#Sure I could just wait until I face someone using her in the arena

[gascon-en-exil]

I would like to thank IS for including the new premium Heroes OC in the latest story maps. It prevents me from having to use my spark on her (assuming I don't pull her on the way to the spark) solely to get rid of that pesky "?" in my unit catalog.

[luvzshy]

A Love in the Limelight

billie eilish x fem!reader

context. at a basketball game, you and Billie are recognized by fans in the crowd, leading to a heartwarming interaction that reminds you of the love and support surrounding your relationship.

warnings. fluff, PDA, fan interactions, protective Billie, light teasing

——————————————————————————

The game was supposed to be a low-key date. You and Billie had been looking forward to it all week—sitting courtside, watching the action unfold, just enjoying each other’s company without any interruptions. For a while, it worked. You were laughing at the plays, snuggling up to her under the arena lights, completely wrapped up in the moment.

That was, until you felt a few eyes on you.

“Bill,” you whispered, nudging her gently. “I think someone’s noticed us.”

Billie glanced around, her eyes landing on a group of girls a few rows back, who were whispering excitedly and pulling out their phones. “Yep,” she chuckled. “We’ve been spotted.”

You sighed, leaning into her side. “Think we can get through this without causing a scene?”

“I’ll handle it,” Billie murmured, squeezing your hand reassuringly.

Sure enough, one of the girls approached cautiously, clearly nervous. “Hi, I’m sorry to bother you,” she began, “but are you Billie Eilish?”

Billie gave her a warm smile. “Yeah, that’s me.”

Instantly, the girl’s face lit up. “Oh my god, I’m such a huge fan! Could I get a picture?”

Billie turned to you, checking if you were comfortable with it. You gave her a small nod, not wanting to ruin anyone’s night. She quickly obliged, taking a selfie with the fan, who looked like she was going to burst with excitement.

Just as they were about to leave, one of the girls in the group suddenly gasped. “Wait, are you Y/N?!”

You blinked in surprise, not used to being recognized. “Uh, yeah… that’s me.”

Her face broke into a grin. “You guys are the cutest couple ever! I love seeing you two together.”

Your cheeks flushed as you glanced at Billie, who was giving you the biggest, proudest smile. “Told you,” she teased softly, wrapping an arm around your shoulders. “They love you too.”

After a few more pictures and a brief chat, the girls went back to their seats, buzzing with excitement. Billie turned back to you, her hand still resting comfortably on your waist. “You okay? I know it can be a bit overwhelming.”

“I’m good,” you reassured her. “Just… not used to all the attention.”

Billie smiled, pressing a kiss to your temple. “You’ll get there. And don’t worry, I’ll always be here to take care of you.”

You leaned into her, watching the game resume on the court but feeling the warmth of her love more than anything else. The world might notice her first, but in moments like this, she always made sure you were the center of hers.

[sayyestoheav3nn]

Nights Like This Short: Late Night Thoughts

Roman x black!oc

Warnings: language, smut

Word count: 1.1k

a/n: if you would like to added to the tag list, or if i tagged you and it didn’t work, please feel free to let me know 🤍

Three weeks.

Roman hadn’t seen Zoe for three weeks since they first spoke. After his win he had decided to take some time off, and although he found his time away peaceful, he couldn’t stop thinking about her.

This was definitely new for Roman, and truth be told it wasn’t something he was used to.

Sure he’s fucked a bitch or two on the WWE roster, but never someone he has actually had any interest in. No one, and he means no one had caught his eye the way she did.

Not to mention how fucking beautiful she was. He remembered the way she stumbled whenever he stepped closer to her. Or the way his dick slightly hardened when she would look up at him with those big beautiful eyes. He loved the sound of her soft soothing voice, he could listen to her talk all day if she’d let him.

All these thoughts were running through his mind as he pulled up to the arena. As he stepped into the building and made his way through the corridors trying to find his private room, he bumped into Paul Heyman, who seemed to be waiting on him.

“Good evening my tribal chief, t-this way sir.” Roman silently followed his lead, he wasn’t exactly in the mood for talking. As he made it inside his spacious room, he signaled Paul to leave.

Roman appreciated the time to himself, he loves his wiseman, but he tends to irritate the fuck out of him when he talks his ears off.

As he went to change clothes, his steps were halted when he heard her voice in the hallway. He slowly turned around to open the door, when he stepped out the first thing he saw was her beautiful face. She started to walk towards him, he could tell she seemed hesitant at first.

“Look who finally decided to show up,” she grinned.

“You missed me sweetheart?” He smirked.

She paused for a moment, her cheeks were starting to redden. “Nah, I was just worried your wiseman was gonna have a stroke, he’s been a mess without you,” she smiled.

He laughed, “He’s a grown ass man, he’ll be alright.”

Speaking of the fucking devil. The wiseman popped out of nowhere, waddling over towards them. “T-triple H needs to speak with you m-my tribal chief.”

Roman was unamused, “I’m in the middle of something, he can wait.”

“B-but my tribal chief, it seemed v-very important.”

“It’s okay, go. Don’t want to be the reason the boss gets upset,” she offered a sympathetic smile.

Roman reluctantly nodded his head in agreement, “I’ll see you after?”

Her brows furrowed with confusion. “Don’t you usually leave right away?”

“Not if I have a reason to stay.”

She looked down with an nervous smile.

Roman walked away, as he turned the corner he immediately stopped and turned back around. He could see she was confused as to why he was jogging back towards her.

He pulled out his phone, handing it to her. “Your number, just in case I can’t find you after.”

She typed it in with no hesitation, most likely since she knew their boss was waiting.

“Thanks, see you later Zo.”

……………….

Roman got home late, he was pissed that his meetings after smackdown prevented him from seeing Zo before she left. The first thing he did when he got to his room, was take a shower and then lie down, his body was exhausted. As time passed he accepted the fact that he couldn’t fall asleep. As he was twisting and turning, his mind began to think about Zo. His thoughts became hornier as time passed. He couldn’t help but to imagine what it would be like to bend her over and fuck her till she came over and over again. His dick was getting hard just thinking about it, he imagined what her moans and screams would sound like. She’d probably be shy at first, until his dick felt too good for her to suppress her screams and moans.

As he was visualizing having her facedown on the bed while he fucked her rough and deep, he could feel his dick starting to throb. Roman pulled down his sweatpants and quickly slipped his hands in his boxers grabbing his big dick that already had a few beads of pre-cum dripping down. He spit on his hand and gently rolled his thumb over his thick mushroom head and slowly proceeded to start pulling on his shaft, his eyes were closed and his head was thrown back on the headboard.

“Fuck,” he moaned while slightly picking up the pace.

His big calloused hands worked up and down his veiny shaft, his groans were getting louder as he thought about how his dick would feel inside her soaked pussy. How she’d moan while he stretched her out, he’d probably be the biggest she’s ever had. She’d be addicted to his dick, the same way he’d be addicted to her pussy.

He imagined them switching positions with her on top of him, riding his dick allowing him to have the perfect view of her titties bouncing.

The thought of her moaning and squelching on his dick had him on the verge of coming, he started stroking faster. “Shit, just like that baby, ride this dick,” he whispered.

Roman imagined Zo whimpering and begging him to let her come again, but not yet, he wanted them to come together.

He’d guide her into a new position, missionary. A position that was once his least favorite, was now something that he wanted to do, with her. He wanted to see that beautiful face under his bulking body, unraveling for him. One hand teasing her clit, while the other gripped the headboard.

He was close, so fucking close.

Her tight pussy would grip and pull on his dick, their juices flowing together. “Go ahead baby, come for daddy,” he moaned, with his eyes were squeezed shut.

“Fuck, baby.” That was it. Roman couldn’t hold himself back any longer, he didn’t even have time to grab a rag before his cum spurt all over his stomach. He could feel it tricking down his abs.

Shit. He got up and walked to the bathroom, grabbing a rag and cleaning himself. He couldn’t remember the last time jerking off felt that good.

There was no denying that his attraction to her wasn’t going to be a phase, a small smile began to form on his face.

The tribal chief always gets what he wants, and in this moment, his number one priority was to make his fantasy a reality.

[strawnarrries]

Can you please please do some kind of smut with Niall body worship. He would be single in this scenario. And maybe it's after a show and one of the venue workers does not care for him for whatever reason, but she ends up alone with him, and he's all sweaty in his tank top, and he seduces her and gets her to feel all his arms and then his chest. And then he has her take his clothes off and he's super patronizing and condescending, and then he has her suck him off, and he's laughing because she can't take it all. AHHHHH!!!

"Who is performing tonight? Why is everybody freaking out?" you asked your coworker as you helped set up the buffet for the musician and their team arriving soon.

You worked as a runner backstage during music concerts for the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, TN. It wasn't the best-paying job but you liked it. Nights usually go pretty smoothly but for some reason, the air was tense tonight. Everybody was frantic and your managers were extra particular about everything being perfect. You felt like you were constantly being pulled in every direction.

"Y/N, you don't know? It's Niall freaking Horan! He's literally gonna be here in like an hour!" she replied excitedly.

"Oh," you replied, not impressed.

"You don't like Niall Horan?"

"Eh, I've never really liked him. I've heard he's super cocky and kind of an asshole."

"Oh my gosh, don't even say that! I never fangirl over artists but I'm so excited about tonight. He's literally so hot!"

"I guess," you replied with a shrug.

"There's a rumor Noah Kahan is making a guest appearance too."

"Who?"

"Y/N!" she scolded and you giggled before she added, "For someone who works backstage at concerts, you'd think you'd be more into music."

Your workload tonight picked up even more once Niall and his team arrived. You were assigned to work with his team to help set everything up, make sure sound production was working, as well as doing little things to make sure everything was running smoothly.

Niall was actually quite pleasant to be around. Although you could definitely tell he had his cocky side, he was friendly and had a great sense of humor. The concert itself was magnificent. With all the shows you've worked for, this crowd was one of the loudest you have ever witnessed. They adored him and you now understood why. He was insanely attractive and so talented. You hadn't ever noticed until tonight.

It was after the show and everybody had started the cleanup process. You were instructed to go to Niall's room and double-check that he was okay and to get him anything he needed. You knocked on the door, nervously awaiting his response.

"Come in," he yelled.

Opening the door, you walked through and was met face to face with him. A man has never looked so good packing up his belongings after doing a show. He had taken off his leather vest and was just wearing his jeans and his black tank top. He was still sweaty from the show, slightly breathless. His biceps looked huge, glittering with sweat and you couldn't help but stare a little bit, wanting so badly to feel those muscles.

"Hey, I was told to come check on you and see if you need anything from us."

"Uh, I think I'm okay, thanks." His accent was so thick, it made your thighs involuntarily clench together.

"Okay, let me know if you need anything then," you replied, getting ready to walk back out the door before he stopped you.

"Wait," he called.

"What?"

"C'mere, I wanna talk to you."

"You wanna talk to me?" you asked, slightly shocked by his words.

"Yeah, close the door."

You closed the door behind you, taking a couple steps closer to him. Butterflies were swarming violently in your stomach, nervous that you were alone with Niall and even more nervous that he wanted to be alone with you.

"Did you like the show?" he asked, sitting down on a stool near the counter in his room. He crossed his arms over his chest, and you couldn't help but let your eyes flick down to his biceps.

"I did actually. You're really talented," you complimented.

"Did you notice me watching you?" he added.

"You were watching me?" you asked surprisingly.

"Yeah. I know you were working but I could see how badly you wanted to dance, to sway those pretty little hips to my songs."

"O-oh," you replied, feeling embarrassed.

"What's your favorite song of mine?" he asked.

"Not sure. I've never really listened to your music."

"Ouch, love," he feigned being hurt, placing a hand over his heart, "Why not?

You giggled softly at his reaction, "I don't know, I've always thought you were a little cocky."

"Ouch again!

"Well, now that I've met you I understand why," you explained.

"Oh really? Elaborate for me."

"Well, you're very attractive and a great performer. Plus if I was a guy and had all those girls screaming for me, I'd be the same way."

You felt your eyes continuing to stray from his and land on his arms. His biceps were flexing with each movement of his arm, the veins on his forearm peeking out and causing your mouth to water.

"Oh you think I'm attractive," he smirked.

"Stop, that's not the point of what I was saying," you giggled shyly.

"If it makes you feel better, I can tell you think I'm attractive."

"What? How?"

"Well for one thing, you haven't stopped staring at my arms this entire conversation," he grinned.

"O-oh, no, I-I didn't," your heart fell into your stomach; you were completely shocked and embarrassed you got caught ogling.

"You wanna feel them?" he asked, throwing you for a complete other loop.

"I-I don't-." You didn't know what to do. Of course, you wanted to feel them. But this was Niall Horan and you were on the clock. You felt like you were dreaming honestly.

"Come on, come feel them," he smirked, cocking his head.

This was never something you ever imagined you'd be doing, especially on the clock at work, but you soon found yourself moving towards him, your palms wrapping around his thick bicep. His skin was warm to the touch and his muscles were strong as you squeezed them. The next thing you knew, your hands mindlessly traveled towards his torso, his damp tank top clinging to his abs and outlining them perfectly for you. You traced them, fingers soon traveling down to the hem of his top and teasing it, wanting to badly to feel what was underneath.

Your dreams came true when you heard the words, "take it off."

But you didn't believe it. There's no way he just told you to take his shirt off, "W-what?"

"Go on, take off my tank top."

You didn't respond, just slowly slipped your hands under his top and pulled it up, over his head and oh my gosh it was so much better than you could have imagined. His chest was glistening with sweat, hair lining every inch, making him look so sexy and manly. And you didn't even want to get started on his muscles. His pecs and abs were so clearly defined, that it was obvious that this man spent a lot of time in the gym. You have never felt so turned on so quickly.

You ran your hand over his damp skin. You could feel every ridge of his muscles, the coarse chest hair slightly rough against your soft skin. You watched in awe as your hands explored his body, your mouth watering at the sight.

"Close that mouth, pretty girl, you'll catch flies."

You hadn't even noticed that your mouth had fallen open. Your cheeks immediately reddened in embarrassment as your jaw closed and he chuckled at you, "You like what you see?"

"Mhm," you hummed, nodding your head.

Lifting his hand, he used his curled index finger to lift your chin up to look at him. You stared into his gorgeous blue eyes that were covered by lust. You traced every inch of his face with your eyes, landing on his lips looking so soft and kissable. It was taking everything in your power not to kiss him.

"I can tell you wanna kiss me."

Were you being that obvious?

You didn't even reply this time, just in complete awe of the man standing in front of you. He was so cocky but ugh he had every right to be.

"Go on. Kiss me."

You smirked softly, not giving in just yet.

"You better kiss me first because, in a couple seconds, I'm not gonna be able to resist not kissing you."

"Maybe I want you to kiss me first," you challenged.

His lips immediately covered yours and oh my gosh you could not believe you were kissing Niall Horan. His lips were so soft and fuck, he was such a good kisser. You parted your lips and allowed him to lick into you, tasting you and asserting his dominance over you. You grabbed onto his waist, holding him to your chest as your lips moved in sync with his. The kisses were hot, deep, passionate, sexy, all of the above. You melted against him, feeling your abdomen clench and your panties dampen as he angled his head, kissing you deeper.

"Fuck," he mumbled against your lips.

You continued to kiss, his hands beginning to roam your entire body and you let him. He reached down and cupped both of your ass cheeks in his large palms, squeezing roughly. You whimpered slightly against his lips, chills running up your spine as he nipped softly on your lower lip.

"Get on your knees," he demanded, "Wanna feel those sexy lips wrapped around my cock."

You have never been on your knees so fast for a guy before. Your fingers fumbled with his belt buckle, trying to undo it so you could free him from his pants. You were frenzied and nervous and excited, so much that you could not get it unbuckled for the life of you.

Niall began laughing, "I got you so flustered that you can't even do a simple task like unbuckle my belt. Do I make you that nervous?"

You didn't reply, your hands getting even shakier as the seconds went by.

"Come on, sweet girl, let me help you." he hummed, reaching down and messing with his belt, easily unbuckling it and pulling it out of the loops in his jeans.

"See how easy that was?" he commented and you were just glad you could finally get your hands on what you've wanted this whole time.

Unzipping his pants, you wasted no time and pulled them down his legs, letting his pants and briefs pool at his feet. His hard member was revealed to you and oh my gosh it was so much bigger than you had ever expected.

He laughed at you as you grabbed onto his member; he was so thick you just barely were able to wrap your entire palm around him, "You look scared."

"No, I just wasn't expecting you to be so big," you hummed, hating yourself for inflating his ego even more than it already was.

He was so hard. His red, swollen tip was peaking out from under his foreskin, precum oozing from his slit, practically screaming at you to do something. You began to pump him, squeezing slightly once you got to the tip, running your thumb over it and using his precum as a lubricant as you mentally prepared yourself for what was to come.

"Stop stalling. Go on and wrap those pretty little lips around my big cock."

Obeying him, you wasted no more time and took him in until he hit the back of your throat. You barely had half of him in your mouth before you began gagging, eyes watering in response.

You heard him rumble with laughter, amusement written all over his face, "Can't take it all, huh?"

"Fucking hell," you muttered mostly to yourself as you came off of him, a string of spit following you.

He smirked at your response as you took a deep breath before taking him in your mouth again. He gathered all your hair in his palms, pulling it up into a ponytail to hold it out of your face. You innocently looked up at him through your lashes, watching as his body reacted to your warm mouth wrapped around his most sensitive area. You bobbed your head up and down, your palm wrapped around what you couldn't fit in your mouth.

He pressed both hands against the side of your head and added pressure to stop your movements. Relaxing your throat, you let him take control, thrusting his hips so his member slid in and out of your warm mouth. His tip hit the back of your throat and you gagged with each thrust. His balls slapped against the underside of your chin and he grunted with each thrust of his hips.

"Fuck, this is so fucking sexy. Look at you actually taking it all," he grunted.

Tears began to slowly slide down your cheeks the more you gagged on him. You looked up at him through blurry eyes and felt your panties dampen at the sight above you. He was so sexy. A thicker layer of sweat was glittering across his skin, enhancing the look of his muscles. Chest hair was sprinkled throughout his torso, his happy trail leading down to the patch of hair tickling your nose every time he bottomed out. His face was scrunched in pleasure, eyes crinkled and mouth ajar as he watched in awe as his member was soaked in your saliva, your throat constricting around him and bringing him closer to the edge by the second.

His thrusts began to get sloppy and you could tell he was close to finishing, his words soon confirming your belief, "Jesus christ, I'm gonna cum so fucking hard. Gonna swallow it all? Like the good girl you are?"

You hummed in response, preparing yourself for his load. It was only seconds later when he left his balls contracting and his orgasm ripping throughout his entire body. He grunted in pleasure as his load shot down your throat, warming your insides. Pulling out, he stroked himself a couple times to finish off his orgasm, tugging the last spurts of his load onto your tongue. Once he had come down from his high, he let out a heavy breath and watched as you swallowed every last drop of him.

"Jesus," he breathed, running a hand through his sweaty hair, "fuck, I think that was one of the best blowjobs I've ever had."

Your confidence rose as you stood on your feet in front of him, smirking at him, "Oh yeah?"

"Mhm," he hummed as he placed his hands on your hips, eyes trailing down to your lips, "you're really sexy."

"So are you," you grinned, letting his lips engulf yours before pushing him off, "As much as I wanna continue this, I am still on the clock."

He giggled at your statement before bending down and pulling his pants back up, "Give me your number and maybe we can meet up next time I'm in town."

You smiled, "Okay."

What the hell just happened?

[steddieas-shegoes]

love doesn't wait

for @corrodedcoffinfest prompt 'this one's for you'

rated m | 685 words | cw: implied/referenced sex | tags: famous corroded coffin, side steddie, jeff's love story, love confessions

💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓

Jeff didn't really think much about finding love, his focus too honed in on becoming a rockstar for most of his childhood and young adulthood. He hooked up, sure, but it was rare, and never lasted more than one night.

Love was for later, after he had hit singles and Grammy awards and music videos.

But love doesn't wait, and it certainly doesn't come when you plan for it.

Amy came out of nowhere.

She was front row at a show, and Jeff swears the spotlight stopped right on her. Eddie jokes that it was the angels pointing her out just for Jeff.

He managed to get security to find her right after the show, invited her backstage, and they were barely apart ever since.

She was on summer break from college, so she had nothing but time for him for two months.

It was fast, it was a little stupid, and it made him realize that being a rockstar wasn't everything he wanted.

On the last night that Amy would be with him, she stood backstage with Steve and Sam, watching with a fond smile as they performed.

"It's been great being so close to home, Indy!" Jeff yelled into the mic. "If it's okay with you, we're gonna take it slow for the next song. I've got a special someone here with me tonight. She's heading back home tomorrow and I'm gonna miss her pretty bad. This one's for you, love."

Jeff wasn't a big fan of playing acoustically, reserved their slow songs for Eddie's serenading of Steve most nights. But this was his way of saying what he'd already wanted to say for a while, and the guys had supported him.

"You get used to it," Steve nudged Amy's arm towards the end of the song, smiling at her as she wiped tears from her cheeks. "Kinda. Don't know if it's possible to ever get used to being serenaded in an arena full of 15,000 people."

"Yeah. This is a little crazy." She laughed when Jeff finished the song and threw a wink her way. "I don't wanna go back."

Steve looked over at her, curious, searching for any sign of her lying. When he didn't find any, he smiled. "Then don't. No one said you have to go to school right now. Life happens out of order sometimes."

Amy couldn't take her eyes off of Jeff as she nodded. "My parents will kill me."

"I've got plenty of experience with murderous parents." Steve placed his hand on her shoulder, squeezing once. "What you've got here is worth more than their approval."

He walked away, probably to get snacks for the guys ready in the room backstage. They only had a couple more songs before they'd be done for the night.

Amy watched Jeff finish up.

She knew what she wanted. She knew it would be hard to do.

She knew it was worth it.

****

"I'm gonna stay," she whispered to him that night in bed, still coming down from the high of the show and the two orgasms he'd wrung from her so easily. "Can I?"

Jeff's arms tightened around her. "What about school?"

"I can go back in a few years. I don't wanna miss this with you."

"Won't your parents be mad?" He asked, tilting her face up by her chin to smile down at her.

"Yeah. But they aren't the ones who have to live my life. I love you and I wanna be with you."

"You love me?"

She slapped his chest, laughing. "Of course I do! You just sang a song for me in front of a huge crowd after two months of holding my hand everywhere we go."

"Well, when you put it like that..." Jeff rolled over until he was hovering over her, smiling down at the love of his life. "I think it's pretty clear I love you too."

"Maybe you could show me one more time tonight?" She kissed his neck, smiling against his skin as he groaned.

"You're lucky you're so hot."

"No, you're lucky I'm so hot."

[captainsophiestark]

The Arena Club

Peggy Carter x Reader

Masterlist - Join My Taglist!

Written for Fictober 2024!

Requested by @trekkingaroundasgard! Hope you like it Nicola! 💗

Fandom: Marvel

Day Seven Prompt: "Follow me if you want to live!"

Summary: The life of a reporter can get a little dangerous, especially when going after powerful, deeply corrupt men like those in the Arena Club. Thankfully, Peggy Carter's around to help in a pinch.

Word Count: 1,943

Category: Fluff, Action?

Putting work into an AI program without permission is illegal. You do not have my permission. Do not do it.

The evidence presented in this article is just the beginning. Tireless detective work has uncovered much, much more, which we hope to verify and expose to the public as soon as-

I broke off typing abruptly, my attention snapping up from the typewriter in front of me. A thud had just come from somewhere else in the office, and I knew for a fact I was the only one here.

I'd decided to stay late to make sure this story got finished in time to go out tomorrow morning, and I'd been words away from finishing it up. I'd been investigating a conspiracy with deep roots in LA for a long time now, and I finally had the evidence put together to expose them, once and for all. Unfortunately, having a bunch of knowledge about a shady secret society had made me jumpy as hell for the past week at least.

I waited, listening for anything else out of the ordinary. When I didn't hear anything after a few long moments, I took a deep breath and returned my attention to my typewriter.

Almost at the exact same time, the door to the room came flying open. I snapped my head up and shot out of my seat, reeling backwards as three armed men flooded the office. My heart almost stopped in my chest when I felt someone take my hand from behind, and I whirled around to see a beautiful brunette woman staring at me.

"Come with me if you want to live!" she said, pulling me away from my typewriter and the armed men all at once. My brain froze, but it was clearly unsafe to stay here, so I followed her. Even through the shock, I knew she was a better option than the guys with guns.

I followed the woman through the back hallways of my office building, the sounds of crashing and gunshots echoing behind us. My heart raced, but she seemed calm as could be as we ducked around one corner and through another door.

We wound our way through the building and gradually down the stairs, the woman me never once pausing to check directions or look back at me. Finally, we made it out a door on the first floor into the back alley and she dropped my hand. I was surprised to find that I was a little disappointed.

"Get in!" she called, pulling open the driver's side door of the car. I hesitated. She'd definitely helped me out of a tight spot upstairs, but getting into a car with a stranger was a whole different situation.

Apparently, she noticed my hesitation. She stopped halfway through climbing into the car and came back to me.

"I'm sorry, I forgot to introduce myself, didn't I?" She reached into her jacket and pulled out a badge, which she held up for me to read. "Agent Peggy Carter. I'm with the SSR. We've been chasing the same group you've been investigating for quite some time now. We can protect you from them and their men in the building, but we have to go right now."

I just blinked at her for a moment, until a shout from somewhere inside the building finally snapped me out of it.

"Okay. Okay, yeah, I'm coming. Thank you."

She nodded and gave me a smile, then started the car as I climbed in the passenger seat. We pulled away just as the men from before came busting into the alley behind us.

We turned a corner onto the main street before they managed to take a shot at us. I slumped back into my seat with a sigh.

"You alright?"

I turned more fully to face Agent Peggy Carter behind the driver seat. She kept her eyes on the road, speeding through the LA traffic as fast as she could. I sighed.

"I... I don't know. Nothing that's happened in the past ten minutes has felt real. Those guys were really going to kill me, weren't they?"

This time, Peggy spared a second to glance in my direction. She looked sympathetic, which was all the confirmation I needed.

"They were, yes. They're the enforcers for the group your story's about. The Arena Club. We've been dealing with their members for quite a while now."

"Is that why you were there tonight? You knew they were coming after me?"

Peggy hesitated. "Not... exactly. I was more there to scope out the situation, see whether you'd uncovered anything we hadn't yet. I saw the enforcers on my way up to your office, and realized I might need to take a more active involvement."

I huffed a laugh that was mostly an adrenaline release.

"Well. I guess that was lucky."

Peggy shot me a grin. "Yes. I suppose it was."

I shook my head, a small smile spreading to my own face despite myself. Probably the shock just hadn't worn off yet. But something about Peggy's energy was just contagious.

She continued to weave through traffic for a while, apparently working to put distance between us and anyone who might be following us. At last, we pulled up outside a building and Peggy put the car in park. I glanced out my window, then frowned when I saw the window decal for a talent agency.

"Don't worry," she said, opening her door. "It's a front for the SSR. You'll be safe here."

I nodded, following her out of the car and into the darkened building. After our mad-dash through my office, I was a little jumpy, but Peggy quickly led me to the back rooms and through a literal secret doorway into the heart of the SSR.

I trailed behind her, head on a swivel as we walked into a well-lit office building. A few people milled around despite the late hour. Apparently the work never really stopped here.

I followed Peggy into a bigger room filled with desks. Only one other person was there, and he looked up the moment we entered. His brow furrowed as soon as he saw me.

"Peggy? What happened?" he asked. She came to a stop just in front of him, and I followed her lead. "I thought you were just going to scout the place out."

Peggy sighed and put her hands on her hips as she answered.

"That was the plan, but they attacked at almost the same time I arrived. So, now we're here."

The guy sighed, looking absolutely exhausted. He closed his eyes for a moment, then took a deep breath and nodded as he opened them again.

"Okay. I'll get some guys on the scene to collect evidence."

"I'll take care of our guest."

They nodded to each other, then Peggy turned to me with a smile.

"Right this way."

I followed her, still feeling a little out of it. Armed men had burst into my office less than twenty minutes ago, but my brain just wouldn't let me process it. Every time I tried, it shut me down.

Peggy seemed to notice something in my expression when she led me into a smaller room with a couch and a table. She gave me a soft smile as she motioned for me to take a seat on the couch.

"You look like you could use some tea," she said. I shook my head as I sank down on the edge of the couch. I looked around, the nerves coursing through my body despite my brain still not having totally processed the reasons for them.

"I think I'm okay, thanks."

"Please," she said, pausing to look me in the eyes. It stilled me for a moment, grounding me and giving me room to take a breath. "I promise, a warm cup of tea will help. It's a big one for us Brits. We swear by it."

I huffed, the ghost of a smile finding its way onto my face.

"Well... okay then."

She gave me another reassuring smile, then started making a cup at the kitchenette taking up the opposite wall. We must've commandeered the break room.

"So... what happens now?" I asked. "I mean, my story was supposed to break tomorrow morning-"

"We're most likely going to have to delay it slightly, but you should still be able to put it out at some point soon," she said, returning to me with two cups of tea in hand. She held out mine, and I sipped at it. She was right; it helped.

Peggy sat down opposite me on the couch with her own cup of tea, giving me a soft smile. I barely knew her, but somehow, she managed to put me more at ease.

"We have almost everything we need to put the Arena Club and their lackeys away for good," she continued. "But we have a few holes in our evidence. I was hoping you might be able to help us fill those holes."

I nodded slowly, mostly in thought. I wasn't sure what I might've found that the SSR hadn't, but if those men had come after me, maybe I was a better investigator than I realized.

"Listen." Peggy set down her tea on the coffee table, turning on the couch to face me more fully. "I know this has been... quite an evening for you. And whether or not you agree to help us, we'll make sure you're safe. But you've clearly put as much work as we have into exposing this conspiracy and trying to take down men with power who think they're untouchable. If you're up for it... I'd be happy to help you continue that work."

I took a shaky breath, then set my tea down on the table, too. Then, I straightened and met Peggy's eyes again, my spine straight despite the lingering shaking in my hands.

"I'm in. I want to help. I've spent a long time trying to take these people down by exposing them to the public, but if I can help you get them off the streets and out of power, too? Even better."

Peggy grinned. "I was hoping you'd say that."

My heart raced as she leaned forward, but then she stood.

"I'm going to go get our case files. We can go through them together tonight, and you can tell us about anything you've found that we haven't. Then, in the morning, you and I can go and gather your evidence and bring it here. Assuming, that is, that you have backups? I doubt anything incriminating in your office is still there."

Now it was my turn for a grin. "Of course I have backups. This isn't my first time exposing some government corruption."

"Perfect. Then I'll be rigth back."

She moved past me towards the door, and maybe it was the lingering adrenaline from the day, but I reached out and took her hand to stop her before I could overthink it. She stopped and turned back to me with a raised eyebrow, but didn't pull her hand away.

"I just wanted to say... thank you. For saving me. And for letting me be involved in the investigation, and everything. I appreciate it. And... I'm looking forward to working with you."

Peggy smiled, and my heart skipped a beat.

"Happy to have you aboard."

We shared a look, then Peggy squeezed my hand and gently let it go. She carried on out of the office, and I watched her go with a smile. I picked up my mug of tea again and settled back against the couch.

Tonight had been absolutely wild, and I knew for sure I hadn't totally processed it yet. And clearly, things were only going to get crazier, since I apparently needed SSR protection for the forseeable future. But still. I couldn't help being a little excited about getting to work closely with Agent Peggy Carter.

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

Everything Taglist: @rosecentury @kmc1989 @space-helen

Marvel Taglist: @valkyriepirate @infinetlyforgotten @sagesmelts @gaychaosgremlin

[romanstheory]

Better A Randy Orton One Shot

Warnings : Heavy Smut, Choking, Spit, Heavy Language, ADULT age gap, Toxic relationship, Edging, Oral (Female receiving)

Word Count: 1,183

18 +

"We're not together remember" I say tossing Randy's bag back at him "We're not together so take your shit and don't come back". I caught him texting other women for the fourth time. One second he's treating me like I'm his and the next second he's hoeing around seemingly trying to get a rise out of me by flirting with the next bitch. "You're right, we're not" Randy snickers, catching his bag effortlessly. He's such an asshole, the kind of guy you want to punch and then fuck right after. He's 16 years older than me, but it seems like he's my age sometimes.... But he's so god damn magnetic. It's almost like his toxic ways keep me coming back. My friends and family hate him, and his feels the same about me.

Our..... Situationship has been full of drama and rough sex. "See you next week" He says with a wink. He leaves without a fight and drives away. I sigh deeply knowing I'm going to have to see him at work. week passes quickly. I walk through the nearly empty halls of the arena, glancing to my right seeing Randy flirting with another girl, I've never seen her before. He looks up at me, bites his lip and winks. I roll my eyes, spotting Jey Uso. I shoot Randy a sharp look and stop walking in front of Jey. "You look really good tonight" I say scanning him up and down licking my bottom lip slowly.

"Oh uh, thank you!" Jey says sporting a wide smile. "Maybe we should link up later" I reply rubbing his tattooed arm. Jey agrees and heads on his way. I could see Randy filling with rage. I look back at him and wink and walk away. The night continues and ends, I've managed to avoid Randy all night despite hearing whispers that he's looking for me. I get back to my hotel room to shower and relax for the rest of the night when I'm startled by someone pounding on my door. I jump up and open it, ready to curse whoever is on the other side of it out. Randy pushes into the room aggressively. "What the fuck was that?" He barks. "Karma" I bark back knowing exactly what he was talking about.

His eyes go dark and his jaw clenches just like it always did in these situations. I cross my arm, leaning all of my weight on one hip. My thin tank top strap slides down my soft brown arm, catching his attention. "What the fuck do you mean Karma?" Randy barks again, remembering he's supposed to be angry with me. "If you can do it so can I" I snicker brushing passed him to sit on the bed. "Did you have sex with him?" Randy asks slowly walking towards me. "If I did?" I tease. "Did you have sex with him?" He repeats himself, this time with a demonic growl in his voice, now standing directly in front of me. He roughly grabs a handful of my soft curly hair, forcing me to look him in his eye. My face leaning on his bulge. "Be a good girl and tell me and maybe I'll go easy on you" He says staring into my eye, his still dark and cloudy.

"I guess you'll never know" I say laughing at his anger. He pulls my hair tighter "Maybe I'll just fuck you better" He says bending down, whispering in my ear. "Good luck" I whisper back. Randy smirks, grabbing my neck and planting a long kiss on my lips. I begin massaging his growing bulge through his pants. He breaks the kiss to slide my shorts off. He pushes me down onto the bed, sliding us both up. He spreads my legs and teases my clit with his tongue. His eyes lock on mine as I already begin to squirm. Back and fourth, around and around his tongue softly circles. He loves slow, making sure I squirm more and move with every movement. I put my hand on his head preparing to reach my climax quickly when he abruptly stops.

"What the hell" I say. "Not until I say so" He says licking his lips. He unbuckles his pants, completely undressing afterward, I do the same thing. He sits on his knees, eyes scanning my body slowly. I can feel my vagina pulsating, waiting for him.... For his touch. He gets between my legs, leaning over me, grabbing my wrists and pinning them to the bed before pressing his entire length into my throbbing vagina. He begins stroking, long, hard, fast, deep. Screams of pleasure begin to escape my lips, I try to muffle them. "LET IT OUT" Randy barks, he loves hearing me scream his name. I open my house and stick my tongue out. He grabs my neck and spits in my mouth before connecting his lips with mine again. his tongue battled mine while he pushed his length into me further and futher

I feel a warmth build up inside of me again, this time more intense. "Fuck! Ohhh fuck Randy! I- oooohhh" I struggle to get my words out as this warmth builds and builds. He swirls his thumb around my throbbing clit, intensifying everything all at once. Just as I begin to reach the tip of climax he stops and pulls out. It's almost like torture not only for me but also for him. He was sweaty, his rock hard member was throbbing, begging for release just like I was. "You're so fucking sexy" Randy says, his hands explore my body, I could tell he wanted to rip me apart, fuck my brains out ten times over. He put my nipple in his mouth, sucking and softly biting while massaging my clit once again. The feeling in euphoric, I never wanted it to stop. I grab his throbbing member, stroking it slowly. I can hear his soft moans and feel his labored breathing.

I push him off of me and get on all fours, shaking my ass in the air. "Fuck me like this" I say looking back at him. Randy could never resist my ass, it was his favorite thing about me. He wasted no time getting behind me and pushing his entire length inside of me once again. We both sigh loudly with relief. Randy groans loudly while he slams himself into me over and over again. The room filled with claps like thunder and loud screams from me. "Randy! Fuck me Randy!" I scream. "Cum all over this dick!" Randy screams. He slams himself into me roughly over and over again, slapping my ass in between strokes. I scream loudly as I finally reach my climax more intensely than I ever have before. My body begins shaking with pleasure as I collapse on the bed. Randy quickly pulls out of me, stroking his dick until his warm juice comes rushing out "Oh fuckk oh fuck" Randy groans loudly. Randy collapses on the bed next to me. "I fucked you better" He says out of breath

[munstysmind]

WARNING/S: non-con, rape, loss of virginity, rough sex, rough vaginal sex, rough oral sex, rough anal sex, unprotected sex, multiple men, blood, assault, abuse, slavery, trauma, threats of forced prostitution, mentions of kidnapping/abduction, mentions of death, mentions or murder, mentions of injuries, mentions of suicide. If I’ve missed anything, please let me know.

DEAD DOVE, DO NOT EAT

THIS IS A DARK FIC, DO NOT READ IF THIS TYPE OF CONTENT TRIGGERS OR OFFENDS YOU.

You and you alone are responsible for what you choose to consume online.

YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT GIVE PERMISSION FOR MY WORK TO BE USED IN ANY CAPACITY

Divider by @firefly-graphics

Thank you to @dragonsneversharetheirtreasure for being my ideas gremlin, and @themaradwrites for beta-ing. This wouldn’t have been written without your help.

MAIN MASTERLIST

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CH. 1 - THEIR REWARD

{54 BC}

Her heart pounds in her chest as she slowly walks down the hall towards the man she despises more than anything in this world.

Dominus Julius Fabius. Her owner. Her master.

She wishes she could stick him in the neck with a dagger and watch him bleed to death, just like all the men he condemns when he forces them into the arena.

He’s pure evil.

The kind of evil Orcus uses to make an example of. The God of punishment and the Underworld is going to have fun with her master when he passes into the afterlife.

She’s lost count of how long it’s been. Five years? Probably more, if she’s being honest with herself. She doesn’t even know who she is anymore.

Except her name.

Amina.

To everyone around her, she’s a thing. An object meant to do as she’s told. No exceptions.

She runs her finger along the cold iron bolted around her neck, her slave collar.

Thirty coins. That’s what he paid for her. She didn’t know you could put a price on someone’s life but that’s what hers was worth, thirty whole coins.

“There you are girl” he growls as he grabs her wrist tightly and drags her towards a door at the end of the hall “I’m in a right mind to give you a lashing for making me wait”

“I’m sorry, they… they wanted to make sure everything was perfect” she mumbles, keeping her eyes on the floor to help hide her tears as she recalls the looks of pity on the faces of the women who got her ready.

She knows they know what her Master’s plans are, and she suspects the reason they took so long was to keep her from her fate for as long as they possibly could.

“I don’t care. Those fighters in there won me a lot of denarii today. You’re going to let them do whatever they want to you. All. Night” her master tells her, getting so close to her she can feel his warm, vile breath across her face.

“I… I’ve never…” she stammers, her eyes going wide as she realises what he’s saying.

“I know. I know you’ve never laid with a man before, they checked you when I brought you. That’s why I chose you” he says, a smirk spreading across his face. “Maybe I should put you in the Lupanar and whore you out after they’ve broken you in. Gods know you’d make me a fortune”

It takes everything in her not to turn and run as fast as she can as she swallows down the bile rising in her throat.

It would be pointless though, there’s guards everywhere. She wouldn’t make it to the end of the hall before they caught her. She’d be guaranteed a lashing too, a public one at that. Just like Vesta.

“I mean it girl. You’re theirs tonight. I don’t care if it hurts… in fact, I want it to. A lot” he whispers, pulling out a small dagger and cutting one of the shoulders of her dress, exposing her breast.

He runs the dagger tip over her nipple, pressing it into the sensitive bud until it breaks the skin, making her let out a small whimper of pain.

“If you resist, or put up a fight, you’ll be punished, and it’ll be much worse than what they’re going to do” he growls before pushing her into the room.

She can’t help but flinch as the large wooden door is slammed in her face, the echo of the metal latch being closed ringing in her ears.

She just stands there, staring at it as she takes shuddery breaths.

She knows what’s about to happen. What she’s about to go through. And there’s nothing she can do about it.

She’s trapped.

Locked in a room with three blood covered fighters.

Their reward for winning their master 5000 coin.

She’s their prize.

“Turn around” a deep voice commands, making her jump.

She closes her eyes, praying to the Gods that she wakes up from this nightmare as she slowly turns around.

She sees the man the voice belongs to and her breath catches in her throat as she fights back tears.

He’s the one who killed her brother.

Champion gladiator August.

“Name” he growls, slowly approaching her with a look similar to the lions in the arena before they attack.

“Am… Amina” she stammers, stumbling back against the door as he towers over her.

She can smell death on him. The twang of iron, of blood. Was it her brothers?

Her stomach churns at the thought and she wants to be sick.

“Amina” he repeats “honest, faithful. Beautiful name for a beautiful woman”

Under any other circumstance she might have smiled and thanked him for his compliment, just like she was taught, but not this time. She just can’t.

“I like to know their names before I take what I want” he tells her with a smirk.

He remembers them, every name. All the women he’s taken this way. Amina’s the latest entry on his ever growing list.

He grabs her dress and tears it off her body, letting the fabric crumple to the floor.

She instinctively tries to cover herself, but he stops her, prying her hands away from her body before grasping her breasts and squeezing.

A grin spreads across his face as he continues to grope her, pinching and rolling her nipples tightly between his fingers, making her whimper in pain.

The noise makes him let out a low growl from deep in his chest and his eyes go dark, almost black.

Before she can fully register what’s happening, he grabs her by the back of her neck and yanks her towards the small table on the other side of the room, forcing her onto her back.

He takes her legs behind the knees and pushes them open, exposing her to not only him, but the other two men in the room who are now standing behind him and looking over his shoulder.

Her stomach churns as she stares at the ceiling, her face burning with embarrassment as she tries to think of anything to distract her from the way he’s inspecting her.

She bites back a whimper as he touches her, his fingers playing with her most intimate area before spreading it open.

He lets out a satisfied hum, a smirk spreading across his face when he sees she’s intact, just like their Master promised.

“I’ve never had a pure one before” he says, to no one in particular as he pinches the small bundle of nerves above her opening, making her gasp loudly.

“They’re my favourite. Oh, the noises they make” one of the other men says excitedly, much to August’s annoyance.

“She’s mine, Lloyd” he growls, glaring at the man before turning his attention back to her, really looking at her for the first time since she entered the room.

And as much as she tries to look away, to look anywhere but the face of the man that’s about to brutalise her, she can't. Her green, terror filled eyes just stare at him, transfixed.

He’s seen her eyes, and that look, before. He knows he has. There’s something so familiar about them and it takes him a minute to place it. The man he killed in the arena a mere hours before. Her brother.

“You’ve got his eyes” he tells her before turning his gaze back between her legs.

She’s so caught up in the flood of emotions at what he just said that she doesn’t notice his finger pushing into her until it’s too late.

She lets out a loud yelp at the sudden pain between her legs, her body instinctively trying to close her legs and move away from the beast of a man in front of her.

He lets out an angry growl and yanks her up by her arm, turning her around and bending her over the table with so much force all the air leaves her lungs when her chest makes contact with the wooden surface.

“Don’t move” he growls, kicking her legs apart with his feet.

She grips the edge of the table, so tightly her fingers hurt, as tears well in her eyes. She prays the talk of his stamina is wrong, that it will be over quickly.

But it won’t.

When he’s done with her, there’s two more waiting.

And they have her all night…

The sound of his armour dropping onto the ground behind her makes her heart pound.

It’s happening.

Right now.

She squeezes her eyes shut, trying her best to relax when she feels him prod at her again, but it doesn’t matter.

He snaps his hips forward and tears into her with force, pulling a scream of pain from her that makes him grin.

In all the beatings she’s gotten over the years, she’s never felt pain like this.

It’s like a searing hot poker being forced into her over and over as she’s split in two.

The tears in her eyes escape and spill onto the table as he thrusts into her, over and over and over again. It feels like the more she cries, the harder his thrusts become.

“Best one I’ve had yet” he grunts as he lays over her, pressing her against the table with his full body weight, and starts grinding into her, moaning loudly in her ear.

He’s enjoying this, getting pleasure out of hurting her. How can he not? He’s a sadistic bastard!

Little does she know she’s not the first woman he’s forced himself into. It’s the whole reason he’s stuck fighting in that gods forsaken arena in the first place. And unless he dies there, she won’t be the last.

“You’re mine now, gonna take you like this whenever I want” he pants, making her let out a loud sob at the thought of him doing this to her over and over.

It all becomes too much and her stomach churns as bile rises in her throat, burning it as she chokes and coughs it up.

His moans start becoming louder as he ruts into her hard, his hips slamming her body into the table over and over and over.

“Oh Gods!” he roars, moaning loudly as his hips stutter then still before he thrusts into her as hard as he can, filling her with a strange warmth.

He says something to her, but she doesn’t hear a word of it, unable to hear anything except the loud ringing in her ears.

She lets out a loud whimper as he pulls out of her before kneeling and pushing her legs wider, smirking at the blood mixed with his spend dripping out of her.

He catches some with his fingers and pushes them inside her, forcing it back into her as she lies on the table, her entire body shaking and twitching from shock as she takes shallow, gasping breaths.

“My turn” the second of the men says, all but pushing August out of the way before grasping her by her hair and pulling her to her feet, making her cry out.

He pushes her to her knees, making quick work of removing his armour as she glances behind him at August drinking wine from a goblet and sees the size of him for the first time, enough to make Priapus himself blush.

She looks back at the second man, terror spreading through her yet again as she comes face to face with his member.

She can’t tell if he’s bigger, but it doesn’t matter. He’s going to defile her the same way August did without a care for her.

He hooks his finger into her mouth and forces it open before pushing himself in until she starts to gag.

He holds onto the sides of her head and starts thrusting, hitting the back of her throat with each snap of his hips.

A smirk spreads across his face as he moves one of his hands to the back of her head and forces her down onto him, deep throating her.

He holds her there, moaning at the feeling of the muscles in her throat squeezing him as she chokes.

“We can’t kill her, Lloyd” August warns as she starts scratching at his legs, trying desperately to get air.

He lets out a growl as he pulls himself out of her mouth and slaps her hard across the face before grabbing it and pulling her to her feet.

“You’re going to pay for that” he hisses, manhandling her onto the small bed in the corner of the room.

He climbs on after her, roughly pulling her hips up and slamming into her from behind.

“Gods, I’ve not taken a woman this good in years” he moans, throwing his head back and gripping her hips tightly as he thrusts hard, spurred on by her cries.

“I wonder if her other hole’s just as good?” August says with a smirk, leaning against the table he just had her bent over.

“Let’s find out” Lloyd replies, spitting on her ass. He pulls out and lines himself up with her tiny puckered hole before pushing himself into her, moaning loudly at the muscles squeezing him tightly in an attempt to force him out.

She lets out a shriek of pain, her body going rigid as she tries, and fails, to get away from the man violating her in a way she didn’t think was possible.

He lets out an evil laugh and pushes her face into the bed as he starts thrusting, going out of his way to hurt her as much as he can.

The noises leaving him as he uses her body for his pleasure are burned into her mind as she prays to the Gods to take her and put an end to the indescribable pain coursing through her body.

He looks down at where he’s thrusting in and out of her and smirks proudly at the sight of blood.

“It’s even better” he grunts to August, gripping her hips so tightly his nails break her skin.

“I’ll have to try it next” August says, slowly stroking himself as he watches Lloyd pound into the woman at their mercy over and over again, moaning to himself at the sound of her cries.

Lloyd lifts her hips higher, thrusting as hard as he can into her at the new angle, turning her cries into screams with every snap of his hip.

He lets out a long moan, throwing his head back as he cums hard, filling her with the same strange warmth August did.

“Gods, I’m doing that again” he pants as he slowly pulls himself out of her bloody back passage before slapping her ass, making her yelp as she collapses into the bed.

“You’ll get your chance. It’s your turn, Nick” August says, getting the attention of the third man standing on the other side of the room.

Until now, he’s not paid much attention to the events happening in the small room, trying to drown out her cries and think of anything other than what he wants to do to her.

It’s wrong, he knows it’s wrong, but he doesn’t care. He wants her. And it’s his turn to take her.

He slowly walks towards her, removing his armour as he does before gently turning her over and climbing into the bed.

“No more… please” she begs quietly as he spreads her legs with his knees and settles between them.

Asking for mercy is useless, she knows that. All she is to them is an object to seek pleasure from, to defile.

The only thing she can do is close her eyes and brace herself for the pain as he slowly pushes in, a long moan leaving him as he fills her.

But when he starts to move, the pain doesn't come.

She opens her eyes and stares at him, confused, and scared, by what she's feeling.

Why doesn’t it hurt?

Why is it so different?

Why does it feel… nice?

“Gods” she gasps, her eyes fluttering shut as he starts to speed up, letting out a moan that drowns out the one that slips past her lips.

She has no idea what he’s doing differently to August and Lloyd but she prays he keeps doing it because it feels good, amazing even.

Her mind races as she tries to understand what’s happening. Why does she feel bad, so embarrassed and ashamed, when what’s happening right now feels so good?

He moves his hips faster, harder. The sound of skin slapping against skin filling the room as he gropes one of her breasts before pinching her nipple hard, pulling another moan from her.

He slowly glides his hand up her chest to around her neck, squeezing the sides. The sudden restriction of air makes her panic and start clawing at his hands, making him squeeze even more.

Her eyes roll back as a weird pressure builds between her legs, making whatever he’s doing to her feel even better.

It suddenly breaks, making her moan loudly as a pleasant burning sensation washes over her, before everything goes black…

VENERIS FILIA TAG LIST: @dragonsneversharetheirtreasure @themaradwrites @secretaryunpaid @pixie88 @aussieez @identity2212 @fanfics-r-us-official @km-ffluv @ktficworld @sillyrabbit81 @juliaorplI78 @kingliam2019 @thebejeweledwatercat @red-write-hand @queenzee27 @therockandaroll

[madhatterbri]

Care | HOOK

Summary: Hook and you broke up. Anna with the help of Jack uses this to come for your championship belt. An unexpected hero saves you.

Author's Note: GIF has nothing to do with this it just makes me feral. 😭🤌

As always, requests. 🥺🥺

Life is hard working for a wrestling company. Friendships and relationships constantly came and went. You travel a lot and spent time with fellow wrestlers more than your own family. You swore you would never be with anyone in AEW until you laid eyes on Hook.

The relationship was physical at first. You both wanted to have sex without feeling bad for someone waiting for you to come home. It was nice at the beginning. You two would meet up together after the show. Times changed when you started developing feelings.

You were honest with him, but he wasn't interested in a relationship. The two of you were young. He wanted to experience the world. More like experience girls around the world. In order to avoid anymore hurt, you two decided to go your separate ways. That was three months ago.

Now you were getting ready to cut a promo in the ring. Your make-up was done and the championship belt was secure on your shoulder. Tonight was simple enough, anger Anna Jay. The two of you hated each other. It wouldn't be hard.

The unsettling feeling of someone watching you made the hairs on your neck stand. You turned to see the handsome devil himself. He was in a hoodie and sweatpants eating chips. His mind seemed to be in a different galaxy, but he was definitely staring at you. You missed being able to talk to him. Maybe that was a resolution for another year.

The familiar sound of your entrance music played in the arena. You walked out to the top of the ramp. The crowd went wild. Fans of different ages reached out for you to high five them.

The microphone was handed to you. An once rowdy crowd was quiet to hear you. You spoke your piece about Anna. Some of the insults were low. Tony gave you the green light to rile up Anna. You were going to take it. Your speech was cut off by Anna's music.

Anna came out with Jack in tow. She stormed to the ring. You dropped your championship belt in the middle of the ring to meet her outside the ropes. Anna was the first to swing. The two of you landing blows on each other. You never noticed Jack grabbing your championship belt from the ring.

"You think your fuck buddy is going to save you, Y/N?" She asked menacingly. You hadn't thought you would really need help. Normally, you weren't really put in jeopardy of actually losing the belt you worked so hard for.

"I don't need anyone," you scoffed. "I got in this business alone and I'll fight and die alone,"

"You think your are so funny?"

"Actually? Yeah," you answered truthfully. The crowd laughed at your corny jokes. You had to be funny. Anna pushed you to the ground. You landed on your hands and knees facing away from her.

'Rude,' you thought before getting up. You stood up and faced her. Before you could attack, Anna kicked you into the stairs. A scream of anguish sounded through the arena.

"What the fuck?" You asked yourself. Immediately the crowd gasped as their women's champ went down. Your head and back slammed to the stairs. Anna stood above you as you slid to the floor. The championship belt displayed on her shoulder. The camera zoomed in on the two of you. Your eyes pleaded for someone to help you.

"This is going to be mine, Y/N. I'm going to beat your ass until I say I'm tired. Do you understand me?" She yelled at you. You moved your legs as if to get up. She stood on your leg to stop you. Painful throbbing occurred under her foot.

The arena went dark. You were starting to wonder if you passed out. Your head throbbed and you were pretty sure your upper back fell out. The familiar rift of Chairman's Intent felt like an angel's song. Cheers filled the arena.

"We gotta go!" Jack yelled to her. Anna dropped the belt and ran with him into the audience.

Hook was at your side.

"Are you okay?"

"Do I look okay?"

"I was hoping she'd kick that shitty attitude out of you," he countered and helped you to your feet. Hook grabbed your belt knowing how possessive you were with it. Your legs wobbled as he helped you up the ramp. Several members of the crowd wished you a speedy recovery.

You limped to medical with him helping you inside. Hook helped you on the bed while you waited for the doctors to run their tests on you.

"Thanks. I didn't think anyone was going to save me,"

"You didn't think I would save you?" He questioned.

"I didn't think you would care."

"I've always cared,"

[igncrxntripley]

I know you said that you and another anonymous person was saying that you are in need of so Damien fluff. And do I have a concept.

What if, for some random reason Damien and you are the only one from tjd to have a day off and everyone else has to go to work. I can imagine secret weapon being exited but also sad because their like “It’s just Damien and I together. We can relax.” But then them going “Oh god I miss Rhea, Finn and Dominik.” And they to hid it from Damien.

i miss those freaks

a/n: this is so freaking cute goodnight

mentions: @babybatlover @ripleyswhore

It was rare that Y/N and Damian had different days off than the rest of their partners; not only that, but days off were rare to begin with. They always made sure to treasure them, and this was no different. Y/N and Damian were home alone while Rhea, Finn, and Dominik were on the road for some shows. It wasn’t even going to be that long until you saw them again so it shouldn’t have been that big of a deal. But there was still a sense of…emptiness. 

Damian laid back on the couch with Y/N’s head in his lap, twirling her hair between his fingers as they watched TV together. They had a nice morning with him making breakfast in bed and cleaning up around the house, but he could tell now that they were sitting down and relaxing that Y/N’s energy was off. Damian gently tilted her head towards him and brushed his thumb over her forehead. “You gonna tell me why you’re so quiet, mi amor?” 

Y/N looked up at Damian and gave a small shrug. “No reason, I feel just fine.” She said softly. Damian gave her a knowing look though and gave her another opportunity to answer. “Nice try, baby. Try again though.” 

“I hate how good you are at reading people.” She sighed in response to Damian’s words and pulled the blanket around herself tighter. “I think I just miss the others.” Damian couldn’t help but smile and continued to stroke her forehead. “There’s nothing wrong with that, baby.” He said softly. “I mean, we’re usually always on the road together anyway. But they’ll be home in a few days, and in the meantime you can take advantage of having some time off.” Y/N nodded a little and rolled over so her head was in Damian’s stomach. “I guess. That doesn’t make it any easier.”

At that point, Damian had an idea; he knew everyone was only just getting to the arena and wouldn’t have anything to do for a couple of hours, so why not take advantage of some free time? He grabbed his phone and started scrolling through his contacts. “I think I have something that could help.” Damian Facetimed the first name he found, which was Finn, and waited for him to answer. 

The remaining members of The Judgement Day had started getting comfortable in their dressing room area. Finn was relaxing on the couch when his phone rang, and he smiled when he saw who it was. He answered and smirked at his partner’s face. “Wow, missing us already?” Finn teased. Rhea and Dominik smiled when they heard Finn and both of them stayed close by to listen. 

Damian chuckled and looked down at Y/N, adjusting the phone so Finn could see both of them. “I mean, I always do. But someone is missing the three of you a whole lot more than she’d thought she would.” Y/N rolled her eyes at his words before looking at Finn. “He’s a jerk.”

Finn chuckled, Dominik moving to sit next to him and smiling when he saw his partners. While Finn kept an arm around Dom, he started talking to Y/N. “So the princess misses us? You were practically begging us to get out when we left.” He teased with a smirk. Finn wasn’t wrong; Y/N was excited to have time alone with Damian and was bouncing up and down with excitement when the others left. But now she wanted them home. “Yeah but I didn’t realize how hard it would be when you guys left.”

Dominik gave a sad smile. “That’s so cute.” He mumbled, Finn smiling at him and making room for Rhea. “You just need to get through the next few days, babygirl.” She reminded Y/N. Damian nodded and twirled some of her hair. “They’ll be home before you know it. Who knows, maybe you’ll miss us being here alone.” He teased. “Then we won’t have to fight for space in bed.”

Y/N giggled and covered her face. “Fuck, she’s cute when she laughs.” Finn mumbled. “Damian’s still a prick though.” She giggled again and leaned into Damian’s hand. “He’s got a point though. Dom and Rhea take up all the room in bed.”

They all spent the next hour talking before Finn, Dom, and Rhea needed to head out. “We’ll call you tonight after the show, babygirl. We promise.” Dominik said softly and everyone nodded in agreement. “And when we come home, we’ll show you how much we missed both of you.” Rhea smirked, making Damian roll his eyes. Y/N shivered in anticipation at the thought, and they wrapped up their phone call. 

Damian set his phone down before pulling Y/N up into his lap, hugging her close and kissing the top of her head. “I think we can find plenty of ways to entertain ourselves without them.” He teased.

[lemoncrushh]

The Entertainer II - Track 01 - It's Good to See You

Summary: What if it wasn't the end? What if Sky did actually see Harry at the Forum in the early 80s, and he saw her too? What if fate took hold of them both, and they realized their journey was not over? Set in 1981, Harry and Sky's story continues with more music, more romance, and a few more twists and turns.

STORY PAGE

Track 01 Word Count: 4.1k+

Read The Entertainer

November 25, 1981

“Ooh the wheel in the sky keeps on turning I don’t know where I’ll be tomorrow”

I felt my heart race as I turned my focus back to Steve Perry singing on the stage. My mouth suddenly felt dry, my palms clammy.

It can’t be him, I thought to myself. No. No, it’s not. Just someone who sort of looks like…

I hadn’t seen him in five years. Sure, I’d seen his face - on the television, in all the rock magazines I bought, on the back cover of all three of Wildfire’s albums...and sometimes in my dreams. But I hadn’t seen him in person since that day at the airport when I’d hugged him goodbye and wished him well.

When I’d told him I loved him.

I tried to pay attention to the band in front of me, the one I’d come to see. Journey’s newest album Escape was my current favorite, so when I received a raise at my job, I rewarded myself with a concert ticket to their fourth sold-out show at The Forum, the night before Thanksgiving. Halo had been disappointed she couldn’t make it, but she’d already promised her family she’d visit them for the entire week, so I was attending alone.

I wished Halo was with me right then however, so she could be an extra set of eyes and let me know if that cute guy a couple of sections over was who I thought it was. Instead, I snuck another peek of my own. It was dark in the arena, so I couldn’t get a good look, but his hair and profile fit the memory I had in my head.

Who was I kidding? It couldn’t be him. He was probably overseas in London or some exotic place I’d never heard of. I’d learned that Wildfire broke up earlier that year, so most likely he was resting somewhere - anywhere but Los Angeles. Still…

One more sneaky look out of the corner of my eye, but someone was blocking my view. With a sigh, I listened to Steve finish the song before the band gave their fake goodbyes, and I waited with the rest of the crowd for their encore.

The audience went wild during Journey’s last two songs, and their enthusiasm returned my focus to the reason I’d come. By the time the lights came on in the arena, I’d just about forgotten about him, or whomever the mystery man had been.

That is, until I turned the corner in the hallway after leaving the restroom.

“Sky?”

The sound of my nickname in a crowd full of strangers was odd enough, but the familiar voice threw me for a loop and back in time five years. Turning slowly, I wondered if my mind was playing tricks on me again, but when his handsome face came into view, my thoughts were confirmed.

It was him. And he was standing right in front of me.

“Harry,” I barely breathed.

His chest rose and fell with his own breath as his lips grew into a smile.

“It is you,” he declared with what sounded like relief. “I thought it was and...it is.”

I shrugged shyly. “It’s me.”

Those two seconds were enough to make me forget about the commotion around us, but when someone nearly knocked me into Harry, with barely an “excuse me”, he suggested we step to the side.

“You look wonderful,” he remarked when I took my place against the wall, his gaze leaving my eyes momentarily to shift down my body and back up again.

“Thanks. So do you.”

And he did. He hadn’t changed at all. Maybe...a tiny bit. His hair was still long, if only an inch or so shorter than before. The chocolate curls still brushed his shoulders the way they had five years ago, though they appeared a bit fuller. His jaw lines seemed to be a little more defined, the sharp edges peeking from behind his stubble. The only real difference was probably his choice of clothing, though it didn’t stray too far from the style I’d known him to wear. His long legs were clad in jeans, and boots adorned his feet like before, but he wore a more conservative tan v-neck sweater underneath a brown leather bomber jacket, both of which I decided were very sexy on him. I caught sight of the familiar cross that lay in the center of his chest just before my eyes locked with his once again.

He seemed to stare at me for a few seconds, his dimples slowly disappearing from his cheeks as his lips relaxed until he finally opened his arms and stepped forward, surprising me with an embrace.

“It’s good to see you,” I heard him murmur in my hair.

“You, too,” I replied, his old, familiar scent suddenly overwhelming my senses. I bit my lip to keep the emotions at bay.

“How’ve you been?” he asked, stepping back to look at me again, his hands still grazing my elbows.

“Not bad, I-” I began when I finally noticed the man standing a few feet behind him. He was leaning against a post, probably trying to look inconspicuous, but I figured quickly that he must have been security. I shouldn’t have been surprised. Harry Styles had been a successful front man for the last several years. He was practically a household name.

“Did you come alone?” I heard him ask before I could finish my previous answer.

“Sorry?” I blinked, catching his gaze again.

“To the show? Are you here alone...or did Halo come with?”

“Oh,” I grinned, pleased that he remembered my best friend’s name as well. “No, I’m flying solo tonight.”

A gentle smile spread across his face again, and I thought he was about to ask me something else when I heard a loud gasp behind me.

“Oh my God. You’re Harry Styles!” a woman’s voice squealed.

“Yes, I am,” he nodded.

A tall, slim figure with fiery red hair and the tightest Jordache jeans I’d ever seen walked around me and stood between us as though I wasn’t even there. 

“I have to get your autograph!” she exclaimed.

As she rummaged through her small, yet obviously filled pocketbook, Harry eyed me over her head.

“Don’t leave yet, okay?” he mouthed.

With a nod, I felt my insides flip. He wanted me to stay. While my heart was bursting with the joy of seeing him again, it was all so sudden; I hadn’t really had a chance to process it yet. I caught the twinkle in Harry’s eye as he shrugged at me while he waited for the woman to retrieve a pen from her purse.

“Sorry, honey, I know I have some paper in here somewhere,” she announced

“Take your time,” Harry said genuinely.

I wondered how he could remain so calm and patient. I was already keen on dumping out the contents of her bag onto the dirty floor, and it had barely been twenty seconds.

“Aha!” she called, holding up a mini notepad with a kitten on the front. “Here it is!”

Giving her another winning smile, Harry took the pen and pad from her.

“What’s your name, love?” he asked her, and immediately I saw her beam at him as she jutted her tits out.

Damn him. Why did he have to be so charming?

“Kitty,” the woman replied. I nearly choked.

“Seriously?” Harry chuckled.

“Mmhm,” nodded the redhead. “Like a kitty cat. Meow.”

I covered my mouth with the sleeve of my sweater to keep from laughing as I watched Harry sign Kitty’s little kitten notebook, his eyebrows raised to the ceiling and a goofy look on his face.

“What are you doing after this?” I heard Kitty inquire. “Maybe we could grab a drink or something.”

Although I thought I might vomit, Harry didn’t miss a beat.

“Sorry love, can’t tonight. I’m headed out after this.”

“Oh, that’s too bad,” Kitty pouted.

“Here you go,” Harry offered, returning the woman’s pen and notebook. “Nice to meet you, Kitty. Have a lovely evening.”

I had to hand it to him. He was definitely a pro at this.

“You too, handsome,” Kitty winked before strutting off with a wave. “Bye bye.”

I noticed the man behind Harry stood up straight from the post he’d been leaning on to watch Ms. Tight Jeans walk away, though it was unclear if it was for security or personal reasons. Before I could ask, Harry stepped closer to me.

“Sorry about that,” he said. “It happens from time to time.”

“I’m sure it does,” I grinned.

Just then, the man tapped Harry on the shoulder. “Harry, sorry man, but we gotta get goin’.”

“Shit,” Harry groaned. “Just...a gimme a sec, Stu, she’s...an old friend. And I got sidetracked by a fan.”

Stu narrowed his eyes before he nodded and held up two fingers like he was giving a peace sign. “Two minutes.”

Harry grimaced as he turned back to me. “Sorry.”

“It’s okay,” I muttered.

“No, it’s not,” he replied hurriedly. “I didn’t expect to run into you, and...I wasn’t thinking straight, and now I’ve got two bloody minutes to talk to you after…”

“The ginger catwoman?” I offered.

Harry giggled, adorable crinkles forming next to his eyes. “Yeah.”

With a feeling of warmth inside down to my toes, I smiled. “How are you, Harry?”

“I’m...doing well, thanks. How about you?”

“You already asked me. It’s your turn. With probably closer to a minute left now.”

With a sigh, Harry tilted his head. “I’ve missed you. You might not believe it, but I have.”

I wasn’t exactly sure if I believed it; he had millions of adoring fans, girls flocking to him at any given moment. He probably hadn’t given me much of a thought. But it was still nice to hear.

“Hey, what am I thinking?” Harry shook his head. “I’m in town for a few weeks. Let’s get together and catch up!”

“Oh. Okay,” I replied, the butterflies resuming their dance in my tummy.

“Do you still live in the same place?”

I chuckled. Five years might not have been an extremely long stretch of time, but a lot had happened. Remembering that apartment I’d shared with Halo felt like eons ago.

“No,” I shook my head. “Halo and I each have our own apartments now. In fact, we’ve both moved a couple of times since then.”

“Oh,” Harry grinned as he scratched his head. “Yeah, I reckon it has been a while.”

“I’ll give you my new number,” I said.

Unfortunately, unlike Kitty, I didn’t carry around my own notepad. But I did have a pen and my ticket stub. Gesturing for Harry to turn around, I used his back for a surface to write on. When I handed him the stub, he glared at me questioningly.

“You could have just written it on my hand,” he smirked. “You might wanna keep this.”

I shrugged, both of us beginning to laugh as we noticed the song that had begun to play in the hallway.

“Call me, on the line Call me, call me any, anytime”

“That’s so funny,” I giggled.

“It’s like it was meant to be,” Harry agreed, his smile sending shivers down my spine.

Stu returned sternly then, his hand slapping Harry’s shoulder and ending our reunion as sharply as the breaking of a mirror.

“Gotta go, buddy,” he said.

“I’ll call you, Sky,” Harry promised. “We definitely need to catch up.”

“Okay,” I nodded, grasping the strap of my shoulder bag, unable to think of anything else to say.

Just as he was about to turn to leave with Stu, Harry stopped and looked at me for a split second. Then erasing the space between us, he pulled me into another hug. And just as quickly, he let go and was gone.

“Anytime, anyplace, anywhere, any day...”

Locking the door behind me and hooking the latch, I shrugged out of my jacket with a sigh, dropping it across the back of a chair. It had been a long, fulfilling Thanksgiving with my parents, but I was glad to be home. Turning on the radio, I made my way to the bathroom where I prepared a much-needed bubble bath for myself. Stepping into the suds, I sang along to Smokey Robinson.

“You’re gonna fly away, glad you’re goin’ my way I love it when we’re cruisin’ together”

Shutting my eyes, I let the melody, Smokey’s voice and the aroma of the bubble bath soothe me into complete bliss. The sudden abrasive ringing of the telephone startled me, however, and I sat up in the tub, wondering if I had enough time to get up and answer it. But I was so comfortable where I was, and I figured the caller would just call again if it was urgent. When the rings stopped after number four, I sat back and shut my eyes again.

“Let the music take your mind…”

My mind wandered to the night before when I’d run into Harry. I wondered if it had been him calling, and for a second I felt disappointed. But I told myself it probably wasn’t him. He’d said he’d call, but I hadn’t expected him to call me so soon. If I was being honest with myself, I didn’t really expect to hear from him at all.

I only hoped I would.

After listening to a couple more songs, I washed up and drained the tub. Quickly drying off, I headed for my bedroom, grabbed my robe from behind the closet door and slipped into it. Rick Springfield began to serenade me then, confessing his desire to have Jessie’s Girl as I padded into the kitchen for a glass of water. The phone rang again as I swallowed, the liquid suddenly feeling like a rock going down my throat. What if it was him? I stared at the receiver hanging on the wall as it rang a second time, and I slowly set my glass on the counter and reached for the radio knob, lowering the volume. Finally answering on the third ring, I felt fourteen-year-old jitters, like a girl getting her first phone call from a boy.

“Hello?” It came out more like a squeak than I’d wanted it to.

“Hi.” Only one, short word was spoken for his greeting, but it didn’t matter. I knew who it was.

“Hi,” I echoed as I slowly sat down in the kitchen chair.

“Sorry it’s so late. Hope I didn’t wake you.”

“No, not at all,” I said. “I just got home a little while ago. How are you?”

“Oh, I’m fine. Happy Thanksgiving.”

I giggled, grateful for the good wishes of an American holiday. “Thanks. Did you do anything today?”

“I did, actually,” Harry replied. “Had a lovely dinner with the Azoffs. Turkey and everything.”

“Oh, Mr. Irving!” I exclaimed. “I miss him. How is he?”

“He’s great,” Harry chuckled. “Same ol’ Irving. What about you? How was your day?”

“Good,” I sighed. “Dinner with my parents as usual. Ate too much. As usual.”

“Isn’t that what Thanksgiving is for though?”

“I suppose so,” I grinned. “Especially if it includes my mom’s sweet potatoes.”

“Ah, with the marshmallows on top?”

“You bet.”

Harry laughed again, and I felt that familiar tingle on my skin, giving me goosebumps.

“So, I promised I’d ring you…”

“And you did,” I finished.

“Are you surprised?”

“A little.”

“Why’s that?”

Letting a breath out of my nose, I let the phone cord wrap around my finger. “Well...Harry...it’s been five years. It’s not like we’ve been in touch the whole time, or even at all. Not…” I swallowed hard, “not even one phone call.”

“I’m deeply sorry about that.”

“It’s not that I expected you to keep in touch, you know,” I continued. “When you left, I knew it was probably forever. I wanted you to go be whoever you wanted to be. And you did, and...I’m still very proud of you.”

“I appreciate that, Sky. But I do apologize for not keeping in touch. It’s been...a crazy ride.”

“I understand,” I said, though I didn’t really. “But enough about that. You said you wanted to catch up, so…”

“Yeah, I definitely do,” remarked Harry. “There’s a lot to talk about, though, and I don’t wanna keep you up.”

“It’s okay. I’m off tomorrow and I have no plans but to sleep in. So where should we start? I heard about the band. Are you...doing okay?”

I didn’t know the details of the break up, so I didn’t want to pry too much.

“Oh yeah, it’s fine,” said Harry. “Great even.”

“Are you guys still talking, or is there some animosity?”

“There wasn’t a big fight or anything,” Harry replied. “But yeah, maybe a little bit of tension. We just decided to go our separate ways. Deacon moved back to London. Lee’s girlfriend is having a baby and they’re getting married. So it’s basically just Mitch and me now. He’s with family for the holidays, and I’m just hanging out in L.A. for a bit. Irving and I are talking about a solo project.”

“Solo? Wow, Harry, that’s exciting! Will Mitch still be in your band?”

“I dunno for sure yet, but probably. I haven’t had much of a chance to discuss it with him. It’s still in the beginning stages, so I can’t say too much about it yet.”

“Of course, I understand,” I acknowledged. “Well, whatever you do, I know it will be fantastic.”

“Thanks, Sky,” he said with a grin in his voice.

I chuckled. “It’s so funny to hear you call me that.”

“Why? Are you not Sky anymore?”

“Only to Halo,” I replied. “No one else calls me Sky nowadays.”

“Oh. So you reclaimed Mary Lou, did you?”

“Nope. Just Mary to most people. That’s what I go by at work anyway. Only my mom calls me Mary Lou when she thinks she’s scolding me.”

Harry’s laugh rang through the phone, the sound making me feel nostalgic and lonely at the same time. I’d missed him more that I’d been willing to admit.

“Well, am I allowed to call you Sky?” he asked.

“Sure. If you want to.”

“Yeah. You’ll always be Sky to me. ‘Like the colour of the sky just before the rain.’”

My throat made an involuntary gulping sound as I realized I was holding back emotions. “I...can’t believe you remember that.”

“Of course I do, love. I remember a lot of things.”

Trying my best to push down the feelings rising in my chest, I gave a short chuckle. “Like what?”

“Like...the Joni Mitchell song you sang for me. Sleeping on your sofa. The night at the Holiday Inn.”

Goosebumps erupted all over my skin, even on my scalp, and I felt like I was floating. He remembered. Which meant...he’d probably thought about me before.

“And there’s my guitar, of course,” he added. “The acoustic Martin that I play sometimes. You were with me when I bought it.”

“I’m so glad you still have it,” I smiled.

“Well, it’s a great guitar,” Harry declared with a laugh. Then I heard him sigh before he spoke again. “So tell me about you, Sky. What has...Mary Jones been doing the last five years?”

I bit my lip as I rose from my chair, deciding to make a cup of cocoa. The radio still played low, like the background soundtrack from a movie scene. As if on cue, I heard the beginning chords of a familiar song, one from Wildfire’s second album. It had been one of my favorites and one of their biggest hits. I felt a ping of disappointment that I hadn’t been in touch with Harry at that time, and a bit of regret that I hadn’t made a point to see him on tour when he’d come to L.A. that year. But I just couldn’t. I hadn’t really known why, and despite Halo telling me I wasn’t over him yet, I’d sworn that I was.

But maybe I wasn’t. Maybe I was afraid that he wouldn’t want to talk to me, the way he was talking to me now. Or worse, that he wouldn’t remember me at all.

“I um...I work for an insurance company,” I explained, grabbing a mug from the cupboard. “In an office. Nothing fancy or exciting.”

“Well, that’s great. And you have your own place?”

“Yeah. It’s nothing fancy either, but it’s mine.”

“Wonderful. Do you still play guitar and sing?”

“I do,” I replied. “But not as much as I’d like to. Work gets in the way, you know? Life.”

Harry chuckled low. “That’s too bad. I really hope you stick with it. You have a beautiful voice.”

“Thanks,” I muttered, grateful that he couldn’t see the red on my face.

“Are you seeing anyone?”

His question rang in my ears for several seconds as I waited for the water to boil. I thought fleetingly of Bill, a man one of my co-workers, Donna, had set me up with the weekend before last. While he’d been nice enough, there’d been no chemistry. That had seemed to be the normal pattern for most of my dating history. With the exception of Alan, whom I’d seen for a few months in 1980, I hadn’t had any serious relationships.

“No,” I finally replied, pouring the water into the mug.

“Oh. Well good, I reckoned I’d make sure before I asked you to dinner tomorrow night.”

I couldn’t stop the smile on my face. “You were gonna ask me out?”

“Yeah, well...if you want to. I know it’s getting late and...I’d really like to see you again. I still have loads to tell you, but I’d like to do it in person. We could catch up some more. And I’d love to see your place...if that’s okay.”

“I think...that’s more than okay,” I managed to say, somewhat surprising myself.

I actually heard him sigh like he was relieved before he said, “Great.”

After giving him my address, we chatted lightly until saying our goodbyes.

“See you tomorrow, Sky. I’m really looking forward to it.”

“Me too. Goodnight, Harry.”

My cheeks felt pinched from smiling, my face warm as I returned the phone to the wall. Time was a funny thing, I thought. It had taken me a long time to get over Harry Styles. Even when I’d thought I was, the memory of him had always lingered. Not hate or bitterness, just...longing. And then out of the blue, seeing and talking to him again...it was as though time had erased everything in between. The feelings I’d had for him all those years ago had returned in just a short telephone conversation.

I heard a slow song begin to play on the radio, and I turned up the volume as I grabbed my mug and sat back down at the table. The words hit me hard like a thunderclap through my chest.

“Hello again, hello Just called to say hello…”

Staring at the wall, every single memory of Harry replayed in my mind as tears streamed down my face. I remembered everything he’d mentioned earlier and more. I remembered dancing in my room to the old Buddy Holly record, and the way his lips felt when he’d first kissed me. I remembered the way my heart broke in two when I’d thought he was in his room with Pippa, and the way his green eyes silently spoke to me when we’d made love. I recalled the way his arms felt around me, the sound of his voice saying my real name, his laugh when I’d said something funny, the look on his face when I’d told him I loved him. I remembered the way he owned the stage in that honky tonk in Chula Vista, the way he’d cried the night he told me about Simon, his ecstatic voice when he’d called me to tell me Wildfire’s album had gone gold, and the photos that I hadn’t realized until later he’d taken of me with my camera - the same ones that still laid in the bottom of my nightstand. I hadn’t actually forgotten any of it. I’d only stored it all in the back of my brain for safe keeping.

“And I know it’s late But I couldn’t wait...hello”

By the end of the song, my cocoa was cold, and I cursed Neil Diamond for making me bawl. But it was what I’d needed. I hadn’t cried over Harry in years.

“I missed you so much,” I whispered to no one.

Then rising from the table, I poured the cold cocoa down the drain and turned off the radio. Perhaps tomorrow I could tell him in person.

Songs mentioned:

Journey - Wheel in the Sky

Blondie - Call Me

Smokey Robinson - Cruisin'

Rick Springfield - Jessie's Girl

Neil Diamond - Hello Again

How did you like this little reunion? Let's chat!

As always, feedback and reblogs are appreciated :).

tagging: @daphnesutton, @fkinavocado

[noooooooop-e]

~My Songbird~

Chapter 4

As punishment for cheating in the games, Ana was forced to move to a random district.  She was told she would have to train as a peacekeeper if she ever wanted to be welcomed back to the capitol, however, she knew she could never go back to that life.  Regardless, she still had to leave.  She had bribed her way into being sent to District 12, hoping to find her song bird.

As she waited for the train to start, she anxiously started to play with her fingers.  She was excited and nervous at the same time.  She was broken out of her thoughts when someone called her name.

"Senjanus?!"  Ana's jaw dropped.  The man just chuckled in response.

"Yeah so as it turns out, the capitol doesn't love when you sneak into the arena to say goodbye to a friend, or when you throw chairs".  Ana giggled in response. 

"Well it's nice to have a familiar face with me on the journey", she smiled.

It was a long ride, to say the least.  Ana was grateful that she had Senjanus to talk to.  Their conversations made the trip much more bearable.

As time went on, Ana had fallen asleep.  She only had woken up when she heard the sounds of screeching.

The train had finally come to a stop.

Instantly, her face lit up.  She rose to her feet and quickly grabbed her duffle bag, grinning as she eagerly ran off the train.   She waited for Senjanus to catch up before they started to ask around for directions.  She also made sure to ask about any known information about Lucy Gray.

A couple hours went by, and Ana had found herself going in circles, finding that there was nothing truly helpful in finding Lucy.

That was until she heard someone singing.  The voice was unfamiliar, however the melody she had heard before. 

She turned around and her eyes lit up.  'That must be The Covey'.  She thought to herself.

She slowly walked up to the performers, who stopped in their tracks when they saw the woman.

They recognized the girl from the big screen at the reaping.  "Oh my!  You must be Ana!", a tall woman exclaimed, setting down her bass.  "I'm Barb Azure, Lucy Grays cousin.  Oh she's going to be so excited to see you!"

Ana gave her a wide smile as she was surrounded in a firm hug.  "Oh but it must be a surprise!  She's performing tonite' at the hob.  You should surprise her there!"

The blonde chuckled in response.  "Of course!  I'll need some directions though, I've been a lost cause all day", she explained.

A young girl ran up to her, suffocating her in a hug.  "Oh!  Lucy wouldn't stop talking about you!  I swear every day it's always "Ana this~ Ana that~ finally we can get some quiet now that you're here", she joked.  Barb rose a brow at her.

The girl looked at her, confused, before her eyes widened.  "Oh yeah!  How rude of me, forgot to introduce m'self.  I'm Maude Ivory!", she declared, holding her hand out theatrically for Ana to shake.

Ana smiled in response, introducing herself in return.  "Well, I should get going, gotta bring my A game if i'm going to be surprising her!"

Just as Ana was about to leave, Barb immediately cut her off.  "Wait a minute now!  Where are you staying?"

Ana stopped dead in her tracks.  'Oh shit, how did i not plan this out', she thought to herself.  She chuckled nervously.

"Right! Uh that's actually a great question!  I'm sure there is like an inn somewhere!"

Barb just gawked at her in response.

"This is district 12.  The closest thing we got to an inn would be under the broken down bridge.  You can stay with us.  The Covey would love to have you!  Lucy's out and about anyways!  She's performing at the elementary school."

Ana placed her hand on her heart, her eyes lighting up.  "Really?  I don't want to be a bother!". Barb nodded enthusiastically, assuring her that it would be in everyone's best interest.

Hesitantly, Ana accepted, albeit a bit nervous as she happens to be a people pleaser.  She thinks she's intruding on their personal lives.

Little does she know, The Covey is all about chosen family.

Five pm had finally come around, and Ana found herself getting ready in Barb's room.  Maude was helping her fix her hair while the older cousin picked out an outfit for her.

"Aw you look precious!  I can't wait till Lucy sees you!" Barb gushed.

Ana smiled as they began to walk over to the hob, her expression widening as Maude linked her arm around her own.  "You're pretty!  I'm so happy you and Lucy found each other."

"Aww, thank you!  I'm very happy too.  And it's even better knowing she has such an amazing family!"  She thanked Barb Azure as she held the door open for her.

She sat near the front, awaiting the performance.

Her breath hitched as Lucy Gray herself slowly made her way to the stage.  She did an elegant little twirl as she strode in effortlessly.  She took someone's flask and took a long lasting sip before setting it down.

It was around then when she started to play the familiar chords of "Nothing You Can Take From Me".  The song that originally brought her into the capitols heart.

As she continued singing, she locked eyes with Ana.  They widened and she paused for a moment, unable to comprehend the sight in front of her.   A shocked expression quickly turned into an ecstatic one as she resumed her song, not breaking eye contact once.

As the last notes of the song played, the hob erupted in applause, with Ana rising to her feet to join in the standing ovation.  Her head turned to the right as she saw a sprinting Lucy Gray make her way to the girl.

She yelped before giggling as Lucy practically jumped into her arms.

"Oh my god!  What are you doing here?!" Lucy asked, her voice shaking with shock and pure happiness. 

Before responding, Ana eagerly connected their lips, earning a sigh.  Once they released, Lucy buried her head in the crook of Ana's neck.  She shut her eyes as happy tears fell.

Ana smiled affectionately, her hold of the girl not faltering.  "I was sent away for cheating.  They said i'd have to train as a peacekeeper if i ever wanted to go back which- fuck that.  I'll stay here forever then.  Had to bribe the lady into letting me go here", she rushed out. 

Lucy let her drop her back to her feet, her arms still around her neck as she rose to her tips.  She rested their foreheads together.

"All that... for me?" She asked, surprised.  She hugged the woman, now full on crying.  She had missed her so much, and the fact that Ana risked her life and her status for her meant everything.

"Of course, my love.  I want to be with you.  And now we are finally free to be together.  I want to spend my life with you, I don't care where that life is, as long as it's with you".  Ana had to blink away a few of her own tears while saying this. 

"Oh~ I love you so much," Lucy cried.  "I never want to be separated from you again."

Ana placed her hands around the girls waist, smiling down at her.  "And we never will be.  I love you too.  We will never have to leave each other.  I'll always find my way back to you". 

Lucy grinned back up at her.  "And I to you," she whispered before connecting their lips again.

@womenrhot889801 is my main, got hacked. If you want to read the first chapters go to this account please, i’ll probably republish them in the future.

[countrymusiclover]

6 - Let the Games Begin

Part 7

Are You District or Capital

Tag list ( send an ask in my ask box to be added ) @lemonluvgirl @virtualsweetsdreamer @emma-andrea1 @voiddylanobrosey @kmc1989 @tallrock35 @agentxx92

The morning I believed I would die has come.  

That was the only thing that could run through my mind the second I woke up. Someone had laid out the wet suit that was clearly for the arena environment.  Sliding it on with the boots they had given me.  I was thankful I didn’t really have to do much with my hair since it was so short so it shouldn’t be a problem. 

Leaving my room I halted in my tracks when I came into the living room seeing two peacekeepers and my mother standing before me. “Ariyne, these men are here to escort you.” 

“Escort me to the arena. The Games don’t start for another few hours.” I knitted my brows together with confusion on my face. 

She shakes her head no in response. “I'm not sure, dear. They just told me they are waiting for you.” 

“Okay.” I walked up to the two peacekeepers and they opened the door escorting me to the elevator door. One of them hir the penthouse button making me get extremely nervous when they pushed me out the door and towards the large center door that two different guards opened for me.  Sucking in a shaky breath I stood frozen in the doorway seeing President Snow sitting at a large desk. “President Snow.” 

“Leave us alone.” He held up his hand signaling and all four guards disappeared out of the room.  He pointed to the open seat in front of his desk. “Sit down, Ms. Abernathy.” 

I gulped thickly crossing the room and doing as he told me, figuring that would be the better option then defying him. “What exactly do you want of me, Mr. President?” 

“I wanted to finally meet you after all this time.  It’s a rare feat for anyone in Panem to go undetected for sixteen years.  You’ve escaped the Games and Reaping up until this point. You truly are a snake, dear girl.” 

Twiddling my thumbs in my lap I tried to choose my words carefully. “I wouldn’t say I’m a snake, sir.  I just - my father did whatever he could to protect me.” 

“Have you considered what life you might have had if you been raised here with your mother, Ms. Trinket?” Snow tapped his fingers on the wooden desk. 

“No, I haven’t.  Why do you ask?” 

The President of the Games responded. “I am hoping to offer you something you’ve never had in your life.  I can let you live out the rest of your days here in the Capital and you’ll never have to go to that runt of District 12.”

“Why would you offer me something like that? In your eyes I’m a rebel aren’t I?” I asked him. 

Snow clicked his tongue. “Because you are half the blood of a Capitol citizen. You were denied the lifestyle that you always should have had growing up.” 

“I think I'm okay with how I was raised actually.” 

He shifted his gaze to the golden pin I had taken off the dress I had worn last night during the interview. “That is a pity you don't crave more.  What a lovely pin you have there?” 

“President Snow, what do you really want from me?” 

He leans forward intertwining his hands together sending me a glare across the large desk. “Ms. Abernathy, what I want from you is not an offer.  It's a demand.  Either you agree to become a Capitol Rose and stand beside me or if you refuse you will still be put inside the arena with the other tributes.” 

“Capitol Rose, you want me to be what you did with Finnick Odair.  Sell my body to the citizens or you'll kill my parents.” I gasped, blurting it out putting the pieces together realizing what he was saying. 

Finnick had only mentioned it once to me about what happened.  He mentioned it more as a reminder if we didn't succeed with our plan to think I wasn’t afraid of dying in the arena. 

Snow kept his gaze focused on my eyes waiting for a response. “So what will your answer be?” 

“I - I won't be owned by you.” Closing my eyes I knew I'd signed my death sentence the second the words left my mouth. 

Snow hit a button underneath his desk causing a buzzing noise before three peacekeepers busted into the room. “Such a pity, the Capital citizens rather like you.  Take her to the arena tubes.  She'll still be going into the Games.” 

The two peacekeepers wrapped my arms around my back dragging me out the door and I didn't fight them like I wanted to.  Going down in the elevator and when it opened we walked down until I noticed a long clear tube and my father at the end of the hallway. “Ariyne!” He breathed out, catching my body in his arms once they threw me towards him. 

“Dad, I'm sorry  - I didn't  - couldn't take the deal he forced upon me.’ I croaked out pulling my head away from his chest feeling tears welling in my eyes. 

The peacekeepers had thankfully left the room letting us have the last conversation to ourselves. “It’s okay that you didn't.  His deals are never good for anyone.” 

“I'm scared, dad.  What if five seconds in somebody kills me.” 

He scanned his eyes over my face seeing the same fear he had the day Effie had called him telling him she was pregnant.  It was the uncertainty of what was to come for these Games. “I won't let that happen, sweet girl.  I have some alliances already put into place.  So you will have someone to watch your back.” He explained to me, rubbing his hands down my arms. 

“Ten seconds.” A computer generated voice spoke up. 

Biting my lip I fling my arms around his neck burying my face against his chest. “I love you, dad.” I mumbled through some tears clutching the fabric of his shirt wishing I could just stay in his arms. 

“I love you, Ari.” He mumbled into my hair, kissing the crown of my head.  He helped me step inside the tube still holding my hand until it came down to seal me in so we removed our hands and it raised me up away from his gaze. 

The announcer's voice met my ears before I noticed that the pedestals were separated by water and a large rock island was in the center of the arena.  “Let the 75th Hunger Games begin. May the odds be ever in your favor. 10 - 9 - 7 - 6 - 5 - 4 - 3 - 2 - 1.” A cannon sound fired off into the air with some of the tribunals already diving into the water. 

I frantically looked around finally diving down into the water swimming for the nearest ledge of rock.  I coughed out some water that had gotten in my mouth using my whole body to get up onto the rock seeing some tributes running on the rock to the weapons. Scrambling to my feet I noticed the closest set of weapons thankfully was a pack of knives. 

Clipping the strap of knives on as fast as I possibly could I heard someone running up behind me and I wasn’t quick enough getting tackled by a male tribute that I remembered as one of the Morphligs from district 6. “Ah no!” I screamed when he pinned my arm down that had the knife in it and the tribute raised his sword about to stab me. 

Yet suddenly the tribute got stabbed in the chest with something that appeared to be a trident. The body fell on top of me where I pushed them off rolling onto my side feeling someone touch my arm so I nearly cut their hand until they grabbed my wrist with their other hand. “Woah, woah, Ari - Ariyne. It’s Finnick.” 

“Finnick - it’s - it’s you.” I sighed slightly in relief staring into his sea green eyes. 

“Yeah it’s me. Come on, let's find the others.” He nodded simply helping me to my feet and we moved around the other side of the weapons building seeing Katniss drawing her bow back with an arrow causing me to jump behind Finnick who held up a hand and I recognized a gold band my mother had talked about getting my father. “Good thing we're allies right?”

“Where did you get that?” Katniss asked eyed the gold bracelet.

He instructed gently pushing me away from him, launching his weapon when she dropped to her knees. “Where do you think? Duck.”

“Ahhh!” I screamed covering my ears ducking along with Katniss watching the trident end up in the district 5 tribute killing him causing the cannon sound to ring through the arena. 

Finnick yanks his weapon from the dead guy's chest. “Don't trust 1 and 2. I'll take this side you hold them off. I'll go find Peeta.”

Getting to my feet Peeta had to fight another tribute just to get out of the water before we all ran into the forest away from the sandy beaches all out of breath.  Collapsing against the nearest tree attempting to catch my breath till another cannon went off and I screamed dropping to my knees. “I guess they're not holding hands anymore.” Finnick chuckled dryly glancing at me. 

“You think that's funny?” Katniss asked him. 

Finnick waved his hand in front of his chest. “Every Time that cannon goes off it's music to my ears. I don't care about any of them.”

“Good to hear.” She clicked her tongue turning away from Finnick and I going to check on Peeta. 

Finnick focused his attention back on me seeing that I was holding my knees against my chest rocking back and forth sniffing through tears at the same time. “Ariyne, are you alright?” He asked me using a much softer tone than he had earlier. 

“I - I - I don’t think I’m cut out for this.” I croaked out till he drew me in for a hug, resting his chin on the top of my head. 

“None of us were when we first came here. But don’t you worry I’ll get us out of here, I promise Ari.” He whispered praying that Haymitch and Plutarch knew that he wouldn’t leave this arena without her by his side. 

[solar-halos]

odesta week. day #4 - throwback thursday

summary: beach meet cute. 1k

The beach is safe. Not a lot of things are, especially after Annie’s Games. 

Lucky for her, the beach is right outside her house. It’s the one nice thing about living in the Victor’s Village. 

She dives under the water until her lungs feel like they’re going to explode. Then she pops back up and does it all over again. It’s nice and repetitive and puts her mind at ease. 

She comes back up. She stops in her tracks, stunned into silence by some fucking creeper suddenly in the water with her.

She whips some sopping wet strands of hair out of her face. Oh. That’s not a creeper—that’s Finnick Odair.

“Dude!” she protests, because who the fuck just sneaks up on someone like that? Especially a victor? “What gives?”

“Huh?” Eloquent. Annie thought he was supposed to be a poet. “I didn’t even see you out here! You’re the one who scared me.”

Oh. Something about that is so incredibly funny—she scared Finnick Odair—that she starts to laugh. Some people at the Career Academy were intimidated by her, sure, but take away all her throwing knives, and what was there to be scared of?

“I can hold my breath for a very long time,” she explains. “It’s like you didn’t even watch my Games.”

She purses her lips to keep from laughing again, because she’s pretty sure she’s not supposed to be joking about that stuff. She’s still fresh out of the arena, so no one says anything about it to her, but sometimes when she’s having a really good day she’ll sprinkle it into a conversation. Kinda like she’s taking the power back.

Finnick takes a step back. She wouldn’t have even noticed if it wasn’t for the water rippling.

“Right…” he says, like he’s not sure if he should laugh with her or start running home. Annie doesn’t know how to feel about that. “Well, it was nice running into you.”

Annie considers that. She supposes it was. She’s hardly talked to anyone since she got back, so it’s nice to know she’s still capable of normal things. Looking back, it’s a miracle she didn’t start swinging after he spooked her.

“Same here,” she says. “I’ve never seen you out here. Do you visit a lot, or are you already tired of the beach?”

“I don’t think anyone could get tired of the beach,” he replies, but he looks a lot less awkward now. He even stops taking steps back. “I usually come a lot later in the day, but I couldn’t sleep. You know how it is.”

Annie nods. She does. “Winning isn’t anything like the Academy said it would be. Night terrors are not the same as nightmares.”

“Yeah. They really need to update their curriculum.”

Annie laughs—that’s such a ridiculous thing to say, even if she can’t put her finger on why—and she knows that she reacted the right way when Finnick laughs with her. It’s strange—she saw him all the time when she was reaped, but she never spoke to him. Not really, unless they were talking about the arena, and even then he was always too drunk to tell her anything useful.

Annie leans closer so she can examine him. He seems very, very sober.

He leans back. His laughter fades into a tight-lipped smile. “What are you doing?”

“I dunno,” she admits. Of course he was sober. “It’s strange. Meeting you, I mean.”

She doesn’t need to explain what she means. He nods, obviously pleased with the fact that she’s not invading his personal space anymore. “I’m not mad about it. Like, meeting you.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. I mean—I didn’t love being jumpscared—”

“You snuck up on me!”

He’s the one that laughs first this time. “—but you’re very nice to talk to.”

That’s such a sweet thing to say that all she does is thank him. No one’s ever said that to her before—not even before she was reaped—but she’s glad that Finnick Odair thinks that she’s a pleasant conversationalist. She doesn’t ask him about it this time—or the next time they talk, or the next time—but she finally mentions it when they’re waiting for the cookies in his oven to bake. 

He grins at her. “I liked how unsettling you were.”

“What?” That was definitely not the answer she was expecting. Kinda—she knows that the Capitol thinks she’s fucking crazy, and that most people in the district think she’s a disappointment, but she has no idea why Finnick would find that appealing. “Finnick! You didn’t!”

“I did. I still do.” Ugh. It’s just like him to start firing up compliments to soften all their banter, so she crosses her arms over her chest and pretends like she isn’t blushing. “Cmon, dude—you have those big eyes and a very unpredictable mind. You kept me on my toes.”

Annie’s stomach sinks, genuinely disheartened by this information. She hopes it doesn’t show on her face.

“Oh,” she replies. She’s not sure what else there is to say. 

Somehow, he figures out she’s in a mood. He turns to her, the beginnings of a frown beginning to pull at his lips. Annie allows herself to frown, too. What gives? She’s not the one who called him unsettling and unpredictable.

“I can see how that might sound bad,” he admits. Annie rolls her eyes, suddenly a bit less offended. Boys are so stupid. “I mean, it does sound bad. I just mean that you’re very genuine. You talk to me like you’d talk to anyone else. And you ask me questions no one ever asks.”

True. And he always, always answers them. Sometimes, he’s the only person that ever does.

“So you don’t think I’m unsettling and unpredictable?” she presses.

“I retract my statement,” he confirms. Yeah—boys were stupid. Finnick makes it work. “You are not unsettling and unpredictable. You are fascinating and original.”

“Well, I’ve always been huge on free thinking,” Annie agrees.

Finnick smiles. Someone close the blinds. “That’s what I mean. I never know what you’re going to say.”

“And you like that?” She needs to be sure. 

“I like that.” 

“Okay. Well, if you were curious, I like hanging out with you because you’re the only person who ever listens to me.”

“You do like hearing yourself talk,” he says, but he’s joking, so she only bumps her shoulder into his.

“Yeah, right!” Talk about throwing stones in glass houses. “Why don’t you go recite another shitty poem?”

She’s not being mean. One time, he told her that he’s been making his poems progressively worse, just to see if the Capitol would say anything. It was a strange thing to say as someone that’s supposed to be a Capitol fanatic. Good thing that Annie knows he is not a Capitol fanatic.

“You love my shitty poems,” he shoots back. It’s true. She does (not that he needs to know that, though, so she rolls her eyes). “Annie Cresta, borne of the sea—”

Not this again! Thankfully, the timer for the cookies goes off, so she is spared from hearing him do a dramatic retelling of the poem he wrote for her. It’s a lovely poem—she just blushes too hard whenever he brings it up, which gives him a ton of leverage. 

Two can play at this game. She reaches into her pocket and pulls out a pair of socks she knitted for him. His feet always got way too cold, prompting him to steal the blankets from her during their late night chats. She was gonna package it up for him, but if he was gonna be like this, she might as well fight fire with fire.

He doesn’t even try talking over the timer. He examines the socks like she just revealed another world wonder to him. “Woah,” he says, his cheeks turning just as pink as hers feel. “Thank you. You didn’t need to…”

He trails off. She doesn’t even have to interrupt him anymore, because he knows she didn’t need to—she wanted to, just like how he wants to do nice things for her, too.

He puts them on, sliding all over the floor the entire time Annie takes the cookies out of the oven. It’s not very long before he topples over and eats shit.

Annie crosses over to him. And then she melts onto the floor in solidarity.

“Are you okay?” she asks.

“I’m okay,” he says. “Are the socks okay?”

She rearranges herself so she can tug at his ankle, examining the socks for any wear or tear. “Yup,” she says. “Good as new.”

He nods again. “Thank you again, by the way. I really love them.”

“I’m glad. Maybe now you won’t hog all the blankets.”

“As if!” he replies. It’s his favorite phrase of hers to borrow, and her favorite phrase to hear. 

She makes a face at him anyway. He makes a face back. Then, they promptly laugh so hard their stomachs cramp up.

Huh. Maybe being a victor wasn’t all bad.

[valentinos-corner]

I made this against my will

Forced to take a crack at writing for school

I'm sharing my suffering with the world

TW child abuse

“Pathetic, pathetic, pathetic!” Nixy chanted to herself as she drifted through the brightly colored cloth of the circus tent. Most mortals couldn’t see her- but where was the fun in nobody seeing you at all? So she chose a couple from the crowd and let them see her, giggling to herself at their startled reactions. She perched high on one of the support poles, watching the hell unfold below her. How strange, what people considered entertaining.  

Pathetic, pathetic, pathetic!  

A small child- perhaps around ten years old-? It was hard to tell with most mortal species- holding a shield ducked away from a naga with a spear, their eyes wide with fear. Why would they send their own young into a life-or-death situation for their own pleasure? Nixy considered doing something, but that would require revealing her presence. No, no, see if the child survives. As strange as she found the practice, she did find herself mildly interested in seeing how long they’d last against the spear-wielding serpentfolk. 

A loud crunch sounded from below as the naga cracked their spear against the child’s shield. The terrified human grabbed the point of the spear and rammed it through the naga’s shoulder, scrambling backwards, their hands painted red. 

The circus tent became dark. 

Nixy drifted lazily down, trailing after the combatants to the backstage, hiding just in front of the door in the dark. She couldn’t see well in the dark, but she could hear the crack of a whip, the angry voice of a man- the ringmaster, perhaps? Scolding someone for ‘finishing too fast,’ and the soft crying of the child from the arena. She waited until the whip and the man’s voice were quiet, then poked her head into the lantern-lit backstage. The naga was nowhere to be seen- likely off nursing its wounds somewhere else. 

What caught the spirit’s attention was the figure in the corner. 

The human child, their frail form covered in red marks from the whip, crouched in the corner, their back pressed against the fabric wall. Tears and snot were streaming down their face, mixing with the dirt and blood. They stood up when they saw Nixy, raising their hands defensively. 

Pathetic, pathetic, pathetic. But then… perhaps this could be fun. 

Nixy raised one of her gaseous hands to show she meant no harm, smirking down at the child. 

“Don’t worry, pathetic little human. I’m not going to hurt you. Probably, at least!” 

The child nodded shakily. “Are… you here to save me?” 

The question took Nixy by surprise. She’d simply intended to speak with the child, perhaps toy with them- but something in those wide brown eyes tugged at Nixy’s diaphanous heartstrings. She shrugged, smirking a little wider. 

“Sure, why not. C’mon, kiddo. You don’t have to see him again.” 

She wasn’t sure if that last part was true or not. She’d decide later. Nixy reached out and took the child’s hand in her own, leading them out of the circus. Miraculously, the ringmaster didn’t find them. How wonderful! Nixy was having a wonderful evening. 

“Do you have a name?” 

The child shook their head as Nixy led them through an alleyway. She intended to take them to the forest- the territory of the spirits. It would be easier to hide them there. She could hear the angry shouts of the ringmaster behind her, causing the child to shake in fear, but she didn’t care. She’d probably give them back when she’d had her fun anyway. 

Or maybe she wouldn’t. 

She thought she liked this child, for some reason. They looked pitiful, but in an amusing, endearing way. Hesitantly, Nixy reached out one of her wispy hands and patted the child’s head. They smiled hesitantly, rubbing the last few tears from their eyes. 

“Are you an angel?” 

Nixy paused. She wasn’t used to mortals thinking she was a good person- she was a spirit, she was returned from the dead for being evil during her life. But this child thought she was an angel. She spoke without thinking, more conflicted than she’d been since she was alive. 

“No. Far from it.” 

“But you saved me!” 

Nixy sighed, angry at the child for making her feel things. She wasn’t meant to feel things for mortals. She clenched her fists, her vaporous tail swishing furiously. 

“Because I was bored, okay!? Do you even know what I am!? I’m here because I’m a demon!” 

The child flinched at her sudden outburst, letting go of her hand. They quietly thanked her for saving them and ran off, ducking through the alleys. Nixy felt guilty. Why was she guilty!? She’d done nothing wrong- just what was expected of spirits. 

Pathetic. Pathetic. Pathetic. 

Nixy slumped against the side of a nearby building, glaring at her vaporous hands. She made up her mind. She wasn’t meant to feel mortal emotions- that had been a fluke. So why was she so angry at herself for scaring the child away. 

She sat like that for a few minutes, and then heard a sound in a nearby alley that chilled her to her wraithlike core. 

The voice of the ringmaster, the crack of a whip, and the crying of the child. 

She growled softly to herself, staring at the circus tent in the distance. So what if the child returned there? It served them right for making Nixy feel this way. 

They didn’t stop crying. 

Pathetic. Pathetic! PATHETIC! 

Nixy clenched her ethereal fists and drifted upright, following the sound of the child crying and the ringmaster yelling for a while. She glared at the circus tent, floating through its walls for the second time that night. She saw the ringmaster screaming at the child, the child holding up their arms to defend themself from the ringmaster’s cruel whip. 

Nixy paused, conflicted. 

She shouldn’t help them. 

She should help them. 

She shouldn’t help them. 

She should help them. 

She shouldn’t help them. 

She should help them. 

She shouldn’t help them. 

She should help them. 

She allowed the ringmaster to see her, her incorporeal white eyes glowing furiously. He scoffed, slashing her with his whip as the child cried behind them. 

She felt it. 

Why did she feel it? She had willed it to pass through her cloudy body, it shouldn’t have touched her. A spirit would only become corporeal when faced with an exorcist’s weapon. That whip… oh no. The stakes had been thoroughly raised. She locked eyes with the child and pointed behind herself, silently telling them to run away. They didn’t, sitting there, frozen and terrified. Nixy growled angrily, turning back to the ringmaster. 

She grabbed the ringmaster’s throat, hoping she could kill him before he killed her. He grinned evilly and swung the whip again, and again, and again. And she felt the pain, again, and again, and again. She could feel herself disappearing. She turned to the child, praying for any way out. She didn’t want to die, not again. The child had some kind of necklace on- a locket? It would do. 

She focused her willpower and forced herself into the locket, the metal becoming concentrated with magic. She felt her mind disappearing, returning to the afterlife- but her magic, what was left of her body, would remain behind with the child. With her second dying breath, she prayed for safety for this child. 

The child gripped their locket- now glowing with an eerie, spectral light- and begged God, or the spirits, or whoever could help them, to get them away, to spare their life. 

The ringmaster raised his whip. 

And suddenly, the child was somewhere else. The middle of a bustling town square, surrounded by the sounds of happy merchants striking the final deals of the day and children playing, the setting sun casting everything in a warm orange glow. They collapsed to their knees, exhausted, the last thing they saw being a woman’s concerned face, her hand reaching down to help them. 

Years had passed since the day Nico had gained their freedom, and they still never understood what had happened. They sat at the edge of their bed, staring at their locket, flipping it open and closed. It still glowed sometimes, when they were scared or sad, and made them feel safer. They heard their adopted mother’s voice calling out to them, and they flipped the locket closed one more time. 

They stood up, and, as was becoming a common occurrence in the days since the circus, smiled.

[dragondemoness]

Ultimate Cuteness Reader - Ultra Despair Girls Edition (Story Mode) Part Two

Warnings: Mentions of corpses, violence, self-harming behaviors

Now putting Yuta’s death behind you, you, Komaru and Toko left the bridge.

You made your way back to the city, but you had a sudden encounter with a Siren Monokuma and its lackeys. A few break bullets from Komaru’s gun were enough to put a stop to them.

You found the entrance, but someone closed the shutters. After investigating a dead station attendant, Komaru found a key to unlock them. But a Monokuma Kid rushed to her and snatched the key, forcing the three of you to chase them down.

After searching around, you found a message that read: 

“Challenge

I will be waiting at the hospital.”

“The hospital? Isn’t that where we just where? We have to go all the way back?” Komaru groaned.

“Th-This little brat! Does he think we’re his playmates or something?!” Toko growled in frustration.

“He is a kid. I guess it’s to be expected,” you said. Toko scoffed.

“Of course y-you would understand. Takes one to know one, after all.”

“Hey, don’t be mean to them,” Komaru scolded.

After that little exchange, the three of you headed off to the hospital. You chased the Monokuma kid down the hallways, until you stopped at the operating room. 

Blood was everywhere; on the tools, the doors, the shelves. Komaru commented on the room’s atmosphere, saying that it seemed like something scary was going to pop out. 

The doors slid open, and the three of you prepared for the worst. But instead of something scary, a small, light brown dog plush appeared on the other side. Komaru and Toko’s bodies loosened, but out of confusion, rather than relaxation.

“Aww! It’s so cute!” You said before starting towards it.

“Wait, don’t just-” Toko called after you, but it was too late. The small plush started twisting its body in grotesque movements before mutating into a tall, large, wolf-like creature.

“Agh!” you let out a small scream before running back and hiding behind Komaru and Toko.

They barely had time to recover from the fear and disbelief before the dog raised a large paw and lashed at them.

You just barely dodged, and the dog’s paw made a crack in the ground.

Komaru shot the beast with Break bullets, but it did nothing. In a panic, she tried the other bullets she had accumulated, and none of them made a tear.

As a last resort, Toko used her stun gun and switched to Genocide Jack. Her scissors were much more effective and swiftly detached the dog’s arm, but it regenerated in a matter of seconds.

Growing more aggressive and impatient, she stabbed the beast in a number of places, but it recovered quickly. In a swift fit of rage, she launched a pair of scissors at the dog’s face, and it hit it in the brown heart around the left eye.

The beast recoiled and let out a deep howl in pain before falling to its knees.

Genocide Jack grinned victoriously before raining hellfire on the beast, dismembering the limbs and leaving it on the ground as a pile of stuffing and soft cloth.

It did not regenerate or heal from the damage, and the beast was defeated.

Genocide Jack switched to Toko, who was in complete disbelief about what happened. She insisted that it wasn’t real, that it was just some trick set up by the Monokuma kid, but you and Komaru weren’t so sure.

After that, the door was unlocked, and you resumed your pursuit of the Monokuma Kid.

You finally cornered him in the director room, and he gave you another note. He had hidden the key in a safe, and in order to open it, you had to solve a riddle.

Thanks to the Detect function on Komaru’s hacking gun, you solved the riddle.

Now that you could finally enter the subway, you continued your mission.

It was pitch dark, making Toko anxious. She called out for someone to turn the lights on, and when they did, you found yourselves in a large arena with Monokuma Kids cheering for something.

The three of you looked around in confusion before hearing a young boy’s voice ring out. 

A small, athletic child with flaming red hair appeared, and he introduced himself as Masaru Daimon. 

You saw stars in his eyes as he looked down at you, but it faded into a menacing grin. 

Komaru recognized him as one of the kids who put the wristband on her. Masaru revealed the arena to be a “Killesseum,” where he intended to kill the three of you. Toko corrected him, saying it was “colosseum,” which seemed to make him flustered.

He then went on a mini-rant about how adults were the enemies of kids, and that together with the Warriors of Hope, they were going to create a peaceful paradise just for kids. The Monokuma Kids cheered uproariously.

The doors below the platform he was standing on opened, and a large pile of adult corpses appeared.

He continued ranting about hunting the demons, growing increasingly anxious. Then he started to break down, and you couldn’t help but feel sorry for him.

His arm was shaking, and he started beating on it to make it stop. You couldn’t bear to watch, and you tightly gripped your bunny plush. Komaru seemed to feel the same way, as she looked at him with a sad expression.

Soon, he stopped, and started laughing with a dark expression. His arm was bruised and purple, and you felt your spine tingle. 

Masaru noticed that you weren’t “true” Demons, but he still needed to defeat you before you turned into them. With that, he snapped his fingers and retrieved a controller-like object, and summoned a large robot from the ground.

Then, he reached behind him and pulled out a small, red dog plushie and threw it out onto the arena next to the robot. Similar to the plush from the hospital, it’s body twisted and mutated into a large monster dog.

“Hah! Feast your eyes, Demons! Not only are you gonna have to fight my awesome killer robot, but my Loyal Hero Hound as well!”

You gazed at the mutated plush in awe while Komaru was freaking out. She and Toko agreed to double-team the robot and monster plush using their respective skills. 

“Alright, enough talk! Go forth, my Loyal Hero Hound!”

Komaru took out her hacking gun and started on the robot while Toko switched to Genocide Jack and began chipping at the Hero Hound. Meanwhile, you stood back and observed the fight.

It certainly wasn’t an easy battle. Genocide Jack identified the Hero Hound’s weak spot; a red diamond on the Hound’s chest. But the beast could read her movements and did its best to prevent her from reaching it.

After a couple of minutes, both the robot and the Hero Hound were defeated. 

The robot erupted in fire, and the arena was engulfed in smoke.

Meanwhile, Masaru stared at the ruined robot, dismayed by the loss. Clearly, the Monokuma Kids were unhappy as well, as they all gathered around Masaru, preparing to take him away.

Suddenly, you saw the Hero Hound force itself to its paws and rush into the fray. You couldn’t see what was happening, but you heard a loud bark and lots of ripping and tearing noises.

After the Monokuma Kids fled, you didn’t see Masaru anywhere, but you did see the remains of the Hero Hound on the ground. 

Apparently, it was a punishment for losing the game.

You eyed the mangled plushie in sadness, but Komaru pulled on your arm and the three of you fled the scene.