#Overprotective to the point he takes your freedom away and locks you up? GOD NO I HATE THAT

[crowned-clown-rising]

Funny how Caleb ticks so many of my No-go tropes but still the bastard got me hooked up like 👀 okay I'm listening what the hell is wrong with you I wanna know I kinda need to know 👀

[bloomstruck]

General Yandere HCs (Okazaki Kei, Sasazuka Takeru, and Zero)

Okazaki Kei

Off the bat, Kei is already going to be pretty overprotective and somewhat paranoid. His job as an SP officer is constantly putting himself in the way of danger to complete his mission; what if you wind up as collateral in the end?

This is definitely what leads him to his more yandere tendencies. He completely justifies his actions, and doesn't believe he is in the wrong at all.

Oh, you can't go outside, what if somebody sees you with him and they target you?! You can't be friends with those people, they're pretty suspicious, and Kei just doesn't want you to get hurt!

It starts out with small, slightly overbearing and slightly overprotective actions before it just snowballs.

Good luck trying to tell Kei off or call him out. He'll pout and gaslight you. "I'm just trying to keep you safe" and "I'm giving you my all, please understand".

So touchy and clingy, oh my god. And he loves marking you, he wants the whole world to know you're his and his alone.

At some point, he's going to straight up kidnap you and lock you in a safehouse of sorts. It's not that he doesn't trust you, but he doesn't trust anybody else. Your safety is top priority, and he won't let anybody else risk that.

Good luck trying to escape, this man is a professional bodyguard and the best at keeping tabs on people. If you step even a foot out of the safehouse (if you manage to even get out), he's going to know in an instant.

At the very least, he won't punish you. He won't call you names, or hurt you (intentionally). He's affectionate, and wants you to know just how much he loves you, and will always coo sweet nothings in your ears when you're upset.

It doesn't matter what you say; once Kei has his sights set on you, you're never going to be able to leave.

Sasazuka Takeru

Definitely not somebody who can get you to stay by him through manhandling. I mean, have you seen him? He's 166cm/5'5" and doesn't work out. He's a swizzle stick.

Just because he can't up and haul you over his shoulder like some people, though (cough kei cough), doesn't mean you should take him any less seriously.

Takeru will verbally manipulate you, gaslight you, the whole nine yards. He'll bend your mind and try to break it. He's good with his words, good at being demeaning, and if it gets you to stay by his side then so be it.

Wouldn't kidnap you, not at first, but he would definitely install hidden cameras all over your apartment. He'd hack into your phone and computer — nothing is private from him.

If the two of you are already dating, then great, he'll show his true colors more slowly. He'll still cyberstalk you, that won't change, but you'll get a bit more freedom.

If you two aren't dating, though, and you bring somebody else to your apartment, Takeru's going to be pissed. It doesn't matter if they are a friend or a lover. This will immediately make him lose his trust in you, and you'll be locked in a fortress.

Not really, but you know what I mean. Security locks with long passcodes, cameras covering every inch of the room. You've got no freedom, and no privacy.

I hope to god you can cook, because no way is Takeru letting you go anytime soon, and I'm certain you don't want to just live off donuts and cup ramen.

Takeru is also very touchy, but unlike Kei, he gets rough. Biting, hair pulling, scratching — he's dominant either way, but if you make him angry, it'll just be much worse, as if he's taking out his anger through sex.

Will definitely call you stupid, idiot, etc. Would also say things like how nobody would ever love you like he does, that you have nobody else left, etc. The usual manipulative stuff.

He still has to go to work, he works in cyber crimes after all (ironic, huh?), so if you ever try to escape, that's your one chance, but good luck. He'll see you through CCTV footage, through your phone... Nothing is safe, and once he gets you back, it'll only get worse.

At least you get donuts?

Saeki Yuzuru/Zero

HOO BOY. I feel like Yuzuru is probably the worst yandere to have after you in the Collar x Malice world.

Look, this guy is already super unhinged, both from childhood trauma and sociopathy disguised as an intense empathy.

Chances are, he is not going to recognize his feelings for you at first. Love? Him? What an insane notion!

It's possible you'll go through exactly what Ichika went through. He'll collar you and threaten you to follow his words, but you won't exactly be finding the justice that Ichika is searching for...

No, Yuzuru wants you to figure out who he is and why he feels weird towards you. Talk about vague.

You probably knew Yuzuru somewhere in real life; he has such a friendly person, you probably run into him at the bar a lot and are somewhat acquainted with him. Not like you could ever guess that he is the head of Adonis, though.

Eventually, you'll be kidnapped and taken to Yuzuru himself, donned in his Zero disguise in the cathedral until he's certain it's just the two of you.

When he takes off his hood, he revels in your devastated and tear-stained face upon recognition of him. How could somebody so sweet cause so much pain in Shinjuku?!

He'll admit that he's been watching you for a while. Adonis has eyes and ears everywhere — even before you were collared, he was getting information about you 24/7. He'll probably still keep the collar on you, not being able to trust you to not escape.

Adonis' hideout is mostly underground and is pretty hi-tech, so he'll stow you away in a hidden away room that is impossible to escape from.

He's not very affectionate, at least not at first. He's still sorting out his feelings, and will make moves on you more to observe his own emotions that would react to your reactions. Why does he care so much about you? Why can't he bring himself to kill you?

He'll get affectionate eventually, though, and you don't get to have a say. If he wants to kiss you, or hold hands, or explore every inch of your body, then that's what's going to happen, whether you want it or not.

Eventually, he does realize it's love. He knows it's twisted and messed up and that it's only harming you — Yuzuru is very self-aware, but that's not going to change a single thing. He loves you, and if he's going to be the god of a new era, you'll just have to stay by his side. He'll gaslight, manipulate, break and mold you until you are the perfect disciple for him.

Somehow, you caught eyes of Adonis' leader, and now, you'll never get your old life back. Yuzuru most likely killed all of your friends and family nearby to ensure you had nowhere else to run. You'll be his, forever and more.

[yandere-wishes]

Disney villains as Yanderes

These are yandere headcanons for Genderbent! Cruella de Ville, Genderbent! Ursula, Genderbent! Maleficent, Shan Yu, Hades, Humann!Scar and Human! Shere Khan. Also, try to imagine them the way they look in fanart rather than the Disney movies I find that helps a lot

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Cruella de Ville

Cruella is just the most sadistic yandere you'll ever meet, his treatment of his darling is only slightly better than his treatment of those poor pups. He keeps her chained up in his room, forcing her to wear the most decorative monochrome collar with the heaviest iron leash, limiting the poor darling's movement. 

But his tournament is just beginning. For some sick, demented reason Cruella just loves to humiliate his "little puppy". He'll make you eat and drink from a bowl on the ground, make you sit at his feet begging to his attention if you want something. It's disgracing, soul-crushing even, but for him it's power! It shows that he controls all aspects of your meaningless life. It's the ultimate proof that YOU BELONG TO HIM. 

"Little puppy what is it that you want?..."

There are days -few and scattered- where the wicked man can be almost called nice. He won't start treating you like a human being but more like the favorite pet instead of some runt. On these sacred days, he'll have you sit on his lap as he sketches out a new design, sometimes even drawing a cute dress or skirt for you to wear. On days where he's feeling generous, days where you've proved that you are indeed his sweet little pet. Cruella will take you to the outside world, a place your memory can just barely recall. The two of you will spend the day shopping through the luxury boutiques. The black and white-haired man will make you try on everything that catches his eye, he may be cruel but he's not unreasonable he always wants his cute puppy to look their best. 

"...You better be ready to beg for it."

Ursula 

Ursula is so so manipulative to the point where talking to him becomes an exhausting task. He's so good with words, twisted every single word until it better serves him. At the end of any conversation, you're left bewildered, trying to retrace your words to find just how you got here. 

The sea witch had no need to kidnap his beloved darling all he had to do was speak. Through radiating words, he promises you all that your heart desires. He promises a straight forward easy contract but instead, you're given nothing but misery, locked away forever in his somber cave. 

"You poor unfortunate soul tell me...."

Even if you do try and escape, Urusal will just send his lackeys to retrieve you, they are even given the pleasure of "toying" with you a bit. Leaving little nibble marks along your arms, drawing a bit of blood along the way but never anything too devastating no that pleasure is left for Urusal and Urusal alone.

The Cecelia's punishments are harsh, they aren't exactly painful...it's more the gut wrenching feeling of guilt and fear that Urusal is able to install in you that makes them particularly fearsome. No matter what you are being punished for, the end is always the same. Somehow cruel heartless Urusal is always the innocent victims while you are the ungrateful, conniving leech that is never satisfied. Poor Urusal just gives and gives wishing only a loving companion in return but what do you do? You run away! Throw a tantrum breaking some of his rare potions just because he was looking out for your safety and wouldn't let you go out. He should chop off your tail! Leave you on land to shrivel up and die!... Oh but he just can't bear losing his little lover! Maybe just for once, he'll just lock you up in a cage made from megalodon teeth, a tiny punishment for your huge crime!

"...Tell me what it is your heart desires?"

Maleficent 

The dark fae is a rather caring protective, who is very lucid about the predicament of his relationship with his darling. He knows that they don't love him, he knows that he stole them away from their old life, he knows. But he's just so good at justifying his actions! He took you from the company of those humans because they are all corrupt! They hurt all that is pure in this world! It's just better if he keeps you locked up in his castle far away from those monsters!

Now unlike the majority of the Disney Villian, Maleficent isn't cruel or sadistic. The only reason he kidnapped his darling is to keep them safe! Why would he do anything that could jeopardize their happiness and safety! No, no Maleficent would never find amusement in your pain, never lay a hand on you cause you latched out. If ever the need arises where he had to punish you, then he'll lock you up in the dungeons. A couple of days alone in darkness will have you behaving like the sweet innocent lover that he wants!

"I love you (y/n)..." 

At some point, after a great deal of time has passed from your kidnapping, Maleficent will grant you the freedom to roam around the castle. There is still the lingering rule for his darling to never step foot outside even when Maleficent is with them. But that -along with most things- is just a countermeasure to keep them safe! 

".....No power on earth can change that!"

All in all, Maleficent is one of the better yandere to have, he's caring to the point where he seals every door and windows so nothing dangerous can get in, he's overprotective to the point of following you around everywhere, he's loving to the point where he's willing to submerge you in endless darkness just so you see his perspective! Yes! All so very loving! And very soon you will see it that way too.

Hades 

The god of the underworld is a very bizarre mix, he's possessive, so very possessive that he probably killed you himself! Just so you could never leave him! But at the same time, he's very delusional, seeing your murder as less of a crime and more of a romantic gesture akin to marriage. 

Hades' love for his darling is so sick and twisted that some may not even call it love! It's just pure mania! One minute the fiery god is cooing at you, complimenting how gorgeous you look in the black toga he got you. The next he's screaming, hair burning a staking red as he yells about how quiet and cold you're being! How you don't love him as much as he loves! Truth is Hades' doesn't want your love exactly, better yet he doesn't know what love is. He just wants you to be as obsessed with him as he is with you! 

"Look (y/n) this whole relationship this is easy!...." 

Hades' punishments are also very fierce. The lord of the dead gets offended quickly! The slightest offense can drive him into a mad rage!

 He'll do practically anything to teach his darling a lesson, from burning them to disembodying them and then stitching them back together. The idea of inflicting pain is just so enjoyable to him! The thought that he has full control over how you feel! Oh, how he loves "playing" with you controlling your every move.

Eventually, Hades' darling will get so used to his temperamental moods and sadistic behavior that they just end up not caring. He's going to burn your right arm until it's limb? Okay, cool is that before or after your date to Skopelos? Oh, he's threatening to feed you to Cerberus? That's fine just don't forget I want Tomatokeftedes for dinner. Not much really fazes you at this point.

"You just got to make me the center of your world and ba-bing ba-boom we're an official couple!" 

Scar

it's always blood and guts with him 

always screams of agony and frustration 

always his word above all else 

always him

Scar is one of the worst yanderes, cause he can make pain feel like nostalgic, welcoming even. With only a few sugar-laced words he can turn your own mind against you. He's cruel and calculating never permitting you to do the smallest thing for yourself. If you want something you have bat your eyes and beg real nicely so he'll consider ordering someone to do it for you. It's such a rare, practically precious accurate if Scar ever decides to do anything even remotely nice for you. If ever he fetches you your or dress you or even toss you a gift. You will have to treasure those moments. 

" Be prepared (y/n)..."

Everything is a quid pro quo with him, the black-haired man never does anything out of the kindness of his heart. He makes you thank him for the simplest of things like letting you eat, or giving you a bed to sleep in. 

Despite how horribly Scar treats his darling he still expects them to love him unconditionally. He wants to be the only thing his darling thinks. In a rather twisted way, he really does try to prove that he loves you, even if it's though scratch marks that are just a little too deep to be considered "scratched" or love bites that draw too much blood. He does love you, you know he does!...or maybe it's all just a mind game. 

"....For I shall always remain your king!"

Shan Yu 

Shan Yu borders somewhere between protective and obsessive. he knows his darling can protect herself, they're strong, capable, but the truth of the matter is he doesn't want them to! He wants you to depend on him, to make him feel wanted. It's very likely that his darling is a soldier in his army (from what I've heard women from the Hun tribes could join the army) which permits him to start a "casual affair with them. It's nothing at first, a passe time between fleeting moments of peace. But it turns dark quickly when he notices them "flirting" with some other soldiers, touching them, smiling at them, things she should only be doing with him!

He doesn't so much kidnap his darling as "claim" them either through a straightforward declaration to his tropes or through "love marks" that he leaves over their body. It's a sudden kind of thing, one moment is preparing for battle-ready to strike down anyone that stands in their way the next they are being dragged to Shan Yu's tent and being told they aren't permitted to fight anymore!

"I tire of your arrogance, (y/n)..."

Shan Yu isn't exactly cruel per se...he's just a tad bit aggressive. He takes every tiny disobedience as a sign of rebellion! And he's more than willing to strangle the resistance out of you. He hates to punish you, hates to see you in any form of pain but how else is he going to get you to be his trusty loving darling?!

At some point, he'll let his darling on the battlefield, only for battles he knows for certain that his team will win. Shan Yu adores the way his darling gracefully swings their blade at anything in sight! Cutting enemies with practiced elegance and wearing their blood like a dress made from the finest silk.

"....You belong to me why can't you just accept that?"

Shere Khan

(Fun fact his name translates to "Lion King" in Persian. Shere being the direct translation of lion and Khan being a prefix (such as majesty) to a king or ruler. )  

Shere Khan is a complex yandere and can't really be nailed to a specific "type" he's protective of his darling, willing to kill anyone that so much as looks at them wrong. On the other hand, he himself adores tormenting his darling. Sometimes it's just flirting, making them flustered, other times it's raking his claw-like nails over every inch of their body until they're a bloody mess. Then there's just how obsessed he is with his darling, how they infiltrate his mind every second of every day. Even when the poor man is asleep all they can think of his lover.  

The important thing to remember about Shere Khan is that he doesn't mean any malice, he doesn't do what he does out of spite or hatred but rather for both love and "fun", he's a bit like a puppy that doesn't understand that biting his harmful and instead sees it as a game. "hurting" his lover is just claiming them, heck Khan will be thrilled if his darling left their own marks on his body.  

"No matter how fast you run..."  

Khan is a rather cold lover, never really showing you much of his emotions, he's secretive, quiet. But he makes up for that with the gift that he buys his darling. Khan insists that his darling always dresses in the most lavish, flowing dresses. They must always look their best, after all, he deserves only the best.  

There are times when he'll be nicer towards his darling taking them out for walks or maybe even cuddling with them. He does love the feeling of warmth that his darling radiates. His favorite thing to do his lay down in the sun with his arms wrapped tightly around his lover and just drift off to sleep.  

"..I Will always find you!"

[thezodiaczone]

Gemini Compatibility

GEMINI + ARIES (MARCH 21 - APRIL 19) ♥♥♥♥ You're two high-strung, passionate Fire signs who both like to be the Alpha dominant. As such, you'll need to toss the hot potato back and forth, submitting to the other's rule—at times through gritted teeth. Acquiescence may not come naturally, but it builds a necessary trust. Aries is a paradox: you're the zodiac's infant (its first sign) and its gallant hero (you're ruled by warrior Mars). You want to save the world and be saved at the same time. You'll need to occasionally allow yourself to play wounded knight or damsel in distress, and let your mate charge to your rescue. However, don't spiral into neurotic helplessness or analysis paralysis. Nobody can beat a topic to death quite like you can—but that's what therapists are for, Aries. Neither one of you can be saddled with the emotional care and feeding of an adult baby. You're too independent for that. When your problems gain too much mental gravitas, it's time to move—literally. Disperse your Martian angst and anger with lots of physical exertion. As fellow adventurers, you travel well together. Try snowboarding, exotic bike tours, Costa Rican rainforest expeditions. Passionate sex is another antidote to prickly feelings for your high-touch sign. Like Aries Hugh Hefner, you have a champion libido (and an awesome sense of entitlement). Some Aries couples may mutually agree to flex the terms of your monogamy, although the jealousy it stirs might not be worth the trouble.

GEMINI + TAURUS (APRIL 20 - MAY 20) The stubborn Bull locks horns with the willful Ram, nostrils flaring, heads bowed in determination. So begins a fierce but fiery courtship, as splashy and menacing as a Pamplona stampede. Aggression, however uncivilized, is part our Darwinian natures. It certainly is for your signs—who possess an arsenal of steamrolling tactics, from doe-eyed charm to old-fashioned philistine strong-arming. No weak-willed mate will survive your natural selection process. Nor should he. Neither one of you feels safe in the arms of a mate who can't protect you. Thus, your initial faceoff is simply a warning shot: Show me your strength so I can trust you. Once the fanfare is over, you make a great team—like British pop royalty Victoria (Aries) and David (Taurus) Beckham.

As tight as two mafiosos, you like to dress up and flaunt your natural superiority over the rest of the animal kingdom. The deal is sweet for both of you. Taurus gets an attractive show pony and a lusty mate to satisfy his Earthy libido. Aries has a lifelong provider and benefactor to supply creative freedom and endless playtime. Issues can arise if Taurus grows too possessive or tries to tame independent Aries. Indulgent Taurus will need to remain active to keep pace with the energetic Ram (read: lay off the nightly steak frites and vino). You both crave attention, but don't go looking for it outside the relationship, unless you want a real showdown. Like two tots in a nursery, you share a favorite word: Mine!

GEMINI + GEMINI (MAY 21 - JUNE 20) We'll spare you the joke about there being four people in this relationship, mainly because it's an understatement. Like twin kaleidoscopes, you're each a fractal pinwheel of personalities that re-pattern at the slightest twist. Good news: versatility is a virtue in Gemini-land. Monogamy, not always easy for your restless sign, becomes a non-issue when your mate embodies more personas than Sybil. Dyed-in-the-wool dilettantes, you never run out of things to discuss. Clever Gemini rules communication: your ideas come fast and furious, and you love to debate. Intellectual tussling is a turn-on, although you must take care not to talk over each other. Remind yourself: listening skills are just as important as a well-crafted sentence. The pop psychology technique of "mirroring" (listening, then reflecting back your mate's communication) can be shockingly effective. Your main challenge is making time for each other, since you're both forever juggling any number of jobs, businesses, classes, hobbies, social circles and whatnot. Gemini is a collector; your home can resemble a natural disaster zone, piled to the rafters with books, newspapers, DVD sets from your favorite screenwriter, old-school vinyl, vintage costume jewelry. Forget couples' counseling: a cleaning service or storage unit can save this marriage. (Thank God for the Internet and YouTube.) With your wonder-twin powers, you can start a creative business together. Just make sure to hire a team of Earth or Water signs who can finish what you start, since you'll both leave a trail of loose ends. Light the spark, and let others keep the flame.

GEMINI + CANCER (JUNE 21 - JULY 22) Cancer is an emotional Water sign who loves to nest and bond; Gemini is a restless Air sign who prefers intellect over sentiment. You have similar interests, different temperaments. In many cases, this works out anyway. You both adore culture, the more obscure the better. You love to discover new bands, read novels by controversial authors, gorge yourselves at the jewel of a restaurant tucked into an undiscovered neighborhood. You bond over TV shows and bargain-hunting for treasures (you both have a thrifty streak). No flea market, tag sale or eBay store is safe from your scouring, and your home can resemble a bizarre gallery of antiques and modern gadgetry. The tricky part is when you lapse into astrological auto-pilot. Cancer is the zodiac's mother, who heaps on affection, nurturing and well-intended care. To Gemini, this can feel like clinginess and smothering. Gemini is the zodiac's fickle tween, waffling between bouts of dependence and asserting autonomy. There will be moments when Gemini greedily laps up Cancer's doting, and others when mama bird is roughly pushed away with a sarcastic, heart-piercing insult. Cancer must work hard not to take these moments personally—otherwise, the Crab lashes back with a below-the-belt barb, and it turns ugly. Remember, Crabcake: it's not you that Gemini is rejecting, it's your overprotection. Get a pet to dote on instead. Gemini needs space, Cancer needs reassurance. Memorize this formula.

GEMINI + LEO (JULY 23 - AUGUST 22) ♥♥♥♥ You make great friends, since you both love to gab about everything from the Times to the tabloids, Ferragamo to flea markets. Conversations are fever-pitched and fascinating; you're both well-versed culture hounds. Romantically, the temperature may be tepid, though. Leo is a Fire sign ruled by the blazing Sun—the regal Lion wants to be consumed by passion, heat, devotion, attention. Gemini is an Air sign driven by speedy, information-gathering Mercury. Listening to The Leo Monologues, which span from political diatribes to emotional melodramas, is sheer torture. When Gemini dares to interrupt the King or Queen, suggesting that s/he actually GET TO THE POINT, hell breaks loose. Leo must learn to take Gemini's tough love and unvarnished feedback in stride, not as an ego assault. Unconventional Gem should assent to traditional romantic gestures: red roses, the Tiffany bauble du jour. Learn to adapt. Gemini rules the hands, and will need to put them on affection-hungry Leo more often, since the Lion is greatly reassured by touch. And yes, as an Air sign, Gemini will need to blow a little smoke you-know-where; Leo can be a nightmare without regular doses of praise. Gush and flatter—it won't be the first insincere thing to pass through Gemini's lips. Leo should keep a battery of patient friends on speed dial. Gemini may have multiple personalities, but as a romantic partner, s/he can't be your de facto shrink, psychic hotline, career coach, parent and social director. Spread the demands around.

GEMINI + VIRGO (AUGUST 23 - SEPTEMBER 22) Gemini and Virgo share a common ruler: speedy Mercury, who zips around the Sun gathering light and information, then disseminating it to the masses. You're both natural communicators with a thousand ideas and opinions. Romance is a cerebral affair for your intelligent signs. Conversations spark into lively debates; asking each other "What do you think?" is akin to foreplay. Although Virgo is a more staid Earth sign and Gemini is a breezy Air sign, you share a "mutable" quality. That means you're flexible, and you can adapt to each other's quirks. Good thing, since you each have a bevy of rigid, borderline obsessive-compulsive habits. (Virgo's can include folding underwear into identical, neat little squares; Gemini's usually involve hoarding, starting new hobbies or impulse shopping.) You both love control, though Gemini is loath to admit this, while Virgo flies the flag. At times, you may wrestle for dominance, a habit you'll need to overcome for this match to work. Virgo's nagging can take the wind out of Gemini's sails; Gemini's sketchily researched half-truths set off Virgo's trust alarm. But combine the depth of Virgo's cautious planning with the breadth of Gemini's boundless curiosity, and you've got the total package. You can make great parents, too, since your styles tend to complement and you'll divide up roles with ease. Gemini can help serious Virgo lighten up, and responsible Virgo can help ground the easily distracted Twin.

GEMINI + LIBRA (SEPTEMBER 23 - OCTOBER 22) ♥♥♥♥ You're compatible Air signs with silver tongues and gilded wings, a magical match indeed. Libra is a pretty pixie and Gemini is an impish sprite. Your meeting rouses the fairies and gnomes, stirring up mischief in your midst. You love to mingle and schmooze, and you'll chatter like two little tree monkeys, gabbing a mile a minute. But will the breathless excitement last? Getting past the superficial romance stage is the challenge. You're both so indecisive that nailing down a commitment is like catching moonbeams in a jar. That said, the illusionary quality of your relationship is a magic you both enjoy. It's when life becomes too real that you vanish in a pinch of enchanted dust. To make this last, you'll need to dip your toes into the murky morass of intimacy, then learn to swim. Money can become an issue between you, particularly the way you spend it. Gemini is ruled by intellectual Mercury, and would rather invest in college degrees, a film collection, enriching travel. Libra is governed by beauty and pleasure-loving Venus, and splashes out on art, couture, custom suits, spas. You'll need separate wings for Gemini's books and Libra's handbag or shoe collection. You have different approaches to romance, too. Libra loves a lengthy courtship with all the trimmings, but Gemini bristles at picking up too many tabs, especially with Libra's extravagant taste. You'll probably need to keep separate accounts to avoid meddling in each other's purchase habits. Cut up the credit cards, too—many happy relationships can be destroyed by debt. Don't let that happen to you.

GEMINI + SCORPIO (OCTOBER 23 - NOVEMBER 21) You live on completely different planes, which either turns you off or utterly fascinates you. Both of you are accustomed to reading people like flimsy comic books, then tossing them aside. Here, your X-ray vision fails to penetrate each other's psychic shields. Mutable Gemini is the shape-shifting Twin, home to a traveling cast of personalities. Intense Scorpio is shrouded in mystery and bottomless layers of complexity. Being baffled leaves you without the upper hand, but it also stokes your libido. You're piercingly smart signs who love a good puzzle—this is your romantic Rubik's cube. The challenge sets off sexual dynamite. You tease each other with cat-and-mouse evasions, neither of you making your attraction obvious. This prickles your insecurities, daring you to strive for the other's unbroken gaze. No two signs are as quietly obsessive as yours! There will be frustrating moments, too. You're both prone to depressive spells, and swing from giddiness to unreachable shutdown. Clever mind games edge on cruel or callow, breaking the trust that Scorpio needs. At times, airy Gemini may not be emotional or sensual enough for watery Scorpio; in turn, the Scorpion's emotional and physical passion can be overwhelming to Gemini. However, if you combine your strengths, you'll go far. Gemini is dilettante and a trivia collector who's always got a pocketful of creative ideas. Instinct-driven Scorpio rules details and research—this sign hones in like a laser and masters his chosen field. Whether it's starting a family or running a business, you can be an indefatigable team, with Gemini playing the rowdy ringmaster and Scorpio running the show from behind the scenes.

GEMINI + SAGITTARIUS (NOVEMBER 22 - DECEMBER 21) ♥♥♥♥ You're opposite signs that actually have much more in common than this label suggests. Gemini rules the so-called "lower mind": common sense, reasoning, facts, hard data and intellect. Sagittarius governs the "higher mind": wisdom, philosophy, consciousness, ethics, metaphysics. Together, you find sweet neurological nirvana. You're both restless adventurers who hunger for knowledge and experience. With Gemini's curiosity and Sag's nomadic nature, you get antsy in commitments unless there's a lot of excitement and variety. Boredom is simply not an option for your signs, and you're both involved in a billion projects. Scheduling issues are your biggest hurdle, but for true love, you allow nothing to interfere. Take globe-trotting Sagittarius Brad Pitt and Gemini Angelina Jolie, who traipse the continents with their ever-growing brood. As best friends and playmates, they make their own rules about love and family—and you will, too. Conventional coupling holds zero interest for your signs. Your main difference is in disposition. Air sign Gemini is cooler and distant compared to Sagittarius, harder to read emotionally. The fiery Archer has a hot temper and wears his heart on his sleeve. Still, you make each other laugh; you're both clever, entrepreneurial and quirky. You do best with a common goal that's a thousand times bigger than yourselves, and you'll dream up many. However, you may need Brangelina-sized paychecks to fund your lofty visions. Who has time to consider the bottom line when you're focused on reaching the top? Take time to consider the practicalities before leaping off the cliff. Knowing you, you'll jump anyway.

GEMINI + CAPRICORN (DECEMBER 22 - JANUARY 19) A metaphor for this match: a music producer combines a soulful 1970s classic (Capricorn) with funky electronic hooks (Gemini) and delivers a mashup that's either a mess or a chart-topping hit. You couldn't be any more different if you tried, yet you can really benefit from each other's natural resources. Gemini is ruled by speedy Mercury, the lightning-fast trickster who speaks in silver-tongued half truths. Capricorn's overlord is Saturn, the cautious, conservative planetary patriarch, who only trusts that which stands the test of time. Gemini is versatile and restless, like a fusebox with a million criss-crossed wires. Capricorn is the dutiful ox who carries the yoke and plows the field, rarely diverging from routine. While Capricorn's dogged consistency and family loyalty can frustrate Gemini ("How can you let these people walk all over you?" Gemini asks, referring to Cap's elderly parents), it also grounds the scattered Twins. Gemini is Capricorn's one-man circus, keeping the Goat amused and entertained, adding color to his monochromatic world. You both have a lusty, experimental side, too. The magic really appears when you get physical, which happens fast, since your sexual attraction is intense. In fact, Capricorn is one of the few signs that can spike Gemini's jealousy. There are so many people who rely on sturdy, supportive Cap, and Gemini doesn't like to compete for the spotlight. To make this work, Gemini will have to accept that Capricorn's loyalty extends to family and lifelong friends. Stoic Cap will need to show a little more emotion, since impish Gemini needs to know he can get under Capricorn's skin. It will take time to work out the kinks, but the erotic tet-a-tets will be worth the trouble.

GEMINI + AQUARIUS (JANUARY 20 - FEBRUARY 18) This match of compatible Air signs can feel a bit like high school romance—teasing, texting, movie dates with jumbo popcorn and licentious groping during the previews. You bring out each other's breezy, buoyant spirits, and that's a plus. You'll bond over TV shows, favorite sci-fi novels and superheroes, obscure philosophers, music. With your clever comebacks and verbal repartee, you could take a comedy act on the road. Although you can both be overly cerebral at times, you prefer laughter and light conversation to emotional melodrama. Eventually, though, you need to get out of the shallow end of the pool. Intimacy is a challenge for your signs. We're talking true intimacy—being caught with your pants down and no clue how to get them back up. Telling each other your entire life stories in monologue form (which could have happened on the first date) doesn't count. You must soldier through the post-infatuation "awkward phase," or you'll end up feeling like buddies. That would be a shame, as you can make excellent life partners and playmates. The biggie: you'll both need to give up fibs and lies—particularly lies of omission. You're excellent storytellers and politicos, gifted at crafting a spin to fit your agenda. However, the naked truth is the only way out of the Matrix. Though it may topple your PR-friendly public image, it's a necessary risk you must take to build the character and depth of a lasting commitment.

GEMINI + PISCES (FEBRUARY 19 - MARCH 20) You're both dual signs: Gemini is the Twins, and Pisces is symbolized by two Fish swimming in opposite directions. You're pop psychology's poster children for commitment-phobia. Are you in or are you out? It depends on the day, the mood, the cosmic alignment. Obviously, this is no way to run a relationship—but wait. Here's a golden chance to peer into love's looking glass and see your own shadowy Id mirrored back. Yes, your psyches and hang-ups are as bizarre as Alice's rabbit-hole tumble into Wonderland. Pisces, you really can be as needy, emotionally exhausting and manipulative as Gemini says. Gemini, you are indeed capable of being a double-talking, evasive ice-tyrant with a heart like polished marble. And…so what? If you can actually own your dark sides—which we all have—you're also capable of spreading tremendous light. You must negotiate your differences with transparent honesty, though. Pisces is an emotional Water sign; Gemini is an intellectual Air sign. Unless you balance the proportions, Gemini drowns in Pisces' undertow and the zodiac's Mermaid suffocates from breathing too much oxygen. Gemini must strive to connect emotionally, and Pisces will need to lighten up. Perennial dissatisfaction is also a killer. Don't say you want something, then refuse to be happy when your partner provides it. Gratitude is an intimate act: it requires you to acknowledge that your partner can reach you, a vulnerable place. Two words to save your relationship: "Thank you" and "You're right."

[masterofmunson]

temper

Billy Hargrove x Reader

Summary: Billy’s red, hot temper makes him lose the one thing he has. You. 

Warnings: language, angst

Word Count: 3.7k+

AUTHOR’S NOTE: hi i had so much fun writing this!! there’s something about angst that I love so much lol. pls tell me what you think!!! thank u!!

Tears of frustration threaten to spill down your cheeks. God. If Mary knew you were near tears over your stupid boyfriend, she would kill him. There’s no doubt about it. Mary would kill Billy. If any boy makes you cry, they deserve Mary’s wrath, your doofus of a twin brother included. She punched Roy in the nose when the three of you were in the third grade because Roy broke your Barbie doll. He laughed when he broke it, and then cried when Mary punched him. 

You shake your head and let out a broken sigh. Your eyes are trained on the front doors of Hawkins High as students spill out of the building. You don’t know what to say to him. 

What can you say? Billy had punched your brother. Billy had punched your best friend. He had punched your overprotective brother in the face because Roy was looking out for you. 

Two days prior, Jenna Olson had a party at her lake house up the road. You couldn’t go, you had a shift at Macy’s and couldn’t get anyone to cover for you. Billy had wanted you to ditch your shift completely, but you rolled your eyes and laughed at him. Instead, you told him to go have fun with his friends. You trusted him then. 

Now, you’re not so sure. 

When Roy stumbled into the house with the help of his girlfriend Christine at two in the morning that same night, he roared and hollered for you. It had startled you awake and you ran down stairs to make sure he was okay. You were thankful your parents decided to go to Chicago for a weekend date. 

Christine struggles to get him to sit at the kitchen table as you stare at your brother, tired and in awe of the damage on his face and his knuckles. You were in utter disbelief. 

Roy told you everything. He saw Billy hanging onto a slu of girls, all of which who weren’t you. Like any brother would do, Roy told you, he confronted your boyfriend. Then a fight broke out. 

Christine told you the grimacing details while Roy moaned and groaned for an ice pack and ibuprofen. It shocked you to your very core. Billy knew how close you were to Roy, and yet he destroyed any relationship the two of them could’ve had when his fist met Roy’s face. It broke your heart. 

That night was the first night you locked your window. Billy was the last person you wanted to see. 

Now, sitting in Billy’s Camaro, your eyes are anywhere else but looking over at his. You’re seething with anger, disappointment, frustration. It’s obvious in your tense shoulders and the way you bite the inside of your cheek. 

You feel so stupid. You believed Billy when he said that he wanted to change, that he didn’t want to be like his father and solve confrontation with his fists anymore. You believed him when he said that he loved you and kissed you and loved on the right spots. You believed he was starting to change when he kept walking when someone pissed him off, when he started smoking less, when he made an effort to have a relationship with Max. 

You hate feeling so wrong. 

A silent tear slides down your cheek and you quickly wipe it away. 

“Sweetheart,” Billy chokes out, reaching for your hand. You recoil from his touch and his heart drops. “Please say something.”

You look over at him and lean your back against the door. “What should I say, Billy?” you snap at him. “Was it worth it? Did you get the same rush like you did when you did the same thing to Harrington?”

Billy winces and he looks down into his lap. He fumbles with his fingers. 

You know it’s a low blow, but you don’t care. You’re hurt and upset. The shame he feels is nothing compared to your heartbreak. 

Silence falls between the two of you and you glance out the window. You stare at your car. Roy’s waiting on the hood of the trunk with Christine. The bruises he sustained cover his entire face. 

“Well?”

“No,” he answered quietly. “It wasn’t. I was just so angry that he would accuse me of stepping out on you. He was drunk, Y/n. He didn’t see me shove the girls that came onto me. He saw what he wanted to see. He’s never liked me.”

“So that gives you the right to punch him? To make his face into your own personal punching bag? It doesn’t matter that he was drunk. You still hurt him. You hurt me. Roy is my brother. He’s my best friend.”

“I know. I’m sorry.”

For a moment, you believe him, but that night flashes in your mind. Roy’s black eye and busted lip. The way blood pooled down his nose and on his temple. It frightened you. 

You turn your back to Billy and reach for the door handle. Billy reaches for your arm and gently pulls you away from the door. You turn your head to look at him. For a moment, you think you see tears in his eyes. 

“I said I was sorry,” Billy tells you, his voice desperate and broken. 

A bitter laugh escapes your mouth and you shake your head in disbelief. It sends a shiver down Billy’s spine. The nerve he has to say that to you, like it changes anything that happened. You can’t believe him. 

“Are you kidding me, Billy?” you snap at him. Your temper rises with each passing second. “Do you really have the nerve to say: “I said I was sorry,” to me? What did you think was going to happen at the end of this conversation? That we would kiss and makeup and I’d tend to your wounds? Saying sorry doesn’t change what happened! I’m not the one you should be apologizing to. You beat the living shit out of my brother! You scare me!”

Tears fall down your face and your voice is cracked and raw. A sob escapes your throat and you squeeze yourself into a ball closest to the door. Your shoulders shake and your hands tremble. Billy stares at you in disbelief. A tear escapes his eye and quickly wipes it away. 

His fear had come true. Billy had managed to tear up your heart and scare you, something he swore to you and himself that he would never do. He hates himself for it. 

You quickly unlock the door to his car and stumble out, holding onto your backpack tightly. You slam the door shut with such force that it makes Billy jump in the driver’s seat. He winces and watches you hurry off towards your car where your brother awaits. 

Billy sniffs quietly, wiping his nose before angrily hitting the steering wheel with the palms of his hands. 

Approaching Roy, you wipe at your cheeks and shake your head at both your brother and his girlfriend. The last thing you want is to sob your guts out in front of them. You just want to get into the car and go home without another word from either of them. You don’t want their pity or disapproving stares. 

“I’ll take Roy home,” Christine tells you, wrapping her arm around Roy’s. You nod quietly, watching the two of them walk towards her car before climbing into the driver’s side. 

Tossing your backpack in the passenger seat, you let out a heavy sigh. 

The sound of Billy’s car engine rings through your ears. A tear slides down your cheek. 

Mary would squeeze your face together in a weak attempt to make you laugh if she saw you like this. Too bad she called in sick today. If she knew how much Billy had made you cry, there would be hell to pay. You’re almost certain. 

…. 

There’s a soft knock on your door. It’s the knock Roy uses when he knows you’re sad or upset. You’ve been sad and upset a lot lately. 

“Yeah?” you shout over the music, rolling over on your bed so you face the door. You toss your book to the side. 

“Can I come in?” Roy asks from behind the door. 

“Sure.”

The door clicks open and Roy steps inside. He sends a soft smile your way before walking over to your bed. You reach over to turn off your radio. You sit up and twist your body so your legs are dangling off the bed. Roy takes a seat beside you. You stare at the brown carpet beneath you. Roy nudges you gently. You return the nudge and it makes him laugh. You smile too. 

“You doing okay?”

You shrug silently, letting out a soft sigh. Your eyes are trained on the floor. You glance at him. 

“I think I should be asking you that,” you joke lightly. The bruising on his right eye is nearly gone. The large gashes on his cheeks are now small cuts and there’s still a tiny bandaid on his nose. 

Roy laughs, rolling his eyes at you. “I’m fine,” he answers. 

It’s been two weeks since the fight and break up with Billy. Roy is mostly back to normal appearance wise and you’ve tried your best to stick to the routine you use to have before Billy came along. 

You pick up more shifts at Macy’s and make an effort to hangout with the coworkers you like outside of work. You return to your study table at Benny’s Diner in the evenings you’re not working, but now you’re by yourself. You spend more time with Mary. Everything is relatively back to normal on your end. 

Your not so sure about Billy’s. Knowing him, he’s back in his old ways, relishing in his self destructive behaviors and his new found freedom as a single man again. You have no clue. You’ve tried your best to avoid him at all costs and you’ve done a great job so far. 

That, or Billy’s made it his mission to avoid you at all costs too. He hasn’t even spoken to you since your break up and his half ass apology. His eyes only lingering on you when you pass him in the hallways. 

Silence falls between you and Roy and he lets out a gentle sigh. “I know that these past two weeks have been rough on you. I know you won’t admit it, but I know you miss him,” Roy tells you quietly. 

You open your mouth to protest and scoff at his assumption, but Roy raises a brow at you. There’s no point in lying to him. You sigh, nodding your head at your brother. 

“I know I shouldn’t,” you mumble shamefully. Tears form at the corners of your eyes and you hate yourself for it. You feel pathetic. You told yourself you were done crying over him. A year long relationship be damned. “He hurt someone that I love. He hurt you, Roy. You’re my brother, my dingus of a best friend. I can’t be with someone that hurt you like that.”

“Y/n—”

“Plus, he hasn’t apologized to you, so fuck that,” you interrupt him before laying back down on your bed. That was your deal breaker. If you were to ever speak to Billy again, it would have to be after he apologized sincerely to Roy. Anything less than an apology was shit to you, despite what your heart wanted. 

“Hey, Dingus, if you stop interrupting me, I can tell you that he did,” Roy tells you, shoving you with a push of his hand. You shove your foot into his chest. 

Your brows pinch together in confusion. “What are you talking about, Doofus?” 

“Billy did apologize to me,” he answers. “He came over the other night while you were working. He seemed really genuine about it. He looked pretty upset. We talked for awhile. Things are okay between me and Billy now.”

You stare at Roy in utter disbelief. Your heart stops beating inside your chest. You can hardly breathe. You don’t believe him. You can’t. Billy doesn’t apologize to people other than you. Billy apologizing to Roy seemed impossible. Billy’s pride and stubbornness would get in the way of a sincere and genuine apology. 

“I said sorry too,” Roy continues. “He was telling the truth about the girls at the party. Christine said she saw the whole thing. Besides, she was sober. He did push those girls away.”

You swallow the lump in your throat. Your head starts to spin. You don’t know what to say. 

You take a careful breath inward and glance at your brother. He smiles at you and you sit up carefully. “Did he….” you trail off in a whisper, “did he say anything else?”

Roy grins. Your soft eagerness to know what else Billy had to say makes him smile. Roy nods his head in affirmation. “He did,” he answers. “He said that he loves you and that he hopes you can forgive him one day.”

You nod your head slowly and Roy laughs softly before shoving your knee one last time before standing up from where he sat on your bed. He leaves your room and gently shuts the door behind him. 

You lay in bed, music now off and the book beside you long forgotten. You stare up at the ceiling. Shock runs through your body. Billy apologized. He apologized without telling you. You can hardly believe it, but you do. There’s no reason for Roy to lie to you. 

You climb out of bed, not bothering to change out of the running shorts or old t-shirt your wearing. You comb through your hair before pulling it out of your face. You grab your house key and a ten dollar bill from your purse before walking out of your bedroom and heading downstairs. Toeing on your shoes, you open the front door and step outside. The mid May weather hits your skin just right as you shut and locked the door behind you. 

You stop in your tracks when your eyes meet Billy’s. 

He sends you a soft, nervous smile. Billy anxiously runs a hand through his hair as he leans against his car in your drive through. He’s holding a bouquet of white tulips in his hands. 

“Hey,” Billy’s voice is soft and timid. It’s the same tone of voice he uses when he knows he’s fucked up with you. It’s the tone of voice he uses when he’s almost in tears. 

You swallow hard. “Hi,” you greet him gently, walking down the porch steps. Your heart starts to race with every step you take closer to him. 

Silence falls between the two of you and you scratch at your arm nervously. 

“I’m walking over to Benny’s if you want to come,” you mutter quietly, staring at your shoes. You glance at Billy and he nods eagerly at you. 

“Yeah, sure,” he replies, pushing off his car and joins you on the sidewalk. You walk quietly side by side as you head to the diner. You glance over at him and bite the inside of your cheek. 

When you arrive at the diner, Billy opens the door for you and you thank him quietly. The bell above the door dings as you step inside. The two of you walk towards a corner booth, away from your normal table. You sit across from him and reach for a menu. You stare down at the table. 

“How have you been?” Billy asks you quietly. 

Your eyes meet his and you swallow hard. You shrug. “Fine, I guess. I’ve been working a lot,” you mutter. You glance down at the menu again. Another awkward silence falls between the two of you.  

A waitress comes by and takes your order. You move your menu to the side and glance out the window. When the waitress comes back with your drinks you stare at Billy. 

“I meant what I said,” you tell him, fighting back tears. “You scared me, Billy. When I saw Roy’s face that night, it scared the living daylights out of me.”

Billy nods his head. “I know. I know it did and I hate myself for it. I’m sorry, baby. I’m so sorry.”

Tears glisten in Billy’s eyes as he stares at you. You sniff quietly and wipe your nose with the back of your hand before setting it on the table. Billy reaches for your hand and his heart jumps inside his chest when you don’t pull away. He squeezes your hand and brings it up to his lips, kissing your knuckles gently. 

“I don’t know what to say, Billy. I don’t know how I can move past this. You don’t trust me,” you tell him, reaching for your drink and taking a long sip. 

“I do trust you,” Billy replies, squeezing your hand. He holds onto your hand like his life depends on it. He blinks back tears and wipes at his face. You’ve never seen Billy this open and vulnerable in such a public place before. The fear of anyone finding out that his tough guy personality is all just for show forces Billy to only be his true self behind closed doors with you. It shocks you. Hope blossoms inside your chest. Maybe this is a sign. 

“I do trust you,” Billy repeats, a tear slides down his face. “I’m scared that you don’t trust me.”

You stare at him. Shock is written across your face. Your heart stops. You don’t know what to think, what to say, what to do. You can hardly breathe. A tear falls down your cheek. 

You stumble out of the booth and nearly run out the door. Blood pumps through your ears and you’re numb. You can hardly hear Billy shouting your name. You just start running home. You can’t breathe. Your chest aches with each inhale. Your lungs burn. 

“Y/n, baby, wait!” Billy shouts, running after you. His hand finds yours and he pulls you back. You spin around and stumble into his chest. You brace yourself against his chest. 

“I can’t believe you don’t think I trust you!” you shout out of breath, gasping for air as you stand in your driveway. You shove him and he finds his balance against his precious car. Tears coat your cheeks. “I know you, Billy. I know you would never cheat on me. I know because you love me. I know because despite all the shit you’ve been through and who you pretend to be, you like who you are when you’re with me.”

You grab his stupid jacket and shake hit shoulders. Your eyes meet his and another tear falls down your face. “I love you, Pea Brain. I know who you are. I trust you. I trust you with every part of me.”

Billy laughs in disbelief and wipes at his eyes. Tears coat his warm, red cheeks as he cries. “I don’t want to lose you again. I don’t want to lose you to my temper. I never want to scare you like that again. Please forgive me,” he whispers to you. Billy’s voice is soft and gentle, desperate for your answer. 

You stare at him with tears of your own on your face. You’re breathing heavy and your head spins. You take a small steps towards him. It makes Billy’s heart race as he watches you carefully. 

“Please,” you whimper, staring into his glossy blue eyes, “please work on your temper. Promise me you will.”

Billy nods his head. He reaches for your hands and kisses them firmly. “I will, baby. I promise. I promise to work on my temper,” he tells you, sniffing quietly as the last of his tears dampen his cheeks. 

A deafening silence falls between the two of you and you turn your head away from him. Your heart races and you let out a careful breath. Your eyes meet his. 

“I’m sorry, baby. Please forgive me.”

Another tear fall down your face and you nod your head. You walk straight into his arms and hold on to him as tightly as you can. Billy’s arms wrap around your torso as he hugs you. A cry of relief escapes Billy’s mouth as he holds you. 

His fingers card through your hair and you squeeze his t-shirt. You pull away from the crock of his neck and rest a hand against his cheek. He leans into your touch and you rest your forehead against his. 

“I forgive you,” you tell him, brushing a few of his blond curls out of his face. You hold his face gently and brush a tear off his cheek. 

Billy’s nose brushes against yours and presses his mouth against yours. The kiss is soft and gentle and he cradles your neck. You tug on his hair and relish in the feeling of his mouth on yours. He pulls away and kisses your forehead. 

“I love you,” he whispers. 

You smile gently at him and kiss his cheek. “I love you, too,” you tell him, wrapping your arms around his waist. Billy grins and kisses you sweetly. 

“Do you want to come inside?”

Billy laughs, pushing your hair behind your ear. He smirks and presses kisses across your face. “Isn’t Roy home?”

You raise a brow at him. “And that matters you you because….” you trail off with a growing smirk. 

Billy shrugs, kissing you warmly. You smile against his mouth. “It doesn't. I just don’t want him to hear his sister having too much fun in her bedroom,” he teased. “He doesn’t need to know what your moans sound like. They’re for my ears only.”

You gasp at him and shove him gently. Heat spreads across your face and Billy steals another kiss. His taste and touch linger on your skin. 

“What makes you think that I’ll be having any fun?” you ask playfully, biting the inside of your cheek. 

Billy grins. His smile meets his eyes. It makes your heart jump inside you chest. He squishes your cheeks together. “Just a hunch,” he answers, kissing your pouty lips. 

“Oh, really?” you hum. 

He nods. “Mhm. That and it’s been two and a half weeks since I’ve touched you.”

You laugh, shaking your head and lacing your fingers with his. You kiss the back of his hand. Your Billy is back in your arms and you couldn’t be happier. 

“Okay, Mister. That’s enough outta you.”

Billy laughs and you steal one last kiss before tugging him up the porch steps inside your house and into your bedroom. 

[stevie-steven-stevington]

wake up and smell the coffee

@badthingshappenbingo

Fandom: MCU Prompt: Dissociation Characters: Steve Rogers, Tony Stark Warnings: Dissociation and mild panic attack Word count: 3.3k

Generally speaking, Avengers meetings are not boring.

It's kind of hard for meetings to be boring when everyone on the team is constantly clashing, constantly butting heads on any and every issue. The arguing is annoying, to say the least, but Tony is beyond used to it at this point. He's come to expect it.

This time is no different. They haven't gotten to the yelling yet -  he's sure they will eventually - but they've been going back and forth for the past half hour and nobody has been willing to compromise.

Oddly enough, the de facto leader - Captain Freedom himself - has been silent.

Tony doesn't notice at first. There's so many voices in the room that the lack of one doesn't register very easily. But there's only so much senseless squabbling he can take, and Rogers generally drags the team down from the ledge.

"Hey, Cap," Tony says, and all eyes turn to him. "You usually have an opinion - a wrong opinion, but an opinion nonetheless. What's your take?"

Steve doesn't turn his head. Doesn't respond. Doesn't even blink.

Huh. Okay.

Across the room, Sam Wilson leans forward, elbows resting on the table, and says, "Steve? You alright?"

Still nothing.

Holy shit. Holy fucking shit. This just in - Steve Rogers, the Steve Rogers, has issues just like the rest of them.

Because Tony knows what this is. Even if the other don't recognize it right off the bat, Tony does. He's been in Steve's place more than enough times to know when someone is dissociating and Rogers has clearly lost it. The only question is just how far gone he is.

Judging by his complete and utter lack of reaction when Natasha waves a hand in front of his face, he's pretty far gone.

Well. Tony can handle this one.

Not to brag, but this is his area of expertise.

"Guys, guys, hey." Tony looks between Sam and Nat, because he knows that they trust him as an Avenger but that doesn't mean they trust him with Steve. He's just glad Barnes is out on mission right now so he doesn't have to deal with his overprotectiveness too. "I can handle this one - been there, done that, got the t-shirt, y'know?"

Nat nods pensively. Sam just squints at him.

Tony rolls his eyes and tries his best not to look too gleeful (Captain Perfect has a flaw! A flaw! And not only that, it's a mutual flaw!) as he moves to Steve's chair.

It's entirely possible that the method he knows won't actually work. The two of them manage to be incompatible on pretty much everything else, so it's entirely possible that what works for Tony won't bring Steve any closer to Earth. But nobody else has stepped up to the plate yet, and Tony's default philosophy is, in fact, what would Rhodey do?

Rhodey's the one who usually talks people (Tony, sometimes Barnes, occasionally Bruce) down from these sorts of things, but he's busy being an Air Force Colonel so it's Tony's turn now.

Tony kneels down next to Steve's chair. "Alright, Stevie. How d'you feel about joining us back in good old reality?"

Steve's gaze stays locked on a random spot on the wall. He's tense, practically rigid, and Tony wonders if it's this disturbing when he dissociates.

No touching until given permission. No loud noises. No panicking. No added stress.

"Everyone, get out," Tony says, careful to keep his voice low. There's a noise of protest and he shoots a glare at Sam. "The more people are around, the more stressful it'll be for him. I've got this, alright? Go away. Quietly."

A long moment passes in which no one moves. Some of them are clearly reluctant to leave him alone with Steve, while others just keep looking between him and Sam like they're watching a tennis match.

Natasha puts a hand on Sam's shoulder. An entire conversation seems to pass between them in the space of five seconds, despite not a word being spoken; after, Sam gives a begrudging nod, throws one more look to Tony that says fuck this up and we're going to have a problem, and walks out with Nat at his side. Everyone else shuffles out after them.

He's sure they'll all be standing right outside the door, but he'll take it.

"FRIDAY, dim the lights by 40%." Not enough to plunge them into darkness, but enough to ensure it’s not accosting Steve's senses. "Okay. Alright. Steve, buddy, you're dissociating. I know you're not really processing anything right now, but we're gonna fix that, yeah?"

In most cases, Tony is way too out of it to catch the specifics of what Rhodey says until he's already come halfway back down, but he knows the gist.

Narrate everything. Tell them who they are, where they are, what's going on, and anything else you can think of. Give them simple statements, basic facts to latch onto. Assure them that they're safe and that you want them to come back.

Once they've regained partial awareness, walk them through a coping exercise. Engage their senses, engage their brains. Make them interact with not only you, but also their surroundings. Repeat as many times as necessary for them to find their way back to reality.

"Your name is Steve Rogers," Tony starts, entirely more gentle than he thinks he's ever spoken to Steve. The next logical step is his age -  a quick calculation tells him that Steve, at this point, is exactly 102 years old, if they're including the time he spent in the ice, and...Jesus fucking Christ, that doesn't exactly seem like the thing to bring up. Instead, he says, "It's Tuesday, October 6th, 2020. You're Captain America. You're an Avenger."

He could be imagining it, but Steve's eyes do seem to deglaze, just a little.

Steve's story is a fucking minefield, though. Especially when he's not even sure what triggered this episode, if anything, so he doesn't know what pieces of information would end up making it worse instead of better. And if he makes it worse, Sam will come for his kneecaps.

"You're at the Avengers tower, in the conference room. You're sitting in a chair. I'm - Tony Stark is talking to you." Steve's fingers curl on top of the table. Progress. "I'm gonna keep talking to you until you can understand what's going on. You're safe. It's just the two of us in here. I'm not going to hurt you; I won't even touch you unless you say it's okay. I need you to come back to me, though, if you don't terribly mind."

Would cracking jokes make things more real for Steve or would that be in bad taste?

Bad taste, he decides. "We miss you back in reality, man. We were trying to come up with a plan for our next mission and we could really use your input. I know it's a lot, but you'll be alright. I'll be right here, Steve. You're okay."

Steve blinks quickly, the haze that had settled over his face clearing just enough to confirm that Steve is, in fact, still in there. Tony watches him glance around, gradually beginning to recognize his surroundings.

Eventually, his head turns to Tony, eyes darting over his face. His brow furrows as if he's not quite sure who he's looking at. Voice strangely hoarse, he says, "Tony?"

Tony gives him a bright smile. "Yep, you got it. How ya feeling?"

"I...huh?"

"Yeah, alright." Never in his life did Tony think he'd see Captain Eloquence so incoherent. "I'm gonna need you to do something for me, Cap. I need you to look around and give me five things you can see, okay? Can you do that for me?”

Steve is practically swaying in his chair, but he does as told. “Uh...the - the table. You. The chairs.”

He talks slowly, like the words are being dragged out of him. There’s pauses between phrases, between words, almost between syllables. It’s hard to watch, especially as someone who’s had to do this exact exercise God knows how many times.

Jesus. Tony’s been putting Captain America on a pedestal for so long that he forgot there’s a man underneath the ridiculous costume. Underneath the star-spangled facade.

He can’t forget anymore, because this - this right here is so irrevocably, irrefutably human.

"The glass," Steve continues, making a vague, half-assed gesture toward the glass of water in front of him. "The water...thing."

In any other context, Tony would snort at that. As is, the new official Avengers term for a water pitcher is water thing. Patent pending.

"Good, that's great, Steve." His knee is starting to hurt from kneeling. He ignores it. "Now, four things you can touch, yeah?"

"The table," Steve says again, after a moment. His left hand pats around while his right comes to rest on his thigh. "My, uh, my jeans."

The hand that's roaming around finds the front of Tony's AC/DC t-shirt and clutches tightly. Tony stiffens - he always does when anyone who isn't Rhodey, Pepper, or Peter touches him without warning - but he lets Steve have this. “Your shirt.”

Steve releases his shirt and then immediately drops his hand right on top of Tony’s head. It takes everything he has not to flinch, breath hitching and both hands curling automatically into fists. He thinks Steve speaks, giving the last thing on his list as your hair, but he’s a little preoccupied.

The hand leaves his hair, but the instinctual fear lingers.

Fuck. Fuck, he can’t do this right now. He can’t panic right now. Steve needs him to be here, fully here, and to be calm and collected and not having a fucking anxiety attack because someone touched him.

His fingernails dig into his palms as he inhales (one, two, three, four), holds (one, two, three, four, five, six, seven), and exhales (one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight). Repeats. Then repeats again. All the while, he can hear Rhodey’s voice in his head, coaching him through it.

He’s okay. Nobody’s trying to hurt him. He’s safe.

“Three things you can hear,” he tells Steve, once his breathing has evened out. He’s gotten good at this, the whole fending off a panic attack thing. “You’re doing really well, Steve, just a couple more, alright? Three things, go.”

Steve’s fingers tap, absently, against his knee. “Your voice. It’s...annoying.”

Tony barks a surprised laugh. Steve’s tone is still bordering on blank, but a hint of a smile crosses his face, making it clear that he’s just teasing, even when he’s barely coherent.

“My breathing,” Steve says. “And, uh - there’s a...bird. Outside.”

So there is. We’re getting there, Tony thinks. He’s not sure if he’s surprised that this is working or not.

“Fantastic. Now, two things you can smell.”

Steve’s breathing is starting to quicken. Typical, really, that they’d both end up on the edge of a panic attack within two minutes of each other. Dissociation and anxiety attacks really do go hand-in-hand, he supposes. He makes no move to touch Steve, still, just places his hand on the table, palm up, and leaves it there.

As hoped, Steve slips his fingers into Tony’s and squeezes and holy fucking shit, that hurts, does Steve not realize that he needs that hand? Tony can’t stop himself from wincing this time, but Steve doesn’t seem to notice anyway, blissfully unaware that he’s cutting off Tony’s circulation.

Which is fine. Totally fine. Tony’s had worse, after all. And it appears to be helping Steve, so there’s that.

But God, Steve is strong.

(It’d be kind of hot if it was...literally anyone else. Steve is attractive, conventionally speaking, but it’s still a hard pass.) “I can smell coffee.”

Full sentences now, huh? Sure, it was only four words, but at least those four words didn’t have choppy pauses between them.

“Last but not least, Cap - one thing you can taste.”

The answer comes in short order this time, weirdly enough - this part is always the one that takes Tony the longest. “Mint.”

Makes sense. Steve drinks mint tea constantly. At meals, at meetings, at random intervals throughout the day. Tony’s gotten so used to the smell of mint in the compound kitchen that he doesn’t even notice it anymore; he’d thought it was annoying until he realized that Steve uses mint tea the same way Tony uses stress balls.

Steve’s grip on Tony’s hand loosens, ever so slightly. He looks...clearer. Sharper. Solid.

He looks, finally, like Steve Rogers.

Tony taps his thumb against Steve’s knuckle and asks, “You with me?”

“Yeah, I’m with you.” He runs his free hand through his hair, then wraps his arm around his torso. “Uh - thanks, Tony. Did I…hold up the meeting?” “Yes.” He sees no point in lying. “But it’s no big deal. We can figure out how to save the world later.”

Steve hums vaguely, but otherwise doesn’t respond.

Tony’s knee is still aching. He lets go of Steve, trying his best to be discreet as he shakes out his hand, then stands and moves to hop up onto the table. Kicks his feet against the carpet and says, “You wanna tell me what happened?”

“No,” Steve says bluntly.

Damn, okay. Not what he was expecting, but...also not surprising when he thinks about it. This is Steve he’s talking to, after all.

On the list of who’s most to least likely to talk about their problems, Steve is pretty low. Below Peter, but above Natasha, Tony thinks.

In all honesty, it’s hard to get anything out of anyone on the team. Whether it’s trust issues or secret agency or just an unwillingness to ask for help, most members of the Avengers have a shit-ton of unresolved issues. Including himself, but at least he’s working on it.

Steve, on the other hand, seems to have no interest in dealing with his shit.

It’s not Tony’s problem. Not on a personal level, at least. He’s not Steve’s therapist. All things considered, he’s barely even Steve’s friend.

But Tony knows firsthand how bad things can get when nobody’s forcing you to talk about your problems (the memories of his birthday party are blurry, but he distinctly recalls shooting watermelons out of the air with his repulsor), so with his infamous birthday party in mind, Tony says, "That's cool. If you don't wanna talk, then fine."

Steve narrows his eyes. "There's a 'but' coming, isn't there?"

"But. In my experience, not talking never works. I've tried it. It sucks. I get it if you don't want to talk to me, but you should talk to someone, if you aren't already. Sam or Nat, maybe. Or a therapist."

"I don't need a shrink, Tony."

Tony holds up his hands, placatingly. “It’s your choice. Just - it’s not the 1940s anymore, Steve. Going to therapy doesn’t make you weak. If you need help, it’s okay to ask for it.” It took a long time for him to realize this. He’s been in therapy off-and-on for seven years now, and he probably should’ve started years before that. But he knew that, with how public his life is, as soon as he stepped foot into the office, everyone and their mother would know that Tony Edward Stark was seeing a therapist.

Eventually, though, the need outweighed his worry about his image.

He half expects Steve to brush him off. After all, Tony brushed off Pepper, Rhodey, and Happy’s first few vague mentions of therapy. And then their next few pointed mentions of it. It wasn’t until the anxiety attacks started that he even considered it, and then it was still months after that before he actually went to his first session.

Steve doesn’t brush him off. Not really, anyway. Slowly, he asks, “Does it work for you? Has it helped?”

“Yes.” Tony leans forward, elbows on his knees. “I go once a week, my therapist is brilliant. She could probably recommend someone for you, if you want.”

“Right…” Steve’s mouth presses into a thin line. “I - look, Tony, I’m not really a therapy kind of guy. I’m glad that it works for you, but I don’t think the whole ‘talking about it’ thing is for me.”

Ah. So he is being brushed off.

Still not surprising. Though when you’ve seen aliens come out of a portal in the sky, accidentally created a robot intent on destroying the human race, and watched your pseudo-son crumble to dust in your arms, nothing is really surprising anymore.

“What set this off?” Tony asks.

“Huh?”

“The dissociation, I mean.”

Steve gives him a blank look. Jesus fucking Christ.

“The - this - the thing that literally just happened. When you were physically here but your brain checked out? That’s called dissociation. And judging by how unconcerned you are about it, I’d say it’s not the first time it’s happened.”

“Oh, that,” Steve says, like the self-satisfied bastard he is. “It’s just zoning out, it’s not a big deal.”

Is he fucking serious? He can’t be fucking serious.

“You can’t be fucking serious,” Tony says.

Steve just tilts his head and blinks up at him. Tony can't tell if the nonchalance is an act or if he's actually being serious. "Why...not? It's really not a big deal, it happens all the time."

He's going to have an aneurysm. That's it, he's calling it. This isn't real.

He knows Steve. He knows this goddamn nerd has done his research. He knows that Steve knows exactly what he's talking about.

Steve has to know this isn't normal. He has to.

"You do know," Tony says, "that that statement is not helping your case, right? It's not just zoning out, and it's sure as hell shouldn't happen 'all the time'. I should know, it's one of the many things I'm working on in therapy."

"The fact that it's a problem for you doesn't mean it's a problem for me." Steve sighs, running a hand through his hair. Tony is so close to choking him. "It's just stress. Being the leader of the Avengers is stressful."

Just because he can, Tony says, "Mm, I wouldn't say you're the leader, per se."

Steve snorts and rolls his eyes. "That's not even the point, Tony."

He's aware. The point is that Steve is totally, completely, 100% fine and does not need help of any kind. Which is the biggest load of bullshit Tony's ever heard. He wonders if Steve has said this to anyone else and actually had them believe it. There’s no way in hell Sam “I run a PTSD support” Wilson would’ve bought it.

Dissociating as a reaction to stress is neither normal nor healthy. It's exactly the kind of thing that people are supposed to get help for.

Clearly, Steve doesn't want to hear it. At least not from Tony.

Fine. But Tony will definitely be keeping a closer eye on him - he's seen too many people spiral into nervous breakdowns (including himself, more than once) to ignore Steve's blatant mental instability, even if Steve himself is content to ignore it.

Hm. Maybe he should talk to Sam. Compare notes.

"Tony." Steve flicks Tony's knee. Tony's left eye twitches. "Don't worry about me. I'm alright. And if I ever think I'm not, I'll ask for help, okay?"

No, you won't, Tony thinks. Because he's Steve Rogers and, in Tony's experience, Steve Rogers is never one to ask for help.

"Okay," Tony agrees. "I'm here if you ever need to talk."

And he leaves it at that, because he knows that pushing further won't do anything. Because he'll be here when Steve finally reaches his breaking point.

Maybe (hopefully), Steve will see himself spiraling before he actually crashes. But the likelihood of this, apparently, is pretty slim.

So when Steve inevitably falls apart, Tony will be there, right alongside the rest of the team, to pick up the pieces.

"You can call the others back in now. And, uh - thanks, Tony. Really."

Tony says, "No problem," and gets up to go find the team.

All the while, he's thinking, Don't thank me yet.

The hard part hasn't even started.

[bamby0304]

With Wolves- Ch.12

Series Masterlist

Bamby’s Masterlist

Summary: Known as The Omen, your reputation puts fear in some of the most dangerous and deadly Alphas. So when you’re caught and sent to the worst maximum security facility unknown to man, no one expected an unclaimed Omega to walk through the gates in shackles and an orange jumpsuit. Word circulates, and before long there’s a price on your head. Who will claim the untamed Omega?

A/N: Thank you to @moonlitskinwalker for betaing the chapter!! I know it was last minute, but you did a great job and I appreciate it so much. Thank you :):)

Warnings: Explicit language. A/B/O dynamics. Angst. Mentions of previous attempted assault. Mentions of past killings.

Bamby

Sitting on your bed in your cell, a week after the argument with Dean and incident with Sam, you were still reeling. Your mind was going a thousand miles a minute. The anger on Dean’s face was imprinted in your memory… along with his brother’s words.

Dean had kept his word and kept his distance, but you’d caught him in the cafeteria and yard a few times. He was still pissed, and seeing you just reminded him of all the reasons why he was seeing red. He would huff and puff, but watch you nonetheless, because despite being angry he was still your Alpha. Maybe his emotions were making his instincts worse…

You’d done yourself a favour and kept your distance from Sam, but you’d spotted him, too. How could you not when he was determined to keep an eye on you? When your eyes locked from across the room or yard you felt your cheeks flush as he gave you a knowing look. There was no doubt in his mind that his words had affected you, and there was no doubt in yours that he wasn’t done…

It was agony. Being away from your Alpha and feeling things for another. There were so many conflicting emotions whirling inside you, it was amazing that it hadn’t driven you mad.

Not only were you troubled with the brothers, but it had been a week. A full solid week. That meant you’d gone through three rounds of injections. You were starting to feel the change. You could feel something happening, you just didn’t know what. You did know, however, that it wasn’t good.

There was a feeling, a voice in the back of your mind, crying out for help. It was desperate for the safety offered in your Alpha’s arms. It was desperate for a release from the drug. It was desperate for freedom. It was desperate.

You were pretty sure you were going to go into another early heat.

Out of every side effect that you could be plagued with, that had to be the worst. Honestly, you’d rather death at this point, because if your heat came not even two weeks since the last one broke, you were screwed. Metaphorically and literally screwed. But, by who?

Dean? Doubtful. The guy was still pissed. At you and the drug. If he found out that the medication was pushing you into another heat then he was going to go crazy. You wouldn’t be surprised if his rage pushed him to killing people in an effort to save you. He already hated the drug, that would just be the cherry on top.

But you couldn’t go without an Alpha. Sam had offered, of course, but you couldn’t go there. The tension and strain between the brothers was already bad. If you let Sam in, if you let him… God it would only lead to death. Dean would kill him.

Of course, if it wasn’t one of the brothers there was a line of Alphas willing to give you what you needed… willing to take what they wanted, too. Just the thought of someone else’s hands on you made your stomach churn.

So, like you said, you were metaphorically and literally screwed.

“Hey.” Kevin walked into the cell, carrying a few books he’d brought from the library.

You perked up at the sight of your friend and the books. “Did you get them?”

Nodding, he put them down onto the desk in the cell before pulling out two books. “Yep. Here we go.” He handed the two over to you.

Eyes dropping down, you smiled lightly at the titles. Since reading about packs and the like, you’d grown fascinated in learning more, so you had Kevin bringing you books every once in a while. Most of the stuff you ended up reading wasn’t news to you, but it was still good to have a distraction.

As you flopped down onto your bed, Kevin grabbed himself a book. He watched you in the corner of his eye, unable to get drawn into the words in front of him. He was too concerned about you. While you were engrossed in your own book, you weren’t unaware of his stares.

“Speak, Kev.”

Sighing after a moment’s hesitation, he lowered his book and turned to you completely. Considering the guy was usually timid, you were surprised by how easily he was giving into your words and into whatever was plaguing his mind. Unfortunately, what he had to offer wasn’t a subject you were thrilled to discuss.

“When are you going to talk to Dean again?”

You gave a short shrug, trying not to show how tense the question had made you. “When he pulls his head out of his ass.”

Kevin rolled his eyes. It was short and slight but it was a thing, and it was a surprise. “He’s an Alpha. He’s your Alpha. All he’s trying to do is protect you.”

“I don’t need protecting,” you reminded him, pushing up to sit on the bed and turn to him. “And even if I did, I don’t need an Alpha.”

“You do during your heats,” he noted, eyes going wide at himself the moment the words left his mouth.

Since meeting him, you’d known Kevin as a shy guy that stuck to those who meant something to him. Sam and Dean had obviously made an impression on the guy, because he felt safe with them despite their nature. In a place full of people who would willingly rip him to shreds for the fun of it, Kevin had learnt how to survive. He learnt that in order to stay alive he had to stay quiet and find himself a pack. So far he’d managed to do just that… until now.

Dropping your book to the bed, you rose slowly, suddenly feeling like you took up the entire space of the cell. By the look on Kevin’s face, he felt that power, too. Pushing back into his seat, he averted his gaze, trying to make himself look small. But it was too late.

“You think, just because I’m an Omega, I need an Alpha? I have survived for years without some knot between my thighs. I get locked up in this place and less than a month later I’m tied to some hot-headed Alpha. You want me to talk to him? To the guy that won’t let me walk down a fucking hallway without freaking out? He’s overbearing, overprotective and extremely possessive. He thinks he owns me because I had a lapse of judgement while over run by hormones, and let him bite me. Mark me. Claim me. Well, fuck that. And fuck you. All of you. I don’t need him, and I certainly don’t need your judgement.”

Without a second thought you turned on your heels and walked out the door. Out of the cell. You stormed down the hall, dodging the cat calls and leering gazes of whoever you came across. Your temper was running so hot you couldn’t care less to think of any background noise. All you could focus on was the storm inside you.

A week. It had been a week of change due to the drugs, a week of loss because of Dean, a week of confusion thanks to Sam, a week.

It’s honestly a wonder how you’d lasted so long. You were a ticking time bomb at the best of times, to be out under such stress should have made you snap days ago.

***

You’d spent a good hour or so just walking. Storming around to cool down from your outburst. In the end you found yourself in the yard, sitting on a table in a corner, out of the way but not out of sight.

Most people had left you alone, but some fools had made a move. Everyone was well aware of the fact that you and Dean were rocky. They knew you were avoiding your Alpha, and so they assumed that meant you were open for business. But, for some reason they seemed to forget that you weren’t some whore for them to rut against. You weren’t some Omega bitch for the biggest baddie in the playground. You were a person, and a moody one at that.

After the first few guys had tried to make a move and ended up limping away, no one else approached… until he did.

Castiel.

It had been a few days since you’d seen him. It had been even longer since you’d shared words. He knew how fragile things could be when an Omega is recently mated, and he got the feeling with you things would be worse. You already hated the guy, coming to you now was like risking his life.

But he also knew you wouldn’t kill him. You couldn’t. If you did, if you even tried to hurt him badly, you’d end up in the Pit in a blink of an eye.

So, he approached. Not with the cocky confidence of every other asshole that had come your way. No, he walked with that same indifference he’d had since the day you met him. It was rare to see any emotion on the Alpha’s face. During the years you’d known him there were only a handful of times he actually seemed human.

“What do you want?” you asked coldly.

You had a feeling he was going to say something along the lines of what Kevin had. You knew the two of them were close with Dean- he was one of the pack’s Alphas after all. Cas was the loyal type, despite how empty he could be. He also couldn’t read social cues as well as others, which often lead to him reading you wrong and getting someone hurt. Most of the time it was someone else’s blood that was shed… one time it was yours.

Instead of mentioning the Alpha of the pack, though, he surprised you.

“I wanted to make sure you’re okay.”

Out of reflex, you scoffed. It was ludicrous. “You’ve never cared about me before. Why now?”

Brows furrowing, he watched you carefully. “I’ve always cared about you.”

“Could’ve fooled me,” you told him bluntly. “There’s a reason why I hate you, Cas. Don’t play dumb now.”

He took a step closer to your table, leaving maybe three or four feet between you. Any closer and you would break something. Probably his nose… hopefully his jaw… maybe his neck.

“I did not mean to-”

“Lead me into a trap?” you asked him with a sharp glare. “Leave me for an Alpha?”

Flinching at the harshness of your words, he shook his head. “I did not leave you.”

Suddenly, without warning, you stood and put yourself right in the middle of those three steps that had separated you moments before. “I’d asked you to help me on a case. We were friends. Friends help each other. I thought I could trust you. But then you called in a favour. I didn’t think much of it. Even when you told me jack shit. Didn’t blink an eye. You knew I was on the edge of my heat, so I assumed it would be fine. You told me nothing. Just told me to meet you somewhere. Said you would be an hour, two tops.”

“How was I supposed to know-”

“We were friends!” you screamed, catching the attention of people around you. “You were the only real fucking friend I had. Forget about your dick and all that crap. Alpha or not, I don’t trust anyone. But I fucking trusted you. So I went, and I waited. When you didn’t show up, he did. I don’t even know his fucking name! All I know is he was an Alpha, and he was in fucking rut! The instant I smelled him I was forced into heat. I had no fucking control. I could have died.”

He shook his head, watching you with eyes that almost looked pleading. “It wasn’t like that. I didn’t mean-”

Like a switch had gone off, you were calm as you cut him off once more, “That’s not the worst part, because I’d killed before. He wasn’t my first, not by a long shot, so killing him was virtually easy. No, the worst part was after I managed to kill him. I was stupid enough to wait a little longer. I hoped, I prayed that him showing up was just an accident. A coincidence.”

“It was,” he insisted, but you didn’t care. You didn’t believe him.

“For hours I waited. I’d been forced into my heat and left in agony. I was covered in the his blood. I was a mess, I was confused, and I was hurt. The one person I trusted, the one friend I had…” You took a step closer to him. “You never showed.”

Not wanting to hear his excuses, having heard them all before, you pushed passed him and began to walk away. You got six, maybe seven steps, before you caught sight of someone and froze.

Sam.

He stood a few feet away, having been heading over to his pack’s territory, when he was distracted by you and Cas. There were a few others who had been watching and listening, and in the moment of your anger you hadn’t thought to control yourself. You hadn’t thought of anyone else… especially not the brothers.

If Dean had heard what you’d just said, if he learnt the truth, you were sure he would have stepped in. You weren’t sure if he would have attacked his friend, you weren’t sure if you’d want him to. But you were certain he’d at least get very Alpha and very angry.

Sam, on the other hand, couldn’t care less about Castiel in that moment. His eyes were on you, understanding and sympathy crossing his features. It was as if your words had filled in some missing pieces to the puzzle that was you. While Sam didn’t know the whole story, there were at least a few things he understood now.

Averting your gaze, you hurried off, wanting to find somewhere to be by yourself. But in a place like this you knew that was doubtful. You knew it was only a matter of time before someone else came along.

Bamby

[fatrainbowmermaidunicorn]

Love Story (Seokjin x You ONESHOT)

A/N: My first ever Jin fic! Taylor’s song is a;ways fun to based on since it always have some sort of a story to it. hehe.I wrote this story based on a modern setting, but I still hope you will enjoy it <3 

MASTERLIST

We were both young when I first saw you I close my eyes and the flashback starts I'm standing there on a balcony in summer air

Y/N closes her eyes as she inhales the breeze that sweeps her hair as she stands on the balcony of her home. A smile grazed her lips as she remembered that she would never thought she would feel this happy, this contented after feeling lonely and empty her whole life.

And its all thanks to this one man.

She looked over her shoulders to see the figure of the man she loves so much, her heart could burst just from thinking about him, currently soundly asleep on the bed and her mind takes her back to when everything begin.

To when their love story begins.

See the lights, see the party, the ball gowns See you make your way through the crowd

Y/N was just a bored teenage heiress back then, on the borderline of turning into an adult, something she absolutely cant wait to be. Dont get her wrong. Her life is perfect. Well, as perfect as the world of a lonely heiress could be. She was the sole heiress of her family's empire, she obviously have the wealth, blessed with amazingly good looks, brains and everything she can ever asks for. She lives a live of a princess, but as all princess usually are, they are overprotected. Her every move is always being watched, not just by her parents, but by everybody. She cant do no wrong. She cant just simply befriend anybody she likes, her parents must approved of their standard first; are they a daughter or son of another empire? Who are their parents? What kind of person are they? Which resulted with Y/N only having two close friends who are also in the same position as her, an heiress. But the difference between them and her, they have older siblings to take off the pressure of becoming the next heir in line, giving them the freedom to do whatever they want. Also just like a princess, Y/N surely as hell is not allowed to fall in love with just simply anybody. Her parents will freaked out if she ended up with some burnout who is not in line for his own empire. So Y/N decided there's no point of finding love when she will end up marrying one of the snobbish heir in an arranged marriage anyway.

As usual, Y/N is currently sitting at yet another front row of a packed stadium of some artist that she dont even know, which she is once again dragged to attend by her friends. Being a well known socialite, its something normal for them to attaend these kinds of events on almost every night as part of the VVIP guests, the organizers hoping to create some sort of a good connection with these empires. But partying almost every night has taken its toll and Y/N sat in her seat, playing with her phone, bored, while waiting for the show to finally start. Her friends chattering away, excited for the concert by her side, already used to her brooding ways. Y/N finally locked her phone and tossed it in her bag when the lights finally went off and the crowd of screaming girls starts to go wild, indicating the show is finally starting.

Y/N adjusted herself in her seat and try to enjoy the next two hours of the concert, might as well when she's already here. She expected to see the usual performance, band members dancing and singing to song that she cant relate at all, but she was taken by surprised to see instead seven most handsome man she has ever laid her eyes on, with voices and dance moves that she has never seen before.

But one of the members caught her eyes the most and she cant help but to stare at that particular man as he dances and sings.

He's so handsome.

To her surprised, the man that she has been oogling suddenly look her way and out of the thousand girls in the crowd, he gave a smile just for her and winked. Y/N placed her hand over her chest, trying to calm down her racing heart. The rest of the concert went by quickly, with Y/N solely focusing on him and him giving her the occasional glance and smile as he tries to concentrate in his performance for the rest of the concert.

Y/N is more than ready to go home and sleep once the concert ended, wanting nothing more than to forget the attraction she felt. What's the point anyway. He's an idol. Someone her parents would never approved, and idols are just Romeos and players anyway, and she got no time for that. But of course things isnt going her way when her friends dragged her to the after party.

"Where are we going? You promised I only have to attend the concert! Can I just please go home?" She grumbled as she's being dragged left and right to a huge club nearby. Her friends rolled their eyes to her protests.

"I swear Y/N. If I dont know you since birth, I would have thought that you are some 80 year old grandma and not some 19 year old teenager! Chill out and loosen up a little. We are going to the after party!" Her friend excitedly tells her. "Just for a while okay?"

"Urghh, fine! See, this is proof of how much I love you! You can never say otherwise!"

"I know babe. Thats why I love you too," Yumi kisses her cheek and continue to dragged her along.

And say hello Little did I know That you were Romeo

"Hello, I'm Seokjin, but you can call me Jin," the man that she has been staring at for the last two hours during the concert is now standing right in front of her, flashing her his eye blinding smile, introducing himself. Y/N stared at him as she silently continue to drink her juice through her straw.

God, he's even more handsome up close.

"Hi Jin," Y/N replied before turning around to walk away from him but he grabbed her arms. Y/N was surprised by his actions and looked down at where he had gripped her arms, making Jin immediately let go of her.

"Uh.. sorry. I didnt mean to be rude, but I didnt catch your name?" Y/N can hear the nervousness in the once confident man.

"That's because I didnt tell you,"

"Well, can you tell me then?"

"Why should I?"

"Because I like you," Jin's blunt answer surprised her. Never have she met anyone this direct about his feelings towards her before.

"How can you? You dont even know me, dont you?" She questioned, eyebrows raised.

"That's why I would like to," Jin smile. "I mean, I can see that you atleast like my performance. So even if you ended up not liking me personally, you will atleast like me as a performer," he reasoned.

"How are you so sure that I'm looking at you? I might be looking at.... that guy," Y/N points to another one of his band members who is sitting quietly at the corner of the club. Jin laughs. The sound of his laughs is so cheerful it makes Y/N smile.

"Him? Jungkook? Oh come on. He's like a little fetus! Its not possible for you to look at him when you have a real man right here!" He grins.

"Havent you considered that maybe its you that are too old? Besides, he's sexy when he dance that hip thrust cheography you guys had," Y/N answered back. Jin almost got offended and actually believes she might be attracted in Jungkook instead but smile when he notice the teasing smile and the toned of her voice.

"Nahh. My age is just right. And plus, I'm worldwide handsome. There is no way you are looking at someone else other than me," he winked, making Y/N laughs out loud. "So what do you say? Can I get that name and the chance to get to know you better?"

Y/N contemplated for a while. Should she? She have to admit, she is very very attracted to this man. His sense of humour, his confidence, the fact that he likes her before even knowing about her family background, the fact he wanted to get to know her better instead of just wanting to get in her pants. Should she?

Y/N knows its no used. Their relationship is never going to go anywhere. But she really really wants to get to know this Seokjin too. And with a huge smile she finally answers,

"Yeah, sure. I would love that. I'm Y/N. Its nice to meet you Seokjin,"

You were throwing pebbles And my daddy said, "Stay away from Juliet"

Y/N's relationship with Seokjin grew too fast too soon, and the moment they exchanged their numbers that night, their feelings for each other started to grow too. Before long, Jin is already declaring his love for her, taking Y/N by surprised, but of course, is recriprocated. Finally knowing who Y/N really is and understanding where her parents stand about their relationship, the two of them tried their best to keep their relationship a secret. They even went as far as Jin throwing pebbles up to Y/N's windows during some nights, sneaking in to spend the night talking with her or to help her jumped out so they can run the town for the night.

Y/N felt like a princess. Hidden in a protected tower with her prince coming every night to actually save her, to take her to see the world she was so hidden from.

But how can a princess who has eyes watching her every move is able to keep a secret this big for long?

Y/N came back from class one day only to be greeted with her parents waiting for her in the great hall, serious looks on her face. But what is more surprising is the man sitting opposite of them from the couch is none other than Kim Seokjin, who gave her a small smile once he saw her enters.

"Jin? What are you doing here?" She asks nervously and turned to her parents once she received no answer. "Mom? Dad?"

"Well, atleast you dont play dumb and pretend that you dont know him," her father breaks the tension. Y/N walks over to Jin and held his hand, making both her parents looks at her with a warning.

"Why should I? You probably already know anyway. I love him," she takes a stand, openly defying her parents.

"Y/N, this is unacceptable! How can you date someone like... him behind our backs!" Her father raised his voice, not believing his daughter bold answer. When did she learn how to defy them?

"What do you mean Dad? What do you mean by someone like him?" Y/N growled. How dare her father insulted the only man that actually cares for her. Oh, she knows exactly what her father meant but the way he said it just makes her wants to riled him up even more.

"Y/N... its okay," Jin tried to calm her down by her side.

"No its not Jin. How can he talk about you like that? You are the only man in my lonely life that truly cares about me. That really sees me for me, not as some prize," Y/N insisted as she held Jin's hand tighter, turning to face him with anger in her eyes.

"That's enough Y/N," her mother finally speaks up. Her mother never say much during times like this, but when she did, Y/N knows she meant it. "And you," her father turned to face Jin with rage in my eyes. "I think I have told you multiple times to stay away from my daughter! Why are you still here?"

Her father's statement shocked Y/N to to the core. Multiple times? Have they met each other before? How long exactly has her father known about them?

"Wait..m..multiple times?" Y/N shifed her gaze back and forth from her father to Jin. Her father only looks back with fire in his eyes as Jin lowered his eyes, not wanting to catch Y/N's. "Jin?"

"Your.. your father has send his men a few times to see me before Y/N. To ask me to stop seeing you. He offered to pay me off at first, but I didnt accept it. I love you too much for that," Jin explained quietly. Y/N's mouth opened in shocked. She would never imagined her father would stooped that low just to ensure that she is married off to some wealthy family. Doesnt he care about her happiness at all? Cant he see how happy Jin is making her?

"Dad, how could you?!" Tears starts to pricked her eyes as she tried to blink them back, but to no avail. Her heart hurts too much to think that her own father would do this. Her father steps closer to her and kneeled down to her level.

"Y/N, please trust me. I did what I have to do to ensure you get what's best for you sweetheart," he glanced at Jin. "And he is not it. You might think that you love him now but it will all pass. Celebrities like him will only play you honey. They will leave you the moment something better came around," he continued as he glared towards Jin who has now stood up, gritting his teeth.

"No, we love each other Dad," Y/N shakes her head.

"I dont mean to be rude Sir, but I think you underestimate the love I felt for your daughter," Jin finally take a stand. How can he just stand by when her father just accused him of not loving Y/N as much as he did? To that Y/N's mother stood up and walked towards them with a purpose, rolling her eyes.

"Listen here young man. I know boys like you. You are well known and good looking, and dating Y/N is only a challenge for you. To date the princess that nobody can get. Isnt that right? You will get bored of her once you get your fill!"

"Excuse me Ma'am, but you dont know me!" Jin grabbef Y/N's hand and held it tight, much to her parent's displeasure. "I'm not like that. I truly love your daughter," he turns to Y/N. "Baby, please believe me. I love you. I love eveything about you and nothing is going to change that. Not even this," Jin gave her a small smile. Y/N tighten her the grip of her hand that is holding his and smile back. Looking at Jin now, she believes that they will get through everything.

Y/N's mother scoffed at the affection displayed in front of her. "Ah stupid young love. So refreshing," she mocked. "Lets see if you are still going to stand by her side if it will ruined your beloved... what is it called again? Bangtan?"

"What?" Jin's head turned so fast the moment he heard his group's name. They can do anything to him and he is willing to take it, but whay is he supposed to do if they are involving the rest of the boys? Bangtan means everything to him. They are his family. They had gone so much together. He would never let his brothers get hurt because of him.

"Im giving you a chance now Seokjin. Leave Y/N and I will make sure your Bangtan Boys will continue to succeed. But... if you still choose to stay with your foolish feelings, then I have no choice but to make some calls and by day break tomorrow, everything you and your little friends has worked for all these years will be gone. Bangtan will no longer be accepted in industry nor will any of you will be able to start anew. I'll make sure of it," the elder woman smile in flourish, flashing such an evil smile.

"Mother, please no!" Y/N is full on crying now. She knows what her family is capable of doing. Even with a single flick, a life can be ruined. And she also know how much Bangtan means to Jin. He talks about them often, how he loves each and everyvone of them like his own little brother. Tbere is no way they are going to win this war.

Her mother ignored her daughter's plea, keeping her ice cold stare on Jin. "Make a decision Seokjin. And you better make a wise one," she smirked. Seokjin closes his eyes and inhale. He has never encountered someone so evil before. How can he choose from the two most important thing in his life? He turned to Y/N and see her crying uncontrollably, and in that moment he realizes that Y/N knows him well enough to already know what's he's decision going to be. A decision that will ultimately breaks her heart.

"Y/N..."

"No!" She ran out from the great hall and Jin followed after her instantly, only to found her sitting and crying on the large staircase in the middle of the mansion.

And I was crying on the staircase Begging you, please, don't go And I said, "Romeo, take me somewhere we can be alone I'll be waiting, all that's left to do is run You'll be the prince and I'll be the princess

Looking at the love of his life sobbing her heart out, face wet with tears and shoulders shaking breaks Jin's heart into pieces, but he know he have to do what needs to be done. He cant be selfish. He wont let his brothers suffer just because he wants to keep Y/N in his life, and her parents left her with no other choice. Why does with all the woman in the world, he has to fall in love with someone he cant have?

Jin sat down beside her on the staircase, taking her hand.

"Y/N..."

"Please dont leave me Jin..." Y/N begged through her tears, her voice sounded so broken it tore into Jin's heart, making his own eyes start to water.

"Y/N... I'm sorry. Im really really sorry," he sniffled. "But I have to,"

"Please Jin. I cant live without you. I just cant," Y/N starts to choke in her tears that just seems to increased.

"Baby... I'm so so sorry. But I cant do that to them,"

"How about me? How am I supposed to live without you? Why are you leaving me here? Caged in this prison?" She wailed, her heart breaking even further by the second.

"I'm.. I'm sorry baby,"

"Take me with you," her eyes wide as she makes the request, hands holding each other tight, heart filled with hope.

"Wh..what?"

"Take me with you Jin. I will follow you. Take me away from here. Take me away so we can be alone, happy together. Please Jin," she plead. Jin almost give in to her request. Spending a lifetime with her without her parents interference sounds heavenly to him. But he cant be selfish. If he do that now, he will just be ruining her life. She needs her parents' support one way or another. She might not see it now but Jin knows she will regret it in the future if he tske her away from them. He needs to stay strong. He needs to be the rock in their fragile relationship.

"Baby, you know you cant. I cant,"

"Jin..." Jin cupped her face, wet eyes staring into another.

"I'll come back for you one day Y/N. Wait for me. I swear to you that I will come back for you. You are my princess and we will have our fairytale ending Y/N. I love you so much," he leaned in and gave her one last long kiss before standing up and exited the mansion, leaving Y/N as a crying mess alone on the staircase.

So I sneak out to the garden to see you We keep quiet 'cause we're dead if they knew So close your eyes, escape this town for a little while

True to his word, Jin didnt contact Y/N again after that day, making her parents very satisfied and somewhat surprised that the young man actually kept his promise. Looks like using Bangtan really does the trick. Although heartbroken, Y/N held on to Jin's last words to her, that he will come back. She didnt know if it means a year or a thousand years from now, but for Jin, she's willing to wait forever.

Her parents, on the other hands, takes Jin's silenced as a sign that they were right. As days passes by, they keep on reminding Y/N that Jin's love for her is not real, and it can simply be overshadowed by his love for his career. But Y/N knew better. She believes in Jin. She believes in the love that shone from his eyes when he look at her.

On one of the days that she misses him too much, Yumi, a sneaky little friend that she is, cooked up a plan to sneaked the two of them out to a see Jin as Bangtan is having a small concert, a collaboration with other artists on one cold night.

"You can just say you went for the other band if your parents find out," Yumi reasoned as she coaxed Y/N to go through with her plans. Its not that Y/N didnt want to see Jin. She almost died from missing him so much, she really wants to see him again, but she is afraid of the consequences of her actions would bring to Jin and his members.

"First of all, its not if Yumi. They will find out. Second," Y/N held out a second finger. "Do you think they are stupid? Of course they would know I went there to see Jin!"

"Yeah. But you parents says you cant date him. They didnt say you cant go to their concert! Afterall, your parents loves it when you are out socialising with other chaebols!" Y/N ponders on Yumi's reasoning. She got a point. Her parents might be the definition of evil, but they react with facts and common sense. As long as she went to the concert as a fan and not as a date, her parents cant stop her from going. Afterall, Yumi is right. They love it when she mingles with other heirs.

"Okay, I'm in," Y/N declared as Yumi clapped her hands in glee.

/////

"Y/N? Wh.. what are you doing here?" Jin was startled when he entered the waiting room when the staff told him someone is waiting for him there after the show to see the face he missed the most sitting there, patiently waiting for him. She smile at him and Jin almost stopped breathing at her beauty.

"I wanted to see you," she stood up and without warning engulfed Jin in a tight embraced and captured his lips with her. After he recovered his initial shock, he immediately closes his eyes and kisses her back, pouring all the longing he felt all this while for her. After they broke the kiss, Y/N grinned at him.

"I miss you," she whispered.

"I miss you more. You have no idea baby," Jin whispered back as he continue to kiss all over face and her neck, taking in her scent. Y/N took his hand and lead him outside, to a more dark and hidden garden.

"Come with me. But we have to be quiet. I dont know who's watching me. And we are dead if they find us," despite the warning, Y/N still flashed him a smile so beautiful, making his heart soared like crazy.

God, he miss her. He miss her so much.

They finally lay down on the green grass, staring at the stars, hands never leaving each other.

"How much time do we have?" Jin softly asked. He wished they have forever. Just to stay like this. Just to enjoy the sound of each other's breathing.

"Not much..." Y/N replied sadly. "But close your eyes Jinnie. Lets just pretend that its just you and me here. Lets pretend that we are not here but in our own world," Jin can hear the smile in her voice as he smile back. Maybe he will. Just this once, he will let himself imagined that they are living in a world where they can be together. Just this once, he will escape this cruel world.

Romeo save me, they're trying to tell me how to feel This love is difficult, but it's real Don't be afraid, we'll make it out of this mess

After just enjoying each other's presence in a comfortable silence, Y/N speaks up.

"You know... they are trying to convinced me that you really left me. That you never really loved me at all," she said quietly. Jin immediately raised himself on his elbows and turned to looked at Y/N.

"Do you believe them?"

Y/N took a moment to reply, making Jin anxious. Did he made a mistake? Did he make Y/N not trust him anymore?

"I almost did... but then I remembered our time together. And I know you cant possibly fake the love I felt from you," she turned her head towards him and smile. Jin exhale in relief.

"I love you Y/N. There was not a second goes by when I'm not with you that I didnt think about how to come back to you," he traced the outline of her beautiful face and run his thumb on her lips. "I know its difficult right now. I know you cant truly see how much you mean to me, but trust me, what I felt for you is real. I fell in love with you the moment I saw you that night and my feelings never ceased. You are the greatest thing that could ever happen to me Y/N," Y/N didnt say anything to Jin's heartfelt confession, instead she leaned in and pulled him for a kiss. They only broke the kiss when they are finally desperate for air and Jin turned his gazed towards her eyes. "Sometimes I'm afraid that you will finally get tired of fighting for us, for me and give up. Because I know you deserve better than this. Better than me," Jin confessed in a quiet voice, a confession that Y/N didnt expect. She never knew Jin felt that way when all along she always thought she was the one who didnt deserve someone as perfect as him.

"Dont be afraid Jinnie. I will love you forever. We will make it through. We will get through this mess and live happily together one day," she smile at him, calming his anxious heart. "Till then, remember that you are my prince and I will always be your princess,"

The moment was broken when Yumi texted Y/N, telling her its finally time to leave. With heavy heart they made it back to the waiting room where Jin gave her one last long kiss.

"Wait for me Y/N. It wont be long now. I will come for you. I swear I will come for you. I love you princess," was the last words he said before they untangled their fingers within each other grasps and Y/N ran back to where Yumi is waiting.

I got tired of waiting Wondering if you were ever coming around My faith in you was fading

Jin and his members went on tour not long after that, making Y/N miss him even more. What's worse is that he never seems to call or text her at all, or even replied one of hers. Yes, maybe Jin is afraid of the consequences if her parents found out, but dont he miss her at all?

Is all his promises of love just a blatant lie?

Y/N hearts ached everytime he saw the news and it shows some interviews of Jin and his group members, laughing and making jokes. He looks happy and well, the total opposite of what Y/N is feeling. She reached for the remote and clicked the off button, no longer wanting to see the face she misses so much looking happy and completely fine without her.

Has he given up on her?

Did Jin forget about her?

Is he ever going to come back for her?

Y/N closes her eyes and her tears trickled down her face, and this time she let it flow, no longer bothering to hide how broken she's feeling. She took out her phone and with the last of her strength, she send Jin one last text.

I still love you Jin. But how about you?

Jin sighed as he read the text that he just received. He wanted nothing more than to reply to her text and tell her that he loves her more than anything. That he buried himself in his dance and music just so he can try to stop thinking about her, which of course, never works.

Jin knows Y/N's faith in him is fading, but this is the deal he has made to win his love back. Hidden from Y/N's knowledge, Jin has met up with her father one last time before he went off for tour after discussing the issue with the boys. Supportive as they are, the boys convinced Jin that they believed in their teamwork and effort and no one could bring them down if their fans still believes in them. Even if Y/N's parents decide to bring them down, they will rise again from the ashes. They are sure of it. They told him to go ahead and fight for his love. Surprised by his determination and confidence, to still fight for his daughter even after threatening him with the biggest threat they could muster, Y/N's father finally decides to give Jin one final test before he can be deem good enough for his daughter. He was not to contact Y/N for the duration of 6 months, which is the length of his tour, and if by the time he came back the two is still sure about their feelings, then Y/N's father will give his permission for Jin to finally marry his daughter if he chose to do so.

Y/N's father is convinced that their young love wont last that long. Jin will get bored and find someone else during their tour, especially when he is always surrounded by beautiful girls throwing themselves at him, and Y/N... well, he has no other choice but to make his daughter learn the hard way, that modern days Romeo are more dangerous and is out to break your heart into pieces in a blink of an eye.

Little did he know how wrong he was. How Jin is counting every single second that passes by for him to go back into Y/N's arms again.

Please wait for me baby. Just a little bit more.

"Romeo save me, I've been feeling so alone I keep waiting for you but you never come Is this in my head? I don't know what to think"

Y/N sat crossed leg on the sand as she watches the waves crashes the shore. She has finally given up. It has been six months and she didnt hear anything from Jin. She is sure that he has move on by now. She sat as her tears once again flow as the happy memories spend with Jin at this very beach during the early stage of their relationship came back to her.

There is no point remembering someone that doesnt remember you.

As she blinked back the tears, promising that this is the last time she would cry for him, she felt a someone standing behind her. Afraid, she turned around cautiously only to see Jin's broad figure sheilding her from the sun, smiling down at her, giving her his hand to help her up on her feet. Y/N blinked a few times, not sure if its really him or is she finally hallucinating from missing him too much as she reached up to him.

"Are... are you really here?" Jin laughs at her adorable question.

"Yes Y/N. Its me. Im back. Im really here," he said as he grabbed her hands and placed it on his broad chest, making Y/N feel his thumping heart. Y/N couldnt help but let her tears fall once again when she saw the face she love and miss so much. Too much.

"Where have you been?" She sobbed and hit his chest. "Why do you leave me with not even a single word?"

Jin grabbed her tiny hands to stopped her from hitting him.

"Im sorry baby,"

"I dont forgive you!" She yelled between her sobs, making Jin smile at how adorable she is. "I have been feeling so alone. Where have you been," she sobbed again, more like a statement rather than a question. "I keep waiting for you to reply. To say something, anything to show that you still want me, still love me. But you didnt say anything!" Y/N is now full on sobbing and Jin pulled her in his embraced. One day he's going to explain to her why he did what he did, but not today. Today, he has something more important to do.

"Is it just me? Am I only imagining your love for me? Is it in my head? Did you not love me anymore?" Y/N continued to wailed when Jin didnt say anything, tiny hands keeps hitting his chest again.

He knelt to the ground and pulled out a ring and said Marry me, Juliet, you'll never have to be alone I love you and that's all I really know I talked to your dad, go pick out a white dress

Without saying a word, Jin knelt down on the sandy beach, holding Y/N's hand.

"Baby, princess, Y/N..." he calls out softly, making Y/N stopped her sobbing and looked at him with wide eyes. "One day I will answer all your questions. Every single one of them, but not today, not right now" he smile, making her confused.

"Today I want to tell you how you make me feel. How your beauty never ceased to amazed me. How you own my heart since the moment you catch my eye from the thousand other people in the crowd, from the way you make me laugh that makes my heart beats faster, how you always make me want to be a better person, how you always make me feel loved. Y/N, I love you so much that I dont think even the word love is enough to describe my feelings for you. I will fight for you forever. I will do anything to be yours," he finally take out a diamond ring from his pocket and presented it to her, making Y/N gasps.

"I want to love you forever, but for now, I will just start with today. Y/N, will you make me the happiest man alive and marry me?"

"Oh Jinnie," Y/N's grinned is so big it stretched across her face as tears are cascading fiercely down her face. But this time, its tears of happiness for sure.

"I had a deal with you father Y/N, and he finally approved of us," he finally explained softly. Y/N was surprised to say the least.

"You... you really did that for me?"

"I told you I would do anything for you. And I mean it baby. I love you. I love you so much, I dont think I know how to do anything else Y/N," he smile so wide at her, hands still grasping hers.

"So baby, will you just say yes already?"

Y/N laughs and sniffled her tears away.

"Yes Kim Seokjin, yes!"

'Cause we were both young when I first saw you.

Y/N smile at the memory as she felt a pair of hands hugging her waist from behind, kissing her neck.

"What is my beautiful wife thinking about?"

"I was thinking about our younger days. How we first met. And what we've been through to be this happy. Our own love story," Y/N tilted her head to give her husband a peck.

"Ah the good times," Jin grins as he kiss the top of her head.

"Of all the amazing love story out there, I still love our story the most," Jin turns her around, still keepinf his arms around her waist, to face him as he continues to give her pecks on the forehead.

"Well, why dont we continue to write our story then? I think Seokmin needs a new baby sister," he winks and laughs when Y/N's face turns red with embarassament, slapping him in the arms. "My amazing, adorable wife. I love you so much Y/N. You are really the greatest love story to me,"

Y/N looks up to her beloved husband and kiss him. "I love you too Kim Seokjin, you will always be my favorite love story,"

A/N: As ususal, if you like it keep more requests coming in guys <3

[fairyqueennerd]

NALU prompt-7- Freedom

Lucy was in a fairy tale, she was like Rapunzel enclosed in her chambers forever. Her father had grown overprotective for her after her mother died, it was caused by some genetic disorder and prevention was the only cure for it, so she was enclosed in her room.

She was home tutored and was friends with all the maids who were named after the celestial sign. During her early childhood she owned a dog named plue but her dad suspected that it might cause her some allergy and initiate the genetic reaction and turned him away.

Being alone she had developed a habit of fantasying about the world beyond, she always asked all the maids what they saw? how other people were? Though the small window in her room she could see the hills and a speck of town far away.

“How nice it would it be to go there for once.” She sighed.

Most of the maids were living in the house too. Virgo, Leo and Taurus were the one who went out frequently and Leo was the one that brought few people back, mainly at a time that her father was out of the town.

That was how she met- Gray, Cana and Karen. Though their visits were not so frequent, whenever they came they brought something for her and lots of pictures. She was glad for the developed technology so she could talk to her newly made friends.

  Someone was at her home, and he was pretty loud, Leo must have brought someone else this time. Excitement filled her and she ran out of her room, down the stairs to meet this person.

“It’s huge, Dude you scored high.” He was saying patting his back

When Lucy reached there all she could see was tuft of pink hairs.

“Pink?”

“Huh! It’s Salmon girl.”

They locked eyes for a second and Lucy decided she did not like this person, disappointed she started climbing the stairs to her room.

“Lucy Wait.” Leo called her out and she turned back to act polite.

“Lucy this is Natsu Dragneel”

“This is Lucy?” Natsu exclaimed.

“Yes, pink head.” She simply stated.

“Are you dumb? It’s salmon and not pink.”

“I get you the first time”

“Didn’t feel like that.”

“Humpp”

He stuck his tongue out at her.

“It seems you are getting along well, excuse me I have work to do.” Leo said and left.

Both glared at each other for a few moments, Lucy sighed and said

“let’s go up.”

“I am no going anywhere with you.”

“suits yourself, stay here”

She started going up the stairs and soon enough she heard his little footsteps behind her.

“Weren’t you not coming with me?”

“Shut up.”

When they reached her room, they made grumpy faces and were not talking to each other looking away.

Finally, it was Natsu who broke the silence- “Sooo, whatever I heard about you is that true?”

At this she jerked her head towards him- what did he heard? Her being alone? Her disease probability? Her fantasy?

“you write awesome novels?”

“Eh!”

“Gray told that the only novels he could read is yours.”

“Oh! So he really did sneak into my stuff.” She emitted an evil aura “you are done Gray.” She whispered, and Natsu visibly paled.

“Poor him. Well can I have a look at them.”

“Obviously not”

“Knew you sucked at writing, ice steak is just stupid for liking it, or was it an evil trap to bore me to death.”

“You do remember the author of the book is still standing here.”

“As if that matters.”

Before he could analyse what happened, he was slammed on the wall via a Lucy kick. God what force it contained, she looked fragile but she was strong. And suddenly beside him was a pile of books.

“Have a look”

He cautiously took one out of the pile and read a few lines and he didn’t even realise that he was nearing the end now.

“God Luce this is awesome.” He kept the book aside and started shaking her emphasis.

“Okay I got it now stop shaking me.”

“Actually, I think this way it is good to watch someone read your book, you get to know what the flocks like.”

“Well, where did you get the idea of zoo on top of a mountain?”

“It’s just my fantasy and I think it worked on you, you are being less mean to me.”

“I was mean to you?” he shrugged and continued “you are awesome Luce.”

“Who is Luce now?”

“Obviously you dumbo.”

“Hey!” she protested and punched him lightly on the shoulder to which he laughed and said “I like it better that way and am going to call you Luce from now on.” He ruffled her hairs.

She pouted and blushed a bit.

For the next few hours they played board games with him telling her everything that was happening in their town, his classes, his brawl with Gray, his interests in boxing, the famous food and the beautiful places there. Nobody had told her about such things in so much detail, while making her laugh so hard that she had to clutch her stomach to prevent it from bursting so it was evening and Leo came in to take Natsu back.

“Hey Luce, it was fun today I will be coming a lot now.”

“I would love that Natsu.”

“Wow, you actually hit it off?” Leo asked and both of them glanced at him and then at each other and grinned widely.

  After their first meet Natsu used to call her every weekend, and when ever her dad was not around all of her friends came in and they had a reunion party which was every 3 to 6 months. Now her friends included Erza, Jellal, Levy, Mira, Wendy, Juvia, Lisanna, Gajeel too.

She was very happy and everything was going smooth noow she her friends were entering high school and so she was. All this was happening without her dad’s knowledge but it was not accepted by fate. One day when her Dad was out for the meeting there was a storm and the meeting cancelled and he came home, and that exact moment they were having their reunion and shouts, music, drinks and food was all over when her dad entered her room which was immediately followed by a pin drop silence and wide -eyed audience.

“Shit! Dad”

“Lucy, come to my study. RIGHT NOW.” it echoed in her room, she was so terrified that tears started forming in her eyes and soon enough rolling down her cheeks and then with a loud thud the door was closed.

“Lucy, everything would be fine you don’t worry.” Natsu was immediately beside her, soothing her back and hugging her tightly. Soon she hugged each of her friends as if she was seeing them for the last time and emotionlessly walked towards her Father’s study.

“Dad”

“Lucy, my darling daughter what am I seeing? Why did you do this? Everything I was doing was for your protection and with this step are you trying to tell me that I did wrong? I don’t wish for your well-being?” He eyes were also moisten.

“No dad, it’s not like that I just wanted a normal life that all the kids out there are having, exploring, making friends and enjoying.”

“But I did try to make your life as normal as possible, was it not enough? If you had something you should have told me.”

“Dad-“

“You do understand that I don’t want to loose you too.”

“Yeah dad I understand.”

“Well if my darling wants this then we would make it a 6 months reunion and I would be included too.”

“Thank you, Dad, I love you a lot.”

“Love you too darling.”

  She cheered along with her friends that now that his father had accepted it would be more fun. But, again there was a turn of events, suddenly she fell ill, severely and her dad blamed it on her meeting with her friends though others were trying to explain it had been going on for years now. He didn’t believe hence Leo was fired and all her friends were banned from entering the Heartfilia property.

She was cured within a week- time but, missed her friends badly she was so used to them that this was not acceptable to her. She tried talking to her father but he rejected everything she wanted to say for her own safety, and even banned her from using the phone, now she was restricted entry to all places except her room.

It was week to go for her birthday and Virgo informed her that Natsu was there at her Father’s work place and reasoning with him but he is adamant.

  It was her Birthday. She was turning 18 but she was not happy at all this could be a day of their reunion and here she was sulking near her window, she nearly screamed when someone jumped in from her window if not him shutting her mouth with his.

“Happy Birthday Luce.” He said after parting.

“Thank you Natsu. But, how come you are here?”

“I am here to take you away.”

“Huh! Shut up Natsu it is my home why would I leave?”

“I want to free you from these restrictions so come with me.”

“Natsu, Dad-“

“Luce, believe in me.” He hugged her tightly, god how much had he missed her.

“He wrapped his arms around her waist and jumped from her window, though it was at a height they landed smoothly. Then she noticed the rope hanging from her window. They and got inside a car, her dad’s car for that matter and left in a fast drive towards the gate.

“What in the world is going on? You want it to look like I escaped from a prison?”

“Well you did escape.” He laughed.

“That was not funny.”

“Well you must me knowing the deal I had with your dad.”

He blank face made him blink in surprise and he started giving her the details.

“Well since the strict security was added we couldn’t meet you, so I went to meet with you dad explaining him how he was not providing you the freedom to live your life as you wish and killing you inside day by day, but your old man stuck to his point that if you were in front of him then he would never loose you.”

“So I challenged him, that if I managed to take you out of the Heartfilia property before your birthday was over, he would give you your freedom.”

She gaped at him, he did so much for her?

“Well to make the plan successful first we kidnapped your dad and his car then I came in the security didn’t suspect the car and Gajeel’s wall climbing tools and technique came in handy.” He nervously laughed.

“Where is my dad?”

“He is with Mira, she must be trying her level best to give him a piece of her mind.”

She was relieved and soon enough she was with all her friends and her dad celebrating her birthday in the restaurant preferred by all. She never imagined her birthday would end up like this. It was like her fantasy had come true, and she was living in her dream world, happily.

[seasaltmemories]

Demons Chapter 11

Rating: T

Summary: There's nothing broken about you. We just need to allow ourselves the privilege to exist.

When Petra woke up, her head was pounding like a drum. It felt as if she had to carry concrete slabs with her pinky toe just to lift her eyelids. The closest thing to a coherent thought she could muster was regret over drinking whatever beverage it was that could cause a killer hang-over like this. Still as she slowly came to her senses, she realized this felt nothing like that. Whatever this was, it was worse, as if Life itself had picked her up and wrung every drop of energy from her body.

Then a set of bars came into focus, and immediately it was like none of that pain matter anymore. Petra sat up not only to find herself locked in a cell, but a blonde girl sitting across from her.

She looked to be no older than her mid-teens and even smaller than Petra herself, but that did nothing to ease her nerves. There was a dangerous aura to her, one of a soldier, someone trained in discipline. Despite this, she didn't even seem to regard Petra as more threatening than a fly. Somehow that was most frightening thing about the situation, someone holding so much power yet regarding it as nothing.

"Where am I..." As slurred and mumbled her words came out, the girl instantly turned to face her, cool blue eyes glaring at her. For a moment, Petra truly feared for her life, but slowly the girl answered her question.

"You have been detained and arrested by the Holy Legion."

At the sounds of those words, Petra's heart sank like a stone. Memories of Captain's last words came to the forefront of her mind.

Don't trust anyone or anything related to the Holy Legion, if you hear that name, run

And here she had gone and gotten herself captured by them instead.

After the jump, Captain had wanted to sleep for a week. Jumping from one created dimension to the next was nothing like he was used to. Even with his additional training, it still felt like running marathon in an hour. Usually he tried to take a break for a few days just to recharge his batteries.

But then one worry kept tugging at his mind from time to time, keeping him from relaxing fully. He knew Petra wasn't the type to look fondly on him getting a bit overprotective, but it felt wrong to leave her out there without a clue of what was going on. They had been doing this for decades while she was still so green behind the ears.

She could deck you in the face for this kind of behavior you know

And maybe he really deserved it. There was no no explanation for visiting her dorm at this hour that wouldn't paint him as a creep. Still at the very least he needed to rest his nerves. He'd be able to heal a lot faster without having to worry about her on top of everything else.

It was difficult getting into an area so densely populated by humans who had no sense when it came to their sleep schedules. Still stealth was his specialty, and he found himself inside soon enough. At first it seemed as if no one was there, but suddenly he heard a voice.

Quickly he hid as he tried to distinguish the source. It sounded like that girl he had seen hanging around Petra few times. Captain began to listen closely to the individual words she was saying.

"Hey Ian, Petra texted me saying she was gonna stay over with you. Apparently she had something going on today that was located near you and didn't want to make the trip here late at night."

Hearing that news was like having a weight lifted off his chest. He didn't think he had the right to thank God or anything else holy, but the desire to was raw and real. In his relief he almost didn't hear the last part of the conversation.

"What?! You're saying she didn't make it over there!?"

The worst part about being captured was the silence. Her jailer wasn't the chatty type, which left her alone to think about her failure over and over again. Her subconscious replayed the moments right before she was captured. Each time she remembered the it, it was like getting punched in the gut. No matter what she did it seemed her efforts were always useless.

At some point she was taken out of her cell to be read her "charges" for all her crimes by a mysterious

figure cloaked in white. As nice as it was to stretch her legs, it left her more confused than anything else.

"You are charged with collaborating with demonic forces." The figure announced. "Depending on how long and how far this relationship has gone, your sentence will be extended."

"So what does that mean from you weirdos? Do I get a time-out for not living up to whatever cult you run?"

"I suggest you not take the Holy Legion so lightly." Their voice took on a dangerous tone. "We're the only thing that stands between humanity and its destruction. Having infidels like you work together with such monsters makes it even harder to cleanse the world. If I were you I'd show some repentance. Those who don't beg for forgiveness are treated the same as a demon."

Something about those words set off a switch in Petra. Maybe she would have taken this better if she had already cut off contact with Captain and the gang and would have thought before she spoke. Maybe is she wasn't tired and scared out of her wits she would have tried to act pragmatically. Maybe if for a year now it hadn't felt like her life was being run by everyone but herself she would have known not to piss off those who held her life in their hands. Even so, she had grown already sick of whatever freakshow this was.

"Where were you my entire life then?" Her words were as sharp as a knife. "I spent my childhood convinced I was out of my fucking mind. Demons haunted my every move, but apparently they weren't important until I finally found some peace, and now you want to take it away?" Without thinking she raised her fist to strike them, when suddenly she was slammed to the floor by the blonde guard from before.

"Thank you, Ariel." The clocked figure bowed as she dug her heel deeper into Petra's back.

And so her brief stint out of the cell was ended. Looking back she would have taken more of those cryptic threats over this silence. She was still without a clue of what exactly this Holy Legion was up to. All she knew for sure was that she had damned herself in their eyes, and their road to redemption was unlikely to be one she'd like.

With a sigh, Petra raked a hand down her face. This is what she gets for trying to make sense of her madness, to try and find a purpose in her life.

What am I going to do?

At this point she wasn't even sure she could pray to anyone for help.

Faster and faster, Captain teleported himself through the streets of Sina. It was a crazy plan, one even Girly wouldn't have ever suggested. Still the Holy Legion would have to be blind not to notice him this way. Eventually, they'd come to attack him and that's when his search for Petra would really begin.

He knew Commander and Four-Eyes would never allow this sort of behavior to happen. He could practically hear their more logical arguments with each jump. How do you expect to take on the Holy Legion yourself? Do you expect to be able to fight demon hunters after exhausting yourself out? Who knows if they really have Petra. For all he knows she could already be dea-

Captain bit his tongue hard. No, he would not accept that. She was his partner for a good reason, brave as hell and even fiercer. If any human could survive them it was her. It had to be her. Even so he couldn't sit around just twiddling his thumbs while she was in danger.

"Wait for me Petra, I'm coming," He whispered to himself. He'd rescue her no matter what stood in the way.

It was hard to keep track of time. Even if Petra hadn't been busy wallowing her own self-pity, there was no windows or any other signs that could have helped her. So when she found a plate of food and a glass of water set before her, she couldn't help but look up in surprise.

"Eat." It was the first time her guard had spoken to her, making the situation all the more surreal.

Without even thinking, Petra said, "Thank you, Ariel..."

For some reason that made her freeze up. It was another first of hers, showing some emotion besides bland neutrality.

"Is that not what the other dude called you?"

"It is..." She brushed a few strands of hair behind her eye. "But it's not a name I expected to hear from a prisoner of all people."

"A name's a name. why does it matter who says it?" Petra pretended to be occupied with tearing a loaf of bread into smaller pieces. This might be her only opportunity to fish for information. The worst thing she could do would be to ruin it all because she got too eager.

"It's less a name and more a title. Your kind knows very well the power names have." There was a slight quirk to her lips that could be mistaken for a smirk.

Damn it, so she wasn't as subtle as she'd have prefer. Oh well at least Ariel seemed entertained by her antics.

"Did you get to choose it yourself? Because if it's supposed to be intimidating, all it does is remind me of the redhead mermaid from that one movie."

"The reference is more academic than that." She approached Petra's cell to sit across from her, movements effortless graceful as if belonging to a dancer. "The protagonist of Shakespeare's The Tempest, has two slaves: Ariel and Caliban. The former was obedient and well-loved, earning his freedom at the end for his good deeds. The latter was unruly and regarded as inhuman. While he does receive forgiveness in the end, his fate is unclear. The Holy Legion mirrors such behavior for sinners like us. If you act as an Ariel, you're one step closer to earning redemption. On the other hands, Calibans fates are more ambiguous." Even without having observed her quiet nature before, it was obvious that Ariel was not used to speaking this much. Her words came out stilted and awkward, like she was reading a script in a foreign language.

"So am I a Caliban in your eyes?" Petra leaned forward, no longer hiding her interest.

"Everyone starts out as Caliban before the Holy Legion recruits them. Very few are strong enough to dedicated themselves fully to eradicating demons from this world. However a Caliban can always change into an Ariel if they wish to. Your choice is simple. If the Holy Legion runs out of patience though, then soon your disobedience will be punished."

"What happened to that forgiveness?"

"It is always granted at first, but if it is not accepted by the recipient, judgment must be dealt."

"Why tell me this, though?"

"Because I'm tired of unnecessary violence." She gave a long sigh that sounded centuries old. "You seem smart enough to know when to fold your hand." While she tried to remain impersonal and detached, one ghost of an emotion still tainted her words. She seemed lonely, but that wasn't even the most surprising thing she found about her.

The more she looked at Ariel, the more she reminded reminded Petra of herself as a teen, someone who felt so alone and alien in her own world.

All this purple prose and odd behavior was making her head spin. So far what she knew about this Holy Legion was not adding up. Their job was to destroy demons and ones who associated with them like her, yet that was where they tried to recruit their workforce. They named their workers in a very demonic fashion based on if they earned redemption for some unknown sin or-

A thought came to Petra that was shocking, she had to keep from yelping at the revelation. Dear lord, if she was right...

"You're right. I'm not stupid. If that's the only way I can survive, then I'll join y'all." She waited for the right moment, when Ariel's body seemed to loosen up ever so slightly and her guard was let down for a half-second, and then she reached through the bars of her cell to grip her as fiercely as possible.

She fought and bit and screamed to get Petra off her, but her grip was unshakeable. It had to be here. She couldn't be wrong. Then suddenly it flashed before her eyes.

The key.

The crowd seemed to roar louder than any beast alive. One name kept getting chanted over and over again. Annie. Annie. However one quiet voice managed to impact her more than they ever could.

"You have to win this, Annie. You've come so far to make it to the championship. I will not accept failure from you. Do not let her beat you."

With that, Annie stepped into the ring to face her opponent. Already she felt a fraction of her resolve wavering. She looked hardly like a teen her age, more as if Athena herself had come down to Earth and had decided to take up boxing. Even so she tried to stay strong. Dad wouldn't accept failure.

Once the match started, it felt like it would go one forever. Again and again the two weaved around each other, not giving the other an inch. Ugh, they couldn't play this game forever. She had to strike now.

With all her strength, Annie lunged forward with a left hook; however, as she stepped forward, she found herself slipping in a puddle of sweat and hitting her head against her opponent's chair.

Then there was only darkness.

When Petra came back to the real world, she found the demon glowering at her. She looked like a feral animal, and somehow Petra knew if she didn't save her, Annie would decide to kill her.

"You're life has always been this way, Annie. Instead of making your own decisions, someone else has told you what you needed to do, and if you didn't live up to their expectations they beat you into the ground for it."

"You fucking bitch!" She snarled, pulling out a key from her pocket. "I'll-"

"To be honest I've suffered in the same way. First I tried living up to the expectations of human society and simply denying a part of myself, and then I started only valuing the part of me that could live in demon society."

She plunged the key to the lock and all but ripped open the door. This was it, there was no escape if Petra didn't act now.

"Things aren't going to get better for either of us, if we stop trying to be the person others want to be and just choose to be ourselves! It doesn't matter that you're a demon, Annie. There's nothing broken about you. We just need to allow ourselves the privilege to exist!"

Petra closed her eyes, waiting for a fist to connect with her face, but it never happened. When she dared to open her eyes again, she found Annie fading away right before her. For some reason she found her mouth trying to speak, to say something, anything about the situation, but the words wouldn't come. Even so, as she disappeared, a ghost of a whisper passed by Petra's ear.

"Thank you..."

For a beat, all Petra could do was shiver from the chills it sent down her spine. Had that all been intention on her part? Had Annie really wanted to be saved instead of a slave to those who condemned her? Whatever it didn't matter. She could think about such matters once she got out of here. Of course then there was that matter of Petra didn't know where exactly she was...

It was right then she heard a noise coming from the door. Someone was on their way to this room and were coming fast. Despite her lack of weapons or anything really to defend herself, Petra immediately fell into a fighting stance. If she were to die here, then she would go down with a fight.

The door flew open, but instead of eerie figures in white clocks, only one familiar person stood.

It was Captain.

A thousand emotions seemed to run counter to each other in Petra: relief, confusion, joy, fear. Captain though just stared and stared, like she was a miracle just for taking a breath. A part of herself screamed to shoved that inside the deepest dark vault inside her mind, to not let anything dangerous spill out.

Petra said screw that, and leaped into his arms with no regrets.

"Petra," He whispered her name like a prayer. His face was buried in her shoulder, his grip around her frame almost vicelike. All the adrenaline from before began to drain from her body, and suddenly all she wanted to do was collapse and just sob her heart out until there were no tears left. Instead of flinching from such display of vulnerability, Captain simply rubbed his hand in soothing circles and murmured gentle sounds.

"Come on, Girly. Let's get you home."

When Captain came to see her after she had settled down, she felt his presence more than anything else. Her attention had been fully occupied by a Greek shoreline, but at the familiar zap of teleportation, she knew he had returned. Without even turning her head, Petra greeted him.

"Anything you need."

"Just wanting to make sure you're ok after that phone call." He moved to sit next to her. Four Eyes had been the one to deal with most of the details of relocating. At this point it was just tying up the loose ends so she could disappear effectively. Who knew that would be so painful though?

"I'm not sure Dad was processing it. All the money just blew his mind, but then to hear about that witness protection story, it might have been just too much."

"I'm sorry you had to go through that." His words were awkward, but it was the intent that mattered.

"I appreciate it. Still I hope I don't have to leave Sina forever. Even if it's only for a little while I want to see Rico and Dad at least one more time."

"This isn't the first time we've had to move shop because of the Holy Legion. If they see your face in town, they'd jump you right away."

"And you think that would stop me?" She raised an eyebrow and shot him a cocky grin.

Captain smiled back. "No it wouldn't." For a beat the two of them just sat there, enjoying the other's company. But unfortunately nothing can last forever. It wasn't long before he was asking her another question.

"So what are your plans now? You want out?"

Petra licked her lips, trying to find the right words. "Not exactly. I think I'm going to start studying the connection between demons and history, specifically in portrayals of mythology. I told you I loved Greek mythology, didn't I? This is the perfect way to put that and my demon knowledge to use."

"But does that mean we're still partners?"

Hazel eyes met silver, so sharp and piercing and a million other things that made her inside do flips.

"Not necessarily. I may not be staying in the demon taming business, but things don't have to change that much."

"What do you mean?"

She took a deep breath. In. Out. Then slowly she laced their fingers together. "What exactly are we?" It was impossible to say who kissed who first, but it wasn't long before they were drinking each other completely in. As the two of them pulled back for air, a content sigh passed from her lips.

"...I have no idea how relationships like this even go, but do you want to give it a try?" It was strange seeing Captain bashful of all people. The tips of his ears were flushed red, and he seemed determined to look anywhere but her eyes.

Petra thought on the past year's trials and tribulations, of her revelation when captured by the Holy Legion, and all the other anxieties that had been gnawing at her core.

"I want you," she finally said. "I want to everything and anything my heart desires from now on."

Captain grinned. "Then let's get started."

A.N. After way longer than this story should have taken, it's done. It kinda feels unreal. On one hand this story is almost from a different time period in my life. I was 15 when I started this and still figuring out a lot about myself and now three years later and I'm heading for college in less than a week. I've changed so much as a person, I wondered if I was even telling the same story I started out as. Even so I glad to be able to finish this project once and for all. Thank you so much for your support. I love all my readers~