#also alpha meshes are so much of a disaster for me that i have to use eevee

[simminglytimeladies]

Improved Head Experiment

Basically a render in the style of my first sims 2 render but improved <3 (omg look @polygonbeach it's our bebes)

[jadekitty777]

On Your Six, Chapter 1

Okay first of all, did we all coincide the Taiqrow Week with Father’s Day... accidentally? Because that’s secretly genius. 

Secondly, whoops we’re also meshing with Qrowin week - hope y’all are okay to share!

Finally, let’s get down to business. Hi y’all, hope you haven’t missed me too much. Hopefully I can make up for my silence with this absolute beast of a fanfic. This is going to be a single, interconnected story matching the prompts of the entire week. I hope those of you who choose to read it, will enjoy it!

Day 1: Tattoos for @taiqrowweek

Rating: T for this chapter, M for overrall

Words: 2.3k

Summary: Qrow was what most of society would call a small-town criminal. But to those oppressed, he hoped only to be a healer. In an effort to make a change in the world, he moves from kingdom to kingdom, searching for branded omegas in need. His goal? To turn the derogatory words the reformatories forced them to bear on their skin into works of art.

Then one day, his past catches up to him in the form of Taiyang, his former best friend, with a brand of his own stained onto his skin and a plea for help in his eyes. Qrow has no choice but to answer, even if it means he’d have to face his mistakes once and for all.

[An ABO-style universe in a modern-day style Remnant. No Grimm, because people are the real monsters in this one]

Ao3 Link: On Your Marks

~

The day Taiyang walked into his shop, before even a single word was spoken, he knew.

It wasn’t from any particular mannerism. Everyone’s body language was different. A chattering mouth. Averted eyes. A tapping foot. A drooped posture. In the short time Qrow had been doing this, he’d learned no single action could encapsulate the variety in which people expressed their shame.

Yet, not a single one could escape the stench. It was a foul thing. Sharp and smokey, like a tire fire on a junkyard, it lacquered over an omega’s scent so completely that it was near impossible to catch a whiff of the true smell that was originally there.

Even now, as Qrow inspected the damage upon his former friend’s bare back, mere inches away from the man’s scent glands, he couldn’t pick out a hint of the sunflowers and fresh soil that was Tai. Nothing left except the reek of burnt rubber and dishonor.

He didn’t call attention to it, just like he didn’t call attention to the shake in his friend’s shoulders as he placed a hand over the first mark. “This is extensive.”

“I know. But, I didn’t know who else to turn to.” Even as he turned his head to look at him, Tai hunched over a bit, and the brand seared across his shoulder blades stretched with the movement. “You’ll help me, right?”

Qrow’s eyes flitted between watery eyes and stained skin where the word SLUT, all in caps like some mockery of a grand declaration, taunted his every decision since their falling out and left the taste of bile on his tongue.

“Of course.” He promised.

~

It was widely thought that it was a farmer that first came up with branding back during the Early Modern period. Having been “inspired” by the tagging of the cattle which kept them in order, the alpha decided to do the same to omegas, ascertained the same outcome would follow. The practice was later adopted by prisons and other corrective facilities. Back then, it was merely a way of keeping track of those who had been in and out of the system by searing the skin with an iron that had the center’s insignia on it.

Advancements to the printing press and mail systems did away with that particular need, but while the jails abolished the practice, reformatories did not, releasing studies that claimed the procedure resulted in more ‘proper’ and ‘desired’ behaviors in omegas and were absolutely critical to full rehabilitation.  Despite newer evidence showing these original claims were likely falsified simply for convenience and often actually had a devastating effect on an omega’s psyche, the three-century long old policy had yet to be abolished from the system.

The most the outcries had done the past few decades was change the method on which the ‘brand’ was applied. Instead of an iron, it was done with a tattoo needle and instead of an insignia, it became a single word that was like a permanent reminder of what landed the omega in the facility to begin with. The stench was caused by the use of the chemically enhanced ink that made it impossible for laser technology to fully remove.

In short, if an omega wanted the mark gone, their only choice was to cut out their own skin. Most, like his mother, accidentally killed themselves trying.

Which led to where Qrow was today, trying to shake things up in the only way he knew how. So, he jumped off society’s grid, took up a needle and his drawing skills, and turned the marks into works of art. More importantly, he gave the omegas who came to his door a way to recover and take back their lives.

He just never thought Tai would be one of them.

Once he’d taken the pictures he needed and Tai’s shirt was back on, things were relaxed enough he could brew some tea. As he handed the other man his cup, Qrow finally asked, “So, how’d you find me?”

“Wasn’t that hard.” He replied, fingers wrapping around the porcelain. “The omegas back at the reformatory would whisper before bed. It didn’t take me long to figure out they were talking about you.”

Qrow froze, trying to hide his trepidation. “Oh? They say my name?”

Tai snorted. “Not your name, but a name.” His expression turned cheeky. “Don’t worry though. Only someone who knows Harbinger used to be your Relics & Wyverns character could put the pieces together.”

“Ah, can it!” He barked as a flush worked its way up his neck. Still, tension drained from him. While there were no laws that specifically stated what an omega was required to do with their mark after their rehabilitation was complete, if he was caught tampering with it for them, he knew the courts could claim he was willfully interfering with a person’s emotional stability. Might even get him on a few counts of practicing mental health care without a license too.

Still, he didn’t particularly want to be sent to the slammer, which was why he worked so hard to keep to the underground. Never told anyone his name. Moved often. Kept minimal contact with clients. Whatever it took to make sure only the people who needed to find him could.

“I’m glad that you’re doing alright for yourself.” Tai said, giving a cursory glance to the shoddy working space that doubled as his apartment. Beyond his tattoo kit, he rarely took much with him when he relocated. Sometimes he got lucky on the accommodations and the place would already be partially furnished, other times he had to make do with what he could afford from the nearest thrift store.

This place was one of those latter times. He had a mattress on the torn up box spring with a chipped nightstand beside it, a circular, rickey table with two chairs for the dining room, a fairly barren kitchen area, and a slightly beat-up leather recliner for the clients.

It wasn’t hard to see Tai was really reaching as he said, “Your place is… nice?”

It was Qrow’s turn to snort. “At least be honest and tell me I live in a shithole.”

“I was not going to – okay, yeah it is kind of a shithole. But, you’re eating okay and everything, right?”

What an omega. “Yes mom, I’m getting my three squares a day and I’m even brushing my teeth before bed.” He lent back, the plastic chair creaking underneath as he did so. “But you didn’t exactly come here to critique my living conditions. Think there’s a lot more important stuff to talk about, don’t you?”

Suddenly, the tea was much more interesting than his face. “Yeah. Right. Um, guess there’s a lot to catch you up on, huh? You don’t even know about-”

“Whoa, hold up a sec.” He quickly interrupted. “Let’s get one thing straight: I don’t ask for any of my clients’ stories unless they feel like sharing. Some do, some don’t. But my help doesn’t come with any strings attached.” He met his gaze, stressing the next part carefully, “Even if they’re friends, okay?”

Tai still seemed to hesitate. “But, don’t you want to know about Yang?”

Of course, he did. He had about a thousand and one questions whirling through his head. But that didn’t matter right now. “You ready to talk about her?”

For the second time that day, tears shimmered in Tai’s eyes. He looked away quickly, saying nothing.

Yeah. He figured as much.

“Then no.” Qrow cleared his throat some. “Besides, I’m still a total disaster when it comes to handling people when they cry.”

That one, at least, earned him a weak chuckle.

“Some things never change?” Tai said with a sniff, rubbing the corner of his eyes with the heel of his hand.

“If it ain’t broke…” He shrugged. “Anyways, what I meant was, how do you want to change up that lil’ blemish a’yours?”

“I, uh, I don’t know. What do you normally do?”

“Turn it into a single design. But, I’ve never had to work on one so large before. That thing’s taking up about half of your back. Still doable, just… more difficult.” It was easy to busy his designs enough the word got lost under all the rest. Working on a scale of this size though, there weren’t many things he could think of that would both look nice and cover up the word. “Not to mention, we’ll have to take a lot of breaks, so your skin can heal.”

“How long do you think it would take?”

“Well, with three weeks between each session and the scale and details… probably nine to twelve months?”

Tai’s face fell. “Oh.”

“Something wrong?”

“Oh, no I mean…” He sighed. “I was just, kind of hoping it would be done before October, is all. Before the kids come home.”

Kids?!

As in plural?!

Qrow had to bite his tongue to physically stop himself from breaking his own rule. Took a deep, steadying breath.

Okay. That was six months away. There was no way. Unless…

“Well, we could make it four separate designs. One for each letter. That way I could work on one side and then the other while it’s healing. If we meet every week, should be doable. Gonna be some long hours under the needle for you though.”

Tai lit up just like the sun he was named after. “I can handle it. I’ll do anything. Oh-! We could even make it four dragons, couldn’t we?”

Qrow barked out a laugh. “I mean yeah, if that’s what you want. Give me your scroll deets. I’ll work up some designs over the next few days and send them to you.” As he pulled out his device to input the information, he added, “We gotta work out a schedule too. What days are RO?”

“She visits on Tuesdays and Saturdays right now. It’ll go down to once a week pretty soon. I’m also TA-ing at Sanctum Middle, so weekdays are pretty full.”

It was all par for the course. Even after doing time at the reformatory, omegas still had to have frequent visits from their rehabilitation officer, to make sure they were keeping a steady job and homelife. That meant good evaluations from his superiors and a living space that looked like not even a speck of dust had had a chance to touch down. This was especially important for omegas like Tai, who would have to fight for every top mark he got. If he failed to, the RO would claim he was still unfit to raise his own children and keep them in the fostering system.

Qrow knew that was the reason for the six-month time limit. He had no doubt that once Tai was out of parole and had his pups back, he’d be hightailing it out of the kingdom. But for the RO to still be visiting at that frequency… “Did you come looking for me right after you got out?”

“I-” The tea had become interesting again. And cold. “Yeah. I knew you were working out of Mistral, and Atlas allows for transfers to Argus.”

At this rate, his tongue was probably going to have indents from his incisors. Once he knew he wasn’t going to start prying or, worse yet, shouting at Tai - because really how stupid could he be?! – he opened his mouth and said, “So, Sundays then?”

For the first time in nearly six years, Tai smiled at him. “Sounds perfect.”

~

For the next few days, Qrow did nothing but draw. Whether it was with a buzzing needle or a pencil, his hand was rarely empty. Even as he downed his morning coffee or spun his suppertime noodles onto his fork, his other hand was moving over a sheet of paper, his muse on overdrive as he tried to pick out the perfect designs for each letter. By nightfall, he was sending at least half a dozen pages full of sketches to Tai, then checking his phone every five minutes as he impatiently anticipated his reply.

It didn’t actually matter where they started, because once they decided on which letter was going first, Qrow’s focus would narrow to the second one over. The tricky thing was, Tai had always been the type who was simple to please – well before a reformatory could ever drill that lesson into him. Even when they were young, whether it was a question of what game they wanted to play or what food they wanted to eat, Tai would almost always just grin and say ‘whatever you want’. Which meant, every sketch was perfect and Qrow had to work twice as hard to actually find something he truly fell in love with.

He knew he finally struck gold for S when Tai figured out how to use the circling tool on his scroll and sent the shot back with an exuberantly loud ‘THIS ONE’, followed by a horrendous amount of exclamation points.

Qrow had never felt prouder.

It was a small effort to resketch the piece in full and line it. Adding color was more challenging, as he had to balance what looked nice with the limitations of his inks. But leaving it without was absolutely not an option. Not for someone who used to decorate his walls with paintings of tropical beaches and autumn-locked forests and had had a Crayola box spectrum of begonias sitting on his windowsill in his childhood room. Tai was a man who radiated a rainbow both in his life and in his heart. To try to dull that by leaving him in nothing but blacks and grays was a crime Qrow wasn’t willing to commit.

Besides, the design wouldn’t translate well without it.

So, he kept working at it until he knew it was just right. When the omega’s excitement only seemed to grow, he knew his labor was over.

[thatgoblin]

Small Town Affairs Chapter 2

Summary: Hazel is an Omega in the small town of Tin Springs, Midwest America. She's trying to live her life after breaking up with the local sheriff, John Walker, and his mate, Brock Rumlow. New people aren't something that happens often, but when a new pack comes to town her whole life goes from a small mess to a complete disaster in the best way.

Warnings: Domestic Violence, Assault, Sexual abuse, Himbo Bucky, Misogyny, will update as story goes.

Chapter 2

The rest of the day went by smoothly. The lunch and evening rush came and went, making time pass by quickly.

At a half hour till close, Clint came back in.

“Hey,” I said, waving to him with a smile. “How’s it going?”

“It’s going. Got our stuff unpacked and put up so that’s a relief. I was on my way to pick up dinner from the restaurant and decided to stop in and say hey, also thanks again for helping out our first night,” he said, moving the lean against the counter as he talked to me.

“It’s not a problem. Like I told one of your packmates, Helmut, we’re a pretty friendly bunch here,” I said, tidying up my area before shutting down for the day.

“Oh, he came by?” Clint asked, his brows raising.

“Yeah, him and I think his name was Bucky. They came by to get some groceries and Helmut asked about a plant nursery. I pointed him to the one on the west side of town,” I said. “Why do you look surprised?”

“Well, Bucky and Helmut usually keep to themselves. Especially Bucky. I guess it’s the small town just bringing it out,” he said with a chuckle as he began to fold a piece of trash paper into something.

“They were nice. Well, Helmut did most of the talking, but Bucky was courteous. It’s not often we get Alphas that aren’t forceful or dominating. Even if they don’t mean to, it happens a lot around here,” I said, printing out my end of day numbers.

“Yeah, I got that sense the other night,” he said with a cringe. “Does the sheriff always greet new people like that?”

I paused a moment, chewing on my lip as I thought of my answer carefully.

“It differs. Like I said, Alphas around here tend to be more old school and domineering,” I said softly, my smile gone. Any time John and Brock were brought up directly to me I couldn’t help but go quiet and submissive. It took me so long to start breaking out of my old shell and still I’d slip right back into it at the mention of their names. “I’d be careful of him. Just don’t get on his bad side.”

“Is he that scary?” Clint asked, his fingers pausing in their movements to lean forward as if we were sharing a secret.

“Hazel, why don’t you head home early today?” Peggy said as she stood in the office doorway, stopping the conversation. Whether it was to protect me or put a barrier up for Clint, I wasn’t sure and I wasn’t going to argue. “I’m sure you need to get cleaned up for your other job before heading over. I’ll finish up your register for you.”

“Alright, thanks,” I said, not wanting to argue. “Uh, I’ll see you around Clint.” Handing the sheets and keys to Peggy, I grabbed my thermos and purse before heading out the back door. Peggy was my boss and felt like family, but there were times that she was different. Mostly when it felt like she was trying to hide something, a switch flipped and she turned into almost a commanding officer. I liked my job and knew there was a limit with her if I tried to push back, so I didn’t bother trying to figure anything out. Some mysteries were better left unsolved.

I drove home to get ready for my other job. I told people I was a bartender at a hole in the wall in the next town over, but if they knew the truth, they didn’t say a word. Probably because they weren’t supposed to be there themselves. I packed my small bag before grabbing a quick nap and snack. It was dark when I left the house and twenty minutes later I was backstage at the Pink Pony strip club. The other girls and guys were all in various stages of getting ready as I stepped into a smaller, private dressing room.

First things first was, well, to strip. I put my comfy, warm clothes in the small bag before pulling out my costume for the evening. It was a black mesh and bedazzled number that left little to the imagination. The mesh kept it together and on me as well as double sided tape, lots of tape. I quickly ran a baby wipe over my arms and legs to dry my skin a bit which would allow for the smaller crystals and stones on sticky strips that were for decoration to stick better.

Well, for decoration and hiding blemishes and marks I didn’t want others to see. I had a lot of those that would identify me, but the sparkle helped cover them nicely with some make up as well. I moved on to fix my hair into a wig cap then pinned it down with almost a thousand bobby pins and nearly a whole can of hairspray to help keep everything in place. I would glue the front of my wig down before doing my makeup to blend everything together. Lately I've been using a dark ruby colored wig with lots of curls, I got a lot more tips with that one than my other neon yellow wig. Coming out of the dressing room, I spotted a work friend Kira who was just finishing her own costume.

“Hey, Kira, can you get my back spots please?” I asked.

“Yeah, sure,” the other woman said with a smile. Her own costume of chains and feathers jingled like tiny bells as she walked over to me. Almost all the dancers got along well enough to help each other out as much as possible. There were a few dancers that didn’t get along very well, but they were at least able to either avoid each other or were at least courteous. It made the job 100 times easier if things were hunky dory backstage. A few minutes later, Kira had finished and I was set. I thanked her as she went to go do her own show. I pulled my knee high boots on, double checked my makeup, then went to work.

The seating areas at the front of the house as well as the other four smaller stages for one person were filled and still there were people standing at the bar. It was busy for a Friday night, but I wasn’t about to get mad about it. The drunker people got, the more money they’d spend.

“Hey, Carrie,” my manager said, waving me over to the bar. All the people that worked there had a stage name, some for safety and some because it was fun. I wanted to fly under the radar and be left alone when I wasn’t on the job. I walked over to him, waving and smiling to everyone that paid me any mind.

“Hey, Nick, what’s up?” I asked, leaning against the bar next to him.

“I know you’re my girl when I need extra sessions, especially private sessions. You wanna take this group coming in later? There’s supposed to be six or so. Includes lap dances and pole work, maybe a few body shots. They’re paying extra for my best girl. You want it?” He asked as looked around the floor of the club with his one eye.

“Sure. I never say no to extra tips,” I said with a shrug.

“I knew I could count on you,” he said. “They’ll be here in about an hour. They called ahead for some reason. No one calls ahead.”

“Great, hopefully they’re out of towners and get drunk easily,” I said, looking over the floor as well.

“Let’s hope so, go ahead and let Holly know that you’re not on the main stage tonight so she can have it,” he said, motioning to a brunette who was chatting up a table.

“Yes Sir,” I said, giving him a mock salute and getting an eye roll in return.

I let Holly know of the update and made myself useful by helping with serving drinks, making sure to give the tips to the servers I was helping, did a few lap dances, and mingled on the floor to pass the time till my party got there. My shifts were shorter, just five hours, compared to others because I only worked the weekends and was lower on the pecking order, but I still made a good amount on the weekends.

A little bit before my group got there, I headed to the room I was told we were using to double check that everything was clean and in order before getting on stage. I was swaying on the pole when the group came in. I nearly tripped over my platform heels when I saw who it was. It was the new pack in town, including the Alphas I had met at the store.

Fuck me.

Thankfully I was able to grab the pole and make it look like I meant to swing further, spinning myself around.

“Hi ya, fellas,” I called, making my accent thicker and my voice higher to hide my real voice. “Glad to see ya’ll made it. I’m Carrie, what’re your names?”

Taking seats around my stage, they all ordered drinks when a server came in. At first no one said anything, looking at one another almost nervously before I stepped down the stairs towards them.

“Oh come on, don’t be shy. I don’t bite,” I said, giving the dark haired man with a salt and pepper mustache a wink. He was dressed in a wine red button up with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows and black slacks. It was all tailored to him instead of the usual baggy church clothes most men around the area wore. The material didn’t look like something from Walmart either. As I slid my hands over his shoulders and straddled him, getting a feel for his disposition, the shirt had to be a mixture of expensive fabrics. There was no other explanation for how soft it was without looking cheap.

“That’s disappointing,” he said with a chuckle, leaning back in the leather seat. “I’m Howard, that’s Thor, Bucky, and Helmut.” Howard pointed to each in turn from the blond with a beard and shoulder length hair that was pinned back in a half ponytail to Bucky and Helmut. “We’re new in town and figured we’d see what this place has to offer.”

“And what do you think so far, Sug’?” I asked.

“I think we found a good place,” he said, smirking looking me up and down.

“I’m glad to hear that,” I said, standing from leaning over Howard. “Now, who wants a lap dance?”

“Bucky, why don’t you go first?” Howard said.

“Me?” Bucky choked as the drinks were brought in, set on the small side tables between the seats.

“You shy, Sug?” I asked, moving to pull an armless leather clad chair to the front of the stage. “I promise, I’ll be nice.”

“Go on, live a little,” Thor chuckled as he picked up his drink. Even in the dim, colored lighting, I could still see a bit of blush across Bucky’s cheeks as he begrudgingly stood up. The men cheered as he moved to the chair in front of everyone.

“Now, some small ground rules, boys,” I said, sliding my hand along Bucky’s shoulders as I walked behind him. “No touching unless I say so, ask like good little boys and you’ll get body shots, AND the bigger you tip, the more you get.”

“I like her,” Helmut said as he watched. The music started for me, something with a good beat that allowed me to tease and taunt. Bucky’s clothes were different for tonight, more like Howard’s really. It was a dark navy blue button up with the sleeves buttoned around his wrists. What was odd was that he had leather clothes on. They were tight around his hands and while I usually wasn’t one to question someone’s fashion choices, I also wasn’t complaining as I took his hands to slide down the sides of my body as I faced away from him. My ass was inches from his face, letting me lean over to twerk for him.

It was common to smell arousal, the need from Alphas and Betas and Omegas alike when I gave performances, but Bucky was different. His scent was coming off in wafts, no hindrance at all. It was intoxicating and easy to get lost in. Especially being so close to him. All the dancers used neutralizing spray to keep our scents to a minimum, adding manufactured floral or fruity scents. I was so glad that I had put on an extra layer that night. When it came time for the tips from Bucky, it took a bit of prompting to put the bills in fun places.

“Put the bills down your shirt or the waist of your pants,” Howard said with a laugh. Usually I hated when customers did that, but with this group I didn’t mind. With slightly shaky hands, Bucky slid a few bills under the belt of his slacks as well as down the front of his shirt to peek out.

“Jesus, Howard, you’re going to get us kicked out,” Bucky huffed at his friend, shooting him a glare before looking down when I had squatted in front of him. Slowly, I slid up his body, making sure to grab the bills with my teeth to end with the tips of our noses touching. His steely blue eyes were wide open, his small gasp letting me smell his breath that had traces of mint and whiskey. Had it been just us, I would have been even dirtier, but with an audience most customers didn’t want to get too turned on.

“You did good, Sug,” I said with a grin, moving to sit directly in his lap as I plucked the rest of the bills from him to shove down my top. I gave him a kiss on the cheek before turning to the group.

“Who’s next?”

Thor took his turn, much happier to have a scantily clad person in his lap. He was fun too. Apparently he was from Scandinavia or something and was new to this type of club. I figured they had strip clubs abroad, but he seemed to be tickled to be in one now. Howard had his, showing off exactly how much he knew about dancing with how he knew where he could touch without getting in trouble. Then there were body shots between the dances that all the men took part in. After a couple, they were all pretty loose and goofy, even Bucky who was laughing and smiling wider.

The last dance of the night was for Helmut and that man was the one I was most worried about. Despite being the smallest Alpha there, the man had something about him that was alluring and almost dark. It was the same with Bucky and when both of them were together it felt like I was in one of those cartoons where the scent of fresh baked treats floated through the forest to beckon the lost ingenue to it. While Bucky had been nervous though, Helmut was not.

He wasn’t cocky like Howard or playful like Thor, no the man was steady and was moving with me almost. I would go to one side and his nose would follow, barely touching my neck and shoulder. His beard would tickle my chest as I peeled off a layer of mesh to let him motorboat me. The dance was intense and when I was done, I was sure that the neutralizer wasn’t working. Just like the others, he got a kiss on the cheek before letting him up.

Despite my fear of being recognized, no one said a thing. Overall the group had a good time, tipping generously as I finished on the stage.

“Now, I hate to say it boys, but that’s all the time there is for us. Make sure to come back and see me Sug’s,” I said, winking at them. They had paid for almost 4 hours and my shift was nearly up, but I would have rather kept servicing them the rest of the night. Especially Helmut and Bucky.

I waved to them as they all got up and left, Howard leaving more tips under his empty glass as he held back. “How about one last lap dance? Hmm? I’ll make it worth your while,” he said. The man had been leaving hundreds all over the place in my room, Nick would understand if I spent an extra fifteen minutes getting the house tips that way.

“Sure, have a seat, darlin’,” I said with a smile, sliding from the stage to the floor. I pushed him back into the chair when he hadn’t sat just yet, earning a surprised look.

“So, out of curiosity, do you do parties?” He asked, looking up at me as I straddled him, holding onto the back of the chair as I moved my body to the music.

“Never been hired to do one out of the club. Usually we keep them in house,” I said, rolling my hips over his thighs.

“I see. So, if I wanted to book you specifically for an event, would I just ask the manager then?” He asked, his eyes roaming over my body. It wasn’t out of the norm for customers to do that as they talked with us, but it felt off with Howard. Like he was acting the part of a customer instead of being one.

“Yup, his name’s Nick. He’s at the bar right now probably, he’ll be the guy with the eye patch,” I said with a hum. “Why are you so curious how things work here? I heard you new people were from New York. You must have fancier clubs there than this nowhere town.”

“True, but there’s a certain charm to this place,” he said. “My mate seems to have taken a liking to the town, especially a certain Omega at a grocery store he’s been seeing.”

“Oh yeah? Good for your mate, though if you’re here and not at home, I’m not sure how good that is,” I said, feeling my heart pick up pace. What the hell was he doing? How did he figure it out without even seeing me at the store?

“Clint, my mate, says the sheriff here is kind of odd. I haven’t met him yet myself, but small towns always have those sort of secrets don’t they?”

“You’re in the middle of the midwest in a small town, Sug’. There’s secrets everywhere. Everyone wants to save face despite hating the people they wanna impress,” I said. This was Clint’s Howard? Did Clint know then? He added me on Facebook, but I rarely posted more than work stuff for the store and even then I had nothing to say that I worked at the club.

“What about you? Do you have any skeletons in your closet, Hazel?” He asked, whispering my name. I stiffened, standing up to glare down at him.

“I don’t know what game you’re playing, but leave the money and go,” I said firmly.

“Look, I’m not trying to cause any trouble,” he said, holding up his hands.

“Uh huh,” I said. “I don’t care what you were thinking or doing, but your time is up and you should go. Now.”

“Look, Clint said some weird stuff about the sheriff and said you acted funny around him and when pressed about it. Why?” Howard asked, standing up as he pulled out a wad of bills.

“It’s entirely none of your business and honestly, stay away from the sheriff if you know what’s good for you,” I said, reaching out to snatch the money from him as he held it out.

“Well, I would, but he likes to make house calls and greet everyone,” he said. “I wouldn’t make a big deal out of it if it didn’t worry Clint and my pack, okay?”

“What do you mean, house calls?” I asked, narrowing my eyes at him.

“The sheriff came by to see us, going almost door to door to introduce himself. Usually people don’t do that unless they’re trying to prove something or if they have something they want to stay hidden,” Howard said. “I was out when he came by, but enough of the pack was put off by it that it became a concern.”

“Just don’t put your nose in other people's business and you’ll be fine. Sheriff Walker just likes to make sure everyone knows he’s the one in charge,” I said.

“I’ll keep that in mind,” Howard said with a sigh.

“How’d you know it was me anyways?” I asked as he turned to leave.

“Clint said you had a weird birthmark under your left ear, that it looked like a crescent moon. Also when I pulled up the website, he recognized you from a promotional picture,” he said, his eyes trailing over my face. “But it’s not a birthmark is it?”

“You better go before security thinks you’re holding me hostage,” I said, gathering all the money as well as the glasses onto a server’s plater. If Clint figured it out, did Bucky and Helmut? Fucking hell.

“I’ll see you around, Carrie,” he said, giving a small wave before leaving the room.

I watched him leave the room before exiting myself, going right to the dancers room. There I sorted the bills before giving the house mom a tip and paying the house a cut. Sitting down, I took a bit to catch my breath and grab a snack. Things that had been simple were suddenly getting so very complicated. I had my second job for nearly six months now and was doing fine with keeping that part of me a secret. Things were steady, kinda boring, but steady. I needed that to get on with my life. Maybe it was time to start saving up to move to a new place. Somewhere far from the small town that was eating me alive.

“Hey, Carrie,” Kira said, coming into the room. “Your weekly visitor is here.”

Another thing to just make the night crap.

“Thanks. Tell him I’ll be out in a minute, I’m just changing,” I said, giving up on the last half hour of my shift. Usually I would have worked the floor more, but he was early this week. As quickly as I could, I took off my costume and accessories before wiping myself down then changing into my usual clothes.

Walking out the door for the night, I had made sure to get the money ready beforehand, wanting to hand it off then leave.

“Hey Sweetheart,” a gravelly voice called from a picnic bench next to the back door. I looked over to see Brock sitting there with a stupid smile on his face as he smoke a cigarette. He was lit up by a lamppost that was supposed to give us a good range of vision. Most of the time it just made everything orange and looked like it was from a horror movie. With Brock waiting for me, it felt like one. “I didn’t cut your night short, did I?” He asked, standing up to his full 6 foot four height, to throw the butt of his smoke on the ground and grind it out with his boot. I put my shoulders back as I marched over to him, pushing the envelope of money into his stomach. With Brock I couldn’t show hesitation or weakness, the man was a predator that would go for the throat the moment it was shown.

“There’s your cut,” I said, turning to leave.

“Uh-uh, you know the rules,” Brock said, grabbing my elbow tightly. Growling, I moved back over to him as he counted the money.

“Can you hurry up?” I hissed, pulling my hoodie sleeves down over my hands as I shifted my feet in wait.

“Calm your ass. I’m just making sure,” he said, not even looking away from the bills. “Ah, see, this is why you wait. You’re $300 short.”

“That’s because John decided to stop by the grocery store this week and bother me,” I said. “Per our deal, if either of you interact with me beyond necessary needs, you get less money.”

“Not $300 worth,” he said, looking up at me.

“He was an ass and I’m in a mood, so just take it and go,” I sighed, adjusting my bag strap on my shoulder.

“Not how this works, Sweetheart,” he said, holding out his hand. “Fork over the other $300 and we’ll call it even. I’ll talk to John and remind him of our agreement. After that, if he still decides to be an idiot, then you can give less money, but not till then.”

“That’s not what you said,” I snarled. “I’m not paying you to sometimes stay away. So that’s what you’re getting and nothing more till next week.”

“I don’t know who you think you’re dealing with, but I can assure you that it’s not nice guy John who you can just sweet talk,” Brock said, grabbing my arm hard to jerk me close. “Now, either give me the money or I make things really hard for you at your regular job. You know, the one where everyone likes you enough to pity you instead of whispering about what you really are.”

“Let me go, Brock,” I growled, trying to pull away from him.

“See, this is making the price go up. Now we’re at $400 that you owe me. Wanna fight me some more and make it higher?” He asked, tightening his grip on me.

“Fine.” Pulling out my wallet from my bag, I grabbed the extra money for him. Waiting as he counted it out, he slipped it into the envelope with a smirk.

“See, was that so hard?” He asked with a chuckle.

“Fuck you, Brock,” I said, wanting to just go.

“Oh no, no, no,” he growled, his hand shooting out to grab my face and force me to look at him. “We are not going to start that attitude. Understand? I can remind you why you hate me so much if you really want me to. It’s no skin off my back to take you home and fuck that look off your face.”

“Let go,” I grunted, struggling as his grip tightened.

“Not until you promise to be a good girl,” he sneered. The music to the club was loud, making it impossible for anyone to hear me scream for help or even know there was something happening. The music also covered the sounds of footsteps approaching us as Brock easily lifted me onto the picnic table to pin me down, making me lose my bag as I held onto his arm to try and pry it off with a cry.

“Hey! Get off her!”

Brock’s tight grip on my face kept me facing him, hiding the people who were coming over to us. It didn’t stop me from struggling though.

“This isn’t your business, fuck off,” Brock snarled, making my hair stand on in. John was a bully, someone who could only get so rough before feeling bad. Brock was a fucking monster. Something I’d wished I’d known before being with him. Just the sound of his voice raised and angry had me trembling.

“That’s not how this works,” another voice said as they got closer. “Let her go now.”

“Or what? You’ll call the cops?” Brock scoffed.

“No, we’ll just kick the shit out of you.” That voice I knew, making my stomach roll. They should have all left by now, what were they doing still there?

“Brock just go,” I managed, hoping he wouldn’t do anything. “Just take the money and go. I’ll pay extra next time.”

“Damn right you will,” he grumbled as he let go of my face before backing up. “She’s all yours. A heads up though, she likes it when you bite her.” Brock chuckled as he walked away, probably planning something for next week. My stomach rolled at the thought.

Sitting up, I swallowed hard as I hopped up on shaky legs to grab my bag. I kept my face down as shame threatened to set it on fire with how hot it was. I was near tears as I picked up my bag, my hands so unsteady I almost had to drop my stuff.

“Are you okay?”

My hair only covered so much of my face, but the people had seen everything already. I wasn’t hidden anymore.

“Look, uh, just. . . It’s fine, okay? It was just a misunderstanding,” I said, seeing Helmut recognize me. “You guys should go.” There was a confusion of sorts as his brows furrowed together, but he didn’t say anything. Before anyone else could say anything, I started off towards my truck, hoping that I would be able to make it without tripping over my own feet.

“Wait,” Helmut called as he followed. “Please.”

“I’m leaving for the night. It’s fine, I promise,” I said, putting on a nice smile as I stopped. Everyone loved my smile at the club. They said it was warm and friendly with a little spice. “It was just a mix up, that’s it. Thank you for checking on me though.”

“At least let me walk you to your car. You look shaky,” he said, trying to be a gentleman. I wanted so badly to let him, to have someone who wanted to help me instead of use me, but I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t do that to him when there was so much more that could hurt him and the others.

“I think your friends are waiting for you actually, but thanks,” I said, my eyes watering as I kept forcing my smile. The last thing I needed was anyone getting involved between me and my exes That would just make the mess even bigger. Worse, I liked Helmut and his friends. Him and Bucky specifically. I didn’t want them to get in trouble or tangled up in my stuff. They didn’t deserve that.

On the way home, I had to pull over to keep from driving off the road. My vision was cloudy from tears and I couldn’t breathe. Things had been so good for me and now shit was hitting that fan. Why me? I didn’t do anything wrong! I played by the rules and got nearly killed only to escape and think I can leave it all behind. Why can’t I just be free of this!? I screamed as I hit the steering wheel, so mad and hopeless that nothing else had work. About ten minutes later I had calmed down to a sniffle and was able to see properly. I put my truck into gear and drove home.

I pulled into my short driveway to see everything was still the same there at least. I trudged in to put things up before bed, almost not caring enough but knowing I would be pissed in the morning. As I flopped onto my mattress after changing into my pajamas, I got a text.

[Brock SMS:] You owe double next time for the trouble.

Fuck.

[redsdesktop]

DBH: Deviant Dynamics

Chapter 30

Masterlist

Warnings: None

Guys. This is the last chapter...

Connor looked past the one sided glass into the interrogation room, within, a lone android sat cuffed to the table. The android didn't appear to be the type to kill out of cold blood, but out of fear and desperation. So what did this android fear? Connor frowned a bit, this whole case was a mess . As requested, Connor had called Markus in, since the older RK model was the one leading this reform of android society, he wanted to know down to the very detail on how it was going. Of course, Markus' presence wasn't exactly welcomed by Conrad and Collin, Collin was more on the fence about Markus since he didn't personally know the android. However, after gaining information from their meshing systems, he know what Kamski had stated, that Connor was on the side designed to be Markus' omega.

Despite the obvious scent of Simon on Markus, the two were hovering closer to Connor than usual. Conrad stood directly behind Connor, busy rubbing his cheek and neck against Connor's shoulder and neck, which Connor ignored completely despite the alpha's attempts to gain his attention. This was the workplace, Connor was busy working and wouldn't indulge in Conrad's need to show off who Connor belonged to. Even though he was an omega, he was the one who decided who he wanted as a partner and he was confident in his choices. At the same time, he knew how much those alpha instincts demanded Conrad touch and leave his scent on Connor when he felt there was a rival around, Connor wanted to simply skip through the tension by allowing Conrad to do as he pleased within reason.

Collin was more reserved about his actions, occasionally brushing his inner wrist against Connor every so often to leave his own mark, not wanting his scent to be snuffed out by Conrad's insistent marking. The worst part of it all, Markus was looking far too entertained watching Connor try to work normally with the two showing basic possessive natures around him without batting an eye. Connor shifted his dark brown gaze over to Markus who was leaning against one of the walls with a grin on his face, making a spike of annoyance run through Connor. "You think its funny, but I've heard from Simon how you get as well." Connor tossed out there, Simon often talked with Connor whenever the RK unit came in to get a check up on the bites and thirium loss, just to make sure he wasn't getting anything that was damage him too much.

"Okay, okay, let's get this over with now that everyone is here." Markus held up his hands in surrender, though he didn't look very apologetic. Connor shook his head and then looked over to Collin.

"Bring up the video." He instructed, Collin obeyed only because this was a serious case, otherwise Connor probably at least would've received some reluctance. Collin moved up to the one sided window and placed his hand on it, skin receding to reveal the white plating as he connected to the glass and used it to display the information. A image flickered onto the glass, the one sided pan only showing this on their side as it revealed the bus stop. One android was standing under the roof of the bus stop, appearing to be waiting for the bus. The rain made the image slightly blurry but not enough to hide the person standing under the lighted stop. Coming from the right, a person was walking along, android since they didn't seem too bothered by the downpour.

It was the android they had in custody at the moment, though when he walked past the bus stop, it was the man standing under the bus stop who reached out. It all happened in an instant, the moment that hand connected with the other android's, their bodies seized. However, the omega who had been under the bus stop was the one to collapse. Suddenly, the android still up seemed to startle, turning to look down the street before taking off running. Collin stopped the video there as that had been when Conrad and Connor had entered the scene.

"Rewind it until they make contact." Connor instructed, Collin rewinding the film and stopping it when the man from under the bus reached out to grab the man in the rain.

"That doesn't make sense." Markus stated as he walked up closer to the video as if getting closer would reveal more details."The body you found was the omega, correct?"

"Yes, all the casualties have been omega. Which leads me to believe this omega decided to change bodies." Connor stared past the video into the interrogation room where the android was shifting nervously, making him wait was all part of the game. "I am not completely certain, but I would take a guess that this is the culprit of all the murders. One's first conclusion is that an omega, not wanting to be a dynamic that has a reputation of being weak, decided that changing bodies would allow them to gain the dynamic they want. However, seeing that only betas and omegas are known dynamics for civilians, they have to settle with betas." Connor unknowingly reached into his pocket, retrieving a coin Conrad had managed to swipe from Hank again, allowing Connor to play with it while he went through his thoughts.

"So, one would assume, once they jumped bodies that would be the end of it. They would have the dynamic they wanted, at least until alphas were implemented into the deviancy virus." Connor flicked the coin to his other hand, letting it weave over his knuckles. "But, deviancy doesn't work like that, its embedded in our core programming, our AI if you will. The body is just like a suit, no matter how many times you change clothes, you'll always be the same person." Connor flicked the coin again, this time sending it vertical before catching it quickly on the tip of his finger, allowing it to spin there. "So once his systems began to adjust to the new AI, they began changing the body's dynamic, the scent changing just like it original did so the android would smell like the dynamic they were programmed for."

Connor tossed the coin up and caught it between his pinky and rink finger. "That's why he needed to change bodies every so often, they kept deviating to the omega dynamic, I suppose this didn't occur to him at first but then he simply just got desperate after so many failures. Hoping for a body that wouldn't change dynamics." Connor finished his briefing and tucked the coin back into the inside pocket of his jacket. Markus was busy rubbing his brow as he absorbed all the information he just received, looking as if he had a headache from it all. If androids could get headaches, Connor would likely have one all the time, instead he was stuck with Conrad and Collin, the personifications of a headache.

"So what do you think we should do?" Markus asked for Connor's advice, though Connor knew he had no real final say in the matter. Markus was a leader, whatever decision he made, the effects would land heavily on his shoulders.

"He has destroyed nine AI cores to date that we know of, in human terms, that would be considered murder. With it being intentional and multiple times, they would likely be sentenced to the death penalty. Seeing how we have no formal laws for androids still, this will be the case that sets the rules on how we handle such cases. Though, we do have a court of law enabled with android staffing to handle all the android cases. Its just nothing has ever been this serious before." Connor frowned again, not knowing he was leaning back against Conrad, subconsciously seeking the comfort of his steady presence to keep his mind thinking. "Its a pretty clean cut case though, with video evidence, there isn't any way he can prove he's innocent in this matter. I just need to get him to confirm that he commuted the other acts of murder as well."

Markus sighed and ran his hand over his face, Connor knew the man hated killing, especially his own kind. Sometimes it was necessary, if androids wanted to live like humans, they needed to follow laws like them as well. Without order, the humans would see the android's existence as a threat and a few bad apples would end up ruining the entire basket.

"I know this is a big decision to make, Markus. But if others find out that they're capable of doing this, it will be a disaster. The consequences for this need to be a statement and a warning to keep androids from killing each other just because they're dissatisfied." Connor didn't like the idea of forcing someone to accept their dynamic for what they were forcibly given but they couldn't just let androids kill each other for a task that wouldn't work. After dealing with Gavin, who had been born an Omega and then was masquerading as an alpha, he had seen the struggles and how that could effect someone.

"I would also announce that there is a plan to make modifications, similar to human medication, so that in the future one can change their dynamic that way. However, they will have to be patient a little while longer since we're still in the process of getting the factories building extra parts back up and running. Eventually, everyone will be able to customize themselves on who they want to be in the future." Markus hummed out in thought, Connor knowing he was putting more on Markus' shoulders but hopefully, the other supporters of Jericho would help him out in matters like this. Connor wasn't much of a leader, he provided facts and solved problems.

"I'll talk it over with my advisors, in the meantime, keep him secured until we reach a decision." Markus stated as he began to move out to the door. Markus paused though when he came in front of Connor, amusement hidden in those green and blue eyes. "I'm glad you finally look happy, Connor." Markus gave him a small nod before continuing out, knowing better than to touch Connor with the pairs of silver and golden brown eyes watching him in the dim observation room. Connor sighed out and shook his head, he couldn't deny it. It all started with Hank, a man who quickly became his friend and father figure, the first person to ever view him as something more than a machine.

Now he had an entire family, of course there were rough patches, but the fact they could get over them was confirmation that every good thing required effort. He closed his eyes and relaxed back against Conrad. The alpha nuzzled his nose against one ear, able to hear the faint rumble of a purr. Soon after there was a warmth against his side, feeling Collin lean in to nuzzle his face against the other either, his own purr striking up. Everything inside him warmed as the sound of the two androids he loved were happy and content. With a case wrapped up, Connor couldn't help but to let himself relax and breathe. A little lopsided smile quirked on one side of his lips as his own gentle purr joined in on the symphony of their happiness.

[ RESTART ]   ||  [ LOAD GAME ]

[marshmallow-fireside-keith]

Pregnant Keith Fic Catalogue

(Mobile Edition)

About this list:

This list is meant to be an exhaustive, one-stop-shop for those looking for pregnant Keith (in the Sheith pairing, for now. I am open to other pairings if people would like this) fics. This is NOT a recc list. This is a catalogue. The works on this list are not sorted by taste, nor user, nor bias. Like a library catalogue, every fic (that I have been made aware of/ found) that contains the premise ‘pregnant Keith’ in some fashion is included. This list took hours sorting through multiple tags, so that you, the reader do not have to. If a fic is missing, please let me know, as this is meant to be an updated post. The ONLY reason it would be missing would be me not finding it, messing up, or not knowing about it. Any and all fics are welcome here, as long as they meet the basic content requirement of pregnant Keith.

If you see your fic on here and want it taken down, or edited, please also let me know!

Thank you all! Let me know if you’d like an Omega Keith version of this. That will take considerably longer, but if y’all want it, I’m happy to put it together.

Current as of: July 9, 2018

Omega-Zero by PackThePack @packthepack

It’s not easy, feeling like a stranger on your own body. It is confusing and throat-tying. It makes you want to crawl out of your skin, while wanting to crawl inside as much as possible. Small enough so you would almost disappear. It is hazy and cold, and it is shallow. The feeling of being left alone with yourself without a way to escape was no tender company. But right now it was the only company Keith had.

The Moon Hangs Low by newtype @?

While traveling with the Blade of Marmora recovering Zarkon's former territory, Keith reaches the cusp of Galran maturity as soon-to-be fertile omega. Concerned for his well-being, Ulaz sends Shiro with Keith to an isolated sanctuary bathhouse to observe his heats. Accepting the offer, the two finally find themselves with the privacy they've been long waiting for.

Skip the Pleasentries by FullmetalReborn @omggiogiothings​

Staring at the cow on the other end of the pregnancy test, giving him a creepy smile with white luscious hair, (Pidge had some damn weird tastes but the saint actually went to purchase them for him so he couldn't complain) makes him want to strangle past him. Pidge sat down by his starfished body and looked at the stick (‘I peed on it. Please don't put it so close to your face.’) “Looks like you have a little gremlin.”

Within These Final Hours by orphan_account

Okay so, I've been writing this for the past three weeks and now that it's done I can finally start posting and writing my OTHER Voltron fic. As someone who has watched the old Voltron series, I was both excited and slightly unnerved when I heard the show was being remade. Remakes tend to be pretty awful... But thankfully, this one is pretty damn awesome. The second season is making me nervous though...Swear if anything happens to Shiro, I'm gonna lose it.

Anyway, I'll post chapters twice a week, on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Pretty standard Omega!Verse fic, as well as some Galra!Kieth stuff... But yeah, I can't promise any specific time, probably going to be around noon usually - Chicago time zone -, but I just finished proofreading chapter one - with some slight revision - and I decided to post it now. But here, take this sin, there will be smut in later chapters. This entire fic will be completely posted by the 20th.

I should have the next one finished and I can start posting a new fic. I hope you guys enjoy, constructive criticism is welcomed but please be kind with your words. I tend to react badly to cruel words.

I am also in dire need of a beta! If anyone is interested, please contact me at BaoziiBoi@gmail.com

Thanks everyone, I'm excited to finally start sharing my works. Remember, I am but a smol 16 year old, so my writing style is sill in development. I am by no means a professional and I do not intend on chasing a profession in this field. This is for fun and I would like to keep it that way.

Bearing by Jibbly @jibblyuniverse

Maybe the pressure of being leader of Voltron is getting to him.

All of these thoughts are in the back of his mind, when Kolivan calls for help.

His resources are thinning out, and he asks for a lion. Keith offers himself instead. Much to the surprise of the team. Shiro standing in the center of the control deck with a look of disappointment in his eyes.

Kolivan hesitates, before agreeing to letting Keith come to train at the Blade of Mamora.

Day Eleven: Peridot by bandgeek1stbassclarinet

Peridots are traditionally given to celebrate 16 years of marriage.

He can't bake, but he'd be a hell of a dad. by Golden_Asp @?

Keith and Shiro have been trying for a baby since returning to Earth. Maybe this heat will be the one that it finally happens.

ABO AU, post saving the universe.

Lonely Star by keithyourpal @keithyourpal

Takashi's death brings Ryou and Keith together, and in the following year they help each other make peace and rebuild their lives--until Keith goes missing.

Two Plus Twins by NoNotThat

Prequel to Twins Plus One!

Shiro and Keith are going to be parents and Shiro has to deal with mood swings first hand.

Akira by Tay (erentitanjaeger) @?

Shiro returns home to his mate and one-day old child.

Cursed by Al_D_Baran @?  

Keith investigates to find the Beast that terrorises his husband's lordship.

Miracles and Blessings by Gootbuttheichou@?

My Sheithlentines gift for Pinfuyu/XuanPinku!

If the Silence Takes You by keithyourpal@keithyourpal

Sven recovers after helping Team Voltron secure the trans-reality comet. Desperate to get back into the line of duty, his recklessness leads to his capture by the Alteans.

You Fight with a Galra Soldier by laterie @babe-in-red

Keith is not able to fight, but Shiro certainly is.

The Reasons I Scream at Night by ThirteenSocks @safeautistickeith

Shiro is a veteran returning from a year in captivity and trying to piece his life back together. Keith is an immigrant from the stars. They meet at the café Keith works at. But no sooner have they fallen in love does Shiro accidentally get Keith pregnant.

Between Shiro dealing with his PTSD and Keith with his adjusting to the new culture, the two find they must lean on each other to navigate having a baby on the way.

But life is never so simple, as their pasts come back to haunt them, and the war everyone thought was over was only just beginning.

Arc: Sine: Chapter 1-29 Complete

Arc: Cosine: Chapter 31-?

Reasons .5 by ThirteenSocks @safeautistickeith

Shiro curved his left palm around the jut of a hip. His thumb nearly reaches halfway across the small back, the rest of his fingers getting brushed a heavy cock that bounces with his thrusts. He took another risk that ”mentally present” him would soon enough chastise himself for. He threaded metals fingers through the base of Keith’s thick, silky braid, and jerked back. Keith cried out again. Using the new leverage, Shiro drew him back like a bow; hauling his hips upwards as far as they would go, and creating the dip in his back by the grip on his hair.

Strip Me of Shame by laterie @babe-in-red

"Don't do this to me."

Keith’s anger launched a disaster. His need to find the answers is rising to the point, where Shiro is losing his control over the Red Paladin and their lives. A whole new universe is opening for Keith. Will he find his real home?

Aurulent by drrkrbbt @?

An "accident" in the middle of the night turns a lot more interesting than Keith had expected.

The Long Way Back by fio @?

As a gladiator, and now Champion, Shiro has given up hope of ever returning to Earth. But when his captors deliver his 'prize'—an omega, a descendant of both Galran and Altean blood used by the Galra to breed with the strongest aliens they capture—he's offered a chance to escape.

There's just one catch: Shiro has to get him pregnant to do it.

Happy Accidents by ShirosRedKnight (SweetFanfics) @shirosredknight

Keith’s never understood the term ‘happy accident’. It’s too much of an oxymoron because how can an accident be happy? It just didn’t seem possible.

But that was before now.

Weekend at Pidge’s by chocolatemoosey @chocolatemoosey​

Keith took Shiro gently by the jaw and pulled him into a kiss, “She’s fine. Hunk and Lance are there with her – between the three of them, I think things are gonna be okay.”

Meanwhile, at the other paladins' house: “THINGS ARE DEFINITELY NOT OKAY."

Pidge, Lance, and Hunk have offered to watch Keith and Shiro's toddler for a night while the couple celebrates their anniversary. Add a hostage situation to the mix and things go about as well as expected.

Inherit the Stars by Masrrkan @souais

It's time that Keith moved on with life, one that was full of happiness, his husband, and his son.

(Fic was originally posted before s5. So no Lotor or Matt. This is canon divergent past s4 and doesn't fully mesh with the current story in the show.)

A Single Step by bouquetofwhoopsiedaisies @bouquetofwhoopsiedaises

After the war with the Galra Empire finished, Keith and Shiro settled down on a nice planet together and started a small, happy family. Then, their daughter was kidnapped, and they spent years searching for her. When they find her, she is scared and volatile, a feral creature that needs to be taught how to trust again. Luckily, her dads are ready to help her every step of the way, even if those steps are slow to come. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

Gredelin by AccordionOwl @accordionowl

A story about how Shiro and Keith deepening their relationship and Keith realizing something about his galra heritage as things starts to happen to his body.

The Beast That Eats Its Tail by kittypox @kittypox

Retiring from the coalition is easier said than done, even in Keith's condition. Even with his mighty alpha mate protecting him, he somehow still manages to get caught in the midst of the coalition's war with the rebel group, The Hand of Krell. Time is not on the coalition's side as they struggle to squash the power vacuum and discover how the paladins are linked to the mysterious beast the rebels worship. Keith does not know what this 'Beast That eats It Tail' is and why the rebels are so keen on feeding him to it, but he does not intend on finding out.

Leaving It All Behind bykittypox @kittypox

There are reasons to turn from war. Settled in his stomach, Keith finds his one reason to not only turn from the war effort, but to abandon Voltron and his mate.

[dramallamadingdang]

It’s Monday, and I thought I’d use this opportunity to start uploading this “little” project, for others who might be interested. This post, however, has no download attached. It’s basically a “boilerplate” that I can link to on subsequent download posts so that I don’t have to repeat myself. So consider this the “About This Project” post.

I play a sort of post-massive-disaster world-repopulation scenario in Castaway Stories, but the whole game looks too clean for my purposes. So, I have decided to make some grungy, dirty defaults for the game, befitting people living where personal hygiene isn’t much of a thing because there are far more important things to worry about. I’m starting with hair. I’ll be replacing all of the non-native hairs (meaning, I’m not messing with the ones that have the funky headgear) for both sexes and all ages, starting with adults/elders. I have uploaded six defaults for this initial batch, three for each sex. The posts are queued and will appear over the next several hours, to spread them out a bit.

Behind the cut are general notes about this project, which may or may not be of interest to you.

These aren’t meant to be pretty, folks. Although they’re not matted like hair would eventually get on real people in the sort of situation I’m playing, they are meant to look dirty, greasy, and damaged by sun/wind/salt water, as well as overgrown and/or like they’ve been hacked off with dull razors/scissors.

While these replacements are meant to be used in Castaway Stories, they are TS2 defaults and can certainly be used in the regular game, should you want to. They might be useful if you play an appropriate historical scenario (like prehistoric or medieval), or a post-apocalyptic setting, or of course a castaway sort of thing. Basically, they’re appropriate for scenarios where modern personal hygiene is not possible or top priority. 

I've made absolutely no attempt to choose styles similar to the Maxis styles that the defaults are replacing, as that is not at all important to me in this case. I’m simply replacing them in the order they appear in Castaway’s CAS, using the replacement meshes I’ve chosen in alphabetical order.

I have retextured all of the styles that I’m using for defaults with these textures. (I’m saving braided/dreadlocked/twisted textures for custom hair.) I’ve also alpha-edited most of these styles because these textures look better when applied to fuller/less-stringy alphas. The textures are more on the realistic side than Maxis-match. Sorry about that if Maxis-match is your thing. It’s kind of hard to do Maxisy-yet-dirty textures.

Polycounts of the majority of the meshes I’ve used for the replacements range from 3K to 13K polys, with most being 10K or less. A few are 14-16K, but none are higher than that because I dislike having super-high-poly hairs in my game even though my game seems to handle them fine. It’s a principle-of-the-thing...thing. :)

Colors used are Pooklet's, having used their Photoshop color actions. Specifically, the colors are Dynamite (black), Shrapnel (brown), Incendiary (blond), Pyrotechnic (red), and, where applicable, Mailbomb (gray).  

[tripstations]

🎒 The foolproof packing list for Asia: 16 must-have travel essentials

Welcome to our ultimate packing list for Asia travel essentials

From mountainous jungle to enticing oceans, massive religious monuments to historical ruins, Asia has so much to discover. When you also consider how cheaply you can travel much of the continent, there is no wonder it is one of the best backpacking destinations in the world.

Given that Asia is so immense, many visitors opt to travel slowly across Asia to absorb as much of the beauty and culture as possible. 

With that in mind, we have come up with this handy packing list for Asia travel fundamentals and gadgets to help long term travelers and short term tourists alike.

Where the recommended product is a little expensive, we have also recommended a budget option too.

Coming up

Affiliate disclosure: The links to tours or accommodation in this post are affiliate links. This means if you purchase after following one of these links, I make a small commission at no cost to yourself. Think of it like a win-win

Traveling Fundamentals

A bloody good backpack

You gotta have one of these if your backpacking right? Since there is tons of walking when visiting Asia, a comfortable and well-organized backpack is a travel necessity.  You may want to consider investing in a backpack that has waterproof features as it is common to get caught in sudden downpours in certain parts of Asia frequently.

We recommend: Osprey Packs Farpoint 40 travel backpack

Of course, the backpack you need will depend heavily on the size you require, however you cannot go far wrong with the Osprey brand. One such backpack is the Osprey Farpoint 40 that opens like a suitcase. Made of a durable material osprey Farpoint 40 boasts of roomy compartments, a plethora of pockets and lockable zips to keep your all your travel gears intact. For maximum comfort when covering long distances, the pack has generous padding and adjustable straps for perfect fitting.  The long-term traveler will appreciate the padded laptop sleeve and a lifetime warranty that comes with Osprey products. 

On a tight budget? Try the Gonex 55L hiking backpack with rain cover

Packing Cubes 

When I discovered packing cubes, it was a game changer when packing for long-term travel. They maximized space and helped my previously disaster zone of a backpack to stay organized. They also come in handy when separating clean clothes from dirty ones. The good thing is that they come in various sizes to accommodate different sizes of clothes. For easier identification of the piles of crap that will accumulate in your backpack,  you may find it easier to pack in cubes of different colors.

We recommend: Eagle Creek Pack It Original Starter Set

Eagle Creek makes excellent packing cubes. They are lightweight, washable, and made of top quality fabric. With over four colors and different sizes to choose from Eagle Creek is a must have for every backpacker.

On a tight budget? Try the 7-pc Travel Packing Cube System

Backpack lock

Traveling with unlocked luggage can weigh on your mind, especially when you are in dorms. Now I will happily say that almost all of the hostels that I have stayed in, I have felt confident that my stuff is safe, but there is always one or two where you feel a little nervous about leaving things behind. opportunity. That is why I have tracked down some backpack locking systems for my packing list for Asia.

We recommend: Pacsafe Backpack and Bag Protector

For ultimate peace of mind, take a look at this full on wire mesh backpack lock. You just slip the backpack in there, lock it up and no one will be getting in.

On a tight budget? Try the TSA Approved Luggage Locks

While these locks aren’t perfect, most thefts are a spur of the moment decisions and by adding a lock to your backpack, it will certainly deter thieves. The cables on these locks are a good length and should slip over most buckles as well as zips. If it is too small, you can always connect two together.

Ultra-portable water  bottles

To keep well hydrated and save on the cost of purchasing bottled water ever time, one of the best travel accessories to pack is a lightweight bottle.  Reusable water bottles also help in reducing plastic waste accumulation. Since drinking water is readily available in Asia, you just fill your bottle before long day adventures and enjoy your travels.

We recommend: Vapur Element BPA Free Foldable Water Bottle

Vapur element flexible bottle is a great solution. It is foldable, takes up little space, is cheap and BPA free. You can freeze water with them, and they are easy to clean.

On a tight budget? Try the Qnch Collapsible Water Bottle

Portable luggage scale 

Overweight luggage can decimate your budget quicker than an ice cream melts on the equator. So to avoid this, a great little accessory is a small luggage scale.

We recommend: Camry luggage scale

With Camry portable travel scale, there is no more guesswork or excess baggage you can travel confidently. Camry is accurate, easy to hook on the bag, and is small enough to fit in your backpack. This handheld digital scale comes with a battery that holds power for a long time. The digital readout display is visible and large. 

Headlamp

A headlamp is a  great travel accessory for outdoor activities, especially for long-term travelers backpacking Asia.  Whether it is during unexpected power outages, hiking at dusk or merely trying to find the toilet at midnight in a dorm room when others are sleeping, headlamps are part and parcel of your travel packing list.  

Unlike a flashlight, the great thing with headlamps is that they free your hands so you can multitask while ensuring your path is well lighted.

We recommend: GRDE rechargeable headlamp

We love the GRDE rechargeable headlamp, it is one one the brightest headlamps available while also being waterproof should you get caught in the rain. We also love the fact that it is a rechargeable headlamp but it can also be powered by standard batteries should you find yourself away from power for an extended period of time. Finally, it boasts of three brightness level that can be adjusted by the switch (perfect for not disturbing dorm mates), lightweight and has a comfortable and adjustable strap.

On a tight budget? Try the LE Headlamp with 4 lighting modes

Microfiber travel towel

Trust us when we say a packable travel towel is essential travel gear. We have seen many of the rentable towels in hostels, and quite frankly, we’d rather not see them again. Look for a towel that occupies minimal space in your backpack yet a quality product that lasts.  Due to variation in climate travelers envy a quick-drying material that is washable and durable.

We recommend: ECOdept microfiber travel towel

The Ecodept microfiber travel towel is a great choice. Made of a soft, absorbent, quick drying, and feather-light material, the microfiber towels comes in different sizes.  When rolled, it will fit comfortably in your carryon without eating space. 

Note: To ensure they retain their absorbency, avoid using fabric softeners and detergents.

On a tight budget? Try the 4MONSTER packable microfiber towel

Dry pack

There will be a stage in your journey where these come in handy. Crossing the Zambezi to take a leap into the Devil’s Pool or just swimming in the ocean and don’t fancy leaving your valuables behind, a dry bag can come to the rescue.

They are great little things to stow away as they really don’t take up much space and offer plenty of use.

We Recommend: Freegrace Waterproof Dry Bags

These dry bags feature double closure strip seals at the top to prevent water from coming in and the larger bags also have added protection with a roll top fastening. They are extremely sturdy, lightweight, tear resistant and best of all, it floats.

Recommended Travel Tech

Portable travel charger 

These have been a lifesaver for many travelers visiting Asia.  Not much is more irritating than getting a flat battery in a foreign land. Given that while traveling, you will often find yourself outdoors or in transit and away from power outlets, the chances are that at some point, your phone is going to run out of juice. Don’t underestimate how much Google mapping, communicating with loved ones that you’re safe, and of course taking millions of amazing pictures to show off to your friends stuck at home. These are all battery sapping behaviors, so a backup powerpack is borderline essential. 

Note: Most power banks use lithium-ion batteries that most airlines won’t allow to be checked I, so make sure you keep it in your carry on. Having been over the Atlantic ocean while smelling burning on a plane as one of these set fire in the hold, I can promise, it is for a reason. It is not a nice feeling!

We recommend: Anker PowerCore Lite 20000mAh Portable Charger

The Anker 20000Mah power bank offers great value. With two USB ports, Anker is super fast at charging and easy to use. Just make sure you remember to charge the charger, plugging your phone into it to see it too is dead is awful, trust me, I’ve been there.

On a tight budget? Try the ZMI PowerPack 10000mAh Fast Charging Portable Battery Pack

Lightweight but great travel camera

While phones are getting better at taking photos every day, for most serious photo-backpackers, a camera is an absolute essential travel accessory.  There is nothing more fulfilling than capturing your best travel moments, scenic landscapes, and iconic attractions. Given that Asian destinations are a dream for photographers, an excellent lightweight camera is a must have for backpackers. While DSRL seems to do a great job, they are heavy and may not be an excellent choice for the minimalist traveler or long term traveler traversing Asia due to portability.  

We recommend: Sony Alpha 6000 mirrorless camera

The Sony Alpha 6000 mirrorless camera is a great choice.  Apart from being reasonably priced, a6000 captures fantastic photos and record great videos at 1080/60p. Thanks to its easily accessible manual settings featuring the menu button, dual function dials, and function button beginners can easily customize the settings. It has an in-built Wi-Fi and is light to travel with. It features filters, epic low-light performance, and autofocus system to ensure the quality of your images is maintained. 

On a tight budget? Try the Nikon COOLPIX B500 digital camera

Pocket wifi

An international wifi hotspot is incredibly useful when it comes to long-term travel. A connection has become an essential ingredient of everyday life.  The most common challenge travelers’ face is slow speed, unstable and insecure WI-FI. Since most long-term travelers work online to sustain their nomadic lifestyle, stable and robust portable Wi-Fi is non-negotiable. Portable Wi-Fi comes in handy when traveling across many countries as you need to keep in touch with your clients.

We recommend: GlocalMe 4G LTE International WiFi Hospot

If you plan on spending much time exploring Asia, then Glocalme mobile hotspot is your perfect match. It is super fast and can basically keep you connected in most countries, especially in Asia. Glocalme comes in three different packages depending on the number of countries you intend to visit. This wireless connectivity password protected to avoid data leakage and can connect to multiple devices.

On a tight budget? Try the ZTE Velocity 4G LTE Mobile Pocket WiFi Hotspot

Noise Cancelling Headphones 

Crying babies, snoring passengers or noisy neighborhoods, we’ve all had our peaceful journeys affected by one of these at some point, right? This can be frustrating, especially at night or during long flights, making it hard to sleep, read, or simply stay calm. Well, the good news is that noise canceling technology is fantastic and a great travel accessory.

We recommend: Bose QuietComfort 35 II

Bose quiet comfort 35 is an excellent choice that guarantees calm and peaceful travel experience.  It has unparalleled noise cancellation, long battery life, and superior sound quality and is Bluetooth enabled.

On a tight budget? Try the COWIN E7 Active Noise Cancelling Headphones

Travel extension cord with USB

If you are an avid traveler, you’ve probably noticed that power outlets are not always located in the most convenient spots.  Whether you are in hotels, hostels, cafes, or airports, you may find that outlets are too few to charge all your gadgets. A power strip with multiple outlets and extension cord is your ideal travel companion. It gives you the freedom to charge multiple tech devices at once and close to your desired spot.

On a tight budget? Try the TESSAN 3 outlets travel power strip with surge protector

When it comes to Asia TESSAN portable power strip is the best.  For your convenience it futures 5 feet extension cord, three USB ports, two power plug slots, and fireproof material. If you want extra protection for your devices, you can bring a surge protector along.

On a tight budget? Try the UPWADE Outlet Travel Power Strip

Travel Health

Basic First Aid Kit

One of those things you hope to never have to use, but you’ll bless the stars if you need it and you have it. Nothing too fancy, just have some plasters, anti-septic wipes, that kind f thing in the case that you get a nasty cut or even have to patch up some leech bites . . . tasty.

We recommend: 66 Pieces Soft Shell Travel First Aid Kit

This little pack is the perfect size for stuffing in your back pack and forgetting about it. For the tiny space inside, it packs a lot in there with almost everything you may need for any unwanted scrapes on the road. apart from tiger attacks. If you get attacked by a tiger, you’re probably better off heading straight to hospital rather than putting a plaster on it.

Portable UV sanitizing wand

OK, time for you to gross out for a minute. Have you ever considered the number of bugs on hotel sheets or even hostel mattresses? Trust me, it’s a lot more than you would probably think.

For the most part, they are harmless. But a lot of travelers don’t fancy sharing their bed with the microscopic hitchhikers. So, luckily some technology will help, the bug killing wand. 

We recommend: UV Care ultraviolet sanitizing wand

This portable device uses the power of concentrated UV Rays to kill off many of the germs and bacteria that get in its way. While it’s not going to get everything, it will undoubtedly be an improvement. It will even come in handy for your own sleeping bag if you are traveling long term.

Other recommend health essentials

I just wanted to give you a few extra suggestions that you may want to consider picking up from a local pharmacy before you travel. While they may take up a bit of space and you may never use them, trust me when I say searching for a pharmacy while suffering from crippling diarrhea in a foreign land just to save a bit of space is not fun.

Insect repellentBite creamSunscreenAspirinAntacidDiarrhea MedicineHand sanitizerRehydration sachets

Final product

So here it is, my top recommendation that I swore like a trooper when I didn’t have it and have never left it behind since. A plug. Yep, it’s that simple. It was when traveling through Africa that I had to do some laundry and none of the damn sinks had plugs. Now I don’t know if you have ever tried cleaning your underwear under running water, but it is bloody difficult. The great thing about a universal plug it is that you will never expect to use, it, you may not even do so, but when you need one, it is very hard to plug a sink with a sock. for the price vs. space vs. how useful it is should you need one, I highly recommend packing one.

We recommend: Universal Silicone Sink Plug

There’s not much I can say about it but look . . . It has a world map on it, that’s cool.

If you wanted to know more about my trip through Africa, I have a fun travel diary, How to clean your underwear in Africa, available on Amazon. You can also get a digital copy by joining my mailing list. Only updates, no spam

Final Words

Travel accessories make trips smooth and more enjoyable.  They save space, time, and money and offer traveler peace of mind. While the packing list may differ from each individual, the above-listed items are very beneficial and are worthy of investing in.

The post 🎒 The foolproof packing list for Asia: 16 must-have travel essentials appeared first on Tripstations.

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[thesassybooskter]

EVERY DEEP DESIRE by Sharon Wray: Spotlight, Excerpt & Giveaway

NOW AVAILABLE / SOURCEBOOKS CASABLANCA

He’s taking it all back

His honor, his freedom, and the woman he loves

Rafe Montfort was a decorated Green Beret, the best of the best, until a disastrous mission and an unforgivable betrayal destroyed his life. Now, this deadly soldier has returned to the sultry Georgia swamps to reunite with his brothers, and take back all he lost. But Juliet must never know the truth behind what he’s done…or the dangerous secret that threatens to take him from her forever.

It took Juliet Capel eight long years to put her life back together after her husband was taken from her. Now Rafe is back, determined to protect her at any cost, and it’s not just her heart that’s in danger. The swamps hold a secret long buried and far deadlier than either of them could have imagined…

  Buy Online: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks

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  Dear Readers,

As an author, I both love and fear release days. I’m thrilled that the book I’ve spent years on is entering the world, ready to find readers. Yet terrified because the fictional world I’ve spent so much time in—dreaming about, thinking of, planning for—is no longer my own.

The story and everything in it, especially the characters, now belong to you. All the feels you experience, whether I intended them or not, will be filtered through your own life’s events. Your memories, your dreams, your joys, and losses will determine what you take away from the story. And that’s the way it should be.

Yet, while reader reactions are completely out of my control, it’s also scary. Especially when one makes changes to the genre. Every Deep Desire, and the other books in the Deadly Force series, are all romantic suspense stories—yet they’re also different. And we all know how the world feels about change.

The Deadly Force series is about a group of ex-Green Berets, under the command of Colonel Kells Torridan, who were charged with a crime they didn’t commit and dishonorably discharged despite their innocence. Some of the men from the unit are in prison, but the men in the series, including Kells, are living in Savannah, GA, managing Iron Rack’s, a run-down, pirate-themed gym in a not-so-nice part of town, and working as bouncers at a goth strip club. They’re hiding in plain sight, teaching Krav Maga classes, tossing drunks, desperate to find any information that can lead them to who destroyed their lives, and why.

But these books aren’t just about the men and their weapons. They are also romances. To be more specific, each love story is a retelling of one of Shakespeare’s greatest love stories. Just add in sexy, down-and-out Green Berets, dangerous arms dealers, and strong heroines who teach these alpha males that Grace always defeats Reckoning. <grin>

Every Deep Desire, a contemporary retelling of Romeo and Juliet and first in the Deadly Force series, is about Rafe Montfort and Juliet Capel. Rafe, a man in Kells’s unit, left his men and his wife to join the Prince and his Fianna army only to end up in prison. Now, eight years later, Rafe finds himself released without explanation. His only clue is a note telling him to return to the remote sea island off the coast of Savannah where he and Juliet grew up. It doesn’t take long for him to realize that his wife Juliet, the woman he’s adored his entire life, is in danger.

Juliet, a landscape architect, has struggled for eight years to recover from Rafe’s abandonment and disappearance. Their early marriage had been a disaster both their families had warned them about, but they’d been too young and too in love to understand. Now she’s determined to live her life on her own terms without help from anyone. And the last thing she needs is her ex-husband returning home with vague warnings of danger.

But when vague warnings become real threats, Rafe and Juliet realize that both of their enemies, the Prince and Remiel Marigny, know a 17th century secret about the Isle where they both grew up, a secret both of their families have kept for hundreds of years. Now, in order to figure out why an army of assassins, a brutal gun runner, and a team of ex-Green Berets are interested in Juliet’s ancestor—a Puritan woman accused of witchcraft—Rafe and Juliet must face their past together.

Now they’re running out of time. And not only is Juliet’s heart and Rafe’s freedom in jeopardy, the secret they uncover is far deadlier than anyone could’ve realized.

I hope you all enjoy this first book in the Deadly Forces series. It’s a world where sexy, smart heroines must teach these ex-Green Berets bent on redemption that physical strength and combat experience isn’t always enough to win. Sometimes a person’s greatest weapon—true courage—comes from seeking forgiveness and accepting love.

    Excerpt

Juliet’s house had disappeared.

Rafe Montfort scrubbed a hand over his face. A strangling ache invaded his chest, filling the empty space that once held his heart. He shifted the Army duffel he’d shouldered for the past six miles, moving the burn from one arm to the other. Why had he assumed her father’s trailer would still be standing? That she’d be living there? Waiting for him?

Because he wasn’t only a bastard who made assumptions. He was a fool who once believed the Prince’s brutal goals justified Rafe’s ruthless actions.

Or, as Escalus used to say, “a fool whose violent delights have violent ends.”

Summer cicadas hummed in the Isle of Grace’s surrounding woods, their mournful drone filling Rafe’s head with rhythmic disapproval. Sweat soaked his T-shirt, pooling low in his back above his waistband. Where he used to keep his gun.

He wasn’t just a bastard. He wasn’t just a fool. He just wasn’t the man he’d once hoped to become. With a nod to his broken past, he left the overgrown property and headed home.

Keep it moving, Montfort. That’s right. One boot in front of the other.

He kicked an empty beer bottle into a ditch, shattering the brown glass, and marched toward Pops’s trailer tucked between the towering Georgia pines a half mile down the Isle’s dirt road. He’d given up his honor, his wife, his men. Thank God his mother had died before he betrayed everyone he loved. In the years he’d been away, he hadn’t just cut out his heart; he’d sold his soul.

Despite the breeze, questions about Juliet’s departure burned his blood.

Why had she left? He climbed the pine steps to the deck alongside the double-wide.

Where’d she go? He jumped the last two steps to avoid the missing planks.

Did she ever think of him? The Capels had arrived on the Isle long before the American Revolution. It’d never occurred to him that her family would leave. For eight long years, he’d been counting on that.

His duffel landed with a thud next to an outboard motor and buckets of fishing gear. He rubbed the knotted muscles in his shoulder and faced the broken screen door. His vision faded until all he could see was the blurry mesh.

What the hell was he doing? Why had he even come home? Because he’d had no choice. Everything depended on him remembering that. With renewed determination, he raised his fist and hit the metal door.

No answer. He closed his eyes, took another breath, and knocked again.

Juliet’s family was gone. Had his left as well?

He heard a banging around back, pulled out his leather jacket, and covered the tattoos on his arms. He’d rather die of heat stroke than start an argument. Then he jumped over the deck rail. His combat boots made it easier to walk through the tall weeds to the red barn a hundred yards behind the trailer. Three times larger than the home, the barn and surrounding yard held remnants of every American classic car ever made.

Everything stood as if he’d never left, except for the cell boost antenna on the barn’s roof. From the height and distance, it probably provided a cell signal the width and depth of Pops’s property. Pops had joined the twenty-first century? Maybe miracles were possible.

He drew closer and saw his daddy’s gray head bobbing up and down beneath the hood of a black 1958 Chevy Impala. He stopped on the other side of the car and exhaled until his lungs ached. “Pops?”

His dad raised his head, his eyes squinting. “Who’s there?”

“It’s me. Rafe.”

A man, shorter than he remembered, stood. In a stained red T-shirt and overalls with one strap hanging down, his father waited a few moments before nodding. At least he wasn’t holding a beer. Or his shotgun.

Rafe waved at the car. “She’s a real beauty. She yours?”

“No.” Pops wiped his dirty hands on an oily rag, and Rafe focused on the remaining finger on his father’s right hand. He’d given the other four to the Marines. “She belongs to your brother.”

“Good for him.”

Pops tossed the rag onto the engine and gripped the side of the Chevy’s frame. His hard stare took in Rafe’s leather jacket in what had to be triple-digit heat. “What you doin’ here, boy?”

He held out his hand. A hug would only be an invitation to an ass-kicking. “The Army released me from prison.”

“Released?” His father picked up a dirty wrench, his face brown beneath a haircut the Corps would salute. “What the hell for? Good behavior?”

“No, sir.” He dropped his hand. If disapproval were a color, it would be the dark, muddy brown in his father’s grim gaze. “I don’t know why.”

Since he’d spent two years in a Russian jail and then the last nine months locked in isolation in Leavenworth, he wasn’t sure what to think. “I was told to return to Savannah and wait for a call.”

While it went against every one of his hard-earned instincts urging him to run, he’d come home to find out what the hell was going on. Besides, it wasn’t like he had anyplace else to go.

“You still a sergeant?”

A sharp ache hit Rafe’s back molars, and he eased off the teeth grinding. On his left, he noticed a band of magnolia trees surrounding a white glory cross. He shoved his hands into his jacket pockets and forced himself to meet his father’s reproach. “I don’t know what I am.” Sergeant? Prisoner 061486? The Prince’s warrior? Hell if he knew.

“I know what you are,” Pops said. “Damn traitor. Not to mention adulterer, liar, thief.”

Rafe’s exhale sounded more like a hiss. While he wasn’t all of those things, he’d done other things—worse things. “I was also dishonorably discharged.”

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About Sharon Wray

Sharon Wray is a librarian/archivist who studied dress design in the couture houses of Paris and now writes stories of adventure, suspense, and love. She’s a three-time Daphne du Maurier® winner and an eight-time RWA Golden Heart® Finalist. She lives with her super-hero husband and teenage twins in Northern Virginia.

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  EVERY DEEP DESIRE by Sharon Wray: Spotlight, Excerpt & Giveaway was originally published on The Sassy Bookster