#I’m sorry she’s slowly infecting my brain again

[diegutless]

also uhm what even is Mrs Hymentacts hairstyle…..like genuine question what the hell is it

[peachesofteal]

how’s clover going to manage that conversation next time she goes into his office..

or will she even go again?

also i think dr riley is so interesting as a character already.. i need to take a little look in your brain for a bit bc whatever’s cooking up there is good shit

psych au - 18+ - tw for mental health, ptsd, extreme suicidal ideation, Clover is a mess. Dr Riley crosses a line. Part One / Part Two / Part Three

You're kind of stuck to the floor, surrounded by beige walls, and beige carpet, the waiting room's obnoxious brown beige clock ticking on the wall.

All of it feels very loud.

You took the train again today, and stepped closer to the yellow line. You stepped over it, even, too aware of the man to your left's gaze, his beady, nervous unblinking eyes, calculating what exactly were you trying to do.

Yeah, kid. What exactly are you trying to do?

It crosses your mind again, for more than a split second this time. Throwing yourself onto the tracks. Closing your eyes. Letting your head go quiet, finally. No one talks about how easy it is. How they just come and scrape you up, load what’s left into a black bag, and clean up the scene. One second, one decision, and you’d be gone, eyes closed, mind empty.

No one would blame you. Another service member with PTSD. What a surprise.

"And did you hear what happened? I wouldn't be able to live with myself after that, either."

It's bad now. It's gotten worse. Therapy was supposed to help but you're not made for civilian life. You're not supposed to be here, and you've tried saying it over and over until you're blue in the face, but Dr. Riley doesn't budge. He asks you trust him, but you don’t know how. You can't think here. Can't sleep here. You close your eyes and feel fire, hear screams. The best you can do is go to the gym for hours and try to work yourself into exhaustion.

You sit in the chair with your feet flat on the floor, and try to breathe.

The shame, the stupidity of the other night is pressing against you, boxing you into a corner, burning you alive from the inside out. You’ve tried to blot it clean, black it out, but the single second of his lips on your lingers like an infection in your blood.

You didn't want him. You don't. He just... understands you. Makes you feel seen. It's his job. You're getting it mixed up.

Or-

You do want him. You do so badly it’s heavy, sticky in the air like summer heat.

Each time the second hand ticks, your skin itches. It burns. Something prickles. You're not trying to breathe, you're holding your breath.

You can't do this.

You're up and beelining for the door before you can talk yourself out of it. You can't do this.

"Clover." A firm voice calls from across the lobby, and you freeze. Stomach knotted in dread, you find him holding the office’s hallway door open. "My office."

It's first time you've heard him issue a command, and you can't help your response.

You snap to.

He settles in the chair across from the couch, laptop balanced on his thighs. He’s wearing dark khakis of some kind, and they stretch over his quads, long sleeve navy blue shirt tight across his chest. It’s… distracting.

You look away. Pointedly.

"I-"

"You will never put yourself in danger like that again." He grits, and you slowly blink. "You wandered off from a bar, in the middle of the night, nearly too plastered to stand. I asked you to stay put, and you-"

“Disobeyed a direct order?” You volunteer cheekily, his eyes narrowing.

“This isn’t a fuckin’ joke.” The curse straightens your spine into a steel rod.

“I… I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to… do any of that.” Your head hangs in shame, tears fighting their way through your control, your efforts to smother them, tamp down your emotions.

“I know,” his voice is soft, a blanket, a balm, and you close your eyes. “You’re going through something very difficult Clover. I don’t fault you for anything you’ve done.” The forgiveness doesn’t settle like you want it to, acrid in your throat, bile churning in your stomach as you try to digest it. Why? What did you want in its place?

Something else.

Even now, with him across from you, your heart trills like a hummingbird’s. It’s confusing, it hurts. You think of the yellow line, the one meant to forbid you from stepping to closer to the tracks.

The couch dips on your left, weight compressing the cushion, a large, heavy thigh just an inch from yours.“Can you tell me what you’re thinking about?”

Can you?

“I want to go home.” You whisper it away, trying to lessen the strain on your heart. “I don’t… I’m sorry, I should have cancelled. I’m not feeling very good.” Fingertips graze your shoulder. You rocket to your feet.

He stands and latches onto your wrist before you can step away. “Sit down.”

“I-“

“It’s not a request. Sit. Down.” He’s turned towards you now, crack in the cushions between your bodies, but he still holds your wrist. “I want to help you.” He says softly, holding your gaze without wilting. “But you have to let me, I can’t do it unless you meet me halfway.”

“I’m trying.”

“Are you? How long have you been drinking like that?” Shit. You turn your face away from him, blinking at an empty spot on the wall.

A palm presses to the back of your neck, his signature heat bleeding through cell and bone, shooting straight to your heart. The sliver of a wolf, a predator, gleams in his eyes again, for the first time since your first session, but this time it’s tempered with silk, easy calm, vibrating from him to you.

You stare at him. Dissect the scars, the fault lines, the weathered tissue, torn open and healed anew.

Healed. A novel concept. A foreign idea, so far away you don’t know what it looks like.

The hand at your neck slips away with a sigh. “Clover, listen. Normally in this situation… we’d assign you a new provider. We’ve crossed a serious professional boundary, and the appropriate thing would be for me to remove myself from your care team.”

“Wait… no. I mean, you didn’t do anything. It w-was me, it was my fault.”

“It’s not your fault. I’m your doctor, I’m the one in a position of power here. What happened-“

“I’m sorry.” Your vision goes blurry with tears. “I’m sorry, I was just d-drunk and I didn’t know what I was doing,” you’re gasping, lungs soaked with salt, despair, panic rife and cleaving through your chest, “I didn’t mean to, I messed up, I didn’t- I didn’t mean- captain, I-“ the height of your hysteria is turning dark, dredging up the things you tried to buried, the images you’ve tucked inside a black box and dropped to the bottom of an ocean. Suddenly, you can’t breathe. He’s talking to you, you can hear it, but the words don’t make sense, the scrape of your breathing too loud.

“You’re in my office Clover. You’re with me.” You shake your head, but it does nothing to calm you. “Try to breathe.”

“C-can’t.”

“Okay. Try to ground yourself. Tell me your name.” You spit it out, first and last, but it doesn’t help. Everything feels like too much. His fists clench, flexing open and shut, cords of muscle flexing before he grits something sharp under his breath and reaches.

He hooks you into his body, guiding you forward by the back of your head until your nose is in his neck and all you can feel, all you can see, or smell is him. It takes its toll, slowing your heart rate, breaths settling into a shaky pace in time with his, and you register the thumb stroking small circles against your neck, his nose in your hair.

“Just breathe.”

[fadedin2u]

hi rose toy, could you write about ellie comforting reader with body insecurities? love your writing and have a good day!!

here’s a little drabble!! this was super therapeutic to write, thank u for the lovely request anon!

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

“i just- i don’t like myself, ellie. i don’t like anything about how i look,” you finally admit, sick of your own thoughts plaguing your mind.

ellie’s eyes are full of heartache as she says, “but i do. i like everything about how you look.”

the response makes your heart bleed more, and your lip trembles.

“you have to say that. you’re my girlfriend.”

ellie shakes her head, “hey. that’s not true. i’m not gonna say anything to you that i don’t mean, you know that.”

you look down, not wanting her to see the tears building in your eyes. “i just… i can’t help but notice how many fucking things are wrong with my body. with my face. with me.”

ellie frowns, “what makes any of it wrong? where’s the guide book telling you how you’re supposed to look?”

you get irritated in spite of knowing ellie’s good intentions, “everything tells me i’m supposed to look different than how i do, ellie. you’re the fucking beauty standard, no offense, but you have no idea what it feels like to not be.”

ellie’s eyes flash with hurt from your words, but she covers it well.

you sigh, ashamed, wiping your face, “i’m sorry, els, really. i’m not trying to pick a fight with you or make you feel like shit too, i just hate living with how i look everyday.”

ellie smoothes her hands over your sides, “do you want to know what i think?”

you take a breath and slowly nod.

“not everything about you fits the beauty standard. that’s true. but the beauty standard was created by rich, white men who are trying to make a goddamn profit off of women fucking hating themselves. so women just perpetuate this bullshit standard, because they feel like it’s attached to their worth as a human being, and everyone feels like shit, except for the dudes who’s pockets are getting fuller each time someone goes in to get a fucking lypo treatment or a nose job.”

you stay quiet, listening, even though this isn’t necessarily new information to you.

ellie takes a breath, “so, maybe not all of you fits into that stupid model of a fake woman, but how the fuck does that make you less beautiful? i love how you look naturally, because you’re fucking real, gorgeous, and human. i don’t want a fantasy girl that fits perfectly into a porn-brain infected, white, straight, limp-dick’s wet dream. i want you. i want how you look naturally, when you’re healthy and happy. because that’s when you look the most beautiful to me, no matter what.”

you take a breath. “so you’re honestly saying you wouldn’t prefer if i was more stereotypically attractive?”

ellie rolls her eyes, “that doesn’t fucking mean anything to me. i’m very fucking attracted to you, and that’s all that matters. i wouldn’t change a thing about how you look, ever.”

you nod slowly, and she pulls you into a tight hug.

“it makes me sick that you feel like you’re innately wrong in some way, because that couldn’t be further from the truth. if you’re giving yourself enough food, taking care of your body, and you’re happy, that’s exactly how you should be looking. okay?”

you know that ellie’s words don’t take away your feelings of insecurity, but it helps soothe some of the sting, the hurt.

“i’m sorry for making you preach self-love to me,” you say, smiling a little, trying to lighten the mood.

ellie looks serious as she says, “i will again. anytime you need it. i cant stand the thought of the most perfect thing in my life hating how they naturally look. i’ll say it a billion times if you need it, i promise.”

she kisses your forehead.

“do you think take-out would help you feel better? because i think it would.”

[bajablasterrr]

Who You Gonna Call?

Chapter 1: Something Strange DC x DP Fic based off this post

Warnings: Major Character Death, Strong Language, Depictions of Violence

Rating: Mature

Author’s Note: For those who have been waiting for forever I apologize for how long it took me to crank out this one chapter this is my first time writing a Fic so any constructive criticism helps, also thank you soo much for the support ❤️. Update On Chapter 2 of “Who You Gonna Call?” It’s knots done jut need to finish a few final touches should be posted by Friday of Next Week

When you think about it, peace will never be the outcome. Not for him, not anymore.

Not while his Parents lay dead at his feet, not while his sister sobbed helplessly; never again will Danny Fenton ever know a peaceful life.

But he’s okay with that; he’s come to terms with how things stood and knew there wasn’t much left to figure out besides where he will go now.

He never thought he’d have to plan a life without his parents, never suspected that this family vacation would be the last.

Nor did he expect his sister to go from “Annoying Older Sibling.” To “My Only Living Family Member.” in less than a day.

This was inevitable with his line of work, but he never expected his life to be this crazy, at least not so soon.

For him, being half ghost used to feel like a gift, something he could use to help the people he cared about the most. Now it was a curse, a cancerous infection slowly seeping into everything he held close.

Because of his “gift.” everyone and everything he knew was gone, replaced by this empty confusing nothingness, all their hopes and dreams for him nothing more than lost memories.

His parents were gone, taken from him in some brutal twist of fate by some psychopathic clown they call “The Joker.” to be completely honest, Danny was feeling anger beyond rational thought every time he thought about him.

And the worst part about this was that everything everything that happened was all a ploy, some sort of elaborate trick to lure Batman to his hideout, and The Fenton’s were nothing more than pawns in The Joker’s scheme to kill him.

Not only did he kill his parents, but he did it with a smile as he made Danny watch, laughing at his suffering until he got what he wanted.

Danny was taken to the police station and asked to state what he experienced while begging held hostage by the Joker, but all he could do was stare blankly at the wall.

As he got interviewed by the police, news anchors, and other journalists, all he could think about was how he everyone down. His frustration was building up under the surface, and he felt sick.

“How could I let this happen.” he thought. 

His mind raced, his fingers felt numb, his chest heaved as if something was blocking his airway, and he felt like everything around him was closing in. The walls began to spin, and he could feel his throat closing up, tears welling in his eyes.

Jazz noticed his strange behaviour and tried her best to get him to calm him down, but the panic had already set in.

They were alone, he let this happen, and there was nothing he could do to fix this. Nothing at all

Dozens of forced statements later, Danny was drained.

Despite being the “Hero.” he was, he couldn’t help but feel so incredibly useless. They kept asking him the same questions repeatedly until the words melted into nothingness, his brain felt like swiss cheese, and he thought he would pass out at any second.

Jazz had to handle all of the legal proceedings, taking her parent’s estate, medical bills, funeral expenses, and everything else; She was overwhelmed, to say the least.

She had no idea what to do once they were done with the police, they had nowhere to go, and beyond that, they had nobody to help them.

Her head was swimming, and for a split second, she broke; Danny noticed his sister sobbing and went in to hug her.

“I’m sorry this happened, Jazz, really I am. I wish I could trade my life for theirs; I would,” he said, tears streaming down his face.

“Hey, I know this everything is so crazy, but don’t blame yourself for what happened. There’s nothing more you could’ve done, okay?” she replied, rubbing his head to soothe him.

“but I let everyone down. I’m the reason they’re dead; if I don’t do something to avenge them, then-” he said rapidly, beginning to panic again.

“Enough, no more vengeance, no more self-blame. You’re just a kid. Nobody should’ve put that responsibility on you-.” she tried to explain, reaching out to touch his shoulder.

“That doesn’t matter anymore, Jazz. I’m not a kid anymore; I think I need to go for a walk and clear my head,” he said, pushing her off his and heading towards the door.

Jazz called out for him, but he was gone before she could get a word out.

As he walked the streets of Gotham City, he felt angry; at the world and at himself; he even felt anger towards his parents for suggesting this stupid trip. He wanted nothing more than to change the way things are right now, be somewhere different, and do something right for once.

He didn’t know what to do with himself; he walked around aimlessly for what felt like hours, looking for something, anything to do. He needed someone save; he wanted something to fight, anything in the world that would take his mind off things for a second.

all of a sudden, a blue mist leaves his mouth

“Finally.” he thought to himself

He changed into his ghost form quickly, and he waited. The tension in the air is thick, and he slowly looks around, hoping to see whatever is watching him.

“Don’t you know this place isn’t safe after dark?”

Danny looked around, trying to see where the voice came from,

“If I were you, I’d just turn around and head back home.”

“And why should I listen to you, wise and powerful shadow man?” Danny replied sarcastically

suddenly, he saw something jump from the fire escape down to the ground in front of him. He didn’t expect him to make that fall, let alone get up that easily.

He stood there frozen as the figure approached him, wearing a red helmet, a leather jacket, black pants, and a shirt with a red bat.

“I’ve heard of you before; you’re Red Hood, right?” Danny asked nonchalantly, trying to cut the tension of the situation

“In the flesh, and you’re that ghost kid “Phantom.” right?” he replied as he stepped closer to Danny, cornering him into a wall.

“Uh, Yep, in the flesh.” He said with a nervous chuckle

Danny was terrified; after the last couple of days he’s had, he didn’t want to take any chances with any more of the heroes or villains in Gotham.

Red Hood had him backed to a wall, his hand on the right side of Danny’s face.

“What’s your deal anyways, ghost boy? You want to run around being a vigilante, too?” he said, leaning in. 

“I-I’ve been a vigilante since the 9th grade,” he stuttered. “And for the record, I don’t need your permission to do anything, so why would you expect me to ask for it?.”

“Because if you don’t, I get to kick your ass and have you arrested for breaking curfew.” He replied

Danny chucked, “finally.”, he thought, “a reason to punch someone in the face.”

“respectfully, I’d like to see you try,” he said, cockiness radiating from his voice.

“fine, it is your funeral.”

@blackrabbitt3t @nedwec @blackstar-gazer @baykitthings @real-danny-phantom @hungrymentor @the-lokes @dizzydreamerzzz @phantom-phrases @sheep567 @lenoryt13 @theauthorandtheartist

@phantomskeep @arc-777 @dreamingasters @betinaplayingwriter @zeldomnyo @jaguarthecat @the-gay-florist @reinluna @gabrielandjackthenephilim @icepopstar5105us @skulld3mort-1fan

@batbootie @that-random-fangirl@cyber-geist@dat1angel@undead-essence@distractedducky@oddessy@dreamingasters@jarlyd@

[agentwhiskeysdarlin]

Reunited

Pairing: Joel Miller x F!Reader

Rating: PG-13

Warnings: TLOU typical violence, mentions of injury, pain medication use, outbreak night events (from readers pov), sorry to the Joel and Tess shippers out there, Sarah’s death, angst but fluff

Word Count: 4k

Author’s Notes: FINALLY BACK!!! This writers block didn’t last nowhere near as long as the last one and it feels good to be typing this right now. I do think in the future I will intentionally take January off to reset and rest my brain. I hope everyone has been well!! This is my first ever Joel fic so please be nice!! Thanks to @clint-aww-no-barton​ as always! With a new wave of fans coming in if you want to be added (or removed) from my taglist please please let me know!!

ao3 link 

  The world was so broken. It had been like this for 20 years now, but every single time you moved outside of the walls of a city it hit you all over again. You panted as you moved one foot in front of the other, pain shooting up your left leg with each step. Boston was now maybe a mile away in front of you. You paused, taking it in, before making yourself keep moving. Finally you were in view of guards who came rushing to you, guns drawn as usual.

  “I’m not sick,” your voice betrayed you as you raised your arms.

  “Any exposed injuries?!” One guard yelled from the distance they kept.

  “No,” you spoke shaking your head with your word. “I think my left leg is broken somewhere. I’m not sure. I just know it hurts like hell.”

  The guards came to you then, calmly, which was not something you experienced often. You knew all the normal procedures that came next, but you couldn’t care less, you just wanted off your feet. They took you to a room once you crossed the walls, patted you down and scanned you, green shining back into the dim room.

  “Well, looks like you’re not sick. I’ll get someone to look at that leg.” One of the guards spoke with a sweeter tone than most.

  “Thank you,” your words came out soft and full of exhaustion.

  Water and a sandwich was shoved into your hands, which you devoured. The moment you took your last sip of water, a man walked in who was definitely a doctor.

  “What did you do to it?” He spoke softly as he moved your leg slightly.

  You let out a scream at the pain that shot through you, the guard in the room jumping.

  “Do that again and I’ll kick you in the face,” you spoke through gritted teeth.

  “I do have to do my job,” he snapped back eyeing you with a sharp look.

  “I did it after I left the last place I was at. I was being chased by infected and tripped. I was in pain but I had to get up and keep going.”

  “Well good news is, it’s not broken but you do have a severe strain, maybe even torn ligaments. I’m going to wrap it up but once you get into a room I want you off it.”

  “Yeah like that’s going to happen. We don’t have the luxury of things like resting anymore.”

  “You do and will.”

  You rolled your eyes but braced yourself as he started to wrap your leg. Your knuckles turned white and you swore you were going to break your teeth as you clenched them through the pain.

  “Come on I’ll take you to the apartment building you’ll be staying in,” the guard who had been keeping watch since you got here started to help you from the table. 

  “Easy easy.”

  You wrapped your arm around her and she held you tight against her as the two of you started to walk slowly and carefully. You were mostly silent as she walked you through the city. It all looked the same as the other cities you had lived, in just different faces. Eyes watched you, people paused as you passed by. A new person was in their midst and she was being helped by a guard. Finally the two of you came to the building and slowly made your way up the stairs inside.

  “I need a minute,” you panted as you backed yourself up against a wall just inside.

You rested your head back on the wall and closed your eyes, trying to calm your breathing and pounding heart rate. The pain still coursing through you had only slightly subsided thanks to the wrap now on it. You were going to have to find out how to get pain medication around here and soon.

  “You think you can move again?” The guard spoke and with your eyes still closed you nodded your head.

  The next few moments seemed to move in slow motion. Your eyes opened and before you could even push yourself off the wall you saw him. There was no mistaking him even after all these years. You felt tears spring into your eyes almost too shocked to speak.

  “Joel?”

  His name came out softer than you wanted but he still stopped dead in his tracks and then turned to you. You could see the hardness like armor around him but his face went from tensed to shocked. His eyes met yours and you could tell he couldn’t find his words. So many emotions came crashing over you and you wanted to fall to the ground, you wanted to cry but more than anything you wanted his arms wrapped around you. To be sure he was real. You pushed yourself off the wall and the two of you stood there for too long just looking at each other. No doubt he was thinking the same as you. Were you dreaming? You knew you weren’t. This was real. After all this time you had found your way back to each other just as you promised that night. 

*outbreak night*

  You had driven straight to their house. You didn’t even fully have the car in park before you were out of it and running towards it. The neighborhood was already in an uproar, along with the rest of the city and it seemed nightfall was making things worse. You noticed the door open and stopped short, slowly making your way inside.

  “Joel?! Sarah?!” You yelled their names but got no responses.

  You gulped, feeling your stomach fall, but no you wouldn’t believe the worst, not yet. Then it felt like everything happened at once. You heard a scream, turning and taking off back out of the house in time to see Sarah stunned into stillness as her neighbor went rabid. Just before she lunged at Sarah, before you could jump to her rescue, Tommy’s truck came crashing onto the curb, both men were out and Joel had killed the woman. Everyone seemed to freeze in that moment realizing what was happening was real.

  “You killed her…” Sarah let out a sob and Joel was to her in second.

  “I know baby girl. I’m so sorry but I had to,” he breathed and then he looked at you. “Are you okay?”

  All you could do was nod. Your heart was racing and you could feel the panic creeping up. You looked at Sarah and pushed it down then glanced back at Joel. The two of you communicated silently, that there would be a time to have your own moments later. What mattered now was getting somewhere safe.

  “Both of you get in. We gotta go,” Joel spoke suddenly and you all made for the truck.

  You slid into the backseat with Sarah who whimpered slightly as she grabbed your arm.

  “Hey it’s going to be okay kiddo. Buckle up,” you nodded at the seatbelt on her side.

  She buckled and so did you before you had grabbed on to each other once again. You tried to keep her calm as Tommy flew through the streets. Him and Joel kept going back and forth about where to go, which way would be better. Everything seemed a blur. A burning house to your left, a family pleading for help on your right. Every car in Texas on the highway that was your way out. Across a field with a sharp turn only to be met with military. Another jerk to the right and you were heading straight for the city. You could see the flames already licking the sky in the distance. You had no idea what was going to happen or where you were going to go. You held Sarah with a harder grip as Tommy flew into the city. Everything was pure chaos. Other cars flew around you along with people running from other people who seemed to be crazed. They were attacking people, killing then. And then ,moments later the dead got up and took off after more. You watched in pure shock and fear until your head flew forward with a sudden stop.

  “Tommy back up!! Back up!!”

  Joel was yelling. Tommy was yelling back. Sarah was speaking over them and you sat in silence. You looked behind you as Tommy flew in reverse and was met with a sight that finally made the entire thing click. Airplanes were falling from the sky, they came closer and closer to the ground until one hit and the entire world seemed to explode. You grabbed Sarah moments before something hit the truck and the world went black.

  “(Y/N).”

  The simple word snapped you back to reality. You gazed into Joel’s eyes and then you were moving to each other. He pulled you into his arms and you wrapped yours tightly around his neck. You buried your face in his shoulder, taking in the familiar scent of him. The tears ran down your face even with you trying so hard to hold them back.

  “I can’t believe this,” he spoke softly in your ear. “I…I didn’t…”

  “Think I’d ever see you again? I know,” you smiled, with a chuckle of disbelief as you stood back.

  His hands came up to your cheeks and his brown eyes searched your face over before making their way down your body. Then he snapped back up and his eyes went to the guard who still stood there, watching the entire thing.

  “I’ve got her from here. Thank you,” Joel spoke softly and he had you picked up bridal style in seconds.

  “Thank you,” you spoke softly to the guard as she handed your key over. With a soft smile she simply gave you a nod before leaving.

  Joel carried you up a few flights of stairs and then gently set you down keeping your weight on him. He dug out a key and unlocked the door and the two you stepped into, what you assumed, was his apartment.

  “Let’s get you propped up on the couch and I’ll get you some water and some medicine.”

  “You have pain meds?”

  “I got plenty of pain meds,” he smirked as he eyed you and carefully lowered you to the couch.

  You leaned back letting out a sigh with a slight smile at him. He picked up a pillow and sat it under your leg, earning a hiss from you.

  “I’m sorry,” his words were soft.

  “It’s okay,” you watched him.

  You couldn’t take your eyes off him as he moved around the apartment. You had waited for this moment for years. You had lost hope too many times to count, thinking he had to be dead or the world was still just too big to find him. When he came back to you his eyes met yours and he smirked his eyebrows pulling together.

  “What is it?”

  “I just…I never thought I’d find you again. I’m not missing a moment,” you spoke as you took the water and pills from him.

  “I…I still can’t really believe you are here. I have to be honest I didn’t think I’d ever see you again. What happened after we…”

  “Got separated?” A simple nod from him, as he sat on the coffee table across from you and took your hand. “I’ll be honest I don’t want to talk about that right now. I just…I just need to be. I just need to be with you. I need to know for sure you’re not going to disappear on me again.”

The two of you let out an understanding sigh and Joel nodded. “I understand. We will talk more later.”

  He brushed a piece of your hair back behind your ear and his fingers trailed down your cheek gently. Tears welled in your eyes and you forced them to not fall. The two of you just sat there, looking at each other until keys were turning in his lock. You looked from the door, back to him in question.

  “We have a lot to talk about. Just���it’s okay.” He rushed the words out, panic clear on his face.

  Then a woman was walking through the door. She stopped just inside her eyes glancing from you to Joel and back. Silence filled the room and dread filled you. He had moved on. He had found someone else and now you…you had came all this way for nothing.

  “Is this (Y/N)?” She seemed to smile just slightly, the corners of her mouth turning up.

  How did she know your name?

  “It is. Uh, this is Tess,” he spoke his hand rubbing the back of his neck, a nervous tick of his.

  “Can we talk Joel?” She spoke before you could even utter a word.

  Joel simply nodded and walked behind her into the hallway. You knew you were going to hear every word they said and it made your stomach turn.

  “Tess I…she just showed up.”

  “Joel don’t it’s okay. I knew this day could always come. It’s always been her and it always will be. Let her stay with you and I’ll take her apartment.”

  “Tess…”

  “Joel you know I’m right. This…this was two lonely people keeping each other from falling apart. You still talk about her, you still call her name in your sleep. I know you still love her I can see it all over your face. It’s okay. We can still work together, but I understand. If it would have been….” She broke off for a second. “I know you would do the same thing.”

  Silence once again and you held your breath.

  “You’re right. I…I can’t turn her away. I…”

  “I know,” Tess spoke and you heard her kiss him whether on the lips or cheek you had no idea, but even in the moment it still made your stomach drop.

  The door opened and the two of them stepped back into the room. You didn’t realize until that moment that you had tears falling down your face.

  “I’m sorry,” your voice broke as it whispered the words to the both of them.

  “There is nothing for you to be sorry about.” Tess spoke to you and then she took your apartment key, that was sitting on the coffee table, and she was out the door.

  It shut behind her and you watched the door for a long moment before you looked at Joel. You didn’t stop the sob that broke from you and your hand covered your mouth. You had just came in and ruined everything he had. You felt sick.

  “I am so sorry Joel,” you spoke through the tears.

  He physically seemed to fall apart. Tears sprung in his eyes and he was down on his knees by the couch taking your face in his hands.

  “No no my sweet girl. There is nothing at all you need to feel sorry about. She was right. We were just keeping each other afloat and she knew if you ever came back to me that it wouldn’t be a decision. It has and always will be you. My love for you has never stopped. I just lost hope.”

  The he brought you to his lips and the two of you kissed. You melted into him and nothing else mattered anymore. You were with the man you loved finally. He pulled away, his forehead resting on yours as he wiped away the tears that had fallen.

  “Let’s get washed up and I’ll fix us some dinner and then we can get to bed.”

  “Sounds perfect,” you only whispered the words too afraid to really speak.

  You had no idea how two people separated for so long could simply fall back into line with each other, but it was easy for Joel and yourself. He had washed himself while you rested and then helped you to wash up. He had changed you into some of his clothes, promising to get you some more the next day. Then he fixed food for the two of you while you sat at his small table watching him. You both exchanged mellow stories of your time apart over the meal. Even with the events of the day it felt comfortable, familiar, normal. He helped you to bed and the two of you curled together on the mattress. He pulled you to him kissing the top of your head.

  “You want to talk about what happened now?” He spoke after a few moments of silence.

  You knew how it felt to wonder what had happened. You revisited that night entirely too often. Trying to figure out exactly what went wrong but the answer was simple. Everything had gone wrong. You had thought you were going to get out, up until the wreck.

*outbreak night*

  Your hearing came back first. Everything was muffled but the chaos was still rampant. You could barely hear your name being spoken by more than one person and then Sarah’s name. It was being repeated like a record player and finally you pushed the darkness of unconsciousness away and your eyes fluttered open. You were upside down, asphalt under your back and Tommy’s truck trapping you underneath it. You started to slowly move your limbs making sure nothing was broken. Your arm sent a shooting pain through you and you grit your teeth. At least it wasn’t your legs. You pushed yourself one armed out from under the truck meeting Joel and Sarah on the same side.

  “Can you walk baby girl?”

  You turned to Joel and Sarah and you glanced over them both. Joel was scratched up, blood coming from various places but all together he looked fine enough. Sarah on the other hand clearly had a twisted ankle. You grimaced at the sight, trying to move your arm. It wasn’t broke or at least not fully but you didn’t bother to keep pushing it. Sarah answered Joel with a no and he had her in his arms in a second. He turned to you glancing you over.

  “I’m fine. I think my arm is fucked but I’m okay.”

  Joel nodded and then turned to Tommy. Then in a second an ambulance came flying by wrecking Tommy’s truck further and separating the three of you from him.

  “I’m alright! Go! I’ll catch up with you!”

  “Tommy…”

  “Go!”

  Without another word the three of you turned and heading down the alley you had been trapped in. You stopped dead in your tracks when the sight in front of you opened up. Joel was next to you looking on in horror. A man was eating another and you gulped before he looked up. His body contorted strangely and then he was up.

  “Run,” Joel spoke simply and you took off into a restaurant.

  You flew through the place as fast as your legs could carry you, Joel and the sick man behind you. You flew through the place to a field on the other side of the city. Then there was gunfire and the man fell to the ground dead. You paused seeing a solider standing there his weapon lowered. Joel stopped beside you. Joel thanked him and then things seemed to move in slow motion. He spoke into his radio and your stomach fell to your feet. He seemed to argue with someone on the other side, mentioned a child and a woman. He wasn’t winning whatever that argument was and it was clear in his final words. You backed up and Joel glanced at you in confusion but then he seemed to freeze completely as the man brought his gun back up. You had no idea what happened in the next few moments. There was gunfire, you scattered falling to the ground and then there was Tommy in the distance, the solider dead. You slowly got up testing and checking your body. You hadn’t been shot and you let out a breath. You took off toward Joel and that’s when you heard him scream.

  “Tommy help me!”

  Sarah. No. You stopped just in front of Tommy. Joel held her and she didn’t look back at you. Her eyes were closed. She was gone. You fell to the ground, a sob ripping from you. And then you were crawling to him. You wrapped your arms around the back side of her. Joel and yourself held her as you both cried. Your heart had shattered. A part of you gone. A part of the man you loved gone. You were going to be sick. You turned quickly losing the contents of your stomach into the grass.

  “We have to go.” Tommy spoke slowly.

  You glanced at him knowing how right he was. You stayed too much longer and you would be dead.

  “Joel…Joel he’s right. We have to go. I’m so sorry. I know okay, I know. But they will kill us all if we don’t move.”

  You crawled back to Joel and he looked at you, so broken. You pushed away another sob trying to gather yourself for him. One of you had to be strong and in this moment you knew it had to be you. Joel lowered Sarah gently and looked at her. He kissed her forehead and whispered something to her before he gently laid her on the ground. You watched on helplessly. The three of you turned to each other for a moment before you started to once again move.

  “Well you know we went to that one town where all that salvage was…”

  “Trust me I recall clearly.”

  Now you could laugh a bit about it, but at the time you had been so scared. The two of you had gone to look for supplies and a whole pack of infected had found you. The two of you got separated and could never find each other. You remember going your separate ways to try and take care of the infected from each end. The last words Joel had spoken to you were that he would find you. He never did. You had gone running to find him and at first you had thought he was dead. You had checked every single last body in the area before you ducked into a building. You had slipped into a panic attack giving yourself a moment to grieve, to think of what to do next and then you made yourself move.

  “I made it out of Kentucky by the end of the week. I stayed in Ohio for several years. I lost hope. I lost myself for a long time. I self isolated and just tried to make it through. Then one day it was like this weird spark sent me forward and I felt more alive that I had in awhile. One morning I woke up and I just left. There was something there that was pulling me here. Now I know…it was you.”

  You looked up at him catching his brown eyes already watching you.

  “I thought I had lost you forever. I kept pushing, hoping one day I would find you again. That I would fulfill that promise. I felt like a failure because I never held it up.”

  “Joel…”

  “I got here and I did the same thing you did. I shut down and grieved you. Then one day I got up and made myself move on. I thought I was dreaming when I heard your voice say my name.”

  “Let’s make a promise to each other,” you sat up gently looking down at him, his fingers brushing at your arm gently.

  “Alright,” he smiled, actually smiled, a sight you had not seen in so long.

  “Let’s promise to stay together till the end of time. Let’s promise to never ever get separated again.”

  “That is a promise I was already planning on keeping.”

  Joel’s smile widened and your own grew on your face before he pulled you down, connecting his lips to yours.

Tagged: @jimmythegirl​ @arcadianempress​ @discogrrl​ @immundusspiritu​ @someplace-darker​ @thisis-theway​ @ohpedromypedro​ @scribbledghost​ @fioccodineveautunnale​ @princess-and-pedro​ @phoenixhalliwell​ @littlevodka​ @all-hallows-evie​ @mack4676​ @perropascal​ @audreyshepbvrn​ @mswarriorbabe80​ @kaqua​ @novemberrain221​

[lonesome-witching]

Never Let Go

This was an anonymous prompt asking for quotes 11 and 12 of this post. This time I'm certain I counted correctly because the prompter put the quotes in the prompt.

Do you have any prompts yourself? Or do you want to dive into what I wrote before? You can read my previous prompts or send me some new ones.

Robin’s hands were shaking. It wasn’t anything new. She had gotten used to it by now. When she got nervous her hands would shake and her mouth would start running a mile a minute.

It was only normal for her hands to be shaking right now. Especially after the words that had just slipped past her lips.

“Do you mean that?” Nancy asked. She had halted her movements, her hand dangling in the air. Robin wished she could guess what Nancy was thinking.

“Uh… Yes?”

Nancy nodded her head. As if all was clear now. Her hands finally grabbed the bandages as she got back to work. “I think you might have a concussion and we should make sure that cut on your shoulder doesn’t get infected.” Back to business.

“What?”

“You should try not to sleep tonight, just in case.”

“I’m sorry.”

Nancy looked up from where she was inspecting Robin’s arms, her fingers tingling Robin’s skin as she wrapped the bandage around one of Robin’s cuts. “What are you sorry for?”

“I didn’t mean to make things weird or to make you uncomfortable.”

“You didn’t.” Nancy averted her gaze again.

“You didn’t really react.”

Nancy sighed, stepping away from Robin now that bandage was secured in place. “You’re being an idiot, Robin.”

“I feel like I knew that already.”

“Stop it! You don’t need to earn my affection, not now and not ever, okay? And please, don’t apologize for wanting to be loved.”

“I—” Robin started.

“No, I’m not done.” Nancy grabbed Robin’s hands, dropping down to her knees. “I can’t believe you would think I wouldn’t love you. Robin, there is a reason why I picked you every step of the way. And— And we’ve kissed. You think I’d kiss just anybody?”

“I thought you might have pitied me.”

“Robin, I— It wasn’t pity.” Nancy shook her head.

“It wasn’t?”

“No, of course not. Robin, I kissed you because I wanted to kiss you.”

“You did?” Robin asked. Her voice was shaking too.

“Of course I did, Robin. Why can’t you believe that people want you?” Nancy was leaning her head on Robin’s knees. It looked adorable. Now more than ever it became unbelievable that Nancy would want to kiss her, would want to be with her, would possibly be able to like her.

“I guess I just have never been wanted before.” It was as honest as she could get.

“Well, you’re wanted now. I want you. I lo— I like you a lot, Robin.” Nancy pressed her lips to the back of Robin’s hand.

“You do?”

Nancy chuckled softly. “Yes, I do.”

“Are you sure?”

Nancy pecked Robin’s lips. “Most definitely.”

“Would you stay up with me?” Robin’s voice was growing steadier, ever so slightly.

“What?”

“You said I should stay up because I might have a concussion.”

“Oh, yes, of course I’ll stay with you. I’ll always stay with you.”

They sat next to each other on Nancy’s bed. Their thighs touching. Robin couldn’t help the thoughts that seeped into her brain.

Nancy’s hand inched closer. Just a little. Just enough. Enough for her pinky to touch Robin’s hand. Slowly, Nancy grabbed her hand. Her fingers curling around Robin’s. It felt nice. It felt like Robin finally belonged somewhere. And she hoped, beyond anything, that she’d never have to let go again.

[dovithedarklord]

Age of Monsters - Chapter Nineteen

Pairing: OFC x Simon "Ghost" Riley, OFC x König

Tags: Slow Burn, Slow Build, Enemies to Lovers, Alternate Universe, Blood and Gore, Blood and Violence, Eventual Romance, Eventual Smut, POV First Person, Not Beta Read, Medical Inaccuracies, Military Inaccuracies, AFAB OC

Trigger Warning: The story will contain violance, blood and smut in detail. Please, keep that in mind!

⚠️MDNI⚠️

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Author's Note

Leona goes to a party and receives love from someone that she is not prepared for.

Hello!

I'm sorry that it took so long to post the new chapter, but unfortunately, my personal life was a total mess (work, I was sick, I was struck by electricity - but that's good because now I can at least describe what it feels like from experience, if necessary:D), but I'm here again! :D

For today's chapter, I don't have many Trigger Warnings: Violence, some blood.

Have fun! :D

I.M.L. – Infected Mammalian Lifeorm I.H.L. – Infected Humanoid Lifeorm

if you're interested you can find the story on AO3: Chapter Nineteen

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The chirping of birds that filter through the cracks of the broken windows is almost idyllic, as I slowly make my way to the place of our next meeting, and the dazzling weather outside could almost distract me from the throbbing of unsatisfied desire in my muscles. After I left my favorite Hunter alone to process the remnants of pleasure caused by my skillful little hands, and with nimble steps, I marched back to the protective solitude of my room, then the heat blooming between my legs finally had time to reach my consciousness. Because as long as my nervous system was occupied with the fascinating suffering of Riley's body, the onslaught of the flames burning in my veins seemed quite bearable, but as soon as the heady scent of the man cleared from my nose and my brain was finally able to process the events, then the effect of my little action avenged itself with such force, that for the rest of the night, I trembled quite merrily from the agony. And although I could have relieved my torment myself, and without a doubt I would have had many enticing examples to choose from among the images that surged into my memories, but thanks to the masochism that had moved into my head, I managed to keep my hand from traveling to my panties, all night thinking of Riley's dark eyes swimming in lust and the tantalizing taste of him on my tongue. Because I know that later, when he finally catches me, his revenge will be even sweeter. And maybe the fact that no one has ever managed to elicit feelings like this from me should scare me, but it bothers me less and less what new things the Hunter helps me discover about myself.

And as my feet finally lead me to the dining room, my eyes immediately find the small group of people gathered around the table, who, although they are deeply preoccupied with studying the map spread out there, raise their heads almost as soon as I cross the threshold of the neat room. The speed with which my eyes connect with the masked Hunter's is quite amusing, and I can't resist the cheeky smile that crosses my face as I discover the almost invisible movement with which he clenches his jaw for a fleeting moment. And this single action is enough for me to know that I’m not the only one who feels the smoldering longing under my skin, but that the experience that I so generously bestowed upon him flashes in his head with perfect sharpness as well. Although it's obvious that professionalism has a priority over the emotions that are raging inside him at the moment, but no matter how experienced he is, I pay attention to his smallest movements with the sharp senses of a hawk about to strike. And it doesn't take more than a wandering glance and I can see how tension passes over the arch of his broad shoulders. Would you look at that…

And from the man's reaction, hundreds of devilish thoughts form in my mind once again, and despite the warning voice in my head, I give in to their temptation, and lifting my chin high, planting a playful sway in my hips, I stroll closer to the small bunch, enjoying how Riley's eyes narrow slowly but surely with danger from my obvious, naughty little ploy. And it seems that he is not the only one who becomes aware of my good mood, because my two fanboys also notice how suspicious and satanic the curve of the widening grin on my face is, with which I stride next to them.

"Someone is in a very good mood!" Garrick comments, and the sincere interest with which he tries to decipher why life has returned to me with such vigor after yesterday's exhausting exercise is quite sweet. And I'd be lying if I said that I didn't enjoy the concentrated confusion, caused by the little scene unfolding in front of them, emanating from my two friends. But unfortunately for them, this dirty little secret is only Riley's and my business for now.

"She's almost glowin'..." MacTavish notes, sharing his apt observations as well, and it would be impossible not to hear the suspicion in his voice, the weight of which accompanies me as I walk around the table with slow but springy steps. And it would be futile to deny that my pretty little body is almost bursting with a healthy glow caused by satiety and the excited buzz of my energy, but it's also a fact that my dessert was just as effective in getting me in this crazy good mood. And the dirty thought enters my mind, that maybe I should use the services of Riley's mouth-watering body more often as part of my beauty routine, if I can achieve such a spectacular result with it.

"My late-night snack helped a lot." I hint innocently, and the meaningful look with which my eyes glide over the masked man as I take my place next to him is completely intentional. And my tiny little remark just deepens the lines of wariness that appear on the faces of MacTavish and Garrick with clear outlines, and as their eyebrows rise almost in unison to meet in a worried grimace in the middle of their forehead, I bite the inside of my cheek to stifle the smug laughter that wants to bubble up in my throat.

And I have enough evilness in me to add to the confusion created by my words, and I know that my favorite Hunter doesn't miss that tiny touch, lasting only for a tenth of a second, with which my fingers run along his arm as I lazily lean against the table to take a closer look at the map, which is now interwoven with not only the captain's but also Riley's diligent little notes. Although the drawing of the winding streets of the colony, filled with keen observations, has nothing new to offer me, but I can feel the chocolate brown eyes almost burning a hole in the sensitive skin of my face, they fixate on me with such heat, and I'm mad enough to withhold my attention from him, even after I have so vilely reminded him of the power he has placed in my hands under the cover of night. Although it would seem like nothing more than just an overheated affair to anyone else, where he alleviated my misery and I, in return, helped his suffering, but much more took place between the walls shrouded in lust. Because this terrifying man, who could kill even the most bloodthirsty mutants with a single move, and who could grind every pitiful bone of mine to dust with his bare hands, gave me control over his body and his passion to play with as I pleased. And this rekindles the drunken joy in my head, because I strongly doubt that many people have had this privilege before. And although I know that his retribution will be a thousand times more painful, I would be lying if I said that I'm not filled with joy knowing that now only the presence of our audience prevents him from taking back the reins from me, which he actually gave me voluntarily himself.

But despite how keenly my senses are sharpened for every small and invisible move of Riley, even this concentration is penetrated by the probing stare, under the intrusion of which foreboding settles in my stomach like the first unpleasant spasm of an incipient illness. And I'm not so stupid as not to pay attention to this, because the experience of our exchange is still too fresh in my head to allow myself to ignore it. With careful slowness, I divert my gaze from the handwriting on the map, and the speed with which I meet the blue eyes watching me tells me that he has been studying the little performance caused by my good mood since I set foot in the dining room. And I don't like the cold interest that shines in those piercing, icy irises at all, because I have to maintain the eye contact by force, despite the fear, that the blood in my veins could turn into poison in the wake of his watchful attention. Because even though, like the night before, König leans his broad back against the wall with perfect calmness and disturbingly collected indifference, as if he would be doing a favor by gracing us with his presence on this briefing, I see the dark outlines of the thoughts in his head, reflected in the bottomless depths of his eyes. As if he were examining excitedly moving ants under a magnifying glass, wondering when the time would come to let the sun's hot rays break through the lens. And this only strengthens the scratching of the questions appearing in my head, which all demand an answer to the doubt as to when their help will turn into something less friendly. Because it would be quite foolish to think that that moment won't come.

And all I have to do is catch the tiny little movement in my periphery with which Riley takes a step forward, and I know that I'm not the only one who noticed the rather interesting behavior of the mercenary hiding by the wall. Maybe it's luck, maybe it's the benevolent hand of fate, but Price and Nik appear in time at the gaping mouth of the dining room to interrupt the situation reminiscent of a barrel of gunpowder, for the ignition of which sooner or later, but the spark will arrive, we just have to give it time. And I'm just wildly hoping it happens after we finally don't have to be stressed about whether that fucking serum is going to help unleash another apocalypse or not.

And although the wind of the forming storm is dying down, instead of relief washing away the growing gloom dominating our little team, the furrows on the captain's forehead reassure us that we don't have to worry that we will finally have a bit of easiness in our mission. And at this point, maybe I shouldn't be surprised that fate, while we float in the middle of the sea of shit, will push us down again under the putrid waves, because it would be unusually nice if we finally got some damn good news.

"Tell me you have good news, Nik!" Garrick calls out to our pilot, and although the hope, that the buddies of our Russian friend hiding in the colony might help us track down the Rat, is mixed in his voice, but from the faint lines of doubt appearing on the Hunter’s face, it is clear that thanks to the grim expression of our leader, he also sees pitifully little chance of this happening.

"I have news." Nik gives the not-so-eloquent answer, and from the way he curves his mouth into a rather sour smile, as he and the bearded Hunter walk closer to our small gathering lined up around the table, the suspicion forms in me, that even his connections of dubious origin were not able to bring us close enough to our criminal. And this can be a detour that we cannot afford in our race with time, which we already started from a disadvantage, unless we want to party with dozens of degenerate hybrid monsters in the not-so-distant future. And I suspect that this is the awareness that helps to dispel the last sparks of the previous conflict from everyone in a instant, because the tension fills the worn walls of the spacious hall with an almost unexpected suddenness.

"That doesn't sound very promising." Garrick shares his thoughts, which aren’t the least rosy, and although he manages to put the foreboding into words that the shadow of which settles between his arched eyebrows, but from the small movement with which his dark eyes search for the captain with uncertainity, I can tell exactly how strongly this bad feeling spreads its roots in his mind with each minute, because it begins to crawl at the hidden corners of my skull with fantastic enthusiasm for me as well. 

"According to Nik's contact, there is a club in sector F, which the Rat uses as his headquarters. He deals with business there almost every day." Price shares the first important piece of information with us, pointing to the small square on the spread-out map of the colony with his gloved hand, which presumably marks our thug's favorite cave. And although, based on the content of his announcement, there would be reason for us to be at least a little bit happy, but from the presence of the cheerless edge resonating in his deep voice, I soon realize that there must be some very sinister twist in this promising news. And my infallible intuitions tell me very kindly, that we are about to l have another chance to get involved in some unneeded excitement again. Great.

"That's good news, isn't it?" MacTavish asks in confusion, searching the tangled network of streets stretching between the buildings resting on the ragged map, no doubt already thinking about which road would be the most suitable to lead him to the Rat unnoticed, so that he could finally get his hands, itching from the repressed aggression of the last few weeks, on the bastard's neck. And although I'm sure they are buzzing with the motivation to finally make a nice bow from the asshole's guts in the most creative ways possible, but as I notice the dark clouds passing over Nik's eyes, I begin to suspect that he will soon blurt out the critical detail that will ruin my Scottish friend's bloodthirsty ideas. 

"His people are around every corner. It's impossible to get close to him without him knowing about it." Our pilot shakes his head resignedly, presenting the same problem that has kept us on our asses so far and prevented my brutal friends from digging their sharp little teeth into their victim. And according to this, even though we have become richer with a location, the situation hasn't changed, and the sharp ears and watchful eyes of our target are still waiting in every nook and cranny for someone to turn up to hunt him down. Because I'm pretty sure he is smart enough to know that his little transaction won't go unnoticed for long if clever enough bloodhounds pick up the scent at the end of the blood-soaked trails. And he is also aware of what valuable trinket he has laid his hands on, and that sooner or later the original owner will be looking for where his destructive toy has disappeared.

"We can be quiet." Garrick declares firmly, and there is no doubt that his statement is true, because if it only depended on their imperceptibility, then our target, with the help of their chosen torture methods, would have spilled where to find the serum long ago. But unfortunately, even their remarkable abilities cannot solve this situation any faster. "Especially Ghost." He adds, when his gaze settles on the masked Hunter, who stands motionlessly in silence next to me and just nods in agreement with his teammate's very apt remark. And although I have already experienced countless times what Riley is capable of, when the goal is conceived in his mind filled with merciless ideas, now we are not going to get anywhere with sheer force. Because we need the Rat alive, and this is a complication that severely limits the repertoire of their bloodthirsty tactics.

"Not quiet enough." Nik objects, nipping Garrick's positivity in the bud, which makes me almost feel sorry for the Hunter, as I see how annoyed he purses his pursed lips. But no matter his irritation, the Russian is right, if we screw up now, we are never going to be able to find the seller or the product again. "There is an extensive underground tunnel system under Colony No. 2, he uses that, and he can escape at any time. He got his name from this." The man explains, thereby revealing a difficulty that only adds another shovelful of potential complications to the pile of rotting misery and misfortune, which slowly closes us in its hot embrace. Because what are the chances that such tricky little pathways are hidden in the very colony where we are about to play a cat-and-mouse game with a seasoned criminal who probably knows these hidden passages like the back of his fucking hand. Fabulous. "He can smell the Hunters from afar." He adds this non-negligible addition to the end, confirming the hunch that has been buzzing in the winding furrows of my brain until now.

And as unfortunate as this development is for us, it's not even a bit surprising that an outlaw with dangerous business dealings has developed a sixth sense to know when his natural predator is targeting him. It's true that the main task of the Hunters is the methodical slaughter of mutants, but everyone is aware that enough criminals drift under their brutal little hands to know how unlucky it is to spot one of the colonies' faithful dogs. And although perhaps a lower-class Hunter would still be able to blend into the herd of unsuspecting civilians, as I run my eyes over my small team, it becomes painfully obvious that neither their imposing physical attributes nor their threatening aura make them ideal for getting close enough to catch the Rat before he takes off in one of his mouseholes. Because it's also quite evident that such an important gangster surrounds himself with a dozen lapdogs, and if a speck of dust falls suspiciously on the ground, he will hightail it out of there.

"But we need the information." Horangi finally joins the conversation, reminding us of the urgent fact that, even without his intervention, enthusiastically turns the atmosphere around us more pregnant by the minute. "I still think we should smoke him out." He says easily, leaning against the wall in the shadow of his overgrown companion as if he still wouldn't understand what the problem is with his otherwise undoubtedly bomb-proof approach. At other times, I might even present him with a sarcastic comment, to enjoy his reaction with my harsh little soul, I might even analyze what kind of weakness he reveals with it, but now my brain capacity is far too preoccupied with the problem, which is enriched with more and more details the deeper we dive into its exploration.

"It wouldn't do any good. He doesn't have that thing with him, that's for sure." Nik continues, adding to the previous obstacles, and he doesn't need to spell out why it's a complication for us that the fucker is not roaming the streets with our little potentially-world-ending chemical in his pocket. Because as the slurred mumble of a colorful curse leaves MacTavish's mouth, I know everyone suddenly realizes that we are now trying to reach into an anthill in which we have no chance of finding the queen by chance.

"So we don't know where the serum is." Riley summarizes, putting into words the very apparent difficulty that makes the whole situation just tad bit disastrous. Because, up until now, we have entered the new chapter of our complicated adventure with the assumption that the Rat, in fear of his product suddenly vanishing into thin air, will rather keep it close to himself for his peace of mind. And while it wouldn't have been far-fetched to think that he wouldn't even trust his own mother enough to let her guard such a valuable thing, but in light of the fact that there is a whole network of tunnels that he knows more intimately than his own dick, its more likely that he will hide there the goods that he acquired during such great efforts.

"No." Price confirms our fears, and this one word rolls off his tongue so grimly that it quickly becomes clear how happy he is about this turn of events. And I only need to observe how the little muscle on his jaw jumps to know, that it's only the self-control he has practiced over the years that prevents him from shredding the equipment into confetti to show off the frustration raging inside him right now. "He's a sly bastard, he knows it's not worth taking any risks until the deal is sealed." He explains, running his palm along his beard with a weary movement, giving way to an irritated sigh rising in his throat, in which the power of rage flowing from his pores is concentrated.

"Fuck." MacTavish pushes himself away from the table furiously, and drags his hands along the line of dark hair running on his head with such angry momentum that it seems for a minute as if he wants to tear out the short locks tangled between his fingers. "We're runnin' out of time." He names the most pressing problem of the whole case, and his tone is mixed with the restrained rage that tells me just how much the obstacles popping up in front of us bring him dangerously close to losing the last fragile crumbs of his patience.

And suddenly, a heavy silence sweeps through the room, settling into the cracks that spread like old, gangrenous wounds on the worn walls, and in this terrible quietness, nothing but the taunting of the cheerful chirping of birds that filters in from outside echoes. For it seems that karma, on the welcoming lap of nature wrapped in spring, is having fun with the corner it forces us into with each passing day, because there is no explanation as to why fate throws us more and more hurdles that we have to climb over with sweat and blood. But it must be said that this move is quite brilliant, because now that the solution to this absurd mess, full of mutants and death, is finally within our reach, we are forced to be at a standstill like a bunch of helpless idiots.

We might be able to use some clever trick to get close to our asshat, and I suspect it would take Riley approximately two minutes to pull this feat off if it was enough to gut the bastard. But we need him alive, or the chance of finding out where the serum is will be obliterated with his spilled brain marrow. And although it would be better for everyone if that wretched chemical rotted in the endless maze of tunnels, I have the sneaking feeling that such an interesting thing wouldn't stay buried forever. Because if the master rat were to die, there would definitely be some sharp-eyed minion who could find a way to satisfy the market demand, since in such organizations there is always someone who knows just enough to take advantage of the opportunity when it's presented on a silver platter along with the severed head of their boss. So the Rat must be alive, and most of all unsuspecting, because if Nik's information is only half-credible, then in the event of a raid, he will cut and run before my friends have a chance to work on him. And without the Rat, we will never find the our prize in that labyrinth.

But this one observation is enough to finally free me from my perplexity, and like a bolt of lightning, my brain is enlightened in a flash, and I suddenly feel incredibly stupid for ignoring the obvious answer that was right in front of my nose all this time. After all, there is someone in our little team who spent half her life perfecting that vile invisibility, with which she happily hid from the watchful eyes of the authorities, like a pretty, cunning little snake. Oh, Leona… you forgot about your wonderful past pretty quickly, didn't you?

"What if he leads us to the serum?" I present the introduction of my sly idea, effectively breaking the tense atmosphere. And this one question is enough for all eyes to be fixed on me in an instant, and I don't need to say a word for the captain to realize with his honed senses, from the first glint of malice that moves into my eyes, that something very interesting was taking shape in my little head. Because his eyes narrow suspiciously, like a tired parent who already knows that whatever leaves the mouth of his child, nothing good will come out of it for him.

"What do you mean?" Price inquires, and a layman might believe that only the caution of paternal worry sits in his tone, but I already know the man better than that, and I'm aware that the hoarseness that paints his voice with curiosity comes more from an incipient disagreement than from concern. However, my little plan will be the only thing that can pull us out of that screwed-up hole, from which we wouldn't be able to get out even with tooth and nails any other way.

"I'll solve your problems." I announce easely, waving towards the map with such an elegant gesture, as if I wasn't offering them my services that I had refined over the years. Although it takes a fleeting second for the spark to light up in each of their brains, and they understand what I'm trying to convey, even through the noise of the devilish thoughts raging in my head, I see how forcefully surprise mixed with outrage takes over the facial expressions of my little team. And I can pinpoint the exact moment when they realize what I'm offering, because the lines of genuine astonishment stretch through Garrick's face, turning his handsome features into something quite comical.

"Out of the question." Riley snaps almost without hesitation, and his objection is so unexpected that I'm forced to reward it with a bewildered look. And if the definite depth of his voice wasn't interesting enough, then the fiery light flashing in the dark irises ruffles my enthusiasm for my brilliant plan. Because it's rather difficult for me to understand why the pent-up anger moves into his muscles when we both know that we are floundering in the middle of a party for which this will be the quickest and surest solution. And the nasty little voice in my head whispers its nonsensical message in my ear, that this isn't the first time I see the faint lines of disapproval appearing on the skin coated in black paint, and maybe in his own way he is telling me that he is afraid of my little body being wrecked by someone else. But this sudden thought reminds me that this is exactly the reaction I need to do this tricky little venture. Because I'm willing to risk life and limb, so that I can feel how the hot displeasure emanating from his gaze burns my face for many years to come.

"Ghost is right. You're tryin’ to walk into the wolf den alone, lassie." The Scottish Hunter shares his doubts as well, and I have the opportunity to admire the firm lines of opposition on his face, because they arrange his features into a dark expression with such enthusiasm that it is quite sweet. And although the worry flashing in his bright eyes warms up my cruel little heart, his behavior gives me just one more reason to know that I came up with the right concept.

"I appreciate your concern, but you forget how I got into the team." I note this detail, effectively reviving the unfortunate slip-up committed not so long ago that ended my secret little hiding career. And although today I'm mostly grateful to fate for helping me move into the new phase of my life with such a merciless slap in the face, luckily it didn't turn me into a saint, so my experiences live on in me very vividly. And in light of that, ensnaring a damned criminal doesn't seem like a difficult task in the least, because over the years I've managed to make stupid bastards like him lose their minds and walk unsuspectingly into my waiting hands. And since muscle and sheer violence won't help us out in this case, it's time to use my feminine skills, because, with the honey of my charming little body, it will be much easier to lure in this disgusting fly.

"This is going to be real now. You won't have a weapon and you won't be able to call for help." Price warns, placing his large palms on the table, and as he leans forward, his shoulders tense and his gaze fills with something quite hard, which makes me understand that, although his not over the moon in the least, he is forced to agree to my reckless proposal, because, at the moment, out of the countless difficult roads, this is the least impossible.

"I don't need anything but my hands, do I?" I lift one of my pretty little hands, allowing only a fleeting moment for the energy pooling in her fingertips to heat up excitedly at the promise of a delicious prey. And they should also know that no matter how harmless I may seem, it's precisely this sneaky and mean ability that makes me such an effective predator. And we don't need more than that right now. "I'll go in, trick him, and wire him up. And he leads us to the serum."

"And what do you do with these?" Garrick names the only obvious problem, pointing his hand towards my eyes and sweet little canines, eliciting a nod of agreement from the Hunter with the mohawk, who merely raises one of his dark eyebrows with his hands laced into his tactical vest, curiously waiting to see what kind of answer I will give to this small unpleasant detail. "He'll find out that you're Extreme." The man adds to his doubts, curling the corner of his mouth down with sincere doubt, as if he had really shared a reason that could make my diabolical idea fail. And his naivety is quite amusing, because neither my unusual pupils nor my small teeth will be a problem, I just have to choose the right approach. And I'm pretty good at that.

"Don't worry." I utter lightly, and I see the worry on the faces of my kind friends when I spread my lips in a grin similar to that of a demon from hell. "I'll make sure he's not going to be able to focus on that."

⃰

Although it's already the end of spring, the night breeze that travels through the walls of worn buildings caresses my bare arms with chilly fingers, but I don't care that goosebumps prickle on every square centimeter of my skin following its attack. Because it just helps my attire for tonight to become even more efficient, and I can be almost certain that my nipples peeking under the thin material of my rather risque dress will beneficially distract attention from the dubious intentions with what I stroll into a nightclub in the middle of the street, loud with blaring music.

After our small discussion, I almost immediately stepped into the field of action, and thanks to Nik's rather extensive connections, he smuggled me through the walls of the colony so unnoticed that it once again raised the question of how did the man acquire such important friends. But considering how we managed to slip through the tight check with the help of some very questionable looking guys, I decided that some answers were better off buried, so I accepted that he got me close enough to the finish line to figure out the rest of my own like a smart girl I am. And it wasn't difficult for my nasty hands to find someone in the hustle and bustle of the nightlife who seemed unsuspecting and pretty enough to be worth stealing her fun outfit of the night. Perhaps, if I had been a little bit more compassionate, I wouldn't have had the heart to knock out an innocent civilian and strip her of the clothes, bought with great effort and presumably with a lot of credit, but necessity is a much greater force than niceness, so I only had exactly enough kindness to haphazardly hang my own clothes on her and drag her behind a container, so that she can have her well-deserved beauty sleep, with which I so generously gifted her.

Although even before the departure, they were full of worry and doubt as they set me up for my trip, now as I walk along the street bathed in flickering neon lights, I only hope that my friends, who have retreated into the shadows, will also see what kind of disguise I have put together for this exciting little occasion, because their little souls will immediately be freed from the pressure of the fear of my downfall. And the knowledge that my favorite Hunter is probably following my little action from the top of one of the buildings with prying eyes, only makes the swaying of my hips even more seductive, because, in my mind's eye, I see his jaw clenching under the mask as the idea slowly forms in his head of how he will teach me a lesson because of my obvious misbehavior. Because although I will do everything only for the sake of the success of the mission, the fact is that there is also a slight, malicious intent in me, with which I would like to finally push the man to the edge of the abyss of his patience. And even though I don't have the opportunity to ask him how he likes my dress that fits me like a second skin, I have a feeling that my audacity won’t go unanswered. Until then, however, he will be forced to watch as a spectator, because I was quite serious when I told them so innocently that I would find a way to make sure that no one would be able to pay attention to the little nothings that betray my kind. But it wouldn't be a problem even if that happened, because perhaps I would seem an even tastier snack to that dipshit thug.

There is no need for me to recall the road leading to the Rat's hideout, because the club stands out from the gray concrete blocks with such ostentatious splendor, as if it wanted to lead uninvited guests to itself with a deliberate intention. Maintaining the signs in all the colors of the rainbow must be a small fortune, and even if this wouldn't give it away, then the row of cars parked next to the sidewalk, perhaps salvaged before the outbreak of the virus, can be enough of a warning sign that it's not the simple everyday-people who have strayed here to let out the tired steam. Such a carefully guarded machine would supply half a colony with food stamps, and this kind of bragging is just another fine proof that our criminal feels safe enough to dare to allow himself such a show. And even without super-senses, I can feel the searching eyes fixed on me from the dirty depths of the hidden alleys, as I march closer to the building, noisy with the pounding of the bass. There is a vermin around every corner, vigilantly waiting to alert the boss. How fucking smart.

It seems that the sea of dubious figures may have gathered in honor of an even bigger occasion than usual, because the people crowding in front of the entrance are pushing and shoving almost impatiently to get into the party, but the sizable tough guys stationed in front of the door stand like an impenetrable wall in front of the mass. And maybe it should worry me that, falling in the middle of an unknown important event, there might be more dangerous thugs standing between me and my target, but the bigger the commotion, the less attention will be focused on a hot but silly little girl like me. Only one person needs to spot me, and I could easily make that happen even if I were woken up from my sleep.

Perhaps I should thank fate for luring so many idiots here today, because I mingle with a group of girls heading for the entrance with such imperceptible charm as I finally reach the wretched club, like I had always been one of them. With the greatest naturalness in the world, I link my arms with one of the girls laughing drunkenly, and when she just curiously raises her alcohol-foggy eyes at me, I send a jolt of my energy into her defenseless body with a cheerful laugh, just enough to make her focus more on not ending up on the ground from the sudden dizziness, rather than what kind of unknown stranger joined her in the fun. And I don't have to be disappointed, because the stars that must have appeared in front of her eyes make her feet, hidden in stilettos, suddenly buckle, and she distracts one of the big gorillas just enough to make him not want to examine us more thoroughly, while he lets us in ahead of the gathered herd into the pit mocked as a nightclub. I don't mind the series of disdainful glances piercing my back when I pass between the two security men with my small group of decorative ladies, because no matter the appearance of the mutants, the world hasn't changed so much that pretty, fuckable fresh meat doesn't have priority when it comes to partying. But this is exactly the little detail that will benefit me so generously today.

And as soon as I'm swallowed up by the corridor leading to the club, I move on with my new companions, accompanied by the shadows painted on the wall by the flashing lights, and I'm almost overcome with nostalgia, as the pulsation of the music resonates through my bones. The excited anticipation, that reared its head in my subconscious every time I drifted into a cesspool like this to look for dinner, moves into my muscles. And maybe the fact that I got richer with a delicious bite at the end of each evening developed a real reflex in me, because hearing the unrecognizable booming tunes, my mind almost automatically focuses on the hunt, as we arrive into the huge room full of people. When we reach the edge of the crowd writhing in a daze, I unobservedly separate myself from the bunch of girls to lean against one of the walls and spy on the field. According to the plan, I should spend here as little time as possible, because the shorter the time they see me, the smaller the chance that someone can notice what kind of delicacy has been thrown here in my person. And the success of my disguise and operation depends quite a lot on how sneaky I can be, so I have to be on the lookout.

I was not mistaken in that the Rat didn't spare the credit for furnishing his sanctuary with enough frippery, because the garish luxury emanates from every corner of the spacious hall with such violence that it's quite nauseating. Gilded tendrils run along the marble columns stretching up to the ceiling at the edge of the dance floor, and I can tell without much expertise that, despite the glitz, all the expensive-looking decorations are at least as fake as the stench of cheap booze in the air. And although the lights flickering rhythmically from the many lamps may distract attention from the tasteless mosaic of a lion's head on the floor, which the dancers are obliviously tramping on, it cannot be denied that this den belongs to a figure who considers fake splendor important enough to pack it into every nook and cranny. Perfect. He will be the exact target that my seductive little curves will be able to keep off his feet long enough to walk into my clutches, because it's enough to charm the eyes of such stupid idiots to turn off their brains.

I catch the thug I'm looking for with almost ridiculous speed, because the platform in the far corner of the dance floor stands out with an egoism worthy of him, on which he sprawls with such comfort as a self-proclaimed king. He leans back on the couch covered in cheap silk with almost grandiose confidence, gesticulating with such ferocity towards the grim-faced gangsters sitting on the other side of the glass table, as if he were sharing some truly valuable wisdom with them. And if he wasn't wearing sunglasses in the middle of the night, I would even believe that he has some brain cells in his head, but the whole picture looks like a pathetic show, which is usually performed by tough men like him to compensate for their small size. The thought occurs to me with quite a bit of glee, that karma could not have chosen a better target for me, because this kind of prey has such a pleasant aftertaste that is hard to beat. Because when they become aware of what it feels like to endure my attack so defenselessly, the rage and fear that fills them between my claws makes their blood taste quite spicy, like mature wine.

I only hesitate for a fleeting moment, then I let the power of habit take control of my body, and I push myself from my previous hiding place with such airy elegance that it fills every fiber of me with the lustful energy that I know will be able to draw my victim's attention to me. Keeping my eyes on my chosen target, I cut through the crowd of people united by rhythmic movements, and with the graceful steps of a cat about to pounce, I avoid the entangled bodies drifting in my path, almost intoxicated by the smell of nauseatingly strong perfume and sweat floating in the air. And although I haven't been lucky enough to practice the techniques I have learned through hard work for months, my hips start to sway almost unconsciously when I reach the perfect spot and begin my little performance. I let the power of the bass emanating from the huge speakers creep into my limbs and guide my every heated movement with invisible hands, and I allow myself to be immersed in my lonely dance, because the more intoxicated I appear, the easier it will be to convince my target that I am nothing more than a desperate, thirsty whore.

And even though I'm anchored far enough that those pesky little details that could later identify me cannot be spotted, I'm just close enough to attract interest, and when I feel the hot gaze burning my skin even through my closed eyelids, I forcefully tame the sarcastic grin that wishes to climb on my face into a seductive smile. The laziness with which I slide my hand along the line of my throat is intentional, as I throw my head back and focus all my bewitching charms into every small movement of my body, and there is nothing accidental in the way my eyes flutter open, as my fingers stop on their journey, lingering at the bold cleavage of my dress. And for a few fleeting moments, I pretend to be just jolted awake from the intoxication of the music, and then almost immediately I find the hungry leer of my chosen thug, who drinks in every corner of my enticing figure with such intense intrusion, as if I had really succeeded in hypnotizing him.

It's pathetically easy to pinpoint when he decides he likes me enough to want to taste me, because he even ditches those stupid glasses to adequately revel in my one-of-a-kind show. And although I know that I test luck with my braveness, but as my eyes are intertwined with his, my curious tongue glides over my lips with just a sensual movement, and when, for a moment, my fingers teasingly wander under the hem of my dress, snug against my thighs, then I know that I have won the game. Because that disgusting grin that spreads across his mouth is a painfully clear sign that all the blood has flowed from his brain to his dick, and from now on he is letting that tiny little organ guide his actions. How predictable…

But like someone who is quite innocently unaware of the deep impression I made on this idiot, I continue my inviting activity, because I know for a fact that it's only a matter of time before he invites me to himself. It's almost comical when, a few minutes later, a rough hand lands on my shoulder, pulling me out of my soft rocking, and I look back at the mustachioed gentleman, who presumably came to pick me up for his boss's cock warmer for the night.

"You got lucky, little girl." He says without hesitation, shouting over the loud music with his hoarse voice, and I don't need to be particularly well-informed about underworld affairs to understand what he wants to convey with his careless nod of his head and his words, because it's a universal signal that is the same everywhere in the world for ripe girls like me. And as I peek over the burly man's cheap, gaudy shirt-clad shoulder and spot the Rat, I have to suppress the laughter that rises in my throat, because even though he may be shining in his mind like a real jackpot, as he stands up smugly beckoning towards him with his fingers, it's painfully obvious that how easy it will be for me to hunt him down. Because it doesn't even occur in his stupid little head who he is inviting to private fun in my pretty little person. But it's not his fault, because the prey is never aware of when it is being stalked.

And it seems that the criminal leader sees the matter settled with this little instruction, because after a last little joking comment, he comfortably sets off towards the small, well-hidden door opening at the side of the room, and then his subordinate sees that the time has arrived to deliver the delicious package to his boss. The big hand of the gorilla firmly begins to guide me towards the edge of the partying mass, and I obediently let him expertly direct me towards my new destination, occasionally sneaking a little drunken uncertainty into my steps to make my already award-winning performance as authentic as possible. The easier victim I look, the less they will suspect what a nasty little plan I'm up to, and the easier it will be for me to disappear into the darkness of the memories of unknown girls. And from the contemptuous, dirty look with which the asslickers participating in the previous meeting examine my desirable little body, I can be quite sure that this is not the first time they have seen this scene unfold. And when one of the guys with a face disfigured by scars blows me a mocking kiss with an obscene but no less pitiful gesture, it also quickly becomes clear that their leader is generous enough to share his used toys with them when he is done with them. And because of this, the spark of mercy, which might have been hidden in the depths of my dark little soul, evaporates like the imagination of an oasis rising before a dying pilgrim in the desert. Not that I'm ever going to have any sympathy for my snacks, but this scumbag just makes my job easier by acting like the nastiest louse the world has ever seen. Wonderful.

My escort pushes me over the threshold of the door perhaps more forcefully than necessary, as if he is afraid that I will change my mind after seeing the narrow corridor bathed in red neon, and from the way his fingers tighten on my shoulder, I conclude that it wouldn’t be the first time that the courage of the ladies who wandered here disappeared. But he doesn't have to be afraid, because I continue to cooperate with the naivety of a silly bitch, and I let him nudge me towards one of the countless windowless doors, so that when, after a rough knock, the entrance opens, then he, without further ado, can usher me into the tiny room. And as the only way of escape closes behind me with a loud bang, the game, for what I dragged my sexy ass here in the first place, starts.

The over-decorated tastelessness has found its way into the crimson walls of the small room a well, and the smell of cheap cologne spreads like a disgusting disease from every corner, but I don't have to look long for the source that was able to plant this god-awful stench here. Because my criminal has already taken his place, and all my cells are filled with disgust and malice, as I see his hungry eyes sliding along the lines of my bare legs, and I don't have to think much about whether he likes my outfit for tonight, because between his spread legs, straining under the material of the tight trousers, there is the clearly visible proof of his opinion. And his enthusiasm might even be flattering, if he didn't make my work almost painfully easy.

"I liked your dance." He notes, and the hoarseness of desire settles into his voice as his gaze wanders to the delicate mounds of my breasts hidden under my dress, and this is exactly the reaction I need. Oh, you stupid fool. "Come here." He tries to lure me closer, but due to the impatience in his tone, his request sounds more like an order, but his rudeness doesn't bother me. Because even though he stretches out on the leather couch as the all-powerful lord of his little empire steeped in violence and crime, and a sticky aura of superiority emanates from every cell of him, he is no more than prey. Not even if he doesn't know who he's been left alone with.

"If you liked it, maybe I should give you an encore." I suggest coquettishly as I wander closer to him, and the seductive hum I put in my voice is quite intentional. And even without his affirmation, I know how much he likes my idea, because he slurps up the golden contents of the glass resting in one of his tattooed hands so hastily, as if he would regret every drop of attention it's taking away from me. How cute.

"Go on. Show what you’ve got and maybe you can entertain me some more later too!" He offers generously, and from the wide grin that crosses his clean-shaven face, I know that he truly thinks that he is giving me a real honor. And though my tongue is stung by the sardonic remark that takes hold in my mind like poison, I let him lull himself into this vain fantasy, because until then he doesn't wonder why his company tonight has become so willing. For even though I don't have the keen senses of my dangerous friends, I can still smell the sweaty stench of the gorilla's body wafting from the door, and this fool wouldn't have to stand guard if his boss's human sex dolls didn't want to run off so often.

But I don't even give that idiot time for suspicion to appear in his sparse brain cells, because I continue my lustful little dance much sooner than his pathetic neural pathways can start to work. And the tempting heat that weaves through my every move is conscious, as I slowly settle between his comfortably spread thighs, and the mesmerized expression with which he follows the erotic movements of my hips is quite charming. I make sure that lustful desire moves to every fiber of me, and as Riley's gaze, dark with pleasure, flashes before my mind's eye, I feel that the tingle moving under my skin only makes my seduction even more believable. The longer my show goes on, the stronger the weight of hunger in his eyes becomes, and I feel almost honored by how obviously I impress him. And as my single-minded thug wets his dry lips in fascination, I know it's time to get to the point.

The moment comes pretty soon when he loses his patience and feels just the sight isn't enough anymore, and then he leans forward with almost desperate speed to smooth his big palms on my waist. There's nothing gentle about the way he grips me, and I'm pretty sure if my little body wasn't amped up by my genes, bruises would stain my skin purple under his touch. As his fingers tighten and dig into me with hungry desire to stop the sensual swaying of my hips, and his gaze finally lifts to my face for the first time during our little acquaintance, then I let that taunting grin spread across my lips, flashing my pretty little teeth at him. I see the faint light of confusion slip through his lust-clouded eyes, but by the time he can understand why vertical pupils are looking back at him, one of my clever hands has already started on its dangerous little journey, and it's too late. My palm clasps to his bald head with such speed that he doesn't have time to come to his senses, and by the time his brain can understand what is happening, my energy has already reached his defenseless little body. His eyes roll back into his skull with an almost spasmodic force, as my ability pushes him towards unconsciousness, and as soon as the first wave of my power sweeps through him, he willingly slumps back on the couch.

And although I would love to continue to admire how pathetic he looks, as he lies on the cheap sofa with the grace of a rag doll, but unfortunately I have much more important things to do than enjoying these small pleasures. That's why I get to work instead, because it's only a matter of time before someone shows up after hearing the suspicious silence and wants to check up on our dear Rat. With a firm move, I position the man's heavy body, and with no less violence, I yank his shirt out of the confines of his pants, and as soon as his upper body, interwoven with blurred patterns, is revealed, my crafty little hands wander under my clothes to search for the tiny cloth pouch in which all the necessary supplies for my outing tonight were sneakily hidden until now. With nimble movements, I release the small package from the trap of the strap of my underwear to fish out the flat piece of plastic with which this half-wit will lead us to the goods that we are so eager about. And my expert eyes immediately start searching for the ideal place where the small device can find a new home on the surface soaked in black ink. And when I settle and find the perfect target on the supple skin of his steadily rising belly, I pull out the carefully wrapped blade that Riley had so carefully bestowed upon me. Although the small tool is no bigger than a few centimeters, the masked Hunter assured me that, despite all my doubts, the edge belies its size. And indeed, as I peel my tiny weapon from its protective holster, it pierces through the tissues, soft with fat, slicing the unconscious man's stomach with flawless ease, like a hot knife cuts through butter.

My nose is hit by the appetizing scent of the fat drops of dripping blood, and although my mouth instinctively salivates from the whiff of the metallic aroma, I have more pressing matters to take care of rather than indulge in a quick snack. And before I let the wandering thoughts in my head tempt me to be naughty, I activate the tracker and push it into the exposed wound with a not-so-subtle movement, just deep enough so that my unsuspecting victim doesn't have a chance to realize what a twisted little gift I have given him. Once I'm satisfied with the way the tiny device fits into the embrace of wet flesh, with the caress of the energy flowing into my fingertips, I help the injury heal as if nothing had happened. And I quickly wipe away the stray drops that try to roll down on the undamaged skin, treating myself to a small munch.

To ensure the success of the party, my cunning little hands search for the communicator hiding in the pocket of the criminal sleeping like a baby, so that the last guest of honor of the evening can also appear in the image of that small chip, which, thanks to Garrick, will function as our ears when our illegal businessman plunges into managing his affairs again. Following the Hunter's instructions, I pop open the back of the device and slip the tricky little piece of metal in among the sea of small components, so that I can then, with the same speed, remove the traces of my sneaky little activity and sink the gadget back into the depths of the guy's tight pocket.

And as quickly as I completed the finale of my mission, I decided so urgently that it's time to hop the stick and clear out, because according to the plan, my taxi will arrive after activating the chip, which is the end of this dangerous little fun. I only take one last look at the unfortunate fool, who is peacefully dozing on the couch, and he seems so vulnerable that an absolutely brilliant idea is conceived in the grim little corners of my mind, and guided by this, I snatch up his wallet that has wandered onto the leather cover and rob it from its contents, let him believe for the sake of appearances, that a thieving bitch knocked him out and that is why his private fun was so exciting.

Hiding my small blade in the depth of the narrow gap on the sofa cover and wedging the stolen credits into the strap of my panties, I put on the disguise I need for my leave. I walk to the door while ruffling my hair, conjuring the shame of a humiliated and exploited little girl on my face, and I know that my portrayal is authentic, because as soon as the dim corridor is revealed again and I come face to face with the tough guy guarding outside, I see the unmistakable sparks of contempt flash in his eyes, with which he accompanies my hasty escape. As if this disdain would drive despair into me, I hurry towards the nightclub, sneaking a sad sniff or two into my artistic show. And when the blast of deafening melodies engulfs me again, and the corridor leading to the sex cave disappears behind me, I drop my mask and throw myself into the crowd of dancers with determined urgency, counting down the seconds in my head until the babysitter finally realizes what happened to his boss, and decides to follow me in the hope of a friendly interrogation.

And my intuition doesn't let me down now either, because I'm just about to reach the middle of the dance floor when I catch the commotion on the other side of the crowded room in my peripheral vision. The door of the corridor hiding the windowless rooms slams open with such force that even the boom of the bass is penetrated by the crash with which the thick wooden board smashes against the wall. And the angry temper with which the tough guy bursts out, who so beautifully defended his boss's lustful entertainment, doesn't promise anything good, because I suspect that he will soon turn this fierce enthusiasm to my search. And although for the time being the cover of the herd of bodies hides me from the prying eyes, I know that my minutes are numbered, and the sooner I set sail, the less chance there will be that I will have to use the useful tricks learned in my training. Therefore, putting aside all subtleties, I push through the surging mass, and when I reach the edge of the herring party, I charge towards the exit, only passingly aware of how a dozen guards band together to avenge their leader's ugly grievances.

Even I'm surprised with how quickly I reach the entrance of the club, and for once I thank biology that it missed a few centimeters when planning my height, because it's the only reason that I'm able to slip through the tight protection of the humongous lackeys, blending in among the partygoers pouring out. And for a few narrow meters, I try to stick to a smaller group, because I see the hawk-like attention with which the dangerous-looking guys begin to scan the people loitering in the darkness of the street after they receive the order to find the Rat's vile attacker through the radio in their ears. The urge to escape fills every part of my body, but I don't give in to the pressure that moves to my stomach and tries to encourage me to run, because that would put the target on my back. Therefore, imitating drunken carelessness, I continue to hang out with the unsuspecting fools who function as my disguise, and all my nerves are strained in the minutes that seem like millennia that I spend in this feigned uncertainty.

And for a passing moment it looks like my luck will hold until I'm far enough, but as soon as I hear the inarticulate yelling of one of the security men calling my cover group to a halt, I know I have run out of fortune and I'd better take a powder. I don't wait for the thug's henchmen to catch up with us, but hastily kick off the stolen high heels from my feet, and breaking away from the unknowing, drunkenly carefree civilians, I start running at such frantic speed, like a gazelle running from a lion. And I have no doubt that if I don't manage to vanish quickly enough, they will gut me with the greatest joy for hurting their employer. This sufficiently injects the power of adrenaline into my muscles, which helps me increase my already hasty sprint, and excludes all distractions from my mind, except the thought of running away.

Accompanied by the rumble of heavy footsteps behind me and the sound of my shallow breaths, I race further and further away from the welcoming proximity of the deafening music and colorful lights, and I'm only vaguely aware that I should now reach the rendezvous point, as the previously lively neighborhood turns into gray desolation. And I'm just startled enough by the stinging pain of the bullet that grazes my shoulder to not notice the huge hand that emerges like a blurred shadow from the depths of one of the alleys, past which I run at such a rushed pace. And before my mind, blinded by stress, can even comprehend what is happening, the unknown force grabs me and pulls me into the stomach of the dirty side street as easily as if I were nothing more than a helpless rag doll.

The scream that creeps up my throat is reflexive, but before the evidence of the terror tearing into me can even pass my lips, a large palm clamps to my mouth, and the rough material of the glove absorbs my desperate whimper. And instinctively, the power to fight for survival awakens in me, and I try to trash against my attacker like a rabid cat, but despite the fact that a deadly amount of power flows into my fingertips, which could instantly bring anyone close to a stroke, I can't touch anything but the fabric of the black uniform. However, when an arm wraps around my waist, and I feel the power hidden in the muscles that press against a giant body, I freeze with the shock of a frightened animal caught in a trap.

And it seems that this fills the unknown assailant with sufficient satisfaction, because the strength of the shackles holding me in check eases a bit, and although I'm no longer afraid that the stranger will crack my spine or tear off my jaw with a random movement, it still takes a few torturous seconds, before the oxygen reaches my brain through the air inhaled through my nose, and quiets my alarmed thoughts so much that I can understand what is happening. And when I'm able to pay attention, the sound of shoes echoing in the street reaches my ears, and I only catch it out of the corner of my eyes as the group of minions sent after me storms past us amid angry curses. Only one guy spares a cursory glance at the inhospitable darkness where the stranger and I hide, but he has no chance of discovering us, for we are pressed up too tightly against the damp brick wall for a mere mortal to notice. As the noise of my pursuers slowly fades away, the furious pounding of my heart subsides, and as my nerve cells break free from fear, I have the opportunity to recognize who my new savior might be.

Although at first the scent that crept into my nose, reminiscent of pine after rain, seemed unfamiliar, now the smell of blood and gunpowder is too strong for the fleeting memory not to flash in my mind, which helps to identify who this unique aroma belongs to. And as I become aware of who has come to free me from my lonely mission, hot embers of anger glow up in my chest, spreading the fury like liquid lava in all my tense cells. While in other cases I would be able to take the man down with dripping scorn, the pull of ire bubbling up in my veins takes away all the will that would help me to hide my emotions. Because this bastard knows exactly that there could have been a thousand and one ways to end my operation effectively, but more pleasantly, yet he chose the method that would elicit the most entertaining reaction from me.

When my captivity, which lasts unreasoned seconds longer, ends, and the grip of the arms that enslave me like thick ropes loosens, I tear myself out of his hands with such momentum as if I had been burned by living flames. And I see how the cruel curiosity shines in the bright eyes staring down at me. Like a shield of ice that clings over a lake during the cold of winter, under which the lifeless bodies caught in an eternal trap rise like mementos of frozen, tortured souls. The kind of deceptive beauty that thirsts for blood and devours you if you give the icy hands a chance to take you away. And the Hunter has proven more than once what kind of ruthlessness lies beneath the motionless surface.

"The fuck is wrong with you?" I snap at him, filtering the enraged words between my teeth, and I feel how the fiery poison surging under my skin settles sparks of hostility into my eyes. I don't even try to force indifference on myself, because I see the morbid, merry light dancing in his eyes emerging from under the hood, from which I know that my chance to maintain my dignity has long since been lost. Because I'm sure that not one of my frightened trembles escaped his attention, and he felt the drumming of my terrified racing pulse all too well to now find the false mask of my apathy credible.

"I helped you." König states simply, and from the artificial innocence hidden in his accent, along with my skyrocketing blood pressure, my brain is filled with the forerunner of the red fog that, in a mean voice, tries to persuade me to wipe off the grin on his face, the wrinkles of which cheerfully gather around the black-painted skin. "That was the plan, wasn't it?" He inquires, putting a deceptive tone of confusion in his voice, which can make the hurt with which he cocks his head to the side seem sincere to anyone. Like he is a fucking martyr who can't understand why his heroic actions fall on deaf ears and violent rejection when he is so selflessly risking everything for a good cause. But he doesn't deceive me. Because even through my agitation, I can see how excited is that invisible movement, with which he pushes himself away from the dirty wall and takes a small, almost imperceptible step toward me.

"Yeah..." I agree, but even I can feel the unfriendly emptiness of the couple of sounds that roll off my tongue, as if I'm trying to drive the aftertaste of bitter medicine from my mouth. "Your only luck is that your uniform caught my gratitude." I retort, and even though I know how petty it is to let the acidic sting of malice cling to my words, I want him to know that his great idea could easily have ended with the phenomenal sight of his cold corpse without his gorgeous outfit. Because I hate to admit that even for a minute he had the fragile thread of my life in his hands, and it depended only on his deceptive benevolence whether he would kill me or not. Of course, it's obvious that he is still standing by us as a friend in our little mission, but I have no illusions that he would be able to make it look like an unfortunate accident, if he managed to be more powerful with his help.

"I felt it." He utters, almost without thinking, and there is something quite unsettling in the joy with which he declares this. Although I'm pretty sure if there was enough power in my attack that he felt its sting so strongly through the thick fabric of his clothes, it was anything but uplifting. "It was wonderful." He adds to his testimony, and for a moment I'm unable to decide whether the elated hum that resonates throughout his words is real, or whether the slowly subsiding roar of the storm stirred up inside me is the one deceiving my ears.

And for a few agonizing seconds, nothing else fills the silence between us, other than the soft buzzing of the street lamps, as I quietly stare into the eyes studying me, trying to decipher what is going on in his head. It's obvious that he is trying to provoke me in his own sick way, because this whole nerve-wracking intermezzo has no doubt something to do with how much I hurt his little soul by refusing his generous approach. Although my exotic little power can tempt the Hunters and stir up the pull of raw power surging through their veins, I doubt that he wants to indulge in this fleeting, lovely experience right now. And the angry noise in my head is effectively silenced when I realize how easily I allow him to take out his childish revenge on me. This moment is about nothing else but the mending of his broken ego. This helps to turn my previous fury into fatigue, and induces that exhausted sigh with which I finally turn my gaze towards the street on the other side of the alley. And my sharp little eyes discover the metallic shine of the body of the car cleverly hidden there, which is parked too deliberately for its position to be a mere coincidence.

"Let's go." I end the whole pointless situation with these few words, and without waiting for his answer, I set off towards the car, which is probably waiting for us, concealed in the blackness of the night, to ensure our escape. Although at first only the soft tap of my bare feet echoes in the embrace of the musty brick walls, I only take a few steps on the damp concrete before I'm joined by the heavy pounding of the Hunter's boots. And I try with all my efforts to tune him out, as he tails after me cautiously, but still, he follows me in intrusive proximity, like a damned dog that longs for the attention of its master, to see if they will throw it a crumb of a word of praise. But, unfortunately, he won't have this satisfaction.

"You did a nice job." He speaks up suddenly, and even if his words of appreciation come as a surprise, I don't give any indication that his message has reached me at all, because no matter how hard he tries to cover his intentions in sugary sweetness, I know what the game he tries to play. And I'd have to be terribly stupid to once again fall for the transparent tactic with which he tries to find out along which defenseless point he can catch me. Therefore, I turn all the capacity of my feverishly working nerves towards the pain that pulses in my shoulder like the stab of tiny needles, enjoying how the ache radiates through the skin torn by the bullet along with my heartbeat, beneficially clearing up the upheaval in my skull.

"It was brave of you to take on this task." The hooded Hunter shares his observations with me again, and for a moment, even in my resignation, I recognize how amusing it is as he continues his attempts, even though he can see that he has found a suitable challenge in me with his sneaky methods. "Your teammates will surely appreciate it." He continues his train of thought, not caring about the adamant indifference with which I stride forward, slowly reaching the end of the alley. As if he only wants to amuse himself with this unnecessary chatter, and I have no doubt that he enjoys the obvious determination with which I ignore him. Because no matter how hard I try to deprive the reaction he craves so eagerly, my speechlessness is just enough of an answer for him to feel it's worth experimenting further.

"But how long will this last?" He asks with sincere curiosity, and as soon as I realize what a stomach-turningly vile question he has asked, I'm unable to command my body in time, and I halt at the threshold of the uninhabited street as suddenly as if a bucket of cold water had been poured down on my neck.

And as I look back at the Hunter with a measured coldness, considering every small twitch, all my doubts disappear that he is only probing for my weaknesses by indulging in random guesses. Because the victory-drunk spark that comes to life in those blue eyes tells me exactly, that he deliberately saved this comment for the very end of his monologue. And it occurs to me how smart this merciless man can be to find that hair-thin, vulnerable little crack in my unbreakable armor so quickly, the existence of which even I was barely aware of.

"I think we've already established once that it's futile for you to play this game." I remind him in a toneless voice, and I consciously drive away all stray traces of the slowly simmering anger that was just dormant, and now he is trying to breathe life into it again. Because I can feel all too clearly how intently he studies the telltale signs of emotions passing over my face, just watching for an opportunity to strike. Like a vulture circling over the dying body of a wounded wild animal, waiting for its victim to finally breathe its last and tear the still warm, tempting flesh from its bones.

"I'm just trying to care about you." He apologizes, but his voice is still imbued with feigned compassion, which almost instinctively makes my stomach turn. There is no good intention in the way he towers over me, enveloping me into the all consuming shadow of his strong body, as if he is trying with every cell to plant the disgusting plague of fear and distrust in me. But no matter how deceitful and cunning he is, he needs much more than that to touch my soul. Because even though I find it hard to admit how closely he strays to the painful doubts that have arisen in my soul, I won't give him the pleasure of seeing the battle of feelings that are raging in my head.

"How fucking nice." I spit the words dripping with mockery, and it takes a conscious effort to keep the fury, that flares up inside me, from moving into my voice. Because a battle unfolds under the cover of the flickering light of the lamps, where my opponent is at least as foul as I am. And maybe some other time I would enjoy that I'm finally able to release the evil comments that form on my sharp tongue, but right now I feel all too well how the sharp claws of a predator are trying to close around my defenseless neck.

There is something viscerally unsettling about the way he comfortably ambles closer to me, like a big cat playing with its prey, generously allowing its victim to believe that it won't tear open the border of soft flesh covering its belly with razor-sharp teeth. It takes a torturous moment before I recognize the condescending kindness creeping into the icy eyes as he glances down at me, like he knows a secret that my feeble mind is not yet aware of. And as he finally stops in front of me with a few narrow, uncomfortable steps away, I have to forcefully steel every part of me, because the wild desire to escape rips into me so reflexively that my muscles almost ache with the effort I try to keep myself motionless.

"One day they will realize that you have to be tamed." He notes with unflinching calmness, and there is such conviction in his tone that makes his statement seem more like a fact than an uncertain prediction. As if he already knows that this horror is going to happen and regrets in advance that I will have to suffer the pain that arises from the infectious soil of disappointment. And if I were a little more naive, then I would believe that there is real concern in his voice. "Because if you're too dangerous, you won't be of any use to them."

And I feel how this one sentence sinks into my consciousness like a poison-soaked knife that stealthily pumps away the deadly disease sitting on the blade with every centimeter it spends immersed in the throbbing tissues. The image that flashes on the canvas of my memories is involuntary, as the insidious meaning traveling in his voice crawls into my mind, because it almost immediately sends me back to the neon-lit hole of the interrogating room. And now that the vehemence of my revenge has not settled in my head like a suffocating fog, I can recall the startled look on MacTavish's face when he saw how willingly cruelty spills out of me. And the realistic side of my brain tries to reassure me that they were aware of all the horrible details of my evil when fate first threw me in front of them, yet it takes agonizing seconds before the screams of rationalism can drown out the doubts. Because I'm also well aware of what I have to do to enjoy the warm care of my team, and I'm not afraid to get my hands dirty for it, since it fits in with the blood that sticks to me. And no matter how sharp-eyed this terrible man is, he doesn't know nearly enough about my deadly little friends and me for his words to be heard as real truth instead of provocation. This is still the “whose dick is bigger” competition, and like a real asshole, he wants to take revenge on someone who attracted his unwanted attention with her charming skills, but he was unable to bring her under his spell. How fucking sad.

"You have quite a lot of concern towards a stranger." I taunt, deliberately letting the cynical edge, which is trying to burst out of my mouth with such maddened enthusiasm, into my voice. This one small mistake appears as a glaring error with his intentions, wrapped in innocence. As much as he tries to play the bleeding-heart saint, we both know that his empathy stands on shaky ground when he has to direct it toward a wild stranger. Because I know that this man doesn't have an iota of compassion in him, which would make his concern real, since I saw with my own eyes the kind of bloodlust that hides in his eyes when he has the opportunity to take the reins from his restrained instincts. He is a monster like me, and beasts recognize their kind, no matter what form they take.

But no matter how much I manage to regain control over my coolness, I'm unprepared for the intimate movement with which he smooths his large hand on my bare shoulder for a fleeting moment. And I feel the menacing, volatile tenderness with which his long fingers release the strands of hair stuck in the dried blood that emerged from my wound, because the rough material of his glove presses against the sensitive skin just a breath harder for me to know what unspoken warning is hidden in the seemingly innocent gesture. And now, for the first time, I see something horrible flicker in his eyes, which makes me stare up at him, frozen in immobility, because I'm overcome by unconscious fear. Like when one looks into a bottomless pit, from whose endless mouth escapes nothing but the stench of death and decay.

"Because I'm mesmerized by danger." He murmurs softly, and I press my lips together to try to suppress the quivering that moves into them, because I feel what kind of terrible promise is sitting in the hum of his voice. And I don't want to give him a reason to make it come true. "And I want to be the one to take you in when you're discarded."

And as suddenly as he came, his thumb circling over the throbbing wound disappears as quickly, as he steps away from me to march out of the alley into the darkness of the night street with a carefree calm, and I wish he had dipped his claws into the gaping flesh, because that would have been a more bearable pain than the doubt that opens like a festering wound inside me. And although the liquid fire of rage seething under the surface breaks through my astonishment in the next moment, even the anger spreading in my veins cannot silence the barely audible whisper that is born in my skull. No matter how much my mind convinces me again, that this is nothing more than just a bastard with complexes trying to rile me up, I can't shake the nagging question of what if he is right?

And the thought that I might lose the warmth to which my starving heart has just begun to get used to, squeezes my insides with such agony, as if a cruel iron fist were trying to tear me in two. But I know what I have to do. And no matter what the cost is, I won't let that happen because that would kill me.

[r6-unifiedlands]

A Random Sunshine Encounter

[Remington "Espion" Harmonics & Julien "Rook" Nizan]

Summary: It's finally Espion's first visit to Viperstrike's base to get her gadgets improved! But Mira's not the only one overseeing her.

A/N: I promised myself that I wouldn't write above 1k today

When she entered Rainbow’s Greece Base, Reth noticed that Viperstrike’s base was surprisingly more high-tech than the other groups' tech labs. It’s not really that surprising for her, though. Many of Rainbow’s engineers and technicians came in and out to develop and research more technologies to make future operations easier.

Mira had ordered her to bring in her gadgets—Her motion-detecting knives that had been fucked up by a Certain Japanese Geek during the device evaluation—to look for a solution to the fragile casing.

…she couldn’t help marveling at the inner lab. It felt like she was again back in her old workshop in Nighthaven.

Before the young operator managed to get her grubby hands all over the pieces of machinery, however, she felt a pair of gloved hands grab her shoulder firmly and put enough pressure downwards to stop her from moving around.

“Wha—”

“Enchanté, Espion!” The figure looming over her suddenly spoke in a cheery tone. His light French accent reminded him of Gustave’s existence, making her head snap upwards to see who that was.

Messy dark chocolate hair in undercut style, five o’clock shadow on his well-defined jawline, dark blue eyes that sparkled like an excited golden retriever, and a smile that could bring joy and warmth to this cruel and cold world.

Oh, Jesus Christ, that’s a handsome man.

Maybe it was because the room was too cold or she suddenly developed a fever, but one of them was definitely the reason why her face reddened like crazy with nervous soft chitters coming out of her lips. Both palms tried to hide her current state.

The man was absolutely beaming, patting her light blonde hair while pulling her close to his tall body. “Mira told me that you’ll be joining us today, so I asked her to help assist you.” His tone was as bright as his personality. “My name is Julien Nizan, but you can call me Rook. I hope we can be good acquaintances!”

It didn’t help that her brain was short-circuited from the overwhelming amount of affection that he gave her, still struggling to say something.

He finally let her go after a while, finally snapping her from the overloading mind state. She almost immediately took multiple steps away, her face still looking bright red.

The sunshine expression faded slightly, eyes reflecting a sense of worry. “Sorry, did I overwhelm you?”

As much as she wanted to deny it, she did feel overwhelmed by his whole greetings.

And as Harry said during her last therapy session; be honest with people, or they will not know what their mistakes are.

She nodded slowly, avoiding eye contact. “...Sorry…” She muttered softly.

“It’s alright, mon ami.” Julien didn’t move an inch while keeping his warm tone, like a vet talking to a scared animal. “Take your time, okay? I can get Mira or Doc for you if you’d like.”

“It’s.” She paused, taking several deep breaths. Calm down, Reth. “I’m okay. I was just. Surprised. I’m no good to affection.” Her voice softened, now more like a whisper. “Gustave is scary. Don’t want to see him.”

“He’s a doctor. He’d take care of you.”

“Last time I saw him, he scolded me for being too rough in training and kept escaping his clinic while in his care.”

The taller operator grinned. “You’re not the only one.” He gave a wink that made the younger operator’s heart jump to her throat.

What the fuck. Oh my god. She shouldn’t be like this!!!

Reth whined out loud. Her frustration came out. Not because of the kind gent, no.

There’s a first time for everything. And it was the first time she felt like there were butterflies in her stomach, tickling her abdomen and trying to make her smile.

Julien’s happiness was infectious. 

Currently, it’s infecting the young operator.

“Stop making me happy!!” She whined in protest, but her giggling state betrayed her.

“I can’t help it! Ton sourire est contagieux!”

The French accent that she’d once associated with Gustave’s fatherly scolding now made her heart thump like crazy. Julien’s bright and positive attitude cleared out the negative association of what had been imprinted in her mind.

Was that a bad thing? Nope!

“And what are you guys doing?”

Those fluffy feelings sunk back into the depths and managed to snap Reth out of the current state. Her cheeks were still tinted red from the blood rush.

Elena leaned on the doorframe of the lab entrance while crossing her arms, dark eyes glaring at Julien. “What did you do to our new recruit, cabrón? She’s a tomato now!”

Now it’s the French’s turn to be flustered, cheeks dusted in pink. “Non! I was introducing myself and accidentally got her overwhelmed a bit.”

The Spaniard turned her attention to Reth, raising her eyebrows. The American quickly nodded in response.

“Well,” Elena cracked her knuckles, and satisfying pops came out, “introduction’s over. Let’s get back to work, you two.”

[thelittlethings66]

CDC

As we all follow Rick through the doors weapons up it is so quiet and I start to think that this is a bad idea. There is no one around. That something has happened.

'Hello!' Rick shouts. 'Anyone infected?'. A man shouts back appearing from round a corner. 'Why are you here what do you want'. He asks. 'Just a chance'. Rick replies. 'That's asking a lot these days'. 'I know'. He stands there thinking. 'You all submit to a blood test that's the price of admission'. He replies. 'We can do that'. Rick replies. 'You got stuff you can bring in? Once that door closes it stays closed'. 'Rick Grimes'. 'Dr Edwin Jenner.' The men shake hands as we walk into a lift. As we walk through the building there are still no people anywhere. He leads us to a big room full of computers and equipment. 'Where is everybody? The other doctors?'. Rick asks. 'It's just me here, I'm all that's left, sorry.' He says solemnly.

'Keep drinking Glenn I wanna see how red your face can get.' Daryl says as we all sit around eating and drinking. Glenn laughs and takes a sip of beer. As I sit there I notice Rick looking at the doctor as he is staying very quiet . 'You not drinking?'. Daryl says as he sits next to me. 'I've had a beer, just don't wanna be sick in the morning, after eating all this food'. 'Smart'. 'Plus I don't think this place will last very long'. 'Maybe, but I'm drinking while I can, booyah!'. He shouts everyone joining in. 'Are you even legal to drink? Asks Rick from across the table. 'Says the man who just gave wine to a ten year old'. 'Fair enough'. He laughs. 'And yes I am as of a month ago.' 'So when you gonna tell us what the hell happened here doc?' Shane asks. Changing the mood. 'There's no need to do this now Shane we are celebrating'. Rick says. 'I thought this was why we were here right? This was all your idea man.' 'When things got bad people just left, bolted, or some opted out.' Jenner replies. Why didn't you leave?' I ask. 'I just kept working, hoping something would change, get better.'' It didn't'. So it's just me left'.

As I stand in the hot shower I am still thinking something isn't right here, Jenner is hiding something. I then realise that I am crying I haven't cried at all yet I think I needed it. So I just stand there feeling numb and let it all out.

On my way back to my little room I notice Lori in the corridor looking upset. She spots me then runs into her room shutting the door. Shane then appears. 'Hey blondie, you wanna drink?'. 'No thanks I'm good'. He sips his drink and walks slowly towards me eyes staring. 'Are you sure? We could have some fun'. 'Let me past'. He starts grabbing my neck, and pushing me against a wall. I freeze. 'Hey!' Daryl shouts as he pushes Shane away whilst swearing at him and onto the ground kicking him in the stomach. He leads me away and into my room leaving Shane on the floor. 'You alright, he better not of touched ya'. 'No nothing like that I'm fine'. He realises he his holding my hand so let's go and looks at the floor. 'I thought you woulda punched him'. I smile. 'I'm sure I will have another chance.' 'Yeah probably'. 'You need a shower'. I say. 'Hmmm'. 'Thankyou Daryl'. I say as he walks away with a slight smile.

I wake up the next morning feeling tired after a night of interrupted sleep. I decide to go and get some breakfast. 'Don't ever ever ever let me drink again.' Glenn moans as a walk into the kitchen. 'Morning Glenn feeling good I see.' 'Stop..talking..please.' As he rests his head on the table. T'Dog hands me a plate of food. 'Oh thanks T'. He smiles as he sits down. I notice Shane has scratches on his neck and look between him and Lori she notices and stays looking at her plate of food.

Jenner walks us back into the room with the computers. He explains how the virus effects the brain, the science behind everything how he has tried to help. 'Is that what happened to Jim?' Sophia asks her mum Carol. 'Yes'. She replies. 'You have no idea what it is do you?' Andrea asks. 'It could be a lot of things but trying to figure that out is the hard part'. 'I have been in the dark for over a month'. 'Man I gonna get shit faced drunk again'. Daryl says. 'The clock on the wall is counting down to something, what happens at zero?'. Dale asks. ' The basement generators run out of fuel'. 'An then? Jenner walks off. 'VI what happens when the power runs out? Rick asks the computer. 'When the power runs out facility wide decontamination will occur'. 'Get your things everyone we are getting out of here NOW!' Says Rick. But suddenly the doors close. 'He just locked us in!' Glenn shouts. 'Jenner open that door now'. Rick demands. 'There's no point everything has locked down you won't be able to get out the building in time'. He replies and he sits down with a bottle in his hand.

It turns out that the building is set to explode. And Jenner eventually opens the doors and lets us out. Jacqui decides to stay behind. As we all run out Daryl grabs my hand and pulls me with him. Carol tells Rick's that she has a grenade that she found in her bag and hands it to him. We all hide while Rick sets it off by a window. As we run out Daryl still holding my hand we jump in his truck just in time as there is a big explosion and the ground shakes and I can feel the heat from the flames of the building. 'You alright?' Daryl asks. 'Ash?'' Um yeah I'm fine'. 'Are you?' 'Yeah, just about'. ' I guess you won't be getting shit faced again.' 'Nah, maybe tomorrow'. He says as he starts the engine and we all drive off, to where we don't know yet.

[sleeping-on-cracking-ice]

Hello! Can you write something with female Y/N and Chishiya? She helped him with something and is injured after that. She fell or burn her back or hit her head, but pretends that nothing happened since she think he doesn't care and the injury it's getting worst by days, Chishiya didn't notice at first and he just don't understand why Y/N is not talking with him but lets it go, then the day of game comes and they both have to play and Y/N faints few hours before registration. He is panicking suddenly aware of his own feelings towards her and he is SO worried and feels guilty. I hope you can add a lot of angst but fluffy end? I'm sorry if this is messy, english is not my first language 😭 Thank you!

Of course! And don’t worry your English is great 😊 I hope you enjoy! ❤️

Panicked Confession | Shuntaro Chishiya

{Alice In Borderland Masterlist}

Character(s): Chishiya (ft. Kuina, Usagi, Ann, Hatter)

Summary: You get badly burnt while saving Chishiya in a game, but made sure he knew nothing about it. Just before leaving for the next game, you pass out and Chishiya finds you, causing him to panic

Warning: swearing, burn injury, vomiting, fainting

Word Count: 4.9k

*reader is female

“Shit! Guys come on!”

You, Chishiya, Kuina and Usagi rushed through the bottom floor of the building. Flames were curling in the air around each side of you, quickly closing in to eat you alive.

All four of you had almost completed the game, being the only players left after the last puzzle of the building. It was a diamond game, a game of intelligence. You were lucky to have been with Chishiya, as Diamonds games were his specialty.

You were all sprinting across the room, together in a tight pack so the flames don’t manage to touch you. You were panting, feeling your lungs collapsing in on themselves, but you had to press on. Only a few more steps before you could jump through the glass window at the end of the room, which was quickly being engulfed.

Suddenly, you saw Chishiya, who was running next to you, trip on a loose bit of debris laying on the ground inconveniently. You looked back and saw him holding his ankle in pain.

Of course, just your luck.

You all stopped abruptly, skidding along the floor and looking back to Chishiya in fear. He saw you all, his eyes widening.

“What are you doing?! Go!” he called out, wincing in pain.

You looked towards Kuina and Usagi, watching as thoughts spiraled around their heads to figure out what to do. The flame was too close behind Chishiya for it to be safe, if someone was to help him, they would have to risk their life doing so.

Both Kuina and Usagi shook their heads and looked away. They turned away from Chishiya and began jogging towards the window again. You froze. There’s no way they would just leave him like that.

“Guys!” You called out to them. They turned to you with fearful expressions painted on their face. “What are you doing?!” You asked, fear and worry dripping from your words. You had to make up your mind soon or you would be burned to a crisp.

Kuina motioned for you to come to her. “Y/N, there’s no time! We have to go!” you could tell she felt awful about this decision, but you weren’t giving up just yet.

You looked back at Chishiya laying on the ground. He was staring at you with a worried expression, wanting you to hurry up and leave him. You couldn’t leave a friend that easy to die. You had to at least try.

You let out a big sigh and lifted your aching legs to race towards Chishiya. He began yelling at you the moment you started running. “No, no, no! Go Y/N! What are you doing?!”

You ignored his shouting and quickly knelt down beside him to lift his arm around your shoulders. You weren’t going to lose anyone else, you promised yourself that after your friends died in the first game you played after appearing in the Borderlands.

Chishiya kept arguing and shaking his head as you tried to lift his body. He was surprisingly heavy for someone his size. “Y/N, go! There’s no time! You can’t save me!” he at screamed you, becoming more desperate with every plea.

You continued to ignore him and began dragging him along towards the window, where Kuina and Usagi were already working on breaking the glass with debris from around them. “You’re not going to off yourself that easily Chishiya as long as I have a say in it,” you rasped out, struggling to keep upright with the extra weight on your shoulders.

As your heart pounded in your ears and you felt the fire become hotter and hotter around you, you suddenly felt an incredibly sharp pain across your spine. The sensation spread all through your body, from your head to your toe, making you cry out and almost collapse to the ground, but you stayed strong.

Chishiya had given up arguing with you, using his good leg to take a bit of his body weight off your pained shoulders. With his help, you managed to move much quicker, limping and staggering your way towards Kuina and Usagi, who had broken the window and were now waiting for you to come, yelling at you to hurry up.

You didn’t look back; you didn’t want to see how close the flames were. You knew it would do nothing but make the situation worse.

As you neared the window, you slowed down as Kuina ran out to help you lift Chishiya up and out of the window. You were relying completely on adrenaline at that point, having lost all of your strength through running and carrying Chishiya.

You managed to lift yourself through the cracked window, earning a few cuts from the leftover glass on the way, and collapsed onto the grass ground below you. A large barrier from inside the room (probably manufactured for the games) closed over the destroyed window as you fell, being lucky to be the last out of the four of you to escape. The flames were locked in, unable to harm you.

The four of you laid on the grass, panting and trying to regain your breath. As your adrenaline calmed down, the pain of your large burn mark set in. You covered your face with your hand and silently screamed against it, trying to drown out the searing pain somehow. You couldn’t worry the others, not after what just happened.

**************

The next couple of days was nothing but a struggle for you. As soon as you arrived back from the game, you stumbled your way to Ann’s medical room. She took a closer look at your burn wound, applying whatever she had to try and reduce the chance of it getting infected. But unfortunately, that didn’t reduce the pain.

After allowing Ann to wrap a bandage around your upper back to protect the wound, you slowly made your way back to your room on the upper floor. You didn’t want to rush yourself in case you made your wound worse, so you took your time in getting there.

Unfortunately, it was a bit too much time, as you managed to bump into Chishiya who popped out from around the corner. A small panic raised within you; you didn’t want Chishiya to see you like this! It’s embarrassing enough to like someone you had no chance with, but for them to see you stumbling and holding onto the wall because you can’t even keep yourself up? No, not today.

You stood more upright than before, giving Chishiya your best fake smile. “Hey Y/N,” he said, walking past you. You breathed a sigh of relief. Well, that wasn’t too bad.

You started to walk again before you heard Chishiya call out from behind you. “Oh, wait Y/N!”

You turned around, biting your tongue so you didn’t let out a yelp of pain as the skin on your back twisted with your movements. “Yeah?” you acknowledged him.

He gave you a half-hearted smile. “Thanks again, for earlier. I would’ve been a goner if you hadn’t risked your life like that for me,” he said, scratching the back of his head awkwardly. You’ve never seen him thank someone before, so you were shocked.

“Oh, it was no big deal! We should all help each other out, considering we haven’t really got anything else other than each other,” you said, smiling happily. You felt all giddy from him acknowledging the fact that you risked yourself for him.

“Yeah, but it was still pretty cool of you. Even Kuina and Usagi were willing to leave me there,” he chuckled as his own joke.

You laughed and shook your head at him. “I’m sure they were just doing what they thought was best for everyone else in the moment.”

Chishiya nodded and gave you a small wave. “I’ll see you tomorrow night then! Hatter let me know in the meeting this evening that you and I are together again. I’m glad though, because you seem to have the skill and brains to get through some tough games.”

You were flattered by his compliment. “Thanks, you too though! We would have burnt to a crisp if it weren’t for you during that diamond game tonight.”

The small talk was killing you. You just wanted to get back to your room and wallow in the silence that engulfed it. At least there, you could suffer from your burn wound a little louder than out in the public eye of The Beach.

Chishiya laughed at your statement. “No, I’m sure with you there it would’ve been fine,” he said back, making you smile wider.

“I’ll see you later then,” you exclaimed, waving a hand at him. He waved back with a grin on his attractive features before he turned around and continued down the hall with his hands tucked into their usual spot in his hoodie pockets.

You let out a big sigh of relief. That was close. You felt the pain seeping through your body the longer you stood there, hoping for Chishiya to just end the conversation. You felt guilty, it may have looked like you were trying to escape, since you were slowly backing towards the corner. Hopefully, he didn’t notice.

You stumbled the rest of the way towards your room, wincing and hissing in pain on the way. It felt like Ann didn’t do anything at all, but you couldn’t blame her. She had extremely limited resources and could only leave to search for more every few weeks.

When you finally made it to the door of your room, the familiar number engraved onto the middle of it, you gripped the handle and walked inside.

You collapsed onto your bed onto your stomach. There was no way you would be able to sleep on your back with this kind of pain, so you had to resort to either on your side or on your stomach.

Let’s just say, you had a restless sleep.

****************

You were hoping after a night’s sleep that the pain from your back would have disappeared at least a little bit. But you couldn’t have been more wrong. If anything, it had become worse. You probably managed to roll onto it a few times during the night, reopening any part of the wound that had sealed up over the time you’ve had it.

It took you far too long to get out of bed in the morning. You groaned and moaned in frustration as you crawled your way out of the duvet, almost collapsing off your bed. You felt rather pathetic, but who wouldn’t after not being able to do the simplest of tasks from a wound.

As you were walking to your closet to look for something to wear, you remembered you had to go see Ann again that morning. She had told you last night to return to her medical room the next morning so she could reapply a new bandage onto you, in case the other one gets bacteria or blood on it during the night somehow.

You quickly put on your usual swimmers to wear around the hotel and the black hoodie that you wore most of the time when you got cold. You didn’t want to risk anyone else seeing your wound. The gaping burn mark across your upper back was bound to attract unwanted attention.

You made your way down the hall to go see Ann again. There was nobody in the halls around the rooms due to it being close to noon. You slept in longer than you expected.

You slowly walked down the couple of flights of stairs, making your way to Ann’s medical room on the lower floor. The walk down to the lobby felt longer at that moment than it ever had.

You approached the door with the red cross along the front of it, indicating the medical room. You were about to lift your hand to turn the doorknob before you heard a loud voice yell from further down the corridor.

You shifted your eyes and saw none other than Chishiya striding down the hallway with his usual cocky smirk painted across his face. Of course, you had to run into him out of all people.

“Y/N! Wait!” he yelled as he jogged up to you.

You stayed silent, waiting to hear what he had to say. You wanted to ignore him and just walk into the medical room to see Ann to avoid any kind of questioning or suspicion from him, but you knew that would only make him more curious.

“Hey, you alright?” he frowned, questioning you. He reached out to place a gentle hand on your forearm, but you flinched away before he could touch you.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” you answered, trying to sound normal. The piercing feeling that your wound brought you began to make its way around your body again, making you slightly shift and shake. ‘Of course, it just has its moment while I’m talking to the one person that I don’t want to look like a weakling in front of,’ you thought to yourself in your head.

Chishiya frowned at your flinch, but seemed to shake it off quickly, moving onto something else. “So anyway, where were you this morning?” he asked, leaning closer to you.

“I-I was in my room. I had a late sleep in,” you said, gripping the doorknob to the medical room.

“Oh, weird. Do you remember what we talked about yesterday?” he said with a smirk on his face.

‘Oh shit, he’s mocking my bad memory,” you thought, feeling embarrassed.

“Um… no? Should I?”

“You, Kuina, Alice, Usagi and I were going to meet up this morning to steal some food from the kitchen and take it to the rooftop. You didn’t show up near the pool where we said we were going to meet!” he exclaimed. He was laughing, obviously not caring too much about your forgetfulness.

You thought for a second. You did recall having that conversation. You guessed that you forgot about it because you were so focused on trying to reduce the pain from your burn. Even if you did remember, as if you would’ve been able to run away from the chefs in the kitchen after taking the food with this injury.

“Me and Kuina even knocked on your door. You must have been really knocked out if you didn’t wake up from Kuina’s loud yelling.”

He then raised his eyebrow and smirked. “Unless you were hiding from me?”

Your could tell he was obviously joking, but he wasn’t far off from being right. That has been your intention since last night, but trust Chishiya to figure you out quickly enough.

You heart rate picked up from his accurate accusation. “Uh, sorry Chishiya, but I really have to go,” you mumbled out, giving him a quick fake smile before walking into the medical room and closing the door behind you.

Chishiya’s mischievous smirk fell from his face. You didn’t even give him a chance to say goodbye, and you seemed oddly nervous from his accusation that you were avoiding him. He felt somewhat hurt. Were you trying to avoid him?

He shook off his suspicions and continued down the corridor to the lobby to find something to entertain him for the meantime. You wouldn’t try to avoid him, would you? Perhaps he’ll confront you about it later.

*************

You were laying in your room reading a book when you heard the usual ring of the bell that was Hatter’s signal for everyone to move down to the lobby to prepare for the night’s games.

“Shit! Is it that late already?” you asked no one, glancing over at the digital clock on your nightstand.

You panicked and saw it was the time that you would head out to games. You said to yourself earlier that you would give yourself an early mark so you could get down there at the right time, considering you would be slow due to your condition, but you got distracted by your book and lost track of time.

You rushed to your feet a little too quickly for your body’s liking, causing the pain of your wound to shoot across your back without mercy, making you yelp in pain and fall forwards.

You managed to catch yourself before you face planted into the ground. You let out a few deep breaths, trying to regain your strength while the piercing pain became worse from your insistence.

You pushed yourself off the ground, placing your foot underneath you and attempting to stand to your feet. You had to make it to the cars at least, you knew if anyone found you at The Beach during game time, they would mark you a coward, or worse: a traitor.

You cursed under your breath and let out pained sobs as you tried to get to your feet again. But unfortunately, your body just wasn’t on your side at that moment.

Your feet gave out underneath you and your head pounded, causing you to feel dizzy and suddenly nauseated. You leant forwards as you emptied the contents of your stomach out onto the floor, gagging on the taste of it in the back of your throat.

Your eyes began to feel heavy, not being able to take the pain and stress you were under. You managed to roll yourself to the side so you wouldn’t land in the pile of vomit and lay yourself across the floor safely before you face planted.

“Fuck,” you rasped out, feeling helpless at that moment.

You couldn’t do anything as your vision narrowed, passing out from pain on the floor of your own room, no one around to help you.

*************

“Hello again everyone! I would like to say a few words before we all get into our groups and drive to our games!”

Hatter’s usual booming voice thrusted across the crowd in front of him. Another night, another gathering. Just like every other day.

Chishiya stood at his usual spot in the back, leaning against the cement wall and rolling his eyes at Hatter’s words. He never seemed to have anything useful to say. Just some preachy words that created false hope.

‘How about for a change, he gave us some advice? It would probably spare some people a few headaches,’ Chishiya thought to himself.

He stood on his toes and tried to search the crowd for the top of your head. He was becoming anxious. You would usually be down in the lobby by now.

He was more nervous due to the way you’ve been acting all day. Usually, you two were joined at the hip twenty-four seven, but the only time he saw you that day was in the morning when you walked into the medical room.

He wondered why you were going in there. You never went to Ann unless it was for something drastic, but you seemed completely healthy and unharmed.

As the time ticked on, Chishiya became more and more worried. You would never skip out on a game; you were too afraid of being caught by the executives for that.

Hatter finished off his nightly speech with the list of groups and which number wristbands go where. Chishiya didn’t even care to pay attention as everyone began making their way towards the entrance of the hotel where they would pile into the cars and drive off to the games. He ran the opposite way, clambering up the flights of stairs to reach the level your room is on. If you had to be anywhere, it would be there.

He powered his legs into a sprint, having to brush his white locks out of his face once or twice due to them getting in the way. He eventually arrived at your room, stopping and panting to regain his breath.

He knocked on your door quietly at first, not knowing if you were asleep or something. “Y/N?” he called out through the door. “We need to head off to the games. Did you not hear the bell?”

When he received nothing but silence as an answer, he took it upon himself to walk in to see if you were there. He opened the door and peeked his head around the side, being careful in case you were indecent for some reason.

As he walked in further, his heart dropped as he saw you laying on the ground passed out.

“Y/N!” he exclaimed, rushing over to your body and kneeling beside you. He lifted your head onto his lap gently and immediately checked your neck for a pulse. A small feeling of relief flowed through him when he felt the beat of your heart on his fingers.

“Oh my god Y/N, what’s happened to you?” he stressed, tapping your cheek with his hand to see if you would wake. He was beginning to become more worried as time ticked on. He glanced over at the clock on your nightstand and saw that it was getting later. He had to wake you up before registration closed for all the games.

He lifted you up from under your arms, using all his strength to pull you into your small bathroom. He placed you gently on the tiled floor, stuffing a towel underneath your head for support. He quickly shifted your body around, trying to look for any source of injury that caused you to pass out. He froze when he noticed a few stains of blood on the back of your hoodie. He quickly lifted the hem of your shirt to see what was causing the stains.

His eyes almost popped out of his head from the sight. He gasped at the huge burn wound on your back, stretching across from your shoulder blades to your waist. The bandage that Ann had wrapped around it had come loose, hanging off your abdomen carelessly. His heart filled with guilt as he examined it more closely. Why didn’t he look after you?

He immediately put two and two together and realized that you had probably passed out from the pain of the burn mark.

He stood up from his position on the floor and grabbed a small cloth from your towel rack, running it under the water from the tap. He knelt back down next to you and carefully placed the wet fabric against your wound. He was so afraid of hurting you, but he had to do what he could to make you better for the game.

“Oh, come on, please wake up Y/N,” he breathed out. Stress and anxiety filled his tone, making the air more tense.

“Please wake up, please be okay. I love you, please don’t die Y/N,” he suddenly felt small tears gathering in his eyes as he stood up quickly to refresh the cloth that he was using to clean the burn.

He felt his hidden feelings begin to pour out of his mouth. He couldn’t handle the strain seeing you like this was having on his emotions.

He brought the cloth back, but this time he turned you over slightly so he could place it on your face. Your eyes were still shut tightly, not showing any indication of opening.

Chishiya ran the fingers of his other hand along your cheek, tapping softly on your skin, hoping that you would wake up from the physical contact. He felt desperate. He has never felt this helpless before, not even in games.

He allowed his few tears to fall down his cheek, lifting your head and pressing his forehead against yours. “Please wake up, we have to go. Just wake up and I’ll take care of you,” he mumbled out with shaky breaths.

He didn’t know what else to do. He could do nothing but hope.

A few minutes passed with Chishiya just holding you and pressing the cold cloth onto your face, trying to make you open your eyes. And eventually you did.

Chishiya breathed in a huge sigh of relief when he saw your eyes flutter open slowly, dazed and confused. He smiled and kept the cloth pressed to your face, caressing your cheek with his thumb.

“Oh, thank god,” he breathed out, wrapping his arm around your shoulder and bringing you into his chest for a close hug. You groaned loudly at the contact as Chishiya accidentally placed his hand on your wound.

“Chishiya, be careful,” you rasped out against his chest. He flinched away immediately and apologized.

“Come on, let’s get you cleaned up,” he said, lifting you up under your arms again. You groaned, not being able to stand up on your own yet. Chishiya kept you close to his chest as you leant against him.

He managed to clean you up with you leaning most of your body weight on him. He helped you wash out your mouth and clean your teeth to get rid of the taste of vomit and reapplied the bandage that had fallen off your wound. He did it all with such care and concern, being afraid of hurting you or overwhelming you with anything.

“Aren’t you supposed to be at the games?” you asked after you had finished rinsing your face.

“I noticed you weren’t at the lobby when Hatter called everyone, so I ran to your room and found you,” he answered, fixing your hoodie on your back from when he had to lift it to clean your injury.

“So, everyone’s gone?” you asked with a worried expression. Chishiya nodded, leaning on the sink next to you to check your face to see if you were alright.

“But if they find us, they’ll mark us as traitors!” you exclaimed, fear filling your head.

Chishiya placed his index finger on your lips to shush you. “Shh, only if they can hear us. We can just stay in here and be quiet, and hopefully no one suspects that we’re missing,” he said, smiling to calm you down.

You searched his eyes for any uncertainty but chose to let it go and just listen to him. “Okay.”

You both sat side by side on the floor of your small bathroom, Chishiya running his hand up and down your arm to keep your anxiety away. After a while of comfortable silence, you spoke up.

“Thanks, Chishiya, for helping me. If it weren’t for you, I’d still be lying on the ground next to a pile of my own puke,” you laughed at yourself.

Chishiya giggled. “It’s okay. I care about you Y/N, I couldn’t just leave you there.”

You looked at him with sparkling eyes, being taken back by his statement. “Really?” you asked, not believing him.

He smiled lovingly and caressed your cheek with his fingers. “Of course, I’d do anything if it was to help you.”

You thought you would have a cute moment together, but that flew out the window when Chishiya slapped you lightly across the cheek. Not enough to hurt you, but enough to bring a shocked expression onto your face.

“But next time, tell me when you’re hurt instead of trying to hide it from me like an idiot! You really think you’d be able to hide something like this from me?” he scolded you like a mother, but you giggled at his reaction.

“Yeah, I’ll tell you next time. Why did I ever think I could keep something from someone with an intelligent mind like yours,” you teased, leaning closer to his face.

Chishiya raised his eyebrows. “Hm, thanks, I guess? Not sure if that was a compliment or if you’re poking fun at me.”

You chuckled. “Take it however you want,” you whispered. You finally closed to space between you, allowing your lips to clash against his. Chishiya let out a shocked sound, but quickly melted against you and accepted your kiss.

You both sat on the floor of your bathroom, moving your mouths together while Chishiya tried hard to place his hands on you without touching your burn mark. You appreciated his care, but he ended up having to awkwardly place them on your upper arms, rubbing up and down them slowly.

You pulled away first, making Chishiya chase your lips as you moved away, making you giggle. “There’s my thank you gift,” you said cheekily, leaning away from him and back into your seating position.

Chishiya pouted at you. “That’s it? That was barely a kiss!” he argued, trying to move closer to you, wanting more of your affection.

“Chishiya, your tongue was in my mouth. I think that clarifies as a kiss,” you stated, placing your hand on his mouth and pushing him away gently. “Maybe let down that tough guy persona more often and take care of me, maybe then you’ll get more kisses.”

Chishiya leaned back and frowned. “Fine, but don’t expect this to be the norm now. I’m not going to let you control my personality just for a bit of affection.”

Well, that was a lie.

Author’s Note: Every Chishiya fanfic I’ve written has had some sort of angsty moment in it 😂 this man is going through it

[nagichi-boop]

I wanted to create a self indulgent post about Sningo and Emmet cuz I found out earlier that I have c*vid and I’m bummed out. :)

- x -

Ingo woke up to the sound of Emmet coughing from the other room. He quickly hopped off of the bed and scuttled into the lounge where he found Emmet having a coughing fit. When Ingo approached Emmet, the latter jumped out of his seat and backed away. He then composed himself.

“Brother, don’t get too close”, he said croakily. “I don’t want you to catch my illness.” Ingo tilted his head in reply. He was a Sneasel, so the chance of him catching a human infection was slim. Besides, he didn’t care whether he caught it - the important thing was that his brother was okay. Ingo took a few strides closer before Emmet ran out of the room into the kitchen.

Ingo stood bewildered for a moment, but before he could come back to, Emmet returned with gloves on and a face mask. He then sprinted to their shared bedroom, then returned with Ingo’s blankets and pillows, throwing them onto the couch.

“I think I should stay in the bedroom. You can’t get on the bed yourself, and I cannot help you since I am ill.” Without giving Ingo the chance to reply, he turned and vanished into their bedroom, closing the door on Ingo, who had tried to follow him in.

All of a sudden Ingo was filled with a horrible dread. How long would Emmet be in there? He needed to come out to eat, right? But knowing Emmet, he might go to the extreme or staying inside until he felt better. An abrupt thought entered Ingo’s brain.

I’m going to be alone again.

Anxiety flooded Ingo, causing him to act almost instinctively. He cried out, clawing at the door. He needed Emmet. Emmet needed him. He wanted to see his brother. He didn’t want to be alone again. If only he wasn’t a Sneasel - he could help his brother!

From the other side of the door, Emmet had worriedly been listening to Ingo’s frantic clawing, which continually got faster until things went eerily silent. Emmet approached the door, resting his ear against it. Very faintly, he could hear sniffles. Oh, it crushed him. He suddenly remembered how he felt for the years he spent alone. He knew Ingo must have felt the same way as him, but Ingo still can’t rest easy as he isn’t human again. Of course Ingo felt crushed - he was powerless compared to Emmet.

Emmet put his mask back on, then slowly cracked the door open and peered his head around. He saw Ingo sat on the floor, his face covered by his claws.

“Ingo? Are you okay?” he asked softly. Ingo looked up from his claws up at Emmet. His eyes had a deep fear in them, almost like how he looked back when Emmet had found him in the wild just months prior. Emmet came out from behind the door a little more, to which Ingo sprung up and clung onto Emmet’s leg like his life depended on it, which caught the younger brother off guard. He felt conflicted for a moment, then sighed.

“Are you sure you want to do this? I reaaally don’t want you to become sick.” Ingo nodded, his face buried against Emmet’s leg as he clung tighter. Emmet closed the door behind him, then knelt down and picked Ingo up and held him for a moment. “I am sorry. I didn’t not mean to scare you. I will let you stay with me.” Emmet then took Ingo into the living room, draping Ingo’s blanket over his shoulders and placing Ingo on his lap.

“Let’s watch a movie,” Emmet said, picking up a remote. Ingo wiped the remainder of his tears, then nodded confidently. Seeing Ingo’s usual expression return filled Emmet with relief, to which he smiled contently.

(Emmet stealthily researched whether a human’s cold could infect a Pokémon, but the overwhelming answer was no. He even texted Elesa who said her Pokémon always stay with her when she’s ill and have never gotten sick as a result. Ingo was fine and in fact helped take care of Emmet as best as he could.)

[clouds-rambles]

hi bestie!! i loved the prompt you wrote where the reader dies in the genshin boys arms,, so do you think you could do that for zhongli and xiao? :]

We about to cry again huh?

Bro Stormbearers Lair is making me sad and for what? All I’m doing is looking for chests. Bruh. Kinnie moment

Pairing(s); (Seperate) Zhongli, and Xiao x reader

Warnings; major character death, angst, hurt/no comfort, injury description, blood

Keep reading under the cut!

Zhongli

He had lost many a person over the millennia, so loss isn’t exactly foreign to the ex archon

But you, even if you were mortal. In Zhongli’s eyes you would grow old with him. You would get to see your children grow into adults, you would get to see grand children, maybe you would even get to see great grand children if you were lucky.

But no

Your body lays limp in Zhongli’s arms. You were both fighting a particularly tedious foe, like you have done some many times before. But this time ended with you dying

And Zhongli didn’t even get to say his goodbyes to you for he was too preoccupied with putting down the enemy. Like has happened so many times before, people close to him, gone without even a goodbye let alone a kiss on the cheek

It had happened with Guizhong too. One day she was there fighting beside him and the next. Gone

Zhongli finds himself doing something that he hasn’t done in a very long time. He cries. He cries for you. Your loss of life, for your loss of experience. For all those years he was going to spend with you. For all those years that he did spend with you that are going to be nothing but a painful memory that he has to dwell on to remember why he’s alive

How would he explain it to his children? Children that are certainly not going to understand why one of their parents are gone. Especially when the said parent is used to being gone for long periods of time? How would he explain this to himself? That the person he loves above all things has been taken away?

Hu Tao is funnily enough the one to find Zhongli dry sobbing in the middle of the plains. She says something about how she was in the area, but really? Hu Tao had this sudden gross gut feeling, as if your spirit was trying to call out to her. The gross gut feeling she had was right

Hu Tao suddenly ever so professional helped the broken Zhongli up. She doesn’t mention it when his trousers are stained by your blood, nor does she mention Zhongli’s wet face. Hu Tao knows better, especially when dealing with the dead.

The service is as small as it could physically be, considering that just in Liyue you and he have made so many friends that want to say goodbye

Both Zhongli and his children are so overwhelmed with emotion that none of them cry at the service. But everyone knows how they’re feeling. 

After the service Zhongli sits his kids down and tries to explain everything to them without crying. He must stay strong for his beautiful children, he wont let himself crutch onto them.

Often when the kids are tucked away happily in bed Zhongli will visit your grave. Often with flowers, it doesn’t matter which ones. You always had a way of finding beauty in even the weeds that litter both the garden and the wilds

On more than one occasion Zhongli has found Xiao and Ganyu silently saying goodbye to you. In all honesty you were the reason why the human adepti started seeing the ex-archon in the first place. It’s only right they offer their blessings to the person who bought them closer to the only father figure they have

As the years pass your loss has gotten easier. Zhongli still visits your grave often and occasionally brings the kids to say hello. 

Though Hu Tao cannot help but note that Zhongli still wears his wedding ring on his finger. And sometimes, she can catch glimpses of what she can only presume to be your wedding ring hanging around his neck.

Zhongli isn’t going to be letting your memory within him die anytime soon

Xiao

Having a mortal lover really wasn’t the best plan for Xiao. But he had always pictured at least you getting old. That way it would be less painful for the adeptus to let you go.

But fate obviously didn’t want that for him

He should have been more careful about having you near. You had helped him open up, so much so displays of PDA were something that he really began to enjoy. Holding your hand as you wonder about Wangshu’s market stalls, or kissing each others cheeks just when you feel like it

That’s what must have enticed the Abyss to target you. While you were defenseless

It was just a night like any other. Xiao had decided to go out for some monster slaying. He had noticed a slowly growing presence and generally a night out slaying monsters cleared out the area for a week or two

And it was going great until he heard the bloodcurdling scream of his name. If Xiao wasn’t a lightning fast adepti the scream of his name alone would have caused him to cry

The scene as he entered your room was much worse

The first thing he notices is the smell of the elemental traces of the abyss, but that smell is quickly overpowered by a metallic smell Xiao has become more than acquainted over in his lifetime. Blood

They you are lead on your bed, somewhere that should have been a safe space for both you and Xiao by extension

“Xiao” you speak again between laboured breaths, he is by your side in an instant, he clasps your hand in his

“Tell me who, I’ll ki-” he says before you interrupt

“shh” you shush with a weak smile “Xiao, I’ll” you pause coughing “I’ll find you in my next life, I promise” you manage to say

“[name], [name] stay with me!” Xiao yells as he begins to shake your body. It’s obvious from your glassy eyes and lack of breath that you’re not going to

Xiao leaves Goldet to clean up the room of blood, and you as he tracks down the culprit of your demise

He eventually does. But Xiao realises that much time has passed since your death. How long had he been pursuing this abyss herald? Days? Weeks?

When Xiao returns to Wangshu Goldet almost hugs him exclaiming that she and her husband had been worried sick. They had almost come to the conclusion that he to had taken his own life

“How long have I been gone?” Xiao inquires

“Four months” Goldet responds “We tried to hold [name]’s funeral back as much as we could, but we buried them three months ago. I’m sorry Xiao”

The adepti shakes his head. A million thoughts race his mind as he ponders what he should do next. Visit the grave and make himself be lost in your memory? Or just bury you in his head like he had done with the yaksha during the war?

He settles on both

Xiao visits your grave and says his goodbyes. He sets up some incense to help your spirit rest if its in turmoil before he turns to leave your grave. Your memory is like a wound. He will bury it in the sand like all the others in due time

A hundred years later is when he visits your grave again. Not because he forgot to before. But because this wound of your memory has infected his brain. In the last decade your memories have resurfaced once more

The memories range from the first time the two of you shared a kiss, shared the bed to when he had reached you in the bedroom

Xiao wonders to the promise your dying breaths offered, were they an empty promise like all other dying breaths? Or was this a true one?

“You know I’ve been tending to this grave for the last decade or so” a voice behind Xiao speaks. “My name isn’t [name] but I think I am them” the voice continues standing just behind the yaksha

“A hundred years is a little long for you to have grown” Xiao tells the figure behind him. You hum

“I think I was blessed by the gods” you confess “For I am truly a century old”

[viseralantlers]

vermillion (c!technoblade x reader)

warnings: dissociation, the egg (dsmp)

requested: technoblade angst : )

note: she’s a bit rough around the edges but kdnbhwjhlb just wanted to do something horrorish cause it’s my favorite thing to write : )

“Techno, y/n! So this is the egg!” Bad’s face was plastered with a smile, lit by a red glow from the thing in the corner that seemed to bare through me. His strange robe now colored a milky white instead of it’s former blood red. I nervously glanced at Techno who’s expression remained unaffected as I myself wished to cower into his side. I pressed myself as close as possible, almost hiding behind the man I knew wouldn’t allow me get hurt. 

“So this is what you wanted to show us?” Techno said, unimpressed by the sight. His confidence made me feel steady and sure.

“Yep! Why don’t we all get closer?” Bad decided to pull my hand, his palms were cold and clammy, the hand foreign in my own. Maybe he assumed Techno would follow if I got closer. I politely laughed as he lead me away from the perceived safety I found in Techno. I tried to not trip over the vines and the pools of lava and hot open magma that littered the floor. “Beautiful isn’t it?” Bad watched, eyes wide. I noted Techno’s presence coming up behind me as I stared in awe at the large egg that towered above us. The carved-out room beginning to feel impossibly large. I felt sick to my stomach.

“I think we will be taking our leave, Bad. This doesn’t seem like something I’d like to be involved with in the slightest.” I listened to Techno speaking behind me, a rumble in his voice that couldn’t possibly disrupt the buzz that had begun in my ears, like something else was trying to pull me away from the current moment. I felt compelled, led away from the man that still hovered behind me. 

“Why don’t you just get a bit closer? Couldn’t hurt you, muffin.” Bad grinned at Techno, beckoning him to join him by his side, his hand placed on the scarlet egg. I felt frozen as I stumbled closer, uneasy on my feet. Bad’s stretched grin burned into my brain. I knew this would all be okay, that I would only be safe if I allowed myself to be engulfed by the freezing hands that stretched out from the egg in front of me causing the hair on my arms to become raised. The static beginning to radiate in my head, behind my eyes, to my fingertips, only slowly growing in magnitude.

“Y/n? Y/n? Let’s go.” I heard Techno behind me, putting a burning hand on my shoulder, but he felt so far away, only recognizable by clear change in temperature.

“Bad, what is it saying?” I mumbled out leaning closer as if proximity would make the never-ending static make sense. “It’s so loud.” Some words filtered through, CLOSER, CLOSER, CLOSER, a chant. 

“Just touch the egg! It’ll make more sense, y/n!” I absently nodded, feeling a cold air radiate over the front of my body as I tentatively reached out. 

“y/n!” Techno shouted in panic, forcibly pulling me back away from the egg. The static didn’t let up, even when the warmth from Techno’s body surrounded me, if anything it got louder, felt more demanding, made a pit form in my stomach. 

“Techno? I want to,,, I need to.” he wrapped his arms around the front of my body as we both stepped away from the insidious egg.

“We are leaving.” He began to quickly pull me from the room as I tried to cover my ears, alleviate the shrill call that buzzed through my body. 

“Techno, I feel so-” I reached out to touch his face, my fingertips felt numb.

“It’s okay, we’re gonna get you out of here. We’re gonna get you out of here, my love.”

“Techno! Y/n! Wait!” Bad faded off as Techno rushed us out of the disorienting room. I felt dizzy as I leaned on Techno for support to even be able to stand and escape. Once I finally felt the sun caress my face I felt relieved. I collapsed in the green grass, letting dew soak through my pants, fresh air through my lungs almost allowing me to forget the vines that felt like they had wrapped around my ankles. 

“y/n, are you there?” Techno whispered close to me, his warm breath fanning over my face. 

“It’s still-” I placed my hand on my ankles, tracing the ghosts of spines and constriction. “It feels like it’s wrapped around me, Tech.” words felt impossible and forced. Techno quickly moved back into action sweeping me up from the ground his cape swooping up behind him. He began to walk towards the portal home as I looked up at his concentrated face. 

“We aren’t ever going there again. I’m gonna destroy what’s ever down there, y/n. it’s sick like some sort of infection..” I let myself drift off with my head pressed against Techno’s chest, calmed by the steady beat of his thrumming heart. I woke up when he laid me down on our shared bed. “Are you sure you are okay, love?” he laid an unsure hand on my forehead, checking my temperature. 

“Yea, I feel more, I don’t know, clear, you know.” his brow still worried, but his shoulders became less tense. 

“I’m sorry I let Bad take us there.” he confided sitting down on edge of the bed. I crawled over to lay my head on his leg. 

“It’s not your fault and we didn’t know. Besides you got me out of there, right?” I smiled up at his slowly softening expression “we’re both okay.” I reached up to lay my hand on his cheek. Techno leaning in to the gentle touch as he let himself close his eyes.

“We’re okay.”

[ellieswhoreeee]

The Two of Us. pt 4

Author’s note; Sorry guys for being so inconsistent about posting guys! i promise i’ll do better but i was kinda distracted with a dina fic i’m writing🧍🏽‍♀️anyways this is the end, i hope you guys enjoy it! also i know this feels slightly rushed so i’m sorry for that :/

endgame pairings: ellie williams x fem! reader

warnings: swearing, marijuana, violence, ect.

ps: i’m still learning how to use tumblr when it comes to replying and doing other stuff so please give me time 😭

——————————————————————-

“I knew i’d find ya’ here,” Joel’s voice was oddly gruff but soft at the same time. He was loud enough for you to hear, even from the different distances. It was nice hearing his voice. You heard the rocks under his feet crunch together, making noise as he got closer and closer to your hiding spot. You were hiding in the tree house that was built into a large tree. The tree house was small but big enough for you, even though you built it when you were younger. It was surprisingly stable.

You didn’t say anything, and just stayed where you were. Hopefully he would think that you weren’t in here if you weren’t responding to him. “Kiddo, get down from there and talk to me. I ain’t gonna leave, so you can’t hide from me.”

You sighed quietly, and crawled towards the door- which in reality was just an old blanket that covered the entrance. You hated how noble Joel was. Your head peaked through the fabric. “Did Maria send you? Tell her i’m okay, i’m just sick.”

“Actually, i came here on my own. I’ve just… Noticed the changes between you and Ellie these past few days… I think if you could just talk to her-“

“Joel, this won’t get fixed by just talking. I fucked up this time.”

“What did you do…?” Joel questioned curiously. You looked away and decided to stay quiet as you clenched your jaw. Joel looked down at the ground awkwardly, noticing the look on your face. “I know y’all kids think i don’t know anything… But i’m not dumb. People talk… I’m just waiting for her to tell me so… whatever it is, i can guarantee that i won’t judge.” 

You bit your lip, and decided it would be better to talk to him. It was a little awkward when you first met but after continuously talking to him and hanging with him really changed that. He was one of the many people you were grateful for. You gave him a small smile. “I would invite you up but you’re kinda…”

“What? Too old? I’ll have ya’ know that i’m in the prime of my life.”

You bite the inside of your cheek to hide your laugh. “Fat. I meant fat, you would break the tree house.” You were joking, it wasn’t anything serious and he knew that.

“Oh yeah?”

“Yep.”

He hummed, giving you a mischievous smile. He then moved towards the tree, and started to slowly climb up the ladder without any hesitation. You retreated back to the spot you were in, and watched as Joel struggled to get in quietly. He then sat across from you. He was curious about the inside- it didn’t look as abandoned as he thought he would be. “Cozy,”

You laughed. “Thanks, i guess you never been up here, huh? You should’ve seen it when me and Ellie put fairy lights up…” Joel stayed quiet for a moment. You brought your knees up to your chest and let out a quiet sigh. “You know, she’d say something dumb like, ‘it’s Ellie and I’ or something.”

Joel felt like patting you on the back and saying ‘it would be okay’ but that wasn’t what you needed right now. You needed someone to talk to. He needed to be that person for you because of how much he cared about you and Ellie. “What happened?”

“You won’t judge me?” Your voice cracked at the question, and he could tell you were scared. He shook his head in response which made you feel slightly better. You covered your eyes with your hands in frustration. “Ellie found out that i… Have feelings for her.” Your voice was quiet, and he almost didn’t hear you.

He was quiet for what seemed like forever but in reality it was only a couple of seconds. “…And does she like you back?” He questioned in the softest way possible. You removed your hands from your eyes and decided to look at him.

“If she did we wouldn’t be up here…” You replied awkwardly.

“So… You two talked about it? And you’re certain that she doesn’t like you?”

You shook your head slowly at his questions. “No, i kinda just walked away before she could say anything… But i know she doesn’t like me because she’s-“

“Dating Cat.” Joel finished for you. He already knew about Ellie and Cat. Not much, but enough to know how they dote on each other. People talk, so mostly everyone knew about them. Joel was just waiting for Ellie to tell him, and she hasn’t.

You nodded. “Yeah. Dating fucking Cat.” You spat bitterly.

Joel sighed, and continued to watch you. He noticed a lot by just watching you. You were playing with your hands, almost as if you were trying to calm your down from the hurricane that is your brain. You looked pretty sad. “Alright, i’m tired of it. You needa’ stop moping. So, we’re going.”

“Where are we going?” You asked quickly and followed him down the tree house. He waited for you, and once you reached the pebbles on the floor he started moving ahead once again. All you could really do was follow him.

“Just follow me, kid.”

-

-

-

“No way! I can’t do this right now, at least let me get a drink or something! I need whiskey in my system before i can talk to her!”

You don’t know how it happened. You let Joel drag you around town- just so he could get you to let your guard down. His real plan was getting you to Ellie’s garage. He asked you to close your eyes and lead you somewhere- and that’s where you are now. Right behind his house, aka in front of Ellie’s door.

“What if Cat’s here? This’ll be really awkward and pretty messed up.!” He was dragging you by your collar now, just so you couldn’t run away. You hated how strong he was. He then knocked on her door, and your skin shivered anxiously. You didn’t want to be here. You weren’t ready.

“Sorry, kid. In life, you gotta face your problems one way or another. I’m just giving you a gentle push.”

“More like a forceful shove!”

“Quit your whinin’. You need this. Closure or whatever you kids are saying these days.”

“Joel!-“

The door lock clicking caught your attention, then the door opened slowly. It revealed a very tired looking Ellie. She looked up at Joel and then down at you in surprise. “Sup..?”

Joel nodded in acknowledgment. “Heya, kiddo. Just thought i’d drop this off.” He let go of your collar, and suddenly you were on the floor. He turned on his heel and returned into his house through the back door. Fucking Joel, acting like i’m some sort of package. You couldn’t help think as you sat there.

“Fuck me,” You muttered lowly to yourself. You couldn’t even look up at Ellie. You were ashamed. You weren’t planning on telling Ellie about how you felt. Especially when you didn’t know if your feelings would last long. “This was a bad idea, i’m gonna go.” You stood up and brushed the dirt off your clothes.

You were about to walk- maybe even run away if it weren’t for Ellie talking first. “I never pegged you as a coward.”

You sighed, turning back to face her. To finally look at her. You noticed the bags under her eyes, that she looked paler than usual and her voice sounded hoarse. Seeing her this way made you sad. “Ellie…”

“No. You won’t talk right now.” She stopped you from speaking further. Maybe you deserved that. “Avoiding me, ignoring me and running away from me whenever i’m near? That���s all the things a coward would do. And that coward is you, y/n. I never thought that you were that type of person… You always faced your problems head on.”

Her arms were crossed over her chest, and she was leaning against her door. It was the support she needed at the moment. Her words were hitting you hard. It was like a wake up call, just what you needed to get out from the hole you found yourself in.

But you also felt like denying her words.

You scoffed, and took a few steps back from her. You felt even more far away from her then ever. “Look, Ellie what do you want from me? You know why. Why can’t we leave it at that and move on. Never talk about it again.”

“Right, cause’ this is something we can move on from… Y/n, I need to hear you say it.” She pushed herself off her door and slowly moved closer to you.

“I’m not gonna do that.”

“Why? Are you afraid? I never knew you were such a pussy.” The way those words left her lips made it seem like she wanted to piss you off, to push you over the edge. Just so she could get your reaction.

“Fuck you, ellie… God, why do you need to hear me say it? You and your girlfriend are fucked up for wanting me to say it despite knowing already.”

She hummed, and continued to take steps towards you. “Are you scared? Is that it? Why is it that this conversation scares you but not a pack of infected…?” You scoffed, and didn’t say anything. You didn’t want to. She ended up being a few inches away from you. You couldn’t look up at her. You’re scared of doing something that you’ll regret. God, you wished you had gotten a drink or something. Maybe then you could at least blame it on the alcohol.

“What are you so afraid of?” She questioned in a whisper. Ellie wanted you to say it, she wanted to confirm that you actually liked her. She needed to hear you say it. Not insinuate it, but to actually hear it from your lips. That’s what she wanted.

Your eyes travelled from the ground and slowly trailed up her body. Your eyes lingered on Ellie’s neck, and then stopped at her chapped lips. Instinctively, she licked her lips as she continued to stare at you. You swallowed lowly, finally finding yourself looking into her green eyes. “I’m scared that you won’t like it.” Again, your eyes flickered to her lips.

“I will.”

For a split second you’re happy. But then you remember Cat. You frown, and decided to take a step back. “You’re with Cat- in love with her. That’s what you said, isn’t it? I may be in love with you but i’m not gonna let you cheat on her.”

Ellie pressed her lips together, a nod and small smile on her lips. “You’re a good person, y/n. That’s one of the many things that i love about you..” Your stomach did a flip, but you tried to listen to her next words carefully. You couldn’t be distracted by her sweet words. “I broke up with Cat. As fucked up as it is… I was only with her to try and get over you.”

“So, what i’m getting from this conversation is… You’re single?”

She laughed, and walked closer to you. “Not for long i hope.” She winked- well, tried to to. It was a pretty bad wink. But it was cute that she tried.

“I feel bad for the next person who dates you… you’re infuriating.” You whispered, watching and you and Ellie inched closer to each other.

She grinned, and watched and you closed you eyes. “You love it.” She paused for a moment, just to tease you before she finally brings your lips together in a sweet kiss. Her hands trail down to your hips so you could be flushed against her body. Your arms wrap around her shoulders loosely. She groans when you nip at her lower lip, then slides her hand under your shirt. God… you’re so enticing, y/n. Ellie was only thinking of you in this moment.

“Oi! Y/n! Ellie! PDA!!” Joel’s head popped out from the kitchen window as he glared at you two playfully.

“Right,” You pushed away from Ellie’s lips. “Joel knows.”

Ellie nodded, a smile on her lips as she continued to look at you. She was awestruck. She finally got to kiss you, to hold you and in the future there would be more memories with you. More memorable memories. “I guess he does.” She peck you on the lips and grab your hands. “You’re with me, right?”

You nodded, squeezing her hands to comfort her. God, you loved her so much. There is nothing better than being with her. You wished you had told her your feelings sooner, way before Cat. Maybe things could’ve been different.

But things are back on track for you and Ellie, and will be for a long time. Your gut is telling you everything will be fine. “Always.”

As long as you were with Ellie, nothing could go wrong.

-

end <3

[minty-mumbles]

Delirium

Summary: Wild gets sick, and Time and Twilight have to deal with his fevered delusions. No one has a good time.

Author's Note: My first Linked Universe fanfiction! Wooo! (Read it on Ao3 Here)

Content Warning: Hiding injuries which results in sickness, Sickness, Delirium/Hallucinations

~~~

This entire situation started only two short days ago. When they went to sleep that night, nothing had seemed amiss. Wild had seemed perfectly fine, if a bit tired. He had made a nice stew for dinner, nothing too complicated, and then crawled right into his bedroll, and was out like a light in less than five minutes. Time and Twilight had exchanged suspicious glances, but left it at that. It had been a very long day of traveling, and they had had a difficult fight that evening. Most of the group was tired. After all, Sky had similarly gone to bed immediately, and Wind looked like he wasn’t far behind.

Hyrule took the first shift on watch that night. Wind had the second shift, and Wild had the third. Thankfully, nothing happened throughout the first two watches. Wind was relieved when it was finally time for him to wake Wild, eager to go back to sleep.

However, when Wind tried to nudge him awake, his fellow hero had refused to budge. After a few more minutes of poking, which quickly escalated to shoving, Wind only had a few groans to show for it, his fellow hero’s eyes remaining shut tight.

This was highly unusual. Wild wasn’t the lightest sleeper- that title went to Legend, without a doubt- but he was always easy to wake. If it had been Sky, Wind wouldn’t have thought much about it.

As it was, Wind shot a concerned look at the lump of blankets Wild had become, and then scampered over to Hyrule’s bedroll.

By the time the rest of the group woke in the morning, Hyrule had woken Time and Twilight, after he had discovered the cook’s high fever, caused by an infected wound he hadn’t told anyone about. It was quickly decided that the group couldn’t travel safely with a sick member, and the group would be staying put until Wild felt better.

Four set about making breakfast, which was an uninspiring meal of simple roasted salmon. It was better than most others could do though, so no one dared complain, lest they be stuck with Hyrule’s cooking for lunch.

Their plan to stay put was ruined when a portal opened in the middle of the campsite after breakfast. After much groaning, they carefully packed the cook’s belongings, and distributed the packs amongst themselves so no one would be stuck with twice the weight to carry for the day. Twilight, as the strongest, was the one assigned to carry their sick companion.

Fortunately, they needn't have worried about a long trek awaiting them on the other side of the portal. It seemed that Hylia finally deemed it time to give them a boon of good luck, and they had been deposited nearly on the front doorstep of Lon Lon Ranch.

Some of the group smiled, relieved at this reprieve. Others- namely Legend and Time- shared a wary glance. If the goddess thought the situation bad enough to deposit them directly on the rancher's doorstep, this likely would not be a pleasant few days.

They had quickly set Wild up in one of the spare rooms. Malon had made some delicious cucco noodle soup, and the group had set about helping with farm work while waiting for Wild’s fever to break. They took turns watching the young man, as Hyrule was wary about leaving him alone with such a high fever.

The Champion had woken several times. Once on the first day after supper, on Legend’s watch, and twice again that night, once on Hyrule’s watch, and once on Time��s. It was always the same when he woke. He looked around in a daze, not quite processing the world around him. Those watching over him were able to get him to eat small amounts of bread and drink a little of the soup’s broth, but didn’t manage to provoke a reaction out of him. There was little improvement in his condition.

The second morning was when the group really started to worry. Wild’s fever still had not broken, and it had been over a day now. When he woke right after breakfast, he had moved past dazed and right into delirious territory. He was crying out for Zelda, and other names that none of them recognized. He struggled against Wind, who had been the one on watch at the time. Eventually Wind had given up trying to get him to lay down. Even with Wild as weakened with his fever as he was, Wind was unable to overpower the older boy, and had called for Time and Malon.

Time managed to hold Wild down enough to get him to drink some water, although he nearly had to pin the younger man down to do so, eliciting some more screams from him. It certainly seemed that his delirium wasn’t going away anytime soon. Meanwhile, Malon started to set up a cot in the main room of the house. It would be more convenient to have Wild on the lower level of the house, so they didn’t have to carry water and food up the stairs. That way, she could keep an eye on him while making meals, giving the boys a break from watch duty.

Warriors had ushered most of the others out of the house when the screaming had started, claiming that ‘they had better things to do than sit around and listen to their comrade’s pain.’ No one argued, the young sailor in particular looking very pale at the screeches from upstairs. Warriors couldn’t blame him. It sounded like Time was pulling the Champion’s teeth out.

Twilight alone had remained behind, twitching agitatedly by the cries of his protege. Warriors shared one last understanding look with the man, then shut the door, cutting off the cries from the group outside. The group of six slowly shuffled off to the barn to get started on feeding the animals. It was a peaceful morning. The cuccos seemed to be in a less murderous mood than usual, and the sun was shining, burning away the night’s dew. It was quite tranquil.

Inside the house, a much less peaceful scene plays out.

“No, no, no, no!" Time gripped Wild as tight as he could without hurting him as he lifted the champion into the air. The feverish man limply struggled against Time’s grip with all his might, which at the moment, was not much.

Twilight stood nearby, ready to assist Time if need be. He ran a washcloth over his cub’s forehead one last time before they began the trek down the stairs.

"It's okay, Wild. You’re okay," he uttered soft reassurances. Honestly, the soothing words might as well be for himself, for all the good they did for the one held in Time’s arms.

"Don't- don't!" Wild sucked in a shuddering gasp. "Don't put me back in there." Gritting his teeth, Time made his way into the hallway, ignoring the nonsensical cries of the boy in his arms. Giving into his pleas wouldn’t get them anywhere, and they would just need to do this later. “Please, please! l'll do anything!"

As they reached the top of the stairs, Wild seemed to get a sudden burst of strength, struggling much harder against the elder heroes. “I’m sorry! I’m not that hurt, don't put me in there, not again!"

Time sighed, grimacing and adjusting his grip slightly. "You aren't going anywhere except the living room, Wild." In response, Wild let out a wail and reached over Time’s shoulder as far as he could; his eyes were fixed on Twilight, but he could tell Wild wasn’t truly seeing him, and he reached for someone or something that wasn’t truly there.

"Time!”

TIme grimaced harder. Was this what having children was like? Caring for them, and inevitably getting your heart ripped out when you see them in pain? Trying your best, yet not being able to help, despite being right beside them? Goddess, if it was, he wasn’t sure he was ready for children. "I’m right here, Wild-"

They finally reached the bottom of the steps, and Twilight stopped to wipe at his face again. This time, the cloth was scrubbing away tears as well as sweat. "Shh, cub-”

“TWILIGHT!” Wild’s voice had reached a high fever pitch. It wouldn’t surprise Time if even the group outside could hear him, he was screeching so loud. Twilight made a wounded sound, then grit his teeth, doing his level best to ignore the cries of the younger hero.

Time maneuvered himself and his passenger to the cot set up in the corner of the main room. He carefully settled himself onto it, not daring to let the younger hero go. With all the strength his thrashing had suddenly gained, Wild would probably throw himself off the cot if he was set down now.

Through the screaming and the sobbing and the struggling, Time did his best to hum any song that came to mind in a desperate attempt to soothe the distressed boy. He eventually settled on a quiet Song of Healing.

Finally, after what felt like forever, Wild drooped. His head landed against Time's chest, eyes staring at the ceiling, yet seeing nothing. His body shook with exhausted sobs. He was coughing and gasping, but he wasn't squirming anymore.

It wasn’t much, but it was a step.

“Please,” Wild rasped, his voice worn from the screaming he had been doing, “Don’t put me back in the shrine.” The words and pleads from only a few moments ago abruptly clicked into place in the two’s minds.

The Shrine.

Goddess, they were stupid. They weren’t sure what the exact circumstances were leading up to him being put into the shrine, but he may very well have still been conscious. Confused and fever-addled as he was, it would have been easy for his brain to draw false conclusions about where or even when he was.

“We won’t,” Time whispered, “We won’t.”

[rivendellsstuff]

𝐂𝐚𝐧’𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞.

𝐂𝐚𝐧’𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 | ❝Slowly, she was collapsed and sheathed inside his heart — and that was the beginning and the end of everything for Levi Ackerman.❞

𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭: 2590;

𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐫: Mentions of canon-typical violence. Inspired by Arwen Undómiel's speech in “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of The Ring'' and the song ''Can’t help falling in love'' by Elvis.

𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫'𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞: Hi! English is not my native language, so if you spot a misspelled word or anything else, feel free to let me know. I plan to look for someone to help me with proofreading because I feel like I leave a lot behind. I hope I can find help to continue publishing these short stories!

────── ▎Levi Ackerman still remembers the feeling when he realized that he loved her.

He knew, he simply knew, that nothing would ever be the same again. This love came suddenly, without warning, and was born inside him in silence, destroying all the countless walls he had built over the years.

The rational and critical part of his brain is always trying to convince him to drown that feeling because nothing good can result from love in those days. So, for a long time, Levi tried to act as if it didn't hurt — how bad hiding what he felt hurt his mind. The fact was: he always lost the people he loved. The fear of losing another person, of seeing them turn into a memory, never terrified him as much as it did now. He didn't want to lose her too.

So, he wonders what the hell he should do. Over the past few months, Levi has always kept her back and that was the nature of their relationship. Levi's understanding of her had always been instinctive, based on a single fact: they were perfect opposites and, in a way, perfect counterweights. But then, he looked at her in a million different ways and loved her in each of them — as a soldier, as a partner, as a friend, as a lover.

Suddenly, humanity's strongest soldier, the one who had brought down countless titans and people who performed evil deeds beyond human comprehension, was unarmed and vulnerable. Slowly, she was collapsed and sheathed inside his heart — and that was the beginning and the end of everything for Levi Ackerman.

The first time Levi Ackerman realized how much he loved her occurred the night before the operation to retake Wall Maria. It was evening, and it was raining - a fine, murmuring autumnal drizzle. The weather was comfortable. Not so hot and not so cold, but just right. Even so, Levi Ackerman was not feeling well. His body was begging for rest and his mind for comfort, but he could not afford to lie down like everyone else. In the stillness, his thoughts were constantly interrupted by the image of the soldiers and friends he had lost over the years, thrown to the ground and covered in his own blood, and this made Levi feel dizzy and sick.

His shoulders were down, his head hung down, and his body was slightly bent over the documents on his desk. Beside him was a long-empty cup of tea. It was the shadow of the great Levi Ackerman. It was simpler than humanity's strongest soldier, but at the same time it was empty and incomplete. Ironic. He had always boasted of being cool, of not caring about trivialities, and of keeping himself intact as a captain, and now he was nothing but a decaying shadow of the infamous Levi Ackerman.

And so, the first few hours of that night passed. So much was happening all at once. He ran his hand through his hair, trying to clear his mind and stand firm, as he always should.

He sighed. Levi left the pile of documents meticulously organized on the table, picked up the empty cup, and stood up. His eyes grew accustomed easily to the darkness, the only sound was of an old clock at the end of the hall and his footsteps on the old linoleum floor.

「flashback」

Levi liked to think he lived long enough to understand that one can never escape his true nature. Such is Historia's destiny, and she is finally crowned as Queen before a large and enthusiastic crowd. The people remember seeing the Queen protect them from a Titan and admire her for standing up to her father.

A smart move, Levi thought.

Standing next to Erwin and Hange, he thinks of his mother. Of Isabel, who cannot be the heroine she was meant to be. He thinks of Furlan and his resilience. He thinks of all the people he has lost over the years, especially those who failed to become what they were meant to be.

''Hey'', Mikasa's voice was low, but it was enough to get the captain's attention.

Up to that point, Levi had not greeted any of his squadron members, although he knew that many were with unasked questions hanging on their tongues. Political issues occupied most of his time. The words were not spoken, but duly were there, at some point; all praise and words of gratitude for his team.

And Levi looked at her, grave tenderness in his eyes turned to Mikasa, and yet, even if she had not been raised among men of war, she was someone many could not overcome in battle. She approached the girl with hair as black as raven wings and whispered something in her ear, to which Mikasa thanked her with a small smile. In those days, it was rare to see anyone smile.

Her dress, which was a deep green with white flower embroidery and golden arabesques on the sleeves, shimmered in the faint wind that afternoon. Levi thinks that she looks so beautiful with the sunlight in her hair.

He interrupts his thought suddenly, his eyebrows knitting together in confusion.

And, as if sensing that she is being watched, she raises her eyes from Mikasa to the captain. He thinks that she is going to raise one of her eyebrows or simply keep the conversation with Mikasa. But then she did something that surprised him even more. She smiled. At him.

He feels his cheeks burn.

''You are staring, shorty'', said Hange, amused, following his gaze.

''Tch, shut up.''

It was just a smile, but Levi couldn't forget it for the rest of the ceremony.

He thought that the true beauty of the place belonged to her.

「 flashback's end」

Damn, he thinks. That smile.

The smell of tea berries and wet earth overwhelm him. Outside, the rain was falling hard as he brewed another cup of tea. He sipped the warm, clear liquid, allowing the noise made by his lips as he sucked the drink to ring out loud. He smiled, amazed that she didn't like the drink. This was the first more human demonstration he had had in a long, long time.

It was during a sleepless night like that, months ago, when they could finally be in each other's presence, just them. It was... easy to talk. Maybe it was because of the tea, the sound of her laughter, or none of those two things. Maybe just her and her way of looking beyond him as nothing but.... Levi. Just Levi.

Levi grew up poor and alone in a place where he was taught to hate every bit of it with a burning passion, he understands a thing or two about injustice and hate even before Kenny decides to teach him how to fight. He loved his mother with every fiber of his being. He loved his friends. When they died, Levi felt like he was dying with them; but that feeling? It was a different kind of love. He had never loved anything, or anyone like her.

Get out of my head, woman.

He took a deep breath and decided to put those thoughts aside once again. After finishing the tea, he put the cup away and headed back to his room.

He stopped himself momentarily when he noticed the door ajar on his right.

And there she was, dressed in a silver and blue dress, in a polished wooden chair by the window, whose light westerly wind blew through and made her hair flutter. To him, it seemed that starlight was in her eyes.

Levi was silent for a second and then sighed. There was nothing to be said now that they were there, preparing to reclaim the lost lands and waiting for answers.

But when she let out a deep sigh of pain, he slammed his knuckles against the door. She raised her eyes to him, feeling her throat go dry, and immediately leaned back, pulling her eyebrows together in confusion.

''Captain,'' she said, but signs of weariness and pain could not be hidden in her gently voice.

"Are you hurt?" asked the superior, taking her by surprise.

"Except for a few bruises, I'm fine'', She said, gesturing for him to come in. "Can't sleep?"

Levi studied her from top to bottom, paying attention to her body language and any sign of injury. There were two scars on her hands. She tried to cover them with the sleeve of her dress.

''I rarely get any sleep, so the person who should be asking this question is me,'' he said, and although he was glad to see her, worry ran through his chest.

She smiled.

"Fair enough''

Frustration tightened his voice a bit, but she thought it was incredibly appealing when he said: ''You never respond the way people expect you to.''

Levi approached and stopped beside the window. The beautiful weather and the calm seemed a mere mockery to the men before the most dreadful mission of their lives.

"I'm sorry," she says sincerely. ''Just a stupid accident during training...and I can't sleep,'' she admitted. ''Nightmares. They've been recurring since we faced the female titan. I think my brain is malfunctioning.''

''It's ok you have hard times.''

She took a deep breath and then inhaled slowly. It had been a long time since they had shared moments like that; and she had always loved his company infinitely, even though she had never shown it in words.

The thoughts began to surge like a burst of fireworks, making loud noises, disappearing and reappearing. Instinctively, she pressed one hand against the other, but the twinge of pain almost made her curse. He didn't miss that.

''You should bandage this to prevent an infection'' he says.

She let her hands slide to the sides of her body.

''Yeah, you're probably right.''

"Do you have any medical kits around here?''

Her expression wavers for a while, as if she is thinking about it. Then she turns and opens one of the bags left beside the bed. Levi has approached her as she begins to rummage through the material.

''Here, let me do that,'' he said.

「flashback」

The horses pranced and neighed, startled, when a group of titans was spotted. The maneuvering equipment tinkled as the wires were released. The sight of those creatures was terrifying, but the battlefield had already become a part of their lives, and Survey Corps was willing to fight.

Above, a sunless sky, muffled by heavy clouds. Levi could hear roars and screams all around, the sharp, distinctive thud of the clash of blades against the back of the titans' heads. There were bloodied bodies, some without limbs and with pieces strewn across the surrounding ground.

Then, time seemed to freeze.

The titan's giant hand withdrew and a terrible howl resound across the battlefield.

The titan screamed again, but the fury of the guttural howl was nothing compared to what the captain felt as he investigated the still face of (Y/N). For the hundredth of a second it took his mind to assimilate the events, Levi was struck by horror. He stood motionless; he simply found himself gripping the blades and looking at her. Suddenly, his muscles were contracted by the urgency, the will, the urge to hurt him. This wild need, echoing in his ears like a broken record, obscured his mind.

With an immense bang, several blows struck the titan.

As the creature felt motionless to the ground, Levi ran to it, whose face was as white as a lobelia and as cold as frost.

He didn't know how deeply he was entwined with her until they tried to take her away from him

「 flashback's end」

Levi listened attentively to everything she said, as she was also attentive to the gentle, careful way in which he touched her.

''I hope you won't use this to bribe me, Ackerman.''

He rolls his eyes.

''Maybe I'll take Sasha's food and say it was you.''

''That's the biggest threat I've ever heard in my entire life,'' she says eventually.

A strange flutter in his stomach threatened a smile on his face.

"Maybe it makes you let to be a brat"

She takes a long breath.

"I'll let her kill me and then you'll be sorry"

"Don't be so dramatic", he says. "By the way, I'll never let anyone hurt you as long I live."

She is speechless. Her heart starts to beat faster than she thought it could, and all her body was filled with a so good feel. She couldn't explain exactly what is, but there was anyway.

Levi doesn't look at her face again. And then, the silence was back once again.

It was a difficult operation for the Captain; he touches her skin, heard her voice so close and quietly to him.

"It's done", Levi says.

She follows his eyes and saw her own hands. He still was holding them.

"I appreciate that."

He looks at her.

You're so fucking beautiful.

Levi runs his thumb over her fingers tenderly.

A crow screams at the top of its lungs in the distance, and she almost cringes. Levi ignores him and, longing for her starry eyes again, brings her hand to his lips and places a soft kiss on his skin.

"Are you afraid?" she whispers. Levi could feel the goosebumps that her touch gave him. ''Sometimes, I feel as if we are going to discover something eviler than the titans themselves.''

The wind blows angrily, making her hair fly.

''There are few things that make me afraid. This is not one of them.''

Losing you is, he thinks.

Inside his chest, the sound of his racing heartbeat is loud enough for him to hear. His heart pulses melodiously, pumping blood and sending some to his cheeks.

"Besides, this must be the first time I've heard you say you're afraid," he says, braiding invisible lines on the back of his hands. "Maybe you're sick. Let's examine it before it devours your brain entirely.

"I can't tell if you're joking or not."

He laughs lightly, and she thinks how nice it is when he does that. Levi's face is always so stern, so cold when they are around others. It's like it's a secret that only she knows.

Suddenly, Levi thinks about what it would feel like to kiss her.

"You should try to rest now", he whispers, looking away.

He starts to walk to the door.

It was in this exact moment he wished to have been able to tell her all those things in his mind.

"Wait!"

He turns back to her.

"What is?"

While Levi said, she holds his cheeks with her palms.

"Stay", she whispers. "Just a little longer"

Levi feels his heart beating faster than he thought it could, and all of his body was filled with that desire again.

Their lips touch in a chaste and last kiss for barely a second.

Levi holds her hands close to his heart. His tongue traces her bottom lips, brushes against the edge of her teeth before mingling with hers. It was kind, as it could say all those things on his heart.

When their lips step back, he says: "For as long as you wish"