#I took SO MANY pictures it's hard to narrow them down

[saints-who-never-existed]

Cutty Sark <3

[luveline]

Hey jade!! i love your writing so much<3

Also what do you think of prison!spencer × Stripper!reader?👀

im not sure if this is what you meant but I hope you like it ♡ fem, 1.2k

"Too much," you murmur to yourself, tilting your head one way and then the other. The bags under your eyes have been dark lately from a severe lack of sleep, but all this makeup won't help make tips. "Way too much." 

You lean back to ask one of the girls for a wet wipe but the dressing room is empty. Swearing to yourself, you duck down for your bag. You have tissues, and they'll have to do it. 

Things have been hard since Spencer's… event. You don't sleep well without him, worse wondering what it is he's going through right now. His friends don't really know that you're seeing one another, and so being kept in the loop has felt akin to begging for scraps. You miss Agent Hotchner in times like this. He always had a soft spot for you. 

You hum a song under your breath as you rub the cakey makeup under your eyes. Washing your face would be nice. Going home would be better. You've been trying to make some extra money in case Spencer never comes home; you won't have his security to fall back on if things fall apart here. 

You don't want his security. You just want him to come home. Sighing, you pick up your phone and open the gallery app. It's a second hand thing you got at a pawn shop but it has enough storage to keep as many blurry photos of your boyfriend as you'd like. Pictures of him everywhere and doing everything, his big smile like a beacon. 

You stop scrolling when you find the one you want. It's favourited with a red heart at the bottom of the screen. Spencer took it, you remember —you were too busy kissing his cheek to navigate the settings. He looks happy. You could never understand how happy he is to be with you, how through everything, a long time of knowing one another and a hundred thousand acts of a kindness you didn't deserve, he's stayed by your side. He doesn't care that you're a dancer. He's proud of your choices. He loves you for you, even if he does get a little jealous every now and then. 

You lay your phone down on the dressing table, cheek flat beside it. "Time to come home, Dr. Reid," you whisper. 

Your phone pings and you ignore it. It pings again and you turn off your notifications. It's probably Spencer's nice friend Penelope, or one of the girls wanting to borrow something. 

You shed your robe to look yourself over in the mirror. The lingerie you're in tonight's not to your taste but a fan favourite, the bra and underwear both plum in colour with lace and black garters to be clipped. You turn to one side and narrow your gaze at a ladder running up your leg. 

You save a bottle of clear nail polish in your bag for this occasion. 

You're sitting on the floor with your leg out in front of you when someone knocks on the door. The girls don't knock. 

If it's a patron you have a taser, and besides, they don't usually knock either. A bouncer, then. 

"Come in, please!" you call lightly. 

You don't bother looking up, a creature of habit. It'll be the same thing as usual, insert man wants to buy insert dance from you for insert amount of time. Are you interested? 

You hum as you paint the rip in your garter. The nail polish will stop it from ripping any further, but you're going to need new ones. 

"You're prettier than when I left. How did you do that?" 

You tip the bottle over as you flinch, you don't care, you look up at the compliment and the familiar voice, and find Spencer standing in the doorway. 

You've pictured this moment multiple times a day since the day he was arrested, hundreds of reactions. In pretty much all of them you throw yourself into his arms and beg him not to leave again, but all those hours of missing him coalesce on top of you. You want desperately to touch him and you end up crying into your hands instead. Tears quicker than you knew they could arrive, hot and thick as your sob. 

"Hey," Spencer says, kneeling down in front of you. He takes your wrists into his hands. "Hey… don't cry." 

You can't help it. 

He wraps his arms around you and lets you sob. "I thought you'd be happy to see me," he murmurs. 

"I missed you," you say, the words dragged from you like agony on a hook. 

"I missed you too." He rubs your back. If he cares that you're in your underwear he doesn't have much to say about it. He eventually started making jokes about all of this stuff when he realised you wouldn't be offended, but he's never cruel about anything. He's far from it now, pulling your shoulder into his chest as he pats your arms. "I'm sorry, honey. I'm really sorry. It got out of control. But, on the bright side…" 

You sniffle and pull your gaze up to his face. When you see the hollows of his cheeks you almost start crying again. "What?" you ask. 

"Well, now I'm cool enough to be your boyfriend." 

You push him backwards and crawl into his lap, knees on either side of him, weight against his abdomen. Your arms weave behind his head and you push your cheek into his likely too hard to be painless. He just sighs in relief. 

"Do you have something in your pocket?" you whisper, your voice stuffy. "Or was prison very hard?" 

He laughs and digs in between you to pull the little box that had been digging into you out of his pocket. "It's for you." 

"Don't want it." 

"I don't care if you want it. I missed our anniversary." 

"I missed you," you say, clinging to him for dear life.

You can't stop hugging him long enough to look. 

Eventually, he peels you off of the floor and you get dressed to go home with him. It takes a long time —you keep stopping to hug him between items of clothing, checking that he's real, that's he's him, even if he looks different now. He has to take the reins or you'll never make it home, pulling your coat over your shoulders and zipping it closed. 

When he's done, he takes your face into both hands. "You've been safe while I was gone? No trouble?" he asks. 

"Nobody messes with me. My boyfriend's in the FBI." 

"Well, we're taking a vacation." He blows out a big breath. "Jesus, I'm sorry, but I really need to kiss you right now." 

"Even though I look junky?" 

"You look perfect." He kisses you before he's finished, his praise smothered by your lips. He kisses you so hard you can't breathe by the end of it. "I'm sorry," he says, pressing a softer one under your eye. "Prison was actually pretty hard." You lean in, lingering nose to nose with him. "I couldn't sleep without you near me." 

"You're only saying that 'cos you saw me in my underwear." 

"Yeah, that's exactly why." He practically giggles. "No, I just love you."

You couldn't sleep without him either. You get home and sleep for days, tangled with each other in bedraggled sheets. 

[honeybeefae]

pls do the sexting prompt (nsfw obv) but i cant pick which bat boy bc i wanna read it for them all so u pick :)

Also this is such a fun idea i cant wait to read them all!!

Passing Notes (Bat Boys x Reader)

BINGO: Sexting

(Okay so obviously we don’t have a phone but we can do it the old-fashioned way ;). I figured I’d do each bat boy since I couldn’t choose either so take your pick or take the lot! Also, Azriel’s took a different turn for sexting but I hope you guys like it? I didn’t want to repeat the same prompt that I did for Cass! Enjoy!)

WARNINGS: Smut

RHYSAND

You were in the library with at least three different books scattered across the table. It was late and you knew your mate was waiting for you in bed but you needed to get this done. You were so close to finding the answers you were looking for in regard to some myth, it was within your grasp so you were going to stay up until it was solved.

A small note appeared in front of you, right as you went to mark something with your pen and you smiled and shook your head.

How cruel to leave your mate alone and cold.

He was such an Illyrian baby. You almost didn’t reply, not wanting to entertain his theatrics, but you couldn’t resist teasing him. 

If you are that desperate for company I’m sure Cassian wouldn’t mind joining you.

It vanished into thin air and you went back to your book, your eyes narrowing as you began scribbling until the note appeared once more. What had you started?

Cassian wouldn’t be keen on the company I wish from you, darling.

You bit down on your bottom lip and crossed your legs. He was in one of those moods and you knew you soon would be as well. The two of you had a very hard time keeping your hands to yourself and when you were working like this, your mate made it his personal mission to distract you in the best way possible.

Your pen hesitated over the paper as you wondered if you wanted to get into this with him but when you saw the image he sent down the bond of his cock in his hands, you folded quickly. 

It looks like you’ve got things taken care of on your end, my Lord. What exactly would my purpose be?

A rush of heat went down to your sex as you shifted in your seat, unable to focus on what was in front of you. He took longer than normal to respond and you couldn’t help but imagine why. At this rate, you would be running to your bedroom before he could even finish his sentence.

I want to make sure you’re taken care of, Y/N. I know that ache inside you is growing, I can feel it. Let me ease it for you.

The sound of your chair scrapping backward was loud as you allowed your hands to wander underneath your pants, finding the wetness of your cunt as you slowly rubbed yourself. Two could play at this game.

It was tricky to write with one hand occupied but you managed, proud of your work as you sent the paper back as well as a sly picture of where your fingers currently were to him.

How would you ease it? I can picture many, many different ways but my favorite is with your head buried between my legs and your cock in my mouth.

Rhysand gave a harsh tug on the bond and you giggled breathlessly, knowing it was a warning to behave. You responded by sending him another image but this time it was of you riding him from earlier, your entire body on fire from how desperately you needed him. 

A soft breeze swept over you as you opened your hazy eyes to find your mate looming over you, his cock standing proudly while his jaw was tight. You smirked, crooking your finger to beckon him forward. He immediately fell to his knees and lifted your legs over his shoulders, kissing the inside of your thigh as you ran a hand through his dark locks. 

“Wicked woman.” He purred, giving you a smoldering look before diving head-first into your cunt. You gasped and arched into him, your tasks long forgotten as you welcomed the distraction.  

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

CASSIAN

“Does everyone understand what we are going to be doing?” Feyre asked while standing at the head of the table, making eye contact with the entire group. They all nodded and you were doing your best to keep up but your mate was making it increasingly hard to do.

Cassian sat beside you, his aura oozing with nonchalance as he slipped a small piece of paper to you. You frowned, trying not to roll your eyes as you opened it underneath the table like you were in school.

I know what I am going to be doing ;)

You coughed to cover up your snort, shooting him a playful glare before shaking your head. Feyre glanced at the two of you but Elain asked something that thankfully got her attention off of you. 

The pen in your hand flew swiftly across the page as you wrote your response, sliding it back over to him and folding your hands in your lap.

I know where you’ll be sleeping if you do not pay attention to our High Lady, General.

He shifted in his seat, a small smirk on his lips as he wrote something down. You sighed, realizing your mistake in playing into his antics while he slid it back over to you again.

How can I pay attention when all I can think about is your hair in my hand, you gripping our headboard, and your cunt gripping my cock?

A small whine was building in the back of your throat as he turned the heat all the way to a ten. You crossed your legs and bit down on your bottom lip, the meeting losing some of its importance as you contemplated a response.

Your pussy was starting to develop a heartbeat as you reread his words over and over in your mind. He was watching you, one of his hands covering his mouth to hide his grin as he got you hook, line, and sinker. You were screwed. 

Fuck you.

It wasn’t a clever comeback but he had pulled out an ace when you least expected it. He always had this effect on you, to make you speechless and melt like butter in his hands. The voices of your friends started to get fuzzy as you moved in your chair, biting back a moan at the friction. 

No, princess, that’s your job. 

His reply was instant and your cheeks grew hot from both frustration and lust. You didn’t want to reply to him, hoping that by ignoring the situation you could regain control, but Cassian was one step ahead of you.

One of his hands ‘innocently’ fell to your thigh, the tablecloth hiding his dark intentions as he immediately traveled up to your panties. There was already a wet spot forming and you took a huge gulp of your wine when he thrust a thick finger into you.

It was nice but not what you wanted, your sex aching to be filled with his cock. You raised your hips slightly, trying to get him to either go deeper or add more, but he kept that teasing pace. His finger curled and found your g-spot easily, rubbing it while biting his lip as your hand gripped his arm tightly. 

“Y/N!” Feyre shouted, breaking you from your spell as you shot straight up and winced. All eyes were on the two of you, knowing looks and smirks from some while Azriel and Nesta looked annoyed. “Look, I know the mating bond is new-”

“I’m so sorry, Feyre, and everyone,” You blurted out, squealing when Cassian picked you up and threw you over his shoulder.

“You are so right, Feyre. I think we might go fix that situation right now so we don’t cause any more distractions. We’ll catch up tomorrow.” He called, winking at Rhys who gave him a knowing look and eye roll. 

“That’s not-” She tried to argue but the two of you were already outside and in the air, his arms tight around you as you giggled loudly. You were both going to be in trouble tomorrow but for tonight you were going to enjoy each other.

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

AZRIEL

The dress Mor had lent you was a scarlet red with a plunging neckline and a slit so high you were nervous that you were going to end up flashing someone. It was something you wouldn’t normally wear but with your mission at the Court of Nightmares, you had to dress the part.

You were currently seducing one of the higher court members, his ego so easily inflated that you were a little bored with how easy it was. All he wanted to do was brag about himself, his wealth, and his ties. He wasn’t particularly interesting but he was harboring a book in his room that your friends were stealing as you speak.

“I don’t know if I’ve ever seen you here before. I saw you were visiting with our High Lord. Are you a friend of his?” He asked you, his hand grazing the back of your waist.

A small shrug and some made-up story were enough for his prying to be sated, though the same couldn’t be said for his wandering hands. You masked your frown, trying to cover it with a yawn until you felt something slither around your ankle.

It was cool and firm, caressing your skin as it traveled upward while you looked down in confusion and alarm. You didn’t connect the dots until your eyes found your mate, Azriel, standing in the corner with an evil glint in his eyes.

Of course. He was jealous.

As if on cue you felt him reach out through the bond, tugging on it with frustration that had you placing a hand over your chest in surprise. The man in front of you raised an eyebrow, his lips curled over the rim of his glass.

“Are you alright? You look as if you've seen a ghost.” 

“I'm fine,” You replied, sending a warning look to your mate when the man took a sip of his drink. “Just a chest pain, nothing more.”

“Well, as I was saying, my father,” The man continued on as he had been all night, not noticing you bite down on your lip as those shadows slid further up your thigh until they were teasing the outside of your underwear.

Your body flinched from the contact as you tried to control your facial reactions. Azriel was risking the whole mission with this stunt but fuck it felt good.

“Are you even listening to me?” His voice was curt as you tuned back into whatever he was blabbering about. “You know there are plenty of other females-”

“No, no, I'm so sorry.” You rushed to soothe him, grasping his upper arm just as the shadows squeezed through the fabric of your panties to rub your clit. “I think the wine might be disagreeing with me is all, I feel flushed.”

He surveyed you, taking in your heated cheeks and glazed eyes before a dark look graced his face. His nostrils flared and you realized with great horror and embarrassment that he could smell you. And he thought he was the reason.

“If you were so desperate, young lady, all you had to do was ask. I can smell you.” He whispered into your ear, suddenly too close for comfort as Azriel continued playing with your body like a violin. “Shall we go back to my room?”

Before he could even lay a finger on you your mate appeared behind you, his stature menacing as he shot daggers at the man. You subconsciously moved closer to Azriel, your body practically vibrating as you swallowed a needy whimper as he picked up the speed on your clit.

“Is there a problem here?” Azriel asked lowly, dangerously, which actually had the man taking a step back. “I couldn’t help but notice how close the two of you were getting.”

“Is that a problem for you, Illyrian?” The man sneered, going to grab your arm to pull you into him. “Your owner needs to put his leash back on you.”

A thick silence followed his comments as Azriel stepped toe to toe with him, his wings flared in a show of dominance before Rhysand stepped in to cool down the situation. He looked at you for answers but your mate started pulling you through the crowd and out the doors the minute his High Lord took over. 

“Azriel, Azriel!” You whisper-shout, having to basically run to keep up with his strides. “You just ruined the whole point of tonight! I had it under control and I don’t even know if they’ve had time to-”

You gasped when he suddenly turned down a dark hallway and shoved you against the wall, a large hand over your mouth as he rutted into you. His cock was straining against his pants and when you whined underneath him, it flexed in need. 

“You didn’t have it under control. You let that man touch you, to think that he was the reason you’re soaking wet under that dress.” Azriel snarled, his lips inches from yours. “I’ll be damned if I let any other man think they have claim to you. And I’m going to show you what happens when you forget that.”

[buckychristwrites]

Could This Be | Chap. 3 | j.t.

Summary: One minute, you're single and working for AFC Richmond as the team's medic. The next minute, you're in a fake relationship with the team's handsome striker who you know next to nothing about..

Word Count: 3.1k

Warnings: Discussions of Previous Emotional & Physical Domestic Violence. Cussing. Fake Dating

A/N: I hope you guys enjoy :)

Masterlist | Could This Be Masterlist | Main Blog

Sanctuary.

That’s how you viewed the medical room at the Nelson Road Stadium.

It was supply order day, which meant it was a day with your headphones in, going through inventory for yourself and for the physical therapists before placing the order, and resorting the stock if need be. It normally took all day, and you were only interrupted if someone got hurt or sick on the pitch, which wasn’t often on non-match days. So you could expect to spend the entire day by yourself.

You were sitting on the floor of the supply room, tapping your feet against the grey tile as you wrote down how many leg splints were on the shelf. Quietly, you were singing along to the song playing. At least, you thought it was quietly, but it was hard to tell over the music. It wasn’t something you bothered about though. No one would hear it even if you sang at the top of your lungs. Resting on the floor next to you was the two way radio, turned up loud so you’d be able to hear it, in case of emergency.

Over the two days that had passed since Keeley’s party, you had tried very hard not to think about Jamie or the conundrum he had put you in. It proved to be especially helpful to your mental health if you didn’t. The solution was a simple one. Everyone would just be informed of the breakup, stating that you weren’t ready for a relationship or things just didn’t work out or whatever, and then everything would go back to normal. And normal was something you yearned incredibly hard for.

Movement out of the corner of your eye alerted you that you were not alone. Slowly, you turned, finding Jamie Tartt leaning against the door of the supply closet. 

A loud shriek left your mouth while you scrambled to your feet. As you ripped your headphones from your ears, he raised his hands apologetically.

“Sorry, sorry,” He said in a quiet tone. The expression on his face read a mix of guilt and amusement. “I didn’t want to interrupt ya, but I need to talk to ya.”

You didn’t say anything, instead stuffing your headphones in your pocket and waiting. He also had his hands in his pockets, looking almost as uncomfortable as you did. After a moment, he sighed as he pulled his phone out.

“Do you have Twitter?”

Your eyes narrowed. That was the last thing you expected him to say.

“I- uhm… I got rid of my social media,” You admitted, pulling your hand from your pocket to run it up and down your opposite forearm. “Last year.” He nodded without looking up, and you were surprised when he didn’t push the issue. Most people would question you to no end about how you could live without social media. It was refreshing, to say the least. 

Jamie intently searched his phone before, hesitantly, handing it over to you. For a moment, you just stared at it. Whatever it was that he was trying to share, you knew you just by the look on his face that you weren’t going to like it. Maybe it would be best if you just didn’t know. He urged you to take it, as if he read your mind.

“You need to know, too.”

At that, your eyes met his. They were sad. Almost regretful. Without breaking eye contact, you slowly took the phone before looking down at it. 

What you found were pages and pages of tweets about you and Jamie, pictures of you and him laying together and also some with his arm around you from the party, attached to almost each one. You were named directly in all of them. It was so tempting to read each one, especially the ones where they picked you apart by your appearance and called you names. They still caught your eye, as hard as you tried, and each one felt like a bullet in the chest.

“Who leaked these?” You asked him as you finally forced yourself to look away. All he could do was shrug.

“Keeley said she would try to find out, but the source was anonymous,” He said. “It could’ve been anyone at that party.” Your phone suddenly felt very heavy in your pocket.

He’s going to see it.

He’s going to see it.

You wanted to scream as you handed Jamie back his phone. 

“I’m sorry,” He said, sincerely. “I never meant for any of this to happen. You were so upset that night, I felt ‘orrible.” You shook your head. 

“It’s fine, Jamie,” You said. “I’m not mad at you. I mean…” You smiled slightly. “I definitely was mad at you. The whole thing just had me more… overwhelmed than anything else.” You scratched your head. “Even more so now.”

He nodded, rocking back and forth from the tips of his toes to the heels of his feet. It was clear that the conversation wasn’t ending here. You watched him carefully.

“What is it?” You finally asked. He ran a hand down his face.

“I think…” He said, tilting his head. “I think we should keep this goin’, just for a little bit.” You stared at him in confusion.

“And why would we do that?” You asked in an unusually high voice, walking passed him out of the supply closet and back into the medical room. He turned to follow. The shaking in your hands started again as you sat down at your desk. If Jamie noticed your brand new demeanour, he didn’t comment on it

“‘Cos how stupid would it be if we told everyone we broke up right after we told them we’re together?” He asked. “Also, it still saves us from the blind date business we talked about. Can’t question ya if they know who you’re datin’, can they?” 

It infuriated you that he was making sense. 

You turned in your chair as you contemplated all of this. There were so many factors to consider. Maybe it wouldn’t be a bad thing, necessarily. It certainly would get everyone off your back about dating someone new. But then there was the fear. It would be one thing if Jamie were a regular guy, but he was a public figure. Meaning, your picture would get put out there more than it already had. You wouldn’t be under the radar like you had been, which is something you felt you needed for safety and sanity reasons. But maybe that could be a positive in itself. Jamie could offer a sort of security at the matches that you didn’t have before. Maybe being on his radar was exactly what you needed.

“How long would it go on?” You asked him. Running his fingers through his long hair, he shrugged. 

“At least a month,” He replied. “Give things time to smooth over.” You nodded as you continued to think.

“We’d probably need some rules then.”

He perked up at this, as if he hadn’t considered it. 

“Alright,” He said, sitting down on the edge of your desk. Which you hated. “Rule number one, you have to go to all of the matches.”

You stared at him with a blank expression for a long time, wondering if he was joking. When he didn’t respond, you knew he wasn’t.

“Jamie,” You said slowly. “I already go to every single match. I have to because of my job.” He looked absolutely embarrassed, and you felt it too. Had he really noticed you so little that he couldn’t even remember you being at the matches? Who was the person who had helped him every time he got hurt at a match? Maybe it would be easier if you didn’t think about it too much.

“Fine, sorry,” He mumbled. “Real first rule then. You have to go to public events with me.” Nodding, he looked pleased with this one. “Movie premieres. Charity parties. Weddin’s. All that shit. You’re going too.” You scrunched up your face.

“Does that include Coach Beard’s wedding in a few weeks?” You asked him. He slammed his hands down on the desk, clearly grateful that you reminded him. It made you regret bringing it up entirely.

“Abso-fuckin’-lutely it does!” He sounded so pleased about it, as if he was happy to know that he wouldn’t have to find a date for anything for the foreseeable future. As much as you wanted to be upset by this, your original plan for Beard’s wedding was to third wheel with Keeley and Roy, and while that would’ve been the safe route to go, now you’d have an actual date, and wouldn’t have to worry about Keeley, after a few drinks entered her system, asking every man who was alone to ask you to dance. Like she had at the last wedding the two of you attended. 

“Rule number two I think is an obvious one,” He continued. “Just be honest with each other.” You nodded, liking this one a lot.

“I think that for this to work, we have to become friends on some sort of level,” You said, adding onto what he said. “I feel like I know nothing about you.” This seemed to surprise me.

“Do ya know what, I think you’re the first person to say that to me in a long time.”

“So, we have to be honest with each other,” You repeated back to him. “That’s rule number two, but rule number three is that we’re going to leave this as amicable friends.” Your head tilted towards your shoulder. You wanted to add a comment about no longer being invisible to him, but decided not to. 

“Then, of course,” He said, a cheeky tone filling his voice. “There’s rule number four; Don’t fall in love with me.” 

You rolled your eyes so hard that you could feel them strain. Immediately, you changed your expression, giving him the best heart eyed look you could muster.

“Can you believe it, I already have!” You exclaimed, throwing a dramatic hand to your forehead. “Whatever shall we do?” He was fighting a smile as he watched you.

“I know, I’m just too irresistible,” He said, playing as if he knew this would happen. 

“Oh Jamie Tartt, the most real while also the most fake love of my life, how will I ever find anyone else?” 

“Alright, fuck off,” He said through a laugh. Dropping your hand to your lap, you found that you were laughing as well. He was looking at you, as if for the first time. “I always forget how funny ya are. Ya always seem to keep to yourself.” 

Yeah, you thought to yourself. There’s a reason for that.

You shifted uncomfortably in your seat. There was no good way to respond.

“Last rule,” You said, more reservation in your voice this time. “I…erm.” Your eyes dropped to the table, but you could still feel him staring. “I need…” You inhaled sharply. “I need you to… to ask before you touch me.” The words hung in the air for a moment, and you wished so desperately to suddenly gain the ability to turn invisible so you could escape his gaze. “Or, at the very least, let me know before you touch me. Please.”

He stared at you for a long moment, waiting for what you could only assume was an explanation. But you didn’t intend to give one, instead just continuing to stare at the table awkwardly while trying to remain cool and not panicked. 

“Alright,” He said slowly. Another beat passed before he continued, “Can I ask-”

“No,” You interrupted him quickly, feeling stupid by how desperate you sounded. “No, you can not.” His face softened, head tilting to the side slightly.

“What I was going to ask… if it upset you when I touched ya the other day.”

The heat rose in your cheeks.

“Oh, erm… It did,” You admitted, trying not to replay the absolute panic attack, along with washing your skin raw and sitting in the burning water for an hour, in your head. When the guilt filled his face, you shook your head. “Please don’t feel bad. There’s no way you could’ve known.” He shook his own head, waving you off.

“I should’ve asked. I’m sorry.”

You were dumbfounded by this response. This conversation usually went very, very differently. Never had it been this easy to set a boundary and not only not have them question you on the why, but also have them apologise for unknowingly breaking them in the past. The anxiety that had initially filled your chest completely evaporated, and you found it replaced with ease. 

You opened your mouth to speak when you were interrupted by the door flying open. The both of you jumped up, turning to see Roy Kent at the door with Will the kit man next to him. Will’s nose was gushing with blood. Alarm bells began to ring in your head at the sight of him.

“Did you throw your radio into the fuckin’ ocean or somethin’?” Roy shouted as he grabbed Will by the sleeve and dragged him over to the bed. “Or are you too busy making puppy eyes at your new fuckin’ boyfriend?” Ignoring Roy, you ran to the supply closet and grabbed your radio, feeling nauseous over missing the call. You set it down on your desk when you reentered the room before turning your attention to Will.

“What happened?” You asked as you put some gloves on.

“The boys said I couldn’t juggle shoes,” Will explained. With his eyes on the ceiling, he couldn’t tell that you were giving him a look. “I had to prove I can.”

“It’s not broken, just busted up,” You said, your eyes scanning the area. “Did you prove it? That you can juggle shoes?”

“Yes!” Will exclaimed at the same time that Roy said, while shaking his head, “No.”

“I would’ve been fine had Isaac not thrown a 5th one into the mix.”

“I think you would’ve gotten clobbered with one of them either way, if I’m honest,” Roy remarked, taking a seat in the chair that you had previously been sitting in. He looked over at Jamie, who hadn’t said a word since they had arrived. “Don’t you have practice? Fuck off, Tartt.” Completely unfazed by Roy’s aggression, Jamie nodded while taking a step towards you.

“See you later, yeah?” He said gently. You looked at him as you packed Will’s nose with gauze, giving him a smile and a nod. He leaned in, before tapping his finger against his cheek. You stared at him, the corners of your lips flicking upwards into a small smile. It was clear by his eyes that this was a question, not a demand. He was giving you the power. You planted a kiss onto the side of his face, and he gave you a wide smile before sauntering out the door. 

“I fuckin’ hate this,” Roy grumbled as the door clicked closed.

“I heard about you and Jamie,” Will said quickly, his voice all mucked up from the tissues in his nose. “Congratulations.”

“Thank you, Will,” You said as you grabbed a wipe to clean the dried blood from his cheeks, now that the bleeding had stopped. “If only everyone were as nice and supportive as you.” You made sure to say that last part a little louder, so that Roy was sure to hear it. 

“Fuck you.”

“If you’re just here to pout and be an arse, you can fucking leave,” You told him with a friendly tone. Giving Will one last look, you ripped off your gloves. “Alright, Will. You’re clear to return to work.” Tossing the bundle into the rubbish bin, it dropped in easily. You gave Will a look of warning. “Maybe hold off on the shoe juggling for now, yeah?” He nodded understandingly before hopping off the bed and making his way out the door.

Roy, however, stuck around.

“Who said I don’t support you?” He demanded. Sitting down on the bed, you stared at him.

“Your entire behaviour has said it.” You cocked your head to the side. “You literally just said, and I quote.” You did your best Roy Kent impression, having perfected it over the years, “‘I fuckin’ hate this.’” If he was impressed by your Roy Kent voice, he did not voice it, to your complete dismay.

“I do,” He admitted, casually. “That don’t mean I don’t support you.” You crossed your arms over your chest, saying nothing. Roy leaned forward in the chair, pressing his hands together as he looked at you.

“Do you remember my last match as captain of Richmond?” He asked. “When I fucked up my knee-”

“-Sliding into Jamie,” You finished. Because of course you remembered. He got up and took himself out of the game, and you found him with Keeley in the locker room. Staying out in the hall where they couldn’t see you, you waited until she left, and then you gave him care. “I remember.”

“Do you remember the first thing you said to me?” 

You nodded. “‘Should’ve kicked him harder, you would’ve broken his ankle.’”

Roy smiled fondly as if he was replaying it in his head. “Yeah.” Another moment passed before he spoke again. “And then do you remember the second thing you said to me?” You nodded, this one being much clearer.

“‘You’re more than this, you know. You’re so much bigger than this game. When you’re old and can’t remember how to wipe your own arse, they’ll still remember you as one of the greats, even if you don’t feel that great at this moment. It’s okay to rest now. You’ve done it.’”

He had been so hurt, so devastated, when it became clear he couldn’t keep playing. His knee just wasn’t doing the job anymore. You had known him for a few years at this point, as you wrapped and iced his knee. A few years of watching him dominate matches. All you had done in that moment was be honest with him.

“You’ve done it, now,” He said tenderly. “You’ve always been more than that arsehole who you won’t let me kill. And you let it hold you back for longer than you should’ve. You deserve someone kind. Now you’ve got that. Of course I support you.” He sat up straight, face hardening once more. “I’m still going to complain about it, though.” You rolled your eyes, as the softness of the moment had reached its end.

“I wouldn’t expect anything less.”

~

TAGS

@daffieapple, @my-left-sock, @buckybarnex, @jelleeyfish, @ricciardhoe3, @picked-off-by-barzal, @lilweirdgal, @hotdoglamp, @loveslide, @rosea-h, @13-7-19-67-71. @wickedheartz, @xxenia14, @zazima, @alainabooks143, @geek-and-proud, @imagines-reblogged, @fuckifuckedup, @booklovingduck, @loveforaugust, @f1maverick

[shenanigans-and-imagines]

A Little Much

Astarion x Evie (Ace!Tav) Masterlist

Fluff, Evie and Astarion have self worth issues, Hurt/Comfort

Summary: It’s Evie’s first ball after the fall of the Netherbrain and somehow, facing down Baldur’s Gate elites feels more terrifying.

A/N: I’m alive! I know this hasn’t been requested by anybody but sometimes you need to ride the inspiration. And reminder to please COMMENT AND REBLOG IF YOU LIKE THIS I NEED VALIDATION TO LIVE!!!

Word Count: 1.7k

“What about this one?” the tailor said, his tone starting to strain. “It’s a lovely color for your complexion.”

Evie didn’t say anything, running the fabric through their fingers. It was just about the finest fabric they ever felt. A small pang of guilt twisted inside them for simply touching it, as if their calloused fingers would somehow damage the smooth threads. Carefully, they let it back down on the table next to the pile of other rejected fabrics.

“I’m inclined to agree,” Astarion said. “Cliche as it may be to say, blue truly does bring out your eyes.”

Evie shifted, the familiar anxiety they’d been experiencing for the last two hours rising in their gut.

“I’m not sure,” they said, trying to sound discerning. “Maybe something a little more…simple?”

The tailor’s lips turned into a hard line. Evie had the distinct impression that if they were not the literal hero of Baldur’s Gate, he would have kicked them out ages ago. He must really need the commission.

“Simple,” he repeated, sharply. “Very well, I’ll see what I can find.”

Without even bothering to pick up the bolt of fabric, he spun on his heel and disappeared into the backroom.

Evie let out a short breath of relief. This whole song and dance had been going on for far too long. First ball or not, there had to be a simpler way. After the next round of samples they’d say they need to think about it and leave. It may be in rough shape, but their performance dress could still do in a pinch. Maybe they could convince Astarion to spruce it up.

As if feeling their thoughts turn in his direction, Astarion moved closer leaning into their ear. “I think you’re going to drive that man to baldness.”

Evie gave what they hoped was a nonchalant shrug. “Not baldness. Grayness, perhaps. His head is fairly well preserved.”

“Either way, he’s cursing your name.” He took up one of the other swatches, a dark blue patterned with silver stars, and examined it with an artful eye. “I still think you would look lovely in this. Not the whole dress, mind you, but for the bodice at least.”

They smiled a little at that. An image of a gown came easily into their mind, although not as detailed as they were sure Astarion could picture it: something grand and striking, something a princess would wear waiting for a knight to rescue them. And with that thought, the fantasy ended.

“I think it’s a bit much for my taste,” Evie said. “Might suit you though. I know you prefer red, but you truly look well in just about any color.”

They glanced over at Astarion expecting to catch him mid preen. Instead, his gaze was solely on them, his eyes narrowing ever so slightly.

“What?”

“Do you actually want to go to this ball?” he said, suddenly.

Evie straightened in surprise. “Of course, what are you talking about?”

“I am talking about that infuriating thing you do when you technically agree to something by not disagreeing before dragging your feet at every step.”

“I don’t–.” They stopped at the side eye Astarion was giving them. It was something they were working on.

“That’s not what’s happening,” Evie corrected.

“Enlighten me then.”

They shifted their stance, suddenly feeling very hot all over. When did it get so stuffy?

“It’s just…it’s all a bit much, isn’t it?”

“The ball?”

“No. I mean, yes, a bit, but this.” They waved their hand around the shop. “He’s charging twenty gold a yard for some of this. And that’s just the fabric, let alone the labor cost. And it’s not as if I’ll ever wear it again. I mean, how many balls can I expect to attend in one lifetime?”

“So, you’d rather wear something you already own?” Astarion questioned with clear judgment in his tone.

Evie’s lips pressed into a line, their defenses rising. “It’s not as scandalous as all that.”

“Only if you want to dress like the entertainment.”

“And what’s wrong with that?”

“Nothing,” he shrugged, “so long as you don’t mind being the entertainment. Or at minimum have people handing you their used cups all evening.”

Evie bit back a groan of frustration. He really didn’t understand.

“I just think it’s all rather frivolous,” they vented.

“You think fashion is frivolous?”

“That’s not what I said.”

“It’s what you implied.”

“I didn’t–.” They stopped, taking a deep breath. This wasn’t going how they wanted it to go. They just wanted to leave and not have to think about hundreds of eyes on them whispering speculations about who they were and where they came from. They almost wished they were the entertainment. It would be more honest and they’d walk out with well earned gold in their pocket.

“Look, I know dressing well is important to you,” they said, carefully. “I know that choice is important to you, but it’s just not to me. I don’t need to make a statement outside of my performances. As soon as I’m off that stage, I am perfectly content for people to stop looking at me.”

Astarion scoffed. “Then you’ve somehow missed the point of the evening. People are going to be looking ,whether you want them to or not. The only thing you have control over is what they see.”

Evie glanced away. He was right, of course. They had wanted to focus on the other aspects of the evening; seeing their friends again, free food, listening to music instead of playing it for once, just seeing how the other half lived. They should have known it would come with a price.

“Well then maybe it is best if I skip it.”

It was a testament to how much effort Astarion was putting into understanding that he didn’t just throw his hands up in frustration. He did, however, get in one exasperated sigh.

“What are you so afraid of them seeing?”

A mouse. A rat. A thief. Gur scum. Unclean. Unworthy. Wrong.

It must have shown on their face as Astarion touched their chin, turning them back to him.

“None of that,” he said, his tone suddenly serious.

Evie didn’t really know what to say. They just knew they couldn’t bring themselves to look directly at him.

Astarion, however, didn’t falter. “You’ve been my mirror in more ways than I’d like to admit. Do you wish to know what I see?”

“I’ve got a feeling you’re going to tell me anyway.”

His face lit up with pride. “There’s my love. Let’s start with that deceptively smart tongue disguised by a very pleasant mouth.”

“Pleasant mouth?”

“Very,” he insisted. “Now let’s see…a nose that one might describe as too long for your face, but actually proportions your features quite well when taken all together. I think it’s the little bump that does it. Good hair with some potential. You are with me after all darling. It’s hard to compete with perfection.”

“I think you’re losing the point of this exercise.”

“I’m not finished. I haven’t even gotten to those two near supernaturally blue eyes of yours. They are always so much more endearing when they’re trying to be annoyed with me.”

Evie tried to glare, they really did, but their smile gave them away.

Astarion’s own grin only widened. “And don’t even get me started on your truly lovely skin and even more enticing neck.”

“Careful my love, you’re starting to drool,” they teased.

He answered by pulling them to him, playfully nipping their neck with a growl.

“Astarion!” They laughed.

“Don’t interrupt me,” he said before moving his lips to their ear. “You’re so much more than all of them.”

Evie’s brows furrowed as they felt the air shift. His tone was softer now and all the more serious for it.

“Even before you saved everyone in this miserable city, you were worth more than any of the fools who thought they were superior because they were the ones to put coin in your purse. If the world actually judged people by the things that mattered, near everyone would question their worthiness to even speak with you. I know I do.”

They felt their heart clench, turning their head to catch their love’s eye. “Astarion…”

He gave them a half smile. “Not to worry darling, it’s only in moments. It’s comforting to remind myself that you’re not infallible. You did make the very foolish decision of choosing me after all. Besides, I’m selfish by nature. I’m not about to do something noble like let you go to find someone better.”

He left his voice light, but Evie could feel the weight of his fears. It had faded for the last few months, but still lingered. Time was the only cure for it. And Evie intended to give him as much as it took.

“I’m holding you to that,” they said.

Astarion watched them a moment, surprise flashing across his features before settling into something much more self satisfied.

Evie felt the need to say something to keep him from getting down right smug, but the kiss he placed on their lips quickly evaporated those notions. He was just as relieved to hear their words and they were to hear his.

They held each other close, even as their lips drifted apart content to stay in their own little bubble for a few moments longer.

“We don’t have to go if you don’t want,” Astarion murmured, “but don’t let what other people think stop you. They’re not worth the consideration.”

Evie took a breath, finally letting his words settle. They wouldn’t be alone. Astarion would be with them, and Wyll and Karlach and Gale and Shadowheart and Lae’zel; really the only people whose opinion mattered. How could anyone make them feel small with love like that?

“Alright,” Evie conceded. “I might need to borrow your eye though. I don’t really know what I’m doing.”

“Gladly, so long as I don’t catch you squirming thinking about how much it’s all going to cost,” Astarion countered.

“I will…try.”

He beamed and Evie could already feel their last few coppers clinking together. They pushed it aside though. Their purse might regret it but they would not. If there was ever a reason to celebrate, the knowledge of never being alone again seemed just about the best.

[starlingflight]

Guilty As Sin?

A/N: this is (extremely) mildly NSFW.

Dedicated to loml @merlinsbudgiesmugglers without her, I wouldn't have written it.

For @corneliaavenue-ao3 TTPD fest, I hereby conduct into evidence one very tortured Potter.

Read on AO3 or below:

It wasn’t unusual for him to find Ginny already there when Harry returned home from work. Her training schedule typically finished a few hours before he left the office. Normally, upon arriving home, he found her in the living room, pouring over the latest issue of Quidditch Times, or, if the weather was good, in the garden, flying like she hadn't spent her entire day doing that very thing. Harry did not, as a general rule, come home to find Ginny in their rarely-used dining room, leaning against the wooden table with a thin dragon-hide wallet clutched in her hands.

The smile that had automatically bloomed on Harry's face at the prospect of seeing Ginny quickly morphed into a frown as he inclined his head at the object in her hand. “What are you doing with that?”

“This?” Ginny didn't look the least perturbed by his expression as she held the wallet up, letting it fall open for Harry's inspection. “Like my badge, do you?”

“It's not your badge.” He felt a smirk tug at one corner of his lips, but Harry forced it down, intrigued to see what purpose she'd apparently pickpocketed him without his notice for.

“Of course it is,” Ginny pushed off the table, coming to stand directly in front of him. She held the badge up to his face, conveniently covering Harry's picture with her thumb, so that only the Ministry seal and his name were visible. “See, it says Potter, last I checked, that was my name – now, take a seat, I'm trying to conduct a very serious investigation.”

She pulled out the closest chair and directed Harry into it before he had an opportunity to protest. He watched, from his new seat, simultaneously confused and curious, as Ginny made her way around the table, trailing a finger slowly across the wooden surface before she took the chair directly across from him.

“What seems to be the matter, Auror Potter?” He heard himself ask. Ginny gave him an approving nod, as though he'd just perfectly delivered a line from a script he hadn't known he was reading.

Then her eyebrows pinched together in a look of extreme concern. “I'm sorry to tell you, there's been a murder committed in this house –” the pronouncement was accompanied by a wink that was obviously meant to allay the tension that gathered within Harry upon hearing it. “Geraldine is dead.”

A strong wave of relief rushed through him, quickly receding, giving way to yet more confusion. “Geraldine?” he repeated. “Geraldine the Fanged Geranium?”

The monstrosity of a plant had been gifted to them by Percy; Harry had hated it since the moment it had entered the house, its fangs barred menacingly at anyone who dared look at it. Ginny, on the other hand, in a display of surprisingly Hagrid-like behaviour had been enchanted by the horrid thing and had decided, inexplicably, to name it Geraldine.

“Yes,” Ginny confirmed. “I found her on the kitchen windowsill this afternoon – her leaves were drooping and her petals had fallen off – someone hadn't watered her.”

Harry tried very hard to maintain an innocent expression under the weight of her accusatory glare. “Maybe she's not dead, maybe she's sleeping.”

This suggestion was met by a deeply unimpressed look from Ginny which might have been believable if not for the crease at the corner of her mouth, which Harry knew meant she was trying not to laugh. “Plants don't sleep, Harry.”

“I thought you were an Auror, not an expert Herbologist?”

The crease deepened. “I have many talents.”

“Apparently not keeping plants alive.”

Ginny's eyes narrowed and Harry regretted the comment almost at once. She pushed out of her seat and crossed back around the table, looking down at him as she leant on the wooden surface beside him. “I didn't kill her… you didn't water her.”

“Yes, I did,” Harry protested.

Her arms folded over her chest. “Prove it.”

“That's not how it works,” Harry said through a laugh as he shook his head. “You're accusing me of something, you either need to get me to confess or you have to prove it.”

Unexpectedly, upon hearing this simplified explanation of the justice system, Ginny's smile finally broke free. There was a hint of triumph in it that made Harry's nerves stand on end.

Her hand slid against the smooth surface of the table as she lowered herself until her face was beside his, her lips almost brushing against his ear. “I guess I'll have to get you to confess then.”

Her breath caressed his skin as she spoke. Harry fought against the shiver that tried to creep down his spine. “Good luck with that.”

“Oh, I don't need luck,” Ginny said, sliding closer so that Harry was forced to push his chair back, giving her room to sit on the table directly in front of him. “I have plenty of powers of persuasion.”

Harry snorted in disbelief. “None that would be considered regulation.”

“Maybe not, but I play by my own rules.” As though to prove her point, she extended one of her legs, her toe sliding idly up the inside of Harry's calf. Her head tilted to the side; a wave of vivid red hair cascaded over her shoulder. “Now, are you going to cooperate or do I have to use force?”

Ginny's foot glided past his knee, towards his thigh; Harry inhaled sharply. His eyes met hers across the small distance that separated them and he could see the challenge she'd issued sparking with them. “I think you're going to have to use force.”

“That's a shame,” Ginny sighed as she pushed off the table, though everything about her languid movements suggested that was exactly what she'd wanted him to say. Her hand came to rest on the back of Harry's chair, supporting her as she leaned into him. He could feel the heat radiating from her body, so close but not actually touching him. “I was really hoping to put this case to bed.”

Harry kept his eyes locked on the bare stretch of wall over Ginny's shoulder, determined to ignore the three buttons she'd left open on her shirt, and the view it offered him from this particular angle as much as he was ignoring the insinuation in her words. “Sorry to disappoint you.”

Undeterred, Ginny hummed quietly. Her free hand reached up, fingertips finding Harry's chin and forcing his eyes to meet hers again. The heat he saw building in them seemed to transfer to his blood which scorched in his veins. “Why make this harder than it needs to be?”

Her fingers trailed from his jaw to his neck, stroking lightly across his skin. Harry swallowed beneath her fingertips.

His hands gripped the arms of his chair, knuckles turning white, determined not to give her the satisfaction of touching her despite how desperately he wanted to. “Is this how you think interrogations work?”

She moved in closer, all but straddling him on the dining room chair. The tip of her nose brushed against Harry's cheek, her fingers wove up into his hair; his eyes fell closed at the contact. “I'm the Auror, I'll be doing the questioning.” The statement was punctuated by her teeth scraping against the shell of his ear.

His resolve snapped in an instant; Harry's hands left the arms of his chair, finding Ginny's hips instead. He pulled her to him, until her body was settled flush against his. Her mouth was still at his ear, her lips grazing over it, but Harry was rewarded for the bold move by a small sigh that escaped her before she could stop it.

“Really?” He asked doubtfully, his hand slipping beneath the hem of her shirt, fingers dancing over her skin. “Because you haven't actually asked me any.”

Momentarily silent, Ginny's back arched into Harry's touch, guiding his hand further up towards her chest. She released another sigh directly into his ear. Harry bit his lip against a responding groan.

“Did you forget to water the stupid plant?” she asked, her tone confirming what Harry had always suspected; she didn't have the patience to be an Auror.

“If I confess, are you going to show me leniency?” he aimed for an amused tone, but Ginny's hips rolled against him as he spoke and his words came out audibly strained.

That small hint of weakness from him was enough for Ginny to regain some of her composure. Her smile was downright sinful as she pulled back from his neck, pausing with her face barely an inch from his. Her lips brushed softly against his as she spoke, “I never have before… but why don't you try it and see?”

Ignoring the suggestion, Harry surged forward, determined to turn her frustratingly light movements into a real kiss, but Ginny leaned back out of his reach. Her tongue darted out, licking against her maddeningly out of reach lips. One of her eyebrows quirked upwards, the gesture a silent command.

He hesitated for a moment, weighing his options, his gaze caught on Ginny's glistening mouth.

A second was all she allowed. One of her hands disentangled from his hair; her fingers slid down his neck, caressing against a spot beneath his ear where they both knew he particularly liked her mouth. “Of course, if this isn't working for me, I can try other, less physical methods to–”

“Guilty.”

Tne word burst from him before Harry could stop it. He couldn't really remember what he was confessing to anymore. He didn't care as long as Ginny was moving back towards him as she was currently doing, her sultry smile suggesting that he'd made the correct choice in letting her win this one. If this was the punishment –

“I'm definitely guilty.”

[sorcerous-caress]

Hihi! I just wanted to leave a message letting you know how much I enjoy the stuff you've written. Your human kink tag is probably one of my favorites on this website to be honest, I've read through it so many times (its hard to pick a favorite, but i think mine my be the one with Halsin and the human tav/companions), and i adore the way you write for karlach and shadowheart as well (shadowhearts not even really one of my favorites, but you write her in such a way i think she ended up getting bumped up my list of favorites). Just wanted to say thanks for all that ig!! 🍒

Halsin is one of my fav when it comes human kink because you can tell the man is humanity's number one cheerleader.

"The average elf sleeps with 10 humans a year," factoid actually just statistical error. The average elf sleeps with 0 humans per year. XxHumanzlover69xX Archdruid Halsin, who lives in a cave & sleeps with 10,000 humans each day, is an outlier and should not have been counted

The average elf also consumes 0 human porn per year. Meluidil, the goonerbrained high elf, is personally responsible of 90% of the high forest traffic to human porn sites.

Halsin screams human kink. While wood elves have the least degrading view on the homosapiens amongst all other elf kins who view us as less than bugs, they still remain pretentious in their own way of patting us on the head for not burning down our forests...this year.

Take Kagha, for example. She'd be damned if she let a mere human direct her ways. In comparison to her venom filled fangs, we are mere deer fawns, clumisly still learning how to walk without tripping over our own feet.

But Halsin? Our "pathetic nature" brings out the protective instincts in him whilst making him crave us insatiably. He wants a cute human or a dozen to take under his wings and show them the ways of the natural order. Properly teach them about harmony and the various pleasures the oak father blessed his creatures with.

Humans categorize themselves as animals after all, don't they? Halsin would find that notion too silly and adorable of us. Yet he can see it in our graceless ways, primal hormones, and short-sighted nature. Its makes him pity how we can't truly connect with nature like he does, since if we're a part of the gaint picture that is nature, we simply can't step away to view it whole like elves can. We merely live in our veiled and narrow corner of the painting.

Or this is all just elf propaganda. Tales Corellon spinned to make his children believe they're inherently superior so they don't go making half elves left and right and therefore make him lose his domain. Who knows?

It's just that Halsin took the "humans are lesser than you" message a little too personally, and now he sees it as his duty to care and protect humanity.

It doesn't hurt that we are very easy on the eyes and easy to coax to bed. Elves have all these courting rituals that take years at a time just for a kiss, it's so refreshing to just walk to a human and make his intentions known in a poetic line or two that has them sliding onto his lap and touching his pointy ears all curious and wide eyed.

It's not every day that you meet a big, strong elf that shatters your painted glass view of delicate elves. That makes your human hunger for knowledge and cat-like curiosity go haywire as you tiptoe around the subject to get information from him.

He thanks his orc ancestor every night for the many cute humans asking to touch his muscles after a drink or two.

Humans are new, refreshing and constantly inconsistent. From the most primal cutthroat ones that wrestle the control from Halsin to the softest adorable ones that sit on his lap and let him do all the work. We are as cunning as we are dumb.

It's the most intoxicating drug he has had. The more he sleeps with humans, the more he wants more. No two are the same.

Nothing gets him going than watching two humans drown in the pleasure with each other, bodies glistening with sweat as they chase after one another's mouth. Hungry and impatient, Clearly frustrated with their lungs' burning for air as they are forced to break the kiss. Watch a human make another bend over under them, a struggle of power filled with possessive bites, moans and curses. Like their own emptions and desires are too intese for their human brain to process so they need more, melting in greed as they push their bodies past their limit just to scratch the itch.

He wants to watch two humans exhaust each other into oblivion before he takes over. Be gentle and guide them through one more orgasm just for him, experiencing first hand just how unbreakable the human spirit truly is as they stubbornly refuse to stop and keep demanding more.

Followed by providing aftercare for the two of them as they cuddle against him. Looking so Innocent with their soft features as they sleep, trusting him to watch over and protect them.

Halsin's other top fantasy is having a human druid be his disciple. Clearly new in the ways of Oak father and yet so passionate and determined. Halsin would show blatant favouritism as he takes them personally on quests with him, have them tend to the plants in his chambers just before he gently lays them over his bed and claim them.

On another note, poly Halsin with human Tav who's with Gale, Wyll or Minsc is literally his wettest dream. He wants to take you and your human lover on dates before fucking you both to sleep.

He enjoys hanging around in a full party of humans and laughing at their adorable antics while tending to their every whim. Poor human forgot their food? Halsin has some berries in his pocket, open wide, and he'll feed them to you

Your legs are tired? Come here and he'll carry you, don't worry about his wandering hand squeezing your thighs and waist, marveling at how squishy the human body is in comparison to elves.

Bored? Sad? Anxious? He will turn into a cat and be your best friend for the rest of the day. Watch you squeel at how fluffy his fur is as you pet and coddle him, a complete 180 to how you were before, especially if you happened to be closed off to him.

He does find it hilarious how humans who are shy around him or suspicious immediately change their attitude when he wildshapes into an animal they deem cute. He knows they know it's still him inside but their instincts to cuddle everything fluffy wins over their pride and they throw themselves at him.

-

Thank you so much. I haven't written or posted on this blog in a long while, so most people who read my stuff just come and go silently while leaving likes. It's discouraging to know the author is absent when leaving a comment because they think we might never see it, but I promise we do. Yours made me very happy, and I'm grateful for it <3

[shrimplymoray]

After a while of trying, I ended up uninstalling Twitter again. That app is not for me lmao.

On the other hand, though, I am feeling quirky and want to make a new HCs post of creepypasta. So...

Creepypasta characters soft spots*

Featuring: Jeff the Killer, Jane Everlasting, Nina the Killer, Homicidal Liu, Sully, BEN, Eyeless Jack, Laughing Jack, Laughing Jill, Candy Pop, Jason the Toymaker

* bear in mind I make them a tad bit fucked up in the head, so beware (though it IS Creepypasta)

Tw: slightly graphic canibalism description, mentions of abandonment trauma, canon like control freakiness on Jason's part

Jeff The Killer - expressiveness and not being easily intimidated

Jeff is a pretty... Expressive guy, to not say a huge asshole with a big ego. And even though he might not say it, he does admire someone being expressive. It took him a long time (and a mental breakdown) to start expressing himself how he wanted to. If he meets someone that is expressive be it verbally or physically, he will end up circling around them more often than others.

Hand in hand with that, if the person is not easily intimidated and has the courage to talk him out of his mean comments, he might as well ask to be friends with them. As much as he denies it, he enjoys not scaring someone by being himself from time to time.

Jane Everlasting - housekeeping skills and good music taste

Jane is not the easiest person to get along with. However, if you know how to work a stove, and knows that x product is better at cleaning windows than y, she finds than entertaining. She misses Mary so much, and having someone that reminds her of Mary, it warms her on the inside.

This is more of her being a bit of a nitpick, but she despises having to deal with screamo or those techno songs. She deals with it too much from the others, so having the chance to listen to classic romantic ballads, or some soft Jazz while reading a book, by her fave person's side, and not having a complaint at all? That's a dream. One that seems so far away to her reality, being near so many emos

Nina the Killer - foot on earth and alternative fashion

If you stayed even 5 minutes with Nina, you would understand why she appreciates someone hard on reality. Nina is easily enthusiastic and also impulsive as fuck. So having someone to keep her from breaking the whole house down, or to make sure she doesn't throw someone out of the second floor window, it really helps her out in the end, and she knows it.

Nina, although she is slowly getting better at keeping this down, is still a bit obsessed with Jeff, so alternative styles like emo and her beloved Scene style, it makes her feel like she is right up her alley. She would pick matching fits for you two, and also make a whole blog just for pictures of you two with very 2000s core stuff. Plus: hot topic dates.

Homicidal Liu - respectfulness and good cooking skills

Liu has gone through a lot of traumatic events, all his life. Some he holds the memories, after alter fusion, and others... Not so much. But what he does know is that disrespect towards his person, and what he has gone through, is something he doesn't want to go through never again. So being respectful, in the sense of not narrowing him to DID guy, or to murderer, it makes him genuinely happy.

Liu misses his family, even though it wasn't the best family. It's been 11 years since he lost all his family, so sometimes he will try cooking food that his parents used to make. However he... Is not the best cook. He tries, he really does, but it's not his thing. So having someone put the time and effort to do this small act, of cooking him the food that he misses since a teen, it makes him have butterflies. Plus, seeing his lover in an apron sounds cute in his mind.

Sully - strong morals and dark humor

Sully may share a body with Liu, but he is still his own person, as an alter. And most importantly he is the system protector. It is his role to make sure no more trauma is suffered. So, having a lover that understand that and agrees with him, it is a sight to behold to him. And most importantly, having someone that understands and respects the boundaries he puts, which are many, is important for him.

Now... The system is rather small, and so Sully is a trauma holder alter. But... His method of coping with that trauma is mostly through dark humor. Jokes about his trauma done by him or the body, is the way he knows how to cope and, in his eyes, not turn into a monster like Jeff, which he despises. Having someone letting him indulge in his not healthy but necessary coping mechanism, and even joking around with their own problems, it ends up in a great pair for him.

B.E.N._drowned - Sass, nerdiness and night owl

BEN is not really a human, and although he sometimes can be very human like due to the Moonchildren Souls, the one in control is still the Behavioral Environment Network. So he has the power to be as mean as he wants and not feel remorse. Though as a behavioral AI, he can react in many ways depending what his code finds most fitting. He didn't start liking sass, but after being around Jeff and collecting data to act based on that, besides the souls, he ended up sassy, and enjoys now having sass thrown back at him. It is a familiar environment, which is something he sometimes need.

He is based around on TLOZ, and his souls had that common interest besides other games, so of course he wants a gamer to fit with him. He doesn't sleep, so having someone also be a night owl and stay the whole night spending time with him, letting him learn their functions and behavior, it makes him enthusiastic, as much as malevolent code can be.

Eyeless Jack - Patience and a hard stomach

Jack, different than a lot of the others, didn't want to be here at first. And as such he isn't the easiest to approach, sometimes being plainly reclusive, and others being aggressive. Having patience but still perseverance to approach him at his own time, and let things go in his time, it makes him trust you even more.

Jack, as we all know, is a human eating being. Not sure cannibal is the right term since he isn't a human anymore, but I'll use it for now. As a cannibal, it is not easy to be around him sometimes. He is not afraid to eat in front of others if needed, or to harvest organs out of a human carcass. If you can endure at least the putrid smell of organs and blood, than you will find EJ to not be he worst to be around.

Laughing Jack - playfulness and clingyness

LJ is, as we all know I assume, a clown! So what would I clown like to be around? People who know how to have fun, of course! Playful battering, joking around, a good sense for a performance, this are all things that, summed by playfulness, make Jack feel alive. The feeling of succeeding at making his lover laugh till their cheeks turn red, it is a sight to behold to him, so having a good sense of playfulness makes things a lot easier.

On the other hand, Jack was once abandoned for years in his toy box. He grew to feel lonely, sometimes even around others. Having someone being close to him, even when not the best option to do so, and the feeling of being wanted all times. It does magic to the clown.

Laughing Jill - good sense of humor and optimism

Jill, like Jack, is a big clown lady and as such, she loves to make people laugh and have fun! She isn't the fondest of the more mean plays, but she does love striking jokes around, so having a good sense of humor is the best option of a pair for her!

Although she was made to be happy and make others happy, she can have negative emotions too. But having someone that will make sure to let her know that there is light at the end of the tunnel, and give her the care she gives to others, it is truly special for her.

Candy Pop - chaotic nature and being laid back

Candy is to an extent a genie like entity. And as such, they love to bring chaos, and distort stuff to their amusement. And as such, having someone that matches their personality is what they want. C'mon, who doesn't want to see what can happen if they inflate their head like a balloon? I do.

As such, someone strict to the rules, and someone that wants them to be in line at all times bore them if not anger them. They need some semblance of freedom. Being laid back, doing your stuff when they do theirs, and uniting forces to end get out of trouble, that's love to them.

Jason the Toymaker - size difference and art appreciation

Jason is someone that likes to feel in control of any and all situation. He is a manipulators, so making sure he is the one up top, it's what he wants ever and ever. Having someone smaller than him, it gives him a semblance of control, even if only illusory. It plays in his control freakiness.

As a toymaker, he is an artisan. He loves to create intricate toys, which are pieces of art in itself. Having someone that appreciates it and praises him for it, it boosts his already inflated ego. He might plainly squeeze you for your praises, as a thank you.

That's all I got for now, might do some others plus the proxies on another post.

Reminder that it is cool if you don't agree or like these, y'all can have your own opinions and it is very valid! This is how I like the characters (aka sick in the head).

[only-lonely-stars]

you should know I'm a liar (chapter 1 - crossroads)

[chapter 1 - you are here!] // [chapter 2] - (FFN) (AO3)

Summary:

After the Merge, Lloyd is alone. Ninjago has moved on, and it doesn't need the Ninja anymore. As he's slowly rotting away, Lloyd meets someone he has a bit too much history with: someone who owes him more than a couple answers.

Co-authored by @dragon-gem!

Majorly inspired by this beautiful piece of artwork, drawn by @diamonddogs-terrarium! It's embedded in the text below.

I’m the only one left.

The rooftops weren’t as distracting as Lloyd had hoped. Down at street level, the Crossroads were a barrage of color and noise. Sixteen realms and countless cultures had moved into Ninjago City, making it their own.

Lloyd, a remnant of the old Ninjago, was left behind like garbage.

Memories of the city he loved grated against Lloyd’s heart, in places that were still raw from the last time he’d remembered–

–the last time he’d bled.

Don’t think about it. Just go home.

The way down from this roof, the peak of the Crossroads’ highest building, required a challenging jump to the next building. The pagoda-styled roofs provided a decent footing, but still it took him a moment to calculate just how hard to push himself.

Just before the jump, he reached for his mask, and found nothing.

I really need to get a new suit, he thought with some frustration. This is getting annoying.

He leaped.

Seconds later, he rolled to a stop on the lower roof, and from there, latched onto a water spout. He rode it down the wall, maneuvering his body weight to avoid the clamps that held it to the brick, and was on the dirt street below in moments.

The Crossroads turned a blind eye to him, just as it needed to. A ninja couldn’t always be seen. He needed secrecy, especially because he worked alone–

Lloyd shook his head, trying to banish the miserable thoughts that followed him. Why can’t I focus today? I sound like a supervillain, monologuing everything. Nobody needs that.

Besides… the Monastery was empty. He could cry about his terrible fate as the fated Green Ninja in privacy. Nobody had to know what he did there.

Nobody saw that every night, when he sat before his uncle and father’s pictures in the courtyard, he cried.

His family, his world, the life he was supposed to have. All stolen, according to some fate.

I didn’t ask for this.

He let himself focus on the hustle and bustle of the Crossroads, the comforting weight of his well-worn sword on his back, the sound of crowds, the crashing noises–

What was that?

The sound repeated, and Lloyd turned, hearing it come from down the street. It sounded close, and worse, someone was groaning.

He ran, turning the corner to see a pile of rubbish spread across the street. The majority was a rather tall pile, pinning down a prone figure. A few passersby were approaching the figure, pulling off garbage to let the person stand.

Lloyd watched, not sure what to do.

After a few minutes of garbage removal, a Mucoid stepped forward from the crowd and offered the unfortunate person a hand up. The figure stood– a woman, based on height and frame– and nodded appreciatively.

Lloyd was just about to turn and leave when the woman turned her head.

Green eyes, tinged with pink, watched him.

He watched, too, in mute fascination and horror.

The woman pushed back her hood. White hair came spilling out, now cut to only brush her shoulders.

Still, she didn’t look away, and Lloyd reached for his sword out of habit.

Harumi, the Quiet One, the Jade Princess, his arch nemesis… shook her head.

He narrowed his eyes. “Harumi!”

She flinched as a few pairs of eyes turned toward him. He ignored them, stepping close enough to speak with her. “Please. Not here.”

“Why not?”

Harumi glanced around. “There’s too many people around.”

Lloyd’s skin prickled, fear and anticipation warring in him. She was still the same person who had lied to him, kidnapped him, caged him, tried to kill him. Some people never changed. “I don’t think so. Why are you here? To kill me?”

“No!” She took a step back, looking genuinely offended. “Geez, Lloyd. You have a one-track mind.”

“Well excuse me for wanting to get to the truth. What do you want?” His voice cracked on the last word, betraying its disuse from too much time living alone.

She noticed, and smiled weakly. “Can’t a girl just go about her day in peace? I just got squished by a pile of trash. It’s not been a good day already.”

Imagine how I feel, he thought, but didn’t say. “And what exactly do you do in a ‘peaceful’ day?”

“What is this, an interrogation?”

“If it needs to be.”

She scoffed, and with a roll of her eyes that he’d all but memorized, she stepped past him and began walking down the road. “Fine. I don’t have to stay here and let you insult me.”

“Hey!” He wheeled on her, drawing his sword. “Stop!”

“Or what? You’ll cut me down where I stand?”

“If it comes to that.”

She waved a nonchalant hand. “Please, Lloyd. Do you think I’m really going to let you do that? I can always take you in a fight.”

“Hand-to-hand versus a sword? I find that hard to believe.”

Harumi smirked, and Lloyd felt like a spider had crawled up his spine and settled right on his neck– right where it could bite and bleed him dry. “As if I ever go unarmed. You’re as foolish as ever.”

Lloyd felt his pulse pounding at his temples. “Well– well I’m not letting you go.”

“Oh, no! The Green Ninja isn’t letting me go.” She pouted. “I’ll just have to do whatever he tells me.”

Unkind memories sprang up, of time on a boat and an almost-kiss that he hadn’t quite expected. They made Lloyd white-knuckle his sword grip, all his muscles tensed for a fight. “Explain yourself. Why are you in the Crossroads? Why now?”

“Maybe I’ve been here this whole time.”

“Then why show up now?”

“See my previous comment about having a pile of garbage dropped on me. Seriously, Lloyd. You’re not stupid.” She paused. “In fact, you’re supposed to be the dead one. Why are you questioning me? I have every right–”

“You have the right to remain silent,” Lloyd cut in, irritated by her non-answers.

“Did you take a job as a cop?”

“...No.”

“Then don’t treat me like I’m under arrest.” She rolled her eyes again. “Look. Why don’t we find somewhere to just talk this all out. If it makes you feel better, I can swear on my dead parents that I have zero evil plans right now.”

Lloyd was about to yell at her, but he stopped himself. There was something about her frustratingly casual demeanor that didn’t quite look like when she was tricking him– any of several times. “...Swear it.”

She crossed her heart. “On the lives of all of my dead parents, I swear.”

He watched her closely. Show me a tell. Give me a reason to beat you into the dirt.

She met his gaze with an even stare.

All he got were those green eyes, still with pink flashes now and again. A poker face trained by years in the Imperial court, keeping secrets and telling lies like a second language.

She’s telling the truth this time.

He felt sick to his stomach, but sheathed his sword. “Fine. Say I believe you,” he bluffed. “Come back to the Monastery, and we can talk.”

She raised her eyebrows. “Seriously? You want me in your home?”

“Where I can keep an eye on you,” he corrected, not sure if either statement was more true than the other. “I’ll sweeten the deal, even. We can have an even fight and work out some of these old grudges.”

Harumi laughed, throwing her head back. “You want a fight? Haven’t I almost killed you enough times?”

He glared at her again. “With staves. I’m a ninja. We value the sanctity of life.”

Harumi, for her part, listened to his correction with only a trace of a smug smile. “...Don’t you mean ‘staffs?’”

“No, I meant staves,” he snapped. “Who’s the trained ninja here?!”

She shook her head in dismay. “Clearly not you, or you’d be harder to rile up.”

“I will drag you back to whatever prison replaced Kryptarium, or so help me–”

“Fine.” She interrupted him, and offered a hand to shake. “If you want to work our your repressed emotions by letting me throw you around, then fine. I’d love another chance to show you who’s the boss here.”

Lloyd felt himself flushing, but he took her hand and shook it with as much strength as possible. She winced at his grip, which made him smile. “It would be nice to show you just how wrong you are, actually.”

“Fine. Let’s get on with it.”

“Fine.”

“Fine,” she snapped, always having to have the last word.

Lloyd turned on his heel, heading in the direction of the Monastery, and listened carefully to the footsteps that followed him through the crowd.

If fate wants to punish me, I think I just asked for it.

-------

In a parody of everything normal in Lloyd’s life, he walked the thousand steps to the Monastery of Spinjitzu with Harumi at his heels.

The Merge had made everything discordant, but nothing was more grating than her constant talking, boring into his brain through his ears.

“How is it, being dead? Are you liking being ignored?” She sounded flippant, but the words cut deep, making Lloyd step a little more firmly as they rose toward the not-so-ancient building. “I didn’t like it very much, you understand. Nobody to talk to gets quite boring.”

Lloyd balled his hands into fists. “I liked it, actually. Nobody to talk to leaves plenty of time for meditating.”

“Meditating? What are you, a guru?”

“I’m a ninja master. Meditating is an important part of the job.”

“Please,” she drawled. “You’re just mulling over all your past mistakes, like letting me get squished by a skyscraper.”

“I told you already, that’s not true.”

“And I still don’t believe you.”

Lloyd stopped walking and turned on her. Her expression was smug, a smile pasted across her pale cheeks. “Harumi. For the last time, I didn’t let that happen to you! The Overlord may have revived you before I got there, but I was there.”

She paused, obviously considering her next insult. “You could have been more timely about it.”

“I was a fugitive!”

“I was dead!”

“Gah! You are impossible!” Lloyd rolled his eyes. “Just shut up, we’re almost to the top.”

Harumi snickered. “Make me.”

Instantly he tensed. The look on her face was oddly mischievous, and it sent shivers up and down his spine– a sensation that wasn’t entirely unpleasant.

“No.”

“Really?” She clasped her hands behind her back, fluttering her eyelashes in a girlish manner. “That’s too bad. Seems like you’re stuck with my chatter.”

Lloyd opened his mouth to retort.

You’re only giving her more ammunition. Quit digging a deeper hole for yourself, Lloyd Garmadon.

He shut his mouth, turned his back, and started up the stairs again.

She followed, walking at his side with only an inch of air between them. Every few steps, her knuckles brushed against his.

He pulled his hand back and veered to the side, and then a few steps later, it happened again.

Ignore it, Lloyd. You’re almost home, you can beat her senseless there.

The thought was not helpful, and neither was the one it came with.

This is too much like the first time I met her.

Harumi kept talking, but this time she didn’t demand any replies. Instead, she commented on the Merged Lands, with their nonsensical combination. In the time since the Merge, he’d noticed strange combinations, and she spoke aloud the things he hadn’t mentioned to anyone.

Mountains giving way to oceans of deep purple waters that were safe to drink.

Petrified forests that only reached up to the knee.

She told him stories. Last year, she got caught in a spring snowstorm, and she was trapped in the home of friendly strangers for a week. They weren’t from Ninjago, so she’d been welcomed.

(It wasn’t worth asking if they were still alive.)

She walked the bank of a river which split two realms, and helped the locals build a retaining wall along it. They were using the water to irrigate their fields, and had cooked for her as long as she kept working with them.

(Manual labor? Hard to believe, but…)

Worst of all, in the middle of the Wyldness, she ran out of hair products. As it turned out, the pre-industrial apocalypse was rather unwelcoming.

(He’d had to snort at that one, and her smile in return was unsettling.)

The walk kept going, and going, and going. Lloyd’s thoughts wandered toward his family– and Jay’s much more tolerable rants.

I miss them so much.

I’m a complete moron.

-------

They reached the Monastery, whereLloyd hauled one side of the gate open. “After you.”

Surprisingly, she didn’t argue. “Thank you.”

They stepped inside, and Lloyd was hit with a realization that it was rather sad to be here alone. He’d gotten used to dead silence, but it made him want to cry now that he faced it; that, and throw something off the edge of the cliff.

He ignored both urges, instead shutting the gate behind them.

Harumi blinked. “Did it get larger in the Merge?”

“No,” Lloyd grumbles. “It’s just bigger than one person needs.”

“I suppose so,” Harumi replied lightly. “It still looks nice, like new construction. I suppose I won’t be receiving a tour or a cup of tea?”

He raised an eyebrow at her. “You want to play houseguest? That doesn’t sound like you.”

“No, it’s not. Perhaps I turned over a new leaf.”

“I don’t believe it.”

“You shouldn’t.” Harumi rolled her shoulders, smiling mischievously. “Knives or no?”

Lloyd gave her one dry look. “I told you, staves only. Cleaning blood off stone is harder than it sounds.”

She laughed. “I’ve heard that. But really, I’m not a heathen. I would only try and really kill you after we’d fought a couple times! Imagine if I succeeded the first time– which is quite likely. How awkward.”

“You’ve become a master of understatement,” Lloyd commented dryly, then walked across the courtyard to put away his sword. “Maybe the Merge did you some more good than it did me.”

Harumi chuckled softly, and when he glanced over at her, she was plucking a knife out of her waistband and placing it against the wall— far enough away so neither of them would be able to get to it while they were sparring. “Maybe. It’s been an odd couple of years.”

“Tell me about it,” he commented, focused on re-tying his gi so it wouldn’t get in his way. He hadn’t had a good fight in too long, and the training course wasn’t a great substitute. Could he still take a real opponent, with months or years of cooling his heels only dulling his skills?

It’ll be good for sharpening your skills, the practical part of his mind contributed. Iron sharpens iron.

Harumi taunted, “I can still kick your butt.”

Lloyd scoffed in reply. “Doubt it.”

Harumi’s laugh echoed off the silence etched into the courtyard walls. He approached and stopped in the center of the yard, assuming a defensive position. She stepped closer and did the same. Again he noted the strengths and weaknesses in her stance— how best to knock her off balance, to force her to retreat. She was easily exploited, when done right.

He grinned. I really needed some action.

Harumi grinned back. “You’re so slow. Scared to hit a girl, Lloyd?”

“Is that what I should be calling you?” He taunted back, squaring his heels, and launched himself into a roundhouse kick. “I was referring to you as my sworn enemy!”

“Aww, I’m flattered!” Harumi snorted, dodging his kick and launching an attack of her own. “Sworn enemy does have a nice ring to it!”

Lloyd dodged her punch easily. “That’s what you focus on?”

“What, would you prefer something else? I’ve got a whole host of names I could go by.”

He ignored her comment for just long enough to try to sweep her legs out from under her– and miss, coming back into a standing position. He was just quick enough to block a blow to the head. “Don’t call yourself the Quiet One anymore. You’re not quiet!”

“Pssh, no one calls me that anymore. I’ve also avoided the whole ‘damsel in distress.’”

“Really? Your list of former nicknames is getting long.”

“I could make it longer. I even managed to shake being called your girlfriend,” she shot back.

Lloyd stiffened, despite all his training demanding flexibility and loose muscles, and his rhythm dropped. He stood back, resting on his heels, steadying himself. “...Don’t.”

“Don’t what?” Harumi smirked, still in defensive position. “Are you still going to pretend you don’t know what I’m talking about?”

Lloyd’s annoyance flared into anger. He knew his face was red, and worse, he didn’t care. “I’m not interested in your games.”

“Funny. I don’t believe that you invited me all the way up here to get even. You’re lonely, and I was there.”

He returned to a boxing stance. “I’m not that pathetic.”

“Just a little pathetic,then.” She rolled her eyes. “Tell me I’m wrong, Lloyd. I dare you.”

“We both know you’ll ignore anything I say. Stop stalling.”

“Hey, I’m right here!” Harumi spread out her hands, opening up to a punch they both knew Lloyd wouldn’t throw. “If you have something to say to me, just spit it out already! I’m not going to tell anyone. I’m good with secrets, you know that.”

Irritation won out, and Lloyd threw a kick. He aimed for her head, almost landing it, but she ducked just in time. He lost his balance and took a moment to step back, but the deep, heaving breaths from the failed strike only made him angrier.

“Do you know what the problem is?” Harumi was still talking, and watching him with a heavy gaze. “You’re not used to being alone anymore. You can’t handle yourself now that your team is dead.”

“They’re not dead. They’re missing. It’s different.”

“Really? Then why aren’t you looking for them? You’re just rotting away, up here in your lonely castle.”

“My monastery–”

“Is empty,” she interrupted, crossing her arms. “And you’re empty too.”

Anger won out, again, but this time Lloyd couldn’t lash out. The rules of sparring were too deeply drilled into his mind, from years of training with his brothers and sister. When sparring with a friend, never strike when they’re undefended.

Harumi, with crossed arms and unbalanced posture, wasn’t prepared. Despite how much she grated on his nerves, she was his guest.

He poured his anger into words instead.

“My family is not dead. I’m doing fine, no thanks to you, and all the ways you’ve tried to ruin my life. Insulting me is a step too far, actually! You could’ve walked away, ignored me, left my life again. You came to my home, because I invited you, of your own free will. And now you’re playing it like you hate me?!”

She scoffed. “Hate is a strong word. I loathe you, Lloyd Garmadon.”

“Fine, that’s just as bad! If you’re going to act like you’ve always hated me, then I guess there’s no pleasing you. There’s no such thing as ‘good enough’ for a prissy princess like you!”

Harumi glared at him. “Do not call me that.”

“I’ll call you whatever I want! You’ve always wanted to destroy my life, Harumi. Congratulations, it’s destroyed, and you get to see it!” He gestured at the rest of the Monastery courtyard, just as miserably empty as before she’d come to visit. “Are you happy? You didn’t get to do it yourself, but you still got what you wanted. Is it good enough?!”

Harumi shifted her weight, uncrossing her arms. “Now you’re putting words in my mouth? That’s so mature, Green Savior. What’s next? Are you going to tell me that I should still be dead?”

Lloyd grasped at words, finding nothing good to throw back at her. “You– you really love ruining my day!”

She rolled her eyes and settled back into a fighting stance, fists raised to protect her face. “You ruined your own day.”

Finally! Lloyd didn’t wait for an invitation to whale on her. Instead, he launched himself full-body in her direction.

They collided, and Harumi fell back with a cry of surprise. Her feet slipped out from under her, and Lloyd angled just so she didn’t crack her skull on the stone– not that he would have minded, once upon a time– and instead bore the first impact with her shoulder.

Harumi grunted loudly, and Lloyd took advantage of her dazed state to pin her down by the shoulders and hips.

Red and purple tinged his vision, pounding with his pulse. When was the last time he’d been so angry?

Harumi tapped out, pounding her fist three times against the flagstone. Her breath was coming in gasps, and a secret, evil part of Lloyd wished she would just stop and be quiet.

He sat back, letting up pressure on her chest, and sat on her legs to keep her down on the ground. The haze of anger was beginning to clear, and he realized he was panting just as hard.

The red vision cleared, and he slowly came to see the blinding paleness below him. Harumi, with white hair and pale skin. There was no healthy flush in her cheeks, despite all the exertion. She was more dazed that he’d realized, and presently began to cough.

I did that to her.

Lloyd let up, getting off her so she could roll onto her side. Harumi was heaving full gasps of air, and she curled into a recovery position to regain her breath. He watched with some measure of worry, but within a minute, her cheeks were flushed again.

Good. If she was hyperventilating… He didn’t let himself finish the thought, along with its awful implications. She’s fine. Just don’t get so rough with her next time, Greenie.

When she was able to sit up, she choked out a few breathless words. “You were holding out on me. I haven’t seen you act like that since…”

Lloyd looked away, answering the unasked question. “That’s because I haven’t. I refused then, and I refuse now.”

“I’m not surprised either way… your father is a real piece of work.” She took a deep breath, sounding more stable. “Like father, like son.”

Lloyd bristled. “You’re still insulting me after I almost give you a concussion? You must love to hate me, Harumi.”

“I told you already, I don’t hate you.”

“Oh, right. How could I forget. You loathe me, which is a synonym for hating me.”

“It’s not the same.” Now it was her turn to avoid his gaze. “Besides, we’ve been enemies for years now. If I treated you any differently, you’d think I’m lying. It wouldn’t even be a bad assumption.”

Lloyd couldn’t help scowling, even though she wasn’t looking. “And where do you think I got that assumption?”

She rolled her eyes, but looked at him again. “Probably my devastating betrayal that broke your heart, followed by resurrecting the evil reflection of your dead father, dying as a direct result of your actions, and then acting as the right hand woman for your greatest enemy.”

Lloyd stared at her incredulousy, and she had the audacity to laugh. “Come on, Lloyd. I’m more self-aware than you give me credit for.”

“Could’ve fooled me.”

“Then you’re a fool.”

Enough was enough, so Lloyd stood up and offered her a hand. “If you don’t hate me, then you could have the decency to be honest and tell me how you really feel.”

Harumi accepted the hand up, letting go as soon as she was on her feet. Her hand was smaller than he remembered, but still strong, and he wondered how strong her grip would be if she was trying to hurt him.

As soon as she was standing, Harumi drew back her hand. He thought she would make some witty retort, but instead she took hold of the hem of her hoodie and pulled it over her head.

Lloyd averted his eyes. She wasn’t wearing a shirt, and her pale skin on display made him distinctly uncomfortable– that, and hot under the collar. “Do you have to do that?”

“Do what?” She sounded genuinely confused.

He felt a blush creeping up his neck and ears. “...Not wear a shirt.”

“Oh.” She laughed at him. “No thanks. If I’m going to get hot and sweaty, I’d rather not make my jacket stink too. You’ll just have to deal with it.”

He groaned. “Fine. Then you should at least answer my question.”

“What was your question, again?”

“Your feelings,” he gritted, glancing at her. She was wearing a smug grin, of the type that made his skin crawl– and not entirely unpleasantly, which irritated him even more. “Since we’re apparently working out all our issues today.”

She laughed, throwing back her head with amusement. “Apparently, but you seem content to insult me instead. I can play dumb, if that’s what you’d prefer.”

“Less of a play for you,” he sniped, “and more of a reality.”

Harumi sighed, still sounding like he amused her, and looked him in the eye. “Look, you were convenient at the time, alright? My feelings had nothing to do with it.”

Nothing.

Lloyd watched her, thinking of all the times they’d had this conversation already, all the times she’d held a knife to his throat.

The ways she’d touched him, spoken to him– it was too convenient for her to say that. It was the most convenient option. The easiest answer, to change the topic and make him move his focus away from the real her.

She’s lying again. I need to try something new.

Lloyd turned away from her and approached the wall where the training weapons were kept. “You know, Harumi, I’m not stupid. You might think so, but I’m still the Green Ninja. I’ve had girls screaming over me for more than a decade, and you know what I’ve learned?”

She snorted. “You’ll tell me even if I don’t ask.”

Lloyd was glad she couldn’t see him roll his eyes. She’s predictable now. He opened the cabinet and pulled out two bamboo staves, both engraved with simple words of power his uncle once remembered from ages past.

“Here’s the bit you don’t get, Harumi. Those girls really did like me, even if I didn’t pay them any attention. And you’re no different! You’re not the first to have a crush on the most powerful martial artist in all of Ninjago.”

She laughed at him, but when he looked at her, she seemed uncomfortable. “Believe me, Lloyd, my only screaming at you has been from pure anger. You were the easiest target to reel in, not to mention the most likely ninja to sympathize with a defenseless princess. It’s as easy as that.”

Lloyd closed the cabinet with the butt of one staff, thinking over his next reply. She was watching him, taking note of his reactions. If he wanted the truth, he’d have to force her into a corner.

When he came back to Harumi, he thrust one staff into her hands. “I know a lie when I smell it. You can’t trick me again.”

She took it with a bitter sneer. “Even if I tell you the truth, you don’t believe me. At this rate, let’s just bet on it.”

Lloyd eyed her. “Bet on what? The odds you tell me something true for once?”

“No, stupid. A true, honest answer.” She tested the weight of the staff he’d given her, tapping the ends against the flagstones. “The catch is that you have to beat me in another fight.”

Lloyd spun his staff around, testing its familiar balance. It was just like his uncle’s old weapon, but still too new– there were no ridges or damage, no scorch marks, to attest its age and usefulness. It wasn’t ancient yet, and neither was he. Sometimes he wondered if he’d ever get to that age, but today he didn’t particularly care.

“Will you give me a truthful answer?”

“Only the truth. No tricks, no lies.”

Lloyd thought it over as he examined his staff. It was a tempting offer… would she deliver on it? What if he lost?

He glanced at her. Over so many years of fighting, he’d figured out her tells– she never covered them all completely. Here and there she’d smile, or toss of the hair more than she really needed to. Her fingers would twitch if she lied, like the truth was itching to escape through her fingertips.

She was still, calmly gripping her staff. Truth.

“Swear it to me.”

Harumi rolled her eyes. “I swear on the lives of all of my dead parents. Happy?”

Lloyd nodded, taking the stance required by bo staff combat. “Yeah. It’s a deal.”

Harumi stepped back the same way, raising her staff readily. “Deal. Let’s get on with it.”

They faced each other again. Lloyd watched her, an unshakeable feeling of premonition coming over him.

They were a matched pair, and not really opposites anymore. One predator and one prey, but even the prey was still a predator of its own right. Harumi twitched like prey, but if he went too easily on her, he would lose quickly.

The promise of a truthful answer was too valuable to risk.

I have to win this fight. I owe it to myself!

Lloyd stepped to the side, and Harumi copied him. They began to circle, and he settled into waiting, prepared…

The ghost of a smile, right at the corner of her mouth, betrayed her attack. He had his staff raised in a moment, blocking her blow with a hollow thock!

Harumi smirked, and he smiled reflexively as he threw her off.

She tried again, striking multiple times– high two, low five, a strike toward the ribs. He blocked them all, but the force behind them made him step back once.

With a little more ground, Harumi became bolder and stepped forward again. Lloyd pushed back. She’s got too much momentum.

He gained one step, and they were right back where they started. Their staves cracked against each other loudly, echoing off the silent walls of the courtyard, echoing off the ghosts of the empty space.

Once, these sounds had been second to cheering and laughter…

Harumi moved suddenly, jerking Lloyd out of his reverie. She feinted, then side-stepped, and suddenly they were all turned around. Lloyd had his back to the gates, and she was gaining momentum again.

Stupid! You know better than to get distracted! Lloyd berated himself internally, but he knew why he wasn’t focused.

Harumi was silent: no taunts, no insults, not even heavy breathing. She seemed completely unharmed from her previous fall, and she attempted to hook his staff and pull it out of his hands.

Lloyd turned his staff instead, trapping hers, and pulled. She stumbled, and he freed himself for a chance to land one strike on her right shoulder.

She grunted, stepping back so she could defend more easily.

Factually, Lloyd knew that he was the better of their two. He had more training, better technique, sharper skills, experience. All the things that a battle-hardened ninja should have. Harumi had none of them.

She still gave him a run for his money. Between constant attacks, she spoke. “You know, on the walk up here, I realized something.”

Lloyd grunted, blocking a poorly-timed strike at his abdomen. “Something besides everything you were rambling about?”

“I used to read a lot about you,” she continued, ignoring his jab– and when she ducked, she made a reach for his staff and tried to steal it. Lloyd landed a weak hit on her arm instead, making her pull back.

Lloyd watched her closely. “And?”

Harumi rolled her eyes. “And I remembered that you used to fly dragons up here. You weren’t ever supposed to walk, were you?”

He made an attempt at an attack, but she seemed to be expecting it. “That’s difficult when all your dragons are dead, Rumi.”

“Pity. I like dragons.” She grinned, pausing her attacks. “Did you just call me ‘Rumi?’”

Lloyd’s heart sank to the bottom of his chest– or maybe that was his stomach churning, some unseen power making him sweat. He looked at her with what he hoped was a withering stare. “Slip of the tongue.”

His hope must have been misplaced, because she just kept grinning. “You’re really not a good liar, Lloyd.”

“Then you should know that was true,” he rebuffed, and meant it entirely. “Unlike you, I don’t make a habit of lying to people.”

“You must not be including yourself in that statement.” She rested the end of her staff against the flagstones. “I like the way you say it.”

His stomach churned a little more. “Say what? ‘Lying?’”

“No, idiot.” She rolled her eyes again. “My nickname. It’s nice to have someone call me that again.”

Unsettled, Lloyd only found the presence of mind to smile back at her– and weakly, because he still wasn’t sure he meant it. Last time Harumi had made him smile, she’d tried to kill him. “I guess that’s good?”

“I’d say so,” she said with a laugh. “Especially these days.”

Harumi gave no warning. In a flash, she struck out with her staff and hit against his, yanking it from his hand. Lloyd barely had time to process it before he heard the sound of it clattering against the ground, useless at a distance.

Then she went after his feet, and he fell hard. He grunted in pain as his back struck a particularly rough stone, immediately smarting, not to mention his pride at being bested so fast.

He glared at her. “Hey! That was a dirty trick!” He pushed himself up on his forearms, but before he could stand, Harumi had her staff pointed at his head.

She raised an eyebrow, and he glared. “You’re a bad sport.”

“Hey, I could have used a dozen other ways to take you down. At least I was quick.”

“That’s not better!”

“You’re really going to complain about this?”

“When you cheated in a fair fight? Yeah, I’ll complain!” Lloyd slapped her staff out of the way and stood up.

“Oh, please.” She put her free hand on her hips, shifting her weight. “Lloyd, it’s not cheating to move quickly. If I took you by surprise, that’s on you.”

“You weren’t following the rules of sparring. That wasn’t a fair win. The deal’s off.”

“I still don’t see the problem,” she argued, watching him with a careful eye. “I won, you lost. By all rights, that means you don’t get any answers from me.”

Lloyd rolled his eyes, searching for some good jab to throw her way, but he came up empty. “Since when do you care about rights?”

Harumi groaned. “You are impossible, Lloyd!”

“So are you.”

“...Touché.” She rolled her eyes. “If you’re so set on it, then let’s go again. Same terms, but if you win or I cheat, you get two honest answers. Does that sound fair enough to you, Green Ninja?”

Lloyd paused to think about it, but the deal was too tempting to resist. The real truth was on the line, and honestly, his broken heart still hurt.

I still want answers.

Lloyd took his time retrieving his staff from where it had rolled away from him. When he came back to face her, he focused on his determination.

No more standing around with my guard down. “Fine. Time for a rematch.”

She nodded, and again they faced each other in ready stances. Harumi held her staff lightly, but in such a way that Lloyd knew she would defend herself. Again, he let himself begin on the defense.

She wasted only a moment.

Harumi threw herself at him, striking her staff against his with another hollow thock! It made his hands vibrate painfully, the sensation running up his forearms. It took more than a little effort for Lloyd to push her off.

She was playing with me before, wasn’t she?

Harumi was silent, and this time, intentional with her strikes. Lloyd had to keep moving– every time he slowed down, she prodded at his weak spots, and once she landed a smarting strike against his shin.

He replied with a jab to the shoulder, making her stumble. Her expression afterward was not angry, per se…

Competitive, his mind supplied, and motivated. You poked the bear.

Not the first time I’ve done it, either.

Harumi was still the Quiet One, even after all this time, and she kept Lloyd on a constant defense. His few thrusts at her were easily parried away. How had he forgotten that she’d studied him, not so long ago, and knew his weaknesses?

Spider bit the mouse, sleep deep…

She’d caught him like a fly in her web, penned him in and trapped him. She was still the same enemy he’d fought for months while living on the run, the same villain who’d given him the slip repeatedly in more recent years.

She did have skill, and it was obvious now.

Lloyd threw himself into a desperate offense toward her legs and head, but it was no use. Harumi seemed to know where he’d go before he moved, and her back was still to an open space, while his was not. She had no problem maneuvering, pushing him back one step at a time, until he bumped against something waist-height.

Harumi took a menacing step.

Lloyd backed again, and tripped over the column which held the switch for the training course.

Despite the stumble, Lloyd raised his staff just in time to block her downward blow.

Harumi, still silent and more than a little intimidating, had a strange look in her eye. Why was it so unsettling?

Her constant chatter had been annoying, but silence from her felt wrong. Where were the insults and the gloating? She was forcing him onto the defensive without even saying a word!

He struck his staff against hers with a fervor, unable to find an opening. When he did find one, she feinted, and the trap closed.

One deft upward motion stole the staff from his hands. She butted the end of hers against his chest, thrusting him to the ground.

He landed hard for the second time, and Harumi pinned him down with one knee pressed down on his chest.

She was breathing hard, panting as she stared at him.

Lloyd swallowed, trying to catch his breath. She's so fast. Her breath was brushing against his face, confusing and disorienting him.

The ground below felt like it was spinning.

They stared at one another. Harumi had that same strange light in her eye, but Lloyd didn’t know what it meant. She eased her knee off his chest slowly, once she was sure he wouldn’t try to fight her off.

(Not that he could.)

“Was that fair enough for you?” Harumi was still breathless, still quiet, still confusing.

Lloyd swallowed. “...Yeah. This time.” His voice was weaker than he liked.

“Are you going to ask me a question?”

Lloyd blinked. “I… I lost. I thought I didn’t get any.”

She shrugged. “Since when has that ever stopped you?”

It was true… and not worth denying it. Lloyd didn’t have to justify himself to Harumi! When had he ever needed her to understand him?

Besides, it always worked. Annoying people led to them putting down their guard. If he was an annoying kid, he’d get his way–

Focus! Lloyd wished he could slap some sense into himself. Harumi was still watching him, and the quiet dragged on to the point where she almost looked bored.

He blurted out the years-old question, not trusting himself to be careful with his words. It would just have to do.

“You said I was the easiest to trick. That you picked the easiest target, and that was me, and– and that’s all it was to you. Was any of it actually real? Anything?”

Harumi watched him, her pupils dilated. Her gaze flicked all over his face.

For a second, Lloyd wondered. Would she answer him?

But…

Was this the real Harumi? A glimpse of the girl he’d actually fallen for? The one he thought he’d known, without all the walls?

(Walls, built with bricks of disgust and hatred, were only that: walls. Not real hatred.)

Harumi leaned down, and Lloyd strained to hear past the ringing in his ears.

She paused, a few inches above his face… and touched his cheek.

He shivered, but her only reaction was a smile. She spoke quietly. “There’s one thing you should know about me, Lloyd. I’m a liar. Feelings are always involved.”

He took a breath, meaning to ask her why, what do you mean–

She silenced him by leaning down, and without bothering to ask, Harumi kissed him.

He froze.

She ignored his abject confusion, keeping the kiss going. It was his first, and he didn’t know what to do. He reached up to touch her face, and when he thought he felt her smile, reached farther to tangle his fingers in her hair.

She sighed quietly, oddly patient as he figured out just what he was supposed to do, and Lloyd suddenly realized just how much he wanted her to touch him.

He’d been starved of the touch of loved ones for so long. It didn’t matter that it was Harumi– her warmth pushed away the loneliness. Her exposed skin was radiating warmth, bringing heat to his face in a rather pleasant way.

He wanted to laugh at the stupidity of it all– he was comforted by the presence of his greatest enemy.

Then Harumi tore away from him, and the moment shattered.

 She sat up, and then pulled away and got off of him. He watched, breathless and confused and reeling. Her shoulders were heaving with large breaths. Her cheeks were rose pink.

She swallowed, speaking quietly. “I… shouldn’t have done that.”

Lloyd felt light-headed, but he sat up anyway. “Rumi?”

“Don’t.” She wouldn’t look at him. “Don’t do this to yourself.”

“Do what?”

She wouldn’t look at him now. Her flush was pretty, bringing color to her normally pale face. She clutched at the fabric of her pants, holding it in tight fists at her sides, and her scarred knuckles were white.

Lloyd hesitated. “I… don’t know what you’re talking about.”

She jerked her head over to look at him. Her green eyes were shining, filled with more emotion than he’d seen from her in a long time– more than she’d allowed as any of her masked selves. Her true self was here, and hurting.

“You can’t trust me, Lloyd. Stop while you're ahead. You got everything you wanted.”

He didn’t allow himself to flinch at the bitterness of her tone. She was angry about something, but he didn’t know what. Maybe angry at herself– it didn’t actually matter, did it?

He looked her in the eye, and in that moment, his determination crystallized into a more powerful motivation. “Stop lying to me, Rumi.”

“I’m not lying.”

“Yes, you are.” He shifted to kneel in front of her, the flagstones digging into his kneecaps, reminding him of the arthritis he’d surely develop in the next fifteen years. “Enough of the lying. Be honest with me.”

“What is there to be honest about? I gave you what you’re looking for, right? Or are you trying to get more out of me?” She looked down at the ground, defeated. “You should know I’m worthless.”

“Stop!” He reached out and touched her knee, and while it made her flinch, she looked at him again. “Harumi. Listen to me.”

She scowled. “How could I not? You never shut up.”

“Enough of this,” Lloyd insisted. This was too important to abandon.

The unpleasant, obvious truth. It was scraped bare, an angry red gash against their futures. It was like every other important relationship in Lloyd’s short, painful life: undeniable.

The bedrock of their broken relationship was painful enough to at least try repairing it.

“I think…” He searched for the right words, watching her expression shift. “...I finally understand you, Harumi.”

She laughed miserably. “Yeah? What makes you think you have any idea what’s wrong with me?”

‘Because we’re the same.” He smiled, trying to be encouraging. “Rumi. You don’t actually want me to leave you alone, do you? You’re not just lying to me– you’re lying to yourself.”

She shook her head. “No. You really don’t want this, Lloyd. You don’t know me.”

“Don’t I? I know what it’s like to be lonely, to be self-destructive.”

She rolled her eyes, so he pressed harder. “Harumi. Listen to me for just five minutes. I want the truth.”

“That’s not what you sound like you want.”

“Well– well maybe that’s not the only thing I want! So what?”

“So you’re asking to get hurt. There is no us,” she spat.

“But there could be! Don’t you want a relationship that’s not based on betrayal?” Lloyd laughed, unable to hide his bitterness. “That’s all I ever wanted from you.”

Harumi scoffed. “We’re not meant to be! We’re horrible to each other. It’s not possible. It’s not healthy!”

“So? Since when do you care about healthy?”

“Since I started to actually care about you! Somehow, I managed to end up caring what happens to your useless carcass!”

Lloyd blinked, taken aback by her shouting. “...Yeah? Obviously.”

She flushed an angry red. “You are so–! Lloyd, we can’t. We’re just not right for each other!”

“Who says?” He looked around, gesturing at the empty courtyard. “The world’s practically ended already. Nothing is what it was before. Why hold on to this?”

“Because I’m going to hurt you again. It’s inevitable. That’s the truth. That’s what we are.”

“That’s what we were!” Lloyd groaned, his heart aching. “It doesn’t have to be that way, Harumi. We could be better, happier–”

“Can we really? How do you know that?”

“I don’t need to know. There’s no way to know.” He reached out and took one of her hands in both of his, and he held on tightly. She almost yanked it back, giving him a dirty look, but didn’t actually make a move.

Lloyd stared her down. “Harumi. Don’t you understand me yet? We don’t have to keep playing this stupid game. The entire world has moved on, we can rebuild too.”

“Oh, sure. Rebuild what never existed, great idea. You know better than to trust me again.”

“Well, maybe I’m stupid enough not to listen.”

She laughed. “You’re not stupid. Don’t make me be the one who’s talking sense.”

Lloyd smiled, absurdly hopeful. “Hate to break it to you, but that’s never how it works between us. That part isn’t going to change.”

Her good humor dissipated. “You’re not thinking straight. You don’t actually want this, Lloyd.”

“You don't,” he countered. “Why not?”

“We both know there’s no future for us. You need someone who hasn’t tried to kill you multiple times. Lying to ourselves won’t change how pointless this all is.”

“It’s only pointless if we think it is!” He leaned forward, daring her to pull away. “Harumi, you have to try to make it work, or it never will.”

“It’s always me who has to try–”

“I’m already trying!”

“Still!” She tried to pull her hand back, but Lloyd kept his hold, and she didn’t end up moving. “...Look. Even if I wanted it to work, it’ll get messed up again. It would be easier on us both if we stopped trying.”

Lloyd watched her, feeling their pulses through their entwined hands.

He saw her, and what he saw made his heart ache with compassion.

Harumi was… anxious, scared, angry. Confused above all else. She wanted comfort, some encouragement that it wasn’t futile.

And he knew how that felt, because that’s how he felt and what he wished for.

“It’ll hurt,” he admitted, watching the way her eyebrows rose in vindication. “I’m okay with hurting, Harumi. That’s how loving people works. But… there’s no one left. It’s just us, and the world is moving on. Ninjago doesn’t need me anymore, and it won’t remember you either. There’s no better time for a fresh start.”

She hesitated, listening, thinking.

Maybe… they could try again. A real shot at actually working. No more lying, no more hurting each other over and over; a real future, a possibility.

Could I actually be that lucky?

Harumi leaned closer, and with her free hand, she brushed one loose curl off his forehead and behind his ear. Her fingers were gentle as she tucked it back, and her expression was soft.

“You’re right, Lloyd. You do need a fresh start.”

Lloyd thought his heart should be soaring, but something stopped him. “...We need it.”

She smiled, the gentlest he’d ever seen her, and her hand fell back into her lap. “No. Not together, or at least, not right now.”

Crack– the sound of Lloyd’s heart fracturing anew. “But…”

She sighed, reaching up to press a finger to his lips. “Not with me, Lloyd, even if we both wish for it. I don’t deserve you, and I never have. If you really want me to love you, then believe me now. Let me go.”

He stared at her, every word a separate blow. Her touch kept him silent.

She’s lying. She’s always lying. The mantra repeated in his mind, like always. You can’t trust Harumi or anything she says.

But she looked so sad! What if she was being honest here? Did it matter, when her words felt like a knife?

Lloyd pulled back and let go of her hand. “I…”

Harumi sighed, and after a moment, she stood up. There was hurt written across her face, in the lines of her frown. She seemed small.

It’s not an act.

She reached down to pick up the two staves from where they’d rolled away, then offered them to Lloyd. He took them numbly, listening to her.

“It’s past time I left, Lloyd. You won’t have to see me again.”

He looked down at the staves, with their uncomfortably new wood and grain, because it hurt less than looking her in the eye. If his brothers and sister had been here, these staves would already be battered and useless from too much training, but they were still new. An artifact of the world which created the Green Ninja, now they sat around and rotted. They would slowly return to dust, just as Lloyd eventually would.

He forced back tears. His voice was pitifully weak. “...Good luck, I guess.”

“Same to you,” she said softly. “Don’t give up yet, Lloyd. Your family isn’t dead, you’ll find them.”

He nodded, not sure what to say to that. “Ninja never quit.”

“I know, believe me.” Harumi stepped back. “Don’t lose that annoying optimism quite yet.”

Lloyd had to laugh, feeling a bit sorry for himself. “Yeah, well, I have a talent for being annoying. I’ll be alright.” He finally looked up at her, despite how it gouged at his heart. “You’re tough, so… I know you’ll be fine out there.”

Harumi smiled, but it wasn’t mean spirited. It was softer, more amused than anything else. “I’ll figure it out. Just don’t die– I still reserve the right to kill you someday.”

“Yeah?” He smiled in return. “Sounds like a date, Rumi.”

She sighed, beginning to walk across the courtyard again. She retrieved her knife and put her hoodie back on, and when she straightened, she was smiling at him. “Thanks for the spars, Lloyd. It’s good to know we’re still evenly matched.”

“I guess you’ll have to keep working at it, if you want to kill me. You might figure it out next time.”

She laughed and pulled open one of the gates. “Just you wait. You never know with me.”

Lloyd nodded as she slipped through the gate. The only thing he could think to say choked him.

Of course I never know! You run away as soon as you’re honest with me.

But there was no way to change a person, no matter how much he wanted to do so.

He didn’t get up until she was well and truly gone. Numbly, he put the staves away, carefully closing their cabinet to keep away the dust.

He sat down on the shallow wooden steps by his uncle’s memorial and rested his chin in his hands.

Then, and only then, did Lloyd cry: miserable, silent, and embarrassed. There was nothing else to do.

Harumi’s words played over and over in his head.

Not with me, Lloyd, even if we both wish for it.

What was he supposed to do? What ‘fresh start’ did she think he needed? He’d only meant another chance for them to… get along? Be friends, or more? At least not try to kill each other every time they met, maybe even enjoy each other’s company. It had been a reasonable thing to want– even something reachable, if it weren’t for her blasted habit of giving up on everything good in her miserable life!

Besides, what about Lloyd? What about his feelings? Harumi was the only person he had left!

He cried a little harder, burying his face in his hands.

And now you’ve left me too!

What do I do now?

[artemis1214]

You need story ideas

How about your OC wins Alastor a stuffed platypus toy from a game at Lulu World Base on this picture. Bonus he gives the platypus the dumbest name you can think of.

Thank you so much for this idea! I'm sorry it took so long, but here it is. I hope you like it! 🥰

((Includes: Fluff, slight angst))

──── •✧• ────

“Lu Lu World?” Esme asks, her face twisting in confusion as her eyes dart between Charlie and Vaggie. Charlie nods excitedly and claps her hands, “Yes!” She exclaims, “My dad gave us all tickets to go, and do some special bonding!” Esme chuckles and tilts her head to the side, looking at Vaggie, “You too?” She asks, seeing Vaggie smirk and shrug in response. 

“This is a fucking waste of time…” Husk groans, pushing himself off the wall and heading towards the bar. Esme nods at his words, knowing full well that taking the entire group to such an extravagant place was most likely not going to be an easy task. “You are going, you all are going.” Vaggie says sternly, pointing at all of them. Alastor twirls his cane, barely listening to what the group is discussing. He looks down at his fingers and notices a ragged edge, narrowing his eyes and brushing it against his suit in an attempt to smooth it. 

“Now, vamanos!” Vaggie motions them all to the door, but none of them budge. Well, all except Nifty who is already at the exit jumping to reach the doorknob. Vaggie sighs in frustration when they don’t move, wielding her spear and using it to guide them to the door. 

“Good Lord, are we cattle?!” Esme shouts with her hands up and a roll of her eyes. 

~ Time Skippy ~ 

It had been several decades since Esme had been to an amusement park, but this was much different than what she recalled from her mortal life. The lights were beaming, demanding her attention everywhere she turned, and the noises were so chaotic that it was hard to focus. There were several carnival games lined up for the parkgoers, which caught the attention of Charlie, Angel, and Nifty. Charlie was interested in playing, Angel was interested in making it a competition, and Nifty….well Nifty was running behind the counter and swiping the prizes. 

Esme laughs and looks over to Alastor who is just standing there wiping the top of his cane with his sleeve. She leans over, “I don’t want to be here any more than you do…” She whispers, causing his sharp smile to drop to a knowing smirk. He turns his face to her, “Is it that obvious?” He hums, causing her to chuckle, “A tad, yes.” She links her arm with his as the two walk, several sinners tense up as they mosey on by, “I never get tired of watching them scatter~” Esme says in a low tone. She goes to open her mouth when -

“Es, c’mere!” 

Esme’s fins perk up at the sound of Angel’s voice who is calling her towards a water shooter game. She puts a hand up to Alastor and smiles softly as she unhooks her arm and walks over to him, “Yes, bambino?” He laughs, “I betcha can’t beat me at this one.” He scoffs playfully with a hand on his hip, leaning to the right. Esme’s head turns to the game and studies it carefully. She looks up to see the many prizes available, but none of them catch her interest, “This looks boring…too easy~” She smirks, pivoting to walk away. 

“Oh, c’mon!” Angel pouts, grabbing her arm and protesting. “I know you would want one of those little guys!” He motions to the stuffed animals and Esme's eyes look away in an unfazed gesture. She was never one for those little plushies, ever since….ever since her daughter’s room laid bare with just them scattered over the floor. 

“Some other time…” 

“Oh darling, come now…” Alastor pipes in, looking up at all the options, “You could absolutely win this little game. Why not try for that fellow over there?” He points up to a small platypus hanging on the wall. Esme raises an eyebrow and turns to look at him, looking up to see his eyes having budged from it, his ears twitching in curiosity.

My, how gender norms have changed. 

“Fine.” She sighs, walking with Angel to the little seats. She sits elegantly on the stool with her legs crossed, leaning forward and gripping onto the handles. She feels something drip on her hand, looks down to see red. “Is this blood?” She raises it to her mouth and licks it. 

O Positive to be exact. 

She laughs and grips onto the handles once more, “Perhaps I do like this game.” The buzzer goes off and Esme smirks, looking over to Angel’s controller and narrowing her eyes. The Siren’s eyes glow brightly as both his and the other sinner’s controllers cease their blast of liquid. Angel gasps and squeezes his controller tightly, “What the f-” He realizes and turns to Esme, “Cheater!” 

“I have no idea what you’re referring to…” She says with a smug chuckle as she keeps her hands steady on the controller, guiding the liquid with her mind to hit the target, making the bullseye rise to the top. 

A loud ding goes off and Esme is high-fived by the worker. 

“You snake!” Angel pouts. 

“I’m not a snake, I’m a siren…” Esme smirks, sticking her tongue out to him. She turns to the worker, “The platypus, please sir.” He hands her the stuffed creature and she walks back over to Alastor, seeing his smile stretching a smidge more than usual. 

“What a fine choice, my dear!” He beams. 

“Here.” She smiles sweetly, her eyes sparkling in satisfaction seeing him so enamored by the win. 

He clears his throat and straightens up, “It’s not mine, dearest…” He nervously adjusts his bowtie, obviously a little embarrassed to want such an adorable thing, but his eyes don’t leave it.

“Oooh of course not~” Esme giggles, knowingly, “But my hands are so tired after playing that little game, so why don’t you hold it for me, amore?” 

He takes it quickly, causing her smile to become a little brighter as the two walk through the park, Angel still complaining to the worker in the background for allowing Esme to cheat. 

As they walk, Alastor’s eyes stay glued to the platypus. All the while, Esme’s eyes stay fixed on his expression. “What should I name him?” She asks, her voice laced with amusement. 

“Him?” 

“He seems like a dapper fellow, don’t you think?” 

He smiles. Esme’s heart swoons knowing this is a sincere, genuine kind, not part of that phony mockery he has plastered all the time. “Albert?” He asks, “Alvin?” 

Esme laughs, “Alright Al, way to stroke your ego.” 

“An A suits him!” He protests. 

Esme smirks playfully. She pauses before, “Little Al…” She says with a chuckle, “Our child if you will, since ours is not here.” 

His grin closes to a soft closed mouth smile, a twinge of sadness but also affection, “Lovely.” 

The two keep walking, this time heading to the exit to start on the travel back home, their voices echoing in the distance. 

“Hey, he’s got your eyes….” 

“Esme…” 

“Haha, kidding, kidding…” 

──── •✧• ────

🖤Words: 1115 🖤

~ Artemis🦌💗

[helpimstuckposting]

TW: mentions of homophobia, brief f-slur mention More silly conversations and goofy friendship moments that Steve hasn't had in a while! I just love the Robin/Steve/Eddie dynamic, it's my favorite out of everything so I hope you like and I did it justice

I’m a ghost and you are a shadow

Part one | part two | part three | part four | part five | part six | part seven | part eight | part nine | part ten | part eleven

—

After their midnight talk, Steve couldn’t just go back to bed. There were too many thoughts, too many emotions, too much going on in the past day for his mind to quiet enough to let sleep take him. Instead, Eddie kept him company in the kitchen. They talked about the other Steve, Eddie hesitant at first, but Steve reassured him he wanted to know more about the man he could have been, the one everyone saw when they looked at him.

It was interesting, hearing all the differences of his life that appeared from the crossroads of his father living and dying. Apparently, Richard Harrington had died in some sort of travel accident when Steve was four. Eddie didn’t quite know the details, he’d never asked, but the rumor around town was that Mr Harrington had gone off on a business trip the morning of Steve’s fourth birthday. He came back in a casket.

Steve could vaguely recall begging his father to stay home for his birthday that year. He’d begged and begged until his father relented, it was probably the best birthday Steve could remember. And yet, because of that, the rest of Steve’s childhood suffered. Oh, the irony, Steve thought.

They went over some of the pictures hanging on the photo wall, Eddie dramatically re-enacting a few of them, though Steve could tell it was hard. If Eddie’s rings were his armor, Steve thought maybe his DM persona was a shield. Like it was easier to remain detached if he pretended they were campaigns and not memories.

Steve also noticed that since their talk outside, Eddie refrained from calling the other Steve ‘his Steve’. He just called him Steve, just like it was another person who happened to have the same name. It was nice, like Steve wasn’t a replacement or the same person or a mistake. He was just Steve, and so was this other guy. Two different people with the same name, like it was normal.

It was a relief, in those moments, to be someone new, someone separate from the other Steve. It made him feel a little less like he was taking up space he shouldn’t be in, and Steve thought maybe that was Eddie’s intention. He said Steve wasn’t taking someone else’s place, and he kept his word.

At some point, before the sun rose, the stairs creaked with footsteps. The two had been crouched over the counter with cups of coffee, legs too numb from sitting for hours. Robin swayed sleepily into the kitchen, blinking one eye at a time before rubbing at them with her balled up fists. She looked kind of like a toddler who was searching for her parents. Steve snorted into his mug, setting it down before he choked on the liquid inside. Robin’s eyes narrowed at him, before she rolled her eyes and lazily lifted two fingers up in a peace sign.

“Sup, Dingi,” she croaked, voice not quite awake yet.

Steve shared a look with Eddie, scrunching his nose up in a sneer and nodding silently toward Robin, what the hell did she just say?

Eddie snorted and took a gulp from his mug, a silent don’t ask me, sent back.

Robin sighed and pointed to Steve, “One dingus,” she said, then pointed to Eddie, “two dingi,” she concluded, before wandering over to Steve and stealing his mug of coffee. She clasped it in her hands and shuffled over to the other side of the counter island, plopping herself into a stool. “So what were you two lovely ladies talking about at four in the morning?”

“I was telling Stevie here about that one time Steve bet you couldn’t beat his track time and you sprinted so hard you threw up in your lunch bag before band.” Robin squawked, slamming the mug down on the counter and leaning threateningly toward Eddie.

She jabbed a finger at him, “Not cool Munson, we agreed that story went to the grave!”

Eddie laughed maniacally, bouncing in his place, “I lied, Buckley, tough shit!”

As Robin leapt from her stool to chase Eddie around the kitchen island, Steve silently stole his mug back to watch it all play out. He’d dreamed of this so many times, the casual teasing and horsing around just like the kids did. He’d never had a large group of genuine friends, just Tommy and Carol and whoever else they deemed cool enough to join them that week. It was never light hearted jokes and stupid faces, it was silent smoking and jabs that were too sharp, too mean spirited. Carol taught him how to hold himself, how to look intimidating and aloof. She’d never in a million years stoop down to make herself look stupid for a laugh or to cheer someone up. She was calculated, like his mother, but now he wondered if things had been different, would she have been happy too? Does a Carol or Tommy in this universe chase someone around a counter to make them laugh? Or any other universe?

After a couple laps around the kitchen island, Robin caught up to Eddie, tugging his back to her chest and lifting him off his feet. She looked like a wrestler trying to suplex Eddie into the ground but she couldn’t get him higher than a couple inches, tops. Steve snorted into his coffee again as Eddie shrieked, shards of pain stabbing through his nose as he coughed the liquid back out of his lungs and sinuses. There were tears in his eyes from the choking and the laughter and the tightness in his chest, and after hacking up the dredges of coffee in his lungs he kept watch as Eddie kicked and screeched and Robin struggled to keep him in her arms.

Eddie threw himself forward so his feet finally landed back on the ground, and it was Robin’s turn to yell as she was hoisted onto Eddie’s back from the sudden movement. She still refused to let go as Eddie rapidly stalked around the counter, squatting to keep Robin’s weight on his back as she kept his arms pinned to his side.

Steve could watch them fight it out for hours, if he were honest and it had been years since he’d laughed this hard. The rest of the party was going to show up eventually today and they’d have to start looking into the gates, but for now Steve watched and laughed and rolled his eyes as Robin finally gave up her hold and slid off Eddie’s back, pooling onto the floor like a sad little puddle.

“First you break our vow, then you try and murder me, and for what? For what, Munson? I know where you sleep!” She mumbled into the tile.

Eddie crouched down to lean over her, smug look plastered over his face. “I’m pretty sure you tried to murder me, this was purely self defense.”

“And I’m sure the cops would say you had it coming!” She said, lifting herself off the floor and sitting back in her stool. She snatched Steve’s mug up, took a sip and then squinted at him, slowly lowering the mug to the counter and pointing at it.

“Did you spit in this?”

“Not on purpose,” he replied, voice still a bit hoarse from the coughing fit. She gagged dramatically and shoved the cup back in his hands, standing to pour her own.

“It’s about time you learned how to be self-reliant,” Eddie teased, sitting down in the next stool over, across from Steve who remained leaning over the counter, elbows holding his weight on the shiny granite while his ankles were crossed behind him.

“Shut the whole fuck up, Munson, or I swear to god-,”

“How did you three meet, anyway?” Steve asked, cutting off whatever threat Robin was about to throw out. He looked back and forth between Eddie in front of him, and Robin behind him fixing her mug of coffee. He watched as the two shared a look, both a little sad at the reminder that their Steve was gone. Or at least, that’s what Steve assumed the look was, the droop to their smiles telling Steve maybe he shouldn’t have asked. However, before he could take it back, Robin sat back down in the stool next to Eddie and started to answer.

“We were all in band together,” she said as Eddie nodded and silently took a sip from his mug.

“Band?” Steve asked. He knew Eddie and Robin were in the high school band in his universe, but they hadn’t become friends as far as he knew.

“You and Eddie played sax,” she said. Steve tried to cover his flinch at the mention of ‘you’, the reminder that they all expected him to be someone he wasn’t sparking uncomfortably in his head.

“Steve and I sat right in front of Buckley here, who always had a penchant for playing just a little too close to my ear,” Eddie chimed in, shoving his shoulder against Robins.

“Well Eddie here was never a team player, always skipping ahead or pretending to play when he didn’t like the music,” she shoved right back.

“I never-,” Steve started, pausing when the two pairs of eyes locked onto him. “I never learned any instruments.” He sighed, fiddling with the mostly empty cup in his hands. Their eyes felt like lasers boring into his head. “Mom signed me up for piano classes when I was little, but my dad said the arts were for ‘females, fruits, and fags’ so I never got the chance to finish.”

“Well hey, I’m a female and a fruit,” Robin said.

“And I’m a fag!” Eddie said, turning to Robin for an enthusiastic high five. “Guess Mr Harrington was right, huh Stevie?” he said sarcastically. Steve swallowed nervously around the saliva pooling in his mouth. He actually didn’t know about Eddie, had maybe suspected sometimes but it had never been confirmed. It felt… weird that this seemed like something he should know, but he didn’t and now he does but Eddie never told him. Or, well, he did just tell him but he also didn’t and now he knew something that he wasn’t sure he was allowed to know.

“Oh shit,” Eddie mumbled, “did you… uh,” he glanced between Steve and Robin, “did you not know about us?”

Steve shook his head, “I uh, I knew about Robin, but not…”

Eddie winced. The giddy look in his eye from the playful banter was gone, and he seemed… sadder, like Steve had just tossed water over a campfire and killed the light. “Why does it feel like I just outed someone else?” Eddie mumbled to Robin. She grimaced and set a comforting hand on Eddie’s shoulder, sharing a warm look that Steve once again couldn’t read. Again, he felt like an outsider watching over two strangers. The side of the counter he was leaning against seemed cold and wide, a million miles away from where Robin and Eddie sat side by side.

“Well anyway,” Eddie scooted closer to the counter, clinking his empty mug against Steve’s, “regardless of the Eddie you know, I’m gay so… welcome to the Queer Closet of Hawkins, you’re officially on the guest list and it’s a very exclusive honor.”

Steve chuckled, awed by the way Eddie had just closed the chasm between them. The metalhead grinned, patting the stool on his left and closing that gap even more. Steve placed his cup in the sink behind him and walked around the counter to sit in the vacant seat, the gap completely shut with a final click as Eddie lightly patted Steve’s knee.

“So what about you?” He asked, “how did you meet Robin and Eddie?”

Steve laughed, “it’s uh… a much longer story.” Eddie nodded eagerly and Robin pulled a leg up to squish under her on the stool, leaning against the counter to look over Eddie and nod just as enthusiastically. Steve looked back and forth between the two, feeling more whole than he had even just a few hours ago.

He shook his head fondly and launched into the story of Scoops, Russians, Steve and Robin’s unfortunate drug-filled escapade through the mall, and Dustin’s weird ability to imprint on older teens. Eddie laughed at that, tossing his head back and almost falling backward out of his stool.

“I was so annoyed! Dustin wouldn’t shut up about his cool new friend Eddie who played D&D and understood all his references. Eddie who was ‘the best DM ever’, who was ‘so cool, you don’t get it, Steve’ the little shit.”

Robin was leaning against Eddie’s back now, arms thrown over his shoulders to keep him planted in his stool. “Oh, oh!” she exclaimed, smacking Eddie in the chest as she thought of something.

He grabbed her wrist, stopping her from hitting him again. “Jesus, Buckley, spit it out,” he grumbled, shooting eyes at Steve, who just smiled back at him.

“Does your Robin have any game? A girlfriend? Is she cooler than me?” She asked excitedly.

Steve snorted, “I don’t think any Robin Buckley has ever had game.”

“Hey!” Robin exclaimed, and then squinted at him, assessing something in her head. “No, yeah, that makes sense,” she conceded, bobbing her head back and forth.

“She did have a massive crush on this girl Vicky from band, though, and they got pretty close. I always told Robin to go for it, because Vicky? Not straight, not at all,” he swore to them, pointing back and forth as emphasis.

“Ah, Vicky,” Robin sighed dreamily, “she was so cute.” Eddie rolled his eyes, shaking his head at Steve like he’d heard way too much about Vicky for a lifetime. “I never did get the chance to see if Steve was right about that.”

This time Steve rolled his eyes, "Of course I'm right, she was totally giving you eyes, like, constantly I can't believe you would doubt me!" he scoffed, missing for a second that he had slipped in and made himself her Steve, what he'd been trying to avoid this whole time. He had to remind himself constantly; he wasn't their Steve, he was an outsider, he was a different person. He remembered what Eddie had said by the pool; he's not a placeholder, he's not stealing someone's spot, he's his own person.

Still, with the jokes and banter and laughter, it was so so easy to just slip up and forget. He brushed it off, hoping they would too or even better that they wouldn't notice his mistake or the slight dim to his smile before catching himself. Luckily, Eddie and Robin were as close to reading his mind as possible it seemed and the three powered forward as if the slip never happened.

As it turns out, in this universe the Russian fiasco still happened, in nearly the same way. The only difference between Steve's story and Robin's story was that they'd already been friends for years, had applied to Scoops together, just like Family Video. Eddie had been working in the record store on the second floor, but was off with Wayne for a fishing trip at the time. Everything else was the same.

"I can't believe that was our first test of friendship, oh my god," Robin whined, smushing her face up with her hands and dragging them down, pulling her features with them.

"I'm still so mad I missed that, I was so useless and I had no idea until Wayne and I came back and everything was fucked. What if Samwise was on vacation and he just came back and Bilbo was suddenly a hero, missing a finger, traumatized from all this shit Sam had no idea about! I spent the rest of that summer feeling like I had missed your whole lives," Eddie said. Steve wasn't quite sure who the hell he was talking about, but there was something else in his eyes, something that Steve still hadn't translated and couldn't put his finger on. He wondered if Eddie would tell him, eventually, wondered if he'd ever be able to read those looks before they had to shove him back through the gate to his desolate wasteland of a universe.

He shoved that thought away from his mind, locked in a little box labelled 'for later', and trekked on through their morning. It would probably only be an hour now before the party showed up to finalize plans and start splitting up to put it in motion. He sighed and looked between Eddie and Robin, still going through random memories, teasing, poking, and laughing at each other. 'For Later' he whispered in the dark of his mind, joining back into the conversation as if he'd never left. He'd worry about it then, for now he was more content than ever to just sit here at the dark kitchen island as the sun kept up its rise over the horizon. He'd sit, and listen, and contribute, and laugh, and everything else could come later.

—

@devondespresso @weirdandabsurd42 @sirsnacksalot @space-invading-pigeon @aliea82 @goodolefashionedloverboi @emly03 @bestwifehaver @mentallyundone @13catastrophic-blues @estrellami-1 @cinnamon-mushroomabomination @likelylad @aellafreya @wxrmland @shunna @fangirltofangod @howincrediblysapphicofyou

[imaginationofacrazyfangirl]

Summary: Everyone knows that you and Eastern U's power forward Hoseok are just friends. Even if you do occasionally sleep with each other. Okay, more than occasionally, but who's counting?

-PAIRING: Hoseok x f!reader

-GENRE: smut, 18+, minors dni.

-WARNINGS: fingering, oral (f-receiving), grinding, choking, dirty talk, penetration, dom/sub, Hoseok can be kind of dumb, idiots in love, mention of a dark side, possibly part of a larger series.

Dedicated to @junghelioseok, it took me like five years and probably sucks but here.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sports were always overrated until you joined a sorority. Back in high school, the basketball teams seemed to be full of nothing but arrogant athletes throwing their weight around without the realization that no one cared. Half of the time the school ignored their presence, more keen on their own devices, no matter how much the school pressured everyone for “school spirit.” In college however things were a little different. Sure Eastern U still had its arrogant jocks, but this time they had the talent to back it.

     Eastern U's basketball team was one the top in the region. Mainly due to the loyalty and hard work of its players. So you felt more comfortable stanning them than those jerks back in high school. Besides, it probably didn’t help that you were part of the sorority in charge of throwing tailgates, after game parties, and rallies for them. Honestly you never would’ve pictured yourself as one of those ‘girls’ back in high school, yet here you are nursing your second beer watching as J-Hope, the team’s power forward, did a keg stand. Your gaze narrows shamelessly as a bit of his shirt falls down revealing a pair of rock hard abs.

    You take a sip of your beer trying to mask your sudden appetite. “You are not fooling anyone you know?” Ga-Eun mentions, grinning. The girl is your best friend in the whole sorority, having ‘fostered’ you as your big sister, freshman year. She is a gentle soul unlike many of your other sisters in the house; very down to earth and into the real world, some of the many things that drew her to you. 

    She also happens to be the girlfriend of the team’s captain, Namjoon. Together she and ‘Captain America’ (as they called Namjoon teasingly, for his serious ‘all American’ boy personality) act as the binding glue to the team members. Unfortunately this all means she is involved in all the boys’ business including who they slept with. “You two should just  get together already? I mean it’s not like you hang around anybody else. Besides, Hobi tends to have a one track mind when it comes to you.” Ga-Eun pressures.

   You roll your eyes, taking another sip. “You’re exaggerating. Hoseok and I are just friends, who fuck occasionally. No need to put a label on that.”

   Ga-Eun snorts. “Right, friends who only fuck each other exclusively. Sounds like more to me.”

   “Good thing, I didn’t ask your opinion.” You say with a playful wink.

 She nudges you, but before Ga-Eun could carry out her crusade Hoseok hops over proudly raising his arms. “(Y/N), did you see that? Forty-five seconds a personal best.”

   “Personal best? Hobi, I think you out-drank the whole party.”

 “No way, you should see Yoongi. He's like a fish in water when it comes to drinking. “ Hoseok claims, throwing an arm around you. “Hey Yoongi, do a keg stand!”

     “Nah, I’m good.” Yoongi replies. Ever the responsible player, Yoongi very rarely drinks like a fish out of water as Hoseok claims, preferring to remain clear headed and healthy. “Gotta hit the court early tomorrow-like you should be doing.”

   “Aaaiiissh, you work too hard, Hyung. The next game isn’t for two weeks, you should be celebrating tonight’s win. Even Namjoon’s relaxing and he’s Captain America.” Hoseok whines.

Ga-Eun lets out a loud laugh looking over at her boyfriend drinking beside the team’s manager Jin. His face is colored a little pink, but nowhere near red like Hoseok’s. Most likely the two are discussing future games and advertisements, but at least they appear to relax more than Eastern U’s star player.

    Yoongi smiles, but shakes his head. “I’m going to head home. Maybe shoot a few hoops on the way. (Y/N), take care of him. Dumbass is the biggest lightweight amongst us. He’ll probably be feeling that keg stand in a few seconds.”

    “Gotach.” You say, already feeling Hoseok’s swaying weight. Said redhead lets out a little whine about his friend leaving early, but you are able to stave him off. “Come on big boy. I think you  already had enough tonight. You’re going to have a killer headache hangover in the morning.”

   “But I haven’t played beer pong yet? Jimin and I were going to destroy Jungkook and his team. Teach that kid some respect for us older players.”  Hoseok pouts, ranting about the maknae’s disrespect. Thankfully there is no heat behind his words, despite your own personal feeling on the matter. Yoongi might  be Eastern U’s top player now, but his throne is definitely threatened by freshman Jungkook, who got on varsity without spending any time on JV. The boy is naturally gifted- no denial there. However he lacks discipline or humility unlike the others.

 ��    “You can do that next time. Maybe before you do a forty-five second keg stand.” you hum, leading him up the stairs into your room. It isn’t unusual on nights like these that Hoseok spends the night rather than trek across campus back to his dorm. It is easier and probably for the best seeing how you can easily picture a drunk Hobi, wandering around campus talking to everything he sees. Plus it would be a lie to say you didn’t enjoy nights spent asleep next to him; his arm stretched out protectively around your upper body as if scared you’d disappear.

    “Aaahh, your bed is so comfy. I could  sleep here all night.” Hoseok groans, making himself comfortable. 

   You snort, changing out of your bra and shirt. Away from the party you are now free to be as comfy as you want, which means booty shorts and an oversized t-shirt. Sloppy compared to your prior outfit, but you don’t feel the need to always present like some girls do. Especially not when it comes to Hoseok, who enjoys you in pajama pants as equally as he does, when you wear your usual sorority ‘approved’ outfit. Perhaps if you guys were more than the occasional friends who screwed things would be different, but you aren’t. 

    “Hmmm...if I knew we were coming up here to do this. I would’ve left the party a while ago.” Hoseok groans, adjusting himself. 

   Your mouth dries at the sight of him touching himself. Sleeping with Hoseok tonight wasn't originally the plan, but it appears as if tables have turned. Then again doesn’t it always end up this way? One reason or another Hoseok ends up in your dorm only to pound the ever loving fuck out of you. 

   Slowly you crawl on top of him, cladded only in a pair of plain white panties. “Sex wasn’t my plan originally, but if you feel up for it-” 

   He grabs your hips, forcing you to straddle his waist. A moan escapes you at the feel of his hardness under those baggy pants of his. “Who said I wasn’t up for it? I’m always up when it comes to you, princess.” Hoseok purrs, kissing your breast.

  A lewd wet sound fills the room as he lavishes your breasts with his tongue. It always surprises you how much attention Hoseok pays you. Most men dive straight for the kill. Hoseok however takes his time whenever with you. Almost paying homage to you with his mouth and fingers. “Such pretty breasts, princess. I could play with them all day.” he teases, taking a nipple into his hot mouth.

   Your mouth falls open releasing a loud gasp as his tongue swirls over it. Subconsciously you begin to rock your hips desperate for friction. “ Needy girl, aren’t we?” Hoseok chastises. He places a quick kiss to the side of your neck, before stilling your hips with his forceful grip. “But I’m not done playing yet. There’s still so much left of you, I haven’t gotten to taste.”

    His tongue trails down your neck, eliciting a shudder from you as Hoseok places open mouth kisses on it. If Hoseok’s attention to your breast is odd, then the hyper attention to your neck is just downright crazy.The boy has a thing for your neck, even when sex isn’t an option. Whether it is the protective arm over it in his sleep or him accidentally clotheslining  you each time he comes in for a hug, Hoseok loves your neck. “I am going to have so many hickies…” you gasp as he nibbles on your skin.

  “I’m sure you’ll figure something out.” Hoseok mutters, lathering your skin with affection. His teeth skin your neck, teasing it slightly, before sinking themselves into you. A low gasp escapes you as you move against his erection desperate for friction. “There, all marked up nice and pretty for me, princess. Now everyone will know your mine.”

    Heat pools down between your legs. Oh how badly you wish for that to be true. As much as you deny it to Ga-Eun, you really do like Hoseok and more than friends do. He is just so perfect in an inexplicable way. However, you know he has no interest in you. Hoseok might not be as much of a ladies man as his teammates, Jimin or Jungkook are, but he does have a couple girls on his radar outside of you. 

   You kiss him, teeth biting gently on his lower lip. He smirks against your lip, before licking your lips demanding access. You open your mouth allowing his tongue to slip in. Slowly Hoseok’s hands move up, his fingers crawling over your bare skin before settling themselves on your body. One arm reaches around you pressing its hand onto your head while the other presses between your shoulder blades.

     Hoseok always loves being in control. There is something about it that makes him crazy . Perhaps it is the leading not following that got him the high, but something tells you deep down there might be something more about it. After all, you sometimes get the hint that deep inside Hoseok there is some unadulterated hatred towards his sunny personality.  “That’s my girl so beautiful.” he whispers, flipping over suddenly.

   Your body falls gently amongst the blankets. Hair floating gently across the pillow as Hoseok spreads your limbs out with his hands and knees. He crouches over you, his eyes fill with hunger as they look  at you. Shivers run up your spine at the animalistic shift in Hoseok. Sunnyside boy definitely has a dark side to him and you can’t say you exactly hated it. “Hoseok, baby...take me please.” you whine.

   Again his lips descend desperately onto yours. This time with an urgency you only ever experience with Hoseok. Desperately he struggles to slide his sweats off, only managing to do so thanks to your assistance. A grin spreads across his lip as he throws both hoodie and shirt to the ground now completely naked. “No boxers?” you grin, reaching out to touch his pecs.

   The warmth of his smooth skin radiates beneath your fingers. You can feel his heart beat rapidly underneath your palm. “Why bother? They’re only a pain to take off when I'm fucking you.” He says, pecking your lips.

    Before you can question Hoseok further, he dives down scooping your legs up over his shoulder. You gasp at the feeling of his warm breath against your opening. His grin spreads further out and a wicked look crosses him as Hoseok flicks his tongue against your lips. Your body shakes as he gives a few more long languid licks to your pussy. Teasingly Hoseok dips his tongue into your core once or twice, penetrating but not satisfying the urge between your legs. “Always so tasty for me.” he murmurs, licking once more at your clit.

   You blush hiding behind your hands. It isn't the first time Hoseok commented as such. The boy loves his dirty talk, yet you always find yourself embarrassed by his words. Passed lovers never talked as much, nor did they enjoy eating you out like Hoseok did. "Nuh uh, no hiding from me, princess. " he chastises, pushing your hands away. He places a teasing kiss on your wrist, staring hungrily at you. "Hide from me again and I'll have to tie these pretty wrists up."

    You moan unabashedly. 

He smirks, "Now hold still and let me enjoy my snack. "

  His tongue flattens against you running a long stripe along your pussy. You shiver as it draws circles around your clit. Teeth graze over the little nub teasingly causing you to gasp. Even without looking you know Hoseok is smirking. The boy becomes a cocky little shit whenever in bed, however seeing how he has the talent...A pair of fingers slips into your core filling you to the brim. “Hoseok…” You whimper as he moves them.

   “Relax baby. It’s all about you right now so enjoy.”  He whispers, breath teasing your pussy. His tongue flattens once more against your clit licking it, occasionally meeting his fingers momentarily inside your core. It doesn't take long for that coil inside you to spring and juices to spray on Hoseok. A sigh escapes as you relax against the bed, eyes watching Hoseok lick his lips shamelessly. "Tasty."

  "Shut up." You squeal, smacking him with a pillow. 

  He grins. "Seriously. My favorite snack, better than any energy drink or protein bar I had. "

   You smack him again. Sometimes this boy says the dumbest shit, yet somehow it still comes out as profound or romantic. "You know most people wouldn't compare their lover's taste to a protein bar.”

    Hoseok shrugs, “You know what I mean.”

Before you can reply he slides you to his waist. Almost as if automatically your legs clamp around him feeling the hard length of his cock against your core. A moan escapes you when he rubs it teasingly against you. “You’re like an energizer to me, (Y/N). When I’m with you, my body comes alive no matter how tired or drunk I may be. Hence energy drink or protein bar.” He states, moving your body against his.

    You barely hear his words over the feel of his cock. Something about the way Hoseok uses you for his own pleasure brings you deep satisfaction. He may worship you like no other man, but he is in now way submissive to you. “Are you even listening, princess? I’m trying to have a heart to heart here, and all you can think about is my cock.” Hoseok chastises, but continues to grind against you.

    “Sh-shut up. You know exactly what you’re doing.” you accuse.

  A dangerous glint sparks in Hoseok's eyes at your words. He reaches out, placing a hand around your neck. His large hand grips it tightly forcing you to look at him. “You’re the one acting like a whore, princess. You're practically drenching my cock in your juices and I’m not even in yet.” Hoseok replies, “Maybe I should stop since you hate it so much-”

   “No!” You shout suddenly. The plea comes out in a wispy cough as his finger continues to put pressure on your neck. Your heart beats so fast in your chest, that you're sure he can feel through his grip. You look up at him pleadingly. “Please…don’t stop, Hobi.”

     Your words must satisfy him for Hoseok slips himself inside. Even through his grip, your cry is sharp and loud. So much so that you pray Ga-Eun and the others are still out. Last thing you need is your sorority sisters making fun of you…or worse asking when you and Hoseok are going to be official.  “Hey, thoughts on me, princess. Only me.” Hoseok whispers, “I’m the one in charge here. So focus on me.”

    “Ye-yes sir.” you gasp. His hips met yours at a slow pace. Each thrust of his body slowly dragging his cock through you, meeting each and every sweet spot within you. Slow and languid usually wasn’t your thing, but Hoseok somehow is able to make it the best precursor to any hard sex you ever had. Something which according to experience would be happening at any moment.

    “Such a good princess for me. Always nice and tight for me.” Hoseok kisses your cheek. He looks at you as if you're a piece of priceless artwork. As if you’re something so fragile you can break at any moment. A sickly sweet act if not for knowing how Hoseok really thinks. Most people prefer to treat priceless artwork carefully, fearful of ruining its beauty. Hoseok desires nothing more than to fix it into his own vision.

    His hips speed up, thrusting into you like a wild man. You moan arching your back only for him to tighten his hold on your neck. You begin to feel slightly light headed when his spare hand reaches in between your legs and finds your clit. A burst of pleasure floods over you and you come, clenching tightly around him. 

   Hoseok lets out a low encouraging groan. His pace now sloppy and hard as he fucks you for his own high. It doesn’t take long before he pulls out, spraying his cum onto your sheets. He practically collapses on top of you.

    You two lie there for a few seconds, body shaking from the aftermath of your orgasms. “Fuck, seriously (Y/N). No one fucks me as well as you do.” Hoseok huffs.

      You snort. “Thanks I guess.”

  Hoseok smiles against your skin. “You know. Maybe Ga-Eun is right, and we should make it official. Afterall, I would hate for someone to find out just how perfect you are.”

   Perfect. You would never classify yourself as perfect. You are a bookworm who played in the school’s marching band throughout high school. It’s only by some stroke of luck that you ended up in a sorority fucking one of Eastern U’s players. And still….you want this. You want to be Hoseok’s perfect princess. More than that, you want to continue exploring parts of Hoseok that others did not see. 

“Let’s do it. Let’s become official.”

[imthetunnelunderoceanblvd]

innocence loss

【Quaritch/Reader】

warnings: mini bad plot, breeding kink, physical abuse, choking, oral sex, unprotected sex, slut shaming, rape/non-con., sub!reader, dom!quaritch, vaginal sex, virgin reader, clit fucking?, smut, degration, begging, crying. that’s all i guess.

reminder: don’t like don’t read.

in which: quaritch wants to rob your innocence

a/n: first time posting smut lol.

i do not own any of the pictures i used in this fic, i found them on pinterest. they belong to whoever made/posted them

walking through the forest was an injured quaritch, his face was bloody, he had cuts all over his body, his ikran was tired of flying for days, quaritch had no idea that there was a pair of yellow eyes staring at him until he heard a yell and an exruciating pain on the back of his neck and his vision turned black.

“oh! you’re awake, you’ve been sleeping for days,” he heard a soft voice next to him, he turned his head and saw you, your adorable doe eyes looking down at him, he took in your soft face features, memorizing them, burying them deep deep down in his memories. “who are you,” he said but it came out as a growl “i’m y/n, i actually hit you on the head with a rock i was going to take you to the clan so they can kill you but then i decided against it because you were injured,” you spoke fastly and he chuckled “what’s your name?” he closed his eyes and sighed and snorted “miles, miles quaritch.”

from that day on you started visiting him everyday, it took you a while to pronounce his name right, you grew a lovely friendship, which brings you to these events, you walking around the forest with quaritch.

“do you have any kids?” you asked him and looked at his side profile “yes. yes, i do, why?” he hummed and you shook your head “nothin’ just wondering, do you have a mate?” you narrowed your eyes at him which earned you a chuckle from him he shook his head “no,” he mumbled under his breath, and kept walking trying to ignore you.

you yet asked another question which, clearly, annoyed him “why are you asking so many questions?” he sighed and you hummed biting your lower lip “i don’t know? i mean you’re different, and i wanna know about you? i guess? i don’t know,” you said in all honesty “well, there’s nothin’ you gotta know ‘bout me, except that i’m an ol’ man,” you gasped “that’s insane, you don’t look old, anyways as i was saying.” you said and continued your conversation about how bad you’d love to find your mate on day, sick, twisted, and a dark idea washed over quaritch “what if we mate right here, right now,” he asked and you giggled thinking that he’s joking but your giggling quickly stopped when you saw that his face was turned in your direction.

“what?” you asked smiling “you’re very pretty you know,” he replied. you didn’t know what he meant by that. quaritch began to walk towards you. starting to sense something was wrong, you slowly backed away with each step he took. until your back was pressed against the tree.

with every second passing, quaritch found it harder and harder to hold back. everything about you was so innocent. he was burning with lust, and he wanted you to burn with him. his dick was rock hard, straining against his cammies, his body ready to take you right then and there.

“what are you doi-”

not wasting another second, quaritch shovined you against the tree. you tried to tell him to stop, but was your voice was quickly muffled by his lips latching into yours like a leech, he kissed you roughly, his hands touching every inch on your body, nose bumping into your cheek, his spit mixing with yours. your hands shot to his chest trying to push him off of you, but he was quick to grabbing both your wrists and pinning them above your head. you squirmed under him, and he smiled against your lips, his canines biting down on your lip. your face started turning pruple as your air ways were cut and you couldn’t breathe. the strong scent of sweat on him only made everything worse. after a few minutes of turture, he finally pulled his face away from yours, and you took this opportunity to gasp in air. before you could say anything, quaritch hushed you with his finger on your lip.

“hey, just breathe,” he cooed, his hand on your cheek rubbing softly, trying to calm you down and brushed a piece of hair out of your face, tucking it behind your ear and smirked. “don’ worry, you’re in good hands, sweetheart. i’m gon’ make ya feel real nice and good, gonna take care of ya,”

you tried pushing him again, but ceased all actions when he shoved his knee between your legs. “stop it, please, don’t touch me! please stop!” you screamed. “no ones goin’ anywhere,” he had a stern look on his face. you gasped when he suddenly grabbed you by the arm and threw you onto the ground.

he quickly climbed on top of you, pinning you down. you continued to struggle, but all your no, please, and stops sounded more like a challenge to him than pleas. he ground into you and you felt something hard press against your crotch. he groaned, feeling the friction between his hard cock and the rough material of his cammies as he rubbed his erection against you. unable to bear the pain in his crotch anymore, he unbuckled his belt and unbuttoned his cammies in a rush, not even bothering to take them off, pinned both your arms against the ground with a single hand, the other moving your loincloth to the side revealing your folds, the same hand moved over to your chest ripping your top off.

“no, please. please stop, i don’t wanna do this,” you sobbed, unknowing that your pathetic attempt to plead mercy only turned him on even more. he parted your lips using his index and ring fingers and pressed his middle to your opening, he hummed at the tightness, he was right. you were a virgin, just like he had thought. he pressed his bare cock against your pussy and it throbbed at your words, ready to change all that. he looked at you, with wide eyes, at the feeling of your wet cunt. tears ran down your face covering your cheeks making them wet while he rubbed himself up and down your folds, coating his cock in your juices.

“i don’t think your body wants me to stop, does it?” he hummed. You looked away in shame. he lowered his head until he was right next to your ear. his shaved sides tickling your cheeks, his piercing yellow eyes flashing with hunger. “look how fucking wet you are for me, and i’ve barely done anything.” he made a tsk sound. “looks like you’re nothin’ but a dirty slut, ain’t that right sweetheart?” he chuckled

“no,” you choked out. you couldn’t believe it. you were about to get raped right in your own home, the same ground you walked on when you were a child, by a man who’se life you saved.

he rubbed against your folds one more time, the tip of his dick hitting your clit, making you arch your back, before sliding the tip in your entrance. he grunted at the tightness of your cunt, yet your insides seemed to suck him in.

he agonizingly forced himself inside and groaned when he finally bottomed out, feeling how your velvety walls pulsed around his throbbing cock. you began to cry from how bad the stretching burned. despite your wetness, his length and girth made it painful, and on top of all that, he didn’t wait a second for you to adjust, immediately pounding into you.

“please, stop,” you whispered. but it had already been done. he had taken your virginity, robbed you of your innocence. no one would ever want you now, if they knew of all the dirty things quaritch had done to you.

he felt as if all the stamina he’d built all these years had been undone as soon as he felt how tight your cunt was.

“you feel that, princess?” he moaned into your ear pressing on the bulge in your stomach “do you feel how good i’m makin’ you feel? yeah that’s right. that cunt of yours belongs to me now. ain’t no na’vi gon’ make ya feel that way,” you continued to struggle, you kept pushing him in a deseprate attempt to get him off of you. “fuck! yeah do that again.. do just that,” he said as you accidentally tightened your walls around him he groaned again, and you felt his cock twitch. “i’m close, dolly. yeah, jus keep squeezin’ me. just like that. fuckkkk, yeah,” he groaned and your eyes widened when you realized what he said.

“no, please, please don’t do it inside, please no” you whispered, tears streaming down your cheeks. “i can’t, please, miles, i can’t get pregnant, please, don’t,” you whisper-begged.

“what if i want to impregnate you? huh? fill you up with my seed, the way your body would change because of me? be my kids mother?” he teasingly asked, smirking.

“no, please,” you begged. you looked at him with wide eyes, praying to eywa that he would have mercy. “please, please, please...”

he sighed, your begging started to annoy him. if he really wanted to finish inside of you, then he will, and you were going to take it, cause there’s nothing you could do about it. he suddenly pulled out of you with a wet pop. he got up and stood on the ground. “on your knees,” you obeyed like a good puppy, thanking eywa that he’d decided not to cum inside you. “open your mouth,” he ordered and you opened your mouth.

he shoved his entire length down your throat in a single thrust, making you gag and choke. he thrusted into your mouth a couple more times before he shoved his cock down one last time, groaning loudly. ropes of thick, hot cum shot down your throat, forcing you to gag “swallow. don’t waste a single fuckin’ drop,” he said as his dick stayed rock hard inside your mouth

you tried to be good and swallow, but it was too much. his cum tasted salty and disgustingly warm, and before you caught yourself, you spat out a mouthful. the substance dripped onto your tits and belly. you quickly covered your mouth, horrified. slowly, you turned to look up at him, but before your eyes could meet his you were being pulled closer to him until you were just inches from him.

“what did i just say? huh?” he barked in your face. “can’t even follow simple instructions. such a disgusting stupid slut.”

“i’m sorry - i - i didn’t mean to. i swear,” you whimpered. he pushed you back onto the ground and you landed on your back with a thud, the rough ground underneath you hurting your sensetive queue

“in that case,” he said stroking his dick “if you have trouble keeping my cum down in your throat,” he looked at you “i’ll just fuck it into your pussy,” he smiled a very sick smile

“no please don-”

before you could finish, he forced himself inside you again. you screamed, your cunt now extremely sensitive, not fully recovered from last time.

your eyes widened as his hands gripped your neck, his hand went down to your belly scooping the sticky liquid with his fingers “open your mouth,” he said and you, once again, obeyed, he shoved his fingers inside your mouth and hummed as your tongue licked up the substance.

his hand snaked between your legs and began toying with your clit, you gasped as he rolled the bundle of nevres between his fingers, pinching it, and rubbing tight circles with his thum on it. no one had ever touched you like this. mot even yourself. when he noticed the way your body reacted, he accelerated his motions, pounding his cock into you harder and faster, the tip of his dick kissing at your cervix making your back arch. you desperately tried to hold back all the noises, but still he forced a moan out of you. his chest swelled with pride. it really stroked his ego to know that even an alien - a pretty one - he forced to have sex with him couldn’t help but be pleasured by him. although by this point, could you even deny that some deep, twisted part of you liked this? liked being pinned down, forced to take him as he did whatever he wanted to you, as he treated you like a toy? you were desperatley waiting for him to touch you everywhere.

you moaned again when his tip hit that oh so sweet spot inside you, a pained whimper followed after as he kept abusing that spot.

“look at you, moaning like a slut all for me, hard to believe that just moments ago you were beggin’ me to leave you, alone,” he tsked. you let out a half moan, half sob. the palm of his hand landed directly on your face “quiet, slut.” he hissed. you shook your head, crying silently. “how would your future mate react if he knew what you were doing right now? his lovely, well bhaved mate moaning like a slut all because of a sky demon?”

he repositioned himself, now thrusting at a different angle, rapidly hitting that spot inside you that made you feel something you’ve never felt before. he enjoyed watching your face twist in confusion and pleasure “what if your parents heard you and came all the way here? huh? theyre gonna find their sweet, innocent little girl all spread eagle on the ground, taking my cock like a good little whore,” you sobbed in fear of that scenario. he nibbled at your ear, making you squeal. he slapped you again. “shut the fuck up, slut.”

his eyes landed on your tits and he let out a loud groan at the sight of your boobs bouncing slightly with every thrust he made. He grabbed at them, kneading them roughly in his large hands. you clenched around him even tighter in discomfort, but that only made it more pleasurable for him. he reached down again, rubbing at your clit and increased his pace. you gritted your teeth, trying to hold back this strange, unfamiliar feeling, but he stubbornly kept going. you climaxed with a loud moan, your entire body shaking as surges of pleasure and guilt rocked through you. quaritch’s face came closer to your boobs, he sucked hard on your nipple while pinching your other nipple, you slapped your hands against your mouth muffling your cries. you suddenly tightened your walls around him, legs wrapped around his torso as his pelvis slapped over your very oversensitive clit with every thrust.

he groaned “fuck yeah, keep squeezing me like that and you’re goin’ to make me cum. i’ll shoot it nice and deep inside you, and you’re going to take it all this time, right doll?”

you nodded, not even fully listening to what you just agreed to. you didn’t even care anymore, too with the pleasure that coated your brain, even if you told him not to, he’d just do it. thrusting as deep as he possibly could, he stilled, his eyes shut and mouth wide open as he threw his head back and released “fuck,” he groaned, his breath hitching, you could literally feel his cock pump load after load of hot cum, right against your cervix, he threw his head back as he sank in the euphoric ocean his climax provided.

part of you didn’t want to believe that someone like quaritch would do something so violating. but part of you was also happy, you’ve always dremt about having kids of your own. you closed your eyes as you felt his hand reach for your queue, conecting your queue with him. the very thrill of cumming inside you was enough to prolong his orgasm, his cock throbbing and releasing again and again.

it felt so satisfying to ruin you, to force you to orgasm for the first time. it was a horrible, guilty memory that would forever haunt you, reminding you of who was really your first whenever you had any intimate moment with someone you truly loved.

when he was finally done, he pulled halfway out, and you felt his cum began to leak down your ass. but he was quick to push it all back in, thrusting hard a couple more times, as if to fuck his seed as deep into you as possible. when he was satisfied, he tucked himself back into his pants, and walked away from you, leaving you laying lifeless on the ground as you’re drained of your pure soul.

you were being consumed alive, the scene keeps replaying in your mind, his odor ligering all over your body.

pov: me when quaritch 😩🕯️🛐

my requests r open if u’d like to request sumth

likes, comments, and reblogs r appreciated. <3

[whositmcwhatsit]

The Gate Girl

Written for the prompt: "What are we going to do with [all of them], [this], [these ___ ]?"

A/N: Pure self-indulgence full of all my favourite things. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did writing it.

None of this would have been possible without my muses, my teachers, and my pests: @thatbanditqueen, @vintageshanny, @be-my-ally, @ellie-24, @missmaywemeetagain, @from-memphis-with-love

Word count: 6387

It was a warm spring evening in Memphis and Chrissie was already regretting the knitted sweater she was wearing beneath her corduroy pinafore minidress. She could feel beads of sweat sliding down her spine and resting near her tailbone. There was no relief to be had from the humid heat standing on the worn grass by the side of the fieldstone wall, surrounded by knots of people talking quietly to each other and pausing to take photos with little instamatic cameras.

Chrissie viewed it all with experienced, familiar eyes. She had been coming to the gates ever since she was old enough to nag her parents to drive her and had albums of pictures of the walls, the little guardhouse, the house off in the distance behind the trees and so many blurry shots of expensive looking cars going into and out of the gate.

Even so, she had felt a little twinge of dread when Lori had suggested driving down. The Chrissie who had spent all that time mooning over Elvis Presley felt very far away and she aimed to keep it that way.

Going off to college out of state had been her escape from the old Chrissie, the boring, insecure, people-pleasing Chrissie who let people walk all over her like a doormat. Lori had never met her. No, since they found each other during the first few disorientating days of school, Chrissie had worked hard to become who she had always wanted to be, cool, confident and aloof. She didn’t wait around to be noticed anymore.

“So, the guard at the gate says that he thinks Elvis might be coming out soon,” Lori said, ambling over with a grin. “He also told me three times that he’s really close with Elvis because he’s his cousin. “

“Yeah, he does that,” Chrissie murmured.

“I think it’s wild that you have your own rock star in your neighbourhood. Best we ever got was some crummy band that once opened for Strawberry Alarm Clock at a festival.”

“Yeah, well, around here he’s just Elvis, we don’t think of him as a rock star or anything like that,” Chrissie said. She was jealously eyeing Lori’s paisley nylon blouse. Somehow she’d managed to dress right for the typical weather of the town that Chrissie had lived in most of her life.

“Wild,” Lori murmured, her eyes sliding over to a group of young guys, who were leaning against the wall, hanging out. “Just Elvis.”

Lori being Lori, they were standing and chatting with those boys by the time a frisson of excitement went through the crowd as movement had been spotted up on the driveway. The boys forgotten, Lori rushed over and grabbed her hand, pulling her to the gates where the guard was urging everyone to step back and keep themselves safe, not that many listened.

It was definitely Elvis coming out. Chrissie had learnt over the years that one car could be hit and miss, usually miss, but when you had more cars leaving at once, and certainly a train of them, Elvis was nearly always leading them.

“Stay over this side,” Chrissie murmured as Lori spotted a less crowded area on the other side of the gate. “He likes to drive, he’ll be over this side.” Lori’s eyes narrowed slightly as she took her in, like she was figuring something out, but then the cars arrived at the gate and they were swept forward with the rush to greet them.

Elvis was indeed driving and he put the car in park at the open gate to sign some autographs and let people lean slightly into the window to take photos. Through the silhouettes, Chrissie could see him wearing his dark tinted sunglasses and a black suit with a high-collar red shirt. It looked good against his pale skin and black hair, very dramatic.

“We should get closer,” Lori said, tugging her wrist. “I want to see what the fuss is about close up.” Chrissie sighed and nodded, knocking her hip against the front headlamp as she was dragged. She locked eyes with the front passenger for just as second and then recovered, but not for long.

“Hey, Cupcake, that you?” Her blood turned to icy water as she registered the words that Sonny called out the passenger window. She thought about ignoring him, but he wasn’t quiet and there was still that pull, that twinge, that prevented her from being rude, especially here at home. She flashed Lori a panicked smile and then hurried around the front of the car to the passenger window.

“It is you!” he remarked, pulling his sunglasses down his nose. “Damn, girl, what happened to you?!” She yanked on her skirt, feeling the colour creep up her face as she tried to come up with something appropriate, a flippant, off the cuff remark that would both impress him and put him in his place.

“I grew up,” she shrugged, catching herself trying to flip her hair over her shoulder and forcibly putting her hand down by her side.

“Yeah, you did,” he agreed with a sly grin. “Looks good on you, though I sure miss those cakes of yours!”

“Well, you could always buy them, you know. Santos Bakery over on South Highland, still tastes as good when you have to pay!”

“No, I think for sure it was all that love you put into them.” She giggled, it just slipped out, and she had to close her eyes to calm herself down. When she opened them again a split second later, she was looking straight into the face of Elvis himself as he looked over to see who Sonny was chatting with. He lifted one side of his mouth in a small smile, casual and intimate. Chrissie had no more desire to giggle. In fact, she wasn’t sure she could make a noise at all.

“It’s been a while,” he said quietly. He probably said that to every girl at the gate, she told herself, just in case they were regulars.

“Yeah, I, uh, went off to school… up North.”

“I was just saying, E, that we’ve been missing all those cakes and things she used to bring us. Remember that one with the cream and the strawberries? Makes my mouth water just thinking about it.”

“Mmm hmm,” Elvis murmured, still looking at her, unreadable behind his glasses. He ducked slightly as someone slightly too eagerly waved a record sleeve through the window to be signed and almost thwacked him in the side of the head. “How are you finding school, honey? What is it, March? You home on break?” He paused to scrawl his signature on something and then turned right back to her, eyes fixed on her face.

“School’s great. I mean, the work’s hard, but-“ She stopped, looking to Lori as she bounced up to her side and grabbed her arm. She felt a strange wash of emotions, some pride at being found standing making small talk with Elvis like they were acquaintances, embarrassment that Lori would find out how much of a try-hard she used to be, and a little fear that Elvis’s intense stare would drift away to Lori’s pretty blond head.

“Well, anyway, I guess we better be headin’ on out,” Elvis remarked, absently kissing the cheek of someone’s baby as they brandished it at his window. “It was good seeing y’all.”

“You too,” she managed, smiling so that he wouldn’t know how her stomach had dropped. “Drive safe.” She stepped back and Lori stumbled along with her, attached to her arm, wiggling her fingers in a little wave as she ducked down to look through the car.

The engine started up, but the car didn’t move on, and they watched as Elvis leant across and said something in Sonny’s ear. Chrissie instantly thought that they were making fun of her and waited for the chorus of laughter, but instead, Sonny nodded and his head turned towards them.

“Hey, Cupcake!” he gestured with his head, beckoning her over. Elvis was looking straight ahead, gripping the wheel like she was the one who wouldn’t let him go.

Trying not to meet the eyes of the other people standing around trying to eavesdrop, she stepped back up to his window. “Uh, we’re going to watch some movies over at the Memphian. Y’all feeling like joining us?” The way that Lori squeezed her forearm in a death grip let Chrissie know her opinion on the matter, but she still paused and looked at her so that they didn’t sound too eager.

“I’m not sure, we were planning on going out tonight… I guess it could be fun though.”

Sonny’s wry smile showed her that he wasn’t fooled as he murmured, ‘Uh huh. Well, ask for me when you get there. I’ll let them know you’re on the list.”

“Okay, thanks. Maybe we’ll see you there.”

“Bye Elvis!” Lori called as they stumbled back in time for the car to almost skid out of the entrance and into the traffic. There was a rumble of disappointment from the crowd as they watched the cortege of cars follow him out. Some of the fans, who always tried to chase Elvis when he left the house, ran for their cars; others were discussing whether they were going to maintain the vigil until he returned.

Chrissie finally turned to Lori before the girl’s stare melted her face clean away.

“So, you didn’t tell me you knew Elvis Presley.”

“Hardly,” Chrissie snorted. “He doesn’t even know my name. I just hung around a little when I was younger. I guess he and some of his guys got used to seeing my face.”

“Suuuure, Cupcake,” Lori retorted, sniggering into her cheek. “What the hell was that anyway?” Chrissie flushed, somehow hoping that she hadn’t picked up on it.

“Look, I’ll tell you on the way, but you gotta promise not to judge, because I was young and an idiot.”

Ten minutes later, Lori was cackling so hard that Chrissie thought she was going to pee her pants.

“Shut uuuup!” Chrissie whined. “You promised!”

“Oh, but it’s adorable!” Lori gasped, wiping her eyes. “And actually pretty cunning. ‘Hi Elvis, my family owns a bakery, do you want to sample my goods?’.” Eyes on the road, Chrissie reached over and shoved her purely for the breathy, high-pitched impression alone.

“It wasn’t like that,” she insisted, shifting her shoulders uncomfortably. “One time someone didn’t collect their birthday order and Mama was fretting and saying, ‘What are we going to do with all these cupcakes?’ I was about to head up to Graceland and I knew there’d be lots of people there at the gate- free advertising and all that. Then Elvis came down and he saw the cakes and he took some and it- it snowballed from there.”

Chrissie had genuinely believed that Elvis was simply being polite the way that he always received her care packages so enthusiastically, especially after the time that she had tried to give some brownies to Priscilla and she had demurred, saying that she and Elvis didn’t really like sweet things.

For a while, Chrissie had stopped bringing anything, convinced they had all been going into the trash the whole time. The next time Elvis had come across her at the gate, however, he had demanded to know what other boy she was treating instead of him. That night had been the best night of her life, as he had hung out with them all for a couple of hours, and he kept coming over to tease her about switching her affection to someone else, promising he was going to win her back. It still made her shiver thinking about his arm around her shoulder, his lips pressing little butterfly kisses into her heated cheeks.

However, that was when she was a silly little girl. She was a woman now.

The parking lot next to the Memphian theatre was full of cars, so Chrissie had to park down the street next to a store that was closed for the night. People were milling about outside and, as she approached the main entrance, someone told her not to bother because they were telling people that the theatre was full and nobody else would be let in.

“We were invited,” Lori replied loudly, pushing her on even as she was hesitating. Lori took responsibility for knocking on the locked door, banging with increasingly force as the two men inside the foyer had a conversation and pretended they weren’t there. Eventually, one of them sauntered to the door.

“Sorry, we’re all full. Better luck next time, ladies.”

“We were invited!” Lori bellowed. “Some guy told us to come to the door and ask for him!” She looked back at Chrissie, prompting her.

“Yeah, Sonny West said he’d put us on the list.” He turned and said something over his shoulder, before pulling out a ring of keys and opening the door.

“Okay, girls, you been before? You know the rules? You don’t sit in front of Elvis, you don’t approach-”

“Yeah, I know the rules,” Chrissie muttered, grabbing Lori’s hand and dragging her towards the main screen door.

“Barely know the man,” Lori was muttering to herself. “Elvis who, she said.”

Chrissie elbowed her in the ribs as they stepped into the muted darkness, pausing for their eyes to adjust. The screen was still curtained and there were people milling about, finding their seats and visiting with their friends in other rows. It was certainly pretty crowded and the only available seats were towards the back in what were usually the make-out areas. Not that Chrissie would know much about that…

In the shadows, it would have been difficult to make out Elvis, it wasn’t like he really did have a golden aura, but everyone knew his seat, the one he always chose halfway down the rows at the aisle, the one everyone was forbidden from sitting in. So, they were all aware of his presence even if they couldn’t actually see him.

“Where’s his wife?” Lori whispered loudly as they took their seats. “Isn’t he married?”

“She stays in California mostly now,” Chrissie murmured back. “I don’t think they’re really together anymore.”

She might not have spent much time at the gate recently, but she was still part of the ever-efficient Elvis fan grapevine that stretched from Las Vegas to Palm Springs, Beverly Hills and right over to Memphis, exchanging news, speculation and stories. For a while, there had even been a mimeographed newsletter.

Surveying the rows, for the second time that night, Chrissie locked eyes with Sonny, who was moving slowly up the aisle, running his gaze over the murmuring, fidgeting crowd. He flashed her a grin and pointed at her, before crooking his finger and beckoning. Figuring he was talking to someone behind her, she busied herself with smoothing her skirt and crossing her knee length boots at the ankle.

“Cupcake, hey!” he bellowed across the theatre between cupped hands. She slid down in her seat, wondering when her life had begun to resemble her nightmares. When she peered back over the seat, he urged her over with his arm. Lori was already rising, kicking her feet to get her to move.

“You made it!” Sonny said with a grin. “We saved ya seats.” He indicated to two seats directly across the aisle from Elvis’ usual place, which was empty. Her thoughts swirling, Chrissie thanked him and went to slide into the row.

“Hey, you know what, thinking about it, how about you and me swap places, darlin’?” He pointed across to the seat beside Elvis’. “You can sit over there and I’ll sit here with… What’s your name, beautiful?”

“Lori,” she said, wide eyes sliding from his tall, broad frame and over to Chrissie. Chrissie knew that look; they occasionally exchanged it in bars when they were dancing and teasing and flirting and then realised that they had bitten off more than they could chew.

“I think I should sit with my friend,” Chrissie said quickly, shoving her ahead of her. “She’s not from here and I ought to take care of her. Thank you, though, really. I appreciate the offer.”

Not long later, the lights finally went down, the murmuring faded into silence- another rule- and Chrissie trained her eyes on the screen, trying to ignore the pull of the empty seat alongside her. She clearly failed, as when the mere glimpse of black passed her peripheral vision, she started and froze in her seat.

As the credits played, she counted to two hundred, that seemed a reasonable amount of time, before she turned her head slightly and glanced over. Immediately, Elvis turned too, giving her a closed-mouth smile that curved his cheekbones deliciously even in the shadows of the theatre.

Caught out, she smiled back and turned back to the screen, feeling a strange warm weight settling upon her like someone had tucked a heavy warm blanket over her.

“He keeps looking over,” Lori muttered out of the side of her mouth. “I feel like any minute, he’s going to… Oh shit, I think he’s coming over.” They both seized up, sitting up high in their seats, but though Elvis rose, he strode off up the aisle, followed by a phalanx of his guys. As soon as the fire door opened and slammed shut, the volume of the whispering crept up, people probably wondering if he had left, whether he was just using the bathroom, or visiting the concessions.

“You should have sat next to him,” Lori said, wincing guiltily. “That would have been a great story, wouldn’t it? The time you were Elvis Presley’s date at the movies?”

“Nah, it’s more fun watching… Whatever this movie is, with you. Besides, we can always lie and say it happened anyway!”

Lori giggled and nodded, staring up at the screen as an airplane took off from a night-time runway on screen.

With the main attraction missing, they gradually got into the action happening on screen, so much so that Chrissie was startled when a hand touched her shoulder. She recognised the heavy set, balding man as someone who was in Elvis’ circle.

“You Cupcake?” he asked, his eyes darting between the two of them almost furtively.

Chrissie wasn’t sure how to answer that, so Lori did it for her.

“Elvis wants to talk to you, he’s up in the balcony.”

Unlike Sonny, he hadn’t couched it in a question or flirting, he said it like it was her duty to do as she was told. Chrissie looked at Lori and knew her eyes were sending the same SOS that Lori had sent her earlier in the evening. Lori nodded resolutely, slammed her hand into hers, and rose, pulling her up.

“He, uh, he just wants her,” the man said, pointing at Chrissie.

“Well, sugar,” Lori replied, putting on an awful Southern twang, “he’s gonna have to take what he’s given, cos we done come as a pair.” They didn’t give him any opportunity to reply, but he didn’t seem the type anyway, running his tongue over his slick lips and stepping back out of their way.

In the foyer, a small group of Elvis’ guys were hanging around the concession stand. There seemed to be a competition going on about how far away someone could stand and still catch a piece of popcorn being thrown into their mouths. Chrissie and Lori exchanged looks and then turned towards the door that was marked ‘Private’. None of the guys stopped them, so they pulled it open and climbed the steps in anxious silence.

At the top, there was another landing with doors leading off. The one directly ahead of them had an old-fashioned sign above it that said ‘balcony’. She took a breath, looked at Lori, who squeezed her hand, and then yanked it open, only to be confronted by searing white light.

“Oh Lord, I’m blind!” she mumbled, stumbling back into Lori, who knocked into the door and only just managed to save them both by gripping the handle.

“Shit, I was just fooling around! I’m sorry, honey, are you okay?”

Chrissie squinted, seeing only purple and pink blobs as she felt arms wrap around her waist and lead her further into the balcony. Gradually, the blobs faded and Elvis’ concerned face swam into view above her.

“You okay, Cupcake? How many fingers am I holding up?” She narrowed her eyes at the black leather gloved hand he held up.

“Six?” she half-joked. “What was that?” He flashed a sheepish grin and lifted a black flashlight the length of his forearm.

“I just got it and I didn’t realise it was so powerful. I’m so sorry, honey.”

Being in his arms, wrapped in his warmth and inhaling his scent, she felt a bit giddy as well as still overwhelmingly blind. She frowned slightly and reached up to snatch his sunglasses.

“Well, I think I need these more than you do,” she mumbled, sliding them onto her face. They promptly slipped down her nose and she had to tilt up her face to see through them. She just saw a pink-tinted blur.

Laughing from his belly, Elvis reached out and pushed them back up for her with his finger, brushing a light peck on her forehead that she barely caught before he moved back.

“Well, now we’re the blind leadin’ the blind, darlin’.”

There was the sound of someone clearing their throat from the doorway and they both turned, Chrissie having to look over the top of the glasses to make out Lori standing there awkwardly.

“Oh, you brought your friend,” Elvis murmured, tightening his hold of her waist with one arm.

“Hi,” Lori said, waving self-consciously.

“She’s visiting with me for break,” Chrissie explained. “She doesn’t know anyone or anything… I mean, she doesn’t know where things are.” He fixed her with a lopsided smile that told her she was adorable like a puppy or a toddler and his eyes fell to her lips, before he gently took his sunglasses from her face and put them back on.

“No, that’s okay,” he shrugged, “the more the merrier. Come on in, sweetheart.” He gestured for Chrissie to take the seat to his left, which she did after floundering for a moment at the loss of his arm around her. “Do you ladies want a drink or anything?”

They both declined and sat primly on either side of him, adjusting slightly as he spread his legs so that his knee was pressed against each of them and he took up both armrests.

“So, you’re visiting? Where are you from, honey? What’s your name?”

“Lori, and I’m not really from anywhere- I’m an Air Force brat, spent a little time in a lot of places, but weirdly I’ve never been to the South, so I knew that I had to come when Chrissie invited me.”

“Chrissie?” he echoed questioningly, looking to his left.

“That’s me,” she nodded emphatically.

“Noooo,” he replied playfully, leaning in and shaking his head right in her face, “you’re my sweet little Cupcake.” He pecked her cheek, lingering with his hot lips against her skin. “I’ve known you longer than she has, I know who you are.” She shivered, basking in the tingly warmth of his attention, just like she had that night a couple of years earlier, but then she remembered that she was different, she wasn’t that Chrissie anymore.

Before she had even made up her mind to do it, she turned her head, her lips brushing against his. That was all the encouragement he needed, his hand coming up to clasp her head and he kneaded his lips against hers, exhaling into her mouth.

Chrissie thought that she enjoyed kissing, but she had clearly never kissed anyone properly before, Elvis showed her that. His tongue slid against hers, even as he was sucking on her top lip and drawing her closer, his hand moving from the back of her head to grasp her neck. Every part of her was sparking and humming as she slipped her hand underneath his black jacket into the searing heat at his back.

“You do taste sweet,” he murmured, his lips grazing hers as he spoke. “I always wondered.”

She didn’t know how to respond to that except by blushing and leaning forward over the arm of her chair, trying to snag his mouth again. This time, he ducked back, though his hand was still wrapped around her throat, his thumb rubbing rhythmically against her pulse.

“Wait, honey, we ain’t being fair.” He turned to his right, where Lori was sitting looking at them, her cheeks pink and her mouth half open. Chrissie’s eyes dropped to where Elvis was holding Lori’s hand. “Lil Lori’s sitting here all left out, ain’t that right, honey?”

Lori’s eyes focused suddenly, but not on Elvis. She looked to Chrissie and the look she wore was different from anything Chrissie had ever seen before, but she still knew what it meant. She swallowed and nodded her head slightly.

Lori turned to Elvis and smiled. It was a deadly, sinful smile that usually bewitched and entrapped the boys at school within seconds. Elvis, it seemed, was not immune to that smile and he leant across, not loosening his grip on Chrissie, and kissed her too.

Chrissie got to see what that looked like from a distance, her eyes fixated on the movement of his plump lips, the tightening of his jaw, the way that his dark hair mingled with Lori’s pale golden bangs. It was mesmerising. She shifted in her seat, crossing her legs tightly to answer the tickling and tingles below her belly.

“Whoo, boy, now Cupcake’s bought me some sweet things before, but nothin’ compares to this,” he said, turning to each of them as he spoke like he was watching a tennis match. His lips glistened in the light from the screen and Chrissie reached out her hand to run her thumb across the bottom one, just to touch its pillowy softness. She gasped as he opened his mouth and nipped at it, using his tongue to soothe any hurt.

“You enjoy the show, baby?” he said softly, smirking in that confoundingly innocent,  but sexy way that only he could manage. “See, now, that’s not fair on me. Both of you girls got to watch, but what about little ole Elvis? Where’s my show?”

Chrissie looked from him to Lori, feeling strange, like she was being stretched, pulled too far in different directions. Lori winked at her and then turned her blue eyes to Elvis.

“What do you want us to do?”

“Nothing bad,” he assured her in a soft, playful voice. “Just a little kissing, honey, that’s all.”

Lori shrugged and then flashed her dazzling smile at Chrissie, who felt frozen in the glare as Lori climbed onto her seat on her knees and leant across Elvis, who happily leant back. Lori’s lips were soft, softer even than his though not as full, and she lacked his finesse, but it felt nice as they massaged hers. Her eyes flickered open as Elvis pulled back the curtain of Lori’s hair that had fallen across her face and he gazed at them both with sleepy, tender looking eyes. Lori’s hand clasped her face before sliding down onto her shoulder and then lower. Chrissie shivered in anticipation.

“That’s enough now,” Elvis said gently but firmly. “Gonna make a man feel jealous, and I already lost you once to those boys at college.”

As Lori retreated to her seat, he cupped Chrissie’s face between his big hands, the metal of his rings pressed hard into her cheekbones.

“But you ain’t ever done nothing like that for those college boys, have you, sweetheart?” He didn’t wait for her answer, swallowing down her shallow breaths as he kissed Lori’s lipstick from her mouth. “Bet none of them’ve kissed you like this neither, huh.”

His voice was soft, low and kind of hypnotising. Chrissie wanted to shake her head, to gaze at him adoringly and tell him that she would never let anyone touch her the way that he was doing. That was how she knew it was the wrong choice.

“Some have,” she said, her voice hoarse and small.

He drew back, staring at her with his mouth slightly open, his lips ripe and glistening. She watched him reach up and take off his sunglasses, narrowing his eyes. All the better to see you with.  Finally, a little too late, he laughed gently and playfully and she felt sure that she had just scored a point in whatever game they were playing.

“All grown up now, huh,” he observed with a twitch of his left eyebrow, echoing her words from earlier in the evening. She very slowly raised her own eyebrows and nodded.

“Well, what else you let ‘em do?” he asked, his voice low and leaning into gravelly. She felt the cool leather of his gloved hand on her thigh, sliding underneath her skirt. “You let them put their hands up ‘n’ under- under..?” She clamped down on his forearm without thinking and earned herself a pleased smile. “Naw, no, you’re still a good girl, aren’t you, sweetheart. My sweet lil cupcake, still a sweet lil treat.”

He tilted his head and nuzzled into her neck, moving so that she could see Lori peering over his back with a look of complete bewilderment on her face.  Chrissie twitched her face into an expression that was the equivalent of a shrug.

Hey, uh, Elvis?” Lori murmured, tapping him on the shoulder. He paused and Chrissie felt him exhale a hot sigh into the crook of her neck that swept down through the wool of her sweater. She shuddered.

“Yes, honey?” He pulled back, his fingers sliding between Chrissie’s like they were two kids on a date.

“What’s that?” Lori asked, pointing at the blue-ribbon pendant around his neck, half buried in his jacket and the gold chains. He looked down, tightening his mouth.

“This here? This is a medal I got for being one of the ten outstanding men in America.” He held out the pendant that showed two hands stretched out to touch one another. “They only give that to people that’ve made a real difference, you know, honey, presidents, businessmen, athletes. Scientists. No fooling, it’s a big deal. I had to give a speech and everythin’. And if you think I was nervous standing up there, no script or nothin’, in front of all those people, you’d be right!”

They oohed and aahed over it while he sat with a proud smile, telling them about the trophy he had at home and the pin that was on one of his other jackets.

As he finished talking, the credits began to run across the screen.

“Aw, it looks like the movie’s over,” Lori sighed. “Thank you for inviting us, it was really nice of you.”

“That’s just the first movie,” Elvis returned, frowning slightly. “The night ain’t even getting started. You girls hungry?” He didn’t wait for their answer, yelling out ‘Jaaaaaames’ at the top of his voice. Chrissie peered over the side of the balcony and saw some people looking up.

The short, stock man from earlier came stumbling up the stairs, eyebrows raised in question.

“We need sustenance, man, hamburgers, Pepsis… Unless you girls want milkshakes?” Chrissie bit down a smile at him finally giving them a choice of something and even then it was only which drink they wanted.

While they waited for their food, the second movie started rolling. Elvis sat back in his seat, clasping each of their hands, and squinting slightly at the screen. Chrissie looked at his impossibly long, thick eyelashes flickering as he blinked and wondered whether he wore mascara. She wanted to ask for a recommendation.

“Quit it, I can feel those eyes burning a hole in me, woman,” he muttered, shooting her a sideways look, the line at the corner of his mouth twitching up. “M’trying to enjoy the movie.”

“Sorry.” She turned back to the screen, looking at Charlton Heston’s sweaty face.

“I’m only teasin’, baby.” He tugged her forward by the hand, kissing her again, and she had the same loop-de-loop sensation in her stomach as the first time. “I like you looking at me. Makes me feel good.” He pulled her hand onto his thigh and pressed it down as he kissed her, moaning a little into her mouth.

By the time James returned with their food, Elvis was buried beneath the two of them as they rubbed their lips, their hands, their faces and their bodies over every part of him they could get access to. When Chrissie got worried about how high his hand was on her bare legs, or how he was a little too insistent, he would turn to Lori and she would watch until her heart stopped pounding so hard and her chest loosened. She could feel herself growing wet, the ache intensifying between her legs, and she wondered how far things would go.

The girls picked at their burgers, their appetites directed elsewhere, but Elvis tucked into his hungrily, eyes drifting over to the screen to keep tabs on the action.

“You like movies?” he asked them. “I love movies, ever since I was a kid. All I wanted to do was be a movie star.” He shoved some fries into his mouth. “Be like Brando, or Monty Clift, or James Dean. I’d study ‘em all the time, trying to figure ‘em out like they were a… a.. math problem or something.” He huffed a laugh at himself.

“Well, you got your wish,” Lori observed. “You’re a movie star. I went and saw you in the movies.”

“Hell, I’m sorry, honey!” he returned dryly. “You want me to refund you the money for the tickets?” He shook his head, chewing fast so that he could finish his thought. “No, I ain’t done it yet, made THE movie, the one that’ll change the way everyone sees me, make ‘em see I can be a real actor if- if they just gave me a chance. Not even close. Not yet, but I will.” The girls nodded, it was impossible not to, he sounded so sure. “You believe me, don’t you.”

“I think you could do anything,” Chrissie told him quietly, immediately beset by the impulse to cringe, which was overwhelmed by the sight of his face lighting up. He nodded, a lopsided grin spreading across his face and making his eyes twinkle.

“Well, shit, I probably could if’n you only keep looking at me like that, honey,” he returned, looking down bashfully.

Food finished, they turned their attention back to the movie for at least two or three minutes, before hands started to knead and rub again, lips started to caress and nuzzle, and Chrissie somehow found herself sliding down Elvis’ body as he sat sprawled in his seat, her mouth sucking and licking at his throat, the coarse hair on his chest, the red linen shirt covering his warm stomach. She reached his belt before he reached down and stopped her.

“Not like this, sweetheart,” he said so tenderly and sweetly that her heart curled up at the edges. “It’s not gonna be like this for you.”

Instead, he scooped her back up onto his lap, where she could feel the hard bulge of him pressing against her thigh, and he let the tip of his nose graze slowly across her cheek and down into the neck of her sweater.

With his other hand, he reached over and gathered Lori to his side too and they cuddled up together to watch the third and final movie of the evening. Sometimes, he would turn slightly and whisper silly comments into her ear and press his pout into her pulse point, making her shiver. Others, he’d give Lori a pinch and make fun of how chatty she was.

They forgot, at least she forgot, that they were canoodling with a world-famous entertainer, a rock star, a man who had conquered everything and everywhere by the time he was their age. For a few hours, he was just their dorky, silly friend with the beautiful face and the softest, most kissable lips.

As the sun rose above the municipal building across the way, Lori and Chrissie rose from their seats, stretching their tingling limbs and rubbing their gritty eyes. Elvis stopped them at the door, clasping Lori’s chin and giving her a soft peck on the lips, before turning to Chrissie and taking her hands.

“Hey Cupcake,” he said with a small smile, looking up at her through his brows bashfully. He pulled at her hands, making her sway slightly in front of him. “Thank you for coming tonight and, er, all those other nights too. It, uh, it meant a lot… It means a lot, to have people rooting for you, especially… especially when things aren’t going so well.” She couldn’t help herself, sinking into his arms and gripping him tightly. She was so tired that she thought she could quite easily doze off with her face smushed against his warm chest.

“There’s that look again,” he remarked as she drew back, gazing at him in fresh wonder, unable to comprehend how the night had happened. “You make a man feel bulletproof, honey. And, uh, I promise I won’t ever let you down.”

“I know,” Chrissie replied, frowning slightly. He kissed her one last time, as sweet and needy and delicious as the first one.

“Come up and visit with us again sometime, okay?” She nodded, reaching out to push his sunglasses up his nose. He grinned.

As they wandered up the street in the greying dawn, arms linked and emotions numbed, Lori turned to Chrissie with a frown.

“That felt a lot like goodbye, didn’t it?” she said.

Chrissie sighed and nodded, thinking about how she could grab some boxes from the storeroom at the back of the bakery to pack away all her photo albums and autograph books.

“Yeah, it did,” she murmured. “It was.”

[thedepthsoffandomminds]

The subtleties of the force part five- final

You are from this world, but at a convetion you stumble into the world between worlds, eventually falling into the Star Wars galaxy. Slow burn Anakinxreader content due to reader trying to keep the timeline straight.This is a long one, as I had put all chapters below so strap in. Begins at the start of AOTCFem reader, I hope you enjoy.

Convention lines were always long and this one had been no different. Alone once more you stepped forward, hesitation and excitement fighting for dominance in your stomach. In your hand you held a pile of promotional headshots, actors from a movie you had loved for years. You had always dreamed that one day you might find that your own father was a great hero and not the man who abandoned your mother and you. It had not happened yet so you supposed it never would. Looking down at your hands you could see the beginnings of age creeping over you, age spots covered the slowly thinning skin. Were you really closing in on your fifties? No family to rely on, no one there when you needed a friend, nothing. You'd lived an empty life. A staff member whose face seemed blurred in some way ushered you forward allowing you to step up to the celebrities. A pair of brown eyes met yours and you felt a twinge of sadness.

"Y/n?" Natalie Portman narrowed her eyes on you. You ignored the use of your name, took the picture back from her and moved on.

Ewan McGregor took your next picture and signed his name across it before looking up at you.

"Y/n? What?" His voice sounded miles away and you stepped away once more.

"Mother?" The voice of Mark Hamill caught your attention but that word didn't make sense, you must have heard it wrong. Were you dressed in cosplay? You check but no, you're in simple jeans. You can see the person you wanted to meet the most at the end of the line and you walked. A trance falling over you as people called out to you. Hayden Christensen looked up, his blue eyes catching yours. Panic filled him and you wondered if you were doing something wrong. He was rounding the tables and coming toward you. Hands grabbed your shoulders and dragged you away. Hayden reaches for you but misses your hand.

"Hmmm, her mind is confused. It will be hard to push our way in." The grand inquisitor huffed.

"Maybe we should take her straight to the Emperor?" Reva, the third sister suggested.

The two looked at each other, a conversation continuing in their minds.

The larger man turned once more to your body, placing his hand over your head.

"Perhaps I can at least clear her mind a little before we reach him"

Reva nods.

Everything stopped. The lights of the city, the noise of people, are all gone. You knelt holding your arms around your body in a dark room. You knew there was nothing there, no doors, no windows, no furniture. You know you need to keep everything locked away, pretend like you are nothing. The feeling of denticles wriggling through your mind comes again, slowly turning into the scratching of spiders.

'You will find nothing.' You spit out the words.

A cold wind whips around you and snow appears below you. Reaching out you touch the snow, feeling your fingers beginning to freeze. What place could be this cold? No place on Earth, illium perhaps or Florium, Both? You had never been to Both, so it could not be in your mind. This place was not a memory but knowledge. Your body is flung backwards.

Children are playing, not your children. No this is a street on Earth. Your street. Children are running by you in the summer heat. Turning away from them you see your home, a tall house with many levels, each an apartment. A hand slides into yours and you turn to see Anakin beside you.

"I know you haven't been here for a long time, y/n, but don't worry it's just while we're shooting this film." He kisses the side of your head and you feel soothed. Wait…did he say shooting a film?

"Sure, Anakin." You try out the name, he laughs with his whole body.

"You're going to call me that the whole time aren't you?" His smile was hard to ignore.

"As long as you let me." You say. He begins to lead you up the steps when you feel something off. Your feet feel too light, like you aren't walking on the paving slabs.

'This isn't real' you think, pulling your hand from his and spinning you're back in the dark empty room. No, it's not empty any more. There is a man, his skin is white, and eyes are yellow. The Grand Inquisitor. He cannot see you, his hand is hovering above something you cannot see. You feel your lightsaber in your hand and you approach him. In silence you place the hilt against his back.

"Stay out of my mind." You hiss and ignite your blade. The purple colour bursting from his chest.

The Grand Inquisitor stumbles back. A hole burned through his body. He drops to his knees and falls down. Reva, steps to him.

"Dead? She killed you from inside her mind."

—---

"Is Luke okay?" Leia asks her father, bending down to hug him from behind. Anakin sat in the pilot seat of the millennium falcon.

"The Droids say he is fine. The whimper got him good but he's a Skywalker, we're a hard bunch to kill." He pats his daughter's hand.

"We'll find her, father. We'll find all of them."

He smiles at her, "how did you become so smart?"

"I got it from my mother." She grinned, winking at him.

"Heh, yeah you did. She'd never do what we are though."

"I'm not going home without my family. Han found Luke, so now we're going to find mother." Leia kept her face stoic as she spoke.

"That you get from me." Anakin smiled.

"So what are we going to do?" She asks

"The only thing left to do. I was supposed to be the chosen one, bring balance to the force. So let's go kill the Sith."

Leia thought for a moment, pressing her lips together.

"Do you think that's what it means?" She asked.

"What else could it mean?"

"Well, forever there have been Jedi and Sith, at least two on each side. That's pretty balanced but what if, dad, what if it means that force users should be balanced?"

Anakin turned himself fully round to face his daughter.

"I know it sounds crazy but what if the only way to defeat the Emperor is by letting go. Use both sides of the force?"

"I don't…you know a long time ago, when your mother and I met we sat in the old temple one night. Your mother told me things about the force that I and none of the Jedi had ever known or thought of. It was her who showed us that love could be used for good, before we weren't allowed attachments, possession was forbidden for fear that it would lead to the darkside. Now we use our love to strengthen the light."

"Sounds similar to me. Mum is always saying that you shouldn't give in to your anger and that's true but what if we used it, just a little."

Anakin nodded.

"You might be onto something. Here, take over, I need to make contact with Obi-Wan." Anakin jumped from his chair and ran to the back rooms. Chewie had fallen asleep on the round booth chair which made Anakin laugh to himself as he passed him.

—----

Obi-Wan couldn't shake the feeling that something was about to go wrong. Over the years he had learned to trust his Padawan, his reckless ideas almost always worked out. Yet, now there were two more reckless Skywalkers to contend with.

"Look, I do not disbelieve or distrust your idea, I only wish to convey caution in all matters. Mace and Y/n are the only two Jedi who have been able to use their fear and anger to strengthen their abilities. Be mindful Anakin, at all times."

"I will be Master."

The hologram faded away.

"Time to save mum?"

Luke asked, his wild blue eyes glinting under the lights of the machinery.

"Let's go get mum." Anakin repeated, clapping his son on the back and pulling his daughter along behind by her hand.

*******************

Your eyes open, only to close again against the pain in your head. The room around you seemed familiar somehow. The same feeling you continued to get becoming more and more irritating.

"AHH, Madam Skywalker, lovely to have you here." The voice scratched your ears.

"Palpatine." You reply, looking at him with no respect for his self appointed title. Palpatine visabally grits his teeth at you.

"I am glad you could finally find your way out of whatever mind dungeon you had shut yourself in."

You roll your eyes.

"Oh yes, it's a decided displeasure to be in your acquaintance as always." You give him a fake grin. An Inquisitor steps forward and slaps you with the back of his gloves hand.

"You will not speak to the Emperor in such a manner." He growled. Palpatine raised his hand and gestured for him to step away.

"Not to worry, y/n will know her place soon. Your mind has given me plenty. Poor little girl, lost in her world not meant to be there. The force found you and you pulled you to exactly where you needed to be. Now, you will be mine, my apprentice."

"Ha! No way." You laugh. Palpatine steps closer to you, his face mere inches from your own, you can see the deformation of his skin below his hood. You feel and smell his rancid breath on your skin. His yellow eyes bore into yours.

"For some time now my new obsession has been you, y/n. How did a person appear from nowhere and become the strongest force wielder we have ever seen. How is it the Force could travel so far and pull you here? You must know."

You swallow and take a deep breath.

"I have been here for over twenty years, if the force has a higher meaning for me, I think we'd know it by now. Also toothpaste is a thing."

"AHH yes, make jokes all you like, you will bend to my will." He snarled.

"I didn't turn then, none of us will turn now."

He laughed, cackled in your face.

"Oh once I've turned you, Anakin and your children will follow easily."

You roll your eyes and sigh, hoping it would convert every ounce of contempt you had for him.

Heavy boots echo as they approach, too loud for the quiet room. The officer speaks to the Inquisitor who glanced nervously at you.

"My Lord Emperor, the rebels and the Jedi are here."

"Then shoot them all down, but let the Skywalkers come to me." Palpatine kept his eyes on you as he spoke.

"It seems they already are here, on the planet. They have made contact with the Natives."

Palpatine's smile became impossibly wider.

"Here they come, time for you to choose Skywalker."

"I would rather die."

"Then you will, and they will turn."

—----

Han Solo, Chewie, Anakin, Leia and Luke crouch behind trees and rocks looking at a set of troopers. Troopers with black uniforms and red flashings. They stand between several speeder bikes.

"Chewie and I will take care of this. You stay here.." Han whispers to the others.

"Quietly there might be more of them out there." Luke warns his friend.

"Hey it's me." He grins and moves away from the group.

"That's what we're afraid of." Anakin quips, winking at his daughter. Han creeps toward a trooper pulling out his gun. A twig snaps below his foot and the trooper turns. Han manges to punch him and a fight breaks out between them. Two troopers jump on speeders and rush off. Luke has only a second to register both his father and sister leaping forward onto speeders.

"Leia, dad!" He just manages to jump.on to Leia's speeder and keep hold as she pulls away. Anakin laughs as he speeds through the trees. A different climate but it felt just like the pod racing of his childhood.

The two teens took on one trooper managing to knock him from his course and smash into a tree. Anakin was enjoying the race a little too much. Toying with the trooper, he would pull up alongside him only to disappear between the trees again. Fear radiated off the nameless soldier as he tried his communications router. There was nothing but static.

Anakin appeared alongside him once more, a smile dancing upon his face as he drew his lightsaber. The trooper had no chance to react as the blade sliced through the front of the speeder and he landed in an explosion against a tree. Anakin laughed, and his children drew up beside him.

"What are we doing? Going back for the others or heading in?" Leia called to him.

"What do you say Luke?" Anakin asked.

"Let's go get her!"

They pull up the bikes and jump off them, not wanting to alert any more troopers to their presence. By foot they ran through the trees till they could see the base.

"Imperial architecture is hardly imaginative." Leia rolls her eyes.

"Well when you're a senator in the new republic you can order it all made pretty." Luke laughed.

"Alright kids, remember your training, quickly and quietly."

The twins nod to their father and move out.

The troopers and droids outside the base were little work for the three Jedi. Luke crouched next to a trooper and pulled his helmet off.

"They aren't clones." He announced.

"Count Dooku destroyed Camino a long time ago, I doubt anyone else knows how to clone people." Anakin explained as he tinkered with a battle droid.

"What are you doing?" Leia asked him.

"Nothing like a little confusion to distract the enemy." Anakin said as he pulled wires around.

"You're rewiring it." She nodded, "I'll get the door." Leia ran over to the base and started pressing buttons. The combination to the door was long but not complicated and by the time Anakin was done with the droid the doors slid open.

They directed the droid inside before slipping by and turning in the opposite direction.

The halls were dark, normal imperial interior design of black walls and tiny red lights, decorated their path through the base. The trio hadn't seen any officers, soldiers or troops for some time when Anakin stopped in his tracks.

"This is a trap." He whispered to his children, "Luke go down a level, Leia into the vents, both of you stay hidden, we'll go in the same direction and find your mother. Stay hidden until I give you a signal."

The twins agree and run off to their specified places as Anakin squared his shoulders, dropped his brown cloak to the floor and marched forward.

The closer he got to the centre of the building the colder it grew, air blew out of his mouth in clouds of vapour. He could hear you somewhere inside, your low grunts of pain emitting through the walls. Though he desperately wanted to charge in and destroy whoever was hurting you he knew he needed to be more calculated. Steadying his breathing Anakin used the force to open the final door. Turning to him the Emperor plunged his crimson sabre through your body. You cried out for your husband, feeling the heat sever your spinal cord. He drops you to the ground and you hit your chin.

"Ahh at last, we meet again. Are you ready now, my boy?"

Anakin smiled. He did not care about the Inquisitors that circled him.

"Thank you, Emperor, you have given me exactly what I need." Anakin's eyes flashed yellow for a moment as he spoke and felt his body full with new power. Ignoring his sabre he charged forward. Behind him Leia dropped from the vents cutting down one of the inquisitors before Luke emerged from below. The battle went on around you as you struggled to keep yourself awake. A pair of hands touched your shoulders and you spun your face round.

"Cody, you're okay?"

"I sure am madam Skywalker. Let's get you out of here." He grinned, pulling at you.

"I can't walk." You force out. Cody lifts you into his arms and runs for the exit, dodging and weaving through the fighting force users.

"How did you escape?" You ask him, arms clinging around his neck.

"I was only clipped.in the shoulder ma'am, your son found me in a cell." He hits the door with his boots hoping it would open.

Looking over his shoulder you see the last inquisitor fall limp to the ground, his head rolling away. Your two children stood triumphant above their enemies.

"You played it wrong, Palpatine. Hurting my wife doesn't make me weak." Anakin held his adversary around the neck with the force.

"Yes, good, give into your anger." Palpatine hissed out the words.

"I don't need to." Anakin laughed, clenching his fingers as if they were clamped around the Emperor's neck.

The Emperor let out his own strangled laugh and pointed his fingers toward Anakin. Blue lightning burst out of them and struck Anakin. He faulted slightly, taking a step back but holding himself still. Luke and Leia ran up behind him putting their hands on their father's shoulders.

"I am the Empire, the galaxy and the Sith." Palpatine growled.

"And we are the Jedi and the Force." They spoke in unison, the two children bringing their hands up in front of them. You closed your eyes and called out to any Jedi who could hear you.

Around the galaxy, within each system force users heard your voice. They stood and closed their eyes, focusing in on the room. Power surged through the trio. A beam of golden light shone from their hands and engulfed the Emperor. Red and blue sparked from all around them as the Emperor's skin peeled from his body. Slowly he faded into nothing. A mass of robes and dust fell to the ground.

Your husband and children dropped to their knees.

"What was that?" Luke asked.

"I don't know but it worked." Anakin said standing up. He turns to you and rushes to your side.

"Take her, General. The men and I will get this all cleaned up." Cody passed you over to Anakin, the pain in your back spasmed with their movements but your legs dangled limply. Leia told Cody to put the Emperor's remains in a box and seal it away.

************

Immediately after the rescue of you and the galaxy Senator Organa is given the role of Chancellor and begins to build a new republic senate. It would take years to rebuild the trust amongst the planets and the people but they were finally willing to put in the time.

All imperial buildings were demolished to make way for rehabilitation centres.

The Mandalorians returned to their home world, the Clone troopers were given full citizenship of any planet they chose, free to live a normal life.

And the Jedi?

The Jedi were gone, at least the order that had once been known. A new way had begun, the Skywalkers taught everyone how to use both sides of the force, to create a balanced life.

Though the healers and medic droids had tried they could never fully repair your spinal cord. Though you could walk and move about it was often short lived and used much of your focus to do. Anakin insisted on always being by your side, you didn't mind one bit. Sometimes at night you would dream of the life you left behind, a life of loneliness. You traded that life each time for the one you have now.

Though many of the old Jedi slowly grew old and died you relished on seeing the new council ascend. Obi-Wan became grandmaster after Yoda became one with the force. You, Anakin, Ahsoka and an extremely skilled young man, called Cal, held seats alongside him.

One year after the Empire's defeat you watched as Anakin walked Leia down the aisle, followed soon by the birth of her son with Han Solo. Ben was a beautiful boy, the image of his father and the spirit of his mother. He was followed by a brother three years later, baby Anakin's blue eyes shone just as bright as his namesake.

Luke two found love with Mara Jade, mandalorian born with skills unmatched by so many in the force. Two more grandchildren blessed your life Jacen and Jaina.

Anakin and you slowly grew older until you decided it was time to retire from the council, and live a quiet life. You watched your grandchildren grow into adults, Ben found a girl, lost in the deserts of Jakku.

You saw it the moment you met her, though you would never tell a soul of her ancestry. Rey quickly became a part of a family and gave you a great granddaughter who named after you.

Finally sixty years after your arrival, forty years after the emperor's demise you and Anakin laid down once more beside each other.

Anakin held you in his arms and you kissed him one last time in your corporeal bodies before both of you became one with the force. Content and happy and together with the force finally, truly balanced across the universe. At least it would be for the next three thousand years. The republic would thrive until amongst the depths of Moraband a spark would ignite. A child would be born and the saga of the Skywalkers would begin again.

The end.

An - Hey, I have used names from the Legends cannon in this part though swapping parentage to accommodate the current Cannon as well. I decided on a happy ending for the galaxy.

Hope you all enjoyed the story. Thank you so much for coming along this journey with me.

Please do no post anywhere else reblogs are fine. Interact and let me know what you think. (I may do an alternative ending)

[dark-elf-writes]

There’s a rage in Aizawa. He doesn’t like the fact he’d been blind for so long. That he put pieces together but didn’t get the full picture. He’d stepped in sure, made his classroom a safe space but he hadn’t noticed.

Bakugou, struggling in his bonds, is still angry. It’s not fucking fair. He’d thought, hoped, believed that Deku would realize they should be bonded again. That the red flames in Katsuki’s soul need a Sky. He’s the best. He should be bonded. Not half and half.

He tries to say this but Shouta is done. He should have been done at the assessment test but no, he’d been so damn blind for so long. He’d been busy worrying about the strange relationship of Tsuna, then about flames and watching Izuku form a similar relationship as the other group with others he’d been so stupid.

(Shouta is a Sky. No one knows this not even him. Skies don’t have Quirks. But a bored man who knew of Flames and of Quirks decided to change that. When he realized the stupid Sky took not a copy but the whole Quirk, he’d been angry. He’d sent to get the boy back. He got the boy’s Sun instead, a boy with clouds for hair.

The female Mist and the male Lightning were the only bonds Shouta had for a long time, even as Nezu’s rain prowled around him. It took Snipe’s Cloud to break through. Tensei’s Storm, always on the edge, slammed through to once the break occurred. After the man admitted to what his parents did to him and Tenya, they could finally bond.

No one knows. And Shouta cannot forgive someone who wants to take a spot he lost. Not when he fought so hard against Joke who unknowingly wanted to replace Oboro. He couldn’t let it happen.)

Oh I am feral for this.

Shouta who doesn’t understand the looks Sawada and Reborn sometimes give him. Curious, sad, full is so many questions and none of the answers he wants. Getting a straight answer out of either of them is impossible (Reborn on purpose and Sawada because he truthfully doesn’t fully understand the look himself as his intuition keeps nudging him to notice but never bothers to tell him what he’s supposed to be noticing) so he waits and listens to what they don’t say.

Sawada tipping his head to the side as he hums. “Most skies don’t have quirks. Something about how we’re made and the harmony factor is thought to be almost completely incompatible with them.”

Reborn’s lips ticking down in the shadow of his hat at Nem’s question. “It depends. Some Skies never recover from the loss of an element and lash out at anyone that tries to take their flame’s place. Others try to fill any vacancies as soon as possible.”

Squalo’s scowl and pacing as he prowls around Reborn’s classroom. How he got into the building without anyone other than presumably Nezu noticing was a mystery. “Little Boss we found more information about the bastard behind everything. They say he takes and gives quirks how the fuck is that even possible?”

The pieces he has been given nudge at him. Nudge at him more while he watches Bakugou rage against the consequences of his own actions and wonders at his own anger at Bakugou trying to force his way into Midoriya’s sky. Wonders why that bothers him nearly as much as not noticing the bullying happening right under his nose.

He does notice, later, when Midoriya and Sawada close ranks in front of him, glaring at Joke who once again tried to claim him as her own. He sees the same rage he felt at Bakugou’s repeated attempts towards Midoriya reflected back in his students even as he drags them back. He files that away to think about later. Files away Reborn’s narrowed eyed look that doesn’t leave Joke until they are back on the bus on the way back to UA as well.