#and the way she doesn't even hesitate to check - approaches him from behind!

[idliketobeatree]

yea I think about the extremely unrehearsed hug Niko gave Edwin, and how delighted he was in those few seconds even if he wasn't sure where to put his hands about 8 times a day. wbu

[sicklyseraphnsuch]

Simon really doesn't question Betty, and you know, that's not a bad thing. Betty is a woman who knows her own mind. Simon's not about to mansplain Betty's desires to Betty.

And it really is quite clear that he follows her lead throughout their whole relationship.

(Note: I wrote this at 3am so unsure how much sense this makes)

In this scene, when he compliments Betty for figuring out the petroglyphs (petrigrofs lol) on the vase, he laughs and makes a throwaway comment about Betty coming with him on the next trip. I do believe it's a throwaway because he just throws it out there.

But Betty snaps onto that opportunity like a fish catching bait. Or maybe a cat pouncing on a mouse. She didn't have to say that she's missing a whole other trip for his, but she does and also follows up with the conclusion that yes. She will go with him.

There's an awkward, "Oookay..." from Simon that belies a hesitancy. But Betty seems intent on taking the inch she was given and making it a mile. Who is Simon to question this grown woman's decisions?

This follows through with Betty making the move to take their relationship to the next level.

Simon was complacent. That's the story of Simon's life. He was complacent and content to keep their relationship professional. Betty makes the leap. That's the story of their romance. Betty makes the leap and confesses to Simon.

And in his confession to her, Simon simply echoes her words right back.

And why not? Why not say the thing that she explicitly wants from him? Why not follow the instructions? Why take a risk and say things differently than what has explicitly been laid out for him?

But that's also Simon's flaw in a nutshell. For a smart guy, he's absolute Shit at picking up what Betty puts down. Even when it's staring him straight in the face.

And Betty herself is terrified of being frank about her feelings for him. Look at the way she confesses to him. She leaves a letter in a book that he might check out soon (maybe in a week, maybe in a month, maybe in a year, who knows?). It was rather roundabout, wasn't it? "I drop my love letter in a book so maybe you will find it"?

To be fair, she is afraid of coming off as too strong. Her rambling about her trip before accepting Simon's offer lends to the idea of someone thinking through her thoughts out loud, but also emphasizing in a roundabout way how much she really Really likes him. Simon does not pick up her attraction to him.

He calls her "library girl" because she is a veritable stranger, why would he reciprocate her attraction right off the bat? Cautious, careful Simon yielding to love at first sight? It's not his style. But Betty does half the work of falling in love with him prior to meeting him. All Simon needs to do is notice.

Simon disappoints her on two occassions. He calls her "indispensable", despite the now clear chemistry between them. He didn't ask her out in the following two weeks, and in his words kept things "professional" despite her Very obvious infatuation with him and what she dearly wants from him. ("And I love you love you love you love you, is it obvious to everyone else?")

And then that SCENE.

He's done it! He used her words! (Because clearly his first approach to lecture her didn't communicate his feelings - Simon, you donk)

And look at her face, she is so ready to be kissed! But Simon tucks her hair behind her ear and lets go. Betty leans in but... again, she stops herself from coming on too strong.

Because she takes the lead. She always takes the lead, and Simon is happy to follow her! But Betty is not a bastion of confidence. Again, we go back to my earlier point: Betty did half the hard work of falling in love with Simon before she met him.

This leads to two things - she can't be secure in the knowledge that Simon loves her as equally because she already loved him before they met and what if she's just imagining things because she's biased and wants her to love him? Likewise, she is intent on proving to Simon that she is lovable to him and he just follows along, without ever getting the chance to show how much he loves her.

He is complacent to be loved and to follow her lead on how to love. He doesn't act without her letter. He uses her words to confess.

Because Betty did half the work of falling for Simon when Simon wasn't around, how could he know the depth of her feelings? How can he be confident that she wouldn't leave the moment he mucks it up when he doesn't really know why she sticks around in the first place? Why wouldn't he beg for her to love him when he went crown crazy?

Why wouldn't he spend the last few seconds of a precious spell to forgive her for leaving him because why wouldn't she leave?

Here's my theory, what Simon sees is not Betty's conviction in her love for him - Simon sees a woman who knows her mind and changes priorities with alacrity. She had a research trip that she's willing to dump in a second? Well, research trips are important but hey, maybe that means her priorities are not cemented. She could love this now and choose to love another thing later.

It's like two ships passing each other through the night. Betty and Simon are terrible at being confident and secure in their love for one another to the point that they drive themselves crazy over it. Betty has something to prove. Simon is waiting for her to leave.

Why wouldn't he question her lack of pursuits? Betty knows herself. She'll go when she pleases, wouldn't she? Why wouldn't she?

The end result: Betty keeps taking the lead and Simon keeps following her, but a partnership is supposed to be on equal footing. They're supposed to travel together. And because Simon lacks the initiative or the assertiveness to balance out the relarionship, Betty is left to run wild with her insecurities, which in turn prevents her from pursuing her passions as all her drive fixates on securing Simon.

"Where will I go without you?"

"I'll never know."

[secretlyobito]

Arranged marriage! Itachi x reader

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Contains: teeny tiny bit of angst that turned into a lot, fluff, nicer Itachi, hurt to comfort, mentions of itachi's illness.

Part 2 to this

What was that incessant pain? Y/N groans as she awakes from her slumber groggily. Her hands fly to the aching spot, her neck, which was strained from sleeping in such an odd position. Why exactly am I sleeping on the floor she thought but grimaces soon after, as she remembers what happened. She had fallen asleep crying, all thanks to Itachi.

She scowls as she remembers his cruel words and the awful sensation of the genjustsu he had trapped her in, what exactly did she do to deserve that? All that just because she tried to make their relationship civil. She hisses in pain as she gets up from her spot on the floor, her sore limbs cracking and groaning in protest. She could feel the stinging sensation of dried tears on her cheeks and the inevitable puffiness of her face. Above all she felt this immense sadness, she thought he would at least come in to check on her or apologise but he didn't, what a jerk.

The shuffling in the bedroom alerts Itachi that she's awake. He planned to go in earlier but decided against it after hearing how hard she she was crying, the last thing she needed was to see his face. Now however, he had no more excuses to not apologise. He slowly approaches the bedroom, his heart thumping in his chest. What if she tells her grandfather about this? What if Hiruzen decides to cancel their deal and go ahead with the execution of the Uchiha because of this? He couldn't believe he let his emotions get the best of him like this, the Uchiha could be dead by tonight thanks to him.

Knock knock. He knows twice on the door, his mind still racing with thoughts. He needed to make her forget about this whole thing one way or the other, the future of the clan, of his little brother depended on it.

Knock knock. Perhaps he should just be friendly with her, that was what she wanted after all. Maybe if he gave her what she wanted then she wouldn't tell on him. Itachi cringed at his internal monologue, he really let things spin out of control. He felt like he was eight years old again, trying to convince sasuke not to tell on him to their parents by bribing him with attention and piggyback rides. Humiliating

Knock kno- The door swings open revealing an angry Y/N, her eyes were puffy and red, her cheeks stained with dry tears. Itachi's heart sinks at the sight and he doesn't even know why. He absolutely did not want to take it this far, he hadn't meant to hurt her like this. "Y/N..."

She stares at him, as if trying to convey her emotions with her eyes, her eyes that were filled with pain and resentment, towards him. He slowly backs her into the room, shutting the door behind them. He hesitantly grabs her hand and leads her over to the bed, sitting her down gently. He can sense the hesitation in her, it's almost as if she's scared of him now, he sighs, he really messed up.

"I am sorry Y/N. My actions were....unbecoming of someone of my status, much less as your husband". She keeps her head turned a way from him petutantly, he was joking if he thought that was all it was going to take to obtain her forgiveness. She fake sniffles, deciding to punish him, hoping to give him 1/10th of the torment he put her through.

Itachi panicks as he hears her sniffle, before he can stop himself his hand are moving to wipe her 'tears'. They both stare at each other in shock at itachi's very unusual display of affection, he quickly withdraws his hands, clearing his throat as he tries to dispel the now akward atmosphere. "I understand the severity of what I did and while I know I don't deserve your forgiveness, I'm willing to do whatever it takes to earn it" he has to force the words out of his throat, reminding himself he was doing this for his clan's sake.

She looks at him in skepticism, not believing a damn word he's saying. She wasn't stupid, she knew he was only apologising because he didn't want her to tell on him. Her chest twisted as she took in the fact that he didn't even value her emotions, she sighs as she turns further away from him, she wished he would just get out.

The next few moments were like slow motion, one minute she was getting ready to tell him to leave, the next minute she felt him wrap his arms around her. What. The. Heck. She blinked rapidly in surprise as she did a double take, Itachi was indeed hugging her! And....she couldn't say it felt bad. Maybe it was the fatigue, maybe it was the emotional trauma but she let herself relax into him. He was warm and smelt like a rainy day.

Itachi let out a breath as he felt her relax into his touch, he knew he had to show her he was sorry not just say it. It felt strange, all his instincts were screaming at him not to do this, he knew he had started to fall down a bottomless hole, surely he couldn't be falling for her. But would that be so wrong? His whole life he had trained himself like a machine, deliberately preventing himself from getting attached to anyone because the truth was, he couldn't. His health put a ticking time bomb on his life and he knew it was only a matter of time before he would succumb to sickness. He couldn't do this to her, he couldn't let her fall in love with him and then leave her but despite the storm raging in his mind, he felt himself pulling her closer. He held her tight as he breathed in the scent of her hair, he felt all his defenses crumbling and for once, he decided to let it happen. He would let himself this one selfish thing before he eventually met his demise, he would let himself love.

Months go by and true to his resolution, Itachi let himself grow closer to Y/N. They grew accustomed to each other's company, slept in the same bed and even called eachother pet names, Itachi's favourite for her being 'flower'.

Yet deep in his heart, he knew this was wrong. He knew he was doing a terrible thing, letting her love him knowing he could die at any moment, he shook his head trying to clear his thoughts as he waited on the living couch. The sky outside was painted beautifully with hues of orange and pink as the sun set. It was 6:28pm, much longer than when she was supposed to be home from work.

On a normal day, Itachi wouldn't even be home by this time but since he had no missions today, he decided to relax. His relaxation was cut short however, when he realized his wife wasn't back home the time she was supposed to be. Y/N was never really late on the days he was home, she was always home by 5 or a few minutes after. He was starting to get worried, was she ok? Did something happen?.

His thoughts were cut short as she pushed through the living room door "Hi Tachi, sorry I'm home late" she greets with a tight smile. Itachi was up on his feet immediately, something was wrong, her hair was disheveled and she looked shaken, not to mention that fake smile she just tried to fool him with. "flower, what happened?"

Her eyes widen as she hears his question, she shakes her head as she tries to push past him, "nothing I'm fine" Itachi blocks her path as he observes her with worry, he squints as he notices her hiding her left arm behind her back. "What are you doing? What happend to your hand" he asks trying to grab her hand, his eyes widen in shock as she jerks it back almost immediately, stumbling away from him. "N-nothing! I already told you" Itachi frowns as he watches her lie and move away from him "No more games Y/N let me see your hand" "It's fine Tachi, really!".

He scoffs as he approaches her slowly, determined to find out what's wrong with her. "I said I'm fine" she argues bringing her right hand to his chest to shove him away but Itachi uses the opening to grab the hand on his chest and yank her forward. She yelps as she stumbles into him, instinctively bringing out her left hand to balance herself. Itachi sees this and finally grabs the hand she had been hiding, bringing it up to his face to inspect it.

His eyes widen as he takes in the hand, her knuckles are busted, blood caking the skin. Her usually smooth skin is littered with cut and bruises. "What the hell Y/N! What is this??" "I-I fell" "cut the bullshit! Tell me what happened now damnit!" Itachi pleads, his chest tightening as he takes in her injured fist "please...."

She sighs as she takes in the distraught look on his face, she hated when he worried about her.

"My boss came in to work drunk today..." she starts, Itachi nods listening intently as he cradles her bruised fist in his larger one, gently caressing the flesh. "He started making a scene and yelling at eveyone, we had no idea what to do and we couldn't exactly call the police on him. Then he approached me.....he started telling me I was the worst worker here and that i was only in my position because of ji-chan. He called me names too, then he...." she stops her face contorting in discomfort.

"Then he what?" Itachi urges, moving his hand to rub her shoulder comfortignly. She takes a deep breath "......Then he touched me".

"..............."

".............."

"..........he did what?"

Part 3

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Ya'll this was supposed to be fluff but then the spirit of angst possessed me and I started writing about Itachi's illness 😭 guess this story's not gonna have a happy ending. Also just so you know, Itachi's gonna beat a bitch up in part 3, leave a like or reblog if you enjoyed!♡

[disneyprincemuke]

midnights, 9 * mv1

max finds out you'd gone to the club with alexandra, making him wonder if it’s really over when pictures of you and another man leak

pairings: max verstappen x fem!reader

warnings:

notes: nah when i finish this, i WILL be milking the whole series because this is my only breakup outlet left like damN

(series masterlist)

(prev) // (next)

max could not stop thinking of you all day - all week, in fact. ever since a rumour had started going around that he's moving on with another woman, he could only have imagined what it's like for you to see that.

it sucks because he'd just been doing nelson piquet a favour - bringing kelly into the paddocks for a race under his pass. but nothing more ever went down between them.

he could only think of how your hands go cold at the rumour and heart absolutely shattering. he admits that he thought of sending you a text that night, but cowered away at the fear of your rejection for his explanation. maybe you no longer cared about what he's doing with his life.

he knows that because you unfollowed him on instagram and every other social media platform alike. you have even taken it upon yourself to unfollow his private account, his profile riddled with pictures and memories of the two of you together that he has not had the courage to delete just yet.

the only reason that he is aware of your sudden decision to distance yourself from him after the breakup is when he was confused about the notable lack of you on his timeline. when he checked, you were just another account he is now a stranger to.

he believes it was brought about by the dating rumours. because he used to stalk you all the time.

all. the. time.

"max, mate," daniel's voice makes him lift his head, eyebrows raising as a response. daniel's lips carve into a smile before it quickly disappears without anyone else noticing. "i said do you wanna grab some drinks at the bar? charles is already there."

max hesitates. the urge to be alone in his hotel room is real; curling up in bed while he listened to his mellow playlist while he debates once more if he should reach out. but against his better judgement, he nods with a small smile on his face as he starts to follow behind the older man.

"so, how are you feeling?" daniel asks, turning to him with a polite smile as they walk. "better, hopefully?"

with a halfhearted smile, max shrugs. "a little."

"progress is still progress," daniel reassures him with a pat on his shoulder, "it will still get better from here. you know that."

max nods. but there's still a yearning for you that he can't explain or get over. while he can understand that time is needed apart from you, things are not seemingly going towards his favour, or at least the way he wants it to go.

his chances of getting back together with you are slim. he really wants to, but he cannot bear the thought you having to say goodbye to you a second time.

but if he had the chance to do it all over again with you, he’d try to change the course of time if it meant having you back in his arms.

he tries to get you off his mind by moving on to other topics of conversation. but all he can think about is how you could have been here, arm around his waist as you leaned into his body while giggling over something daniel said to you.

you should have been at parc ferme following every race finish with your arms opened wide, welcoming him in for a wide smile and a tight hug.

but you never are.

and it doesn't help that now he's at the bar, there's charles and alexandra exchanging loud conversation about an event she attended back home.

"oh yeah," alexandra laughs unknowingly as they approach, "she was wild that night! she took body tequila shots from this guy! and we'd just met him that night. it was insane."

daniel pops his head between the couple with a lazy smile on his face. "who took body shots from a random guy they met at the bar?"

alexandra whips her head around, locking eyes with max. she laughs nervously as charles puts his hand over her knee. "just my friend back home."

max looks at her knowingly, taking his seat in the opposite booth. "it's (y/n), isn't it?" he asks, looking at the menu. everyone falls silent as he scans the menu for something to drink, prompting him to look up, slightly annoyed. "else, why wouldn't you elaborate to daniel when he asked?"

"hey," charles says, exchanging a glance with alexandra next to him. he squeezes her hand and sits up, leaning towards max. "what's your problem?"

"nothing," max answers in the calmest tone he can find within himself, "it's just odd that she tried to cover it up when it's so obvious." he turns to daniel. "wasn't it?"

daniel stares at him, visibly gulping and then glancing at the couple that sits across them.

"i didn't know you were already here," alexandra explains, dropping her head low. "i would have stopped way earlier."

"why would you?" max smiles, albeit halfheartedly, then looks down at the menu again. "we've broken up, right? she can do what she wants - i'm not her problem anymore."

"right," alexandra nods, pressing her lips together and sinking into her seat. she gives daniel a small smile before taking a sip of her cocktail. "sorry."

"hey," charles says again, putting both hands on the table. "you fucked up. don't take it out on alex that you're upset (y/n) is no longer with you. weren't you the one who let her walk out?"

max looks up immediately, mouth agape as he tries to process the words that charles just spoke. it's true that max let you walk out, which is what hurt the most. and it's, in fact, unfair that he is being like this.

max just sighs. "you're right." he turns to alexandra. "i'm sorry, alex. i shouldn't have taken it out on you."

alexandra just smiles, nodding understandingly. "it's okay. breakups are hard, max. i shouldn't have been talking about it knowing you'd be here any second, anyway."

"okay," daniel finally speaks, hands held up between the three of them. "let's just have a peaceful dinner, alright? no more breakup talks - this is an enjoyable evening."

they murmur in agreement with a nod. but the tension is the air never lightens up, and neither does the churning in max's stomach which is increasingly getting harder to ignore.

there's something about the phone in max's pocket that's making him itch to check it.

so after they send their orders in, his friends immediately fall into a conversation and he fishes for his phone in his back pocket. there's only one notification.

one that told him he's justified for feeling sick.

don't react

they're just pictures

it's from victoria. he opens the message, received about 10 minutes ago when he left the paddocks with the older alpha tauri driver. he can almost imagine the pictures, even if victoria hadn't taken the liberty to curse him with the pleasure of seeing them.

so he opens instagram.

just as fate would have it, you're at the top of his timeline from some f1 gossip page that he had no idea he followed. in the first one, your face can be barely made out, crouched down as you step out of the backseat of a car with alexandra still in the car. but he recognises the dress - it's one that he got you a couple of years ago, after winning his first race with you as his girlfriend.

the sheer will you've got to be on a night out in a dress that he got you is something he has to give to you. that's absolutely one way to get back at him after the pictures of him and kelly.

something tells him it's about to get worse. and it does, because when he swipes to the next picture, it's you visibly looking intoxicated, he assumes from all the body shots you took. and his heart skips a beat in his chest as his mouth runs dry.

there it is, some guy holding the car door open for you. in the next, he's seen scooching in with you in that backseat.

"are you alright, mate?" charles' voice makes him look up as he drops his phone into his lap.

max takes a deep breath, unable to force a smile to his face. he just nods, swallowing the lump in his throat.

charles' stare on him lingers before he nods hesitantly and resumes the conversation with daniel. max's eyes shift to alexandra, now staring at her phone with parted lips.

she looks up, meeting his eyes with a worried stare.

max just shakes his head before she can say anything. he just leans back into the seat and folds his arms over his chest.

guess it's really over now between you.

taglist: @merchelsea @leclercdream @labelledejourr @laneyspaulding19 @lpab @graciewrote @hollie911 @thatsojasminesworld @mycenterfold @princessria127 @ironmaiden1313 @dl-yum @crlsummer @brekkers-whore @minkyungseokie @honethatty12 @barelytolerabled @vellicora @lokigoeschoki @avg-golden-retriever @lokigoeschoki @cherry-piee @telengraph

[talkingparrotkee]

One thing I like about MCU Shuri and also think several people sorely get wrong is that she's the more cool-headed character. She is slower to shout, panic, and anger, being relatively more laidback. Shuri would rather wall up and bury herself in her lab (M'Baku confirms this at Ramonda's funeral, and we see her doing just that in the beginning) before lashing out.

Even Ryan described how T'Challa was more hotheaded to T'Chaka's diplomat, while Shuri was the more cool and laid back one to fiery Ramonda.

We see it in her clothing styles.

We see this in the way she initially approaches things. Two key instances:

The way she first responds and confronts Namor. Shuri is still on defense at the river, but she is less combative or reactive compared to Ramonda. Shuri more quietly assesses and responds to him. Compare this to Ramonda, who immediately fires back and disregards what he says without even checking if it could possibly be true, to which Shuri has to point out some truths by empirical evidence (i.e., Ramonda dismissed him saying only they had vibranium, Shuri gently nudges her, saying he's covered in it, so that cannot be the case). A similar thing happens when she is down in Talokan with Namor. Throughout it all, Shuri kept a leveled head and bit back her tongue to think of solutions, even when things started turning south. She knew how to shut up as well rather than argue him down more (something not many people know how to do).

The way Shuri tried to extract Riri compared to Okoye. For starters, Shuri did not break into bathrooms or bring spears in Riri's dorm - she blended in and used the door. She did not make threats and give an ultimatum either. Shuri just tried to explain the urgency to Riri and draw her out without the use of physical force.

We also see it in her reactions with other characters.

In the first movie, she tells T'Challa to "calm down" when he shouts at her to drive. We also see her not care to fight T'Challa for the mantle, even if it is her birthright (she just wanted to go home and get out of a particularly uncomfortable corset). Instead, she prefers to fight alongside and as support.

Black Panther: "The Black Panther lives. And when he fights for the fate of Wakanda, I will be right there beside him."

Black Panther 2: "I was not trying to save the mantle mother, I was trying to save my brother."

For another example regarding her interactions with characters from Wakanda Forever, Riri is consistently depicted to be the more anxious and is more inclined to lose composure. Shuri, even when she's stressed or overwhelmed too, is often the one to remain composed. Shuri attempts to calm Riri down so she doesn't have a panic attack. Shuri also didn't reply when Riri started snapping at her about the FBI, only calmly working about and mapping out an escape plan.

One last particular example is with Okoye. Shuri is less quick to be defensive or shout compared to Okoye. We see it in the way Okoye commanded her to get in the car, and rather than shout back, she simply uttered quietly, "Why are you shouting at me..." Shuri didn't reply to Riri snapping, but Okoye did not let anything slide, pointing the finger back to her. During this entire exchange, Shuri was quietly observing before cutting in, saying how they needed to work together to get out of their situation.

Black Panther Wakanda Forever was her later in-character out-of-character. In other words, that unrivaled anger and snapping you saw was never her baseline. She's not an angry or vengeful person. That was the point of Ramonda, "Show him who you are," when she was hesitating killing Namor.

It was the result of her character at a breaking point. Shuri was not coping properly and dealing with frustrations she couldn't see her way out of. Shuri was struggling with spirituality. She was trying to know if her family was truly still there. She was trying to find the reason behind her failure and loss. Shuri already began cracking since T'Chaka died (see: Wakanda Files). T'Challa's death just broke her, with her narrowly holding her pieces together.

[daydreamingqueen1]

Puppy eyes

Pairing: Spencer Reid x BAU! Reader (can be seen as platonic too)

Warnings: none. fluff, spencer being a bit of a germaphobe, no y/n, pretty sure is gn reader too

Summary: Spencer Reid vs puppy, need I say more

Word count: 1.3k

✰⋆✰⋆✰⋆✰⋆✰⋆✰⋆✰⋆✰⋆✰⋆✰⋆✰⋆✰⋆✰⋆✰⋆✰⋆✰⋆

It's the best day ever.

Your day had started pretty normal to be honest, you would even say it was kind of shitty since you had missed the subway you usually took for your daily commute to the BAU.

But, as wiser people say: Everything happens for a reason.

Because as you are making your way to work, your ears catch the soft sound of a creature whimpering. Trying to find the source, you give a couple tentative steps with your head turning from left to right like you are a hunting hound.

Ironically, behind the decorative bushes that surround the FBI building entrance, you find the origin of the sound.

It's not a hound but it's close enough. It's a puppy.

A beautiful, chocolate spotted puppy.

"Oh my god, sweetie, come here!" you gush automatically, your hand extending gently to reach for the animal currently crying between the bushes and the wall.

The adorable puppy looks up at you a bit hesitant at first, big brown eyes meeting yours. It gives a sniff to the air, checking the scent of your palm from afar, you almost squeal from how cute it looks.

Then it wags its tail.

You make kissy noises to coax him closer, your voice getting two tones higher, "Come here puppy!"

It works because soon enough it walks out of its hiding spot and nuzzles into your palm eagerly, tail wagging from side to side.

You practically lunge to grab the poor thing, "Look at you! You are so cute!"

The puppy doesn't seem to mind your cuteness aggression though, its fluffy body melting on your arms when you scratch behind its long ears, "You're coming home with me."

Best day ever.

But you can't just ignore your responsibilities and walk back home to stay with it, and it wouldn't be sensible to leave such a young puppy alone in your apartment either.

So you do the next most reasonable thing.

Your smile almost takes up your whole face when you walk out of the elevator with the puppy in your arms.

Penelope spots you first, immediately dropping the files on her hands on a random desk to come rushing to you, "Oh my god! Oh my god! It's that a puppy my eyes are seeing?!"

You giggle, pretty much vibrating with joy at this point, "Yes, isn't it the cutest thing ever?"

"Aww, my heart can't deal with this!" she cries, hands fanning herself dramatically.

"Where did you get it?" Prentiss chirps in, hers and almost every other head in the bullpen looking up from their desk to look at you. Well, at the puppy.

You keep walking into the office with Garcia looming all over you, "It was crying outside. This little thing was all alone in the bushes."

A hoard of agents are suddenly surrounding you, eager to get a closer look.

"You'll have to look if it belongs to someone," Morgan says, which makes you instantly pout.

"It doesn't have a collar, idiot," Emily argues quickly, "Such a profiler you are."

"I wanna keep it," you smile brightly, "I think it's a boy."

You turn the puppy onto it's back.

"Yep, definitely a boy," Morgan chuckles, he attempts to pet its head but the creature recoils in your arms, clearly overwhelmed at the amount of people.

Noticing the puppy is a bit scared, you pull back from the crowd, only then you notice a certain agent who remains seated on his desk.

“Don't you want to see it, Spencer?” you ask eagerly.

He shakes his head, his body leaning away slightly, “I can see it from right here, don't worry.”

“Oh, come on Reid, don't tell me you are afraid of dogs,” Derek never loses a chance to tease him.

Spencer gives him a flat look, “I'm not scared of dogs, I’m just aware of the amount of diseases they can transmit to humans.”

You tsk your tongue. “But he's so cute, and it doesn't look like it has rabies or anything,” you look down at the dog while approaching his desk, talking directly at it with a baby voice, “Tell me, do you have rabies, little puppy?”

It just stares blankly at you. Proof enough. “See?”

Spencer, ever the statistics expert, begins his rant, “Well, actually, rabies is not the most common disease dogs can carry, nor the only one. Illnesses that pass between animals and humans are known as zoonotic diseases and a 2007 study based in Finland shows that noroviruses are one of the leading causes of diarrheal diseases among people of all age groups and that these can survive in dogs and be passed along to– Please don't get that thing any closer.”

You chuckle at the panic look Spencer gives you when you reach his side. Truthfully, you aren't going to make him touch the puppy if he's uncomfortable with it, but a little bit of teasing is at the order of the day, “Oh, really? Come on, holding it for a second won't kill you.”

You pull the puppy up next to your face and give him your best puppy eyes, mimicking talking as the puppy, “Please? Am I not cute enough to pet?”

Spencer gives you a long look, “Yes, very cute.”

Forcing down your blush, you extend the puppy to him, “Then pet it.”

He presses his lips in a line, his hands coming up defensively as he rolls backwards on his office chair, “I think I'll pass.”

You chuckle and are about to back off when the puppy squirms in your arms, leaping out from your hands.

The scene unfolds in front of your eyes almost in slow motion. You watch how the pup flies in the air, its short body extended as a superhero.

Spencer catches it, thank god.

“Oh, no,” he squeaks when he realizes what he's done, holding the puppy as if it were about to explode, panickedly starting to name every possible disease, “Pasteurella, Salmonella, Brucella, Yersinia enterocolitica, Leptospira–”

His alarmed ramble gets interrupted by the enthusiastic puppy licking up his cheek.

You freeze for a moment, expecting him to die from a heart attack.

Spencer giggles.

“It's giving me kisses,” his face scrunches up adorably at the onslaught of affection, “It tickles, buddy.”

You can't help the relieved laugh that escapes your lips, “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, yeah, I'm going to have to wash my face with antibacterial soap though,” he chuckles as he puts the puppy down on his lap, away from further kisses.

Oh, and you've just fucked up so bad because your heart gets squeezed inside your chest at the endering sight of Spencer and the puppy staring at each other.

“You are right, he's cute,” Spencer turns to smile at you, the animal's tail wagging incessantly.

You fucked up good.

“Aww, look at you two,” Penelope says excitedly, “It even looks like you, Reid!”

Your gaze shifts back and forth from your coworker to the creature on his lap. Penelope has a point, you can kind of see the resemblance. The puppy has long ears with soft, brown curls covering them that look similar to Spencer's long hair. The cute, hazel puppy dog eyes go without saying.

Morgan snorts, “Babygirl, you are right, it kind of looks like the kid.”

You pick up the puppy and smile, “Seems like I got myself my own mini Doctor Reid,”

Spencer is about to say something back when Hotch’s office opens, both him and Rossi entering the bullpen.

“Agent, please tell me that's not a dog you have there.” Hotch gives you a stern look.

“It is not, sir,” you answer, smiling apologetically and holding the puppy closer against your chest.

He sighs, shaking his head. “Everyone to the meeting room, we've got a case.”

The puppy lets out a tiny bark, and you make your way to the meeting room before Hotch can tell you anything else.

Spencer sits next to you on the round table and whispers against your ear as everyone is filling in, “I'll help you take care of little Doc here if you decide to keep him.”

Not even the gruesome details of the case are enough to sour your mood.

Best day ever.

✰⋆✰⋆✰⋆✰⋆✰⋆✰⋆✰⋆✰⋆✰⋆✰⋆✰⋆✰⋆✰⋆✰⋆✰⋆✰⋆

yep, this was inspired by all of the MGG pictures with puppies. I am weak.

leave me a prompt if you want!

reblogs and comments are appreciated <3

hope ya liked it, byebye

My masterlist

[marvelfilth]

Heaven in hiding (18+)

Pairing: Natasha Romanoff x f!reader

Warnings: smut, bottom!Natasha, top! Reader, mention of human trafficking, typical red room stuff

Summary: when it's time for Natasha to go through the final training course you're the one she comes to.

Masterlist

You walk down the dark halls, concrete walls seemingly closing in on you with each step. Today is one of the bad days. Although one could argue that in a place like this all days are bad, you know better. Bad days are a norm, days like this make you want to dig up a hole in the ground and disappear in its depths.

Heavy footsteps following you down the hall promise to make the day even worse.

"Dreykova."

You stop and wait for the man to reach you. Surprisingly, the man isn't alone. You let your eyes wander for a second, taking in Natasha's slumped form. She hides it well from the guard beside her, but there's a slight shakiness to her breath that tells you she's in pain, and the way she favors her right leg makes you worry. You can't help but be proud of her though, even injured, she managed to keep her footsteps silent.

"Today she's assigned to you." He roughly pushes Natasha to you, and turns around without any other words.

You wait until he is out of sight before continuing your way to your room, not sparing another glance to the woman trailing behind you.

"Slower," she breathes out.

You hesitate for a second, but after a short look in her direction you slow down significantly, eyes darting to check for the cameras. You pull her to your side, taking most of her weight when you realize you're in a blind spot. "What happened?"

"Bucky," she hisses and it's all you need to know.

You two are the only ones to know the Winter Soldier by name, brief moments of sudden clarity in his butchered mind allowed you a glimpse into the man he once was. But no matter how bad you felt him, you were ready to shred the man limb by limb every time he hurt Natasha while training.

"I'll have a word with him." You squeeze her side and take a step forward, untangling yourself before rounding the corner. The cameras on the upper part of the wall blink red.

She sends you a look, barely keeping up with your stride. "Don't. He won't remember anything the next day and you'll just get in trouble." Her words are almost inaudible, but to your enhanced hearing they sound clear as day.

You barely manage to hold in a scoff, but don't refrain from rolling your eyes.

You'll get in trouble either way.

After rounding another corner you finally reach a deserted part of the building, right where your room is. Your eyes dart both ways and your ears strain to hear anyone approaching, thankfully, there's no one there.

With one last look down the hall you open the door to your room, holding it for Natasha to come through first. She does so very slowly, finally letting the pain she felt all this time show on her face. Your jaw clenches and you let go of the door, scooping Natasha up in your arms and letting it fall close behind you. You take a second to make sure it's locked before settling her on the bed.

"You didn't have to do that." She mutters, but there's a spark in her eyes that tells you she enjoyed it.

You chuckle and walk around the room collecting everything you might need to treat her injury, from ice to the chocolate bar you hid in your dresser, reserved for moments like this.

Her eyes widen at the sight of it and she doesn't pay attention to what you're doing with her ankle, happily chewing on her guilty pleasure. "Thank you." She manages to say between bites, just as you finish wrapping up her injury, putting the bag of ice on top.

"Anytime," you whisper, falling back against the bedsheets.

It's quiet, only interrupted by occasional crunch of the wrapper and Natasha's contented little sighs and your mind wanders to the plan the two of you formed in the past months.

The plan to get out.

It's easier said than done, to be honest it would be much easier to just jump off a clip, but you'd never let Natasha get hurt, so you're stuck with the harder option.

Bucky helps. You don't know how, but he's been gaining more and more consciousness with every passing week. The last time they wiped him was almost six months ago and you can't help but worry they'll do it again soon, causing your plan to crumble. The sight of Natasha's sprained ankle makes your worry increase tenfold.

You stew in your thoughts, failing to pay attention to the way the redhead slowly turns serious, a solemn expression on her face.

With a nudge to your side she has your full attention and you feel a sense of dread fill your stomach at the haunted look she sends you.

She takes a deep breath. "I saw Dreykov this morning." Her eyes are welled up with tears and suddenly you start to realize the reason why her mood changed so drastically. "It's time."

You sit up, gripping the fabric below you hard enough for it to tear. For a long moment you don't move, simply breathing in and out to try and calm your racing heart. You're overwhelmed by panic and you can't even imagine what Natasha feels like, so you push your feelings aside and turn to face her.

"I'll get you out before it happens." You manage to whisper before jumping to your feet, ready to put your plan in motion months earlier. She catches your arm before you take a step away, pulling you back on the bed.

"If we do this now we're both dead." She punctuates her words with another tug at your hand. Your eyes lock on hers and even though you know she's right you still shake your head, easily escaping the grip she has on you, ready to jump back on your feet. "Stop it," she huffs, and climbs on your lap, wincing in pain.

This time you comply, not wanting to hurt her even more. You lean back on your hands, giving her space.

"Then what do we do? Do you want me to kill them all?" You ask, looking away when a single tear trails down her cheek.

The sound that escapes her throat sounds more like a choke than a laugh. "Then we'll die even sooner."

Her arms circle your shoulders and suddenly she's pulling you snug against her, hiding her face in the crook of your neck. Your hands wrap around her waist instinctively, keeping her from falling over.

"I want to ask you something." Her lips brush against your heated skin. "Something very important."

Your grip on her tightens. "Anything."

She exhales against your collarbone, her eyelashes flutter against your skin while she works up the courage. You tense up, slightly worried about what it might be, but you know you'll agree to anything she says.

She pulls away, putting some distance between you, one of her hands trails up your body to cup your clenched jaw.

"They took everything from me. I can't let them take away this part of me too." Her voice is shaking and her lips tremble. Tears stream down her face freely now, overflowing her vision.

You nod, gears in your mind already turning to formulate another plan, one that would save her from being taken apart by some man.

You're the only woman in this facility allowed to forgo the teachings and only because you're not a Black Widow. If your father had his way, he would've turned you into one and eventually sold your body to some billionaire, but before he could even think about getting his hands on you, Madame B. already had serum running through your veins, making you a much more useful asset. You hate what she's done to you, knowing she did so with no good intent, but at the same time you're grateful she saved you from what Natasha is about to be faced with.

You don't dare ask who your father chose to teach her what he calls the art of seduction. You have a feeling it's Bucky.

Your brows knit in concentration as you struggle to remember tomorrow's patrol schedule, the plan of underground passages leading to the helicopter pad already burned on the back of your mind. The only missing piece is Bucky. You can't do this without his help.

"No." She cuts off your train of thought. You blink rapidly, confused. "That's not what I meant." She adds, closing her eyes. What she says next makes you choke on your breath.

"I want you to have it. I want you to have me," she whispers, her cheeks flaming red.

You sit there, stiff as a board, your mouth slacked and your heart galloping, as she licks her lips nervously, glancing away. Her arm tightens around your shoulder, nails diggings half moons on the burning skin below your training shirt. She patiently awaits your answer while you struggle to form a thought, your eyes fixated on her glistening lips.

"Y/n?" She breathes out. "I understand if you're uncomfortable. I just… I had to ask." Suddenly she's too small, folding in on herself, head falling down in shame and embarrassment and all you can do is stare.

Stare at the way her chest rises with each ragged breath she takes, stare at her flaming red hair, so pretty and soft even in the dim light of your room, stare at the way her green eyes seem brighter than they ever were before, shining with a flurry of emotions. You think you see a flicker of hope.

"Are you sure?" Your voice is hoarse and you clear your throat awkwardly.

There's a smile forming on her lips, a gentle pull at the corners of her mouth, so beautiful that it takes your breath away. "Yes. You're the only one I've ever wanted."

You nod, fixated one the way her smile widens, lighting up her face. "Okay."

Suddenly she's moving fast enough to make you dizzy, pushing against your lips with so much force it makes you tumble back on the bed, pulling her down with you. You kiss her back with just as much vigor, tugging at her bottom lip in a silent question. She gasps, allowing you to slide your tongue in the warmth of her mouth, meeting her tongue in a heated dance.

Her nimble fingers work through your clothes quickly, pulling them one by one in a span of seconds. You follow her lead, taking your time getting her naked, making sure to pay attention to each revealed patch of flawless pale skin, kissing and licking every inch.

You rise to your elbows and push her back on the bed, claiming the spot between her bent knees as you kiss down her stomach to the waistband of her pants. You make sure to be extra gentle in taking them off, paying attention to her swollen ankle. You exhale when you finally have her only in her underwear, patiently laying against your sheets, lips swollen, her hair a tangled mess.

"Are you sure?" You ask again, tracing circles on her hip bone, your other hand sneaking behind her back to rest on her bra clasp.

She barely manages to utter a quiet yes before she's pulling you down to claim your lips in a desperate kiss, her nails digging at the skin of your back when you finally take off her bra, palming her full breasts. She moans, arching her back into your touch, her head falling back against the pillow to reveal her throat. You pull away just for a moment, admiring her lean body, before diving back to leave marks on her throat, gently rolling the skin of her jugular between your teeth before sucking it in, your tongue leaping out to soothe the burn.

Her hand tangles in your hair in a desperate attempt to pull you down to her breasts and you comply, leaving a trail of hickeys in your wake.

The cry she lets out when you finally suck on her hardened nub is almost heavenly. She writhes below you, panting hard as you take your time playing with her peaks, alternating your mouth and fingers, twisting and biting, licking and tugging. Her legs are snug around your waist now, trying to relieve the tension with futile humps against your crotch.

You hum against her chest, rising just enough to make sure she heard you. "I'll give you whatever you want, pretty girl."

Her eyes squeeze shut. "I want everything, please. Everything."

You nod and hook your fingers on the waistband of her panties, tugging them down, watching in fascination how her wetness clings to the fabric. She makes a move to rub her thighs, but you beat her to it, palming her heated center, your fingers teasing her entrance. She cries out and clamps her thigh around your hand, restricting your movement.

You bend over her, holding your weight on one arm. "You have to spread your legs for me, baby." You cup her face, your thumb disappearing between her lips as she sucks it in eagerly.

Her legs spread wide open and you let out a sharp breath, sliding down her body. She's absolutely breathtaking, so wet and puffy, ready for you to take. You place a kiss on the inside of her thigh, then another one and another, your finger still teasing her entrance. She's shaking from tension, her knuckles white from how hard she's pressing her hails in the soft skin of her palms. Your movements are excruciatingly slow as you map the trail leading to her gushing center, sharply inhaling her sweet scent.

She whines and sneaks a hand down, fisting your hair, tugging you to where she needs you most. You go along with the movement, finally placing your lips on her swollen clit, gently pushing a single finger inside her at the same time. She lets out a loud cry, pressing you hard against her and begs you to continue, barely coherent in her words.

You hum in delight, thrusting in her slick pussy and lapping at her nub, sucking it in with each push of your finger, she moves her hips to meet you halfway, tugging at your hair. You try your luck and slowly push another finger in, paying extra attention to her pulsing bud of nerves. She welcomes you with a loud moan, throwing her good leg over your shoulder, her heel digging into your back.

"Harder, please," she whimpers. "I'm so close."

You chuckle against her, and curl your fingers inside her, thrusting against a spongy spot hard enough to make her legs shake. One last lick on her clit and she moans, her whole body tensing up, her grip on your hair ironclad, as she clenches around your fingers, her wetness coating your chin.

You ease out gently, placing gentle pecks to her folds, doing your best to clean her up, avoiding her sensitive bud. She tugs you up, eyes closed, and pulls you in a slow kiss, tasting herself on your lips.

Her eyes sparkle when you pull away, her lip trapped between her teeth. "More?" She asks shyly, trailing a finger down your jaw.

"More," you say, before pulling her in for another bruising kiss.

[pookalicious-hq]

gold rush... isagi yoichi x reader

| pt. 1 | next | masterlist | synopsis: yoichi can't help but see the girl at his bus stop as a good omen tags/tws: meet-cute , swearing, realistic isagi (this guy doesn't pull any girls tbh) , mc eye colour is mentioned but it's part of the plot guys word count: 1000~

Ever since he was born, he had always known what a sunrise looked like. Hues of orange, gold, and a hint of night sky wove together to paint a mural across the expanse above his miniature figure. The dark blue blankets gave way to what rested behind them, a dazzling phenomenon of what he was—the first sun: Yoichi.

His parents always said it was the sun that blessed him that day; when the unforgivable night yielded to the first rays of light, a cry echoed through the hospital room—a resilient child destined for greatness. That’s what his family believed. Someday, they said, it would happen.

But why couldn’t that day come sooner?

Because today clearly wasn’t his day.

By 6 a.m., the sun should have been peeking over the horizon. After a run, a shower, and breakfast, Yoichi sat on his bed, eyes locked on the window, waiting for the first glimpse of dawn. He should’ve checked the forecast—a thick wall of clouds hung in the sky, blocking everything from view. Maybe it was a good omen? That’s what his mother would say, trying to chase away the lingering doubts that clung to his mind about the U-20 training camp.

He couldn’t expect everything to go perfectly today, though he hoped for one thing that could satisfy his growing distaste for the day. He wouldn’t find it in the fallen leaves, their once vibrant green lives now twisted into a dark red. He followed the leaves, watching as they caught the cold drift in the autumn air, levitating and swooping across the sidewalks of the neighbourhood he called home. Instinctively, Yoichi zipped his jacket up until it reached his chin, the drafts sneaking in between the seams and intruding on his warmth.

He better not miss the bus.

As he approached the bus stop, he took in the familiar sights: the cracked pavement, the faded advertisement posters fluttering in the breeze, the metal bench that had seen better days. It was quiet, save for the distant sounds of morning traffic and the soft hum—a melody that seemed to drift through the air.

The time on his phone read 6:20—ten minutes until the bus came; he was early for once.

He leaned against the pole, taking a moment to breathe in the crisp air. It felt different today, tinged with a hint of excitement and uncertainty. He wondered what the training camp would bring, how he could prove himself alongside others just as eager.

A rustle caught his attention, and his gaze shifted to the far end of the bench. There she was—a girl with headphones snugly over her ears, her eyes softly shut with her knees drawn up to her chest. Was she asleep? If she was, Yoichi didn’t want to look like a creep, so as anyone would, he pretended he didn’t see her—even when her bus pass fell on the ground.

He bit his lip, torn between the urge to help and the fear of waking her. The pass fluttered in the wind, almost like a flag signalling for attention. After a moment of indecision, Yoichi glanced around, making sure no one else was nearby. Gathering his courage, he took a few steps toward her.

“Um, excuse me?” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. She didn’t stir.

He crouched down to pick up the bus pass, careful not to invade her personal space. As he straightened, he hesitated. “...Hey, I think you dropped this.”

Though the girl didn’t bolt awake, he could see her face start to contort into a frown. The crease between her brows deepened in disdain—probably from being woken up—along with a huff that escaped her flared nose. How long had this girl been sleeping?

She squinted, blinking slowly as if the daylight was an unwelcome intruder.

Yoichi’s breath caught in his throat, the force of something unknown gripping the air in his lungs. All he could think about was the sunrise that finally reached him through the clouds. A pool of liquid gold, layered with glowing honey, produced by the most beautiful of suns. Maybe he imagined it, but a soft glow illuminated her features, casting delicate shadows that danced across her cheeks. It was the most captivating thing he would ever see, and it all belonged to the girl waking up before him.

“Mm… yeah?” Her voice broke through his trance-like state, soft yet slightly raspy, as if she was still pulling herself from the depths of sleep. His eyes snapped to dart elsewhere, betraying his embarrassment. “Is the bus here?”

“Uh— no, not yet,” he stammered, shaking off the daze. The cool morning air, tinged with the crispness of autumn, felt refreshing against his flushed skin. “It’s coming in a few minutes. You just dropped your bus pass...”

The girl rubbed her eyes, the remnants of sleep still clinging to her. A faint hint of vanilla lingered in the air, probably originating from her shampoo, creating an unexpected warmth in the cool morning breeze. “Oh shit, my bad.”

He could feel the weight of her gaze travel from his face to the card that rested between his fingers, the brief moment stretching between them, almost palpable. The world around them seemed to fade into a blur—the distant sounds of traffic, the rustling leaves, the chilly air—as he held her bus pass, the small object somehow feeling significant in the charged silence.

As she reached for it, their fingers brushed, and a jolt of electricity surged through him, igniting a spark of connection that felt both exhilarating and terrifying. “Thanks,” she said, her voice now a little steadier—brighter, the corners of her lips quirking up into a small smile.

Yoichi's heart raced, the combination of her smile and the eye contact sending his mind racing. “No problem,” he managed to reply, feeling the weight of the morning’s promise hang in the air around them.

Who the hell was Isagi Yoichi? And why was he ranked above her?

(Y/n)’s glare burned into the leaderboard plastered on the wall, the harsh fluorescent lights flickering overhead like an annoying fly buzzing in her ear. The bold, unapologetic numbers seemed to mock her.

No. 1 - Isagi Yoichi.

She rolled her eyes so hard a sharp pain hit her head. It was infuriating.

After her performance at the last camp, she had expected to reclaim her spot at the top. But now, with the camp transitioning to a co-ed setup, the stakes felt higher—and all because of one arrogant name. She had only a couple of days to claw her way back to the top of that leaderboard—days during which Itoshi Rin wouldn’t be around. Victory was almost within her grasp, but the nagging doubt gnawed at her.

Why should she worry about competing with a bunch of self-absorbed boys who couldn’t play nice? (Y/n) clenched her fists, determination surging through her veins like adrenaline. She knew her skills; she had worked hard to hone them. So who the hell was Isagi Yoichi, anyway? Just another name on a board—nothing more. Probably just another cocky brat.

a/n: i love this man sm. probably gonna make a small mini series abt this, lmk if you wanna be tagged <3

[suuuupernovaaa]

plltxe

plltxe [p·ḷ.ˈt’·ɛ] v. speak

Anonymous Request: Can I request a Lo’ak fic where his female mate is scared to love and open up to him as she finds it hard to trust people, and he is so patient with her and doesn’t pressure her in any way. He sees her crying one day and is gentle with her and is so happy that she is finally opening up to him and being affectionate with him?

Y/N has a stutter, and Lo'ak is furious when someone makes fun of her for it.

1,296 words

Sometimes, even though the words are perfectly strung together in my head and I know exactly what I want to say, it takes so long to get them from my mind, past my lips.

Some words get twisted, others I get hung up on, and I have to speak in as few words as possible so that I can get my point across.

As a child, I was teased mercilessly for it. For quite a time, I stopped talking, and I focused on perfection in every single area of my life, besides speech.

I am a profoundly excellent hunter, a beautiful flyer, I can weave beautiful tapestries on the loom, fish enough to feed the clan, create fine jewelry and clothing, and braid hair in ornate patterns for special occasions.

The only thing I cannot do, is speak. Not without great effort, and great anxiety.

Lo'ak has never cared. He talks enough for the both of us, and any spoken sentiment I send his way, he sits patiently and attentively, listening.

Lo'ak is kind, and generous, and too good for me. I know I have kept him at arm's length, but it's a habit. No one has ever had the patience for me before - not even my own parents - so it's hard to imagine that he will not get sick of waiting for me to say what I mean.

Soon, we are to be mated. He asked, and I replied with one word: yes.

Still, it feels as if I haven't really let him in yet.

--

Lo'ak returns from a long hunt with his father and brother, dragging a sled behind him with their kills. They drop the meat off at the fire pits to be prepared and used later that evening, and without hardly a goodbye, he turns and leaves his family, looking for her.

She is not in her hammock, so he checks the next place he thinks he'll find her, and he has luck.

There is a small pond, not too many paces from home tree, where children swim during the day. It is too shallow to be of much use besides that, but there is a branch that hangs over, just tall enough to sit on and dangle your feet in the water; she comes here a lot.

Lo'ak approaches, but she doesn't notice. As he gets closer, he realizes why. She's crying.

He has never seen her cry, and he stops in his tracks. Y/N isn't a woman of many emotions. She smiles and laughs a lot, but she keeps her true self at a distance from everyone.

He knows why. He saw how she was treated, growing up, because of her difficulty with speech. He never understood why it mattered to anyone - he thought she was smart, talented, skilled and beautiful.

Lo'ak approaches slowly, but announces himself as he steps onto the branch.

"Y/N," he says.

With a gasp, she turns to him. She places her hand over her heart, indicating that he startled her.

"Sorry," he whispers, sitting next to her. "What's wrong, Y/N?"

She turns back to the water, her wet cheeks reflecting the moonlight.

"You can tell me. Anything, you can tell me."

To Lo'ak's surprise, she leans over, placing her head on his shoulder. Without hesitation, he wraps his arm around her waist. Even though he's concerned for her, he can't deny that he's thrilled to be holding her so intimately.

"Come. Come home, and we'll talk," Lo'ak says. "Away from anyone."

She nods, and takes his hand, allowing him to lead her the short walk to the alcove they have carved out of the side of home tree. Once inside, Lo'ak is relieved to see that she is no longer crying, but he still wants to know what happened.

"Did someone hurt you, Y/N?" he asks.

She shakes her head, and grabs his arms. She sinks to the floor, crossing her legs below her, and pulls him along. He sits in front of her, and her hands move from his arms, down over his elbows and forearms, and finally, they hold his own hands.

He grips tightly to her.

"You can tell me. Take your time."

She takes in a deep breath.

"I... went hunting," she says, in the slow cadence she usually adopts. "It was good." She stutters on the word good, stopping and starting a few times, until she finally gets it out. She takes another deep breath, and closes her eyes. "I brought the kill to the pits. Marek thanked me," she pauses her. Sometimes, Lo'ak has noticed, when she really gets into a story, the words come easier. Her cadence picks up, just slightly. "He said, I must like to spend time with animals. Because, they don't care... I can't talk."

As she finishes her story, tears pool in her eyes again, and she looks down, her face ashamed and embarrassed.

The rage that overtakes Lo'ak's entire body is powerful, unlike anything he's ever felt before. Childhood teasing is one thing, but Marek is a grown man, making fun of a woman - his woman - for providing for their clan.

Lo'ak sees two choices ahead of him. The first is to get up right there, find Marek, and beat him so badly that he himself never utters another word. Maybe he could grab Neteyam on the way, and make sure Marek never does anything again, at all.

Though he feels momentarily blinded by rage, he knows that's not what his future mate needs.

She needs him here, now.

"I will kill Marek later," Lo'ak says through a tense jaw, and a ghost of a smile crosses Y/N's face. "Your skills at the hunt are unmatched, Y/N. You provide for us all." He reaches down, touching the ornately woven rug below them. "You have woven beautiful rugs that nearly half the alcoves in home tree are adorned by. People see them, and think of you, gratefully. Kiri and Tuk tell everyone that it is you who so beautiful braids their hair for every dance and feast, and they've told me how jealous all the other women are of your talents. It is true, Y/N, that you speak differently from the rest of us. You do not speak worse. You speak differently. It is slower, and it is worth waiting and listening to. Everything you say holds meaning. Every word out of Marek's mouth is useless garbage, and it would be better if none of us ever had to hear him again."

He could go on, and on, all night if she needs - but she falls forward into his arms, crawling into his lap, heaving sobs into his chest.

Shocked, he wraps his arms around her, and presses a soft kiss to her forehead.

"I will kill him tomorrow," Lo'ak whispers.

Taking deep breaths, Y/N looks up at him. "Not sad," she replies, and points to the tears on her face. "Happy. Feel lucky, to be your mate."

The rage in his chest subsides, replaced by an overwhelming wave of pride and love towards his amazing woman in his arms. He leans back against the wall, and she settles between his legs, resting on his chest.

Her breathing slows, in and out, and he thinks she may be drifting off. It is not lost on him, that this means she is comfortable with him, being vulnerable to him for the first time ever.

He stays awake half the night, just reveling in the feel of her laying on him, the soft sounds she makes in her sleep, the way she lays so still on him. He hopes it means she's comfortable.

He will kill Marek tomorrow, and hopefully every night after, they will sleep like this.

[nctyena]

A Compilation Of Fans' Favorite Moments YenaxMembers #7

YenaxJeno

220308 NCT Dream Instagram Live

Out of nowhere Yena drove attention.

"The other day I read a complain."

All of the boys turned towards her with cruosity.

"It said that there isn't even one video of Jeno and me when we do Dream vs Dream. I realised it's true."

Jeno scoffed.

"I know everything about you. It wouldn't be fun though."

"Jeno Lee, what's with the confident?"

"It's true! Don't you agree?"

Yena nodded and ruffled his hair while other members agreed with Jeno.

Glitch Mode Era

Glitch Mode Era is the favorite era for the YenaxJeno enjoyers. They were even more clingy than ever. Even if they were doing little skinship before , starting from GM era they were more comfortable to show off their relationship dynamic on camera. Laying heads on shoulders, hugging each other, Jeno sitting on Yena's lap...

[BE ORIGINAL] NCT DREAM 'ISTJ' (4K) (Behind The Scenes)

When the screen showed Jeno's missing the step with a confused look on his face all the members started to laugh. Including Yena. It went on for a while and Jeno started to sulk jokingly.

"It's cute , that's why we are laughing."

Later it is shown for less than one second , Jeno sitting on Yena's lap on the chair while she is probably consulting him. Even if they weren't the center of attention it blew up.

Jeno As A 'Smile' Enthusiastic

There is no need to be Nostradamus to know that Jeno LOVES the song Smile. He never said it himself or anything but there are some clues. He kept sharing the song on his socials (still does) , he dances to the chorus out of nowhere in the most unexpected moments , he even hums the song and Yena doesn't blink an eye to it. Fans love it so much. And one of the reasons is that the vibe of the song goes so well with Jeno too!

YenaxHaechan

37.5MHz HAECHAN Radio | Ep.2

"Our mc today is handsome. My heart just fluttered."

While other members were cheering or agreeing with Yena, Haechan was stuned. His flustred behaviour was so obvious that fans found it so cute.

"Stop it. I'm always handsome."

"Don't get too excited though."

NCT 2020 'RESONANCE' MV (Behind The Scenes)

Haechan , Xiaojun and Doyoung was talking about something in front of the camera when Yena approached them. She sneaked behind Haechan and stared at him until he would notice her. The other two laughed and Haechan turned around to see her face close up to his own face.

"Omo! What's wrong with you?"

"Sorry I didn't want to scare you, little Donghyuck."

Doyoung cracked up and explained to Xiaojun and the fans.

"He used to be scared of Yena."

"Hyung! That's not like it. It's not true!"

"Let me make it up to you."

She puckered her lips and rest his history lol.

NCT 127 NEO CITY : SEOUL - The Origin

During the Regular performance Yena was wearing high heels. And that caused her to twink her ankle when she was at the centre. Of course all of the members reacted in one way or another but specially Haechan was so worried throughout the whole concert. He kept checking her during and after the performances, warned the fans not to throw anything while she is dancing, and the fans' favorite being when he signed her to took off her heels. She was hesitant at first but he came up to her and took them off himself.

7×7=49 💚 | NCT Dream Vlive

No one knows how the events acurred. One second the members were talking about something the fans said, and the second Yena was offering Haechan to fight. She kept insisting that she could beat him easily since she thinks that she is stronger.

"Leave me alone."

"Are you afraid?"

He jokingly looked at her with a serious almost angry look and she didn't backed up.

"Let's arm wrestle."

"I hate you sometimes."

"No you don't."

"Yes I do."

"Then let's arm wrestle."

They ended up not doing it thanks to other members. (Guess who)

[dracarialove]

📄 F it, I'm posting my finished fics here, too 📄

Buried Desires

*Check the 'buried desires' tag if you haven't read chapter 1

[Chapter 2: Intoxicated]

From the bushes across the street from Doctor Golvin's private estate, G.U.N's most skillful agents watched and waited for the scientist to leave. It was still early in the morning, which would give them time to find what they were looking for once he went off to work.

Though the view of his house wasn't entirely clear thanks to the high fence that surrounded the property, it didn't seem to be guarded, at least on the outside.

"He probably assumes the gate is enough," Rouge commented, faint arrogance in her tone. "Sure, he's on the edge of town – but does he really think he's not in danger of being robbed here?"

Shadow merely shrugged when she glanced at him, using their time in hiding to get familiar with the handheld device Tower had given them to locate the stolen weapon.

His partner tugged at the long strips of cloth hanging from the back of her head, tightening the hood of her spy outfit, and kept her eyes on the area near Golvin's front door.

Shadow, of course, found a disguise to be unnecessary; and she knew it was pointless to advocate for one. He didn't really need one if they were going to make it a quick mission. She just liked to be prepared.

Then, Rouge spotted the man walking away from his house, already talking on the phone while he strolled to his car. She kept her gaze on him but held her hand out to the hedgehog, gaining his attention. "There he is, leaving now."

Shadow shifted his position to crouch beside her, the dastardly pair watching the scientist get in his vehicle and pull out of the long driveway. Just to be safe, they kept an eye on his car until it disappeared down the slope of the hilly road, then shared a glance.

"It's clear," stated Rouge, getting a nod from him before they sprang into action.

They approached the backside of the fenced area, Shadow teleporting past it to hug the home's wall while the bat flew over to dismantle any cameras – but she was surprised to not see any around.

'What kind of rich asshole doesn't have security cameras?' she thought, hovering level with the second floor. 'Even I have them...'

She looked down at the Ultimate Lifeform, who looked at the Commander's device and then up at her. He raised it towards her, then tossed it in the air for her to catch, being careful not to speak too loudly as he did so. "I don't think it's on the first floor. What color is the dot at that height?"

Rouge studied the black screen and the steadily blinking spot that sat on the right side. "It's yellow."

"It was orange down here," he replied, "so it must be up there. Try the windows."

The flying spy turned to the two windows on their side of the building, attempting to nudge each one open, but they were locked. When she looked at Shadow again, his expression silently acknowledged the hindrance, but she didn't hesitate in reassuring him as she dropped the device down into his grip.

"No worries, a little lock won't stop me." She pulled out a putty knife and a hammer, going to work on disarming one of the windows while her teammate waited.

He admired her skill, watching the thief pry the window open in less than a minute. And once she was able to lift it from the sill, she gave him a thumbs-up.

Shadow assumed she must also be smiling behind the veil of faded purple fabric; the same sly smile she always had when she succeeded at something sneaky.

He smiled, too, and reached his free hand out for her to take, then she hauled him up to the second story and they let themselves in. The agents ended up in a hallway, dark hardwood beneath their feet and light gray wallpaper sitting behind spatterings of paintings and decorous art pieces.

Rouge took a look around and said to Shadow, "Lead the way, master tracker."

They cautiously wandered the halls, him walking ahead and watching for the tracking dot to change color as it moved according to their location, while she scanned their surroundings for cameras or guards.

It put them a bit on edge how little security there seemed to be in the Doctor's home, but they eventually found the room they were looking for. Shadow stopped when the spot turned green, their wander ending outside a brown mahogany door.

"I believe it's in here," he said, pointing at the door, then tried the knob.

It was locked, as well, so the stolid hedgehog gave a slight bow to Rouge and stepped aside. She used the simpler tool of a metal paper clip to open the door, kneeling and pressing her ear against the wood as she fiddled inside the lock.

When she heard an affirming click, she hopped to her feet and eagerly nodded at Shadow, a mischievous twinkle in her cyan eyes. He could tell she was giddy to finish the mission so quickly and leave the Commander's office thousands richer by lunchtime, and it amused him to see the lady in such high spirits.

He opened the door, holding the device in front of him to follow it even closer to their target. The room was a decently sized lounge that seemed to double as a small library, judging by the bookcases that lined the walls.

Rouge closed the door behind them, looking around but unfortunately noticing too late that there was a keypad on the wall beside the entrance.

Shadow, a few steps ahead, unknowingly crossed one foot into the path of a near-invisible laser. A harsh hissing sound filled the air above them, which made him look up as water spurted from a handful of sprinklers on the ceiling.

"Ah!" exclaimed Rouge, throwing one arm above her head.

But as Shadow quickly saw, it couldn't be ordinary water bursting from the flower-shaped fixtures – purple liquid rained down on them, causing the hedgehog to cry out when a drop of it fell into his eye. It stung a little, making him clutch his face and grit his teeth.

Once she was past the initial surprise, the bat was quick to jump up and kick the nearest sprinkler off the ceiling, dispatching the rest while her companion stood briefly incapacitated. With the downpour halted, Rouge stepped across the soggy carpet towards him, worry in her voice.

"Are you okay? You're not blind, right?"

Grimacing, Shadow removed his fingers from pinched eyes and opened them, squinting and blinking the sting of the liquid away. "I'm alright... it doesn't burn that badly, just... smells flowery."

The scent was strong once it set in, a sickly-sweet aroma that strangled the air around them and buried itself in his quills. But despite his claim of being unharmed, Rouge began swiftly removing her spy suit, stripping to her usual outfit underneath.

"We don't know what was in that stuff," she said, pulling off the drenched material and dropping it on the equally wet floor. "It clearly wasn't normal water – we need to get it out of your fur. I'll be right back!"

Without hesitation, she ran out the door, leaving him in the perfumed room. Shadow took a moment to check his tracking tool, assuring that it still worked before continuing to follow the direction of the dot.

It pointed him to the right-side wall from where they'd entered, and when he walked up to the wide bookcase in between two thinner ones, the spot on the screen started blinking more rapidly.

It didn't change color until he held it closer to the books, turning blue to alert him that they were close to the object they were hunting. But when the soaked being reached out to grab one of the novels – intending to test if it was a secret entrance to another room – he suddenly felt woozy and had to steady himself.

One gloved hand clutched the government device tightly while the other splayed at his side, his arm straightened for balance and one foot planted farther behind his body to keep him from falling backwards.

'Shit, what is this?' his mind asked, while his physical form stood frozen in fear of his legs giving out. His view of the bookshelf became slightly warped, the once-straight edges of the hardcovers seeming to bend. '... Not good...'

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, letting it out slowly before fixing his posture. However, he didn't trust himself to try testing the books again, standing still a moment and trying to work out what the hell had been in the sprinkler system, or what exactly it was doing to him.

Doctor Golvin clearly wanted to inhibit intruders' rational thought and coordination; as much as he lacked security elsewhere, Shadow decided he was a strange man for booby trapping this room using such an odd method. Though, it was working to cloud his mind from completing the next step of his task...

Thankfully, Rouge didn't take long in returning with a towel, rushing back into the room and immediately throwing it over the hedgehog's head. "Good to see you're still standing! I was afraid I'd come back and you'd be passed out on the floor or something."

Instantly, Shadow knew things were worse than he initially thought – her voice sounded stronger, almost angelic while retaining a charming mature timbre.

And when she started rubbing the towel against his quills to dry them, his heart rate spiked. He placed his free hand against the bookshelf, his vision partially blocked by the shuffle of the towel and his head swimming with flustered nerves.

His dear friend's annoyed tone sounded sweeter than it normally would as she spoke, "Ugh, the stink of lilac is so strong – even for me! Sorry, Shad, I don't think this scent is coming out any time soon..."

The man let out a shaky breath and raised his hand to weakly grab the towel, trying to pull it from Rouge's grip. "I can dry it... myself."

When he managed to look at her, his heart pounded harder than before. She was so close to him, Shadow almost felt like he couldn't breathe, and the glow he saw around her silhouette scared him. 'What the fuck is happening?'

He didn't notice how quickly he was breathing, but she did. Combined with the faraway look in his eyes and his limp grasp on the towel, the ivory-haired huntress recognized an alarming amount of incoherence in his demeanor. "Shadow? You're not gonna faint on me, are you? Hey..."

She placed one hand on the side of his face, trying to establish eye contact, but it only served to freak him out further; because instead of calming the hedgehog down, Rouge's touch made him feel flush and more anxious than before.

He inhaled sharply and fought through the urge to lean closer, pulling away and taking better control of the towel. The colors of everything around him were slowly becoming more vivid.

"I'm fine." His tone was solid and steady, as close to normal as he could muster, and he managed to act calm and collected while drying his fur. "Take this... I'm pretty sure that bookcase is fake."

Shadow handed over the tracker, trying not to look directly at her. Rouge took it, but kept her eyes on him for a second, wary of his behavior.

When she turned to inspect the shelves, he couldn't resist the gravitation of his gaze towards her body, blood-red eyes lingering over womanly curves that taunted him as she pulled on different books.

The pretty super spy made finding a secret entrance look graceful, her figure elegantly posed even as she didn't acknowledge how stunning she appeared.

His stare trailed down the arch of her back to the sight of shapely hips – and more – snugly hugged by a flattering bodysuit, before he realized what he was doing.

'Damnit...!' Shadow's thoughts rushed forth, and he forced himself to look away. 'This is a side effect of that... liquid, whatever it was. I shouldn't be looking at her... like that.'

He began dragging the towel across himself more fervently for quicker results and a distraction from the scene in front of him; meanwhile, Rouge found the cluster of faux books which opened the shelf. It cracked inwards like a door.

"Yes!" she blurted, balling her fist in triumph before pressing onward through the newfound entrance.

The room it led into was made of pearl-colored tile flooring and reflective silver walls. It was like a hallway, with glass tables on either side that held different technological projects and inventions. She looked down at the tracker while walking inside and noted the more frantic flashing of the blue dot.

"Shadow!" she called over her shoulder. "You were right, I think it's in here. Come on!"

The Ultimate Lifeform dreaded following, as even the click of her heels on the solid floor rang through his head like a melodic chime. But he didn't have much of a choice, so he took another deep breath and steadied himself, dry enough to discard the towel.

In the long room, Rouge reached an area that was sectioned off from the rest by a half-wall, where the device she held showed a white dot when she pointed it at one of the objects on a square of marble counterspace. The item was stark white in color, covered in buttons and shaped like a spiky trapezoid.

"Found it!" announced the bat, taking a moment to study it in amusement. "Man, this thing looks weird. What the hell could all these buttons possibly do?"

She didn't dare touch any of them, instead thinking of the Commander's offer. She turned around and beamed at her partner in an expression of victory. "Ooh, Shadow, we are gonna be so set after this!"

Unable to contain her excitement, Rouge impulsively threw herself towards him, hugging the hedgehog and chuckling gleefully. Her gushing admiration of the sizable payout to come was drowned out by the shock coursing through Shadow's body at her sudden affectionate outburst.

The harmony of her voice became a string of music as warmth overtook him, the intoxicated G.U.N agent fully engulfed by ardor brought on by the scientist's strange trap.

He felt dizzier as his heart thumped more forcefully at the feeling of her body against his. He didn't even realize he had hugged her back until the astonishment passed, suddenly recognizing the squeeze of his arms around Rouge's familiar form.

Shadow was holding her tightly, feeling as if time had stopped for them both, until she tried to break the hug. Only after she realized he wasn't pulling away did her voice manage to cut through the pheromone-fueled haze of their embrace.

"Shadow...?"

[sukunasdumbestchef]

"Akaza takes care of a woman and her daughter"

"Akaza finds a girl injured, but still protecting her child… he decides to help, but it goes beyond what he thought…" >[reader] is identified by: girl, woman and [name]. She is an adult, her daughter's father is not mentioned, I left that to your imagination. >Type: fluff!!!!!!!! >Warning: violence mentioned. > Words: +6k

> forgive me for the spelling mistakes, I'm not fluent in English and I used the translator

Akaza's keen sense of smell picks up a smell of blood, which catches his attention. For lack of anything to do, he follows this scent, which leads him to a small house, where he hears faint cries.

Without bothering to remain silent, he opens the door, finding a common scene. An inferior oni feeding on a human, this oni sensed the presence of a superior being, causing him to run in fear. Akaza took another step, trying to detect the gender of the dead human on the ground. But the cries, that he heard outside before, drew attention again.

Akaza turns towards the sound, he found a girl on the ground holding a baby, she was hurt, it looked like she wouldn't be able to stand, maybe she tried to protect the baby. Normally, he would ignore any female presence, but without hurting them. But, in this particular case, the girl who cried while protecting her baby without caring about herself… made him feel something different.

He analyzed them… the way she holds the weakest, protecting the weakest… his eyes began to have a different vision. "Give a hand" was what he thought, with cautious steps he approaches the woman, taking a step. She backed away, crawling to the wall. Akaza stopped, raising her hand, demonstrating that she wasn't going to do anything. The woman did not lower her guard, but she stopped crying. Akaza crouched down and walked over to her. She shook her head frantically in fear of him.

"I won't hurt you" The oni told her. The woman stopped, even if she didn't trust it, she felt sincerity in that. “Your leg, can I check it?” She didn't answer Akaza's question, but he, trying not to force his hand, slowly analyzed the injuries, some scratches, other more serious injuries and a sprained ankle… "You can't walk, can you?" She disagrees. The baby, the complete opposite, without any scratches, he seems normal, he doesn't cry… she did a great job as a mother.

"You…demons, you destroy families…you killed my family…" The girl said, her throat dry from crying. Akaza looks at her, blankly.

"Yes, we eat the weakest ones, it's not something we hide…" Akaza replied. He took off his vest, and wrapped it around a serious wound of hers. The girl watches everything confused, his action contradicting what he just said…

"Wh- What? Why are you doing this if you're going to kill me?"

"I am not going to kill you." He responds, immediately as he heard the words 'kill me'. Akaza thinks, he now feels confused… because he is doing this, not killing or hurting women is his ideology, even though he doesn't know the reason… Now, helping women? Why does he feel this kindness toward them?

They both remain silent, on the floor… "Why are you different? I don't feel the same terror that I felt in the previous oni…" Akaza seems thoughtful with the question, he clears his throat, and replies:

"I'm different from all these insignificant onis. Let's say… I have a different view on everything…" The girl thinks about his words, she takes off the blouse that was over the kimono, wrapping it around the baby. The tears returning, as she looks at her dead relative on the floor. "Do you want me to bury them for you?" He makes a somewhat surprising offer… The girl hesitates, but looking at her own state and the defenseless baby…

"I want…" Akaza gets up, he goes to the body, picking up (what's left) of it and taking it outside. The girl closes her eyes, crying back. Akaza returns, even though he is uncomfortable with crying. He goes to her, his hand going behind her, she jumps in surprise, and in a second she is in his arms, he leaves her outside, sitting on the rock, where he can keep an eye on her as he buries her body in rocks. . The girl watches everything with tears, her only relative was killed… her only happiness was her baby…

Akaza finished his work, he went to her. "What's your name?"

"[name]…" she replied, wiping away her tears, while shaking the baby.

"Is she your baby?" He asks again, she nods. "It looks like you" He noticed, the girl looked at him, she's not afraid of him anymore… He sits next to her, her eyes never leaving his face. "What's your daughter's name?"

"Amaya…" Akaza looked at Amaya, the baby did the same. Akaza stretched his finger, until the baby. His finger gently caressed the baby's cheek.

"She's…small." Akaza wasn't sure what to say. Why he was having this moment with this woman… "Your leg, does it still hurt?" He changes the subject, stopping caressing the baby.

"Yes." They remain silent. Akaza sighs, and ends the silence.

"Do you know another relative of yours? Or a village? I'll take you there…"

"Yes, I have a relative who lives in a field, it's close to a huge lake, the one with big fish…" Akaza thinks, he goes to her house, comes back with a cloth, wrapping it around her and her daughter.

"Hold your daughter tight…" In an instant, with his strength he easily takes them both in his arms, his touch firm. He begins to walk with them, without any difficulty. “Are you comfortable?” She nods, even the baby seems comfortable. The little rocking that they gave while they walked, made the baby sleep, she seems to be calm and comfortable. After a while, Akaza felt a weight on his chest, the girl fell asleep. the oni felt something… incredibly good in his soul, he wanted to protect them both, he wanted to hold the baby until she fell asleep…

"[name]…[name]? Wake up…" She heard Akaza's voice, looked around and she was already close to her relative's house. "Is that the house?" She waves, rubbing her eyes, the night seems like it's about to end… Akaza arrives at the door, leaving the two on the floor. He squats. "Are you alright?

"I'm… thank you" Akaza feels the same feeling, he almost smiled at her, he noticed that her eyes were shining… "You… what's your name?"

"Akaza"

"Akaza… are you coming back?"

"…I will… I need to see you again… and you have a lovely daughter…"

He caressed the woman's cheek… And so, with this feeling of protection he left in the woman.

This was inspired by an image on pinterest… :D

[eskawrites]

6 😈

6. "Don't touch me."

It's only after everything that Nancy starts to feel exhausted.

She's a sweaty mess--from the adrenaline, from the running around and lighting fireworks, from the thick, humid heat that lingers in the July air even so long after sunset. And she's sore like a motherfucker, all the aches and bruises of being thrown around that hospital room finally settling deep into her bones now that the danger has, supposedly, passed.

But she is, for the most part, unharmed. They all are, despite the way Max and El are crying into each other's shoulders still, or the way Steve's face is hidden by blood and bruises.

Or the way Robin Buckley keeps flinching away from anyone who steps too close.

Nancy watches from across the parking lot as yet another EMT walks around to where Robin is sitting in the back of an ambulance. She's hunched in on herself, knuckles white around the blanket she clutches around her shoulders. She doesn't look as the EMT approaches, but she does stiffen.

"Where's Steve?" Nancy asks. She's not really sure if she's asking or just talking out loud, but Jonathan is the only one close enough to hear. He frowns a little at her.

"Sitting with Dustin, last I saw. Why?"

The EMT steps into Robin's space. He's saying something, but Robin just keeps glaring ahead, not reacting. Nancy pushes to her feet.

"Nance?" Jonathan murmurs behind her. Nancy ignores him and starts making her way across the parking lot.

She holds her breath as she watches the EMT reach out. Robin jerks away from his touch, face screwed up and elbows flailing. She catches him in the ribs, and he grabs her arm to still her.

Nancy is close enough now to hear Robin's sharp gasp, and then the whine that pulls, tight and reluctant, from her throat.

"Hey," Nancy says as she walks up, and her voice is tight, too, tense and sharp--not at all the calm, commanding demeanor she's been trying so hard to show all night. Robin freezes, eyes still closed, arm still held by the EMT. He glances at Nancy, who scowls pointedly at the hand holding Robin. Only then does he let go.

"Miss Buckley," he says, not even trying to hide his impatience, "we need to look at you. Your friend Steve said--"

"Steve was hurt worse," Robin mumbles. "I'm fine."

"The drugs are still in your system. We need to make sure--"

"I'm fine."

The EMT looks helplessly at Nancy. For a moment, she just keeps scowling at him--because really, what is she supposed to do?

But then, she had come over here, hadn't she? And what's the point if she's just going to walk away again?

So she sighs and nods a little. The EMT gives her a relieved look as he walks away again.

Nancy glances at Robin, who has at least opened her eyes again, even if she is glaring at Nancy.

"Robin--"

"Don't," Robin snaps. "Just don't, okay? I said I'm fine. I don't need you to--to check up on me, or whatever."

"You're not fine," says Nancy. "You just spent the night in a bunker being interrogated by the Russian military. Steve told us you guys were drugged. And that's not even getting into the whole 'monsters are real and they live in Hawkins' thing. No one would be fine after what you've been through."

Robin hesitates. She doesn't soften, but her lip trembles just slightly. She takes a soft, shaky breath, then sets her jaw and scowls at Nancy again.

"I don't need your help, Wheeler."

Nancy crosses her arms over her chest. "Will you just let someone check you out?"

"No."

"Look, I can go get Steve if--"

"I said no."

"But if you're hurt--"

"I'm not."

"Just--" Nancy reaches out instinctively. Robin swats her hand away.

"Don't touch me," she snarls, but there are tears in her eyes. She's pale, Nancy realizes. Really, really pale.

"I'm sorry," Nancy whispers. "I shouldn't have--I just want to help, Robin."

"Just--don't touch me." Robin closes her eyes, and Nancy sees a tear roll down her cheek. She breathes out and adds, hoarsely, "Please."

"Okay." Nancy says softly. She hesitates, then hops up into the truck to sit beside Robin. "Okay. Whatever you need."

Robin shakes her head. "I don't--I'm not--I am fine." She winces a little. "As fine as I can be."

"You should still let them look at you. The drugs--"

"But that's just it," breathes Robin. "The drugs. Those men. The way they dragged me and Steve around. Tied us up. Hit us. I just--I--I can't--I need--"

She cuts off, and Nancy has to squeeze her hands into fists to keep herself from reaching out for her again.

She thinks about the mindflayer, about the hospital room, about being pinned to the floor, certain she was going to die and unable to do anything but watch and wait for it. She imagines being stuck there for hours. She imagines doing it all while having no idea what's going on.

Suddenly, she's amazed Robin is even coherent at all.

"What can I do?" she asks.

For a moment, Robin doesn't do anything. But then she looks over at Nancy.

"And don't just say you're fine," Nancy adds. Robin's lips quirk up into a weak smile.

"I don't know," she says. "I don't--I mean, what the hell happens next? What am I even supposed to do?"

Nancy sighs and looks back out across the parking lot. That's always the question, isn't it? Her eyes catch another one of the EMTs moving from truck to truck, and she decides that's really the best answer she can give right now.

"I hear a doctor helps," she says, hoping the dryness in her tone sounds more sarcastic than mean. Robin sighs, but the tremor in her breath sounds more like a laugh than a sob. Nancy will take it.

"No needles," Robin says.

Nancy nods. "Fair enough."

Robin looks at her nervously, then, "...will you stay?"

Slowly, Nancy holds her hand out, palm up. Robin glances at it, then up at her. Then, fingers shaking, she reaches out and grabs Nancy's hand.

"Okay," she whispers. She swallows hard, but then she nods, looking a little more confident. "Okay."

Nancy squeezes her hand, then looks up and waves an EMT over.

[dream-meister-translations]

PERSONA 5 : THE PHANTOM X

PERSONA 5 : THE PHANTOM X BETA - PART 2

NOTE :These translations are done using the Chinese version of the game, we apologize for any inconsistencies that may come with an official English release.

━

WONDER : (The hallway is blocked by these girls...They haven't even noticed I'm trying to get through...)

TALL FEMALE : Ah, what the heck? It's uploaded again!

ALERT FEMALE : Looks like this time its for real...

SLENDER FEMALE : It seems someone has posted about it on the website. Wonder if this will be another Phantom case. 

WONDER : (And...I'm completely unnoticed...)

ALERT FEMALE : You guys wanna grab something to eat on the way back? 

TALL FEMALE : Whatever you guys wanna do.

SLENDER FEMALE : It sounds like a plan to me.

WONDER : (Sheesh...Are they gonna talk all day? Should I say something...?)

WONDER : Excuse me...

WONDER : (They're still just talking over me...I don't even care anymore...I'll just do nothing and wait...They have to stop eventually...)

A girl with long dark hair approaches the group. 

LONG HAIRED FEMALE : If you want to partake in idle chit-chat, you should relocate to the cafeteria. 

The girls all run away as if they are frightened by her.

LONG HAIRED FEMALE : Don't run in the hallway!

ALERT FEMALE : That was Tanemura-senpai! 

RIKO TANEMURA : Goodbye.

The girl, now known as Tanemura, gives Wonder one final cold glare before turning on heels and walking away. Leaving him scratching his head awkwardly.

-

As Wonder checks his phone, a strange owl is perched upon the lockers looking down on him. 

STRANGE OWL : Hm...Could this really be the guy? He doesn't look like anyone special...

Wonder hears something and turns to look, causing the strange owl to fly away. He doesn't think anything of it and leaves the locker area.

-

LIGHT-HEARTED MALE : Did you see that weird video that went viral yesterday? 

ANXIOUS MALE : Oh, I saw it alright...It's so scary...

LIGHT-HEARTED MALE : It was some kind of Phantom certification countdown...I don't really get it.

ANXIOUS MALE : I didn't brush my teeth when I left the house this morning. Do you think I could be certified a Phantom? 

-

The tram pulls up to the station, doors opening. A man rushes on board, knocking over a young woman in the process. She is now on the ground in front of the yellow line. Wonder witnesses the whole thing.

WONDER : (She's wearing headphones and not paying any attention...)

STATION ANNOUNCEMENT : The tram is preparing for departure. Please stand behind the yellow line until after the bell rings.

WONDER : (Should I bring it up with the man or go help the woman...? I can't just stand by and watch this happen...)

WONDER : Help the woman. 

He approaches the scene, however he hesitates. 

WONDER : (For some reason I can't find the energy to do anything about it...I don't even really care anymore...)

The doors to the tram close in the woman's face. 

HEADPHONE-WEARING WOMAN : Ah, rats. What terrible luck.

WONDER : (I guess I have to wait for the next tram...)

She walks away and Wonder stands with his hands in his pockets waiting for the next tram to arrive. The strange owl is revealed to be watching from afar. 

STRANGE OWL : Even with his desires "stolen", this human almost managed to alter his own fate...Perhaps he is the fellow who made the "choice" after all...?

-

Wonder boards the next tram when it arrives. Taking a seat and pulling out his phone. Arai is seated opposite of him, with her phone out as well. 

His eyes widen as he spots a mysterious App on his phone. He deletes it. Suddenly the strange owl begins speaking, perched on the bench across from him.

STRANGE OWL : As was the agreement, I've arrived.

Wonder glances around the tram, before looking back to his phone to see that the App has re-downloaded itself. 

STRANGE OWL : I'll give you a piece of advice. Not being able to see something clearly and not having the ABILITY to see it in the first place, are two very different things. I have some hope you might be the former of the two. 

MALE VOICE : Is that thing safe!?

FEMALE VOICE : It looks dangerous! 

A male with blue hair, a baseball cap, and a medical mask over his mouth is seen rushing across the tram on his bike. He knocks over a girl in the process and doesn't seem to care at all. His backpack says "Cyler Eats."

When he spots Wonder, he turns his bike on him and starts speeding in his direction with all he has. Wonder raises his hands to cover his face, and in the process opens the mysterious App on his phone on accident. 

-

Wonder slowly opens his eyes to see his own lap.

WONDER : (What the...? I was on the tram...Then someone tried to rush me with his bike and...)

STRANGE FIGURE : You chose a good time to use that App. On closer inspection, you've got a lotta class! 

WONDER : What ARE you!?

STRANGE FIGURE : I suppose this is a natural reaction for a human to have when facing an "unknown entity." You truly are a "curious" one, aren't you?

STRANGE FIGURE : You truly are worthy of a visit from me. You can call me Ruferu. I already know YOUR name. You're Wonder, right?

WONDER : Yes.

The tram comes to a screeching halt. 

RUFERU : Dang it! Seems we've been discovered! Let's go find a better place to talk. Come on, follow me. I'll be your guide on this mission to get back what was "stolen" from you.

WONDER : "Stolen?" 

RUFERU : That's right! Though you might not realize it yet, something very important has been "stolen" from you. Anyway, now's not the time. Our location has been compromised...Our top priority is leaving this place at once!

RUFERU : I will guide you to the exit. If you don't wanna die, you better follow me closely!

WONDER : (How bizarre...It seems I don't have much of a choice...)

Wonder follows Ruferu through the tunnels until they are approached by black shadows from behind. 

RUFERU : It seems they don't intend to let us leave easily. For these guys, we are a rare and delicious prey that they haven't had a bite of in a long time.

WONDER : What the heck is going on?

RUFERU : We call those shadows...They are out for our blood!

The shadows attack. Ruferu fights back, but they manage to crowd around Wonder. He trips and falls face first in the dirt. One of the shadows hits him in the face, before lifting him up by the neck and squeezing tight. Cutting off oxygen from his lungs.

When slammed against the wall, Wonder falls through it into a deep abyss of water. Voices ring out in his head as he plummets to the bottom and begins to drown. 

"Not being able to see something clearly and not having the ABILITY to see it in the first place, are two very different things."

"Though you might not realize it yet, something very important has been "stolen" from you."

"This is an underwater tunnel in the sea of your mind."

 "Lack of desire" can often times lead to giving up on life...Please remember these words, for I wish to see you again in the future." 

VOICE : What path shall you tread? To embrace the story's end here, is but a choice of thine...To forsake thyself, to willingly yield, to be a "stolen" wretch...Is this truly the way...?

Wonder is at the bottom of the sea, wrapped in seaweed and being held beneath the surface. 

WONDER : Don't be ridiculous!!

His eyes snap wide, and he breaks free, screaming at the top of his lungs. Swimming desperately for the surface. 

He snaps back to reality and pushes the shadow off of him with more force than humanly possible. Sending the shadow flying. A mask appears on his face and the voice speaks to him as he attempts to rip it off. 

VOICE : Now that you've made your choice. Say farewell to your "Detached" existence! Don't be afraid to seize the power within you. Even if you face criticism from others, so long as you can see it, reach out and grasp it. Hahaha! Let us finally welcome "Today!" 

He rips off the mask and is engulfed in flames that rise up around him and form the shape of a Persona. His clothing changes in an instant. 

JANOSIK : My name is Janosik, the one who leads those consumed by the wildest of desires! From this moment forward, the threads of fate have tightly bound us together. 

The shadows screech and morph, preparing to attack. And Janosik points his blade at them, 

JANOSIK : Come now, sign the contract! I am thou...

WONDER : Thou art I...!!

A fight with the shadows begins. 

RUFERU : This change in your appearance means we're deciding to fight instead of run, doesn't it?

WONDER : Fight...?

RUFERU : They're coming to kill us for real. If you don't wanna die, then use that weapon in your hand and cut down the enemy!!

[scaryfangirl2001]

Racetrack Deal (fanfic, 1356 WC)

@flufftober

The sun hangs high in the sky, a relentless ball of fire beating down on the asphalt of the racetrack parking lot. The air is thick with the scent of gasoline and sweat, mingling with the fresh aroma of cut grass from the nearby fields. Rick wipes his brow, the heat making his black polo shirt stick uncomfortably to his skin. He checks his watch; it's just past noon, and the first race is about to begin.

As he walks towards the entrance, his gaze falls upon an out-of-place sight. A small wooden table stands outside the fence, barely knee-high, adorned with a makeshift sign that reads "Lemonade: $1." Behind it, Daryl, a burly man with a Southern drawl, is busy squeezing lemons into a pitcher, his eyes darting nervously toward Rick's approaching figure. Rick's jaw clenches. He's seen this before — people trying to make a quick buck without the proper permits. He strides towards the table, his steps purposeful and authoritative.

"Daryl," he calls out, his voice carrying a warning edge. "What are you doing here?"

Daryl looks up, his expression shifting from nervousness to resignation. "Just trying to make some extra cash, Rick. Not hurting anyone."

Rick crosses his arms, his eyes narrowing. "You know the rules. No selling without a permit. You could get fined or even arrested."

Daryl's shoulders sag. "I know, I know. But I don't have another way to see Buttercup run today. She's my favorite horse, and I won't miss her race."

Rick's gaze softens momentarily, but only for a brief moment. "That doesn't change the fact that you're breaking the law, Daryl."

Daryl's eyes plead. "Please, Rick. Just this once. I'll get the permit next time, I promise. Let me stay long enough to see her race."

Rick sighs, rubbing the back of his neck. He understands Daryl's passion for the horses, especially Buttercup, but rules are rules. He needs to find a solution.

"Alright," Rick says slowly, his mind working through the options. "I won't call the cops this time. But you owe me."

Daryl's eyes widen with relief. "Anything, Rick. Name it."

Rick's lips curve into a sly smile. "Meet me in the stables after the race. We'll discuss your debt."

Daryl nods eagerly, his anxiety replaced by hope. "Thank you, Rick. I won't let you down."

Rick turns and walks away, leaving Daryl at his lemonade stand. As he makes his way back to the track, his thoughts drift to the stables. The heat intensifies, and the smell of hay and horseflesh fills his nostrils as he enters the cool, dimly lit interior. The sound of hooves clattering on concrete echoes around him, mingling with the soft voices of grooms and trainers. He finds a quiet corner, leaning against the wall, watching the bustling activity around him. Anticipation builds within him as he waits for Daryl to show up. He knows this encounter will teach Daryl a lesson he won't forget.

Time seems to crawl by, each minute an eternity. Finally, the sound of approaching footsteps quickens Rick's pulse. He turns to see Daryl standing in the doorway, his face flushed from the heat and the excitement of the race.

"Rick," Daryl greets, his voice a mix of relief and nervousness. "Buttercup ran like a dream. Thanks for letting me stay."

Rick pushes off the wall, his eyes locking onto Daryl's. "Glad you enjoyed the race. Now, let's discuss your debt."

Daryl swallows hard, his eyes scanning the empty stable. "What do you want me to do?"

Rick, the stern security guard, approaches Daryl with a determined gaze. "You know the rules, Daryl. No unauthorized betting. Now, you're going to learn a lesson." He steps closer, his presence commanding attention. "First, you're going to kiss me."

Daryl's eyes widen in surprise, but he doesn't hesitate. He leans in, their lips meeting in a kiss that starts as a tentative exploration and quickly turns into a passionate embrace. Rick's hands cup Daryl's face, his thumbs caressing the soft skin of Daryl's cheeks as he deepens the kiss. Daryl's lips part and Rick's tongue slips inside, exploring every inch of Daryl's mouth, igniting a fire within them. Daryl responds with equal fervor, his hands gripping Rick's waist, pulling him closer as their kiss intensifies. Their breaths mingle, heavy and urgent, echoing in the stables. When they finally break apart, both men are breathless, their hearts pounding in unison.

Rick's eyes gleam with satisfaction, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "Now, let me teach you about betting and horse races." He guides Daryl deeper into the stables, their footsteps echoing on the straw-covered ground. "In this world, you need to understand the rules before you play the game."

They enter an empty stall, the door creaking softly as it swings shut behind them. The dim light casts shadows on the walls, creating an intimate atmosphere. Rick presses Daryl against the rough wooden boards, their bodies flush against each other, the scent of hay and sweat filling the air.

"Take off your shirt," Rick commands, his voice dripping with authority. "You need to understand the stakes."

Daryl complies, his fingers deftly unbuttoning his shirt and letting it fall to the ground. Rick's hands roam over Daryl's bare chest, tracing the lines of muscle, his touch both gentle and possessive. "In betting, you put your money on the line, just like you're putting your body on the line now." Rick leans in, capturing Daryl's lips in a searing kiss, his tongue delving deep as his hands move lower, unbuckling Daryl's belt. "And just like in a horse race, the thrill is in the anticipation, the build-up to the climax."

Daryl moans into the kiss, his hands fumbling with Rick's shirt, eager to feel the warmth of his skin. He pulls the fabric over Rick's head, revealing his toned back. "Show me," Daryl whispers, his voice hoarse with desire.

Rick breaks the kiss, his breath hot against Daryl's ear. "Bend over, and I'll show you the thrill of the race."

Daryl obeys, bracing himself against the wooden boards, his heart racing. Rick positions himself behind Daryl, his hands gripping Daryl's hips firmly. "In a race, you need to find the right pace, the perfect rhythm." With a slow, deliberate thrust, Rick enters Daryl, filling him to the hilt.

Daryl gasps, his hands clutching the rough wood as Rick begins to move, each thrust powerful and purposeful. "Just like a horse, you need to find your stride, your rhythm," Rick whispers, his breath hot on Daryl's neck. "Feel the power, the intensity."

Daryl moans, his body trembling with each thrust, the pleasure building with every stroke. Rick's hands roam over Daryl's skin, his fingers digging into the flesh, leaving marks of possession. "You're doing great, Daryl. Feel the rush, the excitement."

"Oh, Rick," Daryl pants, his voice raw with desire. "I... I can't..."

"Yes, you can," Rick growls, his voice rough with desire. "You're almost there, just like a horse approaching the finish line." He quickens his pace, his movements becoming more urgent, mirroring the final stretch of a race. "Feel the climax, the ultimate reward."

Daryl's body shakes with the force of his release, his pleasure crashing over him in waves. Rick follows soon after, his climax overwhelming him. They collapse against the wooden boards, their breaths mingling, their bodies glistening with sweat.

Rick pulls out slowly, his hands still resting on Daryl's hips. "Remember this lesson, Daryl. Betting and horse races are about taking risks, but you must understand the consequences." He straightens his clothes, his voice firm. "You broke the rules, and this is the price you pay."

Daryl nods, his body still buzzing with the aftermath of their encounter. "I understand, Rick. I won't forget this lesson." He straightens his clothes, his eyes meeting Rick's. "Thank you for teaching me."

Rick's stern expression softens slightly, a hint of a smile playing on his lips as he gives Daryl's ass a final, firm squeeze and steps back. "Just remember, Daryl, in the world of betting and horse races, you always need to play by the rules."

[cape-starling-official]

Purpose

((not open rp. Written in collaboration with @timblrdrake

This is kind of a special thing because Timbler mun dosen’t necessarily like to rp on their account. I had an idea and I know them irl and we wrote it together. 

Word count: 911 words

Tw: mention of blood and violence.))

Tim was on patrol, it had been a pretty slow night but he spotted some movement in an alley and went to go check it out. 

When he arrived he saw a mugger on the ground with a knife loose in his hand and spotted movement in the shadows. He bristles, holding out his staff defensively as he approaches the obscured figure. He catches a glimpse of the light reflecting off of the lenses of Harper’s mask, familiarity un-tenses his shoulders. “Are you injured?” He asks, narrowing his eyes into the dark. Tim sees a figure hunched over in the corner of the alley. Harper retreats against the wall further, feeling threatened by his presence. The yellow eyes on her mask stare blankly at him but her body language gives away how uncomfortable she is. 

“I don’t need your help,” she says sharply, but he can see her holding her side and it doesn't take a master detective to tell she's in pain. “It seems like you do,” he remarks, stepping close enough to see the extent of her injuries. A gash through the right side of her torso seeps blood through her suit. “What do you call that? Not needing help?” he creeps closer with his hands out placatingly, “Let me get you medical attention.”

She watches him intently. “I can find my own way to a medical centre,” she says dismissively as she tries and fails to get up. The pain in her side causes her body to sink back onto the ground. “...fine…” she mutters reluctantly. 

-

The way to the safehouse is filled with a pointed silence, both Tim and Harper not willing to be the first to break it. They reach the empty apartment, he ushers Harper in through the window behind him. It’s dark and empty but seems comfortable enough. Tim gestures wordlessly to the couch as he hunts for what he needs to stitch Harper’s injuries. 

She walks over to the couch and flops down. She sinks into soft cushions, they cradle her sore body. She closed her eyes listening for Tim to come back. 

Tim doesn’t take long, returning with bandages and a suture kit. He sits himself down next to Harper with a sigh, her wound has stopped bleeding and upon closer inspection it doesn’t look particularly deep, much to Tim’s relief. Harper watches Tim as he moves. Once he starts to stitch her up she winces. Tim could feel her staring holes in the top of his head through the whole process. Once he’s done she moves away from him. She stays quiet, not thanking him in the slightest. 

“Thanks Red Robin,” Tim mutters in a high-pitched voice, mocking Harper, “You’re welcome,” He huffs when he’s met with silence. 

“You should be more careful.”

She glares at him “I don’t need advice from you when I'm picking up your slack.” 

Tim looks at her incredulously from below his mask, “Picking up my slack? Seriously?” he scoffs, “You’re screwing up my investigation, I’ve been watching those guys for days…” he runs a hand through his hair, “You have no idea what you’re doing out there.”

“At least I'm doing something! There are so many people that you guys miss, I'm trying to help them.”  she retorts. 

“So what, B and I are out there doing nothing? Do you think we go out at night just to sit around?” He stands and gestures exasperatedly, “We’re doing our best, Harper.”

“Well it isn’t enough.” she says sharply. “People get hurt. Kids get hurt. And you don't even know about it. So I made it my job to know.” 

Tim’s eyes narrow at her from beneath the mask, she can’t see his scrutiny but she can feel it. “This is about you, isn’t it. About them,” he sighs. 

She hesitates. “No- ... .You were my idol…you were the coolest thing in the world…you made me feel safe in a city that wasn’t…but when I needed you, when I called to you…no one showed up. I had to drag myself out. I had to face it by myself, And i'm not the only one.” 

Tim’s breath hitches, he's not sure how to respond to that. 

“Look, I’m sorry about what happened to you- we’re only human, Harper..”

“You should be sorry. Now I'm not going to stop. I'm going to avenge my parents, and in the meantime I'm going to pick up your slack.” 

Tim chews the inside of his lip, he chooses his next words very carefully, “Your parents’ killer is dead. You know that, right?”

That stops her stream of thoughts. “....what?” she was not aware….this was her single goal. The only thing she honestly lived to do…and now she couldn’t complete it. The killer being dead wasn’t enough. She wanted to, she needed to do it herself…and now she never could.

“How long has he been dead.. Why didn't you tell me!? You obviously know who I am. You're smart and you never thought to tell the angsty girl her life mission couldn't be completed!?” 

“How is this my fault? They died years ago! I thought you would already know!” 

“Well I didn't know!” She was having a really hard time. This news has thrown her through a loop and honestly this argument would probably go nowhere with the way her mental state is at the moment. 

Tim inhales sharply, “You should go home, Harper.”

She nods. Deciding fighting him wasn’t worth it anymore.