#all he can do in-game is crouch. sad!
Explore tagged Tumblr posts
Text
Totk would've been a better game if they gave u the option to sit on the edge of a sky island and kick your feet back and forth
#im up here waiting for farosh. and my heart link is doing this. but alas#all he can do in-game is crouch. sad!#bel speaks
6 notes
·
View notes
Text
“Still up for this? You know he’s going to be pissed at you.”
“‘Course I am! Any chance to get on his nerves, I’ll take it,” Sonic replies with full confidence. The blue blur crouches down so it’s easier for you to hop on his back. Once fully secured, he runs off to find Shadow.
With his speed, it didn’t take long to find your partner. In the middle of a grassy field, his figure gets closer. He seems lost in thought, admiring the view. Of course, the serene silence was broken by none other than you and Sonic banishing him at a breakneck speed.
Sonic calls out, “DELIVERY FOR SHADOW,” as he grabs you by the ankles and begins to spin into a tornado. Your body practically perpendicular to his.
Shadow turns around just as you were launched from Sonic’s hands. Your arms are outstretched towards your lover, ready to encapsulate him in the most bone crushing hug. He was barely in time to catch a you shaped missile. Upon contact, Shadow looses his footing and falls backwards.
Before his back hits the ground, the scenery changes to your living room. THUD! Shadow hits the hardwood floor, but you remain mostly unscathed with his arms wrapped around you tight. Hands find the ground, propping you up to meet his face. “Missed me?,” you laugh.
Brows narrow, clearly unamused by the stunt you pulled. “Obviously not,” he huffs, resting his hands on your hips. The tone of the reply is easily brushed off, knowing that he was referencing catching you. An attempt at a joke. So you thought until his next words, “I’ve had enough of your games.”
There are times where he’d been mad at you, but never like this. Chills crawl down your spine as fiery reds glares at you. “I told you there would be consequences to your actions,” Shadow adds. The next thing you knew, your positions were reversed. Now you lay on the ground, facing up at your loved one. Hips and shoulders pinned. There’s no escape and it doesn’t appear you can talk yourself out of being in trouble. “It’s time you pay the price, love.”
Before you could ask what he was going to do to you, a screech echoes throughout the entire house. Hysterical laughter follows suit as dexterous fingers work on your sides. Squirm all you want but he has you locked firmly between his legs. Tightly you grip onto his wrists in a sad effort to pull him off. It’s no use. Shadow is simply too strong.
Maybe if you turned your back on him, you’d be able to crawl away. There’s a chance he’d also simply stay on but you needed to do something! The tickling was driving you insane! Turtling up, you roll to your stomach and crawled about two centimeters before all of your strength leaves. Completely breathless, a hand taps on the wood flooring while weakly calling out, “Mercy! Mercy.”
Immediately Shadow stops and crosses his arms. When you turn your head to look back up at him a giant shit eating smirk is plastered on his face.
“You’re so mean…!”
“You brought this upon yourself. You only have yourself to blame,” Shadow plainly replies.
He’s not wrong.. Prior to this, he did warn you three or five times that a punishment was imminent.
He asks, “What did we learn today?”, expecting an answer.
“Not to mess with Mr. Ultimate Life Form.”
“What was that? Speak up.”
A sigh, “Don’t mess with the Ultimate Life Form.”
Shadow gets off and stands up. Upright, he offers you his hand to take. Begrudgingly, you accept the olive branch and allow him to help you up.
“That’s right,” he affirms, pressing a kiss to your hand. “So behave and I’ll make us dinner. I’ll even make your favorite if you’re extra nice.”
Both of you damn know well this won’t be the last time. A mental note to beat some sense into that blue hedgehog is also pinned.
488 notes
·
View notes
Note
Hi! Can I please request a poly!Marauders x reader where the reader has a secret admirer? The reader is receiving anonymous gifts and letters, making the boys anxious and jealous. If not, it's okay! Thank you, author-san!
omg i love this! thank you so much, baby, hope this is okay! gn!reader x poly!marauders
cw: jealousy and possessiveness, borderline harassment and stalking, hickey
1.1k words
You groaned loudly when you opened the front door only to be greeted by yet another bouquet of flowers. You begrudgingly brought the arrangement into the house, setting it on the countertop.
"Again? That’s like the third this week, and it’s only Wednesday." Sirius said, exasperated and (almost) as annoyed as you.
"Fifth, actually." You hated that you were complaining, you knew you were technically very lucky to receive all these gifts, it was just distressing. And to be frank, getting very old.
"Christ, this person is thirsty." Sirius’ voice was strained, clearly more anxious than he was wanting to let on.
"At least it seems they don’t have much of a chance, anyone worth their salt knows that you hate roses, angel." James said, between mouthfuls of his sandwich.
"I know," You cringed. "Who should I give these to this time? Lily has enough flowers to open a shop" You rolled your eyes. "Speaking of," You reached into your work bag and pulled out two boxes. "There were chocolates at my work when I got there yesterday, and a pair of earrings on monday." You walked over to where Remus and Sirius were cuddled on the couch.
“Geez, dove. Are we gonna have to step up our game?” Remus said, voice tinged with jealousy.
"No, this person needs to step down. Or at least give me a return address or something. All the notes say is ‘from someone who appreciates you, xx.’ It’s actually kind of distressing." You handed the smaller box of earrings to Sirius, "Are these your style, honey?"
"What? You don’t want them?" He sounded surprised. Of course you didn’t! Why would you need presents from a random person when you have three boys who give you all the love you could ever need? (and in the way you like it)
"No, I would feel weird wearing them." You cringed, handing the larger box to Remus. "You can have these, I don’t even like cherry chocolate." Remus took the box like it was filled with poison, a disgusted tilt to his lips, just as Sirius dramatically dropped the jewelry box onto the coffee table.
"I don’t know whose grubby paws have been on this box." He sneered. You rolled your eyes at his dramatics, looking over to James who was still in the kitchen. He had set his sandwich down and was looking like a kicked puppy. It made your heart crack.
"Jamie, what’s wrong baby? Come here." You beckoned him over. He rushed to your side, placing his hand protectively on your shoulder and gripping you tight. You looked at your other two boyfriends, Remus’ jaw was clenched tight and Srius was still looking at the box and scowling.
"I jus’ don’t like it." James said from your side, his voice was small like a child's.
"Wait, hold on," You said, "Are you all actually worried about this?"
"Define ‘worried’ lovely," Remus said, his voice an awful mix of venomous and depressed. “I don’t think any of us like knowing there’s someone out there fighting for your affections.” His eyes had an angry glint to them.
“Guys,” You said, your heart only breaking further. “You have nothing to be worried about, okay?” James’ grip tightened on you. “There is absolutely no competition here, I’m not even giving these the time of day. I don’t want anything to do with the gifts or the person sending them.”
“But you would if we weren’t in the picture.” Sirius said quietly, all too insecure for your liking. You wormed your way out of James’ grasp, resulting in a whine being pulled from his throat, to crouch in front of Sirius. You grabbed his pretty face in your hands, looking into his sad eyes.
“No, I wouldn’t. I’m not impressed by these gifts.” You took a deep breath, not wanting to confess the next part and worry your boyfriends worse. “They actually kind of scare me.” You admitted, making all their eyes snap to you.
“Scared? Of what, darlin’?” James piped up.
“I just,” You cringed. “I don’t like knowing that there is someone this obsessed with me and I don’t know who they are. And that they know where I live and where I work. I mean, who knows how much they know?”
“Well now I feel like an arse.” Sirius grabbed you from the floor and hauled you onto the couch with him and Remus, wrapping himself tightly around you. “Here I was thinking this person was gonna get you away from us, not knowing they were worrying you.”
“You’re not, I promise!” You reassured. “Honestly, if there was someone doing all this for you three I would be really jealous too.” You placed a hand on two of your boyfriends’ thighs, looking over at James, who was still sulking, now sitting on the coffee table in front of you. “But I can assure you, even if I found out who this person was, they, and no one else, would be able to take me from you three. You aren’t getting rid of me that easy. Besides, I don’t like stalkers.” You joked.
Remus pulled you closer to him, gentle but still much more aggressive than usual. Your other two boyfriends had settled, but he was still heated.
“Remmy,” You turned to face him. “I promise, you have nothing to worry about.”
“I know,” He grunted, burying his face into your neck. You wanted to shrink at the ticklish feeling but you allowed him to stay there, knowing he needed it. Remus had a jealous streak, perhaps the most of all your boyfriends. James and Sirius were more subtle in their protectiveness, but Remus started marking you all like a wolf anytime someone let their gaze linger too long. You buried your fingers in his hair and scratched his scalp, trying to relax him.
“As soon as I find out who this is I will get them to stop, I promise.” You said vehemently. You looked guiltily at all your boyfriends, “I’m sorry this is happening, it isn’t fair to you all.”
“It’s not your fault, dolly.” Sirius placed his hand on your back. “You don’t have anything to be sorry for, you aren’t asking for this.” You were about to hug him, but Remus held fast around your waist, you started to protest, but you felt Remus’ lips latch to a spot on your neck, nibbling and sucking hard enough to sting, but not hurt. The sound you let out was half giggle and half moan.
“Christ, Moons!” James barked, “You trying to brand them or something?” The three of you started giggling like children. Remus released your skin from his teeth, observing the red and purple splotch that was left in his wake.
“Gotta make sure they know what’s mine.” He said, possessively. “Don’t worry," His eyes glinted furiously at your two other boyfriends, "you two are next.”
#poly!marauders x you#poly!marauders#poly!marauders fluff#poly!marauders imagine#poly!marauders x reader#marauders#marauders fanfiction#drabble#fluff#marauders fandom#james potter x reader#marauders era#james potter#remus lupin#sirius black x reader#sirius black one shot#sirius black#jealousy#lily’s asks#anon ask#anon request
2K notes
·
View notes
Note
Hey I just read your post about disability in fiction and I was wondering if I could make a request in which viktor needing a breather , which ends up with him and reader falling asleep and forgetting about the deed ?
Absolutely all good if you don't wanna write this,just thought I might pop it In your asks anyway
Btw I love your writing!!! 😊
Hey Anon! So, as I mentioned before, an exact opposite of this situation happens in the last chapter of The Game of Teaching Body. And here we explore what would happen if the deed was forgotten.
Mendings, Minor and Major
viktorxgn!reader mature! with a splash of angst and fluff
word count: 1,4K
—
You swallow a drop of sweat, rolling from Viktor’s nose onto your lips, every bit of moisture welcome as your body gradually gets dehydrated under his. You hear a faint groan, his arms flex around you as he quickly hides his face in the crook of your neck, his rhythm uneven, stuttering, and you soon begin to recognise the groans as ones of pain, instead of pleasure.
You prop his head up, your eyes questioning, but he refuses to look at you. “Viktor? Do you need to stop?” Your grip slips past his cheeks, both your hands and his face wet, as he drops his forehead to your chest and rasps, “No.” His fingers close around your wrists to stop you from touching him this way.
Silence, for a moment, then he adds, “No, I just need… a moment.” He resumes, and a minuscule change in his angle makes you moan and press your thigh against his hip, squeezing a startled hiss out of him. Another pause occurs.
“Viktor—” you breathe, cradling his shoulders and running your hand down his spine. He shudders, and you can feel him shaking his head in the crook of your neck. “No, it’s fine. I am fine. Just… wait for a moment,” he pleads, and you sigh, squeezing your eyes shut.
“Viktor, it’s okay,” you try to soothe him, running your fingers through his hair. “Please, let’s stop?” This time, it’s you making a plea, and you can feel Viktor’s face contorting against your skin. He lets out a quiet snarl and disconnects from you, a sad squelching sound echoing between your breaths. You can feel him already softening, but before you can see, he rolls off you and turns with his back to you, curling up.
“Hey,” you say quietly, placing tentative palms on his shoulders, but he winces away and shifts further toward the edge of the bed, as if your touch somehow burned. Your first instinct is to turn around yourself and just let it go, swallowing down the tears welling in the corners of your eyes. You gulp for breath and get up instead.
Footsteps quiet and careful, as you circle the bed to crouch by his side. Viktor’s eyes are squeezed shut, his face annoyed when you place another tentative touch on his shoulder.
“Please, just go to sleep,” he says weakly, plucking your hand off him. Hearing no movement, his eyes open and fix on the space between you and the mattress. “I am fine. Let’s just go to sleep,” he repeats with less impatience this time.
You shake your head while saying quietly, “No. Not like this.” Your own insecurity creeping in as you weigh the options in your head. Have you done the right thing?
“Please, not like this,” you plead again, cupping his cheek, and his face immediately looks pained.
“What do you want?” he sighs, exasperated. Regrets it in an instant as you give him an involuntary wounded look. He moves backward to let you into his side of the bed, and you crawl in wordlessly.
You don’t have to ask where it hurts. Your body clings to him, your hand beckoning his leg to hook over your hip, and when he hesitates, you beg, “Please, lean on me.” He’s already cooled down, his arms limp as you try to drape them around you. “Am I so awful that you don’t even want to cuddle me?”
“No, I just… I don’t need the pity,” he says quietly, looking down, somewhere between your collarbones. He winces at this admission and feels your stare burning into him.
“Viktor, I do not pity you,” you state firmly. “In fact, I’m a bit cross with you.” Very carefully, you sneak in the quiet truth that has been stirring somewhere in your thoughts.
He sucks in a breath, his brows furrowing, before his expression softens. “And why, pray tell, are you a bit cross with me?” he asks, his tone less hostile. A window is opening. Cracking, only ajar, but you sneak your fingers in, against better judgment.
“You still pretend with me. No matter how long we are at this, there comes a point at which you slip back into pretending,” you mutter into his neck, quietly, as if not backing your own words up. Your fingers twitch on his chest, and he shifts, clearing his throat.
“Are you calling me an impostor?” he probes, the edge in his voice faint. Analytical brain overrides his lizard one, and Viktor holds his breath, waiting for your elaboration.
“No, I am calling you reckless. And for no higher reason, since you don’t have to be—not with me,” you huff, not realising what you are being pulled into.
“Here, I would argue, as it was being reckless that brought me to you,” he says quietly, his fingers curling into your hair. His words tumble in your head, and you frown.
“And what do you mean now?” You can feel your heart fluttering dangerously in your chest, as your voice rises into a hiccup.
“Falling in love is reckless, at least in my condition. It leads to... injuries,” he murmurs, his voice heavy with a quiet sorrow.
“Viktor, falling in love is always reckless and potentially always leads to injuries, no matter the condition,” you counter softly, brushing your thumb over his collarbone.
“Yes, but certain injuries are possible to mend, whilst mine are not,” he says, his voice strained. “If anything, they will get more severe with time, causing you injuries of your own in the process. And every time this—” he pauses, gesturing vaguely toward his leg, “happens, I get reminded of it.”
You take a steadying breath, your hand moving to his chest. “And they will be mendable. And you will help me mend them. As for yours,” you say carefully, pressing your palm over his heart, “we will mend as much as possible. A lot of minor mendings.”
Viktor chews on the inside of his cheek, searching for anything to say. He blinks a couple of times and doesn’t move, just stares at you blankly. Then, he allows his body to do the talking—his leg nestles deeper into the dip of your waist, and his arms pull you closer as he releases a breath and rests his forehead against yours. “Alright,” he surrenders, leaving the revelation of what you have just mended to himself.
The window now open enough to squeeze your head in, and you take it, nuzzling your nose against his. You hum, as your lips ghost over his and just stay there, touching. You can feel his eyelashes tickling your cheek and his breath mingling with yours.
His body relaxes into your touch, and he can feel his breath traveling from his chest down to his belly. It rises against yours when yours retreats into exhales. Your hand kneads at his hip gently, and he hums, pressing his face further into your cheek.
He kisses you slowly, his tongue lazily dragging on the inside of your mouth, a quiet sigh slipping from between his lips. Each movement unhurried, gentle, as it carries no expectation, only acceptance.
You thread your fingers through his hair, your nails grazing lightly against his scalp, earning another soft hum from him. His better leg shifts, tangling further with yours, until you can’t tell where one of you ends and the other begins.
The kiss grows lazier still, breaths blending together as his lips linger on yours, moving so little, almost unmoving. His hand trails down your back, coming to rest at the small of it, anchoring his imperfections between yours. Warm and welcoming, you keep him close, palms sagging as you trace his features, eventually falling tangled on his chest.
You murmur against his lips, half a word, half a sigh, as your eyes flutter closed. Viktor lets out a low chuckle, muffled by your mouth, and then his lips still against yours, though neither of you pulls away. Slowly, the space between waking and dreaming blurs, your bodies softening into each other. His arm still drapes over you, his head dipping forward just enough that your noses brush. Your lips remain touching, warm and gentle, as sleep finally overtakes you both, leaving you tangled together, mouths faintly pressed, in the quiet comfort of something small being mended.
#viktor arcane#viktor x reader#viktor fanfic#viktor x f!reader#arcane#arcane fanfic#my writing#ao3#ao3 fanfic#viktor x oc#viktor nation#request#viktor x gn!reader#viktor fluff#viktor x reader fluff#disability inclusion
166 notes
·
View notes
Text
Tornado Shelter
Summary: Tyler Owens x Fe!Reader -> Whilst you're staying at a motel, you meet Tyler Owens. His work just so happens to chase him.
Disclaimer: Descriptions of damage from a tornado, reader is mentioned to be a teacher though it is not fully specified which subjects. Mostly fluff. Happy ending. Not Proof Read.
Thunderstorm warnings had been coming in all week. There was gonna be another storm. Plenty of thunder, plenty of lightning, plenty of rain.
A couple people in town had been stocking up on supplies in case it turned into something that wasn’t just twenty four hours of heavy rain, with a couple minutes of thunder here and there.
Tyler and his team had stocked up, too. Both for themselves and for those who couldn’t get to a store in time.
But it was when he was sitting at the top of his truck, checking things over, when he saw you.
A little kid had come running out of his room, calling your name at the top of his lungs. Before he could even reach your door, you had flung it open in a panic and came out.
“Buddy, hey,”
His arms immediately came around your legs and he closed his eyes, tight. Practically peeling him away from you so you could crouch down, you looked at him.
“Hey, what’s wrong? Where’s your brother?”
The kid still didn’t open his eyes, hugging you again. “He went to pick up some food. He said he’d be back but I’m scared. I’m really scared.”
“Why, Buddy?”
The kid moved away for a moment and Tyler watched as you gently wiped away his tears.
“It’s the thunder.”
Tyler watched you relax a little with a relieved soft, yet sad, smile on your face. “Oh, honey.”
“They keep saying it’s going to be loud and big. The lady said it keeps growing. What if it gets to us? What if it gets to mommy before she can get back here?”
You shook your head and wiped more tears away from his face. “Buddy, it’s going to be okay. First of all, your mom is safe. She’s with your sister. She’s lived a lot longer than you, and a little longer than me. She’s seen lots of thunderstorms.”
“So she knows?”
You nodded. “She knows what to do. And you know what? Thunder can be loud but have you ever tried the counting game?”
He sniffled and shook his head. So, with a smile you explained. “We’ll do it by miles, okay. So, if we see lightning, which is like a big flash in the sky, we count the seconds until we hear thunder. So, say there is lightning now…”
You looked around for your phone but realised you’d left it in your room. But, you found there was no need. Because from over the stairs of the balcony, someone flashed a torch on and off.
For a moment, you were confused. Until you realised who it was. You’d seen him around the motel a couple of times with his team. From what one of his friends told you, they were YouTube famous.
You smiled and nodded a thank you. He returned the smile and the nod.
You looked back at the kid. “There is lightning. So, we count.”
He counted with you to ten. And just as you were about to make a thunder sound, the Lightning Guy drum rolled some tools on the top of his truck.
“Now, that was ten. To know how far away the storm is, we divide by 5. Do you know how to do that?”
He shook his head. “It’s how many 5’s you can fit into your number so…”
You counted your fingers out for one set of fives, and then another. “So, that’s two miles. And the bigger that number gets, the further away it is. I promise you, buddy, everything is going to be okay. And they can be loud and a little scary, but you’re safe.”
He seemed calmer now. “Do you promise?”
You nodded firmly. “I promise.”
“Okay.”
You hugged him again with a big bear hug until he was laughing again. It wasn’t long before his brother returned, armed with pizza and soda for them both.
“Come on, mom’ll be back soon.”
The boy smiled. “Okay. Thank you, Y/n.”
“Anytime, buddy.”
You waited until the door closed on their end before making a move to go back to your room. But then you remembered.
“Hey,”
Tyler looked up at you from his spot on his truck.
“Hey.”
He was cute. Handsome.
“I just- Thank you for the sound effects. I think it really helped him.”
Tyler smiled at you. “Happy to be of assistance. But, have to say. I don’t think it was my sound effects that helped. You’re really good with him. Is he your nephew or-”
You shook your head. “Oh, no. We…I actually met them about a week ago. Well, the kids. I know their mom from back home. It was just a coincidence we met here.”
“Why are you here? If you don’t mind me asking.”
You shrugged. “There’s a conference in town over. I couldn’t get a room there, so I’m here for the time being. What about you? Something tells me you don’t carry all this gear for the hell of it.”
Tyler smiled up at you. “No, uh, we…we’re Tornado Wranglers.”
You raised your eyebrows a little in surprise. “Tornado Wranglers?”
“Yeah,” Tyler could feel himself going a little red. Not at the embarrassment of the name but from how your smile was making his stomach do flips. So he looked away for a moment, trying his best to calm himself. “Basically we chase Tornados, gather data, and other science-y stuff. But we also take requests.”
“Requests?”
He shrugged, “Yeah. Like, can you shoot a firework up a Tornado?”
“Can you?”
He nodded, if a little proudly. “You can.”
“And you do this…how?”
“By driving into the Tornado.”
You were shocked. “Into the tornado?”
He nodded again. “Into the tornado.”
“I kinda figured anyone who did that would…well…”
“End up dead? Yeah. But, we’re safe about it. We have harnesses inside. I’ve modified the truck to withstand a Tornado.”
You looked a little further over the balcony edge. “So that’s what the drills are for.”
Tyler confirmed your statement. “It keeps the truck and us in place as the Tornado goes through us.”
“Wow.” You clasped your hands together but that was when you finally saw your watch in the light. “Oh crap.”
“Is everything okay?”
“What? Oh, yeah. It’s just…I better get to bed. I’ve got to get up at 5 tomorrow. I’ve got a meeting at 7.”
“Little early for a meeting, don’t you think?”
You groaned. “You’re telling me. Trust me, none of us are happy about it. But it’s the only time we can get the biggest room to fit everyone inside. I better,” you hitched your thumb over your shoulder.
“Yeah, I’ll let you go.”
“It was nice to meet you…”
“Tyler.”
You smiled. “Tyler.”
“Goodnight…” Tyler searched for your name even though he already knew it.
“Y/n.”
He smiled back. “Y/n.”
“Goodnight.”
Once Tyler had heard your door close, he took a moment to remember everything that had just happened. There was a chance he’d never see you again, especially since he and his crew were just passing through town til they could find their next chase. But he hoped he would.
Hours later, you were fast asleep, having drifted off replaying the conversation you had with Tyler over and over again in your head.
His voice. His smile. His eyes.
Except, your alarm went off.
Groaning, you placed your arm out and eventually found it in the dark. You pressed the home button.
The alarm didn’t stop.
Flipping it around, the light hurt your eyes. But you read the time.
It was nowhere near five am.
Then the lights from outside got brighter. And in the space of thirty seconds, you realised what was going on, grabbed your jacket, swapped your bed shorts for actual shorts, pulled on your shoes and flung open the door.
Everyone in the motel was exiting their rooms, most still in their pyjamas. But at the bottom, the Tornado Wranglers were running around doing…something.
Then you heard Tyler and the Motel owner.
“Everybody, follow me! We have a shelter round the back!”
“Hey!” Tyler was louder. “Everybody follow Finley! They’ll take you to the shelter!”
Then Tyler ran towards the stairs, taking two at a time and started banging on room doors. And you did the same.
People started running in the direction of the shelter, and following the last of the people, you rushed down the stairs before hearing Tyler call your name.
The wind was really starting to pick up.
“I think that’s everyone!”
“Come on! We don’t have much time!”
Taking your hand in his, you both bolted towards the storm shelter. His team visibly and verbally relaxed once they saw him and ran towards him whilst you heard a small voice shout for you and you found your neighbours towards the back of the shelter.
“Are you okay?” Hallie, their mom, asked you.
You nodded, out of breath. “I’m fine. Is everyone here?”
“Everyone’s here. Everyone’s okay.”
“Good. Tyler?”
You made your way back to him. “Did you know this was-”
“No.” Him and his team were baffled. “We didn’t. There were no reports.”
“Well, you did have a feeling.” Lily, the girl you’d met a few days ago in the main entrance of the motel, said.
“Feeling?”
“Oh, yeah, he has like this sixth sense for Tornados.”
Tyler shook his head. “I had a feeling but I checked every report. This was meant to be a…loud thunderstorm with heavy hail in places. Not a tornado.”
“So, what do we do?”
“Just…got to wait it out. Hope people get to a shelter in time.”
Everything outside just grew louder.
“It’s nearly on top of us.”
The lights inside the shelter cut out and people screamed. By the time the owner had pressed all of the emergency lights on, everyone was low on the ground, holding onto some piece of the shelter, or each other, for dear life.
“Y/n!”
You managed to crouch in time before the familiar pair of arms secured themselves around your legs.
“It’s okay. Hallie, I’ve got him.”
She looked at you and nodded.
“Hey, buddy. Stay close, okay.” He nodded and hugged himself back into you and you secured your arms around his little body. He was shaking.
“It’s going to be okay, buddy.”
“I’m really scared.”
“I know you are. But I promise, we’re safe here.”
He just nodded into your shoulder. The tornado was fully on top of everyone now and almost instantly, you felt a pair of strong arms wrap across your back and your front as you hid the kid’s head in your shoulder.
“It’ll pass over us.” Tyler’s voice said by your ear. “It’s going to be okay.”
Keeping your arm across the boy’s back, your head reached out and found Tyler’s. And you both held on. Tight.
You didn’t know how long had passed, but eventually the noise became…less. But a storm quickly followed it.
“It’s safer if we stay down here for now. Until the storm passes at least.”
You nodded and everyone got more comfortable. The other Wranglers made their way around everyone, asking if people were okay or needed help. Tyler stayed with you and Buddy.
Buddy was slowly relaxing in your arms, the constant brushing of his hair with your fingers sending him to sleep as you softly rocked him.
“How do these things even happen?”
Tyler took a deep breath and…took the time to explain. Everything. From the air pressure, the building of the funnel, the speeds it can get up to and…how they’re measured.
“But they’re not measured on any of that. They’re measured on damage. How much it can destroy.”
“And you do this for a living? Doesn’t it scare you?”
Tyler was honest. “Sometimes. But, you don’t just face your fears. You ride them.”
You couldn’t help but smile. Somehow, in all of the fear and worry and panic of uncertainty…Tyler made you smile.
“You should put that on a t-shirt.”
Tyler let out a small laugh. “Yeah, maybe.”
“But it is a good outlook to have.” You said. “But you said sometimes. So what scares you?”
Tyler looked around. “This. I do it for a living. I drive into tornadoes. But everyone, other than my team? They don’t. It scares me for them. Most people here have families, jobs, and lives. Things that exist outside of tornado weather. They don’t sign up for this. But…that’s kinda why we do it. By gathering the data, we can help predict weather patterns and give early warnings to towns and people before everything is destroyed.”
You were in awe of him.
Not only handsome, brave, and smart. But kind, caring and sensitive.
There weren't many men you’d met in your life who were like that. Come to think of it, no man was like Tyler.
There was just…something about him.
You didn’t know how long had passed after things fell into a comfortable silence between you and Tyler. You just knew you fell asleep because you woke up to Tyler shaking you gently.
Your head was on his shoulder.
“Hey, I think the storm’s passed.”
You lifted yourself from the warmth of his shoulder. “Okay.”
You looked down to find Buddy still fast asleep in your arms, before looking over to see Hallie taking a nap against the wall in the corner whilst her children remained on her.
Looking over, you watched Tyler get up and walk towards the doors with Lily and Boone. It took some pushing, but the door finally opened and the light of the day flooded in. You could already smell the last wave of rain in the air.
Everyone else who had fallen asleep during the storm had woken up and made their way outside with the others. Buddy’s brother came over to you and lifted his brother from you to let you finally stand.
“It’s okay, I’ve got him.”
You nodded with a smile and placed one final kiss on the back of his head before picking your jacket back up from the floor and putting it on.
Outside, you saw the damage.
Sections of the roof on the motel had been torn off, as well as a section of the wall on the very end. Plenty of debris was scattered around the place. Most cars had been spun in different directions and places. A couple of trees had been uprooted and dropped away from their home in the ground. The glass from the motel door had been shattered so the contents inside had either been picked up inside the wind or simply thrown around the office with the desk. A couple of windows were broken on some of the rooms and a couple of doors had been busted open or simply torn from its hinges and landed broken a couple of feet away from the shelter.
Eventually an ambulance or two found its way to the motel grounds and started checking people over in case they’d been caught in the tornado or storm but mostly everyone was okay. Physically, at least.
The next couple of hours were spent cleaning up the place and handing out water and other supplies before the Wrangler’s split up to head into town.
“Can I come with you? I want to help.”
Tyler looked you over. “Are you sure you’re okay-”
“Tyler, I’m fine. There’s nothing I can do here, anyway.”
With a nod, he opened up the passenger door and let you in.
“Aww, come on, man.”
“Guests ride shotgun.” Tyler smirked.
Twenty minutes later, Tyler pulled into a smaller suburban area. From a motel closer to them, there had been a couple of injuries sustained, so you helped.
Lifting wooden panels, finding cats and dogs, calming down scared children who couldn’t find their parents. Handing out food, water and t-shirts. Directing people towards the first aid tents that had been set up just a little further down the road.
By the time the sun was starting to set, everyone made their way back to the motel. The minute you stepped out of the truck, Tyler met you on your side. Both of you took in the view. Most things had been cleaned up. Some people had packed up and headed home. Hallie was in the middle of doing so when Buddy called your name and ran over.
“We’re gonna head back home. With his sister’s games being cancelled and just…everything.”
“No, it’s okay. I get it. Do you need some help?”
Hallie shook her head. “It’s just one more bag and bathroom break before we hit the road. But please. Please call me. And you should come and visit us back home.”
“I’d like that.” You smiled.
Hallie hugged you tightly before hugging Tyler, which took him a little by surprise.
“My son hasn’t stopped talking about you since you left. He just thinks you’re the coolest person in the world right now. My eldest, he found a video of yours for him to watch after you guys left. How you explained, literally, everything that happened…just…thank you. It really helped him.”
Tyler shrugged a little. “You don’t have to thank me. It’s why we make the videos and do what we do.”
Hallie let out a small laugh. “I’ll never know how you do it, running into tornados and things but, thank you anyway. And thank you, Y/n. He told me about the counting game for storms. You’ve both helped him so much. Just…thank you.”
Ten minutes later, you were waving Hallie and her kids goodbye as she turned away from the motel and headed for the highway.
By the time the sun had set, the only people left were either making arrangements for going home as soon as they could or were sitting with the rest of the Wranglers with crappy coffee and pizza.
“So, was that your first tornado?”
You shook your head. “No, we’ve had a couple back home. Just…never been that instant. Hell, I thought the siren was my alarm going off.”
After a couple hours of chatting, most people headed out or to bed. Until it was just you and Tyler.
“How are you? After today?”
You thought about it for a moment. “Tired. Also, I’m sorry I fell asleep on you, back in the shelter.”
Tyler shook his head. “That’s okay. If I’m being honest, I fell asleep, too.”
You let a short silence wash over both of you for a moment as you tried your best to commit him to memory. The way he spoke, the way he smiled. The way he looked at you.
“So where will you go next?”
“Dexter and Lily have a couple places picked out for us, so we’ll pick one in the morning and head there. What about you?”
“Home,” you answered. “There’s work still waiting for me there.”
“What is it that you do, exactly?”
“I’m a teacher.”
“What’d you teach?”
“A couple of different classes.” You went on to explain to him what you taught and gave a couple of stories about your classes in the meantime.
And by the time morning rolled around, he asked for your number.
And when Fall Semester rolled around, you were greeted outside your building by your own Cowboy Hat wearing, Tornado Wrangler; who stood by the passenger door of his truck, his gaze fixed on you as he watched you go from concentrating on the papers in your hands to searching and finding him waiting for you.
“What are you doing here?”
“Thought I’d surprise you.”
Quickly, you kissed him before looking him over. Even if you knew he was safe and he called you after every Tornado he drove into (even if you’d been watching his live stream) you still wanted to make sure he was okay.
“And I thought we could grab some dinner on the way back.”
“I’d love that.”
Opening your door for you, he closed it. But before he walked away, he kissed you once more through the window.
#tyler owens#tyler owens x reader#tyler owens x you#tyler owens fanfiction#twisters#glen powell#twisters 2024#Tyler and Kate and still my otp#I just really wanted to write something for him#cowboys#tornando wrangler#tornado wranglers#twister#tyler owens x fe!reader#fluff#falling in love
310 notes
·
View notes
Note
hi hi hiii !!
idk if you're still doing requests for Arcane, but if you are, I'd love to see Ekko, Victor, Jinx (and any other characters of your choice) with an s/o that's really good with with kids? maybe they could be a teacher/ mentor or babysitter but just very much loving caregiver vibes for any and all kids they come across
Caitlyn
She loves seeing you with kids, in your element.
She thinks it’s cute to see the way kids hang onto your every word and the way you teach them without them even noticing.
She will pop in on you with kids carrying toys and games.
She does enjoy kids company as well and they do like her but maybe mostly because she’s an enforcer and she brings them toys.
Sometimes she’ll find herself watching you with a kid (especially if that kid looks like either one of you) and daydreaming about somewhere in the distant future where you two would have one of you own.
Ekko
He’s not the best with kids himself. He’s not bad by any means but he can find himself often freezing up and unsure what to do.
This caused him to find it fascinating how good you are with them when he finds himself floundering.
When the Firelights have to go on missions often times the ones who have kids will leave them with you.
Upon arriving back, he will spend a minute just watching you doting on the kids.
He is just so enraptured in everything you do and that includes your ability to form relationships with kids.
Jinx
There aren’t many kids in the areas Jinx grew up. Not too many parents are gonna bring their kids into what is now essentially a club.
The first time she saw you with a kid was one of the times you went outside together. She had stepped away from the kid crying on the street, her hand instinctively on her gun, and she got itchy when she saw you approach.
She didn’t say anything she just watched as you crouched down to the kid’s level and started calming them down.
Slowly but surely her hand on her gun went slack and she just watched you enthralled.
When you offered to walk the kid back home and they agreed and you started leading them to her, she just looked at them wide eyed as she cocked her head, her braids pooling on the ground as a result, and waved her hand.
The kid hid behind your leg but you reached out and grabbed her hand and slowly the kid got more comfortable around Jinx on the way to their house.
Later that night Jinx was tracing the seam lines on your shirt and asked you what you thought about kids.
Silco
He would find it amusing how good you are with kids that aren’t his.
It’s almost like he indulges in watching you with them but in an almost smug way as he is with everything.
Seeing you be good with Jinx though changes everything. It completely knocks him off his guard.
Watching you play with her and make her smile makes him soft.
If you’re there when Jinx is having a mental health moment, she’ll cling to you and beg you to make it stop while you do your best to calm her down.
The emotions he feels is a combination of sadness, sympathy, and oddly pride in those moments.
For other kids, he couldn’t care less about how you interact with them but when it’s his, it means the world to him.
Viktor
He’s not good with kids himself. Those pivotal years of learning to make connections were stolen from him because of his inability to do things so many others could and kids having a habit of being cruel, especially in the lanes.
Seeing you with kids is something like a case study to him.
He finds it fascinating and seems to almost take notes on what you’re doing.
He would never engage for the longest time with any kids that were under your watch unless they directly asked him questions.
Then one day, he just did and they adored him, not as much as they adored you but it was a close thing.
They would like him for the fact that he refuses to talk to them like they’re idiots and indulged them in their endless curiosity.
You find a notebook later on filled with things that you did around the kids (even something as small as your tone of voice) that made you realize he was mimicking what you did in his own way.
#jinx arcane x reader#jinx arcane x you#jinx x you#jinx x reader#viktor arcane x reader#viktor x reader#viktor x you#Viktor arcane x you#caitlyn kiramman x you#caitlyn x you#caitlyn x reader#caitlyn kiramman x reader#ekko x you#ekko arcane x reader#Ekko arcane x you#ekko x reader#Silco arcane x you#silco x you#silco x reader#silco arcane x reader
2K notes
·
View notes
Note
Platonic Boothill with a male reader who is like Arlecchino from genshin impact
Male reader is Boothill's long lost brother
The Water is Fine
Boothill | M. Reader as Arlecchino [Genshin Impact] (Platonic)
----------
"Blood runs thicker than water.."
----------
The children gather in one room as they hear their mother's story. They all look at her in awe, she had told them the story multiple times, but it never gets old. Their mother's story was always wonderful. Once she finished her gaze scanned the children before furrowing her eyebrows. "Where's [Name]? Didn't he want to hear the story?"
"'Scuse me, mother! He's doing a funeral for his spider!" One of the children raised her hand, answering her question. She lets out a sigh at the child's words, her expression showing her concerns. "That child... maybe his curse is flaring up again."
Meanwhile, [Name] crouch down in front of the makeshift grave he had for his beloved spider. How sad.. he looks at it with a blank expression until suddenly someone put a hand around his shoulders. "Hey, [Name]! I bought us cake!!" The other claimed, grinning from ear to ear. In his hand was a box filled with two slices of cake. It looks delicious. "You must know spiders don't eat cake.." "Of course I know that!"
The days spend in the orphanage were always nice, peaceful, quiet. One of the siblings favorite activities were playing tag in the garden. The trees makes great terrain for free running and parkour. Always trying to one up the other. The younger was always full of energy, seemingly excited to explore the world, while the elder was reserved, cold, maybe even cruel but he will have a soft spot for the younger.
Stealing cake from the kitchen, picking fruits straight from the tree, playing tag. Life is.. simple.. fun. The world felt so big..
"Look!" He pointed at the shooting star from their window. His eyes seems to sparkle with joy, his gaze never leaving the starry skies. "One day, we're gonna explore the universe! Travel through the stars! Just you and me!" He says happily, hugging his older brother's arm, the two gaze upon the stars with hopes and dreams. What a beautiful sight.. the sky looks so mesmerizing. The world felt so vast and filled with the unknown. "The two of us could be like Rangers through the vast space! Exploring the universe and upholding justice!"
The elder can't help but smile at the other's words. It's sweet. The though is certainly wonderful. To explore the stars with his younger brother. That truly sounded like a dream. "Yeah, we could do that." "And we could find something for your curse too! Oh just imagine what we could find!"
A child's dream..
..is always so sweet..
So... sickly... sweet..
----------
"Run! And don't you dare look back!"
"But--!"
"GO!"
He ran.. he ran as fast as his legs could carry him.
He run and run.
Like the gingerbread man...
Why...
Why are they fighting..? And for what..? For the title "King"? What is that for? It's just a title. But it seems it means more than that... with his older brother's words. He run.. run as fast as he could. He's fighting isn't he? He's fighting the others isn't he? Why.. why must this be their reality..
He doesn't know what to do.. he wanted to stay with him. But he can't.. his brother told him to run and to never look back.. it's like a game of tag isn't it? Run as fast as you can.. and try not to get caught.. it's just a game.. a simple game... and yet.. and yet...
----------
"The Knave.. may I know why you're at Penacony?"
"I heard Aventurine had caused quite the trouble.. so I'm here to make this up with the Family. Though it could officially be considered a diplomatic conference, I prefer to see our meeting today as an ordinary tea party. I assume you see it the same way, Mister Sunday?"
"Right, of course. It is an honor to have you here.. Mister Knave.."
"Please.. call me, Arlecchino."
.
.
.
.
.
"What in the cosmos are these kids doing here?" The question come out as harsh, his accents sounded thick as he dodge an attack from one of them. Those three children.. fighting for what? Father was it..? That's who they're fighting for? What a load of Wubbabbo.
"Careful now.. you can't reason with an outlaw.."
"..Father..?"
A man steps out of the room, his gaze is cold, carrying himself in an elegant way that just screams absolute authority. Their gaze locked on each other for what felt like an eternity, a sense of recognition wash over them, until finally..
"You.. why are you with them?"
"Why? I thought you already know.. leave Penacony. The dreamscape is not meant for outlaws like you.."
Gritting his teeth, the other look at the man with betrayal in his eyes. How could he.. how could he side with the enemy? After what they've done... how could he just.. he could shoot him.. he could shoot him now.. he could kill him now.. and yet.. he can't... he can't just..
Even if he sided with the enemy.. he's still.. they're still..
"Come you three, our work is finish."
'Yes, Father."
The days spend in the orphanage were always nice, peaceful, quiet. Stealing cake from the kitchen, picking fruits straight from the tree, playing tag. Life is.. simple.. fun. The world felt so big..
The House of the Hearth...
.....that was their home...
..until it wasn't...
...it all happened at the same day...
where his older brother...
.....was crowned as "King."
...
Blood runs thicker than water...
..is that why it felt heavy when he saw his older brother walk away with three children by his side? One he had turned into soldiers for the House of the Hearth? For the IPC? Because ultimately....
They too once stand in those three children's positions.. soldiers.. unknowingly, that is..
And now... the "King" is continuing the cycle..
His own flesh and blood that he had looked up to.
#x male reader#x reader#honkai star rail#honkai star rail x reader#honkai star rail x male reader#hsr#hsr x reader#hsr x male reader#hsr boothill#boothill#boothill x reader#boothill x male reader#genshin impact#genshin arlecchino#arlecchino#platonic#house of the hearth#the knave
572 notes
·
View notes
Text
KIDS AND CARS
Toji Fushiguro
In which Toji who has been a father for six years is bested by his own girlfriend who has never been a mother. Fem! Reader
cw: none, im starting the ‘megumi being an expressive kid’ agenda 🫡
700ish words
Megumi was at that age where he rebelled against everything and anything Toji said or did. Frankly, it was starting to annoy Toji, he was starting to think his own son was trying to make his life a living hell on purpose
Then there was you who made it seem so effortless. Toji couldn’t comprehend why his six year old son only listened to his girlfriend
This particular day, Toji had an unimpressed look etched on his face as he folded his arms, leaning against the kitchen counter. He was clearly fed up
“You have to put your toys away Megumi, I keep stepping on them”, he tried to be somewhat nice, he really did. But the boy just flat out ignored him as if he was deaf or something, continuing to bash his toy cars against each other while mimicking explosion noises. He was sat comfortably on the living room carpet with not a care in the world
Toji felt like a vein was about to burst as his brow twitched involuntarily. “I’m talking to you brat”, he spoke sternly, his patience drawing thin
In Toji’s defence, the little boy’s cars were scattered absolutely everywhere, it was hard to walk by without stepping on one. Besides, he was only playing with three out of the millions of toy cars on the floor
“Don’t wanna”.
Toji itched his head and clenched his teeth. Since when did his little boy upgrade from a simple ‘no’ to a ‘don’t wanna’?
Without a doubt, out of all the opponents he had faced in his lifetime, Megumi had to be his biggest challenge yet
“Yeah well I don’t give a fu—”, before Toji could finish his sentence, a hand came over his mouth
“Be nice”, his beloved girlfriend had a frown on her face because of his vulgar language
Toji sighed, relaxing his facial muscles and unfolding his arms. “Yeah yeah”
The woman approached Megumi, crouching down beside him with two of his little toy boxes in her hands after overhearing the whole situation while she was tidying his room.
“Say Megs”, she started with the nickname he loved to hear. “I’m really bored right now, can you play a game with me?”, at the mention of a game, Megumi perked up, turning to face Y/n
“What game?”, he asked, curiosity evident in his big blue eyes
“Whoever can pick up the most cars and put them into these boxes in 30 seconds wins!”, she explained before feigning a sad expression. “Oh but I don’t think you’ll be able to beat me, I am a faster runner than you after all”
Megumi felt challenged. “Liar! I’m the fastest!”, he boasted proudly
She smirked. “We’ll see about that….3, 2, 1, go!”, and the both of them scrambled to pick up as many cars as they could from the ground
Toji watched in amazement how good she was with him without ever having any experience with kids. He definitely chose the right person to date
Later that evening, after Megumi was tucked into bed and the house was quiet (finally), Y/n got comfortable between Toji’s legs as he threw on a random movie.
“Thanks for earlier, I feel like Megumi has a secret vendetta against me at the moment”, he commented
She laughed. “Im sure he doesn’t, you just have to know how to approach him”, she leaned her head against his chest. “He really is a good kid”.
“Mhm”, he hummed against her neck as his head moved to rest on her shoulder, his arms slithering around her waist
“Makes me think we’d do alright with more, y’know?”, his hands moved under her shirt and massaged the flesh around her stomach
She couldn’t resist the smile that creeped onto her lips as she turned around in his arms. “Toji Fushiguro are you asking me to have your kids?”.
“Is that a yes?”.
Well, is it?
a/n: off topic but kinda wanna start writing for bleach now that im caught up with the newest season 🤭 (requests opened btw)
masterlist :)
#jjk toji#jujutsu kaisen x you#jujutsu kaisen fluff#jujutsu kaisen x yn#jujutsu kaisen x reader#jujutsu kaisen headcanons#jujutsu kaisen#jjk#jjk x y/n#jjk headcanons#jjk x reader#jjk x you#toji fluff#toji x y/n#toji x you#toji fushiguro#toji x reader#toji#jujustsu kaisen x reader#jjk fluff
280 notes
·
View notes
Text
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀“ DIE WITH A SMILE. ”⠀⠀───⠀⠀arcane.
⠀⠀𝖾𝗉𝗂𝗌𝗈𝖽𝖾 𝗍𝗁𝗋𝖾𝖾.⠀( the base violence necessary for change , 9.3k words. )⠀by dilemmars.
1.⠀⠀ PAIRING⠀⠀:⠀⠀violet x f!reader.
2.⠀⠀GENRES⠀⠀:⠀⠀based on the storyline and universe of arcane ( league of legends tv show )⠀; first love trope, started dating recently, stablished relationship, exes to lovers. basically you and vi were dating before the start of the story, then got separated.
3.⠀⠀WARNINGS⠀⠀:⠀⠀i will add the warnings that the tv show has: slight presence of sex and nudity, foul language, alcohol, drugs and tobacco. moderate scenes of fear and terror. high content of violence and gore. in this third chapter, there's a lot going on. mentions of death, injuries, prostitution, blood, fights, and a brief suicidal thought at the end. please do not read if you're uncomfortable with it.
4.⠀⠀AUTHOR 'S NOTE⠀⠀:⠀⠀third chapter out! i'm so sorry thta it took me another full day to post a new chapter. i haven't even watched act 3 yet because i lit have no time, but i managed to finish this. it is very sad. i'm sorry about that too. but next chapter will be slightly more relaxed, with less drama, i promise. happy sunday 🤍
5.⠀⠀IMPORTANT⠀⠀:⠀⠀this is a work of fiction. i do not own arcane or any content produced or owned bychristian linke, alex yee, riot games or netflix. all rights belong to netflix and the writers of arcane. all plot events and character developments that are not related to the main character's story belong to the writers and creators of the series.
It's hard to know what your last breath will be, but sometimes you can feel the moment lurking, like a shadow looming over you, icy and heavy. Crouched on that rooftop, the air had a strange edge to it, as if each breath cut inside. The mist rising from the streets scratched at your throat, but it wasn't just mist. It was the weight of the inevitable.
You paused, frowning, as the usual swaying of the wooden sign of Benzo's caused your gaze to wander towards the entrance of the shop. And before you could comprehend what was happening, the scream came as a jolt, tearing through the silence of the night. It was as if the sound pierced your skin, sinking into your flesh, clinging to your bones. The kind of scream you can't help but hear, a gasp ripped from a throat. A hopeless, desperate voice that forces you to imagine the pain behind it. One last breath, and a body slumped to the ground.
And then, you caught a glimpse of him. A blurred figure, moving with a ferocity that seemed unnatural, unloading a punch on another uniformed officer, the glare of his gaze utterly animalistic. You cowered over the edge of the building, struggling not to look away, and flinched at the brutality of the pounding. The Enforcers all looked the same, with the metal mask and the blue cap, but the creature that had attacked them was familiar. It seemed less human with every movement, a mass of disfigured flesh and purplish meandering veins, but the curve of its chin, the soft wave of its hair... you had been so close to its face that you had come to memorise it.
Deckard. You recognised the sharp turn of his movements, accentuated in that state. You had felt his violence in your own skin, you knew it. Altered into a violent beast, he still retained some of that cruel strength, no doubt hindered by the way his body had grown and deformed. You saw him ignore the authoritative warning of a third Enforcer, and approach her at superhuman speed. In the blink of an eye, the police collapsed at his feet, like a drunk by a tavern door. Her blood spilled down the wall of the tent, sloshing everywhere, and you followed it with your eyes as it slid between the stones, thick, after Deckard had torn her flesh to the bone.
The force of his attack hit you like a shot in your chest, and you clutched at the concrete beneath your hands as if you could somehow anchor yourself to the past. There was silence in the weathered street. You could only hear your ragged breathing, quickening under your skin, and Deckard's silent footsteps as he disappeared. Night had fallen on Zaun like a blanket on your bed, and you felt it on your shoulders, suffocating you. You looked down again, where the rickety bodies of the agents lay like broken dolls on the pavement, their stiff fingers still gripping their pistols, and you could faintly distinguish the movement of someone approaching them in the shadows.
Measuring his pace, as if calculating every step he took, a fourth Enforcer approached the bodies of the fallen agents, his service gun in his hand, and he hesitated. For a moment you wanted to say something to him, to warn him perhaps, that there was a beast loose in the darkness, tell him to run away while he could, but a movement in the dusk stopped you. He was not alone. Behind him, shoulder to shoulder at the entrance to the shop, two frozen figures watched the scene. You felt a knot in your chest as you recognised them: Vander and Benzo. Their stances looked sharp, like a taut bow about to shoot an arrow, ready to defend themselves if necessary.
You leaned forward, caught between the urge to descend and the helplessness of knowing you could do nothing from up there, but something stopped you. You saw something dancing in the fog, the soft walk of a distorted silhouette slowly approaching from the other side of the street. You tried to suppress the shiver that ran down your spine, a shiver that was not only cold, but that also contained more than just that, the fear locked in your ribcage, rising up to feel it pulsing in your throat.
And then, the glow of embers in the night: a kaleidoscope of shadows and flames, pierced by a scar, so different from its twin that they looked like the eyes of two different people. The face, sharp, pale, and an imperturbable pace, so sure of himself that the ground seemed to tremble beneath his feet.
‘Silco?’ Benzo, hesitant, confused at first, turned rabid as he brandished the old silver candlestick in the direction of the unknown man. ‘You animal,’ he said, coming closer, stumbling, ’go crawl back into whatever hole you came out of.’
You couldn't see the venomous smile that tugged at Silco's thin lips, but you did hear the desperate tone torn from Vander's throat as he raised his hands towards his friend, cuffed, useless, trying to prevent the inevitable, ‘Benzo, stay back!’
‘You never did know when to walk away,’ Silco's voice, velvety, echoed down the street, emptying the silence, and your heart stopped inside your chest as Benzo tried to pounce on him.
The motion was too fast for the human eye. One instant, Benzo had raged forward, steadfast, defying the impassive man of mist. The next, Deckard's raw strength had brought Benzo down in a bundle of violet swirls, the body of the one who had cared for you since you were a child lying lifeless on the ground. The creaking of his bones echoed wet and dry at the same time, like tree branches snapping under too much weight, the blood surging beneath his shoulders, as if fleeing from the veins it was ceasing to flow through.
From the rooftop, it all seemed painfully distant. You brought a trembling hand to your mouth, a scream dying in your throat, watching Deckard keep his hand on Benzo's neck. His crooked fingers seemed to tingle from feeling the violence of death again, waiting, hovering over Benzo to check that he was gone, and you heard Vander's torn whimper, his legs buckling under his weight, under the weight of loss.
‘Stubborn to the end,’ muttered Silco, relishing each word with reverence.
But then the Enforcer left standing dropped his arms, defeated, betrayed, half-face covered by the mask they wore so as not to breathe Zaun's toxic air, and questioned Silco angrily, ‘What the hell have you done? This wasn't the deal!’
The echo of his words expanded, vibrating inside your head as if searching for a place to linger, and you stood still, watching from the shadows as that chilling scene unfolded, kneeling on the edge of the building, utterly overwhelmed.
‘Deal's changed.’
Silco's words reverberated on the cobblestone floor of the poorly lit street, ringing in your ears, as you tried to clear your mind. You took a breath of air, which cut, cold, down your throat, and looked down. You could still hear his voice, ominously calm and low, and the clink of coins clattering on the floor. A deal. Between the topside and the underground. You frowned, realising that there were no fire stairs on that front, and accentuated your frown as you tried to understand why someone from Zaun would want to ally himself with an Enforcer, of all people.
Before you could even try to slide down the wall, however, leaping from window to window as you had done in the past, you heard Deckard's heavy footsteps on the cobblestone floor, and you raised your head. He was slowly approaching Vander, with no sign of a reaction from the owner of The Last Drop, letting out a low growl as the beast finally took up a position in front of him. His arm swung once like the pendulum of an old clock, and the punch blew against Vander's face with a low, muffled thud, causing him to stagger under its weight.
Your throat closed as you watched him anchor his legs to the ground to keep from falling. You saw him drop his shoulders, defeated, as if he had forgotten his own strength, and he stood just as still as you did whilst Deckard shoved his hand through Vander's hair, grabbing him violently and pulling him to the ground. You watched him, because you were unable to do anything else, as if fear had slid liquid across your skin until it solidified around your ankles, the monstrous creature dragging Vander across the ground.
It was the certainty. Vander, who had picked you up off the street at your weakest moment, who had taught you how to defend yourself, who had shown you the resilience that characterised him like a class while learning how to make Powder's favourite juice, had been reduced to a shadow of his former self by a punch. What could you have done to stop it? To stand between Vander and the one who had abused you as much as he had wanted? To face Deckard's vicious eyes once more, risking losing him all the same?
It wouldn't have helped.
You watched them walk, Silco's figure turning away from the chaos of shadows and death he left behind him, while Deckard followed close behind, gripping Vander's hair with a bruising strength. Your fingers itched. You had braided that hair many times, elaborate and funny designs as you grew up, but those hands were treating it cruelly, a monster freed of any kind of sentience. And it hurt. Watching them disappear into the fog, the Enforcer staggering down the street to the other side, it stung like an open wound. You bit your cheek, holding back the tears that threatened to slide down your skin, and felt the blood on your tongue like a foul aftertaste.
And then you heard it. The cry, choked and broken, that pierced your chest like a sharp knife. You stood up, waking the legs that had felt numb against the concrete edge of the rooftop, and moved on instinct, ignoring the insignificant discomfort of your ankle every time you leaned on it.
It was Vi. You slid across the roof, your feet seeking support on the nearest window ledge, hanging on to it to climb down to the next, and continued descending. You followed the heartbreaking sound of Vi's voice, drowning out her own sobs, and swallowed all the emotions you didn't want to feel, focused on finding your girlfriend. The polish of your nails peeled as you buried your fingers in joints between bricks, clinging to them to keep from falling to the ground, and you closed your eyes tightly before you took the last leap, placing most of your weight on your good foot as you landed on the ground.
You rose to your feet, a shiver running through your skin, as you heard the piercing cry of frustration, and turned to face it with a jolt. It had come from Benzo's shop. Had she been there all that time? You frowned, restless, and turned towards the massacre, clenching your jaw and staring straight ahead. You had to get Vi out of there. That was your priority. You couldn't afford to look at the ground, to collapse. Every breath you took, the air sounded slightly ragged, as if you were about to scream but held back, and you clenched your hands into fists as you dodged the bodies sprawled on the floor.
Your first step into Benzo's shop was hesitant, like an unconfident fawn's. You didn't want to think that it was the first time you would enter the place knowing that its owner would never come back to wait for you behind the counter, but the certainty came back to you again and again, as if brought by the tide. There was almost no light, the little oil lamps that were scattered around the shelves were off, as if they held a mourning you had not yet faced, and the darkness brought with it a feeling of coldness that dug into your bones.
‘Vi,’ you whispered, your choked voice faintly spilling across the room. ‘Vi!’ you repeated, louder.
You heard your name, low, dazed, almost vanishing into thin air, and tried to follow it. It was the storage room. She had been locked in the storeroom.
‘Wait!’ you said, rushing to the counter, ‘I'll get you out!’
You tried to piece together what had happened, your hand searching in the gloom for the spare key Benzo always kept in the wooden drawers. It was in Vi's nature to have tried to fix everything herself. It was inherent in her, to carry as much of the burden as possible so that her siblings ��and even you, if you got into trouble— wouldn't have to suffer the consequences. You didn't know how she could have warned the Enforcers, but you knew they had come to Benzo's shop for her. You knew it as clearly as you knew you would have done the same for her if it had happened.
But if Vander had shown up, it was also because he had discovered her. And if he had been wearing the handcuffs, it had been him who had locked her in the storeroom. To stop her from doing another stupid thing. Maybe Vander wasn't her biological father, but a strained smile tugged at your lips at the thought that they were more alike than they allowed themselves to think they were.
When your fingertips brushed against the metal frame of the key, you grabbed onto it, running the few meters between the countertop and the door behind which Vi stood. Your hands trembled as you slid it into its lock, holding your breath as you tried a second time, and you turned it on its axis twice, as you had done so many times in the past, pulling the heavy door off its hinges so that you could wrap your arms around Vi's body.
She clung to you tightly, choking her sobs in the crook of your neck, and the silence grew heavy around you, empty of hope. You felt Vi's hands squeeze your shirt, squeezing your body against hers, her warm tears sliding down your skin. You looked up at the ceiling, letting out a shaky sigh between your lips, and ran your hand up her back until it was tangled in her hair. Her shoulders shook under your touch to the rhythm of her own sobs, and you stayed still beside her for as long as she needed, allowing her to collapse.
‘Did you see what happened?’ you finally murmured against her hair, as her breathing slowly regulated.
‘Not much,’ she replied, her voice broken by tears, pulling away from you to rub her hands across her face. ‘Did you?’
‘It was Benzo...’ you began, and you hated the way you faltered before continuing. ‘They killed Benzo. And the Enforcers, some of them...’
‘And Vander?’
‘He's alive,’ you said, sliding your hand down his arm. ‘They took him.’
And your breath hitched as you realised.
He was alive. They had taken him, but he was still alive. Your mind was scrambling, trying to plan an impulse that came to you like a tug at your heart, watching the tears glisten on Vi's freckled cheeks. You couldn't let her lose someone else. Piltover had taken enough from her. Vander was still alive, you told yourself. He was still breathing, his chest was rising and falling, even if he hadn't had the strength to rise and confront them. He was alive, and you still had a chance to fight for him.
Your face took on a more worried tinge, ‘We need to find out where they've taken him.’
Vi looked up at you, her unfocused eyes darting across your face, but she nodded.
‘I know where,’ muttered a voice behind you. You turned abruptly, brow furrowed in distrust, and felt the pain wither against your ribcage. Ekko.
Little Ekko, never as small as he looked at that moment, his shoulders slumped forward and his crystallised gaze fixed on you. You took a step forward, ready to take him in your arms, but it was he who crossed the distance between you, taking refuge in your embrace. The pained expression on his face melted into tears as you snaked your hands around his back, and your own lump in your throat threatened to unravel as you felt him cry against your chest.
‘They killed him,’ he murmured, over and over against your skin, choking back his own tears.
‘I know, kid,’ you replied, unable to understand what you were supposed to do at that moment. You felt the warmth of unshed drops in your own eyes, and fought against them, burying your face in his hair as you felt one slide down your cheek. ‘I'm sorry, I'm sorry.’
‘We'll get them, Ekko,’ Vi promised, resting one hand on your back, stroking you comfortingly, and another on the boy's shoulder.
He parted slowly, rubbing his hand over his cheeks as Vi had done a few minutes before, and looked at the two of you, trying to gather the energy to speak. You couldn't stop to think what it must have felt like, watching Benzo die like that and still finding the strength to follow the perpetrators, the murderers, just so you could have a glimmer of hope of getting Vander back. He had been very brave.
‘It should be quick,’ you said, cradling his face in your hand, the pain shining in your gaze. ‘An hour and a half, maybe, tops two hours.’ You slid your gaze slightly to Vi, who was watching you with her brows furrowed in a helpless gesture, and added, ‘If we're not back then, please, go to my Mom's, yeah?’
Your mother would know what to do. She always did. She would take care of Ekko.
‘But...,’ he stammered, and you decided to ignore the way his chin began to tremble again, new tears gathering in his almond-shaped dark eyes.
‘No buts, Ekko,’ you replied, interrupting him gently. You took a breath of air, tangling your fingers in his short pale hair, pulling him to your body, and held him tightly in your arms. ‘I need you to be safe, please,’ you implored.
‘I don't want to lose you,’ he murmured against the fabric of your shirt, and you felt every movement of his lips, your own face struggling not to cry.
You looked up, blinking back tears, sighing the lump in your throat, ‘You won't,’ you told him, stroking his white curls, ‘you have my word. I'll come back in one piece.’
You forced yourself to pull away from him, your hands on his shoulders, and slid your thumb over his cheeks to wipe away the strands of tears that had leaked from his eyes, trying to muster the courage to flash a crooked smile. It wasn't easy, but you couldn't afford to look weak. Not in front of him, not when he needed you more than ever.
‘Besides,’ you whispered, unbuttoning your waistcoat, holding the pocket watch between your fingers, resting it against his chest in a graceful motion, ‘who's going to look after my watch while I'm gone?’
‘Are you going to let me keep it?’ he asked, cupping it in his two hands as if it were a treasure. He slid his fingertips over the silver curve of its circumference, over the twelve chipped numbers you had drawn above it - all Roman numerals - and looked up at you.
‘Forever,’ you promised, nodding solemnly.
He pounced on you, wrapping his arms around your waist, and you melted into his embrace with closed eyes, memorising every detail. Vi joined in a sigh, wrapping her strong arms around you, and for a moment you remained buried under your own skin, wishing that it was all a nightmare and that when you opened your eyes, the rapid breathing, tears and screams were just part of yet another of your childish games.
Reality was far crueler than a kid's imagination.
You felt Vi's hand intertwined with yours like a shackle pulling you back to consciousness, the faint discomfort of your ankle keeping you sane as she led you to The Last Drop. You hadn't exchanged a word since you had left Ekko in the same room of broken glass you had fled from that morning, hidden in the rafters of the ceiling, and both of remained trapped in your minds, thoughts running at too much speed.
It was difficult to face such a situation. As inhabitants of Zaun, loss was part of your DNA. You came into the world crying for the loss of your future, a future that had been taken from you at the founding of the city, and you mourned the violence that you would inevitably encounter, ever-present in the streets of the underground. Vi had endured the death of her biological parents, as had Powder and the rest of the Vander children, and you had been born without knowing who your father was, growing up surrounded by brutality.
You didn't know what your girlfriend was thinking, but you tried to remember if you'd ever spent enough time in the docks to have been able to investigate the large building that loomed over the water, as if it were floating. Ekko had claimed to see the man of mist and Deckard disappear within its tall brick walls, but had refused to come any closer. You had left a soft kiss on his forehead as a farewell, and in a glance you and Vi had known what to do.
Vander had trained you for such a moment. He had spent years teaching you how to defend yourselves, practising boxing with you, training you to take care of your own. You had always assumed it would be complicated, any fight was. But as much as Vander had been a proponent of using violence, in his past, you had also learned peace. It was clear that Silco would not accept a dialogue, a bargain of any kind. He had negotiated with that Enforcer for Vander. Vander had been his target.
The importance of acting was to do it right. And if you sneaked in and out, as you'd done so many times before to get some food, you'd all sleep on the top floor of The Last Drop that night, listening to Vander's snoring, the sheets moving every time Powder rolled over in her bed, and Vi's body warm against yours.
The bar was dead silent when you slipped in through the back door, and you assumed Vander would have closed up before he went to find Vi. You waited a few moments for her as she went inside to fetch the gauntlets Vander always kept hanging over the counter, and slipped down the stairs to the small room in the basement of the building when she returned with a shake of her head. Someone had taken them.
‘Vi?’ uttered Claggor, turning to you as she opened the door. He added your name, avoiding the hint of a question. You tried to force a smile as you realised that they had always assumed that if one of you was there, the other would appear shortly after.
Vi came down the stairs two at a time, ignoring the two boys, and slid her eyes around the room, searching for the gauntlets, ‘Where are the...?’
You sat on one of the steps, listening to the soft thump of Powder's body as she pounced on her older sister, and pulled your trousers up to your knee, untying your laces at full speed. Whenever Vi was set on something, she acted on instinct and with great speed. You didn't know if she would look for something more —except perhaps other weapons— but you delegated finding them to her. You had little time to slow down the way your ankle was going to worsen its condition irremediably in the remainder of the night.
Nor did you have much more strength than she did to explain what had happened.
You pulled off the bandages you carried in your pocket, resting them on the old wood of the stairs, as you heard Vi's quickened breathing echo through the room, pulling your injured foot up a step to remove your boot. You looked up when you heard Mylo protest, ‘Hey, those are Vander's,’ he said, grabbing Vi by the wrist. ‘Slow down. What is going on?’
‘Benzo's dead,’ she muttered, and you closed your eyes for a moment, before continuing to untie the tight knot in your shoes.
‘Dead?’ Claggor repeated, and you wondered if you were better off waiting outside. You removed your sock, shook your head, took a breath of air, and picked up the bandages, placing your foot on the knee of your other leg.
‘They took Vander.’
‘Who took Vander?’ added Claggor, as you began to wrap the bandage around your ankle, taut, inflexible on your skin, tense enough so that when you came back your joints wouldn't resent it. You did it angrily, trying to bury all the emotions you had managed to control so far.
‘I don't know,’ you heard Vi reply, and her voice sounded slightly closer as she turned to include you in the conversation, ’we're gonna help him.’
‘We're going with you,’ Mylo replied, almost as if he was hurt that it hadn't occurred to you earlier.
You put your sock back on when the bandages felt like a second skin over your foot, and tied your boots tightly. A bloody sprain wasn't going to stop you from rescuing Vander. It wasn't going to stop you from bringing him back, safely, home. You weren't going to let it. You looked up, sighing, and tried to intervene.
‘Whatever killed Benzo...’ you said, and your breath caught in your throat.
‘It was nothing like I've ever seen,’ Vi continued, and her voice trembled as much as yours. ‘It tore him apart.’
You saw the way her shoulders tensed before even the first sob slipped from her mouth, but you didn't have a chance to approach her before her brothers, who embraced her warmly, all united by stubbornness and impotence. Vi put her hands to her face, covering the obstinate tears she did not want to let fall down her cheeks, and you knew she had come to the same conclusion as you. They were both going to want to go with you, and you were going to need their help, no matter how much Vi wanted to keep them safe.
‘You're not doing this alone,’ Claggor stated, determined.
‘He's our father too,’ Mylo added, his hand tracing circles on Vi's back. ’Do we know where they took him?’
‘Ekko followed them,’ you interjected, clearing your throat as Vi stowed what her brothers had left on the table in one of the backpacks you always left lying around. ‘The old cannery next to the docks. He said...’
You looked up from the backpack, calming yourself once you realised it had been the boys who had taken the gauntlets, but the muscles in your back tensed again as you noticed Powder standing in front of you, a look of determination on her face, and a suitcase in her hands. Of course she wanted to go with you too.
Vi turned to you as she heard you hesitate, and exhaled an exhausted sigh at the sight of her sister.
‘I need you to sit this one out, Powder,’ she asked, approaching her.
‘What?’ her eyebrows furrowed in confusion, and your heart crumpled in your chest. Ekko had been easier to convince because he had seen what had happened. He was shocked, willing to wait for you to return. But Powder had always followed his sister's example, longing for a chance to show her worth and to stop being treated like a child.
‘You're not coming,’ and Powder's expression was worse than if she'd received a slap in the face.
‘I'm not afraid,’ she replied, desperate within the quietness of her response.
You couldn't intervene on this occasion. Nor were Mylo and Claggor going to. It went beyond their sense of responsibility, this was a blood sister fight to see which of the two would get their way. And the older one always had the upper hand.
‘It's too dangerous,’ Vi added, and you didn't have to see the gleam in her eye to know that she needed Powder to listen to her, to understand why she was asking so much of her.
‘But families stick together,’ Powder continued, accentuating his frown, ’you said it yourself.’
‘I know what I said...’
‘I want to fight,’ she announced, and the freckles creased on her cheeks as she looked up, raging, at Vi. ‘I can help.’
‘You're not ready,’ Vi replied, and her sharp tone cut over Powder's determination, shattering what hope remained. You saw how Vi held her breath for a moment, regretting her choice of words, and tried to correct them in a whisper. ‘You're all I have left,’ she said, resting the palm of her hand against Powder's cheek. ‘I can't lose you.’
‘Here,’ you uttered, in a soft, conciliatory tone, approaching them with one of the flares you had in a box under the stairs. It was a blue smoke one, a symbol you had talked about more than once with Powder, making jokes about the colour of her hair.
Vi took it gently from your hands, handing it to her little sister, ‘If they come for you, take this and run,’ she whispered, her gaze locked on Powder's pale pink eyes. ‘Wherever you are, light it up and I'll find you.’
Eyes shining, you almost couldn't hear the last words, a gentle ‘I promise’ murmured against Powder's face as she leaned down to rest her forehead against her sister's, memorising the warmth of her body before parting. You turned, beckoning Mylo and Claggor up the stairs, and you followed, leaving the sisters a few more seconds together.
The mood seemed somewhat subdued, Mylo's mouth closed in an altogether uncharacteristic muteness, and you peeled back your lips to make some comment to cheer them. The words died in your throat when you reached the landing, suddenly surrounded by Claggor's arms, and you held your breath in surprise.
‘I'm sorry,’ he said, and Mylo repeated it, both of them hugging you.
You closed your eyes, allowing yourself a moment of weakness, and let out a choked sob against Claggor's shoulder, still feeling the lump in your throat.
‘It's not your fault,’ you murmured back, ’it's not.’
‘It's not yours either,’ Vi uttered, and you turned your face towards her, who had just appeared through the door.
You tried to curl your lips into a grateful smile, your eyelids quivering to keep from shedding a tear, ‘I know.’
But it wasn't true, because you could never find out what would have happened if you had come down from that rooftop before Silco appeared, if you had warned the Enforcers of Deckard's presence. It was already in the past, you had lost your opportunity. Maybe, if you had confronted them while Vander and Benzo were still conscious, everything would be fine. Maybe your presence would had led them to fight back. And that was something Vi didn't know either.
You trailed behind, but kept pace as Vi led you through the crooked streets of Zaun, turning corners and ignoring drunken men, towards the city borders. The docks were not a highly desirable place, though one to which Madam sent many prostitutes on the days of disembarkation. Most traders transacted goods with the topside, and its bright and shiny harbours, but those who dealt in coal and alcohol had to make a stop at the Lanes, and the black market in its streets.
That building, however, looked even darker in the moonlight, the mist rising from the water creating a cloak of eerie mystery around it. You walked around its perimeter in a couple of minutes, trying to figure out which entrance was the most secluded but best accessible, and it was your keen eye that located an open window on the first floor. You climbed onto Claggor's shoulders, a rope at your shoulder, and clung tightly to one of the pipes, checking with a smirk that it would be able to support your weight.
Of the four of you, you were the best at climbing. You were elusive, small and slender for your age, even more so than the children of Zaun, no doubt a consequence of the fact that on many days your mother had been unable to offer you food to put in your mouth. The need to hide had made you learn to duck between the rooftops of the city, and though Vi was better at leaping from building to building, you were certainly the sneakiest of the bunch.
You even seemed to glide along the facades, you'd been told, clawing at bricks and picking out which spots on the wall were best to rest your limbs on, as you were doing at the moment. You panted as you managed to get your arm over the window sill, sliding your leg over so that you could slide into the building, and held your breath as you glanced down the dark corridor. No one seemed to be there. You grabbed the coiled rope you had slung over your shoulder and began to drag it down the window, waiting for Vi's two tugs before you crouched on the floor and braced your feet against the wall.
You held on, with the rope wrapped around your waist and tugging at it while the others climbed, and left it hidden under the window once everyone had climbed up. In case any guards found it, they wouldn't know where to start looking, and you doubted you would need it to escape. Vander was too heavy and too weakened to get out the way you had come in.
You scanned the corridors of the warehouse, rusty platforms stacked in a narrow space, and hurried to take up position behind Claggor, the four of you forming a line with Vi in front and Mylo last, slouching forward under the riveted iron pipe railings. Vi signalled to you when she realised that there was a poorly lit room on the upper floor, and you all hurried up the stairs, still crouching.
When you reached the other side of the corridor, Vi leaned forward, peering quickly, and turned to you with a triumphant smile, voicelessly pronouncing that Vander was there. You rested a hand on Claggor's shoulder as you felt Mylo's on your waist, and you advanced at a rapid pace until you reached the room, where Vander sat, defeated, in a big iron chair, all his limbs imprisoned by metal straps, fastened by padlocks.
You saw him spit blood, his broad chest straining to breathe out a hoarse cough, and he whispered a soft ‘Vi,’ his unfocused eyes closing as he felt his eldest daughter's arms slipping around his shoulders in a hug. His tone became more urgent as he realised you were really there, ‘What are you doing here?’
‘We're breaking you out,’ Vi explained, as you picked up the backpack she had left on the ground.
You opened it, kneeling on the ground, and pulled out the lock-picking device you had built for Mylo. It didn't always work, but it was the best you had. ‘Mylo,’ you called, and tossed the gadget to him.
‘On it!’
You turned towards the door, rising to your feet to check that no one was coming in, your fingers tingling to check the time on a watch you no longer had, but you froze when you heard Vander's husky voice.
‘How... how did you get in?’ he said, stuttering hurriedly over the words that were building up in his mouth. ‘There's guards everywhere.’
Oh God. Of course it had been a trap.
‘It was easy,’ you heard Vi reply, her tone losing its strength as the realisation dawned on her. ‘We found an open window and...’
You rushed over to the backpack, hastily pulling out the weapons that Claggor and Mylo had gathered, as you saw Claggor's figure hurrying to grab his favourite dagger, trying to release one of Vander's wrists from its prison. The man made eye contact with you, Vi stepping behind you to watch the door, and you held back a sob as you heard Vander again, ‘You have to get out. Now.’
No. You weren't going to leave him again. You weren't going to fail at the same task twice. There had to be time, you could do it. Silco's men probably hadn't even realised you were in yet, you had a chance, you could....
But you heard a clap reverberate through the warehouse, soft and dangerous, and your breath caught in your throat.
Silco.
‘Welcome,’ he murmured, his voice flowing like a river down its course, the sound of his rhythmic clapping coming hopelessly closer to you, ‘you have my congratulations,’ you tried to ignore it, to keep the memory of his tone from bringing back the vision of Benzo's body falling to the ground, but it came to you with the force of a storm, leaving you breathless, ‘but i'm afraid this will be a very short reunion.’
You refused to turn toward him, your hands instinctively gripping Vander's gauntlets, and Vi positioned herself at your side, shooting a defiant glare at the man of mist as she held out her arms for you to place Vander's weapons on her.
‘Have you heard the rumours?’ he added, and you could hear the amusement in his voice, ‘Vander the coward fled town with his children. And they were never seen again.’
You finished knotting the second gauntlet to your girlfriend's wrist, the straps stiff but comfortable on her pale skin, and exchanged a glance with her. You were going to make it. You rested your hand on her shoulder, squeezing lightly, and she gave you a fragile but sincere smile, real, just for you. Vi was the best at boxing. You took a quick glance back, your gaze hardening as you saw that Silco was surrounded by his followers, a bunch of buff men and women, all of them ready to fight. You sighed, determined. If there was anyone who could take on a man two heads taller, and visibly stronger, it was her.
You moved your hand up to the nape of her neck, stroking the lower part of her hair, and closed your eyes as you rested your forehead on his. It was a good-luck caress, a wish to go home, a temporary goodbye. She took a breath of air, parting from you reluctantly, as she always did, and positioned herself at your back. You saw the way Claggor's dagger broke from too much pressure, and heard Vi's first step toward the door.
‘Claggor, see if you can find another way out of here,’ you ordered him, rotating your shoulders. You saw him nod, watching out of the corner of your eye as Mylo wrestled with the device in the lock on Vander's right leg. Claggor nodded. Vander looked at you, concerned.
‘You don't have to do this,’ he said, but you knew he was talking to Vi.
‘Yes I do,’ she replied, determined, resolved.
Your priority was to get Vander out of there, to get everyone home safely. You ignored Vander's strangled gasp as Vi's quickened footsteps echoed over the metal lattice floor of the corridor, and you brought your hands to your head, grabbing the two long metal bobby pins you wore in your hair, both sharp and U-shaped. You crouched down next to Vander's other leg, and picked up the padlock. Inventions were your thing, you had to figure out how to open it.
You looked over your shoulder when you heard a thud behind you, momentarily startled, but smiled as you saw Vi, exultant in the middle of the bridge, and in the floor the body of the giant tattooed man you had seen when you turned around. That was your girl. You inserted one of the hairpins into the lock hole, noticing how Vander relaxed minimally against the seat as he saw that his daughter was perfectly capable, and then turned the other, recreating the teeth of a key. You imagined the mechanism under the padlock's metal cover, turning its gears to loosen.
Everything was going to be all right.
‘Mylo,’ you heard Vander, and saw out of the corner of your eye that Mylo had slipped the device to the floor. ‘You can do this.’
You looked over at Claggor, your fingers struggling against the lock, and saw that he had found a crack in the wall. There were enough tools in the backpack for him to open a hole. Perfect. You took a breath of air, forcing your wrist to turn the downward facing bobby pin all the way around, and the locking bow opened with a soft snap. You removed the hairpins, withdrawing the lock, and Vander rested his leg on the ground.
‘We're gonna get you out,’ you murmured, crouching down next to Mylo. ‘Hey, Myls,’ you said, laying your hands on top of his, helping him move them nimbly, ‘big breath.’
You felt him inhaling briefly, closing his eyes to feel the gears of the device against his palm, and you exchanged a glance as the smooth sound was repeated, releasing Vander's other leg.
‘We got this,’ he whispered, more encouraged.
‘Of course we do,’ you replied, placing a hand on Vander's knee to pull yourself to your feet.
Vi's soft panting continued to echo off the walls of the warehouse, to the rhythm of the punches of her gauntlet-covered fists as they impacted against the bodies of Silco's minions, and you looked back once more. Vi was rising against a bare-chested man, her shoulders tense, turned so that she could deliver another blow.
You focused on the lock on Vander's wrist as Mylo did the same on the other side of the chair, holding your hairpins tightly, moving your hands as fast as you could. You listened to your heart pounding in your ears, for a moment drowning out all sound from outside, like every time you secluded yourself in your studio, until you heard the first howl.
It reverberated in your mind, emptying it of all thought, like a shadow stretching over you. Deckard. You turned, eyes widening in horror, the mass of flesh that was the boy who had once abused you looming over Vi, and for a moment your heart stopped in your chest. In the darkness, you were only able to make out the fluorescent violet color of his veins, Vi's light pink hair, facing each other. You had seen what Deckard was capable of. You weren't going to let Vi end up like Benzo and those Enforcers.
‘Mylo, hurry,’ Vander pleaded, as you twisted the hairpins urgently, releasing the lock as soon as it gave way.
You turned toward the backpack, watching in horror as Vi leapt toward Deckard, and grabbed the first thing you saw. A piece of pipe, thin and hard against your hand, long enough that you could strike without getting too close. It wasn't a sword, but it would have to do. You looked up, checking that Claggor had already begun removing bricks from the wall, and advanced toward the deck, ignoring the way Deckard had grabbed Vi by the neck.
‘Silco, let her go!’ shouted Vander, slamming his free hand on the armrest of his chair. ‘This is between you and me!’
‘You had your chance,’ Silco replied, not even flinching.
Vi coughed, a choked, desperate sound, followed by a scraped gasp in her throat, seeking oxygen, and you slid onto the metal walkway. Deckard was barely aware that you had moved behind him, too focused on snatching every last breath of air from your girlfriend's lungs, and he dropped her against the ground as you jumped, unloading the pipe against his skull with all the force you had.
Deckard grumbled, an anguished scream spilling from his mouth, and you let go of the pipe, running to Vi. You slung one of her arms over your shoulders, one of yours around her waist, and carried her back to the room where Vander was, panting, the pain in your ankle beginning to awaken. You gritted your teeth, leaving Vi on the floor, leaning against the wall, and charged over to the sliding iron door, doing your best to close it. When you felt the door slam as it hit the wall, blocking Deckard's access, you pushed past the latch, collapsing against the floor, your shoulder pressed up to the door, just in case.
“You did good,” Vander whispered, looking at you, at Vi, his gaze clouded with admiration.
You merely nodded, exhausted, as Claggor continued to throw bricks, opening a large hole in the wall. You felt light, despite your tiredness, and leaned your head against the door. Mylo was struggling with the last lock, but you knew he was going to make it. You allowed yourself to close your eyes for a heartbeat, sighing, a moment of quiet before the first bang came. It echoed through the room, metallic and dry, and you felt it coursing through your body. Deckard was trying to reach you all.
You watched as Vi sat up, the one fist that still retained a gauntlet resting on the ground to stand, and tried to crawl to sit beside you, her chest rising and falling at full speed. There was only waiting, you knew. A slow, agonizing wait, until the boys were done with their part of the mission. You felt Vi lean her head on your shoulder, your bodies moving in time to Deckard's pounding, straining against the door to try and hold on as long as it took, and you clenched your jaw.
You were going to make it. A knock, a furtive glance at Mylo, and you heard the soft sound of the lock being released. You were going to make it. One punch, your shoulders tensed, and Vander was finally free. You. Were. Going. To. Make. It. One punch. A gentle squeeze on Vi's free hand. And Claggor finished tore a hole in the wall. You stood up, advancing forward, and then, just silence.
Suddenly, an explosion. You stopped, alert, your eyes wide, and turned to Vi. She had the same terrified expression on her face, one hand resting on the door to pull herself to her feet. You listened carefully over your ragged breathing, your ankle throbbing, your throat dry. Another explosion, closer this time. You turned to Vander, frowning, looking at him as if he could have some kind of answer. He extended his hand toward you, gesturing for Vi to hurry towards them.
A third explosion, and the world around you ceased to exist.
The crackling of the fire, soft and malleable in your ears, was what greeted you when you woke up. Your mouth felt dry, ragged, as if you had swallowed dust, but you opened it anyway, taking in a big breath of air. The oxygen burned your tongue, your eyes still closed, and you tried to move your hands, but you were unable to. You were caught.
The weight of certainty hovered over your ribcage, imprisoning it against the ground, and you moved your head on the cement beneath you, the ground warm against your forehead. You breathed in a second time, your respiration becoming more erratic, and then it hit you. Ashes. There were ashes everywhere, flames eating up the space in the room as if to make you disappear.
You opened your eyes, hearing a faint cough somewhere, and tried to focus your gaze on some point, but you saw only shadows and fire, dancing over you, coming closer, taunting you, and then going away again. You turned your head, looking for some familiar figure, Vander's comforting gaze in the darkness, Vi's soothing touch on your skin, but you were alone. You clenched your jaw, trying to fight against the stone that held you prisoner on the ground, but you found it impossible.
And then, a cry. In a déjà vu, you stirred again under your stone prison, turning toward the desperate sound of Vi's voice. You couldn't see her, but you knew she was there. Your chest was beginning to ache under the weight of the stone, each time managing to breathe less and less air, but you gritted your teeth, struggling, and managed to get a hand out. You mumbled your girlfriend's name, calling her name amidst the chaos, and sobbed when you got no response.
It seemed like the end. You felt dirty, drenched in sweat, stiff under the night of Zaun, and you were unable to perceive your legs, dumb under the stone. They were bricks, probably. Or the roof, perhaps. Snippets of the explosion came back to your memory, the dull sound against your ears, the brutality of the shockwave, and you looked straight ahead again. Vi was there, somewhere, and you had to get to her.
You fought against the cement block above you, trying to move it with your hips, with your arms, doing everything you could to get out of there, until you heard your name. In a wail, low and desperate, to your right. You turned, ignoring the laceration from the edge of the stone on your torso, and saw her. Her clear, frightened gaze, calling for you, the desperate gesture of her body. She was trapped under the metal door.
A growl, a large, dark silhouette in the smoke, and pounding. But you ignored them. You tried to turn a little more, struggling to reach Vi, your fingernails clawing at the ground and the ashes under your hand, dragging you towards her. Then the floor began to shake under your fingers, the ringing in your ears intensifying. The door imprisoning Vi flew off, and she crawled over to you, her hand outstretched in search of yours.
You stretched out your arm to reach for her, flinching as you heard a pained shout from Vander, extending your fingers, reaching out as far as you could for her, but before you could finally touch her fingers, a monstrous figure loomed over both of you, snarling, and grabbed Vi's body, leaping out of the building.
Your hand fell to the ground, defeated, and the walls that were left standing shook with the force of another explosion. You closed your eyes, stubborn, and shook yourself. You had to get to Vi. You had to find her, and Vander, and together you would search for Mylo and Claggor. You would return home. Nothing would have been in vain.
The flames crackled louder around you, almost warning you that getting up was a bad idea, but you ignored them. You weren't going to listen to them. You rested one hand on the ground, the other pulling the stone above you. You weren't strong enough to be able to lift it, but maybe you could wriggle out from under it. You were good at crawling, you could do it. You heard a cry of pain, distant but sharp against your chest, wholly yours. Your shoulder began to burn.
The first drop landed on your cheek. For a moment you thought it was blood, thick and dark against your skin, but then another fell on your chest, light and cool, and a next, and a next. Rain. It was raining. Water, cold and clear, that made the fire sizzle around you. You breathed a sigh of relief as you rested your shoulder on the ground, the dust and rain soothing the burns that threatened to sear your flesh, and leaned forward again. One arm in front of the other, ignoring the pain, pulling yourself back up as you fell to the ground, slowly and achingly moving forward.
Your legs wobbled as you tried to stand up. The bandages on your ankle were soaked in blood, which slid down from your thigh, staining everything in its path. Your torso was bruised, throbbing against your hand, and your ears were ringing. You leaned against the stone that had been above you, towering over it, and blinked, sliding your gaze around the room.
And then you saw them, Mylo and Claggor. Buried under the pieces of ceiling that had collapsed on top of you, motionless, drained of blood. Your breath caught in your throat, and you took a step toward them, a sob piercing your throat. There was nothing to be done, you knew. Still you knelt beside them, stroking Claggor's face, running your mangled fingers through Mylo's hair. You couldn't leave them. They were your family, you had to take care of them.
Powder's desperate scream echoed across the starry sky of Zaun, and your heart pulled forward in your ribs, your head turning toward the giant gap in the wall. Powder. She was supposed to be safe, in The Last Drop. She wasn't supposed to see any of this. She was supposed to wait for you to come back, in a couple of hours, and hold each other, perhaps commenting on it all as a successful anecdote. Mourning Benzo, honoring his memory.
Powder wasn't supposed to be there.
You rose to your feet once more, brow furrowed in concentration, gritting your teeth as you braced your injured leg on the floor, crawling, leaning against the walls to get out of there. You walked the metal corridors of the deserted building, of the cemetery of concrete and fire, descending the stairs one at a time, holding back the screams of pain that threatened to spill out of your mouth. You had to get to her, protect her, look for Vi, find Vander. Together you'd be okay. You always had been. You could make it through, with Ekko, with your mother's help. You would make it. You could fix it.
The night air greeted you like a slap in the face, the empty street echoing your footsteps. No one was there. You had heard Powder, you were sure. But she wasn't there. In a haze of light and shadow, you saw a body on the ground. Everything was gone, but there was another corpse right in front of you. You approached slowly, limping, gasping for breath, until you were able to recognize his face.
It was not Deckard, as you had wished. It was Vander's bruised and deformed face, turned into a monstrous beast, the violet blood spilled under his body. You put a hand to your mouth, falling to your knees beside him, collapsing. And the lump in your throat finally burst, a scream leaving your mouth, resting your forehead on his chest. It wasn't fair. It wasn't fair. It wasn't fair.
You looked up, the loneliness caressing an uneasy shiver across your skin, and stared before you, seeing nothing.
Sometimes your last breath doesn't belong to you. It is stolen, ripped away by others with firm and merciless hands. One second, one heartbeat, one desperate look. One second, one heartbeat, and life leaves your eyes. Other times you hold your breath, the emptiness opening in your chest, deepening as you try to contain it. You tell yourself it's the end, that you need it to be. But it isn't. You end up breathing. You let the oxygen invade you again, even though it feels like a weight on your chest. You keep breathing, even though you wish you weren't.
⠀⠀𝗍𝖺𝗀𝗅𝗂𝗌𝗍.⠀( send an ask or comment under the series to be part of it , just if you're going to interact with it ━reblogging with feedback. )⠀@im-just-a-simp-le-whore , @celestialzdiviner , @corpsebridenightamare , @louissst28 , @astr1dblogs , @notsolarry , @starlostastronaut , @yoonkinii , @padsfirewhisky , @luvrluvrr , @ssqra , @darkmoonchic , @urlocalsabito , @spicetouched , @astrxwitch , @deadlynightshadebylana , @bachirastoe , @pickmmeup , @your-scarlett-world
ㅤㅤ© dilemmars ★ do not copy, translate, repost or share this work as yours on other platforms ! consider leaving a comment or reblogging.
#writings 🐚 ˚. ᵎᵎ#arcane#arcane fanfics#arcane x reader#arcane imagines#arcane scenarios#vi#league of legends#vi x reader#arcane vi#arcane vi x reader#vi scenarios#vi imagines#vi fanfic#vi fanfics#arcane vi scenarios#arcane vi imagines
294 notes
·
View notes
Note
hiii, can I still request a drabble? if yes, I want to ask for prompt 1, vocabulary list: stay with rafayel. bcs I think this boy is definitely a tsundere, will do and say literally anything but the truth that he wants you to stay with him. clingy rafayel is just so cute! thank you, I love your writings by the way ✨
send me one + a character and i'll write u a drabble
24. vocabulary list: stay
rafayel; 2,073 words; fluff, fem!reader, pining, slight!spoilers, no "y/n", teeth rotting fluff
summary: 5 times rafayel asks you to stay + 1 time you do instead
a/n: it's just cuteness u__u
001.
“Stay.”
You are both children, and the summer sea is lapping at your feet. Sand squeezes between your toes and shells glitter like diamonds scattered across your stretch of secret beach. Rafayel’s pinky is hooked through yours. You laugh a laugh that sounds like heartbreak, even though Rafayel is too young to know what heartbreak means —
He wonders, later, if creatures of the sea are both with heartbreak in their bones — because what is heartbreak if not the sea? With the way it sings to an endless sky, the way it cups the world in its palm, the way it loves so helplessly — the beach, the seafarers, the rain — only for its loves to sink into its depths and never rise again.
“I can’t — you know I can’t!” you’re still laughing, digging your toes into the sand, as if this were all just a game.
Rafayel huffs, “I don’t! I don’t know!” and he knows he’s being petulant, being childish. But he figures he still is a child, by the measure of the sea, so he should be allowed at least this.
“I’ll be back tomorrow!” you say, you promise, so carelessly, as humans are wont to do.
Rafayel bites his lips, and a part of him knows that you won’t be. Still, he forces a smile, a sigh, and nods.
“Okay then… I’ll see you tomorrow.”
002.
“Stay…” he’s drunk. He can taste it in the weight of the humid air on his tongue. It’s late — the summer moon hanging huge and turgid on the horizon. Even the tide is lazy as it sloshes against the long stretch of shore just outside his window, weighed down by the summertime dreams of long lost loves, the shrapnel bits of broken promises.
You sigh as you look down at him, your eyes bright in the dim lighting of his giant studio.
“I really should be getting back…” you glance at the large clock on the wall, but your eyes flicker back towards him and Rafayel seizes on the chance, pushing himself up and tugging at your sleeve.
“You told me you��d come back and now… you’re leaving again…” he knows he sounds like a petulant child but he feels like a petulant child, the half-bottle of champagne dulling his senses and muffling his usually razor sharp wit.
“I —” a frown creases your forehead as you crouch down beside him, looking over his face, “I said I’d… come back?”
Rafayel sighs again, letting his eyes fall shut, “You don’t even remember…”
He feels the cool of your palm against his cheek and fights down the urge to moan and lean in closer, to press you to him.
“You must really be drunk, huh…” your voice is soft and helpless, but he can hear the hint of your resigned laughter. A moment later, he feels the couch dip as you sit back down, tugging his head into your lap as you run an absent hand through his disheveled hair.
He shakes his head, “Not drunk…”
“Shh… just sleep, okay?” you murmur, pressing your hand to his forehead and smoothing out the tiny frown threatening to crease his brows.
“Will you be here when I wake up?” he asks, even though he doesn’t really want to know the answer.
Your laughter is soft, and maybe even a little sad as you caress his cheek.
“Maybe.”
003.
“Stay… still.” Rafayel has both your wrists pinned above your head, his eyes narrowed as he looks down at you. You tug at this grip, cheeks flushed as you glare up at him.
“Stop! It’s fine —!”
“It is not fine,” he bites out as he reaches down to tug up your shirt. You squirm beneath him, your skin burning hot as his eyes skate down the length of your torso to catch on your lower abdomen, where you can feel the wound you’d gotten during your latest mission splitting open, oozing a steady stream of warm blood onto your freshly laundered sheets.
“This — you —” his eyes are wide as he looks up at you before his gaze is drawn back down. A look of horror seeps into his face as he lets go of your wrists.
“I’m — it’s okay — I’m okay…” you say, wincing as you push yourself into a half-sitting position, him still half-hovering over you with an expression caught between anger, terror, and confusion. You sigh, looking down at the large, rather ungainly gash on your lower abdomen.
It’d hurt like hell, sure, but now, it’s mostly faded to a dull throbbing and the occasional zing of pain that shoots up your spine. Vaguely, you wonder how many stitches it’ll have to be this time.
“Y-you’re…” Rafayel sounds distraught, and even though he glares at you again, you can hear the tremor in his voice.
“I just need some sleep… and tomorrow, I’ll go get it checked out.”
Rafayel slumps sideways onto the bed next to you, an arm thrown over his eyes.
“I’ll come with you.”
“If you want,” you lay back against your pillow, shifting gingerly so as not to agitate the wound even more.
“Do you have a first aid kit?”
“Yeah, in the bathroom — but —”
You can only sigh as Rafayel makes his way to the bathroom and comes back a moment later with the first aid kit and a determined frown.
“Now really — stay still.
004.
“Stay close…” Rafayel’s voice is sweet and warm by your ear.
You bite down a rack of shivers a second before he pulls away, laughing at something someone is saying. The bright lights of the exhibition are a bit overwhelming but you’d promised to show up, and so you had.
The dress you’re wearing is a bit tight, but you hitch a smile to your face as a wealthy art collector smarms at Rafayel, waxing poetic about canvases and colors and the sea. You watch with a muted amusement as Rafayel charms the man into a purchase, and then, as soon as he’s got the signed check, sends the babbling socialite on his way before turning back towards you with a soft shudder.
“I think that’s enough networking for one night.”
You blink, blustering as he tugs you off to one side, grabbing two more glasses of champagne as he goes.
“Wh — but — what about the other buyers?”
Rafayel rolls his eyes, “I really only need to make one or two big sales a year, and then the rest —” he flaps his wrist with a painful, marked nonchalance, “that’s all just for clout, anyway.”
You heave a deep sigh, swallowing down a laugh as Rafayel sips at his drink.
“Shouldn’t you at least try to appease some of the other attendees?” you ask, looking around at the various glitterati of Linkon society.
“Nope!” Rafayel sounds too pleased as he grins at you, reaching out to clink his glass against yours, “I don’t really care what most of them think, anyway.”
“Most? So… you do care what some of them think?” you probe, curious now as to who’s opinion Rafayel might put above his own.
Instead, he leans in, pressing in so close that you feel his hot breath against the lobe of your ear, feel the weight of his words ricocheting down your spine —
“No… just the one.” He pulls back and your heart stutters in your chest.
“And… who might that be?” you ask, your voice breathy and thready and just a tiny bit jealous.
Rafayel’s smirk pulls wide, “Oh… a certain Hunter with a mean streak and a weird obsession with claw-machine plushies.
005.
“Stay with me… please…” his voice is hoarse with want, his pupils blown so wide they almost swallow the midnight magic of his eyes.
“Rafayel, you’re burning up!” you press your palm to his forehead and frown, your other hand wrapped around his wrist, his pulse fluttering beneath your grip.
“D-don’t worry — it’s just — it happens ever year —”
“Still! We should go see a doctor —!”
“No! No — no doctors…” his voice is harsh and he pulls you back towards him with such force that the wind is knocked clean from your lungs as you sprawl against his chest, held there by the weight of his arms and the aftershocks of surprise still coursing through you. Vaguely, you note that he’s much stronger than he’s ever let on — less vaguely, you note that his thumbs as pressing into the bare skin of your side as he bites his lips and looks anywhere but at your face.
“Rafayel? Are… are you okay?”
“It’s — I’m fine —” he lets out another ragged breath and you know implicitly that he’s lying.
“You’re not fine — I’m going to grab some ice — o-oh!” you topple backwards as he pulls you back, strong arms encircling your middle as you try too get up and make for the kitchen.
“R-Rafayel?”
He lets out a long breath as he hooks his chin over your shoulder; in your periphery, you can see the dark blush blooming across his cheeks, the bridge of his nose, can feel the heat seeping through his thin shirt and yours to your skin. You can smell slightly salty sweetness of his skin as he holds you to him, his eyes closed, lashes almost damnably long in the moonlight as he tugs you back and slumps against the couch.
“I don’t need anything else but you… so… can you just… stay?”
His voice is soft, almost pleading.
You swallow; you nod; you sink into his embrace, wondering briefly if you’d felt something similar to this before. Or perhaps you’d made a promise like this, once upon a time. But the moon is soft and low and heavy on the horizon, and the sea outside is sweet as it shushes against the long stretch of beach, the water casting a myriad of dancing starlight scattering across Rafayel’s studio ceiling.
“I’m not going anywhere,” you say, leaning back into his embrace.
“Good…” he says, nosing into the soft spot between your neck and shoulders; you shudder as his lips brush against the sensitive skin there, “good,” he says once again before leaning down to press a longing kiss to your shoulder.
006.
“Stay…” you peer blearily up at him through the haze of sleep, all your limbs feeling both heavy and weightless all at once. The events of the night prior flashes behind your eyes and you flush hot at the memory.
Rafayel lets out a soft chuckle, “Oh how the tables have turned.”
“Hm?” you make an uncomprehending noise, frowning slightly as he leans in to press a soft kiss to the back of your hand, still sitting up, the soft white sheets pooling around his middle, the morning sun casting him in a halo of silver and gold.
“Nothing. I’m just gonna go grab some breakfast — I’ll be right back.”
Still, you pout, digging your fingers into his wrist as you shake your head and whine.
“Don’t… don’t leave.”
Rafayel lets out a soft sigh, laughing as he leans back down to kiss your bare shoulder.
“I’ll just be in the kitchen… I won’t go any further than that — I promise, okay?”
You loosen your grip ever so slightly, “Can your promises be trusted?”
He tuts, gently tugging his arm free, “Of course they can — I found you again, didn’t I?”
You hum, burying your face back into the soft linen cover of the pillow as Rafayel gets up to prep breakfast.
He returns less than ten minutes later with a silver tray and a helpless smile as he looks down at your slumbering form, before he leans down to press his lips to yours, curling his fingers into the baby hairs at the nape of your neck and shimmying back under the blankets with you.
He loops his arms around you and smiles to himself as you burrow deeper into his chest, mumbling incoherently.
“Stupid girl… as if I could ever, ever leave you again.”
#love and deepspace#love and deepspace x reader#rafayel x reader#rafayel#rafayel love and deepspace#love and deepspace rafayel#qi yu#x reader#love and deepspace fanfic#love and deepspace fluff#love and deepspace x you#lad rafayel#lad rafayel x reader#lad rafayel x you#help me hELP ME HELP ME WHAT THE FUCK#hes so !!!
597 notes
·
View notes
Text
L Lawliet X F!Reader Smut Oneshot
VERY SMUTTY SMUT, 18+
FINALLY finished! This was so fun to write, but I've been so distracted recently that I haven't been able to work on any of my hobbies. I apologize for going AWOL for like, what, a month? Anyway, hopefully finishing this will be the start of bringing writing back in my life. Enjoy, L fans, and let me know if you have ideas for more!
Warnings/contents: Oral (reader recieving), PinV, cowgirl, happy trail, slight amounts of biting, and a very tired man
L has been working far too much, and it's showing. Not only has he not been leaving the CTV screens, he's stopped sleeping all together. Not even at his seat. For someone so smart, you'd think he'd know to take better care of himself.
Well, tonight, he's finally returned to your shared bedroom, only to retrieve some important flash drive. You were laying upside down on the bed, your legs propped up on the headboard and your hands busy with a rather riveting game of snake.
As soon as you heard him walk in, you perked up, flipping around and watching him with intent, your phone playing a sad little song at your loss of the now irrelevant game. "Hey! are you done working?"
He had his hands in his pockets, his steps light but slow as he felt weighed down by his lack of energy. "I'm never done working," he answered simply, walking to the nightstand and crouching down in front of it.
He opened a drawer, which contained a safe. He typed in the 12 digit code, opening it and finding a few small files and three flash drives...none of which were the right one. "I put it right here...did you take the red drive from this safe," he asked with slightly narrowed eyes, turning to the left to face you.
"No...is something missing?"
He examined you from the top of your head to the tips of your toes, taking in everything about you. This was the problem, he could never tell if you were lying. Whether it was that he was so infatuated with you he couldn't imagine you lying to him, or if you were simply that good, It was frustratingly inconvenient. Perhaps you simply never lied...that was the delirium from not sleeping speaking, most definitely.
"Are you lying," he asked simply.
"No, unfortunately. I wish I had it...I can help you look," you say sweetly.
"I will find it myself...thank you," he nodded, throwing the polite thanks on the end.
"If you say so," you say in obvious skepticism.
He stands back up, looking down at you as you laid back once more. "Do you doubt my ability," he asked challengingly.
"Well...no...It's just..." you look back up at his big, tired eyes, his face discreetly shifting back and forth between curiosity and annoyance.
You look back to your phone. "You've been so tired, you're running on fumes...I just don't think you're in the right place to be effectively searching for and finding things...or, remembering where you put things...or...doing detective work..."
Silence.
You slowly look back up at him, already wincing at how he must look. When your eyes met his, he just seemed...surprised?
"Do you really think my lack of sleep is affecting my efficiency in a palpable way?" He seemed to be considering the notion.
"I do. Very much so."
"Well...I don't have time to sleep," he mused lowly.
you could work with this. "Would you at least shower? It could help you relax, get your mind off things. It'd only take, like, what, 20 minutes?"
He thought about this.
"I suppose it may assist me in 'getting my mind off things'," he sighed. "Fine. But I'd like you to look for that flash drive while I'm gone," he said firmly. Even without the team around, he still acted like he was your boss. You looked up at him with raised brows.
"...please." This energy deficit was making it harder to engage in social conventions, it took a level of consciousness he did not have currently. Another reason he needed sleep.
"Sure," you said with a smile, sitting up. "Go on, go shower, I'll start looking right now," you assured, standing and guiding him to the bathroom. He walked on his own, shutting the door behind him.
You sighed, turning to face the room, scanning it, your brow furrowed. Then, the water turned on. You glanced to the door. You could hear the rhythm of the raining droplets interrupted by him getting in.
With a deep breath, you relax, walking to the nightstand and opening it back up. You typed in the code to the safe, It was a seemingly randomized combination of the numbers within you and Watari's respective birthdays.
Reaching into your bra, you pulled out the flash drive, placing it atop everything else. You'd have to confess and apologize later, for tricking him. You really just needed a reason to get him away from his computer.
With a satisfied huff, you laid back down, continued your game of snake, and waited for him to get out.
fifteen minutes later, the bathroom door gently pushed open, and out L walked, seeming slightly better. he had a towel wrapped loosely around his hips, a slight and sparse amount of black hair barely visible above the pristine white of the fabric. Another towel was slung around his shoulders, catching the water dripping from his spiked black hair.
perfection.
You sat on the edge of the bed, smiling happily at him. "Hey, how do you feel? Better? About the flash-"
"I'd like to have sex."
Your mouth hung open for a moment, the suddenness shocking you. You supposed it was because he was lacked so much energy before, because him being so direct wasn't rare in the slightest. Meanwhile, he simply stared at you, waiting for a proper response.
"Right...right now?"
"Do you have any other plans?"
"Well, no," you say, laughing a little. "I thought you were tired. You should be tired."
"I am tired, but I've come to the conclusion that sex with you would be beneficial, more so than the shower, and more time efficient than proper rest."
You just laughed even more, giggling at his frankness. "Sure, yeah...so, I'm assuming you'll want to get straight to things? make it quick?" Nothing was unexpected with him, that was for sure.
"Well...not without foreplay. I'm not completely helpless," he muttered, his brows furrowing slightly at the insinuation he wouldn't. He could tell that's what you were thinking.
"Is that so? Here I was, thinking you'd leave me high and dry," you tease.
He took a step closer, before putting his foot up and onto the bed next to you and leaning over you. His hands were at his hips, the natural placement for him after so much time putting them in his pockets. "Do you think that lowly of me," he asked softly. His eyes were half lidded, staring deep into yours as if he were reading your soul, and his lips were parted, slowly taking in air, his breath warm against your face, so impossibly close to you.
Your skin was warming, blood rushing to your cheeks and nose as you take in the sight before you. Then, you smile, bringing your hands to cup his face. "You're trying too hard," you taunt, planting a gentle kiss on his lips. He closed his eyes, and when you pull away he leans in farther for a beat, as if he's trying to chase you. His serious expression disappears, and he sits up just a little more. "Am I," he asked, genuinely, cocking his head a little in curiosity.
He just makes you giggle, he's so funny without even realizing. "Yes," you laugh jokingly, nodding for a moment before you calm down. Then you lean in a little more, glancing down at the foot propped up on the bed, and quietly say, "No. It's nice, fun...but, I'd rather you just be yourself." You tilt your head up, your lips brushing against his, before you give him a true kiss.
He closes his eyes, a shiver running up his spine, and when your mouth opens to slide your tongue across his bottom lip, he gladly opens his own. Your hands stay to the sides of his face, and his eventually make their way to your shoulders. You stop for a moment, scooting backward. Without even thinking, he sits completely on the bed, just to follow your lips, and as a reward you waste no time kissing him again.
You stay like that for a while, making out while he sort of straddles your legs in his usual crouch, until he moves past your mouth and to your jaw. It surprises you for a moment, but you quickly adjust, your hand moving to his damp hair to steady yourself.
He leaves wet, meaningful kisses up your jawline, his hand sliding up to your neck to hold you in place. "Did you know," he starts, planting a kiss to the spot where your ear meets your jaw. "That the ear is one of the most sensitive parts of the body," he finishes, kissing at the shell of your ear and sucking on your lobe for a moment. He wasn't even trying to be overly sexy, at least not in his words, you could tell he simply said it because your ear made him think of it, but the candidness of this moment that was so L made you melt...especially because of his soft, low voice.
"Is that so," you ask, your voice wavering a little.
you could feel his smile against the skin of your ear as he left another impassioned kiss to the shell. "It appears it is," he hummed, his voice dropping ever so slightly. Maybe he was trying.
You could do nothing but let out a nervous giggle, your back arching upward until your chest met his. You turned your head, your ear no longer accessible to him, and planted a kiss to the side of his neck. You could feel him stiffen, his breath catching in his throat. You kissed him again, this time slowly, and his hand moved to be in your hair, the other planted firmly on the top of your hip to steady himself.
You take the moment to remove the towel around his waist, glancing down to see just what you were working with...and there he was.
He was fully erect, around 6 inches, the pale pink tip beading with pre. Perfect. You almost reached out to touch him, to please him, but...
Finally, and rather suddenly, he mutters, "Sit back....please."
You don't argue, you just...do. You sit back from him. You could have kept going, just to tease him, but just in case he was overwhelmed, you sat back.
He wasn't overwhelmed, to your delight, and you knew because he leaned forward and brings his lips to your clavicle, placing a gentle but impassioned kiss there. He hears your breath catch, and as he looks up at you with his usual moon-eyed stare, he catches the way your nostrils flare, and your lips part. "You are aroused," he states softly, his hands running up your sides and under your shirt.
"I am," you titter, his cool hands sending a shiver up your spine as you watch him intently.
"If you take your shirt off, I may be able to assist you," he hums sarcastically, a slight, gentle smile across his face.
You roll your eyes, a big smile on your face as you remove your shirt, setting it aside. You take your bra off too, and your pants for good measure. The only thing left on you is your underwear, something that, as he trails feather light kisses down the valley of your breast and the center of your abdomen, he carefully removes with his thumbs and index fingers. By now, he's on his knees and bent forward completely, his hands holding your legs apart as he brings himself to be face to face with your aching folds.
he gazes up at you, not in question but in curiosity, almost a way to tease you. do you want this? how badly? you really want this, don't you?
He slowly licks his lips as his eyes flick back down to what was before him. He sticks his tongue out, giving a long, tentative lap up from your entrance to your clitoris. as his tongue slides up your clit, beneath the hood, your hips buck, just enough to let him know you're excited. With that, his lips lock onto it, his eyes half lidded as he lavishly sucks and laps, soft groans reverberating through you ever so gently as he pleasures you.
He always seems to enjoy this as much as you do, and with each moan you release, he responds to you with a particularly angled prod of his tongue, or a vibrating groan in return, rewarding the crescendo of your sounds.
Your hand finds its way to his hair, nestling in the soft black stands and gently pulling at the base. At the feeling, he releases a breath he seemed to have been holding, the air fanning against the skin of your thighs and lower abdomen. The sturdy grip he has on your hips tightens a little, and as your hips stutter with the eventual arrival of your orgasm, he looks back up at you, his eyes peering, examining, daring you to look anywhere but at him. You can't help but to stare back.
With one final lap of his tongue, you finish, back arching, head tossing back, your voice ringing through the room in what he can only describe as the song of the angels. He helps you through, gently sucking on your clit, and when you finally come down from it, he pulls away, licking the fluid from his chin and upper lip. It was sort of endearing, watching him do something that looked so...stupid, to put it bluntly.
You laugh despite your panting, smiling as he sits back with his knees rather relaxed compared to usual, not to his chest, although arched halfway there. "you were...considerably louder than usual. has it been a long time since you've experienced an orgasm?"
you almost wanted to chide him for asking a question that had such an obvious answer, but you supposed it was good he didn't negate the fact that you could self pleasure. "Nope. I guess you could say I've been saving myself for you," you sigh teasingly, crawling closer, over his legs, bringing your face and hips above his, respectively.
He instinctively takes your hips, looking up at you with a thoughtful expression. "Why would you do something like that," he asked disdainfully.
You laugh a little. "Does it matter?"
He pauses, looking to your hips. "I suppose not. It makes no difference to me," he muses.
You smile down at him with endearment, your hands sliding to his shoulders. No time to waste.
You lower yourself down his vehemently leaking cock, his grip tightening around you as you push yourself past his tip.
he leaned forward, his knees coming up, your body now between his chest and his legs as your hips met his. he wasn't especially girthy, but his length more than made up for it. You take in a breath, steadying on his shoulders, and slowly slide upward.
He watches with a sort of aroused fascination as you begin to ride him, his eyes not leaving the sight of your body taking his dick in and out, watching and feeling every twitch, listening to every sound, the variations, the angles, everything perceived. You wouldn't think he was enjoying himself all too much, given the fact he was only releasing tempered pants and the occasional hum, but it was his attention that gave it away. Nothing besides his work, and now you, has captured his attention so quickly and so intensely.
If he weren't so tired and in need of a proverbial "quickie," he'd have you in as many different positions as possible. He has a need to see every facet of you, to know how you look and feel and sound in every angle and situation...but, for now, the usual cowgirl will do. And it does, it does rather nicely.
He only looks up at your face when he takes notice of your own noises, growing in volume and desperation. Of course, when he looks up, he can really only see your tits, bouncing away, and he really has no choice but to lavishly suck on your nipple. a formality, truly. The sounds and expressions that elicits is simply heavenly.
He grips your hips tighter, and as the air from his nose fans across your chest, he thrusts himself up. You cry out, his tip unexpectedly hitting your cervix, and all you can do now is shift back and forth as he thrusts up, peer into his large observant eyes as he tongues your breast and uses your body as he wishes. The sight, the feeling, the sounds, it was all too much for you. You moan louder and louder, signaling an orgasm, and the moment his tip pounds a particular spot, you're done. Your hips buckle, your body shakes, and best of all for him, your walls constrict.
in mere moments after you, he begins to truly moan, his cheeks flushing as his orgasm grows closer. After one particularly fast and hard jerk of his hips, he's calling out your name, his teeth pressing into your chest as his lashes flutter, his cum releasing within you in quick spurts, riding the wave as your hips roll against his.
He said this would be quick, a way to relax while staying time efficient, but fortunately he was too tired to take his own tiredness into account. He fell completely asleep beside you, his head pressed into your chest and his legs pressed to your torso as you stroked his hair. He'd sleep for the next 14 hours, and while you got up to pick up the slack at work, get something to eat, or use the restroom, you always returned to him.
I genuinely looked like coraline's dad writing this. I had fun, but wow was I lethargic. I'd like to do this again though, hopefully when I'm feeling more determined!
Taglist: @cheekyweekymouse
#fanfic#fan fiction#l lawlight#l lawilet#l lawiet#l x reader#l death note#death note#death note l#death note fanfiction#death note smut#l lawliet smut
382 notes
·
View notes
Text
Imagine: Jack observing you tuck in your sibling into bed that believes in him
Disclaimer; This is inspired by a post from @cutiepieloves131
"Cupcake!" You called for your sister. She was jumping up and down on the bed. It wasn't anything new seeing her this happy. She was telling you a story. She says it happened weeks after you left for collage.
Cupcake ran outside her room and into the kitchen. "Yeah?" You looked at her after drying your hands on your shirt. "Uh, why don't you go to bed, I'll tuck you in and you can tell me all about it, okay?" You walked up to her and crouched down placing your hand on her shoulder.
She smiled widely and nodded. She ran up to her room and you stood up laughing and shacking your head. You walked upstairs and opened Cupcake's room. She was jumping around and waving to the window or whoever was outside.
You walked next to her. "Uh, Cupcake, who are waving at, honey?" She looked at you with a big grin. "Jack Frost!" She said. You puckered your lips and nodded slowly. "Who- you know what? Doesn't matter." You gestured to the bed. "Get on the bed, please."
She turned around and walked to the bed. You came to the other side of the bed not noticing a certain winter spirit watching you through the window. "Cupcake?" You asked as she seemed to look around her bed. "What are you looking for?"
"My unicorn. Have you seen it?" She asked desperately. You looked around and saw it near me in the window seat. You smiled and walked over there. You picked it up and as you stood you noticed frost on the window. "Weird..." You mumble totally obvious to the person hanging upside down your window, observing you.
"Cupcake, I found her..." You turned to look at the he window one last time and then walked towards Cupcake and walked to the other side of the bed. "Yay! Thank you!" She hugged the plush and you smiled. "So, that story?" You sat on the bed facing her.
"Right!" She sat up on the bed. "So it all started outside two days after you left. I was building a snowman and all of a sudden a snowball hit me!" She laughed and so did you.
"When I turned around I saw Jamie and his friends. We started playing with the snow until Jamie fell and rode his sled all over the streets! It was awesome!" She stood up and spread her arms and giggled. You laughed as Jack - who still observed you two - chuckled.
"But he did end up with a missing teeth..." You sighted and placed a hand in her chubby cheek. "I'm glad you got the courage to have fun and play with kids about your age."
"Me too! Then there was this whole thing where the Easter bunny didn't show up. But after Jamie made us believe in the Tooth Fairy, Sandman, The Easter Bunny, Santa Clause, and Jack Frost!"
You looked at her confused. "Jack Frost?" You asked as you pulled her down to lay on her bed. "Yeah! Jack Frost, is the spirit of winter and now guardian of fun!" She got comfy and you smiled at her. "How does he look like?" You asked. "Well, close your eyes." You did what Cupcake said.
"Imagine a guy with white hair-"
"White?" You asked as you opened your eyes. "Yes white now close your eyes!" She giggled and you closed your eyes. "Okay, so, he has pale skin, blue eyes, he wears a blue hoodie with brown pants, and he's usually and all the time, barefoot."
"Hmm, he's cute." You said with your eyes still closed. "You have even seen him!" She giggled. Jack chuckled as he got right side up and observed you. You opened your eyes and laughed. "Well, I'm imagining him!" You tickled her and she laughed telling you to stop and you did.
"Okay, no more games. You have school tomorrow." You said and Cupcake's smile dropped. "I don't wanna go to school..." She sounded sad which got yours and Jack's attention. "Why?" You asked as you tucked her in. "The kids at school think I'm weird."
"Aw, Cupcake, I'm sorry. What do they say to you?" You placed your hand in her cheek. "They say all types of mean things." She hugs her unicorn closer. "You don't have to tell me now just know you are beautiful," You said already getting an idea of why they are being mean to her.
"Smart, kind, and very sweet. Don't let anybody tell you otherwise." You say as you grab her hands. "You are gorgeous, inside and out. Okay?"
"Okay." She smiled and you smiled as well. You kissed her forehead and stood up. Jack looks at you with a soft smile. You walked to the door and opened it. "Okay, goodnight." You say as you look at her tired figure. "Goodnight." You frowned and then you got an idea. "I'll bake you some cookies tomorrow, yeah?" You say as you reach for the lights.
"Yeah!" She yelled making you giggled. You look out the window seeing the frost still there, both Frost. You smirked and turned the lights off. You close the door behind you. Jack moves to the next window and looks at you. "Jack Frost, eh?" You say to yourself.
#RoTG#jack frost x reader#jack frost#tooth fairy#easter bunny#Sandman#North#santa claus#Rise of The Guardians#x reader
954 notes
·
View notes
Note
HAIIIII
taking requests!? cool! ur the first person ive requested to on tumblr for a fanfic :DDD
can i request nagi, bachira, and isagi comforting, their s/o? i want the reader to have feminine traits but i want them to be gender-neutral if that makes sense-
-K :3
Uhh I live- sorry for months of not doing this- I uhh.... die and then live once again:) I'm not confident if I can represent correctly about the feminine traits but I'll try.
Also- I have no idea what the heck I am writing...
Tw: I think I accidentally made ooc Isagi- I forgot how his personality works-
Plot: gone too tired, you cried. (Me too honestly)
-- Nagi
Nagi keeps glancing at your curled up form and then proceeds to play his game on his phone- he's not heartless- he is. He's just really bad at comforting someone...well- at least that's what Reo told him. Here you are now, curling up into a ball at the corner of Nagi's apartment.
He looks back and forth from his game to your sad form of human, he's not good at comforting but it was him who's the one to commit the relationship in the first place with you. He can't leave his significant other depressing while he dazed off in his world, can't he?
He put down his phone, pausing his game which was a big sacrifice he did for you and he deserves a lot of affection for it, getting up from his comfy couch as he walks up to you, he crouches down to your height which still makes him seem taller, patting your head makes you raise your head a bit from your knees to look at him.
He looks at you, as he opens his arms widely, without a second thought, you latch your into him as if you guys could mix together in a blender, Nagi securely holds you up and walks back towards his lovely couch, picking up his pause game on his phone then proceeded to lay down with you on the couch.
Putting his head on top of yours as the silent room is now filled with gunshots that came out of Nagi's phone. ”mhmm...sorry, don't know how to help.” he pressed light kisses on top of your head while muttering a small sorry in process, your fist ruining his hoodie as you tighten your grip on him.
” you sucks at this, don't you Nagi?” leaning towards the crook of his neck, every breath you take tickles his skin to the core. ” I know.” he wiped a small shed of tears that runs down to your cheeks, ” and it's okay, because you understand.” he said flatly, his face remains in a casual look as he's not an expressive person, you couldn't tell if he's being considerate of you or not.
” I'm here, you're here. It will be fine.”
---Isagi
Isagi finds you crying in the worst situation ever, as it makes that even worse than ever when he doesn't know how to comfort you, he's so focused on football that he has no idea what to do when you cry for the first time.
” I'm fine...” you wipe your tears that keep falling out of your eyes, warm hands touching your face as Isagi pushes your own hand away and he wipes out the tears with a napkin instead.
You tried to cover your face which directly got pushed by Isagi's gentle hands that cradle your face as if it's fragile, ” there's nothing to be ashamed of.” his eyes soften when he sees you getting more embarrassed about being taken care of by the players that you supposed to be taking care of.
Kurona patted your head in comfort as he handed you his water bottle for you to drink, ” no, no tears.” you took the bottle and thanked him, then he left you two alone in an awkward silence.
” I'm sor-"
” don't be.”
” okay.”
-- bachira.
”(name)~” bachira hugs you from behind which scared the sh- out of you, you look at his cheeky face in a tired expression which he then returned with concern looks on his face.
He cupped your face in a loving way, his concern looked turned back into a big smile as he gave you a big hug, ” it's okay, I'm here.” he smiled, nuzzling into your hair, when he raised his head to see your face in expectation of your happy face, but all he got is you sobbing now with tears streaming down your cheeks like a waterfall.
” b-bachira....” you sob loudly, then you press your head deeper into his chest, crying like there's no tomorrow, ”woah! You really put an act earlier~” he giggled, he lifted you up from the ground then went to some more of a quiet room to have a talk with you.
#bllk x reader#blue lock#blue lock x reader#bllk#bllk x you#blue lock nagi#nagi seishiro x reader#nagi x reader#bllk bachira#bachira x reader#blue lock bachira#bachira meguru#isagi x you#bllk isagi#isagi x reader#blue lock isagi#isagi yoichi
62 notes
·
View notes
Note
Great answers! I do love the idea of Sirius as DADA teacher!
Here's another one for you: rank these characters from worst to best for the post of Minister of Magic
Albus Dumbledore
Lucius Malfoy
Sirius Black (again cause I love him and I read a fic about this once)
Minerva McGonagall
Barty Crouch Sr.
oh god. these clowns would all be such terrible minsters of magic. why are you doing this to me? ok fine. here goes.
Lucius Malfoy: I think because movie!Lucius was sort of toned down and defanged fandom sometimes forget what a nasty piece of work book!Lucius was before he had his downfall and got all sad and pathetic. Fanon!Lucius often gets turned into kind of a joke but book!Lucius was out there torturing muggles for fun by night while he had the ear of the Minister by day and was, seemingly, extremely adept at subtly spreading his pureblood supremacist agenda in government. (Honestly, better at it than Tom because unlike Tom he actually cared). Also in book 4 it's very clear that if he had gotten hold of Hermione - a fourteen year old child - on the World Cup grounds he would've attacked her without hesitation (been eager for it, in fact). Yeah he wasn't down with Voldemort's whole thing but that was more because of the effect it had on him personally. with Voldemort out of the picture he was top dog and he was doing just fine. All this to say, as Minister the policies he enacts are...not good to say the least. He'd be out there building a violent pureblood supremacist dictatorship in a heartbeat.
Albus Dumbledore: Albus says he can't be trusted with the power of being Minister and honestly...I believe him. He'd still play the same messed up manipulation games he plays in canon but on a much larger scale (while simultaneously feeling bad about it and telling himself it's for the greater good). He does some truly epic mental gymnastics to convince himself he needs to make himself dictator for life and then things spiral because obviously anyone who resists him is evil right? Right? Of course! The alternative is that he is wrong and he doesn't want to think about that. Also, he doesn't seem that bothered by house elf slavery and his ideas for getting nonhuman magical creatures on his side in canon seemed to involve asking nicely but not actually granting them rights. So I'm not super optimistic on that front. So yeah. This just turns into the whole of wizarding Britain getting gaslit and thrown into insane situations by a madman who seems so wholesome and lovable and yet... Also. Given how poorly organized the Order is I think it's safe to say that all other flaws aside, the man does not have a gift for management.
Barty Crouch Sr.: Listen. He ALSO sucks. Very clearly ok with slavery, not a fan of due process, and allowed Aurors to torture confessions out of suspects. His only saving grace is that he does love rules so he'd probably eventually step down and wouldn't make as many potentially damaging changes as Dumbledore.
Minerva McGonagall: Her no nonsense attitude ensures that any meeting she runs actually accomplishes things. She's smart. She's sane. She's stable. She doesn't care about ending slavery or changing the status quo, but she's a lot better than most of the options. She's not especially creative or good at political games though which often hampers her ability to carry out objectives and prevent bad actors (i.e. Lucius and his faction) from getting their way.
Sirius Black: What does the man who hates authority do when he finds himself in a position of ultimate authority? I don't know but I'd love to read about it! Sirius is actually pretty shrewd (contrary to fanon) and I think he'd actually turn out to be a natural at handling politics (much as he might hate it). He also understands traditional pureblood society (he is a Black after all) but he doesn't idolize it (he hates being a Black) which would allow him to understand and work with multiple factions. Additionally he can be forceful and authoritative. He's impatient, often biased and unfair, sometimes quite cruel, can be temperamental, and again, has 0 problem with slavery. So like. He's not good per say, but he's actually better than some of the others. (At least with him meetings are never dull because if he gets bored enough he just turns into a dog and eats the agenda).
57 notes
·
View notes
Text
x: Thomas Shelby found his match in an information bookie who has eluded the grasp of the Peaky Blinders long enough to crumble their power over Birmingham. But at last, he found you. The ghost he'd been chasing was finally in front of him, but you were trickier than he expected. Dangerous, cunning - and a bit too much like himself. To buy your loyalty, he would have to sell his in equal measure. Loyalty for loyalty - blood for blood - how much were either of you willing to spill before the game changed entirely?
part 24: a grudge easily lost
word count: 1,824 tag: @bruhidkjustwannaread | @rubyxx16 | @bellabarnes1378 | @johnmurphys-sass | @strangeobsessed
✒✒✒✒✒✒✒✒✒✒
1919
The harshness of London's rainy days never failed to leave its mark on your skin. Another damp morning led you into a bookshop, the one at the corner street. You hid behind a shelf as you waited for your hair to dry. Your coat, two sizes too small, was thoroughly soaked through until it dripped around your ankles.
The sound of snickering pulled you to a scene on the other side of the shelf. You peeked through, catching clearly the sight of a man snaking his arm around a young woman. She pressed herself flush against him as she giggled. As his hand dropped, the glaring bright wedding band glimmered. When the woman turned, there was no ring, just a dainty bracelet on her wrist.
"You're soiling a first edition, young lady."
Your head snapped up, and your eyes met those of an older gentleman. He wore a crisp suit, and while you expected anger in his eyes, he had an amused smirk. He crouched down and sat beside you. He pulled a book from the floor and showed you the few rain droplets that fell from your coat, scattered across the book's fabric cover.
"One must never put gossip above the knowledge of books," he chided. "Eavesdropping is unladylike."
"And sitting on the floor is unbecoming of a gentleman." You stared at him with a frost one would only find in a grown woman hardened to the world. "Every woman eavesdrops, sir. Do not blame them for what they hear. It's a man's own fault if he speaks and expects no one to listen."
The man's eyes narrowed, not with suspicion but with curiosity. He nodded softly. "Tell me then. What is it that you have learned?" He motioned towards the couple on the other side of the shelf.
You sighed, looking down to the floor. "He's married. Not to her. I could make an assumption and say she's his mistress. Judging by how comfortable they are, I assume they come here often. She laughs too much, and that bracelet looks like it's of much higher value than everything else she's wearing."
"I see." He nodded again. "Those two meet here every Thursday. He gave her that bracelet last week. His wife has no taste for books."
Your eyes widened. He already knew. He just wanted to test you—to see what you figured out on your own and how closely your deduction matched the facts.
"My name is Alfred," he said with his hand extended. "Alfred Bingham."
You stared at the gesture suspiciously.
"Come now, you mustn't forget your manners. Your parents would—"
"They died a year ago," you whispered.
Alfred offered you a somber grin. "Very well. And how long have you been a wanderer?"
You looked down at the floor again, pinching your fingers to hold back answering.
He put his hand on yours with a gentle squeeze. "Never give away when you are nervous. Or stressed. Or angry or sad. Emotions give us away at the cruelest times. If you want to be strong, act strong. Don't let them see it."
"Why are you telling me this?"
"Because I believe you are smart. Smarter than others may think. You have no ties to this world, but I am here to offer you one. I've seen you walking the streets, always listening, always watching. I think it's about time you put that talent to use. And I can help you with that."
You narrowed your eyes with a soft scowl. "Why would you help me?"
Alfred chuckled. "Think of it like a game. You are in my shop after all. It would do me no good to cast a pawn out to be wasted."
"Pawns are the first to be sacrificed."
"Incorrect," he patted your head gently. "Pawns, when at the last rank, can be promoted to a rook. Perhaps a knight. Even a queen. Do you want to last the whole game and become a queen? Or will you let the king defend himself?"
"Are you saying you're the king?"
"No, my dear. I design the board. And to design the board is to have absolute omnipotence."
✒✒✒✒✒✒✒✒✒✒
Arrow House was unnervingly quiet as you sat in the grand parlor, your posture rigid and unyielding in the high-backed chair. The dim light from the chandelier cast long shadows across the room, amplifying the eerie stillness. Across from you, Bingham lounged on the sofa, his body relaxed but his gaze sharp and calculating. He swirled a glass of whiskey in his hand, the faint clink of ice breaking the silence.
“You know,” Bingham began, his voice rich with mock amusement, “You made me wait longer than I expected.”
You tilted your head slightly, your voice devoid of warmth. “And yet, here I am.”
He chuckled, leaning forward slightly, his eyes gleaming with twisted delight. “Oh, how I've missed you and that biting tone of yours.”
“Why are we here, Alfred?”
Bingham laughed, a sharp, grating sound that echoed in the room. “You tell me. What have you deduced?”
You folded your hands in your lap, your demeanor chillingly calm. “There was a second bidder on this property. I can safely assume, now, that you were looking into it around the same time Thomas Shelby purchased it. Coming back here would mean you either intend to diminish its value or you want to use it as a bargaining chip.”
His grin faltered for a fraction of a second before he regained his composure, his tone mockingly patronizing. “A bargaining chip... And what do you think I'm bargaining for?”
You stared back at him, your eyes lazy and unamused at his prodding.
His playful façade cracked. He leaned forward, his tone dropping. “Mr. Shelby is going to great lengths to keep you in his possession. But you—just like this house, just like me—have a value. I want to see how much he values you. Would he give up the empire he's built for you? Or would he let you go because you simply aren't worth it.”
"I am in no position to understand what he wants."
"That is where you're wrong, y/n," Bingham chuckled. "Let this be another lesson for you to never assume the weight of a man's loyalty. Thomas Shelby is a man, and, in his pride, he could choose to have you—the woman who broke him down with hardly a lift of her finger, or he could keep his crown. One of us will fall, but I am the one with the one item of value that he will never find again. The woman he loves is not an item to be replicated. He will be broken if he loses you.
"And, dare I say, you love him, too. You love him enough to care for his family. Enough to let yourself be blinded, once again, to the follies of sentiment. This—" He pulled the ring from his pocket. "—Of all the things you could have looked for, it should never been something as pathetic as a token from a man whose pain and suffering were brought upon by you and you alone. You disappoint me, y/n. But I am offering you a chance to become queen again. All that stands between you and the crown is Thomas Shelby."
"What did you really want from me all those years ago, Alfred?" You suddenly asked. "For all this to be caused by a young girl who only needed shielding from the rain, I never understood why you held onto me all these years."
Bingham's smile returned. He placed the ring down, his expression slowly twisting into something more hardened. "I wanted you to be everything you should have been. My legacy. My confidant. My—"
"—You soiled your legacy the moment you touched me."
"I was never anything personal, y/n. That was a harsh reminder that, in the grand scheme of things, your body is a weapon. Not a gift. You were wasted loving Ezra. I needed to remind you being loyal to the man you loved would only be wasted time."
Wasted time. The phrase rang through your head like venom. He diluted your years with Ezra, reducing the bond you once had to an act. Then again, at the moment, you were wasting time. Buying time, more like it.
The tense silence was broken by the distant sound of gunfire outside. Bingham rose, his head snapping toward the window.
“What the bloody hell—” Pulling back the curtain slightly, his face darkened as he saw the Blinders closing in, moving with precision through the estate grounds. One by one, his men fell, and blood painted the gravel.
You remained seated, your voice calm and detached. “Checkmate.”
Bingham turned to you, his expression a mix of fury and disbelief. “You told them I'd be here.”
From the shadows, a familiar voice cut through the room like a blade. “No, darling, I did.”
Bingham's eyes scanned the room just as Polly Gray stepped into the light, a revolver steady in her hand. Her expression was one of pure, cold resolve.
“Well, well,” Polly drawled, her tone laced with venom. “Bingham, isn’t it? You're much... Smaller than I imagined.”
Bingham's hand instinctively moved toward his waist, but Polly cocked her gun with a sharp click.
“Ah, ah. None of that now.”
You stood slowly, your movements deliberate and composed. “Alfred, I'd like you to meet Polly Gray. I'm afraid she, like myself, has a habit of eavesdropping.”
Bingham sneered, his bravado faltering, but the expression of amusement returned. “A new game then?”
“No,” Polly said coolly. “I was never one for chess. I much prefer something more exciting.”
Before Bingham could react, you stepped forward with a swift and precise motion, slamming the butt of a small hidden pistol into the side of his head. He crumpled to the floor with a groan, unconscious.
Polly lowered her gun, giving you a nod of approval. “Cold as ice, aren’t you?”
You met her gaze, your voice steady. “Didn't want to get any blood on Tommy's carpet.”
Polly smirked, her eyes gleaming with pride. “You’ve been paying attention.”
The sound of heavy footsteps outside grew louder as the Blinders stormed into the house, each with a rifle aimed in different directions. Tommy appeared in the doorway moments later, his sharp gaze sweeping the room, taking in Bingham’s crumpled form and the two women standing over him.
Polly holstered her gun, nodding toward Tommy. “All tidied up for you, love. You’re welcome.”
Tommy’s lips twitched into the faintest ghost of a smile as he met your eyes. “Well done,” he said softly.
You looked down at Bingham. “Michael knows what to do?”
Tommy nodded, motioning to Arthur and John to remove the body. You released a long held deep breath as the tension in your neck shifted into an ache. You placed your hand on Tommy's arm, offering the gentlest of touches before leaving the room.
#thomas shelby#tommy shelby#peaky blinders#tommy shelby x reader#tommy shelby x you#tommy shelby x y/n#thomas shelby x reader#thomas shelby x you#thomas shelby x y/n#tommy shelby fanfic#peaky blinder fanfic#lunarflux#a game of ghosts lunarflux
42 notes
·
View notes
Note
I just remembered how sometimes I yell at Link when he does something that annoys me, like if I’m trying to walk across a really skinny plank but he accidentally walks off/falls off, or when I’m trying to run from an enemy but he starts climbing a tree instead. I’ll just be like “Link no! Get off the stupid tree omg ur gonna die!” Or “Link! Stop falling off the platform! I just wanna get to the top already!” Would he be mad at me for yelling at him? Sad? …..?
Then there’s an unrelated issue that isn’t his fault that my controller sometimes drifts, so he’s walked off cliffs before bc it was drifting slightly forward and I didn’t notice. The most annoying one on my controller is when the motion control stops working and I’m trying to aim my bow and arrow but it freezes so I have to quickly manually flick the analog stick so it works again but by then I might’ve already gotten hit. Is he mad at me for these problems?
Oooooooh! Then there’s the whole having to scroll thru the whole menu options when u wanna attach something to ur arrow. Ugh that takes forever! Like I wanted a bomb flower but now I want a keese eyeball and that’s all the way at the other end of the menu! Is he frustrated w that? (Ik technically it’s “paused” when I do that but let’s say he’s still conscious when I’m doing that it’s just everything around him is frozen in time. So like he’s just crouching there waiting for me to finally attach an eyeball lol).
Or what about the sages?? I love them all so much but trying to find them (and the right one when u have all of them) and activate their ability is sometimes annoying. I’ll want Sidon’s shield for a second but instead Tulin does his gust. Or when I’m just trying to pick something up he’ll blow it away lol. What does Tears think of that?
Sorry this got so long. I understand I had like 4 ideas in this ask, they all just came into my mind at once lol.
I think he'd get a bit upset over you yelling at him, he gets that you're worried that he'll get hurt but it's not always his fault? sometimes sure but it's just starting to hurt his feelings more than anything. when you're playing he's just a puppet in your hands and as much as he loves you he's still 'a person'. if you struggle to even put him anywhere near that position soon then well, it's not like you can yell at him again for it right? he doesn't want to upset you after all.
I don't think that he'd ever blame you for console defects like that, hell he could even be behind a good number of them, it's not your fault the game is buggy. The only time he could ever be bothered by it is is you close out of the game because its so buggy, if the game is getting to the point where it's bordering on unplayable he still can't blame you but it'll get under his skin so much more. is he not good enough for you? is his game not good enough for you to work through the glitches? don't be surprised if you can't exit the game or turn off your switch for a bit :3 surely nothing has gotten corrupted or broken beyond repair right? No he hasn't sabotaged it himself, how could he - why would he?
The menu is honestly pretty sucky at times for throwing items and sticking them to your arrows, besides from reshuffling it to get what you need to be closer to where you start scrolling from. I think tears is most likely to get irritated at the games own design for that, because it'd be so much easier for him to just grab what you needed from his pad to fuse it onto one of his arrows but he just can't, he's stuck having to abide by the rules of the game, watching you struggle with the admittedly awful UI Nintendo cursed him with. If he wasn't so stressed about you resetting him - or worse reporting your 'faulty' copy of the game. he'd take his own steps to make it better for you - maybe he'll even do it earlier if you carry on struggling like this. He just needs to get more confident about it <3
the sages probably mess with him so much, he wants you ALONE and now he's constantly got these guys running around him?? he's gotta interact with them to try and get his abilities (lwk this could make him more jealous of wild who gets to have you one on one all of the time) And most of the sages abilities are optional anyway so I mean, maybe you won't notice if he simply disables them right? he won't delete them outright so if you miss them you can use them but if you don't reactivate them? maybe he could.... so then it'll be just you and him, just link.
#so um#just monika doesn't work as well with link#something something syllables#shame :(#🐰 anon#linked universe x reader#yandere linked universe x reader#yandere linked universe#moss✦answers#link x reader#yandere link#linked universe#yandere lu tears#yandere lu x reader#self aware au#self aware loz
97 notes
·
View notes