#I’m trying to run SOME errands before I drop off the face of the earth entirely (start working nights)

[micamicster]

Going on a journey to targét anyone want anything

[late-to-the-party-81]

Needy

Request: Or, or! Lately, I have been plagued by the thought of a pouty, needy Thor 🥺❤️

He just wants to stay in with his girl, but she’s got errands to run and places to be, so Thor just sits around pouting, and waiting for her 😔

He goes from straight up begging her to stay, possibly in his knees, to sending her some ~spicy~ videos and pics while she’s gone, trying to lure her home again 😈

When she finally gets home, the big, soft bear that he is, he just envelops her, grabs her and holds her 🥺 Maybe he sits her on his cock, rubbing against her like a cat and purring, and refusing to let go until he falls asleep ❤️

AN: Thank you @lauratang - I’ve tackled your second suggestion first. I hope you enjoy the neediness… I’ve decided this is the same pairing as in my Kinktober 22 fic, Food for thought

Beta’d by @flordeamatista

Dividers by @firefly-graphics and mood board by me.

Masterlist

Summary: Thor is a needy menace.

Relationship: Thor x Agent!Reader

Word Count: 1.7k

CW: Needy Thor, suggestive language, sexting, masturbation, dirty talk, cock-warming, fluff

“But I want you to stay…”

Oh god, the pathetic way those words came out of his mouth. It was both amusing and endearing at the same time. Unfortunately you didn’t have the time to indulge him, no matter how much you might want to.

“Thor. Stop it, you big baby. I told you. I have a shift to do and, because you keep eating me out of house and home, I need to stop at the compound store on the way in because there is nothing for me to take for lunch.”

He at least had the good grace to look chagrined at your retort, but it didn’t lessen his pout any.

“I will go to the store for you, Skatt. Just stay here with me and I will buy you all the jaffa cookies…”

“Cakes…”

“...Jaffa cakes you like. I will peel them and feed them to you.” He stalked closer to you, blue eyes narrowed, and you giggled as you stepped back, trapped against the hall wall. He lent forward, arms braced either side of your head, his hair swinging in both your faces. “I’ll even do that thing you like…”

With a giggle you ducked under his arm, and gave a slap to his ass.

“Cool it, hot stuff. There’ll be time for that later. I have to go.”

Your giggle turned into a full on laugh when he grabbed your hand and dropped to his knees in front of you. He pushed up your top and pressed his face to your stomach, littering it with kisses.

“But I might be dead later. How do I go on living without you here? I need you, little one. There is no air without you.”

“Okay, cool it, Shakespeare.” Leaning over you pressed a kiss to his mouth and the another to his forehead, somehow extricating your hand from his in the process. “I’ll be back before you know it. Now, sit. Stay.”

You slipped out of the door, shaking your head with a smile on your face. 

Your God of a boyfriend was so sappy sometimes.

You were in the middle of a meeting, your team leader droning on about mandatory refresher training, reading aloud from their sloppy powerpoint presentation, when you felt the buzz of your phone in your pocket.

Surreptitiously you pulled it out and glanced down

Thor: I miss you, kjære. What are you doing?

You weren’t really in a position to answer him, so you turned your phone over and rested it in your lap under the table.

Buzz

Stifling a sigh you flipped it over again.

Thor: I’m so lonely without you 🥺🥺😭❤️

Buzz

Thor: When do you get home?

You decided to risk it, and started tapping away, glancing back up every few characters.

You: in a meeting. Home at 4. Read a book/have a nap. Speak later. xoxo

You turned the vibrate alert off and slipped your phone back in your pocket, turning your attention back to the meeting. Supporting the Avengers in keeping the earth safe definitely wasn’t all glamour and parades. Sometimes it was lame Powerpoint presentations…

When your meeting finally finished you were glad that it was lunch time. You’d managed to pick up an overpriced packaged salad at the store on your way in and were looking forward to tucking in, but first you needed to go to the washroom.

After you dried your hands, you remembered your phone so as you exited the washroom, hand on the door, you pulled it from your pocket. The screen lit up as you touched it, showing a litany of messages. You rolled your eyes and stopped in the hallway outside the washroom, leaning on the wall as you opened your texts… and then immediately pressed the screen to your chest, looking around furtively to make sure that no-one had caught a glimpse of your screen. Luckily the corridor was empty.

With more aplomb than you ever thought you’d had, you made your way down the hall to the closest empty conference room. You bolted inside, turned the lock and pulled the window shades so you couldn’t be observed. Your body sank into one of the conference chairs, and with trembling hands pulled your phone away from your shirt.

First was another text.

Thor: I tried to sleep, min skatt, but being on the bed made me think of you.

Then, under that was a picture. It was of Thor’s torso, from the waist down, naked apart from a tight pair of boxer briefs that did nothing to hide the bulge within them.

Thor: I need you to come help me. I ache for you.

The last message was followed by a video thumbnail. Underneath the white play symbol in the middle of the image was Thor’s torso once again. You could feel your heart racing, and your mouth was dry as your thumb inched towards your screen and tapped it.

“I need you, little one.” Thor’s deep voice sounded over your phone speaker, laden with desire and you squeezed your thighs together at the sound of it. He had the camera pointed at his tented briefs, and then his other hand came in shot, stroking and groping over the soft cotton, a light tease. “How could you leave me alone so cruelly, when you know I ache for you every minute of every day? How am I supposed to survive this torture?”

His hand slipped under the waistband of his shorts to take hold of himself, and you watched, transfixed as he started to jerk himself, the tip of his cock poking out of the top of the fabric. Fuck! You could even see a pearl of precum forming in his slit. 

With each stroke he exposed more and more of himself to the camera, moaning wantonly and talking dirty to you from behind it.

“Norns, if you were here, kjære, I’d worship you so. I would feast on you, over and over, just to hear you calling my name  so loud that all of Midgard and Vahalla would know who was pleasuring you. I need to feel you around my cock. I need your warmth. Your wetness. Hurry home, love.”

The video came to an end and you just sat there, engulfed in a state of confused arousal. 

When had Thor learnt how to sext? And how on earth were you supposed to continue with your day knowing that he was waiting at home for you like that? How were you supposed to just sit in the canteen to have your lunch with your pussy pulsing in your now sodden underwear? 

Curse Thor! 

Curse the handsome bastard to Jotunheim and back.

Somehow you made it through to the end of your shift, although you were obviously distracted, and twice you snuck off to the bathroom, now with your earbuds, to watch the video again. You also managed not to message Thor back, not wanting to give him any reaction that might make matters better worse. 

You practically jogged through the main doors and reception of the accommodation part of the compound, swiping your card to access the private elevator and sending it straight to the floor where you stayed with your Asgardian boyfriend. When it stopped, you stepped out, ready to give him a piece of your mind for teasing you all day, but immediately found yourself caught up in a pair of burly arms.

“You’re home! At last!” He pressed kisses all over your face, before capturing your lips. 

You squeaked as he hefted you in his arms, his kisses overwhelming your senses. 

Before you knew it he was pressing you down onto the bed, his hands shedding you of your clothes. It was when his flesh came into contact with yours that you realised he was already naked. His cock nudged your thigh as one of his hands spread your legs apart, cupping your pussy and teasing your entrance.

“So my little message to you did have an effect.” 

You snorted. “Of course it did, you bastard. I was working, not dead… oh fuck!” Your sarcastic retort was cut off as he pressed two fingers into you, stretching you out. As he did so, he continued to kiss up and down your neck, nuzzling into you. You moaned, your lust and arousal overriding your need to chew him out for his antics. Your back arched as you sucked air into your lungs, your body so tantalisingly close to the edge.

Then he pulled his fingers away and you whined.

“Thor!”

“I know, skatt. I know. It’s how I’ve felt all day. But I’ll make it better, really soon.”

He rolled the pair of you onto your sides and hooked your upper leg over his hip, opening you to him, and your eyes rolled into the back of your head as he pressed his thick cock inside you. His arms wrapped around your body, ensuring there wasn’t even the slightest gap between you. His lips brushed your hair, your temples, your eyelids, and then he kissed your mouth again. You opened to him like a flower in bloom, eager for his impassioned love-making, but when you tried to roll your hips he held them still. 

“Relax, little one. You’ve been at work all day. You must be tired. Have a nap, my love.”

Your jaw dropped. “But… but… you… all day… I thought…” A roughened finger covered your lips, silencing you.

“I’m right where I want to be. Where I need to be. And I’ll still be here when you wake up. Then, kjære, I will worship you as I promised. But just give me this, let me enjoy you. Besides, you’ll need your energy for later.”

He continued with his soft kisses and caresses, his cock buried deep within you, and despite your scepticism about your ability to go to sleep with him like that, you soon felt your eyes closing again, your body going lax as slumber started to encase you. 

The last thing you heard before sinking into the soft depths was Thor’s voice, gently rumbling in your ear. “I love you, min skatt. You are the most precious treasure in the nine realms.”

Tag list: @jobean12-blog @tuiccim @sidepartskinnyjeans @krissy25 @bodeckersdiamonddoll @goldylions @luxeavenger @wheezy-stucky @doasyoudesireandlive @chemtrails-club @peaches1958 @pono-pura-vida @writing-for-marvel

[faefictions]

Lonely People | Ch 20

Pairing: Harrison Osterfield x Reader

Warnings: Suggestions of Domestic Abuse

Word Count: 2580

When y/n had opened the door and saw who was standing on the other side, she almost instantly blacked out. The next thing she remembered was waking up on the couch, and as she remembered what had happened, she hoped that it had all been another nightmare. But that hope flew from her when she turned her head to see him there, sitting across from her, looking stressed. 

When he saw that she had opened her eyes, he rushed over to her, resting a hand on her shoulder as he kneeled in front of her lying body. 

“Hey, does your head feel ok? I couldn’t tell if you hit it hard or not.”

“Ian…What are you doing here?”

She did her best not to panic, not show how terrified she was. The years she had spent away from him had given her plenty of practice to pull it off. 

“Don’t worry about that right now, are you ok?” 

“Yeah, I’m fine,” she lied as she sat up, trying to get away from his burning touch, “Please answer the question.” 

“You’re gonna think it’s creepy,” he tried to laugh the tension away, but nothing he could say would pry the uneasy feeling from her chest. She just sat silently waiting for him to continue, not denying his previous statement. 

“Just bare with me, ok? I ran into Merissa a couple weeks back, and I asked her about you. She said she hadn’t heard from you since graduation, but I just figured if anyone would have heard from you it would have been her, you know? You two were really close senior year. So when she said that she hadn’t heard from you either, I just got more worried. You know, half the guys back home just assumed you died when you dropped off the face of the earth,” he let out another sad laugh, but when she didn’t reply, he continued. 

“I ended up reaching back out to her again, and she told me not to tell you, but I sound way more like a stalker if I don’t. She told me she ran into you, and that you didn’t seem like you were doing well. Please don’t hate her, but she told me you were going here, so I got in the car the next day and drove.”

“Are you crazy, that’s like a 15 hour drive.”

“Yeah, well I just had to see you for myself I guess. I had to make sure that you were still…alive.”

“How’d you get here though?”

“What do you mean? I just told you.”

“No, I don’t meant how did you get to town. I mean how did you find my apartment.” 

“I kinda asked around campus, told people I was your brother here to surprise you, but didn’t have your address. Took me a couple hours, since there’s like no one around.” 

“You’re right, that’s really fucking creepy Ian.” 

He shot her a look, and she shut up instantly. 

“Look, I just… It’s been years y/n. You just left, and you didn’t tell anyone where you were going. You didn’t even tell anyone you wanted to go to college. How was I supposed to know you were ok?” 

“We broke up. You weren’t supposed to worry about it. I was out of your hair.” 

“I know, I know. But, how things ended, it just didn’t feel right. I was worried, ok?” 

His voice became more desperate as it raised, and she didn’t want to upset him any further, so she just nodded, refusing to meet his gaze. 

“I was actually wondering if you’d want to fly back with me. Show the boys that I was right all along, that you’re ok.” 

“I thought you said you drove.” 

“Yeah, but I figured, maybe we could fly out, I’ll have you back before classes start up again. And then I can just drive back after I take you home.” 

“Ian-“

“Please, y/n. You’re here alone, aren’t you?” 

She didn’t take that how he meant it. He meant “you’re alone, that’s no way to spend the holidays”, but she heard “there’s no one here to stop me”. 

“Promise I’ll be back before the 3rd? I have some errands to run before classes start.” 

“Yeah, yes, of course. I promise.” 

Her heart ached when he reached out his pinky, and she hesitated before she linked hers into his. It slotted in just like it always did, so perfectly, like their hands were meant to be together. That’s what she had thought the first time, when she had declared that only a pinky promise was solid enough to never be broken. 

“Ok, go pack. You can stay at my place. I live with Ethan now. We got that place over on 3rd with the big trees out front,” he exclaimed proudly, which only made her heart hurt more. That was the apartment building she had told him she had always dreamed of living in. With him. The building that he had said was too sketchy, and he would never want to move into. 

3 hours later, they were on a plane back ‘home’. Home didn’t feel like the right name to call it anymore. Even when her parent’s were there, she hated the town. It was too small, not the kind of place where everyone knows your name though. The kind of small that just felt lonely. 

That was exactly how she felt when she stepped out of the familiar airport. The last time she had been there was with Robin. He had finally talked her into leaving, after her acceptance letter had arrived alongside his. It had felt wrong to leave it all behind, but she had also been glad to have the opportunity to try to pretend like none of it had ever happened. Like her whole life up to that point had just been an irrelevant plot line in a drama that was abandoned by the second season. 

It felt like cruel irony that she was now stepping out of that same door with the very person she had been leaving behind. 

Sure enough, Ian pulled up to the apartment building that she had been dreaming about her entire adolescence. It was the one place in that town that reminded her of the place she now called home. The brick front of the building reminded her of the building her photography class was held in, and the trees were exactly like the ones that lined the streets of campus. 

Ethan couldn’t believe his eyes when she stepped through the door, and all of the tension and anxiety melted off of her when he ran across the room and wrapped her in a hug, spinning her around a few times in the air as he exclaimed that he couldn’t believe she was there. 

“Ian told me that he was going to go find you. I had no faith in him,” he laughed as he finally set her down, but kept his hands on her shoulders as if she would disappear. 

She had hoped that Ethan’s presence would make things easier, she’d convinced herself that someone else’s presence in the apartment would help her survive the few days she was back in town, but she couldn’t have been more wrong. Not even one of her closest friends from high school’s presence could make this situation feel any less awkward or difficult. She had hoped to never see any of them again. It wasn’t so much Ethan, or any of the other friends that Ian had promised she would see that weekend for the New Year’s Eve party. It was just Ian’s presence that had her nerves on edge. He had been the driving force behind Robin getting her out of there. She had been willing to leave everyone else behind if it meant escaping everything that had happened between them. 

That night, y/n realized that she didn’t have her phone on her. The thought of texting Jace or Sierra to let them know that she wasn’t going to be around for a couple days had totally eluded her until the night had calmed down and she was sat between the two boys on the couch watching one of their favorite movies. 

“Ian, have you seen my phone?” she called from her new position on the floor, rifling through her purse and suitcase in hope that she hadn’t left it on the plane. He called a simple no back, without so much as looking away from the screen, she tried to retrace her steps to figure out the last place she had seen it. 

“Do you remember me having it on the plane?” she tried again, and she finally gave up looking and threw her bag on the floor. 

With a heavy annoyed sigh, Ian paused the movie and finally looked at her. 

“I don’t know, are you sure it isn’t in your pocket?”

“I don’t have pockets on these jeans, not big enough to hold a phone at least. I’m sure it’s not here.” 

“Well maybe you left it back at your place.” And with that, Ian switched his attention back to the TV with a huff. 

Y/n new she had grabbed it from her desk, she had made sure she had it as she left. She knew there was a chance this would all go south, so she made sure she had it. She hadn’t pulled it out on the plane though, so she decided maybe she had left it in his car. 

The thought of having to spend the next few days without a way to call for help if she needed it, essentially cut off from the outside world, from her own life hundreds of miles away, made her sick. The worst part was knowing that she had made the mistake of not telling her roommates before she left. The last two times she had disappeared like this, she had only been gone for a couple hours before they freaked out. She hoped that since they knew that she had the tendency to do this, they might not go overboard looking for her. This time was different though, she wasn’t going to be back the next morning, and she felt immense guilt knowing how worried they would be. 

————————

When Harrison arrived at the apartment, the door was already open, and he could hear the conversation going on inside. 

“What do you mean you guys are friends?” Sierra had exclaimed, still trying to understand the situation. 

Sure, Harrison had known for some time now that y/n and Robin had some weird history together, some bond that hadn’t been broken through their phase of teasing and fighting. Her roommates, on the other hand, knew Robin as the asshole that y/n would pick fights with at parties. 

“Look, I know this is confusing, but I need you to stick with me please.”

“How did you even know she was gone?” Jace spoke up as Harrison pushed the door open a little further.

“I called him,” he muttered as he entered, gaining all eyes on him. 

“Took you long enough,” Robin sighed, now exhausted from spending so much time trying to explain the relationship he had with y/n. 

Harrison took over for Robin, trying his best to explain that y/n had told him that Robin and her used to be friends but got into an argument and grew apart, and that she had been at his apartment when he found her last time she disappeared. 

“Ok, I’ll pretend like I’m following. But she isn’t with you, right?” Jace questioned after Robin and Harrison had finished their spiel. 

“No, that’s why I’m here.”

Robin continued on to ask when they had last heard from her, and both roommates lets him know that they hadn’t spoken to her since Christmas, which was now 5 days ago. He tried asking Harrison as well, but was just met with an annoyed look in response. 

“So you’re telling me that she could have gone missing at any point in the last 5 days?”

“Don’t sound so accusatory, we tried to get her to go home with us, she said no.”

Robin rubbed a hand over his face in frustration, he felt like this was going nowhere, though they all had the same goal in mind. He decided to ignore what Jace had said and just continue. 

“You said her keys were still here right? What about her phone, or her purse?”

“No, those aren’t here,” Sierra spoke up, her voice still filled with worry. Robin was just happy to have someone cooperating for a moment, but that feeling was quickly replaced. 

The night she had ended things with Harrison, Robin had known that things were about to go south for her. He had hoped that she would just lock herself away, maybe blow up a few more times, and eventually calm down. What he suspected now was the worse case scenario that he had hoped he wouldn’t have to accept as a reality. It was the way he had taught her to cope years ago. She skipped town. 

Realistically, she had nowhere to go. Her only remaining family member was her estranged aunt, she had no friends besides the ones standing in this room, and he didn’t expect that she could last long on her own. He knew she would have to come back eventually, but he had no idea how to explain this to the people anxiously awaiting him to asses the situation. 

“If she took her phone and purse, she’s probably fine. But she most likely left her keys because she wasn’t planning on coming back,” it was hard to say but it was the truth, and Robin didn’t want to inflate their hope at first, but the second he saw the terrified and heartbroken looks from her roommates, he finished his thought. 

“Let’s not kid ourselves though, you know her. She’ll be out there for a week tops before she realizes she needs you guys and comes back. She’s never been on her own, and I don’t think she would handle it well.”

“But what if she doesn’t come back?” Sierra asked, a tear slipping from her eye. Every fight she had started with y/n flashed in her mind as the guilt of feeling like there was more she could have done to help grew in her chest. Both Jace and Tom put an arm around her. 

“She’ll be back Si, he’s right,” Jace tried his best to sound confident, but in reality, his heart was breaking in the same way. 

Robin left shortly after that, insisting that someone contact him if y/n found her way home. Harrison left shortly after, unable to deal with being in her apartment without her there, knowing that he was more than likely the reason she had left. Tom and Sierra retreated into Sierra’s room for the night, which left Jace. 

He tried to calm down by watching a movie, but nothing could take his mind off of the situation. He was sick with worry, so he decided to just try to get some sleep. 

He decided to sleep in y/n’s bed that night, telling himself that if she ended up coming home in the middle of the night, he could be there to make sure she didn’t go away again. Although he knew she didn’t have keys to get in alone, it made him feel comforted enough to finally fall asleep. 

[akaashisupremacy]

Reckless

Summary: What do you do when you feel like you’ve fallen for someone you shouldn’t?

Gojo Satoru  x reader

Multi-fandom Masterlist || HQ Masterlist || Ao3 version

Genre: fluff, angst, exes to friends to lovers  

“Do you have feelings for me? I need to know.”

Gojo is so stunned that he rubs his eyes in disbelief. Why on earth were you asking this at 2 am on a weekday?

“Why?” he blurts out.

Gojo barely pushes himself up with his elbow while in bed. The room is still brightly lit by the fluorescent lights neither of you remembered to shut off before you dozed off.

You’re sitting on the bed with your knees hugged to your chest. Your expression is somewhat absent. Gojo senses this even in his mild stupor.

“Why would you ask this now?” he yawns, repeating himself and still avoiding your questions.

“My family is trying to set up an arranged marriage and I kind of just want to know before I make any decisions.” you quietly murmur under your breath.

His ear perks up and he manages to sit more attentively.

“To be clear, marriage is a different ball game from having feelings, if you’re trying to propose…” he replies.

You snap at him at the corner of your eye. “I’m not. I just want to know.”

—————————————————————————————————

“Can I come home with you tonight?”

You can’t remember when it started or how. At some point it became a regular occurrence that Gojo Satoru asks to sleep beside you. Sometimes he asks for a little bit more, but more often than not he is content to just be in the same bed.

He loves nothing more than for you to run your fingers through his hair and down the back of his head. It inexplicably soothes him when you rub his back. It’s like nothing else.

He always enjoys company and affection, though neither of you ever own up to it. The arrangement is silent and mutual which both of you like.

“Sure.” you easily reply.

Neither of  you really speak about it outside of the times you are together. The most you do is arrange dinner plans and share a room for the night. You like it when he nuzzles his face on the space between your shoulder and neck while he drapes his arm around your waist. Somehow you both just fit.

The first sign—but this was more than just companionship and physical intimacy—was what you dubbed to as the Photobooth Incident.

On a lazy Tuesday after work, you both drop by the train station for some errands. You’ve just finished an assignment together and have some free time before you need to write up some reports.

“Let’s go take a photo to attach to the paperwork,” he teases, dragging you by the wrist.

The booth is so narrow you could feel his chest on the blade of your shoulder. There is of course still enough space for you to be apart, but that was really no fun.

You both smile. The first shot clicks.

You hold up peace signs. The second shot goes.

Gojo kisses you on the side of your forehead. As the camera clicks a third time, you tenderly look at him. You don’t even notice the last shot happens.

“What are you doing?” you ask in shock when the situation sinks in.

He coolly collects the photos and briefly inspect them before putting them into his wallet.  

“I want to know what you look like when you’re looking at me so I can be reminded of what you look like when you’re not here with me.” he says grinning with his usual mischievous glint in his eye.

Your eyes are wide and searching, dumbfounded by his behavior.

“Do you want the photo gone? I can get rid of it, if you like.” he volunteers apologetically, “I didn’t mean to upset you.”

“I just don’t want to see it or hear about it.” you remark, avoiding his eyes.

Deep inside you were reeling. You’ve been trying so hard to protect yourself from his charms. Because you knew that once you fell, it would be hellish to crawl out. And here he is, surprising you with kisses. You hated that he would pull stunts like this. It made your situationship more than what it was.  

“Will you still come home with me tonight?” He asks timidly, “I haven’t seen you all week.”

You snap back to reality and brush things off, “Sure, we can spend the night together.”

It was then he started noticing the way he was slipping too.

You briefly recall that one time you went to the convenience store. While you were picking out some drinks, he looked longingly from the outside when he thought you weren’t watching. His expression was soft and his eyes dreamy. Gojo liked to go about smirking or looking indifferent. Seeing him that way, you are not sure how to feel.

You secretly glanced at him again. Maybe he just needed to feel like you were falling for him too.

—————————————————————————————

“You’re the only photo in my wallet. I know you look when you think I’m asleep.”

You’re not embarrassed that he noticed. It almost makes you smile that he intentionally keeps the photo in, despite you knowing.

“Satoru, I need to hear it straight from you.” You softly plead.

He turns his head the other way, uneasy and awkwardly.

“...I think I’ve fallen for you.” as he says those words, his hand reaches out to touch your face. His hand gently caresses your cheek and pulls you back down to his side.

Your face is so close to him, you can see every detail of his visage.

“I’m at a point where I will take every word you say as gospel.” you murmur, “Don’t lie to me, ok?”

Your reflexes extend an arm over his body and lay your head beside his collarbone.

“I am truly so in love with you.” He enunciates each word in a whisper, with more force this time.  

Neither of you mention the realities you both face. You both know that this relationship is not going to last and that the future is dangerously unpredictable for sorcerers like you.

“Don’t be stupid, Gojo.” you say in a faint attempt to take back his words.  Warm tears start to slide down your face, “We shouldn't .”

“I’m not as intelligent as people give me credit for.” he shrugs.

“You can get married to someone else if you need to, if that’s something you’re concerned about.” he says kindly. He was never the commitment type anyway.

His hands run up and down your body, drawing you closer to him. Your eyes start to flicker as he soothes you.

“It’s not about that…I can’t be with someone else, knowing that you want me like this. I don’t even care if you’re with other people. I want to see you when I can...which is basically whenever I’m free.’

He shifts his entire body to face you. His warmth emanates off his body. You intertwine your finger with his.  

“So what now?” he asks.

“I just want to sleep beside you.” you yawn, “Leave everything else for the morning.”

He nods and draws the blanket on the both of you.  

Neither of you think about the price you’ll have to pay, when you inevitably hit the brakes too little too late. You don’t really care. You’re not afraid of death or hurt when Gojo Satoru is on your side.

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

I wrote this as a bonus for another Gojo x reader fic who used to be engaged. Check out the other parts! This one is situated at around part 4

Part 1 || Part 2 || Part 3 || Part 4 || Part 5 || Part 6 || Part 7 || Part 8|| Part 9 || Bonus

A/N: Comment to be added to the taglist.

Series Taglist: @tokyo-love-hotel @samkysnks @herownescape @cherrianne192 @shamelessdonutsludgebanana @kageyamakock @shirostrbl @luvang3l @cloudsinthecosmos @httpjungoo @saturnki  @itstheee-ha-chan @gucci-froggy @soy1melk  @dora-the-grownup  @cherryonigiri @fiona782  @a–nonymousse  @naturakaashi @aeanya

[chil2de]

hi yes the benimaru fic i mentioned earlier— fire force fandom will you let me in please??🥺🥺 i don’t know what i’m dealing with fanbase wise mmfldjfj sometimes it feels like i’m head over heels for bens by myself so... i’ll drop this here for now.. see how it goes and i’ll continue w/ a second part if ff isn’t dead

nsfw themes throughout, so please read my disclaimer if you’re new. enjoy :)

w.c: 1.7k, characters: 9.6k (incl spaces)

-

there’s a certain sluggish quality that plagues your movements. it’s not fatigue or incompetence. or so benimaru would hope.

his mix matched gaze glosses over your unnecessary movements. that extra exhale you hiss, the additional bat of your eyelashes and the excessive perspiration that drips onto the earth below.

“stop.” he commands, tone low and stern as it pierces through the open air.

“huh? captain shinmon, i’m fine. we can keep going.” you huff through laboured breaths, pausing to gasp and drink in the plentiful oxygen around you.

“it’s one thing if you’re overworking your muscles. it’s another if you’re running a fever. go inside.”

“b-but captain-“

benimaru shoots you a dead stare, keeping his statement rooted deep where he stands.

judging by the bruises that adorn your knees, you know better than to disobey the captain.

“waka! have you seen (l/n)?” konro lingers in the doorframe of the main communal area, gaze scanning for one of his colleagues.

“she’s in her room. why?”

“her room? she has a few errands to run. is she feeling okay?”

“she’s running a fever.” benimaru exhales, shifting to get up from the table. he lightly scratches the back of his neck, adorning that usual aloof facial expression.

“in the middle of summer? how’d that happen?” konro chuckles through a small glimpse of bewilderment. of course he’d be concerned for one of his best recruits.

“hell if i know. what do we need? i’ll head out.”

if anything, benimaru is probably the sole reason why you’re running a fever. why he subjected to railing you underneath water that felt like it was nearing sub-zero was beyond you. it’s not like he’s about to admit he enjoys fucking his special little fire soldier. how he relishes and engrains the sight of your fucked out facial expression deep into his head, burning the image into his retinas. shit, you wouldn’t be surprised if the reason why he sometimes spaces out is because of you.

it’s always been blatantly obvious that you’re the captain’s favourite, no matter how much he denies it and how many glares he shoots at the people from other companies. you’re always left apologising for his behaviour, attempting to keep a straight face.

for the one time you dragged him out to patrol with you, and the amount of incessant whining, complaints and bribes you offered your captain, after a full month of lovely slow burn he decided to come along with you. he just up and left, had the audacity to turn around and ask you why you’re still standing there. benimaru always kept his distance to yours close, in fact the separation was almost minimal. you could feel his shoulders ghost over you.

every time he noticed someone staring at your figure for a little bit too long to be deemed appropriate, he hissed a scoff of distaste. at around the third or fourth person, you were already forced to deal with his short temper.

“what the hell are you gawking at? mind your damn business.”

but sure. apparently you’re not his favourite.

he can scoff and complain all he wants, but that won’t stop him even now from lazily snaking his hand around to his favourite baby girl’s waist. to him, this seems like the most normal thing.

“how else is she going to stand upright? she’s all stick and bones, the wind will knock her right over.”

okay, benimaru. you keep telling yourself that. even when his fingers feel an itch every time they’re not touching a part of your skin. he tends to get a whole lot more mouthy and irritable every time you’re not around, too.

hell, even his own townsfolk pick up on the fact that he’s out and about more. rounds that he always left to the lesser important underlings became more commonplace, especially with you by his side.

but the things that go on behind closed doors?

his peppermint red eyes that haunt your mind, infiltrating your very thoughts. you could be minding your business, going on about your day until you get an abrupt flicker of his mundane tic-tac-toe gaze staring up at you from in between your thighs.

you could be taking care of hinata and hikage, entertaining their antics when you feel the weight of benimaru’s stare burn holes into your uniform.

you could be doing your daily sparring with the captain. in the zone, breath held and blood stream steady until you remember the feel of his hot tongue trailing along the side of your neck. for someone who seems to be stuck in a perpetual state of sadness, you always catch the arrogant smirk that pulls at his lips.

“thinking of something?” he’ll cock his eyebrows, using the distraction to take a jab to your gut.

you groan, stirring around in your bed. you hate him, hate that stupid half lidded gaze of his. you hate how soft his wavy jet black locks are. the way the strands tug and bend whenever you try to yank his face away from your cunt. you run your fingers through your hair in a valiant yet futile attempt to free your thoughts from your captain. it’s only three o’clock in the afternoon, and you haven’t done anything but reminisce about your lover for the past hour and a half.

a meek and uneven sigh hisses from your lips. your eyes screw open and you flinch at the hard sunlight that pours in from the window. as you use the inner portion of your elbow to shield your gaze, you catch glimpse of a very familiar figure in the doorway.

“captain shinmon?” you inquire, propping yourself up onto your elbows. he closes the door behind him. you’re certain that you looked like a loyal dog sat panting and wagging its tail upon discovering the return of their owner.

“excited to see me?” he remarks in a flat tone, opening the grocery bag he’s carrying before setting a few things down onto your nightstand. it’s mostly medicine, though he snags a few of your favourite snacks and drinks. there’s also one of those fascinating green tea bottles that you buy at the vending machines, except they’re served piping hot.

“how’re you feeling?”

“i told you i was going to get sick if we had the water that cold.” you huff, averting your gaze in a fit.

“not my problem you can’t take a little temperature difference”

“a little? that shit was freezing! how the hell can you take water that cold?”

“how can you not?”

you chuckle a little, shifting to stare up at the ceiling.

“don’t you have paperwork to do?”

“you know i don’t do paperwork. sure as hell not gonna start doing it now.” benimaru huffs, kicking his boots off by the door. you can hear his clothes rustling and your head snaps to face him. he shoots you a glare, as though to scold you. it’s dripping on his face. ‘really? you’re so eager.’

“move up.” he cocks his head to the side, motioning for you to move over. you shift up, room spinning a little too much for your tastes. the mattress dips with his weight and his right arm (our left) reflexively hangs in the air for you to dip your head into the crook of where his shoulder and collarbone meet. he discards his navy kimono, the article of clothing hangs on one of the hooks at the back of your door. it’s probably not much comfort for him to be relaxing in a bed with half of his uniform still on.

you squish your face against his hard chest, head rising and falling in time with his breathing. the said arm relaxes and his hand rests against your shoulder. subsequently, you realise this is the first time you’ve seen him fully without his kimono on. at the very least, he’d still have the other sleeve on.

benimaru notices your blatant staring at his other arm. he can’t comprehend why you’d gawk at it now, since he’s used it plenty of times to choke you.

he hums a small ‘hm’ in question, asking you what you’re so fascinated about. you can feel his voice thrum and rock against his chest, it sends small shivers licking your body that he doesn’t miss.

“you look so funny without your kimono on. why don’t you wear it like this more often?” you drag your nails softly against his biceps. there’s a small groan that hisses from him. as you await his response, you outline a large vein that runs from his upper arm and trails down all the way to his wrist.

“i get cold easily.”

“then why did you take a shower with me?”

“are you hearing yourself?”

surely a little bit of his body temperature was enough to sacrifice. even if it meant he was sneezing a little bit and shivering afterwards.

“seriously? you can take a tranquiliser but you can’t stand a little cold?”

“you’ll make a shitty wife if you can’t even keep me warm.”

“beni!” you hiss at benimaru in appaul, craning your face up to guffaw at him. the manners on him sometimes are despicable.

you pout, shifting your upper weight to flick benimaru in between his eyebrows. he screws his face in mutiny, lips curled into a scowl.

you and him both know that if it were anyone else flicking him like that, they’d be sent crashing through six different blocks of houses down the street.

“oi.” he warns you, tutting.

“konro come by and work some voodoo magic bullshit on you? ‘cause you’re testing your luck by pissing me off. you’re such a menace when you’re sick, it’s unbelievable.”

you hum in awe, inching your face closer towards his. there’s a wave of mockery that paints your face green and you can only laugh at the unrest that swirls in benimaru’s eyes.

he won’t have his pet talking down to him like that. no, no. that just won’t do.

“oh? really? you want me to do it again?” you flash him a cocky smirk, digits curled into a flicking position. you rest the bridge of your middle finger against benimaru’s forehead, slicking some of his charcoal stained locks out the way.

his left hand flies to catch your hand in an instant. with just two of his fingers, he can wrap himself around your wrist. his touch is assertive, firm. he can drag you the fuck away from him as he pleases, but there’s no real malice or force behind him just yet.

“yeah? try me.” he barks, peering down at you through his lashes.

you just might.

[another-fantasy-world]

Pulled

≿————-　❈　————-≾

Title: Pulled

Pairings: (Romantic) Wanda Maximoff x Reader, (Platonic) Avengers x Reader, (Familial) Natasha Romanoff x Reader, (Familial) Pietro Maximoff x Reader

Summary: The Avengers, Earth's chosen heroes. You thought the name was absurd, and you knew that being around them is trouble, especially since the son of Odin himself is working with them. But of course, no matter how much you tried to pull away, no matter the consequences of you being a demon, they still insist on pulling you back, among all of them, she insists the most.

Warnings: Canon Violence. Demons. Mentions of Hell

Additional Tags: Wanda being the best girlfriend for a demon. Natasha being a soft mom. Tony being the annoying brother. Avengers being the lovable idiots that they are. Pietro being alive is my shit.

Reader Pronouns: She/They

Word Count: 3276 words

GIF isn’t mine but boy do I adore it. Feedback is much appreciated. Thank you and Enjoy Reading! Requests are open, see pinned post for more info

≿————-　❈　————-≾

Grief. Pain. Sadness. Anger. Guilt. Fear.  Six of the most common negative emotions one human can have, and somehow, this two human children had them all. You silently watched as this human girl and her twin brother hide under the bed to protect themselves from the bomb just 3 feet from them. You can sense both their fears, it's what led you to them in the first place. The intense fear and emotional pain in their souls was intoxicating, it makes you want to devour it and take their souls straight to hell. But for some reason, you couldn't bring yourself to enhance it, to give them more pain, just for your own sake.

So even as your hunger clawed and begged to be satisfied, you ignored it, looking for something to comfort the trembling twins. Out the corner of your eye, you saw the damaged TV, making quick work of fixing it with your magic, turning it on, only to find the girl's glowing red eyes trained at your naturally red eyes. Your eyes widened as you realized she could see you. You then turned your attention to the other twin, his child-like eyes staring right at your non-existent soul.

“And you can see me. Great.” You voiced out, sighing. You didn't even know why your glamour didn't work on these two brats.

“Yes.” They answered timidly, Heavy Sokovian accents ringing throughout the air.

“Are you scared?” You ask them, tucking your wings in as to not scare them further more, much to your displeasure. You didn't really know why you're acting like this.

“No.” You smiled at their response, they were lying of course, but it was adorable nonetheless.

You debated on what to do next, you could erase their memories of you but quickly realized that you couldn't considering this human child is a witch. You sighed, you rarely interfere with human foolishness, the outcomes of said foolishness make up for your daily meal, so you leave them be, but for some reason you were being pulled to do the opposite.

“This is going to be the last time you see me.” You state coldly, refusing to get attached.

You maneuver your magic to levitate the bed they were currently hiding under, gray wisps of magic enveloping the bomb to keep them from detonating, you watch as the human girl seems fascinated with what she sees despite the life-threatening situation they are in right now. The human boy dragging his sister towards you as you envelop them in your magic as well, protecting them for what's about to come.

“Hold on.” You say, their arms wrapping around yours as you extend your wings and fly upwards, the air harmless to the children in your arms when it should have killed them based on your speed alone. You looked down at them, the human girl buried her face into you as fear mixed with relief pulsed out of her. The human boy on the other hand, looked ecstatic with the speed you are going at.

'Children' You thought, chuckling lightly.

You both dropped them off at the local Sokovian orphanage, prompting to leave when the human girl tugged on your black wings making you look back.

“Yes?” You asked

“Stay” She says, smiling. You smiled back, despite seeing how the events of today slowly dawned on both of them, pain filling both of their eyes.

You just shook your head sadly, a frown quickly settling at your face, realizing you let your guard down, before flying away, disappearing in a blink of an eye.

You never thought you would see them again years later, all grown up.  You were on an errand appointed to you by your brother when you stumbled upon Sokovia. The place swarmed with ridiculous looking military. Your eyes widening as you see them displaying their powers fighting against the Avengers. You smiled softly and rolled your eyes when you saw that the human boy now had super speed and the human girl had her witchy tendencies, beautiful red wisps of magic floating through the air, as a human man, named Captain America, tumbled down the stairs.

“We have another enhanced. Female. Do not engage.” You frowned at that, they're treating her like a threat, and that didn't place right with you. Prompting to leave this problem to future you, you left

“Enhanced?” You ask yourself as you flew away, not having the courage to face the twins right now.

Days pass and you still barely have the courage to give in to the pull that they both had, you spent the days you had trying to find whatever it is that you have with the two of them, it was something you cannot explain with words. The pull was extremely hard to ignore, it was a bond of some sort. But you never made a contract with them, did you accidentally make one? But this feels like something more, it wasn't just a normal contract, it feels much more intimate, familial in a sense.

You were reading ancient books, feeling particularly annoyed at the pathetic wails of souls being tortured, annoyed that your brother decided placing his torture chamber near your library where it should be quiet, quiet enough to read without some human soul screaming their hearts out as they are force to relive their most painful memories over and over again.

Your head snapped up when you felt intense amount of anger and pain course through your veins, you dropped the book you were reading and immediately materialized on Earth, finding the human girl in a headlock.

Your vision blurred, only seeing red, you charged towards the man, slamming him to the glass, breaking it, walking forward more, you slammed him to the wall, gripping his neck, you could see green slowly seeping from it. You clenched your teeth, feeling hot flames bursting from around you, cracks emerging from the concrete as molten lava seeps through. Your magic prevented him from transforming. Your eyes a vicious black as anger pumped throughout your whole being. You could feel the monster in you, clawing it's way out, telling you to rip this man's head off and feed it to Cerberus, taking his soul to the deepest, darkest depths of hell.

“Go on. Piss me off.” You growled out, mocking his words, your black wings extending, hiding the both of you from the other's view, who stopped fighting as soon as you materialized from the ground.

Gripping harder now, you ought to kill him, enduring the pain of random blasts and the feeling of a vibranium shield repeatedly being slammed into your wings.

Soft red wisps wrapped around your wrist, comforting you, lowering your guard for a little, allowing the human girl to touch you. Her hands running through the feathers that your wings had.

“It's okay. I'm okay. You don't have to.” Her soft voice rang through your ears, making you drop the coughing man and hold her hand.

“Are you sure?” Your voice raspy from growling.

She just nodded, gripping your hand as well. You didn't even notice the commotion happening. You didn't notice Thor slamming in, zapping the capsule like thing. You didn't notice the android emerging, You didn't notice a single thing. Not until she let go of your hands did you regain senses.

“I thought you said we weren't going to see you again.” She says, making you face her

“Uhm.” You gulped, now that you took at good look at the human girl, she certainly...enhanced herself since you last saw her.

She raised her brows as her head tilted, staring up at you. You felt as thou you were the one being hunted, rather than being the hunter that you are.

“Things change, Little Witch.” You tried to steady yourself, nearly losing your footing at the blue blur that ran past you.

“Wingie! You came back!” The human boy exclaimed.

“...Wingie? What the fuck?” You thought as you narrowed your eyes at them. Watching as the woman chuckled, you looked at her pointedly, knowing that she read your mind, to which she just shrugged.

“You refer to us as human boy and human girl. We refer to you as wingie, it's a fair deal isn't it?” She smirked, her Sokovian accent sending shivers down your spine.

“It is not.” You stood straigher. A frown placed on your face as you knew you needed to leave and cut ties with them. Even if you did not want to, Demon-Human relationships are strictly forbidden, unless they willingly sign their soul to you.

As if sensing this, The human girl took a hold of your wings and tugged on it, giving you a sense of nostalgia

“Stay.” She says with finality.

“I guess it would be nice for you both to tell me your name.” You say after a moment of silence, hissing slightly when you see a mark forming on your palm.

You had given in to their bond, they have successfully pulled you in. It left you wondering how this happened and why has your father, the almighty God, allowed this. Better question, why did Luci never interrupt this bond, he just let it be, even when you asked him about it, he nonchalantly says that you should give in. What better purpose does this have?

“...Now I really need your name.” You mumble out, spotting the glowing marks they both had shining through their clothes.

“Ooooohkay. What is happening around here?” You tore your gaze from the twins to look at the tin man.

“Please do not talk tin man. This does not concern you. However, I believe that The First Son of Odin can help you satisfy your curiosity about me.” You say, gaze returning to the twins.

“Wanda.”

“Pietro.”

“Y/N.” You smiled.

“You now have a personal demon at your command.” You grin, showing your true fiery self to them, bowing like a servant, surprising them a little, Then laughed, comfortable with teasing you at how ugly you looked in your true form, which also made you laugh. A memory you will never forget.

-

“What's in your mind darling?” Wanda brings you back to reality, her hands softly holding your face.

Tony was kind enough to give you a whole floor to yourselves in the tower, it now looked like a big apartment with a 70's theme due to you and Wanda's modifications just last night. Your wife did have a knack for changing your apartment's theme to different eras, you suspect it's from her love of sitcoms so you just let her be. Besides, her sitcoms are growing on you.

“How we met.” You state, a content smile on your face while tracing the mark she had.

The room you both shared is enveloped in your magic, the illusion showing the night sky, shooting stars passing through despite being in broad daylight.

“Hmmn. You traveled far.”  She chuckled, nuzzling further into your wings. You chuckled.

“You love my wings more than me, my love, why must you be like this?” You teased her

“They're softer than you.” She teased back

“You wound me little witch.” You lean in to kiss her, only to be interrupted, your illusion breaking as the door slammed open

“EW EW EW EW EW!” A blue blur barged in, only to run out again.

You huffed out in annoyance, It's 7am and Pietro is already annoying you.

“Why must I also have a bond with that prick.” You grumbled under your breath, burying your face into Wanda's neck.

“Because he's my brother, and you, my love, are my wife. That makes you his sister as well.” She says, pecking your lips multiple times, her Sokovian accent slipping out.

“Mrs. Maximoff, and Other Mrs. Maximoff. Ms. Romanoff wanted me to remind you of your training at 8:30 am after breakfast. And Mr. Stark is demanding you both to have breakfast with the team” FRIDAY, the AI's voice rang out.

“Thank you FRIDAY.” You muttered out, begrudgingly getting up from your shared bed, your wings limp as if sharing your sadness, much to your wife's amusement.

“I don't get it. At all. We've been doing this for 8 years now. Why do I still have to train?” You whined, walking into the dining room where the rest of the Avengers are.

“Because, you little devil, you rely on your powers too much. Hand-to-hand combat is necessary.” Natasha pats your back, grabbing her newly made peanut butter sandwich.

Natasha met you after Bruce saved her from Ultron, your powers saved her by smashing in two robots to the ground, which seemed to amuse her, plus seeing you with horns made her laugh. The next day, she approached you asking if you wanted to spar with her, and you cockily said yes, boasting that you'll beat her in a minute. You were proven wrong, your ass got handed to you every single time, proving that you can't make it through life without your powers.

“And yet, you don't tell Tony to train.” You deadpanned at Natasha, and she looked at you like how an angry mother looks at a child throwing a tantrum.

You accidentally read Natasha's mind one day when you were starving, refusing to feed off your family's emotions, despite them being filled with negative emotions because, the receiver of a demon feeding feels intense pain as said demon sucks their emotions out, leaving them exhausted, sometimes in a coma, and sometimes just dead, it's soul going straight down to hell. She was thinking about how she thinks of you as her daughter, albeit being thousands of years older than her. You just shrugged and went along with it,  finding it funny, until you accidentally called her 'Mom' when she got shot, sending the one who shot her down to the pits of hell. And since then it just stuck.

“Because I'm a genius, devilious.” You rolled your eyes at his ego and his horrible nickname.

“Dumbass.” You murmured

“Bitch.” He shot back

“Jerk.” You retaliated. Puffing your wings up to hopefully intimidate him but he just powered up his reactor and threatened to blast you.

“Okay, enough from the both of you.” Wanda gave you a pointed look which had you pouting

“No powers on the dining table!” Pepper scolded.

“Sorry.” you mumbled, directing your attention to the elevator doors as they open to reveal Clint on the phone.

Your eyes drifted to Pietro as you both shared a smirk, if there's one thing that you both could agree on, is that you both love to piss off Clint, who despite being retired, visits the tower often.

You subtly use your powers to tie Clint's shoelaces together as Pietro sped to him, taking his phone.

“Hey!” He complained, taking a step to run after Pietro only to slam, face first into a pillow?

Your eyes then lifted up to see Wanda's glowing eyes, her hands wrapped with a red mist as you see Pietro being dragged into the room by said mist.

“Oh shit.” You murmured, seeing her head tilt, it's common knowledge to run when Wanda tilts her head, it's terrifying as fuck.

“...We can talk about this...” You say, slowly backing up. She just raised her brows

“Whipped.” Clint whispered tauntingly as he passed you

“Take it to the training room kids.” Natasha says, her steaming black coffee nestled in her palms

“I didn't even eat yet.” You whined, plopping yourself away from your wife, beside the metal armed man who pushed the plate of toast towards you.

“Are we still going to ignore how devilious is a literal demon and she's scared of Wondie?” Tony teased, bouncing Morgan on his lap while she drinks her milk.

“Okay. Tony, Tony, Tony. Stare me straight in the eyes, look at me, look, look. Come on, look into my eyes-”

“Yes, I'm looking into your “natural” red eyes, they still look like contacts” He says, air quoting the word natural

“First of all, they are natural. Second, stare right into my eyes and tell me that my wife isn't the MOST TERRIFYING PERSON YOU EVER MET!?”

“Meh.” He says, smirking

“Oh-hoho! Ouch.” You say playfully with a grimace, jaw dropping with a look of offense on your face.

“Let's just agree that wives are terrifying, yes?” You say quickly, motioning to Pepper who was chopping up some food for her daughter, who held up the knife as a response to your statement.

“And this is why I will never get married.” Natasha says, disposing of her plates to the sink before motioning to you.

“I can change that. Do you want a dog too?” Sam asks, grinning

“Get ready to get your ass kicked, Wilson.” You grinned seeing Nat's glare

“Language.” Tony says, motioning to his kid while winking at Steve who rolled his eyes, crossing his arms. The fitted shirt threatening to rip. You always wondered why Steve liked to wear clothes that's one size smaller that what he should be wearing. Maybe it was because of Bucky, or Nat, or both. You never knew with that man.

“It's been 8 years. Why is that still a thing?” Steve groan, making you all laugh.

Your laugh slowly faded, staring at your family, your weird but still very much your family, laughing and having fun without a care in the world, it's memories like these that you want to remember.

You don't want to remember the sacrifices you had to make to get this very moment, the actions you made were selfish yet necessary, for your universe at least. You had the power and the chance to change everything 5 years ago, and you took that chance without hesitation, even if it meant breaking the fabric of the universe itself.

You just hoped that the Avengers from the other universes wouldn't hate you so much for adding to their pain. After all, you did avert what should have happened in your universe, into another universe where the people of earth and it's mightiest heroes, suffered twice. Their pain increasing tenth fold as you merged two problems into one.

The consequence that you have to endure for that however, was white-hot pain. You will have to endure all the universe's pain, nightmares and visions of the battle that should have happened will continue to plague you, visions of Wanda in pain, visions of Tony Stark dying, visions of his funeral, visions of Natasha's death will play in your head over and over again. Your own personal hell.

But it's worth it right? …right? You'd do anything to make your family happy... right? You'd do anything to make her happy. It's worth it. It was definitely worth it... right?

[luimagines]

Date Day! Part 2

Masterlist

Part 1

Part 2 will include Four, Time and Wind!

Content under the cut!

Four

Four watched you stress around the kitchen, trying to throw together a bug enough meal for the ten of you before dinner time.

Wild had offered to help but then was promptly dragged away by Warrior and Hyrule then they were going to go explore the market and nearby stables.

Four wasn’t even sure Wild had finished offering before his attention was on them and he went with the other two.

It annoyed Four to no end but he held his tongue.

You sighed and took as much food that you had on hand to begin peeling and cutting.

Four frowned before stepping away and into the living room. It was just the two of you at the moment, which was mostly likely done on purpose by the group if Four was being honest with himself. He would have been more inclined to enjoy the moment he was able to spend with you if you weren’t left to pick up the slack they had also dropped on you. 

Four looked around for a moment before he found what he was looking for.

You on the other hand were trapped inside your own head trying to think of something to cook and how to make enough of it for everyone.

You chopped up as many carrots as your cutting board could hold before you dumped it into the pot you had heating up next to you.

“Need help?” Four spoke from behind you and you sighed.

“Yeah, that would great.” You smile, turning around. “Sorry I want to spend the day with-.... you...”

Your smile falls.

Before stands the colors in all their glory, each with their hands at the ready to be at your command in order to get the food ready in time.

You blush and smile again. “You didn’t have to do that.”

“We wanted to.” They say at the same time and you couldn’t help the fluttery helping your heart gives off at the thought of being able to spend time with him anyway.

“In that case.” You grin and point to the sink. “Wash up and help me cut the vegetables please.”

“Yes ma’am!”

Time

You had managed to finally get all the boys off on some activity or wild goose chase to get them all out of your house for at least an hour or two.

You shut the door and collapsed beside it with a sigh and rested your head against the wall for a moment.

A few seconds later you feel two strong and well toned arms wrap around your mid section as a chest rests against your back. “You alright?”

You hum and removes yourself from the wall, choosing instead to rest against the body of your lover behind you. “I’m alright Link, just a bit tired is all.”

Time hums as well and places a few sweet kisses on your neck where he can reach. “The boys?”

“Gone.” You sigh in bliss and reach up to play with the small amount of Time’s hair you can reach from your angle. “I had them run my errands for the day. We have to house to ourselves.”

Time chuckles darkly in your ear. “You planned this.”

“It my house, of course I did.” You snort and pull away from Time just enough to turn yourself around and wrap your arms around his neck., continuously playing with the baby hairs at the base. “Spend time with me?”

Time grinned and leans over to press his nose against yours. “Do you have any particular idea of what we can do?”

“You, me and my bed.”

Time coughs and hides his face against the crook of your neck.

“And then we nap.” You finish confidently with a cheeky smile on your face.

Time laughs.

“I mean it!”

“I’m sure you do.” He says and hides part of his face with a hand but he’s smiling and blushing. “But yeah, a nap sounds great right now.”

“Nap time!” You beam and break away, dragging him further into your house.

A moment away from the boys is the perfect moment to unwind and relax a little.

And what better way to do it than to sleep within the arms of your beloved?

Wind

You run through the forest as fast as your feet can carry you and hop over the various roots, fallen trees and rocks that threaten to lower your speed and above all else you obey the golden rule- never look behind you.

You gulps down a breath and take a sharp turn, hoping to lose your pursuer.

You’re tackled and scream as you fall, instantly wrapping your arms around yourself to protect.

Your attacker is relentless and you try your hardest to push them away and escape but they’re stronger than you.

Fingers push and wiggle all over your stomach and your side and soon you’re left gasping for breath as your laughs fill the forest silence.

“Ok, you win! You win!” You scream. “Wind! Nohohoho! Stop!”

“Say it.” He grins evilly.

He pauses just enough for you to somewhat catch your breath and you sit up somewhat, look him in the eye and say, “Never.”

“Your choice then.” He shrugs and continues the attack.

Your laughter comes back ten fold and you’re once again too weak to even push his hands away.

“What on earth are you two doing? Are you trying to attract the monsters nearby?” Warrior walks over to you two and places his hands on his hips.

You gulp and reach your hand out. “Warrior help! Wind is attacking me!”

He sighs but takes your hand. “You should have known better than to trust the pirate.”

“They must face their punishment fair and square.” Wind says unapologetically. “I offered them mercy and they denied.”

“Offered me mercy at the cost of my dignity.” You snort and dash to hide behind Warrior when Wind gets to his feet again.

Both of you have wide and blinding smiles, easily falling into the game you’ve made for yourselves.

Warrior rolls his eyes but can’t find it in himself to be mad at you two. He says your name and lifts his arm to look at you properly. “We need you. This is your home and we need to ask a few questions before we plan our next move.”

You blinks and move away from The Captain. “Oh.”

Play time is over.

You nod. “Ok Captain.” You frown a bit before turning to Wind again. “Wait for me, ok?”

“Of course.” Wind nods back and watches you leave with Warrior. When you’re out of sight he pouts fully and sits down dramatically on the forest floor with his hands against his cheeks.

Stupid Warrior, he thinks, he wanted to spend more time with you.

Part 3

[xialing-gf]

summary: xialing asks katy for help more than shang chi, and when he finds out, she claims she needs a driver…but then he finds out half the time “help” also involves doing domestic chores together (rq submitted by anon!)

title: it doesn’t make sense?

read on ao3 

"Katy! Earth to Katy!” Shangqi waved his hand in front of his best friend’s face. A hotel guest walked past him, casting him a judgmental look, and Shangqi, well aware that he was still on the clock, offered a fake smile, hoping that it would somewhat distract from the fact he was trying to get his co-worker to pay attention to the job. 

Katy, who was clearly focused on the text conversation she was having on her phone, half-heartedly answered, “Hm?” 

Rolling his eyes, Shangqi snatched the phone out of her hand. He stealthily dodged Katy’s attempts at grabbing her phone back as she complained, “Hey! Give it back, you asshole!” 

“Katy, why have you been texting my sister? Is this why you’ve been on your phone all the time?” Shangqi demanded as he read the contact name at the top of the conversation just before Katy finally grabbed her phone back. 

“That’s none of your business! I don’t have to tell you anything,” Katy defensively shot back, clutching her phone close to her chest as if she suspected her friend would try to steal it again. 

“She barely answers my texts and I’m her brother. Also, I’ll just ask her if you won’t tell me.” 

“Fine!” Katy exclaimed, sighing in dramatic exasperation. She brushed a loose strand of hair out her face and crossed her arms as she added, “I’ve been helping Xilaing run some errands. And that’s all I’m telling you.” 

“Really?” Shangqi dubiously asked. He had known Katy for almost 10 years, and she was the most talkative person he had ever met. There was no way she could just say one sentence about what she was doing and end there. Plus, she wouldn’t know organization and time-management skills if they hit her in the face, so how on earth did Xialing trust Katy to run errands? 

Katy, however, didn’t seem to let up, even at Shangqi’s skeptical glance “Yes! And if you ask your sister, she’ll tell you the same thing. She won’t give you any more information than me.” 

Xialing, did, in fact, give Shangqi more information about what she and Katy were up to.

Later that day, when Xialing picked up Shangqi’s call (finally!), he didn’t even bother with small talk before he asked, “You’re getting Katy to run errands for you?” 

“Hello to you too,” Xialing deadpanned, not fazed at all by Shangqi’s bluntness. “Yes, Katy is helping me out with some tasks.”

“I thought you were just out here scouting for a new headquarter or whatever for a few days,” Shangqi frowned as he tried to connect the dots. None of it made sense. 

“Well, I decided to stay a little longer. Katy’s been helping me drive around town. You know how the traffic in San Francisco can be.” 

Shangqi certainly did. Now, it was starting to make sense: Xialing probably wanted Katy to drive her around the city and avoid the traffic so she could get to places on time. 

“Oh, okay. Yeah, that adds up. I didn’t really get why you asked Katy to help you with business since she’s kind of busy and she sometimes-” Shangqi paused, realizing he was hearing static on the other end of the line. “Hello? Xialing? Are you there?” 

From that conversation, Shangqi didn’t really get all the answers he needed. But, to be honest, he didn’t really want to prod any further since he felt like what was going on between Katy and Xialing wasn’t entirely his business. So, when he stumbled upon Katy and Xialing later that weekend, he could truthfully say that it was by accident. 

It was a Sunday afternoon. Shangqi had gone to one of his favorite restaurants and gotten some dumplings, ones that reminded him of the ones that his mother used to make. He figured that it would be a nice gesture to drop some off at his sister’s place. 

When he arrived at the front door of the apartment Xialing was staying in, he noted that the door was unlocked. Still, he knocked on it and waited until he heard his sister call, “Come in!” to enter. 

“妹妹, I got you some dumplings! They’re really good and I think-” Shangqi paused mid-sentence and mid-step with the takeout box in his hand as he gawked at the sight before him. 

Katy and Xialing were sitting on the floor in front of the TV together, folding laundry as they watched a show, presumably the Great British Baking Show since the people on the screen were baking and also speaking with British accents. They were sitting so close that their legs were touching. 

“Katy? What are you doing here?” 

“Oh my god, Shaun! Hey!” Katy waved, setting aside the t-shirt she was folding. “I’m just helping Xialing with her laundry. Wait, are those the dumplings from that restaurant down the block? They’re so good!”

“Yeah,” Shangqi replied absentmindedly as he placed the takeout box on the dining table. The driving thing made sense, but now Katy was helping Xialing fold laundry? He had no idea what was going on anymore. “Katy, c’mon, why are you doing this?” “I’m a nice person! Can’t I do something nice without an ulterior motive?” Katy pouted.

“She has a point,” Xialing shrugged, smirking victoriously. 

There was no way to win the argument with both Xialing and Katy teamed up against him. So, Shangqi raised his hands up in defeat and conceded, “Fine. Have fun folding your laundry together!” 

“We will!” Katy shouted after him as Shangqi slipped on his shoes and closed the door behind him. 

(About a week later, when Katy told Shangqi that she and Xialing had officially started dating so they had to start inviting her to karaoke night, it all suddenly made sense.) 

[jadedxrealityw]

-Cold- Loki Laufeyson x Female Reader

    ☼-☪-☼

   Kody: First Loki imagine, let’s do this. DISCLAIMER. MOST OF THE DIALOGUE FROM THE CANONICAL CHARACTERS IS TAKEN DIRECTLY FROM THE MOVIE TO MAKE IT MORE REALISTIC. YOU CAN TELL WHICH PARTS I WROTE AND DIDN’T WRITE. OKAY? okayyyy

   Movie/Show: Thor: Ragnarok- but you somehow know strange. Don’t question me lmao. 

   Summary: while staying with Dr. Strange for a bit, you end up meeting your old friend again, Thor. What you don’t expect is too meet with his adopted brother Loki. Who turns out to be your perfect match (Vague for reasons)

   Possible Triggers / Warnings: Very long story, Slowburn, Steven and Tony being a dad, cursing, Val being kinda great

    ☼-☪-☼

   sometimes being stuck in the avengers base was.....stressful. with Vision being like a newborn baby around everything, you constantly had to help him understand certain things. Like a microwave or a stove since he wanted to learn how to cook for Wanda. Kinda cute actually. 

   you could hear Natasha cry at night about Bruce vanishing during the battle against Ultron. You tried to comfort hr once or twice, but she was adamant about handling it on her own. You wish you could have helped more. It’s not like you could hug her without layers of clothing covering almost every inch of your skin.

   oh yeah, the whole reason you were even there is because Tony Stark had found you with Wanda and Pietro. You were slightly different from them, no telekinesis, telepathy, or enhanced agility and reflexes. Your mercular DNA was ripped apart then put back together with enhancements, unique ones. 

   your body was now able to freeze anything with just a touch and manipulate it, but with all powers. There were side effects. You couldn’t touch anyone without giving them frostbite. Your powers were too much for you too handle so your body was constantly below freezing. 

   it was terrible. You had lived so long without the feeling of another's skin on yours. You could never, hug, hold someone's hand, kiss, do....that. You were condemned to a life of touch starvation. It sucked, but you still kept a smile on your face. 

   during a errand run in new york you had met Steven Strange. You had recognized him from his work as a doctor and gave him your condolences for his accident. He seemed to take some sort of interest in you, which you later figured out that he knew you had your ‘enhancements’ from the news. 

   he explained to you that with his help he may be able to train you to keep your body temperature at a normal human one. You were a bit off put by his offer and he gave you a simple address in case you changed your mind and with that. You left. 

    ☼-☪-☼

   a month later

   “Tony it’s just for a little while-”

   “No! your running off with some rando voodoo doctor who could kill you and steal your kidneys!”

   your face twinges a bit in confusion. You had told everyone that you’d be leaving for awhile and they all wished you luck on your solo adventure. You had also decided to wait till the actual day you were leaving to tell Tony. He was a tad overprotective of you when it came to strangers. 

  “He’s not going to steal my kidneys- Tony my car is waiting i have to go” you say as you pick up the bag you had dropped on the floor as the whole ordeal again. “Didn’t know you had such little trust in me” he exhales deeply, pressing a finger to his temple in visible frustration. 

   “I do trust you. I don’t trust the world outside of these walls” Tony admits. you will confess, you liked his weird fatherly side. “Well- the world as you call it can freeze if they touch me. You have to let me do things on my own Tony” you give him a half smile. 

   Tony expression turns into his thinking one, which is either a good or a very bad thing. He digs into his pocket and pulls out what looks like a jewelry box “Are you trying to bribe me with diamond earrings?” you ask, slightly unimpressed with him. 

   he rolls his eyes and lifts the lid. You see a silver necklace with a star pendant. You could faintly see a small blue crystal in the middle. It reminded you of his reactor, Clever. It was still technically a bribe, but it was indeed a beautiful necklace.

   “No. I made this about a month ago and could never think of the right time. It’s a necklace with a beacon. If you need help press the blue button under the silver lid and i’ll come get and save you. Like always” Tony finishes his sentence off with a smirk, which makes you chuckle. 

   you reach and grab the box with your gloved hand “Thank you, Tony” you say and pull the necklace out the box. You undo the clasp and wrap it around your neck, clasping it back. Tony gives you his proud dad smile and pats your shoulder “If this witch man is able to help you. I get to be your first hug”

   you break out into laughter, nodding “Of course” you say and he chuckles along with you. You hear a honk from outside “I’m coming. Chill out Happy!” you shout. Tony gulps and waves you off “Go ahead, i’m not keeping you any longer.” he says. 

   smiling, you sling the bag over your shoulder and nod at him “I’ll see you soon Tony” you say and turn around, heading out the door and towards the car waiting outside. Happy rolled down the window, same unhappy expression on his face “what took you so long!”

   rolling your eyes, you open the passenger door and throw your bag on the car floor before hoping in. “You know Tony, stubborn as ever” you reply, closing the door. Happy replies with a small hum before starting up the car. You pull out the card with the address and hand it to Happy.

   Tony watched you walk out, his face dropping a bit “Come back home kiddo”

    ☼-☪-☼

   two weeks later

   in your short time with Strange he showed you the most incredible things that you never knew. It also hurt your brain to think about how big the multiverse really was, but Strange was able to explain it in simple terms. He had also given you a meditation regiment that you followed everyday.

   it was supposed to help you calm your mind enough that you could force your body to warm up. It hasn’t changed anything so far, but Strange said it was normal. While reading a novel across from Strange who was- looking out a window. “Great” he grumbles under his breath.

   you lower the book, sliding the juice bar stamp card you used as a bookmark between the pages. “Is something wrong?” you ask, tilting your head. Strange’s eyebrows furrow “Someone who isn’t supposed to be here. Is here. Along with his slightly intelligent brother”

   what- “I don’t follow?” you say as he makes his way downstairs. You quickly jump out the chair and go to follow him. In a quick movement his cloak unclipped from his body and stopped in front of you, blocking your movements “Um Strange?” you call out.

   he stops at the bottom of the stairs and turns his head to look at you “You stay here. If there is a fight it could be dangerous” he spoke. “I can help fight with my ability-” he holds up his hand, stopping you from talking. It reminded you of Tony a little bit. 

   “That is the exact reason you need to stay. Using your powers could throw off what you have worked for so far” he spoke. Sighing deeply, you nod “Okay, i’ll stay. I promise” you say to reassure him. Strange nods and his cloak returns to him, clipping back on. 

   “Thank you” he says and lifts his arms up, he starts performing what you assume is a spell while mumbling under his breath. It lasted a couple seconds before he walked off to the lower floor. You had to ask him how he did certain spells like that portal one, just to mess with Steve. 

   you heard your stomach grumble and sighed “Strange needs to invest in a fucking microwave. I want a hot pocket so bad” 

     ☼-☪-☼

   you guilt tripped wong into magic-ing a microwave in the sanctum. Poor dude, but hey- hot pocket. You also changed out of your pjs because wong said you were ‘lazy’ what a tool. You did anyway and ended up wearing a long sleeve black turtleneck, matching gloves with heather grey and white plaid pants. 

   As you took your last bite you heard talking, but not just Stranges voice, a deeper one. Sounded somewhat familiar, but you couldn’t quite recognize it fully. It came from downstairs. You look at the steps and bit your bottom lip, thinking. Strange told you to stay, but-

   screw it

   slowly you step down, making sure it didn’t creak too loud and alarm Strange to your presence. Once you made it all the way down the voices stopped. What the hell? Oh wait they were coming from the first floor now. Was Strange just teleporting throughout sanctum.

   yes

   the talking got louder and you peaked around the corner. First you spotted Strange, twisting a strange of hair in his hands? He ended up throwing it in the air and it created a portal. Okay then. Then when you looked beside him, you saw- no, it can’t be.

   “Thor?!”

   you ran down the stairs, tripping over your feet a bit. The god turned around and smiled upon seeing you “Lady Y/n! It has been quite some time. You have grown indeed!” he says. You nod, almost reaching out to hug him, but stopped. Thor noticed and gave you a sad smile.

   “I thought i told you to stay upstairs?” Strange spoke. You chuckle nervously and gesture to Thor “I haven’t seen him in a long time. I’m sorry” you say. Strange looks like he wants to stay mad at you but exhales deeply “Your forgiven, under the circumstances”

   you smile brightly. Strange was a pretty cool guy. You turn away from him and back at Thor “So, what’s going on? Why are you back on earth? What happened to figuring out your vision and going back to asgard?” you ask a multitude of questions. 

   Thor shakes his head “My witch of a brother has hidden my father on earth and i need to get him back. This wizard has offered me help in return that i take Loki back to asgard where he belongs.” Thor explains. You nod slowly, you had never met the god of mischief himself, only heard stories.

   “Loki is here?” you ask and gaze around the room. 

   you heard Strange gasp before lifting his arms “Oh yeah right” he swirls his hands as a portal forms on the ceiling. A distant scream was heard before a man with long black hair and a matching suit popped out and crashed onto the floor, Loki. 

   Loki slowly lifts his head, whipping his hair out of his face and propping himself up on his elbows “I have been falling, for thirty minutes!” he shouts. Damn- thirty minutes? “That’s cold Strange and that’s a lot coming from me” you say, making Thor snicker a bit. 

   “You can handle it from here?” Strange nods towards Thor who does the same, reaching over to shake his hand. “Thank you very much for your help” Loki lifts himself off the floor and turns to look a Strange, glaring daggers at him. “Handle me?” he snaps, venom lacing his tone.

   Oh! Look actual daggers. Oh wait- Loki came towards Strange and in an instant your eyes turned a bright white, no pupils and your skin turned an icy white, with the nose and tips of your ears and fingers a light blue. You stepped in front of strange as cold fog emitted from your hands. 

   you were breathing heavily which came out as fog as well. Thor had seen you like this before so this was pretty normal for him.  Strange stared at you for a moment, just blinking. He had seen this before- “Don’t touch the wizard” you breathed out. 

   Loki’s angered face turned into a smug look “And who do you think you are to challenge me, mortal?” he questions, drawing closer towards you. Before any harm could be done to either of you, Thor stepped between, looking at his brother “Brother, you will not harm Lady Y/n. She is a friend”

   aw how sweet. Loki takes another look at you before his daggers retreat “Fine” he grumbles. Your skin turns back to its normal S/c and your pupils return “Thanks Thor” you say and he nods at you. Strange coughed before gesturing to the portal. 

   Thor exhales before smiling lightly “Right. Thank you so much for your help again and it was lovely to see you Lady Y/n” he spoke. You smile “Just Y/n is fine. I hope you find what your looking for” you spoke. You couldn’t imagine what you’d do if Tony went missing. Thor must have been going crazy.

   “You’ll have to tell me all about it once you get back Y/n” Strange spoke suddenly, making you turn your head to face him once again with a confused expression. “What are you talking about?” you ask. Thor steps beside you while Loki stood s a few feet behind both of you.

   “Oh you’ll be going along with them” Strange spoke casually as he began to make his way up the stairs. What the hell? “Um- why?! What about my regiment?” you question. Strange stops at the top of the stairs and faces the three of you, hands behind his back. 

   he studies your face, then Thor’s, then Loki. “Trust me” is all he says before disappearing into a portal of his own. You blinked mindlessly for a couple seconds “Uh-” “Lady Y/n- i mean just Y/n. I suppose you’ll be accompanying me and my brother. Once we return to asgard, will send you home.”

   you looked at Thor, thinking. Should you go? You had never been to another planet before, so you were completely unaware of what was too possibly happen. Even if you were afraid of the unknown, you could not pass up this opportunity “Let’s go”

   Thor pats your clothes back and smiles “Alright, into the mystic portal we go!” he cheers, making you chuckle. “Not only am i stuck with my oaf of a brother, but also some mortal quim” Loki snarls from behind you. Oh isn’t he a breath of fresh air “Yeah, cry about it antlers”

   yikes, you’ve been around tony too much. 

   Loki’s fist clench before all three of you walk through the portal.

   you all ended up in a grassy field. It was beautiful. The smell of the sea nearby filled your nose, causing a calm feeling to course through you. “I don’t see father” Thor spoke, looking around. You gaze about as well and spot a man at the edge of the field. 

   placing a glove hand on Thor, you tap him. The god looks at you as you point at Odin. Thor sighs deeply “Let’s go Loki” he spoke and waved for this brother to follow. You stayed put as Loki passed you, his arm grazing yours for a moment. There is like so much field to walk around you, but okay-

   You turn around and began to walk in the other direction, giving them some space. It wasn’t your business to put yourself into their family drama. 

    ☼-☪-☼

   You walk mindlessly for a couple minutes, making sure to stay relatively close to the brothers and his father. You stop and look at them for a moment just as Odin had turned to a fine gold powder/dust and blew away into the sky. Oh no- Odin, he’s dead. 

   just before you could even think another thought the sky began to crack in thunder. From the distance you were at you could Thor’s fingers spark up as he turned towards Loki. Oh god he’s going to kill him. Your previous thoughts of not getting involved were thrown out as you began to run towards them.

   you couldn’t let Thor hurt his brother, he would surely regret it later. A green energy ball formed couple feet in front of you, stopping you from running towards the brothers. You had stopped your feet so harshly it caused you to fall back onto your butt.

   the green energy grew bigger as the brother began to draw close to it. A flash of thunder changed Thor’s clothes into his original asgardian armor and Loki used to Magic to change his to a green leather outfit. Seemed very Loki-ish. The energy stopped forming and you were sure that Thor or Loki couldn’t see you. 

   just as fast as the green energy appeared, it vanished to reveal the back of a women, she had long black hair and a matching outfit. Who was this? That didn’t matter right now considering Thor look liked he was ready to fight which means that you had to be. 

   “So he’s gone?” the woman spoke, referring to Odin you presumed. She gazes around for a moment before looking back at the boys “Such a shame, i would have liked to have seen that” she said. Oh- well that’s just rude. “You must be Hela” Thor spoke. So that was her name.

   “I’m Thor, son of odin” he continued. He just had to introduce himself right now? How formal of him. You slowly began to stand up. This woman had not noticed you, which means you had the upper hand. “Really?” she asked, a amused tone present within her voice.

   “You don’t look like him” Hela adds. you thought Thor looked like Odin- just a tad. Why are you thinking about this right now. “Perhaps we can come to an arrangement?” Loki spoke. Well at least Thor isn’t trying to kill Loki right now. Now that you think about it Hela and Loki kind of looked alike. 

   Hela lifts her arm a bit to pint at Loki, before dropping it to her side a second later “You sound like him” she says before taking a step closer “Kneel” she commands. “Beg your pardon?” Loki leans forward as if he had not heard what he had just said. Uh oh. 

   Hela’s arm twist, a long blade forming in her hand. “Kneel...before your queen” she repeats once more. Queen?!. You take a deep breath, pupils disappearing, skin turning white and blue, and fog emitting from your hands. Let’s do this. Thor takes a step forward, gazing at you for only a second “I don’t think so”

   Loki took a glance at Thor. You both knew what the god of thunder was about to do. Thor lifts his arm and throws his hammer at Hela, but- she caught it. She caught Thor’s hammer?! Oh shit. Both Loki and Thor’s face turn into a grim and confused one. 

   “It’s..not possible” Thor spoke in disbelief. “Darling, you have no idea what’s possible” Hela spoke before squeezing her hand around Mjollnir. She was crushing the hammer. In a split second a burst of electricity and wind was sent everywhere. 

   you lift your arm and cover your face to protect your eyes. Once it died down you move your arm and saw Thor’s hammer in pieces on the grass. What was she? Who was she? Hela lifted her arms to her head and slid them back along the base of her skull, forming a large spiked crown. 

   she repeated her hand movements from earlier except with both her arms. Two blades in each hand. You had to move now. You close your palms together and pull them apart, an ice spear forming in between. You ran up to her and jumped in the air to get a higher advantage. 

   “Y/n, no!” Thor shouts as he runs up to Hela as well. Loki looks up in the sky and shouts “Bring us back!” Hela turns around quickly and spots you running towards her. Just as you were about to land on her, she grabs your neck. “Now who are you?” she asked. but you didn’t answer. 

   instead you rip a glove off one of your hands and press it to her face. Hela screams in agony and throws you towards Thor. You landed on him with hard thud. That’s going to hurt in the morning. Suddenly a portal formed around all three of you and sent you into the sky. It was the same one Thor usually left on. 

   Your body felt weird all over like you were about to vomit or pass out- maybe both. You looked up and saw Thor a few feet up above you and you assumed Loki was under you. Thor looks down at you, then Loki “Loki!” he shouts and the black haired god looks under him, you so as well. 

   Hela was just behind you all “She wasn’t even in the portals range!” you shout, earning now answer from either brothers. Lok reaches into his sleeve and pulls out a small blade. He lifts his arm and chucks it at her, but she dodges it easily and sends it flying back towards Loki.

   Loki had another blade in hand and used that one to dodge the other hela threw at him, but it sent him flying out the portal “Y/n! follow loki! I’ll find you both. I promise!” Thor shouts and without a second thought you use your spear to stab into the portal and push yourself out. 

   sometimes you wished you thought about things first. 

    ☼-☪-☼

   your head was throbbing and aching in the worst way possible, like you had crashed into a wall. Your eyes slowly open and you see a regular sky with purple portals spread throughout it- okay maybe not so normal. “Hands off of me you mewling quim!” you know that complaining tone from anywhere. 

   you push yourself off the ground, using some random junk metal to lean on. Looking around you would think you were in some junk yard. No time to wonder where you were because you had a god to help. You push things out your way before you spot what looked like scavengers, mostly wearing masks.

   they were holding onto Loki’s arms. Couldn’t he just use his magic? Guess not. Anyway, you jump down from the ledge your on, catching most of their attention “We just got on this planet and your already pissing the natives off?” you question Loki.

   he narrows his blue eyes at you as he struggles against the people holding his arms “Get on with it!” he shouts at you. No please? Whatever. You activate your powers, slowly pulling the other glove off of your hand “Hand over the god will you?” 

   “You’ll have to get through all of us!” one man shouts. They hold up their weapons at you making you sigh “Alright, have it your way” you shrug, flicking your hand, a dark blue blade with a silver handle forming in the palm of your hand. 

   the scavengers ran towards you. One swung a club at you, but you caught his arm in your hand. The man screams in agony as his whole arm turns black with frostbite. You take that opportunity to slice his now very crunchy arm off. Then it’s kind of a rinse and repeat for the rest of them until one is left. 

   The man lets go of Loki and begins to run away. Good choice. Loki drops to the ground, trying to catch his breath “Why did you follow me?” Loki asked suddenly. You look down at him and shrug “Thor asked me to in the portal. He said he’d come find us” you explain.

    you pull out the extra pair of gloves from your back pocket and slipped them on. They were a plain black leather pair. Once they were on, you hold out your hand for him to take. Loki takes one look at your hand and scoffs before standing up himself. Rude. 

   “If my brother went off to fight Hela alone. He’s most likely dead already” Loki says curtly as he dusts off his outfit. Your eyes widen a bit. Thor wasn’t dead, he couldn’t be. “Who is she anyway?” you ask. Loki’s jaw locks, glancing at the ground before you 

   “Our sister”

   your E/c eyes went wider this time. Since when did Thor have a sister? Was she adopted too? She claery had a disdain for her father just as much as Loki did. Maybe Thor was the one who was actually adopted. “Oh- wow” you comment.

   “Enough about my family. I have to figure out what planet i’m on” Loki interjects as he begins to walk away “Hey! Whether you like it or not we’re in this together, I could have left your ass to die, remember that!” you shout at him. His walking stops and he faces you once more- oh shit. 

   he steps towards you and you back up until a piece of debris. Loki stops inches from your face, his hand reaching up to your neck to hold it in his hand “Don’t assume for a moment that you and i are some sort of friends like you are with my brother” he speaks lowly. 

   you glare right back at him “Let go of me before i put a icicle through your eye” you snarl at him. A small smirk forms on his face “You put up this illusion that you are as tough as nails, but i can see right through you. Your just as broken as the rest of us. Let’s explore that shall we?”

   Loki reaches up and places his hand on your forehead. 

    ☼-☪-☼

  two years ago

   Loki opened his eyes and looked around the room. Where was he? He was in the darkest memories of your mind.  “Put her in the chamber” Strucker spoke as three men went over to grab a pale woman on the floor. You. You were wearing a hospital gown and your hair was overgrown. 

   you flaid, kicked, and screamed “Please! No! i’ll try harder i swear! Please!” when you had first developed your powers and the doctors realized they couldn’t touch you Strucker thought you had been doing it on purpose. So mean with full body suits would put you in a heat chamber. 

   the intense heat had a even stronger effect on you because of your unique enhancement. Strucker opens the door as the three men throw you in. You land on the ground with a hard thud and stand up quickly, running towards the door but it had already shut. 

   Strucker stands outside the glass window that showed you inside and looked towards a woman sitting at the desk “Turn it on, the highest it can go” he spoke and she nods, pressing a green button before pushing a dial up. Loki looks confused for a moment as he stands beside strucker. 

   the room starts to heat up and you fall to the ground your tears sizzling as they ran down your face. At the moment Loki took a step back. Heat exhaustion. A form of torture he knew all to well. something he hoped to never witness again. You let out screams of agony until you eventually passed out.

   back in 2012 when earth was attack by Loki he was under the control of Thanos who had kidnapped him and tortured him with the same methods because of his Jotun side. It worked nonetheless and he was under Thanos’s control. 

    ☼-☪-☼

   Loki opened his eyes and snatched his hand away from your head. You slid down against the debris until you hit the ground with a small thud. He had made you relive your worst fears like it had just happened only moments ago. How could he do such a thing. 

   “I’m so-” before Loki could say another word he felt something bite at his neck. He hissed and reached for his neck and felt something cold and metallic. He tried to tug it off, but instead got harsh bursts of electricity shot through his body over and over again. 

   he fell to the ground, shaking violently, turning his head he saw you. You were holding your face, still shaken up. Loki watched as someone came up to you and hit you with a blunt object, knocking you out cold. Loki reached his hand out to you, but it seemed his body gave up on him and he passed out.

    ☼-☪-☼

   Loki awoke with the sound of people talking around him. He went to move his arms first but they were chained behind his back “Oh look he’s awake good! Hello! I’m the grandmaster, ruler of Sakaar.” a man with blue strips on his face spoke and a robe type outfit. 

   “May i ask why i’m in chains?” Loki questions with his usual ‘i could kill all of you’ smirk. The grandmaster shrugs his shoulders “Had to make sure you and your friend weren’t hostile. It’s only temporary of course” He says. Friend? Who was he talking about? Y/n.

   Loki looked around instantly, trying to find you of course “Oh yes, she’s currently in the infirmary Our scraper hit her a bit too hard. Anyway, whats your name?” the grandmaster asked, gesturing to the scraper next to him. Some random girl with light brown skin and white markings over her face.

   he would kill her later.

   “Loki of asgard, god of mischief” he spoke, giving his best presentable grin. The grandmaster laughs. Rude “God of mischief, how spooky. Tell me god of pranks, did you fight on asgard?” he questions. Loki raises a brow. What was this man playing at?

   “i was used for my intelligence more then my strength. Battle plans, strategies, political consultant and such” Loki explains, slightly lying out of his ass. the grandmaster looked impressed, at least that’s what Loki thought. How would we get out of this one? 

   “Hm. Well- you will be spared from fighting in the contest of champions as well as your lady friend. As long as you swear your undying loyalty to me and my planet” The Grandmaster stands up from his chair and walks to Loki. He waves his hand at one of the guards.

   the guard beside Loki reached down to uncuff his hands and took off his neck chip. Loki shrugged them off before standing up, rubbing his wrists. The Grandmaster stood in front of him with his hand out. Loki gave him a grin and grabbed his hand, shaking it “I swear” he spoke. 

  the Grandmaster smile before his eyes trail him up and down “How bout we get you into some yellow. green’s a bit tacky”

   “Pardon?”

    ☼-☪-☼

   later that night

   a guard escorted Loki to his accommodations in his new green and yellow suit. “Green is not tacky, it’s a very classy color. What a moron” he grumbles under his breath. Once the door open, he stepped inside and looked around. (similar to Hulks, but dark green and white)

   it’ll do for now. He only got to take one step before he was pushed against a wall, something cold and sharp jabbed at the side of his neck, pressing firmly but not enough to break skin “Oh- it’s just you” a voice spoke. Yours. Loki looked down at you. 

   your head had a bandage around it and your top was missing leaving you in a black sports bra and your plaid pants from earlier. loki couldn’t help but notice your delectable figure, making him breath heavily “Eyes up here you son of a bitch” you snap, pressing the icicle further in his neck.

   Loki looked at your face and notice a bruise forming on your jaw. It made him....angry to say the least, but he couldn’t understand why. “Would you kindly get that out of my face. I just saved us” he says. You give him a ‘what’ face and slowly remove the icicle, your body turning back to normal once again. 

   “How?” you question, walking towards the bed in the center of the room, Loki following “I have made good with Grandmaster so he wont make us compete in some barbaric tournament” he spoke, boosting his own ego really You roll your eyes and take a seat on the bed “How does that help us, were still stuck here”

   Loki scoffs “I just made sure you weren’t going to be killed. You could at least say thank you” you felt a anger boiling within you “Thank you?! You want me to say thank you?! Remember we aren’t friends. I should have stayed with Thor, but for some reason i cant comprehend, he still cares about you”

   Loki felt his chest tighten a bit at your words about his brother. You were right. No matter how much he betrayed Thor he would always be at his side to fight alongside him, but he never admitted it. “I should have used my necklace. I should have never left the base” you thought aloud

   the god looked puzzled “What necklace?” you look at him for a moment then at the ceiling “Tony gave me this necklace with a beacon. I had forgotten all about it until some bitch nurse took it away because it wasn’t aloud. I tried to get it back, but she pushed me into a wall” you replied. 

   Loki looked around the room once more and spotted a conjoining room, before he could say anything you stood up, grabbing your shirt and all of your dignity along with you “Goodnight’ you spoke before walking into said room and slamming the door shut. 

   this was going to suck

    ☼-☪-☼

   ‘Put her in the chamber!’

   no please..

   ‘Your worthless!’

    no i’m not

   you sat up in a cold sweat, more literally then normal. You looked around the room and noticed a cold fog. Turning your head, you look out the window. Pitch black. If you squint hard enough you could see your reflection. Yep white skin You change yourself back.

   the door burst open and standing in the doorway is Loki, hair no longer slicked back but disheveled and wearing a simple black shirt and matching pants. he had daggers in his hands, looking ready for a fight “What are you doing?” you ask.

   Loki looks confused “Why did you scream? I thought you were being attacked” he spoke, annoyance in his voice. You narrow your eyes and turn to your side, facing away from him “Get out” you spoke, not really wanting to see his face. He had no right to ask that. 

   “Pardon-”

   “I said get the hell out!” 

       ☼-☪-☼

   three days later

   you never left the room. To the Grandmaster, you were Loki’s property so he didn’t really care much. The servants came and brought you breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Some brought you books to read and others didn’t. You had also been avoiding the god himself. 

   he had tried starting a conversation with you once or twice, but it never really went to his plan. Mostly ending up with you threatening to kill him or you telling him off. Loki was stain in your life all you wanted was to be rid off him and go back home. 

   you had just wrapped a towel around your body, hair dripping from being in the bath. As you went to open the door the god was standing just outside the door, holding a towel in his hand. His blue eyes trailed up and down your body. You pushed past him and walked into your room, shutting the door.

   Loki felt his body tingle in way it hadn’t before. He exhaled deeply before walking into the bathroom and shutting the door 

    ☼-☪-☼

   later that night (again)

   you sat up screaming bloody murder as you gripped your head. Instead of nightmare you had a nighterror instead. Your body was thrashing around like someone was attacking, but no one was. Just like last time Loki opened your door, almost breaking it off the hinges.

   he looked at your state and practically jumped on your bed. His face made him looked..worried? You back away instinctively “No you can’t touch-” Loki cuts you off by wrapping his arms around you, pulling you into his chest. How- how was this happening. You couldn’t touch anyone before, why now?”

   you didn’t notice the cold tears running down your face as Loki rubbed your back in soothing circles “How is this possible? I thought that-” “You can’t touch anyone because of your ability, but...what a i am, what i really am makes me immune to the cold in any form” he explains. 

   so this is what another's skin felt like. Soft, a little different from yours. You pull away a bit and began to touch different parts of his face. You run a finger along the side of his face, making him inhale sharply “what’re doing?” he asked in a low tone. 

   “I have never touched another person with my bare hand. Im curious” you say. Loki sighs and lets you continue your weird- whatever this could be called. After a couple minutes you let go of him, wiping your face “Your still a dick for what you did” you say. 

   Loki sighs, nodding his head ‘I’ve been told, by multiple people. I hope this makes up for it just a little” he says. Hope? You nod once “Yeah, your getting there. Now out antlers i have to sleep” you say, a grin forming on your face. Loki grumbles “That’s just rude”

       ☼-☪-☼

   two weeks later

   “I don’t even like parties” you spoke, looking at the words in your book. “You’ve been cooped up in this room for two whole weeks. You need to try and have some fun” Loki insisted. You look up and him and sighed, damn god. “fine, but no promises i’ll be having any fun. I also have nothing to wear”

   Loki’s smile turned into a grin “stand up” he instructs. You roll your eyes and place the novel down before standing up from your seat “You better not do anything mischievous Loki” you say and he shrugs his shoulders. In a split second your hair was done and your outfit had changed. 

   the top part of the dress was a blue and a tad bronze lined leather that connected with some icy blue tool that made the bottom part. You looked, beautiful. “This doesn’t look like Sakaar attire?” you question, looking from the dress to him. Loki nods once, stepping towards you. 

   “That’s because it isn’t. It’s a tradition asgardian dress” he explains. You hummed in response “Really? I don’t think i do it much justice then” you spoke with a small laugh, turning around to face the large decorative mirror that was behind you. 

   you look at yourself in the dress, touching your face and squeezing your waist a bit. as you do so, Loki walks forward and stops a couple inches behind you. he leans down so his chin his hovering over your shoulder. You could feel his breath on your neck “I think you look lovely. Now, shall we?”

    ☼-☪-☼

   it was a couple hours into the party and Loki was chatting it up with some people. Telling them life stories that he clearly altered to be in his favor while you sat beside him, silent. “And in that moment, i let go” the people around you laughed while you rolled your eyes. 

   “Y/n!”

   “Loki!”

   you and Loki both turn your heads to the right at the sound of your names being called. Oh my gods. Thor?! You stood up quickly, Loki following you hesitantly “Excuse me for a second”. “Loki, over here!” Thor yells again, catching the attention of a few people. 

   Loki stood in front of his brother while you were beside Thor in the chair “Shh, Shh. Shut up!” Loki snapped in a hushed tone. “What?” Thor replied in the same hushed tone. “Your alive?” Loki looks his brother up and down while Thor just looked confused “Ah yes of course i’m alive!” 

   “What’re you doing here?” Loki questions. “What do you mean ‘what am i doing?’ I’m stuck in this stupid chair! Where’s your chair!?” Thor asked, making you stifle a chuckle. “We didn’t get a chair” Loki says, waving his hand towards you. 

   Thor glances at you for a moment and you give hima half smile before he turns back to his brother. “Well get me out of this one” Thor commands, struggling against the metal clasps that held his arms in place. “I can’t” Loki replies. What? Why couldn’t he help him?

   “Get me out!”

   “I can’t”

   “What?”

   Loki points into a random direction “I made friends with this man. he’s called the Grandmaster-” he explains. Oh yeah- the whole loyalty thing. Thor shakes his head “What’re you crazy?!” Thor accuses. You asked yourself that sometimes. “-I’ve gained his favor. The bifrost spat me out here weeks ago”

   “He thinks i’m Loki’s property, so yeah your right. Crazy”

   where has Thor been these past two and a half weeks? Thor looked extremely confused now “Weeks ago?! I- i just got here” he tries to say. You look up and see the face of the Grandmaster across from you “Oh shit!” you jump, holding onto the glass in your hand. 

   “What’re we whispering about?” he says with that creepy guard lady behind him, holding the melt stick as he called it. Thor jumps up at the sound of his voice ‘Uh Ah!” he shouts while Loki grabs your arm and pulls you a few steps back from Thor along with him. 

   “Time works real different around these parts” He starts, turning the records on his dj table? I don’t know. “On any other world i’d be like millions and millions  years old, but here on Sakaar” he finished explaining then just smiled expectantly like he was waiting for someone to say something. 

   you felt Loki tighten his grip on your arm a bit. What’s got him so tense? Loki opened his mouth to speak, but closed it right after. the Grandmaster waves his hand “In any case you know this uh- this uh. What do you call yourself? Lord of thunder?”

   “God of thunder” you and Thor say at the same time. Thor nods towards the Grandmaster “Tell him” he says to Loki. the black haired god begins to laugh nervously “i’ve never met this man in my life” he says, pointing to Thor for a brief moment “Loki!” you say, hitting his shoulder. What a dick. 

   Loki looked at you with a ‘what’ face. “He’s my brother!”Thor growls, mostly upset because of Loki. “Adopted” Loki interjects, making you hit him again. The Grandmaster looks up for a moment “Is he any kind of a fighter?” he asked. It’s Thor- duh. 

   Thor begins to laugh irritably “You take this thing out of my neck and i’ll show you” he threatens. You sigh deeply. Men am i right. The Grandmaster laughs along with him “Oh look at that he’s threatening me” he coos like Thor was some sort of baby. 

   “Hey sparkles-” the Grandmaster starts, making thor struggles against the chair once more “-you want to get back to ass..place. Ass berg-” he says. Oh he did not just say that. “Asgard!” You and Thor shout in unison. Loki gives you another look “Oh shut up your not helping, Loki”

   “-any contender who defeats my champion there freedom they shall win” you had heard about the Grandmaster’s contender =, but had never saw him. He was supposedly undefeated, but this is Thor were talking about here. “Fine! Then point me in the direction to whoever's ass i have to kick!”

   the Grandmaster smile and waves his fingers at Thor “That’s what i call contender” he says excitedly before lifting up this remot like object “The direction that would be in this way lord” he presses a button and Thor’s chair begins to move away. 

   “Loki!” Thor shouts. You pull yourself out of Loki’s grip and lift the bottom of your dress off the floor so you could run up to the chair. You face Thor and smile “I’m going to get you out okay?” you say before two guards grab both of your arms. Damn- they had gloves on. 

   “Remove your arms from Lady Y/n you buffoons!” Thor shouts before he disappears around the corner. You struggle against there grip for a second before managing to rip your arm from one of them. Your skin turned it’s icy white and blue and your pupils vanished. 

   just as you formed a icicle, someone grabbed your arm. You looked at who it was and saw Loki. “Think for a moment before you kill somebody. Now let’s go” he didn’t give a chance to reply before dragging you out the party hall. What a hypocrite honestly. He killed people all the time. 

       ☼-☪-☼

   “You are insufferable, you know that!” you shout as Loki closes the door to your shared room “I’m insufferable!? You almost got yourself killed and for what?!” Loki shouts back. “To tell Thor that everything was going to work out. All you did was make it worse Loki. That’s all you ever seem to do!”

   Loki’s jaw clenched, his hands tightening into a fist “Don’t talk as if you know me!” he snaps at you. Loki walks up to you and pushes you up against the wall, his hand grabbed both of yours and held them over your head. Kinky- not now, just not now. 

    “Oh screw you and your I’m misunderstood bullshit! You left Thor hanging out to dry again and in the end of it all he still called out for your name! You know one day Thor is going to give up on you and your going to wish you had at least tried to be a good brother”

   Loki was breathing heavily as his blue eyes bore deep within your very soul. He looked at your face, studying every inch you had to offer. In a quick motions he dips down closer, his lips centimeters away from yours. Loki’s face scrunches up. He was debating in his hand. A battle in his own mind if you will. 

   he backs away from you, letting go off your hands “If you want to talk to my brother, follow me” he says and heads back towards the door. You felt almost disappointed that he didn’t keep going. Was that wrong? 

    ☼-☪-☼

   in the end you and Loki could not physically find away into the holding room that Thor and the other contenders were in, but Loki said he could create an illusion of you both to talk to him. As long as you got to see Thor “Ready?” Loki asked and you nodded once.  

   you only blink once and suddenly your in this brown, dirty, circular shaped room. What a mess. “Odin-” you heard someone speak dn turned to your left to see Thor. He was kneeling over some homemade shrine.  “I bid you take your place in the halls of Valhalla-” he spoke. 

   it was probably a some sort of prayer they used after a loved one has died. “- Where the brave shall live forever. Where thine enemies have been vanquished, Nor shall we mourn but rejoice” this what heartbreaking to hear honestly. Thor was always the toughest guy you knew and now you were witnessing this.

   everyone has feelings though. Even witches like Loki

   “For those who have died The glorious death” Loki chimed in with Thor. The god of thunder turns around and sits against the wall “Lady Y/n” he nods towards you. You give him a small smile “Hey” you reply. “Hurts doesn’t it, being lied too?” Loki started. Oh for fucks sake. 

   “Being told your one thing then learning it’s all a fiction” Thor looked at the ground before picking up a rock and tossing it in Loki’s direction. The rock went straight through Loki, making him chuckle lightly “I mean- you didn’t think i really come and see you did you? This place is disgusting” Loki gestures to the floor.

   you sigh deeply “There were guards outside- after my stunt at the party. i’m not allowed out anywhere without Loki” you explained “That’s quite alright lady Y/n. I understand. Those men didn’t hurt you, did they?” Thor asks, grabbing another rock from the floor. You shake your head “No, of course not”

   “Good” Thor replies, throwing the rock through Loki’s face “One less person i have to kill before we leave this place” he says. Still over protective of you. Some things never change though do they? “Does this mean you don’t want my help?” Loki asked, noticing how Thor only addressed you. 

   “where did you offer help in any of the words you just spoke?” You question. Loki didn’t reply to you though. Petty bitch. “I couldn’t jeopardize our-” “-Your, don’t pretend to care about lady Y/n” Thor interjected. Loki sighed before continuing. thor had clearly touched a nerve. 

   “our position with the Grandmaster. Took me time to win his trust. He's a          lunatic, but he can be amenable.” Loki replied. You shake your head “Is everyone amenable to you, Loki?” you ask, tilting your head to the side. Loki glances at you for a moment “No”

   Thor lifted another rock from the ground and threw it through Loki’s face “What I'm telling you is, you could join me at the Grandmaster's side. Perhaps, in time, an accident befalls the Grandmaster, and then...” Loki points to his brother mouthing ‘you then you ‘Y/n’ then himself ‘me’

   “Oh wow- you really do suck” you say going over to Thor and pointing at a rock “Can you throw that rock for me?” you ask and he simply nods with a smile before picking it up and throwing it at him. You smile lightly. Good friend things. You look at Loki who takes a step forward.

   “You're not seriously thinking of going back, are you?“ he asked with a questioning look. “i would” you mumble before stepping backwards. Thor looks like he had just been punched in the face, but had his hands folded casually. Thor was stubborn. 

   “Our sister destroyed your hammer like a piece of glass.“ Loki says, holding his hands out. “She's stronger than all of us. She's stronger than you“ he adds. No offense, but you definitely could’ve done some damaged if Thor had not shouted your name back at the field and alerted her to you. 

   “You don't stand a chance. Do you understand what I'm saying to you?” Loki’s tone gets more aggressive while Thor just scowls at him “Loki” you say, trying to get him to shut up. After a couple seconds Loki lets out a bitter laugh “Fine” he says. 

   “I guess I'll just have to go it alone. Like I've always done.”

   Loki’s comment makes Thor smirk. One that Loki notices “Would you say something?” Loki asked. You sigh deeply. Why do you feel as if there was going to be yelling? Anyway- Thor stays silent, looking at the ground for more stones he could throw at Loki. 

   “Say something!” Loki shouts in a louder tone

   and he does “What would you like me to say?” Thor starts. This felt awkward, being there you mean. “You stole the throne, stripped Odin of his power,          stranded him on Earth-” Loki went to say something, but Thor keeps talking “-To die, releasing the goddess of death”

   “he didn’t know that would happen Thor-” you say, but are quickly shut up just as Loki was “Have I said enough, or do you do you want me to go further back than the past two days?” Thor asked. You look at Loki who looks like he’s holding back tears at his brother cold stare. 

   nonetheless, he composes himself “You know, I haven't seen this               Beloved Champion he talks of, but I've heard he's astonishingly savage. I've placed a large wager against you tomorrow. Don't let me down.” he spoke as his illusion starts to vanish. Your time is almost up.

   you look at Thor as he lifts a glass bottle from the ground and throws it at the wall where Loki was. “Thor, your going to do great out there. I’ll be watching” you spoke and gave him a small smile. Thor looks at you and nods “Goodbye” you said and just as you blinked you were standing next to Loki. 

    ☼-☪-☼

   you both walked back to your room in silence. Loki looked awful. Like he wanted to breakdown at any moment. You felt bad for him. He had lost both his parents, just as you had. You could relate to some of his pain. so you should try to comfort him, right?

   when the door shut behind you both, you reached up and placed a hand on Loki’s shoulder “Loki- i’m sorry about Odin. I know you say you love him like Thor does, but he had to have meant something to you” you spoke as calmly as you could.

   Loki’s body tensed under your touch “I never stopped loving my father” he says, which surprises you “He raised me I was just so angry that they lied about me. I was never truly there child” he spoke, his voice beginning to waver. 

   “Odin and Frigga took you in as their own. They didn’t care that you weren’t biologically there’s. They gave you a home when no one else did Loki. That’s what being a parent is.” you spoke and left go of his shoulder “You can have some time alone. I’ll be in my room” 

   you walk past the god and towards your door, “Thank you, Y/n. How did you know what to say?” Loki spoke, making you turn around “Just what i wished someone had told me when avengers came to save me” you shrug and walk into the room, shutting the door. 

       ☼-☪-☼

   “I can’t believe you put a wager against your brother” You said, walking alongside Loki. wearing another tradition asgardian dress that Loki had picked out for you. It was another icy blue dress that had a soft brown leather as the straps. iIt was flowy and had a slit down the side. 

   “It was only a joke” He replies, holding your hand as you walked through the crowds of people. The Grandmaster had invited you and Loki to watch Thor’s fight from the ‘Grandmasters box’ stupid bastard and his stupid terms. As you walk, you pass by where the contenders are being held. Thor. 

   you didn’t have time “Will seen him soon. I can tell your worried about him” Loki spoke, squeezing your hand softly. “Thor was one of the first people to help me when i got out of Hydra. I owe him everything” you say. Loki sighs deeply before you both continue walking.

   as you drew closer you were able to hear the cheers and roars of the crowd. jeez it’s just a bunch of idiots fighting- go watch some Tv or something. Suddenly you heard the Grandmaster speak. What a loser this guy was. Thinking that you were just some mans property. 

   “ow! Look at all of you. What a show, WHAT-A-NIGHT! Who's having fun? Please, I'm your host. Big round of applause for all of our undercard competitors who died so gruesomely. Good sports. What a show! What a night! This is what you've come for and so have I.”

   when he finished speaking is when you and Loki entered the very bright room, filled with different people from different worlds. Bruce would have love to see this, sometimes you forget he’s gone. You just hoped that you’d find out what happened to him one day. 

   Loki leads you  towards the front, skillfully grabbing two drinks and handing one to you. What a gentlemen- wait no. Damnit. “Making his first appearance, though he looks quite promising, got a couple of tricks up his sleeve. I'll say no more, see what you think. Ladies and gentlemen...”

   you look down from the glass and see a latch lifting up. That has to be him. “I give to you...Lord of Thunder!” the Grandmaster shouts. You smile as your eyes landed on Thor “Oh my god they cut his hair!” you exclaim “It’s just hair” Loki replies, taking a sip from his drink. 

   you scoff “Okay, let me cut yours” you say and he glares “I’d rather die” he says and you nod “Told you so” the crowd was booing Thor, along with a couple people next you. “Oh screw yourselves” you grumble under your breath. Loki wraps his free arm around your waist and pulls you flush to his side.

   “Try to behave darling, will you?” Loki leans down to whisper into your ear. You feel a tingling feeling in your stomach. Was he using his magic on you. “Yeah yeah, whatever” you huff, earning a smirk from the god holding you “That’s a good girl” he says- and there goes the stomach again.

   you both turn back to watch Thor as he walks to the center of the arena. “Watch out for his fingers. They make sparks.” the Grandmaster says, making you roll your eyes at his statement. Thor puts a helmet on his head and pulls the small latch down. 

   The Grandmasters hologram began to rub his hands together “Okay, this is it. Let's get ready to welcome this guy. Here he comes. He is a creature. What can we say about him? Well, he's unique. There's none like him. I feel a special connection with him.” he gets the crowd riled up. 

   green bombs of dust or some kind of pigment begin to explode in the sky and over the crowd. “He's undefeated. HE'S THE REIGNING...HE'S THE DEFENDING...Ladies and gentlemen... I give you...” he spoke in broken sentences. Now he was getting you scared. 

   the door begins to open from the other side. It only happened halfway when it was smashed through by some green, big, angry...Hulk?! You feel as if a weight has been lifted off your shoulders “Bruce?” you whisper to yourself, almost dropping the glass in your hand. 

   Loki on the other hand turned paler then he already was and let go of you “I have to get off this planet” he spoke and turned around to leave the room, but the Grandmaster was right behind him “Hey, hey, hey! Where are you going?” he questions, but Loki has no words. Neither do you. 

   the Grandmaster leads you both to the long couch and you and Loki sit side by side. You could hear Bruce screaming Hulk into the crowd. What was going on? Thor suddenly turns from the Hulk to where you guys are “Hey! We know each other. He's a friend from work!” then we went to talk to Hulk.

   you didn’t notice your hands were shaking as Loki placed his on top of one yours “Are- are you alright?” he asked and you reach up to wipe away a forming tear “I haven’t seen bruce in two years. I thought he was gone- dead” despite Loki being in fear of his life he gave you a smile. “Well, that’s good”

   “Loki! Y/n! Look who it is!”

   you both look away from each other and look at Thor who was gesturing Hulk to look at Loki. Loki looked like he wanted the world to swallow him up “You’ll be alright. If he does come up here i can protect you. Hulk loves me” you say with a toothy grin. 

   suddenly Hulk charges at Thor “What is he doing?!” you shout as both Thor and Hulk begin to fight each other. This is not according to plan at all. A couple seconds later it looks like Hulk was about to grab Thor's hand “Oh thank god” you mumble to yourself a little too soon. 

   Hulk picked up Thor by his leg and through him repeatedly onto the ground before tossing him to the side. Loki shoots up from his seat “Yes! That's how it feels!” he exclaims. Jeez. You stand up and grab his arm. Loki turns to see the Grandmaster staring at him strangely.

   “I'm just a huge fan of the sport.” Loki explains and the Grandmaster just laughs. You sit Loki down as well as yourself “Real calm and classy there antlers” you say with a small grin. Loki growls under his breath “Really? How ‘bout you let that green moron smash you into the ground”

   you couldn’t help, but laugh “I’m sorry. That sounded so wrong” you say, your mind going to straight to the gutter. Loki looks at you weirdly before cringing “You are a perverted girl” he says. You shrug your shoulders “Yeah whatever. Do something about it” you say jokingly, going back to watching Thor.

   you feel Loki’s hand being firmly placed on your thigh, his other hand sliding behind your back to grip your waist “I can show you what i can do about it later if you so desire” error error Y/n.exe has stopped working. You feel that fluttery feeling in your stomach again. Damn god of teasing.

   you somehow manage to keep your cool and grinned at him “No offense, your highness. You couldn’t handle me” you say. His brow raises in amusement. No one has ever said such a thing to him. Just as he opens his mouth you see in the corner of your eye the Grandmaster pulling out the chip remote.

   he presses the button and Thor falls to the ground. That dirty cheater. 

    ☼-☪-☼

   hours later

   it was after the fight and you were pacing back and forth in your room while Loki sat on the bed “Will you cut that out?” Loki suggested and your skin change quickly. You form a icicle and throw it towards him. He catches it in his hand swiftly “Do not tell me to calm down! That dirty freak cheated!”

   Loki sighs and goes to open his mouth when the door opens. “The Grandmaster has requested your presence Loki of asgard” a guard spoke. Your skin changed back to normal as Loki stood up. You go walk along with him when the guard stops you “Only Loki” he spoke.

   you sigh and nod, giving Loki a small smile. “I’ll be here once you get back” you say and he sighs before leaving with the guard. Now, your stuck here. All alone. You go over to the bed and sit down. The sheets were still messed up from where Loki had slept the night before. 

   why were you thinking about that?

   the door flies open, revealing a brown skinned woman with asgardian armor and white markings on her. “Hello Lady Y/n. Thor asked me to come find you. Noe let’s go” she spoke quickly. You got up instantly and walked to her. Wait “Will be we getting Loki?” you ask

   the woman looks at you for a moment and nods “Yes- later now lets go princess before i’m late for a meeting with the Grandmaster. I heard you can fight by the way so i got you some good clothes to move around in.” you nod as you both alk out the room

    ☼-☪-☼

   the woman, who told you to call her Val had dropped you off at the junkyard, but let you get changed first of course into a black leather warrior outfit. . At first you were confused as why she had dropped you here, but when you saw Thor leaving a quinjet.

   as you ran up to him you saw another person leaving. It was Bruce in Tony’s clothes? “Bruce!” you yell. He turns around and looks at you with a confused stare “Y/n? Your taller and older. Wait- Why are you here?!” he questions. You chuckle and look at Thor “It’s a long story, where are we going?”

       ☼-☪-☼

   with Val and Loki

   both asgardians had just walked out the Grandmasters hall to find and capture Thor and Hulk. They were both walking fast since Loki said he could get them back in one hour. “What have you done?” Loki accuses only full well she had something to do with the escape. 

   Val takes takes one look at him and scowls “I don’t answer to you, lackey” she snaps back. Loki stops and grabs her arm “It’s Loki and you will answer to the Grandmaster” he says. Val pushes off his arm and punches him in the nose. Loki stumbles back a bit and pulls out a Sakaarian blade

   “Why would you help me brother escape with that green fool?” He questions, pointing the blade at her. Val pulls out a blade of her own “I don’t help anyone” she quips back and the two rush each other. Hitting, kicking, dodging, the whole ordeal. at one point Loki grabbed her arm and saw her mark.

   “You're a Valkyrie. I thought the Valkyrie all died gruesome deaths?” he says, knowing it would rile her up and it did. Val escapes from his grip and pushes him against the wall, holding the knife to his throat “Choose your next words wisely” she seethes down at him.

   Loki looks up at her, smug “Terribly sorry. Must be a very painful memory...” and puts his hand on her forehead. Val was taken back to the moment the Valkyrie were sent to fight Hela for the thrown. Val watched them all die again as well as her girlfriend. 

   once she came back she was pushed back onto the floor by Loki. She stands back up quickly and pushes him on the ground, straddling him “You know your majesty, i have some terrible news for you. I went to your little girlfriends room after you left” she started, making Loki’s eyes go wide. 

   “she was a pretty one i’ll give you that. That was until i slit her throat and watched her bleed out” It was Val’s turn to rile Loki up. “Y-Your lying!” Loki shouts, struggling against her. “Oh really?” she says and reaches into her pocket, pulling out a piece of blue tool from your dress, stained with blood. 

   Loki felt his heart drop into his stomach, like he wanted to vomit and cry all at the same time “No...’ he mumbles and grabs the tool from her hand. Val looked stunned for a moment before punching his face and knocking him out. She was not expectantly that kind of reaction from him.  

    ☼-☪-☼

   you, Thor, and Bruce were walking through the crowd of Hulk worshippers basically when Val had found you. She had led you all inside safely. She was a pretty cool gal. You had to get her number after this. Does she have a phone. You all walked down this hall when she stops. 

   Bruce stopped behind thor and you stopped behind Bruce. “Look, I've spent years in a haze trying to forget my past. Sakaar seemed like the best place to drink and forget and to die one day.” Val spoke, making you frown slightly. Thor nods.

    “I was thinking that you drink too much, and that probably was going to kill you.” Thor spoke. Val gave him an annoyed look before walking towards the door “Also, i have a piece offering” she said vaguely before opening the door. Thor walks in first, then Bruce. 

   Once you walk in you noticed Loki, chained up and hanging his head in shame, he was looking at a piece  of tool that rested on the ground in front of him “Brother?” Thor spoke, crouching down to look at his face “Loki are you alright?” he asked 

   “she was so much like me you know, we both didn’t know where we belonged. Both too cold and felt like monsters. I had never felt that way about anyone. I don’t think i’ll ever feel that way again. I don’t want too actually, not if it isn’t her” everyone in the room could notice his voice breaking. 

   just as you were about too console him Val put an arm in front of you and pressed a finger to her mouth. Telling you to shut it basically. You are confused, but nod slowly “Brother. I don’t understand. Who are you talking about? What has made you this upset?” Thor questions. 

   Loki’s body started to shake as he sobbed “Y/n. That scraper killed her. she took her away from me, now i’m all alone again.” he explains solemnly. Thor looks confused “Loki, lady Y/n is right here” he spoke. Loki lifted his head up and Thor was right. There you were, alive. 

   Loki didn’t know whether to be relieved or angered, but he stuck with relieved. “Let him out!” you shout, walking over to Loki to pull on the chains. “Y/n i don’t think that’s such a good idea-” Bruce started, but you didn’t care. You got the chains undone and Loki instantly wrapped his arms around you.

   “Hey, i’m here” you say as he holds onto tightly, almost like you would disappear if he let you go “I know” he replies before pulling away. You look around and notice everyone staring at you “What?” Loki spots Bruce and tilts his head “Hello Bruce” he spoke, standing up from the chair.

   Bruce looks at him “So, last time i saw you, you were trying to kill everybody. Where are you at these days?” he questions. Loki looked at you then Val who was grabbing something out the closet “It varies from moment to moment” he spoke before completely ignoring him.

   Loki studies your face “I’m alive Loki” you say to reassure him and he sighs “i know, just wan’t to keep it that way” he says. You muster up a smile “That is the nicest thing you have said to me since we got here” you admit. He rolls his eyes and looks down for a moment then back at you 

   “I need to tell you something-”

   “Loki come here!” Thor says, waving at him from the otherside of the room. Loki sighs and look at you, going to say something “It’s okay. we can talk later” you reassure him and he smiles.

    ☼-☪-☼

   you, Loki, and Thor were assigned to get a ship for all of you to leave on, but throughout the whole time you were fighting to get there Loki and Thor were talking about leaving each other or staying together. You wished you stayed with Bruce and Val. 

   now you were in a elevator, with you standing in front of the two, skin icy white and blue and no pupils. “Here's the thing. I'm probably better off staying here on Sakaar.” Loki says. You turn around and look at him with wide eyes “Loki-” you say, but Thor interrupts “That's exactly what I was thinking.”

   okay what? “Thor-” you say this time, but the same thing happens. “Did you just agree with me?” Loki asked, stunned. Thor shrugs “Come on, this place is perfect for you. It's savage, chaotic, lawless. Brother, you're going to do great here.” Thor says, glancing at him once- ouch.

   Loki looks forward and you wished you hadn’t come at all “Do you truly think so little of me?” Loki questions. Thor pauses for a moment before looking at his brother. “ Loki, I thought the world of you. I thought we were gonna fight side by side forever. But, at the end of the day, you're you, I'm me” he starts. 

   you watch as Loki’s face changes from different emotions. To hope, then sorrow. “I don't know, maybe there's still good in you-” Thor says and gestures to you “-but let's be honest, our paths diverged a long time ago.” he finished. You stepped aside Loki and reached down to grab his hand. 

   Loki sighs and looks at his brother one last time “Yeah... It's probably for the best that we never see one another again.” he replies, nodding his head. You look down. Stupid boys. “That's what you always wanted.” Thor says and pats his brother on the back, you noticed he place the chip on his back.

   strange, but you trust Thor’s judgement. Doesn’t mean you weren’t going to swipe the remote off of him though. 

   Loki looks away slowly letting go of your hand. It was silence for a few moments. Awkward silence filled with tension and emotion. Jumping through the glass and falling to your death didn’t really look so bad right now “Hey, let’s do get help” Thor pipes up.

   “What?” Loki asked, turning to look at Thor again

   “What’s get help?-”

   “Get help” Thor repeats with a cheery smile on his face. 

   “Oh come on, you love it” 

   “No i hate it

   “It’s great. It works every time”

   “Its humiliating”

   “Do you have a better plan?” 

   you got to speak when they just start talking again “No” Loki replies and Thor just looks back forward with a smile “Were doing it” he says and Loki does the same “We are not doing get help” Loki says, thinking that’s the end of it. You look at both of them and groan “I hate both of you”

    ☼-☪-☼

   as the elevator door opens, you are stuck clinging onto the ceiling. You wait a couple of seconds “Alright. Come down” Thor calls and you jump down from the bar “Get help huh?” you chuckle, looking at Loki who turns and glares at you. You smile and walk behind them.

   “Now which one is the ship she told us to get?” Thor asked. Loki pointed at a bright orange ship “The Commodore” he says. You all begin to walk.  A second later he walks away, grabbing your arm to follow along with him and leaving a illusion walking alongside Thor. What?

   “Though I feel it won't make much of a difference” the illusion spoke. Thor sighs “Oh Loki” and turns to see you and Loki at the control panel “I know I've betrayed you many times before, but this time it's truly nothing personal. The reward for\ your capture will set Y/n and i up nicely.”

   Y/n what now? Loki presses a button on the panel and the places starts to go off “Loki, you didn’t” you gasp as you rip your arm from him. “Never one for sentiment, were you?” Thor asks. Loki grinned “Easier to let it burn.” he replies in a low tone.

   Thor reaches into his pocket as his eyes go wide. You slowly back away from Loki “Y/n-” “You self centered prick!” you snapped, pulling the remote out of your pocket. His face drops and he takes a step forward “Y/n, please-” he tries to explain, but you had already made up your mind. “No!” you shout. 

   Loki goes to speak again, but you press the button, watching as he drops to the floor. Thor walks past you and towards Loki “Oh that looks painful” Thor mumbles. You follow after him, walking much slower. Thor kneels down beside his brother. 

   “Oh brother, you're becoming predictable. I trust you, you betray me. Round and round in circles we go.” Thor speaks, looking down at Loki. See, Loki, life is about, it's about growth. It's about change, but you seem to just wanna stay the same.” 

   it hurt to see Loki that way, but in the end if he could betray Thor so easily. he’d do it to you too and no amount of love could change that “I guess what I'm trying to say is that you'll always be the God of Mischief, but you could be more.” Thor sighed and stood up “I’ll start the ship” and with that, he left. 

   you look at Thor then Loki. You go to where Thor was kneeling and do the same “You almost fooled me i’ll give you that. The whole touch thing and flirty comments. It almost made me think you felt the same. What tied it in was the tears.” you say, watching as he turned to look at you, pain on his face. 

   “Maybe you do care about me, but in the end you would betray anyone to save your own skin Loki. Thor’s right, you could be so much more. To him, the world...to me” You looked up to stop the tears forming in your eyes to fall down your face. You quickly wipe them and look back down. 

   “Thank you for being my first hug” You stand up and throw the remote a few feet away from him. “and my last” and with that you turned away leaving Loki on Sakaar along with any feelings you had for him. 

    ☼-☪-☼

   after fighting your way out of Sakaar on a orgy ship you passed out. Bruce was the first to wake, then Val and Thor with you being the last “I never thought i’d be back here” Val spoke. You and Bruce undo your seatbelts and stand behind Thor and Val.

   Asgard.

   “Though it be a lot nicer” Bruce spoke up. “Bruce- dude” you say, shaking your head. He noticed all of your collective disappointed stares and sputtered “Not- noth that it’s not nice- it’s just- it’s just on fire” well he was right about that. You assumed it was Hela’s doing. 

   the dashboard started going off and Val  looked at it “Here, up in the mountains. heat signatures, people clustered together. Hela’s coming for them” she explained, pointing at the 3D diagram. You sigh as you power up your abilities, Bruce giving you a odd stare. Guess he’s not used to it. 

   “Okay, drop me off at the palace and i'll draw her away.” Thor spoke up. “Thor she destroyed your hammer like nothing. You can’t do this alone!” you protest. Thor shakes his head and looks back at you, “Then you’ll come with me Lady Y/n” he says “And get yourselves killed?” Val questions

   “The people trapped down there are all that matters. While we're dealing with Hela, I need you two to help get everyone off Asgard.” Thor instrucks. Bruce pokes his head in between and looks at both of them “and how the hell are we supposed to do that?” 

   “I have a man on the ground”

    ☼-☪-☼

   Thor looked up at Val as her and Bruce flew away. Hm, strange. 

   once you two got to the castle, you noticed rumble all over the floor, even a piece with Thor’s face on it. Thor looks up at the ceiling and you follow suit. What you see in horrific. Pictures of Odin and Hela destroying worlds. 

   you look over at Thor and notice his grim face “Thor? Are you okay” you say. Thor sighs and nods “Wait behind a pillar. Hela should be here soon” he says and you nod, walking away to find a hiding spot. 

   Thor sat in the throne and began to band Odin’s scepter on the floor, causing loud booms to flow throughout the castle. Only seconds later did you here Hela’s heels down the hallway. 

   she was here

   “sister” Thor says. You couldn’t see them, but you could hear them. “Your still alive” she says back, soundly somewhat surprised. “ I love what you've done with the place. Redecorating, I see.” Thor spoke. Was this a time to be making jokes??

   “It seems our father's solution to every problem was to cover it up.” Hela snarls at him. Okay she’s getting upset. “Or to cast it out. He told you you were worthy.   He said the same thing to me.” Thor responds, solem in his tone. You could hear the bitterness in his tone  

   “You see, you never knew him, not at\ his best.” Hela sighs like it’s a fond memory to look back on ”Odin and I drowned entire civilizations in blood and tears. Where do you think all this gold came from? And then one day he  decided to become a benevolent king.”

   Hela’s voice becomes more sour “To foster peace, to protect life.” she starts “To have you” ouch- that has gotta sting. “ I understand why you're angry. and you are my sister, and technically have a claim to the throne. And believe me, I would love for  someone else to rule. But it can't be you. You're just the worst.”

   Thor no- you hear the swish noise like the last time she put on her crown “Okay, get up. You're in my seat.” she said, done playing games with Thor. clearly. “You know, Father once told me that a wise king never seeks out war” he says, you could hear his heavy footsteps.

   “But must always be ready for it.” Hela replies, drawing closer

   that’s your cue

   you jump down and ice the floor just as Thor jumps in the air. Hela goes to throw a blade at him, but it ends up missing because she couldn’t balance. her head snaps in your direction and she snarls “You again?!” she shouts, charging towards you.

   pressing your palms together and pull them out quickly, forming a silver sword with a blue base and handle. You lift your sword, but Thor hits her away with the scepter. Hela is knocked back, but for only a moment as she gets up and charges at Thor.

   she manages to knock the scepter away pin Thor against the wall “Here's the difference between us. I'm Odin's firstborn, the rightful heir, the savior of Asgard.” she spoke before throwing Thor to the floor “And you're nothing.” You run up at her and hit her away from Thor.

   “and your a bitch!” you yelled. Now you two her going hand to hand “Who are you? Your not asgardian is that for sure, but i sense a power off you stronger then any human could bare” she spoke, kicking you to the ground “You have the power of a infinity stone. Now that’s interesting darling”

   Hela forms a blade “Too bad that power will die with you” she smiles wickedly as she goes to plunge it into your stomach, but Thor tackles her to the ground. “Y/n leave now!” Thor shouts, as Hela knocks him in the face “But what about you!” you shout, forming a icicle in your hand to throw at her. 

   “This is my fight and i will not lose you. Now go!” he shouts just as Hela sliced his eye. You almost choked before you got yourself together and ran and ran and ran. “Thor i hope you know what your doing” 

    ☼-☪-☼

   as soon you headed out the castle, you used a burst of cold fog to send you into the sky. The bifrost! it’s being attacked by Hela’s knights and a large wolf. That’s where to go you guess and you another burst to send you towards the bridge. 

   the wolf was running towards a bunch of unarmed asgardians. You dropped onto the bifrost just as bruce came flying out the ship and landing face first “Bruce! This is why i said to keep your seatbelt on!” you shout. he’s lucky he’s mutated or he’d be dead. 

   the wolf sniffed Bruce for a few seconds before running your direction again. You form a blade and have it sending his way, but he wasn’t stopping. You look over and see a dark skinned man with long hair, Heimdall holding a sword “Nice to meet you i guess?” you spoke with nervous laughter.

   he looked your way and nodded “You too Lady Y/n” wait- how did he know your name. Nevermind that- both you and Heimdall hold your swords in ready position. The wolf is inches away when it suddenly stopped? You watch as it’s pull back and thrown to the other side. 

   Hulk!

   “Yes!” you shout, throwing your arms in the air. Hulk lets out a thunderous roar, hitting his chest. The wolf comes after him and they both fall off the bifrost. One problem down, two more to go. More knights begin to run towards the group and you and hemdall began to fight them off.

   you are so telling Tony about this!

   Heimdall gets hit in the knee and you rush over to help him when a rock guy come out of nowhere and blasts the knight into nothing. Wait- wasn’t this Thor’s friend- from back on Sakaar? “Hey man and woman. I'm Korg. This is Miek.” he introduces himself as a purple worm robot appears.

   you might need therapy after this one actually “We're going to jump on that spaceship and get out of here. Want to come?” he asked. He was rather polite. You smile lightly “We’d love too Korg, just after we kill these things.” You reply. You suddenly hear something off in the distance

   you and Heimdall turn to see a figure amongst the mist. Please don’t be Hela, please do not be Hela! Once the figure came to view you gasped. “Your saviour is here!” Loki shouts, standing on top of the landing pad. What a narcissist! A narcissist that you were in love with, but technicalities don’t count. 

   as the ship lands people of asgard begin to board “Did you miss me?” he says, you smile lightly. he had come back to save his people “Now everyone on the ship!” he commands and asgardians begin to flood in. Loki pushed through the people and made his way towards you and Heimdall. 

   “Welcome back. I saw you coming” Heimdall speaks. Loki purses his lips together and nods “Course you did” he says and looks at you “Surprised to see me, darling?” he says with a small smirk. You shake your head slowly with a smile “I was hoping you do the right thing. Your just boosting my ego”

   Loki grinned at you for a moment before pull out two asgardian blades “Will talk more in a bit” he sends you a wink as the Knights charge you all. You fly into the air and slam into the ground, causing a cold breeze to freeze about a dozen. You watch as they crumble and fall apart.

   “Didn’t know i could do that” you shrug and pull out your sword once again. The bright sky turned a dark grey as electricity struck the castle, causing a big explosion “Yes! Thor!” you shout. “Hopefully it killed that bitch, no offense since she is your sister and all” you say to Loki.

   he shrugs and slices a Knight in half “Unrelated note. You look very sexy while fighting” he smirks. You shake your head as your form multiple blades and send them at the Knights behind him. Loki goes wide eyed and watch about seven fall to the ground 

   “Me and you definitely need to talk later” his voice came out in a growl, which honestly sent shivers up your spine. You let out a chuckle as you watch Thor crash onto the bifrost “Why not now? Your brother seems to be keeping most of their attention”

   Loki raises a brow “You wan’t me to confess my undying love for you in the middle of war?” he questions. Well that was blunt. “You do have a thing for undying don’t you? Anyway, just tell me now. one of us may not live till the end of this war” you spoke. 

   you notice Loki’s face change to a grim one “Your not dying on me, i won’t allow it” he said, almost as it was a command. “Loki- be realistic. Now shut up and tell me” you say as you stab through a Knight “Okay- from the moment i laid eyes on you, i could tell you were like me” he says.

   “How so?” you question. “You question who you are and wonder if you belong anywhere. You think of yourself as a monster just as i do to my Jotun side. I wont ever question you and we can belong to each other. I do not see you as a monster Y/n. I see you as a goddess”

   wow- he could sure smooth talk a gal into anything. Jokes aside his words meant everything to you, he meant everything to you. You use your ice to put up a bubble around the both of you. Loki looks confused for a moment before turning to look at you. 

   “Just say you love me Loki” you chuckle. He smiles slightly and grabs your hands “Y/n, i am in love with you. I think that’s better” he quipped back. you both laugh for a moment “Do asgardians use the term boyfriend and girlfriend?” you say. 

   Loki shakes his head “We like to use more gender inclusive terms. So, Y/n would you like to be my forever and i yours?” you could have passed out right then and there. Also- how was asgard more woke then earth? That’s some bullshit right there.

   you break away from your thoughts and nod “of course i do” you say. Loki is unable to control his smile as he dips his head down. He was leaning when Boom! the bubble is destroyed. You smile and pull away “i guess you have to wait my prince” you tease, forming your sword again. 

   you could tell you touched a nerve because Loki squirmed a bit “Your such a vixen, darling. I can’t wait to have you all alone” he spoke in a low tone. You take a deep breath and try to compose yourself, but the thought of you and Loki- alone. It just took over your mind.

   “Can this fucking shit be over with! Hurry it the hell up Thor!” you shout as you jab your sword through two Knights and push them off the bifrost. Loki’s helmet fell as he was fighting one. You run and slide across the bifrost to grab it. Ha antlers- not right now!

   Once you do you chuck it at Loki who uses it to knock the Knight of his feet and push a sword through its stomach. Loki looks up at you and you grin at him “Teamwork, my prince” you say before bursting into the air “Stop calling that in public!” he yells. 

   Thor comes walking up too Loki, both breathing heavily. You drop down beside them “Your late” Thor says and Loki sighs “Your missing an eye” he replies back. Huh? You look at Thor and wave your hand over it, causing a cooling effect for him “Hopefully it’s stops the throbbing” you say.

   Thor nods and gives you a tired smile as Val walks past you three “This isn’t over” she breathes out. Well- she’s not wrong on that one. All four of you walk together. You all stop to catch your breath “I think we should disband the Revengers.” Thor spoke. 

   “Good. It was a shit idea” you comment, making Val stifle laughter. “Hit her with a lightning blast.” Loki suggests “we already did that and she rose from the dead still” you say. Thor looks at his brother in disbelief- he did just like shoot her into the sky and she’s walking. 

   “I just hit her with the biggest lightning blast in the history of lightning. It did nothing.” Thor gave his brother a know it all look. You all looked forward as Hela stalked towards you all “She is so fucking creepy” you say, forming a couple blades. 

   Val nods in agreement “We need to hold her off until everybody's on board.” she instructs. You all nod. You really didn’t want to fight this deer looking bitch. Antlers just run in the fucking family at this point. You stretch your back a bit. Your positive you have scoliosis after all this. 

   Thor shakes his head “It won't end there. The longer Hela's on Asgard the more powerful she grows. She'll hunt us down. We need to stop her here and now.” he says. “If she’s growing more powerful from just being here then how do we stop her” you look at Thor.

   Val nods along with you “She’s right, so what do we so?” she says, putting an emphasis on the world ‘what’ . Loki pauses and looks at Thor “I’m not doing get help” okay that was funny, no laughing right now though. Thor steps forward and glares at Hela before looking back at the ship of people boarding.

   he’s going to give a speech isn’t he?

   “Asgard's not a place, it's a people.-” there it is “-This was never about stopping Ragnarok...it was about causing Ragnarok.” he says, turning his attention towards Loki. “What’s Ragnarok?” you ask, expectanting no answer, but hey gotta love Val

   “It’s this big fiery demon that was literally made to destroy Asgard and everyone on it” she explains. At that moment you honestly thought about marrying her “Wait- You want to send a demon to destroy Asgard? Shit-” you say. 

   Thor walks over to Loki and places a hand on his shoulder “Go to the vault. Surtur's crown. It's the only way.” he says. Loki fights against himself for a moment before nodding “Bold move, brother. Even for me.” he admits before walking over to you. 

   “I’ll see you soon, darling” he says with a small smile. “Well aren’t going to kiss me then?” you question, his smile turning into a grin “No..i rather give you something to look forward too” he says before running off. What a dick. You look back towards Hela “Shall we?” Thor asked the both you and Val.

   Val looks at Thor and smiles lightly “After you” she says. Thor jumps into the air and destroys two of Hela’s blades. Hela kicks throw out the way as Val charged at her, but she ended being thrown too. Your turn. You burst into the air and throw four blades at her. She dodges them all and sends you away with Val.

   Thor picks up a Knights discarded sword and tries to plunge in into Hela, but she dodges that too. Thor turns to Heimdall and shouts “Go! Go now!” and Heimdall gets onto the ship. Hela throws a spear at him and it jabs right through Thor’s shoulder. 

   the ship starts to lift into the air and Hela notices. She uses big spikes from the ground and shoots them in, keeping the ship in place “I’ll handle that. You two keep her busy!” you shout and fly into the air. How were you going to do this? You watch as Knights begin to crawl the spikes and up towards the asgardians.

   you had to make a move now. 

   just as your about to land you hear..gunshots?! Since when her guns on Asgard? Just as you got close enough a man holding to large guns jump off of the ship and onto the bifrost, breaking the spike in the process. He lands on the bifrost and you jump down next to him.

   “What’s your name? Weren’t you working for Hela?” you question suspiciously. The man looks ashamed “My name is Skurge. Yes i did work for Hela temporarily, but i know now that she is not a true queen and i wan’t to make it right” he confesses.

   you smile and nod at him “Good for you dude. Now prove it!” you shout and charge into battle. You love a good redemption ark. You and your new friend Skurge fight off the Knights. “Hela!” he shouts, catching the goddess’s attention. Well fuck. 

   as you two fought off the last one Hela sent a blade in Skurge’s direction. You didn’t think. You should have thought before you acted, but you didn’t. You were just too nice to strangers. You jump in front of Skurge and catch the blade in your back, causing you to gasp out. 

   skurge looks at you in shock as you slowly drop to the floor. From a distance Thor and Val watch in horror as there comrade is smite down. “No!” Thor screamed, lighting bursting in every direction “Hela enough!” he shouts, standing up “if you want Asgard. It’s yours”

   Skurge moves you and pulls the blade from your back. Your vision became spotty “Loki?” you murmur as you look up “i’m so sorry” Skurge cried. Hela looked towards Thor “Whatever game you're playing, it won't work. You can't defeat me.” Hela says with a evil grin.

   Skurge watched the life drain from your body as it turned to ice. A statue of who you used to be cold and frozen over. “I’m so sorry ma’am” he breathes out as he touches your face. He felt so guilty. It should have been him is what he kept thinking over and over again.

   suddenly the Sakaar ship lands next to Skurge and Loki jumps out. His whole world came crashing down once he saw you. A frozen corpse. “She saved him so i stayed with her” skurge explains. Loki lifts a hand and waves him away, which is what Skurge does so. 

   Loki drops to his knees and touched your frozen skin “Even in death you are beautiful my love. I should have kissed you when you asked me too, but i just had to be cheeky” he says, tears forming down his face and falling onto your frozen body. 

   “No one can ever match your beauty, your skill, or your big heart and i will never love again. You taught me what it’s like to love and to be loved and i- i-” Loki broke down and let his tears fall like a waterfall. He was alone again. Now he would have to live his miserable life without you

    ☼-☪-☼

   you sat up, breathing heavily. You were in a castle. Thor’s castle. How? Where’s Hela? Where’s Loki. You push yourself off the floor instantly and look around. “You must be terribly confused” you heard a woman speak. You turn around and see a older woman with light auburn hair.

   “Who are you and where is everyone?” you snap at her, but she just smiles “My name is Frigga dear” she spoke kindly. You look at her in horror “You’re Loki and Thor’s mother- but....your dead. That means that i’m-” you almost gag on your own words.

   “i’m afraid so dear” she speaks and gives you a sad smile. “No! I have to get back! Loki is expecting me to be there. I have to help stop Hela!” you say. This couldn’t be happening “Ragnarok has already begun and Asgard is to fall any moment. Don’t you want to rest?”

   your whole life has been nothing but pain and hard work. You had never ‘rested’ a day in your life. As much as it sounded like a treat, you still had responsibilities “No. I chose to stay and fight Hela because Thor is my friend and i’m not giving up on him or Loki, Val, Bruce or the asgardians. 

   Frigga gives you a proud smile “That’s what i wanted you to say. I’ll bring you back” she says and rolls up her sleeves “You have to do something for me though” she spoke. You stepped towards her “Anything” he say hastily “Marry my son. Loki deserves it more then ever and so do you”

   you give your future mother in law a smile “Of course. How are you going to bring me back anyway?” you question. Frigga grans both your hands and smiles “Ancient magic that is far to complex. Now when i bring you back it will be with an asgardian soul” she says. You looked confused.

   “What does that mean?”

   “It means you’ll be an asgardian along with your abilities.”

   you smile lightly. You could live as long as Loki now and truly be together forever. “Okay, i’m ready” you say and she nods “Tell my sons that i love him and tell Loki that choosing to be his mother was one of the best days of my life and Thor...that he doesn’t have to rule Asgard to be a great leader.”

   you nod, locking the words into your memory. Frigga starts mumbling a spell and you feel your body become lighter and lighter until you feel like you pass out.

    ☼-☪-☼

   Loki lifts his head up from your body as it starts to defrost. His eyes go wide as underneath the ice is your beautiful face. Your eyes shoot open and you fly into the sky. Your whole body emitting a white and blue aura. You flew towards Thor, Val and Hela. 

   Thor puts his hands on his hips and points behind him “No i know, but he can” he says and Surtur comes crashing through the castle. As Hela stares at her downfall Val takes the opportunity to pierce her sword through Hela’s chest. Your form an ice spear and launch yourself down, stabbing it straight through her.

   Thor sends and burst of electricity and you back away, slowly landing on the bifrost. It was over. Hela was doen for and you wanted to leave this retched planet. 

    ☼-☪-☼

   you walk through the ship until you find Thor and Loki in one room. Loki was holding a cap to a liquor bottle. “Hello boys” you spoke and they both turn to look at you “Lady Y/n, the girl who cheated death! No wonder you and Loki are perfect for each other” Thor announced, bowing at you.

  you smiled and walked over to a loveseat, Loki following suit and sitting next to you “Yeah uh- i didn’t cheat anything. I actually died” You said “But how, your right here?” Loki says, grabbing your hand “I came back with a little help of a certain someone” you say. 

   Thor walks over and sits down across from you two “Who?” he questions and take a sip of his drink “Frigga” you said, making the brothers look at you in shock “Mother, how?” Loki asked. “I woke up in the castle and she was there. She said she could bring me back and gave me a few things to say”

   both boys inched closer “She said she loves you both and Thor, you don’t have to rule asgard if it isn’t what you wan’t. Your still a great man and Loki” you turn your body to face your forever “one of the best days of Frigga life was choosing to be your mother and love you like her own blood”

   Loki’s face said just about enough as well as Thor’s. They both looked at there laps, smiling to themselves. “I’m also asgardian now” you say, grabbing a drink from the table. Thor drops his glass on the floor, smashing it into tiny pieces. That was a nice cup. 

   “What!?”  they both shout. 

    ☼-☪-☼

   Loki had found you both a room on the ship with a perfect view of the unknown outside. You were currently looking through it now, thinking. A pair of arms wrap around you from behind “I still owe you a kiss” Loki breathes out. You smile brightly and turn around in his hold, facing him. 

   “I believe you do...my prince” You say at the end just to tease him. Loki growls under his breath before pressing his lips to yours for a hungry kiss while his hands pulled you flush against him. You thought your first kiss would be sweet and short, but Loki’s was needy and passionate. 

   you both pulled at each others clothing, wanting it off but not having the strength to pull away and do so. After a minute of two Loki pulls away “I’ve been wanting to do that for weeks” he admits, making you chuckle. “Good thing you have me all night then, my forever. i love you Loki of asgard”

   Loki grins at your words and kisses your forehead “i love you as well, Y/n, my forever” 

    ☼-☪-☼

   Kody- I want no one to talk about how long it is, it hurts to even mention. 

[dangerous-mess]

Say Anything

Characters: Asra x gender neutral reader

Contains: Asra uses he/they pronouns, mentions of anxiety, mentions of death, hurt/comfort, mentions of a breakdown, mentions of identity crisis, mentions of insecurity, Y/N reader, second person POV

Word Count: 2K+ 

Asra called out a farewell as the door of the shop closed, leaving you alone. Asra had to go run some errands and promised that he would only be gone for a few hours at most. They also promised to bring back some of the pumpkin bread he knew you loved so much. Of course, you couldn’t argue with that, so you told him goodbye, making sure to give them a small kiss before he walked out. As soon as the door closed, the smile on your face dropped and you let out a sigh that you didn’t realize you were holding. You knew your partner had things to do but you wish he could have stayed in today, to stay with you. Although you know if you simply told them you needed them to stay in, he would drop everything and be there for you, but you already felt like such a burden, your anxiety not helping at all. 

Ever since the incident with the devil, you’ve been trying to adapt and reestablish a life for yourself. Although you still didn’t have all the memories from during the plague, you knew enough. You knew you weren’t the same person that Asra or Julian or even Muriel knew. You were different and everyone didn’t seem to care, everyone was just happy to have you back, but you still felt out of place and as if you weren't good enough. You felt like you would never hold Asra’s heart the same way the old you did. Sure, he told you how much he loved you and how much you meant to them but you slowly started to think that maybe he was just saying that. Maybe he was hoping the old you would eventually come back, but the old you was dead. The old you was only ashes in the Lazaret, simply a person of the past. 

You felt yourself slowly beginning to get lost in your thoughts and you knew that if you continued to keep thinking over everything you would break down. And the last thing you wanted was for Asra to come back and find you sobbing, so you decided to take a walk. You grabbed one of Asra’s extra scarves and put it on along with a pair of worn out boots you had. You walked out the door and made sure the shop was locked before walking with no destination in mind, just wanted to try and clear your mind. You found yourself heading in the direction of the forest, your thoughts still running. Your mind was running from your own identity and purpose to what Asra’s true feelings and thoughts about you were along with just wondering if you were worth Asra losing half his heart for. Tears began to well up in your eyes and you knew you couldn’t hold it back anymore. You stopped and collapsed on the forest ground and started sobbing. You started to pull the scarf close to you, wishing it was Asra here with you before you took it off and tossed it aside. Your thoughts were against you, with the main one being that Asra doesn’t want you, that he is only taking pity on you. 

You continued to sob and cry, even screaming out in anger and frustration as all these emotions hit you. You just had so much on your mind and were consumed with so many different emotions. You just sat on the forest floor for what felt like a few minutes, but time had clearly passed as the sun was beginning to set. You knew you should probably head back to the shop before it got too late, so you wiped away your tears as well as picking up the scarf. You were tempted to put it back on but just couldn’t. You started to make your way out of the forest, with what little light you had. In no time you made it back into town, hearing the ruckus of the townsfolk enjoying their evening. On most other nights you would laugh and join in, probably finding Julian hanging out amongst them causing trouble, but tonight you just weren’t in the mood. So you took some back alleyways to the shop, getting more anxious as you got closer. You arrived at the shop and just stared at the door, you felt yourself reach for the handle, but couldn’t get yourself to open it. You knew Asra was home as the lights were on inside, which only made you more anxious to go inside. You decided to just rip off the band aid and go inside, so with that you started to turn the door handle, only for it to swing open, Asra standing right in front of you. 

“Oh Y/N,” he spoke, his voice soft and quiet. They went to reach out for you, to pull you into a hug, but you simply backed away. You saw him freeze before stepping aside and letting you in. You walked in and sat down at the table, not sure what to say. The room was filled with silence for what felt like forever, before Asra spoke up again. “Where did you go? I came back before lunch and saw you gone, I figured you just went to the market for yourself but as it got later into the evening, I got worried.” 

You looked down at your hands, realizing they are covered in dirt, but now was not the time to wash them, this conversation needed to happen, even if you wish it could be avoided. You cleared your throat and felt the tears begin to form back in your eyes. 

“I went for a walk, just went into the forest is all. I needed some air and some time to think and just lost track of time, don’t worry about me.” You spoke out, your voice trembling as you glanced up and tried to smile at your partner. God, it was going to hurt, you loved him so much but you didn’t want them to feel trapped or that they have to be with you. 

You watched Asra move closer to you, placing his hand softly on your cheek, wiping away the tears that had escaped. “Oh darling, what’s got you upset and hurting?”

You felt a sob rising up in your throat as he called you that. You tried to fight it back, you had to for the moment. You needed to get it all out there, to just rip the band aid off. “I’m not the same Y/N you knew before the plague, and I know you loved the old me, but I’ve changed. I’m not the same as I once was and I never will be. I’ll never be the same person you knew and loved before. You don’t have to force yourself to stay with me and you don’t have to pretend you love me.”  

You pulled yourself away from him, more tears rolling down your cheeks. You looked at him, knowing this may be your last moment seeing him, even if he looked sad and as if his heart broke. 

“I love you Asra, I always will, but I don’t want you to feel as if you have to be with me. I’m sorry if you feel like you have to be with me, to feel pressured to love me all because you gave up half of your heart to bring me back. I’m sorry the old Y/N is gone, I’m sorry for everything. Just give me the word, and I’ll leave. I’m sure Nadia or Portia won’t mind giving me a place to stay so you aren’t stuck with me all the time, and I can just come in when you need help around the shop or I can go and do my own thing, if it hurts you too much to see me and be faced with the constant reminder that I’m not the one you truly love.” You finish your speech, getting all your thoughts out. You looked at your hands, afraid to look at them, you feared what their next words would be. Tears dripped onto your hands and your vision was becoming blurry. The silence seemed to go on for a lifetime and you just wish he would get it over with, that he would break your heart so you weren’t sitting here on the verge of a panic attack. 

“Y/N, I love you. I loved the old you, the one from before the plague, but I love the you I brought back. I would bring you back over and over again, cause you are my other half, in more ways than one. Sure, you aren’t the same person I knew and loved from before, but I still love and care for you. You seem so much happier than I ever remember before. You seem so much more confident than you ever have before.” Asra pauses and lifts your head up. You try to avert your eyes elsewhere, but ultimately you are face to face with him. You see his eyes are red and puffy, tears rolling down his cheeks. He takes one hand and cups your cheek and you can’t help but lean into it. He places a small kiss on your forehead before resting his forehead against yours. 

“I love you so much Y/N. You are the love of my life, the one I want to be with till the end of time. The thought of losing you again pains me so much. Please, I want you to stay with me, here in the shop, if that’s what you want. If you want to go or if you no longer want to continue what we have, I’ll let you go. I never want you to feel like I’m holding you back, I just want you to be happy, even if that isn’t with me.” Asra chokes up and begins to cry as the words spill out of his mouth. 

You feel the sob you’ve been holding back since you’ve got home rise up again, but this time you can’t hold it back. You gently pull away only to suddenly hug your lover. You bury your face in his chest holding onto him tightly, as you sob. Both of you cry in each other's arms, neither of you saying another word. Asra seems to calm down before you, as he begins to rub your back and whispers words of comfort. When you finally begin to calm down you start to pull away, just to be able to look at them. 

“I love you, I don’t want to leave you. I want to stay here with you and run the shop and learn magic with you. I want to travel to the ends of the earth and see everything that is out there for us to see. I want to wake up beside you every morning and fall asleep in your arms every night. I just want you, if you’ll have me as the mess I am.” You say as you fidget with your hands, you can feel the dirt on them and it’s starting to bother you. Asra takes one of your hands into theirs and holds it tightly. He offers a small and soft smile to you, leaning in to kiss you softly.

“My love, I will always want you, mess and all.” Those words hit you hard, and before you can process what you are doing, you are pressing your lips against his. Asra of course, kisses you back, for he is never one to complain about any sort of affection you give. Asra swiftly pulls you into their arms and holds you close. You can feel both of your hearts beating as one and in that moment you begin to wonder why you ever thought they didn’t love you in the first place. 

“Asra, as much as I would love to stay like this with you for the night, I really need a bath.” You mumble out and you hear them chuckle. Asra stands up, holding on to you as they carry you off to the bath. You hold on to them gently, giving them little kisses on the cheek. In no time the bath is filled and you are stepping into the warm bubbly water. You glance at Asra and give a playful smirk, “Care to join me?” Asra smirks back and begins to strip before joining you.

[thiswasinevitableid]

88. I dropped my watch in an open grave, jumped in to get it, and while you were visiting your dead grandmother, you saw me climbing out of the grave (credit to @enchantedcass)

Indruck, sfw or nsfw, please!

Here it is! This is technically SFW, though there's some discussion of sex and a bit of steaminess at the end.

“Here, these are fresh.” Indrid sets the wildflowers on the small, stone marker, so covered with moss and worn with age that no one can read it. He only knows where to find her because he watched from the Barrens as she was put in the ground.

Temperance Leeds. His grandmother, the one who narrowly avoided accusations of witchcraft, the only human who ever set foot deep enough in the trees to bring him food, to drape blankets over his shaking shoulders. She never forgot him, and he shall return the favor as long as he lives.

There’s a thump of earth behind him and he whirls; it’s midnight in a graveyard, who could possibly be here? The ghosthunters usually wait for darker nights to come. In his periphery, a hand rises from an open grave.

Great, if the dead rise he’ll probably be blamed for that too.

“Fuck” A young man pulls himself from the grave, staring at his cell phone, “c’mon, please don’t be fuckin cracked.” Light illuminates his face and sighs, “thank fuckin christ.”

The light disappears and he blinks, eyes adjusting to the dark. Indrid, too caught up in working out why he’s in the ground, hasn’t bothered to hide as he should. The human notices.

“Uh. I. Uh. Dropped my phone checkin the time. I, uh, definitely wasn’t smokin in the off limits, uh, fuck, graveyard I, uh, I fuck, promise I’ll clean up my beer bottles I mean, uh, fuck.” He scratches the back of his neck, “please don’t call the cops?”

“Can you see me?” Indrid cocks his head.

“Yeah?”

“And you are worried about me alerting the police?”

“I mean, guess we’re both breakin the rules but I kinda figured you were staff here because of the clothes.” He gestures to the ensemble Indrid cobbled together from clothes lines.

Indrid stands, stretches his wings, flicks his tail and watches the human slowly notice the color of his eyes and the outline of his horns.

“Fuck. Look, man, whatever you are, I swear I won’t tell, I’m just tryin to keep busy, please, my folks are already worried about me-”

“I’m not going to harm you.” Lightning cracks through the sky, flashing his shadow across the frightened human, “I just wanted you to see me clearly.”

Rain patters on the leather of his wings. The man looks up at the sky, face seeming even younger as it fills with resignation. Indrid recognizes it’s source.

“You have nowhere to go, do you?”

“No. I, uh, decided I wanted to get outta town and never come back, made it as far as here before I ran outta money.”

Indrid offers his hand, watches the man’s face zero in on the claws, “You may spend the night with me, if you wish. My home is a ways into the woods, but it is dry and warm.”

“Okay.” The young man replies softly, letting Indrid help him up as the dirt turns to mud. Indrid shelters him as best he can with a wing until they reach the cottage. Indrid kneels by the fireplace, lumps kindling into a pile as the young man sets his backpack on a chair.

“Nice place. Gotta admit I was expectin somethin more dilapidated. On account of the whole, uh, y’know.” He gestures to Indrid’s horns and cloven feet.

“It was much like you expected, once upon a time. But a human named Arlo Thacker took pity on me and helped me build it with the aid of a few friends. There.” The fire flickers merrily, “that should keep us warm. You may--ah, what are you doing?”

The young man has removed his jacket and shirt, revealing what Indrid recognizes from human magazines as a sports bra. His hands are now on the fly of his jeans.

“You said I was supposed to, uh, spend the night with you?”

“Yes, in that you may sleep here to be safe from the weather and any who might wish you harm. Not so that you may keep me warm. So to speak.”

“You’re not gonna fuck me?”

Indrid flicks his tail, surprised, “You would offer yourself to me, looking like this?”

The man nods in a way that suggests he’s run a calculus in his head and decided Indrid’s desire was less abhorrent than some other option. Indrid crosses the small living room, bringing them face to face. He reaches out a hand, runs his claws through black hair until the human closes his eyes. Then his hand slides to cup his cheek, one nail tracing fond little shapes on the skin as the man sighs. Against his better judgement, he tilts his head down to nose the dark locks; smoke lingers there, just as alcohol hangs on his breath. He’s so warm, so willing and so very soft. Indrid wants nothing more than to undress him further, carry him to his cozy bedroom and discover what sounds come when he fits their bodies together.

“What’s your name?”

“Duck. It’s a nickname.”

“A charming one. But no, Duck, I will not take such advantage of you. I may be called a devil, but I do not believe in making one trade their body for basic kindness. Come along, the bedroom will allow you more privacy.”

“Thanks.” Duck sways, and Indrid senses a weariness he’s not certain a good nights rest will fix. Tomorrow he will be sure to be gone when Duck awakens, leaving his dry clothes and a map back to town outside his door so that he can do what Indrid can dare to; leave the Barrens and find a life waiting for him in the world beyond.

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

There are some days when Duck thinks his encounter in the woods was a dream. The hand-drawn map he keeps folded among his books tells him otherwise.

He’d come home after that night, made his peace with Kepler for a few years more, and often awoke from dreams where he was pushing through brush in pursuit of a strange shadow. He never cites these as a reason for his taking a job at a state forest in New Jersey that includes the Barrens.

Now, he’s decided to upgrade from his apartment to a house in the woods that’s been listed for over two years and is a goddamn steal because of that.

“As you can see, there’s another residence across the clearing; that’s why the company that built this lovely dwelling was able to do so. They intended to build a nice little community here.”

“The fact that ain’t happened got anythin to do with the reason I gotta stay the night before I make an offer?”

Ned’s smile falters, “Indeed, dear boy. I like you, so I’ll be forthcoming; we’ve never seen anyone in the other house. But they have most certainly seen us.”

Duck settles in for an uneventful afternoon and evening, reads his book and considers whether he could fit some windowboxes on the house for garden space. It’s not until it’s pitch black outside that it starts; footsteps on the roof, followed shortly by red eyes peering in through the living room window.

He opens the front door, the undergrowth rustling hurriedly to his left.

“Uh, hey there. You may not remember me but, uh, we’ve actually met before. About ten years ago. You uh, you let me stay the night?”

Only some crickets, unaware of the tension in the air, reply to him. Then the bushes grow two, ruby red flowers.

“Duck?”

“Yep. Y’know, you never told me your name. If we’re gonna be neighbors, feels like I oughta know what to call you.”

A shadow moves from the trees, stopping when it reaches the light spilling from the windows. He’s as Duck remembers him; short horns sprouting from a mop of silver hair, claws on his fingers and black wings folded on his back. His skin is a swirl of ashy grey and ember red. And his face, while striking, is human. That was the part that always tripped Duck up; the Jersey Devil was always drawn with a goat or horse face, making him question whether that’s who he met all those years ago.

“Indrid. My name is Indrid.”

“Nice to see you again, Indrid.”

The other man smiles, and Duck knows what will replace the mad hunt through the brush in his dreams, “Likewise.”

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

“You know, she had three more children after me. None of them suffered the same curse.” Indrid kicks idly at the long decayed remains of his family home. Their nightly walk brough them close to it this time around, and Duck had been curious. His interest is never prurient or morbid; Duck wants to get to know Indrid, not his legend.

“That fuckin sucks.”

Indrid chuckles, “I do enjoy how you put things so plainly.”

“I’m serious, what kind of folks put their kid out when it’s a baby? I mean, mine weren't always the fuckin parents of the year but at least they understood lookin after me was part of the deal.”

“It was a different time.”

“Fine, but I’m still judgin the hell outta them.”

Indrid looks fondly down at the human, “That’s as fair a fate for them as any.”

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

“It don’t weird you out?” Juno indicates Indrid’s house from where she and Duck are sitting on his front porch. The twin Adirondack chairs are a new addition, as the warmer months mean he and Indrid spend ample time trying to see the stars through the treetops.

“Nah. Indrid’s a real good neighbor when he’s around. He’s uh, from an old family so he don’t gotta work. Part of why he keeps such weird hours.” Duck wishes he could introduce them; it’d be nice for the three of them to have dinner before Juno heads south again. But Indrid has several centuries of shitty human encounters that dig under his skin like splinters, and Duck will never push him to ignore that pain. Besides, there will be other visits.

The summer and fall pass in much the same ways last winter and spring did. Duck works in the park, visits friends in town, runs errands, and generally goes about all the mundane moments that make up a life. Then he spends his evenings in one of the two cottages, or walking alongside Indrid on long-overgrown pathways.

The hardest part of it all is not mentioning Indrid in every single conversation; Duck is already tempting disaster being unable to lie and the neighbor of a cryptid. He doesn’t want to also drive his friends up the wall talking about said cryptids art, or his laugh, or the little herb garden Duck is helping him grow.

They’re in the stretch of days between Christmas and New Year, and Indrid has just finished opening the gift Duck brought him; a thick, soft sweater that Duck stitched a “I” into the front of along with a few little pine tree patches. Indrid smiles at him and notices that Duck’s sweater is done in a similar fashion (in fact, everyone in the Newton family wears one like this). The grin turns bashful and Indrid rubs his cheek against the fabric.

“Thank you, Duck. I, ah, I’m sorry I do not have anything to give you. Holidays are not my strong suit.”

“Just gettin to see you is enough.” Duck stands to refill his tea, Indrid’s gaze caressing his back as he moves through the room. He almost hadn’t gone home, had offered to stay and keep Indrid company. But his friend insisted, reminding him that while it felt odd to be without each other, they both had spent plenty of time apart and been fine. All the same, when he got home yesterday Indrid was knocking on his door before he even put his bag down.

Duck didn’t mind at all. No more than he minds when Indrid sleeps with his head in his lap or strokes his hair while they read on the couch.

The cryptid stokes the fire as the snow gives way to sleet, streaking the windows with icy drops.

“Goodness, what a frigid night.”

“No kiddin.” Duck sets his mug down, turns just as Indrid gets to his feet, “can’t say I mind, kinda reminds me of the night we met.”

The colors of Indrid’s skin make a blush difficult to spot, but Duck’s learned which dip of his head and quirk of his lip means it’s there.

“‘Drid? Did you ever think about that night? Because I did. I, uh, I do.”

“Yes.” Indrid’s tail twitches.

“What do you think about?”

“I, ah, I...you first.”

Duck crosses the creaking floorboards, looking up into red eyes, “I think about how safe it felt when you brought me here. How when I woke up, I felt like this was some kinda weird sign, that I needed to rethink some things and that’s how come I went home, which turned out to be a good call. And” he smirks, “I think about how I was drunk and desperate enough to ask the fuckin Jersey Devil if he was gonna fuck me.”

Indrid blushes once more, studies the ground as Duck touches his shoulder, “I must say that is the part that dominated most of my thoughts. Not right away; for the first few weeks when I thought of you I only hoped you were alright. Then I would let myself imagine that I had been devilish indeed.”

Gently, Duck raises Indrid’s hand and cradles his cheek with it as they did that night, “What would you have done, devil of mine?”

A snicker, “I will answer that only if you tell me whether you are angling for the demonstration that I think you are.”

“Damn right.” He closes his eyes, heart swelling and skin prickling as Indrid steps closer and nuzzles the top of his head.

“I would have asked if you were tired of running. If you wanted a home. And would you like to make it here, so that we could keep each other company. I know in my heart this would have been a selfish offer. I am glad I did not make it, did not trap you here, resign you to a fate that was not what you would have chosen freely.”

“I’m pretty fuckin free these days.”

“And that all on it’s own fills me with joy. But yes, there were nights where I wished I’d been selfish.”

Duck tips his head up, brushing their noses together, “Say you made that offer and I accepted. What then?”

Indrid cups his face with both hands. The kiss is chaste, Indrid sighing against his lips as he twines his claws in his hair. Duck wraps his arms around his waist, lightly teasing the edge of one wing.

“Then” Indrid murmurs, “I’d carry you to bed.”

“Yeah, that part woulda been easier when I was seventeEEN” he laughs as Indrid scoops him into a bridal carry with ease. He’s never been in Indrid’s bed, so he giggles again when he discovers it’s ten times squishier than his own. The cryptid sinks onto it with him, guiding him so they’re face to face on their sides.

“May I undress you?”

“Knock yourself out, darlin.” Affection deep and warm as a thermal spring wells up in him as Indrid carefully removes his sweater and shirt before dainty setting his claws to work on his fly. When Duck is down to his boxers, hunger enters Indrid’s eyes for the first time.

“Oh you are divine.” One hand strokes his leg, pausing at the crease of his thigh each time it reaches there. The other curves along his belly up to his chest before caressing his face, the black claws making his skin seem oddly pale and very fragile in comparison.

Duck touches the hem of Indrid’s shirt and the cryptid freezes.

“‘Drid? Is this okay?”

“Do you...truly wish to see me unclothed?”

Duck surges forward to kiss him as he rucks up his shirt, the movement a sufficient answer for Indrid to raise his arms and let him pull the sweater and battered shirt beneath it away. His skin here is the same swirl of colors as the rest of him, but there’s a dusting of peach fuzz fur across it. It’s delightful under Duck’s tongue, though the little keen of pleasure from Indrid is even better.

“It’s strange” Indrid traces hearts and zig-zags with his claws along Duck’s sides as the human continues kissing his chest and neck, “I thought that seeing you like this would so overwhelm me with need that I’d beg to have you this instant. But it seems I feel much the same way I did in my fantasies of that night.”

“Oh” Duck reaches up to toy with the base of a horn and Indrid groans happily before continuing.

“Had you stayed, knowing you were now mine, I’d have taken my time. Nestled you under the blankets, opened you up on my tongue until you were weak from pleasure. That way it would be easy to take you when I was ready. Perhaps on your back, so you had me to hold onto if you needed. Or on your belly, so you would be even more sheltered from the cold, cruel world by my body and wings. And I’d stay there for hours, make up for decade after decade of touch starvation by glutting myself on your young, willing body.”

“Holy fuck, ‘Drid.” Duck pulls him down into a kiss, “christ that’s a fuckin good image.”

“Mmmm” the cryptid licks his cheek, “it is, isn’t it. But since you are not going anywhere, and we are not limited by the confines of my imagination, I am even less inclined to rush. Will you indulge me with just kisse tonight?”

Duck brushes silver hair from his forehead, planting a kiss there when he’s done, “Of course.”

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

The morning brings several feet of snow and announcement that those who can stay in their homes and shelter from the ongoing storm should. The pines drop heaps of white across the ground, and frost makes the windows so icy it’s better to draw the curtains and stay curled up in the dark.

Duck doesn’t mind at all.

[marvelyningreen]

Gone Fishin’

Father’s Day 2/2

Peter Maximoff & Erik Lehnsherr

-🎣-

Even Peter could barely believe how long he’d sat still – like, actually sat still without zipping off to get something else done while he waited – in the garden behind the school. Sure, it’d only been about twenty minutes, but that was an eternity for him.

Oh, looked like the waiting was over. Peter caught sight of Erik walking down the back stairs. Perfect.

“Hey!” he called out.

As Erik glanced in his direction, Peter decided to be polite and walk over to him and a normal pace.

“Not going on that mission with the others?” Peter asked.

“Several world powers would rather prefer that I didn’t,” Erik said dryly, “So, no. I remain in retirement.”

Peter grinned. “Great! That means you’ve got the morning free, then, right?”

A suspicious look crossed Erik’s face.

“I suppose I do,” he said, and it almost sounded like a question.

“Well, come on! We’re burning daylight here.”

Peter grabbed Erik’s arm with one hand, bracing his neck with the other.

“Peter, I don’t-”

He took off without giving Erik a chance to finish his thought. This was only sorta kidnapping, considering this guy was one of the most powerful mutants on the planet. If he absolutely wanted to leave, Peter would take him back to the school before he could, who knows, yank out all the iron in his bloodstream or something.

Peter came to a halt where he’d left the gear earlier that morning. Thankfully, it was all still there. He wasn’t sure somebody would want to steal a bunch of borrowed old fishing gear, but dumber things had happened. He slowed back down to normal speed, making sure Erik didn’t faceplant before releasing his hold.

“- know what you’re getting at,” Erik finished, just a little dazed. “Where on earth are we?”

The little lake was a few miles outside of town, just below a dam. When he was running errands one day, Peter heard a couple of older locals discussing it as a good fishing spot. It was secluded enough – just a little access road leading to a small boat launch, without even a fishing dock. Peter kinda figured that, for as much time as Erik spent at the Xavier mansion years ago, he’d probably never been down this way.

“I heard it’s a good spot for fishing,” Peter said. “And it’s boring to go alone, so…”

“Fishing,” Erik repeated flatly.

“Yeah.” Peter paused. “Unless… you’ve got something else going on?”

He held Erik’s gaze for a second, certain he was going to demand to be taken back to the school rather than be forced into a trivial outing.

But Erik just sighed. “Alright, then. What do you fish for?”

“Me? Validation, mostly.” Peter laughed, then broke off, clearing his throat awkwardly. “Right, sorry. The professor said I should stop using self-deprecating humor as a defense mechanism.”

“That… certainly sounds like something Charles would say.”

Welp, that couldn’t have gone worse if he’d tried. Peter busied himself with checking over the fishing poles, and took a second shot at answering Erik’s question.

“Bass, I think,” he said. “At least, that’s what people say. I’ve never actually caught anything. I get bored after five minutes, y’know?”

He grinned, handing Erik one of the poles. Erik took it with an expression of complete exasperation.

“Why on earth did you drag me all the way out here if you don’t catch any fish?” he asked, massaging his forehead.

“Wha-? What kind of a question is that? Fishing is fun! That’s the sort of thing that people do on… on days like today, right?” Nearly blew it again right there. Peter turned away. “Where did I leave those worms?”

“You didn’t bring any,” Erik said flatly.

“I… oh.”

Shit. At a loss, Peter stood motionless for a second, staring down at the now-useless assortment of fishing gear. He’d made a mess of things, like usual. Well, nothing else for it now. He straightened up, turning back to face Erik with a smile.

“That’s fine!” he said cheerily. “I’ll just run back and-”

“Peter, wait,” said Erik, grabbing his arm as he went to turn away again. “I know.”

Erik released his arm and regarded him in silence. Panic was setting in. Was this the plan? Peter couldn’t remember how he’d wanted this conversation to go. He shifted his weight, rubbing at the back of his neck in a desperate attempt to appear casual.

“You, uh… You know?” he floundered. “What, exactly, is it? That you know?”

“I know that you’re my son.”

Peter’s stomach dropped. Erik was hard to read to start with, and Peter couldn’t begin to figure out what he was thinking. Every chaotic conflicted feeling Peter had had since he was a kid washed over him at once, and sent him reeling inwardly.

“You, uh… Huh.” Peter’s mouth felt as dry as chalk. “I didn’t think you… did.”

“Of course I know,” said Erik. “How could I not? Do you think I can look at you and not see your mother in your face?”

Peter suddenly found it very hard to meet Erik’s gaze.

Ever since he’d put two and two together himself, Peter had worried that he reminded his mom too much of Erik, that even looking at him would bring up painful memories for her. So hearing that Erik saw something of his mom in him, too… It made him happy, honestly – but it was hard to know how Erik meant it.

“I kinda figured, uh…” Peter frowned for a moment, struggling to find the right words. “When I was a kid, at least, I kinda figured that you knew about me, and you just didn’t want anything to do with me because I was always such a screw-up. But I wanted you to care, I guess.”

With a flick of his wrist, Peter sent the stone sailing across the water. It didn’t skip even once, just hit the water with a dull plunk and sank to the bottom. Wow. What appropriate imagery.

“But then Cairo happened,” he went on, “And when they told me everything that’d happened to you, I just… I knew it was the wrong time. With everything you’d lost, I couldn’t. I’m sorry for bringing it up. I’m making a mess out of this, I know. It’s just… maybe there won’t ever be a right time. I didn’t want to wait too long and be too late, y’know?”

A breeze, barely cooler than the hot June sun, skated across the lake. Ever since Peter hit his late twenties, it’d gotten so much easier to match the pace of the rest of the world without getting impatient. Not now, though. The seconds he waited for Erik to reply passed at an agonizing crawl.

“You’re right, you know.”

Peter’s gaze snapped back to Erik as he finally spoke. Erik watched him for a second more, smiling sadly.

“I wouldn’t have been ready to hear it then,” Erik went on. “I want to thank you – for giving me time to grieve.”

“If you need more time, that’s okay,” Peter said hurriedly. “I’m not trying to pressure you or anything, I just-”

Erik shook his head. “I think I’ve made you wait long enough. You’re already a better man than I’ve ever been, Peter. Please understand that I don’t say this lightly. Your unflinching courage, the hope you bring to those around you – these are things to be proud of.”

Peter looked away again, falling back on his usual self-deprecation.

“I don’t… I mean-” He broke off suddenly as he felt Erik grip his shoulder.

“I know that I’ve hardly been a father to you, and for that, I am sorry. But I’d be proud to call you my son, Peter.”

Dammit, he didn’t think he was gonna get choked up over this. But whenever he’d thought through how this conversation would play out, it always seemed to end in rejection or indifference. That Erik might actually, honestly be proud of him was something Peter had never really considered.

Peter sped up for just a second – just long enough to wipe at his eyes without Erik seeing – and then cleared his throat to steady his voice before answering.

“I’d like that,” he said. “If, y’know, if you’re okay with it.”

“I don’t say things I don’t mean.” Erik smiled, releasing his shoulder and taking a step back. “Now, run off and get us some worms. It sounds like you’ve got more fishing experience than I do, so you’ll have to teach me.”

With a grin, Peter sped off. Part of him still kinda expected to find the shoreline empty when he got back, but no – Erik was still there waiting for him.

Him and his dad having their first ever fishing trip. Huh. Peter couldn’t think of a better way to spend Fathers Day.

[brokenbeskar]

Babysitter

Chapter Two of Memories Reforged ( Din Djarin x F!Reader )

Word Count: 7.8k

Summary: Instead of landing to collect your bounty’s reward like you had expected, the mysterious mandalorian you’re traveling with leaves you to babysit his wrinkly green child-- a job you definitely don’t feel cut out for.  

Warnings: no real warnings in this one! let me know if there's something I missed!

A/N: I hope you all like it! as always let me know if you see any mistakes or anything! I know nothing crazy happens in this chapter but I hope it’s still entertaining and fun! afterall who can resist Grogu shenanigans? Also there may be some more hints about your past in this one so 👀

You hum lightly as you adjust in your seat, slowly blinking your eyes open as you gain consciousness, only to jolt upright at the unfamiliar scene of the cockpit around you. You had completely forgotten yesterday’s events in your sleep, so when you woke up initially you were expecting to be back in your old ship. Maker, you hurt all over. You don’t even remember falling asleep, the last thing you remember was the discussion you had with that stranger mandalorian. You quickly look to the pilot's seat next to you, suddenly remembering the armored man you were hitching a ride from. It's empty. He must have set the ship to autopilot while you snoozed away. How embarrassing. You usually wouldn't let yourself fall asleep in front of a stranger so readily, but after the events of yesterday--you must have been more exhausted than you thought. You stretch your shoulders back with a grimace, being sure to keep a hand on the helmet in your lap so it doesn’t fall. Kriff, you feel like you got swallowed up by a sarlacc pit and spit back out. The soreness from the crash yesterday has set in completely. You can feel the bruises lining your entire body, and all your muscles ache at even the slightest movement--not to mention your pounding headache. 

You’re pressing the base of one of your palms to your forehead to try and relieve some of the pressure when the cockpit door slides open. The mandalorian you met yesterday striding in, the babbling green baby in his arms. 

“Good, you’re awake. We’ll be landing on Corellia soon.” He explains as he sets the baby in the seat opposite to yours, buckling him in as he coos sleepily. 

“Corellia? Your guild outpost is on Corellia?” You squint up at him questioningly, palm still pressed to your head. Marker, the stars reflecting off his armor is making your head hurt worse. 

“No.” He doesn’t bother to look at you as he settles into the pilot’s seat. “No? What do you mean ‘no’? Why the kriff are we landing on Corellia then?” You lower your palm only a little off your head, as you continue to squint at him, growing irritated with him already. Can one person be any more frustrating? Maybe you're just in a bad mood because you're sore and tired…

“I have another bounty to collect.” 

“You--you what?!” oh no, your pounding headache has nothing to do with this. What the fuck does he mean, another bounty? This wasn’t part of the deal. 

“I have four pucks, I need four bodies. We’ll head to Nevarro after.” He tilts his helmet in your direction without looking at you while he explains. 

“You didn’t think to mention this before?” You’re glaring daggers into the side of his helmet, you couldn’t be more pissed off at this guy--

“You didn’t ask.” Nope. You were wrong, you could definitely be more pissed, and that response alone has almost sent you over the edge. “You’re more than welcome to find your own ship and meet me there if it’s a problem.” What an asshole. What an absolute fucking asshole. Maker, you hate him. He’s not even worth responding to. Turning back to stare out the cockpit window angrily, just absolutely seething as you sit there. 

The two of you don’t exchange another word as you drop out of hyperspace and descend into Corellia’s atmosphere. The mandalorian lands you in a remote forest area. You’ve taken more than your fair share of bounties on Corellia before. Honestly the planet is a shithole. Riddled with crime, and polluted to all hell. When you notice the mandalorian getting up to leave, you sigh and stand up yourself. You're sliding your helmet on, when he stops to  turn to you, “What are you doing?” You tilt your helmet at him confused, “What do you mean? Aren’t we leaving?” your voice comes out through the modulator of your helmet in a higher frequency than your natural voice, distorting it, making it sound tinny and strange. It always takes a minute to get used to it when you first put it back on.

“We?” He tilts his helmet back at you. 

“Uh? Yeah...didn’t you say you had one more bounty?” 

“Yes, but I don’t ever remember saying I needed your help. I need you to stay on the ship, watch the kid.” He notions over to Grogu still buckled in his seat, watching your conversation intently. 

“What? Ohhhh no! No way! I’m a bounty hunter not a fucking babysitter! You can’t surprise me with a pit stop, then expect me to watch your kid while you fuck off to do whatever. Give me your puck, I’ll go get the quarry, and you can watch your own child.” You hold out your hand expectantly for his bounty puck, but he doesn’t move. 

“You’re not doing my job for me. I’m not splitting anymore bounties with you. Watch the kid, make sure he stays safe.” He leans down and unbuckles the child, handing him to you, but you don't take him.

“We’ll get this over with faster if we both go, I don’t want to be on this shithole longer than we need to. He’ll be okay by himself for a little while, won't he? That’s what you would have done if I wasn't here isn't it?”  You cross your arms over your armored chest. How dare he? Make a surprise pitstop so he can run errands and just expect you to watch his kid for him without even asking you first. He’s still holding out the baby for you to take, like an idiot. 

“This planet isn’t safe and this quarry is dangerous. He’s an escaped convict and has been evading hunters for far too long. I’m not risking it. Stay on the ship, watch the child, or you can find your own ride.” he takes a step forward pushing the child into your arms, and this time you reluctantly take him. Not that you have much of a choice in the matter. Oh but the child is thrilled, babbling happily and reaching up to pap the edges of your helmet.

“Whatever asshole,” you hiss out, “just make it quick.” And with a nod, he turns and heads out. Maker, he is absolutely insufferable. Maybe you should just steal his ship and head off to Nevarro without him. Cash in his bounties, and leave him stranded. You chuckle to yourself at the thought of that shiny dumbass returning to find his ship is gone. You imagine he would panic, what an idiot he would feel like realizing you got the best of him. You’re snapped out of your daydream by the kid squealing at you excitedly as he lightly taps your helmet with his tiny hands. You can’t help but smile down at him under your helmet and offer your finger for him to hold. 

You realize, suddenly, what an actual dumbass that shiny wall of metal actually is. You 100% could steal his ship, and his quarries, but also his son. He’s trusting you with his child, after only having just met you the day before. You’re a bounty hunter, that fact alone makes you inherently untrustworthy. Let alone the fact that you’re wearing beskar armor. Armor which according to him belongs more to him than it does to you. What in the galaxy was he thinking? You look down at sweet little Grogu in your arms. If this was your child, you would rip apart the whole galaxy to find him if he ever went missing. You would reign war on anyone who dared touch him. There's no way you would dare to ever bring harm to any child--let alone this one. What an idiot...he got lucky this time. 

“Alright you little bean,” you move the child to your hip and make your way out of the cockpit to the ship's hull, “What should we do while we wait for your idiot dad to get back, hmm?” You boop his little nose gently with your finger and he giggles at you, grabbing onto your hand with his tiny fingers. “Lets see…,” you look around the hull for some toys or something--anything remotely looking like it belongs to the kid, but...there's nothing. In fact, if it weren’t for the child cooing on your hip, you wouldn’t know a baby lived on this ship at all. 

“Weird...where are you toys, little bug?” You cock your helmet at him, then decide to set him down on the ground. Maybe he knows where they are, and will help himself. When you set him down though, he just stands there at your feet, staring up at you with the biggest smile on his face, his little hand holding onto the side of your boot. Kriff, this kid is cute. “Alright buddy, we can look together. Lets go!” 

You start searching through the crates scattered about the hull. There's a lot of...junk? Some of it is important: Spare parts, tools, that kind of thing. You can’t even tell what some of this stuff is though, why the hell did he have so much junk on this ship? And better yet, why was there nothing for the baby? You search through everything, the child happily running around while you toss things around to search. There's nothing. A pit forms in your stomach, did this child really have no toys? What on earth was that mandalorian thinking? You’ll have to bring it up with him when he gets back. If it weren’t for the fact you were on kriffing Corellia, you would have taken the child to a market yourself and gotten him anything he wanted. 

You realize it's probably not on purpose. He was a mandalorian after all. If what the mandalorian you once knew told you was true, then the stranger mandalorian you met yesterday probably didn't have much of a childhood of his own. Mandalorians aren’t raised as children, they're raised as warriors. As if they came out of the womb with daggers for teeth. They're raised to be fierce and aggressive, for the whole galaxy to fear. You look down to the child happily clanking away with some tools on the floor, he’s so precious. He deserves more than that. This child is no mandalorian, in the same way you aren’t. You’ll definitely have a discussion with his father about it, nothing can change your mind now. 

You scoop him up in your arms and swing him up, lifting him into the air, and he squeals loudly at the sudden movement. His squealing turns into bursts of uncontrollable laughter while you swing him down and back up again, making a dramatic “Woosh!” through your helmet. He fails his arms up like he's on a rollercoaster, and you can't help but let out a chuckle and squeeze him back into your chest. Maker, he's so precious. You plant him on your hip and begin dancing with him, holding his little hand with yours, opposite to the one holding him on your hip as you waltz around the hull dramatically. His laughter is absolutely contagious, the both of you giggling while spinning around the hull like fools. You get carried away, and get a bit dizzy, having completely forgotten about your head injury. You trip over your own heels and fall unceremoniously straight onto your ass with an ‘oof’. You had made sure to fall in a way that wouldn't hurt the baby, but you immediately check on him first to make sure he’s uninjured.

“Oh shit, little bug, are you alright?” You hold him out in front of you, to get a better look. He seems surprised at first, but then breaks out into the biggest, most heart melting grin, and starts squealing and giggling happily like you falling was the best thing he has ever seen. His smile makes your heart swell warmly in your chest. It almost hurts how cute he is. You chuckle out lightly back at him, then collapse the rest of the way on the floor, Grogu sitting happily on your chest.

He crawls up and peers deep into your visor, while your head is resting on the floor. His little hands resting on the hollows of your helmet’s cheeks. You smile at him. You completely forgot you had it on. You lift your head slightly, and gently pull it off for him, setting it next to the both of you. His smile only grows wider, something you didn't think was possible, and he presses his hands to your now exposed cheeks. He must find you fascinating, the way his tiny hands explore every part of your face. He touches your lips and your eyes, seeming to love how you squeeze them tight with his uncomfortable pokes, he touches your eyebrows and the hair falling around your face, he grabs onto your nose, and you gasp dramatically, just to get a reaction out of him, before you're both giggling again. 

This child deserves nothing but the best, you think to yourself as he nuzzles into your neck. You bring a hand up to gently stroke the top of his fuzzy head, your other coming up to tweak those big ol’ ears. His little body is so warm, you can feel his tiny heart beat against yours as your snuggles into you. You don’t yet know how the mandalorian came upon this child, but you understand why he took him in. How could anyone resist those big bug eyes, or his expressive ears, or his wrinkly green skin, soft as a peach. You’re kind of glad you got stuck as the babysitter today. 

You turn to look at the helmet resting next to you on the floor, and you feel an ache in your chest when it hits you. This is the most you’ve smiled since he left you. You can’t even remember the last time you laughed, a real laugh, since he left you, alone. You’ve been nonstop on the move trying to distract yourself after he passed. Taking bounty after bounty never stopping to rest. The baby squirms a bit in your arms, and you pull him closer to you, squeezing him ever so lightly. You push away your sad thoughts as you press your face to the top of his fuzzy head and take a deep breath. Savoring the moment with this precious child. 

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

You should have appreciated that moment more while it was happening. You had no idea how much of an actual nightmare this child could be. He was running you ragged, you couldn’t keep your eyes off him for two seconds without him trying to either break out of the ship, or getting into trouble somewhere on it. At one point he even snuck behind the control panel and was hiding in the wires, poking at things he definitely shouldn’t be. It took you a full hour to coax him out of there, terrified the whole time he was going to electrocute himself, and you would have to explain yourself to his beskar adorning father. Whatever precious being you thought he was earlier? Long gone. Grogu was a monster, a demon in disguise. The most terrifying creature in the galaxy.

“What do you have?” you call out to him, when you notice he has something he probably shouldn't in his hands. He breaks into a full on sprint, running to hide from you, popping whatever it was into his mouth. “NO!” You yell so loud as you launch yourself at him and tackle him reaching in his little mouth to grab a piece of--you don’t even know what--and take it away. He struggles against your grip and takes off again hiding somewhere in the hull. You spend the next 30 minutes, at least, looking for him. The worst game of hide and seek imaginable.

Now, he's wailing, screaming out in a shrill, terrible cry in your arms. Maker, if you didn't know any better you would think he was dying. As much as you were judging the mandalorian’s parenting earlier, you admit, you have no clue what you're doing. You’re a bounty hunter, you don’t know how to care for a child--a baby! You’re bouncing him helplessly in your arms, shushing him lightly, “It’s okay little bean, everything is okay shh...it's alright…” but it's not working. If anything he's crying even harder now in your arms. Maker, you're at your wits end. You’re exhausted, and so sore. You thought you hurt when you first woke up? Oh boy, nothing could have prepared you for how you feel now after running around after this child all day. His screeching is only making your head pound harder than it already was. You sigh raggedly and slump to the floor in the corner of the hull next to where your things are still laying, Grogu still wailing in your arms. 

You tiredly turn your head to look in the direction of your bags. What could you possibly want? What can you do to help him? Maybe you just have to wait it out...wait a minute--wait! He's probably hungry! Oh maker, how did you not realize it sooner? Neither of you have eaten all day. You quickly start digging through your things with one arm, Grogu sobbing helplessly in your other. You’re a fool, you could have saved you both so much suffering. You find what you brought of your rations as quickly as you can. The baby’s crying immediately settles down to a couple weak hiccups and sniffles when he hears the wrapper of a ration bar in your hand. 

You settle him down gentle in your lap, facing him forward so he can lean back against you. He reaches his little hands out impatiently while you unwrap the ration bar for him, “hang on little bug, it’s coming. I'm sorry you're probably so hungry…” you finish unwrapping it and break off a piece to give to him, and he swallows the whole piece immediately. “Whoa little guy, don’t eat too fast, take it easy.” you let out a laugh as you break off another, smaller, piece and feed it to him. You take a bite for yourself too. You don’t have much of an appetite to be honest. You’re not sure if it's because you're so sore from the crash or what, but you make sure you eat anyway. 

He eats 2 whole ration bars himself, it's pretty impressive. As soon as he was done eating, he turned around facing you and reached up with his little grabby hands to be held. When you held him in your arms, he almost immediately fell asleep. Nap time, thank the maker. You stand ever so carefully as to not wake him, and head to the little alcove on the other side of the hull. You assume this is where the mandalorian sleeps, you wouldn’t think it's big enough for a man of his size, but the pillows and blankets lining it tell you otherwise. There's a hammock on the inside, you assume that's for the baby, it's perfectly his size. You set him in it and wrap him tightly in his blanket. You let out a sigh of relief at the sight of him sleeping peacefully, instead of reigning anymore terror on you and the ship. He was probably acting up because he missed his dad. You stroke his little head gently a couple times with your thumb, he's back to being the most precious creature in the universe. You press a button on the wall besides the alcove and a metal door slides down enclosing the peacefully sleeping baby so he won’t be disturbed. 

You stretch your arms over your head, then twist your waist to let out some of the tension. You feel like you got absolutely steam rolled. You decide to head to the fresher, just to splash some water on your face, something, anything to help with the utter exhaustion your feeling. When you step in, you’re surprised just how small it is. It's cramped in here for sure. You sigh as you lean over the sink, your arms barely managing to support your weight as you lean into it. When you look in the mirror you're shocked at your own reflection staring back at you. You’re a mess. You have a huge bruise across the left side of your face, which must have been from when you hit your head on the console yesterday. You didn’t even realize how tender it was because of how much pain you're in altogether. Your fingers brush over your swollen cheek. Maker, your hair was a mess too. You pull it out of your ponytail and smooth it down the best you can. 

You glance at the miniscule shower next to you. The mandalorian wouldn’t mind right? Y'know what? Who gives a kriff! He's the one who made you babysit his child without warning, he owes you this shower. You leave the fresher momentarily to grab some fresh clothes, before returning and starting the water, filling the tiny fresher with steam. You begin the tedious task of removing all your armor. You’ve gotten much quicker at it, and with each piece of beskar you remove, you instantly feel relief, your body no longer having to support all that weight. 

You think back to the first couple times you put the armor on. You had the hardest time with it, all of the different fasteners and magnetic pieces, you couldn't figure out what went where. Not to mention everything was way too big on you, so you had to figure out a way to layer underneath it so it would fit. You looked so awkward the first few times while you went through trial and error, figuring out what worked for you and what didn’t. And taking it off? You don’t want to be reminded.

You’ve come so far since then, easily stripping down all your layers, your beskar now a pile on the fresher floor. You look back to yourself in the mirror, seeing all the dark purple and blue bruises lining your whole body. A clear ‘X’ across your chest from your seatbelt in the crash. You definitely took quite the beating. No wonder you were so sore. Stepping into the hot water was instant relief against your aching muscles, and you savored every minute of it. Nothing beats the feeling of hot water running through your hair. Maker, a shower has never felt so good. 

You make a point to get out quickly, in case the baby gets up. You definitely didn't want to, but you had to be practical. You dry off and change into new under clothes, before armorning back up fully, and exiting the fresher. You check on the baby, he's still sleeping soundly, so you close the door to the alcove again to allow him to finish napping. You grab your helmet off the floor where you left it and climb up to the cockpit, settling down in your respective seat. You hum as you lean back, you feel so much better. You’re tempted to get a nap in yourself, but you can’t. Not until the mandalorian comes back and you leave the surface of this planet. He was right when he said it wasn’t safe. Corellia was absolutely crime ridden, polluted, and dangerous. You dreaded coming here every time, but you know you’ll always have bounties to grab that will bring you back here. 

You really hope he doesn’t take too long grabbing this quarry. You’re not sure how long you can handle watching this child. Grogu was adorable, but after today you’re dreading the thought of being alone with him again for much longer. You groan remembering you chased a bounty for two weeks once--and how he mentioned this bounty was an expert evader. You shudder at the thought of being alone with this child for two weeks. No way, you wouldn't be able to handle it, you would be taking more from his cut of your bounty, it's not worth the 50/50 split at that point. Suddenly it dawns on you, you're paying this asshole five thousand credits to watch his kid for him! He should be paying you! 

“Asshole!” Your voice rings out through the cockpit, with no one but you to hear it. You’re glaring out the front window when you notice movement, you sit up straighter and peer out more intensely hoping for that shiny beskar to reveal itself through the trees, but it’s not him.

----

Oh the relief he feels when he sees your seemingly abandoned ship in the woods. “Thank the maker…” He breathes out to himself, then hurries up to it. He’s been stranded on Corellia far too long, he ended up here on complete accident and had no way off. He felt extremely lucky the underground gang rings on this planet were keeping the bounty hunters busy. 

He walks up and is surprised to find the ramp to the ship is already lowered, “hah, morons!” he chuckles to himself as he happily boards the mysterious and worn down ship. It's old, but as long as it can get him off this planet, he doesn't care. Should be easy enough to hotwire at least. A quick look around and he can see just how much junk is in here. Crates everywhere. “Jackpot…” he knows he can find some idiot to sell all of it to, and he’ll be walking away with not only a new ship, but a pocket full of credits too! 

Lost in his daydream of what he’s going to spend his future credits on, he heads up to the cockpit and sits in the pilot's seat, “alrighty...let’s see...how do I---” he’s cut off suddenly by the feeling of cold metal to the side of his head. He gulps audibly as the sound of your safety flicking off echoes through the cockpit. “l-listen--I….I don't want any trouble okay? I’m just--just trying to get a ride out of here...”

“Oh, you’ll be getting a ride out of here alright.” Your voice modulated and tinny as it runs through the highpass filter of your helmet. “You picked the wrong ship to board my friend…” Your voice lowers to a threatening level, “who are you?” 

“C-cadan Vamma...please...I’ll leave right now, no trouble! Like I wasn’t even here!” He turns his head slightly to look at you, his hands held up in surrender, and you allow it. The gasp he lets out at the sight of your visor fills you with satisfaction. He starts rambling in his panic, “L-look! I...I dont---I dont know how much they’re offering you--but--but I can...I-I can double it!” 

Suddenly you have an idea of what's going on here, was this the big bad bounty the mandalorian was hunting? The one he said was so dangerous? You want to laugh, but not with the quarry himself in front of you. “Get up.” You snap out at him and nudge him with your blaster. He immediately shoots up without hesitation, hands still out in front of him in surrender. 

You nudge him towards the exit to the cockpit, towards the hull, “move it!” You press your blaster into his back to encourage him forward, and he complies, easily. There's no way--nooo way this was the bounty the mandalorian was talking about earlier. This guy is a joke, trembling as he moves to the hull of the ship. You force him to make his way to the middle, right in front of the ramp. 

“Sit.” You command, blaster still at his back. He complies without any hesitation, it makes you smile under your helmet. This was easy, you could do this anyday. You stand next to him and stare down at him, squaring your shoulders to try and seem as imposing as you can. He stares into your visor, absolute fear written all over his face. You don't even have to try, you almost feel bad for him. You grab a pair of cuffs from your belt and toss them down at his feet, “put those on.” You can’t help but smile under your helmet as he does. His trembling hands struggling to do so. You take a seat across from him, not moving your visor off him for a second. Simply to mess with him. You know he won’t run, but you’re having fun making him squirm under your stare. 

“Uh...what--uhh...so what now?” He has no idea what your plan is, why you haven't thrown him in carbonite yet is an absolute mystery to him. 

“Shut it.” 

“O-okay no problem.” 

You both sit there in absolute silence. You don’t move the gaze of your visor off him, and he’s trying to look anywhere but. Lets see how long it takes that moron of a mandalorian to get back here.

“Can I use the fresher? I haven’t gone since earlier today and let me tell you--” “I said,” you tilt your helmet and point your blaster back at him, “Shut it.” 

You both hear footsteps come up the ramp, then halt suddenly right at the entrance, and you see Cadan’s eyes widen in horror. You finally break your gaze from the quarry, “ahh finally you made it back.” you quip at the armored man towering at the entrance. You see the shiny mandalorian just staring at the quarry, sitting in the middle of his ship, cuffed, and you can tell he's confused. His visor snaps to you, and you nod to confirm. That's the bounty he's been looking for all day, waiting for him at his ship. You almost wish he could see the shit eating grin on your face right now. This whole scene is hilarious. 

“Guess I didn’t have to come with you after all!” You shrug 

Cadan finally shakes from his horror, “They sent not one, but TWO mandalorians after me? For some petty property theft? Is this a joke?” 

You lean back from where you’re sitting on the floor, relaxing your whole stance. Oh this just keeps getting better. “Oh man, property theft huh? One hell of a criminal.” You’re not even looking at Cadan, instead you’re tilting your helmet mockingly at the mandalorian in the doorway with your words. He just stares back at you in silence. Oh he's mad, you realize. Doesn’t like being mocked in front of his bounty apparently. You can't help the light chuckle that escapes you for just a second. 

The quarry snaps his gaze to you when he hears you, “Are you--are you laughing at me?!” He seems beyond offended, and that makes you want to laugh more. The mandalorian suddenly strides over to the quarry and lifts him roughly by the collar. “H-hey! Hey! Okay come on now--you don't gotta be like that--we can work out a deal or something?” The armored man says nothing as he walks Cadan to the carbonite chamber.

“I don’t bargain with quarry.”  He spits out finally through the modulator of his helmet as he hits the button, filling the carbonite chamber with gas, freezing Cadan Vamma in a permanent state of fear. Now you laugh, like really laugh. You can’t help it. 

“So that was your super dangerous bounty? The one you’ve been hunting all day for? The one who just wandered onto the ship like a moron?” 

“Where's the kid?” He’s clearly not finding this as hilarious as you are, which only makes it better. 

“He's sleeping.” You nod towards the alcove, “Don’t wake him, he's been a nightmare.”

“Figured he would be.” and with that he's making his way up to the cockpit, closing the ramp behind him. You decide to follow him up after a moment, you have to relish in this a little longer. 

By the time you make it up he's already sitting in his seat, and you bounce over to sit next to him. Oh you are in a fantastic mood now. You pull off your helmet and take a deep breath in, you turn to look at him only to find he's already looking at you. 

“What? Sorry, did I embarrass you too much in front of the bounty?” you tease lightly, but he just looks away from you and back to the control panel in front of him, already starting up the engine, saying nothing in return. 

“Aww,” your tone only growing in its mocking nature, “Got nothing to say big guy?” 

“Nope.” 

“Ooo...,” You pretend to wince at his short response, “I must have really embarrassed you then,” and you can't help but laugh a loud hearty laugh. What a fool you made of him back there. “Escaped convict,” you continue to chuckle to yourself, “Evading hunters for for too long,” you mock and continue to snicker. 

“You done?” He finally turns his visor to you, and you can’t help the shit eating grin still smack dab across your face. 

“Oh don’t be such a stick in the mud, shiny!” He deserves to be kicked down a couple pegs, it's what he gets for being such an asshole earlier. He just shakes his head with a distorted, modulated sigh, and continues takeoff. 

The two of you sit in silence while you break through the atmosphere and into the familiar darkness of space. He sets the autopilot, punching the coordinates for Nevarro into the nav comp, before standing and making his way out of the cockpit. You take the moment alone to get comfortable, slouching in your seat, pulling your knees up and resting them against the dashboard. You pull your helmet in close to your chest and take a deep breath in, gazing out at all the stars. The sight still takes your breath away. 

You thought by now you would be used to it, but you couldn’t have been more wrong. Everytime you see the beauty of starlight surrounding you, you fall more and more in love with the sight of it. And now, the stars hold a whole new meaning for you, every single one of them, the sight of them clustered and beautifly scattered around, the sight of them blurring past you in hyperspace, no matter where or how they looked, they all remind you of him. You let your mind drift off to a memory, the first time he whisked you off in his ship and through the atmosphere of your home planet.

*** You squeezed your hands to the arm rests of your seat as you ascended through the atmosphere, clenching your jaw tight. Maker, you were absolutely terrified. You hear his laugh cut through the roaring engine of the ship as he catches sight of just how scared you are. You want to yell at him, be angry with him, how could he be laughing at you right now? But you can't, Your stomach is in knots, and your grip tightens on the seat. You’re too scared right now to form any sort of retaliation at him. The rattling of the ship is so forien to you as it rushes to break through the planet's gravitational pull and into space.

“Relax, sweetheart!” He looks back to you for just a second, touching his hand to yours, which is still desperately gripping the armrest for dear life. “Don’t you trust me?” 

“Not really!” You admit, your voice coming out as just a squeak through your tight lungs. You swear you haven’t breathed since the ship left the surface. He lets out another hearty laugh at your honesty, turning his attention back to his flying. 

You get the feeling he can definitely fly smoother than this, he must be showing off, trying to impress you. It’s not working. You clamp your eyes shut, not being able to keep them open while the ship rushes into space.

Suddenly though, the whole ship settles, relaxes, and everything is calm, you can barely feel the ship moving anymore. The engine beneath you now reduced down to a low hum. You open your eyes and--

“Maker!” You gasp out, lifting out of your seat as much as you can with your seatbelt on. The sight that hits your eyes through the cockpit window is unlike anything you have ever seen. The faint twinkling of thousands of stars stretching over and painting the darkness of space in front of you. You’ve never seen anything more beautiful, it swells in your chest, and you feel tears begin to well up behind your eyes. You’re barely breathing, but for a whole different reason now. 

“You like it?” His voice is so soft, barely above a murmur, as he stares longingly at you. The way you’re totally mesmerized by it fills his heart in such a special way, a way he doesn't quite have a word for yet. You can’t even respond, you’re so blown away by the beauty in front of you, unable to find words to describe the stunning sight in front of you. He turns completely towards you and carefully takes your hand in his.

“This is-- I…” You reluctantly take your eyes off the view from the cockpit window, and into his visor, “I’ve never-- It’s...it’s beautiful…” You wistfully stare back out the window unable to focus on anything else. You want to soak it all in, commit every single star to memory, and store it away so you can dream of them every night. 

“Not nearly as beautiful as you, cyar’ika…” He squeezes your hand lightly, taking in every detail of you, in the same way you are the stars. You can’t help but break your gaze to look back at him again. Hearing the endearing term in his mother tongue never fails to make your heart race. He just continues to stare at you, visor tilted, while he gingerly runs his thumb over your knuckles. 

“Pick one.” He nods out to the sea of stars before you.

“Huh?” You once again look to the stars, “What do you mean, pick one?” 

“Any one of them,” he scoots to the edge of his seat and grabs your other hand in his free one, leaning closer to you, “Just point, point to any of them, and that's where I’ll take you.” There's a sort of excitement in his voice, some kind of...something you can’t quite place.

“I...What are you saying?” You can't help but laugh lightly at how ridiculous he’s being. Suddenly he stands from his seat, unbuckles your seatbelt and pulls you up with him. He walks you up so the both of you are pressed against the control panel, as close to the front of the ship as you can possibly be. He wraps his arms around your waist and pulls you in close, squeezing you to his chest, and turning to the side so you can still admire the view with him. 

“Come with me, mesh’la.” He leans forward resting the front of his helmet to the top of your head. You look up at him, surprised, not quite understanding. “Come with me, and I will take you anywhere you want to go.” He rests a finger under your chin to pull your gaze even farther into his, “Come with me, and these stars will be yours to look at every single day. Let me take you to see every single one of them, until you can’t bear to look at another star ever again.” He pauses to take a deep breath, spilling his heart out to you is making him breathless, “I want to show you every planet, every moon, I want to show you the most beautiful things this galaxy has to offer…I want to travel the galaxy with you by my side, mesh’la. No one else.” He slides a hand up to cup your cheek, stroking his thumb gently over it. 

You feel like you’re shaking, your tears are threatening to spill out any second at the beautiful confession laid out before you. Your words are stuck in your throat, you can’t respond. You just stare wide eyed into his visor, your heart practically beating out of your chest. You can’t say anything, your words caught in your throat. “Will you come with me?” His voice is so quiet, so caring, so genuine. He tilts his helmet slightly and touches it gently to your forehead, and you close your eyes at the gesture, wanting to soak it all in.

You pull away from him just enough that you can turn back towards the window of the cockpit in front of you. He’s confused, his hands holding onto your waist as you take a moment to stare out at the vast amount of stars in front of you. You can feel him nervously grip you the longer you stare out without saying anything, worried you might reject him, but then you shoot your arm out and point out the window, taking him by surprise, “That one.” It’s truly all you can manage, and you hope he understands. You know he does, when he steps behind you and leans his helmet to your level, right next to your ear.

“That one? Are you sure?” His voice is barely above a whisper at this point, but you can still hear the smile in his voice.

“I’m sure,” You turn your head to smile at him, “that's the one.” 

***

You’re suddenly sucked back to the present when you hear the mandalorian make his way up the ladder of the cockpit, Grugo tucked in the bend of one of his arms. You lower your knees and sit up in your seat, as he lowers into his, setting the sleepy baby in his lap. 

“You woke him?” You question. Doesn’t he realize what hell you went through to get him to sleep? “He was fussing when I got out of the fresher.” He gently strokes Grogu’s wrinkly green skin with his thumb and you can’t help but smile. “He missed you.” You tilt your head and boop the baby gently in the nose. He’s so sleepy he barely reacts. Back to being the most precious creature in the galaxy. “Oh yeah, that reminds me!” The mandalorian turns his attention to you, so you continue, “Please tell me I just wasn’t looking hard enough and you have some toys for this child.” You give a firm glare to the visor. 

The armored man just reaches out and unscrews a metal ball from the top of a lever on the control panel, “He likes this.” The baby immediately coos and sleepily reaches out for it as the mandalorian drops it into his tiny hands. He...he can’t be serious? 

“I...you’re joking right? That's not a toy! That's a hunk of metal!” you groan exasperatedly and run a hand through your hair, trying to keep your cool. For someone so shiny, he was pretty damn dim in the head. “As soon as we get to Nevarro, I’m getting this kid some toys, and it’s coming out of your half of the cut!” You point at him sternly. “Stars, you really don’t know what you're doing do you? He’s a baby! He probably wouldn't act out so much if he had something to do!” The mandalorian doesn't say anything, just watches the baby in his arms while he sleepily plays with the smooth metal ball in his hands. You aren’t sure why you were expecting more of an argument from him, but maybe you were right. You get the feeling this mandalorian truly had no idea what he was doing at all, just trying his best to take care of the baby, alone, the best he could, while turning in just enough bounties to get by. It must be hard for him. It was hard enough for you all alone, you can only imagine how much harder it is with a child to care for. 

“How’d you find him?” Your tone has softened significantly. As much as you don’t like this guy, you feel for his situation.

“He was my bounty.” He only lifts his gaze to you when you audibly choke on air, nearly shooting out of your seat. 

“He what?!” You don’t mean to shout that loud, but that was definitely not the answer you were expecting. 

“I turned him in, but I had to go back for him. Didn’t feel right. We had the whole guild after us for a while. I couldn’t let them bring any harm to him.” There's a certain softness in his voice that you haven't heard from him before. “So I took him in, a foundling, just as I once was, until I can get him back to his kind.” 

“You’re a foundling?” The question came out quicker than you meant it to. You aren’t super familiar with mandalorian culture, but you know some, and the concept of a foundling was one you knew. Mandalorians that are adopted, rather than born into the culture. Orphans, picked up and adopted by mandalorians and raised as their own. The shiny wall of beskar next to you only nods before returning his attention to the child. The baby is barely able to keep his head up, using all of his remaining willpower to clutch the metal ball between his hands as he nods off. 

“Looks like it's time for someone to go back to bed,” you reach out gently stroking the child's cheek with the back of your finger. The mandalorian slowly stands, careful not to disturb him, and starts to make his way out of the cockpit. 

“We have a ways to go before we make it to Nevarro. You should get some rest.” He calls out to you before descending the ladder to the hull.

“You too, shiny!” You return, but don’t get a response. You shift in your seat to get comfortable, resting your head on your shoulder as you bring your knees back up to where they were earlier. You hold your helmet on your hands and peer into the visor, letting the familiar gaze comfort you with old memories, until you drift to sleep.

*** Previous - MASTER - Next 

[lyssawritesfanfic]

the touch i’ve desired

CW: explicit smut reader/Van Helsing

It’s a simultaneously awkward and comfortable silence as the two of you walk home from the flower meadow. Your fingers go back and forth between delicately touching his to having your entire palm covered by his rough, calloused hands. You both continue to steal glances at each other, but whenever your eyes meet, both of you can do nothing but blush and conspicuously look away. However, it’s not unpleasant. There’s something warm and very you about the artless silence you share, almost as if this lack of interpersonal expertise is something you both can relish in. And it’s something that you can relish in for the rest of your lives. After all, Abraham Van Helsing, former vampire hunter and portrait of cool, ruthless calculations, has just asked you to marry him. Well, perhaps it was more of a demand. But it wasn’t a demand you had any intention of refusing. In fact, what he demanded was what your heart most deeply desires. As the thought runs through your head and you walk through the door of the home you’ve made together, you hold his hand tighter, look at him, and smile. Finally meeting your gaze, some of the worried creases around his eyes soften as he smiles back. But you notice that they aren’t all gone. “Van Helsing... is there something wrong?” “No. Quite the opposite, in fact. I’m... honestly so pleased that I don’t even know what to do with myself,” he says as he closes the door behind him, still holding onto your hand. You search his face and know that he is telling the truth, but there’s somehow still traces of... anxiety, perhaps? “I’m not sure I understand.” He gives a signature self-loathing smile. “No, I suppose you wouldn’t. You’re far too pure...” He gently reaches his ungloved hand out to cradle your cheek, and you lean into his touch. You love the feel of his hands on your skin. It’s the feeling you love and crave more than anything in the world. You never thought you’d be able to touch anything ever in your life, you had resigned yourself to that, and now... perhaps you’ve gotten greedy. You close your eyes. As you feel his fingers leave your face, before you even realize it, grab his hand to keep it there. “Please... I want you to keep touching me.”

You feel a shiver through his hands and as you open your eyes, his face is fully flushed. “You’re going to give me the wrong idea if you keep saying things like that, you know.” “Hm? What do you mean? I’m simply telling the truth.” “Is that so...” He trails his thumb over your lips and it’s your turn to shiver. For some reason it sends some sort of dull, pleasurable electric shock through your body. You instinctually kiss his finger, but it’s... different somehow. Your kisses up until now have been deep, yes, but still somewhat chaste. “Shall I continue to touch you, then?” his eyes are hazy. His cool gaze has gone hot. “Or rather... can... can I please continue to touch you?” All you can manage to do is nod as he closes the distance, holding your cheeks with both of his hands now and pulling you into a deep kiss. His lips part and yours follow when you feel his tongue gently slip into your mouth. Any tension you may have felt in your body melts. You’re putty in his hands. A quiet moan escapes you as Van Helsing pushes his body towards you. You’re forced to step back a few paces to keep from falling until you find your back to the wall, never once breaking the kiss. One of his hands falls down your neck and lands at your collarbone, sadly covered by your shirt. You miss the feel of his skin on yours. “You... you said you’d keep touching me.” Your breathing is surprisingly heavy. Van Helsing smirks. “Is that what you want, beloved?” “Y-yes... please.” You try to bring his hand back up to your neck, but instead you feel the buttons of your blouse begin to fall away, his hand sliding inside to find your bare skin. If you melted before, you’re melting even more now. You’ve felt the touch of another on your chest before in a clinical manner, but who knew it could feel so amazing? “May I?” “Mmhmm...” He leans back in and places soft, wet kisses on the nape of your neck. Your arms almost of their own volition wrap around his broad, muscular back and hold him closer, gasping for breath. Your reaction urges him on and he completely frees you from your shirt. He kisses farther down now, stopping at your chest, and you’re suddenly acutely aware of the array of gems embedded in your flesh. Before you have time to become self-conscious though, he gently brings his lips to each fragment, kissing them reverently. “You are so beautiful, you know. Every part of you.” He continues kissing down until he reaches your breast. He teases your nipple with his tongue and you cry out a little louder in pleasure, your leg instinctually wrapping around his waist and pulling him even closer. He pulls it into his mouth now, sucking and playfully flicking his tongue back and forth. “A-ah!” He pulls away momentarily. “Do you not like this?” his hot breath tickles your wet skin, sending shivers through your body. “N-no... quite the opposite...” you repeat his earlier words back to him. He holds that nipple between his fingers, coaxing another cry out of you. “My beloved has such a lovely voice for me. I wonder how loud I can make you sing.” He showers attention on the other nipple with his mouth in the same way, yet massaging your other breast all the while. You writhe against his touch but he holds you tight, offering no escape from the overwhelming sensations shooting through you. He now continues lower, kissing and trailing his tongue down your torso while he undoes your pants, pulling them to the floor as he himself sinks down. He stops right below your navel, nipping and kissing, eliciting more uncontrollable squeals from you. But then... he brings his mouth even lower, spreading your legs, and lapping at your parted lips that are inexplicably soaking wet. His tongue enters you and your body quakes. “Ha-aaah...! V-v-van...!” “Ah, yes... cry for me, beloved.” Even if you wanted to remain quiet there’s no way that you could. He pulls your pants off of your feet now, leaving you completely naked at his mercy. And he has no mercy, relentlessly assaulting your senses with previously unimaginable pleasure. You grip his shoulders, fingers digging in, and you feel something rising within you. Something screaming for release. It’s almost painful how good it feels. “V-van...! I...! I’m...” He slides a finger inside you and you come completely undone, your voice reaching places you never thought possible, your legs spasming, threatening to give out, but Van Helsing holds you firmly as you climax, drinking up your juices as if he has been trapped in a desert unable to quench his thirst for decades. And yet he hardly offers a moment of reprieve, standing back up to his full height and biting at your ear. Everything is... so intense... you could pass out from the ecstasy. Your moans are wanton and ragged. You can hear him urgently tossing his own clothes aside, then you feel his bare chest flush against yours, his hard cock pressing against where his mouth just left. “I... I wanted just to give you the pleasure of touch today... and afford none for myself... but... Apologies. I don’t think I can do that. I can no longer hold myself back from you.” “Th-then don’t...” Your hand cups his cheek tenderly as you look into his eyes. Van Helsing... I thought we’d been over this... Allow yourself the happiness you wish for me... You can’t say it with words, you’re much too out of breath, but you hope your eyes can say what your voice currently cannot. He answers wordlessly by plunging himself deep inside you, causing you to cry out once more. He then hooks his arms around your legs, bringing you completely off the ground, pumping hard and fast inside of you. “Ah...! B-be careful!” “Heh... don’t worry... I... won’t drop you...” He’s smirking but the strain in his voice betrays his cool words. He’s not burdened by your weight, but you know that in this moment he has never felt such bliss either. He works your body, pounding you relentlessly, bouncing you up and down on him. You feel that heat rise again in you, but before it reaches its peak, he slows his pace. His strokes turn from hard and fast to slow and earth-shattering. Your back slams against the wall with each one, reverberating through the mansion, and each time you scream for him. “Nng... yes... cry louder for me...” Your wails increase in intensity as he growls his command, not because he wishes it, but because you can’t help but grow louder and louder with each of his excruciatingly blissful thrusts. You reach the edge once again, but this time he speeds up, his fingertips digging into your rear. In a blinding flash of ecstasy, you’re both completely spent, and you feel his own proof of that shooting up inside you. Through labored ragged breaths, you finally meet each others’ gaze. He gently lets you down and kisses your forehead, then your nose, then your lips, sliding out of you. “I... I’m so glad I can finally touch you like this...” he whispers. “Yes... so am I. Will you...” you pause. Is this something you’re supposed to say at a time like this? “Will I what?” there’s a touch of concern in his voice. “Will you... continue touching me like this? In the future? I don’t believe I can handle more now, but...” And then Van Helsing does something you’re unsure you’ve ever seen him do. He laughs. A full, whole-body laugh. “Haha, yes! Yes, beloved. I will touch you like this whenever you desire it. Should I be asleep, eating, on an important work errand... whenever you wish to be touched, all you need to do is ask. And I will touch you for as long as you wish. It would be my greatest joy to do that for you.” His hand comes back to your cheek, your foreheads pressed against each other, and you see the warmest smile he’s ever had spread across his face. You can’t help but blush. “Thank you, Van Helsing. I love you. Let’s keep touching each other... for the rest of our lives.”

[cheri-translates]

[CN] Shaw’s Exorcism Date (Eng Translation)

🍒 Warning: This post contains detailed spoilers for a date which has not been released in English servers! 🍒

Note: This date was translated by @redqueenschoice! It’s on my blog because she doesn’t want to put individual translations on hers...

Shaw’s Qixi Collection: Date ♡ / Call 1 / Call 2 / Event / Special Call

Check out Victor’s date (by @lucienism) and Kiro’s date (by @skyholders​) too! A lot of effort has been put in by these three lovely humans T^T💕 Do send them lots of love!!

On the night of Qixi, I had a terrible encounter and happened to be saved by Shaw. In order to repay the favour afterwards, I promised to run errands for him for seven days. Very soon, the seven days are coming to an end…

~

The crescent moon reminiscent of a bow hangs in the sky, the canopy of the heavens are painted pitch black. The little starlight that filters through the dense canopy of the forest scatters, and a line of men make their way through the mountain’s forest in a hurry, the swords on their waists still red with fresh blood.

A drop of blood falls onto the surface of a leaf, before it is trodden underfoot all of a sudden.

MC: Ahh…

Bandit Leader: Tell me the truth!

My head was harshly hit, and I let out a weak, muffled cry through the cloth stuffed in my mouth.

The image of my family’s pitiful state right before the moments of their deaths surface in my mind again, and my throat tightens, both my heart and mind unable to move on from the tumultuous upheaval in my life.

It was only supposed to be a trip to the neighbouring village to visit some relatives. How had it come to this?

Bandit Leader: The ones we’ve gone after the last few days weren’t lacking in anything, huh? Hiding so many goods…

Bandit Underling: That’s right. Especially this young girl here, she’s still young and healthy.

Bandit Underling One: Boss, before we sell her off, how about we… ehehe.

Upon hearing his perverted words and laughter, I start thrashing about in a panic, but the ropes wound tightly around my wrists and ankles just won’t budge no matter how hard I pull. Tears stain the blindfold over my eyes and I stretch my hands towards my waist, getting ready to put up a fight with everything I have - I’d rather die than be disgraced in such a way.

At this moment, however, he is interrupted by another low voice.

Bandit Underling Two: That’s enough. You can make merry anytime you like, but in this instance, it’s better for us to hurry and get on our way. I heard these woods aren’t to be trusted at night, and there are rumours that monsters come out at night.

Bandit Underling One: Big Brother, aren’t you a little too believing of these old folk tales? Where on earth would there be demons, and even if there were, I’m not scared of them!

Note from Red: and here, ladies and gentlemen, is the beginning to every horror movie ever

A cocky laugh leaves his lips, but the second he does, the surroundings in all four directions abruptly fall silent.

All of a sudden, a long, piercing cry rips the still night in two.

The sound is delightful to the ears, yet it is striking enough to tear through the haze - upon hearing it once, it would be irreversibly carved into one’s heart.

I only feel my body sway for a moment, but in the blink of an eye, I find myself shoved down onto the ground. The second my shoulder collides with the wet, slippery dirt, I hear the bandits’ terrified shouts flying to and fro above my head.

Bandits: Mon… Monster!!!

The snarl of a predator beast, the metallic hiss of a blade being unsheathed, frantic and hurried footsteps… followed by bloodcurdling screams.

The chaos and what I experienced a few hours ago are far too similar, the same sounds echoing inside my head until they slowly fade away to nothing.

I cannot see anything in front of me, and can only smell the faint scent of blood mixed with that of the cool forest suffusing my nose.

At this moment, footsteps gradually approach me.

I hold my breath, and feel cold sweat slowly trickling down my back.

Who is it? Did one of the bandits survive?

Or is it… the monster?

The owner of those footsteps stop before me, and a strong hand pulls me up from the ground.

The person lifts up my bangs and a fingertip meets my forehead, the ice cold sensation making me shiver.

Mystery Man: Hah.

He seems to have no intention of loosening my bindings, a peculiar silence filling the space between me and the nameless man before me. With the blindfold over my eyes, my senses of hearing and touch are my only links with the external world.

His breathing is very light, but with each exhale that leaves his mouth, I sense undeniable danger in the air. I can feel his gaze, like that of a wild predator surveying its prey, as if he would sink his fangs into me in the next second.

MC: Mmn!

Terrified, I duck my head away from him, trying to avoid his touch. Instead, I hear a short laugh coming from the person in front of me.

Mystery Man: Fine. Since you don’t want me to save you, just wait here on your own, then.

With these words, the heated breaths across my cheeks vanish and the man seems to disappear into thin air, leaving no trace. My surroundings are completely silent once again.

He left?

I don’t dare to confirm it myself, waiting where he left me for a moment. Once the sound of birds and chirping of crickets returns to the area, I let out a breath of relief and begin to move once again.

Since I was under constant scrutiny of the bandits, I didn’t dare to do this earlier. Now that there’s no one in the vicinity, I can finally reach for the small knife I had secretly strapped to my waist.

This is the last thing my parents, who died earlier this year, left me to defend myself with.

I carefully feel around for the handle of the blade, wrapping my fingers around it. Because I can’t see and my movements are restricted, the tip of the blade ends up nicking my skin a few times. Gritting my teeth, I bear the pain and work on severing my bindings.

Note from Red: guys this is the mc we need but don’t deserve-

When I finally pull off the blindfold around my eyes, I see that the moon has already moved considerably towards the west.

Apart from the goods the bandits had been carrying with them earlier, I don’t see anyone else when I glance about.

MC: Did those people… really get eaten?

At the thought of the danger I experienced earlier, and might still be in, I couldn’t care less about the injuries littering my body, and force myself to my feet with the support of a tree branch, preparing to leave the forest as fast as I can.

The mountain paths are confusing and complicated, and I feel like I’ve been wandering around in circles for awhile when I finally hear the sound of running water coming from nearby.

MC: That’s great! If there’s water, that means I can clean my wounds!

I hobble towards the source of the sound slowly, but just as I’m pushing through the underbrush, a sound suddenly rings out through the air, causing me to freeze where I stand in fear.

Mystery Man: Don’t panic, everyone has a share.

It’s the voice of that man from earlier!

Before I can react, there’s the sound of flapping wings in the distance, taking my attention with it. Several strangely shaped skeletal birds flap over, and from their shrill, clamorous cries, it sounds as if they’re begging for food from someone.

I turn my head, only to see a young man casually lounging in a rowboat on the surface of a pool, next to a grove of trees. In his hand is a bunch of evening primroses. Under the light of the night sky, their petals give off a gentle glow.

The young man’s long legs are crossed, golden eyes half narrowed lazily as he looks at me. His expression is leisurely and indolent, and I see the petal of an evening primrose held casually between his teeth.

If I hadn’t encountered him in such an unusual circumstance, in the depths of a mountain forest, perhaps I would have thought he was the pampered young master of a rich merchant or businessman.

Mystery Man: Oh, that sentence wasn’t quite right. It should have been ‘every bird has a share’.

As if the skeletal birds can understand what he’s saying, they let out noisy chirps before obediently taking the petals from his hand one by one. The second the petals leave his palm, they dissolve into puffs of black smoke being swallowed up instantly by the skeletal birds.

Mystery Man: Today’s haul wasn’t too bad, there’s so much evil energy about, there’s enough for all of you to gorge yourselves on for a long time…

Mystery Man: Oi, you little idiot at the back, I caught you! Be a bit more honest, you’re not allowed to cut the queue…

Skeletal Bird: Squawk squawk?

Mystery Man: What did you say? Why didn’t I swallow up that little lady from earlier?

Mystery Man: Come on, do I really seem like a scoundrel who doesn’t take proper care of women… yeah, I am.

Trivia from Red: The word ‘scoundrel’ was translated from is the negative of a Chinese idiom 怜香惜玉, meaning a gentleman who takes care of the fairer sex. Shaw referred to himself as someone unlike a gentleman, so that’s how I translated it.

Skeletal Bird: Squawk!

Mystery Man: [clicks his tongue] I was just playing around a little. After I feed the lot of you, I’ll go back and save her, is that cool with you?

At hearing his words, I secretly make a face in his direction, muttering under my breath.

MC: I didn’t need you to save me… I got out on my own...

A skeletal bird suddenly caws in my direction. The young man’s eyes narrow instantly, the light in his eyes intensifying to something swift and fierce, before he turns his gaze right in my direction.

Mystery Man: Whoever’s there, come out.

I’ve been found out!

Note from Red: She, in fact, had been found out.

I subconsciously take a step back, but all of a sudden, the injury on my leg flares up with immense pain. My body loses balance all at once, and I find myself pitching backwards before I know what’s happening.

MC: Ah!

Note from Red: MC then proceeds to black out in typical otome heroine fashion… but let’s cut her some slack she was cool here T^T

I drift in the darkness, countless strange dreams blending together and surfacing before my eyes. One moment it’s the leering grin of the bandits, the next it’s the cawing of the skeletal birds I saw earlier. But the final thing is the long, piercing cry I heard in the forest.

When my eyes blink open, I find myself in an unfamiliar room.

It’s a perfectly normal looking bedroom, and the sheets under me are fresh and clean. Somewhere, I can hear the sounds of a vendor selling his goods and the voices of kids peddling flowers drifting in from outside the window.

Everything is so peaceful, it’s as if everything I experienced before has just been nothing but a dream.

MC: Where exactly am I…

Mystery Man: You finally decided to wake up.

A young man dressed in purple appears at the door in the blink of an eye. Startled, I sit up as fast as possible in shock.

MC: Who are you!?

At my question, he leans against the doorframe casually, and after seeing my expression, the corner of his lips turn up in a smirk.

Mystery Man: What are you being so on edge for? I’m the benefactor who saved your life, you know.

MC: What benefactor, I clearly saw you on that lake earlier…

Mystery Man: You’ve had some entertaining dreams.

Note from Red: o k a y shaw

MC: Huh?

Mystery Man: You, little lady, fainted in the wilderness in the nearby mountains. If I hadn’t just happened to be passing by and decided to do a good deed, there’s no guarantee you wouldn’t have been eaten up by a demon.

What he’s saying doesn’t match up with what I remember, but the way he speaks so smoothly with absolute confidence makes it hard for me to doubt his words, and for a moment I question my own memories.

Could the glowing primroses I saw by the lake… and the skeletal birds… all been some sort of strange dream?

Mystery Man: It seems like you’ve slept yourself silly.

The young man runs a hand through his hair before straightening up once more, and I watch as he steps towards me until he’s right next to the bed, bending down to look at me more clearly.

His golden eyes flash with sly amusement.

Mystery Man: Since you’re awake, remember this clearly: you’re on my territory.

Mystery Man: The name’s Shaw, and I’m your benefactor.

Mystery Man: As for what you should do now, you should carefully think… about just how you’re going to repay me for saving your life.

-

Carrying a bucket filled with water, I stagger into the garden, out of breath.

The only other person in the garden is currently lounging next to a flower bed, legs casually swinging back and forth, the picture of idleness.

MC: May. I. Please. Ask. If. Sir. Benefactor. Has. Any. Other. Instructions.

Since the day I woke, in return for Shaw safely bringing me out of the mountain, I agreed to run errands for him for seven days. Today is already the seventh day.

Upon seeing me puffing and panting, his brow lifts in an amused arch.

Shaw: Hmm, go water those flowers over there while you’re at it, then.

MC: Shaw, don’t take your bullying too far!

Shaw: How am I bullying you? Weren’t you the one who said that you wanted to repay me by running errands? Or perhaps you want to do it by offering your body instead?

Trivia from Red: ‘Offering your body’ is translated from the Chinese idiom 以身相许, which means 1) pledge to marry or 2) have sex with a man of her own will.

I stare at him in horrified shock for a moment, face burning red from embarrassment. Grabbing the gourd dipper, I scoop up a full ladle of water and fling it at him with all my might.

Shaw ducks out of the way at lightning speed, and the spray of water splashes onto the flowerbed he had been lounging next to earlier, catching the light of the afternoon sun and forming a rainbow. Shaw’s laughter rings out clearly.

Shaw: I asked you to water the flowers, not water people. Or is your eyesight so bad you can’t tell a human clearly from a flowerbed?

MC: ...You!

These last few days, whenever we’ve had banters like this, I’ve never won even once. Determined not to fall into the same trap again, I ignore his words and instead ask a question.

MC: The seven days are almost up. Can I leave tomorrow?

Shaw’s smile turns teasing.

Shaw: Your house is opposite this mountain, isn’t it? Are you sure you won’t faint halfway on your journey back again?

MC: I definitely won’t!

Upon seeing my determined face, Shaw grins, opening his mouth to say something again. All of a sudden, however, the smile fades from his face.

MC: What’s the matter?

Shaw: Nothing’s up, I’m just heading out for a moment.

Shaw: If you want to go home, I’m not stopping you.

Shaw: But you’re not allowed to leave tomorrow. Stay put in my house, don’t take a step out of the compound.

MC: Why not?

Shaw doesn’t reply my question, and with a few strides of his long legs, he’s vanished from the garden.

MC: Shaw, wait a moment, you haven’t explained yourself-

MC: He’s gone?

This isn’t the first time he’s simply disappeared like this. With a shake of the head, I shrug off his warning. Besides, after tomorrow, I’ll have repaid my debt to him in full, and we’ll have nothing more to do with each other.

On the morning of the next day, Shaw still hasn’t returned.

I chew on my lip, looking at the doors for the seventh time, slightly hesitant to leave without bidding him goodbye.

MC: Well, it’s not like that rascal is going to bother about it anyway…

Trivia from Red: MC quite constantly refers to Shaw as 那家伙, which is a casual way of referring to a mischievous, rascally guy, and can be interpreted as ‘that guy’, or ‘that little punk’.

Even though I say those words, I find my footsteps slowing on the way out of the front courtyard.

MC: Perhaps I should leave him a letter.

I write him a letter and leave it on his table. Just when I’m about to leave, a painting hanging on the wall catches my eye.

MC: This is…

Taking a step closer to look at it more clearly, I realise that it’s a mythical beast that I’ve never seen before.

On the beast’s lower back are five tails, and on its forehead is a single horn. Just from the painting, I can sense a strong aura of pride and arrogance.

MC: This painting… it kind of resembles that guy.

Curiously, I reach out and touch a corner of the painting. All of a sudden, however, the sound of thunder rumbles outside the window.

I look out of the window, and am surprised to see that the sky, that was sunny just moments ago, is now blanketed with thick grey clouds, looking like it’s about to start pouring anytime soon.

MC: If I don’t leave now, it’ll be bad if I’m caught in the rain.

I fasten my cloak, pick up an umbrella and leave Shaw’s house.

Even thought it’s well into the afternoon, the little town is completely covered in a thick fog, as if it has been completely blanketed by a layer of grey. The little river that runs through the town has little lotus lamps dotting the surface, all of them floating along silently.

Just as I’m about to leave the little town, my mind gradually begins to calm.

MC: This feels a little strange…

The town that Shaw resides in might not have too many people, but on a normal day, it would usually be bustling with activity, the smell of firework smoke in the air.

Yet today, there isn’t a single person on the streets.

Note from Red: gee, i wonder why, mc-

The further I go from Shaw’s house, the faster the sky seems to darken and unease wells up in my heart.

MC: Maybe I should go back and wait for him…

[thunder rumbles]

The clouds seem to descend, and the sky darkens even further. I don’t know whether it’s just my imagination, but the mist seems to suffuse and thicken in the tunnel before me, and I can see the outline of dark shapes moving about inside.

Before I can look more closely at them,  there’s a sound behind me, and I turn around. The moment I do, I can’t help but feel shock race through me.

It’s the skeletal bird I saw that night on the mountain!

The bird hops onto the side of the bridge, cocking its head at me. When it opens its beak to speak, what comes out isn’t the shrill squawk of a bird, but the familiar cool and clear voice of a man.

Bird!Shaw: Finally found you… what are you doing here?

MC: Shaw!?

MC: How are you… this bird is-

In typical Shaw fashion, the bird does not answer my question. Instead, it turns its head to look at the tunnel, and lets out a clicking sound even though it doesn’t have a tongue to do so.

Bird!Shaw: Come with me.

With that, it flies to me, taking my sleeve between its beak and tugging me in the opposite direction. Being pulled along into a run with it, all my words come out garbled.

MC: Wait a moment… What, what exactly is going on? Just now, what was that? And you, what are you?

Bird!Shaw: You have so many questions.

MC: It’s not me who has too many questions! It’s just that you’ve hidden too much from me!

Bird!Shaw: ……

Bird!Shaw: It’s the Ghost Festival today.

MC: Ghost Festival… Hungry Ghost Festival!?

Trivia from Red: The Ghost Festival, also known as the Hungry Ghost Festival, is a traditional Buddhist and Taoist festival held in certain East Asian countries. According to the Chinese calendar (a lunisolar calendar), the Ghost Festival is on the 15th night of the seventh month.

In Chinese culture, the fifteenth day of the seventh month in the lunar calendar is called Ghost Day and the seventh month in general is regarded as the Ghost Month (鬼月), in which ghosts and spirits, including those of deceased ancestors, come out from the lower realm. The deceased are believed to visit the living as the realms of Heaven and Hell and the realm of the living are open and both Taoists and Buddhists would perform rituals to transmute and absolve the sufferings of the deceased.

Bird!Shaw: That's right. This is when the nine yin converges, and evil grows easily. It is the day when the Ghost Gate opens, and evil and living souls intersect. It will be more troublesome than a typical day.

Bird!Shaw: I distinctly remember telling you to stay put in my house, who would have thought you’d actually dare to leave and make trouble for me.

As the bird says this, it turns back to eye me. Even though it has no eyes, I can clearly see the words ‘annoyance’ written in its eye sockets.

At that moment, a feeling of unhappiness washes over me, and I can’t help but open my mouth to speak.

MC: All these things… you could have just told me earlier. You made me wait for you for the entirety of yesterday… without so much as an explanation.

MC: Shaw, am I really not worthy of your trust? Am I a burden to you?

The bird stops fluttering its wings for a second before it turns its head, not saying another word.

For a moment, I wonder if Shaw is angry with what I said, but after a while, a small snort of laughter leaves the bird’s mouth, ringing in my ears.

The sound is so clean and clear, it seems like Shaw is standing right next to me.

Bird!Shaw: I don’t think of you as a burden.

Bird!Shaw: I can tell you my true identity, it’s just that at that moment, you can’t be afraid and you’re not allowed to regret it.

MC: I won’t be scared, and I wouldn’t regret it.

Bird!Shaw: Then follow me closely.

The clouds close in on us, and the first drops of rain begin to fall.

It’s going to rain.

I follow after the bird closely, and each time, I narrowly manage to escape every encounter with a dark shape. Just as we’re about to leave the small town, however, it’s as if all the spirits suddenly sense me, and they all turn and start rushing towards me!

Bird!Shaw: Don’t bother about them! Just run towards the exit of the town!

The second it finishes those words, it lets out a caw. As if rallied, a hundred of the skeletal birds suddenly fly over from behind the wall. Like arrows loosed from a bow, they descend on the mass of black spirits and attack them with their sharp beaks and wings, keeping them tightly packed together.

But there is a limit to the number of birds, and the pitch black spirits can’t be stopped.

Understanding that the birds can’t buy me all the time in the world, I grit my teeth and run as hard as I can for the exit of the town.

Even before I can take two steps, pain runs up my leg, as if I’m being yanked back by something. I fall painfully to the ground.

Withstanding the pain, I look down to see a skeletal person grabbing tight onto my ankle, refusing to let go!

No matter how hard I struggle, the person refuses to let go, and only holds on tighter and tighter. Watching the rest of the dark shapes slowly approaching, I yank out something I have tucked in my waist, and bring it down as hard as I can on the person.

Shiing!

A loud wail rings through the air, but the grip loosens enough for me to pry it off. Looking down in my hand, I clasp the dagger that had saved me seven days ago, I’ve never let it leave me even once.

But in the time it took for me to do all that, it’s too late for me to escape the town.

I grip the dagger tight.

The dark shapes draw closer, before they finally rush at me ferociously.

[thunder rumbles intensely]

Thunder rumbles throughout the sky, like the beating of a thousand drums, the galloping of a hundred thousand horses, unceasing. In that second, hundreds of white hot lightning bolts flash through the air before me, bathing the entire sky in bright white light.

Note from Red: that can’t be good for your eyes...

A large hand covers my eyes from behind.

Note from Red: who needs sunglasses when we have shaw’s big hands T^T

Shaw: You idiot, why are you just standing there for? Do you want to keep your eyes or not?

His tone is teasing and lighthearted, but it makes me feel safer than any promise or vow in the world.

MC: Shaw…

Shaw: I didn’t think you’d be able to save yourself, not bad.

Shaw: No wonder I-

The rest of his words are cut off by the rumble of thunder, the flash of lightning. I feel raindrops land pitter patter on my nose and cheeks.

In order to let me hear his words clearly, he leans down and puts his lips right next to my ear when he speaks, breath hot against the shell of my ear.

Shaw: Turn around, open up your umbrella and count to ten in your head before you open your eyes. Got it?

I nod with all my strength.

Shaw releases me and I obey his instructions, opening the umbrella and beginning to count.

MC: One, two, three…

The strikingly familiar cry I heard that night in the forest rings out from behind me, leaving yet another deep impression in my heart.

MC: Four, five, six…

The rain slows to a gentle drizzle, and the oppressive air hanging over the town seems to be slowly fading.

MC: Seven, eight, nine…

Shaw… Shaw…

MC: Ten.

I turn around.

Within the bright flashes of light, I catch sight of a silhouette of the five tailed mythical beast.

-

Evil spirits dealt with and the dark clouds gone, it seems like the town has finally gone back to normal.

Because I injured my foot, Shaw takes me to a small boat, and the two of us drift along slowly on the river. As the boat is slowly carried along beneath a bridge, Shaw, who is lazily sitting at the front, plucks a flower from the side to play with.

The lotus lamps bobbing alongside us glow softly, and what was initially supposed to be a gloomy Hungry Ghost Festival resembles more of a pleasant evening of a wedding night.

Shaw’s purple robes flutter in the wind, and under the light of the lamps hanging from the boat, the horn on his forehead seems to be softened with a soft glow.

The scenery before me reminds me of the time we first met on the lake back in that forest, the only differences being that he’s now missing a few birds, and that I am here with him.

MC: Right, why haven’t I seen any of the other town residents today?

Shaw: You think everyone is like you? I already warned them beforehand not to leave their houses, it’d make way for the souls and I can do what I need to do.

MC: Hahahaha…

Shaw: What are you laughing about?

MC: I’m laughing at you - with that image and disposition, who would have guessed that you’re actually a great immortal?

After hearing my words, Shaw lifts an eyebrow, looking slightly miffed.

Shaw: Then what did you think I was, a monster?

MC: I think that you’re Shaw, that’s all.

Shaw stares blankly at me for a moment.

MC: Shaw, on the day of Qixi, when you brought me out of the mountain, was it you who rescued me from those bandits as well?

Even though my words are phrased as a question, my tone is sure and certain. There’s a flash of surprise in Shaw’s eyes, but he doesn’t reply. He casts his eyes downwards, manner insipid.

Shaw: That isn’t a good memory to have for the Qixi Festival. Just forget it.

MC: I won’t forget it.

What he says is true. The Qixi festival is deserving of good and happy memories, and being by bandits certainly isn’t that, but still…

I look earnestly at Shaw.

MC: But on that day, you also appeared.

All around us, the lotus lamps flicker softly in the night, jade green smoke curling up faintly, the cool sounds of running water in my ears.

MC: I feel like this is the most memorable, and also the most treasured Qixi I have ever experienced.

This world’s thousands of relationships cannot be clearly defined by these dates, but on this Ghost Festival, my heart soars more than it did on the day of the Qixi Festival.

Shaw watches me silently, before he puts down the flower in his hand and leans forward, closer to me.

His hands carry with them the body temperature of one that is not human, fingertips lifting up my bangs once again.

Inch by inch, his finger trails down, as if mapping out my face.

His golden eyes are locked firmly on me, gaze intense and captivating like that of a wild beast, not letting my eyes deviate from him in the least.

This time, I don’t shy away from him.

Shaw: The last time, didn’t you ask for my true self?

Shaw: I’m Zheng, and I consume evil energy as sustenance.

Shaw: I’ve never felt like I’ve done this to help humans, and I’ve never considered myself to be an auspicious sign like the legends say.

Shaw: When I’m hungry, I eat.

Suddenly, my hand is grasped tightly in his, and he lifts it to his mouth.

He bites down slowly on my index finger, sharpened teeth scraping over delicate skin, and slight pain radiates out from where his lips are wrapped around my fingertip.

Shaw: Even if that’s what I am, you’re not going to be afraid of me?

Even though he’s clearly giving off a sense of hidden danger and his words are meant to provoke me into giving him a response, my heart skips a beat at the smile on his face.

MC: I…

Shaw: I… what? Speak louder.

With a self satisfied smirk that looks reminiscent of a cat that got the canary, he nips on my finger again.

MC: I said, I won’t be-

Before the word ‘scared’ can leave my mouth, my finger suddenly slips free of Shaw’s mouth to land on his lower lip. My fingertip softly runs against his lips, breath warm and eyes shining.

It’s clearly… a kiss.

Note from Red: yes mc you get flustered NOW when your finger was on his lips but not when he was literally biting on it priorities on point we stan

In a moment, my entire face burns bright red and I hurriedly pull back my finger.

MC: Shaw!

Shaw grins at me as he releases my hand, his gaze on me filled with an emotion I can’t quite recognise. Having fallen for his tricks yet again, my heart races and I desperately look for something to say, but didn’t expect that Shaw would beat me to it.

Shaw: Shouldn’t you be heading home?

The second he says that, I’m reminded of my original purpose: to bid my farewells to him before leaving for home.

I nod at him for a moment, before I shake my head energetically.

MC: Shaw, I…

Shaw: But today, haven’t I saved you once again?

MC: ...Eh?

Shaw: The timing’s just right. I’ve polished off all the evil energies and spirits here completely, it’s time for a change in scenery.

Shaw: The town near your home… is there anything entertaining?

He speaks so quickly that I have no time to think.

MC: Entertaining… well, not really, but there’s a lot of good food there! Recently it’s been chestnut and lotus seed season, so there should be a lot of confections sold on the streets…

MC: Wait a second, you’re not thinking of following me home, are you?

Shaw: Of course I am. How else are you going to repay this huge favour you owe me for saving you?

His words are bold and upright, but the grin on his face is that of a satisfied hunter.

Shaw: Before you fully repay the favour… don’t even think about escaping from me.

[ssfghfrrggf]

Heavy is the Head Chapter 7: Full on Bull Fight

Ao3 link

“Hey, where’d you sneak off to this morning?” Stella asks, catching up to Kelly on their way into work. Today was the first day in a long time that they’ve driven separately and when she woke up this morning he was already gone without so much as a word to her. And it’s not the first time he’d done it in the past week.

“I had some errands to run,” he says with a shrug, and a distant look on his face; Stella doesn’t like it. He’s been acting weird since Christmas, and seems to be floating farther and farther away from her like he has something to hide.

“What kind of errands?” she asks, bumping his arm with hers playfully, trying to prompt some kind of reaction out of him, but he seems to be going iceberg mode on her.

“Just stuff.” he replies.

“Okay, well I’ll see you in the briefing room,” she says with a frustrated sigh and walks faster, leaving him behind her looking a little baffled and confused like he can’t figure out what he did wrong.

“Hey-” Sylvie starts as she steps into Stella’s office with plans to tell her about her growing suspicion that Casey’s going to propose in the near future, but she’s interrupted by Stella.

“Don’t let me anywhere near anything heavy today, because I really might end up hurling something at Kelly’s head,” she says angrily.

“What’d he do now?” Sylvie asks, and pushes the door closed. She can feel Stella’s frustration, and in some ways she shares in it. Kelly always seems to be doing something stupid. Him and Stella will be doing fine for a long time and then his emotional presence will just drop off the face of the earth.

“I don’t know! But he’s been acting really weird for like a week now and he keeps sneaking off, and then when I ask him about he acts all confused or- or evasive like everything’s normal,” Stella says angrily. “And I seriously don’t know what to do-”

“You don’t think he’s-”

“Don’t even go there Brett. He wouldn’t,” Stella says defensively, cutting her off but Sylvie can tell from her tone that the thought has crossed her mind.

“Because if he is, I know of a lot of fields in Indiana where they’d never find a body,” Sylvie adds.

“I said don’t go there!” Stella cries. “He wouldn’t cheat. His mom thought he might, but he wouldn’t. He’s an idiot but he’s not a dick.”

“Okay,” Sylvie agrees. She believes Stella on that one. Severide can be a bit of a mess, but he’s not an unfaithful mess, which means something else is going on. “Maybe it’s something to do with Conway?”

“I don’t know Brett,” Stella says shaking her head. “We talked about that and decided it was best to handle that together. But there’s definitely something going on with him. And I’m so scared he’s heading toward another shut down and I don’t know if we’ll survive that again.”

Brett sighs, it makes her mad how worked up Stella is getting with this and how scared Severide has her. It makes her want to throw something at his head too.

“Anyway, what did you want to talk about?” Stella asks, shaking herself off.

“Oh, nothing,” Brett shrugs. It seems a little ill timed to start talking about how well things are going with Matt, especially since him meeting her parents, when things seem to be getting ready to hit the fan between Stella and Kelly.

“You sure?”

“Yeah-”

“Truck 81, lift assist.”

“That’s me,” Stella sighs and get up. “We’ll talk later.”

“Be careful out there,” Sylvie orders as she follows Stella out of her office.

Stella is barely gone from sight before Severide is emerging from the laundry room and grabbing Brett by the arm.

“We need to talk,” he says tugging her toward his office.

“Yeah, I know we do,” Brett snaps, and follows him into his office, needing no more prodding from him. She’s about to give him a very big piece of her mind, and he’s practically begging for it.

“What the hell are you doing, Severide?” she demands before he even has the door closed all the way.

“What do you mean-”

“I mean what the hell are you doing?” Sylvie repeats. “Everyone knows by now that your whole stone cold iceberg act doesn’t fly with you and Stella. So whatever your problem is you need to get sorted out or she’s going to dump your ass.”

“But I haven’t been…” he trails off, the confusion on his face melting away to realization as Brett glares at him. “Oh. damn it. I have.”

“Yep,” Sylvie says.

“I didn’t mean to,” he says, getting a kind of nervous that Sylvie’s never seen from him before. “I just- this is so messed up. I’m just not sure how to…”

“How to what, Severide?”

He runs one hand through his hair awkwardly and reaches into his back pocket and pulls out a small felt box.  “Ask her…”

Sylvie can feel her eyes going wide as she stares at the box in Severide’s hand. “Is that…?”

“Yeah,” Severide breathes. “I just don’t have the slightest idea how to actually do it, which is why I wanted to ask you for help-”

“You want me to help you plan your engagement?!” Sylvie squeals, unable to contain her joy. This is like a dream come true, she’s always wanted to help someone plan an engagement.

“Please,” Severide says, sounding relieved. “It’s like suddenly everything I know about Stella has left my brain and I just don’t know where to start. And it’s gotta be amazing because she deserves only the best.”

“Okay, okay, yes I’ll help you! But the first thing you need to do is find some way to reassure her, or you might not have a girlfriend to ask by the time we get this all planned out,” Sylvie says, already trying to think of some cover story they can spin for why he’s been acting weird for so long. And being able to pull that off and making it believable kind of hinges on Severide’s ability to stop acting weird, and Sylvie isn’t super confident he can.

“How do I do that? I didn’t even realize I was doing it. I was just trying to avoid accidently giving myself away.”

“Well, I’m sorry to say it, but with your track record it could be construed as a lot of different things,” Sylvie says, starting to formulate a plan. Maybe having Severide be the one in charge of making sure Stella doesn’t dump him isn’t the best idea if they want this to be a successful proposal. “Maybe I should be the one to make sure she doesn’t dump you. And you should just like not touch anything or talk about anything.”

“Okay, that works,” Kelly says blinking a couple times. For not only a squad firefighter, but a lieutenant at that, he really is quite flighty, and she can tell he’s absolutely terrified and overwhelmed by what he’s planning.

“That was a joke. I’m not planning your entire engagement for you. It has to come from you.”

Kelly frowns. “What if I just left the ring in her locker or something?”

Sylvie glares at him.

“That was a joke too?” He says, but it sounds like more of a question.

“You’re hopeless,” Sylvie says, pinching the bridge of her nose. Everyone always jokes about what a disaster Kelly is, but it really isn’t funny.

“Hey, Brett, sorry to interrupt, but the chief wants us in his office,” Mackey says, wrapping her fist against the door and poking her head into Severide’s office. She hesitates and glances back and forth between the two of them. “I don’t know what you two are talking about, but be careful you don’t give lieutenant Severide an ulcer.”

Sylvie glances over at Severide whose forehead is wrinkled up in his stressed look that he always gets when he gets concerned or perplexed.

“Look, don’t do anything stupid while I’m gone. We’ll talk about this later. I promise.”

“Thanks Brett,” Severide says sounding lost and bewildered.

***

“No! Way!” Sylvie cries before she’s even all the way inside Casey’s office. The amount of pure joy on her face at seeing Foster standing in the office, makes Matt smile. “I don’t believe it! Mackey! This is Foster, she’s amazing- foster what happened to Med school?” Brett cries hugging her old partner.

“It’s expensive,” she laughs, “and chief Hatcher graciously said I could come work part time the days I don’t have class.”

“That’s amazing-” Sylvie trials off, a look of confusion crossing her face. “Wait. 61 already has two medics.”

“We got cleared for a third one,” Casey explains. “The CFD has been trying to get busier house three man ambo crews.”

“Oh! This is great!” Sylvie says excitedly. “You two are going to love each other! This is so exciting!”

Matt smiles, this probably the happiest he’s ever seen her, but he could tell before she even saw Foster that she was excited about something else too. The excitement in the room seems to freeze for a second as the tones sound.

“Squad 3, water rescue.”

Sylvie seems oddly relieved by this, but not in the way that she’s glad it’s not her call. There’s something else going on.

“Is that all you wanted?” she asks. “Can we go get Foster acquainted with 61?”

“Yeah, but I want you to hang back a second so we can talk,” Casey says, dismissing Foster and Mackey with a short head nod.

“What’s going on?” she asks, studying him.

“I was about to ask you the same thing,” Casey replies, studying her. 

“Oh,” Sylvie says and a guilty expression comes across her face like she’s trying to hide something that’s making her really happy. “I’m really not supposed to talk about it. I’m terrible with secrets if I-”

“If you?” Casey prompts, curiosity getting the better of him.

“I can’t say!” Brett says, like it’s hurting her not belting it out. “Severide’ll kill me.”

“Sev’s involved?” Casey presses.

“Matt stop! I promised I wouldn’t tell anyone!” Sylvie protests. “I gotta go help them with the rig.”

Before Matt can say anything she’s gone and has the door closed behind her. He’ll have to talk to Severide when he gets back from the water rescue call.

***

“Marks and Gallo, you two are on inventory duty for the day,” Stella says she climbs off the truck once they’re safely back at the station. “And Mouch I want you to clean out the inside of the rig. This thing looks like a pig sty.”

“Who pissed you off,” Gallo mutters under his breath, and she wastes no time pinning him down with a glare. 

“Do you want to be mopping the bay too?” she demands.

“No lieutenant,” Gallo says respectfully.

“Then just do the inventory,” she snaps and turns her glare to the empty spot where the squad truck is usually parked. It’s mighty convenient that Severide is out on call.

“Stella! Get over here!” Brett shouts to her from across the bay. Her attitude seems to have done a complete turn around since their conversation this morning in Stella’s office and she’s jealous. She’s been racking her brain all morning trying to figure out the hell could’ve possibly sent Severide off into another spiral of self isolation. She knows it’s impossible to ever have him completely figured out, it’s impossible with everyone really, but things had been going so well between them for so long and now she feels like she’s being out all over again, and she hates it.

“What-?” and before she can get her full question out, Foster is jumping out of the back of 61.

“Surprise!” The paramedic shouts enthusiastically and hugs Stella.

“What are you doing here?!” Stella cries happily and hugs her back. She allows the excitement at seeing her old friend push away her annoyance with Severide. It’s not worth her time right now.

“I’m working part time!” Foster says excitedly. “And I heard you got your bugles!”

“I did!” Stella says and flicks the collar of her shirt displaying the little bugles embroidered there.

“Wooow,” Foster says, faking a swoon. “They look way better on you than of the other idiots running around here.”

“Why thank you,” Stella says with a playful hair flip. “But seriously, how long are you here for?”

“I’m currently on break, so I’ll be working shifts with you guys for the next few weeks, and then off and on for the rest of the year.”

“This is so great, the four of us are going to own this place,” Stella says, and points at Mackey. “You don’t know this, but the three of us used to be the bosses around here. And we’re going to show the key to house domination.”

“The first lesson is don’t put up with idiots,” Foster says.

“That’s probably the most important one,” Stella agrees, Severide immediately jumping to mind. She doesn’t really agree with it. Some idiots are worth putting up with.

“Speaking of which,” Sylvie says. “We need to go have a chat. We’ll be back in a few.”

“What’s up, Brett?” Stella asks when they’ve made it out of ear shot of Mackey and Foster.

“I think you need to give Severide a chance,” Sylvie says awkwardly, like there’s something she desperately wants to say, but can’t figure out how.

“Seriously?”

“Seriously,” Sylvie replies. “Trust me and trust that he loves you. Just give him a week.”

“A week- Brett what is going on?” Stella asks. She doesn’t need Brett and Severide keeping secrets from her.

“I don’t know, it’s just a feeling. Give him a week before you do anything drastic, okay?” Brett says and looks her in the eyes. “Trust him, and if you can’t do that trust me. It’ll be fine.”

“It’s not that I don’t trust him, Brett,” Stella says. “I’m just scared. I know where this kind of behavior goes. We’ve been down this road before, and I’m really scared, only this time it’s worse because I don’t have the first idea what’s wrong so I don’t have a ballpark for what I should be trying to ask him-”

“Truck 81, elevator panic button triggered.”

“Stella, it’ll be okay, I promise,” Sylvie says confidently. Stella’s not sure how she can be so sure, but she wishes she shared the paramedics confidence.

***

“Is everything okay with Stella?” Mackey asks as Sylvie comes back over to 61 to help with refreshing Foster on the inventory. 

“It will be, hopefully,” Sylvie relies with a frustrated sigh. Severide just needs to assure her everything’s fine and quit avoiding her and everything should work out. If he doesn’t then she’s not exactly sure how much good her speech to Stella about trusting him will go. “She’s just going through a bit of a rough patch with Severide.”

“Do I need to knock some sense into him?” Foster asks, hoping down from the back of the ambo and looking like she’s ready for a fight.

“No, it’s not like that,” Sylvie assures her, as squad 3 rolls back into the station. “It’s a communication error that will be ironed out shortly… I’ll be back in a couple minutes.”

She meets Severide on the passenger side of the truck just as he’s climbing out.

“We need to talk,” he says, beating her to the punch.

“Your office?”

“Yeah,” he says and heads for the doors leading inside.

“You need to tell her something and give her some kind of believable reassurance,” Sylvie says and closes the door to his office behind her. “She’s scared. I think I kinda bought you a little time, but you still gotta give her something.”

“I’ll talk to her as soon as she gets back,” he promises and looks worried. Despite having worked around them for close to 10 years, Sylvie’s never quite been able to understand firefighters; they don’t so much as flinch running into burning buildings but anything regarding feelings or emotions is like having teeth pulled. “And I had a couple thoughts about how to ask.”

“Oh! What are they?” Sylvie asks excitedly. This is the fun part- the planning of the actual romantic gesture is definitely way better than working on a plan for how to have Stella not break up with him before he can pull it off, equally as important for sure, but a lot more fun.

“So I know this guy who does winter scuba diving in the lake, and ever since I showed her the basics a year or so ago she loves it…”

“An underwater proposal?” Sylvie asks.

“What? You don’t think that’s good?” Severide asks, looking a little disappointed.

“Honestly? I think she’d love it. I just feel like there’s a lot that could go wrong. Like do you really want to be freezing cold and wet when you get engaged?”

“It’s better than just going out to some fancy restaurant. That’s so predictable,” Severide retorts. “How about taking her hiking at pictured rocks? She loves it up there, and I know where her favorite spot is, and then take her out for a nice dinner after?”

“Oh that’d be great!” Sylvie says excitedly. “I’d tell you it’s too cold for hiking, but you two are crazy, so it’s perfect.”

“You think?”

“Yeah!”

***

“You just couldn’t stay away from us, could you?” Herrmann laughs and offers Foster a coffee.

“How could I? I love all your ugly mugs,” she jokes.

“Aw, that’s so touching,” Cruz says sarcastically.

“So how have things been for everyone since I left? I wanna know everything.” It’s nice being back here even if it is temporary. She’s missed everyone so much, she didn’t really realize just how much until now- until being back in the cozy common room surrounded by the crew she got to be so close to.

***

“Smoke break?” Casey asks, poking his head into Severide’s office. He looks busy and stressed out and like he could use the break.

“Sure,” he says and closes his laptop.

“Sylvie’s been acting weird lately,” Casey says as they walk outside together. It is, admittedly a little cold to be having a smoke break.

“Mhmm,” Severide mutters, but doesn’t give much of a response other than that.

“You know something,” Casey accuses, he can tell by Severide’s expression that he knows something.

“No!” Severide says defensively. He’s great at pretending his fine when he’s not, but any other lie? His poker face sucks.

“It’s what her mom said at dinner a couple weeks ago, isn’t it?” Casey guesses. “She wants me to propose.”

“Um, not you…” Severide says, shifting awkwardly as Casey frowns at him. “I’m gonna ask Stella and she’s helping me out.”

“Oh! Congrats man!” Casey says excitedly.

“Don’t jinx it!” Severide shushes him. “I haven’t asked her yet and there’s a lot that could go wrong.”

“Right,” Casey says, ducking his head. He’s not sure he’s ever seen Severide look this nervous before. “Well, I’m sure she’ll say yes.”

“Hopefully,” Severide mumbles, sounding very unsure of himself.

A horn blast from 81 interrupts their conversation as the truck pulls into the driveway.

“Sorry to cut the conversation short, but I actually need to go talk to Stella real quick.”

Severide makes it to the door and then the bell rings.

“Truck 81, Engine 51, Ambulance 61, Squad 3, structure fire.”

***

There’s two kids standing outside when they arrive, and Casey’s glad he decided to ride on this one because it’s already looking like they’re going to need additional units.

“You have to help our parents!” one of the kids shouts, running over to meet Casey as he gets out of the car, tugging his little sister along with him. “They’re still inside!”

“We’ll get them don’t worry,” Casey promises getting down on eye level with the young dark-haired boy. “Is there anyone else inside?”

“No,” the boy shakes his head. “Just mom and dad. We were playing at the neighbors’ and they were at home napping.”

“Okay, kiddo, where is your parents’ room?”

“Upstairs,” the boy says frantically. His sister is crying.

“Severide, Kidd, we’ve got two victims, most likely upstairs,” Casey shouts to two of his lieutenants. “Herrmann, I want you guys to start knocking down a path for Truck and Squad.”

“You got it, chief!” Herrmann calls, already directing Ritter to pull a line off the truck.

“Nathan and Mouch, I want you to up top venting. Gallo, you’re making entry with me and Squad.”

It takes the crews less than a minute to get organized and make their push through the front door.

“Okay kids, you see that ambulance over there? I want you to go see those nice paramedics, okay?” He wants to say something more encouraging to them, but the fire’s already pretty bad and the chances of them being able to get the parents out alive are slim to none.

***

“Come here guys,” Foster says gently and guides the two kids into the warm back of the ambulance. She’s missed this, being on the streets, in the action, being right there on the front lines with people.

“Give them these,” Mackey says and hands her a blanket, while taking one herself and wrapping it around the little girl’s shoulders.

“Here you go, sweetie,” Foster soothes and wraps the little boy in the blanket.

“Are our parents going to be okay?” the boy asks, looking at them with pleading eyes. Mackey glances to Foster before answering.

“They’ll be okay. They have the best firefighters in the city looking for them,” Mackey promises, comfortingly. Foster isn’t sure if the other paramedic actually believes it or if she’s just trying to be encouraging, but regardless Foster doesn’t share her confidence.

***

“Chief, this is Squad 3, we’ve got the parents, but we got separated from Severide,” Cruz reports, making Casey’s heart skip a beat. Mouch just informed him the roof was too soft to get on and properly vent, which means inside is probably filling up with smoke.

“Get the victims out of there, then we’ll worry about Severide,” Casey replies. Severide can handle himself.

“Chief, I’m fine,” Severide says a couple seconds later, and Casey relaxes just a little at hearing his friend’s staticy voice over the radio. “I’m with Kidd, she got separated from Gallo.”

Casey closes his eyes and lets out a frustrated sigh. “I want all units to exit the structure immediately.”

“Son of a bitch!” a shout from Herrmann grabs Casey’s attention as him, Cruz, Capp, and Tony exit the building with the two parents who look to be rough shape. “Where’s Ritter?! He was right behind me!”

The engine lieutenant tries to make a run back inside but Cruz grabs him before he can.

“No one is going back inside!” Casey shouts, he hates having to make the call, but he can tell even from the outside that the house is about to flash over at any second and he already has four firefighters lost inside. He doesn’t need to throw a fifth one into the mix. “Ritter, report.”

“I’m fine chief, I just fell behind,” Ritter reports.

“Chief! That’s my guy in there!” Herrmann protests.

“I know, but he’ll be fine. He knows what he’s doing. If he says he needs help then I’ll let you go in, but for now you just have to trust him.” Casey gets it. He really does. Every fiber of his being is screaming at him to run inside to go find his lost people, but no one’s called a maybay. They’re all just working their way out.

***

It’s pitch black, not like the movies where everything can be seen clearly, no, it’s darker than a night with no moon or stars. The smoke is so thick the light from his flashlight barely reaches a couple inches in front of him; Gallo has to hug the floor, nearly flat on his belly just to escape making the intense that’s starting to make his skin crawl. And worse still, he’s alone; he lost Stella what seems like hours ago, but from the glowing air gage on his regulator it can’t be more than 10 minutes ago. He knows she’s still relatively okay because he’s heard her over the radio a couple times since they got seperated, she’s with Severide now, and she knows he’s okay because they’ve had one very brief exchange only lasting long enough for them to decide the best course of action was to not waste time and air, both critical things in a fire like this, trying to find one another in the impossible blackness and find their way out on their own. So he’s alone and his only comfort in the overwhelming blackness is the presence of the hose under his body as he scoots himself along the floor.

He feels a little bit like a child again, like he’s still hiding in that closet hoping and praying that someone will come find him and save him. He’s alone and tired and yes even scared, not the same paralyzing fear that had taken over every muscle in his body like it had that day, but it’s a nagging tugging fear that’s eating away at his last nerve. It’s exhausting. He’s exhausted. He just wants to lay down on the hose, call in a mayday, and wait for someone to come get him; it’d be so simple and easy to let RIT come in and pull him out. But it’d also be dangerous. He can see small slivers of flame fingering in the smoke, they’ll flare up and dance through the smoke in little playful wisps, some of them right above his head. They’re beautiful, but precursors to something deadly and terrible. They’re there to remind him he doesn’t have time to lay down and let RIT come and save him. This place could flash over at any second and he’d have no escape. 

“Mayday! Mayday! Mayday! Firefighter Ritter, entangled and low on air!” 

Gallo’s blood runs cold at the sound of his friend’s mayday call.

“All units mayday has been called, clear the channel.”

“Ritter, what’s your last known location?” It’s Casey that replies to Ritter’s mayday first.

“Upstairs, southwest corner!”

Gallo clenches his teeth, he just came from that way. He’s close, he can get to Gallo before RIT can. So he turns around on the hoseline and begins his crawl back to where he came from to go find his friend.

***

There’s always the human instinct to press on when met with resistance, but in firefighting that can be a deadly mistake, sometimes in order to survive you have to let yourself go limp and lay completely still. It’s terrifying, laying completely still in the hot pitch black of a burning house especially when every inch of you is screaming to get up and keep fighting. But Ritter’s tangled up good and somewhere in his process of trying to fight to get himself free, he lost his cable cutters. He honestly thrashed around a good bit longer than he should’ve before laying still. There’s no telling how much air he wasted doing that, but now the bell on his pack is ringing annoyingly right along with his pass device. It’s deafening, but right now that’s a good thing it means he can be found and helped.

“Hey man.”

Ritter didn’t even hear Gallo approaching over the sound of the various alarms sounding so close to his head, and he startles  when his friend’s hand touches his shoulder.

“You really know how to get tangled up,” Gallo says, Ritter can’t really see him through the darkness of the smoke around them, but he can feel his friend running his hands around his body trying to find all the cords he’s stuck in.

“How’d you find me?” Ritter asks, he can feel the cables starting to fall away from him, which means Gallo almost has him free.

“It was kind of hard to miss you,” Gallo jokes. Darren’s really not sure how he can sound so light hearted and breezy right now. “Chief, cancel RIT. I’ve got Ritter and he’s free.”

“How are we gonna get out of here?” Ritter asks and sits up slowly being sure to feel for anything that might snag him.

“A window,” Gallo replies. “I was in this room earlier.”

“We’re on the second story,” Ritter protests. He’s heard stories about firefighters jumping out of windows much higher, but he has no desire to do it.

“I’ve got the hose,” Gallo says calmly. “We’ll use it as a pole and slide down.”

*** 

“Ritter and Gallo are out.”

Stella breathes a sigh of relief as Casey reports that the two young firefighters are out. Now the only thing she has to worry about is getting her and Kelly’s sorry ass out.

Stella keeps one hand on Kelly making sure she doesn’t lose him; that’s the last thing anyone needs right now, another lost firefighter and another RIT team deployed- more people coming into this flashover waiting to happen. And keeps the other hand on the wall trying to feel for a window. They’re on the second floor, but if shit hits the fan they’ll jump, it doesn’t matter how high up they are.

“You got anything, Kelly?” she asks, glancing in his general direction, the only part of him she can really see is his flashlight. 

“Nothing,” he replies and she can hear him rustle around. “I’m going to attach my webbing to your wrist and go out a little further to try to find a hose. Stay on the wall.”

“Kelly wait,” she says and pulls him back as her hand finds what feels like a window cill just a foot above her head.

“Stella we don’t have time-”

She sees the flicker, it’s like lighting crackling in distant black storm clouds and the already suffocating heat gets worse. The room’s about to flash. Without thinking or waiting even a second she grabs Kelly by the shoulder straps and launches herself out the window dragging him with her. The fire comes after them like a hungry beast surging forward to devour them as they hit the slanted roof and roll. Between the immense heat from the fire, the fire itself shooting out the window behind them, the adrenaline rushing through her body and the feeling of being put through a spin cycle Stella can’t get her bearings fast enough to stop her and Severide from sliding off the roof. She can feel her side scrape the gutter and then they’re free falling.

***

One second Kelly’s on his hands and knees next to Stella talking about finding a hose and the next he’s being tugged out the window before he can even react- and after that he’s hitting water then the hard bottom of what’s probably a pool but he’s too disoriented to tell for sure, and the winds been knocked out of him so he can’t breathe. He fumbles under the ic ny cold water trying to find his footing so he can push himself to the surface with the weight of his gear and the sudden inability to breathe he can’t get himself righted and his mask starts to fill up with water. Panic isn’t a feeling he’s used to and the unnaturalness of it makes things worse. He can’t be panicking- but he is and that alone makes him want to panic more. 

A hand grabs him by the back of his coat and yanks him upward. His head breaches the surface of the water and no sooner than it has, Stella is knocking the helmet off his head and freeing his mask from his face. He gasps breathing freely at last as soon as she has the thing clear from his face. She’s laughing as she cups his cheeks in her hands for a second before hugging him close.

“Please tell me you knew there was a pool there,” he coughs, his teeth chattering together from the cold and buries his face in the shoulder of her wet bunker coat. That was close, too close, if she hadn’t grabbed him and taken that dive when she did they’d both be toast. So much happens on fire scenes- or any scenes for that matter. Any call could be your last. Life is too short, especially in this job. It’s too short for keeping secrets and having pointless fights and bottling things up- any second it could be over and there could be things left unsaid that shouldn’t be left unsaid.

“I’m going to refrain from answering that one,” Stella laughs, keeping one hand on the back of her neck. He can feel her shaking.

“Stella-”

“Are you guys okay?” Brett calls to them from the edge of the pool as they pull apart from each other just a little, but Stella keeps both hands on Kelly, steadying him almost, or maybe just hanging onto him to make sure that he is actually there and that they both did actually make it out the window. She looks amazed and worried

“We’re good,” Stella calls back as she looks him in the eyes. She’s still laughing and it’s probably her adrenaline still burning off.

“Stella-”

“What is this, round ten of me saving your ass? You should think about bringing me onto Squad-”

“Stella,” he chokes, a little louder this time. He can’t wait, maybe it’s the adrenaline, maybe it’s the fact they both just almost died (again), maybe it’s just all his feelings bubbling up inside of him all at once, but he can’t wait. He can’t wait for a weekend trip or a romantic date on a boat. “Stella I love you, and I’m sorry I spent the past couple days avoiding you. I was being an idiot, but I need you to know I didn’t mean to, I was just trying to figure something out-”

“Kelly, let’s not do this right now, we just survived jumping out a window to escape a flashover, let’s just-”

“Marry me.” Kelly blurts. He doesn’t want to wait a second longer. Stella’s eyes widen in shock like she’s completely taken off guard by the question. Even Kelly’s a little surprised with himself for throwing it out there so quickly and rashly and unromantically. He tries to think of a way to recover. “I mean- I love you Stella Kidd. In this job there are so many ups and downs and you never know what's going to happen- if you’ll make it home, but there’s one constant and that’s you. I love you and I want to spend the rest of my life with you-”

“Yes! Kelly yes!” she gasps and grabs him and kisses him. “You idiot, yes I’ll marry you!”

“I was gonna ask you normally, I swear. I had the ring and a plan- ask Sylvie,” he mumbles, trying to justify what was probably one of the worst proposals in history. No one proposes on a fire scene.

“Is that why you were acting weird?” Stella asks, pulling away from him just a little. She looks relieved and amused.

He nods his head. He can’t stop shaking, and it occurs to him it’s probably because they’re standing in freezing cold water in January in Chicago. “I didn’t know how to do it, and didn’t mean to make you think something else was going on.”

“Kelly, it’s okay,” Stella promises, cupping his cheeks in her hands. There are tears in her eyes. “It’s okay.”

Then she’s hugging him again, and it’s the best feeling in the world

“We should probably get out of the pool now,” Stella says without lifting her head from where it’s tucking into his shoulder.

“Yeah,” he breathes. He can barely even feel the cold, either that or he just doesn’t care. The only thing that matters is that Stella said yes.

“You had one job, Severide,” Sylvie scolds, throwing a blanket over his shoulders as he climbs out of the pool behind Stella

“Yeah, and wasn’t it to get her to say yes?” he chuckles, shaking his head as the paramedic 

ruffles his wet hair fondly.

“You crazy idiot,” Brett says fondly, shaking her head with an amused smile. “Looks like you got the freezing cold and wet engagement after all.”

***

“You two are both going to get checked out at Med, right now,” Casey says as soon as Severide and Stella walk around to the front of the house with Brett escorting them. He’s just now able to breathe at a normal rate. He’d thought for sure that they were both goners. Gallo and Ritter too. But by some miracle they’d all managed to find a place to bail out before the flashover happened. It was all to close for comfort. “And probably taking the rest of the shift off.”

“Casey-”

“That’s an order, Severide. You and Kidd just took a dive out a second story window into a pool. You’re getting checked out-”

“No, Case, she said yes,” Severide says with a grin.

“Yes to- wait-” Casey breaks off astonished. Only Kelly Severide would ask the love of his life to marry him after jumping out a window into a pool in the middle of january.

“And I need a best man.”

“Come here you!” Casey cries joyously, and grabs Severide. He doesn’t even care that the lieutenant is sopping wet. After everything he’s been through he deserves this, Stella too. “Of course I’ll be your best man! Congratulations you crazy son of a bitch!”

Severide laughs and gives Casey a slap on the back. “I had this whole plan, and then that happened and it just popped out!”

“We’ll celebrate after shift, but you two still have to go to the hospital,” Casey says. He hasn’t seen Severide this happy in a long time, he’s laughing and can’t stop smiling.

“And you’ve still got a house fire to take care of,” Severide says, gesturing to the house. 

***

“Hey man,” Ritter says and sits down on the back bumper next to Gallo who is glaring into space. He looks angry and relieved all at once. “You okay?”

“We almost got cremated in there,” he says under his breath and shakes his head.

“But we didn’t, and hey, thanks for coming and getting me,” Ritter says offering his friend a water bottle. Gallo’s not the only one shaken up. Things could’ve ended really badly if Gallo hadn’t found him and if they hadn’t found that window.

“Of course,” Gallo says, finally blinking away his spacey expression to look over at Ritter, and rests a hand on his shoulder. “I’ll always come get you. I’m not leaving any more of my family to face fire alone.”

Ritter gives him a sad smile. “It’s that family, isn’t it?”

Gallo nods solemnly. “They just lost everything, and those kids might still lose their parents.”

“They got them out pretty quick, I’m sure they’ll be fine,” Ritter tries to sound reassuring, but the two parents had some pretty bad burns and severe smoke inhalation. Gallo turns away and keeps glaring, there’s something more bothering him than just the similarity to what happened to his family. “What else is bugging you?”

“It’s not just this family.”

“What do you mean?”

“The one on Christmas, the one with the three kids before that…” Gallo trails off and looks to the flaming house. Things seem to finally be dying down, 51 and the other engine companies on scene are hitting it with everything they got.

“Talk to me man,” Ritter presses. “You can’t bottle this stuff up or it’ll eat you alive.”

“I know, I just… I don’t know Ritter, something seems off to me,” he shrugs and takes a sip of water. “But I can’t put my finger on it. They’re all so familiar.”

“Because of the families?”

“No. Families live in houses, houses burn down. That’s not strange or out of the ordinary- so I mean I guess it is familiar, but not in the way I’m talking about,” Gallo replies, glancing at him.

“You think someone is setting these fires?” Ritter asks. He hasn’t noticed anything peculiar about the fires, they just seem like fires to him, different from the previous ones but just as deadly. But Gallo clearly sees a link between each of them, even if it’s just a gut feeling. He trusts his friend’s gut- that gut is what got them out of the fire today. And this fire almost got not only the two of them killed, but Severide and Kidd too, so even if it’s just a hunch, it’s a hunch worth looking into.

“I don’t know,” Gallo says and stands up. “I’m going to ask to stick around here to go over the scene with the arson investigator.”

***

“Chief, can I stick around and go over the scene with arson?” Gallo asks, approaching the chief as he waves 61 to leave the scene with Severide and Kidd.

“We’re a little short handed right now, Gallo,” Casey says without showing him a whole lot of attention. The chief looks happy and pleased- too happy and pleased for a chief that just almost lost four firefighters. “With Kidd going to the hospital truck is down to three people, so I can’t spare you. Sorry. But I’m not leaving 81 with a two man crew.”

“Chief, please,” Gallo pleads. He doesn’t know how to describe the chief, the feeling deep in his gut that there’s more to this fire, more to the other ones too.

“I can’t do it Gallo. I’ll let you know when arson finds the cause but I can’t spare you right now,” Casey says curtly, making it very clear that the conversation is over and that Gallo should go find something useful to do with his time.

“Yes sir,” Gallo mutters and starts to walk away but stops, not ready to roll over. “Chief, there’s something off about this, and the last couple fires we’ve had. I want to stay to look around for myself.”

Casey sighs. “You’re not staying, Gallo. We don’t have the man power. Besides, the reports for those fires already came out. They were accidental.”

“Chief, I’m telling you-”

“Gallo, this isn’t a discussion. And I know these fires probably hit close to home for you, but you’re not staying,” Casey says, shortly. He’s getting pissed, but so is Gallo.

“Don’t do that, please-”

“Gallo! We’re done talking about it. If you keep trying to argue, I will make you go sit in the truck.”

Gallo tightens his grip on his helmet that’s dangling from one hand. He wants to throw it, smash it against stuff, and shout, but he bites his tongue and decides to go help Ritter with his yard line instead.

“How’d it go?” Ritter asks, as he sets his stream on the house.

“He completely blew me off,” Gallo grumbles. “He’s going to regret it when I’m right.”

“That wasn’t a threat or anything right?” Ritter asks sheepishly.

“No, but he’ll see that I’m right,” Gallo replies and squats down on the hoseline behind Ritter to help him keep the thing steady.

“This call has been a lot, maybe when everything’s calmed down he’ll be more willing to talk about it,” Ritter suggests.

“I’m not holding my breath.”

***

“I just got off the phone with arson,” Casey says as Gallo slips into his office a couple hours after the fire. Matt had decided it was best for him to cool off a little before he tried going for round 2 talking about what happened on the scene with Gallo. “And they said it was an accident. The residents had a gas stove. The gas got left on and it got sparked.”

This seems to strike a cord with Gallo, but whatever the firefighter is thinking he doesn’t say it out loud. “What happened to the two parents?”

Casey ducks his head. He wishes he had better news on that front. “They didn’t make it.��

Gallo closes his eyes and lets out a slow breath.

“And I know you wanted to stay and look into that fire, but you have to understand where I’m coming from. And I can’t have you arguing with me on scenes.”

“And what about where I was coming from?” Gallo demands, he’s pissed and Casey can tell he’s trying to hold back shouting. It’s a valiant effort really.

“I have more firefighters to worry about than just you Gallo!”

“Yeah! And I’m not the only one who almost died back there! Ritter, Severide and Kidd were in there too!” Gallo claps back, finally losing his edge and raising his voice. “Just because everything ended up okay and you get to be your buddy’s best man doesn’t make that go away!”

“Go home Gallo.” Casey isn’t putting up with this. Gallo walks the fine line with insubordination just about every day, but he just took a flying leap over it. “And I would advise against saying anything else because I have yet to decide if I am going to write you up!”

“Fine! And maybe I’ll come back with a pink slip and transfer back to 90 where my captain at least listens to me!” Gallo snaps, raising his voice to a shout and before Casey can say anything else, he’s gone and closes the door behind him.

***

“I don’t mean to question your infinite knowledge, chief, but why’d you send my guy home?” Stella asks, slipping cautiously into Casey’s office. She can tell he’s still pissed about whatever went down in her absence. “Oh, me and Kelly got cleared by the way.”

“He crossed a line,” Casey says as Stella sets her and Severide’s discharge papers down on his desk.

“What kind of line?”

“Insubordination,” Casey replies, grudgingly. “He wanted to look into those fires, and then fought me when I said no.”

Stella nods her head. “Okay, but why not let him look into them?”

“I can’t let him now, that’d be rewarding bad behavior. He’ll make a habit out of it.”

“Chief, the kid’s got a good head,” Stella says after a moment of thinking. Arguing with the chief right now is risky, but she needs to have her people’s backs especially when they might be onto something. “Good instincts. Sure he’s a hot head too, but he’s not the only one.”

“What are you saying?” Casey sighs.

“If you think there’s a chance he could be right don’t let your hurt pride get in the way of letting him pursue it,” Stella replies coolly. “What if he’s right and you’re wrong and more people die? What if it’s one of us who dies next time?”

***

“Hey, You okay?” Ritter asks as Gallo opens the door for him. He came to check on his friend as soon as the shift got over. 

“Not really,” Gallo says, and he’s angry. It also looks like he hasn’t slept since getting kicked off the shift. “Casey won’t listen to me, and I’m right.”

“Maybe if you tried apologizing-”

“I’m not apologizing to him!” Gallo snaps, cutting Ritter off mid-sentence.

“Before you jump down my throat would you hear me out?” Ritter asks patiently, deciding not to be insulted by his friend’s harsh interruption. “You don’t have to actually have to mean it. You just have to make Casey think you do-”

“Why? So he thinks he’s right?!”

“No, because locking horns with him and having a full on bull fight with him obviously isn’t getting you anywhere. You dig in, he digs in. You have to take a different approach, because the one you're taking now is gonna get you fired.”

Gallo lets out a frustrated sigh. “An apology isn’t going to get him to let me investigate, especially since the case is closed.”

“It’s closed already?” Ritter asks. He decides it’s best not point out that if the investigation is already closed then it probably wasn’t arson.

“Yeah.”

“What was the cause?”

“A gas burning stove. The gas was left on and sparked a fire,” Gallo replies. “That’s how my house burned down.”

“But the other two fires were a christmas tree catching on fire and a burner being left on,” Ritter points out.

“I know, but there’s a connection. I just don’t know what because I haven’t been able to look at any of the scenes.”

“Have you tried asking Severide? He’s a genius at arson investigation, and he’s got connections,” Ritter suggests. The squad lieutenant seems to have an appreciation for following hunches, and he’s probably the best investigator in the city.

“You think he’d help?” Gallo asks, perking up. 

“I don’t know, but it wouldn’t hurt to ask. Plus he was one of the people who narrowly escaped that fire, so he probably feels pretty strongly about it too.”

“We’d still have to get approval from a chief to reopen the case, and Casey’s made it pretty clear that’s not happening.”

“Maybe just investigate on the down low, you know keep it under the radar until you have something solid to give him that proves your right,” Ritter says. He’s not sure if Gallo is right about all this, but he’s going to have his back with it and be there for him. “But I’d try the apology route first.”