#and then there was a staircase that came down around the house from the upper floor

[queerpyracy]

haunted and vexed all day by the fact that the beach house i dreamed about, which was cylindrical and the lower floor was made to look like a big bookshelf on the outside for some reason, doesn't exist

[girliism]

70s cult leader art who picked up your friend from the grocery store on day and you haven’t seen her since.

“hello” you hear a voice you haven’t heard in months.

“oh my god? are you ok no ones seen you for months. i thought you died.”

“died?” she laughs through the phone. “i haven’t died in fact i feel more alive than ever.”

“well, where the hell have been?”

“that’s what i called you for, i want you to come visit me. it’s been so long and i missed you dearly. he even said you could spend the weekend.” he?

you don’t question it to much telling her you’ll be there. she gives you the address and says to come on friday.

you leave early in that morning, the california sun beating down on you through the window as you approach a huge house. you eagerly park your car getting out to see your friend.

“i’m so glad you came.” she pulls you in for a tight hug. “god, i missed you so much.” you hold her just a little bit longer before pulling notice something on her upper arm. “what’s this?” you stroke the mark on her arm. “looks like a tattoo but worse.” she pulls away from you. “it’s nothing. come on i’ll show you around. and don’t worry about your bags someone will grab them.”

the house was beautiful. a giant staircase and a crystal chandelier hangs in the foyer. “holy shit.” you stare in awe. your friend laughs at your reaction. “i know right wait til you see the rest of the house.”

“and this is where you’ll be sleeping here with me.” it was a huge room, lots of windows and six beds lined up next to each other. “you can have the bed on the end-” “girls.” you turn around to a man with blonde curly hair dressed in a long silk rob and tiny underwear. “art!” your friend goes up to place a kiss on his lips. oh? “art, this is my friend the one i was telling you about.” you hold you hand out for him to shake but his immediately pulls you in for a hug. “it’s so great to finally meet you. i hope you have a fun time here.” he pulls away with a big smile on his face before leaving. “isn’t he just so great.” your friend stared at the now empty door way. “anyways you should probably change out of those jeans before i show you outside. it gets terribly hot.”

dressed in a loose white dress you and your friend walk through the garden. “this is our garden all of our produce is grown here by our garden members.” they were all naked sporting the same mark on their arm as your friend. she showed you the rest of the huge property and soon it was time for dinner.

the dining room was full of talking and laughing. three long tables placed next to each other. you sat in the middle one. the room got quite when art walked in. “family, today we are joined by a new friend. i hope you all made her feel welcome.” yes is echoed throughout the room. “join hands and thank the divine for blessing us with such a beautiful harvest and such a beautiful guest.” they all joined hands thanking the divine before passing food around starting up conversations again.

art watched you the whole night. they way your lips wrapped around the fork how easy you got a long with every one. maybe you were what was missing from the house.

“you got so lucky tonight. you got to sit at his table right next to him.” you friend said to you from her bed. it was night and you and your friend were talking about the day you had. “what’s so great about this art guy.” you say. everyone here seems so obsessed with him. “he’s amazing. when he found me i was so sad and hiding it from you, but he saw that and he helped me.” you hummed. “well i’m glad you’re happier now.”

you get awoken in the middle of the night by howling and the urge to pee.

the old house creeks below you feet as you walk back from the bathroom when you hear it. moans. they were coming from a room and the door wasn’t all the way closed, so against your better judgment you looked through the crack. you saw bodies fucking in a perfect circle with art in the middle, two people going down on him. what the fuck? you accidentally push the door causing it to creek. art snaps his eye to yours making quick contact with you. you gasp moving back immediately making your way back to the room. you replay the scene in your head pushing a pillow in between your legs grinding against it softly.

the kitchen is busy that morning, people moving in and out of it. your friend spots you coming up to hug you. “good morning. how was your sleep?” “it was fine. um what’s going on here.” you pick up and apple from the fruit bowl but it’s ripped out your hand. “no eating that those are for tonight.” you ask what tonight was. “the first full moon of the summer. we’re gonna be camping outside, oh i do hope you stay for it.” “oh uh i wouldn’t want to intrude.” you say shaking your head. your friend smile drops “that’s ok. it’s been so much fun either way i do hope you come back and visit.” she shrugs going back to preparing for tonight.

you were packing your bag up getting ready to leave when someone comes in tell you art what’s to see you in his office. you make your way to his office knocking on his door. you hear a soft come in and you walk in taking a seat in front of him. “i hear you’re not gonna stay for the full moon camp out.” art says leaning back in his chair blue eyes locking with yours. you draw a breath looking away. “i just as an outsider wouldn’t want to crash you know.” art laughs getting up to take a seat on the desk in front of you holding your hands in his lap. “please, we would love to have you join us.” his thumbs stroke the back of your hands.

so you find your in another white flowy dress walking bare foot up a hill arm hooked with your friends. “i’m so happy you decided to stay you’re gonna have so much fun.” you friend smiles.

“drink this and find a spot.” you drink the mysterious drink the guy at the top of the hill. you start to fill whatever it is you drank, your muscles feel loose and the flames in front of you look as if they are waving. you see your friend encourage you to get up and dance with her so you do. jumping and twisting dancing around the fire getting lost in the night. art watches from his spot before getting up to dance too, grabbing your hand pulling you off to a more secluded area.

art pushes you to lay on the grass hovering over you pulling the strap of your dress down. you moan at how his touch shockes you. whatever you drank has you overly sensitive and needy. “i saw you watching us last night in the shadows.” your bare tits get exposed to the cold night air nipples harden. “you wanted to join just us or did you want me all to yourself.” art pulls your head that was rolling to the side smacking your cheek to get your eyes to open. “yes, i wanted you i even went back in my bed and touched myself.” you whine at the filling of art’s fingers teasing your cunt.

you were so high. your eyes glossed over and drool spilling out of your mouth that art licks ups slipping his tongue in your mouth. “want you to fuck me with your cock.” the small sober part of you was confused on why you were acting like this, but the major part of your mind felt fuzzy, and art hands holding your thighs open made you want to cum on the spot just from his touch.

art chuckled at your directness. “i can do that.” art pulls is cock out of his pants pushing it into your wet heat. “fuck.” he grunts bottoming out. the second he enters you, you feel reborn like his cock was what was missing from your life. “oh my god.” your eyes roll back. art shakes his head. “no, not god. the divine.” he smiles at you bringing one of your legs up over his shoulder and starts fucking into you.

“i thank the divine for bringing you here for bringing me such a welcoming pussy to lay my sperm.” art kisses all over your face gripping your breast hard, panting like a dog in your ear.

“art art art - oh fuck - fuck me harder.” you whine. the twigs on the ground scrap your back, and art is punching the sweet spot inside you with his dick.

art starts licking and sucking on your breast, leaving faint bite marks there. “the best fucking pussy. need you to stay with me, rule with me in my divine kingdom.” everything art’s saying and how his thumbs moves fast on your clit has you blanking. absolutely nothing is being thought. the only thing echoing up there is arts pleads of staying with him.

“i think i’m gonna come.” you dig your nail into his arm as your cum gushes down his cock. you don’t know when art cums in you but he does. the only thing you do know is how you feeling like your floating. everything around you seems so bright and vibrant. is this the divine?

you come back to reality when art kisses your lips asking if your were ok. “i’m more than ok, i’m perfect.” you breathe out. art smiles down at you. “so you’ll stay with me?” art ask taking advantage of the state you were in.

“yes, i’ll do whatever for you.” you and art lay there under the full moon.

(poor girl was tripping off shrooms thinking she’s having a religious experience 🙂‍↔️)

[melanchol1cs]

LAMBS TO THE SLAUGHTER, ii

leon kennedy x religious f!reader

word count: 3k summary: realizing parents don’t always know whats best. masterlist | taglist | ko-fi

previous chapter | next chapter

18+ MDNI. DEAD DOVE. religious themes, religious trauma, neglectful/abusive parents, physical abuse(not by leon), mentions of bruises and physical injury, age gap(reader is 19, leon is 27), reader tries coffee for the first time. there will be smut in future chapters.

a/n: sorry for making you guys wait, i wasn’t really contented with the first version i made of this so i decided to redo most of it, which didn’t turn out that good either. anyway, i hope you guys enjoy, likes and reblogs are greatly appreciated.

you had returned from leon’s house, the familiar scent of home enveloping you. the floral aroma of your mother's cleaning products mingled with the rich scent of your father's coffee, yet neither could dispel the unease that clung to you. the house was empty, amplifying the loneliness that settled like a weight in your chest.

of course, the chores. you still needed to finish them before your parents returned. you rushed to sweep the kitchen floor, hastening to the laundry next. the clock ticked ominously, each second a reminder of how little time you had.

but leon’s image haunted you, an uninvited specter in your mind. you tried to forget, to focus on your tasks, but your hands trembled as you attempted to fold a shirt, the fabric slipping from your grasp. frustration welled up within you, a sigh escaping your lips, as you envisioned his eyes, his smile, the warmth that seemed so foreign in your own home.

you moved onto the dishes, hoping the mundanity of the task would distract you. but the clattering plates only evoked memories of leon’s chuckle, his voice echoing in your thoughts, a gentle reminder of the fleeting moments you shared.

and despite your efforts, the chores remained unfinished. the broom leaned against the wall, dishes piled high in the sink, and the laundry lay untouched on the living room floor. the weight of your failure pressed down on you, a physical ache that matched the emotional turmoil.

you couldn’t recall how it happened, your mind always foggy afterward. one moment you were rushing to complete your tasks, the next you were lying on the floor, pain throbbing in your head. vision blurred, you struggled to sit up, the room spinning around you. you reached out, steadying yourself against the coffee table, the cold surface grounding you in reality.

that's when you noticed them — bruises blooming on your arms, smaller ones on your knees, cuts shallow but jagged on your knees and elbows, and tiny splinters embedded in your fingers. each mark a testament to the chaos that reigned in your home.

your parents towered over you, a sight you'd grown used to. their faces were contorted into rage, though you weren't entirely sure what you had done to deserve it. their anger was a constant companion, an ever-present threat.

your father grabbed you by the hair, yanking your head back painfully. "ain't this all you had to do before we came home? 'ts not so hard, is it? don't get what you had to do that's so much more important than what we tell you." you opened your mouth, but only a groan emerged, the pain throbbing in your head, each word a dagger to your heart.

your mother knelt down, roughly grabbing your chin to force you to look at her. "don't you dare act like you're hurt, missy. ain't nothin' hurt. you just want an excuse not to do your chores." her grip tightened, nails digging into your skin.

"we'll give you an excuse, you spoiled brat."

your mother kicked you hard in the side, a shout of pain escaping your lips. your father dragged you to your feet, his grip iron on your upper arm. he wrenched you toward the staircase, each step a reminder of your helplessness.

"up to your room, young lady. don't wanna see you down here till morning." you stumbled up the stairs, each step sending jolts of pain through your bruised body.

you remember it vividly, collapsing onto your bed that night, tears pricking at your eyes, attempting to sob quietly in the darkness of your room.

a storm brewed closer, and you sat in your disheveled cream-colored dress, swinging your legs from the trunk of a tree that stood between your house and his. your face was streaked with dirt and wind-blown hair. you gazed into the distance, fingers tracing lazy patterns on your thigh, oblivious to the world around you.

the front door creaked open, but you remained unaware, lost in your thoughts.

"hi, neighbor," you heard. your head snapped down, eyes meeting his, a flicker of surprise crossing your features.

"hi," a small peep escaped your lips, your voice barely above a whisper.

he stood there, looking up at you, concern etched on his face.

"everything okay up there?" he gestured vaguely at the branches surrounding you. you opened your mouth, but no words came out. just gasps and wheezes. your lungs felt like they were on fire. and all you managed was a quiet hum, just enough for him to hear.

his attempts to climb the tree were futile, making it halfway before he stood on the ground. "you know, there's a perfectly good porch down here. the grass is really nice this time of year too." his voice was gentle, a stark contrast to the harshness you were accustomed to.

you awkwardly shifted on the branch, attempting to cover your legs, the bark digging into your thighs through your dress. "how'd you get those?" his eyes lingered on your bruises, concern deepening.

"i— i'm not supposed to talk to you," you try to avoid eye contact. "sorry."

his brow furrowed slightly at your whispered response. "oh, come on. don't be like that," he leaned against the trunk, looking up at you with intense blue eyes. "talk to me." his voice was low and gravelly, sending shivers down your spine, a strange comfort in his persistence.

"i can't," your voice barely reached his ears, but he caught it. "i'm not supposed to tell."

"not supposed to tell what?" he sounded genuinely curious and a little amused, like he thought you were playing a game. his gaze drifted over your face, taking in your flushed cheeks and glassy eyes. "honey, you can tell me anything. i'm your neighbor, remember? you even bought me cookies. we're friends now."

you glanced down, then back up, then down again. your eyes darted around, worried someone might be watching. when they flicked back up to him, your brows furrowed, eyes frightened. "please, you can't tell anyone, okay? i'd get in so much trouble if my parents found out i told you..." you trailed off, biting your lip. your hands curled tightly around the branches above your head. you trembled slightly, the fear palpable.

"i promise, i won't."

"you gotta tell me why you're so scared to talk. what's going on at home?" his eyes... they just kept looking at you, seeing right through you. you swallowed hard, mouth suddenly dry. how could you explain? they'd hate you more if you told. and leon... he'd probably think you were weird. or broken. or worse.

but he asked. and he seemed like he wanted to know. and you really didn't want to cry in front of him. so you took a deep breath and told him the truth. "my parents... they hit me. only sometimes. when i don't do what they want." tears pricked your eyes, and you bit your lip hard, trying to hold them back.

you weren't crying. you weren't crying. you weren't... a sob escaped your throat, and soon you were hiccuping and sniffling, clinging to the branches as you cried. he just looked at you as you cried. "sorry."

he didn't say anything. didn't move. just kept looking at you as you cried. this was so embarrassing. but it also felt like a relief, finally telling someone the truth. even if that someone was a boy from next door you barely knew. after a few moments, he finally spoke.

"you know i'm here for you, right? you can talk to me, about anything." his voice was gentle now, not gravelly and teasing like before. "care to come down now?"

"can't," you timidly shook your head and turned away slightly. "it's almost dinner."

the wind whipped through the branches, the only sound echoing through the neighborhood. you looked down at him, his gaze fixed on you. the tears wouldn't stop. "please don't look at me like that," you sniffled, wiping your tear-streaked face with the back of your hands, wishing the ground would swallow you whole.

his lips parted as if to say something, but he was interrupted by the door squeaking open, your mother calling out.

"dinner's ready!” the sternness in her voice made you go rigid. your eyes widened, and your hand quickly slapped over your mouth to hold back a whimper. there wasn't much time left. you clambered down the tree, wincing with each bruise pushed to its limit.

halfway down, he reached up to help, his hand grasping your arm to steady you. your feet planted on the grass, you were met with a reassuring smile. "i'll see you later, yeah?"

"okay."

you turned back to your house, swallowing the dread building in your stomach. your mother stood at the front door, arms crossed, a stern look on her face.

"where've you been?" she snapped as you approached. "dinner's been waiting, you know."

"sorry," you swallowed your words. "i— i was outside. in the garden."

"in the garden," she repeated, a hint of suspicion in her voice, masked behind false care. she scrutinized you with her piercing gaze, taking note of your messy hair, dress covered in twigs, dirt stains. the evidence was all over you, each mark a silent accusation.

"well, c'mon then. no point in standing out here all night," she snapped. "go clean up. you're filthy."

later that night, after dinner and chores, you lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. thoughts fixated on leon. the way he looked at you. the way he listened. the way he didn't judge. his presence was a balm to your wounded soul, a flicker of hope in the darkness.

hours ticked by, sleep eluding you. every time your eyes shut, images of him popped into your head. his intense gaze, the small quirks of his expression, the timbre of his voice, and that slight, warm smile. each memory a lifeline, a reminder that someone cared.

you rolled over, pulling the blanket tighter around yourself, trying to push away the strange feelings stirring within. the uncertainty gnawed at you, a constant companion.

eventually, after hours of tossing and turning, sleep came at last. but it did not bring peace. your fears came to life in your dreams, the pain and dread all too real, haunting you, a relentless reminder of your reality.

the following morning, rain pelted against your window, the sound echoing through your small room. the weather matched your mood, a reflection of the storm within. groggily, you lifted yourself off the bed, body covered in aches and bruises from the previous day.

the rain continued, drumming against the roof. you stood at your window, staring into the gloom, mind wandering back to yesterday. to leon. to the way his presence had offered a momentary respite from your suffering.

a flash of lightning illuminated the sky, followed by a clap of thunder. you flinched, heart racing. the pain in your body faded as unease washed over you, the storm outside mirroring the turmoil within, each rumble a reminder of your unrest.

your groggy mind struggled to shake off sleep's haze. you sat up, rubbing the sleep from your eyes. the nightmare's memories lingered like a bad taste. rain lashed the window, creating a steady rhythm that filled the morning air, a symphony of sorrow.

carefully, you climbed out of bed, feeling the throb in your body, and pulled on the first outfit you found, not bothering to change into something clean. your hair was a mess, eyes heavy with unshed tears, the weight of the previous day still hanging over you.

you hesitated at the door, the rain's sound intensifying. but something pushed you forward. maybe it was the need for distraction, the curiosity of seeing leon again, or just the need for human interaction. the need to feel less alone.

you made your way to his house, shivering as cold droplets soaked through your clothes. the front door creaked open at your knock, revealing leon in all his disheveled glory. he looked as tired as you felt, but seeing him lifted a weight off your chest, a small comfort amidst the chaos.

"hey," he greeted, voice rough from sleep, his eyes warming as he took in your bedraggled appearance.

"hi," you smiled awkwardly. "i hope you don't mind, i was hoping we could kind of..."

"i don’t know, talk… i guess."

he blinked, slowly registering your smile. he stepped aside, allowing you in, his presence a silent reassurance.

"mind? are you kidding me? you're soaked. come in." he led you into the living room, closing the door behind you, the warmth of his home a stark contrast to the cold outside.

you shivered again, and he noticed, throwing you a towel. "here, dry off a bit." as you wrapped the towel around your shoulders, you noticed his eyes lingering on you, his gaze seeming to strip you bare. it made you shiver for an entirely different reason, a strange warmth spreading through you.

"i was just about to make coffee. want some?" he asked, gesturing to the kitchen, his voice a gentle invitation.

"no, thank you."

"are you sure? i just brewed a fresh pot," he stands there expectantly, hands resting on his hips. his gaze bores into you, studying you. like he's trying to figure out what's going on in that head of yours. you shift uncomfortably, feeling self-conscious under his scrutiny.

"okay," he eventually drops it. "so, what're you doing here this early?" he gestured, his curiosity evident.

why did you come here? oh right. to distract yourself. and also, because you sort of wanted... to see him. "i just... i had some free time, and i thought..." you trailed off, unable to meet his eyes. this felt so awkward, so vulnerable. he filled the silence with his understanding.

"no need to explain," he said. his voice was casual, but his eyes held concern. he studied you for a moment. "i get it."

the way your hair stuck to your face, the slight trembling in your fingers, the faint tinge of pink on your cheeks. you were vulnerable, and he sensed your deep troubles. he crossed his arms, leaning against the wall, his presence a silent support.

"you're shivering," he pointed out, voice concerned. "are you sure you don't want coffee?"

you shook your head. "i don't drink coffee," you cleared your throat. "my parents don't let me."

he quirked a brow, confusion and disbelief washing over his features. but his response held no judgment, just a matter-of-fact tone, his concern evident.

"your parents don't let you?" his voice was calm, yet his words carried a subtle bite.

you nodded. the tension was palpable. the silence that followed was filled with understanding, deeper than words. he saw through you, understood what you weren't saying, his gaze a silent promise.

"you're kidding,” he continued. "what kind of parents don't let their kid drink coffee?"

he said it half-jokingly, but not to tease. he was genuinely surprised at your strict situation, an absurdity to him, his disbelief a reflection of his concern.

"it's just coffee," he muttered. "not like its hard drugs or anything,"

"yeah," you chuckled uncomfortably, the sound a weak attempt to lighten the mood.

he stepped closer, leaning down to get a better look at you, eyes searching your face. "your parents... they don't let you do a lot of things, do they?"

"no," you mumbled, eyes shifting away. "but they say it's what's best for me."

his jaw clenched, eyes narrowing as you confirmed his hunch. your relationship with your parents wasn't healthy, a truth that weighed heavily on him.

he scoffed softly, pulling back. "right," he said, voice dripping with cynicism. "because your parents clearly know what's best for you, huh?"

"of course they do," your voice cracks. "they're my parents—“

"so what? being a parent means controlling your kid’s life?" he scoffed. "bullshit."

despite his bluntness, he didn't raise his voice. he wasn't angry, just frustrated. he wanted you to see the fallacy in your logic. it was difficult for him to witness your treatment, his concern a silent plea for you to see the truth.

he paused, gaze softening. he saw how much you held back, the tension in your shoulders, the nervous fiddling with your shirt's hem, each movement a silent cry for help.

"i—" you wanted to say something, but your voice was strained, just quiet squeaks, the words caught in your throat.

his face softened, realizing pushing further wouldn't help. his concern a gentle reminder that he was there for you.

"how about that coffee? i'll even make it decaf, so you don’t get those caffeine jitters," he smiled. "sound good?"

you nodded. "yeah, okay."

satisfied, he headed to the kitchen, returning with a steaming mug. placing it in your hands, he ensured your fingers were securely wrapped around it before letting go. his actions were gentle but firm, fearing you might crumble if too rough, his presence a silent comfort.

"careful," he cautioned. "it's hot."

the rain had stopped, replaced by a gentle patter of raindrops on the windowpane. finally, you broke the silence.

"thank you," you said softly. for the coffee, yes, but for everything else too.

tags: @lottiies @arcane5019 @crowleyco @catnipchannie

[running-with-kn1ves]

Phrogging. Or... Spider-ing?

A/N: Ignore the dumbass title I couldn't think of anything more captivating; Missed my love for driders-- I wish spiders were real 💔

Synopsis: You move into an old, but enticing fixer-upper of a house. While doing your general, you know, fixing-upping, you come face to face with the cause of the bumps in the night you’ve been plagued by. 

CW: Spiders, attempts at intimidation, fear, GN Reader

You know that skittering you hear while laying in bed sometimes? Little 'tic tic tics' behind your headboard as you try to sleep at night, or muffled bumps under the old hardwood floor creating flurries of dust as the thumping moves to another side of the room. Yeah, not always the most comforting feeling, especially when you're busy plastering white paint on old, cobwebbed walls at eleven at night, in a home built decades before you were born. 

Eggshell-colored sludge covered your elbows and cheeks, small speckles crusted over the dust on your ‘new’ floors and painting sheet. The bumps were a constant source of annoyance, especially tonight while you yourself, were making a bit of a ruckus. You didn't dare move while listening to the sound, a large roller still held rigidly in your dominant hand, dripping white onto the floor. Another thump resounded, creating small tornadoes of dust. And then another. They were farther away this time, to the south of your damp, italianate-style home. Ghosts and goblins weren't your forte-- even with the near century-old two-story you've been blessed to snatch off the market in time, you thought the cobwebs and oddly spacious basement were just remnants of the old owners, creaking with age and dim with use-- not the presence of the otherworldly. 

But these little tip-taps and deep grunts from below were by no means just a product of old wood and concrete-- they were... intentional. The roar of the incinerator was recognizable, separate from the sound of disturbing bangs from below.

The thump moved again, this time your paint roller falling into its wet bucket of a home as your legs shake, falling asleep from use; painting around the baseboards of your new suite (a dream bedroom-- even if it was caked in a layer of mouse droppings) was no easy feat, on you or your joints. 

Underneath a box of old sheets the thump went to disrupt the floor again, the box jumping a quarter inch off the ground. 

Your queasy legs rise to investigate. 

Down the hall and to the ground level, you avoid several caved-in steps as you leave the second floor. The shimmer of dust particles in the air makes you sniffle, rubbing your nose raw as you make it down. The basement door, only a few feet on the wall to your left, sat slightly ajar. 

The door bolt lays unused and slightly clanking against the rotting wood. A foul smell wafts from the open crack, a stench you have yet to get rid of even long after scrubbing the stairs with bleach from top to bottom. Perhaps the wood is starting to mold. 

They're damp when you rest on the first basement step with your socked foot, deadbolt still clinking as you watch the darkness. Nothing stirs, besides dust particles mixed with the smell of petrichor. 

Racing to the bottom of the staircase you rapidly search for the lightswitch, nearly tripping in the oncoming darkness.

Flipping one of them on and off again as the musty odor creeps closer, you can sense the movement of unseen creatures; blindly feeling for the second lightswitch, a dreary yellow from above finally bursts in the cavern of decade-old belongings, along with the sound of a whirring ceiling fan on the brink of falling out of the old cement.

Nothing seemed out of place, old dusted boxes lying against one another with wet stuff seeping from their rotten corners. A quiet ‘drip drip’ came from somewhere. 

A small sigh escaped from your dry mouth, corners of your lips sticking together from lack of use in anything other than swallowing your sandpapering tongue.

You scanned the room, all dawned in yellow except the deep corners of the basement. It read as usual, giving off the same historic, uncomfortably wet aura. But your eyes stopped, either out of a disruption in the moldy pattern, or an instinctual fear that was trying to warn you. 

Slender and black, it looked almost frozen, except for some wrongful twitching at its tip; you might’ve ignored it as a large crack in the wall, or perhaps dripping sewage from the upstairs bathroom if it had stayed still. But it curled, just slightly bent and sticking out like an appendage. It was aggregate with notches like a finger, jointed. It seemed to notice your staring, creating a creaking tap before it disappeared into the darkness of the ceiling beams and rotted corner to your right. 

Horror was slow to dawn on your face, exhaustion making your skin droop where wrinkles would show in only a matter of time. You had seen that, right? It wasn’t just your brain making things up because it was way past your self-mandated bed time?

The panic causing your heart to speed three times faster than the original lethargic beats was real, though. And that was enough for you to believe you were more than hallucinating. Blindly you search your back pockets for your phone, not daring to take your eyes away from the now empty, peeling corner. 

You hadn’t noticed the drumming that harassed you while painting had stopped-- until it started again. This time it came from above, dancing on the ceiling beams where you couldn’t see, sounding as if it was coming directly for you. When you were upstairs it was almost aimless, moving around like a cat with its head stuck in a box.

 You pressed a hand in front of your mouth, trying not to scream; it would do no good to wake the elderly neighbors, who already seemed prepared to destroy an outsider like you through the homeowners association. Well, what good would that be if you were dead!

Whatever the leg belonged to, it must have sensed your urgency as you tried to shuffle back up the stairs, your body pressed against the back wall to keep your eyes on the basement. The unclosable door upstairs had gently gone shut, the door bolt swinging against the splintered wood as if it too didn’t understand what had closed the door so simply. 

It had distracted you from your real fear, the thing you took your eyes away from. 

“Hello, there.” 

Wide-eyed and shaking, you drew yourself to look back at the dark corner, but the voice was far too close to come from so far away. 

“Up here, simpleton.”

Your paint-dried fingernails dug into the split wood from behind, begging for some stability besides the wet stairs beneath your soggy feet. 

Stuttering breaths ran throughout the groaning, mildew beast of the basement. You prepped for the worst, for some kind of phrogger or decaying corpse that found a way to haunt you. Burning tears tugged at the sides of your eyes, falling asbestos egging on your terror.

But what you found was a… young man; the kind of man you wouldn’t expect to be living in your basement, nonetheless hanging from the exposed beams of your basement. His eyes glowed with a round, edgeless face, oval and smooth like glass. His features were darkened by the shadows from above, the yellow lightbulb bathing him in a dark black and flaxen.

“What-- who are you,” You swallowed your fear, now that you knew for sure it was just some freak hiding out down here, rather than some supernatural entity. “Why are you in my house?”

Your voice grew stern, angry with the exhaustion this adventure had put you in. 

“Your house?” He scoffed, the thumping following him as a black mass from underneath his face carried him to another beam, this time closer to you and the railing of the stairs. 

You stomped down to the cold last step of the basement stairs, wondering if you should go as far as to find a broom and start pushing him out with it. 

“As far as I was aware, this was free territory, since.. Oh well, I don’t know. But it’s been over a decade since a beast like you had attempted to enter my home.” 

You nearly scoffed back, his home?

But the mockery was taken away from you as the long, slender appendage was made visible again. It slowly lowered itself from between the beams, the man from above moving with it. Another had shown itself, and then another. The man fell to the floor, black limbs and mass breaking his fall. 

The human upper half raised itself far above you, the long, obsidian spindles of his hair a tangled mess as his head nearly touched the beams from above. He barely fit in the ground floor of the basement, the ‘legs’ of his lower half grazing against damp boxes and an old piano shoved at the corner. The softness of his jaw was deceiving; humanly. However the darkness and creasing of his eyes showed his true nature, his antiquity. From the fullness of his flesh to small black freckles and his square nose, he displayed the range of features most humans would have; and yet, he was terrifyingly un-human. 

He towered in a menacing stance, hands to his side and shoulders slightly raised, as if he would come at you with his arms swinging if he sensed threat. 

You looked down to the part that confused your mind, dark legs taping inconsistently, and yet in a calculated pattern as each leg followed one another. Below its torso, where you prayed a pair of cargo pants or torn jeans would be, instead held the teardrop shaped abdomen you would see on one of the many spiders you’ve killed since you’ve been here. The legs were an extension of its beautifully horrific lower-half, black and sheening as a thin layer of shiny, spiked hairs were standing on end. 

You looked back up to see its face, horror engulfing in your own as you waited for the rest of the monster to turn into what it depicted. You almost jumped as the closed black lines you took for wrinkles or dust on its face opened up, a variety of blackened eyes glistening to stare at you. You didn’t have the sense to count, taken aback at what your mind had conjured in front of you. 

“You-- it--” Clutching at your heart you tried to stop the squeezing that held you frozen. “This isn’t real...”

“I suggest if you don’t want a roommate, or rather-- don’t want me to eat you, you abandon this residence, immediately.” 

You sucked in a raspy breath, again pushing yourself against the rotting wall to create distance from the towering, spider-like man.

“It’s my house..” You whispered, waiting for him to open his jaws like a snake and aim for your neck. He looked confused only for a moment, a clear tension of rage bubbling up in his pinched expression. “It’s my house.” You said louder, clearing your throat. 

At this, he just stared. What you took as anger was rather an inability to form a response on his end. 

“And what makes this yours? Your presence, your belongings?”

“My name is on the deed; I forked out thousands, there’s even a loan in my name, if you’d like to see that.” 

“Deed…” He repeated, unsure what to make of it. “I don’t know what the ‘deed’ is that you speak of, or the methods you have taken to try and gain ownership, but I assure you this land is claimed.”

You still clutched at your chest against the stairs, waiting for a move to be made. This was not something you had ever encountered before-- you didn’t even know who to contact, as you were certain the real-estate agent who handed you the keys wouldn’t be of any assistance. Any foreclosed homes’ problems were the new owner’s responsibility to handle, whether it be mold or a seven-foot creature residing in the basement. 

Do you call animal control? That can’t be right, he speaks, he’s even telling you to leave your own home. 

There had to be some kind of compromise to be made. You gather the courage to speak again, taking a deep breath to avoid stuttering.

“Well… no one needs to leave, just yet. Right? We can.. Figure this out somehow. We’re both reasonable here, there can be some arrangement to be made?”

It sounded as if you were asking him for permission, the farthest thing from the truth. All this hard work in renovating and you were going to give it up to some basement-dwelling beast? No way, you’d fight him off if you had to, even if you trembled while doing so. 

The creature was hesitant, bringing a hand up to grab onto the ceiling beam. His eyes cast down in thought, thin eyebrows furrowed in uncertainty. 

“Humans don’t do well for very long here, I assure you.” He gave a grimace, trying to avoid the obviousness of how he stared up, and down at your curled-in form, clearly frightened and trying to keep your distance like a cornered animal. “But I suppose it's the only option, if you don’t intend on leaving.” 

“So…” You swallowed the dryness of your mouth, close to heaving. “You’re not going to try eating me right now, or while I sleep or something?”

He tried to prevent an amused grin from pulling up the right side of his face, but a small dimple couldn’t hide it.

“No. I was bluffing, in the hopes that you’d run away. I’ve never tried human, and don’t plan on it; much too coarse.” He let go of the beam, seeming to shrink down as his attack stance became less of an assurance. “Doesn’t mean I’m unwilling if the opportunity arises, however.” 

“You almost instinctively relaxed as you watched him do so, trying to slow your sporadic heart that was still running at full speed. 

“But, aren’t you-- at least, part-human in some sort?” You wondered if this was the right time to be asking questions seeing as this creature-- who was certainly by no means harmless-- was only a few feet away from you and clearly distrusting.

“Getting into the family history before even knowing my name? That’s not particularly kind of an intruder.” He smiles outwardly this time, a creepy grin showing underneath the heavy hair curtaining around his face; it was starting to appear more gaunt the farther he stepped into the light. “But yes, arachnid’s have some human traits; I just appear less frightening to your eyes than my friends.”

As he speaks he lifts up a thin, lengthy arm, watching as something black crawls from behind him and across his wrist. Squinting your eyes and unconsciously lifting closer you see its a spider, a thick, long-legged creature that looked like the father of all the other spiders you had been killing since you moved in. 

You almost seemed to lower your shoulders at realizing he was part human. That you weren’t witnessing some kind of demon or underworld spawn that could rip you apart with just its mind; he had a fair set of weaknesses, too. 

“Don’t relax just yet, human,” He spat the word like it was derogatory, letting the spider walking across his arm reach the beam to his left as he was growing into something fearful. “Just because I won’t kill you doesn’t mean you are safe.”

Even with the hardened glaze of his eyes, the look of sheer disturbance deadened into his lips and expression-- it was a relief to know you would live to see another day. 

“Why should I be afraid if you’re just going to sit here like an unpaying roommate? I’d rather you not be here, but if you’re going to leave me alive than I can deal with boarding off the basement, Mr. Spider.”

You challenge his shadowed face, watching how he leans back in a reclusive manner and goes still, save for one of his left legs tapping. 

Like clockwork, that creepy, unnervingly toothy smile curls open again as his hands rise forward, claw-like. 

You had gotten the courage to stand straight, ignoring the pounding of your chest as you watched him. But with two steps he was across the stair railing, using his legs to entrap you against the peeling wallpaper. 

His narrow arms shot out to claw against the wall next to your head, digging into it with thick nails as his face got close. 

“It’s Seir; don’t insult me with such an absurd name,” Anger tinged the edge of his tone, looking down at you with the abundance of his eyes; you could see they had a reddish ring around them, a dark crimson you would have never noticed otherwise. “I have seen more history than you have read about in your lifetime, more death and destruction than you will ever witness.” 

He watched your face drain in color, eyes wide at seeing him close; what he saw as fear, was partly fascination that tightened your lips. Not to say you weren’t terrified, of course. 

“I like your fear-- I relish it. It means you aren’t going to be blind and stupid, that you will obey, and be frightened. And for as long as you stay here, you will not know peace.” The wallpaper crumbles as he brings a chalky hand to your jaw, placing a delicate thumb to the curve below your ear. “A night will not go by where I won’t attempt to destroy any sense of safety you have. I will be in every corner, a million eyes watching so that you are never, never left alone.” He grows closer, lowering his elongated neck to see eye to eye with you, close enough to touch your nose with his own if he dared. “Are you prepared for these consequences of staying in my territory, of being utterly feasted on by me in every way besides your vessel?” 

Seir’s finger traces down your jaw to your neck, trying to invoke the fearful goosebumps most humans would have by the touch of a creature by him. Rarely did he take measures to touch a human in order to cause fear, but it was clear you would need more than the occasional hissing and view of his presence to run away and leave him to his solitude.

You look away, almost blinded by the unconventional handsomeness he portrayed if one looked deep enough; with a bath, a sheet above his spidered body, and maybe a haircut-- he would be no different than one of the well-dressed guys in finance who sped-walk past the cafe that you people-watched at, pretending to look for a job on your laptop. Well, the eight eyes decorating his face kind of destroyed the illusion.

The intimidation tactic he carried out was less frightening than when he was standing ominously in the middle of the basement, leaving his attempt almost campy. You huff, a little irritated and tired now that you were no longer in fight or flight mode. 

 “…It was just a nickname, geez. I didn’t know spiders could be so sensitive.” 

[iwabaam]

Shameless

Synopsis: An overwhelming night out turned into an unexpected meeting with a stranger.

Pairing: Choso x Fem!Reader

Warnings: smut, pnv, nipple sucking, reader and Choso are both drunk, dubcon, premature ejaculation

Word Count: 3.7k

It was a Saturday night on a summer day, and the air outside was moist and clammy. At a house party that your friends dragged you to, you figured that it might be better inside the house rather than outside. Boy, were you wrong.

Despite the fact that you were wearing nothing but shorts and a thin tank top, inside the house, it just may have been worse. Sweaty bodies collide against each other as music bounces off of the walls at an alarming rate, your shoes stuck to the floor with every step, alcohol, soda, and whatever else could be on the floor, making you cringe. You’re not sure why you let your friends drag you out this time. Maybe your body craved some fun, or maybe it craved to get loose. Unfortunately, being here only makes you even more tense.

 

The little bit of alcohol that you had downed just an hour before arriving was getting to you now, making you slightly dizzy as you tried to navigate through the crowd to find somewhere, anywhere, to finally be able to breathe. Your friends had long since dashed off into different directions, no longer caring about what the hell you were doing, and to be honest, you didn’t necessarily care, either. 

 

Trudging through the crowd, you finally found a place less crowded. The staircase. Now, you didn’t know whose house this was, or if you were even allowed upstairs, but the few people hanging out on the stairs told you that it was okay. And if it wasn’t…you’d worry about that later. You tried to bypass your dizziness as you walked up the stairs, gripping tight on the staircase. You pushed past a few people that were in your way, muttering a few 'sorrys’ as you did so.

 

Eventually, you made it to the second floor, and you finally felt like you could breathe. There were a few people up there, but most of them were just chatting and drinking, likely up there for the same reason as you. You sighed, suddenly feeling the urge to pee, and you fanned yourself while looking around at the closed doors throughout the hallway of the upper floor. Man, it was hot…

 

There had to be a bathroom up here behind one of these doors, though. You started to walk down the hallway, opening door after door, before you stumbled on a bedroom. Looking inside, you saw that no one was there, which was a rarity when it came to this overly crowded party. You tip-toed inside, seeing an open bathroom door within the room, and you closed the bedroom door behind you. You then went to use the bathroom, not bothering to close the bathroom door all the way before you sat on the toilet, sighing in relief. You still felt a bit dizzy from the alcohol, so you shook your head as if to shake the drunkenness away. Despite your little ‘attempt’, that did not work.

 

After flushing the toilet, you quickly washed your hands before you made your way to leave the bathroom, opening the door but not realizing the shadow that cast in the crack of the door, and before you knew it, you collided right into something—or someone—feeling a horrid wetness spilling down your shirt.

“O-oh, fuck, I’m sorry,” Said a male voice, and you blinked a few times, your vision coming into focus to see that you had bumped into a man. A very fine one at that. His eyebrows were twisted into worry as he gazed at you, his pupils slightly dilated, likely out of drunkenness.

 

“Uh, no, you’re good.” You said, though a bit awkwardly. You then pointed to the bathroom behind you. “Do you need to use the bathroom? It’s free. I’ll just, uh…go.” Hesitating for a moment, you turned to leave the room, but not before you felt a hand grab your wrist.

 

“Wait, no-” The man spoke, and you turned around, perplexed. “You can’t go out.”

 

“Huh?” You jeered at him. Why was this random dude telling you what to do? You sucked your teeth before you yanked your arm out of his grip, making your way back to the door once more without another word, a bit of a stumble in your gait as you did so, the alcohol in your system not making it any easier.

 

“No!” Before you could open the door, the man grabbed your waist, pulling you from the door. “You can’t leave, not…not like that.”

 

“What are you even-” Before you could finish your sentence, you stopped, seeing his gaze on something else. Following his line of sight, you saw how drenched your shirt was in the front, your nipples being showcased as clear as day. Your eyes widened, suddenly remembering that wetness that had spilled down your shirt just a minute ago.

 

“I didn’t mean to, you just caught me off guard, and…” You could visibly see him gulp, his adam's apple bobbing, as he shamelessly looked down at your breasts. He then shook his head, closing his eyes tightly, before he moved you from the door, his hands still on your waist. “B-but that’s why you can’t go out. You—we have to do something.”

 

“We?” You asked in confusion, and you scrunched your nose in distaste, the smell of the alcohol spilled on you, pungent in your nostrils. “The hell is this, what was in that cup?”

 

“Just vodka.” He said it nonchalantly with a shrug, apparently not being able to get his eyes off of your breasts.

 

“Why…why are you looking at me like that?” You asked, curling in on yourself so that you wouldn’t be as exposed as you were.

 

“Wait-” You weren’t expecting his hands to grab at your wrists, preventing you from fully covering yourself up, but then he quickly let go. “Shit, I’m sorry. Please don’t think I’m weird.” He then turned away, scratching the back of his neck. “Oh, I know! You can have my shirt, that way, you don’t have to be exposed.” Before you could say anything, he was quick to take his shirt off, leaving his top half bare to your eyes.

 

“Hey, wait, that’s not necessary,” You said, though you couldn’t keep your eyes off of his well built chest, not exactly expecting that to be underneath his shirt. Maybe it was due to the alcohol in your system, but damn…it felt like the room was getting hotter.

 

Choso looked at you incredulously. “Wha…are you sure? Your…your, uh…” He looked back down at your breasts before whispering. “I can see them.”

 

You sucked your teeth at him, looking at him with a deadpan expression. “Yeah, I know, I can see them, too.” You retorted, and his face dropped a little. “I’ll just stay in here until my shirt dries. I don’t need your shirt, but thanks.”

 

“Aw, man, but I can’t leave you like this.” He said, a small whine coming out of him. “It’s all my fault.” He held his head in his hands dramatically.

 

“Then don’t leave, I guess.” You shrugged.

 

“But, if I don’t leave, I’ll…” For what seemed like the 1,000th time tonight, his eyes were glued back on your breasts, and you saw him gulp once more, as if saliva was just threatening to drip from the corners of his mouth. “I’m Choso.”

 

You couldn’t help but be taken aback by his rather random introduction, a laugh emitting from your lips. “Okay?” You said with a tilt of your head. “I’m Y/N.”

 

“Nice to meet you…Y/N.” He said, your name rolling off his tongue easily. “They’re very n-nice.” You furrowed your brows in confusion before he shook his head, realizing that what he said was rather cryptic. “I mean your tits.” Now, he wasn’t hiding it at all, the tip of his tongue leaping out to wet his lips.

 

“You’re not very subtle.” There was a lilt in your voice, one that would make it obvious to most that you were merely teasing.

 

“It’s kinda hard to be subtle when you look like that…” He said, his voice getting quieter as it seemed like he was leaning in closer to your nearly exposed nipples. Wait, no…he was leaning closer. “I’m just a lil’ drunk, so don’t mind if I-”

 

A startled yelp leapt from your lips as he eventually closed in on you, his face going directly into the wet cavern of your cleavage. “What the fuck!?” Was this guy serious?

 

“Mmmh,” He hummed, nuzzling his face further. “Forgive me…Y/N was your name, right?” He spoke, lifting his head up a bit to look at you, the sudden eye contact almost sent a shiver down your spine. His face was coated with the thinnest sheen of the vodka he had spilled on your shirt, his tongue poking out to wet his lips once more. “You wouldn’t mind if I jus’...” Your breath hitched as his large hands caressed up your waist before reaching the mounds of your breasts, slightly squeezing.

Now, any other time or place, you would’ve slapped the shit out of him, and hell, you still might. Yet, the way he groped you made a forced groan spill from your lips, your body tensing up for a split second.

 

Well, shit…did you like this? The slight desperation and lust mixed in with alcohol clouded his pretty eyes as he looked up at you, and there was no doubt that he saw how he affected you in such a short time. He took this as a green light, his palms pushing your breasts together through your shirt, the ceiling light gleaming on the wet mounds before he leaned in closer, letting his tongue brush against one of your nipples.

 

“Shit…” You whispered, your back arching towards him. You blinked a few times in surprise as you tried to come to your senses, despite the fact that your panties were starting to stick to your lower lips. “Yo, Choso, hold on a sec, w-what are you doing?”

 

“Tiddies.” He simply mumbled before he slipped a clothed nipple in his mouth, sucking the vodka out of your shirt.

 

Your lips parted as you whimpered at his ministrations, trying to speak once more. “I know- hah- I know that’s what they are, but who said you could-”

 

“Please.” He pleaded, his voice dripping with desperation as he looked back up at you through his lashes, groping your tits with more fervor. “Lemme jus’ enjoy this, I’ll give you something real good after.” He said, not bothering to wait for an answer before he was quick to lift your shirt up over your boobs, the subtle bounce enticing him more than anything else. “So pretty…” He groaned, diving in between your mounds to flatten his tongue on your sternum, licking from the bottom up.

 

At this point, you didn’t even want to argue about it, your hands coming up to tangle in his messy locks that were pulled into two ponytails. “Ah, what the fuck ever-” You mumbled as you allowed him to lick down your breasts, cleaning the spilled vodka off of your skin. A muffled groan left him as he once again attached his lips to your right nipple, kissing it before enveloping it in his warm mouth, sucking on the bud. With his other hand, he groped your left breast, kneading it into his palm. 

 

It was almost as if he was obsessed, switching between both of your tits to get his fix until he had sucked and licked every drop of vodka off of your skin. He relished in the sounds that you made, every breath and whimper going straight down to his already rock hard cock, begging to be set free from his boxers. 

 

Once he finally let up from your tits, he looked you in the eye, slowly backing you up until the back of your knees hit the bed, causing you to widen your eyes in surprise as you fell backward.

 

“Fuck, your tits are so pretty.” He groaned, moving to hover over you on the bed. Shit, whose bed was this, anyway? What if someone walked in?

“Wait-” You stammered out, lowkey feeling a bit nervous at the straight lust penetrating you with just his eyes, your palm resting on his chest. “You’re not, like, planning on fucking me, right? Do you know whose bed this is?”

 

He stared down at you in silence for a moment before spreading your legs and resting his body in between them. “I do plan on fucking you.” He simply said, lowering himself down far enough that you felt his warm breath tickle your lips. “And no, I don’t know whose bed this is. That doesn’t matter.”

 

“It kinda does matter.” You retorted with a nervous chuckle, though the moisture between your thighs was telling you that you needed dick, now.

 

“No.” He shook his head, wetting his lips as he lowered his hips to meet yours.

 

“Oh…!” You gasped once you felt his hardness press hard into your covered folds, your hips bucking up out of your control.

 

“Fuck…” He whispered, shutting his eyes tightly for a moment before opening them back up. “C’mon, princess, please? I’ll make you feel really good.” He groaned, biting his lip as he grinded his hips down into you, rubbing down directly on your clothed clit. “Jus’ once…jus’ one time, p-please?” He begged, his voice dying down to a whine as a shiver went through him, his cock twitching in his pants.

 

You didn’t know how long you could possibly try and act like he wasn’t affecting you. This man, whom you had met less than 30 minutes ago, was the cause of your soaked panties and spit-shined tits. Your pussy clenched around nothing, as if begging you to cut the act and let him shove his cock into her already.

 

It took just one more delicious grind of his hips before you had made up your mind, your brows furrowing in frustration. “Fine, you can-” Before you could even finish your sentence, Choso had already sat up on his knees, working on unbuttoning his jeans. He was quick to hook his thumbs under the waistband of his boxers before pulling them down along with his jeans, his cock springing out of its confines. 

 

Your jaw dropped. Choso’s cock was big. Big and thick, one big vein underneath the shaft from the balls to right under the mushroom tip. It was red and angry, pre-cum dripping from his tip, so much of it, that his whole cock glistened in the light. You gulped, your mouth watering at the sight, but you only snapped out of it once you felt your clit throb again, pleading for attention. 

 

“Choso, you have to be quick, someone could walk in at any time.” You said, though that was only partly true. Other than the fact that you were in a house that neither of you owned nor lived in, there was also the fact that you wanted—no, you needed him to fill you up as soon as possible.

 

“Oh, I’ll be quick.” He grunted, wasting no time to pull your shorts off in a hurry, the clothing dangling on one leg as he spread your thighs once more. He groaned at the sight of your thin panties sticking to your soaking pussy, your lips outlined in the fabric. “You’re so wet, shit.” He nearly whined before moving your panties to the side and sliding a thick finger through your messy folds, causing your hips to twitch ever so slightly.

 

His eyes were locked on your pussy, a lip in between his teeth as he focused on every little squelch, clench, and twitch on your most sensitive area.

 

“Choso…” You whined, starting to get impatient. “Quick, remember?”

 

It was as if Choso was knocked back to reality, his eyes widening for a moment as he looked back up at you. “Right, right, my bad.” he apologized breathlessly, a glassy look in his eye as he got back to business. “Quick.” He whispered to himself before he aligned the tip of his cock at your sopping entrance, wasting no more time before he breached your walls.

 

You sucked in a breath through your teeth as his fat tip slowly started bullying itself into you, the stretch stinging yet it felt so painfully good. He shut his eyes tight, holding his breath as he sank into your wet heat inch by inch.

 

“Ah, fuuuck, you’re s-so tight.” He groaned, his fists balling the sheets beside your head as he hovered above you, a slight tremble in his hips as he sank further and further. Your lips parted in a soft moan as he filled you up slowly, his pelvis meeting with yours. He paused as he let out a shaky breath, his self control slipping. God, he felt like he was about to bust already. You were so tight and wet, your cavern clenching around his throbbing cock like a glove. 

 

You were about to tell him to start moving already, but it seemed like he was a step ahead of you, his hands going down to grasp at your hips before he pulled back until only the tip was inside of you before slowly inching back in. A plethora of profanities spilled from his lips as he pushed back into your tight heat, a shiver going down his spine.

 

His cock felt fucking magnificent already, dragging along your walls as he set a steady pace, relishing your moans and the faces you made as you took his cock.

 

A heavy blush set on his face as he realized that he might just cum a little too quickly. He was barely 10 pumps in, and his whines were louder than yours as he quickened his pace, the sound of skin slapping against skin getting louder within the room. Your body jerked with each thrust, and the bed started to creak under the weight of both of you.

 

Choso bent down to nuzzle his head in the juncture of your neck and shoulder, pressing kisses there as he tried not to cum on the spot. “You f-feel so good,” He moaned, moving his hand to grab your thigh as he pushed it further up to give him more space to angle his hips as he pushed into you.

 

Your eyes rolled to the back of your head, your head dropping onto the mattress underneath you as you hissed through your teeth once you felt him push harder into you.

 

“Fuck, fuck, fuck, I’m gonna cum-” His grip on your thigh tightened as his nails dug into your skin, and you were too far gone to even register what was said, his cock slamming into your walls at a now merciless pace, your toes curled as your thighs jiggled with the impact of his thrusts. You could feel your high start to build up, a lewd moan torn from your throat as you felt his tip press at your cervix, causing you to buck up into him.

 

You don’t even notice him getting whiner and whinier as he kept fucking into you until his cock wildly twitched inside of you, and he was quick to pull out. “C-cumming,” He groaned, brows furrowed, as his cum shot out of his slit in thick ropes, coating your wet lips and your stomach. His hips bucked with every spurt of his cum, making a mess out of you for what seemed like forever until he finally calmed down. “Oh shit-” The tips of his ears went stark red as he realized how quick he just came, especially after the promise of making you feel good.

 

“Uh…” You didn't know what to say. Sure, you didn't want to make him feel bad about cumming, but damn, you wanted to cum so bad. 

 

Before you could say anything to try and make this less awkward, Choso jumped at the opportunity. “Don't worry, I'll make it up to you-” He said quickly, sliding off the bed and dragging you to the edge of the bed before going down to his knees.

 

But, you couldn't even get excited at the prospect of feeling his tongue on your clit, a sharp knock on the door snapped the both of you out of it, freezing as you looked at the door.

 

“Yo, why the hell is my door locked?” A voice called out on the other side of the wooden door, annoyance radiating through the wood.

 

Choso looked at you incredulously, and you frowned.

 

“Why are you looking at me like I did it?” You said with a scowl, frustrated that you couldn't even get off tonight. 

 

Choso growled in annoyance before standing up from the floor, pulling his pants up to hide his half-hard cock. He hesitated for a moment in confusion before picking his shirt up off of the floor, using it to clean the sticky cum off of your pussy lips and stomach, flinching once the person on the other door started banging on it. “Ah, shit.” Choso sighed, his face almost pained as you moved quickly to put your clothes back on. Before you could make any other moves to book it out of here, Choso grabbed ahold of your chin, making you face him. “This isn't over, okay?” He said, voice firm, despite just how weak your pussy made him.

 

“What are you-”

 

“Give me your number.” He said, it almost came off as a command if it wasn't for the pleading whine in his voice. There was another harsh bang on the door, followed by some incoherent shouting and the aggressive wiggling of the door.

 

Anxiety spiked, you shook your head, looking between the door and him. “We don't have ti-”

 

“Fuck that, I don't care about that.” He interrupted curtly, eyes determined. “I need your number. You won't regret it, I promise.” 

 

You sucked your teeth before you snatched the phone that he was handing you, and you were quick to input your number, almost throwing it back at him. Choso, though, didn't seem to care much as he looked at the saved contact with a relieved smile. 

 

“Thanks, princess.” He chuckled before he leaned in to give you a quick, yet unexpected, kiss on the lips before he stood up straight, heading for the door. “See you soon, then.”

 

You then watched him open the door, whatever commotion was going on outside the door falling on deaf ears as you imagined just how he could possibly make up for not getting you off, and just how soon it was going to happen…

[hometoursandotherstuff]

Not sure what to think of the design of this 1982 contemporary in Pikeville, KY. 3bds, 4ba, 3,800 sq ft, $1.2m.

Enter the glass tower. That ladder is impressive- it slides almost completely around the room. Can you imagine deciding on a book on the top shelf?

There's a fireplace, a loft, and while I don't mind wallpaper on the shelving, I don't think that I would choose that particular pattern.

Lots of stairs. This is another sitting room with a stone fireplace soaring up 2 floors.

Look at all the levels.

Here's the dining area, and there are several surrounding seating spaces.

There's even a small seating nook tucked under the stairs.

And, there's also a guest 1/2 bath.

I was liking the warm woods and stone, so I was taken aback when I came to this starkly gray and white kitchen. I didn't expect it.

At least they added a wood dining set.

In the loft, the living room shelves continue to a corner office area. There's also seating and more shelving.

The door by the desk opens conveniently to the primary bedroom suite.

It's large with a seating area.

Back down to the living room, a smaller staircase and hall goes off to another bedroom.

It could be a nice, private guest suite.

I'm getting lost. This is a mezzanine with more bedrooms and baths.

Large bedroom and en-suite up here.

I have no idea where this is. It looks like an upper floor, but then it also looks like a basement door over at the end by the closet.

There isn't much of a yard b/c the terrain is so uneven.

But, there's a very large deck.

And, this fenced in pool and patio is nice.

There's some flat grass here.

Quite a hike from the garage to the kitchen, though.

The 5.33 acre lot is next to the pool and far from the house, itself. It looks like another house can be built on that flat land.

https://www.zillow.com/homes/870-Stone-Coal-Rd-Pikeville,-KY-41501_rb/2127190338_zpid/?

[misseviehyde]

BITS AND PIECES

Molly was beginning to regret entering the cursed dolls house with her friend Emma. True they'd been running away from their bitchy bully Madison and her clique and the strange abandoned house on the edge of town had seemed a safe refuge - but some feeling had told her at the time that they were putting themselves in terrible danger.

As they'd entered the old house, its evil magic had taken effect. The girls had groaned as their bodies changed. Plastic skin gleamed as joints became articulated and in a matter of minutes they'd been transformed into living animate dolls. Emma and Molly now looked like toys... but toys that could walk and talk.

They tried to leave, but the mansion also appeared to be bigger on the inside than the outside and now they were trapped clopping around in the impossible maze-like dimensions of the house.

"Oh my goodness," gasped Emma in horror at her new plastic body. "This... this can't be possible!" She reached over to touch her own arm and screamed as she accidentally detached it from the articulated joint with a pop. Then she calmed, realising it didn't hurt and there was no blood.

Molly looked at her friend in shock. "Looks like we have detachable parts now. Just like a real doll," mused Emma - and before Molly could stop her, she had yanked Molly's arm till it came out with a pop.

Molly watched in sick fascination as Emma popped Molly's arm into her socket and pushed her orignal arm into Molly.

Emma giggled, she now had Molly's sleeve of tattoos and she wiggled her new arm with fascination.

"Looks like we can swap body parts now. I wonder if we get out of the house, would this become permanent?"

"Hey! Give me my arm back!"

"Mmmmh. Later. This feels kinda good..."

Ignoring Molly'd protests, the two of them began looking around and finding a staircase they climbed up it hoping to possibly find a window or something on the upper floor.

They found nothing, so wandering around for a few minutes they returned to the staircase - only to find Madison flanked by her bitchy lieutenants waiting.

She and her cohorts were also now plastic dolls. Madison looked like a demented Barbie.

"I don't know how you nerds turned us into these dolls, but you'll pay for this," screamed the plastic bully as she waved her jointed arms around in rage.

But before she could do anything all three girls began to scream as Emma suddenly rushed at them and pushed them down the stairs.

They tumbled and fell backwards, their plastic bodies breaking and falling into pieces as they fell down the stairs. Their heads rolled away from their torsos and other bits broke off as they landed in a heap of bits and pieces.

Molly looked at her friend in horror. "You... you killed them."

"No, they aren't dead. The magic seems to make us invulnerable. We can put them back together again later. But before we do..."

A wicked grin came over Emma's plastic face. Walking down the stairs she picked up one of Madison's legs. It was long and sexy, smoother and shapelier than her own. Popping her own leg off she attached Madison's instead and then grabbing the other one did the same.

"Mmmmmh ohhh fuck that feels good."

Giggling Emma stood up. She was now taller and her legs looked amazing. "Oh fuckkkk. I feel so much more powerful and dominant. Soooo confident. Mmmmh these body parts come with feels and I LIKE it. Taking your arm felt good, but this is even better."

Admiring her legs, Emma began looking around with a hungry look on her face. There was a wild gleam in her eyes.

"Wh... what are you doing?" gasped Molly in sick fascination.

"Just making a few other improvements," smirked Emma. "After all if we have changeable parts now... why not?"

She grinned as she found what she was looking for. Lucy, Madison's minion, had the biggest tits at school. They were huge and round - massive fucking milkers that jiggled and wobbled enticingly. Now those tits lay ready to be used.

Lifting them up, Emma detached her own small breasts and with a click, pushed Lucy's onto her chest. "Ohhhh fuck yes, that feels good," she groaned in pleasure as they attached. "I feel like such a... such a fucking bitch. I need MORE."

Turning round she laughed. She now towered over Molly and her massive tits dominated the room.

Emma mashed her plastic tits with glee. "These are gonna feel so fucking good when I become a real girl again, but they are already making me feel so powerful. Mmmmmh I think I'd like to be a bully. Being pathetic boring Emma is so dull."

"Emma, this is crazy. You can't do this. It's wrong."

"You're right," giggled Emma. "It is wrong but it feels so fucking good. Besides I won't be Emma for long. I'm sick of being so weak and pathetic. My body is in control now and it needs a new head. This body deserves to be bitchy. I can take it all. I can become the bully."

Picking up Madison's lifeless looking blonde head from the floor, Emma laughed madly as she reached up and to Molly's shock casually ripped off her own head.

Her body simply tossed her old head aside like it didn't need it, then with a groan of pleasure pushed Madison's slutty blonde head into the neck socket till it clicked.

Evil eyes fluttered open and the new super bitch stretched happily. "Mmmmh yummy, feels so good to have a new personality in the driving seat. I AM Madison now."

"E.... Emma?"

"In a manner of speaking loser. There's bits of her inside my perfect new body - but I'm like totes the best parts of all you sluts now. Haha, now let's rebuild my minions and then I can leave and start my new hot life as a super bitch. Lucy will just have to cope with smaller tits. Think I'll help myself to a better ass and a tighter pussy too whilst we are at it. Hey... you're a virgin right loser? Bet your pussy is super tight..."

Molly whimpered as her new bully approached with a mad gleam in her cruel eyes and she screamed as the new Madison began to tear her apart...

****

Madison groaned as she exited the house and plastic became flesh again. She loved the sensation as all of her new body parts finally merged and turned her into the slutty bimbo bitch she deserved to be. She was now a mix of all the best parts of the girls and rubbing her massive tits she could feel her new superior pussy start to tingle.

Her two minions exited behind her, now looking smaller and weaker without the assets she had taken.

"What about that loser Molly, you aren't gonna leave her like that are you Madison?" asked Lucy sulking at her now small tits.

"What loser?" laughed Madison as she strode away. "I don't remember any loser. What a shame, imagine being trapped in that house forever."

And deep inside the cursed mansion, a plastic mouth screamed from amongst a discarded pile of bits and pieces...

THE END

[heyyypuddin]

Withering Petal ( Armando x OC) Bad Boys chapter 2

Chapter 2

Everything was going great. For the first time in a while, Amora was having a smooth day. She finished working on a side project for a client that she did not like at all because he was an absolute asshole to her every chance he got, but said client is paying her to where she's set her financially well for about a year, and she won't have to deal with him until the next year. Her giant black schnauzer, Bowser, didn't act up today when she took him to his trainer. Even her own training sessions at her Muay Thair lessons went well, and lastly, it helped that she didn't have any nightmares, which always gave her relief.

Amora stood up from her office seat, stretched her body, and went to walk over to the full-length gold-framed mirror she had tucked in the corner. Taking a quick look at herself, she took in the sight of her brown smooth skin cladded only in a red lacy nightgown with her jet-black hair coiled down her back. She took a closer look in the mirror at her hair and grabbed the rattail comb she kept on her desk to fix the middle part since it looked a little crooked. A sigh escaped her full lips as she finished fixing her hair, scowling at her reflection. 

“I need to call Yana for a touch-up,” she thought. She steps back from the mirror and gives herself one final look before calling for Bowser and walking to the staircase that's to the left of her upstairs loft.

She heard his collar jiggle and the pitter-patter of his paws coming from her bedroom as she waited for him so they could go downstairs for his last walk before it got dark. Her fur baby rounded the corner, looking like a void of black fur, coming at her with full speed. She felt a smile tug at the corner of his lips before she gave him the stern command, “Sawaru.” 

Immediately he sat, but only for about 30 seconds before he got up on his feet, placing his paws on her upper bare thighs, trying to get some affection. She rolled her dark eyes, but the full-blown smile gave away her true feelings, and she couldn't help but start giving him love. 

“You’re such a cutie; awe, yes, you are. Who's a good boy? You areeee” After a minute of showering him some love, she took him downstairs and put on her outside slippers, grabbing his doggy pop bags and the gun she kept behind the black entrance table, making sure it was properly loaded, like usual since she’s never had to use it. 

“At least I don't have to use it yet,” she thought bitterly, and she was outside the door, letting Bowser speed past her into her own private land. She wasn't worried about anyone seeing her since she was the only house in her area for at least half a mile. She moved to the railing she had on her porch and looked around her surroundings, appreciating the beauty of nature in front of her. The sun was setting, coloring the sky pretty pink and orange-looking, and the gleams of the sun were hitting beautifully on the small woods to the right of her house. 

She scanned the trees to make sure she saw nothing hiding in the tree lines. A slight paranoia broke into her mind as she was stuck scanning the trees until bowser bark cut through her mind. Immediately she tensed and gripped her gun, snapping her head to where the bark came from, but relaxed once she saw he was only chasing after a bird flying around his lead. She sighed and rubbed her forehead with her freshly done French-tip almond nails. 

“Come on, Amor, get out of your head; everything is fine, and we’re safe,” she said out loud. She took two deep breaths to battle the rising panic she felt edging slowly over her body. 

Bowser barked again, and she looked his way, seeing that he was about to use the bathroom. She gripped the doggy bag and sped away to clean up after him and bring him inside since the last of the sunset had gone away and what was left in the sky was only a blanket of stars.

Taking one last look at the tree line, she hurried inside and set her alarm system, making sure everything was locked as it needed to be. The front and back doors, all the windows upstairs and downstairs, and the kitchen and living room were locked. When she was done doing everything, she placed her gun back on the table, turned on the two lamps she had in the living room, sat on her big black couch, and grabbed the blanket and the book she was reading earlier, thinking she was going to have a peaceful night. But she only got 10 minutes into the book until she heard her robotic alarm system go off. 

“Motion sensor activated, right side of house”

Immediately, she jumped up, ran to the library wall she had on the right of her couch, and grabbed the shotgun that was in the secret compartment. She quickly ran to the front door, Bowser right at her feet trailing along. 

"Alat," she told him, and he went into his protective stance. In front of her, she opened the front door, taking a deep breath before holding up the shotgun that was shaking in her hands and quickly walking to the right side, where she saw the monitor lights shine. She quickly scanned the area and saw nothing out of the ordinary until Bowser started growling as they got closer to the lights. 

Amora froze as she saw it—or him. It was a man leaning over in all black, blood dried up over his tan skin, with weapons attached to his body. She saw that he was gripping his right side and had a hand up that was blocking the light. But that hand, too, had blood pouring down it. She saw him look in her direction, but as he did, he fell to his knees and landed face forward in the grass, unmoving. 

She let out a shaky breath and stepped closer to get a better look at the intruder. She picked up a rock that was near her and threw it at the stranger's head, seeing it bounce off his curly hair, but he was still unmoving. 

“Kansatsu Suru,” she commanded, and Bowser ran over to the stranger, sniffing and shoving him. He whined and looked at her, but still, the stranger did not move. 

She walked up to the man, looked around the area, making sure she saw nothing else, and looked down at the man before kneeling to grab his arm to drag him to the house. 

Authors Note: and that’s chapter twooo. I hope you enjoyed. Hopefully it’s not too slow and not too fast.

I almost forgot here are translation for whenever she’s speaking to Bowser

Japanese - I am not fluent in Japanese, but I did try researching these words to make sure I’m using them correctly.

Sawaru- sit

Alat- Alert

Kansatsu Suru- Observe

[still-not-over-transformers]

“Strictly Professional”

(Knockout x Reader-insert)

Takes place after the events of Season 1 Episode 11: Speed Metal. An event that left Knockout without his driver-side door.

“Do you know how difficult that is to replace!?”

(Y/N) were bored. Painfully bored. Looking outside a mahogany-lined window pane, you had a stunning unobscured view of the sunset. The rolling hills were a lush green, and the sunset painted the sky gradient hues of gold, crimson, and lavender bordered by a tree-line comprised of spruce, pine, and cedar. It was a gorgeous view you had seen again, and again, and…. Again. (Y/N) sighed. Growing up in a stunning villa in upper New York state had its perks, but despite being able to do whatever you wanted you never seemed entertained. You see, money can buy a lot of things: houses, luxury cars, private jets, trips around the world, etc. But it could never seem to stop the ever-constant boredom you often experienced as nothing was ever unexpected. As if something else was missing.

*BUZZ*

*BUZZ*

*BUZZ*

You looked at your phone to see a reminder you had set for the Exotic Car Show you were attending that evening. You were mostly ready as it was, just touching up your makeup a bit. Then you grabbed your phone and clutch purse before making your way down the spiral staircase to the front doors. You had chosen to dawn an elegant but edgy silver dress with an asymmetrical hem and a single sleeve on the right arm. Your footwear of choice were classic black heels, but with a reasonable pump-height so you didn’t break your ankles. The doors were held open by your family butlers, as you made your way to the curb of the driveway at the front of your family villa.

Your family’s wealth came from a combination of significant shares in various luxury-brand car manufacturers; your father being on the board of directors for Mercedes, and your mother the Logistics Manager also for Mercedes. Obviously the same workplace is how your parents met. Throughout your life, your parents had given you the world, albeit requiring you to maintain a job. So you work alongside your mother as her assistant. For the past month, your mother had been off who knows where in Europe on a business retreat. While you had been invited, you knew it would be nothing but hanging around other snooty rich business-types whom were always dull company. Also, why were rich guys always old and/or ugly?

Your chauffeur was waiting with the car door open. You entered the vehicle and soon you were off to the car expo. On the drive, you had been reading up on the potential reveals and demos that might be at the event. You were primarily excited about the exotic vehicle demos, as you had an appreciation of exotic cars. The horsepower, design, curvatures of the body frame, were nothing short of thrilling.

As your ride pulled up to the event, you exited the vehicle as your chauffeur assisted you. You acknowledged the chauffeur curtly, before entering the event space. There were a few minor celebrities taking photo ops; some wannabe playboys posing near their cars with groupies and models; and then the actual cars themselves scattered about a massive lot. Each vehicle had an attendant to provide information as well as prevent unwanted touching of the cars. You passed a silver Bugatti Chiron, a brand new Corvette Stingray, luxury Jaguar and Cadillac models… But something else caught your eye. A glint of red made you turn and approach a vehicle off to the side.

As you got closer you saw a stunning bright scarlet Aston Martin One-77 with white highlights. You couldn’t deny that this was a sexy-ass car. “Damn…” (Y/N) muttered. You approached the luxury vehicle and drank in its sleek form, the curvature of the design, the stunning richness of the paint job. As you walked around the car, you were jarred at the realization that the driver-side door was completely gone. “What the fuck happened to you?” (Y/N) exclaimed, “Who in their right mind wouldn’t have replaced that by now?” Come to think of it, it was odd that this one car in-particular lacked an attendant which all other cars had present.

With the missing door, the temptation to climb inside was intense. The one thing her family wasn’t big on spending money on were cars. Your parents thought that spending money on lavish vehicles was an unnecessary expense. Fucking ironic. Even if you couldn’t have it, you were going to briefly experience the thrill of having such a stunning vehicle. You climbed into the driver’s seat and drank in the elaborate console, the impeccably clean interior, it even smelled brand new. You gently ran your hands over the steering wheel, imagining what it would feel like to drive it. As you indulged yourself for a moment longer, suddenly you found that the seatbelt was latched around you. “What the fuck? …When did i…?” (Y/N) said in confusion.

Before you knew it, the car shifted into gear and peeled out from its spot. Multiple attendees of the event panicked and flung themselves out of the way. (Y/N) shrieked once before desperately pumping the brakes, but to no avail. When you tried to move the gear shift into neutral, you found that it didn’t budge at all. After a few minutes of sheer terror and panic, you were no longer at the exotic vehicle venue, but instead on the outskirts of the city in a maze of alleyways. As the vehicle finally came to a stop, you heard strange sounds akin to shifting parts and an electronic sound. Before you knew it you were aloft in the air. In the hand of a giant robot who was giving you a highly-offended glare. You were frozen. You struggled to comprehend the situation, wondering if you might have lost your mind.

“Humans have no sense of respect! It’s bad enough that I’m missing a part, but now you decide it’s a bright idea to climb into a vehicle you don’t know” the Decepticon exclaimed. It talked (Y/N) thought. Knockout looked down at the tiny human in his grasp, “I hope you enjoyed the brief joy ride, but I think now I’ll punish you for daring to touch me.” With his free servo, Knockout’s servo transforms into a buzzsaw. You begin to panic, squirming briefly in the grip of the large metal hand around your waist before pausing. “WAIT! WAIT A SECOND AND I CAN HELP YOU!” (Y/N) shouted. The Decepticon raised an optic ridge and paused, “Oh? And how could an insignificant human as yourself possibly help me?” You took a deep breath to compose yourself, clearing your throat before speaking further. “I can replace your missing door. I have resources.”

Knockout was clearly interested in where this was going, as he had been having a nightmare trying to replace that door. “Go on…” You continued, “My job is literally ordering supplies and parts for luxury and exotic cars, I’m pretty sure I can order a replacement for you. Aston Martin One-77 right?” Knockout thought to himself for a moment, wondering when he would have such an opportunity to make himself whole again. The Decepticon turned his helm back towards the helpless human within his grip, “Correct. I see you do know your vehicles, human. If you can indeed supply me with the replacement part I require, I will hold off on exterminating you.”

(Y/N) breathed a sigh of relief, “I can make the call right away, if I would be allowed to reach my phone? And t-trust me, I’m not stupid enough to try to run in these heels.” “So now you make wise decisions. Very well.” Knockout chided before slowly lowering (Y/N) to the ground and releasing you. You briefly adjusted your dress and hair before opening your phone and making a call. You didn’t attempt any funny business, and reached out to one of your business contacts at Aston Martin Works. After a brief amount of small talk, you ordered the part and arranged its delivery. As you ended the phone call, you returned your gaze to the massive robot before you. “Alright I had the part ordered for you. And With express shipping.”

Knockout looked down at you, surprised you hadn’t soiled yourself as most humans would have by now. “And how am I supposed to receive this part? For all I know, if I let you out of my sight you’ll disappear and I’ll be left high and dry” he mused. Finding your confidence you replied to him calmly, “The part will be shipped to my home address at 11am sharp tomorrow. To prove I’m good for it, you can drive me home so you’ll know where to knock if I’m lying.” The Decepticon scientist was taken aback by this human. Giving up her home address so willingly confounded him. Knockout could easily decimate her and her entire home, yet this human was so willing to cooperate despite her best interest. “…You are a very strange human. You do understand I will squash you if you’re lying?” He placed a servo on his hip sassily. You watched his mannerisms and couldn’t help but grin slightly, he was so sassy.

“You are a giant transforming robot with a buzzsaw hand, and I’m not an idiot. I’ll keep my word. Besides, you’ll know exactly where I am since you’ll be taking me home. And stop calling me ‘human’ my name is (Y/N)” you smirked. Knockout raised an optic ridge, albeit impressed with this strange human. “Very well… but touch anything and I will crush you” he said before transforming back into vehicle-form. You took a pause before climbing into the driver’s seat, being careful not to touch anything. As the engine starts, you had expected the same aggressive driving as your previous abduction. To your surprise, the drive was fast but smooth. You tried to avoid speaking as much as possible, not wanting to push your luck, so instead you thought. You thought about the events prior to your encounter and pinched yourself to make sure you weren’t dreaming. It could’ve been worse to be honest. You could’ve been kidnapped by an ugly white pedophile van. At least you were taken by a sexy Aston Martin.

After what felt like brief moments, your captor arrived at the gates of your family estate. You punched in the security code in the keypad and the gates opened. Knockout pulled up to the front doors and parked. As you tried to exit the vehicle, the seatbelt wouldn’t unlatch and you looked back. “Remember, I’ll be close-by until our deal is seen through” Knockout hummed. You paused, “You sure are untrusting for a robot. I don’t have a car of my own so no worries on me going anywhere.” With that, the seatbelt released and you were able to make it inside of your home. As you climbed the staircase towards your room, you couldn’t help but clutch her chest. You felt a surge of adrenaline and you knew it wasn’t fear. No, this felt more like butterflies… You went into your room and immediately climbed into your bed. As your eyelids felt heavy, your only thoughts were of the intoxicating voice replaying in your mind. Until you fell asleep….

You felt slightly groggy as you awoke the next morning. Slowly as you climbed out of bed you remembered the last night’s events. Just to be sure you hadn’t dreamt it, you rushed to your window to look at the driveway. Sure enough, you saw the red and white Aston Martin parked there. A brief double-honk was audible, and you realized the robot could see you from the window. Your phone buzzed and as you opened it, you saw a security notification from the gates. You approved access and a delivery vehicle made its way up the driveway and delivered the part you had ordered. You made your way outside and signed for the delivery and the delivery employees carefully loaded the part into the Knockout’s trunk. As soon as the delivery men had departed from the property, you approached the driver’s side door and leaned forwards, “Looks like I came through on my promise. Think that makes us square?”

Knockout hesitated briefly before replying, “We shall see. After all you are technically a loose end, knowing of my existence and all. We will see if you’re worth more alive than dead.” As you lingered a moment longer, you couldn’t help but ask a question that had been burning within, “Just in case you do decide to continue doing business with me, may I at least know your name?” Dead silence was the initial response and it lingered in the air for what felt like an eternity. “You may address me as Knockout.” With that, Knockout revved his engine and quickly drove down the driveway and onto the main road. As he gained more distance between himself and the villa, Knockout questioned what he was to do about this human. He could’ve just killed her and be done with it, after all he did have the part he had needed. But a part of him didn’t want to end this odd human. He brushed it off as a start to a strictly professional relationship, and a potential supplier if he needed any more replacement parts in the future.

A couple months later….

After your first encounter with Knockout, you felt reinvigorated. That fateful encounter provided you with more excitement and adrenaline than you had ever experienced. After you had provided Knockout with the spare part, you were certain you would never lay eyes upon that robot again. To your surprise, you would have many more encounters with him. Apparently there were other giant robots whom Knockout would get into battles with, and would result in him needing replacement parts. With each encounter, you found yourself enjoying his company more and more. Finding both yourself and him to be fellow automobile enthusiasts. Your conversations even included some witty banter and jokes here and there. More than anything else, you found that your heart fluttered every time you laid eyes on him. You weren’t quite sure why, but nonetheless you enjoyed being around Knockout.

It was a Thursday afternoon and you had met with Knockout at your villa to provide another spare part, as Knockout had lost a side-view mirror in a scuffle with what you knew as “Autobots.” You had wanted to attempt a more friendly relationship with Knockout, but never wanted to risk it. Today was the day you decided to be bold. After all, you had sent the staff home early. You approached Knockout at the curb of your driveway, “You know, there is an International Auto Show being held in New York tomorrow night that will consist of the most expensive and luxurious vehicles from across the planet. I’ve got a ticket, but I’m afraid I’m short on a stunning ride to show up with.”

Knockout transformed from his vehicle mode and towered over you. He raised his optic ridge, wondering what on earth she was getting at, “You do understand I’m a highly advanced cybernetic being, not a taxi service? Besides, our relationship is strictly… professional and exists because I’ve chosen not to squash you. Yet.” You nod your head as you watch his body language. “Mhm. Mhm. All true, except for the fact I don’t think you’d want to squash me. I think you’ve gotten fond of our “professional” relationship,” she uses air quotes and smirks. “That and I don’t think a vehicle enthusiast such as yourself would want to miss out on an exclusive reveal of new models before the rest of the planet. A shame you’ll squash me and never experience it,” she says with an open smirk.

Knockout turns towards (Y/N) and gives her a look, a servo on his hip in his sassy mannerism, “Now now, I didn’t say no. Honestly it would be embarrassing if you showed up in anything less stylish than yours truly.” You could feel your heart skip a beat as you tried to reply in a nonchalant manner, “So you’re saying yes? I guess it’s a date then. The event starts at 7, so we should get an early start since it’s an hour drive.”

Knockout chuckles briefly before replying, “I’ll be here at 7. Always best to be fashionably late.” He smirks before transforming, the shine from his polished chassis gleaming in the light of the setting sun. He dramatically peels out of the expansive and large driveway before leaving the property. As the Decepticon’s frame disappeared from view, (Y/N) sighed softly to herself, “Always so dramatic…”

As Knockout began his drive back to the pickup coordinated for the Nemesis, he couldn’t help but have his gaze linger at the quickly disappearing villa in his rear view mirror. Perhaps the relationship between him and this human was a bit more than… strictly professional.

⭐️

⭐️

⭐️

If you enjoyed this please give it a like. If you want a continuation, lemme know! ❤️

[oneshotnewbie]

Hiiii! So, since it's allowed to send some requests in..I have an angsty one (I think i mentioned it months ago) 😁 Alex Danvers x reader. They are childhood sweethearts, now happily married, reader is not part of the DEO tho she knows everything. Somehow, another Alex from different Earth comes through a portal, having lost her own wife. She is kinda mean though. She temporarily disables "our Alex" and kidnaps reader, taking her to her Earth, leaving the Superfriends look for them in order to bring reader back. - happily ever after or not, I'd leave it up to you 😁 thank you! 😊

𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫-𝐃𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 - 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐈

𝐀𝐥𝐞𝐱 𝐃𝐚𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐱 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫 / 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐱 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫

Authors note: Originally I wanted to write something completely different but my hands and mind led me to something else 😂 Hope you like it and have fun reading ♥

ᕚ---ᕘ

The day was filled with a rare clarity as Kara flew her way through the lush landscape. The villa, an architectural masterpiece of bygone times, sat majestically on a hill, surrounded by a lush garden framed by magnificent trees. The last rays of sunshine of the day bathed the scene in a golden light as the blonde took in the silence and atmosphere of the nature around her.

You outdid yourself in choosing the location for celebrating your fifth wedding anniversary with Alex. The old, vine-covered, red-brick house with its large, bordered green park was glorious in the summertime and brought out the bright colors you have carried in your heart from the day you met the redhead.

A gentle wind blew through the treetops, carrying with it the quiet hum of birds. Kara arrived on the ground and immediately climbed the stone steps to the entrance, where the massive doors stood wide open, welcoming her warmly. A faint hint of nostalgia hung in the air in the spacious entrance hall. Antique furnishings filled the room, from silver-plated mirrors to a grand, curved staircase that led elegantly to the upper floors.

A soft murmur and the quiet clatter of tools came from outside. She followed the sound and found herself on a balcony. The vantage point offered a breathtaking view of the garden and surrounding countryside. Down there, the workers spread all over the white gravel road and seemed busy as they were making some arrangements and put the finishing touches to the decorations.

The hammering and knocking mingled with the humming of the bees buzzing around in the garden's blossoms. Elegant tables and chairs were arranged, garlands were artfully draped and bright, yellowish lights were placed in the trees. It was as if the place itself was preparing to have an unforgettable evening filled with people you both loved.

Kara leaned against the railing of the balcony and watched the hustle and bustle below her. It was impressive how each move seemed perfectly coordinated with the next. It was clear that you worked for your anniversary with a passion for detail and beauty.

The blonde could not be present at the preparations for your wedding, she was busy saving the city from a dangerous alien. But this time she enjoyed it much more intensively, knowing that both her sister and you could not be happier than at this point in time. The people her sister had dated were nice but could never compare to you. You brought forth something in the eldest Danvers that no one had done before.

In the midst of all this hectic activity and her deep thoughts, you suddenly appeared behind her, a bright smile on your lips, your hair slightly disheveled from work. She could tell right away that you wore a smile that was full of anticipation and mystery. "Kara!"

“Y/n, it looks really spectacular. Alex will be thrilled." The blonde exclaimed with a mixture of excitement and relief, walking the last steps that separated the two of you to wrap you in a tight hug. After a while, you separated yourself from her and stepped next to her closer to the edge of the balcony. You nodded vigorously, unable to take off your wide grin. "I hope so. I have all of her favorite things here, and the guest list is also full of all our friends and family. It's going to be an evening full of joy and memories.“

Kara gently placed an arm around your shoulder and pulled you closer to her. "Believe me, she'll love it," with a kiss on your temple, you rested your head on her shoulder and joined her in surveying the final preparations that were being completed, ready to reveal the secret of the evening and mark the beginning of an unforgettable fifth anniversary.

ᕚ---ᕘ

The sunlight slowly dipped towards the horizon and the first stars began to twinkle lightly in the sky. Kara´s bedroom glowed with a warm light coming from the numerous candles on the surfaces of her furniture and the fireplace. A soft scent of vanilla and red roses hung in the air as you eagerly prepared to head off to your own anniversary party with Alex. Kara had suggested that you get ready at her place so that Alex wouldn't see you beforehand. After all, everything should be a surprise - including what you wore.

In her bedroom, a happy melody floated through the atmosphere as you stood in front of the large mirror. Your dress, an elegant, long evening gown in a shimmering burgundy red, hung on the door behind you. With a hint of excitement in your eyes, you gave yourself a smile in the mirror as you began your makeup.

The sounds of jazz music came from your phone, where the playlist for the evening was already rehearsing. The memories of five years of ups and downs flowed through your mind, and a warm feeling of gratitude spread through your heart before you prepared to sit at the dressing table, surrounded by a fine selection of lipsticks, eye shadows and perfumes.

You opened a bottle of your favorite scent, which even the redhead found hard to resist, and let the floral scent fill the air. The sparkling silver earrings Alex gave you for your first wedding anniversary were waiting on the table to be put on.

As you were applying your makeup, you suddenly felt a strange energy flowing through the room and heard a soft, magical hum. With a brush in your hand, you walked confusedly towards the door that separated you from what was happening in the anteroom. “Kara?” you asked, unsure about your sister-in-law, not actually expecting her here at this time. The blonde had promised you that she would look after the location while you got ready. “Is everything okay? I thought you wanted to-"

As you poked your head through the crack, you saw a glowing portal open in the middle of the room. Out of the shimmering light emerged a figure that seemed familiar at first glance. It wasn't until you took a second look that you saw Alex, appearing in a swirl of colors and sparks. "Babe, are you okay? I thought you were on your way to Sam," you asked with a mixture of fear and surprise, narrowing your eyes as you looked at her closely. The clothes she wore were strange and definitely not something she ever seemed to wear. The redhead seemed worn out and there was no love or happiness shining in her eyes like it used to. Just a dark shadow, while the features of her face seemed unnaturally hard.

"Y/n," she spoke in a voice that cut icy through the night and sent a shiver down your spine. She walked towards you with slow steps and a mischievous grin and you immediately sensed that something was wrong. "You have to come with me. Right now."

You took a step back, gripped by an inexplicable unease. You stared at the person who was acting differently than your partner, feeling a strange feeling arise within you as she continued to walk towards you with slow and dangerous steps. "Why? Where do you want to take me? And who are you anyway?"

Alex twisted her face into a mocking smile and snorted contemptuously. "I'm your wife, silly. Just from another dimension. My wife is lost forever and now I'm here to take you with me." she spoke delicately, a devilish smile slipping across her black painted lips. Her hand placed itself on your shoulder and gently moved down until she reached your wrist and gripped it painfully. You winced, squeezing your eyes shut as you tried to suppress the flash of pain in your forearm. "You can't just show up here and expect me to come with you. You're a stranger."

She glared at you with reddish, shiny eyes, that sent shivers down your spine. Her grip on your wrist tightened, her cold fingers wrapping around your bare skin. She was angry. Very angry, but you could see a hint of sadness in her icy eyes. And despite the unpleasant situation, you felt a mixture of sympathy and irritation. "I may be able to help you, but not if you treat me like this. I'm sorry you lost your wife but I won't go with you. My Alex is here and I won't leave her.“

"But I am stronger, smarter and more determined while your Alex is weak and naive. You would be better off with me than with anyone else who only shares their physical resemblance with me." With a quick movement she raised her hand and released a beam of crimson energy at you. "You will follow me whether you want to or not. In my world there are possibilities that you cannot even imagine."

Without waiting for an answer, she violently pulled you through the portal. Reality blurred and a light briefly blinded you. As the veil lifted, you stumbled through the swirl of color, dazed and with a sharp pain in your head.

"What have you done?" You whispered, staggering and trying to focus on your surroundings. Disoriented and irritated, you looked at the dark, distorted version of National City as you knew it. Dark Alex, as you had already called her in your head, smiled triumphantly and looked down at you as you got on all fours, still trying to free yourself from the spinning dizziness that was taking over you. "Welcome to my world, my darling. Here we will see how strong you really are and whether you can do justice as my wife."

You felt trapped in a strange, hostile and cold dimension. Ignorance of what was going on and burning concern for your real wife led to a mixture of fear and determination. But what you didn't know was that your real Alex, left on her own Earth, was locked in a box somewhere far away from the city, temporarily switched off by unconsciousness and magical chains that rendered her unable to move even the slightest.

You knew that a battle would begin to rage between dimensions to determine your whereabouts.

ᕚ---ᕘ

The festively decorated hall was filled with a lively murmur and the clinking of champagne glasses as Kara, the Superfriends, and other guests excitedly waited for you and Alex. The room glowed with a warm light in the darkness of the evening as the candles flickered on the tables and soft melodies floated through the air.

The blonde, in an elegant dress, walked nervously through the crowd, her super ears alert to every noise, while Lena, Winn and Sam stood at the entrance of the hall, looking for you. The anticipation in the air gradually faded as the minutes passed and neither of you showed up. "It's unusual for these two to be so late," said Winn, looking worriedly at his watch and swaying nervously on his feet.

Lena frowned her brow in worry. She also found it strange. You were particularly punctual in everything else you did. "I tried calling y/n but it only goes to voicemail. Maybe they're late or stuck in traffic? I really hope everything is okay."

The mood among the guests became increasingly nervous as more time passed and the two of you still didn't show up. Kara felt a vague unrest inside her, as if something had gone terribly wrong. She decided to investigate the situation and set out to look for her sister and sister-in-law.

In the meantime, a tense silence filled the hall. The guests whispered worriedly to each other as the music in the background grew quieter and quieter. Lena, Winn, Sam and J'onn tried in vain to call any of you, but all attempts to contact failed.

Finally Kara returned, her face expressionless. The tension between the superfriends was palpable as the blonde walked sternly towards them and addressed the concerned guests. "I couldn't find her. Alex isn't home and y/n isn't in my apartment. However, her dress is still hanging untouched in my bedroom and-" she paused for a moment, pulling a small electronic device out of her jacket pocket. "This is y/n's cell phone. The music was still playing on it when I got to my apartment but she wasn't there. Something is wrong."

A hint of unease crossed the crew's faces. The anniversary celebration, which was planned to be full of joy and celebration, turned into a worrying situation of waiting and uncertainty. "What do we do now?" Sam asked questioningly.

"We have to find out what happened. I'm going to work with J'onn and fly to the DEO. Maybe we can find something out there," she replied with a firm look on her face, the growing concern for the both of you only increasing. "Winn and Lena, can you please go to my apartment and see if you can spot any alien activity?"

The Superfriends nodded solemnly as Kara headed off with J'onn to take action. The once happy atmosphere of the day was tinged with worry and anxiety as everyone hoped that you and Alex would return safely to celebrate your anniversary.

The night fell like a dark cloak over National City as Supergirl flew through the streets with a worried look in her eyes. Her super senses were at their peak as she searched for signs of her sister. The unsettling thought that something was wrong made her heart beat faster by the minute.

On a quiet side street, a faint sign of life pierced her super ears. Supergirl slowed her trajectory to locate the source of the sound, her X-ray ability sweeping over the abandoned factory before breaking through the light metal garage door. In a flash she landed next to a dark box, ripping the lid off the nails, seeing her sister lying there with iron chains and a purple aura surrounding her. "Alex.."

Her hands shot out to check the redhead's pulse. The heartbeat was slow, almost imperceptible. She immediately contacted J'onn and the DEO through the comms she had set up before her flight. But the chains made it much more difficult for her to bring the young agent to the DEO. The metal magically burned through her skin upon contact. She had to hurry up. "J'onn, I found Alex. She is unconscious and her heartbeat is extremely weak. I am taking her to the medical department immediately."

Meanwhile, Winn and Lena were already in Kara's apartment, looking for clues to your whereabouts. The room was in pristine condition, but the sight of your abandoned dress on the bedroom door worried the two of them. Lena held it carefully between her fingers and examined it as Winn used the DEO's technology to search for alien activity in the area.

The two continued searching the blonde's apartment when suddenly Winn's detectors picked up on some unusual, changing air. They looked at each other as they noticed that the particle sensors in the air were revealing their presence in the apartment. "I knew something was wrong. She would never abandon us without a reason. Especially not Alex."

"That's strange," Winn muttered, pointing to the display on his monitor as he rapidly typed something on the keyboard. "There are some alternate dimension particles in the air here. That suggests a portal was recently opened here. Lena frowned. "A portal? Here? But how is that possible?"

Winn re-examined the readings and discovered some kind of energetic pattern in the room. "It looks like a portal was active here, but it's been closed. It seems like y/n went through a portal."

"But why? And who could be responsible for it? After all, she has no ability to open such a portal," the black-haired woman speculated and Winn looked up. "Good questions that unfortunately we can only get answers from y/n."

As the two desperately tried to search for answers, uncertainty hung over them. A mystery seemed to be unfolding, and those who knew you best sensed that something big was afoot. They stayed in the apartment with the feeling that a strange, mysterious world had forced its way into their lives and taken one of them with it. The magic of the portal and the unsolved mysteries about your stay hung like a shadow over the two of them.

Meanwhile, Supergirl had arrived at the DEO with Alex. The doctors immediately took over medical care while Supergirl waited nervously nearby. J'onn walked up, his eyes worrying. "What do you think happened?"

"I don't know. But what I know is that something serious must have happened,“ she said with a sigh. Her shaky and slightly sweaty hand cupped her forehead and laboriously brushed away the wrinkles that appeared as she frowned. "Have Winn and Lena at least found out something about my sister-in-law yet?"

"Yes, they did. And you won't like it," he replied, putting his hands on his hips. He watched the expression on her face, the panic that overtook her, even if she didn't want to show it on the outside. "They found particles that Winn was able to trace back to a portal."

As the Martian continued to show her more details about the discoveries in her own apartment, the redhead slowly began to regain consciousness when the DEO's resources were used to successfully remove the iron chains from her. She struggled to sit up in bed against the doctors' wishes, still very dizzy. "What happened?" Alex murmured, her memories slowly returning. She was able to piece together some fragments of her memories, but she hoped for a complete answer, which she still lacked. She held her head, which hurt badly from the attack and her attempted self-defense.

"You were found unconscious. We don't know exactly what happened, but we're looking for y/n. She's missing," Kara explained to her, gently stroking her disheveled hair.

She looked at her sister with wide eyes, fear and terror crossing her face. Her pupils dilated rapidly, making her eyes appear darker, as she tried to rip the vein access and electrocardiogram from her body. Kara stopped her. "There was someone who came into our apartment through a portal just as I was getting ready."

Supergirl and J'onn perked up their ears. "Who was it?"

"She looked exactly like me. She threatened to take my wife away. After that there was a fight, she overpowered me and then..." she stopped talking, knowing what happened next. Alex from another dimension had carried out her threats.

Kara nodded slowly, slowly pushing her sister back into bed. She promised to bring her sister-in-law back safely into Alex's arms while the redhead rested from the attack. After all, she had been attacked with an energy that did not exist on this world and could produce side effects that did not come from earth.

As the mystery of your disappearance deepened and unraveled, Winn and Lena continued to work with the DEO to trace the portal particles and alien activity. J'onn mobilized all of the DEO's resources to find out which dimension was responsible, while his best agent and your friends remained in the dark, not knowing where a family member had disappeared to.

[thatfreshi]

Hi there! I saw the post about the requests! If you don't mind, Imma dump the three ideas I have here in one ask so I don't spam you. Apologies if there's not enough info in them or are too jumbled to understand! I'm not great at sending requests.

A Dragonborn tav who wishes to cuddle with Astarion/Rest their head against him, but can't due to horn/spike placement. Frustration on tav's end and, after some confusion, an emense amount of teasing on Astarion's. Maybe they find out some way to have resting on Astarion better.

Astarion helping out Tav after Tav had a medical surgery thing. They're just in pain for the first few days and Astarion just helps them out. (Mostly just want some personal comfort for my own recent surgery. I'm in pain.)

Dragonborn Tav doing some Dragonborn courting rituals to get Astarion's attention. Maybe even trying to research Eleven courting rituals to do so.

Went ahead and went with the second ask in this list. If you still want the others you can send them again! I prefer separate requests because it's easier for me to keep track of, but I appreciate that you have so many ideas for me :)

TW - broken bones

Recommended Song: Lovers Rock - TV Girl

Living a normal life comes with far too many responsibilities. Sure, killing goblins and avoiding shadows is stressful, but buying groceries? Doing dishes? It seems like there's something every single damn day, especially when you're renovating a house.

Now, Astarion loves priding himself on being a great bargainer, making a sweet deal out of any situation, and he figured a place with good bones like this would be a steal if he could cut the price a little. Was he wrong? Of course not, he has a habit of being right almost always, which can be frustrating. However, the two of you bit off far more than you could chew, especially when it came to the staircase that was practically falling apart. Mind you, neither you or Astarion are renovators, but both of you are far too stubborn for your own good.

"I'm sure we could get someone to fix it, right? Just needs some extra support."

You raise a brow at him.

"And spend more money? No way, we should just do it ourselves. I'm sure one of our friends has some extra wood lying around."

That's when you make the mistake of going up a couple steps to see just how bad the damage is. Apparently this place used to house a group of rowdy adventurers who couldn't help but destroy everything in their path. When you fall asleep on the floor every night, guess it doesn't really matter if you can't get up to any of the bedrooms. As you're analyzing the stairs, there's a crack beneath your feet, which you ignore.

"Darling, perhaps you should just take a look from down here?"

When you go to turn and tell him you'll be fine, your leg takes a plunge through the wood, subsequently fracturing several bones in your foot.

"Gods, damn it!"

You manage to cry out, trying to pull yourself out of the tattered floor. Astarion helps you, helping you get back down to the first floor, trying to make sure he doesn't face a similar fate.

"I guess a trip to Shadowheart's is in order."

You shake your head.

"Nope, her and Halsin are on that healer's retreat, remember? In Waterdeep?"

"Shit, I suppose you're right dove. When are they getting back?"

You sigh.

"Tonight, sadly."

It was currently far too early in the morning, as the two of you wanted to get a head start on your fixer-upper today.

"Alright, we'll just have to go see someone in town I suppose."

"Aster, we do not have the money for that right now. We've already budgeted everything for the house, I can't go see some uppity Baldurian doctor who's going to charge us far more gold than they're worth."

"Well, what do you suggest we do then?"

"Wait til Shadowheart and Halsin get back? I mean it's really all we can do."

"Gods Tav, we had so much planned today. Those tieflings are coming by to tile the kitchen at noon! And you know I am not good at being nice to strangers."

"Well my love, looks like you're going to have to learn, because I cannot walk on this thing."

You groan in pain, trying to flex your foot, feeling all the little spots your bones broke.

"To the bed we go then."

Astarion wraps you up in his arms, taking you to what in a couple of weeks is supposed to be the study. For now though, it's a makeshift bedroom. He gently lies you on the bed, getting a pillow for under your foot. Then, he thinks about how he truly does not like being broke, but the both of you didn't want to impose on any of your friends, staying at their place for any longer than you had to. Gale offered, but the thought of being all cramped up in his new tower was suffocating.

"Are you okay Aster?"

Your voice wakes him from his thoughts.

"Yes my dear, just thinking about our raggedy circumstances."

"It'll be nice when it's done, and when my foot's not broke."

The two of you chuckle.

"As much as I love living with you, I didn't think domestic life was quite this, complex."

He moves to lie down next to you, careful not to move your wounded foot.

"You still want this though, right?"

"Of course, a nice house to ourselves? A space just for us? I can't imagine a better investment. Just not quite used to all the contractors and market visits and drunken nights yet, all the normal things, the things I would've done so much sooner if..."

Astarion shakes his head, as if trying to get the thoughts out of his mind.

"Never mind all that, I should get you some tea."

Before you can tell him that it's alright, that you want to hear what he has to say, he's gone to the kitchen. Instead you just lay on the bed, thinking of just how lucky the two of you are. Two troubled souls set up for failure, and yet here you are. You laugh a little, thinking about how lucky you are with a shattered foot.

"Here we are my darling, a hot brew just for you."

He helps you sit up, making sure you keep your leg elevated.

"Easy my dove, don't want to break anything else do we?"

The hours pass by as the two of you wait for the tilers to come, talking about all the projects you were going to start today. It's nice, having a project, something to strive towards that isn't murdering someone or working through some major trauma. Just the two of you drinking tea in some old house, sitting on a bed that you'll have to break down and bring upstairs, and then put back together. While Astarion very easily could have left you to your devices and gotten started on all your little plans, he stayed by your side, talking about everything and nothing.

"This is just the beginning."

You say, suddenly breaking a natural silence.

"What is?"

"This. We get to start over. This is the beginning of us starting over."

He smiles at your whimsical view of things.

"I suppose you're right."

[runawrites-blog]

Undercover Ch. 8 (Connor x Reader)

Summary: Someone breaks into you and Connor's home, leaving you two to fight for your lives. (Female Reader) Warnings: Chapter 8/10. No Y/N. Petnames (Love, Sweetheart). Break-Ins. Attacks. Fighting. Violence. Injuries. Blood. Reader gets Stabbed (Hand, Shoulder). Connor gets Injured (Biocomponent Ripped Out). Detective Reader. Crossposted on AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/62247359/chapters/159245413#workskin Previous Chapter

“Are you alright?”

You didn’t answer immediately, too focused on listening to see if you’d hear anything else after being woken up by a loud noise. After your call with Hank, during which it had been decided that in the morning Ashley and Dave would be taken in for questioning and that their blood and Thirium would be compared to the samples found on the two crime scenes, you and Connor had not continued your conversation from before and instead headed to bed.

“Did you hear something?”

After a few more seconds of silence, you looked down at Connor who was still lying next to you but with his upper body supported by his elbows, his eyes focused on you. Since you didn’t hear anything else, not even the hint of footsteps or other movement around the house, you reasoned that it might have simply been a noise from outside. Gently, you pushed Connor down onto his back again before settling your head on his chest where it had rested before you’d woken up.

“A loud noise woke me up but I didn’t hear anything else, so maybe it came from outside.”

In the darkness you saw Connor’s LED blink yellow as he looked down at you, his arms coming up to hold you once again. “What did it sound like?”

“It was a loud bang, like a car door slamming shut.” You explained, bringing a hand up to cup his cheek. “But I sat here for five minutes and I heard nothing else, no footsteps, no creaks, no movement. And I have good ears.”

For a second Connor seemed unsure but then he nodded his head and his arms tightened around you. Your hand came up to gently card over his shoulder, down his arm and back up again, repeating the pattern until you felt him relaxed against you. He released a soft breath as his LED circled back to blue, closing his eyes again, and you cuddled a little closer to him as you kept up your ministrations.

The two of you had almost fallen asleep again when from downstairs there came the unmistakable noise of glass breaking downstairs followed by the sound of a door slamming open. As you scrambled off Connor, getting onto your knees on the bed as he got to his feet, situating himself between you and the door.

“That came from inside. It sounded like it came from the kitchen.”

Fear overtook you but you forced yourself to get up, approaching Connor but keeping your eyes on the door to the bedroom. “They’re not even trying to be quiet anymore. They’re getting careless.”

“Careless means desperate.”

“Desperate means dangerous.”

“I have already wirelessly contacted Nines and he says someone will be here in approximately twenty-six minutes. We have to see who the person downstairs is in case they leave when the police arrive.” Connor said before taking a step toward the door and holding up a hand when you began to move, making you stop. “Stay behind me.”

You wanted to argue with him, to tell him you wouldn’t let him endanger himself like that but you knew there was no time to be wasted on arguing so you reluctantly agreed. The two of you moved into the hallway and peered down the staircase into the darkness of the ground floor, listening for any noise. Then the sound of slow, quiet footsteps could be heard and Connor brought a hand up, indicating for you to stay still.

“There’s only one set of footsteps and they are moving toward the backdoor.”

“They must be letting their accomplice inside.” You said quietly, taking a deep breath. “If they are opening the backdoor, then we have a chance to overpower them.”

“Let’s move.”

The two of you quickly made your way downstairs and once on the ground floor, you rounded the bottom of the stairs to get to the backdoor, approaching the figure standing there with their back to you. But when you saw that there was no one outside the door you stopped in your tracks, unease creeping up your spine as you wondered why the figure was standing there if they weren’t letting anyone inside. Connor had also stopped but before either of you could do anything, someone grabbed you by the shoulder and pulled you backwards.

Then a searing pain began, radiating from your shoulder up your neck and down your left arm, making you scream out. As you glanced down you saw that your attacker had stabbed you, plunging a knife into your shoulder from behind you. Connor’s head whipped around and he spurred into motion to help you. But the second he turned away from the backdoor the figure standing there began moving toward him.

“Connor, watch out!”

You tried to get to him but it only made the knife dig deeper into your flesh, making you shout in pain and in horror you realised that you were effectively pinned to your attacker. But Connor had heard your call and he turned back to the figure, managing to dodge their attempt to hit him and grabbing onto their arm in one swift motion, causing the hood that was covering their face to fall.

“Ashley?”

The android didn’t answer him and quickly pulled out a gun, aiming it at his head and making him raise his hands in an appeasing gesture, trying to diffuse the situation. Ashley’s eyes were filled with tears and her hands shook as she trained the gun on his head.

“Don’t fucking move!”

Your breathing came out ragged as you dared to peer up at your attacker, seeing that it was Dave who was holding you to his chest, keeping a tight grip on the knife in your shoulder. When he spoke up his frame moved and you hissed as the knife did with it.

“I knew you two were liars.” He said quietly, his voice shaking with emotion. “You showed so much interest in the attacks, you were so quick to get to the crime scenes and I always knew I’d seen Connor somewhere before. Do you remember me, Connor?”

“Dave, would you please let her go?” Connor asked gently but sternly, making use of his negotiator skills. “She is injured and if you move the knife you might cause damage to the surrounding ligaments in her shoulder.”

“Answer the question, Connor!” Dave snapped, making you hiss in pain as the knife moved. “I worked as a security guard in numerous locations and I worked in the Stratford Tower. I was on duty the day you came to investigate the break-in there. You are a RK800 model, originally designed to hunt down deviants. I knew I remembered you from somewhere!”

“You are correct about that, Dave.” Connor said calmly, trying not to agitate the man. “I used to investigate deviants but now I am one myself and work for the police. They are already on their way, Dave. If you tell them the truth--“

“No!” Ashley snapped suddenly, getting closer to Connor and almost pressing the gun to his temple. “You want us to tell the truth when you’ve lied to us all these weeks? You’re not a married couple, you’re undercover cops! Was it all a lie? Did you ever fucking care for either of us?”

“We did.” You ground out, making Ashley glance at you for a second. “And we understand how dire your situation is.”

Ashley glanced at the ground for a second and Connor took that split second of inattendence to grab the gun, directing it at the ceiling just as the trigger was pulled. Then he turned around with Ashley and slammed her into the wall, using his body to pin her to it as he wrestled the gun away from her, sending it flying across the living room until it collided with the fireplace.

Dave screamed her name and you noticed his grip on the knife faltering, spurring you into action. You used your elbow to deal a hard blow to the man’s chest before ducking out from under his arms, trying to make a run for the gun. But Dave was a security guard and he was as trained in combat as you were, so he reacted immediately and used his leg to kick yours out from underneath your body, sending you flying to the ground where you just so managed to break your fall with your uninjured arm.

“You fucking liar!” He hissed as he grabbed your ankle to pull you back toward him as you tried to kick him. “We’re just trying to save Ashely! Why won’t you let us save Ashley?”

You got a hard kick in against his temple with the heel of your foot, disorienting him enough to let you go and you stumbled to your feet. “Save her how?”

“We’ve found out that given its new state-of-the-art technology the RK800’s biocomponents are compatible with any other model, except for the YK500 models.”

“You want to save Ashley by dissembling Connor?”

“Why do you fucking care? He’s not your fucking husband anyway!”

As Dave got up and you once more attempted to get to the gun Ashley had managed to get free and was now trying to get the upper hand again but Connor wasn’t letting her, dodging her attacks with ease. That was until Dave got a grab at you and managed to pin you to the floor, making Connor turn to you in concern which allowed Ashley to overpower him. In a fraction of a second, she grabbed his head and slammed it against the wall, making Connor stumble and fall to his knees as disorientation overtook him, Thirium trickling down from where his chassis had been cracked open.

You screamed his name as Connor tried to get Ashley back under control while also trying not to lose his balance again. Dave pinned you down as you attempted to get back up and though you knew it was a bad idea, though you knew that it might cause significantly more blood loss, you did the only thing you could think of and grabbed the handle of the knife still stuck in your shoulder before yanking it out. Then you flipped your hand and buried the knife inside his leg making him stumble off you and clutch himself. When he tried to get up and get at you again, he fell to the ground in pain where he hit his head and passed out mere seconds later.

“Dave!”

Ashely’s outburst made you look up and she immediately let off Connor to come to her partner’s aide, falling to her knees beside him and fretting over his injuries before she turned to you in anger. Before you could get away from her she had a grip on your ankle and due to her being an android she easily managed to pull you back toward her where she grabbed you by the back of the neck, making you look at her.

“I’m going to shut down! I need new biocomponents and I will get them!” She sounded so desperate and afraid that despite her actions you still felt a pang of pity for her as you watched tears begin to stream down her face. “I want to live!”

She grabbed the knife and pulled it from Dave’s leg, raising it above her head to gain momentum and pinning your hand to the ground. Connor called out your name and stumbled to his legs to help you but before he could Ashley rammed the knife through your hand, just between two of the metacarpals there, and into the wooden floor beneath her, the strength she had at her disposal as an android effectively pinning you to the floor as you screamed in pain.

“Let her go!”

You heard Connor’s voice, static lacing it and you knew he must have suffered internal damage while fighting Ashley. She turned to him upon hearing his voice, anger and desperation on her face as tears ran down her cheeks.

“I don’t want to die, Connor! I want to live and I deserve to live!”

“You do but-- but you don’t get to harm other people to achieve that.” His voice sounded pressed, so full of pain that you felt nothing short of absolute terror rise in you as it betrayed how much damage Ashley had done. “Ashley, let us help you.”

“You lied to me and now you want to help?”

“Ashley, there is no way to win this. Your systems-- they are failing you and I am built to be stronger than you. There is no-- no way to overpower me.”

“You’re injured. I damaged your auditory units and your balance is off.”

“I know but I cannot let you hurt her.”

“You two aren’t even a real fucking couple, so why do you care?”

“I love her.”

She stilled for a second, breathing deeply as she held her chest in pain and then she shook her head before attacking Connor once more, desperation outweighting any other emotion. Your vision was blurring from pain and blood loss and you couldn’t quite make out what was happening as they fought. But everything came into focus again when Connor screamed in pain and collapsed to his knees, Ashley standing over him and holding his Thirium pump in her hand.

Behind her Connor tried to grab for it, tried to reach it but he collapsed onto the ground next to her, breathing heavily and his voice coming out static as he pleaded for her not to harm you. His eyes flickered back to you, desperation and terror clear in them but your vision wasn’t blurry anymore and you felt clearer in the head than before.

Adrenaline was a powerful thing and while androids could withstand a lot, the human body was resilient and the human spirit even more so. Gathering the last of your strength, you grabbed the knife and yanked it from your hand, freeing yourself. Ashley was too occupied trying to replace her Thirium pump to notice you staggering to your feet, breathing heavily as you stumbled over to the fireplace where you quickly grabbed the gun.

Another shot rang through the house and Ashley fell to the ground, blue blood pooling underneath her as it oozed from the wound in her stomach, her LED flickering off and Connor’s Thirium pump clattering to the floor. You fell to your knees, the pain making you delirious and your vision blurring but even still you crawled to where the biocomponent lay and grabbed it before continuing on to Connor.

He could barely move anymore but his hands grasped for yours as you pulled his upper body into your lap. Blood was oozing from your injured hand but you still brought it to his face to try and soothe him as you pushed the Thirium pump back into place.

“I love you, too.” You whispered out, tears running down your cheeks. “Please, please stay with me. I love you so much.”

Connor surged up, gasping for air and eyes locking with yours before drifting down to the wounds you had sustained. Immediately he tried to get to his feet in an attempt to help you but he collapsed back onto the ground, not able to keep his balance with the loss of Thirium and the damage to his auditory units. Still, he pushed himself upright on the floor and then brought up both of his hands, interlacing his fingers and pressing the heel of his right one down on the wound to stop the bleeding, using the other one to apply pressure. Pain surged through you and you cried out but Connor shushed you gently.

“I know it hurts but I have to stop the bleeding.” He said gently as you sagged against his chest, weakly using your uninjured hand to apply pressure to the injured one. “I got you. You’ll be fine and I won’t leave your side until-- until you’re well again.”

“You look-- You look like you’re about to-- to pass out, Connor.”

He shook his head but then blinked rapidly, the movement making his vision blur but the approaching sirens reassured him that help was on the way. “I will stay with you, still. I love you.”

“And I love you.”

[starsandink13]

The White Crow Game Chapter 8

Corvin's taunting words rang in your head: there's so much left of this mansion to explore and you've only scratched the surface.

"Only scratched the surface?" You scoffed, "You've got to be kidding me."

To your half-surprise and relief, you didn't hear a sardonic comment in response .You collapsed on a nearby chair. A grimace was on your face as you let out a deep huff and put your head in your hands. Squeezing your eyes, you tried to think of where else he would have hidden the key.

So if he hid it in a painting before, a place that would be in blatant sight, he might try to hide it in something obvious again. Right? No, he wouldn't be stupid enough to try something like that a second time! Come on! You clenched a handful of your hair and growled from the back of your throat. Think! Where would that bastard put it!? Maybe he hid it somewhere that I already have been for? But then why would he say that I have so much left to explore? Damn it, why does he have to be so conniving!?

You shook your head and let out an exasperated snort from your nose. The world would be a much better place without fairies.

A faint groan came from the end of the hallway. There's no point in siting around and wasting time that could be used finding that key. And I can't afford another fight again after just barely escaping one.

You stood up and lightly jogged away from the direction of the sound. Each step felt as if a nail was being driven into your sole; you slightly whimpered but continued onwards. The discomfort became unbearable and you stopped to catch your breath. You leaned against the wall and looked up to see oak double doors a few yards away from you. Hanging above the door was a sign that read: LIBRARY.

"First a theater, then an art gallery, and now a library?" You muttered. "Just how much space is in this house?"

Seeing no other option, you entered the library. The doors creaked open as they gave way to your push. You stared in awe at the size of it. The library took up two storeys with a spiral staircase that connected the levels together. The white walls were tall with towering orange-brown bookshelves that loomed over you like wooden giants. Hanging from the ceiling was a gigantic gilded chandelier containing hundreds of white candles that swayed slightly like small phantoms. In small clusters, were leather and velvet chairs huddled next to each other with circular tables. Wrapping around the right side  of the library was a porch with spandrels carved into an intricate pattern of swirls and florals where even more seating areas and bookcases were.

On your left was a large, heavy desk with mountains of papers and books on it. Behind the desk was a dark wood cabinet with tinted glass that was polished so brilliantly you could see your own reflection in it. Something glinted among the collection of books; you squinted your eyes and approached the cabinet a little more to get a better look at it.

"May I help you with something?"

Snapping your head in the direction of the voice, you were met with a person a head taller than you. He wore a heavy dark blue cloak that concealed most of his body. The hood  was pulled up which left the upper half of his face covered in shadows. In the light, you could see a faint pattern of Corvin's emblem woven into the fabric with fine silver threads.

"Uh...." you blinked at the person, completely at a loss of words. "Do you...work here?"

"I guess you can say that," he grimaced at the last word. He walked over to the desk and put the stack of books in his hand down before taking a seat.

"What brings you here, Miss (Y/N)?" The librarian asked.

"What? How do you know my--"

"It's because of Master Corvin," the cloaked person responded.

"I see," you trailed off.

"Now that we have that out of the way, do you mind telling me why you are here?" The librarian asked and pulled back the hood with a narrow and ghostly-pale hand: revealing chin-length black hair, a smooth androgynous face with plump, pouting lips, and upturned black eyes behind a pair of circular-lensed glasses.

"I'm not entirely sure," you answered. "I just kind of stumbled upon here."

"Interesting," he mumbled and gripped his chin between his forefinger and thumb. "Anyways, I have a proposal for you. An offer you can't refuse if you will."

"What?"

"If you can find the token of when I was once human, I maybe able to help you with finishing the game. I might even tell you where exactly the front door key is."

When he said this, you caught a glimpse of a pewter key in the shape of a peony flower that hung within the cabinet. You narrowed your eyes. This offer seemed far too good to be true. You felt like there was something more to this apart from that, but you couldn't tell what exactly. The reason was in the back of your mind, a faint inkling that was almost on the tip of your tongue.

"I'm not so sure," you said, crossing your arms and shifting your weight onto your left leg.

"Why is that?"

"I don't know entirely."

The librarian clenched his jaw. "Is it because of him?"

Your silence was your answer.

A low and annoyed sigh came from him and he crossed his legs. A heavy tension filled the atmosphere, making it feel as if countless pins were being pricked into your skin as you and the librarian stared at each other for what felt like hours.

"How are you so sure that he didn't say that to manipulate it to be easier to take advantage of you and to win the game?" The librarian finally broke the silence, his voice held the slightest crack of annoyance. "Or that he isn't going to suddenly be dishonest and lie right to your face?"

"He's a man of his word and he holds himself to his standards," you answered.

"Do you really believe that?"

You froze up. Corvin had been rather upfront with everything that he had told you, he didn't twist the truth nor lied to you at any point. However, he was still sneaky and you couldn't trust him, he was unpredictable and had plenty of tricks.

"I'm not sure," you croaked out.

"So why not accept my offer?" The librarian asked.

You glanced over your shoulder to see Corvin looking at you from a distance. His face was unreadable, but you could feel the devilish glee coming off of him in oppressive waves.

"C-can I get back to you in a moment?" You asked. "I just need to think through this for a bit."

"Fine," the librarian brusquely said. "Take all the time you need."

As you sat down by Corvin, his eyes peered at yours from above the pages. An impish light danced in the crimson and gold irises. You could see the large grin on his face behind the book as he held back his snickering.

"What are you looking at?" You spat.

"Just seeing how you are doing so far and to get some light reading in," he demurely answered and flipped over to the next page. "How is it going so far, my dear?"

"You know, I still haven't forgotten that little stunt you pulled off," you growled.

"Which one?" He said.

"You know exactly which one."

"Oh, you mean back at the art gallery?" Corvin chirped. "Yes, I can see why you would still be upset. But that will soon be all in the past when we exchange our vows and we'll remember it as a funny story to tell for many years to come."

Fighting back the urge to slap him, you turned away from the fairy and closed your eyes. Why does this offer seem so wrong? I could have sworn that I know the reason why! Alright, maybe I need to to review the rules. Okay, so I know that in order to win I have to exit through the front doors and that's the only way. The second rule is that the game doesn't start until I exited those doors all the way back in the parlor. The next rule is that...

It was then a cold realization hit you as you remembered that: you are to not help any of the residents nor accept any offers of theirs.

"I-it was a trick...." you whispered.

You glanced over to see Corvin looking back at you. His blood and hellfire eyes had the look of a wolf staring down an injured deer. You could have sworn that his teeth looked much sharper now as he bit back his laughter.

"Let me guess: you're going to make a smartass comment now?" You growled.

"You know me so well, it's almost like we're married already!" He chuckled. "But unfortunately, we aren't. At least not yet. Speaking of marriage: should it be an indoor or outdoor one? Both of them have their strengths and weaknesses and I need some input from my bride-to-be."

"Does it really matter?" You snarled.

"Of course it does! Every detail of the wedding is important! From the wedding dress and the venue to--"

You stood up and exhaled a sharp breath. You stormed away from Corvin and made your way back to the librarian.

"Guess you're conflicted as well," the fairy called out and went back to reading.

The librarian had his back towards you as he sorted out the items in the cabinet behind the desk. You rapped your knuckles against the desk three times, making him jolt slightly as he turned his head to you.

"Oh you're back already," he said and sat back down as he smoothed out the front of his cloak. "So, have you made up your mind?"

"Yes I have," you gulped.

"And your answer is...." the librarian leaned in. The lightest predatory smirk was on his lips; it would have been barely noticeable under most circumstances, but the sinister look in his dark eyes gave it away.

A moment passed and you took a deep breath. Your throat felt dry as you licked your lips nervously and looked directly into those hollow eyes.

"I'm going to refuse your offer," you finally said.

The librarian was still for a few moments before he slunk back into his seat and exhaled, "What a shame. I was really hoping that we could have helped each other out."

You nodded your head slightly. "Yeah, it really is..."

A powerful strain filled the room as you stood there in silence, unsure of what to say next. Your legs tensed as you readied yourself for a possible fight. You took a step back as the librarian adjusted his glasses and cracked his neck, the disappointment was still plastered on his face. 

"Now if you'll excuse me, I have to get back to sorting these out," the librarian gestured to the pile of books behind him.

Nodding your head once more, you sat down a few chairs away from Corvin. His leg was crossed over the other and he leaned in towards you, a ghost of a smirk was dancing on his lips as he tapped his fingers on the chair's arm.

"So what are you going to do now, my dear?" He purred. 

You didn't respond to him; your eyes trained on the librarian's desk. Your legs tensed up with anticipation, ready to spring in action at any moment. You looked over the librarian's shoulder at the key glinting in the cabinet. Somehow you knew that it was important to your escape. It had to be the key to the front door. Why else would the librarian put you in such a trap if it wasn't it?

When the librarian left his desk and disappeared from your view, you inched towards the case and took the key. You quickly slid it into your jacket's pocket. You walked briskly away from the desk and were about go over to the exit when you caught a glimpse of the librarian. You pressed yourself against a bookshelf as he let out a shrill and blood-curdling scream of frustration that reverberated off of the walls, shaking some books off of their shelves.

"That--! I am going to make her regret this!" He growled.

As quietly as you could, you ran away from your hiding spot as you heard the librarian heading towards your direction. Fear coursed through your veins as you looked around for another place to hide.

You crouched down to the ground, hiding between a table and chair. Ten feet away from you was Corvin standing patiently with one hand behind his back and the other opening a book, looking directly at you. Your rapid heart felt like it was going to explode. You steeled yourself to run if he were to alert the librarian to your position. The librarian came storming towards his master, his shoulders tensing with fury.

"Have you seen her?" The librarian asked.

"I did, as a matter of fact." Corvin answered matter-of-factly as he began to read and slowly turned over to the next page.

"Would you tell me where she went?" The librarian sputtered, excitement rising in his voice.

"No." Corvin coolly responded and sat down on a nearby chair without sparing a glance at the librarian. "You're going to have to find her yourself."

"What?" The librarian stiffened.

"I just said that you have to find her yourself," the white-haired fairy said. "You shouldn't have too much of an issue finding her. She's just a regular human-- a clever one, but a normal human woman nonetheless."

Refraining from cursing out his master, the librarian bowed his head slightly, "I understand." His cracking voice was laced with barely-restrained frustration.

"I suggest you get a move on," Corvin crossed one leg over the other, tossed the book he was reading with a dramatic flick of his wrist, and picked up another one. "She might be already close to the exit."

You--! You bit your inner lip. You dared not to draw a breath as the librarian passed by. You kept yourself as still as possible. A droplet of sweat streaked down your neck as he glided out of view. Carefully, you crept over to another aisle. You heard the librarian's storming footsteps coming close. Quickly, you hid behind a mountain of books in front of a bookcase. Your pounding heart drummed against your ribs as he drew near. You cursed yourself for losing your knife in the gallery. If only you had a weapon with you.

You watched in terror as the librarian passed by you. His hands were taut with fury, his dark nails were sharp and thin as they shined wickedly in the light. Your heart stopped as he stood still, looking around for you. You were frozen to the spot as he neared your hiding spot. You were like a bleeding rabbit cornered by a hunting dog.

He stopped and turned around. Slowly, he approached to where you were hiding. His talons gleamed like butcher knives. As he was another step away from where you were, a muffled thud came from the other side of the library. He snapped his head in the direction of the noise and stormed his way towards it.

Quickly and quietly, you stepped out of your hiding spot and began to dart out of the aisle. Your hand was clasped over your racing heart as you looked for the exit. The library seemed to have shifted its layout. It felt as if you were running in a circle. Fear raced through your veins like a snake's venom.

You abruptly stopped when you caught a glimpse of the librarian's cloak peeking from behind a bookshelf. His steps were low and slow as he patrolled the aisle; he turned his head from side to side, scanning for any sign of you.

"You know (Y/N), if you put away what you've stolen, I will let you go." He said, his voice tinged with bloodlust. "All you have to do is put the key back in the cabinet and pretend that this never happened."

You clenched your teeth together and shook your head. You gripped your satchel tighter to you and carefully took a step away from the bookshelf, straining your ears for any more noises and clenched the key in your hand. Slowly, you took another step behind you. The blood rushing in your ears sounded like gunfire. Your fear tripled when you heard the ruffling of his cloak dragging against the floors like nails against metal.

Just keep calm and steady.

You took another step. Then another, and another, and another. You didn't dare to look away as you inched your way closer to the exit. You took one more small step when the floorboard beneath you groaned slightly.

"There you are!" He screamed behind you.

You screamed as needlelike talons narrowly grazed your cheek. You rolled to the side and onto the ground. Before you could react, he lunged at you. You cried and moved your head to the side. You kicked the librarian in the stomach as hard as you could before scrambling away from him.

You were barely ten steps away when he swiped at your back. You cried out in horror and ran faster. Sweat was pouring off of you. The rushing of the blood in your ears was roaring. The librarian swiped his arm out in front of him, making an empty and heavy bookcase topple in front of you. You rolled underneath it-- narrowly avoiding being crushed. He made another swipe and a table came flying at you. You ducked your head as it crashed into the wall, exploding into shrapnel of wood.

"You little wench!" He roared.

In the distance, you could see the library's exit. Renewed energy bursted through legs and you sprinted faster. Your eyes were locked on your only hope.

You swerved as his claws nicked the thin skin on your neck. You gasped as you felt small droplets of blood beginning to fall down your neck. He made another slash for you, barely scratching the tip of your nose. You jumped back and fell down over a fallen box. Sharp pain cracked up your back, making you gasp.

"It's all over for you now." He grunted, his eyes glittering with anger as he raised his hand in the air, aiming for your face. He gave you a wicked grin that revealed needlelike teeth as he plunged his claws.

You thrusted the box in front of you. The tip of his talons barely missed your eye by half an inch. Grunting, you threw the box to the side, throwing the librarian off-balance and began to run. The exit was now mere feet away from you. The door was wide open, promising safety like a lighthouse would for lost sailors.

Nearly there!

You sprinted even faster. Each step felt like your feet and lungs were set ablaze. The librarian was mere paces away from you. His talons nearly grazing the back of your jacket as he swiped furiously at you.

With the last bit of strength, you jumped towards the exit. You skidded against the marble floor, nearly hitting the wall before you turned around to see that the librarian was pressing against an invisible force that separated you from him. He pounded his fists against it, his screams were muffled. He gave you one final hateful glare before retreating into the library.

"Oh he'll be fine," Corvin reassured. "He just needs a few hours to sulk and be moody but he'll be back to his usual self."

"Wearing a pair of glasses with a fake moustache?" You deadpanned as you stood up and dusted off the front of your shirt and jacket.

The fairy laughed. "That would be hilarious! But his ego isn't that easily bruised. Although I will have to talk to him about not destroying the furniture, especially if I bought it just last month."

"You don't seemed to be all that bothered," you commented.

"What do you mean?"

"I might be extremely close to finding the key," you answered. "Hell, maybe I already found it."

Although the fairy was still smiling, panic flashed in his eyes briefly. His fingers rapped against his cane's handle and he walked behind you. He gave your shoulder a light squeeze as he leaned into your ear.

"What makes you say that?" He huskily whispered.

"Don't you think I just saw the alarm in your eyes?" You responded.

Corvin closed his eyes, a wide grin split on his lips, and he chuckled. "Oh my sweet, precious (Y/N). Don't you think that I can't see right through your bluff?"

Horror replaced your confidence, earning a booming and sinister cackle from him that reverberated against the halls and made a freezing dread crawl down your stomach.

"You poor thing!" He laughed. "Don't you remember that it's a bad idea to lie to the fair-folk? We can and will find out if you are lying to us."

You were too shocked to respond, your open mouth was left quivering as you stared at him. Every joint in your body was locked in place.

He suddenly leaned in forwards: his sclera was abyss-black, making the red and gold pupils look like smoldering embers of hellfire. "I'm rather amused in all honesty, and I'm not going to punish you for that little stunt of yours."

"W-what?"

"You're wondering how I would know that you don't have the key?" He tapped his finger to his lower lip before slowly licking them. "All of the artwork in this estate with my lovely visage acts as my eyes and hands. I can see things through their perspective and not a single one saw you be anywhere near the key's location."

"Then why do you do these check-ins?" You clenched your hands into fists.

"Why wouldn't I?" He chuckled. "It's fun teasing you and it's better to see how you are doing in-person and strengthens our relationship much better. It makes this game more fun and I enjoy our conversations so much. I can only imagine the ones that we would have once we finally are married."

Your lips curled in a snarl as you shook your head. "Why don't you marry the sound of your own voice since you love it so much?"

Corvin snickered and put a hand to his lips. "The sound of my own voice is second to my love for you, my dear."

"You certainly have a messed up way of showing this supposed love for me." You scoffed.

"That's because I like to show my affection through my own ways," he responded.

"Like making someone go through a death trap of a house?"

"Only if they suggest it."

"Charming."

"Don't act as if you didn't know that this wasn't what most likely going to happen," he said and adjusted his coat.

"All the more reason for you to not do that," you growled.

"Is this a sign of defeat, my dear?" Corvin put his hands behind his back with a smirk and a predatory amusement light dancing in his eyes.

"Fuck no!" You hissed and pushed him away from you.

He let out a hard laugh, a tear started to drip down from the corner of his eye. He wiped it away and pulled out a pocket mirror, making sure that his kohl wasn't smudged before tucking it back into his coat.

"I hope that you still have that fire when we are married and the many, many years after that." He said with a raspy sigh. "That's easily my favorite thing about you and it would be a tragedy if it was extinguished."

"You're insufferable," you shook your head.

"Delightfully insufferable?" He smirked.

"No. Just insufferable." You spat and trudged your way towards the lobby.

---

You looked down at the pewter key shining in your hands with your lips pulled into a slight frown. The cool metal was staring to warm up in the palm of your hand. You wrapped your fingers around it and looked at the front doors.

"This better be it," you sighed and pushed the key into the front door lock. The key didn't even fit through the hole, instead it clinked against the plate uselessly.

"Dead end," you laughed bitterly and shook your head. "It was another waste of time. Of course it was."

Mirthless, you plopped down on a couch and closed your eyes. Your head was pounding with stress and exhaustion. How many more dead ends am I going to have to hit before I can finally get that stupid front door key and leave?

With impeccable timing, you heard Corvin's slow, evenly-paced footsteps clacking against the marble floor behind you.

"I told you that you didn't have it," he remarked. "Although, I didn't think you'd actually find that."

"What?" You looked at the fairy with your eyebrows furrowed into confusion.

"That's the garden key in your hands," he said and sat down next to you with his hands folded in his lap.

"Why does the garden need a key?" You asked.

"Why wouldn't it?" He retorted. "But in all seriousness, the garden is located at the back of the building. The quickest way there is through the music room by putting the key into one of the windows. Or if you're feeling bold, you can hop through a painting of it back in the art gallery."

"You're kidding, right?" You groaned.

"No I am not." He responded.

"Great..." you mumbled.

"I'll wait for you there, so please don't take too long." He gave you a wink and blew you a kiss before leaving.

You rubbed your forehead, your lips pursed together in a deep frown. You tapped your fingers against your temple, cursing Corvin and the fair-folk in general.

He's seriously making me backtrack... this really is all a game to him. You slumped further, your fingers nearly dragging against the floor. Why would he tell you about the garden? Was it where the key was, or was it another one of his traps? What would he do if you didn't come?

The countless possibilities made your already throbbing head hurt even more. Frustration bubbled in your stomach and you let out a loud groan. After a few minutes of contemplation, you decided to head over to the garden. On your way, you made a quick detour to the dining room to retrieve another knife and a fire poker as a weapon.

You gave the fire poker a few quick practice swings to get a feel for it. You nodded your head and put it in your satchel, with the knife tucked into your back pocket as a backup before making your way to the music room.

Hopefully this would be the last time you would ever have to do this.

[annoyinglandmagazine]

‘My lord Maedhros?’ Satariel poked her head into the office hesitantly and he looked up from the letter he’d been attempting to pen with varying success. ‘Yes? Is there a problem?’ She paused for a moment before deciding any offer to transcribe for him would not be well received. ‘You’re brother’s have ….. requested your presence,’ she trailed off, not entirely sure how to approach the sheer lack of diplomacy the sons of Feanor seemed to have when it came to summoning the head of their house as if he ought to be waiting on them. The Lord of Himring simply raised an eyebrow and spoke ‘They called an emergency family meeting didn’t they?’ ‘Yes but surely there couldn’t be anything that’s come up between now and the assembly we had this morning? They made it very clear that they didn’t want any of the generals to attend so I don’t see how it could be an urgent military matter…’ the whole encounter had been very unusual if she was honest. ‘Oh, it probably isn’t,’ he sighed calmly while pulling himself up from his desk.

This answered precisely none of her questions about the seeming threat to the chain of command and raised a lot of new ones about why Lord Maedhros would prioritise something that was apparently unimportant with his valuable time. ‘Whose room are they in?’ ‘Uhh, the Lord Curufin’s I believe, my lord.’

He grabbed a few blankets from his bed for some inexplicable reason. Why would you need blankets for a meeting between the most high ranking lords of the House of Feanor? He turned back to her as he made for the door, ‘Thank you, Satariel. You may return to your duties.’ She was still deeply confused but went about her day as normal regardless. ******************

The sunlight bore down through the thin window panes in blinding streaks over the mountains. Himring had begun to wake hours ago, with people scurrying back and forth with their messages and paperwork through the winding corridors and staircases, drowning out the persistent roar of the wind with their hum of activity.

And their lord was nowhere to be seen. In fact none of them were. ‘Well we can’t have just lost him! There are guards for Eru’s sake!’ Erestor hissed under his breath, visibly beginning to panic but trying to hide it from possible onlookers. ‘We only have them all in one place once every year, we take precautions, they’re surrounded by all their most influential generals! We can’t have just lost a son of Feanor!’

Ohtarion, the general he’d been addressing replied in a low tone, ‘You don’t think I don’t know that! But the fact remains, I went to Lord Caranthir’s chambers for my report and he was not there! I can’t find him!’ He ran his hand over his face, ‘Lord Maedhros will have our heads!’ They paced back and forth in the cramped storeroom they’d ducked into before Erestor stopped.

‘We should split up right? Discreetly of course. Search for him.’ Ohtarion nodded enthusiastically, ‘Yes, good. Let’s do that. You check the upper floors, I’ll check the grounds? Great.’ This was the chain of events that led to Erestor approaching Lord Curufin’s chambers. The guards had all seemed to be a little uneasy and scattered around the place, whispering fervently and then pulling apart whenever someone passed.

The elves from Lord Curufin’s personal guard put their weapons down when they recognised him as in the service of one of the sons. They still held him up however, after all precious few were free to enter such a senior royal’s private chambers, certainly not someone affiliated with what could potentially be a rival. He told them he was searching for his lord, and if it was possible he could be in conference with lord Curufin.

They looked at each other and informed him that they were not sure, they had only started their shift recently, but they came to the conclusion that he could possibly get away with checking without causing too much of a diplomatic incident. After all it was better to know if they needed to send out search parties, none of their lords would forgive them if they let any regard for formalities interfere with their ability to ensure the safety of one of their charges.

So, cautiously Erestor edged open the door and closed it behind him, very much aware that this had the potential to be a politically disastrous action. He couldn’t see anyone at the conference table and hesitated before moving deeper in. He was rooted to the spot when he realised that he was in the sleeping area, not somewhere he ever would have normally had the clearance to be in.

He was just about to exit, informing them that it didn’t seem like there was anyone in here, when his eyes fell on the bed. He saw the streaks of flame red across the pillows on the headrest, intermingled with threads of black. There was silver splayed across the foot of the bed, seemingly obscuring the face of the former lord of Himlad, from where he was laying spread across the bed with his head resting on his brother’s legs. Which brother Erestor couldn’t determine.

Then he noticed his own lord, Caranthir the Dark. His messily braided head was resting on the Lord of Himring’s chest, and he seemed to be honest to goodness, nuzzling into it with a little smile. Maedhros meanwhile was holding Maglor and Caranthir to his side protectively and was seemingly stroking Curufin’s hair in his sleep. He sucked in a breath as he processed that he was looking at five sons of Feanor squashed onto the same bed. And they were just cuddling. Cuddling. They didn’t even have knives.

He snuck out in a daze and stumbled back down he staircase. In all his years working for the Feanorians this was the most disturbing thing he’d ever witnessed.

[whoppert]

Sunna 7 (stephen strange/reader) (loki/reader)

◂ previous chapter first chapter ▴

3969 words

warnings: the after effect of mind violation

AO3 Master Fic List

Despite the gaping hole in my memory, I'm confident that I've never felt like this much of a burden before. A few days ago I wouldn’t have batted an eyelid at the staircase, but now? Now it’s an impossible mountain to climb.

Most of the world is contained to my room now. 

Wong had mentioned struggling to cleanse the space of mystical markers that had been left behind, but I couldn’t even tell. The power that flowed through me, albeit slight compared to Stephen’s or Wong’s or even this goddamn house? It’s gone. The purple energy that used to flicker around my fingers, forming shapes almost of its own will was gone. I'd tried to call it, but I almost threw up. My body is at odds with my spirit right now and I hate it.

AO3

Stephen brandishes the worm, dropping it into the palm of my hand.

“What the fuck is that?” I ask, trying to ignore the pool of slime it extruded.

“Excuse you, ” said the worm.

The flick of my hand was involuntary, and I fling the worm onto the rug.

Stephen, who had been trying to tell me to be careful, squats down and plucks the worm out of the carpet fibers. “This is the frontier in magical psychology. Its name is Gorron.”

“It’s a worm.”

“It’s a grub, thank you very much, you ungrateful mammal,” the worm had an accent that I couldn’t identify. “You’re lucky I’ve already been paid or I’d march right outta here! Worm? What am I, a nematode?”

Stephen sighs and shoots me an apologetic look. "I know it's strange, but it's actually very good at it's job."

"I'm really sorry, I don't usually do bugs. I'm sorry if I offended you and for... throwing you," I wince. “So… do I just lay back and tell Gorron my problems? Care to summon me a chez lounge?”

“It is much more simple than that. Look, I recognize that this is going to sound really gross, but-”

“Stick ‘im in ya ear, baby, lemme have a look at that mind!” Gorron interrupts.

So stark was the silence after that statement, that I almost decided that I might have a limit when it came to finding a cure. I look from Gorron to Stephen, who nods in confirmation and then back at Gorron whose little mouth had fallen open and was licking his lips. If grubs have lips. “Absolutely not.”

“Look doll, I’ve got a job to do, so open your ears and shut ya mouth, capeesh?”

Stephen snaps his hand shut, muffling the grub’s yells of displeasure. “I’m sorry about him, he doesn’t get out much," he continues, obviously with the intention of Gorron overhearing, "and he hasn't updated the way he speaks to women since the 1950s ap-pa-rent-ly."

I talk over Gorron's slew of deadened swear words. "You're joking, right?" I hear how desperate I sound, but- "In my head? This is a joke? To lift my mood?"

Stephen is right in front of me. Really there is a-step-and-a-half between us. “He’s crass, but if anyone can figure out the next steps, it’s Gor-”

My stomach bottoms out in my gut, a wave of panic hitting me with such force that I literally stagger. “I’m not-”

His free hand steadies me. Stephen says nothing, taking his bottom lip between his teeth, his gaze flitting back and forward between my eyes. I don't understand, what his expression is conveying, concern, and sympathy and pain all together perhaps.

“I can’t,” I want to sound strong, but my voice betrays me, cracking. “I’m sick of this, I’m sick of having shit shoved into my head. I’m sick of it, I’m sick of it. Please.” My breath comes fast and sharp.

“I know,” Stephen eases into the space between us, his empty hand still grasping my upper arm gently, the warmth seeming to loosen the knots in my body. “I know you’re scared. You have every right to be. Does it change anything if I assured you that Gorron can’t hurt you? He can only see what’s going on in there, he can’t change anything.”

My bottom lip wobbles, and Stephen’s gaze shifts to look at it, before snapping up to look me in the eye.

"Would it change anything," Stephen's voice soft, "if I told you that Gorron's basically my shrink?"

"Huh?"

"Do you remember after I found you and we were sitting in my office? And I told you I've been... having trouble sleeping, and you joked about therapy?" He pauses for confirmation. "Well, Gorron's my therapist. Wong makes me see him."

Excluding fighting lessons, Stephen and I are never this close, but lately I appreciate his sparing touch. There is something inviting about him when he isn’t trying to hit me, something comforting. I guess this is his job. I've seen him behave similarly for the people that seek out his help. “Does it hurt?”

A smile tugs at the corners of his lips, “not at all, it can be a little uncomfortable, but it doesn’t hurt, no. After your injury you might be a little sensitive though.” Glancing around the room, Stephen adds, “I’m right here, you know. Right by your side, I won’t leave you. You are always safe with me.”

His gray eyes hold no hint of a lie.

I nod. “This is coercion though.”

“I know.”

“And if it goes wrong, I’m holding you accountable.”

“I wouldn’t expect anything less.”

Stephen opens his hand. Gorron, who had spent the last few moments remarkably silent, opens his eyes in mock surprise. “Glad to see you haven’t forgotten about me! I have a waiting list ya know, I could be getting ignored by far more important people than the pair of you!”

Stephen grasps the grub by its tail.

“Do you trust me?”

“I guess. Yes. I do.”

His gloved hand lightly grasps my cheek, tilting my head, my right ear skyward, before dropping Gorron right into the shell of my ear. Gorron's rolling and wriggling sent a shiver through me. There was a little resistance, culminating in a wet plop, and then he was inside. There’s a grub in my brain, there’s a grub in my brain, there’s a grub in my- I shudder. I feel bad about thinking it's gross, Gorron's a sentient being after all, but I don't do bugs.

Stephen tilts my head back to my midline and then removes his hand from my cheek. I feel its absence keenly.

“Wow, Strange, ya weren’t wrong, something’s destroyed it in here,” Gorron’s voice is too loud and it vibrates in my skull.

I swear, instinctually jerking 'away' from the sound and I feel Gorron brush up against something, strings that bring the spots back to my vision. I grasp Stephen’s hands.

“Wow, talk about a household in denial,” Gorron mutters, quiet enough that I wasn’t sure Stephen could hear, but I was too dizzy to ask what he meant. “And your powers have gone too. That’s a knock to the balls for sure.”

“Can you give us any insight?” Stephen asked.

“Yes, but you’re not gonna like it.”

“Out with it.”

“Firstly - lass, gotta commend ya on having the cleanest brain ever. Not a single mind mite to be found. I have literally never seen that before. Secondly - whatever Loki did, it broke that enchantment that you were under.”

“That enchantment ?” Stephen and I say in unified confusion. There is a yellow and green blob floating between us and it makes the sorcerer look like he's got a bad case of jaundice.

“You heard me. I’d ask if you knew who put you under their spell, but I can see you don’t remember at all. Hey, have you considered renting this space? I know a few parasites that could use a place to live.”

“Gorron.” It was Stephen's last warning.

“Non-lethal of course.”

“Wind it back up a sec,” I demand, “what do you mean Loki broke the enchantment? What enchantment?”

I can feel Gorron squeeze it's body through some tight spot and the spots in my vision cleared.

“Has she always been this slow?”

“Mind your manners, Gorron. I know some bugs that lay their eggs in live prey,” Stephen threatened.

“Jeez, it was only a joke, man. Learn to take a joke. Hmm…” inside my brain, Gorron trailed off. “Your oldest memory is meeting Strange… because that was the day the enchantment was created. It’s got a magical signature that I don’t recognize, but boy did they hide it well.” 

“And my memories, my life before that?”

“My best guess is that whoever put this enchantment in place didn’t account for Loki going for a trip through ya head, and it broke the enchantment differently to the way it was supposed to be broken, it severed your mind. Separated the before-the-enchantment from the after-the-enchantment. Your memories from before then might still be here, but as a result of the spell or the unorthodox way in which it was broken, yeah, I wouldn’t know how to find them. The block on it can only be reversed by the creator. I’d say your best shot would be to find them.”

“Wait, so our best chance of finding out who put the block in place is to find out who put the block in place?”

Gorron sighs like I'm wasting its time, “yes. That’s what I said. Look, if there’s no mites in here, you’re gonna have to tip me, Strange, I didn’t come all the way out here for nothing.”

“For nothing. My whole brain has imploded and it’s nothing to you,” I whisper, my cheeks tight from my uncomfortable smile, before falling into a stunned silence. Everything feel so far away.

“Gorron, what can we do to figure this out?” Asks Stephen.

There's a whoosh, and I feel the grub slide out of my ear, the opposite ear to the one it had entered. “Seems to me, your next step would be finding someone who knows memory magic like the back of their hand and get them to have a look. See if they can recognize the signature. Maybe even see if they can locate where her memories have been hidden in there. Once you know that, I’d go and ask-” Gorron almost fell, but Stephen catches it, “thanks doc. Anyway, figure out who put the enchantment in place and get them to remove it. Easy as pie.”

Without missing a beat, Stephen crushes Gorron in his hand. The sound had a surprising crunch, like the grub had more bones than expected. I gape at the sorcerer.

“Sorry,” he opens his hand to reveal that it is empty empty, no fluids or bug guts in sight, “I was getting really sick of him, and the only way to send him home is to 'kill' him. He’s fine, I’ll see him later about his tip. How are you? That’s a lot to process.”

“If I wasn’t so overwhelmed, I’d probably be angry. Yeah. Probably angry.” I look down to find that Stephen is still holding one of my hands. I recount what we have learned, “so there’s a block on my memories, created the day I met you, probably not by you, because then Gorron would’ve recognized the signature? Correct?”

Stephen nod.

“And the only way to find out who it is that cursed me, is to let someone else have a look? I'm assuming it's a very similar type of magic to what Loki did to me.”

He nods again.

“Even though the last time someone did that it gave me the magical equivalent of a severe concussion?”

One final nod.

My heart pounds. “That voice- from my dream told me what a disappointment I was. I don’t even know who I’m letting down. And my powers are gone, and yeah they weren’t big and dramatic but they were mine. They belong to me, it’s like I’ve had a limb sawn off and I can’t even walk up the fucking stairs without my body giving up on me so I’m just trapped in this room. Is this my life now? Someone just put a spell on me one day and for what? I’m not important, I’m not powerful. Whoever did it must have had a reason but I have no idea who- or what? Except it’s got something to do with you? It must do, or maybe it’s just a coincidence that we met that day, I don’t know.” I'm spiralling.

Stephen doesn't say anything, just squeezes my hand tighter and like a toddler having a tantrum, I try to wrench it from his grasp, but he has a stronger grip than I’d anticipated. I poke a finger into his chest, but he doesn’t flinch.

“And you! You have the nerve to stand there, all sympathetic and concerned, ‘cause I’m just another pathetic-”

“You’re not pathetic-”

“Maybe I’m not, but who’s to say because I don’t know who I am! I couldn’t tell you my favorite food! I don’t know who I am and I feel so stupid. I’m barely a person.” Tears well up in my eyes and I hate them. I try to brush them away, but Stephen still wouldn’t relinquish the hand he held. He was swimming in my vision, and I was glad because then I didn’t have to look him in the eye as he beheld my tears. I’d never cried in front of him before. 

It was the second time he had ever embraced me. The first time even through the wave of nausea and the bright lights, I could feel his relief that I was safe, but this time? Stephen pulls me in, his arms wrapping around me, no relief, only release as I bury my eyes in his shirt and sob. He doesn’t say a thing. Doesn’t move, just holds me, one arm around the small of my back rubs small circles and the other grasps my shoulder firmly. I can feel the ridges and stitching of his glove through the fabric of my shirt.

After a while, I couldn’t tell you how long, I manage to stop crying, taking deep breaths to get myself together. He smells like earl grey tea and lemons.

“You are a person,” said Stephen, finally breaking the silence. His low voice rumbles through his chest. “Look, I’m not the most open person in the world, but,” he takes a deep breath, “I… care about you. You're not stupid and you are certainly not pathetic. I promise we will get to the bottom of this, but until you get everything you’ve lost back, you’re still a person. You're no burden to me.”

My arms are around his neck, our bodies pressed together. “I’m scared.”

"I know."

"I'm scared I'm going to be like this forever."

“I know,” his lips skim my temple, and goosebumps raise down my limbs. “I felt the same way when my hands were crushed. But we have no evidence to suggest you won't make a full recovery. And worse case scenario, we’re going to figure this out. Do you believe me?” His breath is warm on my skin.

"I believe you.

The air is charged, the question is charged, and Stephen holding me is the only thing keeping me together. I get the distinct impression that I should feel embarrassed, humiliated for sobbing in front of Stephen, as though a proper lady might have done it more demurely. I don't though. I like it. I like how caring and attentive he has been since I was injured.

"What do you need? What can I do for you?"

I glance around my room. It seems especially small with another person in it. The green wallpaper is still bright and the iron bed below it is a mess. The room itself is mercifully, not too messy. The curtains are mostly drawn now, blocking out the harsh light of the sun, and leaving only a thick stripe that cuts the room into unequal halves. The room itself is cozy, but after all the time spent in it the last few days, and what had happened there, it's suffocating me. 

"Take me somewhere else. I need to get out of this house."

Stephen clears his throat, and created a portal. Through the golden circle is the stark night. The chill from the cold air radiates through, prickling my skin. We manage to detangle.

The wind is mild and the sky clear. I have no memory of the world so dark. Back in the city the night is never dark, polluted with bright lights and fluorescence and color. But here, the sky is a sheet of black, with hundreds, no, hundreds of thousands of stars of every hue. The world is so quiet and there are no tell tale signs of humanity around. All this space and only the two of us.

"Where…?"

"New Zealand." His robes had shifted into casual wear. That grey sweater again. Stephen stores his hands in his pockets. "Aptly named by the European settlers as the South Island, due to the fact that it is the Southern Island."

"They sound creative." When the portal went, so did all of the light and my eyes tale a moment to adjust. "It's beautiful."

"It is. And it will only get better."

I look at him surprised, eyebrows raised though he probably can't see it in the darkness. The tracks my tears have left behind feel particularly cold in the icy air.

“From a scientific point of view, auroras are the result of charged solar wind particles caught in Earth’s magnetic field. These particles ionize oxygen and nitrogen molecules in the upper atmosphere, a chemical reaction creating light. The indigenous people of this land saw auroras as the campfires of their ancestors.”

“Are they? The campfires of their ancestors?”

Stephen stands at my side, and passes me the sweatshirt that had been hanging on the end of my bed. “Yeah, they are. And if I’ve timed correctly, they should be just about to…” He trails off.

Nothing happens. There is only blackness around us.

Stephen chuckles, “that would’ve been really impressive. This area has been having an increase rate of solar storms-”

The dull cloud twists into a ribbon of white which begin to curl across the sky. Then it's yellow. Red, green, blue - a nebulous glowing arc ornamenting the sky and I look on in awe. The lights of New York had been overstimulating, but this is- "beautiful."

“Yes.”

The dam inside me breaks and energy floods me. Even being out in the fresh air had invigorated my soul a little and I take off marching towards the slab of rock on the edge of the cliff. I dig my fingers into the top and hauling myself up.

"Jesus Christ, be careful!" Stephen's at my side in half-a-second, clamoring up to stand at my side.

"You're worse than Wong," I complain.

"At least sit ," Stephen's hands find my shoulders and gently push.

I groan but comply, letting my legs dangle off of the edge. He joins me. I could see our breath in the air, and pull my sweatshirt tighter around my shoulders.

"What made you want to be a doctor?" I ask finally, breaking the prolonged silence.

"Do you want the PR answer or the truth?"

"Either."

"Well," Stephen runs his fingers through his hair and I wonder what it feels like, "what I used to tell people was that I wanted to help. We are the world type of bull," he laughs and it cuts through the cold, warming my chest. "But the truth is that I wanted to be the best at something with a lot of status."

Stephen digs through his pocket and pull out a chocolate bar. He hands it to me and I snap it in half, letting him choose which piece he prefered.

"Well, I've been thinking about why I must have chosen anthropology to dedicate myself to. I have three possible answers."

"And they are?"

I chew my chocolate thoroughly. "One, knowing how big of a motivator spite is for me, someone probably told me I couldn't do it."

Stephen laughs again, "sounds about right."

"Two, it's just so damn interesting! I was reading through my doctorate thesis and I seemed really passionate about how teeth could tell you so much about someone's social status.” Cupping my hands I blow warm air into them. My knuckles are bright red. "Three, and probably the most boring of all the answers, maybe it was related to my powers. I didn't really ever figure out the origin, maybe I thought it would be linked to something else, something bigger."

"Well, it's looking more and more like you are a part of something bigger."

"Now that I know what 'bigger' entails, maybe I should have wished for a more simple life." I finish my half of the bar and suck the last of the melted chocolate off of my fingers. The aurora crackles around us like radio static. “The way the light flows… It reminds me of the incense that Wong burns. You know the stuff, lotus and patchouli.”

I look at Stephen, his face bathed in colored light. “I know exactly the one. Gives me headaches, but he still insists on it.”

“That’s because it gets you out of his hair once in a while.”

“I suppose, yeah. It does.” Then he adds, "metaphorical hair."

It's nice to laugh with him. “Why did you choose-? I mean, I said I needed to get out of the house, why was New Zealand the first place you thought of?” I shiver, my sweatshirt is not holding up against the winter breeze, I twist my hands in my lap trying to increase the friction.

“Ah, I don’t know,” his eyes levelled against my gaze, the grey taking on the colors passing overhead. It's mesmerizing. “Just popped into my head, I guess.” His voice gets quieter and quieter and I have to lean in to hear him.

There's a magnetic pull between us. Something strong have sucked us into its current, it wasn’t just this moment, it's everything, it's the universe deciding our fate and pushing us together. Everything since we had met had just felt so right, like we were made for each other.

“Aren’t you cold?” I whisper. “I’m freezing.”

For the moment he looks so relaxed. He's only inches away from me now, and his hand covers mine, his warmth permeating through the yellow leather, and I look from his eyes to his mouth, pink lips from the cold slightly parted and bordered with his dark beard. “Stephen?” I couldn’t get my voice to work properly, my breathing had gotten shallow, heart clanging in my chest.

My eyes flutter shut, as he comes close enough that his nose brushes against my cheek, and he murmurs something I can’t make out, cut off when I press my mouth to his.

Stephen tasted like the chocolate we had shared and for a moment everything in this dark world, with its vibrant skies slowed, until he kisses me back, energy flowing through us at the places where we connected, his hand gripping the back of my neck to deepen the kiss, his tongue running over my bottom lip.

He's gone.

I've lost my breath.

Twisting around, I find Stephen standing behind me. “I’m sorry if I gave you the wrong impression, I was just- trying-”

Heat floods my cheeks and for once I'm at a loss for words.

A portal opens to my room and I flinch at the sudden piercing light.

“I should go,” Stephen hurries into my room, disappearing into the hall.

In his haste, he left the door wide open.

◂ previous chapter next chapter▸

AO3 Master Fic List

[scarletsaphire]

Maddie has a quiet moment to herself, but then hears a sound coming from somewhere within Fentonworks.

---

For Ectoberhaunt day 13: Horror Flick

The downstairs of Fentonworks was uncharacteristically quiet. Jack had taken the GAV to the dump, looking to find some usable parts for their newest invention. Jazz was volunteering at the library. Danny was... well, Maddie didn't know where exactly Danny was. It had become far more trouble to keep an eye on him than it was worth, and he always came home safe and sound. For the most part. That meant that Maddie had the house to herself for a little while.

Normally, she wouldn't care. She'd hole herself up in the lab, working on something. She would have been doing that now, if it wasn't for the part they were missing. She could try working on a different project, but that might end with her losing her mojo for this one. So she was taking Jazz's advice and taking a well deserved break, at least until Jack got back. 

They hadn't had a lot of food in the kitchen, unsurprisingly; none of them had ever been very talented in the kitchen. But Maddie had found some tea, and there had been some leftover lo mein shoved in the back corner of the fridge that was good enough. Certainly not the most orthodox of meals, but since when has Maddie ever been orthodox?

Maddie wasn't used to the quiet of everyday life. She was used to the sound of her husband's excited chatter, to the whirring, clanging sounds of machinery. Now, all she could hear was the occasional car passing by outside, the sound of her chewing, and the soft padding of...something. That was weird. Normally, Maddie was pretty good at recognizing what a sound was. It was important to be aware and vigilant as a ghost hunter. But this sound wasn't one she recognized, and it was coming from somewhere inside the house.

Maddie turned away from the window, scanning the living room. Nothing looked out of place. The couch hadn't been moved, the TV was still turned off,  the windows were shut tight. It could have been coming from upstairs, perhaps? She turned towards the stairs, and immediately froze.

On the ceiling near the staircase was a ghost, crawling on the ceiling exorcist style. His head was flipped backwards, staring down at Maddie with glazed eyes. His face was a mess, covered in scratches and bruises, and his tongue lulled out, flopping around. His white hair was matted together, splotches of blood and dirt clearly visible. 

Maddie nearly dropped her cup of tea, but was able to stable herself enough to set it down on the counter. She turned back to the specter with a scowl. "Daniel James Fenton, put your head back on right and get off the ceiling this instant."

Danny laughed, contorting his body inhumanly and putting his head back on straight before floating gently to the floor. "I got you good, though," he said, still laughing.

Maddie shook her head with a sigh. "Yes, you did. But what happened to your face? Who was it this time?" Maddie reached into the upper cupboard, grabbing the modified first aid kit they kept for Danny.

Danny sat at the kitchen table, propping his head up on his hand. "Johnny and Shadow. Got tied to their motorcycle and dragged behind them for a mile or so."

Maddie hummed, and started to clean out some of Danny's scrapes. He didn't even flinch at the antibacterial wipes. "And was this his fault, or was this your bad idea?"

Danny smiled sheepishly. "Can't it be both?" 

"What were you trying to do?" Maddie asked.

"We wanted to see if I could slow him down by acting like a kite. Or if it would make me fly faster. Turns out, I am not good enough at body modification to kite myself. Yet."

Maddie sighed. "Yet, meaning you're going to keep trying?" Danny just smiled at her in lieu of an answer. "You're just like your father. Now, space bandages?"

Danny nodded, and continued chatting as Maddie grabbed the bandages from the first aid kit. She liked this much more than quiet.