#Sadly she only had Wattpad at the time

[edwardallenpoe]

it's so strange seeing people being secretive and shit about reading fanficrion like it's a taboo that you read in the clandestine meetups at 3am in your bed, because I've been reading fanfiction at the ripe age of Way Too Fucking Young (seriously I think I learned my abc's two months prior) and I'm also the very talkative type of autistic so. It is very safe to say everyone I know KNOWS I read fanfiction. If I'm on my phone for more than ten minutes around any given family member they ask if I'm reading fanfiction. They're wrong sometimes. Bc I also write it.

[randomshyperson]

Heal - Scarlet!Wanda x Vampire!Reader - Kinktober #08

Summary: By freeing an imprisoned immortal from the Darkhold Castle, the Scarlet Witch did not expect to gain a friend who would help her heal the woman she tried to bury in the temple's wreckage. In return, Wanda might help you face the demons from your past that were locked away with you.

Warnings: (+18), service!top reader, praising, intimate smut, blood-feeding, vampire and witchcraft lore, and a lot of plot, implied depression and self-harming tendencies, really soft smut with explicit consent, mutual pining, friends to lovers | Words: 9.671k

A/N-> My only vampire reference is TVD, so expect many similarities to the show’s lore. And I repeat again that there is a sinful lack of stories that deal with the status of wizarding royalty of which Wanda is part. Please, she literally has the title of Queen of Chaos, her family has inherited the magic of chaos for generations, we need to talk about this. I hope you guys like this one, this story ended up having more depth than I expected and it was quite fun to write it.

General Masterlist | Kinktober Collection | AO3 | Wattpad

-&-

After destroying a thousand-year-old castle and not getting out of the impact zone, Wanda definitely didn't expect comfort. In addition to the pain of recent events, from realizing that she had finally become a villain, and was closer to the people who had destroyed her life than to the friends she once lost, she also had to see the clear fear in the alternative versions of the children she missed. So she put an end to it all, more tired than anything, and waited for the pain to go away. The blackout from the impact put an end to it, of course, and just like years before when she turned to dust after losing the only person she still had left, she breathed a sigh of relief into the darkness.

But Wanda woke up. And to her complete surprise, comfort came in the softest sheets she had ever felt, perhaps even more comforting than the expensive cloth Tony Stark had once bought for the rooms in Avengers Tower. The bed she was lying on could easily have been mistaken for royalty, and Wanda barely had time to become alert before a slightly unfamiliar face entered her field of vision.

"You." She gasped in surprise, her voice a little hoarse. Now conscious, she was aware of the pain around her body, but she could also feel her magic doing the hard work and taking the sensation away. You smiled gently and, without leaving your sitting position on her bed, waited for her to adjust to the mattress. Wanda frowned. "But why?"

You sighed, shrugging slightly. Now sitting up, Wanda realized that your lap wasn't empty. A breakfast tray was waiting for her as if you were aware that she would wake up soon and had brought the food just in time. The item was leisurely placed next to her, but Wanda continued to look at you, waiting for an explanation as to why someone who had disappeared almost the second after the first meet, reappeared to save her from the wreckage of her mistakes.

"I know you're confused, but please eat. You've slept for days, miss." It's your comment, but the witch shakes her head.

"Don't worry about it. It's... nowhere near the longest I've gone without food." The quiet confession about the period of darkhold abuse makes you sigh sadly, and Wanda feels a curiosity rise in her chest. You don't know her, so why do you care? 

Your hands move to the toast you've prepared for her, and Wanda bites the inside of her cheek as she finally notices the tray with your movements. Your breakfast choices are just right - delicious foods stare back at her. And you busy yourself with adding some jam to the toast that makes Wanda's mouth water.

"Forgive me for taking so long to find you, I was a bit overwhelmed upon returning after so long." You then declare, handing back the now-filled toast to one of the smaller plates. You push the item towards her as an invitation, but Wanda glares at you.

"Why did you bother coming back?"

Your eyes are kind in her direction. "I owe you my freedom."

Wanda chuckles short and incredulously. "Don't be ridiculous, I didn't even know what I was doing." She retorts immediately. "I saved you by accident, you don't owe me anything."

But you gesture to the food, and Wanda sighs in defeat, finally giving in. At the first bite, she feels the delicious jam on her tongue and sighs in satisfaction. It's amazing, she lets you know. You smile.

"It doesn't matter if our meeting was accidental, Wanda Maximoff." You state. "Your magic broke me out of my prison. If the idea of a debt doesn't please you, we can act as if upon rescuing you, I made us even."

Wanda hums with her mouth full, slightly distracted by the food. You look away, waiting for a moment, and she finishes chewing before speaking again.

"I didn't want to be rescued."

"I know."

She looks at you again, but you continue to stare straight ahead into the room. "Do you?"

You smile briefly. "Nobody who wants to live knocks down a castle on their head, miss."

The chuckle that escapes her is short, but it's the first sincere one in a long time. It's so dark, to joke about something so serious, yet she feels completely at ease doing it with you.

Wanda finishes another piece of toast before speaking again. "Do you remember the sorcerer who was with me before, when I freed you?" You meet her gaze, nodding in agreement. Wanda looks at you curiously. "He nearly shit his pants when he saw you running away from the temple. He tried to lecture me about it, and I dragged him out of there for it. But the point is... what did you do? He only told me your name. What was so terrible that your escape scared him so much?"

You sigh, getting up. Wanda imagines that she has offended you by asking and that you will leave without telling her the whole truth, and considers spying on your mind to find that out, but you just walk to the nearest drawers on the other side of the bedroom. When you return with an object in hand, Wanda wipes away the toast crumbs before accepting the item you hand her.

The old photograph makes her eyes widen. "Holy shit." She sighs impressed, getting a short laugh out of you.  Your picture wasn't a surprise, but the date from over three hundred years ago faded by the bottom. Wanda flipped the item to see the back, but your name there didn’t really explain how you were standing in front of her, as if no time had passed.

"Humans call us Vampires, but I've always liked the sound of Immortal better. Of course, the term vampire beats being called a demon or a bloodsucker." Wanda doesn't laugh at the joke, as she raises wide eyes in surprise at you. She continues to hold up the photograph, and you swallow. "I promise I won't try to harm you." Finally, she chuckles softly. You sigh in reassurance, even though the witch has just mocked your strength.

"I can't believe vampires exist." 

"Said the witch who traveled through the multiverse a few days ago." Wanda smiles, handing the photograph back to you. 

"Fair point." She murmurs. Restless, you wonder what you can do to improve her mood. She seems so sad.

Perhaps your stories could distract her. 

"I was imprisoned in Darkhold Castle a few centuries ago." You tell her, attracting her curiosity again. Your hands go into your pockets so that you can regain some ground over the full attention of such beautiful and mesmerizing irises. "There are other mystical authorities, apart from Kamar-Taj and its mages. In particular, a council of vampires. I disagreed with some traditions and was sentenced to imprisonment, but my capture was not quiet. Let's just say I earned that tomb you rescued me from, Miss." Wanda nodded in understanding, offering a small smile that ensured she wasn't judging you. It would be comical to do so, after everything that had led up to this moment. Adding to the count of her own crimes, she apparently unleashed an immortal mass murderer.

Wanda looks around, sighing softly. "I presume this place is yours."

You nod but look away from her. "Many of my properties were lost with my imprisonment. Taken back by the Council, or even stolen by other creatures. I'll deal with these usurpers later." The comment made Wanda bite the corner of her mouth. She'd never seen a vampire fight, and you seemed so sure of your own strength over anyone who stood up to you. It was attractive somehow. She pushed the thought away faster than it came. "Of course, you're welcome to stay as long as you need, even if I'm not around."

The statement makes Wanda chuckle in surprise, her cheeks slightly warm. "What? I can’t accept that. I will certainly not abuse hospitality-"

"Don't be ridiculous." You repeat her previous words with an easy smile, and the casual comment sounds different from your formal attitude so far that It's so charming that Wanda has to look away awkwardly, surprised by her own perceptions. "It's a pleasure to have you as a guest. And honestly, it's nice to have someone around after so long." The sincere confession makes her smile. Wanda understood loneliness well. You sigh. "There's enough room in this house. You can stay as long as you need."

Wanda nods. "How exactly did you get me here? And where is here exactly?"

"Northern Europe, but I'm not sure if the country's name remained the same as it was three centuries ago. And I didn't want to carry you so far from the castle, and I figured you didn't intend to return to Nepal and their Kamar Taj’s mages as well."

Wanda grimaces. "What do you mean with ‘carry me’?"

You chuckle slightly. "You were unconscious, Miss Maximoff. And buried under rubble when I found you. We don't have the same magical abilities,  so I can’t use the power of the mind to move objects or people. I picked you up, and brought you with me."

She needs to see this, and the invasion in your mind caught you off guard. Flashes of memories turn clear in your head, your figure pushing rocks out of the way until you find Wanda unconscious. You actually picked her up in your arms and started moving. At some point, you found a car, but good kilometers on the ice at high speed were walked.

Wanda leaves your mind with a sigh, and for the first time, you look upset.

"Please ask next time."

She's still coming to terms with the fact that you ran through the snow with her in your arms to apologize. "You walked half a continent for me?"

You shrug. "I ran, to be fair. Don't worry about that, it wasn't any trouble. My kind has enough strength and speed for a journey like that."

But the ease didn't detract from the significance of the attitude. Wanda could hardly remember the last time anyone had done anything for her - not even Vision, who was her partner, seemed to share any guilt when signing accords that wanted her in jail; And now a stranger was rescuing her at the end of the world just to bring her to safety, without expecting anything in return.

Her silence makes you clear your throat. "I'll give you some privacy. There's more food if you want it, and this is a suite, so the toilet is through that door. I've also taken the liberty of ordering clothes in your size while you’ve been asleep, they're all in the closet. The whole property can be explored, please feel free to do so. There’s a library and art rooms. And please, if you decide to leave, say farewell first."

Wanda smiles tenderly at your request, and you turn away. She finally realizes that you look very tidy, and calls out to you before you can leave the room.

"Are you going out?"

"Just for a few hours." You answer, frowning at the way her expression falls. "Is something wrong?"

Wanda sighs. "I just… don’t wanna be alone."

Despite the sympathy in your eyes, you hesitate. A hand on the doorframe. "Forgive me, miss, I promise I won't be long and that we can spend the rest of the day together." 

Wanda waves your concern away, starting to stand up. "Relax, I'll be fine, I wouldn't want to get in the way of your appointments. I'll explore the house while you're gone."

But despite her casual attitude, you call out to her with a certain seriousness that makes Wanda look at you again. There's something in your expression that makes it clear that you didn't buy Wanda's act at all, and that you can clearly see that she was being serious about her loneliness. Your eyes had a guilty aspect because you couldn't stay. 

You sigh, looking away as you explain: "I must feed myself, Miss Maximoff. Please don't think I'm avoiding your company."

She is slightly surprised by the confession and doesn't know exactly what to say about it. She decides to just nod, without the courage to question you further on the subject even though she's dying to know exactly in which way you're going to feed yourself.

And when you leave her alone, and she wanders around the huge rooms of that mansion, she can't help wondering where you are, if it's like in vampire stories, and you're in some alley cornering an unwary human, or if hunting animals is enough. She becomes so absorbed in her own doubts that when you return, she hasn't even finished seeing the whole place.

"Having fun?" Your question startles her slightly. She smiles, turning her attention away from the art paintings in the room and meeting your gaze again.

"You move silently."

"A talent we share."

Wanda chuckles and waits for you to approach her completely. Side by side, she is the first to speak.

"Everything here is very beautiful." She says softly. "And I may not be centuries old, but I'm no fool. It sounds too good to be true. Be honest, Y/N. What do you hope to get from me?"

You frown, taking one hand out of your pocket to gesture a little. "You have a suspicious nature, Miss Maximoff."

She snorts softly." Y/N..."

But you smile, and Wanda gasps softly because your hand moves to her face, a gentle touch to move a strand of hair out of the way of her eyes. "Not everyone wants to take something from you, Miss. Some people just want to give." Wanda ignores the intensity of your gaze, the quickening of her heartbeat, and raises her hand to grab your wrist and interrupt your intention to stroke her cheek straight away. Her eyes narrowed slightly in suspicion in your direction, although your smile never falters. "I could just force you to talk."

"There's no need for that, we can talk over dinner."

She hesitates, aware of the heat on her cheeks. You seem to have a personal victory and Wanda lets go of your hand immediately. 

"Wipe that smile off your face, it's not... that kind of dinner. We don't even know each other." She mutters embarrassedly. You return to your previous position, relaxed with your hands in the pockets of your dress pants and Wanda crosses her arms annoyed at the way her stupid brain keeps finding you more attractive every time she looks at you. 

"Oh, I wouldn't dream of it, miss." You retort humorously. "It's a strictly professional dinner."

She rolls her eyes, turning away to hide her smile from you.

"Just introduce me to the rest of the house."

"It's funny, all witches are always bossy." You comment, letting her gently pat your shoulder even though you could easily escape the gesture if you wanted to.

-&-

"I didn't know vampires cooked."

You chuckle, without taking your eyes off the knife cutting the vegetables. "Have you met many vampires?"

Wanda bites back a smile, rolling her eyes softly. "No, you're the first." She says, watching from the counter stool as you masterfully prepare dinner. "But I thought you guys didn't need to eat."

"We don't, not food at least." You retort gently, even though the implication makes Wanda's eyes sparkle with curiosity. You, despite being busy preparing the meal, notice the slight excitement and give a soft laugh. "If wished, my body can imitate all the biological functions it had before I died. This includes food." To illustrate, you take one of the cut pieces of carrot into your mouth, chewing and swallowing as you finish chopping the vegetables. Wanda bites the inside of her cheek, gathering the courage to ask you what she wishes to know.

When you pour the cut vegetables into a pot, she clears her throat. "Would it be insensitive if I asked how it happened?"

"Very." You smile back. Wanda sighs slightly, feeling like a little child trying to be liked. 

Please, please, notice me and talk to me.

The fire is lit, you wash off the excess vegetable stock and wipe your hands on a tea towel. You speak again.

"It's 2024, which means that in the winter it will be 320 years since my transformation." You begin a little nostalgically, your hands resting on the counter behind you. "Twenty was the age at which I died."

Wanda frowns. "You were so young."

"Yes, I was." You agree with a sad smile. "I used to work here, right in this mansion." Wanda adjusts herself, curiosity taking over completely. "I was raised by this family all my life, and when I fell ill, they decided there was no longer any place for me here."

The witch swallows dryly but doesn't interrupt your story. You look down, bringing your hands in front of your stomach to turn the larger ring you're wearing between your fingers.

"Sick servants would be sent away, so as not to spread the disease to the rest of the house. I died on the road."

Wanda frowns slightly. "Who bit you?"

"Bit me?" You retort in confusion. 

She chuckles awkwardly. "Yes, that's how it works, isn't it? Vampires bite humans and turn them."

It's your turn to laugh, a little impressed. "What? No, by the gods! Imagine how many of us there would be out there if every time a vampire fed, he turned someone? No, no, it's a bit more complicated." You comment casually. "You see, there's an immortality spell, created by the same author of the book that was with you when we met. Original vampires are made by ancient magic, and these can have bloodlines. Weaker vampires are transformed by their blood. And others can be created, even weaker by their descendants. The trick is to die with magical blood in your system so that your soul will be trapped by the magic and will not leave your body. It is then reanimated a few hours after we die. To complete the transformation, we must feed."

She absorbs your words for a moment. Until she finally asks: "Who transformed you?"

You lick your lips, shifting your eyes to the pot as if to confirm the cooking time, before turning away from the counter. "Come with me, I want to show you something."

She follows you around the mansion, way past the kitchen to another level. The entrance hall extends into a long corridor with many old paintings. Finally silver doors at the end.

"This is the main suite of the mansion." You clarify, fiddling with a bunch of keys kept in your pocket until now. Apparently, the only locked room was that one. "It's been adapted, moved from the upper floor to here on the lower level since, at the end of her life, the owner couldn't take the stairs."

Once unlocked, you push the doors open with both hands, exposing the immense royal suite inside. Wanda thinks it looks a lot like fantasy books and is busy admiring the decorations when she comes across a painting on the wall that knocks the air out of her lungs.

"What...?" She approached with uncertain steps until she was touching the painting with her fingers, groping for the drawing of a face that could easily be mistaken for her own. "How is that possible?" She demanded to know, turning to you.

You were still standing in the doorway, your hands in your pockets. "This is your ancestor."

"And why the hell does she have my face?"

"Heritage?" You retort good-humoredly, but Wanda snorts incredulously, advancing towards you angrily. You quickly raise your hands in surrender, a nervous laugh escaping as you see the fury in her eyes. “I’m joking, dear lord! I didn't mean to upset you. Let me tell you the whole story!."

"It better be a very good one." She retorts, watching you intently as if expecting a kidnap attempt.

You sigh, nodding before turning your face to the photo. "Her name was Elizabeth. She's gone if that's not obvious. This painting was done over four centuries years ago when your family was still known as the Maksymovs. They lived well, your ancestors, as you can see from the amount of gold in this manor. But sorcery and witchcraft were never very well-liked anywhere, and just like the rest of us, your family was hunted down." You say, stepping aside to open the curtains and light up the room. Still, on your back, you continued to talk. "I was just a little girl when Lady Maksymov took me in, Elizabeth’s mother. I cleaned and cooked, and I was lucky enough to be allowed inside the mansion. To share the room with the family. All due respect to their memories, but my Lady was not a decent person. She was cruel and harsh and preferred to die on the mountain of money than give a little to the children she watched depart for this place. I stayed here because I had no other choice in life, and when the neighbors began to question what she was doing in the basement, she was taken away just like her children.  And unlike her mother or any of her siblings, Elizabeth was not a very talented witch. Her magic was dormant. That poor woman, always so sad under the cruelties shouted at her by her relatives. She could never master chaos but it got better when she gave in to the darkhold's allure. Unfortunately for the servants, her gentle personality was gone once her magic control was improved. I remember her dark fingers chastising me every time I failed to fold the sheets correctly."

Wanda swallowed at the anger hidden. Your posture was enough for her to believe your words.

“Why did she turn you?”

You smile sadly. "I was just a means to an end." You reply. "Elizabeth was what they called a Siphoner. Although descended from a powerful witch lineage, she couldn't generate her own magic. She could only steal it from elsewhere, either from a magic book or from a vampire." 

Wanda sighs as she understands, and you chuckle in upset. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be. You weren't even close to existing back then."

She moves closer. "Still, on behalf of my family, I'm sorry." The witch says as gently as she can. "I can hardly imagine how painful that probably was."

You shrug, trying to be casual. "That was a long time ago, Miss Maximoff." You mumble before sighing. "And it didn't work out the way she wanted either. Elizabeth didn't intend to use me as her magical reservoir for so long. She wanted me to transform her. Make her a heretic, a vampire-witch hybrid so that she could steal magic from her own nature. And like a good servant, I did just that."

Wanda could feel the force of your painful memories with her telekinesis, flashes of vivid images in your mind begging to be relieved. A personal torture. 

"Let me guess, that was the rule you broke that put you in that tomb."

You lower your head, looking very upset all of a sudden. "No, Miss Maximoff. I was loyal until I wasn't anymore." Wanda frowns in confusion, but you sigh and stare at your own reflection in the window. "The abuse of the Darkhold destroyed Lady Elizabeth. Not even the spell of immortality could heal her, remove the rot from her soul. We traveled the world, searching for potions and creatures and anything we could find to help her, but I knew that the slaughter she was doing in the name of her own health had to be stopped. When our last trip ended, I told her I wouldn't help her anymore."

Wanda can see clearly now; the wrathful recollections of a witchy lady with an almost demonic appearance. The hold of the Darkhold on Elizabeth's soul. How you're only trying to defend yourself when you strike back.

You sniffle, turning your face away, and Wanda blocks your memories from her mind immediately.

"No greater dishonor than ingratitude." You mutter. "I shouldn't have turned my back on Elizabeth. She died alone in this empty mansion, taken by her illness. I returned to a rotten land wracked by dark magic. I restored every stone and raised the mansion to its original state. I lived as a vampire for a decade before I was captured. Elizabeth, in her last vengeful act, left a letter denouncing all her family's crimes to the magical authorities of the time. A lineage who survived the witch-hunts, chased by their own kind like animals. I wore the same coat of arms and slept in the family mansion, so they didn't care that my surname wasn't the same. But I wasn't a witch to die, and the darkhold refused to show the executors exactly how to kill me. The solution was a prison."

You're surprised that Wanda reaches for your hand, but you don't pull away. She also gives you a small smile.

"Three hundred years is too long to punish someone who had no choice." She says, the gesture of her thumb caressing your palm making the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end. Definitely too long without touching someone was messing with your head. Little did you know, Wanda was going through something quite similar. Starved for physical touch. "Is that why you're being so generous? Do you think you owe this family a debt?" You swallow, nodding, and Wanda sighs. " Sweetheart..."

"Please let me serve you." Your tone is almost desperate, Wanda shakes her head. "Please-"

"This isn't the 1700s, Y/N. I won't be your lady." She assures you, her grip tighter. "You're a person, not a property."

"I'd be dead if it weren't for Elizabeth-"

"She was cruel and selfish, and she used you to your last breath. And beyond!" Wanda interrupts, not losing her composure when you huff impatiently and pull your hand away. "You can grumble all you want. I'm not going to honor the memory of some slave owner, family or not. You're free to go."

"But I don't want to leave, Wanda." You snap, almost pleading. "This is my home. Serving your family has always been... my purpose. Turning my back on it made me lose everything. And then you saved me, and for a second, I thought I could see Elizabeth again. I ran to this place, and I realized how much time had actually gone by." You sniffle, your hands going to Wanda's shoulders. "Please. Caring is the only thing I know how to do right."

Wanda sighs, her hands finding your wrists. "This isn't caring, Y/N, this is servitude. I would never ask this of you." Your expression falls as if you're being rejected. Wanda stops your hands from moving away. "But I could use a friend."

Your face lights up, and Wanda smiles too because she thinks you look so beautiful now. "Oh, that... is really very sweet. I'd be honored."

The witch chuckles. "You're adorable. Come, our lunch should be ready soon." She doesn't mention that you two walk into the kitchen hand in hand, and you don't mind, so you don't say anything either.

-&-

"I can't believe you don't know what McDonald's is."

"And I can't believe you've never been to the Opera, but here we are."

Wanda chuckles, shaking her head in disbelief at your response. You're sitting on the living room floor, or rather on cushions on the carpet because you refused to sit so informally and she was still working on getting you to relax into the casual way of living life in that century. 

Weeks into a roommate routine, your activities consisted of having meals together and talking about everything and nothing at the same time. You'd spent 300 years imprisoned, and Wanda had a multitude of things to introduce you to, while you'd been raised by the ancient witch family of the ancestors of a woman who knew little about her origins. You had as much to tell as she did.

Most days when you two would leave the Mansion, you would experience things that you had never experienced before. Restaurants, food trucks, and even the invention of cars or electricity. The Mansion needed to be restored too, but Wanda was happy to know that it hadn't been abandoned.

It was magically hidden, and she had distant cousins from very old marriages in her distant line. It was one of the best pieces of news she'd ever received - to know that she wasn't the only Maximoff left.

The Manor had been cared for over the centuries by escape witches, some of whom, like Elizabeth, had their powers dormant and lived normal lives under that roof. Until the place was finally inherited by her great-aunt, Tatiana, who was living in New Orleans, and Wanda would visit once the work on the mansion was finished.

She had no idea where you got the money for a whole restoration team, and you laughed when she asked, offering as an answer only the information that vampires can persuade people.

That's how you ended up on the living room floor, finishing gathering old belongings that needed to be protected from the paint restoration and set-up of that chamber.

"It's nice that some things have been preserved so well." She comments, stealing a quick glance at your figure distracted by sorting letters. You look good in this century's clothes that Wanda helped you pick out. The barely buttoned plaid shirt makes Wanda hold her breath every time she catches herself letting her gaze fall to your collarbone. 

"Rich families often treasure stuff." You retort with an easy smile. You stack a few letters before opening the next box of items and gasp slightly when you find something very valuable inside. "Look, I think you'll want to keep this."

The small item is placed in her palm: A gold button with an "M" engraved on it. The family crest. Wanda doesn't know why, but it makes her eyes water, and she gives you a tearful smile as she thanks you.

But despite this balanced relationship and pleasant routine, there was still the elephant in the room.

Every evening, you went out to feed yourself. For almost two months, Wanda didn't ask any questions. Even though she was dying to know exactly how, or even who.

But she didn't want to be invasive or even sound like someone obsessed with your fangs.

She would wait for some casual moment to bring up the subject. Perhaps at the next dinner party, with a joke, and then she would ask if you could show her how it was done.

Luckily for her, another witch was even more interested in the story.

Tatiana was an expert enchantress. She lived in an apartment in the heart of New Orleans and had a very busy pub, and to no surprise, frequented mainly by mystical beings. It was Wanda's first time in a place of that kind.

She was so excited to meet another member of her family that she almost forgot her last worries. It was her aunt, in between many colorful drinks after an afternoon of introduction, who brought up the subject again.

"So tell me, sweetie, all this work to restore the Maximoff household. It must be exhausting even for a vampire." Tatiana began with a smile. Her curly hair fell in waves down her back, and for the third time that night, Wanda noticed that green eyes were probably the only physical feature that most of the Maximoff women shared. Her aunt has a dangerous smirk on her lips as she looks in your direction, and Wanda swallows dryly as she realizes that it's the flirtatious kind. "We allow feeding in these parts."

You're taken aback. You chuckle awkwardly, aware of the two witches' attention in your direction. The crowded bar seems to get even smaller.

"I'm fine, Tatiana, don't worry." Wanda thinks you're lying. You can never maintain eye contact when you do, and she also often finds it charming how a vampire can be so bad at telling lies. "I had some blood before I got here-"

"By Morgana, that was several hours ago!" Tatiana cuts in, gesturing excitedly to the waiters. She was very happy to meet Wanda too and had been drinking since early morning in celebration. "You know, I used to date a vampire back in the last century. He had a restricted diet of animals and always looked pale and hungry. Are you one of those vegetarian vampires too?"

The question is rhetorical, she doesn't even hear your confused mutter "I don't think vegetarianism works like that". She's busy with the waitress, whose irises redden as soon as Tatiana speaks to her. The girl is younger than everyone else there and is clearly bewitched.

"There you go, dear, you can have a taste." Offers the woman, to which you choke in surprise.

"What? H-here? But..."

"Now, don't you act like a good Samaritan, Miss L/N." Tatiana retorts in a provocative tone, resting her chin on one hand. "I know what you got up to before you were imprisoned. Feeding off a waitress is nothing."

You're immediately crestfallen, your face flushing with shame. Wanda looks at her aunt with irritation.

"Don't talk to her like that." The younger witch says sternly. "'She's already received enough of a punishment.

Tatiana chuckles wickedly, tilting her head gently. A very familiar gesture indeed. "Let's get a few things clear, Wanda. The only reason I didn't rip that usurper vampire's head off the moment she set foot in my town was because she brought my niece back to me. The fighting separated our families, I never knew I had nephews. Do you think you would have joined that group of dressed-up Americans if I'd known you were a genuine Maximoff? No, dear, I would have raised you. Restored our coven, taught you magic, as it should have been. As it would have been if this ungrateful little blood-sucker had fulfilled the role she was given. Every spell has a price, and she didn't pay for this one she so boldly displayed for a decade of fortune-raising."

"I regret it very deeply, miss-"

"No, you don't apologize for any of this." Wanda interrupts you with a gentle squeeze on your wrist under the table. With a serious expression, she faces her aunt. "Let's actually get things straight, Auntie. You don't talk to her like that. Ever. You're not going to use something that happened three centuries ago against someone who has spent all this time imprisoned in a tomb, paying for crimes she didn't commit alone. It seems that witches, especially from this family, have a habit of evading accountability. I know that well." Tatiana gives a little smile, clearly aware of Westview, or what came after. Wanda doesn't hesitate. "She's my friend. And she's been through enough. All she's done since she came back is look after me, and I'm not going to accept this kind of treatment from anyone, not even my blood. And considering history, especially my blood."

Without contradicting, Tatiana nods in understanding, busying herself with lighting one of the cigarettes on the corner of the table. The colorful smoke wafted upwards as she finished a long drag.

"As you please, Scarlet Witch." The elder woman finally replies, and you swallow dryly, stealing a glance at Wanda to see if she might lose her temper at the slight challenge in her aunt's tone.

Damn, you'd forgotten how the Maximoffs had a rather dangerously weak ego to offend, especially if challenged.

But luckily for you, Wanda forced a smile, and the tension at the table eased. Tatiana dismissed the waiter with a nod and went back to talking about business in the city as if nothing had happened.

For the rest of the evening, Wanda drew patterns on the palm of your hand under the table.

-&-

Around midnight, when the desserts were finished but the bar seemed livelier than ever, you felt really hungry.

The witches were engaged in animated conversation about the times in Sokovia, how Tatiana missed the opportunity to find out about the Maximoffs after the surname grew more common around the country for a few years before disappearing again, and you used the opportunity to escape for a few moments.

A quick snack, just to satisfy your hunger. After all, you always kept yourself full around Wanda; you'd never forgive yourself if you lost control around her.

You make your way through the crowded bar, taking one last look at the back table before making your way to the exit. You're almost at the door when someone purposely bumps into you.

"Hey, better watch where you're going." Warned the corpulent fellow; he was at least ten centimeters taller and had a strong distinctive smell that caused you an instant anxiety. 

Wolf scent.

"Sorry, I didn't see you." You mumble, ready to bypass him, but he steps in your way again. 

"We don't like strangers around here." He informs you with a small smile, showing off his canine fangs. "You're lucky we have our orders, miss."

You sigh slightly. "Who are you again?"

"The name's Victor Creed, but everyone calls me Sabertooth. You know, because of these little beauties here." He points to his fangs with conviction. "They grow much bigger during the transformation. I once ripped the head of one of your kind with them." The story is clearly told to intimidate you, but your unimpressed expression makes the man clear his throat. "Don't go wandering around, Tatiana can't protect you on the outside."

You force a smile. "I can take care of myself, wolf, don't worry." You move around him to finally leave, but even with his back turned, Sabertooth laughs.

"Alright then, go for a walk while I introduce myself to your little witch. Do you know if the Scarlet Witch is looking for better watchdogs? If she's as stuck-up as the rest of the family, maybe I'll write to Kamar Taj about where she's been hiding."

The thing is, maybe you've spent too much time with the Maximoffs all your life. And your temper is just as bad as theirs.

Victor has barely finished his teasing, and you've already grabbed him by the arm, mashing him into the ground like a lump of flour. The commotion immediately attracts the attention of everyone around, but until the crowd fully identifies what's going on, Victor has already used his wolf-like speed to get to his feet and advance on you.

He's so confident about his own strength that it takes him a whole moment to realize that your fist has already gone through his chest.

"Give me one good reason not to spread your guts on this floor, Mr. Creed." You say with an unwavering expression, your hand clenched around his barely beating heart.

Victor chokes on his own blood, his muscular hands try to push your shoulders back, but you don't move an inch. He grunts in pain.

"I-I take it back." He gasps, but you squeeze a little harder.

"That's not a reason."

The man breaks down in a sob. "P-please. I'm begging you. I wasn't thinking-"

It would be so easy, just to kill him. Rip the heart out of that arrogant wolf and let him drop. You never forgot the feeling, the predatory hunger for blood and violence burning in your veins. Nor Elizabeth's disappointed look every time you ended up covered in blood and it didn't do any good.

Letting go of the heart, and pulling your hand out, you saw Victor's wound heal immediately. A full moon must have been just around the corner for a wolf to heal so quickly.

His release drew your attention to the rest of the pub. All those people, watching the scene with mixed expressions of horror and disbelief on their faces. Some clearly recognized you, others seemed surprised to witness a werewolf of that size being beaten so easily.

Vitor's blood stained the blouse Wanda gifted you, and you swallowed down the urge to vomit.

While you were trying to recover from the interaction, a duo cut through the crowd, and Tatiana's short giggle made you wince.

"Keep her in line, Wanda. We don't make a mess this close to humans in this neighborhood." The witch warns but Wanda is staring at you in complete mesmerization. You shake your wrist gently, letting the excess blood drip onto the floor before you start to move.

The adrenaline of the confrontation has starved you.

-&-

You barely enter the first alley before Wanda catches up with you.

"Where are you going?"

But you don't answer the question, you just keep walking and retort: "Go back inside, I won't be long."

For a moment, you think she'll obey, but how foolish of you. Wanda was probably the most stubborn Maximoff you've ever met.

She almost gives you a heart attack when she appears in your path, making you jump backward.

"What the hell...?"

"You're shutting me out." She declares, frustrated. You swallow dry, shaking your head.

"No, I'm just going for a walk to clear my head. See you at the apartment-"

"Taking a walk is what you're calling it now? I'm not an idiot, I know you're going to feed." Wanda interrupted annoyed, getting in your way and stopping you from fleeing. "Why do you keep trying to hide this part of yourself? I don't care that you're a vampire."

"Wanda, please, just move."

"No."

"Wanda."

She crosses her arms. "I wanna watch." 

You choke, chuckling nervously. "Excuse me?" 

But she doesn't lose her cool, nodding. "I want to watch you feed on someone."

Wanda imagined some reactions to the suggestion: anger, indignation, mockery. She didn't think you'd turn so clumsy, with rosy cheeks and unable to look her in the eye.

"You're a very odd individual." You mumble shyly, and she has to giggle confusedly, losing her serious pose to adjust the collar of your blouse. 

"Pleaseee." She stretches out the word, liking the way a smile breaks across your lips or especially the way you stare at her mouth when she talks like that. "I'll behave. I'll just stay put and watch. I've never seen it happen before. Please, honey? Just once."

You sigh in defeat, and Wanda taps her hands before jumping on your neck, and hugging you excitedly. It's a very difficult struggle to keep your fangs away with her so close.

It doesn't even last half a minute, but it feels like an eternity because you want to feed and everything always moves slower if the vampire focuses on hunger. 

"It's not going to be anything special, I don't want to cause a scene in your aunt's neighborhood." You let her know, thinking you need to talk a bit to push the dizziness away.

Wanda smiles excitedly. "Anything will be great, darling. Come on, I'll be right behind you."

It's easy to find prey in a place like New Orleans. You end up deciding on a restaurant waiter, isolated in one of the alleys. He's a young adult, distracted by chores, and you almost give up because of the smell of garbage so close by. But it's a very good isolated opportunity to waste like this.

Your fangs are already out when there's a noise behind you.

Wanda has bumped into something, loud enough to attract the boy's attention, who is startled by the two figures in the alley. One glimpse of your vampiric appearance and he's stumbling frightened away before starting to run.

You sigh incredulously, and Wanda appears in your field of vision.

"Sorry, it was..." She falls silent, surprised that you haven't gathered your usual looks and absorbing every detail of your face now. From the fangs to the completely darkened eye sclera. When she speaks, her voice is much huskier. "An accident."

"It's okay, it actually tastes better when they're scared." You shrug. "The adrenaline and fear accelerates the heart which pumps fresh blood throughout the body. That's why so many vampires prefer to hunt at night. People are more afraid of the dark than they think."

Wanda chuckles, looking at you in a way that makes you forget about the boy's footsteps becoming too distant to distinguish from the other sounds of the city.

"You're kind of a vampire nerd." 

"I don't know what that word means." You give a confused laugh and Wanda moves closer.

"It means I think you're really cute." She retorts, making you gulp dryly. Her hands find your shoulders, and Wanda gets close enough for you to count her freckles. "And I'm dying to know how these little ones feel, darling. Do they hurt?”

She's too close for you to focus, but you make an effort. "Hm, just a little, when they come out. They usually only bother me when I'm really hungry."

Wanda's fists cross together behind your head, and she's definitely too close for you to think about anything other than her.

"And how hungry are you now?"

"Very, Miss Maximoff." You confess hoarsely. Wanda smiles mischievously, tilting her neck in your direction.

"Well, I think you should have a little taste."

"God, Wanda." Your eyes close on instinct, your face falling forward so that you sink into the gap in her collarbone. Wanda shudders, as affected as you are. Her hands-free themselves so that she can stroke your arm, as a reassurance that everything is all right, and also caress your hair because apparently everything so far hasn't been maddening enough for her.

Every cell of your spirit begs you to sink your fangs into the warm skin in front of you, to drink every drop until Wanda faints against you, but you fight nature itself with her help. Her soft sighs in your ear, assuring you that she trusts you.

"It'll only be a little bit, I promise." You assure her, licking the spot gently and drawing a deep sigh from the other girl. It's the sound you focus on before you take the first bite.

Wanda tenses at the slightest hint of pain, but another sensation takes over elsewhere. Her cheeks burn with the betrayal of her own body, and she finds herself unable to care about the mild pain while she's throbbing between her legs.

Her nails dig into your biceps, and she starts to squirm under you, surrendering to the sensation of your bodies so close together. You hum in satisfaction at the soothing of your hunger, and Wanda drops her hand to your waist.

"Enough, baby." She whispers the request, her nails scratching the hair on the back of your neck. "I'm starting to get dizzy."

You hold on a little tighter, and Wanda softens against your body. Her heart is pounding, and she is aware of her pathetic underwear situation. Your body heaved forward, and Wanda didn't have the strength to resist any pull. She feels her back hit the wall of the alley, and whimpers at the feel of your leg pressed between hers.

She doesn't think she has ever been so at someone's mercy as she is now. She just wants to tell you to help her relieve the pressure between her legs, but every time she tries to call you, what leaves her lips are needy moans.

And you kept feeding and the surroundings began to darken. Wanda only realized that she'd been grinding herself on your thigh all this time because her climax approached at high speed, and falling off the edge brought a momentary recovery of consciousness.

"Oh, God, detka!" She meows, spilling herself on your thigh. Her body spasms softly, and you tense up, stopping your feeding immediately. Wanda falls limp in your arms, trying to fuck herself stupidly even after the orgasm she's just achieved. Your arms are the only support keeping her upright. "Do that again."

You shake your head, pushing her sweaty hair out of her face. "No, I took more than I should have." You retort softly, and Wanda has to blink a few times to realize that your appearance has returned to normal. "What a terrible idea that was, Wanda. So dangerous… I was starving."

She gives you a dreamy little smile. "How do I taste?"

"The best I've ever had." You assure her before adjusting her to hold her in your arms just in time for Wanda to lose consciousness.

She dreams of the same feeling of being carried but in a place much colder than New Orleans.

-&-

She wakes up just in time to see you putting her to bed, all the way to the borrowed room in her aunt's empty apartment.

Wanda grabs your wrist before you can pull away after putting the covers over her.

"Hey." Your voice and gaze are so sweet that she almost forgets everything that has happened so far. But Wanda actually remembers very well, and the lingering sensation of your body against hers makes her shiver. 

"Hey... sorry for blacking out on you." She murmurs, her free hand coming up to your face. You bite your lip, still hovering over her body and uncertain what you should do next. Should you pull away? Lean in and kiss Wanda like you've been dreaming of doing for weeks? She seems to be able to see all the hesitation in your eyes, and offers a reassuring smile, her hand caressing your cheek. "What's wrong?"

Wanda is definitely teasing you, but you don't mind, smiling too as you steady your hands next to her body on the mattress, face to face, the two of you waiting for the other to make a move first until the tension is almost unbearable. But you also remember what brought you there, and let out a small sigh.

"You shouldn't have baited me like that, Wanda. It's dangerous, I could have... lost control."

Her expression becomes almost mischievous, a smile threatening to break out on her lips. "I've survived much worse, darling."

You sigh in frustration. "Wanda..."

"It's the truth." She chuckles even though you move away to sit down properly. Wanda also mimics the gesture, looking for your hand on the bed so that you stop grimacing and look at her. "Hey, come on, don't be upset."

"I'm not."

"Then why the pout?" She leans in, kissing your cheek and you snort away, unable to stay angry with this adorably charming witch. "You have to trust me, sweetheart." She whispers, kissing your jaw. You sigh, squeezing her hand gently.

"I trust you with my life, Wanda." You let her know in the same tone, intertwining your fingers in her lap. Wanda smiles against your skin, chaste kisses trailing from your jaw to your collarbone. "I'm just scared... that one day, I'll lose control and hurt you. I'd never forgive myself."

She pulls away a little to look you in the eye. "I meant it what I said before." Starts the witch. "I've been through much worse. You weren't there to see... what I did to reach that little girl. You don't have to worry about hurting me, because it doesn't matter, I'll always heal." With your hesitation, she pulls further away to push the collar of her shirt aside and let you see the place where you fed on her a few minutes ago. "Look, it's gone. You have to trust me, darling. I know that the idea of anyone being stronger than an original is hard for you to accept, but believe me, I'll be fine. I'll always be fine, even if you are starving and out of your mind."

You grimace, adjusting yourself so that you can hold her by the waist and place her on your lap. "Just because you're going to heal doesn't mean I can hurt you. You deserve kindness, Wanda. I can give you my best." Your mouth meets hers, it's not a hungry kiss but it's a hot one and it takes Wanda out of her orbit. It's been a while since the last time, and well, it's never really been like this. She struggles a little to find her rhythm, for a short moment just panting against your experienced tongue, until she finally responds in an equally passionate way that makes you sigh and press your body to hers. 

Wanda likes the sound. Wanda likes you.

"Can I take off your shirt?" Your request comes between one kiss and another, she hardly answers because her mind is clouded with arousal, and if she could be honest, she would have been out of her clothes a long time ago. 

"Yes, please." She gasps back, anxious hands tracing your back. Wanda is restless under your touch, shy about your gaze once the clothes come off. But you do everything with an unbearable slowness that leaves her squeezing her thighs together in search of relief. 

She had sex before - For the first time in a war-torn adolescence, an experience that was forgettable and almost regretted. And then with a machine man who could pretend but never had the biological need to do so. 

This moment right now was like no other, being with someone who worshipped her body, who was as breathless as she was, who reacted to her touch and was practically at her mercy when she touched the right spot.

And Wanda finds that she loves it. Having you touch her and touch you back, and feeling your fangs scratch her skin every time she thrusts her hips into yours.

Pinned against the bed, naked as you are, your legs entwined together like your bodies. Sighs of pleasure mingle with the dance of your hips, and Wanda digs her nails into your back as your fangs press into her collarbone. 

You drink less than last time, but her legs still tingle. Or maybe it's the orgasm hitting her hard.

This is different from the first - the whole bed vibrates with the wave of magic that escapes the witch with her back arched. You hold Wanda, even though you're also shaking with the force of your own climax. She initiates the next kiss this time, moaning into your tongue as she spins your bodies around with ease. Your hands entwine together at the top of your head, but Wanda lets go, lowering herself and getting a confused sigh from you.

"What are you up to, little witch?"

Then it occurs to her with your expression that you are four centuries old and have spent much of this time as a prisoner and that perhaps you haven't been so confident because Wanda is your first lover.

She looks back up, sitting on your hips, breathing out of rhythm but now with a new excitement shining in her eyes.

"Babe, be honest... have you ever been with a woman before?"

Your face gains a deep color, and you turn your gaze away. Wanda falls hard, even if it doesn't occur to her yet.

She giggles softly and you're even more embarrassed, but she doesn't let you move away, her firm legs holding you in place.

"Don't make fun of me." You mutter, and Wanda snorts softly.

"Never." She assures you, even though she already has a new dozen antics memorized. Her mouth kisses your jaw and goes down like her body. The color in your cheeks is for another reason soon. "I love being your first. I want to make you feel good."

You hesitate to hold her when she's stimulating you, worried about losing control of your own strength. The sheets are destroyed when Wanda flicks her tongue over your breasts, smiling with delight at the sight of you squirming.

She goes lower and you gasp for air. "What... are you doing?" You ask mortified. It's not the 1700s anymore, you have to remember. Female pleasure is, well, taken into account. Wanda bites the inside of your thighs, watching the muscles twitch for a moment.

"You'll love it, I promise." It's the only thing she says before diving in, her hot mouth pulling all the air from your lungs. It's the most wonderful thing you've ever felt. Wanda's tongue works on your most intimate part, teasing your entrance before she starts to eat you out hungrily. You grip the headboard, your eyes closed tightly. Wanda holds your legs open, and the knot in your stomach starts to become impossible to contain. 

The witch seems to like it too. She moans for your taste on her tongue, and the new vibration pushes you over the edge. Wanda holds your spasming body without difficulty, you think she uses magic for that. And still calming down, it takes you a whole moment to stop seeing stars.

Wanda licks up every drop of your pleasure, moaning softly before meeting your gaze again. You can't hold it, and end up covering your reddened face with your arm while ignoring the smug giggle of the witch who begins to climb your body again.

"Don't be shy... you look so pretty when you moan my name." She praises you provocatively, and you can't help but smile, feeling completely relaxed. Wanda waits for you to look at her again, her arms resting on your shoulder so that she can look at you closely. "Hi."

Your hand finds her cheek. " Hi, yourself." She leans into your touch, her smile filling your chest with warm happiness. Wanda sighs.

"Can we stay like this? Just for a moment." She asks quietly, and something in her gaze tells her that the question isn't just for today. Wanda wants to know if you can be with her.

You would. Forever if she wished. "Of course, little witch. For as long as you want."

[chaotic-toasters]

Gone

Cortnee Vine x Reader (taken from my Wattpad)

ANGST ANGST ANGST ANGST ANGST

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

"Y/N, you good?" Kyra's usual mischevious grin was gone, replaced with a look of concern that was quickly mirrored by Charli. "You seem out of it."

It took a moment for you to realize she was talking to you, eyes snapping up to meet hers. "Uh– yeah, yeah, I'm... I'm fine."

"Are you sure?" the Gunner's voice was soft as she placed a hand on your shoulder. "It's okay to not be okay."

"I'm sure," you insisted, shrugging her off. "You and Charli have fun."

You weren't fine. That much was clear to anybody with working eyes. You'd come down for meals, only to eat half of the amount you should have. You'd train, only to act like a robot who didn't know how to have fun. You spent hours cooped up in your room, only coming outside when Mini and Steph physically dragged you out. It was unhealthy, and everyone was starting to worry.

"Y/N?" Macca questioned, sitting down next to you. "What's going on with you?"

You glanced around briefly, taking note of all of your teammates gathered around the sofas.

"What is this? An intervention?" you joked dryly. "I'm just going through something small. I'll get over it soon, don't worry about it."

"Y/N, if you're going through something, you need to tell us," Sam chided. "We're—"

"We're a team, and a team is family, blah blah blah," you rolled your eyes. "I know. But I told you it's fine."

"It sounds stupid, but it's true," Mini crossed her arms. "So are you gonna tell us, or are you going to keep suffering alone?"

"I think I'll keep it to myself, thank you," you stood, patting your knees. "I'll see you guys later."

"Sit," Steph growled, forcing you back down. "Tony's already worried about you, but we've told him we'll handle it. Do you want us to get him involved?"

Your nostrils flared. "You wouldn't."

"We will if you don't open your fuckin' mouth and talk," the Defender glared. "You know I'll do it."

You were silent.

"Come on, Y/N, just tell us what's going on," Cortnee pleaded. "We're your friends."

Friends. Something you didn't want to be with the Sydney FC Winger. Since the first time you met her, and she'd smile shyly while offering you her hand to shake, you'd fallen for her. Hard. And it hurt. Because you knew she didn't feel the same. To make matters worse, she already had a girlfriend who she was happy with. Much happier than she'd be with you.

"Just... mind your own damn business," you retorted weakly, attempting to shake Steph off you. "I can handle my own problems."

"Your problems are our problems," Mini reminded you. "If something is bothering you, we're here to help."

"You and Steph," you nodded to the door. "No one else."

You stood first, leading your two mentors outside.

"Well?" Steph placed her hands know her hips.

"I like Cortnee," you blurted. "I— um..."

Mini raised her eyebrows. "Which one?"

"Uh... Vine."

"Okay. Continue."

"I've liked her for years," you swallowed. "But she doesn't like me like that. And she has a girlfriend. It's hard to— to see Cortnee when... when I know I'll never compare to her."

Steph and Mini shared a look.

"Come here, kiddo," Steph said gently, opening up her arms. "It'll be okay."

You slumped into her warm hug, crying softly into her shoulder. You didn't know if you should have been glad or upset that they didn't tell you to confess your feelings to Cortnee. That meant that your suspicions had been correct, and that she didn't feel the same, but that also mean your suspicions had been correct. A total catch-22.

"Why don't you take a nap, kiddo?" Steph whispered, caressing your forehead. "I'll be here when you wake up."

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

"I'm not gonna lie to her, Sam," Steph's voice was quiet. "I can't give her false hope. It's not like she believes it, anyway. Cortnee sees her as a friend. Nothing more."

"I just feel bad," Sam mumbled. "Are you sure there's nothing we can do?"

"I'm sure," the Defender confirmed sadly. "If she tells Viney, then things'll probably be awkward for one of them or both of them. If she doesn't tell Viney, then she has to keep her true feelings bottled up for the rest of her international career."

"No, I don't," you said suddenly, startling the the two captains. "I have a way out. And as much as it hurts to take it, it'll hurt more if I don't."

"What are you talking about?" Sam asked worriedly. "What do you mean?"

"I'm just as Dutch as I am Australian," you refused to meet both of their widening eyes. "I'm eligible to play for the Oranje Leeuwinnen Vrouwen."

"What?" Sam was dumbfounded. "But you can't... we're your family!"

"If you and Kristie both played for the same national team, but Kristie was in a relationship with someone else and didn't love you back, would you still want to play with that team?"

Her silence spoke volumes.

"It's been quite the ride," you stood, offering a faint smile to both Sam and Steph. "Thank you both. I don't know when my transfer will be approved, but... I can't see Cortnee anymore. It hurts. A lot."

Sam looked ready to protest, but Steph instantly wrapped you in a motherly hug. "I'm so proud of you. You're gonna do great things. Make sure you call me though, yeah?"

You swallowed. "Yeah. Could you—could you do me a favour?"

"Of course."

"Tell all the girls that—" you sucked in a breath. "Tell all the girls that I've loved every minute of this journey with them, and that it's none of their faults I'm leaving. Could you—could you tell them the truth? The whole truth? I would, but I can't be there to see Cort's reaction. It would kill me."

Sam nodded, a small, sympathetic smile on her face. "Good luck, Y/N. We'll be cheering you on, always."

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

"Thanks, Tony," you shook hands with the manager gratefully. "You've been great."

"You as well, Y/N," he stated kindly. "Just remember that you've always got family in this team. You can come to us if you've ever got a problem. The Matildas are behind you."

Your lip wobbled. "I'll see you around, boss."

"Have a good one, Y/N."

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

"As of today, Y/N will no longer play for Australia," Steph's voice shook slightly. "She'll be transferring to the Netherlands for the foreseeable future."

The room was dead silent.

"What?" Ellie was the first to speak. "Wh—why?"

Sam lowered her head. "She fell in love."

"With who!?" Cortnee looked upset. "She doesn't even have any Dutch teammates!"

Mini shook her head. "She didn't fall in love with a Dutch player."

"Then who—" Cortnee's eyes widened. "She likes one of us? Who?"

That's when it clicked for everyone else. The longing glances, the overly kind gestures, the touches that lasted just a bit too long; you loved Cortnee, but she hadn't even realized you liked her in the first place.

"Oh, Viney..." Lydia grimaced. "Poor Y/N."

"What is it?" the Winger was clearly starting to get annoyed that everyone knew something she didn't. "Just tell me already!"

Steph, Mini, and Sam all shared a look.

"Cort, there's no easy way to say this, but—" Steph felt as though there was something caught in her throat. "Y/N loved you. But she knew that you didn't feel the same."

Cortnee's breath hitched in her throat. She was suddenly taken back to a night at one of last year's training camps.

"Hey, Viney?" you started, slipping your phone into your pocket. "Can I ask you somethin'?"

"Shoot."

"Are you happy in your current relationship?" your tone was innocent.

She smiled. "Yeah. Char's so sweet, how could I not be happy? I could totally imagine a future with her."

Something in your eyes had shattered. That much was clear to her now. But she'd been too preoccupied thinking about her girlfriend that it had slipped her mind.

"Oh, Y/N..." Cortnee's voice was barely above a whisper. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"You deserve to be happy," her head snapped up at the sound of your raspy voice. "Who am I to take that away from you?"

"Y/N—"

"Thank you, girls, for my time here," you smiled weakly from the doorway, meeting each of your former teammates' eyes, though you struggled to meet Cortnee's. "It's been fun. I'm glad to have met all of you, to have shared the pitch with you, and most importantly, to become friends with all of you. I'll see you soon."

And just like that, you were gone.

[helloalycia]

𝐀 𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐋𝐎𝐔𝐒 𝐕𝐎𝐘𝐀𝐆𝐄 [𝐓𝐖𝐎] — 𝐋𝐀𝐑𝐀 𝐂𝐑𝐎𝐅𝐓

one / masterlist / wattpad

summary: after managing to escape Yamatai, you’re left to deal with the aftermath of emotions it brings for you, whilst also trying to be there for Sam and Lara.

warning/s: same as last time, with the additional mention of nightmares.

author's note: here’s part two! hope the Lara enthusiasts liked this one :)

also just a reminder, Y/M/N = your mum’s name

"She'll be here, I know it," Jonah said with certainty, but it was looking more and more hopeless as him, Reyes and I stared into the distance at the colourful arrays coming from the monastery.

Sam had been taken again by the island natives and Lara had gone after her whilst Jonah, Reyes and I bought her some time, but we'd all promised to regroup on the beach and Lara hadn't returned with Sam yet. The storm that had been ravaging the island since we got here had cleared up, which could have only meant she'd succeeded in stopping the Sun Queen – but where were they?

After what felt like a lifetime, we spotted Lara approaching through the trees, bloody and battered, carrying an unconscious Sam in her arms. Jonah immediately leapt into action to help her, taking Sam from her arms, whilst I joined Lara's side and led her back to the boat. Reyes was quick to prepare the boat for our departure.

"What happened?" Jonah asked Lara what we were all thinking, setting Sam down in the boat.

Exhausted, Lara answered, "It's over. We can leave now."

Jonah and I exchanged worried glances as Reyes wasted no more time in setting off. Everybody was as tired as they looked, so we sat in silence, looking out at the water as Reyes steered us back to civilisation.

Thankfully, after a few hours, a passing freighter spotted us and took us in, giving us food, drink and first aid supplies to keep us going until we reached land. So much had happened in the past few days that seeing real people who actually wanted to help us felt impossible.

After getting some help with bandaging my arm up by one of the crewman, I noticed Lara approaching me on the lower deck.

"Thanks," I said appreciatively to the crewman, who nodded with a smile before leaving me be.

"Hey," Lara said softly, taking a seat beside me.

"Hey," I replied, offering a small smile. I noticed she'd had chance to clean up a little, but her skin was still littered with bruises and scrapes, and her shirt was soaked with dried blood. "How's Sam?"

"Resting," she said with a sigh. "Jonah is watching her."

I hummed, worried for my friend. She'd been kidnapped, tortured and possessed by an evil spirit – I could only hope she'd get the help she needed to recover when we returned home.

"I wanted to check on you earlier, but I was distracted," Lara admitted, finding my eyes. "How are you?"

"I'm okay, Lara," I assured her gently, before resting a hand on hers. "How are you doing?”

"I'll be okay," she said dismissively, making me exhale sadly. She was always minimising her own feelings, now more than ever.

"You really did it," I said after a moment, knowing now was the right time. "You stopped Himiko. Saved Sam. Defeated the Solarii. You saved us all, Lara. And I can't express how grateful I am for that."

She shook her head, pulling her hand back and sinking her face into her hands with defeat. "I didn't do anything. This was all my fault, Y/N. I shouldn't have insisted we come here."

I furrowed my brows, resting a hand on her back comfortingly. "You didn't know. And you got us out of it. We wouldn't be here right now if it weren't for you."

She frowned, eyes staring ahead, glazed over and lost in thought. It was obvious she was beating herself up about everything, but I refused to let her soak in self-pity.

Relieved she'd made it out alive and somewhat safely, I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her in for a hug. She relaxed after a moment, tucking her head in my shoulder as if hiding from the truth, but I'd keep reminding her every day if it meant she'd listen.

"You're capable of a hell of a lot," I muttered, squeezing her gently. "I've said it once before and I was right."

She pulled back, cheeks tinged pink and eyes avoiding mine, though the tiniest of smiles was on her lips. I smiled at the sight, pushing a loose strand of hair from her eyes and admiring the view.

"I'm really glad you're here," she said quietly, dark eyes darting to mine briefly before she pulled back. "Obviously, I'd rather you hadn't experienced any of this at all, but–"

"I understand," I cut off the start of her probable never ending ramble. "Me too."

She pressed her lips together, looking down at the wooden floorboards of the deck. Despite all of the amazing things she'd done to keep us safe these past few days, she was still her awkward, adorable self. It was refreshing to see some things hadn't changed her completely.

Of course, that didn't mean the events at Yamatai hadn't taken their toll on us in other ways.

We were still a couple of days out from land, so the freighter crew were kind enough to give us all rooms to sleep in below deck. The second night was admittedly the hardest. I found myself reliving the horrors of the island all over again once my eyes closed, but it was worse than the previous night. Between murdering crazy cultists in self defence, being kidnapped, held captive and watching our friends die, my night was riddled with nightmares.

It became too much and I woke with a start, drenched in sweat and trembling with confusion as I couldn't make out my cabin in the dark. Realisation dawned on me – including all the events that led up to this moment – and I suddenly felt nauseous, bile rising in my throat. Without a second thought, I clambered out of bed and raced down the hall for the shared bathroom, just about making it to the toilet before I vomited all of last night's dinner up.

It burned my throat, but it wouldn't stop coming until I was eventually vomiting nothing but my stomach acid. A moment passed when I heard footsteps behind me and then hands held my hair back.

"It's okay," a familiar voice soothed, their other hand rubbing my back, and it took me a second to realise it was Lara.

Once I was finished, I sat back with exhaustion, my body aching from my bent over position, and gladly accepted the tissue Lara handed me.

"Are you feeling better?" she asked with concern, her face lit up from the sliver of artificial light coming through the porthole.

I didn't even realise I'd been crying until her thumb wiped beneath my eyes, and the touch suddenly reminded me where I was and how I looked right now, no doubt a mess before her.

Swallowing hard, I straightened up. "Sorry, I–"

"Don't apologise," she said, returning her hand to my back to comfort me, but the way she was watching me so delicately made my cheeks heat up with embarrassment.

"I'm okay, I–" I started, pushing her hand away and moving back slightly, but I was acutely aware of my dishevelled appearance and the stench of vomit.

"Hey, stop it–" she tried to reassure me, ever so generously, but I couldn't meet her gaze.

"I didn't mean to wake you," I mumbled, moving to stand up.

Pressing my lips together, I flushed the toilet before moving to wash my hands and rinse my mouth in the sink.

"You didn't. I was up already."

I tensed my jaw slightly, splashing my face with cold water before straightening up again, avoiding her eyes in the reflection of the mirror.

"What happened?" she asked gently. "Was it a nightmare?"

It felt so silly to admit that, but I was still in fight or flight mode and the thought of being alone right now was horrible. Instead, I nodded weakly, busying myself with the hand towel.

"Me too," she muttered, making me finally look to her, though with a mutual concern. "C'mon. I know what'll help."

I soon found myself following her down the hall, past our cabins and to the small, deserted kitchen area. She merely motioned to the booth in the corner before moving to fill the kettle. It turned out the simplicity of watching her make us both cups of teas in silence was more comforting than I could have guessed.

She joined me with our teas shortly after, pulling her legs up on the seat beside me and holding her mug for warmth. I mirrored her action, the two of basking in the silence and each other's presence. Though, despite Lara initially trying to be there for me, I was worried about her too.

"Are you okay?" I asked stupidly, glancing at her.

She chewed on her lip, eyes glued to her mug. "Honestly, I've been having these nightmares since we left the island."

I frowned, hand resting on her forearm. "You should have told me. You could have woken me up."

Her eyes lifted to mine. "So could you."

I sighed, knowing neither of us would ever burden the other like that. But I wished she would.

"It's over now though," she reminded me, her hand resting atop mine on her forearm.

"It is," I agreed halfheartedly. "But it won't go away. Not now."

"But it will eventually," she said with certainty, and I wondered how she still remained positive despite everything we'd endured.

I yawned tiredly. "I can't wait to go home."

"Same."

Quiet fell upon us once again, only the creaking of the ship and the distant lull of the waves to keep us company. Periodically sipping on my tea, I found myself laying my head on Lara's shoulder comfortably. Though, with that and the swaying of the ship and my general fatigue, my eyes were slowly closing.

"You're falling asleep," Lara whispered from beside me.

"Mmnot," I mumbled, hoping she'd drop it so I could actually fall asleep.

Unfortunately for me, she found this amusing and began to chuckle, making her shoulders move. "C'mon, let's get you to bed."

"Or we could just stay here," I said tiredly.

"You'll be comfier in your own bed, Y/N," she promised.

"I'm pretty comfy here."

She snickered once more, before pressing a gentle kiss to the top of my head. "C'mon, love."

I sighed disappointedly before forcing myself up, sliding out the booth. She was lovely enough to take me back to my cabin, leading my half asleep self to bed and even tucking me in.

"Goodnight, Y/N," she said, squeezing my hand and smiling down at me with amusement. "You'll be home soon, I promise."

I smiled tiredly, though my eyes were drooping shut. I wanted to ask her to stay, appreciating the comfort her presence gave me, but I didn't want to overstep. So, I had to settle for the moment I had with her before letting her leave for the night.

—

I'd never missed home more than I had now. As soon as I stepped foot in my family home, still living with my parents, I almost cried at the familiarity of it all.

I could never truly tell my parents what I'd endured, but they must have sensed something had gone terribly wrong because they were as supportive as they could be. Still, it wasn't the same as being with people who had gone through the same thing.

Lara and Sam didn't live far, only a tube ride away, so I visited them a few times whilst we were back. The only good thing to come out of this whole mess was my friendship strengthening with Sam and forming with Lara. They were the only ones who understood how I was feeling, though Sam was less reluctant to talk about it than Lara was.

I stopped by their flat a week after returning, with the intention of checking in on them but also bringing a bunch of leftovers my mum had made for dinner and insisted I shared with them. Lara was a terrible cook and Sam hadn't been herself lately, understandably so, so I was happy to make it a little easier on them if I could.

Once I knocked on the door to their flat, I heard someone on the other side before it opened to reveal Lara. She smiled softly when she saw me, eliciting a smile of my own.

"Y/N, hey," she spoke with surprise, before pulling me in for a quick hug. "I didn't know you were coming."

I returned her hug, admittedly already comforted by the subtle scent of her perfume. "Sorry, I should have called really. It was a last minute thing. My mum made some food for you and Sam and I just wanted to drop it off. If you're busy or it's a bad time, I can just leave you with the food."

"No, no, it's not a bad time at all," she assured me, tugging me into her flat and closing the door behind me. "I'm glad to see you. And gosh, your mum is just the sweetest. She really didn't have to."

I chuckled, holding out the bag of food. "Good luck telling her that."

Lara accepted the bag with a snicker before taking a peek inside. "It looks delicious, Y/N, thank you. I really need to meet the chef behind all this great food."

I followed her into the kitchen as she put the bag in the fridge, before glancing around the place. "Sam not in?"

At the mention of Sam, Lara sighed quietly, her smile fading. "No, sorry. She actually just left. We... we got into an argument."

I frowned. "What about?"

We both took a seat on the couch as Lara collected her thoughts, clearly still upset about their argument.

"Sam's been having nightmares," she said guiltily. "I know she has. I've even had to wake her from a few. But she won't talk about it with me. She's outright denying there's anything wrong. It's not right."

It was true that Sam was in denial about what she'd experienced, but I had at least hoped she'd been confiding in Lara about it, if not me. This definitely wasn't what I expected to hear.

"That's a lot to deal with," I sympathised, feeling a little guilty myself, and I wasn't even sure what for. That I had it easier? That I hadn't been possessed like she has? I didn't know. "But Lara, I'm sure she'll open up to you when she's ready. Everybody deals with trauma in different ways."

Lara frowned, jaw tensing. "But it's me! She's supposed to tell me what she's thinking! We're best friends, Y/N. She's never acted like this before."

"I know, but–"

"This is all my fault," she reminded me, voice breaking slightly. "I just want to help her."

I rested a hand on her knee, squeezing gently. "She knows you're here for her, but this is all frustrating. She's processing it on her own first, okay? You can't rush it. You have to go at her pace."

Lara hummed, eyes staring past me and into the distance thoughtfully. Whether she would listen was beyond me, but I hoped she knew I would be here for them both.

"Aside from that, how have things been with you?" I asked, speaking when she didn't.

Her eyes flickered to mine. "Not good. Not bad. I... Jonah checks in every other day. Reyes won't speak to me."

I frowned at this, though it was expected. She still blamed Lara for the whole trip.

"I spoke to Grim and Alex's families the other day," she continued halfheartedly. "Broke the news."

"That must've been hard.”

She smiled sadly. "Wasn't easy. But someone had to do it. Only felt right it was me."

I leaned on my elbow on the back of the couch, facing her sideways. "I would've sat with you if you'd asked. You shouldn't have had to do it alone."

She exhaled through her nose, eyes twinkling slightly. "That's sweet of you to say, but I wouldn't have asked that of you, love."

I gave her a disapproving look, but she brushed it off as she always did.

"How have things with your parents been since you got home?" she changed the subject. "Sam and I appreciate you always coming to check on us, but we would love to do the same."

"You're always welcome," I said lightheartedly, though I meant it. "My parents would love to meet you. Especially my mum."

She half-scoffed, frowning to herself. "I almost got you killed on an expedition. They wouldn't want to meet me. If they knew the truth, they'd hate me."

I quirked a brow. "Okay, firstly, my mum literally forced me to bring you all that food. You really think she does that for everyone?" Lara opened her mouth to speak, but I continued, "Secondly, they know the truth. Well, most of it. And they don't hate you for any of it. They'd love to meet you."

She pressed her lips together uncomfortably, looking down.

I tried to find her gaze as I said gently, "Thirdly, what happened in Yamatai wasn't your fault. How many times do I have to tell you?"

She didn't say anything, so I took her hand between mine, finally earning her attention.

"It wasn't," I repeated, needing her to believe me.

Her dark eyes softened as they held my gaze and I could have stared into them forever, but then she looked to my hand before slowly pulling hers back. I cleared my throat awkwardly, wondering what I'd said to make her so uncomfortable. I considered apologising, but Lara was quick to change the subject.

"Maybe I'll stop by soon," she said, referring to my house. "It's the least I can do for your mum."

"How about this weekend?" I asked hopefully. "You and Sam can come over for dinner."

"Oh," she said, surprised, and definitely not expecting me to ask so soon. "Erm, I–"

"Please?"

She blinked, glancing at me, before wincing. "I suppose we can."

I began to smile, excited. "Great. I can't wait."

—

"...nothing, not even a hint about it," I pleaded with my parents as they moved around the kitchen, prepping the last few bits for Sam and Lara's visit. "As far as this household knows, Yamatai didn't happen. I don't want to upset them. Or make it awkward. Or–"

"Y/N, we understand," my dad cut me off, squeezing my shoulder. "We won't bring it up."

"It's not you I'm worried about," I mumbled, glancing at my mum.

She only ever meant the best, but I worried bringing up Yamatai might set a bad tone for the evening, especially with Sam's reluctance to acknowledge everything that went down.

"I'll stay quiet, love, I promise," she assured me, though I couldn't be sure she would.

Just on cue, the doorbell rang and I was both delighted and a tad nervous, mainly in case my mum said the wrong thing. Still, I shot both my parents a warning look before going to answer the door.

"Sam, Lara!" I exclaimed with a smile when I opened the door. "So glad to see you."

"Y/N!" Sam returned with excitement, before immediately pulling me in for a hug. "God, it's good to be here after so long. I'm so looking forward to your mum's cooking."

"Wow. And here's me thinking you came to see me," I joked, making her chuckle as she pulled back.

"I think I see you enough," she played along. "I'm here for Y/M/N and Y/D/N."

I scoffed jokingly as she stepped inside, moving my attention to an uneasy-looking Lara, still stood in the doorway. Naturally, it brought a smile to my face and I quirked a brow.

"You coming in today?" I teased, stepping to the side.

She cleared her throat, nervous smile on her lips and some flowers in her hand. "I– yes. Sorry. It's good to see you, Y/N."

I chuckled as she stepped inside, closing the door behind them both.

"We bought some flowers and chocolates for your parents," she added, and I noticed Sam was holding the box of chocolates.

"That's sweet of you both, but you didn't have to," I told them knowingly. "Just you coming was enough."

They exchanged looks, making me laugh, and then footsteps were heard and my mum appeared in the hallway.

"Ladies, welcome!" she said brightly, before looking to Sam first. "Sam, it's so good to see you. It's been too long!"

"It has, Y/M/N, I'm sorry I haven't visited sooner," Sam returned with a laugh, before holding out the chocolates. "Hopefully these make up for it."

My mum looked at the chocolates with a cheeky smile. "My favourite. Of course it does."

Sam winked at me playfully, making me roll my eyes.

"And you must be Lara," my mum continued, expression softening. "I've been very excited to meet you, dear! Y/N has only said great things about you."

"Mu-um," I whined, cheeks flushing.

Lara smiled with amusement, nerves dissipating slightly, which I suppose was worth a joke at my expense.

"What? It's true!" she defended.

"It's lovely to finally meet you, Mrs. Y/L/N," Lara said politely, before holding out the flowers. "These are for you and your husband."

"Call me Y/M/N," my mum replied, before accepting the flowers with a chuckle. "You lovely ladies are spoiling us! Do mind my husband. He's just making sure the roast doesn't burn."

"I just wanted to say that we're also really grateful for all the food you've been sending over recently," Lara added with a small smile. "It's been a massive help."

"And it tastes beautiful," Sam added jokingly.

My mum began to smile sadly as she looked between them both and I knew what she was thinking. Please don't bring it up. Please don't bring it up. Please don't bring it up.

"I'm here to help in any way I can," was all she said, as I held my breath. Then when I shot her a look, pleading for her not to mention Yamatai with my eyes, she cleared her throat. "I'm gonna check on dinner. Y/N will take you to the dining room."

As she walked away, Sam and Lara seemed confused, so I attempted to brush it off as I took the lead to the dining room.

Soon enough, my dad joined us, introducing himself to Lara and reacquainting himself with Sam, before my mum brought out the dinner and we all dug in. To my relief, they both steered away from all things Yamatai, instead talking about work or family or anything else that wouldn't make them upset.

Sam settled in easily enough, as she always did when she spent time with my parents. I was more concerned about Lara, who initially didn't want to come tonight and was acting a little shyer than usual. Thankfully, she seemed to warm up to everyone as the evening went on, and I was glad my parents were able to put her at ease. They truly did like her, and contrary to Lara's fear, they didn't blame her one bit for our disaster voyage.

To make things even better, my mum went out of her way to truly help Lara feel at home by baking her a special dessert.

"Y/N mentioned you fancy a Jaffa Cake every now and then," my mum teased Lara as she brought out the cake in her hand and set it down, "so I thought I should make something special since it's your first time coming over. It's a Jaffa Cake cake!"

Lara stared at the cake with surprise, smile on her lips in disbelief. "What? Seriously?"

"This is literally her dream dessert, you know that?" Sam said to my mum with amusement.

My mum chuckled as she took her seat. "I figured."

Lara blinked, speechless, before her eyes glanced at me across the table, unsure. I nodded reassuringly, trying not to laugh, and then she looked to my mother with sparkling eyes.

"This looks amazing, Y/M/N, I don't even know what to say."

"You don't need to say a thing," my mum assured her. "Just dig in!"

Lara pressed her lips together, smile permanently fixed on her face in a way that warmed my heart.

After having some dessert and tea, my mum insisted on boxing up some leftovers for Sam and Lara.

"Sam, it's been a pleasure as always," my mum said with a smile, before offering her the food. "This is for you and Lara."

"Awesome," Sam mumbled as she accepted the bag, before hugging my mum. "Thanks, Y/M/N."

My mum laughed before looking to Lara. "Lara, love, it's been an absolute delight meeting you tonight. I hope we can see more of you. You're part of the family now!"

Lara smiled, cheeks turning pink. "Thank you, Y/M/N. I appreciate that."

I watched them both hug, always grateful for my mum's ability to put someone at ease.

After she and my dad wished Sam and Lara a good night, I walked them down the hall to see them out.

"Get back safe, yeah? Text me when you're home," I told them both.

"We will," Sam assured, before lifting the bag of food in her hand. "Can't wait to devour this tomorrow."

I chuckled tiredly, accepting her hug before opening the door for her. She stepped outside as I looked to Lara with a grateful smile.

"Thank you for coming, Lara. I'm really glad you did. It wouldn't have been the same without you."

"I don't know about that," she said with a slight snicker, before looking between my eyes patiently, "but thank you. I..."

I waited, curious, but then Sam interrupted, calling for Lara impatiently.

"Thanks for having me," Lara said quickly, aware of Sam's whining in the background, though a tender smile was on her lips. "Goodnight, Y/N."

"Goodnight, Lara." I pulled her in for a brief hug, though my insides were spinning butterflies at the proximity.

She offered me a final smile before I watched her join Sam's side, the two of them walking away. I exhaled gently, closing the door and unable to clear my thoughts of Lara.

—

A few days later, I was over at Sam and Lara's flat, helping Sam do some cleaning and throwing some old belongings out. With Sam, this meant waiting for her to decide whether a possession was worth keeping or not, fighting her about it, then finally getting rid of the clutter.

As I was leaving another full box of belongings by the front door as Sam continued to dig around her bedroom, I heard keys jingling in the door. Straightening up, I saw Lara letting herself in, eyes finding mine with confusion.

"Y/N?" she said with surprise, shutting the door behind her and kicking off her shoes. "What are you doing here?"

"Just helping Sam get rid of some stuff," I said, before noticing her gym outfit and headphones. "You go to the gym?"

As if suddenly aware of her appearance, she glanced down before wiping the film of sweat from her face with her sleeve. "I– no, sorry, I'm all gross. I went on a run."

I chuckled, shrugging. "It's cool."

She cleared her throat, smiling a little, before saying, "I was actually meaning to call you so it's good you're here." When I lifted a brow curiously, she continued, "I wanted to thank you properly, for dinner the other night. Your family are really lovely and accommodating and I just–"

She paused, eyes flickering away momentarily, and I wondered what she was so nervous about, but I didn't want her to feel rushed, so I waited.

"It was the first time I've properly felt at home somewhere since, well, since I was a child," she continued slowly, awkwardly, and I hung onto every word.

"I'm glad," I spoke gently. "My parents love you. And I really enjoyed having you there."

She breathed out, nodding. "Even after everything... I'm glad it went well. I should have said as much the other night, but... yeah."

I couldn't help but smile at her adorable uneasiness. "No problem, Lara."

She swallowed visibly, eyes meeting mine briefly, before hesitating.

"What is it?" I asked, noticing she was holding back. "What's on your mind?"

She chewed on her lip. "I lost my parents young and I never had a family, not a real one. I had Roth, but he's..."

"Lara," I started, stepping forward with a hint of concern, but she shook her head.

I waited, and then she pressed her lips together. "Forget it."

Feeling bad for throwing her off, I started, "No, wait–"

"No, it's fine, I'm just rambling," she mumbled.

"Keep rambling," I urged, afraid if she stopped sharing now, she'd never do so again.

She paused, pursing her lips as she looked to her shoes. I watched the strands of her fringe loosen from her ponytail, covering her face for a moment, and fought the urge to push it out the way.

"It all seems so futile now," she admitted.

My confusion only grew. "What?"

Just when I thought she may stay quiet forever, she finally looked up, golden-brown eyes meeting mine. "I like you. A lot. I have for a long time now, but after everything... there's bigger things going on and it's a lot to admit. And I understand if you don't feel the–"

She was rambling again, already talking herself out of her admission, so I kissed her without thinking, lips catching ablaze when they touched hers. She froze, shocked, and I pulled back slightly, finally moving those damned strands of hair from her stunning eyes.

"It's not futile," I assured her, meeting her deer-caught-in-headlights expression. "I actually feel the same way."

She breathed out slowly, a small, hopeful smile forming on her lips. "You do?"

I mirrored her smile, nodding. "Do you know how hard it is to fancy someone who barely spoke a word to you?"

Embarrassed, she looked away. "Not any easier than fancying someone who you couldn't say a word to."

I chuckled. "Touché."

She licked her lips, nervous, before meeting my gaze once more. "Why didn't you say anything?"

I shrugged, it being my turn to be nervous. "I don't know... at first, it was because you didn't speak to me much so I didn't think you'd like me back. And then, like you said, after everything that happened... it was a lot. It didn't feel like the right time."

"How about now?" she asked hesitantly. "Is it the right time now?"

"It could be. If you want it to be."

She nodded. "I'd like that."

I began to smile. "Me too."

She smiled too, eyes flickering between mine before settling on my lips, and without another second wasted, she leaned in to kiss me. I closed my eyes as her finger curled around my cheek, pulling me close, and melted into her touch.

I could have stayed there forever kissing her, but the sound of Sam in the hall grumbling to herself about cleaning made us pull apart. I wasn't sure what would happen with the whole Lara and I and Sam thing, but Lara must have had the same thoughts as I.

"We keep this from Sam until we figure out what this is?" she proposed quickly.

I sighed with relief, glad we were on the same page, and nodded in agreement.

"Oh, Lara, you're back!" Sam noticed when she finally entered. "Great, you can help Y/N and I."

Lara's eyes twinkled with adoration as they lingered on mine before she gave Sam a convincing smile. "Sounds good, Sam. Just let me shower and I'll give you both a hand."

I smiled to myself as she walked past Sam and I, heading for the bathroom. I was still in awe.

I just kissed Lara freakin' Croft. Twice!

[imyourbratzdoll]

𝑰𝒏 𝒎𝒚 𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒎𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒎𝒆 𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒌

part 2 of 💔broken family💔

summary - when the weekend arrives, your mental health worsens, causing you to make some decisions.

warning - angst, swearing, self-doubt, lying, drinking, mentions of suicide, bad thoughts, a shit child, a shit ex-husband, mentions of divorce.

the gif I use isn't mine, headers by me.

part 1 - part 3

Warnings and Reminders - Please do not plagiarise, copy, repost/republish, adapt, or translate any of my work on any social media platforms, apps, or third-party sites. The only platforms I post my work on are: Tumblr and Wattpad. I do not own any character of any franchise (Marvel etc.) All my works are fiction and may be dark or triggering content: READ ALL WARNINGS BEFORE PROCEEDING.

The weekend had arrived, and Jason was buzzing with excitement. He wouldn’t stop going on about seeing his dad and about all the cool and fun things they had planned. Could you really blame him, though? Ari had taken the divorce a lot better than you had, probably because he was the one that wanted it. Your son was rushing you as you got changed, barely having any time as he began to whine that you were keeping him. You couldn’t count how many times your heart had shattered on the one hand, but you had to push through because even though your son didn’t love you and would rather be with his father. You still had to be a mother… Even when you could feel your life slipping away. “Alright, honey… Let’s go to your father’s” You sigh as he runs off, with you following behind. 

The drive over was filled with talks of his father, and when you pulled up, Jason had practically thrown himself out of the car and ran to the door. You slowly follow behind, holding your breath when your eyes connect with Ari’s, gulping as he glares in return. “You’re late.” You nod, barely having anything to say, as your son flings himself at Ari, expressing his excitement for the weekend ahead. “Hey, buddy! Why don’t you go and watch some cartoons while I talk to your mother?” Jason nods, running inside, and Ari looks at you. “I need you to watch him on Sunday. I have a date.” Oh, your poor heart. Ari crosses his arms, raising a brow. “Is that going to be a problem?”

You rapidly blink the tears away and shake your head. Swallowing the lump that forms in your throat before you speak. “Uh, no… That’ll be fine, um… I hope you have a good time?” You nod and stand awkwardly as you want to say goodbye to your son before leaving. “Can you get Jason, please? I need to say goodbye.” Ari rolls his eyes, calling your son back, who looks equally annoyed that you are still there. You kneel, smiling softly at Jason. “Hey baby, I’m going to go now, and I’ll see you on Sunday, okay?” 

“Wha? I spend time with daddy on Sunday. Not you.” He crosses his little arms, glaring as he taps his tiny foot. “I go now?” You nod, bringing him into a hug before letting him go. Watching sadly as he runs off with no care, you stand, giving Ari another nod before heading to your car and hopping inside. Where did it all go wrong? You had really lost them both, Ari had found someone else, and your son would soon call them mummy. A tear fell as you started the car, and you decided to drive to your therapist's office, needing someone to listen, even if they didn’t really care. You park your car and head in, sitting down as the receptionist informs your therapist.

Maybe you should buy some drinks on your way home? Vodka might be easier to swallow than the fact that Ari wasn’t ever coming back. “Miss L/n?” You blink, looking up and giving the woman a short smile as she beckons you up. “I can see you now. Would you like to come in?” You nod, standing and heading into her office, sitting across from her on a comfy couch. “So, what is bothering you? How have you been after everything?” 

Your tongue flicks out as you wet your lips, staring down at your hands, noticing how poorly your nails have been treated as you’ve stopped taking the best care of yourself. “I, uh… I’m not doing so good.” You try to smile, looking at her. “Um, I dropped Jason off to his father again today, and….” You begin to space out, staring off and out the window, not really wanting to think about it anymore, just wanting to disappear. 

The woman across from you crossed her legs, her full attention on you and not the notebook that lies open in her lap. “And what? Did something bad happen?” She could see the pain coursing through your eyes and wished she could do much more than she was currently doing. “You can talk to me, Y/n. I’m here for you.”

You stare at her as you swallow. “Well, Ari asked or, more like, told me I had to look after our son on Sunday because he has a date.” You choke on the word, not wanting to picture the man you love with another. “I–I don’t have a problem with looking after Jason… But the thought of….” She nods, giving you a reassuring smile. “I want to disappear. They wouldn’t miss me… I feel like they are waiting for me to stop existing. I love Ari, even after all the pain he’s put me through, and I don’t think I’ll ever be able to get closure or move on because he never explained why he left so randomly. He said he didn’t love me anymore, but… We were together for so long. How could someone just wake up one day and stop loving that person? A–and Jason, he’s… He’s only four, but it’s like he hates me too. He’d rather be with his father. Today… He didn’t even say goodbye to me, and he just seemed so angry and upset that he was going to see me again on his father’s weekend.” You don’t know when you had started crying, not until she came over and handed you the tissues, resting a comforting hand on your shoulder. You sighed. “I just… I don’t know what to do anymore, you know? Maybe I should just give Ari full custody and not hold Jason back from seeing his father full-time.” You rubbed your hands over your face, wiping the tears away before taking a deep breath.

“Have you been taking care of yourself after the divorce?” You shake your head, looking at the woman. “So, you haven’t gone out and hung out with friends, gone to get your hair and nails done, or even had a self-care day just for you?” You shake your head again, resting your head on your hands. She stands, clapping her hands together softly. “Well, that’s what I want you to do. Look after yourself, even if that means spending time away from your son for a while and getting your ex-husband to look after him. I want you to put yourself first, Y/n. Can you do that?” You nod slowly, wondering how you could even do that. 

“What about this Sunday? What do I do?” You play with your fingers, looking at her. 

“You do what you think is best, but I’d recommend him finding someone else to look after your son.” You nod slowly, taking in her words before you stand as the session ends. “And Y/n?” You hum, “Don’t take so long to come back, okay? I don’t want to read the news one day and find out you could’ve been helped.” You nod, saying your goodbyes before walking back to your car, having a lot to think about as you drive to the liquor store, grabbing some bottles of wines, vodkas, and anything you could get your hands on before going back home, with plans of drinking your sorrows away, just for a little bit. 

When you arrived home, you poured yourself multiple glasses while lying on the couch, staring at the ceiling blankly. People never understand that you don’t realise pain until you are left with only memories and not the person you wanted to stay. At some point during your tenth? Drink, you had fallen asleep, finally getting sleep with no nightmares or false promises. You had managed to sleep for two days without meaning to, but you guessed your body needed it. You had gotten up, cleaning the house before going to the bathroom to shower. As you changed into new clothes, the doorbell rang, followed by a few sharp knocks. You remembered what today was and knew who was at the door. 

You head downstairs and open the door, the sound of your son already complaining in his little babbles. Ari was staring you down, and somehow, he still looks as good as ever, and you are jealous. Furious and saddened that you couldn’t be enough for him. “Don’ wanna go!” Jason clings to Ari, kicking his feet, and your jaw clenches. 

“Jason, let go of your father and get inside.” Both stop and stare. You raise your brow, you feel drained, and at this moment, you are considering listening to your therapist and just giving Jason over to Ari. “Inside.” Ari lets him down, and Jason begrudgingly heads inside, a pout on his face. You look up at your ex-husband, seeing him already staring down at you, a particular look in his eyes. “Did you need anything else? Want me also to cook dinner for you and your date?” You huff, slamming the door in his face before he can say anything. You turn and notice your son has wandered off. “Jason! Where are you?!” You walk up to his room and find him sitting on his bed with his arms crossed over his chest and a grumpy look on his face. “Really? You’re going to see your father in a few hours. Is spending time with me that bad?” 

“Don’ want to be here! It’s boring, no fun! Daddy place better!” You nod. “I hate you! Why did you make daddy leave!” Oh, the three words a mother always wants to hear come out of their child's mouth. Note the sarcasm.

“Okay. You sit here and throw a tantrum.” You walk away, swallowing that damn lump again as you enter the kitchen and pour yourself a glass of wine, gulping some of it down. What you didn’t know was Ari never had a date. He just wanted to know if you would grow hurt by the news and if you still love him. A few hours pass by. You’ve fed your son before sitting in front of the tv, awaiting Ari’s arrival, continuing to drown your sorrows with alcohol, but not enough that you can’t look after your son. There’s a knock at the door. “Jason! Your father’s here!” You are between a scoff and sobbing as you hear his excited footsteps, running through the house and to the front door, followed by a happy squeal when he’s met with his father. 

“Daddy! I missed you!” You stand behind and watch as they embrace each other.

“Hey, buddy. I missed you too. You ready to go?” Jason nods excitedly, but before they can leave, you stop them.

“Ari, can I speak to you before you go?” And again, you are met with annoyed looks from both of them. “It won’t take long.” You sigh as he tells Jason to go to the car and wait for him before giving you half of his attention, raising a brow and waiting for you to continue. “I thought that maybe you’d like to have Jason longer than the weekends, and it might be good for him to be with you.” You won’t admit that it hurt to say it because, really, you just wanted your family back to the way it was. But it was for the best, Jason obviously didn’t want to be around you, and Ari probably never wanted to see you again. So why get in the way?

Ari looks shocked before nodding. “Really? And you wouldn’t mind?” You shake your head, even though inside you are screaming yes, you would mind so much, and to come back to you, to love you again, but you swallow that down. “Okay, I’ll grab more of his things, then.” He walks past you, and damn. His scent still causes you to become weak in the knees, and the cologne he wears brings back memories of when you first bought it for him. You missed him, god, you missed him. Once Ari returns with his hands full, he nods and enters the car, driving off and leaving you alone in an empty house.

You close the door, sink into the couch and continue to drink. What was the point of staying sober when it hurts too much? Your mind becomes fuzzy as you watch the people on the screen move around, the alcohol hitting faster because you haven’t eaten. What was the point? It wasn’t like anyone cared if you did or not. You missed your husband, missed when he’d make sure you had eaten, made sure you were okay, and surprised you with random gifts and kisses. You missed him desperately. Why did it go wrong? What was wrong with you? What did you do? You huff, skulling your drink as you think, who cares. 

And soon, filled with those delicious fuzzy drinks, you drift off to a blissful sleep, into a happier place where your marriage didn’t fail, where your family were still together. Because in your dreams, he loves you back.

thank you for reading!

feedback and reblogs are greatly appreciated.

[bloodlinesceo]

In The Shadows

Gif Credit: @vanityangel

A/N: As I mentioned on Wattpad, I did plan on moving 'In The Shadows' onto here. So here it is! We definitely need more Tonga Loa fics on here, I mean look at him 🔥 Bless the people who do write about him though! I enjoy reading your work so much!

If you want to be added to the tag list for the next chapter let me know.

Pairings: Tonga Loa x Fem! Reader

Characters: Tonga Loa, Bianca Belair, B-Fab, Solo Sikoa, Tama Tonga, Jacob Fatu, Street Profits, mentions of Naomi, Jade Cargill, Damian Priest, Rhea Ripley, OG Bloodline & more.

Summary: Y/N L/N is on the road to become a top star in WWE. However, when her & a certain infamous Bloodline member catch feelings for each other along the way, how far are they willing to go to keep their relationship a secret?

WARNINGS ⚠️: 18+ for later on, swearing, bullying, angst, arguing, Bloodline 2.0 (minus Loa) being mean ass bullies, especially Tama 😭 Bianca's also like an overprotective sister in the fic, I hope y'all don't mind. Not Proofread.

Of course this is written for fictional purposes only & is based on their characters, it does not depict who they are in real life. Respect to them & their families.

Toko- Bro/Sibling in Tongan.

Word Count: 1.9k

Hope you like it 💫

✦•······················•✦•······················•✦✦•······················•✦•···

Money In The Bank is right around the corner. Of course it was a huge deal to you, because it's happening in your city. Also, being a top star in NXT & making it to the main roster with your friends Bianca Belair, Damian Priest & Rhea Ripley, you wanted to make it big on the main roster & have your moment.

Tonight was a big night for you as you had your Women's Money In The Bank qualifying match against Zelina Vega & Iyo Sky. Just like you, both ladies were hella talented & amazing. But, you didn't want to doubt yourself. You still fought hard & ended up qualifying for the Women's MITB Ladder match & couldn't be any happier. Both ladies congratulated you backstage, you thanked them and praised how amazing they were in the ring. You freshened up after the match, got dressed up and went to catering to have a post-match meal.

✦•······················•✦•······················•✦✦•······················•���•···

Walking in, you saw your bestie Bianca with the Street Profits & B-Fab sitting at one of the tables. The EST saw you & cheered "There she is!! Our Future Miss Money In The Bank!" causing the Street Profits & B-Fab to cheer as well, making everyone turn their heads. You loved her, but hated the attention from others the cheering caused. You went over to their table & sat down.

"Thanks y'all, but I wouldn't be too sure. The line up looks pretty good & any of these ladies could win. I mean, Chelsea Green, Zoey Stark, Tiffany Stratton, Naomi & Lyra. I'm nothing in front of them." Causing Bianca to roll her eyes "girl, are you doubting yourself again? Uh uh, you got this! We literally grew up together & you're a bad bitch in that ring! I know you." "You're gonna kick ass out there! It's your time to shine!" said Montez giving you a first bump. "Uh oh" said Dawkins looking towards the entrance. "What's up?" asked Tez. B-Fab followed Angelo's gaze & her eyes widened. "Alright, y'all are acting like you saw a ghost, let me see-oh shit! Here comes trouble" he said mirroring the same reaction as B-Fab.

You & Bianca turned around & saw the group of men walking in, wearing all black. Yup, it was them The Bloodline. Although, this one seemed more intimidating, no Roman, no Usos, and sadly poor Paul got triple power bombed by the group at the end of the show. This version was serious, now Solo Sikoa was taking over as the leader, calling himself 'The Tribal Chief .' He had his cousin Jacob Fatu whom he recruited last week from the Indies & the two Tongans from New Japan Pro-Wrestling, Tama Tonga & Tonga Loa.

Yup, they were a dangerous bunch. You were a bit terrified by them, especially seeing them jump the roster after Roman & Jimmy left. You even got along with the original members of The Bloodline & had get togethers with them since Naomi is also like a sister to you. You spoke to Solo once in awhile too, but that changed after Roman left & he stopped talking to you. Somehow there was a certain member of the group whom you couldn't keep your eyes off of, Tonga Loa.

Something about him was different to you. You've watched a few matches of him during his run in New Japan; he seemed to have a different aura & wasn't all over the place like his brother & the other Bloodline members. You've seen his Instagram as well, he was always smiling so bright & posting up with his dog, nephews, nieces, friends, family & even Krispy Kreme. You felt like he had a bright personality under that mysterious one. You were getting lost looking at him while he was grabbing food & chatting with Solo at the Buffet, until a body stepped in front of the pair & snapped its fingers at you.

Your gaze broke off & you looked up to see his older brother Tama giving you a stern look, cocking his eyebrow at you. He wasn't impressed. "Whatchu looking at little girl?" Loa & Solo stopped talking & turned their attention to you. Your face burned up & you felt embarrassed that he called you out like that. The room went quiet. Bianca scooted her chair closer to you in case you needed backup, you were a sister to her & she knew their game, they've messed with her husband & his friends & she wasn't gonna let them mess with you.

You felt the tension in the room rise & finally replied "nothing...I was just looking at the food being served today. I haven't eaten yet so I was curious-" "Bullshit!" He cut you off, "I know you weren't looking at the food, you were looking at my little toko, what's your deal huh? Hasn't anyone told you, it's not polite to stare? What do you want from him?" "Tama, shut up!" yelled Bianca "leave my sis alone! She ain't done nothing wrong. She was just minding her own business until you came yapping along. Not everything is about y'all" Tama widened his eyes at her. "Toko...it's okay! Take it easy!" said Loa while putting a hand on Tama's shoulder.

Montez stood up in front of him "Boy, what the f-ck is your problem? She can look wherever she wants, it's a free country. What are you gonna do? Fine her? The girl just wanted some dang food & y'all are in her way." That's when Solo stepped in; you knew it was about to go down, he spoke "Oh, so it's our fault now?! Why doesn't she be woman & come & get it herself?" Angelo stood up "Aye! The woman can also make decisions for herself too & the last person she needs advice is from someone who dresses up like The Weeknd every week." Everyone bursted out laughing. Solo looked embarrassed.

You swore you saw Loa trying not to laugh, and quickly looked away. That's when Jacob came in & stepped in front of Angelo in Solo's defense, "Oh, so you think you're funny big guy? How about we settle this?" "I'd love to see you try." he challenged. You realized this isn't gonna end well, you didn't want to see Angelo getting hurt because of you. You quickly stepped in between Angelo & Jacob "please, don't fight. If you want to, do it in the ring or something next week, but not here. Tonga Loa, I'm so sorry if it looked like I was staring, I wasn't. I should've gotten my food as soon as I got here. I'm sorry it looked that way," you pleaded.

He gave you a look which looked sorry, was he feeling sympathetic towards you? " You have nothing to apologize for Y/N" he said. " WHAT?! Are you feeling sorry for her?!" questioned Tama. "It's okay bro, just leave it. She just wanted food. You're making something out of nothing. We don't need to get banned from catering again. Let's just go & eat, I'm hungry." said Loa, leading his brother away from the scene & towards a table on the far end. Solo gave everyone a warning glare & followed the brothers. Jacob gave Angelo one last look "see you in the ring next week." he said before walking away with his group.

Angelo smirked at him. "Oh my God Angelo, are you okay? I'm so sorry y'all. It's all my fault!" you cried. Angelo hugged you "sis, it's okay. We'll be okay. We're a family remember? Tama's the one who caused this shit & me & Tez wanna teach him another lesson, this one's for messing with you. We'll be okay. Just keep your distance from them, okay?" He assured as he rubbed your back. You nodded, you were so worried about him & Montez. "Will y'all be okay?" asked Bianca hugging her husband. "We'll be good, they need their asses kicked good. We'll have back up too. KO is here so we'll be even" said Montez earnings smiles from you & his wife.

"Y/N, you didn't eat anything" said B-Fab. "You know what? I'll grab Sushi on the way back. I'm not that hungry. Plus, I don't want to eat here. The energy is pretty off " you answered. "True, let me & Binky take you to that sushi bar around the corner. Get all the Cali rolls to celebrate the big win tonight, my treat. Go pack your things & we'll meet you at the car." said Tez. "I still think you should grab a snack, something to occupy your stomach on the way there, cause your qualifying match was brutal. You must be starving" said Bianca.

Bianca & Montez are like the big brother & sister you never had, they cared about you so much just as much as you did for them, you were grateful for them. You nodded & thanked them & went towards the buffet table, grabbed a paper plate & placed some spring rolls. B-Fab came up to you putting both of her hands on the sides of your arms, holding in you place. She glanced behind you, and quickly looked back at you & whispered "Girl, I know you're pissed off at them cause of what they did, but Loa won't stop looking at you ever since you got up from our table." Your eyes widened, you gotta admit you liked him even more after he calmed his Gremlin brother down when he went berserk on you for no reason. "B, I gotta tell you something, but not here." you said. You looked over towards Bianca & The Street Profits who were talking to Jade Cargill. You snuck a look towards the Bloodline's table to see Loa quickly turning his head away from looking at you & to his family who were too occupied in the conversation & their food to notice him looking anymore.

You grabbed her hand and lead her to your locker room. You shut the door, "Okay, I don't know how to tell you this, but I really like him. I just don't know if he feels the same. But, you caught him looking at me." B-Fab, raised her brows in response "I had a feeling you did girl, you were staring at him in catering weren't you?" She teased, you blushed in response & nodded. "But what will Bianca & Tez say? They can't stand The Bloodline & The Bloodline can't stand us either. Plus, the way Tama was being a dick to you for just looking at him? They're dangerous." she said. "I know." you frowned "that's the sad part, his family seems to hate me. Solo & I were chill too until Roman left. I guess it's whatever. He'll probably find someone else who's better. Someone that they'll all accept & like & get her to manage The Bloodline." you sighed.

She placed a reassuring hand on your shoulder, "don't feel that way, you're gorgeous girl. Any guy would be lucky to have you. It's just a matter of time, maybe they'll turn babyface a year later? Then we can forget about it all." she laughed. "Yeah, in 50 years." you joked "you're gorgeous too by the way." she smiled "thanks, you eat your snacks, get packing & we'll meet you at the parking lot." she hugged you & left.

✦•······················•✦•······················•✦✦•······················•✦•···

You finished your spring rolls & took a while to pack, you were the type of person who would bring everything with you not to only help yourself, but others so you didn't want to lose anything. You finally packed up your things & hurried out to leave the arena, you didn't want Bianca & Tez to wait any longer, note to self you need to treat them for putting up with you. The arena was mostly empty by now as the show ended,it was mostly just the backstage crew & tech packing up. You were nearing the exit when you heard a familiar voice call out your name. You froze, could it be him?

TBC...💫

A/N: This was the first fic so I may not be the best at this in the first few chapters (please bear with me lol), it may be a bit slow, but I'd really appreciate feedback on this to improve, and please be kind & respectful about it. I won't tolerate any disrespect. Any of that gets blocked. Thanks for reading!

[sh0esuke]

" Turn Back " — ENGLISH VERSION.

𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 : Solas

𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆 : ❝ Lavellan sometimes came awake from dreams in which her lover watched her sadly from across an endless distance. If they were more than simple dreams she could not say, for every time she reached for him, he vanished into nothing. Still she searched, and dreamed, and waited, for a way to change the Dread Wolf's heart. ❞

𝗪𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 : none.

ENG : PLEASE DO NOT STEAL MY WORKS. If you want to translate it, ask me first then we can talk about it. If you want to find me on Wattpad, my account is in my bio, this is the ONLY ONE i have.

𝚆𝚘𝚛𝚍 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚝 : 𝟑,𝟕𝟎𝟎.

Comments, likes, and reblogs are heavily appreciated. All types of support are ! Thank you !! <3

A/N : English isn't my first language so I apologise if you find any incoherence/mistake in this work. I still hope you can enjoy it ! I absolutely adore Solas so of course I had to write something about him. It's been a pleasure !!

Dorian’s words come back into my mind as the softness of my silk sheets caress my skin. Its coldness makes me shiver, a sigh escapes my lips. Like a dagger slicing through my belly and lacerating my guts, they mutilate me, break me, and hurt my heart. I hear his voice; it resonates deeply within me. Every syllable is articulated with caution. He’s aware that it doesn’t matter how he will approach this subject; it will bring me sorrow, if nothing more. 

« My dear friend, you seem quite exhausted lately. Have you been sleeping well ? » 

I sob. 

As I open my eyes, drifting off into a deep sleep, I know I don’t need to panic. I know where I am. 

Which only makes my suffering worse. 

Only a pinch of hope manages to get into the mix. Bitterly salty, it makes me hiccup. I don’t know what to do.  I went through worse in battle, lost worse for much less; there is, nonetheless, wounds that never heal. Others that keep hurting you years after they’ve healed. I’m not laying on my bed anymore, and the temperature has dropped. My chest feels sour, my breath is short. By the time I've reviewed this place of torture, I'm spinning around, and tears are blurring my vision. It hurts. I’d give anything to be somewhere else, on the battlefield, fighting enemies from the past. I try to convince myself. 

Anywhere but here. 

This place is familiar. 

Properly speaking, I never set a foot in this forest. I have no idea where to find it. Ferelden ? Orlais ? Storm Coast ? Or even maybe Crestwood ? I must admit I searched its location endlessly, looking for a way to end this madness, it often drove me to the point of insanity. Perhaps this place holds a purpose, a meaning, an escape from these woods which have been torturing me for so long in my dreams. I was, however, never able to find it. 

I needed time to understand. I am aware of what lies ahead: I am doomed. Forced to come back in this place, fall into the same trap, again and again until I go back to hell. A word where I do not belong anymore. 

Not without him. 

The grass I stand on is wild, wet. Thin and beautiful. It soaks my pajama. Drops of water manage to find their way through the fabric and touch my skin. I shiver. I am glad to be wearing shoes at the moment. Unfortunately for me, I am unable to escape this greenery. It is all around me, in the form of bushes, a dense forest whose exit seems distant, if not non-existent, mixed with the humidity in the air. Even the smell finds its way into my lungs. I breathe it in. Its perfume is light, quite pleasant. The coldness in the air, a return to nature, the wilderness that is surrounding me, left alone by the hand of mankind. I could almost enjoy it. 

The trees are numerous. They are not tall, nor thicks, this forest isn’t unusual. It appears to be the type of forest one would see everywhere around the world, especially close to civilization. Nevertheless, I don’t see it ending. My intuition can’t help me, I can’t make a choice : run away to the front or the back. It’s as if my mind had been softened, my spirit calmed. I do not feel the urge to flee, I think of it, but it is rather an idea, which goes away quite fast because it seems ridiculous. I can’t see it as an option, more like an absurdity. An insult. I know where I belong, and it is here. 

I know there is no escape. 

Yet I am still in pain, I suffer. 

The belongings of my heart are in pieces. My only presence here manages to worsen its condition, I can’t do nothing but hold onto my chest, whimper and wish to call for help. 

All the trees look the same, the sky is navy blue, illuminated by the lunar rays of divine silver, the forest holds a rendering mysterious. It scares me. Darkness has taken over this place. I do not know what lies behind. I am left in the dark in an empty circle which is only made of grass. I am on my own. 

And I know what is waiting for me. 

My hands clutch my shirt, I breathe heavily, look around me frantically. My vision becomes blurry. Everything is moving, becomes fuzzy. A hole is being dug in my stomach. A few buttons pop, they fall at my feet only to disappear in the grass. 

I am at loss for words. 

This dream hunts me, like a merciless beast. It takes over me every night, brings me to this cursed place and eats the remains of my soul. It feasts upon my corpse, what is left of me. The more I come here, the more I become broken. I am a shadow of my former self. Nothing but flesh and decay. 

Yet I wouldn't want to leave for anything in the world. Despite my fear and wanting to leave for a safer place in the heat of battle, I do not wish to run away. I know it. I am confused. My heart screams something while my soul screams the opposite, and amidst these cruel exchanges, the truth has lurked there and is whispering in the hollow of my ear what I really want. It knows me. A glimmer of hope, that's what she is, she knows everything about me, aware that through my pain and resentment, I agree to stay here. 

I wouldn't run away from him for the world. 

Not him, not my Solas. 

As I stop looking around, lower my hands to my sides, the inspiration that swells in my chest clears my foggy mind.  It offers me a couple of seconds, allowing me to calm myself. My chest is heavy, and my eyes are watery. Tears threaten to roll down my cheeks at any moment now. Despite it all, I feel a bit stronger. I know what is waiting for me. 

I turn around, knowing he’s here. 

The Dread Wolf. 

Leaning against the trunk of a tree, he gazes at me with folded arms. He is right there. His gaze is piercing, splitting my skull into two heavy pieces. It breaks my heart. 

This cruel God who introduced me to the purest, most devastating feeling in this world. This elf with whom I've shared so much. This man that I love. He's right there. 

He's the reason I am here. 

The moment our eyes met; I froze. His image is enough to take the air out of my lungs, like a violent palm strike, leaving me breathless. 

Not even my hands are moving. It is hard to tell if I am even blinking. 

Previously, he had told me of his desire to end our love affair. He had told me of his devastating plan and persuaded me that I no longer had my place by his side ⸺and this, despite my pleas to accompany him, that our history was only the result of his pure selfishness. According to him, he had finally found the strength to put an end to it. He destroyed me, reduced what little hope I had left at the time to nothing, then cured me of my mark, and finally: left me. He abandoned me. After all those kisses we had exchanged, full of unspoken promises about the future, those nights we had shared, loving each other unconditionally, exploring each other, offering each other pleasure and joy. 

It is hard to believe. 

He is right there, few meters between us showing the ditch separating us. 

I hate it. 

Solas doesn’t say a word. He is wearing the same clothing as the day I found him a few months ago, giving him this Godly look. He appears more alike to the aristocrats from Orlais than anything else, which, inevitably, pains me. I dare to wonder if I ever knew him. I wonder if he is still the man I fell in love with. 

He seems healthy. 

His figure is slender, and he's put on muscle. He offers me a wonderful view from where I stand. I admire him from afar and, unable to help myself, compare him to the many murals I have seen of him, of Fen’Harel. All those paintings showing him in a position of power, guiding or punishing us, mortals. This time, the comparison doesn't seem preposterous; I can almost believe it. 

If only I did... 

His cheeks are as I remember them; hollowed, Solas looks more imposing. He looks straight from a fairy tale ⸺fearless knight, ironic, knowing that I’ve only heard of him from these stories. Far-fetched tales, and confusing to say the least, telling his demonic cruelty. However, having him in front of me, it makes me melt. He is back on his feet, as beautiful as ever. I can’t feel my body, my whole being is focused on him. I observe him to ink his image into my mind. With this, I make him mine. Until the next time we meet, I will keep this image, as soon as I’ll think of him I'll remember it. It will keep me sane. Then, it will break me. 

The mere thought of him already tears me apart. 

His eyes are veiled in sorrow. 

Solas tries to appear nonchalant, yet i see the tears in his eyes. A curtain of bitterness keeps me from understanding what he truly wants. Although, even when we were still together, I'd never really been able to decipher him. 

He was, is and will remain an enigma. 

It is the same everytime he brings me here. Everytime I dream of him. He keeps this same divine appearance, the same expression shredded by pain and suffering. 

I know I can’t get closer, at the moment, I am aware of this and accept my fate. My only concern is him. 

Solas looks at me as if i was nothing but a regret. 

He knows he can’t get closer. 

So many times, has he already succumbed, I am nothing if his greatest sin. It makes me wonder what he regrets so much. 

Does he regret falling for me, giving in ? Or does he regret leaving and not taking me with him ? I know the answer. His silence is however not quite comforting. Between the two of us, he has to suffer the most. I can’t imagine the dilemmas he’s staring at, right now. Especially if this led him into my dreams. 

Does he seek comfort from me ? 

I dream so much of bringing some to him... Even just for a few minutes. 

Thats is all I ask. 

Taking his face in my hands, kissing him like all those previous times he'd given himself over to temptation, shattering every last one of his doubts. To feel the softness of his skin against mine, to softly kiss his lips, then move up his cheek to his temple, finally his forehead. Embracing him, kissing him and cherishing him until the world is reduced to nothing but a pile of ashes. 

He doesn’t know how much I love him. 

Or maybe he does, maybe he’s afraid the unconditional love I feel for him will bring nothing but despair. Knowing his already lost me. 

Taken.

I have been taken. 

All that remains are broken pieces. 

He who loved me so much, he who turned away from his goals long enough to soften me up, to grab hold of my heart so that I could never get my hands on it. To this day, I can only feel what’s left of it, which is why the pain that lingers deeply wound me. Knowing that it is with Solas is enough to reassure me, although the pain only gets worse. He is a shadow of his former self. He who, even today, clings to the meager moments we spent together in my dreams, this silent place, the freshness, nature still untouched, impenetrable. He who desperately wants to see me again. 

He must think it is the last time. 

Just like the others. 

That is the reason as to why Solas is looking at me with such sorrow. His bruised expression, his eyebrows frowned. 

Solas is convinced we won’t see each other again. He has to move on. Our story is done, a mere memory from the past I suppose. To him, at least. But I know he will come back. I know that, just like those previous times, he will soon accompany me in my dream and will drink in my image again. He will contemplate me just as he’s contemplating me at the moment, engraving the features of my face in his mind, and try to make do with them before it becomes unbearable, and he goes off to find me again. 

I am unable to blame him. 

We are the same. 

Mutually we drink in each other. Greedily, eager for the meager crumbs that Solas allows himself to offer, we soak up the other's image. It suits us for the moment, even if it's never really enough. 

Not after falling in love. 

We are identical ; frozen in time. It is impossible for us to move an inch, as if this dream was as fragile as a porcelain doll. Only one movement and it will shatter. Solas is still leaning against the trunk of the tree, he hasn’t stopped looking at me; and I know it well, I only need to look at him in the eyes to understand what he feels. I do not pretend to know him. I do not pretend to predict his next move. However, I can recognize the troubled gaze of the man that I love. I can recognize watery eyes when I see them, as they beg for forgiveness. I love him so I understand. I feel his pain. 

The sorrow engraved on his face pains me. It is a heavy weight on my chest. 

Weakens my stomach. 

An unpleasant feeling for an equally bitter dream. 

Solas does not see me as his lover anymore. I am no longer the one with whom he saw the wonders of this world, I am no longer the one who made him laugh, the one who discovered him, the one who loved him and the one he loved. 

I am a memory. 

Frozen in place like a statue, a fragment of the past. A mistake. This is how he must see me. I am not meant to move. 

An image of the past. 

If I move, he will leave. 

Just like the previous times, where I had tried to reach him �� a desperate act guided by my unconditional love for him, I will only have to blink, and he will be gone. My gesture would have made him go away. 

I suppose he can’t see me move; he is not ready for it. Not yet, not ever. My mere image is enough to sadden him, I can only imagine what my voice or my hand touching him might do. 

I would like for him to explain to me where we are, I would like to understand. I know he thinks that I can’t. But I do not care. These majestic woods, surprisingly dense, and this starry sky above us, giving his soft pupils a sparkling glow. I would give anything for him to talk to me. To have him explain. 

But this is what love is about. 

To love is to turn back. To reach out. 

And it is exactly what I do. In. 

I do not care, in this moment, if I scare him away. I convinced myself that if I don't do anything, my feelings were not real to begin with, it would all have been a lie that would have lulled myself into for some sinister purpose. If I don't go after Solas now, then what is my love for him really worth ? How can I find the strength not to approach him while he is facing me ? 

To love is to sin. 

To love is to give in to temptation regardless of the outcome, to fall into a ditch with the risk of sprawling miserably, all the while hoping to be caught up, cajoled. I turned around because I love him. I reach out to him because I love him. And I always will. 

I will always turn back. 

It is as simple as that. 

I love him enough to risk losing him, I love him enough to feel him running away from me. 

Just as he succumbs to temptation and haunts my dreams. He loves me enough to sin again. 

Such is our tragedy.  

Hell, and heaven.  

Joy, and despair. 

We keep finding each other, only to part again. Its reasoning is beyond me. And I must say I do not care, not when I know it is my only chance to see him again. 

So, my hand is outstretched, I am reaching out for him, determined to grab hold of him before he leaves me once again. I refuse to let him slip through my fingers. I'm hurrying. If I am fast enough... This time I hope he'll stay, bathe me in his comforting embrace and never hurt me again. I hope he'll pick me up. Maybe he'll even tear me away from this vile existence where I must make do with the mere memory of his image etched in my mind to ease my pain. I reach out because to love is to want. I reach out because despite the despair he causes me, nothing will change the way I feel about him. The grass at my feet hits my pajama bottoms. The air whips my face. 

The moonlight caresses my skin. 

It feels nice. 

It is too good to be true. 

Where are we ? 

I feel myself being pulled back, but I'm moving forward.  

Solas's eyes widen.  

I'm going to find him, my love. 

My legs feel heavy. Suddenly, I feel as if I am thousands of feet in the air. My breathing stops, I am being pulled back. A storm rages, but it doesn't exist. An army of arms holds me back, but I hold on. The woods are calm, undisturbed by our presence, and yet I am shaken. An immense weight weighs on my shoulders. 

I know I won’t make it. 

Solas's silhouette is blurring, it begins to disappear, yet I've only taken three steps. Do they really count when I'm about to stumble ? My mind goes blank. There he goes. He is slipping through my fingers as naturally as a current of water, as fatally as the destiny he is trying to impose on us despite my reluctance. And I am unable to stop him. Yet again... He leaves me behind. 

My hands feel sore. I need to scream. 

Solas is running away from me. 

But I love him. So, I reach out, further this time. 

Enough to see him go and continue to tear me apart a little more, I love him. He takes my heart with him. I can feel it throbbing in the palm of his hand, Solas won't let go. He has held on to it all the way. I can feel him clinging to it. 

When he leaves, I feel vacant once more. My chest has been emptied. And when I finally reach the tree, Solas is no longer here with me. 

I am alone. 

It happened again, he left me. 

The sky is falling, the world is crumbling all around me as my spirit starts to shake. The woods are empty, and I am all that remains. As well as the darkness emanating from the depths of the forest. It is about to devour me. 

In a few seconds, it will banish me. 

I do not even bother looking for him. Solas could be somewhere else, behind me or a few miles away, waiting for me, hoping I'll give him another chance to catch up. It is plausible. These are possibilities whose veracity I've tested many times before. Only, now I know he is gone. He is really gone, and he is not coming back. I do not hold it against him. 

Rather, I thank him. 

His weakness offers us respite, and as much as it shocks and breaks me, it comforts me in the idea that he remains the one I loved. That divine sinner whose goodness is matched only by his regret and sorrow. My benefactor. 

My tormentor. 

I do not care if he leaves, not when I know he will come back to me. I know he will. Because Solas loves me. He will visit me again, because it is our destiny : the tragedy that is our history. An insurmountable sorrow. 

It is a vast wound, left wide open as a token of his kindness, which he tries to heal through his visits when midnight approaches and he requires my presence. That is how he loves me, as best as he can. Deep down, I have always known this. Or rather : I consented to it. I have accepted this burden from the moment our eyes met, from the moment he took my hand to close the gap. Sometimes, I can even feel it. His presence on my body, the caress of his kisses, the fiery breath between his lips. I remember it all. 

Tormented soul by his divine duty. 

I would not trade this reality for the world. I will love him no matter what. I won't stop trying to reach him, I won't stop looking for ways out so that we can have our second chance. 

No, I would not trade it for anything else. 

Not even as an immense pain lacerates my chest. Not even as he runs away from me and leaves me to mourn him. 

Not even as my soul is being torn apart. 

Because this is what love is about. And I love him. Endlessly. 

[jillsandwhichs]

Our Future Day's

Joel Miller x Reader series , Chap 6 , Traversal

Masterlist

Pairing: F!reader x Joel Miller

Summary: You let Joel know over text that you'll be traveling back home to visit your family. Let's just say, he didn't like that very much, he wanted an in person goodbye

WC: 2.5k

Type: SFW

A/n: Hi! Hope you all enjoy. Please check out my masterlist, there's a lot of stuff there. You can get to know me, you can see the rules of my blog and then you can see all of my fanfictions. You'll be able to find the previous chapters to this fic and upcoming ones. You'll also be able to find my Wattpad & AO3. Comments, reblogs & likes are appreciated. Thank you

It's now Monday. Ever since Friday, Joel has been on your mind. The entire evening with him was one of a kind. You guys ended the night off with smoking and eating snacks inside of his home. You both also got to learn quite a bit more about one another. For example, he told you a bit more about his ex wife, she seemed like a cunt. In other news, he's thinking about moving to a different contracting job. Good on him.

Overall, the night was lovely. You really let loose and had a wonderful with Joel. Going home really sucked. You tossed and turned all night with him on your mind - You wonder if he was the same.

You just got home from work a little bit ago, it's almost seven now, you finished your tasty dinner. You ended up having a cheeseburger with chips, it reminded you of your childhood - The dinner. You remember days when your mother and father would have a cookout, all of the family would show up and cheeseburgers with chips would be fed to the children. You and your other cousins, the lot of them, would sit on a laid out blanket while you ate. It was memorable.

As of right now though, you're relaxing on your bed with Becker, who has just been the absolute best boy. He's learned to go outside alone and won't run off, he's really such a great boy. No need for a leash either since he has a collar with a tag attached to it. He'll be fine, for sure. Speaking of being fine, you have a fine weekend coming up. You plan to go home, back to Oregon, to be with your family for the entirety of the weekend.

You're set to leave Thursday, but you'll be there til Sunday afternoon, it'll be awesome.

You miss your little sister, Hannah, dearly. You two have had an inseperarable and special bond since you were young. You'll of course also get to see your Mother, Linda and your Father, Gary, who you also love very much, both of them. They've been so supportive and helpful with your move-in to Austin TX, they've made sure the move-in has been simpler than how it normally would have been.

The plane ride will be lengthy, but worth it. Sadly, you cannot take Becker home with you. The only way he got to TX in the first place is because your parents drove him, they were a huge help. Your work friend, Becca, has offered to house sit for you and watch over Becker. You've already introduced the two and Becker seems to have taken a liking to her, luckily. Even their names are similar, it all works out!

Although, before you leave, there's somebody you really wanna say goodbye too - Joel.

He's been so kind to you, so genuine. It would be very rude to leave for a couple days without even a peep, especially after Friday. Friday seems to have brought the two of you even closer, literally, he held you that might. The nicknames he calls you are so sweet too, but that's probably something he does with all the ladies. Even so, you'd like to give him a heads up.

He's home right now, you can see his truck out of your bedroom window, it's very extensive. He may be having dinner though, so you don't want to interrupt him. Plus, he's with Sarah, his beautiful little daughter, she deserves time with her dad. Maybe you'll just shoot him a text as your goodbye, he wouldn't mind, right? It's not as if you're leaving forever, it'll only be for a couple of days. An amazing couple of days at that.

Before texting Joel, you'll have to text Hannah, see if everything is set for you to come and visit.

"Hey girl. Is everything ready for me to come stay, my room and whatnot? I'm laying out Thursday."

And send.

She'll answer sooner or later.

Now for Joel.

"Joel, hey, just wanted to say hi and well, I suppose goodbye as well. I'll be pretty busy these next few days, I am flying out Thursday, back home, I won't be home til Sunday. Hope to see you soon."

Then you sent it to him.

Hopefully he replies and doesn't look over the message. A lot of people don't even check their messages, like ever. You've been a victim of that one too many times. Joel hasn't been that way though, not yet at least. He tends to answer rather quickly, which is totally new to you. Any other man you've actually tried to speak to takes forever, sometimes hours, even days. It's very annoying and extremely repetitive. Joel's different in such a good way.

You stood up off of your bed, treading over to your messy vanity. You have only lived here a week and yet, your makeup area is destroyed. Beauty is messy, the messiness brings out the beauty. You took a seat, gazing at yourself in the mirror. You have dark eye bags beneath your lower eye socket, you've been spent this past week. It won't get easier either. This break will do you some good, at least.

You picked up the shaded concealer off of your desk, shaking the tube and spinning it open, dabbing the pale substance beneath both of your eyeballs, making sure you looked better. You looked like a goblin without it, well, that's how you felt. Women and even some of the men at your work complimented you daily, especially on your eyes. Guess they didn't notice the flaw you just covered up. Or the many other flaws you so believe you have.

Through the mirror, you could see Becker admiring you. The dog was just staring at you, like he always does. He's a very loving dog. He can sense emotions too; He does it super well at that. "Hi baby boy." You smiled at him, his tongue popped out almost instantly, earning a hearty laugh out of you. Such a silly dog!

You patted your thighs, wanting him to run over to you. He immediately did, of course.

He hopped off of the bed and stood right beside you, nuzzling his head against your thigh. With a giggle, you began to scratch behind his ears - His favorite spot. He enjoys affection very much, maybe even too much. He seeks it out any chance he can get, even from complete strangers. "I'm going to miss you bubba." You said softly to him, as if he even realized you'll be gone soon. Even though it's not going to be very long, you two have an attachment to each other. No matter what, it'll be difficult.

You gave in to him, those gentle eyes get ya every time.

"Alright boy, let's cuddle." You tittered, diving onto the bed with a smile, him jumping up right after you. The both of you got cozy beneath your large comforter.

It was evening now. The sky was getting darker, but it was still somewhat light out. It was beautiful out. A couple stars began the show, showing themselves off beautifully. The sky was a dim shade of blue, it was gorgeous. The atmosphere was just calming all around. You felt at peace, Becker was a part of that. Even Joel was. Your family too. Your life has definitely been on an incline recently. Lucky you, right?

Whilst laying in bed, you could feel your eyes beginning to close. You just felt exhausted. You needed rest, especially with the week ahead.

With Becker in your arms, the two of you embracing each other, you officially fell asleep, happily too.

-

Buzz

Buzz

Buzz

-

Each buzz and each ring was loud, awakening you with haste. With dreary eyes, you tossed your hand just about everywhere searching for your phone, until you finally got a hold of it. You brought it closer to your face, your eyes adjusting to its piercing brightness, it was pure white. The contrast of your flashing phone to your pitch black room was painful. Your eyes stung. But you snapped back into reality when realizing it was Joel.

You answered the phone, holding it up to your ear, waiting to hear something.

"God dammit darlin', I've been tryna get a hold of ya' damn near the past hour, fuck was you doin'?" His tone was loud. He didn't seem angry, rather concerned and frustrated. "What?" You groaned out, your sleepy voice taking it's course. A soft sigh came from Joel, it was evident, even over the phone. "Didn't know you was asleep, I'm sorry." "It's okay Joel, is everything okay?" "Yeah, everything is fine, just a bit upset you was gonna leave without a real goodbye." He admitted truthfully.

Oh, you felt so bad.

You didn't realize what it meant to him - An in person goodbye.

"Joel, I'm sorry. I figured you were busy, you know, with work and all, I didn't want to be a disturbance." You said softly, shuffling around in bed, Becker still resting. "I ain't never too busy, you could've just came over and we could've talked about it." Joel replied, his voice deep. You were happy he was willing to let you do that, just come on over to his place.

"Tell you what, we can talk more tomorrow, I don't feel like getting up." You giggled into the phone. He snickered, a smile formed on your face when you heard it. "Of course, I'll let you get your beauty sleep." Joel responded in a friendly manner, not wanting to bother you any further; Although, he is never a bother. "And Joel... It's nice to see you care." You hummed out. There was silence for a bit before you heard him talk again.

"I care about you sweet thing." He stated, honesty painted his words. He was great. "I care about you too, Joel." You whispered back before hanging up. It was almost like a way of saying 'I love you' but you weren't going to take it that far.

Yet.

-

Bright and early the next morning, you poured yourself a nice glass of hot coffee. You put some of your butterscotch creamer into it, watching the golden liquid drizzle into the mug. It was a average morning so far, you have work in about an hour, you'll take the time to say your goodbye to Joel, you leave in two days after all.

Outside was lively.

You could hear birds chirping, cars passing by and you could see people walking down the sidewalk, either alone, with a stroller or a dog of some breed. Austin was awake all the time, but the mornings always seemed to bring that into effect moreso. It felt comforting, knowing the world wasn't silent at any time. The sun was just about up, you knew today would be a more chilly day, which was convenient, you've been wanting to wear this cute sweater.

Autumn is just around the corner. Sadly, Texas tends to always be on the warmer side. It's very mild here in Austin. You wish that was different, fall time is your personal favorite. Halloween and Thanksgiving have always been the best Holidays in your opinion. You are excited to experience them here nonetheless and besides, you'll still get to have it back home, you'll most definitely visit for the Holidays and just for fun!

While you were calmly sipping on your coffee, you spotted Joel walked out of his house, all tided up for work, this was your chance. You set your coffee down so fast and immediately bolted to your front door. When you whipped it open, he was tossing some equipment in the back of his lifted truck, at least he didn't get into his truck right away.

"Joel!" You yelled, checking both ways before you soon crossed over to his driveway. Joel turned around, looking you up and down, a small laugh coming out from him. "Mornin'." He said with a snicker. "Good morning." You gleamed at him, standing in front of him now. "Whatcha up to?" "Well, I was drinking some coffee, then I saw you, wanted to give you that proper goodbye, I leave Thursday." "I remember, I reread the damn message 'bout ten times." Oh bless his soul.

"I am sorry. I just didn't think it mattered to you all that much, figured it would've been a drag." Joel rubbed his temple as he chortled. "You're a damn silly girl, y'know that?" You snorted, your eyes going soft, your eyebrows curving slightly. "I would've went crazy if I didn't get to see ya before you left for a good bit." Joel spoke, leaning his hands back onto his tailgate. "Yeah?" "Yup, it's the truth. I kind of like havin' you 'round." He teased with a laugh, earning one from you too.

"Is that so?" "Yup. Nice havin' a neighbor who ain't old or just annoyin', you're different and I like that." He stated, it made your body heat up. The way he spoken of you made you wanna die, in an amazing, heavenly way. "Likewise." You vocalized to him. The two of you just stared into one anothers eyes for a little, you got lost in his orbs. He was very handsome, heavenly even. A God send.

"Anyways hun, I oughta get to work, being a contractor ain't for the weak." He said gruffly. You understood, his job is the only source of income they have other than Sarah's mother paying child support; That's another thing Joel opened up to you about. "I get it. Have a good day at work Joel." You began to walk off, but he quickly stopped that notion. "Woah, hey, hey, where you off too? Not even a goodbye nor a damn hug?" Joel laughed, making you embarrassed.

You didn't realize you didn't say goodbye. A hug? He never expressed he wanted one.

"Right, sorry." You shook your head whilst looking down.

"Goodbye Joel, I'll see you soon." You leered at him, your head slightly tilted to the side. "Goodbye you, c'mere." He grunted, holding his arms out, indicating he wanted a swift hug. You contained yourself, remaining content as you gave him a friendly hug. Your arms wrapped around his torso, your head on his chest. Joel rested his chin on your head, his roughened up hands caressing your slender back.

"You be safe, a woman like you travelin' all alone ain't safe, how 'bout you message me once you're at the airport Thursday?" He asked, he's such a gentleman, per usual. "I will, don't worry." You soughed against him.

You two held each other for a couple more seconds, the warmth of the hug being absolutely intoxicating. It felt like so many feelings were being released and revealed through one simple yet special hug.

You pulled away and gave him a quick smile. "See you around." "See ya." Joel smirked, his hand shooting up to your cheek for just a second before he pulled away, heading back to the side of his truck, getting in and driving off.

You felt so good about this all. His support and concern meant a lot to you.

You'll be safe, for him.

[midnightstar-90]

By Your Side

Georgie Cooper x grieving! best friend! Reader

Taglist | Request | Wattpad

Main Masterlist | Young Sheldon Masterlist

Requested by Anonymous: "hii:) so my idea is that reader is kinda sad cause she lost someone that she loves (u can choose) and Georgie is just there comforting her"

Warnings: Mentions of Death, Angst,one bad word, slight fluff

A/N: I'm kinda basing this off of Season 6 Georgie, but there is no Mandy and no baby.

(Not My GIF)

It's always good to have someone close by at all times. Someone who you know will love and care for you. That someone who knows what to say, even if you didn't ask. Because someday, something really terrible is going to happen, and that's when you'll need your someone.

For Y/N, that day was August 12, 1994. Y/N was 19 when she woke up from her sleep to answer the phone. Her parents owned a small rotary phone that kept its place on the kitchen wall. It was surprising that the girl could hear it from her room.

She sat up in her bed with a loud groan. One at a time, she carefully moved her legs to hang off her bed. When her feet touched the floor, she stood up and began to make her way to the constant ringing coming from the kitchen.

When she reached the phone, she leaned back, stretching her back, and released another loud groan. She pulled the device from off the wall and placed it to her ear. "Hello," she groggily said into the phone.

"Hello, is this Y/M/N or Y/D/N speaking?" the person said from the other side of the phone.

She looked around suspiciously before speaking again. "No, this is their daughter, Y/N. Is there something I can help you with?" Y/N responded back to the person.

"I'm sorry, but your grandmother, Patty, died in her sleep a couple of hours ago," The person said.

At first, Y/N thought it was a prank, but who jokes about someone's grandmother dying. Her body froze as the thought of never seeing my grandmother ran through her mind. Her hands began to shake, threatening to let go of the phone. She began to sob lightly. "Thank you," she said with broken words.

The person sadly said, "I'm sorry for your loss. And I want you to know that you and your family are in our prayers." And with that, they ended the call.

Everyone in the house and probably the neighboring houses heard the teenage girl's sobs become heavy tears as I fell to the floor with a loud scream. The phone slammed against the wall right before Y/N's parents came running in.

"Honey, what's wrong?" her father said as he walked up to the wailing girl to comfort her. "Nana's dead," she said through choked sobs. Her mother gasped, covering her mouth with her hand. If Y/N had looked up, she would have seen the same hurt on her face, on her mother's face.

Y/N's father began to rub both of their backs as he calmly said, "Oh." He didn't know what to say to that. He thought that maybe, someone had broken into the house, but this was a completely different situation.

Now he knew his wife's mother was old, and it was a matter of time before she died, but Y/M/N's mother was almost like Y/N's best friend. They talked about boys together. They crocheted together. Patty could be seen at every school play and concert. Patty was Y/N's #1 supporter... well, besides Georgie Cooper.

Before anyone else could open their mouths to say something else, Y/N stood from her spot on the floor and ran out of the room. "Where are you going, honey?" Her father asked, her mother still in tears.

"Out," she called back, grabbing her jacket from the coat rack, and rushing out of the house.

Y/N didn't have anything on her when she left her house. No wallet. No form of ID. But none was needed because she was just going up the street to the Cooper's. The Coopers were always like my second family. They treated me to meals. if my parents were away on business trips, a bed to sleep in, and she always felt like she had siblings in their kids, seeing as she was an only child.

Looking for Georgie, she went to the garage, where she knew Georgie would be. She pounded on the door. Still teary-eyed from earlier. When Georgie opened the door, he stopped himself in his tracks as he saw his best friend crying.

"Who was it? Do you want me to beat their ass?" He said, balling up his fists. Y/N shook her head no as she quickly slipped past Georgie and into his "home." She made her way to his bed and sat on it.

"My grandmother died a couple of hours ago," she said as she sadly looked down at her feet. Georgie looked at his friend with concern as he sat beside her. He pulled her into his side as he slowly began to rub her back.

"Wow, I didn't see that coming," he said before continuing. "I know how much she meant to you. And honestly, if I found out my Meemaw died, I wouldn't be as strong either." His words soothed the girl enough to make her stop crying, but it wasn't enough to get her out of her "funk."

Georgie looked down when he felt the girl begin to move out from his hold. She carefully moved to the center of the bed, where she got under the covers and laid. "Cuddle me?" she muttered.

Georgie stood with a small, "Yeah. Sure." He got ready for bed, throwing on a pair of pajama pants before hopping in next to the girl. He threw his arm around her waist, feeling the silk fabric from her pajamas on his skin, and he lay there quietly.

It wasn't long before Y/N fell asleep. She had one of the longest nights a person could ever have. And it's safe to say that she earned a good night's sleep.

Georgie hovered over the girl as he took in the girl's soft snores. He carefully moved the hair from Y/N's face as he traced the small tear lines covering her face. Placing a kiss on the girl's forehead, he turned off the light and laid back down, holding the girl. He soon fell asleep, and they both slept peacefully.

Taglist: @buckysmainhxe , @esposadomd , @natalia12700, @siriusstwelveyears , @avada-kedavra-bitch-187 , @countrymusiclover , @bellarkeselection , @alexxavicry , @xivilivix, @idontknowwhat2type , @ietss If your User is in orange, I could not find you. Please feel free to contact me if you'd like to be re-added.

[intoxicated-chan]

𝟎𝟎𝟐 *ೃ༄ 𝐏𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐈𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐤

© 2023 Intoxicated-Chan, I do not allow my work to be copied, translated, modified, adapted, or put on any other platform with permission. None of the photos used belong to me! Credits to @/cafekitsune for the divider!!

Series’ Masterlist // Wattpad Vers.

Word Count ➳❥ 1.2k

(A/n) ➳❥ So, I’ve started watching Game of Thrones… Let’s just say Jon Snow has me in a chokehold. Anyways there are two more books for Miguel O’Hara.

Content Warnings ➳❥ Swearing, animal cruelty, harassment, violence, assault…

⊰ Previously ⊰ YOU’RE HERE « « ⊰ Next ⊰

There were many times in your life that you believed to be your fault. The times where your mother would curse you out for a simple mistake, the ashamed look your grandmother always had whenever she looked your way. It made you want to disappear from their sights and so you wrapped yourself into false senses of security. How your own mind played games when you-

*BARK* *BARK*

You tear your eyes away from the screen of your laptop, they land on a puppy sitting in front of you. You let out a gasp and set your laptop to the side, “C’mere boy.” You pat your legs, letting the puppy walk towards you.

“What are you doing out here?” It makes your heart break. You lean over and take the puppy into your arms. You feel around his neck and feel no collar. He’s awfully dirty and but not matted, dirt was just seeped into his fur.

You look at your laptop, seeing the time, “If I take you then I lose my internship…” You sadly pout, “But if I leave you here…”

Alchemax Building // 3:13 PM

You run through the building of Alchemax and nearly slam into the elevator. Five minutes… You’re late. It’s only your second day and you’re already late.

Listening to Lyla’s advice she gave on your first day, you ran past the employees ordering you to get them their coffee. It was embarrassing enough to be late, and you wanted to save what dignity you had left… If you had any.

“Where’s (Y/n)?” Mr. O’Hara asks Lyla who’s looking through camera footage.

“She’s just a few steps away from-”

The doors to his office are roughly open and you nearly fall to the ground. You panting, hard. But you force yourself to stand and carefully close the door, “My apologies, Mr. O’Hara.”

“So glad that you can join us. I was beginning to worry.” Mr. O’Hara tells you.

Lies.

You come to his desk and sit down in the chair that’s in front of his desk, “I’m sorry that I’m late. There was a puppy in the park.” You set your bag down next to you.

“You were late because of a puppy?” Mr. O’Hara stares at you.

“I couldn’t just leave the puppy alone! It was a puppy.” You admit.

Mr. O’Hara lets out a very obvious huff, “And the puppy?”

“Dropped him off at a shelter.” You answer.

His eyes narrow at you, before huffing once more, “Take these to Dr. Octavius and don’t overstay your welcome in her office.” Sliding a few files to you.

“Yes sir.” You say, taking the files and walking out of his office.

Once you make it into the elevator, you let out a silent cheer as you successfully snuck in the puppy. You feel him move around in your bag, you left it open just big enough for him to stick his nose out.

“Don’t worry, little buddy, I’m not going to leave you.” You whisper. You fix your posture once you make it to the R&D floor. You immediately head to Dr. Octavius’ office.

You knock, “Is that you, (Y/n)?” You hear.

“Yes it is.”

“Come, come in!” You enter her office, “Miguel sent you, didn’t he?” She looks up from her papers, you close the door behind you.

“Yes he did.”

“You look awfully tired, did you run here?”

“Yeah…” You sigh, handing her the files.

“What caused you to be so late?”

“There was a abandoned puppy, and-”

“You brought it here, didn’t you?”

It was like the puppy was trying to embarrass you even more. The puppy barks, letting her know that they were in fact, here and with you. You sigh in defeat, unzipping your half closed bag and pulling out the puppy.

“I couldn’t leave him in the park.” You hold him close to your chest.

Dr. Octavius awes loudly, “Aww! Look at the little guy. May I?” You nod, handing him to her, “You can leave him here with me. I can get him cleaned up and check his vitals, Miguel doesn’t have to know.”

“But what if he finds out?”

“I can already see the headlines, If the CEO couldn’t be any more crueler! Intern fired over bringing abandoned puppy to work! He likes to avoid any attention and pays off reporters to not report anything. Which is why Alchemax is so mysterious.” She answers.

“Thank you so much, Dr. Octavius.”

“Hey, it’s no problem. I could use some serotonin in this dull place.”

(Y/n)’s Apartment // 9:12 PM

Another successful day in your eyes, even more with Rusty by your side. You watch him immediately make himself comfortable on your couch.

“You must be hungry.” You smile and then it hits you… You forgot to buy dog food!

“God dammit!” You sigh. You grab your keys, wallet, and your phone, “I’ll be back, Rusty.” You tell him.

The closest pet store is only a couple minutes away and closes in less than an hour. Surprisingly it’s open so late. You were in and out of the small store, grabbing and buying the specific food for your little child and you were out of there.

Your phone read, 9:22 PM. You hold the heavy bag with both of your arms. Now there was nothing else to worry about, only your essay which is due in a week and work tomorrow.

“Hey, there little lady.” A guy spoke from the alleyway, he came out from the shadows. Disheveled and reeked of cigarettes, “What’s a girl doing out here so late at night?”

“I’m sorry but I have to get home.” You answer, walking away.

“Hey, I’m not done!” He catches up to you and starts walking with you but you were quick to stop.

“Please, leave me alone.”

“What’s got you in a rush?”

“I have a boyfriend waiting for me.”

“And he lets you walk out dressed like that?”

“Excuse me?”

“All I’m saying is that I can treat you real good.”

You scoff and walk in a different direction, away from your apartment. You left the man standing there, hoping that he finally left you alone.

He suddenly appears, “Think you can get away from me? I know when a woman is playing hard to get. I know you want me.”

“Hell no.” You back up. The man grabs your arms, pulling you with him, “Get off of me-!”

One hand comes over your mouth, “Quiet! I’m sure your boyfriend doesn’t mind sharing.” He whispers in your ear.

His voice makes your stomach churn and not in a good way. Every part of your body felt disgusting. You struggled against his grip, dropping the dog food and began kicking and punching.

“Let go of me!”

“Shut up!” He shouts back, throwing you to the ground.

The impact makes you cough. Your eyes shut in pain as you hiss.

“Hey-!” The man’s shout is cut off and all you hear is silence.

You open your eyes and see nothing, the man is no longer standing there, and the dog food is now closer to you.

“What the fuck?” You whisper.

You snatch up the bag and hurry home, not looking back.

“Lyla?”

“Yeah?”

“Does this man have any friends or family?”

She scans through many screens, “No, why?”

“Good.”

Taglist // @neteyamsbulletwound , @cupid-whisprs , @marsyay78 , @lukepattersin , @natthernandez , @brokeb1mbo , @jockteker ,

[kingofmyheart-19]

Begin Again - Chapter 1

***thinking about posting my wattpad stuff here too, starting the first chapter of this book.

Six months prior - Mack's POV

I'm getting Riley ready for bed when my phone rings from the other room.

I look at my watch.

She's late again.

"Mommy? Where momma?" Riley asks me sadly.

"She had work, baby. She will see you in the morning."

She leans in and kisses my cheek, "Okay."

I scoop her up and kiss her cheek, "We love you. So much."

I set her in her crib and turn on her sound machine and then hit the light.

"Night night, mommy!"

I sigh, "Night night, baby."

I close her door and walk to the next room, "Max, come here, boy."

Our big yellow lab runs into the room and hops onto the bed.

I grab my phone and see two missed calls.

Ally.

I push her contact and it quickly gets picked up.

"Hello." A man's voice answers.

"Uh, hello? Who is this?" I ask, concerned.

"Is this the spouse of Allison Hughes?" He asks.

I gulp, "Y-yes? What is going on? Where is my wife?"

Silence.

"Mrs. Hughes? My name is Dr. Snyder, I was your wife's trauma doctor today."

My heart drops.

"What? Where is my wife?" I ask and stand up.

"Your wife was in a terrible accident. She came into my trauma bay and we performed CPR for 30 minutes, but her injuries were too extensive."

I stop pacing.

"No. Where is my wife? I want to talk to her! She-she was on her way home, albeit, late, but she was on her way!"

"Mrs. Hughes, your wife passed away about 30 minutes ago. We were unable to save her. I am so sorry." He says.

My brain is unable to compute what is actually happening.

"We have a two-year-old." Is the only phrase I can say.

"I'm so sorry, Mrs. Hughes. We will need you to come down to the hospital. It's a formality."

I stare at the bed and feel tears running down my cheeks.

I see the photo of us on our wedding day and when Riley was born.

"Fuck. Okay. I understand. I'll be there, what hospital?"

"UC San Diego Medical Center."

I hang up and rub my face.

'This can't be fucking real. It just can't be.'

I go to my contacts and click the name.

"Hey dude! What's going on?"

"Lauren?" I sniffle.

"Whoa. What's wrong? You and Ally okay?"

The mention of Ally makes me cry harder.

"Shit. This is bad. I'm coming over."

She hangs up and I sink to the floor.

'What am I going to do?'

Present

"Riley! Don't go too far, okay?" I call out.

"Won't, mommy!"

I look out at the ocean and sigh. I look down at my wedding rings that I can't take off.

'I miss you so much, babe.'

I look back up and try to locate Riley, but can't.

"Riley?" I call.

I feel my heart rate increase and call again, "Riley!"

"Mommy, I'm here!"

I whip around and see Riley run up with another girl.

I kneel down and hug her, "You scared me, baby."

"Right here, mommy." She says.

I pull back, "Who's your friend?"

She smiles, "This is Charlie!"

I smile, "Hi, Charlie."

"Hi! My momma is over here!" She says and bolts away.

I watch as she comes back, pulling a woman.

"Whoa, Charlie!" She says.

"Momma! This is Riley, my new friend! And this is her mommy!"

I smile and stand up, "Hi. I'm Mack."

She smiles and I feel butterflies in my stomach.

"Alex. Nice to meet you. Looks like these two are thick as thieves." She laughs.

I nod, "Looks like it."

"Can we go play?" Charlie asks.

"Yeah mommy, can we?" Riley pleads.

"Sure, but we have to go in 10, yeah?"

She nods and runs off with Charlie.

"She's cute, how old?" Alex asks.

"She's 3. What about Charlie?"

She smiles, "She just turned three too."

I nod, "Nice. We will have to exchange numbers so they can have play dates."

She smiles wider, "Totally."

We continue talking when I look at my phone.

"I'm so sorry, but we have to go. Riley, come on!"

She runs over, "Time to see momma?"

I smile sadly, "Yeah, baby. Just like always."

She nods, "Bye, Charlie! See you soon?"

Charlie nods and hugs her, "Yeah!"

I see a look in Alex's eyes, but it quickly changes, "Here's my number."

I grab it from her and nod, "Thank you. I'll text you."

She bobs her head, "Great. Bye!"

I wave and we walk to the car, getting in.

We pull into the cemetery and I park.

"Mommy?"

I sigh, "Yeah, baby?"

"When can momma come home from the cemetery?"

I feel my eyes fill with tears and sigh, getting out of the car.

I open the back door and get her out of her seat, setting her on the ground and kneeling.

"Ry, momma isn't coming home from the cemetery. She died, remember? Her body stopped working and she went to heaven." I say sadly.

She looks down and nods, "Lots of flowers."

I smile, "So many flowers, just like momma liked."

She sighs, "Go talk to momma, now?"

"Yeah, let's go."

She runs ahead and I look up.

'She misses you so much.'

Alex POV - later that week

"Earth to Alex! I'm telling you a story!"

I turn and see Taylor, "Sorry. Zoned out."

"What about? How your divorce with Serv is almost done with?"

I sigh, "No, but also thanks for the reminder."

She chuckles, "It's a good thing. Then you can be free to do what you want or really who you want."

I smile and shake my head, "You're ridiculous."

"Now that you're like settled on the whole being with a woman thing, we have to find you a lady!" She exclaims.

I sigh, "Oh my god."

"Come on! Let's go to the gay bar." She says, pushing my shoulder.

My eyes widen, "I have a three year old. No one wants my baggage."

She sighs, "Dude, you're a catch. Charlie is adorable. Also helps that you're a ridiculously famous soccer player."

I chuckle, "Maybe. I don't want to date another player though."

"Okay. But we will find you someone." She says.

"Sure."

I stand up and walk out of the locker room.

I get to my car and stare at my phone.

'That woman never texted me. Charlie's been asking about Riley.'

I sigh and head towards Charlie's school.

I pull in the parking lot and Mack crosses my mind again.

I shake my head.

'She had a ring on, Alex. Get a grip.'

Mack POV -

The bell rings and I smile, "Alright guys, that's the bell! I'll see you all next week!"

I watch as my high schoolers quickly clamber to get out of my classroom.

I turn and sit at my desk, starting to grade papers.

I glance up and see the photo of Ally and I with Riley, one month before she died.

I sigh and sit back.

"Knock knock, buddy! Time for the weekend!" Lauren waltzes in.

I look at her and smile, "Yup!"

"Let's go out tonight." She says and leans on my desk.

I stare at her and shake my head, "Riley is still having a hard time during bedtime without Ally."

She sighs, "You need a break. Call your mom, she can come watch Ry."

I look down, "I'm really missing her, Laur."

"I know you are, which is why you need a break. Let's go out, get a few beers, nothing crazy, you'll be home by 11. Ally would want you to take a break." She says.

I look back up at her, "Alright. I'll text my mom."

She pats my back, "It'll get better, I promise."

I bob my head, "Okay. I need to go get Riley."

"See you at 8."

She walks out and I lean back, looking up.

"Send me a sign, babe. I don't want to go on without you, but it's hard."

I close my eyes and sigh.

I gather my stuff and head to my car, going to get Riley.

I pull up to her preschool and smile when I see her running out on the playground.

'She's so much like her.'

I get out and she sees me, "Mommy!"

I jog over and pick her up, kissing her cheek.

"Hi my little love!"

"Hi Mrs. Hughes! Can we chat real quick?" Riley's teacher asks.

I nod, "Go play a little more."

I watch as Riley runs off and turn to her teacher.

"What's going on? Everything okay with Riley?" I ask.

She nods, "Yeah, just she's having a hard time napping and has been acting out a little bit."

"Acting out, how?" I inquire.

She sighs, "She's shoving kids, not sharing, wants to be by herself, which as you know, is not like her."

I shake my head, "It's not. She's been struggling with losing Ally."

She nods sadly, "I agree. I really think it'd be beneficial to have her see a social worker."

My eyes widen.

"I know that sounds scary, but you're an educator, you know the importance of getting the right supports in place." She says gently.

I think about it and let out a breath, "I know you're right. I'm just worried, she sleeps with me every night."

She nods, "We will support you guys just like we have been."

I nod, "Thank you, see you Monday."

"Come on, Ry!"

She skips over and grabs my hand.

We walk to the car and get in, "Okay, baby. Tonight, grandma is going to stay with you for a few hours. I'll tuck you in, but mommy is going to go out for a few hours with Auntie Lauren."

She shakes her head, "No, mommy! What if something happens!"

I sigh, "Nothing will happen. I'll see you in the morning. You'll be safe with grandma. Maybe she will even give you ice cream before sleep."

Her eyes well up and she nods, "Promise you'll come home?"

"Promise."

Alex POV

"Okay, let's get a drink!" Taylor yells.

We walk to the bar and I lean on it.

"Hey. What's your name?"

I turn and see a gorgeous blonde staring at me.

I smile, "Hi, I'm Alex."

"Elise."

"Nice to meet you." I say.

"Can I buy you a drink?"

I nod and am about to speak when someone bumps into me.

"I am so sorry. Jesus, I should really watch where I am-"

"Mack?" I ask.

She looks up at me, "Uh- Alex? Hi! What are- what are you doing here?"

I chuckle, "Same thing as you."

She stares at me and shakes her head, "Can I buy you a drink?"

I smile widely and nod.

"But-" Elise starts.

I turn to her, "I'm so sorry, but i know this one. Thanks for offering though."

She scoffs and walks off.

"Did I interrupt something?" Mack asks.

I shake my head, "No."

"Mack! The hell? You just wander off and now you're with some hot chick!"

My eyes widen.

"Holy. Are you her wife? I am so sorry, but I promise this is not what it looks like."

Her eyes widen, "Am I her- oh no. Just best friend."

Mack sighs and I notice her demeanor change.

"Lauren, what's your name?" The woman asks.

"I'm Alex. Our kids met at the park the other day." I say.

She smiles, "Oh, nice."

Mack is lost in thought and her friend nudges her.

She looks up, "Riley met her daughter at the park."

"We established that, idiot. You know what? I'm going to go find our crew. You'll catch up?"

Mack nods.

Lauren walks away, "So, you promised me a drink."

She smiles, "I did. Let's go out on the patio though."

We grab drinks and walk outside, which is way quieter.

We sit and I stare at her.

'She's so damn cute."

I shake my head.

"So, where's your wife?" I ask.

She looks down at her hand and sighs.

"I know you see these rings and that's why you ask."

I look at her confusedly.

She lets out another breath, "Alex, my wife died six months ago."

'What?'

[hellfire--cult]

Baring Teeth {Eddie Munson x Fem!Reader} - Ch. 5

Picture for Banner: pitifulbaby

Chapters: Masterlist (Go here to see list of chapters.)

Pairing: Eddie Munson x Fem!Reader

Tropes: Enemies to Lovers, Non-Traditional Omegaverse, Slow burn, Modern!AU

Warnings: Ab*se, Violence, Mental Health, Cursing, Smut (mild), treat it as a normal Enemies 2 Lovers book, but the A/B/O dynamic will appear at some point. Trauma, manipulation, dirty talk, omegaverse topics.

Crossposted on: Wattpad & AO3

A/N: All comments and reblogs help with the engagement, I appreciate every single one! ❤️

<- Prev. chapter - Next chapter ->

Chapter 5

“Baby, I know it’s painful… But we’re gonna be happy, so happy together.”

———————————

Your eyes jolted awake. Your stomach was in a turmoil of nausea and bad memories, the anxiety creeping in your throat as you stared at the ceiling. This was getting out of hand. All week. The dreams and memories happened all week, not leaving you one minute alone, one second, anything at all.

You looked to the side to see it was 4:42 AM, and it was friday. You really did not want to stay awake, but you knew that you wouldn’t be able to sleep, not after that. You sighed and sat up on your bed, rubbing your face in exhaustion.

You should call your mom. You really should, but calling home means going back to that place, to that hole you were in a year ago. Your mother is a saint, and she really doesn’t deserve your cold shoulder, and sadly, she understands it. You remember your late nights with her, watching Golden Girls, sitting and eating popcorn.

Sometimes, your best friend would join in.

Vomit.

You felt it, rising up, burning your throat slightly at the memories, but you swallowed it down, not wanting to waste the dinner you had. They don’t deserve your vomit, you have to realize that. You have to know that. You sighed as you looked up at the ceiling again. Would it be better if you opened up to someone? Would it be okay to do so? Would they pity you? Would they judge you? Would they resent you for not saying something sooner?

“Fuck no…” You sighed as you grabbed your phone from the nightstand to see a message on your instagram. You winced at the preview of the notification, seeing that Jason Carver had messaged you, once again. You didn’t want to block him, but you were already in a fine line between impatient and annoyed. So you opened Instagram, and went to his profile, instantly blocking the guy.

You looked at the stories of a few famous people that popped up in your home screen of the app, and then a story of Nancy popped up as you swiped through.

“Eddie, there’s no way you can eat that in a whole bite.” You saw her filming Eddie straight on while he held a hot dog in his hands. He wiggled his eyebrows at the camera and he immediately stuffed his face with the hot dog, making you go wide eyed as you snorted loudly at the screen. “THAT’S DISGUSTING!”

You hear Nancy cracking up as Eddie tries to swallow the whole bite but was cracking up so much that he couldn’t chew. They must have gone to have some dinner last night, just the two of them. Huh… Maybe they’re going out? You never noticed flirting between them though, but they might be just really good at hiding it.

You kept looking at the screen and decided to go back and then go forward to Nancy’s story again to replay it. You paused it when Eddie wiggled his eyebrows going up with a sly grin in his mouth. You wondered if you would have gotten to know this personality of his if your first meeting wouldn’t have gone the way it did. If your relationship didn’t crumble to bits the way it did. If your hatred for each other didn’t grow the way it did.

Just one time in his life he directed a genuine smile to you, and that was when he asked what you were doing in the city. That was the only time, in the year you’ve known him, that he smiled, not smirked, not grinned with hidden intentions, but truly smiled at you. Not that you were any better than him. Whenever you could you teased him, bothered him, and if there was a chance to bully him with something, you took it. Just like he did to you.

But you did wonder if you’ve done more to him than you thought. Maybe you bothered him with something way too deep that you shouldn’t have, and that’s why he is just that cold towards you. You do remember one time where he didn’t answer you. One argument that he didn’t snap back at you.

–

“No Robs, I don’t want to go watch Evil Dead. I am not fond of scary movies, you know that!” You said with a tremble in your voice. Horror movies terrified you, much more if they were gorey, or slasher, but the whole group was gonna go see the new Evil Dead and that would leave you out of the loop.

“I can hold your hand baby, and it’s just a movie! It’s not real.” She tried to persuade you as you both took a sip of your beer in the regular booth at the bar, the booth where you met everyone else. Steve nodded at Robin, tapping on the table.

“Most of the blood, it’s syrup! Like, literal colored syrup, and they say that plot wise is magnificent.” He says, trying to help his best friend and Robin appreciated it, clinking her beer bottle with his. You rolled your eyes and shook your head.

“Maybe I can go watch… something else while you guys are in there?” You tried to persuade them, trying to not show how uncomfortable the thought of sitting through a movie that will not let you sleep for two weeks made you.

“But then you won’t be able to include yourself in our conversations dudette.” Argyle says this time and you sigh, shaking your head again and the person at the end of the booth groaned loudly, rolling his eyes wildly.

“Let Princess Peach stay home, watch her soap operas that are a hundred years old, and we just go watch Evil Dead.” You glared at him from the other end. You hated the nickname he gave you. It happened once when in Steve and Robin’s home, you all decided to play some drunken Mario Kart. You immediately grabbed onto Princess Peach, because you always liked her, but of course, someone scoffed at that choice.

“Fucking obvious you would choose Princess Peach.” He had said, and you glared at him with your controller in hand and you went into a drunken debate if he had a problem with women behind a steering wheel and that you would kick his ass. He picked Bowser.

He won.

Since then, the nickname stuck.

“I don’t only watch Soap operas Munson.” You said through gritted teeth and he let out a scoff, and Robin immediately rolled her eyes with a sigh.

“Here we go again…”

“I don’t care what you watch, but you can stay home if you are going to be a nuisance there, screaming and complaining about anything and everything.” He said, taking a sip of his beer and you were enraged right now, gripping tightly onto the bottle of the beer.

“Oh, I am sorry I am not a big ass man, who loves watching people get murdered on screen!” You exclaimed and he chuckled sarcastically as he looked at you over Nancy who was sitting in the middle, not minding you both as she sipped on her tequila sunrise.

“You can’t blame anyone for your fear Peach. Like I said, stay home, don’t bother us, and we’re all happy, alright?” He said in a cheeky tone, and the fact that he is pushing you away from the group makes you even madder.

“You know what? I am going.” You said and his eyebrows shot up, as everyone else’s on the booth, looking at you. A sly smile started forming in his lips and nodded in thought.

“Did you watch the trailer for it?” He asked as he pulled the phone out of his pocket, and opened the youtube app on his phone, looking for the video. He opened it and tossed his phone towards you and you still had your stern look as you grabbed onto the device to look into the screen. You could feel the shakiness in your fingers as you grabbed onto it, but you cracked your neck to try to be brave.

Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad. Maybe it was all in your head too much. Maybe you could tolerate it. The lady was walking through an empty hallway in the trailer and your skin immediately got goosebumps. Even in the loud bar, you heard the immediate sound effect of a boom as a deformed and exorcist like face came on the screen. You tossed the phone to the middle of the table after shrieking, your heart going a mile per minute now, and you were trying to calm your breathing as much as you could but you were not being successful.

A laughter came from the end of the booth and you turned your head to look at him, your fury emerging, filling every blood vessel with pure fire and lava as you kept watching him smirk cockily at his phone, putting it away.

“Don’t be a bother to us. Stay home and let us enjoy something without your disturbance. We’re not your babysitters.”

You snapped. A laugh coming out of your chest as you took a long sip of your beer as everyone looked at you with confusion in their faces. Nobody had intervened in your’s and Eddie’s banter, because they knew better than to do that. They don’t want to side with either, so they just look as if they were the audience of a show.

You did however, when you threw the phone away, catch the background in Eddie’s phone, which was Michael Myers doing a pose, almost as if someone took the picture to a dressed up person.

“Of course, sorry for not being a fan of scary movies like you are Munson.” He rolled his eyes, but was surprised nonetheless that you discovered that of him, only to be completely stuck to the seat as you kept talking. “I mean, I should have known, the dark clothes, metal fan, probably studied satanism once, yeah…” You said, looking down onto your beer, licking the inside of your lip.

You heard Robin call your name, lowly, as if in warning, but you were fuming because you didn’t want this fucker to keep messing with you, making fun of you, belittling you.

“I get it, sorry I’m not a freak like you to like such things. Sorry for not being fucked up in the head I guess.”

Silence.

You were waiting for a rebuttal, something. Nothing, nada. Noone spoke, and it made you slightly confused instead of feeling victorious. You looked up and saw Steve was eyeing Eddie, so you turned to look at him. Your mouth went dry as you saw his vacant eyes, staring ahead, nothing in them, his profile in your eyesight. It was as if he was remembering something, by the slight flinches in his eyebrows.

A minute went by in pure silence, and you shifted in your seat, licking your lips and swallowing harshly. You have to remind yourself that this is Eddie’s group, not yours, and if you got into his bad side, then everyone might turn against you. So you decided to apologize, even if your gut was telling you to shut up, and your pride wanted to kill you for it.

“Um… I’m sorr–”

“Go fuck yourself.” And that was his last interaction with you for the night.

The next day they went to see Evil Dead. You stayed home, watching The Nanny.

–

You swallowed at the memory and clenched your jaw. You at least tried to apologize that time, even if it was for your benefit, you still tried. You really don’t care if he apologizes to you or not, but you would prefer he didn’t. You don’t know how you would react to that lie, and you don’t want to risk it.

You didn’t have the closest relationship to Nancy, and that’s probably because she is closer to Eddie than she is to you, and that’s fine. You actually do know that Nancy dated Steve once, in high school, as well as Jonathan. It was weird, yes, but you wondered how Nancy felt about his two exes dating now.

It also dawned to you once that she might not like you much because you did go out with Jonathan once, and even kissed him on the first date. Maybe, just maybe, that might be the reason. Either way, you really didn’t care about not being close to her, you were just happy for finding someone like Robin, and you can also say that Jonathan became the next closest friend to you.

You opened your direct messages and saw that there was indeed a message from Jon. You opened it to find a reel video, and going into it, it was the meme of a cat, and it made you giggle onto the screen. You scrolled down towards a random reel, and then another and then another.

Soon it was 6:00 AM, and you knew you had to start getting ready for the day, but one last reel caught your attention. It was a sponsored video of a fragrance. Bleu of Chanel, a fragrance for men, but what caught your attention was the male model holding the bottle while shirtless, dropped onto a blue leathered couch. The backdrop of it was a blue marble image that moved around. Your eyes were stuck into his abs, glistening with fake sweat, his jeans tight around him, a little bit of his boxer line showing above the belt.

“Fuck, he is good looking.” Billy Hargrove definitely looked like someone who knows what to do in bed, just by his stance, his body, and his demeanor when you met him, and you bit your lip at the images you were getting in your head. Maybe he was gay, maybe not, you didn’t know, but you didn’t care. You saw him once in person and he is as handsome and sexy as he looks in the sponsor on your phone. That was enough.

You licked your lips and stood up. You would have to take care of yourself in the shower, too many images in your head arousing you for your own benefit. Just from a model.

God, you needed to be fucked, like good fucked, like ‘can’t walk the next day’ fucked. It’s been too long since someone else made you orgasm, that someone else actually cared enough to make you feel good. It’s not like the partners you had for the past months were horrible, but… they didn’t pass the ‘one night stand’ category. No one turned into an usual hook up, but it was because of that really, because they didn’t care but their own dicks.

Only one guy had tried, and that was Carver, and he did it horribly, but points to him for actually trying even if it was for a simple minute. Then the girl you hooked up with was good, but it was her first time with another girl so, of course you were the one with the lead then.

You weren’t into dating a girl, but sexually you were open to try anything and anyone. You didn’t sleep with many women, just three in your lifetime, but you sadly, horribly, preferred men, for whatever reason that was. It was just your attraction and your hormones talking for you. Maybe a dildo would come in handy nowadays, and a vibrator, cause if someone could give you a mindblowing orgasm, for now, it was you.

But the removable head of your shower might have to do for now, and your imagination, until you find an actual person that would make you feel as good as you make yourself feel, or even better. A person that you wish will make you feel desirable again, and not just a hole to put it in.

But maybe you’re just asking for too much.

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

End of chapter 5

<- Prev. chapter - Next chapter ->

I know it's short, but I needed to show a flashback to make you guys see that reader is not a saint!

A/N: Please, comment or send me an ask if you desire to be put in the taglist ❤️

taglist: @enam3l @rainybakerypandaegg @katethetank @seatnights @oliskitten @bebe07011 @seventhlevelofhell

[nats-bottom]

KJ - Drunk

Summary: Kelly Jones asks y/n questions about her work at NASA

Pairings: Kelly Jones x Reader

Warnings: Fly Me to the Moon spoilers, swearing, misogyny, bullying if you squint, lying

Notes: If you haven't seen Fly Me to the Moon, then I would wait until you see it, unless you don't care about spoilers! (or don't care about seeing it, but I highly recommend it! It's such a great movie!)

I also have accounts on Wattpad and AO3! The users there are @ paige_vers

Please give me requests! You can submit them here or on my insta, @ scarlettsoutset

ᨖᨖೱᨖ⧗ᨖⴵᨖ🕷️ᨖⴵᨖ⧗ᨖೱᨖᨖ

Y/N POV

Oh shit. There she is. That woman I said all those things to at the diner that night. If I knew that she would be fucking working with me, then I wouldn't have said all that. That was just meant for someone who I was never supposed to meet again. Some stranger. But here she is, walking towards me. She has a clipboard in her hands, and so does her assistant, or at least that's who I assume that is. 

I watch as they walk closer towards me, and I start to freeze. I stop what I'm doing and just stand there, looking at the two women. I drop my hands to my side and clench them into fists as I feel them start to get sweaty. 

"Well hello there. Y/n, was it?" She says as a smirk plays across her beautiful face. She stretches out her right hand towards me, putting the clipboard between her left arm and her stomach. I wipe my hands on my skirt, not wanting her to feel my nervousness through my sweaty hands. 

"Yes, and you're Kelly, right?" I say, reaching out my right hand and shaking hers. I feel a spark of sorts as I feel her soft, warm hands. I feel a bit embarrassed, knowing that my hands are dry from working on the rocket all day. Well, they are a little moist from all the sweat, but that doesn't help. 

"Can I ask you a few questions? This will only take a few minutes, since I can tell that you're a busy lady." She says with a wink. I just look at her, lost in her green eyes that could hold mine forever. She just stands there, waiting for an answer. "Y//n?"

I snap out of my trance, and reply, "Oh, uh what? Oh yeah sure." I say, finally realizing what she said. I roll my shoulders back, entering a more relaxed stance. 

"Ok so to start, how old are you?" Kelly asks. She picks up her clipboard, and so does her assistant.

"I'm 24."

"Write down 36." Kelly says to her assistant. She writes something down on her clipboard. Kelly reads out the next question, "And what made you want to work here?" She looks at me with a glimmer of hope in her eyes. Yet I know that I'm about to crush it.

"I saw a flier for it on the college dorm announcement board." I tell her the truth.

"Write something about how she wanted to be the first girl to space." Kelly says as she looks down at her clipboard for the next question.

"It's true." I say. Both women look up at me from their clipboards.

"Make sure you get all this." Kelly says to her assistant, this time a little more quietly. 

"Yeah. Ever since I heard of what NASA was trying to do, I always wanted to be the first woman in space. With the whole space race and everything, I thought it would be a great opportunity to be the first." I reminisce, looking between Kelly and her assistant, but mainly at Kelly. "I submitted my application to be an astronaut, because you have to apply before they even consider you, but I was denied. They said that they don't allow women because it might mess with their reproductive systems. (I really have no clue, I'm just making that part up). I heard that they just laughed when they had a girl apply for the program." I say sadly. If you were to look closely, you might even notice the tear starting to form in my eye.

"So then what did you do after that?" Kelly's assistant asks, completely engrossed in my story.

"So then I decided to go into engineering, and I saw the flier for NASA on the bulletin board in my college dorm. They had an internship for seniors, so I tried that out, loved it, and they kept me on as an employee. So that's how I ended up here." I say, with my arms out, gesturing to the place. Kelly's assistant scrambles down her notes, and Kelly just looks at me with wide eyes, her mouth gaping a little bit. I smirk at this; the fact that I amazed her makes me proud.

She clears her throat and straightens herself out. "Are you the only woman working here?"

"In this department, yes. In the office there are more. The guys try to send me in there as much as they can though, because 'that's my place.'" I say with air quotes. 

"Do you like working here though?" Kelly asks. 

"Yeah, I do." I let out a huff. "I try to ignore the guys as much as I can, all their teasing and such. But it's a good job. I quite enjoy it."

"That's good." Kelly says to me. "Did you get all that?" She asks her assistant, who nods, while writing something else down. "Will you go find someone else to interview please? I'll be over in a minute." Kelly says to her assistant.

"Yeah, I'll go ask those men over there." Her assistant says, pointing towards two of my coworkers. She walks over to them confidently, and starts some small talk with them.

"Hey I'm sorry about the other day, it was something meant for a stranger. Not someone I would see again. I'm really so-" I start to say.

"Stop it right there. You have nothing to be sorry for. I was actually hoping I could ask you out for a drink?" Kelly interrupts me.

"Oh, uh, yeah that'd be cool. I know a good bar not too far from here."

"Great. How about tonight at eight?" Kelly says.

"Sounds good." I grin at her. She hands me her clipboard and a pen, and I look at her with an unknowing look. 

"For the address." She assures me.

"Oh ok." I take the clipboard and write down the address and hand it back to her. She looks down at it and nods. 

"See you tonight!" Kelly says excitedly. She gives me a smile, then walks away to her assistant. I watch her hips sway back and forth as she walks away. Damn she's hot. 

I get back to work, the day dragging on as I wait for tonight's adventures.

[powerful-niya]

— (тнε gιяℓ ιη яε∂.)

︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶

˚ ༘♡ ⋆｡˚hαppч nαruhínα mσnth єvєrчσnє!

˚ ༘♡ ⋆｡˚𝙳𝚎𝚌𝚎𝚖𝚋𝚎𝚛 𝟸𝟺: 𝚁𝚎𝚍 𝚁𝚒𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝙷𝚘𝚘𝚍 + 𝚄𝚛𝚋𝚊𝚗 𝙻𝚎𝚐𝚎𝚗𝚍𝚜 - (𝙽𝙷𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚑𝟸𝟹)

Link To Oneshot Below ↴

Part 1: Wattpad|AO3

Part 2: Wattpad|AO3

Pairing˚ ༘♡ ⋆｡˚Naruhina

Synopsis˚ ༘♡ ⋆｡Naive and innocent, Hinata sets out on a selfless journey to aid her ailing father. However, she makes the mistake of crossing paths with Naruto, the big bad wolf.

Now, in his presence, she faces a daunting proposition: win his harrowing game of survival to return to her father, or lose, forfeiting something uniquely her own—her innocence.

Content Tags˚ ༘♡ ⋆｡˚ Adventure • Alternate Universe - Fairytale • Angst • Chilling • Dark • Dark Fairytale • Dark Romance • Dark Secrets • December 24 • December 25 • Forests • Heavy Angst • Horror • Human/Monster • Human/Werewolf • Hurt & Comfort • Monster • Nhmonth • Nhmonth23 • Non-human AU • OOC • Psychological Thriller • Red Riding Hood • Supernatural • Thriller • Urban Legends • Werewolf • 2023

NSFW Tags˚ ༘♡ ⋆｡˚  Biting • Claiming • Coming Untouched • Coercion • Dirty Talk • DubCon • Fantasies & Fantasizing • First Time • Fuck-Or-Die • Forest Sex • Innocence • Loss of Virginity • Marking • Mating • Monster Sex • Multiple Orgasms • Oral Sex • Orgasm Denial • Outdoors Sex • Ownership • Power Play • Scent Kink • Scratching • Size Difference • Tail(s) • Vaginal Sex • Virgin • Werewolf Bites • Werewolf Mark • 2023

((For My Dark Readers Only))

Overall Word Count˚ ༘♡ ⋆｡˚

Part #1: 12.8K

Part #2: 19.3K

Tumblr Post: Word Count˚ ༘♡ ⋆｡˚5.1K

Preview ༘♡ ⋆｡˚

The sun dipped low on the horizon, painting the sky with a rich palette of amber, gold, and crimson hues. Its waning light stretched long shadows across the dense foliage surrrounding a quaint little village. 

Accompanying the gentle sway of the trees was the soft caress of the breeze, carrying with it the earthy aroma of pine needles mingled with the damp, fertile scent of soil. 

A young woman strode briskly along a meandering trail branching off from the village behind her, her midnight blue hair trailing like ribbons in the steady wind as she walked. 

The woman?

Hinata Hyūga, the girl in red. 

The young woman, sweet as can be, wore a vibrant red cloak that flowed behind her, a gift from her dear late mother. Underneath, a white blouse with ruffles peeked out, paired with a swaying red skirt. Black fishnet stockings hugged her legs as she walked with grace in her Mary Jane pumps. 

Very picturesque. 

Hinata's steps were determined, moving steadily onward and upward, unfaltering even in the face of the whispered fears that hung in the air. She's been walking for quite some time, long enough for a dull ache to settle in her ankles and a persistent soreness to nag at her lower back. 

Still, she pressed forward.

She must. 

She had only one thing on her mind, and nothing else, propelling her to keep moving forward…

Her dear father: Hiashi Hyūga. 

He's fallen ill. 

An unfortunate turn of events.

In the early stages, his illness seemed rather mild, to say the least. Just an occasional cough here and there, nothing too alarming for Hinata. She brushed it off as a common seasonal nuisance, just his sensitive sinuses acting up again. 

So, she would make it a routine to brew her father a steaming cup of chamomile tea three times a day, meticulously steeping it to perfection. By his bedside, she would softly hum melodies she learned from her mother as she helped him drink the tea, all in hopes of soothing his cough and ushering him into a peaceful slumber.

At first, the tea seemed to do the trick.

However, as time passed, the soothing properties of the tea sadly began to lose their effectiveness. Before long, his symptoms began to worsen, escalating into something far more serious.

Pneumonia. 

His ailment turned into pneumonia. 

Hinata found that out on her own, having managed to piece it together from her father's symptoms—persistent coughing, difficulty breathing, and a stubborn fever that just wouldn't go down, no matter what she did. 

She tried everything to bring his many fevers down—cool compresses, damp cloths on his forehead, and even making him sip on ice-cold water or mint tea from time to time—but nothing seemed to work.

Her father was an old man, brittle and fragile. There was only so much that he could endure. 

As the days went by, her father's appearance grew more haggard and feeble, like a shell of who he once was. It pained Hinata to see him fading away, inching farther from his usual vibrant self. 

He hardly spoke, hardly laughed, and hardly smiled…

Each day, each hour, each minute, he battled with all of his might against the cruel pneumonia. But it seemed like it was gaining the upper hand more and more each day.

Hinata truly feared that he just might…

She shook her head, suppressing tears. She shouldn't think that way. 

It was this sense of urgency that drove Hinata forward, motivating her to hasten her return home with the supplies she had collected for him.

In her delicate hands, Hinata carried a woven basket brimming with vibrant vegetables, fruits, and an assortment of herbs and medicines—collected from the settlement a few miles away.

Konoha Village.

Hinata's father, Hiashi, resided in a charming cottage on the outskirts of Konoha village, nestled by a tranquil lake. His cottage, though old and weathered, had a cozy charm that was rather inviting. 

The quaint home was surrounded by blooming gardens and a cobblestone pathway, providing a peaceful sanctuary for him to live in peace. 

But his cottage wasn't just any place; it was Hinata's home as well. 

There, the two lived, accompanied only by one another. 

After the mysterious death of Hinata's mother, her father made the decision to leave Konoha. The memories of her and the village itself became too painful, a constant reminder that Hiashi simply couldn't bear.

So, they moved. 

That was many years ago, back when Hinata was just a child. 

But since then, Hinata has taken on the responsibility of looking after her father, especially now, as he lies sick in bed. 

She's grown pretty good at it, which just goes to show how much she learned from her mother. Her mother made sure Hinata could handle looking after both herself and her father on her own, and it's definitely paying off now.

Those teachings were priceless, worth more than gold itself.

And though her dear mother had passed away, Hinata found comfort in knowing that she was still with her; guiding her hands, and blessing her with patience and strength. The wisdom and love she instilled in Hinata were like permanent marks on her soul, destined to remain for as long as she lived. 

And so, no matter the challenges she faced, no matter how heavy the burden of her father's illness, Hinata managed to maintain her positivity. 

Her inner light remained undimmed.

Her radiance was so powerful that it seemed to push back against the encroaching darkness, even now, as she walked the trail all by her lonesome.

But as she walked, the hushed voices of the Konoha townsfolk echoed in her ears, refusing to fade away.

She couldn't shake them off.

The midnight blue-haired woman noticed, as she inhabited their lands, that they constantly spoke of a beast lurking in the nearby forest.

Their fearful gossip painted a picture of a fearsome predator, a freak of nature that had made the once-tranquil forest a place of dread. 

And as soon as word spread that Hinata planned to return home through this forest, the villagers became… 

agitated.

They pleaded with her to wait until morning, to stay safe in the village for the night before venturing near those dangerous woods or traveling at all, for that matter. 

But, Hinata stood firm, adamant.

"I've been away long enough," She had told them, sweetly and earnestly. 

"I can't bear the thought of anything happening to my father while I'm away. He needs these herbs, and I won't let fear keep me from him."  She also told them.

"Thank you for all of your concerns, but I must go. Please, wish me luck!"

However, thinking back on her own words now, Hinata couldn't seem to forget the image of the wide-eyed stares brimming with intense fear and concern etched on the faces of the villagers as she finished speaking. It lingered with her even as she turned away from them and left their gracious company and then village behind.

Little did she know, a touch of naivety tinted her determination.  

The village of Konoha had long battled with the mysterious beast, for several generations, in fact. Its existence was deeply embedded in the memories of its residents, intertwining with the essence of the village itself. 

Its claws dug deep. 

Whenever someone mentions Konoha, the stories of the forest-dwelling beast immediately come to mind soon after. Some dismiss it as an urban legend, while others see it as a cautionary tale passed from adults to children, who eagerly swap it like campfire stories whenever they get the chance.

People simply referred to the creature as "the beast" or even "the big bad wolf," depending on who you asked.

Nobody knew the beast's real name, where it came from, or what it looked like—just where it lived and what it did at night, specifically on nights of a full moon. 

According to the local lore, it was said that on full moon nights, a chilling wolf-like howl could be heard echoing through the forest and into the village. Farmers reported instances of discovering their chickens mauled and their crops raided. Some villagers even claimed to have seen claw marks on their doors, and others reported the disappearances of loved ones, or so the tale goes.

But none of that mattered to Hinata. 

Sure, Hinata had caught wind of rumors about this beast when she was younger but her parents always shielded her from such tales. 

"It's all nonsense," Her mother would always brush off when a teary Hinata sought comfort in her after being scared by the other children's tales of the beast.

Children could be quite scary, Hinata recalls how they would often use the tale to frighten other kids for a good laugh, presumably targeting her as well. They'd swap and switch details so often that Hinata couldn't distinguish fact from fiction anymore. 

That's why she felt it best to heed her mother's advice and ignore the tale altogether.

Though, she still made sure to stay as far away from that forest as humanly possible.

As time passed and Hinata eventually moved away from Konoha, the legend faded from her thoughts, becoming a distant memory. So hearing it again after so many years, Hinata couldn't help but take it with a grain of salt. To her now, the legend seemed more like a tactic to keep youngsters in check—a cautionary tale spun to prevent them from wandering too far and stumbling into trouble.

It was absurd. 

Hinata has no time for legends and myths. Her father's illness is her reality now, not some spooky ole beast, and she must reach him as quickly as possible.

And so, venturing through the forest will fulfill her wish.

With one hand, Hinata clutched a lantern, its flickering flames casting dancing shadows along the trail, guiding the way with its light. In the other hand, she tightly gripped her basket, finding comfort in its presence—a constant reminder of the purpose driving her to continue her journey. 

With each squeeze of the basket's handle, her father's image appeared in her mind: sick, bedridden, and sound asleep for days on end, his hand limp in hers.

She whimpered. 

'I'm on my way, father. I'm on my way.' She thought to herself, finding another surge of motivation. She trotted onward, each step she took resonating with a thud on the stoned pathway.

The chilly night breeze constantly whispered through the rustling trees, sending shivers of its cool touch through any openings in her clothing, such as her arms and legs, causing goosebumps to rise on her porcelain skin.

Hinata shuddered, her red hood steadily flying in the wind. 

While she traveled, the fading sunlight caught the glimmer in her lavender eyes—eyes that reflected only innocence and purity, unaffected by the darkness surrounding the tales of the lurking beast or, perhaps more notably, the harsh realities of the unforgiving world she lived in. 

Her kindness and determination were guiding lights for her, yet they also rendered her vulnerable to the ominous unknown that awaited her. 

Eventually, the trail led her to the entrance of the forest, where the ancient trees stood like silent sentinels. Their gnarled branches seemed to reach out at her like spectral fingers, casting eerie shadows on the ground by her feet. 

Immediately, Hinata's steps came to a sudden halt as she locked eyes with the looming forest. Her lantern and basket swayed due to her abrupt stop, her gaze transfixed on the eerie expanse ahead. 

Shallow breaths escaped her lips in quick succession, and her hands began to tremble.

This is it. 

The forest the villagers warned her about.

The urban legend, the tale of the beast—she never paid it any mind before. She outgrew that silly old tale, and it never made her shed another tear again. She wasn't scared of it anymore.

So, why was she feeling scared now?

Hinata couldn't tell if it was her instincts kicking in or the return of her childhood fears, but her body's peculiar reaction was unmistakable. She was trembling, shaken by the sight of the spooky forest that all of Konoha spoke about with such fear, now standing before her very eyes.

Tangible and real. 

Shakily, through the strands of her midnight-blue hair, Hinata raised her head and surveyed the eerie forest. 

Instantly, she realized the gravity of her situation. 

There were no other trails to consider, no detours, no shortcuts, and no hidden pathways to divert her from the ominous woods. The trail she had followed led her directly to the heart of the very forest that was said to dwell a beast. 

The forest stretched wide before her, its dense canopy casting shadows over the trail, which seemed to vanish into the darkness ahead.

Her heart began to race. 

Once again, the villagers' warnings echoed in her mind, a constant murmur urging her to retreat, turn away, and think twice about going any farther. The echoes just wouldn't quit, persistently nagging at her consciousness, like a chorus of annoying voices that just wouldn't go away.

But, her father….

Hinata's mind drifted back to her beloved father, who she knew was eagerly awaiting her return home. She knew he longed more than anything to see her walk through the door with a smile, bringing the supplies she had traveled far and wide to acquire.

It was at that moment, the fearful echoes of the villagers' pleads faded away.

Hinata exhaled a long breath in an attempt to calm the rising tide of anxiety within her. She even bit her lip nervously, gripping the handle of her basket tighter.

'You can do this, Hinata. You can do this!' She thought, once more trying to motivate herself.

Hinata knew she had to be brave, to summon strength from within the depths of her being to go on—for her father's sake.

She must.

So, with newfound determination, she steadied herself, taking a few more deep breaths before she planted her eyes back onto the spooky forest before her. 

She was ready. 

And with that, she summoned the courage needed to finally step into the darkness that lay ahead.

To enter the forest. 

The moment Hinata walked inside, a profound stillness descended around her like a heavy blanket, muffling even the slightest sound. The light that lingered behind her at the forest's entrance seemed to be instantly swallowed by the darkness within as she took a few more steps.

One step. Two steps.

The air seemed to shift, the pressure weighing her down and prickling at her skin like tangible dread.

Three steps. Four.

Above her, towering trees with branches covered in ancient moss loomed from all directions, their shadows stretching and swaying in the flickering light of her lantern.

The scent of damp pine grew stronger now, filling her nostrils with its earthy aroma, saturating the air all around her. 

Hinata's footsteps slowed, becoming cautious, as if the ground itself conspired with the looming shadows to keep her alert. With each step, she felt as if the ground might open up beneath her feet and drag her under, never to be seen or heard from again.

The path stretched ahead beneath her, shrouded in darkness so deep that even her lantern struggled to penetrate it, casting only a faint halo around her that the darkness seemed eager to swallow up. It called her onward into its endless black depths, demanding a courage she hadn't known she had.

Her heart pounded fiercely against her ribcage, aching with each beat, a sensation that felt suffocating and very unfamiliar to her. 

After all, panic, dread, and fear were never her friends, more like acquaintances she encountered every once in a blue moon in her otherwise normal life.

But now, she felt it all tenfold. 

Hinata had always prided herself on her composure, but here, surrounded by looming trees and engulfed in an oppressive silence broken only by the occasional rustle, she was beginning to crack.

The longer Hinata lingered within the forest, the tales of the lurking beast seemed to materialize all around her, like a ghost slowly encroaching upon her senses. They echoed in her mind and in every rustle and shadow. 

'Is it there?' She questioned in her mind as she heard a rustle of bushes to her left. 

'Was that it?' She questioned once more, as she heard another rustle behind her. 

Hinata shook her head, letting out a sigh.

She was being ridiculous. 

Glancing up hesitantly, her lavender eyes fixed on the twisted, moss-covered branches overhead. They snaked together like thick vines, blocking out the moonlight. 

She caught only glimpses of the sky, but even those revealed the truth: it was already night, which explains the darkness befalling the forest, swallowing it up whole. 

She squinted, barely catching sight of the full moon above. Its ethereal glow attempted to pierce through the dense foliage, but only succeeded in casting eerie shadows in the forest that only freaked her out even more. 

Hinata tore her gaze from the sky, fixing her eyes solely on the path ahead. Remaining alert in her surroundings was wise; after all, it wasn't just a scary ole beast that might roam these woods—other ordinary animals could be lurking as well. 

Predators. 

She raised her lantern higher. 

But that's when she began to notice something.

As she moved forward, the trail ahead became increasingly narrow, almost disappearing under the tangle of roots, dead leaves, and thick undergrowth. Hinata made sure to tread carefully, even stepping over the tangled obstacles, mindful to avoid tripping and risking a nasty fall.

That would be terrible.

She tightened her grip on her lantern and basket, drawing comfort from their warmth. But she struggled to steady her trembling breaths against the creeping unease that seemed to seep from the darkness itself.

Genuinely, Hinata was spooked. 

Goosebumps prickled her skin, making it feel like a million bugs were crawling across her flesh, all stirred up by the soft murmurings of the night wind.

It just made her feel even more isolated, like an eerie reminder that she was completely alone here.

Hoot! Hoot! 

Hinata shuddered, her senses rattled.  

Maybe not completely alone. 

She couldn't help but notice the distant hoot of an owl and the rustling of creatures in the bushes. She felt so silly thinking what she just did. 

The silence felt thick, disrupted only by the eerie sounds of the night: crickets chirping, frogs ribbiting, and owls hooting in the distance. 

Hinata strained her ears, half-expecting another unsettling noise to break the stillness. Her mind was buzzing, not at all helping her situation, with the villagers' warnings echoing louder in her mind, now than ever before.

Doubt flickered, like a wavering flame, her heart thudding like a drum.

But amidst it all, Hinata clung to the image of her father, frail and ill, relying on the supplies she carried.

So, she continued on. 

She proceeded on the path forward, taking one step at a time.

'Just stay on the path, Hinata. That's all you have to do.' She reassured herself, glancing at the familiar stoned trail beneath her feet, or at least the bits of trail that her light graciously illuminated. 

But no matter how close she huddled to her light, Hinata could not shake free from the unseen eyes watching her every move. 

Her eyes darted between the trees, catching glimpses of elusive shadows that seemed to retreat as soon as they caught her gaze.

She clutched her lantern tighter.  

Awooooo!

Abruptly, a distant howl of a wolf shattered the silence, disrupting Hinata's fragile calm. Startled, she leaped in fright, struggling to stifle her whimpers, but a few hushed squeaks escaped nonetheless.

The eerie cry echoed unnervingly close, as though it were just a few steps behind her, prompting her to instinctively whip her head in that direction. 

Yet, all she saw was darkness, a vast expanse of black. 

She aimed her lantern in that direction, only to see nothing, just more… trees.

Shivers ran down her spine, her sense of imminent danger heightening. 

But she kept on.

'Just a few more steps, I'm sure. The forest can't be that big, right?' Hinata attempted to reassure herself as she pressed forward on the path again, cutting through the forest with the vision that the clear path home lay just a few steps away. 

She wasn't sure how long or how far she had walked into the forest. Every tree looked identical, and the forest seemed to stretch on endlessly, making it impossible for her to identify the distance she had covered.

Branches creaked…

Leaves rustled…

But that's all there was—rustling.

No beast. 

No monstrous entity lurking in the shadows. 

Nothing.

'See, Hinata? The villagers were just overreacting. There's nothing to worry about.' She reassured herself yet again. 

But just as she convinced herself that the villagers were simply letting their fears get the best of them and that there was no beast, she was startled by a chilling surprise that shook her to her very core. 

A surprise that made her doubt everything. 

All of a sudden, she caught a sound—a haunting, guttural noise.

And it spoke to her. 

"I see you there, little one." 

It was a voice, other than her own. 

It was a deep, booming voice that shattered the silence, its words lingering like a sinister whisper long after spoken, chilling her to the bone. 

In an instant, Hinata found herself completely still, every part of her body, from her nerves to her bones, locked in place. She couldn't think, couldn't breathe. She couldn't even—

"I can smell you too." 

The voice spoke again, slicing through her panicked and scattered thoughts. Any notion that what she just heard was merely her imagination or a trick of her mind vanished completely, leaving her with the chilling reality of her fear.

"You don't belong here." 

The voice spoke once more.

"Tell me, what's a frail little thing like you doing here in my woods, huh?" 

The voice exuded a creepy mix of menace and curiosity, and it spoke like it was coming from all around her, as if the very trees themselves whispered such ominous words.

Hinata's heart began to hammer faster, thudding against her chest as if trying to escape. 

Every instinct screamed at her to run, to sprint back to the safety of Konoha village or if not that, find cover to escape the unseen menace that lurked in the shadows. But, her legs refused to respond, rooted to her spot, bound by an invisible force that held her captive.

She tightened her grip on her lantern and basket, seeking solace in their familiarity, but the chilling reality of her fear seemed to seep into her bones, draining her determination with each passing second. 

It's the beast. 

It's real and it can talk! 

It's alive, and out there—Lurking. 

Somewhere among the trees, it was hiding, waiting, and watching. 

Probably done so all along. 

It was the very beast that the people of Konoha feared, the one they had warned her about. It has finally revealed its presence. But it has done so in a way that brought upon a mass of terror upon her poor soul. 

"Aw, what's the matter? Cat's got your tongue, little one?"

This time, amusement tinged the beast's voice, and Hinata caught it instantly. But her mouth remained clamped shut, her voice stolen by the fear that gripped her.

The creature seemed to take pleasure in her silence, its tone becoming increasingly mocking.

"You're a surprising one, coming here. I'm not sure if you're brave or just…"

A menacing chuckle was made. 

"stupid." The beast finished, a taunting challenge that further tightened the knot of dread in Hinata's stomach.

The beast's words seemed to linger in the air, and Hinata found herself grappling with the urgency to respond, to defend her purpose for being there—right in the middle of the very domain it inhabited. 

A whimper escaped Hinata's lips as she glanced anxiously around.

"I-I apologize for d-disturbing you." Her voice cracked hard. It was like all the saliva in her mouth dried up, leaving her throat scratchy and parched. But she continued, kami, she didn't know how she did. 

"I-I'm merely delivering f-food and m-medicine to my f-father." She stammered, managing to maintain a fragile steadiness in her voice despite the trembling in her limbs.

"H-He's sick, and I m-must get to him as q-quickly as p-possible, please."

The forest seemed to hold its breath as she spoke, the ancient trees and whispering leaves hanging on to every word and gentle breath she uttered with eager attentiveness. 

Her purpose for venturing into the forest had been announced. 

Her soft voice had been revealed. 

It was like a melodic lullaby—her voice. It echoed timidly, carrying a soft cadence that seemed to harmonize with the natural rhythms of the forest, soothing the very leaves around her.

Her ears caught a low chuckle, almost a growl, rumbling through the air, echoing ominously among the shadows.

The unseen beast truly found the sound of Hinata's voice rather… captivating. 

It responded in turn.

"Your father, eh?"

Another menacing chuckle. 

"Let me get this straight."

The beast paused, as if it was thinking, before its voice arose again. 

"You've traveled all this way, wading through my territory, doing what many wouldn't dare, just to deliver supplies to your sick father?"

The beast's deep voice rumbled through the air like distant thunder, its tone laced with a genuine sense of confusion as it questioned her.

Hinata nodded shakily, as if the beast could see her response.

Her lavender eyes scanned her surroundings once more, her head whipping about, unable to pinpoint where the voice was. Sometimes it boomed from behind her, startlingly close; other times, it seemed to fade into the distance, only to return with an unsettling proximity. And it even seemed to whisper with an eerie clarity right beside her ear at times, sending shivers down her spine.

Hinata didn't know where the beast was; quite frankly, she didn't want to know. She didn't want to see it. 

Once more, the trees rustled in a mysterious dance of leaves, stirred by an unseen breeze, prompting her eyes to shift rapidly, whimpering. 

Soon after, the voice echoed through the silent forest once more.

"Mmm, what a devoted little thing you are. I must take a closer look."

Instantly, panic surged through Hinata the very moment those words left the beast's mouth. 

It felt like a threat, triggering a primal urge in her to flee. Her mind raced with the urge to run, hide, do something, but her body couldn't keep pace with what her mind was screaming at it.

Panic. 

That's all she felt. 

She was overwhelmed by panic—relentless, heedless of reason or necessity—just raw, clawing panic, gnawing at her insides.

Panic gripped her fiercely, its tendrils wrapping around her mind and squeezing tight. Her heart raced like a drumbeat, each thud echoing in her ears. Every breath came in short, shallow gasps, her chest tightening with each inhale. 

Hinata felt trapped in a suffocating embrace of fear, unable to think clearly as adrenaline rushed through her veins.

'Oh no. Oh no!' She repeated over and over in her head as she whipped her body around, trying to anticipate where the beast might reveal itself.

A hushed silence fell upon the forest, as though nature itself had fallen completely still. 

Frozen in time. 

No shuffles, no rustles, and no sign of life resonated through the entirety of the still forest, leaving Hinata wrapped in an eerie quiet that heightened her anxiety to the extremes. 

She began to hyperventilate. 

Hinata glanced around anxiously, scanning every direction—left, right, front, back, up, and down—hoping to catch a glimpse of the lurking creature before it leaped out at her, a preemptive move to spare herself a heart attack. 

But the forest remained eerily quiet.

And there was no sign or sound of the beast anywhere. 

Suddenly, a sensation washed over her, as if the very air had shifted—and in an instant, Hinata sensed a presence behind her, looming over her petite frame.

A warm breath gently brushed against her neck, causing every hair on her body to stand on end.

"Behind you."

The booming voice reverberated behind her once more, but this time, it was unmistakable.

It echoed directly into her left ear.

The realization struck her like a lightning bolt, causing Hinata's heart to race even faster, its beats resembling the fluttering wings of a hummingbird against her chest.

Ba Boom!

Ba Boom!

Ba Boom!

Hinata's body froze in place.

She couldn't move. She couldn't breathe. She couldn't see or hear. Was she still alive? Was she still here?

She wasn't sure.

In moments of fear, they say the body responds with fight or flight, but Hinata was currently experiencing the lesser-acknowledged third option.

Freeze.

It was a primal reaction her body had never felt before, muscles locking rigidly, breath held tight, senses hyper-alert.

Hinata hesitated hard, finding it difficult to accept that the real beast—the one feared by the villagers, the one that had spoken to her moments ago in the night's shadows, the same one even she was afraid of as a child—was now standing right behind her.

No one had ever seen it.

No one even knows what it looks like.

Yet, now it stood behind her.

Hinata couldn't even begin to imagine what the beast looked like. 

Her innocent mind couldn't conjure a clear image, only a chilling certainty that whatever stood behind her at this very moment would surely petrify her, plunging her into a pit of regret for even venturing into this forest. 

But, she gotta. 

She gotta turn around. 

Slowly, with trepidation, and a shaky, desperate "I-don't-want-to-die" whimper, she turned, shedding the cold chains of fear that gripped her. It took all of Hinata's strength to turn her body completely around, stretching her neck to face the beast head-on.

But when she did…

What she saw instantly spurred her to fight against the darkness that threatened to cloud her vision and plunge her completely unconscious to the ground behind her. 

She fought everything not to faint. 

Instead, Hinata jolted back, away from the hulking figure of darkness, stumbling over her pump heels. 

"O-Oh my kami. Oh k-k-kami!" She panicked with a scream, lips trembling, teeth chattering against one another. Her abrupt movement caused her lantern and basket to rattle in her clammy hands, nearly slipping from her grasp. 

But that was the least of her worries. 

There it stood, in the flesh. 

The beast. 

The big bad wolf. 

Continue Reading On Wattpad Or AO3.

— (⋆⁺｡˚⋆˙‧₊☾ 𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐮𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐚 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑 ☽₊‧˙⋆˚｡⁺⋆)

[punchdrunkdoc]

Part 4, Chapter 2

Summary: After the events of S3, Matt Murdock is trying to once again balance life as a lawyer and a vigilante. But he’s been scarred by loss and betrayal - will a mysterious new neighbour help him heal? Or will her secrets drag him back into the darkness? Notes: This is a slow burn romance with an original female character, told in 4 parts. There is mystery, intrigue, action/violence and angst - all the good stuff!

Also available on AO3 and Wattpad

Masterlist

Reference pics

————–

PART 4

Chapter 2

“Matt!” Foggy clambered to his feet from where he’d been sitting on the tiled floor outside the apartment. He grabbed Matt in a hug, and thumped his clenched fist against Matt’s back a few times for good measure.

“Hey, Fog,” Matt said wearily.

“‘Hey Fog’?” Foggy repeated. “I might not have seen you in five years, and all you got is ‘Hey, Fog’”

“It’s not been five years,” Matt said, unlocking his apartment door. “I saw you yesterday - and you saw me then too. You returned today, just like I did.”

“How do you know? How do you always know these things?”

“I went by the office.”

“Oh. You mean the office that is now a frickin’ beauty salon?!”

“Apparently.”

“Holy shit, was that wild,” Foggy elaborated. “One minute I’m sitting at my desk, and the next I’m on my ass because the desk is no longer there, and I’m surrounded by a bunch of screaming Vietnamese women.”

Matt huffed out a laugh, the visual momentarily raising his mood. But only momentarily.

He was glad to see his friend was okay, but he wanted - he needed - to know what had happened to Calina, and he was running out of means to do so.

He scrubbed his hands over his face, and asked Foggy about the third member of their team. “You heard about Karen?”

“Yeah,” Foggy said sadly. “She stayed behind.”

“What about Marci?” Matt asked, hoping his Foggy wasn’t going through the same hell he was.

“She disappeared with us. I went to our apartment first - she was working from home this morning, and she was still there.” Foggy’s voice wavered slightly as he said the last sentence, his relief palpable. “Her parents rushed over right away, so I left to give them some space to reconnect. What about Calina?”

Matt shook his head. “I- I don’t know. She’s not next door. She’s not here. She’s not in any of the places I’ve checked. The internet’s down-”

“The internet’s down?” Foggy checked the display on his phone. “Shit, I thought it was just me.”

“No. The servers crashed apparently. So I have no idea how to look for her, Foggy. I don’t know if she returned and got hurt somewhere, or if she never disappeared in the first place. If she stayed, she could be anywhere. Five years is a long time, man, and she could be-”

“Hey,” Foggy interrupted. “We’ll burn that bridge when we get to it. The first step is figuring out if she disappeared. The moment the internet is back up we’ll start looking for her. In the meantime, sit down and take a minute, you look wrecked, man. Did you even sleep last night? In 2018, I mean?”

Matt remembered back to the night before. To the restaurant. To tailing Cross and Ranieri, and staying out until dawn. To the fight with Calina…

Jesus, had that only been last night? Less than 12 hours ago?

It felt like another lifetime.

Matt took Foggy’s advice, suddenly feeling exhausted. He collapsed onto the couch, the movement dislodging the layer of dust coating the unused piece of furniture. Matt coughed as the particles swirled in the air, and frowned as he heard plastic crinkle beneath him. He smoothed his hand over the couch, and realised it was covered in some sort of protective wrapping.

“Weird,” Foggy said, commented on the same thing. “Your stuff’s all still here. Its covered in sheets and plastic…but it’s still here.”

Matt shrugged. “Maybe the landlord couldn’t rent the place out again?”

“But why would he give a shit about your stuff? Why didn’t he toss it on the street or give it to Goodwill?”

Matt stood up again and wandered around the apartment, cataloguing the contents. Foggy was right, everything was still here, just as he’d left it. His phone charger was still plugged in by the radiator. His toothbrush was still in the bathroom. His clothes were in the closet. His alarm was on the bedside table…

But there were no signs of Calina. The book she keep by the side of the bed was gone. The silky robe that hung in the bathroom - gone. The running shoes she stashed by the front door - gone.

“Matt?” Foggy called out. “I’ve got something.”

“What is it?” Matt asked. He found Foggy standing in front of the small bureau in the living room, rifling through a pile of papers.

“Electricity bills, water bills…all for this address, all in the name of Calina Balashova. And-” Foggy sucked in a breath.

“What?”

“The deed for the apartment. Matt…she bought this place. In 2019.”

2019.

“She stayed,” Matt whispered. Part of him had known it all along, but the actual confirmation was a gut-punch.

She’d stayed.

He’d disappeared, and she’d stayed here. For five years. Without him.

Which meant she wouldn’t be walking in the door any minute, lost and confused like he was. She could be literally anywhere. Anywhere in the fucking world. She could be completely off the grid. She could be with someone else. Married, even…

She could be-

“We’ll find her, Matt,” Foggy assured him, obviously sensing Matt’s spiral. “As soon as we can get back online, we’ll find her.”

“But what if…,” Matt replied, his voice shaking as he tried to articulate his deepest fear. “What if she’s not even ali-”

“No! Don’t even go there. Don’t think the worst. Look, why don’t you pack a bag and come stay with me and Marci while we sort this out.”

“No. I think I need to stay here,” Matt replied. Calina had bought the place for a reason. Maybe she’d come back. He’d have to be here when she did. He opened his mouth to try to explain that to his friend but paused as he heard a noise in the stairwell. He cocked his head, zeroing in on the sound.

“What is it?” Foggy asked.

Matt recognised the cadence of the steps and the sound of the person’s breathing. He may not always know Karen by scent, but she was recognisable in other ways. “We have a visitor.”

He walked to the front door and pulled it open just as she reached it. Her tall body collided with his as she threw herself at him. Her long, slender arms wrapped around his neck and she buried her head in his neck.

Matt stroked his hand down her back, feeling the tremors racing through her. Hot, wet tears stained his shirt as she cried against him. “Hey, it’s okay. I’m here.”

She pulled back, wiping her hand across her face. “I’m sorry, I tried to keep it together all the way here, but I just-” she broke off on a sob.

Matt pulled her back into the hug and held her as she continued to weep. It was still so hard to fathom that he’d lost five years, but Karen’s reaction was making it feel very real. 

Eventually, her tears ran dry, and she stepped out of the embrace. “Hi, Matt,” she said, letting out a watery laugh.

“Hey, Karen.”

“I came back too, ya know,” Foggy said with mock disgruntlement.

Karen jerked at the sound of his voice. “Foggy?”

“In the flesh.”

She gave Foggy the same long, crushing hug. When it was over, Foggy wiped the fresh tears from her cheeks. “Long time no see, I guess,” he joked.

The look she gave him must have been withering, because Foggy held up his hands in remorse. “Too soon?”

“Yes, Foggy. Too soon. Way too soon.”

“Sorry.”

Karen shook her head. “It’s okay. I…I just feel a little raw, you know. I bet you guys feel the same way - but for very different reasons.”

“You could say that,” Matt answered.

“You both must be so confused. I’m sorry I wasn’t here in the city when you first came back. I wanted to come as soon as I heard, but I couldn’t get a sitter at first. Then there was traffic on the Queensboro bridge and I had to go through the tunnel-”

“Wait, back up,” Foggy said. “Sitter? Does that mean…?”

Karen nodded, and Matt could hear the pride in her voice. “I’m a mom, now. I have a little girl.”

———

Half an hour later, when all the furniture was uncovered, the dust cleared from the surfaces, and the three of them were sitting around Matt’s kitchen table eating take-out, Karen told them about her 21-month old daughter, Izzy.

“It’s short for ‘Isabelle’. It was David's mother’s name. She died when he was young, and he wanted to honour her memory.”

“So David’s the father?” Foggy asked. “Are you guys married?”

“We were. Briefly. Things, um, didn’t work out. He’s not really a part of Izzy’s life.”

“I’m sorry,” Matt said.

Karen shrugged. “I have Izzy. And we’re happy together. She’s amazing. Just so…joyful. Every day she learns something new, and I learn what kind of person she’s going to be - her personality is really starting to shine through, and its wonderful.”

Foggy reached across the table and placed his hand on hers. “I’m really happy for you, Karen.”

“Thank you. I’m not saying the last five years haven't been awful, but I was one of the lucky ones, you know? I found a reason to keep going. To keep hopeful about the future.”

“Can you tell us about the last five years? About what happened?” Matt asked gently - he was desperate for more answers, but could sense it was a deeply traumatising subject.

Karen took a deep breath. “You don’t know?”

“Just that it had something to with someone named Thanos.”

“Yeah,” Foggy added. “Marci’s parents started to explain, but they just kept breaking down in tears. And with the internet down, we’re in the dark ages, information-wise.”

“Wow,” Karen said. “It- it’s so hard to know where to start. Thanos has loomed so large in all of our lives for so long. It’s so strange to think that you don’t even know who he is.” She launched into an explanation of infinity stones, and the all-powerful alien obsessed with using them to bend the universe to his will. It would have sounded fantastical and far-fetched on any other day, but not today.

Not after what Matt had experienced this morning.

And the matter-of-fact way Karen - his no-nonsense, intelligent and rational friend - recited the information convinced Matt of it's truth.

“None of us knew what had happened at first,” she went on. “Everyone just started disappearing. I was on a coffee run - do you remember Foggy?”

“Yeah, you said you were sick of burnt coffee and wanted something frothy and delicious.”

“Yeah,” Karen whispered. She was quiet for a few moments, as if reliving the time in her life where her biggest concern was a caffeinated beverage. “I was on my way back from the coffee shop when the man walking towards me just…disintegrated. Turned to dust. I stood there, frozen in the street, as more and more people vanished. And it was quiet. So eerily quiet, at first. There were no screams, no cries for help. Just dust in the air. And I waited there, on the sidewalk, heart pounding, for it to happen to me. But it never did.”

“Then what happened?” Foggy asked.

Karen laughed wryly. “Then it was anything but quiet. It was pandemonium. Planes fell out of the sky. There were blackouts across the city. The rioting started soon after that. Then the mass suicides - the evangelicals thought it was the rapture, and that they’d been left behind. The vice president had to step in because the President disappeared, and she ordered martial law on the streets. When we finally got news out of Wakanda-”

“Wakanda?”

“That’s where it all went down. We found out it wasn’t the rapture, or some chemical weapon, or any of the hundreds of other theories that flew around those first few days. It was just some megalomaniacal asshole from another planet who’d decided that the way to solve the universe’s problems was to eradicate half of it. Half of everything - every person, every animal, every insect - just gone, with one snap of his fingers.”

Karen went quiet again, as if reliving the trauma. Matt tried to imagine what it must have been like at the time - the confusion, and panic and fear.

Probably not so different from this morning. And it made him wonder which scenario was worse: watching those around you disappear…or being one of the returned, suddenly thrust back into a world that had moved on without you.

“Sorry,” Karen said after a few long moments of silence. “Like I said, it’s so strange to talk about it. Up until this morning, every adult on the planet had lived through it. And we never really discussed it much. It was always there - the grief, and the loss - but everyone tried to ignore it. Even though we knew it was probably eating us away from the inside.”

Matt took her hand and gave it a squeeze. “It’s okay. You don’t have to talk about it anymore today. Me and Foggy have plenty of time to find out the rest by ourselves. But…”

“What is it?”

“Do you know anything about Calina?” Matt asked, figuring it was a long shot. Karen and Calina hadn’t been close back in 2018. They’d gone shopping together once, and had been friendly to each other around the office, but Calina had always been closer to her Widow sisters. “Do you know where she is?”

“No. I’m sorry.”

Matt frowned. Karen’s words seemed truthful. And her tone was sympathetic. But there was something off about the way she said it…and the way she was shifting slightly in her seat. “What aren’t you telling me? Is she okay? Is she- is she still alive?”

Karen started in surprise. It was her turn to squeeze Matt’s hand. “Yes. I’m sorry, Matt. Yes, as far as I know, she’s alive.”

Matt frowned again. “As far as you know? What does that mean?”

“Sorry, I’m messing this up. I don’t know what to say-”

“Just say the truth, Karen.” Matt tried to control the anger creeping into his voice. But he didn’t know why Karen was being so cagey about this.

“I just meant that I haven’t spoken to her in a few weeks. And what she’s doing is often dangerous-”

“Dangerous? Why? What is she doing?”

“She’s a Black Widow again, Matt.” Karen’s voice was soft, gentle. As if she knew the news would be a blow to Matt.

And it was. Matt stood up from the table, the plates and glasses rattling with the sudden movement. He backed away, shaking his head. “She- she was out. She was out of that life. She didn’t want it anymore.”

The Calina of yesterday - his yesterday - didn’t want to fight anymore. She didn’t want a life of violence and danger. She was going to be a translator. She was going to help people with her other gifts. And she’d been happy with that choice. More than happy - she’d been excited about finally finding her purpose in her new life.

“Matt, the world needed her,” Karen explained. “It needed the Widows - the ones who were left, anyway. Most of the Avengers disappeared, and it was all hands on deck to try to keep civilisation from completely collapsing. That first year…it was bad. It was really bad - all across the world. So she suited up again. The UN scrapped the Sokovia Accords, granted the Widows full immunity, and they’ve been out there all this time helping to keep everyone safe.”

Matt stood still, head bowed, hands on his hips, as he tried to process how much Calina’s life had changed these past five years.

“Can you call her?” Matt asked, not even trying to disguise the pleading in his voice. “Please? I need to know she’s okay.”

“I don’t have a way to contact her,” Karen replied. “Its safer for her that way. She checks in with me every few weeks-”

“She didn’t call today? When this all happened?”

“No. But when she does, I’ll tell her to come to New York. I promise, Matt.”

———

Karen left shortly after, needing to get back home to her daughter. Matt cleared away the plates and stowed the leftovers in his fridge. He grabbed the last two remaining bottles of beer and passed one to Foggy. Then, in unspoken agreement, they both collapsed on to the couch, as if needing to sit with the enormity of it all for a while. Silence reigned as they sipped on the drinks, both of them feeling a little shell-shocked by the events of the day.

Foggy placed his empty bottle on the coffee table, the clink of glass meeting wood the only sound heard for the past half an hour.  “It’s fucking crazy, man. It’s just…crazy.” He shook his head. “Five years. Five YEARS.”

Matt laughed, a choked-off, bitter sound. It seemed the safest response - the alternative was to scream. Or punch a hole in the wall. “Yeah.”

“Five years!”

“I know.”

“What do we even do now? Do we exist, like from a legal standpoint? What about our bank accounts and credit cards? If Karen hadn’t bought dinner tonight, would we have starved?”

“We wouldn’t have starved,” Matt responded, laughing in humour this time.

“But what about our careers? Can we still practice law? I don’t even know who the District attorney is. Fuck, I don’t even know who the President is!”

“Foggy, relax. Those are relatively easy problems to solve in the grand scheme of things. Once we get back online we can find out all those answers. You have a roof over your head, you have Marci, you have your friends. Everything else will sort itself out.”

“Yeah,” Foggy said, calming down a bit. “Shit. I’m sorry, man. Here I am stressed about legalities, and you’re still in the dark about Calina.”

“I know she’s alive. Or, at least, she was, up until a few weeks ago.”

“That’s something.”

“Yeah.”

Neither of them sounded convinced. Matt especially - because until he could ‘see’ her in person, and know that she was truly safe and unharmed, he wouldn’t be at peace.

“Are you sure you don’t want to come back to mine?” Foggy asked. “I don’t feel right just leaving you here alone.”

“It’s fine. You need to get back to Marci. I’ll be fine. I need to go out anyway.”

“You’re going out as Daredevil? Tonight?”

“Of course.”

“There’s no ‘of course’ about it, Matt. You’ve had a major, life-altering shock today, and you haven’t slept in, what, 36 hours?”

“About that.”

“I don’t think anyone - not even the Almighty himself - would blame you for taking the night off.”

Matt opened his mouth to argue...but found himself nodding instead. Saying he was going out on patrol had been more of a reflex than anything else. When the truth was, for the first time in a long time, Matt didn’t want to suit up. He didn’t want to fight tonight. He didn’t want to wade back out into the chaos. He knew he should - that it was his duty and his responsibility - but he couldn’t find the strength to do so.

And it had nothing to do with a lack of sleep.

He wanted - just for tonight - to be selfish. He wanted to stay in the familiarity of his apartment and wallow for a while in the absolute fucking unfairness of it all.

Five years.

He kept coming back to those two little words. Like Foggy, he just couldn’t comprehend that timescale.

Five years.

He’d lost five years of his life.

No. Five years of his life had been stolen from him. Then he’d been dropped back into this new and foreign world to flounder and flail in confusion. 

Five years of his life…gone in an instant.

And he knew he wasn’t the only person dealing with this tonight - half the universe was, apparently. But that didn’t bring much comfort. Because while the event was the same, the individual circumstances were unique to each and every person.

And his unique circumstances just straight-up fucking sucked.

He’d lost Calina. The woman he loved more than life itself. The woman he was planning a future with just yesterday…

A future that had been ripped away.

He felt like he couldn’t breathe with missing her. With worrying about her. With wondering what her life had been like these past five years, and what she was doing right at this moment.

Was she missing him, as much as he was missing her?

Was she safe?

Was she hurt?

Was she even alive?

———

7000 miles away, in a medical facility in Wakanda.

The doctor addressed the tall red-head, still dressed in blood-splattered black leather. “You need to decide now. The longer we wait, the less chance there is of the treatment working.”

His voice was calm and measured - a stark contrast to the chaos behind him. The wounded from the fight this morning had been arriving all day, the sparking yellow circles providing a shortcut between the high tech medical facility in Africa and the scorched battlefield in upstate New York.

The shouts of the medical personnel, the cries of the injured, and the screaming alarms of the machinery made it hard for Anya to think. But she knew what was right for her friend. “Do it.”

The petite Widow at her side protested. “But she’ll be unconscious for weeks!”

“What’s the alternative, Inessa? You heard what he said - her legs are completely crushed. Without this treatment, they’ll have to be amputated.”

“But she doesn’t even know that we’re back - that everyone came back. That Matt came back! She deserves to know that before she’s put in a coma for a month!”

“Look at her legs, Inessa! There’s no amount of morphine in the world that will spare her from that pain. We wake her up now, she’ll be in too much agony to think about Matt. The shock might even kill her!” Anya turned back to the doctor, patiently waiting by the side of the pod. “Do what you have to do to save her. Please.”

The doctor nodded and pressed the button, sealing up the pod.

A mist of medicated air filled the device, obscuring Calina from view.

————–

Chapter 3

Tag list: @hollandorks @stilldreaming666 @sio-ina-bottle @tearoseart-blog @acharliecoxedfan @freckledbabyyy @chezagnes

If you’d like to be added - let me know!

[castielific]

20 questions for fic writers

How many works do you have on A03? 25

What's your total word count? 454 434 words

What fandoms do you write for? Supernatural. My first english fics were about Teen Wolf. Before that, I wrote in french about House MD and Stargate Sg1.

Top 5 fics by kudos:

Baby One More Time (sterek): 4 142 kudos

Carry You Home (sterek): 2 157 kudos

Fancy and the Tramp (destiel): 1 147 kudos

But she's the Devil in Disguise (sterek): 1 030 kudos

Grace my Soul (destiel): 891 kudos

Do you respond to comments?

Not all of them. Mostly because sometimes I'm not sure how to respond and feel ridiculous saying the same thing again and again. I appreciate them all though. They all make me so happy and I'm grateful to those who takes the time to leave one. They always make my day.

What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

Like Clipped Petunias (destiel). This is my darkest fic. I've had people telling me they had PTSD from it. The end is really angsty and horrifying. It was not supposed to end this way, but this is where the story took me. In the end, I think it fits.

What's the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

Grace my Soul (destiel) comes to mind. Baby Jimmy is such a delight and the last chapter of that fic is my favorite one.

Do you get hate on fics?

I don't remember ever getting any. I did have a few problems with people stealing my stories or posting them elsewhere. In the past, I also had a few stalkers/stans sending messages that creeped me out (especially for my french fics).

Do you write smut?

Yes! I didn't used to for Teen Wolf, but I've realized that fic with a higher rating tends to get more views (which I get because I rarely read pg13 or under myself), so I started writing it. I both love and hate writing those parts. It always feels kind of awkward to share those imageries, I'm never sure what words to use or how far I should go.

Craziest crossover?

I have a WIP that was a Psych/Teen Wolf crossover.

Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Yes. More than once. I've had a few cases of people putting their own name on my stories, but mostly people repost it without my consent on other websites such as wattpad. Ao3 is the only place I post, so if you see one of my story elsewhere, it's been stolen. Please warn me if you do.

Have you ever had a fic translated?

Yes! It's such an amazing thing to think about! I have had translations in spanish, russian and chinese.

Have you ever co-written a fic before?

Once or twice. To be honest, I think I'm too OCD for it to work, I want it exactly as I want it lol. Help from betareaders is precious though, sometimes they write a couple paragraphs for me, or help me reformulate some things better, or just brainstorm the stoyline with me and give me brillant ideas. Fics are always better with some help.

All-time favorite ship? Destiel forever bb

What's a WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will?

Frozen Inside (sterek) is the only WIP I've ever posted. I feel terribly guilty about it because it's been more than half a decade now and people are still asking me for a sequel. Sometimes I read it over and try, but it's just...done. Thankfully, the last chapter could be taken as a end. Kind of. God, I feel awful and I'm so sorry.

I also have tons of unpublished wip that are nearly over. I wish I'll be able to end them, because there are some stories I really really like.

What are your writing strengths?

Hyperfocus. My best stories come out that way. I'll write fifty thousand words in two days or not at all. Sadly, I can't control it. Inspiration also tend to come at the exact moment I can't possibly write, which is sooo frustrating.

What are your writing weaknesses?

Description and world building. I tend to focus too much on the action and dialogues, but forget to tell about where they are and when. I let readers fill the blank way too often, which is something I really need to work on. I've been trying to rewrite some of my fics into original stories and that made it very obvious to me.

Thoughts on dialogue in another language?

It depends. Sometimes the translation is in the end note and it can put me out of the story, especially if it's an important part of the dialogue. If it's just a few words or if it's done in a way you understand it anyway, it can be beautiful!

First fandom you ever wrote in? Stargate SG1.

Favorite fic you've written?

The Guy Next Door (destiel), I think. I laughed, I cried, I squealed, I facepalmed. I must have looked like a maniac writing that story. Castiel was very fun to write for that one. Dean...I wanted to slap Dean so many times while I wrote. I had no control over him, I swear, he kept on being an idiot and made me scream at my screen.

I was surprised earlier, that this fic is not in the top five stories because it's one of my personal favorite.

This exercise was very fun to do. I won't tag anyone, if you feel like doing it, just do it, I'm curious to read about all of you!