#alessiathepirate

[alessiathepirate]

Squid Game

SMILE FOR ME: Hwang In-ho/Frontman/Oh Young-il x fem!reader

Summary: Manipulation - that was his greatest weapon...

Notes: English isn't my first language. I apologize for any mistakes I may have made while I wrote this short story.

Warnings: swearing, referenced PTSD and/or trauma, emotional manipulation, referenced death, referenced betrayal, heavily implied obsession, (Gi-hun and reader are besties, since the writer aka me loves him too much to not baby him)

●●●

She doesn't smile anymore...

That was In-ho's first thought when he met her in person for the first time.

And oddly enough - since he played a pretty big part in the cause of that - he really missed that: her smile.

There used to be something about it - something special.

In-ho had watched and sat through his fair share of games; and during those every player's positivity, hope and smile disappeared after the very first game. They acknowledged the consequences of failure - and accepted the fact that there's nothing they could possibly do about it. Even if they found some allies or friends, they never smiled again. Not really. Only with those false, fake ones.

But not her.

They were different - her and Gi-hun, especially.

Even after red light, green light; after the dalgona; after the tug of war -- they still smiled, especially with each other. They sat down to eat with their group and they shared stories, the old and fun ones, and those could make their teammates chuckle.

In reality, In-ho thought, it must've been to keep themselves and the others calm. To give them a false sense of security and hope.

In-ho couldn't exactly say when was the exact time she stopped smiling. The marble game; player 067's death or player 218's betrayal... It didn't really matter - the when. What mattered was the fact that she changed - and In-ho didn't like, even though he should've.

There was still a small shine in her eyes whenever she talked to Gi-hun and Gi-hun alone, but it wasn't the same...

It wasn't the same at all.

●●●

"Gi-hun..." her voice made In-ho turn slightly, as quietly as possible, so he could watch their interaction play out. "I'll take over. You need to get some sleep."

In-ho watched as she sat down next to Gi-hun, her thigh pushing his, so he would get a move on. During moments like these, she almost looked like the old her -- cheery and playful; still, it was only almost.

"You don't have to. I'll keep watch, I'm not tired anyway. You can go back to sleep."

She pushed his thigh again; and even though her lips didn't curl upwards into a smile, her eyes seemed happy.

"You are still a terrible liar, Seong Gi-hun..." her hands pushed his chest, so he would move. "Now go before I make you."

Gi-hun reacted the same way she did - he didn't smile, but the muscles around his eyes softened. He seemed calm, almost safe as he looked at her.

"Promise me you'll wake me if anything happens."

Her lips twitched.

"I promise." she punched his shoulder playfully. "Now go."

Gi-hun got up painfully slowly, as if to give her time to change her mind, and then did what she said. He lied down, pulled the covers over himself and after a few moments, he closed his eyes.

In-ho watched her for a while. He witnessed how all the tension and stress disappeared from her shoulders when she thought no one was watching. He saw how she let the sadness she was truly feeling appear on her face.

She seemed oddly calm.

In-ho let the minutes go by, he waited patiently until he was sure no one else was awake; and then he walked up to her, letting her shake in fear from the sudden presence behind her.

"Young-il." she whispered as she let out a long breath. "You scared me."

"My apologies." he said, almost frowning at how she immediatelly went back into her protective shell - she didn't feel comfortable around him, unlike the others, and In-ho didn't like that at all. "Would you mind some company? I can't sleep, we might as well keep watch together."

She looked up at him, clearly contemplating what she should say.

"Be my guest." she said in the end.

He sat down next to her, and watched as she pulled her feet further away from him. Silence began to set in - but In-ho wouldn't let it win. This was the first time he found a chance to talk to her alone, and he wouldn't waste it.

"You and Gi-hun seem to be close."

She turned to look at him in the darkness as if she could figure out his real intentions.

"We are." she said. "I've known him for years. I don't understand how it affects you though."

In-ho almost smiled at the accusatory tone.

"I'm just making conversation." he said, trying to sound kind. "And I noticed that you only talk to him and no one else."

She seemed irritated - ready to curse him out, to tell him to shut up or wake Gi-hun up, so he could come to her rescue.

In the end she just scoffed.

"I don't have much to talk about these days."

"Or smile about." In-ho added and this time he let himself smile at the look on her face. He might as well test her - her and her trust, the holes on her shell. "You seemed ready to sacrifice yourself - during the first game. The same goes for Gi-hun." he tilted his head slightly. "I think I just don't understand what you're doing here. You won the previous game. You have all that money to spend... Yet you two are here; and you seem unhappy."

She swallowed and then took a deep breath. She didn't know what she should say and how she should say it. She was completely at his curiousity's mercy, which didn't seem to have a filter - and she couldn't find the right words for an answer.

In-ho's lips curled upwards and he chuckled before she could come up with an answer. His laugh confused her even more.

"I'm sorry." he continued. "You just don't seem to trust me very much."

She pointed at his jacket's number without hesitation, then at the 'O' sign - the sign what previously had been 'X'. She looked him in the eyes before answering.

"The last 001 I trusted turned out to be a liar and an asshole." she pulled her legs up and hugged her knees to her chest. "So I apologize for not trusting you. Besides, your name is Young-il and you are player 001?" she scoffed. "Either the guards have a great sense of humor and they gave you that number, or you're a bad guy with zero creativity."

In-ho wanted to laugh. Really laugh. Even though her trust-issues made her unable to have fun, they made her more fun.

What would be the right reaction? Half a chuckle maybe, plus a small smile.

Then, In-ho waited. He waited for her facade to break - and it did. Because even though she changed, she still had characteristics every human had -- well, most had --: regret.

He waited for her too feel remorse. He waited until she was drowning in it for being too harsh. He waited and didn't say anything.

"That big pile of bloody cash is in a motel room." she said suddenly as she continued to hug her knees.

"What?"

"You wanted to know about the money. Well, it's in a dimly lit motel room." she explained.

In-ho chuckled. "Really?"

"Yeah." she nodded, but this time there was something about her expression: as if she just admitted to herself that the picture of a fortune in a motel room is oddly funny. "As for the sacrifice part - there's nothing wrong with helping others."

"I'm not saying there is." In-ho explained. "It's just that most people in here are selfish. They would choose to save themselves instead of others." he stayed quiet for a while, letting his words sink in. "But you and Gi-hun still choose to save them. All of them."

She tilted her head.

"I asked myself if I'd like to be a rich murderer or a dead person who chose to save others." she said, her tone turning sad. "I chose the latter." In-ho's lips twitched from trying not to smile, when he noticed that she stretched her legs, no longer being careful around him. "I guess I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I was to ever cause someone's death. Besides, everyone here has someone to go back home to; I don't. Gi-hun's here and my only other friend isn't even really my friend." she shrugged. "So then why not help?"

Her knee almost touched his.

Trust. That was what he wanted.

"People who think they don't matter are the ones who matter the most." In-ho looked at her. "Are you sure that playing hero is the best decision you can make?"

She shook her head. "What do you mean?"

In-ho let out a fake chuckle.

"You have people who love you, who think you are important. I'm sure of it." he leaned forward. "And heroes, even if they succeed in the end, don't usually have an easy journey. There are losses - and consequences."

"You think I don't know that?" she started to get angry again. "What do you know about loss?"

"Everything. Sadly." he sounded more honest than he intended to be - and she noticed it too.

Regret. What a beautiful human emotion.

"Oh, God. I'm sorry." she said as she looked at him with remorse in her eyes - her body language showed no fear or protection. She gave up, she showed him the real her. "I didn't know."

"No need. You couldn't have known." he gave her a weak smile - he showed weakness so she would do it too. "Although when I sat down I thought we would speak about something more... fun."

The muscles in her cheeks twitched and In-ho knew she was so close to smiling, yet she held it back.

She looked around the room, looked at the beds and the people who were sleeping in them. In-ho followed her gaze.

"Well then..." she began, not yet knowing what she'd say in the end. "You are a good fighter. I mean you beat up two guys without even lifting a finger." the compliment sounded nice coming from her. "Police or military?"

In-ho wanted to grin.

"Good deduction. Both, actually. And thank you."

"I have a friend who's a cop. Well, I don't really know if he is my friend, but he seems nice regardless." she intertwined her fingers. "Next time I see him, if I see him at all; I'll have to ask him if he knows some... ancient martial arts too."

He just chuckled.

"Who knows... He might surprise you."

They stared into the darkness for a second, since one of the other players started to move around. In the end it turned out to be just a woman, who was having a nightmare - she soon sat up in bed while breathing heavily.

"If we're talking about skills..." In-ho began, so he could get her attention once again. "You are surprisingly good at ddakji."

Her lips twitched and he knew he wasn't too far from getting that smile.

"Yeah, I am." she admitted. "I'm much better than Gi-hun at the very least. You should've seen him playing against that recruiter guy. He was horrible! Absolutely horrible!"

"And you?"

"I beat him almost always. He must've been... quite annoyed."

Suddenly her lips curled upwards into an honest, teasing smile. The muscles under her eyes twitched, as if they have forgotten how to act during a smile.

In-ho found himself smiling too. It was like going back in time and seeing her old self.

Sure, this smile wasn't that pure and innocent, but it was a start. A pretty good start.

"You know, Young-il, I wish I could say the same, but you were God-awful at paengi chigi..." she giggled and pushed her fist against her teeth to not be too loud.

"Yeah, I was. It's not one of my proudest moments."

She continued to laugh and by the look on her face she herself couldn't tell what was so funny. But once she started to giggle there was no going back - years or surpressed emotions came running out as small wrinkles of joy appeared on her face.

In-ho joined her and as the final test, he put his hand on her knee, then he leaned in.

"Quiet, you'll wake up the others..." he said through a small laugh.

She let his hand rest on her leg as she tried to quiet down.

"I'm sorry. I don't even know what's so funny - but damn I needed this."

Got you, he thought as she leaned back, resting her bodyweight on her hands, while letting his touch linger.

Despite everything, all that change, she was still the same person with the same weak points on her shell. In-ho knew them all - he had watched her play her very first game.

"I missed your smile..." the sentence rolled off his tounge before he could've stopped himself.

She giggled, not noticing the major give-away on his perfect mask.

"Careful..." she warned him and for a moment In-ho thought she put the small inconsistencies together -- but then she continued: "I might think you're flirting with me."

"I wouldn't even dream of it." he said; realizing she let her vigilance leave her completely with a grin.

"Good." she sighed. "Now tell me, is there anything else you absolutely suck at?"

In the end In-ho got what he wanted - he always does. Trust, honesty - smiles... It didn't matter.

He had her on the hook too, her and everyone else, and there was no amount of doubt what would be able to ruin his perfectly painted picture about himself and the situation.

Doubt. He could use it against them.

That's what he does best after all.

[criesinliess]

━MAY 2023; susan's recs

OUTER BANKS

━━RAFE CAMERON

5 times rafe cameron chose you + 1 time you chose him, too @folkloreslovechild

━━JJ MAYBANK

stood up @mydogisveryadorbs

SCREAM

━━ETHAN LANDRY

knight in shining armor @websterss

teach me; part2 @prettyprettypsychos

you deserve better; part2 @↑

obsessed; part2; part3 @↑

ghostface games @↑

why does he get to have you? @↑

you don't hate me @↑

wish you were sober @ghostfacd

karma; part2; part3; part4 @corpsebasil

sleepy @↑

accident @dizscreams

guilt @alessiathepirate

title taken @astermath

CELEBRITIES

━━JACK CHAMPION

babe?! @evethestargirl

━━CHARLES LECLERC

in the comments @heliads

BULLET TRAIN

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all in a days work; angel of the morning @fookinfandoms

GRISHAVERSE

━━NIKOLAI LANTSOV

enchanted @in-my-feels-probably

thought i'd lost you @corpsebasil

━━KAZ BREKKER

bet on it @in-my-feels-probably

TOP GUN: MAVERICK

━━BRADLEY 'ROOSTER' BRADSHAW

doctor, doctor gimme the news @tongue-like-a-razor

just roommates @risriswrites

the purrfect storm @roosterforme

━━JAKE 'HANGMAN' SERESIN

less talk part7 @tongue-like-a-razor

HARRY POTTER

━━BLAISE ZABINI

love, anonymous @cherryslyce

━━THEODORE NOTT

by newts & nott @cherryslyce

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astronomy project @dangerouslyallaboutdraco

LOCKWOOD&CO

━━ANTHONY LOCKWOOD

perfect @givemea-dam-break

ain't a life a many splendored thing? @wellgoslowly

MARVEL

━━BUCKY BARNES

polaroids @barnxsromanxff

[chieftyphoonchaos]

All I want for Christmas…is you

Happy Christmas everyone 🎄❤️

Lyutsifer Safin, Mathilde- Rose The Hat en Dou Dou

@daughterofthesilmaril @esconognosia @thefluffiestseahorse @chevy2497 @ramicastiel @ellen-the-radiant @ellen-the-wise @moon-stars-soul @sakurasoulgeneral @ghoulsister1 @squidwujun @satanhauntedourfears @bearbruno14 @grumpyoutlaw @silverlambcaptain @neverendingstories00 @honestmysteries @one-boring-person @poptod @koshi-sama @padawansubscription @sapphicsandsupernatural @yagurlny @chieftyphoonchaos @villainworshiper @alessiathepirate @colourful-serendipity @chloriine36

[safinsscars]

@daughterofthesilmaril @esconognosia @thefluffiestseahorse @chevy2497 @ramicastiel @ellen-the-radiant @ellen-the-wise @moon-stars-soul @sakurasoulgeneral @ghoulsister1 @squidwujun @satanhauntedourfears @bearbruno14 @grumpyoutlaw @silverlambcaptain @neverendingstories00 @honestmysteries @one-boring-person @poptod @koshi-sama @padawansubscription @sapphicsandsupernatural @yagurlny @chieftyphoonchaos @villainworshiper @alessiathepirate @colourful-serendipity @chloriine36

[alessiathepirate]

Squid Game

THE SEARCH: Hwang Jun-ho x fem!reader

Summary: The search for Gi-hun takes its toll on her. Luckily, someone's there to help.

Notes: English isn't my first language. I apologize for any mistakes I may have made while I wrote this short story.

Warnings: swearing, mentioned death and guns, mentioned and/or referenced trauma and PTSD

●●●

She was dreaming again - that was the reason why she tried to avoid sleep ever since Gi-hun went missing.

--because she was always dreaming about him: him dying, him being alone, him being scared after all that trauma... And her dreams always pointed out her self-blaming - she wasn't supposed to leave him alone, she should be there with him...

Her dreams were troubled once again - with nightmares. She was dreaming about Gi-hun and the marble game, which he failed so he could save another player's life...

That was another reason why she was scared for Gi-hun: because she knew his own life wasn't important to him anymore. She knew it, because she felt the same way.

She woke up to someone shaking her awake. She felt hands grabbing her shoulders, she heard a voice calling out for her - yet she couldn't identify the person; not immediatelly anyway.

Tears were running down her face, blinding her; she could barely breathe; and she could still hear gunshots even though she was no longer asleep.

"Y/N..." she heard her name once more, this time clearer. "You're alright. It was just a dream. Y/N, can you hear me?"

She was shaking - God, she was shaking so badly she barely knew where she was or who she was.

Still, one of those hands gently touched her face, turning her head so her eyes could meet someone else's.

Her lips started to tremble.

"You're okay now. You're awake."

Her fingers wrapped themselves around the hand on her face.

"Jun-ho?"

Reality suddenly hit her and she could feel shame climb up her throat.

She stared into his eyes as he nodded, his lips curled upwards into a faint smile. She swallowed hard as she let go of his hand. Her fingers were still trembling, but she put her hands down and pushed herself upwards into a sitting position. Her blanket fell onto her lap.

"What time is it?" she asked quietly as she raked her fingers through her hair.

"It's almost midnight." Jun-ho said as he grabbed a water bottle from the small desk in the corner of the cabin; he gave it to her, then joined her on the floor.

As she drank she slowly looked around.

They were alone, although she could hear the henchmen, Woo-seok and Captain Park talk outside.

They were probably fishing, she thought. They needed something to do and the Captain needed a distraction after she almost punched him. He would've deserved it though, since he didn't want to look for the damn island late at night. He really should've said a thank you to Jun-ho, because he was the only reason why he didn't get a black eye.

As she put the bottle aside she noted a map and a marker on the desk, under the light of a flashlight. Jun-ho must've been working on finding the island and Gi-hun, when he noticed her trembling in the corner. She was really thankful for his help: for waking her up and for the search.

"Why didn't you wake me up?" she asked as she pointed at the map. "I could've helped."

"Because Woo-seok said you are barely sleeping." Jun-ho looked at her from the corner of his eyes. "And I agree with him."

She didn't want to meet his gaze.

"I'm fine."

"No, you're not." he argued and he sounded like a parent who's about to scold a child. "You barely eat, you barely sleep... I know you want to find Gi-hun more than anything, but you need your strength for it."

Her fingertips started to play with the edges of the blanket. She didn't say anything - she didn't know what to say.

Jun-ho was right, of course he was; but it was impossible to eat and sleep peacefully when guilt and fear was killing her from inside.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"About what?" she asked.

"You know what."

She knew - of course she did.

The nightmare was still being replayed in her head, again and again. She could see Gi-hun losing all ten of the marbles, she could hear the gunshots...

One of her hands shakily reached up to wipe away the tears.

When she took too long to answer, Jun-ho turned to look at her, and seeing her crying again made him regret his question.

"I'm sorry... we don't have to talk about it if you don't want to." his hand landed on her thigh and before he could pull it away, her hand was on his.

She look up at him, her eyes glassy and her lips once again trembling.

"I dreamt that he died." she said after she swallowed. "That's all I can think about - what if he's dead? He's playing those stupid games again and I'm not there..." her voice sounded angry as she spat those last few words. "I'm not there with him and we promised, we promised that we'd never leave each other..." she took a deep breath. "Gi-hun saved my fucking life more times than I can count. And now I failed him... I'm failing him every single moment when I'm not with him." the tears were burning her cheeks as they ran down her face and landed on the blanket. "Why can't it be me who's in there..."

She was full on crying by then, her body was shaking.

It was a pain so deep and unbearable... And nothing could help. Her heart ached, her whole being felt numb and heavy.

She just wanted it to end - all of it.

Jun-ho let go of her thigh and put both of his hands on her cheeks, his thumbs wiping away the tears. He made her look him in the eyes.

"Don't say that..." he put some locks of hair behind her ears and then went back to wiping away the tears - since they just didn't want to stop falling. "It's not your fault. None of it. You had no way of knowing what would happen at that party."

Gi-hun didn't let her go in with him. He wanted her to stay in the car with Jun-ho. He wanted her out of danger's way.

She should've fought harder.

"And you didn't fail him..."

"Yes, I did!" she shouted. "I fucking did..."

Jun-ho held onto her tightly, not letting her wiggle away until he was sure she's fine.

"You played Russian roulette for him!" he argued.

She just blinked in surprise.

That was how she met him again - Jun-ho. He wanted to arrest her after she won the game of Russian roulette against the Salesman. And later, when Gi-hun arrived he almost shot Jun-ho for keeping her in cuffs.

"You played Russian roulette, so that guy - that Salesman - wouldn't go after him." Jun-ho repeated. "You didn't fail him. And he knows that. He almost shot me for you."

She continued to cry quietly and he let her. He let her cry it out as he pulled her close, so she could hide her face in the crook of his neck.

She wrapped her arms around him, letting the blanket fall between them, since she finally had someone to talk to, to be honest with. Someone who understood the concept of loss and uncertainity.

"Thank you..." she whispered as she felt his fingers massage her scalp.

"It's nothing." he said. "And I promise you that we'll find him. Okay?" he felt her nod so he continued: "But I need you to get some sleep for that."

"I'll try." she mumbled.

They changed positions. Jun-ho leaned against the wooden wall of the cabin, while she rested her head on his shoulder. Their knees were touching, and she was sure it had been a while since she felt this kind of comfort.

Right then, she needed him.

Her crying slowly died down and she felt like she could both breathe and think again.

"Jun-ho?"

"What's wrong?" she found the panic in his voice adorable - and it felt great to know that someone cared.

"Nothing's wrong, I just... never really apologized for handcuffing you to the bathtub."

She felt his chest rise as he began to laugh, and the sudden change of mood in the cabin felt nice.

"I handcuffed you first. You have nothing to apologize for."

She felt a small smile tugging at her lips.

"I also apologize for accusing you of being one of Them; and for trying to shoot you." she said as she remembered him sitting in the bathtub as she pointed his own gun at him.

Jun-ho chuckled. "I kind of did those first too."

She couldn't help herself - a small, barely there chuckle left her mouth too.

"Well then... thank you, for being here."

Jun-ho didn't answer for a while and she felt ashamed for being so outspoken. Yet a few seconds later he kissed her forehead and she felt a rush of sudden heat run through her whole body.

"Of course, I'll always be here - if you need anything..."

Jun-ho continued to stroke her head; gentle touches caressing her scalp, her neck and then later on: her back. Slowly but surely her eyelids became heavier and heavier - until she fell into a dreamless, peaceful sleep.

Tomorrow she'd wake up with her head on Jun-ho's chest - and somehow her blanket would be over them, keeping them warm.

Tomorrow she'd wake up with a slight feeling of shame, yet she'd have a new reason to keep on going for.

Tomorrow Woo-seok would give her an all-smile thumbs up.

Tomorrow she'd continue the search with a new amount of hope, knowing she has someone who'll help her every step of the way...

[alessiathepirate]

Squid Game

RUSSIAN ROULETTE: Seong Gi-hun x fem!reader

Summary: A game of Russian roulette can reveal many secrets...

Notes: English isn't my first language. I apologize for any mistakes I may have made while I wrote this short story.

Warnings: death and violence, guns, swearing, referenced and/or mentioned trauma, mentioned suicide, Gi-hun and reader being oblivious, the Salesman ships it (in his own way) [the Frontman ships it - in fact, everyone does]

●●●

If a God really, truly exists, she thought, then this is the moment when I should be grateful.

She was grateful. Truly grateful.

She was the one who had gotten into that seemingly unescapeable situation and not Gi-hun.

She was in danger and not Gi-hun.

She had a slim, one in six chance of dying and not Gi-hun.

She'd die if she lost and not Gi-hun.

She liked that thought - the last one. It almost made her smile, almost, since she knew it'd be best if she didn't show any emotion. If she did, she'd give the Salesman a new card he could play and he already had the advantage regarding information.

Russian roulette... What a strange way to die. It's a death by luck, yet it's suicide too - since she'll be the one who'll pull the trigger.

Then, her mind darkened. What would Gi-hun say? How would he feel if he'd find her body? Her dead, bloody corpse. He lost so much already. He wouldn't survive another death.

But still... she'd rather die herself, than see him die.

She picked up the gun as the music played in the background, as that crazy motherfucker sat at the other side of the table in his fancy suit, with his chilly smile.

Her hand wasn't shaking as she put the barrel against her head -- she was ready to die - for Gi-hun; yet she was ready to win too - for Gi-hun.

She pulled the trigger, then blinked. She successfully made the chance one in five.

The Salesman took the revolver, showed her his bare teeth as he put the gun against his head and took the shot. Yet nothing happened.

One in four...

Crazy fucker.

She took the gun again and got ready to pull the trigger - but before she could see if she'll live or die, the Salesman leaned forward and began to talk.

She looked him in the eyes even if his whole being scared her to death, especially the fact that he could go from zero to a hundred in no time. He was usually so calm, so elegant - now he was just the word insanity itself with blood on his face.

"I've always wondered how you made it out of there alive." he said as he examined her, hunting for any sign of weakness. "For one thing, you were even terrible at ddakji. Don't get me wrong, you weren't as bad as Seong Gi-hun, but still... A player like you? Surviving?" he tilted his head to the side and sighed. "The two terrible ddakji players survived and I have to say - you fueled my curiousity." he leaned in even closer, his nose almost touching hers. "So I asked around... and let me tell you what I was told: only one of you was suppossed to live and take the money."

She felt a chill run down her spine as the thought of Gi-hun dying ran through her head. Her hands shook - and he didn't fail to notice it.

"But apparently your relationship with Seong Gi-hun; both of you trying to play the hero to save the other, was much more entertaining to our special guests." the Salesman just smiled, yet this time around there was something wicked and wrong with the way his lips curled upwards. "And then I realized that they were right."

Her hold on the revolver tightened from anger as she imagined some rich fuckers enjoying the 'show' in which they were fighting for their damn lifes.

She remembered what the boss said before he dropped Gi-hun and her off with their new credit card -- but they weren't damn horses!

"You and him, together - that really is more entertaining." he continued, his voice taunting and playful.

She pulled the trigger - in anger. She bit her lower lip to stop herself from saying something stupid.

She lived.

One in three...

The Salesman tilted his head once again as he reached for the gun. It seemed like he found something truly interesting.

"Tell me... did you tell him?"

Tell him what? She shouted on the inside, but she stayed quiet.

The Salesman put the barrel in his mouth, never breaking eye-contact, as he continued: "Did you tell him how you feel?"

Click...

One in two...

She felt her mouth run dry as she looked at him - and this time she was sure she had panic in her eyes.

How she felt?

How did she really feel?

She would die for him - that's how. And one in two, the slim chance of survival, that fifty-fifty; was seemingly leading her there: dying for him.

The Salesman opened his palm, the revolver was laying in his hand. It was like an offering.

"You didn't." it wasn't a question, but a statement. "What a horrible way to die, isn't it? Dying without confessing." his smile was wide and taunting. "Dying for the man you love and he will never even know about it."

She felt her lips tremble.

Won't he? Is he that clueless?

But there's still a chance, a fifty-fifty, that she'd live to...

She took the gun and looked at it. Two shots. She could cheat and kill him. At least he'd finally shut up...

"What's the matter?" he asked, his voice unusually happy and entertained. "Is your mind starting to race? Now your odds of death are one in two. That's pretty high indeed." when she didn't say anything he continued: "I'm sure you're afraid." Was she? "Lots going through your mind. Let me guess what you are thinking right now. 'Screw the rules. The gun's in my hand. Pull the trigger once, or twice and I can blow this guy's face off.' Isn't that right? If you want to meet the person you mentioned earlier, the key is in my pocket. You can simply shoot me with that gun and take it. If you want to meet Seong Gi-hun again without taking that fifty-fifty chance, you can shoot me and call him - tell him to come 'home'. But before you decide what to do I'll have you admit a few things."

She hated his voice, his smile - his damn manipulation techniques... She just wanted to leave or die peacefully - die without confessing...

Did she really want to take that chance?

Before she could answer her own question, the Salesman interrupted her train of thought: "That you're a piece of trash, just like everyone else. Just like Seong Gi-hun. A piece of trash who got lucky and made it out of the dumpster. A piece of trash who isn't even brave enough to make the first move. A piece of trash who's weak, scared - who didn't deserve to win at all. Not when you don't even have the strength to look at the prize you had won."

Click...

She pulled the trigger without even realizing - without a second thought regarding fear of death itself.

Her breathing became fast and uneven as she finally smiled, grinning at the man with evil taunt.

The Salesman's smile disappeared and disbelief took its place.

How... disappointing. Losing your own game.

She gave him the revolver with an open palm.

"What's the matter?" she asked, her voice both happy and angry. "Is your mind starting to race? What a terrible way to die - losing in your own game..." She'd see him again... "That's right. Screw the rules. Now, with a single pull of the trigger, you could kill me. But... I'll have you admit a few things. Things Gi-hun thinks about you - truths he knows about you... You put a mask over your face and do whatever your master says. You run, bark and wag your tail for them." she leaned in closer, her voice taunting. "You are nothing more than their dog. A fucking puppy on a very tight leash."

To her surprised, the Salesman just smiled and took the revolver. Then, he looked her in the eyes. For a moment, his expression became calm as usual - for a second, the first impression she had of him was back.

"Well played, Y/N." he leaned in as if he wanted to tell her a secret. "Now -- tell him..."

The Salesman put the barrel in his mouth and pulled the trigger.

Boom!

Blood tainted her face as his body fell back and the revolver fell from his hand.

Now -- tell him... Should she?

●●●

It didn't take long for that cop to find her with the Salesman's corpse sitting right in front of her.

Jun-ho. The cop who was looking for his brother, and who came to her and Gi-hun for help. And they refused to help the guy, since they were neck deep in debts and danger.

He thought she killed him. And in a way she did. She gave the gun to the Salesman. She wanted him to lose and die.

Yet she didn't feel bad about it all.

Jun-ho was about to cuff her when Woo-seok arrived and saved her from being arrested.

Soon, the cop was in the bathtub, cuffed and unconscious - and Woo-seok was looking at the Salesman with fear and disgust.

She let him grieve. Kim was dead - he died right in front of him, and she knew it wasn't something you can just forget and forgive.

Where's Gi-hun? She wanted to ask, but still waited patiently for Woo-seok to calm down and get dressed.

"What happened here?" she felt his voice before she heard it.

The feelings Gi-hun's voice alone made her feel with her whole body, were the best things in the world. Whenever he was talking she felt safe, calm and loved. More like: wanted.

Gi-hun's hair and clothes were wet from the rain, his voice was full of worry as he looked at the corpse of the man he had been looking for for years.

"Are you all right?" the question was meant for her.

She could hear the Salesman's voice in her head - taunting her, making her jump and tell him right away: next to a corpse, a traumatized guy and a cuffed, unconscious cop...

"I am." she said, and she could feel her heart beating faster than usual as he ran to her and hugged her tightly. "Are you?"

Gi-hun just nodded and then looked at the dead body.

"What happened?"

For a moment she thought about what she should say.

"Russian roulette." she explained - and Woo-seok shook in disgust. "He lost and now I have the 'key'."

Instead of getting greedy, asking for the damn card, Gi-hun just hugged her again, even tighter.

"I'm so glad you're all right. When you didn't pick up I knew something was wrong."

She could feel her heart flutter.

"Gi-hun..." Now or never - the adrenaline was still present, making her brave enough to choose now. "Can we... talk? Please?"

"Of course, is everything all right?"

"Yes, I just..."

Woo-seok just raised his hands and took a deep breath. "I think I... need some air. I'll be outside and then I'll-- help, with the clean-up."

"Will you be all right?" she asked, making sure he won't collapse on the way out.

Woo-seok just nodded and left the room quickly - as if he was afraid the corpse would come back to life and threaten him again.

She looked at the Salesman once again - in a strange way his taunting was the thing that gave her strength.

"While we were playing he said a few things... Truths, mostly." she began, avoiding Gi-hun's eyes. "When I took the gun I thought... how grateful I am that I'd die and not you. And I- I wasn't afraid of dying, Gi-hun, I was afraid I'd die without telling you that--" she stopped right before the confession and closed her eyes.

She was afraid to look at him.

She stared death in the face not even ten minutes ago, yet she was scared to see Gi-hun's reaction.

"Y/N... Look at me, please." Gi-hun held onto her shoulders gently as he made her turn around, and she slowly opened her eyes.

She saw no hatered or disgust. Gi-hun's eyes were full of adoration and love, and she was sure her whole face turned red.

"I know. And I feel the same way, I was just afraid that I'd--"

"--ruin everything?" she finished. "Yeah, me too."

Gi-hun let out a small, quiet chuckle. She smiled, since she barely heard him laugh these days.

"I guess we were a little oblivious and dumb, weren't we?" he asked.

"We were." she agreed. "And I guess that - after everything; I didn't want to ruin what we have and I didn't want to lose the last person on Earth I care about."

Gi-hun leaned toward her and kissed her cheek. She just grinned and grabbed onto his shoulders.

"I love you, Y/N."

The muscles in her cheeks twitched slightly, her grin disappeared. Her lips trembled and she could feel the tears' need to arrive and fall down her cheeks.

"And I'm sorry we don't have a more romantic setting." he continued and she chuckled, then brushed the tears away.

"Our life isn't normal at all. In fact this is the most normal we had so far - so I don't mind." she said and returned the favor - she too gave him a kiss on the cheek. "I love you too, Gi-hun."

"Please don't play any more Russian roulette, okay?" he asked with a faint, sad smile.

"Okay." she agreed. "No more games."

Gi-hun gave her one last peck, before he took a step back and looked at the bloody mess the Salesman caused.

"We have to clean this up."

"Yes." she nodded. "We have to."

"What else did he tell you? Did he say anything important?"

She remembered what the Salesman told her - about them winning, about Them enjoying her relationship with Gi-hun, about them being nothing more than pieces of trash...

She thought about telling him - telling Gi-hun everything, every single detail about the talk she had with the Salesman...

...but she couldn't do it.

She couldn't ruin his last, remaining hope for humanity itself. He still had trust and love and hope... She couldn't ruin it further.

So she just shut her mouth, hugged Gi-hun one more time and began to clean up the blood.

"No. He didn't say anything else."

[alessiathepirate]

Squid Game

CUDDLES AND AFFECTION (headcanons): Seong Gi-hun x reader

Summary: S1 Gi-hun and S2 Gi-hun are very different - their affection and the cuddles just aren't the same...

Notes: English isn't my first language. I apologize for any mistakes I may have made while I wrote this short story.

This is my first time writing headcanons and my first time using 'you'. I'm sorry if it feels weird, but this is my first attempt writing this format. (I can't really explain it, but using 'you' instead of 'she' for example just sounds off in my first language, so I've never really attempted to use it in English.)

Warnings: angsty but cute (I'm sorry, but season 2 broke me so I'm here to break y'all too)

●●●

♡ S1 Gi-hun is the little spoon; or regardless of the cuddling position, he just likes to be held -- I feel like he needs some kind of emotional security, and the feeling of being held gives him just that.

♡ He has enough issues with the loan sharks, he has enough fear to burry him for a lifetime; so being cuddled in bed or on the couch -- or literally anywhere -- gives him emotional safety. And he craves that, along with the need to be loved and wanted.

♡ Let's be honest here: being in a relationship with someone who has a gambling addiction can be hard: and even if Gi-hun tries to change and avoid gambling for good, there are times when he fails. But being held at night gives him the courage to continue and try again. The fact that you still hug him and hold him - even though previously that day you looked at him disapprovingly - means that you aren't angry and that you're there for him through thick and thin.

♡ S1 Gi-hun is the kind of guy who loves to rest his head on your chest and listen to your heartbeat - and during these moments he thinks how lucky he is to have you; and how impossible it feels that he found someone who actually loves him, even though he feels like he doesn't deserve you.

♡ -- and if during these moments, when his head is on your chest, you decide to play with his hair, you can bet that this man will be out like a light and have the best damn sleep of his life.

♡ S1 Gi-hun is still full of light, laughter and hope. And he isn't afraid of showing his happiness to the world - and with happiness he means you. He likes to hold your hand in public and kiss your cheek here and there. He's also a yapper - he just won't shut up. Not like it bothers you: when you two are in bed he'll tell you stories and jokes; and he feels his heart flutter when he can make you laugh.

♡ Being late is also an everyday occurence with him - so there are times when you'll sit on a bench in the subway, both of you cursing the time, while he rests his head on your shoulder. (You might get his cap too - who knows...)

♡ To S1 Gi-hun you are a getaway from life. Your presence alone makes everything feel easier, solveable and less horrible. He still makes sure you won't ever meet the loan sharks who are after him - he doesn't want them to use you against him.

♡ When you two join the games - and after it's been made obvious that whoever loses, dies - you'll be attached by the hips. He'll hold your hand, kiss your forehead and do his absolute best to look out for you. He'd offer you his own food and water too - he wants you to be strong. Yet you'd decline. You need him strong too.

♡ At night you share the same bed and he hugs you close - no exceptions. He rests his head in the crook of your neck as he gently massages your scalp, so you'd fall asleep easily. He whispers how everything would turn out great in the end - and he still believes that they would.

♡ The moment the possibility of a raid comes up, Gi-hun won't let you out of his sight. He makes the team, including you, build a barricade, and he always wants to be the one to keep watch. It's impossible though - but he doesn't seem to care, all he wants is for you to sleep safely. Yet his plan fails - you never sleep when he keeps watch: you always sit next to him, with your head resting on his shoulder as you two try to reassure each other.

♡ There are times - like after the marble game - when he just holds you as you both cry. No words are said. He just needs the physical reassurance - like you.

♡ With S1 Gi-hun you can see the emotional, psychical change he goes through -- and it's heartbreaking. Suddenly he talks less, he smiles less - the only thing what stays the same is the snuggling. That's the only aspect of himself he never loses.

♡ Sae-byeok's death is the final nail in the coffin - for the both of you. After that you aren't the same and he isn't the same. After Sang-woo's death, it's even worse: you two win, but at what cost?

♡ The loss is obvious: no more yapping, no more sudden kisses, no more puppy dog eyes.

♡ Staying with this 'new' Gi-hun is crucial: he has you, you have him - the only person left worth living for (other than Ga-yeong).

♡ This Gi-hun has a new favourite thing, the only thing what can keep him calm and somewhat happy: you, resting your head on his thighs as he plays with your hair. It became his favourite after a drunken night spent at the river - during which you fell asleep. That was when he promised himself that he'd make you happy again and he'd do anything to protect you from life - which was much darker than he had initially thought.

◇ S2 Gi-hun is the big spoon; he now always has his arms around you, he has you tucked under his arm, close to his chest -- he just wants to protect you from everything.

◇ Nightmares aren't rare at all - in fact, they are pretty common. It doesn't matter who has them though: you or him -- after comforting the other he always stays up afterwards. It's always him, never the other ways around! He just rests his chin on top of your head as he looks around the dark motel room every few minutes.

◇ S2 Gi-hun sleeps with a gun under his pillow, and with a gun on your nightstand.

◇ S2 Gi-hun is no longer a yapper - even if you cuddle, there are no more jokes or fun stories. It's just you and him being quiet while he draws imaginary shapes into your skin.

◇ Every time you two have to leave the motel, he always has a hand on you - hand-holding, an arm around your waist; it doesn't matter. He needs to feel like he's there to keep you safe.

◇ Whenever you two drive around, looking for the Salesman, he has a hand on your thigh. It's him reassuring you that he's there - and if this nightmare ends he won't leave.

◇ If you happen to fall asleep in the car, you can bet he'll put those sneaky locks of hair behind your ears. His fingers would gently caress your face, before letting you nap. He'd still glance at you though and smile at how peaceful you look. This would be the only time S2 Gi-hun smiles - because you are the only person on Earth worth smiling for.

◇ After the Russian roulette? He'll hold you tightly, tighter than before - if it's possible.

◇ S2 Gi-hun doesn't think his own life is valuable. That's why during the games he won't try to save himself - he'll try to save you and all those other players. It leads to a serious conversation full of tears - neither of you should be here, especially without that tracker. You have to explain to him that he matters, he's your everything and he needs to survive and live for you. He promises to try, but his heart isn't fully in that promise...

◇ S2 Gi-hun barely sleeps - he's too scared: a raid might break out and he needs to keep you safe. Jung-bae would be the only one who can speak some sense into him: he tells him you need him too, and alive at that. He sends him to bed, not taking no for an answer, and keeps watch with Young-il. Jung-bae watches how Gi-hun lays down next to you and holds you close with a small smile.

◇ S2 Gi-hun always sleeps with his back towards danger. You always get the safest side of the bed, there's no chance someone could sneak up behind you.

◇ To S2 Gi-hun you are everything: stability, hope, love, happiness... He can't even think about losing you too.

◇ During the raid against the guards, he always has you behind him; either with Jung-bae or Young-il. Gi-hun needs you safe - there's no way you can go with anyone else. He almost sent you away to go with Young-il and attack the guards from behind (that was the safest option for you in his eyes) -- yet that's when you stand your ground and tell him there ain't no way you'll leave him behind. That's when Gi-hun realizes how much you truly care about him - a thought that never seemed important ever since S1. He just lets you hug him as he tries to surpress the tears. A thing never changed - he still feels like he doesn't deserve you.

◇ And when you have to surrender; when you have to give up the fight; he kisses you and hugs you one last time. He promises nothing bad will happen to you, he promises that you will get out alive...

◇ He just hopes that he isn't lying to you...

[alessiathepirate]

Squid Game

CURSED WITH NIGHTMARES: Seong Gi-hun x fem!reader

Summary: After the hero succeeds, no one thinks about the future suffering he'd live through. They just congratulate him, they just envy him. Yet not even one hero is happy. Not truly. After the success, the only happiness he has left is 'her'.

Notes: English isn't my first language. I apologize for any mistakes I may have made while I wrote this short story.

Warnings: set in season 2, swearing, referenced PTSD and survivor's guilt, mentioned death and/or murder

●●●

Gi-hun often dreamed about them - the 'what ifs'.

He had been seeing many of them in his sleep for years; and after a while it had began to feel like they would never end.

And they didn't.

Some dreams were worse than the others - although they were always, always, about her; the last person he had, the last person he loved.

In many of them she died while playing a game - she got shot while playing red light, green light; she got shot because she failed to get the damn umbrella out of the the honeycomb... In some of them she died late at night, during the raids, because Gi-hun himself had failed to reach her and protect her in time... The worse he had ever had was watching her get murdered by Sang-woo - he pushed her though the stupid glass bridge; he killed her with the knife right before the last game; or choked her to death during the squid game...

Gi-hun loathed those dreams. He hated how he woke up drenched in sweat, not knowing where he is - where she is -, and he often accidentally kicked her in panic, since she always, always, slept by his side, curled up under his arm.

What if she had died? - The thought always kept him awake afterwards.

She didn't. - The reasonable part of him used to say.

Yet reasonable be damned, he never fell asleep after waking up. He just sat up, pulled her close, made sure a gun was close by and kept watch.

No one would take her, no one would hurt her. He'd make sure of it.

●●●

She woke up late at night - in the hide-out, in the bed she shared with the love of her life; under the covers, clinging onto his arm.

She looked around, making sure they were truly alone, before she looked at Gi-hun.

She sat up quickly, kicking the covers off.

Gi-hun was crying, shaking, mumbling in his sleep - he was begging. Begging for someone to stop, to just let 'her' go...

It was heartbreaking.

The state he could still be in, even after all those years, always broke her heart.

They could never understand it. All those rich assholes, who let all those sad, broken people kill each other for money - they could never understand how they'll never forget, they'll never forgive.

They'll never understand that money can't buy anything; that all that bloody cash will never ever be clean. Four hundred and fifty four people's lifes were in that money. She'd never be able to buy herself nice things from it - Gi-hun wouldn't be able to do it either.

She gently touched her lover's shoulders as she leaned in close, trying to wake him up from the nightmare he was re-living. Her hands travelled upwards, caressing his neck, his jaw, his cheeks; her voice slowly became louder but never harsher... until he finally awoke.

She leaned back, knowing their heads would collide if she didn't; and quickly grabbed Gi-hun's hand, pulling him close.

"It's okay, honey." she said as she brushed the sweaty locks of hair away from his eyes. "Everything's fine. We're out."

Gi-hun turned to look at her, his whole body shaking; then he grabbed her so fast she had close to no time to react.

His fingers were digging into her arms as he looked at her with tears in his eyes.

"Promise me... Promise me you won't leave the motel in the morning!" she felt her heart shutter even further. "Please! Promise me!"

"All right. I promise." she agreed as she took his hands in hers. "I won't leave."

That was when Gi-hun finally pulled her close. He wasn't satisfied until he could feel her breath on his neck and feel her thighs against his.

"Thank you..." his voice was as shaky as his hands. "Thank you."

"Of course, honey." she kissed his neck before leaning back. "Now tell me - do you want to talk about it?"

Gi-hun shook his head. "No. I... I can't."

"Okay." she gently touched his cheek. "Do you want to lay back down? Go back to sleep?"

"No, I'll keep watch. You just go back to sleep, I'm not tired..."

"Seong Gi-hun!" her voice was like a warning, but it was not at all harsh or demanding. "I have said it before, many times. You don't have to keep watch anymore and you need your sleep."

She was sitting in his lap by then, while she held onto his face with both hands, her thumbs caressing his cheeks.

Gi-hun's lips were trembling. "Can you go back to sleep? After the dreams."

She frowned, her fingers shook only for a minute. The thought of them, the dreams - she hated them as much as Gi-hun did.

"No. Not always." she said honestly. "But I have a damn angel of a boyfriend who always helps me, who's always there for me." she smiled when she saw that his tears started to fall again, but this time around for a different reason. "I'm here for you too, Gi-hun."

She leaned in and pressed a kiss to his forehead, then to his lips. She kissed him with all the love and softness she had left to give.

"So let's lay down, okay?"

Gi-hun nodded. He kept on holding her close as he pulled the covers over them - and he made damn sure she was covered up to her neck; he was like a kid making sure they were safe from the monsters who were hiding in the dark.

"I love you, Y/N." he mumbled. "I don't deserve you."

"Don't you fucking say that." she argued. "You deserve the world, you hear me?" he just made his hold around her stronger. "I love you, Gi-hun."

She'd take care of him this time around.

He always made sure she was okay, safe and healthy - yet he didn't want anyone to do the same for him. Well, she wouldn't take no for an answer. Not anymore.

"You know..." she began to whisper, as her hand found his hair. "The only thing I ever truly miss about those damn games are the curls."

Gi-hun raised his head and looked at her with a questioning look. "The curls?"

"Yeah." she chuckled. "Grow your hair out again. Please." she begged. "I wanna play with your curls again."

She looked at him with so much love he had no other choice but to chuckle through the tears too.

"Okay, I'll grow it out again."

She smiled. "Thank you."

They stayed like that for hours - until morning.

She played with as many short, hidden curls as she could until he slowly fell back asleep - and she'd continue to hug him 'til he woke up.

That night she was the one who kept watch - since Gi-hun wasn't the only one who wanted to protect the last, living person he truly loved, with his whole being.

The gun was close by, the door was locked, the windows were closed.

No one would hurt him. She'd make sure of it.

[alessiathepirate]

To anyone out there writing fluff fics for my baby Seong Gi-hun; you are doing God's work honey, and I'm in your debts forever.

[alessiathepirate]

Resident Evil 4: Seperate Ways

THE WITNESS: Albert Wesker x fem!reader

Summary: Ada saw something she shouldn't have seen. And she immediately knew that he didn't deserve her at all.

Note: English isn't my first language. I apologize for any mistakes I may have made while I wrote this short story.

Oh, and Merry Christmas everyone :)

Warnings: swearing

●●●

Ada was sure she never should've seen it. No one should've.

Yet she did, and she knew she'd have to take it with herself to the grave if she wants to keep her head -- and if she wants her to be healthy and safe.

Albert Wesker wasn't emotional. He was head strong, dedicated and evil, the kind of man who'd sell the world to keep his own power. He had no place in his body for love or hate, yet what Ada saw, was another side of him, a side she never imagined could exist.

He was vulnerable. He had a weak spot, a spot she could use if she would've had the soul to do so.

He had an admiration.

Her.

Ada's partner in this stupid Spanish job she hated so much...

They were in Mendez's home, they were sitting on Mendez's bed as Wesker gave her an injection against the virus she had gotten infected with. Meanwhile Ada was in the window, holding onto the rope for dear life as she almost fell from surprise -- he was so gentle; with her. He was touching her as if she was made from the thinnest glass, as if he didn't want to taint her with the sickness he was carrying.

"Thank you." she said quietly with a small smile.

And Cupid be damned, Ada knew he didn't deserve her.

He didn't deserve the way she was looking at him or speaking to him. He didn't deserve her at all.

"I'm sorry I've caused so much trouble. I didn't mean to be a liability."

Liability. Wesker's favourite word. Everyone around him was one: Luis, Leon -- hell, even Ada herself.

"You've never been a liability." Wesker argued. "Your presence doesn't effect the mission in the wrong way in the slightest." he put the needle away and then gently put his palm on her forehead, to see if she had a fever or not. "However, if you are looking for one - or more - then consider Serra as one, or Ada."

"Hey!" she said as she pulled his hand away. "Ada's doing her very best."

"Ada is causing us trouble. If she weren't an important asset, then I would've gotten rid of her a long time ago." Wesker put his hand back on her forehead, not taking no for an answer. "And I'd be happy if you left this job for her. Her... failure wouldn't matter to me at all."

"Don't say that! I like her. And I'm fine now. I can continue."

Wesker let go of her forehead, and instead, put his hands on her cheeks, his pinky fingers touching her neck, holding her hostage for his will.

"You don't understand, do you?" he asked, then continued: "I want you to quit this job and leave. I want you to come back with me to my lab and assist me there, and only there."

She looked him in the eyes with a pained expression, and Ada hated him for causing her sadness.

"Why? Because you consider me weak?"

"No."

"Then why?"

"Because I consider you important."

Ada wasn't her, yet her own heart was beating fast at the words as she read between the lines.

Did he just... tell her that he loved her?

She seemed to understand the meaning too, because she just smiled and leaned closer to him with a grin.

"Come on, I'll be fine. You know I'll be."

"I always make sure you are..." Wesker said, then leaned in to press a kiss tk her forehead. "...dear."

Ada thought it was time to go, as she was too close to looking out the window and noticing her. And that... could be dangerous. Something Ada should avoid.

Ada grabbed onto the rope of her grappling hook, and climbed up to the roof, as quietly as possible.

Then she started to think...

Poor girl. She didn't know what kind of bear she was poking...

[alessiathepirate]

I swear to God, I haven't seen a heartbreaking character development like this since forever.

Someone hug this man... I'll do it. I'll hug him myself.

[alessiathepirate]

Cobra Kai

TWO CAN PLAY THE GAME: Terry Silver x fem!reader

Summary: She knew him from '85. She knew how he functioned, how he was thinking. She'd beat him with his own technique - she was sure of it.

Notes: English isn't my first language. I apologize for any mistakes I may have made while I wrote this short story.

Warnings: swearing

●●●

A man can't stand, he can't fight.

A man can't breathe, he can't fight.

A man can't see, he can't fight.

She was watching the fight between Eli and Kenny play out as she continued to think about those rules, repeating them like a mantra. Her nails were digging into her upper arms through the material of her shirt as she tried to calm herself down.

You did what you could, she told herself. Even if you had to do that behind the true senseis' backs.

Daniel would've never let her do that - the same with Chozen, even if he had a slightly different view on karate. And Johnny... well, if she does it with him and Daniel figures it out, it would've lead to another fight between the two. And she really didn't want that to happen.

Besides, the kids came to her for help - since hiding the fact that she had something going on with Silver in '85 was hard to do, especially with teens around like Sam LaRusso. They were curious to know what had happened in the 80s - but they were more interested in how they should fight and win.

She didn't want them to get hurt, or worse: to be disappointed with themselves.

Damn it, they were her fucking kids and she was going to help them one way or another.

So she had taught them a thing or two about Terry Silver, and what kind of methods he may have taught for those mislead, Cobra Kai-obsessed kids after he took over.

It was only fair, she had told herself so it would feel less like a betrayal - a very dangerous one. Since Robby told them everything about their defence.

"The Quicksilver method has three rules: A man can't stand, he can't fight. A man can't breathe, he can't fight. A man can't see, he can't fight." she had told them after they met up in the park after it got dark.

"Did he really name it after himself?"

She had just laughed and nodded. "He's full of ego and he's an asshole, what can I say... However, what matters is that you know the right defence! They will go after three key points: feet, chest, eyes. These are also the areas you'll look out for the most. Is that understood?"

She grinned as Eli jumped back just in time to get away from Kenny's fist, which went straight for his chest. Then, he went for his feet and his eyes.

"The technique he wanted to use is simple: get a point from a hit on the head but go for the nose. He won't be able to see from the tears." she had explained as she showed Eli where to hit. "This is a dirty move, sure. But it's not against the rules and if they want to fight dirty, then you gotta be ready to protect yourselves and each other."

"Point, Moskowitz!"

Daniel looked at her from the corner of his eyes, but she didn't care. She just gave Eli a proud nod and continued to look at Terry who seemed to slowly catch on.

One rule of the Quicksilver not working? It could be a coincidence. Eli could be too good. But using two rules of it on the enemy while she's around? That's planned. It's a personal attack.

Terry looked at her from the other side of the dojo and clenched his jaw. She just smiled.

Two can play this game...

She sometimes wondered if she really hated him that much - there were times when it wasn't too obvious... Then she remembered how he played around with her before he disappeared, how he completely broke down a fucking teen she was supposed to be looking out for...

He broke her fucking heart.

Terry Silver can go and rot in the hole he climbed out from with Kreese's help.

"Is everything alright, sensei?"

She looked at Sam, who gave her a knowing smile.

"I'm not a sensei."

"That's not true."

She just chuckled. "He seemed to catch on."

Sam looked at Silver, then back at her. "I still don't understand what you had seen in him."

She made sure Daniel was out of earshot before answering: "You should've seen him in the 80s." after a shared chuckle she gave the girl a gentle hit on the shoulder. "It doesn't matter. Just concentrate, okay? Use what your dad and Johnny taught you, but remember how they like to play..."

His stare was burning her from the inside out after Sam left and Eli's match continued.

And as his fingers clenched into a fist, as the muscles around his mouth and eyes hardened, he looked like the old him. The Terry Silver she had met in the 80s, who had managed to make her fall for him, who had managed to make her open up and finally be honest with somebody...

He had taken her to the dojo, he had taught her a thing or two and didn't ask for a price...

And it was a fake, all of it. The gentle touches, the dates... He was a liar, a con-man, a damn psycho and a rich asshole.

She didn't want to talk to him after the truth came out and after the All Valley he disappeared for decades.

What a shame that he was still good looking...

Eli seemed to be doing just fine. Awesome, to be honest. The kid understood the assignment and soon there was no man - no matter how much Terry paid him - who wouldn't have given him the last point... That kick was beautiful, perfect and it pissed Terry off even more.

"Point! Winner: Moskowitz!"

She clapped and pride made her chest feel full.

She smiled at Terry; her grin showing him all of her teeth. That was the last nail in the coffin - grinning like he did when he sent Mike after Daniel.

Sam's match was up and she stood tall from the confidence she had gained.

Even if Daniel was eyeing her suspiciously, even if Terry seemed ready to kill her, she stood her ground.

Her kids needed the damn support after all.

●●●

"It's good to know that our lessons weren't for nothing."

She felt the chill run through her whole body as she heard his voice, this time speaking directly to her.

She hated how intense of a reaction he could still get out of her, after all those years. But then again, Terry was one in a million. No one could make her feel the way he did.

Amanda always joked about how she very cleverly chose to be single; and Daniel liked to join in to say that he had never ever seen her in love before. Well, maybe he was just too blind and too young to see it.

"Oh please, we both know you always leave a lasting impression."

She turned around to look up at him, eye to eye ever since '85. He still had the same damn look in his eyes and she had to make herself remember to not be naïve.

Terry caught her first.

After the success of both Sam and Eli - and after it was announced that both dojos would participate at the Sekai Taikai (Johnny almost blew up from frustration) - Daniel tried to talk to her in private, but Johnny was faster. He just left to try the juice bar - because "if this son of a bitch with the pony tail got what he wanted, we can at least use his juice bar" - when Terry proved that he was faster than Daniel.

"And you fucking like it." she finished as she continued to look him in the eyes.

She felt Sam's eyes on her, but the girl thankfully did nothing to intervene.

"Don't talk to Silver. Don't even look at him if you don't have to." she had told them. "That's how he functions. He consumes information and he uses it against you. He sees an opportunity, he uses it for his gain."

"If I want to be honest I always knew you'd have the guts to use what I taught you - unlike LaRusso." his lips curled upwards into a smile. "Speaking of LaRusso; what did he say when you taught my method to his students?" he stayed quiet for a second so the question could sink in. "He knew about it, didn't he?"

She just chuckled.

"Get out of my head, Terry." she just said simply, not giving in to his game. "You can't play with me anymore when I know your game too well."

"That's why I like you."

She wanted to burn the damn butterflies in her stomach.

"Although I have to say I never would've thought that you'd care this much about karate. Or the Sekai Taikai."

"Believe me, I couldn't care less about karate or the Sekai Taikai or this 'who will win in the end fight' between you and Daniel..." she explained as Sam LaRusso continued to stare a hole into the side of her head. "But those kids deserved a damn chance against you."

Terry tilted his head, his lips formed a smile so wide she could see his teeth. His shoulders fell back and he seemed even taller when his eyes were shining that way: full of excitement. Through all that interest he seemed hurt - as if she just insulted his whole being. He seemed almost offended.

"Are you lying to me or are you lying to yourself?"

"Don't give him a damn opportunity!" she had told the kids as if it would be the most important rule. "Don't feed him information! Don't pique his interest!"

"Excuse me?"

"Who are you lying to?" he asked again as he leaned closer. "Because you are lying. You're not doing this for the kids. I mean you do care about them, I can believe that, but this isn't about them, is it?"

The frustration she couldn't hide seemed to entertain him a lot.

Then she took a deep breath. Don't let him win.

"In this case, we are both liars, aren't we?" Terry stayed quiet; waiting, listening. "Are you sure this is only about you and that dream of yours? Nothing to do with Daniel or '85, right?"

He seemed to like the challenge, and God damn her, she liked it too. She liked the unsaid, hidden threat what always lingered around when Terry was close by. And he liked her fight - she knew he did. If he didn't, she'd already be on the ground with a black eye or six feet under.

"Are you sure you want to talk about grudges?"

She just shrugged. "It's always great to remember the past, isn't it? So we don't make the same mistake twice."

"Mistakes?" he asked with a chuckle. "It depends on the point of view."

She raised an eyebrow.

"Don't let him play you. If you talk to him, he'll try, for sure. He'll give you something: a story, some info. Something you'd be interested in so he could reel you in and keep you where he wants you to be. But don't let that happen!"

"Really?"

"You don't agree?"

She bit her lower lip.

The bait was out, the trap was set. She shouldn't fall for it. She can't.

She learned long ago that she'd never know why he does the things he does, but she could understand how he thinks and what he uses to get what he wants.

She was a better player now, but was she strong enough?

She swallowed her curiousity.

Grudges. She still had hers. She nursed it for years and it became unbearable when he appeared again out of thin air.

But the past stays in the past. She learned from it, didn't she? She wouldn't make the same mistake again.

Instead of asking what she wanted to - Why Terry? Why did you date me? Why did you teach me? What did it mean to you at all? What did I mean at all? - she just chuckled.

"It's good to know the old you is back, Terry." she said with a smile. "I almost started to worry when I first saw you - I thought you weren't the same man. Good to know I was wrong. 'This' you? I can handle."

The conversation was over. She wanted it to be over so it would be.

She turned to look at Sam who was still looking at her like a warning sign ("use what you just taught us"), and Johnny who seemed to be done with the juice bar.

She took a step aside, then two -- and she was almost successful. Almost.

"Are you free tonight?" the charm in his voice was still present and she hated it. "We could have dinner together. For old times' sake. And I could provide the truth about '85 from my point of view."

She stopped and looked at Sam again. She was talking to Eli and the others, swimming in pride and happiness: the things she gave them by talking about Silver.

The bait worked, the trap caged her and she could feel him reel her in.

"I'll pick you up at seven."

She failed. How could she fail?

She decided to not ask how he knows where she lives. He already knows, of course he does...

She knew everything, yet learned nothing.

She let him win - again.

[alessiathepirate]

Resident Evil 4: Seperate Ways

THE FLIRTING GAMES: Luis Serra x fem!reader

Summary: It sounded like an easy job - get in, grab the Amber and get out... Yet it became pretty complicated the moment she met Luis Serra.

Notes: English isn't my first language. I apologize for any mistake I may have made while I wrote this short story.

Guess who's back in her RE4 obsessed era!

Warnings: swearing, mentioned death, Ada is our bestie, Leon and Wesker cameo

•••

Meeting Don Quixote

The footsteps sounded awfully loud in the room as Luis Serra danced around to a beat only he knew and no one else.

She looked at him through the thin material of the white dress Ada had put on her, before sending her off to find this Luis Serra while she kept the castle halls clean from monsters.

Serra had a handsome face, nice legs and awesome dance moves with a hint of elegance.

Ada had said that Luis was a clever researcher, who had the Amber. Well, he was good looking too and he was a good dancer with great fashion sense. That part Ada had left out of her report on Luis.

She looked aside, smiling as she appreciated what she was seeing, and hit her two 'friends' on the head with the lantern she was holding. She then kicked their burning bodies aside as she took off the white dress to finally look at the man in front of her without any distraction.

Luis looked at her, his eyes moving up and down on her body, and suddenly she was very thankful that Ada had full control over her closet.

Luis had a beautiful smile. It seemed playful and charming - and the thought that he was most definitely a ladies' man slowly occured in her brain.

"Luis Serra?" she asked as she tilted her head, letting her gaze rest on his body. "Nice moves you got there."

Luis stepped toward her with the same amount of elegance he used for his dancing, his hands were almost touching her waist. Their faces were pretty close, their eyes met, both pair having the same amount of playfulness.

"Muchas gracias, señorita." the way his lips moved while speaking Spanish stirred something inside her - something warm.

"Perhaps you'll teach me some one day."

Luis' face turned a light shade of red and she felt pride appear in her chest. She managed to make him blush.

"It'd be my pleasure." he tilted his head. "Did you bring something for me?"

"Oh." she reached inside her pocket and showed him the pack of cigarettes she was carrying around. "Ada said I should give you these."

Her fingers moved quickly as she took a single cigarette from its box and put it between Luis' lips. Before his hands could move to get his lighter, she already reached into her pocket once again. This time she had a cheap, plastic lighter in her hand and she carefully lit Luis' cigarette.

She saw something change in his eyes and her stomach was stirred again.

"Just the kind I like." said Luis, after he was holding the cigarette between his fingers.

They kept their eyes on the other as the cigarette slowly burned away -- until a gunshot could be heard from upstairs. Her whole body went rigid as she remembered why she was in the cell and who was waiting for her.

She stepped away, breaking the trance Luis' presence had put her in.

"Where's the Amber? Ada said you'd have it."

"I had it." Luis confessed. "But I had to stash it right before I got caught. I can lead you to it though."

She smiled as his flirty act broke.

"Lead the way then."

Luis stepped out of the cell and threw the cigarette aside. Then he bowed as if he'd be the perfect gentleman waiting for his lady to make the first move.

"Ladies first."

She had to surpress a grin.

"And they say chivalry is dead."

•••

A gentleman in trouble

"Are you angry?" Luis asked as he walked around awkwardly, not really finding his place when he was talking to an upset Ada Wong. "You're angry... Listen, there's this one thing I have to do before I can recover the Amber."

She was watching him from her place against a table. She watched his movements, she listened to his voice - and she had to say, he was absolutely perfect.

They were great acquaintances by then.

Luis had contacted her more times then she could count on both of her hands, and she answered his calls each and every time. It didn't matter that she had to put Wesker or Ada on hold for it. Luis was more fun, more important. He was the playfulness she had always been missing from her life.

Ada's movements seemed dangerously slow.

"Before?" she asked.

Luis didn't answer and the room turned quiet. This time around even she could feel the upcoming storm and she was standing confidently on her feet by the time Ada pointed her gun at him.

Luis seemed shocked and scared - he raised his hands as if they could protect him from Ada's gun. She felt a sense of fear run through her veins too. She didn't like Luis' situation and she didn't want him to get shot because of the stupid Amber Wesker wanted so badly.

"This isn't a negotiation, Luis. So choose your next words wisely."

She stepped between Ada's gun and Luis quickly. She could clearly see the confusion in Ada's eyes as she realized she was no longer pointing the weapon at Luis, but at her own partner.

"Whoa, Ada! There's no need for this." she argued.

"We're wasting time here. You know he doesn't like it when we're wasting our time."

"Since when do we care about what he likes?" she asked with a raised eyebrow. "The only way he's getting the Amber is through Luis. And threatening him or shooting him won't make our job easier."

Ada looked her in the eyes. Their gazes met without a single blink. Then, after a few seconds, something close to understanding ran though Ada's eyes and she lowered her handgun.

She tilted her head in a silent question only they could understand - and when she nodded Ada gave her a sad look full of pity.

They were in the same boat.

"What do you need to do?" Ada asked instead of threatening to shoot Luis again.

She could feel him relax behind her. And finally she could breathe again.

"Someone needs my help."

"Leon and Ashley?" she asked as she turned around to look at him.

Luis just nodded and she could feel rather than see Ada's body freeze. She tried to push back a sad smile - oh yes, they were in the exact same fucking boat.

"They are both infected." Luis explained and she felt a small amount of sadness run through her - she always liked Leon, and Ashley Graham seemed like a nice, young girl. "And you know me-- always the good Samaritan! They need this medicine and I can make it. I know it works, because... you see, I used it-- on myself."

Her lips curled upwards.

Luis was a nice guy. Someone who wants to help and make his past mistakes right. She could understand that; she could respect that. She liked him a lot more because of that.

"Why should I care?"

She almost rolled her eyes in annoyance. Denial didn't look good on Ada Wong at all.

She cares. She has always cared - especially about Leon Kennedy.

"Because you too are infected..."

Fear was a long forgotten feeling for her, yet in that moment is overcame her like a strong wave. She looked at Ada in shock, silently begging her to say something; to deny it.

Yet Ada stayed quiet. Which meant that Luis was right. Which meant that she was slowly loosing herself.

"It's what I researched for all these years, Ada. And I see the symptoms already showing in your eyes." fueled with anger from the fact that Ada didn't tell her about her being infected, she took a close look at her eyes and Luis was right - thin, tiny, black veins were running along in Ada's eyes, making them look sick and dark. "You must already feel the effects, ey?" Luis asked as he slowly began to walk around in the room, until he stopped above a trapdoor. "The medicine will stop them for a time. Just-- trust me. You have a lot to gain and nothing to lose."

She turned to look at Ada again, who seemed to accept her fate with a cold expression.

"Ok." she said. "We do this first and then the Amber."

While Luis let Leon know that he'll give them the medicine what'll help them with the infection, she kept on looking at Ada. She looked at her calm face and stern expression.

Ada was always confident with an added elegance what made her even more pretty and desirable. But despite her confidence, someone had to worry about her well-being too. And that role was hers.

Ada Wong won't be dying in Spain anytime soon - she told herself as Luis opened the trapdoor.

Ada was the first one who jumped down the hatch, and she was about to follow her, when Luis grabbed her wrist.

She looked up at him, feeling a strange sense of shyness as his hand touched hers.

"Thank you." he said with a small, honest smile - without his usual charming grin. "For helping me."

"You have nothing to say thank you for. Especially because you're the one who'll help us."

She was about to try and jump down again, but Luis' grip on her wrist tightened.

"Why?"

She raised her eyebrows in confusion. "'Why' what?"

"Why did you help me?"

She tilted her head slightly, not daring to look him in the eye.

Why? That's a good question, isn't it? A question only Ada knows the answer to.

"I like you, Luis." she confessed as she looked him in the eye, smiling when she found endearment in them. "I want to get you out of here." her lips curled upwards as she decided to make the moment 'them'-like. "Besides... You're too handsome to let a bullet wound destroy your pretty face."

She waited until he fully understood her words and the light shade of red took control over his face. She liked to see him blush. She liked to make him blush even more.

She jumped down the hatch before Luis could have a chance to say anything charming to her. She landed on her feet and when she stood up she could see Ada standing not so far away with a patient, knowing smile on her face.

Luis landed not so far away from her. Their bodies were almost touching the other's, and this time Luis seemed to collect himself and regain his usual charm.

His right hand touched her face gently as he put a lock of hair behind her ear.

"I can't wait for you to get me out of here, so we can have that dance, guapa."

Luis waited until the pink color appeared on her cheeks, then he let go of her hair and started to play with his lighter as he began to lead the way toward his laboratory.

Ada gave her a headtilt.

"Oh, shut up!" she said with a pout, even though her face was burning.

•••

La asistente

She looked at the blue butterfly she was holding, her thumb gently stroking its wings.

So pretty, yet so fragile... Just like humanity itself. It got harder and harder to keep it together and save it from harm. Save it from people like Wesker...

If Wesker wants something, it's because the thing is powerful. Powerful enough to destroy billions of people, if not humanity itself.

Wesker wanted to be a god, that's why she disliked him so much. She never liked a man whose ego was bigger than his bookshelf. Yet Wesker was a paying customer - and in today's economy money was everything.

Then why did she feel so guilty about helping him? About giving him power so he could give her money?

Maybe-- maybe if Luis is trying to do the right thing after all those years working for Umbrella, then she could try to follow his steps too.

A quiet noise got her back to reality, and she put the butterfly away - making sure it was safe in the small black bag attached to her left thigh -, so she could answer the call. It was from Luis; and the fact itself made her smile - or rather grin like a schoolgirl.

"You rang?" she asked sweetly, enjoying the smile she could see on Luis' face.

"Just wanted to make sure my favourite asistente is doing okay."

His favourite asistente. How sweet. Perhaps taking the job offer was a good thing - thanks to that, she met Luis Serra. She'd miss him from her life if she didn't know him.

"Your asistente has just finished her task, doc." she said. "How's Ada doing?"

"She already has the red ink." answered Luis.

"One more to go then." she sighed, but moments later her wide smile was back on her face. "Do you think she can handle the last ingredient by herself? We could share a break together perhaps..."

She could see Luis smirk through the bad quality of the transmitter.

"Or perhaps we could make dinner plans, ey?" Luis stopped talking for a while, he seemed to be deep in thought. "Tell me, señorita, have you ever tried salmorejo?"

"I can't say I have."

Luis chuckled.

"Well, then you will, after we get out of here." he explained, not taking 'no' for an answer. "And then I'll take you dancing."

She felt the need to twirl her hair around her fingers like a girl - and she almost did. Almost.

But then she decided to just widen her smile instead.

"It's a plan." she agreed and she could see the happiness in Luis' eyes. "So, where should we meet up?"

After, as she put her transmitter away, she decided that she'd try. She'd try to do better. For Luis.

•••

Becoming the blue butterfly

She finished painting the red 'This way!' sign on the floor, just in time, because Luis finished scribbling his letter down to Ada as well. The man let the letter rest on the desk, hoping that Ada'll be the one who'll find it.

She put the red spray paint in her bag, then she sighed loudly.

Ada was in the trouble the last time they've seen her. The medicine Luis had given her was working slowly, therefore she seemed weak, barely standing on her two feet. Still, Ada wanted her to go with Luis - so she did.

She just hoped that her gut was right about Ada Wong and Spain won't become her grave.

"Ready?" Luis asked and she nodded. "Well then, let's go and find Sancho, ey?"

She appreciated his attempt at humor, she really did. But in that moment Ada and her well-being was all she could think about. The worst thought was that she was in serious danger, a danger Wesker could overcome in seconds - he just chose not to. Ada wasn't worth it for him - heck, she wasn't worth it for him.

"Princesa..." Luis began again as he stepped toward her, his fingers touching her hair. "Ada will be okay. Deep down you know that."

He tried to be comforting, even if he himself had his doubts. She could see it in his eyes; the small amount of fear, the 'what if...' questions... Still, she was thankful that he tried.

"I know." she chuckled sadly. "Hell, I'm pretty sure the only person who can kill Ada is Ada." Luis gave her a weak smile. "It's not just the infection, or Ada, or Leon... it's just-- everything. This damn mission, I can't fucking do it, Luis. I can't take the Amber. If I do, people will die. Lots of people. I feel like all my life I've been doing bad things, and only bad things. And I wanna make them right, I do, I just don't know where to start..."

Luis gently held onto her shoulders, his thumbs touchings her neck slightly. He had the most understanding look on his face she has ever seen. He seemed calm and collected - and so, so beautiful.

"I know the feeling, guapa. Believe me, I really do. I've done things, many things, I'm not proud of and I, too, want to make them right."

"Well, where do we start?" she asked, her lips trembling.

"We have to start small, don't we?" Luis asked and she nodded. "Well then we go and find Leon. We give him the medicine so him and Ashley will feel better. After, we'll lead them to my laboratory and you'll help me remove the plaga from them. How does that sound?"

"Good." she smiled. "Like the best job I've ever had."

Luis let go of her shoulders and she already missed his touch.

"It's a good thing you're my best asistente."

She chuckled at his words, then licked her lips so they wouldn't stay dry. She could feel the small cut on her lower lip with her tounge.

"Luis?"

"What is it, princesa?"

"Just so you know..." she began as she took an unsure, careful step toward Luis, and put her hand on his chest, her fingers playing with his jacket's zipper. "You are the best part of this damn job."

She leaned in to close the gap between them, but Luis was quicker.

His hands landed on both sides of her face, his thumbs drawing gentle circles into her skin - then he pulled her close and suddenly his lips were touching hers.

She sighed as he began kissing her, his mouth swallowing her every noise. The kiss wasn't at all fast or rough; no, it was slow, sweet, yet so full of passion she had to dig her fingers into his leather jacket, so her knees wouldn't buckle.

Damn, Luis Serra was perfect.

He was charming, smart, sweet, funny and he could kiss her to death in a heartbeat.

In those moments, as their tounges were dancing together, not at all fighting for dominance, she swore she'd do anything to start over with him.

She pulled away to breathe, her chest raising and falling quickly.

"Well princesa," Luis began with a grin. "I'm glad the feeling is mutual."

•••

Cheating fate

She was holding onto Luis tight as they both landed on the ground. She could hear her bones crack as she landed on the hard floor, and soon her muscles began to burn from the pain.

She looked at Luis' face, what was so close to hers she could feel his weak, shallow beaths on her skin. His face was pale as small droplets of blood ran down his lips.

In her eyes Luis was beatiful - he had all those emotions he wasn't afraid to show; happiness, joy, calmness, sadness... Still, her favourite was when his lips curled upwards, forming a charming grin as he said something flirty.

In that moment the only feeling she could see on Luis' face was pain. And she absolutely hated that.

A quiet squelching sound could be heard, and Luis' eyes widened. Krauser pulled his knife out. He pulled the damn knife out! She felt panic take over as she tried to climb out from under Luis' arm. God damn it, he's going to bleed out!

"Major Krauser! What-- why?" she could barely hear Leon's words as her panic took over.

"Recovering stolen goods." Krauser took the Amber from Luis' jacket, and stepped onto her hand when she tried to push herself up to see how bad Luis' injury was. "And killing a few rats along the way."

She groaned in pain. In reality she wanted to scream. She wanted to kick and claw; she wanted to shoot Krauser to death or stab him until he was a bloody mess.

"Easy work." Krauser stood up and walked toward Leon, finally leaving her alone.

"Ashley... it was you."

"You catch on quick."

Her hands were shaking as she tried to take a good look at the wound on Luis' back.

Thankfully she noticed the suspicious shadow behind Luis right before the knife hit him - she had to thank Ada for her great reflexes. The knife still got him deep and bad, but it luckily avoided his spinal chord.

The wound was under his right shoulder, next to his arm. She hissed as she looked at it and quickly tore her dress, then took off Luis' jacket so she could put pressure on the wound.

She dumbly noted that Leon was having a one on one fight with Krauser.

"Princesa..." Luis mumbled as she sat him up.

"Sh, don't talk." she managed to say as tears threatened to fall from her eyes. "Don't-- you need your strength."

"I-- we need to help Leon."

She turned to look at Kennedy who successfully avoided Krauser's attack, and pushed the larger male on the ground. He was handling it just fine.

"No. No, he's fine. Leon's fine." she argued as she tied pieces of her torn dress together, so she'd be able to tie the thing around Luis' body, hoping it'd keep enough pressure on his wound while she took him off the damn island. "And you'll be fine too. You have to be. This will keep pressure on the wound until we get out of here and--"

"Princesa." Luis said again, looking up at her weakly through hooded eyes. "I think we have to change our plans."

She shook her head; no. A thick, heavy tear fell from her eye and many more were following it.

"No!" she finished her makeshift dressing as the word broke out of her - the dressing seemed fine, blood wasn't pouring out of his wound anymore, and it seemed strong enough to hold out until she found some thread and a needle to stitch him up. "Don't you say that, you hear me? You promised me a dance after we get out of here. You promised we'd have salmorejo for dinner, because I've never tasted that before... So don't you change our damn plans! You promised, Luis Serra, and a gentleman always keeps his promises..."

Luis smiled at her weakly.

"Just so you know, guapa... You're the best thing that happened to me."

She pushed her lips together, forming a thin, angry line.

"Don't you say goodbye! Don't you fucking--"

Quiet footsteps could be heard from behind and she grabbed her gun before turning around, thinking it'd be Krauser she'd see. To her surprise Ada was the one standing in front of her with an emotion she couldn't read.

Ada looked at the wounded Luis, who was smiling up at her through the blood in his mouth; then she looked at her and her teary eyes.

"Did you stop the bleeding?" Ada asked and she nodded. "Good, then give him this." Ada gave her a strange, green and yellow colored mixture. "It takes a few moments to kick in, but it'll help with the pain."

Ada waited patiently until she forced the mixture down Luis' throat, who started coughing, but slowly turned less and less pale.

"Ada--"

"Now listen to me-- I'll help Leon and after the fight's over, you'll get out of here with Luis. There's a boat on the western coast. Use it and get out."

She blinked her tears away.

Get out. She knew what Ada meant. She was giving her an out - a way out of this life, a chance to live a happy, long life with Luis, far away from people like Albert Wesker.

"But..."

"Get out of here, Y/N. And safely. I'll handle Wesker."

Ada leaned down and kissed her forehead, showing her a sign of love she never knew she had.

Soon, Ada shot Krauser's knife out of his hands - just in time, since Leon's luck slowly began to run out.

While Ada talked to Krauser, she leaned down and gave her lover a kiss on the lips. It was barely a peck, yet Luis seemed to appreciate the gesture.

"See, Luis?" she asked with a smile. "We'll have that dance one way or another."

•••

Defying a god

Ada watched as her ex-partner in crime helped Luis into an elevator, while Leon went on his seperate way to find Ashley Graham and get the parasite out of her by using Luis' laboratory.

She smiled when Luis leaned against the elvator's wall and held onto his girlfriend's hand, kissing her knuckles.

Just because she and Leon have to go their seperate ways, they don't.

She called Wesker right after all three of them were out of sight.

"I really hope you have good news."

"Y/L/N is dead." Ada said without a single emotion, knowing fully well how good Wesker is at reading people. "She died trying to protect Serra, who was attacked by Krauser. They are both dead. Krauser has the Amber now."

"Good. She has always been a dead weight anyway. An extra problem, too weak to act like she should've... She was always too emotional. And you-- I suggest you hurry. You know that I don't like to wait around. Get me the Amber!"

Ada ended the call and put the transmitter away.

She never thought of her as dead weight. She liked her. She was humane even with a job like theirs. She was way better than Wesker in her book.

Ada really hoped she'll have a great life - a life she herself envied, yet knew she'd never have.

[alessiathepirate]

Far Cry 5

NEVER TRY TO TAKE WHAT'S HIS: John Seed x fem!reader

Summary: After the Deputy attacks John's Ranch, John has to deal with the consequences...

Notes: English isn't my first language. I apologize for any mistake I may have made while I wrote this short story.

I'm back in my Far Cry 5 obsession era! Damn, I forgot how much I loved this game!

Warnings: mentioned and/or referenced torture and/or death, heavy religious references (come on, it's the Seed family), swearing, reader isn't the Deputy

•••

"John?" her voice was full of fear as she said his name out loud, as if she wasn't sure that he was the person who would step inside their shared bedroom.

The moment she saw his figure in the doorway, she put her revolver aside. The revolver he had given her. And he was thankful that he had done that.

The walk from his truck to the house was long - it felt too long. Seeing all those bodies, the dead bodies of his men, made his throat feel tight and the fear he thought he'd long forgotten ran down his spine. If his men, those soldiers are dead, then what happened to her?

Yet she was okay. Thank God she was okay, otherwise John would've punched a hole in the wall, then tear the skin off of anyone, who had failed to protect her. This way - this way only those will suffer who made the foolish decision to attack his home and his lover.

She was sitting on their shared bed with an injured leg. A leg she tried to take care of. She pulled the dark blue bedsheets aside and put a towel under her right thigh as she worked. She was seemingly already through the hard part - she already pulled the bullet out.

"John, I'm so sorry!" she continued, her voice full of worry. "I'm so sorry, they took the plane!"

John walked toward her slowly and for a moment she thought he was angry at her - angry because she let it happen. Yet when he was standing right in front of her he fell onto his knees and reached up to touch her cheeks.

"I don't care about the damn plane." he stated as his thumb brushed along a small cut under her right eye. "Are you okay?"

She smiled down at him as her hands wrapped around his wrists gently. She could feel the wrath he was really feeling in the way he touched her and in the way he reacted to her touch. She knew he was angry, but not at her. No, he could never hurt her. He was angry at the Resistance. He was angry that they hurt her.

"I am, now that you're here."

John leaned toward her, their lips meeting in a bruising kiss. She could feel it - she could feel how glad he was that she was okay and safe. John was a great kisser, he was the best she's ever had and he knew it. He knew how to kiss her to make her feel loved and wanted. Right then he made sure she felt his passion, his devotion what was dedicated to her. The kiss became rough and she whimpered when he gently bit her lower lip.

John pulled away, but he still kept her face between his hands. He stroked her cheeks, his blue eyes never leaving hers.

One of his hands left her face to gently touch the wound on her thigh. She hissed in pain and John's eyes darkened.

"Who did this, sweetheart?" his voice was borderline angry and frustrated, yet he kept his cool for her.

"The Deputy got me when I went out to see what was all that noise." she explained. "He got me from pretty far away. I didn't even realize he was there."

"Joseph wants me to baptise him. My brother wants me to make him confess, he said he has to reach atonement." John's hands were on her waist, holding onto her tightly. She was wearing his shirt. She loved him so much and they almost took her from him. "But after today? He'll never be clean. He's so full of sin, there isn't enough skin on his body to carve each and every one into him." his fingers then started to draw circles around her wound. "After today, my men will find him and I'll make sure he'll feel the suffering he caused here with his actions."

She touched his face, then started to stroke his hair. She continued until she felt him relax and the wrath disappear.

"I love you, John."

John smiled up at her and pressed a kiss to her wrist. "I love you too, sweetheart. But I have to take care of this for you now." he said, referring to the wound. "It's never my intention to hurt you, but this..."

"I know. I know it'll hurt." she smiled down at him sadly. "But it's not you fault."

Cleaning the wound and stitching her up was the worst kind of torture John had to suffer through.

He knew he was a torturer. He knew he hurt people in order to reach the greater good. But he never wanted to hurt her or mark her.

John loved her skin. He loved how flawless it was, how pure. He loved kissing it and occassionally leave a few love bites behind on her collarbone - but he never marked her. He never carved her sin into her skin, he never gave her tattoos. He kept her clean, so beautifully clean - both body and soul. And they ruined it for him. They hurt her, the Deputy left his mark on her body, what she'll have to carry with her for the rest of her life.

John was a torturer. He knew how to make him pay.

When he was done, John leaned down to press a kiss on her thigh and she giggled through the sweat and tears when his his stubble touched her skin.

"John?" she sounded tired. "Thank you."

"You have nothing to be thankful for, sweetheart. I'll always take care of you."

John tucked her into bed and pressed a kiss on her forehead. He put the revolver on the nightstand, in case she needs it to feel safe.

He had work to do, people to find. And after, he'll take his time hurting them.

"Can you please stay? We could cuddle."

It was impossible to say no to that. So John got rid of his shoes and climbed under the covers, then put his arms around her waist and pulled her close.

Let them run, he thought. Let him run and feel safe, proud and happy. Let him swim in the feeling of success and joy. And then when he least expects it he'll take everything. He'll take everything the Deputy loves.

John'll be damned if he lets anyone take her from him.

[alessiathepirate]

Red Dead Redemption 2

OUR MOST HONEST SELVES: John Marston x fem!reader

Summary: In which John Marston falls off the train - but he isn't alone.

Notes: English isn't my first language. I apologize for any mistakes I may have made while I wrote this short story.

Warnings: swearing, guns and violence, injuries

●●●

It felt like time slowed down as she watched John fall off the train. Seconds turned into minutes; thougths ran through her head faster than ever.

Arthur shouted John's name just as the ache she recognized as fear of death began to burn her chest. Sadie shot the damn fool who caused John's fall - and during those moments her feet somehow took the first two steps. Arthur must've known what she was about to do - even if she herself didn't completely understand her upcoming actions -, because he tried to grab her arm while shouting her name; yet it was too late - she made that jump already.

As she got closer and closer to the ground, to the tracks, she could hear Micah's laugh as the damn rat had his fun watching her stupidity. He already gave her shit for her obvious feelings for John Marston - so of course he would laugh as she fell to her very possible death.

She collided with the ground, the rifle on her back pushing into her ribs painfully. Her shin hit the traintracks and she screamed as the burning sensation took over her left leg. Still, the pain was easily ignored as she crawled toward John's body.

After she reached him, she pushed herself up into a sitting position and her hands were on him in an instant. She put pressure on his shoulder wound as she shook him, begging him to say something - anything.

"John... John!" she cried as tears ran down her face.

He had been attacked by wolves, caught by Pinkertons - and she took all of those moments badly. Horribly. Yet after all that she won't fucking let him die by being shot off a damn train!

"Marston, you fool, open your eyes!" she begged and when he began to stir she felt like she could breathe again - she leaned in even closer, her chin almost reaching his chest. "John?"

He moaned in pain, one of his hands touched hers to try and put even more pressure on his wound as he opened his eyes. His gaze met hers and she suddenly felt the urge to use her free hand and wipe away her tears - and she did that as soon as she could.

"Y/N?" he said as he tried to push himself up - she pulled her hand away from the wound, but pushed his onto the place instead, to stop the bloodloss. "Where are the others?"

She sat back down and whined quietly from the pain.

"They ain't coming for us, John." she said softly as her heart ached - Arthur would if he could. "Micah laughed at me when I jumped after you, so I think they ain't coming."

John pushed himself into a full on sitting position and his gaze darkened at her words.

"You did what?"

A bullet landed only inches away from her and that stopped her from answering. She reached for her revolver as soon as she saw the first Pinkerton appear on horseback, and she was ready to shoot, but before she even had the chance to pull the trigger John pushed her behind himself as he shot the man dead.

She was breathing heavily as she landed face first on the ground, small stones breaking the skin on her face. She looked up, peeking out from behind John's thigh, and raised her gun just in time to shoot a Pinkerton who came in from the left.

She pushed herself up - ready to fight even if John didn't want her to.

Not many of them were left; they put down three more men before the whole patrol team was dead. Her heart was beating fast; adrenaline making her feel hot.

She slowly put away her gun and John did the same - then he turned to look at her and the only emotion she could see in his eyes was anger. And she felt the tears in her own eyes appear again when she realized that he was angry at her.

"What were you thinkin' jumpin' after me like that?" he asked her as he grabbed onto her shoulders - and he groaned in pain. "You coulda died! You almost got shot!" John's eyes softened a bit and his voice became less firm as he watched her tears run down her face. "Why would you do something so stupid?"

She looked at him, then averted her gaze as she pushed his hands off her shoulders.

"What does it matter?" she asked and she hated how rough and weak her voice was. "If I'm not here those Pinkertons would've shot you dead!"

"And now they almost shot you dead!" John argued. "Why didn't you stay on the train?"

"Oh, because that would've been so much better!" she felt the muscles in her cheeks twitch as she held back her tears. "I don't know if you noticed or not, John, but Dutch and Micah sent the most expendable people to hop on the damn train! Sadie, Cleet, Arthur, you and me - we are either the least useful ones or those who ask the most questions! So it doesn't matter where the Hell I am!"

She felt all the frustration leave her as she shouted -- Hell, she didn't mean to argue with John over something so stupid, but the situation itself and Dutch's recent decisions brought out the worst in them.

She tried to stand up, ready to go after Arthur and Sadie, because they truly deserved the help, but pain stopped her from doing so. She whined and touched her knee -- her leg hurt so bad...

As soon as she groaned in pain John's eyes were on her leg - or more precisely on her bloody trousers -, but before he could touch it, he decided against it. All anger and frustration disappeared instead, and worry took their place. Pure worry - and her heart melted.

"Shit, what happened to your leg?"

"Stupid traintracks got me." she answered.

John sighed and repeated what he had said earlier - but this time more calmly. "You shoulda stayed on the train. With Arthur."

She wiped her tears away as all her wrath disappeared. There was no time for arguments - she knew that for a fact. They had a job to do, people to keep safe.

"Well I'm sorry, but I love your immature ass too much to just watch you fall off a train, Marston." she said, not even realizing that the words left her mouth. "Next time I'll just leave you, if you're this ungrateful, I promise. Now help me stand up, will you? We gotta go back to camp. Arthur will need our help."

When John didn't move she turned to look him in the eyes - and his shocked face confused her even more.

"What?" she asked.

John swallowed as he looked at her.

"You, uh-- you mean that?"

She didn't understand what he meant at first, so she looked at him in confusion with her head tilted. Then realization hit her - oh, God, no she didn't...

"Shit, I didn't-- I didn't mean to say that." she felt her whole face burn hot from embarassment. "Just-- forget it. Now help me up, will you?"

But John stayed still as he continued to look at her, watching her every move like a hawk. He looked surprised, but not at all confused or upset. He acted as if they were on one of their many robberies and he just found something very valuable.

"Damn it, Marston, if you don't want to move a muscle than just fucking say s--"

Her sentence was left unfinished - since John suddenly held onto her with both of his hands, his hold on her cheeks both firm and gentle. He hissed in pain from the shoulder wound, but regardless of the discomfort he still put his lips against hers, kissing her.

She felt her whole body tremble and it took her some time to finally close her eyes and kiss back as she grabbed onto his arms for support.

Kissing John Marston felt good -- great. Sure, he tasted like whiskey and smelled like cigars, but she finally got to do what she wanted since forever.

After it ended John put his forehead against hers as his fingers played with her hair. She leaned into his touch, appreciating all of him even if it wasn't really the best time for it.

"I, uh-- Thank you." he began after he cleared his throat, trying to find the right words. "I-- appreciate it. Really. What you did; the Pinkertons, the train and all that..."

She chuckled as her whole face burned from what he said. "Woah, Marston, the girls were right! You really are bad with words."

"Oh, shut up!" he said dismissively as he stood up and reached a hand out for her.

She gladly took it, letting him help her get up - even though she groaned a lot from the pain in her leg.

"John?" she asked as he put one of her arms over his neck and held onto her side gently, getting ready to help her walk - until they can find one of the Pinkertons' horses at least. "Anytime." she continued when he looked her in the eyes and John smiled at her.

"That leg looks pretty bad."

"Feels worse." she tried to let out a laugh. "How's the shoulder?"

"Could be worse." he answered. "We need a horse."

"You read my mind."

John let her rest against a tree when they noticed one of the horses not so far away. He did his best to calm it down, even if his face seemed pale and he was barely standing. Both of them were in a bad shape with cold sweat running down their foreheads from their injuries.

Still, John helped her up onto the horse's back and then sat behind her, keeping her safe as he held onto the reins.

Despite their situation, despite the pain, despite the stress to get back to camp and help Arthur who was surrounded by back-stabbing rats; John looked out for her -- like she looked out for him.

And when he kissed the back of her neck she thought that her injury be damned, it was fucking worth it - jumping after him...

...because she finally knew that John felt the same. He might not have said it with words, but the way he held onto her waist told her everything she needed to know.

[alessiathepirate]

Assassin's Creed: Mirage

THE ART OF PICKPOCKETING: Basim Ibn Ishaq x fem!reader

Summary: Basim Ibn Ishaq really liked to think of himself as someone, who's impossible to pickpocket -- and she finally found the opportunity to prove him wrong.

Notes: English isn't my first language. I apologize for any mistake I may have made while I wrote this short story.

Warnings: none

•••

Basim Ibn Ishaq really liked to think of himself as someone, who's impossible to pickpocket.

And whenever he said that thought out loud, she wanted nothing more than to prove him wrong.

She sometimes liked to include the children too, who were free to do whatever they wanted after finishing the task Dervis had given them. They liked to be the distraction, while she did her best to sneak up on him and take the little blue charm from his scarf. When she failed Basim chuckled while the children laughed. Nehal just stood not far away, shaking her head as she tried to hide a smile.

All her attempts had failed. None of them worked.

Basim always seemed to expect all her ideas and tries, and he was holding a firm grip on her wrist the moment her fingertips were touching his clothes.

She almost gave up, accepting defeat. Almost.

Because soon the right moment presented itself.

She just came back from an errand Dervis had given her -- an easy task; just a go in - grab the small chest of dirhams - then get out without getting caught. She was on her way to give Dervis the chest when she ran into Basim - or rather: Basim jumped her in a tight alleyway.

She was startled and almost dropped the dirhams, what would've gotten her a long, endless, angry speech from Dervis himself. She playfully hit Basim on the shoulder as he laughed.

"You're such a child sometimes, I swear." she shook her head disapprovingly, hiding a smile.

"Oh, come on! You left me all alone today with nothing to do!"

"Wasn't Nehal around?" she asked with a raised eyebrow as she continued to walk toward Dervis' place.

Basim followed her closely.

"Nehal isn't you." he complained and she felt a blush threatening to appear on her cheeks. "Besides, she never wants to come with me to see what the Hidden Ones are up to!"

"Because you annoy her a bit too much with that." she chuckled as Basim pouted at her teasing tone. "And it's not a bad thing that at least one of us isn't suicidal."

"Do you have any other errands to do after this one?" Basim asked.

"No. Why? Is there something you'd like to do?"

"I was thinking, maybe we could go and practice."

"Practice what?" confusion was the only visible emotion on her face.

"Pickpocketing."

She stopped so suddenly that Basim almost bumped into her. It was Basim's turn to look confused and hers to pout.

She looked at him as if he just hurt her feelings. Her eyebrows were raised as if challenging him to continue. When he didn't, she decided to voice her anger.

"Pickpocketing? You think I need to practice pickpocketing?" her voice was higher than usual and Basim just scratched the back of his neck awkwardly, not really knowing what to say.

"Well, everyone needs to practice..."

"Basim!" she could imagine his heart jumping at her tone. "Do you think I need to practice?"

He crossed his arms in front of his chest and did his very best to look confident, but he couldn't really fool her. She knew him too well. And she knew he wasn't feeling overly confident at all.

"Well, I did follow you and you didn't even notice me until I jumped you. And you still can't pickpocket me."

If looks could kill...

"So you're telling me that no one could possibly surprise you? Not like you suprised me?"

A quiet understanding ran through Basim's eyes, as if he finally realized that he set up a trap for himself. Her eyes were shining with mischief as she was waiting for an answer, and his body became more rigid, feeling a storm coming.

"That's exactly what I'm saying..."

Always acting so confident, always hiding the side of him she loved the most - the side that loved poetry, and softness, and the thought of love itself...

"If that's what you think, Basim..."

She put the chest between her left arm and her side to keep her right hand free. Then, she took a step or two toward Dervis' place to let Basim feel safe and give him the false feeling of relief.

The moment she heard him take the first step, she turned around, grabbed his scarf and pulled him down into a kiss.

She closed her eyes, but she could imagine the surprised look on his face. She could imagine him blushing and she could imagine his eyes being wide open. And those thoughts made her grin.

She made sure to kiss him with passion. To show him the feelings she has been having for him since the beginning of time. She made sure to kiss him roughly, she made sure it made him lose all his senses. She made sure it was a great distraction.

By the time Basim collected himself and found the courage in himself to kiss back, she already let go of his scarf and pulled away.

His flushed face made her smile widely.

"So this wasn't surprising... At all..."

"No, I--"

She grinned.

"It's alright Basim. It happens to the best of us."

She started to walk again and after a few long seconds Basim began to follow her.

Some of the children noticed them and ran toward them to greet them. She just giggled and raised her left hand high, showing them the blue charm what she was holding in a tight grip.

"I finally did it!"

The cheering was almost comical. So was the laughter what came after Basim touched his scarf with a confused expression, not believing that the charm was gone.

"Oh, don't worry Basim, we all need our practice!" she teased and the children laughed harder.

"That's cheating!" Basim argued with a blush. "Give it back!"

"Get it back!" she shouted as she began to run, dropping the chest of dirhams not caring if Dervis gets his money or not; or if he gets angry or not.

Victory just felt too good. So did Basim's lips on hers.

Their game of cat and mouse didn't last long. After a few minutes Basim managed to tackle her on one of the rooftops - and she gladly let him turn her around and kiss her with so much passion, she had to whimper.

Yet the minute Basim's fingertips touched the charm, she grabbed his wrist, pulling him away from her prize.

"Don't you dare." she warned.

Basim grinned. She did too. Then his lips were on hers again as her free hand held onto his shoulder tight.