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yelenaslyubov · 2 months ago

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Carmilla

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✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧ pairing: vampire!yelena belova x fem!reader AU

✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧ warnings: almost smut (groping, kissing, everything but penetration/stimulation), sapphic yearning, sweet/dirty talk, mention of blood

✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧ description: based on the novel ‘carmilla,’ in the comfort of your family’s castle, a visitor shows up out of the blue. you are immediately intrigued, almost feeling as if you know her in some way. she entices you with her whole being and becomes the most fascinating thing you’ve ever come in contact with.

✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧ word count: 3.3k

You woke abruptly to a loud crack of thunder. It could have been the nightmare that was keeping you from sleep, but you did not want to dwell on such devilish thoughts. You rose from your bed with a creak and fled to the window. The raindrops were pelting the glass like a stampede of cattle against cobblestone. It was almost too much for your ears to bear to be at such a distance.

You looked beyond the window of your own tower to the abyss below. Having powerful storms such as this one made the daunting castle so much more intimidating.

As you squinted your eyes, you could see the dim glow of the street lights lit up despite the storm. They flickered from a combination of rain and wind that threatened to destroy their luminescence.

You saw the poor innkeeper that fought the wind as he walked back inside from checking the stalls. It seemed as if he could almost be swept up in the wind.

Since sleep felt out of the question at this time, you made yourself comfortable against the inside of your window and waited. You hoped the rain would pass soon so the branches may stop their incessant tapping against your windows.

You felt your eyes go dark as your eyelids fluttered shut. The rain became a companion of comfort now as it steadied, as well as lulled you to sleep.

The feeling did not last long as you heard a crash from down below. It took you a moment to compose yourself and wake up again before you looked down to survey the damage. You waited a moment to see if anyone down below heard the crash and were running to help, but there was no such luck.

You pulled on your robe to cover your nightdress while you dashed down the hall to your father’s room. It turned out that he had heard the crash as well and was already on his way out of his quarters.

“Father, you heard it as well?” you asked him.

“I did, my dear! I will go down at once to see what’s the matter.”

“I will come with you!”

He must have not heard you completely or else he would have stopped you by now since you were half way down the stairwell. You fled from the front doors of the castle and you were met with immediate rainfall. Your nightgown was soaked within seconds, but you couldn’t stop now as this was turning out to be the most interesting event to happen in your recent memory.

The rain and fog was clouding your vision, so you were only able to see the scene before you once you were closer. “What is it, father?” you yelled over the rain.

“It seems to be a crashed carriage. I am going to see if anyone has been injured.”

As you approached the damage, you could make out the small carriage that had flipped over on its side. Oddly enough, there was no horse to be found that could be pulling the carriage, only the carriage itself. There seemed to be no trace of any evidence on how the carriage came to your front entrance.

“Come, quickly!” your father shouted. “There’s a woman here!”

You ran to your father’s aid and saw the woman in question. The door of the carriage was open to reveal a dark haired woman spilling out. Her dress was disheveled beyond imagination and she looked to be unresponsive.

Your father turned her over on your back and you were able to see the mystery woman’s face now. Your eyes widened and you took a step back in shock.

“What’s the trouble, dear?” father asked you.

You hesitated. “Nothing at all… just surprised.”

Surprised was not quite the word you would use. Unnerved was more fitting.

The woman’s face was something out of a dream, a dream that you had. She seemed so familiar yet so distant and new. Her face was angelic, but held a darkness that pulled you in deeper than you wanted. Even with her unconscious you could feel the mystery radiating from her skin.

“We need to get her inside, it’s much too cold to be out here,” your father instructed.

Your father did most of the work to lift her up. Once her figure was upright, you took her unoccupied arm and wrapped it around your shoulder to help her inside.

Once you were able to get her inside, you carried her up the stairs and into a guest suite. Your father rushed to the fireplace in order to get a proper fire going to heat the room as well as the mystery woman’s cold body.

You did the honors of resting the woman’s head against the chaise lounge that was placed by the fire for convenience sake. You assumed it would be best to be as close to the fire as possible granted her condition.

You stood back and watched the woman sleeping while the fire cast its warm and wavering reflection upon her. Seduction seemed to be the appropriate word to use as you stared at her. You wanted to be as close to her as possible, but also far away from her danger that you couldn’t help but feel.

“Let’s let her rest,” your father said while giving your shoulder a gentle squeeze.

You gave a small nod and walked out behind your father, but not before giving the woman one more peculiar look. You escorted yourself back to your room and shut the door tightly. You were sure by now that the sun would be coming up very soon.

The fire in your own room threatened to go out, so you decided to feed it more and add another log or two. Once the fire was properly maintained you found yourself in bed once again with a new change of sleeping clothes, ones that were not soaked by the storm.

You drifted off to sleep faster than you had anticipated which was a nice surprise. Your sleep did not feel entirely fulfilling as you jolted awake from a nightmare once again, but this time it was light outside. The storm seemed to be a figment of your imagination, as the sky was blue and birds were singing their morning songs. It was almost as if last night had not existed whatsoever.

The woman. You wondered where she had gone. Was she still in her room? Had she fled the castle after she had awoken? Could she be wandering the halls? The opportunities for her were endless.

You decided to try your hand at her room first. You creeped down the hallway in order to prevent the creaks in the floor from completely blowing your cover.

Your hand hovered over the door nervously. Unless the woman had run away, you knew you would run into her eventually so you tried to get it over with as you knocked lightly on the door.

“…Come in.”

A deep voice spoke from behind the door and you stepped back. You half thought that the woman would be gone, and the other part of you that believed she stayed had not realized you could be even more entranced by her.

You pushed on the door and hesitantly walked through to come face to face with the mysterious woman. Her once pleasant looking face turned even whiter when she met your eyes. She seemed to be the epitome of confusion.

“I apologize if it is too much of an intrusion, but have we met before?” she asked you.

You felt it could be an interesting question to ask if you had not felt the exact same the moment you laid your gaze upon her. “I do not believe so, but I cannot help to feel the same.”

The confusion quickly turned to realization. “Your dreams…”

“Pardon?”

“I have seen your face in your dreams. It sounds most strange, but what I say is true. I do not know how or why, but you have plagued every thought as I sleep and I have seen you just last night.”

The more she explained, the stranger it sounded. People cannot invade one another’s dreams as she says, that is preposterous.

“You have been suffering from nightmares, no?” she asked you. She snaked closer to you, almost as if she did not walk but was transported nearer.

You nodded your head reluctantly.

“How would I know that if what I said is but a lie?”

You felt like there was a point to be made with what she said, but you still were not convinced. Since you really did not want to debate the topic any further, you decided to change the subject.

“I’m sorry, but I haven’t asked your name?” you asked the woman.

“My name is Yelena, and yours?”

“My name is y/n, pleased to meet you.”

“And you as well. This situation seems quite odd indeed, so may I ask, what exactly happened?” You could not imagine how this lonely woman felt being in such an accident, so you were not sure exactly how to phrase such a story.

“Well, it was the middle of the night and there was a terrible storm that kept me awake. One minute I was asleep, and the next I heard a great noise coming from the entrance of the castle. My father and I ran outside to see what was the matter and found your carriage with no horses to be found. We felt it was in our best judgment to bring you inside and get you warm before sending you on your way to your destination.”

Yelena smiled faintly and looked towards the ground. “The thing is, I cannot remember what destination that may be.”

She had a way of looking past your eyes and directly into your soul. You were sure it would soon swallow you whole.

“Well, while you are busy thinking about that, I will have clothes for you to borrow until then. Hopefully that will be suitable?”

“Of course, of course. I appreciate your hospitality and openness to me.”

In all fairness, you didn’t have much of a choice but you did not mind either way. You hoped that someone would do the same for you. So, instead of answering, you gave one courteous nod of your head in reply.

“Would you… like a tour of our home?” You didn’t think it would hurt to ask, as you didn’t know how long her stay would turn into.

“That would be most pleasant if you don’t mind!”

“Not at all,” you smiled.

You straightened out your dress and gave her a look that insisted she follow you. She was like a quiet mouse creeping behind you, you only knew she was there occasionally when she made a peep, but her footsteps were silent.

You took her up and down the hallways and the stairs, directing her to the abundance of rooms that she could explore in her free time. You turned around often to look at her and each time you tried, it seemed as if she was looking at you all along.

It was starting to become strange the amount of times you caught her staring at you and not the architecture that was crafted inside the castle. The only thing infatuating to her was you.

The way she watched you like a predator watches its prey was something to be studied in itself. There wasn’t one move you made that she wasn’t watching. There was power in your every move and you were well aware.

You kept on the same as you began and led her to the library. “It’s not much, but this is where I spend much of my time,” you told her.

“It is the most grand thing I have ever seen. I’ve never seen so many books before!”

You watched her face light up and you felt a rush of both happiness and pity. There were plenty of places that had more books than your silly old castle, but you were happy that there was someone else to appreciate it as much as you.

She jogged along the side of the shelves and ran her fingers down each book spine. She took care in feeling each one with tender care.

“I can’t believe it! I may just have to stay here forever,” she exclaimed. You mustered a small laugh in exchange.

“You are welcome to use it during all hours.”

She walked over to you and grabbed your hands. You felt an uncomfortable surge of coldness run through your body that was triggered by her touch. You did not know something could be so cold. You tried to pull your hands away instinctually, but she held on tighter.

“Your hospitality means everything to me. Thank you so very much.” She sounded genuine, which was quite contrasting to her natural chill.

Then, leaning in close, she brought her frozen lips towards your cheek. Time seemed to stop as her lips made the journey near you.

They gently touched your cheek in a most affirmative movement that somehow still felt soft. They were just as expected; chilled to the bone. The longer she lingered close to you the less you felt like you could restrain yourself.

Her touch against you was like a siren whisper that grew stronger. In your mind, you could see her hands all over you in an unabashed manner. Those hands could trail over your bodice, down your neck, and may even try and sneak under your precisely placed gown.

In an instant, your thoughts left as soon as they appeared. It did not go unnoticed by Yelena apparently. You could see it written on her face that something bothered you, almost as if she had already read every thought that had just occurred.

“We-we must keep moving,” you instructed.

“Lead the way, y/n.” She said your name as if it commanded power, the complete opposite of what it was.

In the next few days that passed, you and Yelena grew quite close. You would find her in the library during the wee hours of the night, whether that was reading a book or simply sitting and staring out into the beyond. During the day, you found her sleeping, which was quite strange.

You couldn’t get over just how odd the woman was, regardless of your relationship with her now. She had her strange quirks, and the wild thoughts always occurred when she touched you, just like they did before. Sometimes they were stronger or weaker, but you were now convinced that Yelena could read your mind.

She wore a smirk after each moment of skin to skin that happened. This was always accompanied by your red face that took over after the thoughts had passed.

This was nothing like the thoughts that became real the night when Yelena left for good.

This particular night, she was nowhere to be found in her usual spots. You tried her room for a change, even if it was the middle of the night.

You could hear the fire crackling and the orange light glowing from the outside the door. Instead of knocking, something inside you decided to push the door open instead. You see Yelena sitting on the lounge near the fire with a book in hand.

“I was wondering when you would come and find me,” she smiled.

“I did not know I was supposed to.”

“Sure you didn’t.” She had a way of making every conversation into something quite sensual.

She patted the spot next to her, instructing you to come sit down. You anxiously walked over to her with the creaking floor below you as your guide. You plopped yourself down on the lounge with a bounce.

“What took you so long to find me, dear?” she asked, her voice dropping an octave lower. She quickly put the book down while her hand found your hair. Her fingers twirled through it so seductively, each fiber prickling against your skin and sending you shivering.

“Hmm?” she asked this time, feeling more like a demand as time went on.

“Uhm, I checked all your usual spots and did not seem to find you. I heard the crackling of the fire and it led me here.”

“Good thing you found me then hmm.”

She had moved from twirling your hair to almost petting it. Then, her hand brushed against your shoulder and that is when the thoughts found you once again, but they did not feel exactly like your imagination. The thoughts that impeded your mind felt more like a promise rather than a dream this time.

Her nails dragged up and down your arm which felt almost like lines of frozen crystals were left in its place. Her lips followed, their chilly touch exploring the bare parts of your shoulder. The closer they became to your neck, the more you wanted to give in. You were sure now that this was not a dream.

“Why would it be a dream?”

Your body was rigid after the question. She indeed knew every thought you had had about her and this was the finale.

“I waited so long to be able to touch you like this. Knowing it’s no longer living in your mind makes it so much sweeter,” she cooed.

You found yourself leaning against the side of the lounge while Yelena had her way with you. It was the same feeling as before, but this time it was more real. Because it was real. She was real.

She kissed on every untouched part of your neck as her long nails dug into the space behind your neck. It took everything in you not to scream from the pain and pleasure.

“It’s alright to feel it. I want you to feel everything,” she whispered, her voice once again resembling a siren call.

Her hands were everywhere she could reach before making it too risqué. You had never experienced anything quite this heavenly in your life. There was nothing that was stopping you to act on your feelings, but you were so distracted by Yelena that you felt paralyzed.

She soaked up the feeling and taste of your skin as she moved down your arms and your legs. Each brush of her lips and tongue make your hair stand on edge and your back arch.

“Almost done, sweet girl.”

Almost done? You did not know that there was an end you were waiting for.

Before reaching under your dress, Yelena stopped. She came up to you once again where you could see her dilated pupils, hungry for something you were uncertain of.

This time when she smiles, there was a mischievous flare that you did not miss. In addition, you did not miss the way that her teeth seemed to change before your eyes. Either way, you seemed stuck in a daze that did not quit.

She lowered her mouth down to the side of your neck and kissed and sucked. The action became stronger… and stronger. It reached its peak before a sting of pain.

“Ouch!” You were suddenly brought out of your trance and sat up. There was a trickle of blood that started at the top of your neck and ran down over the front of your dress.

You got up from the lounge and walked across the room to find something to dab the blood off. There was a sting when you placed the cloth over your injury.

You spend so much time caring for your wound that you had forgotten all about Yelena who was recently suffocating you with lust. You looked around the room and she was nowhere to be found.

To your surprise, it was light outside and you were not sure exactly how that happened so quickly. You went to search the castle looking for her. She was not in the library, her room, your room, or anywhere in between.

Yelena seemed to vanish before your very eyes, as there was no trace of the mysterious woman you had come to call a friend.

All that was left was the lust she had burned into you as her final goodbye.

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knivestothroats · 4 months ago

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In The Woods Somewhere + Professional//Victim Crossover AU

@victimeyez and I like to play with our OCs together like dolls. We came up with a number of ways Tommy ends up with Fletcher but this is a "my mom sold me to one direction" type AU where Fletcher buys Tommy to basically replace Buck.

CW: long term captivity/human trafficking, withholding food (in past), physical violence, burning, dubious consent sort of, guns in places they shouldn't be

read In The Woods Somewhere here || read Professional//Victim here

Scene 1

Tommy hadn’t experienced a thunderstorm in years.

It rained sometimes when he was on his way to a client, but having lived in a basement for the last five years, he had forgotten their intensity. How loud the incessant, arrhythmic rainfall echoed down from the roof. How lightning could suddenly illuminate the whole room in a flash. How he could feel the house shake with the roar of thunder. Or maybe it was just him shaking. He felt like a dog on the fourth of July.

It was stupid, after everything he’d been through, to be afraid of the weather.

A bright flash through the window again, followed shortly by a crack of thunder that he could feel in his chest. They were getting closer together.

There’s no way Tommy could sleep. He was sitting up in his bed in his new home, knees to his chest with his arms wrapped around.

As much as he loathed Caius, he did provide comfort at times. It was twisted, but it was something. Fletcher… he wasn’t sure about. They had been more reserved so far, treating him with a sort of casual amiability. But Tommy was well aware how Fletcher reveled in inflicting pain. He just hadn’t figured out yet when and why they shed the wool to become the wolf.

Another flash. Tommy tried to brace himself, but he still jumped at the thunder.

Tommy swung his legs off the bed. He stared at the door for a second before going through into the hallway. It was still strange to not be locked in.

He walked gently down the dark hallway. He knew where Fletcher’s room was - they had pointed it out on his first day with a strict do not enter.

Tommy stood outside Fletcher’s bedroom door. He rubbed his hands over his arms.

This was ridiculous. Going to Fletcher for comfort? Like a child waking up their parents after having a bad dream? During a thunderstorm of all things. He should just go back to -

Flash. Crack.

Tommy knocked on Fletcher’s door. He tried to listen for movement over the sound of the rain. They probably hadn’t even heard him over the din. Maybe he should knock again, or maybe he should go back -

Fletcher opened the door, wearing just a t-shirt, gym shorts, and bed head. They squinted at him in the dark.

“What?”

“I’m sorry,” was the first thing out of Tommy’s mouth. “I, um. I can’t sleep and, um…”

Fletcher was silhouetted as their room lit up. The thunder followed so quickly behind, rumbling through the house, that Tommy didn’t have time to count.

Fletcher saw Tommy flinch hard, drawing his shoulders up by his ears.

“You’re scared of thunder?”

Tommy felt his face redden, in spite of himself. He should be incapable of embarrassment at this point, after all the humiliation he was put through, but he just felt childish.

“Alright, come in,” Fletcher said with a yawn, moving aside to make way. “Don’t try to kill me in my sleep.”

“Really?” Tommy asked, perking up. He took a hesitant step into the room. “Can I, um, do you mind if I share the bed?”

“Yeah I assumed that was what you were asking,” Fletcher grumbled, shutting the door behind him.

Fletcher took their side first, and Tommy took the other. He laid stiff in the bed, making sure they had a gap between them. Tommy had wondered if sharing the bed would come with a cost, putting himself in a vulnerable position within Fletcher’s grasp. But Fletcher had turned their back to him, sleeping on their side.

He was still on edge. Was sleeping beside Fletcher really better than being alone?

There was a flicker of lightning, followed by a grumble of thunder. Not as loud this time, but enough to make Tommy nervous.

Tommy turned on his side as well and carefully scooted over until his back was brushing against Fletcher’s. He held his breath, but they didn’t react.

Tommy could feel their warmth seep into him. He let out a slow breath. It was definitely better than being alone.

Fletcher had managed to tune out the storm into white noise, but they were a light sleeper, forever on edge. They opened their eyes in the darkness, listening to Tommy murmur and shift in his sleep.

Fletcher rolled over and draped their arm over Tommy’s middle.

“Shhh,” they hushed gently.

Tommy’s shirt had ridden up, and he whimpered when Fletcher made contact with his skin.

Fletcher tensed up at the noise. Tommy was definitely asleep, but that whimper was perfect. They wondered if he practiced it for his clients. It was difficult to resist the urge to wrap their arm tight around him and squeeze, trying to elicit the sound again.

Fletcher moved their hand over Tommy’s bare torso. They could feel his ribs too distinctly beneath his skin. Caius and the others probably had him skipping meals. Whether to keep up his waifish victim aesthetic, to keep him weak, to punish him, or just from neglect. Fletcher figured he would put on weight quickly here. He was going to need to, if he was going to keep up with the work Fletcher had for him to do around the lodge.

“Get up.”

Tommy gasped awake as a hand jostled him from his sleep. He looked around quickly, getting his bearings, and saw Fletcher leaning over him.

“I’m getting up, you can’t stay in my room alone,” Fletcher said.

“Oh,” Tommy rubbed his eyes. “Right. Okay. Thank you… for letting me sleep here.”

“Uh huh,” Fletcher said. “I’m making breakfast.”

“Do you want me to help?”

“Mm, I’ll let you know.”

“Okay… do you want me to make your bed?” Tommy offered, trying to show his gratitude.

“No,” Fletcher said flatly. They gestured to the door.

“Right, sorry.” Tommy hurried out of the room. “Um, would it be alright if I took a shower? Or do you want me to wait?”

“All yours, bud,” Fletcher said, closing the door shut behind them. “Just don’t take too long. You want to get the breakfast while it’s hot.”

Tommy turned the water up as hot as he could stand. It staved off the chill that seemed to linger in the lodge. He allowed himself a few moments to just stand under the stream after he had washed, but Fletcher had told him not to take long, and he didn’t want to push it.

Tommy dried and dressed quickly, scrunching his hair with the shirt he had slept in and finger-combing it out of his face. He made his way to the kitchen, which was already calling his name with rich, savory smells.

Fletcher was standing at the stove, stirring one pan with a spatula while another sizzled away next to them.

“What smells so good?” Tommy asked, trying to peer into the pans.

“Onions and bacon, mostly,” Fletcher said.

“Do you need any help?” Tommy offered.

There was a pop, pop as a pair of bagels sprung up from a two-sided toaster.

“Yeah, grab those bagels for me and add butter and cream cheese. There’s plates in that cabinet, silverware in that drawer.”

Tommy moved swiftly to do as he was told.

When he had plated them, Fletcher carried over the first pan.

“Okay, get out of my way.”

It was said lightheartedly, but Tommy still leapt back.

“Just take a seat,” Fletcher nodded to the kitchen table. “It’s ready.”

Tommy sat down and watched as Fletcher assembled the plates, but their body was blocking his view. It wasn’t until they set his breakfast down in front of him that he was able to take it in.

Scrambled eggs with multicolor peppers, strips of bacon, a sausage, and the bagel he had prepared.

He couldn’t believe how much his mouth was watering.

“It’s veggie sausage,” Fletcher said. “I only had a couple left. Oh - you want coffee?”

Tommy looked up at them wide eyed. Fletcher had told him on the first day that he could help himself to food in the kitchen, but he had been too afraid to touch their coffee maker. Even when there was a pot already made, he had been too anxious that he wasn’t supposed to take any.

“Yes, please.”

“How do you take it?” Fletcher asked, getting a mug from the shelf. It was designed to look like a can of Campbell’s tomato soup.

“A lot of sugar and cream,” Tommy said. “Please. If you don’t mind.”

Fletcher heaped two spoonfuls of sugar into the mug and then looked in the fridge.

“Mm, I just have oat milk right now.”

“Okay, that’s fine, thank you,” Tommy said, even though he had never tried it before.

Fletcher splashed some into the mug before pouring the steaming coffee on top. They gave it a stir and set it down in front of Tommy.

Tommy hadn’t touched his food. He stared at the spread before him, not quite believing it was really for him.

Fletcher settled down across the table with their matching meal and began to eat.

“I don’t know where to start,” Tommy said in a small voice.

“Eggs,” Fletcher provided.

Tommy scooped up a forkful of the scrambled eggs and took his first bite.

It wasn’t just peppers, there were onions and cheese mixed in as well. The texture was perfect - they weren't dry or runny.

“Wow,” Tommy said. He followed it with a long sip of coffee. It wasn’t as sweetened as he would have made it for himself once upon a time, but it was hot and rich and maybe the best cup he’d ever had.

He might actually start crying.

“The secret is cream cheese,” Fletcher said, gesturing to his eggs with their fork. “And to scramble it in the pan. How’s the coffee?”

“So good,” Tommy said. “Thank you.”

“Mhm.” Fletcher started to pile their eggs and bacon onto the bagel. “How often were you being fed before?”

“Um, twice a day, usually,” Tommy said. “Sometimes… less.”

Fletcher nodded. “Figured. You need to start increasing your caloric intake. I need you to do work around here and I don’t want you passing out after an hour in the garden.”

Tommy took a bite of the bagel. The layer of butter under the cream cheese felt so indulgent.

“If it means I get to eat like this every day, I am more than happy to oblige,” Tommy said.

“Well, I’m not cooking every meal for you,” Fletcher said. “But I want you to eat.”

I want you to eat.

Even if it was to work him like a dog, it was so much better than being worked like a dog on an empty stomach. Despite Fletcher’s generally cold aloofness and passing threats, despite having been the victim of their bloodlust in the past, Tommy felt oddly cared for.

He took another bite of the eggs and hoped he could get Fletcher to teach him how to cook like this.

Scene 2

Fletcher had their sleeves rolled tightly up above their elbows. On their hands they wore black disposable gloves. Tommy watched as those hands deftly sectioned the chickens into pieces, their well-sharpened knife effortlessly cutting through the flesh.

Tommy had to let his eyes drift away. He watched Fletcher’s arms instead. They tended to hide their form under layers, but every time they rolled up their sleeves, it revealed their muscle tone. Tommy wondered why they didn’t show it off - most people would. He noticed as well, as he watched, that Fletcher had some lighter lines on their skin - old scars haphazardly slashed into their arms. He imagined them getting into knife fights. He imagined them holding someone down by the throat with both hands, arms tensed, as their victim clawed at their skin to no avail.

Fletcher moved the chicken pieces into a bowl of marinade. Spice bottles were cluttering the counter around it.

Fletcher covered the bowl and set it aside. They cleaned up, discarding their gloves and disinfecting their work space.

Tommy had been tasked with washing the potatoes he and Fletcher had harvested from the garden. Fletcher had asked him to take his time, making sure each one was free of dirt in the divots, as they wouldn’t be peeling them. He was worried, when Fletcher turned to him, that they would be angry he hadn’t gotten through the whole crop, but they merely began to take from the clean pile and start cutting them into chunks.

“When you’re done with that can you go through the green beans and just make sure to snap all the stems off?” Fletcher asked.

Tommy nodded. “Sure.”

They had picked the beans together as well. It felt nice to be doing something actually productive for a change.

When they were done, Fletcher dumped the potatoes into a big pot of water but didn’t light the stove. They sighed, looking at the clock and chewed their lip a moment.

“I should’ve started this earlier. I’m already starting to get hungry,” Fletcher said. “I just want everything to be done at the same time.”

Fletcher shook their head like they were hoping the thoughts would fall into place. They took a baking sheet and returned to the chicken, laying the pieces out.

“I’m done,” Tommy said from his spot at the table with his bowl of beans. He swept the stem pieces into his hand and got up to dump them in the trash.

“Ah-ah!” Fletcher waved their hand at him, causing Tommy to stop abruptly. “Compost.”

“Right, sorry.” Tommy ducked his head.

“Just give the beans a rinse and then you’re done for now,” Fletcher said. “I’ll call you back when it’s ready.”

It was a while later when Fletcher called Tommy back into the kitchen. He was sitting out on the back deck, just feeling the sun on his skin and listening to the birds, when Fletcher opened the door and leaned out.

“I need your help,” they said.

Tommy jumped up and followed them in.

“I forgot to make fucking gravy,” Fletcher growled. “I just need you to mash the potatoes for me while I whip this up. And just shake the pan with the green beans occasionally to move them around.”

The kitchen was hot now, and Tommy quickly shrugged off his sweatshirt before taking over the potatoes. Fletcher was mixing ingredients when there was a thud above them, followed by an indiscernible shout, followed by, “Fletcherrrrr!”

“Jesus Christ,” Fletcher rolled their eyes. “Okay in like two minutes you need to take the chicken out of the oven and check it. 165. Don’t forget to shake the pan.” They rattled off instructions as they marched out of the kitchen.

Tommy kept an eye on the clock, rolling the beans in their saute oil. They looked kind of brown? He looked closer, not wanting Fletcher to come back and find them burned. Hm, no, he was pretty sure it was whatever they were being cooked in. Balsamic maybe? There were chopped onions in with it as well, and those similarly looked a little brown but not burnt.

He checked the clock again. Okay, two minutes. Tommy looked around the counter, seeing the thermometer but no oven mitts. There was one pot holder laying out, and he folded the towel hanging off the oven door to go with it.

The tray was heavily laden with the chicken, heavier than Tommy expected it to be. He tried to adjust his grip so it didn’t tip backwards, but his adjustments shifted his fingertips off the towel.

Tommy quickly pulled his hand away from the heat. Now holding the tray with one hand, it began to go sideways. Instinctively he tried to catch it, only serving to touch the hot metal again. This time, his brain - desperate to keep him from making the same mistake a third time - drew back his hands completely and the tray clattered to the floor, scattering the chicken.

Tommy’s heart leapt to his throat. He dropped to his hands and knees and picked up a piece of chicken, dropping it immediately.

It’s hot, it’s all fucking hot, he berated himself. He started using the towel to scoop up the chicken. He didn’t know what to do with it, so he piled it back onto the tray. His heart was beating so loudly in his ears he didn’t hear Fletcher’s footsteps. It wasn’t until he saw their boots that he looked up.

As if they had materialized before him, summoned by his fuck up, Fletcher stood glowering down at him. They held a bloody rag in their hand from whatever they had been dealing with upstairs.

“I’m sorry,” Tommy said. “I’ll… I’ll…” Fix it? How was he going to fix it?

Fletcher closed their eyes and dug the heel of their palm into their temple.

“Do you have any idea the amount of effort that went into this dinner?”

“I know, I’m sorry-” Tommy started again.

Fletcher cut him off. “You don’t know. I had to drive an hour and a half just to get these chickens. Every time I have to leave the lodge it’s a fucking ordeal. I don’t know if you’ve noticed this, but there’s not much around here. I can’t run to the grocery store without making a day of it. I can’t order fucking take out to fix this. You do know how long this took me today to put together.”

“I do, I know, I’m sorry, I’m sorry-”

Fletcher reached down and slammed Tommy’s head against the cabinets.

“Stop fucking saying you’re sorry! I know you’re fucking sorry! What happened?”

Tommy held his head, trying to blink his vision back after it whited out.

Fletcher crouched down on their haunches and grabbed Tommy by the front of his shirt, giving him a quick shake.

“Hey! What the fuck happened?”

“I, uh, I burned my hand…” Tommy said, keeping his eyes low. He held back another “sorry.”

“You burned your hand?” Fletcher repeated unsympathetically. “Where?”

Tommy glanced up at them and hesitantly opened up his hand to them. Fletcher grabbed his wrist with more force than necessary.

“You think this is a burn?” They snarled. “I’ll show you a fucking burn.”

Fletcher took Tommy’s hand and pressed it down against the still hot metal pan.

Tommy screamed and Fletcher allowed him to jerk his arm away. He cradled his hand to his chest, tears escaping from his eyes.

Fletcher stood again, looking down on him.

“Don’t bother getting up. You’re going to be scrubbing the floor.”

Fletcher turned around to storm off, only to see the three trainees leaning around the doorway to observe.

“The fuck are you looking at?” Fletcher snapped.

One held up their hands and made themself scarce.

“Does this mean there’s no dinner?” Another asked.

“There’s potatoes,” Fletcher grumbled. Then they suddenly turned back and dashed to the pan of green beans, taking it off the heat. They inspected the vegetables, ignoring Tommy sniffling on the ground, trying to scoop up the chicken with one hand. “Yeah, these are fine. There’s also green beans.”

Scene 3

Tommy had experienced more types of pain than he could count, but burning was usually off the table to clients. Too much deep tissue damage. It was scary to think that his hand may never be the same. And if it was to recover, it was going to do so at the slow, agonizing crawl of natural healing.

Tommy did his best not to flinch as Fletcher applied the cream to his burns. He just had to suck air between his teeth and not complain.

“How’s it feel?” Fletcher asked once they had finished wrapping the gauze.

“It stings,” Tommy said pitifully. “It feels like I’m still being burned. Do you think… do you think it’s going to be okay? Eventually?”

“Well, if you want to give me the information of that doctor you used to see, I’m sure he can give you a magic healing potion or whatever the fuck. Once I decide you’ve suffered enough.”

Tommy’s stomach flopped. He would take a burn any day of the week if it meant he never had to see Sam again.

“Please don’t take me back to him,” Tommy begged softly.

Fletcher raised an eyebrow, but said no more on the subject. They peeled off their gloves.

“Then here’s how it will go. It’ll hurt, and then it will blister, and then the blisters will pop. You have to keep it clean so it doesn’t get infected. If you find yourself unable to do simple tasks because you can’t use one of your hands, you can come find me…” Fletcher took his chin in their hand. “And beg for my help.”

Tommy slept with his hand cradled against his chest. There was a brief moment of peace when he awoke before he began to feel the throb of the burns.

He kept his arm close to his torso as he walked to the kitchen, trying to think of what he could make for himself. Surely he could manage a bowl of cereal with one hand.

The box was easy enough. Tommy got the milk from the fridge. Oh yeah - oat milk. He held the container between his arm and his side, twisting the cap off with his good hand. Looked like milk.

He thought about pouring some into a glass to try, when Fletcher walked in, carrying dirty dishes to the sink.

They glanced in Tommy’s direction, then away, saying nothing.

“I can-” it came out quiet and hoarse. Tommy cleared his throat and tried again. “I can wash those.”

“Can you?” Fletcher asked without looking back at him.

“Um, I can, well, I can try…” Tommy offered.

Fletcher turned to face him now, leaning back on the counter. “If you drop something, and it breaks,” they said, “I am not going to be happy.”

Tommy paled. “Is there - is there something else you would like me to do?”

“Not really,” Fletcher said. They walked out of the room.

Tommy wasn’t sure what he was supposed to do. They hadn’t told him not to do the dishes, just not to break them. And if he misinterpreted their response as a no, and they came back to find that he hadn’t washed them, they might be angry.

His strategy for washing dishes with one hand was to lay them in the sink, scrub them there with one hand as best he could, and then move them into the stream of water.

It took longer, and was more awkward - they kept sliding around - but he was able to do it.

When Tommy found Fletcher next, they were out behind the lodge chopping wood. He watched them raise the axe over their shoulder and swing down on the log, cleaving it easily in two.

“Do you want any help?” Tommy called out, keeping his distance.

“No,” Fletcher called back, setting up the log again.

Tommy hesitated. “Is there anything you would like me to-“

“What the fuck did I just say?”

Chop.

Tommy left them alone the rest of the day. He kept to his room, trying to give Fletcher space now that they had made it clear they didn’t want him around. For a while he tried to read, but he struggled to find a comfortable way to both hold the book and flip the pages. He ended up pacing the floor, filled with anxious nerves that urged him to do something.

He had been having such a… if not good, unquestionably better time here than he’d had with Caius and the rest. This was a bad turn. It didn’t have to be like this. He just had to make it up to Fletcher somehow; get back in their good graces

He had tried to make himself useful around the house without much success. It was true that what he could do would be limited while his hand was injured. Which meant he had to rely on other skills to make himself useful.

Everyone else had gone to bed. It was just Fletcher sitting on the couch, illuminated only by the fluctuating light of the TV screen. They had a beer in one hand, resting on the arm of the couch.

Tommy approached slowly, tugging on the hem of his shirt with anxiousness. Fletcher didn’t acknowledge him, even when he was standing in front of the couch. He kept to the side enough not to block their view.

It was only when Tommy lowered himself to his knees that Fletcher said, “What?” without taking their eyes off the screen.

“I’m really sorry about the dinner,” Tommy said. His stomach rippled with anxiety.

“I know,” Fletcher said flatly. “You’ve said.”

Tommy swallowed. He hesitantly leaned in and nuzzled his cheek against Fletcher’s leg.

Fletcher finally looked down at him.

“I would like to make it up to you.”

“How’s that?”

Fletcher said it flatly. Disinterested, still annoyed. There was no flirtation nor cruel amusement in their voice.

Tommy swallowed. Was this a bad idea? Or was he not making it obvious enough? Most people would jump on him at the mere suggestion.

Tommy put a hand on Fletcher’s knee and ran in gently up their thigh. Not far, not overstepping. Just trying to give them the right idea. He looked up at them with his best wet dog expression.

“Okay,” Fletcher said.

They set their beer down on the end table and shifted their pose, spreading their legs a little more. Tommy dutifully shuffled in between.

Nothing you haven’t done before, he told himself. It’ll be better afterwards.

“Close your eyes.” Fletcher said. And once he had, “Open your mouth.”

Tommy opened his mouth, sticking his tongue out a little. He waited, listening to Fletcher shift on the couch. Probably opening their pants. A click, that must’ve been their belt buckle.

What entered his mouth was too big, too hard, too metallic.

Tommy’s eyes flew open as the barrel of the gun forced his jaw wider. He tried to pull back, but Fletcher snatched a fistful of his hair and held him in place.

Tommy whimpered that beautiful whimper, but it was more rounded, more frantic.

“Breathe through your nose,” Fletcher said.

Tommy squeezed his eyes shut and followed the order. He tried to breathe deep and slow through his nose. He tried to keep his tongue down as far as he could, to not gag and to not taste the oiled metal.

“I want you to look at me now.”

Tommy slowly opened his eyes. Fletcher was staring down at him impassively.

“Don’t try this shit with me again.”

Tommy couldn’t nod, so he did his best to make an “Uh huh” noise.

Fletcher withdrew the gun. Tommy doubled forward and hacked. His mouth was left with an awful taste.

“Don’t spit on the floor,” Fletcher said. They picked up a magazine from the cushion beside them and slid it back into the gun. “Go.”

Tommy clamored to his feet and ran off. He managed to get to his room and close the door before fully breaking down into sobs, sliding down to the floor.

He had just been trying to make things better.

Tommy cried himself to sleep. Nothing new. He had just hoped to break the habit.

He shuffled into the kitchen in the morning, and froze when he saw Fletcher sitting at the table, nursing a mug of coffee.

Tommy dropped his gaze quickly. He tried to decide quickly whether he should leave now, or grab some food and then leave.

“Hey,” Fletcher said. It was softer than Tommy expected. “Sit.”

No running now. Tommy drew out the chair across from them and sat down, still avoiding their gaze.

“I recognize… that I have been harsh,” Fletcher said.

Tommy slowly lifted his eyes towards them, trying to read their expression. Was this a trick? Was he supposed to tell them he deserved it all? Was he supposed to believe them, and be lulled into a false sense of security?

“I didn’t give you a concussion, but, you know, the head can be tricky. And your hand…” They looked for the words. “I try to - I want to keep you in working condition. Nothing that’s going to really put you out of commission for a while. So that probably won’t happen again. Not to your hands. And the gun…” Fletcher ran a hand over their face. “The gun was a lot. That was uncool of me because, you know, gun safety rules.”

Tommy’s mouth was hanging slightly ajar. Was this an apology? At least, as close as Fletcher could get to one? He had expected something closer to, I recognize I’ve been harsh, but if you behaved I wouldn’t have to do these things.

“I know how it feels to have a gun on you,” Fletcher continued. They were the one to look away now. “And I… forget, I guess. That most people aren’t used to it. Can’t shake it off.

“Look, I’m not… not gonna say it will never happen again, but it probably won’t be this bad most of the time. Plenty of days will go by without incident, I’m sure. But I am… a violent person. I have violent tendencies, and I get angry. And I’m not trying to curb these tendencies because I enjoy indulging in them. So…” They tapped their knuckles on the table and shrugged. “That’s the situation. We’re square, for now. So you don’t need to be skulking around anymore. And… nevermind, I was going to say something mean.”

Tommy shifted uncomfortably. “About last night?”

“Yeah.”

“What, I’m not your type?”

Fletcher chuckled. “I was going to say when I want to take sexual advantage of you, I’ll let you know; you don’t have to initiate.”

“Right,” Tommy muttered, looking down again.

“I’m joking,” Fletcher said. “You can tell from my lighthearted expression.” They pointed at their face, purposely putting on a grumpy look. “Anyway, I’m planning my lesson for today. Might have to throw you around a bit for the demo. Nothing personal.”

“Oh,” Tommy said. “Okay, um…”

Fletcher was already up, carrying their coffee out of the room. “Get some breakfast,” they reminded him. “Three meals a day.”

~~~

hm i kind of thought our taglists would overlap more. good luck everyone.

@suspicious-whumping-egg @whumpyourdamnpears @generic-whumperz @lonesome--hunter

@whumplr-reader @theelvishcowgirl @sunshiline-writes @dont-be-gentle-please @galesgallery

@2in1whump @sparrowsage @apokolyps @whumpinggrounds

@morning-star-whump @leviiio @alexmundaythrufriday

@defire @jumpywhumpywriter @watermelons-dont-grow-on-trees

@light-me-on-pyre @slighlydisturbedbeans @dislexiher @paperprinxe @desert-dyke

@just-a-whumping-racoon-with-wifi @burtlederp @whatwasmyprevioususername @cursedandtired

@whump-only @misspelledwitch @redstainedsocks @thehopelessopus @im-just-here-for-the-whump

@thatsthewhump @aqua-blogging @utopian819 @whumpinggoodtime @pretty-face-breaker

#in the woods somewhere #itws #professional//victim #writings #original #i feel like oat milk kinda came on the scene like 5-6 years ago right?#i remember trying it for the first time at my job that i quit in 2019 #so i dont think tommy would have had oat milk #unless the boys™️ drank it #seems like something rory might do

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whencyclopedia · 12 days ago

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Siege of Detroit

The Siege of Detroit (15-16 August 1812) was one of the first major actions of the War of 1812. After a botched invasion of Canada, a US army retreated to Fort Detroit, where it was besieged by British and Native American forces under Major General Isaac Brock and Shawnee chieftain Tecumseh. The Americans quickly capitulated, leaving Detroit in British hands.

Background: March to Detroit

By April 1812, war between the United States and the United Kingdom seemed just over the horizon. On the high seas, British warships had been boarding American merchantmen and impressing American sailors with impunity, while on the northwestern frontier, British agents were believed to be aiding two Shawnee brothers, Tecumseh and the Prophet, in their attempt to form a Native American confederacy and resist US encroachment onto their hunting grounds. In Congress, a clique of belligerent, newly-elected representatives – called 'War Hawks' – clamored for war, despite the reluctance of the general population and the underpreparedness of the military. To prepare for a conflict that seemed increasingly likely, the administration of President James Madison looked to shore up defenses in the northwest, where the US shared a border with British-controlled Canada.

As part of this plan, the Madison administration ordered a new army to be raised in the Michigan Territory and then marched to the outpost of Fort Detroit. William Hull, the 59-year-old governor of the Michigan Territory, was commissioned as a brigadier general and offered the command. Hull, a veteran of the American Revolutionary War, was reluctant to accept – he had, after all, recently suffered a stroke – but his fear of an increase in Native American attacks against Michigan settlers led him to take the command. On 25 May, Hull arrived in Dayton, Ohio, where his makeshift army was being assembled, and was dismayed at what he found. The volunteers were noisy and undisciplined, lacking adequate arms or powder. Organized into three militia regiments, the volunteers insisted on electing their own officers. As such, the men they selected as colonels – Duncan McArthur, James Findlay, and Lewis Cass – were all either politicians or aspiring politicians, men with no military experience.

After a botched army inspection in which Hull was nearly flung from his horse, the army of Ohio volunteers set out on 1 June. Proceeding at a slow pace, they reached the frontier community of Urbana ten days later, where they were joined by Lt. Colonel James Miller and a regiment of regulars, the 4th US Infantry. At Urbana, some of Hull's volunteers refused to go any further, claiming that they had not received the full pay that had been promised to them. Though they were eventually prodded along by Miller's regulars, it was not a promising start. A few days later another incident took place when one militiaman, drunk on moonshine, was startled by a noise in the dark and shot one of his fellow sentries. The man was promptly court-martialed and given the "grotesque sentence" of having his ears cropped and each cheek branded (Berton, 94). The army then marched into the Great Black Swamp, northwest of Ohio, where incessant rainfalls had overflown streams and turned the ground to mud. Meanwhile, they were, unbeknownst to them, being closely watched by Tecumseh's scouts, hiding amongst the trees.

On 26 June, Hull received a letter from the US Secretary of War dated 18 June, warning him that war was imminent and ordering him to get to Detroit "with all possible speed". On 1 July, Hull reached the mouth of the Maumee River where he hired the schooner Cuyahoga and loaded it with anything that was slowing the army down, including his personal dispatches, officers' baggage, extra uniforms, medical supplies, and around 30 sick men. The Cuyahoga then sailed into Lake Erie to transport the supplies to Detroit. The next day, Hull received a second letter from Washington, also dated 18 June, informing him that war had been declared, but it was too late to recall the schooner. As it attempted to enter the Detroit River, the Cuyahoga, carrying Hull's dispatches, was captured by a Canadian vessel. On 5 July, Hull finally reached Detroit, where he was joined by several companies of Michigan militia, bringing his total number to about 2,500 men. Hull, whose army was running dangerously low on supplies, had hoped to find food in Detroit but was disappointed.

#History #American #Americans #Amherstburg #WHE #[#]

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janedoeswriting · 10 months ago

Text

The Way The Wind Blows (Stiles x OC)

CHAPTER ONE

Description: Rhiannon finds herself trapped within her guilty pleasure tv show— Teen Wolf. Now, she must choose which path to take… one that leads back home, and another that follows uncertain adventure.

Tags: extreme slow burn, frienemies to lovers, fix it fic, canon change, actions have consequences.

TW: smut??, angst, fluff, sexual harassment, anxiety, depression, obsession, domestic violence, manipulation, etc. Just please do not read if you are sensitive to difficult subjects.

youtube

(Wish You Were Here - Pink Floyd)

Rhiannon tried not to look at the clock. The time grew ever closer to midnight without sympathy. The television lit up the room in flashes of light.

Familiar characters spoke. Their voices were the only sound, other than Rhiannon’s sigh. She had school in the morning. Binge watching Teen Wolf wasn’t exactly a good idea. If she didn’t go to sleep soon, she’d be screwed. But these days, watching an old favorite TV show was the only thing keeping her mind distracted.

Wind outside rattled the window. A storm was on its way in. The wind wasn’t uncommon in a place like Florida. A tropical storm warning had been issued earlier that afternoon. Rhiannon checked the clock. 12:05 am. She pursed her lips and continued to watch the screen.

Gradually, her eyelids grew heavier and heavier. Her body sunk deeper within her cozy bed. Her cat’s purring and warmth lulled her like a lullaby. The television continued to play as Rhiannon’s breathing slowed and she fell into sleep.

A crack of thunder so loud it shook the house caused Rhiannon to jump. Her heart raced, and the lights in the street went out. Rhiannon looked to the TV only to find it had shut off, along with all the other lights in the house. Her cat scurried underneath the bed.

Rhiannon groaned and fell back into the sheets. A strange feeling washed over her— as if she had just woken up from a really good dream. One that she couldn’t remember.

Almost as quickly as Rhiannon thought it, the street lamps flickered back on. The tv lit up too, but instead of the home screen or Teen Wolf, a static screen lit up her room. Rhiannon sighed. The buzzing noise was incessant. She got up and approached the screen.

A strange humming sound behind the static noise caused Rhiannon to slow her approach. Her eyebrows furrowed and she hesitated. The humming was getting louder— like the deep guttural voice of an animal. But it was methodical. Almost as if the voice was singing. Her cat hissed from under the bed.

Rhiannon stepped forward and stretched her hand to the screenHer body moved in a trance, and something like an anchor tied to a line pulled at her gut. All she knew is that she had to touch it.

Her fingers pressed against the warm screen. She was zapped by static electricity, and jumped back. That was the last thing Rhiannon remembered before she woke up.

Before everything she had ever known turned upside down.

—

Stiles was growing more and more frustrated with Scott's blatant disregard for what was right in front of them.

"I'm telling you, Scott. That's not normal."

The blue jeep flew down the road. The fresh rainfall slickened the pavement and reflected the lights illuminating the road. The sound of the tires whsshed down the street.

"Deer don't just run into windshields. Especially when the car isn't even moving," Stiles continued. Scott nodded, but Stiles could tell his best friend's mind was elsewhere.

"Stiles, it was clearly confused. Maybe it was sick." Scott said as he looked out the passenger window. Scott was still upset that his tattoo, which he'd painfully sat two hours for and spent money on, had healed. He held his arm with the ghost of the feeling that it was still there.

But mostly, it had to do with a girl.

"Or maybe it was terrified, huh? Did you think of that?" Scott didn't even try to disguise his lack of interest. "Did you see the way Allison looked at me. Did she look like... Did she look like she missed me?" Scott asked hopefully.

He was still rocked by Allison and Lydia's sudden appearance out of nowhere, and then the events that followed. A deer crashing through the girls' windshield. Mr. Argent and Mrs. Martin rushing to the scene with worry. A deputy showing up and taking a report, and a tow truck carrying Lydia's car off. Scott recalled Allison's face gazing at him from the passenger seat as Mr. Argent pulled away.

It was a look of sorrow. And maybe even pity.

He rubbed his arm again. "No, Scott. I was a little busy thinking about the giant deer that killed itself on Lydia's car." Stiles said sarcastically. Scott sent him an exasperated look. "It didn't kill itself."

"It could have." Stiles murmured, shifting in the seat as his mind whirred. Driving usually always helped calm his mind, but after that night's events it only seemed to make his ADHD worse.

They drove down the familiar road. Stiles' eyes instinctively caught on the nature preserve sign and road leading to it. Nine months before, Stiles had parked there, and the two of them had stumbled into the forest. That night changed their lives forever. Whenever Stiles drove by it now, he couldn't help but turn and look.

"Stiles!" Scott exclaimed. Stiles' head snapped forward and he swerved. In a blur, they narrowly missed hitting someone standing in the middle of the road. Someone who had come out of the woods. Stiles slammed on his breaks and they spun to a stop. The jeep's headlights shown on the figure before them. It was a girl. She was tall and thin. And completely naked. Her body was covered in dirt and mud and leaves. Her brown hair was matted around her head in a wild tangle with small twigs and leaves poking out. She was shaking profusely.

For a long moment, Scott and Stiles stared at the girl in shock. They turned to each other at the same time and made surprised eye contact and then turned back. Her head rose, and cobalt eyes squinted in the light. One of her hands blocked her privates, and the other arm concealed her breasts from view.

Stiles fumbled for the door handle and his seatbelt, and ended up falling out of the jeep. Scott followed in suit, but much more gracefully. By the time Stiles had gotten on his two feet, Scott was already digging around Stiles' trunk for something.

Stiles stepped forward cautiously. The girl didn't flinch or step away. She turned her face away from the light and looked at him.

"Hey.... Are you okay?" Stiles said softly, doing a great job of maintaining eye contact without slipping to the distraction of a totally naked girl in front of his face.

"D-.....," the girl started. "Dylan O'Brien?"

Stiles blinked at her and shook his head with furrowed brows. Finally, Scott came up behind with a blanket. "Here." Scott said gently and wrapped the blanket around the girl. She quickly slipped it around her body, holding the large wool blanket tightly around herself. Stiles noticed that she was shaking like a leaf. The grey blanket only seemed to make her blue/grey eyes even brighter.

"You're.. Tyler Posey," she said, and silence stretched before she asked, "Am I being pranked?"

As soon as the words left her lips Rhiannon realized how silly that sounded. What kind of a prank would get her stripped down naked and leave her in the woods, only to be rescued by two famous actors?

"No, I'm sorry," Scott said slowly. "My name is Scott, and this is Stiles."

There was another long moment of silence in which the boys watched her in confusion. Scott looked to Stiles and without speaking, Stiles stepped away to the jeep. He turned on the radio and called through the scanner into the police station. "We need an ambulance to the entrance of the nature preserve, now."

Stiles turned it off before he could hear his father on the other end saying "Stiles, get off the radio." But no sooner did he say that did Sheriff Stilinski bark orders and run out to his cruiser with his jacket in hand.

Rhiannon couldn't help but scoff at him in disbelief. "Scott? Like Scott McCall? Now I know I'm being pranked. Where're the cameras?" She said while turning about to look for wherever the hidden cameras were. This was one hell of a prank to put her naked in front of two of her celebrity crushes.

"This- This isn't a prank." Stiles said in confusion, but Scott held up his hand to signal for Stiles' caution and silence.

"Where did you come from?" Scott asked gently. He could hear her heartbeat racing. "What's your name?"

Rhiannon was still looking around for cameras. She did a 360 degree rotation, but came up blank. "Come on, the gigs up. This was very funny," she said, adding a laugh at the end. She'd kill whoever's idea this 'prank' was. The boy's concerned faces only turned her laugh sour in her throat.

"Okay, okay you guys are good actors. I get it..."

But the looks on the boy's faces were only getting more and more serious. Rhiannon was beginning to grow frustrated and even more confused than she already was. "Okay, this isn't funny anymore. Where am I? Why did I wake up in the woods?" She said, trying not to lose her cool in front of them. But tears were pricking at the corners of her eyes and she swallowed the lump forming in her throat.

"We're in Beacon Hills. It's going to be okay, an ambulance is on it's way." Scott said soothingly.

Sure enough, sirens sounded in the distance-- growing closer and closer. "Do you remember your name?" Stiles asked, stepping forward. But Rhiannon stepped back as her body ran hot in a flash. Her face flushed red and she barked, "And, what? I'm supposed to believe you're Stiles Stilinski? This isn't funny! Please stop."

Scott and Stiles looked at each other in confusion.

"You know what? Give me my phone! I'm calling my mom." She demanded. "We don't have your phone..." Scott said and tried to step forward like she was a rabid animal needing taming.

"Stop!" She exclaimed. Scott froze in place.

Stiles sucked in a breath heavily and stepped forward. "Listen-- everything is going to be okay. I know you're confused right now. So are we. You can use my phone to call your mom as soon as the ambulance arrives." The sirens couldn't have been more than a block down the road now. Rhiannon met Stiles' eyes and breathed in slowly, calming herself down. "Fine." She said.

"Can you tell us your name? We just want to help." Stiles said.

Rhiannon hesitated, but ultimately told him. "Rhiannon. Like the Fleetwood Mac song. But everyone just calls me Rhi."

"Rhi. Alright, It's nice to meet you Rhi. I'm Stiles." Stiles said, cracking a slight smile. Finally, the ambulance pulled up in front of them, flanked by two cop cars.

Paramedics and Sheriff Stilinski rushed forward. Scott pulled away and spoke to his father. He seemed to be trying to be quiet, but Rhiannon could hear them. The paramedics approached the girl with rehearsed scripts meant to calm and protect, but she secretly kept her attention on their conversation.

"We found her just- standing. In the middle of the road. I think she came from the woods. She's disoriented, and maybe in shock."

"Alright. Leave the diagnosis to the doctors. We need to figure out what's going on." Sheriff Stilinski said, and turned to his son and the strange girl wearing only a blanket. The other deputy approached and pulled Scott to the side for a quick statement of what had happened.

"This is my dad. He's--," Stiles started. He spoke to her like she was a china cup teetering on the edge of a table. Rhiannon cut him off. "Sheriff Stilinski."

"Hi... I don't know if we've met--," he started. Rhiannon shook her head. "We haven't."

He pursed his lips and nodded. The paramedics approached. The doors of the ambulance were open. They carried a reflective hypothermic blanket with them. Rhiannon nodded and walked towards them, understanding that she needed immediate physical exams.

As Rhiannon answered all the paramedics questions and followed instruction to sit down in the ambulance, she met Stiles' eyes as he spoke urgently to his father. A moment passed as their eyes locked. It broke after a few seconds when the ambulance doors shut and they began their exam and the ambulance pulled away.

Thirty minutes after the ambulance left the scene, Stiles drove down Scott's street. He was back to rambling at a million miles a minute. This time, Scott couldn't disagree much with the claims that there was something going on.

"We need to go to the hospital and ask her questions tomorrow. Figure out what happened." Stiles said.

"No, we need to leave her alone. She was probably lost or hurt. Maybe she hit her head, or sleep walked, or escaped Eichen House," said Scott. "She knows something, Scott."

"What makes you think that?" Scott responded. "Because, she knew my last name. Which I never told her. And she knew my dad, who she's never met." Stiles said. "Your dad is the sheriff, and your the sheriff's son." "And how did she know your last name?" Stiles retorted. "I don't know....," But as Scott struggled to come up with a retort he realized he didn't have. How did she know who he was? "She called us both by different names when she first saw us. She probably mistook us for other people." Scott said.

"Well we definitely aren't whoever Tyler and Dylan are. But she recognized who we were. She knew our names. Almost like she remembered us." Stiles said, passionately recalling that look in her eyes.

Scott didn't know what exactly to say to Stiles. "Listen, we can read her statement after your dad gets one from her. Let's start there before we go around harassing my mom's patients."

"How would you know if she's one of your mom's patients?" Stiles asked.

"Knowing this town, she would be." Scott said. Stiles inclined his head with resigned concurrence.

Rhiannon's head was throbbing. The entire situation had so thoroughly exhausted her she didn't even know her left from her right. Her mind whirred just as much as the world around her was. Bustling paramedics and an ENT, police officers, doctors. When Rhiannon was finally given a clean hospital gown and told to shower, she thought she would collapse.

The water quickly turned hot. The closed door and noise of the water crashing against the tile opened something within her that had been temporarily shut. A sob ripped through her chest like she hadn't done in weeks.

She stepped under the water and the sobs kept coming. The tearing pain in her chest, the way her throat contracted as she struggled to breath. They must have heard her because a knock sounded at the door. "I'm fine!" Rhiannon shouted. She wouldn't have been able to get the words out if she hadn't been so desperate to be alone. She silently continued, sitting down on the tile floor of the shower and wrapping her arms around her knees. She must have been there a while because a soft knock sounded and Rhiannon jumped.

She realized she was almost falling asleep, staring at the water flowing down the drain in the numb aftershock of her crying.

"Are you okay in there?" The kind voice asked. Rhiannon opened her mouth. Her voice felt distant and strange-- like it wasn't her own. "Yes... Just a few more minutes!" Rhi called back. She uncurled from her position and stood on creaky legs. She took the soap and lathered her body, scrubbing off any evidence of dirt or smell from the forest. A chill went down her spine, and for a moment she was there again. Calling for help with no hero in sight. The full moon illuminating the forest through the leaves. Shadows lurking between the trees--carrying unknown predators. In the distance, a stretch of flat wood covered in moss.

Rhiannon scrubbed harder. Then, she scrubbed her scalp. She pulled the twigs and leaves from her hair. Used the conditioner and her fingers to gradually detangle the knots. Until all she could smell was body wash and cheap shampoo and conditioner. A small collection of twigs and leaves were caught at the drain, but the water ran clear.

When Rhiannon put on the blue gown and looked into the mirror she wondered if she were in a dream. She looked down and counted her fingers- five on each hand- and then scoffed to herself. She'd learned that from Teen Wolf-- having extra fingers means you're in a dream. This wasn't Teen Wolf. It was a dream. It had to be a dream. Either that or Rhiannon was going out of her mind.

She stepped out of the bathroom to a warm-looking hospital room. It was quiet and clean. A lamp illuminated the space from the side table. The door opened and a nurse walked inside. She was tan-skinned and had brown hair and large brown eyes. And Rhi recognized her. This time, Rhi swallowed and didn't say anything. The woman approached her with kind eyes and a soft motherly smile. "Hello. You feelin' warmed up?" She asked.

Rhiannon nodded and just stared at the woman. It was strange to see her. To be here. A memory from earlier flashed before her mind. As she was being ushered into the emergency room the sign of the hospital read 'Beacon Hills Memorial'. The police officers who flashed in and out of her vision had badges that said 'Beacon Hills Sheriff's Department'. Mr. Stilinski's face flashed before her eyes as well. Rhiannon thought she was remembering that too, but it really was Mr. Stilinski at the threshold of the door. More people, an FBI agent and a doctor, stood at the door with him.

Rhiannon turned to the woman. "Ms. McCall," she said. The woman looked somewhat surprised but nodded expectantly. Rhiannon continued. "I have to answer their questions don't I?"

Ms. McCall smiled and nodded, but her expression was now one of empathy. "Yes, I'm afraid you do. They'll keep it fast," She added with a pointed look at the sheriff. Ms. McCall guided Rhi to the bed and helped her in with gentle hands. "Can I get you some water?" She asked.

Rhi nodded and smiled with grateful eyes. The doctors had already examined her thoroughly when Rhi got there. It was a blur, and she had been covered in dirt. They tested her vitals and for signs of hypothermia. She came out of it unscailthed, but was told she would be given an IV after her shower.

Mrs. McCall gave her a glass of water and she sipped it while the woman worked, and while the police and doctor asked her questions.

What was her name?

"Rhiannon Penelope Watson."

How old was she?

"I'm fifteen. I turn sixteen on August 18th."

Mrs. McCall looked up, and made eye contact with the Sheriff. They continued with the questions.

What year were you born?

Rhi hesitated. For the first time, Rhiannon realized that maybe she should lie. If this was just a dream, then it wouldn't matter anyway. That instinct ran through her in a jolt. "I--..." She hesitated, but continued. "I don't know. I can't remember."

The police paused and the doctor scribbled fervent notes. They continued.

Do you remember your parents' names?

Rhiannon hesitated again. "No.... I know them. I can't-- I-I-I can't--," but the doctor interrupted her faux struggle. Rhiannon very well knew her parents names. But the realization that they might not be here... Tears even pricked at her eyes, but those may have been real. The Sheriff spoke. "It's alright. You're going to be okay, Rhiannon. We're going to help you."

And it sounded a lot like Stiles. The boy's voice and face flashed in her memory. It all felt so real. This felt so real. She looked down at her arm, where Melissa had finished preparing the IV. "Relax your arm. You may feel a slight prick but only for a moment." Melissa's hands were steady, but Rhi could feel her pity almost palpable in the air.

Weren't you supposed to wake up when you pinched yourself? The sharp stab of the needle certainly felt worse than a pinch.

What is the last thing you do remember?

So she wasn't dreaming. Rhiannon recalled that in order to stick to a lie, one must tell as much of the truth as possible. And if she was having some sort of mental breakdown or an onset of schizophrenia, then she should probably start telling the truth. "I remember waking up. On a big tree trunk. I didn't have any clothes. I started calling out but nobody was there. I don't know how long I was walking around for, but I saw a flash of light. I followed it. It was so cold. I realized I was in the street when your son almost ran me over," Rhiannon said, gesturing to Mr. Stilinski, who grimaced.

"He and Scott were there. They told me it was going to be okay... But it's not okay. I'm crazy, aren't I?" She said

The crushing weight of it hit her shoulders. She was crazy. Melissa, who had finished with the IV, reached for Rhi's hand. A lump in Rhi's throat caught and a tear escaped onto her cheek. Melissa turned, concern etched over her face.

"Can I be alone with Ms. McCall?" Rhi asked. They turned to her in surprise.

Mr. Stilinski nodded and said, "Of course." The FBI agent seemed to begrudgingly leave, and the doctor said, "We can finish questions in the morning."

Finally, the door shut behind them. Rhiannon wiped her tear quickly and looked down at their intertwined hands. Mrs. McCall pulled a chair forward and sat. Rhiannon met her intense gaze.

"Mrs. McCall. I've been thinking... I don't really-- I don't really know when I am."

Melissa's confusion and pity rose, and it showed on her face. Rhiannon squeezed her hand. "Tell me-- What grade is Scott in?" Melissa's brows furrowed and head shrunk back in surprise.

"My son? Honey--," she started, but Rhiannon interrupted.

"Please." And Rhiannon was sincere. Her eyes pleaded, and she waited in desperation for Melissa's answer.

"A-.. He's an incoming junior." Melissa said.

Rhiannon looked down, mind racing at the information. What did that mean? If he was a rising junior then Melissa knew about the supernatural. This was-- Rhiannon counted in her mind-- season three, then. Maybe even before season three, because if Rhiannon's memory served her correctly, Scott had no tattoo on his arm. Just great. Melissa saw the expression on Rhiannon's face. "Rhiannon, are you okay?" Rhi nodded, and looked up when another realization struck her. "That means you know. You know... about Scott....About what he is. That he's a werewolf."

Melissa drew back, letting go of Rhiannon's hand now. There was a moment of silence and appraisal, "Who are you?" Melissa wasn't exactly defensive, but she was bordering on it.

"Listen to me. Please-- I need your help. I'm not from here." Rhiannon said, her mind still whirring but her energy rising. Melissa's head slightly shook. "Beacon Hills?" she asked in bewilderment.

"No. Well, yes, but no. I'm from a different world."

Rhiannon drew up. "I need to get back home." --

Stiles didn't manage to miss his father's thwack upside the head. "What in the world were you doing? Driving around at night almost running over traumatized young girls?!"

The anger in Mr. Stilinski's voice was palpable. Stiles exasperatedly said, "Well I didn't know she would be coming out of the woods into the middle of the road!" The hospital hallway was practically empty now that the FBI agent went home for the night and the doctor disappeared down the hallway with physicians assistants and nurses in tow.

Mr. Stilinski still pointedly made a face at Stiles to keep his voice down. Stiles hushidly said, "Is she okay?" The worry on his face wasn't concealable. Mr. Stilinski pursed his lips and nodded, that look of pity returning to his eyes.

"She's going to be fine. Woke up in the woods. Doesn't remember her parents, or when she was born. It might be hard tracing this back to wherever she came from." Stiles found himself looking to the door of the room as his father spoke.

"She was probably walking for miles alone with the state she was in when you boys found her. We gave her the night to rest." He said. Stiles turned back to his father, who was beginning to walk down the hallway. "Where's Melissa, then?" he asked. "She asked for her to stay."

Stiles walked along with long, boustrous strides to catch up with his father. His exasperation was palpable in his tone of voice when he asked, "Why?"

"I don't know. And it's none of your business." Mr. Stilinski said in a firm tone that said he knew Stiles was up to no good poking around where he didn't belong (this was a common tone used in regards to Stiles).

"Leave the poor thing alone to get some rest. And leave the investigation to us." Mr. Stilinski added. "Investigation?" Stiles asked with piqued interest. "Into who she is. She can't remember her family, or the year she was born. She has no clue where she's from or how she woke up on a stump in the middle of the woods."

"A stump?" Stiles asked. Sitles faltered in mental scrutiny. "Know anything about that?" Mr. Stilinski asked, knowing his son's antics in the woods.

"No." Stiles said, and he was telling the truth. He'd never seen a stump in the woods. And Stiles had certainly seen a lot of the woods of Beacon Hills. A memory struck him. "Dad. She's probably from Beacon Hills."

"And what makes you think that, other than the fact that she was roaming around the woods at night?" "She knew your name before I told her. It's probably like muscle memory or something, you know?"

"I've never met her." Mr. Stilinski said, as if Stiles was being absurd.

"You're the Sheriff, dad. She probably just remembers your name from the news or something."

"Right... Maybe that means she can regain her memory back eventually...," said the Sheriff trailing off in thought. There was a long stretch of silence between them, and the Sheriff stopped and looked at his son.

"Hey. Don't you have school tomorrow? You should be in bed right now."

Stiles grimaced at his father's recollection. "I was worried." Stiles admitted.

"How many times have I told you that you don't have to worry about me?"

"I wasn't worried about you."

"Oh, about the girl you almost ran over?" Stiles rolled his head back in annoyance. "It was an accident. And I didn't hit her!"

Melissa rushed out of Rhiannon's hospital room and the door slammed shut behind her. The hallway was bustling with people and sirens sounded from outside. Rhiannon watched from her bed as an emergency sucked Ms. McCall into action.

Before Rhi could even get a word out edgewise about getting help, a code had sounded and the bustle of an imminent emergency tore Mrs. McCall away. Her mind was buzzing, and all she wanted to do was sleep, but Rhiannon stood with the IV stand in hand and walked over to the hallway window. She used her finger to peak out through the blinds at the scene. She'd looked out just in time to watch as two stretchers were rushed down the hall. Melissa was speaking to someone-- who Rhiannon immediately recognized through the bustle as a bloody, disoriented Isaac Lahey. Right behind them, a dark skinned girl bleeding profusely exclaimed in pain. Braeden. They were both blurs as they approached Rhiannon's room.

Rhiannon retreated instantly. The blinds snapped back into place and she stumbled back to sit on the edge of the hospital bed as the crowd passed, screams of pain and medical orders sounding with it. Rhiannon's mind raced.

Blood, sweat, and pain lingered in the hallway. She recalled this moment. It was from the first episode of the third season. Rhiannon thought she was going to be sick. And then, she was. Right there on the linoleum floor, she vomited. The chaos in the hall was too loud for anyone to hear. Rhiannon rushed to the sink as fast she could with an IV drip in tow. She vomited again into the sink. After a few moments of retching and swallowing her own flem and spit, Rhiannon leaned back against the wall of the bathroom. She looked up at the ceiling with tears streaming down her face and a ragged breath.

Rhiannon wasn't cut out for this.

The pain was too real to be a dream.

It was too intricate to be a prank.

A television flashed before her mind. Static screen. A humming voice.

She shot up and made eye contact with her reflection. The TV had been acting strange, and she'd touched it. And woke up here. Rhiannon played with the possibility of the impossible. I mean, sure, she'd daydreamed about falling into the worlds of her favorite books or movies or shows. But those were just daydreams. Wild fantasies to distract from her daily life. They weren't real.

Something surfaced in her mind. A tunnel. Like sliding down a glowing water slide face first into a bright white light. Rhiannon gasped. Finally, she played with the idea. The idea that: What if this was real? What if somehow, by some sick crazy miracle, she had fallen into the world of her favorite TV show. She stepped out of the bathroom and peaked out. The hallway was beginning to calm down. She whirled back. Her mind seemed to turn on, now. Like a bulb that had been on dim turned all the way up. Every possibility shot within her brain, back and forth. If this was real, and she was really inside Teen Wolf, then she was doomed. The dread that struck her felt like a blow to the stomach.

She whispered the horrific reality aloud, "I'm gonna die."

===

NOTES: Thanks for reading! Any questions or recommendations? Feel free to ask! As I finish more chapters I'll link the chapters all together and make a masterlist. I'm also thinking of including a playlist with my inspo for the story/characters on the masterist for those interested. This chapter was kind of slow but it'll be paced similarly to the show with some gaps and changes in plot.

PART TWO

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hihhasotherfixations · 1 year ago

Text

Nightmares - Price x Reader | Part 1

So, I decided to stop trying to make every piece of writing I do perfect before I post it. So here is this :3

This part is a little silly, next part will be angstier

CW: slight angst, graphic nightmare, fem reader though you make no appearance in this part

Part 1 | Part 2

Word Count: 7875

Exhausted and bloody, the 141 walked into the cave while the storm raged behind them.

Rain pelted from the sky, obscuring view and covering everything in a curtain of water. Boots, clothing and rifles, everything was drenched as the Task Force trudged into the hollowed out rock.

“Go on, get deeper inside.” Price huffed, waiting at the entrance and letting his whole team pass him, silently counting heads as he did. The task force had after all grown a bit from the usual three men that shadowed him. An extra four now present with Farah, Alex, Rudy and Alejandro.

Once he was sure everyone was there, the SAS captain turned to them to see everyone standing around a little awkwardly.

“Go on, walk further.” He ordered, jostling Alex and Soap who were the farthest, now walking deeper into the cave. “Check if there’s no surprises in the back.”

“Price, what do we do?” Farah was the first to speak up, directly to the man’s right.

“We’re gonna sit here and wait for the storm to pass. I’ll radio Laswell in a bit to let her know we’ve found shelter. And then we can do nothing but wait.” He sent a small smile down at her as he spoke that.

“Sir?” Gaz asked, a little confused and Price turned to his sergeant.

“We have what we came here for. Proof of Shepherd’s involvement with Al-Qatala. Continuing to run will just exhaust us.”

“It’s as good a plan as any, amigo.” Alejandro spoke up, clapping Gaz on the shoulder and the Brit hummed.

“Get some rest.” Price then spoke, motioning for everybody to sit down while Soap and the former CIA-agent briefly swept the back of the cave, finding nothing.

Seeing his team listen, Price turned around, looking at the incessant rainfall in front of him; pouring down onto the earth and thankfully running down the slope of the hill the cave was situated on, away from the opening he was standing in front of.

“Bravo six to Watcher.”

“Send your traffic.”

“We’ve found a place to wait out the storm.” Right as he spoke that, lightning struck down, almost immediately followed by a thunderous bang; the storm truly right on top of them. “Waiting for exfill once it passes.”

“Copy, Bravo 6. Stay safe.”

“Always.”

With that, John released his radio and sighed softly, turning back into the cave and walking over to the rest while he pulled his rifle from his shoulder, leaning it against the cave wall to his right before sitting down with a groan.

“Getting old there, captain?” Gaz quipped as he watched the man and Price raised a brow at the sergeant across from him.

“Try backpacking the weight you all bring with you. You’ll be ‘old’ like me within three days.”

A chuckle swept through the cave at that and with it, the tension of the mission seemed to seep away.

Over the next hour or two, rations were shared and eaten while the storm continued to rage outside, the darkened day slowly turning into an even darker night.

Somewhere during that, Price had gotten up and walked a bit away to stare out of the entrance of the cave, staying on alert though he let his mind calmly wonder - relaxing with the steady beat of rain.

A shifting to his right made him turn to see Ghost moving to stand beside him. “Y’alright?” He asked the masked man, who hummed and nodded.

“Want me to take first watch tonight?” It was a simple question and the captain turned his head to look forward and out of the cave again, seemingly in contemplation before he turned back to his lieutenant.

“No, I’ll keep watch. You and the others get some rest for now.” Giving an encouraging nod as he spoke, Price dismissed his suggestion.

Briefly, Ghost seemed to hesitate before he gave a curt nod and turned to walk back deeper into the cave, leaving the man on his own, closer to the entrance.

Letting out a quiet, but deep breath, the man slowly shifted to sit down against the wall to his left.

Turned to look outside, he situated himself comfortably against the wall before reaching over to grab his rifle. With it securely in his lap, he glanced into the cave once more to see the guys and Farah laughing together, seated in a circle with Ghost recently rejoined.

A fond smile briefly tugged at his lips before he turned back to the sheet of rain, watching through it for possible hostile movement.

It was going to be a long night.

About an hour or two later, everyone was recently asleep while John still sat at his post, exhaustion nipping at his mind though he kept brushing it away.

The rain had not let up in the slightest while thunder continued to rumble - less violent than before but no less present.

Suddenly, all the way down the hill in the treeline, he spotted movement, making his brow furrow.

Ever so carefully, he raised his rifle, looking through the scope as he adjusted the dial, zooming in on the trees.

Far below, several men walked, small torches mounted on their guns as they swept the forest. It didn’t take a genius to figure out they were looking for the 141 and co.

Squinting his eyes slightly, Price kept his sights trained on the men, watching their every move as they clunkily searched the woods far below. From their movement and formation, it was clear that none really were experienced, putting the older man at relative ease.

While he had been about to wake up the others - or at least one or two - now he instead opted to shift onto one knee, keeping his sniper rifle up and simply monitoring.

There was no reason to compromise their hiding place simply to gun down some inexperienced boys. He might as well let the others get the good rest he knew he himself couldn’t get.

As he suspected, the soldiers out in the rain never once left the trees, staying beneath the slight shelter of the canopy and naively thinking there was nowhere for the 141 to run except through the forest.

It wasn’t for half an hour before every last soldier was gone from sight and Price sighed, lowering his gun.

Turning the scope back from its zoom, the man glanced through once more to check if everything was truly clear before he let himself lean back to sit against the wall to his left again.

Moving his neck side to side to loosen it up, Price sighed once more, the smallest of groans leaving him as his neck cracked a bit.

Blinking a few times, he glanced at his watch to see it was 00:30 in the morning. The mission had been gruelling and while the team had to get up at 3am to get to location in time - which was already bad - he had been working through the night, going over the mission and required paperwork. With that and him getting up very early the previous day, he was nearing the 44 hour mark without rest. And with it, his need for sleep was growing more steady by the minute.

Reaching into his shirt, the man dug around for a few seconds before he managed to grab onto what he was after. His dog tags.

Looking down at them, it wasn’t the two which held his personal information that he grabbed them for. No, it was the third one.

Fondly, he rubbed his thumb over the small metal plate, lightning striking somewhere in the forest, illuminating the cave and giving a brief visibility to the words engraved on it that he already knew by heart.

By hurricane, war or old age,

In life or death, I will be by your side

Unable to stop himself, the tiniest of fond smiles came onto his face as he reread the words.

It were your vows to him.

His wife who was waiting at home, holding out for him to return.

Rubbing the small metal plate again, that thought caused his smile to turn into a soft frown. You’d given this dog tag to him on your first wedding anniversary. A little something he could wear in lieu of a wedding ring whenever he was out on deployment, so that you could be by his side. By his heart even.

Still, the man often wondered why you waited for him. He wasn’t stupid. In his line of work, one mistake and he’d be gone. And yet you braved that risk and stress and not only dated him, but actually fell in love and married him.

Sitting here now in the cave, the storm rushing outside, thunder and lightning filling the sky, he wondered if there was an afterlife. And if there was and he got there, would the world be cruel enough to force him to watch you find out he was gone?

God, even sitting here now, exhausted, clammy in soaked gear and with no clue what the next few hours would bring, John couldn’t stop his mind from going to you. Your sweet frown if you found out about what he was thinking, your kind smile, your soft hands holding his face as you reassured him.

He was completely and utterly whipped.

It was the reason he’d been unable to stop himself from seeing you in the past. From asking you out on more dates. From asking to move in together. From asking you to marry him…

“What’ve you got there, captain?”

A voice startled him out of his thoughts and Price quickly closed his fist around the dog tags, hiding them as he looked up to see Kyle walking over, no longer resting in the sleeping pile.

“Sergeant.” He greeted, raising an eyebrow at the young man. “Why are you awake?”

Not saying anything, Gaz instead pointed at the dog tags still in his hand and Price rolled his eyes.

“That’s none of your business.” He grumbled, quickly sticking the chain back under his shirt and vest before looking up at his subordinate again. “So, why are you up?”

“Thought it was about time to switch watch, no?” Gaz smiled, now sitting down on the cave wall opposite to his captain.

Huffing out a dry chuckle, Price looked down at his watch; 0100. “It’s not exactly my time yet.”

“Sir, we’re with a lot more people, we can afford to take shorter watches now. Switch more often.” Gaz spoke, a little confused and Price briefly ran his tongue over his teeth.

“That’s true. But don’t worry about it, sergeant, I don’t mind.” He sent a brief yet not entirely convincing smile to Gaz, who frowned a bit. “I’d rather you all get sufficient sleep. We don’t know what’s waiting for us tomorrow.”

“Alright.” Gaz mumbled, slowly getting up - not entirely happy with that answer but not wanting to go against his superior. “Just wake me if you get tired, cap.”

“Will do. Now get your ass back in there.” Price huffed a chuckle as he pointed his thumb to the circle of sleeping bodies, Gaz smiling as well as he shook his head, walking over to his previous spot.

Watching the young man walk away, Price let out a subtle but deep breath, his relief seeping out with it. With it, he could feel his dog tags pressing against his chest, reminding him of exactly why he was doing this.

Nightmares.

Every night, without fail, he would get nightmares. The only thing that helped? You.

For some reason, his arms around you or vice versa was the only thing keeping them at bay. On base, the solution was a pillow with your smell. It felt childish, but resting his head on it or holding it worked the majority of the time.

It made it so that at home he had very little - almost a normal amount - of nightmares, at base, it was only 40% or so. But out in the field? Here? John knew that no matter what he did, his past would haunt him the moment he closed his eyes.

Experiencing them was one thing. Warped memories turning into something worse. But his main reason for staying awake came from the fact that he didn’t want to show that kind of vulnerability to the team.

He was their captain for goodness sake. The man telling them what to do while any stray bullet could be the end. He reigned over their life and death and he was fortunate enough that they all believed in him. Trusted him. But how could they trust him to make those decisions in the heat of battle when they knew he had bloody night terrors over it like a kid.

So instead of risking that, he opted to forego sleep when a situation such as this arose - where they were forced to sleep in the field.

Sighing softly, John shuffled again to bat away his sleepiness, settling in for a long night.

Ghost was the first to awaken. 6 in the morning sharp, the man slowly sat up, looking around the cave and taking in his surroundings, only to furrow his brows when he glanced to the opening and saw a familiar bucket hat sitting there.

Alarmed, he immediately got up, silently jogging over to the entrance of the cave to see his captain’s rifle propped up against the rock while the lone hat sat in the vacant spot.

Outside, the rain was hosing down, almost entirely obscuring vision and Ghost narrowed his eyes.

While the captain would usually never part from the item, Ghost recognised it for what it was; a silent signal.

The calm positioning of the hat paired with the rifle neatly leaned against the wall still - Price was letting the team know he’d be right back.

A signal that was decided upon with some chuckles in the meeting room, quite some time ago.

Still, Ghost knew whatever the captain had left for, it couldn’t be good. So, he moved.

Reaching down, the man grabbed the rifle with scope, bringing it up to his eye as he pushed the tip out through the waterfall of rain rolling from the top of the cave.

Squinting, he scanned around the area before quickly spotting a man standing in the field.

On the hill between the cave and the forest, he was walking around while the world slowly became lighter, even though the rain didn’t let up.

With the sun slowly rising and the sky turning from pitch black to a dark grey, Ghost scanned around. The man was still a ways down the hill to the right, but the further he walked, the closer he would get to realising the entrance of the cave.

Down below in the forest, more men walked and Ghost clenched his jaw a bit, his eyes hard set as his finger moved to the trigger. Shoot one and he’d alert the others, unless he could perfectly time it with one of the thunder strikes.

Just in that moment, lightning struck down and Ghost counted the seconds between the visual and audible thunder, measuring fifteen seconds. So the thunderstorm had moved by 5km in the entirety of the night.

Cocking his head a bit at that realisation - that it was in fact morning - Ghost flexed his hands, re-gripping the gun as he did another sweep for Price, waiting for the next thunderstrike.

Just as he was about to pull away and refocus on the slowly approaching target, a movement in the tall grass of the hill made him halt. Slowly, he moved the scope over to see a figure crouched, approaching his previous target at a creeping pace.

Keeping the rifle fixed on the body, Ghost reached up to his comms. “Price, come in. Is that you out there?”

There was a silence for a few seconds before Ghost saw the figure’s arm move up to his shoulder, a corresponding two statics sounding in his ear. It was Price, he couldn’t talk.

Relieved that he had located his captain, Ghost watched as the man snuck closer and closer to the unsuspecting target in the field, the rain covering any tracks Price would leave behind - though that wasn’t much already.

Barely a minute later, the lieutenant watched as Price jumped up behind the man, stabbing his knife straight into the target’s neck and dropping him like a sack of potatoes.

Chuckling softly at the stealth takedown, Ghost continued to keep watch while the captain was rummaging around with the body, he himself sweeping the forest to see if anyone else noticed what had gone down, keeping watch of his superior’s six.

Shortly after, Price made the slow but stealthy trek back up the hill, re-walking his previous path.

A second later, Price’s voice sounded in his ear. “Mornin’, Simon.”

“Morning, captain. Had a good time, did you?”

“It’s muddy and slippery, so no.” Right as the man said that, Ghost watched his foot slip down, a curse cut off from his comms as the captain had to let go of the button to instead catch himself. A chuckle escaped Ghost and he pulled back from the entrance, pulling the rifle up and setting it back against the wall.

Two minutes later, Price walked through the entrance of the cave, showered with the falling water rolling off the top of the opening, though it didn’t do much to make him more wet, given he was already soaked to the bone.

“Don’t even start.” Price sighed as he saw the amused glint in the masked man’s eyes, walking over and bending down to pick up his hat, dripping water everywhere.

“I didn’t say a thing.” Ghost hummed, watching as the man ruffled a hand through his hair, a desperate attempt to get some water out before he stuck his hat back on with a huff.

Humming a bit Price didn’t say anything as he instead rubbed at his eyes, groaning softly.

“Sir, why are you still awake.”

And there was the million dollar question Price knew was coming, a soft sigh leaving him as he pulled his hand away from his eyes. “Didn’t feel tired.” He sniffed pointedly to clear his airways, grabbing the rifle positioned against the wall after Ghost had used it and checking it over, just to be busy.

“Price-“

“Don’t worry, Simon. I’m used to a lot worse. Besides, you can take over watch now while I figure out how Al Qatala is doing.” With a sly smile, he clapped the lieutenant on the shoulder, holding up the comms he’d picked off the soldier he just killed.

Ghost opened his mouth to protest but instead held his tongue, sighing out as the captain handed him the rifle and already walked away, over to the others in the cave, some of which were slowly starting to wake up - the hour ingrained into their bodies, as well as the noise of the conversation making it so.

And thus, while Ghost sat down with a sigh, clutching Price’s rifle to look outside if he must, Price walked over and sat just outside the circle of bodies, cleaning the earpiece before sticking it into his right ear, waiting for anything to come through.

Running through the field, gun in hand, John was huffing. Out of breath and exhausted, all around him, gunfire and explosions sounded out, his head ducked in the hope it would make any bullet miss that vital spot.

With every step, his lungs burned. But if he could just get over the ridge, could just get past that barrier the enemy set up, he’d be fine.

His rifle was long gone, where or how he didn’t know, all he knew was that he was running.

“Price!”

Snapping his head to the right, John watched just in time to see one of his squad mates fall down, his foot stuck in barbed wire.

“Hang on!” Shouting that out, he came to a skidded stop before he ran back, rushing over. To the right, an explosion sounded and he jumped the last bit, sliding down the dirt to reach his fellow soldier. “I’ve got you.” He panted, taking hold of the barbed wire and immediately pulling. Yet as he did - inexplicably - instead of simply popping the sharp points free from fabric,

John pulled entire strips of flesh out of the man’s leg.

Screaming out in pain, the man clutched his leg and John let go in shock, unable to speak as his eyes were wide, looking at what he just did.

Roughly, his fellow soldier grabbed him by the front of his vest, pulling him in. “How could you?! Price, you-!” Whatever he was going to say was cut off as suddenly, a missile landed by the man’s foot, going off and blowing the top of his body to smithereens.

Blood, guts, insides. Everything was visible and John felt himself get covered in it. His breathing was panicky and he felt like vomiting, but still he couldn’t will his body to move, not even when the lower, lifeless half of the man’s body fell forward and into him, trapping him there completely as if he too was stuck in the barbed wire.

“Fuck!” Finally finding his voice, John cursed as he tried to push the dead remains off of himself, blood gurgling out of it and spilling even further onto him, soaking his uniform so severely he could feel it clinging onto every part of him, every movement now restricted by the clammy gear.

Struggling in vain, a noise then reached John’s ear and he snapped his eyes up to see a UAV rushing straight down, right at his face.

Shocking awake, John shot up, only for his head to smash into rock. “Fucking- jesus-!”

Cursing out, he grabbed hold of his head while those around startled at his sudden exclamation.

“Y’alright, captain?” Alex asked while he looked on as said man smacked the side of his fist into the overhang of rock he was beneath - a measly form of retaliation.

“I need to pick better spots to sit down.” The man grumbled, exhaustion nipping at him as his heart still hammered from the nightmare.

Tired and sore, with a new bump forming on his head in the near future, Price moved to stand up, cringing at the feel of his wet uniform, clinging to every part of him and making movement difficult.

That explained the feeling in his dream.

Grumpily, the man walked between the legs of his team and sat down next to Rudy, now the furthest into the cave.

“You would pick a better spot if you got some sleep.” Gaz spoke, replying to his earlier grumble.

“Don’t go there, sergeant.” Price sighed, exhausted and unwilling to fight it.

“You didn’t get any sleep?” Farah questioned, concern showing on her face, Soap joining in as he glanced between his captain and the spot the man had just jolted awake from.

For, as badly as Price hoped otherwise, in the fifteen minutes he’d fallen asleep for, he tossed and turned, alerting those around.

“It’s fine, I’m used to it.” Price waved it away, trying to will away the headache all this questioning was forming. Closing his eyes, he leaned back into the rock behind him, thinking over the nightmare.

Like usual, it had been a mix of real events and fabrications of his mind. He remembered that soldier. While trying to pull his foot free from the barbed wire, a small remote controlled missile had indeed been shot at them. Yet different from his dream, the soldier had pushed Price down the slope, saving his life.

It was a whole different kind of guilt to bear.

“You need sleep.”

Getting pulled back into the present at Soap’s concerned comment, Price raised an eyebrow. “I’m not a senior, you know. I’m barely any older than Alejandro.” He huffed, a little miffed. “You’re all well rested and I’ll survive.”

“You-“

Whatever Soap was gonna say next was cut off as Price suddenly sat up and held up his hand, his attention out of the conversation and focused to the sound coming from his earpiece. Recognising the look in his captain’s eye, Soap dutifully shut up, waiting while Price concentrated on the Arabic sounding in his ear.

“No sign of them, we’re retreating.” Price repeated the words, Farah and Alex perking up as they were the only others who could understand Arabic.

“What’s that mean?” Rudy asked and Price looked up at him.

“Means we’re in the clear for now. Let’s hope they won’t miss the soldier I took out until we’re long gone.”

“Laswell.” Price grunted as he nodded at the woman before him, cracking his neck a bit to get the stiffness out.

He’d just survived several hours in a helicopter back to base with the team.

“How did it go, John?” She asked while she watched the rest of the team hop out of the heli and walk down the tarmac in the distance, looking tired, wet and exhausted.

“Good in terms of mission objective. Bad for what said objective means for us.” The man sighed, reaching into his pocket and handing a usb to her. “If you don’t mind, my head is killing me.”

Frowning a bit in concern, she then saw the forming bruise on the man’s temple and nodded in understanding. It also wasn’t uncommon for him to get headaches after missions, given the stress put on him.

“Let me walk back with you.” She sent him a small smile and Price nodded. With that, the both of them walked towards the 141 barracks, sharing some occasional conversation.

Before long, they walked into the barracks to already see most of the team in loungewear, only those who cared enough to not let the tiredness win off to take a shower.

“Hey, Laswell.” Gaz greeted with a smile, which she returned.

“Good work out there, sergeant. Because of you all, we’re all one step closer. Thank you.” Laswell turned to the rest of the team lounging around with that, and Price couldn’t help the small quirk of his lips at the happy response from those present - an almost visible deflation seen in their bodies.

“Indeed, well done.” He hummed in agreement before being tapped on the arm.

“This is for you, by the way.” Looking down at Laswell, the woman was holding out a letter to him and Price hummed, taking it to inspect it, only to see a familiar handwriting stating his name. Briefly, he glanced at Laswell and she nodded with a little smile. “You know who from.”

“Got it. Thank you, Kate.” He hummed, briefly touching her upper arm in thanks before turning around. “See you all for supper.”

- - - -

“What was it you wanted to talk about?” Soap questioned, lounging on the couch together with Farah and Rudy.

About ten minutes ago, Gaz had called everyone into the living room and so now here they sat on all the couches and chairs.

Well- everyone minus one very specific person.

“Did any of you know the captain has a third dog tag?” Jumping straight into the topic, Gaz looked around to see everyone share some confused looks before all eyes turned back to him.

“What are you talking about, compadre?” Alejandro asked from the left, getting some agreeing hums from the others.

Understanding he needed to explain, Gaz moved to sit on the coffee table, in the middle and surrounded by the others on the couches. “So, two days ago, while we were in the cave? I woke up in the middle of the night to see Price sitting at the entrance, keeping watch.”

“Where he stayed all night until I took over.” Ghost rumbled, crossing his arms.

“Yeah.” Gaz pointed at him as if to say ‘just like that’ before continuing. “But the thing is, he was holding his dog tags and when I approached I noticed that third one specifically. He was looking at it with such concentration.”

“Where are you going with this?” Farah questioned, wondering why she even tried with all these boys.

“He was so entranced with it, he didn’t even hear or see me approaching.” Gaz clarified, his brows raising to define his words.

At that, both Soap and Alex perked up while Ghost tilted his head, all seeming a bit more intrigued.

“That’s unusual.” Soap spoke up, getting more into it and Gaz now pointed at him.

“Exactly. And he immediately hid it when he realised I was there.” Gaz pondered, glancing between his teammates with an excited glint in his eye. “I’m bored. I wanna find out what’s on that tag.”

And so, between the 141 and co, a silent pact was made.

The first attempt came from Gaz himself.

“What was that?” Price questioned as he was sat at his desk, papers spread around while his reading glasses were perched on his nose, his eyes now glancing over the square rim of them to look at Gaz.

The sergeant had been rambling off about something he hadn’t been able to follow, his mind still too engrossed in the text in front of him.

“I was wondering if you wanted to go swimming with all of us. You know, as a bonding experience.” Gaz smiled as he repeated himself, though something seemed off about it, making Price squint a bit in confusion.

“‘M afraid not, son. With Makarov and Shepherd on either side, I can’t really afford to take leisure time like that.” The captain sighed, holding up the paper he’d been holding in his left hand to emphasise.

“Are you sure?” The younger man tried, seeming to almost be pleading and Price chuckled.

“Quite positive. You boys go have fun.” With that, he shoo’ed Gaz out of his office and returned to slaving away over the paperwork, leaving the sergeant disappointed.

The second attempt came in the form of Soap, Alex and a dragged along Ghost.

“C’mon, go.” Soap shoved at Ghost, who sent a death glare back at the man, his hand threateningly raising to retaliate at the Scot. “Don’t hit me.” He quickly squeaked, ducking as he shielded his face and Ghost rolled his eyes, instead crossing his arms.

“Think this might be going a bit too far.” Alex murmured, not entirely sure of this plan as they stood outside the man’s room.

“I’ve made a bet with Alejandro, I’m not losing it now.” Soap responded, determined

“Your own fault for making a lousy bet.” Ghost huffed back, preferring to go to sleep over whatever Johnny was planning.

Narrowing his eyes at the masked man, Soap then turned back to the door instead, glancing up at the narrow sign bolted into the middle reading ‘J. Price’.

“Soap.” Alex tried, reaching out to stop the Scot but he simply swatted the former CIA-operative’s hand away, pointing at his face.

“Ah, ah, I am finding out before Gaz. I told you, I’m winning this bet.”

With those, words, he reached down to grab onto the door handle while Ghost facepalmed with a deep sigh, the muscles in his legs tensing to leave.

Yet right before either he or Soap could move into their actions, the door pulled open instead.

“What are you muppets up to?” A tired Price stood in the doorway and Soap immediately jumped back, his hand still stuck in position to grab the door handle - for which he quickly yanked the limb back.

“Captain! Surprised to see you awake at 1 in the morn’.” Smoothly covering his surprise at the man’s appearance, Soap smiled at his captain.

“Even if I were sleeping, no one can stay asleep with the racket you three were making.” Price grumbled as he tiredly rubbed at the bags under his eyes before passing a look over all three men. “So, what’s got you gathered at my door in the middle of the night?”

“Uh…” Soap swallowed softly, glancing to Ghost for help, only for the man to shove him forward a bit, a silent order to answer before he turned.

“Not my circus.” He grunted out as he began to walk away, but Soap was faster as he shot out and grabbed Ghost’s wrist, yanking him back.

“Actually! It was just- we were- it was a joke! We were gonna play a joke.” Soap blurted out after Alex poked him to hurry up.

Sighing tiredly, Price crossed his arms as he leaned into his doorway. “On me? All three of you. Including Ghost?”

“Ghost makes me feel safe, that’s why I brought him with us.” The Scot panicked, feeling said lieutenant attempt to pull his sleeve out of his hold, only for Soap to hold on extra tight, not wanting to be left alone now.

“Bloody hell.” Price groaned, hanging his head before lifting it and glaring at Soap, side-eyeing Alex who had been very quiet in the hope of avoiding any wrath. “Get to your blasted beds. If I see any of you here again, it’s toilet duty for a month.”

With that, Price stepped back and slammed his door in the faces of the three men.

Which left Soap to the mercy of Alex and Ghost.

- - - -

The final attempt came around dinner time.

It had been a week and a half since the last mission and a week and a half of trying to figure out the mystery dog tag.

Be it in the form of blatant ruses, attempting to sneak a peek during work-outs or in the communal shower room, none had been able to get anything.

Ghost and Farah had pointedly stated their refusal to participate, Rudy staying impartial though curious, while Alejandro merely had the bet with Soap.

Miraculously, they had been inconspicuous enough that Price didn’t seem to realise what was going on - or he was too busy being swamped with work to notice.

Right now, the 141 and company were gathered at the dinner table, just about finishing up while pleasant conversation flowed.

“Sooo, captain?” Gaz started in between, earning the notice of some of the others as he scooted his chair a little to the right, closer to where Price sat at the head of the table. “Your mother?”

Tilting his head, Price placed his cup down, looking a little puzzled at his sergeant. “What about her?”

“Father?”

Even more confused, Price turned his head right, looking at Soap who held a mischievous grin as he had seemed to butt in on the conversation. “My father?”

Yet the others at the table had now picked up on what was going on, Alex speaking up next. “A sibling?”

“What are you guys talking ab-“

“Any family member?” For the first time, Rudy participated as he spoke up, genuinely intrigued.

Yet all it did was make Price furrow his brows, completely lost in the conversation as his team seemed to pick on him one by one.

“Maybe a frie-“

“Could you TELL ME what you are talking about so that maybe I could give you a decent response?!” Price burst, splaying his hands wide as he interrupted Alejandro, glancing at Farah and Ghost for help given they seemed to be the only ones who didn’t seem to have lost their minds.

At his words, everyone shared a look, making Price’s irritation grow, given they were clearly all in on something he wasn’t.

Just then, Gaz shifted, earning him the ire stare of his superior. It didn’t deter him however, holding an almost boyish glint in his eyes. “The dog tag.” He spoke, the corner of his mouth lifted up as he pointed at Price’s chest.

Admittedly, it didn’t immediately click for him as the man reached for the chain around his neck, grabbing the tags and revealing the top one, showing one of his personal tags holding his information. Lack of sleep and the immense workload on him making his brain slower than he’d like.

Seeing it was the wrong one, Gaz good-naturedly rolled his eyes, pointing at the other two tags hidden in the man’s fist. “No- the other one.”

Blinking softly, everything fell into place for Price, his annoyed yet confused stare turning into one of realisation. “Oh, I see.”

At his words, those invested in the mystery perked up while Farah just looked disappointed, with Ghost deadpanning as he glanced around the table of idiots.

“You all really have nothing better to do?” Price questioned, one eyebrow pointedly raised as he looked around the table.

“We’re just curious, sir.” Soap grinned, leaning a bit more onto the table, eager.

“Stay curious.” With that, he pushed the chain back under his shirt, pushing out his chair as he got up with his plate and cup. “And given you all are bored it would seem, I’ll get something for you all to do.”

A groan instantly swept through those at the table as they knew what that meant, Soap getting a kick to the shin from Ghost while Farah roughly slapped Gaz’s upper arm - Alex receiving a punch to his on her other side.

- - - -

Standing on the sidelines with his arms crossed, Price held a stern face as he watched Soap and Gaz spar on the left while Farah had Alex in a headlock on the right.

Frantic, the blond tapped out on Farah’s thigh, about to be choked to death. Chuckling, the woman let him go and Alex rolled away from her, laying face down for a second.

“Well done, you two.” Price gruffly spoke, nodding in approval. “Farah won by a slight margin.”

“What about you, capitán?” Alejandro then spoke up as he stood besides the man.

Curious, Price turned his head to look at the colonel. “What do you mean?”

“I’ve never seen you fight hand-to-hand yet.”

Scratching his beard slightly, he hummed, thinking Alejandro’s words over before shrugging. It could never harm to know your allies’ capabilities. “Alright.” With that, he ushered Alex and Farah off the field, handing his hat to the Mexican colonel before taking his place in the grass and looking up. “Ghost, you feel like going a round?”

Wordlessly, the masked man complied, walking over to stand in front of his captain.

“Remember, no slapping or punching. This is purely a sparring match with the goal to pin the other.” Price repeated what he said for every match, even when he was about to fight his own.

“I’ll keep my hands close by.” Ghost spoke and the captain nodded, glancing at Alejandro who got the hint.

While the two in the grass got into defensive positions with arms raised, he stood forward. “Ready… go!”

Price was the first to move. With a surprisingly fast step, he got up in Ghost’s face before side-stepping to avoid his instinctual push-back.

Grabbing his wrist, the captain tried to pin it to his own back, but Ghost was faster as he turned around to get behind Price, prying his arm free and grabbing the man from behind.

Letting out a grunt from the impact, Price reached over his head to grab the back of Ghost’s vest, throwing all his body weight forward in a motion that sent the lieutenant flying over his shoulder.

Slamming onto his back in the grass, Ghost hadn’t let go of Price however, making the man fall to the ground with him, groaning.

Recovering faster than his captain, Ghost rolled over and grabbed hold of Price in a chokehold from behind - making sure not to actually choke him.

“Come on, Ghost, show the old man!” Soap’s cheering made both superiors on the ground glance up and glare at the sergeant, noticing the small crowd that had formed though neither let up in their fight.

Snaking his hand up, Price pried it under Ghost’s arm before pushing out, making the lieutenant lose his grip, now only holding Price down by the arm over his neck.

Price immediately took advantage of this and grabbed hold of said arm, pulling and pushing his body out at the same time, making Ghost grunt as he reached his free hand out to try and get his grip back, only managing to grab at the back of Price’s neck, holding onto the man’s shirt.

While the captain pulled away, Ghost felt something give underneath his hand - allowed only a second or so of confusion before Price twisted the arm pinning him back, forcing him to roll onto his side for which the brunet took advantage, getting underneath the masked man and practically bear-hugging him from behind.

Cursing, Ghost felt his left wrist being grabbed as Price tried to pin him, the man’s legs wrapping around his own to pin them down.

It was a good hold, though Ghost managed to pull the hand Price had pinned behind his back free, now able to use it to break the captain’s grip.

Struggling on the ground together, Price flung his arm over Ghost’s chest and grabbed hold of his own forearm, trying to keep hold and keep Ghost pinned on top of him while said man tried to pry his arm free.

“Captain! Captain Price!”

A sudden shouting brought everything to a halt and both men on the floor stopped their efforts as they instead looked to the right of the field to see a soldier running over, looking winded.

“Sir, I have some information from Colonel Norris.” He breathed, only now seeming to notice the annoyed looks he was getting from the entire team gathered around the grass.

They weren’t too happy to see the sparring match interrupted.

Untangling his limbs from Ghost, Price groaned as he nodded before letting his head fall back on the grass. “Be right with ya.”

With that, the soldier was forgotten as Ghost grunted while getting up. Rolling his shoulders a bit, he then turned to his captain still on the grass, sticking out his hand to help. “You held your own, old man.”

“You would have broken free. We’ll call it even.” Price smiled a bit as Ghost pulled him up before letting go and turning to the sergeant who had just rushed over. “Let’s head to my office.”

With a nod of goodbye to the team, Price accepted his hat back from Alejandro and placed it on his head before walking off with the soldier, brushing himself off a bit.

Yet while everyone deflated a bit, sweaty and happy to be done with the PT, Ghost bent down, picking up a small chain from the grass.

Dangling in his hand were his captain’s dog tags - all three glistening in the sunlight - and Ghost scoffed in amusement as he flipped them up to hold them properly in his fist.

He knew he’d felt something break underneath his hand.

- - - -

Walking into the mess hall in a frazzle, the 141 watched their captain walk around, eyes pointed at the floor, very obviously looking for something.

“Captain, over here!”

“Not now, Kyle.” Price dismissed, not even glancing up as he continued his search and Gaz shared an incredulous look with the others.

“No, captain, they’re here.” Farah was now the one to speak up and Price stopped in his tracks, looking up while his brows furrowed in confusion, seeing Farah beckon him over.

Everyone was gathered - which wasn’t too unusual for this time, but them standing around a singular table was.

Walking up, he got in between Farah and Rudy, only for his eyes to widen to what was laying in the middle of the table.

Without a second to spare, he snatched his tags up before glaring around at the circle. “What the bloody devil is the meaning of this?”

Anger very clearly simmered from his form and those around shifted a bit before Gaz stepped up.

“Look, sir, I know you know we’ve been trying to know what’s on your tags, but this was an accident.” The man spoke for the team, given it was his idea that got them all there anyways. “The chain broke during your sparring match with Ghost and he saw them lying in the grass while we all left and picked them up.”

There was a small silence as Price took in the sergeant’s words, giving him a scrutinising stare before he spoke up.

“But you all took a peek?”

At that, Gaz looked down for a second, shuffling a bit. “…Yes.”

Taking in a deep sigh, Price closed his eyes and rubbed at the back of his neck in an irritated manner before he let it all go with his exhale.

“They’re my wedding vows, you curious ingrates.”

At that, the entire world seemed to pause for the 141. “Your what?” Soap practically squeaked out while Price was checking over the break in the chain.

“Wedding vows, MacTavish. One speaks them while getting married.” He spoke dryly while not looking up.

“You’re married?” Gaz asked, his heart both jumping in elation and squeezing in hurt that the man had never spoken about something so important.

Hearing the tone of voice, Price finally looked up to see the conflict in Gaz and his eyes softened slightly.

“Why would you not tell us?”

“Same reason Alejandro won’t divulge where his family is. To keep her safe.” Price spoke, getting an understanding nod from both Alejandro and Rodolfo.

“What does she look like?” Alex spoke up after a small silence and Price looked at him, contemplating for a second before sighing once more as he realised there was no more going around it.

“Alright, hold your horses.” With that, he stepped back from the table and walked away, leaving those around curious.

A few minutes later, Price returned and handed a singular photograph to Farah to pass around.

It was one of his favourite pictures with you. In it, the two of you were on a boat, sun shining down while you hug your husband from behind, your cheek squished to his while you smiled so bright.

Once it came to Ghost, he glanced at the picture before flipping it around, seeing a few words jotted down in pen. ‘Honeymoon 2017’.

“You’ve been married for six years?” He asked and Price scratched the back of his head.

“Seven. I unexpectedly got called in for deployment shortly after our wedding.”

“Steamin’ jesus, cap.” Soap cursed, blowing out a long breath. “Feels like I don’t know you anymore.”

A brief regret flashed through Price at the words before he crossed his arms again, blocking it out. “You know now. It doesn’t change much. Only difference is that I have someone to go home to during leave.”

“Can we meet her?” Soap poked and Price grumbled, pinching the bridge of his nose.

“I’m not bringing her here, MacTavish, if that’s what you mean. I’ll see if she wants to say hello next time I phone her.”

That seemed to appease most of the members who shared looks and nodded happily.

“Is there anything else you muppets need? I have to place an order for a new chain.” Price questioned, emphasising his words by sliding the tags off the broken chain.

“Would she like us?”

At that, the man couldn’t help but smile to himself, looking around at his team. “She already does.”

#price x reader #john price #john price x reader #captain john price #call of duty modern warfare #captain john price x reader #cod x reader #cod mw

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starfruitwyne · 11 months ago

Text

Quiet On The Other Line - Bellice Oneshot

Summary:

After encountering yet another bump in the rocky road of her situationship, Bella finds herself on Alice Cullen's doorstep in the middle of the night in the pouring rain. With Edward simmering down by himself in the mountains for a month, Bella takes to Alice for comfort and companionship. Together they start to bond in unexpected ways and Alice starts to wonder if Bella has had ulterior motives from the beginning. // Lots of angst and plenty of sm*t here. Enough to give you an adrenaline rush! You can Google what that is.

Alice wasn't surprised to see the soaked, shivering brunette on her doorstep at three in the morning in the middle of a heavy rainfall. She had received an earful of her aggravated brother's relationship drama all afternoon. Bella this, Bella that. Despite having half listened to at least an hour of Edward’s incessant rambling, Alice scarcely remembered what had caused the fight between him and his equally emotional human lover.

‘Edward’s not home,’ Alice said. And this was true. The broody vampire had left to “clear his head,” as he’d put it. That was always how he’d put it.

‘I know,’ said Bella Swan, the girl on the doorstep. She was soaked to the skin from the violent downpour. Her red college varsity jacket did little to protect her from the wind and rain. At her side, she clutched a thick, canvas tote bag. Her keys dangled from a shiny carabiner hooked to her jeans. Through long, drenched strands of hair, Bella peered up at Alice like a lost kid. ‘I came to see you.’

Alice was confused. Usually, if Edward wasn't around after a fight, Bella would walk home and stay home. Usually, Alice wouldn't see Bella for a few days. Usually, she'd be so distraught, she’d even skip a day or two of college. None of this, none of it at all, was usual. Something must have been very, very wrong.

‘Come in,’ Alice said, not wanting to leave the girl out in the harsh weather.

Bella bowed her head gratefully and quickly shuffled inside like a wet kitten, though she shook like a dog once Alice closed the front door.

‘Why didn’t you bring a freakin’ raincoat? Or even a hoodie, for crying out loud!’ Alice said, bringing her hands to Bella's frozen face. ‘You’re as cold as I am!’

‘It started pouring when I was halfway here,’ Bella shivered. ‘And the truck's in the damn shop again.’

‘Jesus, that's a twenty minute walk! You need a damn phone, you could have called,’ Alice rambled.

‘I know,’ Bella said dismissively, followed by a hard shiver.

‘Someone could’ve come and got you.’

‘I know.’

‘You know I can't always foresee shit like this! If you had a ph—’

‘I know! Alice! I fucking know!’

Alice closed her mouth, stunned by the girl's outburst. She brushed it off and pressed the back of her fingers to Bella's forehead.

‘Go to my room. Get in the shower and then change into whatever.’

‘Are you sure—’

‘Go, just go! You're gonna catch a cold,’ Alice said, gesturing for Bella to hurry upstairs already.

Without another word, Bella did as she was told. She dripped rainwater onto the smooth, marble steps as she went. Alice went to find a mop and met her mother in the kitchen.

‘Is that the Swan girl?’

‘Yeah, she was looking for Edward,’ Alice said. She rummaged through a broom closet.

‘She knows he's not here, right?’ Esme asked, looking up from the sewing project she had laid out on the kitchen table.

‘Yup,’ Alice said. She pulled out a mop and then a plastic bucket.

‘Poor girl,’ Esme said with a motherly frown. ‘Does her father know she's here?’

‘I don't know,’ Alice said. ‘And I've been looking into Edward. He's not coming back for, like, a month. I think.’

‘You’ve seen it?’

‘Yup,’ Alice said. She picked up her bucket and mop and hurriedly left, wanting desperately to avoid any more questions from her mother.

‘Ah, young love,’ Esme sighed.

Love, Alice thought incredulously. Whatever it was that Bella and Edward shared was not love. Infatuation at best. Obsession at worst.

‘I hear those angry words!’ Esme called in a sing-song voice from the kitchen. Alice ignored her and quickened her pace to escape the vicinity of her mother's mind-reading barrier.

Once she had finished mopping up Bella's wet footsteps, she went to check her bedroom for the girl.

She was crying, all curled up in the middle of Alice's reading nook. She had found a pair of tennis shorts and a black band t-shirt. Her clothes were tossed into a heap by Alice's laundry, along with her dirty, green high-tops. Her damp, lengthy hair clung to her trembling shoulders.

‘Hey, woah,’ Alice said, approaching the girl slowly. ‘You gotta tell me what happened this time. Edward never said anything. And I can't read your mind, remember?’

The vampire sat down on her couch next to the quivering ball of tears. She awkwardly placed a hand on Bella's shoulder and stroked it as if she were a pet. The rain beat down on the large skylight above them. Bella’s crying was so distraught, it seemed to be spurring the weather on.

‘Come on, B, tell me what's up,.’ Alice had softened her voice now, a tone she often used with human babies. In her current state, Bella could pass as one.

‘Stupid shit,’ Bella said. She sniffed and shakily sat up, crossing her legs and grabbing a pillow to hold to her chest.

There was something so youthful about the motion. So juvenile. Alice stared at Bella's sad, brown eyes and how they seemed to never end. Two murky pools of deep, dark grief. That was something that Alice secretly thought Bella wore well. Grief. The way the bags under her eyes never seemed to leave simply accentuated her constant gloomy expression. The way her jaw was sharp and rigid when she cried - there was just something about it that Alice found pretty. She was always a sucker for Shakespearean tragedies. Maybe that's where the admiration for such a face came from.

‘He said I'm a brute,’ Bella said hoarsely. ‘That I need to work on myself. And a bunch of other crap. Fucking stupid.’

The girl rested her forehead on her pillow and let out a few more pitiful sobs. Alice continued to pet her shoulder, unsure of what else to do.

‘I’m sure he was just concerned about you,’ Alice said quietly. ‘Boyfriends will say things the wrong way now and again.’

‘He’s not my fucking boyfriend,’ Bella said frustratedly. ‘I dunno what the hell he is or what we are or what any of this shit is.’ Bella slapped her hands against her pillow.

‘Damn,’ Alice said with a chuckle. It wasn’t unusual for Bella to get angry. She had two very dominant emotions: sadness and anger. And a lot of things, Alice noticed, made Bella angry. Authority. Hierarchy. Paris Hilton. But never Edward. It was unusual for her to show so much disdain towards Edward. Tonight, however, seemed to be full of unusual things.

‘Why did he say you were brute?’

‘Because of… everything, I dunno! Vampires and humans and bullshit. I… He said I’m too much, whatever that means. Too much for a vampire? Kiss my fucking ass,’ Bella said, throwing her arms up in frustration. ‘Sorry, I just— Ugh! I'm just sick of him. He called me stubborn. Like a child, y’know? Do I look like a child?!’

Alice pondered this. She lifted away a lock of Bella's damp hair to get a better view of her face. The lamp light illuminated her features — the slope of her button nose, her round cheeks, her frowning lips. However, no matter how warm the light was, the bags under Bella's eyes were dull and prominent. And, of course, Alice thought she wore them quite well.

‘Enlighten me,’ Bella said, grinning amusedly. Her bleary eyes blinked up at the vampire, spilling two more tears over her rosy face.

‘Apart from the pouty lip and angry eyebrows, I wouldn't say you look like a child,’ Alice said. ‘A street fighter, perhaps.’

‘Sick,’ Bella sniffled. She tapped at her nose with a tissue.

‘How come you wanted to see me?’ Alice asked then.

‘Oh, yeah,’ Bella said, suddenly reminded of why she was there.

‘You’re usually only here for Edward,’ Alice added. ‘In fact, I think the last time we spoke one-on-one was a whole month ago. At your volleyball game, remember?’

‘I try not to,’ Bella said. ‘My damn knee still isn't right. I dunno why I thought joining a college team would make me any better at it.’

‘Bella, seriously,’ Alice said, a tiny smirk creeping over her lips.

‘Oh, you're fucking laughing!’

‘I’m not!’

‘Bitch, you're a liar!’

‘Look, when Newton sent you flying into the stratosphere with that slide, it was kind of hilarious, okay? Jesus.’

Bella laughed — really laughed at Alice's confession. She burst into a fit of teary giggles. Alice placed a hand over her grinning mouth. It was rare for Bella to express such outwardly joy. And when it happened it was simply infectious.

‘I always thought you were real funny, y’know?’ Bella said with a tired sigh.

‘Oh, really?’

‘Uh huh, totally.’

‘Well, I'm flattered. But you still haven't answered my question.’

Bella took a shallow breath. ‘Can we smoke first?’

Alice had foreseen the question coming, though not in a vision. Bella usually - if not always - partook in the stuff when she and the other Cullens got together for a hangout. THC was one of the few substances that had any effect on vampires. Carlisle had once explained it had to do with their metabolism. Vampires could experience intense highs from certain chemicals. However, the effects wouldn't last nearly as long as they could for the average human.

In other words, when Bella wanted to smoke, Alice had to smoke even more.

‘You didn't come here just to mooch off my supply, did you?’ Alice asked, rolling the first joint. Her nimble fingers made quick work of the roach and paper. She pushed her sweater sleeves above her elbows for ease of movement. Rolling was serious business. Alice took the utmost pride in her joints.

‘Hey, no, it's not like that,’ Bella said.

‘Easy, I'm joking. I'm funny, remember?’

Alice flicked at her green lighter and held the end of the joint in her mouth over an ashtray. The lighter sparked a couple of times, occasionally giving flame before dying out again.

‘Shit,’ Alice murmured through her teeth.

‘Hang on,’ Bella said. She hopped up from the couch and went to fumble in her tote bag. Alice continued to spark her lighter.

‘Whatcha bring in that thing?’ Alice asked, her sticky joint hanging lazily from her lower lip.

‘Uh, just my phone and shit,’ Bella said nonchalantly. ‘Ah! And this baby,” she smiled, holding up her cherry shaped jet lighter.

‘Cherry, my old friend!’ Alice cheered. ‘Always coming through for us.’

‘Filled her up yesterday,’ Bella said, tossing Alice the tiny blowtorch. ‘I’d have brought some fuel if I’d known yours was dead.’

‘Well, you could have texted me,’ Alice teased, ‘If only you had a—’

‘Oh, give it a rest,’ Bella laughed. ‘Cells freak me out, okay?’

‘I promise you, there’s nothing scary about owning one. Unless you want me to send you a cursed chain letter?’

‘Wow, you’re really selling this to me,’ Bella said, raising an eyebrow.

Alice smirked and flicked at Bella’s lighter. A steady, noisy flame ignited from the ceramic vessel. ‘Hallelujah,’ the vampire smiled. In seconds, the end of her joint was lit. She inhaled. Her vampire strength made for excellent lung capacity. Over the decades, Alice found she had perfected the art of the slow drag, knowing exactly when she had enough smoke to get her buzzed. Alice exhaled without even the slightest cough and passed the joint to Bella.

Bella had been watching her. She rocked back on her crossed legs and leaned against the stack of pillows behind her. Her baby pink lips pursed and took the joint between them. She dragged and puffed and dragged and puffed. And coughed. And dragged again. And puffed again.

‘Fuck, what are you tryna forget?’ Alice asked.

‘Oh, shoot. Guess I should get to talking now, huh?’ Bella choked. She passed the joint back to Alice, who took one more drag before setting it down in the ashtray.

‘Talk to me, B.’

‘Okay,’ Bella sighed. She cleared her throat. ‘Well, first of all, can you tell me how long Edward's gonna be gone for?’

Alice rolled her eyes.

‘Please, Alice? And I won't ask again.’

Alice stared Bella dead in the eye. Had Bella’s visit simply been a disguise to ask her a boatload of questions about her lovesick brother? Was Bella only here to use Alice as her crystal ball?

‘I swear,’ Bella said.

Alice sighed. ‘About a month,’ she said plainly. ‘Three weeks and four days, to be exact.’

Bella exhaled sharply and cursed under her breath. Her mouth formed a thin line and she nodded to herself. ‘Thank you. That's all I wanna know about him, I promise.’

Alice raised a thin eyebrow. ‘Go on.’

Bella dragged her red-knuckled fingers through her hair. It was a bit wavy after having some time to dry. Alice liked it.

‘I just felt like I… wanted to see you. I mean, yeah, I wanted to see you— needed to see you, actually.’

‘Yeah?’ Alice said. ‘Why’s that?’

Bella's chin was tucked into her arm. She had curled up like before, though no pillow was wedged between her and her thighs now. Her pale legs were squeezed together. Alice stared at the slight bruising on Bella's right knee. She gently reached out her hand to stroke it softly. Bella lifted her head to watch.

‘Does it still hurt?’ Alice asked.

Bella shrugged, ‘Just a little.’

Alice wasn't sure what compelled her to do so, but she continued to rub her fingers over Bella's knee in small circles. Bella watched quietly. Alice could tell she was trying not to cry again. Her eyes, now tinted pink from the weed, were growing shiny once more.

Slowly, Bella's hand crept up to hold onto the fingertips that stroked her knee. Alice wordlessly let her. It was such a vulnerable act; so desperate for the touch of another. Even if it wasn't human.

Alice stared at the ring Bella wore. It was an old, gilded, antique thing with a carved image of Jesus adorning its circular face. Alice recalled Bella saying her father had given it to her as a child, but these days he didn't so much as say Grace at dinner.

‘Bella?’ Alice said, softly prompting the girl to speak.

‘I think I just didn't wanna be alone,’ Bella said.

Alice frowned pitifully. ‘Whatever happened to your new college friends? Or your old school friends?’

Bella winced. ‘I think they're all avoiding me. But it's not like I'm a joy to be around lately.’

Alice leaned in closer, moving aside the stray pillows and the ashtray in between them. Bella still hung loosely onto Alice's hand. Gently, Alice squeezed Bella's fingers. The tender touch sent Bella over the edge, as fresh tears spilled over the girl's dark lower lashes.

‘C’mere,’ Alice said. She let Bella sink into her arms. Bella wrapped her arms around the vampire and buried her face into her neck. They stayed like that for some time, Alice slowly rocking Bella and stroking her hair, Bella sobbing against her. The rain outside started to ease until it became a gentle shower.

‘Everybody fucking leaves me,’ Bella said finally. ‘My mom, my friends, Edward; Everybody leaves eventually.’

Alice let the words hang in the air. They were so defeated. And yet, Alice knew that even if she couldn't read Bella's mind, they begged for reassurance.

‘I’m here.’

The girl stiffly pulled away from Alice's embrace. Her eyes were slightly puffy now, only adding to the tragedy which consumed her expression. And still, Alice found it so fitting.

Silently, they gazed at one another — into one another. Alice could hear the slight crackle of Bella's lungs as she breathed, no doubt caused by the copious amount of weed and tobacco the girl smoked daily. It was a wonder how Charlie had never smelled the stuff on her clothes.

Alice followed the direction of Bella's gaze. Her eyes would fall upon her lower face and back up again, asking a question which Alice could not hear.

‘Alice?’ Bella said then.

‘Hmm?’

‘Can I kiss you?’

Alice blinked. Her lips parted in surprise. ‘Kiss me?’

‘Yes.’

‘Oh.’

Silence. Unblinking silence. Alice stared. Bella stared.

‘Why?’ Alice said.

Bella chuckled incredulously. She scrunched her eyes, flicking the remnants of tears down her face and onto her knuckles. ‘Because I think you're fucking pretty, that's why.’

‘But… what about—’

‘Don’t say his name,’ Bella interrupted. ‘Please, just don't. I don't wanna think about him.’

‘I’m sorry,’ Alice said.

Bella shook her head, dismissing the apology. She shakily shuffled closer to Alice before flopping down in front of her again. She used both hands to brush Alice's spiky bangs out of her eyes. All the while, Bella made sure to keep eye contact with the vampire. There was a new look on her face - one of determination. Her nose and her cheeks were a sugary blush. Her eyes shimmered, still fending off new tears. Her eyebrows were furrowed as if she were thinking particularly hard about something. And her mouth was a thin, pink line.

Bella's hands came to a stop at either side of Alice's face. She cupped her like a precious jewel. Her big, brown eyes were so intense. Alice thought about how burdened they looked.

‘You’re sooo pretty, dude. I can't fucking believe it sometimes,’ Bella said, still with that hardened expression.

‘You look so damn angry,’ Alice said softly. She brushed her thumb over Bella's wrist. She knew it would do little to soothe her.

‘Kiss me, Alice,’ Bella whispered.

Alice licked her lips instinctively. Their faces were inches apart. Alice could see the depth of colour in Bella's eyes now. When she looked closely, she could see flecks of sparkly caramel. The hint of a rusty, red hue also hid behind the earthy brown. Like rich clay in a riverbed.

Bella had freckles. They were a delicate fawn colour and were sprinkled over the apples of her cheeks, her forehead, and the tip of her nose. Alice was compelled to count them. To just spend the day sitting and talking and counting.

Alice couldn't remember who had leaned in first. And usually, she was quite good at remembering things. But one moment she was taking Bella in, and the next she was pressed against Bella's body, kissing her tenderly as the girl straddled her lap.

The kiss was slow. Bella's hands had found their way under Alice's sweater. Even so, they only lingered around her waist and back. Alice's hands were lost in Bella's hair. She allowed herself to tug on it every so often, eliciting a quiet moan from the girl.

Bella tasted like weed. And Monster Energy. And gun metal. It was intoxicating. She smelled like a burning forest; pine needles and smoke and charred flowers. When their lips would pull apart, Alice found that she was the one to close the gap again. And still, it was all so careful; full of the intensity and lust of a first kiss, but holding an air of unspoken hesitance.

Bella was out of breath when the kiss finally came to a natural end.

‘Shit,’ the girl panted.

‘You good?’ Alice asked softly.

‘Yeah, I’m good,’ Bella laughed breathily. She removed her hands from underneath Alice's sweater. The vampire was surprised at the sheer warmth they left behind. Memories of the girl's presence. Ghosts on her skin

‘Um… I should go. I've probably overstayed my welcome,’ Bella said, glancing at the clock over Alice's writing desk.

‘At this hour? Out there?’ Alice asked, looking out her window. The rain, though no longer violent, still fell at a pace that was less than inviting.

‘Yeah.’

‘Bella, just stay here.’

‘Are you sure—’

‘Yeah, idiot. I'll make up the couch bed for you.’

‘Geez, well, if you insist,’ Bella smirked. Something about the smirk told Alice that Bella knew she'd rather be executed than let the girl catch pneumonia.

Quickly, Alice got to fishing out top sheets and meticulously fluffing up pillows, much to Bella’s amused protests. Alice waved her hand away and smoothed down the sheets. She was hosting. That was something she did best.

‘Seriously, you’re not a hotel maid,’ Bella said. ‘I don’t need— What is that?’

‘A spritz of lavender essential oil. It’ll help you sleep,’ Alice said, smiling proudly at her work.

‘Jesus,’ Bella laughed. ‘I think you’re doing too much.’

‘Am I?’

‘Totally.’

‘Good.’

Soon Bella was tucked under thick blankets. She nestled down like a rabbit in a warm burrow, closing her eyes once she was in a comfortable position. Alice decided to sit by her writing desk, facing her from across the small room.

‘Comfy?’ Alice asked.

‘Mmf,’ Bella said through the fuzzy covers.

‘I’ll take that as a yes.’

Alice continued to watch the girl. Only the top of her face peeked out from the covers. It was almost five in the morning. Birdsong had begun to swell outside, greeting the warm hue of the slowly rising sun. Bella’s soft snoring joined their chorus.

Alice laughed quietly. She turned towards her desk and absentmindedly drummed her fingers against the wood.

‘Ali?’ came a sleepy voice.

‘Hmm?’ Alice said, turning around once again.

Bella’s eyes were still closed. She had turned slightly to face Alice.

‘I like kissing you.’

Before Alice could process the whispered words, Bella was snoring quietly again. The vampire exhaled through her nose, surprised yet again by the human’s unusual behaviour tonight.

‘Same,’ she said to herself.

☆

When Bella left the next morning, awoken by an unimpressed phone call from her father, Alice was left wondering if they’d ever again hang out the way they had. Alone. Just the two of them. Something about the night’s activities left Alice yearning for more. More pointless conversation. More bitching about her mopey brother. All of it had made Alice feel so warm. It had made her feel like a girl. It had made her feel human.

And the kiss. At first, it did not thrash around Alice’s mind the way she had expected it to. But it still lurked in the corners. Three whole days went by, and still, it crept into Alice’s frontal lobe when she folded her laundry. It flashed across her vision when she tried to read or write in her bedroom. Only ever in brief bursts. Only ever a whisper of what the kiss had truly been.

And then it started to plague her. It appeared in her daydreams in vivid colour, wrapping itself around her brain like an obsessive, flesh-eating worm. Afraid of her family peering into her thoughts, Alice began to seclude herself in her bedroom. But staying in the place where the kiss had happened did little to banish it from her memory.

Alice tried to write to distract herself, but all of her poems and stories ended up being about love and pink lips and girls with big, brown, puppy dog eyes. How could one kiss take up so much of Alice’s mental capacity? It was getting ridiculous.

‘Swanny girl’s been looking rough lately,’ said Rosalie, passing Alice by in the kitchen. The clock struck noon. Alice raised her eyebrows. She could have sworn it had been much later in the day. When Alice didn’t reply, Rosalie continued.

‘Saw her passing through town the other day. Does she even sleep? Humans need a lot of that, don’t they?’

‘That’s rude,’ Alice said, mulling over a wineglass of deer blood.

‘Ooh, is that fermented?’ Rosalie asked, swiping the glass before Alice could protest. She sipped once before Alice could stop her.

‘Girl,’ Alice said.

‘Geez, you're off your game today. Hanging around Bella threw off your foresight, huh?’

‘Leave her be, she's dealing with Edward.’

‘Oh, I know. He seemed pretty heated when he took off. I told him to spare me the details of his lover’s quarrel though.’

‘He didn't tell me anything about it anyway,’ Alice said, trying to hide her frustration.

If there was one thing she didn't like about Bella, Edward never spoke about her to anyone. Never allowed her to cross his mind when surrounded by family.

Alice loved her brother, even if it was not always reciprocated. She cared about his wellbeing. And not being allowed to know about someone who so greatly impacted his immortal life thoroughly bothered her.

‘You said a month, right? Girl's gonna be abusing that drum set of hers.’

‘They’ll hear it halfway to the moon,’ Alice chuckled fondly.

Bella played drums. Alice remembered how she had explained that it channelled her anger into something productive. The vampire admired that about her. She was full of rage. But she had somewhere she felt safe putting it. Even though Charlie had to beg her to “can it” after nine pm.

‘You coming with us to hunt later? We're looking for deer,’ Rosalie said, typing rapidly on her white Nokia.

‘I’ll think about it,’ Alice said.

‘Aw, come on! You can get blood drunk at noon some other time.’

‘I’m not getting blood drunk!’

‘Oh, please. I barely had to tip the glass to get that sip.’

Alice laughed at her sister's quick wit. ‘Okay, look, I'll strongly consider it.’

‘Great. See you in the clearing at six then,’ Rosalie said, walking off with her eyes glued to her phone.

Alice huffed. She wasn’t particularly in the mood for hunting today, and that was truly telling that something was bothering her. She loved the thrill of a good, long chase. She loved feeling the dirt between her fingernails and the salty air of the bay on her tongue. Most of all, she loved the catch. She could not deny the guilty pleasure that would overcome her after a successful hunt. Alice relished the sensation of bringing a living thing to its demise, tearing at flesh and sinew with her sharp teeth. She was somewhat of an animal herself, after all. How could she starve her beastly instincts of the adrenaline rush of killing?

Sighing, Alice went to take another sip of her deer blood, only to find out that Rosalie had sneakily stolen it. Perhaps Bella truly had shaken her foresight askew.

‘Bitch!’ Alice yelled into the house.

‘Thank you!’ came a faint reply.

Perhaps a good hunt would take her mind off of Edward. And Bella.

☆

The deer was fast. It weaved in and out of the trees like the wind itself. It knew these woods. But Alice knew them better. She had seen many of these trees when they were only skinny saplings. She had watched humans map out the hiking trails. Knowing this, Alice let the deer run ahead. She would catch up eventually.

It was always a treat when the other animal put up a fight — posed a good challenge. As Alice slowed her sprint, Carlisle, Emmett, and Esme caught up with her.

‘What a runner!’ Esme exhaled. ‘She’s taking us to the border!’

‘Well, she won’t reach it,’ Emmett said, grinning smugly.

‘You don’t plan on taking the kill do you?’ came a voice from above. Rosalie dropped down from the trees. Her leather hunting boots lifted the pine needles from the forest floor as she landed.

‘Don’t worry, babe. I’m a man of my word. No one’s taking down that deer but you.’

Rosalie placed a loving kiss on Emmett’s cheek. Alice faked a gag.

Carlisle sniffed the air, looking for signs of where the deer had fled. He stretched out his back and placed his hands on his hips. ‘I’d say if we split and circle, we’ll be able to direct her back into our territory. If we let her get too close to the border, that’s dinner off the table.’

Alice looked in the direction the deer had run. She closed her eyes and inhaled, allowing herself to smell every little note the forest held within. She rooted her boots to the ground, letting her body absorb every small motion; every padded footstep and slow blink. In her mind’s eye, she saw that Carlisle’s plan would work. However, for everything to play out correctly, the coven would have to move quickly.

‘You’re on the money, Carlisle,’ Alice said. ‘But we need to move now!’

‘Perfect,’ Carlisle grinned. ‘Esme, Emmet, the three of us will form the triad formation. Alice and Rosalie, outer circle.’

‘Adaptive triad, on your mark,’ Alice and Rosalie said in unison. They crouched at the ready.

‘Move out,’ Carlisle instructed.

In seconds, the family had split. Alice and Rosalie created a wide circle around the deer’s trail. The rest of the Cullens would form a triangle around the animal, decreasing in size as it became easier to trap.

Alice could swear she could feel her heartbeat when she ran this fast. Like the still ichor within her had suddenly found a purpose to flow once more. Nothing could distract her at this moment. Alice was locked in like the beast she was, pinpoint-focused on the task at hand and absolutely nothing else.

A faint rumbling noise sounded off in the distance. It played out in a rhythmic, four beat time signature. When Alice listened closer, she could hear the quiet reverb of an accompanying instrumental track.

“Laid to Rest.”

‘Lamb Of God?’ Alice thought out loud. She listened for longer, coming to a stop in the middle of her sprint. ‘Bella,’ she whispered.

The aggressive melody of the Lamb Of God song was being bashed out at a violent pace. It sounded like Bella had moved her drumset to the garage, most likely under Charlie’s wishes.

She played every note like she had the intention of somehow killing each one. Alice was intrigued. She listened and felt for Rosalie’s presence. She was already starting to hone in on the deer. Taking this as a sign that she could break away from the group, Alice leapt into a nearby tree, scaling it so she could gain a better vantage point to listen to Bella’s angsty performance.

Atop the thick branches, Alice closed her eyes and listened. A vision formed. She could see the girl, alone in her garage with the roller door up. Her truck was probably still in the shop. But its absence certainly gave Bella more room in there.

She was heating up from her rigorous playing and had stripped down to a white tank top and baggy sweatpants. A small cross hung from a dainty chain around her neck. Her dark hair was pulled back into a ponytail, though it did little to stop the finer hairs from falling over her lashes as she played. Alice envisioned Bella’s hands and was surprised to find that they were bandaged and slightly bloodied. What on earth had she been up to over the last three days?

Charlie was away today, Alice could sense it. She could also guess from seeing the cigarette that dangled from Bella’s lip. Bella had stolen a few of her father’s Newports. A second one rested behind her ear. A third was nestled in her pants pocket.

The thought of Edward was surely still bothering Bella. She looked pained. Frustrated. So damn angry. Alice’s attention, unfortunately for her family, had been grabbed by the neck.

Where are you? I’m about to move in. It was Rosalie’s voice in Alice’s mind. Unsurprisingly, she sounded very annoyed.

I’m here in the canopy. Do you need me?

I guess not. But why? Where are you going?

Alice didn’t answer. And Rosalie didn’t wait for her to. Alice heard the crunch of meat and bone as her sister took down the deer, a mile away from where she stood. Alice jumped down from her tree and started up a sprint in the other direction.

It was time to pay someone a visit.

☆

‘Fucking damn it!’ Bella groaned, slamming her drumsticks down on her set.

Obscured by thick foliage, Alice watched her from afar, studying her intently like the forest creatures she hunted. Prey. Amusing prey.

‘There you are,’ Rosalie huffed. She reeked of her fresh kill. Dark splashes of blood ran down her hunting gear and smeared across her lips. She joined Alice on her chosen tree branch, swaying it gently.

‘Rosalie,’ Alice greeted.

‘What happened back there? Why are you here?’

Alice had predicted Rosalie’s arrival and also her question.

‘I just wanted to see her,’ Alice said quietly. ‘I heard her across the forest.’

‘So did I! But I didn't dissolve the hunt over it!’ Rosalie said. When Alice didn’t answer, Rosalie followed Alice’s line of sight. She clicked her tongue. ‘What has you so interested?’

Alice shook her head, ‘I don’t know. I just think she’s so fascinating. Don’t you?’

Bella was sparking up her second cigarette. She had sat herself upon a treestump in her front lawn. The temperature change sent a shiver down her spine. The sweat on her skin had surely been cooled by the evening air. She rubbed at one arm and continued to smoke.

‘Truly fascinating,’ Rosalie hummed. Her mouth curled to one side and she wrinkled her nose. ‘You’re not fawning over this girl, are you?’

Alice’s eyes widened. ‘What? No, of course not. Edward would freak,’ she hissed.

‘As if,’ Rosalie said. ‘You’re his favourite.’

‘That’s a joke. And I won’t be inserting myself into his relationships.’

‘Well he certainly isn’t nurturing this relationship, if you could even call it that.’

‘Rosalie!’ Alice gasped.

‘I’m serious. All he’s done to that girl is love bomb her, throw childish fits, and abandon her when he needs to take responsibility. And I’m damn sick of everyone leaning back and watching it happen.’

The blonde vampire’s face was stern. The blood on her mouth had begun to dry, cracking and flaking onto the forest floor. Her lower lip was sucked under the top one in a tense frown.

‘I don’t particularly like her,’ Rosalie said. ‘But I also don’t like how Edward’s treating her. All this running away.’

‘Things are complicated between them,’ Alice said.

‘I don’t see how up and leaving the girl by herself will help that.’

‘What are you saying?’

‘What do you wish I was saying?’

Alice was silent. Rosalie observed her wordlessly. There was a hint of what Alice could only describe as sadness in her eyes. She was unsure of why it was there.

Suddenly, that look of sadness changed to one of surprise. Rosalie’s mouth slowly hung open and she frantically looked Alice up and down. Her brow lowered, creating lines at the corners of her eyes.

‘You kissed her?’

Alice bared her teeth. She must have let the memory slip. She could not pinpoint when the vision had crossed her mind exactly. But Rosalie had caught it. Rosalie knew.

‘It wasn’t my idea,’ Alice whispered guiltily.

‘Dear god,’ Rosalie said, stretching the last word.

‘She just— She wanted to! It really wasn’t anything like that. I haven’t even thought about it, really. Until now, I suppose. But I mean it, it didn’t mean anything. We were high.’

‘This is… Damn, this is—’

‘We were high. And she was so upset. And— And it was so nice, Rosalie. It was so nice. And it wasn’t for very long. I…’

Rosalie stared, letting Alice ramble herself into her grave.

‘Oh, I've screwed up. Say something, Rose.’

‘Hey, all right. Calm down, I’m not angry. I’m kind of happy for you.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Come on, Alice. Don’t pretend like you haven’t been gushing about a partner since the day we met. I think you even hit on me when we did.’

‘Oh god, do you think I look desperate?’

‘No, stupid. I think you need to catch a break. Look, what you guys choose to do is your decision.’

‘I don't want to do anything with her,’ Alice said.

‘Why’s that?’

‘Because! Because... I don’t think she needs that right now.’

‘Needs what? A healthy relationship?

‘No, Rose. Another one of… us.’

‘Ain’t that the truth,’ Rosalie sighed heavily. She poked her tongue into the inside of her cheek. ‘What are you going to do then?’

Alice watched Bella through the leaves. She hated how pretty she looked when she was focused. Shaking the thought away, Alice pulled her eyes away from the scene.

‘I need to tell her we can’t kiss again.’

‘Man,’ Rosalie said, ‘This coven’s a damn soap opera these days.’

Alice laughed sadly. ‘I think it’s the right thing to do. I think if I stop this now, it’d hurt Edward less. Won’t it? God, tell me it will.’

Rosalie shrugged. ‘He’ll find out regardless.’

Alice let those words sit with her. Suddenly, Bella’s drums started up again. Both vampires turned to watch her.

Rosalie sighed. ‘We’ll put your drink aside. See you at home.’ She placed a tender hand on Alice’s shoulder and stared at her with a knowing sincerity. Alice watched her silently disappear between the tree trunks. She turned back towards Bella, who was trying to master a particularly difficult part of her song.

Carefully, Alice slipped down from the tree and began to walk towards Bella’s garage. The girl spotted her quickly and quit her drumming to wave at the vampire. Alice waved back.

‘Yo!’ Bella exclaimed. She hopped up from her drum set and hurried over to bring Alice into an awkward hug. ‘Whatcha doing here?’

‘Hey, B,’ Alice said, smiling warmly, ‘I was just out hunting with my family.’

‘Shit, well, it’s nice to see you. You missed Charlie. He left not too long ago.’

‘Ah, gone for the evening?’

‘For the night. You wanna smoke?’

‘I don’t mind.’

Bella playfully punched Alice’s arm and brought her inside. The house was cooled by the late summer air. A glowing, honeyed hue was creeping in through the windows, draping over the walls and furniture like a gold-spun gossamer blanket. Bella sat Alice by the breakfast table and laid out her smoke box between them. Sunlight pooled into her dark eyes, turning them from deep brown to a gilded amber. It was magic.

‘You’re awfully quiet,’ Bella observed as she unfurled a new slip of wax paper.

‘I guess I’m just tired after the hunt,’ Alice said.

‘Nice save,’ Bella chuckled. ‘Something bothering you? You might as well take your turn to unload on me after last weekend.’

‘Aw, Bella, I didn’t mind our talk. You needed it.’

‘Yeah, yeah, whatever. What’s up?’

‘Your smoke alarm is about to go off.’

‘Huh?’

A high pitched beeping noise blared over the kitchen. A thin pillar of smoke was rising from the oven.

‘Shit! My hashbrowns!’

Bella scrambled out of her chair, knocking it to the tiled floor with a bang. She flung open the oven door and stuffed a towel around the metal tray inside. Frustrated, she slammed the tray into the kitchen sink and coughed as she waved away the smoke.

‘Aw, it’s fucked,’ Bella muttered, staring at the blackened pucks of potato.

‘I’m sorry, my foresight has been so off lately,’ Alice said, turning to open a window.

‘I ain’t blaming you, dude,’ Bella chuckled, fanning the grey mist out of the house. ‘Shit, well, I guess I gotta order takeout. That was the last thing I had to eat for tonight.’

‘It’s Wednesday, you didn’t do any grocery shopping over the weekend?’

‘No, I was crying and eating your face off last weekend, remember?’

‘Oh, yeah.’

Bella snickered. ‘Light up on the porch, I’m ordering a pizza.’

Alice gathered the half-rolled joint and sat herself outside. She had to shield her eyes from the low, setting sun. Her skin glittered softly, but she knew she’d soon be safe from its damning rays.

She fiddled with the end of Bella’s joint and flicked at her lighter. It sparked and failed again.

‘Shit, yeah, you’re dead,’ Alice muttered, turning the plastic thing in her hand.

She had forgotten. Sighing, Alice leaned back on her step, letting the chill forest breeze brush over her face. The faint smell of burnt hashbrowns mixed with the mountain air. Something began to tap rapidly at Alice’s left knee. When she looked, she noticed it was her fingers. They quickly rapped against her knee like they were trying to gain her attention. Unsettled, Alice placed her other hand over them.

Odd, she thought. Phantom nerves, perhaps.

‘That’s done,’ Bella said, appearing on the porch steps. She hunkered down next to Alice and handed her the cherry lighter. ‘Sorry, I forgot yours is bust.’

‘At least one of us remembered,’ Alice said.

Bella briefly narrowed her eyes at the statement. She shrugged it off after Alice finally sparked up. They sat in silence as Alice took the first pull.

‘You said your family went hunting?’ Bella said, taking her turn to drag. ‘Did you not go with ‘em?’

‘I did.’

‘They leave without you, or?’ Bella trailed off.

‘Uh, no. I kind of ditched them.’

‘Flake,’ Bella grinned, tapping out her ashes.

‘I wanted to stop by,’ Alice said.

Bella inhaled and puffed. ‘Just to see me?’

‘Yeah, I guess.’

Bella fiddled with the roach of her joint, turning it over and over between her fingers. A small smile was creeping across her face. It was dripping with mischief.

‘What?’ Alice said.

‘Oh, nothing,’ Bella replied and went to take another drag.

‘What?’ Alice repeated, more urgently than she would have liked.

‘Well,’ Bella began, ‘You’ve never stopped by before. Not by yourself. And not to see me. Just me.’

‘Yeah,’ Alice said. She didn’t know what else to say.

‘I don’t mind, ya know?’

Silence. Alice watched the girl drag once more, reeling back to cough a few times.

‘Y’good?’ Alice asked.

‘Good,’ Bella choked. She brushed a hand over her face, giving Alice a glance at her bandaged knuckles.

‘Hey, what happened to you?’ the vampire asked, reaching out to inspect the damage.

‘Hmm?’

‘Your hands, B, you look like you've been cage fighting.’

‘Oh!’ Bella laughed, ‘Yeah, uh, I was just punching shit.’

‘Punching?’

‘Yeah, walls and stuff,’ Bella said. She nodded over to an old, disintegrating brick wall, which stood at the end of her lawn. ‘I been punching that thing, uh, a lot. And also the drywall in my room. My wardrobe is currently hiding quite the crater.’

‘Geez,’ Alice said.

‘Yeah, shit’s fucked,’ Bella said, puffing shortly on her joint.

‘How have you not broken something?’

‘I dunno.’

Alice shook her head in amazement. ‘You are so bizarre.’

‘Thank you.’

Silence. Staring. Silence.

‘Look, Bella,’ Alice started.

‘Yeah, here it is,’ Bella laughed quietly.

‘No, listen. I wanted to ask you something. About last weekend?’

‘Mhmm?’ Bella nodded, tapping her joint and letting it die in her fingers.

‘About… the kiss?’

‘Ah,’ Bella said. Her gaze was focused on her green high-tops. She shuffled them awkwardly. ‘You come here for round two?’ the girl asked. She forced a sheepish grin.

‘Bella,’ Alice said dolefully.

‘I’m joking.’

‘I know.’

Silence.

‘I don’t think we should do it again,’ Alice said finally. ‘I think it’d just make things more complicated for you. Don’t you think?’

‘Hell if I know what’s good for me,’ Bella shrugged. She flicked her roach into the gutter. ‘But, yeah. Maybe you’re right. I’m sorry if I’ve made things weird between us—’

‘Not at all, absolutely not at all,’ Alice breathed. ‘I promise.’

‘Okay,’ Bella said. ‘Good.’

A delivery truck began to approach the house. Alice hurriedly stood and rushed inside. Her skin was still shimmering against the sunset. As she waited for Bella to fix up with the driver outside, she silently rehearsed her departure. It was done. She wouldn’t have to worry about Bella or kissing her or thinking of kissing her anymore. She could deal with composing her explanation to Edward later.

‘He forgot my sauce,’ Bella grumbled once she reappeared in the kitchen. Once she had set her food down on the table, she glanced over to Alice awkwardly looming by the doorway.

‘You’re leaving?’

The vampire played with her fingers. ‘Oh, yeah. I thought I should get going.’

‘Stay a while.’

The words caught Alice off guard. She had expected Bella to want some alone time after such a loaded conversation.

‘I mean, are you sure?’

‘Yeah, dude. I was gonna put on What Lies Beneath.’

‘You hate that movie.’

‘Yeah, but I like watching it with other people,’ Bella shrugged.

Alice couldn’t help the amused smile that crossed her face. ‘I’m dressed in my hunting gear.’

‘Then wear something of mine.’

It was clear that Bella didn't plan on letting Alice leave any time soon. Thinking it'd be rude to refuse her invitation a second time, Alice gave in.

‘All right. But I’ll bounce after.’

‘Cool.’

☆

Alice sat on the lumpy couch in Bella's living room, dressed in a pair of her sweats and an oversized hoodie. Bella finished two slices of her pizza before becoming engrossed in the low-budget horror movie. Despite it being a movie she heavily disliked, she knew the ins and outs of every terrible shot and stilted line of dialogue. She laughed at every cheap jumpscare and rewound when Alice laughed too. During the boring parts, Bella rolled a handful of pinners and insisted they be smoked to “enhance the experience.” Alice joked that she was the only human who could out smoke a vampire, though she didn’t exactly doubt the notion either.

With about a half hour left of the screening, Bella’s pocket buzzed and beeped. She idly fished out a shiny, silver Motorola.

‘Are you joking? When did you get that?’ Alice questioned.

‘Oh, yeah,’ Bella said sheepishly, ‘I decided to finally enter the digital age,’ she said, awkwardly waving the phone about.

‘Since when?’

Bella shrugged. ‘I’m, like, nearly twenty-one. And if my college friends weren't initially on my ass about it, you sure hammered it into me last weekend.’

‘Who’s in it? Add me!’

‘Sure,’ Bella smiled, handing the phone over.

Alice excitedly clicked on Bella's contacts. She glanced over the small list of names. Her father was pinned at the top of the list. Alice also recognised the names of Bella's old high school friends and a few names she did not recognise.

One particular name stuck out like a sore thumb.

‘You have Edward on here.’

‘Uh, yeah. I had his number in my journal from, like, a year ago. He told me to take it down. Just in case I ever decided to get some digits.’

‘Did you text him?’

Bella was quiet. She was focused on the screen of the TV now, sheltered by her long hair.

‘I did,’ she said bluntly.

‘And?’

‘He hasn't responded.’

Bella messed with the shoulder of her tank top. Her eyes were locked on the TV, but they did not move.

‘I’m sorry, I didn't mean to upset you,’ Alice said.

‘It’s fine. I don't care.’

Alice frowned. She gently brushed away the curtain of Bella’s hair that separated them on the couch. Her mouth had formed into a familiar thin line. Her cheeks shifted as she clenched and unclenched her jaw.

So damn angry.

‘You sure you don’t wanna talk about it?’

‘I’m very sure.’

‘All right,’ Alice said softly.

Without realising, Alice had let her fingers linger in Bella’s hair. Her fingertips rested behind the shell of her ear. Bella turned herself slightly, not leaning into the touch but not pulling away either. Her eyes were still narrowed, still angered by the person on her phone.

‘It’s okay,’ Alice whispered tenderly. A finger slipped from Bella’s ear and stroked her cheek. Bella blinked slowly as she studied Alice's face.

‘What?’ Alice whispered.

‘Hmm?’ Bella said.

Alice smiled crookedly. ‘What are you looking at?’

‘You.’

‘Mm,’ Alice hummed.

‘I like looking at you,’ Bella said.

‘Oh, yeah?’

‘Uh huh, very much so.’

Damn it, Alice thought. This was not the type of conversation that people who don't kiss would have. And Bella was looking extremely kissable right now. All glowy in the light of the TV. Warm from the weed. Soft to the touch.

Bella had turned her body so that she was leaning towards the vampire. One hand was nestled between them, dangerously close to Alice's hip. The girl's chin was tilted upwards, practically inviting Alice in. It became clear to Alice that vampires weren't the only creatures to harness the power of seduction.

‘I like looking at you too,’ Alice said. Her voice was a low whisper as if she were telling Bella a closely guarded secret. In a way, Alice felt like she was. She wasn’t supposed to say things like this to Bella. Right? Friends don’t speak to each other like that.

Right?

‘What do you like about looking at me?’ Bella asked. Her eyes had half closed and the hint of a smirk played on the corners of her lips.

If Alice could blush the way humans did, she was certain she’d be redder than Bella’s cherry lighter.

The vampire’s throat ran dry. Her next word was strained but true.

‘Everything.’

Bella was inches away now. She placed a gentle hand on Alice’s thigh and slid it upwards.

‘We can't,’ Alice whispered, though she found herself leaning in just as close.

‘I know,’ Bella whispered back, tilting her head ever so slightly.

‘Oh, Bella,’ Alice whined. Mournful. Wanting.

The end of Bella's name was cut short by an eager mouth. Firm lips pressed against Alice's, so hard the vampire feared Bella would bruise herself. It was so hungry. And frighteningly determined.

The girl slid into Alice's lap, and Alice couldn't stop the way her hands fell onto Bella's hips or trailed up her back under her tank top; how they clawed down Bella's skin, how they pulled her even closer.

The kiss was a mess, all tongue and teeth. Alice couldn't get enough. It was addictive. She nipped at Bella's lower lip and lost her hands in the girl’s hair, not minding how rough she was being; Bella's soft moaning only spurred her on.

Bella sucked once on Alice's tongue, slow and deliberate. When she pulled away with a ragged breath, Alice could see the hard nubs of her nipples poking through her white tank top, which had slid up significantly to reveal her pale under breast. Her ribs peeped out from under the thin fabric. Alice gasped at how soft she looked. Her pale silhouette tinted blue against the TV screen made her look as if she were made of milk glass.

‘No bra?’ Alice said breathlessly.

‘Yeah, yeah, fuck the patriarchy,’ Bella panted. And Alice giggled.

Their lips collided once more. Bella held Alice's face in both hands, kissing her with a passion that was so intense it was almost animalistic. Feral.

Alice shifted in her place on the couch, causing Bella to moan into her mouth.

‘Shit,’ Bella gasped, pulling away briefly. ‘Do that again. Please?’

‘This?’ Alice asked, pushing her hips upwards and into Bella's straddled centre.

‘Uh huh,’ Bella squeaked.

Alice obeyed. She began to grind herself over Bella's sweatpants, allowing some error for the girl to settle into her rhythm.

‘Jesus,’ Bella panted, ‘Fuck. Shit.’

‘Does that feel good?’ Alice asked shakily.

‘So good,’ Bella nodded. Her hair began to stick to one side of her face and forehead. It reminded Alice of when she’d shown up on her doorstep in the rain.

The way Bella’s hips moved with Alice's was simply hypnotising. Alice observed every bone and muscle working together to aid Bella towards her high. And it wasn't far off, judging by the girl's quickening pace.

Alice's eyes fell on Bella's heaving chest. She inched Bella forward so that she could take one nipple between her lips through the fabric. She tugged lightly, eliciting a needy whine from the girl.

‘Don’t stop,’ Bella breathed, ‘Please, don't fucking stop.’

Bella's hands gripped Alice's shoulders. She bucked into her frantically, beginning to lose her rhythm as her orgasm finally rose to the surface.

It was heaven to watch. Bella pressed herself deep into Alice's centre, grinding slower and slower until she'd rode out every last wave of her release. She had fallen against Alice's chest and buried her face into the vampire's neck. Alice rested hers into Bella's mane of hair.

Bella trembled against her, still rubbing out the last of the high. Eventually, she came to a still, letting her breath catch up to a regular speed. Alice stroked her smooth back with both hands, allowing the girl to collect herself.

For a while, Bella's irregular breathing filled the room. The movie had long ended. Alice stroked the girl's hair with one hand, her other draped over her back.

‘Shit,’ Bella finally mumbled against Alice's hoodie.

‘Yeah,’ Alice sighed finally. ‘Shit indeed.’

‘We… I shouldn't have that.’

Bella shakily sat up on the vampire’s waist. And of course, Alice would have painted her vision on the finest canvas. Hung it in the damn Louvre. Written poetry about how pretty every damn hair on her damn head was. She was perfect. Half naked, hair dishevelled. Perfect.

‘You’re so beautiful,’ Alice said.

Bella huffed, ‘Thanks.’

‘I mean it,’ Alice said.

‘Well… You still want to leave?’ Bella asked, turning back towards the vampire.

Alice laughed. She couldn't help it.

‘I probably should.’

‘Damn.’

‘I’m sorry, I said I'd be home later.’

‘Can you lie?’

Alice rolled her eyes and went to budge Bella off of her. The girl hissed, startling Alice.

‘What? What is it?’ Alice asked worriedly.

‘Nothing, I… I'm just really wet.’

‘Oh,’ Alice said.

The two burst into a fit of giggles, falling about the couch as they did. Bella awkwardly pulled down her tank top and insisted Alice keep her clothes, no doubt a reason for them to meet up again.

‘You can text me, you know?’ Alice grinned, standing with Bella on her front porch. ‘Whenever you need.’

‘I know. Thank you,’ Bella said. ‘Um, and thanks for… staying a bit.’

‘No problem,’ Alice said. ‘I guess I'll see you around?’

‘Yeah,’ Bella said. ‘I’ll see you. Around.’ She gestured awkwardly.

‘Goodnight, Bella.’

‘Night,’ Bella said, waving shyly as Alice descended the steps.

‘Ali?’ Bella called.

Alice turned to face her inquisitively.

Bella tapped her foot on the porch wood. ‘This was… We can’t… What do we do now? After… all that?’

‘I don't know, B,’ Alice said softly.

Bella nodded dumbly. ‘Was it… bad?’

‘Bad?’

Bella cleared her throat. ‘Was it a bad thing that we did this?’

Alice frowned - a heavy sadness weighing down her chest. She walked back up the porch steps and drew Bella in for a firm hug. The girl hugged her back just as tightly, burying her face into the soft fabric of Alice’s borrowed hoodie. When Alice pulled away, Bella’s winced expression resembled that of a wounded animal.

‘How about we talk about it another time?’ Alice whispered.

Bella’s lips pouted for a brief moment before she nodded slowly.

‘All right,’ Alice said quietly.

Bella reached down to kiss her, slow, firm, and longingly; as if it would be the last time she’d ever get the opportunity. In the back of Alice’s mind, she wondered if it would be. It took all of her strength not to kiss her just as firmly back.

Bella pulled away, her eyes not meeting the vampire’s.

‘Goodnight, Alice.’

‘Goodnight, Bella.’

Without another word, Alice sped home.

☆

‘You motherfucker!’

‘Rosalie,’ Alice groaned.

Her sister had greeted her at the front door, a shit-eating grin on her pristine face.

‘I knew it! I knew you were bullshitting me. You were gawking at her like she was the second coming!’

‘Who’s coming?’ Emmett asked, walking into the foyer and holding a mug of blood from the family hunt.

‘Alice and Bella boned.’

‘Aliba— Bwuh, huh?’

‘We did not bone,’ Alice huffed, ‘Don’t be so vulgar.’ She made a beeline for the stairs, mortified by her sister’s shameless prying.

‘Hey! Get back here!’ Rosalie yelled up the stairs.

Alice shut her bedroom door behind her. She leaned against the wood, silently begging her sister not to charge through it. Rosalie's muffled ranting echoed throughout the foyer. She was cackling like a hyena. Alice had to admit that her enthusiasm towards the situation was somewhat of a comfort, even if it was at the expense of her dignity.

With her mind a swirl of untamed emotions, Alice shakily sat herself down at her writing desk. Her haven. The walnut surface was hidden beneath several crumpled pages of Alice's mind matter. She sighed and took one of the white, crinkled balls, smoothing it out with her palms. It was a single phrase, hastily scrawled in black ink.

If I should take your pain away, would you still look as sweet?

Alice moved the page aside and grabbed another.

Sadness flows through you and permeates your blood. To drink of it would surely bring me to my knees.

‘Jesus Christ,’ Alice mumbled.

‘Bitch, open the door,’ came Rosalie's voice from outside the room.

‘I’m brooding,’ Alice called back.

The door opened. Alice sighed. Rosalie entered with a tall glass of red in one hand. She slammed it down on Alice's desk and then folded her arms.

‘Start talking and then you can start sipping.’

Alice reached for the glass, only to have it swiped away.

‘Are you going to talk?’

‘Rose,’ Alice groaned.

‘Don’t make me poke around in that filthy little mind of yours,’ Rosalie said, twiddling her fingers in Alice's face. ‘Tell me what happened.’

‘Fine,’ Alice sighed, throwing her arms up in defeat. ‘We kissed. Again.’

‘And?’

‘And… maybe some heavy petting.’

‘Ohoho,’ Rosalie beamed. ‘This is incredible.’

‘Yeah, you seem weirdly pleased about it,’ Alice said dryly.

‘Because it's you! You don't do stuff like this. You're Alice. Our sweet little Alice,’ Rosalie said, tousling her sister’s hair.

‘Knock it off,’ Alice grumbled. She snatched the glass of blood from Rosalie and took a long gulp. ‘It’s not like I've been the one initiating all this.’

‘Oh?’

‘Yeah. Bella has been, like, so… intimate? I feel like she’s never even looked my way until now.’

‘Well, maybe you just didn't notice,’ Rosalie said. ‘You had Edward shielding her from you.’

‘Don’t talk like that. Don't speak of him that way.’

‘I’m serious! Maybe Bella's been trying to get closer to you but she's been too busy scrapping with that man-child every other week.’

‘Can we drop this? I'm done. I'm done talking about this.’

Rosalie shook her head. ‘You need to lighten up.’

‘And you need to stop talking about Edward like he isn't going through his own stuff.’

Less than amused, Rosalie began to make her way out of the room. She paused at Alice's door.

‘Edward has had plenty of time to deal with his own emotions. That girl shouldn't be the one to sort them out for him.’

As Rosalie opened Alice's door to leave, Emmett stood outside with one fist in the air, ready to knock.

‘Yo… Uh, so did Alice and Bella really—’

‘Yes, they did,’ Rosalie scoffed, pushing past Emmett and heading downstairs.

‘Damn it,’ Emmett muttered, scratching the back of his neck.

‘What?’ Alice asked.

‘I owe Rose so much money.’

☆

Three more days passed, each without any word from Bella. Alice began to wonder if she'd decided to revert to her phoneless ways. She wondered if she'd texted Edward again. She wondered if Edward had replied to her. Or if she had punched the rest of her brick wall into dust. Most of all, Alice wondered if Bella was thinking of her.

The girl’s vengeful drumming could be heard across the forest. It was enough to assure Alice that she was at least still alive. Though it did little to distract her from thinking about her.

Alice had lost all hope in trying to banish the girl from her mind. Thoughts of Bella came frequently now. They took form in Alice's brain whenever she had a moment of peace. When she was walking in the woods at night. When she was cleaning her fangs. When she was listening to her vinyl records. Not even the soothing tones of Ella Fitzgerald could free her from the mental prison that was a new crush.

When she tried to peer into Bella's future, Alice could see her brother there with her. The vision was not clear. She could not tell if they were happy or sad together, just that they were with one another. When Alice dared to look even deeper, still she found Edward, his blurry face staring back at her from a world that had not yet dawned.

Alice couldn’t fathom the disappointment that followed when she did not see herself in the visions. This disappointment was then often followed by guilt. It was ridiculous even to consider. Of course, Alice wouldn't play a part in Bella's future love life. The vampire wasn't sure why she had even wanted to look. Had she truly expected to find herself there? A fuzzy figure wrapped in Bella's arms? How silly it was even to imagine.

Then why do you keep checking? Alice asked herself as she curled up on her couch bed. She had failed to fold it away after Bella's unexpected visit. A part of Alice didn't want to do such a thing. She liked remembering that Bella had been there. Her scent still lingered in the pillows and blankets. Smoke and flowers.

Saturday night had rolled back around and Alice found herself alone in her bedroom, listening to Louis Armstrong, waiting the night away. Brooding had become something she had found herself doing more and more. Despite it being quite a popular vampire pastime, Alice rarely indulged in the activity. She was built for movement. Running aimlessly with friends. Driving fast down a highway. Dancing for hours in exclusive speakeasies.

These days, she found herself uninterested in anything else but the headstrong girl living in the little white house, with bloody knuckles and dark circles. Bella Swan. Tragic, doomed, Bella Swan.

A mug of warm blood was nestled between Alice’s fingers, covered by the sleeves of her oversized sweater. It was well into the early hours of the morning. Alice had planned on going for a solo hunt, but she could not bring herself to get into a hunting mindset. Her body had felt off as of late. She knew damn well why.

The life of a settled vampire was simple: Hunt. Drink. Brood. With most of those things knocked off her list today, Alice was growing frustrated with the lack of enrichment.

Bzz bzz.

No. It couldn't be. Could it?

Alice slowly picked up her phone. A contact which she had lovingly decorated with star emoticons appeared on screen.

hey. u awake?

Alice re-read the contact name over and over, making sure that it was who she saw it was. After taking a full minute to come to terms with the fact that Bella had contacted her, she received another message.

i 4got u dont need 2 sleep. im dum as fuk :P

Alice bit back a smile, hearing Bella's voice in her head. The girl typed the way she talked. Alice found it amusing. She hovered her fingers over her keyboard, hesitating before bringing a single finger to the buttons.

Wide awake :)

Bella’s response was slow. Alice figured she was still getting used to the small keys.

sweet. r u busy?

No, why?

The chorus of “Inside Your Heaven” by Carrie Underwood blared from Alice’s phone. She jumped in surprise, usually able to sense when she was about to get a call.

Bella’s name lit up on her screen. Alice stared at her phone in silence, letting the song play until the chorus repeated once again. She accepted the call.

‘Hello?’ Alice said warily.

‘Hey,’ came Bella’s voice over the speaker. It was quiet and slow and was followed by a burst of two short coughs.

‘Hey, sleepy,’ Alice replied. ‘You’re up late again.’

‘Yeah,’ Bella said groggily, fighting a long yawn. ‘I can’t fall asleep.’

‘Why’s that?’ Alice asked. She pulled up one of her blankets from the couch bed. Something about the way Bella spoke made her want to feel cosy.

‘I dunno. The house is creepy when it’s just me sometimes. Maybe that’s it.’

‘Charlie’s out?’

‘Yeah. Or, shit, maybe it’s this stupid microbiology exam I have coming up.’

‘You study?’

‘Yeah, dude, sooo much,’ Bella groaned.

Alice giggled. ‘Maybe you’re a bit overworked then. Too much brain activity in that noggin of yours.’

‘Sure, sure,’ Bella said.

God, her voice, Alice thought. Does she know how delicious it sounds?

‘What you been up to the last few days?’ Bella asked.

‘Oh, you know. Feeding, reading, standing in one place for hours at a time.’

‘Damn, I’m getting serious FOMO.’

‘You’re sure missing out.’

Bella shuffled in her bed, causing the audio from Alice’s phone to crackle. Alice listened intently as Bella sighed and settled into a different position. Eventually, the line went static, accompanied by Bella’s soft breathing. Alice wondered for a moment if she’d suddenly fallen asleep. But that question was soon answered with another short cough. Alice smirked.

‘All good?’

Once again, it got quiet on the other line. Alice’s ears pricked with anticipation. The way Bella was breathing didn’t sound like she was dozing off. It sounded like she was almost holding it. Alice then picked up on a small, dry swallow.

‘I wish you were here, dude,’ Bella said.

It was Alice’s turn to go silent. She messed with her sweater sleeve, pinching it and twisting it between her thumb and index finger.

Bella cleared her throat. ‘You still there?’

‘Yes.’

‘Okay.’

‘I’m right here, Bee.’

Alice heard the subtle squeeze of Bella’s throat tightening and untightening. She heard fingers slowly scratching across tangled hair and the wet slide of teeth chewing on soft lips.

‘It’s cold here,’ Bella said, her voice growing low and quiet.

‘I’m not sure I can help you there,’ Alice replied.

‘I could. We could.’

Alice had to close her eyes and take a slow inhale. She fluttered her eyes open again and leaned back into her couch, staring at her ceiling.

‘Yeah? How’s that?’

Bella took her time answering. The static on the other line seemed to grow louder.

‘I could hold you till you’re warm.’

‘You could.’

‘I could rub my hands all over you until you’re just as warm as me. And then we’d both be warm.’

Alice had started to tug at the neckline of her sweater. She bit down hard on her lower lip to stifle her quickening breath; a primal instinct that only kicked in when she was nervous or excited.

‘That might warm me up, yes,’ Alice said. She hated how evident her flustered voice was.

‘Mhmm, I’d make sure of it.’

‘You sound determined.’

‘I am.’

Alice rolled onto one side. She focused her eyes on her hunting boots by the doorway. Her next words were whispered and shaky.

‘How else would you warm me up?’

Bella laughed softly. Alice pictured her smile.

‘How do you want me to, Alice?’

Alice dragged her fingers through her hair and scrunched it at the ends.

‘I’ll be over in five.’

☆

Bella shoved Alice into her bedroom door, rattling the picture frames on her walls. Her lips locked with the vampire’s the second it slammed closed. Her hands pulled at Alice’s coat, though Alice had already shimmied it halfway down her arms. It fell to the floor, followed by Alice’s sweater.

In a frenzied waltz, Bella guided Alice towards her bed, never once breaking their makeout session. Alice’s hands had snaked down to Bella’s ass, squeezing it over her boxers. The two stumbled and collapsed onto Bella’s mattress, Bella rolling Alice onto her back. Her eager hands trailed over Alice’s chest, down her stomach, and finally rested on the zipper of her jeans. The desperation and speed at which Bella moved was sending Alice’s mind into a spin. She was so quick yet so calculated. She’d done this before.

Alice’s jeans soon joined the growing mountain of clothes on Bella’s bedroom floor. Bella had slid them off with ease.

‘I like your panties,’ the girl smiled, coming to straddle Alice’s lap.

‘You’ll like ‘em better on your fucking floor,’ Alice replied, sitting up to crash her lips to Bella’s once again.

In unison, two pairs of hands fiddled with the clasp of the other’s bra, resulting in giggles when it took longer than expected to unhook them. Again the clothes pile grew. Alice flopped back down against the mattress.

‘Jesus,’ Bella breathed, ‘Oh my god, they’re so fucking pretty.’

‘Yours too,’ Alice said wistfully.

‘And you,’ Bella began, leaning down to pepper kisses along Alice’s jaw and neck, ‘are so perfect.’

‘Oh, B,’ Alice groaned, arching against the bed.

Bella inched herself to the end of Alice’s waist - Alice watching her go down - and gently pried open her pale legs. She placed a firm kiss against the thin fabric of Alice’s panties, eliciting a soft gasp from the vampire.

‘You’re so wet already,’ Bella said in awe.

‘Look what you’re doing to me,’ Alice panted.

Bella made quick work of tugging the underwear down and throwing it aside. An unfamiliar warmth radiated from Alice’s body. It felt so strange but so nice all the same. A long dead hearth reignited.

Bella’s movements had come to a snail’s pace, a startling contrast to her once erratic speed. A slow, firm tongue pressed against the slit of Alice’s pussy. It travelled upwards, swiping over each dip and fold. The care and attention to which Bella gave each second of eating Alice out was admirable. She did not race to reach her sensitive clit, only teased it with the tip of her tongue. When Alice thought the girl would finally give in to her bucking hips and needy whines, her tongue would only slip downwards again to lap and suck at her folds. Bella was going to take her time, and she seemed to be sadistically relishing in the torture she was inflicting upon the vampire. Alice could see the corners of Bella’s mouth twitching upwards. She knew she would have to be patient.

‘What do you want, pretty girl?’ Bella hummed against Alice’s heat.

‘You’re such a fucking bitch,’ Alice laughed breathlessly. Bella only grinned.

‘Oh, am I not being nice to you?’ Bella mewled. ‘Am I not giving my pretty girl what she wants?’

‘Please, Bella,’ Alice panted. ‘Please, I need you.’

‘Mhmm?’

‘I… I need your fucking tongue on my fucking clit.’

‘That’s more like it,’ Bella said.

She ducked her head back down, repeating her agonisingly slow journey from the bottom of Alice’s soaked entrance to the very edge of her pulsing clit. Just when Alice thought she was still going to deny her any relief, Bella lapped her tongue over the shiny, pink nub.

‘Oh, fuck,’ the vampire exhaled.

Bella continued. She gently licked and swirled her tongue across Alice’s clit in a steady rhythm. Alice matched her movements by gyrating her hips, pressing herself harder against Bella’s tongue. Bella slid her arms towards Alice’s tits. She squeezed them tenderly and rolled her fingers between her erect nipples.

Alice felt like she was burning up. She hadn’t been this warm in a long time. She begged her body to keep her orgasm at bay for just a few minutes longer, but she knew that such a goal was foolish to think attainable. Bella felt too good.

‘I’m so fucking close,’ Alice whimpered. Her eyes felt watery. Her legs were stiffening. Bella hummed against her clit. ‘Oh, god,’ she moaned, her hands scrambling to grab hold of something before settling in Bella’s hair, ‘Oh, Bella.’

Alice’s back lifted from the mattress as her high finally reached its peak. She stroked herself against Bella’s mouth, Bella’s tongue lapping over her with every move. Each wave was as vibrant and wonderful as the last. Alice imagined pure, shimmering light radiating from within her, shooting through her arms and legs; right to her toes and fingertips. When the light finally began to dim, a warm buzz washed over the vampire, numbing her gently.

The vampire melted back against the bed. Bella sat up, skin glistening with Alice’s juices. She wiped at her mouth with the back of her hand and flicked her thumb across her lower lip.

‘Yo, you’re shaking,’ Bella said, crawling towards Alice at the top of the bed.

‘Yeah, I’m still coming down,’ Alice exhaled.

‘C’mere,’ Bella murmured, pulling her in for a cuddle.

Alice eagerly accepted the embrace, lazily rolling onto her side. Bella placed her chin atop Alice’s head and draped her arms around her shoulders. Alice pulled the girl in by her waist, face nestled atop Bella’s warm chest.

The silence that passed was short lived. Alice placed a tender kiss on Bella’s jaw. Bella hummed in approval.

‘That’s nice, baby,’ Bella said quietly.

‘Mhmm,’ Alice mumbled against her skin, reaching up to massage one of Bella’s tits in her palm.

‘Shit,’ Bella breathed.

It was Alice’s turn to roll Bella onto her back. She couldn’t help grinning at Bella’s excited expression. She was too adorable for her own good.

‘What do you want, B?’

Bella licked her lips.

‘I want you to fuck me.’

‘That can be arranged.’

Bella giggled, ‘No, Alice, I want you to fuck me.’

Alice raised an eyebrow but still smirked at the smiling girl beneath her. There was a mischievous glint in her eye.

‘Gimme a sec,’ Bella said, wriggling out from underneath Alice’s hips.

Alice watched as the girl hurried into her closet, rummaging about the shelves for something hidden away. She soon reappeared with a shoebox and placed it on the bed.

‘Whatcha got there?’ Alice asked.

‘Just… something fun,’ Bella said.

She opened the lid and revealed a series of leather straps and fasteners.

‘Item number one,’ Bella grinned. She fished into the box again. ‘And two,’ she added.

Alice’s mouth fell open as the girl revealed a sizable purple dildo. The vampire giggled incredulously. ‘She’s huge!’

Bella cackled, ‘Are you surprised?’

‘I don’t know, I… Jesus, Bella.’

Bella laughed again and began to piece together the toy and the heap of straps.

‘I said I wanted you to fuck me, Alice,’ the girl said, voice falling a pitch lower.

Warmth pulsated at Alice’s centre. ‘You did say that, didn’t you?’

‘Come here, baby,’ Bella said, patting the edge of the bed in front of her.

Alice obeyed. She watched intently as Bella connected the toy to the straps via a rubber ring. Alice giddily waited for Bella to help her into the strap-on and adjust it so that it hugged her comfortably.

‘Fit okay?’ Bella asked, stepping back to admire her work.

‘Shit’s heavy,’ Alice chuckled. ‘But yes, it— Oh, fuck, the swing!’

Bella erupted in laughter, holding her hands over her face. Alice steadied herself against a nearby dresser, also falling into a fit of giggles.

When the laughter had died down, Bella had placed her hands atop Alice's shoulders, kissing her tenderly. The vampire pressed her close, the toy squished between them.

‘Where should I put you?’ Alice hummed.

‘Bed,’ Bella mumbled through kisses.

Alice guided Bella towards the edge of the mattress. The girl wasted no time in wriggling out of her underwear and sitting up on her elbows, staring darkly at her secret lover.

‘You look so beautiful,’ Alice said, positioning herself between Bella's legs. Bella was drenched, her inner thighs slick with her wetness.

‘God, I need you so bad, Alice. I need you so fucking bad.’

‘I’m here, B,’ Alice grinned, eyes half-lidded.

Alice wrapped Bella's legs over her hips to get a clearer angle. She felt slightly awkward in her harness, having never used such a contraption before. But seeing Bella below her - impatiently squirming with anticipation - was enough to ease her nerves.

‘I’ll go slow at first, okay? I haven't done this before.’

‘That’s okay, Ali,’ Bella smiled warmly, ‘I’ll guide you through it.’ A look of adoration crossed her face. Alice felt butterflies again.

The vampire gripped the middle of the silicone shaft, her other hand clamped on Bella's left hip. She carefully eased herself forward, Bella eagerly meeting her halfway. Slowly, Alice placed the tip of the dildo at Bella's entrance. The single touch alone was enough to make the girl whine.

‘God, you're soaked for me,’ Alice said.

‘Put it in, Alice. I need you, I need you now,’ Bella rambled.

Alice inhaled slowly before easing the tip into Bella's entrance. The girl moaned encouragingly. It was music.

It was easy to slide the rest of the toy inside. Bella was dripping to the point of it being almost too frictionless. But Alice soon found a steady pace, allowing both her hands to grip Bella's hips. She rhythmically thrust into Bella's walls, garnering short, approving moans from the girl. The wet slap of each stroke made Alice feel dizzy. It thrilled her to know just how aroused Bella was. Because of her.

‘Harder, Alice,’ Bella spoke after a few unspoken minutes.

‘You sure?’ Alice asked.

‘Mhmm, please. I can take it. Fuck me harder. Please.’

Alice obeyed. She scooted Bella further onto the bed before supporting both of her legs in her arms. With bated breath, Alice began to thrust deeper. Harder. The bedframe knocked against the back wall at an even tempo. Alice hoped that none of Bella’s neighbours were having an early morning stroll right now.

Bella's mouth was a long O. Her eyes were squeezed shut, her brows raised and scrunched together. Her arms flopped against the mattress above her head like a ragdoll. She had grown quiet with this new pace - but Alice was reassured that she was enjoying each minute by the tiny whine that occasionally escaped her lips.

‘That’s so fucking good,’ Bella grunted through gritted teeth.

‘Yeah, baby?’ Alice panted.

‘Yes, fuck, yes. Mmm, I need you from behind. I wanna turn around.’

‘Okay, baby,’ Alice said, slowing her pace and pulling out with a wet pop.

‘Shit,’ Bella panted. She sat up on her knees and pulled Alice in for a passionate kiss. Alice moaned into it and hosted Bella onto her waist. Bella squeaked in surprise.

‘Christ, I forgot how strong you are.’

Alice giggled and peppered kisses over Bella's neck. ‘I wanna try something.’

‘Oh, yeah?’

Alice carried Bella over to a nearby armchair. She positioned her so that Bella was kneeling away from her. Alice eased Bella forward and grabbed her wrists, securing them behind her back with one hand.

‘I like where this is going,’ Bella smirked.

‘I’ll make sure you love it,’ Alice whispered into Bella's ear, causing her to whine in desperation.

She slapped the dildo up against Bella's dripping pussy. The girl moaned impatiently, wriggling herself towards Alice's strap-on.

‘Uh uh, good girls wait,’ Alice said sternly, holding the tip of the dildo to Bella's throbbing entrance.

‘Alice,’ Bella whined.

Alice began to slide the shaft of her strap-on inside Bella's folds, painfully slow. The frustrated whimper that followed this decision only spurred her on.

‘Does my good girl not want to wait?’ Alice cooed.

‘Mm mm,’ Bella whimpered, shaking her head.

‘Oh, how bad does my good girl want it?’

‘So fucking bad, Alice.’

‘You’re going to have to do better than that, my love.’

‘Please, Alice. I can't wait any longer. I need you, I'm desperate for your strap inside me.’

‘Good girl.’

Alice thrust herself into Bella's pussy at a pace that was almost brutal. Bella did not hold back her moans of pleasure, fully submitting to the desperate, horny mess she had become.

Alice gripped hard at her wrists behind her back. Her other hand had taken a bunch of Bella's hair and cocked the girl's head backwards. Alice managed to pull Bella up towards her, pressing firm kisses into her cheek and jawline. Bella's mouth hung open, allowing Alice to hook her thumb inside the girl’s jaw between her teeth.

‘Choke me,’ Bella mumbled.

‘What was that, love?’ Alice asked, removing her thumb from Bella's mouth.

‘Choke me, Alice,’ Bella panted.

‘Yeah? You want me to be real rough with you, huh?’

‘Uh huh,’ Bella whined.

Alice reached her hand down to Bella’s neck. She carefully placed her fingertips on either side of the girl's throat, making sure not to apply any pressure to her airway. She picked up her pace again, thrusting hard into Bella's warm walls. Gently, Alice squeezed at Bella's throat, eliciting a new kind of moan from the girl. It was guttural. Unashamed. It told Alice that Bella was close.

‘You’re being such a good girl for me, Bella,’ Alice muttered between hard thrusts. ‘Letting me fuck you so roughly. You're taking this strap so well.’

‘Oh, Alice,’ Bella whined, ‘You’re gonna make me cum so hard.’

‘Mmm, I wanna hear you cum for me, baby.’

‘Oh, fuck… Oh, fuck!—’ Bella exclaimed.

She came undone, calling out Alice's name and trembling against her hips. A splash of sticky juices ran down her legs, coating Alice as well. At last, after three more slow and deliberate strokes, the dildo slipped out from Bella's entrance and she began to fall against the armchair.

‘Woah, I got you,’ Alice said, hoisting the limp girl into her arms. ‘I got you, b.’

‘Unnghh,’ Bella groaned.

Alice stifled a giggle, ‘You okay?’

She pulled back the covers on Bella's bed with one hand and then placed her onto the mattress against her pillows. Bella remained limp, curled up on one side, eyes delicately closed.

‘B?’

‘Hmm?’

‘I wasn't too rough with you, was I?’ Alice asked, now growing worried. Perhaps Bella wasn't able to take her after all. She leaned over Bella, one knee sinking into the bed.

A small, breathy laugh escaped Bella's lips. ‘You were fucking phenomenal, stupid.’

Alice sighed in relief and shook her head, bewildered. She slipped out of her strap-on harness and joined Bella in bed, covering their naked bodies with the cool duvet.

Once Alice had laid down, Bella stiffly wriggled closer to her, nestling underneath the vampire's chin. Alice draped one arm over Bella's body.

A few minutes of peaceful silence passed. Alice watched as Bella's body rose and fell with each steady breath.

‘Hey,’ Bella mumbled against the vampire's cool skin.

‘Hmm?’

‘Do you think ‘m too much?’

Alice rubbed Bella's arm over the covers. ‘No, Bella.’

‘Y’don’t think ‘m too angry all the time?’

Alice placed a tender kiss atop Bella's hair. ‘I think your anger is valid. I think you're allowed to feel it.’

Bella took so long to reply to Alice that the vampire assumed she had fallen asleep. But the girl suddenly shuffled closer against her naked body.

‘I like you, Ali.’

Alice closed her eyes gently. ‘I like you too, Bella.’

‘G’night, Ali,’ Bella mumbled sleepily.

‘Goodnight, B,’ Alice smiled softly.

Though she would not sleep, Alice was grateful for the moment of peace that was following such an active night. She silently stroked Bella's damp hair and listened to her gentle snoring, accompanied by the dawn chorus outside.

Alice did not worry about what she was to Bella, or how they'd navigate their relationship from here. All that mattered to her now was that the girl was in her arms, safe and asleep. And that Bella wanted — needed Alice to be there.

☆

Fucking Bella became an almost daily occurrence. If Alice wasn't texting her regularly, she was at Bella's house when Charlie was out, screwing her like an animal in heat.

Alice became accustomed to learning exactly what would give Bella the best high. She also learned what would slow it down, keep it from her, and drive her insane. It was such a thrill to figure out what exactly made the girl tick and what made her squirm with frustration.

Bella liked pain. And lots of it. She begged Alice to grip her thighs and leave bruises on her soft skin. She wanted hickeys everywhere; her neck, her chest, her tits. She liked nails down her back and her hair pulled into a ponytail by a firm fist. She liked being spat on and slapped and choked and dragged.

She liked being bitten. Alice had found a way to nip at the girl without her fangs getting in the way. And though Bella had pleaded with her at one point, Alice did not dare draw blood.

She did not question Bella's need for such extreme physical activity. It was relieving some stress. And Alice was only glad to help her.

Bella had purchased herself some thin turtleneck shirts. Alice's fingers had left dark marks on her wrists, waist, and neck; and Bella was not planning on conjuring an excuse for Charlie anytime soon. She would just tell him she was preparing for the fall and that turtlenecks were totally in right now.

Alice knew that her own family suspected something was up, though they never made any attempts to pry on the matter. Something told her that they already knew but did not dare to intervene. If not out of fear, then for unspoken respect. Rosalie would smirk and roll her eyes if she ever caught Alice heading out alone.

‘You’re so good to me,’ Bella moaned on the verge of yet another high, face shoved against her pillows with Alice pounding her from behind. ‘I’m close.’

‘Me too,’ Alice panted, slamming herself into the girl at a practised pace.

‘God, I love it when you cum when you’re wearing that thing,’ Bella said. ‘You’re so fucking hot.’

‘Mmhmm,’ Alice mumbled, too on edge to form words.

‘Fuck me, Alice,’ Bella pleaded, a sign for Alice to start speeding up so she could finish.

Alice gripped Bella’s waist and flipped the girl onto her back. She pounded the girl onto her strap, staring intensely. Bella’s face scrunched into a stern look, an expression that formed when Alice was giving it to her particularly hard.

‘Kiss me,’ Bella breathed. And Alice did.

They came in unison, a divine melody of long moans and fluttered breaths. Alice chewed on Bella’s bottom lip, grinding herself against her a few more times before pulling out and flopping down beside her.

‘Was that good, my love?’ Alice asked as Bella sprawled out on top of her like a lazy cat.

‘As always,’ Bella said, placing a firm kiss on Alice’s cheek and lips.

They held one another, basking in the morning sun while their bodies relaxed and settled.

‘I’m sensing Esme wanting me to come home,’ Alice said then, staring at the ceiling and tracing circles on Bella’s shoulder.

‘What for?’ Bella mumbled.

‘A hunt perhaps. It’s been a while.’

Bella stretched and groggily sat herself up. Her hair was a tangled mess, all bunching to one side. Alice smiled fondly and did her best to tame it with playful fingers.

‘Will I see you soon?’ Bella asked.

Alice wriggled herself out of the strap-on harness and pulled on one of Bella’s shirts.

‘Probably,’ the vampire said, rummaging around the room for more clothes. She pulled on her jeans and sweater before busying herself with her boots. As she dressed herself, she felt Bella’s eyes watching her closely.

Alice was about to ask the girl what was catching her eye so intensely when a sudden surge of nausea swelled in her gut. Alice stumbled and steadied herself against Bella’s dresser. She could hear Bella’s surprised gasp and the clamour of her feet as she approached her to see what was wrong. But the girl’s voice was far away and Alice’s vision was becoming blurred. A shot of pain ran up through Alice’s chest and into the back of her skull. The room melted away, revealing an explosion of colour on the back of Alice’s eyelids.

A vision. A strong one.

A fuzzy figure was running — no, sprinting through the woods, crashing through trees and breaking boulders as it went. The ground beneath the figure was hardly touched at all. They were chasing something. Someone. And they wanted them dead.

A clear voice broke through Alice’s noisy mind. A familiar one. It was terrified, all raspy and broken.

Rosalie.

‘It’s Edward,’ her voice said, forcing its way into Alice’s consciousness. ‘He said he caught wind of your thoughts on his way here.’

Rosalie desperately pushed six more words into Alice's mind, ones that sent a visceral shiver through her body.

‘He’s come home, Alice. He knows.’

☆

Bella would not let go of Alice’s sweater sleeve. She dug her shoes into the dirt, trying desperately to get Alice’s attention.

‘You can’t go alone! I need to see him! I can talk to him—’

‘He’s going to kill me, Bella!’ Alice screamed, yanking her arm away from the girl’s firm grasp.

‘He won’t if I’m there! Please, Alice. Let me fucking come with you!’

‘Get. Off!’ Alice yelled, tugging at her shirt collar before shoving Bella backwards.

The girl tumbled to the ground. She lay there in the dirt, propped up on her elbows. Alice stared in shock. Bella’s wide, brown eyes blinked up at her. Horrified. Angry. So damn angry.

‘I… I can’t fucking bring you,’ Alice said, her voice now a hissed whisper.

Bella struggled to her feet and stared hard at the vampire.

‘So you’ll just leave? You leave and get yourself killed and then what?’ Bella said as hot tears began to spill over her blushed cheeks.

‘I don’t know,’ Alice said. ‘Then you can be with him.’

‘That’s such bullshit,’ Bella spat. ‘This is such bullshit.’

‘It is!’ Alice screamed. ‘It was! All of this… All of this fucking was.’

‘The fuck are you saying?’

‘I should have stopped!’

The two fell silent. Bella’s heavy breathing created clouds of condensation which billowed up into the crisp air. Only two feet of space lay between them. But to Alice, it felt like miles.

‘I should have stopped,’ Alice repeated shakily. ‘But I couldn’t.’

‘I… I didn’t want you to,’ Bella sobbed. Her words were strained. Slow. ‘I didn’t let you. I needed someone. And… I just didn’t let you go, Alice. I didn’t want to.’

Alice stared softly. ‘I didn’t want you to either.’

Bella swallowed roughly. She angrily brushed away her tears and balled her hands into tight fists.

‘I don't know what happened, Alice. I… I fucking used you. But somewhere along the way I… I started—’

‘Don’t,’ Alice pleaded, ‘Don't start that sentence.’

‘I started loving you, damn it! I don't fucking love anybody!’ Bella screamed. More tears fell to the dirt beneath her. ‘But I love you. I fucking love you, dude.’

Alice was stunned. Bella's sweet face, scrunched into a pained expression, begged her to stay.

The vampire stared out across the treeline behind her. The woods were so silent. In any other circumstance, she would have thought it to be quite pretty. Peaceful. But now, the towering pine trees swayed in a way that reminded her of Death beckoning her forward, welcoming her in with long, dark fingers.

‘I thought we had so much more time,’ Alice said calmly, still facing the trees. ‘I thought we’d never reach the end. Isn’t that silly?’

‘Alice,’ Bella whimpered.

‘But here we are. The end.’ Alice turned slightly, not wanting to look Bella in the eye. ‘I sure wish it could have been a different one.’

Alice ran. The forest blurred past her. She squinted through her tears, begging in her mind for Bella’s cries of anguish to fade fast. But they followed her all the way home, echoing like a swan song.

☆

A clawed hand swiped across Alice’s face, sending her into the dirt with a booming thud. Esme screamed and fought to reach her daughter, but Carlisle held her back, not wanting his wife to get caught in the middle of the dispute.

‘They’re killing each other, Lisle!’

‘Emmett!’ Carlisle yelled.

Emmett lunged for his brother, sending him flying into a nearby boulder. Edward crashed against the hard stone, shattering it to pieces.

‘Get out of my way!’ Edward grunted, flinging a sharp, stray piece of the boulder in Emmett’s direction. Emmett dodged, sending the piece into a porch window.

Rosalie leapt onto Edward’s back, slashing her fangs across the vampire’s shoulder. Edward yelled in pain and frustration before flipping Rosalie onto the ground, creating a sizable crater in the earth. Emmett raced towards his lover, shooting Edward a look of pure, feral rage. Rosalie was quick to regain her posture, hunching down in a ready stance. Emmett mirrored her, prepared to take down his brother with her. Edward loomed over them.

‘Edward!’ Alice screamed, shakily standing and wiping ichor from her mouth, ‘This is our fight.’

Edward huffed and charged for the smaller vampire, who gnashed her teeth into his face. Edward hissed and aimed his fangs at Alice’s jugular. Alice was quick. She dipped in and out of Edwards slashing teeth and swinging fists. But she knew she would have to start fighting back before exhaustion took hold of her.

Edward finally managed to tear at Alice's arm with a firm swipe, sending Alice to the ground once again. Alice stared up at her brother through the black liquid that oozed out of one side of her forehead. Her sweet, darling Edward. Who was this creature above her? This tall, scary, ravenous thing? The very vampire that had saved her from death all those years ago was now about to send her there for good.

Edward took a step back, maliciously waiting for Alice to stand again. Alice never broke eye contact with him as she trembled to her feet.

A car horn blared in the distance. Edward and Alice jerked their heads towards the sound. A little red truck was speeding towards the house, shaking like a tin barrel of snakes.

‘Bella,’ the vampires spoke in unison.

The truck swerved into the driveway, spinning in a circle before screeching to a halt. Bella kicked open the driver-side door and raced towards the pair of battling vampires.

‘Bella! Get back!’ Rosalie screamed.

‘Don’t come closer, Bella, please!’ Alice begged. But still, the girl ran.

‘Well, look who’s here,’ Edward grunted, shoving himself into Alice’s chest and sending her back down to the dirt. Alice huffed, clutching her body.

Bella screamed and slid to a halt, hands clawing at her face in terror.

Alice dry heaved, beginning to feel the toll of her brother’s strength. She attempted to stand but a heavy boot gently pushed her back down. Horrified gasps erupted from her onlookers. Alice’s eyes strained to see Edward, now towering over her like a menacing giant. It was too late. His dark eyes shimmered, blinded by the rage that flowed through him.

‘So, this is it, brother?’ Alice coughed weakly. ‘What a fine and honourable death you have given me.’

‘Oh, don’t get pretentious. You don’t deserve the pleasure.’

‘Edward!’ Bella begged.

‘Don’t move, Bella,’ Edward demanded. He leaned in closer to Alice. ‘This is for betraying your family. For betraying me.’

Edward’s boot raised above Alice’s head. Alice closed her eyes and let her body relax. She felt the earth beneath her shift as if a grave were already taking form around her. It was near bliss.

‘Edward, she's mine.’

Edward froze. His wild eyes stared holes into Bella’s spirit. Slowly, silently, he lowered his boot to the dirt beside Alice’s face.

‘What did you say?’ Edward asked lowly.

‘I… I said she's mine,’ Bella said hoarsely.

Alice fluttered her eyes open. All of a sudden, Bella was by her side and hoisting her up, supporting her against one hip.

‘She… She was there for me,’ Bella began. ‘And she listens to me and she tells me things about myself that I don’t fucking believe but she swears them anyway. And I… It feels… good. It feels safe. And I love her, Edward, I'm so sorry. I love her.’

Edward was silent. His stern expression only softened slightly as he stared between the two. Alice stared back at him, her lower lip quivering.

‘Alice?’ Edward said quietly.

Alice hung her head, exhausted. When she met her brother’s gaze again, his face was dark with grief.

‘I love her too,’ Alice said.

From across the yard, Rosalie buried her face in Emmett’s chest and sobbed. Carlisle and Esme looked on in frozen concern.

Edward’s shoulders relaxed. He nodded to himself, staring at the ground. His eyes, dark from blood lust, were somewhere far away.

‘I… I run, don’t I?’

‘Oh, Edward,’ Bella said sorrowfully.

‘And I still want to. I still… can’t give you what you want. Perhaps I should have realised that long ago.’

‘I can’t do this,’ Bella whispered. ‘Not with you. Not anymore.’

He nodded again. ‘Very well.’

Edward turned to Alice, who had been holding back the urge to collapse into his arms; forgive him for his anger, tell him that it was all going to be okay. He was her brother, in life and death, he was her brother.

Today that had all changed.

‘Please, take care of her,’ Edward said solemnly.

Alice could only nod as she clutched Bella’s arm. In complete silence, Edward turned and started to walk back into the forest, the midday sun glinting off of his diamond skin. The coven surrounded Bella, watching him disappear into the trees.

‘Will… he be back?’ Bella asked.

‘He will,’ Carlisle said.

Esme placed a wary hand on Bella’s shoulder. ‘But not for a while.’

Alice winced and buckled against Bella’s body.

‘Ali,’ Bella gasped.

‘Let’s get her inside,’ Rosalie said, ‘She needs help.’

☆☆☆

Summer left like a slow whisper, its heat still apparent in the fall air. Alice sat on her porch steps, smoking a pinner and reading her original copy of The Strange Path. A mild breeze sent crinkled leaves scattering across her shoes. Rosalie was inside with Esme, preparing the blood from a recent hunt. Emmett and Carlisle were chopping firewood out back.

Alice turned a page and found that her mind had completely scrambled the last paragraph she had read. Though her memory had started to vastly improve since Edward’s departure, she found it still faltered in places. Sometimes she’d forget to take out her favourite hunting bow. Sometimes she lost track of a deer in the woods.

There were things she could not forget. Her brother’s face. Despite it all, it remained sweet in her memory. The way his thick, dark eyebrows raised when he was curious. The shade of his swooping hair. His strong arms. Edward. Dear Edward. Her brother.

A beat up, red truck pulled into Alice’s driveway. A girl with choppy, chestnut hair and a canvas tote bag exited the driver's side and waved to her. Alice smiled and waved back.

Bella plopped herself down beside her and leaned in for a kiss before swiping the vampire’s pinner away.

‘Ay!’ Alice exclaimed, ‘Naughty.’

Bella puffed and exhaled, ‘What do you think?’

Alice cupped the girl’s face and studied her new hairstyle. It was cut messily, almost haphazardly so; no doubt a bold DIY. But damn, did Bella make messy look good.

‘I love it. It’s so rugged,’ the vampire smirked. ‘Makes you look like a rockstar.’

‘So you’ll ride me all night long?’

‘Fuck off,’ Alice chuckled.

The two stood and headed inside, Bella immediately greeted by the coos of the Cullen welcoming committee. A small table had been decorated with branches, red leaves, and fairy lights. Alice sat back on a stool in the kitchen and watched as Bella laughed at Emmett’s terrible jokes and graciously thanked Esme for preparing her a giant turkey leg.

A fuzzy feeling swirled in the back of Alice’s skull. When she let it swell - if she focused very hard - she saw herself standing outside a little white house.

Beside her was a girl with choppy, chestnut hair. They shared a kiss.

The End

"Demi Moore" by Phoebe Bridgers

Notes:

Thank you so much for reading! Hope you're all doing well :) I like to imagine that Bella looks how Kristen Stewart does in Love Lies Bleeding at the end of this story. It just suits the canon hehe. I leave you with "Demi Moore" by Phoebe Bridgers as this story's theme song, linked after the end of this fic.

#twilight #the twilight saga #alice cullen #bella swan #bellice #bella x alice #my fanfiction #twilight fanfiction #bellice fanfiction

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