient Kyle was and decided to continue their fun for more sessions later.

After six weeks of meeting, Eric was quite fond of Kyle. He wanted to keep him around much longer than a one-to-three-hour session on the days both of them were freed up. He wanted Kyle to be there more on a permanent basis. He came up with a plan that he could keep Kyle with him in a way that would seem normal to anyone who noticed.

Kyle began to sip on a drink that Eric had given him. It had a fruity taste to it and was very sweet. Other than that, it tasted good. He drank every last drop from the glass. He saw Eric smiling at him with glee as he put the glass on the coffee table. "Good boy." Eric told him as he just looked at him in a curious way.

Kyle suddenly felt weird. He felt like something was definitely off with his body. The room was looking somewhat bigger than before. He thought it was his imagination at first, but it wasn't. "What's happening with me?" He asked Eric, pondering if he had something to do with this strange occurrence. He saw Eric smiling back at him, which confirmed his suspicion. "You see, pup play is fun, but I thought to make our pup play would be a little better if it was more real." Eric paused, as he examined the chance taking place. "Sorry to say, but the transformation will be permanent. I don't have a reverse formula just yet." He added.

Kyle was shocked to hear the part of the transformation being permanent. "What am I turning into?" He asked, knowing full well what he was about to become, but wanted to confirm it from Eric. "You will be my pet for a long time, but don't worry, I will take good care of you." Eric responded, confirming Kyle's worst nightmare. Pup play was fun, but being a literal dog was not something he had signed up for. He tried to protest, but all that came out was barking. He lost the ability to speak plain English. He was growing more hair over his skin. His feet and hands were changing, too. All of this was overwhelming his mental capacity. All of these changes happening at the same time was just too much for him to mentally handle. He passed out from the stress.

Five minutes later, Kyle woke back up. Things seem to normalize, or so he thought. His vision looked different. He felt much closer to the floor and had four feet instead of two. He looked up to see a smiling Eric looking down at him. He realized that he was no longer human anymore. He was now a dog. He tried to speak his protest to what was done to him. In his mind, his words sound like English, but all he heard was barking. Seeing that his circumstances were permanent, he had no choice but to accept his fate as Eric's pet.

Two years later......

Eric and Kyle were at a photo shoot for a magazine show casing owners and their pets. Eric was selected as one of the models to be featured in one of the many photos. Eric posed holding Kyly in his hands. It had been two years since he turned him into a dog. He really loved his pet dog so much. It was much better than just regular pup play. Kyle was really his pet dog. He didn't know exactly what Kyle was thinking or even saying since he could only bark now, but he hoped he was happy with his new life. The formula he used on him is supposed to give him triple the life expansion of a normal dog. Kyle would be his pet for a long time. The best part was when taking Kyle on his daily walks. No one was the wiser that his dog was once a human being. He didn't know if Kyle really love being a full-time pet, but from the love he gets back, he figures, Kyle loves his owner so much.

After two years, Kyle fully gave up ever being human again. Eric was a good owner though. He guessed, being a dog for the rest of his life wasn't too bad of a fate.

#tf story #shrinkage #dog transformation #transformation #pup play

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devilat-thedoor · 1 year ago

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What Is and What Should Never Be Ch. 1

A/N: The parts in this fic are going to be on the shorter side compared to my other one, but that allows me to get them out quicker. This first chapter is really just laying the foundation for the story. I hope you enjoy, babes! and as always, feedback is appreciated🤍 P.S. This is all fictional, straight from my imagination. Please don't take it too seriously💖

Word Count: 9k

Warnings: 18+ Minors DNI, Smut(none yet, but for future reference), Mentions of alcoholism/addiction, Mentions of death. Reader Discretion Advised.

So if you wake up with the sunrise and all your dreams are still as new // And happiness is what you need so bad, well girl, the answer lies with you

“Bell, are we really doing this?” Your grin was beaming as you twisted the key in the ignition, hearing the engine rumble. You rolled the windows down, letting the late March wind breeze through the car.

Your best friend, Bellamy, turned to you from her spot in the passenger seat, “I mean, unless you want to carry all of our stuff back into that shithole…” She jutted her thumb out the window, towards the shabby apartment building that, up until 15 minutes ago, you had called home. “Then we are absolutely doing this!” You laughed, pulling away from the curb as she hung half of her body out the car to shout a goodbye to your hometown. “We’re fucking out of here! See you later, Phil!” Bellamy had her middle fingers in the air as the wind swept through her jet black hair.

Reaching over, you grabbed her shirt to yank her back in the window, “Bellamy, the groundhog can’t hear you!” Your hand went back to the steering wheel as she settled back into her seat and kicked her feet up on the dashboard. “Don’t get too comfortable, you’re not gonna fall asleep on me 20 minutes into the drive.”

She rolled her eyes and gave you a lazy smile, “Fall asleep on you, sweet pea? Never.” She grabbed the aux cord, plugging it into her phone. “Why did we decide to drive again? We could’ve left everything to the moving company and just booked a flight… This is gonna take for-ev-er.” She flicked her sunglasses down over her eyes with a whine.

“Bell, how often are we gonna get to road trip across the country? Think of all the places we’ll get to see!” You tried to sound as positive as you could but, truth be told, you weren’t very excited about the drive either. The speakers came to life when she finally decided on a playlist, opening with House of the Rising Sun by The Animals. “Once we’re on I-80, the drive will go so fast, babe.”

She dropped her feet back to the floor, turning to face you again, “Whatever you say, Y/N.” Digging into the grocery bag full of snacks below her, she grabbed a pack of gummy bears and ripped them open, “God, I just can’t wait to be out of here and in the sun… And our new apartment?” Bellamy curled her legs up into her seat, turning to face you, “Are you okay with me taking the Master bedroom? I really want the en suite bathroom.”

You glanced over to see her pouting her lip at you, “You can have whatever room you want.” Looking back to the road, you turned the music down a bit, “If you told me I had to sleep in a tent on the balcony, I would do it.” It sounded like a joke, but you were partially serious.

“You know you’d be sharing my bed if there was no other place for you, Y/N.” She gave you a pointed look and slouched back into her seat. “We would just need a kind of ‘sock on the door’ signal, yanno?”

Craning your neck to look behind you, you slowly merged onto the interstate, “When has a signal ever worked before, Bellamy?” It was early enough in the morning that traffic was mostly clear, allowing you to set the cruise control to an even 70mph. “Remember Seth? The guy I met at sophomore year IUPatty’s? I left the shamrock beads on the doorknob and that didn’t stop you from barging into the dorm!”

She held her hands up, “In my defense, there were beads scattered through the hallway. How was I supposed to know you put them there intentionally?” Her shoulders raised in a shrug as she remembered back, “And I saved you! Your fake moans weren’t even believable, you weren’t getting off!”

You broke out into a cackle, “Oh my god, Bell! Fuck, you’re actually right.” She stuck her tongue out at you, “He was so hot, but had no rhythm at all… it was just anticlimactic. No pun intended.” You were both in a fit of laughter when your friend popped up in her seat.

“Babe, turn it up!” Bellamy yelled over the wind whipping through the windows as Rocky Mountain Way by Joe Walsh began playing. “It’s our song!”

You reached for the volume dial with a grin, cranking it up as you both started singing along. “…Out to pasture, think it’s safe to say, time to open fiiiire…” You held your closed fist to your mouth, using it as a makeshift microphone, “And we don’t need the ladies crying cause the story’s sad…”

Holding your invisible microphone out to your friend, she sang the next few lines into it “‘Cause the rocky mountain way is better than the way we had…” The two of you went back and forth, singing loudly through your giggling. You listened as Bellamy vocalized the entire solo at the end of the song, finishing with a deep inhale to catch her breath.

The next song came on as you both settled down and you just drove in a comfortable silence for a while. You stopped for food and gas while passing through Toledo and continued on, only stopping again once you were right outside of Chicago. “I’m sick of driving, Bellamy. It’s your turn.” You whined at her as you pulled the car into a gas station.

“I’ve got maybe five or six hours in me.” She pushed her door open, grabbing her wallet from her bag to head into the gas station, “I do not want to be in the car anymore, so let’s plan on stopping in Des Moines… If traffic stays clear, we should make it by at least eleven. Midnight at the latest.” You followed her into the convenience store, listening to her lay out the plans. “When we get back in the car, look for a motel or something cheap we can stay in for tonight and then we’ll get back on the road early tomorrow.”

You both headed to the restroom to relieve yourselves before grabbing a few energy drinks and bottles of water and paying for your gas. “Sounds good, babe.” After filling the tank, you climbed into the passenger seat while your friend got behind the wheel and began browsing for a place to rest.

“Hey, Bell…” You’d been back on the road for another two hours, going back between music and podcasts, when you turned to her.

She glanced at you with a soft smile, “Yes, sweet pea?”

You were toying with your fingers in your lap, “I haven’t actually said it yet, but thank you.” She gave you a questioning look, prompting you to elaborate, “For bringing me along with you… to San Francisco. I will never be able to make this up to you.” You wanted to make sure she knew how genuinely grateful you were. All you’ve dreamed of, since you were 15, was getting out of your hometown and escaping the living hell that was your life. You thought that the day you turned 18, you’d pack up and leave to head for the west coast, get as far away as you could to avoid the chance of ending up like your mother. But after graduation and without money, your only option to get out of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania was going to college. Bellamy made you apply to IUP with her and when you both got in, it seemed like things wouldn’t be so bad anymore. Even though the university was only about 40 minutes from your hometown, it was far enough away that you didn’t have to deal with the stress of living with your parents anymore. Your dad was always amazing. He taught you everything you knew, from how to cook to how to change your own brakes and oil. All he ever wanted was to make sure you were capable of taking care of yourself when the time came for you to be on your own and that time came a lot sooner than either of you could have anticipated.

It was your junior year in college and you were so close to getting your Bachelor’s in Anthropology. Your classes kept you busy enough that you didn’t have time for partying or getting into trouble. All of your focus went into your school work in the hopes that once you finished, you would find a great job in doing something you loved and make enough money to go wherever you wanted. But the perfect bubble you’d put yourself in popped that November when you went home for Thanksgiving break.

Your mother’s alcohol addiction wasn’t anything new to you. You would come home from middle school to find her passed out on the sofa, empty bottle littering the coffee table. Some nights she would come into your room to crawl in bed with you, crying that she wanted to be better and that she was going to try to stop drinking. You would let her hold you and cry until your dad would come in and gently walk her back to their bedroom. The smell of her vodka soaked breath is something that would surely stick with you for the rest of your life. Dad would try his hardest to hide how bad her problem really was, but you knew. It started to get worse when you got into high school. She would get drunk and belligerent, screaming and breaking things. You’d gotten accustomed to staying at Bellamy’s. Her father and yours were best friends and that’s how you and Bell ended up as close as you were. On the nights your mother was particularly bad, Bell’s dad, Mr. Cole, would get a call from your dad and within minutes, you would be climbing into the backseat of his car with your best friend to stay with her family for a couple of nights. You begged your dad to leave her, to just let her drink herself rotten and move you and him some place far away where she couldn’t affect you anymore, but he refused. Always telling you that she needed the both of you to get her through it, that she didn’t have the strength to stop drinking on her own. Part of you knew that he didn’t even believe that himself, but you looked up to him more than anybody and trusted that he knew what was best. Still, you couldn’t stand to live in the same house as her, so when you got accepted to the same college as Bellamy, it was like life was finally giving you a break.

Then that Thanksgiving day came crashing down and everything else went with it. You and Bellamy made the short drive home the day before and you dropped her off at her house before heading to yours. Your dad was at the door, waiting to greet you as you pulled in and he rushed out to wrap you in a bear hug and help you with your belongings. You were dreading the kind of state you would find your mom in, but to your surprise, she seemed sober and completely normal. She pulled you into an embrace and you could still smell the faint hint of liquor on her, but her behavior had you fooled into thinking it was just your imagination. You were having a good time, helping her prep the apple pie so it would be ready to bake for the holiday while listening to music. She asked you how your classes were going and she seemed genuinely interested as you explained your course load to her. It was a welcome change to how conversations normally went with her.

As the day dwindled to early evening, you started to see a change in her. She was getting sloppy and she stumbled through the house and you noticed her eyes starting to droop, but it wasn’t until she started throwing a fit about not having enough wine for the guests that you’d be having over for Thanksgiving that you realized she must have been sneaking drinks throughout the night. You watched as your dad tried to reason with her and calm her down, but she just kept yelling, throwing things around the kitchen until he finally gave in and offered to drive her to the store so they could pick up a few more bottles. You pleaded with him to stay, trying to convince him that he was only enabling her addiction by catering to her temper tantrums, but he brushed you off, wrapping you in hi arms and placing a firm kiss to the top of your head before grabbing his jacket and ushering your mother out the door. You didn’t know it then, but that would be the last time you would ever hug your father. After they started the drive into town, in a drunken fit of anger, your mom would lash out and begin hitting your dad, causing him to run off of the road and into the woods. He was pronounced DOA by the first responders and she would walk away from it without a scratch. Nobody knew that it was her fault, but after his funeral, when she was already half a bottle deep, she confessed it to you. You left her alone that night and never looked back and she ended up moving south to live with family. You couldn’t forgive her and if you never saw her another day in your life, it would still be too soon.

The depression you fell into forced you to drop out of college. You moved back to your hometown and got a job at the local diner, Punxsy Phil’s, to pay rent. Bellamy moved back with you and spent her last year and half commuting to school before graduating with her Bachelor’s in Computer Science. Now, two years later at 26, Bell was offered a job at a tech company. They were based out of Silicon Valley but they wanted her to head a team in their San Francisco office. When they offered to pay for her housing for a year until she got her footing, she sweet talked them into a two bedroom apartment and asked you to go with her. Of course you jumped at the opportunity and now here you were, driving across the country to start your new life and it was all thanks to your best and oldest friend.

“Y/N, I wouldn’t have even thought about taking this job if there wasn’t a chance that you could come with me.” She reached over and grabbed your hand, squeezing it softly, “I know how hard the past few years have been, but we’re starting a new chapter and it’s us, babe. It’s always been you and me.” A grin formed on her face as she put her hand back on the steering wheel, “We’re gonna fucking rule San Fransisco like Christina and Courtney in The Sweetest Thing.” She paused before adding, “But promise me you won’t fall in love with a guy you just met overnight!”

You leaned over the center console, hugging her tightly and planting a giant peck on her cheek, “I fucking love you, Bell.” You were both laughing as she pushed you away.

“I love you more, sweet pea.”

💿💿💿💿💿💿💿💿💿💿💿💿💿💿💿💿💿💿💿💿

It was early Sunday morning when you finally pulled into the parking lot or your new apartment building in the Mission Bay neighborhood. It stood maybe six stories high and each apartment had its own balcony. You and Bellamy were on the third floor, number 308, and she held the keys in her fist as you both stepped out of the car. The excitement couldn’t be contained as you made it up the elevator and she unlocked the door, pushing through it to see your new home in person for the first time. Stepping into the apartment, you both rushed around, exploring the living space. It was quaint and small, but it was perfect for the two of you. You each had your own bathroom and the bedrooms were a decent size. The sliding door that led out to the balcony caught your attention at the same time as her and you were running to slide it open and see the view of the city. “Bell, is this even real?” You gazed out in awe, seeing all the buildings and businesses that surrounded. You couldn’t wait to see what it looked like at nighttime with the city lights. Just as your friend went to answer you, there was a knock on the apartment door that was left wide open and you turned to see the movers standing there. You both looked at one another with large smiles, “Let’s turn this place into home, B.”

“I think it’ll look better against that wall.” Bellamy placed her hand on the man’s arm, pointing to the opposite side of the living room. “Could you just move it one more time?” You bit your lips together, trying to stifle a laugh as she batted her lashes at him. The movers made it to your new home right after you had and your best friend was quick to put them to work. You stood back, allowing her to give directions with flirty giggles, directing the men where to put everything.

Finding it best to stay out of her way, you decided to occupy yourself with something else, “Hey, hun!” You called across the room to Bellamy, “I’m gonna start unpacking the kitchen.” She gave you a thumbs up without breaking concentration on the movers. Walking into the tiny kitchen, you pulled open the first box you saw to reveal all of your plates and bowls, wrapped in old newspapers. You decided on a cabinet and began stacking the dishes, one by one, discarding the papers into the empty box as you went. Next was the cups and mugs then tupperware and pots and pans. After a little over an hour, you had the kitchen completely unpacked with everything in its rightful place.

As you stood in the middle of the space breaking down all of the boxes, your friend came through the doorway, “Everything is officially moved in.” You watched as she padded to the refrigerator to retrieve a bottle of water. She shook a bottle in the air, silently asking if you wanted one, and tossed it after you gave a nod, “And, courtesy of those three very sweet men, the living room is already assembled.” Bellamy gave a proud smile as she cracked open her bottle. “We just have to fill the bookshelf and hang some art on the walls or something.” She shrugged, taking a large gulp of water.

You took a few chugs of your own and checked the time on your phone, pausing the music that was playing. “It’s only 1 o’clock, we’re making pretty good time. You wanna go find lunch somewhere?” Bellamy’s phone began ringing as she nodded her head and you watched her walk back into the living to retrieve it. After a minute you left the kitchen as well, going into your bedroom to find a change of clothes in the mountain of boxes. The apartment already came with beds and bedroom furniture and you dug through one box, pulling out the new sheets and comforter that you’d purchased and tossed them on the mattress.

“Soooo…” Bellamy startled you as she popped her head in the door frame, “Don’t hate me…” She gave an apologetic look.

You dropped the clothes you were holding to the bed and let out a sigh, “We’re not getting lunch, are we?”

She came into the room, cupping your face with a pout, “I’m sorry, Y/N! Please don’t be mad.” You pulled out of her hold, rolling your eyes, “That was my new boss that just called and he wants me to go down to headquarters to meet everyone.”

You weren’t mad, you knew how important this job was to her, “It’s fine, Bell. Take my keys, they’re on the kitchen counter.” You pointed out the door.

A high pitched squeal left her mouth and she wrapped you in an incredibly tight hug, “I’ll make this up to you, I swear!” She went to her own bedroom to change clothes and you decided you would still go out and get food, but you would also take the time to look at who may be hiring in the area. You pulled on a pair of cutoff denim shorts and a black baby tee that read ‘farm fresh peaches’ with two of the bright fruits printed over the chest. Once satisfied with your outfit, you dug through your laptop case to pull out a copy of your resumé and a separate sheet of paper with a solid list of references, and tucked them into your bag just as Bellamy came back to your doorway, “I love you and I’ll be back soon!”

“Leave me your keys, Bell!” You called as she disappeared back out into the apartment, “I’m gonna go explore the neighborhood a little bit and you’ll have my keys, so leave yours for me.” She nodded, digging her key ring from her purse and dropping them on the counter.

Ten minutes later, you were locking up and riding the elevator to the ground floor. You stepped out on the street, looking left and right to decide which direction you wanted to go in. Opting for the left, you started on your journey, unsure of where you might end up, with a goal of finding lunch in mind. You’d lost count of how many blocks you walked when you landed on Market Street. The entire length of it was lined with stores and bars and restaurants, it was unlike anything you’d see back home. Sure, Pittsburgh was a great city to visit, but it didn’t compare to this in your eyes. You scoped out a few different food spots as you walked along the sidewalk, Some with potential to eat at, others with potential for work, but you continued on, lost in the bustle of everything going on around you until something caught your eye. A bright, neon open sign shined bright in a storefront window and illuminated the ‘Now Hiring’ sign to its right. It was a piece of paper that looked like someone just scribbled the note on with thick, black sharpie, and taped it to the window as a joke. Your gaze traveled up to the hanging sign above the door, Highway Tunes Records, before dropping back to the windows and seeing the art and posters adorning the walls inside. Your eyes fell upon a psychedelic poster, made up of colorful and abstract swirls that came together to unmistakably make Jimi Hendrix. An audible gasp escaped and you found yourself pulling the door open and shuffling inside the store and straight over to the poster. You were entranced as you stared up at it, unable to tear your eyes away until a voice stole your attention.

“You a Hendrix fan?” Turning to find whoever the voice came from, you were met with a gleaming set of teeth, stretched into a mesmerizing grin, with the tiniest gap between the front two.

You returned his smile, murmuring a response once you realized you’d been staring at him, “Uh… Yeah. He was my dad’s favorite musician.” You glanced back up at the framed poster as he replied.

He was standing incredibly close, you could feel the heat radiating from his body, “Well, he is great… So!” His exclamation made you jump and he laughed, “Sorry, it’s been a slow day and you’re probably our fifth customer since opening at noon.” You looked down at your phone to check the time, 2:49pm, and gave him a sympathetic smile. You knew how boring a slow day at work could be. “Anyways… What brings you into HIghway Tunes? Looking for a specific album?”

“Actually, that is what brought me in here.” You pointed up to the Jimi poster, “It felt like it was calling me in.” You shook your head, aware of how weird that sounded, but before you could try to reword it, the man was already talking.

“Oh. Well, unfortunately, I can’t sell you that specific piece.” He let out a huff, turning on his heel and walking in the opposite direction. Your brow furrowed as you watched him go and he turned around, gesturing for you to follow him, “That one is part of Jake’s personal collection.” He started after you fell into step behind him, “He’d kill me if I sold it and then he’d hunt you down and kill you too… But these…” He stopped in front of a giant bin, filled with rolled up posters, and flipped open the binder above it, “These are all on the market.”

You watched as he thumbed the pages, looking over the inventory of music posters. You couldn’t help but stare at him. Full lips, bordered by a tasteful bit of facial hair. A wild mess of curls that covered his forehead and ears, only leaving the small, silver hoops piercing his lobes to stick out. He had a constant smile on his face and you almost didn’t want to open your mouth out of fear that it would go away, “I’m not… really looking to buy anything.” You watched the grin falter, but he quickly recovered it, “I’m sorry. I just don’t have the spare money right now to spend on things that aren’t necessities.” You scrunched your nose with a shrug.

He turned to face you, looking you up and down as if he was sizing you up, “You’re not from around here.” Suddenly feeling self conscious, you crossed your arms over your chest, looking away from him, “Hey, no. I didn’t mean any offense… Just that the only people who come in here are either regulars or tourists and you’re certainly not a regular.”

“How do you know I’m not a regular?” You gave him a pointed look as you pursed your lips. “Maybe you just always miss me when I come in?”

“Naah. Nobody comes in here without me or Jakey seeing them and I would not forget you.” He slapped his palm over his face whilst shaking his head, “Sorry, that… That sounded creepy. I just meant… never mind.” A bright blush started to overtake his cheeks.

He was so charming and handsome, you couldn’t help the giggle that bubbled from your mouth and if Bellamy were there, she’d accuse you of flirting. “Okay, I did just move here, but tell you what… As soon as I get a job, I promise to become a regular.” You flashed him a sweet smile before turning around and heading for the door, “Don’t forget my face.”

“Woah, wait!” He called after you and you stopped to face him again, a questioning lift to your brows, as he jogged the short distance across the store, “You need a job? We’re hiring.” He sounded desperate as he continued, “The pay is good, I swear. You’ll get great hours and everyone here is chill!”

You looked around at the shop, really taking in the eccentric environment. His smile alone was enticing you to say yes and you couldn’t fight against it, “So… is this an official interview?” You joked and saw his shoulders visibly relax.

He looked around the store as though he was searching for something, “Actually, let me find Jake. We might be able to interview you right now.” He went in the opposite direction from you, giving you no time to decline before heading for the checkout counter, but he stopped, “I’m Josh, by the way!” He yelled from where he stood

You called out to him, still planted by the front door, “I’m Y/N!” His smile seemed to grow brighter as he repeated your name back to you.

Just as he was about to push through the door behind the counter, it flung open to reveal another man behind it, “What’s with all the fucking yelling?” From where you stood, it looked like he was gritting his teeth at Josh. His hair was long, landing past his shoulders, and he wore a pair of dark sunglasses. He peered over Josh’s shoulder to get a look at you and you saw his lips moving before the curly headed boy turned and waved you towards them.

You swallowed your nerves and began shuffling towards them. Your eyes drifted to the ceiling to see it plastered with vinyls, all painted over with intricate and colorful artwork. As you stepped up to the counter, your eyes fell on the men, “This place is a lot like Trax.” They both gave you strange looks, prompting you to clarify, “The record store from Pretty In Pink? With Molly Ringwald?” The confusion didn’t leave their faces as you stared at them, “Seriously? That’s like, my favorite movie. It’s an iconic John Hughes masterpiece! The scene when Duckie sings Otis Redding?” You continued to gush despite how clueless they clearly were.

Josh’s face lit up into a grin as he listened to you, but the other guy remained stoic, almost like he was bored, “Well it’s a good thing you don’t need to know movies to work in a music store.” You couldn’t help the look of shock on your face at his pompous tone.

But you were never one to let a man make you feel small, “No, you’re right, but… if I’m not mistaken, there’s an entire shelf over there,” You pointed to your left with a cocky smile, “that is loaded with movie soundtracks… And if you ask me, music and film go hand and hand.” Looking back at him, you gave an innocent shrug, “But you’re the boss, so who am I to argue?” He was taken aback by your quip but you could’ve sworn you saw a hint of a smirk on his lips as he eyed you. You directed your attention back to Josh, “Maybe I’m not a good fit… but I hope you find someone who will be.” You were about to turn and leave, but he stopped you.

“No, don’t leave!” He slapped the other man’s arm, “Jake, don’t be a jackass. We need the help and I think she’ll be great.” He was practically pleading.

“Ahh, you’re Jake…” You finally connected the dots, “The same Jake that would hunt me down and kill me if I made off with that Hendrix poster over there?” You nodded towards the frame that hung on the wall. “So maybe you don’t know classic movies, but you clearly have good taste in music.” It was an attempt at flattery and it seemed to work because he finally cracked a genuine smile.

His eyes flashed to the poster and came back to you, “What’s your favorite Jimi album? Song?” He was trying to quiz you as if he didn’t believe you were really a fan of the musician. “Answer carefully, peach.”

Your gaze dropped to your shirt before you narrowed your eyes at him, “Axis: Bold As Love by the Experience and Red House… Specifically the Woodstock live recording.” You raised your eyebrow, waiting for a snide remark, “And I have a name…” You almost forgot that Josh was standing beside him until he cleared his throat.

He clapped his hands together with a laugh, “See, Jakey. You can’t tell me she wouldn’t fit in perfectly.”

Jake leaned forward, resting his elbows on the counter, “Why is Red House your favorite song?” The question made you smile.

“It’s all very bluesy. The guitar riff and solo, his lyrics… The first time my dad played that song, I was completely enthralled.” You were speaking genuinely and judging by the way he was nodding, he knew it.

He turned to Josh, silently communicating to him with a look. You watched them, trying to decipher what was being discussed, but as you studied their expressions, you noticed how similar they looked. Josh’s eyes locked with yours and he answered your question before you could ask it, “Yeah, we’re twins, Y/N.” He chuckled softly, “It’s always the first thing people ask…” You mumbled an apology, casting your eyes to the floor, “Nothing to be sorry for. But good news! You’re hired!”

“What?” You looked at him in shock, “I- But- Don’t you have to…ask more questions?” How did they decide that with just a series of facial expressions to one another? “Do you need references or… I don’t know, it’s never been this easy to get a job, there’s gotta be a catch…”

Jake disappeared through the door behind him for a moment and reemerged holding a t-shirt, “The catch is, you gotta be here bright and early tomorrow to start training.” He tossed the tee at you and slid a piece of paper over the counter, “Take this home, fill it out, and bring it back with you. I’ll see you here at 9am, peach.” He turned around, going back through the door and closing it behind him.

“I promise, he’s not as unpleasant as he makes himself seem.” Josh came around the corner to stand beside you and pulled the paper from the counter, “We’ll start your wages at $20.25 per hour. I just need you to fill out this application with all your basic information. Yanno, name, number, address, social. Then we’ll be able to get you on payroll asap.” He handed you the page with his bright grin that you were growing to really enjoy.

“I’ll take your word for it.” You stuffed the t-shirt and application into your tote bag, “So he’s training me tomorrow?” The distaste was evident in the way you forced a frown, “Are you gonna be around to soften that blow?” You were begging the universe for a yes, but wound up disappointed.

He placed a hand on your shoulder, “Mondays are my days off…” He gave an apologetic smile, “Jake’s actually really cool, Y/N. And I’ll make sure he goes easy on you.” As if he could sense the anxiety radiating from you, he offered a compromise, “Alright, I have some shit to get done tomorrow, but I’ll stop in around lunch to see how everything’s going. Okay?” He flashed that damn smile and you were sold.

“Thank you, Josh.” Your phone began to ring in your back pocket and you pulled it out, muttering a sorry to him as you answered it, “Hey, Bell.” You listened to her speak for a few moments, “No, I haven’t… I’m fucking starving, though. You wanna come pick me up?...Uhhh, I’m not sure, it’s a record store on Market Street…Yeah, I’ll just drop a pin… Perfect. Love you too, babe.” You hung up, sending her your location, and stuffed the phone back into your pocket. “Sorry about that.”

“Was that your boyfriend?” The question caught you off guard, but the apprehension on his face threw you off even more.

You shook your head, partially to answer his question, but also to clear your mind enough to form a response, “Umm. No. No, that was Bell- Bellamy.” You paused before elaborating further, “She’s my best friend. We moved down here together…”

He let out a breath that you didn’t realize he was holding in, “Oh! Cool.” The silence stretched between you and you weren’t sure if he felt as awkward as you did.

Your phone dinged, saving you from the tension, and you pulled it back out to see a text from your friend, “She’s here, so I’m gonna go…” You pointed towards the door before slowly turning away from him. Just as you reached the door, you looked back to see him watching you and tried to conceal the blush creeping onto your cheeks, “Any quick food recommendations? We haven’t eaten yet today… Oh! Preferably cheap?”

“If you’re looking for something close, Super Duper Burgers is great. Definitely check their seasonal menu.” He ran his fingers over his mustache, drawing your attention to his lips, “If you're willing to go a little further up the Market, Taqueria Cancun has some solid, authentic Mexican tacos. There’s a ton of sushi joints.”

“How about pizza? I’m kind of craving a greasy slice.” You knew Bellamy was waiting for you, but for some reason, you didn’t want to leave.

“Ahh, a girl after my own heart.” Josh pulled his bottom lip between his teeth for a few seconds, “Slice House. Hands down, best pizza. You gotta try the Drunken Italian.” He pinched his fingers together, giving an exaggerated chef’s kiss, “The vodka sauce is fucking revolutionary.” You held eye contact for longer than you cared to admit, but then the corner of his lip curled into a smirk, “You better get going, your friend is waiting.”

“Yeah, I guess I should… See you tomorrow?” He nodded his head, forcing his curls to sway as he waved goodbye. “Bye, Josh.” You pushed through the door and found Bellamy waiting in your car at the curb.

She pulled her purse from the passenger seat as you slid in and handed your phone off with the directions to the pizza place, “Why am I not surprised that you already managed to find a music store?” She shifted the car into drive, hitting the blinker to pull out.

“Bell, I literally just walked in there and they hired me. I start tomorrow.” You almost didn’t believe the words that poured out of your mouth. “It was the weirdest thing… I walked by and there was this Jimi Hendrix poster, and you remember how much my dad loved Jimi?” She nodded, waiting for you to continue, “When I saw it, it just drew me in. I don’t know how to explain it. But I was standing there and this guy came up to me, Josh, and-.”

“Mhmm…” Bellamy cut you off with a knowing smirk, “Josh, huh?”

You scoffed at her, “No. Don’t start, it’s not even like that.” You didn’t defend any further, just proceeded with your story, “Anyways… He offered me a job and he and his brother interviewed me right on the spot. I start tomorrow morning and get this, Twenty dollars an hour, Bell.”

She gawked at you, eyes wide, “Twenty? That’s over the minimum wage here. Did you suck his dick to get it?” She laughed at her own joke as you lightly hit her arm.

“You’re an asshole, yanno?” You sat back in your seat, laughing with her. “He is pretty cute, I can’t lie… He just seems like a really fun person and he’s always smiling. Like the brightest smile you’d ever see... But his brother, Jake, was sort of insufferable.” You were chewing on your lip as she glanced at you.

“Insufferable how?” She turned to you fully as the car stopped at a red light.

You thought back to the short exchange you’d had with him, “He was arrogant as hell, for starters.” Her eyes went back to the road as she let off the brake and you continued, “He didn’t even bother to learn my name, just kept calling me ‘peach.’ You wouldn’t even know they were twins if they didn’t look identical.” You stared out the window, looking at the buildings to find Slice House.

Bellamy spotted the restaurant at the same time you did, swinging the car into the first available spot she could find, “Twins? Oh, you’re fucking joking, Y/N. We haven’t even lived here a full day!” She cut the engine as she glared at you, “How old are they?”

“I don’t know? Our age, maybe a little older… Why does it matter?” You were toying with your fingers, something you did when you were nervous. “Don’t give me that damn look, Bellamy! It’s just a job. You’re not gonna find some hidden context in this.” Pushing the car door open, you stepped out to end the conversation.

She was popping out of her side right after you, “Okay, babe. Whatever you say…” You knew she had more to say but she dropped the topic for the time being as you both walked into the restaurant.

💿💿💿💿💿💿💿💿💿💿💿💿💿💿💿💿💿💿💿💿

You stood right outside of the door, looking at your reflection in the glass to straighten your shirt out. It was 8:48am and you were trying to work up the courage to go in, mentally preparing yourself to be trained by Jake. You were too focused on your reflection to see that he was coming across the store. The door pushed open and you jumped back with a yelp, “Did you plan on coming in for your shift or were you gonna spend another 15 minutes fixing your shirt?” He was holding the door, waiting for you to go inside.

You moved past him, rolling your eyes, “You know, you just make the atmosphere so inviting. How could I not want to be here?” You bit your tongue, aware of how much attitude you’d just given the man who is technically your boss. “Sorry, I-.” You turned back to face him but he was already breezing by you.

“You’re kind of a fucking brat…” You followed behind him, ready to argue his claim, but he was already moving on as though he’d said nothing at all, “Here. We got a long morning ahead of us and you’re gonna need to keep up with me.” He grabbed a cup from beside the register, handing it to you, and pointed to the door behind him, “There’s cream and sugar in the office if you need it, don’t take forever.” Taking the hot coffee without a word, you stepped around him to go into the office. When you came back, he was leaning against the counter, chin propped on his fist, “You fill that paper out, peach?”

Digging into your tote, you pulled the paper out and slapped it down in front of him, “That’s not my name, it’s-.”

“Y/N. I know” His lips curled into a conceited smirk and, had he not been walking away, you might have slapped it right off of his face, “Peach feels more fitting.” He waved his hand, beckoning you to follow him.

You fell into step as he walked towards the front of the store, “You saw fruit on my shirt and ran with it. Very original idea, can’t believe I didn’t think of it.” The look he had when he whipped around to face you made you clamp your mouth shut, but you couldn’t help the tingle you felt through your body at his response.

Jake was glaring at you with a hint of something you couldn’t quite place, “You’ve got a mouth on you.” He was pointing a finger at you, “and I can think of a few different ways to shut it.” Your jaw practically hit the floor as you stared at him and he flashed a devilish smile, knowing that he’d left you speechless. He turned away again, leading you to a display near the front door, “Pay attention.” You nodded silently as he started mapping things out for you, “This rack is all new release vinyls. We change most of them out weekly, depending on what kind of album drops there are.” He started walking towards the middle of the store, walking between the rows of shelves, “Everything is sorted by genre first and then alphabetical order.” You listened intently as he sped through the rundown, “We keep bargain bins down here.” He pulled open a cabinet door below one of the tables, revealing crates full of vinyls with torn and worn sleeves, “These are all used and donated, we sell them for $3 a piece or we do 10 for $10. It’s hit or miss, some work, some don’t.” Closing the cabinet, he moved to a different part of the store. You trailed quietly alongside him, soaking up all of the information he was spewing. After about 20 minutes, he’d looped you both back to the front, “Let’s see if you’ve kept up…” He crossed his arms over his chest, waiting to see if you’d maintained any of the knowledge.

“Okay…” You took a deep breath, “Here we have new releases. They get updated weekly, unless there aren’t any good drops.” You continued throughout the space, pouring everything he’d given you back out to him, until you made it to the checkout counter, “Limited Edition vinyls are kept behind the counter, the new inventory delivery comes every Friday morning at 8am sharp, and I think that’s everything…?”

Jake was nodding his head, surprisingly impressed, “Not bad, peach.” He glanced at the clock on the wall, “We got a half hour before we open at 11.” He plucked your application from the counter where you’d left it, “I’m gonna get through some paperwork. You can-” He was cut off by the sound of footsteps coming from the back of the store. “Liv? I thought we wouldn’t see you until summer?” He greeted the short, blonde girl.

She had a stereotypical valley girl accent, “Finished my semester early, figured you guys needed me more than UCLA.” She gave him a smile that looked like she wanted to devour him. Her eyes flashed to you dismissively before flying back to Jake, “You here by yourself? I can clock in and help out.”

You shifted on your feet, feeling out of place, and Jake took notice, “Not alone today, I have peach, here, to help out.” He nodded towards you.

“Peach?” She finally took the time to really look you over, “Were your parents hippies or something?”

You opened your mouth and closed it again, not sure how to respond, “Uhh. No, that’s not… My name is Y/N.” You reach out for a handshake, out of respect, but she just stared at your extended hand.

“Cool. I’m Olivia.” And just like that, she directed her attention back to Jake, “Can you fit me on the schedule this week?” She pushed her bottom lip out, looking like a toddler begging for candy, “I know you guys miss me.”

He shook his head with a faint smile, “I’ll talk to Josh.” He left it at that, turning to you, “Take that box and start putting the shit where it goes.” He pointed at the box on the floor.

“Aye aye, captain.” You saluted him with a smile and picked the box up.

A chuckle escaped his mouth and until that moment, you thought he was incapable of feeling joy, “I’ll be in the office if you need anything.” He started to walk around the counter, “I’ll let you know about the schedule, Liv.” He slipped through the door and closed it behind him, leaving you with the girl.

To avoid conversation, you gripped the box in your arms and lifted it to counter to begin sorting through it. Pulling out a stack of vinyls, you carried them through the store, fitting them into their rightful places. You hadn’t realized Olivia was following you until her low, grating voice creeped into your ears, “So…How did you get a job here?” She was watching you carefully, almost like she was waiting for you to make a mistake, “Jake is suuuper picky about who he hires.”

You looked at the last vinyl in the stack you were carrying, “Uhm, I just came in here yesterday to look at something and Josh offered me the job.” Moving through the tables, you went to the Country section and tucked the album away, “Jake gave me a shirt and told me to be here at 9am, so here I am.”

She was standing so close to you that you almost ran into her as you turned around to retrieve more from the box, “Here you are…” She sounded annoyed, but you ignored it as you pushed past her.

You went about your business for the next several minutes, finishing the task that Jake had given you, as she lingered through the store, watching you work while she pretended to browse the music. You pulled the empty box from the counter, ready to ask your boss what he wanted you to do next, when the bell on the front door chimed. You turned around to see a man come in and go straight to the New Release rack. He perused for a few moments before moving to the tables to search through the records. You expected Jake to emerge from the office, but he never did. After a few minutes of the guy looking entirely lost in his search, you took a deep breath and made your way over to him. Your eyes flicked to Olivia to see her staring at you, a cocky grin on her face. “Hi, can I help you find something, hun?” You put on your best customer service smile as he turned to face you.

“Actually yeah…” He looked like he was maybe in his early twenties and he seemed nervous, “I’m looking for something for my dad. He just bought himself a record player, but he doesn’t have any records for it.” He gave a shrug, “I don’t really know where to start here.”

This wasn’t as scary as you thought it would be, “Okay, do you know what kind of music he likes? Any specific artist or band?” You waited patiently for him to answer.

He pulled his phone from his pocket, tapping the screen a few times, and held it up to show you, “This is a band right? I think he likes them.” It was a picture of a man, probably his father, wearing a Led Zeppelin tour t-shirt.

Your eyes went back to his face, giving him another sweet grin, “Yeah. Zeppelin’s a great band. Your dad has great taste.” You moved around him to walk him over to the appropriate shelves, “We should have a ton of their stuff… Do you want anything specific?” You had a feeling that he wouldn’t know what to choose.

“I- Well, what would you recommend?” He stood by while you flicked through the selection, “Which one is the best?”

“That’s a tricky question.” You pulled a few vinyls from the display, holding them up one by one, “So, Zep one is a safe choice. It’s their first studio album, really opened up the door for them, plus it’s got a couple really great blues covers.” You slid that one to the back of your stack to reveal the next, “ Two is also good. You get Whole Lotta Love, Ramble On, Heartbreaker.” He was nodding as you pulled your final option forward, “This one is my personal favorite.” You held up the album, showing him the cover with the peeling paint and the old man carrying a bundle of sticks, “I kind of skipped over three, but Zoso…This is their fourth studio album, and arguably the best.” You handed it to the boy to examine, “Going to California is probably my favorite song of all time. But it’s also got Stairway to Heaven and When the Levee Breaks. Black Dog. If your dad is a Led Zeppelin fan, then he’ll definitely appreciate this.”

“You know what, I’ll take this one and the first one you showed me.” You handed him the first album before turning to put the remaining one back on the shelf. He was smiling wide as he took it from you, “So are you like a music expert or something?”

You giggled at his question, “I wouldn’t say expert… Just really appreciative of what’s good.” You were staring at his light blue eyes, almost entranced in them when Jake barked your name from the counter. You jumped, whipping around to look at him with wide eyes. He held his hand up, waving for you to go to him, “Gimme one minute.” You called out to him and went to turn back to the man in front of you, but Jake’s voice rang out louder.

“No. Right now, Y/N.” He was leaning his hands on the countertop, glaring in your direction, but his eyes weren’t on you.

You muttered an apology to the blue-eyed boy, “I’m sorry, I’ll be right back.” You shuffled across the store, embarrassed at how he’d just spoken to you in front of your first customer, but also pissed at how he treated you like you were an insolent child. You stood in front of him, whisper-yelling to avoid further embarrassment, “What the hell, Jake? What did I do?” You looked around, realizing that Olivia was gone.

“You’re here to work, not flirt.” There was an edge to his tone that you couldn’t fully decipher.

“What?” You stared at him in shock, “I wasn’t- I was making a sale! Yanno? What you hired me to do…” Was this conversation even real?

He stepped out from behind the counter, “Go wait in the office, I’ll finish your sale.” You moved to try and stop him but his voice was dangerously low, stopping you in your tracks, “Office, Y/N. I’ll carry you in there myself if I have to.” He turned on his heel, walking towards the customer without another word, and you found yourself obeying his command to wait in the office.

Pushing through the door, you looked around the small space before closing it and dropping into a chair. You were highly considering just quitting as soon as he came in, but at the same time, you didn’t want to. Everything was so confusing… Why did he accuse you of flirting when he wasn’t even there? And why did the possibility of you flirting make him so mad? You sunk further into your seat, pondering your own questions, but the one you needed an answer for most; Why did you so easily bend to his will? You were pulled from your thoughts by the door opening.

“Good to know you’re capable of obeying orders, peach…”

🤍Taglist🤍

@jakekiszkasbuttsweat @ieatedsammy @twistedmelodies @dropdeadalyx31 @ageofbajabule @ohgodthefeeling-gvf @ignite-my-fire @becinabubblegvf @literal-dead-leaf @sanguinebats @myleftsock @laneygvf @writingcold @sinarainbows @lipstickitty @giraffehippy

#jake kiszka #josh kiszka #gvf twin series #greta van fleet #gvf #jake kiszka x reader #josh kiszka x reader #jake kiszka smut #josh kiszka fic #josh kiskza smut #gvf fic #Spotify

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ahgasegotarmy116 · 10 months ago

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Falling Part Four | Jeon Jungkook

Summary: Lana meets some of Jae's friends and you have your first close look at what Jungkook has become. Pairing: Guardian Angel f!reader x Fallen Angel Jungkook Word Count: 1.6k~ a/n: this chapter is a bit shorter but I wanted to have everything what happens at the party be in one chapter and that would've made this one a little too long (plus I'm not even sure what's going to happen at the party yet hehe. I guess we'll all have to wait and see 🤭)

The next few days are almost exactly the same, Lana gets up, we go to classes, she goes to lunch, meets Jae in the hall and they go to trigonometry class together. Lana tries to focus as much as she can while still taking shy glances over to Jae where he somehow always seems to already be looking at her which makes it even harder for her to focus and then after that he walks her to class. The same things day in and day out.

Jae has offered to give Lana a ride home a few more times when they've bumped into each other after school but she, like the smart girl that she is, hasn't said yes yet. As she sits in the place she always waits for her mom at she sees Jae and a few other guys who by the looks of it are probably some of his close friends walking up to her.

"Hey, Lana!" Jae calls out, a smile blooms on her face as she waves, waiting for them to get closer before saying anything. "You waiting for your mom?" he asks, pretty much stating the obvious at this point.

"Yeah, she said she's gonna be a little late but with the weather being so nice I decided to skip out on going to the library today" she replies and takes a couple of glances at the two guys that seem to be just a few steps behind on either side of Jae.

"Hello" she says giving them each a soft smile. "Oh sorry my bad, Lana this is Slash and Rocket, guys this is Lana" he says turning around to stand next to me so I can see them better. "So this is the girl you've been talking about" the one I believe is Rocket teases.

"You've been talking about me?" she questions, turning back to Jae who's ears seem to be getting a little red at the tips. "Um yeah, just a bit" he says scratching the back of his neck.

"Just a bit? More like everyday" Rocket continues, receiving a elbow to the ribs from Jae as a waring to quit talking but he decides to do it back to him in retaliation.

"He comes to hang out with us after he walks you to class so that's why we all know about you" Slash explains to Lana in a monotone while Jae and Rocket continue to mess around in the background.

Despite his clear nickname that I don't even want to know the origin story to, I wouldn't mind being friends with him based on his chill nature alone and I think that Lana agrees from the reaction she gives from learning this new information.

"JK is the one that gets on his case the most though" Rocket yells, earning a playful punch to the gut. "JK?" she questions. If I had a choice I would tell her to stay as far away from him as she possibly could since I know exactly who this 'JK' guy is.

"He's just another one of the guys in the group" Jae explains, slightly out of breath after calling a truce with Rocket and walking back over to us. "Is he the guy yelled your name in the hallway the other day?" she asks.

"Yeah actually, he was. Speak of the devil" Jae says as he looks past Lana and seconds later my bracelet starts to go wild again. Jae's wording although playful is far closer to the truth than he thinks but no one but Jungkook and I will ever know the truth. "Hey JK!" Rocket says, the ever energetic one of the group. (His nickname I can see now matches him perfectly)

"Hey" Jungkook says flashing a smile at the group, but not one I'm used to. This one is cocky and full of confidence that I can only imagine stems from his nature of being a newly materialized fallen angel. A deviously glint in his eyes shows when he finally takes notice of Lana.

"Hey" he says in a husky voice which I hate to admit still affects me no matter how much I would love to lie to myself. Lana simply replies with a shy smile and a barely audible greeting, clearly caught off guard by how handsome he is.

I get it girl, I really do but trust me, no good can come from falling for a heartbreaker like him. I would know...

"This must be Lana" Jungkook says and Jae stands next to her protectively, trusting Jungkook but also making it clear that she's his. "Yeah, you're JK right?" she asks, "Smart girl" he taunts, knowing that it'll get under Jae's skin. I swear if this man doesn't back off of Lana I will-

"Anyways, are you gonna bring her to the party tomorrow night?" Jungkook asks before Jae can scold him for talking to her like that.

"What party?" Lana asks, turning all of her attention to Jae. "It's a party JK is throwing for Jae since he's new in town" Rocket says, jumping the gun to bring some focus back on him.

He's clearly more excited than the rest of them at the thought of inviting Lana. Why you might ask? Honestly I have no clue. I swear it's like this boy is the embodiment of the energizer bunny.

"You don't have to come if you don't want to" Jae says, knowing that Lana's mom probably wouldn't want her there and hopefully taking some of the pressure off of her. "Of course she does. You can't have a party without your girl there" Jungkook says, guilt tripping both Lana and Jae. "Your girl?" Lana says again turning towards Jae this time with a playful look on her face.

Jae throws a sideways glance at Jungkook and he's met with a mischievous glint that I can probably assume is one of his new accessories to his personality and it's not something that I'm particularly fond of.

Jae take Lana's hand and pulls her away from the rest of the group as they tease Jae mercilessly still as they walk away but he makes sure to stop when they're far enough for the sound to drown out a bit so they can talk without an audience.

"Don't listen to them they're just teasing" Jae says, a little more on edge from the whole scene. "They seemed nice" Lana laughs, taking some of the weight off of Jae's shoulders. "You think?" he asks, feeling a bit better by seeing her unfiltered reaction. "Yeah! They're a little rowdy and not my average crowd but they were fun!" she says making eye contact and smiling up at him.

Jae visibly melts at Lana's reaction, thankful that she wasn't upset and is clearly getting even more whipped for her than I had originally thought. They've both got it bad for each other.

"Okay good. I was a little nervous when Rocket practically demanded to meet you when we were walking by and then with JK coming too I just-" "Jae, it's fine. I promise you I'm not made out of glass" she says cutting off Jae's rambling and reassuring him.

"Okay good" he lets out in a sigh of relief. "So what do you think?" he asks, anxiously awaiting her answer. "What do I think about what?" she says catching onto what he's referring to but playing coy nonetheless. "Will you go to the party with me?" he asks taking a step closer to her and brushing a strand of hair off of her face.

"Yes" she says smiling up at him, suddenly losing that shyness that she had when she first met Jae and replacing it with a funny feeling, almost as if she would melt if possible.

"Perfect" he says and just before he can say anything else Lana gets a text from her mom saying she's about five minutes away. "Crap my mom is almost here, I've gotta go" she says, rushing over to the bench to grab her stuff. He follows after her, smiling at her cute reaction and goes up to say his goodbyes.

"So I'll see you tomorrow?" he asks, looking down at his shoes for a second with his hands in his pocket, clearly shy about the whole ordeal. She hums in approval and gets on her tippy toes and gives him a quick kiss on the cheek. "See you tomorrow" she says and walks off to the pickup spot where her mom will pull up a few minutes later.

As Lana waits for her mom to get here I look back over at Jae and his friends where they are all giving him high fives, clearly congratulating him on the kiss as well as getting Lana to say yes to the party but one in particular has his eyes lingering on Lana, or more in Lana's direction as I can see how Jungkook's eyes are looking every where looking for something as he messes with his bracelet that he's been trying to ignore this whole time.

I can only assume he's looking for me but I can't tell what kind of reaction he would have if he were to see me already. Without a doubt though I know that he knows I'm Lana's guardian angel so I guess it's only a matter of time until we meet again. I just wish that Lana wasn't turning eighteen so soon because I still don't know what I am going to do when I finally have to face him...

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kerubimcrepin · 7 months ago

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An Afterword: talking about Welsh and Shedar

While we are done with the movie and the show, it cannot be understated, just how much we still have to cover. Both in terms of canon, and things out of the realm of canon.

And this includes interviews, and things that never got made.

[source]

The thing that often bothers me, is that the creator of the franchise that my most favorite cartoon of all time is a part of, probably despises said cartoon.

I can't not think about that, when I see Simone and other Aux Tresors characters reused in Wakfu season 4 as background character assets, or when I think about how every show except Aux Tresors has had an OST released, or how the only Aux Tresors companion in Waven is Lou. Though I know, logically speaking, that it's more likely because it's just not very popular.

youtube

Funnily enough, I personally, and rather selfishly, think that Welsh & Shedar's demise is probably the greatest fortune to happen to this franchise. What was one of the worst things to ever happen to Tot was one of my greatest fortunes. (I would not care about Joris as a character, had Kerubim never existed. The cartoon, and their relationship, mean a lot to me, for personal reasons.)

To Tot, the thing that I love the very most has cannibalized one of his life's dreams. Starting with the resources, and ending with character designs themselves. Even the character design of a fucking cat??

As an artist myself, I can't even begin to imagine the horror of that, and yet... I feel nothing but joy. It's quite weird, how life works.

The good news is that Welsh and Shedar has been resurrected by Ankama (watch as it gets a full artbook and an OST release before Aux Tresors, an 11 year show that still doesn't have those, yes I am bitter), so, it is mostly water under the bridge. We will hopefully get to enjoy both, in a couple of years.

[source]

But I feel like it's very likely, that a lot of Aux Tresors and the way Tot may feel about it, was influenced by this disaster, and I couldn't begin this post without addressing that.

So, what was, or could be in the future, Welsh and Shedar?

A plot summary from the youtube trailer's description, just as filled with Tot's overwhelming sadness as everything else relating to W&S's cancellation, man, goes as follows: "Here is the trailer for an animated series project launched in 2012 which has very little chance of arriving on your screens. The story is that of Welsh, a young boy forced to fight for an inheritance he never knew existed: that of the throne of the Kingdom of Bonta. Ankama’s “animation” department has plenty of ideas behind its graphics tablets: series, special episodes, films, our brains are always buzzing! However, not all projects are lucky enough to reach you…"

So basically, it was/is/will be a story about a young man, or boy, who finds out he is the next in line for Bonta's throne, and is taken there by Joris. How all of this happens is rather murky, AKA:

Anyway,

Tot has reported that his idea for this series was quite similar to the anime "Ranking of Kings", which I had sadly not watched. Make of that what you will.

When does Welsh & Shedar take place?

Firstly, I will say that, because of how much Tot loves this series, for years it was in a state of vague canonicity. AKA "it did likely happen, but it has never been produced so we don't know WHAT it is, that happened there. There sure was a guy named Welsh at some point."

What points to this is 1. Khan's old man design still being canon,

And 2. This usage of Welsh & Shedar-era Joris in an official timeline. It says that Joris would have been 60 years old, in this series.

Obviously, this timeline is subject to change, if/when Welsh & Shedar becomes real, and there are a lot of things we don't know!

Some curiosities...

Funnily enough, there exists this image, which was leaked by a French site when Aux Tresors began airing, — mistakenly used as promo for the series.

It could be depicting some other draft of W&S where Joris is a kid. Or, it could be depicting something between Aux Tresors and W&S, from when Ankama had to make something new up to take W&S's place.

It yet again makes me yearn for an Aux Tresors art book. Because seriously. What does this even mean.

Anyway thank you france for killing W&S, making Aux Tresors (the PEAK.... the SLAY.....) real, and now resurrecting W&S. We truly do live in the kindest timeline 🙏

#welsh&shedar #ro liveblogs dofus #dofus #wakfu #krosmoz #Youtube

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ningningsdream · 2 years ago

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the villain in your story | part forty five

word count: 1.2k

SUHTURDAY

you arrived at the coffee shop fifteen minutes after it opening, thankfully there was not a lot of people yet. clients start coming in around 9-10AM before going to work and since you were in a business district, a lot of people came around that time. you could see renjun's panicked face turn into relief as he saw you walk into the coffee shop, "oh thank god you're here!", renjun whispered-shouted at you.

"why are we whispering?", you whispered back at him.

"i don't want them to hear us.", he replied, pointing discreetly towards the office.

you nodded with an okay sign then making your way behind the counter and into the employee only area. you put your apron on and clip your hair back before coming out again. you greeted the customers at the counter and started making the orders renjun took in. the two of you worked hard for an hour and a half before the coffee shop got quiet again.

"oh gosh, really, thank you for coming.", renjun said, full of gratefulness, "i don't think taeyong planned on firing her today but i guess when he saw her almost drop the custom pre ordered cakes for this afternoon, he snapped and called her into the office."

you nodded, understanding the situation, "i can't even imagine his stress level if she dropped them. it's like our first big custom order and i know they both hesitated on accepting it because we're a coffee shop, not a bakery but taeyong's been obsessed with baking lately."

"oh my god, you noticed too? i thought i was becoming crazy. i can't even count the amount of times he asked me to try some cakes he just made. they were all so good though, i think i gained 10kg.", renjun exaggerated his words for comedic purposes, which worked as you laughed.

"i helped him with some of those.", you said proudly, "it's great having someone as interested as me in baking."

"well, if you need anyone to try out your recipes...i volunteer as tribute."

"noted.", you smiled at him before the door of the coffee shop opened, the sound of the bell above it making the two of you turn your attention to the door, ready to greet the customer. instead of a stranger or a regular of the coffee shop, you were faced with the smiley face of one of your friends, "jimin? what are you doing here?", you asked, excited to see her.

"i can ask you the same question.", jimin replied, going around the counter to greet you with a hug.

"renjun called me to help him this morning.", you replied, wrapping your arms around her like a child who finally found her mom after she got out of their sight.

"this morning? was there more people than usual?"

"not really but...", renjun started lowering his voice, "jiwoo is getting fired."

"oooh, i see.", jimin nodded, "i came by because i forgot something in the changing room. i'll just go get it and be on my way."

jimin walked towards the staff only door, leaving the two of you alone again, "why is it taking so long?", renjun said, nodding towards the office.

"she must be crying while taeyong is trying to comfort her.", you said, gazing at the door.

you were right. it took taeyong an hour to nicely wrap the firing into something that wouldn't make jiwoo feel so bad but it failed completely as she started crying. taeyong didn't know how to deal with it so he just let her be until she calmed down, whispering comforting words from time to time.

"it's gonna be alright. there's plenty of other jobs out there.", taeyong said.

jiwoo nodded with a snif. she got up from her chair and gave a little bow to taeyong, "thank you for giving me a chance."

"it's all good, hope to see you again.", taeyong smiled, opening the door for her.

the sound of a door opening made renjun and you stopped in your conversation. jiwoo glanced at you two behind the counter, in your suhturday uniform, probably having a great conversation before being interrupted. she should've been the one standing in your place, catching jaemin's attention, getting along with his friends, or at least, she thought it should've been her, but you were there. you've been getting in her way lately and she didn't like that new behavior of yours at all. sure, you were always impatient and hated when she repeated the same mistakes over and over again, but never had you gotten so worked up about her crush over jaemin. she didn't like that you've become so close with him, like you've been stealing him away from her. seeing you standing there all happy, living the life she should've lived was just so infuriating. she still had the last conversation the two of you had through text and all the tweets of your trip in mind, which made her even angrier, combined to the fact that taeyong told her that they had been many complaints about her work, jiwoo was convinced that they were from you. maybe in an attempt to chase her away from the coffee shop and from jaemin.

whatever the reason, she saw red.

"you! i can't believe you're doing this to me. and you call yourself my friend?", jiwoo almost screamed, walking towards you, "i was fired. are you happy now? because it was your goal all along, right? making all those fake complaints about me? you're pathetic." she continued to spat at you from the other side of the counter.

you were taken aback by the aggression. your first thought was to the customers. you looked around the coffee shop and a few clients were present, some had their headphones on, thankfully, but others were fully aware of what was going on and acted as if they didn't, still listening in by curiosity.

by the time you had processed everything that needed to be processed by your brain, from the customers to taeyong's shocked face to renjun's clenched fist, a voice echoed from behind you, "they were from everyone else but y/n, actually.", jimin said, standing in front of the 'staff only' door. she probably got out when she heard jiwoo screaming, "me, renjun, jeno, some customers, even jaemin.", she emphasized on the last name, knowing damn well he would affect jiwoo the most.

"why don't you stop embarrassing yourself and get out of there before i get really mad.", you said in a calm toned whatsoever, sending chills down the spine of the people listening. it wasn't that you didn't have the balls to scream back at her. you were just aware of the fact that you were currently representing suhturday in your uniform and you didn't want your actions to impact johnny and taeyong's business in any bad way, so you just took a deep breath and kept everything inside.

jiwoo stomped out the place like a child and left all of you standing there, astonish. you turned to taeyong, bowing 90 degrees, "i'm sorry for that.", you straightened up and turned towards the clients present, looking at you. you bowed again at them, apologizing for the disturbance.

main masterlist | tviys masterlist

pairing: fem!oc x barista!jaemin, fembarista!reader x barista!jaemin

genre: fluff, angst, suggestive, barista!au, sns au

summary: girls' code prevents you from liking the guy your friend likes right?

a/n: jiwoo finally fired but still getting on everyone's nerve until the end

taglist: [@glamourizz @rinrinslovebot @beomibeom @moonjobf @hiqhkey @calssunflower @donghyuckster @vianna99 @kookiedesi @baehaechannie @nshimura @thiccfullsun @dear-dreamie @neobowlingshoez @jjaehmins @liliansun @bythe8 @hyuckrec @dearlyminhyung @ohmygs-blog @hoeshi17 @wonupuppy @shan-oldham @jeongintwt @renjunoya @najm00 @sukistrawberry @goldryush @000rpheus @sfthyuka ]

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redjademilktea · 4 months ago

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Hello hello!! I don't usually write things for Doctor Who, but I've been having the world's worst writers block and for some reason the only thing my brain wanted to actually put out into the world was this silly idea I had about an alternative Fourteenth Doctor. For some reason, this silly little part-of-a-story (or, first chapter in a longer fic?) is the only thing that would unclog my brain and allow me to actually write. It worked, and I am able to continue diss writing again, but I figured I'd share what I wrote here just so this thing has a purpose other than unblocking my writers block haha.

For context: this is an alternate idea for the Fourteenth Doctor. What if, instead of reaching for the face of a previous incarnation, the Doctor at the moment of her regeneration in Power of the Doctor instead reached for a past companion? One whose loss the Doctor had not yet fully processed? Whose presence meant so much to them? What if, when the Doctor regenerated, she found herself with Clara's face, instead of Ten's?

This story is my excuse to imagine Jenna Coleman as the Doctor, because she was incredible in Flatline (and all throughout her time on the show)!! And I wanted to see more of that. So, Clara!Doctor it is!!

This story takes place right after The Power of the Doctor and Thirteen's regeneration on those rocks by the ocean. The story itself largely occurs in Monterey, California, USA in October, 1994. It's not complete, but I actually will probably finish this up, since it was so fun to write. What I have of the story below!!

----

"Blossomiest blossom." The Doctor took in a deep, labored breath. She felt it surging now, the burst of temporal, regenerative energy jolting through her core. "That's the only sad thing, I want to know what happens next."

How many more sunrises would she get to see? How many more planets would she set foot on, the endless stars dotting their skies, stretching out towards infinity. So much possibility, all of it rapidly fading as the orange pink of sunrise crested into the more tangible reality of day.

How many more traps were there to purposefully walk into? And to barely escape from by the skin of her teeth and a face full of mattress (she still hand't thanked the TARDIS properly for that, for another lifetime, she supposed)? How many more beaches, endless waves and cool ocean rocks skipping along the rolling waters? How many more stones cast, hoping, wishing, begging that it could go on forever?

How many more places and timezones would she flee to, skip by, before the stones, the wishes ran out? How many more faces, how many more life times, until it all catches up to her? The angry, vengeful tide of time lost crashing over her like a ravenous tsunami? How many more scoops of ice cream would she muster up, before-

Well, no time for that now. That's up to the next one.

"Right then, Doctor-whoever-I'm-about-to-be," she smiled, the gentle warmth of the steady sunrise blending with the growing fire of change within her. "Tag, you're it."

----

She blinked. "She" was still the right way to describe who was doing the blinking, right? It felt correct. About the only thing that felt certain right now. That and the crashing waves. Why were there waves?

She looked down, tattered grey coat flapping in the cool breeze, enough to put out the remaining embers. She wobbled slightly as she attempted to ground herself.

Speaking of the ground, it was definitely closer now. About three inches closer. No. That wasn't right. She wasn't hunching like normal. Is that normal now? How was her posture? She should check now that she's- Wait, no, focus! Focus! What was she doing? That's right the ground. It was four inches closer, not three. Silly, silly...

An ominous clang from about twenty feet behind her. That was odd. That sounded incredibly familiar. Not a good familiar. The thought excited her. Oh, excited? Do ominous noises excite her now? She supposed they always did, to a degree, but something about the possibility here, the unknown, made the hair on her neck stand. Oh, she had a neck! More good news. What other body parts were-

Another clang, louder, more demanding. As if the sound was deliberately calling to her. She turned around, her hazy vision clarifying on the visage of a blue box. Box. Ship. Home. ...TARDIS!

Oh. The TARDIS, with scorch marks crisscrossing the front paneling. That must have been- She really needed to be more careful of where she chose to do this sort of thing.

She rushed towards the door, fumbling for where she left... The door openy thing. The metal jangly thing that let her inside places. Sonic! Wait no, that's not right. K-key! Yes her key. Where was-

The door clicked open as if pulling her inside. That certainly saved her rather valuable brains capacity to better orient herself. She ran towards it, the breeze blowing her hair back on the way in. Hair! Was it- No. Not ginger. She would know if it was ginger. That's not something one could miss. This hair felt... Well she didn't know what it felt like. It felt a little longer than last time, about shoulder length. It felt... well whatever it felt like, it didn't feel ginger. Maybe next go around.

Another clang rang out as she made her way towards the console. The dazzling array of vibrant and emphatically glowing buttons caused her already racing hearts-beat to skyrocket in anticipation. So many buttons. So many options. She should spend some time to figure out- Unless... she hand't pressed that one before. Who knows what that one did. She better check. It could very well solve whatever had the TARDIS acting up. At the very least she'll know that it wouldn't fix it. And knowledge gleaned was knowledge gleaned.

She reached for the blaring button, eyes glimmering with anticipation. The smirk was already firmly on her face before it registered in her mind. What next? She hit the button.

With a loud whirr and an even louder crash, she found herself on the floor, no mattress in sight to break her fall. Another crash sent her careening towards one of the glowing pillars surrounding the console. She may have to re-check her posture after that one. Reassess.

Another explosion and a screeching whirr and another toss and-

----

October 25th, 1994 - 3:32 PM

Monterey, CA, USA

Cass sighed. She hated working on Tuesdays. Granted, she hated working here on any given day, but Tuesdays were a particularly awful experience.

She looked around the diner, idly noting the older woman in the corner sitting with a coffee and her newspaper and the family of tourists seated towards the counter. For a brief moment, she considered checking in on either table before deciding against it. There were only so many times she could ask if they needed refills before it started affecting her tip.

Another exacerbated sigh. All the empty tables had been wiped down. The floor was spotless. All dishes and cups were cleaned and put away. All the décor dusted (a notable feat to be sure, the eccentric collection of 1950s themed paraphernalia seemed to always have some pore or crevice or corner that needed cleaning, the task was almost sisyphean in Cass's opinion).

She walked over to the photo of John Steinbeck hung over the jukebox in the corner, the tinny chiming of Buddy Holly and the Crickets growing louder as she approached. She leaned over to realign the portrait. Whether or not the portrait was askew before was unimportant, the goal of sating her boredom was accomplished. As she pulled back to admire her unnecessary handiwork, the door chimed.

"Grab a table wherever, I'll be with you in-" the familiar sight of Mae's denim jacket caught the corner of Cass's eye as she glanced over the photo. Perfectly straight. Like it had been before. She turned to face her friend more fully.

"Slow day huh," Mae said, nodding her head in the direction of the portrait.

"You could say that," Cass responded, smirking as she headed towards the counter. "You want the usual?"

"I could probably use it, got a long night of fish house keeping ahead of me I guess."

"At least it's not the otters."

"If it was the otters I'd at least have a cute reason for smelling like death."

"Fair," Cass laughed as she finished pouring the coffee into the mug. She slid it over to Mae, who had taken up her usual stool at the end of the counter. "Anything new going on?"

"Other than grad research and fish kicking my ass? Not much really," Mae answered, taking a small sip and blowing on the surface of the coffee in an effort to cool it.

"Gonna at least head out this weekend for the beach before the weather gets too bad?" Cass leaned onto the counter, giving Mae her full attention.

"I can't. Oh! I didn't tell you. I got new ink!" Mae shrugged off her loose jacket to reveal the sight of a wrapped tattoo on her upper arm. "So freaking cool, right?"

Cass looked over the tattoo, the wisping clouds of inky smoke surrounding the number 27. The font was striking, and the line work and artistry lent itself to the gothic imagery that Mae so readily embraced.

"Woah, this looks incredible," Cass moved closer. For a half second, she swore the smoke looked like it was drifting up. She blinked. The static image remained before her. Brushing the tinge of confusion aside, Cass looked back up at Mae. "Where'd you get it done?"

"This new place that opened up a few blocks down. Jaime told me about it."

At that, Cass raised an eyebrow. "I thought you were 'never talking to that asshole again'?"

"Look, he helped me after his shift was over and I was drowning in work. Can you blame me? Plus, I'm not not gonna notice a sick tattoo like this, regardless of what asshole it's attached to."

Cass sighed as she met Mae's eyes, the green of them assuaging her mild annoyance. "Mhmm. Just... be careful this time? Okay?"

"Hey, I learned my lesson. You don't have to worry," a smile lined with the warmth of affection grew on Mae's face. "Plus, I know you'll kick his ass if he does something stupid."

At that, Cass laughed more fully. "Sure. But you can't expect me to be there every time a guy needs his ass kicked. I have a life too."

"What? Admiring old Johnny back there keeping you occupied?"

"Hey, careful. He's got grapes of wrath headed your way if you keep talking shit."

"Oh? That's the kind of guy you're into huh?"

A slight sting. It really shouldn't still bother her. She knew what she was signing herself up for when she moved back. The familiar trappings of a well-worn closet. She was used to it. She could handle the gentle suffocation. She was used to it.

"Something like that." Cass pulled back, standing up a little straighter. "I'm always here if you need anything."

"I know," Mae responded, placing a gentle hand over Cass's. Cass found her cheeks flushing slightly. She pulled her hands away.

A loud crash and the frantic cling of the door chime caused both women to jolt upright. They were greeted by the sight of a woman, short, dark brown hair, flowing grey trench coat, all but falling over as she burst through the door.

"Sorry! Sorry." She made eye contact with Cass. Something about the intensity of her gaze threw Cass off balance. "I'm looking for..." the woman sighed, massaging her temples. "What was it?" she squeezed her eyes shut, as if struggling to keep focus. "Paper clips! Yes, do you happen to have 3 paper clips? About this big? Or a stapler. But no more than half full."

Cass blinked, the shock giving way to utter bewilderment. She looked to Mae, who wore a similarly confounded expression.

"Half full... of staples?" Cass managed to find her voice.

"That's it," the woman responded. Was that... British? "Actually, I take that back. The paper clips are probably more versatile. Unless you happen to have those smaller ones that you can carry around and open up. Not the bulky ones. Those will-"

The woman stopped suddenly, as she took in her surroundings. "Hang on," she looked around. Cass followed her line of sight as she scanned the diner. "Have I been here before?"

While Cass honestly had very little idea what was happening in the scene unfolding before her, she certainly knew the answer to that question.

"Definitely not," Cass said.

"Are you sure?" the woman responded, continuing her survey of the space around her. Her brow furrowed.

"I think I'd remember if a British lady with a scorched jacket stumbled into here before, yeah." Cass said, a bemused grin now firmly in place.

"British la- Oh that's right! Does it still suit me?"

"What?"

"Never mind. I'm sure it does. Your accent... American. With a bit of vocal fry. Californian? Not Southern Californian. Am I in California?"

"Wow," Mae blurted out, breaking her stunned silence. She turned back to Cass, matching her incredulous smile. "And... where did you think you were?"

"Last I remember, by the ocean," the woman whipped around, looking out the diner window. "And it looks like I still am. Different ocean though. Judging by the wave patterns at least."

"And that ocean was... here? On planet Earth?" Mae asked. Cass swatted at her non-tattooed arm. "What?"

"Don't make fun of her."

"I'm just curious!"

"The Atlantic if I'm remembering right," the woman continued on, seemingly unfazed. "Last few hours are a bit fuzzy," the woman responded, still firmly peering out the window at the beach.

"I bet they are," Mae said under her breath. "Ow, hey!"

Cass pulled back her hand from the follow-up swat. Then, to the woman, "Are... Are you alright? Can I get you anything? Call... some... one...?" Her voice trailed off, uncertain of what she was even supposed to do in a situation like this.

"What like a doctor?" Mae laughed.

At that, the woman turned around. "Why? Do you know one?" She quickly made her way back to the counter.

"No. At least not personally?" Mae responded, taken aback by the woman's sudden proximity.

"Oh. Shame. I feel like a doctor would be helpful right now, but I can't put a finger on why. Wait." The woman turned back abruptly, heading straight towards the portrait of John Steinbeck in the corner. "Oh, old Johnny. I haven't seen him since the whole thing with those angry grapes."

Mae and Cass exchanged looks. The woman stepped back slightly.

"If he's here then... Monterey? Cannery Row. And..." the woman walked over and yanked the newspaper out of the hands of the elderly person who was taking in the scene in stunned silence. "Ah! 1994." She placed the paper back into the older woman's hands. "I figured, with a coat like that," the woman nodded her head towards Mae.

"Wh-wait what is that supposed to mean?" Mae stuttered as Cass burst out with laughter. "Have you even looked at what you're weari-"

Suddenly, a loud whirlwind of noise emanated from outside. A cacophony of caws echoed through the air, almost filling Cass's lungs and knocking her over with their sheer volume. A scream from a man rang out as a blur of black feathers swarmed past the window.

"What was that?" Cass said, moving towards the window. The woman followed.

"Ravens," was her only response before she all but ran out the door. Cass looked at Mae and then out to the rest of the diner. Before she could even begin to second guess herself, she took off after the woman.

----

"Hey!" Cass shouted as she gasped for breath. This woman was incredibly quick. She seemed to change directions as fast as she changed trains of thought. "Wait! What are you-"

The woman turned her head as Cass caught up to her, but she didn't slow down. "Aren't you still on the job?" is all she responded with as she bolted towards the source of the sound.

A large flock of ravens circled the late afternoon sky. Further down the road by the pier, a man stood, seemingly at the center of the confluence of feathers and caws. The man screamed again. As Cass and the woman closed in, she could make out the terrified look that locked itself onto the man's face. He stood in the plaza at the front of the pier, in front of a monument depicting several bronze figures in various poses around and on top of a jutting pile of rocks. The ravens circled, cries increasing in volume. The cacophony was almost disorienting.

The woman stopped on the corner of the street, directly across from where the man whose growing panic manifested in more regular screams. The ravens seemed to respond, almost a delighted symphony of calls, as if toying with the man. Cass came to a crashing halt at the woman's abrupt cessation of movement. The looming red of the building next to them seemed to amplify the sheer confusion and anxiety now rippling through Cass.

"What's-" Cass panted, "What's happening?!"

"Quantum shades." The woman responded, plainly.

"Qua- what?"

"Quantum shades. I've seen this before. Where have I seen this before?" The woman began rubbing her temples, her eyes squeezing shut as if struggling desperately to recall something.

"This is a common thing?" Cass asked. She wasn't sure what answer she was expecting. Or what answer would quell her frayed nerves.

"Not common. At least not in this corner of the universe anyway. Not right now at least. Give it twenty years. Hang on!" the woman seemed to light up at an apparent connection that flew right over Cass's head. Along with about twenty thousand other things, she supposed. "That sounds familiar! You don't plan on stranding yourself in London a few decades from now do you?" the woman gave an inquisitive look at Cass. Cass could only respond by opening and closing her mouth several times.

Suddenly, the beats of wings and the rain of dark feathers grew more frantic. The man continued to let out horrified yelps as he climbed the center art fixture, crouching among the statues in a vain attempt to find cover. In response to this, the woman reached into her flowing coat and produced a peculiar looking device.

It was gleaming silver, intricate patterns carved along it. The shape and bend of the object was akin to a bulky looking spoon, however the "handle" end of the object was capped off with a strange looking stone.

The woman held up the device, pointing it at the frenzied flock. With a whir, the stone at the top of the device glowed a bright orange as it rotated. Cass's eyes widened at the sight. The woman held the device sideways, as if reading something. Her face shifted from determined curiosity into worry.

"That's what I was afraid of," she said, eyes shifting back to the man.

"What's happening? Is he alright?" Cass asked. Her worry for the man's safety doubling.

The woman seemed to consider her question for a moment. She turned to face Cass more fully. Her deep brown eyes betrayed a calculating stare, as if she was assessing every aspect of Cass's being. Cass shuddered.

She seemed to find what she was looking for, as she stepped back slightly and straightened her posture. "Quantum shades," she repeated. "Beings of pure probability. Their motives are..." the woman paused, looking back at the terrified man who was now attempting to swat away the circling birds. "Their motives are hard to pin down. Almost like they change the moment you look away." A rueful smirk appeared on her face. "But some outcomes are more likely." She began walking slowly towards the man, a stunned Cass right behind her.

"These birds? Are quantum... They- they're not crows?" Cass asked, a half a step behind the woman.

"Ravens." the woman corrected. "And no. They take on a form when observed. Otherwise, they exist purely as a wave function across space and time."

"Across space and..." Cass muttered under her breath. "Okay... then what do they want with that man?"

"They're hunting." At Cass's bewildered expression, the woman expanded. "They feed off of the unrealized potential of a being's wave function. Every being, every object, every particle has a wave function. It represents all the possible paths one can take. For example, I could turn right and walk down the street at this moment. Just totter off. And never look back."

"And you're not going to?"

At that, the woman smiled. She looked down at the name tag on Cass's lapel. "Cass, eh? Good name. I'm... I'm..." the woman stopped in her tracks, brows furrowed. "Ugh I knew I was forgetting something! Never mind," she turned back to Cass. "Like I was saying. I could bugger off in that direction. Stop by for a cuppa at a café. Maybe take a stroll through the aquarium near sunset."

Cass raised an eyebrow. "And...?"

"And, I could keep walking straight. Right towards that man. These choices. All of it is possible. And they radiate out across time and space as a wave function. Some things are more likely than others of course, but anything is possible."

"I don't understand," Cass said, looking towards the scene before her. "What does this... why do they want him?"

Another scream as the ravens began pointedly swooping in, swiping at the man'n shoulder.

"What are they doing?" Cass asked, stepping forward as if compelled. She didn't understand why. But she wanted to do... something. "What- Can we help him?"

The woman turned back, smile returning more fully now. "Now you're asking the right questions." She reached out, and before Cass could process it, the woman had her by the hand and was pulling her towards the central plaza.

"Quantum shades hunt by collapsing the wave function of a being into a single." The woman explained, pulling Cass along. "Every possibility, every moment of their possible futures, every place they can run..." The man swatted furiously as he continued to scream, clinging to the peak of the rock pile. "All transfixed into one point on the fabric of space and time. And that point becomes their death."

"They're going to- How do we help him?" Cass's fear had melted away slightly, to her surprise. In its place, something strange. Determination?

"That all depends on what kind of shades we're dealing right now. Right now. I should clarify." The woman held up her silvery device again. "If I scan them, it should collapse their wave function to this moment and we can get a read on what their goal is." A whir, then a few more buzzing sounds as the woman squinted at the device. "Like I said, some things are more likely than others. It looks like these shades are looking for..." A grim look flashed across her face. "Unrealized potential."

"His unrealized potential."

"Yes." The woman responded, flatly. "Alright Cass," she grabbed onto Cass's hand again. "Let's put those waitressing skills to the test, yeah?"

----

#doctor who #fic #my fic #thirteenth doctor #clara oswald #basically 'I thought Jenna Coleman played an incredible Doctor in Flatline'#'and I wanna see what it would look like if she played the Doctor full time'#the fic

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