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ladykailitha · 2 months ago

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The Hellfire Exotic Club Part 5

Hello! I'm really love the response to this story. Thank you everyone who commented or tagged.

In this part we get to meet Ellie their costume designer, and Steve proves why he's there.

Pt 1 Pt 2 Pt 3 Pt 4

Steve was doing his warm ups when Chrissy came up to him.

“Hey,” she said. “We finally got our costume designer in at the same time as you. So you need to go to the dressing room and get measured.”

He nodded and went back to the dressing room. It was a long room packed with vanities, costumes, and props. It was where everyone got dressed. Man and woman alike. Eddie’s club was making good money, but it was just easier to just have everyone in the same room. Plus, it wasn’t like everyone hadn’t seen everyone else’s bits. After all, nakedness was part of the job.

The only one who had his own dressing room was Eddie. And that was because it doubled as his office. It had all his costumes, his guitars, but also his desk and filing cabinets. It had a long green, leather sofa two big fluffy armchairs across from his desk chair.

Standing at the end of the of the room in front of the rows and rows of clothing racks where all the costumes were kept was a woman in her early twenties with curly, brown hair and slim figure. Her back was to him so he couldn’t see her face. But he liked her style. It was funky and eclectic and Steve instantly loved it.

“Hey,” he called out gently. “I’m here to measured and hopefully not be found wanting.”

She turned around with a giggle. “And would you be William or Count Adhemar in this situation?”

Steve laughed. “My hope is to always be the hero, especially in my own story. And do I call you Kate or something else?”

“Ellie will do just fine,” she said with a smile. “So you’re the new Envy. You aren’t what I was expecting, if I’m honest.”

“No?” he said as he finished walking the rest of the way to her. “I’m not sure what you were told about me, so...”

Again Ellie giggled. “Well judging from the way Eddie and Chrissy talk about you I was expecting someone taller at the very least. You are conventionally attractive, but I guess I was thinking more Chris Hemsworth then Chris Pine, if I’m honest.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment then,” he said. “Personally I prefer Pine over all the other Chrises. He’s got a ‘fuck you I do what I want’ style I like.”

“Me too,” she said with a soft knowing smile. “So let’s get those measurements and then afterwards we can talk about what you want out of your costumes. I understand you and Chrissy are going to be Hansel and Gretel for the Fairy Tale Night, is that right?”

Steve nodded. “I think that Eddie just wants to see me in lederhosen.” He paused for a second. “My best friend, Robin, too, now that I think about it.”

She laughed out loud for the first time and Steve decided she should laugh more. It was cute. “Well, aren’t they going to be disappointed. It’s meant to be sexy, not ridiculous.”

He smiled back at her. Yeah, they were going to along just fine. Ellie went through measuring him, quickly and efficiently. Steve was impressed by her professionalism and she was impressed by his ability to take direction and to hold still when told.

Once they were done Ellie sat him down and she pulled out a sketch book. She showed him the designs for the Hansel outfit. It had a lot of layers so that as they went through the forest more clothes would come off. Lamia would be the witch and Eddie’s Lucifer would rescue them. It was all very hot and Steve couldn’t wait to preform it.

“I love it,” he told Ellie. “Can we make the costumes brown on the outside and get lighter and lighter until the bottom layer is white?”

Ellie tapped her pencil to her lips. “What if we started off with black and worked our way through grey to white?”

Steve resisted the urge to sigh. It was Eddie wish to be everything black or red for their costumes and it looked the costume designer felt the same. “How about red?”

Ellie’s eyes lit up. “That could work!” And she pulled out her colored pencils and got to work coloring the different layers. Once she was done, she looked up at him and he grinned back.

“Perfect,” he said. “Now let me tell you what I’m going to need from my costume and you can help me figure out what it should look like.”

She nodded and listened to his wants and needs, jotting down notes and sketching out ideas as he talked.

“I might not take it all off every time,” Steve admitted, scratching his cheek nervously. “But I want the option there if at all possible.”

Ellie did a couple more sketches and showed them to him. He took the sketch book from her as he examined the different designs. He pointed to the one on the left. “Add some of the flare from the second one and I think you’ve got it.”

She added the flourishes from the one costume to the other and then showed Steve. He nodded.

“All right,” she said standing up, “I’ll be by in a couple of weeks with your costume for a fitting and see if there’s any tweaks to finalize. I’ve also taken your current costume and will have it sent over on Sunday so that you are able to dance easier.”

He let out a sigh of relief. “That would be fantastic. I’ll be glad to be able to do my job without sacrificing a gallon of blood every night.”

Steve walked her out and said goodbye. Then he got back to warm ups and practice. He was about done with his first solo routine when one of the dancers came up to him.

“Why are you so special that Ellie came to you?” the young man bit out. “Everyone else had to go to her shop to get measured.”

Steve looked up at him with a frown. “You’re Leviathan, right?” The guy nodded. “I’m busy during the day and on my nights off. And when I was free, she was busy. She offered to come to me during practice, man, I don’t know what you want me to tell you.”

“Why you’re getting such preferential treatment?” Levi huffed. “Boss wouldn’t let us backup dancers even try out for Envy even though we should have been given the chance first. We’ve been here longer and deserve a crack at making real money. But no... you come in here with your stupid little heaven song and your stupid little angel dances and now you’re getting Ellie to come to you? It’s bullshit!”

Steve just put his hands up in the air. “You’re acting like I’m some evil mastermind designed to fuck up your life, but the truth is it sounds life your beef is with Eddie not me. I’m not the one who set up tryouts. I’m not the one that called Ellie to come get my measurements. I’m not the one that suggested the angel theme, all I did was pick a song that would get me noticed. Eddie is the one who did all those things. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to warm up.”

Levi snarled and turned on his heel, stomping away. Or as much stomping as one could when you’d spent your life learning to land as softly as possible.

Steve rolled his shoulders. He was used to people blaming him because he was rich and popular and good looking and could fucking dance. They couldn’t get over the fact that he had these natural talents; things he was born with that he didn’t chose. But it was always his fault anyway.

Chrissy came back from wherever she had gone during his session with Ellie, with a big smile. “You ready to back into this?” she asked cheerfully.

“Ready when you are!”

To say Eddie was pissed would be an understatement. He had just gotten off the phone with some Bible thumping street preacher demanding that they shutter their doors and repent to come to God.

When Eddie told him that he didn’t believe in God and even if he had, he’d rather go to Hell, the preacher started screaming obscenities about how he was going to expose the club for what it was, a den of iniquity and was going to get it closed down.

Then Stella came in and was up his ass about the angel dances again. He told her that when she brought in as much money as Steve and Chrissy did during those dances then he would listen to her.

“Mark my words, Eddie,” Stella hissed. “He’s going to be the ruin of the club and when it all comes crashing down, I’m going to still be here so I can tell you to your face, ‘I told you so’.”

Then she stormed out. Eddie followed her because he honestly thought she would start going on a rampage in the dressing room, tearing shit up.

Which meant he got a front row seat to Levi trying bully Steve. Not that it worked, Steve returned better than he got, but it was the fact that one of his people had tried. It wasn’t the first time Eddie heard the rumblings from the backup dancers about not getting a chance to audition for Envy and it probably wouldn’t the last. But he wasn’t going to let someone bully someone he had handpicked.

He walked up to the stage whistled long and loud. Steve was the last to stop and look at him, finishing the turn he was doing. He blushed when he realized everyone was waiting for him.

“Sorry,” he mumbled.

“Don’t worry about it,” Eddie said. “I get wanting to complete a spin instead of abruptly stopping and risking a fall.”

Steve nodded, still feeling the heat of embarrassment on the back of his neck after the sting of Levi’s words still rang in his head.

“I’ve been getting and hearing a lot of complaints about how I run things lately,” Eddie began.

The assembled dancers began to shift uncomfortably. “Especially from the backup dancers about the auditions to replace Envy. You all think you’re better than Stevie here,” he continued. “So put your money where your mouth is. All eight of you will dance Billy’s version of the tease. And you don’t want to, you know where the fucking door is. Don’t let it hit you on the way out.”

There was a gasp and then deadly silence. “If any of you are as good as he is, I’ll concede the point and we’ll discuss the details after. But here’s the thing, my little demons. You aren’t as good as he is. He learned his dance in three days.”

There were some sharp grumbling at that but a single glare from Eddie silenced them again.

“Jeff, Brian, and Gareth will be the judges because clearly you don’t trust me and Chrissy’s judgment. They will score you on hitting all the moves. On style. And finally on how sexy it was. Then after you’ve all danced and I’m proven right, you’ll have two options,” he bit out, holding up two fingers. “Shut up and dance. Or get the fuck out of my club. Because I think you assholes forgot who’s name is on the deed. Not you. Not Wayne. Not anyone but me.”

The rest of the demons glared at the two main culprits: Levi and Danny. Levi sneered and Danny was nonplussed.

“Come on, Leviathan,” Eddie snarled back. “You think you’re such a big shot. Go on, prove it.”

Levi got into position to dance.

Chrissy hurried over to the music and turned on “Devil Inside”. Steve didn’t want to toot his own horn, but he could see why Billy was only as good as the pole he was dancing on. It was loud and outrageous but no technique or style. It was all sex and no substance.

When he was done Eddie called out all the other dancers. Choronzon, Belial, Beelzebub, Astraroth, Stolas, Mephistopheles, and then finally Dagon. Danny was a good dancer, particularly on the pole. But again, there was no style or substance to the tease.

When her dance ended, Steve raised his hand. “Can I try?”

All heads snapped his direction.

“What now?” Cheryl asked. “You dance it every Sunday.”

Steve shook his head. “What you guys just danced is not what I do on Sundays. Chrissy modified it on the fly because I’m not built the way Billy was.”

There was some murmuring but Chrissy confirmed he doesn’t do Billy’s dance. Parts of it, yes. But there was no way Steve could dance it well enough in time.

“But you just watched it,” Stella said. “There is no way you can do replicate that!”

Steve shrugged. “I watched it eight times. It has a lot of beats of what I do, but in a slightly different order. I should get a chance to do it. It’s my reputation on the line, isn’t it?”

No one could refute that so Steve got into position and everyone’s jaw dropped. Including Eddie and Chrissy. Steve started his dance on stool but Billy started front and center. And that’s where he stood.

Scott smirked as the music started. It was Chrissy and him who helped Steve nail it down in three days.

The difference was staggering. Eddie’s jaw remained on the floor for the duration of of the tease. As did almost everyone else’s. Only Stella and Scott were unmoved. Scott because he knew how good Steve was and Stella because she was being forced to eat crow.

The song ended and the room erupted in cheers and whistles. Steve lifted his head and winked.

Jeff threw his notes in the air behind him. “I don’t fucking need these. Steve’s was sexier, smoother, and nearly technically perfect.”

Gareth crossed his arms over his chest. “I agree. All of the backup dancers did the routine. But none of them were Envy.”

“I’m asexual and even I could tell Steve’s was sexier,” Brian said. “And it’s because he connected to his audience. Me, Gare, and Jeff. He played to us not at us.”

Eddie raised his arm to the stage. “Satan everyone!” He jutted his thumb behind him. “Take it or leave it!”

No one moved an inch. “Then shut up and dance!” He turned on his heel and stormed back to his office.

Chrissy clapped her hands. “All righty! Everyone back on the starting line!”

Everyone scrambled to get back into position. Chrissy and Scott shared a smirk as Levi and Danny stood a little straighter.

Point well and truly made.

Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 Part 11 Part 12 Part 13 Part 14

Tag List: CLOSED

1-@mira-jadeamethyst @rozzieroos @itsall-taken @redfreckledwolf @zerokrox-blog

2- @gregre369 @a-little-unsteddie @chaosgremlinmunson @messrs-weasley @cryptid-system

3- @maya-custodios-dionach @goodolefashionedloverboi @val-from-lawrence @carlyv @wonderland-girl143-blog

4- @justforthedead89 @irregular-child @bookbinderbitch @bookworm0690 @forgottenkanji

5- @anne-bennett-cosplayer @yikes-a-bee @awkwardgravity1 @littlewildflowerkitten @genderless-spoon

6- @dragonmama76 @ellietheasexylibrarian @thedragonsaunt @useless-nb-bisexual @disrespectedgoatman

7- @counting-dollars-counting-stars @tinyplanet95 @ravenfrog @swimmingbirdrunningrock @lingeringmirth

8- @gutterflower77 @a-lovely-craziness @just-a-tiny-void @w1ll0wtr33 @beelze-the-bubkiss

9- @dreamercec @sadisticaltarts @too-much-tma-stuff @dolphincliffs @chameleonhair

10- @themoonagainstmers @gloomysoup @novelnovella @micheledawn1975

#my writing #stranger things #steddie #ladykailtiha writes #dance club au

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lt-taylor7 · 4 months ago

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Javi x reader angsty blurb

(Happy ending, GN reader, cussing, major spoilers, not proof read, kinda sucks, bad grammar,)

Imagine meeting Javi before he takes off the the military, he’s still hooked on Kate and even if he won’t admit to ir, it’s clear, very clear. So when you inevitably do end up together it doesn’t change, even if he treats you like an angel, the only purity in the sick world, You know he’s still thinking of her.

then he takes off to the military.

he changes, no doubt. But he seems more, aggressive with his love, as if he has to show you it or you’ll disappear, That is until storm par takes over his life, then it’s like you’re nothing. He shows barely any attention, barely speaking to you. He’d come home excited and proud after a good chase, buzzing with energy, and yet it’s like he spoke to you like some stranger.

then Kate comes along to help Storm Pat’s research, and it’s like you don’t even exist. Even after she stole his truck, running off with it, he was a wreck and you knew exactly why. “How much longer is she in Oklahoma?” You asked bluntly one night after cooking him dinner, he hesitated, “couple days, why?” He answered defensively, you just shrug. “No, why?” He asked impatiently. “Because I’d like to know when I’m getting my boyfriend back.” You say sarcastically, you heard the sound of his utensils hitting his plate before he got up, “Javi wait.” You immediately said, eyes following his frame as disappearing in the kitchen. You put your plate down on a table. “Javier please.” That caught his attention. You heard him stop moving before he came out to face you, “What’s your problem with Kate?” He finally asks, he was angry, shoulders rising and falling with each laboured breathe. You scoff, “are you serious?” You say in disbelief , “you never got over her, I’m not stupid I hear how you talk about her.” He looks down and scoffs, “So you’re insecure?” He asks, “about my boyfriend being obsessed with some girl his whole life, And then inviting her to our state and suddenly ghosting me in my own home, yeah Javier, I am.” You snap back, Careful not to raise your voice. “Oh for fuck sakes Y/n! I needed her here for business, you know that.” He argued, “Then why have you been ignoring me?” You argue back, tears threatening to spill from your lash line as you tried to blink them back. “I haven’t been.” The tears spilt, you let out a choked sob, “I’ll sleep on the couch tonight, my things will be packed by morning.” You say emotionless, Unsure of where else to go, but it certainly catches his attention as he looked up to you wide eyed. “What?” He asked, anger and confusion laced in his tongue. “Javier I’m not staying here if I’m not happy, I’m sorry.” You say, trying to blink back the tears that still fell, “no no, please baby I’ll make it up to you-“ you cut him off before he could beg anymore, “No Javi.” You say.

—-

the next morning you woke up to an empty house, and a small pile of paper in front of you, you wipe away your groggy eyes before looking down, a letter in Javi’s hand writing, a multi page one at that, you look down at it and begin reading, It went over all his feelings, why he’d been so cold lately, why he acted the way he did and about a million ‘I’m so sorries’ and although, it didn’t make up for the way he treated you, it did remind you how much you loved him, through thick and thin…

—

it was later that day when you heard the familiar sound of gravel under thick tires, Javi was home. It was clear with his own truck this time instead of Scott’s SUV, you sat on the love seat that faced the front door, taking a sip of water before you heard the handle twist and push open, Javi walked in, nervous expression and scared eyes scanning the room before meeting your gaze, he looked petrified. You got up from your spot, slowly walking over and taking one of his bags off his back and placing it on the ground, he didn’t speak nor touch you, he just stared. You placed your hands on his chest and snaked them up into his shoulders and around his neck. “We definitely need to talk about yesterday, but I’m not going anywhere, okay?” You said, carefully looking over his face. You felt his shoulders relax as he dropped his other bags and he immediately wrapped his arms around you, pulling you in tightly against his chest in a warm embrace, as if you’d disappear if he let go. You could feel his chest quiver as he held back tears, you brought your arms around him more comfortably, “your aloud to cry honey, go ahead.” And with that he let out a choked sob, “I’m so sorry, I was so scared to loose you.” He cried into your shoulder as you brought. Shane to his hair, gently running your nails through his scalp, “It’s okay, I’m right here.” You assure him holding him until he pulls away first, Teary eyes looking into yours before flicking down to your lips, then back to your eyes. You smile before bringing your hands to his hair and pulling him in for a soft kiss.

This is actually so bad, but I haven’t slept so enjoy what I give you pookies

#javi rivera x reader #javi x reader #javier rivera #twisters 2024 #twisters fanfic #anthony ramos x reader #anthony ramos

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foreingersgod · 7 months ago

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Literally my favorite wbb writer on here😭💕💕!! Could you maybe write kate Martin x reader angst?

UGGHHH, i love you all so much, your support means the world to me!! thank you sm :’)

Thick and Thin . KM

pairing: kate martin x reader

synopsis: you and kate go through a rough patch

A/N: NOT PROOF READ

༶•┈┈୨♡୧┈┈•༶

to say you were a supportive girlfriend would be an understatement, you went to every game, every event, comforted kate after every loss and celebrated after every win. any athlete would be lucky to have you at their side. and at the beginning of your relationship, kate knew that. she was so grateful that she had you in her life. if you weren’t there on the side lines cheering her on or doting on her whenever she needed it, she wouldn’t be where she’s at now.

but as of recently, she’d become too entangled in the game. sure, an athlete like herself would obviously be committed and stressed when it came to their sport. but kate had always made sure you understood that you were her number one priority, basketball second. she wanted to make sure you knew how much she loved you, showing you the same amount of love and support that you always showed her. and for a while, it was working out fine. you split your girlfriend duties 50/50 and made sure each other were always satisfied and happy in the relationship.

now, though, it felt like kate has just stopped caring. you weren’t sure if it was graduation, or saying goodbye to the team, she wouldn’t talk to you at all. she was cold and more distant than normal. she didn’t help you out around the house, she didn’t bring you home flowers every friday night like she used to, she didn’t kiss you goodnight or pull you into her chest before bed, you felt suddenly neglected. kate was acting like a completely different person and it was really starting to take a toll on you.

you tried to let this phase run its course in hopes that she’d return to her normal self again, but things seemed to only be getting worse. she started coming home later than normal, stopped taking you to banquets and events. hell, she didn’t even care that you waited for her outside the locker room after each game to see her. instead, she would brush past you to talk to her friends and family. it’s like you were invisible.

no matter how much it hurt you, you still wanted to support your girlfriend and kept going to the games and cheering her on, even if she didn’t notice you were there.

but on this particular night, outside the locker room once more, something inside you told you to wait for her and figure out what was going on. you weren’t going to be brushed off any longer.

you felt like you were going to melt, sitting on the bench outside the doors. your heart was racing and your head was spinning hoping that she’d be the next one to walk out. and soon enough, your prayers were answered, kate came waltzing through the doors moments later. duffel bag in hand, hair pulled back into a messy ponytail. surprisingly, she saw you and walked over to see you.

“hey, i’m gonna go over to hannah’s place to hang out with the girls tonight” she looked down at her phone, typing out a text. figures, she couldn’t even look at you “i don’t know when i’ll be home so. ill probably see you in the morning”

you scoffed, now she wasn’t even coming home with you anymore? is the only time she’s going to talk to you is to tell you she’s leaving? your blood must’ve been boiling, your heart sank watching her completely blow you off.

“what’s that all about?” she asked, irritated.

“nothing, nothing” you sighed, beginning to walk away “do whatever you want i don’t fucking care”

she grabbed your wrist, forcing you to stop in your tracks and talk to her “what’s your fucking problem? i can’t go out with my team now? i thought you were supposed to be a supportive girlfriend, huh?”

“really? you’re going to pull that card?” now you were fuming, you were lucky no one was around to witness this “i’ve been nothing but supportive, kate. you know that! i do everything i possibly can to be supportive. and all i ask if that you do the same for me, but you’ve quite literally treated me like shit these past few weeks!”

“that’s such bullshit-”

“no it’s not kate! you’re not even home anymore! you don’t buy me flowers or take me out on dates like you used to! i don’t even remember the last time you kissed me because you’re too fucking busy with all this other shit! and when it’s late and i’m waiting out here for you, time and time again, you blow me off to go out with the team. again. it never ends, kate”

“i don’t know why you’re choosing to bring this up now” she yelled “lets just go home, fuck, i won’t go out tonight if you’re gonna make a scene!”

“you’re unbelievable, kate i hope you know that” you wanted to scream “go home, go with the team, i truly don’t care. but im not gonna keep doing this with you.” you pushed past kate, who was trying to drag you out to the car at this point, making your way to the door and storming down the street alone.

“where the hell are you going, YN” she chased after you “seriously, what the fuck, let’s just go home, i’m sorry!”

you ignored her and kept walking, if she was going to treat you like this, then you weren’t going to put up with her anymore. you’d stay at a friends place or a hotel if it meant you didn’t have to take this neglect anymore.

kate persisted, still chasing you down the side walk, dodging numerous couples and families just trying to enjoy their evening. you tried to pretend she wasn’t there, persistent on getting away from her as far as possible. but before you could turn around the next corner to try and get her off your back, she grabbed your foreman and pulled you back into her like she had done before.

“stop running, you’re acting like a child” she tried to keep her voice level “just come home so we can talk about this, please”

you didn’t even look at her, complying, as you let her lead you to the car and take you home.

when you arrived at your building, you both stood in complete silence as you entered the the apartment. you hung up your coat, took off your shoes, and sat on the couch waiting for her to start talking.

“so talk, kate. since that’s what you wanted to do.”

“YN, come on” she groaned, taking a seat on the opposite end of the couch “i don’t get why we need to have this conversation.”

“you don’t get it?” you were astonished, was she that fucking clueless “you don’t see what’s been going on?”

she just looked at you sadly, fingers massaging her temples in frustration.

“kate i know that things are difficult right now. i can’t even imagine what you’re feeling when you have to deal with all these things with basketball and try and handle everything else outside of that too. but you’ve changed, babe, and it feels like you’ve just stopped caring about me all together”

“you know that’s not true,” she said. “i love you so much, you know that”

“but do i, kate?” you shook your head “im sitting outside of that locker room, telling you all these things you’ve been doing that have seriously hurt my feelings…and you’re just not listening!”

“ok i’ll admit i’ve been distant! and im sorry for that, i really am, but i didn’t realize it was that big of a deal!” she defended “things have been so hectic and im struggling to keep everything together and-and then there’s stuff going on with my family and caitlin’s always asking me to-”

she began to ramble, telling you every possible thing that had been on her mind recently. you had no idea it was this bad.

“kate…” you leaned over, rubbing her shoulder to try and soothe her “i had no idea all of that was going on? why didn’t you just talk to me about it? you can always trust me with these things”

she leaned forward, letting her head fall into her hands, trying to keep her composure “because you’re always so good to me and i didn’t want to dump all of this on you and make you deal with it. i just don’t want my problems to become yours”

“and that’s very thoughtful, but i’m here to help. and even if i wasn’t…that doesn’t give you the right to just cut me off as a girlfriend completely, it’s so unlike you…and for you to get so upset with me when i just wanted to spend time with you after the game tonight? you’d never do that”

“i know, you’re right, i just..” she looked over to you, eyes bloodshot from holding in tears “i guess i thought that if i secluded myself and kept you out of it that it might be easier to deal with…but i was so fucking wrong. and i shouldn’t have pretended like this was normal, it’s not. i’m so sorry that i’ve been abandoning you and not even realizing”

“i’m…im not gonna sit here and say it’s ok, cause it’s not. but i know that this isn’t you. i know that you can fix yourself and trust me to help you sort out whatever’s bothering you. but i really need you to try. i miss the old you, i miss the good morning kisses and making me dinner and our movie nights, you know?”

she smiled, reminiscing “i miss it too, im gonna be better, i promise.”

“i know, and i love you ok?”

“i love you too, thank you for putting up with all my shit, i don’t deserve you”

you pulled her into you, reveling in her embrace for the first time in weeks, you could already feel things falling back into place.

it was going to take a long time for you to get back into your old dynamic with kate, but you understood that she was under a lot of pressure and she understood that you had struggles and needs just the same. so you promised to tackle it all, sticking together through thick and thin.

༶•┈┈୨♡୧┈┈•༶

A/N: i’m very bad at writing angst so i apologize! if you guys request something and my outcome for it isn’t what you had wanted, feel free to message me and ill re write it for you, i want you guys to be completely satisfied with your requests!

on that same note, i’ve still got a few requests i’m finishing up and then i’ll open that back up again, thanks for understanding <3

have a lovely day!! :)

#kate martin x reader #kate martin #wcbb #wcbb x reader #iowa wbb #request

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sentientcave · 8 months ago

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Heavy Weighs the Crown

Here we go friends! These chapters just keep getting longer. A larger plot begins to reveal itself to me. I am having a lot of fun here and I hope you are too.

Chapter 3 - Reading Between the Lines

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Read on AO3

Contains: Generic fantasy setting, Princess Reader, No Y/N, Some exposition, Reader's dad (deceased) was a real piece of work, Bad memories, A spot of magic, Voyeurism, Reader description kept pretty neutral but I kind of got slightly more specific about black hair care so you're just going to have to live with it.

~6k words

The next morning, it rains.

The pitter-patter of rain against your windows wakes you up, because it sounds wrong. There’s only one small window in your room in Kate’s house, and when weather blows in it’s the sound of water trickling down and dripping off the thatch roof that’s loudest, not the rain itself. Here the sound echoes strangely in the big space, and you wake with a start, disoriented, your heart-hammering in your chest.

It feels like your life in town is the dream, trickling away faster than you can cup your hands to hold onto it. You fly out of bed and wrap a blanket around your shoulders, dashing out into the hallway, bare feet cold on the stone floor. The king’s bedroom is directly across the hall from your own, and you stare at the door, frozen and unsure if you’re willing to risk knocking, breath caught in your throat, chest tight, anxiety squeezing your ribs until they ache.

You’re sixteen and twenty-six both, living two lives out in one panicking body. You no longer belong here and you’ve never been anywhere else. Your father is alive, angry, terrifying, and he’s dead and buried where he can’t hurt you anymore. You are a tossed coin landed on it’s edge, waiting to fall.

The door in front of you opens, and you leap back on instinct, but breathe a sigh of relief when it’s John standing there, looking at you with surprise first, and then concern. “Sweetpea?” he asks, stepping forward to meet you, but leaving space between your bodies, like he knows that it would be worse for him to touch you right now. “What’s wrong?”

You press your shaking fingers to your mouth, holding back a sob. You swallow it down, pulling yourself together enough to speak. “I thought it was a dream,” you say at last. “I thought he was still alive.”

There’s no question who you mean. John reaches a hand out, an offering, and you take it, clinging to him like a life-line. He reels you into his arms, and you lean in, the solid, warm bulk of him as reliable and real as the earth below. “He’s not,” he says firmly. “I put him in the ground myself. You’re safe.”

You nod against his chest, feeling small and silly now. “I’m sorry,” you say, although you’re not sure what you’re sorry for. For showing weakness, maybe, for being lost in your own memory, for needing reassurance.

“It’s early yet,” he murmurs against the top of your head. “You should try to sleep a little longer.”

You’re not sure you could even if you tried, and even though you’re still tired, the adrenaline leaving your body cold, fatigue dragging at your bones insistently. You could maybe sleep against John’s chest, holding onto him, his heartbeat steady and strong enough in your ear to drown out the still-frenetic tempo of your own. “I think I’ll just get dressed,” you say, pushing away. He drops his arms instantly, letting you put a little distance between you.

He shakes his head, smiling at you fondly, eyes crinkling up at the corners. “Sweetpea, the sun hasn’t even risen. Go back to bed. I know just the thing to help. Go on.” He turns you toward your door and nudges you along.

There’s no point in arguing with him— You are tired, and although you suspect sleep will be beyond your reach, it’s cold in the hallway, especially now that you’re no longer pressed against John’s warm chest, and your bed is still warm when you climb back in.

Darkness presses down on you, heavy as grave-dirt, and you lay there, staring at the ceiling. You touch the crystal lamp next to your bed to light up the room, but that’s no better, really.

John knocks, but doesn’t wait for your answer before coming in, a dark wolf with blue eyes trotting in on his heels. “Go on, Soap,” he says, and Soap hops up onto your bed and lays down half on top of you, his head on your shoulder, tail wagging. John pats him on the head like he’s just a dog. “He’ll keep an eye on you.”

It should probably feel weird to cuddle up with a werewolf, since he’s really a man, and you’ll have to face that silly, crooked grin in the morning, but you need someone to cling to, and you’re to proud and cautious to cling to John. “Thank you,” is all you have it in you to say.

“He gets nightmares too. Usually sleeps across someone’s bed. I’m sure he’d be happy to stay with you while you’re here.” John says it simply, without a drop of judgment or condescension, and scratches behind Soap’s ear. “He’s a real good listener when he can’t talk back too.” He withdraws, tapping the light and throwing the room into darkness again.

You don’t even hear the door click shut. You bury your face into the thick fur around Soap’s neck and fall asleep almost instantly.

When you wake up again, it's with a very large, very naked man on top of you.

You yelp, scrambling back on your pillows. Johnny’s eyes snap open at your first movement, on high alert before he’s all the way awake. He scrambles too, and falls right off the side of the bed with a solid thud.

"Oh! Johnny I'm so sorry," you look down at him from the edge of the mattress, trying not to laugh. "I forgot you were here."

"It's alright, lass. I didna mean to startle ye. Ah shift back overnight sometimes. Price didnae remember to warn ye." He sits up and leans against the bed, forearms folded over each other. He looks no worse for wear, and like he slept as solidly as you did, those last few hours. There’s a faint imprint of lace from your nightgown on his face, and half of his hair is stuck straight up, the rest pressed flat. "Are ye feelin' better?"

“I am. Thank you for staying with me.”

“S’nothin’ really. Nicer sleepin’ with you than Gaz, he kicks awl night long. An’ Nox doesnae like me none, so I cannae stay with Ghost.” He grins. “Price lets me stay but he makes me sleep at the foot of the bed like a dog. Sometimes a man wants a cuddle, ye ken?”

You giggle. “I ken.”

"Really livin' up to yer name, aye Sweetpea?"

You laugh again. "Johnny, you know that's not my name, right?"

"No? What is it?" He shakes his head when you tell him. "I like Sweetpea better. Suits ye."

"Me too," you tell him. It has no connections to your previous life. It just reminds you of the pretty pink, purple, and white flowers that grow on delicate, curling vines that you like to grow over the side of the chicken coop.

There's a knock on the door, and Johnny leaps up to see who it is. You have to hold your hand up quickly to avoid getting an eyeful of things you're not supposed to see. He's absolutely shameless-- you suspect he wouldn't think twice about strolling down the hallways without a scrap on. You have a curiousity about men's bodies that you're too bashful to indulge, even if you're pretty sure that Johnny would stand still and let you look as long as you liked. Well, maybe not stand still. But you doubt he would mind.

It's Ghost at the door. He doesn't wait for an invitation to come in, but he has clothes for Johnny hung over his arm, so you don't mind. Honestly, you can bear a few overzealous men who feel entitled to your space for a few days, because after that you'll get to go home and get back to your life.

Ghost positions himself between you and Johnny, just as he had yesterday. "Price said you 'ad a bit of an episode earlier. You olright?"

"Just fine," you say brightly. "No need to worry."

"Och, let him worry, hen. He likes ta do it."

"I'm really fine," you insist.

"You want to visit the mausoleum? Might make it feel more real."

You'd be more interested in going there to visit your mother's grave, if you're going at all, but you think that you'll wait for a sunnier day. A gray, dreary morning like the one outside your windows is no balm for dark memories or old wounds. Sunshine might be. "Not today," you say. "Maybe tomorrow." You get out of bed as gracefully as possible, well aware that you have an audience. "Perhaps the two of you could step outside for a moment while I get dressed?"

Ghost glances behind him, checking to see if Soap is covered up enough for him to move, and then walks over to your closet and pulls out a screen that you hadn't noticed sitting in the corner there, and sets it up. "There you go, Sweetpea. You'll need help with all your fastenin's anyway, won't you?"

You imagine that he's smiling under the mask, more than a little smug about it, but you let it slide. "Very thoughtful."

"Try to be."

The blank face of his mask gives you nothing when you glance over, aside from that he’s looking back. It’s not the first time that you’ve wished for more insight into what he’s thinking, but there’s a gravity to his attention that you swear was never there before, and it prickles at the back of your neck even after you duck out of sight.

You choose a sunny yellow dress today, to counter the deluge outside, and remove the silk scarf wrapped around your head so you can twist your braids on each side from your brow back to the nape of your neck, pinning the lengths into a knot. You’ll have to redo them soon, but without Kate and her wife to help you, you know it’ll take hours, if not most of a day.

You walk over to where Ghost is sitting and turn your back to him so he can button it up for you. He hands you his gloves to hold while he does so, and you run your hands over the detail of white leather bones stitched on over the well-worn black leather, decoration and extra protection both. Idly, you slip one on, but your hands are so small in comparison to his that you have to stretch your hand out just to get your fingers arranged inside it properly. He stands behind you, and leans over you to gently pull them from your hands, as though to underline again how much bigger he is than you are.

The top of your head brushes his chest when you tip your head back to look at him. “Thank you,” you say.

“I’m always ‘appy to ‘elp,” he says. “I’m with you for the mornin’ anyway. Might as well make myself useful, eh?”

“Stuck minding me?” you tease, sweeping around to fold back the sheets on your bed, only to find that one of them had already done it. Ghost, most likely, judging by how neat it is. You touch his arm lightly in silent thanks, and the three of you leave your room together.

Other than insisting you eat breakfast (served in a communal dining hall, where they insist on bringing things to you rather than let you suffer the indignity of standing in a line, and watch you eat with unnerving intensity), they’re content to follow you around as you refamiliarize yourself with the castle, mapping out changes so you don’t get turned about looking for anything. You find a number of familiar faces here and there, and have an perplexingly similar conversation with anyone you know, where they welcome you back cheerfully, and grow a bit quiet and nervous when you insist that you won’t be staying long, and when you try to press them on that, you’re ushered out, told they’re too busy to chat, and that you’ll find time to catch up later.

You suspect that Ghost and Johnny are the source of their nerves, but both of them always seem to be a few paces out of (human) earshot, and minding their own business, talking about something else quietly between them.

"Where's Kyle?" you ask as you're hustled out of the the healer's work shop and back out into the hallway. It’s become abundantly clear, no matter how well they feign innocence, that your hulking shadows are making the staff nervous, and you decide not to subject anyone else to their company. If you can slip away from them later, you might be able to have an actual conversation.

“Prob’ly ‘oled up in ‘is workshop,” Ghost says. “Some weeks we ‘ardly see ‘im.”

“Wizardy shite,” Johnny adds, his tone disapproving. “As if there aren’t a thousand ways ta blow shite intae bits withoot wigglin’ yer fingers. Can blow up flour, did ye know, Sweetpea? In barrels isnae much different than black powder.”

“Still useful to have a little magic,” you say, flipping your palm over and conjuring a flame in the centre of it. It’s one of the few spells in your cache, and you’ve mostly just used it to light candles and the stove. Your lessons barely dipped beyond simple control— You’d been told that magic was no proper pastime for a lady. When you think back on it now, you think it’s more that your father never wanted you to have defenses that he could not control, or that could be used against him. A grim thought, from this side of things.

“Forgot you ‘ave a little magic in you.” Ghost holds his hands above yours, feeling the heat coming off the small flame. “Come on, pet. Let’s find Kyle. Might be enough to pull ‘is nose out of ‘is books.”

You close your hand, extinguishing the flame, and let them guide you through a few corridors and up a spiraling stone staircase.

Johnny hesitates at the door, nose wrinkling at the slight, hard to identify smell of complex magical wards that are carved neatly into the doors. You can feel the slight hum of it in your teeth. Ghost pushes the door open without knocking (you think all four of these men might be allergic to knocking), and steps inside.

You follow, and stop right there in the doorway while Ghost ventures in further. Kyle is shirtless, doing pushups over a heavy looking book. He doesn't look up, doesn't even stop when he turns the page, just continues the exercise one handed. He's in perfect shape, every muscle well-defined, putting even some of the finely-carved marble statues you've seen to shame. He has a frame for wiry muscle, but he's worked so hard that he's gotten bulky too, and although he's not as broad as Soap or as big as Ghost, it's clear that he's stronger than most men. Certainly stronger than men of his occupation have any need to be.

"What do you want, Ghost?" Kyle asks, still focused on his reading. "I'm busy, you know."

"Brought our girl by to see you, and you don't even bother lookin' up."

Kyle’s attention does snap up at that, brown eyes sliding past Ghost’s legs to you, still hovering in the doorway, Johnny a step behind, peering over your shoulder. Kyle scrambles to his feet, sending the book flying with a gesture. It settles on the desk behind him as he steps around Ghost, dusting his hands against his trousers before he takes yours, pulling you more fully into the space. His skin gleams with a thin sheen of sweat, but he's not the least bit out of breath. “Come on in, Sweetpea. Did you come all the way up here just to see me?”

“Of course,” you say. It’s a silly question, although now that you look around the space, you’re gripped by curiousity. The circular room is lined with bookshelves, each full of thick, leather and linen-bound tomes that hum with power. The whole room sings like a chorus, the sound not in your ears, but tickling the back of your mind instead. “I was wondering where you’d gone off to. I don’t want to interrupt, of course, if you’re working on something.” Although, now that you're looking, it seems like he’s working on many things, all at once. He has a carousel of research tomes open next to the desk, and neatly written pages laid out over the desk to dry, a stack of opened and unopened correspondence in a basket hanging from the side, ingredients measured out by a shelf full of bottles and jars of strange and familiar ingredients, and there are unlit candles set around the perimeter of an open area on the floor, a circle of iridescent tile set into the stone, pale and glittering.

“Nothing important this moment. Just studying while I wait for ink to dry. The mind grows dull if you don’t take the time to keep it sharp.” He glances at Johnny meaningfully, and receives a rude gesture in response.

“There’s more’n just books if ye want to keep sharp,” Johnny says, his voice flinty. “Isnae the only way to learn, ye know.”

You glance at Ghost. His mask looks back at you, blank as ever. “There’s a place for books, and a place for practical application,” you say diplomatically. “Wisdom can be found in many places.”

“In a pretty girl, for one,” Ghost says approvingly. “Would be good for you to crack a book once in a while, Soap. And for you to spend a little less time ‘oled up in ‘ere.” His head turns toward Kyle.

“I have a lot to do, you know,” Kyle says. “I can’t just shove everything to the side whenever I please.”

You drift closer to the desk, peeking at the tome he was referencing earlier, the pages opened to a chapter on illusion spells. Curious, you glance to his notes, humming with interest at the first page you glance at. It’s something about setting spells of illusion into fabric, weaving magic into the very stitches. “Are you trying to make a cloak of shadows?” you ask, picking up the page carefully by the edges, still mindful of the mostly dried ink.

Kyle looks over at you and smiles, but it’s all teeth. “Something like that. I didn’t know you were interested in magical theory.”

“She’s got a little sorcery in ‘er,” Ghost explains. “Maybe you should give ‘er a lesson or two. While she’s ‘ere.”

Your ears perk up at that, and you drop the paper back to the desk, forgetting it entirely. “Would you?” you ask excitedly. “I really would love to learn more.”

Kyle slips his shirt back on and beckons you over to one of the bookcases, smile turning sly and conspiratorial. “Can you give me a hand Sweetpea? I need something off the top shelf.”

You look up at the top shelf, which is well out of your reach. “Kyle, I think maybe you should ask Ghost.”

“Sorry, pet, I’m busy keepin’ Soap from pilferin’ alchemical ingredients.”

"Wasnae pilferin'! Just takin' a wee looksie. Isnae a crime."

"Soap," Kyle says pleasantly. "If I find anything missing we are going to have a long talk about it." He shakes his head lightly, sweet brown eyes finding yours, amused.

"D'ye think he means a good rough fuck?" Johnny asks Ghost, not quite quiet enough for you not to hear it. "Or an actual chat? Because that's goan ta change what I do here."

"I really don't think I can help," you say to Kyle, ignoring Johnny's query as much as you can. "Unless you'd like me to climb the shelves."

"Here." He crouches down in front of you and hugs your knees to his chest, other hand a higher on the backs of your thighs to hold you steady, and pops up. You let out a little shriek, and press your hands against his strong shoulders for support. "Don't worry, Sweetpea, I've got you. Now, can you grab that slim blue volume to the right? The one with no title on the spine."

Scanning the neat row of books, you locate the one he means and pick it up. "Ive got it," you inform him, laughing. "Now please put me down."

He slides you down his front carefully, adjusting his grip, your skirts bunching up and exposing your stockinged calves, and he holds you just above him for a moment. You loop your arms around his neck reflexively, holding the book behind him. He looks up at you, so dazzlingly handsome, you're almost surprised that he's real.

"Kyle," you remind him gently. "Please put me down."

“You sure?” he asks, bringing you down just a little more, so that your face is just above his own. “You look a bit tired today, princess. Could just carry you around for the rest of the day if you like.”

“That will not be necessary,” you say firmly. “But it’s a very kind offer.”

You hear a snort from the other side of the room, but you’re not sure if it comes from Ghost or Johnny. “Nothin’ kind about it,” Johnny says, crossing his arms. “Bastard just likes the idea of bein’ pressed up against ye all day.”

“You slept in her bed last night,” Kyle reminds him. “There’s no need to be jealous.”

“Ahm no’ jealous! Yer just bein’ a fandan charmer tryna cop a wee feel, an’ ye willnae admit ta it.”

You look over at Ghost, and he shakes his head. You imagine that he’s rolling his eyes, just as exasperated by the two of them as you are. He comes to your rescue though, carefully pulling you out of Kyle’s arms and setting you back down on the floor. “Thank you, Ghost,” you say archly, shaking your crumpled skirts out with one hand.

“Sorry, Sweetpea,” Kyle says, and you can’t help but note that he certainly doesn’t sound sorry. “If you read the first chapter of this tonight, we can do a lesson in the morning. This will probably be a step up from whatever paltry lessons the old wizard gave you— I know he took offence to the idea of training you at all, the closed-minded old bastard. If you have any questions, make notes, and we can go over it.” He taps the top of the book you hold. “You can write in it, if you like. I’ve scribbled in the margins a few times myself.”

You tuck the book into your pocket. “Thank you, Kyle. I appreciate that.”

“Anything for you, Sweetpea.”

You hesitate, a bit nervous to ask a favour when he’s already agreed to take time out of his day to give you a lesson in something you’re not sure you have enough talent in to warrant. He’s cleary a busy person, and you don’t want to waste his time.

Kyle senses your hesitation, and reaches for your hand, squeezing reassuringly. “Anything,” he repeats, brown eyes oh-so earnest.

Your ears feel hot. Flirting comes as easily to him as breathing, and even though you’re sure he means little by it, by his relationship with Johnny and the claim that John has laid on you, it’s hard not to grow flustered when he directs the full force of that sunshine smile at you. “Did you ever, um, help your sisters with their hair? I’d like to have a bath this afternoon, and wash my hair, but it’ll take me ages to rebraid it alone. I would really appreciate an extra set of hands if you have a spare minute tomorrow.”

He grins at that, pleased to be able to help you with something that Ghost and Johnny are ill-equipped to. The scar on his cheek dimples slightly when he smiles this hard, the slight flaw in his complexion more a dashing accessory to his charm than any detractor. “Would be happy to help. Do you have everything else you need? Oil? Curl cream?”

You hadn’t thought to check what was in the cupboard in the bathroom. “I’m not sure,” you admit.

“I have some. I’ll bring them by your room later this afternoon, just in case.”

Ghost offers to walk you back to your room, leaving Johnny behind to discuss something with Kyle, although as soon as the door closes, you hear a crash and a series of colourful swear words. You glance behind you as Ghost ushers you down the stairs. “Should we—”

“No. Trust me, Sweetpea. They’re just fine, and not doin’ anything you want to see.”

“Oh.” The implication warms you from the tips of your ears to somewhere in your belly.

“You’ve got the lads all worked up,” Ghost adds, as though you needed more context. “Competin’ with each other to get a smile out of you. Let ‘em blow off a little steam.”

“I don’t understand why they’re so concerned with me, if they have each other,” you say, trailing one hand over the wall, feeling the bumps of cool stone and seams between the cut blocks as you descend. “And John has made no secret of his intentions.”

He touches your arm to halt you, and moves past, taking a few extra steps so he stands below you, the near-hidden gleam of his eyes on level with yours. The two of you are alone here, where the curve of the stairs create a private universe, a pocket of stone and crystal light casting meagre shadow. "What are your intentions?" He asks. "Are you goin' to just let 'im take what 'e pleases?"

"I intend to go home," you say. "I won't be staying."

"Olright, maybe you do go 'ome. And what'f Kyle or Johnny came sniffin' round to court you themselves?"

"They won't."

"Why wun't they? You're a ray of sunshine sweet girl. You're the only one that don't see it."

"Ghost--"

"No, hush up for a moment, princess. You've got the wrong idea. I personally threatened every man that so much as looked your way. For years. Din't think about 'ow that'd make you feel. You're beautiful. Enough to chase, enough to go to bloody war for." His body is still, save for the slightest twitch of his fingers. “I don’t know why you can’t see it. You make us all crazy.”

The surety that John would really let you go slips as Ghost speaks, something fundamental about your footing in the world shifting uneasily beneath you. You had found comfort in the idea that you were quotidian, unremarkable. That the crown alone was aggrandizing, and you could pass unnoticed without it. Now you wonder if you’ve ever gone unnoticed, or if it was just that you had been too obtuse to see. “It doesn’t matter,” you insist. It’s easier to reject what he says outright, even if Ghost has never lied to you, never given you a reason to doubt his words. The ground settles. “I will be going home in a few days, and once John has my official endorsement none of you will have to keep an eye on me again.”

“You won’t rid yourself of me that easily,” he says firmly. “Keepin’ you safe’s one of the only jobs that I do that’s worth doin’. I promised your mum I would, an’ I don’t intend to break my oath just because you don’t think you’re worth it.”

“My mother asked you to?” You had always thought Ghost’s orders had come from your father, setting the quiet, faceless, black-clad knight on your heels, as close as a shadow, only leaving your side when the king sent him off to fight, somewhere far and away. “Why?”

“Figured she could tell I ‘aven’t got an ounce of ambition in me. Used to, before I came ‘ere. Didn’t do me any good. Can’t trust my own head, sometimes. But if I can trust what’s ‘ere—” He puts his hand to his chest, head tipped slightly to the side. “— Then I know I can trust what’s in there.” He lifts his hand and taps his finger against your forehead lightly.

You blink at him, surprised by how much he’s said all at once. Abruptly, he turns around and continues down the stairs, finished the conversation. You spur yourself back into motion, sweeping your skirts up with one hand so you don’t trip. There’s no doubt that you could trust Ghost to catch you, but the risk of sending you both tumbling down the long spiral staircase has you moving cautiously.

He stays with you for a bit, offering help unbraiding your hair and unbuttoning your dress, and leaves without protest when you ask him to. Predictably, he’s quiet the entire time, as though he used up his daily quota of words all at once in the stairway.

You lay out everything you need close to the tub, and sink into a hot bath, sighing. This is perhaps one of the few things you really did miss about castle life— Hot running water. If you wanted a hot bath in town, you would either have to go to the public bathhouse, or spend a good hour boiling enough water to fill a tub at Kate’s house.

You hum happily to yourself, which turns to singing out loud, the acoustics in the tiled room too good to resist. You sing your way through a number of folk songs as you run a cloth over your skin and scrub your hair clean, hot water and soap washing away what little of the darkness from that morning that company and distraction hadn’t banished, clinging shadows in the corners of your mind scoured clean again.

You pull the plug and let the water start to drain, and stand up, wringing your hair out before you reach over to the towel you’d set aside for yourself, bracing you hand on the side of the tub.

“What are you two muppets doing?” John’s voice coming through the cracked open door startles you. And it startles Johnny and Kyle too, because they tumble through the door onto the tiled floor, landing on top of each other in a heap.

You clutch the towel to your front, unable to keep yourself from letting out a surprised shriek. It takes a moment for surprise to give way to anger, your shocked, wide-eyed gaze traveling from Johnny’s red face to Kyle’s guilty expression to John in the doorway, a complicated mix of stony anger and surprise in his blue eyes. Both emotions fade as his attention lingers on your exposed legs, crawling up slowly.

“I came to drop off— But he was—” Kyle starts to try to explain himself.

“Dinnae try to blame tha’ on me, ye fuckin’ roaster, Ahm no’ a’ fault for what yer doin’,” Johnny cuts him off angrily, shoving Kyle off of him. “Yer no’ better than me just ‘cause ye weren’t here first.”

“I wouldn’t have—”

You level a glare at him that has his mouth shutting so fast that you can hear the click of his teeth. “Get out.”

The two of them scramble up and nearly fall over themselves trying to get out as quickly as possible, mortified to have been caught. They start sniping at each other before they’ve even gotten out of earshot.

John, however, doesn’t budge from the doorway. You direct your fury at him. “John. Get out.”

He doesn’t scramble to obey like the younger men did, as is he has any more right to be there than they did. “Sweetpea,” he says evenly, as though he expects to be able to talk you down from your very justified anger with a few measured words.

“Now,” you snap. “Before I lose my temper.”

He hesitates a moment longer, but the look on your face makes him reconsider trying to have a conversation with you for the moment, and he leans into the room just enough to grasp the door handle and pull it closed behind him as he retreats.

You look at the ceiling for a long moment, swallowing down the urge to scream.

By the time Ghost comes to fetch you for dinner (unsurprising that the other three didn’t have the nerve) you’ve mostly calmed down, untangling your emotions as you do your hair. You hope that John will have news of your cousin’s witness, so you can count down the days. The longing for home has intensified, and all you want is to curl up in your bed in Kate’s house and cry. If it will be weeks, you’ll ask if you can go home in the interim, and come back when the time comes to make your speech.

Ghost helps you button up your dress. You’re so tired of needing help from them. Your ire bleeds over, and you’re snappy with him too, annoyed that you’ve had to spend so much time with men lately. Aggravated that you’re forced to rely on them for something as private as getting dressed, when they shouldn’t even be alone with you in your room to begin with.

You apologize on the way down the stairs, however. Ghost just chuckles in response. “Even when you’re snappin’, you’re a peach,” he says. “Don’t think you missed a single opportunity for a please and thank you. Can’t ‘elp yourself from bein’ sweet.”

“Well, you didn’t do anything,” you say. “I’m not angry with you, I shouldn’t be rude.”

“Think it would be a bit of a lark, you bein’ rude.”

You laugh, and it clears away some of the lingering bitterness, like sediment washing away downstream. You feel remarkably clear-headed when you enter the dining room and face the three sets of guilty eyes.

All three of them start to speak at once, and stop as soon as you raise your hand. “I don’t want to hear it,” you say firmly. “All three of you are grown men, and you should know better than to behave so shamefully.”

John frowns, not happy to be receiving the same share of the blame. “Sweetpea, I wasn’t—”

“I am not finished.” You cut him off with a sharp look. “I know I do not need to chastise any of you. All of you were in the wrong. But I share some of the blame too, allowing you all free access to my space in the first place. So here is what will change. One, I would like a lock on my door. No more popping in without permission. Two, you will all learn how to knock. Three, I would like a lady to accompany me for the rest of my stay here. It is not appropriate for me to accept assistance from any man with dressing, and I do not require shadows following me everywhere I go.”

Ghost shifts beside you. “Now ‘old on,” he says. “You need protection.”

“I need no such thing. I do not believe there are assassins waiting around every corner for me.”

“I should be with you,” he insists. “If somethin’ ‘appens—”

“What do you expect is going to happen?” you ask hotly. You’ve lived on your own for years, and your hiding place was apparently well known to everyone. If an assassin was coming to dispatch you, they would have already come. The opportunities had likely been plentiful.

“Ghost is right. You need to be kept safe.” John holds up both hands when you look at him, half a surrender and half a plea for you to hear him out. You raise your eyebrows slightly, waiting. “A compromise. A fighting woman. Someone that can help you with anything you need, and can defend you if something were to happen.”

You incline your head. It’s a reasonable compromise. “That would be acceptable.”

“Farah?” Kyle asks.

“If she’ll say yes, she’d be the person I trust most with Sweetpea’s safety.” John glances at you, and offers you a little smile, like he’s not sure that you’re entirely done scolding. “You’ll like her. I’ll have her meet you in town tomorrow. Want you fitted for something nice to wear for your speech.”

“There is a closet full of perfectly nice dresses in my room,” you say. “I do not need anything else.”

“Indulge me. Your cousin’s man will be here tomorrow night, and the day after we’ll have you make your statement.” John’s smile widens, turning the slightest, inexplicable bit smug. “Want you to look your best, if it’s to be your last day as a princess, hm? And then on to better things.”

You sigh. It can't hurt to give in on this matter, since you won't have to stay much longer. “Very well, John. Although I think it’s a waste.”

The look in his deep blue eyes is inscrutable, but his smile doesn't slip. “I disagree. Nothing you let me give to you could ever be a waste.”

***

Image credits: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - Divider by CafeKitsune

#fantasy au #cod mw fanfiction #x reader #x fem reader #141 x Reader #Heavy Weighs the Crown #These bastards really are just the worst #I love writing AUs where Ghost is the most well adjusted one #Send my man to fantasy therapy (learning a trade) and see what happens #Re: Use of the term muppets - Uhhhh Muppets exist in this universe and they travel around doing Punch and Judy type shows #Coming soon to a market square near you lmao #Ye Olde Jim Henson's Workshoppe

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dark-frosted-heart · 4 months ago

Text

Roger Barel Main Route - Chapter 14 Premium Story

As usual, can’t guarantee 100% accuracy on this. I’m doing this for archiving purposes and you can probably find a better translation out there.

nsfw, minors dni

I still haven’t taught Roger what being in love was like.

At this point—I didn’t know I was already one foot in this swamp called “romantic love”.

Roger: Hey, Kate.

If you keep me company, we can go home. How’s that sound?

(...)

Kate: By keep you company…you mean…

Roger: After enjoying a show, I go and pick a girl up. As a human, I got sexual desires.

It’s easy to imagine what happens after he picks a girl up.

(I don’t want him to go with someone else. But…)

Roger: Kate, I’m gonna count down from 3. If you don’t want me to take you back, then run away. Otherwise…well, you know.

Kate: Huh, wait a minute Roger.

Roger: 3…, 2…

Kate: Um…I…

Backed into a corner, all I could do was look at Roger as if pleading.

Roger: …1…Let’s go.

At the end of the countdown, he pulled me up by the hand he was holding.

Roger: Sorry Al, but we’re heading home.

Alfons: Oh my, it’s rude to leave your seat in the middle of a show. But be my guest.

Alfons returned his eyes to the stage and waved us off…

Hand still in his, Roger led me toward the exit.

Alfons: …Ah, that was a close one. I almost burst out laughing.

Not long after the two exited the theater, Alfons also left his seat.

Employee: Um, do you not want to watch anymore?

Alfons: Yes. I’ve already had my fill of the entertainment.

We boarded the carriage and I sat down across from Roger.

Roger: Let’s go.

Kate: Umm…

I didn’t speak until the carriage started moving.

However, Roger's voice drowned mine out.

Roger: Hey, Kate. Why’d you try stopping me from looking at another woman?

(I did that because…)

My mind was in a disarray and I couldn’t immediately put my thoughts into words.

(However, one thing is for certain—)

I could never escape from those beastly amber eyes watching me.

Kate: I’m…in the middle of teaching you what romantic love is. So looking at other people is…against the rules.

What even is this excuse?

Roger: You never made any rules. Plus you know my history of no string attached hookups to satisfy my needs.

Kate: Um…

When I couldn’t come up with a reply, proceeded to ask me a lot of questions.

Roger: There’s something I’ve been wondering about. You’re aware of my abnormal hearing, right?

Kate: …? Yes, you can hear things within 100 yards.

Roger: Yeah. Then don’t you think it’d be easier for me to hear things from here?

(Ah…)

Kate: Don’t listen to it…

I could feel my cheeks growing warmer.

The more I tried to hide my heartbeat, the louder it felt, and the more I thought about Roger listening to it, the faster it beat.

Roger: It’s obvious even without my ability.

Kate: Ah.

Roger pulled me toward him and pressed an ear against my chest.

Roger: See, I’m not mishearing things…Your heartbeat’s pretty loud.

Kate: Sto-...Roger!

I struggled desperately to get off his lap, but his strong arms wouldn’t let me.

Roger: But it’s only like that when you’re with me…Now why is that?

Kate: …That’s…be-...cause…

Roger: Hm?

(How do I explain it…?)

I felt too embarrassed and instead, snatched Roger’s glasses off his face as he looked at me.

Roger: …Come on. You’re being a bad girl for trying to take my sight away. Give it back.

Kate: …I won’t.

(If I return them, he’ll look at me with those eyes and set off my heart again…)

I held Roger’s glasses far away so that he wouldn’t take them back.

Then, an arm slid under my armpit and pulled me in by the back of my head.

Roger: If I can’t see…then let's get closer like this.

At that moment, a sweet numbness ran down my spine.

Kate: Mnn…

He kissed me deeply, as if his lips were devouring mine.

Roger: You’re the one that got me excited and didn’t run away, Kate.

With a sweet shiver, I finally—

Realized that I was waist deep in this swamp called “romantic love”.

(...How did this even happen…)

After losing myself to a melting kiss…

I found myself straddling Roger’s lap, arms around his neck, back arched, moaning in pleasure.

My blouse stayed as is, but underneath my skirt was a different story.

Kate: Ah…Nnnn…

Roger: Two, three…Look, a fourth is about to enter. Let’s try our best to get it to fit all the way in, huh?

Kate: Roger, don’t…I can’t…

Roger: Ahhh, but you’re moaning in pleasure. Your ‘don’ts’ and ‘can’ts’ aren’t convincing anyone when you look like that.

The wicked Roger kept his fingers buried inside me and skillfully rubbed the sensitive spot with his thumb.

Kate: Eep…ahh…oh…I can’t…

Roger: Liar. Look at the mess you’re making.

(...I know, I’m a liar)

Roger was right. With each finger, I got wetter and I felt myself rocking against his fingers as if begging for more.

Roger: It’s your choice whether you wanna accept it or not. But you’re taking them a lot better than the last time. Well done. I think you’re getting more sensitive. And if you’re so pliant this second time around, then I think I’ll cum too.

Kate: Ha, ahhh…Nnn, what do you mean…cum?

Roger: Don’t act innocent.

His lower half is pressed firmly against the area between my legs.

I remembered that exceptional mass through the cloth.

Kate: …

(Will something that big even fit…)

A feeling like fear arose.

But for some reason, my blood ran hot, as if pleading for it.

Roger: …Can I put it in?

Kate: No…

Roger: You serious? You’re gonna give me blue balls…

However, I couldn’t help the way my body ached shamelessly.

Kate: But…didn’t you say that… If you do it with someone once...you won't do it with them again? I don't want that.

(I felt like a whining child that didn’t want to be treated the same as everyone else)

As I hung my head, unsure of what to do with these feelings, I felt a large hand brush my bangs.

Roger: You know…aren’t you basically saying you like me?

Kate: …I…like you?

Roger: You call yourself a teacher of love but you don’t even know your own feelings?

(Is that what I’m feeling…?)

I reflect on what led up to this point.

(I have fun around Roger and I feel happy when he praises me…)

(Deep down, I don’t actually mind being teased)

(And then there was that night in the rain when I wanted to hug him— )

(...Yeah, maybe)

But I still don’t want to confess.

(Because…)

Kate: Roger, you still don’t believe that romantic love exists, right…? Yet you say that’s the reason why my heart beats like this? If I were to fall in love, then I’d want us to fall together. Because of that, I won't ever confess that I like you until you believe that love exists.

Roger: You like me, but you won’t confess? Haha… …You really do like me, don’t you?

Kate: …That…!

Yeah, that’s my wish.

When we both recognize that this is “love”, then I’ll confess.

Roger: You really are…so competitive and so damn cute. ‘Kay, let me borrow your thighs.

Kate: Huh?

Roger: We gotta take care of “this” without feelings.

Kate: That’s why you want to use my thighs…you’re the worst!

—I kept my eyes shut the whole time.

But my body memorized Roger’s shape anyway.

After finishing up his report on the strip club, Roger’s ears picked up some cheerful voices.

Through the window facing the garden, he could see Ale playing with Ellis, Liam, and Kate.

Roger: …It’s nice to see everyone so full of energy.

As he muttered that to himself, Kate noticed Roger and waved.

Roger: …O_O

~~ Flashback ~~

Kate: To me, romantic love is something that gives me the image of something that glitters in everyday life.

I feel joy because I like someone.

It makes me want to work harder than usual, and makes me happy.

Roger: Glittering, huh.

Kate: Ah, you don’t believe me?

I know you’ll laugh and say there’s no scientific basis for it.

The person I like is different from everyone else. They’re especially glittering.

~~ End flashback ~~

When he saw Kate waving at him on the other side of the window, it suddenly felt as if light had scattered around before his eyes—

Roger: …Hm?

Roger tilted his head in confusion and rubbed his eyes.

#ikemen villains #ikevil #ikevil jp #ikevil translations #roger barel #ikevil roger #ikevil roger route

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brf-rumortrackinganon · 3 months ago

Note

She's threatening or using her "friends" (Janina, Gayle) to put out threats on her behalf and acting like she can bring the UK monarchy down in a second. She did it before and after Oprah, in The Cut magazine, Vanity Fair before the wedding, multiple puff pieces in between and now this interview which was supposed to highlight the pain of the parents who've lost their children.

I'm still waiting. Is this just all talks or she's actually going to do something and bring the monarchy down? B.O.R.I.N.G.

Ask from August 7th.

It’s all talk and she gets away with it because of the BRF’s “never explain, never complain” policy.

She can’t bring the monarchy down. She doesn’t have the power to do that, not anymore, not since November 2019 when she quit/was fired/went on sabbatical. And any power Meghan thought she had, or any threats she thought were legitimately damaging, time has proven they’re just silly and inconsequential. She showed her hand four times:

“Wild About Harry” in September 2017

Oprah interview in March 2021

Spare in January 2023

Endgame in November 2023

It worked once - the Wild About Harry story where she said “I’m sure there will be a time when we will have to come forward and present ourselves and have stories to tell, but I hope what people will understand is that this is our time” (emphasis mine). The threat worked then - it got her a ring and a wedding - so she’s been reusing it and reusing it and reusing it but it hasn’t worked again; the BRF realized what was going on and they got smart. (Or William did, and immediately pushed Meghan out of his household, which put distance between the Sussexes and the rest of the BRF - distance that has insulated most of them from the Sussexes’ floundering battle attacks.)

It didn’t work the other three times. In fact, for the other 3 times Meghan has tried to threaten the monarchy, they said “recollections may vary” and stopped giving her any attention. And because the BRF doesn’t respond, she escalates, now bringing her friends into it by insinuating that they’ve seen her receipts and her receipts are so damaging that the monarchy will fall.

Except…if the receipts are that bad, then why not release them and get the credit for bringing down all these evil, bad people? She could spend the rest of her life “dining out” on this and getting anything she wanted beyond her wildest dreams.

But she won’t, and she says it’s to protect her husband or her children so we/the BRF should be so grateful. Meaning she doesn’t actually have anything. It’s all hot air, part of a years-long temper tantrum because Kate didn’t take her to the mall and The Queen didn’t give her emeralds.

If anyone had the kind of dirt to bring the monarchy down and end it, it’s Kate and Sophie. They’re trusted confidants of the royal family. They’ve not only been in the room where things happen, then have a seat at the table. They know a ton of dirt, real dirt, with so many more consequences and so much more damaging than anything Meghan, or Meghan’s friends, think she has.

Edit: I took out a duplicative paragraph.

#sussexes #brf

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judesmoonbeauty · 4 months ago

Text

Ghost House Report: A Requiem For You - Jude Jazza Premium End

Fan translation only. Not 100% accurate. Please expect grammatical errors. Cybird owns everything. Feel free to re-blog, but please do not post my translations elsewhere. If you'd like to be added to my translations tag list, please comment below.Thank you, for you support! ☾.

CW: Corpse, Death.

Anne: I couldn't keep my promise to my papa to be a good girl and wait for him...

Anne looked down at her corpse and muttered to herself.

Jude: Anne, ya turned into a ghost ‘n waited for him…….It was your father that didn’t keep his promise.

Anne: You’re wrong! My papa never breaks his promises!

Anne: I’m not lying to you, Cross my heart and hope to die,

Anne: stick a needle in my eye. ……that’s what he promised!

Anne: Someday, he’ll definitely come to pick me up……!

Kate: Anne……

Anne probably loves her father and wants to tell him that.

However, the mansion's investigation records did not contain any reports of girls going missing in the past.

Objectively speaking, her father did not come to pick her up, nor did he look for Anne, who died here.

Anne: But……I’m tired of waiting.

Kate: What……?

Anne: I’m talking about my papa, but I’m already dead and I can’t leave the mansion……

Anne: ……Since I’m tired, I think I should give up.

Kate: That……

Jude: …………

Anne: Miss Kate and Mister Jude’s coming here may be a good chance.

Anne: Now at the end, thank you for the fun memories……

Smiling sadly, Anne gradually disappears.

(Anne will disappear just like this……?)

(She waited and waited and waited for her father, but he never showed up……)

(….I can't overlook such a sad ending!)

Kate: Wait!

I stretched out my hand towards Anne as she disappeared.

Anne was surprised by my voice that held her back, and her transparent body gradually returned to normal.

Kate: I'll find your father and bring him to you, so please wait until then.

Judging from the condition of her body, Anne must have been dead for decades.

If it was that long ago, we wouldn't know if Anne’s father was still alive.

But, I couldn't leave Anne alone, who had kept waiting for her father.

Kate: Jude, quit being silent and say something!

Jude: …..? What?

Kate: I’ll let you meet your father. Jude, that’s what you promised.

For a while now, Jude hasn’t been acting like Jude.

Even though he usually places so much emphasis on keeping his promises,

When Anne grew tired of waiting and tried to disappear, he didn't try to stop her.

Kate: Are you willing to break your promise? Are you giving up before you take action? That Jude!**

Jude: ……What’s that, ya tryna provoke me by givin’ me a bad name?

Kate: Yes, I’m provoking you!

Kate: Usually, you’ve would’ve dragged the father over here.

(I don't know what killed Jude's spirit.)

(……But in order to find the father, I need Jude’s help.)

I thought I had to do something to get Jude motivated, so I went for it.

Jude: ……Ha. Seems like you’ve started sayin’ some pretty big things.

Kate: Sorry……but, I won’t take it back. Because right now these are the words you need, Jude.

When I finished speaking, Jude finally gave me his usual cruel smile.

Jude: —Anne. As she said, I never break my promises.

Jude: As promised, I’ll letcha meet your father.

Anne: ……Really? I’ll be able to meet my papa?

Anne: Ah! I’m a ghost, but I won't curse you two just because you broke your promise to bring my papa.

Kate: ……That’s not it. We’re not keeping our promise because we’re afraid of you being a ghost, Anne.

I didn't want Anne to cry, I wanted her to have hope, so I promised her that I would let her meet her father.

I simply wanted her to meet her father.

Kate: I’m keep my promise not because I'm afraid of being cursed, but because I want to do something for you.

Anne: …….,Thank you. Miss Kate and Mister Jude.

Jude: Now to set a date for the meet up.

Anne: ……date? .......

Jude: The point of when the promise is fulfilled.

Jude: Anne, remember. When ya make an agreement like this, ya hafta to be very clear ‘bout the terms.

Jude: Didn't ya hafta wait for years?

Anne: ……Yeah.

Anne: Papa said he would come, but it was really hard to wait for a promise that I didn’t know when it would come true.…..

Jude: ……I understand.

(Jude……?)

Jude: If ya can wait that long, be patient a lil longer.

Jude: I’ll definitely return, so be a good kid ‘n wait.

Anne: Yeah……!

Leaving Anne at the mansion, we finished the investigation and returned to Crown Castle.

Kate: Jude, let’s look for Anne’s father right away!

Kate: I'm going to ask Victor now for permission to view past records—

Jude: No, I’ve already found her father.

Kate: Huh…….already?!

Jude: The necklace hangin’ on Anne’s neck.

Kate: Ah, it’s Anne’s mother’s necklace.

Kate: She said she secretly took it from her Father……

Kate: …….Yeah? Come to think of it, you were also looking for a necklace.

Kate: Maybe it's the necklace that Anne was wearing.…..

Jude: T’was the same necklace I was asked to look for.

Jude: The wealthy ol’ man who asked me to find the belongin’s would be Anne's father.

Jude: Gonna leave ‘n see ‘im soon. Get depressed ‘n I’ll leave ya behind.

We traveled by carriage and arrived at the mansion of the wealthy man.

Wealthy Old Man: Don’t you think it’s rude of you to ask for me this late at night?

Jude: I finished looking for the belongings that were part of the conditions set for the land sale. I’d like you to check it out as soon as possible.**

Wealthy Old Man: You’ve found my wife’s belongings?! I guess it can’t be helped……

Jude: Here it is……Take it, and look it over.

Wealthy Old Man: Let’s see.

The old man takes the necklace from Jude, and carefully inspects it.

(This person is Anne’s father. ……He looks to be around 80 years old.)

(……Anne had been waiting for a long time.)

When I think about Anne waiting for her father in that gloomy mansion, my heart breaks.

Wealthy Old man: ……This is my wife’s necklace. You found it for me.

Jude: About that, there’s something I’d like to tell you.

Jude: I'd like to speak to you at the location where the necklace was found... Would you mind coming?

Wealthy Old Man: That haunted house... my wife's precious belongings have finally returned. I don’t mind if it’s just for a little while.

While occasionally lending a shoulder to the crippled old man, we brought him to the hidden room in the haunted mansion.

Wealthy Old Man: We’ve come this far. Can you tell me the story now?

Jude: Yes. By all means……talk to her.

Wealthy Old Man: Her……?

The old man looked up, and there stood Anne.

Anne: Papa……!

Even though he's gotten older and his appearance has changed, Anne seems to still recognize her father.

She happily jumped onto the old man.

Wealthy Old Man: C-could this be……Anne……?!

Anne: Yeah! You finally came to pick me up as promised……!

Wealthy Old Man: Promise……

Anne: I believed you! That you’d come for me, Papa!

The old man who had a look of shock on his face didn't hug Anne back.

Anne: ……Papa, I have to apologize for something.

Anne: The day I said goodbye to you, Papa, I had taken mama’s necklace. Can you forgive me?

Wealthy Old Man: Oh, oh, of course........I also have to apologize to you, Anne.

Anne: About being late to pick me up? That’s okay! After all, you came to pick me up properly!

Anne: Thank you, Papa. I love you very very much……

Anne: And then….Miss Kate, Mister Jude. Thank you for bringing my papa.

Anne smiled happily and disappeared with a light.

Jude: ……So? What on earth were ya doin’ waitin’ until ya were this ol’ to come ‘n get her?

Wealthy Old Man: Well, that's... I was looking for Anne, who disappeared after I sold her to the owner of this mansion.

Jude kicked a chair in the room as if to interrupt the old man's words.

Wealthy Old Man: Eek!

Jude: All ya asked me to do was search for your wife’s belongins’…...

Jude: Ever since ya sold Anne to the owner of this mansion, ya ain’t ever looked for her.

Wealthy Old Man: I-I couldn’t love that child.

Wealthy Old Man: My wife died after she gave birth to that child, and I thought that child had killed my wife. So……

Jude: Then ya sold Anne to the owner of this mansion, ‘n used the money to start a successful business.

Jude: Ya happy thatcha got rich by sacrificin’ your kid?

Wealthy Old Man: I-I let her go because I was thinking of that child’s happiness!

Wealthy Old Man: I didn’t think was good for that child to be raised without love.

Jude: ……So ya tryin’ to say it ain’t your fault.

Jude's earthy voice oozed with unconcealed murderous intent.

Jude: Ain’t no way a child can be happy if someone buys ‘em for a pittance.

Wealthy Old Man: That’s……

Perhaps out of guilt, the old man’s eyes wandered around.

He probably knew what would become of Anne, when he sold her to the owner of the mansion.

Kate: That’s too cruel…….Anne’s been waiting for you for a long time……!

Wealthy Old Man: I feel sorry..…. Let's bury the body next to my wife's grave.

The old man looked at the body resting in the corner of the room and quickly looked away, as if he couldn't bear to look at it.

(There’s no sign of mourning for the departed Anne……)

(……Anne’s been waiting for this type of person?)

I was filled with helpless thoughts, but there was nothing I could do..

The only consolation is that Anne smiled when she disappeared.

Jude: ……That’s ‘nough. My business is finished, I’m goin’ home.

Jude suddenly seems to have lost interest and turns on his heel. I followed after him.

Wealthy Old Man: Well, wait. I have a bad foot. I need you to lend me a hand when I go home.

Jude: It’d be nice is somebody came back to pick ya up.

Wealthy Old Man: …….You over there, lend me a hand.

When Jude refused, the old man tried to rely on me.

But, I didn’t want to help him because of what he did to Anne.

As I was wondering how to refuse, Jude grabbed my arm and forcibly led me out.

On the way back home in the carriage, Jude still had a grim expression on his face.

(There was something I wanted to ask Jude, but it didn't seem like I could ask him.)

Jude: ……What. Got somethin’ to say, then say it.

Kate: S-sorry……Um……

Kate: Jude you weren’t like your usual self, you were being lenient, so I wondered why……

Jude likes to make rich people who sit safely in high places to despair.

He’s said before that he’ll never forgive a contract defaulter.

Anne's father fits those two conditions perfectly.

However, Jude didn't push him into a corner or torture him any more than necessary.

Jude: Personally, I was so angry I wanted to kill ‘im.

Jude: But, Anne doesn’t want that.

Kate: Ah……

(……It’s true that Anne loved her father until the end.)

(No matter how angry we are, Anne doesn't want her father to suffer.)

(Instead of being consumed by anger, Jude was thinking about Anne's feelings……)

When I think about Anne, I’m not in the mood to chat.

A quiet moment passed without either of us saying anything.

I wondered how much time passed. Eventually, Jude began speaking to himself.

Jude: No matter how unreasonable it was, you wouldn’t hate it,

Jude: Waiting as a ghost for the day when the promise would be fulfilled.…..

Jude: ……Love is a curse.

After everything that happened in the haunted house was cleared up, I decided to write a report about it.

However, I quickly got stuck, so I went to the lounge for a change of pace.

Jude: ……Ya look gloomy. Still thinkin’ ‘bout the kid?

Kate: ……Yes.

Anne met her father and ascended to heaven with a happy smile on her face.

(Anne must have been happy with that, but…… I still can't get over the feeling in my chest.)

(“Love is a curse……”)

I recall the words Jude muttered in the carriage on the way home.

No matter how unreasonable and cruel her father was, Anne loved her father and kept waiting.

On the other hand, Anne's father was worried that he would be cursed because of breaking his promise due to having no love for her.

(I think what binds people together more firmly than the fear of punishment surely is...love.)

(Jude isn’t the kind of person who is afraid of punishment.)

(If that's the case, then the promise that Jude is trying to keep was also made out of love……?)

Curious about this I looked at Jude, and our eyes met.

Jude: ……Ain’t it better to just forget?

Kate: What……?

Jude: About Anne. Worryin’ ‘bout it is a waste of time.

Kate: ……No, I won't forget.

I will never forget the smile Anne gave me and the time we spent together.

Kate: I will make sure to record this incident in the report, and then……

Kate: I will do my best as a fairytale writer to ensure that such a tragic event is never recorded again.

Kate: I believe that if we use the Crown to defeat evil, we can nip these tragedies in the bud.

Jude: ……Ha. It’d be easier to forget, but I as I thought, you’re a masochist for choosin’ the thorny path.

Jude said in exasperation and left the common room.

Kate: This is fine……

After struggling for several days.…..I finished writing the report on the haunted mansion.

(When I finish writing the report, I always feel like the incident has come to a close.…..)

(.…..I don't think I'll be able to forget this incident any time soon.)

Her father will soon be tried on charges of human-trafficking for selling Anne to the mansion’s owner.

But he doesn't have long to live. Even if he does atone for his sins, it won't be for very long.

(Anne was made to suffer, so is it cruel to want someone to suffer just as much…..)

(……It’s no use. I can’t sleep while thinking about this.)

It felt like my thoughts were getting darker and more stagnant, perhaps because of the silence of the night.

When I headed to the kitchen to get something to drink to refresh my mood,

Victor was there humming while making sweets.

Victor: Oh, good evening Kate. Are you staying up late tonight?

Kate: Yes. I can’t sleep……

Victor: Jude had the same look on his face as you. It must be because of that haunted house mission you two recently did.

For the past few days, I've been going back and forth between the library and my room to finish writing my report.

I never met Jude, so I didn't know what was going on with him.

(I wonder if Jude feels the same way as me.)

Kate: ……Victor, I'm going to check on Jude.

Sorry for the delay. There were several lines that were quite a challenge to translate. Can't wait to see the EN version to be released and see how off I am. Anyway....

**Jude appears to be using proper English when addressing Anne's sperm donor at the start of their conversation, and then he appears to drop it after she ascends to heaven. ***For this line, 御託はええわ (Gotaku wa ewa), was placed before Jude said he was only told to look for the necklace, but I chose to drop this from the t/l. It seems to indicate pretentious/tedious/saucy speech to name a few. It would appear Jude is calling the donor's response tedious, however, this can potentially be translated another way, and I won't bore you with that. But, if anyone knows how, this is rendered properly, kindly let me know in the comments.

[Master Lists] [Bitter End] [Epilogue] Tag List: @theimaginativelyreticent @sapphire-323 Dividers: @/brokenbard

#jude jazza #ikevil jude #ikevil jude jazza #ikevil translations #cybird translations #ikemen translations #ikevil #jude jazza translations

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upat4amwiththemoon · 2 years ago

Note

helloo! could you write high school wandanat x reader where they’re enemies to lovers? wandanat are already a couple. wandanat and r are part of different friend groups in school, and there’s a lot of tension between the two groups, maybe because of a past event. wandanat and r have a class together and are put in a group, forcing them to work together and spend time with each other. eventually the 3 start to become friends, and end up falling for each other

Group project

Summary: Proximity warms hearts.

Pairing: WandaNat x female!reader

Warnings: everyone is a bit mean, cursing, a bit steamy in the end I suppose

Word count: 3186

a/n: I’m sorry I’m not very good at writing enemies to lovers, so I don’t really know what this is

Tags: @thought-of-you-and-me @rafecameronswhore

All parts: part 1, part 2

“Why are they staring at us?” Kate mumbles as she shoves food into her mouth. “They are like, obsessed or something.”

Y/N glances to the direction Kate is staring at. It’s the popular table. No one really understands what their deal is, they just don’t like people who aren’t part of their group. No one knows if they just think they’re better than everyone or if something happened. But at the end of the day, pretty much all the groups are like that.

“I don’t know.” Y/N shrugs, turning back to her lunch. “You look kinda obsessed with them right now.”

Kate looks at Y/N with her mouth open and brows raised. “I am not.”

“Okay.” Y/N mumbles with a slight smile.

“I am not!”

Taking a bite out of her food, Y/N nods slowly, not looking at Kate, but still knowing what kind of look she has in her face. “I heard you.”

Kate humphs, annoyed by the grin on Y/N’s face. She stabs her food and eats as angrily as she can, just to show Y/N the level of annoyance she is at. However, all this just amuses her even more.

“So, you’ll be doing the project with me that Ms Harkness said we’ll do, right?”

“I don’t know anymore.” Kate shrugs. “Maybe I’ll do it with Yelena.”

“Oh, come on. You hate doing school work with Yelena.”

“The only thing she does is slack off.” Dropping her fork to the empty plate, Kate turns to look at Y/N. “I’m doing it with you.”

“Listen up, students!” Ms Harkness claps her hands, quietening down the classroom. “We are trying something different today. I’m going to assign your project’s groups.” The whole class starts groaning and whining, all of them having made plans with their friends already. “I know, I know. This is the ends of the world for you. Anyways,” she takes out a list, “I have the groups written here, so listen closely.”

As Ms Harkness lists off the groups, the students start moving into said groups. The more time goes on without her saying Y/N or Kate’s name, they get excited as the possibility of them being in the same group grows every second.

“Next group. Kate Bishop…” Kate and Y/N’s ears perk up, both waiting anxiously for the latter’s name to appear. “Yelena Belova and Gwen Stacy.”

The two deflate, sending each other disappointed looks before Kate moves from the desk next to Y/N. She looks around the classroom, trying to see which students are still without a group. When she notices everyone but two people with their own groups, her eyes widen.

“And last but not least, Wanda Maximoff, Natasha Romanoff and Y/N Y/L/N.”

“Shit.” She whispers to herself. With her luck, of course she gets paired up with the couple. Y/N sees them sitting on the dow in front of her, unmoving, so she grabs her bag and makes her way over to them.

She moves a desk bit closer to them, but far enough so it doesn’t touch either of their desks, and sits down. “Now that all of you have your groups, pick a subject and start working on the project. We’ll be doing it this whole class, but after that it’s a thing you have to do on your own time.” Everyone starts groaning again. “I know, I’m horrible. Start working.”

Before Y/N can even think about saying something, Wanda opens her mouth. “We already decided the topic to be how AI was doomed from the start, because they learn from biased people.”

“Okay.” Y/N mumbles. “Uhm, what should I do?”

Natasha shrugs, opening her laptop. “Just look some info on AI. Shouldn’t be too difficult.”

Nodding silently, Y/N opens her laptop and starts searching any kind of information on AI and its future. She stays quiet the whole class, not finding any openings in Natasha and Wanda’s conversation.

When the class ends, Y/N’s mood is on the floor. She is not feeling good about the project. “We’re going to our dorm after school ends to work on the project, so see you there, I guess.” Wanda says as she puts her things in her bag.

“Where is your dorm?”

Natasha sighs. “Building B, fourth floor, dorm number 405.” She tells in a quick manner, leaving immediately after.

Y/N looks after them with a dumbfounded look until Kate comes up behind her, wrapping her arms around her neck. “How’d it go?”

“Awful.”

Yelena walks to them, laughing mockingly at Y/N’s misfortune. “Our project is going great.”

“That’s because you didn’t do anything.” Kate frowns, letting go of Y/N’s neck only to lock their arms together. “Me and Gwen did all the work so far. Your contribution was whining.”

Yelena shrugs, following the two as they start walking to their next class. The three are tight together, though out of the two Kate and Y/N are clearly like sisters, because while Yelena has other friends, the pair have stuck together their whole life.

Y/N giggles quietly at their squabbling. They never seemed to agree on anything, but that was just their way of showing that they care about each other.

“Well, at least I don’t have Yelena on my group.”

Scoffing, Yelena punches Y/N’s side lightly.

Standing in front of the dorm room 405, Y/N takes a deep breath. She’s holding one of her fists up in the air, ready to knock. Music can be heard through the door. Wanda and Natasha are already there.

She knocks.

The music quietens down and Wanda opens the door. She says nothing when she sees Y/N, only widens the gap so she can step inside.

“Hi.” Y/N mumbles, almost too quiet for the two to hear. She looks around the room. The two single beds have been pushed together to form one big bed to the left side. There’s a bookcase on the end of it and two desks against the opposite wall.

The floor is neat, it only has a rug on it, but the walls are full of decorations. There’s pictures of people from the school and celebrities, posters of different movies and artists, even some vinyls are pinned to them.

Y/N clears her throat as Wanda goes back to sitting by the desk, right next to Natasha. “Cool room.”

Natasha nods in acknowledgment. Wanda did most of the decorating, but she likes it too. “We don’t have any more chairs, so, like sit on the floor or something.”

Too tired to fight against it, Y/N sits on the floor and takes out her things. “Me and Nat already started on our slides, we thought it’d be best to just do them individually.”

“Okay.”

And so, they start working on the project. Like during the class, Wanda and Natasha discuss points together, while Y/N stays quiet and does her own thing. It’s uncomfortable, but she’s not about to start a conversation with the two.

It goes like this for the next three meetings.

Y/N’s head is laying on the cafeteria table. She’s not feeling too good and the loud conversation going on isn’t helping at all. “Shut up.” The words come out more quiet than she wanted to.

Someone’s hand goes to her neck. “You’re really hot.” Kate frowns.

“Thanks.”

Kate groans and Yelena laughs. With a roll of her eyes, Kate ignores the comment. “I’m serious. Should you even be in school right now?”

“I can’t miss anything, plus I have to go work on the project today.”

“Can’t you skip this one time? I’m sure they won’t mind.” Kate’s hand goes to lay on Y/N’s back, rubbing it softly to bring some comfort.

Y/N scoffs. “Have you seen how they look at me? They’d kill me if I didn’t show up.”

“Well,” Kate cringes, “yeah. Probably.”

“Why do you care?” Yelena speaks up. “You’re a hard worker. You deserve a break, especially when you’re sick.”

“I don’t have time to be sick. Gotta keep my grades high.”

Yelena shakes her head. “You’re crazy.” She mumbles, going back to her lunch.

Once again, Y/N is knocking on Wanda and Natasha’s door. Her nose is stuffed and there’s loud bounding in her head, but she tries her best to ignore it.

Natasha opens the door and lets her in before going back to her seat. It’s the same as it has always been, Natasha and Wanda sitting beside their desks, while Y/N is on the floor.

Y/N isn’t sure if time is moving fast or slow, or if it’s moving at all. She feels like she has been writing forever, but the small clock on the bottom of her laptop screen hasn’t moved in ages. The conversation going on between Natasha and Wanda is muffled. It sounds like they’re much further away than they truly are.

She has been breathing through her mouth for some time, as her nose isn’t letting any air through. Leaning her head against her open palm, Y/N closes her eyes, just for a moment.

“Y/N?” Someone is shaking her shoulder. They’re doing it gently, but to Y/N it feels like her whole body is going through turmoil. “Did you fall asleep?”

Opening her eyes, Y/N sees Wanda in front of her. “Uhm,” she looks around the surroundings, catching up her brain on what’s going on, “no?” She mumbles.

Natasha furrows her brows together. She’s still sitting on her chair, but her attention is fully on Y/N. “Are you okay?”

“I am, yes, sorry.” Lifting up her head, Y/N shakes it to wake herself up. “Sorry.”

The back of Wanda’s hand goes to lay on Y/N’s forehead. It should be surprising, but her brain is too foggy to register it. “I think she’s sick.” Wanda turns to look at Natasha, talking to her rather than half awake Y/N. “Like really sick.”

“Do we have a thermostat?” Natasha mumbles, going to look for one in their bathroom. As she finds it, she brings it to Wanda and crouches down next to her.

Wanda presses on Y/N’s jaw to open her mouth and stick the thermostat under her tongue. Y/N grumbles at the feeling of it, but lets it be there.

When the thermostat beeps, Wanda takes it out, frowning at the number on it. “She has a fever.”

“I’m fine, you guys.” Y/N rubs her forehead, hoping it’ll lessen some of the pressure. “Lets keep working on the project.”

“No.” Natasha glances at the laptop screen, it’s showing the project’s slide show. “You have spelled every other word incorrectly.”

Humming, Y/N squints her eyes to look at the small words on the screen. She frowns as the words don’t come any clearer, realizing she must be sicker than she thought.

“What are we supposed to do?”

“Where are your friends?”

“Kate and Yelena are working on their project in the library in town, I think.” Y/N starts coughing. It racks up her whole body and hurts her throat. She misses the way Natasha and Wanda look at each other.

Wanda helps Y/N up while Natasha cleans up her things. She brings her to their bed, moving the cover so she’s laying under it. “Go to sleep.” She mumbles.

Natasha and Wanda stay by the bed next to Y/N until evening, when Kate comes knocking on their door, worried when Y/N still hasn’t come back to their dorm.

Over a week goes by, during which Y/N heals properly and starts working on the project again. However, after being sick, Natasha and Wanda have started to sit on the floor with Y/N, and even engage in conversations with her.

Now that her mind wasn’t so foggy, she started to notice the little things. Sometimes the couple looked at each other with a certain look when they were with her, it wasn’t bad, so to say, but Y/N doesn’t know what it is. And sometimes their eyes linger on her just a bit too long for it to be considered normal.

Although, all these things make her wonder what it all means, she ignores it all. Or at least tries to.

“Hey, Y/N.” Wanda’s hand sets on Y/N’s shoulder

Kate’s eyes are wide as she watches Y/N turn to Wanda and Natasha. “Yup?” It feels weird to have someone like Wanda touch her, still, she puts on her best smile and tries not to reveal how tense she is.

“We though we should finish the project today, so we can have the weekend free. Is that okay?”

It’s the first time they ask her opinion on their plans.

“Sure.”

Natasha smiles, grabbing Wanda’s hand. “Great, see you later.” The two walk away.

Kate stares at Y/N with an open mouth. She leans closer to her to whisper yell. “They totally have the hots for you!” She laughs quietly, so the other people in the library wouldn’t hear her.

“What?” Y/N’s brows scrunch together as her whole face turns into a grimace. “No they don’t! Are you crazy?”

“Oh, come on. Did you not see they way they were looking at you?” Kate gasps, looking at the book she is currently in the middle of. “This is the perfect lesbian, enemies to lovers story!”

“No, Kate, I’m not in one of your spicy sapphic books.”

Kate raises her brows, glancing at the cover of her book. “You could be.” She mumbles with a shrug. She is pretty sure Y/N looks just like one of the main characters on the book cover, but she denies it every time. Glancing at the clock, she grins. “You better go get ready to go to their dorm and have hot, hot sex with them.” Kate whispers the last part of the sentence.

Y/N stands up with a huff. “I am not going to have hot sex with them!” She says it just a bit too loudly, making someone on the next table turn to look at them. “I’m not having sex with anyone!” Grabbing her bag, Y/N walks out of the library while Kate giggles after her.

Natasha opens the door with a small grin. “Come on in.” Y/N smiles and steps in, sitting to the floor where Wanda is already. She takes out her laptop, getting it ready for working. Natasha sits right next to her, which makes Y/N freeze momentarily.

“Do you usually work even when you’re sick?” Wanda asks suddenly. They haven’t really discussed what happened that day yet, not that Y/N really wanted to talk about it. She’s still mortified that happened. She nods quietly, making Wanda frown. “You really shouldn’t.”

Y/N shrugs. “It’s fine.”

“No.” Wanda says quite assertively. “Don’t do it again.”

“Oh, okay..” Y/N doesn’t know why Wanda is being so…worried, she also doesn’t know why she is agreeing with her. She misses the shared smirk between Wanda and Natasha, turning to her work instead, so she could escape the overwhelming feeling.

They start working on the project, only having two slides left to do. They swap ideas and talk through their points. Y/N actually feels good with them. They’re nice now that they are including her.

It only takes them thirty minutes to finish the project, mostly because Natasha and Wanda hurried it for some reason.

“So,” Wanda starts as they pack away their things, “do you want to stay here for a while?”

Tilting her head, Y/N closes her bag. “Do you want me to stay?” Her question comes out very doubtful.

“Of course, детка.” Natasha’s voice is right by her ear, it makes Y/N shiver. “Why are you so nervous?” She can hear the teasing tone behind her words. Natasha’s hand goes to Y/N’s back, just staying there innocently, though it feels anything but.

Before she can answer, Wanda moves closer to put her hand on Y/N’s bare knee. “You don’t have to be nervous with us, you know that, right?” Her thumb rubs it lightly, happy that Y/N decided to wear a short skirt today.

“Right.” Mumbling, Y/N stares at the hand on her knee intensely. The touch makes her skin feel hot and tingly.

Wanda’s hand travel up to her hip, while Natasha’s goes under Y/N’s shirt. Natasha’s cold hand makes her gasp quietly.

“Can I kiss you?” Wanda’s voice is breathy and sultry.

“I guess.” Y/N’s voice is quiet and anxious, her mind is going everywhere at once and she still isn’t 100% sure if this all is actually happening.

Tutting, Wanda shakes her head. “It’s a yes or no question, sweetheart.”

“Yes.”

Wanda grins. “Good girl.” Her hand goes to Y/N’s neck, pulling her closer to kiss her. It’s soft, but still dominant on Wanda’s side. Natasha starts nipping Y/N neck gently, now moving both of her hands up her shirt.

“Holy shit.” Y/N mumbles when Wanda’s mouth moves from her lips down to her collarbone.

Seeing the opening, Natasha combs her fingers through her hair, gripping it and pulling her head back. She smirks at Y/N’s expression before taking her turn in kissing her. Natasha’s lips are more rough, but it still feels out of this world.

When Natasha pulls away, one of her hands go to rest on Y/N’s throat, while the other wraps around her waist and pulls her close, so Y/N’s back is against her chest.

“Fuck.” Natasha grumbles. “You are so hot.”

All the attention on her is making Y/N feel extremely warm. Her breathing is ragged as Wanda’s hands go under her shirt and up her chest. “We like to be a bit rough, but you don’t mind that, do you?” Wanda looks at Y/N with a grin, holding eye contact with her.

“I don’t mind.”

“Good.” With that, Wanda rips Y/N’s shirt open.

“You had hot sex with them!” Kate squeals right as Y/N steps inside their dorm. “I knew it.” Y/N shushes her, slamming the door closed so no one in the hallway could hear her. “I can’t even be mad at them anymore. Are you like, theirs now?”

“I’m no ones.”

Kate stares at the hickeys littered all over Y/N’s neck and the hoodie, that definitely isn’t hers. “They definitely think you are.” She can’t even keep her giggles in as Y/N shuffles over to her bed, tired by what happened. “They really did a number on you.”

With a loud groan, Y/N throws her pillow blindly towards Kate, who dodges it easily.

“I can’t wait to tell Yelena.”

“Don’t you dare!” But it’s no use, Kate is already out the door.

Y/N sighs, laying her head to the, now pillow-less, mattress. Closing her eyes, she lets a giddy smile come over her face.

She’s definitely theirs now.

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mariamakeslemons · 2 months ago

Text

Spooktober 2024: Day 3 Werewolf

Warning: Reader is attempted to be gender neutral (although I might have slipped female descriptors in there, if you catch them let me know), mentions of an almost doctor/patient relationship (Soap is a dog and I will die on this hill)

I could easily expand on this, but I didn't want to go too long for a piece of spooktober...

Price hurries down the hall, ignoring Kate behind him as she calls out for him to wait. He can’t, not when Soap, the one he thought he lost, is just a bit further in this building. That loss has been a hole in the 141, one that hasn’t been filled no matter what the higher ups try.

“John, wait,” Kate pleads as they continue down the halls.

“No, Kate,” he finally snaps, “My boy is somewhere in here, and I need to see him.”

“John, stop,” Kate snaps. Price spins, ready to snarl at her, only to pause at the look on her face. It’s just as upset as he feels, but it’s sadder, a barer of bad news.

“Soap isn’t how he was,” she explains softly, “He’s… more aggressive, feral even. Here, they’re just trying to get him to be civil, not even disciplined. They said this saved his life, but…” she trails off, unable to keep eye contact with Price. But, he hears it. Like an echo from Shepard, he knows just what she’s not saying.

He’s a dog on a leash. If you’re not careful, he’ll be put down.

Taking a breath, Price straightens up and says, “I still need to see him.”

“And you will, if you could tell me who you wish to visit,” a voice asks from behind him. Both Kate and Price jump and spin around, facing you as you look at the pair calmly. A clipboard in your hand and the white cardigan you wear over what could only be street clothes makes Price raise an eyebrow.

“You work here?” he asks incredulously. You give a sharp nod and smile, showing off teeth that are a little sharper than they should be.

“Yes sir. I’m in charge of a few of the patients here, so I’ll be able to point you to the right room,” you explain.

“I’m looking for John MacTavish,” Price says, cutting the chase, “He was one of my men and I need to see that he’s actually alive.�� Your face drops into a frown, nails tapping at the clipboard in your hand.

“You weren’t supposed to be here so soon,” you mumble, almost to yourself as you look down at your papers, before sighing. You turn to the hall beside them, motioning them to follow, before striding off. Price follows close behind, taking note of where you are leading them. The walls are a soft blue instead of the stark white of most hospitals, almost like it’s to relax people instead of stitch them up. You arrive at a door and Price lets out a surprised bark of laughter.

“Sir?” you ask, turning to him curiously. Price shakes his head, looking at the numbers ‘141’ in amusement.

“Sorry, love. That’s the number of the taskforce,” he explains. You blink at him before making a noise of understanding and knocking on the door. The snarl that sounds through the door makes Price and Kate tense, almost confused. You were supposed to bring them to Soap, not a beast.

“I know you did not just snarl at me!” you snarl back through the door. Immediately, the snarling turns into whines, like an apology. You roll your eyes and gently open the door, finally revealing the room to Price and Kate.

“What the hell?” Kate gasps and Price feels that as they look at the room. There is a low bed in the corner but that’s all the similarities the room has to a hospital room. Especially with the giant beast in the corner, staring at them with achingly familiar blue eyes that are just as intense as they had been when they were on a human face.

“…Soap?” Price tries, watching the beast cautiously. It- He relaxes, letting his tongue loll out of his mouth and his tail wags a little.

“Can you speak a little for me, John?” you ask, reminding Price that you didn’t leave after opening the door. Soap starts making the strangest barks Price has ever heard, something that’s a combination of drawn-out howl and short snaps, but you huff in amusement.

“So, you recognize both of them?” you ask, laughing as Soap’s great head bobs up and down hard enough to bounce the rest of his body. Price takes a step forward, only to come up short when you hold a hand out to stop him. He would have lashed out at you, if you didn’t give him an apologetic smile as Soap immediately growled and bared his teeth at Price.

“It’s still a little too early in his treatment to have anyone but his designated handler,” you explain apologetically, “Right now, he’s extremely territorial and he needs a temporary pack member who can act as Alpha while he adjusts.”

“And it can’t be Price?” Kate demands.

“Is Price secretly a werewolf?” you ask bluntly, ripping back the metaphorical curtain of this situation.

“I didn’t know Soap was,” Price decides to comment.

“He didn’t either,” you admit, tapping Soap’s nose without looking. Immediately, the Sergeant stops growling and whines at you pathetically, nosing at your side for some positive attention (like he’d do after Ghost scolded him or if the pretty birds at the bar turn him down and he slinks back to the table). You scratch at his muzzle as you continue, “His bloodline is old, almost buried in his genes, but it still wants to survive. Since the bullet wasn’t silver, all that needed to happen is for a need to survive and he revived as a werewolf.”

“So, he felt a need to survive and that’s it?” Kate asks. Price knows what she’s doing, checking for more information that could be used for the militaries that she works with. You snort, obviously reading between the lines as well.

“Of course not,” you huff, “There’s a lot of other factors, but that was what we could figure out about his revival.” Kate frowns and Price can’t help but feel the same. There’s no way to know what caused Soap to shift? Does that mean anyone can just change if they have the werewolf genes? Almost like you can read his mind, you shrug and continue, “Unless you are born into it, lycanthrope is a weird condition to pinpoint. John fell into one of five categories from what data we can collect.”

“Five?” Price repeats curiously.

“Fight, flight, freeze, fawn, and unknown,” you explain, “Fight is the category John falls into, as he felt a need to stay alive, not for survival, but due to a more combative reason. Flight is more focused on surviving only. Freeze is when one is confronted with a threat and needs to stand their ground for some reason, usually protecting family. Fawn is when a fellow werewolf finds them and they’re essentially soulmates, thus “awakening” the wolf. And unknown is pretty self-explanatory.”

“Werewolves can awaken others?” Price asks. You nod with a shrug.

“Yeah, but that’s extremely rare. It’s just been seen enough to make note of,” you explain, huffing when Soap tries to push his large head against your stomach. Price snorts, relaxing a little as he crosses his arms.

“…Will my team be able to see him?” he asks, looking between you and Soap. He doesn’t want to make assumptions, but he wants Soap back. He wants the 141 to be whole again, to have all his boys together. But, having nearly lost the Scot, he wouldn’t be surprised in Soap wanted to leave the military entirely.

“Give us a week, and you all can see him in person,” you declare confidently, “But, we can set up a video call to help him remember your team.” Price nods once, more than ready to do whatever he can to start the healing process for all his boys.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

“He’s here?” Gaz asks nervously, fidgeting with his coat nervously.

“He is,” Price reassures his Sergeant, looking at Ghost carefully. His Lieutenant is silent, but his fists are clenched and his eyes stare straight ahead from the balaclava. You walk up to them, smiling pleasantly.

“Welcome back, Captain,” you greet him, turning to Gaz and Ghost to give them nods, “Hello gentlemen. I take it, you two are part of the Captain’s taskforce?”

“Hello,” Gaz chokes, looking shocked at your appearance. Honestly, Price can’t blame the man. After no longer worrying about Soap, he did take note of how pretty you are. A soft thing that hides a steel blade behind a sweetness that doesn’t seem to curdle when someone misbehaves.

“If you gentlemen can follow me,” you request, leading them down the halls again. Today, there are more people in the halls than the last time Price had visited, but no one bothered them. Although, a random woman sneers at you, only to back down when you growl back.

“We’re here,” you declare upon arriving at room 141. You knock on the door and snort when Soap literally barks from in the room. Opening the door, Price finds Soap sitting on the bed, now in a human form. He is somehow even hairier than before, his ears a subtly pointed and his teeth are sharp, like yours are.

“Have you been behaving?” you ask as you walk into the room.

“Yeh, Ah hev,” Soap insists, watching as you gather chairs for the team to sit on. His blue eyes turn to the team and Price can practically see Soap piece together who they are.

“Captain… Price,” Soap finally greets, “…Gaz……LT?”

“Ghost,” Ghost corrects, although his tone is amused as he accepts the chair from you. Soap perks up at that, obviously catching the amusement.

“But Ah call ye LT,” he says. Price’s mouth twitches in amusement as Ghost sighs and nods. You laugh as Soap pumps his fist at being told he’s right.

“I call you Johnny,” Ghost adds on, watching as Soap pauses and tilts his head. There’s something wrong with how still the Scot is, Price decides, watching as Soap’s eyes stay focused on Ghost. Gaz shifts in his chair, which make’s Soap’s attention immediately snap to him.

“Do you remember your callsign?” Gaz asks.

“……Soap,” he finally says after a long, drawn out pause. Gaz grins and nods, which only makes Soap wiggle in happiness. You huff another laugh, which Soap takes as permission to pull you onto his lap, “Ma bonnie calls me John.”

“Oh, you’re dating?” Price can’t help but ask, immediately wary of your position in helping Soap recover.

“No,” you shoot down, “We’re not dating. He’s just clingy.” Soap whines as you wiggle from his grasp, hopping off the bed, “I’ll let you all get reacquainted. If you need me, the phone is on the desk over there and my extension is 762.” You slip out of the room, leaving the four men sitting in the room.

“…Ah’m gonna mate ‘em,” Soap declares with nod. Gaz cackles before poking at his fellow Sergeant, falling into their old back-and-forth easily. Price leans back in his chair, watching as Ghost rises from his chair to sit beside Soap on the bed, the low rumble of a terrible joke making the Scot light up with a cackle of his own. While he’s not too sure about much when it comes to werewolves, Price wouldn’t mind you getting together with Soap. After all, having an experienced wolf lead his boy would be for the best.

#my work #spooktober 2024 #john soap mactavish x reader

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newtonsheffield · 10 months ago

Note

I feel like this Kathony has quite a few angsty conversations about the label of their relationship…but can we see the convo after he gets shot? I feel like that is the one that finally ends on a happier note?

I’m going to save some of the words they whispered to each other when Anthony woke up from his surgery and Kate was sat by his bedside in clothes someone must have brought her to change into and a Sweatshirt he knew was his after which she climbed into bed with him, the nurses all too scared to tell the future Queen she can’t climb onto a hospital bed with a Man who’s just had major surgery. But I will share a little of the conversation after The King entered the room and found them curled up asleep together.

Kate felt drained from the day’s events as the camera lights flashed and Ronald pushed his way through ahead of them, his arm shielding her even more than the hood of Anthony’s sweatshirt she’d pulled up as she’d exited there car. She wasn’t surprised they hadn’t left yet, they’d been given such a show already today, with her emerging with her hands covered in Anthony’s blood, sobbing hysterically and then the King himself arriving hours later, and now her again. There was audio of it everywhere, the way she’d screamed his name and her hands had clutched his chest as he’d collapsed against her. Everyone had seen how she’d pressed her forehead against his, the intimacy between them clear and the thought of it made her stomach churn. Her father’s voice echoed through her head now.

“What would you have me do, Kate?”

The word was quieter, security had been set up to make sure that no one was allowed in but his family. His mother had come and gone and Kate had noticed with some surprise that the woman she’d seen Michael disappear with had been one of the older of his siblings who’d come to visit him.

The security moved aside to let her pass and half of her hoped that he was asleep. Not only so he could rest, and let his body recover but because she was selfish. She didn’t want to have the conversation with him that she now had to. The question she had to ask him. She took a shuddering breath and pushed the door open.

Anthony wasn’t asleep. He was staring at the television, but she could tell he wasn’t really watching. He’d been waiting for her. His skin pale and his chest bandaged, his arm in a sling, his hair matted uncomfortably and a dark shadow on his cheeks and her heart broke for him. He was here because of her. She’d never forget as long as she lived that he’d been willing to die if it meant she would live.

“You came back.”

She knew what he meant, but still she shrugged when she kicked off her shoes, climbing to sit on the foot of his bed, carefully avoiding jostling him. “I said I’d be back.”

He shifted uncomfortably, “I didn’t know if they’d… let you.”

“They’re very grateful for you, Anthony.” Kate swallowed, “Of course I’m here.”

“Grateful.” Hey said it like it was a dirty word, like it was the last thing he wanted, “I’m sure that’s not true now.”

She took his hand, holding it on her lap, “Well, I love you, so that’s all that matters right?”

She saw his lips tick upwards in a small smile that was slightly proud with the newness of it, “It’s not all that matters, but I love you too.”

She didn’t think she’d ever get tired of hearing him say it. And for better or worse her mind was made up. But it was a lot to ask of him. To give up his life for something else. To have his entire life scrutinised over, his family’s lives. To give himself up nearly entirely to stand beside her, not Every man could do that. Not many would want to.

“What did they say then?” Anthony tried to look blasé, but she could see that he wasn’t. His entire body rigid. “Is Appa going to make sure someone finished the job in the night?”

“Don’t joke about that.” Kate said sharply, “do you really have such a poor opinion of him?”

“No.” Anthony settled back against his pillows, “But there’s photos everywhere of his daughter telling me she loves me so I don’t think he has a lot of choice.”

Kate swallowed thickly, “He’s my father, Anthony. No matter what he wants me to be happy. He’s disappointed but not… because of this. He just wishes I would have told him.”

Anthony watched her carefully, his hand turning hers over, “Does he want to see me?”

She nodded, “He’s… coming tomorrow. And you need to give him an answer.”

His brow furrowed, searching her, “To… whether or not I’m resigning?”

“Sort of.” Kate took a shuddering breath, “We have a choice to make. Or… you do. I know what I want. There’s… you’re right, it’s everywhere that there’s some sort of relationship between us and the palace thinks that to… say we were spending time together would send a message that they think you’re an inappropriate companion. Because…”

“Which I am. Because unlike the last man you were spending time with, I’m not an untitled member of the aristocracy.”

“Well, I obviously don’t think so.”

He smiled a small smile, “No, obviously not. What are our choices then?”

She took a deep breath, “The palace would acknowledge you as my… companion.”

Anthony froze, “What?”

“I… told my father how I felt and he… we agreed that… I would talk to you about whether or not you wanted that. Either that or… this would go unacknowledged.”

“I want us to be together. Whatever that means.”

Kate’s heart stuttered but she couldn’t let herself get carried away. “Anthony this is… a serious decision. You should take some time, consider what this means. If you were officially introduced to the public we would be… practically engaged. It would mean that for the rest of your life-”

“I would be with you.”

Kate felt herself soften, “You could be with me.”

“Then I know what I want. I’ll meet your father, I’ll learn how to be a good partner for you. Properly, whatever they want, I’ll do it.”

There were tears in her eyes when she leaned in and brushed their lips together, “You don’t need to change anything.”

Anthony slowly opened one eye, “can I change one thing?”

“Depends?”

“I need to shave before I have to meet the king knowing he knows that I defiled his pride and joy.”

“That I can do for you.” Kate sighed, “But Edwina’s the youngest. She’s his favourite.”

Anthony scoffed, “Edwina? No way.”

Kate cleared her throat, “ Speaking of younger sisters, do you want to hear some gossip?”

#bodyguard au #kathony #anthony x kate #kate sharma #kate sheffield #anthony bridgerton #molly’s asks and answers

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queen-haq · 9 months ago

Text

Fic: Never You (Penelope x Colin) - Part 4

Fandom: Bridgerton (TV show)

Spoilers: S3 released scenes.

Summary: They may have been friends once but his callous words decimated their relationship. Determined not to have anything to do with him, Penelope is ready to move on. But Colin isn’t giving up, not at all. Friends or not, they are connected for life - and he intends to remind her of that.

Excerpt:

“You would hate me for not wanting to court you. You would be that selfish?”

“Of course you would think that.”

“What else is this if not punishment?”

Masterlist (contains links to previous parts and my other stories)

“Unhand her now, Colin!”

Penelope jumped at the sound of Anthony’s voice, panicked at the thought of being caught. Colin must have felt the same way as he finally loosened his grip on her waist. Immediately she distanced herself from him, a heated blush creeping across her cheeks at the sight of the Viscount and his wife standing a few feet away. While Anthony was busy glaring at Colin, Kate Bridgerton’s eyes studied her with concern.

Although he had never been unkind to her, a part of her had always been intimidated by the eldest Bridgerton sibling. While Benedict was affable and charming, Anthony was the opposite and his stern demeanor tended to make her nervous. So to be caught by him in such a shameful manner – Penelope wanted the earth to swallow her up, she was too embarrassed to speak.

“What is going on here?” Anthony demanded, glaring at Colin. “Did you hurt her? Are you alright, Penelope?”

“Stay out of this, brother!”

“I’m fine.”

She and Colin replied in unison.

Penelope cast Colin a quick glance, warning him silently to go along with the lie. “My dress had a tear in it and Colin was helping me.”

Neither Anthony nor Kate looked like they believed her. Fortunately, they did not push back.

“You both know better than to be alone out here without a chaperone,” Anthony chastised. “If anyone were to see the two of you-”

“Fortunately, it was only us,” Kate interjected, approaching Penelope with an assuring smile. “Anthony, why don’t you and Colin go back in and fetch us some champagne? After I help Penelope with her dress, we can meet you inside.”

“Pen and I still have much to discuss,” Colin said in a firm tone.

She threw an irritated glance at Colin. While he was within his rights to argue with his family, she certainly didn’t have the same privilege – and it brought further attention to how oblivious he was when it came to her.

There was a time when she used to believe all of his gestures of intimacy were indicative of his love, but since the night she overheard him it became clear that had never been the case. His words – “you do not count, you’re Pen” – was how he truly felt. She wasn’t someone he viewed romantically, rather he didn’t view her as a proper lady at all. It’s why he never worried about others misconstruing their relationship, why he never hesitated to spend time with her unchaperoned, why he kissed her tonight with such recklessness when he would never dare to do so with other young ladies of the ton. And even though he wasn’t purposely being hurtful, it still angered her to recognize how careless he was with her. In the past she was too much in love with Colin to worry about her own reputation but now she couldn’t afford a scandal. Not when she was so close to gaining freedom and living the life she wanted. “There’s nothing further to say.”

“In that case, brother, you and I shall head inside,” Anthony ordered sternly. “And Kate and Penelope may join us when they’re ready.”

Colin turned to her, peering at her, demanding silently that she meet his gaze. “I will call on you tomorrow,” he stated angrily when she refused to look at him.

“I have a prior engagement,” was her immediate reply.

“With whom?”

“Now!” Anthony barked.

Finally Colin tore his eyes from her and stormed away. He didn’t wait for Anthony, instead marching past his brother.

“I apologize for his behaviour.” Anthony shook his head. “If my brother has said or done anything to harm you-”

“He hasn’t,” she replied quickly. “As I said, he was simply assisting me. But you are right, we should not have been out here without a chaperone.”

“Rest assured it won’t happen again.”

Then his attention darted to his wife, and it was as if the Anthony she had known since childhood was instantly changed. In his place was a soft and tender man, eyes flooded with love as his gaze swept over the Viscountess. They were simply standing there yet Penelope felt like she was intruding on a private moment between the couple, the affection between them so potent. And seeing them so much in love filled her heart with joy, but there was also an aching sadness that pricked at her. Because she knew Colin would never look at her that way or love her as fiercely as his brother did Kate.

“Are you alright?” Kate asked.

Realizing her face must have given her away, Penelope quickly composed herself. “I’m fine. Thank you for your concern, Viscountess.”

“I shall see you inside,” Anthony said softly before taking his leave.

“I’m fine, truly. I just need a few minutes of fresh air and I will go back in,” Pen said in a rush, feeling nervous around the other woman.

“I require some fresh air myself. I hope you don’t mind if I keep you company?” Kate smiled.

“Of course not, Lady Kate. It would be a pleasure.”

“Kate. Please. And I hope you don’t mind if I call you Penelope?”

“I would like that.”

“Perhaps I can fashion something out of my shawl for you,” Kate said, removing the fabric around her shoulders and draping it over Penelope’s. After a few seconds of trifling with the material, she stepped back to examine her handiwork. “Yes, that looks quite pretty. Don’t you think?”

Penelope glanced down at herself. Not only did the fabric hide her torn sleeve, but also the marks on her breasts. Bite marks left by Colin when he’d laved her skin with his tongue and teeth, same marks that must have been visible to Anthony earlier. Shame flooded over Penelope, she wanted to die.

“Shall we take a stroll around the maze before we go inside?” Kate suggested.

Penelope nodded, too embarrassed to speak.

Looping her arm through Penelope’s, Kate started walking alongside her. “I admit I don’t know Colin very well. He started his travels soon after the wedding and we didn’t have much time to get to know one another. However, I’ve always found him to be witty and good-natured.”

Penelope remained silent.

“Which is why the last few days have been such a surprise. He has been unusually agitated and others have noticed as well.”

“Have they?” Penelope muttered. “He’s probably having difficulties settling back into his old life after his recent adventures.”

“Yes, Benedict thought so too.”

“They are quite close as brothers.”

“True, but I suspect it has more to do with matters of the heart.” Kate paused in her tracks. “Perhaps you’re the reason?”

Penelope shook her head. “I don’t think so.”

“He seemed quite upset just now.”

“Not because of me, I’m sure. I’m incapable of eliciting strong emotions in Colin.”

Kate gave her a curious glance. “Why do you say so?”

Penelope shrugged her shoulders. “Because Colin and I are friends. That’s all.”

“Your rendezvous with him tonight would suggest otherwise, Penelope.”

“You would think so, but it doesn’t.” She sent Kate a bitter smile. “I’m Pen. His friend. And that means he doesn’t view me in the same light as he does other ladies. Normal rules of society don’t apply to me.”

“That can’t be true.”

She leveled the older woman with a pained gaze. “Colin would never exchange private letters with any of the young ladies of the ton, he’d be too worried about jeopardizing their reputation. And he certainly wouldn’t cause a scandal by spending time with them unchaperoned. Yet here I am, recipient of both.”

Kate looked taken aback by her words. “That doesn’t sound like the actions of a friend.”

“I assure you Colin isn’t a duplicitous person, he genuinely doesn’t mean to cause harm. However, he’s oblivious when it comes to me. I might as well be invisible to him.”

“I see male idiocy isn’t reserved for Anthony alone,” Kate sighed, resuming their walk again. “In my experience tihe Bridgerton men can be quite… foolish when it comes to romance.” She squeezed Penelope’s arm. “But once they get over their stubbornness, they are fierce with their love.”

“I will have to take your word for it.”

“Have you talked to Colin about how you feel? Perhaps if you-”

“Lady Kate, I don’t mean to be rude.” Penelope smiled stiffly at the Viscountess. “But there’s no point in discussing this any further. How I feel about Colin doesn’t matter.”

“You care deeply for him. I can see that.”

Penelope paused. The only person she’d ever confessed her feelings about Colin was to Arthur Debling and even that took a while.

“You shouldn’t deny your feelings, Penelope.”

“I’m not denying them. I know how I feel, and I recognize my feelings will probably never go away. But that doesn’t mean I have to wallow in heartache.” She stared out at the garden, ruminating on the measures she’d taken to secure the life she wanted. “I used to think I would only be happy if I married Colin, but I’ve come to realize that is no longer true. There are other forms of happiness, little things that can bring a lot of joy if one is open to it.” She graced Kate with a shy smile. “I intend to move on and pursue some of my other dreams. Maybe even have small adventures along the way.”

“Is that what you would like?”

Penelope bit down on her lip. A part of her felt anxious about sharing her secret desires but the kindness in Kate’s eyes made her think that not only would the older woman not mock her but she might actually understand. “Very much so.”

Kate returned her smile. “In that case, I hope you get everything your heart desires.”

“Thank you.”

“But I feel I must warn you.” Concern shone brightly in Kate’s dark eyes. “The look I saw on Colin tonight, it’s an expression I’m familiar with having seen it on my husband’s face many times. I don’t think my brother-in-law will go quietly into the night. He may make it difficult for you to move on.”

“That’s not who Colin is.” She reached out to touch her neck, only to remember that there was now a scarf covering the area. Her skin still burned with the memory of his mouth voraciously roving over her, hot and urgent. She dropped her hand immediately. “As soon as he realizes things have changed between us, he will move on. And there will not be any shortage of ladies vying for his attention. It’s only a matter of time before I become a distant memory to him.”

“You underestimate your own worth,” Kate replied, a hint of sternness in her voice.

Pen shrugged to herself. “I only speak the truth.”

Kate didn’t respond, instead squeezing her arm. They made their way back inside, both women deep in thought.

***

Later that night Penelope was waiting for her carriage outside while listening to the nearby chatter of a group of gentlemen who were gossiping idly. Often her biggest source of news were men of the ton themselves. While there was no doubt women liked to gossip, they were far more discreet than the opposite sex, something Lady Whistledown benefitted from. She was busy cataloguing the topics they were discussing when she suddenly found herself with company. Her breath halted in her throat when Colin appeared beside her.

“You’re avoiding me,” he said quietly, sounding both hurt and angry.

She kept her voice deliberately steady. “It’s late, Colin. I wish to go home.”

“We need to discuss what happened tonight.”

Her stomach clenched at the thought. “I’d rather not.”

The intensity within him clamored for her full attention even as his entitled words filled her with rage. There was a respectable amount of space between them but it was as if he was pressed against her like before, heat emanating from him. And the way he was looking at her, eyes burning bright with emotion as they swept over her skin, pausing on the same spot where he left bite marks - she couldn’t think around him. She desperately needed an escape.

“You owe me the truth, Pen. I demand it. You must tell me who the gentleman is.” He took a step closer. “I have a responsibility to protect you, to keep you safe.” Another step. “Your reputation could have been compromised-”

“You didn’t seem to care about that earlier when you followed me into the garden,” she fired back at him. “What if someone had caught us, Colin? Do you even know what that would’ve done to my reputation?”

He stiffened. “We would have been forced to marry.”

She noted the immediate panic that flitted across his face, his voice drowning in misery at the thought of marrying her. It was clear the idea of a romantic bond between them horrified him, and even though she’d come to accept that fact already it still felt like someone had ripped her heart out and stomped all over it. But she would die before letting him see how much his rejection hurt. Straightening her back, she gave him a cold glance. “You don’t need to worry. I would never force you into that.” She turned to look at the carriage that had come to a stop in front of her. “I think it’s best if we keep our distance going forward. Good night, Colin.”

He offered his hand to help her into the carriage but she ignored it. However, he didn’t step aside. “This conversation is not over. I will call on you tomorrow."

“And I will not be available.”

Before he could say anything further, she slammed the carriage door in his face.

To be continued...

A/N - Thank you for reading. If you care to share your thoughts, I would be grateful :)

#penelope x colin #colin x penelope #polin #bridgerton #my fics #never you

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