#Please let me know what you think

[slippinninque]

Fontaine, Seduced

(alternatively : Fontaine Tries To Be A Gentleman But You Aint Ask Him For All'Dat)

Warnings: 18+, SMUT, Minors DNI, long fic, cursing, use of the n-word, thirsty Fontaine, ramblings, slight corruption kink, praises n' begging, P-in-V, light bondage, Slips' First Smut

A/N: So sorry for the wait! Sooo, this is in answer to the anon who asked how Fontaine would be if he was trying to hide his nasty. i really hope i did you proud! I've

He...may have a problem.

There you were, the light of his life, seated on the floor and in a nest of your own making. Blankets and pillows spread with you nestled in it's center. A skein of yarn to your left as whatever it was you were creating grew in your lap with snacks to your right.

Absolutely adorable while you watched an old western with him. Fontaine knew you were warm and soft as a cake from your shower and shea butter, he could smell your hot chocolate with every sip you took.

Your furry socked feet rubbed together in your contentedness and every so often, you'd lean back on Fontaine's legs to look up at him until he leaned down to kiss you.

He wanted to see you cry.

It was terrible, he was terrible. You've been nothing but good to him and here he was wanting to see those pretty eyes rolling. It was a problem, he knew it.

Still...

He wanted to bend and twist you, he wanted to hear how close he could get you to screaming. Fontaine wanted to bite from your neck to your ankles, he wanted to ruin your sheets. He wanted to ruin the back seats in his ride, take you on a walk and lay you down beneath the moon and hear you call for him.

Fontaine knew how pretty you'd be taking his dick down your throat and he wanted to see it first hand.

But....it was you.

He could imagine wrapping a hand around those pretty locs and tugging them down to swallow his dick, but he wasn't sure if he could bring himself to do it.

Because it was you.

What if he hurt you? What if he did something you didn't like and you didn't tell him?

What if he scared you?

The idea alone distressed him.

He wouldn't risk it. Fontaine wouldn't risk anything when it came to you.

"Tea time? I think its tea time."

Your words drew him from his thoughts, movie long forgotten as he watched you stretch. You rolled partly onto your side, humming and unaware of the chaos you were causing as your cami rode high and your nipples pebbled beneath the fabric.

"You want some tea?"

You were laid out into your back now, lost in a other stretch and Fontaine took a breath and nodded.

He was fine.

It was fine.

:::

It was not fine.

"I know it's a lot, but I made a promise." You sighed, looking over your shoulder and into the full length mirror in the back of the bedroom door. Fontaine sat only a few feet away, the polishing his sneaker in the same damn spot.

The promise was modeling a line of beautifully crafted crystal-bikini sets. Your locs were piled up carelessly as you struggled to clasp the top piece.

Fontaine has never seen anything like it, but you often ran with an artsy crowd. You often brought home strange and beautiful things to either model, store, or complete.

He really he hoped that you get to keep this one.

"You good, baby, you good. Tell what's it made of." Fontaine cleared his throat and stood, coming up behind you to take over.

"Fluorite and clear-quartz, you can see the lil' silver bells, right?" she said. "It reminds me of those flapper girls! But without the, uh, middle part, y'know? Look!"

You took a step back and twisted your hips with a soft, "Swish, swish!"

Fontaine whistled lowly. All he saw pretty titties and tasty thighs. When you turned and bent over a bit, wagging your bottom at him, he moved before thinking.

He cracked you right across the ass.

You squealed, putting your hands on your cheeks and looking at him with wide eyes.

"Ooh, shit, my bad baby!"

Fontaine's heart fell into the floorboards, regardless of giggle fit you were in. He pulled you close with one arm, pressing apologetic kisses to the top of your head while his free hand rubbed your cheeks.

What the fuck was he thinking? Okay, he's gave you a little pop every now and again but that--that was out of line.

'You fuckin' up, nigga.'

"It's okay, it's okay. Really, it was really the sound that surprised me--okay?"

Fontaine looked you in the eye, saw your glimmering eyes and the giddy smile. He kissed your cheeks, wanting to feel your blushing face.

Then he nodded.

You kissed him on the lips, then had the nerve to bat your eyes at him.

"Y'know...I do get to keep this."

:::

"--od, Big Dawg?"

Fontaine's head snapped up and saw that Big Moss was trying to pass him a blunt. He shook his head at himself, taking the blunt and then taking a pull.

Big Moss shook his head as well, "C'mon, tell me what's up."

"I'm good, 'Moss. Jus' got a lot on my mind."

"Is it about your lil' shawty or somthin'?"

He grunted. Feeling his stare, Fontaine turned to face Big Moss who's expression was expectant.

"Well? Tell ya mans what's goin' on!" On went the fan and Fontaine knew it wasn't going to be let go.

He took another hit and passed the blunt back, "She's a good girl. Ain't like the others I had, I ain't gotta tell you that. Can't treat her like normal."

"Can't treat her... normal?"

"Can't treat her normal, y'know wha' I'm sayin'?"

A beat of silence. Then Big Moss' eyes widened in understanding,

"Oh! can't trea--yeah, a'ight, I see, I see."

Fontaine sighed and told Big Moss about losing himself when you were trying on the bikini-set, how bad he felt.

"Did she feel bad?"

"What?"

"I know you heard me, nigga. Like, did she cry or cuss yo' ass out? Get up and leave? anythin'?"

Fontaine didn't have to think hard to recall your smile, the breathy way you laughed, "...No. She wasn't mad. I was the one most fucked up by it."

Smacking his lips, the Big Moss put a hand on Fontaine's shoulder,

"Lemme tell you somethin', this yo' first Good Girl--ain't it? I'll tell you somethin' about 'em. The sweetest little faces be hiding the nastiest shit, cuz."

Fontaine scoffed, unbelieving. He recalled your inexperience at the beginning of your relationship. You were nervous but you did make up for it in unlimited enthusiasm...

"Hmn."

Big Moss continued, "I'm telling you, man! She's probably shy 'bout some shit and just need a lil encouragement from her man. Trust me on this, Big Dawg. I've seen how ya'll are--"

His free hand went up innocently at the look Fontaine gave him,

"All I'm sayin' is that ya'll rock with each other. Work with her, man. It'll all be cool in the end, ya dig me? Whatch it be something small, I'm tellin' you!"

Fontaine thought about it.

Then he nodded. Big Moss nodded back, handing over the blunt and not bothering to hide his grin.

:::

Fontaine had a plan.

He was thinking about it every since he left Big Moss, their talk still echoing through his head.

'Take it slow if you that worried, Big Dawg.'

'Moss was right. Fontaine took it slow made sure to be careful when dealing with you, and it's gotten him nothing but sweetness and warmth back.

He went to your place without even thinking and you welcomed him in with an excited smile. That smile grew nearly manic when you saw the take out in hands.

He took in your plushy romper and slippers as he followed you into the den. That winter weight that you've been commenting about was nothing but God and Fontaine knew to be grateful.

"Damn girl, whatchu been up too?" He rose a brow at the whirlwind of yarn and notebooks.

"Ah, just trying to keep hands busy!" you said with an embarrassed little laugh. You hurried to make space for him on the couch, moving your next to the floor after tossing down a few blankets.

You went onto your hands and knees, spreading out all the corners and pulling a few seating cushions closer. Fontaine followed the lines of you, right to the lil' bit of booty that was peeking out.

"You gonna be sittin' away from me?" Fontaine mumbled, eyes stuck to your ass.

"I'll come closer." You promised with a coy smile, then told him to get comfortable. You asked if he needed anything as you both settled down.

Fontaine nearly purred at your care of him, reminded of how good he had it with you.

He just had to go slow. Get used to checking himself, making sure he wasn't doing too much. Fontaine would contain himself.

A soft touch brought him outside of his head.

"Whatchu doin' down there, pretty?"

Your hands slid up his jean clad thighs and aimed those bright eyes at him. You still laid your cheek on his knee, still rubbing as you blink slowly at him without saying a word.

Fontaine's tongue stuck to the roof of his mouth. He wasn't prepared for this. All he could do was nod and you gave him a candied smile as you pulled down his zipper. He groaned inwardly, bracing himself as the lust for nearly boiled over.

He was trying to be a good.

Your soft hands found his dick already half hard. Fontaine shifted to make more room for you, utterly enthralled by the way you licked your lips and wriggled closer.

A few pumps were all he needed and without preamble, you slipped his dick right to the back of your throat.

His ears rang and he finally released the remote he's been clutching, arms going out to span the back of the couch. What the fuck was this?

Your head went in small bobs, never letting the head of Fontaine's dick from the back of your throat. Your tongue was wet and wonderful. Nearly serpentine as you jerked the base of him, pulling back and giving his tip saccharine kisses.

He breathed heavily, hips jerking only once before he remembered himself. You hummed disappointedly and pulled back, looking at him with a small frown

" 'Taine, you need to relax." You still stroked his length, "Are you not into oral, we don't have too--

"Naw, that ain't it," Fontaine interjected quickly,

You rewarded him with another wet kiss to his tip, "Then why aren't you putting this where it belongs?"

He blinked as your words rang through his ears, the sweetest faces...

"You always go stiff as a board when I'm down here, never let me stay as long as I want." you sniffed and rubbed your lips against his dick.

His voice was faint, "I ain't want you to think you had to."

"I'd love to, Fontaine, that's the thing. More than often, preferably." You sighed, "I love that you're careful with me, but have you ever...wanted to...not be?"

Fontaine's hands balled where they were still up on the back of the couch.

You made the face when you were going to be really patient with him about something. Your gave his dick another kiss, soft as silk.

"Would you still be into me if I wasn't acting sweet all the time?"

He never understood whiplash until this very moment, but Fontaine focused when he saw the furrow in your brow.

"I don't care how you act, you're gonna still be mine at the end of the day." Fontaine was certain there was nothing that you could go through that he wouldn't be there to stand with you.

"Exactly. You ain't gotta be on your best behavior. You have me and all I want is you. How ever you are. I'm yours."

You laid it out so easy for him, the right words strung together to settle perfectly in his mind. Your words, your words...

Fontaine sat up, his focus zeroing in on you. Your back straightened as you continued.

"So what if I want to act...like-um..."

He sat up, "What? You wanna act up, pretty girl?"

The way you rubbed your thighs together in anticipation ignited him. You were a delicious little morsel on your knees trying to ask if you could swallow his dick again.

The sweetest fuckin' faces...

Fontaine reached out and cupped your cheek, his thumb running across your lips. Your brown eyes were nearly black with a craving similar to Fontaine's.

He gently wagged your face, "Tell me what you want, baby."

"Everything."

He chuckled lowly at your whining and leaned in close enough to brush your noses together.

"You know what you askin' me?"

"You said you'd give me anything I need, didn't you? I need you, Fontaine."

Your voice carried off into a gasp, Fontaine had reached behind you and gathered your locs up into a gentle hold before tugging. With your head drawn back, Fontaine had the pleasure of seeing your pink tongue sweeping across your lips.

"You look hungry, pretty girl."

Your answer was a breathy little moan. Fontaine groaned as he leaned in to claim your lips, his reason slipping into the back seat of his mind.

:::

Arms tied behind your back, you could only rock and whine in Fontaine's lap as he pinched and plucked your tender nipples. One hand pulling the satin scarf that he used to bind your hands. It kept you taut and nearly immobile, enough for him to move you as he pleased.

And move you he did. Sometimes releasing your hands to grip at your waist, leaning up to kiss you or lying back and watching you.

The most nasty things flowed from his delectable lips and he definitely wasn't shy about giving your ass a few swats now.

Fontaine has been wringing orgasms out of you like honey from it's comb. The longer it went on, the more it felt like you were being devoured.

On your knees, away from the couch and up against the wall, folded up in recliner, now back on the couch.

Fontaine has never treated you this way. It was sublime. Gone was his careful touches and tender passion. Fontaine fucked you with a single minded determination, content to relish your ecstasy.

"This is what you wanted, pretty thing? Am I givin' you what you need now?"

You nodded, exhaling sharply as he ground into your sweet spot. Tears sprang to the corner of your eyes at the sweet-hurt of being overwhelmed. You needed more to fall over the line, but you didn't want it to end.

You made desperate noises as he backed off enough to leave you on the edge, "Ye-Yes! Yes, 'Taine-- please, please--!"

He kneaded your ass, rough as he moved you on his dick. The pressure had you releasing a sound you didn't know you could make.

Fontaine's echoing moan shadowed a grin, "That's it, tell me who I am. Tell me who's this pussy's for."

"Yo-You, Fontaine, you..." You babbled, "It's yours, it's yours!"

"And it feels good?"

"Mmn, yesss..."

"Is it too much?"

You shook your head. Fontaine's brow lifted and pace sharpened, ripping a keening gasp from you.

He purred as your eyes rolled back and sat up to meet you chest to chest, using one of his hands to squish your cheeks together.

"Use your words, beautiful. Is. It. Too much?" He husked against your lips, pace frustratingly slowing once again.

Your answer was to bite his bottom lip with the best growl you could muster.

Fontaine muttered something you couldn't hear and then he was leaning back, putting his hands on your thighs and driving up into you in earnest.

It felt like running through fire, seeing ever color at once, knowing the name of every star. All through it, Fontaine continued muttering to himself, no longer concerned with holding you steady.

"Mnh, look at that face. Finally gettin' what you wanted. Acting like like I ain't gonna give you what you ask for--that you can't tell me?"

"It wasn't like that." You whimpered at his hands on you again, reaching down to spread you around him. You gasped and lost balance swaying forward to press your forehead into his shoulder. When Fontaine slowed his pace again, you distantly hoped you'd be awake if he ever decided to cum.

"Don't worry," Fontaine's voice was gravel, "Imma teach you good. We'll find out how much you can take, hm? Together."

You were trembling and your brain was probably slush by now, but you've seen the appeal of being greedy.

Fontaine could still give you more, you still wanted more. Together, you could tear down the fences that kept you from each other's pleasure.

You leaned back enough to mash your lips to his, drinking down his pleased moan.

You didn't care how long it took, you wanted this man to tear you apart and piece you back together.

.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

PHEW

thank you for reading! this took literally too long and it still feels rushed, but I really wanted to challenge myself! Please let me know what you think, any tips would be greatly appreciated as well!

taglist: @megamindsecretlair @thadelightfulone @mag1calenchantr3ss @cocoeffects @wide-nose-and-wonderful @8ttached @thadelightfulone @hobiesmain @thickeeparker @longpause-awkwardsmile @ms-angiealsina @educatorsareslutstoo @mysterychick93

(let me know if you want to be tagged!! 💕💜🌟)

[gamergirl929]

No Matter How Far You Run (I'll Always Be Right Behind You) (Alex Morgan x Reader)

You were always told that your wedding day was supposed to be a momentous, and joyful occassion, if that were true, why were you feeling the way you were feeling? Why did you feel like you would never be good enough for Alex Morgan?

You’d gotten into the room over an hour ago, and for nearly the entirety of that hour, you’d been pacing, your palms sweaty and your heart racing, the bow tie around your neck growing tighter and tighter.  

“What about the flowers Em, did we get the right flowers???” You ask, your heart nearly beating out of your chest.  

“We got the right flowers Y/N, I promise.”  

“And the cake?” You ask, screeching to a halt, your hands running down your face. “What about the cake Em?” 

“We got the right cake, Y/N, you gotta calm down, okay?” Emily says, her own hands beginning to shake, your anxiety transferring to her in some form of mass hysteria.  

“What if I screw up my vows?” You ask, giving Emily no time to answer before you’re asking another question.  

“What if Alex decides I’m not worth it?” You gulp, your pacing increasing in speed.  

You continue to mutter unintelligibly under your breath words that Emily can’t quite make out, your anxiety only increasing her own.  

The door slowly creaks open, Kelley O’Hara poking her head through the crack.  

“Has she calmed down yet?” She asks, her brown orbs widening when she realizes Emily is nearly shaking just as much as you are.  

“I’ll take that as a no.” She says, slipping through the crack, the door clicking shut behind her.  

“Y/N, tell me what you’re thinking...” Kelley whispers gently, giving your shoulder a comforting squeeze. 

You sigh deeply, running your fingers through your hair, your mouth opening and closing as you search for words to describe the emotions you’re feeling.  

“She’s too good for me Kel.” You whisper, the shorter woman shaking her head as you turn to her, tears in your eyes.  

“You’re perfect for one another.” She whispers, tucking a loose strand of hair dangling in your face behind your ear.  

You shake your head, sniffling.  

“What if she regrets marrying me?” You mumble, your words so soft Kelley has to lean in to hear them.  

“She would never regret marrying you.” She smiles softly, her hands settling on your shoulders before she gives them a squeeze.  

You swallow hard, your Y/E/C orbs darting around Kelley’s face considering you’re unable to look her in the eye.  

You shake your head, your mouth opening and closing as you try to find your words the sound of Emily’s chair scooting across the floor making you stiffen.  

“She loves you Y/N.” Emily whispers as she places a comforting hand on your tuxedo covered back.  

“It’ll all be okay, alright?” Kelley whispers, cupping your cheek with one hand, running her thumb along your cheek in comfort.  

You nod, taking a deep breath as you try to calm yourself down, but it’s to no avail your inner turmoil again rearing its ugly head.  

Kelley and Emily’s shoulders sag, the pair feeling ease, despite the fact that you were beginning to tremble again.  

The room, though large enough to comfortably house a group of people feels claustrophobic, the room closing in on you as your heart again begins to race.  

“I can’t do this.” You mutter, causing both Emily and Kelley to jump as you turn on your heels and sprint out of the room, dashing in a random direction, putting as much distance between the pair as you possibly can.  

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

You weren’t at all sure where you ended up in the venue, your sense of location completely off as you sprinted in random directions until you found a random room to camp out in.  

You cover your face with your trembling hands; your entire body beginning to shake. 

You knew you shouldn’t feel this way, you knew that this was supposed to be the happiest day of your life, but still, you couldn’t escape your own head, one thought followed by another, then another, each thought worse than the last.  

A part of you wanted to remain hidden, to curl up on the other side of the door until the wedding was over, but you knew you couldn’t do that, not to her. 

No matter how much you thought she deserved better, you couldn't break her heart like that. Despite that thought, you remain still, unable to force yourself to your feet.  

You go ridged at the sound of approaching heels, your chest tightening as you hold your breath, hoping that whoever it was would pass by, unaware of your presence.  

Unfortunately for you, the clicking heels stop just behind the door you’re currently leaning against.  

“Y/N?” You hear Alex’s soft whisper, and your eyes widen, the door slowly creaking open.  

“W-Wait, we’re not supposed to see each other.” You stammer, the woman on the other side of the door chuckling.  

“You’re more important than a silly tradition right now.”  

You shake your head, grabbing the edge of the door, holding it closed.  

“I know how important it is to you Alex.” You mutter, your throat bobbing.  

Alex falls silent before the door creaks open a bit wider, her hand slipping between the crack, her palm facing upwards, her fingers wiggling in a silent invitation.  

You take her hand with no sense of hesitation, the tightness in your chest ebbing away slightly.  

The two of you sit in silence, Alex’ fingers delicately playing with your own, the rapid racing of your heart decreasing with each passing second.  

“Do you want to tell me what’s wrong? Emily and Kelley said you might be having second thoughts...?” She asks and you take a breath, your throat bobbing as your hands grow clammy.  

You remain silent for a beat, the woman on the opposite side of the door squeezing your hand.  

“Do you...” You stiffen at the sound of the crack in Alex’s voice as she speaks words you know she wished she never would have to speak.  

“Do you not want to get married?” She asks, her voice quivering, your heart sinking in your chest at the soft utterance.  

You remain silent, your mouth opening and closing as you try to put your feelings into words.  

“Alex, there’s nothing I want more than to marry you, but...” You close your eyes, your breath catching in your throat. 

“What if you regret it?” You whisper, the woman on the other side of the door remaining silent as you put your thoughts into words.  

“I’m just going to screw it up, I’ve already screwed it up by running away and hiding like a coward.” You say, knocking your head against the wooden door behind you.  

“I’m not good enough for you, you deserve so much better, you deserve someone who isn’t going to run and hide on what’s supposed to be the best day of your life, and that’s not me.”  

Your heart clenches in your chest when Alex’s hand leaves your own, a lump forming in your throat.  

“Close your eyes.” She whispers, your brows furrowing as your eyes flutter shut.  

The door creaks open softly, your breath hitching as Alex’s hands settle on your chest before finding your shoulders, leading you to believe that she too has her eyes shut, following the tradition she holds dear.  

“You’re more than good enough for me.” She whispers, her fingers tangling in the fine hairs at the base of your neck.  

Her forehead rests gently against yours, her lips ghosting your own as she whispers.  

“You’re all I’ve ever wanted. I couldn’t and never would regret marrying you.” She says, bumping the tip of her nose against yours.  

“You didn’t screw anything up, and no matter how many times you run away, I’ll always be right behind you, because I love you, Y/N, and you’re worth chasing after.” She whispers, a tear streaming down your cheek, one that Alex quickly swipes away with the tip of her thumb.  

You sniffle, covering her hands with your own as you kiss her lips softly, her manicured nails scrapping the nape of your neck gently.  

Reluctantly you part, neither going far as your noses brush, a small smile stretching across your face.  

“So, should we go get married now?” You whisper a grin stretching across your face as the woman giggles, pecking your lips.  

“I think we should... As long as you still want to...?” She whispers and you smile, leaning your head back to kiss the tip of her nose.  

“There’s nothing I’d want more.”  

[whathappeninglestappen]

I have a question. When the drivers do the fan stages before a race, F1 usually has two teams go at the same time (for example, I’ve seen Alpine and Ferrari go together before). Why don’t Ferrari and Red Bull ever go together?

Can you imagine Charles and Max on the stage together. Laughing when asked silly questions or blushing when they look at each other.

Lestappen interacting during a fan stage would be simply lovely. 😊

[wildernessuntothemselves]

Now See Them Burn in Fire | Part 2

Genre: dark fic, future smut, angst

Word Count: 9.6k

 Chapter Excerpt:

But you can’t answer them, throat closed shut and eyes glued to the detached orbs on the floor–there in front of you lay the sacred bull’s missing eyes. Its eyes that used to be so bright in life with warmth and light now replaced with icy blue crystals crudely jammed in the middle of the irises to form the evil eye, and its menacing gaze was set directly on you. 

You can’t deny it anymore. You are the intended target. If the gods were watching you through the creatures eyes in life then this monster is watching you in death. 

He was here again, in your home, in your room, just like he had been in your temple. There is no refuge of your own that is safe from his dark presence. 

“Oh dear gods, save us.” You hear your father whisper fearfully, following your line of sight and realising what had alarmed you so. 

“It’s for me. I have been cursed.” You say, your voice devoid of any emotion, body going cold with a numbness that can only come about from the realisation that one is utterly doomed. “What am I to tell Kai?”

Warnings: fem!reader, DARK FIC, FUTURE NONCON/CON, gore, mentions of cruelty to animals, character death, iron age au, supernatural au, yandere beomgyu

___________________________________

A small part of you feels guilty about it. You know it hurt him to hear you accuse him of the same hearsay everyone else flings at him. You were supposed to be different, he must've thought, and you’re ashamed to prove you aren’t, but you can’t risk your future and place in the tribe to stand by him when at best he is being misjudged and by choosing him you doom yourself to a future of living as outcasts together, your offspring having no hope of any viable future, and at worst, everyone is right about him and he drags you to the depth of blackness with him. 

Beomgyu keeps his distance from you much to your surprise. Given how bold he was in that forest, you half expected him to continue to pursue you despite your rejection but you suppose you finally got your message across. 

But you can’t think about it for too long. You and Kai are now official and you have to focus on your future and the future of your family, especially because you still don't know what the fallen star was meant to foreshadow. Your parents weren't able to find much on it, only stumbling across vague warnings of falls from grace, being cast from heaven, ruin and damnation. The doom and gloom of curses–the most powerful of them all–but no more details than that and no way to intercept or stop it. 

Was it doom for you? For your family? For the entire tribe? They couldn’t tell you, but you knew that associating with the dark boy was not likely to make things any better. 

You had suggested seeking help from the elders, perhaps someone else knew more about it, but your family quickly snuffed that idea out. How could you ask such a stupid thing? You think the others would take kindly to doom tellers? You think they would welcome an inescapable prophecy of blood and death? 

No, you were to keep your mouth shut and work in secret to get to the bottom of this. It doesn’t even have to mean anything. It could all just be a coincidence.

You couldn’t believe what you were hearing from your parents. It was borderline blasphemy. A coincidence? There was no such thing in the art of reading the stars. The stars do not simply plummet themselves to death because they were bored one day. This is a sign and you all know it but they choose to turn a blind eye to what they can’t fix, like a mouse freezing in place when it encounters the jaws of the snake. 

Still, it is easy for them to forget and brush it off when things have been going so well for you. With the announcement of your betrothal to the future leader, your already esteemed place in the tribe climbs right to the top. 

You parents are quite pleased with it. They always thought they deserved more than they were getting. They even thought they deserved more than the leader’s family. After all, you were the spirituals and divinators that guided the entire tribe and the ones who they entrusted their eternal souls with. Why shouldn’t your place be at the top?

It was jarring to see how close and dear your parents have gotten to the leader and his family and how flattering and generous they were being–regaling him with poems about his bravery and wisdom when behind closed doors they would rake him over the coals with their scathing remarks about his intelligence and short temper, likening him to the beasts that live in the forest. 

But it isn’t like the leader wasn’t aware of their duplicity or that he didn’t enjoy their excessive flattery. He purposefully encouraged them to continue feeding his massive ego, caring nothing if their intentions were true or not. 

Truth be told, this situation was making you see them all in an unfavourable light. You used to look up to them as tough but reliable and wise, only doing what was best for the tribe, but now you see how they're all working for their own favor.

But you can't act too righteously, for you also found it shamefully easy to not care about the hypocrisy or the lies or even the threat of damnation hanging over your heads, not when Kai was your prize–and what a sweet prize he was. Unlike them, he was pure of heart. Beneath his angelic features was an even more generous and kind soul. You actually believe the words he speaks. You know he does not lie and so when he acts loving and sweet towards you, you know to trust it. 

You get so caught up with him and your family gets so caught up with his that you start neglecting your calling and your duty to the tribe. Even the search for the star is momentarily forgotten. After all, where was this fabled curse? Here you are having the best time of your life, your fortune more blessed than ever. Maybe the fallen star really didn't mean anything at all.

Oh how arrogant you were. How blasphemous. The stars are not there for your entertainment. They're not little light shows just there to brighten your night, and you should’ve heeded their warning. Maybe if you did, you could have saved everyone. 

It starts small, like most horrible inescapable fates do, with the farmers finding odd symbols burnt onto their fields. The shapes strange at first but then vaguely familiar as old runes you’ve all collectively lost the knowledge of. Some similar to the stone pillar in the heart of the sacred temple and others unseen by any of your kind before. 

They were written off as youngster mischief at first–the youth just finding new and creative ways to occupy their time and mess with their elders. Even as the farmers started growing more and more anxious as more and more of these strange symbols cropped up, ruining a sizable portion of their crops–done seemingly by an unseen force as no one has been able to catch or even catch a glimpse of the culprit in action despite the numerous watches being set up–they were brushed off and assured it would stop when the culprits grew bored of not getting the reactions they wanted. 

But the culprits were not dissuaded. They just took it a step further, and soon the symbols were found not just on crops but burned or carved onto the flesh of the animals. That’s when the people really started panicking. They didn’t understand what this meant but they knew something was seriously awry. 

Even the other animals knew, as they seemingly avoided the ones marked by the unseen force as if being near them could infect them too. The farmers refused to consume the goods of these afflicted creatures and no one tried to convince them to–and maybe for good reason as soon these poor souls were slaughtered one by one by that unseen force in the night. 

They were found massacred as if by a wild animal, bits of fur and fat and brains scattered around fields. Entire body parts missing. Heads chopped off and found in children’s cots. 

This was no mere joke. This was the work of a demented individual or individuals, and no one even knew what they wanted. But this new development finally got the elders to pay attention and take this seriously. 

They started by calling for meetings. First between themselves in order to figure out the source and meaning of these runes and how to stop this malicious energy, still foolishly holding onto the hope that this was under control and that they can stop it. But when they came up as empty as your family did, they turned to you and other young apprentices in their desperation, seeking any suggestion that could help them decipher the code. But of course that yielded even less results and led to panic spreading across the tribe when the looser tongues of the less experienced spoke too much. 

As more and more crops and livestock gave way under this unseen dark force, there was a widespread fear–almost expectation–of what to do when it reached the people themselves. Again the elders reassured the people–lying through their teeth that there is nothing to be concerned about, still insisting this was the work of a group of troubled youth, all while they used their precious powers and resources to bless and protect themselves and the people and sites most important to them, resting easy for a while in the belief that at least they were safe hiding behind their powers while the rest of their people were left in the open with whatever was out there, watching and waiting to see if it will start developing a taste for humans next. 

The good gods will protect them just like they always have, they thought. After all, they were their most esteemed servants and this dark force–whatever its origin may be–could not possibly stand up to the combined powers of such godly men and women, right? It will soon stop and retreat back to the dark groves from whence it came. 

It was disgusting to witness it all, seeing the people you admired and respected so much only thinking of themselves. This thing–whatever it was--has lifted the veil of naivety and innocence off your eyes and exposed you to the brutal reality of the world around you–a world you once thought was built on altruism and honour but have now come to realize was all a lie. Your heroes weren't wise, virtuous leaders, but scared, selfish and arrogant hypocrites who hoarded their powers for themselves while simultaneously covering their eyes with their own hands and refusing to see the danger right in front of them.

They completely refuse to acknowledge that the animals weren’t butchered with wanton and random cruelty–there was something spine-chillingly deliberate about the slaughter. The savage cuts may have seemed like the work of a mad spirit hungry for blood at first glance but if they were to look even just a little more closely they would see that they were deliberate, intentional–the missing body parts of the corpses were not mere bits of meat torn away to be devoured. They were key pieces to a gruesome bigger picture–the tongue of a cow, the heart of a deer, the testicles of a bull, the feet of a chicken–these are all ingredients used in dark magic.   

You had said as much to your family, and you knew they knew it too but they still arrogantly–or fearfully–dismissed it. After all, who would possess the knowledge to perform such dark arts apart from the priests and priestesses themselves, and not just any of them–this knowledge is only accessible to the most powerful and most respected of the lot such as your parents. There is no way one of them has gone rogue with the others being none the wiser. 

But you know that’s not fully true because you have accessed such knowledge secretly after spying on your parents, and if you could do it then someone else could have done it too. Some of the children of the other powerful priests and priestesses could have done the same. Or someone could have let it slip to an outsider…

But even the elders and even your parents can’t shut their eyes and cover their ears any longer when the hand that works in the shadows reaches forward to touch the most cherished and protected, right in their midst. 

You were the one to find it–the sacred bull that resided in the heart of the temple–or what has become of it.   

It was a gruesome sight. Its body butchered, the entrails pulled out and hung over its altar, the scent of blood and organs heavy in the air and tasting of metal, the corpse posed in a grotesque mockery of the god it represents. 

It was such a gentle animal, friendly with wise eyes that often made you feel as if you were being watched by the gods themselves. But it never made you feel judged. Instead you felt safe and protected by the large, strong animal that was only easy to shepherd due to its gentle nature, but was also capable of great force if provoked–as you’ve witnessed first hand when it was handled incorrectly by someone it didn’t deem worthy. You knew it wouldn’t have been easy to take down the majestic beast and it certainly wasn't easy to string it up and flay it in this grisly way. Its eyes that comforted you so much were nowhere to be found, plucked right out of its skull and leaving behind black hollow sockets that stare you down with the ghastly gaze of death itself. 

An overwhelming sense of nausea built up in your stomach at the thought of being so alone without the watchful eyes of the gentle creature–even more so than you were at the abominable mockery that has been made of its remains, and you couldn’t even make it more than a few steps away before you fell to your knees on the floor and vomited your guts out. 

It kept coming and coming even when your stomach was long empty, your body purging itself as if your insides were trying to escape it and run away from the danger it sensed. 

It didn’t take long for someone to be alerted to this catastrophe, and a small crowd soon gathered around the slain animal, sobs and gasps of horror filling the once serene sanctuary. 

The elders eventually made their appearance and after getting over their initial shock and revulsion at the sight, quickly dispersed the crowd, ordering them not to mention this to any of the tribes people and instructing some of the other apprentices to take you outside for some fresh air, thinking that only the sight of the slaughtered beast was the cause of your intractable sickness. 

But you couldn’t even get to your feet. They had to drag you out as you shook and dry heaved, a cold sweat drenching your body and making it slippery in their grasp, causing them to lose grip and plummet you to your feet more than once, each time your weak body slamming against the ground as you had no strength to break your fall, the impact making you even more nauseous and weak. 

The only small reprieve you got is when the outside fresh air met your drenched skin and cooled down your overheated body, allowing you a moment of relief. But that fleeting reprieve was quickly gone as your body went from cool to cold and you started shaking. You curled up into a ball, trying to conserve your body heat and unable to utter any word of reassurance to the poor apprentices who watched you, horrified at your stricken condition. You’re sure their minds were conjuring up all sorts of terrifying tales about what had just happened, but none of it would come close to your bizarrely confident belief in who exactly was behind this. 

Because it's not what you've seen that terrifies you, it's what you haven’t. You saw no evidence of this being the work of a group of demented individuals like your elders have been insisting. This was not the work of any human at all. This was something cold and evil, and you think you know exactly who it is–the shiver currently racking your body more a product of breathtaking dread than the cold. 

Mercifully, your mind eventually tires your body out, but before all strength leaves you, you become vaguely aware of being picked up by someone–a warm, strong body pressed against your own, grounding you and preventing you from giving in to the terror completely.

________________________

“She's waking up!” Someone shouts, entirely too loudly for you tired and sensitive ears, and you flinch away, trying to nuzzle further into the softness surrounding you in order to block it out. 

“She is.” Another voice adds, and you immediately recognize the deadpan voice of your mother. “See, she is okay. You can head home now and we'll take it from here.”

“Darling, can you hear me?” The first voice gets closer, ignoring your mother, and you feel a feverish touch against your face, almost scalding against your own overheated body which makes you pull away. 

“What is wrong with her?” The voice asks, and even through your delirious nightmare state, you could hear the obvious concern marring it.

“Nothing. She will be fine if you just let her rest, Kai.” Your father says sharply and you force your eyes to flutter open when you finally realise who the person touching you is. Your vision swims and you find it hard to focus but you can recognize Kai's worried gaze even through the haziness. 

“Kai?” You ask, wincing as the sound cracks your parched throat. 

“I am here, my love.” He tells you and gets even closer to you but you use what little strength you have to pull away, grimacing at the look of hurt that crosses his handsome face. “How are you?”

“I am okay.” You repeat your father's sentiment, your tired brain still recognizing the need to get him away from all of this–for his sake and yours. You don't want him to see whatever is happening to you and you don't want it to hurt him. “You don't need to be here.”

His blurry frown still hurts your heart, as does the hesitant way he pulls his hand away. “I was just worried. I know about what happened at the temple. I can’t imagine how you must feel having witnessed that dreadful sight. Oh, what they did to that poor animal was heinous. And for you to see it like that… I know how much you cared for the beast–”

Bile rises up in the back of your throat at the reminder, and you cut Kai off. “I’m okay. I was just shocked, is all. You needn’t worry yourself about me.” 

“What are you on about? As your future husband and leader of this tribe, I must protect you and my people from the scum who did this. Rest assured, my love, I won’t let those barbarians get away with it.” 

Your eyes widen and your heart rate picks up in fear at his words. No, no, this is exactly what you didn’t want to happen. You don’t want him to get involved in this. He is no match for the darkness looming over all of you. It will swallow him whole and spit out bones. You must keep him away from this. 

“No!” You blurt out loudly, making him jump back in shock. Out of the corner of your eyes you can see your parents shooting you warning looks, silently telling you to get a grip and not reveal too much. 

You clear your throat and try to reign in your terror. “You don’t have to worry about me, my love. The elders have it all under control. We must keep our trust in them. That is how we’ll remain safe.” 

“Of course!” He agrees immediately, sheepishly. “I do not mean to doubt the elders. I simply wish to do my part for you and my people.” 

Your heart twists guiltily at his innocence and the untainted good in him. He is the one who must be protected. He must remain pure, which is why you have to keep him away from this. 

“You always do, my sweet. But we should leave this to the elders. They know what to do.” You reach out to cup his cheek, your soul aching at the way he melts into the touch for a second before he leans forward to press a gentle kiss to your forehead. 

You close your eyes, quietly savouring the act of kindness and tenderness before pushing him away. “You should go now, love. I need to rest.”

“You can rest. I'll stay by your side.” He gives you a gentle smile that hurts you even more.  You want nothing more than for him to stay by your side and ward the evil spirits away but you know you must make him leave so you can speak to your parents in private about this new disturbing development. 

“There is really no need. I will rest easier knowing you are also rested.”

“But I–”

“My lord, you really must allow us the chance to tend to our daughter. You being here will only excite her more and delay her recovery.” Your father says irritably, flustering Kai. Really, must your father be so short with him?

“Oh, I didn't realise that. Forgive me–”

“You are forgiven. Now if you'll excuse us.” Your mother interjects, shooing him off the floor and towards the door. Your heart lurches in your chest at the dejected look on his face. It flings itself against your ribcage and demands for you to follow him, but you can’t. 

“Very well. I will see you soon?” He asks hopefully and you nod, mustering up the smallest smile for him. “Very soon.”

He smiles widely at that, but you hardly see it before your mother pushes him out the door and closes it behind him, all warmth suddenly leaving the room with him, and as soon as you are alone with your parents, they are on you, interrogating you about what happened as if you had a clue. 

“Did you see who did it?” Your father asks. 

You shake your head.

“Were there any clues?” Your mother follows up.

You shake your head. 

“What does this mean?” Your father quickly adds and you sigh deeply, feeling the dread gnawing at your bones. “I don't know. But I know it is related to the fallen star. The end is coming.” 

You expect your parents to scold you, to tell you to stop your prophesying of doom and gloom–that it really wasn’t as bad as you were making it out to be and that they will find a way to fix this. But instead, they wring their hands and exchange nervous glances, and that’s when the panic really starts to set it. 

________________

The elder’s now feel affirmed more than ever in their terrifying conclusion that this was not the work of one demented soul but an organised effort by a group of individuals working together in tandem to bring chaos to the tribe. To what end, they still didn’t know, but they were certain that no one human can achieve this feat of superhuman strength by themselves and that this must mean that there is a secret cult working to undermine the very foundation of this tribe, to take it down from its strongest link and watch everything else will fall apart following suit. 

But you have a more terrifying proposal that you do not dare utter. This was the work of a single individual, a dark rotten soul that has crossed the invisible line between flawed but salvageable human to complete corruption into a demon. 

But you won't say it. You can’t even bring yourself to fully accept it. There is no way he could have achieved this level of power. There is no way he has forsaken his soul so completely…

But when you had looked into the hollow sockets that had once contained the bull’s gentle eyes, you couldn’t help but conceitedly think that this was intentionally targeted at you. You were one of the privileged few tasked with caring for this most sacred and divine animal, and through its familiar eyes, the gods watched over you and protected you for years. But now that it has been blinded, will they be able to ward off the creeping evil that they can't see? 

The elders interrogate you about that cursed day over and over again, along with everyone else that had access to the sacred temple in order to try to piece together who could’ve done this. They reasoned that whoever did this must be someone from within your midst, otherwise how would they have managed to slip in unnoticed and bypass all the protections meant to keep outsiders away?

But who were they and what exactly did they want, is what they’ve been desperately trying to find out, but their interrogations led them nowhere. Sure, suspicions and accusations were flung around–everyone blaming everyone else in their scared and panicked state, any perceived suspicious look or action was reported to the elders and investigated heavily but no concrete evidence against anyone has been found yet and all this inquiring has managed to do is breed fear and mistrust amongst your ranks. Everyone had one eye on their back and one eye on the other apprentices and priests, watching out for any sign of betrayal, fearful of meeting the same fate as the poor beast. You were now more divided than ever, and if the assailant’s purpose in doing this was to take you down from within, then they’ve already succeeded. 

The rising tensions are made even worse when things start to go missing from the temple–powerful totems, valuable ingredients, ceremonial weapons wielded by the gods in their battles… piece by piece they start vanishing, further proving to the elders that the assailants had help from someone within the temple.  

They start keeping inventory of everything that goes missing in an attempt to divinate the next movement of the culprit, trying to predict what spell or potion they have got planned and what they might seek next, and piece by piece a horrific picture starts to form. They can’t tell exactly what the assailant’s plan was, but they quickly realise that it involved some ancient and dark magic that has largely been lost to time. 

Whoever or whatever is doing this has found a way to unlock knowledge no longer available to the rest of you, and you had no way of protecting yourselves against it. 

________________________________

Kai tries to take your mind off things. Every day after your morning of prayer and interrogation has finished, he walks you along flowery fields and bubbling river banks and speaks to you of the bright futures and happy endings he has planned for you. He tells you how he can’t wait for you to be married and what he imagines your family life will look like–filled with joy and love and the tinkling laughter of a house full of children. You’ll have many, he says, both boys and girls. They’ll be strong and smart and beautiful, just like you–he says. And when you ask if they’ll be priests and priestesses like you or political leaders like their dad, he says they’ll be whoever they want to be just as long as they’re happy and healthy and you all have each other. His sincerity and earnestness almost brings tears to your eyes. You can tell how much he wants it and you want it so badly as well. 

But neither the sweet smell of the roses nor the soft sounds of the water can soothe your nerves. Your fear to touch the roses lest thorns tear your skin. You fear to dip your feet into the water lest it wash you away. And most of all you fear to let yourself step into the enticing dream he has laid out for you lest you fall into a trap and get swallowed whole. You feel severed from the world around you, unable to tell if it would turn against you at a moment’s notice, and even Kai senses it. 

“Hey, it will all be alright. The gods will protect us.” He smiles at you, trying to reassure you but your frown only grows deeper. 

Will they? They couldn't even protect their own vessel so how will they protect you? But you don’t dare share your worrying thoughts. Kai may be kind but even he must have his limits. He may not tolerate such blasphemy. 

You feel his hand on your cheek as he turns you to face him. He brushes the lines of your frown with his thumb gently, his own smooth skin furrowing in response to your distress. 

“What are you thinking about?” 

“Who might be behind this and what their purpose is.” You tell him truthfully but leave out your one suspect. He may be the tribe outcast but that doesn’t mean that your conspiracies about him wouldn’t sound unhinged to Kai. After all, what reason would he have to be doing all of this? What does he gain from it apart from getting back at you and sowing chaos amongst the tribe’s people? No, you have to have better evidence than this, otherwise you’d be exposing yourself and your connection to him for nothing. 

“Maybe the gods are testing us.” He offers, unsure but hopeful. “Maybe they wish to ensure our faith in them is strong and this is our chance to prove this unwavering faith to them, to show them that Gija and his mistakes won’t be repeated again.”

You hesitate. Did Gija face something similar to this? Is this the untold story of why he turned against the gods? Because they had seemingly forsaken him when danger loomed its vicious head? 

No. You must refrain from these sacrilegious thoughts. This is precisely the type of doubt and fear these attacks are meant to provoke, and as a woman of religion, you should have more faith than this. 

“Maybe.” You answer, wincing at how unconvinced you sound and hoping he can’t hear it.

But Kai, ever the caring and tolerant being that he is, doesn’t strike you down for it. Instead, he meets your doubt and fear with compassion and sympathy. “I wish I could take your worries away… or at least lighten their burden on your precious shoulders. If I could bear some of your worries so you can finally get some rest, I would in a heartbeat.”

You give him a small but genuine smile. He is too sweet, too pure. This world doesn’t deserve him. You know you certainly don’t. “I could never wish such pain on you, my sweet. You're the only thing that keeps me going.” 

He sighs, a hint of frustration coming out in his breath that surprises you, and he tangles his hand in your hair and leans his forehead against yours. “I want to help.” He insists, exasperated.

“You are helping.” You maintain, trying to silence his self-doubt, but you both know that’s not the full truth.

“Not enough.” He murmurs sadly, pressing a chaste kiss against your lips–so soft and unsure, beseeching, seeking approval from you, everything that his kiss wasn't. 

You are suddenly angry. You don’t want to be thinking of that stolen kiss. You don’t want to judge your future kisses by it, no matter how favourable they appear in comparison. It shouldn’t have happened and you certainly shouldn’t still be thinking about it.

But you can’t stop. Not when he has been on your mind since this calamity has been set in motion. You’ve barely seen him since that night in the forest. He has not made any attempt to speak to you or get your attention in any way again but you still can’t shake the feeling that he’s behind all of this. 

Is it superstitious and judgemental? Yes. Should you as a priestess rise above these base accusations that so many of your fellow people so easily fall into without thinking? Yes. But you can’t help it. Not when his mere existence has poisoned your mind–shutting your eyes and plugging your ears to the point that you are barely hearing the sweet sounds the boy in front of you is making. And when Kai tries to press his tongue against yours, you flinch back, breaking the kiss as if you were doing something wrong. As if you’ll get punished if you keep going.

“What is it?” Kai asks, concerned and a little bit hurt at your apparent rejection. 

You put on a fake smile for him. “Nothing. I just thought I saw something.”

He frowns. You can tell he wants so badly to believe you and so he tries to lean in for another kiss, hoping this time you won’t reject him, but you instinctively do, taking a step back from him, and now he really looks wounded.

“Are you okay?” He still asks, your well-being still his first thought and it fucking stabs at your heart. 

“I am.” You say and his frown grows deeper and takes on a bitter edge, now probably thinking that if you’re alright then you are rejecting him for him and nothing else, and you can’t let that stand. “I mean, I am trying to be but I just feel a bit overwhelmed with everything that has been happening.”

“You shouldn’t worry about that, my sweet. I'll protect you.” He proclaims and a small airy laugh leaves your lips before you can stop it, unintentionally offending your lover further. 

“What is it? You don't think I can protect you?” He moves away, finally having enough of your disrespect, and you panic, quickly grabbing his hands and squeezing them tightly. “I do not mean to offend you, my love.” 

He scoffs, taking his hands out of your grip, rejecting you for the first time, and just the thought of it squeezes the air out of your lungs. “But you do not deny it. You don't think I can protect you.”

“I am not sure anything can protect us.” You confess cautiously. You wish you could lie and make this better, but you can’t lie to him. At least not anymore than you already are. He has to be warned. “This… thing. It is much too dark and powerful for any of us.”

“Surely it isn't stronger than our courageous religious men and women. They have the gods’ favor. What can prevail against that?” He asks, and you pause. You have to navigate this carefully. You can’t let him see the cataclysmic doubt that threatens the very core of your beliefs. What would you even be if you didn’t have your belief anymore? What is a priestess without her gods? 

“Nothing, my sweet boy.” You paint your face with the most sincere smile you can muster and reach out to cup his face in your hands lovingly. What that looks like, you don’t know, but he still leans into your touch, breaking your heart further as he answers your fake smile with a genuine one of his own and stares at you with the night stars’ twinkling in his pretty eyes.

All the stars of the night sky but one. 

________________

The panic has now spread to the elders. They can no longer turn a blind eye to what is happening around them, especially because despite all their efforts, they are no closer to finding the culprit whose hands have now reached into their midst and left them scrambling for an answer that would explain this threat's surprising prowess. 

Was this the work of a rogue priest? A mythical demon? Were the gods themselves unhappy and smiting you down?

That last one is becoming worryingly and increasingly popular among the tribe's people with every passing day. With no real answers to turn to in times of trouble, this is the one most people eventually fall back on. If the gods are the source of prosperity in good times then naturally the opposite would happen if you fall out of their favour. 

But you refuse to believe this. It doesn't make sense to you. If the gods are behind this then why would they target their own vessel? Why would they make it look like an attack on the gods themselves?

But once again, you couldn't say that. It's blasphemous to even imply anyone or anything can harm the gods. And so who do you blame when the gods aren't happy with what their subjects are doing? The leaders of those subjects, of course. If they did their job correctly and faithfully the gods would've protected them from whatever was out there lurking at the edge of darkness. 

This is the line of thinking that scares you the most. If people fall into this trap then it could quickly turn ugly for Kai and his family, even you. You're not at the top of the command chain but you're a priestess of the gods and if the people perceive that you're failing in your duty to appease those gods then you are in trouble.

Kai tries to calm you down, reassuring you that the people are just stressed and panicking but that once the culprit is caught, this will only strengthen their loyalty to his family and the religious leaders who have protected them. Which all sounds great in theory, but how in the hell were they going to achieve that when they still haven't the faintest clue as to the culprit's identity? No one knows who is behind this and at this point, everyone has started turning on everyone else around them. Neighbours were suspicious of their fellow neighbours, dear friends no longer trusted each other. Even families were starting to break at the seams with fear and doubt. The whole tribe was on the verge of moral collapse and the elders and leaders could do nothing to stop it. 

You, of course, retain your perhaps paranoid inkling about the dark boy. It all makes sense to your panic stricken mind. He knows the layout of the temple from your stupid stories. He knows where the sacred items that have gone missing were kept. He even knows some basic spells and he could learn much more from those stolen artifacts. 

But surely that's not enough? You've trained for years and even you could not carry out an attack of this magnitude. There is no chance he could be capable of this. And what would he even be doing this for? What does he gain from it? Just to spite you? Surely not. You’re being delusional, succumbing to the same panic the common people were. You have no proof and going around accusing him will just land you in trouble. It would just reveal your ill-advised past friendship with him and cast you in an even more suspicious light. 

You have to keep your diseased thoughts to yourself, but it becomes increasingly hard each passing day, especially when you receive yet another “gift”.

When you first saw it perched there innocently on your table, you thought it was from Kai. He has a habit of leaving you gifts, big and small, here and there to try to brighten your day and make you think of him instead of being trapped in your gloomy thoughts. They ranged from little sweets he liked or a pretty flower he found to extravagant rings or hair ornaments he had made specifically for you. 

This one is an ornate, delicately carved wooden box which is one of the most beautiful containers you have ever seen–and for a moment you wonder if that is the gift in itself–already thinking about how you'll surely be using it to store all the precious jewelry he has already gifted you. 

But you were curious to see if it did contain anything, and you find yourself eagerly grabbing the lid and pulling it open to see if there is anything inside. 

But as soon as you do, you quickly drop it with a scream, your knees giving way under you and plummeting you to the ground next to it, the contents of it rolling on the floor in a bloody trail towards you as if it was chasing after you. 

You scramble like a trapped hare away from it, barely realising that your parents have joined you in the room after hearing your cry and the crash. 

“What is it, child?” 

But you can’t answer them, throat closed shut and eyes glued to the detached orbs on the floor–there in front of you lay the sacred bull’s missing eyes. Its eyes that used to be so bright in life with warmth and light now replaced with icy blue crystals crudely jammed in the middle of the irises to form the evil eye, and its menacing gaze was set directly on you. 

You can’t deny it anymore. You are the intended target. If the gods were watching you through the creatures eyes in life then this monster is watching you in death. 

He was here again, in your home, in your room, just like he had been in your temple. There is no refuge of your own that is safe from his dark presence. 

“Oh dear gods, save us.” You hear your father whisper fearfully, following your line of sight and realising what had alarmed you so. 

“It’s for me. I have been cursed.” You say, your voice devoid of any emotion, body going cold with a numbness that can only come about from the realisation that one is utterly doomed. “What am I to tell Kai?”

Your beloved will surely abandon you once he finds out and you cannot fault him. Even love has its limits and who would stand by someone who has the evil eye upon them? 

“Have you gone mad?” Your mother hisses, grabbing you by the shoulders and pulling you to your feet, shaking you. “No one is to hear of this.”

“But mother–” If you don't tell him, he will be dragged into this curse too and you can’t do that to him. It is one thing to be cursed but it is another matter entirely to be so vile as to knowingly extend the same fate onto your beloved.  

“Nothing! If you speak a word of this to anyone, we'll all be cast out. Do you want to kill us?” She asks and you blanch. “No, of course not. I would never wish to hurt you but I do not wish to hurt him either.” 

“He will not get hurt. We can fix this.” She tells you and you stare at her in disbelief mixed with a small inkling of hope. “How?” 

“Every curse has its antidote. Just as someone put this curse on you, likely a jealous girl who wanted the future leader for herself, we can lift it off.”

“You believe this is the work of a mere jealous girl?” Your father asks, clearly doubtful, and she wrings her hands nervously, not believing it herself. This was too advanced, too dark. “Perhaps. Doesn’t matter. Whoever did it surely cannot stand up to our combined power. I am confident we can dispel this.” 

“There is no use.” You shake your head, despairing. “The evil eye is set upon me. I am doomed.” 

Your mother slaps you. “Hush you stupid child. Do not speak such things. You are not doomed. This is merely the work of someone who is trying to ruin your reputation. They're bluffing. They may not have even done this correctly. See, they've already made their first grave mistake. Now that we have an item connected to them we can reach across the ether directly to pull them to us and reveal their true face. Then we shall strike them down and end this once and for all.”

Your tears start to dry and you look at her hopefully. You hadn't considered that. Of course! With this–this vile object in your grasp you can finally trace all of this back to the abominable culprit. “Really, mother? We can stop him?”

“Him?” Your father asks sharply and you cringe back, cursing yourself for the slip-up. “Him. Her. It. Whatever is behind this.”

You hold your breath as he scrutinises you. You imagine a look of suspicion in his eyes and you look away in guilt. Oh gods please don't let him see. You would not bear the blame and disappointment. You felt awful enough already. 

Finally, after a measure of silence, your father proclaims, “Yes. whoever is behind this has some power. I can feel it. But we have had the blood of the mages in our family line for centuries.” You almost breathe a sigh of relief. If your father says it, then it must be so. But then he continues, “He is no match to us.”

You gulp, nodding. 

___________________

Your parents are fluttering about, arranging the final pieces of the ritual. The smells soothe you, the routine familiar. You know this. You're good at this. Even if he is behind all of this, he still doesn't know as much about it as you do. The art of magic has been in your family for centuries while he is a mere novice. He doesn't stand a chance against your family's power. You’ve gotten yourself into such a state over nothing. 

You step up to the circle with a smile. This will all be over soon.

Your family places the wreath of weaved Mugwort and Enchanter’s herb around your neck. They bless you with burning sage and mark your skin with precious dyes in divine symbols meant to invoke the protection of the gods. Once you’re anointed and dressed appropriately, you all reach out to clasp hands and start the chanting, calling upon the gods to watch over you during this perilous venture. You feel a cold breeze overtake the punishing heat in the air and cool you down for the first time in weeks, the bone-deep fever that had been hanging heavily over you starting to seep off your skin. You feel your face naturally relax into a smile as the healing, soothing power of the gods you adore touches your soul once more .

This is it. The curse will lift off you. You should have never doubted the gods. They would never let a true believer like you succumb to such vile forces of evil. 

But your relief is short-lived, barely there before it is whisked away again as your parents continue to chant, now demanding the evil come forth to reveal itself, and you start to see a black cloud materialise in the air and sink down over you, first clouding your vision then stifling your breathing and eventually coming to wrap itself around your body, paralysing you with its sweltering heat. 

You look to your parents in panic, barely able to see them through the steamy haze. You try to open your mouth to say something but it gets swallowed up by the damp darkness surrounding you. 

Please. Cast it away again. I don’t want to do this anymore. I’m scared. Please. You desperately wish to tell them, a sense of dread flooding your paralysed body so fully you fear it would drown you. 

But they don’t stop, going on with their spell, this time attempting to pull the evil away from you to force it to take shape in the centre of the sacred circle so that they can finally start to attack it without hurting you. But it will not let go of you. It fights back, lashing out and digging its claws into your skin with savage force, making you cry out in pain and almost let go of your mother’s hand, but she holds onto it tightly, not letting the spell break.  

You gaze towards her, a fearful look in your eyes as you experience the real pain of your skin being torn into. This thing is even more powerful than you all thought and you can see it in their eyes too. It frightens them but they steel their resolve and chant louder, demanding the evil to let you go and reveal itself to them. 

You wish it wouldn’t. What you’ve seen of this force so far has been nothing but alarming. Just the awareness of its malevolent presence is enough to make you want to run away and hide. You don’t want to face it. You know that’s stupid and irrational of you. Even if you can’t see it, you will still know it is there, coiled so tightly around you and blocking out all the goodness and light in the world. It is too late to back down now, not when you have already called it forth. 

You hear the strain in your parents’ voices as they grapple with the force, bellowing at it and demanding it let you go, but that just makes it dig its claws deeper and deeper into your body until it almost reaches bone. The pain is becoming unbearable and your head starts to swim with the sensation of losing too much blood. You look down at your body, half-expecting to see it gushing out of the deep gashes you can feel in your skin, but your eyes don't meet any red. 

Instead what you do see makes you almost pass out in horror–black leathery hands engulfing your figure in its hateful grip, its dirty claws digging into your skin as it struggles to hold onto you against your parents’ forceful invocations for it to depart. You can feel the anger and malevolence emanating from it and burrowing into your body. It doesn’t want to let you go. It wants to keep you in its hold until it has consumed you whole. 

But your parents won’t let it. Their power reaches forth to wrap around the vile creature and pull it off you, brutally yanking at it until its claws tear off your skin and it is finally forced to let go. 

You shake like a leaf as you see it standing there towering over all three of you in the middle of the enchanted circle. You cannot make out much of its features–the dark cloud like a veil seeming to shimmer and sway over it, obscuring most of its face and body, but you can see the ghastly pointed horns atop its head and those same deathly blue eyes fixed right on you. 

“Who sent you?” Your father asks, but the figure does not answer. It doesn’t even acknowledge your father at all, its cold gaze squarely on you as it reaches forward towards you, desiring to reclaim its grip on you.

You shrink back and try to yank your hands out of your parents grip, wishing desperately to run away from this thing before it manages to latch onto you again.

But your parents hold onto you tightly, your father shouting at the creature, deciding it is too dangerous to try to gain any answers from it and focusing instead on attempting to banish it. “Begone, foul spirit. Cease back to the underworld from whence you came.” 

A shock of power springs up and shoves the creature back and away from you. Its cold, dead eyes light up with fury and it finally moves its ghoulish gaze away from you and fixes it onto your father who slowly starts to be surrounded by the same dark cloud that looms heavily around the creature. 

“What are you doing?” Your father asks as the cloud sways and slithers like a pit of snakes over his body. “Oh, heavens, please.” 

The fear in his voice is almost the most gruesome sound you’ve ever heard, second only to the howl of pain he subsequently lets out as the ghostly tendrils tighten themselves around his body and squeeze, crushing him. 

“No, please!” You cry out, once again trying to pull your hands away. You like to think that if you succeed you’d try to liberate your father from the force’s deathly grip, but you know your terror is so great that you’re just as likely to run away instead.

You don’t get to find out however as your mother keeps her grip on you almost as tight as the creature does on your father, her voice ringing loudly around your home, indirectly telling you to focus on the incantation and not break the spell as the black tendrils coil tighter and tighter around your father’s body. 

You do your best, you really do, joining your shaky voice with her forceful one to keep the spell going but you know your mind is unfocused–your soul not present fully as you watch the life being choked out of your father in horror.

You see it in his eyes first–the fear breaking through his usually steely and stoic gaze. Then it’s his voice, hesitant and strained as the evil spirit coils tighter around him until the words are barely choked out. Then it’s the horrible crunching noise, like bones getting crushed by a boulder, followed by a strained wail that barely sounds like your father, barely sounds human at all.

“Father!” You can’t do it. You can’t keep the spell going, not when blood starts pouring out of the corner of his mouth and his eyes protrude forward as if they’re being squeezed out of his skull. 

The last sound you hear from your father is a haunting low groan that comes from deep within his chest before it gets abruptly cut off as a spurt of blood comes forth from his mouth to drench you and your mother, his hands finally letting go of you as he falls limply to the floor. 

“No!” Your mother screams, also letting go of your bruised hand and rushing forward to catch her husband, only to recoil in horror as his body crumbles gruesomely in her arms. 

You back away, not looking at them but instead staring at the shadowy figure still standing over them. Your mother is too busy wailing over your father’s corpse to pay it any mind but you cannot take your gaze away from it. The danger is still here and it’s coming right at you.

You try to run away but it is too fast for you. Its shrouded hand shoots forward to grab onto your arm, its oppressive strength keeping you in place.

Oh gods, what have you done? Your ritual meant to bring the dark force forward in order to defeat it has only succeeded in giving it shape and allowing it to dig itself even deeper into your lives.

And it knows it too. It’s obvious in the sinister way it smiles at you before it slowly dissipates back into the night air, unseen but ever-present. 

________________________________________

Your father’s burial is a quiet affair. Your mother claims publicly that his death was the result of a terrible attack by a wild animal but you’re not sure if people believe it or not. There are bound to be rumors and gossip swirling around about your father's mysterious and sudden demise in the morning, your family’s name will undoubtedly be in everyone’s filthy mouths as they sling forth accusations and suspicions at you and your mother the same way they did to Beomgyu. You don't miss the irony in that. 

They’ll wonder if your mother has killed your father to hide a lurid affair or if you’ve done it because he discovered some terrible secret you’ve been keeping. But those few who have seen his body and helped return it to the earth will know it was neither one of you, because like the sacred bull, what has become of him couldn’t have been done by a mortal hand. They’ll lie down in their homes at night, clutching their families close to their bodies and wrestling with the harrowing knowledge that the darkness is now coming for them and their children. 

Your mother stays by your father’s grave all night, weeping and wailing–her cries rattling the hearts of all those who can hear her as if she’s a spirit heralding all the death to come. 

Kai tries to stay by your side but you refuse to let him. You’ve seen what you’re up against. None of you stand a chance and you won’t be so selfish as to let it hurt him too. He needs to stay away from you. 

But as you lay down for the night, wrapped up in all your furs despite the suffocating heat that refuses to leave you, you selfishly regret keeping him away. You wish he was here with you. He would not have been able to protect you but at least you wouldn’t be alone. 

No. That’s not true. You’re not completely alone. It’s here. You can feel its dark presence and yet it toys with you, not making a single move. For hours you lay there staring at a singular spot at the roof of your home, unwilling to let your gaze wander around and confirm your dreadful suspicions. For hours, your body stays as rigid as a dead mouse with eyes just as frozen, waiting for that same suffocating grip to coil around your body and crush the life out of it the way it did to your father.

But it never comes. And slowly the energy drains out of your tense body and your tired eyes can stay open no more, falling down and letting you slip into a dangerous slumber.  

That’s when it finally makes its move–when all your defenses are down and you cannot muster enough strength to lift a single finger in your defense, not that you had any delusions of being able to fight it off. 

Your mind is sluggish–caught in a state between consciousness and sleep. It can barely process what is happening, just vaguely aware of its presence above you that stifles your breathing, and when your heavy eyes slowly open, your vision dark and bleary, they are met with that unmistakable bright blue gaze. The evil eye. The creature is upon you. 

It reaches its hand forward to cover your face, your eyelids growing even more heavy at the touch. 

“Please.” Your voice sounds distant and strangled to your own ears but the dark figure doesn’t answer back. It is as silent as death as it coaxes your mind back into darkness.

______________________________

A/N: please leave a message letting me how you're finding the fic so far. feedback is what keeps me going and I am so excited about this fic and wanna know if you're excited about it as well

you could let me know what you think will happen next, what you think the ending will be, who you think she'll end up with or who you want her to end up with, if you think gyu is actually involved or not and what he might be doing. the possibilities are endless lol

[spacerebelsunny]

I have like, a genuine question for everyone. Does this sound like a good villain line?

"If the fall doesn't kill you. The impact will."

*He says as he pushes you off.*

[sugoi-writes]

First Time, First Deal - Alastor x Reader - Part Two

A/N: I'm back! As promised, a part two with some spice and a little angst towards the end. Because of COURSE. Please enjoy~

"O-Of course... make me yours, Alastor."

---

The Demon before you needed little encouragement. At your word, his lips pressed first to your ankles, snaking their way up your calves, your knees... His urge to bite and mark you were being held back, wanting to ensure that the first time spent together brought you no pain... At least, for now.

He was surprised by your voice, the way it rose and waned like your body's colors. The more he kissed, the more sturdy you felt in his grasp. You were soft, heavenly soft: like your body had been sculpted by hand. It was an intoxicating feeling, he had to admit... one that had the darker parts of his mind drifting.

He kept his resolve firm as his kisses reached the roundest part of your thighs, angling his gentle caresses inward towards your core. Your breath was held, unable to be let go as Alastor's face came closer and closer to your pulsing need.

Gentle, careful hands came around the sides of your hips, fingers hooking into the waistband of your undergarments. While pressing another kiss to your abdomen, his eyes flickered up to yours. Wordlessly, he asked for permission; a hasty nod was his only reply.

Alastor chuckled, instead leaning further inward," Dear, if you weren't my current muse and confidant..." he purred, teeth hooking onto the hem of your underwear.

Your heart nearly stopped as your undergarments were pulled down by Alastor's razor sharp teeth. Somehow, your body moved on its own, lifting your hips to assist him.

"I would have torn you apart just then... all too tempting to devour, even now~"

You trembled as your bare sex was exposed, making you stammer through a sigh. Eyes locked onto him, you whisper," Right now, I don't think I would mind... it'd be a-- interesting way to die again..."

Alastor's grin grew wickedly, as a long, wet stripe was drawn on your right inner thig.

"Tempting... but for you, I'll grant you a more satisfyingly 'quick death'..." Alastor rebukes, your head falling back. Your lips trembled as a tender kiss landed on the spot you needed most. His tongue runs along the length of your core, as if mapping you out... This, unlike the rest of your body, wasn't completely corporal yet. But as he coddled and teased, you became more solid, dangerously delicate to his sinful lips. He wished to corrupt you... to tear your apart, something FOUL... but that would have to come at a later date.

Alastor places his hands between your knees, forcing your legs to giving him more room. You wait with baited breath before Alastor begins anew with a lulling, pleasing tempo. His tongue was a hot, molten muscle... a sensation that made you burn and yearn for more.

Your hands shakily support your weight as you try not to fall backward, eyes peering down at the sight between your legs. As Alastor's eyes fluttered closed, a pleased groan reverberating through your cunt. You jolt, the sudden, intense sensation making you quake. Alastor chuckles, the sensation from his voice stirring you again.

"Wh-wha-- Oh my Go-- how???" Questions flooded your mind as your sentences came out in disjointed babbles. Your partner's minstrations made you shake with pleasure.

Alastor sends a knowing grin your way, humming as he swirls his tongue around your entrance. You panic and yelp, a hand flying up to stifle your wail. Can't get too carried away, lest a "wayward soul" catches you two in the act...

"My voice, I've found... has an interesting timbre to it... it can give someone quite a shock when it's close to their skin..." You practically sobbed, Alastor's voice vibrating your core more than any Earthly vibrator could. His mouth had made you feel as wet and slippery as a succubus in church... Your hand shakily moves up into your hair, pushing your fringe off of your forehead.

"O-oh my-- God, Alastor!! Y-You shouldve-- I might--!" Between the steady vibrations from Alastor's humming, and the length of time since you last got off... the knot twisting in your loins was growing dangerously tight. Alastor's grin becomes mischievous, a hand smoothing over your abdomen. With ease, he pushes you onto your back. You were just a rag doll under his guided, sensual touch. The Radio Demon pulls back momentarily with a wet pop, before licking his glistening lips.

"I find a meal more delectable when you don't have the full picture, dont you? Think of this as my secret ingredient... a trademark~" Alastor quips. Your neck cracks with how violently your head tosses back, Alastor having picked up the pace. You hear the filter in his voice grow thicker, as if cranking the volume on a toy to a higher output.

"One that- hah-- makes me want to lick my plate clean...~"

Alastor's unbashed, loose groans makes your core sing, your mind swimming through wades of white static at your impending orgasm. Your chest heaves, your toes curl in; it was sudden and with little warning. Alastor could feel you frantically tapping his cheek before you buck into his mouth, your essence soaking his lower jaw.

You quaked with relief as the sensation you hadn't felt in months washed over you, your eyes rolling back towards your skull. Alastor's skilled lips and tongue work you through your high, guiding you back to your body as your mind slows down. The both of you are panting, unsure of what should be said or done next. Was this all....? Was the contract satisfied?

You could barely see that Alastor's lips trembled, a pleased sigh rolling off his chest. Of course not.... how would you even think of being done, after seeing him like this?

You sat up on your elbows, Alastor still licking his saturated lips. You swallow thickly as you watch him try to regulate his breathing, smoothing the wrinkles in his suit. Suddenly, his legs buckle under his body, as if lightheaded. When he falls to his haunches, you spy a familiar outline in his pants... One that made your mouth dry: an outline of a hardened, WELL hung cock. You nearly moaned at the sight, sitting up fully.

"Do you... do you need some help with that? Or maybe-- maybe you would want to stop here..." Your nerves were getting the best of you, purple swirls flooding your near-pearlescent body (one that you had never witnessed before).

With an airy sigh, Alastor palms himself through his trousers, as if readjusting. He's quick to shake his head," The only condition was that you found your completion... I have no need for such things." You roll your eyes as you lean up, crawling forward. Your shaky legs burned as you finally closed the space between your lips and his, tasting yourself on his tongue. 

Alastor nearly stumbles backward, the call of a startled animal gracing your velvety lips. Alastor's mind lags, eyes blown wide. After a beat, something inside of his mind informs him to return the gesture; he did so heatedly. When you part, your eyes glisten with knowledge and desire.

"Contract be damned. If I can't add a clause... then this one is out of the goodness of my heart," you practically purred, pulling Alastor up by his blazer.

"Whatever's left of that, at least~"

Alastor's breath leaves him, as a familiar throb echoes through his body. That was a dangerous thing to say around a demon like him...

He had little time to stop you before you're both flung onto the bed, your back pressed firmly into the mattress below. Alastor searches your face for hesitation, as if looking for a way out, before he hisses from bliss. One or your warm, treacherous hands finds its place on his crotch, teasing his tense member.

"So what will it be, Alastor...? May I lay claim to you, too?" Alastor's face scrunches up momentarily. He?!? Be owned by YOU? Even in the metaphorical sense, this idea rattled him. Enraged him. He, the Radio Demon, should belong to NO ONE. And even then, he was already entangled in someone else's web...

But, your devilish little fingers were making his stance harder to uphold, his eyes fluttering as you begin to free his cock. His predicament be damned... you simply knew what buttons to press, as if your hand were hovering over them this whole time.

His precum was all that was needed to wet his member, your hand sliding along it with ease. The sensation urked him, but the dizzying pleasure he felt outshined his disdain for his own essence. He hadn't realized that your vulgar display had spurred his pleasure this much.

"You may be walking into a contract you may not be able to fulfill, my dear..." Alastor warns, his eyes wide and glowing from your teasing. His pupils flicker to dials briefly, as if to further illustrate the situation you're in. His voice oozed venom, but his body betrayed him. Your smile almost perfectly mimics his own, a heated kiss being pressed to his neck.

"Then make it a deal I can't possibly refuse...~"

---

You needed little preparation, most of which was drowned out by Alastors wide, hot mouth on yours. Like frenzied animals, you swallowed each other's moans and cries, dry humping and bumping into one another like your lives depended on it. Somehow, Alastor's hand still managed to tease and prepare you, while yours continued to bolster and engorge his member.

Alastor's face was flushed, lips swollen and puffy from your mutual assault when you parted. Clothes were not necessary, and so Alastor was rid of those moments before. As his cock glided between your petals, you again caught a glance, practically daring your to invite him in. And like a cunning vampire, he did not cross the heated ring of your threshold until your practically begged him.

Your head spun as you were speared by his cock, his length not the only impressive part of his manhood. Your eyes watered, a strangled cry hastily mangled by Alastor's lips once more. You heard the radio close by build in volume; perhaps a lackluster attempt to drown your sounds out. Alastor grips your chin tightly when he bottoms out in your silken cavern, his nose brushing yours.

"You are ONLY to make those sounds for me, and no one else... understood?" You gasped as Alastor began to move, your body shaking from the sensation. Old habits would never die, as he treated your mingling like a negotiation.

"Y-Yes sir, Alastor..." A strained groan leaves your partner as his next thrust comes faster, leaving you gapping like a fish out of water.

"I am the only one who may be graced with this ravenous display... understood?" the Demon grit out, his antlers growing in magnitude. You could barely think as you frantically nodded, your hips meeting his thrusts.

"Y-Yes, Al--ahh!! Alastor!" His teeth grazed across your neck cautiously, the location of your jugular so close to his tongue. It thrilled and frightened you to know that one bite would be all it took to end your afterlife. Alastor knew this too, his back arching as he continued to piston into you. He was surprised at how pliable your entrance was... maybe you weren't completely corporal, afterall?

No matter he thought... he would ensure that your body would become perfectly moulded to his cock, unable to stuff anything else within.

Alastor's grip on your hips began to leave marks as his pace became less careful, your breath coming out in quick, pleasured rasps. His name became an intoxicating matra to his ears.

"Yes... yes dear, just like that... Your voice may very well become the star of my next broadcast!!" You squealed as you felt his cock throb within you, arms flying up to wrap around his neck. Alastor rested his chin on the crown of your skull as he continued to seek both of your peaks.

"Y-Yes... yes, I think your shrills... your WAILS of pleasure would be--" Alastor's hips stutter as you clamp down on him. His mind was wavering, and your body cementing him back into the moment.

" N-No... no, you're right. I must have you... MINE, all mine...," he panted as his head lolled forward," How could I forget our arrangement, cher?!"

Your eyes fluttered open as Alastor's blissed out, manic laughter flooded your senses. The petname was not missed by you...

You clung for dear life as your orgasm continued to build,"I-Im yours, Al!!!"

You whined, tilting your head back before Alastor kisses your forehead," Pl-Please... please, make me cum...!" You could feel Alastor's grin strain and widen, a bemused moan leaving him.

"Only when I SAY you can cum, darling!!"

You wailed as Alastor's hips slowed, thrashing beneath the deer demon. Like wild game stuck in a bear trap, you became desperate. His eyes were malicious, tongue running across his teeth cheekily. You could feel his ego building, the control he has in this situation making him all the more hard.

"Pl-Please... fuck, Al-- I mean-- fuck me, Alastor!!"

Alastor's hips delivered a tantilizing thrust, hitting a spot that made you see the Heavens," What was that~? I can't hear you over those cute, pathetic mewls you're making~"

You could barely speak as Alastor continued the slow attack on your most sensitive spot, one that you had not felt in YEARS. You practically screamed for Alastor to fuck you silly, his laughter following a brutal revival in his pace.

" Well, well, well! That's what I like to hear~"

His cock was merciless, the grotesque sounds of flesh striking flesh drowning both of your senses. Your hands clung to anything they could grasp: his cheeks, his shoulders, his back, his hips... your hands explored him desperately. They were almost as desperate as Alastor's cock grew to be.

He was losing himself, he feared. His eyes were half lidded and focused on the way your lips parted, and the way your body recoiled and collided with his... It was almost too much, too much stimulus for him to focus on. He needed something to refocus him: one solid thing to ground him.

As Alastor panted like an animal in heat, you caught the distant look in his eyes. Your expression softened, hands shakily capturing his face. Alastor's eyes left your body, widening as they landed on your eyes again. Though lust and desire swirled in them, your underlying desire was still so pure, so genuine...

"L-Let's-- let's do it together? Okay???"

Alastor was about to retort, an attempt to take back control from the situation. To his horror, your lips were more convincing. He relented, his hips stuttering once more as he felt your walls closing deliciously around him. He could not see the heated way you collided again when you both peaked, his hips coming to a halt. He nearly winced, not meaning to cum inside of you. You didn't seem to mind, as you greedily swallowed up his grunts and fluids.

"Sh-Shit...!"

There were little movements, shaky thrusts and grinds, as the two of your spiraled back down. The room felt like it had melted into a deep void, the two of you being the only objects of interest inside. Alastor collapsed on top of you as the radio hummed quietly beside you, your eyes fluttering open.

"That was... Alastor, that was... perfect," you wheezed. Though Alastor wasn't heavy, his weight still felt suffocating after your intimate romp.

"Was it-- was it good for you, too?" You could not see the slight panic in his eyes, his face buried into your neck. His breath was still labored as his mind was racing.

"It... it was splendid, dear. Absolutely... splendid." You sigh with relief, unable to see the gears spinning in his twisted mind. You patted Alastor's back, signalling him to get up. Alastor squeezed you into a tight embrace, making you chuckle," O-Oh... didn't realize you uhh.... y-yeah, yeah we can cuddle too. I guess that's pretty normal after something like this."

Alastor could only hum in agreement as you rotated the both of you to your sides. You felt your face heat up as your felt Alastor' release slowly trickle out of you. The demon's face left your neck. Instead, he tucked you into his chest, a hand coming up to cradle the back of your head. The gesture was seen as a kind one to you... but to Alastor, it was to prevent you from seeing him like this.

You grew tired as you inhaled deeply, the smell of sex and pine mixing into your senses," I... I'll be honest, I'm not sure if I can walk, but... wake me up in a few minutes...? We can take a nap and clean up soon, 'kay?"

"Of course," Alastor replied, his characteristic filter comforting you," Take all the time you need, mon cher..." You hummed quietly, snuggling just a bit closer as you felt sleep take you.

Alastor huffed, a hand coming up to comb through his sweaty hair. This was MORE than just different... more than some deal or experiment. That felt real. TOO real. He looked down to your sleeping form, eye twitching. And how he relinquished control like that... even though you mutually wanted this... that was scary. Frightening. His shadows loomed higher over the two of you, its expression manic.

Surely he wasn't losing his edge, right? This was just a friend helping out another friend, right? You were a friend who was charming, sweet, and felt... MUCH too soft for her own good.

A taloned hand ran through your hair, surprisingly chaste... He nearly jumped out of his skin as you groaned in your sleep, relaxing into the touch. His shadow disapated. Perhaps he wasn't shaping you to his liking... Perhaps you were shaping each other?

Alastor held you close as he reflected on the experience. One that was most definitely fun and positive... but one that troubled him all the same. He MUST be careful. For both of your sakes. If he got too invested, there would be no telling what would happen to either of you. And, perhaps his most troubling thought...He realized there was, indeed, one demon in Hell that he had grown to care for.

Sleep did not wait long for Alastor... in fact, he fell victim to it swiftly, unable to wake until the next morning, to the subtle sound of your breathing...

[thearcaneblog]

Shattered Crowns and Broken Bonds

Here is chapter 1 of my fanfiction for Arcane since you all kept making me cry with your posts and edits. Well any way hope you enjoy. Let me know if you like it. Chapter 1: Echoes of the Blast Vi entered the dark space once occupied by her sister. Unfinished gadgets littered the workbench to her right. Drawings decorated every available surface. Sharp. Jagged. Fractured. Distinctly Jinx. Vi could feel her presence here, faint and distant, as if buried beneath the dust and discarded ideas. As she walked to a room of blankets built out from a dug out room. The sound of her steps echoed in the openness of the hide out until her toes kicked something causing it to make a piiiing. In the dim light Vi could not make it out. She bent down, fingers brushing the cold metal she had just kicked. As she brought it up to her face, her heart dropped as recognition triggered her brain. 

“Vi! It worked!” Powder exclaimed, turning the corner. So proud and confident that finally one of her inventions finally worked. She had done it. She had helped her friends and Vi!

Vi looked up from the broken Vander. Shock and realization finally entering her mind. Powder? How could she have done this? “You did this? Why? Why did you do this?” How could she have done this? Killed her friends, her father!

Powder’s eyes survey the scene. The building was destroyed. The massive figure behind Vi, is that? No it couldn’t be. But it is. It is Vander. Where is Milo? Where is Clagger? No they couldn’t be too. Powder’s stomach twists, fear and panic bubble to the surface. She didn’t want this to happen. Her invention finally worked! Panic set in. Was this her fault? “I only wanted to help. I only wanted to help!”

Grief and anger swirl within Vi, clouding her vision. “I told you to stay away.”

“Please, please!” Powder pleads, tears pouring down her face! But Vi doesn’t care.

She is angry. “I told you to stay away!” And Vi did something she had never done before. She hit Powder. With loathing. How could she? How dare Powder do this to her!

“Why did you leave me?”

“Because you’re a Jinx!” 

Vi doesn’t remember what was said after. She just remembers a screaming Powder. She remembers how she left. She was going to go back and get her. She couldn’t believe she hit her sister. Made her bleed! But then everything changed. Silco. Silco got Powder and Vi got a jail cell for seven years.

Vi gripped the monkey bomb so tightly that her fingers ached, the cold metal like an anchor to her own guilt. It dug into her palm, a reminder of everything she had lost and everything she hadn’t been able to prevent. Vi’s vision blurred. The walls felt like they were closing in around her, jagged, unfinished edges of graffiti and discarded gadgets blurring into her pain. The hollow silence of the room seemed to echo her own, like the weight of everything she had lost was pressing down on her chest. Tears began to fall freely from her eyes until she fell to her knees, chest heaving and tears choking her. The broken monkey bomb felt like a brand, marking her as the cause of it all. What if... What if she hadn’t hit Powder? What if she hadn’t left? Maybe Jinx would never have been born. Maybe everything would’ve turned out differently. The thought made Vi choke, her breath short and erratic. She couldn’t breathe through it. Couldn’t breathe through the thought that she’d broken her sister... that it was all her fault.

Rhythmic footsteps echoed as Vi sat there, crumpled on her knees holding one of the last remnants of her sister. Caitlyn slowly walks behind Vi. She doesn’t say anything, just watches a moment as Vi’s sobs and screams like knives in a heart continue. Vi needs this. Caitlyn sat beside her, neither pushing nor pulling, just existing as a steady presence. Her hand hovered just shy of Vi’s shoulder, the gesture unsaid but understood. Caitlyn didn’t need to speak. Vi had no words. They were two people trapped in grief, but somehow... together. Jinx and Caitlyn may have never gotten along, but she understood. Vi had lost so much in her young life. Her birth parents. Her adoptive father. Her childhood friends. Her sister. Her youth. Her adoptive father again. Her sister again. Vi had never truly had a moment to mourn all that she had lost. It was in this moment Cait finally understood just how strong Vi was as she grieved a lifetime of loss and suffering. Vi’s sobs echoed along the walls of this place. Caitlyn just sits. Just provides comfort with her presence. Minutes or hours later, neither Caitlyn or Vi could tell, Vi finally began to calm down as the sobs transitioned into sniffs and shaky breaths. It had been months since Noxus had tried to take over Piltover. Months since Caitlyn had lost her eye. Since Ekko and Jinx, and the rest of Zaun had saved them. Months since…since Jinx sacrificed herself in the Hexgate. It had been months, but for everyone that was there, for everyone that lost someone that day, it still felt like it was only yesterday.

During this time, Caitlyn had done everything she could to help Vi. She’d been there for her physically, mentally, and emotionally. And along the way, Caitlyn had gathered pieces of information—pieces that painted a picture far more complicated than either of them could have imagined. The truth about Jinx was still elusive, but Caitlyn wasn’t ready to give up. She needed to know if there was a way—any way—to bring Vi’s sister home. Caitlyn’s heart ached at the thought of Vi’s reaction. She could still see the way Vi’s eyes had darkened when she spoke of Jinx, the pain that lingered in her words. Caitlyn wasn’t sure if this was the right time, but she couldn’t deny the truth anymore. Could Vi bear to hear it? Could she bear to tell her? The hope that Jinx might still be alive felt like a fragile thing—something that could shatter just as easily as it was formed.

Vi, still shaking, managed to look up. She had known Caitlyn was there. Heard the familiar pats of her footsteps. Felt her presence. And while her whole life had been filled and defined by tragedy, Caitlyn had brought her peace. Was it perfect? No. Anyone would have looked at someone from Zaun and someone from Piltover and never expected them to get along. The two were different and yet their differences made them work.

“Thank you,” Vi managed to croak, throat still raspy for however long she had been crying. She took a ragged breath, “I can’t believe you found this place. She seemed so…hurt. So broken.” Again, guilt knotted at the pit of her stomach threatening to send her into the darkest parts of her mind again.

Caitlyn had to agree. The unfinished graffiti on the floors and walls told the story of someone who needed help, but Vi was going to spiral out again and Caitlyn hated to see her that way. “It’s not your fault Vi. You were a child. A child who suddenly lost your world and did what children do. She was also a child. Neither of you could have known or even understood what would happen.”

“But if I had just gone-”

“If you had gone back Silco could, and probably would, have caught and killed you,” Caitlyn said pointedly. But then she softened. They’d had this argument before. Several times. Grabbed Vi’s hand. “And I never would have met you.”

Vi lightly chuckled. “And where would you be without me, Cupcake?”

“Probably sipping tea in the parlor to be honest.” Vi looked at her bewildered, but then Vi smirked. “So you’d be sipping tea, huh? That sounds boring.” Caitlyn chuckled softly. “Probably. But I wouldn’t trade what I have now for anything. Not even a parlor tea set.”

The two stare at each other for a moment, just enjoying the company. Caitlyn reached out to Vi’s face and pushed her red hair. Caitlyn smiled slightly. “There you are.”

A ringing interrupted their quiet moment. Caitlyn’s communicator. Caitlyn sighed and pulled it out to see it was a message from the Council. Caitlyn read the message and gasped.

Vi’s hands trembled slightly, a deep, hollow feeling spreading through her chest as Caitlyn read the news. She wanted to stay here, in this moment, this fragile quiet between them. But the world was waiting. And so was the chaos. “What happened?” she rasped, voice cracked, as though even the question could break her.

“It’s the council. There's been an explosion at The Sun Gate. Lot’s of damage and fatalities. Trade there has stopped temporarily until this is resolved. Vi…Vi I’m so sorry but we need to go.”

“What? Now? Aren’t there enough enforcers to investigate this? We just found her-her home.”

“I’m sorry Vi. The council insists. They need us at the chamber to debrief.” Vi feels crushed. Like a hand had forced its way through her chest and squeezed her heart. It was like her sister dying all over again. Caitlyn hated seeing Vi like this. “I promise we’ll come back. We just need to see what is happening.”

Caitlyn stood up placing a sympathetic hand on Vi and began to walk out. Vi didn’t budge. She stared hard at the broken monkey gripping it even tighter. After a moment her grip loosened, and she laid the monkey down on the ground again before she stood up. Vi stood there for a long moment, gazing at the ruins of her sister’s hideout. The weight of those final words — “Always with you, sis.” — pressed against her chest. She could feel Jinx’s presence, even in the empty silence. “I’ll be back,” Vi whispered, her voice trembling but firm. “I promise.” As Vi and Caitlyn departed the hideout, across Zaun, chaos was erupting anew.

In Zaun, Ekko is dealing with the aftermath of another attack on Firelight territory. The acrid smell of smoke and the distant sound of crumbling structures filled the air as he surveyed the wreckage. Firelight members scrambled to contain the damage, dousing embers and patching wounds in the dim green glow of Shimmering streetlights.

"Any survivors?" Ekko asked, his voice tight as he approached Zeri, who stood over a group of frightened children huddled near a scorched wall. She shook her head, her normally vibrant energy subdued.

"No one from the outer posts," Zeri said, her fists clenched. "They hit fast and hard, just like the last time. We couldn’t even see where they came from."

Ekko’s jaw tightened as he knelt beside the children, offering them a reassuring smile that didn’t reach his eyes. "We’ll get through this," he murmured, though his mind churned with unease.

Nearby, Raph—a young Firelight scout—called out, "Boss! You need to see this." Ekko straightened, following Raph to a crumbling section of wall. There, painted in jagged strokes, was a crude crescent symbol. The edges dripped with fresh paint, its stark white lines glowing faintly under Zaun’s eerie light.

Ekko’s breath caught. His mind raced back to a memory he’d tried to bury: a dark alley, a frenzied laugh, and that same crescent, scratched onto a ruined wall. It had been months, nine to be exact, but the sight of it stirred a knot of dread in his chest.

"What is it?" Zeri asked, noting his expression.

Ekko shook his head, masking his unease. "Nothing. Just… something we need to figure out."

As they worked to assess the damage, Ekko’s focus was split. Whoever was behind these attacks wasn’t just targeting them—they were sending a message. The symbol wasn’t just graffiti; it was a taunt, one designed to drag the past into the present.

Hours later, as the Firelights regrouped in their hidden base, Ekko studied the symbol sketched out on a scrap of metal. His fingers traced the jagged lines, a growing sense of foreboding settling over him. He couldn’t shake the feeling that this was personal, that someone out there knew exactly how to get under his skin.

Outside, amidst the shadows of Zaun’s labyrinthine alleys, a figure lingered, cloaked in darkness. Their eyes gleamed as they surveyed the Firelight base from a distance. Before disappearing into the night, they scrawled a fragment of bright, chaotic graffiti onto a nearby wall—wild and unmistakable in its style. The name "Jinx" practically screamed from the vibrant colors.

When Ekko emerged moments later, drawn by a faint noise, he found the graffiti. His heart sank, confusion and anger battling for dominance. "Jinx…?" he whispered, his voice barely audible. But deep down, he knew it couldn’t be her—not like this.

And yet, the chaos felt so familiar, it hurt.

[wilberwrites]

I am making myself digestible, I am removing myself piece by piece,

I start with my eyes, i remove the spark, the fire and passion,

Then i move to the hair, i take away my expression, my creativity

Next to go is my smile, my teeth and my tounge, along with them goes my cheek and my wit,

I am trying to make myself easy to like, to be around,

I take away my heart, my soul and my sadness,

Those get escorted out by my withering happiness,

I am making myself digestible,

I am making myself a good person.

[drblacula]

i love the way you edit them, and then i wanted (if you could) to make some south park graphics! it can be kyle and stan, or you can also choose! i just want to see because i've never seen anyone do south park D:

Stan and Kyle graphics ! F2U ! notes : can I be honest when I was looking up some transparent pngs of these guys I . Was taken aback by the crimes these kids have done like THEYRE AT MAX 9 - 10 FYM THEY MURDERED AND FLASHED PEOPLE ? LIKE HELLO ?

art is by Vpzto on IG + mewoj on tiktok

stills + uncolored ver of the stan graphic if you want them :

[rainbowratsstuff]

Having ideas to make cute magnetic charms like these with Cats ships 🤔

what do you think?

[hadesgirl015]

Chapter 2: No Discussion Necessary

Chapter Summary: The rest of the camp finally gets to meet little Xan, and a discussion on how to keep him safe is started.

Story Summary: Back in crèche Y’llek Lae’zel found a lone githyanki egg. With all other life in the crèche wiped out, Lae’zel brought the egg with her. She has been carrying it and watching it ever since. It shouldn’t hatch anytime soon…should it? A series of one shots in no particular order except for the first two.

[captainwolf]

Chapter 5: A Crocodiles Tears

Tw: blood, ptsd, wound care, pain, cursing, anxiety attack

Summary: Hook makes a choice between loving you or his reputation with the crew

He didn’t mean it. He couldn’t have.

Later, after you drove the braves and lost boys back to their place, you seized your chance to sneak away from the group and went down to mermaid lagoon. Your mind was distracted ever since. Constantly racing in disbelief at the captains words. For some odd reason you seemed to get along with one of them and it helped to vent to her but sadly when you arrived she was nowhere to be found. With a sigh, you sat down on the edge of the rock, removed your mud scuffed boots, and dipped your aching feet into the water below.

Reminiscing on what Hook had said, you tried to figure out how to deal with this sudden change in his behaviour. The leaves of the brush behind you rustled, snapping you out of your deep thoughts. You grabbed your sword, drawing it as you turned behind you to face your intruder.

“Oh, it’s you.” You stated,slightly relieved it wasn’t a threat. It was Hook. You put away your sword and relaxed as he stepped forward with an outstretched hand to you. You ignored his gesture and turned your back to him. Tears of anger and pain still fresh on your tired face.

“I don’t want this for you, y/n. It’s a hard life and I’m a-,” he glanced to his hook that once was his left hand. “-a broken man. I wish I could give you that and to be more, but I know it’s an impossible dream.” Hook rambled on, standing behind you. “It’s pan and his ridiculous games that have blinded me with revenge all these years!”

Without warning an arrow shot from the brush. It was a lost boy from nearby, hidden in the forest. You felt a sudden pain in your chest and fell as you grabbed it instinctively. You opened your eyes to find that the arrow had struck deep. Dizzy from the pain, your gaze slowly drifted up to see Hook staring down at you. You were in his arms, but how? He must’ve caught you. Blood poured out of the wound through your shirt. Eyes widened, Hook was panic stricken as he stared the crimson stain. You could hear his heart beating so loud in his chest from the fear. Wincing in pain, you leaned up with one hand as the other held pressure to the wound.

“Hook? Hey, captain? James?” You called out, but it was no use. You needed his help to get the arrow out so you could patch it up. When waving a hand and calling his name didn’t work, you kissed him to try and bring his attention back. His eyes softened and his breathing slowly returned to normal. It worked.

“Look at me. I need your help. Please, James.” You begged, pressing your forehead to his as you held his gaze. He didn’t reply but only nodded. Quickly you made your move and instructed him to pull the arrow out while looking away. You guided his hand to the shaft and made sure he had a tight grip before giving the order.

“Fucking hell be damned!” you yelled out in pain; startling Hook. He glanced to look at the bloody arrow then to you. Faint from it all, you collapsed.

“Oh no! Y/N, I’m so sorry!” Panic stricken again; he rushed over to you. “No,no. Don’t you dare leave me. Stay with me.”

You were amazed at how he had quickly overcome his fear of the blood; at least when it came to you being hurt. Hook carefully cradled you in his arms, unsure of what to do.

“You’re the only one who can make this old pirate believe again. You have a heart of the purest gold and I don’t want to lose you.” He confessed, voice cracking as he held back tears. “I want to wake next to you every morning, y/n. Stand beside you at the helm and fight alongside you during the day. See the stars shine in your eyes when you talk of your dreams in the late nights. Only you; my sweet darling.”

Weakly, you reached up to wipe the tears from his face that he had failed to stop from falling.

“There you are, my love.”

The captain smiled through the tears as he took your hand in his and held it tight. He held you close against his chest as you slowly began to lose consciousness from the pain. Seeing you fade, Hook began to panic again, gently shaking you to keep you alert. Then it dawned upon him.

The ship! There was medicine on the ship that Smee had traded with Tiger Lily. He swiftly stood up with you in his arms and carried you back through the forest to the ship.

[lauraslesbiann]

I made a dan and phil playlist and im pretty proud of it!

[invisiblerambler]

hi I posted the first chapter of a murder mystery AU of the bear. I hope people like it, it is my baby and the thing keeping me sane during these last months of grad school.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/63200872/chapters/161871283

[atitanbitch]

Μανία Αγάπη

Ashes to ashes,

Heart to heart,

I beg to tear your bones apart.

Digging in until I’m full,

Feasting on your bleeding skull.

While I dug into your head,

I couldn’t help but wish you dead.

Even though I loved you so,

I dragged on, your body in tow.

As we neared your resting place,

I couldn’t help but watch your face.

The love I saw there blinded me,

And filled me with your memory.

The time we spent, the hours shared,

In your eyes, it all was bared.

In the end you had no fear,

Since your killer, you held dear.

You died so happy,

In the end,

Giving your life into my hand.

Final act, your sacrifice,

Got our wish and paid the price.

Through sunken eyes, I feel your love,

Blood and tears, your heart a glove.

Never to fade, never gone,

For in death and pain, our love lives on.

The title, “Μανία Αγάπη” literally translates from Greek to “rage love.” Individually, however, the words are “mania” and “agape”, which are two types of love. Mania is obsessive and violent. Hence the narrator’s desire to kill and devour the person they love, because of their love. Agape is self sacrificial. That is the dead lover who wanted to die because the person they love wanted it, willing to do anything for the person they love.

(Also I am not Greek nor do I speak Greek. I did research to find the inspiration for the title)

[drplantboss]

On Shadow working for G.U.N. and “Never Turn Back”

I’ve seen a lot of people criticizing the fact that Shadow works for G.U.N. at the time of Sonic ‘06. Most people have the argument that “G.U.N. is the organization that killed Maria!” Their logic is that he shouldn’t be willing to work for the organization that killed his best friend. I have a few problems with that take. 

The first is that it fundamentally isn’t the same organization. It’s been 50+ years since that happened, and the current head honcho of G.U.N. is someone who was also personally traumatized by Maria’s death. While the Commander and Shadow had their differences in Shadow the Hedgehog, that was mostly over a misunderstanding and those events aren’t even solidly canon. I personally perceive the first 10 endings of ShTH05 and the events that lead to them as all hypotheticals; only the final “true” ending actually happened. In that case, they may have never actually confronted each other initially. 

The other reason is because of what the entire arc Shadow underwent in his titular game achieved. Shadow learns not to dwell on the past. He learns that he needs to keep moving forward, and never turn back. This is not a covert theme, either; the ending theme of ShTH05 is literally the track “Never Turn Back” by Crush 40. It happens to be my favorite Sonic vocal track because this song just fits Shadow’s ending so perfectly here (plus it’s a banger). I recommend you listen to it yourself, but I’ll mention the relevant lyrics here. Let’s go through the first verses.

It's been a long, rough road

And I'm finally here

I move an inch forward

Feels like a year

Everything I feel seems so unreal

Is it true?

Is it true?

I take one step forward

And two steps back

Got a hundred thousand pounds

Sitting on my back

Up, down, all around

Don't know quite what to do

To get through

Shadow is burdened not just by the title of “Ultimate Lifeform” but also by his promise to Maria. All of this, combined with the fact that he only just rediscovered who and what he is, and the sledgehammer to the head that would be finding out you are a biological weapon and a tool that has been used to nefarious ends on multiple occasions would certainly feel like a hundred thousand pounds sitting on your back. This section signifies Shadow struggling with that responsibility — but he’s taking it on. He will help people, he will keep his promise to Maria, he will be the Ultimate Lifeform.

I guess I'm moving all right and I'm on my way

Facing every moment day by day

Take a chance, slip on by, got no time to answer why

Head straight, head straight

What will I become if I don't look back

Give myself a reason for this and that

I can learn, no U-turns, I will stay right here where I'm at, where I'm at

Shadow is starting to overcome some of that pressure. There’s still doubts as he makes the decision to keep moving forward without looking back — he asks, “What will I become if I don’t look back; give myself a reason for this and that.” He very quickly reaffirms the commitment in the next line, but it does show some doubt. At the end of the day, his past still defines who he is. His promise to Maria, his responsibility as a forceful individual still drive him forward and compel him to do the right thing. But the other aspects of his past he is choosing to leave behind.

Well I'm on my way

On my way

On my way

On my way

Here I am,

Made it to the end of you

Never had a chance while I'm around

No! No!

No, no, no, no!

Well, now I'll never turn back,

I'll never turn that way

No matter how life tries to face me

I'll turn the other way

Now and then,

My head starts to spin,

But I'll never turn back again

No! No!

From this moment on,

I am moving on,

And I'll never turn back

Again

The chorus is Shadow’s promise: a promise to himself, to Maria, and to the world. He will never turn back to the weaponized hatred that Gerald programmed into him. He will never turn back to the alien domination of a doomed species. He will never return to thinking he could be an android subservient to Dr. Eggman. From this moment on, he’s moving on. 

Shadow’s entire character in Sonic ‘06 is an affirmation of the development he underwent in his own game. Shadow has a static arc in ‘06; he doesn’t really change at all over the course of the game. However, in that iconic scene you’ve probably heard everyone and their mother talk about, he puts forward the exact attitude I’m talking about here.

“If the world chooses to become my enemy, I will fight like I always have.” Keep moving forward, never turn back.

Shadow views G.U.N. as a viable method of carrying out his goals — helping people — at the time of ‘06. 

I think this makes sense. If the organization has been reformed since the days of the raid on the ARK, then it’s probably one of the best resources for Shadow to use. Additionally, from within the organization he is far more aware of what they are doing, giving him advance warning if something nefarious is going on within such a powerful paramilitary establishment. 

By letting go of his hatred, he can work for the organization that killed Maria. After all, he saved the whole world when he was originally intent on wiping out humanity. If he can do that, I think he can probably work with an organization that only recently changed its mind about him.