#and find myself somewhere with nothing familiar and nothing to ground me

[thebisexualmandalorian]

I know I bitch about Louisiana and its politics and its weather all the damn time, but I love it here aside from those two factors. I want to share my home with everyone, but it's so exhausting combating the stereotypes and everything else constantly, especially in leftist spaces.

[onelittlespiral]

FML: Loop

I woke up with a start.

My head was killing me. What did I get up to last night? I was supposed to just hang out with a buddy of mine. But there is no way this is his place. For one, the room around me is bare. Just grey carpet and white walls. I mean, he’s no designer but I would at least expect a lamp or a tv or a dresser. Something. I start to get out of bed when I notice myself. I am nearly nude, stripped down to an unfamiliar jockstrap. Definitely not a good look for me. It’s kind of tight and I am quickly growing self conscious of my body on full display. What is going on? I start to look for my buddy, but quickly realize there isn’t any door to the room I am in. The barren walls leave no means of escape. Panic sets in. I begin shouting for help, searching for any hidden means of escape. The headache is only intensifying, and before too long I am sat back in the bed.

I try to remember the night before. I had been out with some buddies downtown, we had gone to a new bar none of us had been to…what was it called? I don’t know, something that probably should have clued me in that it was a gay bar. I knew the two other guys swung both ways but I was uncomfortable the whole night over in the corner. Some guy came up to me though, what was his name? N… started with an n. Suddenly, the lights in the room go out. A strange sound begins to play, as my headache vanishes in an instant. As colored lights fill my vision, I feel as though I am falling through the air. I am aware of each moment that passes as I pass into nothingness. Then, everything goes black…

I am usually not a dreamer, and when I am they are quite simple. But something was different that night. I dreamt that night of a vast sky and a falling forest. I was surrounded by animals and trees, plummeting towards a ground that did not exist. I tried to explore the sky, but could not find a place to land. What I did find was a bear. A beast of the forest. I watched its magnificent fur streak through the sky. Suddenly, it turned its attention on me, and pounced.

I woke up with a start.

My head was pounding. Man, what happened? I scratch my face and look around. I kept scratching. My stubble was irritated, I should make sure not to cut it so close to the skin. Around me was just a bare room. No windows, no doors, nothing. I got up to look around, nearly falling over as I did so. It was so strange. I felt like somehow I was taller than I was before and- AHH- headache was hitting. I sat back down on the bed. As I try to relax, I take stock of myself. It’s only then that I notice what I am wearing. Or rather, what I am not. Only a jockstrap hangs loosely around my waist, the rest of my body is on full display. I feel a bit self conscious about showing off so much of my lanky body, so I wrap up in the blanket on the bed. I sit and try to recall what happened last night. I had been trying to go… somewhere. With… Nick, maybe? But I don’t know why, I don’t think I knew him. He wrapped his arm around me and I just felt safe. God, everything was an absolute blur. Without any other options, I shout out for someone, anyone to give me some help. And the room seems to respond. In an instant, the lights go out and a sound that I can’t quite place but seems somehow familiar fills the room. Then, the lights go harsh, blinding me as I hear a faint hiss all around me. A sweet smelling gas hits my nose, and I am falling down, down, down…

I dream that night of food and the gym, a cacophony of metal plates and frying meats. The dream feels heavy. There is resistance and strain to lift every well-earned bite to my mouth. All the while, a sweet smell wafts through the scenes, one that drives me to push harder and eat a little bit more.

I woke up with a start.

My body and head were aching. What happened last night? I looked around the room and felt a strange feeling of deja vu. This was, like, so weird. As I moved to get up, my body felt sluggish and bloated. Looking down, nothing seems out of the ordinary. I flex a little to feel my fat pecs and biceps swell. Yeah dude, this pump is pretty sick, even for the day after… after… after what? Suddenly, a migraine hits like a bus. Fuck, I’ve got to turn down the lights in here. I fumble around trying to find the switch, but I notice that the walls are bare. No light switch, no door, not even a closet. Damn, really wanted to put something on other than this jock strap… wait, what jock strap? I feel my bare body and the skin tight jock trying to hold back my cock. As I brush against it, it begins to come to life. It feels so sensitive as I gently run my hands over it, but as it continues to swell a thought enters my mind: this is all wrong. The jock, this dick, the room, my body. What is happen-AUGH! I hold my head as I fall to the floor in pain. My mind is being bombarded with conflicting sensations of pain and pleasure as my now throbbing member shoots through the pain with insatiable lust. My mind is trying to grab for memories that aren’t there. Memories of this room and how I ended up here. Memories of friends and family who I know must be there but I can’t quite picture their faces. Memories of why I feel so strange in this large, bulky… awkward… strong… sensitive body. I let myself feel my chest and rub my perky nips. All I can remember is a man’s face, pulling me into this room. As I continue to rub with my thumbs, swirling fur between my thumb and chest, the pain begins to subside. God, they’re just as sensitive as my cock now. Continuing to rub with my left hand, I move my right down to my dick as I rub the first drops of pre around my fat mushroom tip. A faint moan escaped my lips. The rest may feel wrong but this feels so right. I am forced to release all inhibitions about what may be happening. This feels sooo good I can’t focus on anything but my own body. I am about to start stroking when the lights begin to flicker. Not again!… again? I feel something curl around my left arm, holding it in place, then my right. They lift me over to the bed, where I am then locked in by my ankles. I try to fight back, pull myself out of whatever contraption I’m in, but to no avail. A helmet is coming down from the ceiling, locking my head in place and obscuring my vision. A prick at the base of my neck turns my body limp in an instant. A screen in front of me flickers to life, and the patterns it plays are so… strangely… soothing. My mind lowers resistance as I feel myself falling down… down….. down.

I have strange dreams like I never have before. Dreams of flashing lights and pulsing music. Bodies that morph and swell. Hair and sweat and muscle mingle together in a cloud of lust and musk. Years passed by in that place. Somehow I feel at home.

I woke up with a start.

My head was throbbing, begging for my attention. What was I up to last night that left it this excited? My balls were heavy and aching. I knew that if I didn’t get some relief now, it would just be a distraction all day. I reached down and pulled my pipe out of my damp jock strap. A heady scent wafted up from the soiled pouch. My cock was already slick with pre, so I slowly began rubbing my hands over my plump, mushroom tip and girthy member. It wasn’t long before I was pumping with one hand while rubbing the other up and down my pelt of fur. I found a rhythm, some short thrusts while twisting one of my nips, that was driving me wild this morning. It was not long before I busted a nut, shooting my load over my broad torso. I relished the sensation of rubbing my cum into the forest of fur on my belly. Satisfied, I got up, and walked over to the corner of the room where a fresh tank top and jeans were laid out. I slipped them on, feeling them hug my curves and fur and muscle, sat down, and waited

It wasn’t long before my helmet dropped down. I carefully pulled it on and strapped it in place. It was so safe and calm in my helmet. So perfect. As it whirled to life, I gazed eagerly into the colors and listened intently to the strange sounds. I felt a tickle move through my spine as my muscles relaxed and flexed, relaxed and flexed, growing by command. I couldn’t help it as my eyes went cross as my memories stretched and changed like putty. I remembered playing the circuit party scene, partying hard and fucking harder. I remembered cruising through my twenties, playing the apps in my thirties, all to end up with my partner now, Nicholas. He was my world, my joy, my play thing. We dated for years before I proposed in 2015. And now here we are, years later, and it was as though I was falling in love with him for the first time. But my libido was being raised through the roof, and my tender love was turning to lust. I needed him, legs up, ass lubed now. The thought of his mouth working magic on my shaft was driving me wild.

I didn’t even notice when the helmet has pulled away, I was lost in my fantasies. Until he spoke.

“You just gonna sit there babe?”

My beautiful boy was laying across the room from me. In an instant nothing else mattered, I dove across the room to feel his soft lips.

He grunted his approval, “Fuck, look at you!” He ran his hand through my fur. I flexed my biceps for him so he could feel my muscles. He playfully grabbed my nips and twisted, a moan escaping my mouth before I grabbed him,

“You aren’t supposed to do that without permission,” I growled.

He chuckled and rolled his eyes, “oh like you don’t love it.” He made another grab but, this time I caught his wrists and pinned him down under my weight,

“Try that again and it’s a rough night for you. I don’t have to give you what you want.” I rubbed my crotch against his.

His eyes went big and sad, his signature puppy dog eyes. “Please, I’ll behave,” he said before giving me a wink. He knew I couldn’t say no to him.

I pulled back and ripped off my tank top. I let him kiss my torso as I unzipped and pulled off my jeans. It felt so right to be here with him. I couldn’t imagine life any other way. I grabbed the lube and rubbed it generously over my shaft before I flipped Nick over.

“Ass up, boy. Daddy’s coming home.”

[pomefioredove]

HIII I SAW THE FLIRTY PROMPTS EVENTS AND RAN HAHA

Can I please get "You're a shy little thing, aren't you?" with Rook please???? 🙏🙏🫠🫠🤍

anon this one is PERFECT omg screaming...

summary: "you're a shy little thing, aren't you?" type of post: short fic characters: rook additional info: romantic(?), reader is gender neutral, reader is not specified to be yuu, Rook being a little freak, shamelessly flirty, not proofread a part of this event

There's that feeling again.

Your heart rate picking up, muscles tensing, adrenaline urging you to find somewhere to run, a quiet corner to lurk until those eyes you feel on the back of your neck have turned away...

You're surrounded by people, but even the crowd isn't enough to hide you.

For so many years, you hadn't been noticed at all. An unsaved seat, a forgotten name, a dull, drooping wallflower with nowhere to root. Ignored and undesired, nothing more than a piece of furniture in everyone else's lives.

You had long come to accept that it's just how things are, even here.

And, so, the feeling of being watched is wholly unfamiliar.

You slip out of the midday crowd and into a quiet corridor. Your worst fear, really, is that whoever's keeping their eye on you is picking you apart at the seams, analyzing your every flaw...

As if being quiet didn't make you enough of a target...

"Ah, there you are! I thought I lost you,"

You nearly jump. For a moment, you're tempted to look around the vacant corridor for someone hiding in the shadows, because, surely, that voice isn't addressing you.

The boy at the other end of the hall tilts his head. "Ah, do not be frightened! I was only worried you had been swallowed by the crowd,"

You blink.

"...Me?"

"Oui," he responds, putting his hands on his hips. "You are such a tiny thing, I could not let any harm befall you under my watch."

There's something rather unsettling about his gaze. Familiar, even.

"Tiny?" you scoff at the description. "...Who are you, anyway?"

His smile is just as uneasy. Too eager, you think. "Je suis désolée, how rude, I have not introduced myself yet. Where are my manners?" he scolds himself, taking a step forward.

"Rook Hunt."

No, not familiar at all. You've never seen this man in your life, even if there's something about his gaze that strikes a chord with you.

You give your name in return, to which he hums.

"You are quite the interesting creature, you know."

Creature? You give him a sour look, and he chuckles.

"I mean it in the loveliest way. Like a flower which takes a century to bloom, or a comet one might see but once in their lifetime,"

He speaks enthusiastically, and thus fast, leaving you dizzy with metaphors and imagery.

"...Is that a compliment?"

A small smile graces his lips, and he leans forward. "Would you like it to be?"

Full of surprises. You instinctively lean back, further away from those piercing eyes.

He hums again, eyes shining with amusement. "Ah, ah, have I embarrassed you? My apologies,"

"I'm fine," you lie, and leave it at that. You can't seem to come up with a good excuse, and your face feels warm.

Rook tuts, circling around you like a predator surveying its prey.

"...There is no shame in being flattered, chérie. Though I would gladly embarrass you all day just to see that lovely look on your face again,"

You watch him carefully, though avoid eye contact as he stops, eventually, standing in front of you again with a little smile.

"It is a shame you hide yourself, even now. Your beauty should be appreciated," he says. "...Though, I admit, I find the idea of keeping it all to myself rather tempting."

He's going to give you a heart attack, you think. You can feel the embarrassment swelling in your chest, making your heart beat a little faster and averting your gaze to the ground.

He chuckles. "You're a shy little thing, aren't you?"

"I..." you cough awkwardly, eyes fixed on the floor tiles. "...Don't get complimented often."

Rook places a hand over his heart, as if offended by the very thought. "Non? What a cruel world we live in, where such beauty goes unnoticed! The very notion wounds me!"

"Well, then..." he says, getting down on one knee and taking your hand in his, kissing each of your knuckles.

"...Let me make up for it, chérie."

[awearywritersworld]

"i'll always come when you call"

gojo satoru x reader summary: when you're gravely injured on a mission, your best friend finds you just in time w/c: 1.35k tags/warnings: friends to lovers, obviously reader is hurt but nothing is terribly graphic, though there are lots of mentions of blood, hurt/comfort, fem!reader, no use of y/n, lots of emotional distress for gojo, he punches a wall, ft. a very worried yuuji and gumi a/n: home boy is in pieces at the thought of losing us. i make myself emotional masterlist check out my latest work for gojo here

it wasn't supposed to go like this. not hardly, not half.

a simple mission turned into an ambush. what was originally one mid-grade cursed spirit became several. you lost count somewhere around the fifth.

rain patters against your body, washing away the crimson that's seeping from numerous wounds. at first everything hurt, but now all you feel is a foreboding numbness spreading throughout your limbs.

you hardly remember slipping your phone from your pocket or dialing his number when you hear your best friend's voice ring out from the speaker. "hey, princess. how'd it go?"

you try to speak, but no sound comes out. eventually, you manage a choked cough and the faint sensation of liquid flowing from the corner of your mouth accompanies the effort.

you barely make out his worried tone calling your name before your phone clatters to the ground, screen going black as it lies in a puddle of pale red.

you fight to keep your eyes open, you really do, but you're incredibly drowsy and the coldness has begun to ebb away, replaced by a comforting warmness.

you always imagined the light that welcomes you into the afterlife would be a blinding white, but instead, it's a familiar shade of blue.

an unsettling feeling had made a home in the pit of gojo's stomach long before he received your call. he's pacing, his eyebrows furrowed with inexplicable worry when his ringtone fills the room.

relief floods through him once he sees your name on the screen, but it's short lived when your end of the line remains quiet. he hears you sputter and it isn't a second later that he teleports to the city where your assigned mission is.

his heart is hammering away, a dull thudding in his ears, as he follows the traces of cursed energy that grow stronger with each long stride. he covers ground impressively fast, though as soon as his eyes land on your body, it's as if everything shifts to slow motion.

it feels like he's fighting against an invisible force as he approaches the spot where you lay. he can hear someone howling your name and it's not until he feels the hoarseness in throat that he recognizes the voice as his own. his knees crash painfully into the pavement at your side.

the situation is worse than he could have imagined. it's looks like you, sure, but it can't be you. not when your eyes have just fluttered shut, no movement beneath your lids. not when your body is still, no steady rise and fall of your chest. and certainly not when it looks as if you're—

"wake up," he begs, shaking your shoulders. "please, wake up!"

not wasting another moment, he gathers your limp body in his arms, one arm behind curling around your shoulders, the other hooking behind your knees.

he teleports directly into the infirmary and shoko nearly scolds him before she takes in your dreadful state. the cigarette that was hanging between her lips falls to the floor. "get her on the bed."

she moves around the room in haste, pulling drawers and cabinets open wildly.

"she's going to be okay, right? tell me that she's going to be fine," he implores, panicking when the brunette fails to reassure him. "..shoko!"

"get out, satoru!" she barks. she can't concentrate, not while one of her oldest friends is hysterical with worry and the other is lying there half dead.

"please, i can't—"

"now!"

he stares at you for a moment before turning on his heel and retreating to the hall. his fist meets the wall with such force, the drywall crumbles to the floor. gojo himself follows suit soon thereafter.

the commotion catches the attention of yuuji and megumi, who round the corner just seconds later.

"sensei—" yuuji begins to question, but the words die in his throat.

gojo's crouched down, his face buried in his hands. they're still covered in your blood. he wants to scream and yell and curse the world, but instead, he clenches his jaw so fiercely it's a wonder his teeth don't crack under the pressure.

the boys share a look, both startled by the present state of their usually frivolous teacher. neither of them need to ask who's behind that door, they know there's only one person who could elicit such a reaction from gojo.

megumi approaches him cautiously, swallowing his own concern, and places a hand on his shoulder. "she'll be okay."

the white haired man doesn't look up, just nods weakly in acknowledgement. megumi joins yuuji who is already sitting on the floor with his back pressed to the wall, and the three of them wait together in silence.

gojo hardly moves until the infirmary door opens, which makes him rise so quickly it leaves him dizzy. shoko surveys the three of them before speaking.

"she's.. she's still unconscious, but you should be with her. she's been calling for you in her sleep—"

she scarcely finishes before gojo makes his way through the door. shoko stays in the hallway to update yuuji and megumi, giving the two of you a bit of privacy.

pulling up a chair beside you, he threads his fingers between yours, your skin still frightfully cool. though it's not until he hears you mumble his name that he truly falls apart.

his free hand flies to his mouth in an attempt to stifle his sobs, his shoulders shaking. this all could have gone very differently and the thought makes him sick to his stomach. he should have gone with you, or at the very least, he should have gotten to you faster.

"'toru?" your raspy voice fills his ears.

when he looks up to find you peering at him through tired eyes, the tension that'd been weighing heavily in his chest dissipates and he exhales deeply. still, his voice trembles. "hey, sweetheart."

every part of you aches, but it's nothing compared to the guilt you feel upon seeing gojo like this— his eyes red and swollen, your blood painted across his hands and face.

you have a vague memory of everything that happened. you remember just barely exorcising the last cursed spirit. you remember being sure you weren't going to survive and using your last bit of strength to call him. "you found me."

he nods, his hand squeezing yours. "i thought i was too late.. i.. i thought i'd lost you."

his voice cracks and it nearly shatters your heart, tears welling up in your eyes. "i'm so sorry, 'toru. i'm sorry i wasn't strong enough, t-that you had to come save me."

you attempt to sit up, but he puts a hand to your shoulder and shakes his head. "don't you dare apologize. i'll always come when you call and i'll always be there when you need me. you have to know that."

the intensity of his gaze forces you to look away and the conviction in his voice makes you feel woozy. thinking about it, there really never had been an instance in which gojo wasn't there for you. he's the person you've sought out time and time again and he's never once let you down.

his hand finds your face and he cups your cheek gently, his thumb wiping a tear from beneath your eye.

"i love you," you blurt out.

you stare at each other with wide eyes and the seconds tick by markedly until he finally whispers, "say it again."

"i love you."

he had no idea how much he needed to hear those three words fall from your lips until he nearly lost the chance forever. truthfully, it makes him feel a bit foolish, but now was hardly the time to dwell on that.

he smiles for the first time in hours, leaning forward to press a chaste kiss to your forehead. "i love you, too."

and he always has— he knows that now.

"you should get some rest, angel," he suggests tenderly. "i'll be right here when you wake up."

[midnight-on-pluto]

Hi. So this is my request.

Tenya Iida x reader where the readers parents kick them out because they want to be a hero and are in UA. Then they just show up at Tenyas door in the pouring rain to ask if they could sleep at his house for a night. And Tenya is just so 😠mad. Protective Tenya activated.

so sorry that this took me ages to get out! I had no motivation for months and am finally attending my drafts and rebranding lol! so here's the first of many to come ♡♡

warnings:  emotional abuse, reader is kicked out by their parents, self-deprecating and unhappy thoughts

SFW, fluff, angst but not really, mostly comfort.

I should have been a doctor, I thought. My clothes clung to my body, skin prickled with goosebumps as I collapsed onto the ground. The unsigned, now drenched, permission form was bunched in my fist, my nails digging into my skin. 

“Why would we sign this?” My mother’s voice was ringing through my mind as I recalled tonight’s events. “Just so you to go kill yourself for some dream?” 

“Stupid,” I scolded myself. The cold rain only picked up as I began to cry, choked sobs being drowned out by the pouring rain. 

“If you don’t want to give up on this silly dream then leave!” My father slammed his fist down on the table as he spoke. “I don’t want some mediocre hero claiming to be my child. Go play hero somewhere else.”

I took a deep breath, eyes shutting tightly to blink away my tears. “This is pathetic,” I said to nobody. My hands rubbed the tears off my face, replacing it with mud from the ground. 

I stood, legs tired. I didn’t even think to look at where I was going, just running as fast and far as I could. I looked around at the unfamiliar surroundings, the only light coming from the streetlights. I patted around, luckily smacking something hard and rectangular shaped, my phone. 

I pulled it out, 3% battery remaining. Quickly I pulled up my GPS, trying to see where I was and what the closest place to go was. I’d run close to UA, luckily. Perhaps I could see if anyone was still there, although unlikely. 

I tried looking around more, finding a familiar street name. Tenya’s street, I thought. Something inside me sank, dreading just showing up at his doorstep, soaking wet with tears and mud staining my cheeks. But it was the only place to go, and I trusted him more than anyone else in my class. 

The walk wasn’t very long, but it felt like forever. The rain only worsened, I would definitely be getting sick. By the time I got to Iida’s street, my phone died. I continued, walking up the street and stopping at the mailbox reading IIDA. A light was on inside, I could see in the dining room. Tenya sat there with his family, eating dinner. They were smiling, even laughing as his older brother said something, a huge grin on his face. 

I took a deep breath before walking up to their door. I stood for a moment, enjoying the roof over my head before shutting my eyes and raising my fist. 

KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK

I took a step away from their door. Eyes willing themselves to open and hands behind my back, gripping my wrists tightly in anticipation. 

A few footsteps came from the otherside before their dark blue door swung open. A woman, blue eyes and black hair, answered with a smile. I opened my mouth for a moment but said nothing. As she studied me, I could see her smile fade lightly and her face contorted into confusion. 

Tenya came up behind her, his brother following behind. His blue widened after seeing me, hand going to the woman’s shoulder and leading her out of the way. 

“Tenya,” was all I could manage for now. “Hi.” 

The girl and Tenya’s brother shared confused looks, then left us alone. Tenya stepped out onto the porch, hand immediately flying to my forehead. 

“You’re cold,” he said. “What’re you doing out in this weather?”

“Can I stay here?” I asked him softly, “just for the night.” 

His head tilted, eyes focusing on me. “Sure,” his hand slipped into mine before he used the other to open his door again. He pulled me in, shutting the door behind us. 

“Stay here,” he told me, gesturing to the welcome mat I stood on. I looked at my feet, wet socks leaving dark wet marks on the fabric. Shit, I thought. Forgot shoes.

The woman peaked from the dining room archway. Tenya’s brother tugging on her shirt, “leave them be, mom.” He whispered. I didn’t look over at them, too embarrassed to look. Instead, I studied the inside of his home. The beautiful stairs leading to the second storey, their living room to the left of me, their dining room on my right. Bookshelves lined their walls, golden trimmed books glittering in the light of their entrance chandelier. 

It wasn’t long before Tenya came back, a grey bath towel with him. He put it around my shoulders, telling me to dry off before he disappeared into the dining room. I pulled the warm towel to myself, covering my face with it in embarrassment. My legs started shaking as my thoughts wandered, tears threatening again. 

I could hear light whispering from where Tenya had gone, a woman’s voice questioning, then Tenya’s voice answering. I inhaled sharply, willing my arms to move so I could dry off before he came back. 

Tenya’s footsteps approached, I kept my gaze limited to the floor, my hair blocking the view of anything else, rain lightly dripping down to the mat. I felt my cheeks burning. 

“Come upstairs,” his voice was calm, understanding. “You need to get out of those clothes, take a bath.” 

I only nodded and let his hand grip mine, letting him guide me upstairs, turning a few corners and into his bathroom. 

“I’m going to start a bath, okay?” He waited for my nod before turning on the water.”Feel this, tell me if it’s too hot.”

I stepped towards the bathtub and reached my hand into the water, “it’s good.” 

He sat on the edge of the bathtub while it filled up, hand still in the stream of water to regulate the temperature. 

“Do you wanna tell me why you’re here?” He asked. His voice was soft, not an ounce of annoyance or grievance coming out. 

“I was kicked out,” I spoke. “No more home for me, I guess.” The light chuckle that left my lips turned to a sob and I quickly breathed deep to stop the impending breakdown from happening. 

“What?” His voice now sounded slightly angry, but still filled with kindness. “Why would your parents do this?”

I didn’t say anything, still trying to hold back my tears. I only shrugged my shoulders pathetically as an answer, and he turned the tap off and stood up. 

“Take a quick bath, you can use anything you’d like in here. I’ll wait outside so just knock once you’re done and I’ll bring you some clean clothes, okay?”

I nodded again, then he left. I let the tears fall from my eyes the moment the door shut. The towel fell from my shoulders and I sniffled back as I peeled the clothes off my body. Stepping into the steaming water, skin tingling as it enveloped me, I finally let myself cry. The water smelt of my favourite scent, something I assumed Tenya added while filling the tub. 

I dipped down, fully submerging myself into the water and coming back up for air. I curled into a ball, arms reaching for the bottles of soaps and creams on the tub corners. I started reading what they were through blurry eyes. 

Birch scented shampoo and conditioner, moisturizing body wash, shea butter body scrub. I used the scrub, rubbing it up my arms and silently crying. 

I took a long bath, testing out every product on his bathtub. I heard his brother come to say goodnight to him, asking if I was okay and then leaving once Tenya told him I would be. His mother came to say goodnight with his father, asking what was wrong and asking if I would be here for breakfast tomorrow morning. 

After a while, the water had turned cold and the bathroom smelt like a mix of Tenya. I reached into the tub, pulling its plug and reaching for the towel. I dried my feet off first, stepping onto the tiled floor and then rubbing the rest of my body until it was slightly dry, no longer dripping everywhere. 

I walked up to the door, giving it three light taps. 

“Can I come in for a moment?” Tenya’s voice came. 

“Sure.”

The door handle turned and Tenya walked in, handing me a small pile of warm clothes and then leaving, closing the door shut behind him. 

I dressed myself, then stepped into his hallway. He’d given me dark blue sweatpants and a matching hoodie, both too big for me. I had to pull the drawstring of his sweatpants tightly and tie them into a bow. 

Tenya was waiting in the hallway, leaning against the wall dressed in his pajamas. When I stepped out he quickly turned to me, eyes landing on mine as I finally looked up at him. 

“Did you eat dinner?” He asked quietly. I shook my head, no. “Follow me.” He led me down the hall and into his bedroom, which had the bedside lamp on. A mug of hot tea and bowl of soup were placed alongside the lamp, and glass of water with them. He had set up a mattress on the floor of his room, blankets and sheets fitted on it. 

I started to walk towards it, but was caught by Tenya. “No, you take the bed tonight. Have some soup too, please.”

I turned to him. “Tenya, I can’t take your bed. I’ll be fine on the floor.”

“Please,” he begged. I gave in, walking to the bed and gesturing to him that he sit beside me. I sat cross legged as he handed me the bowl of soup. 

“They don’t like me being a hero,” I managed in between spoonfuls of soup. “Not good enough for them.”

He looked at me. “You don’t need to explain if you don’t wish to,” he said.

“It’s okay, that’s really all they said.” I lied. My mother’s shrill scream of, “don’t bother coming back until you can say you’re done disappointing this family,” ringing in the back of my mind. 

I wished I could fool him, but the look in his eye was showing his true disbelief in my lie. His face was left with a frown, teeth chewing on the inside of his lip while he thought. 

“How could you not be good enough for them?” He asked quietly, but not low enough that I missed it. “You’re an excellent student, an even better hero. You save lives, and it’s not good enough for them?” His voice was starting to rise slightly, anger lacing his tone. 

“Iida please,” I tried to get him to lower his voice. “It’s really not a big deal, they just don’t like heroes, that’s all.” 

“A parent is supposed to be a hero, someone who uplifts their kid’s dreams and supports them.” He was at a normal voice level now, his navy eyes locking with mine. “How could they kick you out over your dreams?”

“My parents aren’t like yours,” I whispered to him, “they don’t understand, just please keep it down.” My hand found its place on his before I knew what was happening and he froze slightly, eyes flickering down to his hand before looking back up at me. 

“You’re amazing,” he whispered. “Just know that. I would’ve died a million times if you hadn’t helped me.” 

I smiled at him, “thank you.” 

“Now please finish your soup, it’s late and if you don’t warm up you’ll catch a cold.”

"Okay."

please take some time to view my masterlist or navigation pages.

[lovelycreativecrafts]

Secret Reveal | Miles x Female Reader

Word Cout: 1,165

Synopsis: Miles's girlfriend finds out his identity.

Warnings: Panic Attack

Author Notes: My Requests are now OPEN!! Feel free to send me some. I would love that. There is one Spanish phrase in this short story. I used Google Translate for it so it may be inaccurate. If you liked the short fanfic, please like, reblog, and comment your thoughts. I hope you all have a blessed day.

Spanish Words:

Mi Amor = My Love

I knocked on the front door and I waited for someone to answer. The door opened and I smiled at Miles’s mother. 

“Oh, come on in Miles told me that you guys were doing movie night today.” Miles’s mother opened the door further and I entered. 

“Thank you, Mrs. Morales.” 

“Of course. Miles isn’t home yet but you can wait in his room if you would like. You already know where it’s at right?” 

“Yes, ma’am.” I headed toward Miles’s room in the back. 

Me and Miles have been dating for a short while. So, I was a little surprised when he asked to do a movie night with me at his house. Does that mean he wants me to spend the night at his place?  

I stopped in front of Miles's room door. Maybe, he has something planned? I sighed. I shouldn’t overthink it. 

I placed my hand on the doorknob and opened the door. My eyes widened as they made contact with the famous Spider-Man. Spider-Man stood there frozen while his hands were inside of Miles’s drawer. My heart raced inside my chest and I quickly took in a breath but before I could scream, Spider-Man shot his webs at me and the door. He closed the door and pulled me against his chest. He quickly wrapped one of his arms around me and pressed his hand against my mouth. 

“Shhh, please don’t scream. I promise it’s not what it looks like.” Spider-Man whispered. 

I pushed against his chest as I tried to get out of his grip. Why is he holding me like this? I continued to struggle against him but his hold only got tighter. 

“Hey, I promise I’ll let you go. If you promise not to scream, okay?” 

His voice sounds familiar. Spider-Man looked into my eyes and I quickly nodded. 

He slowly removed his hand away from my mouth and unwrapped his arm around my waist. I took a step back and wrapped my arms around myself. 

“What are you doing in my boyfriend’s room?” I looked up at Spider-Man.

Spider-Man’s eyes widened, “Well-uh-you know-um-That’s classified information.” 

I frowned. Why would he be searching in Miles’s drawers? Did something happen to him?

I glanced down at my hands as they began to shake. My heart also began to beat faster than before. It’s not happening again, is it? No, I’m just still shaken up by Spider-Man’s appearance. 

“Right, so-uh I’m going to go. I’ll see you around.” Spider-Man opened the window but before he could leave, I quickly grabbed his wrist. 

“Wait, what’s going on?”

“I told that’s classi-”

“Did something happen to him?” My chest began to tighten 

“There’s nothing to worry about.” 

I tried to take in deep breaths but they came out shaky, “You say that but you were here for a reason right? Where is he? Is he hurt somewhere?” 

“Look, I’m sure you’ll find your answers once I leave.” 

My heart dropped, “Is . . . Is he dead?” 

“What?!” 

I brought my hand toward my chest as it began to squeeze tighter, and my breathing became uneven. My eyes began to burn and Spider-Man quickly moved away from the door and faced me. 

“Hey, calm down.” He placed his hands on my shoulders. “You need to control your breathing.” 

I looked toward the ground as tears blurred my vision. Is Miles really gone? What will I do? How will I tell his parents? 

Spider-Man continued to talk to me but his words fell on death's ears. The only person that could help me out of this state was Miles. I am nothing without him. I am a burden. I don’t even know why he likes me. 

Spider-Man removed his hands from my shoulders and placed them on the sides of my face. He quickly tilted my head up and my eyes widened. 

“Miles?” I questioned. My ears began to open up as I saw Miles standing in front of me in Spider-Man’s costume. 

“Yes. It’s me. I’m here and perfectly fine. I promise.” Miles reassured. 

“But-,” My voice caught in my throat as I continued to hyperventilate. 

“Shh, it’s okay.” Miles removed one of his hands away from my face. He gently took one of my hands and placed it on his stomach. 

“Just breathe, okay.” Miles took in a deep breath. 

His stomach expanded underneath the palm of my hand and I tried to follow. 

Miles’s thumb caressed my cheek as he stared into my eyes, “You’re doing great, mi amor.” 

After a short while, the tightness in my chest began to release and I regained control over my breathing. I walked closer to Miles, wrapped my arms around his waist, and placed my head into his chest. 

“Thank you,” I whispered. 

Miles chuckled, “You don’t have to thank me. It’s what I’m supposed to do.” Miles wrapped his arms around me. 

“So you’re Spider-Man?” 

Miles stiffened, “Yeah . . . how do you feel about that?” 

“I’m not really sure yet but at the moment I’m . . . relieved.”

Miles relaxed and tightened his arms around me, “Then at the moment, I’m glad.” 

My mind traveled to my earlier thoughts, “Miles, am I a burden to you?” 

Miles quickly pulled slightly away and looked down at me, “What? Of course not. Why would you ask that?” 

I looked off to the side, “It’s just that you’re constantly helping me with my school work, my passions, and even now with my . . . constant personal problems. But I do nothing to help you. I’m like a leech constantly taking blood.”

“You know, you shouldn’t think of yourself like that. You also do a lot for me too. You may not do things for me physically but you do emotionally. You constantly remind me of who I am, reassure me when I have doubts, and are my biggest supporter.” 

I looked back up at him, “But what about when you had to reveal your secret because of my issues? If I weren’t crazy then none of this would’ve happened.”

“I’ve been wanting to tell you my secret the moment I confessed to you. It was eating away at me for a long time now. It may not have been revealed the way I wanted it to but I’m now glad it’s a weight lifted off of my shoulders.” 

“But I’m-,” Miles cut me off by placing his forehead onto mine. 

“You’re my girlfriend. And as your boyfriend, I’m not going to allow you to say any more negative things about yourself especially when they're not true. I didn’t fall for you just because you’re pretty or because you’ll help me with school or being Spider-Man but I fell for you because you complete me. You’re like my home, my anchor, mi amor. You could never be a burden because you constantly fill me with love.” 

Heat crawled up my cheeks as Miles’s eyes seemed to sparkle as he revealed his feelings to me. I opened my mouth, “I . . . I love you too, Miles.” 

[yikimiki]

Okay so like I have this request like is there any way you can make a smut with Eren x reader with the concept of this. Definitely Eren being the Ghost face from Scream or something 😜🥵 you can make up the story however you want boo

this message was like being struck by lighting… when I tell you I gasped when I saw this picture and I just knew I had to write it

⚠️ warnings: dark content, mentions of gore and murder, smut, very heavy dub-con, crying, creampie, reader doesn’t get to finish, ghostface!eren x fem!reader (though his identity isn’t revealed so), eren is literally a psychotic killer so you know what you’re in for

—

“You know what’s funny?” He asks, then laughs — a resounding, muffled laugh like it’s actually funny. Like you’re not crying for your life right now, thinking about everyone you’ve lost so quickly, so harshly. “That I’ve always wanted them dead… pictured it every single day…” Your panties are thrown to the side like they mean nothing, shoved through the hole he had torn in your fishnets earlier. “But you… I’ve never wanted you dead. I’ve always wanted you like this.”

The ground is merciless and cold beneath your body, and there’s not an ounce of fight left in you. Your lungs have stopped working fully now, driven by exhaustion, and the adrenaline is doing little to make your heart work properly. There are cuts all over your arms and one dangerously close to your carotid, though not deep enough to threaten you life. That man, that… demon had caused them earlier. Right before he slaughtered your friends and brought you to the cellar of this disgusting house.

“You were always better than them, I think you know that,” the voice speaks on — though the timbre seems familiar, that stupid ghost mask is too thick for you to recognize it. Could be anyone. The man’s gloved hands spread your thighs apart and you let him — maybe if you comply he will be merciful in his killing. “That’s why I wanted to have you all for myself. I saved the best for last… my little reward, if you will.

“Why…” you hiccup. The stench of blood is all over you, there is still wet blood — your friend’s wet blood — on your white blouse, and it sticks to your chest as the man tears it open. Your breasts are exposed to the cool air and he palms one, humming at the feeling. “Why are you doing this?”

His head tilts to the side. “I did it all for you, obviously.”

That answer manages to shock you more than the entire night had been able to. You had seen your friends, people you have met since primary school, being cut and shot like it meant nothing — throats slit, guts stabbed, so much blood that you couldn’t even imagine someone could bleed that much. You had heard their screams, their pleads, and, yet, that simple revelation that it had all been for you makes you freeze.

No one has ever done so much for you. He must really care.

You speak up again when he’s pushing the head of his cock inside your pussy. You’re wet — and you hate yourself for finding that situation a little enticing. “You did it for me?” You ask. The man groans like he hates having to talk about it right then.

“I’d do anything for you— fuck…” he gasps when he slips in fully, his heavy member filling you up so perfectly that you can’t help but whine — you feel so loved, so full. You must be special, you must be his muse. “Fuck, it’s even better than I imagined… shit.”

He starts shoving his thick cock inside you like it’s the last pussy he’ll ever have, and you can only melt under his harsh touches as he claims you bloody body like no one has ever done before. This is different — you just know it is. That stupid mask is staring at you, and you don’t even know what to think, but you know that he cares about you. You are alive, even though all your friends are dead. You are alive and their killer is fucking you… and you’re enjoying it. You must be just as sick as he is. You must’ve lost your mind somewhere between the sea of intestines and limbs, because there is no way you’re actually clenching around him, moaning like it’s your first time. There is no way.

He laughs again — and this time, you’re delirious enough to follow. “What a fucking whore you are, you’re loving this. Love being full of cock.”

“You did it for me,” you repeat, mind floating miles above the world. Maybe you’ve lost it, really. Maybe this is it. Maybe you’re bleeding out and you don’t even know it. “You did it for me…”

You roll your eyes back and you try to reach for him, but he’s quicker. He pulls your legs up by the ankles and presses his weight forward, folding you in half as his cock drills so deep inside you that you can’t even think straight. The sounds of wetness are so lewd, so overbearing, and the groaning and cursing coming from beyond the mask is driving you crazy. It becomes higher, more intense, growing into a feverish pace until it resounds into a loud grunt, and he’s spilling himself inside your pussy.

“Fuck, that’s a good little slut,” he says, breathlessly. You wince as he keeps fucking his cock inside you, pushing his cum out as you moan for more. “I might keep you around a little longer, fuck, I don’t think I can get rid of this pussy so soon.”

“W-Who are you?” You ask, dazed. You feel loved, used, everything at once. “Why did you do this for me?”

You can’t see his face, but you can hear the smile in his voice as he answers. “Well, that just ruins the fun, doesn’t it?”

[daryltwdixon]

The Promise of Us: Chapter 1

(I promise I really did try to stop myself from posting this and have patience but I just couldn't do it!!!)

You and the group, exhausted and starving, search for safety in the ruins of a broken world and find potential refuge in an overrun prison. Amid the constant danger, your bond with Daryl grows, though you remain haunted by the trauma of the last night on the farm.

You

You remember again what true hunger feels like after all this time—the gnawing, aching, painful twisting in your gut that threatens to distract you.

The third house of the day looms before you, a crumbling relic of a life long lost to the apocalypse. You tighten your grip on the knife, holding it up by your ear, moving silently as you creep through the back door. The mudroom greets you with the scent of mildew and decay, and the cracked tiles beneath your feet crunch softly, though the noise feels deafening in your heightened state. Snarling comes from somewhere deeper inside the house, faint but unmistakable. You can tell it isn’t the kind of sound that means the walkers have noticed anyone. It’s that idle, low growl they emit as they wait, like predators with no purpose other than to react when prey comes near.

Your heart rate quickens, but you stay calm, methodical. You’ve done this enough times to know better than to let panic creep in. Months of jumping from house to house, exhaustion clouding every move, not sure what lies around every corner. You learn to push down the fear after a while. It never fully leaves you, but it’s manageable now. 

From another part of the house, you hear bodies thump heavily to the ground—silent but unmistakable. The thud is followed by a brief pause, then nothing. 

Moving into the kitchen, you carefully step over the broken dishes, upturned chairs, and scattered garbage littering the floor. The mess seems like a reminder of how quickly life had fallen apart. People left in a hurry, abandoning everything in a desperate attempt to survive. You glance at the countertop where a calendar still hangs, frozen in time on a date that no longer matters.

The kitchen is eerily quiet, with only the occasional creak of the decaying house keeping you company. Taking a breath, you cross the room, your eyes trained on the door ahead. With your knife raised, you brace yourself and throw open the door, immediately jumping back, ready for whatever horror might come charging through.

Instead, your breath catches when a pair of familiar blue eyes meet yours, an arrow aimed directly at you. For a second, you freeze, heart leaping into your throat.

Daryl lowers his crossbow just as quickly, his lips curling into a faint, teasing smile. Scoffing, you follow him as he turns to go down the hallway. You stay close behind, eyes fixed on the back of his head, watching the way he moves with quiet precision, his crossbow back up at the ready. Always careful. Always ready.

As he leans into the doorway of what looks like a bedroom, you catch a glimpse of something unusual. A large bird—a magnificent owl—perches in the window, its enormous yellow eyes staring back at you, wings slowly spreading wide in an attempt to intimidate.

Without hesitation, Daryl raises his crossbow again and shoots the bird, the arrow landing squarely in its chest. It slumps forward, dead before it even knew what hit it.

“A meal is a meal,” Daryl says, already yanking the arrow free and pulling feathers from the owl’s body in preparation.

“Hear me complainin’?” you quip back, though the idea of eating owl doesn’t sit well in your stomach. At this point, though, you’re beyond picky. Anything that fills the gnawing void in your gut will do.

As Daryl works, the sound of a can opener interrupts the silence. You glance over to see Carl, looking young and exhausted, fiddling with the opener on a can of dog food. The others sit around him, watching him mess with it, looks of hollow resignation on their faces. Before he can get it open, Rick strides over, his jaw tight with frustration, and snatches the can from Carl’s hands, tossing it aside without a word. There's a strange tension in the air, the kind that always lingers after too many days without food, without safety.

The group’s exhaustion weighs heavily on you, making everything feel slower, more oppressive. You look around at the forlorn faces of those around you. Lori sits with her hand resting on her stomach, her head tilted back in momentary reprieve. Hershel sits nearby with Beth and Maggie at his side, while Glenn sits with his eyes cast down, his hand wrapped around Maggie’s. T-Dog stands at the window, his eyes scanning the outside world with quiet vigilance. As you glance at him, your gaze shifts past his head, and that’s when you see them—walkers, moving with their lazy, inevitable purpose, shambling closer to the house. T-Dog catches sight of them too. He turns back to the group, his voice low as he makes a quiet “psst,” a signal that instantly grabs everyone’s attention.

In a heartbeat, the atmosphere shifts. Instinct takes over. The exhaustion that had weighed on everyone moments ago disappears, replaced by the sharp edge of survival. Everyone moves quickly, grabbing what they can, the unspoken understanding that you need to leave—now.

Outside, the vehicles wait like lifelines, ready to go. You swing your leg over the back of Daryl’s bike, the familiar rumble of the engine vibrating through you as he revs it up. The wind whips through your hair as he takes off, his back solid in front of you, but there’s no time to relax. Not now. Not with so many so close. A few miles down the road, when everyone seems sure nothing is around, the vehicles stop and people clamber out. Carl immediately goes on watch towards the back, Beth taking to your right, Carol off to the front left. 

Once everyone’s on their feet again, you find yourself standing by Rick and the others, a map splayed across the hood of the Hyundai. The sunlight beats down on you, hot and relentless, as Maggie, Glenn, and T-Dog huddle around the car.

“We got no place left to go,” T-Dog says grimly, eyes scanning the map with no real hope.

Maggie is the next to speak up, her voice tight with worry. “When the herd meets up with this one, we’ll be cut off… We’ll never make it out.”

Daryl’s voice cuts through the tension, practical as ever, looking to Glenn, “What’d ya say, about 150 head?”

Glenn squints in the sun as he looks over, trying to calculate. “That was last week… could be twice that by now.”

The words hang heavy in the air as the group exchanges uneasy glances.

There’s more conversation around the map, tension rising with every passing second. Hershel points to a spot where a river cuts through the terrain. “This could delay the walkers some,” he says, his voice steady but tinged with concern. “Might buy us a little time.”

You shift your weight, leaning against the hot metal of the car as sweat trickles down your spine, soaking into your shirt. The end of summer has brought an unbearable heat in the day and cold nights, and the relentless sun beats down on all of you now. It makes everything harder—thinking, moving, even breathing. The heat feels like it’s closing in, amplifying the suffocating sense of being trapped, surrounded on all sides by herds of the dead.

Your eyes drop to the map, though the lines and roads are starting to blur. It feels like you’ve been running in circles, from one house to the next, never finding enough supplies, never feeling safe for more than a few hours. Every turn feels like it just leads you back to the same dead end—hunger, danger, exhaustion.

As a plan starts to come together, people split up and take a moment to relax by the cars, getting their things in order. 

“Hey,” Daryl growls, his voice breaking through the fog of your thoughts. He’s looking straight at you and Rick, the two of you still hovering in front of the car. “While the others wash their panties, let’s go out and hunt.”

Rick and you meet eyes then, and you nod along, your stomach giving a sharp reminder of how little your lunch had done to fill the void. 

“That owl didn’t exactly hit the spot,” you mutter, heading for the trunk of the car where your rifle rests. Your fingers close around the cold metal, and you feel a strange sense of relief. At least with a weapon in hand, things feel a little more certain, even if it’s just an illusion.

❥・・❥・・❥・・❥・・❥・・❥・・❥・・❥・・❥・・❥・・❥・・

The train tracks are rusted and overgrown, tangled with weeds and vines from months of neglect. Each step you take along the old rails echoes softly in the still air, the sound barely noticeable over the distant rustle of the wind through the trees. The three of you walk in silence, your eyes constantly scanning the woods, ever-alert for movement—whether it’s game or danger.

The forest feels endless around you, dense and shadowed, the overgrowth reclaiming what was once human space. There’s a quiet tension in the air, the kind that never really leaves anymore, always lingering at the edge of every moment. Your fingers brush against the cool metal of your rifle, ready for anything.

Then, the trees break suddenly, the thick wall of branches and leaves giving way to an open clearing. The sight ahead stops you in your tracks.

A large, imposing structure sits just beyond the clearing—an old prison. Its tall fences and watchtowers rise like dark silhouettes against the sky, but what immediately catches your attention is the movement inside. Walkers. Dozens, maybe more, stagger and shuffle aimlessly within the prison yard, their moans faint but distinct, even from this distance. The chain-link fences seem to hold them in, for now, but the sight is enough to make your skin crawl.

“That’s a shame,” Daryl grunts, squinting as he assesses the situation, his eyes scanning the yard filled with the dead. He tightens his grip on his crossbow, frustration clear in his voice. 

You nod silently in agreement, the potential of a fortified structure like that being overshadowed by the sheer number of walkers roaming the inside. The idea of clearing it out seems impossible.

But Rick remains silent. His gaze is fixed on the prison, his jaw clenched, and for a brief moment, you catch a glimmer in his eyes—a twinkle of something…hope, maybe. Or determination. It’s the look he gets when he’s already starting to formulate a plan, even if the odds seem stacked against him.

You exchange a glance with Daryl, sensing that Rick might see something more than just a lost cause in the wreckage ahead.

❥・・❥・・❥・・❥・・❥・・❥・・❥・・❥・・❥・・❥・・❥・・

You press your weight against the fence, the chain link rattling under the force as you shove your knife through an opening, right into the skull of a walker. Its snarl cuts off abruptly as it slumps to the ground, but you barely register it. You’re already moving again, feet pounding against the ground as you run through the middle walkway between yard and forest. Daryl stays up front, his torn leather vest flapping in the wind, the angel wings on his back catching the light.

“It’s perfect,” Rick whispers, his eyes scanning the prison yard as you all pause, “If we shut that gate, stop any more from coming in, we can clear the yard.” His voice holds a quiet certainty.

“I’ll go,” Glenn offers, stepping forward, but Maggie immediately shoots him a glare, shutting him down. Glenn stands his ground, though. “I’m the fastest. I can do it.”

Rick’s eyes shift to Maggie, Beth, and Glenn. “No, you, Maggie, and Beth, draw as many as you can over there.” He points toward the far side of the fence around the corner, “Pop ‘em through the fence.”

“Daryl, head back to the other tower,” Rick continues, calling out names and assigning positions, while you stand quietly, waiting for your role. Steady adrenaline keeps you going, buzzing with something inside you. There’s no space for fear, excitement, or even hesitation. This is just survival.

Daryl catches your eye, his gaze quick and searching. It’s a silent check-in, a wordless connection. You give him a short nod, enough for him. Then, he’s off, running toward his position.

One by one, everyone scatters, moving to their designated spots—ready to lure, shoot, and take down walkers. You watch them go, your focus sharp, every movement rehearsed in your head. The gate is key. If it stays open, there’s no winning this fight.

Rick looks around, watching them all head off, and then his eyes land on you. His lips quirk up in the corners, eyes almost apologetic.

You breathe out a chuckle, half rolling your eyes at him, “I’ll run for the gate,” you moan sarcastically, realizing your fate.

“I’m right behind ya,” he chuckles, standing by the fence. It’s such a strange thing– seeing him smile now. Like all his prayers are being answered today.

You hear the others calling for walkers, the sounds of knives piercing skulls and bodies hitting the ground inside the fence. Lori stands by the gate, her face tense as she takes a deep breath, looking at both of you for a moment, then pulls it open just wide enough to let you and Rick through.

You move quickly, quietly, gun raised, knife ready in your other hand. The air is thick with tension, but your movements are automatic now—practiced, efficient. You let your gun fall to swing around your torso by the strap to slash your knife through walker’s heads, a few finding you and Rick more interesting than those along the chain link fencing. Gunshots ring out nearby, and you see bodies falling, but you don’t let it break your stride. Rick is right beside you, both of you sprinting for the main gate. You hear a snarl coming up behind you, but when you turn to take it down, it’s already falling to the earth with an arrow in its head. You look up across the yard and see Daryl in the guard tower, his eyes on you. You throw him a quick nod again, thanks , and take off.

When you reach the inner fence, you quickly tie a cord to secure the entrance, your fingers working fast as Rick kicks down a walker that got too close. Without missing a beat, he pulls you toward the center guard tower, and you follow him up the narrow stairs, your breath steady despite the chaos below.

At the top, you finally pause, glancing down at the sea of walkers in blue jumpsuits. Their lifeless movements seem almost surreal from this vantage point. When you look over at Rick, you notice something that catches you off guard—a smile. A genuine, wide smile spreads across his face, a rare sight these days. He lets out a short, breathless laugh, almost disbelieving, and before you know it, the two of you start shooting down the walkers below, one after another.

One by one, they hit the ground. The smiles on everyone’s faces are priceless. For the first time in months–months, you hear laughter. A small part of you recognizes this rare moment of relief too, letting your tense shoulders fall in celebration. Daryl is waiting for you when you reach the bottom, moving toward you with a quiet kind of confidence. Without saying a word, he hooks an arm around your neck, pulling you close so that your head fits into the crook of his elbow. He kisses the top of your head, a gesture that feels grounding, steady. 

❥・・❥・・❥・・❥・・❥・・❥・・❥・・❥・・❥・・❥・・❥・・

Later that night, everyone is gathered around the firepit, the orange glow flickering against tired faces, and you and Daryl are stationed on watch atop a truck that was flipped onto its side to block the gated entrance out of the field. Your legs dangle down by one of the tires, your rifle resting across your lap. You sit quietly, feeling the weight of the night but enjoying the quiet– just the rhythm of breathing and waiting. Daryl’s footsteps sound behind you, pacing back and forth along the metal of the truck, eyes sweeping the area, always alert.

You watch Rick make his rounds, occasionally catching sight of him when he passes through the inner fence. It’s almost mechanical now, his path well-worn as he loops around again and again. He’s passed three times already. For a moment, the space feels surreal—so much room to breathe, and yet the tension still lingers just beneath the surface.

A hand appears beside you, and you glance down to see Carol’s face, her eyes alight with a small smile. Daryl must have noticed her at the same time, because he leans down and helps her up onto the side of the truck with a grunt of effort. 

“It’s not much,” she says, handing you and Daryl a few scraps of meat, “but if I don’t bring you anything, you won’t eat at all.”

You give her a quiet nod of thanks, accepting your share. The meat is dry, but it’s something.

“I guess little Shane over there’s got quite the appetite,” Daryl grumbles between bites, nodding toward the group around the fire. You immediately avert your eyes, your fingers tightening slightly around your lap. You try to drown out the conversation, forcing yourself to focus on anything else—the distant crackle of the fire, the rustling of the trees outside the fence—anything to stop the memories from creeping in.

You can hear the teasing tone in Carol’s voice, “Don’t be mean,” but as she continues, she gets quieter–serious, “Rick’s gotten us a lot farther than I ever thought he would. I’ll give ‘em that.”

Daryl grunts in agreement, chewing on his food.

“Shane could never do that,” she adds quietly, her tone shifting.

The name catches you off guard again, and your stomach twists, though you try to push the feeling away. You gulp down what’s left of your food and squeeze your eyes shut, hoping to stifle the wave of nausea creeping in.

“What’s wrong?” Daryl asks, his voice low, though Carol doesn’t seem to notice the look on your face as she rubs her neck. But he’s not talking to you, he’s looking at her. You manage to open your eyes after the wave of uneasiness passes, and look up at them.

“The rifle,” Carol mutters, her hand gripping the side of her neck, “The kickback—guess I’m just not used to it.”

Daryl finishes licking the last of the juice from his fingers, then invites her over with a simple wave. He puts down his crossbow and begins kneading her shoulder, working out the tension in her muscles. You sit there, watching, feeling almost like you’re observing from the outside. His hands move with practiced ease, and Carol smiles back at him, teasing warmth in her eyes.

She turns her head, grinning. “Wow, Daryl, that was pretty romantic,” she says with a mischievous twinkle, “you hitting on me now? One girl not enough for ya?”

“Pffft…” Daryl rolls his eyes, clearly ignoring her, though a flicker of a grin crosses his face. He’s about to dismount the truck when he adds, “I’ll go down first.”

Carol, with a playful smirk, looks to you and winks, “Even better!”

A twinge of humor finally breaks through, and you can’t help the laughter that escapes you as you chuckle with her. Daryl’s face flushes brick red as he helps Carol down from the side of the truck, his hands gripping her sides briefly before letting go the moment her feet hit the ground. She heads off towards the group around the fire, leaving the two of you.

You go to get down yourself, but he stands in front of you, his arms up, waiting. “I got it,” you say, waving him off.

“I know,” his voice quiet, but his fingers twitch to beckon you down. You give him a small smile, and allow him to take you in his arms as you make your way down to the ground. His hands remain on your sides even when your feet find the grass below, and you find yourself holding onto his elbows for support, both of you lingering in that space.

There’s an unspoken moment between you, the air thick with something unsaid. You hang there, waiting for what he might say next, aware of the quiet tension settling in his features.

“You know,” he begins, his worried expression breaking into a small smile playing on his lips, teasing, “I’m still all yours,” 

“Good to know,” you murmur back, not really sure what else to say, but your lips twitch up playfully at his flirting. The way he’s looking at you makes it a little easier to be present, even if just for a moment.

Daryl’s lips quirk into a grin, satisfied with your reaction, even if it’s brief. He shifts, moving to walk along the side of the truck next to you, the two of you side by side now.

“Can’t have anyone thinkin’ I’m strayin’,” he teases lightly, his tone playful but gentle, almost like he’s testing the waters.

You glance at him again, another small laugh slipping out, even if you don’t fully feel it. It’s enough to lighten the mood, and for now, that’s enough. He takes your hand, his rough calluses a comfort you’d come to love scraping your skin. He tugs you forward, towards the group. Where you could hear Beth singing.

But since it has so ought to be 

By a time to rise and a time to fall 

Come fill to me the parting glass 

Good night and joy be with you all 

❥・・❥・・❥・・❥・・❥・・❥・・❥・・❥・・❥・・❥・・❥・・

Daryl

She hadn’t smiled in months. 

Not a real smile, anyway. Sure, he’d gotten some laughs out of her, but they weren’t the kind that came from within– a true, belly laugh. It was more like a quick puff of air, almost like a scoff, like the sound escaped before she could even stop it. But those smiles, the ones that used to light up her whole face– Gone. He missed that. He missed the way her eyes used to shine when they’d tease each other, trading jabs and grins like it was the easiest thing in the world.

Now, her smiles never touched her eyes. They were always distant now, like her mind was a million miles away. And damn if that didn’t tear him up inside.

It had been months since they’d felt any real safety, and maybe that was part of it. Being on the run, never knowing if you’d have a place to sleep or if walkers would come through at night—it wore on everyone. Constantly watching your back could drain a person’s spirit, and he figured maybe that had something to do with the change in her. But deep down, he knew better. This wasn’t just about the lack of safety. This was about that night on the farm. What Shane had done. What she had to do. Daryl hadn’t been there in time to stop it, and even though she survived, something in her had changed.

Daryl wasn’t good with words. Never had been. And when it came to asking her what was really going on, he figured he didn’t even have a clue where to start. He didn’t want to push her—didn’t know if he should. But every time he caught her staring off into the distance, or going through the motions like she was just surviving, it hit him like a gut punch. Something was broken inside her, and he didn’t know how to fix it.

So, he did what he always did—he stayed. Quiet, steady. Right by her side. If there was one thing he was good at, it was being there. Being solid when everything else fell apart. He didn’t need to know the right words, not really. Words had never mattered much between the two of them anyway.

He wasn’t gonna give up on her. Not now. Not ever.

But damn, he missed that twinkle in her eyes. Missed the way she used to jab him in the ribs with her elbow, flashing him that teasing smile that made everything feel lighter. He wondered if that part of her was ever coming back, or if the world had taken it from her for good.

He glances over at her now, sitting a few feet away, the firelight dancing along her features, fingers idly tracing the edge of her gun. She looks lost in thought, far away from him, from the fire, from the group. He isn’t sure how to reach her, but hell, he was gonna keep trying, even if it meant standing next to her in silence for the rest of his damn life.

[mustainegf]

→ 𝐌𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐏𝐎𝐒𝐓

✧ 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐓 𝟗 —➤ 𝑭𝑶𝑹𝑮𝑬𝑻 𝑴𝑬 𝑵𝑶𝑻

Maverick was fully tacked up, his saddle and bridle in place as if James had taken him somewhere recently. Still, that wasn't what that's not why I was concerned-it was the way Maverick was acting, snorting and stamping his hooves into the snow as his breath came out in visible puffs of steam.

Fear plunged as I realized he would have gotten up at dawn and intentionally left without me.

And Maverick had come back without him.

"No, no, no," I whispered. My head raced, desperately trying to jigsaw together what must have happened. Why would James leave without telling me? And why would Maverick come back alone, acting so odd?

It was an answer as terrifying as it was simple. something had happened to James, and Maverick had returned to camp on his own. I was barely able to think as I pulled on my thick jacket, fingers hardly able to move with shock. I snatched up the rifle that James had left behind, slinging it over my shoulder as I rushed back out to Maverick.

"Come on, boy," I said, the tremor beginning again. "We've gotta find James."

Maverick snorted, but he was still jittery and his hooves were shifting restlessly in the snow. I didn't have any time to properly calm him. Just one thought occupied my mind, and that was to find James. Now. I mounted Maverick as best as I could and took firm hold of the reins, urging him forward.

We trekked into the forest, the cold wind scraping my face while Maverick's hooves crunched through the snow. I had no idea where to start looking, but I trusted Maverick to lead the way. He knew where he'd come from, and I could only hope he would take me back to my James.

"James!" I shouted into the world of thick snow, pines, and bark. "James, where are you?"

But only the whine of the wind answered my plea. The forest was heavy, and the trees burdened with snow. The minutes dragged, painfully as I wondered how long James had been out alone, while I was safe and sound, sleeping in the tent. I felt sickeningly selfish, and guilty.

"James!" I called again, this time my voice a little more desperate. But once again, nothing.

We had to have been out for 15 minutes at this point. I breathed in gasps, my chest beating with fear. Then, in a flash, Maverick stopped. His ears pricked forward, his body shivering as he sniffed at the air. Had he picked up James's scent? Was he close by?

But Maverick didn’t show any signs of relief. He picked up the front hooves off the ground a little, and flailed his head about. His voice was a shrill whinny.

"Maverick?" I asked, my voice shaking as I scanned around trying to see what had spooked him. But there was nothing, just endless snow and trees, all silent and still.

Maverick continued to fuss, becoming wilder and more erratic. I tried to calm him down. "Easy, boy, easy," I murmured, patting at his neck. He was too worked up, too scared.

Then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw it. A dark shape lying in the snow, just a little deeper into the forest. The trees shielded it from immediate view, and it would have been easy to miss if I hadn't looked for it. But there was no mistake as to what it was.

A person.

I basically threw myself off of Maverick, stumbling and falling through the snow as I ran toward the figure. My heart was begging to beat out of my chest and into the cold open air, my mind screaming that it couldn't be, that it couldn't be James.

But the closer I got, I realized that was definitely a human shape, his body, his clothes so dear and familiar. His cowboy hat lay several feet away in the snow, and he wasn't moving. Not an inch.

"James!" I shouted, my voice cracking as I finally reached him. Dropping to my knees beside him, my shaking hands rolled him onto his back. His face was pale, almost ghostly against the snow, and his eyes… oh God, his eyes… They were barely open, staring up at me with a pure heartbreak, watery with pain.

"No, no, no," I sobbed, my hands frantically running over his body in search of the source of his injuries. My fingers found the first gunshot wound low in his chest, the blood staining his shirt a dark mocking red. There were two more on his leg, each bleeding heavy into the snow beneath him.

"James, please," I begged, my voice shaking as I cupped his cold, aged face between my hands. "What happened!? Are you okay!? You're gonna be okay, right!? Please tell me you're gonna be okay..."

James's lips parted, but the words that came out were weak, barely more than a whisper. "Darlin’..." he rasped. His voice was so faint, it was almost unheard by the angry wind. "You're… so beautiful…"

"Don't say that," I cried, my forehead pressed to his with hot tears streaming down. "Don't talk like that, James. You're gonna be fine, you hear me? I'm gonna get you out of here, I'm gonna help you, but you have to hold on, okay?"

He tried to smile, but it was a sad, broken thing. "Darlin'… I've done… what I needed to do…"

"No," I wept, my hands automatically moving to cover the wound on his chest, trying to stop the bleeding. "No, you can't do this, James. You can't leave me. I need you."

He weakly shook his head. "I served my purpose… hunted down the thieves… got ‘em… but… got hurt in the process. What matters… is that you’re safe"

"James, please!" I begged. "You have to live. You can't die. I need you, James. I can't do this without you…"

His eyes fluttered, his breathing shallow heaves. "You… don't need… some old man…"

"Yes, I do!" I cried, my tears falling to his blood stained clothes.

I took his face in my palms, felt the coolness of his skin, the nearing of death. "I need you, James. The world needs you. You're a survivor; you have survived so much. You… are such a strong man."

He stared at me. His gaze had a conflict in them, the part of him wanting to fight, wanting to survive, and the one ready to give in, to rest.

I leaned down, pressing a slow warm kiss to his lips, trying to weave all my love into that one moment. When I pulled back, I looked into his eyes, willing him to see how much I needed him, how much I loved him. "Please, James…" I whispered, my voice breaking wildly, with every syllable.

I knew he was stuck, stuck between fighting for me, and giving into death. "Okay," he whispered. "Okay…"

I supported him with an arm around his shoulders as he struggled to a sitting position, his face screwed up in agony. He uttered a strangled yell, his hands digging deep into my arms as he struggled to remain conscious.

"I'm here," I whispered, trying to sound calm even as my face streamed with tears. "I'm here, James. We're gonna get you out of here, okay? Just hold on to me."

It was an ordeal to get him up onto his feet. He was heavy, his body limp with exhaustion and pain; the slightest movement and he would cry out, the sound stabbing through me like a knife. But I refused to let go or to give up.

With Maverick's help, we got James onto the horse, and obviously, he was in extreme pain. His face was pale, almost ashen, with deep set lines, and his eyes had tears he tried to hold back.

"I'm sorry, honey," I whispered, my shaking voice low, as I hauled myself up behind him and wrapped my arms around his waist. "I'm so sorry. Just hold on a little longer, okay? We're almost there."

He nodded weakly, his head resting against my shoulder as we began the slow, agonizing trek to the nearest town. Every step Maverick took was a spike of pain for James, and I felt his body tense with each movement.

"Just a little longer," I whispered, my voice breaking as I held him tighter. "Just a little longer, James. We're almost there."

I forced Maverick to go as fast as he could, only focused on getting James the help he needed. After a painful 30 minutes, we found our destination: town. I slid off Maverick and hauled James down with me, managing to remain upright, though only just.

"Stay with me, James," I whispered, trying to treat his wounds and staunch the bleeding, my hands shaking. "Please, stay with me."

He nodded weakly, struggling man with his eyes half closed. "I'm… tryin'," he whispered out.

✧ — 𝐄𝐏𝐈𝐋𝐎𝐆𝐔𝐄

𝑨 𝑷𝑰𝑬𝑪𝑬 𝑶𝑭 𝒀𝑶𝑼…

The sky was grey, the clouds so low they mourned in unison. The air heavy with the scent of earth and pine as the leaves rustled in the trees lining the path. I walked with a measured pace, the crunch of gravel beneath my boots the only sound, while my breath misted in the chill of autumn. My heart was heavy, an old ache buried deep inside me since that day, seven months ago.

The stone was just ahead. I had been there many times, taking in the bittersweet comfort of being near him, even if only in this way. Each time, memories both beautiful and painful flooded over me, and today proved no exception. I stepped closer to the headstone, my footsteps slowing as I reached out to trace etched letters with trembling fingers.

James Hetfield. A man of honor, courage, and love.

The words whispered in, my voice catching in my throat and the well of my tears so very full in my eyes, began to run. "A man of honour, courage, and love," I said again, the words both a tribute and a reminder of all he had been. My fingers settled on the cool stone and then fell away as I released a shuddering breath, sinking my knees beside the grave.

"I miss you," I said in a whisper, the tears welling up and streaming over and down my cheeks. "I miss you so much every single day, James."

I placed a hand on my growing belly, feeling the soft murmurs of life growing inside me. Our baby, the last piece of James which I carried within me. It comforted me and at the same time tore my heart that he would never get to hold our child, never get to see this beautiful life we had created together.

"I wish you were here," I cried, my throat parched with emotion. "I wish you could be here, see her, hold her… love her the way you loved me."

The trees rustled with windI closed my eyes, letting tears slide easily down my cheeks, my hand still placed on my belly, another on the stone. I had lost so much, yet I had gained something so important, a piece of James which would always live on in our child. Yet, it did not soften the blow of his absence. There was a hole in my heart.

"Why did you leave me?" I sobbed, my voice mounting with pain. "Why did you have to die?" I begged the world, the dirt beneath me, the curse of time.

In the midst of my sorrow, I heard something… a voice, soft and gentle, calling my name.

"Clarice…"

My lungs jumped, and I slowly lowered my hands, looking up in disbelief. There, standing beside me, was James. He looked as he did in life, strong and tall, his silver hair catching light, his white mustache framing that warm, gentle smile I had loved so much. He was donning those clothes that I have always liked-that old heavy jacket with wear and tear, that simple shirt, and those old jeans which he had worn during so much of my memory of the man.

The moment he appeared, I couldn't breathe, I couldn't think. "James?" I whispered. "Is it you?

He smiled bittersweetly. "How're you holdin' up, darlin'?" he asked in just the voice I'd remembered, deep, rich with love.

I didn't know how to answer, as my heart was torn between the happiness of seeing him again and the sadness knowing it wasn't real. "I… I don't know," I confessed, my voice quavering. "I'm trying but… It's so hard without you."

He nodded then, face softening into understanding. Kneeling down beside me, he was a presence so close, so real, and I could almost feel the warmth from him. "I know, sweetheart," he said softly. "But you're strong. Stronger than you think. And… you're gonna be an amazing mother."

I looked at him, a fresh wave of tears welling up in my eyes as my heart shattered all over again. "I don't feel strong," I whispered, my voice shaking. "I feel lost, I don't know how to do this without you..."

"You're not lost," he soothed, reaching out as if to touch my cheek. I could have sworn to god that I felt the ghost of his touch, warm and comforting. "You've got a piece of me with you, in that little one."

I put my hand over his, the cold air between us, but I knew what it was like to have the warmth of his skin against mine. "I'm scared," I said, my voice barely audible. "I'm scared to raise our baby without you…"

"You ain’t alone," he whispered, his eyes so full of love it cut into my heart. "I'm here with you, always. In here." He put his hand over his heart and then over mine.

I closed my eyes and tried to accept reality, but oh… the sound of his voice. "I wish you were here," I whispered. "I wish you could be here to see her grow…”

"I do too," he said with sadness. "But it was my time, darlin'. It was my fate. My body… it was ready to let go knowing it had served its purpose."

"But why?" I wailed. "Why did you have to die? Why did the world take you from me?"

James let out a sigh. "It was just the way things were meant to be," he whispered. "I fought as hard as I could for you. But in the end, it was my time. I had to go."

I shook my head, and tears shot down my face. "I need you, James," I sobbed as my voice broke. "I can’t do this without you..."

He leaned in closer, so real, I could almost feel the warmth of his breath against my skin. "You can," he whispered. "You're stronger than you know. And you got our baby to think about now. She's gonna need you, Clarice. She's gonna need her mama to be strong, to love her the way only you can."

I looked at him through my tears, my heart breaking at the thought of raising our child without him. "But I'm so scared," I whispered, my voice shaking.

"You are beautiful, strong, and capable of so much more than you know. You're gonna be a good mama, and our little girl is gonna know how much her daddy loves her, 'cause you're gonna show her that love every single day."

I reached out to him, desperate to hold onto him, to the feeling of him being here with me. "I miss you so much," I choked out.

"I miss you too, darlin'," he whispered. "But I'm always with you. In your heart, in our baby… I ain’t ever really gone."

I reached out to touch his face, my fingers brushing through the air where his cheek should have been. It was a cold reality. I made myself hold on to the love in his eyes.

"Forget me not?" he asked, fused with love, almost pleading.

I shook my head, my tears blurring my vision as I looked into his eyes for what would be the last time. "Never.”

He smiled, a soft heartbreaking smile, and I watched his image start to fade, slipping away like a dream. "I love you," he whispered, the wind carrying the words away like dust.

And then he was gone, and I was left standing beside the grave, the cold, bitter wind gnawing at my skin, the tears streaming down my face. I looked down at the headstone, the letters carved in stone.

That man… that beautiful, strong, loving man. What I would do to hold him again.

"Honor, courage, and love…" I whispered again.

Putting a hand on my tummy, the soft stirs of our baby, the last piece of James that I had left.

“I love you too.”

𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭: @roseydoesypoesy @metallicaloverrr @behindanotherdoor @ilovepapahet @delightfulcollectivetyphoon @mxtal-up-ur-ass — thank you for being some of the most dedicated readers!

[gladiolidiaries]

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[blues824]

ASDFGHJLLCNDLWMSNSCJJDLWKEMAMAMXNCBCJDJAOWIRJDKDK IM SO EXCITED FOR FLUFF-CEMBER OMGGGGGG!!!!!

(also, Lowkey so flattered that you consider me a ✨mutual✨ because you are an INCREDIBLE fanfic writer~)

Okay, so, Hear 👏 Me 👏 Out 👏! The Scarabia Boys and maybe Ruggie (or one of the other boys from the savannah) for prompt 28..... But what if it was reversed???? Because I'm someone that's from an area that has really cold and long winters, so I'm pretty good at spotting or catching myself on black ice..... But these guys from hot desert areas??? I just /know/ they haven't gotten used to the ice and snow yet-

But I'm just spit balling! Feel free to stick to the original, cuz it's still pretty cute!! Can't wait to read all the beautiful, adorable, amazing fics that come from this event!!!! Make sure not to overwhelm yourself or get burnt out. Take plenty of breaks and remember we can always wait an extra day or two lol 💋✨💋💕💖💘❤️🥰😍🥳🌹🫶🫰🌹🥴

I HOPE YOU HAVE FUN WRITING AND I CANT WAIT TO SEE WHAT YOU DOOOOOOOOOO~~

Of course!!! You’ve commented on a few of my works, so I figured you might like to be included in the event lol. Also, I would be in their shoes, because I am from a hot desert area lol.

You requested: Being Caught Slipping on Ice [Reversed]

Ruggie Bucchi

He had absolutely no idea what he was thinking, being on the ice. This man has a vice grip on your arms as you both go to Sam’s Shop. The sidewalk and grass have become icy because it has been raining for the past few days, and the temperature has dropped significantly. Savanaclaw isn’t this cold, and he’s bundled up pretty well.

There was one spot that was a tad wet, still frozen in ice, and he wasn’t paying attention. You felt him let go of your arm, and you turned to see that he was falling backwards. Worried about him hitting his head, you quickly slid on your knees so that his head would land in your lap.

“Is it just me, or did an angel come down and save me?”

Real smooth, bro. You rolled your eyes and smiled, making sure that he was alright and helping him back up, going to place a kiss on his cheek which made him smile. He reciprocates by moving just in time for you to accidentally land it on his lips, and he snickered as you rolled your eyes once again.

Kalim Al-Asim

His homeland is literally the Scalding Sands. If you think he knows how to handle snow, you would be mistaken. However, he has a very positive outlook on it. It’s a free Slip-n’-Slide, or he gets to be a penguin sliding on his stomach. When it comes to having to walk, however, he is at a loss. One step and he’s already fallen. He needs one of those walkers that people use when skating.

Watching you walk across the black ice so easily made him feel so amazed, and he thought that if he copied you exactly, he would be fine. He was wrong, and he fell back almost immediately. Before he hit the ground, however, he felt an arm wrap around his waist. He looked up to find you, with a worried look on your face.

“Thank you, Y/N! You saved me!”

The smile on his face made any memory of scolding him dissipate as you made sure that he was steady. You then taught him how to properly walk on the black ice, as there was a particular method to it. Making sure your body was straight and stepping down so that the sole of your foot was flat against the ground, and it was weird to get used to, but at least he didn’t fall more than he did.

Jamil Viper

His homeland is the Scalding Sands as well. However, he knows how to handle snow more than Kalim does. He was prepared when he got accepted into NRC. But, nothing could prepare him for the ice that forms on the grass and on the sidewalks. After all, his sports training takes place in a gymnasium, so the temperature is warm and controlled by a thermostat. 

So, when he invited you to come play on an outside basketball court, you laughed when he realized that it had a bit of ice on the ground. Because you used to live somewhere with a cold climate, you were familiar with playing a certain way so that you wouldn’t slip and fall. He was not, and after a few moments, he slipped. Luckily, you slid behind him so that you could hold him up.

“Thank you, Y/N. I guess I have not acclimated quite yet to the ice…” He said, a bit embarrassed.

You shrugged and said it was all alright, and that you could do it because you lived somewhere cold. You taught him how to walk and run on the ice, and that he needed to have his hands out of his pockets at all times so he could catch himself. It was good advice even if it wasn’t freezing outside, as you never knew when you would fall.

[flowercrowngods]

The click of the Zippo opening and closing is almost hypnotic, lulling Steve into that familiar satisfaction of just the right noise at just the right frequency as he watches Robin’s wrist flicking the lighter open and closed, her arms stretched above her like she’s trying to touch the ceiling. Steve’s hands are gently swaying next to hers, in the nonexistent breeze of his bedroom.

It’s one of their weird private moments; where they get to have everything being just right that would get them questioning and judgemental glances from everyone else. The tingling sensation in their arms as the blood flows down and away from their hands, leaving them heavy and floaty in a way that never fails to ground them. But there’s also a safety to this moment, a security that they just get to have this without judgment.

Just the flick of the lighter and not a word spoken for over half an hour now.

Sometimes Robin laments, How am I supposed to ever find a girlfriend when this is my version of quality time? This is just weird. I’m weird.

Maybe, but it’s fun, Steve had said once, staring at the veins in his hands while a large water bottle was balancing on his forehead.

She had sighed and snatched the water bottle from his face to plant it on hers, admitting, It is fun.

“Do you ever wonder if there’s like…” Robin interrupts their silence, the Zippo never faltering, Steve’s eyes still fixed on it like all the answers to the questions of the universe lie somewhere in the peeling black foil.

“Hm?”

“Like, a point?”

“A point?” Steve asks, still following the lighter with his eyes, even as Robin stops flicking it open and closed and starts playing with the spark wheel and stone. There’s no flame yet, though, and it looks like she’s just stroking it almost reverently.

“Yeah, like a reason that we’re still, like, doing things.”

Steve frowns, lowering one of his arms to feel the blood flowing back into his hand, the sensation warm and familiar. Like a reminder. There’s blood in your body. You’re alive.

Is there a point, though?

“No,” he says eventually.

“No?”

“No. I don’t think there’s one. We just are. Not like we can stop.”

“Well, we could,” she says, and in one second there’s nothing, just words hanging in the air. The next, there’s a flame coming from the lighter as Robin presses hard and fast enough on the spark wheel. It stays there, the little flame.

We could.

Steve says nothing, just watches the flame as the blood gets drained from his right arm once more.

“Sometimes I wanna burn down your house. And your car, too. I watch you die in there sometimes.”

“Huh?”

“Your car. Sometimes it’s just; there’s these thoughts. Or, like, scenarios, and they’re super duper real in my head, and I have to remind myself they’re not. Just makes me wanna drench it all in gasoline and just… boom.”

“Boom,” Steve says, and it’s not the reaction that he should be giving, not the reaction of a sane person — but then, sane people don’t play with their lighters in bed or listen to their best friend’s arsonist tendencies. Sane people don’t see what Steve Harrington see, they don’t do what he does. What he had to do. When what he should have done was fail some tests, drink some beers and kiss some girls.

Is there a point?

“I promise when I get a new car, I’m gonna burn this one with you, yeah?”

“Deal,” Robin says, and the little flame dies. The steady click is back, and Steve smiles a little.

“And the house.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

The clicking stops, and before he knows it, Robin’s body is wrapped around his, her head resting on his chest.

“I think that makes for a good point, though,” she says eventually, and Steve perks up.

“Cuddles?”

“You.”

“Me? Isn’t that a little stupid? And scary? Like, choosing a person to be the point in general.”

She shrugs against him, reaching up to hold his hand and link their fingers in the air above them.

“Maybe, but I think most points are either stupid or scary. It’s why people talk about it so often without ever, like, really saying something. I think you can be my stupid, scary point, Steve Harrington.”

Swaying their linked hands gently above them, Steve smiles. “Then I think that makes you my stupid, scary point, Robin Buckley.”

“Deal,” she says again, and there’s less of a threat about it this time.

[d1xonss]

Desert Rose

Chapter 36 ~ The attack

✧ Paring : Daryl Dixon x Rose

✧ Era : Season 3

✧ Word Count : 6.4k

In this chapter ~ The following day wasn't any easier as the group needed to have a plan for if the Governor returned. It all led to a pretty big argument, everyone having a different opinion about what they should do. But none of their ideas or plans could've prepared them for the sudden attack they were faced with. However, nothing else seemed to prepare them for the familiar faces that had returned just in time.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ROSE POV *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The next morning finally rolled around after a long night of restful sleep, Glenn wasting no time gathering everyone together in the common room for some type of meeting. He began to question Carl about where he found Tyreese's group, knowing that if there was a blind spot somewhere, we had to find it. We weren't going to risk anymore walkers getting in that way, but more importantly, The Governor and his men if they planned to come.

I stood up against the wall as I watched Glenn draw out a map on the ground with a piece of chalk, going on and on about the spaces we needed to fill. His voice continued to bounce off the cement walls as he couldn't stress enough about how important this was, but I couldn't help but tune him out after a while. Ever since he had brought up that he eventually spilled where we were located to The Governor, now talking about how easily they could get in, I couldn't help but stew over it for longer than I intended.

A figure stepped up next to me then, bumping their shoulder with mine and I looked up to see Michonne, tilting her head towards me as she silently asked if I was alright. I only nodded my head and turned my attention back on Glenn, but I knew I didn't convince her.

"Why are we even so sure he's going to attack? Maybe you scared him off." Beth spoke up.

Michonne then quickly shook her head, "He had fish tanks full of heads, walkers and humans. Trophies. He coming." she said seriously.

"We should hit him now." Glenn said.

My eyes snapped back to him at the suggestion, "What?" Beth asked.

"He won't be expecting it," he continued, "We'll sneak back in and put a bullet in his head." he spoke, and I couldn't help but roll my eyes. As if it were that easy.

"We're not assassins." Carol said bluntly.

He ignored her comment as he got up from his crouched position, moving closer as he spoke to Michonne, "You know where his apartment is, you and I could end this tonight." he attempted to convince.

But Michonne stayed silent for a while as she looked at him with almost uncertainty, "I'll do it myself." he tried.

She eyed him for only a moment longer, seeing how serious he grew about this, before silently nodding her head.

"No," I spoke up, grabbing his attention, "This plan is too risky, you haven't thought this thro-"

"Believe me I have." he cut me off.

"He didn't know you were coming last time and look what happened. You were almost killed, Daryl was captured, and you and Maggie were almost executed." Hershel said.

He turned back to face the old man, "You can't stop me."

"But I can." I piped up.

His head then whipped back towards me, and he got closer to my face, "No you can't."

"Is that a challenge?" I asked with anger lacing my voice.

The room instantly grew silent as my voice echoed around the space, everyone watched intently what we would do next. I would never hurt Glenn, but if he tried to leave and do this, I wouldn't hesitate to tackle his ass.

He didn't say anything as he swallowed thickly, so I did, "I'm not going to let you get yourself killed over a stupid plan you barely put any thought into. We wait, and come up with a better one."

"He could be gathering his men to come over here and attack right now!" he yelled in my face.

"Well then he wouldn't be in Woodbury waiting for you to kill him now would he?!" I yelled back, "And there goes your big plan."

I was a bit taken aback that he was here screaming in my face, not liking what this whole situation was doing to him. But I wasn't going to back down, I wasn't about to let him be as reckless as he wanted to be and get himself killed somehow trying to do this just because he was angry.

I could easily tell by his face that he wasn't expecting me to yell back, to stand up to him and get in his way, but I would do a whole lot more than that if he kept it up.

It was almost like a face off as we stared at each other for the long passing seconds, before Hershel's voice cut through the intense silence, "Rick would never allow this."

Glenn then turned towards Hershel and took a few steps away from me, "You really think he's in any position to make that choice?"

"Like Rose said, you need to think this through clearly. T-Dog lost his life here, Lori too. The men that were here. It isn't worth any more killing. What are we waiting for? If he's really on his way, we should be out of here by now."

"And go where?" Glenn asked.

"We lived out on the road all winter." Hershel pointed out.

Glenn sighed, "Back when you had two legs, and we didn't have a baby crying for walkers every four hours."

"We can't stay." he said calmly.

"We can't run." Glenn countered back.

I stayed silent as I watched him continue to argue with Hershel, his arms flailing all over the place just to prove his point, I almost couldn't believe how he was acting. He had every right to be upset for what happened to him and Maggie back there, for everything that asshole did to them, but he had no right to take it out on us.

He eventually concluded that we would stay put and fight for the prison and moved down to continue to tell Carl the plan about checking the tunnels again, but then he stopped in his tracks.

"Who's on watch?" he snapped.

No one said anything, causing him to get up quickly as he cursed under his breath, but I stopped him before he could fully walk out the door.

"No, don't worry princess, I got it." I assured while pushing his chest back a little.

Without another word, I left the common room and let the heavy door slam right behind me. I was so pissed off at his bitchy attitude, he was being so stupid it almost blew my mind. I understood that he wanted revenge, but this isn't how we do it. We had to be careful not to lose anyone else, and the fact that he was going around acting like he didn't care who we lost, made my blood boil.

Feeling relieved as I was finally up in the watchtower with a sniper in my hand, I needed some air, and a break from his stupid tantrums.

About two hours had passed in what felt like a flash as I sat myself near the bars of the tower, keeping an eye on the trees surrounding the place for any type of threat. Though there were many walkers that seemed to pile up a little around the gated fences, it was nothing new. Just the same old shit that we had been fighting since the beginning, no sign of The Governor or his people, not even a sign of anyone alive for that matter.

Though when Michonne made a comment about how he would come, I believed her. She knew how this man thought better than the rest of us did, expecting him to return with rage and destruction. But I never imagined we would get here. In a place where we were suddenly at some kind of war with a man and his community, one that we barely even knew. It was a lot to take in.

The door below began to creak open slowly from behind me and I rolled my eyes as I adjusted the gun in my lap, "Go away." I said in a sing-song tone.

"It's me." Maggie's voice called out, and I turned around to see her standing there with a solemn look on her face, "You want me to leave you alone?"

I pretended to think for a second before shaking my head, "Nah, you're the only exception."

She slightly smiled, "Thanks babe."

I nodded and gestured for her to come over and take a seat next to me, and she moved upon see in my silent invitation. We both sat down while the gun I had now rested in my lap, continuing to gaze out at the tree line just a couple yards away.

She stayed quiet from beside me but I knew she had a lot on her mind, she just didn't know where to start. I could feel her eyes on me as she tried to find her voice, opening and shutting her mouth a few times in hesitance. I didn't want to push her, but maybe if I lightened the mood it would get her talking.

"So, did you come up here to talk, or just stare at my pretty face?" I asked, glancing over at her with a smirk.

She let out a chuckle and looked down at her hands, "Both." she replied reluctantly, getting me to laugh along with her.

"What's on your mind?" I asked as I turned better to face her.

She hesitated for a moment before making eye contact with me, "Nothing, I just... kinda snapped at Glenn." she admitted, sounding a little ashamed.

I scoffed, "Well, apparently I was one step ahead of you on that one today."

She laughed with a shake of her head, "Yeah, I guess so...but I'm kind of glad you did. In my opinion I think he was way out of line, with you and my dad." she said.

I nodded my head, "He was. The Governor shoved a stick so far up his ass and now he's taking it out on all of us."

She silently agreed, beginning to nervously pick at her nails as she spoke the next dreaded words, "He's just mad about what Merle did to him. And...what The Governor did to me." she admitted quietly.

My eyes widened, but she answered the question before it even came out of my mouth, "No he didn't. He just...made me take off my shirt and bra, and...pushed himself up against me. He didn't do anything really, it was nothing...just scared me real bad."

I shook my head, "That's not just nothing Mags." I argued.

"It could've been worse." she said quietly.

"...It could've," I agreed, "But that doesn't mean you should brush this off like it was nothing...that must've been so traumatizing...I'm so sorry."

"Thanks." she nodded in appreciation, her voice coming out practically a whisper, "I'm just having a hard time processing it I think, and Glenn keeps avoiding me because of all of it...well until just a few minutes ago."

"What happened?"

"He...he came into our cell to check on me, but I didn't feel like saying a whole lot to him. But he almost pushed me to tell him what really happened while we were separated, what happened with The Governor. I didn't want to relive it and go into detail, but he kept asking...so I told him. And then I yelled at him...I think I'm just pissed he pushed me to tell him more about it. But...that's probably a stupid reason to snap at him huh?"

I shook my head, "No it's not, you weren't ready. He should've waited until you were comfortable enough to tell him about it yourself."

She nodded her head in agreement and looked down, "You want me to beat him up for you?" I asked.

I heard her laugh a little but she shook her head, "No, that's okay, I just needed some time to cool off. I'll talk to him later."

I nodded, showing her I understood completely before moving forward to pull her into a hug, which she gladly returned. "I'm so sorry that happened to you. And don't you think for one minute that we won't make him pay for what he did."

"I know we will." she whispered, still holding onto me tightly.

We stayed in each other's arms for a little while, the gesture and comfort being something she really needed before we finally broke apart, silence taking over once again. This time however, the silence wasn't tense as it seemed to be before. It felt peaceful just sitting with each other instead of both of us being by ourselves with our racing thoughts. I enjoyed the company even though I originally wanted to be alone, she somehow truly was an exception.

But I could then feel her eyes on me again after a few moments of her thinking, and I just knew the things she wanted to say. It was almost as if I read her mind, just by briefly seeing the one saddened look on her features.

"You don't even have to say it." I muttered.

Her frown stretched even further, "But I want to...we haven't talked about it."

"There's a reason we haven't." I brushed off, "It's over. It's done."

She sighed to herself, looking at me with furrowed brows and saddened eyes, "I'm sorry about Daryl." she said softly, so softly I almost didn't hear it. Though a part of me wished I hadn't.

"Maggie-"

"No," she cut me off, "You're hurting, I can see that. I just didn't want you to think that you couldn't talk to me about it. I'm always here to listen."

I shook my head, "I don't need to talk about it because there's nothing to talk about. He left. And I...didn't follow him."

"Do you regret not going with him?" she asked.

"No." I said instantly, "...Yeah? I- I don't know." I muttered in defeat.

"Hey," she whispered, placing a hand on my shoulder to get me to actually look at her, "I don't want you to think you have to put up this front like you're okay, because I can tell you're not. Just...let it out."

I shook my head, "I have, trust me. I just do it alone, I don't want anyone else seeing me like that." I said with a sarcastic laugh, before pausing upon seeing how serious her face had become. Maybe I had been putting up a front, more than I even originally realized.

And then it happened, he entered my mind again like he always seemed to do. "I miss him." I admitted quietly.

She sighed in sympathy before bringing me in for another hug, as I tried desperately not to break down in front of her. "I know you do," she whispered, "But it'll be okay, everything will work itself out." she promised, rubbing my back lightly.

Tears built up in my eyes, ones that she couldn't see. I couldn't bring myself to speak in fear that my voice would crack at the first word that left my lips, so I only nodded. Not fully knowing if I could believe that, but yet wanting to more than anything.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* DARYL POV ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

My feet trucked heavily through the woods as fast as I could, ignoring Merle's quick steps from behind me as he yelled, trying to keep up to really rip into me. His reason for being this pissed was stupid, getting all fired up at me for stopping him after he wanted to rob an innocent family we came across. They were fighting off a small herd of walkers when we found them, leading to us making a beeline over towards their direction to help take care of the rest. Merle's actions honestly surprised me...until they didn't.

As some type of "payment" for saving them he wanted to pick through the supplies out of their car, shouting at them and threatening them however he pleased. But I had already had enough of his dumbass, aiming my crossbow at his head to finally get him to stop harassing these people we didn't even know.

I told the family to just drive, get away fast while I had stopped him for the time being and right when I saw they were far enough away, I turned around swiftly to avoid the confrontation, heading back towards the forest. I should've expected this from him, his old tendances resurfacing, but I guess it was something I didn't think about when it came to taking off with him again. But everything he did, everything he said, was starting to piss me off more than I could even describe.

Ever since the first night when he brought up Rose the way he did, trying to convince me of things that weren't true, I was even done with him then.

"The shit you doing, pointing that thing at me?!" he asked harshly while still following close behind.

"They were scared man." I said, not slowing down or stopping.

He scoffed, "They're rude is what they were. Rude and they owed us a token of gratitude."

"They didn't owe us nothin." I grumbled, thinking back to how they were struggling to protect themselves on their own, all while also trying to keep the baby they had safe. Helping them was the least I could've done in my mind.

"I see you, helpin people out of the goodness of your heart? Even though you might die doin it. Is that something your little girlfriend taught ya?"

I stopped in my tracks once he said that, whipping back around to look him in the eye, "There was a baby." I snapped.

"Oh, otherwise you would have just left them for the biters then?" he questioned, and I knew exactly what he was implying.

I shook my head, "Man, I went back for you. Ya weren't there. I didn't cut off your hand either, you did that. Way before they locked you up on that roof. Ya asked for it." I said.

To my surprise, his face formed into a smile as he started to chuckle a little to himself. "You know what's funny to me? You and sheriff Rick are like this now." he crossed his pointer and middle finger together, "Right? I bet ya a penny and a fiddle of gold that you never told him that we were planning on robbing that camp blind."

I paused for a moment as I thought back to our plan we discussed a long time ago, long when we first found the group to begin with. "It didn't happen."

"Yeah, it didn't cause I wasn't there to help you." he spat.

I took a step closer to him, "What like when we were kids? Huh? Who left who then?"

"What? Is that why I lost my hand?!"

"Ya lost yer hand because yer a simple-minded piece of shit!" I snapped.

Upon hearing that, he began to yell things that I couldn't bring myself to listen to anymore as I turned away from him, my eyes widening once I felt him grab the back of my shirt to pull me back, hearing it rip. My knees buckled and hit the ground at the amount of force he used, feeling his eyes burning at the spots on my back that I didn't want him to see.

I felt like I was melting under his gaze, practically feeling his eyes widening as he eyed every single one lining my skin. The feeling that came with his realization felt awful. Fearful even. But when I showed Rose, ashamed and scared, she kissed over them with such love I had never felt before, making my fear instantly disappear. Hell, I felt like I fell even deeper in love with her in that moment alone.

But here I was now, fully exposed to my brother who now suddenly was at a loss for words when normally he didn't know how to shut the fuck up. I quickly tried to pull my shirt back up to cover them out of embarrassment, but I felt it was too torn. So I quickly took my backpack instead, shrugging it on my shoulders to hide them once more.

"I-I didn't know he-"

"Yeah he did." I interrupted him, "He did the same to you, that's why you left first." I muttered almost bitterly.

I meant for my tone to come out loud and intimidating, but when I spoke all I could hear was insecurity in my voice.

"I had to man, I would've killed him otherwise." he told me.

I only scoffed towards him, not even looking him in the eye as I stood back up to my full height, walking away from him through the woods, "Where you goin?" he called after me.

"Back where I belong." I snapped.

"What? Back to your little girlfriend? Besides I can't go with ya. I tried to kill that black bitch, damn near killed that Chinese kid."

My blood boiled at his racism, "He's Korean." I corrected.

"Whatever! Doesn't matter man I just can't go with you." he replied.

I took a breath, "Ya know, I might be the one walkin away, but yer the one who's leaving...again." I spoke, walking away from him for good.

I should've known from the beginning not to go with him and leave everyone else behind. Leave Rose behind. But that was a stupid mistake, and all I could think about now was finally getting back to her. I wanted to tell her how much I missed her and how she never once left my mind, how I was constantly trying to find a way to come back to her.

And now I was.

My feet couldn't take me nearly as fast as I wanted to go, harshly pushing through the branches in my way as if that would somehow get me there quicker. To finally get back home.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ROSE POV *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Maggie left a little while ago to go back to her cell to have some time by herself, while I stayed on watch for a little while longer. No one else had offered to take over for me whilst I had been up here for hours, but I honestly didn't mind. In a way it gave me some peace of mind that no one remained out in the distance watching us. Seeing for myself that there truly wasn't a threat, even though I continued to double and triple check.

But my attention was pulled away from the tree line once I saw a brief glimpse of Glenn getting into another argument with Hershel just outside. I caught myself almost stepping down to yell at him for flipping out on the poor old man again, but he was already making his way to a truck before I could say a thing.

My eyes slightly widened, "Glenn Rhee, don't you dare get in that truck!" I yelled down to him.

Everything was screaming at me, telling me that I knew exactly what he was doing. He was going back, and he was going back alone.

But like a child, he just made dead eye contact with me, slightly glaring, while slowly getting into the driver's seat anyway.

"Glenn!" I yelled again but he quickly started it up and drove off, stepping further on the gas and out of the gates before anyone had a chance to stop him. I cursed under my breath as I watched the vehicle disappear further into the distance, leaving only a smoke cloud behind.

The man was being so goddamn stubborn, and he was going to get himself killed. Tossing the gun I had on the ground, I turned to make my way down from the watch tower to talk to Hershel about what was said between the two of them, but something else in the distance caught my eye.

There was a person lingering towards the woods, wandering around the outside of the prison gates. In a split second, I had picked the weapon back up, looking through the scope to spot the figure clearly, but stopping completely when I saw it was Rick. He was looking left and right repeatedly as if he was looking for someone, and I lowered the weapon with furrowed brows.

I didn't hesitate then to get down from the watchtower, exiting through the gate before jogging across the field to talk to him. I was growing more worried about him with each passing day, watching him slowly lose his mind as his eyes spotted things that weren't actually there. His movements only reminding me of what happened the other day in the common room, staring up at the balcony before breaking out in a cold sweat as if something was watching him.

By the time I made it up to the fence, he had walked a little further into the woods as he continued searching, making me have to call his name multiple times so he would acknowledge my presence. After a few seconds, he finally heard my voice, turning back slowly to walk over up to the other side of the fence.

Once he was close enough, I spoke, "You know I wouldn't have ran my ass all the way down here if it wasn't important." I tried to joke, still slightly out of breath.

A soft smile crossed his lips, "When are you coming back? I love Glenn but that man is really starting to get on my nerves. We need you." I said.

"If you're worried about him leading this group, then you lead." he said seriously.

"Hilarious." I deadpanned, briefly looking around behind him, "What are you doing down here?"

He paused and looked away from me as he stuttered, "I've- I've been, I've got, stuff out here. Stuff..." he trailed off suddenly.

"Stuff." I repeated with a slow nod of my head, "Well...how much longer does this stuff need?" I asked, my concern for him only growing.

He shrugged, "I don't know."

"Rick, you know you can talk to me. Why are you out here?" I asked softly.

He stared at me for a few moments, wanting desperately to tell me what was on his mind but something was holding him back. Maybe it would sound crazy, maybe he felt that no one would believe him, but the truth was I would. I just wanted to know what the hell was going on with him, so I could know how to help him.

"I saw something..." he finally said, "Lori. I saw- I'm seeing Lori...I know it's not really her, but there's got to be a reason. It's got to mean something you know?"

I nodded my head as I saw him finally confiding in me, "Do...do you see her now?" I asked cautiously.

He looked around for a moment before shaking his head, "I don't think you're just seeing her...I think you're looking for her." I stated.

"I'm waiting." he corrected.

"For what?"

"I don't know, something. There's an answer. I know it doesn't make sense- well it does, it can make sense, I think in time it will make sense-"

"Rick," I sighed to stop his rambling, "When was the last time you slept?"

He shook his head, "I...I don't know." he admitted quietly.

"You need rest." I told him gently.

He didn't reply, just looked down at his feet as his mind clouded with more thoughts, "Do you remember last night when you told me not to blame myself...for what happened to her?" I asked.

He slowly looked up at me and nodded his head, "The same goes for you." I spoke, "Don't blame yourself...it'll destroy you. Especially when it wasn't your fault." I repeated back to him.

He opened his mouth to say something else, but then looked over my shoulder as if he caught a glimpse of movement. At first I was fearful to turn around, not knowing if there was going to be an actual person behind me or not, but I slowly managed to turn over my shoulder to only see Hershel hopping his way down carefully towards us. Thank God.

When he caught up with us, he placed a hand on my shoulder, "Mind if I talk to Rick for a moment, dear?" he asked me and I nodded, glancing back to Rick once more before heading back up towards the prison to give them a second alone.

As I was walking across the long field, I spotted Michonne standing by the abandoned bus in the grass, giving me a small wave once our eyes locked. Raising my hand up to wave back, I slowly made my way over to her instead.

But right as I was finally close enough to speak, opening my mouth to say something, I didn't even get a chance as she quickly reached out and pulled me back with a thud against the bus. Her hand was placed firmly on my shoulder as she kept me behind the hunk of junk, peering around the vehicle with widened eyes.

My brows furrowed as I tried to ask what she saw, but not a second later, I heard a single gunshot fire come from the trees. Then a loud, shocked scream came from just inside the prison gates, whipping my head over to see it was Carol as a body collapsed on top of her. It was Axel, a bullet piercing through his head and his blood splattering over the side of the watchtower.

My eyes got wide as I scanned the area for where the shot came from, spotting a single car in the distance with a few people surrounding it. It didn't take a genius to know who it was, and I quickly became furious. That son of a bitch really came back here.

After I spotted him standing still, far enough away from our gates, I quickly loaded the gun in my hands. That's when more gunfire started coming from all around us, and I peeked out from around Michonne just in time to see Hershel dive to the ground to avoid the flying bullets. I pushed past her lightly and began shooting at the men standing behind their vehicles in the tree line, firing at the ones who were the closest to him.

My gaze then spotted a stranger standing near one of the watch towers, shooting at Carl and Beth as they were trying to take cover. I quickly moved my aim, firing right at the man and instantly watching him go down with a single headshot. Not even hesitating as I whipped back to my original spot and kept firing just as before, in hopes it would buy the older man some time.

But then it very quickly grew silent, everyone stopping their actions suddenly. But once I listened more carefully, I could briefly hear the engine of a car coming our way. I hoped to God it was Glenn, but my face dropped even more when I saw it was some type of white van coming straight at our gates and quickly barreled through them without a second thought. It rushed past the bus Michonne and I were still hiding behind, feeling her hand quickly pull me out of the way so I wouldn't get hit.

It came to a stop in the middle of the field, leaving us all waiting in anticipation for something else to happen. Then all of a sudden, a man popped out of the driver's seat and headed towards the back, ducking and avoiding all the shots our people were trying to fire at him. He opened the back doors quickly, letting walkers spill out of the van and onto our land.

I immediately panicked once I saw how close they were to Hershel, attempting to run over and get to him but Michonne pulled me back again, seconds before someone began firing right at the spot we were hiding behind.

"Hershel get out of there!" I yelled.

I saw him pull out a small gun and start firing at the walkers, while trying to crawl away as best as he could, not being able to get back up without help. The Governor's people all started to make their way back to their vehicles to make a run for it, leaving our group to spread out further to kill all the many walkers they had just released. Fucking cowards.

I saw the van start back up, beginning to turn around and beeline it out of the field right as Glenn's truck pulled back up through the broken gates. Oh, I wanted to kill him right now.

He made his way over to Hershel the second he caught sight of him, and I began to run alongside of the truck so we could help get him in and get him the fuck out of here. Michonne was killing off walkers around us as we ran, and I finally made it to Hershel who was still laying on the ground, putting one of his arms around my shoulders, helping him up and back towards the truck.

Glenn then hopped out of the vehicle only seconds later, rushing over to the two of us to help him move faster on the other side of him. Hershel jumped as fast as he could as we guided him over to the passenger side, glancing behind us to see Michonne still stalling the walkers away from us.

Once he was in safely, I slammed the door shut and watched Glenn get back into the driver's seat, starting it back up again. Michonne turned back to jump in the back, kicking her legs over to make it in safely and reached a hand out for me to take. I ducked out of the way of the walker's grasp, trying to make it over towards where she was reaching, but I was quickly cut off as more of them caught sight of me in the middle.

I pulled out my gun again to try and shoot at them, but it clicked. Fuck.

"Rose!" Glenn yelled from the driver's side, knowing he couldn't wait much longer with the amount coming at him.

"Just go! Get them out of here!" I screamed.

He hesitated for a moment before groaning to himself, driving back up towards the prison where everyone else was watching. I got my knives out and began to throw them at any corpses coming my way, backing up slowly so they couldn't corner me. Many of them had now caught sight of me alone, and I looked over to see if Rick was still outside the gate, but I couldn't spot him anywhere from where I was placed.

But the second I caught an opening through the small herd of walkers, I booked it through the space in attempts to make it back up to the prison on foot. My curly hair bounced wildly as I pushed myself to run as fast as I could, the wind momentarily blowing it towards my face to a point where I couldn't see anymore. I moved my hands to get it out of my face the second it was in my vision, but it was already too late as I missed the walker coming at me from my right.

It collided with me and I fell to the ground harshly. I was so close to the gates that I could hear everyone calling my name desperately, hearing them try to make it over to me. I groaned and struggled with the walker on top of my chest, catching it trying to claw at my shoulders. But then it fell limp against me just as quickly as it tackled me.

My eyes looked up to see a bolt sticking out of the side of its head, piercing through the entirety of its skull. My breath caught in my throat at the thought, but he left. He couldn't have come back, right?

As soon as those thoughts echoed in my mind I looked up and my eyes widened. There he was. Side by side with Merle and Rick as they fought off the many walkers that got too close, firing repeatedly at their skulls. I finally shoved the walker off of me and stood up immediately, nodding back towards the gates without a second thought so we could actually make it out of this thing alive.

"Come on!" I yelled at them, and the three quickly followed me the little distance we had left to go, Maggie rushing to open the broken gate before slamming it shut behind us.

The moment I knew we were safe, my eyes connected with Daryl's from the space between us. I didn't hesitate before I was running towards him quickly, watching as he stayed firmly in place, opening his arms up for me to crash into. I practically tackled him in a hug with a gasp and my legs immediately wrapped around his waist, feeling him hold me up in place while burying his face into my neck. I felt myself begin to tear up at the familiar feeling I had craved so badly, his grip on me never loosening.

We held onto each other for what felt like forever before he leaned forward a little and set me back down to my feet, his arms still glued around my waist. I pulled back to get a look at his features, seeing his perfect blue eyes again and I sighed to myself as I placed my hands on either side of his face, bringing my lips up to his cheek to kiss him multiple times.

He chuckled as he brought me into his chest once more, hugging me tightly again as if he never wanted to let go. I couldn't even begin to explain the emotions I was feeling right now, but all I cared about in that moment was that he was here. He came back. I couldn't bring myself to care about anything else at the shock was still so evident that he was truly here standing right in front of me.

As we finally pulled apart, he quickly placed a kiss on my forehead before looking back down at me. "You're here." I whispered.

"M' here." he repeated, "I ain't goin anywhere else, m' here." he said softly while taking his hands and wiping away the tears that somehow managed to escape my eyes.

I laughed, unable to contain my happiness as I pulled him in for another hug, our intertwined bodies rocking from side to side. I took everything in as I held him close, glancing over his shoulder momentarily to see Merle standing off to the side with an odd expression on his face. Though I couldn't tell what that expression was for, nor could I tell what was going on in his mind. But I didn't linger on it for very long as Daryl pulled away slightly again.

"I'll explain everythin later. But right now..." he trailed off as he glanced back to Rick.

I turned to look over my shoulder, following his gaze to see Rick standing there with his eyes on the field, looking about ready to burst into flames with how angry he had become. But the man didn't utter a word. Not a single word as he just nodded back towards the prison, expecting us all to follow behind him.

This should be fun.

~Thanks for reading!

[fangirlingfromdownunder]

A Sweet Mishap - Chapter 21

Pairing - Jensen Ackles x Reader 

A/N: I just want to start by thanking everyone for all the love on this story so far. Let me know if you want to be added to the tag list. This chapter is a little heavier (as is the story going forward, but I'll include potential triggers for each chapter as relevant), so please read the TW below and only read on if you feel comfortable doing so.

Potential Trigger Warnings: mentions of depression, suicidal thoughts, domestic violence

A Sweet Mishap Masterlist | Main Masterlist

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The days blend together in a whirlwind of rehearsals, work, and studying. The excitement for the upcoming show is palpable, but underneath it all, a sense of exhaustion lingers. I push through each long day with determination. Then one night, I stumble home after a long day, late at night. I check my mail before going up to my apartment and find a large box with my name and address on it, on the floor infront of my mailbox. Knowing the date I can only imagine what it might be. Suddenly I’m wide awake. I rush up to my apartment and dump the box on the coffee table. Knowing it could only be one person, I send him a text.

Can I open it or should I wait until tomorrow?

I wait awhile but don’t get a response. I figure he’s either asleep or in the middle of filming. I force myself to leave the box and go for a shower. Feeling warmed up and relaxed, the package falls out of my mind as I collapse into bed and fall asleep.

As I drag myself out of bed the following morning and get dressed for my shift I remember the box. I check my phone and there’s still nothing. Knowing that it’s later in the day in Vancouver, I decide to try to call him while I finish getting ready. It goes straight to his voicemail and I start to get anxious. I doublecheck the sending address on the box and it has a Vancouver address with his name, so I know at least it hasn’t even come through his management, this was all him. This makes me a little more excited, but I can’t figure out why then he’d all of a sudden be ignoring me. I try to keep a level head and tell myself he’s just busy with work. I don’t have time to dwell on it anyway. Regardless, I can’t help but dread serving loved up couples their caffeine hits for the next few hours.

I force a smile and throw on my apron as I find my rhythm. Despite my initial anxiety, I find myself getting lost in the familiar routine, the busy atmosphere providing a temporary distraction from the unanswered questions swirling in my mind. I push through and then go to my classes as usual, while avoiding checking my phone to keep myself from spiralling further unreasonably. 

As I walk home alone from the theatre, through the streets filled with loved-up couples, I try to feel happy for them while I hope that maybe next year I’ll have someone to share it with. As I approach my building I see someone sitting on the ground infront of the glass doors with their head on their knees. My heart races a little as I worry it could be someone looking for a way to sneak into the complex; I’ve seen stranger things happen in the city, unfortunately. The scene also reminds me of the time I sat in that exact position when Tyler first kicked me out of the apartment. I can’t imagine someone going through those same emotions on Valentines of all days, but for my own safety and the safety of others in the building I hope it’s the latter.

As I get closer, I can tell it’s a young girl. I think about walking past, but then I think about the immense difference it would have made if someone stopped when I was in her position. I clasp my keys in my palm as I crouch down beside her. 

“Hey, are you alright?” I ask, but she just shakes her head. “I know Valentines Day can be rough. Do you at least have somewhere to go? It’s too cold to stay out here.” She shakes her head again as her whole body shakes as she lets out a small sob. “I obviously don’t know you or what happened, but I’ve sat where you’re sitting…If you want to talk about it or just be around someone and not talk about it…” She shakes her head again. “You should at least come into the lobby, out of the cold night air.” When she still refuses to move I shrug off my jacket and wrap it around her. I feel my phone vibrate in my bag, but ignore it. While she’s refusing to talk, I know from experience that she shouldn’t be alone.

I sit on the pavement beside her under the dim streetlights in silence. When I start to shiver involuntarily she offers my jacket back. “You should go inside and stay warm. Don’t stay out here because of me. I’m obviously not worth it.” 

Hearing words so similar to ones I’ve said myself breaks my heart. “Only if you’ll let me call you a ride or bring you in. You won’t believe me, but I’ve had those exact thoughts. I don’t think you should be alone tonight.” I know it must be extremely hard for her to trust a stranger but I hope I can at least get her somewhere safe and warm.

My phone vibrates again, this time with a call. I ignore it. I don’t want this girl to think anyone or anything is more important than her. 

After a while, when she realises I’m not going anywhere, she says, “There’s no one to call…I-I was stupid.”

“I’m sure you weren’t. I’m sure you are just young and optimistic and caught in terrible circumstances beyond your control. But you likely won’t believe me, because I know I wouldn’t have. I haven’t got much to offer, but I do have an apartment with a fireplace and a comfortable couch and bed, you can have whichever.”

“I don’t-”

“It’s no problem. I just want to get you off the street for the night and I don’t imagine you can afford a hotel in the city, not to make assumptions, I just know how expensive it can be out here.”

My phone starts to buzz again and she sinks back. “You should get that.”

“They can wait. It’s probably just my mom checking because she knows how hard Valentines can be for me.” I don’t want to push too hard but I know it’s only getting later and colder and neither of us are making the most of my jacket now. I stand up and swipe my keyfob over the scanner. “At least come into the lobby, I’m happy to stay down here with you or bring you a blanket. Just come out of the cold.”

She hesitantly nods and pushes herself off the cold concrete. I lead her into the lobby. “You can come up with me or I can bring you down a blanket. It’s up to you. I don’t want to make you feel uncomfortable, I just want you to be warm and safe. And know that you’re not alone.”

“She looks around the bare, unhomely lobby and quietly asks, “C-Can I come up with you?”

“Of course.” I press the button for the lift and step back. When we get in, I notice she doesn’t even have a bag with her, just a phone that appears to be flat. I lead her into my apartment and quickly turn the lights on and start the fireplace. “The bathroom’s through there,” I motion towards my room, “If you want to have a warm shower or wash your face. The bedroom’s also in there if you’d prefer, or the couch.” I do my best to make her feel comfortable as I kick off my shoes and put down my bag. I also toss the now wilted roses in the bin, after pocketing the card. 

“They from your boyfriend? Does that mean it gets better?” she asks.

“It’s complicated, but yes, it does get better. It may take a while, but this moment doesn’t define you. Your life is so much more than your worst nights.”

She hesitantly takes a seat on the couch to warm up by the fire and I pull over a stool. “Y-You said you sat were I sat…C-Can I ask what happened?”

I nod. “My boyfriend at the time cheated on me in this very apartment. I came home from work and caught him in our bed with some girl her met at a bar. Same way he met me, ironically. He was a few years older. There were plenty of red flags I ignored. But it hurt for a long time. I am just lucky to have a great friend that helped me pull through the worst of it and keep putting one foot in front of the other.”

“He cheated with you here? And you stayed?”

“Yeah, crazy, right? I had a job here and classes and a friend and dreams. All of which were more important than a guy I moved across the country with on a whim. He went back to our home state and left me the apartment…and all the bills. I thought about trying to leave, but the location was perfect and the rent was cheaper than other places. I did get a new bed though. I threw out the bedding and sold the frame; there was nothing wrong with it, just that I couldn’t get the image of her gripping the headboard while he took her from behind, out of my head.”

“I’m sorry…”

I shake my head and shrug. “He was a dick. I’m just glad I didn’t let it break me. I almost did, and those thoughts resurface now and again, but I’m stronger for it. I know that now. I only realized that recently, actually…It’s these experiences that will eventually help you realize your worth.”

“He-He still has all my stuff. He begged me to forgive him…He-He wouldn’t let me…” I look her over as she speaks and notice she’s still cold. I reach over and pull the blanket off the back of the couch and offer it to her. She wraps it around herself and cuddles it close to her chest. That’s when I notice light purple bruises on her wrists.

“Did he?” I nod at her wrists and she hides them under the blanket. But then she nods.

“You can stay here as long as you need. I have a friend that works as a security guard, I can ask him to come over and help get your stuff tomorrow…Or we can go out and get you whatever you need.”

“He only does it when he’s…I provoke him…It’s my fault.”

I shake my head, knowing those feelings all too well. “Yeah? What’d you do?”

She shakes her head back and throws off the blanket. “It was my fault. I should go back. He’ll be mad if I-”

“I can’t and won’t stop you if you want to go. But I wish you wouldn’t. Just take the night. Get some sleep and think it over.”

She hesitantly pulls the blanket back on as she starts to cry again. “I-I just…I just wanted to go out. It was my first Valentines Day in a relationship…And in the city…I j-just…I-I shouldn’t…I know…”

“Hey, Sweetie. It’s okay to want those things. And every girl deserves that. Your man should want to take you out and show you a good time; not just on Valentines, but every day. But most of all, he shouldn’t ever hurt you. You’re not his punching bag.”

“He didn’t…He just-” My phone vibrates noisily on the counter cutting her off. “C-can I use the bathroom?”

“Of course. Let me know if you want to borrow some clean clothes. I should have something that should fit.”

“I’m okay. Thanks.” She quietly gets up and goes into the bathroom. I listen for the shower to turn on before I get up and check my phone: 15 texts and 3 missed calls from Jensen. I sigh and call him back without opening the messages.

“Thank God, you’re alive at least!”

“Me? You ignored me first.”

“I was working.”

“Yeah, me too.”

“At one in the morning? I know you get on the subway around eleven thirty, you always text when you get home. I didn’t hear from you. Jared only just talked me out of calling the police for a wellness check.”

“I’m sorry. It’s just…Something came up. I can’t talk about it right now. But I’m home and I’m safe. And I’ll call you tomorrow.”

He sighs. “Well, happy Valentines for yesterday, I guess…”

“Don’t be like that. I texted you last night and called you first thing this morning. You didn’t answer. We’re both busy. I had to accept that, so do you. And I really am busy at the moment. I will call you and explain when I can.”

“Someone more important, huh? Some guy from the show?”

I instantly tear up at his implication. “You know what? Screw you, Jensen. You know what I’ve been through and you really think I’d do that to you? Screw you.” I hang up before he can make any excuses and wipe my eyes hastily to appear strong for the girl who needs me. He instantly tries to call me back but I flick my phone to silent and plug it in to charge. I grab a change of clothes and knock lightly on the bathroom door. 

“Hey, it’s just me. I have some clothes here if you want them.” I wait a few seconds, but when I don’t get a response I put my hand on the doorknob. “I’m sorry, I’m coming in. Call out if you don’t want me to.” I don’t get a response so I push the door open and for the first time I’m thankful that it doesn’t have a lock.

I notice her sitting on the floor with her back against the bathtub and her head between her knees. She shakes as she cries heavily. As I get closer, I notice one of my bottles of painkillers in her hand. I let out a relieved sigh when I see the cap is still on. I twist off the water in the shower and crouch down beside her. 

“He’s not worth it…None of them are. But you are. You can have a very bright future. Focus on your dreams, what you want. If you put in the hard work, you can make it happen. I know it’s hard to believe right now, but it’s true.” I hold out my hand and she hands over the bottle. 

“What if he-What if someone saw us? What if he knows? What if he-”

“Do you wanna go somewhere else? I can call my friend and we can go somewhere else. As I said, he’s a security guard, he can protect you.”

She nods. I stand up and go get my phone and bring it back. I flip down the toilet lid and sit on it as I call Nick. I know Stella will be asleep, but I’m just hoping he’s finishing a shift. It rings a few times before he answers.

“Y/N?”

“Hey, Nick. Can you come over?”

“Are you okay?”

“I’m okay. I was just wondering if me and a…friend could come stay with you and Stella?”

“Jensen?”

I shake my head eventhough I know he can’t see me. “Nick, could you just come, please?”

“Sure. I’m on my way. Meet me downstairs?”

“Actually, could you come up? I’ll buzz you in.”

“Okay?”

“Thank you.”

He hangs up and I go back to sit with the girl. That’s when I realize I don’t even know her name. “I’m Y/N, by the way.” I try to break the tension a little to make her feel comfortable, “I can’t believe I forgot to introduce myself.”

“Anna.”

“Nice to meet you, Anna. My friend’s gonna come here and take us back to him and his wife’s place. They live over in Manhattan. They’re both really nice. Stella is the one I was telling you about that helped me when I was going through my worst. You’ll be safe there.”

“W-will you c-come?”

“Of course. I won’t leave you.”

“I’m sorry I wasted your water and went through your stuff.”

“I’m just glad you’re okay. But I need you to tell me the truth, did you take any? I don’t mind, I’m just worried about you.”

She shakes her head. “I-I couldn’t…I couldn’t do it.”

“Well, I’m glad.”

She hangs her head again. “Todd’s gonna be so angry…”

I try my best to stifle a laugh, “Really? Todd? That’s his name?” She nods. “That’ll do it.” She looks up confused. “I’m sorry. It’s just in my experience, guy’s with T-names are the worse. The guy that cheated on me? Tyler…and also, Trent, before that.”

“Two guys?”

“What idiot falls for it twice, right? That’s why I want to help you now. Don’t make the same mistakes I did. Don’t let it become a pattern. Let him be your one and only lesson. Realize your worth now.” I hear the buzzer from the intercom near the door. I stand up and hold my hand out. “My friend’s here, let’s go back out where it’s warmer.”

She slowly takes my hand and lets me pull her up and lead her back to the couch. I only leave her for a few seconds while I buzz Nick up and then let him in. Being already on edge he scans the apartment and instantly spots Anna. 

He leans close and lowly says, “There’s some frantic guy in the lobby. I don’t think you should go anywhere. I’ll stay here.”

I nod in understanding and introduce him and Anna. I gently explain the change of plans and urge her to take my bed. She argues, claiming that she should go down and check if it’s him and calm him down. But Nick and I dissuade her. In the end, she says she doesn’t want to be alone, so I lay down in my bed with her while Nick rests on the couch watching TV.

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Taglist: @stoneyggirl2 @hobby27, @n-o-p-e-never, @deansimpalababy,

@winchesterwild78, @kr804573, @chriszgirl92, @smoothdogsgirl

@speakinvain, @deans-baby-momma, @1967winchesterimpala, @ladysparkles78

[tinywagoncolorbat]

GAICHE ADLAI X READER PLSSS IM BEGGING (and reader is jealous of grey bc I am) if you don’t want to you don’t have to but please do any setting where you can write best!

I haven't had any luck with writing for months now but I absolutely love Gauche and really want to try writing for him because there is not enough of him out there

I am also currently rewatching Black Clover so it's perfect timing

Your just as important as Marie

Gauche Adlai x Fem!BlackBullsReader

Summary: You decide to go shopping alone instead of waiting for him but you run into him in town with gray

Warning: Fluff, Slight angst?, Cursing, Jealousy, Gauche might be a little out of character

Word count: 800+

It's been a few hours since you've seen Gauche. You heard something about him helping Gray with her shyness.

It upset you a little because he's been spending a lot of time with her lately and you found a nice new shop in the capital that has really good toys and treats for kids, so you were hoping to go shopping with him for Marie.

You wander out into the main area of the Black Bulls base hoping they would be back by now.

You take a look around and notice almost everyone is out on missions or is training.

You let out a loud sigh "Guess I'll just have to go shopping by myself then" You say as you grab your broom and head for the capital.

You arrive and you keep flying over the buildings to try to find the shop you found not too long ago when you hear a familiar voice.

You fly down to the street you hear the voice and jump off your broom to get a better look at the loud yelling that you seem to recognize somewhere.

You walk closer to see Marie standing In the street. You turn your head to see Gauche with a nose bleed screaming that he loved her and running toward her to hug her.

You stood there smiling at him because that's just like him, Until he's right in front of her and she transforms back into gray.

Your heart stops as you see Gauche and gray standing incredibly close to each other and him complaining that she changed back.

You start to feel really insecure by watching this so you walk forward to interrupt them.

"There you are Gauche, I've waiting to see you all day" You say with a hint of sadness in your voice as you approach them.

"Oh, hello dear. What are you doing here" Gauche asks when he turns and sees you there. Gray immediately panicked and tried to hide herself.

"There was a new shop i found a while ago that would have nice things for Marie, and since you weren't back yet i was going to go by myself" you say nervously while playing with you're fingers.

"New things for my beautiful angel, I will gladly come with you" Gauche states as his nose starts bleeding at the thought of new gifts for Marie. "I'll have to help you later gray, my darling Marie needs some gifts"

You smile at him as you start walking in the direction of the store. "It's a little ways down this street"

He runs up besides you and starts talking about what he could get for Marie from this shop. "Will i be able to get my angel some new dresses, Or maybe some new dolls that she can play with"

You just hum and nod along with what he's saying, fully focused on what you saw with him and gray just a minute ago.

He kept rambling until he realized you weren't responding and helping him think of what to get her. He stop talking and looked down and seen the sad expression you had on your face. "Is something bothering you" He blurts out.

You stop walking and look up at him. "It's nothing, don't worry about it" You wave it off putting on a smile.

He stops to stand in front of you too see you better. "Don't say that, it makes me what to know more.

You look up at him and then look back down at the ground. "It's just.." You trail off for a second, then take a deep breath deciding to just rip off the band-aid and just ask. "Do you have feelings for gray" You quickly say without looking at him.

At first he gets angry at the fact that you think he would like somebody else, then he realizes that your worrying about this a lot. He lets out a breath to calm down so he doesn't say anything mean and make this worse.

He puts a hand on your cheek to make you look up at him. "Gray is just a colleague and that is all she will ever be. Next to my darliing angel Marie you're the most important person in my life" He pauses and looks at you for a second.

"Actually, Your just as important as Marie is too me"

You look at him with pure shock as you eyes start to water. "You really mean that?"

"I do, I love you y/n" He say with a smile on his face.

Tears start streaming down your face as you hear the words you never though he'd say to you. "I love you too" You happily say smiling back at him.

He uses his thumbs to wipe the tears away as he leans down to leave a gentle kiss on your lips.

After he pulls away you looks at you with a slight nose bleed. "now lets go to that new shop so i can spend all my money on my sweet angel"

"Sounds good" You say as you grab his hand and lead his down the street to the shop.

[wakanda-nonsense-is-this]

Ghost of Us — Chapter 5

Master page <last next>

This is the sequel to my book Ghost of You. Go check it out before reading this one.

Pietro Maximoff x fem! Mutant!reader

Warnings: The usual

Word Count: 1.9K

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Pietro’s P.O.V

A grunt escaped my lips as a sharp pain shot through my ribs. Immediately, my eyes opened as I lay on the ground. It took my eyes a moment to adjust to the surrounding darkness. And once they did, I grew more confused.

What the hell happened?

My surrounding became clearer the more aware I became. The scent of pines reached my nose. The grass and dirt under my legs as I slowly sat down. The flutter memory of sweet lips on m-

The moment that thought entered my mind, I became painfully aware of the absence of warmth her closeness provided me as we fell from the sky. I scanned my surrounding but found no trace of her. Too fast, and too early, I stood up, but the moment my legs straightened under me, they gave up. Quickly, I took a hold of the nearest tree. I took a deep breath as the dizziness left my body.

I looked down at myself and was not surprised to find myself bleeding through m shirt. I shrugged nonchalantly.

It would heal.

But she wouldn't, something whispered at the back of my mind, and worry swallowed me whole. She could be hurt. No, she could be dead.

Alarms flared in my mind. Ignoring the pain in my leg, I gave one step then another until I was running the fastest I could with blood running down my thigh from something that had stabbed the flesh.

Every second that passed without seeing her, conjured images of her lifeless body laying in my arms. The images were strangely familiar and made my heart ache.

She had to be somewhere around. But she wasn't. My breaths became erratics as panic flooded my system. She wasn't here.

I put my hands on my knees and took a deep breath. Panicking wouldn't help me find her, but fuck, if the thought of losing her made my insides twist painfully. After a painful deep breath, I straightened and made to move, but the sound of branches snapping above my head made me halt.

I looked up and there she was, hanging like a damn doll from the highest point, the only thing keeping her afloat being the fabric of her shirt stuck in the branches. I felt my heart stop beating for a second as I couldn't discern from where I was if she was still breathing.

With shaky feet, I started climbing. My leg was in vigorous pain, but at least it had stopped bleeding. The higher I got, the less I could feel my leg, but that didn't stop me.

Nothing would.

Not again.

I immediately grew confused, where did that come from?

I shook my head to clear my thought. It didn't matter, I had a mission, and couldn't get distracted over concussion thoughts.

When I finally reached her, it was like being punched in the lungs. Her soft hair was coated with blood that ran down her face and chest. Bruises and scratches adorned her ghostly pale skin. A big patch of blood on her shirt caught my attention, I couldn't see the wound, but in the way it wouldn't stop leaking blood, I knew it had to be serious.

I couldn't distinguish if the movement of her chest was the breeze or her breathing, and that terrified me. As fast as I could, I crawled along the bough of the three to get as close to her as possible. I placed my hands around her waist and slowly tugged her towards me. The branches holding her uptight released her, and before she could fall, I pulled her ice-cold limp body to my chest. I didn't have time to check if she was alive, it was getting dark, and I needed to find help as fast as possible. Or that's what I convinced myself of because I knew if she was dead, I wouldn't survive it.

With her safely secured in my arms, I descended as fast as I could, avoiding making sudden movements that could worsen her wounds.

Once on the ground, I repositioned her body, one arm behind her knees and the other behind her shoulders, so I could move faster, and keep an eye on her.

I never had an issue with my healing, it was mostly fast, but it did take some time, something I didn't have right now. My leg was fucked, and I couldn't run, so I walked, and sprinted for as long as I could manage.

Darkness surrounded us as the sun faded away, bringing coldness in its absence. I kept walking, I didn't know where, I just walked. Seconds turned into minutes, and minutes into hours. We were lost, and she was hurt, and I couldn't do anything for her more than the stupid tourniquet I made a while ago.

At this point, my leg was completely useless. I knew a little rest would heal it enough, but there was no time. I was afraid time had already run out, and that the girl in my arms was anything more than a body.

It was so dark I didn't see the void in front of us. Grunts escaped my lips as we rolled downhill. I tightened my arms around my girl and didn't let go. I tried to slow us down by gripping onto something, we were going too fast to be able to make out anything but the pain of our descent.

Before I knew it, we reached the bottom. For a moment, I just lay there. My ears were ringing and my head hurt. I must have hit it with something.

A tiny whine woke me up from my disoriented state. I held my breath and waited. The body over me stirred, and a painful moan escaped her lips.

My body protested as I sat down, avoiding moving her as much as I could. Slowly, I moved her battered body, so she was resting in my lap. With delicacy, I didn't know I possessed, I cupped her face. The moonlight allowed me enough light to see her gorgeous eyes slowly peel open.

Y/n's P.O.V

Back when I was in the asylum, darkness would be the first and last thing I would see. I guess, in a way, it was a form of torture. One they knew worked wonders on me, especially before they did procedures on me.

I didn't know it then. They feared me. They were so scared they didn't dare touch me before chaining me in the dark, because they knew what the darkness did to me. They made me weak so they could torture me. The warm-up, I think they would call it.

I have to say, they really knew what they were doing. Leaving me in complete darkness for hours before they came to fetch me, gave my mind millions of possibilities to imagine what they would do to me next. Not knowing what they were going to do to me, made everything worse. Torturing me wasn't enough, they had to break me.

And they did, for many years they succeeded. But they never foresaw the variable that is called Pietro. I wish I could say he mended me and put me back together, but that would be a lie. You couldn't mend something that would break every day. So no, he didn't fix me, but he didn't have to, because he did something better. Pietro Maximoff gave me something to look forward to every day. So when he left, my world collapsed, and it was like i never left that place to begin with.

So when I opened my eyes to complete darkness being held by him, I knew I had to be dreaming, because Pietro Maximoff was no longer mine.

I was sprawled in his lap, his hand cupping my cheek as he absently caressed my skin. I tried to sit down, but the sharp pain that shot through my ribs and stomach made me cry out in pain and panic. I hadn't realized when I first woke up, but I was now acutely aware of my wounds. A sob left my lips, as the skin around my wound stretched.

“It's okay. I've got you” Pietro croaked, his other hand stroking my hair as he whispered sweet nothings in my ear.

“It hurts, Piet.”

“I know, scumpul meu. I know” His hold on me tightened as he rocked us back and forth. It really is bittersweet, that even after everything we've gone through, the only time he can hold me is when I'm on the brink of death.

“We really need to stop meeting like this” I humorlessly laughed. I really hated this, and after all I've gone through, I desperately needed a break. Wong would have a field day hearing this story, I couldn't wait to tell him all bout Pietro again. He might act uninterested, but he loved the gossip I brought to the sanctum. I smiled at the thought. God, I missed them so much.

“No, no, stay awake” I felt his finger brushing through my hair. I hadn't even realized I had closed them. “Please don't die on me” He begged, his mouth on my forehead. I was half passed out, but I couldn't help the snort that left me. If only he knew.

“Oh, believe me, this is not the way I'll die” I assured him, just before consciousness slipped through my fingers.

Pietro's P.O.V

“FUCK! No, no, wake up” I could hear the panic in my voice, but I didn't care. My hands were shaking so much, it would've been impossible to check her pulse. I rapidly lowered my head to her chest and when I heard her heartbeat, I almost fainted with relief. Without thinking, I gathered her in my arms and simply hugged her for what felt like hours.

This was the first time in the day when I knew she was alive. She was badly hurt and lost way too much blood, but she was alive.

The adrenaline wore off ages ago, but out of nowhere, energy surged through my body. The pain was still there, but it was more manageable than it had ever been. I have no idea what just happened, but it didn't matter.

With her delicate body safely tucked in my arms, I stood up and walked as fast as I could without wounding her any further. Kilometers of trees and green surrounded us, making me lose hope that I could find a place where she could rest. I looked down at my arms and noted her skin had gotten paler, and she had started shivering. I brought her closer to my chest in hopes she would absorb some of my heat.

I really had no idea where I was going, and I needed to figure it out now. Earlier I can swear I saw some birds flying north, if we follow that route, maybe we-

I stopped in my tracks and looked at my surroundings. We were the only people here, I was sure of that, but deep down I knew there was someone with us. Out of nowhere, an icy feeling overcame me, it was weird, like cold water. I absentmindedly remembered someone describing the feeling as 'having a bucket filled with ice thrown over your head'. I shook my head. I was getting paranoid.

I resumed my walking, but suddenly, as if being pulled by a rope, I headed west. I had no reason to head that way, but call it desperation or familiarity, I went with my instinct. And just when I thought I was wrong, I made a turn between some thick logs, and a wood cabin appeared in front of my eyes.

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