#and the one i was setting up in chp 3 was supposed to be. well both more casual and tragic
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thegempage · 2 years ago
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i'm gonna ramble in the tags real quick lmao
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lynnlovesthestars · 1 year ago
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Masterlist- Baldur's Gate 3.
Hello my stars, since my brain went from somewhat sane to "How can I live without Astarion" I decided to put everything I've been posting in a masterpost.
Also I'm opening my requests, right now I'll be writing only about Baldur's Gate, but later I might venture in other fandoms. At the bottom of this masterpost, I'll leave the requests rules.
This being said, whether you are here to look for a treat, or to request your fantasies, what can I do for you?
My prompt list. (currently under maintenance)
Kofi, patreon for those who'd like to tip!
dd:dne infos for those who might be interested in finding out how it works.
Requests questions!
Taglist form. for those who wants to get tagged.
Work in progress page.
Other places where you can find me:
@lynnloves-thestars (the one where the follows come from aka my primary blog)
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Astarion Acunin:
Scars: Astarion x Reader. Angst. Set in act 3. "When your fears catch up to you"
Blood: Astarion x Reader. Part 2 of scars. Angst, fluff. Set in act 3. "How long does it take to heal those scars?"
One and Only. Astarion x Reader. Smut, fluff, lil of angst. Post act 3. "No one will ever love me like you do"
The sun, the moon and the stars. Astarion x Reader. part 2 of One and Only. Angst, fluff, smut (kinda). Post act 3. "When he thought he couldn't ask for more, you gave him back his freedom."
I wandered lonely as a cloud. Astarion x reader. Hurt, comfort, fluff, eventual smut. Set in act 2. "Let's pretend just for a few hours that we are okay, that we fell in love."/ Golden Daffodils (chp 2)
Why? Astarion x reader. Angst, hurt/ comfort, something similar to fluff. "Why? Why? Why?"
-Tick, tack, ah.- Astarion x OC (Lynn). Hurt no comfort.
Amygdala- Astarion x OC (Lynn). fluff, angst, a bit of confort?. "pain comes in many ways"
Serendipity - Astarion x OC (Lynn) fluff?. "astarion was supposed to have a meal and ended up catching feelings- or something like that."
Golden- Astarion x Tiefling!reader. angsty?, lots of thinking, self-doubt, avoidance. "the huge tear in his shirt caught your eye again, and you decided to give him a reminder that someone cared about him." (somewhat pt 2 of "Why")
Avoid- Astarion x Wyll. Angsty. Prompt 11.
Wisteria- Astarion x OC (Lynn). Fluff, smut, angst. Set post game. "In an universe where they don't end up together while tadpoled, Lynn comes to the conclusion that he loves Astarion."
Sleep tight- Astarion x OC (Lynn) fluff.
Lesson One- Astarion x GN!reader. Fluff.
other beginnings
mess
kiss me slowly
dadstarion crums
stealth check failed
the veil- prologue, 1,
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Karlach Cliffgate:
Bedsheets. Karlach x reader. Requested. Fluff. Post act 3. Ticklish adventure.
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Wyll Ravengard:
Sleepless. Wyll x Reader. Smut, fluff if you squint. "Everyone is asleep, and all he can think about is not next to him."
Headcanon: anal. Smut.
Something. Wyll x reader x Gale, poly, fluff. They are something.
Avoid Astarion x Wyll. Angsty (check under Astarion)
Seasalt. Wyll x reader, smut
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Gale Dekarios:
Arabella - Songfic, fluff. Prompt: 169 “Oh, fuck. Do that again.” 
Something. Wyll x reader x Gale. Fluff. (look up!)<3
Tea- Gale x reader. Drabble. A tea to fall in love.
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Shadowheart:
TBA
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Lae'zel:
TBA
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Halsin:
TBA
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Jaheira:
Dinner is served. smut.
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Minsc:
TBA
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other characters:
"Let me show you how this will benefit you"- Gortash x OC (see more on post), smut- check TWs.
HC bg3 men with caring Tav
HC bg3 x durge, refusing bhaal
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Request rules:
My requests are currently open, of course there's some rules I'd like to enforce so all of the readers, as well as me, are comfortable.
-no nsfw from anons or ageless accs
-no abuse from the romantic interest with the intent of having them fall in love (I see you Stockholm syndrome lovers, but this is not the place), while the mcs trying to murder each other before kissing it's our fav trope here, abuse it's not.
-no dubcon or noncon
-no b3stiality, no inc3st, or minors characters, even if aged up.
-and yk the usual do not interact warnings.
-can definitely use prompts, one liners, tropes, whatever comes to your mind for the request, and I'll try my best to fulfill them.
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Navigation tags:
#lynn: updates ☆ (updates on what im working on, or published content)
#ask: lynn ☆ (answers to the asks I get)
#lynn: i wandered lonely as a cloud (ff related tag)
#vault: lynn ☆ (what I posted)
#asklynn☆: request (requests fulfilled)
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claymoresword · 2 years ago
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I Choose Her | Chp: 9
Hermione Granger x Slytherin Fem!Reader
Summary: You are the daughter of known death eaters from one of the richest and oldest wizarding family. Are you prepared to abandon everything you know for Hermione Granger?
Pairing: Hermione x Reader
Wordcount: 4.5k
Warnings: smut, fluff, angst, dark themes, mention of death & murder, draco and y/n are basically siblings deal w it
Note: y/n and hermione: *away from each other for more than a day*
y/n: "this is it, this is what's going to kill me"
this chapter's definitely the longest i've written which wiped me out ngl im gonna have to take a couple days off lol
eitherway i hope u enjoy! <3
ps: i was listening to turning page as i wrote the first part of this chapter so... make of that what u will 👀
taglist: @gvrsto @aweidlich @xxsekhmet @arielj @poppyflower-22
(comment to be added)
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You're awoken this morning by Hermione shifting in her sleep. The two of you crammed together in her bed.
Mrs Granger had set up the guest room for you but your girlfriend insisted you slept with her.
Hermione was persistent but honestly you didn't put up much of a fight.
You were now awake enough to feel the pulsing in your arm. It seems Hermione's head had been laying on top of it the entire night, restricting your bloodflow.
You attempt to pull your arm out from underneath her head without waking her but clearly failing when Hermione lets out a noise in protest. She makes no effort to move her head.
"Sweetheart, my arm's asleep." You explained but Hermione says nothing.
For a moment you assumed she had fallen back asleep but your girlfriend quickly grabs your other arm, wrapping it around her own abdomen.
She is awake and she is ignoring you.
You relent.
Pulling her close Hermione only holds onto your arm tighter enjoying the feeling of you against her.
You begin to drift off but a knock at the door jolts you awake once more.
"Hermione, breakfast is ready darling."
Mrs Granger says from the other side of the door and you can feel Hermione tense up.
Undoubtedly dreading the prospect of the day beginning. Today is bound to be dreadful.
She has to leave for the burrow which also means she has to obliviate her parents. To make matters worse, your own parents are expecting you home for the initiation. You want more than anything to stay with Hermione.
You supposed in the grand scheme of things, these are necessary sacrifices.
Something you tell yourself to keep from having a complete breakdown.
"I wish we could stay like this forever." Hermione's voice breaks and it feels like a harsh blow to your chest. You hated that it had to come to this. She was essentially losing her parents today and you would not be here to guide her through it.
"Me too, baby." Pulling her even closer, the only comfort you're capable of providing her right now.
Hermione moves to turn towards you and you release her from your grasp.
The pain in your chest now piercing when you realised she is crying.
"I don't know if I can do it y/n."
You sit up, prompting for Hermione to do the same. You hold her face in both your hands, wiping away the tear on her cheek.
"Listen to me."
"We are going to get through this. You will see your parents again. It can't end this way. It won't."
You assure her but mostly you're trying to convince yourself.
Hermione studies your face for a beat, searching for something.
"Aren't you afraid?"
You let a moment pass before answering.
"I'm terrified."
More tears well up in her eyes, she shifts her gaze.
"I don't want to end up alone."
Hermione's voice trembles and your own eyes are now welling up.
"You won't be alone. You will always have me." You emphasise in hopes that Hermione will believe you.
"Promise me you're not going to die."
Your girlfriend blurts out and you breathed out sharply in amusement. Hermione lets out a defeated chuckle, only just hearing how ridiculous she sounded.
"I promise." You respond anyway, leaning in you place a tender kiss on her forehead.
Hermione grips the hem of your shirt, capturing your lips with her own.
Savouring this moment as much as you could, both of you knowing that the future was entirely uncertain.
Hermione was quick to wrap her arms around you after your lips left hers.
For awhile, you are sat in silence holding each other.
"My brave girl." You whisper and Hermione's grip on your shoulders tighten.
She did not want to let go and neither did you.
But eventually you had no choice. Releasing her from your embrace you stood up off the bed.
"We should get going."
You offered her your hand, Hermione hesitates for a moment before grabbing it.
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You are stood in the doorway to the kitchen, Hermione slowly approaches her parents from behind. She pauses for a moment turning to look at you.
She's asking you for reassurance.
For strength.
You merely nod and that seemed to give Hermione the push she needed.
Lifting up her wand she takes a deep breath before reciting the memory spell.
"Obliviate."
You watched as things in the room shifted and changed. Some of Hermione's belongings, things she's had since childhood dissipating into thin air.
Pictures of her on the mantle slowly being erased.
You couldn't bare to watch.
Stepping forward you tugged on Hermione's arm. No child should have to watch their parents forget them.
"Come my love its done, let's go."
The look on Hermione's face makes your heart constrict painfully in your chest.
She's trying her best to stay strong and you loved her even more for it.
Soon she follows you to the front door, walking out you both sit on the stairs of the veranda.
Hermione doesn't cry. She doesn't say anything. You are sat for several minutes without a word being said.
Suddenly remembering that you were due home this afternoon, you lifted your arm to check the time.
Your girlfriend notices and finally breaks the silence.
"When will I see you again?"
Her voice is fragile and it simply crushes you.
"I will try my best to meet you at the burrow in a day or two."
"Truthfully, I have no idea what to expect or how long the initiation is going to take but I will come back to you, I promise.
Hermione doesn't respond for a moment instead she finds your hand, fiddling with your ring. Perhaps to check for the bond, to make sure it is still there.
"Okay." She mutters.
"I'm so sorry Hermione. I wish there was another way." You shuffle closer and her hand moves to your arm firmly gripping your bicep.
She rests her head on your shoulder.
"Just swear that you'll come back to me." Your girlfriend says and you smile.
"I swear– And if I do die I will make sure to come back as a ghost."
"Or maybe a poltergeist." You continue.
Hermione slaps your arm and you wince.
"Not funny." She says sternly but you catch the faint smile on her lips.
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"What did you do to your hair?"
The first thing your mum says as you came through the front door.
You sighed. This was going to be a difficult day.
"Nothing, why?"
Your mum walks up to you, fixing your hair in the passive aggressive manner she always does.
She then moves to your clothes, endlessly fussing with it.
"Come, you're nearly late. Everyone's waiting."
Your eyebrows furrowed. For a moment you wonder if the Dark Lord himself was here.
Then again, it can't be. Your mother seems too calm at the prospect of hosting Voldermort himself in her dining room.
You walk beside your mother past the foyer and into the downstairs living area.
There you spotted your father. He barely looks at you before he speaks.
"You're late."
He doesn't leave you space to answer before stepping aside, gesturing for you to walk further in.
Immediately you spotted Draco, standing next to his parents.
Narcissa was quick to come up to you, greeting you with a hug and a kind smile.
"Y/n, its been so long– you've grown so much."
Narcissa leans back to take proper look at you, holding your face in her hands.
"You've grown into a radiant young woman."
She says and you fail to suppress the blush rushing to your cheeks. You have always liked Draco's mum. Never anything but kind to you, she provided a warmth you didn't receive from your own mother.
"Thank you Mrs Malfoy you are too kind. Sorry I have not visited as of late, I've been rather preoccupied with school."
You lied, glancing at Draco. He stares at you for a beat before looking down.
That's Draco for: "I'm sorry, thanks for lying for me."
"Release the girl Cissy we haven't got all day." Bellatrix says from across the room and you take a proper scan of the room for the first time.
You spot Greyback, Wormtail, Pius and Dolohov.
A few other people you did not recognise. All death eaters no doubt, some who must have recently escaped from azkaban.
No sign of the Dark Lord.
The death eaters alone would've been a chilling sight if you were not already used to it.
Narcissa steps back and your mother now takes your hand guiding you to the center of the room.
It was silent for a few moments until Greyback re emerges from the back room, grabbing a woman by her arm. He harshly throws her onto the ground infront of you.
She was bound by the wrists, her mouth stuffed with cloth probably to keep her from screaming.
She looks terrified.
"Who is this?" You mutter quietly but it's still heard by the rest of the room.
Bellatrix walks towards you, a menacing grin plastered across her face.
"Why does it matter? Do want to call her friends and family? Send your condolences?" Bellatrix mocks, earning a snicker from the other death eaters.
"Some muggle we plucked off the street." Dolohov chimed in, answering your question.
Your stomach churns. The woman looked not much older than you were.
Not much older than Hermione.
"Now, do you know your unforgivable curses?"
Bellatrix says, circling you like a hawk stalking its prey.
"Ofcourse I know them."
She laughs.
"Good."
She moves towards the woman, and unbinds her wrists. She removes the cloth from her mouth. Bellatrix forces the woman up on her feet.
She is trembling under your gaze but makes no effort to run away.
"Take out your wand y/n."
Your mother instructs and you do as you're told.
Bellatrix leans in, you feel her breath against your ear.
"Torture her." She whispers and you swallow the lump in your throat.
Glancing at your mother she only looks at you expectantly. Your father's stern gaze sends a chill down your spine.
You had to commit for this to work. You have to get back to Hermione, whatever it takes.
Lifting your arm you pointed the wand at the woman before you. You steady your breathing, trying to appear as calm as possible.
"Crucio."
The woman falls to the ground, writhing in pain. Her deafening screams now filling the room.
Your stomach churns but you school your expression.
You cannot appear weak.
"Very good." Bellatrix says after her laughter subsided.
"Now let's see, what is the next unforgivable curse?" She says in a mocking tone.
"Oh just get on with it. She knows them. Kill the muggle already." Dolohov says.
Another laugh erupts from Bellatrix and you flinch this time.
"You heard him y/n."
"Kill her." Bellatrix says, her face too close to yours.
You glanced in Draco's direction but he's not looking at you. His gaze fixed at the floor he almost looks just as afraid as the woman you had just been tasked to murder.
You mother gives you a nod and your father only raises his eyebrows.
Everyone is waiting for your move.
You don't let yourself think on it a moment longer.
"Avada Kadavra."
You exclaimed, a bright green light flashes and the woman falls flat on her back, motionless.
The room is dead silent once again.
Your ears are ringing, you feel as if you are about to faint.
The sound of clapping around the room snaps you back into the present.
"Well done, my daughter." Your father gives you smile for the first time today.
Your mother pulls you in for a hug and you're only able to focus on how sick you felt.
"May I please be excused? I have to visit the ladies room."
Your mother releases you from her grip.
"Ofcourse darling."
You rush out of the living area, you didn't go the bathroom. You needed to get outside. The air in your house felt thick, suffocating.
Eventually you found yourself in the yard behind your home.
Unbuttoning a few buttons on your shirt hoping it would help give you more room to breathe but it doesn't. Feeling the bile rise up to your throat you kneeled over, vomitting all over the grass.
You hear footsteps come up next to you and before you managed to look up, Draco speaks.
"Here." Holding out his handkerchief.
"Thanks."
You grab it, giving him a smile in gratitude before wiping your mouth.
"I threw up as well. After my initiation. A lot more than that actually."
Draco says looking at the patch of grass.
"There were a lot more tears involved too." He jokes.
His attempt to make you feel better about yourself only made you more glum.
"You did well y/n."
"This is fucked." You admit, earning a real laugh from Draco.
A sound you hadn't heard in months.
"Yes it is." He says leaning agaisnt the tree next to you.
"But it's also just the life we were born into."
Draco was right. There was no use in complaining.
"It is what it is."
You say and he nods in agreement.
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You had been home for two days now, to be honest you've not done much besides sit in on death eater meetings. The Dark Lord was yet to show himself, you actually began to doubt his existence.
You waited for nightfall, you had to try to sneak out today and see Hermione.
Shoving your wand in your pocket you shut your eyes, focusing in on your ring. You prepared to apparate.
Your concentration broken by a familiar voice coming from behind you.
"Where do you think you're going?" Draco asks, emerging from the doorway.
"I have to see her."
Your bestfriend scoffs, shaking his head.
"I knew it. I knew you didn't break up with her."
"What is it about her?" Draco steps closer.
"I barely even recognise you anymore y/n. You were never like this. That girl makes you weak and you know it."
You rolled your eyes.
"You don't recognise me ?" You raised your voice.
"And who's fault is that, huh?" Quickly placing your hands on his chest, you shoved him. He loses his balance slightly but doesn't attempt to strike you back.
"You've barely acknowledged me this entire year, Draco." Your voice now back to a whisper.
He doesn't say anything, avoiding eye contact he focuses his attention on the fireplace next to you.
"We've both changed."
"That's just life."
Draco finally looks at you.
"But you are the closest thing I have to a brother. This fact remains the same."
"I will continue to defend you no matter what. I am only asking you for the same courtesy in return."
Draco's gaze softens but he seems slightly affronted.
"Ofcourse I have your back y/n. Always."
"Then let me go."
"You're right, she is a weakness. But it's only because I love her."
Draco nods, finally understanding.
"Look I'm not asking you to lie for me but–"
"You're asking me to lie for you." Draco interjects.
You let out a chuckle.
"Yes I suppose I am."
Draco sighs dramatically.
"Go. I'll make something up if your parents ask." Your eyes light up but he was quick to warn you.
"But- If you're not back here in a day, you're on your own."
A large grin spread across your face and your bestfriend rolls his eyes.
"Thank you." You say placing a quick kiss on his cheek which he was quick to wipe off with his hand.
Regardless, he throws you a smile.
Closing your eyes you focus in once again, successfully dissaparating.
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You apparate right in Hermione and Ginny's room in the burrow. You immediately find your girlfriend on the bed, a book in her hands.
She spots you quickly, dropping her book she practically jumps into your arms.
You held her tight, breathing in the familiar scent of her hair.
"I missed you so much."
Hermione says and your heart swells.
"I missed you." You respond, pulling back to look at her.
Her lips were on yours immediately. You let out an involuntarily sigh of relief.
Longing to feel her lips against yours since the moment you parted ways.
"That was awful. Please never dissappear for that long again."
You laughed.
"Hermione, we were apart for 3 days." You moved your hand tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
"Felt like an eternity." Hermione grumbles adorably, you lean in to kiss her again.
"I'm sorry, but I can't stay long."
Hermione's shoulders slumped, a pout forming on her face.
"I only wanted to let you know I was okay. I will come back and see you as often as I can, I swear."
The pout doesn't leave her lips and you lean in, planting a kiss on her forehead.
Hermione moves her hands to grip your collar.
"Will you stay for the wedding atleast?"
You make a face but Hermione's expression breaks your resolve immediately.
"Fine, I'll stay."
She flashes you a smile that always seems to cause that familiar fluttering in your stomach.
"One slight issue, I don't have anything to wear." You say and Hermione steps away from you, a glint in her eyes.
She grabs her pouch, pulling out a blazer that look oddly familiar.
"Is that my suit?" Hermione only lets out a giggle and you shake your head in disbelief.
"How did you even sneak that in there without me noticing." Your girlfriend bites her lip, she shrugs her shoulders.
"You're very easy to distract." Hermione pulls you in closer by the hem of your slacks.
"Well Miss Granger, I must admit you never fail to surprise me." You say, hot breath against her ear.
Placing an open mouthed kiss on her neck you reveled at the feeling of her shuddering under your touch.
You planted another kiss on her jaw and eventually your lips found hers. Hermione opens her mouth wider and you take the opportunity to enter your tongue into her mouth.
The kiss was sloppy, lacking grace. Both of you now hot with need.
Your hand travels to Hermione's ass, giving it a squeeze. She gasps into your mouth and your tongue meets hers again.
You move your hand up, finding her breast you began kneading it over her shirt, Hermione moans directly into your mouth.
You were completely drunk on her.
Moving your other hand you attempted to slip into her pyjama pants before she grips your wrist, stopping you.
"Ginny might come in any minute." Hermione breathes out against your lips.
"Then let her come in."
You move your hand, your finger brushing over her folds. You were surprised at how wet she was.
"Fuck baby, you're already dripping for me."
Your own voice thick with arousal.
Hermione whimpers and you deliberately applied pressure on her clit with your palm.
You feel her hips buck against your hand. Hermione quickly grips the back of your neck almost like she needed help steadying herself.
She grabs your wrist again.
"Ah– y/n wait please."
You removed your hand from her pants, moving to lean your back against the wall. Hermione's darkened gaze mirroring yours. You both take a moment to collect yourselves.
"I just think it'd be distasteful for Ginny to walk in on us. I mean this is her room afterall." Hermione explains after a moment of silence.
"No, ofcourse that wouldn't be polite. You're right." You say blandly.
"Don't be angry.." Hermione noticed your tone, she pokes at your stomach playfully.
"I'm not angry."
Which was the truth, frustrated perhaps but it was hardly her fault.
You leaned in planting a kiss on her cheek to assure her that you weren't upset. Hermione smiles, seemingly convinced.
"What were you reading?" You ask, a blatant attempt to change the subject.
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The two of you now laying in bed, Hermione finally mustered the courage to look at your arm. Running her fingers across the dark mark freshly etched into your skin.
"Did they hurt you?" Hermione asks softly.
"No I-"
I killed an innocent woman.
"No."
Your girlfriend moves her hand, now resting on your chest over your heart.
A beat pasts before you speak.
"I'm still me, you know."
Hermione shuffles closer and you wrap your arm around her.
"I know."
"Are you sure it would be ok for me to come tomorrow? I wouldn't want to intrude." Hermione gives you a pointed look and suddenly you felt ridiculous for even asking.
"Ofcourse it's ok. Besides nobody knows yet. Just don't show anyone your arm and it'll be alright."
Hermione meant it as a comfort but something about her statement stung.
You were sick of keeping secrets.
You wanted to bring Hermione to a place far away, but you knew that wouldn't change anything.
There's no possible way to run from yourself.
"Where do you want to get married?" You blurt out and Hermione looks bemused.
"I mean– hypothetically speaking, if we had a wedding where do you want it to be?"
You clarify and Hermione lets out a chuckle.
"I dont know, I haven't really thought about it."
"My parents had their wedding in the yard behind my grandparents home."
You eyebrows knitted together and Hermione notices.
"They lived on a farm." She clarifies.
"Oh–"
"You want to get married on a farm?"
You ask and Hermione moves her head down, resting it on your chest.
You feel her shrug.
"I don't know, it could be nice."
Your hand finds her back, you rubbed it soothingly.
"I'm not opposed to that idea."
Hermione hums in response but says nothing else. You soon realised that she was drifting off.
Before you could close your own eyes Ginny enters the room.
She studies the two of you before scrunching up her nose.
"Oh- gross." She remarks and you were quick to shush her.
Grabbing the nearest pillow you chucked it at her, careful not to move too much in fear of waking Hermione.
She expertly catches the pillow before it could hit her and prepares to throw it back at you.
You hold your hand up.
"Don't, you'll wake her." You whisper and Ginny rolls her eyes, putting the pillow down.
"Fine. I'll get you back in the morning y/n, mark my words."
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"I'm sorry to intrude Mrs Weasley I do hope me being here isn't too much of a nuisance."
"Oh nonsense. You're always welcomed here." Molly says kindly, releasing you from her embrace.
"Come, do help yourself to a spot of breakfast. She says, practically forcing you to sit at the dining table.
Hermione joins you shortly, greeting you with a quick peck on the lips.
You hear someone clear their throat.
Both of you watched as Ron stabs his pancake with a fork roughly. Shovelling it in his mouth.
You couldn't lie, a part of you did find immense pleasure in knowing how jealous he gets.
"Alright, y/n?" Fred greets you before grabbing a piece of toast.
You only nod, throwing him a smile.
You watched as he joined his brother by the window, both of their attentions now fixed on something.
"Bloody hell, what's the Minister Of Magic doing here?" George says and Hermione turns to look at you, she seemed just as perplexed as you were.
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You were standing next to Hermione by the sofa. Ron and Harry sat next to her, waiting for the Minister to state his business.
He pulls out a piece of parchment and begins reading.
"Herein setforth, the last will and testament of Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore."
"First, to Ronald Bilius Weasley, I leave my deluminator. A device of my own making. In hopes that when things seem most dark, it will show him the light."
He hands him the item and Ron reaches out, unsure.
"Dumbledore left this for me?"
"That's brilliant– but what is it?"
The Minister gestures for him to click the button and Ron does so.
A flap opening on the top, the lights in the room quickly being sucked into the device.
Ron clicks it again and the lights return back to their original place.
"Wicked." He breathes out.
"Next, to Hermione Jean Granger, I leave my copy of The Tales Of Beedle The Bard, in hopes that she will find it entertaining and instructive."
You lean forward trying to get a good look at the book.
"To Harry James Potter, I leave the snitch he caught in his first quidditch match at Hogwarts. As a reminder, of perseverance and skill."
The minister holds out the golden ball and the 4 of you watched with bated breath as Harry grabs it.
You were expecting it to open at his touch but nothing happens.
"Dumbledore left you a second item Mr Potter."
"He left you the sword of Godric Gryffindor."
Hermione glances at you in shock before turning her attention back to Harry.
"But unfortunately the sword of Gryffindor was not Dumbledore's to give away. As an important historical artifact it belongs-"
"To Harry." Hermione interjects.
"It belongs to Harry. It came to him when he most needed it in the chambers of secrets."
The Minister merely shakes his head.
"The sword may present itself to any worthy Gryffindor Miss Granger but that does not make it that wizards property."
"And in any event, the current whereabouts of the sword are unknown."
The Minister says glancing at you. You step forward, uncrossing your arms.
"Excuse me?" Harry asks in disbelief.
"The sword is missing." He confirms.
A beat pasts where none of you say anything.
"Is that it then?" You broke the silence.
He stares at you for a moment before speaking.
"Not quite."
He turns his attention to the parchment again.
"Finally, to y/n, I leave a sacred piece of parchment. Strictly to be read by her eyes only."
You mouth falls open in shock.
The Minister holds out the note, waiting for you to grab it.
"For me?" You had to ask again. You truly couldn't believe it.
You looked at Hermione and she nods, urging you to take the note.
You grabbed it and wasted no time in skimming its contents.
Y/n,
We must all face the choice between what is right and what is easy. Believe in yourself enough to make the right choice. Only then you can be certain that you are exactly where you need to be.
- Dumbledore
As soon as you got to the end of the note the words on the page dissapeared and the piece of paper goes up in flames.
Although, that did not matter. You didn't have to read it again.
You understood immediately.
No longer fighting the smile that's threatening to form on your lips . Hermione notices your expression and mimicks it instinctively.
You were exactly where you needed to be.
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b10hzrd · 5 months ago
Text
The Tides of Fate- Chp 1
 It was a beautiful morning in the Kingdom of Azalea, the town was as busy as ever, the marketplace smelling like freshly baked goods and delectable food. Even so, the ever-so-elegant prince seemed unamused. It has been like this every morning since he was a child, Prince Corbin never enjoyed the laughing in the streets, the melodies that the bard would play; nothing could make him smile.
The busy crowd suddenly began to disperse into chaos, screaming, shouting, and cries could be heard across the kingdom.
“Your Highness! There seem to be pirates raiding the marketplace, His Majesty has sent me to advise you to stay in the palace until the issue is resolved!” the butler said out of breath, he seemed to have rushed to the prince's quarters. 
“Pirates?” Prince Corbin asked, lowering the poetry novel he was reading onto his lap. There had been 3 pirate attacks in the capital in the last 2 weeks, this couldn’t be a coincidence.
“Yes, but not to worry, this disturbance will be dealt with shortly Your Highness,” The butler bowed, waiting in case the prince may need something.
The prince went quiet for a moment, then nodded, “You may leave now,” the butler nodded and left. Prince Corbin continued reading, absorbing the poetry with each page he turned. The screaming from the capital had now calmed, looking out the window, the prince saw medics attending to wounded merchants and knights. 
“How can some measly pirates cause such a ruckus?”
Prince Corbin hates pirates, in his eyes, they are just destructive thieves with no sense of humanity, and now they have interrupted the only ounce of enjoyment in his life, his reading. He placed his book down and went to his closet, the prince grabbed the disguise he used to wear when he would sneak out to the commoner festivals, playing with his friend he had made, those were times when he almost felt some sort of joy, not enough to smile, but enough to feel like he had the capability of feeling happy. Throwing on the cloak from his past, Prince Corbin set off, making his way toward the gate.
“And where might you be heading off to, Your Highness?” The handmaid raised a brow; she had always been important to the prince. The king and queen had their duties to fulfill, not as parents, but as rulers of Azalea. Eventually, they assigned Ms. Angeline, a simple handmaiden, to watch over their only child.
Prince Corbin sighed in defeat, he had been caught, the stealth he once had seemed to have worn off as the years passed.
“Just to see the gardens, Ms. Angeline,” he removed his hood and faced her. The prince started to become nervous, sweat forming on his forehead.
“It’s almost nightfall, Your Highness,” when Ms. Angeline said those words, with that endearing, sympathetic expression, he knew she was on to his plan. All the times he would sneak out, she was always the one to find him, this time was no different.
“I am well aware of that.”
“Well, I suppose you should be on your way then, please do excuse me if I stood in your way, Your Highness,” She bowed.
“Thank you, Ms. Angeline,” Prince Corbin put his hood over his head and turned around, ready to continue his plan.
“Your Highness—”
The prince turned around, looking at Ms. Angeline who had a proud smile on her face.
 “I ask you to please be cautious, His Majesty may not be pleased hearing you have gone out past curfew,” she said softly.
“I will, I doubt my father will worry, but if he asks for me—”
“I am more than willing to take responsibility, Your Highness,” She walked up to the prince and placed a hand on his shoulder, “I wish for nothing but your happiness, and if this can help achieve that I am willing to face any consequences.”
“Now, you must make haste Your Highness,”
“I am forever grateful, Ms. Angeline,” with that, he ran off. 
Prince Corbin moved swiftly through the castle, each step echoing in the dimly lit corridors. When he arrived at the gate, he quickly came to realize how difficult it was going to be to execute his plan. The number of guards seemed to have increased due to the pirate attacks. With a deep breath, he walked up to the gate.
“Who goes there?!” The guard's deep voice echoed, raising his sword he faced the disguised prince. Prince Corbin was silent and continued walking.
“Answer me!! What is a filthy peasant doing inside the palace walls?”
The prince remained silent, walking slowly so as not to encourage a sudden attack. Although training with the knights was something his father forced him to do, he quite enjoyed it, all that training can be put to good use.
“You dare ignore a royal knight?! This is your final warning, answer me now, or in the name of King Griffin and the Kingdom of Azalea the royal guard will have you arrested for trespassing on palace grounds.” 
As the guard moved closer to examine the cloaked prince, other guards surrounded him. Prince Corbin grabbed a grip of the dagger that was hidden beneath his cloak, preparing for what may come of this standoff.
“Seize him!” the guard shouted, and with that, all the guards drew their swords.
Prince Corbin with a swift motion, deflected one of the guard’s swords with his dagger. His moves were swift and precise, disarming another guard with a twist of his wrist, and sending the sword clattering to the ground. Another guard rushed forward, swinging his sword towards Prince Corbin. The prince ducked and countered with a precise kick to the guard's midsection, sending him sprawling. Despite being disadvantaged, he fought with determination, evading strikes and delivering fatal blows. The courtyard echoed with sounds of clashing steel and shouting from the guards. Just then, a particularly aggressive guard lunged at him, their swords locking in a fierce struggle. At that moment, Prince Corbin's hood fell completely, revealing his face to the astonished guards.
“I-It's the prince! Lower your swords immediately!” one exclaimed, immediately lowering his weapon. The others followed suit and fell to one knee, bowing in shame.
 “Your Highness.” the initial guard stammered, stepping back. “We... we didn’t realize it was you, please, we beg for your mercy. We were just protecting the palace.”
 Breathing heavily, Prince Corbin lowered his dagger and adjusted his cloak. “Stand down,” he commanded, his voice steady. One of the senior guards stepped forward.
 “Your Highness, we have direct orders from the king. You are not to leave the palace grounds. It's for your safety.”
Prince Corbin's eyes narrowed. “I appreciate your loyalty to the king, but his orders mean nothing to me at the moment. Now, let me pass.”
“Your Highness, If the king was to know we let you pass, we would be held accountable. The king's orders are absolute.” The guards still held their position that was blocking the prince’s path. Prince Corbin sighed; he had no choice. With a sudden burst of speed, he darted towards the gate, surprising the guards. He ducked under one guard’s outstretched arm and knocked another aside. The guards, momentarily stunned by his audacity, scrambled to stop him, but he was already sprinting towards the gate.
The senior guard lunged at him, but the prince sidestepped, dodging the guard, who had now crashed into the brick wall. Grabbing onto the vines on the brick wall of the gates he started attempting to climb. The guards shouted after him, but he was already at the top of the gate, his heart pounding with fear and exhilaration. Once he jumped down, he knew there was no turning back. Trying to navigate the city was truly a humbling experience, the last time he snuck into the city was when he was 11, and things have most certainly changed. New buildings, landmarks, and paths have been built since then. It was now dark out, every little noise the city made, the wind whistling, the sound of Prince Corbin’s footsteps, it all made him feel on edge. He gripped his dagger, in case the night decided to attack.
After much wandering he made it to the docks, the smell of the salty sea entering his lungs. At this moment, the prince questioned why he came to the docks in the first place. Was it to find these pirates? That couldn’t be the reason, why would he ever care about some pathetic pirates? Was it to find…her? The reason no longer mattered, he was here now, and going back was out of the question. His plan was only to sneak out of the palace, whether he was successful on the stealthy part was questionable, but the issue is his plan only went that far. This whole operation was an act of impulse, not carefully strategized. As he approached the docks he scanned the area, searching for a place to be out of sight. In the distance, the sound of stomping and clattering steel heading his way startled him. 
“That took longer than I expected,” the prince muttered then darted towards a dark alley. 
Catching his breath, he slides his back down the wall he is leaning against, in which he collapses onto the ground. The fighting, the running, and the unsureness of this situation started to sink in. The prince was exhausted, he hugged his knees and put his head down, drifting to sleep.
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uzumaki-rebellion · 3 years ago
Text
“Black Boys Bloom Thorns First: Volume 3, Chp. 9″
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"Black Butterfly, sail across the waters Tell your sons and daughters what the struggle brings Black Butterfly, set the skies on fire Rise up even higher So the ageless winds of time can catch your wings"
Deniece Williams – "Black Butterfly"
Disa spotted Pamela in the middle of the floor.
The moment the beat hit her ears, Pamela threw her head back and tossed her ass in a circle letting Disa know it was good to go.
The beginning was always the difficult part of her sets when she was trying to create a montage of feelings through sound. There were peaks and valleys she had to hit in order to hold the audience hostage. She almost lost it halfway through Zana High Life when the host shouted out DJ Geechee Dan standing on the side of the stage. Disa had been trying to find him up in the VIP section and he was right there, less than twenty feet from her watching her cut up a live mix.
It was Erik that saved her from bumbling her set as she focused on him moving instead of Geechie Dan being so near her. He came out of nowhere and she had no idea he could dance so well. The boy showed out and Pamela tried to keep up. It brought a smile to her lips to see him grab her homegirl and dance Pamela around. No one had ever been able to hang with her, and Erik pushed the woman to go all out.
Disa reeled everyone back in when she let Erik's voice quote "Beloved" over the music. He matched the tone of the syncopated beats. It sounded romantic. Dreamy. She took a respite and let the mix play as she watched him dance. So fluid. Like water. She knew he practiced capoeira and decided to go off script and freestyle her set. Dragging down some berimabau sounds, she cued up a Brazilian jam and dropped it on top of her own drumming in time to the stringed instrument. It struck like a thunderbolt on Erik and it shocked her to see him backflip and hold his body in a handstand as his legs moved in slow motion before he crouched on the floor low and swayed to the ancient sounds.
The boy was bad.
Loose hips and expressive arm movement fooled everyone into thinking he was just jamming instead of showing off a martial art. Disa was in awe and almost missed her next transition cue because she was so mesmerized by him. How could that brainy, standoffish, and arrogant man-child turn into a snake-hipped God of the dance?
Pamela jumped back on him and Disa played with them both by skipping her planned closing and taking the two of them to the Black Queer spaces she roamed with Pamela and friends. Punching up the voice of the icon Selvin Mizrahi, aka MC Debra, Disa brought in ballroom beats.
"That shouldn't have been the question," echoed about the space and Pamela stopped dancing with Erik and pointed a finger at Disa.
"Don't play with me, bitch!" Pamela shouted before she dropped to the floor and duck walked like the diva she was. This attracted their other homegirl Tatum who dipped several times making Yamilet stand aside with weak knees. Pamela played with Tatum in a simulated ballroom battle over Erik's attention until Tatum pushed Pamela aside and twirled around the youngster capturing his attention. The audience roared when Erik dropped into his own duck walk challenging Tatum. Erik's friends howled and the entire venue lost it when he dipped three times in front of Tatum making her storm off in a pretend huff as he duck walked after her before spinning on his back and shoulders. He grabbed Tatum's hand and ground on her ass with the closing notes of Disa's set. Loud whistles and claps erupted, and she waved to the crowd before the lights switched over to the next DJ who looked frightened at the prospect of following up after her.
Tatum rushed over to her swiping back long strands of crimped and twisty hair.
"Girl, your lil man was out here giving what he was supposed to give! Is he…?"
"Erik? No, I don't believe so."
"He was putting that thang on me like he wanted a piece of the good, Sis. He grab on me again like that and I'll let him get a taste."
Tatum's dark brown eyes were glossy from drinking and she followed Disa as she carried her crate of vinyl to the green room.
"He's not the type to turn mean if he knows….y'now…" Tatum said.
"He's very open. I don't think he'd trip to know you're Trans."
"Good. Cuz he could get it from any of these women out here. Did you see him move? I know Pamela is butt hurt that she was not the center of the dance universe tonight."
Tatum watched her tuck her crate under a covered table and push them far back with her jacket on top of it with her computer bag.
"I liked how you closed out your set."
"People liked it, yeah?"
"Yeah, but I worry cuz you know how these niggas be wildin' if you bring in the Fam in hetero spaces. Everybody turns into homophobe and kills the vibe for everybody."
Disa's cell buzzed. She pulled it from her back pocket.
"Yamilet and them. She's out by the car now."
Disa dragged her crate back out and Tatum carried her computer bag for her. They headed outside to the parking lot. Yamilet was there with Pamela, and Essie. She opened her trunk and Disa dumped her stuff. The women gave her joyous hugs and high fives before they traipsed back in to catch the other DJs.
Erik ran up to her breathless.
"Hey! I thought you were leaving!"
Disa patted his arm.
"No, just putting my gear away. Erik, these are my friends…"
She introduced everyone, and Erik shook their hands. Tatum and Pamela gave him big hugs and Yamilet snapped her fingers at him.
"Geechie… Hey! Geechie Dan, hold up!" Erik shouted.
Disa's heart dropped in her belly. Erik shook her idol's hand and brought him over to Disa.
"This is Disa Abdullah-Woods, your biggest fan," Erik said.
"My dear, sweet, woman, you are a master class of gifts. That set was-"
Geechie Dan kissed his fingers to end his praise.
Disa held out a trembling hand to him.
"No, that's not gonna do, Buttafly. Bring it in," he said opening his arms wide.
Disa burst into tears.
"Hey, I'm nobody to cry over," he whispered.
Geechie Dan gave Disa a big hug, and she stood there like a blubbering baby. The years that she spent practicing what she would say to the man if she ever met him in person went straight out the window. She used to laugh at people who became overly emotional meeting celebrities, but now she totally understood the overwhelming feeling that surged through her.
She wiped her eyes and Erik rubbed her back with gentle circles.
"I've been a fan since I was a little kid," she stammered out.
"Erik here told me. I told him how much I enjoyed his dancing and he just went in about you."
A crowd surrounded Geechie Dan, but he ignored them, his twinkling eyes on her.
"It has been a long time since I've seen a DJ create a set with so much intention behind it. You have something special in you, young lady. Never lose that gift."
Disa's mouth seemed to lose all ability to work. All the things she wanted to say stalled in her throat. He was there in the flesh. Standing in front of her.
"Disa has a radio show you should go on," Erik suggested.
"Oh yeah? Give me your number. I'll call you up and we can chop it up."
Geechie Dan pulled out his cell and Disa gave him her number, her voice a soft shell of its usual assertive tone.
"When I get some free time, I'll hit you up. Excuse me, they want me back up on stage. Amazing set, Disa. Keep spinning!"
The man shook her hand with both of his and his entourage and promoters swept him away.
"She's still in shock," Yamilet said waving her hand in Disa's face.
Erik's bright smile attracted her attention. Had he not spoken to the man, Disa may very well have missed her opportunity to meet him, let alone remember to ask the man for a radio interview. Her mind floated with the surreal nature of the experience. Her cell buzzed.
Here's my number. I'll be in New York in a few weeks, would be open to an in-person radio interview.
Geechee Dan's personal cell number. She had it. In her palm.
Disa reached out and grabbed Erik's shoulders. She planted a big fat kiss on his lips.
"Damn, what was that for?" he said.
"Being here," she said.
He wiped his lips and smiled.
"Erik…"
Chloe slinked up and slipped her arm in Erik's, tugging him towards the dance floor. Disa watched him enter the thick crowd of swaying bodies to dance once more.
###
Her night was a dreamy success.
Disa stayed in a popular hotel with her friends, and they hung out in the bar. Erik strolled into the lobby with his friends. In a tipsy stupor, Disa walked over to him with a fresh drink in her hand. "Didn't know you were staying here too," she said.
He took the drink from her and sipped it down.
"Hey… you can't drink this here out in the open, you're underage!"
She snatched it away from his lips.
"Nah, it's after midnight… I'm twenty-one now," he said.
"Oh, shit. It's your birthday? Today?"
"Yep."
"Happy Birthday, Erik!"
She hugged him tight and gave him the glass of liquor.
"Enjoy," she said.
"What room are we in?" Jace asked.
Erik's dorm companion looked sleepy along with two other guys.
"301," Erik said handing Jace a key card.
Disa's friends called for her to return to the bar counter.
"Come celebrate with us," she said pointing to her group.
"I'm beat, to be honest. Thanks for asking me though."
"If you change your mind, we'll be down here."
"Good to know."
"Thanks for everything, Erik. Tonight was really special and meant a lot to me. Especially with you hooking me up with Geechie Dan."
"Glad to make your dream come true."
His eyes penetrated hers.
"Okay grown-ass man, go to bed," she said pushing on his arm playfully.
"You're drunk," he teased.
"A happy one at that," she said stumbling off to join her girls.
Three more drinks later, after a heated discussion with a group of men who hovered around them trying to interject their unwanted opinions about dating, Disa leaned over the bar counter and asked for a special birthday cocktail for Erik. She went to the lobby restroom, collected the drink afterward, and excused herself from her friends. She took the elevator to the third floor and found Erik's room. The fruity exotic drink had a lot of strong liquor in it. Knocking on the door, she waited for someone to answer. She could hear a tv on and talking going on inside.
Kelvin, a cute nerdy string bean answered the door.
"Is Erik up?" she asked.
Kelvin's eyes nearly popped out looking at her.
"You were so good," he yelped.
"Thank you… um… Erik?"
"He's not here."
"Not here? Did he go out?"
"No, he's in that room," Kelvin said pointing across the hall to room 302.
"Thanks," she said.
Kelvin closed the door and Disa did a one-eighty and rapped her knuckles on the new door. She toyed with the blue umbrella and pineapple garnish on his drink. Erik answered. Shirtless and wearing tight gray boxers.
"Hey," she said.
"Um… Hi. 'sup?"
"Birthday drink. A proper one."
She thrust it out to him and tried to brush past him, but he held an arm up in the door jamb blocking her. Her brain failed to register that he didn't want her inside, and she bumped against him, her breasts touching his chest.
"I can't come in?"
"I have someone here," he said.
Her eyes cut behind him. Chloe was draped in nothing but a sheet, the tops of her breasts threatening to spill over her arm that clutched the covers.
"Oh, snap. I'm sorry. I thought you were staying with the guys over there. Didn't realize you had your own room. Here, enjoy the drink," she said.
Erik took the bulbous glass, and his expression was full of embarrassment. He stepped into the hall and closed the door behind him. Disa stepped back from him and fumbled with her hands.
"Handle your business. It's time for me to get to bed myself… get some sleep. Have fun!"
She tried to sound jovial, but something in the back of her throat made her voice accusatory. As if she caught him doing something behind her back. For months she thought of Erik as her little pet. He was her loyal puppy, and she had to admit she enjoyed all the fawning he did over her. But he was also a young man with needs. She tried not to look at the package that was hanging in his underwear. The outline of it was showing off. God forbid if he was a grower too.
"Me and Chloe kinda got this thing going on now…"
"New girlfriend and good birthday sex is a blessing. Night Erik."
She turned to leave and pivoted back to him.
"Can I put on a birthday dinner for you and your family? I know you're planning on eating at Toulouse, but I would love to host your birthday party at my place."
"That's too much Disa. I have a lot of people coming in from all over."
"How many?"
"Fifteen—"
"Pfft, boy, you've been to my dinner parties, you know how I get down. Fifteen is nothing for me."
"The cost alone will be crazy—"
"Let me handle that. You deserve a special day. You made my night amazing, let me show my appreciation. What would you like to eat?"
Erik's eyes grew thoughtful, they dropped to look at his drink.
"I love your Confit de Canard,"
"Aw, I see. I finally got you to give in to duck meat."
"It's gonna be hella expensive."
"Don't worry about it. Let's say six sharp on Saturday, three courses and Turkish coffee with a birthday cake."
His eyes lit up.
"I'll let my people know."
"Tell them to dress up. I'll plan a splendid evening with games afterward."
Erik grabbed her hand and pulled her in close.
"Thank you," he said.
"Better get back to Chloe. Don't want her chewing my head off for keeping all of this out of the bed."
She smirked at him and wandered down the hall.
###
Chloe had a frown n her face when Erik walked back into the hotel room.
"What did she want?"
"Birthday gift," he said holding up the fancy drink.
He sipped it, and the liquor was too strong for his tastes. It would knock him out before he had a chance to smash Chloe. He put the glass on the nightstand and pulled off his boxers. His dick was already at half-mast.
"Why is your dick like that already?"
Chloe sat up, and the frown on her face deepened.
"Looking at you gets me excited," he countered.
Hopping into the bed, he pulled back the sheets and swiped her nipples with his tongue.
"You're attracted to her."
"Disa? That's my homegirl—"
"Everyone knows you have a crush on her. You turn into a puddle whenever she's around."
Chloe folded her arms over her breasts blocking his access.
"If your dick is getting hard for her, maybe you should get some birthday sex from her instead!"
"Chloe. Stop trippin'. I'm giving this dick to you."
He rubbed the hardening length against her thigh. She slapped it.
"Wanna play rough?" he said.
"Was your dick hard for that Trans chick too?"
"What?"
"Disa's friend. The one with the long fluffy hair. You didn't know?"
"No. She fine as fuck though."
"You'd fuck a Trans woman?"
There was disgust on her face.
Erik sat up. He'd been around Trans women and Trans men all his life, especially in Brazil. He had a Trans play uncle in Sao Paulo who used to babysit him and his play cousin Marisol.
"A woman is a woman. She got titties I can play with and a hole I can fuck, I don't see a problem—"
"Ohmigod! You really would fuck her."
"That ass was amazing."
"I can't believe you're serious!"
"Are you a queerphobe? Cuz if you are, that's not gonna work for me."
"No… I just… I can't picture you being like that."
"Like what?"
"Accepting. You're like a man's man—"
"A Transphobe? I wasn't raised like that. My mother would never let me treat people like shit who didn't deserve it."
Chloe stared down at her hands.
"I'm glad to hear that, actually."
"Yeah? Why?"
Her eyes welled up.
"My sister… she's transitioning… he's becoming my brother and I worry about him going up against guys like you."
"Guys like me?"
"Y'know overly masculine. He's coming to visit me in a few weeks and I wanted you to meet him since he's interested in capoeira."
Her eyes met his.
"I didn't mean to be accusatory about Disa's friend. She's beautiful. Prettier than me."
"You're the prettiest woman in this room right now."
She slapped his hand and smiled.
"But you do like Disa. Right?"
"She's my friend. I had a big crush on her when I first arrived on campus, but now… she's like a mentor… a big sister. We're close and she teaches all kinds of cool stuff. I probably do act all goofy when I'm around her—"
"It's cute… really. I just… let's forget about it."
He kissed her. With guilt. Disa meant more to him than just a big sister or a mentor. She was the ultimate woman. But she would never see him as a man.
Chloe wrapped her lips around his dick and rolled a condom on his shaft after she plumped him up to complete hardness. She presented her backside to him and he sank into her walls and pumped, enjoying her soft sighs and cries of passion. He took off the condom much later as she allowed him to fuck her raw in the ass and dump a hot load in her anal walls. She kept his mind off of Disa and those lush breasts that truly made his dick thicken and visibly tell Chloe the truth. Disa was his dream girl. Everyone could see it.
###
The large package arrived at Disa's house the day before Erik's birthday party. She called him on his phone to tell them that a big box with a D.C. return address and B. Dunduza written in black block letters was sitting in her living room.
He drove over to her house, and Disa watched him tear it open. There was a note on top of the bubble wrap.
"Kept these in storage for you. We wanted to wait until you turned twenty-one to have them. Cherish them as we cherish you."
Uncle Bakari and Auntie Shavonne both signed it.
Erik removed the layer of bubble wrap and his heart nearly stopped.
He fingered the old dark brown leather, and a breath shuddered out of him.
"Erik? You alright?" Disa asked.
She put a hand on his shoulder as he lifted the leather-bound journal from the box.
"These are my father's journals," he whispered.
Opening the first journal, he recognized the careful Wakandan script written by his father's powerful hand. They taped a small piece of bubble wrap on the page. Erik unraveled it and gasped before falling on his backside.
"What is it?" Disa asked, rising concern coloring her voice
Opening his fingers, Erik stared at the wondrous gift.
His Baba's ring. Attached to the chain his mother bought for him as an anniversary gift. The chain his father wore the night he was killed by King T'Chaka.
His family birthright.
Now his.
Chapter 10 HERE
###
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wishful-soda · 2 years ago
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Okay, hello. So I read the chapter once last night, died bc it was so good, went to bed to process my thoughts, woke up, read it again because it’s SO good, and then dug out my bluetooth keyboard so I didn’t have to type up all my thoughts on my phone screen. HERE WE GO (Chp 15 spoilers ahead):
#1: OH MY GOD. The chemistry between these two is insane. You have me BLUSHING as I read. At one point I had to put my phone down and do a lap around my living room because I was on fire 🔥🔥🔥 And obviously the scene in Horner’s office was chef’s kiss/flawless/hot/insane, but… BUT the alley scene?!?!?! The tension. The teasing. The trust. The honestly. The CASUAL INTIMACY/TOUCHING!?!? These two are so in love. Like Daniel might be part Australian, part Italian, part American, part whatever else he wants to say, but SotD Daniel is 100% simp and I LOVE it.
#2: I am, at my core, a Sharl Leclerc girlie. I will go to war for him. BUT because of YOU I am ANNOYED with him. I know he is trying to help and he’s so sweet, but if he does not stay in his lane, I will lose it. However, I have faith in him. Also, you write these characters so well! The little details you include? Immaculate. Like when Charles was talking about the cherries and just pauses like, “…they are a fruit right?” I could hear the exact way he would say that because it’s so on brand for him. Same with Max, Dan, etc. Your characterization is always on point.
#3: Charles calling Denial - oops typo, i meant Daniel - out in front of Max? Daniel not even caring about keeping appearances any more because he’s so jealous. Her forgetting she’s supposed to be cuddling Charles because she wants to touch Daniel so bad? I am begging them just to get their shit together, but I can’t even complain because it’s SO SO SO good.
Thank you for once again blessing us with this chapter. I have more thoughts but I’m getting too worked up as I go through everything again.
I do have a question: do you have a rough outline of the rest of the story/do you know how many chapters it’s going to have, or are you just kind of going with the flow? Everything has been so well built and I KNOW you have a few more twists and puzzles pieces to include, and I’m just so grateful to be along for the ride.
Anyway, happy race week, you’re a star, and I love you. Okay byeee!
-💖
Okay first; I love the fact that you had to go and pull out your bluetooth keyboard so you could type up your thoughts, seriously. I love you. 
#1. I cannot tell you what a compliment it is to hear that you had to set your phone down and do a lap because it means you were FEELING IT. And like what I want the most when I write. For the reader to feel the emotions and feelings. If it doesn’t make you feel then I’ve failed (in my mind) so it’s like you’re telling me I nailed it and I”m just 😭😭😭
#2. I’m cackling at you being a Sharl girl and being annoyed with him. “If he does not stay in his lane,  I will lose it.” GIRL YOU’RE KILLING ME 😂😂😂 Also I really appreciate that you notice the little moments of characterization because those are my favorite things to write and the things that I really adore!! I really love being able to hear a character say that in my head!  THANK YOU BBY
#3. DENIAL 😂 I’M - girl omfg. I can’t even tell you how much I love drink her naturally gravitating towards Dan and Charles trying to herd her back to him but it’s like herding a cat. She doesn’t even realize it either, goodness. 
No, thank YOU!! For reading, for all your thoughts, they make my day and are seriously like such a huge part of why I write. Hearing what you loved or how things made you feel is so incredibly exciting to me, so THANK YOU!!! 
Lastly; Yes I do have an outline! I made an initial outline before I ever started writing (and spent way too long on it LMAO) and I’ve been following that since. I think I’ve mentioned it on here before, but my initial outline was 10 chapters (JOKES ON ME). I’m still hitting the main points I wanted to hit, but now my outline is much more in depth, breaking it down chapter by chapter and then scene by scene. However; it’s also not rigid at all, it changes and shifts and things get moved or pushed or dropped to add something else. I use erasable pens for this reason 😂 If you ever want to see my mess of a notebook, just lmk 😘
HAPPY RACE WEEK, YOU ARE A SHINING ANGELBURST STAR AND I LOVE YOU.
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mudhorn-djarin19 · 4 years ago
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Mission: I Do - Chp. 3 (Agent Whiskey x f!reader)
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Summary: A new mission has come up and you are sent off on it with Agent Whiskey as your partner. However, you have to go undercover as his fiancee. What will this mission mean for you and your harboring crush on him? This chapter is the set up to the mission. This chapter is fairly long. Makes up for the shorter and kind of lacking content in the last chapter. Hope ya enjoy ;) Rating: Explicit Warnings: mutual pining, language, hangover mention, poisioning, fighting violence, bomb mention, protected sex, and fingering (let me know if I missed any) AO3 Link | Masterlist | Join my taglist via here! Chp 1 | Chp 2 | More chapters to come!
You awake the next morning to hear Jack talking. You roll over, cracking an eye open and see Jack sitting up on the edge of the bed, glasses on his face. You make out in your hungover state that he is going over the mission with who you assume is Champ.
“Yes sir. I will inform her. She’s asleep still but she’ll understand and be okay. I’ve got her. Thank you.” He says, hanging up the call and placing the glasses back down on the nightstand. He turns around and sees you looking at him through half open eyes.
“That was Champ. I’ll tell you what he said once you are awake more. You look pretty hungover and I figured you’d be so I already ordered us breakfast in. Make sure you take the meds I left on your nightstand  too for we have a big day ahead of us.” He says as he rubs a hand gently on your cheek. “You know for working at Statesman I figured you’d be able to hold your liquor better.” He teases, getting an eye roll out of you.
About half an hour passes and breakfast has finally arrived. You two sit at the table eating, your hungover state slowly going away. Thank god for the medicine, good warm food and water Jack provided to you.
“Okay so Champ got the information I sent over to him last night after you passed out. He said we’ve done good so far. Just need to use the poison he has given us to take the rest of them out. He said there shouldn’t be many more. Hopefully some of them will be at the club again tonight. Kind of hard to do at the convention. He did say that the restaurant we are to go to today for dinner has been found to be the local headquarters for the crew. We need to take anyone there out and prevent an explosion from happening since a lot of couples are going there for a special banquet meal today.” He says. “He wanted me to inform you that he knows you are new to being an agent on the field. You’re used to being behind the sense as a tech agent but, he knows you are strong with a gun and knife. So he knows you can fight. I’ll be there right beside you though to help if any trouble arises.”
You nod. You’ve only been an agent for about a year and have yet had to do any actually fighting thankfully but you trained a lot. Having an experienced agent like Jack though by your side helped you feel a lot more calm about the situation.
You two finished up eating breakfast and going over the plan for the day. By the time all of that was over you were feeling a lot better and your hangover had passed. Jack was in the shower while you stayed in the room to get dressed. Since you were just going to be attending the convention and restaurant for the day until later this evening you decided to stick with another casual look. A simple t-shirt, skirt and some boots to match with Jack’s. You were all set and ready to go aside from makeup and hair which you needed the bathroom for. You were about to knock on the bathroom door when it swung open and Jack stood there in front of you. He was shirtless but had a towel wrapped around his waist.
“Uh sorry.” He says scooting aside to let you into the bathroom. “Forgot my clothes out here.”
“I- it’s okay.” You say trying to avert your eyes. “I need the bathroom anyways for my hair and makeup. We can trade.”
God why does he have to look so good shirtless. You saw him that way at night and during missions when requiring medical attention but, seeing him now glistening from the water of his shower and wearing nothing but a towel had your heart doing back flips and your core warming. You quickly rushed into the bathroom to avoid making yourself feel anymore flustered, shutting the door behind you so he can have some privacy.
You two had made it through the convention again but found no sign of anyone new, hoping to find someone at either the restaurant or club this evening.
You made your way into the restaurant which was supposed to be the headquarters of the crew you were to take down. You stayed close to Jack, a bit worried about having to fight for the first time, and not knowing when it may happen. The host seats you at your table and presents you your menus to get started for the banquet. Jack looked over his menu while you listened to the lady talk about wedding planning and looked around the venue for anyone.
You tap Jack’s hand once the host leaves. “Over there.” Nodding your head in the direction of a crewmate going into the kitchen.
He nods, standing and follows your lead. You both sneak into the kitchen, and see 10 crewmates standing around, all have either a knife or gun on them.
“Oh sorry… thought this was the bathroom.” Jack laughs. “Just kidding.”
And on that last statement he pulls his whip out of his belt knocking two out immediately with impact. You draw your gun out shooting down and chucking your knife into another chest. Thank god your guns have silencers on them so no one out in the banquet room can hear the battle going down. You turn to shoot the other two Jack had knocked out with the whip for good measures. Okay 4 down 6 to go. You go to pull your knife from one's body when a crewmate starts to sneak up on you. Jack soon snatches his lasso out, sending the electricity flying through it and cutting the guy in half. You nod to Jack as a thank you, grabbing your knife and sinking it into another crewmate's chest. 6 down 4 to go. Jack in the meantime had already knocked 2 of the 4 left to go out with his whip. You quickly toss your gun to him for him to take them out fully while fighting one who had grabbed onto your back off. The final one comes running towards your front but you quickly take him out by sinking your knife in one final time for the fight. You struggle to get the guy on your back off but he quickly releases you after Jack shoots him down. You look down at all the bodies and sigh. You didn’t do bad for your first time really fighting. Jack took down the majority but you did take down a few and you were proud of your work. Now for the hard part. To find the device and quickly deactivate it. You two look around the kitchen until Jack finally exclaims he found a bag. You rush over and look into it and sure enough, there it is.
“This is too high tech for me. That’s your department.” He nods.
You look over the device and notice a lot of wires, you ask Jack for a knife and he gladly hands you over his pocket knife. You start cutting at wires, pushing some buttons as the time ticks down slowly. You still have a good amount of time left but, any wrong move and it could go off any moment now. After a bit of a fuss with it the timer finally disappears.
“Done!” You say, wiping your forehead and handing Jack his pocket knife back.
“How you techies figure this shit out I will never know.” He chuckles. “Well, objective one done. Champ says there is a chance of another this weekend so we have to keep our eye out. He’ll send us more information as he finds out. But we still need to find and see if we can take out the boss. Chances are we can catch him at the club tonight. If not him at least more of his damn goonies.”
You nod. “I’ll meet you back at the table. Going to clean up before going back out there.”
Jack nods in response and heads back out to the banquet room, acting as if nothing just happened. You return soon after, from fixing your hair and cleaning up any wounds.
You two were sat at a large table with some other couples, you make conversation with some and find out that a few of them surprisingly were crewmates, dropping some of the poison provided you slipped it to them when they weren’t looking and took note of who they said would be at the club tonight aside from them. You eye Jack to make sure he heard so you two can be sure to attend tonight after finishing up the dinner. Once you see the poison take it's work on the crewmates you and Jack inform those who were attendees just like you of the danger and help guide them out to safety.
Once again you are back at the club hoping to catch the boss or anymore of his crewmates. Jack once again finds himself a comfortable spot at a table while you go mingle around the dance floor to see if you can find anyone. You didn’t have as much luck tonight finding anyone like last night but, you glance over at Jack to see he has managed to grab the attention of the two men who are now sitting at the table with him. You give him some time to pick their brains before heading back over. You don’t want to disturb them and scare them off before he can get any information, assuming they are crewmates. Once you see it’s clear and he is left alone again you make your way back over to him. But as you are making your way back over you are nearly stopped in your tracks with anger.
Jack sits at the table you left him at, back turned towards you and you see a random girl walk over to him and plop herself right down onto his lap. You stay a far enough distance to watch and listen but close enough to step in soon if need be.
“Hey cowboy.” The girl winks at Jack as she wraps her arms around his neck, removing his hat to place it on her own head. “You look pretty lonely here. Need some company?” She asks and she wiggles in his lap.
You figure by now as much of a flirt Jack is he’s giving into her, not gonna let her go and will probably find some way to have some fun with her. Ruining a big part of the damn cover for the mission. But next thing you know Jack is unhooking her arms from around his neck, grabbing her by the waist to lift her off up him and set her down on the table in front of him.
“Don’t think my fiancee would much appreciate that now girl.” He says sternly. “Now go on. Get.”
“Pfft. What fiancee? I see no one around.” She snaps back irritatedly.
You then approach and set the drink you had ordered next to her, plopping your ass right down on Jack’s lap sideways, grinding down a little bit to where he audibly groans for not only you to hear but the girl as well.
“This fiancee.” You say, grabbing his hat back off her head, placing it on your own and flashing the fake ring at her. You then plant a kiss on Jack’s jawline, working your way over to his lips, capturing his between yours. You two kiss each other for a few seconds before you turn your head back to the girl still sitting there. “You heard him. Go on. Get.” You say repeating Jack’s words.
She huffs and leaves in irritation. You smirk at your work, damn proud you not only scared some random chick off from touching your “man” but also getting a little bit of a rile out of Jack when you sat on his lap. You turn back to Jack’s face who also wears a smirk.
“Well well… Look at you takin’ charge.” He chuckles, taking his hat back from your head.
You smile as a blush crosses over your face, his hand cupping your cheek and bringing your lips back to his once again. You two continue to kiss for a few minutes when Jack chuckles again. You pull away from the kiss to see he has his phone out, camera open and facing you both.
“Jack!” You blush
“What? I promise I was trying to get the crewmates I had spoken to in the shot there in the back.” He says zooming in, them obviously not being in the frame much at all due to you two taking up most of the photo. “Think we should send this one off to Champ?” He winks.
You blush and roll your eyes at his comment.
“Say… why don’t we get out of here?” He nudges you.
“But what about…?” You start to question.
“I got any information I need from the guys. Seems they are the only ones here tonight and they’ve been dropped the poison like the last few. Their boss isn't here. We’ll have to catch him at the event or his business. We don’t need to be here anymore tonight.” He states.
The walk from the club back to the hotel was short but quiet. You two didn’t say much but he noticed you shiver from the slight chill the night gave you so he had draped his jacket over your shoulders and kept his pace in line with yours, keeping a hand on the small of your back.
You arrive back to your room shortly after and as soon as you are in and shut the door, Jack grabs your torso and pulls your back against him.
“That was some good actin’ you put on back there with that little bit of jealousy and showin’ off to scare that girl. And why’d you have to go and get a rile out of me? Hm?” He whispers into your ear.
“I…um . Acting yea...” You say nervously.
Jack raises an eyebrow even though you can’t see it.
“Are you tellin’ me that wasn’t actin’ back there?” He asks
You’re too scared to speak so you just shake your head responding that no it wasn’t acting. Jack moves his hands to your hips, gripping you a bit tighter. He brushes his nose against your ear, mustache tickling your neck.
“So you mean to tell me you were actually jealous and trying to get a bit of a rile out me darlin’? He whispers into your ear.
You gulp and nod, still staying silent from nerves. You hear Jack chuckle softly before placing a kiss to your neck.
“So when were you going to tell me this? Or were you just going to keep it hidden forever?” He asks.
“Hidden…” You finally manage to say.
“Now, that’s no fun. Why would you do that?”
“I… I don’t know. I guess… I’m scared. You’re such a big shot at work. Figured you’d never be into someone as new and low level or not as much of a big shot…” You say.
Jack laughs and it takes you by surprise. He turns you around to face him. “Darlin’ you make me laugh. I’ve had my sights set on you since day one. I’ve never seen such a damn beauty until you walked through the doors at HQ on your first day. Seeing you filled the empty hole in my heart.”
You lightly smile at him and then ask. “So if you like me back why didn’t you also say something?”
“Well, same as you. Scared I guess. When you joined 2 years ago I didn’t know if you had someone. And then at the office you always seem to be annoyed by me so I had the impression you hated my guts.” He replies.
“I don’t hate you. That was just putting up a hard front to hide my true feelings. Which is that I really like you. And maybe a bit of jealousy irritation...” You blush as you say.
Jack pushes your hair behind your ear and cups your check. “Well then, I guess since we both feel the same you won’t mind if I do this.”
As he says that he crashes his lips onto yours, running his tongue along your bottom lip and dipping it into your mouth when you slightly open it. Your tongue finds his bottom lip, running over the edge before dipping it into his mouth in return. Your hands slide up into his hair, grabbing his hat and tossing it onto the nearby chair. You comb your fingers through his hair, getting a soft groan from him into your mouth. He cups the back of your neck with one hand, the other laying against the small of your back, pushing you further into him. Jack steps towards you causing you two to walk backwards until the back of your knees are hitting the edge of the bed. You topple backwards onto the bed, Jack following with but careful not to crush you. His one hand slides down from your hip to your thigh, bringing your leg to wrap around his waist. Your hands slide down from his neck to his chest, working at the buttons on his shirt when he suddenly pulls away a bit.
“Wait, darlin’ I don’t want to do anything too far unless you really want to. I mean… I’d love to. However, I don’t want to push you.” He says
“Oh shut up Jack.” You smile as you bring his lips back to yours, letting him take the hint that you want this.
He smiles back into the kiss, his hands find the zipper of your dress and starts to undo it, while you finish undoing the buttons on his shirt. You push the shirt back from his shoulders, he releases you long enough to shimmy it the rest of the way off his arms before coming back to you, pulling the straps of your dress off your upper body. His hand snakes up and squeezes one of your breasts.
“Mhm, no bra?” He sighs into your mouth.
“Can’t with this dress. It’d show because the thin straps and low cut back.” You sigh back.
“I like it.” He says as he rubs his thumb over your nipple, sending a shiver down your spine.
You lift your hips as he shimmies the rest of it off of you, discarding it at your feet. Thank god you wore slip on heels, making them easy to kick off. Jack stands and works at removing his belt, pants and boots while you crawl further back onto the bed. He crawls back onto the bed, left now in nothing but his underwear much like you and crawls over top of you. Kissing up your torso, neck and eventually lips. His one hand holds your hip while the other finds your breasts again. You snake your hand down between your bodies and cup him, feeling his rather large erection against your palm. He groans at your touch and grinds down into your hand.
“Don’t tease me darlin’” He speaks into your ear.
You smirk and grab him a bit more firm this time, getting him to grind into your hand again.
“So we’re gonna play this game huh?” He chuckles.
He pulls away from you, sits straddling your knees before he rubs a finger ever so gently at your heat, causing you to squirm.
“Damn, wet for me already?” He asks.
You have no words to say but buck you hips up at him, asking for his touch once more. He hooks his fingers into your panties and slowly works at pulling them down, leaving you fully bare before him. He whistles in response.
“Darlin’, I knew you were gorgeous before but… damn.” He says.
He leans down and presses a kiss to the inside of your thigh as he slowly sneaks a finger into your folds. You buck your hips in reply, craving more of him inside you.
“Jack, please.” You whine.
He doesn’t answer but instead sinks another finger into your folds. Filling you up even more now. He works his fingers in and out of you slowly, he brings his thumb in and starts rubbing at your clit, getting all your senses working.
“Oh god… Jack stop. If you keep going for much longer I might…” You cut yourself off with a moan
“Precisely darlin’. Just let go, it’s okay.” He smirks, picking up his pace.
He adds a third finger and continues at the faster pace for a while until you start to twitch under him. He slows as he feels you tighten and come undone around his fingers, coaxing you down from your high. He pulls his fingers out from you and licks your juices off of them.
“Sweet as a damn peach.” He says.
“Jack please.” You say, pulling at the waist line of his boxers, trying to bring him closer to you. “I want you.”
“Are you absolutely sure?” He asks, leaning down to kiss you.
“Yes. I’ve never been more sure in my life. Now please stop asking.” You chuckle into the kiss.
He leans back up and slides his boxers off, his erection springing forth. You figured he was packing but damn, you never knew he’d be packing this much. He moves and lays down next to you, leaving you looking at him confused. He then pats his thighs telling you to come and straddle him. You do as you are told. Sitting on his thighs, your folds just mere inches from his erection, aching for contact.
“Ah shit, darlin’ do me a favor and hand me my wallet? In the back pocket of my jeans.” He says.
You crawl off his lap, hopping off of the bed and grab his jeans, pulling out his wallet and returning to your spot with it in hand. He opens it and pulls out a square shiny wrapped package. He brings it up to his mouth and rips it open with his teeth, chucking the packaging and wallet to the floor. You scoot back a bit to give him some room and he pulls the condom down his length.
“Alright.” He states.
You sit back up on his thighs and smirk, running your hands up his torso.
“Are you ready?” He asks, grabbing your hips.
You nod and slide forward, straddling over him. He lines himself up with you and slowly helps you lower yourself down onto him. He takes his time pushing into you, allowing you to adjust to his length and girth. Both of you filling the room with your groans and sighs. Once he bottoms out inside of you, you two sit there for a moment, taking in one another and adjusting to the sensations. After a few moments he grabs your hips and helps by lifting you up from himself, but not fully before you are pulling yourself back down onto his length. With every thrust back down onto him it sends a wave of sensations through you as he hits that spot deep inside of you. You start at a slow pace, slowly working up to a faster pace. You feel another high rising inside of you.
“Fuck… Jack… I'm going to…” You groan through each thrust.
He glides a finger down between you two and works at your clit, rubbing fast circles. His other free hand moving to squeeze at your breasts.
“Go on darlin’, come undone around me.” He says, continuing his pace.
You start to twitch and soon you're body tenses as you come undone for Jacks twice in one night. Letting your juices soak him. As you come down from your high Jack slows his pace and then groans as he senses he is close to his high as well.
“Shit.” He curses. “I’m close…darlin’”
You continue to ride him for a bit when you feel his muscles tense up. He holds you still on him as he comes undone, groaning with every strain that releases. His grip on you loosens as he comes down from his high, you stretch your arms and hands out across his chest, leaning up to give him a kiss. He rolls you both over onto your sides, pulling out of you. You whine at the loss of contact.
“I’ll be right back, hold tight.” He says, pressing a kiss to your forehead before jumping up to go to the bathroom to throw away the now used condom and grab a washcloth.
He returns after a minute with the washcloth which is warm, pulling your thighs apart as he cleans any leftover mess up, same for himself. He chucks the washcloth to the floor and crawls back in bed beside you, laying on his back. You crawl over next to him, laying your head on his chest and entangling your legs with his.
“That was… really nice.” He says, stroking your hair.
“Mhmm.” You smile as you trace a finger on his chest.
Jack chuckles and kisses your head. You two lay in silence for a bit, enjoying the comfort of being close to one another.
“Jack?” You ask, looking up at him a bit. “What does this mean for us?”
“What do you mean?” He says, rubbing your shoulder.
“Well… I mean what are we? What are we going to do? We confessed to each other we’ve got feelings for each other and now we’ve screwed…” You say.
Jack chuckles and pulls you closer to him in a slight squeezing hug.
“Are we…? I mean… I don’t want to assume or if you don’t want to…” You say worriedly
Jack chuckles again and pulls your lips up to his, then speaks against your lips. “Well, I’d say we both know the answer to what you’re asking now. Hm?” He presses a kiss to your lips. “Yes. We are.”
You smile and kiss him back, snuggling into his chest farther. You two stay cuddled together enjoying the silence and each other's presence when Jack’s phone buzzes with a text message. He groans and reaches over to grab it, seeing it’s Ginger who wants to have a quick meeting.
“Shit. Ginger’s wanting to meet… must want to go over today’s report.” He says, grabbing his glasses and yours.
“Shit.” You respond, noticing how you are both still naked and cozied up to one another. “Uhh… hold on lemme just…” You say as you adjust your position a bit so the covers are covering you up to your chin, no skin showing and lay your head on Jack’s shoulder instead now.
Jack finger combs his hair a bit to make sure it’s not out of place, same for yours before you both slide your glasses on and press the button to activate the hologram call.
“Good evening…?” Ginger says slowly and questionably.
“Hey Ging, what’s up?” You respond quickly.
“Uh… well I was calling to go over your reports from today.” She says, pushing her confusion back. She’d question you later you know.
“We found more of the crewmates, took down a large chunk of em tonight at the restaurant. That’s definitely their local headquarters but I don’t think it’s the main one. I do believe the venue we got information on from the main boss is it. We’ll head over to view it in person in person this weekend, I’ll call tomorrow to book it. See what we can do. Seems anyone who uses a company one of his crewmates work for or anyone who uses his venue is those being targeted.” Jack says filling Ginger in.
“Mhm. We found the main boss at a venue booth, and a crewmate at a dress booth. No others yet at booths but there’s got to be some. We will look some more. However like Jack, I mean Whiskey said we found some others and took them out between the club and restaurant.” You add in.
Ginger raises an eyebrow at you calling Whiskey by his first name. You guys at Statesman rarely call each other by your actual first names.
“Sounds good. Keep your eyes peeled. There’s still a few out there I know and of course the main boss. Good work so far guys. Make sure to send me any pictures and information you have over whenever you can.” She smiles.
You nod and jump a little when Jack teasingly squeezes your butt under the covers to see if you reacted and Ginger noticed. And of course she did. She’s not only a smart woman who always has an eye out but your best friend.
You clear your throat. “Of course Ginger. We will do so in the morning. I’m going to go back to sleep now.” Using that as your cover to why acting so strange.
“Alright… um. Have a good night guys. Talk to you later.” She says, ending the call.
You sigh and push the covers back from your chin some, no longer having to hide. That was a close one you start to think when your phone dings. You roll off Jack’s shoulder to your side of the bed, toss your glasses down and grab your phone to see a text from no one other than… Ginger.
*Girl, I know you too well enough to know you two were definitely acting suspicious…* Her text says.
“Everything alright?” Jack asks, rolling over to his side to face you.
You crawl back over and lay on your back next to him, reading over Ginger’s message.
“Yea, just Ginger being suspicious. As one of my best friends she knows me too well to know something is up. But I’m not telling her right away, let’s see how long it takes her.” You chuckle
*What are you talking about?* You reply back
*Girl, you were all cozied up to Whiskey and acting strange. Don't think I didn’t notice… want to tell me something? ;)* She replies back. She had known about your crush on Whiskey for a while so she of course had to be the first to know if anything happened and would pretty much read you like a book.
*I just rolled over to join the call, We only have one bed here. I’m not sure what you’re talking about.* Your message says.
*Stop messin’ with me girl and fess up lol* She snarks back.
You look at Jack, for confirmation that you telling her is okay. He smirks and shrugs his shoulders in a I don’t care way.
*What if… I told you something did happen?* You hit send on the message.
*Tell me now and stop playing!* Ginger’s response read
“Send her this.” Jack smirks forwarding you the photo from the club earlier of you two kissing.
You forward the message to her with no context and immediately get a response.
*Was this for a part of the mission or for real?!* her message questions.
*Have fun figuring it out. I’ll let you know in the morning. I want to go back to be snuggled now ;)* You hit send and put your phone back on the nightstand.
You roll back over to face Jack, both chuckling at the interaction and snuggle up in his arms before dozing off for the night.
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 @sarahjkl82-blog @ickleronniekinsemotionalrange @blackberries45 @hailmary-yramliah @prideandpascal @parkjammys​
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court-of-abs · 4 years ago
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Update on “Maybe Tomorrow” [Final Chapter; Chapter 17]
Hello, hello my ducklings. 
It’s been nearly two years since I’ve last been on Tumblr and well over that time since I’ve written anything for my Elorcan fanfic “Maybe Tomorrow.” I actually just finished up reading a Court of Silver Flames and I remembered this page existed. 
As you all might’ve guessed, I never did finish writing that last chapter, or the epilogue, even. And while I no longer intend to finish writing that last chapter now, I decided it would be fun to post what I had written so far as well as a bulleted list for the ideas I had for the epilogue. Please keep in mind two things: this was written over two years ago and I’m not letting myself attempt to edit it (although I did read through it quickly) and there is a potential trigger warning: this chapter covers themes of mental health, therapy, and topics related to it. I’ll also be adding this warning to the previous chapter, as I feel in hindsight I most definitely should’ve included it.
This community and these books were my everything in 2017-2018. I was going through a pretty tough time then, and I am so so happy to say I’m doing much better now despite everything going on in the world. I still keep up with each series to this day (I even cried the BIG tears when I finished Kingdom of Ash) and it will ALWAYS hold a special place in my heart. 
Enjoy!! Let me know what you guys think <3 I miss and love you all, and I hope you’re doing well.
~
Naitivity. To herself, to her problems, to the pain flowing through her veins every step she took. That was why Saturday night had affected her so much.
In the almost nine years since their death, Elide had never acknowledged what had happened. She’d never grieved, barely faltered- she got away with it by not thinking about it, not talking about it. By not accepting the cards the fate had handed her, by turning a blind eye, it became so much easier to pretend it didn’t happen. It became so much easier to pretend she hadn’t changed.
Elide knew now that she wasn’t being strong for it. She was just being naive.
Elide wrapped her arms around herself and leaned forward to rest her head on the steering wheel of her car. She breathed, deeply, taking in the muffled sounds of students walking towards the front of the school- their voices, their laughter.
She smiled, then, thinking about what today was.
Then she frowned, thinking about what today was. The elections and then…
Another breath. In and out, just like the therapist had told her. Elide reached for her school books and swung open the door of her car, stepping out into the heat. She just needed to focus on today, just today.
And then, with the support of her friends, those that cared about her, she’d focus on the next. And the next, and the next…
Elide made it all of three steps away from her car when she ran into Aelin, Lysandra, and Manon standing by the rear of her car, their arms crossed and faces tight.
Elide swallowed and reached for the words she’d been saying over and over in her head for the last 24 hours. They were on the tip of her tongue-
“Manon!” Lysandra’s shout was cut off by Manon barrelling into Elide, pulling her into one of the most suffocating bear hugs she’d ever received. It was exactly what she needed.
“You scared the ever-living daylights out of us” she said into Elide’s hair.
Elide leaned her head on Manon’s shoulder. “I know. I’m sorry.”
Manon shook her head, and Elide watched as Lysandra and Aelin took a few steps forward, readying to pull Manon away should Elide need them to.
“There’s no need to be sorry, but Jesus, Elide, you just… disappeared after Saturday night. No one could get in touch with you all of Sunday, not even Lorcan.” Elide froze at his name. She mumbled another “sorry” into Manon’s shoulder and gripped her harder so that she wouldn’t notice.
“All right, all right” Lysandra said as she gently pried Manon’s arms off of Elide. “Don’t smother her.”
Elide smiled at her. “It’s alright-” and then Lysandra was gripping her in another extremely tight bear hug.
“Hey!” Manon shouted, scowling at Lysandra.
“You had plenty of time with her, it’s my turn now.”
“I got less than a minute-”
“Ladies” Aelin said, stepping between them. “This is about Elide right now, not you.” Aelin stepped towards Lysandra and Lysandra took a step away. 
“Don’t even try, Aelin. You’ll get your turn in a minute.” Elide giggled as Aelin sighed and took a step back.
Lysandra smoothed down the hair on top of her head and said, “Do you want to tell us what happened- after Saturday, I mean. It’s okay if you’re not ready.”
Elide smiled up at her, at all of them, and took a small step forward- Lysandra reluctantly loosened her grip.
“It’s true,” Elide swallowed, “what Maeve said about my parents. That’s all true.” She wrapped her arms around herself, tighter, remembering what Dr. Ren had told her.
“I’ve spent the last nine or so years of my life… in denial. My parents, when they died, they were all I had. I was horrible at making friends, and when Vernon became my guardian, well, you might imagine why he didn’t exactly give me someone to talk to. The SDD tried to get me to talk, to acknowledge what had happened. They worked tirelessly to try and convince my uncle that I needed therapy but my uncle doesn’t really believe in mental illness, of any sort, and I… it was just too much for me,” Elide tried to meet all of their eyes as she talked but the bareness of the moment forced her eyes down to the pavement, “I didn’t talk for almost an entire year after they died. I had no outlet for the pain,” her voice cracked on the word, “the utter pain I was going through. Eventually I learned it was easier to shove it all down. Everyone said that since I was young I would quickly get past it and I took that as meaning that I had to quickly get past it. And so I did everything you’re not supposed to do when trying to grieve about the death of your loved ones.” 
Elide gestured a hand to all of them, “I pushed people away... and I let the mention of the most amazing parents in the world become a trigger for my concealed anxiety and grief. And after Saturday, I couldn’t push it all back down after Saturday. And so nine years of pent up… everything came tumbling out.”
None of them spoke for a moment.
Then: “You talked to one hell of a therapist yesterday, didn’t you,” Manon said. 
Elide let out a nervous chuckle. “Yeah, he set me straight.” Elide said, tracing the lines on one of her textbooks.
“So you’re okay?” Lysandra asked, wrapping her arms tentatively around Elide.
“No” Elide said, “I’m actually far from it. But …” Elide cleared her throat and hastily brushed away a fallen tear. “That’s okay. I know that.” 
“Good” Aelin said. She reached for Elide, then, waving off a pissed Lysandra. “We’re going to be right here while you get through all of it, Elide. Absolutely all of it.”
“Thank you” Elide said, gladly accepting her third bear hug of the day. “And I’m sorry about how I reacted on Saturday, it must have been so scary for all of you. I’m really, truly sorry-”
“Don’t apologize” Aelin said, smoothing down her hair. “You don’t need to. What Maeve did was the definition of malicious, and you didn’t hear it but everyone booed her off stage after Lorcan rushed you out of the room.”
“I’m surprised they didn’t disqualify her from the race after that,” Lysandra said, and then she grimaced. “Gods I can still remember the look on her face-”
“Lysandra” Manon warned, “we all know she’s a bitch, but we don’t need to debate how much of one she is right at this second.”
Lysandra looked down at her feet and mumbled, “Sorry.” 
“It’s okay, really” Elide said. “I don’t mind talking about how much of a bitch she is at all.”
“Oh thank the gods” Lysandra sighed, rushing over to Elide and grasping her hand. “Let’s all go sit down somewhere and discuss this. It’s going to be a lengthy conversation- there is so much bitchy-ness about her that you don’t even know about it.”
“Are we really doing this?” Manon said, raising a single brow. “Doesn’t that make us a bit petty?” A snort from Lysandra.
They all turned to Aelin, but Aelin just shrugged. “What Elide says, goes.”
Manon’s jaw twitched and then she threw up her hands. “What the hell.”
Elide giggled as the four of them linked arms and walked towards the school together. Manon had been right- she had talked to one hell of a shrink yesterday. But she hadn’t just helped her sift through the memories, figure out how to deal with the pain.
Lysandra cackled at something Manon said, and Aelin smiled back at them, unrestrained.
No, she’d also helped her realize how amazing her friends were. And that was best part of all.
~  
If he couldn’t find her before the end of the day- he didn’t know what he was going to do. He just had to talk to her. He just had to know if she was alright.
His feet pounded into the concrete of the school parking lot... (I’m sorry I stopped typing here)
Here’s how I originally outlined the chapter (you can see some changes for when I actually sat down and wrote it):
Chp 17 Summary
Monday morning- day of election results. Elide is a mess. She hasn’t talked to anyone since Saturday night: this includes Lorcan. At school she’s confronted by friends and they’re all worried about her. They make up- Elide opens up to them about it. Lorcan clears things up with Rowan in the parking lot, they walk towards the school together. Then Lorcan comes over and asks to speak with Elide alone- they talk, and Lorcan gives her a new backpack (green like the carpet in the library). Asks if she could take care of Hellas for him- she says yes. They walk into the school hand in hand, knowing what they are and what they could be would have to wait for now.
Chapter Specifics
Outside of School
Elide sitting in her car again, contemplating the weekend. Reflective of first chapter- when she’s sitting there, not sure how things are going to go. 
Walks towards the school in a daze. Aelin & Co waiting for her a few feet from the school. Everyone is tentative but then Manon comes running over and gives Elide a hug. It’s just what she needs.
Elide says she’s sorry and opens up to them about her thought. They all just tell her it’s not her fault for any of it and they’re sorry that happened to her.
Lorcan & Rowan Meeting
Lorcan walking towards Elide when Rowan steps in front of him. The two tersely talk 
Flashback scene of sorts about what Rowan did for him the night before (Cain trying to goad Lorcan into a fight of sorts and Rowan stepping in)
at the end of it the two shake hands and are on good terms again.
Lorcan walks over to Elide and asks to speak with her alone. Bell rings for class to start but Lorcan leads them down a trail to talk.
He’s awkward until Elide leans up and kisses him. She tells him thank you
He gives her the backpack. Elide opens it up to find a copy of A Court of Wings and Ruin, and the picture of her parents protruding from it. 
Lorcan says he wishes he could have made her happy like that. Elide says he did. In the short time they had, he did.
Lorcan asks her to take care of Hellas. She says of course.
Elide leans up and kisses him again and says that she’ll always care about him. And maybe in the future they’ll be something (make sure you don’t rush this!!)
Lorcan starts stuttering and Elide shakes her head. She explains that as much as she cares about him, she knows how much the long distance thing will wear down on them- and that he needs to be his own person when he comes back to her.
Outdoors speakers announce that Aelin and her team had won the election as they approach the school building.
Elide walks into the school with Lorcan, prepared for the day ahead. And the next. And then the next, and the next…
Epilogue
I actually don’t have any notes for this (I THOUGHT I DID I’M SORRY) but I think I had it so that they bump into each other at Terrasen University or something like that and they start as friends but eventually begin dating and then get married in the library and the last scene is them at their spot in the library in their wedding apparel just holding each other (because I’m sappy like that)
Thank you all, again. Writing this was a pleasure and I could not have asked for a better community and support group
- Abs
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antisociallilbrat · 3 years ago
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We're The Losers, And We Always Will Be Chp. 2
Read on Ao3
Chp. 1
Chp. 3
Summary: Wendell makes his way in to Newton MA and finds the first loser
A/N: !You don't have to have seen Defending Jacob to understand! !Spoilers for the show though if you care about that! I'm having to tweak the reincarnated characters just a little. The goal for this story to find a middle ground for loser's personality and their reincarnated selves personality. I think I did a good job here with Bill and Jacob's. In this universe the trial did happen, but Jacob did not kill that kid. Yes his mother still thought he did, causing her to wreck the car she driving, trying to kill herself and Jacob. They both survived, but Jacob was put into a coma for almost a year. That's really all you need to know.
YOULIEDANDIDIEDYOULIEDANDIDIEDYOULIEDANDIDIEDYOULIEDANDIDIEDYOULIEDANDIDIEDYOULIEDANDIDIEDYOULIEDANDIDIEDILIE-
“Jake, did you hear me?”
It’s his Dad’s voice that breaks Jacob out his trance. He's sitting at the dining table, laptop and notebook open in front of him. He’s supposed to be looking at the community colleges in town, writing down ones he may be interested in applying to over the summer since he's graduated. Instead he sees the words that have been haunting him scribbled over and over on his notebook paper. He doesn’t remember writing it.
“I’m sorry, what?”
His Dad shoots him an uneasy glance he fails to hide, “I said Janice is coming over later. She thinks you’re really close to walking without the cane. You should be excited about that, Jake.” He’s smiling at him, trying to get some sort of positive response from him.
“Yeah Dad, that's really cool.” After he woke up from his coma, his balance has been bad. He can walk, he just needs a cane to help steady him. It's like his legs stutter. Janice, his physical therapist, says he’s made significant progress, even his Dad says he’s proud.
It’s all bullshit though, the physical therapy. He walk about as well as he could when he first woke up. His mother tried to kill him four years ago and he’s still fucked up. He can’t even look at his reflection without feeling revolted now. Scars from the accident cover thirty percent of his body, a nasty one going across his forehead down to cheek, barely missing his eye. He's stopped going in pubic almost all together, spending his days at home working on his school work. People can't stand the sight at him, and he's just tired of the stares and whispers, he doesn't understand why his dad doesn't just move them. His dad is probably holding out hope that his mother will come back to them, he hadn't been the same since she checked her self out of the hospital and just left. They hadn't seen or heard from her since, they have no idea where she is.
In Jacob's opinion, the best thing his mother ever did was leave.
“How about after therapy we go out for pizza? A little celebration for all your hard work towards getting better," His dad says optimistically.
Jacob doesn’t get a chance to answer before the doorbell rings.
“Stay here, I'll check it,” His dad is apprehensive, their house is a constant target for attacks. That’s what happens when an accused murderer lives there. As his dad walks towards the door he can hear him mutter, “Better not be flaming dog shit again.”
The doorbell has been insistently ringing, someone is definitely out there. Probably another reporter, wanting to get the scoop on the Barber’s life four years later. Jacob sets his attention to ripping out the paper he scribbled on, he doesn’t feel like explaining what it means to his dad. He doesn’t even know himself. You’re starting to remember Billy Boy.
“Yes?” His dad opens the door.
“Hi, uh, does Jacob Barber live here?” He can hear his dad starting to close the door. “Wait wait! Does he live here? Can I see him? It’s really really important.”
“Why don’t you just leave us alone? I’m so-”
Jacob doesn't hear the rest of what his dad is saying, he knows that voice, he thinks. The voice at the door, it’s like it resided somewhere in his skull, collecting cobwebs. He grabs his cane and shuffles over, walking into the hallway, trying to peek around his dad while keeping his distance to see who exactly is at the door.
It’s a black guy that looks about his age looking a little worse for wear. His clothes are wrinkled and he looks like he hasn’t slept in, well, ever. For some reason he thinks of calloused hands and the smell of a library with old books. The guy is desperately trying to explain to Jacob’s dad why he needs to see him before he sees Jacob standing in the hallway. The guy breaks out into a smile.
“Jacob? Hey Jacob! I need to-” His dad starts to close the door on him. This guy is undeterred now since he’s put eyes on Jacob, actually stopping the door from closing with his foot and starts to push his way into the house, “Jacob! Please just talk to me for a min-”
His dad has had enough, “Kid, do you want me to call the cops? Leave us al-”
“Dad, it's fine," Jacob speaks up finally.
The guy blows out a sigh of relief but his dad looks like he wants to argue. Jacob cuts him off before he gets the chance, “I want to talk to him.”
“Now Jake we’ve talked about this, it’s not safe,” his dad pleads.
“Dad, please.” His dad won’t deny him this, he never asks for anything. Jacob wants to talk to this guy. He seems so familiar and he can’t pinpoint from where and he gets the feeling that he can trust him. The guy also looked excited to see Jacob, and he can’t remember the last time anyone was excited to see him.
After a moment of hesitation his dad finally relents, “Fine, come insi-”
“I’d rather us sit outside.” Whatever the reason this guy has shown up, he doesn’t want his dad to be able to eavesdrop. Again his dad hesitates before giving him his okay.
Jacob and the mystery guy end up sitting on the swing on the front porch, an uncomfortable silence falls over them. Maybe this was a stupid idea. The guy glances at his cane and scars but he doesn’t even seem surprised.
“So how long have you had the cane?”
“That's the first thing you ask ? That's how you start a conversation? Your icebreaker?” Maybe he should just go back inside.
“Well your dad didn’t approve of me just asking for you.”
Jacob winces, “He can be a hard ass. He means well, he's just annoyingly overprotective at times. I’m, uh, sorry about that.”
“Don’t worry about it, I would be too after everything you went through.”
That’s a peculiar thing to say. But he’s always been caring like that. He doesn’t want to think about how he knows that. “I’ve had the cane for about three years, it’s probably not going away any time soon.”
“That sucks man...Oh yeah! I'm Wendell by the way."
"Okay, you already seem to know my name," he states.
Wendell shifts his body awkwardly, "Yeah I do."
Jacob clears his throat, “You said you had something important to tell me?”
“Yeah I do…” Wendell is studying his shoes and for the first time he looks nervous. “It’s really important but I’m going to be honest, it’s going to sound completely fucking crazy.”
He huffs, “Try me.” He’s literally been tried for a murder he didn’t commit and his own mother has tried to kill him, he can handle crazy.
Wendell scratches the back of his head, “Well. have you, have you ever felt like you’ve done this all before?”
“Done what before?”
“Life.”
“What?”
“I’m sorry, let me explain better. Do you ever have memories or visions that don’t quite feel like your own?” Wendell is waving his hands in the air as if to illustrate, “Like they feel like you’re memories, but they're not…just like you've lived in a moment even though you know you haven't?”
He doesn’t know what’s worst, he’s talking to someone who sounds crazy, or that he knows what said person is talking about. His coma.
The doctors said that he couldn’t have dreamed when he was in his coma. In a way they were right, he didn’t have dreams, he had nightmares. He couldn’t wake up from them, there was no escape. That clown terrorized him, showed him visions of people dying and mocked him for a stutter Jacob doesn't have. The clown would giggled, “You can’t save them B-B-Billy! You can’t save anyone B-B-Billy Boy!
A little boy in a yellow raincoat, always missing an arm, and blaming him for his death. “YOU LIED AND I DIED!” In his hand he had left, he would clutch a paper boat in his stubby fingers. The kid would look at Jacob, utterly betrayed by something Jacob did. It felt like he deserved it, as he mourned the little boy, that little boy he doesn’t even know the name of. All Jacob knew was he was at fault for his death.
When he didn’t see the boy or the clown, he saw the other man, the one with tight curly hair and sharp facial features. He likes the birds. Well, sometimes the other man appeared as a boy too, no older than thirteen, but it was easy to tell it was the same person. It didn’t matter how old he was in the nightmares, it was always the same. His arms would be slashed to ribbons, and he would be begging him, or Bill, to save him. Jacob would try so hard to stop the bleeding, he desperately wanted to save him. To save the man who loves the birds and quiet things. Nothing he ever did worked! Each time he would just bleed out! There was always so much blood, too much blood for a single body to contain.
He'd try to hold the man’s wounds closed, and he could feel the wet, slippery blood all around him. Why was there so much blood? Why did he have to die? Why couldn’t Bill save him? Why is-
“Hey Jacob?! Are you okay?!” Wendell is shaking him by shoulder, looking frantic.
Jacob takes a deep breath and comes back into himself, he didn’t notice he started shaking, “Yeah, yeah, sorry about that.” He leans out of Wendell’s reach to get his hand off his shoulder, he’s not the biggest fan of people touching him. Wendell doesn’t look offended.
“You were remembering, weren’t you?” Wendell asks nervously.
Is that what he's doing? Remembering? It sounds crazy, but those thoughts feel too real. If Wendell is implying what he thinks he’s implying, was he Bill? That’s what the man and the boy called him, is he seeing visions of Bill’s life? Those questions just lead him to even scarier questions. Bill had a violent life, or at least, at the end of it he did.
Jacob just shrugs and nods his head, how else are you supposed to respond to that question. Wendell speaks again, “I do it too, remember stuff that didn’t happen to me,” he continues when Jacob looks at him quizzically, “I think I remember a lot more than you do, more than the others too if they even remember anything at all.”
“What do you mean by ‘others’?” This is by far one of the more stranger conversations Jacob has ever had.
“Yeah, the others. There’s seven of us,” Wendell is smiling fondly, as if he’s remembering something, “Including me and you, there’s five more scattered out around the east U.S., you’re just the first one I went to find.”
Seven, seven kids, seven freaks. It feels like there’s something else right on the edge of his memory, but it’s just not coming to him. There’s a sense of comfort though in seven.
“So they have memories too? Like me and you?”
“Well,” Wendell drags out the l, “It’s more complicated than that. Like I said, I remember the most out of us,” he holds up a hand to cut Jacob’s impending question off, “Why I remember more than you guys is a very long and even more complicated story. Anyway, I think you remember what you do because you were in a coma, that’s part of the reason why I came to you first. I had a feeling that you may have seen things while you were in it. It made sense. For the others, it would be surprising if they remember anything at all.”
“I don’t understand. Then what makes them like us, why look for them?” Jacob asks.
“This, bare with me, this is where it gets a little complicated,” Wendell sighs, “You have those visions, memories, whatever you want to call them because, and please believe me on this, you’re, uh, a reborn soul, or in other words reincarnated.”
“Reincarnated?”
“Yes.”
Jacob is Bill. It felt like Wendell had been implying it the whole time, but now that it’s said, it’s like Jacob can finally breathe. He believes every word Wendell has said, it feels like he’s been friends with Wendell for a long time. In his past life he thinks he was. “Okay I believe you.”
There’s a pause before, “Wait? You do?!” Wendell sounds hopeful, his eyes are gleaming.
“Yeah, I was Bill right?” Jacobs asks, still a little unsure.
Wendell’s face looks like it’s about to split in half from how hard he’s smiling, “Yeah you were, Big Bill!”
There’s a smile tugging at his own lips now, “Big Bill? Yeah, I guess that was me. Who were you?”
“My name was Mike.” Wendell answers.
Mikey.
“Wendell, we were friends weren’t we?” Jacob doesn’t have friends, hasn't in a very long time.
“The best of friends. Me, you, and the others.”
“The others who were reincarnated,” Jacob confirms more to himself. There’s still a question that’s been eating at him. “Still, why are you looking for us? It has something to do with what I see, doesn’t it? The clown and the blood.”
Wendell’s smile falls, “I’m surprised you remember that much,” he pauses for a moment, “You see, there’s something we didn’t finish in our past life, something really really important. That’s why we were brought back, we need to finish it.”
For the first time in their conversation, Jacob gets the sense that Wendell is hiding something. For now he decides not to push the matter too much. “So you need all seven of us to complete what we couldn’t in our past life,” Wendell makes an agreeing noise, “What is that anyways?” Jacob knows it's not good .
“I’d rather, I’d rather just talk about it when we're all together, in Maine,” Wendell responds.
Maine? He’s never even been to fucking Maine. Well, at least not in this life . It's weird for him to think like that now. “You want us all to go to Maine?”
“Well, the plan is for you to leave with me tonight so we can go get the others, and then head back to Maine,” Wendell is looking at him a little sheepishly now. He probably hasn’t said his plan out loud yet, "I've actually spent the past year or so looking for you guys, it wasn't easy. But I found you! And I've found them!"
“I don’t know man, that’s asking a lot,” So he’s reincarnated that much he knows, but could he really just leave and go with a guy that’s practically a stranger? Hunt down the other five and convince them they're reincarnated and need to 'finish something'? And who’s to say the others will even come? Especially if they can’t remember anything. This is a lot to process.
“Look, I need you come with me for more reasons than-”
“Jacob, you need to get ready for physical therapy, time to say goodbye,” His dad opens the front door, interrupting them. He doesn’t look happy one bit.
He pushes himself up and grabs his cane, “Okay dad,” He doesn’t know where this leaves him with anything. “Wendell, come back tomorrow maybe?” That’s the best he can think of at the moment.
“I’ll be gone by tomorrow.”
“Oh.”
Guess that’s that-
Suddenly Wendell rushes him and hugs him tightly. He’s startled at first and nearly falls back, but then Wendell is whispering in his ear, “I’m in the dark blue van parked in front of the church on tenth street. I know you’ll do the right thing,” and breaks the hug before Jacob’s dad can even really react. He walks down the porch steps and leaves right after.
When Jacob turns around his dad is confused, “What was any of that about Jake?”
Jacob just shrugs his shoulders and limps inside.
---
He can’t sleep that night.
All he can think of is the boy in the yellow raincoat and the man he couldn’t save. It’s when he tossing and turning in his bed that he’s hit with the realization that if he was Bill in his past life, they were real . He really is responsible for the boy’s death and he really couldn’t save that man, that man did die in his arms.
But the clown, the clown, had a part to play. There’s foggy memories fighting to resurface but they just can’t right now . The clown had something to do with what they didn’t finish, with the blood. If they don’t do anything this time, he has a feeling there’s going to be more blood .
Jacob is up in an instant. He owes it to the little boy and the man to do what he can, he’s responsible for what happened to them in his past life, he has to try and make things right.
Shuffling to his closet he grabs a backpack and packs anything he thinks he might need. Clothes, phone charger, toothpaste and toothbrush, his knife. From his desk he grabs his wallet and digs out all the extra cash he’s been saving up. His dad had had him doing chores around the house, so that he could earn money for summer. Go visit a new town and meet new people, was his dad’s idea. In a way, Jacob is doing exactly that.
He heaves his backpack over his shoulder and leaves his room. His dad’s bedroom door is cracked so he struggles to not make noise with his cane in the hall. When he passes by his dad’s room, he can see him sleeping, on the side of the bed where his mother used to sleep. He hadn’t even stopped to think about what he’s doing to his dad is exactly what his mother did to him.
“I’m really sorry Dad, I just have something important to do,” he whispers. For all of his dad’s faults, he always tried to do right by Jacob.
When Jacob exits the house, he knows he won’t be back. It’s probably for the best anyways. He starts to make his walk to tenth street.
Wendell’s van is easy to spot, it’s the only vehicle in the parking lot. He can see Wendell sleeping in the driver's seat. When he knocks on the window, Wendell jerks awake almost comically, looking very disoriented.
When he sees Jacob, he looks relieved. He can’t get the car door open fast enough. “I knew you would come, I knew it!” Wendell looks like he’s resisting the urge to hug him again. Instead he reaches for Jacob’s backpack, “Here let me put this in the back for you.”
Jacob lets him have it, “Why didn’t you rent a hotel room?”
Wendell has the trunk open and it sounds like he’s trying to make Jacob’s backpack fit, “I was just waiting for you, I want to get on the road as soon as possible.”
“What, you want to leave now?”
“Why not? Got a long drive ahead. Go on, get in,” he says as he comes back around,
They both get inside the van and Wendell starts to type something up on his GPS. “Hey Wendell?”
“Mhm?”
“Earlier you said that that hunch you had about me remembering some was only part of the reason you picked me up first. What was the other part?”
Wendell glances at him, “Well, you were kind of our little leader in the past life. It made sense to pick you up first.” He has that fond tone again, his mind is somewhere else. Wendell finally gets set up and starts to drive.
Jacob has never once felt like a leader in his whole life, he’s always been pushed around. Not very leader like. “You’re kidding right?”
“Nope, you were Big Bill, our fearless leader,” He says genuinely.
He doesn’t have anything to say to that, Jacob may have been Bill, but now he’s just...Jacob. Instead he asks, “Where are we going first?” He notices they’re about to get on the interstate.
“We’re going to a little town named Hawkins in Indiana. You might want to get comfortable, it’s going to be a long ride.”
A/N: Off to Hawkins! So not every loser is going to get a whole chapter. We will still see Wendell go them, I just don't want to wright a different variation of the same conversation so many times. Also also side note, while Wendell remembers almost everything about his past life, the losers have different amounts of memory. Jacob only remembers as much as he does because he was in the coma, but he really doesn't remember anything else. The other losers don't remember anything....or maybe they remember somethings, guess you gotta find out
Taglist: @alex-whitley-187 @elliee-doodles
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julietnterein · 4 years ago
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•| Violacea I. chp. 2 |•
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It was the same routine all over again, every day. Except for weekends where I didn't had to go to the school and answer all these stupid question.
It was already Saturday afternoon and all my medical appointments were done for today. And once again I felt alone, my room seemed even more quieter when I realized that.
„Wanda? Are you okay?” A silver-haired boy appears in front of me with a worried look. „What is it?” He wants to place his hands on my shoulders.
I jerk away from his touch, before I realize that there is no one in my room. No one was about to touch. I'm all alone.
„Wanda?” I mutter for myself and then shake my head to make my head a bit clearer. It was so real. Like a fresh memory of someone that I have never seen. I don't even know anyone who would look like that man.
„Hey.” Someone greeted me behind my back so I jerked around to see Katherine smiling at me.
„Uh… Hi.” I try to smile back.
„Are you okay? You look like you just saw a ghost.” She shakes her head amused by my face.
„What? No… I'm fine…” I nod at her and turn around towards her.
„Alriiiight.” She pull chair next to my bed and sit down. „What's your plan for today?”
„Well… I'm not sure honestly.” I shrug. „By the way, don't you felt little weird recently? Like something weird is going on?”
„Like weirder than usual?” She jokes but there is this quick something in her eyes that tells me I might be onto something and she knows it.
„Well… Not exactly. Actually everything seems normal like it always is.” I'm trying to find the look in her eyes once again, but there is no sign of it, like it never happened.
„Then I guess everything is fine.” She laugh a little.
„Something just… doesn't fit.” I look at her with my brows clicked together as I watch her reaction once again.
She shifts on her chair. „I don't know about you but I always thought this place is weird and scary.” She shrugs and stands up.
„Where are you going?” I ask her, confused. „You just came.”
„Oh... “ She jerks a little like she just realized she has something important to do. „I still have some homeworks to do.”
„It's Saturday, Kath.” I tell her when she is already standing by the door.
„I will stop by tomorrow, okay?” She waves her hand at me and then she is gone.
That was strange. I just shake my head at her weird behaviour and reach for my crunches so I can help myself get to my wheelchair.
I sit down and push myself away from my room, through the hallways before I reach the common room. It's just a small part of our hospital wing where we are supposed to hang out around these old tables and play some really old and rusty board games that are on the shelves. It's much more than sad if they think that some time killers will brought us the childhood that was taken from us.
I stop next to blond boy.
„Hi, Mihas.” I smile at him. The eight year old boy smiles back. „Did you broke your arm again?” I look at his hand in the cast.
He just nods sadly and shrug his shoulders.
„Do you wanna play something?” I ask him after a while. Mihas's face lights up with happiness as he runs towards one of the shelves and brings chess board. „Well… I can't play chess but I can teach you how to play checkers.” I smile at him as I put the chessmans on the board.
„I don't know how to play that.”
„I will teach you, don't worry. It's really easy.” It take us a little bit of time before we get into it and now we are already in our third round and Mihas already won twice.
„See! You are great at it.” I praise him with a smile. „One more game and you will be even better than me.”
„Andreea?” A voice speaks behind us. I look around to see one of my assistants that attends my appointments.
„What's up?” I ask, confused, as he interrupts our next game.
„You have an appointment.” He says simply.
„I already have one in the morning. I don't have any planned for today.” I frown at him.
„We just need to check up on something.” He comes to my wheelchair to push it away.
I look back at Mihas. „We will play tomorrow, okay?” I smile at him as he nod back.
Assistant pushes me through the halls and taking me somewhere I have never been.
„But this is not the wing where I have my appointments.” I look around at him but he simply roll his eyes. Before I can even notice he takes out syringe and inject ,y shoulder with it. I don't have time to react to it as this cold wave comes over my body and all my muscles give up.
„What do you mean you see her in your dreams?” A redhead with emerald green eyes asks me.
„Since when are fortune teller?” Ask me male voice as he appears in front of me. A guy with a very cleaned shaved and funny looking beard.
„It's not just in my dreams.” Whispers this female voice through my own lips.
A sharp light comes under my eyelids.
„She is waking up.” I hear someone's voice. There is also this weird beeping behind my back that gets a little quicker as I start panic a little when I realize I can't move my hands.
„She will be startled and confused. That's gotta be two pretty strong impulses to trigger it, you have to be ready to put her to sleep at any time.” Authoritative voice beams through the room.
I finally open my eyes but I am blinded by this dentist kind of like that shines right to my eyes, which causes the fact that all around me stays in the dark away from my senses.
„What's going on?” My hoarse voice sounds through the room, with subtle terrified undertone.
„It's alright, Andreea, we just need to check up on something. Don't worry.” Face of doctor Mahler comes into my sight.
„What do you need to check up on?” I ask a question that no one dares to answer for me.
„Increase dose of epinephrine.” Says doctor Mahler. „It's alright and show us what you got.” She smiles down at me before her face disappears into the dark again.
A beeping of the machine behind my head increases rapidly and my own heart pounds loudly in my chest. All voices became louder and my breath started hitching. My lungs are on fire as there is enough oxygen because of my quick and small breaths.
I can feel all my muscles tense up before a loud scream escapes my own lips. Whole set of lightbulbs above my head smashes into all directions before the whole room ends in a dark silence. I can feel my breath coming slowly back to normal and all I see in this darkness is weird purplish dust that is setting down around my fingers before it disappears completely.
A door opens somewhere in the room and some people with flashlights come in.
„A whole wing is without electricity, doc.”
Chp. 3
@littlegasps
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time-and-souvenir · 4 years ago
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Dazzled is an Understatement Part II
Summary: Curious about what happened to Victor and MC’s after the end of the Dazzling Date? A continuation from Victor’s POV. Part 2/3 of Dazzled is an Understatement. 
FYI: Some NSFW, spoilers for chp 10 and beyond, spoilers for Dazzling Date and as always I chose a random name for MC.
Wordcount: 3053 words.
Notes: It’s crazy to me that some of you wanted more of this fanfic? Lol! Dazzled was supposed to be a one shot but I decided to write a second part to it to wrap it up. THEN I wrote this and decided, you know what? I’m making this into THREE parts 😂❤️Thanks to everyone who suggested this, liked, commented and reblogged the first part of Dazzled is an Understatement! & thank you for being SO PATIENT, reading and supporting my writing ♥️ Part 3 is coming soon! I hope you guys like it❤️
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“Yes, yes. I know Goldman. I am aware of that,” Victor replied in annoyance as he sifted through the progress reports of several projects LFG had planned in the coming week. He had spent many hours writing up the perfect proposal for this new company he was about acquire, it was an offer they wouldn’t be able to refuse. Working together with Goldman everything was moving very smoothly, until the company somehow started to get cold feet. For reasons he didn’t understand, and he wasn’t happy about it; the company knew who he was and what his company did, what in the world possessed them to do this?
“We could rework the offer and add in another department they might like, sir. I’ve been looking over their assets again and it would be very lucrative---“
“No. The offer I gave them was plenty, we don’t bend to someone that is inferior to our company, especially a company we are trying to acquire Goldman,” Victor responded, irritation lacing his tone. The more he kept discussing things over with his assistant, the more heated his blood became and not in a good way. Goldman changed tactics and suggested another way LFG could make things work and the ravenette listened intently. He clicked on his email, looking over the different graphics, information on the company’s growth and some articles of the company’s achievements that Goldman sent him. It was a decent size, but with proper funding, patience and the guidance of LFG it would succeed. A new plan started to form in his head.
“Here is what I want you to do Goldman,” Victor leaned back in his chair and started to rattle off what he needed his subordinate to do. Ten minutes later as their phone call started to wrap up, he felt much more confident with what was discussed. The ravenette had always gotten what he wanted, one way or another and this small little company was next. He stood up and stretched slightly, keeping his phone tucked into his shoulder so he could continue to hear Goldman. He walked over to his home office window, the sun setting in the distance. He had been working from his penthouse for a couple of days now, work had become…somewhat distracting.
“I need you to finish up that proposal within the hour, type it up and bring it over with the other data that we’ve discussed. I’ll give you the final approval so you can take it to their office tomorrow,” Victor paused, shutting his laptop closed and turning towards the door of his office. It had gotten rather late and he needed to make dinner. “If that’s all, I’ll see you----"
“Uh actually, sir?”
“Yes?”
“Miss Juliette has been insistent on trying to schedule an appointment with you. She’s been calling me nonstop for the last three days, almost demanding to talk or see you,” Goldman trailed off, sounding nervous. The CEO paused in the doorway of his home office, his breath almost catching. He closed his eyes and a sigh escaped his lips.
“Do she happen to mention what was so urgent?” He asked as he left the room, heading towards his gourmet kitchen.
“She said she needed to speak to you about something important but did not elaborate beyond that. I am sorry, sir. What would you like me to do?” His assistant asked, he didn’t sound nervous anymore instead is tone was curious.
“Do as I said before, write up the proposal and bring me that data in one hour, Goldman. That is all,” Victor snapped and hung up the phone, he set the device down on his kitchen island and ran a hand down his face in annoyance. He had been dodging Juliette’s calls for almost five days now, five days since their date and the night they had kissed. He swore he could still feel the heat from her mouth on his own and the warmth of her skin as they slept together in her bed. His cock twitched at the thought of her wrapped around him, suddenly remembering how soft and wet her mouth felt.
Groaning, the black-haired male shook his head and walked around the kitchen island, going to one of his cabinets and opening it. He took out his favorite glass and went to fetch a bottle of wine, on a mission to pick out one of his most expensive ones. With the way he had been feeling, he might end up drinking the entire bottle. Victor had no idea why he felt this way, not only had Juliette been his long-lost childhood love, they had somehow found their way back to one another and their relationship was starting to blossom. There was no reason to feel down or disappointed by anything, he had finally found her, and everything was falling into place. Then why did feel so horrid about it? He grabbed a bottle of wine from his collection and went back to the kitchen island, searching for a wine opener from one of its drawers. He found what he needed and made quick work of the bottle before pouring himself a glass.
Juliette had made the first move between them, she had initiated and kissed him. The CEO had been so worried to do anything at first, there was a lot that had happened between them and the years they spent apart stacked between them as well. Everything had been exactly like he wanted with Juliette and more, but he didn’t want to ruin it by pushing her into a direction she didn’t want to go into or wasn’t ready for. His little idiot was a strong and stubborn woman, but he had seen the fear and questioning in her eyes sometimes when they were together, so he decided to be careful. Besides, they had all the time together in the world, his evol made sure of that. Closing his eyes, he downed the glass of wine and poured himself another. He was in complete and utter misery. One, he had missed Juliette desperately. He missed talking to her and frankly he also felt anxious not talking to her. Something he would never admit aloud, but it was something that hovered over him like a cloud. Two, how in the world could he face her after the dream he had? Yes, they had kissed and touched on their date and fell asleep together but having that type of dream while she slept next to him was so mortifying.
Victor took a sip of his dream, letting his thoughts consume him for a few moments. He had been so happy she had kissed him first, it gave him the permission he needed that she wanted that from him. It was still hard for him to do anything, let alone truly touch her because he was afraid something would go wrong. It was as if he thought of her as some expensive artwork and if he hadn’t locked up and put that artwork something horrible would happen. Somehow the artwork would be ruined, or someone would try and steal it; but Juliette wasn’t artwork, no she was the precious little girl he had been desperately searching for years and years. She was real and in front of him, but he was so afraid to touch her, so afraid she would disappear.
Sighing, he downed the rest of his and set the wine glass down. Two glasses should be enough for now, he still needed to eat. Shaking his head, he walked over to the refrigerator and opened it. He scanned the different shelves, trying to come up with something quick but fulfilling, it wasn’t too late but still. Something heavy wouldn’t do. Suddenly, the sound of his doorbell went off and he blinked looking up. Victor shut the fridge and grabbed his phone off the kitchen island, it hadn’t been thirty minutes yet and Goldman had already finished and arrived? And he had a key, why in the world wasn’t he using it? All of a sudden feeling a bit annoyed, the CEO left his kitchen and walked towards the entrance of his home.
Once he got there, he paused and opened up his phone bringing up the old proposal for tor company LFG was soon to acquire from earlier. He unlocked and opened the door, stepping aside. “Goldman, I appreciate your quickness, but why aren’t you using your key?” He spoke without looking up from his phone.
“Maybe because I’m not Goldman, Victor.” A sweet, but irritated feminine voice rang out in front of him. The ravenette started to feel his pulse race a bit and he looked up from his phone, trying to hide the shock from his face. Juliette stood before him, her arms across her chest as her foot tapped ever so slightly on the floor. She was so tiny in comparison to him, yet she looked like she was ready to take him down at any moment. Blinking, he shook his head and ushered her inside, thankfully she didn’t put up a fuss as she entered his home. He swiftly closed the door, the sound of the lock filling up his foyer.
“One moment.” Victor looked at her and tried not to stare, but she shrugged and turned her back to him, making her way into his main living place.
Trying to snap out of his shock, he shook his head and dialed Goldman’s phone number. “Finish the proposal, recheck the data and have everything ready to be discussed tomorrow. Tonight, is no longer available.” He spoke with absolution as he heard Goldman start to stutter in disbelief on the other line. Before his assistant could argue or say anything further, he hung up on him. Goldman had dealt with bigger issues before, he would be fine.
The CEO quickly followed Juliette into the living room, where he found her sitting on his couch waiting. She looked beautiful and lovely as always, even with the annoyance rolling out of  her in waves, nothing could stop how gorgeous she was to him. Victor couldn’t help but smile a bit at how she was acting, the woman before him looked like a very annoyed, fluffed up kitten. He sat down beside her, setting his phone on the coffee table before turning to her, giving the brunette his full attention.
“Why have you been avoiding me? My calls?” Juliette spoke angrily, a confused look into her chocolate colored eyes. “I don’t understand why you’re doing this, it’s one thing to ignore me for work but…” She trailed off, her expression suddenly becoming vulnerable. “We had that wonderful date, I thought we had grown closer. I know you didn’t mean to spend the night on purpose, but I enjoyed waking up in your arms. I know you did too, so I don’t understand,” the producer shook her head back and forth before stopping to look at him again. “I don’t understand why you aren’t talking to me.” The irritation she had come to his home with vanished and a look of hurt crossed her face instead.
Gently, Victor reached out and cupped her face. Moving close to her, his fingers stroked her skin and his pulse quickened slightly. “I didn’t mean to hurt you,” He spoke softly as he leaned down, pressing his forehead against his. Juliette sniffed and he felt her slender arms encircle his neck. His breath caught slightly, and he closed his eyes for a moment, only to open them to find her gaze focused on his own. Without thinking, the ravenette gently tilted her face up to his and pecked her lips against his. Juliette gasped against his mouth and he smiled in return. He angled his head slightly and kissed her once more, deepening it.
“Victor…” the brunette murmured his name and it was as if the spell that been cast on him broke. He pulled away from her, enough to look down at her face. His fingers still lingered on her cheeks and a look on confusion filled her now flushed face. He had to get better grip on himself and his thoughts, his annoying, tortuous lewd thoughts of her. They had just found one another one again and after seventeen years of searching for her, he still couldn’t believe he had finally found her and the little girl who had saved him all those years ago. He couldn’t risk ruining what they had because of his own carnal, selfish desires. Reluctantly he let go of her face and started to pull away only to find the front of his shirt being grabbed and pulled back toward her. He started to say her name but closed his mouth and repeatedly blinked several times at the look on her face. “I am not a doll or a piece of glass. I’m the woman you love.” Juliette pulled him so closed to her that their noses barely were inches apart. Her dark hues kept moving from his eyes to his mouth and something just snapped inside of him.
The CEO wrapped his arms around her and buried his face into her neck, he felt himself shaking a little. “Is it so wrong that I want to cherish you Juliette?” He murmured into her skin, kissing the spot beneath her ear. He felt her hands move into his hair, her delicate fingers stroking through the strands. “Cherishing doesn’t mean keeping me at arm’s length or ignoring the fact that we want one another.” Juliette’s hands suddenly disappeared from his head and he felt a gentle nudge underneath his chin, he obliged her and looked at her. She kissed his nose and pressed her forehead against his own, her arms immediately wrapping around his neck. “I love you and I want you.” Victor fought the urge to stop and rewind time, but he also didn’t want to make Juliette have to wait any longer either. His little producer had gotten quite bold, maybe all his heavy teasing and business advice had finally gotten through to her.
“I have always loved you,” He murmured against her mouth before pressing a chase against her mouth and a small murmur was her response, her nails digging lightly into the back of his neck. Smiling Victor kissed her again, sliding his tongue past her lips and into her mouth to meet her tongue. His hands cradled and angled her face up to his as they kissed. Juliette sighed and moaned into his mouth as kept his lips against her own, his fingers stroking the sides of her face. Victor pulled away after what seemed like hours from her panting ever so slightly, his cock throbbing and beginning to harden as he stared at her flushed face and wide-eyed gaze.
“Have you ever done anything like this before?” He asked as his hands left her cheeks and moved down her neck, his fingers tracing her body downward until they rested against her hips. The brunette stared up at him for a few moments not saying anything and he was about to say something when she dug her nails gently but with purpose into his neck.
“Some of it. Does it matter?” She asked holding his gaze and ignoring his hands moved and gripped the backs of her legs, he swore he saw her chest rise and fall faster at the movement.
“Hold on tight to me.” Victor replied and lifted her off the couch making sure that her legs wrapped around his torso. She made a small sound of distress, but he kissed her cheek and chuckled. “I’m not going to let you fall, Juliette.” She adjusted herself a bit against him and once she settled into his arms, she pulled out slightly and looked down at him. Her eyebrows rose when he didn’t move, he just stood there holding her.
“Are you sure you want---?”
“Victor,” She cut him off and one of her hands grabbed his chin and pulled his face closer to her own. Her chocolate orbs seemed ablaze with determination, the same gaze he had seem her do many times before either when presenting a report to him or eating one of his meals. He pecked her mouth and moved his hands from her hips to his ass, squeezing the delicate round. The earlier bravo she had had shown him all of a sudden faded and her cheeks flushed a deeper shade of red. Smirking, he kissed her again making sure to press his middle especially hard between the spot of her legs. Her hands dug into his shoulders and she let out a low sound against his mouth. Pulling away, he kissed her nose and started to walk away from the couch and living room and moved towards the stairs. “Just wanted to make sure you know what you’re getting into.” Victor kissed her again, breaking apart only for a few moments to angle his face towards her. He reached the stairs and carefully went up them one by one, his fingers kneading and squeezing the brunette’s ass. Juliette kept letting low moans escape her mouth and into his own, her voice was getting louder with each passing moment and he wondered if she had even realized she was making a sound.
Once they reached the top of the stairs, the CEO carried her down the hallway and paused at his bedroom door. Victor broke away from her lips only to find himself pressing his forehead against her own. His dark hues looking into her own gaze as they looked at one another.
“When we go in there I’m not going to stop, so I need to know…” He paused, reaching up one of his hands and caressing the side of her face. “Are you sure?” His thumb traced her mouth before he leaned in and kissed her again. Pulling back his hand left her face and back down to her side, squeezing her there. His hands tangling in the fabric as he took a step forward, pausing in the doorway of his bedroom.
“I’m sure,” Juliette spoke her voice seemingly out of breath, and he smiled in response. Kissing her deeply once more, Victor moved them into his bedroom using his back foot to shut the door firmly behind them.
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shsl-otaku · 4 years ago
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Where Greed Goes, Despair Follows: Chp. 5
Y/N: Raven Sin of Despair
Pairing: Ban & Y/N
Anime: Seven Deadly Sins
Genre: Adventure, Romance
Warnings: None
Tag List: @asgleo16 @yuri-2018 @vialuciferscage @supremeladyren @commanderawkward @chidayasays @misfitgirlwrites @amberfoxcosplay @catlover7722 @shiggi-trash @supremetodoroki @happynoodle @remikay313 @milkysamu
•••
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"So a Holy Knight is responsible for the water shortage in your village?"
"U-Uh huh."
You snarled, your e/c eyes glowing red. "That’s disgusting. How are the people supposed to make mead without any water? They've practically been set up for failure."
Meliodas put a hand on your shoulder and tsked. "Now now, Y/N, there’s no need for you to get so worked up. Save it for when we get there."
You crossed your arms. "Fine. But we should go back to the village. We can help them."
"You guys?" Mead asked. "But you guys don't look like Holy Knights. How will you beat them?"
You look down at him. "You'll just have to wait and see."
Mead blushed and looked away. "Alright, fine." You chuckle and ruffle his hair, much to his annoyance.
Meliodas smiled. "Welp! Guess we should go back to the village. Hawk, Elizabeth, let’s go!"
•••
You watched as the men tried pulling the sword out. You had your hood back on, shrouding your face in shadow. You turned your head and saw the two knights laughing at their attempts. Your e/c eyes turned red. 'Disgusting.'
The ropes tied to the sword snapped, making the men fall backwards. You cringed, looking away. "Ooh, that looks like it hurt."
"Ahh, I got this," Meliodas said, walking to the sword.
"This guy’s gonna pull out the sword? But he’s just a kid," a knight laughed. You suppressed a smile, knowing fully well that he would pull out the sword.
Meliodas walked up to the sword and grabbed its hilt. Everyone grew silent. He pulled it out from the ground, a loud and clear SHINGG ringing from it. Gasps broke out everywhere. You grinned at the scene, watching hell begin to break lose.
"Ah. Looks like I got it, guys!" Meliodas shouted. He tossed the sword to the gasping knights who were laughing just moments ago. You laughed softly, your e/c eyes glinting with mischief. While they were busy gawking, you had stolen their gold pouches. 'Ban would've been proud.'
You walked over and stood next to Elizabeth. "Wow," she said in awe. "So this is how strong Meliodas is..."
"Oh that's not even a scratch on the surface," you said, grinning. "Just wait till you see him fight. It's gonna be great."
You watched the knights scramble to run away and laughed in glee. Elizabeth smiled. You two turned to look at Mead, who was staring at Meliodas in awe.
"W-Woah... who are you?" He said, eyes wide.
Meliodas just smiled. "I think you should go back to join them."
Mead looked warily at the other villagers.
"Mead, we’re so sorry... this wasn’t your fault," the village leader said.
"Psh. I’m not even one of you, why should I go back?" Mead said, crossing his arms and looking away.
"Hey," you said, pushing him towards the villagers. "You can’t deny the people you love the most. Go back to them, you stubborn kid."
He hesitated, tearing up at what you said. He quickly ran to the other villagers who engulfed him in a hug.
"Well," Meliodas said, smiling. "Everyone come to the Boar Hat for a celebration tonight!"
"YEAH!!!"
•••
Sorry for the short chapter lol. I just can’t wait to write the next chapter! I’ll make it up to you guys by hopefully being able to write an extra long chapter within the next 1-3 days!! (You guys will finally get reunited with Diane and Ban!)
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saeyoungchoismaid · 4 years ago
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Lucky Charms | chp. 3
Pairing: Satan x f!reader Genre: fantasy au, fluff? Warnings: none Word Count: 2.3k Summary: Waking up to a surprise, (Y/n) starts her day off a little rocky before things slowly smooth over. Until, it’s suddenly not so smooth anymore. Chapter: 3/?
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Lucky Charms Masterlist
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Your fight or flight response immediately occurs and you choose to fight. Since his brain hasn’t processed that you’re awake yet, you easily shove him off and stand. You’re standing by your clothes and weapons before he can even blink. 
“Hey, are you okay? Should you be moving around so much?” the man asks. You scoff as you grab your sword, unsheathing it and instantly pointing it towards him. You feel the heat of embarrassment swarm your cheeks from being naked but you’d rather be embarrassed than dead. Or whatever he was planning on doing. 
“Like you care. What do you think you’re doing, huh? You’re lucky I don’t gut you like a fish right now,” you snarl. His brows furrow as his head tilts to the side, his eyes studying you with...curiosity? Not lust or hunger, but...wonder? 
“Why would you want to do such a thing? I was only seeing if you were okay,” the, definitely not handsome, man replies. You scoff at this and take a step closer to him, your grip tightening on your sword. 
“Oh yeah? And, what, you needed to do that naked?” you snap back instantly. He seems to become even more confused as he looks down at himself, slowly pushing off the ground to stand. 
“Of course I am naked. You are naked as well, are you not?” he says softly, his head still tilting to the side like a curious or confused animal. You grunt at this and set your sword down to pull your oversized tunic over your head. You make sure to keep your eyes on him though. 
“Yeah, I was. You were naked over me while I was asleep though,” you snap, emphasizing the second to last word. He continues to stare at you and doesn’t even bother trying to hide his naked body. You make sure to keep your eyes up at his face because of this. 
“I am always naked. Are you not?” he asks, taking a step towards you. And just like that, your sword is back in your hands and pointed at him. He looks from you to your sword, now turning his curious gaze to it. 
Before you can reply to him, he steps up to your sword and runs his fingers along the smooth side of the sword. “What is this?” he asks, poking the tip of the sword before quickly pulling it away to look at his finger. He didn’t cut himself but he did apply enough pressure to feel the sharpness of the blade. 
Now you’re the confused one. You slowly bring your sword down, sensing that he’s genuinely acting like this and has no malicious intentions. “You’ve never seen a sword before?” you ask, looking down at your blade once more. He shakes his head and squats down in front of you to continue looking at it. 
“Soard,” he repeats, his pronunciation being a little off. You can’t help but smile a bit at this. He seriously doesn’t know what a sword is? You hum and turn the sword towards your side before offering him the hilt.
“Want to hold it?” you ask before you can stop yourself, not bothering to correct his pronunciation. Could you be any dumber? He’s probably acting and was waiting for the right opportunity to attack. But something in your gut tells you he’s not acting. Either way, you could take him with or without a sword. You’ve done enough training to be able to do so. 
He looks up at you before looking back down to the silver, gently taking it from you. His hand weighs down with the swords’ weight before he adjusts and holds it up properly. He stays squatted like that as he observes the sword and touches it. He reminds you of a little kid sitting on the floor to play with their toys. 
You hum at your thoughts and then move to your clothes, deciding his distracted state would be the best time to finish pulling on the rest of your clothes. You slip them on before shoving your chemise into your bag with heated cheeks. You’ll have to put that back on later. 
With your eyes still on him, you place your hands on your hips as you take your time in studying him now. “You’re one peculiar fella,” you say out of the blue, bringing the naked man’s eyes back to you. He smiles at this before letting out a boyish giggle. 
“I believe that you are the more peculiar one,” he says between his giggles. You smile back at him, feeling yourself start to relax more around him; especially now that you have clothes on. You hum in response before going to put all your weapons back onto your personnel. You get the sword last, gently taking it from him to sheathe it before strapping it to your hip.
“What’s your name?” you ask once all your weapons are strapped to you again. He looks at all of them with a shine in his eyes as he replies. 
“You can call me Satan. You really are a strange one,” Satan says as he steps up to you, looking at your arrows that appear over your shoulder. He reaches out to touch one before you step back, feeling your body warm up to an uncomfortable temperature. He pouts when you move away from him but doesn’t make an attempt to follow you. 
“Right. I’m the strange one,” you sarcastically reply. He doesn’t seem to notice your sarcasm though. If he did, he decided to ignore it. 
“I’m glad we agree. So, what may I call you?” he inquired with a grin. You hum again as you bend down to pick up your bag. 
“(Y/n). It’s nice to officially meet you,” you reply as you heft your bag onto your shoulder before offering him your hand to shake. He just stares at it though, once again getting that look to his eye. Maybe he just doesn’t like shaking people’s hands? Maybe he has a thing with dirt?
Well, if that were the case, he wouldn’t be naked, you suppose. 
You drop your hand anyway and then pull out an apple from your bag. You take a bite and then look him over, still making sure not to let your eyes wander too far below. He’s skinny but he’s not a twig. He’s lean but not muscular. Why is he naked anyway? Was he like you? Did he get caught in the rain and found this cave? Or maybe he already knew about it? 
“Hungry?” you ask as you take out a pear to offer to him. He smiles at your offer and gently takes it from you. 
“Thank you! Where did you find this?” he asks excitedly. You raise a brow at this as you take another bite from your apple. 
“What? The pear? We grow all sorts of fruits in my village,” you explain. This only causes him to become bewildered. 
“Velleg,” he tries to copy the word, making you smile and shake your head. 
“No, no. Village,” you repeat, saying it slower. He watches your lips move, a giddy smile on his face. 
“Village!” he says back to you, growing excited at learning a new word. Wow, he really is like a little kid. 
Wait, new word? He doesn’t know what a village is? Is he not from around here? Maybe your native tongue isn’t his? 
“Yes. Good job. Um, where are you from?” you question as you move towards the rushing water. 
“I am from here!” he informs, hearing his voice follow after you. You hum as you stick your apple into your mouth before climbing out of the cave. You then move swiftly to the ground by the lake, turning to look back at him. Before you can think about his words, he surprises you by jumping through the waterfall and into the water. 
You gasp and take a step back to ensure that you won’t get wet. He swims to the top and smiles over at you, swishing his wet hair out of his face. He swims to you in the most graceful way you’ve ever witnessed. 
Is this man even real?
He steps out of the water and then takes his first bite out of his pear. He lets out a happy hum, almost a squeal, and absolutely beams at you. You try to stop your eyes from tracing the water down his chest, knowing your ears are filling with warmth. 
It’s just kind of hard not to stare, seeing as how this is your first time seeing a naked man. 
“This is the best fruit I’ve ever had! It’s beyond delicious! You must bring me more, please!” he shouts, bringing your attention away from his dripping body to his radiant smile. You find yourself smiling back with ease. 
“I can do that. Where do you live? Maybe you live close to my village,” you say as you slowly start to walk in the direction of said place after you take a look at the sun’s location. 
“I live here!” he replies cheerfully, happily following you as he munches on the green fruit. You raise a brow and take another bite of your apple before adding on to your question. 
“Yes, I know. But where specifically?” you ask for more detail. You eat more of your red fruit as he uses his thumb to point over his shoulder. 
“We were just there!” he replies just as cheerfully as before. You stop walking to gawk at him a bit before turning back in the direction you just came from. Does he mean the cave?
“You live in the cave?” you ask slowly, making sure he understood you one hundred percent. 
“Yes, of course! Where do you live? What is a village?” he replies quickly, stepping closer to you with that look in his eyes again. 
“I live by Critter Creek in my house, like the rest of my people. Have you ever been to Critter Creek?” you reply steadily. He hums thoughtfully as he takes another bite. 
“I’m not sure. I’ve never heard of it but maybe I just don’t know the name. Can you show it to me?” he asks hopefully, his eyes sparkling dreamily. You think it over for a moment before deciding that would be fine. 
“Yes, I can show you. You’d have to put on clothes though,” you reply motioning towards his naked body without actually looking at it. He looks down at himself before looking at your body. 
“Oh, I have to put on what you’re wearing,” he replies, showing you he understands. You hum and nod your head, starting to walk again as you begin munching on your apple again. 
“Precisely. Where I come from, people must wear these,” you inform as you tug on your tunic and pants. He still looks muddled, so, of course, he starts to ask you more questions. 
“Why?” he asks before taking an exceptionally big bite from his fruit. You ponder on his question for a moment. How do you explain to someone who doesn’t understand the concept of clothes that you’re required to wear them? 
“A naked body is something...only someone you’re intimate or close with should see. Otherwise, it can be embarrassing, awkward, or weird,” you explain to the best of your ability. When he doesn’t immediately reply, you turn your gaze from the wild grass to his face. 
He’s already looking at you with a blinding grin though. “Oh! So, we are intimate!” he exclaims excitedly. You splutter at this and feel heat rush to your entire face. 
“What? No! That was an accident! I was embarrassed and it was weird!” you stutter out quickly, your heart racing more than you’d like. His brows furrow at your response and a pout, that would put kids to shame, graces his features. 
“But I wasn’t embarrassed. I didn’t think it was weird. It’s natural. You have a beautiful body,” he says softly, looking glumly at his fruit that he’s almost done with. You choke on your own spit at this, starting to cough as your entire body warms with embarrassment and something else that you’d rather not put a name to. 
“Well, you’re not used to wearing clothes, for whatever reason! You can’t just go around other people being naked!” You trip over your own words just to get them out. He has to understand this so when you get to your village, he doesn’t make the same mistake twice. If he does it in front of the wrong person, he could get exiled from your village. 
He slowly nods his head, a frown hanging heavy from his lips. “Okay. I’m sorry,” he mumbles, staring down at his fruit. You sigh and place your hand on his shoulder, sending him a reassuring smile as you speak. 
“Don’t apologize. It’s fine. You didn’t know, but now you do. You learned something new,” you soothe sweetly. He gasps at this and instantly grows happy and excited again. He’s like a mix of a child and a dog. It’s endearing. 
“I love learning new things! I have a very wise friend who always tells me about faraway lands he’s visited! He’s an ow-” 
He stops when the sound of something hard hitting wood freezes him in his tracks. A loud crack fills the once lively woods, the animals suddenly scurrying away or going quiet. You and Satan face the noise, looking through the trees to try and spot what caused it. You didn’t get to look for long though before a tree right beside you both starts to crack at the base before starting to tip over towards you two. 
“Watch out!” Satan shouts as he grabs your wrist and almost in a blink of an eye, you’re a great distance from where the tree landed. 
Guess you’re lucky that Satan is there to save you.
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snaileer · 5 years ago
Text
Chips & Salsa Chp 4
Shiro strode down the castle hallways. Repeatedly. Maybe more like paced. But hey, it was like 4 am and he deserved to be a little stressed out. Waking up and calming yourself down from a panic attack was hard work. He missed having access to coffee.
He slowed down in front of Lance’s room. Keith would tease him for being an ‘overprotective space-dad’ but Shiro was worried about Lance. He wanted to help him, but how could he help Lance if he couldn't even help himself. Shiro had tried to support Lance but all that did was make him angry at him.
He was about to keep walking when he heard a mumble from inside the room. And then a groan. It sounded like someone was breathing really harshly.
Lance.
He must be having a nightmare. Shiro immediately jumped for the door.
“Lance-!” He stared at the empty bed in confusion before lowering his eyes to the ground where Lance was.. “Are you doing push-ups?”
“Shiro! What the hell?! Why are you running in here yelling at 2 am?”
“It’s 3 am. And because I thought you were having a nightmare. I wanted to help,” Shiro watched as Lance rolled and got up from the ground.
“Well, I’m not, so… All good.” Lance smiled hesitantly and did finger guns at him. Shiro raised an eyebrow and leaned back on his hip, Shiro was probably the last person Lance wanted to see right now but-
 Lance sighed and dropped his hands as he turned his back to Shiro, “Look, if you wanted to help me you’d let me leave. Or at least spar with me.” 
“The first one I can't help you with,” Lance’s shoulders sagged a bit, “And I don't think you should be doing anything rough this soon.”
“Right, I forgot, Shiro has to follow all the rules,” 
“Lance, we just don't want you to get hurt or-”
“You guys know you don't need to pity me, right? I’m not some fragile weakling who can't handle anything.”
“I know that-”
“Then why can’t you fight me? Was I really that bad when I came out of the pod?”
“No. I promise we’re not scared of you just because you lashed out a bit.” Shiro felt he had to compromise for Lance at least a little bit. He sighed, “As long as you’re careful, I think we can probably try some light training,” Shiro smiled, “If you’re not too tired.”
Lance turned around and he smiled a bit, “Oh, you know I’m not.” Lance and Shiro walked out of the room together, heading towards the training room. “And I bet I could beat you now,”
“Oh really?”
“Yeah for sure. I picked up some badass ninja tricks in my time ‘away’ from the team” Lance did air quotes around away, “And you’re probably the only one on the team I���ll actually feel comfortable sparring with, so I’m glad your mid-morning pacing brought you to my room.”
“You heard me?”
“Of course I heard you, Shiro. I’ve learned to pay attention to whose footsteps are outside my door.” Lance threw a look at him. The implications of his words set Shiro on edge more than he would like to admit.
He tried to brush it off for another time, “And why am I the only one you want to spar with?”
“Because I need to fight but I also need to know that I’m fighting with someone that can handle me if…” Lance’s voice tapered off as he looked down.
“If?”
“If I lose control.” 
Shiro stopped in his tracks, his voice small, “What?”
Lance stopped as well and turned back to him, though he didn't look him in the eye. “Shiro, you and I both know how bad it gets in.. that place. And we know how hard it is to come out the same on the other side. I mean, you’re not fooling anybody with the ‘I wake up this early because I have self-discipline and military training.’ Plus, you were the one to snap me out of it when I got out of the pod and started throwing hands.”
“But you shouldn’t have to think about this stuff. You shouldn’t have had to go through that.”
“Neither of us deserved what happened to us. But it happened all the same and now we have to move past it.” Lance motioned down the hall, but Shiro wasn’t paying attention.
“But I should’ve protected you. I shouldn’t have let them take you, or even let them have the chance to get close to you. I was just so focused on getting out of there. Getting as far away from that ship as possible and I wasn’t paying enough attention and I shouldn’t have let you go off on your own.” Shiro stared down at his own hands, one that barely seemed like his most of the time.
“No,”
“What?”
“No.” Lance paused, “Shiro, you spent a year on that ship, I spent about three months there. Out of anyone on this team, I know what that place is, what it does to you; and there is nothing wrong with hating it. I should hate it. So it is not your fault that you wanted to leave, we all make mistakes sometimes.” 
“But-”
“Especially when we’re afraid. Shiro, just for one second, put your massive guilt complex to the side. Please. For me?” Lance pulled out the big puppy dog eyes to pout at Shiro.
Shiro gave him a shaky smile, “Yeah, Lance, for you.”
“Great, now can we please go fight?” Lance motioned forward with his hands again.
“That’s the only reason I’m here, isn’t it?”
Lance’s fists clenched and unclenched as he followed Shiro down the hall. He felt guilty about pushing Shiro to fight with him... but doing sit-ups and push-ups all night could only cure his jitteriness so much.
“Yeah, it is.”
x--x--x
“Everybody get your lazy asses over to- Hunk! No- I don't want- Fine!” Pidge’s voice bellowed over the speaker system before fading into mumbled arguments.
Hunk’s voice came on afterwards, “What she meant was: Can everybody please come to the kitchen? I made breakfast and Pidge has something to show all of us. Even though she’s being sour and won’t tell me what it is.” The last part sounded like it was spoken at someone else in the room rather than into the microphone.
“Well, I’m sorry but I don't want to repeat-” The intercom clicked out Pidge’s muffled response.
Shiro looked down from the ceiling of the training room at the same time as Lance did. They made eye contact and stared at each other for a second before bursting into laughter.
“It’s good to know Hunk is still attempting to wrangle Pidge after all this time. ” Lance struggled out past laughter.
Shiro’s laughter wound down a bit at the comment, still chuckling, “Well, it was a little hard while you were gone, but it sounds like they’re bouncing right back. I don't know if I’m happy about the return of the fighting though.”
“Don’t worry, Space Dad, you can always ground them.” Lance grinned
“Ooh, I am gonna kill Keith for telling you about that.” Shiro cursed his brother under his breath.
“Hah!” Lance inched towards the door, then smirked, “Who do you think told Keith?”
“No.” Shiro’s eyes narrowed in disbelief.
“Oh Yeah,” Lance smiled bigger.
“No…”
“Yep, and I helped Pidge photoshop your Leap Year baby photos.”
“That was you!?”
“The very one!”
Shiro gasped in mock anger and lunged for Lance, but he was already running from the room, grabbing his jacket by the door before sprinting towards the kitchen.
Lance spotted Keith walking down the hall from his room.
“Keith!!” Keith paused to look back, “Shiro found out you told me his birthday!”
“Shit.” Keith turned and ran.
“Nooo! Keith, you were supposed to help me!”
“I grew up with him, it’s your turn!” He ducked into the relative safety of the kitchen, Lance close on his heels.
“Where’s Shiro? And why are you two so out of breath?” Hunk asked from next to the oven.
“Oh, don’t worry, he should be right along in-” Shiro burst in, “Now.”
“I can’t believe you, Lance!” Shiro yelled. Hunk dropped his pan in surprise and Pidge nearly fell off her perch on the counter at the sudden clatter.
“Sorry, I saw an opportunity and it was my obligation as a younger sibling to use it.” Lance shrugged.
“Ignoring whatever is going on there,” Pidge waved her hand at Lance hiding from Shiro behind Hunk, “I’ve got some information on the tracker.” Lance’s smile shrunk immediately and the room paused to look at her.
“What?” “What’d you find?” “Can you get rid of it?”
“Whoa, everybody slow down. Let her talk.”
“So I woke up early this morning-”
Lance interrupted her, “Seriously, was I the only one in this whole castle with a normal sleep schedule? Hunk’s already made breakfast and it’s only 6 o’clock,” He threw his hands up at the second pan of space-pastries Hunk pulled out of the oven.
“Hey, you know I bake when I’m stressed. Or tired. Or worried.” 
“Believe me, it’s hard to forget when you force-fed me un pastelito every meal during finals week.” Lance moved to look at Hunk with crossed arms.
“Yeah..”
“And midterms,”
“Maybe..”
“And your history tests.”
“Hey, those are hard.”
“And your English project.”
“That was only once.”
“Okay! I think we’re getting off topic!” Pidge yelled.
“Oh, yeah. Pidge, what’d you find?” Hunk turned back to face her on the counter. Lance angrily bit into a pastry he’d snatched behind him. 
“As fun as watching Lance burn his tongue on space-jelly is, I think we have a chance at getting rid of the chip.” Lance glared at her.
“So I woke up really early this morning because of something I discussed with Keith about the chip last night,” the group looked at Keith but he just shrugged, he knew just as much as the rest of them. “There’s no strategy in putting the chip in Lance’s brain.”
“Why would you ask Keith about strategy? His only strategy is run in, stab them and ask questions later.”
“Hey!”
“Well am I wrong Mullet-!?”
“I’m not done!” Pidge yelled again.
“Fine.” Both boys begrudgingly backed off each other.
“It’s too much work for just a tracker they could put anywhere, so I looked closer at where they put it,” Pidge pulled up a hologram of Lance’s scan, “The temporal lobe.” 
“Isn't the temporal lobe in charge of smell, language and-?” Hunk joined in on the genius talk.
“Hearing. Yep, the primary purpose of the temporal lobe is auditory functions. And when I looked at the scan again, I found not one, but two signals.”
Lance’s eyes widened.
“What? What’s the second one for?”
“That’s what I was thinking. One signal is outgoing,-”
“The tracker obviously,” 
Pidge hummed in agreement, “But the second signal has an internal destination.”
“Huh?”
“Precisely. Hunk, you’re the resident expert engineer, what does the design of this chip tell you?” Pidge passed the hologram to him.
“Well, first of all, the chip is attached mostly to the right temporal lobe, but these wires also connect it to the left lobe and to the hypothalamus, but connection to both temporal lobes would only be necessary to create an equal simulation across both auditory cortexes and Oh my gosh!” 
“Okay, that was a lot of science-tech words that I did not understand.” Keith pushed off the wall to move closer to the group.
“It means that the ingoing signal from the chip is trying to broadcast a false sound directly to Lance’s auditory senses,-”
“Which are controlled within the temporal lobes,” It was almost creepy how Pidge and Hunk talked so much in sync.
“It’s trying to broadcast, but it’s failing because the chip is malfunctioning. Otherwise, Lance would be hearing a high-pitched noise most or all of the time,” 
“It’s like it’s trying to cause constant tinnitus. We don’t know why yet, but the most important thing is we can exploit this malfunction to remove it.”
“Okay!” Shiro moved towards the tech pair to break them up, “One of you, talk. The other, please don't. My neck is starting to hurt from looking back and forth between you two nerds.”
“You say that like you’re not a nerd yourself, Shiro.” Shiro glared at Pidge to silence her.
“Ugh, fine. All yours, Pidge.” Hunk handed Pidge the hologram and leaned back against the counter to grumpily eat one of his pastries off the tray.
“If the chip’s not working properly, that may mean the Druids were unable to completely evaluate the human neurological system.” She zoomed out a bit to show the whole head scan, “Since the human brain is so complicated and everything is connected to everything else, this malfunction in the chip is probably rooted in its attachment and implementation. Which also creates a higher possibility of being able to get rid of the tracker without horrible brain surgery.” 
Pidge looked at the team, “And I don't think any of us are qualified to even attempt brain surgery. Eh, maybe Coran could,” Coran smiled and posed at the attention, “So the better option would be to be able to hack into the external signal and shut it down remotely, which would limit the risk of brain damage and would-”
“It won't work.” Lance’s voice was quiet, though the small declaration quickly got everyone’s attention and they turned to him. He stood at the end of the counter, staring down at his hands.
“Yes, it will. I’ll make it work.” Pidge growled back from the other end.
“No, it won't.”
“Goddamnit Lance!” Pidge slammed her tablet on the table, “Why won't you let us help you!? That’s all we’re trying to do! You’ve barely even come out of your room, except to try to sneak out in the middle of the night! And you won't tell us anything that happened! So if the only way I can help is to get rid of this stupid chip, then I’m going to do that!”
“I won't work,” Lance paused and looked up, “because the chip isn’t malfunctioning.”
Everyone stopped dead in their tracks.
“So you’ve been hearing-”
“See my hand right now?” Lance held his hand out over the countertop.
“Lance, what the hell does that have to do with-?”
“My hand is completely steady right now. And do you want to know why?” Lance clenched his hand into a fist, “It’s steady because I goaded Shiro into fighting with me.”
“What?” The team looked at Shiro, but he only stared at Lance, who refused to meet his eyes. Lance pulled his hand back to his side.
“Why would you-” Shiro’s voice was filled with betrayal.
“Because you guys obviously wanted me to stay and doing hundreds of sit-ups in my room wasn’t working!” Lance yelled, “I do hear that ringing. I hear that ringing constantly, everyday, all the time, except-” Lance raked his hand through his hair roughly, “Except when I fight.” He looked down in.. shame? 
Pidge and Hunk made worried eye contact but kept their mouths shut.
“When I fight, my head is finally clear. And I can think. And do things and feel and be myself, and then it comes back.” He looked up at the ceiling with a pained fake-smile then glanced at the team with hard eyes “And it always comes back.”
“I’ve tried everything to get rid of it. I tried meditating, breathing techniques, exercising, ignoring it, distractions; I even tried to drown out the sound myself! Short of slamming my head against a brick wall till my skull cracks, I don't know what else to do! I can’t even sleep unless I pass out from exhaustion! So yes!” Lance’s voice suddenly dropped, “Yes, I chose to fight. I chose it then and I chose it now. I chose the one solution I’ve found that works. And it works one hundred percent of the time.”
“But why me? You know I struggle fighting one on one without flashbacks.” Shiro sounded even more hurt.
“Partially because I was angry at you. Partially because you were there. Mostly,” he paused, “because I needed to feel like myself again. I needed to be able to hear myself think. And I wasn’t lying, I needed to know you’d be able to handle me if I went off the rails,”
“But?”
“But… I also knew I was going to go off the rails on purpose.” Lance finally tried to look Shiro in the eye, “Shiro, I-”
“Don't Lance. Not right now.” Shiro pushed past them and left the room.
Lance looked at the group. Pidge and Hunk looked somewhere between shocked and upset, Coran looked disappointed and sad, Allura looked appalled and Keith looked…
“How dare you!?” Keith threw his fist at Lance. He let the punch hit him and knock him to the ground.
“Keith,” the others moved to stop him but didn’t get close.
 “You of all people should know!” Keith yelled again before leaving to go after Shiro.
“Lance…” 
“No, it’s alright. I think I probably deserved that.” Lance wiped blood away from his nose as he got up. He looked at it on his hand for a second, “Hell, I definitely deserved more than that; but, uh, I think we should finish this some other time. Yeah?” 
Lance turned his back to them and left as well. He followed down the same hallway as Keith and Shiro.
He stopped behind a corner when he heard their voices in the hallway.
“Shiro, are you okay?”
“No! What he did wasn’t okay!” Lance flinched a bit at the sound of a metal fist hitting the wall.
“I know and you have the right to be angry at him right now.”
“Damn right I do. And I know that... it’s just, yeah, I’m angry at him for lying to me like that. Especially about something like this, but I’m also angry at myself,”
“You shouldn’t be, he’s the one that pushed you even though he knew.”
“You didn’t hear him earlier, Keith.”
“In the kitchen, yeah I-”
“No, before that, when he asked me to train with him. Looking back, he sounded almost...,” Shiro paused, “Desperate.”
“What do you mean?”
He means addicted. Lance ignored his thoughts and stayed quiet against the wall.
“I mean, at first, when he asked me I said no. And then he started saying all this stuff he was worried about and I thought, if I can give him this one thing, maybe he’ll keep talking like this. Maybe he’ll end up better than I did. Maybe I can fix this. But he knew I’d give him what he wanted. He was just trying to use me Keith! How do I react to that!?”
“I don’t really think there’s any way you could have expected him to do this.”
“But that’s the thing, Keith. I should’ve. I should’ve expected it, I should’ve known. Just like when I got him captured, I wasn’t thinking about him, I was thinking about me. Again! I should’ve been able to tell this time. ”
“No, Shiro. The only way this could’ve been avoided is if he had told us about the ringing. This is on him. Not you.”
“No, it’s my responsibility-”
“Keith is right, y’know.” Lance finally turned around the corner to meet them. Keith’s face instantly went from gentle to furious again. “As much as I hate to say it, Keith is right, I should’ve told you guys.”
“I swear to God, Lance, are you looking to get punched again?”
“No the first time was enough, thank you.”
“Wait, Keith, you punched him?” Shiro glanced at his brother.
“Well, yeah, it didn’t look like you were going to. So why didn’t you tell us, Lance? I get we’re all having ‘hindsight is 20/20’ moments but something like that is kind of important.”
“I didn’t say anything because I thought it was just me.”
“Huh?”
“I didn’t know it was the chip and I didn’t know why I suddenly felt the need to fight all the time. Why I was such a horrible person to be addicted to something as horrible as the Arena. I thought this was my punishment, for doing everything I did to get through the Arena. I was-,” Lance swallowed and looked away, “I was ashamed.”
Lance’s mind still told him he should be ashamed. That it was his punishment and he would never-.
“Why the hell would you be ashamed for surviving in-” Keith started out angrily, but Shiro cut him off.
“Because you felt like a monster.” 
Lance’s head snapped back up to look at Shiro in surprise before glancing back down again. 
Shiro pushed past Keith to approach Lance. “You felt like a monster because you thought you were addicted to enjoying the fights.” Shiro said it like a realization, like he was finally recognizing something.
“How do you-?”
“Like you said earlier, Lance; I have a bit of experience with guilt complexes and carrying the weight of the world on my back.” Shiro set his hand on Lance’s shoulder.
“Hey!” Lance said with mock indignation, “I came here to apologize to you, not the other way around.” Lance half-heartedly pulled away from Shiro’s hand, “I am sorry by the way. I shouldn’t have done that to you. No matter the circumstances.”
“I can’t say I forgive you just yet, but at the very least, I understand.” 
“That’s all I can ask for Shiro.”
“Hey! I’m still mad at you!” Keith yelled from behind Shiro.
“I wouldn't expect anything less, Samurai!” Lance yelled back.
“Ugh. Come on Keith, I’m taking you away before you can hit him again.” Shiro was already dragging Keith down the hallway towards his room.
Lance briefly listened to the muffled arguments of ‘but he deserved it!’ and ‘that doesn’t mean you can hit our teammates for me.’ He gave a small smile.
He looked down at the slight tremble in his hands before shoving his fist roughly into the pocket of his jacket. A problem for another day.
Next Chapter: https://snaileer.tumblr.com/post/618602039029760000/chips-salsa-chp-5
First Chapter: https://snaileer.tumblr.com/post/613092735756402688/chips-and-salsa-chp-1
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lady-literature · 4 years ago
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what a lion cannot manage chp 3
Ao3 | chp 1 | chp 2 | chp 3 | chp 4
Her first thought—after screaming, of course—is that she needs to go tell Kacchan right now. She just found out something big and insane and Kacchan would want to know too.
She curbs that desire before it can go anywhere.
This is huge, yes, and she doesn't want to keep this from Kacchan but it’s also not her secret to tell. All Might- Yagi hadn’t wanted her to know. Otherwise, he would have told her.
But he didn’t. She figured it out accidentally instead.
Ugh.
How is one supposed to deal with figuring out their idol’s secret identity? How is someone supposed to deal with having known their idol for months without actually knowing and she just… Izumi has so many emotions about this.
All his nervousness whenever she brought up All Might makes so much sense now and, oh kami. She’s gushed about him to his face. Just have Kacchan explodo-kill her now. It’ll be a mercy.
How is she supposed to face Yagi now? What is she going to tell him?
She keens, low and long and distressed, in the silence of her room.
It probably says a lot about her general existence that it’s that and not the scream that brings Aoi crashing through her door with a worried expression.
***
The next three days pass in a daze for Izumi.
It’s only by the grace of everyone thinking she’s just upset over Yagi-san that she gets through it. Which, she means, they aren’t technically wrong. But not for the reasons they think.
She misses him like an ache in her chest but it’s her mind that’s the problem.
Aligning the image of the Great Savior All Might, their Symbol of Peace and model by which all great Heroes strive to follow, with her dorky, awkward Yagi who spends his free time telling corny jokes is just… disorienting. It makes both too much and absolutely zero sense.
How can one person be so different and yet so similar at the same time?
She can tell she’s starting to get on Kacchan’s nerves with all her fidgeting and not-quite muttering. He’s taken to knocking her on the head when she spirals too far or when he needs her attention. Sometimes, she can even catch him frowning at her out of the corner of her eye.
It’s the same look he uses when unraveling complicated chemical equations.
She wishes she could just tell him, could share her worries and fears and concerns but she can’t. Instead, she smiles and begs him to take her to the bakery on main street until he gets irritated enough to stop trying to figure out why she’s upset.
***
Her and Yagi talk near every day. Even if it’s only a few texts with hours between responses.
It had taken him two days in the beginning to call her. Days she now knows were probably busily filled with whatever All Might business he’d been pushing off to be here, but at the time she thought he’d been avoiding her. She’d been scared to reach out, hesitant to make the leap as doubts filled her mind.
But after, it was as if the floodgates opened. Calls and texts and video chats were exchanged as often as possible, the pair reaching out with the same vigour they had when they were right next to one another. 
He’s slow to answer texts sometimes, and video chats are often hastily rescheduled with little notice but Izumi understands. He’s busy. He’s All Might, after all. She can’t fault him for saving people.
What kind of Hero would that make her if she did?
***
For all the talking they do, Izumi never actually brings up him being All Might.
It’s not like she’s trying to hide it, but it just… never seems like the right time. It’s not a conversation to have on the phone, she thinks. 
And it’s not like she’s going to tell anyone, so it’s probably fine, right? She’s just waiting until she sees him in person again, until his next visit. It’s a delicate situation that requires a certain level of finesse that you can’t get over the phone, is all.
Not because Izumi is terrified that she’d accidentally betrayed his trust too much to come back from and he’ll never speak to her again if he finds out so she’s trying to prolong her time with him for as long as possible.
Certainly not that.
***
Izumi opens the door right as Katsuki raises his fist to pound on the wood with all the aggression to be found in his boyish body. His fist halts mid-air, almost punching her in the eye.
He scowls at her. “I hate when you do that.”
She grins at the stutter in his heartbeat they both know she can hear. They both know he thinks it’s cool though he’s never said it.
“Did you need something, Kacchan?” she asks instead of pointing that out. He only gets grumpier when she acknowledges those kinds of things.
“What kind of stupid question is that? We’re going to the park, idiot. Or did you forget?”
Izumi thinks back over the last couple days. Katsuki never asked her to go to the park.
She decides not to point that out either.
“Let me grab my notebook.”
“Whatever. Just hurry the fuck up!”
“Language!” someone calls from inside the house. Katsuki automatically flips them off despite not being able to see them or vice versa. She finishes pulling on her shoes and pushes him off down the street before he can get into another screaming match with Uncle Kyo.
“We’re going to the park!” she yells into the house, raising her voice for the benefit of the humans’.
“Have fun, sweetheart!” her mom says from the upstairs along with a chorus of other well wishes from everyone else.
***
Izumi will be the first to admit she has a bit of a skewed metric for what most people consider ‘normal.’ Katsuki’s not that far behind her, she thinks, but Kami forbid she tell him that.
Exhibit A: most kids come to the park to play in the jungle gym or build sandcastles. Izumi and Katsuki… do not do that.
“Kacchan, you’re putting too much strain on your joints!” Izumi calls from where she’s perched along the bar on top of the swingsets, balanced in a way one can only achieve with a tail for a counterweight. “Try bending your elbow more!”
“Don’t tell me what to do, damn nerd!” he shouts, vaulting over the balance beam. “I don’t need your fucking help!”
His heartbeat doesn’t stutter—both because it’s going to fast for it to and what he said isn’t really a lie anyway.
His arms still loosen up, because he knows she’s right and her advice has never been about him needing it.
The new angle should lessen the stress on his elbows but it’s going to make him sore quicker. Izumi makes a note about looking up exercises to help strengthen the muscles in his arms and shoulders in the corner of the page.
For the last month or so, Katsuki’s been all but brimming with excess energy. He’s barely able to sit still in the classroom anymore and seems angrier than ever. He’s even been suspended from the wrestling team for one too many displays of aggression. He still does kickboxing every other day but it’s not quite cutting it.
Izumi’s taken to pulling him out to the track at lunchtime to let him run out whatever energy he can but it’s not enough. The first few hours after school and weekend mornings have become dominated by Katsuki dragging her into the forest to jog up the hiking trails or to the park for her to set up increasingly difficult obstacle courses for him.
Like today.
He’ll keep going until he’s dead on his feet, she knows, refusing to stop until he hits a wall of exhaustion and she has to half-drag, half-carry him back home.
It’s really starting to worry her, watching him work himself into the ground for no discernable reason. But he won’t talk to her about it.
She’s not sure if he’s embarrassed or prideful or some other self-important reason he’s come up with, but it all comes out to the same thing: Izumi floundering around to help treat the symptoms of the sickness Katsuki won’t talk about.
She can’t even yell at him about keeping secrets from her because all that would do is piss him off and make her a hypocrite.
They both know Izumi keeps things from him, has secrets she can’t and won’t share with him (secrets that burn at the base of her throat, that keep building in number despite her best efforts).
One day they’re going to fight about that. It’s all she can do to push it off until tomorrow.
***
Izumi gets good at reading between the lines during her time talking with Yagi.
She’d already been good, in an unpolished fox-born-affinity kind of way. But having to parse through Yagi’s heavily edited daily schedules makes her better.
He’s good at lying without lying. Dancing around issues and straight-up avoiding others. She can see how he’s kept his identity a secret for so long.
It means Izumi has to be sneaky about her questioning. Has to do more than just not be obviously worried after she’d watched some two-bit villain throw him through a wall and oh kami, what about his side? Why isn’t he in the hospital?
She watches All Might fights with something rapidly approaching anxiety these days. Flinches at hits more than she cheers for his wins.
Kacchan notices because he’s far more observant than most people give him credit for.
He’s agitated by it as far as she can tell. Takes an almost personal offence to her worry over the number one hero, which is more than a little confusing for her.
Sure, he’s still a bit touchy about the whole ‘letting people help and worry about him’ thing but Izumi’s never seen him apply that hang-up to another person. Much less All Might.
Every time she wrings her hands at a TV screen or bites her lip while reading an article, Kacchan’s face twists like he swallowed a lemon. She wants to ask about it but is half-convinced it might be related to that other issue he won’t talk to her about, so she doesn’t. For now, at least.
Her temporary solution of waiting until Kacchan calms down just enough that she can tackle-hug him without being immediately thrown off is working well enough anyway.
***
Izumi remembers the first time she told Katsuki she wanted to be a hero, back when he was still all sharp edges and blistering palms. When it seemed like he’d never settle into his skin or breathe without the weight of all the expectations he’d placed on himself.
Before, even, the time she crawled back down a tree to meet the angry words of “why do you do that?”
He’d told her he was going to be a better hero than All Might and Izumi had brightened like he’d hung the stars. Her mouth was halfway around a rambling tirade about saving the day and helping people when he’d laughed. Harsh and cruel.
It stopped Izumi in her tracks.
“How are you gonna be a hero?” he taunts, nose raised in superiority. “All you can do is hear and smell stuff from far away! How are you supposed to fight anyone with a quirk like that?”
This isn’t the first time someone has said this to Izumi, and she doubts it will be the last. That’s the nature of the secret she keeps.
There is indignation in her chest. It is not new.
The anger though? That’s new. She’s never been truly angry at the townspeople before.
It hadn’t been so personal before. It doesn’t matter that she’d only known this boy for a few short weeks, he was hers. The winds whispered it to her, the pounding of the earth demanded it.
The townspeople are kind and friendly and hers in the detached way all innocents are hers, but Katsuki is different—is supposed to be different. Izumi does not know how many Protectors walk the earth, but Katsuki is the first she’d found and that means something whether either of them know it or not.
Her mouth twists into a frown. “Quirks aren’t everything.”
And they aren’t. She knows that, has known it since she sent Daiki to the nurse’s office in third grade.
Izumi has her teeth and her claws, has her mind and a viciousness born of the chaos at her center. She has magic, something so few people know how to wield these days.
And past that? Her Nona remembers the time before quirks, remembers their birth and the riots it started. The hatred. Izumi’s grown on stories and tales of the time before quirks. Of the great feats humanity made with nothing but their hands and minds.
It’s not quirks that make humans special. It never was.
Katsuki, arrogant and prideful and still so young, doesn't agree. Doesn’t understand.
“They hell they’re not!” he laughs and it’s a mocking sort of sound that makes tears prick at her eyes. “You only say that because yours is weak.”
“No!” she shouts. Her voice cracks and her breath heaves from her lungs like she can’t get enough air but she shouts anyway. “I’m not weak. I’m not less than you! You’re just being a bully and mean and that’s not how a hero acts!”
Katsuki pushes her to the ground and she’s sobbing now because the wind whispers to her and she knows, she knows, deep in her chest, that this is important. That there’s a crossroads here and it will change everything if she picks wrong.
“All Might wins and smiles and is kind and you’ll never be like him if you act like a bully!” she yells through her tears. Glares at him from her spot on the ground, through her tears and pain and hope and she thinks no. Not this time. Not him. Not here.
Izumi plants her hands on the ground, her knees dirty and face red, and she stands back up as tall as she can, chin tilted in defiance. She’s a whole head shorter than him and looks a sorry sight with all her tears but she stands before her friend, the boy that Fate Herself decreed would walk at her side until the very end, and she glares.
Greek fire against boiling pools of blood and she doesn’t bother to flinch. She won’t bend for this.
She will bend and bend until she breaks for so many things but not for this. For this, she will be stone or she will shatter.
“You’re not supposed to be mean,” she says firmly, honestly. “If you keep looking down on everyone, you’re only going to be sad and angry and alone. If you can’t see that, you’re not gonna get better and you won’t grow.”
He looks like she slapped him. Stricken and utterly still and furious but she doesn't care.
She’s not weak. Power is an old friend of hers and the world will shake beneath her feet. Izumi will grow up and she will be mighty.
Not even her precious Kacchan can tell her she can’t.
***
It was that moment, she thinks, that truly changed his path. Her inability to let him ruin himself for the sake of his pride.
If she was kinder, less selfish perhaps, she might have let him grow into it himself. Let him make mistakes and learn from them and lean on others for those life lessons.
But she is not and she didn’t. Instead, she shoved him into lessons he was not meant to learn yet for years to come. Instead, she robbed him of his growth and cheapened it because she could not live with him hating her. Because she couldn’t bear to live in a world where he thought her small.
She only hopes that when he realizes what she did, he doesn’t hate her for it.
***
Katsuki knows there’s something strange about his best friend. He’d have to be blind, deaf and fucking moronic to not have noticed.
But, well. Weird shit happens all the time in this town. People do weird shit all the time in this town.
Spirit traps hang from every eve. The crows are smarter here than anywhere else. No one walks through the crossroads at the center of town. People carry salt in their pockets and iron jewellery on their wrists. Half the deaths in town are unexplained.
Something’s weird with his best friend, but then, he thinks, something’s weird with everyone.
He gets used to what he can and pointedly ignores the rest. It’s whatever. It’s not like it really affects him .
Until it does.
***
Katsuki starts seeing things from the corners of his eyes.
Shadows that move and pockets of air that shimmer like hot asphalt. Things that aren’t really there and faces that terrify him even when he can’t remember why. Voices just at the edge of his hearing and feelings he can’t explain.
 A bunch of weird things that don’t mean anything and definitely don’t make him jumpy or paranoid.
So what if he starts keeping a dreamcatcher above his bed or good luck charms in his pockets? Or if he starts flicking his bedroom light on and off three times before actually turning it off at night?
That no one’s business but his own. It doesn’t matter that he doesn’t really know why he does it. He doesn't need to explain himself to anyone.
It’s nothing.
At least, until he has to stop looking at Izu head-on because when he does, he gets so dizzy he wants to vomit. Or when there’s suddenly three times as many people in town with familiar green hair that make his vision swim just to look at, and weird, overly large foxes running at the edge of the forest.
***
There’s a door in his house that wasn’t there that morning.
It’s in one of the basement hallways, tucked away in a corner and when Katsuki stares at it, it gives him the same ‘headache behind the eyes’ feeling as all the new broccoli-tops running around town.
A normal person would be unnerved and confused by all the fuckery going on. This has horror movie written all over it, with Katsuki starring front and center to get demonically possessed.
Katsuki glares at the door before barging his way through it without fanfare.
Being unnerved is for losers who never get shit done and any two-bit demon that thinks they can control him will be in for one hell of a surprise. Namely, his fist up whatever the equivalent of their ass is.
***
The door opens up into a stairway that leads to a secret second basement containing a library filled with books and the weirdest shit Katsuki has ever seen in his life.
He plucks a book from the shelf at random, opens to a page in the middle and skims over the overly fancy handwriting.
His blood freezes at what he reads.
***
At eleven years old, Katsuki is filled to bursting with energy and jittering nerves like something in his gut was building and building and building and-
There are things hidden in shadows and the darkness, things with teeth and too many eyes and rules he doesn’t understand but should because they’re all so familiar, why does he-?
There’s a library under his house filled with things that shouldn’t exist and knowledge that belongs in folktales and fantasy books but Katsuki knows it’s true because something in his mind has clicked into place like it was always meant to and suddenly he can see-
He sits at a table surrounded by books and Katsuki reads and learns and his thoughts spin faster and faster and confusion fades to a muted sort of horror and understanding. He feels bile rise in his throat because, oh kami, he didn’t- this wasn’t- he doesn't want to know-
At eleven years old, Katsuki learns about the supernatural and yōkai and all that hides behind the veil and he grows sick because he’s not stupid. He can see now and the books before him are filled with insane things but they’re all real. His best friend is yōkai, is a fox.
And Katsuki’s family has spent generations hunting them.
***
“I think Kacchan’s avoiding me.”
Yagi blinks at her through the screen. “Hello to you too, my dear.”
“Sorry, yes. Hi, Yagi! I miss you lots,” she babbles quickly before going back to the problem at hand. “Kacchan’s avoiding me and I don’t know why.”
Yagi hums thoughtfully even as his mouth twitches with amusement. “Are you sure that’s what he’s doing? Hiding doesn't sound like the Young Bakugou.”
“It’s not hiding,” she defends on instinct, then bites the end of her thumb. “But I don’t know what else it would be. He’s acting… acting a lot like he did when we were first friends. How he only interacted with me when he had to.”
“Now that definitely doesn’t sound like Young Bakugou,” Yagi half-heartedly teases, starting to look worried on behalf of Izumi. “Have you, perhaps, spoken to him about it?”
Izumi gives him a look like he’s just told her he thinks the sky is orange.
“I’ll take that as a no.”
“You don’t just spring emotional conversations on Kacchan, Yagi,” she says, looking almost scandalized. “He’ll get hives or something.”
Yagi, for his part, only covers his mouth with his hand instead of slamming his face into the desk or bursting into laughter at her misery. That’s what Aoi did when Izumi asked her for advice, the unhelpful jerk.
“If that’s so, then I’m sure you just need to give him time. He’ll come to you when he’s ready.”
It’s not the advice Izumi wanted to hear because she’d already figured that and she’s far from a patient person. But, she also knows he’s right.
“Yeah, maybe,” she sighs unhappily. Then, she plants her elbows on the table. “So how’s work going? Are your coworkers teasing you again?”
Yagi pulls a face like he’s trying to be long-suffering but it hits too close to amused and fond. “They always are, my girl. Always.”
***
If she didn’t know any better, she’d think Kacchan was just waiting for her to get anxious enough to blab to Yagi before he put her out of her misery. It’s a reliable way to gauge how big of a problem she thinks something is, seeing as she doesn’t like adding more things to Yagi’s already overflowing plate.
It was almost anti-climactic considering all the horrible things Izumi had been imagining. But, in her defense, it was her and Kacchan. Neither of them ever did anything by halves.
He corners her after school and pulls her down one of the hallways no one goes down. She’s so relieved that he’s actually looking at her and not pretending she doesn’t exist that she doesn’t even care when he crams her between him and the corner where the end of the lockers meet the wall, effectively boxing her in.
Her mouth is already halfway around a question, ready to start speaking at a thousand miles an hour without giving him a chance, but he beats her to it.
“I know.”
Her mouth snaps shut in her confusion. Her head tilts. “Know what?”
His eyes are boring into hers, the first time he’s looked her in the eye in… she doesn't even know. A month? It was before he started avoiding her entirely at least.
She watches as slowly, purposefully, his eyes flick to the top of her head.
She’s still confused. Is there something wrong with her hair? Her ears flick in impatience, waiting for him to just tell her-  
His eyes follow the movement.
Her ears stand straight up, panic coursing through her and his eyes follow that too. He can see.
He can see.
“You’re a fox,” he says and it’s not a question. “A Shual Nephesh, right?”
Behind her eyes, her mind spins and whirls like a hurricane. Moving so much faster than everyone around her, a mess of plans and paths and actions laid before her like a prophecy of her own choosing.
She stares into his eyes, into glittering pools of blood, and sees the nervousness hidden there behind the arrogance and bluster. She sees the wariness and the confusion. But no fear. No hatred.
Izumi takes a deep breath, lets it out slowly, and makes a decision.
“We need to talk to Nona.”
***
Everyone’s surprisingly calm about Katsuki being in the know.
Most of the adults give her an almost disappointedly exasperated look before she explains he has the Sight which is what gave them away. Which… rude. Sure, she’s been wanting to tell Kacchan for years but that doesn’t mean she would. Not when Nona gave a direct order.
She can get away with a lot but not even she would test such a boundary. Though, by the looks, she’s almost sure she could’ve. Interesting. A thought for later.
They almost get through it all without a major incident.
That is, until Kacchan opens his mouth and drops a bigger bomb than him being the first person in a hundred years to figure them out.
“There’s something else you should know.” He’s shuffling his feet next to her and if Izumi didn’t know any better she’d think he’s worried. But about what?
Her Nona raises her brow at him. “And that is?”
“My Mom’s maiden name was Takanashi.”
Oh.
Oh.
Yeah. That’ll do it.
***
They try to make her leave the room.
Izumi snorts and latches onto Kacchan's arm, staunchly refusing to let go. You don’t spend almost four years as Bakugou Kastuki’s best friend without picking up at least a few of his brattier habits. Such as his problem with doing things he doesn’t want to.
 Izumi knows what hunters are, knows to be wary of them the same way all yōkai are. She knows who the Takanashi Clan are too, knows they’re the reason her skulk is hidden away on their own land even if no one will tell her why or what they did.
Learning that Katsuki, her best friend, is a Takanashi? A descendant of the same people who cursed her skulk? Her born enemy?
Well. 
Izumi’s not quite as upset as she supposes she should be.
It’s just that, it’s still Kacchan isn’t it? The same boy they’ve all know for years? Nothing’s really changed. He can’t help the family he was born into and it’s not like he’s ever threatened them or was even likely to do so.
She doesn’t understand why everyone’s throwing a fit.
After a long five minutes of people yelling and being unnecessarily dramatic—distantly, Izumi wonders if this is how her classmates feel around her and Kacchan—she decides enough is enough.
She shares a look with Aoi, one of the few people not making a big deal out of this, along with her mother and Nana Naoki. Aoi understands what she needs without speaking.
A sharp whistle pierces the air. Loud and shrill enough to make even the humans wince in pain.
It’s quiet almost immediately, and Izumi grins even as the adults glare at them.
This is why Aoi is her favourite.
“Thank you,” she smiles, then turns back to Kacchan, patting his forearm. “You can keep talking now.”
***
Everyone’s staring at him.
Adults who are older than they look and far more powerful all have their attention on him.
Nona—Midoriya Asuka, the Matriarch—is standing before him, perfectly poised with all five of her tails fanned out behind her. She doesn’t look older than forty even though he knows she has to be more than two hundred. Her silver eyes bore into him and he’s almost positive she’s exactly what Izu will look like in however many years. Powerful aura and all.
He can taste ozone in the air and knows that it won’t matter that he’s known most of these people for years. It won’t matter that he and Izu are practically inseparable or that Inko is as much his mom as she is Izu’s and vice versa with his own parents.
One wrong move and he doesn’t think he’ll leave this room.
He can’t even say he’d blame them. He doesn’t know exactly what his family did to them, but he knows it wasn’t good. Knows it forced them into hiding. Them, Shaalim Nephashoth. These great, powerful beings who should be neatly sat at the top of the yōkai food chain, just under the Kami Themselves and Nephilim.
So, Katsuki does what he always does when faced with a challenge. Raises his chin and charges forward. Failure isn’t an option and Katsuki sneers at the very idea.
He needs them to trust him which means he needs to prove he can be trusted.
There’s a reason he spent so long holed up in that damned library, paging through books that made him queasy to look at. He had to get this right.
He locks eyes with the Midoriya Matriarch and speaks, clear and with as much authority as he, a boy still a few months from twelve years, can muster.
“I, Bakugou Katsuki, renounce my ties to the Takanashi Clan by witness of the earth, moon and stars. The grudges of my ancestors are not my own and no secrets held by the Midoriya Skulk will pass my lips.” His hands flex at his sides and he takes a deep breath. “I walk this path with you, not against you. I swear it.”
He can feel the metal and magic curling it’s way around his wrist, so similar to the one he can now see on Izu's. He doesn’t look at it, too busy holding the Matriarch’s gaze and awaiting her judgement.
It’s tense for a few long seconds and the smell of ozone grows almost overwhelming. He doesn’t dare to even breathe.
And then… she blinks. Her eyes are a warm green rather than gunmetal silver and something like approval rests there.
“Very well. Your oath is accepted, young Seer. I, and that of my skulk, hold no ill will toward you.”
His breath wooshes out of him and he thinks he hears laughter at the edges of the room.
Nona—because that’s who she is again, not the Matriarch—turns her head towards Izu behind him. “You’ve chosen a good one.”
Izu latches onto his arm and Auntie Inko comes up on his other side to thread her fingers through his hair.
“I know,” she says proudly.
***
It falls to Izumi to explain everything, even though it probably shouldn’t have.
Katsuki, unsurprisingly, came in with a good chunk of knowledge. For all that he’s an easily lit fuse, he’s not one to disregard an advantage. And for this situation? Knowledge was the only one he had.
Izumi kindly but firmly corrects any of the stereotypes or misconceptions his source material gave him, which was surprisingly few. The Takanashi’s bestiary was unexpectedly unbiased, it seemed.
Katsuki still looks a bit shaken from having his entire worldview turned upside down and exhausted by all the things he’s learned, so they call Mitsuki and Masaru and tell him he’s going to stay the night. It’s a bit odd, because Katsuki has never set foot in her house before, much less spent the night, but the magic settled around them means that the Bakugous don’t question it. Izumi’s spent more than enough nights at their house, so as far as they're concerned, this is normal.
It isn’t, but they aren’t going to tell them that.
Her and Kacchan build a pillow fort in the middle of her room. Kacchan starfishes out, taking up as much space as possible while Izumi curls tightly into a ball and tucks herself up against the crook of his flung out arm.
“I was pissed, you know,” he says into the darkness, apropos of nothing. It’s still dark outside and they’d be getting up for breakfast soon if they had ever gone to bed in the first place. “Absolutely furious that you kept something this big from me. I thought you- I figured that you were so damn powerful and that you’ve just spent the last four years laughing at me.”
Izumi jolts, lifting her head to stare at him in a mixture of surprise and horror. “Kacchan, I would never-”
“I know,” he cuts her off. “I know. It took me reading two more pages to figure that out. That you weren’t hiding because it was fun.”
“I wanted to tell you,” she insists and it’s true. She hated lying to Kacchan. It was just so fundamentally wrong to lie to him. But this wasn’t like with her name. This wasn’t a secret she could just do with as she wished. It affected more than just herself and she couldn’t risk her skulk the same way she’s willing to risk herself.
She doesn’t really know how to tell him that though.
“I’m still angry, and- and I hate that you could keep a secret this big from me but I… I don’t hate you.”
Izumi nods, because that’s fair.
“I’ll make it up to you,” she promises.
He snorts, knocking the back of his fist against her forehead. “Damn well better, loser. I expect you to be waiting on me hand and foot for the next month.”
 She grabs his wrist, because he’s always so fussy about his hands and the dangers associated thereof, and draws designs into it with the tip of her fingers, just under his binding.
Kacchan harrumphs but doesn't pull away and she has to smother her smile. “Of course, O Great King Bakugou,” she teases. “I am but your loyal servant.”
“Good,” he says haughtily and she doesn't have to look at him to hear the smirk in his voice. “My first order will be that you have to clean my room for me tomorrow.” He pauses. “Also, never call me ‘Bakugou’ ever again. That shit’s weird.”
Izumi gasps. “I knew you liked the nickname!”
“Eat shit and die.”
It’s not a denial and Izumi can't stop herself from chirping happily. Even when it prompts him into trying to smother her with a pillow.
***
 Katsuki’s gotten good at interpreting Izumi’s moods over the years.
She’s an open book—unlike him—and you’d think that would mean it’s easy to tell what she’s feeling but you would, of course, be wrong.
Sure she expresses herself freely and rarely tries to hide her emotions from anyone, but that means jack shit when half of them just get expressed as ‘start crying immediately’ anyway.
The amount of rage and frustration that first year had been, trying to understand her outbursts and anticipate them… Katsuki still winces at some of the following fights.
But the thing about Izu having a tail and ears, about him being able to see them now? It’s that it makes his job about two hundred percent easier. After a brief adjustment period where he has to relearn all her non-verbal signals with the inclusions of ears and a tail, he settles himself neatly at the top of the list of people who can read her like a book. Higher than, perhaps, even Auntie Inko.
It’s a surprisingly comforting thought. Especially since she’s been able to see through him for years now.
Turnabout's fair play and all that.
***
It’s two days later when Izumi sticks her head in through Kacchan’s window. It’s seven in the morning and they don’t have school today. She expects him to still be in bed but instead, he’s hunched over his desk doing ninth-grade level math they weren’t even assigned.
And he calls her the nerd.
“Hey, Kacchan!” she says brightly, grabbing his attention.
He whirls around, palms already sparking dangerously before he sees her at the window.
“Jesus fuck,” he snaps, glare chilling enough to curdle milk. “I’m gonna kill you.”
Izumi pouts at him, laying her chin on his window sill. “Aww. Kacchan that’s not nice.”
“I don’t give a damn.” He slouches back into his desk chair. Then, slowly he narrows his eyes at her, and by proxy, the window she’s leaning through. “How the fuck are you doing that?”
“What do you mean?” she asks, faux innocence.
The look he gives her is ten kinds of unamused. “I live on the second floor.”
“Yeah, so?” Izumi can practically see the steam slowly building in his ears. Smiling, she hoists herself up over the ledge with ease and front flips into the room, arms raised as she sticks the landing.
Kacchan kicks at her legs.
“I hate you,” he says to her form as she sprawls comfortably on the bed.
“Mhmm,” she hums dryly. “Nona sent me over to take inventory of your reliquary. I’m supposed to take whatever’s interesting and burn anything overly insulting.”
He raises an eyebrow at her, challenging.
“They figured I’d be the least conspicuous,” she pauses, pulling a face. “I’m also pretty sure it’s a test of some kind, but I’m not sure what about or why.”
Her only answer is a grunt.
“Now, come on and get dressed! We’ve got work to do.”
“Don’t tell me what to do,” he snaps but turns around to grab jeans and a black t-shirt with the word ‘SMASH!’ written in red, white, and blue inside a comic book explosion. Idly, she thinks she could probably get that signed for him.
Five minutes later, Izumi descends the stairs with Kacchan in tow to eat breakfast. She tells the Bakugous good morning as she sits at the counter and they regard her with something like amused exasperation. Mitsuki offers to make her scrambled eggs instead of asking how she got into their house without their knowing.
Raising Katsuki taught them when to pick their battles. Meeting little Izumi, who’s as crafty as she is sweet, only served to cement that lesson.
***
The second she steps into the reliquary, her nose wrinkles. Not just at the number of books she’s going to have to sort through—because seriously, were the Takanashis’ some kind of hoarders?—but also at the more… distasteful decorations.
Along the walls and placed on any open space are what Izumi can only assume are meant to be trophies.
Pixie wings pinned carefully onto boards, hollowed horns of more creatures than she can recognize, wings and teeth and claws laid out like cheap prizes. Selkie skins, harpy feathers, swan maiden coats, and wolf fur. Pelts of every color and kind are strung up like tapestries or thrown on the floor like rugs.
Izumi actually hisses when she catches sight of a honey gold foxtail placed in a display case.
There’s more, so much more, but she shuts her eyes and tries to breathe past the smell of death and rot and twisted, hungry magic blanketing the whole room.
She can feel Kacchan frowning at her, hears him shuffle a half step closer to her in an attempt at comfort. “Shoulda warned ya,” he says and it’s about as close to sorry as he gets.
“It’s fine,” she says. “When will your parents be gone?”
There’s a lot in here they need to get out and all of it are things his parents can’t see. Cursed objects in inadequate containers and more remains then she can count that deserve to be put to rest properly.
Kami, her skulk’s going to want to raise the Takanashis from their shallow graves just to kill them all over again when they see this.
“They’re going on a date tonight, actually. They’ll be gone for a couple hours.”
She nods and pulls out her phone to call the house and tell them. This was her job, and she’ll go through the books, but there’s no way she’s touching half the stuff in here without an expert telling her she can. She’s surprised the house hasn’t collapsed with how much malicious magic she can feel in here.
“What books did you already go through? We’ll sort those ones first.”
***
They spend hours down there, skimming through tomes and sorting them into ‘ acceptable’, ‘needs a more thorough read-through’, and ‘ just fucking burn it’ piles.
Nona, along with six of Izumi’s grandparents, arrive ten minutes after the Bakugous leave and their reaction to the reliquary is pretty spot on of what she expected. Which is as gratifying as it is mildly terrifying because she doesn’t think she’s ever seen her family so furious before.
Izumi and Katsuki, sometimes with the assistance of actual adults who should be doing this in the first place, make their way through all the books in about a week and a half. She’s actually kind of impressed with the amount that proved not to be total wastes of time.
She’s also, perhaps, a little bit surprised when she doesn’t catch anyone going back through the books and checking her work. No one questions her judgement.
Izumi isn’t sure what to make of that.
***
“So, is that why you and your family are so fucking weird?”
Izumi pauses, looking up from the collection of Edgar Allen Poe she was reading to stare at Kacchan who’s made himself more than comfortable on her bean bag chair. She tries to figure out what he’s trying to ask her but ultimately gives up.
“Huh?”
“Foxes,” he says like she’s stupid for not being capable of mindreading. “Are they all so fucking weird or is it just you guys?”
Izumi’s lips twist. “Most of the skulk are human.”
Kacchan rolls his eyes, flopping back against all the pillows he stole from her bed to make his throne. “Of course you are. I don’t know why I even tried.”
***
Yagi: Midoriya, my dear!
I’ve discovered a very interesting fact I think you’d enjoy
Me: oh?
what is it?
Yagi: Did you know french fries weren’t originally made in France?
Me: uh…
i guess ive never thought about it?
where were they invented?
Yagi: They were first cooked in GREECE!
Me: …
Yagi no
Yagi: HAHAHA!
Me: you have the lamest sense of humor
im going to tell everyone about your crime against jokes
Yagi: And I’m sure they will find it equally humorous!
Me: youre lucky i like you
Yagi: Of course my dear.
Me: b/c your puns are horrible
im half convinced you only helped me learn english so you can subject me to this
Yagi: That’s not very nice.
And I would NEVER
Me: mhmmm
are we still on for the skype call in an hour?
Yagi: I wouldn’t miss it.
Me: are you finally gonna tell me what the surprise is?
Yagi: Patience is a virtue, young Izumi.
Me: and sloth is a sin
come on! i’m super excited!
you’ve been hinting at it for like,,,, a week
Yagi: Quick-witted as always. Yes. I will be revealing my surprise finally.
Me: yay! :)
see you then!
Yagi: See you then, my dear.
13 notes · View notes
waywardodysseys · 5 years ago
Text
Resigned to Fate - Chapter Four
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Warnings: sexual tension, cussing
Word count: 4.8k
Author’s note: never written for Star Wars universe but with The Mandalorian figured why not; olarom – welcome & nayc – no in Mando’a; as always thank you for reading!!!
Resigned to Fate: Chp. 1, Chp. 2, Chp. 3
 You’re jolted awake by the rapid movement of the Razor Crest, veering to the right then left quickly. It’s a repeated maneuver you realize. A repeated maneuver done when there was someone chasing and shooting at you in the deep abyss of space. You scramble out of the small bunk and climb up into the cockpit.
           “What’s going on?” You ask.
           “I’ve got another bounty hunter on my tail.” Mando’s voice is fused with frustration.
           “Another?”
           Mando is silent as he focuses on zeroing in on the other ship chasing the Razor Crest. He’s flipping levers and pushing down on the throttle making sure the other ship doesn’t lock in on his.
           “Where were you heading?” You ask impatiently.
           “I don’t know. I feel like we are out of options.”
           You sigh and look down at the chair behind Mando’s. The child is looking up at you from a makeshift bed. He coos at you and moves his ears back and forth once.
           “We should go to Endor.”
           “No.” Mando hastily answers. He pushes even harder on the throttle as the dashboard beeps. “Finally got you locked.”
           You grasp onto the chair the child is in to keep you steady. “I’m the protector here Mando! You abide by what I say.”
           “Endor is no place for us. It is battle ridden. There’s—”
           “There’s no one there Mando.” You interrupt. You know the planet is full of Ewoks but your contact was there as well. He didn’t need to know that, yet.
           “There’s Ewoks.”
           “Those buggers will leave us alone if we leave them alone.”
           Mando sighs and pushes a button. Seconds later a flash of light then an explosion occurs in front of the Razor Crest. The explosion isn’t heard but it’s felt when Mando pushes the Razor Crest through the debris and further into space. Once clear of the debris field Mando stands and faces you.
           “No to Endor.”
           “Why?”
           “Because I say so.” Mando climbs down to the cargo bay.
           You follow him down. “You hired me Mando! Not the fucking other way around!”
           Mando busies himself by checking the integrity of ship. Making sure there are no visible signs of damage to the ship’s hull.
           “Where have you been?” You ask.
           “Sorgan, Tatooine. Eventually the kid is found.”
           “You took something Mando. You’ll always be on the run. We can’t stay in space forever. I mean, I’d love to, but we need to land. Find food, find shelter.”
           “And your option is Endor?”
           “Our only option is Endor.”
           Mando looks at you. He glances over your body frame once. “Who’s there?”
           “It doesn’t matter,” you say defensively.
           He takes one step closer to you. “Who’s there?”
           “No one is there! And no one will know we are there. It’s out of the way.” You hiss.
           “You never know.” Mando retorts. “You aren’t the one running away. You aren’t the fugitive.” He pauses, looking at you through his helmet. “Last time, kyramud. Who’s there?”
           You’re surprised by him calling you a killer in the Mando’a language. He’s less than a couple of inches from you and you can feel the warmth of his body. You know his heart is steady whereas yours is racing inside your chest. You look at his helmeted head. “You hired me beroya! I say Endor, we go. To. Endor.” You emphasize Endor by pointing at him, your finger pressing down on the beskar metal of his chest plate. You walk towards the ladder leading to the cockpit. “I will fly us in.”
           Mando moves to the ladder quickly. “No one else touches the controls.”
           “Too bad Mando.” You sneer. “I’ll get us down to the surface. Nothing to be afraid of.”
           Mando watches you climb the ladder. He hears the kid coo loudly.
           “He’s a stubborn one, isn’t he?” Your voice airy.
           The child coos again a couple of times.
           Mando hears you laugh. The sound of your light laugh is a sweet melody to his ears. He wouldn’t mind hearing play on repeat. He lets go of the ladder at the thought. He hasn’t teamed with anyone in ages yet here you are, flying his ship, controlling where he goes. He turns away from the ladder, trying to distract himself from the thoughts of your laugh, from the thoughts of someone else flying his beloved Razor Crest.
           You key in Endor into the navigation system. “Destination set.” Your voice light as you place the child in your lap. He looks up at you and smiles. He’s tiny and reminds of you a green bean. You smile down at him. “Want something green bean?”
           He coos and reaches toward a lever with a silver ball attached at the top.
           You reach over and unscrew it. “Your favorite toy?”
           He coos once the silver ball is in his tiny hand.
           You laugh lightly. “Of course it is.”
           Minutes later the ship is hailed through the coms as Endor comes into view. “Identify yourself.”
           You turn the coms down as you take note of the white swirling clouds covering the planet as well as the blue water and green land below peeking through. “Razor Crest.”
           “Not your vessel pilot.” The robotic voice is filled with sarcasm. “Your name.”
           You grin and sigh. “It’s D.B.”
           Silence responds then, “olarom. Coming in alone?”
           “Nayc.” You say as you push the Razor Crest through the atmosphere of Endor.
           “Alright. I’ll let you land in sector seven. How long?”
           “Indefinitely.”
           “Good luck. Over and out.”
           The cockpit is quiet. You look down at the child who’s mesmerized by the silver ball. The moment you met plays in your mind. You remember the wave of heat rolling through your body when it grasped your finger. You wonder if the baby had felt it too – the acknowledgement of two people finding one another who are Force sensitive.
You wonder where it came from, wonder where it’s going. The Mandalorian hadn’t told you much about why he really rescued the child besides being concerned for its life. The Mandalorians were known for adopting children and showing them the way of the Mandalore culture.  You could feel, no, sense the Mandalorian had a heart, had feelings because he went back for something he wasn’t supposed to go back for.
You fly the Razor Crest to sector seven of the planet. Your contact had mapped out and divided the planet into sectors when you both had compromised to be on Endor together five years ago. You knew Endor well enough to know sector seven was laced with forests and mountains. Some of the debris from the Death Star was also in the area. Your contact would be in sector one, which would be at least a two-day hike. You were planning on visiting them while you were here with Mando and the child, but they’d probably venture out and get curious about why you hadn’t returned alone first.
After setting the Razor Crest down, you and the child make your way to the cargo bay where Mando is opening the ramp.
“We made it in one piece.” You say.
He gives you a sideways glance, remains quiet.
“What?” You raise your eyebrows.
“Nothing.” He walks down the ramp.
You cross your arms. “Talk to me Mando.”
“You’re the protector. Watch the kid.” Mando responds, walking further away from the Razor Crest.
           “I’m also your protector,” you mumble quietly. You cross your arms, watching him walk away. You could sense he knows something, but you can’t place your finger on it. You kept the com low, making sure he couldn’t hear your transmitted conversation with your contact on the surface. You felt he knew you were lying about there being no one here. You never answered him, you avoided telling him the truth. And it probably got to him like he was getting to you.
-------
Mando walks into the thickness of the forest. His mind raging with thoughts. You had defied him when he had told you no to Endor. He didn’t want to think of you being the one in charge, but he had hired you to keep him and the kid safe. It gnawed at him constantly because he wasn’t the one calling the shots, you were.
           Then there had been the avoidance of you answering his question about someone being on Endor. He had been looking you dead on under his helmet when he asked you each time. He knew there was someone here and he didn’t know if he was jealous or angry, maybe both, there was someone on Endor you possibly called friend, family, lover.
           Feeling closed in, Mando takes off his helmet. He breathes the smell of the forest into his lungs and the quietness fills his ears. Mando lets the surroundings of where he is sink in.
Maybe, he thinks, she made the right choice by coming here.
-------
As night falls on the planet you watch as the Mandalorian and the child walk back into the makeshift campsite. Mando had taken the child along with him for a short walk to obtain more firewood for the crackling fire, the only sound in the stillness of the evening. The child walks over to you and you notice two dangling feet from its mouth.
           “Seriously?” You raise your eyebrows. Green bean swallows the frog and you grimace lightly. Your stomach turning at the thought of you having to eat a frog.
           Green bean coos loudly at you. You shake your head in return. You’re still trying to process what you feel, what you hear when it looks at you.
           “Do you know what he’s saying?” Mando’s deep, rich mechanical like voice cuts through the silence.
           Yes, you quietly answer. But to Mando you say, “it’s a child. Full of questions, full of curiosities. It understands me, understands you.”
           Mando curtly nods at you as the child looks at you and coos. “I’ll take first watch.”
           “I can.” You say, returning your gaze to him.
           “I will.” He replies as he stands. “Get some rest.”
           You rise quicker in one fluid motion. “I’m sure you’re tired beroya. You sleep first. Don’t worry about me.”
           You get up from your spot and head out 50 feet. You begin walking the circle perimeter Mando established shorty after landing. It was what he was doing when he left you to watch over the child. The perimeter included the campsite and the Razor Crest. He had returned to you a few hours later. You were starting a fire and the child was watching you with its wide eyes.
           “Fire starter too?” Mando had asked.
           “I’m a woman of many talents Mando.” You had replied with a tease in your voice.
           Mando wasn’t interested in the humor. “I’ll go hunt.”
           “No Ewok please. They taste fucking horrible.”
           “Noted.” Mando had stated before disappearing again.
           Now you were making your way around a third time on the perimeter thinking about your old job, your old boss. Things were simpler on Kashyyyk, protecting a lone human among a planet full of Wookies. Instead of guarding one lone being it was now two, and you were doing it alone, with no help. One of them a Mandalorian who didn’t need protecting. He’s a warrior of his own right. He’s strong, capable, dependable. He didn’t need you, yet you had a gut feeling he did. Then there was the child. Adorable, quiet, curious. It cooed at you, blinked its eyes at you, moved its ears back and forth trying to understand you. Trying to converse to you in a manner, it seemed, only you and him could talk without the Mandalorian knowing you were talking.
           The crack of a tree branch pulls you away from your thoughts. You turn around and face the darkness of the forest. Your sword in your right hand, your blaster in your left. Your eyes strain in the darkness to see anything moving amongst the trees and their branches. There was another crack to your right. You turn and walk a couple of feet. You glance back at the campsite; it seems faint in the distance, but you could make out the Mandalorian and the child.
           “Show yourself!” You half whisper, half shout at the darkness.
           You see a shadow move in the darkness. You hear the hum of a lightsaber turn on. You notice the green color and lower your weapons.
           “Couldn’t even last a day without knowing?” You ask the figure.
           The shadow steps forward, the lightsaber illuminating the small space between the two of you. “I was extremely intrigued because you weren’t alone.”
           You take in the golden helmet of the woman Mandalorian in front of you. Her armor is the same golden color and covers her stocky body frame. “Kathrina.” You say simply.
           “Y/N.” She peers over your shoulder. “A Mandalorian? And what’s the creature he’s holding?”
           “Yes, and I’m not sure about the creature but it knows I’m Force sensitive. Or well, I sense it knows I am Force sensitive? The Mandalorian hasn’t told me much about the creature, let alone himself.”
           “Yet you trust him?”
           You shrug. “I have to Kath. He knows I was Deathblade. He says he’s willing to keep my secret.”  
           Kath sighs at your sarcasm. “Does he know I’m here?”
           “He knows someone is here. I avoided giving him an answer when he asked who was here. Just told him Ewoks.” You retort. You watch as she takes in the campfire scene before her from where you two are standing. “How’s everyone?”
           Kath keeps her focus on the campsite. “Good. There are reports an enclave on Nevarro came out of hiding due to a Mandalorian, and a green creature.” She looks at you. “Did he tell you that?”
           You swallow. “Fuck no. He just needed my help, my protection. Because of who I was.”
           “Because of who you are Y/N. Just because Deathblade is dead to the Empire doesn’t mean she’s dead when you are still walking around the galaxy. The name may be dead Y/N but you are still alive.” Kath spits out.
           “I don’t want any trouble. He doesn’t want any trouble. We’ll keep away.” You whisper to her. You didn’t want your home to be found.
           Kath turns and looks at you. “I’ll try my best to keep them away. The foundlings do miss you though. But Mandalorians do protect one another Y/N. You should remember that.”
           You let her words soak in. Kath had fled her home, it’s why she ended up on Endor. You had just faked your death and needed a place to lay low, it’s why you choose Endor. When you both had first met you fought nearly to the death then realized you two needed each other to survive. She knew your history and you knew hers too. You two had been close and inseparable since the truce you two had made to longer no fight each other, but to help one another.
           “You think they’ll still accept him? After the shit he’s done.” You ask.
           “Mando’ad draar digu.” Kath whispers. “But you have.”
           “I’m not Mandalorian Kath.”
           “You were raised learning the Mandalorian ways. You were taught to use our religion to the full extent of your knowledge. You used that religion to kill, still do. You are Mandalorian even though you might not see it. I do, the foundlings do. Some of the enclave of Mandalorians see you as one of them, even though no helmet sits atop your head.” She turns to leave but stops. “I’ll come back and check on you from time to time. When you are ready for more protection for the creature, and for the fugitive let me know.” She touches your shoulder lightly. “You can come home and stay a while.”
           You watch as Kath retreats into the forest. You turn and face the campsite. The Mandalorian is nestled on the ground and green bean is snug in his arms. Part of you wants to go back to sector one, the other part wants you to stay here with Mando and the green bean. The three of you would be best here for the time being. You didn’t want to shock the Mandalorian you were protecting with an enclave of Mandalorians especially if what Kath told you was true.
You knew once you told him the truth – there is someone here, more than one person actually – he’d hate you. You no doubt would tell him it’s for his protection, for the child’s protection. After all he hired you, not the other way around.
-------
Days turn into weeks, weeks turned into a month then two months. The past two months with Mando and the child had been interesting to say the least. He wondered off throughout the day, the child either stayed with you or went with him. And when you left the child had always left with you, leaving Mando alone at the campsite. There were days you wondered if he took off his helmet when you weren’t around. Your mind dreamt of what he looked like under the helmet. You felt you were getting comfortable with the armored warrior and you knew once you felt comfortable it was time to move on, time to find another job, another relationship. Your mind even dreamt of what it would be like to have him between your legs, to feel his mouth on you, his hands on you. And damn it, when that happened you scoured away and didn’t return for hours, leaving him alone with the child. You knew they were safe, but he didn’t think so. He laid into you each and every time you returned.
           “You can’t leave us alone Y/N!” He would shout at you.”
           “You’re fine beroya!” You had always yelled back. “Stop saying my name!”
           “What am I to call you? I don’t want to call you kyramud every time we have an argument!” He’d shout back.
           The child usually cooed loudly at this point. Probably wondering why you two were fighting with one another. Both of you would be in each other’s faces and take a step back from one other.
           “Fine Mando. Use my name. I don’t care.” You had reluctantly told him one day.
           “Y/N.” He had said your name softly.
           You had kept your emotions in check as you turned away from his reaching arm. Your name on his lips caused you to want him more. You began to ache for him. “Hate me all you want beroya. I don’t fucking care. When I need my space let me be. It’s all I ask.” You had told him before walking away.
           Now you waited quietly in the stillness and darkness of the forest. You turn once you heard the hum of a lightsaber. The green light illuminating Kath in her golden armor as she walks forward.
           “You look…not yourself.” Kath remarks.
           “I know. It’s been an interesting couple of months.” You retort.
           “Are you ready to come home?” Kath asks.
           Ready as ever. “What’s the plan?”
           “Just you and I.” Kath answers. “I brought back up.”
           You and Kath begin walking, both of you quiet as you approach the campsite. The dwindling fire is crackling as you reach for the sleeping green bean. He doesn’t make a sound but snuggles further into the blanket and into your arms.
           Kath moves her lightsaber in a swirling motion above her head. Seconds later a group of armored and helmeted Mandalorians step from the shadows.
           You watch as your Mando bolts up rapidly. “It’s okay Mando.” Did you really just think of Mando as yours?
           He looks between you and Kath. His fingers above his blaster. “What’s going on?”
           You walk up to him, touch his helmet with your free hand. “Trust me Mando. Gedet’ye.”
           He moves his head, looks at you. His gloved fingers graze your cheek. The touch makes him aware you are real and not a dream, then something envelops him and he’s hauled away.
           You look at Kath seconds later. “Why the goddamn bag?!”
           “You know he can’t know where the bunker is Y/N. I can’t chance it; they can’t chance it.” Kath turns towards the Razor Crest. “Let’s get this ship to sector one. The boys will be able to hide it well.”
           An hour later you’re inside the bunker of sector one. It’s large enough, length and depth wise, to hold one Death Star inside of it. You walk in with the green bean still sleeping in your arms.
           “Where is he?” You ask Kath.
           Kath walks over to a tall, skeletal Mandalorian whose helmet has two horns. “Hey Brute. Where’s the runner?”
           “He’s in Y/N’s room.” Brute replies with his baritone helmeted voice.
           You raise your eyebrows and look at Kath. “He’s not mine.”
           “To them he is. Since he’s under your protection.” Kath walks over to you. “I’ll place the child with the foundlings for the time being. I’m sure you need to calm down your Mando.”
           You look down at the green bean, knowing he’ll be okay. Knowing the three of you are in a safe place. “When he wakes come find me, or Mando.”
           Kath takes the child, cuddles it in her arms. She smiles at you. “No worries sister. I got the child, I got you. I always got you.”
           You watch as Kath walks away with the green bean. You then turn and make your way down a long-tunneled corridor. The bunker is quiet since mostly everyone is asleep. You reach the door to your room. You hadn’t been in it for a while. You reach towards the keypad to open it and the door opens suddenly. In the doorframe is Mando. He grabs your arm and yanks you inside the room. The door closes shut and locks.
           “Where are we?” He asks. His voice is coated in anger and frustration.
           “Bunker. On Endor.” Your voice is calm, light.
           “So you do know someone here?”
           “Yes.”
           “How many people are here Y/N?”
           “Less than a 100.”
           “What is this?”
           “A fucking bunker!” You repeat.
           “I know what this is! I want to know what is here, in the bunker.” Mando shouts.
           “A hideaway. Kathrina and I ended up here years ago. I after I faked my death, her after leaving her home. We fought for days on end because we both wanted to be here, we both weren’t going to leave. Eventually we came to a truce, figuring we needed each other more instead of fighting with one another. We found the bunker, began expanding it then an enclave of Mandalorians came and we took them in as long as we helped each other. There are foundlings here too. I stayed as long as I could. I pleaded with Kath I needed to go, I wanted to be back out in the galaxy. I was restless. She gave in and let me go. We’ve been like sisters since day one inside this bunker.” You sit on the bed. “You’re safe here Mando. There’s no other safer place in the outer rim then here.”
           Mando’s quiet as he paces your small room.
           You stand up and walk towards him, stopping him. You reach up and touch his helmet. “You may hate me all you want but we are safe here Mando.”
           “You are safe here. I’m an outsider.” His voice cracks. “You will always be safe here. It’s your home. I should take the kid and leave.”
           “Leave? We’ve been here two months with no other hunters finding us, without the man you’ve told me about finding us!” You plead. “We are safe here Mando. For once let your guard down.”
           He places his gloved hands on top of yours. “I’ll never let my guard down.” He pauses. “Once a Mandalorian, always a Mandalorian.”
           You look at him with tears in your eyes. You remember your adoptive mother saying those exact words to you when you were little. When you were once preparing to place a helmet on your head. You push through the memory and say to Mando, “you’re paying me to do a job Mandalorian. I found us a safe place. With people I know and trust, with people you can get to know, and trust. Don’t leave me.” You realize you’re asking him to stay for you. You don’t correct yourself. “Please. Don’t leave me.”
           Mando’s quiet for several beats. He walks to the door, presses the button to unlock and open it. He glances back at you before stepping out of the room, leaving you alone.
-------
“Where you going Mando?” The golden armored Mandalorian from before asks.
           “Away from here. Where’s the kid?”
           She crosses her arms. “With the children.”
           “I need to take him and leave.” Mando says taking a stop closer.
           From the shadows another Mandalorian walks out. He makes a couple deep grunting noises while swinging a battle axe in his hand.
           “It’s okay Brute.” She looks at the tall Mandalorian. “He’s not going anywhere.”
           “I don’t want to cause trouble. I don’t want this enclave to be found,” Mando pauses, “I don’t want Y/N’s home to be destroyed.”
           “We are on a planet no one wants to come to. You’ll be safe here. If you get restless like she did I can find jobs for you.” Her voice smiles. “The enclave here welcomes you Mando. You are Y/N’s guest, the kid is Y/N’s guest. She is family, will always be family.”
           Mando thinks about the kid, thinks about you. The child had been forming a bond with you since you had walked into the kid’s life. He even noticed how strong that bond was becoming because of your conversations with the child. Mando didn’t think anything of it at first but then he watched you and the kid communicate more closely.  He would overhear you having conversations, answering the kid’s silent questions. Mando knew, or least felt, you knew what the child was cooing about. What questions it was asking you and then the answers you gave the child. Yes, it seemed, you knew more about the child then you’d let on. Your whole history was a question to him, and he wanted the answer, needed the answer. You were an entire puzzle he was wanting to piece together.
Mando knows he hired you, not the other way around. Over the past weeks this had always slipped his mind. It could have been his Mandalorian mentality, or the fact you were bonding with the kid, and you and the kid needed his protection. But you were the protector for the kid, the protector for him. And he knew, he realizes, this was the best move you could make for him and the kid – bringing him and the kid to the bunker.
Mando looks between the two Mandalorians. He turns on his heel and walks back down the corridor towards Y/N’s room. The door slides open and he walks into the darkness of the room.
“Y/N.” Mando says lightly. He takes off his gloves and reaches for your figure sitting on the bed. Your skin is soft as silk when his fingers caress your cheek.
You push his hand aside. “Go away Mando.”
He hears the sadness in your voice. He tells you, “I’m not going anywhere. I forget you are the protector. I’m sorry. If this is what’s best, then I must abide by what you decide. I just, this is your family, your home, and I don’t want to be the cause of its destruction. I want you to have a home to come back to when this is all over.”
           “You could have a home here too.”
           Mando pulls you up to your feet and presses his helmeted head against yours. He feels your hands on his helmet. He wants a home too. More than anything, he wants you. He takes your hands away from his helmet. “Close your eyes.”
           “I’m not—” You begin.
           “Close your eyes Y/N.”
           A shiver rolls down your spine when he says your name. You comply and close your eyes. Seconds later you feel his forehead against yours then his mouth against yours. Your heart leaps in your chest as you loop your arms around his neck, pressing yourself against him deepening the kiss.
           Mando wraps his arms around you pulling you close. He returns the deep kiss, pushing his tongue against your lips. He smiles against them when you let him in to further taste and explore. He doesn’t want to let you go. You and the kid are the only two things that matter to him, even though he won’t admit it to you.
           You pull away, breathless. Your eyes still closed. “Mando.”
           Mando smiles. He reaches up with a gloveless hand, traces your jawline, your swollen lips. He wants you, needs you. The past two months have been a whirlwind – the highs have been working with you to protect the child, the lows were when you would walk away and he’d be concerned you wouldn’t return, yet when you did his heart seemed to skip a beat at your presence; you hadn’t left the child, you hadn’t left him.
He lets this memory sear itself to his brain because there’s no one else he’d rather be with, rather have in his arms than you. 
Chapter Five
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