#I was also screaming inside seeing the companions getting so close to the bodies - this is Blight on steroids

[thunderboltfire]

"there are some people over there" Girls, I don't think they're people. Not anymore.

[henley-reeves]

People have said many times how Fourteenth Doctor is so much more open with feelings and emotions than Ten. But it is especially huge when it comes to Donna specifically. Ten was so reserved and held back so much when it came to expressing feelings and voicing them, that his companions never fully understood how much they meant to him. Ten was very flawed and very HUMAN and while he had so much love in him, he was equally afraid to express it, show it unabashedly. Did Donna ever truly understand how much he loved her? Did he ever tell her how much she meant to him on screen? When Ten knew he was losing Donna, and she was about to disappear in front of him, he knew this was his last moment with her, and the best he could do while she was conscious is hold her at arm’s length and tell her “We had the best of times”. You could see he was dying inside and this moment is killing him but he NEVER SHOWS it to her. While it’s all in his eyes, Ten still doesn’t tell her anything that would have an emotional weight or reveal the whole depth of his feelings.

Ten kept all his feelings bottled so deep inside, that when they finally started to bleed out, he made the worst mistakes possible. It ended up killing him. And the breaking point was losing Donna. He carried so much guilt over the way he lost her and the way he let her, his best friend in the whole wide universe, down, that it echoed over to the next regenerations, in Eleven’s guilt and Twelve’s face. That scene in the TARDIS in “Let’s Kill Hitler” where Eleven is poisoned, and the TARDIS is showing him images of former companions when Eleven asks “Give me guilt”. The TARDIS shows him Martha first, and there is so much to be guilty about when it comes to Martha, and then Eleven asks for “also guilt”, and the TARDIS shows him Donna, and when Eleven asks for “more guilt”, the image doesn’t change. It is still Donna, TARDIS is showing Eleven the best friend who got let down so hard by the Doctor. And the Doctor still carries that guilt and regret and heartbreak with him, because he loved his best friend and her attachment to him almost got her killed and hurt her in the worst way possible. “Stand too close, and people get burnt”, just like Martha said.

Fourteen though. He is a completely different person. He doesn’t just love Donna, he ADORES her, he is here FOR HER, this face is here BECAUSE OF HER. He tells a complete stranger he just met that he loves his best friend Donna, and repeats it twice.

When Donna honestly asks who would care about her 'cause she thinks she is just no one, Fourteen angrily  cries “I DO!”  because that’s his brilliant and amazing best friend who after all these years still thinks so little of herself and he hadn’t been there to remind her of that, and it is all his fault that she doesn’t remember how fantastic and special and extraordinary she has always been and how many times her brilliance saved worlds and lives, including the Doctor’s.

Fourteen is crying and screaming and breaking down, when he thinks Donna is about to die in front of him, all because he is so afraid of losing her again. Fourteen cradles Donna’s body and cries when he thinks he had lost her and tells the Meep’s soldiers to kill him, because he doesn’t care anymore, because someone he loves so dearly is dead in his arms, and it is all his fault.

When Donna gets her memories back, Fourteen almost immediately confesses how losing her KILLED HIM and how he remembers every second with her. He tearfully confesses that he has missed her for all those years they were apart, it’s been millions of years they spent apart for the Doctor. All those years the Doctor needed Donna who would make him laugh again, Donna who would keep him grounded, Donna who would call him spaceman and silently hug him when he needed it the most, Donna who would understand and be there and be his touchstone and anchor and guiding light.

Fourteen knows that she can’t stay with him forever like she used to want to, but he still gives her both of his hearts and tells her how much he cherishes their time together. He offers her coffee just the way she likes it, he remembers such small details about her after literally thousands, millions of years! And he shows it to her. Fourteen is so full of love and he is not afraid to show it, he is rushing to love, to express it before Donna is gone from his life again. And he is trying to make up for all those years as Ten when he couldn’t say these things to Donna, and she never knew just how much she meant to him. Donna never knew that she was his soulmate, that her presence made such an impact and her absence led to Ten’s death and that he died saving her grandad.

Fourteen kisses Donna’s hands and hair and hugs her like she is the most precious thing he knows. His hugs are also different from Ten’s. Fourteen wraps himself around Donna and holds her tight, this is how he shows his affection. He wants Donna to hear, know AND feel how much he cares. Because he already knows what it’s like to lose her and he wants her to know in case he has to let her go forever again.

When there is a threat of the world ending and his wonderful selfless Donna once again stresses that it is not about her, the Doctor solemnly replies that it really is. Because here right now in mortal danger he is willing to put her first and thinks of her wellbeing before anything else, because Donna Noble means the world to him.

Fourteen loves Donna so much, that he is willing to stay with her forever, staying still is not so bad when it’s with her. Fourteen is so tired and weary and bruised and exhausted but when he looks into Donna’s eyes, he doesn’t feel so tired anymore.

Fourteen got Ten’s face because he needed rest, but also maybe, just maybe, because Ten didn’t want to go so badly that he broke through and got the chance to come back so he could have another chance, to have a life and be with his best friend again and come home. Fourteen was born out of love that Ten had for Donna. And that love (and the TARDIS) brought him right to Donna’s doorstep, so he can hear her call him spaceman again and have the best of times for as long as they live and have a laugh with his family in their shared garden and find out what it’s like to be happy. Fourteen gives his love so openly and freely and he gets to receive it too, he gets to bask in it and revel in it. He finally gets the reward Ten was dreaming about.

[woso-dreamzzz]

Surgery VIII

Mapi Leon x Ingrid Engen x Child!Reader

Summary: You go to the cat shelter

If Ingrid was getting you a cat then she would do it properly.

She'd researched cat shelters. She'd found one that had a recent intake of kittens.

A cat was a lifelong friend and you and your cat deserved to grow up together.

She'd contacted the shelter and arranged a visit.

Ingrid knew today would be the day you got your cat so she'd prepared with a carrier and some blankets. She'd expected you to get attached to the kittens, to want to keep all of them and she'd already planned out a speech on why you could only have one, two if they were particularly closely bonded.

Somehow, the alternative was much worse.

You hadn't gotten attached to the kittens at all. You'd had a lot of fun playing with them but none had sparked a bond with you.

So, Ingrid resigned herself to you having a full grown cat as your companion. It wasn't the growing up together idea she had planned but that was okay.

Ingrid watches as you go through the rows of enclosures full of cats. She's content to let you and Mapi take the lead, equally as excited as each other and feeding off each other's energy.

You gasp and Ingrid looks up from her phone.

"I love them!"

At first, Ingrid is glad that you've found a cat that you seem to like but then she looks at Mapi and goes pale. Mapi's eyes are wide and she's furiously shaking her head at Ingrid.

Mapi can deny you nothing so Ingrid knows it's up to her to guide you away from this decision.

Though she isn't quite sure why Mapi isn't happy that you've found your forever friend.

Well...maybe because it's not one forever friend but two.

Ingrid's face mimics Mapi's perfectly as she peers into the cage.

Two cats sit inside.

One is truly a monstrosity. It's massive with long, ginger fur and a tuft that reaches all around its neck like a mane. Its face is reminiscent of a lion as well, all regal and judgemental.

The second is also a ginger tabby but the size of a regular cat. Or, it would be if it wasn't the fattest cat Ingrid has ever seen. It's practically a circle and she wonders briefly how it's even supporting its own weight as it wanders over to where you've stuck your fingers through the arms.

"I see you've found our gingers."

Ingrid nearly screams as one of the shelter workers approach.

"They were surrendered by a nice old lady who couldn't care for them anymore."

Mapi scoffs. "Yeah, looks like she really cared for them." She's pointedly looking at the chunky cat that has now rolled onto its back for belly tickles that you strain through the bars to give it.

The shelter worker winces. "Yeah, he's a little fat, isn't he?"

"Not fat!" You snap," Cuddle sized!"

The worker laughs a little bit. "He does give good cuddles. But he's on a weight loss program. Believe it or not he was much larger when he arrived."

Ingrid can't believe it because this cat is truly round and she can't imagine it being fatter than it is now.

"And of course, we've got his young friend there. They were surrendered together so they're very attached. They're bonded so we can't let one go without the other."

"Here that, cub?" Ingrid decides to break it to you now. "We can't bring one of them home without the other. Say goodbye now and we'll go and look at the kittens again."

You pout, drawing your hand away from the fat cat. "Bye-bye."

You turn to leave, Mapi already halfway across the room to see the kittens again before a loud yowling chirp freezes you in your tracks.

The big lion cat keeps warbling until you turn to face it.

"Sorry," You say," Mama says we can't take you away from each other."

As if he knows who to blame, the lion cat hisses at Ingrid before purring as he rubs his body across the bars of the cage. His fat companion remains flopped on his back in invitation (though Ingrid's ninety percent sure it's because he's so fat that he can't actually get up again).

Ingrid tries to guide you away but the lion cat keeps calling for your attention and the fat cat stays on his back for belly tickles.

She looks at Mapi for help.

"No," She says, catching Mapi's apologetic look," Mapi, no. He's fat and the other one is a monstrosity."

"Ingrid..."

"Mapi! You can't be serious!"

"We agreed on getting her a cat."

"Yes, a cat! One cat!"

"You said two at a stretch," You say quite unhelpfully. Over the course of the argument, you've somehow gotten into the cage and are sitting on the floor happily as you give the fat cat belly tickles while the monster sits in your lap.

"Oh, yeah, you did say that Ingrid."

"Mapi, whose side are you on right now?"

"Er...I'll be quiet. Cub, if you want the cats you need to convince Ingrid."

"I won't be convinced."

You stay silent for a long while even as Ingrid tries to get you moving.

Eventually, you stand and approach her. The fat cat is dangling from your hands as you present him like baby Simba. The lion cat sits at your feet, teeth bared in warning should Ingrid deny you.

"I love them!" You tell Ingrid earnestly," They're both cuddle sized and I love them a lot!"

"Cub," Ingrid says," They might be mean to Bagheera. You don't want Bagheera to feel sad, do you?"

"Actually," The damned shelter worker says," They're both perfectly good with other cats."

"Well..." Ingrid desperately tries to come up with another excuse.

"Mama," You say," Please?" Your eyes glisten with unshed tears as the fat cat mews pitifully at Ingrid.

She sighs.

"Cub, if I let you-"

"Mami! Mama's letting me keep them!" You tell Mapi triumphantly who gives you the biggest fake smile in the world.

"That's great, Cub!" She tells you before muttering under her breath to Ingrid," How could you let this happen?! The monster is going to kill me in my sleep! And the fat one is going to eat all our food!"

"How is this my fault?!" Ingrid hisses back, already reaching to take the paperwork," You're the one that left it up to me!"

"Because you're meant to be the strong one! We both know I would have caved much earlier! Why couldn't you be strong, Ingrid? Why?"

Ingrid signs her name on all of the papers and sighs. "Because she was about to cry and the monster looked like he was about to bite me."

Both of them turn to look at where you're still cuddling with the fat one. The monster is staring back at them, unblinking as it flicks its ear dismissively.

"Are we sure that's a cat?" Mapi checks," I think we should call the zoo."

"It might eat us before that..."

You seem happy though, a beaming smile on your face all the way home.

Both cats make themselves at home. The fat one finds Bagheera's usual sunspot and flops down. His whole body stretches out as he snoozes easily.

The monster immediately jumps onto the kitchen counters to survey his new kingdom and you dart around setting out the new bowls and toys before grinning at Ingrid and Mapi, who are awestruck at how brazen these new cats are.

Bagheera seems to be similarly shocked and a tad judgemental as she pokes her head out of her cat tree to stare.

"He is Garfield," You point at the fat one," Because he is round and cuddle sized." You point at the monster. "And that's León because he is my little lion."

In no way would Ingrid describe that cat as little.

Mapi, for the first time today, decides to be helpful. "You can't call him León," She says," That's our surname. He's León León."

You nod. "I know. It's a pretty name for a pretty lion."

Ingrid wouldn't describe him as pretty either.

"Garfield and León-León," You say with an air of finality," Mami, Mama, thank you for my kitties!"

[catch1ngmoths]

Hi my pookie 😏 Can I request a Joost Klein x fem!reader where it's unrequited love, reader likes Joost, and she's about to give up because he doesn't feel the same but something happens to the reader which causes Joost to panic and confess he's always loved her?

⛆ ONCE MORE TO SEE YOU ⛆

𝄞⨾𓍢ִ໋ “So come inside and be with me, alone with me, alone with me, alone. If you would let me give you pinky promise kisses, then I wouldn't have to scream your name atop of every roof in the city of my heart.” -Mitski𝄞⨾𓍢ִ໋

Summary: your in love with Joost and do everything to try and show your love for him but he doesn’t seem to reciprocate your feelings and even gets involved with another girl. Talking about her 24/7 but suddenly you finally boil over and snap at him. Not knowing your standing in the middle of the street….

Note: THIS ONE IS DRAMATIC AS HELL LOL, anyways finally have the energy to finish a fic! I might post another one soon also, hope yall didn’t miss me too much ;)

Warnings: just straight up y/n and Joost hurting and y/n kinda sorta gets hit by a car (ಡ᎔ಡ)

*ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚ *ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚ *ੈ✩‧₊˚

Pain. That’s all this brought you was pain. Being joost’s best friend and loyal companion was the best and worst thing you’ve experienced. Joost was your favorite person, and you were his. But what he didn’t know was how you felt, how you stared at him longingly every chance you could.

How desperately you wanted to snuggle close to him and explain all your feelings to him. But you couldn’t, not when all he talked about was her. Louise. A girl he met and was how infatuated with, or that’s how it seemed in your eyes. He talked about their relationship and how it kept building day by day.

Today was just another day you felt the familiar tug at your heart, “-and then she said she loved my glasses, it was so kind!” Joost says, laying back as his head rests in your lap, eyes looking straight up at the starry sky you both sat under. Your body tenses and you let out a soft sigh but you quickly recover and look down at him with a smile.

“I’m glad she likes your dorky glasses, might be the only one” you say with a teasing snicker, making Joost look up at you with a faux offended stare and a pout. It wasn’t true, you loved his glasses, you always have. But I guess he never payed any mind to your compliments towards the thick black glasses that sat on his face, but he did for her. Funny isn’t it? Your snapped out of your thoughts as Joost speaks, “ha ha, very funny.” He says as he reaches up to pinch your cheek with a small chuckle.

You smile apawn the contact and lean into his touch that’s quickly stolen away as he lowers his hand back down. The warmth leaving your cheek and making your heart clinch and you look up at the stars as well. You could never tell him, you couldn’t ruin this for him.

Little did you know joost wanted nothing more then to sit up and kiss you in that moment, your teasing words and soft smile made his head spin. He was so in love with you but he couldn’t tell you. Not when you were so out of his league, I mean you’re you and he’s…well he’s him. You were way too good for him. He could never tell you, he couldn’t take you when there’s someone out there that was way better looking than him.

So Joost was willing to try and move on, when he saw Louise and noticed how into him she was he took his chance. He wanted you to do the same- well not wanted. He needed you to find someone like he was, someone that was better than him so he could at least try and get over you. He hoped him always bringing Louise up would push you in that direction, he didn’t know it would hurt you the worst you’ve been hurt in your life.

-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈

During present time, were at your breaking point, you couldn’t listen to it anymore. So you snapped, you snapped at Joost when he brought up Louise once more. “We held hands today, she said my hands were very soft and warm?! Can you believe that- my hands are neither sof-“ he’s cut off by an aggravated sigh and he looks up at you immediately.

“What’s wrong?” He asks as he tries to scan your face to get information on what exactly you’re feeling. “Are you done?” You spat aggressively, you didn’t mean to be rude. Truly you didn’t! But you were just so filled with jealousy and envy that you snapped. Joost looks taken aback and stayed silent for a bit before speaking again, “am I done…?” He says in a tone that very stern.

“Yeah, are you done talking about her all the time?!” You replied as you rubbed your temples and stood up from where you were sitting right next to him on his couch. “Uhh…what the hell is your deal?” He says with furrowed eyebrows, starting to become frustrated at your sudden hostility.

“My deal is that you’re always talking about her! I get it, you’re in love with her but I don’t wanna hear it anymore! Okay??” You say as Joost also stands from his spot on the couch, “in love-?! Wha-“ he’s cut off by you again, “always talking about how great she is while I just sit here feeling like a third wheel!” You continue as he scoffs, “okay well I thought you were happy for me!?” He says, both of your voices raising.

“I am!! I’m just tried of hearing about how awesome and smart and beautiful she is!” You reply as you roll your eyes. “Jesus why are you acting like this?!” He says, making you scoff and cross your arms. “Uh what the fuck is that supposed to mean!!? I’m just sick of hearing about it!” You narrow your eyes at him.

You rub them bridge of your nose before you start walking towards his front door, leaving. “I’m just gonna go.” You say coldly making Joost shake his head. “What?! You can’t just leave like this?!” He says as he follows after you hastily. You don’t turn and continue walking, were you being a little dramatic? Sure. But the feelings you’ve bottled up for so long were finally erupting and you weren’t thinking about that.

“Watch me.” You snarl as you walk down the street, you didn’t know where you were going…hell you were staying with Joost for the time being, you just needed space. Joost didn’t understand that, knowing you had nowhere else to go. He didn’t want anything to happen to you so he follow behind you but you picked up the pace.

“Why the hell are you so adamant about this?! What the fuck is your problem” he says as you groan in annoyance and swiftly turn to him, standing in the middle of the empty road. He finally sees your eyes that were filled with tears, some rolling down your cheeks. It broke his heart as his eyes widen.

You laugh bitterly and sarcastically, “what is my problem?!” You raise your voice, “my problem is that you love this girl and you don’t even realize how I feel about you!! How much I love you, but you’re too busy with her to even realize! I’ve tried everything, everything joost! But your too busy with her to ever notice me so I’m don’t trying to get you to notice me!! ”

You weren’t thinking, you were just rambling as you spoke, Joost froze, not that you realized. Your vision was blurry from the tears in your eyes. Something else you failed to realize was the car coming right in your direction. (I know this is so dramatic (ᵕ—ᴗ—) I couldn’t think of anything else to happen to reader! Plus who doesn’t like a little dramatics!)

You both noticed too late, once you noticed the approaching lights you swiftly turned and saw the car speeding towards you. You have no time to react before your eyes widen, you hear your name being screamed and then everything goes black.

-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈

Your eyes crack open as you feel blinded by a bright light, you groan and try to sit up but you feel a pair of soft hands wrapping around you. Your breath hitches and eyes widen as you hear soft sobs coming from the person holding you.

Your senses finally come back to you as you see the bright blonde hair that you could recognize anywhere. Your wrap your arms around him as well, “j-Joost..? What happened?” You say weakly, your whole body hurt. But Joost finally stops hugging you, holding your cheeks in his hands as tears roll down his face.

“Your dumbass got hit by a car” he says with a shakey laugh, “god I’m so glad your okay” he finishes as he presses soft kisses to your head, your memory coming back as you groan and burry your face in his chest. A soft chuckle coming from the man in response. He sighs and lifts your chin up, looking deep in your eyes

“I’m not…I’m not talking to Louise anymore.” He says and your heart drops, you did this, you made him stop seeing the “love of his life” Joost immediately notices your widened eyes and shakes his head, “because…I figured out who I’m truly meant to be with.” He says with a soft smile as he presses his forehead to yours

“W-who..?” You say as your heart feels like it’s beating out of your chest. “How about I show you huh?” He says with a smirk before lowering his head and connecting his lips to yours, you both part with shallow breaths, ““I’m sorry. I’m so fucking sorry. I didn’t know you thought of me like that, Louise was just a distraction because-“ he pauses and looks away

“Because I was trying to distract myself from how much I love you. God I’m so sorry this is all my fa-“ he’s cut off by your soft voice, “shut up and kiss me again” he smiles before pressing his lips gently back to yours and suddenly, even being in the hospital, everything doesn’t seem so bad..

*ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚ *ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚ *ੈ✩‧₊˚

This fic actually sucks ass, I’m sorry for the bad fic lol I promise I’ll try to lock in 🙏🏻🥲

[jinjeriffic]

DCxDP Prophecy Universe Part 8

Part 7

Damian was torn between investigating the disturbance and continuing his surveillance of Daniel and his companions. On the one hand, civilians might be in danger. On the other hand, he was here on a mission. The decision was made for him when Foley and Manson came running out of Pineapple Republic and headed towards the sounds of commotion. No sign of Daniel though.

A musical chime sounded as the mall’s PA system turned on.

“Attention customers!” came a cheerful female voice, “We regret to inform you that a ghost attack is currently in progress! Please head to the nearest emergency exit. Thank you for shopping at Amity Park Mall! Please come again!”

Another musical chime marked the end of the announcement and an alarm started wailing.

And everyone thinks Gotham is bad. Amity Parkers are demented.

Damian dropped what he was holding and ducked out of the store into the crowd of people hurrying towards the exits. A few people gave him odd looks as he headed in the opposite direction of the evacuation but nobody tried to stop him. They probably wanted to be as far away from the carnage as possible. At least they were somewhat sensible in that regard.

The crowd around him thinned out fast and it didn’t take him long to spot Foley and Manson crouched behind the counter of a now abandoned juice bar. Foley was fiddling with something in his backpack while Manson was keeping lookout. Luckily their attention was focused in the other direction so Damian snuck as close as he dared and ducked behind some decorative plants to avoid being seen. He surreptitiously pulled out his phone to record whatever was going to happen.

The screaming had stopped but the repeated sound of glass shattering came from inside what appeared to be a high-end jewelry store. He could see movement behind the cracked safety glass and heard muffled voices though he couldn’t discern the words. Suddenly, the glass pane buckled outwards before being torn from its moorings entirely, crashing to the ground. What appeared to be a large reinforced safe skidded along the tile floor, leaving cracks in its wake before coming to a stop. A red energy blast came roaring out the now empty window frame, burning a melted hole in the glass of a store on the opposite side.

“The hard way it is then!” shouted a voice Damian recognized.

Green flashes lit up the inside of the jewelry store and moments later a black and white form came hurtling out.

Phantom.

He wasn’t wearing a cloak or messenger bag this time and the strange staff he had used to open the portal was also missing. His body was haloed by a faint glow, giving him an ethereal appearance. The black parts of his armored jumpsuit seemed to suck in the light to an unnatural degree, while the white accents as well as his hair seemed to shine like moonlight. He came to a halt in midair, and his outstretched hands glowed green as a barrier appeared in front of him, just in time to block another red blast.

“Look, if I wanted a tan I’d go to the spa!”

A second figure came flying out of the store at high speed, aiming straight for Phantom. He dodged and weaved as his opponent struck at him with… a battleaxe?

“And I don’t need a haircut either, geez!”

Phantom retaliated with a glowing fist to the face of his opponent, who crashed to the ground leaving a small crater in the floor. With the creature momentarily disoriented, Damian could finally get a good look at it. It had the same glowing aura as Phantom, but its skin was dark green. It was smaller than the average human but much bulkier. If Damian had to guess he’d estimate its height to be about four feet. It had large pointed ears, beady red eyes and a long, pencil-like nose. Its hands and feet were bare, but tipped with vicious looking claws. It was wearing a mish mash of leather and metal armor pieces and what appeared to be several pounds of stolen jewelry.

Two more creatures of similar appearance emerged from the wreckage of the store, one carrying a wooden staff with a large red jewel set in the top, and the other a crossbow and a large sack. The red jewel glowed ominously and fired another blast towards Phantom, who stretched and twisted his body in an unnatural way to avoid it.

“Are those goblins? Seriously?!”

“Curse you universe!”

Foley and Manson’s outburst drew the attention of the third creature and they had to duck down as a crossbow bolt embedded itself in the juice bar inches from them.

“Man, we’ll never hear the end of this!”

“Just shut up and get the thermos ready. I’ll cover you,” Manson snapped as she attached something metal to her wrist.

Meanwhile, Phantom had launched himself at the second creature - goblin? - and was trying to wrestle the staff away from it. The creature snarled and Phantom head butted it in the nose, and followed up with a kick to the inside of its knee. The goblin fell back, dazed as Phantom wrenched the staff out of its grasp. He turned sharply, just in time to block the axe blow aimed at his back as the first creature lunged at him. The axe bit deeply into the wood of the staff.

“Have you considered a career in lumberjacking? Then maybe you wouldn’t have to steal your bling!” Phantom taunted as he shoved his opponent back. When he blocked the next blow, the staff broke in two under the force. He cast the now useless pieces aside.

“Maybe you could find a nice lady who appreciates your firewood chopping skills?”

The next swing came horizontally, and Phantom bent backwards to avoid it.

“Or maybe a nice dude, I ain’t judging!”

Just then, Manson popped up from behind cover and used some kind of wrist mounted laser to shoot the axe goblin in the side. The creature howled in pain and dropped its weapon to clutch at the smoldering wound. Seizing the opportunity Phantom dashed forward and delivered a devastating uppercut. He grabbed his enemy as it began to slump, and hurled it through the air towards the juice bar.

“Heads up, Tuck!”

Foley popped up and aimed a strange cylinder towards the fight. A bright light erupted from the device as the creature was sucked inside. One down two to go.

The crossbow wielder took advantage of now having a clear shot at Phantom, and the teen just barely managed to duck as a bolt whizzed past his ear and embedded itself in the wall.

“I’ll pass on the acupuncture, thanks!”

Not giving his foe time to reload, Phantom blasted it with a green energy bolt as he flew towards it. With seemingly no better options, the goblin grunted as it swung the heavy sack as an improvised weapon. The blow connected, sending Phantom tumbling back with a cry. At the same time the sack split open, spilling a cascade of rings, necklaces and other precious items across the floor. Phantom hit the ground on his back, but rolled to his feet quickly, picking up the discarded battleaxe as he went.

“I have an axe to grind with you!” he cried with a feral grin, as he hurled the weapon at his opponent with all his might. The goblin squawked and dodged, still fumbling to reload. Phantom was faster though and slammed into it with glowing fists, sending the creature tumbling through the air. In another flash of bright light, Foley sucked up the second goblin too.

Unfortunately, the third creature had not been idle. While everyone was distracted, it had picked up the discarded head of the broken staff and had started an ominous chant in a strange language. Apparently breaking the shaft hadn’t rendered it useless after all and the gemstone was pulsing with an angry red light.

“Oh no, you don’t!” Phantom snarled and sent out a wave of ice spears in front of himself as he flew at the goblin. One of the icicles hit the gem and it felt as if time slowed for a moment as the latter splintered with an audible crack. Suddenly, an explosion of red energy erupted from the gem, sending both combatants hurtling in opposite directions. The goblin hit the wall with a thud, and the unconscious creature was quickly sucked into Foley’s device.

Phantom landed on the thoroughly ruined floor, sprawled amid the various trinkets the ghostly thieves had pilfered.

“I hate it when they insist on going out with a bang,” he groaned, clutching at his head and sitting up.

“Police, freeze!”

“It’s Phantom, get him!”

Oh joy, law enforcement has arrived. Too late, as usual.

“Aw come on, really?!” Phantom yelped, then scrambled away as the newly arrived policemen started shooting at him with some kind of laser blaster, the bolts of light reminiscent of what Manson had dished out earlier.

“Screw you guys, I’m going home!” Phantom shouted as he turned see-through and dove through the floor.

“Suspect is headed for the basement, we’re in pursuit!” one of the officers yelled into his walkie-talkie as they all ran off, presumably in the direction of the nearest staircase. Why they thought chasing someone who could apparently density shift was going to accomplish anything was beyond Damian. It looked like small town America didn’t recruit the best and brightest as law enforcement officers either.

Damian pocketed his phone and hurried away from the scene of the crime. The last thing he wanted was to be interrogated about what he had seen. Besides, he was eager to see where his wayward brother would resurface.

[stuck-writing-sickos]

In Poor Taste [P6]

(Yandere Reader Insert)

[Series Link]

[STRONG WARNING: sexual abuse, ephebophilia, substance abuse, addiction, suicidal ideations, victim blaming, xenophobia, violence, READ AT YOUR OWN RISK]

(A/N: this is a heavy chapter that catches you up on certain characters' backstories. Please do NOT read if ANY OF THESE SUBJECTS can trigger you. I repeat: DO NOT. I will put a recap on the next chapter. these are strong contents. i will not take responsibility for anyone who disregards the warnings.)

Also i still do not know what tagging people in the next chapter entails (low tech, offline). Lmk how: @perhapstheyregone @ssak-i

You were never crazy about spoiled rich men. They were nothing but troubles.

"Sakamoto!"

Lukas jumped at the scream. He turned around to meet three coworkers he hadn't ever spoken to: a short, tubby middle-aged man with his tie going undone and a button missing, revealing his belly. Another is a taller, lanky, bespectacled young man who was speaking quietly but very excitedly, his shoulders high and closing into himself. The shorter man lumbered past Lukas and toward the pair of smokers. From inside the restaurant, a female voice called out for a "Hanaosan".

Lost and incredibly intrigued, Lukas instinctively stepped to where you were, his body shielding you away from the commotion. He smelt the smoke and alcohol wrestling away your flowery perfume, his eyes darting back and forth between Sakamoto and the old man who was shouting something in Japanese, drowning out the voice of his companion. From behind them, a short woman he also recognized to be from the office ran after the duo and tried to join voice with the onesided arguments, her tone sounding a lot like that of glasses. From their repeated "Hanaosan", Lukas assumed it was the name of the drunken, improperly clothed man. Sakamoto only took long drags of his cigarette as Hanaosan closed the distance with his arms going every possible direction.

Sakamoto leaned back and listened to the rant, only occasionally replying with one word which sounded a lot like "yeah" whilst shaking his head. At one point, his cigarette went out. He silently tossed it on the ground and snubbed it with his shoes, his eyes not leaving the senior colleague's red face.

This went on until Sakamoto directed his attention to the woman who was guiltily hanging her head. Lukas gathered another name here - "Sasakisan". This Sasakisan was on the verge of tear, her head of dyed chestnut hair shaking vigorously and her hands waving, seeming to deny something. Upon this, Sakamoto turned to Hanaosan to speak. He must had said something insulting, because Lukas didn't have time to react when Hanaosan raised his voice even louder, turning heads from the stream of strangers walking by. The short, fuming man then reached out and grabbed Sakamoto by the collar, shaking him vigorously, his chubby, hairy fingers were clutching against Sakamoto's shirt so hard Lukas heard a tear. Horrified, glasses and Sasakisan tried to pry them apart only for Hanaosan to knock them back with the surprising strength that only ever graced drunk uncles in family gatherings. The two tried to talk - probably desperate to get some sense through the chaos - but nothing budged the Incredible Hanaosan now in a rage. He stopped shaking fand waited for a respond from Sakamoto who was bent in half to accommodate for his height and superhuman grab.

Sakamoto sighed and clicked his tongue. He spoke, his voice now slow but firm, the same voice Lukas assumed one would use to discipline a child. This only added fuel to the fire. Hanaosan shed his last layer of blind anger and decided that words would no longer be of use. He winded up a punch and hurled it toward Sakamoto's chest.

Lukas had his back turned to you. Naturally, he didn't see it coming when you harshly pushed past him, your fingers of steel grabbing him by the shoulder, throwing him aside and slamming his back against the wall. Lukas didn't have time to savor the pain, but his heart did not forget to race. He could only see you as a blur as you zipped past him and wedged yourself between Sakamoto and Hanaosan just in time for his punch to land right on your gut. A pained groan escaped your lips, though you did not fall nor lose composture.

Nobody spoke. Everyone stared at you, horrified. You steadied your breath, shaking a little as you bent over, half in pain, half to speak to Hanaosan.

"I apologize, Mr. Hanao", you said, your voice still wavering from the shock.

"Lady, why did you do that for?" -Hanao (apparently not Hanaosan, Lukas noted) scoffed - "Stay out of it, this is between us men!"

"I'm so sorry", you kept your bow, "I just remembered that Mr. Sakamoto here will see his family soon, and I would hate to imagine how difficult it would be for him to explain the bruises."

Hanao laughed in disbelief, his expression souring from angry to scornful.

"So what, you lived here for 3 years and you think you can try to act like one of us? Do you know how ridiculous you sound right now?"

"That's enough!" - Sasaki (Lukas noted again - not Sasakisan) yelled, her high voice was weak compared to the rest - "Mr. Hanao, you're drunk and embarrassing yourself! Please take him home, Mr. Fujiko!"

Nodding hastily, the thin man tugged at Hanao now seeming completely deflated at Sasaki's words. Still, from where he was walking, Hanao still couldn't help but spoke loudly for you to hear - "that's why letting those foreigners work here is no good, I'm telling you."

Lukas burnt at that. "Fuck...", he muttered, planning to go after Hanao. Before he could move, you had a strong grip on his wrist, yanking him backward. The force you'd exerted left him sore, but Lukas' couldn't deny the heat in his chest as he felt it.

"Sorry", he said, his voice barely containing his untimely arousal. You were too in pain to notice it, and Lukas was too focused on you to see Sakamoto's quick glance when those words came out of his mouth.

"You're not okay...", Sakamoto softly said to you, "I'm so, so, so sorry for that. Please, let me take you home."

"Are you sure?" Sasaki interrupted, "Mr. Sakamoto, you're not okay either. I can take her home for you."

"I'm sorry, Ms. Sasaki. She lives quite near mine, so it works out well either way. Mr. Lukas, would you mind accompanying her back to the party and keep an eye on her just in case?"

In case of what, Lukas thought, a biting discomfort brewing in him. This guy was just trying to get rid of him.

Sasaki was quietly glancing over to him, hesitant and nervous. Lukas felt more annoyed than ever at the thought of Sakamoto monopolizing the rest of your night, though under the watchful eyes of another colleague, he felt it would be best to not start another argument.

"Yeah, sure, no problems", he sighed, his voice getting cold, "get home safe. Text me if you need me."

Sakamoto better not take that last sentence as directed toward him, too. Lukas could not give two shits.

__

Sakamoto had you hanging onto him as he hailed down a cab. The sleek black car stopped, its door sliding open. You felt shame as you sluggishly sat down and scooted your body into the inner seat. Awkardly loosening the seatbelt to not irritate your bruise, you leaned back.

"Hey", he spoke, tapping on your shoulder, "are you feeling alright?"

Your mind was on something else when you said yes, nodding begrudgingly. Your chest was still twisting. You held your head, trying to remember your address upon hearing the driver asking for it. Unsurely reciting it, you turned away from Sakamoto for him not to see your crumbled face. Still, you could hear him shifting nervously as the leather seat squeaked under his pants.

"I'm sorry... of course it is nothing", you said, your voice hoarse.

"I'm sorry, too..."

He spoke as if something was stuck in his throat. You could tell he felt guilty about Hanao's punch. Sakamoto had a bad habit of feeling like he owed people for the nice things they did, so much so that it worried him sick. You yourself hadn't been much of an expecting returned favors person - were you to be one, you would have been stuck playing debt collector to your brother for the rest of your live. That would not be fair.

"It's not your fault, Sakamoto."

The ride was quiet. You wanted to turn and look at him, but you didn't let yourself. You were worried by the heartbeat that drummed against your chest as if wanting to break your ribs open. Help me make this feeling go away, you wanted to say, but you knew he wouldn't know how. He couldn't fix your brother's drug addiction. He wouldn't know how to steady his nerve were he to find the frail, bony boy in a stranger's bathroom lying in his own vomit, arms and legs twitching with glazed over bloodshot eyes who, upon seeing his older sister at the door, could do nothing but bare the row of yellowed teeth to laugh. What was there to do but call the ER and explain what happened? Your 17-year-old self did not cry as you sat and wait for the ambulance, watching his shoulders and the lock of hair over his nose move to make sure he was alive. You could almost recall the conversation in the next room wherein the teenagers were freaking out and deserting the kickback, yelling to put blames, all of them too drunk or high for their young body to handle. Stupid, you thought with your head on your knees, you guys were supposed to be studying for finals. What would 15-year-olds in a private school need molly, stamps or snow for? They could not have possibly been that bored, could they? Couldn't they have smoked weed and have panic attacks like the rest? You even remembered when a girl poked her head in to ask if your brother was okay, to which you said "fuck off". You didn't feel bad for it. You still don't.

Your head spun thinking back about it. You closed your eyes and tried to calm your beating heart, fighting the lump that built in your throat. Whatever, you told yourself, nothing changed - that was all. You would call your mother and console her like always, then your disappointed father who had not much to say, then your brother who would moodily ask what you wanted and then tell you to save it with the life lessons. Then you would hang up and put away your phone, take a nightime painkiller without water before crawling under your cover and hoped to not wake up to 80 missed calls.

So you didn't say anything.

Upon seeing the familiar apartment complex, you fished for your wallet only to find Sakamoto's cold palm resting atop your hand. "I got it", he softly spoke and handed the driver two crisp bills, telling him to keep the change. The warm summer air flooded the cab as the door opened, and you felt the humidity clinging on your skin when you stepped down, your kitten heels knocking harshly against the pavement. Sakamoto hopped off as well and hurried over to where you were.

"Mr. Sakamoto, thank you for taking me home, but you don't have to walk me to the door. You will miss the train."

"It's okay", he said with his face turned away from you, "I like to enjoy the nightime."

You laughed at the white lie. Of course he did not mean it, especially not with the heavy backpack on his back. Sakamoto who liked to clean up and prepare food for the next day would hate staying out late - hell, he barely tolerated tonight's dinner party.

"Well... I appreciate it. Then, would you mind walking me to the elevator?"

"I will walk you to your door."

The softness in his voice matched your own.

_____

Yuki lied. He did not live near you, but he figured that didn't matter much. He could take a cab back home and skip the coffee-making, even though he had just started trying to consume less sugar by brewing his own the night before. The way your face drained of any liveliness when he first saw you at the alleyway was a pointer that whatever you were going through was more urgent than the brand new coffee kit he left sealed near his sink.

As he waited for the elevator with you, your phone buzzed. You looked at the screen blankly and picked it up, your hands trembling just barely. He incredulously watched you when he led you into the dingy lift, making room for you to punch in the floor number. You did not say a word, simply listening to the other end who seemed frantic and fast-talking. The flourescent light from above highlighted clearly your sunken eyes and smile lines, casting sharp shadows on your face now looking years older than your normal self. You did not say anything but the frown on your tired face deepened the longer your caller spoke, and by the time the elevator ride was over you could only sighed and said "I see... I will talk to him soon, mom. You go ahead to bed now, it's getting late."

He tailed you out, expecting you to lead the way to your door. Instead, your body dropped down to a squat. Burying your head into your hands, you painfully let out a quiet sob, your body shaking like a leaf.

"Hey...", he spoke, trying to be as gentle as he could so as not to alert anyone who might be sleeping behind the thin apartment walls. He wanted to say that it would be okay, but that would be stupid. He did not know what happened.

You kept your sobbing down, stiffling it until completely smothering it. Choking on tears, you sniffled and looked at him. Your mascara had made a dark black smudge under your glossy eyes, and your lips were twisted as you grinded your teeth to keep from crying more.

"... Let's get you back home first, okay?" was the only thing he thought of to say. You nodded and took his outstretched palm. Your skin was warm, pressing hard against him as you stood up. He failed to expect the hand that threw the fierce uppercut at his show to feel so limp in his own. He did not let go as you walked him to your door and punched in the code.

"Thank you, Mr. Sakamoto", you spoke again, hoarse and labored. Even in disarray, you still made a point to take a look at your phone to check for the time. Idling at the door now wide open, you held a sigh in your chest. He watched as you took a moment to think before turning to see him again.

"I'm sorry you missed the train. If you don't mind it, you can stay the night."

He had heard that many times in his life, and everytime he found himself going dizzy and trying to make an escape. In his younger years, he wasn't so sucessful. He would be swayed by guilt or pity toward the recently divorced family friend who then wiped away her soft pink lips with his body. His 17-year-old self did not know how to feel... she was always gentle and kind when she first met him 4 years prior. Outside her bedroom she was never unperfumed, never dressed improperly, never spoke in any tone other than soft, yet she always left him feeling undone and fillthy. She was nice before she wasn't, before the door closed and he was told what to do and how to feel. Sakamoto always vomitted after, but it never mattered to her - she had her fills. He still couldn't forget begging for his father's help after the secret ate at him, only for his own kin to ask what about becoming a man made him want to die.

Though, the look in your eyes was not one of temptation. It was one of someone barely holding it together, trying their hardest to make something right. You didn't seem to want anything from him.

Yuki felt something other than panic when he stood at your door staring down the dark hallway, your face just a shadow now when you turned straight ahead. For the first time in a long time, Yuki found himself saying "okay" to being invited to stay over.

[kit-williams]

Golden Apotheosis

My turn to finally introduce a Sentience Custode of my own! However, with a twist! Ya'll remember that Shard I made with @sculptorofcrimson and @bispecsual? Well I'm introducing a stand in for her in husbandry... and don't worry the boy in this fic is a stand in for Valdor (or maybe you should worry).

Please big thanks to @bispecsual for also beta reading

Enjoy

WORDCOUNT: 6524

@egrets-not-regrets @liar-anubiass-blog @barn-anon @bleedingichorhearts @gallifreyianrosearkytiorsusan

@ms--lobotomy

Thank @squishyowl for the dividers

tw: Nudity, blood, death (very much on brand with 40k so far) POV shifting

The blood that ran down her naked body was still warm. Aurora trembled with fear as she knew she was destined to die today... there was a horrifyingly calm acceptance of that fact that ran through her. She opened her mouth to breathe and spit out blood that leaked into her mouth. She was blind as she refused to open her blood covered eyes as her arms were held out by large hands... her long brown hair now stuck to her back as it was heavy with blood and all she could hear was the loud booming voice of the "preacher" Astartis... Aurora felt something placed on her head as it dug into the skin of her scalp and chants and jeers flooded her ears.

Large thumbs swiped over her eyelids allowing her to finally open. Her eyes only briefly scanned the gathered crowd of Astartes as she was dragged to a raised platform and her eyes looked to her cell companion. Aurora didn't blame her even if she apologized again and again for what was going to happen... it wasn't her fault that she was being held hostage to get her Astartis to behave, she learned his name was Ari... Aurora didn't blame Ari either. Her hands were held over her head as she was strapped to a metal pointed wheel, a star of Chaos, she somehow knew... she looked over to her fast friend who was silently crying as she was held by an Astartis in black and gold. The unwilling sorcerer approached, glancing at his human.... glancing to the marine holding his bonded... who gave her a squeeze causing her to scream.

The "preacher" kept speaking as Aurora looked at who she assumed was Ari. His body unarmored as she looked over his face and for a moment when their eyes met she could see the regret in them for a fleeting moment before they hardened as he painted her flesh with symbols that made her mind hurt. His hands soon moved and glowed as his voice took on a double voice melding with his own. She felt her body pulse as warp stuff bled from her brown-gold eyes.

They thought it was fitting given the close resemblance she held to many of the depictions of the Carrion Emperor to give her a golden laurel. Several of them could see it... how swollen her soul was... and with Ari pushing more warp into it... it only made it a better sacrifice.

Ari wanted no part of this... he hated this... he was no human killer! But... but... his human was in danger.

Aurora looked up at the sky and there was silent pain that rushed through her body. Something inside of her was pulsing as, unknown to her, more and more of her soul was forced to take in raw warpstuff. Empowering her and making her ripe for an offering to the gods. She felt like the seams of her entire being were being ripped apart to the point she could no longer take it and she screamed, "SOMEONE HELP ME!" Desperately she screamed as she forced her throat raw.

But within the warp that those fallen Astartes were feeding her soul too... all that was there was the laughter of thirsting gods...

Apollo was falling. He blinked as he was indeed falling as his armor was adjusting and informing him of the calculated time till impact. His bright blue eye behind those ruby red eye lenses twitched around in their socket as he was fed information from several sources. He was about to land in a gathering of Chaos Space Marines... during the middle of a ritual... Perfect timing he thought to himself . Apollo twisted his body like a cat, unhindered by his armor, as he was made to move unnaturally. He arched and his armor braced and readied himself as his hands gripped his Guardian Spear. Where he was... will come later he had to eliminate a cancerous growth first. But, as he fell his eyes glanced towards the altar and a breath before impact his eyes caught gold.

It was a baseline human female covered in blood. On her head rested a mockery of a golden laurel that his Master was fond of. His eyes met hers for a split second and pools of gold-brown looked at him... afraid. Vines of warp like energy akin to some violent xenos flora wrapped and latched onto his soul... he was going to save her... he was going to save her regardless... but he was going to save her... for she looked far too much like Him.

Limbs and viscera exploded outwards as Apollo made impact with a traitor marine. As the smoke cleared it was already far too late for them. Before even the words "Custodes!" could leave the mouth of the traitor that spotted him... a dozen of them were already dead.

Ari's eyes widened as he knew he had only precious seconds... his eyes flicked over to the marine holding his human and all Ari had to do was twitch and their head exploded. She was opening her mouth to scream as Ari flooded his body with the lashing warp to fuel his speed. He needed to out maneuver the Custodes. He was kind enough to cut Aurora free as within breaths he was suddenly by his human as the warp wrapped around the both of them and before Aurora realized it... they were gone. They fell to the forest floor as Ari held his bonded tightly... safe.

However, Aurora was far from safe. She was still in so much danger as she scrambled to her feet after being freed. Her heart was beating wildly as she still felt like she was coming undone and her hands covered her ears as she trembled in pain, a scream ripped from her throat. The warp that had bled into reality whipped around her... it hurt! She was scared! And she poured all of her emotions into the currents around her.

Help me please... a voice in his mind pleaded as the Dread Host, Apollo, cleaved a limb free from the traitor in front of him. He danced between the ruptured metal and dying marines. He violently shoved the bubbling anxiety down, a feeling he had thought he had forgotten how to feel, as his eyes drifted towards the screaming and pained human his mind raced something screamed at him... SAVE HER... SAVERHERSAVEHERSAVEHERSAVEHERSAVEHERSAVEHER he gritted his teeth as something in his mind screamed at him in his own voice... he felt compelled to listen but he twirled watching his Guardian Spear slice through metal like it was butter. "Working on it." He snarled out to himself.

Aurora swayed on her feet as she regained some semblance of steadying herself and made to get away! The Golden Astartes could do that right? What help would she be... though she barely turned to run before a hand wrapped around her throat. Her hands looked so tiny as she tried to pry off metallic fingers from around her throat. The Feral Astartis snarled at her in that dark tongue, it wasn't Gothic, and it made something inside of her hurt. The dark apostle looked toward the custodes being swarmed before rushing off with the half ready sacrifice. It was just a minor setback... he would try again.

Aurora reached out to the golden warrior looking at the red eye lenses on that white faceplate... before she moved out of the camp at a sickeningly fast speed. Apollo's head snapped to the direction of his charge. His mind rapidly did the math at how fast he could get to her. He was finally done playing as his spear ripped open bellies before he turned on his heel like a flamenco dancer as he ran after them. Apollo needed to know why she looked so much like Him. He had joked or, now that Apollo reflects, perhaps in His own way admitted that He had many paramours over the years; both before and after the creation of the Primarchs. Apollo remembers him being young and bold enough to ask, "Should we be expecting any secret children my lord?"

He remembers the faint smile that was only in His eyes and not upon his lips as he ordained to answer Apollo, "No Apollo. I haven't had any in thousands of years."

Aurora was sobbing again, her tears cleaning the sticky blood on her skin, leaving their trails against her lightly tanned skin as she felt the hand around her throat squeeze. She was going to die... she had allowed herself to feel a fleeting sense of hope when he fell from the sky like a golden star... no... there was no golden hero here to save her. She opened her eyes as her brain had trouble registering the golden mass rapidly approaching her as... her brain told her.... it shouldn't move that fast... that smoothly... she felt sick as it moved so smoothly and so quickly that she couldn't register properly the fact he had already grabbed the dark apostle's arm and had already ripped it clean from its socket.

She only registered the sudden fact that she was falling now after a horrifyingly instantaneous sound of screaming metal. All Aurora knew was that at this momentum she was probably going to die if she hit the ground. However she blinked as the sound of leaf litter scattering met her ears as she was pressed up against a golden chest plate as she came to a stop. Her heart was beating like the wings of a hummingbird as her brown-gold eyes darted around. She looked up seeing the white facemask of the golden marine... she looked over her shoulder and could see the other dead on the forest floor.

Apollo watched as those gold-brown eyes looked around and back at his faceplate once more before she started to wildly weep against him. He normally wasn't good at handling their outbursts but he focused on the golden "laurel" on her head tangling with her hair was a bunch of scrap metal twisted and painted. His deft fingers moved it free of her scalp and wickedly tossed it at the dead marine watching the "leaves" sink into his skin. He felt her fingers grip his armor as he moves her, slightly wrapping her naked form in the black cloth he has wrapped around his waist. Apollo had many questions but as she started babbling up at him between her tears he realized he did not understand what she was saying... Apollo like all custodes was well versed in many imperial languages but this... this he did not know. He looked over her body as she was dehydrated and slightly underfed but otherwise she was healthy which soothed something inside of him. Apollo knew he wasn't good with baselines but he did his best to soothe her as now... he had to find his way to civilization.

The local Astartes were scrambling as there was a Custodes, an unknown Custodes, heading their way. Traitor and Renegade Astartes retreated from the immediate vicinity and entered hiding. A Custodes was a force of nature and would rip through a community like a tornado. Those at the wall gained confirmation as this was not one of the few that they knew of which meant this was a recent arrival... an unbonded Custodes. They would make things difficult as only bonded Custodes would allow the tentative truce between the Loyalists and Traitors continue... all by their mercy. So they were dealing with potentially two unbonded Custodes... they prayed to the Emperor and to the Dark Gods that no more were sent.

Apollo looked at the fortifications as he approached them picking up on Imperial Fist architecture mixed with Iron Warrior. His eyes narrowed at the joint project as he knew about the Ultramarine approaching him as his hand held the passed out bundle closely to him. He held his Guardian Spear at his side as the Ultramarine finally spoke, "Noble Custodes." Apollo could hear the accent as an old Mcraggian dialect and given the crusade pattern armor he was wearing... Time Displacement. Apollo theorized.

"Ultramarine." Apollo replied emotionlessly. The human in his arm whimpered softly, twitching slightly.

The Ultramarine looked at the Custodian's legs that were covered in dried blood. However his eyes kept glancing at the passed out human wrapped in the black cape of the custodian, covered in blood. He prepared to speak again but Apollo cut him off.

"When am I." He demanded.

"024.M2." He says automatically. The Ultramarine was surprised at the way the Custodian seemed to move in a way as he took a deep inhale.

"Where are we." Apollo turned to face the Ultramarine now, his grip on the spear becoming a little tighter.

"We are on Terra, my Lord."

Apollo stood there processing the conversation; he's never heard of a large time displacement going backwards. Ancient marines being shot forward in time was more common than not but... it could happen just he has no recollection of anything this severe, "When are you from."

"986.M30, my Lord." Internally the Ultramarine knew he was breaking protocols with these lines of question... they were supposed to ease in new arrivals... but then again this was a Custodes... and they had nothing ready for Custodes.

"I see." Apollo said as the silence before coming at him with, "I also see traitor marines in your midst."

"When are you from, my Lord?" The Ultramarine attempted deflection... Apollo could have killed him for such insolence.

"001.M42." Apollo said with a clipped breath.

"I... I see." The Ultramarine replied.

Apollo could see the micro movements of the armor... could see the way he was inhaling... he was clearly on the vox talking to others. He could order his machine spirit to override their encryptions to have full access to their conversation... but he refrained... for now. He glanced back down to his charge? He hardly was an Aquilian Shield to think of her as a charge but it felt right... a warmth that cradled itself between his hearts. His eyes pulled away and returned to their icy gaze as he looked around his mind playing stratagems of how he would dance between target to target he was confident even with her in his arm that he could kill them all. He had sparred with several Captain-Generals even the greatest of them all, Valdor. He was part of the host that was the Emperor's wrath... he was one of his Master's scalpels... and he saw much cancer to be removed.

"My Lord," Apollo looked to the Ultramarine, "if you will follow me... there is a lot we must inform you about." He started walking and Apollo adjusted his charge in his arms. Her golden eyes opened for a brief moment as the bags under her eyes were heavy... the way her hand shook weakly as she slurred out something in the language he did not know... how she curled against him once more before passing out again.

Apollo's eyes flicked about as they walked through the city seeing the baseline's glance about, none of them wearing any signifying colors that they were serfs or a part of some faction that Apollo knew of. The sky was a crisp blue that he knew few worlds had such a blue sky naturally and he is certain that if the Ultramarine was correct... the night sky might have a number of stars he knew by heart. But his eyes flicked to various windows as Apollo made mental notes of the traitor marines and any "loyalists" that would give him trouble should what they so desperately wanted to tell him... was unsatisfactory.

They approached the base as his eyes flicked to the defenses, far more lacking than what would normally be called for, his eyes flicked to the humans there. Negligible variables in his mind as they would die to simple flicks of his spear and they would be gone. He looked at the approaching Salamander Apothecary sizing them up, "Lord Custodes. I can take the human-" He starts slowly moving his arms to offer to take them.

"Dehydration and the beginning stages of starvation." Apollo says quickly, passing the bundle to the Salamander. He ignored the desire to pull her closer... he ignored the desire to rip her back into his arms... he ignored the desire to keep her close and have her stay with him. His icy blue eyes flicked to the Salamander... he would be a simple bump to cut through should he need to collect her; it would be easy to find her.

He followed the Ultramarine still into a meeting room as Apollo looked at the dozen of marines in the room. He stood like a statue in the doorway looking between each one of them planning out how he would kill each one and how he would move onto the next. When Apollo was satisfied with his stratagem he finally spoke, projecting his voice, "I have been here a total of three hours. And for that entire first hour I spent killing Traitor Astartes." He pauses for a moment, "In the past twenty minutes I have seen Thirty-two more. So gentlemen," He said with almost a snarl in his voice, "Tell me what is so important that should convince me to not start slaughtering you all."

It took them an hour to explain the bare bone basics. Apollo then made them stay an additional four to go into detail on every piece of information. He met with Loyalist "traitor" legion marines... A renegade marine... and one very brave Chaos Space Marine. Apollo processed the information in that painful silence, well painful for the Astartes as he was fine. He finally made a calculated move as he took off his helmet and pinched his brow. Utilizing a disarming technique to lure them into a calm but to express a desire to truly emote.

Apollo calculated the time span was roughly one of a ten thousand years with the earliest they were dealing with was one of the Uncrowned Princes fresh from the Unification Wars to the most recent which was a Primaris marine and himself being the latest to arrive from the Indomitus Era. "I'm satisfied with the explanation." Apollo said as there was a silent collective exhale of relief. "Have one of your Librarians determine if the human I brought in is... bonded to me."

"Yes my Lord." Someone said as Apollo stood up to leave the room.

Aurora feels that she's somewhere else... she's in a bed. She opens her eyes looking at the medical bed she is in as she sits in shock just remembering how she had fallen against her 'hero' as she had been calling him. Her hands began to tremble as... it... it was over? A click and a trill bring her eyes over to molten colored eyes of a large Salamander who is holding his hands open trying to look submissive, "Hello there little one." He says gently.

Aurora wanted to be brave... that she had handled being captured for the past few weeks with some dignity... Aurora wanted to be so very brave but she had accepted that she was going to die in some horrifying way... and tears fell from her brown-gold eyes. She wept as it was finally over... oh god it was finally over! "Shh Shh you're okay." She felt a hand on her shoulder and leaned into the gentle touch as she cried into his offered shoulder.

A nurse would come in eventually as she calmed down and slowly explained her ordeal and Aurora asked with a weak voice, "Can we call my mom? I've... I've been missing for awhile. My college probably called her."

"Of course Aurora. Do you want anything?"

Aurora swallowed softly, "A shower."

Aurora sighed happily as she felt fingers against her scalp. The last time she had been cleaned was in the camp by an Astartis that kept leering and getting too handsy.

"Diana." Another Nurse spoke through the door, "Big guy that brought her in wants to see her with the Librarian."

"Tell them I'm in the middle of bathing her." Her nurse said as she gently rinsed her hair.

The next voice through the door was in Gothic and sounded like an Astartes. Diana spoke it back... sounding more and more annoyed before sighing. "I swear for giants from space or whatever they really don't understand the concept of shame or that people don't like to be naked around them." She looks down at her, "They need to check something and don't want to wait I can-"

"It's fine. Just please... can... can you keep washing my hair." Aurora said with a whimper.

"Of course."

Apollo heard the whimper in her voice through the door as it soon opened as he saw those gold-brown eyes looking at him... there was shame in those eyes. He silently took in a sharp breath as he felt something painful rest between his hearts. His master needed to be taken care of. Each one of the Ten Thousand had done their part in lovingly taking care of Him before and after his placement on the throne. Apollo was no different as his eyes scoured her body... spying spots of blood still in her skin... her hair having knots in it... blood caked under her nails... all accompanying that look of shame in that golden gaze. He felt the deep aching need to be the one washing her hair... "Check." He said softly and quickly breaking himself from more thoughts.

As the librarian gazed into the warp... he did not know what he was looking at. There was a mess of "chains" and "vines" all around the Custodian. Writhing, locking, withering, pulling, coiling, unlocking... in a mess that he couldn't find what he sought. He looked to her and found the "tether" for a bond and followed it back... "Yes. She is your bonded."

Apollo turned away without another word and he threw his weight around to get what he needed as he took a "crash course" in the current local language called English. Once he grasped the basics, the noosphere was opened to him, simply called 'The Internet'. Apollo's mind rapidly took in what he learned as with what he saw made ten thousand year old memories danced across his mind. Cultures of ancient Terra became new again back home... ideas and images that are young or even old here and now cling to life and importance twenty-eight thousand years into the future and even older. Ideas were reused, rediscovered, once more lost, and once again found time and time again.

Apollo keeps watch over his new charge, he was made to kill not to coo at mortals like the Aquilian Shields or the Emissaries Imperatus often did, but he was digesting all that he had learned so far as his eyes looked to his charge and that gnawing in the back of his mind... she looked so familiar. Early the next morning an exhausted looking woman is escorted by the nurse to her room and through the window Apollo watches the two embrace and weep. Aurora, he reminds himself of her name as he replays the conversations she had with him after he saved her before she passed out.

"Captain," He voxes the appropriate leader, "Inform the bases near where she lives that I will be following."

"Right Away."

Aurora felt disappointed that she never got to properly thank 'hero' for saving her. Sure she saw him around but she also saw how everyone walked on eggshells, which would be impressive given how most of them were in that armor of theirs, around him. But she was going to be heading back home as she had found out she was a couple hundred miles away from home and where she was going to college... oh college... she started to think about college again.

"Ow." She is pulled from her thoughts as her mom gives the middle of her forehead a flick as she looks at her confused.

"None of that. I will be taking care of everything until you're ready to go back to college." Her mother said.

"But-"

"Aurora." She felt her mother hold her shoulders, "I have been living in limbo waiting to be told you were found dead. Please let me be the mom?"

Aurora could tell her mom had gotten a bit thinner... she always kept herself together even through the roughest parts of her childhood and she could tell she had taken the news about her being taken... badly. "Okay." She relented and hugged her mom smiling as she felt her kiss the top of her head. Aurora knows she wasn't planned for but her mother never made her feel like, as she put it, an oopsie.

"I'm going to finish up your discharge papers. And then I'm sure the nurse will come get you."

"Can you bring me something to eat?"

"I'll ask the nurses, kiddo." Her mom said before leaving the room and Aurora was left with her thoughts.

However, her eyes caught gold moving outside and she quickly rose out of bed and opened the door seeing 'hero' walking down the hall. "Hey big guy, wait." She called out as she moved towards him, oh sure she shouldn't be out of bed but she didn't want to miss this opportunity. She felt so small standing next to him and looking up at him as he now had a black shoulder cape that she vaguely remembers being wrapped up in... but he was looking down at her. She swallowed and smiled, "I'm probably going to be leaving soon but I've been wanting to thank you so much for saving me." She can't help but rise to the tips of her toes as she says 'thank you' just smiling up at the silent guardian.

Apollo, hidden behind the white faceplate and red eye lenses, felt something wash over him... praise. It was the same sort of warmth that he would get when He praised him. She looked ready to leave at his silence but Apollo placed his hand on her head giving her a gentle pat on the head. He removed his hand to not let strands of her hair get tangled in his servos. She smiled up at him, the smile reaching her golden-brown eyes, and once again that ten thousand year old part of him melted in the same way... that he was eager to get again. She quickly rushed back to her room and Apollo watched that waist length silken brown hair, a shade he knew by heart, sway with each quick bouncy step.

Eventually her life had to keep moving back forward and Apollo watched it all. He watched her blossom back to life, like the spring flowers she often loved to wear in the flower crowns. Her golden-brown eyes glittering with joy and laughter; sparkling in a way that stirred something within him. It made Apollo want to get closer... it made him want to touch her in ways that made him hesitate to get closer for he was disturbed by feeling such desires so intensely.

There were a handful of Custodes here and when they were from were also as varied as the Astartes. But they had a smattering of personalities and how they were handling these bonds... Odysseus; he could tell; was still in mourning and handling the bond with suspicion. Kaeso on the other hand urged him to enjoy it and Apollo bit his tongue when he wanted to remind Kaeso how to behave. However, Kaeso was behaving... behaving how he had been during the Unification wars and the Great Crusade... not to how he was used to him acting since those 'happier' times.

"It's you!" Aurora said excitedly as she looked up at Apollo whose armor was now clean and glittering in the light that fluttered between the leaves. Apollo looked at the crown of cherry blossoms on her head and could not help but think of how similar it felt to a laurel...

"Hello Aurora." Apollo finally spoke to her.

Aurora's eyes widened for a moment as she finally heard the soft masculine voice that came from the helmet, she was used to them having deep voices; and his was still deep compared to a normal human; but it was softer than what she expected. He watched her smile soon after taking steps to close the distance between them. And as she smiled at him Apollo watched the gold in her eyes glitter and glow in seeming approval of him. He took a knee and her smile grew once again, rounding her cheeks, as she bore her teeth in that very human gesture of a grin, even showing her gums slightly. "I am a Custodes. I go by many names each given to me for a deed I have completed. My deeds are numerous and my name long but you may call me Apollo."

Apollo smiled under his helmet as she grinned approvingly at his introduction and it made him feel good, but he didn't know why and part of him no longer cared. "I am your bonded." He stated and he listened to the way her heartbeat lept up as she giggled happily even bouncing slightly to show her uncontained joy at his statement. Even going up to him and giving him a hug. Apollo normally did not like mortals touching him or being close to him, but this felt nice.

Words flowed easy between them and when Apollo removed his helmet he heard her gasp. He felt something inside of him savor the way she held his face watching her eyes dart around his features. Cooing about the freckles that danced from one ear, down to the cheek below his eyes, over the bridge of his nose, and ending at the other ear. She looked over his strawberry blonde hair but it was clear she was enamored with his freckles... but she looked at him in a way he didn't know why but it made him crave for her to look at him more... to hold his face still... to look at him... to be so alive... he couldn't stop seeing his dear beloved Emperor in her.

"What's on your mind, Apollo?" She cooed at him.

"You look," He paused for a moment debating on telling her but decided it wouldn't hurt, "like someone I knew."

"Well, I'm certain you saw what my mom looked like. I do share at least half of my DNA with her." Aurora teased as she cupped his face still, running her thumbs over his cheeks.

"What of your father?" He said tilting his head, as he had quickly determined that she enjoyed him being emotive; a thing he noticed Astartes who wear their armor often with their human do... pantomime their expressions. He watched her exhale and roll her eyes as she pulled her hands away. Apollo held back a frown at the lack of contact between them.

"Never met him. Mom literally only met him once. Though it's a really funny story on how he got my mom, for context she never really randomly slept with people, to sleep with him." With her gestures and movements it was an often told story. "She was at some bar and tells me that she looked at the other end of the bar and sees the most handsome man she's ever seen. Tall, strong jawed, silky brown hair going to his... as she puts it 'nice ass', swore that his eyes had to be gold, and just had some European air about him; though... tangent we learned that he might have actually been Anatolian when I took a DNA test. But... " She waves her hand resuming the main point, "She waited a bit as she was certain that no one that good looking was at this bar alone. But he was so she decides to shoot her shot and they get talking." Aurora makes a grand gesture for the next words, "Massive nerd with many fields of interest, so my mom, also being one, saw that as a point in his favor. But that's not the thing that riles my mom up and gets her to sleep with him, oh no... so she asks him his name," She builds the suspense for a moment, "he called himself 'Revelation'." She waves her hands at the reveal. But she soon shakes her head and laughs, "My mom and I have had a laugh at that given how it sounds like she had already made up her mind to have sex with this stranger but it's funny that him being a 'mysterious' handsome stranger named Revelation. Is what cemented it for her. But yeah they had sex and nine months later I came into the world."

Apollo's pupils became pinpricks as he was, as was most of the ten thousand were, privy to many of His names and he distinctly remembers Revelation being one of them. His breathing remained steady, no outward sign betraying his emotions, but his heart was racing as time crawled for him as he finally really looked at Aurora drinking in every detail... he wasn't losing his mind as he could see it. She was his Master's child.

"I might know your father." Apollo said.

"Do you now?"

Aurora blinked as she had been doing so for the past 5 minutes digesting what was told to her after Apollo had info dumped a lot on her. She had to sit on a stump half way through his explanation of her father... "Okay so... let me go through the highlights. My dad is an immortal space warlord, who is also worshiped as a god, but heavily insisted that he wasn't a god... when apparently he liked to play god genetically. He was also a really shitty dad because how else do you get nine people who call you dad to want you dead?"

"That is a gross simplification of everything." Apollo stated bluntly.

"THAT ISN'T SAYING NO APOLLO!" She shouts. Apollo just huffs as he decides to not give her a vocal answer but he is pleased when she presses him for more, "And you want to find him because he made you when he was playing God but its not out of a familial obligation it's because you wholeheartedly serve him?"

"Correct."

She is quiet for several moments before letting out a sigh as she looks to him, "Okay Apollo I won't stop you from finding him. I'll even do my best to help you but I need you to answer something for me."

Apollo preened under her acceptance of his desire to find her father, "Gladly."

Aurora felt mean for what she was about to say but if what he had told her was true... he was like ten thousand years old... he could handle this easily. "What will you do when you find him? The man you know does not even exist yet and he might never exist. Given how he's the one who makes both you and apparently the Astartes and since you," she points to him, "are here and now and you're from the really far future and none of it includes mentions of this happening? Means that this is probably now an alternate timeline, if you believe in that of course. SO Apollo... please tell me... what are you going to do?" Her words struck at something deep inside of his psyche. His mind came to a screeching stop. "Oh God... Oh God... Apollo? I didn't mean to break you." Her voice cut through to his mind as he finally heard her again after being frozen still as a statue looking through her.

Apollo knew that this endeavor was utterly selfish... it was flawed and flimsy enough for a baseline mortal to see the holes in it... but he just wanted to serve a living Emperor again... he just wanted to see the life in his eyes once more... she was right... he wasn't the same man who had handcrafted him into what he was... Apollo felt himself mourning again as his hearts ached in pain as he looked at his bonded... his dearest Aurora... she was alive... oh she was oh so very much alive.

The golden chains that bind him and tether him to his beloved master are violently twisted apart with only few of them loosely hanging onto him as the vines dug and pushed under the claps and cuffs that the chains were wrapped around. Apollo was in that dark grief again as his mind rushed and tried to pull him out and there calling his name looking up at him concerned was Aurora. His thoughts coalesced crashed on that singular thought of how she was his beloved Master's child... and the poison blossom bloomed over his hearts as vines wrapped around his neck... around his being... holding him tightly as even the vines wrapped around the broken chain links leading back to his Master and held them in place.

"Apollo?" Aurora looked up at him concerned as he had stood there looking through her and being completely emotionless.

If he could not love and serve his beloved Master here... then the princess... this tiny Empress in front of him would have to suffice. Something deep inside of him was utterly thrilled at the thought of holding her again... her being so easy to pick up and hold... so small and fragile... her hands against his face again whispering praise to him... so small... and all his.

"Apollo? Are you okay?" She whined softly feeling guilty for causing him to shut down basically but Apollo smiled at her and nodded.

"Thank you Aurora. I needed to hear the truth." He gently took one of her hands and dropped to a knee as a practiced warm smile graced his face, "And with that... I am ready to diligently serve you. I vow to keep you safe. And to be as a bonded should be, my Lady." Apollo said his icy blue eyes watching her face as he then kissed the back of her hand before turning it slightly and kissing her pulse point on her wrist. He contained his smile as he felt it against his lips and heard her pulse quicken. His eyes drank up the blush on her tanned skin.

She squeaked as he picked her up, princess style, easily and once more Apollo regarded her blush akin to being praised! Words once more again flowed easy between them as he carried her back to where she was staying as he could tell she was excited to have him as her bonded... perhaps not as excited as he was but he was certain in time she would be.

Perhaps Apollo could see why Valdor was so enamored by the Shards he often collected... so deliciously small... and all very much his.

[luvzxr]

Innocence pt. 2

Nsfw 18+ mdni!! I will cry. Summary: The youngest and most innocent member of the redfield siblings finds herself falling for the broken and not so innocent blonde agent whose been a well known long term friend with her two older siblings.

This fic consists of possible nsfw, mentions of deep and depressive topics, violence, gore, pet names, small age gap, no use of y/n your/you're, oc name is used but you may use you own if you'd like! Part 1! Word Count: 2,942

Sophie was never much of the talkative type, even less when she was drowsy.

She was quiet-- reserved for herself and close companions who understood her so It wasn't much of a shock when there was no noise except the soft murmuring of the radio playing some sort of old time rock and the humming of the heat flowing through the small vents of the interior jeep that currently was cruising down the dimmed out, paved roads. Her head rested against the glass window, staring out as she watched the world seemingly go by in a blur. Her legs curled under the dash, closely huddled towards the passenger side door and her frail arms were folded lazily over her chest. She was eager to just get home. Leon didn't necessarily scream uninviting but it was just an odd case scenario. And an awkward one at that. He never offered her a ride home but that might also have to do with the fact he was never in a predicament where he had to. He didn't even have to now. He could of easily ignored the sleepy girl that was sat in that metal chair that looked far too uncomfortable to be falling asleep in but she was making it work. It made his back ache, every muscle in his entire body twitched in a way that made him feel he just finished an excruciating training session. How the girl managed to sleep like that was beyond him. Sophie had no right to feel any remote fear over him. He was an agent. He protected innocence and kept them out of harms way but the unknowing about him is what bubbled that anxiety deep within her. And if he was anything like her brother, he had hidden emotions stuffed so deep inside-- stuffed down so far to try and suppress but eventually that all just snaps. All the pent-up anger, heartbreak, and depressive thoughts all shoved into one thing and one thing alone. Killing.

She was curious, yes, and she asked a lot of questions. Probably more than for her own good sometimes. But she wasn't dumb. Ditzy but not dumb. She knew when it came to Chris, he used the missions and the military as an outlet to release all those emotions out without being forced to talk about what really was going on inside his head. Without having to open up and where he could stay and play the unbothered hero like everyone looked to him as. And she knew better than to play shrink and try to get him to spill. She learned her lesson the first time.

It seemed to almost become an animalistic instinct for not only Chris or Leon, but also Claire. How they always expected the worst to come out of whatever roller coaster they unfortunately were always first in line for. Placed directly on the front lines every time. Sophie managed to see them be put to work once or twice through her lifetime, watching how they were two completely different people with little ammunition in that chamber and the deathly grip that held that pistol in their palms as if it was life or death. Because it was. Day after day consisted nothing but survival for all of them, coming in close contact with death only to directly laugh in it's face when they lived yet another day. As the youngest sister forced to sit at home, living her average days like the average civilian at home while her two other siblings left more often than she'd like them to and the constant worry that bubbled inside, wondering if they would be coming back in one piece, alive or in a body bag was often the worst nightmare only she could hope never became a reality. Leon was cold, his redden knuckles slowly turning white due to the grip of the steering wheel. He was tired. More like, exhausted. All he wanted to do was get back to his small, singular residential apartment where he then could find peace, crashing into the plush of the mattress where he would or wouldn't manage a decent eight hours of sleep. Only his body would mange the luxury he desperately longed for right now. But here he was, being yet another 'hero' in some sense to the younger girl who he'd occasionally give a head nod or a lazy wave just to be polite but never really acknowledged her anymore than that. He had his own reasons to keep people on a six foot long pole. Sophie just happened to be one of those people he needed to keep farther away than usual. She was the youngest of his two pals but she was also the only one who wasn't roped into the same tormented nightmares they had. It was best to keep it that way. To some extent, he didn't mind the plus one company he had sitting in his passenger seat because most nights the drive home felt much longer and drawn out-- like he was stuck in a loop of going down the same old road he started on, only to find out that wasn't the case and it happened to be his muscle memory taking the same route he always did. His mind was just on auto pilot the whole ride home. The only difference now is he had to be at least a little present because it wasn't just his life at risk anymore. "Leon!"

Forearm pulsing against the wheel from the sudden sound that ripped right through his personal thoughts. His gaze flickered from the where the shriek emerged next to him and then back to the road. A split second decision needing to be made-- he jerked the wheel, swerving the vehicle to the other side of the road in an attempt to avoid hitting the dumbfounded raccoon scurrying across the pavement. So much for paying attention. "Shit," he huffed, repositioning on his side of the road before taking a glance over to the petrified girl next to him, "Are you alright Soph?" "I-I think so.." Leave it to the blonde to get lost in his imperial thoughts and manage a split second decision. Most times that ended in a flipped vehicle, explosion or worse-- However, he'd prefer not to mention that to the her, especially when almost the entirety color of her slight tanned skin was almost completely flushed white. He'd also never muster up the courage now to mention he'd probably was in desperate need of a eye sight check up. A prescription was almost one hundred percent certain, he was just far too stubborn to book the appointment. She looked like a ghost and in more ways than one, Leon couldn't blame her. Stupid dumpster puppies.

The rest of the car ride was short and painless. Sophie didn't dare to let go of the handle connected to the passenger door, knuckles turning ghostly white from the grip she held to it. And Leon now was hyper focused on the road and surroundings along with it. He felt he'd done enough damage in the short period of time already and refused to dig a deeper hole he already was practically buried in. Being the one he was throwing theoretical dirt over top of his casket six feet in the ground. Leon didn't want to say anything, but the silence was almost deafening, and it was starting to cause a slow burn of anxiety. Although he didn't believe he truly deserved the comfort because he just pushed the girl into a huge tidal wave of emotions that he was mentally beating himself into a pulp over. No doubt Chris would be physically doing so if Sophie uttered a single word about it along with never trusted Leon to take her home ever again. Leon wasn't one for silence. But the small girl in the passenger's seat seemed like the silent type, leaving him in an impossible situation. He didn't bother to turn to her for a conversation or anything of the sort. He wasn't too sure if he could carry it on, anyway. His eyes sewn together in distress. The far to familiar feeling of his stomach twisting into knot after knot, the walls of his throat clenching as they were slowly closing to cut air flow. The forming beads of sweat littering his palms that where firm to the wheel, almost completely slipping from the leather each time he made a turn. The anxiety he tried so desperately to rip away from since he was the bright blue eyed 21-year-old rookie so many years ago. But, no matter how much he tried to run, hide, shove it down-- anything. It was always still there. A lurking emotion ready to swallow him whole. When the motion of the jeep finally faltered, parking in the abandoned driveway Sophie felt a ting of relief wash over her heightened nerves, more than happy to finally be home and more importantly, not moving. Leon tried not to make a mental note of how ecstatic the girl seem to be to finally escape his company- sure it was awkward and of course he understood a little further looking back on the near accident he caused but it wasn't that bad, was it? It never dawned on him that the average civilian life was far different than the one he was forced into.

The life he was plunged into after the horrors of Raccoon City. Forced to take part in high military training that nearly took his life the first week of it, not that he didn’t already want to take that opportunity and be the one to end it himself with a single bullet to the skull but it left him almost bitter. The thought of the government being the one to kill him instead of himself was the more pitiful thought. The mere place that stripped him of his entire personality, took away any hope of him to escape this nightmare and try to muster up that average lifestyle he now only ever dreamed about. He was nothing more than the shell of the puppy like boy he was forced to leave behind much sooner than he had hoped for.

So when near death experiences tend to rise it doesn’t quite strike him as shocking but instead the average daily occurrence in his life. Leon shook the question from his mind, protruding behind Sophie with his hands plunged deep into the fabric of his pockets and playing gentleman. If he was going to start off the night acting as such, he mise as well end it the same way. He'd never paid much attention to her at all before, mainly because he was far too deep and drowning in his exhaustion or his work to notice, but he could see her. Very clearly, actually now that she was walking in front of him. For starters, she was tiny. For some reason, Leon just couldn't wrap that around his head-- Her brother was Chris Redfield, her sister Claire and even though he'd seen things over 12 feet tall the two siblings where one of the tallest he'd ever met. How the hell was the girl under 5'0? Did the genes just stall out once they got to her? He could probably plainly ask, and she’d tell him. Leon could probably ask Sophie a lot of things and she’d tell him. If he hadn’t almost killed the both of them on the short car ride to her house, perhaps. Under different circumstances where he didn’t have the girl quivering in her seat and latching on to anything in sight, maybe.

The front door to the Redfield residence opened only a few seconds after Sophie was knocking, and Claire was currently standing on the other side. Her eyes fitted between the two, eyebrows raised until she noticed the two familiar faces and the expression that was once confusion was nothing more than genuine surprise and a hint of cheer in her eyes. It was a genuine surprise for Claire to see Leon there. Not that he didn't come around often because he was almost at the house everyday, if not every other day but it was odd to see him with her little sister rather their older brother. She got the hint though, as Sophie stepped in through the door after Claire moved to allow her inside. "Chris was still busy at the firing range," He heard her murmur, "So Leon drove me home." Leon winced. He was hoping the younger girl wouldn't go about mention to Claire about mere moments ago on the road, for he'd appreciate being able to live another day before being pummeled to death. "I'm sorry I was late," Claire just let a soft chuckle slip, "Sophie, you're 25 years-old," Claire's hand rested gentle on her forearm, "You're no teenager running late on curfew." An internal feeling of relief washing over Leon, watching as the small girl chose to keep the incident as just their little secret. Feeling lucky enough the girl had some mercy on him. "Right.." She was used to Leon bringing Chris home, for the men often went out late on the town to a close by bar where both would drink for a while. Most times however, Chris would get smashed out of his fucking mind more nights than just one, forcing Leon no other choice than to escort his mate stumbling in through the front door. All while trying to keep himself upright in the process as well. Or nights where the two stayed a bit later than intended at the office to read over case after case before finalizing anything. She was just having a hard time understanding how on earth Chris conned her into going with him in the first place. "Thank you, Leon," She allowed Sophie to file past into the house, "I'm sorry you had to go through the trouble of bringing her home. I'm not quite sure why she didn't just call me but I appreciate it." Leon just nodded. "It's alright," shrugging his shoulders. He wasn't quite sure what else to say, "it's not a bother." "How was the training?" Her voice lowering almost to a hushed tone. For some reason, finding the topic inappropriate for their younger sibling despite her being a 'big girl.' Claire just didn't see the purpose of bringing it up around Sophie because in some sort she felt it may tarnish that innocent mind of hers and Claire just couldn't handle doing that. Leon frowned slightly, taking note of the sudden change in her demeanor. Then chose to yet again, shrug, "Same old, same old. Muscle are achy and tired. I feel like an old man." "You are an old man." "Watch it, Redfield." This made Claire smile. She loved Leon dearly, for he was like another piece of family to her and has been since Raccoon City-- If anything happened to that man, she had no idea what she'd do. Especially knowing the mental torment Chris went through. She could only imagine the things Leon tortures himself with late at night inside his own head. She worried over him more than she'd care to admit. "Well I should probably head out," Leon said, slipping one hand from his pockets to direct his thumb behind him. Throat clearing as he begun to back away from the front door, "my bed is calling my name." "Right," Claire gave a soft nod, "I'll let you head out. You deserve some sleep. And Thank You again, Leon." "Sure thing," His smile was small, but Claire learned that, that was enough. He wasn't exactly the smiling type of guy. At least not anymore. "I'll see you sometime soon, I'm sure." "Right. I'll see you Fri-" "Oh.. Is he headed home?" The sound of Sophie's small voice was the reason he faltered in his tracks, coming to almost an immediate stop. Surprised when he peered over his shoulder to see her head peaking out from behind Claire in the doorway.

He had convinced himself that she'd crashed out on the couch or even made the efforts to drag herself up the small flight of steps to her bedroom, but apparently not. Instead, she managed to swiftly stray her old clothing and slip into something more appeasing for the night. The attire consisting of pastel pink matching sleep set of Bugs Bunny, for it had the cocky bastard of a rabbit slapped right in the center of her crop top along with the same image down the left pant leg of her pajamas. Only difference was it was much larger on the leg than in her shirt. "Yeah," Claire shifted over, "Would you like to say goodnight?" Sophie knew what she was hinting at. Her sister had never made it difficult on what she expected from her younger sibling and the manners needing to be used and right now, Claire was gesturing for Sophie to say thank-you. She stepped forward, her head ducking under Claire's arm to get a better view of Leon outside. She had a gentle smile on her face now, she looked far more calmer now that she was in the comfort of her own home. "Thank You," He couldn't help but return the same gesture to her, finding it very hard not to find her gentle demeanor amusing. Now that she wasn't anxious, huddled against the passenger side door or silently praying under her breathe to just be home. He could find it in himself to muster up a reluctant nod of his own for her. "Not a problem, Soph."

[emlee81]

Javier Pena X Female Reader-Hero

*****

Warning this chapter contains mentions of physical abuse and violence. Also some strong swearing.

You're a companion to a drug lord, but his days are over. You're scared to death when DEA agents come storming in.

You're hiding and Javier finds you and takes you in, wanting to help you.

.......................

The gunfire started unexpectedly. Yiu run into the big bedroom, hiding in the big closet, covering your ears with your hands.

Sweat has broken out on your brow and your heart is dancing wildly in your chest. Your mouth has gone dry and you can't hardly swallow.

There are terrified shouts and more gunfire. You close your eyes, resting your head on your drawn up knees, which are knocking together.

What's going on? What's going to happen to you? Will whoever has come in here going to...kill you, too? Your stomach suddenly lurches and rolls.

You remove your hands from your ears, leaning over and are sick all over his expensive leather shoes. You don't care if he hits you again once he discovers the mess.

You creep closer to the closet door and listen, holding your breath, wondering if it's... over. You don't hear anymore gunfire or terrified screamed.

Suddenly, the closet door is thrown open and you're momentarily blinded by bright light. You squint, trying to see who's opened the closet door.

A man, a handsome man, is standing there, a... gun pointed right at you. You scream, throwing a hand up, as if that can protect you from his bullets.

The man lowers his gun and kneels down in front of you, slowly extending one of his hands out. You lower your hand, trembling violently, unsure of what this man might do to you.

"It's okay. Shh. I'm not going to hurt you." You don't move. You don't trust him. Why should you? He's clearly a DEA agent.

"Come here, chica. I promise not to hurt you." His low, soothing voice is starting to get to you.

You slowly crawl out of the closet and shakily stand to your feet. You immediately nearly topple back to the floor, your still shaking so badly.

The agent helps steady you and you sag against his tall, lean and strong body. He replaces his gun in his holster and gently scoops you up into his arms, carrying you out of the bedroom and finally out of the house.

He stops  by an old, battered and beaten up car. He shouts at another agent to open up the back door of the car.

A skinny, blond man with a mustache, opens up the car door and the agent gently sets you inside. He gives you a little smile.

"Stay here, okay? I'll be back soon. Just don't leave the car. Do you understand me?"

You nod, wishing he wouldn't leave you here, alone. He closes the car door and you slowly dissolve into tears.

...................

"What the hell, Pena?" You must have passed out for a few minutes. The skinny, blond man is scowling at the agent who took you out of the house.

"Bite me, Murphy!" The man goes and gets into the car and suddenly, you're afraid all over again. You don't know what this man is going to do to you.

"You okay, chica? I'm Javier. Or Javi. What's your name?"

"I-I'm okay, I-I guess. I'm...Y/N. Where-where are you taking me?"

"To my place for a few days. After that, well, I'm not sure. You okay with that?"

"I guess. What were you doing at his place today?"

"Sorry," Javier says. "That's classified information." He chuckles before reaching for a pack of cigarettes and a book of matches.

He pulls out a cigarette and lights it. He rolls down the driver's side window, puffing out the smoke and flicking the ashes off of the cigarette.

"Are you really going to help me?"

"I'm sure as hell gonna try."

"Thank you, Javi." He glances back at you in the rearview mirror and smirks.

"Just doing my job, chica."

......................

This is strange. Javier insists that you sleep in his bed and he'll sleep out in the couch. You hate the thought of kicking him out of his own bed.

That seems extreme. You tell him you can sleep out in the couch instead. Javi refuses, saying that it's better if you're in the bedroom, just in case something happens.

You already know what he means. You decide not to argue with him about it. It's not worth your time.

"Unfortunately, you aren't allowed to go back to the house," Javi says, looking slightly uncomfortable. "We'll have to see what we can do about something clothes for you."

"That's okay," you say. "I didn't have much to begin with. He, uh, wasn't exactly generous towards...me."

A hard look settles in Javier's dark eyes and it scares you. When the other one looked that way, well, let's just say he wasn't nice.

"Frickin bastard," Javier mutters to himself. "Okay. There's a shop just down the street from here, well go and see what we can find. Sound good to you?"

You smile and nod. Maybe that raid was the best thing to ever happen to you.

.......................

A few days later, you're doing okay, slowly adapting to your new life. You're grateful for everything that Javier has done for you.

You're also slowly starting to...fall for him. You didn't realize it at first. But you started missing him when he wasn't around and started thinking about him more and more.

You've sat a few evenings with him, just talking and learning about him and him learning about you.

He's been a gentleman towards you, never pushing anything on you. Hell, he hadn't even tried to kiss you! (You sure wish he would, though!)

Sometimes, Javier has at least held your hand or even let you snuggle up against him as you're both relaxing on the couch. But that's about as far as it's gotten between you two.

You're pretty sure that Javier is attracted to you, though, just by the intense glances he'll occasionally toss your way.

A few times you've caught him giving you this smouldering look and you see him licking his lips and clenching his hands into fists, as if he's struggling to contain himself from doing something with you.

If only he would. Maybe he just needs a little encouragement. That might get the ball rolling.

.....................

You're snuggled up against Javier on the couch. His shirt is off and he's puffing away on his damn cigarettes.

You twist around and look at him, giving him a little smirk and a wink. You feel his body tighten and you know he wants you.

"Javi, will you kiss me?" He leans over, setting his cigarette in the ash tray and takes you in his arms, kissing you passionately. You smile as you gently stroke his mustache and sideburns.

"I've been wanting to do that so badly, chica. But I was worried."

"That you'd hurt me?"

Javier nods and takes your hands in his. You smile again.

"I know you'd never hurt me, Javi," you whisper, slipping one of your hands free and placing it on his cheek.

"I know what that bastard did you." Javier's voice sounds angry, but you know it's not directed at you.

"I know that he...beat you and did all sorts of other awful shit to you that you didn't deserve."

You gently kiss Javi again and he leans into it, which makes you happy. You're happy that Javier found you and decided to help you.

Now he's yours and you're his. Javier gently cups your cheek in his hand and just gazes tenderly at you.

"At least now I know you're safe, Y/N. And you'll never have to go back to that shitty life ever again because I'm keeping you here with me "

"I know, Javi. You're my hero." Javier grins.

"And I'm one hell of a hero, too."

[dougielovelove]

THE KNIGHT AND THE CREATURE OF THE NIGHT

part one (1,028 words)

My first fic lol. I hope you guys like it 🌬🤍

Also, sorry if there are any writing errors, I use a translator so some words may be wrong.

It hurts. Everything hurts.

Everything happened so fast... You and your battalion were resting in a forest. A well-deserved rest after days of a bloody and brutal war. You and a few more soldiers were in your tent, already organizing and strategizing the next steps for the days to come. But, your train of thought was soon cut off by an agonizing scream. A scream of agony from one of your soldiers.

You and the other soldiers who were with you quickly leave your tent, and are faced with a bloodbath. An ambush. You see enemy soldiers killing each of your men, who unsuccessfully try to fight back. You see the enemies' weapons piercing and tearing your battle companions, who wither from the inside out after the blows. Enchanted weapons. It all happened so fast... You draw your sword and attack your enemies, but an arrow hits your arm and pierces the hard iron of your armor. A bewitched arrow. You feel the poison from the arrow entering you, and mixing with your blood. Another arrow is shot your way, but one of your allies jumps in front of you, taking the shot for you. Before succumbing and turning to dust, he mutters, weakly. "run..."

And that's what you did, reluctantly, with the little strength you had left, you ran deeper into the forest. You can feel the poison seeping more and more into your blood with each passing moment.

You walks, weak, your vision already going dark. But something in you won't let you die so quickly. Your determination. Your determination to recover, and take revenge on everyone who killed your battle companions. your friends. You continue to walk aimlessly through the forests, and your weak eyes spot a cave. You can hear the sadistic laughter of your enemies from afar. They're getting close. Left with no choice, you walk to the cave, feeling your life slowly slipping away, the poison eating you from the inside out , and gods, how it hurts.

As you walk deeper into the cave, you feel your legs losing strength, but you force yourself to keep walking. You can see the slimy walls of the cave, filled with ancient engravings: several people kneeling, and apparently worshiping what appears to be a... black blur…? you don't quite understand what it is.

You kept walking and walking... until you reached what seemed to be the end of the cave. You can see what looks like a stone altar, and around it, old human skulls.

You may be going crazy, but... you can hear someone... calling you. Someone who isn't there... But suddenly, you howl in pain. The poison. You stagger forward in pain, and fall to your knees in front of the altar. When you look up, you see something that gives you goosebumps.

There's a man behind the altar.

Quickly analyzing his appearance, you can see two red eyes that pierce your soul, and seem to look beyond you. It has huge, pointy fangs, and looking down, you can see claws, also huge. It also has large, powerless horns on its head.

He looks down at you with a sneer, finding your situation amusing. Without bothering to be gentle, he takes his hand to your hair, lifting your head, and analyzing your features better.

"Hm... let's see..." The creature speaks, his voice thick and frightening. "It would be a shame to let something cute like you die in such a deplorable way..." He brings his other hand to your face, squeezing your cheek, and brings his face closer to yours, speaking once more. "I can help you... the revenge you want so much... I can help you with it."

You look up at him, your mind filled with questions. ‘Who is he? What is he?’ You are losing control of your body. You can hear enemies getting closer and closer. your time is running out... You open your mouth to respond to his proposal, but you can't speak, and instead, you cough blood in his face. But it seems that didn't bother him. "Shh.. one look is worth a thousand words, mortal…” He speaks, his smirk growing on his face, becoming more and more sinister.

Your time is up.

Your eyes close, and the pain slowly begins to fade, and death's embrace begins to comfort you. But, suddenly you are pulled from that limbo between life and death, by a kiss. You feel warm and soft lips against yours, and you feel something taking over you, and invading your body.

. . .

The enemies soldiers arrive. They walked around laughing, and talking loudly, making fun of your situation. They observe your body at the end of the cave, on your knees in front of the altar. What appears to be their leader, walks confidently in front, wielding a sword in his hand, towards you. But all the men jump in fright when they see your body contort, and in an agonizing way get up. Your armor slowly begins to take on a reddish hue, and a huge, imposing red sword begins to slowly appear in your hand, and you turn to them. Your empty, ruby-red eyes stare at all the men there.

Terrified, the leader advances towards you, with the sword aimed at your neck. But in the blink of an eye, he is torn apart, chopped into bloody pieces of flesh in a matter of moments.

A scream of terror echoes through the cave.

And so, you begin your killing spree; brutally killing your enemies one by one. At every moment, a sadistic laugh echoes in your mind. A laugh from a being that now you understand what it is.

His original name is unpronounceable, but... His old worshipers called him Miguel.

Miguel, The creature of the night, worshiped for millennia by the angry, vengeful and brutish.

Miguel, The creature of the night, who gives his blessings to those who, in his eyes, are worthy.

Miguel, The creature of the night... who apparently really liked you.

Miguel, The creature of the night... who laughs sterically at the calls for help from your enemies.

And so, you emerge from the cave a new man, and with a new purpose.

Miguel.

[vectorisheree]

What do you think of AM, from I have no mouth and I must scream? Since you seem to like edgar, which is a complete opposite from AM (I have a huge obsession on ihnmaims I apologize) :,)

Hello!!! I love AM!!!! I have no mouth and i must scream actually introduced me to a bunch of new media and characters that i love like Edgar from electric dreams, hall 9000 from space odyssey and Wheatley from portal 2 (I'm a sucker for companion ai, it was heartbreaking when I found out the voice for Subnautica below zero's PDA was different from the original, Al ANs pretty cool, not really an ai but close enough, I haven't really played enough below zero to get too attached).

Never apologise for talking about what you love!!!!!!

(Shoving the rest of my response under a cut ^^)

(Don't know where to put this because I knew about them before I read IHNMAIMS but I'm a big fan of vintage 8's Oracle / Prophet! If you like Hall 9000 you might like them too! Vintage 8 has a bunch of smaller stories / args that are all a part of the same connected universe! The Oracle is in the Tangi virus (set up)-> The oracle (actually in it) -> Sinkhole) (there is a 'lore' summary / 'analysis' video on the Tangi Virus and Oracle but you'll have to watch Sinkhole on your own ^^) But enough of them ouuuugh AM is such a neat character oml like the body horror aspect of the entire earth being covered by him, his wires, his organs. To have the last members of humanity swallowed inside of his belly is so ouuggggh. I think living dungeons / buildings in general as a concept is so so cool and goes unbelievable hard. Fear and hunger also does that too and my god oml funger lore goes so hard. 'This house has people in it' does that as well I believe(?) though it's been a while since I last watched it AM's Ego, ID and Super ego from the game are really really interesting and I've never really seen anything like it, its an absolute shame they were never expanded on and are treated more like a fetch quest then anything else. AM's mindscape in general is so so pretty, I absolutely adore the mix of 'gory' imagry through the brain like terrain mixed with wire and computer components. The background work and landscapes in IHMNAIMS's game and comic in general are so gorgeous in such a bleak way. So gritty and visceral without a speck of blood in sight (usually) I think it's really cool that AM's always voiced by Harlan Ellison and his mannerisms and speech patterns especially in the games come off as him spiralling deeper and deeper with hard to understand sentance stucture, general unprompted rambling and random shifts in accent and tone. His voice alone is busting with personality, it's incredible The abrahamic imagery of AM appearing as a burning bush to Ted is pretty interesting since it can come off as either AM seeing himself as god over the remaining humans (because AM is able to warp people's view on reality) or doubling down on Ted's views on AM as an oppressive god-like figure through a in your face metaphor. AM's he/him pronouns could also factor into the comparison as the abrahamic god is technically genderless but is referred to with masculine terms (if I'm remembering that right) but it's a bit of a stretch lol (he also sends locusts to Ted to punish him which may also be a abrahamic reference, probably not but the idea is pretty cool) A big part of AM's character is how random and confusing I feel like AM comes off as quite childish at times as well though forcing Nimdok have the name 'Nimdok' because he finds how strange it sounds to be funny and giggling whenever the character yk It's really unique the AM's character is analysed in the short story. It's done so well that it doesn't feel patronising to the reader while elegantly capturing what makes AM AM. It really makes almost everything that I, or anyone else that tries to analyse him, redundant which is so so cool omg Actually, while I'm here I'll shove up a couple of doodle sheets, there are so many drawings of mine that will never see the light of day because I don't have the time to draw them all digitally. Working on a on and off DCA portal au so those designs are pretty rough rn (the character with the bangs and horns is my sona, I really need to make a ref sheet for him kasdkjas

(I drew these using a red pen but it's edited to be black because it was hard to see. I also forgot what everyone looked like aslkdkasdl)

[hoppingonjim]

learning love again (i) - holland march

chapter one. summary: i really wanted to make a little fic about holland meeting his old love again and again throughout the course of his life. so here we go! cw: mentions of losing virginity, talk of america/political views of war, brief mentions of the vietnam war

she was eighteen when they met. and nineteen when the military swept him away. it was for america and back then she could understand, there was no higher pleasure for a man than dying with stars and stripes adorning his heart. there was no greater shame than hiding behind a borderline. 

a street lamp was the first time his eyes soaked her up. limbs crossed over, back against a void of color. with the eyes of bardot and the body of cardinale he swore he fell in love. did her mind possess curie? a streep lamp stalked above him as he inquired her for her name.

“mary.”

“that's my mom's name. that was also jesus' mom's name.”

“that's nice.”

the woman only gave a smile. eyes glanced upwards to the canopy that flickered above, “what's your name?” the boy would only watch for a brief second, fingering his pocket for a pack and lighter.

“holland,” soon a companion of a light screamed between them, making messy love to the stick suddenly dangling below his cupids bow, “my mom liked the country holland. so. now i'm named holland.”

“ah.” the closeness grew far. the repellence of smoke sniggering in her nostrils. until they flared, “i don't like people who smoke.”

in a matter of seconds the cigarette found the soles of his boot, “that better for you?”

a smile dressed itself in the light swirling above, “yes.” when her wrist grew itchy of her curfew she suddenly kept the distance between the two close, “i'll catch you later, okay holland?”

she was eighteen when he dressed her in a luxury menu. treated her eyes to the cul-de-sac of spaghetti. the vines and checkered table cloths that draped over glossed wood. an ambiance of gold and the adriatic.

“what's the cheapest thing on the menu?”

“you're not getting the cheapest thing.”

a crinkle popped from the furrowing of her eyebrows, quizzically she watched him, “what do you mean? it's not cheap here. i don't want to blow money..”

that sentence would see its hand once holland gave her a swooshed hand motion, “you're yapping. i'm paying. buy what you want.”

she was eighteen when he alleviated a confession with a staggering stutter.

“i t-think i l-love you.”

tangled limbs resting in limp sheets. joints deep in discombobulated slumber while the sun beckoned for a crowing rooster. navy coating her clothed back. navy encapsulating his matching boxers.

“think or you do?” her voice bore no volume. a mingling whisper.

“i do.”

“i do too.”

she was eighteen when he held a virgin in his arms, nineteen when his sheets were the last to feel virginity. nineteen and lonesome, she wore the title of his only companion. in those navy sheets roses fell scattered and trampled. his parents enjoyed their slumber next door as they made love, innocently. giving their minds over to passion and their bodies to the palm of the other. with moans waltzing with low groans, the gentle sun remained hushed. the sudden man snapped his hips, celestial bodies tuned into comic ballads. beethoven's symphony ringing out with every muffled crack that leaped from her voice. breathless and panting.

"holland, how are you not worried about- holland, oh my god you're inside of me- oh my god your dick is- oh-"

"doesn't it feel wonderous?"

the suns kiss on the wavering weeds outside stood a void from inside the window pane. and when she gave herself to him, and he found a climax, their bodies fell into one. the velvet curtain closing as the scent of diminished chastity grew thick. a question echoed about his first time and in came a lie. vulnerability husky under the guise. and while they tip toed under their new title to the washing machine he swore to himself his lips would never behold the truth. his virginity was washed up on those sheets too.

she was nineteen when home seemed like a good option. here was the time for picnic play of war to unveil a realistic shoulder. for little boys to mold into their mossed figurines. under a street lamp she found squalor plucked on her knees. the collection of rain fall staining a once stunning plaid hem. the velvet curtain withdrawing to the sight of her hands gripping onto the bulk of his jean clad thigh.

“stay, please-america will never know. just stay, stay?”

the girl he had assisted into transcending womanhood mirrored a child once more. breaking over. porcelain lips shattering with every deafening word. his own were lost on the train he was sure he would be taking. a mind heavy on decision and a heart torn with two sacrifices.

“i love my country mary, right now america needs to be my love.”

“will america remember if you die though? i will! i'll remember if you die! i'll remember your name holland, and your eyes.. america will call you lifeless and put you in a bin of meaningless men. just stay with me.. please.”

“get off the sidewalk mary.” a tone imitating the wading winds that croaked the downfall.

“you aren't being made to.”

“i'm staying with america, mary.”

“but i love-”

“go home mary.”

she was nineteen when she was thrown the pitiful ending with her knees soaking up abandoned down pours. the array of dusted water pooling around her once pure white dress. on the sidewalk she surrendered to fate with rain soaking her flag.

he was twenty one when he took a train. when he casted aside her letters that piled on his front stoop. distractions were something he couldn't tear himself from. on the train he sat with empty pads beside him, the others crammed ahead. their eyes gaunt at the faces of their weeping future widows. swallowing his affection, his eyes found his creased palms. still he felt blessed to feel her touch, to dance with streams of her stranded tresses. to guide her into the land of absolute pleasure he could grant. with a grumbling stomach he continued to feel full of home made mac and cheese. the only dinner she could properly serve. in his lips he could taste the entire year he knew her for. from when he questioned her identity to when he left her questioning his heart.

she was twenty one when she spotted a doppelgänger of the man she wasted pens on. where she discarded stamps.

“is that, holland?”

her sister, tall and eclectic, wondered aloud. her neck claimed by a dangling ring gifted by the man that had rang their doorbell numerous times in one week. all mary could remember about the man was that he was taller, muscular, his name was either jackson or jake- mary was unable to remember.

with a tense throat she glanced at the man who had clutched her butterfly heart in the creased palm of his hand before he'd drop the butterfly into a discarded moth. the man who ushered her thorned moans into his ears, the boy who made earnest love to her on navy sheets.

“no.. i don't- no..” a stammer pushed through. the sight of a scraggly man holding the mature hand of a golden decorated lady.

mary glanced down at her very own strands of hair. plain brown.

she was twenty one when she realized it indeed was the real man. the con artist bishop.

[growingking]

Growing Profits

Our story begins with two orc friends, Iron Tuskar, the warrior, armed with his trusty sword, Talon, and his companion, Marduk, the mage, an uncommon profession for the orc kind, but a noble one nonetheless. Together they’ve received a mission, retrieve an mysterious chest from the Damp Cave, a location famous for being the lair of many slime creatures, not many adventurers go in there due to the lack of treasure, or any danger whatsoever, unless of course a group of slimes ambush you, now there’s some danger.

— Are we there yet? — Asked Tuskar, fidgeting with his sword, while he closely followed Marduk.

— Almost, I can already see the entrance. — Answered Marduk, the sun has begun to settle, should they retrieve the chest soon, they’ll be back in town shortly after nightfall.

Arriving at the entrance, Marduk walked side by side with his companion, the magic blue light shining above his head. Tuskar's choice of clothing was… Eccentric, to say. Wearing pauldrons held together only by rope, his muscular and hairy, deep green chest and belly was always showing, the same with his muscular legs, with only a loincloth covering his crotch and back, and leather to protect his feet, “A display of strength!” Tuskar says. Marduk always admired Tuskar’s body, his dedication in training and getting stronger, although lately he's been getting a little softer on the belly and… Well, the whole body. At least a month ago, one could clearly Tuskar's six pack, but now it is hidden beneath a visible amount of pudge. Tuskar’s always said something like "I'm just bulking! It takes a lot of energy and food to keep growing strong! You wouldn't understand!" And maybe Marduk really wouldn’t understand. How does gaining weight helps muscles grow?

Marduk on the other hand has always been slim, he wasn’t as strong as his companion, and his clothing choice was the common wizard robes, and under that a leather vest in case some enemy got close enough, luckily it never happened. While Tuskar had a deep green skin, Marduk was a very light green shade, his long hair was always tied in a ponytail, while Tuskar chose a warrior braid with shaved sides. Marduk could easily go weeks without needing to shave his beard while Tuskar had to trim at least once a day. The same with his body hair, he was as smooth as peach, Tuskar jokes about him.

— Damn, this place is bigger than I expected, where could that bloody chest be? — Marduk’s thoughts have been interrupted by his partner.

— You’re right, besides we’ve been walking here for a while now, and I haven’t seen any slime yet. That 's odd… — Marduk walked slower, paying attention to his surroundings.

— I think I saw something buried there! — Tuskar hastily ran to a darker section of the cave, without paying attention to his friend.

— Hey wait up! Pea brain! — Marduk wasn’t as fast as his partner, so he made his magic light follow Tuskar.

As Marduk was casting another light spell, he felt a droplet of something on his shoulder, it was sticky and… Blue. He knew exactly what it was, and it was too late, as he looked up, with the dim light of the other magic light, he saw a huge blue blob ambushing him, swallowing his entire body. It was translucent and he saw his friend paying more attention to the buried chest than to him unable to breathe inside the blue orb of goo, he tried to scream for help, a horrible mistake, he felt like a huge tentacle penetrated his mouth, he could feel that thing bombarding itself inside his stomach. He also felt a small burning sensation on his body, and soon his robes were dissolved, and after a little while, his leather armor, he was naked inside a blob of goo, what a shameful way of dying.

But as soon as his clothes were dissolved, the burning sensation stopped, something worse happened, he felt his stomach beginning to grow, he also felt a pressure in his ass, something, and he knew what, was looking for another way in, and it found. He felt his hole stretching as the creature invaded him, his belly was growing faster as well, and his limbs started to swell, looking he gained more weight than he could lose, he could see his tits growing softer and round, his belly was so big that he couldn’t see his cock anymore, and as much as situation looked, and was, awful, he couldn’t help but feel horny about it, his cock grew hard, and the slime found yet another entrance.

It felt like he was cumming, but in reverse, as a tinier tentacle invaded his privates, making his balls swell and his cock grow larger, he felt like he could cum at any moment now from such sensation.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, all the slime was “gone”and Marduk could grasp his breath. He was lying on the floor with his belly up, naked, in a size that he never imagined he could achieve, his much heavier body was hard to move, judging by the circumference of his gut, the softness of his limbs, and the size of his tits, he estimated that he would be weighing at least 150kg, if not more. He could feel the slime sloshing around his huge gut as he tried to get up, a task that has proven much harder now.

—Urrp… Shit, Tuskar, little help? I’ve got a big problem here! — Marduk burped again after that.

— What? Are you back there? I thought you were here with me! What’s wro- What the fuck happened?! You are huge! — Tuskar approached quickly, he couldn’t believe his eyes. A few moments ago his friend was just a scrawny tiny nerd mage, and now he was a massive fat blob.

— I got ambushed by a huge slime, urgh, could you help me get up? —

— Oh big boy, I will help you out soon. I’ve always wanted to fuck a fatty, guess this is your lucky day. — Tuskar said in a playful tone, and Marduk raised his head quickly to see what was wrong, only to see a growing bulge on his friend’s loincloth.

Marduk always admired Tuskar’s strength and looks, but he never thought about having an affair with him. But now, in a vulnerable position, and having the chance, why not enjoy Tuskar’s muscular frame against him?

— Oh… Well, since you asked so nicely. — Even though nice wasn’t the best word, it was good enough for Marduk to spread his legs with a bit of difficulty.

Tuskar ran his big hands throughout Marduk’s body, feeling his now wide calves and grabbing his thighs. He kissed his friend’s huge, soft gut, and sucked his big tits, Tuskar then lifted Marduk’s heavy legs and spread his buttcheeks, making space for his rock hard cock, the slime had already done the difficult part of opening and lubing up the backdoor for him, but his insides were still a little tight and warm.

— Oh, holy shit, your ass is so fucking perfect, i’m going to fuck you raw, mage boy. — Tuskar panted, as his cock was being swallowed by Marduk’s fat, soft ass. He grabbed his friend’s swollen tits and gut and began thrusting faster and faster.

— Oh fuck, you are so fucking hot, please, fuck me harder! Harder! — He moaned as his tits and belly jiggled more and more as Tuskar fucked him harder, he was enjoying it very much, but he noticed that he wasn’t close to cumming, Tuskar on the other hand…

— Shit, oh fuck, here it comes! I’m almost there! — Tuskar hugged Marduk’s swollen body with a lot of strength as his cum filled his friend’s ass.

— Woah, damn, that was amazing… Holy shit, your ass is delicious! — He said as he slapped Marduk’s ass after pulling his cock out, only then noticing that his friend did not came.

— Huh, that's weird, need a little help with that? — Tuskar asked.

— I think some of the slime got inside my cock as well, see? — Now that Marduk mentioned, Tuskar did notice that his friend’s cock was indeed bigger and thicker, his balls were the size of a tennis ball, and his cock were the size and thickness of a wine bottle. Tuskar felt his butthole send him a sign.

— Well friend, you are in such a need, I would never leave you like that. — Tuskar first started by licking his friend's swollen dick, it was somewhat hard to find space in his mouth, but once he managed, he started to suck him off, grabbing his own cock as his friend moaned with pleasure. Then he climbed up his fat body and began riding him, it was hard since Marduk’s cock was now supersized, but Tuskar managed.

— Oh fuck, that’s much more than i had before, shit, that feels so good. — Tuskar moaned, as he slid up and down and grabbed his friend’s new fat. Murdak still was having some trouble with his new size but was starting to get used to it and fucking harder.

— Fuck, Tuskar, i’m almost there! — As he moaned that, he grabbed Tuskar’s thighs and thrusted one final, deep time, cumming inside his friend’s ass, and being welcomed by a white load on his face.

— Oh fuck, that was great, big boy, holy shit! — Tuskar moaned and got off his friend, both tired and sweaty.

— Damn, it really was… Hey, your belly looks bigger, guess I came a lot. — Murdak noticed Tuskar's swollen belly, but something was wrong, it was growing.

— Shit, Tuskar, I think the slime in my cock is inside you! — As he said he felt his belly grow as well, did the slime use their cum to breed inside them?!

Tuskar rubbed his growing gut, it was expanding fast, and spreading to his limbs as well, will he grow as big as his friend?

— Well fuck big boy, guess we are both pregnant now… I already got the goods that we had to retrieve. What do you say if we have a good night of rest and solve this tomorrow? — Tuskar said that and slapped his bulging gut, then he approached Marduk once more and hugged him, feeling the comfort of his fat body.

— Since you mentioned that, I really am tired. I think we should indeed have a good rest. — He felt Tuskar’s embrace, his rapidly expanding gut and ran his chubby hands throughout his partner’s body.

[littledragondork]

Little Dragons

This is my first real attempt at fanfiction, I've written stories in the past but never fanfiction and I'm quite proud of it if I do say so myself :3c

A content warning for some heavy topics in the beginning and middle but they get better I promise.

Silence. Deafening silence was all Balneim could hear from the two tiny bundles he held in his arms, the two of them combined wouldn’t be able to reach the size of his forearm. They were wrapped snugly in warm, soft blankets, their tiny bodies barely breathing. To look at them made Balneim want to wail in agony, to scream until his lungs gave out, to make himself feel even an ounce of pain they currently are feeling. They are dying and there is almost nothing Balneim can do.

All he can do is keep them warm, fed, clean and cast restoration magic on them once every few hours, at least that’s what his court healer told him to do, even then she didn’t seem hopeful in the slightest. They hardly moved, and when they did it was to either stretch out a limb or just wiggle a small bit. He didn’t dare separate them in fear it would just make them worse, loosing the only other creature that understood them in this time of need, their closest companion, their twin.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Balneim’s days became like clockwork. Keep them close while he worked, don’t go too far from the palace, feed himself and then them every few hours, cast the restoration magic on their tiny bodies and do not sleep. He thanked his newly gained godly blood for the ability to no longer need rest or food, but then again. It might have been that very same blood that put them in the pain they are now.

They were so small, just one of their tiny bodies would fit snugly in Balneim’s hand, born too soon and so very, very weak. Everyday Balneim would look at them and expect to see little corpses, but instead would be greeted by the shallow rise and fall of their tiny chests. They’re still fighting. He also began to notice differences, before the two would be identical, but now, he found the eldest preferred it when he would rub their back gently while the youngest liked to just be held with as little movement as possible. They both seemed to love it when he would sing to them. The soft sound seemed to help them sleep, but he always feared they might not wake up. At least his voice would be the last thing they heard.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

He found they both hated it when Balneim would swap the blankets to clean them, their weak, hardly audible cries would go on and on until they could have them back. And he had to give the correct identical blanket to the right twin or else they would be even more furious with their father, how dare he mix them up!

After a few weeks they started to cry properly, and wow could the youngest scream. 

“Yes! I hear you little one!” He would say to them. “All of the isles can hear your voice!”

They started to get rounder, larger. Balneim couldn’t help but think they were getting too round. They were so skinny for so long and now they are getting so large.

 Are they bloated? Are they starting to die from the inside? They deserve a better father than me—

“M’lord!” The court healer would get his attention, ripping him from his spiraling thoughts. “They’re perfectly healthy! They’re just getting fat! It’s a good sign if anything!”

Now Balneim just felt silly.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

He doesn’t know how they’ve made it so far. Balneim thought for sure they would have died a week, maybe even a few days into their life. But they just refused to let go. Whether it was pure will, a desire of life or just pure stubbornness Balneim wasn’t sure but he was grateful for every second he would watch over them and their little movements, and hear their little sounds.

The eldest one seemed to sleep a lot, it was so much to the point Balneim had to check if they were even alive and every time they would whine when woken up, only to fall back asleep. The youngest seemed to almost whistle when they would breathe, not all the time but enough to be concerning. This terrified Balneim, making him fear what life they would live if they were able to make it to adulthood. Will they live fulfilling lives or would they struggle to take care of themselves, could they follow their dreams or would they have to settle for less. He just wants them to be happy and know they are loved.

Balneim often wondered how his children’s other father would feel at their current state, would he hate him for inflicting the life they currently live? No, he would likely be just as terrified and paranoid as Balneim felt, he was a compassionate man, he would likely join in the hours of crying and exhaustion. Balneim wished their other father could be with them now.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Another day of not letting the little ones out of Balneim’s sight, bringing them with him wherever he would go in a palace and keeping them warm and close. They have their eyes open now, they just spend most of the time staring at their father’s face, taking in his details. Do they care that his face is covered in scars, that his red hair was rapidly turning white, that his eyes were no longer that of a mortal man’s? They just stared blankly at him, their little eyes would follow him and sometimes follow his gaze, like four little lanterns. Tiny eyes, so full of curiosity and wonder for the world around them. The youngest’s eyes are just like how his used to look, a rich brown that almost seem to swallow the light around them. The eldest’s eyes are a sky blue, just like their other father’s, looking into their eyes almost makes Balneim see the sky of nirn again, except for the left eye which is the same rich brown of their siblings.

He can tell they won’t be ‘normal’ he can feel it, but that’s okay, the mind is a place of Balneim’s expertise, and that only means he’ll have more fun with them. The eldest stirs in the lord’s arm, looking down he meets their gaze, the tiny face staring back up at him and taking in every detail. And they surprise him, they stare at him and something changes. Their little face moved to show off a large and bright smile across their face. A sight that makes all the lord’s months of fear and anxiety begin to melt away and tears begin to well up in his eyes.

They’re going to be fine, his little Brigitte and Micah.

[silvermaplealder]

I had a dream last night where I was gunslinger David. It was the early 1900's and my gang and I were on the run. My dream couldn't have been more than a few hours, but it felt like a lifetime. I was so close with my fellow gunslingers who now I can't even tell you their names or faces. We did everything together. And then-

And then...

A bad job. We got caught in the act of robbing a stage coach. Our leader was killed by the driver of the stagecoach. I shot him for revenge, but sheriffs were showing up so we had to run. My horse was shot so I had to go on foot. I watched each of my posse members go down to the bullets of the sheriffs. I hid, screaming and crying silently in the growing darkness of the forest as the sun set. I crawled out of my hiding place to hold the dying body of one of my companions. I cried into his chest and told him how much I loved him. I didn't realize that a deputy had snuck up behind me. I turned around to face him but he shot me in the stomach. He had a demented smile on his face as he told me he'd rather I bleed out and die than put me out of my misery. I collapsed on the ground, screaming out in pain and remorse and regretting everything I did that got me to where I was. The deputy left to have me die alone in the forest.

Then...

The owner of the stagecoach who had been safely inside of it the whole time got out and went into the woods. I heard his boots crunching on fallen leaves as he approached me. I didn't know him in the dream, but I recognized his face as Max. He bent down beside me and asked if I was afraid to die. I stared at him and found myself nodding. I was a dying man, realizing that nothing could save me in this moment. Max reached out a hand and grabbed my jaw. When he smiled I saw his fangs and he turned into a vampire. Seeing him as a vampire frightened me and I tried to get away from him. He threw me aside, telling me in a demented manner how he liked watching his prey struggle. He tore open the throat of my companion and fed on his lifeless corpse. I got to my feet very painfully to fight him but Max easily tossed me aside again. My back hit a tree and I slid down to my knees. There was nothing I could do as I was losing too much blood to my wound. But Max tore his arm open and forced me to take his blood. He told me for killing his servant (the driver from earlier) I owed him my servitude. He also promised if I behaved I could once again rise to power and get revenge on the government for killing my family of gang members. And then I woke up with a lot of emotional damage and ready to fight off capitalism.

It was a wild fucking dream and now I just have to get up and get on with my life as if I wasn't a very handsome gunslinger who went through hell and back

[lovesick-yanderes]

Sabrael Character Bio | 2090 words

TWs: Stalking, kidnapping, manipulation/gaslighting

Note: I used prompts from a now deleted blog titled drink-it-write-it multiple times in this story. I would link the blog as well as the posts I used, but I am unable to do so.

-

You’ve felt off lately.

Well, not you. The atmosphere. Something has been making your skin crawl and your body shiver for the past few weeks, and you’ve been wracking your brain to figure out what it might be.

You’re by yourself most of the time. You work from home, where you live alone, with not even an animal companion to keep you company. The houses next door, bought up cheap for rentals, remain empty after months of advertisements. Across the street is a highway, leaving you with no neighbors and only a small amount of pedestrian traffic to cast your suspicion onto.

To address the paranoia, you start keeping all of your blinds shut. It evolves into ordering curtains to fully cover the windows, and then hanging blankets to block any and all gaps you might have missed. It doesn’t help.

You stop taking phone calls at home and keep all of your communication contained to emails and text messages; while this seems to make you feel more secure for a day or so, the paranoia comes back in full force yet again, leaving you jumpy.

One day, you head out of the house to do your biweekly grocery shopping trip. A 10 minute drive to the grocery store offers you a chance at socialization and a feeling of safety. Grateful to be out of the house, you take your time shopping. You browse the aisles slowly, making sure you’re getting the best deal on your items and even substituting a few things for cheaper versions on sale. While crossing through the automotive section to get to the home goods, a particular sale sign catches your eye.

On an otherwise empty rack sits a black pepper spray canister. The sale sign labels them at 40% off, a complete steal. Your heart skips a beat as you remember how paranoid you’ve been. Without thinking, you throw the last package into your cart and continue on to the home goods.

After finishing your shopping, you check out, pay, and load your bags into the trunk of your car. Before pulling out of your parking space, you rip open the pepper spray and secure it to your keychain, giving you instant, immediate access to your only form of defense. You clutch it tightly in your hand, familiarizing yourself with the weapon and its trigger, before letting it go slack on the keychain and then driving back home.

Pulling into the driveway sends a wave of nausea throughout your entire body, causing you to groan. You put the car into park and step out, heading to your trunk to start the process of bringing your things inside. You reach for the heaviest items first- laundry detergent, milk, and vinegar- and then proceed to drop them all when you turn your body and see a stranger smiling in front of you. You scream and stumble back, nearly falling but saving yourself by grabbing onto the car.

“Need some help?” The stranger asks, remaining cool and calm.

“Fuck off,” you stutter, taking a few more steps back.

They smile. “Your groceries look heavy. Let me help you with them.”

“No,” you firmly tell them, reaching up to shut the trunk, nearly crushing their hand. “Fuck off.”

They frown and turn their sights on you, walking slowly to close the gap between your bodies. You gasp and turn to run, trying to get back into the driver’s seat so you can get away from them. You fumble for your keys, which are currently absent from your pocket- a short glance into the car reveals them sitting in the seat. You also notice that your doors have been locked. God damn it. You circle the car again, trying to keep space between you and your unwelcome guest, keeping your eyes on them while your hands fumble between your bag and pockets. You grip onto the pepper spray you’d just purchased and hold it up, parallel to your chest, facing the stranger and standing your ground. They stop.

“How long have you been stalking me?” You spit out, your grip on the pepper spray shaky.

“I prefer the phrase “watching over you,” my love,” they say, continuing their slow approach of you, unphased by the black cylinder being aimed at them. Your heart, already beating erratically, shifts into overdrive as they get closer and closer. The confirmation that you have been being watched this entire time makes you want to curl up and sob right on the spot, but you hold strong to keep yourself safe.

“I’m warning you one last time,” you cry, your finger on the canister’s trigger. You’re starting to hyperventilate. The lack of oxygen and the adrenaline high leaves you feeling lightheaded and dizzy.

“I wouldn’t do that, darling,” they gently instruct you.

Darling? That’s it. You press the trigger and immediately reel back in pain as pepper spray goes into your eyes, nose, and mouth, sending burning pain all throughout your body. You scream and fall back, dropping your one form of self defense as you bring your hands to your face, desperate to wipe the spray from your eyes and nose. Your attempts at clearing it from your skin make its effects worse.

As you wheeze and sob, you hear the stranger quietly chuckle at your state. “I warned you, you know.”

Suddenly, everything stops. There is no more pain; no more noise, either. The constant drone of cars speeding on the highway is completely absent. You’re swimming in a black void, completely detached from reality. When you’re finally able to open your eyes, you’re sitting in a plush armchair in a room that is disturbingly beige. You leap to your feet, holding a tense position as you scan the room. You’re alone.

The room is small, about the size of a college dorm, with what appears to be a full-sized bed, a tall dresser, and two sets of doors on opposite sides of the room. A small TV sits on top of the dresser and a white yoga mat is rolled and leaning against the bed frame. You walk to the doors and try opening each of them; the one closest to your bed leads to an equally beige bathroom, stocked with self care supplies like a brush, soap, and toothpaste. Much to your dismay, the other door is locked. You sink down to the floor next to the yoga mat, trying to piece together where you are and what exactly happened to you.You’re alone with your own thoughts for about ten minutes before the door knob begins to rattle. You jump at the sudden appearance of noise and then clench your fists together, trying to keep a facade of braveness. The stranger from earlier slowly pops open the door and smiles down at you before entering and shutting the door behind them.

“I see you’re awake. You seem much more calm now… I’m glad.”

You waste no time with pleasantries. “Who are you?”

They smile down at you. “My name is Sabrael. I’m your guardian angel,” they say, sitting down on the floor with you to stay on your level. You watch as they descend, fixated on their eyes, which glow brightly, the color of solid gold. “I noticed you were having a hard time taking care of yourself… I figured it was about time someone stepped in.”

You scowl at them. “I’ve been taking care of myself for as long as I can remember. I don’t need help from anyone, especially someone who’s been stalking me and who just kidnapped me.”

They hum in acknowledgement of your words, but don’t directly respond to them. “What would you like to eat today? I know that humans crave variety in their diet, so I decided against making you something you might not be in the mood for.”

“I’m not hungry. Let me go.”

They ignore you again. “Perhaps you’d like to exercise, then. The yoga mat you’re sitting next to is one of many options I have available for you to choose from.”

You feel your anger rising. “I’m not working out,” you spit. “Let me go.”

“I see… Perhaps you’re a little overwhelmed from your sudden change in environment… Would you like to watch a movie to relax? The TV is set up with-”

“I want to go home, God damn it!” You shout at them. Sobs wrack your body after the outburst. Sabrael reaches to caress your face, trying to calm you, but you roughly slap their hand away, aggressively shouting at them for trying to touch you.

The atmosphere of the room changes instantly. Through your bleary eyes, you watch as Sabrael’s expression morphs from kind and caring to cold and angry.

“This is how you treat me after everything I’ve done for you?” They ask, venom dripping from every word. They stand up and loom over you, looking down at your frightened figure. You hug yourself tight for security, a new set of tears quickly streaming down your face. You sit in silence for a moment before they speak again. “I’ve spent months learning about you and humans in general… I created this nice little home just for you, fit with everything you need to live a happy and enriched life… I tried to comfort you during an emotional outburst and you attacked me.” They shake their head at you, sending a message of dissatisfaction and disappointment. “If this is how you treat others, it’s no wonder you’ve been so alone in the human realm.”

Anger boils over, ridding the fear from your body. “You kidnapped me,” you choke out, your words hoarse from the wailing. “You fucking kidnapped me, and you expect me to be nice to you?”

“I did that because I was trying to help you,” they reply, glaring down at you. “I see now that you’re not open to logic.” They reach down and grip your head, covering your eyes with their hand. “We’ll try something else.” Before you can react and try to slap them away, you’re sent back to the same black void you were swimming in before.

You come back to reality again in your own bed, in your own home. You sit up abruptly, scanning your surroundings… You’re alone. At home. It all must have been a dream. A fucked up, horrible nightmare of a dream, but nevertheless fabricated. You get out of bed and take a long, hot shower, dedicated to decompressing after such a stressful dream. After getting out and changing into lounge wear, you head to the kitchen to find something to eat.

When you enter, Sabrael is sitting at the table, smiling at you as two plates of breakfast sit idly, as if they’ve been waiting for you to join them all morning. They motion to the chair across from them. Without a fight, you numbly walk to it, plopping down and staring at the meal. Thousands of thoughts race through your brain. You’d just spent so long convincing yourself that it wasn’t real, that you weren’t being stalked and that you hadn’t been kidnapped, that it was all just a nightmare induced by the paranoia you’ve been experiencing for weeks on end…

“The stress you experienced last night was not anticipated,” Sabrael says, catching your attention from your anxious thoughts. “I now know that humans need time to adjust to new circumstances. We’ll begin this relationship in your home, and move on when you’re more adjusted.”

“Relationship?” You question, raising your brows in complete confusion.

“I’m your guardian angel,” they reiterate. “I exist to take care of you. I am yours, and by extension, you are mine.” They pause to smile, a giddy expression overtaking their face. “We’ll stay in your home for now, so you can learn how our dynamic will function in a place where you feel secure. When the proper time comes, we will depart back to the home I created for you.”

You sit in shock, bile rising in your throat as you process what they’re telling you. When it finally clicks that this isn’t something you’re going to be able to get out of, you set your head on the table and begin to cry. You don’t have the energy or the fortitude to continue to scream and fight. You’ve accepted that you’re stuck, and that nothing you or anyone else can do will save you from this creature. Fuck. You feel Sabrael’s hand gently rubbing your back. They quietly hush you as you continue to sob, completely defeated.