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idealisticrealism · 7 months ago

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TCL 3x06 thoughts (and many feelings)

Well, as expected, this ep basically broke my heart into a million tiny pieces- but still, they really did give Arman the best send-off that they could given the circumstances, and I’m so, so grateful for it.

Breaking the recap up a bit differently this week because I have a lot to say about everyone lol

But of course, I have to start with my beloved boy Arman, and Armony. I always knew that this ep was going to break me, and man, they didn’t waste any time doing it… less than 4 mins in and the tears were already flowing from hearing him saying the Reloj line, because seriously, knowing that this was his one chance to pass on a message to the people in his life, and that he chose that??? God it was powerful seeing Nadia and the others incorrectly assuming the message simply meant that he was running out of time, vs seeing Thony's jaw clench on hearing it because she knew the truth, knew that it was meant for her alone. In some ways, it was a “I think my time is up and I'm the one leaving forever in the morning, and that's okay” kind of message, but it was also a “this is me telling you I love you, because I never got the chance before”, and a “no matter what they do to me, in my mind I'm there, dancing with you by the fire.” No wonder she reaches for a beer the moment she gets home, knowing that there’s the chance she will be able to hold him in her arms again in only a matter of hours, but not being able to do anything to make it happen except just sit and wait for news. Well, at least until the moment she sees the report and understands Dante’s involvement, and then there’s no holding back anymore, no more trusting others to save him. Her blind determination to go find him and bring him home is exactly like how she acted when Luca was dying or when Fi was deported; it’s the way she always responds when someone she loves desperately needs her, and I love that Arman is so clearly in that category. (Okay gotta break this up bc of Tumblr's character limit lol)

Anyway ugh the entire time she was at the apartments I could feel my heart in my throat, because god, she got so close. (Oh and the way she instantly recognised the jacket and then knew with a single sniff that it was his?? Help???). But anyway ugh when the kid pointed them to the apartment, and she saw him right there through the window, only for him to be stolen away again in the mere couple of minutes it took her to get back around to the apartment’s front door.... Ughhh these two have been star-crossed from the start, but it was so hard to watch the final acts of their tragedy unfolding. I'll never be over the fact that for days, he was kept in a haze of drugs and pain, and yet we (and Thony!) know from his message that he spent that time thinking of her, escaping his reality by living in the moments they’d shared. And her own drug-induced hallucination of him was equally heartbreaking… god, to see her be so honest and unreserved in the way she looked at him and held him and spoke to him ("I’m gonna take you home, I'm never gonna let you go again”)... like damn, in that moment we really got to see the unfiltered, uninhibited truth of her feelings for him, the truth she never got to tell him and that he never got to hear.

But still, I’d like to think that he knew it anyway, especially when he saw her there in that car– saw that she had come for him, that she was trying so hard to save him, even at risk to herself. (Naturally I wish that we could have had his real face for that heart-wrenching moment of goodbye, but it was close enough, and when it comes down to it, that moment was still truly Arman and Thony no matter what). And while I’m sure Arman would have wished that he could live, that he could have stayed and built a life with her, we also saw multiple indications in the past 2 seasons that Arman knew and accepted that an early death was likely for him, if not practically inevitable, just like it had been for Mateo and Carlos and Bosco. And so for him to get to go out on his own terms, and in the act of saving Thony? It was exactly the death that he would have wanted. (On first watch I was sobbing too hard to notice that he didn't just knock the gun away and cause chaos in the car, he actually also grabbed the wheel and deliberately drove them off the cliff, meaning he truly chose for himself how he met his death). Honestly, it was literally the exact kind of ending I'd been predicting for him ever since s1– both the culmination of his hero arc, and also the ultimate fulfillment of his vow to protect her. I'm so, so thankful that he got to have that, got to go out fast and painlessly and like the hero he was, rather than dying in the hangar or alone in that grungy apartment, and I’m even more thankful that he got to see her one last time, got to have that final goodbye with her. He died knowing she loved him and never gave up on him, and knowing that his death would ensure she got to live on; and for him, that would have been everything. And as devastating as it was to see Thony on her knees on the cliff, staring up into the sky as everything faded into white and El Reloj began to play... it was also heartbreakingly beautiful- seeing them dancing together again truly felt like getting a glimpse into his heaven, like it was telling us 'This is where he is now. This is where he'll always be"- and though it'll still always hurt to have lost him, I can be at peace with that.

(Though ngl, this ep was full of 'if onlys' that are going to haunt both us and Thony forever... If only Chris hadn't blocked the toilet today of all days. If only Thony had called a different plumber. If only JD's friend hadn't gotten him the arrest report. If only Ramona hadn't put a tail on Thony that caused her and Fi to have to rely on Jeremy for a ride rather than going on their own. If only Thony had been able to trust that Jorge wasn't involved and had called him instead. If only Nadia hadn't sent her the address for the meet location. If only if only if only. The show has always centred around this theme (all the way back to 1x01 and ‘if only Thony hadn’t encouraged the underground fighter to make her own choices, then the fighter may have done what Theo ordered her to and deliberately lost the fight, and then Tarik wouldn’t have killed Theo and Thony wouldn't have witnessed it, and none of this would have happened’), and it's a vital aspect of both the storytelling (because if none of that had happened, then there's no story at all) and also of Thony's character development. But obviously in this instance we all know that the writers had no other choice, and that there was no way this ep could have gone differently anyway, not after the loss of Adan. We know that, but Thony doesn't, and so it's going to be devastating to see Thony blame herself for yet another death, especially the death of someone she loved so deeply.)

But alright let’s talk about who is actually responsible for Arman’s death, because while Thony inadvertently contributed to it, she absolutely wasn’t the one who directly led to them being in that situation! Let’s start with Dante: firstly, I knew it was very suss that he ‘accidentally’ killed that guy in the last ep! And then when I saw the BTS pics for 3x06 last week and saw that Thony and Fi were going to go to the same apartment buildings that Dante got arrested at, it was clear that he was definitely involved in Arman’s abduction somehow. So either it’s option 1, and that giant bastard knew just how deeply Ramona wanted Arman back in their lives and figured he could not only give her what she wanted, but could also use the opportunity to score a fuck-ton of money without Ramona ever knowing of his involvement; or it’s option 2, and he abducted Arman on Ramona’s orders so that she could a) get her hands on a bunch of Nadia's money, and b) receive Arman's gratitude for saving him, which would then lead to his return into the family. Personally I think that option 1/Dante working alone is much more likely, and I'd also prefer it to option 2, because if Ramona was involved it would completely ruin the enjoyment I’ve been getting out of her character and her sibling relationship with Jorge. So I'm really hoping that it was all just Dante’s plan, and that Ramona and Jorge believe Thony when she tells them about Dante’s role in Arman's kidnapping (and therefore his death) and then they fucking murder him for it.

Speaking of murdering, that brings me to Jeremy Fucking Dolan. (Yes, I literally looked up his last name on IMDB purely bc I felt the need to put a curse word in it). It’s funny, but from the very first moment his character was announced and it was mentioned in his bio that he would befriend Thony while hiding a dark secret, I had an almost irrational level of hatred for him, even more than I had for Jorge’s character, which was definitely odd and inexplicable given that Jorge’s bio made him sound like he was purely meant to be an unwanted ‘Arman 2.0’/potential love interest, which I obviously did not want in the slightest. But if I’d been given the option to get rid of one of them before S3 even started, it would have been Jeremy with no hesitation. The moment he made his appearance, I called it that he was actually an undercover FBI agent who was using Thony to get to Arman, which was maddening enough because she just didn’t deserve to be manipulated in that way, or to be betrayed by someone whom she had been isolated and vulnerable enough to risk trusting. And then that undercover bastard not only uses her, but ends up being the very reason that the FBI shows up right at the worst moment– not only preventing the exchange, but also causing the chase that kills Arman??? I don't care if he was only doing his job and trying to catch criminals, goddammit, I still hate him so much, and it's going to destroy Thony (even more than she already has been destroyed after losing Arman) when she eventually puts it together and realises that her trusting Jeremy directly contributed to Arman’s death. Which is why I’m over here violently daydreaming of a moment sometime late in the season where Jorge and Ramona finally manage to capture Jeremy, and then they bring Thony in and let her pull the fucking trigger and end him. (I mean, is it at all likely that she would go that dark, even to avenge Arman? Well, no. But thinking about it certainly gives me great satisfaction so I’m sticking with it lol)

Anyway, moving onto something more positive– if you wanna find the MVP of this ep, you only have to look at Fi!!! I loved her for the kind and understanding way she addressed Thony's connection to Arman, and the way she almost got Thony to acknowledge her feelings for him. Though I guess in that moment she could see that Thony still wasn’t ready to talk about it, and so she tried to ease Thony's mental discomfort by shifting focus to jokes about Jeremy (gross). Still, throughout the ep she was just so completely ride or die for Thony, like she has always been, and honestly Thony needs that, needs her. And not just for her badass lock-picking skills haha (taught to her by Paolo maybe??). Basically, Thony is like the Frodo of this series, carrying a huge burden and going through unimaginable things, but Fi is like her Sam, and it’s only with Fi’s support that Thony is able to keep pushing forward through everything. Obviously the loss of Arman, the other vital person in her life (does that make him Gandalf??) is going to be absolutely crushing for her, and I think Fi is going to be even more incredible in the coming episodes as she supports Thony through her grief and devastation. Ngl, I already had a fic idea about Fi going and getting Arman's jacket back for Thony, and it makes me cry just thinking about it ugh

In addition to Fi and Thony, I did love the whole De La Rosa fam vibe early in the episode, with Chris and Jaz bickering, and Thony and Fi making a fuss of Luca, and then Chris gently telling them to ease off when Luca got overwhelmed– it felt so nice to have them all reunited again and just getting to be a ‘normal’ family getting ready for school in the morning, and for Fi and Thony to be dealing with problems like blocked toilets and wet clothes rather than threats of deportation or dangerous cartels or the FBI. Chris worrying over missing Camila’s call was super cute too; I’m glad we got to have another mention of her and I hope we get to see her again soon. As for Luca, I’m really happy he’s started school, mostly bc it frees up Thony’s schedule haha, but also because it’s an important step for both him and Thony in moving forward with their lives. Thony has lived in an endless loop of ~My Child Is Dying~ for 6 years, and finally (thanks to her and Fi and Arman, like she said in the ep) that cycle has finally been broken. Luca will always need careful monitoring of his health, of course, but Thony isn’t trapped by his illness anymore, and I’m excited to see what potential paths that will open up for her. I will always wish that one of those paths could have been a relationship with Arman, and I'm sure she does too, but as long as she finds happiness and purpose, I'll be satisfied.

Okay, so Jorge showing up at the school was pretty great honestly; like he says, it kind of is their thing to just show up uninvited into each other's spaces, and plus I think he actually truly did want to help make the moment a little easier on her by being there and distracting her/reassuring her as a fellow parent. I also loved the sweatshirt mention lol, it was a good throwback and I enjoy that he’s comfortable enough with her to tease her. Just shows how much their relationship has changed in the week or so since he first tossed that sweatshirt at her in a different school parking lot!! And he definitely won points with me here by going out of his way to get the info for her about the legal/CPS stuff without being asked, and though he explained it away as basically just him buying her influence over Arman in regards to the Sin Cara business, again I think he just genuinely wanted to help. Like Arman, he doesn’t get the opportunity to do many things that are purely good and noble, and so the feeling of getting to help her and Luca clearly has somewhat of an intoxicating effect on both men haha. Even with the loss of Arman (and so the loss of his supposed reason for helping Thony with the CPS stuff) I don’t doubt that Jorge will still help her with it once he’s satisfied that she had nothing to do with Arman’s death. But ugh speaking of Arman, the way Jorge questioned her about her connection to Arman… he already knows that Thony’s husband only died a few months ago, and as far as he knows from Nadia's behaviour, her and Arman’s marriage was solid, so it’s understandable that the intensity of Thony’s loyalty to/concern about Arman is a bit confusing to him. And because he doesn’t understand it, he’s always going to view her with at least a trace of suspicion until he learns the truth. Which may even be as soon as next ep– it looks like Jorge and Ramona are going to be demanding answers from Thony about how Arman died/ whether she betrayed him to the Feds/ how she was even there in the first place etc etc, and honestly I'm desperately hoping we'll get some kind of "I would never betray Arman! I LOVED him!" outburst from her that makes both Jorge and Ramona stop in their tracks because of how clearly heartfelt and honest it is. And ngl, while we’ve seen Thony indirectly state or demonstrate her love for Arman multiple times now, it would really mean a lot to me to hear her just say it openly without holding back. Not to mention that I think it would also really help pave the way for her to be accepted into the Sin Cara/Sanchez family, which would make for interesting viewing for the rest of the season.

Speaking of the Sanchez family, I enjoyed the flashback and getting the backstory about the caddy, and seeing more of the Eduardo/Ramona/Jorge dynamic. (I’m trying so hard not to be nitpicky about the fact that young Arman's hair was straight and young Jorge's was curly, when it should have been the opposite, lol). But I’ve been thinking a lot about what Eduardo says to young Arman in that moment about how the only way to be a good man is to work hard and make an honest living, and I think that before we meet him in S1 Arman had really internalised that, and didn’t see himself as being a good man even though he wanted to be, which is why it hurt him so much to have Thony reinforce that belief during their argument at the wedding in 1x03. But then through helping her and forming a connection with her, he sees that even though she’s witnessed him at his worst, she genuinely does believe he is a good man, and it allows him to start believing it of himself for the first time. The flashback also definitely gave us more of a sense of Arman’s relationship with Ramona and Jorge, and really added another layer to him not selling off his caddy despite the direness of his debt to RK. What Nadia said to Ramona about the caddy being Arman’s dream car seemed to prove to Ramona that Arman still loved her and Jorge, and never truly turned his back on them… and so hopefully her sense of family and honour will mean that she will now consider Nadia and Thony– Arman’s family– to be her family as well. I also really enjoyed the scene of Jorge and Ramona sitting together in the caddy, discussing their business choices/differences in their life plans, and also talking about Arman and his good heart… they’ve definitely both grown on me, partly because they’re well written, but mostly because they've helped Thony and they genuinely care about my boy Arman. I’m sad we'll never get to see an Arman and Jorge brotherly reunion, because that could have been truly great. But tbh what I’m really wondering is what will happen to my beloved caddy now that Arman's gone... will Nadia want to get rid of it because seeing it is too painful?? Will Jorge offer to take it? Will I get my dream of Thony being the one to keep it lol? Doubtful, but one can always hope.... (and I guess there’s always that fic I’ve been planning to write about it for like 3 weeks lol)

Sigh, poor Nadia gave me a lot of feels in this ep. She is working so hard to get Arman back, and handling herself amazingly well under incredibly stressful circumstances. She dealt calmly with the kidnappers (which Ramona was clearly very impressed by... a potential protege there, perhaps?). Nadia also politely yet firmly declined Ramona’s plan for Arman to be basically kept in their home, despite knowing how powerful Ramona is and how risky it would be to piss her off. She also insisted on being at the exchange to get him back despite the risk to herself (and possibly partly because she still doesn’t trust Ramona’s intentions). She trusted Thony with the meet location, despite their complex history, despite knowing that it meant that she would have to share her reunion with her husband with the other woman he loves. Even if she only gave Thony the address because it meant getting to have a highly-trained doctor there who could be trusted completely with Arman’s life, it still means she put Arman’s wellbeing above her own wants. Honestly I respect the hell out of Nadia, and literally the only consolation I have about losing Arman is that at least I'll never have to watch her go through the heartbreak of Arman still choosing Thony over her despite all their history and everything she’d done for him. Of course, we still have to watch her going through an absolutely horrific heartbreak of a different kind, but at least instead of being alone in it, she has Thony to share that pain with. (Or at least, she will, when she gets past her initial anger and blame towards Thony). It's almost a certainty that Thony and Nadia's connection will continue and even strengthen throughout the rest of the season, and I strongly believe that Thony is going to do everything she can to support and protect Nadia now, not only because she genuinely does care about her, but also because it’s the only thing she can do now to honour Arman and give thanks for all he did for her.

Okay, last couple of things: I loved that even despite her desperate search for Arman and the ticking clock that was hanging over their heads, Thony still stopped and helped the kid’s grandfather. It was very true to who she is, and how she can’t not help the people in front of her that need her. And tbh in terms of TV medicine, this instance actually wasn’t too bad haha, even if her Epley manoeuvre was a bit off. The fact that the man turning to look at the clock helped her diagnose the vertigo was also a cool reference to the ep’s title/theme as well. But anyway the reference that I can’t quite figure out yet is the word Thony saw written in the dust on that mirrored platter thing; I’m assuming Arman wrote it as a clue in case someone found the apartment? It seems to say something like ‘Marin’ which means nothing to me rn, but they very intentionally included a shot of Thony seeing it, so I guess its meaning will become clear in the next ep or two?

Anyway, this has been many many words and feelings, so I’m just gonna end it with this, the prayer that Thony spoke as Arman walked out of prison in 2x02, because it feels even more tragically fitting now:

Now he is freed Through your blood on the cross Through the blows to your face And through the crown of your thorns that pierced your head Deliver him from all evil From the rigor of injustice From the torment of conscience And from all darkness Welcome him into Paradise Where there will be no more sorrow No more weeping or pain Give him the blessings of the life to come As he enters into the kingdom of peace and light.

#The Cleaning Lady #TCL recaps #Armony #Arman Morales #Adan Canto #God this ep is definitely in my Top 3 Most Traumatic Episodes of any show ever #I don't think I've cried that hard over a character's death since I was 18 and just lost the Blorbo I'd been obsessed with for like 4 years #but at least in that instance we didn't lose the actor too #ugh #anyway #if you manage to read this whole thing I salute you #and you're welcome to come talk to me about it!#let's suffer together lol #TCL spoilers #The Cleaning Lady Spoilers

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alecmagnuslwb · 2 years ago

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Have Yourself a Merry Little Krampus

Read on AO3

The streets are, he’s loathed to use the seasonal word, bustling as he cuts through throngs of shoppers crowding the sidewalks. A line of children are practically curving around a corner waiting anxiously to meet a Santa Claus that sits in the window of the toy store looking at least two too many spiked eggnogs deep into his night.

John slows his hustle down the street when he sees her; her back to him, arms crossed. He watches as a man with an obnoxious number of shopping bags knocks several into her, shooting her a look like it’s her fault. She shoots him daggers, unfolding one of her hands moving it gracefully in front of her. A few of the man’s bags disappear, no doubt appearing on the doorsteps of someone in need.

John wraps an arm around her waist when he reaches her. “I saw that Zee,” he says pressing his face into her long dark hair that’s all resting over one shoulder.

She just shrugs turning slightly to give him an innocent smile over her shoulder. “One look at that guy tells me he’s been rude to every worker he encountered today, no regrets.”

John snorts pressing a kiss to her temple before readjusting so one arm is slung across her shoulders, they step together walking leisurely as people practically run around them.

“Is it bad I didn’t even realize it was December, let alone so close to Christmas?” he muses looking at the bright decorations lining every shop and light post.

“I’d be more surprised if you actually knew the date,” Zatanna says with a smile reaching up and tangling her fingers with his.

It’s been a long time since he celebrated a holiday with any sort of real intent, even longer since he found himself in his home country for one.

John steers them from the crowded streets, the festive lighting making way for normal flickering lamp posts. He cuts them through a cobbled alleyway, the skittering squeak of rats brushing along the damp walls. This is the London he’s more familiar with, more comfortable with. Not the holiday dreamscape they just passed through.

He halts them to a stop near the end of the dead-end alley disentangling himself from Zatanna.

“Is this where you kill me?” she squints at him, her lips twitching ever so slightly.

“I told you I had a place here,” he says reaching up and pulling at a rusty old fire escape ladder. It takes a couple of noisy pulls but eventually the ladder slides down.

“That in no way changes my question,” she retorts not even trying to hide the smile this time.

“Now, we both know if I ever tried to kill you, you’d end me first,” he says reaching up and stepping onto the ladder. He bounces on it a couple times before deigning it safe to climb. “And a dirty alley would just be so fuckin’ cliché.”

He holds out a hand to her with a roguish smile.

“Oh, no you go first,” she says tilting her head upwards. “Then if you fall to your death I can catch you.”

He shrugs starting his climb up. The ladder holds strong despite its appearance taking him all the way to the first platform. He looks over the edge gesturing down for Zatanna to join him.

He can’t hear her words but he watches her hands move sending her floating up in the air till she reaches the platform landing gracefully on it beside him.

“Show off,” he scoffs. She beams at him, hip checking him as she flips her hair back and starts up the first set of stairs.

“Three up,” he says following behind her just a little disappointed that a usually delightful view is being obstructed by her long deep red leather duster.

She stops when she reaches the right platform letting John slip past her closer than he needs to, his fingers trailing into the open front of her jacket and across her waist.

He crouches down fumbling in his pockets till he procures his pocket knife. He slips it into the windows scant gap wiggling it around till the lock pops. He lifts the window up and slips in landing a little clumsily. He holds a hand out the window for Zatanna which she takes this time slipping in with far more grace than he had.

She raises an eyebrow at him in question.

“I lost the key years ago,” he says answering her unspoken question. He shuts the window, locking it back up before making his way to the door flicking on the dim lights. “But I don’t pay a dime for the place cause I helped the guy who owns the building get rid of a poltergeist years ago.”

Zatanna walks around the small one room flat running a hand along the kitchen counter that John’s proud to say doesn’t have any spoiling food sitting on it from the last time he was here.

“He’s also under the impression that if he ever raises the rent for any tenant I’ll put a curse on him,” John says slipping off his coat and hanging it on the broken coat hanger near the door. It’s warm inside, comfortably so thanks to the free utilities the building provides, also courtesy of John’s not so thinly veiled threat of a curse.

Zatanna chuckles plopping down on the mattress and box springs that sit on the floor. He thinks he had a bedframe once, but he can’t be certain.

“Well, I love what you’ve done with the place,” she says looking around. The paint on the walls is a shade or two off from what it should be, yellowing from his persistent indoor smoking, there’s a battered Mucous Membrane poster hanging on one wall, a tv that likely predates both of them that only gets five channels covered in dust. There are books magical and not strewn everywhere, wads of crumpled up paper that missed trash cans line the edges of nearly every wall and an empty bottle of rum rests on the nightstand. His kitchen is bordering on barren; he thinks there might be two mugs and single plate for them to share if they’re lucky. The bathroom door has a hole in it from a fist thrown his way he narrowly ducked out of the way of.

Zatanna is by far the prettiest thing in the space leaning back on her elbows comfortably on a bed that’s likely never truly been made. She should look out of place with her artfully put together outfit that fits her just right, her wavy, shiny hair practically glittering in the low light. But like nearly every aspect of his life, dark and dank and generally rough she blends in seamlessly when she shouldn’t.

“You’d love my decorator,” he says making his way over to the bed.

“Oh, yeah?” she says biting her lip in a way that he swears on angels that hate him will kill him one day.

John hums. “Handsome bloke, dashing really,” he says as he finally reaches the bed. Zatanna leans up as he leans down nudging her crossed legs apart to fit himself between them.

“Let me guess: blonde, always looks a little tired,” she says before snapping her fingers the sheets beneath her changing in an instant. It’s a good call, he can’t remember how long they’ve been on this bed or what he’s done in them.

“That’s him. Vaguely always smell of cigarettes,” he says as Zatanna slides back onto the fresh sheets pulling John down along with her by his tie.

She fully laughs, guffaws really, right in his face as he attempts to lean in for a kiss.

“You think you just vaguely smell of cigarettes?” she says with a snort. “The olfactory fatigue is real.”

John chuckles skimming his nose along her neck till he reaches her lips again kissing her once long and slow.

“I don’t hear you complaining,” he says when he pulls back till he’s on his knees. He grips her hips pulling her against him. If the lip bite didn’t kill him the gasp she lets out at the motion might.

“Only once a year,” she says lifting up so they’re nose to nose. She grabs him by the tie again, pulling him down into her warmth and flipping them so their positions are reversed in one smooth motion.

“And,” she says adjusting herself over top of him her legs bracketing his hips now. “I haven’t used my one complaint a year yet.”

He smirks up at her his hands trailing up pushing her long coat from her shoulders. Years ago, when they were still practically kids on a New Year’s Eve on some rooftop in Las Vegas she proposed the idea of his New Year’s resolution being to kick his smoking habit. He’d told her frankly there wasn’t a chance in hell, but that he’d grant her the option to complain about it once a year till they were old and grey if he lasted that long. She’s never failed to take the opportunity to do so, he thinks it’s less about the smoking bothering her and more about her enjoying taking the piss out of him whenever she can.

“And will you be using it now?” he asks as she leans down her long hair a curtain around his field of vision.

“Nah,” she says pressing her mouth to his firm and insistent.

***

“Should we do a gift exchange or something?” John muses cracking open the window as he lights a cigarette a long time later, after they’ve both been sated and relaxed several times over. A chill brushes in as he leans against the windowsill, warmer than it should be this time of year, but a chill that’s strong enough he wishes he’d at least put some pants back on.

He’s not exactly great at gift giving, but if it’s something she’d like he’d give it a try. He always gets it right on her birthday every year without fail, it’s every holiday in between he tends to miss entirely.

Zatanna adjusts on the bed the oversized Siouxsie and the Banshees t-shirt she’d taken a gamble on the cleanliness of slipping off her right shoulder. She leans back against the yellowing wall attempting to tame her hair to one side. It’s a mess from John running his hands through it and he guarantee his looks even worse from the way she likes to pull at his.

“I don’t know, it’s not like Christmas is a big deal to either of us,” she muses. John looks down in the alley watching as some neighbor of his drags a particularly scroungy looking plastic tree to the dumpster.

“I haven’t had a proper celebration of any sort in,” he trails off struggling to remember the last time Christmas even really properly crossed his mind. With Kit had probably been the last time he’d so much as considered celebrating it and that had been years ago.

“Same,” she says. “It wasn’t that big of a deal when I was a kid. Dad tended to do shows right on through till New Year’s. Christmas morning I opened some spell book and then we were off to whatever venue he was performing in. Since then I tend to get dragged to Ollie’s big holiday bash, but that’s about it.”

“We could always head back to the states and do that?” he suggests taking a long drag of his cigarette.

“After how the last party we attended that Oliver threw went, I’m gonna say we pass,” she says shifting so she’s back under the covers.

John takes another long drag of his cigarette before stamping it out on the wall, flicking it out the window and shutting it tight. He rejoins her under the covers sliding down under them with her. She nudges at him till he gets with the program, moving so his back is presented to her. She shuffles up against him tangling their legs together, wrapping her arms around him and pressing her face in between his shoulder blades.

She presses a kiss there before settling down on the pillows she magically fluffed once she realized how pathetically flat they’d been her warm breath ghosting against the back of his neck.

“So that’s a no to gifts then?” he asks moving his thumb across the knuckles of one of her hands.

“Being with you is a gift enough,” she says seriously and he feels it as her nose scrunches up at the words. “Ugh, I take that back,” she says as he starts to laugh.

“That was disgusting,” he says still laughing as she joins him her chest rumbling against his back.

“It was. Forget I ever said that,” she says her laughter settling down.

“We’ll just treat it like any other day where we’re not in peril,” John says and Zatanna hums in agreement.

“I mean you’ve probably just jinxed us by saying that,” she chuckles cut off with a little yawn. “But I agree. I don’t have any shows till after New Year’s, we just solved a big case and we have this shitty little apartment of yours all to ourselves. You didn’t even notice it was the holidays till about four hours ago anyways.”

“True,” John says feeling himself falling into slumber as her breath starts to even out behind him. “We’re not particularly spirited.”

***

The final few days till Christmas breeze by, the two of them never straying too far into any shopping districts from the warmth of the flat. It’s been all hole in the wall restaurants with the best food you’ve ever eaten in your life and dive bars for them, blissfully untainted by the hordes of shoppers populating the rest of the city.

The days have blurred together comfortably, the closest to a peaceful break the two of them have experienced in ages.

A knock at his door mid afternoon forces him to peel himself from bed and Zatanna’s arms forgetting to even put on pants as he stumbles towards the door. Zatanna’s hand slips from the cocoon of covers a small wave of magic literally slapping him on the ass before a pair of sweatpants cover him up.

“Happy Christmas Eve!” the woman in the alarmingly bright light up surfing Santa sweater shouts as he opens the door.

“Noticed that you were back along with a pretty lady friend lately, so I thought you’d like an invite,” she says with a chipper smile handing John a woven red basket filled to the brim with treats. He vaguely remembers her from the poltergeist situation, her name starting he’s 87 percent certain with an H. Holly? Hayley? Something like that. She’s the one that decorated the halls, that much he knows. The little elf on the shelf, string lights and garland greeting him every time he walks out the front door all her handiwork.

“All the info is on the card!” she says before he can even get in a single word already bounding down the hall to the next door trailing along a child’s wagon filled with more baskets behind her. His grumpy neighbor opens the door after one knock with an annoyed yell. John mutters a curse under his breath quickly shuffling inside. Prior to Zatanna remembering to put a silencing spell on his flat they’d angered his neighbor quite a few times with their more enthusiastic activities.

John stretches his neck out as he trails back to the bed plucking the card from the basket. He steps onto the mattress purposefully shaking it as he crawls over Zatanna disturbing her nest of blankets. She groans at him pushing the blankets down her face grumpy and squinty as he settles back on his side of the bed leaning against the wall.

“We’ve been invited to a building wide Christmas Eve party,” John says flipping the card open. Zatanna moves up still squinting at him purposely breathing right into his face. Her morning breath is, well it’s not great, but he knows he’s no better and while she still smells like straight bourbon he certainly has a mix of things going on. It was a good night.

She smiles satisfied when he makes a face at her. She pulls the basket out of his lap digging in. He watches as her fingers pick through the contents. Her once pristine maroon and black acrylics are in varying levels disarray. Paint chipped on a few, and a few straight up gone entirely for one pleasant or fun reason or another. Yeah, a damn good night.

“Ew,” she says pulling a Cornish pastry wrapped in a cheerful snowman napkin out and dropping it in his lap. “That’s for you.” John snorts moving it to the nightstand.

She makes a triumphant little noise when she finds a tin of homemade chocolate dipped shortbread underneath the offending pie sliding the basket aside. She takes a bite of one in the shape of a tree and lets out a moan that’s akin to the ones John’s used to having the luxury of coaxing out of her.

“Oh man,” she says meeting his eyes. She fell asleep in her makeup it smudged in glittering streaks somehow still artfully around her eyes. “I don’t want to go to her party but I could kiss her on the mouth for these cookies.”

She settles in against John’s shoulder continuing her shortbread meal. He wraps an arm around her trailing his fingers up and down her exposed arms.

“What do you say you magic these pants off me and we stay this way all day?” he suggests. He reaches out attempting to grab a shortbread of his own but is stopped by a magical barrier. John gives her look and she blinks up at him innocently reaching up and offering the paltry last remaining backside of a reindeer shaped shortbread. He leans down taking the whole piece in his mouth nipping at her fingers for good measure.

She smiles at him happily going for another shortbread through her own magical barrier. “I like the sound of that, but I desperately need to shower. I feel like I bathed in bourbon last night.”

“I do distinctly recall licking some off of varying parts of your body,” he says with a sultry smirk wiping at his mouth.

“Yeah,” Zatanna says pulling away from him taking her shortbread with her. “Definitely need a shower,” she says tossing her still magically protected goods on the kitchen counter as she heads for the bathroom.

John grabs the rest of the basket and the pastry on the nightstand taking a bite as he walks over to the counter. He hums pleased at the taste, damn can Holly/Hayley bake. He slides the rest of the basket on the counter enjoying the rest of the pastry as the water is turned on in the shower, steam slowly billowing out of the hole in the door as it warms up.

“So, are you joining me or what?” Zatanna says voice clear through the thin broken door. John scrambles off the kitchen stool shoving the rest of the pastry in his mouth chewing with effort as he strips his sweatpants off.

He pulls open the shower door about to step in when a firm hand hits his chest, the acrylics are all gone now he notes. “Not until you brush your teeth, meat mouth,” she says flicking a bit of water at him with her other hand. He waggles his eyebrows at the nickname.

“Ugh, you know what I mean,” she says shoving him back until he hits the sink still chewing away as he reaches for his toothbrush.

***

“And every time a bell rings an angel gets his wings,” the little girl on the tv says, the picture blurry as hell.

“You’ve encountered more angels than I have in your day,” Zatanna says pausing to pop another piece of caramel popcorn from the basket Holly/Hayley had dropped off earlier in her mouth. She swivels around on the kitchen island stool for a moment to look at him. Despite their original plan they did get somewhat dressed after their time in the shower, Zatanna in shorts and a Star City Stars sweater and John in the sweatpants she’d magicked onto him earlier. “Any truth to that statement?”

John reaches around her from his stool indelicately shoving a handful of popcorn in his mouth. “If it is we need to stop ringing bells cause a lot of them are pricks,” he says his words muffled by the popcorn still in his mouth. Zatanna rolls her eyes at him shifting her attention back to the tv, channeling surfing between the five varying levels of blurry channels.

John’s eyes drift away to the window swallowing down his mouthful of popcorn.

“Is it snowing?” he says doing a double take.

“Considering it was pushing 65 when you went out on the fire escape for a smoke twenty minutes ago I doubt it,” Zatanna says twisting around leaving the duct taped remote and container of popcorn on the counter. She freezes when she’s turned getting down from her seat and moving towards the window.

“Holy shit,” she says lifting the window up and holding a hand out a few ice-cold flakes falling onto her skin.

“Guess this is a Christmas miracle,” he says shifting behind her shivering a bit as the air turns even colder.

Zatanna wipes her wet hand on John’s sweatpants just as a loud thumping from next door drags their attention from the weather anomaly outside.

“Now who’s being noisy,” John grumbles moving over to the wall to bang on it with his fist the way his neighbor had nights before. He knocks on the wall four successive times and is met with a moment’s silence followed by another thump and a yell.

“That didn’t sound like just a grumpy yell,” Zatanna says rushing over to the edge of the bed slipping on a pair of white sneakers. She’s at the front door by the time John has one arm in the sleeve of a Mucous Membrane tank top.

Zatanna pounds on their neighbor’s door only met with another more urgent sounding yell.

She uses her magic to bust the door down just in time to watch as their neighbor screams again. His flat is just as small as John’s so it’s impossible to miss it as a giant jack in the box looking creature with sharp teeth swallows the man down like a snake. He scrambles at the hardwood floor leaving marks as he’s consumed.

Zatanna watches wide eyed for a moment before kicking into gear.

“Tel mih og,” she yells moving her hands towards the thing. The magic bounces right off the creature as the neighbor’s head disappears down the pinkish gullet of the monster.

“Fuck,” she says running towards the door bumping right into John as he finally arrives.

“What the fuck?” he says scrambling as Zatanna pushes at his chest moving him back out into the hall.

“It ate your neighbor,” she says in a rush. The monster scrapes along behind them dragging itself towards the door.

“Ate him?” John says pausing and looking back as the thing struggles to pull itself through the doorway, it’s large box base getting caught. The thing thrashes in the doorway for a moment before closing its mouth, slowly shrinking down in size.

They back up side by side eyes never moving from the jack in the box as it gets smaller and smaller. Zatanna lifts a hand backwards magic under her breath, she may not be able to affect the actual thing with magic, but everything else is fair game.

“Mals eht rood!” she shouts the door banging closed with a crash knocking the jack in the box monster back inside the room. “Kcol ti!”

The monster on the other side lets out a weird jack in the box style song banging at the locked door shaking it. They turn ready to make their way back into John’s flat only to find the door blocked, the elf on the shelf that John has been side eying for days stands in front of the door much larger than it had been.

“You’ve got to be fuckin’ kiddin’ me,” John says moving out an arm in front of Zatanna. The door she’d just magically locked makes a wood cracking sound behind them, Zatanna turning her attention towards it while John keeps his eyes on the elf.

The elf waves at him menacingly.

Zatanna watches as the jack in the box breaks through the door using it’s tiny sharp teeth like a demented beaver chomping through the wood.

“You take the elf, I’ll take the jack in the box,” she says nudging John’s shoulder before moving back the neighbors door. The elf continues to just stare at him not making any move to fight. John decides to take its lead, eyes locked like a wild west showdown to see who makes the first move.

Zatanna takes a more aggressive approach behind him using some of the non-animated decorations in the hall to create a tornado of distraction throwing the hopping jack in the box off of its game.

The elf gets bored with John’s stare down making the first move reaching out a white gloved hand and punching John square in the chest. It sends him barreling back down the hall nearly knocking into Zatanna’s legs as she grabs the plastic reindeer in the hall using all her physical and magical might to throw it at the jack in the box as it attempts to once again grow a larger size.

The elf stalks towards John picking him up by his shirt tearing the already extra wide sleeves even wider. The elf lifts him over it’s head like it’s about to do a back breaking wrestler move. Much to John’s luck it doesn’t choose to do that, instead tossing him down the hallway the opposite way.

He yells catching sight of Zatanna as she slams the plastic reindeer down on the jack in the box again and again.

John lands with a thud, the elf moving his way hovering over him balling its hands into fists ready to bring them down on him.

John puts his arms up blocking the first blow as best he can pushing at the elf keeping it from crushing him. They trade blows John pushing the elf back enough to get the leverage to stand again. The elf backs him into the wall a fist John narrowly evades slamming a hole into the wall. The move distracting John for just long enough that the elf gets a hold on his throat squeezing tight.

He bats at it trying to gain some sort of leverage when its grip loosens the beautiful lilt of backwards magic coming from over it’s shoulder. There’s a wet crunching sound before the evil giant elf on the shelf explodes, guts it shouldn’t have exploding everywhere, Zatanna revealed behind the explosion her hand holding onto the still beating heart of the elf covered in gunk. She drops it stamping it to mush with very much no longer pristine white sneakers.

“You really are gift enough,” John says looking at her rubbing at his neck, charmed by the disgusted look on her face as a glob of elf goo slips past her lips.

She rolls her eyes at him wiping at her face best she can. “Guess magic works on elves, but not demonic toys,” she says turning back checking that there’s no other creatures lingering in the hall.

“What happened to it?” John asks.

“Threw it out the window,” she says making for the still wide open flat door. “The thing cursed me out in German on it’s way down to the pavement.”

“So, a German jack in the box ate my neighbor?” John asks locking the door behind them.

“Der Klown,” she says before running a hand over her body, a few little backwards words cleaning her off. She turns meeting John’s expectant eyes. She huffs giving him the same treatment.

“It gave you it’s name on the way down too?” he says as the mess of elf guts whisp away.

“No,” she says in a tone that makes it clear John’s being particularly daft. “It’s part of an old German holiday legend, Der Klown the seemingly innocent child’s toy that brings terror for its master Krampus.”

John snorts. “Krampus isn’t real,” he says in disbelief.

Zatanna tilts her head holding up a hand. “Babadook’s, Wendigo’s, Chaos Gods,” she lists checking each off with a raised finger as she goes. “Just a few of the things that shouldn’t be real that we have encountered in the last six months alone.”

He shrugs conceding her point.

“Our grumpy neighbor was very anti holidays, and joy in general, not exactly spreading the good tidings,” Zatanna continues on pacing a bit as she thinks. “And us, well we weren’t exactly hopping on the reindeer and spirit train either.”

“But Krampus is supposed to deal with naughty kids, Santa’s opposite and all that,” John says his eyes flicking to the still open window for a moment swearing he saw something moving out there.

“In some legends, but legends change, evolve. Some say it’s the kid’s thing, others believe it’s just about scaring those who don’t see the joy in the season, in gathering with others. I mean you know how it is enough someone’s believe a legend enough and it becomes true, that’s the simplest magic in the universe,” she concludes stopping her pacing. John’s eyes fix over her shoulder again, something’s definitely moving out there.

“The evil elf on the shelf is new, but I’m guessing it’s more of a use of surroundings thing,” Zatanna adds settling her hands on her hips.

John’s eyes go wide watching as hand to God a cookie, a moving cookie makes its way in through the window, followed by another and another.

“Gingerbread man army a part of the legend?” John asks reaching out and grabbing Zatanna by the elbow pulling her his way. She looks at him confused before turning watching as another line of the little guys makes their way inside lining up in seemingly practiced formations.

“Aww, they’re kinda cute,” Zatanna says. They all stand to attention like military each of their tiny cookie hands materializing with an array of small weapons. “Okay, less cute,” Zatanna says as John wraps an arm around her waist keeping her close.

The little gingerbread men scatter circling the both of them. It would be comical these tiny cookie creatures with their sharp knives and scissors coming at them, surrounding them like vultures, if it weren’t so outright terrifying.

Zatanna raises her hands ready to see if magic can be used against the little cookie menaces when the windows shake violently, near to the point of breaking.

A cloud of black smoke appears out on the fire escape hooved feet coming into view confirming Zatanna’s earlier reasoning.

“Elbmurc eseht seikooc,” Zatanna says her hands twisting in the air and coming down onto the ground a wave of magic hitting the little gingers. They don’t so much as shake, each of them sporting a curl of their icing lips.

The first line of cookie defense attacks, the pair of them kicking at the cookie men to keep them away. A knife knicks John’s elbow causing him to grit his teeth as Zatanna crushes a few underfoot heading for the kitchen space. John follows her lead.

She trips at the kitchen island one of the little cookies latched onto her shoelace. She kicks her leg out trying to dislodge the thing. John pulls open every drawer feeling triumphant when he finds a pot and rolling pin he didn’t know he owned.

He turns just as Zatanna kicks the little monster off of her foot another line of the cookies rounding the corner their way, he smashes the pot down hard on the one she’d dislodged crumbling it to bits. He holds the rolling pin out to his girlfriend and she wastes no time gripping it like a baseball bat swinging with abandon as the cookies jump at them.

The fire escape rattles, the window making an awful screeching sound as a booming footstep falls inside. Neither of them can see over the island, but it’s clear from the way the cloven hooves hit the hardwood, Krampus has found his way inside.

A bellowing growl carries over the space, the gingerbread mean freezing in place dropping their weapons and standing to attention, saluting upwards.

Zatanna meets John’s eyes inching back and into a crouch pressed against the kitchen island.

“Nothing says holiday cheer like a homicidal Santa Claus,” John says wryly, whispering.

“Krampus,” Zatanna corrects edging along the kitchen counter trying to stay hidden. It’s likely not working considering the size of the space and of Krampus. The gingerbread men pay them no mind any longer, focused on their leader and any instructions he might give them.

“Semantics,” John says lifting up, he swings the pot out hard at Krampus knocking it directly into one of his large goat like horns.

Krampus does not like it.

Zatanna’s hands are already moving magic flowing from her lips, a burst of angry red magic blasts at Krampus, but much like it had with Der Klown the magic bounces right off of him. Krampus takes a deep breath blowing it out heavily, nostrils flaring with a cloud of condensation moving through the chilled room. It’s the first good look they’ve gotten at him, his gait standing at easily seven-foot, dark matted hair covering his body, his face a cross between a goat and a cartoon devil. A deep red cloak covers his shoulders and a fucking Santa hat rests crooked and dirtied between his horns.

Krampus tosses the big red sack over his shoulder to the window before vaulting over the kitchen island sending John and Zatanna backwards, tripping over the gathered gingerbread lieutenants and falling to the floor pressing back into the corner by the stove as Krampus’ wild red eyes bore into theirs.

The gingerbread men part like the red sea giving their master space to take heavy steps their way.

“If we do a gift exchange would that help?” Zatanna gulps as Krampus gets directly into her face his hot breath, smelling vaguely of gingerbread and chocolate. She wonders if he eats his little army routinely.

John reaches into his sweatpants pocket pulling a loose cigarette and his lighter out as Krampus rears back lifting his head and letting out a victorious growl to the sky.

“Really? Now?” Zatanna says watching incredulously as John lights up a cigarette. He waves her off as he struggles to get his lighter working. The little gingerbread men break formation letting out tiny sounds of victory as well. “I think I’m gonna use my yearly complaint card now.”

John ignores her complaints as his lighter finally catches as Krampus moves right up on them again. He leans down backing them impossibly further into the corner and John moves quick.

He presses the lit cigarette into Krampus’ eye the creature letting out a guttural howl and backing away from them giving them space to run around him, no longer cornered.

“Okay, I’m never complaining about your smoking again,” Zatanna says as she grabs his hand pulling him through their open spot to run. Zatanna tugs him till they’re clear across the room crushing as many gingerbread men as they possibly can as they go.

She pushes John up onto the mattress situating him behind her as she moves her hands in a practiced, mesmerizing motion through the air.

“Magic doesn’t work on him,” John says putting his hands on her hips steadying them on the wobbly mattress.

“Not directly,” she says with a confident smirk over her shoulder. Krampus stands in the kitchen still brushing at his eye as the gingerbread men attempt to help him. “But boy do I know how to annoy someone with magic all the same.”

Backwards magic tumbles from her lips the fastest he thinks he’s ever heard it come from her. Krampus squints his burnt eye their way turning his attention on them as Zatanna’s magic crackles all around them.

Garbage from the floor lifts swirling and catching fire flying the way of Krampus and his tiny army. The army mobilizes heading their way, but Zatanna is quicker than them the sloshing sound of the elf guts in the hall barreling towards the gingerbread men like a great wave taking their tiny bodies on a ride.

Krampus lets out another guttural howl stalking around the kitchen island each step shaking the ground, nearly leaving imprints in the hardwood.

Zatanna moves her hands again strings of lights from the hallway violently whipping at Krampus, not quite touching him, but moving him back with every snap. He snaps back catching a string in his teeth and pulling.

Zatanna’s face becomes more determined more rapid fire magic spilling from her lips as the flurry of lights grow brighter, moving faster and blinking in Krampus’ one good eye. He bats at them his vision completely obstructed staggering on his feet.

She keeps one hand focused Krampus’ way while she snaps her fingers with the other, sunglasses appearing over both their eyes blocking them from the colorful assault she’s instigating across the room.

The little gingerbread men attempt to pull themselves from their goo wave struggling as it sticks to them, causing a few of them to stick together entirely unable to gain their footing again.

A few other decorations fly in from the hall along with the previously used pot and rolling pin and every other item from John’s kitchen cabinets, nothing ever quite touching Krampus, as the magic seems to bounce right off of him, but spinning around him, distracting him. Keeping him occupied and increasingly frustrated.

His claws get tangled in the lights and he lets out another frustrated growl shutting his burnt eye and the good one tightly as the lights blink more rapidly.

“Ich gebe nach!” Krampus yells, the first words he’s said since his booming arrival. Zatanna pauses the lights slowing down things falling to the ground. The lights still blink tangled around Krampus as he lets out a long sigh.

Zatanna slips the sunglasses off of her face stepping down from the mattress. John keeps his hands on her waist stepping down with her.

“What’d he say?” he asks as they hold eye contact with Krampus.

“My German isn’t great, but I think he said he yields,” she says one hand still sparking magic. The lights slow down to a normal glow untangling from Krampus hands.

Krampus hold up his arms in defeat at Zatanna’s show of power. The gingerbread men break free from their gooey bonds and move to attack, but Krampus reaches out an arm stopping them dead in their tracks. He nods at them once and they all move over to the discarded red sack using their combined strengths to drag it his way.

Krampus keeps his hands visible slow blinking with his one good eye at them before opening the bag. The gingerbread men dutifully hop in one at time, the sack writhing as they settle into the depths of it somewhere.

Krampus reaches inside once they’ve all gone inside and Zatanna moves her hands ready to act. Krampus huffs, annoyed as he digs in his long-clawed hands pulling a large tree from it.

He throws the base to the ground with force, the tree fluffing out a glittering star at the top lighting instantly. He points at the lights on the floor and meets Zatanna’s eye. John sees as she gulps a few words sending the lights to their proper spot decorating the tree.

Krampus nods stiffly then growls their way, nostrils flaring, breath hot and smoky before cinching the bag closed and making his way towards the window.

Zatanna and John look at each other wide eyed.

“We learned our lesson I guess,” Zatanna says her hands still kind of frozen mid air from her last spell.

“Or we just really bugged him,” John says his hands falling from her waist.

They watch as Krampus crams himself through the window, hulling the large red sack out onto the fire escape.

“Oh, fuck,” John says a thought hitting him. He rushes to the window before Krampus can truly make his leave.

“Wait a sec,” he says sticking his head out of the window. Krampus rears his head grunting loudly pushing John back inside, John holds his hands up in surrender. “I know, you want to be rid of us I get it, but it’s just my neighbor,” John says gesturing to the wall by his bed that’s shared. “He’s a grumpy git, but you gave him a good scare I don’t think he needs to be permanently digested by a jack in the box too.”

Krampus grunts again hefting his sack once again and pulling the small Der Klown from it. The innocuous toy grows again making an awful regurgitating sound poking its head through the window until their grumpy neighbor is shot out from the creature’s mouth covered in mint smelling goo.

“I’m sorry,” he sobs picking himself up off the ground sliding as he goes. “I’ll go to the party,” he says skittering off through John’s open door nearly face planting in the doorway but righting himself and taking off without so much as a backwards glance. Zatanna watches him go with bewildered amusement. The party must really be in full swing downstairs since no one heard the war they’ve been waging up here.

Der Klown shrinks back down Krampus tossing it back into his bag before giving them one last annoyed look. John just gives the beast a thumbs up and Krampus huffs again raising its clawed middle finger their way before jumping off the fire escape. Zatanna rushes to John’s side at the window watching as the beast disappears in a cloud of black smoke.

“Merry Christmas, babe,” she says after a long moment of silence staring at the snow-covered streets. They feel it as the temperature starts to rise again, the snow melting almost instantly. Local meteorologists are going to have a field day with this one for years to come.

John lets out a long breath turning and sliding down the wall to sit on the floor beside their merry little evil tree, Zatanna joins him and John rests his forehead on her shoulder. “Merry Christmas, love.”

As they’ve been heavily reminded this night, tis’ the season. Whatever that means. Maybe they’ll clean up and head down to the party after all.

#my fic #johnzee #john constantine #zatanna zatara #magicblazersource #good holidays to you!!!

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rahleeyah · 2 years ago

Note

It’s d.c. anon back after a mental health breakkkk 😎😎 and I have more thoughts lol

first, I cannot take credit for this as I saw it on Twitter, but it RESONATED. Having CM come to svu to play the hallucination of an emt after Olivia’s car accident was a misuse of budget lol. I can’t remember (so correct me if I’m wrong) but he wasn’t in the rest of the ep, and as far as I know it didn’t do anything to advance the eo plot? Idk. Just a random thing I saw and was like YES. only bc that’s the reason we get sometime when we talk about crossovers…the budget… but like…why? LOL

Second, we know the general consensus is oc season 3 is a dumpster fire. BUT I actually like that we cut off the casino story line to focus on the Vaughn story and then went back to casino? Thoughts? I know it’s probably bc of the show runner turnover but, happy accident?

Lastly, I remembered the other day that when I was in college I had a HUGE crush on one of my guy friends. Idk if it was what I thought love was at that age and Idk if it was obvious to anyone else or to him but eventually he hooked up with my best friend at the time. And this gutted me. I spent the night ugly crying to my roommate and lied about the reason I was crying bc I was so embarrassed of the real reason. I bring this all up to say that at the time, I couldn’t control myself or my emotions and how STRONG Olivia has had to be for herself alone, with not many people there to let in and see her vulnerable. About the trust of others that is not there since the pattern has always been the same and I’m heartbroken for her

before we dive in - good for you for taking a mental health break. that shit is so important and all the stuff we do online can be fun but it can also do damage and I'm glad you took a step back and are ready to return now!

no it is such a good point and I have to wonder if like. were there contract discussions about the number of times he'd turn up in svu beforehand? was wet lettuce told he had to include Elliot somewhere in that episode and that was what he came up with? I wouldn't put it past him, the twat,

yes, this season has been a dumpster fire and yes I liked that we cut away for the random arc in the middle. I don't think I would've liked it if it came in the middle of the Albanian arc, where oc was actually telling a really good, interesting, cohesive story and it would've felt like a distraction, but in the middle of this mess that I didn't care about at all, the one off with vaughn was actually much more interesting and fun. the casino arc has been trash so I was just glad to not have to deal with it lmao but it would be interesting to see if they use this structure again and how that unfolds in the future

Olivia has had to be strong but Olivia has also chosen to isolate herself in many ways. Olivia has chosen to keep a lot of her feelings to herself on purpose as a matter of self-protection, which a lot of us do, not bc she's embarrassed and not bc she doesn't want to be a burden and not bc she doesn't want to cause a scene but bc her biggest fear is being seen as vulnerable. she absolutely does not want that, she will cut off her own arm before she lets someone else see her weak. so for her keeping all her emotions to herself and not confiding in people is actually easier than reaching out. that has become her comfort zone. it does more harm than good in the long run but we all get stuck in behaviors that hurt us from time to time. it will take all of her strength to be vulnerable, and there's really only one person left she will be honest with. and I for one desperately want to see that.

#anonymous #e.o asks #s.vu

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oh-no-a-whovian · 3 years ago

Text

Two more lonely people Part 12

NSFW 18+

Summary: “you made me love you! I tried to fight it for both our sakes! You can’t just pull away the moment things get tough!”

Pairing: Bruno Madrigal x fem werewolf! reader

Warnings: age gap (Y/N is 25 and Bruno is 50) swearing, Injury, any others let me know please.

Word count: 3177

Masterlist PT1 Next

Bruno’s POV

The green glow chases around the room with the whirring sand, like a tornado in the middle of a desert cave. The howl of the wind berates his ears as he watches the future unfold before his eyes, and his ruana tries to drag him away, catching the wind with force. His hood billowing as he watches the images.

Her eyes are filled with anger and hurt, glaring directly at him through the vision, her hand pressed to her side. The blood from this day is drying on the dress she’s wearing downstairs, the dark stain obvious even in the vibrant green. She’ll survive, he breathes, but she’s clearly going to speak her mind the moment she wakes, yelling at him for doing what he did. All he can do is beg her forgiveness.

The vision shifts in the sand to three people, all acting friendly toward [Y/N] but he can tell there’s something underneath their surface impressions. One is an older man, maybe a bit younger than Bruno, a younger man, maybe the same age as [Y/N] and an older woman, her age ambiguous in the glowing sands. The older man stands in distrust, his arms crossed as bubbling rage and anger hide behind his eyes. The other two stand away from the older man but seem the perfect family, smiling at each other, smiling at [Y/N]. Bruno can’t help but feel none of these people can be trusted. None of them belong within Encanto’s basin and he has a feeling they’ll only bring trouble for [Y/N].

Three massive wolves form in the sand next. One is [Y/N], he can tell that much, the greens of his vision lightest on her fur, the others furs too dark. Her ears and body are lowered as if she’s ready to tear the other two apart. Her massive form launches at the other two as the vision ends.

The glowing stone falls into his hands her wolf form standing tall carved into it. so, she’ll survive the repercussions of his plan for selflessness, that fucked up thoroughly, but will have to fight others like her at some point? Potentially putting her life at risk.

Are the two people he saw in the vision the other wolves? He’ll warn her of them when he sees them, but now he’ll keep his mouth shut.

He’s glad she’ll be okay, but he’s worried now for her future.

He makes his way back down to the room where [Y/N] lies, sleeping on the plush couch. She’s all alone when he steps into the room, his family probably said they’d watch her for the night and sent her worried mother home. She probably put up a real fight about it too, but it’s better for her to be here, just in case she need Julieta’s cooking again.

He sits heavily on the floor beside the woman he loves, taking her handing into his and pressing it to his forehead. His other hand holds the stone tablet in his lap. He knows she’ll not be happy with him when she wakes but he’s not strong enough to leave her again. I’m so sorry.

~~~~

[Y/N]’s POV

It feels like breathing in needles, sharp and agonising as they grind in your chest. Your back is on a plush surface, but you can’t help but groan from the pain, the soft area doing nothing to counter it. Somewhere inside you is on fire, like something that’s not supposed to be there is grinding away at weird angles. It’s fucking brutal.

You remember a flash and a rifle firing in the jungle. You’d ran until you reached the shattered crack in the mountain, only then did you realise you were actually hit. Shifting back into your human form was torture for the first time in years, your ribs and lungs burning. Your bones grinding against each other as they rearranged and shifted whatever broke. You remember screaming and crying from the pain, the tears streaking down your cheeks.

One of your hands is held tight away from you, warm breath fanning over your knuckles as prayers leave their lips. you know who it is, his warm voice only just registering in your tired mind. if you could move, you’d smack him one. How fucking dare he!

Your eyes feel heavy as you force them open to peek at the man next to you. Why do you feel like ass right now? You assume the moment he brought you back to casita you would have had Julieta’s magic food stuffed down your throat and you’d feel fine. Normally her magic food heals instantly.

“Why do I feel like shit?” you croak out, glaring at him through squinted eyes, you can barely open them. He looks tired, dark bags under his eyes as he watches you with hope and worry. You wonder how long he was sitting with you. With the sun rising outside the window and how exhausted her looks, you have a feeling it might have been all night.

“We think the bullet might still be in you… and you lost a lot of blood before I got you back here.” He sighs, pressing his forehead back onto your hand. “Apparently, it’s possible that although the food heals injuries instantly, it can’t rebuild all your blood… we’re not sure though.”

“And what are you doing by my side?” you ask, the bitterness clear in your voice. “aren’t you worried someone’s gonna see?”

“Everyone knows.” He breathes watching for your reaction. “I’m sorry…”

“you’re sorry” you huff, rolling your eyes as you rip your hand from his grasp. He tries to stop you as you force yourself to your feet, pressing your hand to your side where it still aches.

“I didn’t mean what I said. I just didn’t want your friendship with Dolores and Isabela to be ruined because of me… so I lied.”

“I fucking know you lied Bruno” you growl, pointing an accusatory finger at him as you stumble a little on your feet, batting away his hand as he reaches to help you. Your head is spinning with anger and probably lack of reasonable amount of blood. “I can hear your fucking heartbeat Bruno. I can tell what you’re feeling, and I know when you’re fucking lying.” You gesture to your ears as your eyes start to water. “doesn’t mean it didn’t fucking hurt to hear you say it.”

“I thought it was the right thing to do.”

“Yeah, and I don’t appreciate you making that kind of decision.” You snap “if you were so fucking worried about that then why didn’t you just let me the fuck go when I tried to back away earlier?”

“I wasn’t…”

“wasn’t what? Thinking this far ahead? I know you knew this would cause issues eventually, you’re not that naïve” you say gesturing between him and you. A green glow out of the corner of your eye catches your attention and you glare at him as you step closer to the coffee table it sits upon. “And you’ve decided to look into my future when I asked you not to.” You huff glaring at the stone now.

Your posture is aggressive and your sharp teeth are bared in a ferocious snarl. Your hackles are raised, and you look ready for war with the two other wolves before you. Yet although their postures seem aggressive, they’re more defensive. It’s like they don’t want to fight you, but they will if they have to. Why are you the aggressor?

“I was worried... that you… that you wouldn’t make it. so, I looked.” He tells you, unable to look up from the ground as he fiddles with his hands

“So, you can suffer through my death twice what a great idea…” you mumble staring at the glowing tablet, all feeling of anger at the man now hiding behind you interest in the vision. “Any idea why I’m trying to fight two other werewolves that clearly don’t want to fight me?”

“wha… they look like they want to fight you to me…” he says, finally looking up again and approaching your side to analyse the stone with you.

“mmmMmm no, their posture is all wrong… their stances are defensive. The one on the left seems angrier, but they aren’t hostile…” you mumble, pointing to each part that indicates what you’re saying. Their footing, their hackles, the right one having their head lowered a little and the other glaring at you, refusing to be submissive or back down. “they don’t want to hurt me”

“I just assumed they are the problem… I didn’t see anything that would tell me why you’d be angry with them…”

“Could be… any number of reasons.” You hiss as you slump back down on the couch, the grinding feeling inside still present. Holding your body in a weird position to ease the pain, you breathe, eyes scrunched shut and your teeth bare. Bruno has his hands out, ready to help in an instant, holding himself barely a foot away from you.

“Are you okay?”

“do I look okay? I think u were right about the bullet still being in me… I thought Julieta’s magic usually pushes foreign objects out…” you say through gasping breaths.

“It does… but you sha-shapeshifted…” he explains, his hands fiddling before him and you can tell he’s holding back from touching you. “The b-bullet may have been t-taken away from the wound when you shifted…”

Your instincts tell you to shift, like what ever the issue is will be fixed the moment you do. Your body fixed itself when you shifted on the full moon, perhaps it heals when you shift into a wolf in general? You’re scared though, it already hurts so much. Will it move the bullet into a spot to get it out?

You push yourself to your feet once more, grimacing at the pain and holding your stomach. Bruno is by your side again in an instant, though you think he’s trying to lay you back down.

“Back up!” you snap, you feel your fangs extending in your mouth, and can see the glow of your eyes reflecting in his. He backs away confused and concerned, his heart racing in your ears over the sound of your own bones cracking. “If there’s any of Julieta’s cooking left, you’re gonna need to grab it.”

Your body stretches and your muscles burn. Each joint shifting hurts. it wasn’t this bad on the full moon, and it’s been nearly a decade since it hurt during a normal transformation. You can barely focus on Bruno racing away into the kitchen to find the food or Dolores appearing in the other doorway with wide eyes. You’re trying really hard not to scream.

You breathe heavily once the transformation is finished, panting from your now sharp maw. Your tongue feels dry from the air as it hangs from your mouth. The pain has gone away for the most part, but something still feels off, like something stuck in your chest or down your throat.

Bruno returns with a bowl of soup or something in his hand and his hand dives straight into your fur to comfort you the moment he puts the dish on the coffee table. You want to bite him, you haven’t forgiven him, but you understand that he’s worried.

You start coughing and gagging uncontrollably, about as majestic as a dog can do. You’re not proud of how you probably look right now but you know Bruno and Dolores are more worried than amused. The bullet launches from your throat and drops to the floor with a clink. You stare at it, offended that it had choked you like that. How it got in that area is beyond you but you’re glad it’s out.

You snap at Bruno’s hand, and he yanks it back from your fur covered flank. He looks away in shame and heart ache as you glare at him. Idiot hurt himself with his stupid decision just as much as he hurt you. He can put up with it for a bit.

“Will she be okay now tio Bruno?” Dolores asks as she starts petting you where you’d made Bruno stop. You practically shove your face into the bowl of brothy but cool soup, curling your tongue to slurp it up. He didn’t take the time to warm it back up, but you don’t mind, you’re wolf enough to not be fussy about food.

“Well, the bullet is out” he sighs lifting it from the floor to look at it. it’s squished from the impact into your side and covered in your saliva and blood, so much that it practically drips. “She should be feeling better… wait where are you going?” he asks as you try to leave.

You just wanna go home, lay in your bed and sulk for a bit think through everything. You want to forgive him, but you’re still pissed. You were never truly worried about losing your friends forever, they may be mad for a bit, but they would never leave you. He had made a stupid and hurtful decision.

You growl at him for a moment, your ears curving back until he moves away from you again. Grabbing the vision tablet in your teeth, fighting for purchase on the smooth surface, you leave la casita.

You need some time. That’s all.

~~~~

Bruno’s POV

She hasn’t returned to casita in a few days, hasn’t returned to him. he’s really starting to think that the years alone in the walls has actually messed his mind up. He’s been in a self-hate spiral since she left, blaming himself for every little thing that’s happened in his life and now hers.

Dolores told him that [Y/N] has been staying in her house mostly but has been going around doing her chores. She’s just avoiding him. He’s glad to know at least that she hasn’t run off into the jungle again.

He stands at her front door, her favourite flowers and pastries in his hand and an apology speech stuffed in the pocket by his heart pocket. He raps his knuckles against the hard wood door, and he listens for someone’s approach with bated breath. He hopes it’s her, he’s not sure how he’s gonna deal if her mother answers the door. Of course, when the door opens it’s her mother.

“What are you doing here?” she asks, her tone openly hostile. He’s worried [Y/N] wants nothing to do with him and has told her mother as much, giving her full permission to be rude to him, just to make him leave. he’d understand and he’d only have himself to blame.

“I um I want… need to talk to [Y/N]” he explains, trying his best to find courage where there seems to be none. His heart is in his throat as it races away. He just hopes she’ll be willing to forgive him.

“I don’t think….”

“Mama!” he hears her call out, followed by the sound of her stomping feet approaching the front of the house. “What did I say? si el idiota viene a disculparse, déjelo. ¡joder!” she curses, shoeing her mother away from the door. ‘if the idiot comes to apologize, let him. fuck!’ he’s not sure how he feels about being referred to as ‘the idiot’ but it’s fair. “Hi Bruno.” She sighs when she finally faces him.

“Can… can we have a moment alone?” he asks as he glances over her shoulder to her protective mother. “I have a whole… speech.” He tells her patting the front of his ruana where the pocket is.

“Not willing let my mum hear it but Dolores still can?” she asks raising an eyebrow as she takes the gifts from him.

“Uh ye heh she kinda helped me write it…”

“Nice to know” she huffs, leading him back to her room. she shows no emotions through her face, the definition of indifference. She hops onto her bed and leans back onto the headboard, crossing her arms as she watches him. She looks like royalty sitting upon a throne waiting for her incompetent servant to apologise for their failings. Has she already made up her mind? Humouring him until the moment she tells him to never look at her again? She gestures for him to start, and he immediately chokes on his own spit, fumbling to find his carefully written out apology.

The smirk that lifts at the corner of her lip as he starts almost gives him hope. Maybe she’s fucking with him, acting unimpressed and uninterested to make him a nervous wreck. Or maybe she’s taking sadistic pleasure in his pain because he hurt her… maybe once he’s done, she’ll finish the job he started on his own heart and snap it in two.

“I-I wanna start with, I’m sorry. In my attempt to be selfless… I hurt you.” He breathes “I was trying to put your relationship with mi sobrinas first. After everything that’s happened in my life… I assumed that I had ruined something like I always do… and I did… just not the thing I thought. What I said was cruel, even if you knew it was a lie. I’m pretty sure I will love you until I die, regardless of your response to this apology. I hope… if you want… that you’ll give me the chance to make up for my stupid decision.” He swallows thickly as he finishes reading, glancing up from the crumpled piece of paper to see her reaction.

She doesn’t say a word as she stands from her seat on the bed, and steps toward him. his heart races as she presses him against the wall, her face inches from his. Her lips are only on his for a second before she yanks away taking the apology letter with her.

“You actually wrote the pauses in?” she giggles, pressing her back against his chest, pinning him to the wall. His blood pulses straight between his legs as he stands there confused, his hands hovering inches from her hips. “you’re so cheesy.”

“d-do you forgive me?”

“don’t get me wrong I’m still upset… you did ruin my birthday after all” she sighs, leaning her head back onto his chest. “But in time I think I can. Just keep in mind” she says as she turns to face him, her breasts pressing against his chest now and her hand sliding up to gently wrap around his throat. “if you try something like that again… I’m not sure I’ll be able to stop myself from hurting you.” He nods in understanding but the feeling of her hand around his throat isn’t quite making the reaction one would expect. It’s just making him harder in his pants, the pressure of her pressed against his front both amazing and painful that nothing more is happening.

“I’ll never hurt you again, mi Cielo. I promise” he breathes, pulling her closer by the hips and pressing his lips to hers hungrily. “te amo”

“good”

A/N: she’s ok! For now >:) remember!! Like and reblog to share the love!!! Please!

two more lonely people tags:

@pink-hufflepuff @kyriekurokami @goblinenby @fraujar @ducks118 @lemonbaby @sylum @life-hater39 @abelbai000 @sarashitposts @sweatyroadcowboyjudge @mother-dragon-and-her-hatchlings @elysiadjarin @multifandombtch @insanitybyanothername @inthewindsomehow @gloryekaterina @anactualvelociraptor @originalsoulcollector @hlxoos @tangerine-kitten @psychomanias @nectamburne @mary-wolf @wo1fwitch @jesuisravenclaw @shaddow-darkcloud @ryou-cosmos @puck-the-puppy @totofranken @butchcupid @mintymonicalei @azeret-mirror @a-gay-cryptid @cl0vr @tigreost @kenzi-woycehoski @acdassenza @coffee-cupps @krazyk99 @small-town-wayward-daughter @unstableyetloveable @nikt-wazny-y @animeluver23 @fuxkyoshizz

#bruno madrigal x reader #bruno madrigal #reader insert #encanto x reader #werewolf reader #we dont talk about bruno #disney's encanto

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beann-e · 4 years ago

Text

Haikyuu! Characters reacting to their s/o Fighting for them

Also i’m taking request !! go put something in the box :4

Tendou

he would enjoy it so much like he’d have a full on conversation while your doing it. He’d even start hyping you up In the back because he knows that’s all it takes to fuel your fire.

Only for you to find out the person who was hitting on him wasn’t talking about him but was talking about another guy and tendou only made it seem like they were so he could piss you off because he finds it so hot when your upset

Your eyes went pointed to the scene in front of you when you walked down from the bleachers. Feet heavy on the ground as you tried to contain your anger.

How did this chick get down here faster than you and why the hell was she talking to your boyfriend once again faster than you ?

You steps slowed as you walked up to them hoping to hear a little bit of the conversation “ yeah I thought it was really hot and I just wanted to say wow up close and personal y’know “

Your eyes widened hot ?

what the hell did she think was hot ?

“ I was uh I was up in the stands and I was honestly a little bit intimidated to come down here and talk to anyone actually —in the first place “ she laughed clutching her bag a little tighter when your boyfriend licked his lips before his teeth came down to nibble on his bottom one lightly, eyes feigning innocence as he listened to her “ especially you so this is like a big milestone for me “

you watched as your boyfriend smiled softly “ yeah I get it — really i’d be the exact same way with a crush I wouldn’t know how to act or even how to talk to them i’ve actually been there before so “

good good you thought praising tendou in your head at the fact that he was trying to slowly bring up the fact that he had a s/o. clapping for him in your head for trying to let the girl in front of him down easily

your body darting to hide behind a group of teenagers when you saw your boyfriends eyes lift up from the girl and look around as if he was checking for someone he must have been wondering where you were. breathing out a sigh of relief that he turned to look over your way too slowly only missing you by a second

“ oh really I assumed that— “

“ no no your good i’m not saying it in that way “

your face dropped ‘in what way ? ‘

“ I understand the fear of talking to your crush but trust me “ he nodded his head towards the girl In front him before he took a sip of water and smiled down on her “ you’ve got no reason to be nervous i’m right her—“

“ hi “ you waved steps quick on the floor beneath you and voice loud to show your presence “ yes y— yes you do “ you laughed reaching your hand out to shake the girls own in front of you

“ i’m y/n — the s/o— of 3 years —is there ? is there anything wrong did something happen to where he needed an emergency check up or something ? “

the sarcasm in your voice making your boyfriend smirk to himself at the way you just jumped into the situation all to protect your relationship it made him feel secure, happy even

it made him in a way feel greedy

your head coming up to look at tendou as you snaked an arm around his waist like he’d done to you in similar situations. Your other one moving to place itself on his chest “ babe are you ok ? are you hurt ? how badly to call a stranger over here ? “

“ baby no nothing like that she just wanted to congratulate me“ he locked eyes with you the slight smirk he still wore ignored by you due to anger at the drama unfolding before you and his next statement. His words coming out soft and sweet though they were meant to encourage his evil agenda “ before you “

“i’m sorry I wasn’t down here to congratulate him on his win so he must have looked lonely “

you shook your head in sadness at the girl “ and open but “ you smiled “ no he’s not—I understand the confusion you must be going through right now but its just miscommunication from your classmates—which leads me to wonder—please tell me what’s your name ? i’ve never seen you before and I bet your not aware of who I am either so introductions could help both of us out here “

“ oh uh i’m niccolo” the girl shook her head softly and wearily as you pulled back quickly

“ mm niccolo— niccolo “ you spoke rubbing the same hand youd just shook niccolos with down your shirt causing your boyfriend to smile to himself and his eyebrows to raise at all the knowing looks from his teammates about the shit storm he’d just put into motion as he planted a small innocent kiss to your forehead while winking to his teammates behind you

“ never heard of it you must be a first year ? “ your boyfriends head shook slightly as he looked to the floor thinking about how that might have been a little bit rude considering she was just a young girl maybe 16 at most.

His mind rolling with thoughts of maybe cutting the game he was playing short because of her age only for him to side eye you and take a sip from his water bottle again ‘ nah they’ve got it ‘

“ oh y-yes i’m new here—i’ve taken the phrase first year a bit too literal “ she joked smile seeming to be forced her hands twitching in nervousness

“ mm — I never would’ve thought “ you spoke sarcastically. Almost every first year knew not to talk to tendou after a game not unless you were down there already.

The both of you had established that as soon as the game is over your the only person who gets to say congratulations to him first since he explained that it means more to him to know that you’ll always be there no matter what he does

no matter if he wins or loses he’ll get to walk off that court and the first thing he sees is the person he loves most with their hands out waiting for a hug. he’s told you that in the moment he wants to feel like your the only one watching because it’s a private game played for you because he believes your so lucky to get to see your smoking hot boyfriend do blocks.

“ oh thank you no ones ever told me that I look older before may I ask why you thin— “

“ because your dum— “

“ haha um “ tendou stretched before speaking again “ because your just really pretty for a first year “ your body went rigid you almost felt like you couldn’t feel anything not even the heat that was radiating off your body

“ aw thank you so much that means a lot y/n was it? “ she smiled genuinely before laughing “ tendous so nice i’m really glad I came down here first before y’know all the fangirls came down “

she shook her head “ y’know I actually got scared because I thought you were one — I was like ahhhh here comes one of those scary stalker girls “ she laughed “ tendou was telling me not to be afraid since he knew you but I was telling him to be careful when talking to people like you —- once again I thought you were a fan girl so I mean you can’t blame me right?”

Yeah she was screwed this had went too far he was too late

“ y/n “ his voice was warning but you waved him off listening to the girl in front of you her voice sounding so confident and honest believing in everything she was saying. Voice pouring through and mouth still moving almost as if she had no filter

she looked to her feet “I doubt any of them would even have a chance with tendou though because— “

your body roared as she explained her reasoning.

You were only feeling this angry at her words because not only did she call you a tendou fangirl but she explained that even if you were one you would have no chance with him even though that’s actually how you two started dating.

Then for her to turn around and rub it in your face how she got downstairs before you oh god you were gonna have a field day with this little twerp if you didn’t find a way to put her in her place respectfully

“ hey um tendou do you think me and my fellow fan girl here can have some alone time just a small chat “

“ oh wow i’ve never had one of those before “ she smiled as tendou stood still wondering if he’d done the right thing by encouraging all of this or if he should just drop it or maybe even sit down and enjoy it

looking down at you cautiously a slight smirk on his face thinking about your face when he would get the chance to you the truth of the situation but only for it to drop as the girl across from him stole his attention away from you causing him to perk up a bit honestly surprised that she spoke again

Was she suicidal or ?

“ I think he may not be leaving because he isn’t comfortable with you yet—he told me earlier that we could be best friends so , he may listen to me more “ she smiled “ tendou I wanna talk to um —y/n so could you maybe give us some time alone —“ her smiling wider almost as if happy to call him her friend —before speaking “ I wanted to help you out “

‘ holy shit she’s testing my patience’

tendous loud laugh ripped through the gym as he grabbed goshiki and turned the both of them around to walk off words heavy and holding meaning “ yeah I know em’ —I know em’ real well physically and mentally trust me your going to have a bestie number two soon enough “

you watched as your boyfriend went to sit on the bench talking softly with goshiki as he put his hands in his pants pockets not paying attention to you two anymore

“ so wha— “

“ look “ you smiled “ i’m gonna be real sweet about this so we can tie this up in a neat little bow “ you pointed towards tendou

“ ‘m not a fan anymore he’s my boyfriend — we’ve been dating for 3 years now ever since we were first years. I met him through a fan club because he saw the art I drew for their game posters and enjoyed it. I told him I liked how passionate he was about something and how he had his own thing and did it in his own unique way that worked for him and then boom we ended up getting closer—closer then need be sometimes “

you sighed as you moved to close the conversation out “ look just please — I understand your a first year you may not know and that’s ok but ; me and my boyfriend like for me to be the first one who gives him a congratulations at the end of a match he never talks to anyone except his team until I do it — he says it’s like reassurance tht he’s doing good he’s had some stuff happen in the past that just — he needs praise and reminders that he’s doing good with his sport and I supply that he doesn’t want it from anyone else and I don’t want anyone else to give it “

you looked to the girl with sympathy in your eyes hoping you didn’t hurt her feelings she really was just a young kid “ it’s ok to have a crush I had one we all do at a point in our lives but right now your hitting on someone in a secure relationship ok ? start asking first please just to be safe in your future years “

her eyes went wide as she moved to speak “ mm I guess I was wrong “

you shook your head “ wrong ? excuse me for not understanding but wrong how“

“ I uh I assumed you weren’t one of those fan girls and I was wrong I did not mean to get in between your weird obsession just please do not harm him or anything like you guys tend to do “

your body blazed eyes lit up in a hard stare at everyone who now turned to face you hearing the girls loud words

“ again with the fan shit “

“ that is what you guys are called I will not call you his s/o if he does not know you “

“ HES MY BOYFRIEND YOU ASSHOLE “

“ wh— “

“ I tried to be nice to you but your not accepting it it’s like you want me to scream at you “

“ yeah babe she totally does “ tendous smile spreading slowly across his face at the way your hips moved to work with your mouth in showing off your evident pissed off mood

“ I know “ you screamed “ she just wants to make this harder for me “

“ duh “ his tongue coming out to swipe across his bottom lip eyes falling down to your hands that were clenched so tightly in anger waving around widely your pissed off expression sending heat traveling across his body

“ you have a child’s crush on him and I keep telling you I don’t mind but I explained to you to just be respectful and then you go and disrespect me again“

“ they are very lenient when it comes to crushes on me “

“ thank you baby —I try not to be rude because I myself was once a fan in a club for the team so trust me I understand but everyone is usually respectful I don’t understand how you “

“ she’s just a first year babe you have to explain it to her more “ he smiled thinking up a new way to see how far you would go for him “ like in depth “

“ I DID “

“ no baby you gotta get rough with her “

you turned with your eyebrows furrowed “ like fight “

he smirked at you body shaking at the way you whimpered out the words but moved to put your hair up anyways yet, again putting him first and your cloudy anger ridden mind second

god you were so hot whenever you showed everyone you’d do anything for him “ fuck — yeah baby your doing the right thing —don’t think about it too much “

you shook your head softly as you battled through it in your head tendou always knew how to get a rise out of you and how to make you do what he wanted you to more so for fun.

It didn’t take much for you to listen to him especially when you couldn’t think clearly because he was the only person there who cared for you and anything he did you knew would only be for his own entertainment purposes he’d never have you do anything bad or that put your safety at risk.

when you were angry —and had someone hyping you up and adding fuel onto the fire it was only 10x worse and tendou knew this

“ here y/n baby—let’s take this outside I don’t want you to get hurt by fighting in here come on you can do it out there “

“ tendou you asshole quit encouraging this shit“ semi whispered

“ I do not understand what is going on —i find myself with a loss of knowledge in this situation but I do feel as though tendou is in the wrong it is only a gut feeling “

the girl in front of you trembled at ushijimas voice—before looking to goshiki who held wide eyes as he waved to the girl hesitantly her eyes darting away and back to him eyebrows coming together as she looked around the gym embarrassed “ but he — he didn’t say anything about you—I didn’t know he didnt tell me “

“ wh—what babe — liar I call liar she’s lying baby — pleas— ow “

your head finally clearing up as you listened to his team talk about how much of a prick he was you reaching out and grabbing the top of his ear and bringing it down to your height while he screamed out in pain “ BECAUSE HES AN ASSHOLE “

“ hey baby I’m sorry i’m sorry but that’s — thats “ his hair went down to cover his face as he looked at you “ thats not cool “

“ I — I didn’t know “

“ but I told you twice “

“ and I — I haven’t had the best experienc— “ her bottom lip trembled before she took off crying when she met the young boys eyes behind her.

Goshiki shaking softly eyes lit up in confusion before he shook his head and pulled himself away from the embarrassing situation to run after her your boyfriend moving to wrap his arms around your waist from the back “ your so hot “

“ but I “

“ you were wrong though so I see looks don’t always pair up with smarts “

“ huh “

“ she wasn’t hitting on me “

“ but she “

“ she has a crush on goshiki this is her first time attending a volley’ game and she accidentally came down the wrong way so it landed her down here faster than everyone else”

your body stiffened “ she only ended up talking to me because I was going into the hallway towards the locker rooms when she for some reason was coming down the opposite way crying to me about how she was lost “

“ then you — you two were talking abo— “

“ she’s a bit fragile —- and she was explaining it and I saw how we were the same because she’s had a hard past too so she’s a bit wary around others—and hates confrontation due to drama at ‘er old school and she doesn’t know much of the people here because she’s a first year also she doesn’t talk much which kinda threw me off when she started having full conversations with you and trying her best to connect with you“ he shrugged “ must’ve thought you were cool —wanted to be your friend or some shit”

he smiled proudly at the fact that you could make people other than himself feel that comfortable around you him peppering kisses all around your face “ she was telling me how she thought goshiki was hot and when I brought up that I was his amazingly beautiful senpai she just wanted me to introduce her to him — she said she’s afraid of people and fangirls because she hasn’t had the best experiences with them she explained one time in middle school she got a bento box thrown at her because a guy from the volleyball team said hi to her “

your body immediately dropped “ you knew her whole life story and then some and let me embarrass myself “

“ well honestly you both did you just a bit more than her “

oikawa

he would praise you so much the whole time. He has fangirls and he loves when you show him why your more important than them. he loves for you to stop him and put them in their place while showing him his own.

He knows it’s not right to flirt with other girls but the excitement and pure happiness he gets when he watches you fight for him with such passion similar to his own for volley he loves it

“ oikawa ~~” A small voice called out before tucking a strand of hair behind their ear “ can we maybe get some photos ? “

holy shit it’s like everyday at this point

“ baby can I ? “

“ just go “ his eyes darted to the group before he looked back at you “ really —swear i’ll be right behind you pretty boy “

He smiled before running off to the group grabbing the pen someone held out for him and writing all over the billions of notepads girls waved in front of his face.

You knew it looked wrong for him to have a s/o and still entertain other girls or guys for that matter but, you knew oikawa. You knew exactly how he felt about them it wasn’t that he was interested or liked them it was that he liked their comments

he liked the attention.

He was someone who needed constant praise to feel like he was doing his best. Hearing all the cheers , all of the shouts of his name, seeing the signs and people that would come to games specifically for him only made him feel like he was human like he was real and talented—appreciated

You would never take that away from him you could never, when you two started dating you explained to him you knew how important his fans were to him and as long as he kept a certain line that couldn’t be crossed— that he would always come back to you. Everything would be ok.

You slowly walked up behind him leaving space for people to have a hard time differentiating if you were apart of the crowd or with him but you were still close enough to hear the whispers of how hot he was and honestly he was.

He had the muscles—the beautifully glowing skin that others around you two dreamed of and to put a topping on the cake he was still sporting his ruffled hair from his earlier game. He was your dream man and you were lucky to even be able to stare at him behind closed doors or at least that’s what he told you whenever you walked into his room.

“ oikawa-san “

“hmm “ he spoke staring down on the girl that reached out to grab his arm as he was turning to leave

“ could I talk to you please “

his eyes darted to find yours locking on them when he finally found them. His mouth now moving to mouth a question as you shook your head lightly you’d give him five more minutes he deserved it and you wanted him to feel like he’d done a good job at his game today ,which he really did do, him only going back to the girl in front of you two

“ oh well I really wanna — i’m supposed to —“ he sighed out before he collected himself “ I want to take my s/o home before it gets too late I don’t want them walking alone at night “

“ oh s/o “ her voice dropped as he shook his head up and down “ correct of 2 years “

“ oh my um congratulations— to many more to many more with many more “ she rushed out quickly reaching in her backpack

“ thank you our anniver— “

“ could we get a picture “

he sighed before his smile spread only growing into a fake one lips going tight on his face “ yes of course just one i’d like to get on the ro— “

His breathing stopped as he felt the girl next to him lay her lips on his. The click of the camera making his eyes go wide as he shook. Oikawa to most wasnt one who was as submissive as he was with you. He was a bit more ‘ manly ‘ to other people but around you he always fell into submission especially when he knew he fucked up

His eyes slowly moved to find yours that flaming as you stared down the girl in front of him . You leaning against the wall only making him feel a shiver move down his spine.

Had he fucked up that badly that you weren’t even moving.

He kept looking between you and the girl in front of him eyes trying to convey his thoughts as they screamed

‘ look y/n she’s still talking to me — at this point she’s fucking with me not the other way around ‘

His mind went blank as you walked over your face made up into a stoic one voice coming out monotoned devoid of annoyance or any feeling at all “ your lips must be magnets or some shit“

“ excuse me “

“ oh no it’s just that Insee you’ve put your lips on my boyfriend“ your eyes creased at the girl before looking up and down in curiosity “ so I was just wondering if your big mouth was hiding a magnet or something — anything really to explain why you would put your dirty ass mouth on my rather pristine boyfriend “

Pristine ? his body went upright standing a bit taller ‘ hell yeah i’m pristine keep em coming babe ‘

“ are you not going to apologize ? “

“ I uh “ her eyes went up into sadness and fear as the courage that once swirled through her left upon seeing your emotionless stare. She’d just kissed your boyfriend and you looked like you were walking dogs or doing an everyday house chore “ i’m sor—sorry “

“ oh not to me “ you let out a small head nod over to oikawa “ I meant him “

“ oh oh um yes “ she coughed before she made eye contact with oikawa whos eyes were creasing as he stared down on the frail girl before him

“ i’m sorry “

“ no go on take your time “

“ i apologize that “

“ really I know it’s hard to apologize to someone as pristine as me“ your boyfriend moved to nudge you softly “ isn’t that right y/n“ he spoke as he tried and failed to wink down at you

“ uh yeah babe um “ you shook your head as your eyebrows furrowed before you returned to your earlier self “ wait what oikawa stop playing and fix this shit “

“ oh uh “ he straightened himself up at your words “ what were you suppose to be saying again “

“ oh I just wanted to um “ she turned to make eye contact with you before jumping a bit and turning away squeaking out her words “ i’m sorry for hitting on you knowing that you had a s/o “

“ oh ok that’s it? ” his body sulked as he looked to the floor

“ that’s it ? — you don’t care that she hit on you asshole“ you slapping his arm harshly before he whimpered at the contact

“ what’s wrong baby “ your hand came up to rub his back and arm while he pouted turning away from the both of you

“ I just wanted her to she was sorry “

“ ‘kawa she did we can go home now “

“ no she didn’t say it the way I wanted her to “

your hands fell from him as you let out a huff of air before turning to the girl in front of you and moving to whisper in her ear as she sat confused unmoving In her spot before smiling softly and speaking uncomfortably and regretting her decision to ask the male out

“ oikawa “ she coughed his eyes looking over at her while still holding up his dramatic show “ I just wanted to say i’m sorry for hitting on your s/o’s “

Her eyebrows furrowed before she looked to you who was mouthing the words and shaking her head in an ok motion “ pretty boy —“ he perked up at the words “I will never hit on someone of your elegantly pure , flawlessly clean , stature ever again “

Yes he made her embarrass herself by asking for more kind uplifting words more so to make himself feel better than for you. All the while he enjoyed the praise he received from not only the person he loved but the person he didn’t.

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myrulia · 4 years ago

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"You two are dating?" - Michikatsu x Reader

SECRET DATING HEADCANONS

COLLAB

.｡.:*✧Synopsis: You and Michikatsu are secretly dating in college, mainly to not attract attention from both his brother and a certain horny friend of his. How will you react when you are caught?

.｡.:*✧Warnings: Small smut

.｡.:*✧[A/N]: This is my part of the Secret/Fake dating collab by @httptamaki, a Modern!AU with our favorite Kimetsu No Yaiba twins!

➢ How you two started dating? Well you met back in High School and that’s where things started to prosper

➢ Michikatsu was a generally well known man with your classmates, and even had a few girls crushing on him and his twin brother, Yoriichi, due to their scarily good looks

➢ Both twins were scarily attractive and that intimidated you at first, especially during high school

`` Have you seen the Tsugikuni brothers today?! They look so good! I tried asking Yoriichi out today but his attention was else where! `` You were off somewhere in the corner of a class, speaking with a close friend of yours about something completely unrelated until all eyes were on you, for Michikatsu Tsugikuni approached you.

➢ Obviously, you were surprised - no, appalled at how a Tsugikuni wanted your attention

➢ That was the day he confessed his own little crush on you whilst being on the roof of the school. How could you not accept? You also had taken a liking to the attractive raven haired male and saying no would be similar to jumping off the same roof where you admitted your feelings

➢ That's when worry set in

➢ All types of girls, boys, and theys liked them both, and constantly thirsted over the two while claiming "they're mine!" It was immature to say the least, but entertaining to see their feelings not get reciprocated from one of them

`` What if by saying we are together, they would start attacking me on purpose? Or saying hurtful things out of spite? `` You inquired with worry laced in your tone. Michikatsu took your hand in his, expressing his own idea. `` I know this might not seem like the best idea, but we do not have to openly tell people we are together, it can be our secret. ``

➢ And that's how your secret relationship started

➢ Of course, you had your worries, but seeing as how your relationship even made it to college due to it starting in your senior year of high school, they all simply washed away

➢ It was actually not as hard as you made it out to be to hide your relationship. During your first year of college, you knew not to act too close, but instead as acquaintances who simply knew each other back in high school

➢ Yet, even though some females who also went to high school with you recognized you as the girl who got asked out by Michikatsu, they did not cause any problems surprisingly enough

➢ Now, you're probably asking how you got caught? Oh boy...

➢ During your second year of college, Yoriichi and Michikatsu started living off campus in their own home that you were excited to learn of from your lover who happily shared the news to you when you both were alone in your dorm

➢ Around that same time, Professor Muzan Kibutsuji, the one teacher you loath the most for always favoring other students and failing to hide it, assigned a group project of 5 for your classroom, and to your luck, you were put in a group with not only the twins, but Douma and Shinobu

➢ You were friends with Shinobu, but not so much with Douma. The male would constantly tease you, trying to get your number at any given second while you were put together at a different table to brainstorm ideas for said project

`` Sooo..~ What are we doing for the project hm? Maybe we should exchange numbers so that we can converse more afterwards. `` Douma's suggestion did not go unnoticed by everyone, who automatically knew what he meant by the wink he directed in your attention. Shinobu, who thankfully also hated the male, slapped him silly upside his head.

➢ Michikatsu, who absolutely despised him, always struggled to hide a specific vein that would pulse on his neck that hinted clear signs of aggravation, but unfortunately, you two were just not ready to openly express your relationship

➢ After the class and the slap hurricane Shinobu laid upon Douma, Yoriichi invited the group to their house, and you being excited that you could finally come over, said yes a little too quickly

➢ Thankfully, it did go unnoticed by everyone, so your nerves were relaxed

`` I'd love to, but I have plans with a special lady that weekend, so unfortunately I cannot make it, maybe Shinobu ca- `` ``I cannot make it either, but [Y/N] can and she'll text me the ideas anyways, have fun, `` was all the biology major female said before turning on her heel and leaving swiftly.

➢ Now having plans set in motion, you waited patiently for the weekend to arrive, and when it did, you were beyond ecstatic

➢ That's where everything went down hill

➢ Thanks to the directions messaged to you by Michikatsu, you made it to their estate with no issues. You were nervous and excited at the same time. It was impossible to not feel such ways when this is the first official time you would be in the private space of your boyfriend

➢ He had also given you a key to entering was not a problem, but what you did not expect to see was your boyfriend standing there and waiting for you

`` Yoriichi isn't going to be home this evening, so I figured we could come up with our own project instead, `` Michikatsu said with a fire ablaze in his eyes as he grew closer to you. The gaze itself caused shivers to emit from your spine once your brain registered at what he was suggesting, and you could not lie, the idea had you wet already.

➢ Obviously you and the raven haired male had slept together a plethora amount of times before, most times leaving you sore and having to suck it up and pretend nothing happened during classes while he sat proudly knowing he was the reason

➢ In a matter of seconds you both are now in his bedroom, you beneath him and him leaving butterfly kisses up and down your neck until his lips latch onto yours again, all the while getting you undressed

➢ Let's skip a little ahead because you know what happens here ;)

➢ By time Michikatsu is already balls deep within your wet depths and thrusting into you like no tomorrow, Yoriichi entered around that time with confusion plastered on his face upon hearing banging against a wall as well as another noise he could not quite decipher

➢ The confused twin trailed up the stairs until he knocked onto Michikatsu's room door, expecting an answer but instead all he heard was an audible moan of his brother's name

➢ The poor look on his face once he learns what his brother and his girlfriend is doing

➢ At that point he is fed up of being overheard so he bursts into the room, although he did not think the entire plan through because now he got the open sight of you having your legs wrapped around Michikatsu's waist, his hands interlocked with yours, as well as the evident sight of both your naked and sweaty bodies

➢ Needless to say, he was traumatized

`` Get out and knock!, `` your lover would say as he throws a pillow at the swiftfully exiting male who looked beyond apologetic. `` I did knock! You were too loud! `` At that point you were beyond red, trying to process the entire situation that just unfolded. Your relationship had finally been known.

➢ Michikatsu immediately pulled out of you, cleaning the both of your bodies of any mess (mainly cum and sweat but shh)

➢ Once you both were clean and fully dressed, your boyfriend carried you bridal style out of his bedroom to a certain twin brother that was waiting impatiently in the living room for an explanation as to why he just saw his partner and twin sleeping together

➢ Now, as the three of you were sitting in the living room, you and your lover being even redder than tomatoes, waited for whatever Yoriichi had to say

`` Now, I do not mind if two consenting adults are having one night stands, but can you explain to me as to why you decided to have such loud sex? `` You completely flushed at his explicit words, but also thankful for the fact that he was utterly clueless about your relationship, although it was about time to come clean. `` Yoriichi, I am sorry you had to come home and see that, but there is something we need to tell you..- `` `` You two are dating? ``

➢ Now at that point, you fully died

➢ Seeing as how you have been silent the entire time and left Michikatsu to say everything, you decided to speak up

`` Yes we're together Yoriichi. We have been together for a long time, since high school actually. We've been in a relationship since then and I apologize for not saying anything. ``

➢ Now that the news was out to the one who deserved to know the most, he was much more understanding and even excited about his older brother finding the love of his life

➢ But the next day, things were real embarrassing

➢ You and Michikatsu were extremely silent at your group table during Professor Kibutsuji's class. Obviously Shinobu's observant self took note of this, along with how you did not send her any of the "ideas" you came up with

➢ Shinobu, Douma, and Yoriichi all stared at the two of you, who were now sitting beside each other and being reddened messes at the news you are about to drop on the observers who were starting to get impatient

➢ You've been secretly dating for years and now that the truth is about to come out, it felt gut wrenching to say the least

`` My brother and [Y/N] have something they'd like to say, `` Yoriichi started so that the topic could get a move on and everyone could get a good grade by getting it over with and working on the project. `` Well..- `` said Michikatsu. `` [Y/N] and I are together, and we have been since high school. We were in a secret relationship. ``

➢ Douma being the fucker he is definitely busted out laughing, holding his stomach as tears formed in his eyes

➢ Shinobu on the other hand stared wide eyed, refusing to believe that she could not realize you both were together for such a long time

➢ Although Yoriichi had a proud smile on his face in view of the fact that the news was already out

➢ But due to the prying ears of many around you, some began staring at your table, the secret was now out and you couldn't do anything about it

➢ Even though, you both were happy knowing you no longer had to hide the happiness you two brought each other, as well as now Michikatsu does not have to worry about Yoriichi anymore, for now he will fuck you if he feels like it, give you attention if he feels like it, and get attention himself if he feels like it.

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

#Secret Dating Collab #kokushibou #kny kokushibou #kokushibo x reader #kny imagines #kny x reader #demon slayer kokushibou #kokushibou smut #kokushibou headcanons #kny kokushibou fluff #kny kokushibou x reader #kny Kokushibou headcanons #demon slayer fluff #demon slayer headcanons #demon slayer #kny

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thefanficmonster · 3 years ago

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Few Too Many

Corpse Husband x Reader (Female)

Warnings: Swearing, In-game violence and death, Suggestive comments

Genre: Protective fluff, Humor, RPF (Real Person Fic)

Summary: Jealousy is a dangerous thing, especially when the jealous person is armed with a gun....in a game of Counter Strike. At least Y/N’s friend will now know not to mess around and flirt with her, especially not with Corpse around.

Requested by 🐐 Anon. Hi dear! Thank you so much for your request! Sorry it’s taken me so long to complete and post your request but here it finally is! I didn’t want to make it IRL violence to avoid triggering anyone while I also felt it’d be very ooc for Corpse to beat someone up but I still hope you enjoy the fic if you come across it and read it! Love, Vy ❤

“Hey everyone!“ Y/N greets her squad as they all customize their characters while I sit there, observing and unknowing of what I’m supposed to do. “I invited Corpse to play with us today, hope y’all don’t mind.”

“Of course not! Nice to finally meet you, Corpse. We’ve heard a ton about you from Y/N, thanks for making our girl the happiest she’s ever been.“ One of her friends says, the tone of his voice suggesting he’s only half-joking with the dad like comment he made.

“Nice to meet you too, man. Glad I’m the one she gave the chance of making her happy. That’s all I ever wanna do.“ Though it may sound cheesy, as guys, her friends can probably read into how genuinely I mean what I’ve said.

Dating a girl with only guy friends has it’s pros and cons. Which outweigh which is still up for debate since I’m still researching, but so far so good in my opinion. This is the first time I’m interacting with them directly so I’ve still got a long way to go in terms of getting to know them and the details of their relationship with Y/N better. Regardless, I at least know they can easily understand me and put themselves in my shoes if I ever ‘mess things up’ with Y/N and she goes to complain to them - something that will most likely never happen. I’d never dare make this girl upset. Chances are, if I do, her friends won’t get to me on time - I would deliver my own punishment just the way I think I deserve it. However, there’s also the chance of them getting super protective of her and ganging up on me over something as small as a fight. By the many things and stories Y/N’s shared with me about them, I believe they wouldn’t think twice about kicking someone’s ass for her. They’re not massive dudes - I’ve seen pictures of them - but I for one don’t ever wanna see em angry.

“Ay bro, what’d you do to score our best girl? You must know what she likes. If so please, by all means, do tell.“ One of them, not the one who was previously talking, speaks up, his words making me furrow my brows in both confusion and irritation.

I open my mouth to complain as I slowly start cracking my knuckles when Y/N and her friends beat me to it. Thing is, Y/N’s friend group consists of three guys and her and yet four voices scolded the guy that made that suggestive comment. That being said, this guy probably isn’t considered to be one of her friends, at least not one that’s a permanent part of her friend group.

“Seth, cut it out!“ The guy I was previously speaking to says sharply before softening his tone to refer to me, “Sorry about my brother, excuse his lack of brain cells, please.“

Just then, I also receive a message from someone. Checking my phone, turns out it’s Y/N who by the way is currently in the living room while I’m in the recording room. Her text reads:

Y/N ~ Ignore Seth. I told Leo to not invite him but he’s still here somehow

I send her back a quick reassuring text before answering the guy I now know is named Leo, “No worries, it’s fine.”

“See? The guy can take a joke, you’re all just freaking out over nothing!“ Seth laughs, reminding me and the others of how loud he is compared to us.

Despite acting like it’s no big deal, I can’t help but admit to myself that this behavior of Seth’s has awoken a deeply buried suspicion of mine that’s not only mine but also arises in every guy whose girlfriend hangs out with a lot of guys. It’s not that I don’t trust Y/N - she could literally blindfold me and tell me to walk through a pool of lava, promising it wouldn’t hurt and I’d do it - but we all know about that saying that every guy in a group with one girl has liked said girl at least once.

Disturbing to think these four, including Seth five, dudes could’ve possibly been my competition at some point. It’s nice that they’re all super chill about it, mostly cause some of them have girlfriends as I was told.

Nevertheless, we get over that hiccup and carry on with the small talk and preparations for the game. Since it’s my first time playing CSGO, Y/N, Leo and her other friend Clancy explain the mechanics to me in detail to avoid me getting confused mid-game and getting myself killed. When they finish, we start the round and wait for the game’s algorithm to separate us into two teams which Y/N jokingly refers to as cops and robbers. Unfortunately, the end result of that separation ends up being me getting put in the terrorists’ force with Leo and Clancy while Y/N’s with the FBI, partnered with Seth and her other friend Evan.

“Alright, team, we shall now disperse. Corpse, remember, if you see more than one of them, radio in and lay low, we’ll be with you as soon as possible.“ Leo informs me as he runs off in one direction, Clancy going in the opposite. I confirm I understand and go along my way too, heading for this ancient looking structure that looks like it could belong in an old-timey movie.

Walking in, I realize the place is way bigger than it appeared on the outside. A quick look up confirms that there are three fucking floors above, not to mention that the ground floor is huge. Luckily, there are many crates and barrels to hide behind if I come across an FBI agent. I sure as hell hope it’s Y/N, I could maybe even try talking her into giving me a second chance at life and pretend she never saw me. Come to think of it though, I’d probably prefer getting killed by her rather than her friends - especially Seth.

Given that we’re in a Discord call, I can hear all the conversation going on. They are all quiet though, I can just periodically hear the mumbles of someone muttering to themselves as they navigate the map cautiously out of fear of running into their opponent unprepared. The silence is put to an end though when Seth speaks up, addressing Y/N.

“Yo, your boyfriend’s with the terrorists, ain’t he? That’s like the universe giving you a sign that y’all shouldn’t be together.“ The fucker laughs at his own joke while I can literally hear Y/N rolling her eyes.

“Have you heard of Romeo and Juliet, Seth?“ She asks sarcastically, almost getting a chuckle out of me but I suppress it to avoid getting caught listening in.

“Yeah, they both die at the end. Fucking boooriiinngg.“ Just then, I spot two silhouettes entering the building. Aiming my gun at them reveals their names - just the people I’m currently involuntarily eavesdropping on. Seth and Y/N don’t notice me though so I quickly duck behind a crate and prepare to radio in when Seth continues verbally torturing Y/N and dancing on my last nerves, “I personally think the friends-to-lovers trope is far more interesting...“

Did this guy just- no, he’s gotta be fucking kidding me

I’m left with my jaw hanging in disbelief at this guy’s audacity. I have no doubt Y/N’s about to put him in his place herself but I just gotta have my own chat with this guy. And by ‘chat’ I mean I mindlessly rush out from behind the crate towards where I saw him and Y/N and open fire on him. I hear his startled and upset screams with Y/N’s laughter in the background. She doesn’t try to stop me as a teammate of his should and would, instead she just observes the scene unfold, laughing her ass off.

“Yo man what the fuck was that for?!“ I hear Seth’s yell but only faintly since the sound of gunshots is still echoing through my headphones. Yeah, I’m not done shooting this fucker.

“Corpse...Corpse, buddy...“ Y/N manages through fits of laughter she cannot tame, “That’s a few too many bullets, he’s already dead.”

“And that was a few too many comments for him to be let off the hook.” I answer as sharply as I can with the new-formed smile on my face. What can I say, her happiness is contagious.

“Well, you got your first kill in CSGO. Good job, babe! I’m super proud of you!” She cheers for me, clapping her hands excitedly.

“Nah that was my first overkill.“ I quickly add, with a more threatening tone: “And it won’t be my last.”

“Let’s just hope there aren’t few too many of these overkills either.“ She snickers.

“That doesn’t depend on me, babe.“ I say smugly, suggestively enough for Seth to pick up the dropped hint. Mother fucker’s officially been put in his place and I couldn’t possibly be happier - with the added bonus of getting a ton of laughter out of Y/N who also decides to walk away, leaving me unharmed but promising to shoot to kill next time she sees me.

I’m ok with that. She could kill me anyday.

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arvinsescape · 4 years ago

Text

Meet mum.

A/N: I do not think Nikki would be like this. Written for entertainment purposes only. As always hope you enjoy! I only changed the setting of the request.

Based on this request: Hey I was wondering if You could do a Tom imagine where he brings the reader home to meet his parents and brothers but his mum don’t like her and judges her but Tom gets angry and sticks up for her ect.

Warnings: Language.

W/C: 2.5K. Wow how’d this get so long?

To say you were nervous too meet Tom’s family was an understatement. The only member of his family that you had officially met was his brother Harry, who you got on with really well. You were going to a restaurant in town, completely Tom’s idea, he was adamant that it was time you met the rest of his family and you were excited but also nervous.

You finished up getting ready and made your way downstairs were Tom and Harry were waiting.

“Sorry, I just needed to finish my hair off. It wasn’t cooperating.” You said as Tom grabbed his keys, wallet and jacket. He moved towards, placing a swift kiss to your cheek.

“That’s alright darling, we’ve got loads of time. You look beautiful by the way.”

“You look so nervous Y/N! Lighten up, my family are amazing, I’d say you’ve met the worst of us when you met Tom.” Harry laughed as he took in your tense posture.

“Oi! Don’t start already, you only get worse when Sam is with you.” Tom laughed as he gave Harry a light slap to the back of the head. “He’s right though love, they’re lovely, they’ll love you.” Tom reassured you with a smile as he grabbed your hand and you all made your way to the car.

The drive to the restaurant was quite relaxed, making your nerves die down slightly and you mostly had Harry to thank for that. He was consistently making jokes in order to settle your nerves. As you pulled up you realised that you were the first ones to arrive, having not spotted anyone else’s car. You made your way in, taking your seats at the large table, looking at all the empty seats, reminded you just how big Tom’s family was, and the nerves came back quicker than they’d settled.

“Sorry I’m late! Didn’t finish work on time!” A voice pulled you from your thoughts. You looked at the male as he approached the table, this was Harry’s twin Sam, that much was obvious. “You must be Y/N! I’ve heard a ridiculous amount about you.” Sam teased as he pulled you into a hug. “Sam, the better twin and superior brother.” He joked as he punched Tom’s arm before hugging him too. Okay maybe this wouldn’t be so bad.

“This is going to be a long dinner then?” Tom groaned as he watched the twins greet each other. You engaged in small conversation as you waited for his parents and final brother to arrive. It wasn’t too long after that they did. Paddy making his way over first.

“Hey guys!” Paddy said as he approached the table, taking a seat next to Sam.

“You won’t get a hug from him Y/N. He’s a typical teenage boy, I’m sure stuff like this has inconvenienced his night somehow.” Harry laughed as he watched Paddy pull his phone from his pocket.

“Shut up Harry! You were a teenager once you know. Hi Y/N, it’s nice to finally meet you.” Paddy said as he offered you a small smile.

“Where’s mum and dad?” Tom asked as he furrowed his brows.

“Dad was parking the car and mum went straight to the loo, they won’t be long.” Paddy answered, more interested in his phone than the conversation. You laughed at his typical teenage response to social events, reminding you of how you were at that age. Just after he’d said it you watched another man arrive at the table, presumably Tom’s dad.

“Y/N, this is my dad Dom. Dad this is Y/N” Tom said as he got up to hug his dad. You stood up as well extending your hand for him to shake unsure of what he would have expected as a first response, a hug would be too much maybe?

“It’s nice too meet you.” You said shyly. Dom laughed as he pulled you into a hug, startling you at first.

“We’re huggers if you hadn’t already gathered. Well, everyone except Paddy, he needs a couple years.” Dom laughed as he let go of you and took his seat next to Paddy. Tom grabbed your hand under the table, giving it a small squeeze to reassure you that this was going well.

“Paddy how many times do I have to tell you, it’s rude to be on your phone at the table.” A woman’s voice suddenly interrupted the light conversation. You looked up at Tom’s mum, she was beautiful. Paddy groaned before shoving his phone back into his pocket. “Hi Tom.” His mum said as she hugged him, she eyed you up and down, before mumbling a quick ‘hi’ and sitting down in the final seat. Your nerves were back, had you done something to offend her?

Tom cleared his throat awkwardly before engaging in conversation with Sam. Harry leant over towards you. “Ignore her, she can be like that sometimes, she’ll snap out of it.” Harry whispered as he gave you a reassuring smile.

You all ordered after five minutes and light chatter, started out amongst the table. As the starters were served, Dom switched the attention to you, which in hindsight, you really wish he hadn’t.

“So, Y/N? What do you do for work? Tom’s told us a lot about you but at the same time not all that much.” He laughed.

“Yeah it’s cause he’s always talking about how pretty she is.” Paddy mumbled as he stuffed his fork into his mouth, Tom’s cheeks burned red as he mumbled a ‘fuck off’ in his brothers’ direction. Paddy laughed at him before adding. “Not that he’s wrong! I didn’t mean that in a bad way, it’s just all he usually talks about when you come up in conversation.” Paddy stumbled over his words as he thought he may have caused offence, you laughed, again being reminded of when you were an awkward teenager and thinking anything you said would be taken as offence.

“I’m a book editor. I’m hoping to move into script editing because I think that’d be more fun but for now, I’m with the books.” You answered confidently as you smiled at Dom. Your smile faltered as you heard a scoff come from Nikki’s direction. Tom eyed her carefully before he cleared his throat and spoke up.

“Yeah, it’s great. She gets to travel with me a lot because she doesn’t have to go into a workplace to do her job.” Tom said as he finished his starter. Shortly after they were cleared. Tom took your hand again under the table, interlocking your fingers.

“That’s great! How long have you been doing that?” Dom asked, taking a sip of his drink.

“About three years, I graduated at 21 and got straight into it.”

“Ah, so you’re the same age as Tom then?” Sam asked.

“Yeah, he’s a couple months older than me.”

“So how did you meet? Like I say Tom has told us a lot about you but at the same time nothing at all.”

“We met in a pub actually.” You laughed as you recalled the memory. “I wasn’t sure Tom would remember talking to me let alone remember he’d taken my number. He was really drunk.” You teased as Tom went red again. Everyone laughed except for Nikki, who eyed you in a way that made you feel quite small all of a sudden.

“So, did you know who he was then? When you gave him your number?” She asked in an accusatory tone.

“I mean yeah, I’ve seen all the marvel films, so I did know who he was, but that didn’t really matter to me. I liked Tom for Tom.” You answered carefully.

“I’m sure you did.” She said as she gave you a sarcastic smile before sipping her drink.

“Mum.” Tom groaned before squeezing your hand that was still in his.

“What? I’m just making small talk.” She answered as Sam and Harry rolled their eyes. Paddy shifted awkwardly in his seat as he watched the conversation unfold. Luckily the main course arrived to settle the tension.

“So are you hoping to get into script editing through Tom’s career.” Nikki asked. Dom choked on his drink out of shock as you dropped your fork back onto your plate. The question completely taking you off guard. Tom’s hand found your thigh as you saw him tense next to you.

“You don’t have to answer that Y/N.” Sam said as he smiled at you.

“No, it’s okay. That’s not how I’m hoping to get into script editing. I’ve been applying for different companies for a while now, before I met Tom actually, I just haven’t had any luck.” You answered as your eyes met hers.

“But surely you would have hoped Tom’s career would help if you haven’t had luck.” She sneered.

“Nikki.” Dom hissed.

“No that’s not it at all.” You answered, slightly offended. You knew what she was implying but it wasn’t true. You could make your own way in the world.

“We’ll see.” Nikki said as she continued to eat. The atmosphere around the table had shifted dramatically it was incredibly awkward now.

After you had finished your mains, things hadn’t got much better. Everyone was engaging in small talk, but no one dared shift the attention back towards you. Well, for a while anyway.

“That’s a nice necklace.” Nikki suddenly said out of nowhere. You clutched the necklace that was around your neck, it suddenly felt very heavy around your neck.

“It’s from-“

“Tom? Yeah I’d have guessed. Is it real gold?”

“Yeah but-“

“Of course it is.” She sneered as she rolled her eyes at you. You suddenly felt like this wasn’t going anywhere and you felt the tears brewing in your eyes. You excused yourself from the table, finding your way into the bathroom.

“What the fuck was that?” Tom asked his mum as his nostrils flared.

“Don’t swear Tom.” Nikki replied. Paddy was eyeing the exit at this point. He knew it wasn’t going to end well.

“Okay, sorry for my language. My question still wants an answer. What. Was. That?” He asked through gritted teeth. He’d never in his entire life felt so angry with his mum. He looked at his dad who just offered him a small smile.

“I don’t know what you mean. I was just making conversation.”

“No, you weren’t. You were being rude. Why?”

“I’m just making sure she’s good enough for you.” Nikki answered her son, honestly.

“By making her look like a money grabbing, opportunity seeking bitch?” Tom fired back. Trying to keep his anger under control. He didn’t want to cause a scene in the middle of a restaurant. Nikki just shrugged and he felt some of his anger spill over.

“That’s not fair mum! I pursued her! She hasn’t once asked me to help her further her career, in fact she’s very careful to try and keep herself distant from what I do and what she wants to do. That necklace you felt the need to point out, came from her grandma, it was left to her after her grandma passed away. Something her granddad bought for her grandma. But of course, you’d have known that had you let her speak. I am so beyond angry with you right now, mum. You had no right to speak to her like that, you don’t know her, I do. I’m also a little offended that you take me for someone who can fooled. I get it you want to protect your kids, but you can’t treat people like that. You need to give her another chance, because I love her, and your little show tonight won’t change that.” Tom felt some of his anger dissipating. His brothers and dad looked at him, almost as if they were proud?

Nikki’s expression dropped at her son’s words. She suddenly felt immensely guilty. Tom was right, she’d taken it too far and judged the poor girl without giving her a chance.

“I’m sorry Tom.” Nikki said sincerely trying to meet her son’s eyes.

“Not me you should be apologising to.” Tom crossed his arms as he refused to meet his mum’s gaze.

“Your right.” Nikki swallowed as she got up from her seat.

“I swear if you’re on your way to upset her again, I’m going home.” Tom called after his mum as she made her way into the bathroom. He sighed as he looked at his dad.

“I know your angry son and I know she had no right. But forgive her yeah? She had your best interests at heart even if she went about that the wrong way.” Dom said as he offered his son a reassuring smile.

“I know. It just upset me that she treated her like that.”

You’d managed to stop the tears and you were splashing your face with cold water trying to get rid of the redness in your face. Would Tom believe you if you said you weren’t feeling well and let you go home? No, then you’d be taking him away from his family. You were pulled from your thoughts as another person joined you in the bathroom. You didn’t look at them, didn’t want to draw attention to your tear stained face.

“Y/N? I’m sorry.” You heard you were shocked as you turned around to see Nikki. You didn’t say anything, not wanting to upset her further.

“I mean it. I’m sorry. I just get so protective of him you know. He has had girlfriends like that in the past and I’m just scared someone will take advantage of him again. I know I shouldn’t treat him like he’s naive, but I can’t help it sometimes. I’m truly sorry for the way I have treated you tonight. It was unfair of me to judge you when I don’t know you.” She said as she smiled at you. You sighed as you took in her words.

“Look, I get it. I get that you want to protect him but I’m not like that I swear. I really do love Tom for Tom. I’d love him whatever he did for a living.” You said sincerely. Nikki smiled as she pulled you into a hug. You hugged back.

“Okay, let’s get you cleaned up. Let’s start again?” She asked you hopefully.

“I’d like that.” You mumbled as she helped you fix your appearance. You made your way back to the table Tom, instantly standing and pulling you into a hug.

“Are you okay? Did she upset you again?” Tom whispered protectively into your ear. “Tell me if she has, we’ll go if that’s what you want.”

“It’s okay Tom. She apologised. We’re going to start again. I get were she was coming from in a way.” You whispered back as he squeezed you tighter.

“Doesn’t make it right.” He mumbled and you hummed in agreement before whispering “let it go, okay,” kissing his cheek before you both sat back down. He didn’t let go of your hand all night. The rest of night went by without any more awkwardness, in fact when you left, you’d argue that you and Nikki had gotten quite close. Tom let his anger towards his mum disappear over the course of the night and when you all left to go home you made plans to do the same again next week and everyone left far happier and content than when they’d arrived.

#tom holland #tom holland imagine #tom holland one shot #tom holland x reader #tom holland fluff #tom holland angst #tom holland x y/n

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rotworld · 3 years ago

Text

1: Hellhound

you get an unexpected visitor on the night of a hunt.

->explicit. contains gore, murder, feral behavior, very ambiguous consent (consent not explicitly given but you have a good time), and knotting.

Molly says there’ll be a hunt tonight.

You’re visiting the village market together when she suddenly stops in the middle of the road, the evening crowd parting around her. Her hands tremble at her sides, her head turned towards the sky. “Do you feel that?” she whispers. “That heat? That prickle in the air? Like a storm, but I know it’s not. They’re coming. Herbs—you need herbs. Can’t be out late.” You don’t feel anything but you take her word for it. They call her Mad Molly, but only when you aren’t around to smack some sense into them. Not just anyone survives being stranded outside on the night of a hunt. You’d like to see them try.

“How do you tell the difference?” you ask her. “Between a storm and a hunt?”

Molly taps her nose. “The smell,” she says. “Storms are wet. Earth and sky. Hunts are something else. Try and see.”

You close your eyes and take a deep breath. Crisp autumn air fills your lungs. You smell the savory aroma of meat pies, the musk of herbs, the sharp scent of pickled vegetables, but nothing like what Molly describes. You trip on an uneven patch of road and she catches you, snickering. Somehow, she’s still twice as graceful as you, even without her eyes.

Dusk settles in the sky by the time you reach Molly’s. She gives you a basketful of herbs from her garden, flowering purple stalks of betony and clary sage. “Put the dill and rosemary over your door. The betony, you’ll want that once the night’s through. Clary sage is for the eyes, but you knew that already.” She sends you off with a stern reminder, “Stay inside. Lock your doors. And don’t get in their way.” She taps the side of her face, the whorls of scar tissue where her eyes used to be. “But don’t be scared,” she says quietly. “They can be surprisingly gentle.”

It’s a long trek home from Molly’s, back through the woods and the village square. The shadows are long and the sky dim. Children chase each other, chickens run loose, and a couple of persistent women haggle with the butcher for cured meats. But when the church bells toll, everything changes. Fear grips the market. People scatter like frightened animals. Stalls are hastily abandoned, artisan goods trampled in the streets. Doors slam and windows are shuttered. A town crier rings his hand bell and shouts to be heard over the commotion. He, too, is running. “Hear ye, hear ye! The hounds come to hunt this eve!” You catch glimpses through the stampede, fur like night sky and eyes like burning coals. The beasts come pouring from dark places, shaking the clinging shadows from their coats. You smell ash and sulfur, see the heat haze fizzling around their claws. The howling starts. You’ve never run so fast in your life.

They’re everywhere, slinking through the alleys and prowling between the trees. You see them watching, waiting, their gazes burning into you as you pass. You wonder if this is how sheep feel under the scrutiny of herd dogs. The crowd thins the further you go from town until you’re alone in the woods, sprinting for the soft glow of a lantern left outside your front door. You’re breathless when you stumble inside, hunched over, legs aching. You realize, belatedly, that you lost your basket of herbs somewhere in the chaos, but you’ll manage without. All you need right now is some tea.

The water is just starting to boil when you hear an ungodly commotion, a wet sound, a clattering, banging and screaming. It takes you a moment to come out from beneath your table and realize someone is knocking frantically at your door, begging for help. “Please, please help me, please I don’t, I don’t want to die, please—!”

Cautiously, you peer through the foggy glass. You can just make out a young man standing there. You open the door and the sight of him churns your stomach. Vicious claw marks cut through one side of his face, leaving the flesh mangled and hanging limp. That wet sound is the splatter of blood every time he moves, dribbling from his face and his hands. The hounds will smell that, clamor for a taste of it. “I didn’t know,” he sobs. “I’m not from here, I didn’t—I had no idea what it meant! The bells started ringing and everyone ran, and I—I don’t have anywhere to go!”

You let him in. He comes stumbling through and collapses, sinking to his knees against the wall. His cloak is torn and the clothes underneath ragged, everything saturated with blood. The first thing you do is clean the wound and cover him in gauze and bandages, anything to staunch the flow and cover the metallic scent. He croaks miserably, pale as death. You aren’t sure he’ll make it through the night, but you’ll do what you can.

“The bells mean there’s a hunt on,” you tell him, sopping up a red, watery mess oozing from his chin. It makes little difference now, but if it were you, you’d want to know. “The hounds are just doing their job, hunting for monsters and infernal things. But we have to be careful. They’ll attack anything that gets between them and their prey, and blood excites them.”

“Monsters?” the young man says weakly. “Infernal things? What does that mean?”

You shrug. “I’ve never seen one. It’s just what I’ve heard.”

“Then how do you even know it’s true? What if they’re just running amok out there, killing whoever they want?”

“I just know,” you insist. It’s a common rumor whispered around the village; humans are the real prey. The stories of monsters are just to keep them obedient, never getting in the way of a hunt. But Molly told you it’s not like that. She said she saw something. The hounds, she whispered, weren’t what took her eyes.

“Doesn’t that scare you?” the young man presses. “Not knowing what a monster even looks like? Whether or not you’d recognize one if you saw it?” Thin, bony fingers wrap around your wrist. He has claws, you realize, your heart skipping a beat. “It should,” he purrs. His teeth are inhumanly sharp. Eyes flutter open and shut along the uninjured side of his face, yellow and glowing like a creature of the night. He stands, suddenly steady on his feet. Your blood runs cold as you understand that his corpse-like complexion is natural. More hands unfold from beneath his tattered cloak and slam you back against the wall.

“Let me go,” you say quickly, a frightened tremor sneaking into your words.

The monster you let into your home leans in close, smirking. A long, forked tongue slithers along your jaw. “I don’t think so,” he hisses. “I’m staying until sunrise. If the hounds come, you will send them away. If you don’t…” His jaw cracks at the joints, unhinging, his mouth opening even wider revealing a maw lined with rows upon rows of teeth. “Then there will be nothing left of you come morning.” Just like that, he drops you, watching you squirm on the floor with cold amusement. “Get up,” he says. “We have to prepare.” He doesn’t wait for you to begin shoving furniture against your door, lifting the heavy oak table as though it weighs nothing. You slowly climb to your feet and stand there, paralyzed.

“It won’t work,” you say.

He stops, dropping a chair and letting it clatter loudly to the floor. You regret speaking when those eyes flutter open in shut again, fixing you with an unnerving glare. Silently, he slinks towards you, backing you into a corner. “It will,” he says lowly. “You’ll turn them away or you’ll die. It’s that simple.”

You swallow a ball of cold, hard dread stopping up your throat. He doesn’t understand. There is no turning away a hound. A long howl cuts through the silence and you both look at the door. Another howl rises in answer, much closer than the first. A glow like distant fire burns in the woods. The monster grabs you with three hands and shoves you closer to the door. It stands behind you, draped against your back with a claw pressed threateningly against your throat. You hear a beast’s trotting steps, leaves crunching along the path to your home. A large silhouette looms outside. There’s sniffing, and then a low growl. Something scrapes against your front door.

“Huuuuuman,” comes a low, velvety purr. It almost sounds like a man, distinctly masculine but with a deep, animalistic rumble coloring every sound. “I see you standing there. Good evening.”

“G...good evening,” you manage to stammer through the shock and fear. You had no idea hounds could speak. You can’t make out a face, canid or otherwise, but you see his eyes glowing in the dark, red and blazing.

“I smell something delicious,” the hound says. “May I come in? I think you might have an uninvited guest and not even know it.”

You take too long to reply. You hear the sound of flesh peeling, the monster’s jaw unhinging behind your head, and scramble to force out the words, “There’s no one here but me!”

The hound lowers itself. You hear more sniffing, see unnatural shadows swirling beneath your door and seeping into the house. “Are you certain, human?” the hound says. “I’m not often wrong.”

“I’m sure,” you say, as firmly as you can with hot saliva dribbling on your shoulders. You hear one last frustrated, sniff, a huff, and then the hound’s footstep’s retreating as he slinks back the way he came. Neither you nor the monster can quite believe it at first, remaining perfectly still until the fiery glow dissipates and everything is dark outside. The next howl is far, far away.

“Good,” the monster mutters, sounding nearly as exhausted as you feel. He shoves you away and begins throwing anything else he can find into the barricade. “Now help me with this—”

He smells it only a second before you do. Sulfur. Burning. Hellfire. The unearthly glow sparks to life right outside your door once again. Time slows to a crawl as the monster turns, looking back at you with a snarl frozen on his half-mangled face. All of his eyes open wide and you hear just the beginning of a frightened whimper before flames erupt from the barricade. The fire is red like blood and the force of it bursting through knocks the monster back, sending him sprawling to the ground where it circles him, engulfs him like a living thing and eats him alive.

You can’t tear your eyes away as the flames take the shape of the biggest dog you’ve ever seen, wolf-like and ferocious, one massive paw on the monster’s chest as its maw tears his belly open and rips into his guts. The terrible, sharp stench of death seemingly burns away, overpowered by cleansing smoke and fire. The screams will haunt you for the rest of your life.

When you come back to your senses, the inferno has disappeared. Rings of scorch marks are seared into the floor around a charred corpse so horribly mutilated you couldn’t begin to guess at what it once was. A man crouches over it, licking his bloodied lips. You know he’s the hound. His wild hair writhes with shadows and the fire is still burning in his eyes. He turns to you, stands to his full height, and you fight to keep your gaze respectfully above his collarbones as you realize he’s completely naked. He takes a step towards you. You take two stumbling back.

“I didn’t want to get in your way,” you say, helpless. If he decides to kill you, there’s nothing you can do. “He told me to lie to you. He threatened me.”

“Lucky for you, you’re a terrible liar,” the hound sneers. He stalks towards you like you’re prey, a snarl pulling at the corner of his lips exposing the teeth that just tore the monster apart. “Did no one ever teach you not to open your door to strangers on the night of a hunt?”

“I didn’t know!” Any further excuses die on your tongue when he shoves you, barely more than a gentle push on his part but it knocks you to the ground. He’s on you before you can squirm away and you realize suddenly just how big he is. He’s enormous, a good head taller, all rippling muscle and faded scars. And he’s—you don’t look, but you can feel that he’s hard. His cock twitches where it’s nestled between your bodies, smearing precum on your clothes. “Please don’t...don’t hurt me.”

“I’m not going to,” he says, but it certainly stings a bit when he rakes his claws down your body and shreds through your clothes. He ignores your protests as he shoves the fabric aside and then his hands are on you. He has claws like the monster, but even thicker and more frightening. Somehow, they barely graze you even as he caresses your skin. You flinch when he leans in suddenly, but he doesn’t bite you. He’s smelling you, you realize. His nose grazes the hollow of your throat and he licks you, a rumble building in his chest. “This is what I smelled,” he murmurs.

You don’t understand. He doesn’t bother to explain, either, but he pulls back far enough to meet your eyes. You expect him to reek of sulfur, but without the fire, there’s only the lingering scent of the forest. His gaze wanders your body and he presses his hand against your chest, right over your pounding heart.

“I want you,” he purrs. “I’m going to have you.” You nod shakily. What are you going to do, fight him about it? You just watched him burn his way into your house and kill somebody in a flurry of fire and entrails. “Turn over. Let me taste what’s mine.” You hesitate. He doesn’t ask twice. You’re flipped unceremoniously onto your stomach, breath catching in your throat when he tugs your hips higher.

You feel his breath, scalding like chimney air, against your sex. The wet press of his tongue on your flesh makes you flinch and whimper. It’s hotter than you expected. The warmth is just shy of painful. You bury your face in your arms, face heating in embarrassment, as he laps at your sex like he’s starving for it, saliva dribbling down his chin. You find yourself shivering, moving back against his face, whining when his hands catch your hips and hold you in place.

You think that growl is pleased, almost affectionate. He adjusts his position ever so slightly, his thumbs pressing into tender flesh to spread you open. And then his tongue is inside of you. You cry out in shock, the sensation foreign and overwhelming. It’s like nothing you’ve ever experienced before. His tongue is long and thick, twisting inside of you, opening you wider as he makes encouraging sounds. “That’s it,” he hisses, licking a lazy circle around your entrance. “That’s it, human. Let me in.”

It’s not long before you’re shivering in his grasp, gasping, even begging. You hear a chuckle, feel his tongue leave you empty and wanting. “You’re ready,” he murmurs. You hear a slick sound. His hand on his cock, maybe, but you don’t get the chance to look and see. His claws land heavily on your head, shoving your face into the floor. He’s going to fuck you like an animal. The thought drifts almost absently through your head as he mounts you, blankets your back with his body and begins rutting his hips against you. His length, hot and pulsing, shoves between your thighs in teasing thrusts, letting you feel how thick he is. What can only be a knot drags against your sex, the friction making you whine. “Do you want me, human?” he growls. “Do you hunger as I do?”

You make a noise, something humiliating, needy, more animal than human. It’s exactly what he wants. With a playful bite to the nape of your neck, he presses his cockhead against you. He pushes slowly, patiently, his hands smoothing along your sides. You hear him speaking against your skin, rumbling into the side of your neck or your shoulder. The words are low and indistinct but you feel the intent behind them, the desire in every sound. “Fuck me,” you beg him. He makes a bestial sound and with a harsh, forward motion, spears you on his cock.

It’s blinding, the pain and the pressure, but it’s so good, so filling. Your fingers scrabble over the floor with nothing to hold onto. The hound rocks his hips, driving into you harder and faster, building a rhythm that makes you see stars. “Fuck, just like that,” he pants against your ear. “You take me like you were made for me.” He sinks deeper and your eyes roll back in your head. You can feel him in your stomach, can see the bulge of him through your skin. It’s impossible to hold your voice in, every thrust dragging a yelp or a whimper from your lips. “Don’t hold back,” he growls, nipping at your ear. “Scream for me. I want my brothers to hear you. I want the whole village to know you’re mine.”

You won’t last long, and neither will he. The exhaustion of the night catches up with you, the primal terror, the relief, the lust burning in your veins. You feel the hound losing rhythm as he loses himself to his frenzy, groaning and growling, driving into you with bruising thrusts. He tries to force his knot inside of you and it won’t fit, you’re sure it won’t. You try to tell him it won’t and he makes a truly inhuman sound, a laugh and a bark and a roar all at once. One of his claws lands on your head again, keeping you trapped and still as he rotates his hips and pushes harder, fucks you harder, drives his cock as deep inside as he can get.

The sound is small. The muted, wet pop of something locking into place. But the sensations are too much, too good, too painful. The force of your orgasm nearly leaves you unconscious. You feel him cum, hear him let out a long moan as his hips move in frantic little thrusts against your ass. He stuff you full and collapses on top of you, his legs hooked inside of yours. You gasp for breath as he keeps rutting, still riding the high of his climax. You smell blood. You feel his jaw come unclamped from the space between your neck and shoulder, his tongue lapping gently at the wound.

He shifts slightly and your hips are dragged with him, the pull on your insides making you wince. “Sorry. We won’t be going anywhere for a while,” he murmurs, nuzzling into your hair. He soothes you with a hand along your side, peppering kisses between your shoulders. “Hunt’s not over. I’ll have to leave as soon as I’m able. Are you well? I didn’t hurt you?”

You don’t feel terrible, all things considered. There’s a deep soreness that might bring regret in the morning, but mostly you’re content. His heat, the fire at the core of his being, dampens the worst of the pain. There must be some magic at work. You can’t believe he’s still inside you. “I’m okay,” you say slowly.

“Good.” The hound nuzzles his face against you, taking in your scent again. You could almost call the behavior affectionate or gentle, a stark difference from how he fucked you earlier.

Molly’s words come back to you, the strange little smile on her face. You have some questions for her in the morning.

#rotpeach writes #teratotober #i know theres a lot of overlap with werewolf tropes in this #so i'll do my best to make the werewolf day even more intense! :>

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whythinktoomuch · 4 years ago

Text

recovered in time

(pt. i)

“From what I can tell, the implant seems to be interrupting the connection between your visual cortex and your emotional center,” Brainy says, eyes narrowed in concentration, two fingers pressed against the incision point at the base of Kara’s neck. “As well as inhibiting your frontal lobe and sending distress signals to the amygdala.”

“What does that mean?” Kara asks.

“It means that... you weren’t feeling like yourself,” Alex says, and Kara nods hesitantly at that.

“So, can you rid of it or not?” Alex asks, fixing Brainy with her most hardened stare.

“I’ve already determined five different ways to extract the device—”

“Great! So, we can—”

“—but none that wouldn’t immediately prove fatal or result in permanent brain damage.”

Eventually, Alex releases a long-suffering, shuddery sigh. “... You could have fucking led with that.”

“I did feel like myself though...” Kara interjects, suspending what was surely about to result in another very unproductive argument. “And I still feel like myself now. It’s just...” She ducks her head, fiddling with the sleeves of her shirt, already frayed from anxious attention. “... I felt so alone? Like, I’d been abandoned, or was suddenly in a world where I’d lost everyone all at once. Again.”

Kara shifts uncomfortably in her seat, now able to feel everyone’s eyes on her, burning holes into her skin. She has long since traded in her super-suit for comfy clothes, and her scarf has been upgraded to a pair of heat vision resistant blackout goggles, but it would take more than 24 measly hours for her to adjust to, well... everything.

“You’re not alone though,” Alex says, giving Kara’s knee a firm squeeze as if in reminder. “You know that, right?”

Kara rubs at her nose, sniffling herself back into some semblance of composure. “Yeah, I know.”

But of course, knowing something hardly ever outstrips the feeling of it, and Kara kinda just wishes that she still had Lena’s scarf on her.

“Hey Lena,” Kara calls out softly from the bed. She doesn’t lift her head from her pillow, but still offers a small wave in greeting.

“What gave me away?” Lena asks, and it’s almost playful, which makes everything that much easier.

“Well... Pretty much everything, actually.”

“Ah.”

Then the smell hits her, overwhelming her senses in an unexpected rush of heat and spice. Kara sits up right away, startled. “How did you...” is all she manages to get out, then pushed into her hands is a considerably sized takeout box of potstickers.

“I wanted to surprise you, so I might have created a hermetically sealed lunchbox just to sneak these in,” Lena says, and Kara’s already laughing softly. “The food’s still good though! I literally just slipped them inside right before walking into the building, so...”

“... Thank you,” Kara says. She inclines her head to the spot next to her, and feels the bed sink with Lena’s weight accordingly.

Kara starts eating, but does so with only one hand. The other just fidgets at her thigh, tugging at her sweatpants, lying in wait so impatiently. Then Lena takes the hand and holds it firmly in her own, and finally, it feels like Kara can breathe freely again.

“I never thanked you,” Kara says, “for, you know... everything.”

“You already did,” Lena reminds her, squeezing Kara’s hand.

“I... did?” Kara feels Lena nodding beside her. “Okay... so then, why does it feel like I still have so much left to owe you?”

Lena tries to hold her breath quietly, but Kara hears it; of course, she hears it. “I can’t answer that for you.”

A couple of hours later, when Alex pops into the room for her usual check-in, she stumbles upon an unexpected sight: Lena sitting up on the hospital bed, her legs tucked beneath the sheets as she answers emails on her phone, and Kara fast asleep, curled up around her.

Kara’s still holding Lena’s hand, her face buried in Lena’s shirt where it smells most like her, apparently, besides her hair.

Lena blushes a little, but can’t find it in her to regret her position.

“Alex says it’s because I didn’t see your face,” is the first thing Kara says the next time Lena visits. “I pretty much saw everyone else’s, but... never yours. So, I’ve imprinted on you, or something.”

Lena recovers quickly, “Well... what do you think?”

“I don’t know,” Kara admits, running her fingers down the back of her neck, feeling the tender skin still raised in jagged lines. “There’s still so much I feel like I can’t trust right now.”

“But you trust me...”

“Yeah.”

Lena carefully cradles Kara’s hand in both of hers, and it feels like a thank you of sorts. Then Kara draws their joined hands closer and closer, pressing her lips gently to Lena’s knuckles, and sighs in a way that could only ever be an expression of deep gratitude.

Kara’s days all seem to unfold the same way, with Alex and Brainy running tests, Lena stopping by once per day for company, and Kara just trying to break up the monotony of it all with podcasts, books on tape, and tossing a tiny bouncy ball around the room to test her reflexes.

For that last one, she has to stop the moment she hears Alex approaching her room, of course, because of all the broken glass and knocked over plants, and such.

Until one day, she overhears a couple of DEO agents discussing some urgent mission—not exactly a rare occurrence, given her super-hearing, but she perks up, ears honing in at the mention of Lex Luthor.

But when they also mention how Lena might be in danger, Kara is already out of bed and flying out the window.

Kara hasn’t flown since donning her blackout goggles, but she remembers enough to travel at a height that would be safe from any threat of collision. And before long, she’s hurtling straight for the source of all the distant commotion now pounding in her ears.

She practically crashes in landing, the earth cracking beneath her bare feet. She whips her head toward where Lena’s heartbeat is fluttering the loudest, then hears low chuckles coming from the same direction.

“You’re all so pathetic and predictable,” Lex crows. “At least try to make it somewhat of a challenge for me. God, it’s all just too easy.”

“Kara, get out of here!” Lena’s voice shouts out to her, muffled and desperate. “It’s a trap!”

But Kara takes a step toward them anyway, and immediately, the entire world seems to scream in protest.

Kara falls to her knees, hands clapping over her ears but to no avail. The excruciating sound is coming from her own head, akin to hot spikes scraping at the inside of her skull. She calls out to Lena, but can’t even make out her own voice over the pain.

She crumples over, helpless, her teeth gritted as she pushes her face into the dirt and shakes uncontrollably. She knows she has to get up; she’s a sitting duck like this. She can’t save Lena like this.

And so, Kara does the one thing that she can do.

She rips the goggles off her face, hurling them somewhere behind her, and jerks her head up.

She sees a blur of colors, then a single hand outstretched towards her, clutching onto something silver and vaguely rectangular.

She fires a burst of heat vision right at that hand, and feels the back of her head explode.

“Man... she couldn’t just put them down gently?” mutters a voice that’s not unfamiliar. “She just had to throw the goggles like a goddamn shot-putter or something? These things cost a fortune!”

“All right, that’s enough, Demos,” says Alex, a much more familiar voice. “I’ll worry about the budget, okay? You just get everyone else back to headquarters.”

“’M’sorry,” Kara says, or at least she tries to say. “My bad...” Her eyes still shut tight, she flashes a thumbs up, then lets her arm flop back down to the ground. Alex stops her when she attempts to sit up.

“Hey, not so fast, you jerk,” Alex says, somehow keeping Kara grounded with a single hand pressed against her shoulder. “We’re getting a stretcher for you.”

“I don’t think I need a stretcher.”

“Yeah, well... nobody asked you,” Alex sighs, before grumbling, “God, what’s taking them so long? Ugh, hang on... Hey, can you watch her? I’ll be right back.”

Lena’s there now, and Kara can actually feel herself grinning without even meaning to. “No, don’t... You shouldn’t have come, Kara.” But there’s a smile in Lena’s voice, and Kara’s grin grows wider for it. “I’m serious!”

“Okay, me too.” Kara then winces as a sharp pain gradually surfaces, trickling into reality. “The back of my head is killing me...”

“Yeah, you’re bleeding.”

Kara scoffs. “I don’t bleed; I’m Supergirl.”

“Okay, Supergirl... but somebody got blood all over my shirt, and it sure as hell isn’t me, so...”

“I don’t believe you.”

“Then check for yourself.”

Kara goes rigid, her humor dashed and her brow furrowing heavily.

“... You know I can’t do that.”

Soft fingertips brush down Kara’s face, tucking her hair behind her ear so tenderly. “Listen,” Lena says. “You destroyed Lex’s transmitter, along with most of his right hand, and I think you blew out the implant in your head in the process as well.”

There are thoughts then—the kind that Kara is unwilling to say aloud lest they develop reasons to be true. Thoughts like, what if the explosion damaged parts of her brain permanently? What if it severed that neural link between her eyes and everything else for good? And, how can she risk losing the one person who she believes to be absolutely, 100% real?

Lena draws Kara’s attention with a gentle hand squeeze. “Hey, where’d you go?” she asks softly.

“I’m still here,” Kara says. “Still just right here.”

But Lena seems to understand Kara’s concerns, unvoiced or not, because she leans a bit closer and asks, “Do you trust me...?”

And, yes; yes, she does.

With a deep breath filling out her lungs, Kara slowly opens her eyes. Everything’s a blur at first, just like before. But then little by little, bit by bit, the night sky comes into focus. She stares up at the darkness, counts as many stars as she can to put off the inevitable.

Then her hand is being tugged and squeezed in the gentlest reminder, so she turns her head, blinking her eyes in preparation before looking up to see Lena Luthor smiling down at her.

“Hey,” Kara says.

“Hey yourself,” Lena returns.

Kara nods thoughtfully, then gestures to Lena’s shirt. “Sorry, but I can’t afford dry cleaning,” she says, squinting at the various splashes of red—light but unfortunately prominent against the very white material—and Lena just laughs and laughs.

#lolwat?#my words.#WHERE DI THE READ MORE GO #I HATE THIS WEBSITE

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writers-blogck · 4 years ago

Text

A House, Not a Home ( Dabi x Todoroki!Reader )

Warning(s): This is siblings. It is not a romantic story. Don't be gross. This will have spoilers for the current Manga arc, though not many. A little bit of health-related issues but nothing too graphic. Title inspired by Madds Buckley's Dabi song.

Title: A House, Not a Home Pairing: Dabi x Reader (Little Sister) Fandom: My Hero Academia Word Count: 5,405

Ages: 0 and 6

Rei sat on the futon, legs tucked under her as she held you close to her chest. Her fourth child, smaller than the other three had been. She loved all of her children but as she looked down at the crying newborn, she knew this wouldn't be enough for her husband. He would want another one to get the perfect prodigy. A small sigh left the woman's mouth. She was getting tired. She knew she had to keep it together for her children but she wasn't sure how long she would be able to keep this up.

Everyone else was asleep as she rocked you in the main room, or so she thought. Bright turquoise eyes came into view and she couldn't help but let her heart speed up. Enji had been a good husband once but after Fuyumi, he could no longer focus on anything but his legacy. He needed to be first and if he couldn't, then he would create the next number one hero. This kept him from ever being soft to his children or wife. Had you woken him up? He was never pleasant during the middle of the night... She had learned that the hard way just after Touya was born.

As smaller feet shuffled closer, Rei felt her shoulders relax. She couldn't help but be frightened by her son Touya at times. He had the same eyes as his father, so extreme and filled with a fire she couldn't describe. There had been nights where she worried Touya would follow his father's footsteps of intensity but moments like these gave her hope. He only ever acted this way when it was just the two of them. He had to be the cool big brother around his siblings and he dare not show any weakness in front of Enji. Rei wished she could change that, she really did. But, she was only one woman.

"Is she alright?" He spoke softly, eyes as wide as the moon itself as he stared down at your flushed face.

"Yes, she's just hungry is all. Babies need to eat a lot you know. You'll probably hear her cry a lot during the night but you don't have to worry. Mommy will take care of her." Rei ran her hand ever so slightly over your fuzzy head. What color hair would you have? White like her own? Red like your father's? She was just gratefully you had inherited her eyes. She didn't know if she could take another pair of those piercing eyes.

"Won't she get fat if she eats all the time?" Touya quietly sat down next to his mother, shoulders brushing against one another in a silent piece of affection. Love was shared in secret in this house. Enji didn't want Rei to make his boys soft because she babied them. He was better with Fuyumi but Natsuo proved that he hadn't learned his lesson.

Touya was too young to remember Natsuo or Fuyumi when they were babies. He had been four when Natsuo was brought home and barely over a year with Fuyumi. This was the first time he would ever truly get to experience the troubles that came along with a newborn. Natsuo still cried a lot but he just was scared to sleep by himself.

"Oh no, darling. She's growing and needs all that energy. Just like you are a growing boy. You know, she's lucky to have a big brother like you...."

"Really?"

"Of course. All of your siblings are grateful for you, Touya. Don't ever think differently." She ran her free hand through his white hair, caressing his face as she pulled away, attention shifting back to you.

As you squirmed in her arms, she feared for your safety. She didn't have the best of health and Touya had inherited that, though not as severely as her own. Rei feared that you had inherited it more than any of the other children. Giving birth had been hard and there was a moment there when they didn't know if you were going to survive. She never wanted to admit that Enji was right but you were weak. Just a baby born into a harsh world. How would she be able to keep you safe?

"Touya, I need you to promise me something."

"Anything!" Touya could be described as a mommy's boy, though he hid it as much as he could. All of her children preferred her, as most children do prefer their mothers. It didn't help that Enji was as rough and intimidating as he was added onto that.

"This is your little sister and it's your job as a big brother to protect her. She is going to need you more than Fuyumi or Natsuo. She's sick and could really use a good big brother in her life." Rei spoke softly, eyes shifting between her two children who were awake. She didn't want to put such a burden on her eldest but something in her stomach made her fear for your future. Enji would see you as weak and interact with you as little as possible. Natsuo was too young to be a real big brother to you just yet. Touya was the best chance for you to get a good male figure in your life.

"Can you promise me that you'll always protect her?"

"Of course, mommy! I'll be the best big brother you've ever seen! I'll make sure she never cries around me!"

Rei smiled and hoped that was true. She knew if her children were going to get affection from somewhere other than her, it was going to have to be with each other. Enji was a demanding father and while Rei tried her best, she couldn't help but get tired at times from her own health issues. Touya had taken on the duty of leading his younger siblings as soon as he could walk but this was different. She could feel it and she didn't know if that was going to be a good thing or bad.

"Would you like to hold her?" Touya nodded in awe as his mother placed you in his arms, keeping her own hands there as a safety precaution. You were still so young, it would be some time before she really trusted Touya to hold you all on his own. But, she would teach him. There was so much in store for all of her children, that much was certain.

You looked so fragile like you could break if Touya even looked at you the wrong way. He could play rough with Natsuo, though he would get in trouble if he made his brother cry. Fuyumi was only two years younger than him and though she was his little sister, this felt different. So tiny...So little.

Your sobs quieted as you were moved into your brother's arms, your attention now shifting to this new person in front of you. At that moment, Touya felt his heartache for the future. He knew his dad wasn't the nicest but he wouldn't let his dad do anything to you. Not while he was around. He would be your guardian angel.

"Don't worry," He whispered as you stared up at him with watery eyes, "I'm gonna make sure you never get hurt. You'll never have to cry when I'm around. I'm gonna be your new big brother and I won't let anything happen to you.

Ages: 3 and 9

A sharp yelp followed by loud cries brought Touya rushing to the backyard. How had you even gotten out? Was no one watching you? Mom should have been...But since Shoto was born, her attention shifted to focus on him. She didn't do it on purpose but she gave him most of her attention. It was more likely to be Touya who calmed you after a nightmare, not Rei. He was the one who cleaned your cuts and put a bandaid on them.

As he ran outside, he was shocked to see you sitting on the ground, tiny fires alight on the blades of grass surrounding you. It wasn't hard to stomp out such small fires before they got big but he was more concerned about you. Why were you crying so much? What happened? Someone was always watching you, or at least he thought so. He had slipped when doing his homework. If you got hurt, it was his fault.

"What is it? Tell me, show me." He spoke, moving to where you were sitting with your legs pulled close to your chest. You were hiding your chubby hands behind your knees, shoulders shaking as you let out sobs. He was never the best when it came to you crying. He normally would just curl up next to you when you had a nightmare but it was different when you were hurt. You were always the one to go to him crying when you got a small cut or when you fell. Yet, now you were cowering away from him.

"Show me." His tone was more serious this time as he wrestled with you, finally getting a hold of your chubby hands. He felt bad when he saw you wince but he needed to see what was wrong. What if you had broken your wrist or cut off your fingers? How would you do that? He didn't know but he was sure going to find out if you had. He hadn't been expecting what actually had happened. How could he? You were still so young...

As you unfolded your hands, he was greeted with the sight of harsh burns. There was nothing around you that could have burnt you, nothing obvious anyway. He looked over your arms quickly, in a small state of panic. He may be more mature than some kids but he was still only nine. He only knew so much. The next thing he noticed was how hot your arms had become, something he had only ever felt between two people.

Taking a closer look, he noticed the dim light shining through your skin where your veins would be. When he ran his finger along the lines, he could tell they were the hottest part. The rest of the heat was dispersing from those areas. His stomach began to drop as he realized what had happened. He had hoped, dreamed, prayed that you would inherit everything from your mother. Sitting here on the grass with you now proved to him that he was wrong.

"It's okay! I know how to deal with this, you just burnt yourself a bit. It's going to be okay. Nii-chan gets burned all the time. I'll make it feel better. Let's go inside and we can watch a movie, how about it? We can do that after we get your hands fixed up." Even though he was still young, he was able to hoist your body up and carry you inside, though he was shakily wobbling the entire time. One day he would be big enough to carry you without having trouble. He hoped it wasn't obvious how worried he was about the situation.

He hadn't been prepared for when you would show your quirk for the first time. He had hoped that it would have been something ice-related. Something like Natsuo or Fuyumi. Something like your mother's. A quirk that wouldn't hurt you but he hadn't gotten that lucky. You shared the same fire that your father and Touya had within them. Would yours be as harsh as his own? The flames had been red so that was a good sign.

He was skilled at taking care of burns at this point because of his own quirk. Touya knew he was going to have to tell your father about your quirk appearing but, what if that made him focus on you more and make you train like him? This was still a little young to be showing your quirk. Maybe he could just hide it for some time while he taught you how to control your power. Touya could still remember how painful it had been when his father tried to teach him to hold his fire in. He wouldn't let that happen to you, he couldn't.

He would never let your father hurt you. Not while he was around.

Ages: 9 and 15

It was late in the night when you heard someone walking around when everyone was supposed to be asleep. Who would be up at this time? Shoto would be asleep for sure...Fuyumi too. Perhaps Natsuo had gotten hungry in the middle of the night? It wouldn't be the first time he had snuck around at night to fill his stomach. If you didn't know any better, you would think his quirk was a black hole in his stomach. You would never understand how he could eat as much as he did. Still, a snack didn't sound that bad.

Wrapping yourself up in your blanket, you made your way to the main room of the house where the front door was. Instead of seeing Natsuo as you had assumed, you saw your eldest brother Touya instead. He wasn't in his pajamas like he should have been...As you looked him over, you noticed that he even had his shoes on and was tugging on his leather jacket.

"Nii-chan?"

Touya's head shot in your direction, a wild look in his eyes. His neck was bandaged up and you weren't sure if it was because of his quirk or if your father had done something to him. Enji was roughest on Touya. Both verbally and physically, Enji always would hurt his eldest son. Touya had been good at hiding it but there were still rare occasions where you saw something you weren't supposed to. Glimpses of the truth.

"Where are you going?"

"(Y/N)..." His voice was hoarse. Had he been screaming? Was he getting sick? He crouched down, eyes staring at the wood of the floor as you moved closer to him. How would he explain this to you? You were the closest with him out of all of his siblings. He had been hoping to slip out without having to say goodbye to anyone. It would hurt less and it would leave less of a chance that he would be caught.

He could still hear what his mother had told him the day she brought you home as you moved closer. He was supposed to protect you but he couldn't stay there anymore. It was too much. You would be fine with Fuyumi and Natsuo to protect you. Plus, there was Shoto, you weren't the youngest anymore. You could live without him.

"I need to go away for a while, okay?" Slowly, his head moved up to make eye contact with you. He had to keep it level even as you began to tremble and form tears in your own eyes. He had to do this, no matter what. If he stayed tonight, then he would just be reminded tomorrow why he wanted to leave tonight. It was the best opportunity that he would have for some time. Your dad had drunk some alcohol tonight and would be passed out upstairs.

"Where are you going?"

"I don't know."

You shuffled over, unable to truly understand what was going on. Touya reached out, pulling you into his arms, and began to run his hand through your hair. Your mother would be so disappointed with what he was doing but he had to be selfish. Sometimes you had to look out for number one. Sure, you would have a crappy childhood but your dad never hurt you. If Touya stayed, he didn't know if he would make it to his next birthday. He had to plan for his own survival.

"When will you be back?"

"I don't know."

"Will you be back?" This question was quieter than before. Timider, meeker. He could hear the fear in your voice but knew what he had to do. He knew what the answer was. No, he wouldn't be coming back. He was running away for good this time but how do you tell your kid sister that? Plus, if he did explain, there was a chance that you would tattle.

Without answering, he let go and stood up, pushing you back a bit so there was space between the two of you. A few stray tears were running down your cheeks, had Touya seen it as he turned his back on you and opened the door? He had to leave before he changed his mind.

"I love you!" You whisper-shouted as the door shut behind his retreating figure. Touya was walking away from the life he knew and walking into a new one where he would become an entirely different man.

Had he heard you?

You knew you should have gone and woken up your father but something kept you from telling. You trusted your big brother and he had gone away before in the past. Maybe this would just be like those times and he would be back within a day or two. That had to be it. If not, where was he going to go? Even after the door was closed, you couldn't move from the entrance, eyes trained on the door as if he would walk in any minute.

This would be the last time you would ever get to hug your brother.

Ages: 15 and 21

It had taken some convincing to be allowed but somehow you got your father to let you attend UA. Today would be your first day and while you were excited, you were scared at the same time. It had never been easy being the daughter of a top hero. It was hard to know when someone really wanted to be your friend versus those who are just sucking up in hopes of meeting your dad. Would that be worse here since these people actually wanted to be heroes?

A small sigh left your lips as you brushed a stray tear away. Shoto would be coming here in two years. He was already the pride and joy of your father. You had times where you would doubt whether or not he actually loved you or not. He would rather see you locked up in your room than out. Fuyumi said he was just being overprotective but you weren't so sure. You thought it was because he was ashamed of you.

This was to prove him wrong. Was that the wrong reason to become a hero? To prove someone wrong? Maybe...You liked the idea of saving people but the biggest thing pushing you was your father. There was a fire inside of you that yearned to prove him wrong and get his approval. Still, Shoto didn't always have it easier than you. While your father barely paid attention to you, it was rare that he wasn't pushing some training on your younger brother. Ever since your mother...No, you shouldn't think about that. The past would only ever haunt you and cause nightmares. Both the events with your mother and Touya's death. You kept telling yourself that you needed to move forward. Today was a new day.

"Hey, are you lost? Whatcha looking for? Maybe we can help you find it!" A loud and booming voice spoke, laced with nothing but kindness. Quickly turning, you were greeted by a blonde boy and a black-haired boy. The blonde had a huge smile on his face while the black-haired one was trying everything he could to keep you from paying attention to him.

Instinctively, you tugged at your sleeve to hide your arms even more. People always would look at you weird if they noticed the scars covering your arms. They would judge you, just like everyone does. For once, you wanted someone to be willing to get to know the real you and not assume things because of your appearance and your father's reputation. Even still, the blonde seemed to radiate sunshine and you almost changed your mind on how they would react. Almost.

"Oh!" With a small sniffle, you pointed quickly at the main building of UA, "I'm looking for 1-A. This is my first year going here and I guess I'm just a bit nervous. I don't know anyone who is going here so...It's just been one of those days, you know?"

"Really?! We both are going to 1-A too! We are gonna be in the same class!" The blonde wrapped an arm around his shy partner, pulling him into the conversation whether he wanted to be a part of it or not, "Why don't we walk there together? We'd be happy to be your new friends if you want! The more friends, the better, right Tama-chan?"

The black-haired boy didn't respond.

This would be your first time ever meeting your two future best friends. Mirio and Tamaki would become almost as close as family to you. How many nights would you end up staying at Mirio's just to stay away from home? Late night walks with Tamaki because you couldn't sleep due to your nightmares?

Dabi was making his own friends on the streets, or whatever you could call friends. He was filled with rage and a fire that had only grown since he had left home. He would see clips of his father saving the day and reporters gushing over him. If they knew the truth, they wouldn't be acting like that. Someone just needed to prove it to them.

And Endeavor? He deserved to pay for everything he had done to Dabi. He needed to hurt as much as he made Dabi hurt. The older boy knew he wouldn't be able to do that alone and began to make allies in the underground areas of the city. Drug dealers and gang members. He would climb the ladder and become a true villain but everyone had to start somewhere. He would need help to get his revenge and he was okay with playing the long-con.

Ages: 17 and 23

Civilians were running in a panicked state as fire surrounded them. Screams were all you could hear save for the blood pumping in your ears. As you searched the crowd for a hero, you were greeted with the sight that you were terrified of. There were no heroes in the area. Not yet. They would be here in less than fifteen minutes but you knew how crucial that time could be.

Fifteen minutes.

As everyone around you ran from the flames, you ran into them. The flames licked at your skin as you entered the chaos but your skin allowed it to glance off of you. You had grown used to the feeling of being burnt due to your own quirk. Deep red scars that followed the patterns of your veins littered your body due to the fire inside of you. In certain lights, your scars could even come out to be slightly purple in color.

You had been going to UA for three years now and this was the exact situation you were being trained for. It was this pulling inside of you that lead you towards the danger that made you a real hero. You were a real hero. You wanted to be a real hero...When would a real hero get here?

"Oh, do we have someone playing a hero here? A schoolgirl come to save the day from the big, bad villain?" Black boots crunched against the gravel of the road, each step as casual as the last as he stalked closer. Burned flesh greeted your eyes as Dabi emerged from the flames. You knew it was him, the blue flames made it obvious. You had seen video footage from the training camp. This was a specific type of fire. This was Hellfire.

"You can't do this!" Your hands clenched into fists, veins burning as your emotions began to run wild. You were terrified. This would be the first time you faced a villain by yourself without active-backup on the way. Interning at your father's agency could have its perks but it also meant you never got dangerous tasks. Even with Shoto just starting, your father took him on more hero-like outings. He was playing favorites and it hurt. Did he not think you could be a hero? Were you too weak in his eyes?

"Aw, and why not, little Matchstick?" A devilish grin spread over the burnt face, stables keeping the two pieces together as one, "Whose going to stop me? You?"

"Yes!" The quiver in your voice alerted to how scared you actually were. Just remember Mirio and Tamaki. Remember how brave they were. You wanted to be just like them and this was the perfect time to do that. They wouldn't run when people were in danger. Even if they were scared, they would go running towards the danger because they were true heroes. Mirio had saved Eri and Tamaki had protected Kirishima more times than you could count. Your heart was telling you to run as it pumped quickly but your feet were planted as if held by concrete. You wanted to be like them.

You wanted to be like your dad.

"What do you even want?" You continued, hoping to distract the man just long enough for the heroes to make their way here. Maybe Hawks would be the first to arrive. He did have his wings. Perhaps your father could use his flames as he had when fighting the nomu. It didn't matter who the hero was as long as they got there as fast as possible. You would even take Mount Lady, a hero who you had a hard time dealing with.

"What do I want? I want what every man wants!" His arms extended as his trenchcoat billowed around him, a crazed look on his face. Fire surrounded the two of you, catching anything that it could on fire. You could see why the bottom was as tattered as it was as the fire singed the fabric, but if Dabi cared, he didn't show it.

The man walked closer to you but you kept yourself in a defensive position. You couldn't run, you could end up leading him right to the majority of panicked citizens who were trying to evacuate. The best course of action, even if it meant you could end up getting hurt, was to stay right where you were. You wanted to be a hero. You were a hero! No matter how your father acted, you were a hero. How many nights had you stayed up late, practicing to control your quirk for moments like this? All you really wanted was for your father to finally see how strong you could be.

Ten minutes.

Before you knew what was happening, you felt your back hit a hard chest and a hand much larger than your own wrap around your neck. No matter how you struggled, Dabi kept you from escaping with the force he was pressing against your neck. The other hand gripped your chin, forcing you to look up at your assailant. There was a crazed look in his eyes that were as blue as his flames. It made tears well up in your eyes from fear.

The edges of your vision were beginning to blur with the lack of oxygen. Just before you felt your legs begin to give out, the man loosened his grip just enough for you to gasp at the air around you. Coughs filled the air as you dealt with the lack of oxygen as well as smoke that was staining anything it could.

"Revenge. That's what I want." His lips whispered next to your ear, causing a chill to run up your spine. This wouldn't be the first time a villain wanted revenge and it wouldn't be the last time. You used all the force you could muster and kicked the villain in the shin.

This seemed to work as he let you go, but it wasn't for long. He snatched your wrists in one hand while the other went back to its place on your neck. This time he only used enough force to keep you from breathing comfortably. This was starting to look worse and worse for you with each passing moment. Still, you just had to remember heroes were on the way. They would save you.

"And you, my Little Matchstick, are perfect for my plan."

"Let me go!" Your shrill voice screamed as you felt the flames burst around your wrists, using your own quirk now. A grunt of pain and some mumbled cursing escaped Dabi but instead of losing his grip, you felt a searing pain spread over your own skin. The pain caused you to lose concentration of your quirk, all too focused on the blue flames that the man emitted from his hands. For a split moment, the two of your flames seemed to dance around each other and turn the light a purple like Dabi's scars.

The hand at your wrists lit up like a beacon as Dabi's quirk began to come out. Screams would have escaped your lips if not for the hand constricting your breathing which was now burning your neck as well. All you could see was white as the worst pain you had ever felt kept you writhing. The flames began to creep down your arm, spreading towards your body. The hand on your neck reminded you more of an iron as there were no actual flames appearing. Some sick version of a human cattle prod. His hand print would be scarred over your neck, a permanent reminder of this night.

The next thing you could remember, you were slumped on the ground like dirty laundry. The world around you was spinning. It was beginning to darken in a mixture of you losing consciousness and smoke as the seconds ticked by. Tears streamed down your face from the pain and ash filling the air. A horrid smell wafted around and you feared that was coming from you.

"Come now, the heroes aren't going to save you. They always break their promises, just like villains. Hell, I couldn't tell you how many promises I've broken in this day alone! Heros and villains are one and the same when it comes down to it! The only difference is that villains are seen as a disgrace while heroes are praised for doing publicity stunts!"

Five minutes.

Dabi's boot came crashing down on your throat, pushing as hard as he could. You could feel the heat of life begin to diminish with each passing moment you lacked oxygen. Shouts in the distance could be heard, the heroes were almost here. Yet, they wouldn't be here soon enough. They wouldn't be here to save you. Was this really how you were going to die?

One particular loud shout registered as your father and for once, you felt grateful that he was around. He didn't even know you were here, you hadn't told him where you had gone after school. Would he be moving faster if he knew you were there? If anyone could save you, it would be him. You wanted to feel his arms wrap around you, holding you and making you feel safe one more time. He could save you.

Or at least he could be here as you died.

"Poor Little Todoroki, it seems like you are going to just miss out on the fun." The rest of the world was blurring and disappearing into the growing darkness, leaving the fire illuminated Dabi as the only thing visible.

With a smirk illuminated by the sharp blue flames, you stared up at the eyes that would be the last thing you would ever see. They were eyes that seemed so familiar to you. They were...your father's eyes. No, not your father's. That wouldn't make sense, you weren't hallucinating. No, they were eyes filled with the flames you had only seen in two people before. These were the eyes of the one who had cared for you the most once upon a time. How had it come to this? How could it be true? He wouldn't hurt you but as you lay dying at his feet, you knew there was no denying it.

"Dad isn't going to like this, now is he?"

They were Touya's.

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robinrunsfiction · 4 years ago

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CAN I GET A FRANK X READER FIC WHERE THE BAND GOES OUT FOR LUNCH AND Y/N STAYS AT THE BUS AND SLEEPS IN FRANKS BUNK AND THEY GET BACK AND FRANK SEES HER AND JUST GETS INTO BED WITH HER AHD HOLDS HER AND ITS ALL FLUFFY

Hold You Here

Pairing: Frank Iero x Female Reader Rating: General Requested By: Anons Word Count: 2,000 Author’s Note: I’m combining this with another similar request, which resulted in a longer story! I hope everyone enjoys! TW for a brief mention of Gerard’s addiction struggles in 2004

To be in a band meant that your bandmates were your most intimate friends. Hours, days, weeks spent cramped together in small confined spaces meant that everyone saw each other at their best, worst, and everything in between. Platonic physical affection wasn’t an unusual occurrence and neither was sharing beds so that the fewest number of hotel rooms could be reserved to save money, curling up under a blanket together while watching a movie on the bus, not to mention all the on-stage antics, it was all taken in stride.

It also helped that everyone looked out for each other, but it seemed as if Frank looked out for you more than the others. When things became hectic, or when you were suffering from one of your migraines, he’d always be the one checking up on you to make sure you were okay. Spending hours up late at night talking with him was one of your favorite ways to pass time on the bus. You’d developed quite the soft spot for the chaotic guitarist.

The band had been touring what felt like non-stop for ages, but especially now that Three Cheers was out. It had been a very long, hot summer full of meeting fans, rocking out, and if you were being honest with yourself, way too much partying on everyone’s part. You were feeling pretty burnt out, but the success of the band made it worth it.

Now it was the last week of Warped Tour 2004 and you could tell summer was ending by how quickly the nights were cooling down. As usual when the tour was stopped over for a couple nights, both a bonfire, and most of the bands, were lit. You were standing as close to the fire as you could without melting the rubber on your chucks trying to keep warm.

“Hey,” Frank said, walking over to stand next to you.

“Hey, how’s it goin?” You asked

“Good. Cold?”

“Yea,” you rolled your eyes. “I decided to dress cute, and now I’m freezing my ass off.”

“Who were you dressing up for?” Frank asked, unzipping his hoodie.

“No one really,” you replied, watching as he took off the sweatshirt. “What are you doing?”

“Keeping you warm,” he replied.

“You don’t have to,” you started as he put it over your shoulders.

“Too late,” he replied with a smirk that faded into a soft smile.

You looked up at him, in the dim light of the bonfire and you felt your heart skip, like a switch had been flipped. That soft spot you held in your heart for him suddenly felt overwhelmed, like the quiet feelings were now screaming in your ears.

“I bet it’s warmer on the bus,” you suggested, deciding to lean into the moment. You just hoped you were gauging the situation correctly.

His eyebrows went up in surprise, but he nodded. “I bet you’re right, wanna go back?”

“Yea.”

The walk across the parking lot was silent, as your hands brushed against each other’s, shoulders bumping occasionally. Climbing into the bus, you wandered to the back and confirmed no one else was around, and when you turned back to Frank he seemed a little nervous.

“Ya know you do look really cute. Like not just tonight, like all the time,” he said.

“Thanks,” you replied, tucking your hair behind your ear nervously. You were in your 20s, why were you suddenly feeling like a middle schooler talking to their crush?

“Wanna watch a movie or something?” He offered after an awkward silence hung between you.

“Sure. Nothing scary though, I’m tired of horror.”

“How can you be tired of horror?” Frank asked with feigned shock.

“Because that’s all we watch and we’ve watched almost every movie we have 100 times over.”

Frank started flipping through the stack of DVDs that the band had accumulated through countless tours. “What about ‘10 Things I Hate About You’?” he asked.

“Yes,” you nodded eagerly, plopping down on the couch and pulling off your shoes.

Frank put the movie in the DVD player and turned off the lights, sitting next to you. You glanced over, trying to gauge what he was thinking. He glanced back and you snapped your eyes back to the tv. As the movie progressed, Frank casually put his arm over the back of the couch and you settled into his side.

“I wanna go play paintball, like real paintball, some time,” you said, watching Kat and Patrick’s date on the screen.

“We should go then,” Frank replied.

“Just us? Or,” you trailed off.

“Yea, I mean unless you wanna invite other people.”

You looked up at him, and he was looking back down at you. "No, just us," you said softly.

"Cool," he said with a goofy smile.

You had to bite your lip to keep from giggling, but in that moment, the energy between you shifted. Frank started to lean in and you closed your eyes as his lips met yours. At first the kiss was soft and tender, almost tentative. But then his arms wrapped around you, pulling you closer and your hand ran through his hair as he deepened the kiss.

When you finally came up for air, you couldn't help the smile on your face when you saw how happy Frank looked. "That was fun," you laughed.

"I've been wanting to do that forever," he said, running a hand through his hair, smoothing it down.

"Well we should do it again sometime," you replied.

Just then, loud, drunken voices could be heard outside the door to the bus and you both jumped apart.

"They're in here makin' out or something," Ray shouted over his shoulder with a giggle. You knew there was no way they could have seen you two just minutes before, but the joke still rattled you.

"No they weren't," Mikey said disbelievingly, as he and Gerard followed.

You glanced at Frank who was shaking his head at your bandmates before he changed the subject to something totally random. Things had literally just started with him, and it felt fragile. The last thing you wanted was to have it all fall apart like nothing happened, and be left wondering forever what could have been.

The next day, nothing about the prior night was discussed between you and Frank, but it had been a busy day of press, playing, and meeting fans. When you were climbing back into your bunk, completely exhausted, you spotted a folded up piece of paper on your pillow. You closed the curtain behind you and turned on the small light above your bed. When you unfolded the note, you immediately recognized Frank's scrawling handwriting.

(YN), all I've been able to think about today is how your lips felt on mine and wondering when I can feel it again. I can't remember anything that was said to me because I was thinking about how I'd rather just be talking to you. I hope sometime before the end of this tour we can hang out alone together again.

XO, frnk

You bit your lip to keep from squealing with delight.

The last few days of Warped Tour were just as much of a blur, and when that tour was over, you were quickly shipped off to another one. Gerard was struggling and the whole band was impacted. Everyone dealt with it in their own way, and luckily you had Frank to brush away the worried tears when your brain wouldn't quiet enough to let you sleep at night.

Soon after, Gerard got the help he needed and when he rejoined the band, you were immediately sent back out on the road. Everything felt a little brighter that fall.

You and Frank were as good as ever, but still keeping your relationship quiet. His hand would find yours when no one else was around. You'd each sneak into each other's bunks and spend the nights cuddled together. Then there was the series of excuses as to why you two should share hotel rooms, which included Mikey texting too much, Ray talking too much, and Gerard keeping the light on all night drawing, among others.

So when you were blindsided with a migraine one morning, you were not at all pleased. The pain throbbed through your head as nausea rolled through your stomach. You groaned as you slid out of your bunk and stumbled to the front of the bus, which was obnoxiously bright, to the cabinet holding the medicine.

"There's sleeping beauty," you heard Ray laugh, but you just grunted in response. You grabbed the bottle of Excedrin and silently prayed they'd do their job quickly as you took a dose.

"You ok?" Frank asked as you slumped down on the couch.

"No, migraine."

Your bandmates groaned, knowing how much of a pain, literally and figuratively, they were for you.

"So you don't wanna go grab lunch?" Mikey asked.

"Please don't make me think about food or I might get sick."

"Do you want me to stay back with you?" Frank offered. It didn't even register how much concern he was showing toward you.

"No, I just wanna sleep and hope it goes away before we have to play tonight."

"Ok, we'll leave you alone. Come on guys," Gerard said, shooing the guys out. You glanced up and saw Frank giving you a sympathetic look before leaving the bus.

You dragged yourself back to the bunks, closing the door to the main room behind you and looked at your bunk. There was no way in hell you were climbing back up into it. Instead climbed into Frank's.

You pulled his blanket over you as you curled up in a ball facing the wall. His pillow smelled faintly of his shampoo, but not enough to make you feel sick, or maybe the medication was finally kicking in.

It felt like no sooner you'd fallen asleep that you heard voices in the front of the bus. You wondered how long you’d been out, but didn’t care enough to check the time. Before you could drift off again you heard the door opening and closing softly. Shuffling steps stopped behind you and then you felt someone climb in the bunk behind you.

"Hey," Frank said softly, his arm wrapping around your side.

"Hi," you answered, a smile forming on your face for the first time all day, not that he could see it.

"Feeling better?"

"A bit. Not 100% yet, but better than earlier."

"Mind if I nap with you?"

"Please do," you replied.

Frank drew the curtain shut and settled in behind you. He brushed aside your hair and placed a soft kiss on the side of your neck before giving you another quick squeeze.

You drifted back to sleep for a while, and when you woke up again, your headache was mostly gone you were relieved that you'd be able to play that night without feeling awful. As you stretched your legs out, Frank shifted, pulling you tighter against him.

"Better yet?" He murmured sleepily.

"Yea," you said, not moving more, afraid of disturbing the comfortable cocoon you two were in.

“So at lunch the guys were talking,” Frank started.

“‘Bout what?” You asked, rolling over.

“Us.”

“Oh?” Your heart rate going up.

“We went to this café for lunch and I got you a cupcake, it’s in the fridge by the way. And they were just wondering if there’s something going on between us.”

“What’d you say?”

“I just brushed it off, they were just giving me shit.”

“Oh,” you said, suddenly feeling a little dejected.

“Do you still wanna keep us a secret?” He asked.

“I dunno," you mumbled. "Do you?”

Frank intertwined his fingers with yours. "It's been kinda fun this way. But I also kinda wanna tell everyone I know that I'm the luckiest dude in the world BECAUSE I'm with you."

“Let's decide later,” you replied. “For right this moment, let’s just enjoy this.”

"Good idea," he replied with a soft smile before leaning in and kissing you lovingly.

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