#LOOK AT MAURA’S FACE

[daynascullys]

#married (17/?)

[kaizsche]

"tyler, how'd you come to do this work?" / "well, when you love something, you'll spend your whole life trying to understand it." TWISTERS (2024)

[the-girl-in-the-high-castle]

SHE PUT THE PICTURE FACE DOWN!

This script ended me. I can’t take this anymore. More things to over analyze on my 138 re-watch I guess.

Here are the mauraeyk scenes in a different version from September 2020 (meaning they have long since been edited into what we know now):

[littlesmartart]

DRAWTOBER #5 - Diligence is the Root by @maura-labingi and @little-smartass

Jiang Yanli has a hand on Jiang Wanyin's arm now, shaking her head and asking quiet questions that Huaisang can only partly make out. Other disciples are responding, and it must have got out that he wasn’t at practice because Meng Yao is making That Face - a reserved Oh Dear Young Master, This Humble One Is Disappointed Once Again that is covering for a You Little Shit that is only seen behind closed doors - so Huaisang knows he’s going to be in trouble later. The branches aren’t as comfortable as they were a second ago, so he might just slide down and head straight to the lunch hall, where the Lan rules will stall any yelling right up until the point where someone tells Lan Qiren. All bets are off then. Jiang Wanyin might just beat Lan Qiren to it, even if he doesn’t know Huaisang is around to hear him. He looks livid. Huaisang is just getting his hands and feet moving to begin his descent when Jiang Wanyin’s molton gaze sweeps the diplomacy students, razes the pavilions, and then locks on to Huaisang and begins to burn through his skull.

shameless self-promo because we spent literal YEARS on this AU and you know what? I'm proud of it and I should have already included it in drawtober, I think it's worth celebrating. part one of three covers the Cloud Recesses arc, with the main premises/character diversions being:

what if Meng Yao stayed for the lectures? what would that mean for his relationships with NHS, the Jiangs, and the Jins - and LXC?

what if Yanli had two Yu handmaidens, like her mother did? what would that mean for her relationships? what would that mean for her perception of herself and her limitations as someone who is chronically ill?

what if the female characters got embellishment and a decent amount of screentime? 💀

take a look if you're interested in a fic that really dives into those concepts!

[julieverne]

The first time Jane's not drunk enough to pass it off as a mistake. It's early into their friendship; Maura still asks for Jane's sweats instead of digging them out of a drawer. She's wearing them, her hair still wet from the shower. It's been a rough day, a gross day, one that requires multiple showers. Maura looks sad so Jane hugs her the way she'd hug anyone who'd had stomach liquid land in their hair.

Maura holds her close. Maura is awkward to hug; she stiffens but doesn't pull away. She waits to make sure Jane's not making some sort of mistake, and then she pushes forward too hard, her breath all raggedy like she's trying not to cry, her hands holding Jane too hard, as though Jane will push her away if she lets go too soon, like she's scared it's not real - like she's scared Jane's not real.

And that night, the first time, Maura's wet hair against Jane's chin, her hands finally learning how to relax on Jane's body so she doesn't leave her bruised, Jane feels Maura's pelvis press against her. It's not on purpose, but Jane's breath catches and she pushes back and Maura's breath comes all thin and thready, the warmth of her against Jane's thigh promising worlds Jane can't even imagine and then they're dry humping up against Jane's ancient refrigerator that came with her apartment and Jane comes with Maura with an irritated hum from the overworked appliance, gasping for breath.

Jane has only had two beers. She glances at them wistfully, looking for an excuse, then looks down to Maura's flushed, embarassed face.

Maura's her best friend. Maura's the best friend she's ever had.

"It's okay," Jane says when she can talk, and she feels Maura relax against her. They're still hugging. "It's been a long day. We're probably just frustrated."

They haven't kissed. That would make it something it's not.

+++

The next time Jane is too drunk. Maura finds her between her pain meds and a bottle of whiskey. Jane growls at her when she takes both bottles. Maura sits and pulls Jane against her, holding her. There is a bucket discreetly placed on the floor next to the couch.

"You're poisoning yourself."

"I put you in danger," Jane finally confesses. It's been weighing on her so long.

"You saved my life. Mine and Frankie's too."

"I should have known he was dirty. He should have never gotten near you." Jane's voice is low and raspy and she feels Maura's stomach clench as she speaks. She pulls away to look down at Maura. "I failed you."

Maura's crying. Jane touches her cheek and licks at the moisture on her fingers. She's dehydrated, and she lets Maura hold water to her mouth, lets Maura wipe her lips clear.

"You have never failed me."

Jane wants to kiss her, but they're not like that. She pushes herself on top of Maura and grinds down against her, gasping when Maura's pelvis rises to meet her, watching Maura's face beneath her. She brushes hair and tears away from Maura's face, with her fingers, with her lips.

Maura comes first, gloriously hard against Jane, arching up into her, a stifled little moan that sounds like Jane's name. It's enough to push Jane over the precipice she's been hovering over too long, and she joins Maura in pleasure, noting she's pushed Maura's dress up, her scarred palms brushing over Maura's bare thighs.

Jane collapses atop Maura, too tired and content to move.

"You have never failed me," Maura says again, and Jane feels those soft, strong fingers brushing through her messy hair, feels them on her back as Maura holds her tight enough that Jane wonders if Maura will ever let her go.

+++

The next time they're not drunk. They're at Maura's, and Jane doesn't know why she's not more freaked out about this. It's not technically sex, but it's close enough that she should be questioning herself, trying to figure out if she likes women.

Instead her hand is sliding up the hem of Maura's dress in her spare bedroom; they've avoided bedrooms so far, but here they are. Maura's hands are in Jane's shirt and she whimpers as Jane's fingers make contact with her satin underpants.

They're still not kissing because that would make it something else. Something like commitment, like Jane's heart doesn't break every time Maura has a date. This is new; Jane's never touched a woman like this before, but Maura's hips tilt and Jane can't withhold anything Maura needs. She can figure out the landmarks from here and she uses less pressure than she would for herself because she figures Maura's precious and delicate and whatever and she's right because she feels the pulse as it happens, Maura's hands holding her so tight that it's an effort to breathe, and then Maura's hand is on her, and she's never been so wet; she's almost embarrassed until Maura's eyes meet hers in awe and it's all Jane can do to keep from kissing her for being so sweet and understanding and so, so good at making Jane come.

Maura's hand cups her until she's sure Jane is done. "Sweet dreams," Maura says, and extracts herself. Jane collapses on the bed and wonders if she wants more or less from whatever they're doing.

+++

The next time they're in a shower. Jane fell into a river and Maura went in after her. They got hosed down at the precinct, but there is pond weed and an ickiness that remains. They shower together because they both need a shower and Jane's place is small. Maura touches the bullet wound on Jane's stomach and then gives Jane a knowing look as she slides her fingers lower, where the wet heat of Jane has been waiting for her touch. Jane's legs shake and she has to lean against the shower wall for balance, pulling Maura close and returning the favour. She's so wet - not from the shower, from touching Jane, and that's when Jane starts to wonder what they're doing. She's happy enough to be having mind-blowing sex with the most attractive person she's ever met, but she's not ready to talk about it. Not even with Maura.

She watches with satisfaction as Maura thrusts down against her fingers, grunts with pleasure as Maura bites down on her shoulder to muffle the noise she makes when she comes.

+++

And then Dean is in town. It's so, so awkward. Ma is pushing her. Maura is pushing her. Everyone wants her to be straight. Jane badly wants to be straight and Dean is there.

Jane doesn't even come. Doesn't even come close. She fakes it so he'll stop touching her so wrong. He falls asleep and Jane thinks of Maura's soft, gentle fingers, her fierce determination. The way she looks so pretty when Jane's inside her. Jane cries the way she should have when she put a bullet in herself to buy the woman she loved enough time to save her.

Jane cries because Maura doesn't love her, and Jane's just realised she does.

+++

Maura's mad at her. She throws Dean in her face. They bicker, but when Jane finally gets home, Maura is there.

"Your parents are in the hospital," Jane snipes, but there's no real ire left in her.

"I'm not... I'm not.... not mad. And I don't forgive you. I might never."

"Then why are you here?"

Jane knows; she can almost smell her from here. The air is thick and filled with everything left unsaid.

Maura crosses the room and shuts the door behind Jane, then slams her against it, sliding the deadbolt.

"How many?"

"What?"

"How many orgasms did he give you, Jane? What did he give you that I couldn't?"

"You told me... you chose the dress..."

"And you came when I called." Maura's anger leaves her and she slumps.

"I'll always come for you," Jane admits.

"You've never let me down," Maura agrees.

"You can shoot my dad if you want. It'll make us even."

Maura laughs bitterly and Jane wants to fix this. She takes Maura's chin in her palm and lifts Maura's face to hers. She lets her fingers stroke Maura's soft cheek as she looks into those deeply hurt hazel eyes, glittering gold with tears. She lowers her head so slowly that Maura has plenty of time to move away.

She doesn't. She meets Jane in the middle. They kiss, finally, after three years of not getting around to it. After three years of the most tender, loving sex Jane has ever had.

Maura's lips are so soft that Jane finds herself moaning into Maura's mouth. Maura grasps her like she used to; scared Jane isn't real, scared Jane doesn't mean it. Her tongue should be illegal because Jane's knees buckle when it brushes her own.

Then Maura's sharp teeth are digging into her bottom lip and Maura pulls away, her eyes flashing angrily.

"On your knees," Maura says, and her lips are swollen from Jane kissing them and Jane drops like a rock at the order, her hands already pushing the dress up out of the way, already pulling down what remains between them. She devours Maura utterly; she's drenched and running down Jane's chin, over her lips and tongue. It's better than anything she did with Dean; Jane hasn't been touched and she is throbbing and soaked.

Maura's fingers curl in her hair and she thrusts shallowly against Jane's open mouth. Jane licks her clean, waiting patiently. Maura just retrieves her underwear and leaves without another word. Jane makes herself come quickly once the door closes, tears down her cheeks and Maura on her lips. She slumps and leans against the closed door, holding herself since nobody else will.

+++

Maura forgives Jane. She kind of has to; Jane saved her life and her leg. And Maura saved them both with the coordinates. They forgive each other but what lies between them remains fractured. They make sure they're not alone. They seek out other company.

And then Jane gets a new mattress and Maura is the only person in her life helping her.

"Can I come?" Maura asks, when Jane talks about her dream wedding. Jane rolls onto her side and looks at her. It's okay, being alone with her now. It doesn't hurt like it used to. She knows now she broke them up, knows now there's nothing she can say that will fix things.

"You always do," Jane says without thinking. Maura put her drink down and looks Jane over with a hunger Jane recognises.

"I left you hanging. I owe you one."

"It's okay," Jane says, even though it's not, even though she'd cried on the floor for well over an hour, hoping to hear Maura's footsteps outside, hoping she'd changed her mind. "I always let you down."

"You have never," Maura says, rolling onto her side to face Jane, "and I mean never let me down."

"Never even run around and hurt you?"

Maura doesn't recognise the lyrics. Jane has never been able to RickRoll her because Maura never knows when she's being RickRolled.

"I was mad about Dean. But we weren't exclusive, and I was seeing people too. We never talked about it, did we?"

Jane's hands are shaking. She nods slowly, looking over at Maura. Her voice is low and sexy, and Jane loves when she speaks foreign languages. It's so hot. Maura is so hot, but she's at her hottest when she's underneath Jane.

Jane rolls on top of her so easily that Maura's already thrusting up at her. But this time Jane is leaning down and kissing her. Jane is holding her tenderly. Jane is pulling off her tank top and sliding Maura's buttons undone, she is pressing her bare skin against Maura like she's one of those animals that breathe through their skin and Maura is oxygen to her. Jane checks in with her as her hand crawls down Maura's strong abdomen.

"You know I love you?" Jane says, then shakes her head. "I mean, I do. I love you. I've missed you. I'm really, really into you."

"Not quite," Maura says, and tilts herself up against Jane's questing fingers until they slide home, Maura as always wet enough to take as much of Jane as she can. Jane's palm rubs the little circles that drive Maura wild and her fingertips brush slowly against the wet warmth of her, against the softness that makes Maura sob as she comes in Jane's arms, Jane kissing her gently, brushing her tears away, holding her as she moves against Jane until she stills and pulls Jane closer. "I owe you two."

"You owe me a new mattress; we've ruined this one."

Maura chuckles, and Jane knows everything is going to be okay.

[deanwinchestersbabygirll]

Wishful thinking part 2

warnings// fluff, IMPLIED SMUT, little tiny bit of angst (not much) HAPPY ENDING DON’T WORRY

lol summary// heavily requested part 2 to wishful thinking

Dean x reader

word count// 6520

(Gif from Pinterest)

The days didn't get any easier for Sam since you guys talked. You went back to being oblivious of his feelings, back to being loved up with his brother. Sam swallowed the hurt in his chest and tried to move on, he started having more one night stands, spent less time with either of you alone.... Especially you.

It was a long day of looking for the witch but still you guys couldn't find anything on her.  you were drained, Your head was in so much pain you felt like you were gonna explode, Dean took notice right away wrapping his arm around your shoulders pulling you into his side, you let your head roll against his hard chest as he checked in for a room "no one room, two beds please" the women nodded with a smile "actually dean I'm gonna get my own room again, so just two separate rooms with  one bed please" Sam confirmed to the receptionist 

"Alright Sammy" dean said clapping his back thinking he wanted his own room for another night in the sheets with a pretty lady. Sam rolled his eyes "whatever, I just want my own room" Sam mumbled making Dean laugh "alright ya big baby relax, get your room and... relax" dean dragged out the last word in exaggeration to tease his brother 

Sam just huffed out a forced laugh before grabbing room key from the desk and taking off to his room. Dean chuckled as he lead you both to your own room "alright let's get in here and get you into something a little more comfortable" dean said making you chuckle, to anyone else that would sound like an innuendo, but you knew what dean meant, he wanted to get you in your pyjamas so you could sleep away your headache "yeah I feel like I could sleep for a week after today" you whined dragging your body to the bed, kicking your clothes off as you stumbled through the room 

Dean laughed tossing you your sleep shorts and his black t shirt (you stole for your sleep shirt many moons ago), he kicked off his own clothes par his shirt and boxers getting in next to you tugging you towards him so your back was right against his front, his arms holding you in place, Dean pressed a small kiss on your cheek before turning the lamp off "night sweetheart" he whispered through your soft snores.

You groaned as a bright light burned your eyes disturbing your sleep, you rolled to your side hiding your face in deans chest making him chuckle "stop moving" your voice muffled again this chest "sorry sweetheart, but we gotta get up. Sam's already texted me... he's got a lead on the witch" you head snapped up right away "why didn't you wake me up let's go bank this bitch!" You exclaimed jumping out of bed and getting dressed right away in jeans and a white shirt

"Dean c'mon let's go" you said pulling on your black boots. Dean watched in awe with a smile on his lips "alright sweetheart I'm getting up" he said when you tossed him his clothes. "Alright let's get going" you said headed towards the door, "oh not just yet sweetheart, c'mere" dan gestured for you to come to him his arms open wide.smiling you took the two short steps towards him, he quickly grabbed your hips pulling you close to him before capturing lips in a sweet kiss, you kissed him back right away, parting your lips against his own to let his tongue in, you stayed in this position for a few minutes before dean pulled away "had to get my good luck kiss" he joked leaving your lips with one last peck before grabbing your hand and leading you out to the impala where Sam was already waiting impatiently 

"Alright Sammy whatcha got for me, I'm itching for this one" you said rubbing your hands together menacingly making the younger man smile, he loves how cute you looked when you do that "okay so get this. Maura Jennings is a local. Most people describe her as closed off, rude and aggressive. And every time there's a crime committed, guess who's lurking at the crime scene?" Sam filled you both in while getting into baby, taking off to the suspects house.

"Alrighty, how we going to play this?" You asked the brothers "I'm thinking you and Sammy play FBI, distract her and I sneak in through the back door and find out what she's hiding" dean said handing you your fake badge "oh come on I never do the sneaking around" you whined making him smirk "she'll feel more comfortable talking with a women present, unless she's blind and confuses Sammy as a 6'4 women with a Bob she's less likely to talk long enough for me to snoop" dean said with a laugh at the end "yeah real funny dean, let's just go" Sam mumbled storming off to the house across the street with you following close behind 

"Hey Sam, slow down!" You called after him. Sam turned abruptly at the sound of your angelic voice "sorry just not in the mood for... well Dean today" he confessed with a shrug of his shoulders "ah I know he can take the hair jokes a little far sweetie, but he's just trying to make you laugh... one corny joke at a time" you joked nudging his side. Sam let out a hearty laugh making you smile up at him

"Alright you ready?" Sam asked staring down at you "yeah let's do this" you told him knocking on the door. You waited for a few minutes, no sign of the witch answering "maybe she's out getting ingredi-" Sam was cut off by the front door opening slightly , revealing a disheveled liking women with dark black hair, a disgruntled look on her face wearing a long red robe "what do you want?" She demanded keeping the doors chain locked "hello ma'am I'm agent Maximoff and this is agent Rogers, we're here to talk to you about the recent death of Alice jones, a few key witnesses have mentioned you were one of the last people to see her" "I know nothing about that bitches death! I didn't see her. I don't know where your getting your information but it's wrong I'm not a killer-" 

Sam was placing his arm in front of you as the women snarled at you wanting to guard you from any attack she had planned "ma'am we're not here to accuse you of anything, we're only here to ask you a few questions in relation to our case" Sam assured her, his heart besting a mile a minute ready  for her to have poked any holes in his lie. The women stayed silent as she slammed her door. You looking at Sam confused maybe she wasn't willing to talk at all. You moved to leave her porch when the sound of the door u locking caught your attention "are you coming inside or not" the women scoffed, you shrugged your shoulders at Sam before following her inside to the dark hallway. You just hoped Dean got inside okay.

"You have a very... lovely home Mrs Jennings" she chuckled darkly "it's Ms Jennings actually, Mr Jennings liked the little blonde slams down the road too much" she said before taking a pause "anyway... they got there karma" she's told you and Sam with a laugh "alright, Ms Jennings. What can you tell us about Mr greenway? He was involved in a very serious accident in the grocery store on Wednesday morning, did you see anything that could come across as suspicious?" Sam asked her as he took a seat next to you.

"Oh greenway was a bastard, he had Geraldine- a dear friend of mines heart broken. Did you know he slept with six of his college students, nasty little whores. He got what he deserved" she told you, her lips twisted up in a dark smirk "well that sounds awfully targeted don't you think Ms Jennings?" You questioned, the witch snapped her head in your direction her eyes filled  with fury, "how dare you accuse me of such a thing? I think it's time you both leave now!" She ushered you both up and pushed you toward the door.

You felt a hand reach into your pocket, you stoped in your tracks, the witch let out a shriek when she crashed into your back. You reached into your pocket, pulling out a brown little bag "ah hex bag, bad idea" you smirked unwrapping the bag letting all the ingredients fall to the ground "hunters!" She snarled before taking off 

"Crap!" Sam said, both of you pulled out your guns heading down to follow her "you go left I'll take right" you whispered to him, Sam nodded taking off after the witch. 'Dean better be hiding' you thought to yourself worried the witch will find him "goddamn it!" You said quietly to yourself when you found a dead end with a closet "Y/N" a familiar voice whispered, you whipped your head towards the closet door sighing in relief "thank god, come on we gotta go find Sam. He's with the witch" dean cursed grabbing your hand before taking off in a run towards the direction Sam went. 

Dean and you ran into see the with stood before sam who was spelled to the wall "You think you can come here, inside my home and try and kill me! Who do you think your messing with, boy!" The witch yelled before blowing a purple mist in his face and chanting ' Praecipio tibi ut verum dicas per tres dies proximos' 

"Sam!" You yelled rushing toward him, Dean taking the witch on himself "I have plenty left where that came from." The witch told him trying to hide behind the table from him "yeah, but your not gonna last longer than 3..2..1" dean counted down before pulling the trigger hitting her between the eyes "and he scores" dean chuckled before rushing over to you and Sam 

"He won't wake up Dean.." you told him panicked brushing the hair away from Sam's eyes as you laid his head in your lap "let me see" Dan rushed to his brothers side checking his pulse "alright he seems fine, let's get him back to the motel and figure out what that bitch did" dean and you pulled Sam up wrapping an arm around each of your shoulders "alright Sammy give us a little help here" you groaned out at the dead weight of him as you and dean walked the unconscious hunter outside

"Alright, I'll get the door you hold him" you said giving Dean Sam's full weight. With a little struggle dean and you managed to get Sam in the back of the impala comfortably. "Hey he'll be alright De, we'll start researching that witches incantation right away" you assured him with a hand on his shoulder, he placed his hand a top yours before being it to his lips "I hope so" dean told you quietly before you set off towards the motel 

————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

"Alright Sammy, let's get you into bed" dean grumbled hoisting his brother up over his shoulders  like before "I'll get the door" you said thanking chuck that you guys got bottom floor rooms so there was no steps for you and dean to drag an unconscious Sam up. 

Dean laid sam on the bed taking a step back to look at his brother, laying there... breathing but no sign of waking up "I don't like this..." dean confessed sitting next to his brother "i don't either, I promise I'll find out what she did to him. It's my fault this happened to him, we shouldn't have split up." Before dean could argue your wrong you headed towards your and deans shared room to get your spell books 

You wiped the tears from your face quickly, you knew Dean would come after you if you didn't come back soon. You just felt horrible, all you had to do was stick with Sam then you could have stopped her before she spelled him. You dried your tears away, grabbed your books and headed back towards Sam's room. Deans head turned toward you, he immediately took notice of your red eyes, he always does. "C'mere sweetheart" dean rushed towards you pulling you into a warm hug "it's not your fault, Sam and I would never blame you for something like this sweetheart" dean assured you, pressing a gentle kiss to the top of your head 

"I know you guys don't, I just- I can't help but feel like it's my fault. I have to find out what she did to him... I just hope it's not serious" you told Dean quietly before breaking away from his embrace, you say on the desk with your books and starting reading looking for the witch's spell.

After a few hours of  not finding anything you were beginning to feel hopeless. Dean stepped out to get dinner but he'd be back soon. You stared at Sam just hoping he'd wake up, thankfully after hours it worked, you watched as he stirred letting out a low groan "Sam!" You rushed over to him "Y/N... what happened?" Sam mumbled as he sat up with a groan "the witch is what happened, she spelled you with something, don't worry I'm still trying to figure out what I was, and when I do I promise I'll fix it" Sam stared at you in awe "I'm not worried, I trust you, your the most intelligent and beautiful women I've ever met" you have him a confused look, where'd that come from? 

"... thanks Sammy, that's really sweet of you to say"  Sam seemed embarrassed before another loving look took over "it's the truth, your beautiful, I hate the fact dean got you first" Sam confessed before slapping his hand over his mouth "what the hell is happening to me??" He questioned worried, why the hell was he spilling his guts to you?

"I think I figured out what she did to you... truth spell?" You told him waiting for his reaction "n-no it's not a truth spell! If it was a truth spell I'd be telling the truth, but I'm telling you the truth..... no I'm telling you the truth, I'm serious, everything I say is the truth-" Sam tried to lie but the spell stopping him, he slammed his hands over his mouth, his face a bright red colour, you had to hold back a laugh not wanting him to feel more embarrassed 

"I'm gonna give dean a call and see if he'll be back soon" you said pulling out your phone 

"Hello" dean answered. "Hey baby, Sam's awake... and I think I know what the witch did" "what is it?" Dean questioned, you could hear the impala roaring to life on his line "truth spell, it isn't fatal and they normally only last for a certain amount of time. My guess with Sam would be three days based on part of the spell, tres dies proximos. He'll be back to his normal Sammy self  in a couple days nothing to worry about" you assured your boyfriend "oh this is gonna be a fun three days" dean said with a hearty laugh on the phone "no, nope, I'm not letting you torture your poor brother in this state" you scolded,  dean moaned down the phone "Aw c'mon princess just a little" you giggled "maybe a little bit but nothing too far" you gave in. Dean chuckled down the phone "that's why we're so good together sweetheart, the same twisted humour" you giggled down the phone "you better  hurry back now" "I'm on my way beautiful" 

"Alrighty Sam, deans on his way now" you assured him as he sat on his bed hand covering his mouth to stop him talking, sam nodded averting his eyes to look at the wall "okay guess your not really in the talking mood" you joked making Sam roll his eyes, "wanna watch some tv while we wait for dean?" Sam just mumbled a 'mmhmm" you giggled at him not wanting to talk and switched on the television, you flicked through some channels before settling on South Park.

You guys got through half an episode when Dean walked in with a bag of burgers and fries, "ah nice choice, good thing the fun hater can't talk you can watch what ya like huh sweetheart" dean said with a laugh, "definitely, now give me my food I'm starving" you told him taking the bag from his hands with a quick kiss to his lips as a thank you

"Sammy come on ya gotta eat, I promise we won't ask you anything" you promised the silent hunter who remained in the bed "I'm not promising anything" dean laughed with an evil smirk resting on his lips. Sam shook his head quickly, sinking back against the bed "dean come on, if your nice to Sam I'll be real nice to you later" you flirted, batting your eyelashes for extra measure

Dean smirked at you with a low chuckle "you know I can never turn that deal down, sweetheart. Consider yourself safe Sammy" Sam swallowed hard having to watch the flirty interaction, he got up and made his way over to where you and dean were sitting together, you on his lap eating your burgers, Sam sat on the only other chair at the table averting his eyes to stare at chicken salad in front of him trying to ignore the hurt in his chest, somehow it was more in's tense with this spell, like all of Sam's senses were magnified. True to his word... more specifically your promise, Dean didn't mess with Sam during dinner, even though it physically pained him not to mess with his brother when he was hit with such a hilarious spell. 

Dean and you ate as quickly as possible trying to get out fast to make good on your promise. Once you finished your last bite you threw the wrappers in the trash and pulled Dean from his chair with a grunt, dragging him to the door"Alright then let's give Sam some space so he can rest" you told Dean who was busy grinning like a kid in a candy store.  "Night Sammy" you called back over your shoulder before closing the door 

"Alright get in there and get your pants off Winchester" Sam heard you say from the now closed door. Sam sighed and turned the volume up as loud as he could without getting any noise complaints and just closed his eyes as tight as he could trying to drown out the sound of your squeals, this was going to be a long three days.

————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

The next morning you woke to your head tucked into his neck, his arm under your pillow (where he kept his gun his hand always close to it in case there were any intruders through the night), while his other wrapped around your waist protectively. He had his leg entangled with your own under the warm covers. You whined as you opened your eyes taking note of the light littering the room, hiding your face tighter against his neck. Dean let out a gruff chuckle at your actions, he ran his free hand up and down your arm leaving goosebumps in their wake

"relax it's still early, we can stay in bed a little while longer" he assured you, pressing a kiss to the top of your head. "I know but now I won't get back to sleep again" you mumbled into his neck "well let's talk then" you lifted your head up right away to look at him concerned "okay.... Talk about what?" You hurried out

Dean laughed, tucking a strand of your hair behind your ear, something he's always done to calm you down "nothing bad... well I hope it isn't bad" dean told you with a small smile, you nodded your head for him to continue "well you know you and me have been dating a long time-" "six years" you cut in making him chuckle "yeah six years, and I've been thinking...." Dean told you before reaching on the ground for his jeans, he pulled out a deep red small box, you clasped your hand to your mouth, tears filling your eyes in realisation

"Y/N, I'm in love with you and I want to be able to call you my wife. Hell I even want to have kids with you... I have never once thought I would see myself wanting that life... not when I've been hunting and living motel to motel since I was 4 years old, but the day I met you, I knew there was something special there, and six years later... I was right, so what do you say sweetheart, will you marry me?" Dean proposed, opening the box to reveal a beautiful ring with a small but perfect diamond sitting on top "oh my god! Hell yes I'll marry you!" You chocked out through your happy tears

You grabbed the sides of deans face and pulled him into a firm loving kiss, it didn't last long with how much you two smiled against each others lips "here! Put it on me" you laughed out as Dean swiped his thumbs on your cheeks wiping away your tears

He pulled away slightly, taking your hand in his he placed the engagement ring on your ring finger. You sucked in a small breathe "it's so beautiful Dean" you said in awe "someone as beautiful as you are deserves a beautiful to ring to match" he told you with a smirk making you roll your teary eyes "your an idiot" you giggled, Dean smirked before tackle you back down the bed making you let out a small scream "Dean!" You laughed out as he attacked your sides with his fingers making you squirm "I'm sorry! Your not an idiot" you said through giggles

Deans fingers stopped their attack on your sides, you took in deep breaths to calm you heart rate while Dean pulled you into his side, reaching to hold your hand that now sported a beautiful ring "I can't believe we're engaged, this is crazy" you said against his chest, deans chest rumbled as he chuckled "I know its crazy, who's have thought I'd get tied down" he joked slapping his chest lightly "oh please Winchester, I've had you wrapped around my finger since before we started dating, it's about time YOU tied ME down" you sassed to your now Fiancé

Dean chuckled lightly  "I'm glad you said yes" furrowing your eyebrows you look up at him "did you really think id ever say no?" You hated when he thought so lowly of himself. Dean shrugged slightly "I don't know... I mean it's not everyday hunters get married, I just didn't know if you would want marriage... especially with m-" you cut him off by clasping your hand over his mouth, deans eyes widened as he stared down at you with a dumbfounded expression "Dean I love you so much and you right I didn't want marriage, until I knew it would be with you. You're the only man I would ever say yes to. Understood?" 

Dean nodded his rough hand gently pulling your softer one away from his mouth slowly, Dean pulled you closer to him his lips pressing gently against your own in a small kiss "understood sweetheart" Dean whispered against your lips before deepening the now heated kiss, his hand running down your bare side, hiking your leg roughly over his side making you gasp sharply into the kiss, allowing Dean to dominate your mouth with his tongue. 

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Sam hadn't slept much that night, for many reasons, one being how stressed he was with keeping his mouth shut for the next few days so he didn't say something he would regret, another being you and Dean getting the room next to his, making his night a living hell. Sam can deal with a lot, he'll he has no choice when he's on the road living with you two, but this was one of the reasons why he wanted his own room far, far away from yours. It only makes it harder for him to get over you, especially when his dreams involve him pulling those beautiful sounds from you... not dean. 

He finally got up when he heard the morning start up again behind the wall "freaking animals" he mumbled out annoyed. He pulled on his running outfit before speed walking out the room. He wanted to try and clear his head, everything was too much, the damn spell was affecting his own mind. He couldn't even lie to himself let alone anyone else 'I'm in love with her' ... 'no I'm totally in love with he-' "God dammit!" He said aloud as he walked past a women with mid lengthy dark hair, she turned to give him a hard stare with her brown eyes "excuse me?" She demanded her arms crossing across her chest "o-oh I'm sorry I wasn't talking to you ma'am I was just thinking out loud" Sam defended, embarrassed he'd been caught talking to himself

The women's hard state softened as a small smile took over her lips instead of an angry frown "no problem, my names Maddison, and you are..." she pushed "I'm Sam" the giant hunter said sticking his hand out to hers to shake "well it's nice meeting  you Sam, sorry for being harsh, guess you could say I woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning" she joked making him chuckle "yeah I get what you mean, my days started out pretty bad too" he confessed, mentally face palming as he couldn't stop himself "really? I'll tell you why my day sucks if you me why your's does... maybe over some coffee?" She flirted making Sam's heart race, he hasn't had this feeling in a while "yeah definitely, I'd love to" he rushed out as he scratched he'd the back of his neck awkwardly "great, I actually know this cafe it's two blocks away, they make the most amazing hazelnut coffee and ...." she rambled on, Sam smiled watching her, he had a good feeling about this girl.

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"Sweetheart, I think Sammy's out, he's not answering the door" Dean called to you from outside the bathroom his, you stepped out from the hot running stream "he's probably just getting food or on his run, ya know Sammy" you yelled out, your voice echoing off the bathroom walls as you washed the conditioner from your hair "yeah your probably right, I'll call him and let him know to bring back some celebratory pie" Dean said as he licked his lips in thought of the tasty pie "tell him to get a whole pie not just a slice this time!"  Dean chuckled "that's my girl!" You rolled your eyes with a smile "yeah, yeah.... Tell him to hurry I'm starving, especially after this morning" you said in a teasing tone as you wrapped a towel around your body, walking out to the room to find Dean sat on the bed, phone pressed against his ear "alright we'll see you then Sammy..." Dean hung up the phone quickly when he saw you enter the room giving you a dopey grin  

"you're so beautiful" he told you, pushing himself off the unmade bed, he took two steps forward to meet you, placing his rough hands on your towel covered waist "well thank you but I'm i still gotta get ready, so don't get any ideas Winchester"you chastised when you felt his hand start to unravel the knot, Dean groaned placing his head between your head and shoulders "oh don't get sad on me now we've had sex six times between yesterday and this morning, your not exactly starved from it" you reminded him

Dean pulled away from his spot against your neck, his plump lips pulled into a sly smirk, "I could never get enough of you my very... very sexy fiancé" he teased, his hands moving from your waist to your ass "well until your incredibly sexy fiancé gets some food  you can just keep in your pants" you patted his chest, moving. Way from his grasp to her dressed into your black jeans and Dean's old Metallica shirt "well I've got news for you" Dean teased sitting on the bed as he watched you change "oh really? Well don't leave me hanging, spill Winchester!" You rushed out taking a seat next to him eager to hear the news

 "well our little Sammy met a girl while he was out on his walk.. said her name is Maddison and... well he said too damn much, but hey what do your expect when your brothers been hit by a truth spell" Dean joked making you laugh "ohhh what did he say?" You questioned eager

Dean shrugged his shoulders a smug smile plastered  on his lips "ah I don't know sweetheart, I remembered just a second ago.... I might be able to remember again i-" you cut off his teasing by rushing forward to press your lips shading his in a deep harsh kiss, Dean groaned his hands roughly grabbing your waist and the back of your neck to take control of the kiss. You pulled away before he could slip his tongue through your lips you pulled back, Dean chased your lips "hurry up and tell me, I'm dying over here" you begged 

Dean chuckled licking his swollen lips "well our little Sammy is on his way back from a date with a girl-" you cut him off with a big gasp "you're kidding? That's amazing- wait, shit what about that truth spell?" You questioned worried this could interfere with him finding a nice girl "don't worry I asked him and he said he's keeping it very under cover with her any time she asked a personal question he changed the subject or ran off to get more coffee" you couldn't help the squeal that escaped your lips "ohh this is amazing! Do you think this could be the girl for him?" You grabbed deans hand tightly

"I hope so sweetheart, I'm just glad he's not into you anymore, that sucked. Didn't want to have to kick my little brother's ass... I would have, but I didn't want to have to" Dean joked, you giggled placing a peck on his lips "yeah yeah tough guy. We're gonna have to tell him about us, you know that right?" You couldn't lie and say you weren't worried about telling Sam that Dean and you were getting married, "...I know sweetheart, we'll tell him when he gets back" dean promised running a comforting hand up and down your back. Deans heart was racing at the thought of telling Sam, not because he wanted to keep it a secret, if anything he wants the world to know... since Sam confessed he was in love with you and it getting brushed under the rug with your denial of Sam's feelings deans been walking on eggshells around the situation because he didn't want to fight with Sam... and he definitely didn't want to loose you

Deans been feeling more anxiety since Sam for a hit with the truth spell, he didn't want anything tho come between you and him. He would never forgive Sam if he drove you away because of him, he just hoped this new girl in his life would change that, and Sam would be happy for you and him, at least they'll find out soon.

————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

"Hey open up guys" Sam said knocking on the door, a bag of breakfast burritos in his hand and three cups of coffee on the other. Dean was quick to open the door a sly smirk resting on his lips "well how'd it go Sammy? What's this girl like... is she hot- ouch!" He exclaimed in a high pitched voice rubbing his arm "never you mind if she's hot or not... ignore him Sam, tell us what happened?" You plucked the bag of food from his hand quickly,  waiting for his response "well she's very hot actually- sorry I just I can't exactly lie right now, anyways I took her out for some coffee and we got to talking and I think she's a really great girl, in fact were actually going out for dinner tonight" Sam said flustered

Dean chuckled "just dinner?" He teased, Sam rolled his eyes "well dinner and se-" you clasped a hand over his mouth to stop the next word from escaping "your welcome" you smiled at him. Sam was about to thank you when he felt the coldness of a ring on his mouth, he furrowed his brows and gently moved your hand from his mouth, you and Dean exchanged weary looks "wow um a ring... does that mean you guys are... engaged?" Sam ask slowly never turning his gaze from the ring adoring your hand "yeah, we're getting married" you answered smiling at him. Your heart raced as you awaited Sam's reaction 

"Congratulations you guys that's amazing" Sam said pulling you both into a hug, Dean and you shared a look of shock "than you Sammy, are you sure your okay with this... I mean things might  change a little around here" Sam just smiled at you "I couldn't be happier for you both, I really mean it- hell it's not like I can lie anyway" Sam laughed. This was nuts, you were worried for nothing, this was one of the best days of your life "have you guys called Bobby yet? He's gonna be so happy" Sam said pulling back from the hug "not yet...we wanted you to be the first to know" Dean told him wrapping his arm around your waist 

"That means a lot to me you guys, thank you for letting me be a part of this" Dean nodded "of course man, your my brother, hell I'd have told you a few days ago if you didn't get spelled, couldn't risk you spilling the beans on me" Dean chuckled out clapping Sam on the back “Ha ha ha very funny Dean. So what are your guys  thinking? Actual wedding or vegas?” Sam said his lips twisted in a small smile 

“Vegas” “wedding” you both replied simultaneously. You and Dean snapped your heads to each other, your eyes flaming in rage as he cowered in fear under your intense gaze, poor Sam stood still not able to move “vegas? Dean are you joking- please tell me you’re joking?” You demanded  Dean shrugged his shoulders slightly “I’m sorry I didn’t think it was such a big deal, if you want a wedding, I can do that” Dean said quickly, shooting you a small scared smile “oh you’d better Winchester” you warned making him gulp and nod, Sam barked out a laugh watching his brother back down to you “what’s so funny Samuel?” You turned your fury quickly to him “I- I uh just haven’t seen Dean back down to a girl… well ever actually it’s awesome to see” he stumbled out scratching the back of his neck awkwardly 

“Mmhmm” you mumbled pursed your lips tightly and eyes narrowed at both boys, Dean clapped his hands together to get your attention “alright how about we all take a trip to Bobby’s and if we just so happen to fall into a case on the way I won’t be mad” you smiled rolling your eyes slightly at his antics “yeah and I wouldn’t mind a trip to Hawaii” Dean laughed “yeah maybe if a plane wasn’t involved that would be our honeymoon. I’m gonna take our bags out to baby so we can head out we might make it to Bobby’s tonight  if we tail it now” Dean grunted placing both duffels over his shoulders “well I’ll catch up with you guys tomorrow I’ve got my date tonight” Sam capper to Dean as he made  his way out to the parking lot 

You smiled rolling yourself watching him walk out, what a man you’ve got! You thought to yourself. “Hey can we talk” Sam asked breaking your trail of thought, “of course Sammy, what’s up” Sam took a deep breath and sat down on the edge of the bed “I just I wanted to talk to you about this girl, I mean I know it was just coffee and I don’t know if this truth spell is heightening my emotions or what’s happening because yesterday i was still struggling with you and Dean being together- ignore that please, but what i mean is this morning when i met Maddison it was like everything changed and i don’t want to come off to strong and mess this up, this girl is she’s just amazing” Sam rushed out his hands flaying around as he spoke 

You stared at him shocked “I- Sam did you still have feelings for me yesterday?!” You questioned shocked “well yeah it’s not gonna take a few weeks for the feelings to leave , but they’re gone now, I’m genuinely so happy you guys are getting married… I just I don’t want to ruin this” Sam mumbled his gaze directed to the floor as his hands ran through his hair “Sam, the very fact your even worried about messing things up tells me how much you care about this girl, I don’t think your emotions have been heightened, I think you found a nice girl who’s caught your attention, in a good way, I think she could be the one for you Sam the fact your already feeling like this” 

Sam looked up from the ground to make eye contact with you “I think your right Y/N, there’s something about this girl” you smiled patting his shoulder “told you you’d find the right girl for you Sammy” you told him thoughtfully, Sam clasped his hand on top of yours resting on his shoulder “you did, I’m just glad you were right” “Aren’t I always?” Sam laughed nodding his head “usually yeah” you have him a chaste kiss on the cheek “I’d better go before my fiancé comes looking for me- I like saying that … fiancé” you smiled as you spoke “I’ll see you in a few days, soon to be Mrs Winchester” Sam waved at you before the door. 

Once the door was shut Sam laid back in the bed with a deep sigh. For the first time in a very, very long time Sam felt at peace, he didn’t feel a sense of guilt eating at him constantly. He felt he could finally breathe again there was no weight on his chest that would never lift. He never thought he’d feel a love like this with anyone but Jess or you…. Until now with Maddison. 

For once in his life, Sam Winchester was excited about the future.

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IM SO SORRY FOR THE LONG WAIT!!! so much has been happening the last few months family wise, we had to move my nephew in and he's been stealing my attention from writing.... mostly because I'm rewatching supernatural with him- VALID EXCUSE ;))))

as always if you have any requests please feel free to send them in :)

ALL MY OWN WORK I DO NOT GIVE CONSENT TO COPY OR PUBLISH ON OTHER SITES, I.E WATTPAD, ETC, WITHOUT MESSAGING TO ASK FIRST. REBLOGS ARE GREATLY APPRECIATED THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING.

[carmillascrusade]

Of Eden Finale | Larissa Weems x F!Reader

Summary: All is revealed.

Word count: 2.7k

A/N: I forgot to post this! Honestly, I just want to thank the people who kept up with this despite my withering interest.@barbarasstar

Larissa wasn’t by your side once you woke up. Instead, much like the first day, you woke up to a note on the pillowcase next to yours. A simple thing really; its only purpose is to notify you of when and where to meet the cult leader later that day. You swung your legs off the bed, stretching slightly before walking over to the dresser. Hesitantly, you reached for the handle, relieved when you didn’t experience another one of those dream-like trances. Perhaps you could scope out the layout of the castle in greater detail today. After all, Larissa was not expecting you until later in the evening. 

Yes, today would be the day you planned your escape.

Changing into the fine silks of the dress you chose was proving to be quite difficult. Sweat beaded at your hairline, the moisture on your back making the dress stick even more than it was previously. Frustrated huffs and puffs could be heard from your bedchamber, alerting the maids outside to your embarrassing battle with the layered fabric. Just as a groan escaped your mouth, Maura popped her head into the room, eyes locking on your haggard frame with a sheepish smile. 

“Are you in need of assistance, my lady?”

A defeated ‘yes’ was what she got in return. You slumped back onto the bed in defeat, still irritated that a mere dress had managed to get the best of you. Maura smiled at you once more, tight lipped and restrained. Her eyes shone with something you couldn’t quite place; a familiarity of sorts, an urge to speak of something forbidden. A lot of the staff had that same gloomy shadow cast over them, elusive to those that paid little attention. 

“Are all of these dresses a pain to get on?” you asked quietly. 

“Not all, my lady. But most of them, yes.” 

“I see.”

Maura’s hands worked diligently as she helped you into your dress. Deft fingers tied the tricky laces at the back, the built in corset squeezing your abdomen into place. What need had you for corsets anyway? They were annoying and made the most mundane and basic of tasks incredibly difficult. “Are you coming to the sermon later today, mistress?”

Your eyebrows furrowed in confusion. “What sermon?”

Maura’s eyes darted to meet yours in the mirror, her face paling until she resembled that of a ghost. She shut up then, her lips clamping shut and pursing into a thin line. There was no conversation after that. She finished her work faster than necessary, rushing out of the room without even faring you farewell. Her bewildering actions left you bemused as you stepped out of your bedchambers. Whatever made her have that reaction, you didn’t know. 

With a soft sigh you made your way through the castle halls. Whatever the reason was, it does not concern you. The only thing on your mind at the moment was getting out of this godforsaken place and away from the platinum haired woman that brought you here against your will. You found yourself walking through a long, wide room at the very top of the castle. The walls were lined with even more tapestries of Larissa, each depicting a different scene- scenes that you assumed to be taken from sermons she held. A particular portrait caught your eye, though. Tucked away behind a row of bookshelves, your face stared back at you. You gasped slightly at the painting, it was you without a doubt although your hair was different and your face held a youthful glow. Pulling the painting from the wall seemed to activate a hidden mechanism. A cacophony of clanks and bangs sounded out from behind the bookshelf. Before your eyes, the bookshelf seemed to disappear into the stone of the wall, revealing a narrow staircase that winded its way down into an eerie darkness. 

You nervously pulled your bottom lip between your teeth, quickly glancing around to see if anybody was looking before descending into the darkness. Your nose was attacked by the smell of damp stone, the worn stairs beneath your feet doing little to guide your way. A bone chilling draft seeped into the cracks of the stone, momentarily making you regret your choice of blindly entering the unknown. A flicker of light illuminated a small passage to your right, it wasn’t golden like the light of a torch. No. this light was a dull blue, its luminescence repeated dulling before brightening up again. Once you got closer, you could understand why…

Bioluminescent fungi lined the walls, throbbing violently as you passed them. A dull humming pulsated throughout the room. Ancient sigils were scrawled across the walls, paintings of a story you couldn’t understand accompanying them. As derelict as the place looked, with the rotten chairs and cracked walls, you couldn’t help but notice the pristine condition of the statue at the centre of the altar. Trepidatiously, you walked forward, nearing the statue and source of the hum. 

It was a shrouded figure; youthful in appearance but chilling to look at. There was something about it. A strange energy that it emitted, lulling you into its presence, drawing you further and further into its web. Despite this, you recognised the danger behind this seemingly harmless entity and willed yourself away from it. With one last concerned glance its way, you turned on your heel and approached a stack of worn, leather-bound books that were slumped in a pile beside one of the benches. Surely there would be something in these books that would give you knowledge on what exactly was going on here.

There had to be.

The silence didn’t last long however, as Larissa’s sharp voice cut through it. “Getting yourself acquaintanced with my books, are you?”

“I- Larissa! I was just…” you stuttered, too startled to form a coherent sentence. 

She held a slender hand up, stopping your pathetic excuses in their tracks. An uncomfortable silence washed over the room as you stared at one another. Her expression was unreadable, hard and stony, reminding you of the statue sat behind you. She came to kneel beside you on the floor, reaching for the book you were holding. Unable to do anything but pass her it, you watched as she nonchalantly flicked through the pages before landing on the one she was looking for.

A pristine sketch of the mysterious statue stared at you from the page, above it a label of ‘Lady Marrena’. “Marrena?” you prodded softly, hoping that Larissa would answer the questions that were churning uncomfortably inside your stomach. 

“Marrena the mad.” she hummed, turning to lay her piercing eyes upon you. “They say that she went insane with the power bestowed upon her; cursing anybody who dared try to take what was hers with the same fate… but that simply isn’t true.”

“It isn’t?” you asked warily. 

“Not at all. Lady Marrena gave my gift to me, do you think me mad?” she questioned, although her tone demanded an answer. 

“No, of course not.” 

Her eyes flicked from point to point, mapping your face whilst trying to detect any form of deception. Seemingly finding none, her features relaxed into an easy smile once more. A crooked finger beckoned you closer, drawing you in like a cunning spider would its prey. And you, a foolish fly fell right into her trap. 

She read to you from her small collection of books; passage after passage, word for word. Each containing a different snippet of Marrena’s hardships, each followed by Larissa’s own thoughts and opinions on the material. You could see it now. Why Larissa was in the position she was in. She was enigmatic, each word causing your mind to succumb further and further to her will. Her tone was full of such conviction, such devotion that you couldn’t help but hold onto each and every one of the sickly sweet words dripping from her tongue. 

“And you pray to this Marrena?”

“I do.”

“I see.” you whispered in reply, eyeing her suspiciously from where she sat beside you. If Marrena was truly as mad as the stories suggest, and Larissa had obtained the same power wielded by her, whatever was to become of her fate? Your eyes narrowed softly as you smiled at her. No matter how enticing Larissa may be, that prickling feeling of fear still looms over you, urging you to run as far as you can without looking back. With one more haphazardous look thrown towards the statue of Marrena, you rose from your spot on the floor, dusting the dirt off your once pristine dress with quick movements. 

“This isn’t the only chapel, no?” you question, urging Larissa to get up.

“It isn’t. No.”

“Perhaps you can show me the other one? You know, the one near the great hall.”

Larissa's arm gripped your own, her tight grip stopping you in your tracks. You turned to her in confusion, her fickle attitude perplexing you. Her eyes were narrowed, cold and calculating as they glared at you. “That chapel is off limits.

“What? But I saw people entering there earlier…”

Her fingers coiled around your arm tighter, snake like in their curl. “And I have told you it is off limits. Dare you question my decision?” she barked.

You held eye contact with her in a tense silence. Not once before had you felt this uncomfortable around the woman in front of you… she seemed to be overtaken by an unseen force, one you had no chance of beating. “No, I’m sorry Larissa. I’ll stay away from it.” Like hell I will, you thought bitterly. 

Once again, it took all but a moment for her demeanour to shift. Her dazzling grin shining at you from the darkness, the low light of the passage highlighting her smile. The grip on your arm loosened until she was linking heer own with yours, using the contact to guide you through the maze of hallways and to the great hall where dinner waited for you. You smiled softly as you took your seat, playing into the submissive role Larissa wanted you to take. 

—

Larissa’s soft breaths hit the back of your neck, soft snores hidden into your hair. You slowly moved the arm hooked around your waist, gentle enough not to rouse the sleeping woman but with enough haste to escape her grasp quickly. Once free, you reached for the candle on your dresser, cradling the flame to protect it from the icy gusts of wind. A sudden stirring in your gut had you hesitating at the threshold of the door; a small, deeply buried part of you told you that leaving was the wrong decision, but the more logical part of you, the rational, survival-wired part of you knew that leaving was the only option. What reason did you have to stay anyway?

Each tiptoe to your destination resounded through the darkness of the castle, your footfalls sounding akin to thunder once your pace quickened. Each subtle flicker of light had you whipping your head around, cautiously trying to find the source before continuing on with your mission. You breathed out a sigh of relief once you made it unspotted. Slipping into the chapel, you briskly walked to the altar with a renewed vigour. A sharp gasp escaped you, that familiar blinding white obscuring your vision yet again, forcing you to your knees in front of the altar. 

Memories of somebody's life flashed before you in quick succession- memories of your life.

A prick to your neck, followed by a sharp pain sent you tumbling to the ground in a haze. Heavy footfalls bounced off the cobbled flooring, shoes foreign to you surrounding your slumped over form. You tried to scream, to alert someone, anything, but no sound came out. It was as if you had been submerged underwater, your voice drowned out in the depths of the ocean. Your limbs were as heavy as lead, the task of moving your fingers proving difficult. A small, barely noticeable moan of protest escaped you as the strangely dressed people hoisted you up, carrying your limp form out of the chapel and away from your home; the last thing you saw being the fading image of your home atop the mountains. 

A throbbing pain bounced around your skull, your eyes hurting from the bright light. You frantically went to sit up, unfamiliar with the place you found yourself in, only to be kept down by thick restraints tying you in place. Someone came in soon after, a doctor she had told you. Somebody to research you and your people. Your silence had infuriated her at first, she wanted answers that you weren’t providing. Answers to questions that you truly did not know the answer to. 

Their technology was frightening. Machines you couldn’t even dream of prodded and poked at you daily. Frequent samples of your blood were extracted for testing, the hushed mutters of the doctors the only thing you could focus on to draw your mind away from the pain. They grew tired of your resistance after a while, frustrated with the lack of research they had collected and the resources wasted on you- they cast you out; discarding you as if you were nothing. And in a way, you were. Without Larissa you were just… well you. A peasant woman gifted with the ability to create tapestries worth the attention of aristocrats. Nothing. 

The strange people had spoken about you living in an isolated timeline, a place that defied all laws known to nature, a place where death was a foreign concept known only to fairytales. They had mentioned the mutations in your genetic code. The key to immortality- or so they thought. Further prying had made them realise that only Marrena, or her priestess, themselves could grant what they seeked. A power forbidden to outsiders like them. A power that they would never get their grimy hands on due to Larissa’s increased security following your ‘escape’. 

It had all come rushing back to you. Hot tears cascaded down your cheeks as you silently soaked up the information. You were back. You were home at last. A cold hand rested itself on your hunched form, the bottom of Larissa’s slip coming into view when she crouched beside you. Soft sobs wracked your frame, whether it be from tears of relief or the lingering numbness you felt from your capturment, you weren’t sure. YOu thrust yourself at her, chest falling against hers. Your arms wrapped around her neck, clinging to her for dear life, afraid that she would disappear again  if you let go.

“Larissa!” you cried, bringing her face to yours so you could see her beautiful features. “Oh how I have missed you…”

“You missed me?” her voice shook, layered thick with insecurity as she grasped you softly.

“Of course I did. Why wouldn’t I? Every night away from you, my love, was a cruel torture; a torture i never wish to experience ever again.” you admitted.

“But.. you left. You left and never returned.”

“I- what?” you recoiled from her slightly, a look of indignation crossing your features. “You think I wanted to leave?! You thought I left you?”

“Well, is that not what happened?” she asked,  beginning to get defensive.

“Of course it isn’t! What reason had I to leave? We had a spat Larissa, we weren’t in threat of splitting apart.”

“Well what happened then? Enlighten me.” she huffed.

“Outsiders happened. They came seeking your power, unfortunately they got to me first.” youou sighed. “I would never leave you.. Never.”

She went to speak but you cut her off by pressing your lips against hers. The kiss was desperate, all teeth and little finesse as you both tried to portray years of yearning into the gesture. Larissa pulled away first,gasping for air, before you pulled her back in for another kiss. You could speak about it later. All that matters at the moment, is feeling larissa against you once more. 

You were finally home.

[rudnitskaia]

White Chrysanths for the Swallow

Rocky was waiting for her at the table at the Little Daisy, but this time he was especially eager. Even Ivy had stopped teasing him about the way he lighted up and hummed to himself as he waited for Mau to show up at the door of the café, and just smiled, refilling his coffee whenever it ran out. He almost daydreamed of handing Maura two tickets to tomorrow's musical: of her eyes sparkling, of her taking his hand and telling him he was the best in the world.

But time passed, and Mau wasn't coming.

In those few hours, Rocky had replayed the fantasy in his head hundreds of times, changing the lines and the scenery. At first, imaginary Maura was beaming with happiness, calling him affectionate names, melting in his arms like all those heroines on the stage of a musical theater in the arms of their beloved ones, but every time the fantasy became darker and darker. More disturbing. Mau no longer rejoiced, no longer smiled. Her bright lively figure was becoming more and more dim, and she more often sighed, frowned, did not accept the gift. She asked him to return the tickets, scolded him for wasting his money carelessly, told him some news, one worse than the other, and finally said she didn’t want to see him again. Never again.

It was getting unbearable to sit still, and Rocky abruptly moved away from the table, threw on his coat, and headed for the exit. Maybe a walk would clear his head a little…

“Miss Pepper, I have a very urgent task to attend to. If she shows up on the doorstep, don't let her out of here on any pretext. Lock the doors, board up the windows, show her every fashion magazine you can find, but don't let her leave here until I get back. I'm counting on your wit and exceptional charm.”

The way he looked intently into Ivy's eyes before he left looked almost threatening. He wasn't even aware of the desperation hiding behind that look. But Ivy saw it.

“Don't worry, I'm an expert at this,” she winked at him encouragingly.

The cold air blew across Rocky's face, and he shivered, pulling his scarf over his nose, the same funny skewed scarf Mau had knitted for him last Christmas. Sometimes, like now, Rocky thought he could still smell on it the very same scent of coffee and pastries that wafted from the Venza family's eatery. It didn't help distract him, though. Quite the opposite. After walking a few blocks in an attempt to escape his doubts, he spotted a small flower shop — Rocky's imagination immediately conjured up a lovely picture of Maura cradling a fresh spring bouquet on this cold, cloudy evening and he didn't notice himself stepping over the store’s doorstep. The frail old woman behind the counter put aside the newspaper and immediately chirped, offering him different flowers, and finally convinced him to take a few white chrysanthemums. She tied the flowers with a delicate pink ribbon and also wrapped them tightly in the newspaper she had read before.

“They mustn't be overfrozen. Or they won't last long,” she explained sternly.

Rocky walked back much more briskly. He was warmed by the thought that now he would be able to give Mau not one surprise, but two. Hiding the bouquet from a gust of cold wind, Rocky lowered his gaze to it and pressed the flowers closer to himself… when suddenly, out of the corner of his eye, he noticed the headline of one of the newspaper articles.

“Shootout at the small Italian eatery Casa di Rondine shocked the residents… a bloody showdown in the neighborhood… occurred on the night… police identified the bodies of two…”

Rocky couldn't remember how he reached the familiar alleyway. How he threw the bouquet to the ground, swung over the barrier tape, and rushed to the entrance — a gaping hole instead of a small blue door. Shards of glass littered the floor, the formerly cozy, cramped hall was a real mess, the furniture was riddled with gunshots. Even the old tabletop radio was now on the floor, shattered to pieces.

“Stop right there!” a panting policeman grabbed him by the scruff of the neck. “What the hell are you doing breaking into a crime scene?”

“I… uh…” in his panic Rocky couldn't think straight, but nonetheless he blurted out: “I'm from a newspaper. Wanted to visit the crime scene myself.”

“A lousy reporter you are, then. Your buddies sniffed everything around here a long time ago.”

“I was just hired today and immediately assigned to this very intriguing case. So…”

“There's nothing intriguing about it. This Bianchi guy…”

“Who?”

“The renter, Augusto Bianchi, if that's his real name at all, apparently had a huge debt to pay someone. And for that, he got pinned down. There was a scuffle in the night, at least four assailants. The two guys we found here have a couple priors, but they're not in a condition to tell us who hired them. The amount of such cold cases we have…” the man hummed and passed his hand above his head. “We've already explained it all to your fellow scribblers this morning. And I highly doubt the landlord would want to tell the same story tenth times over to another newspaper weasel. The only thing he's interested in right now is getting money from the insurance company.”

“And the girl?”

“What girl?”

“The waitress. Who worked here. What about her?”

“Considering how much blood there is, they're probably both either in a ditch, scattered in pieces, or feeding fishes somewhere at the bottom of the Mississippi… both father and daughter, if you meant her,” boredly remarked the other officer, who had quietly approached them, lighting a cigarette. “There's nothing for you to do here, boy. Henry's right — there's absolutely nothing of interest in this case. People might have chattered about it in the morning, but the very next day they'll forget all about it. Go home, don't add to our workload. And quit the paper that sent you here. If your editor doesn't realize that news like this must be broken in the heat of the moment, believe me, their business will burn out faster than a short match.”

Rocky tried to get anything else out of them, at least a little bit, to look in the kitchen of the eatery, to slip upstairs to Mau’s and Augusto's apartment, but the policemen were adamant. On unsteady legs he made it to the nearest bench and collapsed on it, staring blankly into the dark November sky. He could have screamed, could have destroyed everything around him on a single painful impulse, but the emptiness that engulfed him was far more frightening.

His silence was more frightening.

Years would pass. Would flow, as before, from night to night. The world won’t notice his loss. The world won't notice any loss at all. In the place of his beloved swallow house, other birds will build a nest. Freckle and Ivy will eventually stop opening that wound with their questions. And one day, perhaps, he will stop gazing into the crowd, hoping to find among the unfamiliar faces the features dear to his heart, and stop flinching when he hears someone say amore mio. He knows how it happens — it was not the first time. All he has to do is smile and everything will work out. It'll wear off, getting back to the way it was. One day.

But the bouquet of chrysanths will still remain rotting on the cold ground.

[daynascullys]

#married (14/?)

[valleydean]

Chapter 18 [Read Here]

CHAMPION Part III of Heavyweight a deancas boxing au by valleydean (emmbrancsxx0) read from the beginning | playlist

SUMMARY: Brooklyn, 1933. Dean Winchester, the number one contender, trains to become the next Heavyweight Champion of the World, and this time he won't let anything get in his way. Title holder Castiel Novak has second thoughts about retiring, especially when someone from his past arrives in New York and asks for his help. Meanwhile, a new contender rises to fame and threatens to complicate both of Dean and Cas' ambitions - and their relationship.

CHAPTER PREVIEW:

Dean and Sam had arrived at the hospital in the late morning to help check Castiel out and drive him home. It had been a relief that lasted until the crossing of the Williamsburg Bridge. The closer they got to home, the more the nagging trepidation tugging at Castiel’s intestines intensified. By the time Dean pulled the car into the driveway, Castiel’s entire body was tense and he wanted to go back to the hospital. At least there, he’d been able to pretend that all of this was some strange nightmare he’d soon wake up from.

Castiel tried not to show his anxiety as the engine went silent. Sam went to the trunk to receive Castiel’s duffel bag while Dean hustled around the car before Castiel could even fully open the door. “I got it,” he said, pulling the door open more and grasping Castiel’s elbow to help him out.

He’d done the same thing when they’d left the hospital. Just as he had then, Castiel wanted to snap at him that he wasn’t an invalid, but he supposed that wasn’t entirely true. His breath was already short as he slowly walked up the three stone steps of their stoop to the front door. Dean kept his palm firmly between Castiel’s shoulder blades the entire time. He reached around Castiel to open the door so they could walk inside. Sam was just behind them.

The house, when he entered it, smelled somehow strange. Castiel couldn’t pinpoint why. He supposed it smelled the same as it always had, and he’d just have to adjust to it again after the sharp, sterile stench of the hospital had inhabited his senses for so long.

Either way, he didn’t have long to focus on it, because Jack rushed out from the kitchen, his feet slapping against the hardwood. “Cas! Cas!”

Eileen walked into the living room after him, carrying Maura.

Castiel pulled his brows together as Jack slid to a halt in front of him. “Jack,” he said, though it was difficult to do between his panting breaths and rapidly pounding heart. “Aren’t you supposed to be in school?”

Behind him, Sam closed the door, blocking out December’s frigid winds.

“He wanted to be here when you got home,” Eileen said.

Jack nodded fervently. “Harper’s bringing me my homework later.”

Castiel looked around at Dean, wondering if Dean had said it was okay for Jack to skip school. But Dean had his eyes on Jack. He winked, clicked his tongue, and gave him the thumbs up. Jack grinned. Castiel had no idea what any of that meant, but he felt it wasn’t worth the effort to ask.

“That’s… nice,” Castiel said, at a loss for anything else. He felt guilty thinking it, but he wished Jack hadn’t been there. The car ride had felt like an odyssey. He was tired, and Jack was usually very loud.

Eileen stepped forward, shifting Maura closer to Castiel as she did. “Maur, say hi to Uncle Cas.”

Sam and Eileen had brought Maura to visit him a few days ago, but it hadn’t been a very long stay. Maura hadn’t seemed to recognize him. She’d hid her face in Eileen’s shoulder at first, and then begun crying. Castiel had tried not to take it personally.

Again, Maura seemed just as shy. She stared at him for a long time before making grabby hands at Dean, saying, “Dee-Dee.”

Castiel frowned.

“That’s her name for me,” Dean explained with a shrug and a coy smile. “You’ll get one soon. Don’t worry about it.”

“I don’t even have one,” Jack said.

“Me, neither,” Eileen added, probably just to make Castiel feel better.

Sam cut in, “Uh… She’s good with the D-sounds. We’re still working on M. But she knows the hand signal for Mom.” He gestured the word in sign language before dropping his arm again.

“Most of the time,” Dean supplied.

Castiel tried to smile politely, but he didn’t hold it for long. His skin still felt raw from all his healing wounds.

“Okay, well, doc says Cas needs bed rest,” Dean said, and despite how much Castiel wanted to lie down, he had the sudden urge to argue. He bit his tongue to keep it down.

Dean asked him, “You wanna sit and rest for a second before we go upstairs?”

Castiel shook his head, trying not to seem frustrated by the coddling. “No.”

“You sure?”

“I’m fine, Dean,” he lied. He’d only just caught his breath. A slow panic rose up in him at having to climb even more stairs than the stoop. It made him feel frail and pathetic. He’d been the champion of the world under three weeks ago. Now, he was looking at the stairs as if they were Mt. Everest. He’d soared higher than that mountain’s peak; now, he was broken and flightless among the rocks at its base.

Jack grabbed the duffel bag from Sam and eagerly offered, “I’ll take this up!”

“O—Okay,” Sam said, somewhat surprised. He gave up the bag easily. Jack hooked it over his shoulder and sprinted across the room, up the stairs.

Castiel sighed, trying to steady himself. The moment he stepped forward, Dean’s hands were on him again. Castiel hoped that Dean hadn’t noticed the way he’d tensed.

The effort to get upstairs was slow-going and painful, and he sensed that Dean wanted to yell at him once or twice, by the way his voice tightened around certain words.

Jack appeared at the top of the stairs at one point, jumped up and down, and cheered, “You can do it!” It had the entirely opposite effect on Castiel’s confidence as what Jack had intended.

After what felt like hours, they reached their bedroom.

“Alright, almost there. I got ya,” Dean said as he guided Castiel to the bed.

Castiel gritted his teeth, pain flaring in his broken ribs as he lowered himself down on the bed. As soon as he was horizontal, Dean took Castiel’s shoes off, then started fussing with the pillows beneath Castiel’s head, making sure they were plump enough.

Jack jumped onto Dean’s side of the bed and sat back on his heels. “Do you need anything?” he asked.

Castiel shook his head, attempting to seem grateful instead of letting on that all the attention was grating. He focused on the fact that Jack was in their bedroom at all. His eyes flashed to Dean, disapproving, but Dean didn’t see him. He was too busy emptying out the duffel bag—lining up the bottles of pills on the nightstand and taking out Castiel’s spare sweat suit.

“Alright, kid, out,” Dean told Jack, and Castiel didn’t want to admit he was relieved by that. “Cas needs to get some sleep.”

Jack frowned, disappointed, but he climbed off the bed and said, “Okay.” He looked at Castiel. “Just shout if you need me.”

“I will,” Castiel faux-promised. He was certain that he was capable of handling things on his own.

Jack ran out, closing the door behind him.

“Dean, he isn’t supposed to be in here,” Castiel said immediately.

Dean snorted. “Little late for that.” He put Castiel’s clothes in the dresser and then came back to the bed, irritatingly hovering over the side like he’d done for days at the hospital. “You hungry? You want something to eat?”

Castiel shook his head. At least he didn’t have to stomach hospital food anymore, but he was too worn out to have much of an appetite at the moment.

“What about some water?” Dean asked attentively.

Castiel was still trying to even out his breath. All the exertion had made his throat dry. He could have gotten up and gotten a glass of water from the bathroom himself, but it suddenly seemed like an impossible trek. Reluctantly, he nodded.

“Comin’ right up.” Dean hurried out to retrieve the water.

While he was gone, Castiel peered around the room. It looked exactly the same as it had a few weeks ago, which he supposed was rational. They hadn’t changed the room in years. But it felt as if something should have been different.

Or perhaps he was the thing that was different now. He’d ruined his life, his career, his relationship. And now he was stuck in bed until he was fully healed—but why not stay in bed, after all? He had nowhere to go. No training, no bouts, no routine, no future. He had nothing, was nothing.

His heartbeat picked up again, and his breath was suddenly short, even though he wasn’t moving.

Dean’s footsteps sounded outside the door. Castiel clenched his fist and jaw and tried to get ahold of himself.

The door opened. Dean walked in carrying a glass of water, a smile that didn’t reach his eyes plastered onto his face. “Here you go. One lukewarm glass of water, just like you like it,” he tried to joke, but it fell flat. Castiel tried for the flicker of a smile anyway.

He took the glass from Dean and sipped it, but it didn’t quench his thirst very much. He set it down on the nightstand next to the various pill bottles.

The whole time, he felt Dean’s eyes on him. It was annoying. Ever since Castiel had woken up, Dean had been… there. Attentive, caring, thoughtful. But there was something just underneath it all, bubbling and steaming. Castiel almost wished Dean would shout at him, blame him for the strain between them—and for everything else. Maybe Castiel had even tried to provoke Dean toward that once or twice.

“Okay,” Dean said, snapping his fingers, then swinging his arms like he did whenever he put on his gloves. Usually, flourish was full of anticipation and readiness; now, it was just awkward. “You sure you’re not hungry?”

“I’m alright,” Castiel told him, hearing the edge in his own voice.

“Awesome. Okay, I’ll just, uh… Let you get some sleep. I’ll make some lunch so you can have something when you wake up.” Dean started walking slowly backward toward the door.

Castiel nodded.

“Okay,” Dean said again. He turned around and stepped outside, closing the door gently behind him.

Castiel breathed out, his chest deflating. He wanted to call Dean back and apologize, but he didn’t. He wasn’t even sure what he wanted to apologize for.

[anonymouswriter2311]

Rizzles 195, please

Thanks for the prompt, hope you enjoy!

***

Medical Kisses - Rizzles

***

The new crime scene was even more harrowing than the last. Another family home, another charred ruin, another set of shattered lives. Jane stood in the middle of the devastation, her brow furrowed in concentration as she scanned the remnants of the house. The smell of burnt wood and scorched furniture filled her nostrils, a nauseating reminder of how violently someone had torn apart yet another family’s life.

“Same pattern,” Frost muttered from behind her, snapping her out of her thoughts. “This one’s a little different, though. The flames didn’t spread as quickly as the others. Maybe the fire was started later in the night?”

Jane didn’t respond, her gaze sweeping across the room as her mind raced through the details. Something about this scene felt wrong—like a misstep in the arsonist’s pattern—but the pressure to move forward was suffocating. They needed answers, and they needed them fast.

“You alright, Jane?” Maura’s voice came from behind her, but it was laced with something more than concern—something that caused Jane to stiffen in spite of herself.

“I’m fine,” Jane said, her voice tight. She waved off the question, though she could feel the familiar tightness in her chest beginning to creep in. The stress from the case, the emotional weight of the victims, the constant sense of urgency—it was all building up, knotting her insides.

Maura, however, wasn’t fooled. She’d seen Jane push herself to the edge more times than she could count. Jane’s jaw was clenched, her breath shallow, her body rigid with barely controlled tension.

“You don’t look fine.” Maura took a step closer, her sharp eyes scanning Jane for any sign of discomfort.

Jane turned away slightly, her teeth gritted in frustration. “Maura, I said I’m fine.”

But Maura wasn’t backing off. She stepped forward, her hand gently resting on Jane’s arm. “I’ve seen you like this before, Jane. You need to take a break. You can’t keep pushing yourself.”

“I’m not some damn kid, Maura,” Jane snapped, brushing her hand away, though there was no real force behind it. She hated feeling like this—vulnerable, out of control—and Maura’s concern, however well-intentioned, only made her feel worse.

“Just… breathe,” Maura said quietly.

For a brief moment, Jane faltered, her breath hitching as she stared at Maura. She could feel the walls starting to crumble around her. The pressure in her chest built, and for a split second, she thought she might be sick. It was all too much—too much to handle, too much to keep bottled up.

Then, as if on cue, it happened. A wave of dizziness hit her, and the world seemed to tilt. Her heartbeat thundered in her ears, each pulse echoing louder than the last. Her breath caught in her throat, refusing to come out, as though her body had forgotten how to function.

“Jane?” Maura’s voice was low but insistent, her hands gripping Jane’s shoulders as if to anchor her. Jane didn’t know when she’d swayed, but now she found herself leaning heavily against Maura, the world spinning around her like she was caught in a whirlpool.

“I… I can’t breathe,” Jane gasped, her chest tight with panic. She forced herself to inhale, but it felt like the air was being sucked out of the room. Her hands trembled, and she clutched at her chest in a futile attempt to calm the rising tide of fear.

Maura’s face softened with empathy, and she moved quickly, her fingers brushing the side of Jane’s neck in an almost instinctive gesture. “It’s okay,” she murmured, though Jane could see the worry in her eyes. “You’re having a panic attack. Just breathe, Jane.”

But Jane couldn’t. It felt like she was suffocating, like she was trapped inside her own body. “I can’t—” she whispered, her voice trembling.

Maura paused, thinking quickly, then her gaze flickered to something—perhaps a memory or an article she’d read. She stepped closer, her voice now steady and calm. “I read once that holding your breath can stop a panic attack, so…” Her eyes met Jane’s, and for a heartbeat, everything in the world seemed to narrow to that one moment. “When I kissed you… you held your breath.”

Jane stared at Maura, confused, her heart still hammering in her chest. She wasn’t sure what had just happened or what Maura had meant by that. Her mind was still clouded by the remnants of the panic attack. But before she could process it, Maura’s lips were on hers.

It was quick, a moment of instinct, a connection more desperate than romantic. The shock of the kiss stunned Jane, freezing her in place. But somewhere in the whirlwind of panic and confusion, she instinctively did what Maura had suggested. She held her breath.

The panic still clawed at her, but with every second of silence between them, the room felt less suffocating. Jane focused on the air she was holding in her lungs, and slowly, gradually, the sharp edge of fear started to dull. The tightness in her chest eased, and her breath began to return to normal.

Maura pulled away just as quickly as she’d kissed her, her face full of concern, but there was something else in her eyes now—a vulnerability, an unspoken apology. “Did it help?” she asked quietly, her voice almost fragile.

Jane blinked, her chest still rising and falling unevenly. She looked at Maura, still dazed from the kiss and the lingering effects of the panic attack. “What the hell… was that?” she asked, her voice rough.

Maura flushed, her hands trembling slightly at her sides. “I—I’m sorry. I just… I needed you to hold your breath. It’s something I read once for panic attacks. I didn’t mean—”

Jane’s head was spinning in a different way now, the panic attack all but forgotten in the wake of Maura’s unexpected action. She still didn’t fully understand what had just happened. But she felt a strange, intense calm spreading through her, even as her heart raced in a way that had nothing to do with the panic.

“I… I don’t know what to say,” Jane murmured, still shaken, but no longer feeling like she was about to lose control.

“You don’t have to say anything,” Maura replied softly, her hands settling at her sides as though she were unsure where to place them. “I just wanted to help.”

Jane’s gaze softened, a sense of gratitude, confusion, and something else—all swirling together inside her. For a moment, they simply stood there, both of them unsure of what to say or how to move forward. But for now, the tension had passed, and Jane could breathe again.

“Thanks,” she whispered.

Maura nodded, her eyes meeting Jane’s with an almost shy vulnerability. “You’re welcome,” she said, her voice quiet but steady.

They stood in the wreckage of the house, the remnants of the crime scene forgotten for a few moments. Neither of them knew what had just shifted between them, but for now, they didn’t need to. The storm had passed, and Jane had Maura to thank for that.

Jane leaned back against the charred remnants of the kitchen counter, still trying to process what had just happened. Her breath was finally steady, and the wave of panic that had overtaken her had receded like a storm moving out to sea. But the emotional aftermath? That was still there, swirling in her mind like a storm cloud waiting to break.

She couldn’t stop replaying the kiss—Maura’s lips on hers, the warmth of it, the urgency. It had been quick, yes, but it had felt… real. Too real. And in that strange moment, it had worked. Her panic had subsided almost immediately after Maura kissed her, and she had no idea why that made her feel both deeply grateful and deeply unsettled.

Turning away, she swallowed hard. The last thing she wanted to do was show Maura how much the kiss had affected her. Jane Rizzoli didn’t get rattled by kisses—not even the ones she didn’t ask for.

“Well,” Jane finally broke the silence, her voice louder than she intended, “looks like you’ve got a new technique to add to your medical repertoire.” She shot Maura a lopsided grin, hoping to mask the vulnerability she was feeling inside. “Unconventional, but it seems to work.”

Maura, who had been standing quietly with her arms folded in front of her, froze at Jane’s words. She blinked rapidly a few times, as if Jane had slapped her. “I—I’m sorry, Jane. I didn’t mean to—”

“Maura, relax,” Jane interrupted, throwing up her hands in mock surrender. “It’s fine. You’ve got your own brand of… hands-on medicine, that’s all.”

The flustered look on Maura’s face deepened, her cheeks flushing a soft shade of pink that Jane had never seen on her before. “It was purely clinical,” Maura said, her voice shaky as she adjusted her posture, her arms dropping to her sides. “I read about it in a study once—holding your breath can help manage the symptoms of a panic attack, and… well, I acted on instinct.”

“Instinct, huh?” Jane raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms over her chest, her smile becoming a little more forced. “You sure you didn’t just throw in some… mouth-to-mouth for good measure?”

Maura’s eyes widened, and her face turned a deeper shade of red. “I—no! It wasn’t like that at all, Jane. I wasn’t… I wasn’t trying to—” She stopped, shaking her head, clearly at a loss for words. “I’m sorry. I just wanted to help.”

Jane softened, recognizing Maura’s genuine confusion and embarrassment. The last thing she wanted was to make Maura feel bad about what had just happened, especially when she’d actually helped. She exhaled sharply, trying to ease the tension.

“Look, it worked,” Jane said, her voice softer now. “I’m fine. I’m not… mad or anything.”

“Good,” Maura replied, nodding quickly, her eyes still not meeting Jane’s. “I… I’m glad it helped.”

They stood in an awkward silence, both of them seemingly caught in the aftermath of what had transpired. Jane didn’t know how to act. The tension in the air was thick, palpable, and no matter how much she tried to convince herself that it had just been a clinical reaction, there was something undeniably intimate about what had happened. The way Maura had kissed her, the way Jane had felt in the moment—it wasn’t just about panic attacks. It felt personal. Too personal.

Jane cleared her throat, trying to break the silence with something more professional, more familiar. “So… what’s next with this case? We still have a serial arsonist to catch, right?” She turned away, her voice taking on the crisp, no-nonsense edge that had become her defense mechanism.

Maura nodded quickly, visibly relieved to return to the business at hand. “Yes, of course. We should focus on the evidence here and see if we can find any clues that might lead us to the suspect.”

“Good,” Jane said, glancing over her shoulder at Maura. “Then let’s get to work.”

But even as Jane tried to refocus on the investigation, she couldn’t shake the way Maura’s touch had felt earlier, or the look of uncertainty in her eyes when she’d kissed her. There was a shift in the air between them—something neither of them could deny, though neither of them was willing to address it outright.

Jane quickly busied herself with the remnants of the scene, carefully inspecting the charred furniture and walls, but her thoughts kept wandering back to Maura. To the kiss. To the strange, unsettling warmth that lingered on her lips.

She forced herself to focus on the case, but every time she glanced over at Maura, she caught the subtle shift in the other woman’s posture. Maura was trying to act like nothing had happened, but Jane could see the way her gaze lingered just a little longer than usual, the way her fingers brushed against her own lips as if she couldn’t quite believe what she’d done.

Jane could hardly blame her.

The tension between them grew as the investigation continued. Neither of them spoke of the kiss again, but it was there, hanging in the air like an unspoken truth neither of them was willing to confront.

As they worked, Jane found herself caught between two worlds—one where she was a hardened detective, doing what she did best, and another where the lines of friendship and something else were beginning to blur. It was disorienting, and for the first time in a long time, Jane found herself unsure of how to navigate it.

But as the hours dragged on, it became clear that the tension was not one-sided. Every time Maura glanced at Jane, there was something in her eyes—something more than just concern, more than just friendship. It was as if she, too, was struggling to come to terms with what had happened.

Finally, after hours of sifting through evidence, the team gathered their findings in the small break room. Jane tried to keep things light, cracking a joke to ease the tension. Maura, still looking a bit distracted, smiled weakly in response.

Neither of them mentioned the kiss again. But the air between them had shifted, irreversibly. The lines between friends and something more had been blurred, and no amount of humor or professionalism could erase it.

For the rest of the night, neither woman could ignore the unspoken words that hung between them. Something had changed, and now, they both had to figure out what to do with it.

***

The night air was thick with tension, the kind that pressed in on every side. Jane’s heart was still racing as she and Maura stood outside the abandoned warehouse, the faint glow of city lights casting long shadows over the cracked pavement. They had been on the trail of the arsonist for days, piecing together evidence and chasing down leads. Tonight, they were close—too close—and it felt like the walls were closing in.

“You sure this is the place?” Jane asked, her voice low, scanning the warehouse for any sign of movement.

Maura was quiet for a moment, her fingers brushing against the edge of the leather gloves she wore, her sharp eyes darting back and forth. “This is where the fire started,” she said, her voice steady despite the tension in the air. “Definitely.”

“Yeah?” Jane murmured, glancing at her partner. “Let’s just hope we’re not too late.”

They were about to make their move when a rustle in the shadows caught Jane’s attention. She didn’t even have time to react. A figure emerged, a flash of movement—and before she could process it, the sharp crack of a gunshot sliced through the night.

“Down!” Jane shouted, grabbing Maura’s arm and pulling her into the cover of an alleyway.

Maura stumbled, but Jane’s grip was firm, pulling her close to shield her from the danger. Her heart was hammering in her chest, the adrenaline coursing through her veins as she crouched beside Maura. She could feel the heat of Maura’s body next to hers, could hear her shallow, rapid breathing. They were both hyper-aware of how close they were in that moment—too close.

Jane tried to steady herself, but the air seemed thick, suffocating, as though the world was closing in on her. A ringing pressure built up in her ears, and her breath began to catch in her chest. Her body tensed.

The arsonist was still out there, somewhere in the dark. The danger was real, and the weight of it was too much to bear. Her heart started to race even faster, her vision narrowing. The panic was coming again—unwelcome, suffocating.

Maura must have seen it happening before Jane even had the chance to recognize it herself. She was close now, her voice barely above a whisper as she moved toward Jane, placing her hands gently on her shoulders.

“Jane…” Maura said softly, but there was an urgency in her voice that was impossible to ignore. “Breathe with me. Just breathe.”

But Jane couldn’t. The panic had already taken hold, and all she could hear was the frantic thudding of her heart, drowning out everything else. She couldn’t get enough air into her lungs, couldn’t stop the overwhelming sense of dread from taking over.

Maura’s fingers brushed Jane’s face, and before she could process it, Maura leaned in, her lips pressing against Jane’s in a gentle but insistent kiss.

It was different this time.

There was no hesitation, no clinical logic behind it—just the undeniable spark of connection between them, an electric tension that ran through every part of Jane’s body. She froze, her breath hitching in her throat. For a moment, everything else seemed to fade away—the warehouse, the danger, even the panic. All that mattered was the warmth of Maura’s lips on hers, the way her hand cupped Jane’s face with such care, such intent.

Jane’s hands trembled at her sides, and for a split second, she was able to focus entirely on Maura, on the kiss, on the way it made her feel more alive than anything else could. Slowly, her body responded, and she felt the panic begin to loosen its grip. The air didn’t feel so tight anymore. The pressure in her chest lifted, and she could breathe again.

When Maura pulled back, they both gasped for air, their chests heaving, the world spinning just a little from the intensity of the moment.

“I… I didn’t mean to—” Maura began, but Jane, still caught in the aftershock of the kiss, shook her head.

“It’s okay,” Jane breathed out, her heart still pounding, but in a different way now. The panic had receded, but something else lingered in its place—something almost impossible to describe. “You… you helped.”

Maura’s eyes searched Jane’s face, looking for something—perhaps for confirmation, perhaps for an answer to what had just happened. She pulled away slightly, her expression soft but unsure. “I just wanted to help you calm down. I wasn’t thinking. I—” She hesitated, then spoke more quietly. “I don’t want to make things more complicated.”

Jane looked at her, and the raw honesty in Maura’s eyes sent a strange pang through her chest. But she knew that Maura didn’t understand—couldn’t understand—what was happening between them.

Maura seemed to be gathering herself, her hands nervously brushing her jacket, when Jane spoke, her voice quiet but firm.

“So what now?” Jane asked, her voice thick with emotion.

Maura let out a breath, a small but relieved smile tugging at the corner of her lips. “I don’t know.”

***

The lights of the morgue flickered overhead as Jane pushed through the heavy door, her steps echoing in the sterile, quiet hall. She had just wrapped up the final details of the arrest, and after weeks of chasing down leads, everything had finally fallen into place. The arsonist was behind bars, his reign of terror over. But as Jane stood there, staring into the cold steel walls of the morgue, she couldn’t shake the adrenaline still coursing through her veins.

She needed to see Maura.

The door to the morgue’s main chamber was slightly ajar, and Jane pushed it open without knocking. Maura was bent over a body on the slab, her gloved hands carefully inspecting the victim’s wounds, her concentration absolute.

“Maura,” Jane called softly, though her voice still held the weight of the battle she’d just fought. “We got him. He’s in custody.”

Maura didn’t look up at first, too absorbed in her work. Jane’s heart beat faster as she watched her, taking in the delicate way Maura’s hands moved, the soft hum of her attention as she pieced together yet another puzzle. There was always something mesmerizing about Maura, something that made Jane’s pulse quicken without warning.

“I heard,” Maura said absently, still not turning around. “I’m glad, Jane. It’s about time.”

Jane swallowed hard, stepping further into the room, her body suddenly tense with everything she hadn’t said yet. The case was over, but there was something much bigger hanging in the air between them—something that had been building, growing, ever since that first kiss.

She didn’t want to hold her breath anymore.

“Maura,” Jane said again, more urgently this time. She moved closer, her boots clicking sharply against the tile floor. “I need to talk to you.”

Finally, Maura glanced up, her brow furrowing slightly as she took in the look on Jane’s face. “Is something wrong?”

Jane hesitated, her throat tight. She didn’t know where to start, didn’t know how to put into words the torrent of feelings she’d been holding in for so long. But she couldn’t wait anymore. She was done with holding her breath.

“I don’t know how to say this,” Jane said, her voice quiet but fierce. “But I… I’ve been holding my breath, Maura. Ever since that first kiss—every time I’m near you, every time we’re together, it feels like I can’t breathe right. And it’s not the panic attacks. It’s not that. It’s something else, something that I’ve been trying to ignore.”

Maura stood up from the slab, her gloves snapping off with a soft sound, her eyes searching Jane’s face. Her expression was unreadable for a moment, but Jane could feel the shift in the air—could feel Maura’s attention, her concern, her unspoken curiosity.

“I don’t understand,” Maura said softly, though there was an edge of something else in her voice, something Jane couldn’t quite name.

Jane closed the space between them, standing right in front of Maura now, her chest heaving with the weight of what she was about to say. Her fingers twitched at her sides, as if wanting to reach out, but she held back.

“I’m holding my breath because I’m scared, Maura,” Jane confessed, her voice thick. “I’m scared of what it means to feel this way about you. I’ve been trying to ignore it, trying to pretend like I don’t care, but the truth is—I can’t stop thinking about you. I can’t stop wanting you. And I’m done holding my breath about it.”

Maura was silent, her gaze steady, but Jane could see the way her body tensed, the way her chest rose and fell with the same rapidity as Jane’s. It was as if Maura had been holding her breath too.

“I don’t want to be afraid anymore,” Jane continued, her voice barely above a whisper. “I don’t want to hide behind the badge or the cases or the distance. I want you, Maura. I want to breathe freely with you.”

The words hung in the air between them, raw and vulnerable, but they felt more real than anything Jane had ever said. Her heart raced, waiting for Maura’s response, terrified of what might come next.

For a long moment, Maura didn’t say anything. She simply looked at Jane, her lips parted slightly, her eyes searching, assessing, understanding in a way that only she could.

And then, Maura moved.

In a sudden, instinctive motion, Maura closed the distance between them, her hand reaching up to touch Jane’s face, cupping her cheek with the same tenderness she had always shown. There was no hesitation in her touch, no doubt in the way she held Jane’s gaze.

Without a word, Maura pulled Jane in, kissing her with a depth and urgency that took Jane’s breath away. It wasn’t a gentle kiss. It wasn’t a hesitant one. It was full of everything they had been holding back for so long—every unspoken word, every feeling they had both buried deep inside.

Jane’s hands found Maura’s waist, pulling her closer, her heart thundering as the kiss deepened, as the world around them seemed to disappear. There was no case. No danger. No fear. There was only the two of them, the only truth that mattered in that moment.

When they finally pulled apart, both of them breathless, Jane pressed her forehead against Maura’s, her eyes closed as she tried to steady her racing pulse.

“I’ve wanted that for so long,” Maura said softly, her voice husky with emotion.

Jane smiled, her breath still unsteady. “Me too.”

Maura’s eyes sparkled, her hands resting gently on Jane’s shoulders. “I was afraid of what it might mean, of how it would change things between us. But I don’t want to hold my breath anymore either.”

Jane nodded, her heart light for the first time in what felt like forever. “Then let’s not. Let’s just… breathe.”

Maura smiled, a smile that was full of relief, of hope, and of something deeper that neither of them had ever dared to say until now.

And when Jane kissed her again, it was without fear. It was without hesitation. It was everything they had both wanted, everything they had kept hidden for so long, finally coming to light.

Together, they were free.

[littlesmartart]

DRAWTOBER #22 - Harmony is the Value by @maura-labingi and @little-smartass

They walk the rest of the way in pleasant silence; with the view out over the sprawling city of Lanling from Koi Tower, and the way the sunset paints the flowers and glinting gold buildings in soft pastel hues, and the sweet looks A-Yao keeps flashing him from under his eyelashes, it ought to be a perfect evening, and yet- Probably, it is just residual discomfort, but the deeper they walk into Koi Tower, the more he can feel his spiritual senses… twinging is the best description, like he’s walking on a sprained ankle. With all the beauty and warmth around him, having this strange but insistent pulsing of unease feels like listening to music played on a guqin with one single string out of tune. It doesn’t help that the whole place seems oddly deserted - corridors he has seen previously ringing with the footsteps of servants are conspicuously silent, side rooms usually full of cheerful bustle absent of guests. He can’t bear the idea of ruining this long-awaited reunion, though, so he pushes down the unpleasantness, down and down, and when A-Yao knocks on the door of a guest suite, and da-ge answers it, smile already blooming on his face - well. It’s easy to ignore. It's probably nothing.

the final fic in our trilogy, covering the immediate post-war aftermath! this is the part that deviates the furthest from canon, with all the changes leading up to it, and we wanted to use it to explore:

what would cultivation society look like post-war if the Jins weren't so dominant, and the sects had committed to working together to rebuild? how would that affect the political machinations of someone like JGS?

what would 3zun look like in a universe where nieyao are not pushed further apart by the war, and how would that change events moving forward?

how would JZX, having spent a significant time as a leader in the war, adjust to returning to life under his controlling parents? would a more active, confident JZX - with a Mianmian who has greater authority and a JYL who has greater confidence at his side - make different choices than in canon?

what if NHS continued to use the skills he honed during the war in peacetime, and made some unexpected allies that kept him way more in the loop than in canon?

[dreamerwitches]

Right! Off we go off we go! Andreana and Kako. Yeah I'm still torn on this. I just think the original doppel worked really well and this one just... ruined it..? I don't think they needed to change the doppel aspects and in doing so it made it look worse. The dual blades looks too busy and kinda dumb and why is her hand up there?? I get she's reckless so she might have cut it off but still... I'm unsure about the legs either. Her whole body is a mishmash of colours and her legs are suddenly all one colour? Dunno... I'd give her a bigger book skirt, highlight the bookmarks more (yes I know the legs are probably bookmarks but moreso as a skirt) and probably give her legs more like her arms.

Oh dear Maura... why did they choose the curtain one..? Maura and Nanaka. It's... it's boring, anyone with eyes can see it's boring. I just feel like the witch takes away from everything interesting about the original. My favourite part is how dark Nanaka's inclusion is and of course, that's absent here. And even the upside down curtain was at least a little interesting but now it's just curtains hanging the regular ol' way. I feel like this witch would be way way better animated instead of just sitting there curtain-ly. They should've chosen someone else with a better doppel...

Meiyui and Delanna. Now I know why she's in a crib, she's just straight up babyish and sleep themed. I think she's fine, nothing special. The crib is fun and creepy. I kinda wish the mouths were more creepy but I guess that's just her style :T

Heidesommer and Konomi... ehhhhh this is super boring... the doppel is more fun... witch is just a mound, it looks like a pile of junk. I don't have much to say about it... doppel is better

Cendrillon and Rena. Now. I think the full witch is beautiful. The colours are so pretty, the faces are horrifying and the bird detailing is lovely. But... is it the doppel..? N-Not for me... Like, I just feel the bird theming comes out of NOWHERE. Her theme is Cinderella, where did this come from?! (actually do birds peck out the eyes of the ugly stepsisters or something in the original? Maybe, that would be a bit better) And the three legs don't do it for me. I felt the one leg to highlight the missing glass slipper works well. And the hair pieces being on the side of her body doesn't sit right with me. Neither does the tail(?) piece, looks stuck on like they were like 'oh, fuck, we forgot the fan part!' BUT. It is a beautiful witch. Do I see this doppel coming from it if it was the other way around? No Also here I included Cendrillon's brief anime appearance and it lines up pretty well! I think in the anime one the body looks more lumpy, the beak isn't as big and its missing the wings.

Zola and Kaede. Meh, disappointed. Why is she less detailed than the doppel??? But I suppose we already kinda saw what she was gonna look like anyway, I should have prepared myself... From the anime, my favourite part was her body and it just feels kinda hard to see here, like, show me those RIBS! I wanna see them! And those big ol' arms! But they're so hidden by the background and her body mehh. Plus I think the face of the doppel is weird and creepy and that's just not there in the final... Also don't like how the horns(?) just completely differ from the doppels style. They kinda look like veins but I dunno if I like them.

Also special guest... my own full witch interpretation from (i think) last years witchtober. I prefer mine thank youuu. But if I redid the witch I'd give her the doppel face, I believe I was basing mine off the anime image at the time

Let's finish on a good one! Momoko and Elfriede! Another that's super pretty, I have few complaints. The head is horrifying and I love it and the dress is still super pretty. Only gripe is I prefer the black lace to the gold gems. My biggest gripe is the fat, bloated hand at the bottom. Why..? What was wrong with the doppel's ones? I think such a slim and elegant needed something better than a hand that looks like a balloon dog. If the fingers were longer I think it would have worked better. And the floating fingies look a little dumb but thats minor

[julieverne]

Maura only registers love as physical touch.

It's why she enjoys sex so much. It's the only time she feels loved, even if what's happening isn't love, or even very loving. It's the chemical response to the closeness that she finds addictive, but she finds she doesn't really like any of the men enough to keep them around once they've served their purpose. They're dull or arrogant or childish.

She notices the first time Jane touches her. It's a defensive little movement, one that prevents Maura from slight harm. Then it's Jane's hand on her lower back as they look at evidence, then it's Jane's scarred, damaged hands touching hers to hand her a packet of tuna and crackers after midnight.

Maura still seeks men. She hasn't figured it out yet. But she's less inclined to go out to find someone to make her feel something - anything - when Jane is sitting next to her on one of their couches, their legs brushing. She feels less urges on days when Jane hugs her because hugging Jane feels more like being loved than Maura ever knew it could.

The first time Jane saves her life, Maura clings to her. She hears Jane whisper comfort to her, feels Jane's hands brush over her, feels how their bodies want to weld together. Maura holds no religion but it feels like heaven to her.

It feels like love.

It makes her cry and the more she cries the closer Jane holds her. The more sweet nothings Jane brushes against her ears, her lips soft and sweet against Maura's hair. The more Maura feels herself melting. She sighs and Jane pulls away. Maura expects it to hurt, but Jane's eyes meet hers with everything she's been looking for and has never been able to find.

It's love, and Jane wipes the tears from Maura's face, and then her own.

"It's okay. You're safe," Jane says, and Maura believes her because her voice is low and raw and raspy and her eyes are worried and affectionate and she holds Maura like she's something precious and delicate and it's okay because Jane is there, because Jane is with her, because Jane is touching her all in the ways she never knew she needed.

What Jane touches is her heart.

[atinylittlepain]

Apothecary - Chapter Seven

joel miller x witchy!reader

series masterlist

the town of Jackson comes together for a meeting, and truths are revealed.

wordcount: 4.8K

warnings | 18+ smut, significant angst, dramaaaaa

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

The irony isn’t lost on her. What now serves as the Jackson town hall had been a church in its previous life, high-arched windows, wooden pews, pulpit and all. Her mother would show her pictures from history books of Salem, their ancestors, she had told her, faces steeled in cool resignation amidst a contorted hysteria. She thinks of those images now, sitting in the first pew, Joel tucking her into his side, and dozens of eyes skittering up her neck. 

“Alright, let’s go ahead and start the meeting. I think we all know why I called everyone together. There’s been a lot of talk around town and it’s time to put rumors to rest and set the record straight.” Maria’s voice echoes through the hall from where she stands at the front of the room, Tommy right by her side, quieting the low thrum of the crowd. There’s not an empty seat to be had, people relegated to stand in the back, and she doesn’t dare glance over her shoulder out of fear of what she might find, glares and whispers, jaws set in predetermined condemnation. Joel however, can’t stop looking, his head whipping around every few moments before turning back to her with a grunt until she finally gives his knee a squeeze.

“You’re gonna throw your back out if you keep twisting your neck like that.” He sighs, resting his hand over hers.

“That’s gonna be the least of my worries if these people don’t stop fucking staring.” His words come out with a huff, and she offers him what she can of a smile, giving his thigh another squeeze. Though both of their attention is drawn back to the front of the room as the meeting really begins.

“We’d like for this to be an open forum to clear the air and discuss folks’ concern about what’s been going on, so if everyone’s amenable to that, we can open the floor to whoever would like to speak first.” It doesn’t surprise her that as soon as Maria steps to the side, Mason is getting up from his seat next to Matthew and Maura to stand in front of the crowd.

“I’d like to speak on behalf of the Nichols who are too grief-stricken at this moment to talk about such things. But they need and deserve justice for what happened to their baby, and I think it’s high time that witch right there gave us some answers.” She can feel Joel’s muscles tense under her hands, and she muses that if she wasn’t keeping a steady palm on him, he’d already be out of his seat and heading for Mason. Untangling herself from him, she gives Joel what she hopes is a reassuring nod as she stands up, squaring her shoulders as she faces Mason.

“I’m happy to give you answers. But I’m afraid it’s not going to be what you want to hear.” She turns to look at Maura, sitting across the aisle with tears welling in her eyes, Matthew set in a stony glare beside her. 

“Maura, I can’t express how sorry I am for what happened to your baby. And I need you to know that if there was anything I could have done to change things, I would have done it in a heartbeat. But I don’t think anyone could have changed what happened. It was just– it was too early, and I’m sorry.” For a moment, Maura’s features soften as she looks at her, a silent understanding that’s gone as soon as it comes when Matthew opens his mouth.

“Don’t listen to her, Maura. Remember what I told you? Nothing but lies coming out of her mouth.” 

“Why would I lie about something like this? Something as awful as this?” With that, Mason takes a few strides toward her, too close for comfort as his lip curls at her.

“Oh, you know why, little witch.” “Back off.” Too focused on Mason, she failed to notice Joel standing up, now stepping between them to glower at the man just as Maria steps forward as well, looking pointedly between the two men.

“Let’s keep things civil here, shall we?” Mason huffs, nostrils flared, though he does take a few steps back. And then she glances over her shoulder, though she wishes she hadn’t, quickly realizing that this has turned into a bona fide production for the people of Jackson to watch, necks craned to catch the action at the pulpit.

“I can tell you all exactly why she’d– she’d curse us like this. It’s because I wouldn’t give her what she wanted.” Matthew is up out of his seat, turned to, essentially, play to the crowd, his arms gesticulating broadly as he mouths off.

“She tried to put me under her spell. Tried to tempt me and seduce me like she did with all those other poor men, Miller included. But I am faithful, and I resisted her temptations. That’s why she cursed me, that’s why our baby is dead. And it’s why all those other men are dead too.” The crowd breaks into a thrumming murmur as Matthew finishes his speech, and her stomach sinks at the sound of their clear assent, heads nodding along to his words. This is about when the pitchforks come out, right?

“I have heard enough!” A hush falls over the crowd, Joel’s booming voice bouncing off the walls as he turns fully around to look at them.

“Do y’all really hear what this man is saying? This-this nonsense about someone who has helped every single one of you in this goddamn room?” She’s stunned still by his outburst, and everyone else seems to be too, eyes wide as Joel points to someone in the crowd.

“You told me she cured your son’s cough after he had it for years.” She recognizes the woman, who nods at Joel’s words, glancing over to her before responding.

“That’s true– she did. It was– well, it was a huge relief.” 

“She did the same for our little girl when she was sick last year. We thought her cough would never go away, but she helped her, helped us.” Another woman’s voice fills the room, heads turning to listen. 

“And how many of y’all have gone to her looking for help when your kids come home with poison ivy? I know I have.” There’s a wave of murmurs in the crowd, heads nodding at Joel’s words as he points to someone else.

“And you told me that she helped your wife through her entire pregnancy, ain’t that right?” The man nods, just as another woman speaks up.

“She helped me too, with both of my girls– honestly I don’t know how I would’ve done it without her.” 

“Us too, we’ve got her to thank for our boy.” She turns around at the sound of Tommy’s voice, seeing him and Maria both smiling at her where they stand.

Several other people come forward, sharing their own stories of how she had helped them in the past, and she can’t help the tears that start to gather in her lashes at this, a gratitude she has never experienced before. Joel takes her hand in his, glancing at her as people continue to speak, stories of rashes cured and colds stymied, wounds tended and care given. But Matthew isn’t done speaking just yet.

“Don’t listen to this man, he-he’s under her spell! He doesn’t know what he’s talking about!” 

“I’m not under some fucking spell. I know the woman I love, and I know that she wouldn’t harm anyone. And I also know she wouldn’t so much as look your way.” Joel’s words shock her, words she hasn’t heard from him before, but she doesn’t have much time to consider them before Mason is butting in with his own declaration.

“So she’s helped some people. That doesn’t take away from the fact that she’s a licentious slut who’s trying to drive men to adultery!” It’s a stunning slew of words, but before she or Joel can even react, a young woman is shooting up out of her seat and bursting out with a firm exclamation.

“She’s not an adulterer! He is! I’ve been having an affair with Matthew Nichols for months!” A collective gasp washes over the crowd, and she watches the color leave Matthew’s face. The woman waits for a lull in the commotion to continue speaking, eyes darting around the crowd.

“Don’t blame her for any of this. That man is a liar– I’m so sorry, Maura.” With that, the woman lets out a broken sob as she pushes through the crowd, hurrying toward the exit as Matthew calls out a rather meek “Lisa?” In the meantime, Maura has stood up, tears no longer falling as she stares at her husband, shock mingling with ire in her eyes.

“Maura, it’s not– it’s not what it–” Maura cuts off Matthew’s stammering with a palm held up between them, only offering him one word before she turns heel and storms out of the town hall.

“Don’t.” Matthew is quick to rush out on his wife’s heels, calling after her, leaving everyone thoroughly speechless, stunned silence hanging in the air as eyes dart around, searching for answers now that the floor has all but fallen out from under them. 

Joel lets go of her hand, stepping over to a very slack-jawed Mason, nose to nose as he glares at him.

“I suggest you go on home now, son, I think we’re done here.” He doesn’t have to be told twice.

…

By the time she makes it back to Joel’s house, the sun has already pulled hazy and low over the mountains, washing everything in orange fading into purple. 

“How’s she holding up?” She sighs at his question, plopping down next to him on the porch bench and all but melting into his side.

“I think she’ll be ok. She’s gonna stay with a friend of hers until the council works out a new place for her to live, but she seems pretty clear about her decision. Wants nothing to do with that man ever again.” After the town meeting that morning, she had sought Maura out immediately, inviting her to her shop, somewhere quiet for them to talk. And talk they did, for the better part of the day.

“And you and her are good?” 

“I think so, yeah.” There’s so much more she could say. How Maura kept telling her that she knew it wasn’t her fault. How awful she felt for how everything happened. And how they both couldn’t stop thinking about that little baby girl. But with the day she’s had, it’s nothing that can’t wait, leaving it at that for now as Joel pulls her a little closer under his arm. 

“You were something else today, Miller.” His grumble thrums under her palm splayed over his chest, shaking his head as he looks at her.

“I did what needed to be done. Those people needed some fucking sense talked into them. And for the record, I’m still thinking about paying Mason a visit and–” She cuts him off with a kiss, brushing his hair back before letting her palm come to rest along his scruff.

“He’s not worth it, Joel. I don’t think he’s gonna give us any more trouble either. Not after what happened today.” Though he doesn’t seem too satisfied by her response, the second kiss she presses to his lips seems to melt some of his resolve, the crease between his brows easing up as she pulls away to look at him.

“So, the woman you love, huh?” That distracts him, his jaw going a little slack as she grins at him.

“You– you caught that?” She’s quick to stifle her laugh when she sees the clear worry in his eyes, letting her palm fall back to his chest to rub reassuring circles there.

“Yeah, I caught that.”

“I didn’t, uh– I mean– I didn’t mean to–”

“It was kinda nice hearing the man I love talk about me like that.” His brows shoot up his forehead at that, and this time she can’t hold back her laugh at his shocked expression.

“I– you– you mean me, right?” 

“What do you think?” He pulls her into this kiss, swallowing her laugh and then silencing it with the way he licks into her mouth, her mind going hazy with him.

“Innocent eyes present! Please do not scar me for life, thank you very much.” They reluctantly pull away from each other, Joel grumbling as Ellie comes stomping up the porch steps, Stevie hot on her heels.

“I heard you guys did some serious ass-whooping today. Is it true what people are saying about the Nichols?” Joel huffs at her words, and at Stevie who has leapt into her lap between them, front paws digging into his thigh.

“Kid, no one did any ass-whooping, alright? And don’t look so pleased about what happened to the Nichols either, ain’t a laughing matter.” 

“He’s right, Ellie. Things are gonna be ok, but it was a hard day for everyone.” Ellie schools her face into something like solemnity, crossing her arms in front of her and nodding.

“Although… Joel did do some ass-whooping today.” At that, Ellie’s face breaks into a grin, pumping her fist in the air before holding her palm out to Joel for a high five, which he does not reciprocate, quirking his eyebrow at both of them with a shake of his head before getting up with a grumble that he’s going to get started on dinner, Stevie mewling in indignation at the sudden shift off of his legs and onto the bench next to her. With the soft click of the front door behind him, all it takes is Ellie glancing back her way for the both of them to let out a laugh.

It feels like a relief, like something settling back into place.

…

“So much for taking it slow, huh?” Joel glances at her in the bathroom mirror, wiping toothpaste off his mouth before resting his hip against the counter and fully looking at her.

“Think we’re way past slow now, darlin.” She had rather sheepishly asked him if it’d be ok for her to stay the night, not sure if she was still welcome now that everything had blown over. Joel had just looked at her like she was crazy for even asking, pulling her into a tight hug and murmuring something about her never having to leave if she didn’t want to. And she’s not sure if she ever will, not after that rock that came soaring through the front window of her house. She had already had a faint thread of an idea that maybe Maura could take her house after she moved in with Joel, since it seems like whatever this is, it’s going to stick around. He’s going to stick around, and so is she.

“Where’d you go?” His gentle question and his hand on her hip shakes her out of her head, blinking a few times to focus back on him standing in front of her.

“Hmm? Just thinking– it’s nothing important, not right now at least.” He hums at that, shuffling closer and taking her face in his hands, his eyes seemingly searching her expression. 

“You alright?” It’s so genuine, the worry just barely creasing his brow as he looks at her that she’d probably melt under his gaze if not for his hands holding her steady. The sigh that she lets out is one she’s been holding in for a while.

“I think so, yeah. I– what you did today– for me. No one’s ever done something like that— stood up for me like that. And I guess I’m just trying to say thank you, for sticking your neck out for me.” He seems to consider her words for a moment, lips parted and eyes turned down as he strokes his thumb over her cheek. 

“I’d do it again in an instant, darlin. Meant what I said too. I love you. Fuck, I really love you.” With all the other ones, she had heard them tell her that they wanted her, needed her even. But Joel is the first to say these words to her, and she doesn’t think she’d like to hear them from anyone else, ever. She nearly laughs when the thought crosses her mind that, really, she’s under his spell. 

“I love you, Joel. I do, I love you.” Yes, it has to be magic, the way his eyes crinkle up, a smile he wouldn’t give to anyone else, the strength of his palms still so soft along her jaw as he guides her lips to his. And they get to have this, all of this, for as long as they both want it. She hopes for a long time, if not forever. 

It’s a messy affair, lips only parting for quick gasps of breath, eyes barely glancing away as they make a stumbling path for his bed. She can’t help the laugh that bubbles up, breaking their kiss when they fall in a graceless tangle onto the mattress, a quick twist of limbs that has her straddling his hips, palms splayed out on his chest as she looks down at him. For a moment, all she wants is to look at him looking at her, the little tilt of his head, amusement rounding his cheeks as his fingers squeeze and flex where they’re curled around her hips.

“Staring ain’t very polite, darlin.” 

“Neither is being a smartass, baby.” The laugh he lets out is more of a disbelieving huff and she’s quick to swallow it, dipping down and bringing them back together in a kiss that stings sweet, teeth scraping skin as her fingers skitter down the buttons of his shirt. Her mouth follows her hands, meeting every new inch of exposed skin with a drag of kisses, and when he sits up just enough to shrug out of the sleeves of his shirt, she can’t help but nip at the soft swell of his stomach, eliciting a grumble from him.

“What’s that about, huh?” She grins against his skin, palm splaying in the middle of his chest to push him back flat on the mattress, nosing at the trail of hair just below his navel.

“I happen to really like this part of you, that’s all.” The quirk of his brows at her words makes her laugh, simply leaving another smattering of kisses over his belly in response as she works open his belt. 

She learned early on that Joel’s something of a giver, always wanting to be the one in control, the one who decides what and when and how, and it only makes it more satisfying when she gets him like she has him now, giving it all up to her. A quiet “hips up, baby” is all it takes to get his jeans shimmying down his legs, tugging them off before settling back between his legs, her palms resting on the tops of his thighs. 

“You look perturbed.”

“You’ve still got a lot of clothes on, darlin.” He says it with a grin pulling at the corners of his mouth, sitting up on his elbows to look at her as she peels her shirt off over her head. But that’s all she’ll give him for now.

“Lay back down, Miller, I wasn’t done with you.” His grumble dies in his throat when she slips her fingers under the waistband of his boxers, nails grazing the soft skin there. That gets him on his back real fast. She supposes she’s teased him enough, tugging his boxers off with little fanfare, his cock resting flushed and hard against his stomach. 

She knows what he likes. He likes her eyes on him when she lets her tongue drag along the underside of his length, and he likes it a touch messy, spit pooling in the corners of her lips when she takes him into her mouth. He likes when her nails graze over his belly, holding him still as she works him over, taking him into her mouth as far as she can before pulling back to lap at his swollen tip. She likes all the little sounds she can coax out of him, harsh breaths turning into clipped grunts that eventually give way to moans thrumming low in his chest as she continues her ministrations. 

“I– Jesus– that mouth of yours– gotta– gotta stop, honey. I can’t– I want you. Want you now.” With that, he sits up, fingers tucked under her chin to coax her up for a devouring kiss before his hands fall to the button of her pants. His mouth doesn’t stray far from her skin, grazing over the tops of her breasts as he works her out of her remaining clothes, a close shuffle that leaves her just as bare as he is, coaxing her thighs to frame his hips. He holds her steady, hands an insistent bruise on her hips as her cunt drags over his length, a heady pull that has her nails digging into his chest. 

“Shit, darlin– you ready for me? Wanna take it like this?” It always makes her brain stutter to a stop, the absolute mouth he has on him, usually such a gentleman, so quiet, suddenly turned sharp and demanding. It’s obvious to her that he doesn’t realize what kind of effect his words have, only earnest anticipation in his eyes as he looks up at her, and it only makes the heat grazing up her spine raise another pitch. He’s all soft murmured encouragement, palms a steady sweep up her thighs, the curve of her ass, fingers firming up on her hips as she guides his cock to her entrance.

Relax for me, darlin, that’s it.

Fuck, that’s good. You’re so good like this. 

Move for me, honey. Just like that, so fucking perfect.

It’s a brilliant mingling of sighs, clipped moans with every pass of her hips, Joel bending his knees and planting his feet into the mattress to meet each bounce with his own thrust. His eyes are a hot drag on her skin, the pull of his gaze trailing every curve before sweeping back up to her face. She’s trailing along the edge of too much, so full of him that each tilt of her hips has her gasping with the way his cock is spreading her open, grazing so deep every time she sinks back down. But when he brings one hand to rest at the crux of her thigh, fingers smearing a sloppy rhythm into her clit, too much washes over her like a wave, spine curling in an arc of pleasure until her chest is pressed close against his, face buried in the juncture of his neck as she mouths a quiet cry into his skin. His hands draw a slow circuit up her spine, keeping her full, but not moving as she crashes down around him.

“I’ve got you, easy, easy, I’ve got you, darlin.” A kiss to her temple coaxes her face out from his neck, hazy smiles shared between barely brushing lips. 

They move like liquid. He stays, warm and throbbing inside her, as he turns them over, his hips slotting between her thighs, forearms framing her face. There’s no use for words. She gives him a nod and a kiss to the corner of his mouth, enough communication for him to slip back into movement, hips a steady and strong roll into hers. He’s beautiful like this, a pink flush creeping up his chest into his cheeks, his brow pulled down in pleasure, eyes a continuous wave from her face down to where she’s taking all of him over and over again. And it’s her turn to coax, to murmur, to press and press and press until he cracks.

Feel so full, baby. Always fill me up so perfect.

So good like this, Joel. Doing so good for me.

I want it, baby. Want it so bad. Let go for me, please.

He comes with a crackled groan, her name leaving his lips on a punched out exhale as he curls over her, spend smearing warm over her stomach. She props herself up on an elbow, her hand on his jaw drawing him down for a kiss shared between harsh breaths. 

“Was that– was that good for you?”

“You’re always good for me, Joel.”

…

Her overalls are back, hanging off the corner of his bathroom door. There’s a stack of her books on his nightstand, thick tomes full of latin names he won’t even attempt to pronounce. And her plants are back too, she and Ellie hauling them over one afternoon, shuffling back and forth between her old house and theirs. A few pieces of her furniture made the move as well. A dark blue armchair that now sits in the living room, what has become Stevie’s designated lounging area. A cabinet that had been a bitch for them to move, huffing and puffing across town, Joel nearly throwing his back out with the effort, though his reward that night had been worth it. And a high-backed bureau now sits in the corner of his bedroom, a spot he finds her sitting at most mornings before they both head out for work, writing meticulous notes about the people she cares for. 

“Gonna see you over lunch today?” He can feel the curl of her smile where his lips rest against her cheek, and she turns around on her stool to steal a proper kiss from him.

“Mmhmm, I’ll be there. I’m guessing I’m gonna have to share with you again, huh?” 

“Well, if you’re offering I ain’t gonna turn you down.” He didn’t get to have her laugh for a while there, and now whenever she does give it to him, it’s like he tries to gather it up in his mind, every crackling smile, every tilt of her head, every peel of relief committed to memory. 

“Fine, but I’m not leaving tomatoes off this time. You’ll just have to eat around them.” 

“I guess I can live with that.” Another smacking kiss before he pulls away to let her stand up.

“You gonna walk me out, Miller?”  

“That’s the least I can do, darlin.” 

No more whispers, no more stares, they move through town easily now, first walking Ellie to school, who tells her and Stevie that she’ll be around the shop this afternoon before offering Joel a clipped “later, old man.” But he doesn’t even have time to be annoyed by it, not when his woman is taking his hand and tugging him along toward her shop.

She still moves a bit tentatively, glancing over her shoulder at him as she unlocks the front door before stepping inside, her shoulders a slight hunch as she moves through the shop. He’s been keeping her company in the mornings before his own shifts, staying out of her way but close enough that he hopes it eases some of her worry. 

“Ellie’s already asking me about Halloween, you know.” His brows raise at her words, watching her rest her elbows on the butcher block across from him.

“Is it– is it an important day for your, uh, your people?” Though he can see the amusement in her eyes at his stumbled-out question, she spares him any teasing, lazily stirring her tea before letting the spoon rest in the mug.

“Mmhmm, though we call it Samhain, not Halloween. I’ll tell you more about it when it gets a little closer.” They’ve figured out a gradual give and take, when to ask and when to answer, when to let things rest and when to reveal a bit more, and Joel can tell she’s making such a calculation in her head right now, offering him an easy smile. But his attention is drawn down to her mug, spoon now languidly stirring all by itself, though she’s quick to catch it, bringing her palm over the rim of the cup, her smile turning sheepish as his eyes widen at her.

“That– how– how am I just seeing that now?” That makes her laugh.

“I may have been trying to hide that particular, uh, quirk. Didn’t want to freak you out too much.” 

“Darlin, at this point, I don’t think you could freak me out if you tried.” 

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

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[musicforastylesrestaurant]

High Street Of Horror���s.

word count - 1.6k.

“Alan…it’s not you.”

“Coleen…it’s not you.”

“Oti…it’s not you.”

“Dean…it’s not you.”

“GK Barry…it’s not you.”

“Melvin…it’s not you.”

“Harry…it might be you.”

“Tulisa…it’s not you.”

“Barry…it’s not you.”

“Jane…it’s not you.”

“Danny…it’s not you.”

“So (Y/N) that means it might be you.”

You and Harry catch each others eyes as Ant anx Dec read off of the queue cards.

“The public have decided that the person they want to see face High Street Of Horrors is…both of you!”

“I’m absolutely bricking it,” you let out a nervous laugh as you spoke infront of the camera, Harry’s arm draped over your shoulders.

“This is our first bush tucker trial,” Harry began. “— so we have a lot of pressure on our shoulders, but I think we can do it.”

You heard Ant and Dec before you saw them.

You and Harry entered the challenge holding hands, and Ant and Dec were not the only people you saw.

Maura and Richard were stood there covered in brown sticky stuff and white feathers.

“Oh my goodness,” you placed your hand over your mouth. “— you look like you’ve been through it.”

“Welcome to the bush fucker trial clearing,” Ant smiled as he gestured towards the trail area.

Dec continued. “— as you can see, Maura and Richard have already taken part in the trail and unfortunately got zero stars.”

Maura pouted. “It was torture.”

“We think it’s because it was our first trail,” Richard began. “— so we didn’t really know what to do.”

“What you will have to do, is when the claing rings out, enter each shop and try and find the stars before the time runs out, you will have three minutes in each shop, so look wisely.” Ant pointed at the two of you and smiled.

You looked over at the shops, and gulped.

Harry squeezed your hand.

“And as you know, this is a bushfucker trial so you won’t be alone in there.” Dec explained. “So are we ready to get going.”

You nodded. “— born ready.”

“That’s the spirit!”

You and Harry were then given a pair of safety goggles and you put them over your head, just after putting your hair into a high ponytail.

“Okay,” Dec began. “— you can enter the grocers when you hear the claing.”

Harry turned to look at you. “Are you ready?”

“As ready as I’ll ever be.” You gulped and gave him a nervous smile.

When the claing sounded out, Harry quickly raced towards the grocery shop door, and tripped up the step leading to if, almost colliding with the wall.

You gasped.

“That’s not a great start.” Ant laughed as he looked at Maura and Richard.

When the two of you got into the shop, you noticed that it was fish guts.

“You’ve got three minutes.”

Harry started off by looking through the fish guts tray, whilst you went to shifting through some pig hearts.

You had to stop yourself from gagging.

“I’m okay,” you told yourself. “— im okay, im okay.”

“Baby, make sure you get everything out okay.” Harry told you softly, as his hands went to another tray.

You went over to the rotten fruit and veg tray, the smell was pungent to say the least.

“I don’t see any stars.” You told your husband as you continued looking.

“One minute gone.”

“I’ve got one!” Harry called out as he pulled the star from one of the trays and placed it in his bag.

You then went over to look at the hearts again, determined to make sure that there was absolutely nothing in there and when you shifted your hands, you felt something.

“Oh I think I have something,” you grinned and pulled a star out of the tray. “— yes, I’ve got one!”

You placed it in your bag.

“Fifteen seconds left.”

“I can’t find anymore.” You cried, you were absolutely positive that there was no other star even though they were telling you there was.

“C’mon sunshine,” Harry told you. “— keep looking, your doing so well.”

“Times up,” Ant informed the two of you. “— out you come!”

You opened the door first and held it open for Harry, who smiled and thanked you.

When you stood back in front of Ant and Dec, you pouted at them.

“It was so hard.”

Harry had to stop himself from saying ‘that’s what she said.’

“You just missed out on the third star.” Dec spoke to you. “— do you want to know where it was?”

“Yes!”

“It was in the fish guts.”He informed.

“But we looked in there.” Harry told them. “— gosh, fish guts are now my worst enemy.”

Ant gestured to the next shop. “You next shop is called the electrifying electrical store. There are three stars to find and you have three minutes to find them…you can go on the sound of the claing.”

And when the claing sounded out, you were leading into the store this time.

You were determined to come out with three stars.

When you went to start looking, crickets and cockroaches were dumped onto your head making you scream out.

Harry didn’t seem fazed.

You started by looking in one of the kettles, and when there was nothing in the first one, you moved to the next kettle.

“I’ve got one!” You cheered and placed the star in your bag, and securing it back up.

Harry grinned. “— well done star girl.”

Harry then went over to the stove and placed his hands in the hell holes, he found a star, but it was attached to a strand of string that he had to quickly untie.

It took him around ten seconds before he was pulling it from the hole and placing it in his bag. “— I’ve got another one!”

“Place it in your bag!”

You and Harry were looking everywhere for the third star, but it didn’t seem to be in there.

“Wait what’s in the fridge?” You asked as you opened up the fridge door, and when you did, the fridge appears like the tardiss, it got bigger.

Harry rubbed the back of your hand. “— I’ll go in,”

You smiled at him appreciatively before watching as he crawled into the fridge.

“Be careful!” You called after him, watching him disappear.

“Ahh!” He cried, what you didn’t see was the smile on his face. “— ahh!”

“So that’s why it’s called the electrifying electrical store.”

Harry was getting electric shocks?

“You guys are psychopaths!” You called out to them and when you heard them laughing, you let out a laugh aswell.

When Harry crawled back out, he had a star in his hand.

So at least that store was over with.

When you walked out, you glared jokingly at Ant and Dec.

“You got all three stars!” Dec cheered. “— how does that feel?”

Harry played with his bottom lip. “Good, but then i remembered we have another shop, so that should be fun.”

“Are you ready for your next shop?” Dec asked. “— you’ll have four minutes to find four stars.”

You both nodded your head and when the claing rang out, you both made a b-line for the door.

When you stepped inside you let out a scream.

This was your worst fear.

Pigeons.

You stood frozen, hands shaking. There was nothing you were more afraid of then pigeons.

“Baby,” Harry called out as he placed a hand on your shoulder. “— take some deep breaths for me, and relax. They’re not going to hurt you.”

You had tears rolling down your cheeks as you stood there.

“Harry, you start.” You swallowed heavily. “— I’ll help I promise just give me a moment please.”

He pressed a kiss to your temple. “— anything for you, sunshine girl.”

Harry opened up one of the crates and that was when you went over to help him.

You were a team and a team you shall remain.

“One of you needs to get inside the box.”

You gulped.

“I’ll do it,” you told Harry as he helped you climb into the box. “— it’s only fair seeing as you got the shocks.”

You wiped away a stray tear before you were fully in the box.

“There’s a lizard,” you gulped as you carefully manoeuvred around the lizard. “— oh my freaking gosh!”

You carefully crawled along the hay floor, reaching up to grab the star and untie the knot.

“I’ve got it!” You cheered softly and placed it in your bag.

Harry helped you out of the crate before he opened up another crate.

A pigeon flew away as it opened and you flinched into Harry’s shoulder.

“It’s okay,” he murmured. “I’ve got you.”

Harry then got into the next crate and inside it was a snack, he effortlessly reached for the star and placed it in his bag after undoing the knot.

The third and fourth stars were both in a hell hole, and you got both of them whilst Harry got the one from the crate.

“Out you come!”

You and Harry left the shop and he instantly grabbed ahold of your hand and rubbed soothing circles onto the back of it.

He wrapped an arm around your shoulder when you were both stood in front of Ant and Dec.

“(Y/N),” Dec smiled sympathetically at you, “— are you okay?”

You could really get any words out because of the tears rolling down your face.

So Harry spoke for you. “— he biggest fear is pigeons and birds in general, so I think it took her by surprise seeing them in there.”

“It’s gonna be okay,” Ant smiled. “— shall we count how many stars you got?”

You pulled out five stars from your bag whilst Harry pulled out four and placed them on the floor in front of you.

You had gotten nine stars.

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