#and i'm struggling to stay afloat again | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

mcrdvcks · 8 days ago

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i love you, in every time ࿐‧₊ 1880 - labyrinth of my heart

chapter summary: When walking the streets of Chicago he spots you across the street, so real, so alive. Logan takes this as a second chance; but fear slowly slithers up, making him wonder if he'll lose you all over again.

word count: 9.3k+

pairing: Logan Howlett x fem!reader

notes: first, i want to say thank you so much for the support and love for this series! this is way shorter than the first chapter, only because i wanted the ending to feel abrupt to hopefully make it feel more realistic. anyways, i'm super excited for next chapter since it's a concept i haven't ever really done before. but for now, enjoy this while it lasts :)

warnings/tags: fluff, angst, outdated mindsets on women, character death

series masterlist - chapter 1 → chapter 3

Logan left New York City after you died, going back to Victor who told him exactly what he expected to hear, ‘you shouldn’t have fallen in love,’ and ‘the only people we can trust is each other’.

The Civil War had begun seven years after your death as he and Victor fought for the North for four whole years. There was one thing he always kept with him, the ring he bought for you, that he never got to use. It stayed in his pocket at all times, never leaving, always there.

He had been doing the same thing he was doing before he met you, moving around the country, never staying in a spot for too long, doing odd jobs to stay afloat.

Logan found himself in Chicago, walking along the sidewalk, the faint sound of a train in the distance. The air was heavy with the scent of coal smoke, the city bustling with life in the late afternoon. Men in long coats and women in modest dresses hurried past him, some tipping their hats in his direction as he walked by. It was just another city to him, another place he would pass through on his way to nowhere in particular.

It had been 26 years since you died. Twenty-six long years, but to Logan, it still felt like yesterday. The weight of your loss hadn’t lessened. If anything, it had only grown heavier. Every town, every face he saw, reminded him of you in some way. That soft smile you always wore, the way you’d brush your hair behind your ear when you were deep in thought. He kept your memory alive in the smallest of ways. The ring he’d never had the chance to give you stayed in his pocket, its presence a constant, painful reminder.

He walked without a destination, his mind lost in the past as his feet carried him down the streets of Chicago. The city had a pulse of its own, far different from the quiet life in New York where you’d once lived, where you had died in his arms. He hadn't felt truly alive since then—just going through the motions of life, the decades slipping by as if time itself didn’t matter.

As Logan neared a small schoolhouse, something caught his eye. A group of children were gathered outside, their laughter echoing through the street as they played. But it wasn’t the children that caused Logan to stop. It was the woman standing among them, her smile bright as she helped one of the younger boys tie his shoe. The world around him seemed to blur, fading away as his gaze locked onto her.

It was you.

Logan’s heart stilled in his chest. He blinked, sure that his eyes were playing tricks on him, but there you were, the same face, the same gentle presence. You looked exactly as you had all those years ago—maybe a little younger, maybe a little different, but unmistakably you.

For a moment, he couldn’t move. He just stood there, watching you laugh with the children, completely unaware of his presence. His mind struggled to make sense of what he was seeing. You were dead. He had been there. He had held you as you took your last breath, felt the life leave your body. And yet, here you were, as if the last 26 years had never happened.

Logan’s feet moved on their own, pulling him closer to the schoolyard. His heart pounded in his chest, his throat dry. His mind raced with a thousand questions. How could this be? Was it some kind of dream? A cruel trick?

But the closer he got, the more real you became. You were wearing a simple dress, your hair tied up in a way he hadn’t seen before, and yet everything about you felt so familiar. The way you carried yourself, the warmth in your eyes as you spoke to the children—it was all you.

“Excuse me, miss,” he called out, his voice rougher than he intended.

You turned at the sound of his voice, your eyes meeting his for the first time, and Logan felt his heart lurch. It was like being thrown back in time—like the years between this moment and the day you died had vanished. You looked at him with a polite curiosity, but there was no recognition in your eyes. No flicker of memory. To you, he was just a stranger.

“Yes, can I help you?” you asked, your voice soft, kind.

Logan’s breath caught in his throat. He didn’t know what to say. How could he possibly explain what was running through his mind? How could he tell you that he had loved you, that he had lost you, and that now—somehow—you were standing in front of him again?

“I... I thought I knew you,” he said, his voice low, almost a whisper. He didn’t trust himself to say more. His hands clenched into fists at his sides, the ring in his pocket suddenly feeling heavier than ever.

You smiled, but it was the smile of someone trying to be polite, not of someone who knew him. “I don’t think we’ve met before,” you said. “I’m Y/N. I’m the schoolteacher here.”

Logan swallowed hard. Of course, you wouldn’t remember. You had no idea who he was, no memory of the life you’d lived before. To you, this was just another day, another moment. But to Logan, it was everything. The realization hit him like a punch to the gut. You were here, alive again, but you weren’t his Y/N. Not yet, anyway.

“I’m Logan,” he finally managed, his voice thick with emotion he couldn’t hide. He couldn’t take his eyes off you, his heart aching in a way that felt both familiar and new.

You nodded, offering another warm smile. “It’s nice to meet you, Logan. Was there something you needed?”

Logan shook his head slowly, still reeling from the shock of seeing you again. “No,” he said quietly. “No, I... I just thought you looked like someone I used to know.”

You tilted your head slightly, a curious look in your eyes. “I get that sometimes. Chicago’s a big city, but it can feel small.”

Logan nodded, though his mind was far from this moment. He couldn’t tear his gaze away from you, couldn’t shake the feeling that this was some kind of miracle—a second chance. But what could he do with it? Could he approach you, tell you everything? Or would that only drive you away?

Before he could say anything more, the school bell rang, and the children started to gather their things. You glanced back at the sound, then looked at him with an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry, I have to get back to my class. But maybe I’ll see you around?”

Logan nodded, his throat too tight to respond with words. He watched as you turned and walked back toward the schoolhouse, his heart aching with the weight of all the things he couldn’t say.

For the first time in 26 years, Logan felt hope stir in his chest. You were here. You were alive. And even if you didn’t remember him, even if you didn’t know who he was... he couldn’t walk away. Not this time.

---

Logan stayed near the schoolyard most afternoons, hidden just enough not to draw attention, watching you from a distance. It felt strange, almost painful, standing there, knowing you had no idea who he was. Every time you emerged from the schoolhouse with Ida, another schoolteacher, chatting and laughing, the urge to approach you tugged at him. But fear held him back—fear that you’d think he was insane, or worse, that you’d reject him outright.

He clenched his fists inside his coat pockets, feeling the cool metal of the ring press against his palm. It had been with him through wars, across states, through lifetimes. And now, here you were, alive again, and he still didn’t know what to do with it.

It was absurd, the way his heart raced just from seeing you walk down the street. How after all these years—after so much pain—hope could sneak its way back in. This wasn’t just a coincidence. It couldn’t be. Logan wasn’t the type to believe in magic or miracles, but what else could explain this?

As he lingered, the school bell rang, signaling the end of another day. Children poured out of the building, laughing and running. A few hung on your arms as you walked them down the steps, their chatter filling the air.

Logan shifted from foot to foot, nerves prickling along his spine. Just talk to her, idiot. You’ve been through worse.

But when you stepped into the street, Ida at your side as usual, the words died in his throat.

“Y/N, you coming for dinner at my place tonight?” Ida asked, tucking a stray curl beneath her bonnet.

You smiled, brushing your hands on your skirts. “Can’t tonight, but I’ll stop by tomorrow. The kids wore me out today.”

Ida chuckled. “You’ll turn into an old maid before you’re thirty at this rate.”

You rolled your eyes, but your laugh was warm. Logan felt the sound of it settle deep in his chest—like an old memory coming back to life. It was a laugh he hadn’t heard in 26 years, and it took everything in him not to run to you right then and there.

As you and Ida turned the corner toward the tenement, Logan followed at a distance. His heart hammered against his ribs. He just needed a moment, a chance to say something—anything.

Finally, the two of you paused outside the building. Ida gave you a quick hug before heading upstairs, leaving you alone on the stoop. You stood there for a moment, adjusting your shawl against the evening chill.

This is it. Now or never.

Logan forced his feet to move, crossing the street toward you.

You looked up as he approached, a little surprised but not alarmed. “Logan, wasn’t it?”

His throat felt tight, but he gave a short nod. “Yeah. Logan.”

You smiled softly, the same kind smile that had haunted his dreams. “What brings you by?”

He cleared his throat, trying to find the right words. “I... I’ve been meaning to talk to you.”

Your brow furrowed slightly, but there was no fear, only curiosity. “About what?”

Logan shifted his weight, his hands tightening around the edges of his coat. The ring in his pocket seemed to burn against his skin, a reminder of everything unsaid.

“I... You remind me of someone,” he admitted, voice low. “Someone I lost a long time ago.”

You studied him for a moment, your gaze steady but gentle. “I’m sorry,” you said quietly. “That must’ve been hard.”

Logan’s jaw clenched. “Yeah,” he muttered. “It was.”

There was a beat of silence between you—heavy, charged with the weight of all the things Logan couldn’t say. You didn’t know him, didn’t know what you’d meant to him in another life, but standing here, so close to you again, it felt like the world had tilted back into place.

“You... wanna walk for a bit?” Logan asked suddenly, the words tumbling out before he could stop them.

You hesitated, but only for a moment. Something in his expression must’ve stirred your kindness, because you nodded. “Alright.”

The two of you started down the sidewalk together, the city humming around you. Logan kept his hands stuffed in his pockets, fingers brushing the ring again and again like a talisman.

“So, how long have you been in Chicago?” you asked, glancing over at him.

Logan shrugged. “Not long. Just passing through.”

You gave a small smile. “It’s a good place to get lost in for a while.”

He huffed a quiet laugh. “Yeah. Guess so.”

The conversation fell into a comfortable rhythm after that—small talk, nothing too deep. Logan told you bits and pieces about his travels, careful not to reveal too much. He learned that you’d moved to Chicago a couple of years ago, taking the teaching job because it felt right.

“I’ve always liked working with kids,” you said with a soft smile. “There’s something... hopeful about it, you know?”

Logan nodded, though hope had been a foreign concept to him for a long time. But walking beside you now, listening to your voice, he felt something stir in him—a flicker of warmth he thought he’d lost forever.

As the evening deepened and the sky turned a dusky purple, you reached your building again. You stopped on the stoop, turning to face him.

“Thank you for the walk,” you said, your smile gentle. “It was nice.”

Logan nodded, his heart heavy with everything he wanted to say but couldn’t. “Yeah. It was.”

For a moment, it felt like time stood still—like the universe had bent just enough to give him this moment with you. And even though you didn’t remember him, didn’t know the history you shared, Logan knew he couldn’t let you slip away again.

“Y/N...” he began, his voice low, almost hesitant.

You tilted your head, waiting.

He swallowed hard, the words catching in his throat. “Can I see you again?”

Your smile widened, something warm flickering in your eyes. “I’d like that.”

Logan gave a short nod, his heart pounding against his ribs.

“Good,” he murmured.

And for the first time in 26 years, Logan allowed himself to believe—just for a moment—that maybe, just maybe, he’d found his way back to you.

---

You had taken up Ida’s offer after all, you lived in the same building so it wasn’t like it was out of the way for you.

“Oh, hey! Thought you weren’t gonna come by.”

You shrugged, taking off your shawl, “changed my mind.” You sat down on the couch and told Ida about your walk with Logan, and she listened intently.

“I’m surprised you hadn’t noticed him. He’s been watching the schoolyard for the past few weeks.”

"Wait, what do you mean, ‘he’s been watching the schoolyard for weeks?’” you asked, your brows knitting together as you leaned forward.

Ida waved her hand dismissively but gave you a sly smile. “Oh, don’t get the wrong idea. He hasn’t been creepy about it or anything. Just... noticed him hanging around, that’s all. Kind of hard to miss a guy like that, don’t you think?”

You blinked, a sudden flush creeping up your neck. “A guy like what?”

“Oh, come on, Y/N,” she teased, sitting down across from you. “Tall, rugged... that serious, brooding look. You’re telling me you didn’t notice? He’s practically been glued to the corner across from the schoolhouse for days.”

You chewed on your bottom lip, thinking back to the walk you’d just had with Logan. You hadn’t seen him watching the school, but now that Ida mentioned it... there had been something in his eyes. A familiarity you couldn’t quite place, like he was looking at you but seeing something—or someone—else.

“I didn’t know he was hanging around,” you admitted, glancing down at your hands. “But... he seems kind. Sad, but kind.”

Ida leaned back, crossing her arms over her chest with a thoughtful hum. “Sad, huh? You picked up on that, too?”

You nodded, feeling a strange tightness in your chest. There had been a weight to Logan’s presence, something unspoken in his voice, like he was carrying the world on his shoulders. And then there was the way he looked at you—like he wanted to say something but couldn’t bring himself to.

“You think he’s okay?” you asked quietly.

Ida shrugged, her teasing expression softening. “Who knows? The world’s a tough place. We all got our own burdens to carry. But... maybe he’s looking for something.”

“Looking for what?”

“Maybe someone to share the load,” she replied with a small smile, her eyes twinkling. “Maybe that someone’s you.”

You shook your head, the idea seeming too far-fetched. “I don’t even know him, Ida. I mean, we just talked for the first time today.”

“Hey, stranger things have happened,” Ida said, getting up to grab a pot of tea from the stove. “You felt something, right? That’s not nothing.”

You sighed, leaning back against the couch. “I guess. He did say I reminded him of someone he lost.”

Ida paused, setting the teapot down carefully. “Lost, huh? That would explain the sad part. But... why hang around you then? What’s he hoping to find?”

“I don’t know,” you murmured, more to yourself than to her. The idea that Logan had been watching you, even unknowingly, made something stir in your chest—a mix of curiosity and something you couldn’t quite name.

Ida handed you a cup of tea, sitting back down beside you. “Well, maybe next time you see him, you can ask.”

You looked up at her, one eyebrow raised. “Ask him why he’s hanging around the schoolyard?”

Ida laughed softly. “Maybe not that bluntly, but yeah. There’s something about him, Y/N. Might be worth finding out what.”

You sipped the tea, the warmth spreading through you. Maybe Ida was right. Maybe Logan was carrying something heavy, and maybe—just maybe—you could help.

---

The next day, you found yourself more aware of your surroundings as you walked to the schoolhouse. Every sound, every movement seemed sharper. You scanned the street, looking for a familiar figure, but Logan wasn’t there—at least, not that you could see.

The day went on as usual, though you felt a bit distracted, your mind drifting to the walk you’d shared with him. There was something about Logan that pulled at you, a quiet intensity that you couldn’t shake. He was a mystery, and part of you wanted to solve it.

When the school day ended, you lingered outside a little longer than usual, hoping—half-expecting—that he might show up again. The children ran off, their laughter echoing down the street as they disappeared into their homes. You smiled at the sight, but your thoughts were elsewhere.

“Looking for someone?”

You jumped slightly, turning to find Logan standing just a few feet away. He had approached so quietly you hadn’t even heard him.

“Logan,” you said, surprised but not unwelcome. “I didn’t see you.”

He gave a small shrug, his hands shoved into his coat pockets. “Didn’t mean to sneak up on you.”

You smiled softly, your heartbeat slowing as the initial surprise wore off. “It’s alright. Just didn’t expect to see you today.”

Logan shifted his weight, his gaze flicking to the ground for a moment before meeting yours again. “I wanted to see if you’d like to take another walk. If you’re not too tired, that is.”

You hesitated, but only for a second. There was something in his voice—something vulnerable, almost hesitant. And despite not knowing him well, you found yourself wanting to say yes.

“I’d like that,” you said, stepping down from the schoolhouse stoop.

The two of you started walking again, this time in a different direction, the afternoon sun casting long shadows over the street. For a while, neither of you spoke. It was a comfortable silence, though, the kind that didn’t need to be filled with words. Logan walked beside you, his steps steady but deliberate, like he was trying to figure something out.

“Why’ve you been hanging around the school?” you finally asked, your curiosity getting the better of you. “Ida said she noticed you there for a while.”

Logan’s jaw tightened slightly, and he didn’t answer right away. When he did, his voice was quiet. “I wasn’t trying to... I don’t know. I guess I was just... drawn there.”

“Drawn there?” you echoed, glancing up at him.

He nodded, his gaze fixed ahead. “Yeah. Like I said before, you remind me of someone.”

You didn’t press, sensing that whatever it was, it was personal. Instead, you walked in silence for a few more steps before Logan stopped abruptly.

“I don’t want to make you uncomfortable,” he said, turning to face you fully. His eyes were intense, but there was something almost apologetic in them. “If I am, just tell me, and I’ll leave you alone.”

You shook your head quickly. “No, you’re not making me uncomfortable.”

Logan studied your face, his expression unreadable for a moment. Then he gave a small nod, almost as if he was relieved.

“Alright,” he said quietly.

The conversation shifted after that, lightening as you talked about small things—the city, your students, even the weather. Logan listened more than he spoke, but you could feel him relax bit by bit, the tension in his posture easing as the afternoon wore on.

When you reached your building again, Logan stopped with you on the stoop. There was a moment of hesitation, like he wasn’t sure if he should stay or go.

“I’ll see you tomorrow?” you asked, offering him a small smile.

Logan looked at you for a long beat before nodding. “Yeah. Tomorrow.”

As you turned to head inside, you couldn’t help but glance back over your shoulder. Logan was still standing there, watching you with that same look in his eyes—the one that made you feel like you were more than just a stranger to him.

And in that moment, you realized... you didn’t want to be just a stranger to him either.

---

After about a week of Logan walking you home, it became a familiar routine. Each time, you’d stand on the stoop, exchanging a few words before you’d head inside, always with that lingering feeling of something left unsaid. But tonight was different—the air was colder, and the wind was biting, so when you reached your building, you didn’t hesitate.

“You’re not going out in that cold again,” you said firmly, reaching for his arm. He tensed slightly under your touch, but you ignored it, tugging him toward the door. “Ten minutes outside in the cold, you need to warm up before you go.”

Logan didn’t protest, but you could sense his hesitation. He glanced around the dimly lit hallway as you led him up the stairs to your small apartment.

“Don’t worry,” you teased, trying to lighten the mood. “I won’t keep you long. Just until you can feel your fingers again.”

He gave a small, almost imperceptible nod, following you inside. Once you were both in, you motioned for him to sit down on the worn couch, tossing your shawl onto a chair as you made your way to the stove to boil some water for tea.

Logan stood there for a moment, his eyes scanning the modest space, before finally sitting down. His presence seemed to fill the room, making it feel smaller, more intimate.

“You don’t gotta fuss,” he muttered, his gruff voice breaking the silence. “I’m alright.”

“Humor me,” you replied with a soft smile, setting a kettle on the stove. “Besides, I’ve been dragging you along on these walks. Least I can do is make sure you’re not freezing to death.”

Logan huffed a quiet laugh, leaning back into the couch. His eyes followed your movements, though his expression stayed guarded. He looked... cautious, like he wasn’t sure how to be here with you, in this space. It was strange, this carefulness, coming from a man who seemed so unbreakable.

“Why don’t you tell me more about yourself?” you asked, turning to face him while the water heated up. “We’ve been walking for a week, and I feel like I barely know you.”

Logan’s gaze shifted, and you could tell he was weighing his words. “Not much to tell,” he said after a beat. “Just a guy who’s been around a while.”

You raised an eyebrow, crossing your arms. “That’s it? No family, no friends? You just... wander?”

He looked down at his hands, his fingers idly tracing the worn fabric of the couch. “Had family once. Friends, too. Lost most of ‘em.”

There was a heaviness in his voice, and you could feel the weight of his words. You didn’t push him, though. Instead, you poured the hot water into two cups, walking over and handing him one.

“Sorry,” you said softly. “That must’ve been hard.”

Logan took the cup but didn’t drink right away. He stared down into the tea, his expression unreadable. “Life’s hard for everyone,” he muttered, more to himself than to you.

You sat down beside him, the warmth from the cup seeping into your hands. For a while, the two of you sat in silence, sipping tea and letting the quiet fill the space. There was something about being near him that made you feel calm, like the world slowed down for a little while when he was around.

“Why’d you let me walk with you?” Logan asked suddenly, his voice rougher than before.

You blinked, caught off guard by the question. “What do you mean?”

“You don’t know me,” he said, shaking his head slightly. “Most people wouldn’t... They’d be scared, or they’d push me away. But you... you let me stay.”

You frowned, trying to find the right words. “I don’t know... I guess I just felt like... I should.” You shrugged, feeling a little self-conscious under his intense gaze. “Besides, you’re not exactly a scary guy. Brooding, sure, but not scary.”

A small, barely-there smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “You’re not afraid of much, are you?”

You laughed softly, shaking your head. “Not really. I mean, what’s the point of being afraid? Life’s hard enough without worrying about things that might not even happen.”

Logan’s smile faded, replaced by that familiar look of sadness. He stared into his cup for a moment, then set it down on the table in front of him. “Yeah,” he muttered. “Guess you’re right.”

The silence stretched between you again, but this time it felt heavier, like there was something unsaid hanging in the air. You could feel it, pressing down on both of you, but neither of you seemed ready to break it.

Finally, Logan stood up, his movements slow and deliberate. “I should go,” he said, though he didn’t make a move toward the door.

You stood up too, your heart pounding a little harder than usual. “Logan...”

He turned to face you, his eyes dark and full of something you couldn’t quite place. “Yeah?”

You took a step closer, your hand reaching out to touch his arm again. “You don’t have to carry it all alone,” you said softly.

For a moment, he just looked at you, his expression unreadable. Then, without saying a word, he nodded once, a silent acknowledgment that you didn’t need to explain.

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” he said quietly before turning to leave.

You watched him go, your heart heavy but hopeful. There was something between you—something unspoken, something old—and you weren’t ready to let it go.

Not yet.

---

It had taken a few more days to convince Logan to come back into your apartment. You weren’t sure how you convinced him this time, but you were happy that you did.

Your apartment smelled nice and homey. Before you had left for work, you had put bread in the oven to bake, and now, as you came back home with Logan in tow, it was finished. The warm, inviting scent of freshly baked bread filled the room as you stepped inside. Logan hesitated in the doorway, lingering for a moment before following you in, his expression unreadable but curious.

You busied yourself with the bread, slicing into the crust and offering Logan a piece. He took it, though his attention seemed more focused on you than the food.

"Thanks," he muttered, taking a bite.

You smiled, trying to ignore the way your heart sped up just from him being here. "I was thinking..." you started, turning to grab a couple of plates from the cupboard. "Maybe we could go into the city tomorrow? It’s market day. There's a lot to see, and it’d be nice to get out of the schoolhouse routine for a bit."

Logan raised an eyebrow, leaning back against the counter. "Market, huh?"

"Yeah, you know, just... walk around. Maybe pick up a few things." You looked over at him, half expecting him to decline, but to your surprise, he didn’t.

"Alright," he said, his voice low but without hesitation. "I’ll come with you."

You smiled, feeling a small flutter of excitement in your chest. "Great. It’ll be fun. I promise."

---

The next day, you found yourself walking through the bustling streets of Chicago with Logan by your side. The market was crowded, full of people haggling and chatting, the air thick with the smell of fresh produce, spices, and the occasional whiff of roasting meat. It was a world away from the quiet walks you'd shared, and you could feel Logan's unease in the busy atmosphere. But he stayed close, his hand brushing yours more than once as you wove through the crowd.

"Do you come here often?" Logan asked, his eyes scanning the vendors with mild interest.

"Once or twice a month," you replied. "I like the energy here. Makes the city feel alive, you know?"

Logan grunted in response, though he didn’t seem entirely convinced. You could tell he wasn’t used to this—being around so many people—but he stuck close to you, his presence protective without being overbearing.

After a while, you stopped at a stall selling flowers. The colors were vibrant, a burst of life in the middle of the dusty street. You picked up a small bouquet of wildflowers, smiling as you held them up.

"These are my favorite," you said, glancing up at Logan. "They're simple but... I don't know, they make me happy."

Logan’s gaze softened as he looked at the flowers in your hand, then back at you. There was something in his eyes, a flicker of something unspoken, but he didn’t say anything. Instead, he reached into his coat and pulled out a few coins, handing them to the vendor before you could protest.

"Logan, you don’t have to—"

"Consider it a thank you," he said quietly, cutting you off. "For the bread."

You blinked, surprised but touched by the gesture. "Well, thank you."

He nodded, and the two of you continued walking, the flowers resting in the crook of your arm as the city bustled around you. For a while, you walked in comfortable silence, the sounds of the market fading into the background as the two of you wandered further from the busy streets. Eventually, you found a quiet park at the edge of the city, a small, peaceful space away from the noise.

You sat down on a bench, feeling the cool breeze brush against your skin. Logan sat beside you, his posture relaxed but his eyes always scanning the area, as if he couldn’t fully let his guard down.

"Do you ever stop looking over your shoulder?" you asked, half teasing but curious.

Logan’s mouth twitched into a small smile, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. "Old habit."

You studied him for a moment, sensing there was more behind those words. He had a way of holding himself, like he was always ready for something, always waiting. It made you wonder just how much he’d seen, how much he’d lived through.

"I’m glad you came with me today," you said softly, looking out at the park. "I feel like I’ve been stuck in a routine for a while now. It’s nice to just... do something different."

Logan glanced at you, his gaze lingering a little longer than usual. "I’m glad I came too," he admitted, his voice low.

There was something in the way he said it, something that made your heart skip a beat. The air between you felt different, charged with a quiet tension that neither of you seemed willing to break. You wondered if he felt it too—the strange pull between you, like something just beneath the surface was waiting to be uncovered.

After a long pause, Logan spoke again. "I ain’t good at... this." He gestured vaguely, his brow furrowing as he searched for the right words. "Being close to people."

You turned to him, surprised by the admission. "You’re doing fine," you said gently.

Logan’s jaw clenched slightly, and he shook his head. "It’s not that simple."

You felt a pang of something—sympathy, maybe, or understanding. Whatever it was, it made you reach out, your hand lightly brushing his. "You don’t have to explain," you said softly. "I get it."

Logan’s eyes flickered down to where your hand rested near his. For a moment, he didn’t move. Then, slowly, he turned his hand over, his rough fingers brushing against yours in the faintest of touches. It wasn’t much, but it felt like a step—like maybe, just maybe, he was letting you in.

---

As you walked to the tenement building after work one day, you glanced over at Logan. “You ever been to the exhibition hall in the city?”

Logan looked over to you, slightly puzzled by the question. “The exhibition?”

You nodded, turning toward him. “There’s a display of inventions and art from all over. I heard they’ve got this new thing—electric lights. I was thinking about going this weekend, and… maybe you’d like to come with me?”

For a moment, Logan just stared at you, as if unsure what to say. The idea of stepping out into the city, surrounded by people, probably wasn’t something he did often. But he shifted slightly, his eyes softening in that way they did when you caught him off guard.

“You want me to go with you?” he asked, a hint of surprise in his voice.

“Well, yeah,” you said, smiling. “We’ve been walking the same few streets for days. Thought it might be nice to do something different. Besides, I’m curious about those lights. They say it’s going to change the way people live.”

Logan gave a low, thoughtful hum, and for a moment, you worried he might decline. But then he nodded slowly, his expression softening further. “Alright. I’ll go.”

Your smile widened. “Great! We can meet at my place on Saturday afternoon, then head out.”

The conversation drifted back into easier topics—your students, a new bakery that had opened nearby, and the way the city seemed to grow busier every day. But beneath it all, you couldn’t shake the feeling that this small invitation marked a shift, a way to see more of who Logan was beyond the quiet man who walked beside you in silence. Maybe out in the world, you’d understand him better.

---

Saturday came quickly, and the two of you walked side by side through the busy streets, the sounds of horses and carriages filling the air. You led Logan through the bustling avenues toward the exhibition hall, your excitement barely contained.

“Ever seen anything like this?” you asked, glancing up at him as the towering hall came into view.

Logan’s eyes flicked over the building, a hint of amusement tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Not in a while.”

Inside, the hall was a wonder of modern marvels. Booths lined with mechanical inventions, sculptures, and paintings from around the world. The hum of excitement filled the air, and the bright new electric lights cast a strange, almost magical glow over everything.

You wandered the displays together, your curiosity leading the way. Logan stayed close, his attention less on the inventions and more on you. Every now and then, he'd glance at a piece of machinery or a strange-looking contraption, but his eyes kept drifting back to your face, watching the way your expression changed with each new discovery.

"This is incredible," you murmured, leaning in to get a closer look at a large machine labeled as an ‘automatic loom.’ You smiled at Logan, your excitement clear. "Can you imagine how much time this would save?"

Logan nodded, though you could tell his thoughts were elsewhere. "Yeah, I can see how it'd be useful."

You moved to the next display, but Logan lingered for a moment. When he finally caught up, you were already studying a painting—a soft, pastoral scene that contrasted with the industrial energy around you.

"It's beautiful, isn’t it?" you said, glancing at him.

Logan’s gaze flicked to the painting, but quickly returned to you. "Yeah," he said, though it was clear he wasn’t talking about the art.

You felt his eyes on you again and looked up, meeting his gaze. There was something there—something that made your heart skip. Logan had always been protective, always hovering just close enough to shield you if need be. But this felt different, like there was more to it now.

"You sure this ain’t boring for you?" you asked, trying to lighten the moment. "I know you’re not one for crowds."

Logan gave a quiet grunt, his version of a chuckle. "It’s fine. Long as you’re enjoying yourself."

You smiled, touched by the sentiment. "I am. Thanks for coming with me."

For a while, you wandered together in silence, taking in the sights and sounds of the exhibition hall. The crowds around you buzzed with excitement, but the space between you and Logan felt almost separate—like the world had shrunk to just the two of you.

At one point, you stopped in front of a display showcasing early electric light bulbs. "Look at that," you said, pointing to the glass bulbs flickering with soft light. "They’re saying these will replace gas lamps soon."

Logan raised an eyebrow. "Doesn’t seem right, replacing something that’s worked for so long."

"Change is good sometimes," you said, glancing at him. "It keeps things moving forward."

Logan met your eyes, his expression soft but thoughtful. "Guess I’ve never been good with change."

You tilted your head slightly, sensing the weight behind his words. "Maybe you just haven’t found the right reason to embrace it yet."

For a moment, Logan didn’t respond. His gaze lingered on you, like he was trying to make sense of something. Then, slowly, he nodded. "Maybe."

As the afternoon wore on, the two of you eventually stepped outside the exhibition hall, the sun low in the sky and the city’s evening glow starting to take over. The air felt cooler now, a welcome relief after the warmth of the crowded hall.

You walked beside Logan in comfortable silence, but the charged undercurrent between you hadn’t faded. It felt like something had shifted—like you’d both acknowledged a deeper connection, even if neither of you had fully put it into words yet.

"You want to get something to eat?" Logan asked, breaking the silence.

"Sure," you said, smiling up at him. "There’s a place not far from here. They make the best stew."

Logan nodded, falling into step beside you again as you made your way toward the small restaurant you had in mind. The quiet between you was easy, but there was an unspoken understanding that something had changed between the two of you today. Neither of you said it out loud, but you didn’t need to.

As you entered the restaurant, the warm scent of food filled the air, and you found a table near the back, away from the main crowd. Logan took the seat across from you, his eyes scanning the room out of habit, but eventually settling back on you.

"This place isn’t so bad," he said, giving a small nod of approval.

You laughed softly. "Glad it meets your standards."

Logan smirked, but there was a softness behind it. As the two of you talked over dinner, you realized just how much you enjoyed moments like this—quiet, simple, yet meaningful. It wasn’t about grand gestures or fancy places; it was about being together, about the way Logan made you feel safe and seen.

---

One day, after inviting Logan into your apartment once again, you set out to make tea like you always do.

You felt a cough building up in your throat, so you grabbed a small handkerchief from the counter and coughed into it. You had seen the school doctor while you were at work, and he said you just had a mild cold.

Logan, who was sitting on the couch, immediately turned his head to you, his heart almost beating out of his chest. He’d heard that cough before—26 years ago.

"Y/N?" he asked, his voice low, almost hesitant.

You turned around, still holding the handkerchief to your mouth. "Yeah?" you answered casually, noticing the tension in his voice but thinking nothing of it. “Just a little cough, nothing serious. I saw the doctor earlier, and he said it’s just a cold.”

Logan stood up slowly, his eyes fixed on you, his expression unreadable. He took a step closer, his mind racing back to 1854, to your last days—bedridden and coughing, just like this. He had lost you then, watching helplessly as the illness took you. He couldn't shake the feeling, the memory, and the fear that history might repeat itself.

"Cold, huh?" he said, trying to keep his voice steady, but there was an edge to it.

"Yeah, no big deal." You smiled, folding the handkerchief and putting it back in your pocket. "Really, Logan, I’m fine."

Logan’s jaw tightened. He had seen too much, lived too long to believe in coincidence. This was too familiar, too painful. And yet, here you were—alive, vibrant. This time, he couldn’t lose you again. He wouldn't.

"You should take it easy," he said, stepping closer, his tone gentler now. "You been workin' too hard at that school."

You raised an eyebrow, sensing his concern but not quite understanding the depth of it. "I’m fine, really. It’s just a little cold. Nothing that rest and tea won’t fix."

Logan didn’t argue, but the worry in his eyes didn’t fade. He reached out, his hand hovering for a moment before he gently brushed his fingers against your arm, grounding himself in the fact that you were here, with him. This wasn’t 1854. But the memory haunted him.

You noticed the way he was looking at you, his eyes searching yours like he was afraid to lose you. "Hey," you said softly, resting a hand on his. "What’s really going on?"

Logan’s breath hitched for a moment, and he fought the urge to pull you closer, to tell you everything. But how could he? How could he explain that you’d been here before—that he’d watched you die, that he’d loved you once in another life, in another time? Instead, he just shook his head, the weight of those memories too heavy to share.

"Just... don’t push yourself too hard," he said, his voice quieter now. "I’ve seen people get worse when they don’t take care of themselves."

You nodded, though his intensity still lingered in your mind. "I promise, I’ll rest." You gave him a reassuring smile, trying to lighten the mood. "Besides, you’ll make sure I do, right?"

Logan’s lips quirked into the smallest smile, but there was still something distant in his eyes. "Yeah," he said softly. "I will."

The moment hung in the air, the unspoken weight of Logan’s past pressing down on him, though you couldn’t see it. You were the same, and yet not. The woman he had once loved and lost was standing right in front of him, alive, but without any memory of that life you’d shared.

---

You didn’t see Logan for a few days, which was unusual, ever since he started walking with you he had never missed a day.

You couldn’t help but worry a tad bit, it wasn’t like him to just not be there. Even Ida had made a few comments, including now as you sat in her apartment, just a few doors down from your own, sipping tea.

“He hasn’t been by at all?” Ida asked, her brow furrowed with concern. “That man never misses a day. He’s usually lurking outside, waitin’ to walk you home.”

You nodded, biting your lip. “Yeah, I noticed. It’s been three days now.”

Ida leaned forward, her hands folded on the table. “You don’t think somethin’s happened to him, do ya? That man is tough, sure, but even the toughest get into trouble sometimes.”

You shook your head quickly, not wanting to entertain the thought. “No, I’m sure he’s fine. Maybe he just needed some time alone. He’s... not the type to explain himself much.”

Ida hummed, though she didn’t look convinced. “Maybe. But if he doesn’t show up soon, you ought to go find him. He’s a good man, Y/N, and you’ve only known him a month, but it’s clear he cares about you.”

The truth of her words settled over you, heavy and unspoken. You cared about Logan too. Even if you didn’t quite understand the pull between you, it was there—undeniable. And the fact that he hadn’t shown up, without so much as a word, made your chest tighten with worry.

Later that evening, after you’d left Ida’s apartment and returned to your own, you couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling. Logan had become part of your routine, part of your day-to-day life. And now that he was gone, it felt like something was missing.

Just as you were about to turn in for the night, a knock sounded at the door.

Your heart jumped, and you rushed to open it, half expecting—half hoping—it would be Logan.

And there he was.

He stood in the doorway, his coat damp from the light rain outside, his hair slightly tousled. His eyes, though, were what caught you—the familiar intensity, but with something else lurking beneath. Something darker.

“Logan,” you breathed, stepping aside to let him in. “Where have you been? I was starting to get worried.”

Logan stepped into your small apartment, his broad frame somehow filling the space, making it feel even smaller. He didn’t say anything right away, just ran a hand through his hair and exhaled sharply, as if he were trying to gather his thoughts.

“I needed time,” he finally said, his voice low and gravelly.

“Time for what?” you asked gently, sensing that whatever he was about to say wasn’t easy for him.

Logan glanced at you, then looked away, as if he couldn’t meet your eyes. His jaw tightened, and you could see the struggle on his face—like he was wrestling with something deep inside. After a long pause, he spoke again, quieter this time.

“I’m scared,” he admitted, the words sounding foreign in his mouth, like he wasn’t used to saying them.

You blinked, taken aback. Logan was the last person you ever expected to hear those words from. “Scared of what?”

His eyes flickered up to meet yours, and you saw the vulnerability there, raw and unguarded. “Of losing you,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

You stared at him, your heart pounding in your chest. “Logan… we’ve only known each other for a month,” you said softly, though the words felt strange even as they left your mouth. Because deep down, it felt like you’d known him much longer—like this connection between you was more than just a month in the making.

“I know,” Logan said, his voice rough. “But it doesn’t change how I feel.”

There was something in the way he was looking at you, something desperate and pained, like he was holding onto you with everything he had. You wanted to ask him why, to understand what had happened in his past to make him feel this way. But instead, you just reached out, your hand finding his.

“I’m not going anywhere,” you said quietly, squeezing his hand gently. “I’m right here.”

Logan’s breath hitched, and before you could say anything more, he stepped closer, his hand cupping the side of your face. His thumb brushed your cheek, his touch rough but gentle, and for a moment, the world around you seemed to fall away. It was just the two of you, standing in the quiet of your apartment, the air between you thick with unspoken words.

And then, without warning, he leaned in and kissed you.

It wasn’t a gentle kiss. It was urgent, almost desperate, like he was trying to tell you everything he couldn’t put into words. His lips moved against yours with a fierceness that took your breath away, and for a moment, all you could do was hold onto him, your fingers curling into the fabric of his coat as you kissed him back.

When he finally pulled away, his forehead rested against yours, his breath warm against your skin. His hand still cupped your cheek, his thumb gently brushing along your jawline.

“I can’t lose you,” he whispered, his voice thick with emotion.

Your heart ached at the raw honesty in his words, and you wanted to promise him that he wouldn’t—that you were here, that you weren’t going anywhere. But something about the way he said it made you hesitate, made you wonder what he wasn’t telling you.

“Logan…” you started, your voice soft. “What aren’t you telling me?”

For a long moment, he didn’t answer. His hand dropped from your face, and he took a step back, his expression guarded once again. The walls he’d let down just moments ago seemed to be rising back up.

“I’ve lived a long time,” he said finally, his voice low. “I’ve lost people before. People I cared about. I can’t… I can’t go through that again.”

You felt a pang in your chest at his words, but there was something else there too—something unspoken. “Logan… who did you lose?”

His eyes flickered with pain, but he didn’t answer. Instead, he just shook his head, as if he couldn’t bring himself to say it out loud.

You wanted to press him, to understand, but you also knew that Logan wasn’t someone who opened up easily. So instead, you just stepped closer, wrapping your arms around him in a gentle hug. He stiffened at first, but then his arms slowly came around you, pulling you close as if he was afraid to let go.

“I’m here,” you whispered against his chest. “I’m not going anywhere.”

For now, that was all you could offer him. And for now, it seemed to be enough.

---

You and Ida sat in the back of the rattling carriage, bundled against the cold, the wheels creaking beneath the weight of your bags from the market. The late afternoon sky was heavy with clouds, promising rain before nightfall and a storm by morning.

“Supposed to come down hard tomorrow,” Ida said, clutching her shawl tighter. “Glad we got everything done now. Don’t wanna be caught in that mess.”

You smiled, shifting a bag of potatoes off your lap. “It’ll be nice to have an excuse to stay in and rest. Logan’s been after me about taking it easy anyway.”

Ida gave you a knowing look, her brow lifting. “That man likes you, Y/N. More than you think.”

You shrugged, though your cheeks warmed slightly. “I know he cares. He’s just… different. Keeps to himself.”

“He’s different, alright,” Ida muttered, peering out the carriage window. “But he’s not the type to care about someone without good reason. Don’t let that one get away.”

You didn’t respond, but your thoughts drifted to Logan—how he had kissed you that night, holding you like you were the only thing keeping him grounded. There was something ancient in his touch, like he had carried the weight of loss for far too long. You didn’t fully understand it, but you felt it—something deeper than words or time.

The carriage jolted suddenly, jerking you forward in your seat. The horse up front whinnied, wild and panicked.

“Whoa!” the driver shouted, yanking hard on the reins.

You clutched Ida’s arm, your heart racing. “What’s going on?”

The driver cursed, standing in his seat to get a better look. “The damn harness snapped! The horse—”

Before he could finish, the horse bolted, the broken leather straps slapping wildly behind it. The carriage lurched, and you and Ida were thrown sideways. The wheels screamed as they spun out of control, the driver shouting as he fought to keep it steady.

“Hold on!” he yelled.

The world tilted violently as the carriage careened off the road, slamming into a ditch. Bags spilled across the floor, and you hit your shoulder hard against the side wall. Ida’s scream filled your ears, but the noise was drowned out by the thunder of the collapsing carriage, wood splintering and wheels buckling beneath the weight.

And then—nothing.

The carriage stopped, shuddering to a halt in a twisted heap at the bottom of the ditch. The rain started, light at first, pattering against the wreckage.

---

Logan was walking back toward your tenement building, the collar of his coat turned up against the cold drizzle, when he saw it—just beyond the next block, down by the road.

The sight hit him like a punch to the chest.

A carriage, overturned, one of the wheels still spinning lazily. The horse was gone, its reins dangling uselessly from the harness. People were gathering, but no one dared approach the wreckage yet.

Logan’s heart stopped. He knew—he just knew.

His feet moved before he could think. He sprinted toward the wreck, rain falling harder now, soaking through his clothes. His boots hit the muddy road with heavy thuds, splashing water as he ran faster than any ordinary man should.

By the time he reached the scene, a bystander had climbed down, trying to pry the splintered door open. Logan shoved him aside without a word, claws itching under his skin, ready to tear the door off if need be.

“Someone’s inside!” the man stammered. “Two women—”

Logan didn’t wait. His hands found the edge of the door, and with a growl of effort, he yanked it off the hinges. Inside the crumpled interior, he saw you, half-buried beneath scattered bags.

“Y/N!” His voice cracked, raw and frantic. He dropped to his knees and pulled you free, cradling you in his arms.

You stirred, barely conscious, your head lolling against his chest. Blood streaked your temple, and your breath came in shallow gasps.

“Logan…?” you whispered, confused, your hand weakly grasping his coat.

“I got you,” Logan said, his voice breaking. “I’m here. You’re gonna be fine.” But even as he said it, dread gnawed at him—this wasn’t fine. It was happening again.

Ida groaned nearby, struggling to sit up, but Logan’s focus was locked on you. He pressed a hand against your side, where your ribs felt wrong under his touch. He could feel the heat of your blood seeping into his fingers.

“No, no, no…” Logan whispered, shaking his head. The storm raged around him, but all he could hear was the shallow rasp of your breathing.

You looked up at him, your gaze unfocused, but your lips curled into the faintest smile. “I told you… I’d rest…”

“Don’t,” Logan begged, his forehead pressing against yours. “Don’t do this. Stay with me. You hear me? Stay.”

You blinked slowly, your hand slipping from his coat. “I… tried…”

Logan clenched his jaw, biting down hard against the scream building in his chest. His healing mutation would keep him alive through anything—but it couldn’t save you. Not now. Not again.

He kissed your forehead, his breath shuddering. “I can’t lose you again, darlin’. Not like this…”

Your breath hitched once, then stopped.

“No,” Logan whispered, rocking you in his arms. “No, no, no…”

His hands trembled as he pulled you closer, your lifeless body limp against him. The rain poured down harder, drumming on the wreckage, but Logan didn’t care. He sat there, holding you, feeling the familiar, soul-crushing emptiness settle in his chest like an old wound tearing open again.

And still, he held you. Because this time, just like 26 years ago, he couldn’t let go.

in this chapter logan is 48 years old and reader is around 22-24 years old. just a reminder that going forward there is going to be an age gap between the two since logan obviously keeps getting older.

#logan howlett x reader #logan howlett x you #wolverine x reader #wolverine x you #james howlett x reader #james howlett x you #logan howlett #logan howlett fanfiction #logan howlett x fem!reader #logan howlett fic #i love you in every time

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aria-ashryver · 3 months ago

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💛 This is a signal boost for the Alanqar family! 💛

I never know what to feel when I check Tumblr these days. On the one hand, I am filled with rage, fear, and helplessness when I check in on the families I have come to know and love and I see what hell they are going through. I can't even begin to imagine the terror that they must feel, every second of the day, simply trying to survive.

I see my friend Ahmed | @abuyaminfamily / @ahmedabuyamin | posting pictures of the bullets that ripped through the tent where he and his family are sheltering. The bullet barely missed him. He could have died. He has young children. He is the father to a newborn baby.

And yet, as horrific as it is, I still thank all the stars in the sky that I got to read that post at all. I am thankful that he is able to keep posting. I am thankful that he and his wife and children are still here. Because I don't want to face the insurmountable dread of the idea that one morning, I might wake up to hear nothing from them at all.

In Ahmed's words:

Do we have to die in silence for someone to notice us? Every day we live as if it might be the last. Is there anyone who hears our cries? Does anyone care that we are struggling just to stay alive? We are not asking for the impossible; we are just asking for life. 🙏

✨✨ [DONATE to their vetted GFM here!!] ✨✨

I went to re-read something in my DMs from him and my heart stopped in my chest because I couldn't find the messages. Because his account had been terminated, AGAIN. I have lost count of how many times (five times now? six?!) that he has had to make a new account, and painstakingly rebuild his following, because tumblr keeps silencing the voices speaking up about these atrocities.

I have seen a number of posts lately expressing a sense of defeat, asking, "What's the point? There are so many families who need help, I can't make a difference."

Helplessness is an insidious beast. It is yet another weapon those committing this genocide are wielding: when we are crushed by the feeling that nothing we do can makes a difference, we lose the will to act and we stop fighting.

DO NOT STOP. YOU CANNOT LET HELPLESSNESS WIN.

NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO LOSE HOPE.

I am pleading with you to push back against the feelings overwhelming you -> I know you can't help everyone, but can you hold out your hand to one person?

Find a family asking for help, and lend them as much of it as you can. Maybe all you can do is follow them, send an occasional message of compassion in their DMs, reblog their posts to make sure their campaigns stay afloat. Maybe you can afford to donate. If so, great! Please be generous! If you can't afford to donate, maybe you know someone IRL who can donate in your stead?

No, you don't have the power to change the world at large. But you might be able to change the world for one family. Maybe Ahmed's family is the place you start? You can donate to their vetted GFM campaign below!!

vetted by 90-ghost here vetted by nabulsi here vetted by northgazaupdates here vetted by sar-soor here

#free palestine #signal boost #go fund me #go fund them #please donate if you can #gaza #free gaza #fundraisers #vetted #verified #gaza genocide #ahmed alanqar #ahmedabuyamin #abuyaminfamily #abuadamfamily

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kittenshift-17 · 2 months ago

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"Soooo... what are we gonna do if he doesn't go away?" Stiles asked softly after spitting out the pool water that’d seeped past his lips.

They both knew what he was talking about. Derek was completely paralysed, and the dead weight of the werewolf was weighing him down. They could both feel Stiles’s strength beginning to wane after two hours of treading water.

"Risk whatever he's gonna do to us if we swim to the edge?" Derek suggested, and Stiles could tell from the look on his face that the werewolf knew that way led a gory, blood-soaked death.

"Think I'd rather drown than be gutted," he muttered.

Derek didn't say anything to that, but he didn't really have to. After two hours of this, Derek had accepted that any minute now, he would drown. He didn't trust humans, especially not Stiles, and he'd been waiting for Stiles to make the decision to save himself. To throw Derek's arm off himself and swim for the edge. To let him sink and leave him to die.

He hadn't yet, and Derek didn't know why, other than the fear of the kanima outweighing his fear of drowning.

"Maybe he'll go away," Derek suggested. "I'm pretty sure someone's controlling him."

"Controlling him to keep us in the pool?" Stiles frowned.

"He's clearly after one of us," Derek shrugged.

"Probably you after all the times you've hunted him."

Derek agreed, though he didn't say so.

"If that's the case, he'll probably let you leave," he pointed out quietly. "You... you can let me go, you know."

Stiles twisted his head to gape at him in confusion.

"You'll drown."

"Yeah, but you won't," Derek answered seriously. "I know you're tired. If you wait any longer, you won't have the strength to swim to the edge and climb out."

Stiles gave him an indecipherable look, the skin around his eyes tightening.

"You don't have to drown with me," Derek murmured quietly because he was certain they both would if Stiles didn't let him go.

"We don't know for certain that it's after you," Stiles replied evenly, looking away from him before he began kicking a little harder and using the arm not holding Derek up to begin dragging them both through the water toward the shallower end.

"What are you doing?"

"Trying not to drown," Stiles huffed.

Derek knew he was flagging. He could feel the way the younger man's muscles trembled with every circle of limbs designed to keep them afloat. Stiles kept swimming while the kanima circled the pool edge, hissing and flicking his creepy serpentine tail. Despite the lizard skin, he reminded Derek of a cat eyeing a bird it wanted to hunt but couldn't reach.

"The pool is still too deep at the other end for you to touch the bottom," Derek pointed out.

"The disability access steps aren't," Stiles grunted and Derek's eyes widened, remembering the school had installed a special staircase into the water that would allow those who couldn't use the ladder to still swim.

"He'll be able to reach with his claws," Derek warned.

"Not if I stay right at the edge of them. I should be able to stand up there."

He kept struggling, panting heavily and almost dropping them both under the water several times. Derek hated being so helpless, his limbs completely numb.

"You don't have to save me, Stiles," he tried again.

"Dude, you only got cut and fell into the pool in the first place because you were trying to push me out of the way when he came at us," Stiles disagreed. "I know you're fast enough to outrun that thing. You could have legged it like Erica did. But you didn't. I'm not gonna let you die for me."

The logic floored Derek.

Like, yeah, he had been trying to save Stiles, but he was bigger and stronger and faster, and the creature probably wasn't after the sarcastic teenager.

"Made it," Stiles grunted in relief, and Derek felt it when he got his feet under him on the solid steps and was no longer straining to tread water.

The creature snarled, swiping at them and it hissed and skittering away when it got wet again.

"It's definitely afraid of the water."

Derek nodded in agreement as Stiles adjusted his grip on him, unfurling Derek's arm from around his shoulders and turning his body to put both arms around his waist, Derek's back to his chest.

He leaned back against the bollard in the middle of the step, installed to ensure no one in a wheelchair using the steps accidentally rolled into the spot that would be too deep. On the step, the water barely cleared Stiles's stomach when he stood at full height - the perfect depth for someone in a chair to keep their head above water. But to keep out of reach of the creature, they had to stay as submerged as possible.

Derek ended up practically in Stiles lap, the boy using his own thighs to help keep Derek’s head above water, arranging his legs to balance the back of his thighs over Stiles’s knees. The alpha wolf inside his soul hated the position, so utterly vulnerable with Stiles at his back, his warm breath huffing at the side of his neck and cheek, over the top of his shoulder. His arms around his waist, supporting him.

"Thank you," he forced himself to say while Stiles panted tiredly, his forehead leaning against the back of Derek's head. "For not letting me drown."

"Yeah, well, you didn't let that thing gut me," Stiles muttered. "And you saved me when Isaac wanted to eat me on his first full moon."

They fell silent after that, Stiles still panting a little from the exertion - he was going to be sore in the coming days after the strain on his muscles, Derek was sure of it. The creature came back a few times, never getting close enough to the water's edge to reach them again, before eventually, it disappeared.

"He's gone," Derek said quietly, and Stiles jolted against his back, having almost dozed off.

"You sure? He could be hiding to try and lure us out."

Derek listened for the creature's heartbeat, but only the steady thump of his own and Stiles’s met his ears.

"We're alone," Derek confirmed.

"Oh, thank God. I'm freezing."

He stirred beneath Derek, beginning to drag him up the stairs to get them both out of the water.

"I think some feeling is coming back," Derek confided when Stiles had him on dry land.

"Of course it is," Stiles huffed. "Perfect timing."

Derek managed to drag himself into a sitting position right as another heartbeat reached his ears followed by the drum of rapid footsteps. He whipped his head around, looking for the source, only to see Scott running into view.

"Stiles! Derek!" Scott yelled.

"More perfect timing," Stiles muttered bitterly. "You couldn't have shown up an hour ago, Scott?"

Derek huffed as well because it was annoying that Scott, Erica, Isaac, and Boyd had all left them here. They could have died.

Stiles looked over at Derek when Scott hauled him onto his feet. Derek met his gaze, his legs still weak.

Stiles had protected him. This mouthy, sarcastic spazz had been willing to drown for him, to die with him rather than leaving him alone to save himself.

Derek couldn't remember the last time anyone had shown him that kind of loyalty. Maybe Laura? Maybe his parents? All of them wolves, all with blood ties to him. And yet here was this stubborn, smart ass human who annoyed Derek more than anyone else he'd ever met, and he'd saved him. He'd shown more loyalty than his pack members had.

The bond snapped into place with a crack like lightning, zinging through his cells, his blood, his soul, and Derek grunted at the sting. Stiles jumped like he'd had a fright, and Scott tensed nervously as the scent of ozone and lightning flooded the space between them. Emotion poured through, heat searing along the pathway linking the two of them. Confusion. Curiosity. Worry. Anxiety. Exhaustion. All of it sizzled into him, and Derek had to close his eyes, taking a controlled breath.

"What just happened?" Scott confirmed, sniffing worriedly.

Stiles was rubbing his chest where the bond originated, his eyes fixed on Derek, his mouth opening and closing like he wanted to say something but had no words.

Derek met his gaze steadily, knowing firsthand how overwhelming a pack bond could be when it formed, even for a wolf. For a human, it had to be like being electrocuted, burned alive, and drowned all at the same time. The linking of souls, or mind, or emotions all designed to attune a packmate to another, designed to protect, to connect, to irrevocably link.

"Is... is this... a wolf thing?" Stiles asked and Derek was certain his own resignation, gratitude, confusion, and ever-present underlying anger were all flooding down the bond to Stiles in return.

"What?" Scott asked. "What happened?"

"A pack bond," Derek confirmed quietly, not daring to tell either of them that the last time he'd shared a pack bond with anyone, it'd been Laura. His family. He hadn't bonded with the wolves he'd bitten, and his bond to Peter had been burned out of him like everything else during the fire.

Something unknotted in Derek's belly when Stiles stumbled across the space between the two of them.

"What's a pack bond?" Scott asked dumbly because the boy was an idiot who kept rejecting everything wolfish instead of learning about what he'd become.

Stiles gripped Derek's waist, clinging to him, pushing into his space, and Derek managed to get his arm up, gripping the back of Stiles’s neck in return. He pulled Stiles in by it, burying his nose in Stiles’s hair and breathing in the scent of him, like caramel and sunshine, and the medicinal tang of his Adderall all currently overlaid with the stink of chlorine from the pool.

"Stiles? What's happening? What is this? I thought you two hated each other?" Scott asked, bewildered.

Derek didn't bother explaining it to him, just clung to Stiles tighter and closed his eyes relishing in the complete overwhelm of having a pack bond again, his wolf howling with joy after so long on his own. Stiles burrowed into him, arms curling all the way around him while he buried his head in Derek's neck, clinging to him tightly, hugging him while he trembled.

It might’ve been completely unintentional, and Derek was certain that when the euphoria wore off, he'd resent being so intimately linked with the spastic human, but for now, he had a new pack bondmate, and for the first time in over a year, Derek felt at peace.

Xx-Kitten

#kittenshift17 #fanfiction #writing #stiles stilinski #derek hale #sterek #teen wolf

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dearhargrove · 8 months ago

Text

Sink or swim

summary When the tsunami hits you're at the pier, watching in confusion and shock as the huge wave nears. You're swept away with a dozen others but gain back consciousness with a weirdly attractive guy and his.. son?

tags medical inaccuracy (I made everything medical up pls ignore it), blood and injuries, one POV change, cursing

word count 2831

a/n just watched the episodes with the tsunami and oh my god? I’m so in love with Buck, Chris and Eddie. These three are adorable. Also these episodes were just good as hell, wtf? Andddd I hope I didn’t make any of them OOC (out of character) but if I did forgive me yall 🫶🏻 also English isn’t my first language, so… 🥹

masterlist

Maybe you should've guessed what it meant when the sea started retreating and a huge wave built up more by the second. But somehow it seemed so surreal that you didn't. You clung to the thought that it was an optical illusion, after all there was no way a tsunami would hit that one time you're at the pier.

Now moments later you regret not running faster, earlier or simply finding a spot to hide. You're pulled under the surface every few seconds, swallowing mouthfuls of salty seawater that makes your nose burn and eyes blur.

You're choking when you're swept against a hard object, it's sharp edge digging into your waist. “Fuck!” you curse, though it ends in a gurgle when more water sweeps over you.

When you resurface you're facing an object that turns out to be a sunken fire truck. The red is striking against the blue and Grey around you and you could cry at relief when you manage to hoist yourself onto it.

You're exhausted, your side hurts and you're dizzy. Your phone is useless, the water having destroyed the technology. Cursing, you pocket it again and lean back. You're about to relax, aware that it could take hours for emergency services to reach you when you hear high pitched screaming. You look up, just in time to see someone with a yellow sweater being pulled towards you with the current, screaming at the top of their lungs.

“Jesus,” you swear and crawl to the edge of the truck, yelling to get their attention with your arm reached out as far as possible.

You almost faint when the person turns around and a small child looks at you, red glasses full of water and messy brown hair. He's crying, reaching out as he's struggling to stay afloat.

“Hey! I'm here, grab my hand!” You yell and lean over the ledge as far as you could. As soon as you saw that little boy you knew you'd jump after him if he couldn't grab your hand now.

“I got you, sweetheart, come on!”

Your assurance seems to help and he kicks his legs, managing to move closer to where you are. In a split second you grab his hand and pull him over the railing and onto the truck, holding the little boy close to your chest in relief.

“Thank you,” he mumbles, coughing a little as he adjusts his glasses. You try to look as calm and collected as possible, gently smiling at him and beckoning him further away from the railing and rushing water.

“Are you okay? Does anything hurt?” He shakes his head, biting his lip as he looks out at the water again. He must've been with someone else, you guess when he sits up at every piece floating by.

“Are you looking for someone?” You ask gently and he nods. He slowly speaks, hands fidgeting in his lap, “B-Buck. He's a firefighter.”

You stop yourself from cooing at this adorable child and nod, “We're gonna find him, okay? Just stay here and it'll be okay.”

He looks worried but slowly nods. You go back to sitting between him and the railing, looking out for anyone else.

Just as you spot someone, the small boy moves rapidly and pulls your shirt, “Buck! It's Buck!” He stutters loudly.

You whip your head back around to the rushing water and try thinking of a way to save him too. You couldn't just grab his hand, he would probably just pull you off the truck and you wouldn't risk leaving the kid by himself.

“Shit,” You mumble as you look for a way to help the man, the boy desperately crying out for ‘Buck’ behind you.

It seems you don't need to do much when something slams into the truck and seconds later the man pulls himself up and next to you.

And, damn. He was attractive. His dark blonde curls stick to his forehead as his blue eyes fixate on you and then the boy, strong arms holding him up as a smile builds on his lips, “Christopher!”

You move a bit as the two reunite, the boy- Christopher throwing his arms around the man's neck and giggling wildly.

You watch with a smile, the adorable sight momentarily distracting you from the tsunami keeping not just you but these two strangers trapped on top of a fire truck.

He turns around after a minute, keeping Christopher in his lap as he looks at you. He clears his throat and nods, “Thank you for saving him.” You shake your head and wave your hand in dismissal, unsure how to deal with compliments.

“No, really. I was going crazy when I couldn't find him,” his eyes are fixed on your face and you blame the heat creeping up your neck onto the temperature changes from the water and sun, smiling nervously. “It's all good. Your son is a sweetheart.”

He chuckles, “He definitely is. Though he's not my son,” he mentions, poking the boy's side when he mumbles something. You quickly nod, embarrassed. “Sorry, I shouldn't have assumed-” he shakes his head and a relaxed smile sets on his face.

“It's fine, don't worry. Did you have any luck reaching 911?” You shake your head and hold up your broken phone, screen flickering sadly as you do. He sighs and brushes a hand through his hair (you try not to stare at the hot sight because wow, what are the odds of meeting such an attractive man in the middle of a tsunami?).

“We're probably just gonna have to wait. It'll take time to get boats and units here. It probably looks like this everywhere,” he explains and you tilt your head in surprise before remembering that the kid had mentioned he's a firefighter. Meaning he knew the protocols.

“Right. Christopher mentioned you're a firefighter.” You smile when the boy perks up, a seemingly never faltering smile on his face. “Guess I'm lucky to be stuck with you. Safest I could be.” You shrug, a bashful smile on your face.

“Buck will s-save us all,” Christopher proclaims proudly and you coo at the cute boy. The man now seems a bit uneasy and sighs before his eyes widen, “Shit, right, I'm Evan. Everyone just calls me Buck, though.” You shake his outstretched hand and introduce yourself in turn, biting your lip as a nervous habit.

“So you're a firefighter?” You prompt curiously.

“It's a bit complicated right now…” He sighs, a frown setting on his forehead. You're about to apologize for overstepping when Christopher speaks up again, “He threw up blood.”

Your eyes widen and Evan- Buck pinches the boys’ side in reprimand. “Blood clots,” he elaborates as he looks at your slightly shocked expression. You hum sympathetically before realizing something. “Wait. You were the one trapped under that fire truck? On the news?”

He chuckles (which makes him even more attractive, what the actual fuck?) and nods, “Yep, that's me.”

You grimace in sympathy at the memory and automatically glance at his leg, “Is it all healed? You don't have to talk about it, it's fine if you don't-” he waves you off assuringly, looking relaxed.

“It's fine, don't worry. Yeah it healed fine, had some physical therapy and stuff but now I have blood clots kicking my a- butt.” He stops himself from cursing with Christopher on his lap and you almost smile at the adorable expression of confusion on the kid's face, when Buck presses his hands over both of his ears and whispers what he was originally going to say.

You laugh at the two and a relaxed and almost light atmosphere surrounds the three of you, momentarily disregarding your situation.

“It's kind of ironic isn't it?” He starts and you tilt your head in question. “You saved me, a firefighter, by pulling me onto a fire truck,” he elaborates and you can't help but chuckle, “Right. It should've been the other way around,” you sarcastically add and he holds up his hands in mock surrender.

You relax back against the railing, your eyes drawn to Buck again just to notice him already looking at you. You cock your head questioningly and he bites his lip before grinning, “Sorry, you're just- like, really beautiful.”

Your jaw drops momentarily before you compose yourself and hide behind your hands, “Stop! Geez,” you laugh and he does as well. You exaggerate a shake of your head as you look at Christopher who giggles happily and exclaims, “He likes you!”

Now both you and Buck fluster as he continues, “He's always angry but n-now he's happy.” You notice the small struggle of getting his words out but you couldn't care less, you'd wait hours for this sweetheart to finish a sentence if you had to.

“Oh, really?” You ask in mock surprise and he eagerly nods before Buck intervenes, “Woah, Woah. I'm not always angry. Just.. grumpy.” Christopher makes it a point to look at him and then at you, rolling his eyes and shaking his head which makes it hard to refrain from laughing.

When Christopher busies himself with leaves floating around them Buck lowers his voice a bit as he speaks to you again, “Don't get the wrong impression it’s just, it’s hard. Not being able to work, saving people and all that.”

You nod quickly, “No worries. I’d go insane if I was in your place. I’m guessing they’re keeping you from really doing anything ‘dangerous’?” You ask, careful in case of him wanting to change the subject.

He nods and drops his head back against a siren light, “It is. They’re trying to put me behind a desk! I mean, I’m supposed to be out here, saving lives, fighting fires. That’s my purpose.” He frowns and you hum to show that you’re listening.

“I know they just want me to recover, but…”

“It feels like they’re holding you back?” You finish for him. He chuckles in surprise at the accuracy of what you said and nods.

“I’m probably in no place to tell you this, but trust me, it’s worth it. Get better, do the light work and sooner than you think you’ll be back doing what you love. But if you start now and ignore your health.. it’s going to catch up with you. And it’ll be way worse than a few weeks behind a desk.”

He looks thoughtful for a moment before slowly nodding, “You're right. Thank you.” You smile and put a hand on his leg, making sure he doesn’t mind before adding, “I mean look at you, crushed by an entire ladder truck and you’re up and running already.”

“I’m just that great,” he sarcastically pats his own shoulder and you both break into laughter.

You don't know if it's been minutes, seconds or hours when you wake up, laying on top of destroyed concession stands and other things. Something is digging into your back, your leg is awkwardly bent and your ears are ringing.

Groaning you sit up, wincing in pain when a sharp pain strikes through your back at the movement.

Around you is just more trash and destroyed cars, you see an arm laying on one of the cars and decide to avert your eyes as quick as possible for your own sake.

Every step hurts but you keep going; walking through the flooded streets with your eyes looking for either of the two boys you’d spent earlier with or other survivors.

The sun is starting to set and you’re starting to get hopeless. You have no clue where you were, completely disoriented as you pass houses that look entirely the same. Your phone is useless and you’re alone. Shouldn’t you have met at least one person by now?

Your back has gone practically numb, same as your leg, when you see faraway lights in the distance. Your steps get quicker as you see people and to your utter relief firefighters. You don’t know if the tears in your eyes are of joy or utter despair from what happened but you couldn’t care less when a man with short, brown hair spots you and approaches.

You’re trying to walk closer when a small voice somewhere close stops you. You’re not sure if it’s your imagination but you turn around, squinting your eyes in the darkness. And then you see it. A small boy, waddling your way with his arms stretched out like he couldn’t see.

Could it be..?

“Christopher?” You see his head perk up and he tries going faster, stumbling over his own feet. Your heart drops in relief and you gather your last strength to run to him, “Hey, you remember me right?” He nods and you note the missing glasses.

“There’s help, come on,” you point out but he doesn’t look happy. He looks almost angry, “Buck.” You had almost forgotten about the charming firefighter. But your priority right now was Christopher.

“We’re gonna find him. Let’s get you help first,” you say with fake enthusiasm in your voice. He doesn’t look okay with that but stays silent and you awkwardly wrap your arms around him after making sure he’s okay and lift him into your arms.

It’s hard to avoid any obstacles while walking but you manage, seeing the brown haired man from a few minutes ago still there.

“Hey! I need help! It’s a kid!” You yell.

He waves you over while walking towards you and as soon as you can actually see him you’re once again surprised. What was it with these firefighters and their good looks? Jesus.

When he’s close enough you nudge Christopher, “There’s help, he’s gonna make sure you’re okay,” you nod at the man and he stands still before running the last feet over to you, basically ripping the child from you.

“Chris!” He cries, clutching the kid with all his might. Oh, this must be his father.

You smile, relieved that they found each other. He looks up at you with gratitude, “Thank you so much. Thank you.” You just smile.

“He’s found us himself. I couldn’t find him after..” you don’t even know what happened- you just know you passed out and woke up alone. Sighing you rub your temples and shake your head.

“You should get checked out, too. You’re barely walking,” the medic (you guess) advises. You take in the people behind him, the full cots and stressed professionals. “I’m okay. There’s people that need more help,” you nod.

He frowns and shakes his head, “I could tell you at least two injuries of yours that need treatment. Come on.” He nods his head in the direction of one of the tents and you chuckle but follow him. At least you try to. Four more steps and your legs give out, you clutch a random person's arm to prevent your fall, mumbling a sorry when they just barely catch you.

The ringing in your ears is back and you groan when you’re laid on one of the cots, your back protesting painfully.

Your vision is blurry and you can’t understand what’s being said - what the hell was happening to you?

“Wait, she’s- she was with me and Chris.” Eddie looks up in confusion as he hooks you up to an IV, checking your pupils with a small torch. “What?”

Buck nods, “Yeah, she saved Chris and then me. When the last wave happened she was swept away- we were all swept away.”

Eddies brows furrow and she looks down at you, your hair a damp mess, clothes dirty and bloody. “She saved Chris?” His best friend nods and crouches down next to you - Eddie notes the pained groan he tries to conceal as he does so - extending a hand and awkwardly patting your shoulder.

“Will she be okay?”

Eddie's answer is interrupted when you open your eyes and wince at the lights surrounding the tent.

“Hey, you feeling okay?” Buck asks before Eddie can get a word out, and you almost faint again seeing these two fine men looking down at you with concern. Great first impression, you think.

“Feel like I was in a tsunami,” you grunt and both of them laugh a bit. A third voice pops up next to you, “We were in one, silly.” Leaning over your head and looking upside down at you was Christopher, a smile on his face.

You huff a laugh and hum, “You’re right. Smart boy.”

Eddie looks at Buck at the exchange and he just shrugs with a grin. Chris walks to Eddie and leans into his side, eyes still on you.

“Is there something on my face, or..?” You ask half joking as three pairs of eyes stay trained on you.

“Just beauty,” Buck grins and there’s a second of silence before Eddie gags and rolls his eyes, “That’s so creepy, díos.” You laugh as Buck tries defending himself, simply looking just as cute to you as earlier.

#evan buckley #evan buckley x reader #911 spoilers #911 show #911 fanfic #oliver stark #eddie diaz x reader #eddie diaz

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demonpiratehuntress · 8 months ago

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I see you have requests opened! If you don’t mind, I’d love an Ace one.

You’re a mermaid who rescues ace when he falls overboard drunk one night. His brilliant idea is to keep falling overboard to keep being rescued by you to get your attention cuz he can’t think of any other way. The crew thinks he’s insane and stands by in case he actually doesn’t get saved. To the point reader is like you do know there are other ways to see me besides trying to kill yourself?

this is actually such a funny and cute idea, i love it XD sorry it took so long, and i hope you like it!

taglist - @kabloswrld

(i'm so sorry i forgot i had someone to tag! if anyone else wants to be added just let me know!)

just call me, idiot

Portgas D. Ace x Mermaid!Reader

summary - idiot Ace <3

warnings - mentions of drowning, one joke about Ace trying to kill himself

You've heard them every night for the past week.

Whenever you swam up to the surface to look at the stars, the boisterous laughter and obnoxious chatter of men partying the night away aboard their ship met your ears. It was annoying, to say the least, but you wouldn't dare risk being ensnared by them for their amusement by calling them out for it.

That is, of course, until one of their crewmembers changed your mind about them.

"Man overboard!"

"The dumbass!"

"He can't swim!"

Your attention was caught one night when those panicked comments filled the air, and you looked towards the ship to see someone struggling in the water nearby. Against your better judgement, you swam over quickly and hooked your arms under the man's armpits, lifting him above the water so he could breathe. Once he was done spluttering and coughing up water, and you got a good look at him, you blushed.

He was handsome, extremely handsome. Dark hair stuck to his pale face, cute freckles dotting his cheeks. His eyes were bright with mischief, but when he smiled at you you couldn't help but think he looked angelic.

"A mermaid!" He gasped, eyes brightening even more. "This must be my lucky night." And he gave you a drunken smile, making you sigh.

You waited patiently for someone to come down to get him, keeping him afloat in the meantime since you couldn't very well climb aboard. Eventually they dropped a rowboat, and you carefully settled the now passed out man into it. You stayed to watch them pull him up, hearing shouts of 'thank you' but all you could focus on was how pretty that man was.

And how you hoped to see him again soon.

You got your wish the very next night, because Ace couldn't get you out of his head. He had been drunk, sure, but he definitely remembered seeing a mermaid. And he wanted to see you again, but he just didn't know how to get a mermaid's attention.

"You must have hit your head pretty hard to think you saw a mermaid!" Marco teased him, making the others laugh. None of them believed Ace, and every single one of them considered the idea absurd and insane - even more so since Ace is known for pulling pranks.

"But I did!" He insisted, pouting.

"Ace, there is no way you could have seen a mermaid," Marco sounded worried now. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," the 2nd division commander grumbled. "But I'll prove it."

So his brilliant idea to prove it? To pretend he was drunk again and fall overboard, so you could come and save him again.

You came to his rescue again, sure enough, but this time Ace could see you clearly and he was awestruck by your beauty. For once the talkative commander was stunned into silence, and he just stared at you for the longest time until you blushed and looked away.

"We need to stop meeting like this," you told him, laughing softly. "You need to be more careful."

"You're so beautiful," he ignored your warning, smiling like a lovestruck sailor - which he was. "Really, really beautiful."

You blushed some more, "Because I'm a mermaid."

"I'd like to think that even if you weren't, I'd still have fallen for you."

Your eyes widened at his words, butterflies blooming in your gut. Your face flushed a bright red, and for a moment you were speechless. Then you remembered he belonged on land, and quickly helped him back to his ship.

"You should stop falling into the sea," you told him, "You're a devil fruit user aren't you? You could die."

"It would be worth it to see you again," he smiled, and you were concerned that he was actually serious.

"Just go," you laughed.

"Not without getting your name," he replied. "Please?"

You sighed, "It's (Name)."

"Pretty," he grinned. "I'm Ace."

And once he was gone up again, you couldn't help but feel a longing for the man you couldn't have. Little did you know, he was thinking the exact same about you. You never left each other's minds, and while you could only wish to see him again, Ace made it his personal mission to see you whenever he could.

He ignored your words and kept falling into the ocean, so much so that it became a habit of his, just to see you. You could tell soon enough that he was doing it on purpose and wasn't really drunk, but he would never listen when you told him to stop. What made it even funnier, though, was that you could see his crewmates gather around every time he committed to this dramatic method, all of them ready to jump in and stop the dumbass from drowning if needs be. They clearly still assumed he was insane.

"Ace," you giggled one night after saving him again, "There are better ways to see me, you know."

"Like how?" He pouted.

"You could just call me, idiot," you laughed, handing him a shell. "Just blow into that and I'll come. You don't have to try and kill yourself to see me."

He chuckled, holding the shell close, "Fine, I'll stop. I think my crew is starting to worry that I've completely lost it. They stand by waiting to see if one of them needs to jump in." He laughed, then gave you a warm smile, "But my hero never fails to rescue me."

You blushed, looking down shyly, "Well it would be a shame to let such a handsome sailor drown."

"You think I'm handsome?" He smirked, moving closer. The two of you were sitting in the rowboat his crew lowered for you, so it was easy for you to be this close without him drowning.

"I do," you blushed more.

His smile only widened before he leaned in and slowly captured your lips with his, one his warm hands gently gripping your chin as he kissed you. The butterflies returned, and you kissed him back just as slowly and sweetly as your hand rested on his arm.

"So we don't need to keep standing here every time the idiot throws himself overboard?" Someone called from above, breaking your kiss and making you both laugh.

"Not anymore, no. Because the idiot will NOT keep throwing himself overboard," you responded, smiling.

"But-"

"It's not worth dying Ace!"

#one piece #op #one piece x reader #one piece x you #ace x reader #ace x you #portgas d ace #portgas d ace x reader #portgas d ace x you #one piece ace

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ahgasegotarmy116 · 9 months ago

Text

He Doesn't Deserve You | A Jeon Jungkook Series | Chapter Six

Summary: Taehyung gets careless and breaks your heart yet again. Pairing: Noona reader x Jeon Jungkook (She's 28 and he's 22) Word Count: 2.2K~ Warnings: Talks of Cancer, money struggles and past abuse but nothing crazy. a/n: Again it's taken me over two weeks to get a chapter out so I'm sorry! It's just a little one to focus on Jungkook a little bit but he'll go more into depth later on in the story so this is just a little taste. Hope you like it! Start from the beginning

Walking into the Blue Pearl feels like going back in time again, except this time it feels warm and welcoming and seeing the sight of Rae's face light up at the sight of me makes the struggles of the past fade to black, solely focusing on the events of tonight.

"Hey stranger, it's about time your fine ass showed up again, the usual?" she questions sending me a wink and I nod as a way to answer her question. "Sorry, life has been hectic lately. How are you? How's the Pearl?" I ask after having learned that she's co owner and has devoted a lot of blood sweat and tears into this place.

"She's staying afloat. Luckily we haven't had too many rowdy groups lately so no big bar fights or anything exciting like that" she jokes while she places my Slut Puppy on the counter in front of me.

"To what do I owe the pleasure of being graced with your presence my lady?" she teases while cleaning up the tools she used to make my drink. "I'm meeting Jungkook, but I also wanted to see you because I miss your cute face" I say giving her a wink like she had to me.

"Girl you're horrible at flirting you know that right?" she laughs, leaving my cheeks heating up at the embarrassment. "But I'll give you bonus points because you're adorable" she says before going to tend to another patron.

"She's right you know" I hear a melodic voice say behind me, making me jump before turning around to face the owner of said voice seeing that it's a man with an alluring look that could charm any woman or man with a simple glance.

"I'm sorry what?" I ask, blinking a few times to regain touch with reality. "I said she's right you know? Because you really are adorable" he says making my cheeks heat up again, leaving me frozen and not knowing how to respond to his playful nature.

"I'm Jimin" he says offering his hand to me and I place mine in his. "I'm y/n" I say just loud enough for him to hear over the sound of the people around us. "Well Miss y/n mind if I sit with you?" he asks politely, making me think twice about how to shoot him down.

"I mind" I hear a recognizable deep voice say behind me, again making me jump at the sound. "Is she yours?" Jimin asks the newcomer and I hold my breath waiting for him answer.

"Yeah she is so I suggest you go find a seat somewhere else" he says while placing a protective hand on my forearm making my body shiver at the feeling of his cold fingers on my skin.

"Right. Nice meeting you y/n" he says giving me those bedroom eyes leaving me widening mine in response and he simply smiles at my clearly flustered reaction and continues on his way.

"Are you okay Noona?" Jungkook says while coming around to face me and sit on the stool that Jimin had been asking to sit on just moments ago.

"Yeah I'm fine, he was harmless" I respond, smiling at him as he looks past me to no doubt glare at Jimin, giving off a territorial vibe that I find adorable yet also extremely attractive but I clear my throat to get those thoughts out of my head and hopefully get his attention back on me.

"How was work today?" I ask him as I take into account the dark circles under his eyes and his disheveled state, making me feel bad about dragging him out tonight. "It was fine" he says while turning to wave at Rae and she nods in acknowledgment and gets him his usual High Ball.

"That's all? You look pretty tired for having a fine day" I joke, as a way to instill a playful mood as he seems a bit tense and I'm not sure if it's just from the interaction with Jimin.

"Is everything okay?" I question, placing a hand on his shoulder and I feel him tense at the feeling leaving me retreating and placing my hand back into my lap.

"I'm sorry Noona I'm just really stressed out but let's focus on you okay? How's your writing going? Did you get over that writer's block you've been having?" he questions, addressing a struggle I had told him about a few days prior.

"Yeah I went with making the characters go through a sort of financial ruin to drive them apart but make the main character finds the people who truly appreciate them without all the monetary value that people usually see when they look at her" I say and he nods along and thanks Rae when she brings him his drink before taking a sip and turning his full attention back on me.

"Although now that I'm saying it out loud it sound kind of boring" I chuckle before taking a sip of my drink as well. "From what you've told me about the story so far I feel like that could fit the plot so don't worry. I'm sure once you sit at your desk and do your little writing magic on it then it'll all work out" he says cutely to purposefully make me laugh and I take the bait, laughing right along with him.

"Thank you" I say after a second. "For what?" he asks curiously, tilting his head like a confused puppy like he always does. "For coming out tonight and, I don't know, just being you" I say giving him a slight smile and he softens up at my words. "That was cheesy wasn't it?" I ask him and he scrunches his nose and starts giggling at me.

"Jeon Jungkook has this whiskey already gone to your head?" I question, laughing and shaking my head at his adorableness. "I think I'm just really tired so the alcohol is hitting a bit different tonight" he chuckles but calms down a few moments later.

~~~~~

"You should try to take a break sometime" I say after we've joked around a while and had some laughs, now riding out the night with the sound of everyone else drowned into the background.

"What do you mean by that?" he asks, his eyes looking a little sleepier than at the start of the night. "I know you work almost every day of the week, and somedays you even work nights and I don't know. I'm worried about you" I say and I notice how his figure slumps at my words.

"I don't want you to feel like I'm telling you what to do but you should try to set some time aside to relax" I say and he nods his head, listening to my words. "That's what I'm doing right now silly" he says, clearly trying to steer me away from the topic.

"You know what I mean Jungkook. I just don't want you to run yourself into the ground" I say and he stops and waits a while, looking down, seemingly trying to come up with the right words to say and takes a deep breath before looking back up at me.

"I can't" are the two words he says with his eyes now full of stars but this time not of joy but of sorrow. "Jungkook what's wrong?" I question now fully in panic mode, not having seen him like this before. "You know how I said I have younger siblings?" he starts and I nod my head, encouraging him to continue.

"Well the reason why I live with my mom and the three of them is because my dad has been in the hospital for the past few years" he says and I immediately reach for his hand to hold it and wait silently for him to continue. "He got injured at his job and then later on after the doctors examined him they found something else" he says and takes a deep breath in and a shaky breath out before continuing.

"The found a tumor" he says and I take in a breath at the words, not knowing how to react but deciding to just hold his hand tighter. "He's been doing chemotherapy and radiation therapy and so his hospital bills have been piling up and with my mom trying to work and take care of the kids and pay the regular bills and the hospital bills I just couldn't stand seeing her struggle like that. So I moved back in with them and have been working odd jobs ever since" he says and lets out a shaky breath again and stays silent for a while.

"Jungkook I had no idea you were going through something like this. Why haven't you told me?" I ask with a soft voice. "You're always wanting to help me while I'm struggling so why haven't you come to me and let me help you too?" I continue, drawing circles on the back of his hand that I'm holding.

"I wanted to help you since I knew that something was wrong and I didn't want to give you something else you had to worry about" he explains, sniffling a bit and looking back up at me. "Oh baby" I coo at him, wiping the sides of his eyes at I see there are a few tears that started to prickle in them.

"I'm fine Noona" he laughs at seeing how concerned I've gotten about him. "I just wanna be there for you too" I say, looking down at our conjoined hands. "I know" he says and silence between us lingers for a second before he speaks again.

"Thank you" he says and I bring my eyes back up to his and catch how he's looking at me almost as if he adores me or something. "For what?" I ask, slightly breathless from the intimacy of this moment that I only Just noticed. "For listening to me" he says with a sad smile, his starry eyes a bit dimmer but sparkle all the same.

"You're welcome" I say smiling back at him and holding his hand just a little tighter

~~~~

A we finish our drinks and talk for a while before he asks me if he can walk me home.

"You really don't have to do this" I say to him after waving goodbye to Rae and turning our backs to walk out. "I know, but I want to. Plus this little walk will help sober me up a bit more so it'll be good for me as well" he say and I nod my head, surrendering to him and his logic.

"When did Taehyung say that he would be back?" he asks as we start on our journey, he's always asking questions and making sure that I'm safe but he also respects my boundaries when I set them.

"Tomorrow morning I think but I never really know. I just hope that he hasn't come home yet but so far he hasn't really found out about the few times I've left the house recently" I inform him and he nods his head in looking as if he's trying to formulate his next question correctly.

"Can you promise me you won't get mad if I ask you something?" he says, rushing the words out before he has the chance to back down. "I guess so" I laugh, curious but nervous as to what he would want to know.

"When was the last time Taehyung hurt you?" he asks and my steps falter for a second but I regain my footing moments later and clear my throat a bit to hopefully cover it up. "Um, well I guess it was a week or two ago. I don't really remember" I say, trying my best to stay truthful but honestly having tried my best to burry the memory.

He nods his head, again lost in thought and before he's able to say something else we've reached my apartment, leaving him trailing behind me as he walks me up to the door but stops me before I'm able to walk inside.

"Promise me you'll call me the next time things start getting bad" he blurts out and I stop in my tracks. "I'll email you my number so please, just promise me you'll call me. You gotta stop letting him treat you like this" he says and I nod my head after thinking for a second, knowing he's right.

"I will" I say, nodding my head and turning my eyes down to the floor in shame, scared of the prospects of having to do that but he lift my face back up to him by hooking a finger under my chin.

"Promise?" he asks, making purposeful eye contact with me, not giving me room to look elsewhere. "Promise" I surrender, knowing that although this might get messy it's the best choice I have right now.

"You don't have to endure this alone, just let me help you" he pleads and I nod my head and respond with a quick 'okay' before he pulls me in for a tight embrace.

After pulling away he places a kiss on my forehead that gives me a fluttery feeling in my stomach but I try my best to ignore it and stay level headed throughout the rest of our goodbyes.

"Goodnight Noona" he says and I nod my head and watch him go silently. I hope I work up the courage to leave Taehyung before I have to call him for that but I'll make sure to stick to our promise no matter what.

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raginglesbian2006 · 9 months ago

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I just read your Alastor x an overlord reader and it was literally amazing!!! I was wondering if you could do husk x an overlord reader next?

My first Husk fic! To be honest, I was hesitant to write this one since I ship him with Angel so much but I decided to give it a try anyway!

Hope you enjoy it!!

Husk with an overlord! reader

Ok, so you met him when he was an overlord as well

He, of course, beat you quite spectacularly at a game of cards. It impressed you, to be honest

Slowly, the two of you formed a friendship- him giving you some of the souls he'd win from gambling and you gifting him the finer luxuries of life, with booze, obviously.

Safe to say, both your love languages were gift-giving

So it surprised you when he suddenly stopped talking to you

You tried approaching him quite a lot, but he brushed you off, not looking you in the eye

Soon, you'd start hearing rumors about Husk selling his soul away to none other than....the radio demon

Your hands clutched around nothing. That bastard.

Seeing as he was now bound to the ever-grinning overlord, it wouldn't be until the Hazbin Hotel popped up that you were able to see your dear friend again

When you were made aware of the fact that the radio demon had started sponsoring the hotel, you knew that's where you would find Husk

And right, you were

He looked...dead. As if all the life was sucked from his being- never mind the fact that everyone in hell was in fact, not alive. Your dead heart ached at his miserable state

He hadn't noticed you when you walked into the establishment, greeted by the princess of hell herself. Your eyes stayed fixated on him, trying to get him to notice you without saying a word

Alastor materialized in front of you, his face stuck in a permanent grin

"Why, it is a surprise seeing you here, dear. Don't tell me you want to sponsor this hotel as well?"

Oh, how you wished you could punch this motherfucker. You could, it's just that you didn't want a fight to break out in front of Husk. He would probably scold you after.

"Alastor," you acknowledged him, "Rest assured, this fine establishment is all yours for the keeping. I am here for... other purposes."

Hearing your voice ring through the lobby, Husk stopped cleaning the glasses and looked at you. You were still talking to Alastor, but if looks could kill, the radio demon would've been dead by now.

After Alastor disappeared, the princess of hell excitedly introduced you to everyone, although you didn't need much of an introduction.

You approached Husk soon after and sat down in front of the bar. He didn't meet your eyes

"Husk," you greeted. He mumbled out your name in response.

The silence persisted and your annoyance grew.

"How have you been?" you asked.

"Just peachy," he replied, dryly.

"You know if I didn't care for you that much I would probably have already hung you upside down and tortured you till you spoke to me properly."

At this, Husk chuckled a little and finally met your eyes.

"It's nice to see you too"

Sensing your worry, he continued, "You don't need to worry about me. As you see, I'm doin' just fine."

"You say that as if you haven't sold your soul to the radio demon," your voice rose a bit.

Husk grumbled a little under his breath, "You don't know anything."

"Then tell me," you emphasized, "If you were that downtrodden on your luck, you could've just told me. I would've helped you out! You know I would've.

"Can we not do this right now?" Husk gritted his teeth, his angry eyes staring you down.

You huffed and relented, "As long as you promise, you're gonna talk about this with me, later." He agreed.

When no one was around, he told you about how he struck a deal with Alastor as a last resort, after having lost souls through gambling game after game. His reasoning for not talking to you about his struggles was that he didn't want to see him like that. Like he was struggling to stay afloat.

You didn't say anything. The only thing in your head was how you could help him get out of his situation now.

The rest of your day together was spent relishing in good memories, bonding over drinks, and ended with him beating you in a game of cards, again.

Before he retired for the night, you called out to him, "You know I would do anything to help you, you just need to ask."

Husk chuckled, "I know. I know. But I'm fine as long as I get to see you again."

From the corner of your eye, you saw a shadow. You turned around to see who it was, finding an empty corridor instead. You shrugged it off.

After helping Husk settle into his room and rest for the night, you disappeared with a click of your fingers.

A shadowy figure approached the radio demon. It slithered up to him and whispered to him whatever it saw and heard.

"Interesting..." Alastor's eyes lit up and his grin grew menacingly, "Interesting, indeed."

A/N: This turned out to be a whole ass fic lmao.

#hazbin hotel #hazbin hotel husk #husk x reader #husk x overlord!reader

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citruswriter · 6 months ago

Text

Once Upon a Time, On a Cold and Rainy Night

Astarion x Reader 🧡

Warnings: Angst, fluff, comfort, ascended Astarion, major abuse, abusive husband, afab reader, feminine terms, they/them pronouns, feeding, oral (f receiving), begging, slight degradation, praising (m receiving bc he's a good boy), pet names.

Extended Blurb

Listen with me! ↠ⁿᵉˣᵗ ˢᵒⁿᵍ ↺ ʳᵉᵖᵉᵃᵗ ⊜ ᵖᵃᵘˢᵉ

"What?!" Astarion's voice shrieked, echoing off the castle walls. You stood in front of him, hands balled up into fists and you glared up at him. "You heard me! We're through!" You yelled back before spinning around to grab a bag packed with essentials. "After everything we've been through? After everything I've given you?!" He shouted back, tone giving away just how hurt he was despite his rage. "You've changed! You're not the man I fell in love with!" You screamed back, twirling around to be practically nose to nose with him. You stared up at him defiantly. "After you ascended, you changed. I see so much of Cazador in you now and it scares me. So yes. I'm leaving. The man I loved died in that room with Cazador. You haven't given me shit". You spat, tears beginning to streak down your face. You hated this. Astarion straighten to his full height as he himself struggled to keep his tears in. He wanted to break down, fall to his knees and hold you tight, promising to change. Please. I'm sorry, you're right. Give me a chance to change. Please I'm still so new to this, don't leave me now. Was all he wanted to say, but his pride wouldn't allow him to. He turned his back to you to hide his face as tears slowly began to stream down his face. "Very well," he growled out at last. "But this is very much your loss". And with that, you were gone.

✧─── ･｡ﾟ★: *.✦ .* :★. ───✧

Life was well for awhile. You struggled for a bit, working multiple jobs to stay afloat. One day you met a man, he was handsome with kind eyes. You two instantly got along and he'd go out of his way to see you at one of your jobs or another. He'd make you laugh, surprise you with flowers, and bring you jewelry. He was gentle and looked at you with such adoration. He reminded you of your Astarion before he ascended. In this man, you found normalcy once again. It wasn't long til you two started seeing each other outside of work. Years passed and eventually the two of you married, having a small wedding with close family, and for you old companions. Minus Astarion, of course.

"(Y/N) can I speak to you?" Gale asked as he pulled you away at your wedding. "What's up?" You asked, beaming with joy but your smile fell as you saw Gale's solemn expression. "I don't know how else to say this but I have a bad feeling about your husband. I know your happy but I just have this... nagging feeling." He said, eyes downcast. You furrowed your brows in worry. You grabbed his hands in your own and smiled softly. "Gale he's a good man". You murmured and Gale squeezed your hands. "I hope your right. Hopefully I'm just being paranoid. You know you're like family to me". He gently said back.

But as you ran through the cold and dark night, rain pelting down on you, you couldn't help but think back. You couldn't believe it. Gale was right. You and your husband had about two years of a beautiful and loving marriage, but it all fell apart one night. He came home drunk and demanded dinner, you joked and asked him to say please, but was met with a fist to your face. Ever since that night, your husband abused you nightly but was loving and doting during the day. Tonight he came home and wanted you to put out. He'd never pushed for such before, which you were grateful for, but it seemed as if he had decided to take his abuse further. Absolutely not. You grabbed your cloak and ran into the cold dark, causing your husband to run after you in a rage. You were soaked to the bone as you ran, twisting and turning down random roads. Wait. You thought all of a sudden. I know this road... I'm on the path to Astarion's castle... It had been seven years since you had seen your old lover. Memories of him rushed back, causing your chest to become tight with heartache. There was a huge possibility that he would turn you away and you'd be dragged back to your hell. But it was a risk you were willing to take.

You sprinted forward, running down the familiar path to his place. It wasn't long before you saw the magnificent building you once called home. Looking around, you heard your husband in the distance. Panicking you ran up the stairs, banging on the doors with both fists, chest heaving with fear.

Inside, Astarion was in his study reading a book. He nearly jumped out of his skin when he heard the sudden banging. Grumbling he stood up and walked over to the front door. Who would even be out in this kind of weather? Imagine his surprise when he opened the door and was hit with his scent. "(Y/N)?" He questioned, too shocked to really be able to process what was going on. "A-Astarion. P-Please you need to help me." You stuttered, shivering as the wind caused the cold to sink into your flesh. "Oh really? And why should I, hm? After all these years, why should I he-" he was cut off by another voice in the distance.

"I swear to god (Y/N)! When I catch you, you fucking ungrateful bitch, I'm going to beat your whore face until your unrecognizable! You stupid cunt!" The rage in your husband's voice caused you to start trembling in fear, sobbing at the closeness of his voice. He was so close... Astarion looked down at your trembling figure and sighed, grabbing your arm as he pulled you in. A yelp left your mouth as you were drug into the warm and cozy building. You stood there, trembling still, as your body readjusted to the new temperature. "You're lucky I still have a soft spot for you, (Y/N). Even after you shattered my poor little heart. I could have left you out there but-" you didn't hear him as you began to dissociate, the realization of what you had just done began to sink in. You ran away. From your husband. And of all people you ran to, you ran to your ex. A blood thirsty vampire with a hunger for power. "So (Y/N)," Astarion saying your name snapped you out of your thoughts, bringing you back to reality, "What do you want?" You would need to show him... He'd need to see...

Shaking, you sighed and undid the string of your cloak. You took a deep breath as you prepared yourself for what you were about to do. Slipping the cloak off and letting it fall to the floor, you looked up at the man you once called your world. Astarion wasn't sure what he was expecting, but as you saw a look of utter horror form on his face, you could tell it wasn't this. Bruises littered your body, fresh and old. One on your collarbone, several on your arms, and hand shaped ones around your wrists. "There's... there's more... elsewhere". You squeaked out, dropping your gaze. Suddenly he rushed forward, gently placing a hand on the small of your back to rush you to the bathroom. He sat you down and began to draw a warm bath for you. He took his time making sure the bath was the right temperature and placing items in the bathroom for you to use. Ointment, lotion, and a silk bathrobe. To be more precise, your old silk bathrobe. The one that had been his favorite to see on you. The corner of your mouth twitched, how cute. "Take a bath. Clean up. Stay in there as long as you need. When you get out, we can pick back up talking. Is that ok, darling?" He asked softly. You looked up at him and his heart almost broke.

You were utterly soaked, hair wet and messy, cheeks still tear stained, eyes empty, body still trembling slightly. He had never seen you look so broken. So... fragile. Fluttering your eyelids softly, you nodded. "Ok", you said softly, voice cracking. His gaze softened. Fuck. What exactly had you gone through in the past seven years? He bent down and went to touch your face but you flinched away in fear, face scrunching up and breathing picking back up as you expected to be hit. In that moment, you reminding him so much of his spawn days. It hurt him so much. Gently, he cradled your jaw, causing your breathing to slow back down. You sighed and leaned into his familiar gentle touch. "Ok darling?" He asked, as if asking for confirmation for his original question. He was making it known that you didn't have to if you weren't comfortable. He wouldn't be surprised. You opened your eyes again and looked at him, eyes not as empty as they were seconds ago. "Mhm. Yes. I'd love to, Astarion". You murmured. He smiled softly at hearing you say his name once more after so many lonely years.

Astarion waited patiently for you as you bathed. His ears twitched as he heard you step out and begin to dry off. When you stepped out, tying the robe tight around your waist, Astarion patted the bed, silently instructing you to sit in front of him. "Come. Let me do your hair". He said gently. You obediently did as you were told, climbing up onto the bed and turning so your back faced him. Crossing your legs you resting your hands in your lap, humming softly as he began to tend to your hair. "What happened?" He began softly and you sighed. "I thought he was a good man..." You started softly. Biting your lip you placed a hand on your chest, taking deep breaths to ground yourself. "When I left, I was alone for awhile. I worked many jobs. Well, one day he just... popped up. He was so nice back then... So wonderful and kind. We started to hang out after work and it wasn't long before I realized that I had fallen in love with him. Months later, he proposed. It was good for awhile. He was still gentle even after the marriage. But I guess he felt like he had trapped me within love because one night he just... stopped. He came home one night and beat me. Our marriage wasn't the same after that. It just got worse and worse. Tonight, I left. I ran. Before long, I realized I was close to your place so... I ran to you. I didn't know if you'd help me. But I was willing to take the risk..." You trailed off.

Astarion stopped his actions, thinking on his words before answering. "You ran to me? But... you said I wasn't the man you once loved... You said he had died". You bit your lip, staring off into the distance. "True... but even you wouldn't have sunken that low. He did all the things to me that you would never dare do". You said, voice cracking. Astarion hummed in response. "You know," you said with a soft, bitter laugh, "I used to tell him about the things Cazador did to you." You said. Astarion winced, old memories briefly flaring up. "Nothing too detailed. But I guess I gave him enough details to inspire him..." You said, voice shaking as you untied the sash of your robe. Your chest felt tight as you pushed it off your shoulders, revealing scarred writing on your back. Astarion almost cried out in horror as he saw the carvings on your back. His hands trembled as he brushed his fingertips against the words. "I'm so sorry..." He whispered, voice cracking. You shrugged your shoulders before pulling the robe back up. "Not that big of a deal. It's been there for the past four years". You said casually

The two of you sat in silence for a few moments as he continued to finish his task of doing your hair. "There. All done, my treasure." He said softly before he could stop himself. He stiffened as he noticed you raise your head, eyes slightly widened at his words. Turning your head, you stared up and into his eyes. His eyes were always so gorgeous... They were still the same shade of ruby red. They never failed to capture you and draw you in. "Astarion?" You said, voice soft and filled with adoration. He swore he felt his dead heart skip a beat. You began to lift a hand, reaching for his face, his eyes flickered to your hand before going back to gaze into your beautiful eyes. He held his breath as he saw the uncertainty and want swirling in your gaze. Please. Please touch me. He thought. He bit back a whine of desperation when you dropped your hand back down. No, no, no. Don't shut down on me. He thought as you went to turn your head away.

Before he could stop himself, he grabbed your face and kissed you. Despite your previous hesitation, you instantly responded to his desperate hunger. Tears began to streak down your cheeks as your emotions became too much to bear. "I'm so sorry, Astarion. I'm sorry for hurting you. I'm sorry for leaving." You said between kisses. "Shhhhh. Shhhh. It's ok, little love. Forget about the past," he breathed back. You slipped your hands to wrap around his neck, fingers tangling into his hair and pulling gently. A growl left Astarion as he suddenly grabbed you and maneuvered you to be sitting on his lap, legs straddling him. He clutched you close, nails digging into your flesh causing you to whine softly. "Astarion..." You moaned out his name and he pulled back. You attempted to chase him, leaning forward but he gripped your jaw and chuckled. "Look at you," he purred, "barely back for half a day and you're already moaning out my name again." You whine in embarrassment and bury your face in his chest, causing him to chuckle again.

Dropping his head, he drug his fangs against your neck, causing you to shudder and grip onto him. "Say your mine," he growled out. "Say you'll never leave me again." Your breath hitched you felt his nails dig into your bare thighs, heat rising in your core. "I'm yours Astarion. I'll never leave again. Nobody else has my heart," you cooed into his ear, causing it to twitch. Without warning, he picked you up and tossed you onto the bed. You squealed, back hitting the soft bed you shared with him years before. You immediately propped yourself up, looking wide eyed at Astarion. "Good girl." He said, tone possessive. Your breath picked up as he crawled over to you. This man was a predator, and he planned to eat you whole.

Hands skimming up your body, he scratched all your pleasure spots. He noticed how you squirmed and sighed against his touch, how your body practically sang for him. "Seems like even after all these years," he untied the robe and gently spread it open, hand skimming over your abdomen and breasts, "I still know your body like the back of my hand, darling". You hummed and rubbed your thighs together, an action he immediately noticed. Not like he needed to, he could smell your arousal. It doused his senses like sweet honey. Unable to help himself, he dove between your legs, tongue immediately on your hot core. You yelped at the sudden contact but made no move to pull away. In fact you gripped the blankets and carefully slid your legs over his shoulders, giving him permission to wrap his arms around them and grip them. You moaned and arched as he hit all the good spots like he used to do. You swore, it was as if the two of you hadn't even spent a night apart. The map to your body seemingly still freshly carved into his mind, it both scared and excited you. It wasn't long before Astarion grew bored of eating you out and instead decided to move to different territory. Kissing up your body, you shuddered whenever his fangs would accidentally brushed up against your skin. You pulled him up and kissed him before tugging at his clothes. You wanted skin to skin contact. He laughed softly at your desperation but obliged, shedding his clothes off before pressing his body back against yours, causing you to shiver in delight.

"Please," he begged as he bowed his head back at your neck. "Please, my love". You looked down into those puppy dog eyes of his. It had been so long. He just wanted a taste. He just wanted you. Your essence. You. Biting your lip, you nodded and moved your head to give him access. A hand came up to cradle the opposite side of your face before he sank his fangs in, greedily feeding upon you. You whined at the pain but leaned your head back and let him take his feast regardless. He skimmed his hands up your thighs, making you lift your hips in content slightly without thinking. You winced as Astarion seemed to dig his fangs in deeper, oh how he had missed the divine taste of your blood. He grabbed the plush of your thighs and wrapped your legs around his waist, jerking you towards him and grinding his erection against you. You cried out in unexpected pleasure. The mixture of the pain at your neck and the pleasure at your core intoxicated you, driving you absolutely feral. "A-Astarion! Astarion ple- fuck. Please." You began sputtering. The vampire lord pulled back, looking at you with a dangerous glint in his eyes. Oh how he loved it when you begged. "I haven't fucked you in years and the moment my dick touches you, you're already a sputtering and begging mess. My, my. You haven't changed at all. Still hungry for my cock. Did you ever beg for your husband's cock?" He teased, tone taunting. Say I'm better. He was silently saying. Sheepishly you shook your head no. "Ah ah. You know better, pet. Speak." You whined and he gripped your jaw, "I said speak, pet".

"N-No. No Astarion. I never begged for my husband's cock." You finally stutter out, embarrassment written across your face. The vampire smirked, rubbing his length across your core to gather your slick, making you squirm. "Did he ever please you, my love? Did he ever make you feel stuffed full like I did?" He questioned. "He did please me. But not like you did." You breathed out, biting your lip as Astarion teased you with the tip. "Oh so you're saying I'm better?" He asked, ego obviously inflated. You laughed softly. "Absolutely, my dear. So much better. So, so much better. Fuck. Nobody could fuck me like you do, Astarion. Shit. Astarion, please!" You begged, practically crying. Astarion couldn't help but proudly bask in your praise for a moment before swiftly stuffing you full. You cried out in relieved pleasure. Astarion had intended to tease you, stay hilted in you until it drove you crazy. But the way clenched onto him for the first time in forever made him feral. He wasted no time setting a brutal pace, drawing out a string of noises from pretty lips. Pulling you close, he smashed his lips against yours in a hungry kiss, bruising your already flushed lips. Clawing at his back you left angry red lines on his pale flesh. "Oh you wanna play that game?" He quipped. Without warning he clawed at your flesh. He drug his nails across your back, ribs, stomach, hips, and thighs. You wailed in pleasurable pain, leaving Astarion to grin down at you sadistically.

Wanting to get back at him, you pulled him back down to your level, kissing him so tenderly and gently before looking up at his adoringly at him, "I love you so much, pretty boy". Astarion moaned and his hips stuttered their brutal strokes. "Fuck, darling. You can't just pull that on me. Fuck I love you too," he whined out, burying his now flushed face into your neck. You laughed out but it was cut short with a sharp thrust up into that oh so lovely spot within your plush walls, causing you to scream out instead and grip onto him. He moaned into your ear as he felt you clench onto him tightly. "Fuck you're so tight, darling". He groaned before continuing to abuse your g-spot. You cried out as he continued to turn you into his cock drunk whore, babbling about how good he felt and how well he was fucking you. It wasn't long before he felt his orgasm coming onto the rise. Moans getting louder, he dropped a hand to rub at your pearl. You jerked and wailed out, becoming overstimulated as he continued to abuse your pussy however he saw fit. Arching as a knot formed in your stomach you babbled out, trying to warn him but you were so far gone that all that came out was a few stuttered letters. "Shhh shhh. I know. Cum with me, pretty please," he breathed out, practically making you melt at his little pretty please. You nodded, chest heaving as you did your best to breath, beaded sweat falling over your silky flesh.

Astarion's movements began to get sloppy the closer his orgasm came. Panting he wrapped an under your back to bring your warm body closer to his. "Now," was all he whispered in your ear and suddenly your orgasm crashed over you. You momentarily stopped breathing as it ran it's course through your body and blinded you. A string of curses left his mouth as he plunged as deep as he could, tip kissing your cervix as he spewed his seed into you, moaning as he felt your walls flutter around his dick. Taking a moment to breathe, he stared down at your figure and in that moment you looked utterly divine to him. "You are just... so beautiful". He said, practically swooning before pulling out and crashing beside you. You smiled and rolled over onto your side. "I've missed you," you cooed, making him turn to look at you with his sappy puppy dog eyes. "I've missed you too. I'm so happy you're back, darling. I love you so much," he said, drawing you close to him. You tilted your head up, nuzzling into his neck as you allowed him to hold you in a possessive grip. "You're mine. All mine. And I'll make sure nobody ever hurts you again." In the back of your mind, a little voice screamed at you. Telling you that you needed to run. Astarion was still a walking red flag, it didn't matter how tenderly he treated you or how much he loved you. You need to run. RUN! But as you laid there in his embrace, you ignored the screaming of the tiny voice, instead choosing to snuggle in closer and fall asleep. You'd never leave again. So what if he did some (not so) mildly evil things? He did genuinely love you. He was always a sweetheart to you, even if others had no chance at receiving mercy from him. You'd never leave him again. Because the last time you did, it was very much your loss.

✧─── ･｡ﾟ★: *.✦ .* :★. ───✧

✨Bonus✨

"Are you fucking kidding me?!" Your ex-husband screamed at you, spit flying from his mouth as you packed your belongings, Astarion and Gale close by so he wouldn't try anything. "I told you he was bad news," Gale said with a grown, to me full of distain. You laughed and looked at him with a playfully annoyed grin, "Guess I should've listened to the magic man, huh?" You giggled, causing your ex-husband to stutter before continuing his screaming fit. "Dear you're giving me a migraine," you spat, whipping around to stare at the man behind you. "Well maybe if you- wait. What the fuck is that on your neck?!" He screamed, glaring at the deep fang marks on your neck. "Did you let that fucking bastard turn you into a goddamn spawn?!" He screeched, causing Gale to rub his temples. You growled and glared back, "As a matter of fact, I did! Not that it's any of your fucking business!" You yelled back. "Why you little fucking bi-" "Keep talking, I fucking dare you," Astarion cut off the man. He glared at the vampire lord but his masked fear was still very obvious to him. "I'm finished. Boys, can you help me?" You asked, both men barging past your ex to help you pick up your things. Gale used his magic to carry the two chests stuffed with clothes while Astarion effortlessly picked up some boxes filled with dishes you absolutely insisted on bringing. Picking up a bag you pushed your way past your ex-husband who was still having a screaming tantrum. As soon as his house was out of view, you let out a shaky breath. "Fuck that was terrifying," You squeaked out. "Well you're safe now. Even if it is with a murderous ascended vampire," Gale said, tossing a teasing grin Astarion's way. He scrunched up his face in annoyance but you could both tell that he wasn't actually mad. As the two of you set your things down and bid farewell to Gale, Astarion turned to you with a mischievous grin. "My spawn, huh?" He taunted and you rolled your eyes. "Oh shut the fuck up," you instantly replied. The vampire pulled you into his arms, his hands resting contently on your hips. "Embarrassed, my pretty consort?" He teased, causing you to groan and lightly smack his chest. "I think Mrs. Ancunin would be a lovely nickname," he purred, but despite his teasing demeanor, you could tell he meant it. "I think you'd look ravishing in white". He murmured as he leaned in, lips brushing yours. "Well you do have quite the sense of fashion," you muttered back, smoothing out his collar. "I think 'Astarion's Wife' has a nice ring to it..." You breathed, his eyes snapping up to yours. With a mischievous grin he picked you up and whisked you away. "Then I guess you better start wedding planning, because tonight I plan to make your little lie, a truth".

Awah! My latest masterpiece! When I tell you this took almost two whole days to write this, omfg. Poured my heart and soul into this thing. Please like it. 🥹