#The echo of a love well beyond the disappearance of that love | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

clare-875 · 1 month ago

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Irrational Fears (Luffy, Sanji, Zoro)

_____ Pairings: Luffy x Reader; Sanji x Reader; Zoro x Reader Summary: Your fears come to light, but your boyfriend is there to protect you. Warnings: Hurt, comfort, fluff, fears/phobias mentioned at the beginning of each character pairing, Female Reader A/N: Sorry for the lack of uploads, I've been swamped by assessment and exams, I hope you enjoy :) [One Piece Masterlist] [Part 2: Law, Kid, Ace] _____

- Luffy - (Fear of Spiders)

You were in your room, not a care in the world. You were hiding from the raging sun that lay on the deck, relishing the peace that comes from immersing yourself in a book after weeks of fighting; finally, back on the open sea. The pages passed through your fingers like clockwork, and you were lost in the ease and safety the Sunny provided you.

You turn your body to the side, your book falling with you as you do so, but your heart is suddenly torn from leisure as your eyes catch movement beyond the pages you look to.

There is a Spider on your bedside table.

In a blur of moments, your heart drops, eyes darting from your book to the black creature, mere moments away from crawling onto the bed with you. Instantly, cold sweat rises from within you, and your breath is suddenly lost and within you all at the same time.

Before you can help it, you scream.

You rush in a hurry of scrambled movements away from the spider that had been only a few inches away from your head, and your back hits a wall now meters away. But there's not enough space. You can feel its eyes watching you, you can see its creepy being as it moves, and you feel a sickening pool in your gut at the thought of it having been so close.

You know you should move - the door to escape is just a few steps in front of you - but fear has made your limbs useless. You feel your eyes fill with tears, and you find yourself silenced; the only sound is the pounding of your heart as your phobia sets in. Your hands tremble as the spider moves, and you resist the urge to squeeze your eyes shut; you do not want to lose sight of the wretched creature.

God, why now? Why me?

You are so panicked, your heart jumps when the door to your room is suddenly opened.

"[Y/N]!!!"

Your boyfriend bursts through your now-opened door, eyes wide and frantic and breath light as though he rushed to get to you.

Because, well, he had.

When Luffy had been sitting on his figurehead as he always does, with the cool breeze on his face and the peace of the open sea, the last thing he expected was an unfamiliar scream bringing him into motion. Unfamiliar because Luffy was not used to you being so alarmed; he was not used to hearing the echoes of your voice catch onto fear.

Luffy swears his heart had almost fallen to his feet when he heard your scream, and despite other crewmembers looking up in surprise and concern. They were no match for the speed of your boyfriend as he travelled quickly to the deck and disappeared in a blur of movements to your side.

The entirety of the ten seconds it took for him to get to you, his heart had paced his chest in worry, but now, as he witnesses your tearful eyes and the way you seem to try to hide within the walls, his worry only increases tenfold. This was you, [y/n], one of the strongest women he knew, and he felt a flare of protectiveness as he witnessed a sight he was not used to: you, scared.

"[y/n], what's wrong?" His voice is rushed, soft hands reaching for you, eyes searching yours for the cause of the dread he sees etched within them. His heart pounds.

Was someone here?

Did someone threaten you?

Who does he need to beat up?

What does he need to protect you from?

His eyebrows pull together as he watches you, the love of his life, try to form words. But it is then that he realises your eyes seem distant, not in an emotional way, but you had been staring past him, not meeting his gaze for some time now. And you know you should feel embarrassed, but you do not find it in yourself to hesitate when you raise a shaky hand towards the direction of your bed-side table.

"[y/n]?"

The Spider.

"L-Lu, please, can you g-get rid of it?"

Your voice is soft but trembles under your fear, a few tears slip past your cheeks, and it breaks your boyfriend's heart to see you that way. His eyebrows furrow in confusion when he sees you gesture in the direction of your bed, and he witnesses the creature you were so afraid of. In normal instances, he feels as though he would've laughed, but when he looks to see you, looking at him tearfully, in need of help, all he wants to do is reassure and protect you.

He quickly goes to your bedside, tilting his head at the creature as though waiting for it to protest to its removal before grabbing it swiftly between his hands. "I'll be back!" He quickly runs from the room, leaving you in silence, but returns shortly after with the absence of the creature in his hands. You finally feel yourself take a breath, and a rush of heat travels to your cheeks.

"Thanks, Lu..."

You murmur, unable to meet his eyes, but all you hear is your boyfriend's laugh, and all you feel is his warmth as he travels up to you, wrapping an arm around you tightly. It causes you to look up, and his grin is so bright and proud it rivals the sun.

"It's okay [y/n], you don't have to worry about Spiders when you're with me. I'll protect you!"

- Sanji - (Fear of Heights)

God, how did you get yourself into this situation? Maybe it was the lack of thinking, or the barrage of enemies that rushed you into movement, but now, in the middle of a dense forest, you found yourself stuck atop an abnormally high tree.

You sigh shakily as you look down at the forest floor, instantly regretting your decision to do so; it seems eons away. You feel sickness fill you and sweat promptly rises across your body, along with a flush that reaches your cheeks. You were a Strawhat, for God's sake, and yet you could not seem to move. Your hands burned at the tightness you held the trunk, bark etching itself onto your skin, and courage was a distant being to you.

Panic invades your senses, and your breath comes to you in short and shaky increments. You didn't know where your friends were, and you didn't want to call out, only for them to see you in no real danger, but lost in your head because of your irrational fear. Irrational. But to you, it was perfectly rational; to you, it felt as though you were on the brink of falling to your death.

Your mind scrambles, in a haze of wanting relief from the stress and the fear, but also in knowing you would likely get laughed at if you were ever found. Luckily for you, however, you hear the voice of one man, who you think will save you from turmoil. A voice calling to you, that took on a worried edge, most likely because of the onslaught of enemies that separated you from him.

"[y/n]!! Love, where are you?"

You find your boyfriend's familiar figure, his blond hair travelling far beneath you. Instantly, you feel queasy at the sight of him so far from you, and you force your eyes to face forward once more. But you don't know if you have the voice to reply.

"Love?!"

But you have to.

"S-," your voice is lost for a moment, but the tears that fill your eyes seem to encourage you to shout out to him; your fears are too much to bear. "Sanji!! I'm up here!"

You find solace in the fact that your voice stayed strong, and didn't give way to the tremors that invaded your body.

"Love?" Sanji's eyes instantly dart upwards, relief filling him in an instant at the sight of you unharmed. You were far up the breadth of an extremely tall tree, and Sanji could only imagine that you were rushed up the branches in the pursuit of safety from the enemies that had swarmed you.

Your boyfriend almost laughs out in ease, but his senses seem to pick up on your distress and the way you stand so rigid and unmoving, even when there is no adversary near.

"Love, you can come down now, there's no one here."

You hear the ringing of Sanji's voice in your ears, but again when you look down, you are instantly regretful, eyes looking sharply upwards and trying to contain your cries and embarrassment. You feel the branches creak at your movements, the breeze ruffles your hair slightly, and you hold tighter and unwavering.

"Love?"

Another swift breeze has you clutching onto the trunk of the tree like your life depended on it. More tears slip past your lashline, and you can't hide the way you are so afraid anymore. Sanji's brows come together in concern and worry, his heart beating faster as he realises you are so distressed. The love of his life, afraid.

"Love-"

"I-I can't! It's too high! Sanji- I can't-"

Sanji's heart drops sharply as he hears the trembling of your words falling from your mouth. He can practically feel the pain of the bark etching itself on your skin, can see the way you are so static and unmoving, can see your tears that threaten to break his heart. Never had he seen you so distressed, so scared of something before. Never had he acted so quickly to one's words.

Instantly, Sanji moves, kicking at the air in a rush to get to your side and reassure you.

"Don't worry, love, I'll come get you."

"Sanji..."

Only a second passes and you open your eyes from when you have fought to keep them tightly shut. You feel the pain in your limbs after being so rigid and stubborn, but you have yet to feel the relief that comes with safety. You can scarcely see past your tears, but Sanji's gaze reflects one of worry, as he caresses your face and catches the teardrops that run along them.

"I've got you, love."

Quickly, he gathers you into his arms, and you squeeze your eyes shut once more as you feel his gentle hands prying you into his chest. You only feel your fear start to fade when you feel your boyfriend's arms wrap themselves around you, in a cocoon of his scent and safety and warmth. Sanji doesn't feel his worry fade as he still feels light tremors travel through your skin.

When you are finally both on solid ground, you open your eyes slowly, a deathly grip still on your boyfriend. You meet worried eyes and try to smile sheepishly, fighting embarrassment as you wipe your tears frantically from your face. "S-sorry Sanji, guess that was stupid huh, afraid of heights, what a-" But Sanji quickly cuts you off with a gentle smile and the caress of hair that has fallen to your face.

"Love, it's not stupid, you were afraid, and that's okay. Everyone gets scared sometimes."

You still feel hesitant even under his love-lorn gaze, and the flickers of his eyes as he admires you, and relishes in the feeling of having been able to save you from your dread.

"But-"

"No matter what, I'll protect you, love."

- Zoro - (Fear of Enclosed Spaces)

"Take them away."

You grit your teeth at how the men behind you handle you harshly; their fingers gripping tightly onto the flesh of your arms. You do not turn, but you hear your boyfriend being treated the same, despite a lack of struggle on both of your parts. You don't exactly know how the two of you had gotten into this predicament, but Nami had told you both to surrender if ever captured; there was an easier escape route from the dungeons.

You try to contain your want to wrench free from grasps and show the men behind you what you are truly capable of, but you know (and Zoro knows) that this place was the primary breadth of enemy territory, and in doing so, it would be almost impossible to find a way out. You are both escorted through hallways and down several flights of stairs, the whole time you can feel your boyfriend's eyes trained on how the guards handle you. But finally, the men slow down and you find yourselves in what you are supposed to be the dungeons.

Supposed, because instead of jail cells, what greeted you was rows of metal doors.

You try to ignore the increased thrumming in your heart and try to stay voiceless when the men start to mutter about the cells you and Zoro would be confined to. You had been expecting metal bars and open spaces, not a metal box to be confined to. But before you can say anything, the guards move once more, opening a metal door before shoving both you and your boyfriend into the small space.

"W-wait-"

But the guards slammed the door shut and you were stuck in essentially, a box, where there was just enough space for the two of you to sit, and only just tall enough for the two of you to stand. The only light was the thin lines that seep in from the edges of the door, and the only sound is a humming sound and a soft breeze you knew to be air that was blown into the space.

Air, and yet you seem to forget how to breathe.

Zoro groans as he sits on the floor, but you remain standing, suddenly static on your feet. A harsh dread has kicked in, and as your eyes dart around the dark and enclosed space, sweat rises on your skin and your heartbeat burns against your chest. There is a panic, an indescribable phobia that fills you, as your trembling hands reach the coldness of metal that surrounds you, your eyes darting every which way to try to find an opening in the space around you.

Your boyfriend, unfazed and simply waiting on the crew to notice their absence and save them, is ignorant of the silent fears that your mind has entrapped you in. But he still feels you tense and standing next to him, and he furrows his eyebrows, confused.

"Oi, sit down woman. They're gonna be a while."

But you do not move, you can barely hear or accept his reassurances. Your panic flares wilder as you think of being entrapped in this space for a long period of time. Instantly you move into action, anxiety coursing through your veins. The chains around your wrists clatter noisily as trembling hands travel the metal box, breath coming in more laboured increments and trying to stop the sobs that want to break free. A rush of tears has fallen past your eyes, and all of a sudden Zoro is all too aware of you, the love of his life, in turmoil.

"Oi, wo-, [y/n], what's wrong?"

His voice is urgent, tense as if he doesn't notice a danger you are all too aware of. But now you can't control the way your breathing is beyond you, and your cries fall more freely from your lips.

"Z-Zoro, I can't- we- we have to find a way out. Zoro please, I can't stay here, I can't-"

Zoro's heart drops at the pain that is etched in your voice, at your pleading and your fear that entwines itself with your words. He cannot see much but he feels the frantic of your trembling movements, the way the woman he considered strongest in the world, crumbled beneath the weight of the metal room they were confined to.

"[y/n]..."

"Z-Zoro," your voice is etched with the weight of your tears, and though you think you should be embarrassed that a strong fighter such as you, crumbles in an enclosed space, those thoughts are beyond you. You just need to get out.

"Zoro, please- please I can't-"

Instantly, calloused hands reach for yours, and Zoro's worry increases tenfold as he feels the way you tremble beneath his gentle hold. You fight the fear that invades your senses as you feel your boyfriend pull your muttering form to the ground next to him and into his warm embrace. More tears spill as you feel one of Zoro's arms encircle you as though to shield you from what burdens you. You let out a gasping breath, feeling as though you were drowning in your fears.

"Z-Zoro..."

You bury your head into his chest and close your eyes tight as if to try and pretend that the two of you were just on the Sunny, lying in the comforts of your chambers. Zoro's heart aches against his chest at the feeling of you curling up against him, small and afraid of something he cannot save you from. He grits his teeth harshly as he thinks of the unknown amount of time the two of you may be stuck here for.

Soothing circles are splayed on your skin, a gentle murmur of words in the silence but still you keep your eyes shut and try to match your boyfriend's breathing.

"It's fine, woman. Nothing hurts you, as long as I'm here, remember?"

Zoro's voice is gruff in the ringing silence of the room, and if there was light and if you weren't so afraid, you would notice the blush on his cheeks as he murmurs his words to you. But instead, you feel his words cure the racing of your heart and slow the rate of your tears cascading down your face. You nod into him, relishing his warmth and strength and scent. Zoro merely holds you to him tighter.

You do not know the length of time that passes until Nami and Chopper appear from beyond the metal door, harsh light invading your senses. But all you know is that your boyfriend was quick to silently offer you a hand, never speaking of the fear that had reduced you to tears, but providing a gesture that silently promised he would protect you, from whatever you needed him to protect you from.

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inknopewetrust · 3 months ago

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𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐦

𝐀𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐚𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐱, 𝐚 𝐥𝐚𝐩𝐬𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐣𝐮𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐧𝐨 𝐨𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭.

𝐁𝐨𝐝𝐡𝐢 𝐃𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐧 𝐱 𝐅𝐞𝐦!𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐖𝐂: 6.8k

𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬: 𝟏𝟖+, 𝐌𝐃𝐈, 𝐬𝐦𝐮𝐭. 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐈𝐫𝐨𝐧 𝐅𝐥𝐚𝐦𝐞. 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐒𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐞𝐱, 𝐃𝐨𝐦 𝐁𝐨𝐝𝐡𝐢. 𝐕𝐢𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 (𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫).

𝐐𝐮𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐬: 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭 | 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭 | 𝐍𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

A distant, rhythmic pounding—one after another—echoed down the hall. Thud. Thud. Thud.

It beat down into leather. Strung from the beams of the high wooden ceilings, the chain of the bag rattled with every hit and the wood underneath its tether groaned with every sway.

Thud-thud. Thud-thud. Again, the sound captured his ears from the hallway beyond the large wooden doors.

And the sound drove him to insanity. This… impeccable sense of oblivion he felt you presented in times like these. So dangerous, so priceless. You were giving yourself away to the threats that lurked for an answer at the tips of a blade for the sake of “blowing off a little steam”, as Rhiannon had so kindly informed him.

Yet the feeling of naïveté could not escape him.

Bodhi Durran left the dining hall’s table in a fury, not unlike his cousin in such a manner. Billowing frustration palpable with the clobbering footsteps that took him straight to the training room stories below. He’d passed a few lingering first-years who’s ogling he’d grown accustomed to in his haze. The curls on his head bounced with every step; strands broke free and intruded his sight as each level he descended of Basgiath grew deeper into the chill of the ground and the night that had since fallen.

That thudding led him to the wooden door he’d walked through a hundred times. When the door flung open with a crack as it splintered on the stone, the pounding on the bag ceased immediately.

“I told you not to go to the mats alone,” the voice you’d learned to love so much ticked with an “I told you so” tone.

The bag swung into your wrapped hands as your body halted in movement. Out of breath, you looked to the intruder with a stern glare that was mutual. Staring right back with dark eyes and a hand on the door with its handle now in shards.

“How could I forget?” You countered as Bodhi slammed the door shut. “You are always right, remember?”

Her voice came back chuffed. “And that realization took you three years to make, dear girl.”

“Did you not listen to a single word I said to you?” Bodhi’s voice carried across the large, empty room in anger. “I swear you choose to ignore me on purpose. Do you know how dangerous this is!? How utterly stupid!?”

You felt a ripple cascade down the bond. “I do not make exceptions for feasting—it would do you well to remind him of that.”

The bag settled to a slow careen. You removed your dirtied hands and swiped the back of one across your mouth to collect the sweat. You eyed Bodhi’s stance. Hands on his hips, chest rising no different from your own in exhaustion.

His softness disappeared when he tried to emanate the antagonism of his family. Or, you’d just forgotten the lengths he’d go to keep an umbrella of safety above those he deemed most necessary of it.

“I heard you,” you breathed in deeply. “But I do not need a watchdog.”

“That isn’t what I said.”

“It is what you implied.”

The wraps on your hands took your attention. You knew it would drive him further into the protector that bloomed inside of him. Maybe you liked him like this. So flustered by his own sense of direction he’d lost all sense of decency. It was power you held over making a man as powerful as he in both name and task to feel flustered at your refusal to play the long game.

Your life was not a toy to be jostled with. No one, not even an assassin wielding a blade, could take away the little freedoms you were granted.

“If we’re together—“ he started but you were quick to finish his sentence.

“—then it will be less likely they’ll try to attack… I know. If it isn’t you, it’s Imogen. If it’s not Imogen, it’s Violet saying that same thing. I know.”

With his hands still planted on his hips, Bodhi’s eyes narrowed. “If you did, you wouldn’t be here.”

“If I can’t fight off my attackers alone then how can I be trusted in battle?” You looked up from your hands as the cloth unwinds between your fingertips. “We’ve all risked everything to be here and yet, year after year, I’ve managed to stay alive in far worse conditions than what we experience within these walls.”

His ire fumed. The beat of your heart was failing to slow while his fists clenched at his sides. Tendrils of his relic growing taut in the yellowing mage lights that burned as hot as he did.

“Good,” that same voice nearly purred in approval of your defense. “His arrogance is hereditary… unfortunately.”

“So is his confidence,” you retorted.

Bodhi was a quiet, ostentatious young man. He, like Xaden, did not need to be exuberant in their actions to draw eyes. They needn’t be comedic or charming beyond their abilities to seek a companion or get what they wanted even if their circumstance had led them to be strange acquaintances of vagabonds. He was enticing and exciting and self-assured most of the time. Bodhi’s soul had lifted itself from its groundings the second Rhiannon had affirmed your location and abandoned the man he’d become.

It only took something menial to throw him off the axis he’d perfected in balance. He was the balance of all things except himself.

And he couldn’t control the one thing he wanted so badly to: you.

“They’re trying to kill us.”

“I’m aware.”

“And you don’t care?”

“Ah,” you smiled slightly. “I didn’t say I didn’t care.”

Bodhi sighed deeply. His breathing exhaled into a strong huff of frustration and his dark eyes closed.

You drank the sight of him in. Still in flight leathers from a long day of maneuvers, Bodhi’s body never looked truly tired but in the evening, you could see the toll. His wide shoulders carried the weight of Xaden’s absence and the task of safe keeping within his wing. He knew you could handle yourself. He chose to ignore that sentiment for the sake of his own sanity—especially after witnessing the horrors of Solas’ power on conscription day.

And you knew that too.

Your hands became free of the cloth that was now covered in the dark painted finish of the sparring bag. They dropped into the opening of your own bag before your crouched down to sift through it. A sticky sweat began to dry on the backs of your knees, neck, and onto your forehead each passing second.

You needed a shower. Badly. Not even your own dragon would let you mount her in that state.

“Yes,” she imagined it in her own mind. “You are likely disgusting and I cannot fathom what attracts him to you in this way.”

“Human’s perform plenty of things while sweaty—well if you do those ‘things’ correctly, you just end up sweaty.” You imposed. That smile not faltering at the sound carrying through the connection.

“I must be in need of rest if you speaking in such disgust.”

“Then I will speak to you tomorrow. I wouldn’t want you to hear what happens.”

The bond between you went cold and you couldn’t help but feel a little joy in the way you spoke to her. Carefree and courageous; it made you want to be free of the bindings the college had closed in on you and the others. Bodhi felt those restrictions heavily.

“If I say I’m sorry, will you forgive me?” You asked him in a loose olive branch.

Bodhi cracked his eyes back open and spotted you squatting down. His arms hung looser as the reality of no one else being near the facility sunk in. You weren’t in any more danger than he was at any given moment.

“Knowing you,” he cleared his throat, “that apology would be empty of an actual concession.”

You shrugged. “If there is nothing to concede.”

“And you’d find a way of accusing me of being overbearing.”

“You are quite quick with your mind, Mr. Durran,” you joked, eyes turning calculated at him as the descended the small set of steps down to the maps and stalked over to you. You remained in a squat beside your bag.

“But that doesn’t mean I was wrong.” His voice was still as stern as it had been since he arrived minutes ago. With a slight tinge of worn, it’s husky nature sent a thrill down your spine in waves.

“I’ve been told the men of Tyrrendor have a hard time accepting their wrongness.”

In an instant, his tongue wet his lips. He drew his bottom lip between his teeth only to pull back and release it once a thought has passed him but remained imprinted on his intentions.

“We’re not all the same,” he eyed your crouched form. “But I think you know that.”

“No,” you agreed with a nod of your head and stood again. This time, closer to him as his approach landed at the edge of the mat the bag you’d been training on was situated.

“You’re not the same. But I can assure you that if your cousin had heard of Sorrengail training in her lonesome, he’d be out for blood. He stuck Liam on that poor girl without allowing her to find her footing first. I’m not her, Bodhi.”

“No,” he too agreed. “You’re not.”

“Good.” You reached for the strap of your bag on the floor but it was quick to be tugged away by a booted foot. “Is there a problem?” You quirked a brow in his direction.

The mat still separated the two of you from any true connection. A barrier of invisibility, it detached the hypotheticals from reality.

“That depends.” His foot dragged the strap inches closer to his person and away from the mat.

“On what?” You asked, arms now crossed.

“If you can follow orders.” He used that tone he’d grown fond of since assuming leadership in year two. Bodhi had always been headstrong but anyone in a leadership position would use their leverage against a cadet—even one three years strong and already knew all of his secrets.

“And who’s asking? You or my section leader?”

He pretended to ponder but even under the low light of the facility, Bodhi’s gleam shined through. It’s what cut him through the darkness that consumed Xaden; it’s what made him more approachable but deadly in pursuit.

“Your section leader doesn’t trust you listening to only him,” Bodhi’s voice fell low. You trailed your gaze along the strap of the bag and up his boots and to his thighs. You lingered in the space so wanton you’d felt the warmth before registering that you’d plummet into ice cold water if someone caught doing something unseemly in the training room. “But perhaps your boyfriend has better luck… he did this morning.”

He rose an eyebrow as if to remind you. You could still feel the burn in your legs. If anyone would look hard enough, they could see the slight bruising on the back of your neck from where he pressed you down into the mattress before the sun had broke the horizon.

“And what are my orders? I’m not too fond of being ordered around by a man, let alone my own boyfriend—who should know that a fresh dinner has already been threatened if he oversteps.”

Bodhi smiled slightly as a small chuckle escaped him. “Then I guess we’ll both meet Malek at the same time. I’m sure my mother would love to meet you.”

You stood back up. “Am I allowed to shower on my own or does that have to do with the orders you’re so keen on providing?”

“A shower would do.” Bodhi picked up your bag on the floor and nodded at you.

“Then I’ll see you in ten. We should be—“ you began walking off in the direction of the women’s showers when Bodhi’s hand shot out and grabbed at your bicep. “—able to get dinner then…”

“You’re not showering alone. You’re not doing anything tonight alone.” He let you go but walked in the opposite direction toward the men’s washroom with your bag.

“What’s stopping them from going in the men’s?” You asked, trailing behind.

“At least I’ll be there.”

“And the women’s is just… not good enough.”

“No.” He opened the door handle and motioned for you to enter. The mage lights that filled the training room began to drain themselves of energy as you both left the space. “They’d be expecting you there.”

“I’m sure a few people saw you storm away from dinner.”

Bodhi shrugged. He laid a hand on your back and pushed you toward the end of the showers and to one with a door already propped open. There was no one inside of the chamber because it was far too late for most who had spent all day training or learning instead. It was quiet and disarming; puddles of water grown cold littered the dry space of benches that split the room. Bodhi’s hand guided you into one and he shut the door with a harsh tug.

In the small room that separated a person’s goods from the shower itself, you stood face to face with Bodhi as he dropped your bag on the small stool. His black flight leathers were tight against his skin and unfastened at the top where his chest peaked out and the lingering lines of his marked skin remained.

“Oh,” you swallowed the lump in your throat, “you’re staying?”

“Why? Nervous?” You wanted to slap him so hard.

“I just didn’t think orders would mean this.”

“Go on,” he prompted as he opened up your bag and pulled out the towel you had stuffed in there earlier that morning. “We’re gonna be here all night if you’re just going to stand there and stare at me.”

“But you get to stare at me? Naked?”

“Nothing I haven’t seen before, baby.”

You stood for a moment thinking about his strange order. There was nothing about it that was significantly bad, nor a punishment for going off on your own and not listening to him. But then you thought, fuck it. If he was going to try to be the puppeteer of everything then he could suffer the consequences of being the protector he so badly wanted to be.

Bodhi folded the towel and set it beneath the bag as you unlaced your boots and started to strip away the clothes that had stuck to your body. He walked around you to turn on the water that came alive with a start only to settle in a spot beside you rather than across as he had been. You huffed in a laugh, shaking your head at his bombastic nature when he took the shirt from your hands and laid it within the bag.

“What are you doing?” You asked him while your fingers went to the button on your pants.

“Helping,” he replied casually.

“Oh no,” you repeated the “no” multiple times and he tossed his head back, curls going with it. “That’s not part of the deal.”

“I don’t think we really made a ‘deal.’”

“Changing terms, loose orders… I don’t think you have any idea what you’ve gotten yourself into, section leader.” You shimmied out of your pants and down to your underwear by the time he moved himself back to his original spot without complaint.

“You can stand there and watch. I think you’d be a little too distracted otherwise, right?”

Gods, he hated and loved you all the same.

“Sure,” he nodded to convince only himself. “It’d probably be a bad idea.”

You hummed in agreement while freeing your skin of everything and letting him drink you in from the space between you. He tried to keep his eyes on yours but failed miserably at an attempt to subtlety drag his gaze over every piece of you.

“Fuck me,” he muttered dejectedly. Passively, out of his own set of spite for your denial of his touch, he ran a hand over his mouth and pointed at the running water.

“Be a good girl and don’t waste the hot water.”

Your knees nearly buckled. But you obeyed and welcomed the scalding water that spewed from the small shower head against the wall. There was no difference between the washrooms that split off from the training room. The water pressure was the same and the grout between the stones in the walls and the floor were just as cracked on this side of the college. But there was still nothing but the noise of the single shower and if one were to listen closely, the sounds of two souls breathing heavier to ignore a concession that nothing about this disagreement laid within the fact you had ignored his wishes.

It was that while the world around you and the others who were either marked or survivors of Resson was closing in, Bodhi would go to the ends of the earth to keep you and the others alive. He would sacrifice everything if it meant he could feel you as he closed his eyes at night and see you the second they’d open again in the morning.

He stood there, watching, waiting. His fingers itched at his sides to roam along the curves of your skin and along the plush ruins of your body now damp from the rushing water above. You glistened in the low light; shining mounds of flesh he wanted to caress, to grope unabashedly pebbled as the water dripped from them and to the floor.

You ran both hands over your head and back down your neck over the valley of your breasts and to your stomach. He was hard. You could see the way he stood uncomfortably in his leathers as the heat filled the small chamber but also weaved its way into his bones.

out your hand, his jaw set hard with a sigh and he pulled open your bag wider. You kept your own supplies neatly tucked in the case provided to you as given by the college on the first day.

“Which one?” His voice was hoarse.

“The blue one.”

Bodhi dug into the small case and with a vice grip, clutched the blue bar in his hands. The scent of the soap was light, airy and one he’d memorized for peace of mind. He stood back upright and held it out to you.

“Thanks,” you said barely above a whisper as you took the soap from him and wet his hand with the water.

“Yeah,” he replied only to stand back to where he had been. A part of you felt cruel at his suffering but he wasn’t alone in his attraction.

The steam did nothing to mask your own arousal at the situation. You’d placed the pieces, moving them at your own will to suffer the consequences of his cavalier attempts. Soap suds couldn’t wash away the feeling that grew from your heart to your thighs. You tried to wash them away—tried to let the bubbles linger on your skin to prove to yourself, and to Bodhi, that you were more than capable of being alone amidst the chaos.

His eyes weren’t cowards as you paved a frothy path. Bodhi’s hand went to the front of his trousers and he shifted as he tugged at the bulge in them. Gods he was fucking leaking in them the longer he watched. And as much as he wanted to be mad at you for every little transgression, the way you enamored him melted every inch of the annoyance away.

“How was flight field?” Your voice asked above the spray of the water. “Imogen told me you were helping the second-years today?”

Bodhi scoffed. His teeth biting down onto his lip as he shook his head, looking away from you in a bout of disbelief.

“Really?”

“How was it?” You bent over to wash your legs. His eyes followed.

“It was… fine,” Bodhi counters. “Some of them are bound to get killed for their stupidity.”

“Oh like me?” Finishing with the soap, you reached out your hand to him and he bitterly accepted it back.

“I didn’t mean you were stupid,” he clarified. “I thought you being alone was.”

“I don’t think your logic is very sound.”

“No?”

You shook your head and turned around so your ass was facing him. You dipped your head back and let the stream wash over you and clear the soap completely away. All he wanted to do was fall on his knees and grab handfuls of you to please you both.

“Why?” He stepped a foot closer and the tops of his boots were wet now.

“There’s nothing stopping them from hunting in pairs or more. Me being alone doesn’t prevent anything from happening if Malek chooses it to see the light. If they were so keen on killing Sorrengail last year in her own room, nothing’s stopping them from killing us in broad daylight.”

“We would have the upper hand working together on this,” Bodhi said your name exasperatedly. His hand steadied him on the precipice of the shower and dry room. You peaked over your shoulder at him closing the gap.

“I’m out of your view for a mere hour and you’ve fallen to pieces, Bodhi Durran.”

“Well I can’t let anyone else get their hands on you.”

“And if they did?” You loved the way your heart pumped harder at the sight of his hand ready to tear the stone wall to bits.

“They wouldn’t.”

“Can you get the shampoo?” You asked him and he was quicker to back away this time. His frame still pent up, leathers still restricting, but faster than before.

“Do I need to—“ you began to clarify which was which but he brushed you off.

“I know which one it is.”

You closed your eyes under the water and let the heat fill your face. Bodhi’s shuffling was getting quiet the longer the seconds passed by. You heard a thud, then another only to be followed by the light squeak of worn hide hitting the floor. Before you could even turn around to face him, Bodhi was inside the shower, the shampoo roughly placed on the small corner ledge and his hands planted firmly on and around your waist.

His lips found purchase on your shoulder as you breathed in.

“I can’t fucking watch you do this shit and not touch you. I don’t care if you’re mad at me, I just want you to stay alive.”

Your head fell against his back. “I’m not mad.”

“Then what the fuck was all that?” His mouth laid claim to your shoulder and neck, teasing the skin already sensitive there.

“Maybe teaching you a lesson,” you stuttered a gasp as his hands roamed low. One cupping your pussy and dragging upwards along your clit. “It’s not me who feels like they can’t protect themselves.”

“You might not need protecting then,” his fingers steadied themselves on your clit. Your hands flung to the wall in front of you, grasping at smoothed over rock to sooth you. Bodhi took his middle finger and started with small circles on the sensitive bud. “But when you’re like this, and thinking of everything but saving yourself, at least I’m here too.”

“A bit more preoccupied than watching guard.”

“I can multi-task.”

You laughed, one hand leaving the wall to fall atop his own marred hand. You pushed back against his body and he groaned. His cock was lusty on the small of your back. Even on your toes, he’d tower over you in what was a family trait. His mother’s side had been generous with their dark hair and eyes that seemed to always know where you were and what you wanted. His finger was meticulous and slow, building a lapping wave within you as he felt you wiggle and writhe against his body.

His hair became a sopping mop as his teeth nipped the skin of your neck. He bit down, putting pressure only to lessen the ache with his tongue and a loose kiss in its place. The one finger was not enough for you once Bodhi crossed the threshold. You pushed at his hand, begging him without words for more which he’d long learned was enough of a tell that what he was doing was working.

Bodhi hummed as his finger, joined with another, slipped through your folds and filled you less than his cock would but just as tightly. Your shoulders jolted, shaking against him and he smirked against your back. Your hand went slack against his.

His voice purred in your ear. “That’s a good girl, yeah, that’s right… feels good, hm?”

It was intoxicating—the rush of bliss that ignited a fire within you. Bodhi had stormed into your space and set the room ablaze with a simple glance. He’d light the match for as long as he’d walk the earth. He curled his fingers further, pushing into you until he couldn’t go any farther. Bodhi halted once he reached that point and his other hand ran along your side gently.

“Gods,” you whined.

“Mm hm,” Bodhi affirmed your feelings. He brushed his nose on the shell of your ear. Pulling his two fingers back, he pushed them back in slowly before repeating it again and again to drive you mad.

You were trying so hard to be quiet. Each thrust of his fingers begged for sounds to escape your lips but all you could do was wire your eyes closed to see the kaleidoscope of colors he’d brought forth. Dancing swirls of delight as the bumps on your skin contrasted the hot water.

He continued to sink his middle and ring finger inside of you until he settled on a pace that made your head spin. His fingers moved exquisitely but fast. Unrelenting and breathless, your voice broke through the silent barrier of your mouth and into the space.

“Fuck,” your words came out in as a whimpering mess. Every groan that followed was broken apart by your body’s overstimulation. It’s shaking reaching beyond the physicality of Bodhi’s frantic fingering.

He kept going and going and going. The noises you made encouraged him to continue on through the burn of his wrist. The veins of his hands becoming more strained every time he pressed into the plush spot with a curl of his fingers. It was the one that made you dizzy, the one that he’d never tried with anyone else but you.

“Bodhi.”

His hand left your side and slapped onto the wall in front of you as his control was starting to waver along with you. His cock was painfully hard at the constant pressure your body laid upon him. He wanted to fuck you shamelessly where he stood.

“I hear you, I hear you,” he muttered. The water of the shower splashing into his eyes and face led his forehead to rest upon your shoulder.

“I can’t,” you squeaked out as his fingers went flat once more and moved up and down rapidly inside of you. “Gods I can’t—“

“Yes you can,” Bodhi reassured. One free hand clasped on top of his that rested on the wall in front of you and the other dug crescent moon shapes in his forearm. “You’ve done it before, baby. I know you can do it again for me.”

Your muscles in your legs spasmed as they shook. Bodhi let out a rewarding chuckle.

“Yeah… baby come on,” he urged faster. “I feel it. Come on, I feel it.”

“I—“ you let out a choked gasp as the dam within you broke free of yourself. Bodhi removed his fingers in an instant, finding your clit to rub circles around it as your body blacked out.

You forgot why he was mad at you and you him. The colors burst from your soul when your hand clutched onto his so tightly they’d surely leave a mark and the lewd reality of your finish was covered up by the sound of water splashing at your feet.

Both of his hands found themselves running up and down your back as you fell into the stones in front of where the shower head was no longer beaming down onto you. Your head relished the chill of the stone while your hands steadied you.

“Shhh,” Bodhi calmed. “You’re alright. I’ve got you.”

“If I knew you were going to do that, I would have made you wait until we got upstairs. My legs feel like jello.” Your breathing and voice was ragged. He smirked against your skin to lay a trail of kisses along your spine.

“Less clean up here.” There, his logic was sound.

He massaged the curve of your hips and back up to your arms. In his attempt to recover you, his mage light disappeared to reveal only one left. The sight of the glowing golden orb was tiring, romanticizing the little bubble of peace you’d managed in the men’s washroom. Bodhi’s hands helped you turn to face him and he pushed the shower head to face the opposite direction from your faces.

His wet black curls lay flat against his head and pushed back away from his face. He was a beautiful man, a soft and stern one who’s nature was far kinder than he let on to others.

A strong hand cupped the back of your head.

“I was an ass. I’m sorry,” he spoke honestly and the apology was clear on his face.

“I should have listened to you.”

“You’re more than capable. I was still a prick about it.”

You closed your eyes, forehead meeting his chin as your hands rested on his chest. Bodhi let you silently recover for what felt like minutes before his thumb pressed into the back of your neck.

“Baby,” he mumbled. His dick was still as hard as before and as much as you wanted to lay under the covers and do nothing more for the rest of your life, you’d be dammed to let a man as fine as Bodhi leave a shower wanting you.

“I’m fine,” you nodded as you raise your head. He studied your eyes before determining there was no lie to be shared. Bodhi Durran would never make you do anything you didn’t want. He knew you could deny him, truly push him away and he’d return to that dry spot and turn around for good. Yet you’d never lied to him in the years he’d know you, so he wet his lips, eyes targeting your own before forcing your neck closer to connect his lips with yours.

Immediately, you wrapped your arms around him, pulling him as close as possible. To feel every inch of him would never be enough. You opened wider, his tongue melting over yours as he titled you back and devoured the senses.

Gods did you love him as much as he did you.

Your hands found home on his waist before daring to lower themselves to his cock that laid sprung and leaning to the right. Bodhi broke his lips from yours in a hiss the moment your thumb stroked his tip. You smiled, nose knocking into his as you pecked his lips gently in return.

“It’s my turn now,” you clarified for him but he shook his head.

“No,” he swallowed hard. “I won’t last if you suck me off.”

“Then what do you want?”

“I just want to be fucking inside of you already.” He kissed you roughly as your hand circled his shaft and squeezed lightly. Both of his hands cradled your face now. “Fuck me.”

This smile was contagious. A beaming glow emitted from his face each time and it never ceased to amaze you that a man like him could be so joyous compared to the hand he was dealt.

“I think that’s what I’m supposed to say,” you scrunched your nose at him. However, you pumped him more the longer he took to change it up.

“Yeah,” he kissed you long. “But I don’t want to hurt you. I was rough before—I didn’t mean…”

“You were fine. Perfectly and utterly fine, Bodhi.”

“I just—“

The sound of the washroom’s door opening and closing ended the conversation abruptly. Your hand paused, not letting him go in hopes the intruder would simply enter an empty shower and it on but they didn’t. Footsteps moved in slow, showy maneuvers as the rusty hinges on stall doors creaked one after the other.

Your eyes turned frantic in a second and Bodhi kissed you quietly in ignorance.

The door opened as another assailant entered the space. Whoever had been the first dragged a blade across the stone floor. Its path igniting a loud, screech that made your ears bleed.

“This is so inconvenient,” Bodhi whispered.

“Fucking traitors!” A man shouted from the other side of the door. He was still a length or two away for safe keeping. “Come on out… secrets die with those who keep them.”

“I’m not going to fight them naked!” Your voice was barely audible.

“So you want to be impressed that I can take down both of them?” Bodhi felt his ego rise. You still hadn’t removed your hand from his cock and even if the door to the stall you shared was locked, there was no stopping the two killers beyond it.

“Keep the shower on.” He backed away from you and with it fell your hand. “Don’t say a word—I’ll be back in a minute.”

You weren’t sure if it was erotic or utterly absurd that he walked out of the room drenched in water with his dick still hard and weaponless. The shower ran as you pulled the towel from under your bag and wrapped it around yourself for decency in case of the worst scenario: he died nude on the washroom floor to leave you murdered in the shower.

But you also knew Bodhi was entirely capable.

And in a moment to appease the strife you caused, you let him take the lead. The small stool became your pedestal while the sounds of bodies colliding violently filled the air instead of steam. A clatter of a dagger falling to the floor gave you a semblance of hope he’d managed to disarm one of them.

You pulled the towel tighter to your body and lifted your hand to the door in an effort to keep it shut.

“Malek not today,” you murmured. “Not fucking today.”

Bodhi’s grunts quickly turned into a unabashed laughter. You couldn’t make out everything he said but every now and then, he’d jest to irritate.

Another dagger fell to the floor in shards.

“That’s it?” He rallied. “I know you can do better than that fucking shit. You wanna kill me, huh? Then wield your goddamn power and do something about it.”

A mistake. It was all a mistake because the second they raised their hands to wield whatever signet they had, the channel was closed. There was no chance for them in hand to hand, there were no options for them to run from him as he bested them nude and half aroused.

You felt useless. Sitting there, embarrassed by your own nudity to not do anything about the situation. Maybe Bodhi had been right. The idea that you being alone was stupid and you were risking your life by ignoring what was in your best interest. But Bodhi was also… Bodhi. He enjoyed showing off when it mattered the most and even behind the door, you could hear him kicking their ass.

And how were you to help when your legs felt like putty and the heat of the moment made you lightheaded?

There was the distinct sound of bone on bone cracking followed by a “fuck you” and a body hitting the ground. The tip of a blade chipped the stone floor as it was picked up and flew across the room to the other assailant who dropped cold in response.

Silence, besides the running water, was all that was left.

“Bodhi?” You called out tensely.

On the other side of the door, he was checking the pulse of the two second year cadets from first wing. His shoulder was burning, hand on fire from his broken bones finally having mended themselves from Resson, but the bruise on his jaw would manifest in mere hours.

There were no pulses—the threat had been eliminated—and he sighed heavily in relief.

You creaked the shower room’s door open just wide enough to peak your head out. One man’s neck was forced into an unnatural angle and the other had a dagger lodged in his heart, a perfect shot.

“They’re dead,” he said as if it weren’t obvious.

“Are you hurt?” You asked as his big brown eyes met your own. He shrugged, stepping over the body and walking back to you as if nothing had happened.

“Nothing serious.”

“But your arm—“

“—hurts but I’ll be fine.”

He met you at the door and smiled in the way he knew you couldn’t resist him. You never could, but he just memorized every tell you had when it came to loving him.

“Your jaw,” you breathed out. A hand reaching to the angry skin just at the junction of his jaw and cheek. “We should go get a pack. I’d rather not be here when someone walks in and finds those two.”

You peered over his body to look at them again and as expected, neither moved.

Bodhi shook his head. He pushed open the door inch by inch until finally he was back inside the safety of the room and shut the door again.

“What’s with the towel?” He asked.

“What?” You furrowed your brows in a suspended moment of disbelief.

“Why are you wearing that? We’re not done—I’m not done.”

“Bodhi, you’re hurt.”

“Yeah, here,” he pointed to his heart, “because now I have to jerk off by myself.”

“Oh my,” you rolled your eyes as far as they could go.

“I saved you from those fuckers and this is how you repay me?” His eyes gleamed so brightly in amusement. “I don’t know how I can go on anymore.”

He dramatically walked into the torrent alone. His hair went sopping wet again before he slicked it back and turned around.

“Have you always been this dramatic or is it just for me? You observe too much. This is too… Ridoc.”

“And now you’re thinking about other guys? After I saved you and made you—“

You were quick to step into the stream and over his mouth with your hand as if the dead would wake at the admission he made you come. The towel became soaked with water before it was far too heavy to remain on and found itself in a plop on the floor.

“Are you going to stop?” You asked him.

His eyes looked up in thought and his lips underneath your hand quirked up in a grin. Then, he nodded, gently removing your hand from his mouth.

“We can go,” he settled on honesty instead of humor. “I was joking.”

“I know.”

“It might also be rude to fuck in front of the dead.”

“How would they know?” You pondered. “They’re dead.”

Bodhi grasped your hand in his own tightly. Wordlessly, you could sense his gratefulness through his stare. How you were both alive and the threat of today was gone until the clock struck to reset the mission of the next batch of dismayed students seeking revenge. You too were grateful his imperious behavior sent him down a spiral to you. He, and the others, would have been furious had you taken on those two alone.

But he did it all in the sake of protecting you. And not even a war college could make you forget the significance of his want to do so.

“They might be ghosts… I can’t be sure though.”

You shook your head. “I don’t want to think about ghosts or dead people when we’re fucking.”

He rose a brow. “Oh, so you do want to have sex with me?”

“No,” you drew in closer until your chest met his and his arms wrangled themselves around you. One on the back of your neck, the other settled on the curve of your ass with a grope. “I said ‘fuck’ not sex, not make love, fuck.”

His smiled bloomed again and melted every piece of you away.

“My girl’s got such a dirty mouth, don’t you?”

You looked down bashfully while your hands tread the lines of his abdomen.

“I guess you’ll find that out, won’t you?”

He let you sink to your knees and show you just how much you appreciated him—both the overbearing man and the one who’d break a sweat just to see you again.

Thanks for taking the time and reading! As per usual, the best way to support your authors/creators is comments and reblogs! I thank you so much for your support.

Note: this fic has not been fully proofed! I apologize for errors in the meantime!

#Bodhi Durran x reader #Bodhi Durran #Fourth Wing #Iron Flame #Onyx Storm #Fourth Wing x Reader #bodhi x reader #bodhi fourth wing #the empyrean #x reader #fanfic #fanfiction

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riddleriddles · 4 months ago

Text

ಇ margaret.

(delicate, part one)

pairing. mattheo riddle x hufflepuff!shy!reader

summary. After the night of the ball, Mattheo couldn’t shake the thoughts of that girl. No matter how hard he tried to focus on anything else, her image lingered in his mind.

add notes. hey guys, i kind of disappeared for a bit, but i’m back now (kinda of), and bringing more Mattheo because i just love him so much. I’ve been thinking about writing more and developing him a bit further, i still feel like I’m not doing him justice, so maybe there’ll be more of him from now on. And I translated this with AI this time, so let me know if it’s better than when I used Google.

visit my masterlist :)

ಇ

Mattheo was in the common room, immersed in a restless silence. The dim greenish glow of the fireplace was the only light, casting flickering shadows on the stone walls. He stared at one of the paintings hanging on the wall, his hands buried in the pockets of his trousers. His eyes, though fixed on the painting in front of him, were unfocused. His mind wandered far beyond the room, lost in thoughts he couldn’t control.

In one hand, he balanced a cigarette between his fingers, occasionally bringing it to his lips with indifference. The bitter scent of smoke mingled with the heavy air in the room, but he seemed oblivious even to that. It was late—late enough that anyone else would have already been asleep. But for Mattheo, sleep was as distant as the faint moonlight barely creeping through the tall windows.

Meanwhile, Lorenzo was speaking incessantly, his excited tone filling the nearly empty room. He was recounting some Quidditch play with exaggerated enthusiasm, repeating details Mattheo had already heard countless times. Yet, Lorenzo’s words sounded like a distant buzz. It was impossible to care.

Because all that occupied Mattheo’s mind at that moment was her.

Mattheo hated it. He hated the weight of that involuntary obsession. It was as if she had quietly slipped in and taken possession of a space within him without asking for permission. He despised how his mind betrayed him, bringing back, like a cruel reflex, the memory of that smile she had given him at the ball. A shy, unpretentious smile, but one that had planted something within him—something he couldn’t name.

He knew how to handle girls. He always had. It was an art he mastered with ease, conducting encounters and flirtations with the skill of someone who knew the game well. But she… she didn’t play. She didn’t try. She didn’t need to. In fact, she had seemed genuinely surprised when he appeared beside her that night. And that unsettled him deeply.

“Mattheo, are you listening?” Lorenzo’s voice broke his thoughts like thunder, followed by a light pinch on his arm.

Mattheo blinked, reality slowly coming back to him. “Of course I’m not,” he answered flatly.

Lorenzo rolled his eyes, used to his friend’s lack of patience. “You’ve been off since that ball. Everything alright? Or did that girl actually get to you and your cold heart?”

“Don’t start, Enzo,” Mattheo replied with a frustrated sigh, leaning forward and crushing the cigarette in the silver ashtray on the table.

“Oh, it got to you,” Lorenzo laughed, teasing. “I’ve never seen you dance before. Especially not a waltz. And with a girl.”

“I was bored,” Mattheo lied, but the excuse came out with so little conviction that even he could tell how pathetic it sounded. He leaned back on the couch, squeezing his eyes shut as if that could push away the persistent images that kept invading his mind.

But if it was just boredom, why did he keep checking every room he entered, looking for her out of the corner of his eye? Why did that damn floral perfume seem embedded in his memory, like an echo that wouldn’t leave him?

The irritation burned inside him, slow and insidious. The way she had infiltrated his thoughts, occupying a space he hadn’t offered her, made him furious. She was like a riddle—and Mattheo hated riddles. Still, he knew he wouldn’t be able to ignore her, even if he tried.

Letting out a heavy sigh, he suddenly got up. “I’m heading to the dorm,” he announced, his tone making it clear the conversation was over.

Lorenzo raised an eyebrow in surprise, but his teasing grin remained. “Good night, broken heart,” he joked, but Mattheo didn’t respond.

When Mattheo reached the dormitory, he threw himself onto the bed with a low grunt, closing his eyes in a near-desperate motion. But the darkness didn’t bring the relief he had expected. On the contrary.

The first thing his mind conjured was the image of her bidding him farewell at the entrance to the Hufflepuff common room. The soft smile she had given him as she closed the door, the light of the hall reflecting off her shiny shoes as she carefully descended the stairs, holding the hem of her dress. It was an annoyingly vivid memory.

He turned on the bed, restless. He tried to push the thoughts away, but deep down he knew it wouldn’t be that simple. She wouldn’t leave his mind so easily. Not at all.

Days passed, dragged out, as if the universe was mocking Mattheo, torturing him while repeatedly playing those thoughts about her like a broken record. He tried to distract himself, searching for anything that would take him away from the constant irritation of being at the mercy of his own mind, but everything seemed utterly ineffective. Quidditch, and even the classes—which he no longer took as seriously—failed to pull his attention away and keep her image from his thoughts. And he hated it.

One day, Mattheo decided he would focus on the Quidditch practice. The cold wind sliced through his face as he flew with absurd precision, throwing the balls against the hoops with a force that seemed to expel his frustration along with them. But even then, something still distracted him. A simple glance at the stands and he realised: he was hoping she would be there, watching him. And the anger came back with full force. “This is ridiculous,” he repeated to himself, trying to refocus on the practice, but the truth was, nothing would pull him away from her.

That evening, the Great Hall exuded a vibrant atmosphere. The enchanted ceiling reflected a starry night sky, while floating candelabras gently spread a golden light across the long House tables. The sound of conversations and laughter mixed with the clinking of cutlery against silver plates. Platters overflowed with delicacies: succulent roasts, steaming bread, and colourful desserts that emitted a comforting aroma, filling the room with warmth that contrasted with the chilly air outside.

And then, there she was.

Mattheo saw her for the first time since that ball, and she seemed, if possible, even more enchanting. She was wearing her yellow and black daily robes, sitting near the centre of the Hufflepuff table, her face softly illuminated by the light of the candelabras. Her smile stood out among the crowd, and her hair, lightly tied up, seemed to catch the light in a way that made it glow gently. She leaned forward, laughing at something someone beside her had said—a trivial scene, but to Mattheo, it felt like the entire Great Hall had bent around her, as if the very room conspired to draw his attention to her.

In that instant, the buzz of conversations around him seemed to disappear, muffled by the intensity of his focus. He quickly glanced away, blinking repeatedly as he looked at his plate, his fingers tightening around the fork he was holding, as if that could push away the growing sense of discomfort. But the scent he had already come to know—that sweet floral perfume—seemed to linger in the air, even though she was metres away, as if the universe had decided to torment him.

The Great Hall, to Mattheo, had never seemed so crowded and, at the same time, so empty.

ಇ

The cold wind cut through the air in Hogsmeade that Saturday afternoon. The clear sky allowed the sun to shine gently, while the breeze stirred the leaves and flowers, which responded with a soft, rhythmic rustling. The small village was more crowded than usual, filled with excited Hogwarts students strolling through the stone streets. Between laughter and voices, the windows of candy, clothing, and curiosity shops made for a cozy, vibrant scene.

Mattheo walked calmly, having separated from his friends only a few minutes earlier. His hands rested in his pockets, and his mind was as distant as the mountains in the background. The sounds around him were nothing but muffled noise, unable to distract him from the thoughts that haunted him incessantly: her. He tried, in every way, to find a distraction, but it seemed useless. As if the universe insisted on mocking him, his eyes found her.

She was standing in front of one of the candy shops, looking undecided about whether to go in or not. With her hands holding her coat to protect herself from the cold, her shoulders were slightly hunched against the icy breeze. Her hair shone under the soft light of the afternoon sun, moving gently with the wind. She seemed so absorbed in her thoughts that she didn’t even notice Mattheo approaching. He stopped a step ahead of her, hesitating for a moment, as if the simple act of approaching her required more effort than usual.

Then, she saw him. Her eyes widened slightly before a shy but genuine smile appeared on her face. That smile had been haunting Mattheo since the ball. She seemed surprised, as if meeting him here was the last thing she expected.

“Hi… Mattheo, right?” Her voice was soft, a little uncertain, but filled with sincere sweetness. There was a hesitation in her tone, as if she feared he might not remember her or, worse, might prefer not to speak with her.

Mattheo exhaled a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. For a brief moment, he was caught between the impact of that smile and her simple beauty. “Yeah, that’s right… What are you doing here alone… again?” he asked, a slight teasing tone slipping out unintentionally.

His eyes wandered over her face, as if trying to memorize every detail—the gentle curve of her lips, the faint blush coloring her cheeks, and the shy gleam in her eyes.

She laughed, a light and somewhat nervous sound, as her cheeks flushed a deeper pink, perhaps from the cold, perhaps from shyness. “I came to buy some chocolates. I don’t know how, but I ended up here. I think the smell of sugar drew me in.” She laughed at herself, as if finding her own distraction amusing.

Mattheo watched her closely. The calmness of that moment contrasted with the chaos that was unfolding inside him. This was the first time they were alone, without interruptions, and he realized that, although he had imagined this scene countless times in his mind, now he didn’t quite know what to say. He, who always had the right words, found himself momentarily lost. It was strange… and irritatingly fascinating.

“Actually, I was going to buy something next door…” he began, his voice coming out more casually than he had expected. “If you want company, maybe we could go together?”

She blinked, surprised, and then her eyes brightened with contained curiosity. “Sure, I’d love that. Maybe you can even help me choose something. I always get so indecisive in these candy shops.” She smiled lightly, her lips curving ever so slightly, but to Mattheo, it seemed like something monumental.

He managed a more genuine smile, feeling his own hesitation fade away. “Definitely. I’m practically an expert on chocolate, if you want to know.” He opened the door to the shop, inviting her in with a casual gesture.

Inside, the aroma of chocolate and sugar enveloped them. The conversation flowed easier than Mattheo had imagined, with her laughing softly at his ironic comments about the more eccentric sweets in the shop. He found that he enjoyed listening to her more than he had expected, and for the first time in days, his mind seemed less chaotic. It was as though being near her made everything a little clearer, a little simpler.

When they left the shop, both carrying bags full of candy, Mattheo felt a strange desire to prolong the moment. The cold wind didn’t seem so intense anymore, and the sound of her laughter echoed in his mind like music. He found himself looking at her again, noticing how the soft light of the late afternoon highlighted the delicate features of her face.

For a brief moment, he almost reached out to brush a strand of hair from her eyes, but he stopped. He didn’t want to be too forward. He didn’t know her well enough for such a casual gesture… at least, not yet.

When the sun began to set, they said their goodbyes. She smiled once more, a sweet and peaceful smile, before waving and heading toward the carriage with a friend. Mattheo stood there for a few moments, watching her walk away.

ಇ

The air around the lake was calm and serene, as still as the water that reflected the orange sky of the late afternoon. Only the subtle sound of the waves and the whisper of the wind through the trees filled the space. The sun was beginning to dip below the horizon, casting a soft golden hue over everything, as if the world had paused in that moment. She sat by the lake, her legs crossed and her eyes fixed on the water’s surface, as if trying to uncover some invisible secret hidden there.

Mattheo saw her from a distance, and his breath faltered for a moment. How was it that she seemed to be everywhere lately? He knew he should simply move on, pretend he hadn’t seen her, but it felt like an impossible task. It was as though an invisible force was pulling him towards her, persistent and inevitable. Perhaps it was the way the sunlight seemed to dance in her hair, or the almost untouchable peace that seemed to surround her, in stark contrast to the chaos she always left in his mind.

He took a deep breath, pushing aside the strange shyness that only seemed to appear in her presence, and made his way over. The sound of his footsteps on the grass caught her attention, and she turned her face towards him, her eyes lighting up slightly. For a moment, she seemed surprised, but soon looked away again, returning her gaze to the lake in a calm posture, as if trying to hide any reaction.

“Do you always run off here alone?” he asked, shoving his hands in his pockets as he stopped beside her.

She shrugged slightly, a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips. “Sometimes. I like the peace here. No one comes around except in the summer.”

“I see,” he replied, sitting beside her without asking for permission, though he kept a respectful distance. “It’s the kind of place that makes you forget you’re surrounded by so many people all the time.”

“Exactly.” She nodded, turning her face towards him. Her eyes briefly examined his face, as if she was assessing his presence. “Here it feels… outside of reality.”

He nodded silently, relieved that she didn’t seem bothered by his approach. “A good place to think… or to escape,” he added lightly.

She chuckled softly, the sound delicate and almost musical. Mattheo noticed how her eyes would close slightly when she smiled, and had to look away to the water, afraid he was staring too intently.

For a few moments, silence stretched between them, but it was comfortable. The cool breeze from the lake brought a sense of calm, while the reflection of the sky on the water created an almost magical scene. Mattheo tried to think of something to say, but her natural ease made it harder than he’d like to admit.

“So, do you come here often?” he asked, his voice coming out quieter than he’d intended.

She turned her face towards him, her eyes soft and curious. “Yes, it’s one of my favourite places at the castle.”

He nodded, feeling a small satisfaction from learning something more about her. Any detail was valuable.

“I hope I’m not disturbing your peace,” he teased, a slight smile playing at the corner of his lips.

She shook her head quickly, sincerity in her response. “Of course not. It’s nice to have company sometimes.”

Her answer caught him off guard, and he felt a more genuine smile spread across his face. But realising how silly it must have looked, he cleared his throat and turned his gaze to the lake, picking up a stone from the shore. He tossed it expertly, and the small rock skipped across the water three times before sinking.

“You’re good at that,” she commented, sounding a bit impressed. “I didn’t know it was one of your talents.”

“There are many things about me you don’t know,” he replied, with a teasing tone, though not daring to look at her directly. He didn’t notice the faint blush that coloured her cheeks.

She laughed softly, but didn’t respond, and that left him restless. He didn’t want the conversation to end there.

“Do you want to try?” He offered her another stone.

She hesitated for a moment before taking the stone from his hand, her fingers brushing his briefly. It was a brief touch, but one that left a warm trace in his mind. She threw the stone with a little less force than necessary, and it sank almost immediately.

She laughed at herself, that sweet, light sound he wanted to hear forever. “Clearly, I’m not as talented as you.”

Mattheo chuckled at her failed attempt, but, to him, it was adorable. Everything about her was adorable—the way she spoke, how she smiled, how she moved. He was lost for her, and he knew it.

“It just takes practice,” he said, trying to keep his tone casual while holding back a smile.

The afternoon passed with laughter, casual conversation, and more attempts on her part to skip stones across the lake, all equally disastrous. But Mattheo didn’t mind. In fact, he preferred it this way. Any excuse to stay beside her, watching every little detail, was more than enough.

And as the sun began to hide behind the trees, casting the sky in deeper tones, Mattheo realised that his affection for her was growing at an almost alarming rate. But he didn’t want to stop.

ಇ

During Herbology class, the afternoon was warm. The students were scattered around the garden, working with the magical and exotic plants they were being taught to handle. Professor Sprout was observing closely, walking between the rows, supervising everyone’s efforts.

She was focused, struggling with a bold plant that had, without warning, begun to wind itself around her arm. With every movement she made, the plant tightened, as though it had a mind of its own and no friendly intentions.

“Oi! All right there?” Mattheo’s voice suddenly called, close enough to startle her. He approached with that playful smile on his lips, and she hadn’t realised he had been watching her since the beginning of the class.

She jumped slightly, turning to face him while still fighting against the stubborn plant. “I’m fine, yeah,” she replied with a slightly awkward smile, trying to cover up the disastrous situation. “It’s just… I haven’t quite figured out how to deal with this little plant.”

Mattheo laughed. He found it adorable how, even with the plant practically choking her arm, she still tried to maintain composure. But he could see right through the façade.

“Here, let me help,” he offered, stepping close enough for her to catch a faint whiff of his cologne, mixed with a trace of cigarette smoke on his robes. It wasn’t unpleasant, but unmistakable.

Now, with him so close, she noticed details she hadn’t before: the discreet scar on his cheek that she’d never noticed, and another that she liked to observe on the tip of his nose.

He wasn’t wearing the usual green and black Slytherin cloak, only the white shirt and loosely tied tie. His sleeves rolled up revealed strong forearms. With an absurd ease, he began untangling the plant from her arm.

“Is this all you can do? Let a little plant tear you to pieces?” he asked in a mocking tone, inspecting the marks the plant had left.

“Or do you like the pain?” He laughed, gently taking her hand to examine it more closely. His hands were cold and rough, but the touch, surprisingly, was gentle, as though he was trying not to hurt her more.

“Of course not, shut up!” She quickly replied, giving him a playful tap on the shoulder while letting out a light laugh. “It’s just that this plant, in particular, is a bit more… complex.”

“Complex?” A smile formed on his face. “It’s just another stupid plant,” he said, gently releasing her arm. His words made her give him a small frown.

“That’s what you think!” She shot back, pointing a finger directly at his chest. “This ‘stupid plant’ is worth the effort if you learn how to deal with it”

“Ah, right. And I suppose you know exactly what you’re doing, don’t you?” He teased, with a mischievous smile. She squinted her eyes at him, clearly not finding it funny.

“I’ll learn, alright?” She replied firmly, though he doubted her conviction would last long.

Mattheo chuckled quietly, stepping back a bit and crossing his arms while watching her with an amused— and something more, something he kept carefully hidden— look. “Oh, I’m sure you will.”

Determined, she tried again. She touched the plant carefully, moving her other hand with a pair of scissors, but it didn’t work. As soon as she got too close, the plant grabbed her arm again, this time with more force, causing her to bite her cheek in an attempt to hold back the pain.

Mattheo rolled his eyes as he watched her make the same mistake, but when he noticed the discomfort in her expression and the visibly tight grip on her arm, his face shifted. He quickly approached.

“Wait, let me take care of this,” he said, taking her arm again, this time with more urgency. He was so close that she could feel the heat radiating from him. “Relax your arm,” he instructed, his voice low and firm.

She obeyed, relaxing her arm, and after a few seconds, the plant gave way. He released it, while she quickly pulled her arm back, massaging her sore wrist.

“I’m never going to finish this task,” she complained, still rubbing the spot.

“Stop whining,” Mattheo said with a cheeky smile, his voice firm but laid-back. “You’re just being too nice to the plant. That’s not how it works.”

His words made her glare at him with a challenging look, as though silently daring him to show her something better.

“Watch and learn,” he said confidently — perhaps a bit too confidently. He stepped closer to the plant, rolling up his sleeves to avoid getting his shirt dirty. He studied the position of the roots for a few seconds before grabbing the plant with far more force than she had dared. Then, with scissors in hand, he cut the necessary parts with precision, finishing the task effortlessly.

“How can you be kind to a plant like that? That’s not how it works,” he remarked, wiping his hands with a cloth.

She watched the scene with a strange feeling growing in her stomach. It was odd seeing him so forceful with something, as he always seemed so calm and carefree. His sleeves rolled up, his strong arms, the confident manner — something about it made her blush. He looked strangely handsome in that moment.

“Hm, you’re rather good at that. Another skill of yours I had no idea existed,” she said, regaining her composure as she bent down to gather the little fruits that had fallen to the ground.

“There are plenty of things you still don’t know I’m good at,” he said casually, with an enigmatic smile.

ಇ

The cold night wind blew gently across the castle courtyard, where she sat on one of the stone benches, reviewing her notes. Mattheo, who had a habit of seeking her out at night, was leaning against a nearby column, watching her in silence while pretending to be distracted.

“You know staring at me isn’t going to help me study, right?” she asked, not taking her eyes off the parchment in front of her, though a small smile played at her lips.

“I’m not staring, I’m just—” He began, but was interrupted by the sound of footsteps approaching.

“Well, well, look who I find here.” Cedric Diggory’s unmistakably confident voice cut through the air, and Mattheo immediately straightened up, crossing his arms as he observed the new arrival.

She looked up, surprised, and forced a smile, a little nervous. “Hi, Cedric. Long time no see.”

Cedric stopped in front of her, his bright, warm smile — the one so many people found charming — still intact. “That’s true. I thought you’d forgotten about me.”

“Not at all,” she replied, looking away slightly, visibly uncomfortable. “But I’ve been busy with studies.”

Mattheo narrowed his eyes, observing the interaction with a neutral expression, but anyone who knew him well would notice the tension in his jaw. He stayed silent, but his gaze never left Cedric.

“Well, I’m glad to see you’re alright,” Cedric continued, completely ignoring Mattheo’s presence. He leaned in slightly, in a casual gesture, though it seemed a bit too intimate for those watching. “You know, I still feel bad about that night…”

She froze for a moment, a bit unsettled by the mention, before lowering her gaze. “Oh… Cedric, that’s in the past. No need to worry about it now.”

Mattheo frowned, curious and visibly suspicious, but he remained where he was, his hands now clenched into loose fists.

“Still, I want to apologise. You deserved someone who—”

“Cedric,” she interrupted, her voice soft but firm. Standing up from the bench, she looked away once more. “It’s really fine. I’ve gotten over it. We’re friends, right?”

Cedric’s smile faltered for a moment, but he nodded. “Of course. Friends.” He stepped back a little, seeming slightly uncomfortable. “Well, I hope to see you at the next match. It was good seeing you.”

“It was good to see you too,” she said, maintaining her calm posture, though still visibly shy.

Cedric waved one last time before walking away, finally noticing Mattheo’s presence, but not caring much about it. As soon as he disappeared down the corridor, silence hung between them.

“So…” Mattheo broke the silence, his voice laced with sarcasm. “Friends, is it?”

She rolled her eyes, sitting back down on the bench. “Yes, friends. You heard.”

“Because it seemed more like he was trying to… I don’t know… redeem himself or something,” Mattheo said, stepping closer, leaning against the bench beside her, his arms still crossed. “Is there something I should know?”

She sighed, closing the parchment. “It’s nothing important. Cedric was… just a disappointment, nothing more. And it’s in the past.”

He raised an eyebrow, the jealousy clear in his eyes. “A disappointment, huh?”

“Yes, Mattheo. A disappointment.” She looked at him seriously, though with a hint of amusement in her gaze. “And for your information, I feel absolutely nothing for him.”

“Really?” He leaned in a little, his face closer to hers. “Because it seemed like he still feels something for you.”

She shook her head, laughing lightly. “You’re being ridiculous.”

“Ridiculous?” He smiled, though there was something challenging in his expression. “If I’m ridiculous, then what is he?”

“Uninteresting.”

Her quick reply surprised both her and him. Mattheo blinked, looking a little less tense, and a genuine smile appeared on his lips. “Uninteresting, huh?”

She shrugged, feigning indifference. “Yes. And are you going to keep insisting on this, or will you let me finish studying?”

He watched her for a moment before grinning, leaning in even closer until their faces were dangerously near. “I think I can accept that… for now.”

Her eyes widened slightly, her heart racing at the proximity. He noticed, but instead of pulling back, he just gave her a small smile before pulling away again, giving her space — but not much.

“Good luck with your studies, then,” he said, his voice carrying a tone she couldn’t quite decipher, before leaning back against the column and staying there, as if he had no plans of leaving anytime soon.

The silence took over them both again, but after a few minutes, he stepped closer still and, in a low tone, almost as if testing his words, asked:

“Was it him who made you cry that night at the ball?”

She was momentarily speechless, her face flushing slightly as she looked at him, nervous. She couldn’t meet Mattheo’s eyes, but the memory of that night still affected her deeply. Her fingers began to play with the edges of the parchment, looking for something to focus on.

“Yes…” she answered, her voice soft and hesitant. “It was him.”

Mattheo felt a wave of protectiveness surge within him. His eyes darkened for a moment, as if the thought of Cedric causing her pain bothered him deeply. He moved a little closer, his voice now laden with concern.

“He doesn’t deserve a single ounce of your attention,” he said, the softness of his words contrasting with the intensity of his gaze.

She looked up at him, feeling a mix of relief and gratitude. Even without saying anything further, she knew Mattheo was there for her, with no reservations, ready to protect whatever was necessary.

“I know,” she replied, a shy smile beginning to form on her lips, comforting yet tinged with vulnerability.

He watched her for a moment, a protective expression on his face, and then gave a slight smile, softer this time, as though he was finally understanding what truly mattered.

“Don’t worry,” he said, in a tone that seemed to promise something. “I’m here.”

ಇ

Mattheo stood in the dark corridor, hands in his pockets, trying to control the whirlwind of thoughts still spinning in his head. Enzo was beside him, observing his friend patiently. But the silence between them was growing uncomfortable. The tension radiating off Mattheo was almost palpable.

“Mate, you’re freaking out over this?” Enzo finally spoke, his voice low and bored, breaking the silence.

Mattheo looked at him, his eyes slightly irritated. “I’m not freaking out. I just… didn’t expect to feel this way, you know? I didn’t think I’d be so… bothered.” He took a step forward, stopping in front of one of the cold castle walls. “But he can’t just show up like nothing’s happened. And she… she seems so… calm.”

Enzo sighed, arms crossed. “You’re talking about Cedric, right?”

“Who else?” Mattheo muttered, almost growling, his eyes fixed on an invisible point on the wall. “He shouldn’t be so comfortable around her. And what’s worse is, she doesn’t seem to care. It’s like just another conversation, just another interaction. But what am I, Enzo? A spectator? damnit.”

Enzo moved closer to him, not showing much surprise at Mattheo’s behaviour, but still visibly paying attention. “And you think she’ll start thinking about you if you keep doing this? If you keep torturing yourself, waiting for things to sort themselves out?”

Mattheo turned to face him, frustration clear on his face. “I know what you’re trying to say, but I’m not an idiot, Enzo. I already know what she feels, I’ve already seen it, she’s not the type to make things clear that easily. And if I try to do something, I’ll just make things worse. I’m not… like him.”

Enzo gave a tired smile, shaking his head. “Mate, you’re hiding behind this idea of ‘I’m not like him’. I know what you’ve got in your head, but… maybe you need to stop thinking there’s a manual on how to act here. Just go up to her. Don’t overthink it. You’ve got a chance, but if you keep going like this, you’ll lose it, and in the end, what will be left?”

Mattheo remained silent for a while, his gaze fixed on the floor. He knew Enzo was right, but the idea of approaching her still felt so distant, like he had lost control over the situation.

“She should be in the greenhouse,” Mattheo commented, his voice tinged with slight hesitation but also resignation.

“Yeah,” Enzo replied, already knowing where this was headed. “Now go on, or do you want to keep complaining for another hour?”

Mattheo looked at him, a little irritated, but also unsure of how to react. He knew what Enzo was suggesting wasn’t just about having a simple chat. He was telling Mattheo to open up in a way he didn’t allow himself to. But deep down, he knew he couldn’t let things continue like this.

Mattheo let out a heavy sigh and started walking towards the greenhouse. Enzo watched him for a moment, his expression serious but still offering silent support.

The cold wind cut through the empty greenhouses as she stayed there, alone, organising her materials and rereading notes from the day’s class. The light from the setting sun filtered through the windows, casting an orange glow across the room. She was so focused that she didn’t even hear the footsteps approaching.

“You really don’t know when to stop, do you?” The familiar voice of Mattheo came from behind her, relaxed, with that trademark tone that made her roll her eyes — and, at the same time, smile.

She turned around, surprised, holding a quill in her hand. “You’re still here? I thought you’d have run off to the common room by now.”

“And leave you here alone, exhausted and lost in your thoughts?” He stepped closer with a teasing smile, stopping next to the counter where she worked. “Seems a bit irresponsible of me, don’t you think?”

She laughed lightly, shaking her head. “I’m fine. Just wanted to finish reviewing this before tomorrow.”

“Of course you did,” he replied, crossing his arms and casually leaning against the counter. “Always so diligent. But you know the plants aren’t going to run away if you leave them for tomorrow, right?”

She returned her focus to the notes, trying to ignore his closeness. “I’d rather be sure. Besides, if I head to the castle now, I’ll probably just get distracted.”

“So, you admit I’m a distraction.” He smiled, his gaze full of amusement.

She paused for a second, realising what she had said, and blushed slightly. “That’s not what I meant.”

“Of course not,” he tilted his head, his eyes watching her every reaction. “But it’s not like it’s a lie.”

She huffed, trying to stifle a smile as she returned to her materials on the counter. “If you’ve only come here to tease me, you might as well head back to the castle.”

“Maybe I came for another reason.” He took a step forward, now standing even closer, enough that she could feel his warmth, despite the cold around them.

She lifted her eyes to meet his, trying to maintain composure. “And what might that be?”

He hesitated for a moment, the smile fading slightly, but the sparkle in his eyes remained. “Sometimes, I think you’re the only person who hasn’t realised.”

“Realised what?” The question escaped her lips before she could stop herself.

He didn’t respond right away. Instead, he leaned in a little more, his face close enough that she could smell the faint scent of tobacco mixed with something woody. His eyes locked onto hers, and for a moment, the silence seemed louder than any words.

“This.” The word came out before he closed the gap between them, his lips meeting hers in a soft, but confident kiss.

She froze for a second, surprised, before relaxing slightly. The kiss was gentle, as if he was waiting for her to pull away. But she didn’t pull away.

When he broke the kiss, the smile returned to his face, now softer and almost challenging. “Maybe that clears things up.”

She was still processing what had just happened, her heart racing, words escaping her. “You kissed me.”

“And you liked it.” He took a step back, but his gaze remained fixed on hers, as if waiting for some sort of confirmation.

She sighed, a small, involuntary smile appearing on her lips. “I liked it.”

He laughed, shaking his head, and extended a hand to help her gather the scattered materials. “Come on, or Professor Sprout’s going to turn us into fertiliser for being late.”

Without realising it, she let him accompany her back to the castle, and this time, the silence between them felt comfortable — and full of new feelings.

#riddleriddles #harry potter #slytherin x hufflepuff #slytherpuff #mattheoxreader #mattheo riddle x reader #mattheo riddle fluff #mattheo riddle #mattheo riddle imagine #mattheo x you #mattheo imagine #mattheo fluff

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one-sunny · 2 months ago

Text

Over and Over Again.

Portgas D. Ace x Reader

Summary: It was one thing to find out that other timelines exist, but it was another to find out your place in them. Especially when that place was at the side of a man you didn’t call yours in this timeline.

Inspired by the “Would you fall in love with me again” trend 🤷‍♀️

Masterlist

I will fall in love with you, over and over again.

The tavern is lively, loud voices echoing and the drinks flowing easily. Ace pushes the swinging door open to step inside and a few heads turn.

Fire fist Ace had a certain presence about him, after all.

With a quick scan of the room, Ace drifts a step closer to you, arm brushing you own. “Stay close.” He mutters as he pushes through to the bar top. Ace presses his way in and nudges open a spot for you at his side. “We’re looking for someone.” The bartender regards Ace closely before offering you the same close observation. “Teller.”

“What do you need with the woman?” Eyes narrow at the two of you.

“Information.” You speak up, the skepticism written on his face. “We aren’t looking for any trouble.” The man clicks his tongue as if debating if that was true.

With a narrow eyed look at Ace, he finally relents. “Side door, end of the hall. We will be notified if you two cause us any trouble and trust me, you don’t want to cause any trouble.”

Ace almost laughs but feels your elbow nudging into his ribs in warning.

You follow the man’s directions to a door with orange tinted stain. You offer a soft knock, but Ace pushes straight into the room without a second to protest.

The old woman is sat cross legged, iridescent orange scales running along her exposed ankle before disappearing into the flowy pants she wore, with a pleasant smile on her face. You both step into the room with determination, but falter as she speaks your names into the quiet room. “I’ve been expecting you both.”

“Expecting-“

“We are looking for someone.” Ace’s deep voice interrupts you in effort to hide your shared surprise.

Ace was a skeptic in a sense. Seeking out the mermaid living far from fishman island hadn’t been his idea. The man had no qualms with mermaids as a whole, but this one was different. She was rumored to be the only person on this plane of existence that can tap into other existences- other timelines of the world. It was a notion that made Ace very uncomfortable.

But this other worldly ability meant that she could find anyone, anywhere, in any existence.

Ace is rigid as Teller speaks, and business is completed without a hitch. The woman was wise beyond years and seemed very eager to lend her aid for whatever reason. That’s what made you uncomfortable. Her willingness to lend the aid to total strangers.

He leaves the room first with a borrowed transponder snail in hand. You thank the woman and make to follow after him- when her voice catches your attention.

“The two of you always come to me.” Teller speaks in such an assured tone that you cannot question her certainty. “And you will always continue to, i presume.”

“What do you mean?”

“You and the commander.” Her eyes search past your shoulder to where Ace had already disappeared out of the room. “You’re led here for different reasons, for the most part, but you’re always together. You always find each other. And he always has that love sick look on his face. In the vast expansion of my… talents… It’s the one thing I never tire of.”

“We always find each other?”

“It doesn’t matter what timeline, or where the two of you begin. You always end up right here together. You always end up looking at him with just as much adoration as you held today.”

“He and I aren’t together-“

“Ah, not in this universe.” She nods with pursed lips, which quickly turn to a bright smile. “Not yet at least.”

You’re in a daze as you step out of the room. Ace was your crewmate, your second division commander, and your best friend. You met by chance and he was more than enthusiastic to introduce you to the man that saved him as well. And you have been inseparable since.

There was something different about your relationship with Ace. You didn’t treat each other the same as you did the rest of the crew, and you were often the one Ace sought out any time he needed someone to aid him on a mission. No matter where you were, Ace protected you like his own life depended on it, and you offered him that same grace anytime you were given the chance. You held an affection for him that you refused to admit out loud.

“Everything okay?” Ace startles you from your trance. He narrows his eyes, “Did she say something to you?”

“N-no. It’s all good.” You force your smile at him.

I don’t care how, where, or when.

You always find each other. The words have played in your mind since the meeting with Teller the previous night. You and Ace have docked on a small island with seemingly no inhabitants. The striker wasn’t good for overnight travel, after all.

Ace crouches by the stack of firewood, the logs catching with a simple flick of his wrist. “Come on, it’s cold out.” He call you over with a smile.

It’s a simple gesture but your mind lingers on it longer than normal.

No matter how long it’s been,

You stare into the flames in silence, yet your thoughts are racing a million miles a second.

Ace watches you with worry furrowing his brow. Teller had said something to you. He didn’t know what she could have said to make you so distracted and he certainly didn’t know what it could be to make you lie about it. He hated that. Portgas D Ace was a man with a million secrets, but never from you. He would never lie to you. You were far too special to him.

The silence was killing him.

“What’s going on?”

His attention is focused solely on you and you are more than aware of the way heat prickles over your cold skin. You wonder how long his attention has made you react like this.

You meet his eye for just a moment before looking back to the fire. “It’s nothing.”

Ace leans over to you, placing two fingers to your jaw to force you to look at him. “What’s going on? You know you can talk to me.” You swallow hard under his gaze.

You take in a deep breath. “It’s, uhm, something Teller said to me.” Ace blows out a breath as you tell him this. He knew it.

“What did she say?”

Your eyes fall back to the fire. “Something about the timelines, ‘bout us.”

“Us?” Ace swallows hard.

“That we always find each other.” You worry one of the buttons from your jacket between your fingers. “We always end up together, even though we aren’t in this timeline. Not yet, at least.” Heat rises to your cheeks. “That’s what she said.”

Ace hums in thought. “But we are together?” Your eyes narrow at Ace and it doesn’t take him long at all to connect the dots. “Oh.”

“Yeah.” You slowly nod.

Ace fidgets with the beaded bracelet around his wrist. “And that,” His voice is low and hesitant. “That bothers you?” You’re shaking your head before you can properly think about it.

“I’ve never really,” You trail off as you consider his words. “Thought about it, I guess.”

The only thing you can hear is the flickering of the flames. Ace bites at his lip as he battles with his thoughts. He always saw himself as someone who was cursed. Someone destined to fail. A bloodline to end. But how could that be so if he ended up with you in every time line? He couldn’t think of anything he was less deserving of, and yet…

“I have.” He declares before he can consider it further. “I’ve, uh, thought about it before. A lot actually.”

The confession takes you by surprise. “You have?” You breathe out, now meeting his gaze in a way that was unwavering. Ace nods and you can make out a faint blush through the light of the fire. “I never did until,” You tip your head. “Until now. It’s like it all… makes sense.”

Ace leans in a little bit closer to envelope you in his familiar warmth. His hand moves to hold your jaw once again, but this time you don’t want to look away. Half lidded eyes flicker to your lips in a silent question.

You tip your head in confirmation.

Your lips meet in a slow and delicate kiss. It’s unfamiliar as if you were now mapping out the feel of each other just as you have mapped out countless islands. Ace pulls you in closer and a warm arm moves around you to hold you to him. You chin tips to deepen the kiss, to take more of him. And he freely gives it to you.

Neither of you seem to want to pull away, but your lungs almost start to burn. You reluctantly break the kiss, still holding each other close, noses brushing together.

A smile pulls to Ace’s lips, bright and sunny.

You’re mine.

#ik the song has a whole story but i keep seeing this trend and wanted to write on it #thinking up an idea w this song for sanji too… sooo maybe look forward to that #portgas ace x reader #portgas d ace x reader #one piece #portgas ace one shot #portgas d ace #portgas d ace one shot #portgas ace #one piece x reader #one piece one shot #one-fics #header: the kiss (g. klimt)

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luvsupa · 10 months ago

Text

“WE’RE ENGAGED!”

tags: fem!reader x prince! gojo satoru, childhood enemies to almost lovers to enemies (☹️), bully!gojo, gojo gets jealous/ he’s confusing again, love (ish)-hate relationship, ANGST, royalty, arranged marriage, forbidden love, lots of tension, kissing, cheating (guys don’t ever cheat) idk what to add..

w.c: 3.0k (🫨)

a/n: thank you guys for the support! 👩🏽‍❤️‍💋‍👩🏽 + likes and reblogs are appreciative!

prince gojo masterlist

cheers and applause echo in the drawing room as nanami slips a diamond ring onto your finger. your heart swells with joy at the promise of your future together. you had told nanami that this marriage would finally bring you the peace and love you’ve always longed for.

as you turn, you see your mother in tears, clinging to your father, both of them overwhelmed with emotion as they watch their daughter grow up so fast. the sight of nanami’s and gojo’s families, gazing at you with admiration, fills you with a sense of pride and belonging. even the queen herself is tearing up! but the only person who isn’t overjoyed is gojo.

he sits on the couch, his eyes locked onto yours, filled with irritation. the tension between you is beyond thick. sensing gojo's glare, nanami does the unthinkable.

with a swift motion, nanami spins you around and softly holds your face, his touch gentle and reassuring. he leans in to kiss you on the lips. you’re caught by surprise but then immediately kiss him back, the warmth of his lips melting away any doubts. you feel him smile into the kiss, a gesture that fills you with love and protection. the sudden sound of loud stomping pulls you from the kiss. you break away and turn to see gojo storming out of the room, his anger known in every step.

“awh, you two just warm my heart,” the queen says, wiping her tears away. “your engagement ball will be in a few days! the public cannot wait to see our new royal couple!” she adds, her voice filled with excitement and anticipation.

as everyone talks among themselves and you and nanami are caught up in conversation, one of the guards politely interrupts to inform the queen that an invitation has been delivered. the queen opens it, her expression turning to one of confusion.

“well, this is a surprise…” mrs. gojo says, her mind already working. “the haras are hosting a charity ball tonight. this could be good for your image.” the queen informs everyone. the haras? that name sounds familiar...

“ayana’s family is hosting a charity ball? she was always against anything involving charities,” nanami remarks.

oh. of course, ayana.

“i agree, it seems ayana may have informed her parents of your arrival. you know, your presence is greatly valued at such events,” nanami’s mother says, handing nanami a personal invitation that reads, "to kenny," with a heart beside it. he notices you staring at the letter and quickly crumples it up, making your worries disappear.

“if you don’t wish to attend the ball, i will respect your decision,” nanami whispers into your ear, his smooth deep voice sending shivers down your back. you look up at him, trying to stay composed despite how good he looks.

“we can go. besides, who am i going to show off my ring to?” you say, both of you giggling, knowing ayana would go crazy seeing the ring he gifted you.

“you should probably go check on satoru,” nanami adds, did something happen to him?

“it appears he didn’t take our engagement very well.” you nod at his words, giving him a peck on the lips before leaving to search for gojo.

⨯. ⁺ ✦ ⊹ . *

after what feels like hours of searching each room in the castle, you give up. gojo is nowhere to be found.

you head to your room, looking down at your ring reminded of the promised life nanami proposed with. a smile forms on your face as you enter, but you stop dead in your tracks when you see gojo sitting on your bed, reading your journal.

“why are you reading my journal?” you ask, your smile fading, anger growing. he looks up at you, irritation clear on his face as if you’ve done something to upset him.

“you know, your mattress is more comfortable than mine. i might have the servants switch it,” he says, ignoring your question and bouncing slightly on the bed to test it. “why are you even here?” you demand.

“i don’t appreciate you making my fiancée upset, especially to the point of tears,” he says, rising from the bed and walking behind you, shutting the door behind you to give you both privacy.

“fiancée? you-you proposed?” you ask, shock evident in your voice as you follow his movements around your room. “i will propose,” he says, taking a seat at your vanity desk. “her family’s event tonight will be the perfect time, don’t you think?” he says, checking himself out in the mirror. you can only nod in response.

“since she will become a princess, i expect you to treat her with kindness,” he says, looking at you through the mirror. your jaw drops at his words.

“expect me to? i’ve done my best to be kind, but all she does is the utmost evil. how dare you say that,” you reply, anger and disbelief mixing in your voice.

“you’re right, but she has shown how sorry she is. she expects a sincere apology from you,” gojo says as you walk closer, trying to see if he’s joking. “after all, you did make her cry in the garden the other day.”

“i didn’t do anything to her! 'toru, she is lying!” you protest.

“prince gojo,” he corrects. “i am not ‘'toru,’ i am prince gojo.”

you look down at him in betrayal. he’s never corrected you before, so why now?

“you’re mad because i’m marrying kento,” you say, piecing everything together. he just stares at you, unwilling to confirm your suspicion. gojo then rises from the vanity chair, looking down at you as he walks towards the door.

“it is an order to apologize to ayana,” he says, opening the door to leave. “and if i don’t?” you challenge.

“then your stay here will be cut short—any connection you have with my family will be ended,” he replies, slamming the door behind him.

⨯. ⁺ ✦ ⊹ . *

after your argument with gojo, you shake off everything and get prepared yourself in your room for the ball. nanami entered quietly, closing the door behind him. he approached you, his eyes filled with admiration and love. he wrapped his arms around your waist, pulling you close.

“you look stunning,” he whispered, his breath warm against your neck.

you turned in his arms, your hands resting on his chest. “and you look as handsome as ever,” you replied, your voice soft and affectionate.

he leaned down, capturing your lips in a soft, passionate kiss. the world outside faded away as you melted into his embrace, the intensity of your connection growing with each moment. his hands roamed your back, pulling you even closer, deepening the kiss.

breaking the kiss for a moment, he looked into your eyes, his gaze filled with a mixture of desire and tenderness. “I cannot wait to call you my wife,” he murmured, his voice husky with emotion.

you smiled, your heart swelling with love. “and I can’t wait to be your wife,” you replied, your fingers tracing the outline of his jaw.

he kissed you again, this time more urgently, as if trying to convey all the love and passion he felt for you in that single kiss. you responded with equal desire, your hands tangling in his hair, pulling him even closer.

as the kiss grew more heated, you felt the world around you blur, the only thing that mattered was the man holding you in his arms. his lips trailed down your neck, leaving a trail of burning desire in their wake. you moaned softly, your body responding to his touch.

just as things were about to escalate, there was a knock on the door, pulling you both back to reality. you pulled away from each other, your breathing heavy and your hearts racing.

“we should head downstairs,” you said, your voice shaky.

he nodded, his eyes still dark with desire. “yes, we should,” he agreed, exiting your room leaving you with privacy.

⨯. ⁺ ✦ ⊹ . *

everyone gathered at the front of the castle, you waited for a few members to finish getting ready. the queen announced that the carriages were prepared, and they headed to their respective carriages. just as you and nanami were about to exit through the large double doors, a guard approached nanami with urgent news.

“do you want me to wait for you, kento?” you asked, willing to stay back and arrive late with him. he shook his head. “no, dear. i'll attend to this meeting and join you. don't worry,” he reassured you, giving you a quick peck on the lips before following his guards.

you felt a pang of sadness seeing him depart from your side.

is this what newlyweds feel like?

shaking off your thoughts, you walked towards one of the waiting carriages. thanking the guards who opened the door for you, you stepped inside. but as you did, you tripped over someone's feet and fell onto their lap. you turned to see gojo manspreading, holding onto your waist to prevent you from hitting your head on the carriage's interior.

“what the hell are you doing in my carriage?” you exclaimed, pushing his arms away and moving to sit on the opposite side.

“your carriage?” he retorted, pointing up at the gold plate engraved with "PRINCE SATORU GOJO."

oh.

quickly apologizing for your mistake, you attempted to leave the carriage, but gojo stopped you, signaling to the guards that everything was fine as they closed the door.

"don't want to ride with your husband?" gojo teased, a smirk playing on his lips. “my, my, i didn't expect you two to be fighting already.”

“no... he has an emergency meeting,” you replied, raising an eyebrow. “heh, a meeting, you say? sounds like he's trying to get out of the marriage,” gojo chuckled, making you pout. as you bantered back and forth, the carriage suddenly lurched forward, taking you by surprise.

glancing out the window, you both sat in an uncomfortable silence.

“you're truly breathtaking,” gojo remarked suddenly, catching you off guard. blushing, you fiddled with your fingers, avoiding his gaze. “you look good yourself,” you managed to say, trying to deflect the compliment.

“i read what you wrote in your journal about me,” he began, causing your heart to skip a beat. "i love you too," he added, and held yourself back from repeating those words back, staring at your ring to remind yourself of the man you were soon to marry.

just as those words hung in the air, the carriage came to a sudden stop, signaling your arrival at the gala. the guards opened the door, and gojo stepped out first.

“and i am beyond furious that you're marrying him,” he said quietly before walking away, leaving you feeling guilty.

⨯. ⁺ ✦ ⊹ . *

as you entered the grand ballroom, filled with guests in beautiful silk gowns and the beautiful melody of a familiar orchestra, you couldn't help but feel a pang of loneliness. everyone seemed paired off, and you wished nanami were there to walk in with you, hand in hand. searching the room, you spotted gojo across the hall, engaged in conversation with ayana and other couples. when he caught your gaze, you looked away in slight embarrassment.

cute, he thinks.

amidst the lively chatter and music, your mother tried to comfort you while you anxiously awaited nanami's arrival, your eyes fixed on the entrance doors.

“I'm so glad you made it! my parents are dying to meet you!” ayana greeted your parents, her congratulatory words on your engagement dripping with insincerity. you watched her guide your parents to meet hers, leaving you standing alone, fingers fidgeting with your ring.

“the ring suits you,” gojo's voice interrupted.

“are you here to keep me company?” you replied, less enthused than you hoped.

“you know I love being near you,” he said, and you rolled your eyes in annoyance.

“don't think I forgot about your threatening words, prince gojo,” you reminded him sharply, but he only smiled.

“I did not forget. ayana will get her apology one way or another,” he declared confidently. just as you glanced away, you spot ayana and another man slipped out of the main event towards the outside garden.

was this a distraction?

your anger flared at the sight, and you quickly excused yourself, gojo assuming you were upset about the apology. but In truth, you were determined to find out what ayana was up to.

you followed her previous steps and exit the doors leading to the garden, trying to pinpoint where they could’ve gone in the huge garden. you trail into a random direction and feel you’ve been walking for too long.

your feet ache from the heels you’ve been wearing as you spot a secluded bench, scurrying to rest your feet in time. just as you’re getting comfortable, you hear ayana’s unmistakeable annoying laugh followed by a man’s voice.

you feel anger wash over you again as you quickly take off your heels, holding it in your hand as you follow the noises within the garden. your heart beats faster as you get closer and closer to the source of noise.

how dare she lie and cheat on him, I cannot believe-

your thoughts come to a full stop as you can’t process what’s in front of you. your heels slip out of your hands, startling the two.

“k-kento?..” you shakingly say as tears fill your eyes. you see nanami quickly making a great distance between him and ayana as they were kissing. he calls out your name as you refuse to listen to him.

“it’s really not what it looks like- I was telling her she must leave me alone for the sake of us!” he says truthfully, as ayana smirks knowing her evil plan worked.

“kenny, you cannot leave this place without proposing to me,” ayana sneers, her voice dripping with evil. you and nanami exchange confused glances, the intensity of the moment makes you feel as if you might be ill.

“since you two aren’t going to ask, I’ll happily explain!” she exclaims, clapping her hands with glee as you begin feeling dizzy. “because there is a witness to kenny’s and my sinful actions, we must get married to avoid being shunned by society!” she declares, her eyes gleaming with wicked delight.

“w-well I wouldn’t dare to speak a word of what I just saw-“

“you're not the only witness, dear," she says, her eyes locking onto someone behind you. you turn to see the man she had been speaking to earlier, the one you noticed before entering the garden. he stands there with an evil smirk. “kenny is a great kisser too, he even leaned in first!”she adds, fuelling your growing anger.

“kento, how could you?” Your voice breaks as the weight of betrayal crushes you. “do you know what this means? you two will be married, society will demand it!”

ayana's smirk widened. “exactly. with nanami caught in this scandal, he has no choice but to marry me to salvage his honor—and yours.”

“the choice is yours, dear. call off the engagement or face the consequences,” she threatened, wiping away your tears with feigned sympathy. “you have until your engagement ball to decide.”

staring at them in disbelief, sickened by the situation, you turned away in anger, striding back into the ballroom. tears streamed down your face, heels in hand, paying no mind to your appearance as you pushed through the crowd.

gojo sensed your presence, ignoring the conversation he was in. he notices your state as he abandons his conversation and rushes to your side. “hey, what's wrong?” he started, then fell silent, his eyes widening at your distraught state.

he took your hand, rushing out of the ballroom, leading you swiftly to the nearest bathroom. “are you hurt? did someone hurt you?” his concerns increasing as he searched your face for any sign of injury.

“I'm leaving,” you declared abruptly, his confusion evident.

“okay, I'll give you privacy,” he began to step away, but you stopped him.

“no, I mean I'm leaving this place. I'm sick of you, sick of all of this,” you rambled tearfully. “I'll pack my things tonight and be gone by morning.”

“no, please, don't leave,” gojo pleaded, his voice trembling. he couldn't bear the thought of losing you. “what happened?” he begs.

“I caught nanami and ayana in the garden,” you explained through tears, your frustration increasing. “she's threatening me to call off the engagement or-”

gojo cut you off, pulling you into a warm embrace, holding you tightly. his heart raced with a mix of anger and protectiveness.

“my love, I swear no one will harm you again," he vowed, cupping your face gently as he kissed away your tears.

“this is what I'm sick of,” you protested, looking up at him with frustration. “you're angry one moment, then this—satoru, what is your issue?”

“we're forbidden to marry, and you know that,” he reminded you, his tone softening. “our fathers' contract—it's tearing me apart, I can’t keep this façade or I’ll break,” he confessed, his pain evident.

“I’m a selfish man- I want you to myself. pushing you away all these years and now finding out we are forbidden, i-i cant ,” he admitted, his gaze intense with longing and desperation.

then, an idea struck him. a selfish and impulsive idea.

staring at your ring finger, he grabbed your arm, tightened his grip on your hand as he’s pulling you out of the bathroom and back into the ballroom. you struggled to break free, but he held firm.

“everyone, may I have your attention?” gojo's voice rang out, commanding the room's focus.

“satoru, stop, what are you doing-“ you pleaded, but he ignored you.

“we're engaged!”

the room fell silent, all eyes on the unexpected announcement.

what?

#jujutsu kaisen #jjk x reader #gojo x reader #jujutsu kaisen angst #gojo angst #gojou satoru x reader #jjk fanfic #gojo satoru #nanami kento #nanami x reader #nanami x you #nanami fluff #nanami angst

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the-halloween-jack · 1 month ago

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Detective Comics ✢ Masterlist ✢ The Halloween Jack

All my DC pieces are written with different iterations in mind, but they are not plot-specific, so you can picture your favourite <3 All my works, minus headcanons, use female pronouns for the reader. Besides this, I keep the reader undescribed, the only filler I use being 'Y/N'.

B R U C E W A Y N E

One-Shots:

Asphyxiated ✢ Y/N’s once-adoring relationship with the charming Bruce Wayne begins to unravel as his nightly disappearances and distant demeanour create an insurmountable chasm between them. Unaware of his double life as the infamous Batman, Y/N is left to wonder where she went wrong, seeking solace in an old friend, Jonathan Crane.

Fleeting Moments ✢ Y/N and Bruce Wayne share quiet moments of love amidst the chaos of Gotham. In rare stolen hours between nightfall and dawn, she clings to the man behind the mask, not aware of the double life he leads. She watches as bruises form across his skin and holds him through his restless nights, grateful that, for once, he is by her side. (Prequel to Asphyxiated)

Hostage ✢ When Bruce Wayne hears of an active hostage situation the reader, his long-term partner, is involved in; he has no option but to take action as the Batman. (This is an older work, I am currently in the process of editing it.)

Enigma ✢ Bruce Wayne has a secret that he has been keeping from the reader for over two years, fearing his vigilante escapades will only draw her away, completely unaware the reader holds a secret of her own. (This is an older work, I am currently in the process of editing it.)

Drabbles:

Coming soon...

J A S O N T O D D

One-Shots:

Déjà Vu ✢ When the reader's comms grow suddenly silent, Jason Todd's worst fear takes shape — not just the possibility of losing someone, but the cold, inescapable echoes of a past he could never bury. As he fights his way through the grime of Gotham City, one truth becomes undeniable: some nightmares never cease, they resurface.

Disarray ✢ She had become his sanctuary, the one unshaken constant in a life fractured by violence and resurrection — the only person who saw beyond the wreckage and chose to stay regardless. Jason Todd returns to the person he considers his home, only to find it in disarray.

Tether ✢ When a battered Jason stumbles into an alley and finds unexpected refuge in a stranger’s kindness, it sparks a fracture in the walls he’s built to survive. Trust was never a luxury he could afford, but as survival blurs into something more, Jason is forced to confront the most dangerous risk of all, love.

Drabbles:

Coming soon...

D I C K G R A Y S O N

One-Shots:

Late-Night Escapades ✢ Blüdhaven, well past dusk, is irrefutably no place to wander. Though, Y/N ventures out regardless, in need of a few essentials. She knows it is irresponsible, she knows what Dick would say, but the store is just a few blocks away...

Drabbles:

Coming soon...

T I M D R A K E

One-Shots:

Coming soon...

Drabbles:

Coming soon...

D A M I A N W A Y N E

(Damian Wayne will be aged up in all my work. Though, upon request, I would be happy to write something platonic for a young Damian.)

One-Shots:

Coming soon...

Drabbles:

Coming soon...

C L A R K K E N T

One-Shots:

Coming soon...

Drabbles:

Coming soon...

H E A D C A N O N S

Characters: Bruce, Dick, Jason, Tim, Damian and Clark.

What scares them and how you help them cope.

When he realised he loved you.

When he admitted he loved you.

There is just something about DC men...

#dc #masterlist #bruce wayne x reader #jason todd x reader #dick grayson x reader #x reader #batman x reader #red hood x reader #nightwing x reader #the-halloween-jack #detective comics #dceu #dcu #dc comics #dc universe #one shot #imagines

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lupinqs · 5 months ago

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SAFE AND SOUND (2/3) ━━ pazzi

☆ ━ summary: in which azzi fudd forms an unexpected alliance with paige bueckers as they fight for survival in the hunger games.

☆ ━ word count: 13.2K

☆ ━ warnings: violence, death, angst

☆ ━ links: part one, part three, my masterlist, ao3 link

☆ ━ author’s note: hiiii guys i’m so so sorry this took me so long to update but it’s here!! this was supposed to be only two parts and the next one and this were just gonna be combined but it was way too long so i split it. the next one’s not done so i think probably expect it within the next week or two ish. i love you all very much, sorry the wait 🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻

THE MOMENT the gong sounds, Azzi dives straight into the water, warm against her skin. The lake swallows her, and she kicks with everything she has, propelling herself toward the Cornucopia. Her strokes are powerful, but the distance is unforgiving, and already, she can sense that others are faster. The Careers are already ahead, closing in on the Cornucopia with quickly. Still, Azzi doesn’t stop; she has to get there, has to grab something. Anything.

As she reaches the edge of the rock path leading to the Cornucopia, she pulls herself out of the water, breathing hard. Just ahead, she catches a glimpse of the chaos already unfolding. The boy from District Two, already armed with a spear, drives it mercilessly into one of the smaller tributes—a younger boy, barely a teenager. The sight is jarring, but Azzi pushes down the rising bile in her throat. She can’t afford to care right now. Caring won’t keep her alive.

Her gaze darts to the girl from Four, who’s snatched up a pair of gleaming daggers—daggers Azzi had trained with, daggers she knows like the back of her hand. Cursing under her breath, she realizes getting those now is out of the question. The girl from Four is already twirling them with through her fingers, her sharp eyes scanning the scene for her next target.

Azzi whips her head back, weighing her options. It’s too dangerous to stay here, especially without a weapon. She makes a split-second decision and sprints across the slick rocks, her feet pounding against the stone as she veers toward the sandbank just beyond the Cornucopia’s reach.

There, half-buried in the sand, is a bag. She snatches it up, hoping it has at least a water canister, maybe something small she can use for defense. She pulls it onto her shoulder and glances around, her senses sharp, her body wired with tension.

And that’s when she spots Paige.

Just a dozen feet away, Paige stands on the sand, her face set in a fierce, determined expression. In her hand is a long, gleaming sword—a weapon Azzi has seen her handle in training. For a split second, their eyes meet, and Azzi feels her breath hitch. She expects Paige to charge at her, sword raised, like any tribute with a weapon would in this bloodbath. But Paige’s gaze doesn’t hold malice. Instead, it flickers with a strange intensity, almost as if she’s thinking.

Before Azzi can process it, Paige turns and bolts in the opposite direction, toward one of the jungle’s shadowed openings. She’s gone before Azzi can think twice, disappearing into the dense foliage with a swiftness that surprises her. Paige had every opportunity to attack, to strike her down in those tense seconds—but she didn’t.

Shoving that thought away, Azzi tightens her grip on the bag and bolts toward the jungle as well, but in the opposite direction, breaking away from the madness of the bloodbath. Behind her, the cries and screams of the other tributes echo through the arena, mingling with the blast of cannons signaling deaths. She pushes forward, her lungs burning as she sprints deeper into the undergrowth, her eyes sharp and her every sense alert.

The forest closes around her, humid and dark, each shadow concealing possible threats. As the sounds of the bloodbath fade into the distance, she feels her pulse slow just a fraction. Her body tingles with exhaustion and relief, but she can’t stop. Not yet. She glances around, trying to gauge her surroundings—massive, twisted trees tower above her, and the ground is a tangle of roots, ferns, and thick moss. Everything about this place feels alive, watching her.

She can’t shake the image of Paige, sword in hand, standing just close enough to strike yet choosing to walk away.

Azzi trudges deeper into the jungle, her feet dragging through the thick, damp undergrowth. The humid air clings to her, and sweat beads on her forehead, trickling down her neck. Every step feels heavier than the last, her muscles beginning to ache as she pushes forward. She slaps at bugs that swarm around her face, their buzzing grating on her nerves. The jungle is loud—chirps, rustles, calls of strange birds echo around her, each sound making her flinch, alert for any sign of movement nearby. It’s overwhelming, but she’s not going to stop. She has to keep moving, put as much distance between herself and the Cornucopia as possible.

As she walks, her mind begins to drift, unbidden, to thoughts of home. She thinks about her family—her mom, her dad, her brothers. She wonders if they’re watching, whether they can bear to. If it were her Jon or Jose out here instead of her, she knows she wouldn’t be able to stand it, the anxiety gnawing away at her, knowing they could be killed any second. She wonders if her parents are clinging to hope, desperately, like she is. She imagines them sitting together on the couch, her mom gripping her dad’s hand so tightly, eyes glued to the screen, barely able to breathe. She swallows, her throat dry. Her family’s belief in her is part of what’s gotten her this far, but in this place, the hope feels fragile, a thread barely holding her together.

The jungle around her begins to darken, the sun slipping behind the canopy of leaves, casting long shadows that twist and shift across the ground. She doesn’t want to push herself any further tonight. It’ll be dangerous enough to try to survive on her own without tiring herself out before it’s even necessary. She scans the area around her, searching for a suitable spot to hide, somewhere she can rest without being exposed. Her eyes land on a small patch of ground where thick leaves drape down from above, forming a kind of natural canopy. She ducks underneath it, assessing. The foliage is dense, and when she sits down, she realizes it’s actually a decent hiding spot. She’d blend in here easily—maybe even well enough to avoid detection from passing tributes.

Her throat feels parched, and she swallows, but it’s a dry, desperate motion, her mouth almost painfully empty. She tries to ignore it, breathing steadily, as she takes the bag from her shoulder and pulls it into her lap. She unzips it, peering inside, her heart beating a little faster as she rifles through the contents. There’s not much, but she wasn’t expecting a miracle.

Her fingers close around a few items: a small pouch of dried fruit, a nearly-empty canister of water, a thin roll of gauze for minor injuries, a length of rope, and, most importantly, a dagger. It’s smaller than what she’s trained with, its blade not much longer than her hand, but it’s sharp enough to get the job done if she needs it for self-defense. She lifts it, testing the weight in her hand, relieved to have something, anything, that could help her. The handle is sturdy, wrapped in a grip that feels almost familiar. It’s a strange sort of comfort—small but real.

Azzi allows herself to eat a pieces or two of the dried fruit, savoring the slight sweetness on her tongue. She takes a cautious sip from the water canister, careful not to drink too much. She doesn’t know when she’ll be able to refill it, and the taste of the water only makes her thirst worse. After another small sip, she caps it tightly and tucks it back into her bag, pressing her lips together, trying to ignore the dryness that still lingers.

The quiet of the jungle settles around her, the distant sounds of birds and rustling leaves becoming her only company. She leans back, the dagger held close to her side, her fingers lightly wrapped around its hilt. She’ll need sleep soon, even if it’s just a few restless hours.

But for now, she just sits there in the dimness, her breathing slowing as she listens to the jungle and feels the weight of everything she has to face in the days to come.

And then she hears it. Faint rustling, faint footsteps. The sounds break through the jungle, and she can tell they’re near her.

Azzi’s heart drops as the rustling grows closer. She freezes, holding her breath, her muscles tensed as she listens. Someone’s approaching—it has to be another tribute. The thought alone sends a jolt of adrenaline through her veins. Her fingers fumble for the dagger in her bag, the small blade she’d found earlier now her only defense. She grips it tightly, her knuckles white as the sound of movement grows louder, just on the other side of her leafy hiding spot.

The foliage shifts, and a figure ducks beneath the canopy. For a split second, Azzi considers lunging, striking first before the intruder can spot her. But then she sees who it is.

It’s the girl from District Four—Leah, if Azzi’s memory serves her correctly. She’s smaller than Azzi imagined up close, her sun-kissed hair pulled back in a loose braid, her face pale and glistening with sweat. Leah looks startled, her eyes wide as she spots Azzi crouched under the leaves. Her reaction isn’t what Azzi expects. Instead of reaching for a weapon, Leah freezes, her hands flying up in an immediate gesture of surrender.

“Shit—sorry—fuck—” Leah stammers, her voice shaking as much as her hands. She looks terrified, almost as if Azzi is the bigger threat here.

Azzi narrows her eyes, her grip on the dagger tightening as she crouches lower, keeping her back pressed against the rough bark of the tree behind her. She doesn’t say anything, her mind racing as she sizes Leah up. If this was a trap, Leah was doing a decent job of acting harmless.

Leah seems to notice Azzi’s skepticism, her expression softening as she stammers, “I—I didn’t realize someone was in here.” She swallows hard, licking her lips nervously before adding, “Azzi, right? From Nine?”

Azzi nods stiffly, not letting go of her weapon.

Leah exhales, almost as if relieved by the confirmation, and nods back. “Okay,” she says, though her voice trembles. She looks around briefly, as if making sure no one else is nearby, before continuing. “I lost my district partner—I don’t know where he went. I don’t even know if he’s still alive. I—fuck, this is all insane. I wanna go home. That fucking blood bath today—Jesus Christ—”

Azzi’s eyes flicker over Leah, taking in the way her shoulders tremble and her chest heaves with shallow breaths. She looks a lot less intimidating than she did during the bloodbath. But Azzi doesn’t let herself relax, not yet. Her mind flashes back to the memory of Leah standing at the Cornucopia earlier that day, her hands slick with blood as she drove a knife into another tribute’s chest. She thinks that might be what’s going through Leah’s mind right now, too, her eyes haunted.

For the first time, Azzi feels something besides suspicion—pity. She doesn’t want to feel it, but it creeps in anyway, worming its way into her chest. She knows what Leah’s feeling, even if she doesn’t want to admit it. Azzi hadn’t killed anyone in the bloodbath, but she’d seen the first death. She remembers the way the spear pierced the boy’s chest, the way his body crumpled like a doll. She remembers the blood, bright and pooling on the rocks, and how she’d forced herself to look away.

Leah’s voice breaks the silence. “And clearly your district partner isn’t here either,” she says, glancing around the small clearing. “So, do you wanna, like, do this together? I don’t wanna be alone, and I know you’re not stupid. You actually scored really high, and you kinda scare me, but this whole place scares me more, so…”

Azzi stares at her, her expression unreadable. Her instincts scream at her not to trust anyone, but she knows that being alone in the arena is just as dangerous. Leah isn’t wrong—Azzi’s district partner, Kellan, is gone, probably dead. And even if Leah’s offer is genuine, she has those daggers. She’s dangerous, whether she’s scared or not.

“How do I know this isn’t just a ruse to kill me?” Azzi finally asks, her voice low and guarded. “I know you have all those daggers.”

Leah flinches at the accusation, her face twisting with something close to desperation. “It’s not, I swear,” she says quickly. “I can prove it to you—”

She moves slowly, pulling her backpack from her shoulder and setting it on the ground in front of her. Azzi tenses, her muscles coiling like a spring as she watches Leah unzip the bag. Her hand tightens around her dagger, ready to strike if Leah tries anything.

But Leah doesn’t attack. Instead, she reaches into the bag and pulls out one of the daggers. Azzi stiffens, her grip on her weapon tightening.

Leah holds the dagger out, hilt first, toward Azzi. Her hand shakes slightly, but her eyes are steady as she says, “You’re good with these, right? Can we call a truce? ‘Cause now you can kill me just as easily as I could kill you.”

Azzi stares at the dagger, her mind reeling. The offer feels surreal, too good to be true. But Leah’s trembling hand doesn’t waver, and for the first time, Azzi wonders if the girl in front of her is more scared than dangerous.

Slowly, cautiously, Azzi reaches out and takes the dagger. The hilt is cool in her hand, perfectly balanced. She weighs it for a moment before looking back at Leah.

“Truce,” Azzi says, her voice firm but cautious.

Leah exhales a shaky breath of relief and nods. For now, they’ve bought themselves a fragile peace, though Azzi knows it could shatter at any moment.

THE SUN rises sluggishly over the jungle, casting long shadows through the tangled branches. Azzi trudges through the humid undergrowth, her body aching with exhaustion. She hadn’t slept last night, her eyes darting between Leah and the jungle’s shifting darkness, her hand gripping the dagger Leah had given her. Trusting Leah felt foolish, even after their uneasy truce. Now, Azzi feels the toll of the sleepless night, the weight of every sound and shadow pressing on her chest.

Leah hadn’t slept either—not that Azzi saw. The girl had spent the night leaning against the rough bark of the tree, her knees drawn to her chest, her gaze fixed on the ground. Azzi isn’t sure how she feels about Leah. She doesn’t think she likes her, not in the way you’re supposed to like allies, but pity for her gnaws at the edges of her resolve.

More than that, Azzi feels something she hadn’t expected—relief. For better or worse, she isn’t alone.

Last night’s anthem confirmed what Azzi had already suspected. Kellan, her district partner, is gone. The Capitol’s cold, detached display of his face in the sky had solidified the hollow ache in her chest. She didn’t know Kellan well, but he’d been hers. Someone from her district, someone who shared a piece of her life before all of this. And he was so young. Now he’s gone.

Across from her, Leah had sighed in relief when the boy from District Four wasn’t among the dead. Azzi wondered then and wonders now how the two of them got separated in the first place.

Now, as the heat rises, the two girls trudge side by side through the suffocating jungle. The air is thick, sticky against their skin, and Azzi wipes a layer of sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand. Hunger gnaws at her stomach, but she doesn’t say anything. The dried fruit in her bag is a precious secret she has no intention of sharing. She knows she can’t survive on it forever, but it’s all she has.

“You’re quiet,” Leah says after a long silence, her voice cracking—probably from the thirst.

Azzi shrugs. “I’m thinking.”

“About what?”

“Food,” Azzi admits. “And water.”

Leah laughs dryly, though there’s no humor in it. “Aren’t we all?”

They keep walking, the jungle pressing in closer. Azzi’s ears strain against the sounds of birds and the occasional rustle of leaves. Her dagger swings lightly in her hand, the cool metal reassuring against her clammy skin.

Then she hears it—a faint crack, like a branch snapping. Azzi freezes, holding out an arm to stop Leah.

“Did you hear that?” she whispers.

Leah glances around, frowning. “Uh… no?”

Azzi keeps scanning the area, her instincts prickling. But Leah shrugs and starts walking again, brushing past a tangle of vines.

Azzi follows, her heart hammering in her chest, when suddenly a shout cuts through the thick air. It’s a boy’s voice, shrill with pain and desperation. Azzi’s stomach twists. A moment later, a cannon booms overhead, its echo vibrating through the trees.

Azzi gulps, gripping her dagger tighter. “Stay alert,” she mutters to Leah, her voice steady despite the unease sifting in her gut.

Leah nods, her face pale as she pulls one of her own dagger from her bag. The two of them pick up the pace, their steps lighter now, every noise setting their nerves on edge.

They’ve barely gone another few yards when Leah stops abruptly, her eyes widening. “Holy shit,” she says, pointing ahead. “Is that fruit?”

Azzi follows her gaze to a cluster of low-hanging bushes. Tangled among the leaves are round, green fruits, something similar to watermelons but smaller. Azzi’s stomach clenches at the sight, hunger sharpening her senses.

“Looks like it,” Azzi says cautiously, scanning the area for any sign of danger.

Leah’s already moving toward the bushes, her dagger still clutched in one hand. Azzi follows more slowly, her eyes darting to the treetops and the undergrowth around them. She doesn’t trust anything about this arena—not the stillness, not the fruit, and certainly not the idea that they’re alone.

But hunger wins out over hesitation. Leah’s already grabbing one of the fruits at a bush as Azzi kneels beside a different one to inspect the fruit herself. Cautiously, she cuts into the fruit with her dagger, watching as what appears to be water spills out. She opens it further, not seeing any suspicious warning signs that they’d been taught in training. It really might just be fruit.

Deciding that she’s going out to take her chances on it, Azzi takes her dagger, her hands steady as she works to free the thick-skinned fruit from its vine. The knife slices cleanly through the stem, and she lets the fruit drop into her hand. It’s heavier than she expects, a weight that promises nourishment. She turns it over once, twice, and then slips it into her bag and moves to cut another.

Her body aches—muscles tight from dehydration and exhaustion—and the heat of the jungle presses against her like a smothering blanket. Sweat trickles down her back, and the persistent thirst gnaws at her focus. But she keeps her hands moving, the rhythmic task of cutting the fruit offering a brief reprieve from the overwhelming anxiety that’s been settled in her chest since the Games began.

Behind her, she hears Leah rustling through her own bush, likely doing the same thing. Azzi doesn’t look back to see.

Another fruit hits the bottom of her bag with a satisfying thud, and Azzi reaches for the next one, her movements quick and precise. She’s already calculating how much her bag can hold, how far this food can stretch her survival.

Then, it happens.

A faint whistling sound cuts through the air beside her, too quick to process. Azzi feels a sudden sting along her cheekbone, sharp and hot, followed by a gasp of pain—not her own. She freezes, her hand flying to her face. When she pulls it away, her palm is smeared with blood. Her cheek throbs, the cut deeper than she first thought.

Her head whips around, mind on overdrive, eyes scanning the ground until they land on a dagger embedded in the dirt, its blade glinting under the dappled sunlight. A few feet from where she’d been crouched.

One of Leah’s daggers.

Azzi’s pulse thunders in her ears as the realization sinks in. Leah had thrown it. She had tried to kill her.

Azzi spins on her heel, her own dagger clenched tight in her fist. She doesn’t hesitate. She’ll fight if she has to, kill if she has to, would strike first if necessary. Leah’s already made her move, and Azzi isn’t about to give her a second chance.

But the sight that greets her isn’t what she expects.

Leah’s there, facing Azzi, but her mouth is wide open, almost as if she’s in shock. Her eyes are clouded as they lock on Azzi, her hands hovering over her stomach—where the Fudd girl can see crimson beginning to spill out of. Leah’s breaths come in ragged gasps, each one more shallow than the last.

Behind the District Four girl stands Paige, yanking her sword free from Leah’s back with a sickening squelch. Blood drips from the blade, pooling at Paige’s feet. Her expression ks grim, her lips pressed into a thin line of disgust as she watches Leah collapse fully to the ground.

Azzi’s grip tightened on her dagger, her thoughts racing too fast to catch hold of any one of them. She takes an involuntary step back, her instincts screaming at her to run, to fight, to do something.

Paige turns, her gaze locking onto Azzi. Her eyes scan Azzi quickly, lingering on the blood still dripping from her cheek. “Are you alright?” she asks, her voice calm, almost indifferent, as if she didn’t just impale someone.

Azzi furrows her brows, her confusion mounting. She doesn’t say anything, her silence a shield.

Paige tilts her head, her focus narrowing in on Azzi’s cheek. “Your face,” she says, pointing. “She hit you. You’re bleeding.”

Azzi touches her cheek again, feeling the sting that seems sharper now that she‘a aware of it. She mutters, “Yes,” her voice cautious.

Paige takes a step forward, but Azzi immediately steps back, keeping her distance. Paige raises her hands slightly, a small gesture of peace. “Relax,” she says. “I’m not here to hurt you.”

Azzi isn’t so sure. “Then what are you here for?” she asks.

Paige sighs, wiping the blood from her sword onto a plant. “Leah and her district partner, Chris,” she begin, gesturing to the girl still writhing on the ground. “I think they must’ve been working together. Pretending to split up, making allies, then stabbing them in the back. Chris tried it with me. Clearly, he didn’t make it.”

Azzi’s mind flashes to the cannon they’d heard earlier, the scream that had preceded it. It makes sense now—it was from Chris. Paige killing Chris.

Paige gestures toward Leah’s bag, which she yanks off the girl’s shaking shoulder and slings onto her own. “She would’ve killed you if I hadn’t shown up. You’re welcome, by the way.”

Azzi frowns, her grip on her dagger loosening but not by much. She doesn’t know what to make of Paige, the girl’s casual demeanor both unsettling and oddly reassuring. “We should probably go,” the blonde says matter-of-factly.

“Why?” Azzi asks, voice sharper than she intended.

Paige looks at her, genuinely confused. “Why what?”

“Why would we go together?” Azzi clarifies, her voice edged with suspicion.

Paige raises an eyebrow, looking at Azzi like she’s just asked the dumbest question in the world. “Because we’re allies now.”

“Says who?” Azzi shoots back quickly. “I can’t trust you.”

Paige smirks faintly, a flicker of amusement crossing her face. “Well, I did just save your life, princess. The least you could do is say thank you.”

Azzi hesitates, torn between anger and begrudging gratitude. “Thank you,” she mutters eventually, her tone icy.

Paige shrugs, unbothered.

“Why’d you do it?” Azzi asks after a pause, voice quieter this time. “Save my life?”

Paige’s smirk softens just slightly, her expression unreadable. “I like you,” she says simply, meeting Azzi’s eyes. “Think I’d prefer you alive.”

The words send a strange jolt through Azzi, a mix of confusion and something else she can’t quite name. Paige doesn’t give her time to dwell on it.

She bends to pick up Azzi’s bag, now filled with fruit, and hands it to her. “C’mon,” she says, her tone leaving no room for argument.

Azzi stares at her for a moment before taking the bag, their fingers brushing briefly. Without another word, she bends to retrieve Leah’s dagger—the one that nearly killed her—and follows Paige into the jungle, her thoughts swirling with questions she isn’t sure she even wants answers to.

THE ALLIANCE between Azzi and Paige begins tentatively, held together by necessity and a threadbare sense of mutual benefit. Azzi doesn’t trust Paige—how could she?—but she follows her lead anyway, dagger in hand and mind constantly calculating the odds of betrayal. Paige doesn’t seem fazed by Azzi’s obvious suspicion. If anything, she seems entertained by it.

On the first night, the heat and humidity of the jungle drops drastically, as if it was never there in the first place. It’s chilly—too chilly for them to get by with just their suits provided to them—and so, despite the obvious risk of other tributes seeing the smoke, Paige starts a fire. Azzi watches her do it, arms crossed, one foot ready to bolt if need be. Paige doesn’t say anything, just works, gathering the driest leaves she can find and other little twigs, her movements swift and practiced. When the fire finally sparks to life, Paige leans back, a faint smirk tugging at her lips.

“There,” she says, brushing her hands off. “Warmth. You’re welcome.”

Azzi doesn’t thank her this time, just sits down across from the flames, her bag clutched tightly in her lap. The warmth is welcome, but her grip on the bag doesn’t loosen. The firelight casts shadows across Paige’s face, drawing out the lines of her cheekbones and jaw, making her look older, harsher. Azzi doesn’t know how much of that is real and how much is her own paranoia.

Paige sets Leah’s pack down between them, beginning to rummage through it. She pulls out a handful of berries, some kind of dried meat, and a canteen of water. She tosses the berries in Azzi’s direction. “Split these,” she says, her tone casual, like they’re sharing snacks at home and not in the middle of the Hunger Games.

Azzi hesitates. The gesture feels… too friendly. Too easy. But she’s starving, and the berries are already in her lap. She picks out a few and eats them cautiously, her eyes never leaving Paige as the other girl tears into the dried meat.

By the second day, they’ve settled into an uneasy rhythm. Paige takes the lead, her sword strapped to her back, her eyes scanning the dense jungle for threats. Azzi lingers a few paces behind, a dagger at the ready. They don’t talk about what they’re doing or where they’re going. They just move, staying quiet, their footsteps muffled by the thick underbrush.

It’s strange, how well they work together. Paige has a hunter’s instinct, sharp and efficient. She knows how to find food, how to avoid the areas where other tributes might be lurking. Azzi’s no slouch, either. She’s quick and observant, spotting details Paige sometimes misses—a broken branch, a faint footprint in the mud.

They come across a stream in the early afternoon, the water clear and cold. Paige crouches by the edge, refilling their canteens while Azzi stands nearby, her dagger still in hand. She watches as Paige splashes her face with water, the sunlight catching on her cheekbones.

“You’re wasting it,” Azzi says sharply.

Paige looks up, water dripping from her face. She grins. “Relax, princess. There’s plenty.”

Azzi bristles at the nickname but doesn’t respond. She turns her attention back to the jungle, scanning for movement.

Despite everything, she can’t shake the feeling that Paige might turn on her at any moment. But the thing is—she doesn’t. She doesn’t even try. She doesn’t make any sudden moves, doesn’t say anything suspicious. She just… exists. And she’s good at this, Azzi realizes—surviving. It’s almost unsettling how calm she seems, as if the chaos of the Games hasn’t touched her.

That night, they set up camp under a large tree with low-hanging branches. Paige climbs up first, testing the sturdiness of the limbs, then gestures for Azzi to follow. They settle on opposite sides of the branch, Paige leans back against hers, one leg dangling, while Azzi stays perched, her back straight and her dagger balanced on her knee.

For a while, they sit in silence, the only sound that of crickets and their own heavy breathing. It’s hot and humid tonight, enough to make them both sweat, Azzi continuously wiping moisture from her forehead. The Gamemakers are very bipolar about the weather here, especially at night. They either freeze or burn—it’s very frustrating.

“Do you think anyone’s watching us right now?” Paige says suddenly, breaking the quiet.

Azzi frowns, looking over at her. “I mean, yeah. The cameras are everywhere.”

“I know, but d’you think they’re focused on us? Like, on the broadcast?”

“Why does it matter?” Azzi asks.

Paige shrugs. “It doesn’t. I’m just curious. And bored.” She sighs, twisting a lead in her hand. “I bet the Capitol loves you. All broody and mysterious. You’re probably a fan favorite.”

Azzi glares at her. “Probably the opposite, actually,” she corrects. “They prefer the happier, flashier tributes. Like you.”

Paige smirks but doesn’t say anything.

Over the next few days, Azzi finds herself watching Paige more closely. Not out of suspicion, though that’s part of it, but out of something else. Curiosity, maybe. Paige is hard to pin down. She’s unpredictable in a way that doesn’t feel dangerous—at least, not to Azzi.

They split everything now—food, water, even weapons when necessary. Azzi is surprised by how natural it feels, like they’ve always been a team. Paige doesn’t seem to expect anything in return, doesn’t try to take more than her share. It’s unsettling, the way she treats Azzi like an equal, like she genuinely wants her around.

Azzi still doesn’t trust her, but she wants to. And that wanting feels dangerous in its own way.

And, despite herself, Azzi starts to notice small things about Paige. Like how she hums under her breath when they’re walking, or how she always keeps her sword within reach, even when they’re resting. Paige has a way of making everything seem lighter, less oppressive. She cracks jokes sometimes—dry, sarcastic quips that catch Azzi off guard.

“You’re really bad at this whole ‘trust no one’ thing,” Paige says one afternoon as they’re eating a small meal by the stream.

Azzi frowns. “What are you talking about?”

Paige gestures vaguely. “The way you keep looking at me, like I’m about to stab you in the back. If I wanted to, I would’ve done it by now.”

Azzi doesn’t laugh, but she bites back a smile. Paige notices, though, and her smirk widens.

“See? You think I’m funny,” Paige teases.

“I don’t,” Azzi says flatly, though the corners of her mouth betray her.

It’s strange, the dynamic between them. Despite the obvious distrust, Azzi’s oddly grateful for when Paige tries to make her smile. In a place like this, where death feels like it’s waiting around every corner, those moments feel… important.

On the fourth day, they come across another tribute—a boy from District Five. He doesn’t see them, and Azzi tenses, waiting for Paige to make a move. Paige’s hand goes to her sword, but she hesitates, her eyes flicking to Azzi.

“What do you want to do?” Paige whispers.

The question catches Azzi off guard. Paige is deferring to her? She swallows hard, mind racing. She knows what they should do, knows the rules of the Games, but the boy doesn’t look like a threat. He looks scared, lost.

“Let him go,” Azzi says finally, her voice barely audible.

Paige studies her for a moment, then nods. She relaxes her grip on her sword, stepping back into the shadows. They watch as the boy disappears into the jungle, oblivious to how close he came to death.

Azzi doesn’t say anything, but something shifts in her chest. Paige listened to her. She could’ve ignored her, could’ve killed the boy and taken his supplies without a second thought, but she didn’t.

That night, as they sit in the dark, Azzi catches herself glancing at Paige, studying the way the firelight dances across her features. She’s still wary, still ready to run if she has to, but for the first time, she wonders if maybe—just maybe—Paige isn’t the monster she’s been bracing herself for.

THE NEXT DAY brings the worst heat Azzi’s ever felt in the arena. The air is thick and oppressive, a humid weight pressing down on everything. It’s as if the jungle is trying to choke them. Sweat clings to her skin, dripping down her back and soaking the fabric of her clothes until it feels like a second layer of skin. Her lungs fight for air that seems almost too hot to breathe. Paige trudges ahead, silent and focused, her sword bouncing slightly against her back with each step.

Azzi stays a few paces behind, a dagger loose in her hand, though her grip is slippery with sweat. She tries to keep her head clear, her eyes alert, but the dryness in her mouth is impossible to ignore. Every thought is punctuated by the same need: water. They’ve been out since yesterday afternoon, their canteens drained, their bodies aching for hydration.

The jungle shifts slightly as they move, the terrain growing rockier. Paige pressed forward without hesitation, her movements confident even in the uneven ground. Azzi tries to match her pace but finds her attention wandering. Her throat feels like sandpaper, and her head throbs faintly with every step.

She doesn’t hear the snap of a twig to her right. Not until it’s too late.

Something hard slams into the side of her face, and Azzi is on the ground before she realizes what’s happening. Pain explodes across her cheek, sharp and hot, and she instinctively presses her hand to it. When she pulls her fingers away, they’re slick with blood. Her stomach churns as she recognizes the dark red streaks, her mind sluggishly registering that Leah’s cut has reopened.

Her head spins, the light filtering through the canopy almost blinding. For a few seconds, all she can do is lie there, her breath shallow and rapid, her fingers digging into the dirt beneath her. Somewhere to her left, she hears movement—a grunt, the rustle of leaves, and then a muffled whimper.

Azzi forces her eyes open, squinting against the brightness. Her vision swims, the jungle tilting unnaturally, but she manages to focus just enough to see them: Paige, pinned to the ground beneath a boy. His face is twisted in a snarl, his muscles straining as he fights to keep her down.

It takes a moment for Azzi to recognize him: the boy from District Eleven. He’s big, muscular, and holding a machete that glints menacingly in the dappled light. Paige is fighting him, her hands pushing against his shoulders, her legs kicking out, muscles flexing. Against anyone else, she probably could’ve stopped them—she doesn’t look it, but she’s strong. Tall and strong. But it doesn’t matter now—it’s not enough. He’s got the bulk advantage over her, his weight pressing her into the ground.

“Fuck—get off!” Paige yells, her voice breaking with frustration and unmistakeable fear. She twists beneath him, trying to buck him off, but he grabs her throat, cutting off her words.

Azzi’s breath catches, her heart pounding in her chest. Paige’s face is flushed, her eyes wide, her hands scrabbling at his wrist as he chokes her.

For a moment, all she can think is that Paige is going to die. She can see it happening—the machete coming down, the boy choking the life out of her, Paige’s face going slack—and the thought fills her with something fierce and unrelenting.

She doesn’t want Paige to die. Not at all. Not even a little bit.

Her hands fumble at her side, searching for her dagger. Her head spins as she moves, her fingers brushing the hilt. She grabs it, tightens her grip, and throws it with a sharp flick of her wrist.

Catch and shoot. Just like basketball.

It’s not a perfect throw—her head is pounding too much for that—but it’s good enough. The blade buries itself in the boy’s neck, and he jerks back, his hands flying to the wound as blood spurts out in thick, dark streams. He falls to the side, his body hitting the ground with a dull thud. The machete slips from his grasp, clattering onto the rocks.

A cannon fires, the sound echoing through the jungle.

Azzi exhales shakily, her chest tight, her hands trembling. She pushes herself to her feet, swaying slightly as her head protests the movement. The world tilts dangerously, but she forces herself to move, stumbling toward Paige.

Paige is still lying on the ground, gasping for air. One hand hovers near her throat, where the boy’s grip has left an angry red imprint. Her other arm is pressed against her chest, blood dripping steadily from a gash that runs along her forearm.

“Are you okay?” Azzi asks, her voice hoarse. She’s not sure if it’s from the heat, the dehydration, or the raw surge of adrenaline.

Paige looks up at her, her chest heaving. For a moment, she doesn’t say anything, just stares at Azzi with wide, stunned, crystal blue eyes. Then she murmurs, almost incredulously, “You saved my life.”

Azzi shakes her head, though the movement makes her vision blur. “Just returning the favor.”

She holds out a hand, and Paige hesitates for a fraction of a second before taking it. Her grip is warm and solid despite the faint tremor in her fingers as Azzi pulls her to her feet. Paige sways slightly, her balance off, and the younger girl steadies her instinctively. They end up leaning into each other, both unsteady and aching.

Paige stares at her for another long second as they don’t speak, just breathe heavily. There’s something in her clear eyes that makes Azzi anxious, some sort of soft, yet scared emotion that seems to be threading through both of them. And then, without warning, Paige lifts her hand and brushes Azzi’s cheek, featherlight yet still startling. The touch is soft, almost hesitant, and when Azzi glances at her, Paige is frowning faintly, her fingers coming away stained with blood.

“You’re bleeding,” Paige says, her voice almost stupidly soft.

“I’m good,” Azzi replies, even though her head is pounding so hard she can barely think. Azzi does her best to ignore the ache, her eyes sliding across Paige’s figure, giving her another once-over. The imprint on her neck, her bloodied up arm. “Are you sure you’re good?” she asks slowly, trying to mask the sudden, obvious concern that wants to lace its way into her tone.

Paige’s eyes linger on her for a moment longer before she seems to snap out of it. She pulls her hand back, clutching at the wound on her arm, which continues to pool with blood. “Yeah, I’m fine,” she says, though her voice is strained.

Azzi doesn’t believe her, but she doesn’t press. Instead, she mutters, “We gotta find water.”

Paige nods, her expression sobering some, though it’s still slightly dazed. And then they begin walking.

THE JUNGLE swallows them whole as they move forward, side by side now instead of their usual formation. Paige is no longer leading, and Azzi is no longer trailing behind, watching the girl’s back like some unwilling shadow. Instead, they lean into each other, a pair of battered survivors held up by sheer willpower and the fragile balance of their shared weight.

Azzi keeps one hand on her dagger, just in case, though the other grips Paige’s shoulder like a lifeline. Her legs ache, her skull throbs, and her throat is dry enough that every swallow feels like it’s scraping raw. The heat is unbearable, pressing down on her like an iron hand, and every step feels like wading through wet cement. She keeps going anyway. She doesn’t have a choice.

Her head pounds in relentless waves, and for the first time, a new kind of fear creeps in. She wonders if it’s more than just the heat and exhaustion. The boy had hit her hard—harder than she’d let herself admit at the time—and now her thoughts are sluggish, her balance unsteady. It could be something serious—an actual brain injury.

She shakes the thought away quickly, but it lingers in the edges of her mind, a shadow she can’t quite dispel. She focuses on putting one foot in front of the other, on the sound of Paige’s uneven breaths beside her, and on the way the jungle seems to stretch endlessly before them.

Paige hasn’t said a word.

It unnerves Azzi more than she wants to admit. Paige, for all her flaws and quirks, has been a constant stream of chatter since the two of them reluctantly teamed up. Whether it was dry sarcasm, idle complaints, or even rambling anecdotes about her life back in District Five, she’d filled the silence with words that Azzi didn’t always want but had grown used to. Now, there’s nothing. Just the sound of their labored breathing and the occasional crunch of leaves beneath their feet.

Azzi glances sideways at her. Paige is pale, her face slick with sweat, the blonde hair of her ponytail sticking to her neck in damp strands. Her forearm is still pressed tightly to her chest, blood seeping through the makeshift leaf bandage Azzi had tied around it earlier. It isn’t enough; Azzi knows that. But it’s all they have.

Her lips are cracked and dry, and every time she stumbles slightly, Azzi feels a jolt of worry she can’t suppress.

When had that started?

She doesn’t know when Paige stopped being just another competitor and started being something more. Something she’s not sure she can name. It’s terrifying, in its own way, the realization that she cares. If Paige had died back there—beneath that boy’s hands, choking on her own breath—Azzi doesn’t know what she would have done. The thought of it is enough to make her stomach churn.

Paige is a light here, Azzi realizes, her chest tightening. A bright, defiant force in a world that’s trying its hardest to crush them both. Azzi doesn’t know how someone like Paige exists in a place like this, but she’s glad she does. Even if she doesn’t want to be. Even if it’s dangerous to feel this way.

Cyrus would kill her if he knew.

The thought of her mentor brings a bitter taste to her mouth, though it’s hard to tell if that’s from the memory or just the dryness of her throat. He’d warned her against this—against forming attachments, against letting feelings get in the way of survival. “Emotions will get you killed,” he’d said, his voice sharp and unyielding. “You can’t afford to care about anyone but yourself.”

Azzi had nodded, agreed, and believed him. Until now.

The boy’s face flashes in her mind.

It’s quick, like the strike of a match, but it burns just the same. His body crumpling to the ground, the blood pooling beneath him, the light fading from his eyes. She’d killed him. Ended his life with a single throw of her dagger.

She tells herself it was necessary. That he was going to kill Paige, that it was him or them. She tells herself that this is what the Games are. That everyone here is fighting for the same thing: to survive. But the words feel hollow, even in her own mind.

He was just a kid. Hardly older than her.

Her grip on Paige’s shoulder tightens slightly, as if to anchor herself. Paige doesn’t react, her gaze fixed on the path ahead, but Azzi wonders if she notices.

The boy had wanted to live, just like they do. He’d fought for it, just like they’re fighting now. Azzi doesn’t blame him for that. She can’t. But she hates him for putting his hands on Paige. For pinning her down, for cutting her up, for choking her, for making Azzi do what she did.

Her thoughts circle back to Paige, as they often seem to recently. She glances at her again, taking in the shallow rise and fall of her chest, the sweat dripping down her temples, the way her lips are pressed into a thin, determined line. She wonders if Paige is thinking about the boy too, or if her mind is somewhere else entirely.

Azzi doesn’t ask. She doesn’t want to know.

Instead, she keeps walking, her feet dragging over the uneven ground, her thoughts a chaotic swirl of exhaustion, fear, and something else she can’t quite name. The jungle presses in around them, thick and suffocating, and the heat feels like it’s going to swallow her whole.

She needs water. She needs to sit down. She needs—

Paige stumbles, and Azzi’s hand shoots out instinctively to steady her. Paige mutters something under her breath, a faint “Thanks,” but her voice is weak, almost broken.

Azzi doesn’t respond. She just tightens her grip on Paige’s arm and keeps moving. They’re both too busted to trust themselves entirely, but they don’t have a choice. They can’t stop.

It feels like they’ve been walking for hours. Maybe they have. Azzi doesn’t know anymore. She’s too tired to care, her thoughts muddled by dehydration and pain.

And then, as if the universe finally takes pity on them, she hears it: the soft, unmistakable trickle of running water.

At first, she thinks she’s imagining it, a cruel trick of her exhausted mind. But then she catches sight of it—a narrow stream cutting through the dense foliage ahead, the sunlight glinting off its surface like a beacon. Relief washes over her so strongly that her knees almost give out.

“Water,” she croaks, barely recognizing her own voice.

Paige’s head snaps up, her eyes following Azzi’s gaze. She doesn’t say anything, just stumbles forward, almost tripping over her own feet in her haste. Azzi grabs her arm to steady her, and together they half-walk, half-fall toward the stream.

When they reach the edge, Azzi doesn’t even pause to take in the sight. She shrugs Paige’s bag off her back with shaking hands, digging through it until she finds their canteens. Her fingers fumble with the caps as she kneels by the water, filling both containers to the brim.

She shoves one into Paige’s hand, not waiting for a thank you before tipping the other to her lips. The water is cool, crisp, and it burns going down her dry throat, but she doesn’t care. She drinks until she’s out of breath, pulling the canteen away only to gasp for air before taking another gulp.

When she finally stops, her chest heaving, she glances over at Paige. The blonde is sitting, leant against a tree now, her back pressed to the rough bark, the canteen dangling limply in her hand. She looks awful—worse than awful. Her eyes are glassy, her lips cracked, and the blood on her arm hasn’t slowed. Azzi doesn’t know how she managed to get this far, if she’s honest.

Azzi sighs, hauling herself to her feet. Her legs tremble beneath her, but she pushes through it, crossing the short distance to Paige. “Let me see it,” she says, gesturing toward the arm Paige is still cradling.

Paige shakes her head, her lips curving into the ghost of a defiant smile. “I’m good,” she says, but her voice is weak, barely more than a whisper.

“No, you’re not,” Azzi counters, her tone sharper than she intends. She crouches in front of Paige, looking up at her with an intensity that makes the other girl falter. “Let me see.”

Paige hesitates, her gaze darting away as if she can avoid Azzi’s stare. But when she glances back, Azzi is still watching her, her expression unyielding. Slowly, reluctantly, Paige moves her arm, holding it out to Azzi.

Azzi takes her wrist gently, her fingers wrapping around the uninjured part of Paige’s arm. She can feel Paige’s eyes on her, burning into her face, but she doesn’t look up. She focuses on the makeshift bandage, peeling it back carefully.

The leaves come away slick with blood, and Azzi has to swallow hard to keep her stomach from turning. The cut beneath is worse than she thought—deep and jagged, the edges swollen and angry. Blood is still seeping from it, slow but steady, staining Paige’s pale skin a vivid red.

“Paige,” Azzi says quietly, the name heavy on her tongue. She doesn’t know what else to say.

Paige shakes her head again, biting her lip so hard that Azzi half-expects to see blood there too. “It’s fine,” she says, but her voice cracks on the last word, betraying her.

“It’s not fine,” Azzi says, her grip on Paige’s wrist tightening slightly. “He might’ve nicked a vein.”

“He didn’t,” Paige insists, but her voice is thin, almost desperate.

“Paige,” Azzi says again, her tone firmer this time.

She doesn’t wait for a response. She grabs her canteen, unscrewing the cap. “We need to clean it,” she says, not waiting for Paige’s agreement. “Hold still.”

Paige nods reluctantly, but Azzi catches the flicker of fear in her eyes. It makes something twist uncomfortably in her chest. She doesn’t want Paige to be scared. She doesn’t want her to be in pain. (She doesn’t know why.)

“Hey,” Azzi says softly, trying for a reassuring smile. It feels strange on her face, unfamiliar, but she hopes it works. “It’s okay.”

Paige doesn’t say anything, just watches Azzi with wide, wary eyes.

Azzi pours a small stream of water over the cut, wincing as Paige flinches. A soft whimper escapes the blonde’s lips, but she doesn’t pull away. Azzi works quickly, washing away the blood and dirt as carefully as she can, her movements slow and deliberate.

When she’s done, she sits back on her heels, surveying her work. The bleeding has slowed, but the cut still looks bad—too bad for her to handle with the limited supplies they have.

“We need to bandage it again,” Azzi says, her voice quieter now. She reaches into her own pack, pulling out a strip of fabric she tore from her shirt earlier. “This’ll have to do for now.”

Paige nods, her eyes glassy, and Azzi wraps the fabric around her arm as tightly as she dares. Her fingers brush against Paige’s skin as she ties the knot, and she can feel the faint tremor running through her.

“There,” she says, sitting back and meeting Paige’s gaze for the first time. “That should hold for now.”

Paige doesn’t respond right away. She just looks at Azzi, her expression unreadable. Then, finally, she mutters, “Thanks.”

Azzi nods, her throat too tight to speak. She doesn’t know why this moment feels so heavy, why the look in Paige’s eyes makes her chest ache. She just knows that, despite everything, she’s glad they’re both still here.

And she’s going to do whatever it takes to keep it that way.

THE SKY above them is painted in deep oranges and purples now, the last vestiges of sunlight breaking through the canopy. It’s beautiful in a way that mocks Azzi—the world doesn’t care that they’re here, bleeding and broken. The stream continues its soft trickle nearby, an unrelenting reminder of their vulnerability. Water is the most sought for thing in this arena—and she and Paige are right next to a steady stream of it.

Azzi’s head pounds, a rhythmic throb that matches her heartbeat, and her vision swims if she turns too fast. She presses a palm to her temple, trying to will it away, but nothing helps. She glances at Paige again—her breathing is shallow, her skin pale and waxy, the freckles dotting her nose stark against the pallor. Azzi doesn’t know much about medicine, but she knows blood loss when she sees it, and Paige is in trouble.

The bandage she’d rigged up is doing its best, but blood still seeps through the edges. It’s not enough to stop the bleeding, and Azzi feels a wave of helplessness crash over her. She’s supposed to be strong. She’s supposed to survive. But how can she survive when Paige is dying right next to her?

Their shoulders press together, grounding Azzi just enough to keep her panic at bay. Paige shifts slightly, her head lolling to the side, her eyes fluttering closed. Azzi doesn’t think—she just reacts, shaking Paige’s shoulder.

“Don’t,” Azzi says quickly. “Don’t fall asleep.”

Paige groans softly, a broken sound, but her eyes stay closed. “‘M tired,” she murmurs, her voice slurring. “Just… let me rest a minute.”

“No,” Azzi says, louder this time. Her chest tightens, her breath coming faster. She’s afraid, and it shows in her voice. “You can’t. If you fall sleep, you might…”

She doesn’t finish the sentence, but the both know what she means. If Paige falls asleep, there’s a good chance she might not wake up.

Paige doesn’t respond right away, her head tipping back against the tree. Her neck stretches, her throat exposed, her brows furrowing, and for a fleeting moment, Azzi catches herself staring. It’s a small, stupid thing to notice in the middle of all this, but Azzi can’t help it. Paige, even like this—especially like this—makes her heart stutter in ways she doesn’t fully understand. She shoves the thought away, disgusted with herself. Now is not the time.

“Talk to me,” Paige says suddenly, her voice soft and pleading. It takes Azzi a moment to realize Paige is serious. “About anything. I gotta stay awake, so just… say something.”

Azzi hesitates. She has no idea what to talk about. But Paige’s eyes are on her now, hazy but expectant, and Azzi doesn’t want to let her down. “Uh,” she starts awkwardly, her voice hoarse. “I like basketball. It’s my favorite thing to do. It’s, like, how I escape stuff. I guess I love it.”

Paige’s eyes open a little wider, a spark of recognition flickering there. A small, broken smile tugs at her lips, and it hits Azzi harder than it should. “You like basketball?” Paige asks, her voice faint but teasing.

Azzi nods, feeling her chest loosen just a little. “Yeah. It’s everything to me.”

Paige’s smile grows, just barely. “Me too,” she whispers. “It’s my whole life.”

The admission surprises Azzi. She’d known Paige was athletic, but this feels… different. Personal. “Really?” Azzi asks, leaning in slightly despite herself.

Paige nods, though the motion looks like it takes effort. “I was kinda hoping—stupidly, maybe—that if I won this thing, they’d let me play in the Capitol. Like, with the pros.”

The idea is so absurd, so painfully hopeful, that Azzi feels a pang of something sharp in her chest. She stares at Paige, her throat tightening. “I thought the same thing,” she admits quietly. “I mean, it’s a dream, right? But they’d never let us.”

Paige shakes her head slowly, her lips pressing into a thin line. “Probably not.” She’s quiet for a moment, her gaze unfocused. Then, she says, almost wistfully, “You and me, we could’ve—”

She doesn’t finish. A sharp breath hisses through her teeth, her hand twitching toward her injured arm. Azzi watches in concern, brown eyes softening, and then reacts without thinking, gently taking Paige’s arm and resting it in her lap. She presses down on the bandage, trying to slow the bleeding, her movements careful but firm. Paige winces, a soft whimper escaping her, but she doesn’t pull away.

“Keep talking,” Azzi says, her voice steady despite the turmoil churning inside her. She doesn’t know why it matters so much, but it does. She needs Paige to keep her eyes open, to keep responding, to stay here with her.

Paige nods faintly, her eyes searching for something to focus on. They land on Azzi’s face, and Azzi feels her stomach flip under the intensity of that gaze. “We could’ve been teammates,” Paige murmurs, her voice barely audible. “It would’ve been fun.”

Azzi’s heart twists, a dull ache settling in her chest. She forces herself to smile, though it feels like it might crack her face. “Yeah,” she whispers. “It could’ve.”

Silence stretches between them, broken only by the soft rustle of leaves and the distant gurgle of the stream. Azzi doesn’t let go of Paige’s arm, her thumb brushing lightly against the skin just above the bandage. She doesn’t know if it’s for Paige’s comfort or her own.

The night creeps closer, the colors in the sky fading to deep purples and blues. And as they do, things just continue to get worse. Paige’s shoulder is warm and sweaty against Azzi’s, but her weight is starting to sag, her head lolling more with each passing moment. Azzi feels every shift, every shallow breath, and it’s like a countdown ticking in her ear. Paige’s ponytail brushes against the side of her face every now and then, soft and teasing, and for a second Azzi’s brain latches onto it—onto how bizarrely comforting such a small, stupid thing can feel in a moment like this. But it’s fleeting. The ache in her head won’t let her hold onto anything for long.

It’s getting worse. The dull throb that started hours ago has grown into something monstrous, a pressure building behind her eyes and pushing at her temples like her skull might split open. The jungle spins when she glances to the side, her vision streaked with dark spots that pulse in time with the pain. She can barely focus on anything, but she forces herself to keep her eyes on Paige. Paige, who’s somehow still upright, even as her arm hangs limp in Azzi’s lap, her blood staining Azzi’s hand through the makeshift bandage. The bleeding has slowed, but still not stopped entirely, and Azzi knows that’s not good enough. She doesn’t know how much blood Paige has left to lose, and the thought tightens around her chest like a vice.

Azzi reaches her free hand up, and it shakes slightly as she moves it to rub circles at her temple. The pounding in her cerebrum is unbearable, each throb sending a wave of nausea and dizziness through her. She squeezes her eyes shut, trying to focus, but the spinning in her peripheral only gets worse.

She feels Paige stir beside her, hears the faint hitch in Paige’s breath before the blonde whispers, “Does your head hurt?”

Azzi’s eyes flutter open, and she turns her head just enough to meet Paige’s gaze. Those blue eyes—crystal clear even in the fading light—are wide and worried, and for a moment, Azzi forgets how to breathe. It’s startling, how much concern Paige holds there, as if the pain in Azzi’s skull is more important than the gaping wound in her own arm. Azzi swallows hard, pushing down the lump forming in her throat, and forces a small, shaky smile. “Yeah, um, a little,” she lies, her voice cracking slightly on the words.

It’s a terrible lie, and Paige sees right through it. Before Azzi can pull away or deflect, Paige’s uninjured arm moves, her hand coming up to gently cup Azzi’s jaw. The touch is featherlight, hesitant but somehow steady, and it sends a shiver down Azzi’s spine. Her breath catches in her throat, and she freezes, unsure whether to lean into it or pull away. Her body decides for her, staying perfectly still, as if moving might break whatever fragile thing this moment has become.

Paige tilts Azzi’s head slightly, her fingers careful as they guide her. Azzi’s cheek tingles where Paige’s skin brushes hers, and she wonders, distantly, if Paige can feel the heat rising there. Paige’s thumb hovers near the bruise on the side of Azzi’s face, and Azzi feels her breath hitch again as Paige murmurs, “He hit you hard. God—your cheek is almost purple.”

Azzi blinks, her brain struggling to catch up. She hadn’t realized how bad it looked; the ache had been drowned out by everything else—the adrenaline, the fear, the focus on keeping Paige alive. Paige’s voice pulls her back, soft and hoarse, but heavy with something Azzi can’t quite make. Her fingers brush over the bruise, trailing so gently it almost feels like a ghost of a touch, and then they skim over the cut on Azzi’s cheekbone.

The sting catches her off guard, and she flinches, a sharp hiss slipping out before she can stop it. Paige jerks her hand back immediately, her brows knitting together in regret. “Sorry,” she says quickly, voice breaking slightly. “I didn’t mean—”

“It’s fine,” Azzi cuts her off softly. “Really. It’s fine.”

But it’s not fine. Not the pain in her brain, not the blood still trickling out of Paige, not the way Azzi’s heart stutters every time Paige so much as looks at her. None of it is fine. And yet, in this tiny, horrible moment, with death lurking in the shadows and exhaustion pulling at every fiber of her being, Azzi feels a flicker of something she hasn’t felt since she left home. Warmth. Connection.

It’s stupid. It’s dangerous. And it’s exactly what she can’t afford right now.

Paige settles back against the tree, her head lolling slightly, but her gaze stays fixed on Azzi. “You’re a bad liar,” she says after a moment, her lips twitching into a faint, teasing smile.

Azzi snorts softly, the sound dry and humorless. “Yeah, well… you’re stubborn.”

Paige’s smile falters, her eyes drifting closed for a second too long before she forces them open again. “Guess that makes us a good team,” she murmurs, her voice barely audible now.

Azzi’s chest tightens, the weight of those words settling heavily in her heart. She glances down at Paige’s arm, her vision blurry but still enough to make out the blood-soaked bandage that seems to mock her efforts, and then back up at Paige’s face. She looks fragile, too pale and too still, her breathing shallow and uneven. Azzi swallows hard, fighting back the wave of helplessness threatening to drown her, and shifts slightly, leaning more of her weight into Paige’s side.

“Don’t fall asleep,” Azzi says quietly, her voice firmer than she feels. “Stay with me, okay?”

Paige hums faintly, her head tipping to rest lightly against Azzi’s. “I’ll try,” she whispers.

It could be a minute or an hour between that and the start of the ticking. It’s faint, barely there, a soft, irregular beat that worms it’s way into Azzi’s consciousness through the relentless pounding in her skull. At first, she thinks it might be her own pulse, amplified by the migraine that’s been eating at her focus all day, but then it grows louder, unmistakably external. Her head tilts, almost unconsciously, toward the sound, the motion sending a fresh wave of nausea spiraling through her.

It takes a second for her to pinpoint it, her vision hazy and the world dimming in the creeping twilight, but then she sees it. A small box, dangling precariously from a flimsy parachute, drifting slowly through the humid, stagnant air until it lands in the underbrush just a few feet away. The silver fabric of the parachute glimmers faintly in the dwindling light, and for a moment, Azzi wonders if she’s hallucinating.

She blinks hard, her dry, stinging eyes struggling to focus. No, it’s real. It has to be.

“What is that?” Paige’s voice is groggy, slurred with exhaustion and pain. She doesn’t move, just tilts her head a fraction toward the clearing, her expression half-curious, half-disoriented.

Azzi doesn’t answer. She can’t. The words are lodged in her throat, tangled up with the sudden, desperate burst of hope that’s surging through her chest. Instead, she shifts carefully, so slowly it feels like her joints might creak from the effort. Paige’s arm is still draped across her lap, and Azzi tilts it gently, settling it back in Paige’s lap as if it’s something fragile and precious. “Stay here,” she murmurs, her voice barely above a whisper.

Paige gives her a bleary nod, her head falling back against the tree trunk, and Azzi takes a shaky breath as she pulls herself to her feet. Her legs feel like rubber beneath her, unsteady and unreliable, and the moment she straightens, the world tilts alarmingly. Her vision blurs, the dark shapes of the trees around them smearing together into a dizzying kaleidoscope, and her head pounds so viciously she has to bite the inside of her cheek to keep from crying out.

She stumbles but manages to catch herself on the rough bark of the tree. Her palm scrapes against it, a sharp sting that grounds her just enough to push forward. Each step is an act of will, her body screaming at her to stop, to sit, to let go. But she doesn’t. She can’t. Not when there’s a chance—no matter how slim—that what’s in that box might save them.

The small package sits nestled in the underbrush, it’s parachute caught on a low-hanging branch. Azzi crouches slowly, her balance wavering, and pulls it down with trembling hands. The rough fabric catches slightly on her fingers, and her head spins so violently she nearly collapses right there. Somehow, she makes it back to where Paige sits slumped against the tree, her eyes half-closed but still tracking Azzi’s movements.

Azzi drops to her knees in front of her, cradling the box in her lap like it’s something sacred. Her hands shake as she fumbles with the lid, her pulse pounding in her ears so loudly she can barely hear anything else. It takes a moment—too long, in her opinion—but eventually, the lid pops off, revealing the contents inside.

A tub of ointment, labeled in neat, blocky letters: for open wounds. Two small pills in a clear, sealed pouch, labeled simply: for the pain. And tucked into the corner, a folded piece of paper. Azzi snatches up the note first, her heart hammering as she unfolds it.

Keep it up. The Capitol loves you.

It’s signed by both Azzi and Paige’s mentors—a joint act.

Azzi’s chest tightens. Relief crashes over her, sharp and almost painful in its intensity, but it’s laced with something darker, something bitter. She’s grateful, of course she is, but the note is a cruel reminder of the game they’re playing—the performance they’re expected to give. Their survival isn’t just dependent on their own skill or willpower; it’s a spectacle, a source of entertainment for people who will never know what it feels like to bleed in the dirt, to fight for every breath, to endure the kind of pain that makes you wonder if it’s been worth it.

Azzi swallows hard, her throat tight, and turns the note toward Paige. Paige blinks at it, her eyes squinting as she tries to focus on the words. When she finally makes them out, a small, breathy laugh escapes her, soft and incredulous. She lets her head fall back against the tree, a faint, almost dazed smile tugging at her lips. “Oh my God,” she murmurs, her voice trembling slightly. It’s unclear whether she’s laughing out of relief or disbelief—or both.

The sound of Paige’s laugh, faint as it is, warms something deep in Azzi’s chest. It’s a reminder that they’re still here, still alive, still capable of finding something—anything—to hold on to. Before she can stop herself, she feels her own lips curve upward, the faintest ghost of a smile breaking through the exhaustion and pain that’s been weighing down on her for what feels like forever.

It’s small at first, tentative, but it grows, soft and real, until her dimples poke out—a feature that hasn’t seen light since she left home. The warmth of the grin spreads across her face like a sunrise breaking through the clouds. It feels strange to smile like this here, in the arena, in the state they’re in, but it’s genuine, and it’s hers.

When she looks back at Paige, she finds the older girl staring at her. Paige’s blue eyes are hazy, rimmed with near agony, but there’s something else in them, something unspoken and undeniable as they trace over Azzi’s face. It’s a look that sends a flicker of warmth rushing through the brunette’s chest, even as her headache rages on.

And then, despite everything, Paige grins back. It’s slower, lazier, and nowhere near as bright as it would be if they weren’t half-dead in a jungle, but it’s real. And for a moment, just a moment, it feels like they’ve won something far more important than a sponsor’s gift.

But then Azzi snaps out of it, knowing they don’t have the luxury of wasting time. Every second feels stolen, borrowed against a future that’s far from guaranteed, and Paige is the priority right now. The thought flickers briefly in her mind—how strange it is to think of Paige as anything but her competition, how utterly backwards it is to put someone else before herself in a place like this. But the logic doesn’t stick. The part of her that knows better is drowned out by something deeper, something she can’t quite—or maybe just doesn’t want to—name. She shoves the thought away, as she has with so many others.

Her head throbs mercilessly, the ache radiating from her temple down to her jaw, making it hard to focus. The pills are calling to her, the promise of relief so tempting it makes her fingers twitch. But Azzi forces herself to look away, to lock in on Paige instead. Paige is the most pressing issue. Azzi can deal with her own head later, once the blonde isn’t bleeding anymore.

Azzi reaches for Paige’s arm carefully, the older girl watching her intensely as she does so. Those blue eyes, always so sharp and steady, are dulled, but they don’t wager as they track Azzi’s every move, as if she’s the exception to her exhaustion. It’s unnerving, almost too much, but Azzi doesn’t pull back.

Her fingers brush against Paige’s skin as she takes her injured arm, and she notices immediately how clammy it feels, how fragile. Paige doesn’t flinch, though, letting Azzi take the weight of it as she carefully unwraps the so-called bandage they’d thrown together earlier. The blood-soaked fabric peels away slowly, sticking in places, and Azzi’s stomach once again twists at the sight of the wound.

It’s still red and angry and oozing blood. The metallic tan got it fills the air, sharp and overwhelming. Azzi has to take a deep breath, steadying herself.

And then she’s dipping her fingers into the ointment, it’s texture slick and slightly sticky. Carefully, she begins to spread it over the gash. The instant it touches the raw skin, Paige hisses through her teeth, her body tensing beneath Azzi’s hands. Azzi freezes, her heart skipping a beat. “Sorry,” she murmurs, her voice low and soft, almost inaudible. She doesn’t want to hurt Paige, even if it’s necessary.

Paige’s lips press into a thin line, and after a moment, she nods. Her free hand gestures weakly for Azzi to continue. Azzi does, her fingers moving as gently as they can. She focuses on covering every inch of the wound, making sure the ointment is evenly spread, all the while hyper-aware of how close they are. She can feel Paige’s shallow breaths, can hear the faint catch in them every time her touch hits a particularly sensitive spot. It’s distracting, but Azzi forces herself to keep going.

When she finally finishes, she sits back slightly, her hands hovering uncertainty over Paige’s arm. Her fingers are smeared with leftover ointment and stained crimson, and the sight of the blood—Paige’s blood—sends a jolt of something sharp and unpleasant through her chest. She doesn’t let herself dwell on it.

Azzi reaches into the box, pulling out one of the pain relief pills from the small pouch. She hands it to Paige, her fingers brushing briefly against Paige’s palm as she passes it over. The contact is fleeting, but it feels significant somehow, like it leaves a mark.

“Take this,” Azzi says, her voice firmer now, though still edged with exhaustion. She grabs one of their canteens, unscrewing the cap and holding it out to Paige. Paige takes both the pill and the canteen without question, ripping her head back to swallow them. Azzi watches, relief flickering briefly in her chest as Paige’s throat bobs with the effort.

Once Paige finishes, Azzi moves to craft another makeshift bandage. She tears a strip of leaves, careful to pick ones she recognizes as cleaner, and secures them around Paige’s arm, tying them tightly enough to hold but not so tight that they’ll cut off circulation. The leaves feel flimsy, inadequate, but it’s better than leaving the wound exposed. The Capitol’s ointment might be effective, but Azzi isn’t willing to risk it.

Now that Paige is taken care of, Azzi finally lets herself acknowledge what her body has been screaming at her all along. She needs relief. Her fingers tremble slightly as she reaches for the second pain pill, plucking it out of the pouch. Her throat is dry and the motion of swallowing feels sharp, but she forces the pill down quickly, chasing it with a swig of water from the canteen. The hope that it might take the edge off her pounding skull is the only thing keeping her upright right now.

She picks up the tub of ointment, planning to stow it away safely in one of their bags, when Paige’s voice cuts through the quiet. “Wait.”

Azzi looks over, confused, brows furrowing as her gaze lands on Paige. “What?”

Paige gestures toward the ointment with a tired flick of her fingers. “Can I see it?”

The request doesn’t make much sense. Paige doesn’t need more of it, and her wound’s already been ‘bandaged’ back up. But Azzi doesn’t ask. She’s too drained to question it, and maybe, in the back of her mind, there’s a tiny piece of her that would hand over almost anything Paige asked for without hesitation (yes, she knows how bad it is). Wordlessly, she holds the tub out to the blonde, who takes it with a quiet look of determination.

Azzi watches as Paige unscrews the lid, dipping her thumb into the cool salve and scooping up a small amount. Then Paige’s eyes lift to meet Azzi’s, her gaze steady despite the exhaustion weighing her down. “C’mere,” Paige says softly.

Azzi hesitates, blinking at her. “Why? What—”

Paige rolls her eyes, exasperation creeping into her voice. “Your cheekbone, Azzi.”

Azzi blinks again, then lifts a hand to her face, fingertips brushing against the gash just below her eye. She’s half-forgotten about it, the pain of her pounding head and the worry over Paige drowning out the sharp sting of the cut. Her cheeks flush faintly, but she nods, leaning forward just enough to close the gap between them.

As Paige’s fingers reach for her jaw, Azzi stiffens slightly. The touch is careful, light, and steady, but it sends a ripple of tension through her that she struggles to suppress. Paige tilts her chin up, her thumb brushing the salve gently across the cut. Azzi can feel the coolness of it on her skin, a faint relief that’s overshadowed by the warmth radiating from Paige’s touch.

Paige is so close. Too close. Azzi can see every little mark, every faint line of exhaustion etched into Paige’s face. Azzi’s heart seems to be pounding harder than her head now, and she forces her gaze to dart away, focusing on the rough bark of the tree behind Paige instead of the curve of her lips or the cerulean of her eyes.

The moment drags out longer than it should, Paige’s hand lingering against Azzi’s cheek even after she’s finished. Then, finally, she leans back, handing the tub of ointment back to Azzi. “There. Now you can put it away,” she murmurs, her voice quiet, her lips curving faintly into something soft and fleeting.

Azzi swallows hard, taking the tub and stuffing it into one of the bags with more force than necessary, as though sealing it away might also lock up the strange swirl of feelings tightening in her chest.

When she finally settles back against the tree beside Paige, she sighs deeply, the weight of the day pressing down on her. The pain in her head still hasn’t faded, and she closes her eyes for a moment, leaning back against the rough bark, trying to center herself. But then Paige’s voice breaks the quiet again, soft but firm.

“You should actually lay down,” Paige says. “Your head definitely needs it.”

Azzi shakes her head without even opening her eyes. “It’s okay. I’m fine.”

“No, Azzi.” Paige’s voice is sharper now, another flash of concern cutting through her exhaustion. “You need to lay down.”

Azzi turns her head, meeting Paige’s gaze. There’s something there, something in the way Paige is looking at her—equal parts frustration and care and just pure fatigue—that makes Azzi’s stomach tumble. Paige doesn’t have to say anything else. Azzi knows exactly what she’s suggesting. Her face flushes hot, and she rubs her temple again, trying to come up with an excuse whilst simultaneously trying to ease the pain. “Paige…”

“Azzi,” the blonde interrupts, her voice matching Azzi’s tired tone with an almost perfect mimicry.

Azzi exhales heavily, the tension draining from her shoulders. She knows she should argue, but she doesn’t. Maybe it’s because the pain in her skull is still unrelenting, or maybe it’s because, deep down, she wants to be closer to Paige. Either way, she gives in, shifting her wright and carefully lowering herself until her head is resting on Paige’s lap.

The moment she settles against the older girl’s thighs, she feels relief. The position takes some of the pressure off her pounding head, and the warmth of Paige beneath her is oddly soothing. She exhales slowly, letting her body relax for the first time in hours.

Paige doesn’t say anything else. She doesn’t need to. Her fingers move slowly, hesitating for a moment before they come to rest against Azzi’s hair. And then, as if testing the motion, she begins to rub small, smooth circles against Azzi’s scalp. The gentle pressure eases some of the ache in Azzi’s skull, and her eyelids grow heavier with each passing second.

Azzi’s hand, lying limply at her side, brushes against Paige’s. It’s not intentional at first, just the natural shift of her body, but then her pinky moves, deliberately sliding closer until it touches Paige’s. She doesn’t interlock them, instead keeping the touch featherlight, just the barest connection. But it’s enough. It’s grounding. It’s more than she thought she’d ever have here.

Azzi lets her eyes fall shut, the ache in her head dulling slightly, and for the first time all day, she allows herself to truly breathe.

212 notes · View notes

lefteagleblizzard · 2 months ago

Text

𝔅𝔢𝔱𝔴𝔢𝔢𝔫 𝔱𝔴𝔬 𝔡𝔢𝔳𝔦𝔩𝔰

Mike Munroe x male reader x Grant Ward

Summary: The lodge burned, sealing away the horrors inside until S.H.I.E.L.D. arrived, determined to uncover the truth. You swore your feelings for Mike Munroe would never be returned. But after a charged encounter with a certain agent, you find yourself caught between two men. One wants to tame you. The other wants to break you.

Tags: Male reader. He/him pronouns are used towards the reader. No use of Y/N. Friends to lovers. Strangers to ???. Angst. Lots of sensual tension. Jealousy. Love corner. Gay smut. Top Mike munroe. Top Grant Ward (Pre-Hydra). (No selfcest). Bottom male reader. Blowjob (reading giving). Anal sex. Double penetration.

ℳ𝒶𝓈𝓉ℯ𝓇𝒾𝓈𝓉

Words count: 8000 words

You adjusted the weight of the gun in your belt, a gift from Mike that he stubbornly insisted you take. You still weren't sure why he'd been so adamant, but at this moment, you were almost grateful for it.

You jumped down from the rocky ledge, the freezing water swallowing your lower body again and forcing a sharp hiss of pain through your clenched teeth that clattered against each other. The water ripple beside you as Mike jumped in as well.

He cursed under his breath, a sharp ‘fuck’ cutting through the still air, but he adjusted quickly, stepping closer to rub your arm with his hand, the friction a weak attempt at warmth. You managed a small, tight smile, your lips trembling from the cold.

"I'm fine," you forced a smile, ignoring how your teeth clacked together. "You should worry more about Josh."

Mike's hand didn't leave your arm.

Even as you lied through your teeth about being fine, his fingers stayed curled around your sleeve, thumb tracing slow, absent-minded circles over the damp fabric. His brows were drawn tight, lips pressed into a thin line like he was searching for something in you.

But whatever he was looking for, he didn't seem to find it. He gave a single, stiff nod.

"Alright," he muttered, voice rough, like he didn't even believe himself.

Another splash echoed behind you. Josh had followed, his mumbling barely intelligible over the sloshing water, his head tilting this way and that, movements erratic. He wasn't here with you, not mentally.

Mike's grip on your arm lingered, just a second too long before he moved forward and you took the chance to move towards the rocks on the side, feeling the merciful relief of shallower water as you reached a cluster of jagged rocks.

It happened in an instant. A sudden splash and Mike disappeared beneath the dark water.

Panic surged in your chest as your eyes darted wildly across the water's surface, trying to catch a glimpse of him until something rose from the depths.

The thing that emerged was not human. It had once been, maybe, but what stood before you was something twisted beyond recognition, something starved, stretched, monstrous. Its skin clung too tightly over its skinny frame, stretched thin over bones that jutted at jagged, unnatural angles. And the eyes. Sunken pits of milky white, rolling wildly in their sockets as the head snapped towards Josh, neck cracking with the motion. The jaw hung open far wider than it should have, an unhinged, gaping maw lined with jagged teeth.

The sheer wrongness of it paralyzed you. Your body refused to move, breath lodged somewhere between your ribs, mind caught in the primal terror of staring into something that simply should not be.

An arm locked around your waist, yanking you backward with such force that your frozen muscles finally snapped into motion. You gasped, twisting in the grip and found Mike, soaked and terrified. His grip was iron, pulling you toward cover, away from that thing.

Its claws snapped around Josh and he screamed, dragging him from the water like he weighed nothing.

Mike hauled you behind a large rock, his body pressing into yours,pinning you between his heat and the cold, wet stone and holding you against him, arms tight and firm. His heartbeat pounded beneath your cheek, rapid, erratic, just as shaken as you.

He moved to reach for something at your waist.

The gun.

His fingers brushed your belt, pulling the cold weight of it free.

Your fingers twitched as if trying to recall a missed opportunity, the crushing realization slamming into you like a freight train. You had a way to fight back, and instead you stood there, useless, frozen in fear while Josh was taken

Mike cursed under his breath as he raised the gun with his injured hand and aimed where Josh was.

Nothing. Neither him or the wendigo were there.

He swore under his breath, dragging a rough hand down his face, frustration evident in the lines of his body. Then he turned, locking onto you again, softer this time.

"Are you hurt?" His voice was quiet, but insistent, hands gripping your shoulders. His thumbs rubbed slow, grounding circles into your soaked jacket.

You shook your head. Your throat was tight, something thick and painful building there. "It's my fault." The words barely came out. "I could've—should've—"

"Stop." His voice was firm, not allowing space for doubt. "I unloaded hundreds of rounds into those things at the sanatorium. They don't fucking die." His fingers tightened, forcing you to meet his gaze. "If you shot it, all it would've done is kill you next. There was no point in both of you dying."

Your chest was too tight, breathing uneven, and rapid. His arms locked around you with force, pressing you flush against him protectively, body radiating heat despite the cold seeping into your clothes. Your face met his chest, his soaked, dirt-covered shirt and his sturdy chest against your skin, he held you like he needed it just as much as you did

The hum of the aircraft was a dull, constant vibration beneath you. The lodge was gone, reduced to embers and the wendigos—what was left of Hannah and those poor miners experimented on at the sanatorium—were nothing but charred skeletons buried in the wreckage.

SHIELD had arrived before the police even had a chance.

You hadn't even processed how they got there so fast before you were ushered onto The Bus, this massive military transport plane. Instead of immediate safety, you were met with cold professionalism agents in black tactical gear, armed with sidearms that wanted to know everything.

One by one, you and the others were being interrogated. The idea of recounting the night in painful, graphic detail made your stomach twist, but exhaustion sat heavy on you, making it difficult to do much more than sit back and wait.

Mike was beside you and that was enough to keep you grounded. Your body ached, bruises forming where you'd been slammed against walls, dragged through frozen water, thrown to the ground.

You glanced across the cabin. Sam sat a few seats away, elbows on her knees, hands over her face. She was probably thinking about Josh, about Hannah, about everything. The truth had hit her harder than anyone else.

Ashley was already being interrogated, locked away in some windowless room on the aircraft, probably struggling to explain to an agent how cannibalism had turned people into monsters with supernatural strength and speed.

Emily sat across from you and Mike, staring down at the metal floor, her hands gripping the fabric of her torn pants. She muttered curses under her breath over and over, her rage and grief bubbling under the surface, directed at Matt. Whether for leaving her, abandoning her, or not making it out alive, you weren't sure.

You still didn't know if Jessica and Matt made it.

Beside you, Mike shifted. The seat creaked under his weight as his shoulder brushed yours.

It felt stupid how good it felt just the contact alone and you didn’t think twice before leaning into him, resting your head against his shoulder, instinct overriding hesitation.

For a moment, you thought he was going to pull away but then, hesitantly, his arm slid around your waist, pulling you closer.

Mike's jaw clenched. He hadn't thought past the constant static in his chest every time he looked at you.

There was a weight between you, something unspoken but heavy pressing at the edges of whatever this had always been. You swallowed hard, a quiet, bitter chuckle slipping past your lips in a desperate attempt to ease the tension. "At least we both made it out in one piece," you murmured, your voice hoarse.

Mike scoffed, shifting slightly to wave his injured left hand in front of you. The crude bandage was still wrapped tight around the stump where his fingers used to be, the fabric stained with dried blood.

"I wouldn't say one piece, exactly."

You rolled your eyes, nudging him lightly "You know what I mean, dumbass."

The teasing was easy. It almost felt normal, like the two of you were back at some party, throwing banter across the room. But Mike's fingers brushed over your wrist, his thumb tracing small, absentminded patterns against your skin.

His mind was racing.

If this night had taught him anything, it was that life was too fucking short. If he was willing to fight monsters for you, if he was willing to nearly die for you, what the hell was stopping him from saying what's been on his mind for months now?

His grip on you tightened slightly. His throat felt dry.

"I won't tell anyone about what happened in the mines."

The words weren't what he meant to say. Not even close.

He cursed at himself immediately when he felt you tense. There was a moment of silence that stretched painfully, then you whispered, "You shouldn't do that."

Mike turned to look at you fully. Your face was so close to his, barely millimeters apart. He took it all in at once, the dirt and dried blood on your skin, exhaustion clung to your expression and the sharp line of your jaw. It made his chest feel too full.

Your voice was strained. "You shouldn't possibly ruin your life for something I did."

Mike clenched his jaw. He hated the way you blame yourself. It wasn't your fault. If you had tried to save Josh, you'd be fucking dead. He was doing this because he wanted to, because the idea of you getting dragged into something worse than what you'd already suffered made him sick.

Mike swallowed hard. "It's not up for debate."

"It's not your responsibility."

Mike shook his head, jaw set. "I don't care."

Another stretch of silence that felt longer than it really was. Then, slowly, you turned your head to look at him. Your faces were too close and Mike's breath caught in his throat.

You were exhausted, bruised. Blood streaked across your temple, a smudge of dirt on your cheek. But you still looked perfect in his eyes.

You swallowed, breath shaky. "Why are you doing this?"

Mike clenched his jaw, trying to ignore the way his pulse spiked.

You could see the dirt and blood streaking his face, the cuts and bruises from his fights. His lips were split, his cheekbones shadowed with fatigue and grime, and his sharp but tired eyes locked onto yours with an intensity that made your stomach twist.

Mike exhaled sharply, his breath unsteady, pulse hammering like a war drum in his chest. The words clawed at his throat, desperate to be freed, but his tongue felt heavy, his mind a battlefield of hesitation and raw emotion.

This was it. No more second-guessing. No more biting his tongue. He had to say it now before the moment slipped through his fingers.

He loved you. He fucking loved you.

If it meant keeping you safe, he would have faced a hundred more of those wendigos with nothing but his bare hands if that’s what it took.

His breath hitched as the weight of it settled between you both, hanging thick in the air, electric and undeniable.

He opened his mouth—

"Jesus," Chris groaned suddenly, dropping into the seat in front of you both. "That was terrifying. I think I aged ten years in the last ten minutes. That woman is scary."

Mike clenched his jaw so fucking hard it hurt.

You blinked, lifting your head from his shoulder and he immediately hated the loss of warmth. His arm was still around your waist and his grip twitched, fingers digging in slightly as if he could silently tell you to stay where you were.

But you were already looking at Chris, frowning. "Who?"

Chris rubbed his temple. "The one who interrogated me. Dark hair, totally deadpan face. I thought she was gonna flip the table over when I took too long to answer."

You recalled all the agents that swarmed you when they arrived and circled all of you, your mind settling on a stern-looking Asian woman with sharp, no-nonsense eyes, her posture rigid with the kind of discipline that made it clear she didn’t tolerate any bullshit. Beside her there was a man with neatly combed brown hair, a slight receding hairline that did nothing to diminish the quiet authority he carried. His composed expression barely shifted, save for the occasional flicker of dry amusement in his gaze, as if he was already ten steps ahead of everyone in the room.

You stifled a laugh. "What, you got interrogated by an adult Emily?"

Emily scoffed, shooting you a glare but didn't argue, too preoccupied muttering about Matt under her breath.

Then someone called your name.

Your stomach dropped as you realized that it was your turn.

You groaned, pushing yourself to your feet and squeezing Mike's shoulder in reassurance.

Mike looked up at you and it was easy to pick that your smile wasn't real. Your eyes were too tight, anxiety flickering behind them.

You turned and walked away and all Mike could do was watch until you stepped inside the room.

It was cold not just in temperature, but in presence as well.

A man was seated with calculated ease, fingers interlaced on the metal table between you. He was handsome in a way that was almost unfair, like someone had sculpted the sharp lines of his jaw with the intention of making people stare.

His suit was crisp, tailored to broad shoulders and a lean, solid frame, emphasizing the lean muscle beneath. The sleeves were rolled up enough to expose his forearms, the fabric pressed neatly against defined muscle that flexes subtly as he tapped a pen once against the metal table. The name ‘Grant Ward’ placed on the right side of his suit.

He didn't greet you. Didn't offer a single word of pretense.

Instead, he studied you. No unnecessary movement. Just an unwavering gaze as you took your seat.

Goddamn. Was it too late to request the terrifying woman Chris had mentioned?

Ward exhaled through his nose, gaze flickering over your face like he was assessing something. Then, finally, he spoke.

"Start from the beginning." His voice was sharp, commanding. "Tell me exactly what happened on this mountain."

The sheer weight of the question hit you like a sledgehammer.

Your body screamed with exhaustion, every muscle sore from the night's horrors with your mind in an even worse state.

And now, you have to relive it all again. But Ward's expression made it clear that there was no room for evasion.

So you started talking.

About a year ago Hannah ran into the woods, Beth chasing after her. About how neither of them came back. Then came the present. The stranger with a flamethrower that helped all of you. The sanatorium and the notes you and Mike found about the experiments. The Wendigos.

Every fucking detail, laid bare before him.

You could see Ward's hand moving occasionally, jotting things down, but his face barely moved. His expression remained unreadable, eyes locked onto yours like he was watching for the moment you slipped up.

But when you got to Josh you hesitated.

Just for a second. A single, sharp second.

And he noticed. His pen stilled.

You forced yourself to keep going, but you carefully didn't mention what had happened in the mines. You spoke about how Josh had planned revenge, the fake deaths and the psychological torture.

"You're leaving something out about your friend," he said smoothly.

Your jaw tightened, forcing yourself to hold his gaze. "It's a hard thing to talk about."

Ward leaned back slightly, tapping his pen against the table with a thoughtful rhythm. "That's understandable."

You exhaled slowly.

"But," he continued, "what I don't understand is why, out of all the things you just told me, this is the part you struggled with."

Your fingers curled into fists. "Because he was my friend.”

The words came out sharper than you intended, the exhaustion making your patience wear too thin, and that was when you realized that you just walked straight into his trap.

Ward didn't blink. "That didn't stop you from telling me about Hannah."

He tilted his head slightly, watching you like you were an interesting puzzle he was beginning to enjoy putting together. Ward knew he had you.

You swallowed hard, forcing yourself to hold his gaze. "Josh wasn't the bad guy."

Ward made a soft, considering sound. "So you're saying he's innocent?" His tone was too neutral, too practiced. "Then why did you tie him up in the barn and left him for the Wendigo?"

You inhaled sharply through your nose, forcing control. "You're twisting my words," you shot back.

"Am I?" A flicker of something subtle, dark amusement.

"Yeah," you said, leaning forward now, refusing to back down. "You weren't there. You don't get to act like you know what we all went through."

Something about that seemed to interest him. "You seem defensive."

You scoffed, shaking your head. "You seem like a pain in the ass."

Ward's smirk fully formed, a slow, deliberate curve of his lips that sent something sharp through your chest.

Your body had already betrayed you, but your mind? Your mind was a fucking traitor.

Suddenly you ended up thinking about his hands. Big and strong fingers that could wrap around your throat with the same practiced ease he used to hold a gun.

Or pin you down, bent over this fucking table, pressing you down against the cold metal with his body flush against yours.

Your jaw clenched, nails dug into your thighs beneath the table.

If he really wanted answers, how far would he go?

Would he whisper in your ear, that same mocking lilt in his voice as he asked his questions while his fingers traced down your spine? Would he take his time, make you beg to speak, make you squirm under him until you gave him every secret, every confession, every fucking moan?

Or would he be impatient? Would he press you down harder, his breath hot against your neck, hips pinning you in place as he made it clear that this was about breaking you completely?

"Something on your mind?" He was watching you unravel and he liked it.

Your breath hitched, and of course he caught it. You saw the flicker of amusement in his expression, the way his gaze dropped so briefly to your throat, watching the way you swallowed, like he was considering something and your skin burned with the realization.

Your nails dug harder into your thighs. "Fuck you."

Ward chuckled, low and deep and you hated how fucking good it sounded

"Careful," he murmured, tilting his head, "I might think that's an offer."

He stood abruptly, the movement was fluid, precise, the scrape of the chair's legs against the floor sharp in the too-quiet room. He didn't hesitate, didn't break eye contact.

And in seconds, he was at your side.

A strong hand clamped down on your shoulder, the calloused pads of his fingers pressed against the fabric of your shirt, squeezing not in aggression, but in something worse.

"You're free to go," he said.

Except he didn't move. He stood directly in front of you, his frame blocking the path.

You could have stepped to the side and walked past him, left without a second glance.

So why the hell couldn't you move?

He leaned forward. Hands braced on either side of the cold, metal table behind you.

Caging you in.

Your back hit the table as you involuntarily backed away, but there was nowhere left to go.

Ward was too close now. The heat radiating from his body was at odds with the sterile chill of the interrogation room, his presence swallowing the space between you. The scent he had was something like faint gunpowder and expensive cologne that wrapped around you and fuck, your heart was pounding.

"It wouldn't take much for me to find out what you're hiding." A whisper that came low and rough as he spoke.

You swallowed hard, the knot in your throat tightening as his presence loomed closer.

His eyes, dark and piercing, never wavered from yours. They held a promise of retribution that made your skin prickle with unease. A slow, deliberate step brought him nearer, the barest smirk curling the corner of his mouth as he studied your reaction.

"And when I do," he continued, his voice dropping further, almost a growl now, "I'll give you exactly what you deserve."

A sharp wave of heat rolled through you, unwanted, undeniable.

Your breath hitched and you knew he fucking felt it.

His gaze flickered down to your lips.

Voluntary? Involuntary? You had no fucking clue.

Your pulse thundered in your ears as your body moved before your mind could catch up.

You tilted your head slightly. Let your gaze flicker to his lips just for a brief, fleeting second enough to let him notice.

You moved so goddamn slowly, closing the space between you inch by inch, breath by breath.

His was warm. It ghosted over your lips, mingling with your own and he didn't pull away.

Your chest was tight, skin burning, and just when you felt him shift slightly—

"Leave."

You flinched. The word hit like a slap, rough and sharp, dragging you out of the haze of whatever the fuck this was.

Ward was already pulling away, his face was yet again cold, controlled and detached.

He turned toward the files on the table, attention already elsewhere like you were nothing.

Your legs felt weak, heart hammering so hard you could barely breathe as you forced yourself to get the hell out of there before you lost all composure.

You didn't let yourself look back.

Mike was already waiting for you when you stepped out, leaning against the wall, arms loosely crossed over his chest, his head tilted downward in deep thought. His fingers tapped idly against his bicep, brows furrowed.

The second his gaze landed on your face, something in his expression shifted.

His brows pulled together, eyes narrowing and scanning your face in quick, sharp flicks like he was trying to read you. He pushed off the wall instantly, straightening up, body already moving toward you before he even realized it.

Your shoulders were too tight, body wound up like a coil ready to snap. You wouldn't meet his eyes, and made his stomach twist.

"You good?" His voice was lower than usual, careful.

You shrugged. "I'm fine."

He didn't believe you. Not for a fucking second.

His gaze flickered over your shoulder, toward the interrogation room door.

The agent was leaning against the doorframe, posture too relaxed, as if he had no real interest in you at all. But Mike wasn't an idiot. He saw the way Ward was watching you, gaze lingering for just a second too long before finally flicking toward Mike.

The ghost of a smirk was barely there, but it sent something sharp through Mike's chest.

His fingers curled into fists as he forced himself to tear his eyes away from Ward before he did something fucking stupid.

Instead, he turned his attention back to you.

"You don't look fine." His voice was firmer now, pressing.

You exhaled sharply "Mike, I said I'm fine."

He definitely didn't believe you now. His hands clenched inside his pockets, nails biting into his palms as something ugly curled in his chest.

"What the fuck happened in there?" His voice was low, sharp, his patience running thin.

You ran a hand down your face, frustration creeping into your tone. "Mike."

He stepped too close to you now and you stiffened, instinctively leaning back, as his broad frame looming.

"I'm serious," he said, voice quieter now, but somehow more intense. "What did he do?”

"I said nothing happened," you snapped, the exhaustion making your voice too sharp, the words coming out too fast. "Jesus Christ, what is this, round two? I've had enough of being interrogated, okay?”

The second the words left your mouth, regret hit you immediately.

You hadn't meant to say it like that, hadn't meant to make it sound like you were pushing him away.

Mike exhaled harshly through his nose, his fingers flexing like he was fighting the urge to lash out—not at you, never at you, but at something, someone, at the situation, at himself.

He had let his emotions get the better of him and he backed off immediately, the heat of his presence suddenly gone, the absence of it making your skin prickle. He scrubbed a hand down his face, forcing himself to breathe, to calm the fuck down.

"Shit." His voice was quieter now, rough. "That was—fuck, I didn't mean to—" He cut himself off, shaking his head like he was pissed at himself.

Mike swallowed hard, his tongue darting out to wet his lips as he took a step back. He turned on his heel, rolling his shoulders back.

"I should go. Get this shit over with."

The words were calm, but the tension still hung thick in the air, something unfinished between you.

Leaving you alone with nothing but the sharp regret in his expression and the lingering heat of his body that still clung to your skin.

A whole night awake was definitely something that would make anyone fall asleep the second they would spot anything to lay on.

Your body was beyond exhausted, beaten, bruised, still aching from the hell you had barely survived, but your mind refused to let you rest. Every time you close your eyes, you see those wendigos ready to tear you apart. Their screech mingled with Josh’s scream of pure terror.

It was too much so you had given up. Restless, drained and unable to fight the battle in your own mind, you quietly slipped out of the makeshift 'room' SHIELD had provided you on The Bus, wandering into the dimly lit corridor.

The hallway was dimly lit, lined with reinforced steel doors and you weren't surprised when you spotted Mike already there.

He was standing just a few feet away, like he had been about to come find you. Arms that were crossed over his chest, head tilted downward, lost in thought.

Your chest tightened at the sight. Still, you mustered a small, careful smile as you stepped closer. "Can't sleep either?"

His lips quirked into a nervous, almost shy smile, something you rarely saw from him. "Not a chance," he murmured, shifting on his feet.

He had cleaned up since earlier, finally able to wash away the grime and blood that had clung to his skin since the sanatorium. His injuries had been properly patched up, bandages wrapped neatly around the places that had once been a mess of hastily-tied cloth and dried blood.

The slightly too tight black shirt SHIELD gave him hugs his torso in a way that's... distracting.

Mike has always been fit, but this is just unfair. His broad shoulders, the solid muscle beneath the fabric, the way his arms look even stronger now without the oversized jacket hiding them.

You slid down the wall, settling onto the cool metal floor. Mike followed suit, sinking down beside you, his body warm where it pressed just slightly against yours.

The silence that followed was comfortable, almost peaceful, a stark contrast to everything you had been through.

"I was scared," he admitted suddenly, voice quieter now. "Back at the lodge. When everything started going to shit. I was losing my mind, man. Thinking about where you were, if you were okay. Fuck, I could barely focus on anything else.”

You turned your head slightly, watching him. His fingers flexed against his knee, his good hand idly fidgeting with the hem of his too tight SHIELD issued shirt.

"Hell, I was this close to torturing Josh if he didn't tell me what the fuck he did to you." He clarified.

The warmth that sparked in your chest was almost overwhelming. You barely even noticed that you had leaned closer, your shoulder pressing against his, most likely driven by the fact that you had always felt something for him that never really went away.

He seemed to lean in too, his breath mixing with yours, gaze flickering downward for half a second before snapping back up.

All at once, the words tumbled out

"I fucking like you, okay?" Mike blurted, rubbing a hand down his face as if trying to physically wipe away his nerves. "Like, really like you. And I know this is probably— No. it’s definitely the worst time for this, but I've been sitting on this for so long and after almost dying I can't not say it anymore."

You kiss him.

It's instinct. A desperate reaction, wordless way of shutting him up before he drives himself insane.

Your lips press against his hesitation at first, but the second it happens, the second Mike registers what's happening, he melts into it.

His hand moves to your face, fingers threading through your hair as he kisses you back, harder, deeper.

It's hungry. Messy. Like he's been waiting forever for this and can't hold back anymore.

Your hands find his shoulders, gripping the fabric of his too-tight shirt, pulling him closer, feeling the solid muscle beneath your fingers.

The moment his tongue slips past your lips, you shudder, a low sound escaping the back of your throat. Mike groans at that, shifting, pressing even closer, his body half on top of yours now as he deepens the kiss.

His fingers tighten in your hair, his other hand gripping your waist, breath heavy as his tongue brushes against yours, slow, deliberate, teasing.

As you back away to recover your breath, the heat of Mike's mouth is still on yours. The warmth of his body still lingers where it had pressed against you.

You swallow, dragging in a breath that does nothing to calm your nerves, because the second you pull away, you realize you need to tell him.

"I'm sorry. For earlier."

Mike's brows furrow slightly. "What?"

You swallowed hard. "When I snapped at you. That was—"

"Don't," he interrupted, shaking his head. "You don't need to apologize, I—"

"No." Your voice was firm, and this time he shut up. "Something happened during my interrogation and it left me speechless."

The shift in Mike's demeanor was immediate. One second, he was soft, open, vulnerable. The next his entire body tensed like a coiled spring.

"What did he do?" His voice was sharp, low, ready to fight.

You quickly cut in before he actually tried to throw hands with a SHIELD agent. "Nothing," you reassured, a half-hearted chuckle escaping. "Come on, man. You really think you could take down a trained—"

"I don't fucking care who he is. What the fuck did he do?" His voice dropped into something low, dangerous, controlled but barely. His hands clenched into fists at his sides, the muscles in his forearms tightening visibly beneath the too tight fabric of his SHIELD-issued shirt.

"Nothing like that," you said quickly, knowing exactly what he was thinking.

But that didn't calm him. If anything, it made him more on edge.

"Then what?"

You hesitated for a second too long before breaking it down to him, explaining everything that occurred in that cold room.

"Hey." His voice is quieter now, rougher. His fingers twitch before moving, hesitantly, to your face. His thumb brushes over your cheek, and the second he does, you lean into it.

Like it's the most natural thing in the world and fuck, that makes something warm ache in his chest.

"You know not to let that guy get into your head, right?" he murmurs, voice lower now, softer, but still edged with something firm. "Whatever mind games he was playing? That's all they were."

Mike's voice was rough, raw, pleading beneath the sharp edge of his frustration. His hand was still on your face, fingers warm against your skin, thumb barely brushing your jawline.

You knew what he was asking and you should have said yes. Should have reassured him and pushed every thought of Ward out of your mind.

But you hesitated and Mike saw it.

His entire body tensed, fingers twitching against your skin before he abruptly pulled away, ripping his hand back from.

"Jesus fucking Christ," he muttered under his breath, his good hand dragging through his already-messy hair, his movements sharp, frustrated. He let out a harsh exhale, shaking his head like he couldn't fucking believe this.

You swallowed hard. "Mike, I—"

"No." He cut you off fast, voice low, sharp. "Don't. Just—don't.”

He pushed himself up off the floor, standing so fast it made you flinch. His body radiated tension, shoulders tight and stance stiff. His fingers flexed at his sides like he was barely holding himself together.

"Mike," you said quickly, scrambling up after him. "Please, don't—don't be mad, I—"

He spun to face you and for a second you froze.

His expression is intense and menacing, brows slightly furrowed and eyes locked in a piercing, almost predatory stare. His lips are pressed together and the shadows on his face emphasize the sharpness of his features, making him look intimidating and unreadable. The dim, moody lighting of the hallway adds to the overall eerie and threatening atmosphere. But more than anything he looked hurt.

His voice was quiet when he spoke, but lethal in its intensity.

"I protected you. For hours. Through all that fucking shit. I never left you. Not once." His voice was shaking, just slightly, but his anger held steady.

“Tonight I finally got the balls to tell you about how i felt and you—" he let out a harsh exhale, shaking his head. "And you're sitting here, thinking about fucking some other man?"

His voice cracked slightly at the end and that broke something in you.

You didn't know what to say because he was right.

Your stomach sank. You had ruined this like everything else.

Your breath came in shallow, uneven pulls as you took a step forward, fully aware of how dangerous his expression had become. Something you never thought you'd see directed at you.

You wet your lips, forcing yourself to speak, to carefully form the words you needed.

"Mike." Your voice was softer now, controlled, but not fake. "Everything I feel for you is real." You stepped closer, slow, cautious, searching his face, watching every flicker of emotion behind his eyes. "Nothing has changed that. "

Mike inhaled through his nose, his jaw twitching, arms crossing tightly over his chest like he was physically holding himself back from reacting.

A long silence.

"It's hard to believe that," he murmured, "when you're fantasizing about getting fucked by another man while saying those things to me."

Your breath caught, his words sinking deep, hitting your chest, your stomach, making something coil inside you.

Softer, but somehow worse, his voice dripping with something bitter and almost mocking. "Even after all the things that I did for you."

Your fingers twitched at your sides, irritation flaring up like a spark against dry kindling.

The words slipped out before you could stop them, sharp, cutting, your emotions pushing too hard to keep your voice controlled.

"I never asked you to protect me from what happened to Josh!"

The second it left your mouth, you saw the way his entire body locked up. His face twisted, something raw and pained flickering across his features for just a second before it was buried beneath something darker.

His teeth clenched and for the first time in your life, Mike Munroe was looking at you like he didn't recognize you.

Silence.

Horrible silence.

A flicker of movement behind Mike.

Even before your eyes locked onto him, you felt him.

Grant Ward was leaning against the wall, arms crossed, exuding that same calculated stillness as before. Not surprised. Not irritated. Just watching.

"Trouble in paradise?" His voice was smooth. Controlled and mocking in that way that made your skin prickle, your breath hitch.

Fuck. He had heard everything.

Mike stilled in front of you. You barely had time to process it before your mouth moved on instinct, your voice sharper than intended. "What do you want?"

Ward's gaze never left you.

Mike stepped forward immediately, his entire body moving like instinct, slotting between you and Ward, his stance tight, protective, like he was physically blocking you.

"Fuck off."

Mike's voice was low, dangerous, practically dripping with barely-contained rage.

And Ward just chuckled. A slow, quiet thing, his lips twitching just slightly, his eyes flickering between you and Mike like he was enjoying the show.

"I didn't know you were so eager to sleep with a criminal."

The words landed like a fucking grenade.

Mike’s entire body tensed, his breath shuddering out uneven, his bandaged hand clenching into a fist too tightly.

The bandages around the healing wound where his pinky and ring finger used to be started to tear, the fabric pulling apart under the sheer pressure of how fucking hard he was gripping.

"Mike, what is he talking about?"

His shoulders tightened.

He turned, his eyes flickering to your face, mouth parting like he was going to say something but no words came out.

Silence that Ward filled eagerly.

"He told me," he said smoothly, gaze locked onto yours, "that it was his fault Josh was taken."

Your stomach dropped.

"He heard screaming," Ward continued, voice even, clinical, like he was repeating evidence, "and urged you to follow him. Since there was no point in both of you dying."

The words hit and your chest ached. Mike had twisted the truth to protect you and keep your name out of it.

"What the fuck do you want?" Mike’s voice was hostile as he barked back at Grant. "You already have everything you need."

Ward tilted his head slightly. Then, simply. "I want the truth."

You stepped forward before you could think, moving until you were right in front of Grant, your chest nearly brushing against his.

"You want the truth?"

Mike's voice called your name sharply behind you, irritation and something dangerously close to desperation in his tone.

But you ignored him.

Grant’s expression remained calm, still, unreadable, but his eyes were locked onto you like he was analyzing every shift, every breath, every flicker of emotion that passed through you.

"It wasn't Mike's fault." Your voice came out stronger than you expected, but your throat felt tight. "It was mine."

Grant raised an eyebrow.

"Josh—" You swallowed hard, forcing yourself to say it. "Josh is gone because of me. I could've saved him. I froze. I did nothing."

The words felt like broken glass on your tongue, sharp and bitter. He studied you for a long moment, the weight of his gaze was suffocating, inescapable, pressing down on you like a physical force.

And then he spoke. "We found your friend. Deep in the mines," Ward continued, voice perfectly level. "Alive. Fully intact."

Your breath hitched. Josh was alive. Even after you had left him to whatever nightmare awaited him in those tunnels.

Your body moved before your mind could catch up, your feet shifting, breath stumbling, turning sharply toward Mike.

His eyes were already on you, his shock mirroring your own.

The sound of a boot clicking softly against metal. A shift in the air, something subtle, something felt before it was heard.

A firm grip wrapping around your shoulder, pressing down enough to remind you who was in control.

"Told you I keep my promises."

Ward's voice was low, smooth, too close, edged with mockery as he leaned in just slightly. Close enough that you could feel the warmth of his breath ghosting against your ear.

"You lied to me." His voice was sharper now.

Ward's gaze flicked up past you to Mike.

You felt the way Mike stiffened, the way his hands curled into fists at his sides, knuckles going white.

"It’s almost endearing how willing he was to throw himself under the bus for you." He mused to you. His fingers curled slightly, dragging along the fabric of your shirt before his grip tightened again.

"Despite everything he's done for you—" his voice was smooth, casual, but dripping with purpose as he angled his head toward Mike, twisting the knife deeper. "You still have room in that pretty little head of yours for me."

Heat flooded your body, something sharp, something foul, something filthy curling deep in your stomach.

Your entire body felt hot, your pulse pounding in your fucking dick, because fuck, fuck, you shouldn't—

"Maybe he needs to be taught a lesson."

The words slammed into you like a physical force, knocking the breath from your lungs, making your fingers tighten against your sides.

You knew exactly what he was implying.

Exactly where this was going.

And fuck—you wanted it.

Heat. Everywhere. It clung to your skin, thick and stifling, rolling off you in waves as strong hands kept you pressed between two bodies that left no room to breathe. Your head was spinning, vision hazy, barely able to register whose lips were on you at any given moment.

The air was filled with the sounds of ragged breathing and the low, guttural groans of satisfaction. Hands roamed greedily, possessively, sliding under your shirt and tugging at your waistband. Grant’s fingers dug into your hips, pinning you back against his sturdy chest while his free hand snaked down inside your underwear, squeezing your ass painfully.

Mike was in front of you, his grip firm as he tilted your chin up, forcing your half-lidded gaze to meet his. His lips crashed against yours and the kiss was anything but gentle. It was demanding, a collision of hunger and dominance as his mouth slanted over yours. His teeth caught your bottom lip between them, sharp but not enough to hurt, just enough to make you gasp and he used that moment to push his tongue past your lips, sweeping inside and dragging along the roof of your mouth, tangling with yours in a messy, desperate exchange.

He sucked at your tongue, drawing a groan from deep in your throat that only made him press closer, body flush against yours, chest heaving. One of his hands cupped your jaw roughly, keeping you exactly where he wanted you, while the other had already made its way between your legs, gripping your cock through your pants, fingers pressing just enough to make you squirm.

Grant's touch was almost cruel in contrast to Mike's reckless desperation. His mouth was on your neck, hot breath fanning over your skin before his teeth sank into the flesh of your shoulder and the jolt of pain only made the pleasure sharper. You moaned into Mike's mouth, the sound swallowed eagerly as he deepened the kiss.

"Look at you," Grant murmured against your skin, his voice smooth, low, full of dark amusement as he squeezed your ass hard enough to make you hiss. The heat in your stomach twisted tighter at the rough touch, at the way his fingers slid possessively over your flesh, teasing, testing, like he was savoring the way you twitched at every squeeze. "Didn't take much to get you pliant, did it?"

Mike broke away from your lips just long enough to glare over your shoulder, breath hot and heavy against your skin. "Shut the fuck up," he growled, his grip on your cock tightening, his strokes more deliberate now, fingers teasing the outline of your length through your pants.

Grant chuckled, dark and knowing, but the way his fingers dragged lower, circling where you needed them most, made your breath hitch. Your body betrayed you, arching instinctively into his touch, and the satisfaction that rumbled from his chest made it clear he'd noticed.

Mike let his lips trail teasingly downward, nipping at the sensitive skin there, his tongue darting out to soothe the bites he left behind while his hand gave your cock a slow, deliberate stroke that made your knees go weak, each stroke perfectly teasing, dragging his fingers just right over the sensitive tip, making you whimper into his mouth as he kissed you hungrily again.

One of Grant’ hands slid up your spine, pressing you further into his chest. The other was still firmly cupping your ass, fingers pressing into your flesh and when it dipped lower, his fingers pressing inside you, that the air left your lungs entirely.

The stretch was sudden, practiced, his fingers scissoring, curling with high experience, hitting exactly the right spot to send a wave of pleasure rolling through you. Your moan was swallowed by Mike's mouth again, his tongue eager as he licked inside, owning every sound you made.

"We'll see if you're this eager when it's my cock stretching you open." Grant murmured against your ear, voice dripping with approval and something dark.

Your body was on fire, stretched between them, caught in their hands as they kept pushing you closer and closer to the edge. Every inch of your skin was burning and the way their bodies were pressed against you only made it worse. You could feel both of them hard and thick, their cocks pressing into you from both sides, undeniable reminders of what was coming next.

They moved you through the room without a pause in their assault, hands stripping away every last piece of clothing until you were completely bare, caught between them, exposed and theirs. Grant's fingers never stopped working you open with ruthless precision, while Mike's hand kept you throbbing and aching, keeping you right on the precipice of release but never quite letting you tip over.

By the time Grant bent you over the bed, your body was trembling, your mind a haze of pleasure and desperation. His big hands kept you steady, one firm on your hip, the other still working inside you, dragging more obscene noises from your lips with every twist and curl of his fingers.

His breath was hot against your neck, lips brushing the fresh bruises he had left before his teeth sank in again, making you jerk and groan as he lapped at the red spot like a hungry animal savoring its claim as he ground his cock against your ass.

Behind you, the unmistakable sound of a zipper being undone cut through the haze of pleasure, sharp and clear despite the heavy drumming of your heartbeat in your ears.

Grant leaned in, his solid chest pressing against your back, heavy and unyielding. His body was heat and strength, trapping you beneath him, his breath fanning against your ear as he shifted just enough to settle into place. You felt him big and hot, pressing right against your entrance, the blunt head teasing you just enough to make you whimper. The pressure alone was a sharp reminder of just how thick he was, how much he was about to give you.

He didn't waste time. His hand came up, fingers gripping the back of your neck with firm possession as he spat into his other hand, stroking himself once, twice, enough to spread the slick heat along his length before lining himself up again and pushing in.

A guttural grunt ripped from Grant's throat as he sank into you, his cock stretching you wide, forcing your body to take every inch of him in one slow, unforgiving thrust. He bottomed out completely, his hips pressing flush against your ass, his chest rising and falling heavy against your back as he exhaled a rough, almost shaky breath. His fingers tightened against your neck, keeping you exactly where he wanted you as he pulled your head back, his lips dragging over your jaw before kissing you.

A bruising clash of lips and teeth that stole the breath from your lungs. His tongue pushed past your lips immediately, licking into your mouth with the same dominance he was using to claim your body. His teeth scraped over your bottom lip, biting down to sting painfully before swallowing your gasp, thrusting his tongue deep into your mouth to chase the sound.

His hips moved in tandem with his kiss, pulling back only to slam forward again, setting a rhythm that sent waves of pleasure rippling through you. His hands were everywhere, both of them gripping your ass now, spreading you wider, fingers digging into the flesh with bruising force as he fucked into you harder. Every drag of his cock inside you made your brain blank, moans spilling into his mouth only to be swallowed whole.

"Fuck," Grant growled against your lips, his thrusts turning rougher, faster, as he held you firm in his grasp. His fingers dug into your skin, marking and claiming you.

Then he moved you, shifting your body like you were nothing in his grasp and pulling you up so that you were no longer on your stomach but leaning against his chest, fully exposed, fully on display. Your back pressed against the solid heat of him, his arms wrapping around you to hold you in place as he thrust into you harder, making your cock bounce with every snap of his hips.

Mike was right in front of you now, kneeling on the bed, his eyes dark and heavy lidded as he watched.

Grant's lips ghosted over your ear, his breath hot, full of amusement as he spoke to Mike all while still fucking into you, his thrusts slow and deliberate, dragging every inch of his cock against your walls. "You see that?" he murmured, voice deep, controlled, laced with smug satisfaction. "How easy he falls apart for me?"

Mike's jaw clenched, his fingers twitching against the sheets, his own arousal painfully obvious, pressing against his pants as he took in the sight of you your body trembling, your cock leaking, your lips already swollen from Grant's bruising kisses.

Grant chuckled lowly, biting at your neck again, his tongue flicking over the bruises he was leaving behind as he picked up his pace, fucking into you harder and making sure Mike saw every single thrust.

Mike exhaled roughly, then made his move. He surged forward, one hand tangling into your hair as he crashed his lips against yours, stealing you from Grant's kiss with a hunger that bordered on feral. His mouth was hot, tongue forcing its way in to claim you, fighting for dominance, taking what he wanted as his free hand found your cock and wrapped around it without hesitation.

His strokes deliberate, teasing the sensitive tip before sliding down with an unrelenting pace that sent pleasure shooting through your core. His fingers were slick with the pre-cum already dripping from you, making every movement easier as he pumped you in time with Grant's cock driving into you hard, deep, the thick stretch rearranging your insides with every powerful roll of his hips, engulfing your entire being in this overwhelming sensation consuming you.

His thumb circled the head, pressing enough to make your whole body jolt, his grin widening as he felt the way you twitched in his grasp.

Behind you, Grant let out a low, approving hum, his fingers digging into your hips as he pulled you back hard against every thrust, making sure you felt every inch of him splitting you open.

Your nails scratched against the sheets, body trembling between them, the pleasure winding so tight inside you that you felt like you might break apart at any second. Mike pulled back slightly as you weakly reached for his waistband, your fingers fumbling to undo his zipper.

His breath hitched and his eyes flickered to your face, watching as you struggled to form words between the brutal rhythm of Grant fucking into you. The desperate pleading look in your eyes was enough.

Mike's smirk was instant, sharp with amusement and desire. "You want it that bad?" He teased, lifting his hips slightly, allowing you better access.

He made quick work of the rest himself, shoving down the last of his clothes, his cock springing free, thick and flushed with arousal. His hand wrapped around the base, stroking himself lazily as he watched you, his other hand reaching out to squeeze your cheek playfully, tilting your head up toward him.

"C'mon," he murmured, voice thick with anticipation. He guided his cock to your lips, tapping it against them, smearing pre-cum across the softness before pressing in, slow but insistent. "Show me how much you want me," he murmured.

You didn't hesitate. Your lips wrapped around the tip, tongue swirling over the head before sliding lower, taking as much of him as you could in one eager motion. The thick weight of him settled against your tongue, and you moaned around him, the vibration making him groan above you, his hand tightening in your hair as your mouth stretched around his length.

Behind you, Grant's thrusts didn't slow-not even for a second. If anything, he fucked you harder, clearly enjoying the way you struggled to keep up with both sensations at once. His fingers dug into your hips, each thrust sending another spark of pleasure tearing through you.

Mike let out a breathless hiss, his grip tightening as he started rolling his hips, fucking into your mouth with slow, shallow thrusts, his cock hitting the back of your throat with every movement.

Your whole body was trembling, caught in their grip, every nerve set on fire as you were being filled from both ends, ragged groans and curses spilling from both of them.

Mike’s free hand slid into your hair, guiding your pace, his hips starting to move faster, his cock pushing deeper.

Behind you, Grant grunted, his thrusts turning rougher, harder. He was close, you could feel it in the way his fingers gripped you tighter, his breathing turned ragged with thrusts that started to lose some of their precision.

"Gonna make sure you feel me for days,” Grant growled, his voice dark and wrecked as he slammed into you, the force making you choke slightly on Mike's cock.

The words sent a sharp pulse of heat through your gut and Mike groaned at the that feeling, his fingers tightening in your hair as his own rhythm stuttered. You hollowed your cheeks around him, sucking harder and that was all it took.

Mike panted, his head tilting back slightly as he let himself savor the wet heat of your mouth, his grip tightening as he groaned low and deep, cock twitching in your mouth before he came, thick and hot, spilling down your throat. His body trembled, a string of curses falling from his lips as he watched you swallow, his fingers brushing over your jaw as he panted, his pupils blown wide.

Grant’s pace turned brutal, his hips slamming forward as he bottomed out inside you one last time, his cock buried deep as he let out a rough, guttural groan as his cum flooded you, filling you up, making you feel impossibly full. You could feel it dripping from where he was still buried inside you. His grip on your hips was iron as he held you still, making sure you took every last drop.

The pleasure had built to a breaking point, your entire body trembling and right on the cusp of unraveling. Your cock throbbed, aching, so damn close until Grant's hand clamped around you, squeezing at the exact moment you were about to let go.

White-hot frustration shot through you like a bolt of lightning, your breath catching in your throat as your orgasm was ripped away with cruel precision. You whined, the sound breaking free before you could even think about suppressing it, hips twitching in a desperate attempt to seek friction, to chase the release he had just stolen from you.

But Grant laughed. Low, condescending, his breath fanning against your ear as he mocked you. "You really thought I'd let you come that easily?" he murmured, a patronizing sound that only made the humiliation sharper. He let go completely, leaving your cock aching, denied, your entire body shuddering from the ruined pleasure.

His hands gripped your shoulders, fingers digging in deep and he pulled, hauling you up in a seated position. You were too wrecked to fight him as he maneuvered you. His arms wrapped tight around your frame, one hand sliding lower to cup your ass possessively, fingers squeezing the abused flesh.

Then he kissed you. It was ravenous, all tongue and teeth. His lips were hot, rough from how hard he kissed, leaving no space for you to breathe. His tongue shoved past your lips, licking deep into your mouth, controlling the kiss just like he controlled everything else.

A sharp, brutal slap against your ass. The force of it making you jerk against him, a muffled, involuntary noise escaping against his lips. A brief and satisfied grin against your mouth, a silent acknowledgment of just how much he enjoyed making you react like this.

He bit your bottom lip, tugging roughly before diving back in, swallowing every sound you made. His hands held you in place, one still gripping your ass possessively while the other found your hip, fingers pressing deep enough to bruise.

Without breaking the kiss, he shifted you again, pulling you forward until his back met the mattress and you were sprawled on top of him, your own back resting against the solid, defined heat of his chest. The sensation of his abs beneath you, all tight muscle and strength, was dizzying, every movement making you feel the hard ridges of him against your skin.

Mike crawled on top of you, his hands finding your waist while his body pressed you down further against Grant's chest. His thick, leaking and already achingly hard cock dragged against your entrance, circling and sending sharp sparks of anticipation burning through you.

His breath came in short, ragged gasps, matching yours. His lips descended, claiming yours in a greedy and scorching kiss, tongue sweeping into your mouth just like how, with one slow, deliberate thrust, Mike pushed inside.

Your whole body shook, pleasure crashing over you in an overwhelming wave as he sank in fully, the stretch perfect, the mess Grant had left inside making it effortless. No resistance or pain, just the overwhelming heat of being completely filled again, your walls stretching yet again to accommodate his size.

Mike groaned against your lips, his forehead pressing against yours, his body shuddering as he bottomed out, hips flush against yours. "Fuck," he breathed, voice thick with pleasure, with awe.

He started moving in and out, dragging himself out almost completely before sinking back in. A slow pace at first like he wanted to savor every single second of being inside you. Firm hands held you in place, his breath coming in soft ragged gasps as he kissed you between every thrust, drowning in the feeling of you wrapped around him.

Soon enough the rhythm changed, he adjusted his hips, angled himself before slamming into you.

A guttural scream tore from your throat, only to be swallowed instantly by his lips, his tongue tangling with yours as he drowned in the sound. Your legs instinctively wrapped around his waist, locking tight, holding him in place and keeping him against you.

His cock drove into you with relentless force, hitting deep with movements turning desperate, hungry. His hips snapped forward again and again, your whole body shaking, muscles burning, everything wound so tight you could barely breathe. Mike was pounding into you, his cock hitting deep, every thrust sending white-hot sparks of bliss ripping through your body.

You were right there, teetering on the brink, the pleasure building, rising, twisting into something uncontrollable-

Just as you felt yourself teetering on the edge, body tightening, breath coming in ragged, desperate gasps—Grant's hand clamped down, fingers digging into your hip, stopping Mike's relentless thrusts in an instant.

A strangled, frustrated groan ripped from your throat, echoed by Mike, who cursed under his breath, his grip tightening on you as if willing himself to move despite Grant's interference. "Not yet," his breath hot against your ear as he murmured, voice dripping with cruel satisfaction as he shifted beneath you, his hands locking tight around your hips, forcing you still.

The blunt, thick head of his cock pressed against your entrance again, your entire body going rigid as he started to push in.

Mike groaned, his forehead dropping against yours, hands gripping your waist so tightly to leave bruises when he felt Grant forcing his way in, stretching you even further, pushing in alongside him, splitting you apart in a way that should've been impossible.

"Fuck, fuck, fuck—" your and Mike’s voice broke into a snarl, his fingers digging into your skin as his cock twitched inside you, overwhelmed by the sensation of Grant joining him.

Grant bites into your shoulder, muffling his own deep, ragged groan as he buried himself inside you.

The stretch was blinding.

Your walls clamped down tight, forced to accommodate both of them, the impossibly full sensation setting every nerve ending on fire.

"You're taking us so fucking well," Grant murmured against your skin, though his voice was anything but gentle, more of an order than anything else.

Mike grunted, a wrecked sound that he barely managed to contain, his forehead still flush against your away, body shaking on top of yours. "Holy shit—He's so fucking tight like this—" His hands slid up your sides, palms skimming your overheated skin.

Grant growled low in agreement, his grip tightening. "He can take it. That’s all he’s good at."

Your whole body was trembling, overwhelmed, completely at their mercy. Every inch felt too stretched, too full. And the feeling didn’t went any better when they started to move.

A slow, teasing rock of Grant's hips, pushing even deeper, a grind from Mike, rubbing up against everything inside you and your vision went white.

A broken, wrecked moan tore from your throat, all muscles clamping down around them while they dragged against each other inside you, stretching you to your absolute limit. The way they alternated with one pushing in as the other pulled out, fucking you in tandem, making sure you never got a moment to breathe or a second of reprieve.

Mike was getting rougher, more desperate, his movements turning erratic, his forehead pressed against yours as he panted, his breath shaky, uneven, grip tightening more, his hips pounding against yours.

Grant’s fingers wrapped around your throat, tilting your head back just enough to claim your mouth in another devouring kiss. His thrusts turned brutal, matching Mike's, filling and owning you.

The pleasure twisted, sharpened, built, your entire body rocked between them, completely at their mercy until you finally came hard.

Your vision blacked out, pleasure so intense it was almost painful, your entire body convulsing between them as your release spilled, untouched, onto Mike's stomach.

He lets out a strangled, wrecked groan as he buried himself deep, his cock twitching deep inside you as he spilled, thick, hot cum flooding your insides as he pressed in deep as he filled you completely, painting your walls with everything he had left.

The moment Mike came undone, Grant followed, his grip crushing, his breath ragged as his hips snapped forward in a few final, deep, brutal thrusts. His cock throbbed, pulsed until he came as well.

The heat of it was scalding, overwhelming, pouring into you in thick, endless spurts, so much that it leaked out around their cocks, slick and messy, dripping down your thighs, making you feel just how full they had made you.

They didn't pull out. Their bodies pressed against you, cocks still buried deep and twitching, filling you with more and more, stretching you to your absolute limit.

Your whole body was shaking, overwhelmed, overstimulated, your breath coming in rapid, sharp gasps. You felt them inside you, the weight of their releases thick, dripping, claiming you completely.

The dim glow of the night watch flickered softly on the bedside table, time had become meaningless here with no windows, no frame of reference for morning or night, only the distant, ambient hum of The Bus and the steady rise and fall of Mike's breathing beside you.

His arm was wrapped securely around your waist, his other tucked beneath your head like a makeshift pillow. Warmth radiated off him in steady waves, seeping into your skin where it pressed against his bare chest. Every inhale and exhale brushed softly against your hair, each slow rise of his ribs against your back grounding you in the present, in him.

The soreness in your body was a dull and pulsing reminder of what had happened before you'd both collapsed into this tangled heap. The ache ran deep, bruises left from hands that had gripped too hard, mouths that had bitten too eagerly. The dull burn in your lower back sent a shiver through you as you shifted slightly, the movement dragging a quiet groan from your throat.

Mike stirred immediately, his grip tightened first, followed by a sleepy mumble against the back of your neck. Then his eyes cracked open, bleary but alert, scanning your face in the dim light. Naked just as you were, he murmured a sleepy, raspy, "Hey," his voice rough from disuse, cracking slightly at the end.

You swallowed down the warmth that curled in your chest at the sound. "Hey"

A deep chuckle rumbled through him as you groaned, twisting to ease the soreness in your muscles. Mike grinned at your wince, his amusement entirely too smug. "That bad, huh?"

You scoffed, rolling your eyes even as a small smirk played at your lips. "What do you think?"

His laughter was quiet but genuine, his arm beneath you shifting, curling further around you. "I think you sound like an old man," he teased.

You shot him a look. "Oh, fuck off."

You turned your head enough to catch the sleepy, half-lidded gaze of Mike Munroe. Messy haired, bare chested, eyes heavy with the remnants of exhaustion. He was unfairly handsome like this, stripped of his usual cocky bravado, blinking at you with something softer.

His fingers flexed lazily against your waist, tracing over where bruises had likely already begun to bloom.

You rolled your body so that you were on top of him now, hands playfully on both of his to keep them grounded with your weak and absent strength as he stared up at you with a grin. You shifted your head enough to scan the bed.

No Grant

The realization settled in quickly and you tried to keep it subtle, tried to avoid letting Mike notice, but you weren't fast enough. Your movements slow and clunky from tiredness.

His grin faltered barely, the cocky expression slipping into something tighter and slightly forced. You caught the tension in his jaw before he muttered, "He's gone. Got called for a mission or whatever. Some really important work shit." His voice dropped, dripping with sarcasm. "Hopefully won't make it back."

You snorted at that, his lips twitching into a grin despite himself. You leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to his lips, and whatever sharp response he had died instantly in his throat.

Mike melted into it immediately, hand coming up to rest behind your neck, lips moving slowly and deliberately.

His hand drifted lower, fingers ghosting over your waist before gripping it fully. He got into a seated position, his upper body resting on his arms with you still on top of him and was about to kiss you again, lips just barely brushing yours when—

"You were really gonna let yourself get incriminated because of me?"

The words hit him like a bullet and he froze. "Jesus," he muttered, dragging a hand down his face, "you really had to kill the mood, huh?"

You gave him a look. "Mike."

He groaned, flopping down on the pillow dramatically, one arm still curled around your body. Mike inhaled sharply, his chest rising with the weight of his breath, then exhaled slowly.

“I’d do anything for you,” he confessed, a vow edged with devotion and an intensity that burned in his every syllable. His fingers trailed up, cradling your face like you were something precious and irreplaceable. The rough pad of his thumb traced slow, reverent circles over your cheek. “And I’d do it again,” he murmured, his tone unwavering, absolute. “A hundred times over.”

His nose brushed against yours, the space between you nonexistent. His lips hovered just a hair’s breadth away, teasing, tormenting. “Because I fucking love you.”

You swallowed thickly, staring down at him, your pulse roaring in your ears. His body pressed into yours, heat radiating off him and you felt the way he trembled slightly, how his breath hitched when your hands threaded into his hair.

“Now tell me,” he murmured, voice rough, a command, but you could hear the uncertainty beneath it.

Your breath stalled. “Tell you what?”

Mike’s jaw clenched, his fingers digging into your waist. “Tell me it didn’t mean anything. Tell me you’re mine.”

His voice cracked on the last word.

Your stomach twisted painfully. It would have been easy to lie, to tell him what he wanted to hear. But he deserved the truth.

You exhaled shakily, closing your eyes for the briefest second before forcing yourself to meet his gaze. “He got under my skin,” you admitted, voice barely above a whisper.

Mike inhaled sharply through his nose, but you pushed forward before he could react.

“And yeah, I let him.” you continued, your voice unsteady but firm.

Mike’s entire body went rigid against yours.

“I wanted him because he reminded me of you.” You admitted, your throat bobbing as you forced the words out.

Mike’s breath hitched. His grip on you was firm, like he was grounding himself, barely holding himself together.

You swallowed, pressing on. “I thought I’d never have this,” you whispered, voice raw, cracking slightly. “I thought we were never gonna be this. So when he got in my head and looked at me like that, I wanted to feel something back. Because it was familiar. It reminded me of you and it was the closest I thought I’d ever get.”

Grant didn’t just challenge you. He saw you, tested you and in some twisted way, made you feel wanted in a way you never thought Mike would.

Mike made a sound, something between a sharp breath and a curse, his hands sliding up, framing your face, tilting your head up to force you to look at him. His pupils were blown wide. “You’re a fucking idiot,” he rasped, voice thick. “If you think for a second that there was ever a chance I didn’t want you.”

Your breath hitched, and before you could process it, Mike dragged you closer, his lips hovering just over yours, heat rolling off him in waves.

“You want me?” His voice was low, rough, testing, searching.

You swallowed hard, your pulse hammering against your ribs. “Yes,” you breathed.

Then he flipped you. In an instant, you were on your back and Mike was above you, his body caging you in, knee pressing between your legs. His fingers curled tighter, voice taking a huskier tone. “Say it again.”

“I want you.”

His lips crashed into yours. Deep, slow, deliberate. Like a promise of something real that believed wholeheartedly.

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