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xxkissesforchanniexx · 1 year ago

Text

𝐏𝐥𝐮𝐬 𝐎𝐧𝐞

Pairing: childhood bff!Chan x fem!reader (non-idol au) Word count: 3.4k Genre: Fluff 🥰💖, Smut 🔥❤️ (angst if you squint) Warning: Weddings... (lord help me), pro best friend chan, mentions of familial favoritism, semi rough sex? , soft dom!chan, sweet name calling(babygirl, princess), slightly jealous chan, comfort, lord someone teach me how to make better warnings, i think thats all? (someone needs to teach me to proof read.)

A/N: THANK YOU FOR 100 FOLLOWERS I LOVE YOU <3 I'm working on improving the formating of my works so >.> bare with me if some of the stuff doesnt translate over well on different devices, especially the text message part >.>

When you were young, you often got compared to your sister, your sister who loved pink and poodles and tutu skirts. She was younger than you by a year and yet, she always out did you, always was a step ahead, always beating you in everything. Yeah, you loved her, but the pain of comparison drove a wedge between you two.

You were 5 when you met Chan. He was very silly, always playing games and smiling, you happened to attend the same school and after he stood up for you against an older boy at the park you two were inseparable.

Chan, who sang for you. Chan, who shared his food with you. Chan, who taught you how to dance. Chan, who teased you for acting like a nerd. Chan, who was your best friend.

Chan was sitting on the couch in your apartment, watching a cringey romantic comedy with you when your phone rang. You gave it a glance and cringed, your grandmother's name appeared on the screen with a image of the woman with an almost plastic smile.

"You should probably answer." Chan said, "Would make it worse if you didn't."

You gave your best friend a side eye. "Nah really?"

He laughed lightly as you answered the phone.

"Hi, honey, you are joining us this year for the whole family get-together aren't you?" The old woman's voice came through the speaker to your ear.

"Of course Grandma-" You started.

"That's what you said last year, and you didn't come."

You made a face, the reason you hadn't gone was because you were sick. "Things happen Grandma."

"And the year before that?"

You pursed your lips, glancing at Chan. You weren't avoiding your family really you were just... avoiding the conflict that ensued when you were with your family. And by conflict you meant the constant onslaught of questions and disappointed looks you got whenever your family asked about anything you were doing with your life.

"And anyway, it's been so long since we've heard from you, we want to see how you've been, keep the family together, bring new people in along the way." Your grandma sounded so happy.

"What do you mean?" You were confused by the "bring new people".

"Oh dear. Did your sister not tell you?" Your grandma sighed, "She has a surprise for us this year."

You sighed. Your little sister always was one better than you, or two, or ten...

"Y/n?" Your grandma's voice brought you out of your daze and Chan leaned forward looking at your face.

"I'll be there this year grandma, I promise."

"Alright. Bye bye honey."

"Bye..." You said in a small voice hanging up.

Chan smiled slightly at you. "So?"

"Help."

His eyes widened slightly before darting around. "You know I really would if I could read minds but it's awfully sad I cant."

You rolled your eyes at the man. "My family dislikes everything I do."

"And?" Chan leaned back, raising a brow.

"They don't dislike you."

"What are you trying to do here?"

You clasped your hands and gave your best friend the most innocent pure pleading gaze. "Come with me, so they won't hate on me."

Chan made a face. "No-"

"I'll pay for the wifi in your apartment for the next two- four months." You grabbed your friend's big hands in yours, "Please!"

"Just because they don't hate me doesn't mean they won't hate on you." Chan said exasperated.

"BUT they'll find someone to compare to you so I won't have to be put down by this." You give him a pleading look.

"Y/n. I've done a lot of dum shit before this is my limit."

"Channie!" You begged. "Come on! I'll pay your netflix subscription too!"

Chan groaned. "Fine! You're making me feel guilty."

"AH! You're the best Chan." You smiled hugging you friend.

He rolled his eyes and patted your hair. "You're lucky netflix is expensive."

So there you were dinner, with your family, your grandmother quick to jump and compliment Chan and compare your father and uncles to him when they were his age. Everyone complimenting your sister and asking her what the big news was. Your dad looked about ready to leave when your younger sister stood. tapping her spoon against her glass gently.

You looked at her, she smiled at you, a smile you couldn't read.

"I have a big announcement to make." She looked at her boyfriend. "Well.. we have a big announcement to make."

"What is it dear?" Your mother asked.

"We're getting married!" Your little sister jumped and smiled. Everyone started clapping.

The initial excitement and congratulations ended, leaving a gently chattering at the table.

Cue your grandmother.

"Y/n dear, what about you?"

Silence.

Everyone looked at you.

Your sister sighed slightly. "Granny, you can't pester her. Give her time, she might get married before 40."

A soft laugh rippled over the table, you stared at your little sister. She smiled innocently, your fist clenched under the table. So what if she was younger and prettier and more successful. You made a move to excuse yourself but Chan grabbed your fist under the table, you relaxed your grip and his fingers slipped between yours and squeezed gently. Your heart skipped a beat and you looked up at your best friend, smiling.

Her Majesty the Queen 01:53 She was obviously out to get you.

Butt Hunter 01:53 I agree

🐶 01:54 Go to the wedding in white.

Baby Chick 01:54 💀

. Me 01:54 I'm NOT going to my sister's wedding in white!

Beanie boy 01:54 He's giving real solutions here.

Squirrel 01:55 Just don't go?

Bread. 01:55 All you do is avoid conflict.

Squirrel 01:55 NO I DONT

Noodle Spirit Survivor. 01:56 shut up. it's 2 in the fucking morning.

. Me 01:56 Sorry Chan, we'll shut up now.

Beanie boy 01:56 Erm actually it's 1:56 AM

🐶 01:56 It's called silent old man.

Bread. 01:56 LMFAO

Baby Chick 01:56 LOL

Butt Hunter 01:56 I don't think his phone box has a silent button.

Squirrel 01:57 😭

Her Majesty the Queen 01:57 💀

You put your phone down and picked up the invitation to your sister's wedding, 4 months... all you had was 4 months to get someone to go to the wedding with. You sighed, going to the app store and downloaded for the nth time, tinder. Cringing.

You had four months to at least meet some expectations, get a nice guy for maybe a month or two, ask him to be your plus one to your sister's wedding then what? You shrugged to yourself and shoved your phone under your pillow before going to sleep.

Chan realized he was screwed, he watched you get ready for another date.

"Honestly." You sighed sitting down to put on your makeup. "I might just go with a random guy. Or maybe I could take Hyunjin or Jisung."

He pursed his lips. Was he even an option for you? What made this guy from tinder so important you had to doll yourself up to go see him. Chan bit his lip, you were his best friend, he could fix the problem, he could be your plus one, he could ask. but he didn't. He was too scared to.

He remembered his conversation with Changbin and Minho a few days earlier. Maybe he was being too much of a pussy. He'd known you for ages, he knew how you liked your coffee and the music that calmed you down, he knew what part in silly romance movies made you cry, he knew when you were uncomfortable and when you were too angry to speak.

"If you keep beating around the bush with how you feel you might never get a chance."

Changbin's words rang in his ears and he bit his lip.

"Y/n what if-" He started.

The doorbell rang as you finished applying your lip stick. "Oh, I gotta go Channie." You stood and hugged him. "Wish me luck."

"Good luck." Chan gave you a small smile and the moment you were out the door he was cursing himself for not stopping you. "Damnit."

Chan wished he hadn't wished you luck. You and Seokmin, your date, apparently hit it off. For the next two and a half weeks Chan felt like a third wheel in his own friendship with you, if you weren't on the phone with Seokmin, you were texting him, and if you weren't texting him, you were talking about him.

It really came to a head when Hyunjin invited the entirety of the group chat to go out for karaoke and you were busy with Seokmin the day off.

It hand't really been his intention to show up at your place angry, just the thought of you not just ghosting him but the whole friend group. He knocked a few times. no response.

Chan knocked again. he still got no response. Sure the key in the dirt of the potted plant hanging under the sign of your apartment number was for emergencies only, but this was an emergency. (to him anyway.)

Chan opened the door and entered your apartment, expecting to hear lewd sounds or... what else was he really expecting. But as he approached your door his heart ached. It wasn't a sound he heard often from you but it was one he could recognize any day. Chan pushed the door open slowly. You sat on your bed, hugging a pillow, eyes red and puffy, tears streaking your face, you didn't notice him until he closed the door gently behind himself.

"Are you okay?" he asked quietly.

You quickly wiped your tears. "Of course, why wouldn't I be?"

Chan sighed. "Come here." He sat on the bed and opened his arms.

You leaned into him muttering, "Seokmin is a dumass."

"What happened?" Chan asked, rubbing your shoulder gently.

"He blocked me." You sniffed. "Out of the fucking blue."

Chan hummed softly. "His loss."

You looked up at your friend, "You're so dum."

"Nuh uh, I think I'm pretty smart princess." Chan smiled gently.

"I don't think so." You laughed softly.

He looked down at you. "'M smart enough to stay your friend."

You nod slightly, "I stayed attached to you at the hip is more like it."

"Didn't have a problem with it."

"Chan." You rubbed your friend's arm.

"Hm?"

"Go with me."

"Where?" he asked dumbly.

You sat up and flicked his forehead. "You know where."

"I don't get anything out of it." He rubbed his forehead.

"I'll uh..."

"Worry about it later." He huffed and stood, smoothing your hair. "Should we get (comfort food)?"

"I was wondering when you'd ask." You punched him softly and led the way out of your room.

The day of the wedding you were wearing a long pastel blue dress, and Chan a matching suit, it wasn't the first time you'd matched with your best friend, but this felt more special. Your grandmother and parents gave you side ways glances during the wedding procession, and once the reception had started so did your grandma's vulture like flocking.

"Y/N i really thought you would've come with someone other than Chan, maybe your sister was right you just need time." the old woman sighed.

You sucked in a breathe but Chan grabbed your hand under the table, his words making you freeze, "Is there a problem with me attending as her boyfriend?"

You turned to Chan and he squeezed your hand as if urging you to play along.

Your grandmother looked at you stunned. "What? Since when?"

"The dinner really opened my eyes, maybe guys don't approacher because I'm around, I do look like her boyfriend don't I?" He glanced at you, "Why not give it a shot?"

Your family must have heard your grandmother's cry because your mother and father came over a few moments later and you watched as Chan worked his charm, a mask on his face the entirety of the time.

Your sister looked between you and Chan, blinking quite a bit. As your parents congratulated you on not being single for the first time, you felt like you out did your sister, you looked at Chan, he smiled gently at you and your heart jumped.

After a lot of drinks and cake you decided it was time to head home.(Chan had to drag you out.)

The ride back to your apartment was quiet, you were too buzzed to speak and Chan was focused on driving.

Chan smiled softly, glancing at you. "Wasn't so bad was it?"

You took a moment before you spoke. "Did you mean what you said?"

Chan's brows furrowed, "About what?"

"Did you actually think of me like that after the dinner?" You looked at him.

Chan sucked a breath, squeezing the wheel. "Would you believe me if I said yes."

"I don't have a reason not to."

Chan pulled off the highway onto the smaller road that lead through the city and to your apartment.

"Well?" You asked.

Chan bit his lip and nodded. "I meant what I said."

You remained quiet until he pulled into your apartment complex. And even after he got you into your apartment. You stood there, looking at... Chan. Chan who knew you better than you knew yourself, Chan who always calmed you down, Chan who got angry for you, Chan who bought you food when you were sad and held you until you grew tired of it(you never did you never could), Chan your...

"You meant it?" You were completely sober now, picking up the conversation as if you hadn't been silent for the past half hour.

Chan nodded.

"Is that all there is to it?"

"No." he breathed, stepping closer to you.

"Tell me. What else?" You asked quietly.

"How do I even begin?" He laughed slightly. "I'm sorry-"

"Why are you apologizing?" You looked at him confused.

"For not telling you how I felt from the get go." he smiled, "If there's anything that makes me sleep at night it's you, if there's any place I feel safe it's with you. You make me more happy than I can describe with words alone, there isn't another person I'd be with in any life." He reached and caressed your cheek. "I wanted to fight myself when I let you go out with Seokmin. I want you, I need you, I..." He paused, scanning your face for a signal, any sign to keep going.

"You're going to shut up now when you're at the climax of your speech?" You laughed slightly.

He smiled and rolled his eyes, "I love you. I always have."

"You're really an idiot." You kissed him gently.

Chan blinked in shock. "I-"

You smiled, proud of yourself. "Now-"

Chan grabbed your face and pressed his lips to yours again, you stared for a moment before relaxing into the kiss wrapping your arms around his neck. His tongue fighting yours before he pushed into your mouth to taste you, biting your lip gently.

"Wanted to do that for so long." He breathed against your lips, pulling away slowly.

You grabbed his collar. "If you don't finish what you started I will."

Chan's eyes widened and a smirk grew on his face. He kissed you again and his hand moved to the back of your dress. "May I, princess?"

"You may." You giggled as he removed the dress and your made quick work of his buttons before he shrugged off the jacket and shirt, picking you up and carrying you to the bed.

You squeaked as he threw you onto the bed and got on top you. "Nervous?" he asked laughing lightly.

"No... Of course not." You said looking away.

He smiled and turned your head to face him kissing you passionately before he moved to suck a dark mark just next to your jaw. "So pretty, just for me."

You gasped softly and nodded. "Just for you Channie." Chan continued his assault on your neck before removing your bra and smiling at your chest, he kissed your lips gently. "This is my favorite part of you," He moved to kiss your chest, sucking a nipple into his mouth and biting gently, relishing in the cry that escaped your lips, "But this is second best."

You blushed, "Stop doing that?"

"Doing what?" Chan chuckled against your right breast, pinching the left.

"You-"

"Huh?" He kissed down your belly and bit hard beside your belly button.

"Ow-" You gasped and grabbed his hair.

"Gotta make sure they know you're taken if you wear a crop top." he murmured and moved lower kissing your thigh and pulling your legs apart. "This is mine hm? I think I waited for it long enough." He kissed your thigh before pulling your pantie off. He tossed it haphazardly over his shoulder. He took amount to admire you and you shifted slightly.

"Channie. You're staring." You muttered.

"That a problem princess?"

"Pervert." You rolled your eyes as Chan tugged you to the edge fo the bed.

He rubbed your clit with his thumb applying just enough pressure to make you moan, he smiled. "That feel good?"

You nodded, panting.

"Use your words." He said rubbing your clit a bit faster.

You moaned and tried to move away but his hand came to hold you down. "No, no."

You blushed, "Meanie."

He smirked kissing your belly before slipping a finger into you. You moan as your wall clenched around his digit, he moved it in and out slowly, thumb still working at your clit.

You gasped and bit your lip as he pushed another finger into you. He paused looking at you.

"What?" You tried to move for friction but he held you down.

"I want to hear you."

You blushed furiously, eyes wide.

Chan laughed lightly and started fingering you again, his middle and ring finger curling to find your g-spot.

You let out a loud cry and Chan smiled, he moved to kiss you, his tongue forcing its way into your mouth, he started grinding his palm into your clit as his fingers moved deeper. You moaned into the kiss and squealed, legs kicking slightly. Chan slid a third finger into you and you squirmed.

"It's too much!" You whined.

"I think you can take it." He said kissing your neck, "Just a little bit more, princess, wanna feel you cum on my hand."

You moaned louder as he pinched your nipple, sucking on the other one. You gasped as he started grinding his tented crotch against your thigh.

"Are you going to cum for me?" he cooed into your ear. "Cum for me, please, princess."

You moaned loudly as you came hard on Chan's hand.

He hummed and lifted his fingers to his mouth, licking them clean before leaning to kiss you. "You taste good babygirl." He stood to remove his pants letting them fall to the floor.

You moaned at the lewdness of the action as Chan moved between your legs, tapping his cock against your clit.

"I'm gonna make you feel good, make you mine." He said, his voice thick with lust.

You bit your lip and nodded. "Please. "

Chan smiled kissing you gently as he pushed into you.

A throaty moan erupted from your throat and Chan groaned. "Sound so pretty," He pulled out slowly and pushed in deeply, you cried out at the slight burn. "I'm sorry baby," He kissed your cheeks gently. "Can I move now?"

You nod and before you could ground yourself Chan was pistoning into you, fucking you as if he wouldn't get to again. You held onto him tightly, clawing at his broad shoulders. He moaned and squeezed your hips tightly. "You're so tight princess."

He moaned softly against your neck, kissing and biting, leaving marks that would surely become hickeys by morning, as he rutted into you over and over. You moaned louder, panting into the heated kisses he granted you. The bed creaked and slammed against the wall with the force of it all, the sound of sin slapping against skin filling your bedroom, you were positive the neighbors could hear but it wasn't like you had room to care.

Chan's hand slipped between your bodies and he began rubbing your clit. "C'mon baby. Cum for me again."

Your mouth fell open in a silent cry as he began thrusting into you harder, hitting your g-spot.

"Cum for me princess." He said through grit teeth.

Another thrust sent you toppling over the edge and you came hard, vision going white as you let out a broken cry. Chan followed quickly, his thick length throbbing inside you as you milked him for everything he had. He kept thrusting his gaze distant and glassy.

You whimpered and trembled as he overstimulated you slightly. After a few more thrusts he finally slowed down and relaxed on top of you.

"Let me take you out on a date..." He muttered against your shoulder.

"I'd like that." You said running your fingers through his curly hair.

What da cringe ending 😭 I really want to thank everyone for 100 followers LOVE YALL <3 requests will reopen soon, I'm still busy with school but I hoped you liked this it took really long to make.

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lvoryingrid · 1 year ago

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The Cabin In The Woods

Levi x fem!Reader

Synopsis: In the midst of a Titan battle, Levi Ackerman and (Y/n) seek shelter in a forest cabin. The rivalry between them turns into an unexpected intimacy as subtle touches escalate.

Warning: 🔞 minors do not read/interact : contains 18+ content, smut/erotica

The battlefield was a symphony of chaos, with the metallic scent of blood lingering in the air. Levi Ackerman, humanity's greatest hope, moved with unparalleled grace, his blades dancing through the tumult like a deadly waltz. Thunderous roars of Titans reverberated around him, accompanied by the desperate cries of soldiers caught in the merciless grip of the war.

Amidst the swirling dust and smoke, Levi's steel-blue gaze focused on (Y/n)’s face. Her movements were a ballet of survival, each strike a testament to her unyielding determination. As their eyes met in a fleeting moment, a silent understanding passed between them, a recognition of the shared struggle against a common enemy.

"(Y/n)! Watch your left flank!" Levi's voice cut through the cacophony, a sharp command born of necessity rather than animosity. She shot him a quick glance, a mixture of irritation and acknowledgment in her eyes. "I don't need you to babysit me, Captain!"

The Titans closed in, and Levi fought with a controlled fury, dispatching the colossal foes with calculated precision. Yet, in the back of his mind, a growing unease nagged at him. He couldn't shake the feeling that time was slipping away, that the stakes were higher than ever.

In the midst of the relentless battle, Levi and (Y/n) found themselves back to back, defending each other against the onslaught. The clash of steel against Titan flesh created a chaotic melody, punctuated by the occasional exchange of glances and shared determination.

Levi smirked, a hint of amusement tugging at the corner of his lips. "Just making sure you don't get yourself killed. Wouldn't want you to miss out on the chance to lose to me again."

Her response was a scoff, but there was a glimmer of a smirk hidden beneath the exterior. "You wish, Captain. I can handle myself just fine. I just don't want to waste my energy saving your sorry ass," she shot back, a glint of camaraderie in her eyes."

Levi raised an eyebrow, a hint of annoyance breaking through his stern expression. "Don't get too cocky. We've got a long way to go."

The battlefield gradually fell silent as Levi and (Y/n) found themselves veering away from the main force, their surroundings becoming a dense forest. The sun dipped below the horizon, casting an eerie glow over the landscape as ominous clouds gathered overhead. The first droplets of rain splattered against their uniforms, gradually evolving into a relentless downpour.

Levi cast a sideways glance at (Y/n), raindrops clinging to her disheveled (h/c) hair. "We need to find shelter before we get drenched. HQ can wait until tomorrow."

(Y/n) shot him a defiant look, raindrops clinging to her disheveled hair. "I don't need you to state the obvious, Captain. I'm not stupid."

Levi rolled his eyes, his annoyance evident. "Just follow my lead and try not to slow me down."

They trudged deeper into the forest, the tension between them palpable. The rain intensified, turning the path ahead into a muddy quagmire. The sound of raindrops pelting leaves and the distant rumble of thunder echoed through the trees, creating an atmosphere thick with unease.

Levi's sharp eyes scanned the surroundings, looking for any sign of shelter. "There should be a safehouse not too far from here. We can regroup and head to HQ in the morning."

As they ventured deeper, the tension between them gave way to an unspoken understanding. The rivalry that had defined their interactions now danced on the edge of something more—a raw and unexplored passion simmering beneath the surface.

Finally, through the dense trees, a dilapidated cabin emerged. The wood creaked and groaned under the rain, but it seemed like the only refuge they had. Levi pushed the door open, and they entered, their soaked uniforms clinging to their bodies.

The cabin's interior was dimly lit, shadows playing on the worn walls. Levi couldn't ignore the flicker of vulnerability in (Y/n)'s eyes, her guard momentarily down. "We'll stay here for the night. Tomorrow, we head to HQ."

(Y/n) nodded, the gravity of the situation sinking in. The air in the cabin crackled with tension as they realized the close quarters they'd be sharing. The rivalry that had fueled their interactions now seemed like a thin veil hiding a deeper connection.

As the storm outside intensified, the two found themselves huddled in the cabin, the air thick with unspoken words. The flickering lantern cast shadows on Levi's face, accentuating the lines of fatigue and determination.

"I never thought I'd find myself stuck in a creepy cabin with you," (Y/n) teased, a small smile playing on her lips.

Levi's stoic exterior cracked just a bit, a subtle smirk appearing. "Consider it a special fucking treat."

Levi's keen eyes scanned the dimly lit cabin, searching for any available resources. Spotting a stack of old planks in the corner, he gathered them and set to work on starting a fire. The flickering flames cast a warm glow across the worn interior, revealing the exhaustion etched on both their faces.

As the fire began to crackle, Levi glanced over at (Y/n), who stood shivering in the corner, her wet clothes clinging to her like a second skin. With a barely audible sigh, he got up, his movements purposeful. "Stay put."

(Y/n) shot him a skeptical look but complied, watching as Levi disappeared into the shadows of the cabin. He returned moments later, holding a dusty, moth-eaten blanket. Without a word, he tossed it towards her.

"Here, wrap yourself in this. Your clothes are soaked, remove them" Levi instructed, his tone gruff but carrying an underlying concern.

(Y/n) caught the blanket, eyeing him warily. "You're not planning to play the hero, are you?"

Levi raised an eyebrow, his expression unchanging. "Don't get any ideas. I'm not doing this for you; it's for my own peace of mind. I don't need you catching a cold and slowing us down tomorrow."

She rolled her eyes, attempting to brush off the subtle act of kindness. "Well, aren't you just a gentleman in shining armor."

Levi scowled, irritation flickering across his features. "Quit the sarcasm and do as I say. It's practical, not chivalry."

Levi's gaze flickered away as (Y/n) began to peel off her wet clothes, the fire's dim light casting an ethereal glow on her silhouette. She could feel the weight of his discomfort, a strange mixture of vulnerability and an unfamiliar tension in the air.

"(Y/n), don't make this more awkward than it needs to be. Just get dry," Levi muttered, his eyes fixed on the fire in a futile attempt to avoid the scene unfolding before him.

(Y/n) shot him a wry grin, her usual defiance cutting through the air. "Oh, Captain, can't handle a little skin? I thought you were supposed to be a tough guy."

Levi scowled, irritation evident. "This isn't the time for your sarcasm. Just get yourself warmed up and get some rest. We have a long day ahead."

As she covered herself with the blanket, the glow of the fire outlined the curves and scars on her body. Levi couldn't help but steal a glance, the flicker of the flames highlighting the strength and resilience etched into every mark. For a moment, the intensity of their rivalry faded, and Levi found himself oddly captivated by the vulnerability in front of him.

(Y/n) caught the fleeting look in his eyes, a playful smirk dancing on her lips. "Captain, I never thought I'd see the day when the great Levi, would be caught ogling."

Levi's cheeks tinged with a hint of red, a rare occurrence for the stoic soldier. "I'm not ogling. Just making sure you're not going to collapse from exhaustion."

She chuckled, the sound echoing in the quiet cabin. "Sure, Captain. Whatever helps you sleep at night."

The rain continued its relentless assault on the cabin's roof, creating a soothing backdrop to the awkward tension that hung in the air. As (Y/n) settled under the blanket, she couldn't resist the opportunity to further tease Levi, who was doing his best to avoid eye contact.

"Captain," she called out with a mischievous glint in her eyes, "aren't you feeling a bit chilly yourself? You look like you've taken a swim in the river."

Levi shot her an annoyed glare, his irritation evident. "I'm fine. This isn't a cozy campfire, and I'm not here for your entertainment."

(Y/n) chuckled, undeterred by his gruff demeanor. "Oh, come on, Captain. We wouldn't want you catching a cold now, would we? That'd be a tragedy."

Levi clenched his jaw, his annoyance reaching new heights. "I don't need your concern, and I certainly don't need your commentary. Just get some rest."

But (Y/n), never one to back down from a little banter, decided to up the ante. With a sly smile, she shifted under the blanket, feigning a shiver. "You sure about that, Captain? Your teeth seem to be doing a little dance there. Maybe we should huddle together for warmth."

Levi's eyes narrowed, a barely audible growl escaping his throat. "I said, I'm fine."

Undeterred, she continued to playfully prod him. "You know, it's scientifically proven that body heat is the best way to stay warm. Just saying."

Levi shot her a withering look, his annoyance now accompanied by a faint blush. "I don't need your suggestions, and I certainly don't need to 'scientifically prove' anything with you."

(Y/n) couldn't help but laugh at his expense. "Relax, Captain. I'm just messing with you. No need to get all hot and bothered."

Levi rolled his eyes, his frustration evident. "I'm not bothered. Just get some rest before I decide to leave you out in the rain."

She grinned, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Well, Captain, if you change your mind and decide you need some warmth, I'll be right here."

The rain outside showed no signs of letting up, and despite Levi's attempts to brush off the chill, his trembling form betrayed the cold that had settled into his bones. (Y/n), under the worn-out blanket, couldn't help but notice the subtle shivers that ran through him.

"You're freezing, Captain," she remarked with a raised eyebrow, her teasing tone giving way to genuine concern.

Levi shot her a glare, his pride evident. "I've faced worse than a bit of rain."

(Y/n) sighed, a hint of exasperation in her voice. "You can drop the tough act, Levi. We're not in the middle of a battlefield now. We're just two people trying to stay warm."

Levi scowled but didn't offer any further protest. The truth was, the relentless rain had taken its toll, and his ego was the only thing keeping him from admitting it. With a begrudging acknowledgment, he finally mumbled, "Fine, but don't get any ideas."

(Y/n) chuckled, shifting to make room for him under the blanket. "No promises, Captain. Just trying to survive the night."

Levi shot her a warning look before begrudgingly starting to remove his wet clothes. The fire's dim light flickered over his scars and the defined muscles that spoke of years of battles. As he shuffled into the blanket, (Y/n) couldn't help but smirk at the irony of their situation.

"See? That's not so bad, is it?" she teased, her eyes gleaming with amusement.

Levi grunted in response, avoiding eye contact. "This doesn't change anything. I'm only doing this to shut you up."

The fire's dying embers cast a soft glow across the cabin, and with every flicker, Levi and (Y/n) found themselves drawn closer under the blanket. The initial distance that had defined their makeshift alliance began to close, replaced by a palpable tension that hung in the air like the storm outside.

Levi, still maintaining a semblance of stoicism, shifted slightly, unintentionally brushing against (Y/n). The brief contact sent a shiver down both their spines, an electric charge that neither could ignore. The subtle touches, once accidental, now held a weight of unspoken possibilities.

"(Y/n), watch where you're putting your damn elbows," Levi grumbled, his attempt to mask the underlying tension evident in the gruffness of his voice.

She shot him a sidelong glance, a playful glint in her eyes. "Captain, I can't control where my elbows go. Maybe you're just too close."

Levi scowled but didn't pull away, the proximity between them amplifying the uncharted territory they found themselves navigating. The cabin, once just a refuge from the storm, became a space where the lines between rivalry and something more blurred.

As the rain outside dwindled to a gentle patter, the quiet cabin seemed to amplify the sound of their breaths. The air became charged with a quiet anticipation, the weight of unspoken words hanging between them.

(Y/n) couldn't resist the temptation, her hand subtly finding its way to Levi's arm. The touch, feather-light and seemingly innocent, sent a shockwave through both of them. Levi's gaze flickered towards her, a silent acknowledgment of the shift in dynamics.

Levi cleared his throat, attempting to break the tension. "Keep your damn hands to yourself."

(Y/n) smirked, her fingers tracing absentminded patterns on his arm. "I'm just trying to stay warm."

Levi, irritated by the unexpected turn of events and the unsettling tension in the air, decided to retaliate in his own way. With a calculated smirk, he shifted closer to (Y/n), his fingers gently trailing along her arm in a manner that mirrored her earlier touch.

"Don't get too comfortable. This isn't an invitation," Levi remarked, his voice carrying a mix of annoyance and amusement.

She raised an eyebrow, the smirk never leaving her face. "Oh, Captain, didn't know you had it in you. Looks like the great Captain can't resist a little intimacy."

Levi scowled, attempting to maintain his composure. "This is purely practical. Don't read too much into it."

The banter continued, each subtle touch carrying an undercurrent of challenge. As the cabin remained shrouded in the quiet sounds of the rain and crackling fire, the atmosphere became charged with an unexpected energy.

In a moment of boldness, (Y/n) decided to turn the tables. Her fingers trailed along Levi's jawline, a playful glint in her eyes. "Captain, you're not fooling anyone. I can feel the heat radiating off you."

Levi's breath caught in his throat for a split second, his usual stoic facade momentarily faltering. "I told you, it's for warmth. Nothing more."

But (Y/n) wasn't deterred, her touch becoming more deliberate. "You know, Captain, sometimes actions speak louder than words."

"You're pushing your luck," Levi growled, the lines of annoyance and desire blurring in his eyes.

She met his gaze with a challenging stare, her lips curving into a sly smile. "Is that a threat, Captain? Or perhaps an invitation?"

Levi, not one to back down, closed the remaining distance between them, grabbing her by her hair. The frustration that had simmered beneath the surface now boiled over, fueling a passion neither had expected. In a moment of heated intensity, their lips collided, a clash of desire that silenced the banter and left only the echoes of their shared breaths.

The kiss, at first fueled by frustration, quickly morphed into something deeper—an exploration of uncharted territories and emotions that neither had dared to acknowledge. As their lips moved in a rhythm born of a newfound connection, the storm outside seemed to mirror the tempest of emotions within the cabin.

When they finally broke apart, (Y/n) and Levi were left breathless, their eyes locked in a silent understanding that transcended words. The fire, though now reduced to embers, seemed to burn brighter in the aftermath of their passionate exchange.

Levi, his usual composure momentarily shattered, struggled to find the right words. "This... doesn't change anything. We're not suddenly buddy buddy because of a kiss."

(Y/n), a flush of warmth coloring her cheeks, smiled with a hint of mischief. "Who said it had to? Maybe it's just something between us, Captain."

Her words sent a thrill of anticipation through Levi, and he felt himself grow hard against her. Unable to contain himself any longer, Levi roughly pushed (Y/n) back against the floor, pinning her beneath him. Her eyes widened in surprise, but there was a spark of anticipation in their depths that told him she wasn't entirely opposed to this development.

He leaned in close, his breath warm against her neck, as he whispered "Is that what you want?" he growled, his voice gruff, rough with desire. "Do you want me to touch you, that bad?" As he felt her nipples harden beneath his palms. He cupped her breasts, playing with them before lifting them so he could kiss and suckle her nipples.

(Y/n) arched her back, pressing her breasts further into Levi's hands as his lips and tongue teased her nipples mercilessly. She could feel the heat rising within her, spreading like electricity through her entire body. "Levi" she moaned, her voice breathy and needy. "Yes, please, touch me."

"Do you want me to make you feel good?" His fingers, reached down her body playing with her pussy, as he continued the relentless teasing, and she could feel the pressure building inside her, making her body tremble with anticipation. "Oh, please, yes," she moaned a hint of impatience in her voice, arching her back even further, her fingernails digging into his shoulders. "I want you."

Levi smiled wickedly, his eyes glinting with lust. "Tell me what you want," he commanded, still teasing her with his fingers. "Tell me how bad you want this."

"I want you inside me," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the pounding of her heart. "I want you to fuck me so hard I can't think about anything else." Her hips bucked upward, seeking the connection she ached for, and his thumb brushed against her clit, sending a jolt of pleasure through her.

With one swift movement, Levi positioned himself between her spread legs, his erection pressing against her wet folds. Smirking at the thought that he barely touched her and she was that wet for him. He leaned in, his lips finding her ear, and growled, "I've wanted this since the moment I fucking met you. Fuck you so hard you won't be able to say anything else but my name" With that, he pushed himself inside her, filling her up in one deep stroke that made her cry out in pleasure.

As Levi thrust into her, the world around them seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of them in this small, intimate space. The sounds of their bodies colliding and the wet slapping of skin on skin, filled the air. He moved with a savage grace that sent waves of pleasure coursing through her veins, his powerful body braced above hers. Her fingernails dug into his shoulders as she met his thrusts, their hips moving in perfect rhythm.

Her breath came in ragged gasps, her eyes squeezed shut as she surrendered to the overwhelming sensations. The tension that had built up within her since their confrontation finally released, coursing through her like an electric current. She arched her back off the floor, her nails digging deeper into his shoulders as she felt the familiar tightening in her core.

"Oh, god, Levi," she moaned, her voice hoarse from the effort of keeping up with his pace. "Don't stop." she said as her hands found their way to his dark hair.

He growled, his lips finding her neck, leaving a mark as he thrust harder, deeper. "I'm not going to stop. Not until you're screaming for more." His hips slammed against hers again and again, the friction building up with each passing second.

The air in the room seemed to crackle with the intensity of their passion, and she could feel the heat of his body against hers, his sweat mingling with hers. Her muscles began to quiver, her orgasm barreling down on her like a runaway train.

"Levi," she cried out, her body tensing as the wave of pleasure washed over her.

His movements became even more frenzied, his thrusts more urgent as he felt her body begin to convulse around him. With a harsh groan, he threw his head back, his eyes squeezed shut, and emptied himself inside her.

As the last shudders of pleasure subsided, Levi collapsed on top of her, his weight pressing her into the carpet. He held her close, his breathing labored as he tried to catch his breath. After a moment, he looked down at her with a satisfied smirk and muttered, "You're such a fucking brat."

Despite the harsh words, there was a possessive fondness in his tone that she couldn't help but feel warm inside. He rolled off her, propping himself up on one elbow as he gazed down at her, his eyes trailing down her body.

"Next time, it'll be in a cleaner environment," he said with a wink. "I'll make sure we have a bed or something."

"You're unbelievable," she remarked, her eyes meeting Levi's with a mixture of amusement and warmth. The flickering light cast a gentle glow over the scene, highlighting the vulnerability beneath their tough exteriors.

With a swift motion, he covered their bodies with the blanket, the warmth of the fabric cocooning them in a shared space. "You know, your scientific facts might have some truth to them."

Masterlist

#levi x reader #levi ackerman #aot x reader #levi aot #captain levi #aot levi #levi attack on titan #levi heichou #snk levi #shingeki no kyojin #aot #snk #levi x y/n #one shot #smut #aot smut #levi smut

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kandadze · 6 months ago

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Special ep loose thoughts

Ohhhhh I love this! Yes! The "evil demon" saved you all! Yes, discernment!

Oh, WX. I love her look here. I guess she didn't have time (or just couldn't bring herself to do it) to look at the token she got from him properly till now? "As long as our love remains the same, we're (not? I think is missing) afraid (of? is it me or the subtitles seem really wonky here?) the ever changing world." Awww, ZYZ.

Awww ZYC, he went partly white from grief... (I saw the picture of him with hair like this before, but only watching the extra now I get the confirmation that this is indeed him and not another incarnation or something.) The fact that he starts to say something about ZYZ twice and cuts himself off both times 😢

Awww yes baby, fight against the stupid fate! Especially since it's not impossible in this particular world!

Ummm... can I suggest checking the first contract ZYZ ever signed - with his blood - that should still be in WX's possession???

Oh PSJ is here, too! I love how PSJ's dark clothes contrast with WX and ZYC's matching baby blue ones, and how she's still very much in armor, whereas the other two - especially ZYC - are so open, almost relaxed. She mellowed out though, that's good to see. I was concerned for her (funnily enough, moreso than for WX or ZYC). It's so good to see them remembering the rest of the squad!

It sounds like this one goal, to find the last shred of ZYZ's soul, is what really keeps ZYC together and alive. He will not stop till he realizes his goal or dies, and as he has a way longer lifespan now, I can see how he's prepared to just *keep* looking, for as long as it takes. My heart.

Oh, PSJ. I can see her disappointment and hurt for maybe a second before she hides it, but I do see it. She was never my favorite, but I can appreciate that she's always been ride or die for WX, even at the earliest stages, and at her pricklest.

Awwww ZYZ! The layers in this guy!

Way to go, drama, I'm crying again... ZYC's character song makes me emotional like no other, and coupled with his memory of that interaction with Bai Jiu...

But also (analytical brain to the rescue!), correct me if I'm wrong, and with my limited knowledge of simplified Hanzi, in his memory with Bai Jiu, they don't say "forget." They say, 不念 , which from context of their conversation makes the most sense to mean "don't read (the unfamilar words) aloud (then)". Another meaning of 念 is "to miss somebody," so basically it's more like through removing the tongue of his bell and leaving that obscure medical text for him, Bai Jiu was telling ZYC, "don't miss me," which is entirely different from "forget me." (Also in ZYC's song, I saw 不念 translated as "not dwelling," so closer to "don't miss me," I think.) As he's preparing the box, Bai Jiu also says, 勿想 , which can mean "don't think (of me)", but also "don't feel wistful (about my absence)"! 😭 Seriously, this language and its layers. And all the characters and their gifts to one another in this drama! 😭

Oh the onslaught of memories! Stop, drama, I'm begging here!

Hmmmm what's that? The first contract ZYZ ever signed - with his blood - that was still in WX's possession? This better means what I think it means!

Omg ZYC's words on having understood ZYZ's deep-bone sadness after ZYZ was gone. Is this what he's been feeling ever since ZYZ left? The shots of him riding through the night are so beautiful (and such a strong contrast to WX in bright light)!

There's something about ZYZ in this simple black robe that just chokes me up. He somehow looks both younger and older than his human form that we've seen for most of the series, and almost delicate. If Ying Long!look made me think of fae and Tolkien elves, this one is just beyond. I don't know, I just ::grabs sad!demon!ZYZ and squishes tightly::

We get to see everyone now, thank you very much for twisting the knife once more drama, who needs a heart anyway 😭 (and ZYC's wearing Bai Jiu's bell in his hair!!!)

Wait hold up? The contract? Flew to find ZYC??? And the Cloud Light Sword is reacting to ZYZ's drop of blood???? They've found each other????

Omg I was right. I WAS RIGHT HOLY SHIT!

This was perfect. I haven't gotten such a perfect ending in a drama in a long time. I haven't seen anything like this drama in a long time. I won't be moving *on* for a long time. Ahhhh 🩵🩵🩵

#fangs of fortune #fof ep 34.1 #fof liveblogging

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gorogues · 2 months ago

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Spoilers for comics in May 2025!

You can see the solicitations in full at Adventures In Poor Taste.

THE FLASH #21 Written by SIMON SPURRIER Art by VASCO GEORGIEV Cover by MIKE DEODATO JR. Variant covers by DAVIDE PARATORE and ELIZABETH TORQUE Supersmash-Up Variant by TYLER KIRKHAM $3.99 US | 32 pages | Variant $4.99 US (card stock) ON SALE 5/28/25 As Wally continues to split himself into more temps to try to keep the battles raging on the moon under control, Eclipso reveals his new allies—the Rogues!

Wonder what this lineup of Rogues will be? Marco is probably one of them, natch, but none of the covers suggest who might be on the team.

Then we've got Absolute Flash with its Rogues.

ABSOLUTE FLASH #3 Written by JEFF LEMIRE Art and cover by NICK ROBLES Variant cover by HAINING Variant cover by CLAYTON CRAIN 1:25 variant cover by TRAVIS MOORE $4.99 US | 32 pages | Variant $5.99 US (card stock) ON SALE 5/21/25 Wally’s back is up against the wall as the Rogues bear down on him. Can he evade capture and harness some of his newfound speed, or is he already at the finish line?

And though Len doesn't appear on any of the covers in May, the following solicits are a continuation of that Legion-of-Doom-with-a-twist story we saw last month.

BATMAN/SUPERMAN: WORLD’S FINEST #39 Written by MARK WAID Art by DAN MORA Cover by DAN MORA Variant covers by LUCIO PARRILLO and ADRIÁN GUTIÉRREZ 1:25 variant cover by A.L. KAPLAN $3.99 US | 32 pages | Variant $4.99 US (card stock) ON SALE 5/21/25 “We Are Yesterday” Part Four (of six) The Batman and Superman of yesterday…today?! As Gorilla Grodd’s vicious temporal onslaught upon the Justice League continues, the Dark Knight and Man of Steel from the time of the World’s Finest get a horrifying glimpse into their own futures…and the tragedies to come! It’s minute-by-minute mayhem in the epic new installment of the “We Are Yesterday” crossover with Justice League Unlimited! JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED #7 Written by MARK WAID Art by TRAVIS MOORE Cover by DAN MORA Variant covers by TIAGO DA SILVA, EJIKURE, and YANICK PAQUETTE 1:25 variant cover by TRAVIS MOORE 1:50 variant cover by PHIL HESTER AAPI Heritage Month variant cover by CLIFF CHIANG Supersmash-up variant by TK $3.99 US | 32 pages | Variant $4.99 US (card stock) ON SALE 5/28/25 “We Are Yesterday” Part Five (of six) Unlimited no more?! The Justice League is fractured throughout time as the Legion of Doom achieves the unthinkable…the siege of the Watchtower! As Gorilla Grodd’s attack intensifies, it’ll be up to one hero to call in the cavalry, and it is not who you think! Destruction, redemption, and a cavalcade of chaos culminate in this penultimate chapter of “We Are Yesterday,” a special crossover with Batman/Superman: World’s Finest!

#Weather Wizard #Captain Cold #Golden Glider #Captain Boomerang #the Trickster #the Flash #Gorilla Grodd #Eclipso #spoilers: comics #solicits #Absolute Flash

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macbethsymphony · 10 months ago

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The Swordsman and the Blacksmith | Chapter 24

Roronoa Zoro x Reader

Chapter wc: 7k

Chapter rating: NSFW

Content/Warnings: NSFW, 18+, Fem!Reader, Enemies to lovers, SLOW slow burn, SMUT

Summary: Your skills as a blacksmith have made you desirable to both the government and pirates. You know you have to leave this island if you want to escape your fate, but that doesn't make the choice of leaving any easier. Roronoa Zoro is intrigued by your skills as a blacksmith. Your work is like nothing he's ever seen before. Unfortunately, you're hot-headed and he's rude and you both definitely hate each other.

Chapters [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23]

Masterlist

Slowly crossposting from AO3

Chapter 24: I'm Still Angry

On the first night, you’d drowned your thoughts in a haze of alcohol, seeking refuge in the oblivion it promised. On the second night, you’d danced with reckless abandon, losing yourself in the rhythmic pulse of the music until memories blurred into nothingness. And on the third night, exhaustion had claimed you, pulling you into a deep slumber that offered respite from the chaos of your mind… until the sound of music beckoned you to start the whole ritual once again.

Outside, the storm raged on, its fury unabated by the passage of time. But within the cozy confines of the tavern, the tempestuous winds and torrential rain faded into the background, drowned out by the lively chatter and infectious laughter of its patrons. In the warm glow of the lanterns, you found solace from the relentless onslaught of the elements and your thoughts.

You hadn't returned to the ship in over a week, your stubbornness fueling your determination to stay away. The idiot could fall on Yokubari and fucking go to hell, for all you cared, or so you kept on telling yourself. During this time, Nami had visited the tavern on a few occasions, indulging in a drink or two while checking up on you. Initially, concern had etched lines of worry on her face, evident in the way she probed for details about what had transpired between you and the swordsman. But when you remained unwilling to talk, she had simply sighed in resignation, accepting your silence with a weary understanding. She assured you that they would come to fetch you before they set sail again.

"So, what's your poison tonight?" The question cut through the din of the tavern, drawing your attention back to the present moment. Leaning against the worn wood of the bar, you regarded the boy with a half-smile, appreciating his easy charm and friendly demeanor.

He had been a constant presence over the past few days, a willing partner in the impromptu dance sessions that had become a nightly ritual. Together, you had spun and laughed, losing yourselves in the music and the fleeting moments of joy it brought. He was flirty but not pushy, making him perfect for whatever you were trying to achieve with this temper tantrum of yours.

With a playful glint in his eyes, he awaited your response, his expression a curious blend of anticipation and amusement. "I think I'll stick to water tonight," you confessed with a chuckle, your voice tinged with a hint of ruefulness. "I'm still feeling the aftermath of those drinking games from last night."

The boy laughed lightly, a mischievous twinkle dancing in his gaze as he leaned closer, his breath warm against your ear. His flirty attempt was clunky, unpracticed. "Water it is then," he murmured, his tone playful yet colored with a sliver of disappointment. "But don't think you can escape me that easily. We've got some dancing to do, remember?"

You tossed your head back at his awkward charm, laughing heartily. Goodness, he never gave up. As you watched your dance partner come back with your drink, you noticed how he faltered in his step, how he blanched a little as he glanced over your shoulder.

You didn’t even need to look to guess what had unsettled the boy so, but still you stared at the swordsman effectively looming over you.

Oh.

He was angry.

Your eyes traveled from his face to the swords at his side, landing on Yokubari, still strapped at his waist. You scowled, the blazing anger within you refueled at the sight. The urge to throttle him still unbelievably strong. Didn’t matter, two could play this game, your own fury not to be underestimated.

With a scoff, you turned away from him, dismissing his presence with a wave of your hand. “I don’t feel like talking to you, swordsman,” you said flatly, your voice dripping with disdain as you refused to give him any more of your attention.

You watched out of the corner of your eye as the boy, sensing the tension between you and Zoro, hesitated in his approach. His easy smile faltered, replaced by a nervous unease as he quickly retreated, eager to avoid becoming collateral damage in whatever confrontation was brewing between the two of you.

Smart boy. You’d do the same if you were in his place.

Sighing, you leaned against the bar, trying to catch the bartender’s attention with a practiced gesture. The need for an actual drink abruptly urgent. “You didn’t have to chase him away like that,” you admonished, your tone thick with irritation. “He was a perfectly fine dance partner.”

Silence answered you as you heard the subtle shift of cloth and clink of swords behind you as he matched your movements.

When the bartender inevitably ignored you too, suddenly engrossed in polishing a glass, you turned to face him. “What do you want?” you snapped, your expression a mask of defiance, resolute to not let him ruin your night.

His frown deepened, his fingers wrapping around your wrist with a firm grip that bordered on possessive. “We’re going back to the ship,” he announced, his tone leaving no room for argument.

You paused there for an instant, eyes narrowing as you studied his features. “No,” you decided as you wrenched your hand free from his grasp and strode purposefully towards the dance floor, determined to assert your independence in the face of his domineering shit of an attitude.

You sensed Zoro's presence trailing behind you for a moment, his looming shadow casting a palpable weight in the midst of his annoyance, then not anymore. Ignoring his silent disapproval, you surrendered to the pulsating rhythm of the music, allowing it to guide your movements to the center of the crowd with instinctive grace. Drawn into the embrace of a stranger, you yielded to the seductive sway of the tune, granting the man’s touch to travel sensually along the curves of your body.

With each spin and turn, the stranger's hands ventured boldly, taunting the fabric of your shirt upwards to reveal a tantalizing glimpse of bare skin. He twirled you around, allowing your back to fall against his chest, as his fingers roamed in a slow, teasing display.

On any other day, you would have slapped the inquisitive touch away but on this night the nerve of his exploration served the audacity of your actions. You met the swordsman’s stare with a lidded gaze. Was that fury you saw flashing in his eye? Jealousy? Possessiveness? Whatever it was that twisting up his pretty face, it felt like a victory.

With a wicked grin, you yielded into the stranger's touch, inviting the tension to mount between you and the swordsman with each passing moment. You thrived on the satisfaction. The air hummed with unspoken defiance, a silent dare for Zoro to break his stoic façade.

The stranger's touch ventured further, his hand gliding from your stomach to your chest, his palm flat as he pressed against the fabric of your shirt before encircling your throat with a gentle yet possessive hold. Tilting your head back against his shoulder, you maintained eye contact with the swordsman, relishing the simmering intensity in his furious stare.

As the tension between you reached a crescendo, you observed with satisfaction as Zoro's hand tightened around the hilt of one of his swords, his knuckles whitening with the strength of his grip. The air crackled with anticipation, each heartbeat echoing the unspoken challenge that hung between you like a tautly drawn bowstring.

With a subtle shift in your stance, you silently dared Zoro to make a move. The stranger's touch remained a seductive invitation, a quiet provocation that dared the swordsman to act on his impulses.

And then, the tension shattered like glass.

With a swift, fluid motion, Zoro's hand inched away from the hilt of his sword, his steps carrying him across the crowded floor in a determined stride. Ignoring the curious glances of the tavern's patrons, he closed the distance between you with purpose, his gaze never leaving yours.

As he reached you, he grabbed your arm firmly but not roughly, pulling you away from the stranger's embrace with a possessiveness that left no room for argument. The stranger's hand fell from your throat, his expression a mix of surprise and resignation as he watched the swordsman stake his claim.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” you shouted at him as you followed his lead.

Without a word, Zoro led you away from the pulsating rhythm of the dance floor, his grip tightening as he guided you through the maze of tables and chairs. The atmosphere crackled with unspoken tension, the weight of his silent declaration hanging heavily between you.

As you emerged into the cool night air, the storm still raging overhead, the wind tousled your hair, rain slowly drenching your clothes.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” You shouted again, planting your feet down, obstinate anger filling you, refusing to budge.

Zoro’s expression remained flat; his jaw clenched in stubborn determination. “We’re going back to the ship,” he stated firmly.

You scoffed incredulously; the sound drowned out by the howling wind. “Like hell we are,” you retorted, your noncompliance unyielding. “I’m not going anywhere with you, swordsman.”

For a moment, the two of you stood locked in a silent standoff, the rain pouring down around you like a curtain of defiance. The tension crackled in the air, thick with unspoken words.

Fuck, he was stunning. You hated to admit it, but you’d missed him. Your eyes surveyed his face, taking in the scowl on his lips, the intensity of his gaze.

He moved with swift determination, pinning you against the slick brick wall. The freezing rain seeped through your already soaked clothes, but you paid it no mind amidst the brewing confrontation.

“What the fuck’s your problem?” you snapped, glaring up at him, defiance flashing in your stare.

“You’re infuriating,” he growled, leaning in close, his breath mingling with yours in the damp air.

“I’m still angry,” you declared, your brows furrowing with stubborn resolve.

“So am I,” he admitted, his hand traveling up to cradle the nape of your neck.

“You have no business being angry at me, swordsman,” you retorted, your tone sharp with wrath.

Despite the intensity of the storm raging around you, the charged atmosphere between you and Zoro crackled with an energy of its own. His grip tightened slightly, fingers tangling in your hair, his gaze boring into yours with a mixture of frustration and longing.

“You always make it so damn difficult,” he muttered, his voice low and tinged with exasperation.

“Me?” you scoffed, index pushing repeatedly into his chest painfully. “You're the one wh—”

But before you could finish your sentence, his lips crashed against yours in a fervent kiss, silencing your protest with a searing passion. At first, you froze, then you matched his intensity, finding yourself responding to his movements with an equal measure of neediness, your hands instinctively reaching up to tangle in his hair roughly as you pulled him closer.

His fingers traveled under your shirt, his touch scorching hot against the coolness of wet skin. You backed off searching for breath. Your eyes met his, the hunger in his gaze made your knees want to buckle a definite want settling in your core.

Fuck.

With a firm push, you disentangled yourself from his embrace, a flicker of confusion crossing his features before he yielded to your lead. As he took a step back, your hand found the hem of his sleeve, a determined look in your eyes as you started to move, dragging him through the winding maze of alleyways. Each turn was swift and decisive, your footsteps echoing against the forming puddles in the dips of the cobblestones as you navigated the labyrinthine paths with resolute haste, your destination clear in your mind.

Without a word, you pushed open the heavy wooden door of the hotel you’d been staying at, the warmth of the lobby enveloping you in a stark contrast to the coldness of the outside rain. The flickering glow of the lanterns cast dancing shadows upon the walls as you beelined to your room.

The swordsman hovered over you, placing soft kisses on your neck as you fumbled to unlock the door.

The lock clicked. You entered. In the sanctuary of your room, his hands grew bolder in their exploration, your shirt dragging dangerously high, the hem of your short skirt catching on your hips in a barely decent display.

“Shit,” you mewled, one of your hands finding purchase on the flat surface before you, nails digging in the wood as you tried to lock the door behind you. “Just let me lock the door,” you begged as he nipped at your neck, licked your ear.

He ignored your pleas, his body melting against yours, trapping you more firmly against him. His hand traveled against your thigh, traced the soft flesh near your core, his hips catching into yours. Your forehead met the wood of the door as the pads of his fingers found your soaked underwear, tracing light circles.

You moaned. Mind feeling empty as a wave of pleasure coursed through your veins.

He brought your hips tighter against his as his touch became rougher. He deftly pushed aside the drenched fabric, pads meeting your slick. Everything felt more intense all of a sudden, the embers of ecstasy unmuted as he explored relentlessly.

His name passed your lips in a high whine. He moaned against your ear, hips unwillingly bucking into yours. Fuck. You could feel how hard he was.

The lock finally clicked. You turned around. His lips found yours immediately in a primal urgency.

“The bed’s right there,” you mewled, your words breathy.

He kissed your jaw, down your neck. “Don’t care,” he said as one of his hands pushed up your shirt, your bra, fingers tracing the curve of your breast, pinching almost tenderly at your nipple.

“We should wash up first,” you protested meekly, your fists bunching in the wet fabric of his overcoat, movements contradicting your objections.

“Don’t care,” he repeated breath mingling with yours. He bit at your lower lip, tongue darting in, exploring, demanding.

You obliged, hands discovering his chest, never settling in one place.

As you broke away for air, he leaned back, his hungry gaze meeting yours. He smirked, taking in the want in your eyes, your bruised lips, the flush on your cheeks. He backed off a step, eye roaming over your body, searing in the image before him in his mind, the way your skirt was hiked up, the way the wet fabric of your shirt clung to your skin as you leaned against the door.

“Fuck,” he groaned. You were the very picture of depravity.

He fell to his knees, pressed a kiss on the front of your underwear as his hands traced up along your outer thighs. As his fingers curled against the lace of your panties, he looked up at you, a soft pause as he searched your features for any hint of hesitation.

The crystal-clear need etched on your face gave him all the confirmation he needed. He trailed the thin piece of fabric down. It caught for a moment on your knee-high boot as you lifted one leg to help him out.

Before you could put your foot down, his hand wrapped under your knee, bringing your leg over his shoulder. He leaned his head on your inner thigh, cheek against soft flesh before placing slow kisses, tender bites as he made his way toward your heat.

Your hands found purchase in his hair, pulling painfully on the unruly locks, nails digging into his scalp, backing him away. He looked up at you, a groan escaping him at the sensation. There was clear satisfaction in his gaze.

“Look at you, witch,” his voice was gruff, tick with lust.

It sent a shiver down your spine, a moan out your lips. You felt some of your slick drip on your thigh, cool against flushed skin. Heat spread across your face at the reaction of your body.

“I’m still angry,” you whispered as he started moving closer, one of his hands exploring up and down your outer thigh, the other dragging your skirt higher, before dipping down, fingers tracing your slit.

His grin broke into a smile as he brought them to his mouth, the light glistening on their wetness. He made a show of licking them clean. Tongue swirling, sucking against the digits before his lips came back to your inner thigh.

��I’m sorry, I was out of line,” he apologized dangerously close to your core, his breath teasing, your legs feeling less and less steady as seconds passed. “Forgive me.”

You whined his name, a hopelessly needy sound.

Finally, finally, he met your heat, giving you no time to adjust to the relentless rhythm of his onslaught. His tongue pressed against your clit as he devoured you with the hunger of a man deprived of water, each lick and suck a desperate quenching of his thirst.

Your eyelids fluttered shut, the world feeling like a hazy dream in between the waves of pleasure threatening to drown you. Your fingers tightened in the unruly locks, nails digging into the flesh at his nape as your hips bucked unwittingly.

He moaned against you, the muffled sound sending electric shocks through you. His hold on your thigh increased, anchoring you solidly against his shoulder as his nails left crescent marks in the plush flesh. His other hand went to your core, lifting the hood of your clit slightly as he redoubled his efforts.

Your eyes shot open at the sensation, breath catching in your throat. It was all too much, the pleasure cascading over your mind too sharp. One of your hands snapped away from his hair, clamping over your mouth, muffling the high-pitched scream that passed your lips. The back of your head hit the wood behind you loudly, the pain barely registering.

Your gaze met his, you sensed the satisfied smirk gracing his lips more than you saw it. He moved away from your clit, exploring. His tongue darting in and out of you, his fingers taking on the bundle of nerves instead.

You were about to come, your vision starting to feel overexposed, everything swirling around you. You tried to warn him, your words incoherent.

He maintained his rhythm, allowing you to tip over the edge, white overflowing your senses.

He continued tirelessly, your thigh trembling against his shoulder. You attempted to pry him off, but he remained doggedly obstinate in his ministrations.

You bit down painfully on your palm as your mind wrestled to keep up with the overstimulation. Your breath hitched and struggled with every inhale and exhale.

“Too much,” you begged, voice high, the sound muffled by your hand as a second orgasm coursed through you, tears threatening to flood your eyes.

He stopped then, waiting for your grip to loosen in his hair before coming back up. His chin was covered in your arousal. He pried your hand away from your mouth, pressing a soft kiss on the teeth marks etched in your skin before his lips found yours.

His movements were slow at first, allowing your mind to catch up. Then his tongue met yours in a forceful dance, the taste of your slick flooding your mouth.

Your knees buckled. Your fists bunched in his overcoat in an attempt to steady yourself but you still felt your back start to drag down against the door, your legs unable to keep you up.

His hands went behind your thighs, pulling you in his arms effortlessly. You melted in his chest, limbs uncooperative before he deposited you onto the bed.

As your back sank into the softness of the mattress, your eyes landed on the swordsman skillfully maneuvering one of your legs over his shoulder.

“Shoes,” you muttered as your gaze went to your boots.

He grumbled a curse under his breath, bringing your other leg to his shoulder so both feet were next to one another. “Always so fucking demanding,” he complained, words barely audible as with one hand he tugged at the laces of your boots, the other going to your cunt, two fingers entering your heat.

The squelching sound of your arousal as he fingered you was obscene. Lazy whimpers escaped you as they easily slipped in and out, the hazy feeling in your mind delightful. He suddenly curled his fingers in a come-hither motion, eliciting a loud moan out of you, the promise of rapture starting to edge at your vision once more.

“Zoro,” you begged between moans, his name flowing out of your lips again and again, a deprived chant.

He finished loosening the laces of the first boot, taking it off roughly and throwing it back without care. You dimly heard it hit something but it barely reached the edge of your mind, your attention entirely focused on the shifts of his fingers.

The pad of his thumb met your clit gently, teasing as he started unlacing the second boot.

You bucked under his touch, walls fluttering against his fingers.

His hand moved against the laces with sudden urgency, tugging harder and faster with each pull as he hurried through the process.

The second boot joined the other. You whined in protest as he left your heat. He opened your legs, settling himself between them.

You pushed yourself to your elbows, then sitting as you took off your shirt, your bra. Your bodies almost touched in the position, your legs draped over his thighs, warmth radiating from your skin, melting into his own.

You leaned back slightly, his gaze unabashedly took in the sight. His fingers skillfully unknotted the cords holding the swords at his side. There was a loud clang as they fell to the floor forgotten, his overcoat and stomach band following suit with urgency.

His hands grazed up your thighs, nails digging in and sending shivers to your core. He leaned in, his lips hovering ever so close over yours.

Your hand palmed his hard-on through the fabric of his pants. You looked up at him, pupils blown in desire.

The moan that escaped him was pure lust, primal as his breath mixed with yours.

It stirred something in you. You ached to see him writhe under your touch, hear that moan again, make him whimper.

“Let me return the favor,” you demanded, fingers moving up and down, groping before inching towards the waistband of his pants.

His hand intercepted yours roughly. “Not today,” he kissed your jaw, down your throat. “Can’t wait,” he muttered after giving your nipple a flick with his tongue.

He pushed you down, your back meeting the mattress in a small bounce. You rolled your hips against his, your arousal leaving a wet spot on the front of his pants. You felt his canine graze your breast as he relished the feeling, followed by a soft bite and his tongue as he sucked and marked.

“Then just fuck me already, swordsman,” you demanded.

He smirked against your skin. “So needy,” he remarked, pulling back, his hands departing from you as he undid his pants, his aching cock meeting your stomach.

He moved one of your legs expertly to his shoulder, fingers finding the scar near your ankle, tenderly tracing circles against it. Your other leg instinctively wrapped around his hip.

His gaze was filled with lust as he met yours. You felt the tip of his cock against your entrance. His lips went to the white line marking your skin in a soft kiss as he started sinking into you.

You whimpered as he dragged in further, the pace tortuously slow. Your fingers tangled in the sheets in ecstasy. The stretch was overwhelming, intoxicating.

“Fuck,” he moaned against your skin, biting down on the flesh above your ankle, leaving small red marks behind. “So fucking tight.”

You tried to roll your hips, take him in quicker but his hand stopped the movement, stilling you in a bruising hold.

By the time he was fully sheathed inside you, you were breathing hard, your walls already fluttering against him. He gave a tentative thrust, nails digging into the plushness of your hips before he dragged a hand to your lower stomach, increasing the pressure as he filled you oh so well.

He was so deep, it almost made your eyes roll. You could feel your breasts bounce with every slow thrust. For a moment you saw him admire the view but his gaze inevitably returned to your face as he relished each twitch of pleasure passing your features far more than anything else.

There was a furrow on his brow as he searched for something, his hand moving your leg, opening you up, trying to find a certain angle. You let out a sharp cry as a particular thrust made you see stars.

“Zoro,” you whined, one of your hands extending towards him, “fuck,” he was just out of reach, you wanted to touch him so bad. You let your hand fall, instead joining his for an instant on your stomach.

“Do you have any idea what you do to me?” He slid out to the tip and slammed back in, his pace increasing now that he had found what he was searching for.

Your hand fell back to the covers at the intensity of his movements, knuckles white as you gripped the sheets. His palm roamed up from your stomach, roughly groping as he leaned forward, nearly folding you in half, his breath mingling with yours suddenly. His fingers settled on your neck, then your jaw as he bit your lower lip, and kissed you hard.

As he pulled back, his gaze blown with lust followed the strand of saliva connecting the two of you. “How long I’ve been wanting to do this?” he passed his thumb harshly on your reddened lips. “Just so you know, I’m only starting, witch.”

A smirk danced on your features at the boldness of his words, a chuckle escaping you, as though he wasn’t already fucking you senseless. You rolled your hips, meeting his rhythm. “Don’t make promises you can’t keep, swordsman,” you retorted, the defiance in your stare igniting a spark in his eye, a challenge he was willing to see through.

In answer, his hand left your face, settled itself between your bodies, finding your clit in soft circles. Your back arched in pleasure, your hands flying to his arms, fingers looking for purchase. Incoherent swears passed your lips, your nails dug in, dragged along his arms. The pain mixing in with the pleasure earning you a loud groan on his part.

You dimly caught the sound of the bed creak with each of his thrusts, the way the headboard slammed on the wall now and then, but you didn’t care, the ecstasy washing over you making you forget all sense of propriety.

Your words were incomprehensible as he brought you nearer and nearer to the edge. Closer to desperate pleas and wanton moans than coherent sentences. Your whole body tensed hard as you orgasmed, a soft flush spread across your chest.

You heard him swear under his breath as your walls clenched around him but he didn’t stop as your mind struggled to come back. He suddenly turned you over, his thighs trapping yours. His hands found your hips, holding them up bruisingly. The moan you let out as he slid inside you again was so depraved that he almost came right there.

Your face dug in the covers, drool seeping in the fabric, nails digging hard in the soft weave. You heard threads snap as you writhed. He felt so deep. Your toes curled in pleasure. It was all too much, you were already so damned over sensitive.

“Shit, so good for me,” his hands palmed your ass roughly, velvety skin yielding under calloused fingers. His touch was domineering as it traveled along the curve of your back, pushing up your skirt, still bunched around your waist.

You felt a hand press between your shoulder blades, inch toward your neck, fingers tangling harshly in your locks for a fleeting moment. Then he grasped your arm, pulling you up easily, his arm snaking around you, his palm flat against your sweat covered skin as his hand moved up encircling your throat in a gentle yet possessive grip. Your hands instinctively settled on his forearm for support as you struggled to keep up.

The sound of wet slapping skin, the squelch as he drilled into you intensified in the position. His hand traveled up almost tenderly, cupping your face, turning you to him. His lips captured yours lazily, one of your hands shifted away from his arm, navigating to his nape, fingers tangling in his unruly hair.

The hand on your hip roamed down, fingers finding your clit. You spasmed and begged at the blitz of sensations. Thighs trembling, there was nothing you could do but hang on for dear life, your nails digging painfully in his forearm, in his neck as his pace fastened.

Your name passed his lips. “One more for me,” he pleaded, hot breath mixing with yours before biting hard on your shoulder.

“Please, Zoro, fuck,” you sobbed in pleasure as you felt your orgasm rapidly build up.

His hips stuttered, his rhythm broken by your pleas. “Where do you want me to cum?” the urgency in his voice was apparent as he breathed out the question.

“In-inside,” you begged over and over.

He groaned at that, the idea clearly pleasing to him. “Shit,” his thrusts were sloppy, his hold on your body harder. “So fucking perfect for me.”

With a particularly hard flick on your clit, your mind went blank, body hard then limp, entirely supported by the swordsman’s strength as rapture filled you.

He kissed and marked you almost painfully as you came down from your high, walls spasming sporadically around him. He swore emphatically, your name uttered between each curse, before emptying out inside you, his loud moans muffled against your skin.

His movements gradually slowed. He placed a fond kiss on your shoulder, and you whimpered as he pulled out of you, his seed dripping down your thigh. He lowered you gently on the bed, following you as he dropped himself next to you.

Lying there in the aftermath, a sense of weightlessness enveloped you, leaving your mind blissfully devoid of thought. His arm rested heavily on your stomach, the sensation of damp skin against damp skin a tactile reminder of the intimacy you had just shared. Gradually, he shifted, propping himself up on his elbow, his gaze fixed on you with a subtle smirk playing on his lips.

With a tenderness that caught you off guard, he leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to your lips before trailing along your jawline. You watched him, a puzzled furrow creasing your brow, as he rose from the bed with a quiet grunt, pulling up his pants, still pooled around his ankles, before disappearing into the adjacent bathroom.

"What are you doing?" you called after him, your voice hoarse with exhaustion.

"You said we should wash up," he grumbled in response, the sound of running water punctuating his words.

An amused snort escaped you. "Now? Really, Zoro?" You attempted to roll over, but your muscles felt weak, and you slumped back down in defeat.

From the corner of your eye, you saw him lean against the doorway, a faint smile playing on his features as he observed your futile attempt.

"Having some trouble?" he said, his voice laced with satisfaction as he stalked to your side, the bed dipping under his weight as he settled himself between your legs. If you weren't so fucked out, the smugness in his tone might have elicited an eye roll, but instead, a small chuckle escaped your lips at his comment.

One of his hands went behind your knee, opening you up for him. The other went to your slit, a sharp hiss escaping your lips at the over sensitivity. His fingers traced the seed dripping out of you.

He swore under his breath, his gaze blown out as he met your eyes.

“Don’t you dare,” you breathed out in a high-pitched whine, your hips arching away. “I’m too sensitive.”

His hand left your heat, slick fingers dragging up your thighs, bunching in the skirt still gathered at your waist.

He hummed in consideration, evidently wrestling with himself. "How do you take this off?" he asked, hovering uncertainly over the fabric of the waistband.

The smile that hit your lips was genuine as you looked at him. "The zipper's on the side, you moron," you replied, pointing lazily to the concealed closure.

He leaned down, planting a tender kiss on your lips as his fingers grasped the zipper tab and pulled it down. His touch lingered on your skin, the kiss deepening. His name escaped you in a soft warning, prompting him to pull back, his lips parting from yours as he guided the fabric off, gently lifting your hips.

Gathering you into his arms, he held you close. "What's with all the tenderness, swordsman?" you murmured, nuzzling your nose against his neck. "I thought you only knew direct approaches."

"Careful, witch," he said, his tone somehow serious as he teased, his hands squeezing plush flesh as he buried his face in your hair. "If you keep this up, I'm bringing you back to bed."

Before you could offer a witty response, he gracefully lowered you into the welcoming embrace of the bathwater. Instantly, warmth enveloped you, coaxing the tension from your weary muscles. With a contented sigh, you reclined against the edge of the tub, allowing the soothing heat to work its magic.

As you relaxed, your gaze drifted to Zoro, who was now bending down to unlace his boots. The soft glow of the bathroom accentuated the contours of his muscular arms, casting a mesmerizing play of light and shadow across his skin. You couldn’t help the smirk gracing your features as you looked at the red marks plaguing his chest, his biceps. In that moment, he was nothing short of stunning, having you trapped and entranced as he undid his pants, kicked them off along with his boots.

“Scoot,” he demanded with a cock of his head, his earrings glinting in the movement.

You raised a brow at his tone but still you obliged, shifting over. The water rose around you as Zoro settled in behind you, his presence adding to the comforting embrace of the bath.

As he wrapped his arms around you, pulling you close against his chest, you didn’t resist as you backed into his hold, savoring the feeling of safety and warmth that surrounded you. The steady rhythm of his breathing was a soothing lullaby, calming your mind for a flicker of an instant.

For a while, you simply reveled in the blissful stillness of the moment, the only sound the soft murmur of the water as his hand traced up and down your arm in a mindless pattern and the quiet exhales of contentment that escaped you.

“About Yokubari,” you began, your voice barely a whisper, laden with uncertainty.

You felt him tense behind you, his fingers coming to a halt. His lips brushed against the skin near your ear, a delicate, repentant gesture. “I'm sorry,” he muttered, his apology scarcely audible over the pitter-patter of the rain against the rooftop.

You paused, grappling with the words on the tip of your tongue. “I won't deny that I'm still furious with you, Zoro,” you confessed, the admission hanging heavy in the air between you. “But it wasn’t all you. I was tired and scared, and I overreacted. I shouldn’t have left you alone with Yokubari like that, it was irresponsible on my part.”

There was a beat of silence, his lips trailing down your neck, over your shoulder, tracing the marks he’d left moments ago. His arms slid from the bath’s edge, sinking into the water and wrapping around your waist, pulling you tighter against him.

“I’m sorry,” he repeated, his voice grumbly and muffled against your skin. “You were right, I lost myself for an instant.”

You weren’t certain what it was you wanted to say, so you stayed quiet for a while. “Did you at least figure it out?” You asked eventually.

One of his hands traveled up from your stomach tracing the curve of your breast, playing with your nipple absentmindedly. The other went to your thigh, grabbing the soft flesh, his thumb moving in light circles. You felt his teeth sink in your neck.

“I figured out what I needed to,” he muttered halfheartedly as he kissed the bite mark tenderly.

Your brow furrowed in confusion, trying to understand what he meant. You let your head fall on his chest as you looked up at him.

“What the fuck does that mean?” You pressed, your voice tinged with apprehension.

Zoro's grip tightened around you, his expression conflicted as he struggled to find the right words. "I meant... I learned enough to control it, to keep it from consuming me," he explained, his tone imbued with a mixture of reluctance and determination. "But whether I've completely figured it out... I haven’t." He paused, his gaze searching yours before he continued. "I tried figuring it out on the day you left but I haven’t touched it since. It felt wrong to handle it without you there. I gave you my word. I should have kept it better."

His hand traveled up, wrapping around your throat for a moment before turning your head and placing a soft kiss on your lips.

“You’re an idiot, swordsman,” your breath mingled with his.

His lips curved into a wry smile against yours, his grip gentle yet possessive as he deepened the kiss, seeking solace and reassurance in the warmth of your embrace. You sank into him, the tension of the past few days melting away with each caress, each shared breath.

“I am,” he admitted. His touch left your face, going back to your breast with more purpose, his hand inched towards your heat once again, eliciting a soft moan from you.

“And you’re insatiable,” you complained in a whine, one of your hands flying to the bath’s edge to find purchase, the other settled on his leg at your side, nails digging hard.

His fingers met your core, opened you up, “I know,” he said with satisfaction dripping in his tone at the reaction of your body.

Bonus scene:

Roronoa Zoro found himself facing the consequences of his actions. The realization dawned on him that he had indeed messed up…bad. He hadn’t anticipated you staying away for so long—a thought that seemed absurd now as he reflected on it. With closed eyes, he furrowed his brow, attempting to will himself to sleep, though slumber had eluded him ever since you departed. His jaw clenched, the memory of the hurt in your eyes flickered behind his eyelids, haunting him relentlessly.

The abrupt slam of the door shattered the fragile peace of his solitude, and he fought the instinct to flinch, hoping to be left alone a moment more.

“Good, you’re awake,” Nami stated, her perceptive gaze cutting through his feigned slumber. “Follow me.”

He reluctantly cracked an eye open, a scowl of irritation etching his features. “I’m trying to sleep,” he grumbled, but the determined look in Nami’s stare made him concede defeat before the battle had even begun.

“Fine,” he muttered, begrudgingly rising to his feet.

His footsteps stopped in front of the establishment, the realization of what Nami was trying to achieve downing on him. Had he known that the navigator was going to drag him all the way to you, he would have undoubtedly put up more of a fight. He tried to turn away but her hand grabbed him hard, pulling him with her.

“Don’t come back until you’ve made up,” Nami urged, shoving him through the doorway of the bar. “I don’t know what you did, but apologize.”

With a pat on the back, she left him standing there, her words echoing in his mind.

He sighed, shifting uncertainly in the entryway, his gaze surveying the small, cozy space. Inevitably, he spotted you, leaning against the bar, engaged in conversation with someone he couldn’t quite see, a soft smile gracing your lips.

If he were honest, he had had every intention of apologizing in that moment. However, as he watched the young man lean closer to you, an unfamiliar pang of jealousy stirred within him. Rationality reminded him that you didn’t belong to him; you were your own person. Yet, as he witnessed the intimacy of the gesture, heard the clear din of your laughter ring through the chatter of the room, his frustration boiled dangerously. The countless apologies he had rehearsed over the past few days evaporated from his mind as he stormed to your side.

You had willfully ignored him from the moment you noticed his presence, your fury towards him still evident in the fire of your eyes. He sensed his own annoyance doubling at his inability to know how to handle the situation.

Yet, as your angry gaze had met his, he felt a rush of emotions flood over him—a mixture of longing and regret.

Damn it.

In the soft glow of the lanterns, you looked breathtakingly beautiful, and he couldn't help but be drawn to you. He wanted nothing more than to pin you to that bar and kiss you dizzy. You snapped something at him, but he couldn't quite register the words amidst the whirlwind of unknown reactions coursing through him.

Before you could escape him again, he grasped your hand. A possessive hold that was unlike him.

“We’re going back to the ship,” He said, his voice feeling far away, as though it was someone else’s. Hell, even he realized how ridiculous he sounded when the words left his lips.

Fuck.

He didn’t even know how to get back to the ship.

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Masterlist

#the swordsman and the blacksmith #roronoa zoro #roronoa zoro x reader #roronoa zoro x you #roronoa zoro x y/n #one piece x reader #zoro x reader #charlou writes

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ragnarockz · 3 months ago

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'Don't get shy on me now' ... 👀🚗

📸🚗

"Don't get shy on me now, we've done this before..."

Agent Vidal stated rather plainly, looking Agnes up and down from head to toe. They were both in the back seat of their rental car, jackets left in the front seat along with their gear. They were on their way home from work, passing by the wooded area when Vidal asked Agnes for a napkin. She had spilled some of her coffee on her seat and she knew Agnes was kinda uptight about the car, even though she left it in her own sort of mess. The detective mumbled something about the glove compartment and Agent Vidal sprung it open. Not a hint of paper napkins to be found but, what did come tumbling out was a stack of Polaroids.

"Yeah, we've done it before...with our own camera, Vidal. The one you're holding is the one we use for fucking work; you know? At our government job,"

Agnes pressed, her voice coming out strong, blunt. Pressing wasn't only done with her voice as she had her thigh between Vidal's legs, stuck on her back in the cramped backseat while Vidal sat high. The Agent shrugged, popping off the lens cap of the camera and turning it on. Agnes watched with a lump in her throat, an ache between her legs. Vidal had put all the Polaroids in the back; over the seat, on top of Agnes' body. She stuck them if they fit in the crevices of the headliner so that Agnes, on her back, could look at them.

"So? We take the memory card home and then bring it back. Happens all the time; things being misplaced that is...not so much a decorated detective getting fucked in the back seat of her rental car as her FBI partner takes pictures of her."

Agnes struggled a groan as her hands flew up, knocking some of the pictures off of her. Hands grabbing the side of Vidal's waist, she pushed her down further onto her thigh. Vidal giggled in delight, being tossed around and manhandled by Agnes while she was all coiled up, burning inside from being teased and caught red handed was a dream.

"God, Baby, I can't believe you just keep them in the car like that? What do you do? Sneak off during work or, when you drive in by yourself...take them out and touch yourself while driving?"

Vidal looked down, smirking as she watched Agnes' face turn red. Oh, she thought as she recognized the expression on Agnes' face, that is what happened.

"Vidal, I swear to god..."

Vidal laughed again as she rocked her hips forward this time, not waiting for Agnes to pull her down against her. Vidal got another groan out of the detective. She loved watching her squirm like this. Actually, this was the perfect moment to...

Snap.

"Just like that, Baby...bring your elbows in as you hold me down...press those tits together for me..."

Snap.

Agnes' face was beet red; unable to hide her intoxicated shame that burned right down to pleasure. She was doing what she was told, letting Vidal ride her thigh while take pictures. Hell, she couldn't escape the truth if she wanted to; all she had to do was look up and see the pictures Vidal had stashed above her on the ceiling.

"Hmm..."

What?!"

Agnes blurted out, trying to get her breathing under control. She could barely think straight as everything felt numb around her. Vidal hadn't stopped grinding against her, hadn't stopped taking pictures. The onslaught of non-stop teasing made Agnes feel like she was going to explode.

"I think I...mmm like the Polaroids better..."

"Huh...and why...is that, Vidal...fuckme...god!"

Her response was not words, not yet. She very carefully put the camera down for a second to bring her hands to the hem of her shirt. She pulled it off as gracefully as she could, minding the tight squeeze. A Polaroid from behind her flew down, being knocked by her wrist. She picked it up, looked at it and smiled. Turning it to show Agnes, she watched as the detectives eyes went wide,

"Because...when we take them...ohgodAgnes....fuckme...."

Her breath hitched, eyes snapping shut as she felt the throbbing ache of her clit, her insides, as she rocked her hips a little faster to get more friction.

Her wrist was slightly shaking now as she kept the Polaroid in her hand as still as she could. It was a picture of herself that Agnes had taken. She was fully naked and sitting on their bedroom floor, facing Agnes' easel style mirror. The reflection showed Vidal's face, her breasts, the dark triangle of hair between her legs. The mirror also showed Agnes in the back with the camera up to her eye; half of her face missing but the rest of her was visible. She was just as naked but standing tall, strong. She was the one in control in that captured moment.

Vidal sighed loudly as she caught herself for a moment to finish her thought,

"Because...I can instantly hold it and show you just how fucking desperate you look for me..."

#Good morning my beautiful heathens ❤#Ask #Marvel #Agatha All Along #Butch!Agatha #Agnes O'Connor #Detective Agnes O'Connor #Agnes of Westview #Agent Vidal #Rio Vidal #Writing #Writing prompts

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south-of-heaven · 1 year ago

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Can you write Rhea and Buddy with reader who's afraid of fireworks/firecrackers, helping her to get through New Year's Eve because neighbors' annoying kids are playing with firecrackers and scarying her?

Firecracker || Rhea Ripley x Reader x Buddy Matthews

Summary: Rhea and Buddy help you get through New Years Eve.

New Year's Eve, a night that the world celebrates with joy and anticipation, is a personal battle for you. As the day unfolds, you feel the tension building, knowing that the explosive sounds of fireworks and firecrackers are imminent. A childhood accident has left you terrified of these sudden bursts, and each year, facing the cacophony becomes a daunting challenge.

As night descends, the echoes of laughter and the popping sounds grow louder. The neighbors' kids, excitedly playing with firecrackers on the street, send shivers down your spine. The anxiety builds, threatening to engulf you entirely.

Sitting on the couch, you try to keep a brave face, but the tension is palpable. Rhea and Buddy, perceptive to your unease, exchange concerned glances. They understand the depth of your fear and are determined to shield you from the onslaught of sounds.

Rhea gently sits beside you, her arm wrapping around your shoulders, offering a comforting presence. "We've got you, love. You don't have to face this alone," she assures you, her voice a soothing balm.

Buddy, always attuned to your needs, joins the effort. He fetches noise-canceling headphones, placing them gently over your ears. The outside world fades away, replaced by a calming silence. He sits down on your other side, providing a reassuring anchor.

The three of you sit in the dimly lit room, cocooned in a bubble of understanding. Rhea whispers words of comfort, while Buddy remains a steady presence. As the first firecracker pops outside, Rhea's grip tightens, and Buddy shoots a reassuring glance your way.

Their unwavering support gives you the strength to endure the onslaught. With every burst, they offer words of encouragement, distracting you with anecdotes and stories. Rhea even pulls you into a gentle dance, swaying to an imaginary melody, creating a haven of tranquility in the midst of the chaos.

When the last firecracker has fizzled out, you slowly remove the headphones, feeling a mix of relief and gratitude. Rhea and Buddy exchange proud smiles, their eyes reflecting the shared triumph over the fear that haunted you.

"Thank you," you whisper, your voice filled with genuine gratitude.

Rhea leans in, pressing a gentle kiss to your forehead. "Anytime, love. We're always here for you."

Buddy wraps an arm around you, pulling you into a warm embrace. "You're not alone in this. We've got each other."

As the clock strikes midnight, signaling the arrival of the new year, you find solace in the arms of Rhea and Buddy. The transition from dread to relief becomes a testament to the strength of love and the unwavering support that surrounds you.

#wwe fanfiction #wwe x reader #pro wrestling #wwe #wrestling #aew rampage #aew imagine #aew fanfiction #aew dynamite #rhea ripley x reader #rhea x reader #rhea ripley x reader x buddy matthews #buddy matthews x reader #buddy matthews #buddy murphy

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photogirl894 · 8 months ago

Text

"Sun and Rain Part 2: Age of the Empire"

Chapter 40

"Traumas of the Past"

A "Bad Batch" fanfic!

Pairing: Hunter x fem OC, Echo (more best friend pairing)

A/N: Guys, after so long, we've finally come to the finale of Bad Batch season 1!! It almost doesn't feel real!

A heads up: Part 2 will not quite be ending just yet. I have a couple things I want to do in this part before we move on to season 2/Part 3, so just letting you all know on that front 😊

With that...prepare yourself for a rollercoaster of angst with this chapter 😅 It's a bit longer than normal cuz I put the whole episode into this one. I just couldn't find a place that felt right to split into two chapters, so hopefully that's okay. Love y'all!!

Taglist: @the-sad-batch , @nimata-beroya , @intrepidmare , @legolkenxbi , @tech-aficionado ,

@ladykatakuri , @d1n0-dan , @sammi9498 , @darthzero22 , @scarlettrose9901 ,

@thebadbatchscyare , @chxpsi , @ilikemymendarkandfictional , @4pplecider , @locitapurplepink ,

@l-lend , @nekotaetae , @eternalwaffle , @merkitty49 , @avathebestx ,

@idoubleswearimawriter , @techs-stitches , @fantasyproductions , @totallyunidentified , @dreamsandrosies ,

@theknightofivanhoe

《 Chapter 39

》 Chapter 41

All parts (Part 2) (Part 1)

Explanation: Kimber and the Clones must escape Tipoca City as it's being destroyed as well as face the demons between them all after Crosshair's shocking revelation.

Kimber's inevitable fall was stopped right away as a hand shot out and grasped her tightly by the hand. She looked up and, through her helmet and the rain, saw Hunter leaning over the edge and she cried out his name in surprise. She had hoped he and the others would run and save themselves instead of risking their lives to save her, but deep down, she was also relieved that he had come back for her after all.

“I've got you, sweetheart!” he cried back.

As he started to pull her up, Tech then appeared beside him, reaching down to grab her arm and he helped get Kimber back up to safety. Once she was back up on the runway and Tech helped steady her, Hunter yelled at them to run. Tech and Kimber sprinted down to the doors where the others were anxiously waiting with Hunter close behind, hearing explosions and feeling the rumbling of the Empire's attacks behind them.

Back inside the facility, it was dark since all of the lights had shorted out, so everyone pulled out their flashlights so they could see. Multiple fractured wires and lights hung from the walls and the ceiling, sparks flying from the ends. Everything around them continued to tremble and fall apart from the onslaught outside as they kept running, trying to find somewhere safe to hide. At one point, a blast made one of the walls beside them explode, causing everyone to stumble from the impact, and Hunter told everyone to find cover. However, they only got a few feet ahead when another explosion went off in front of them, sending everyone flying back and they all hit the ground hard, their ears ringing loudly. They all began to get back to their feet, but it was no use as, all of a sudden, the whole corridor started tilting, which meant the whole facility was more than likely falling into the ocean, and everyone found themselves falling back onto the floor and then sliding down along with copious amounts of debris, broken metal and chunks of the walls and ceiling falling down around them.

Kimber was sliding at an increasing speed down the hallway and spotted Crosshair not far ahead of her, realizing Wrecker had lost his hold on him and that he was now conscious. In a split second, however, she saw him get trapped between some large metal fragments and instinctually, she reached out for him, but to no avail as she sped right past him. She looked back down and saw everyone else was further down; Omega was just in front of her to her left and Hunter was closest by just a few feet. Though, Omega herself ended up landing on some more debris while Hunter and Kimber sped past her. The kid called out for them as they got further away and, to their astonishment, some wiring in the wall came loose, short-circuiting one of the doors in the hall and it closed, separating Omega from everyone else. Shortly after, the entire building shook like it crashed into something and the Bad Batch all laid still on the ground, recuperating from the fall they had just taken.

After taking a minute to get her bearings, Kimber crawled over to Hunter not far from her. “Hunter? Wake up,” she said, shaking him lightly.

He stirred briefly and then looked up at her. “Are you all right?” he asked.

She nodded. “You?”

He nodded back.

Right then, as everyone else around started to come to, they could hear Omega’s voice crying out over their comms, “Hunter, do you copy? Tech? Echo? Is anyone there? Kimber? Wrecker?” When Hunter responded asking if she was okay, she informed them that the room on the other side of the door was flooding and Crosshair was stuck.

“Hang on, Omega. We’ll get you out,” Kimber reassured her over the comm.

Hunter ordered Tech to get the door open, but Tech explained that he couldn’t because all compromised compartments were sealed to contain the flooding and he couldn’t override the protocols from their location. Wrecker, though, was confident that he could get the door open as he pulled out his giant blade and walked over to the doorway. He inserted the blade in the crevice between the doors and started pushing as hard as he could, trying to pry the doors open and water was spurting out through the other side. Kimber stood back and watched anxiously, unsure of what she could do to help, but wishing that she could. She wrung her hands together, her nerves getting the best of her. Omega and Crosshair were trapped in a room that was quickly flooding. What if they couldn’t save them in time? What if they drowned before the door got opened? She could feel her breathing growing short and her heart racing. Then she felt a hand slip into hers and she looked at Hunter beside her.

“It’s gonna be all right. We’ll get them out,” he consoled her.

All she could do was nod, but she knew her anxiety wouldn’t be quelled until she saw Omega and Crosshair for herself to make sure they were okay. She kept her gaze intently on the door as Wrecker continued to push the door open with his knife and Tech had stepped in to assist, the two of them making little progress. Even with Wrecker’s enhanced strength, these doors were proving to be a challenge.

“Almost got it,” Wrecker stated through a groan and then a few seconds later, the doors widened and a wave of water came gushing through. He caught Omega in his arms and quickly handed her to Echo so he and Tech could close the doors. AZI and Crosshair soon followed through and the doors were quickly closed to keep more water from getting in.

Kimber was able to breathe a sigh of relief seeing that Omega was okay. Crosshair slid across the floor towards her and Hunter and Hunter simply stopped him with his foot, which made Kimber release a tiny snicker. Something about that was amusing to her, given how angry she was at Crosshair.

Standing up and looking around in astonishment, Crosshair demanded of Hunter, “What have you done?”

“The Empire opened fire on the city. We weren’t gonna leave you behind,” Hunter responded.

Then Crosshair looked unpleasantly at Kimber and asked, “Did you stun me?”

Grimacing underneath her helmet, knowing he was referring to earlier in the training room, she replied calmly but still with a bite to her tone, “Be grateful that's all I did.”

“We don’t have time for this,” Tech interjected. “We need to get topside before this entire structure submerges.”

“If you want to stay here and die, that’s your call,” Hunter then said firmly to Crosshair before turning away and leading the others down the hall before them.

They all took out their torches and continued running, making their way into a glass tunnel. Their surroundings continued to jolt and shift as the facility was sinking and breaking apart. They continued to avoid falling debris and sparks from the wires. Omega ended up stopping in front of one of the windows and Kimber, being right behind her, stopped as well. Her heart fell as she realized what Omega was looking at.

It was another lab, but this one had multiple structures covered in small tubes and the whole room was gradually flooding with water. Judging by the horrified look on Omega’s face, it didn’t take long for Kimber to figure out that this was where all the Clones were created as tiny babies. It was hard to tell if there were still any inside any of the tubes and she prayed that there weren’t because the thought of any of those unborn Clones not making it was too much for her to bear. Wrecker’s voice then telling her and Omega that they needed to go broke her out of her trance and she ran off after the others down the tunnel.

They found themselves staggering even more as they went on and they all began to fear that the facility was nearing the bottom of the ocean. Before they knew it, there was an even stronger jolt all around them and the walls all began to tilt to the side just like it had before.

“Hold on to something!” Hunter cried.

Before long, the ground slipped out from under them as the corridor went right side up and everyone had to grab onto something to keep themselves from falling. Kimber slid for a second, but then jumped up and grabbed a broken section of the wall, holding on as hard as she could. There was another shake and when she looked up, she saw Echo plummeting down towards her, having lost his grip. Panicking at seeing her best friend falling, she reached out and grasped his hand tightly to save him and, even though she halted his fall, his weight was hard on her arm and a brief shot of pain ran through her arm, causing her to cry out. Despite that and using all the strength she could muster, she still was able to keep her grip on his hand as the two of them dangled in the air. She looked up and saw that everyone else had found something to hold onto and they were all okay for the moment. It felt like forever before they felt the room shudder and the walls tilted again, the tunnel going back into the horizontal position and they all dropped onto the ground.

After catching his breath, Echo said to Kimber, “Good catch, Kim. Thanks.”

“Of course. I always got you,” she replied, getting up to her feet.

She helped him up to his feet as Tech informed the group, “I believe we have landed on the ocean floor. There is no way to accurately calculate the damage. Most of the facility must be--”

The crash of a nearby explosion sounded above them and a part of the ceiling broke apart, spilling water into the tunnel.

“Compromised,” Tech finished.

“We need to get to a space that’s more secure,” said Hunter.

Tech looked at his datapad and then told everyone to follow him, darting off further down the tunnel.

As everyone else ran off, Kimber noticed that Crosshair wasn’t following. He was just standing near the back, looking stoically at the ground. Omega was watching him for a moment, but then she too ran after the rest of the group. Kimber had half a mind to leave Crosshair there, but her kind-hearted nature and her deep-rooted care for Crosshair was stronger than anything else. Even though she wanted to be mad at him, she knew she couldn’t let him stay behind.

“You’ve made some dumb decisions, but I know you're not stupid enough to think you'll be able to get out of this alone. You're better off sticking with us,” she curtly told him. Then gesturing forward with her head, she added, “So, if you want to live, get a move on.”

Without waiting up for him or to hear a response, Kimber whipped around and took off to follow the rest of her squad…but, after a few seconds, she heard the sound of his footsteps following her and she didn’t know whether to be annoyed or relieved by that fact.

“Ironically, our old barracks is one of the few compartments habitable…albeit temporarily,” Tech stated as they walked inside the room he had led everyone to.

“This is our room?” Kimber asked, stepping inside and taking in the state of the barracks with her torchlight. The tables and sofas had all been overturned and scattered about the room. Any belongings were also on the floor or destroyed. It was disheartening to see a room she once held so dear; one that held so many precious memories within, be in such a destroyed state.

“What happened to it?” Wrecker asked, following in after her and the others.

“At least, the smell’s gone,” Echo remarked.

Then Wrecker looked at the wall beside the door and pointed out, “Check it out. Our board’s still here.” He shined the light of his torch onto the wall and showed that sure enough, the markings of their victory board were still intact.

Looking at the wall, Crosshair stated in the doorway, “All those missions together…and you threw it away.”

Just hearing him make that comment made Kimber annoyed. With a roll of her eyes and a groan, she turned around and replied, “Ugh, you're really going to start now?”

Hunter also turned to face him and said back, “We made a choice and so did you.”

“Soldiers follow orders,” said Crosshair, coming all the way into the room.

“Blind allegiance makes you a pawn. A real leader protects his squad,” said Hunter.

Grimacing, Crosshair fired back at him, “Look where that's gotten you. They're all going to die here because of your failed leadership.”

“Says the one who literally just killed his own squad. What does that say about you?” Kimber sassed in return.

As Crosshair glared at her, Omega, who was standing by the window on the opposite side, spoke up, pointing out the window, “No, we're not. Look! We landed on the underwater tunnel.”

She went on to explain that if they followed the tunnel to the base post, they could make their way back to their ship. Tech thought getting to the tube would be challenging, but both Echo and Omega thought it was worth a try.

“She's calling the shots now?” Crosshair asked condescendingly, looking down at Omega.

“You have a better idea?” Hunter asked back, unamused, as he shoulder checked him as he walked by.

The others went after Hunter, but Kimber stayed behind for a moment, taking in her final sight of the former Bad Batch barracks, knowing this would be the last time she’d ever see it.

“Reminiscing?” Crosshair asked, apparently having stayed behind, too.

Immediately, she frowned and replied, “Yes...reminiscing on a time when you weren’t a traitor.” Then she briskly walked past him to catch up with the others.

She found the rest of the group in another deck of the facility and overheard Tech saying the tunnel was underneath. AZI was busy welding through the floor and down into the tunnel. A few seconds later, the large circle AZI had sawed off through the floor fell through and AZI informed everyone that the tunnel was clear for them to proceed. Carefully, they all jumped down into the tunnel and followed the Droid.

As Kimber slowly followed through the tunnel, her anxiety at their current predicament began to escalate. The windows of the tunnel around them were gradually degrading; she could hear the sounds of cracking around her. Normally, that wouldn’t bother her so much, but given the fact that they were in an underwater tunnel, that made everything so much worse. This was not good for her fear of water and drowning. If the tunnel collapsed, then there was no escaping that inevitable fate.

She was frozen in place for a split second, but then heard Wrecker say softly to her, “You okay?”

Timidly, she answered, “It’s just…we’re completely surrounded by water.”

Needing no other explanation, Wrecker gave her an encouraging pat on the back and told her, “Don’t worry, just stick by me. If things go wrong, I’ve got you.”

She gave a half-nod back, still feeling anxious, but a little less so knowing she had Wrecker looking after her.

Behind them, they then heard Crosshair state aloud, “We need to go back. There must be another way.”

“That would be unwise. I am afraid this is our best option,” AZI replied.

Wrecker then stopped, scowled at Crosshair and fired back, “You done complaining? You know, if it wasn’t for you, we wouldn’t be in this mess.”

“Something on your tiny mind, Wrecker?” Crosshair asked with a sneer.

Hearing his rude dig at Wrecker, Kimber was furious and immediately started forward, ready to just punch him, but Tech held her back.

“All that time, you didn’t even try to come back,” Wrecker accused Crosshair angrily. Then he calmed down and his face turned sad as he let out a sigh. “We still would’ve taken ya,” he admitted in a low voice.

Kimber felt a tug on her heartstrings, seeing that Wrecker was still feeling sad over everything with Crosshair instead of angry like her and everyone else. It made her remember when they’d found out she’d sent messages to Crosshair after Bracca and she blew up at them for not wanting to talk about him. Wrecker had admitted to her that he missed Crosshair, too, and wanted him back as much as she did. It appeared that hadn’t changed, even after the information they’d learned.

Then Tech stepped up to Wrecker and stated, “Let it go, Wrecker. Crosshair has always been severe and unyielding. It is his nature. You cannot change that. He cannot change that.”

As Wrecker walked away, Crosshair questioned Tech, “Why are you defending me?”

Tech fully faced him and replied firmly, “I am not. Understanding you does not mean that I agree with you.”

Up ahead, Omega expressed her uncertainty over the safety of their surroundings to AZI, but AZI was certain the tunnel was still a viable option for them. They thought they'd still be cautious and move slowly, so as to hopefully not agitate the glass any further.

Suddenly, they heard a faint roar coming from outside the tunnel and they all stopped, startled.

“Uh, I think we have a problem,” Kimber pointed out.

They all watched out the side of the glass tunnel, trying to see if they could spot the source of the continued roaring, but could hardly see anything in the dark, murky water.

Omega whispered to AZI, “AZI, these tunnels are protected, right?”

The medical Droid answered, “Only when the power is operational...which it is not.”

Right then, in the light of their torches, a giant maw of a large sea creature appeared outside, roaring even louder and Hunter ordered everyone to run. They took off down the tunnel, but didn’t get far before the creature rammed into the side of the tunnel, causing everyone to lose their footing and trip. As that happened, they all heard AZI cry out that he was going to restore power in order to deter the monster.

Below Kimber, she saw the glass cracking and splitting even more and her body locked in fear. Lucky for her, Wrecker pulled her up to her feet by her shoulders with ease and gave her a light push so she’d start running again. As they reached the end of the tunnel that curved upward, they saw the monster start to chew on the outside with its giant teeth, which ruptured spots in the walls and water started pouring in. Kimber saw this and started hyperventilating, thinking her worst fears were coming true.

“Stay in front of me, I got you! Climb!” Wrecker cried to her, keeping her moving towards the end, where there were rungs they could climb up the rest of the tunnel. Once she started climbing, then she heard Wrecker tell her, “Keep your eyes up! Don’t look down!”

Not needing to be told twice, Kimber kept her eyes upward where she could see the ceiling and the others except for Wrecker and Crosshair climbing. She went as fast as her feet could take her. The lights around the tunnel began to flicker on for a second and then they got brighter, sending sparks to the outside of the tunnel and eliciting a shriek of pain from the monster gnawing on the outside, causing it to swim away. The water levels below were rising faster, but AZI managed to close up the tunnel, locking out the flooding. Seeing they were now safe, everyone jumped down from the ladder to catch their breath, slumping down to the ground and leaning back against the wall.

Exhausted already, Kimber thought to herself, “I am so ready to get out of this place.”

After taking time to recuperate from their run-in with the sea creature, they continued their climb up the ladder up into another room. It looked to be another lab with large glass tubes inside much like the ones in the one they'd seen before, only they seemed to be sized for grown Clones instead of infants and there were just a handful of them as opposed to hundreds. Omega and AZI came through first, followed by Wrecker, then Echo and Tech with Kimber, Hunter and Crosshair taking up the rear.

“What is this place?” asked Hunter as he came, removing his helmet and shining his torch around the room.

Tech answered him, “Nala Se’s private lab. Omega says this is where our mutations were manipulated and enhanced.”

“How would she know?” Crosshair asked skeptically.

“Because she was there,” Tech said without missing a beat. “Omega was created before us. Technically, she is older than we are.”

That was a fact that was going to mess with Kimber’s head a bit because for a second, she had forgotten the concept of advanced aging for the Clones, but she wasn't going to dwell on it much for the time being. There were more important things to worry about, like getting back to the Marauder. However, as they checked around the corner, what they found was less than unpleasant.

“That’s gonna be a problem,” Wrecker declared.

Outside the window, they saw that the other tunnel leading into the lab and back to the platform where the Marauder was docked was demolished; a giant chunk of the tunnel had been torn away and there was a huge gap in the middle.

“That tunnel was the only way to the Marauder,” Omega said in despair.

“It would seem that, once again, we are trapped,” AZI stated.

“Not helping, AZI,” Kimber commented back, taking her own helmet off.

They all started to look around to see if there was anything to help in their current situation, but there didn’t seem to be anything right away that they could find. Echo informed the group that long-range comms were down and soon their oxygen levels would be low.

Crosshair, who was just standing against the wall with his arms crossed and not bothering to help, then remarked harshly, “This is what happens when you let a kid call the shots.” Then he cast a glare over at Omega, who shrunk down with a guilty look on her face.

Kimber wasn’t about to let him get away with such an off-handed comment. She was already angry at him, but the cruel remark to Wrecker from before and now his dig at Omega were pushing her limit. “At least she’s actually trying to help. If you’re not going to help or be useful in any way, then I would suggest you do us all a favor and just shut up,” she spat at him.

Then Hunter stepped forward and defended Omega, saying, “And that kid saved your life...unlike the Empire, who left you for dead.”

Moving away from the wall to approach Hunter, Crosshair said with a sneer, “That’s your problem, Hunter. You take things too personally.”

“Oh, like you have room to talk,” Kimber stated.

“They destroyed an entire city,” Hunter persisted.

That, however, didn't even seem to faze Crosshair at all. “They did what needed to be done,” he replied. “Kamino…regs…the Republic...that time is over. The Empire will control the entire galaxy and I am going to be a part of it. Hunter, you made the wrong choice.”

Kimber's hands clenched tightly into fists, her anger at Crosshair bubbling up hot within her.

“Don't fool yourself. All you'll ever be to them is a number,” Hunter pointed out.

Crosshair just glared, rolled his eyes and said as he walked away, “Shows what you know.”

That was what finally made Kimber snap.

She stomped after Crosshair, ignoring any warnings from Hunter or Echo and her sights set on her former squadmate. It was time to let her fury loose upon him once and for all.

He turned around, hearing her come up behind him, and she slapped him hard across the face, the impact of it echoing through the quiet room. He slowly looked back at her, but said nothing, showing only emptiness in his eyes.

With hot, bitter tears forming in her eyes and through clenched teeth, she said to him, seething, “You are out of your damn mind if you think the Empire will ever value you more than we ever did. I can’t even begin to say how insulted I am that you would think such a thing.”

In response, he just continued to glower at her.

“When did you get your chip out, Crosshair? Tell me,” she then demanded, the question having lingered in her mind since the training room.

Still, he remained silent, his gaze diverting to the ground.

Resenting his reluctance to tell her the truth, she just screamed, “Tell me!”

Her loud outcry startled everyone in the room and even Crosshair was a little taken aback. However, he still was not persuaded and just turned away.

Kimber could feel her heart breaking into smaller pieces than it already had been. His silence spoke volumes to her and it made her even more livid just wondering how long ago his chip had been removed. Then she kept questioning him, “Out of all the times we crossed paths, how much of everything you did was the chip and how much of it was your own choice? Was it you who held a rifle to my head on Ryloth? Was it you who tricked me on Bracca? Was it you who shot me the last time we were here? Tell me the truth, Crosshair!”

Crosshair turned back and finally, he spoke, “Even if I told you, what difference would it make?”

Aghast at such a question, she blurted out in reply, “ It would make all the difference!” She groaned and pinched the bridge of her nose for a second, trying to keep calm as best she could. Then she asked him, her voice straining slightly, “At what point did our partnership...our sibling bond…suddenly mean nothing to you?”

“It’s never meant nothing to me,” he said, almost hissing.

“How can I believe that now?” she asked back.

“Why do you think, out of everyone, I pushed so hard for you to join me? I wanted us to stay together; I made that clear from the start.”

She rolled her eyes, exasperated. “Oh yeah, like that’s supposed to make me feel better.”

He let out a loud sigh and sat himself down in front of the window, putting his head in his hand. Then when he straightened up, he said snidely, “None of this would have happened had you taken Tarkin’s offer to begin with.”

Hearing that comment, Kimber saw red and, if it hadn’t been Crosshair she was talking to, she might’ve whipped out her blaster on him. Instead, her eyes went wide with ire and she said, raising her voice and her tone getting sharp as a vibroblade, “Don’t you dare blame me for this! For once in your life, take some accountability for your own actions!”

Once again, he stayed quiet and just averted his gaze away. In shame or frustration, she couldn’t quite tell.

It was unbelievable to her that she was even having this conversation with him. How could this be the same Crosshair she once fought side by side with; the same Crosshair who watched sunsets with her on new planets and once loved her like a sister?

“How could you do this, Crosshair? How could you willingly choose to be against us? We’re your family,” she pleaded emotionally.

Still, he said nothing and wouldn't meet her sorrowful gaze.

With a disappointed sigh, she went on to say, “Your silence tells me everything. I really believed with my whole heart that you would never freely choose this life. I thought I knew you better than you knew yourself.” Then she scoffed at herself. “Shows how much of an idiot I was for believing I actually knew you at all. As far as I’m concerned, my brother was lost to me months ago here when he was taken away from the brig.”

Kimber moved to walk away from him, having nothing more she wanted to say in the moment, but stopped in place when she heard Crosshair warn her, “If you think you can win against the Empire, you’re a fool.”

Looking over her shoulder at him, she retaliated, “No…you’re the fool thinking you’ll be better off with those literally discarding and destroying everyone like you than being with those who actually love you.” With that, she walked away, refusing to look back.

The others were busy lifting up the large, empty medical capsules and just as she approached, Echo told everyone that the capsules were their way out.

Then Tech explained, “If our mass is evenly distributed, the buoyancy of these watertight chambers will bring us to the surface.”

“Medical capsules have not been tested for such capabilities,” AZI stated in return.

That made Kimber nervous. Going out in open water in medical capsules that they weren’t even sure would float was not exactly reassuring. Unfortunately, there didn’t seem to be any other options.

Hunter then added, “We won’t have directional control. How do we avoid the debris field out there?”

“We have AZI. He can use his rocket boosters to push up through the water,” Kimber suggested, despite the fact she wasn’t fond of the idea.

Then she heard Crosshair behind her say, “She’s right.” Kimber and the others all looked back at him and he added almost begrudgingly, “He can do it.”

Kimber wanted to be happy about him actually agreeing with her, but she just didn’t have the emotional strength for it at the moment.

Hunter asked AZI if he’d be able to guide them to the surface and the Droid replied he should be able to complete the task and that their safety was his primary objective. With a new plan in place, they prepared themselves for their escape.

Wrecker had some extra explosives on him that he gave to Omega and AZI to place on the windows that would open the way for them to get out. Then they grouped themselves into pairs so they could all be in a capsule: Hunter and Crosshair, since Hunter refused to let Crosshair out of his sight; Tech and Echo and then Kimber and Omega. Wrecker was, unfortunately, too large to fit with anyone else, so he was by himself. Once the charges were set, Omega jumped into the medical capsule with Kimber and Hunter gave the order to seal them up. They each closed the doors to their capsules and awaited detonation. Omega took out the detonator for the explosives, glanced at Hunter who gave her a nod to go ahead, and she hit the button. Their vision was briefly obscured by white light and in seconds, they were all being swept away by the flooding water and out into the open sea.

Once they were out, Kimber could feel her heart rate rising and her chest constricting. There were lots of big pieces of metal and debris floating around and she feared something would break their capsule. She started feeling claustrophobic in her own helmet.

“We’re gonna be okay, Kimber. AZI will make sure nothing happens to us,” Omega sweetly said to soothe her worries.

Through a shaky breath, Kimber replied, “Thanks, kid.” She just had to keep telling herself they were going to be okay and maybe her fears would subside.

She could tell they were slowly floating upwards and she looked around to see where Hunter’s capsule was. She couldn’t see it at first, but when she looked down, she could barely make out through the murky water AZI pushing Hunter and Crosshair’s tube upwards towards them. Knowing her Sergeant was close by gave her some relief.

“I can’t see anything,” she heard Wrecker say over the comms.

Then Tech’s voice replied, “That is a good thing.”

Kimber responded, pressing the button on the side of her helmet, “Not sure I share that sentiment, but we’ll agree to disagree.”

A few seconds later, AZI appeared above their capsule and looked down at them, making sure they were good, and Omega told him he was doing great. All of a sudden, a giant piece of metal debris slammed into their capsule, knocking AZI out of the way, cracking the capsule and pushing them further down into the depths. Omega cried out in surprise and Kimber gasped in fear, especially from seeing the cracks in the side. Her normal breathing turned into anxious hyperventilating that she couldn’t help, despite wanting to be strong for Omega.

“Just breathe and stay calm, Kimber. We’ll get out of this,” Omega tried to assure her, even though there was a hint of anxiety in her own voice, too.

Kimber inwardly chided herself for only making Omega even more nervous. She was the soldier; she should be the one being brave and calm in the face of danger, not the young girl…but she just couldn’t help it. Right then, her fear was stronger than her resolve.

Luckily, before long, AZI appeared and was trying to move the debris, but it was too heavy. Then he activated his welding torch in his hand and started to weld through the debris to get it off. Once it fell apart, he swam around to the bottom of the tube and, using the boosters in his feet, began to push them up towards the surface.

Over their comms, Kimber heard Hunter ask, concerned, “Kimber, Omega, what’s happening?”

“We got caught on some debris,” Kimber answered.

Omega then added on her own comm device, “It’s okay, AZI’s got us.”

However, when they both looked down, they realized that the lights in AZI’s eyes were beginning to flicker and his boosters were losing power. He was beginning to shut down.

“Don’t give up. We’re nearly there,” Omega desperately pleaded.

Sadly, his lights began to dim and he told them, his voice slowly distorting, “Your path is clear. I have completed my objective.” Then his eyes went dark and he slowly floated away from the capsule, down into the darkness of the sea.

“No!” Omega cried.

“I’m sorry, Omega,” Kimber said, putting her hands on Omega’s shoulders and feeling sorry for the loss of the kid’s only friend from Kamino.

However, Omega wasn’t going to let that be the end of it. Suddenly, she declared, “I’m going after AZI!”

“Omega, don’t--!”

Before Kimber could finish, Omega had already hit the button to open the door and water flooded the tube almost immediately, pushing it a few feet up and away from the force of the wave. In the blink of an eye, Kimber was spinning out of the capsule and floating in the water. With her helmet on, she could at least breathe, but it would only last for so long. Quickly, she looked down for Omega, but the water was too dark and her torch had been swept away. She couldn’t see Omega at all. She didn’t know what to do. Her body began to lock up again and dread overcame her, her mind reeling with memories of her near-drowning on Bestine a year prior. She wouldn’t be able to reach Omega…she would never see Hunter again…or Echo...or any of the boys or the Koriena Force. She was going to drown and one of her greatest nightmares would come true.

How was she going to get out of this?

“It’s happening again…I can’t do this…I can’t do this!” she thought, terrified.

Right then, she could hear Wrecker’s voice in her head; words he’d said to her a long time ago: “You can do this! Don’t let your fear take over. You’re a soldier; you’re brave and strong, Kimber, and I know you can conquer this fear.”

He had said that to her during his first swimming lesson with her when she’d been too fearful to even jump in the water. They had helped her take a step forward in overcoming her fear then and she was recalling them in her most desperate moment of need to help her again. No…she wasn’t going to let the Kaminoan sea be the death of her. Her family and her friends still needed her. This was not going to be the end for her.

She had to get to the others. She wasn’t an adept swimmer yet, so unfortunately, she knew she wouldn’t be able to get to Omega in time. She was closer to the surface, so heading that way would be her best chance to help the young Clone.

Then she remembered what Wrecker had told her in that same swimming lesson: “Just remember, once you’re in the water, kick with your legs and wave your arms above your head in a climbing motion just like I showed you. That’ll help push you to the surface.”

Even though she hadn’t done as well in that lesson and any others they’d had since then, now was not the time to dwell on that part of the past. She had to try harder this time. Someone else’s life depended on it. So with all the strength she could muster, Kimber started kicking and moving her arms in a climbing motion just like Wrecker had once taught her, swimming up towards the surface of the water. Her body moved quicker than she’d had before, which proved to herself that she was actually doing it. She was swimming!

Soon, she broke through the water and found herself a few feet away from the rest of the squad’s capsules, Wrecker as well as Hunter and Crosshair being the closest ones to her. The sky was filled with dark smoke and all around them were scattered pieces of the city, most of them in flames.

“Omega needs help!” she immediately cried out.

All heads turned in her direction and Hunter asked right away, “What happened?”

Kimber tried to tread water to keep afloat, but was having a hard time. Luckily, Wrecker paddled his capsule over with his hand closer to her and she was able to grab onto the side to stay up. “AZI lost power and started sinking. She went after him and I could’t reach her,” she quickly explained.

As Wrecker reached down and pulled her up into the tube, everyone else fretfully peered over the edge of their capsules into the water, trying to spot Omega, but no one could see her.

“I’m going in,” Hunter declared.

However, to everyone’s shock, Crosshair suddenly stood up in their capsule, his rifle now in his hands…and it looked like he was aiming it at Hunter.

Kimber gasped in alarm, ripping off her helmet. What was he doing? He wasn’t actually going to shoot Hunter point blank, was he? No, he couldn’t! He’d made some terrible decisions, whether it was because of the chip or not, but she couldn’t fathom him doing something like this. Right then, however, she noticed there was something attached to the underside of his rifle…one of his grappling hooks.

Just as she had this realization, he fired and his grappling hook shot straight down into the water. A few seconds later, they could hear the whirring sound of it being reeled up and Omega appeared out of the water, coughing and gasping for breath while holding onto AZI’s lifeless Droid body that was on the end of the hook. Hunter was quick to scoop her right out of the water and into the tube to safety.

Kimber heaved a sigh of relief at seeing Omega recovered. To her surprise, Crosshair had saved Omega, which only confused her even more. Despite having shown a lot of animosity towards the kid before, he still had chosen to save her life instead of letting Hunter do it. Maybe there was still some good in him after all, which ignited a tiny ember of hope within Kimber that a part of her brother still existed.

Although, she then realized she’d failed to notice Wrecker, Echo and Tech had drawn their weapons and were now aiming them at Crosshair. He too saw this and looked over his shoulder at all of them. He looked at Wrecker, who was now standing up, and then down at Kimber sitting inside the tube. Her heart twisted seeing the look on Crosshair’s face: a look of pain, sorrow and even resignation. That wasn’t what she thought she’d see. He appeared hurt at the fact his brothers were aiming their weapons at him, but she also couldn’t blame the others for reacting that way. Not after everything Crosshair had done before and had told them earlier that day. She wanted to say something to Crosshair…but couldn’t find the right words.

To her even greater shock, Crosshair then threw his sniper rifle over to Wrecker, who caught it easily, and then slumped down back into his capsule behind Hunter.

Then Tech spoke up, “I have a visual on the Marauder. I suggest we start paddling.”

Following Tech’s lead, they all started paddling themselves through the water in their respective capsules. Kimber started to help paddle, but found Wrecker’s larger stature and strength was moving the two of them along just fine, so she just sat back.

“Wrecker…I finally did it,” she told him as they went.

“Did what?” he asked over his shoulder.

She formed a tired smile on her face and clarified, “I swam up to the surface.”

He stopped paddling briefly to turn around and grin widely at her. “I always knew you had it in ya,” he stated, pleased at her success. Then he gave her a light, friendly punch on the arm. “I’m so proud of you.”

“It was all thanks to you,” she said as he resumed paddling along. “Not only what you taught me, but the words of encouragement you gave me a long time ago. They were what pulled me out of my terror down there. You helped save my life.” Then she leaned forward and hugged him around his waist, resting her head on his back. “Thank you, Wrecker,” she said.

“Hey, you know I’ve always got your back. Gotta make sure our best girl stays safe,” he answered.

She gave him one more grateful squeeze around his waist before sitting back against the end of the capsule, letting out a long heavy breath. At least now, they were out of the city wreckage and could get back to their ship. Then they could finally get off of Kamino once and for all. She looked up at the sky and just watched the clouds of smoke rolling by until eventually, they parted and, for the first time that she’d ever seen, the light of the sun broke through and illuminated their surroundings. On the way to the platform, she discovered that bright blue skies actually existed on Kamino and not just the constant dark and stormy skies.

Though, despite the light shining down on her, there was darkness inside of her. A sorrowful and melancholic darkness. She didn’t know what would happen once they reached the platform, mainly with Crosshair. What would the squad decide to do about him? What would Crosshair still want? What did she want?

The greater question was: if the squad and him decided to go their separate ways...was she ready to say goodbye to Crosshair potentially forever?

It took a while for them to reach the platform where the Marauder was and, once they all climbed up, they took a moment to look out on the horizon where Tipoca City used to be; where its remains were now floating or sinking into the ocean.

While Kimber wasn’t entirely fond of the place given some of her experiences there, it still held some good memories for her and there was some sense of loss in her heart staring at the tower of smoke rising from the sea. She’d gotten her Bad Batch armor there, it’s where they met Omega and it’s where she’d shared her first kiss with Hunter. More than that, it was where Hunter, her boys, Omega, Rex, Jesse and all of her other Clone friends had been created, raised and trained. It had been their home…and now it was gone. It was a place she was glad to never return to, but was still sad to see it destroyed.

Then she heard Omega’s solemn voice say, “It’s…all…gone.”

“We should leave before the Empire’s scouts show up,” stated Tech.

Wrecker, who was carrying AZI on his shoulder, glanced over at Crosshair and asked him, “You coming with us?”

“None of this changes anything,” Crosshair replied.

“You offered us a chance, Crosshair. This is yours,” Hunter said.

Though, Crosshair simply said back, “I made my decision.”

Kimber sighed and looked away. Even after everything they’d just endured; after the Empire literally destroyed the city with him inside, Crosshair was still being as stubborn as ever and refusing to back down from his stance with the Empire. Hunter had even been kind enough to offer him a chance when he very well didn’t have to. She couldn’t decide if she was mad or heartbroken at Crosshair’s decision, but either way…he wasn’t going to leave with them.

“We want different things, Crosshair. That doesn’t mean that we have to be enemies,” offered Hunter in solidarity.

Crosshair simply gave him one last look and then turned away, folding his arms across his chest.

Seeing there seemed to be nothing more they could do to persuade Crosshair otherwise, the rest of the squad headed back inside the Marauder. Hunter and Kimber were the last to walk in and they both saw Omega was still outside. She started to run back, but then stopped to talk to Crosshair.

“You’re not gonna say goodbye?” Hunter asked Kimber as they waited for Omega.

She looked down. “I don’t know if I can,” she answered.

He laid a hand on her arm and informed her, “We’ll leave when Omega’s done.”

She watched him walk into the cabin of the ship and then glanced back out at Omega and Crosshair. The young girl was on her way back and Kimber felt her heart beginning to pound hard in her chest. This was more than likely going to be the last time in a long time, if not forever, that she’d see Crosshair. Even though she wanted to stay angry at him and just hate him, thinking it would make it easier for her to let go of him…he was still her brother and she still loved him dearly, hence why the whole situation was so painful for her. After everything they’d gone through, both the good and the bad, did she really want to end things like this: without even saying a word to him?

Omega brushed past her and Kimber saw her about to close the ramp. "Wait!" Kimber cried. Then, with her feet acting before her mind could catch up, she ran out of the ship to the platform, calling Crosshair’s name.

He faced her as she came up to him. "Anything else you want to shout at me?" he inquired flatly.

Keeping her calm, she said back, "There are many things I want to say...but I know none of it will make a difference.” She looked around at the vast and endless sea all around them and commented, “You can't seriously be thinking of staying here.”

“Once the Empire arrives, they'll find me,” he said back, unfazed.

She didn't like the thought of him being alone on the platform, especially when there was no knowing how long it would take for the Empire to show up. If they did at all. “If you don't want to come with us, then fine, but at least let me call the Koriena Force to pick you up and take you somewhere,” she insisted.

“No,” he replied.

“You don't know how long it'll be until--”

“I said no.”

Kimber sighed. It was hopeless at this point to try and persuade him of anything. “I always knew you were stubborn, but this takes that to even greater heights. I don't know why I'm even bothering to still try and get through to you. You're too far beyond my reach now.” She paused for a moment, mustering up what strength she had left to say what she wanted to say, knowing it would be the last things she'd say to him for a long time. “I don't understand why you've chosen to be this way...to go chasing after Imperial delusions of grandeur. Perhaps I never will. Despite all of this…you’ll always be my brother and I’ll always love you, Crosshair. That will never change.”

For a second, she could see a flash of guilt and shock in his eyes, but instead of saying anything, he just scowled and turned his back to her, which only broke her heart even more.

Continuing, she went on to say, “I hope one day you'll open your eyes and realize the things you've done; the things the Empire has done. I hope you'll find your way back home.” She took a deep breath, fighting back tears as she knew that what she'd say next would be the hardest words she'd ever say. “When you do, I'll still gladly welcome you back with open arms...but until such a time comes...I never...I never want to see you or hear from you again."

Crosshair remained silent, but she was certain she saw his shoulders fall slightly.

Through a choked voice, Kimber said her final words: "Goodbye, Crosshair." Then she turned around and began walking back to the Marauder.

"Goodbye...sunshine."

Kimber stopped, an involuntary gasp escaping her at hearing his nickname for her again after so long. This time, however, it was too much to bear and all she could do was wonder why...why, of all times, did he choose now to say that? It was like one final punch to the gut before parting ways and it was the final straw for her. Her myriad of emotions broke at last and her tears cascaded down her cheeks as she stood there and wept. After a few seconds, she picked up her pace and bolted back to the ship, unable to look back.

Behind her, Crosshair had turned back around to watch Kimber leave, hoping she would look back. He had always hated seeing her cry and knowing he was the cause of them this time only made it worse. However, he remained firm in his decision with the Empire and he knew the pain he'd caused her because of it. There was no going back from any of this. He'd made his choice…but it had come at an awful cost.

Kimber ran inside the ship and straight into Hunter's open arms just as he closed the ramp behind her and the ship began to lift from the platform.

“Get me far away from this Forceforsaken planet, Hunter,” she sobbed into his chest.

Hunter didn't say anything back and just held her close, knowing she was having the hardest time out of all of them leaving Crosshair behind.

As the Marauder flew away, Kimber felt a hole in her heart; a deep emptiness inside her as if she was leaving a part of herself behind on that Kaminoan platform. Deep down, she knew that after this day, she would never be the same again.

#star wars the bad batch #the bad batch #bad batch hunter #sergeant hunter #my sergeant #bad batch fanfic #hunter x oc fic #sun and rain fanfic

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tobias-hankel · 1 year ago

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❤️2023 Quan-Tea-Co Fics Recs🖤

The wonderful members of our discord server, Quan-Tea-Co, have written a lot of fanfics this year - this is the rec list!

🖤 SFW No Ship Fics

the friendship we have is a rare find by cherubcurls, Gen, In and out. “I've got this.” she affirmed to herself breathily, looking down at her hands that held two cups of coffee rather than one, still steaming, still fresh. Her heart swelled with affection. She grinned, “We've got this.” OR; Penelope and Spencer agree to meet up to have a study session before finals. A couple of things change and they end up not studying at all.

and i saw my life in photographs of faded memories by whateverislovely, Gen, Morgan reminds him just a little too much of the football players who bullied him relentlessly all through high school and even college. He’s big and imposing, with bulging muscles and a look on his face that says, Are you kidding me? when Hotch informs him that Spencer is the newest member of the BAU team. Five times Spencer misinterprets Morgan's intentions, and one time he's finally able to straighten things out.

where do we begin to get clean again by whateverislovely, Teen, Spencer often participates in toasts with the group using water or tea or potato chips instead of alcohol. This fic explores the events that may have led him to stop drinking.

silence like a cancer grows by whateverislovely, Teen, Diana doesn’t forgive Spencer for having her institutionalized… at least, not right away.

❤️Mature No Ship Fics

Surrender by @starzzyeyed, Mature, He doesn't want this, not really. He never wanted it. But he's in too deep now, and getting out seems less and less possible as the days trickle on, like sand through an hourglass. Or: An in depth look at Reid's addiction, and what it might have been like for him.

what’s this, the consequences of my actions? by cherubcurls, Mature, Because Spencer wasn’t used to safe. He needed adrenaline to pump through his veins and soften the blow for him to have a good day. His family never really liked how violent he was. OR; Spencer comes back home from a particularly horrible fight and his Dad is less than amused.

Solved Game by Boots17, Mature, Solved game: a game whose outcome can be correctly predicted from any position, assuming that the game is played perfectly. A season 12 canon divergence in which Mr. Scratch dies a little too early, Reid accepts the plea deal, and Cat Adams plays a very long game. Years later, the two finally get their rematch.

Ships are under the cut

🖤SFW Aaron Hotchner/Spencer Reid

A Gentle Touch Hurts So Much by ProfessorWorm, Gen, Spencer has unaddressed childhood fears dredged up by Aaron’s attempt to help him recover from his knee injury.

Day 4 - FFC - Second Love by a1_kitkat, Teen, Spencer never much cared for anniversaries, neither does Aaron… this time there’s an exception.

There Are Secrets That We Still Have Left To Find by @starzzyeyed, Not Rated, Spencer Reid is seven years old the first time he comes out to anyone. Three times Spencer comes out, across three different points in his life, all with three very different outcomes.

❤️NSFW/Mature Aaron Hotchner/Spencer Reid

Subscribed by AestheticTek and @goobzoop, Explicit, After stressful cases, Hotch finds that camming in lingerie helps him to decompress, while Reid happens to stumble upon the most attractive man that greatly resembles his biggest crush, his boss.

The Absence of Sound by BluePenguinLightning, Mature, The sudden onslaught of sounds startled Spencer Reid awake, not that he ever slept well anyway. He hadn’t slept well in two hundred and seventy-four days. In all honesty, he wasn’t even sure how he managed to make it that far. In which Reid somehow manages to survive a sadistic psychopath but that's only the beginning.

kill your indulgences by cherubcurls, Explicit, Hotch was his; his to keep, his to possess, his to feed on. “No,” he tried to mumble. As best as he could with his canines still firmly lodged onto his throat. “Mine.” OR; Hotch lets Spencer feed on him.

The Boy by house_of_lantis, Explicit, Lord Aaron Hotchner is one of the most ruthless rulers of the City. But despite his fearsome reputation, Lord Hotchner is respected by his people and beloved by those closest to him. He strives to bring order and justice to the City and to protect it from anyone who dared threaten it. Spencer is the newest addition to Aaron’s private harem, stolen from his previous master. Affectionately nicknamed the Boy, he is the exclusive body slave to Lord Hotchner and he learns to navigate the politics of the harem.

Hide and Seek by Highway58, Explicit, An Unsub fixates on the BAU Team, determined to make them his passion project. Spencer Reid is his ultimate target but in order to get to him, he has to go through the people he holds most dear in his life.

Heathen by Highway58, Explicit, The dreams would not stop. Ever since the unexpected case in Las Vegas when he forced himself to confront his painful past, Spencer Reid had not been able to sleep. The visions haunted him relentlessly... he couldn't resist the need to forget it all. Something was happening to him. Something he'd been suppressing for most of his life, ever since that one moment in his childhood he couldn't--wouldn't--face. Soon, very soon... he wouldn't be able to resist his own biology. Even though he had no idea it was even part of him. He was just a Beta... right? Spencer Reid approaches a crossroads he never imagined he could face.

Ain't Always Gold by Highway58, Explicit, Omega Spencer gets knocked up by his Mate Aaron Hotchner in the wake of Emily's death and he doesn't know it until it's about to kill him.

Call Me Daddy by goobzoop, Explicit, Aaron teaches Spencer how to date, but it’s not women he’s making him better for. It’s himself.

Let Me Be Your Only Choice by TobiasHankel, Explicit, After Spencer is kidnapped by Hankel, the team expects to find the omega scared and possibly beaten. They didn’t expect to find Spencer next to a dead Alpha and dying from bond rejection. With limited options and a dying Spencer, Hotch is forced to make a decision that Spencer can’t even consent to in order to save his life.

Every Version of You by goobzoop, Explicit, Hotch's whole world comes crashing down the moment he witnesses his husband get injured right in front of him. Spencer makes it through, but the road to recovery is more difficult than he could have ever imagined. Or, amnesia fic!

A Fool There Was by reasonablerodents, Explicit, Hotch is using Spencer to take out his frustrations regarding his failing marriage. Spencer is so desperately in love with him that he’ll put up with anything- just as long as he can be close to Hotch.

Touch The Leather by reasonablerodents, Explicit, “Well, the problem with shoes is- um, they’re dirty, there’s a staggering amount of bacteria even on the cleanest ones, I don’t want…” He trails off again, swallowing hard. Or: Hotch wants Spencer to prove how much he loves him.

Room on the Third Floor by Matthew1972, Explicit, One minute Aaron Hotchner is walking free, contemplating a forever with Spencer… the next he gets snatched away. Locked up in a cage to the whims of an unsub unlike any other he's ever faced. A hunter and wildcat shifter trafficker. But then, his inner panther and human self alike refuse to be tamed and collared to live out his days as the wildcat alone. To be another victim sold. Will his defiance become his downfall? Or does Aaron get to return home to Spencer and see through on his proposal?

🖤SFW Derek Morgan/Spencer Reid

Maybe Someday Soon by @justjasper, Teen, "Derek talks about you." The Morgan women know that he's in love with Reid. They also know that he is absolutely clueless about it.

Washed Away by TobiasHankel, Teen, It had been over a year since Spencer Reid went missing after he was kidnapped by Tobias Hankel. He was presumed to be dead, but Morgan refused to believe it and move on. After a case takes the team back to the same state Spencer went missing in, Morgan might just get the answers he has been looking for.

❤️ NSFW/Mature Derek Morgan/Spencer Reid

Spun Hearts by JustJasper, Explicit, After a harrowing case Morgan needs control, and Reid needs a fix, and they wind up in bed. Reid sees this as a potential evolution of their relationship, but Morgan is adament that he's not gay. The path towards what they both want isn't a simple one, and a recurring case brings some painful things to bare as they both try to navigate what they are to each other.

When We're Together, Our Bodies They Start Fires by JustJasper, Explicit, 2x06, "The Boogey Man", Reid sits in a police station practicing trying to lockpick a pair of handcuffs with a paperclip. Some short time later, he misses a hangout with Morgan, who goes to check on him.

🖤 Other Ships

Home by KatrioneSpecterRossi, Explicit, Emily Prentiss/David Rossi, Usually when there's a disturbance in the middle of the night, it involves Emily waking up from a PTSD-induced nightmare with her gun pointing at her bed partner's head. This time when she wakes up, it's for a very different reason...that turns out being a great deal more fun.

Level Pegging by Starzzy, Explicit, Elle Greenaway/Spencer Reid, “I don’t need, or frankly have the time to have sex,” he manages at last, somehow forcing his feet to move and take him forwards to the coffee maker. He almost forgoes the sugar entirely, wanting the bitter taste to wake him up from this walking nightmare he seems to be living in right now. “All I’m saying is, you wouldn’t be my first,” Elle says as she comes up to stand next to him.

❤️ Crossovers

I Used to Dread the Thought of Falling Quickly by Chaotic_Librarian, Explicit, Supernatural, Dean Winchester/Sam Winchester, Spencer Reid/Dean Winchester/Sam Winchester, Spencer Reid/Dean Winchester, Spencer Reid/Sam Winchester, Spencer Reid knows how to stumble into odd situations. But being kidnapped and then promptly flirted with? Seduced? by two of the FBI's Most Wanted? That has to take the cake. That, however, won't stop him from falling in love.

Entertained by Chaotic_Librarian, Explicit, Supernatural, Spencer Reid/Sam Winchester, Sam's sitting on his bar stool on the miniature stage again, his guitar in his lap. Another stool serving as his table with a half-drunk glass of whiskey, he looks out across the mediocre crowd. Typical Wednesday. That's his preferred crowd, anyway. Joanne managing the bar, Pauline working the floor, and him on the stage as cheap entertainment. Strumming his guitar and singing country songs he learned by heart years ago. Sometimes he'll do requests. But not often. Not a lot of Kansans approach the stage when he's playing. They just let him do his thing.

I Must Admit that I was Reeling by Chaotic_Librarian, Explicit, Supernatural, Spencer Reid/Sam Winchester, Aaron Hotchner/Dean Winchester, Spencer goes way too far to get closure on his fling with Sam Winchester. Because it was just a fling, right? It's not like they're meant to be, right?

To Love And To Be Loved In Return by reasonablerodents and Starzzy, Mature, Grease (1978), Aaron Hotchner/Spencer Reid, Penelope Garcia/Derek Morgan, Jennifer "JJ" Jareau/Emily Prentiss, Aaron Hotchner accepted a long time ago that he was never going to be able to be his true self. Not only was it illegal, it was highly unlikely that he’d ever find someone willing to be in hiding with him for the rest of their lives, unless America got a whole lot more open and accepting. That all changes when Spencer Reid transfers to Oakdale to finish his senior year.

Thank you everyone for making such great works this last year! The Quan-Tea-Co server is open to new members as long as you are over 18 years old. Invite Link.

#criminal minds #criminal minds fanfic #fic rec #spencer reid #aaron hotchner #hotchreid #moreid #emily prentiss #how are so many of these hotchreid omg guys #derek morgan #2023 fic rec #criminal minds discord #discord #supernatural #crossover

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keirawantstocry · 1 year ago

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It’s me again. I’m crawling out of the depths of hell to request poly morning crew angst (if you want) to cure my eternal writers block and because I love your writing and also feel pain

- Fitpacbo

oh beloved fitpacbo welcome back from the pits of hell <3

I take angst very Seriously so buckle up babe

“Nooooooo,” Pac howled. “No, no, no, I. It can't be.” Tears blurred his vision to the point he could only see colors as he fell to his knees. In front of him was his daughter. Dead. “Sunny, hey, no, you're fine.”

From beside him Tubbo whipped out two swords. “Who fucking did this?? I'm going to fucking kill then. Nobody,”-he choked on a sob- “can touch my fucking daughter.”

Pac gathered up Sunny's body in his arms, rocking her back and forth as Fit took Tubbo by the arms. “It's okay. It's okay. She'll be up soon. She has two lives.”

“Not any more!” Tubbo screamed back. “She has one! One fucking life!”

Pac let the tears roll as he rocked Sunny back and forth. Finally à violent gasp clawed it's way out of her throat.

Tubbo and Fit both dropped their weapons and fell to their knees next to Pac.

“Poppet. Sunny. Darling. I'm right here.”

Pac eased his arms against Tubbo's to let Sunny rest between the two of them. Their eyes fluttered as she let out a few weak coughs.

“Pai?” she signed, before sitting up, grabbing Tubbo's shirt and burying their face against his neck.

“You're safe now,” Fit said, the only one of them who wasn't crying, as he reached out and stroked Sunny's back.

Pac couldn't stop the onslaught of tears that continued down his face. “Oh, amorzinho, it's okay, we've got you.”

“I'm going to fucking kill them,” Tubbo repeated again and again. “My baby, my beautiful daughter.”

She sobbed into his shoulder while their little body shook.

“We're going to kill them,” Fit corrected and Pac saw the rage simmering under the surface, both in his eyes and his body. “Nobody fucking hurts our daughter and gets away with it.”

#qsmp #my writing #fanfiction #poly morning crew #sunny qsmp #q!tubbo #q!fit #q!pac #THATS THEIR DAUGHTER AHHHHHH

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vintageneptune92 · 4 months ago

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Burn The Shadow- 4

So I had to edit this a little bit. I had been writing in some insomniatic moments and totally flip flopped the two spellings of Rafael. 🤦🏼‍♀️ Forgive me.

You know the drill. 🖤

Gia's leg bounced as she sat on the couch waiting for Dr. Lentz. He had agreed to see her on a short term basis as he helped her find a new therapist. With what she was dealing with, he didn't want her dealing with it on her own. Her head snapped up when he opened the door to his office.

"Come on in Gia." She stood and walked into his office. He closed the door behind her. "Have a seat." He gestured. She sat down and let out the breath she had been holding.

"So, how are you?" She let out a small laugh.

"That's a loaded question Doc."

"I suppose it is. But, humor me."

"I'm okay, or well, okay as I'm going to be."

"How have you been sleeping." She put her hands up for a moment and then put them in her lap.

"It depends on the night. Sometimes it's nightmares. But those aren't what bothers me the most." She looked towards the window.

"What is it that bothers you?" It took her a moment to answer. She didn't know why it was so hard to admit it.

"The good memories that come back. The times where Gabe was happy. I think it's because he never really had enough of them." She didn't know why this was so hard to talk about. "My mom and I, we've always had a tough relationship. I never felt like I was enough. It I got an A, why wasn't It an A plus. She only had eyes for Grayson. But I had my dad, and he made up for what my mother lacked. My Dad...he's such a good man. But he wasn't great with emotions when it came to my brothers. He tried with Gabe. I just feel like if they tried just a little bit harder. Maybe if Grayson didn't have so must distain for him, it wouldn't have happened. He deserved better."

"And Gia, that wasn't your fault.

"I know. I know it wasn't. It doesn't make me not wish I could have made it better for him. I don't know how to get over that. I just want the memories to stop. I used to be able to block them. My old therapist helped me."

"Well Gia, I think that is what the problem is. You never really learned how to deal with things if you were suppressing them."

"Do you have any idea how hard it is to be able to remember everything you've ever seen? Being upset and getting an onslaught of memories. After everything that happened, it didn't matter what kind of memories they were. Good, Bad, Sad, it was traumatic. I was thirteen years old, I had to turn my own brother in and then my own mother made me testify in a case that only needed my testimony to put her son to death." She was crying. "Ever single thing about Gabriel was traumatizing for me." The disdain she had for her mother dripped from her voice.

"And then you welcomed him back into your life. Did he call you or did you call him." Gia flipped the pendent from Rafael in her fingers.

"He called me." Her voice was flat.

"And what did your relationship then entail."

"Me begging him to tell me who helped him to get him off death row." She wiped the tears away from her eyes.

"Because you were convinced he couldn't have committed those crimes, even though it was his idea. He wanted to punish your other brother. Is it possible that he wanted to punish you too?"

Gia sat there for a moment. It couldn't be possible, could it?

"Gia, he spent the rest of his time on death row denying you closure. Making you feel guilty for him being held responsible for his own actions. It allowed him to continue to victimize you. The same way he did when you were a young child and the same way once he became a teenager." Gia closed her eyes for a moment to maintain her composure. The doctor continued.

"Gia, he tortured you for the majority of your life. You had to block out those good memories of him, those good times, because it negated the victim he made himself out to be. You have a difficult relationship with your mother too and instead of hurting other people you have dedicated your life to helping others." The realization hit her.

"My God, I'm an idiot. I let him manipulate me." It came out like a cry for help. She held her face in her hands. Why hadn't she seen it. She was so blinded by her guilt.

"Stop blaming yourself. You have to stop blaming yourself. Your only crime was loving a brother who could only love himself and blame everyone else for his problems. He cared more about protecting a person who helped him torture and kill two innocent people that you and your brother loved than to absolve you of your guilt. If he really loved you, he never would have put you through that." She felt like her insides were torn apart. "Gia, why were you so convinced that he couldn't have hurt those girls?"

"I think I just couldn't accept he was capable of it. I couldn't accept it."

"Did anyone else think he was more of a bystander? The doctor asked. He felt like he was getting her to a break through. She shook her head.

"Gia, your brother was a rapist. He was a murderer. He then spent a decade torturing you with the name of the person that helped killed your friend. He let you feel guilty that he was getting the death penalty." She felt like someone had punched her in the gut.

"I...I thought Grayson and my mother just couldn't see past their anger. I wouldn't listen. I have hated my mother since I was 13 because I couldn't see she was trying to protect me. I was horrible to her. I'm still horrible to her...."

"Gia, stop." Dr. Lentz put his hand up. "Your mother owns a lot of responsibility for the state of your relationship. Yes, she was trying to protect you, but she didn't go about it the right way. You also said you had a difficult relationship with her before any of this happened. Let go of the guilt. You were a child. A child who had too much responsibility placed on them. You can't change the past. Stop looking in the rearview and start n focusing on the future."

"I just feel so stupid for not seeing it. Grayson told me I see the good in people when other people can't."

"Your empathy is a good thing. Tell me, what are some of the things you have to look forward to?"

"Well, I enjoy my job. Helping other people heal and get them justice. I'm working on some freelance artwork. For the first time in a long time I have close friends. I have a lot of good things in my life."

"Just make sure you don't make your job your whole life."

"I promise Doc, I'm working hard to have as good of a balance as I can.'

"Good. Let me ask you this, now that you have a new view of what happened with your brother, does that make things different for you?"

"Yes. I mean I have to work through all of that, but it does make it different."

"How so, Gia?"

"It means I can let him go."

_____________________________________

Rafael looked up when there was a knock at the door. He looked at his watch. It was late. No one else was still in the building. The knocking was persistent.

"Ten paciencia" he said with an eye roll. His irritation melted when he opened the door and saw Gia. "It's late, what are you doing here?" She looked a little frazzled and she was relentlessly chewing on her bottom lip.

"Well hello to you too, Abogado. Are you going to make me stand in the hallway?" He smiled and stepped aside.

"How did you know I'd still be here?"

"You weren't at the usual spot." She almost said our spot but caught herself. "You have a trial coming up. I knew you’d still be working I, uh, didn't want to drink alone." She pulled a bottle of tequila out of her bag.

"Well that's not a good idea."

"No seas un cobarde." He rolled his eyes.

"I'm not a wimp. You're the one that needs cherry juice in your bourbon." He shot back. She looked over her shoulder at him.

"Well I usually want to remember my evening." His eyes narrowed at her and he took the bottle from her."

"What are you, my dad.? Should I start calling you Papi?" He rolled his jaw. She wasn't playing fair today and she was definitely flirting with him. He turned his head to the side . He wasn't taking the bait. There was something up. He knew it was going to take her time to deal with her emotions. She was a little all over the place.

"Campanita, tell me what happened." She glared at him over the nickname. He knew she was deflecting. There was almost a wild look in her eyes. He could tell she had been crying. They were slightly puffy. He knew that she trusted him. That’s why she was here. She just needed to get it coaxed out of her. On their hardest day in the office, she never let anyone see her like this. Completely makeup free, hair disheveled. Leggings, sneakers, cropped blue t-shirt and an open sweater grey. Just a little bit of her stomach was showing. He had to fight the urge to run his hands over the exposed skin. Royal blue had to be her favorite color. She wore it so often. He couldn't get over how it made her eyes stand out. He was fighting against himself. All he wanted to do was give in and let her distract herself with him. But that would only benefit him and not her. He felt something for her and if he ever wanted to explore it and for it to be something real? It couldn't start like this. He knew her grieving process would be complex. It wasn't just the loss. He knew that she was in turmoil. He stepped closer and tucked her hair behind her ear. She studied him for a moment. This man had turned her life upside down. She would never admit it to anyone, but Barba with his sleeves rolled up, suspenders and no tie was her favorite look. It did something to her. She took his patterned suspenders in between her thumb and forefinger and ran them up and down.

"Nice suspenders counselor." Her proximity, the feeling of her finger brushing against his shirt made his mouth go dry. All she wanted to distract herself. She willed him to give in. He saw that she was so vulnerable. He just wanted to take her pain away, but he knew she had to feel this.

"Cariño," her blue eyes flashed up to his green. There was something about him calling her darling that made her want to dissolve. "Digame, por favor" She moved her hands to his bare forearms. It was like she was holding on to him to stand up. He pulled her in and held her close to him. "Gigi" He whispered. "Gigi...it's okay....it's okay." Usually only her family called her Gigi, but she loved how it sounded in his voice. She let him hold her, one hand was cradling the back of her head, the other was splayed on her lower back, his thumb slowly on the small amount of skin exposed on her back. It felt good to feel taken care of. She realized then, she wanted Rafael to be the one to always take care of her. She focused on the feeling of his hands on her bare skin. The skin of his hands were rougher than she expected. The feeling was calming. With her face buried in his neck, he could feel a hot tear splash against his skin. He pulled back and wiped both sides of her face with his thumbs.

"C'mon, let's get out of here. Well go to your place. I'll make you a margarita." He eyed the bottle of tequila. She let out an audible laugh through her tears.

"You know how to make margaritas?"

"You seem to forget I wasn't always this."

"I don't know, I imagined you as a kid running around in your three piece suit. I was convinced you sleep standing up like Dracula in a suit before I saw you in outside clothes." Her humor was a coping mechanism and he couldn’t help but laugh

"Where's your jacket."

"Shit, I left it in the car I took over." She hadn't been thinking. He walked over to his coat rack, putting on his trench coat and then grabbed his suit jacket. He helped her shrug it in and grabbed the tequila bottle.

_________________________________

It was a strange moment of domesticity. She had given Rafael a pair of her brother's sweat pants and a hooded sweatshirt. He had gone out drinking with friends one night and crashed with Gia so he didn't wake up Sienna and Annie. He had left some clothes there for an in case it happened again moment. Rafael had to cuff the bottom of the sweatpants because Grayson was quite a bit taller. He was making raspberry margaritas and she didn't want him to ruin his white shirt. She was perched on one of the high backed stools at the island as she watched him work. She watched him silently, mesmerized by him. There was indeed more to the well dressed lawyer than she realized. His voice jerked her out of her own thoughts.

"I make these for my mother and my abuelita." She kind of loved that he was a mama's boy. "Salt on the rim?" He asked.

"No, sugar." She saw him crack a smile.

"I should have known." Her face scrunched up.

"What does that mean?"

"You eat more candy than any grown adult I know combined. You always have a bag of those conversation hearts. Which I don't even know how you get them year round."

"There is a party supply store that sells seasonal candy year round. Also, my brother buys me a case of them for Valentine's Day every year. He signs the card with Annie's name now. She gets a kick out of sending me a huge Valentine's Day gift."

"Your brother is very thoughtful."

"He is. The age difference never mattered. I think it made our relationship better because he was so much more mature when I was born. And then after everything that happened, he was fiercely protective. Still is. Any guy I've dated has been more scared of him than my father."

"But your father has a gun."

"Yeah, Grayson I think could do more damage." Rafael laughed.

"I guess I'll keep that in mind."

"No, he's gotten better about it now that I have my own gun. Besides, he would like you."

"And why is that?"

"Because you've been trying to protect me since you met me. Even if you were obnoxious about it." He stopped for a moment but didn't say anything. When he was done filling their glasses, he nodded over to the living room. He sat next to her on the couch. She sat with her legs cross-crossed in front of her. It was only then that he noticed a tattoo on the top of the big toe on her left foot. He hadn't noticed the tattoo last time. It was a letter G in script writing and it had a number two in the upper corner. She saw him looking at it.

"G squared." She explained. "Grayson has the same thing. It was the only place he would get a tattoo. His G is a little more manly looking. My mother hates tattoos and he never wants to do anything to displease her. But I convinced him to do it for my 18th birthday. I don't think she's ever even noticed his."

"That's interesting." He hummed.

"What?"

"The fact that you're tattooed like a biker and your mother hates them."

"Hey!" She protested. "I don't look like a biker! And my tattoos are all meaningful." He smiled, brushing the hair from her face.

"Your tattoos are beautiful." Her cheeks grew hot.”

"Thank you. Also, I have a therapist Dr. Barba. Trust me, it isn't lost on me. Deep down, I'm an artist. My body is a canvas between the clothes I wear, my makeup, jewelry and my tattoos." He couldn't help himself.

"Well it's an excellent canvas." Her face was blazing. The effect he had on her gave him satisfaction. She was so beautifully flawed. They were drawn together, it was magnetic. He couldn't understand why him. She could be with someone younger, probably conventionally better looking, yet it was him she yearned to spend her time with. It was him that she trusted to break down in front of. It was him she shared her deepest secrets. He hadn't felt this way in a long time, if ever. Yet being together would be complicated. He wouldn't do anything to jeopardize her career. She loved what she did. For now, they were just friends. Even though that title seemed to be the wrong fit.

"My mother, she demands perfection. In her eyes, I ruined my body. She wants me to be extraordinary but also ordinary at the same time."

"I don't think there is an ordinary bone in your body." She took a drink of the margarita. When she set the glass down, Rafael saw sugar on her bottom lip, without thinking, he wiped it off with his thumb and licked it off his own finger. It was such a small action, but so incredibly intimate. Gia's body erupted with goosebumps.

"I'm-" his voice caught in his throat. "sorry." She shook her head to dismiss his apology. She wasn't sorry he did that. She could not figure out what it was about this man that made her throw her own personal rule book out of the window. She never got close to co-workers like this. Her friendship with Amaro was different. Olivia, was her mentor and a trustworthy confidante. These relationships were born out of the bond of long hours working a difficult job. While she didn't share as much with Amanda and Fin, they still felt like family. She knew she could go to them for anything. One day, she would tell them her story.

With Rafael, it was electric. He made her feel things that she swore she never would. He decimated all of the boundaries she had built around her heart. She had dated and had two serious relationships, it wasn't like she was a Nun. They didn't last because they knew she was holding back. She had let them in just enough, yet kept them at a comfortable arms length. With Rafael, there was no space. The only arms she wanted to feel were his around her. She craved the feeling of his touch on her skin, each time an innocent act. His tracing her tattoo on her wrist as she explained it. Him brushing her hair behind her ear. His reaching to put her necklace around her neck. Tonight, the feeling of his hands on her bare lower back and his thumb swiping against her lip. He was handsome and distinguished. The intensity of his green eyes is what she loved the most. They way they lit up when he figure something out, found a witnesses weak spot during a cross, when he would challenge her. The way the skin around his eyes crinkled when he laughed or smiled. She had always been drawn to older men. She attributed it to always being younger than her classmates and coworkers. All of her life she had been surrounded by people who were at a more mature level. It made Gia grow up quickly to mature and be on their level early in life. Her experiences made her wise beyond her years. It was something that Grayson hated and it was the only thing he ever went against his mother on, the loss of Gia's childhood and innocence. She had pushed her so hard and while his sister could more than meet the challenge, he always thought she would thrive more with her own peers. Her mother dismissed him. She didn't ever regret her experiences, especially now when it let her to him.

"So you have a therapist?" Rafael bravely asked.

"Well, sort of. Liv got me in with who she works with. He is helping me find someone equipped to help me. In the mean time, he doesn't want me trying to work through everything with Gabriel alone."

"Is that what triggered you?" He asked. When he had saw her last, she was different. She nodded.

"I finally realized what Grayson and mother saw all along. He wasn't as innocent as I wanted to believe. Taking Amy had been his idea. Even if he had nothing to do with Lizzie, he protected the person that did. There was evidence that he at least helped hurt Amy if he didn't do most of it himself. He was always so jealous of Grayson. I just- didn't want to see it. I wanted to put all of the blame on his co-conspirator. He knew I was studying Criminology. He knew I had a need to know why someone did what they did. I was halfway through my Bachelor's when he reached out. He fucking tortured me by withholding that other boys name. I have agonized over it. The fear of what this other person could have done while free. Profiling who could do such a thing to find him, but I didn't know all of his friends. He could have been someone from a different school. Someone I would never think to look at. He knew I wanted justice for Lizzie. She was so young and so innocent."

She was crying again. She stood up, flooded with anger. "He watched me twist in the wind for over a decade. He could have ended my pain any time he wanted to." She started pacing. Rafael didn't know what to do, so he remained silent. She needed to talk this out, of that he was sure. "He hated me from the day I was born. I thought he had changed, but he directed his ire to the ones that loved me the most. My brother and father. My mother, despite her faults, pushed me to become what I am, taught me how to be strong. She

never put that kind of faith and time into him. I worked with her every single day on her work. I was like her secret weapon with what I could remember. He pulled me closer to him because he knew that it would be easier to tear me apart. And he did. My best friend was brutalized and murdered. Amy, who I saw as a sister, who would have probably been my sister-in-law had she not died- she was tortured for days, and then she died too. If I had been braver sooner, she might have lived. The only thing I did was spare her a few more days of pain." She was frantic. Rafael just wanted to hold her, but that wasn't what she needed.

"My mother didn't need to make me testify. The prosecution had an open and shut case. But my testimony? Not a single juror had a dry eye when I was done. Gabe knew I wasn't there because I wanted to be. Yet, the way he looked at me destroyed me. I had blocked out so many memories of him, good or bad. All of this have made them all come spilling out. I think he had been planning this for a while. He made sure I knew where all of his little forts were. He made sure I knew just enough to agonize over loyalty to him and saving someone else. It was a test, and I failed. I chose someone other than him like everyone else in his life. In his eyes at least. So in the end? He used the only thing in his arsenal to keep hurting me. And then he took the cowardly way out and died. He could have made a deal to avoid the death penalty. But he wanted it. This way he wouldn't have to live with what he had done. This way he could hurt all of us one more time. Then his apology? Enough to keep me agonizing over my guilt." She sat back down with a huff. It was like she had been deflated after all of that had been brewing inside of her. Rafael studied the side of her face as he brushed her hair away again.

"I thought what happened, for the longest time, was my fault." She held her hand up before Rafael could interrupt her to protest. "As a thirteen year old, I took on that guilt. I took on the guilt of what happened to Amy. For him being an outcast in our family. The truth is..." her voice cracked. "The truth is he was a paranoid psychopath. Everyone was out to get him. Nothing was ever his fault. All of the love in the world wouldn't have mattered. He lived his life to lash out and punish everyone who had "done him wrong". She used air quotes. "And for 10 years I played into it. I gave him the satisfaction he desired. The only thing he was sorry about when he died was that he wasn't able to ruin my relationship with Grayson. He tried, but he could never drive the wedge in. My relationship with my mother has always been hard, he took a wrecking ball to it." Tears fell from her eyes. She turned her head when he tried to wipe them away.

"He felt nothing; and I? I feel everything. I can never forget, just filed it away for it to pop out at me when I least expect it. My emotions, they consume me; feeling other people's pain on the level that I do eats at me. That level of emotion is unacceptable to my mother. She accepts facts only. Emotions should never play in to your actions in her view. It's why instead of being Gabe's mother, she made sure she was the one that helped put him away. And despite everything that he was, I don't understand how a mother could be so incredibly cold to her own child." Barba blinked back his own tears. Her confession felt like a sucker punch to his gut.

"I wish I could take away all of your pain." He finally said.

She rotated her body so she was facing him, the anger in her deflated and the anguish had melted off of her face. She placed her palm on his face and stroked his cheek with her thumb.

"Rafael," she placed emphasis on his name. "You can't. And you shouldn't if you could. I need this anger. It's going to allow me to let go and move on. Realizing what he was doing set me free. I just wish I had seen it sooner."

"You would have still gone to that execution." She had dropped her hand from his face and he was holding it.

"And how do you know that?"

"Because you're a better person than most people. You still wouldn't have let him be alone."

"You're probably right. I have told you so much about how messed up my life is. When are you going to share your damage with me?”

"Some day Campanita, someday. Right now, it's you who needs me. I'm sure you'll return the favor when I need you." He was fighting every urge he had to kiss her. He wanted it to be right when he did and that night just wasn't it. He wanted it to be memorable, perfect. Not tainted by her brother's betrayal. Their time would come, soon, of that he was sure.

_____________________________________

Gia was actually doing okay. She had finally found a therapist that understood a photographic memory and the struggles that came along with it. She was so grateful to Doctor Lentz. He had helped her more than anyone ever had. She didn’t want to leave him, but she knew it was a huge conflict. He did tell her if she ever needed another ear, he would be there. Her new therapist was amazing. She was reteaching Gia coping skills and helping her work through her mess of emotions. She was sleeping better and had less anxiety.

She and Rafael were still dancing around each other. Neither one of them was brave enough to take the next step. For the first time in a long time, she felt positive about the future.

Things at the precinct had changed rather dramatically. John Munch had officially retired and Olivia was going to take his place as Sergeant. It was well deserved and far over due.

She was making her way back into the precinct. She had thankfully been called in and rescued by a date she didn't know she was having. She was going to kill Ali. Amaro whistled when she walked in.

"Looking good Detective, where were you?" She walked in wearing a black long sleeved bodycon dress and patent leather black heels.

"On a date against my will." She saw Barba's head snap up from looking at his phone.

"How does that happen exactly?" Fin piped in.

"Freaking Ali. She's tried a couple of times to get me to go out with her friend Tyler. We've met and hung out a couple if times. Not really my type. And I honestly didn't think he even liked me. He's always kind of weird."

"Maybe he's just awkward." Rollins shrugged. "Is he at least good looking?"

"Does that really matter?" Gia asked.

"That's a yes." Fin laughed.

"It's beyond being awkward. Everything he says comes off as an accusation. How nice my apartment is. How nice I dress. Like I should be destitute because I'm a detective. Yes, my family has money. He just always makes me feel uncomfortable. And tonight was no different."

"How so?" Amaro asked. No one was paying attention to how intently Barba was listening.

"Well, Ali gave me this song and dance about wanting to go to a fancy restaurant and dress up. She even took a dress with her to work. When I showed up, she was no where to be seen and there was Tyler. He told me that Ali got called into surgery and she didn't want to stand me up, so she sent him instead. He conveniently had a suit with him. I don't like being sand bagged like that. It was like he asked Ali about everything I didn't like and decided to go with that."

"I need more information." Amaro said.

"I have a physical adversion to Lillies. It's just a thing that I have. And that's what he brought me. They literally give me hives. I chalked it up to a crappy coincidence. He barely asked me a single question about myself. Like why are you trying so hard if you don't really want to know me. Anytime I said anything he was argumentative. The waitress came over to take our order. He told me that he was ordering for the both of us, which I hate. He then ordered me Salmon, which I alsoabsolutely hate. When I tried to change my order he sent the waitress away and told me he knew what I would like. Just very aggressively, which is a huge turn off. I was about to go to the bathroom and call someone to wait 10 minutes to call me to get me out of there. I have never been so happy to get called back to work. I don't know, there is something about this kid that sets off alarm bells in my head."

"He sounds like a jerk." Fin said when she was finished.

She went to respond but Cragen walked on with Olivia.

"Monroe, you should trust your instincts." Cragen said, clearly they were there listening longer than anyone realized. "Okay people where are we?"

_____________________________________

Rafael looked over at Gia. It was like he could see her brain synapses firing behind her eyes. She liked a challenge. Her mind was what he liked most about her. Though that was hard to focus on with her in that dress and those heels. The most alluring part was the burgundy lipstick. It made her eyes stand out more than they usually did.

He internally chastised himself. She was much more than what she looked like in a dress. At the very least, she was his friend. She had arguably become his best friend. Beyond friendship it was complicated. It could affect cases. It could affect her job. He didn't know what to do. He watched a grimace cross her face. He heard her mutter "screw it" and she slid her shoes off.

He felt a surge of envy when she mentioned being on a date. He had no claim to her. Yet, he thought of her as his. Though he would never admit it. He was the one that she went to when she was hurting. The idea of her with another man had his insides twisting. He was incredulous over her dates behavior towards her. She was intelligent, witty, interesting and passionate. Any man that couldn't see that was an idiot.

"So what do we think?" Liv's voice pulled him from his thoughts.

"I would say a younger guy. Late twenties, likely white. Like most serials, he is charasmatic and intelligent. It's about control. All of these women were strong and successful. He likes the challenge of dominating them. Each woman is seemingly highly intelligent. So out smarting them is a high. Each of their hands were bound and tied above their heads. Their mouths gagged and duct taped. He grew up being dominated by women. His mother, possibly a sister and I can tell you there is no worse bully than the mean girl in High School. I'm thinking our attacker was unpopular. Like many, he came into himself and his looks as he got into early adulthood. While teenage girls don't always appreciate intellect, a woman will and he takes his repressed anger out on them."

"So why not just find a more submissive woman?" Amaro asked.

"Because it's not enough. It's not a challenge if they willingly let him take control. Every single time he picks a woman, he gets off on breaking her. Growing up, he likely dreamt of the day he was strong enough to be the one in control. He is meticulous. There has not been a single shred of evidence left behind."

"How is he choosing his victims?" Barba questioned.

"Well counselor, that is the question. We find what is connecting these three women, we will better narrow down who his next victim is. As of right now? These women come from different backgrounds, different professions."

"Fin, Rollins and Amara, do a deeper dive into the victims." Captain Cragen has come in during Gia's explanation. "Nice work, Monroe. I suggest you all head out for the night. There's not much we can do until tomorrow."

Barba leaned on Gia's desk waiting for her to come get her things. She made her way over. She smiled when she saw him.

"That's a solid profile."

"It is why they pay me the big bucks." He laughed.

"C'mon" he nodded to the door.

"Where?"

"I'm going to take you to a real dinner. You can even pick your own food." She shook her head with a smile.

"Haven't I dealt with enough arrogance for the evening?"

"Maybe, but at least I can back it up." She rolled her eyes.

"Alright Abogado. But it better be a place that doesn't show the prices for on the menu."

"I think I can make that happen."

———————————————————

Gia laughed. A genuine laugh.

"Ali thinks I'm going to die alone. I swear. I should have known she was up to something.."

"I can't imagine you not handing him his own ass though."

"I didn't want to cause a scene, but I was close. Then Liv called and I got the hell out of there."

"I also can't fathom sitting across from you at a table and not wanting to know everything about you." Gia was happy the light in the restaurant was dim, she could feel her cheeks blazing yet again.

"Well I guess he's just not as evolved as you are. I'm sure he's used to women falling all over him, so he doesn't have to try that hard."

"So he is good looking."

"He's too good looking. It's unsettling."

"I never heard of someone being too good looking."

"You know how when a dog is so ugly it becomes cute. Think of it that way, but in reverse." He took a sip of his drink and laughed.

"Ouch." She shrugged.

"I really don't want to talk about him anymore. "

"Well, what do you want to talk about Campanita?" There was a twinkle in his eye.

"Well, we could talk more about your little league career."

"So you just want to laugh at my pain?"

"I don't know, I bet you looked cute in your little baseball uniform."

"I absolutely did not."

"I bet your mother would agree with me." He laughed.

"And that is why you are never meeting her. I don't need you two ganging up on me."

"Well that's no fun. Your mom would love me."

"I am certain she would." Her eyes met his, a smile still on his face. There was something about him tonight that was different. He was slightly more bold. Part of her loved it. Another part of her wanted to run. She had opened up to him so much, but she wasn't used to people staying. She didn't know if she would survive him walking away. Something must have shown in her expression because he reached across the table and took her hand. Her eyes shot to his. "Don't do that. Don't retreat on me." She blinked quickly to avoid any onslaught of tears. "You're safe. You're safe with me." She had to make a split second decision in that moment. She needed to be different now. She had already let him in so much. So she nodded her head.

"I know."

____________________________________

Rafael was walking Gia to her building. Her arm linked with his. They were back to laughing, the moment of unease had passed. The giant glass of wine she had drank had helped. She wasn't drunk by any means, but it eased her nerves.

"So what is with the hatred of Lillies?"

"The smell, reminds me of death. The funeral flowers." He nodded.

"So what is your favorite?"

"Lavender roses. My grandmother used to grow them at her house in The Cape."

"You and your grandmother were close?" Gia nodded.

"Incredibly. She fulfilled a lot of the maternal things my mother just wasn't capable of providing." They had reached her building.

"Well Counselor, thank you for providing me with proper sustenance." She turned to face him.

"Anytime." He smiled. "You're okay going up on your own?"

"Yeah. I should get some rest. I have a lot of work to do tomorrow."

"Okay." He paused for a moment. He put his hand on the side of her face and kissed her on the other cheek. She closed her eyes as he lingered for a moment. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"Good night Rafael." She pulled away and headed toward her building. She took a look over her shoulder and saw he was watching her walk in.

"Did you have a good night Detective Monroe?" Marcus, the evening doorman opened the door for her.

"I did. Thank you. Anything at the desk?"

"No ma'am. Your roommate did beat you home." He mentioned. Good Gia thought. They were going to have a serious talk about boundaries.

Gia couldn't take it anymore and took her shoes off in the elevator. She hasn't planned on doing that much walking in these shoes today. While slightly skeeved out she knew that this building was cleaned daily, including the elevators. Besides, the pain was greater than her disgust and she could wash her feet. Her shoes dangled from the two fingers of her left hand. She was ruminating over her evening with Rafael and almost missed it.

Her door, still wood, had been dug into near the door handle. It was the original door and Gia had been adimant about keeping it. She wanted nothing changed from when her Grandmother lived there. She closed her eyes for a moment and tried to listen to see if she heard anything to assess the situation. Then, she heard Ali cry out. She dropped her shoes.

She took a few steps away from the door and pulled out her radio.

"This is Detective Monroe with Manhattan SVU. 10-13, Officer in need of assistance" and she gave the address. Then, she put the radio back in her purse and pulled out her gun and dropped the bag on the floor. She should wait for backup. She had no idea what she was walking into. But Ali...she decided the element of surprise was better than slowly opening the door. She took a deep breath and with a surge of adrenaline, she broke the door down. If it hadn't been so old, if whoever was in there hadn’t dug out where the handle was. she never would have been able to do that.

As soon as she burst through the door, someone lunged at her and took her down by the waist, knocking the air out of her and banging her head on the floor. Her gun, slid across the floor. He started to climb off of her to run out the door but she was able to kick him in the back of the knee and he fell half way out the door. She got up as quickly as she could and drove her knee into his lower back and elbowed him in the back of the head. She didn't have her cuffs, but if she could slow him down until backup got there they could take him down. She dug her nail into his arm.

"Bitch!" He screamed. He rolled her over and slammed her head against the floor again and was on top of her. He wrapped his hands around her neck and started choking her. She willed herself to stay conscious. Trying to get a good look at him, but her vision was going spotty. She reached around frantically and grabbed one of her heels and drove it into his temple. It was enough to get him to let her go. He jumped off of her and ran for the stairs.

She was coughing and she couldn't get up to go after him. She laid there, trying to get the strength to get up and check on Ali. She finally got to her knees, but had to sit down and lean against the wall. She was still too dizzy. She held her head for a moment and heard someone yell her name. It was Amaro.

"He's gone" she managed to get out. Her voice was hoarse and it hurt to talk.

"What the hell happened?" Liv came up running up. She pulled out her radio and called for a bus.

"Ali..." It was all Liv needed to hear. Liv immediately ran into the apartment telling Nick to stay with her. Gia heard Liv say “Oh God.” Gia felt tears fall out of her eyes.

"I scratched him. Hit him with this too." Gia lifted up her heel.

"You did good Gee." She clenched her jaw as a wave of nausea washed over her.

"I feel sick." She squeeze Nick’s arm. She closed her eyes for a moment and then blinked hard a few times.

"Gia?? Hey! Gianna!" Nick yelled holding onto the side of her face. "C'mon you gotta stay awake." When he pulled her close to him he saw a spot of blood on the wall and then Gia loss consciousness.

#law and order svu imagine #rafael barba #rafael barba imagine #rafael barba x detective #rafael barba x oc #svu #svu imagine #svu fic #law and order svu #l&o svu #burn the shadow

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nerdraging4point0 · 1 year ago

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Scorpion and the Scales // Chapter Seven // Polyverse AU

Tropes and Tags: why choose romance, MF, MFM, MFMM, instalove, too much sex, tattooed musicians, polyverse, friends to lovers.

Content warning: 18+ only minors DNI. PinV, PinA, oral (f!recieveing, m!recieving), threesomes, light BDSM, voyeurism, exhibitionism, partner sharing, jealousy, angst.

This work below is fictionalized ideas and stories involving real people but does not directly reflect their thoughts, feelings, or behaviors. Please keep in mind that this is a work of fiction.

Active taglist: @ladyveronikawrites @tearfallpixie @beaker1636 @circle-with-me @synthetic-wasp-570 @itsjustemily @thesazzb @vinyardmauro @cookiesupplier @concreteemo @dominuslunae @mountains-to-move @sundamariis @caitcoreeeee @crimson-calligraphyx @letmeadoreyoux @starsomens @artificialbreezy @lma1986 @iknownothingpeople @lilrubles @shilohrosechicken 2@missduffsblog @jessicafg03 @thatchickwiththecamera @mysticdoodlez @chels3a-smile @sinkingteethinwhitenoise @deathblacksmoke @roley-poley-foley @ravieisunhinged @dethronetheveil @to-be-written @somewhere-diamond @somebodyels3 @sacredthefran @th0ughts-pr4yers @bloody-delusion-expert

"Oh god," I moaned, arching into him as we moved together. My fingers tangled in his hair, anchoring me as pleasure crested through my body. This morning had been a surprise, he’d left with long shaggy bleached hair and came back with the most rich purple I had ever seen. He’d said it was for the music video they were shooting today but I didn’t let him say more, I'd clawed my way up his body like a tree before he carried me off to the bedroom. His hands gripped my hips, guiding me up and down in a sensual rhythm. Our bodies fit together perfectly, two pieces of a passionate puzzle. The chill of winter faded away, replaced by the heat of desire.

"You feel so good," Chris murmured, his voice low and rough. "Ride me, baby. Just like that." I obeyed eagerly, my eyes locked on his, our shared ecstasy drowning out the world beyond these walls. Here, nothing existed but his touch, his kiss.

My body trembled with pleasure each time his velvety voice rumbled in my ear. His every word made me clench around him, my inner walls gripping him tight. I rode him hard and fast, then slow and deep, learning how to play his body like an instrument. I was tiring, movements growing languid, but his gritty voice spurred me on. "Aw, done already baby? Or maybe I should see if you've got more in there?" I nodded weakly, determined to keep going, to give him everything I had. I would make him feel as good as he made me feel. I increased my pace again, clenching around him, moaning his name.

The heat of his body against mine made my skin tingle with anticipation. His strong arms flipped me effortlessly onto my back, my hair fanning out across the pillows. I gasped as his soft lips found mine, his tongue sliding into my mouth. I couldn't hold back.

"Can you take it, baby?" His voice was a husky whisper next to my ear. I nodded, beyond words.

"Tell me," he commanded, pinching my chin firmly between his fingers, his dark eyes boring intensely into mine.

"I can take it," I managed to pant, consumed with desire, my body aching for his touch. Every nerve was alive, ready to ignite. I wanted nothing more than to give myself over completely to the passion that was burning between us.

His lips brush my nose in a tender kiss before he slides between my legs, filling me completely. My back arches as his thickness stretches me, hands grasping desperately above my head. We've done this countless times, yet his touch still elicits the same euphoria. I relish each one, every deep thrust, the way he knows my body so intimately.

He hooks my leg over his shoulder, bending me in half, pounding with wild abandon. My body trembles uncontrollably, breathless moans escaping my lips. I can barely withstand the onslaught of pleasure.

"You like that baby?" he groans, plunging deeper still.

"Yes... Chris... I fucking love it," I cry out, back arching higher, losing myself in ecstasy.

"Fuck...I fucking love this baby. God, I love you." His words tumble out before he can stop them. Does he think I don't hear him over our screams and moans?

As he thrusts into me, hard and deep, I cry out his name as waves crash through my body. I feel him let go, spilling into me as I tighten around him. Our bodies becoming a sweaty, tangled mess.

The morning had started off so innocently, the two of us enjoying a leisurely shower together as steam filled the bathroom. What began as tender caresses under the warm spray quickly escalated into passionate kisses and roaming hands, our bodies intertwining once again as desire took over. By the time we finally tore ourselves away from each other, we were running dangerously late for the music video shoot downtown. Rushing to get dressed, we flew around the apartment in a frenzy as we scrambled to gather everything we needed. My boyfriend sped through early morning traffic, expertly weaving between cars as I anxiously checked the clock. We pulled up to an imposing warehouse just in the nick of time, the nondescript exterior belying the hive of activity within. As we entered, I was immediately overwhelmed by the chaotic scene - crew members barking orders, adjusting lighting rigs, and wheeling around heavy equipment. My boyfriend gave my hand a quick, reassuring squeeze before disappearing into the makeup trailer, leaving me standing alone, feeling out of place. Polite but rushed production assistants nodded in acknowledgment as they hurried past, absorbed in their own urgent tasks. I lingered awkwardly, waiting for some direction on where to go, a bit intimidated by the no-nonsense efficiency surrounding me. The organized chaos was a far cry from our tender intimacy just a short while earlier that morning. But now it was time to focus - the cameras were ready to roll.

In the center of the room was a large white set with a few elevated podiums arranged evenly apart, one in the dead center with a drum set resting perfectly on top of it. Vinny sat on his stool, absentmindedly twirled the drumsticks between his colored fingers as he chatted with his bandmates. His eyes were rimmed with dark eyeliner that made their pale blue green irises stand out. Ryan cradled his black guitar, his most prized possession, against his black worn leather jacket. Justin stood with his typical laidback stance, bass guitar dangling comfortably from his shoulder. His lime green hair was pulled standing up in a short mohawk, leather outfit hugging his body like some halloween themed biker. The three friends were locked in animated conversation, no doubt discussing set lists and stage antics for their upcoming show. Their faces were caked in white makeup that gave them an almost skeletal appearance beneath the harsh lights. Only Ryan's eyes were visible above the black mask that covered his nose and mouth.

“It’s gonna be sick, isn’t it?” Rick's soft tone startled me as he snuck up beside me, his warm smile apparent even behind the ghostly white face paint. Nearly jumping out of my skin, I turned to see the guitarist regarding me with an amused grin, no doubt enjoying my startled reaction. He was dressed from head to toe in black - spike-studded vest layered over a sleeveless shirt that showed off the intricate tattoos winding down his arms. His hair was freshly shorn into a sharp a-line cut, the inky black strands framing his painted face dramatically. Sweeping wings of blue eyeshadow cascaded from his lower lids, contrasting strikingly with his gray eyes in a way that made it look as if the color was melting down his cheeks.

"What's wrong, did I scare you?" he teased, his smile growing wider. I couldn't help but giggle at his playful tone.

"No," I replied, "it's just...this look is so metal!" I gestured at his outfit - the spikes, the tats, the dramatic makeup. It was like he'd stepped right out of a heavy metal music video, the epitome of the bold, edgy style. He certainly knew how to pull off the rebellious rocker aesthetic. With his all-black clothes, inked skin, and smudged eyeshadow, he looked dangerous yet alluring, equal parts brooding artist and larger-than-life superstar. It was a striking visual statement that complemented his musical talents perfectly. No wonder he had startled me - with his intense metal makeover, he was practically a work of art himself.

"Have you met the guys yet?" he gestured to the rest of the band in the center of the shoot. I shook my head covering my torso with my arms, pressing my cream sweater closer to my body. "Come on, they don't bite," Rick said nodding to the band, I followed slowly behind him. As we approached the set, I could feel my heart pounding in my chest. Despite Rick's reassurances, I was incredibly nervous to meet the rest of the band. I took a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves. My cream cable-knit sweater suddenly felt far too thin and I wrapped my arms around myself, wishing I had worn something more substantial. Rick gave me an encouraging smile as we entered the set, the paper booties rustling loudly with each step.

"Hey guys, meet, Eve," the boy's conversation was cut short as the six pairs of eyes landed on me. "She's here with Chris." I stood there awkwardly, feeling self-conscious under the intense gaze of these strangers.

Justin stepped forward, breaking the tense silence. "Nice to meet you," he said, crossing between two of the other boys and extending his hand to shake mine. I unwrapped one arm from around myself in a self-hugging stance, trying to seem more at ease than I felt. As we shook hands, Justin smiled warmly, helping put me a bit more at ease.

The moment was broken by Ryan, blurting out, "Bro, what's with the shirt?" He gestured to Rick, critiquing his short sleeve shirt.

"I have absolutely no idea what you mean," Rick replied in a flat, emotionless tone that thinly veiled his smug attitude. Ryan's gaze shifted from Rick to the other band members, his eyebrows raising in a silent plea for help explaining his vision. But it was clear from Rick's sly smile and arched brows as his eyes settled on Vinny that the concept wasn’t utterly lost on him. "I don't do leather," Rick stated matter-of-factly, pausing for a beat before adding with a hint of dramatic flair, "Or velvet."

Hours later they filmed and rotated, filmed and rotated, coffee had been delivered along with a quick breakfast spread that was laid out when we arrived. The craft services table held steaming carafes of coffee alongside platters piled high with fresh fruit, flaky pastries, and savory egg dishes - providing the perfect fuel to get through a long day of filming. A few hours past lunchtime and an assortment of sandwiches and vegan dishes were delivered, offering a variety of options to satisfy the diverse needs and preferences of cast and crew. Throughout the takes, I was never bored, watching Chris shake around and be silly between takes had me laughing so hard my sides hurt. His playful dad style humor was something else, always able to lighten the mood and keep spirits high on set. The set lights would flash green and white then blue creating different schemes and shadows in the background, transforming the look and feel of the scene with each adjustment. The director kindly offered to have me come look at the screen and watch how it would look at the final turn out, and I squealed with delight as I caught a glimpse of the magic of moviemaking firsthand. It was perfect, exceeding my imagination and leaving me giddy with excitement to see the final edited product.

I snapped the perfect aesthetic shot of the director's station thinking it would be an awesome photo to share with Noah. As I looked at the artsy photo I had just taken, a wave of doubt crashed over me. Noah wasn't into all this creative stuff like I was. He was more practical and down-to-earth. If I sent him this cool behind-the-scenes shot, would he even care? Or would he think I'm bragging about this glamorous video shoot, spending time with Chris? I didn't want Noah to feel insecure. The last thing I wanted was for him to think I valued Chris or this music video more than my relationship with him. But that random "I love you" from Chris this morning complicated things even more. I hadn't even processed what to make of it. Did Chris really have feelings for me or was it just an off-hand comment? I wasn't sure. And I definitely didn't want Noah finding out about it and jumping to conclusions. As I wrestled with all these swirling thoughts, my head started to throb. The overthinking train in my mind came to a grinding, squealing halt.

It was late into the afternoon when Rick, Ryan, Vinny and Justin all headed for wardrobe to change back into their street clothes, signaling the end of a long day. Chris jumped off the podium he had been standing on, coming right over to me and tucking me under his arm in an affectionate gesture.

"Enjoying it, babe?" he asked, a tender smile on his face as he looked down at me. I wrapped my arms around his torso, savoring the feeling of being close to him as he slowly guided us towards the makeup room.

"It's amazing," I replied enthusiastically. "I can't wait to see it when it's finished and edited together." Chris' expression became nervous at my words.

"You're not bored are you?" he asked, a tinge of worry in his tone. I reassured him quickly, touched by his thoughtfulness.

"No, I'm not bored at all," I said. "I'm happy to head out now though." Chris pulled us both to a stop at my words, gently turning me around to face him.

“Listen, pumpkin, I am not exactly done. They wanted to split the days up but I made the collective decision months ago to do it all in one day-” he stopped the minute my expression fell, my lip pulled between my teeth.

My heart sank as I listened to his explanation, the joy I'd felt quickly fading. "A couple more hours?" I repeated in a somber tone, unable to keep the disappointment from my voice. He scratched at his neck, a familiar nervous habit, as an apologetic look crossed his face. I could tell he was upset to be delivering this news, but not enough to rearrange his plans, even knowing how much I'd been looking forward to spending the day together.

I wasn't even sure why I felt so crestfallen; was it simply because the day hadn't matched my high expectations? Or was I just tired after so much anticipation and daydreaming about our reunion? My thoughts had been racing all afternoon as I planned all the things we would do, the conversations we would have. Now it seemed my overactive brain was exhausted, unable to process this sudden change. A wave of sadness washed over me, though I couldn't quite pinpoint its source. I wanted to be understanding, but in that moment all I felt was disappointment that our long-awaited time together had been cut short.

Movement from the corner of my eye caught my attention and when I looked over Chris’s shoulder he turned to follow my line of sight. Rick stood just a few paces away watching our exchange, his presence like an apparition materializing out of thin air. He and Chris exchanged a knowing look, communicating wordlessly through subtle eyebrows raises and slight tilts of their heads. It was as if they shared a secret language only the two of them understood.

"Pumpkin, would you be okay if Rick took you back?" Chris asked me softly, his voice tinged with reluctance. I glanced at Rick's face, taking in the soft smile playing on his lips and the stage makeup still plastered on from the performance. Though disappointed, I tried to be understanding and nodded in acquiescence. Chris leaned down to give me a quick but tender kiss, his strong arms pulling me into a warm embrace before he trotted off to the makeup room, duty calling. I watched him go, his retreating figure growing smaller in the distance before disappearing from view completely. Plastering a fake smile on my face, I turned to Rick.

“Don’t worry,” he said softly, “We’ll grab some real dinner on the way back. None of his vegan crap.”

Ricks' POV

She had fallen asleep on my couch, her breathing slow and steady as she drifted into slumber. I paused for a moment, taking in her serene expression, before grabbing a soft fleece blanket from my bed to gently drape over her. She looked so peaceful there, curled up against the plush cushions, that I didn't have the heart to wake her. Instead, I made sure she was comfortable, turning off the lights and double checking that the front door was securely locked. I tiptoed upstairs to my room, leaving her to rest undisturbed downstairs.

We had planned for me to drive her home after grabbing a quick dinner, but our conversation flowed so easily over plates of pasta that we lost track of time. Before I knew it, muscle memory had carried us right back to my apartment instead of Chris’s. She explained that she would rather hang out with me than go back to her empty place while Chris was working late. I understood not wanting to be alone with nothing but silence for company.

From my office I could hear her chatting away, the TV a faint drone beneath her voice. She must have been on the phone with Chris, their affectionate nicknames and inside jokes filtering up the stairs. Part of me was conflicted, perhaps even a bit jealous, of their seemingly happy relationship. But another part of me just enjoyed her company and wanted to get to know this fascinating girl better. Surprisingly, Chris never seemed to mind us spending time together, which I found odd but can't say I really minded either. She intrigued me, and I looked forward to unraveling the mystery that was her.

As I laid in bed, the cool blue light from my kindle illuminating my face, I had been stuck on the same page for several minutes, lost in my own swirling thoughts. Earlier at dinner, she had caught me off guard by asking about Chris, and whether he was the type to casually throw around "I love you"s to just anyone. When I asked what she meant, she explained further - was Chris serious when he said it, or did he tell it to every girl he met? I hesitantly shared that sometimes he was sincere, but other times it seemed less meaningful. Her line of questioning immediately raised alarms in my mind. She wouldn't be asking unless she had heard those three special words from him herself. My worst fear was coming true - Chris had serious feelings for her after all.

And the fact that she was probing me about it revealed her own emotions were likely growing as well. Admitting you've fallen for someone is a huge leap, especially acknowledging it to yourself. Yet here I was, her friend, harboring a hopeless crush on a taken girl. "Says the man crushing on his buddies' girl," the cynical voice in my head sneered. I mentally rolled my eyes at my foolishness. A harmless crush was understandable, but I knew it would pass in time. I just needed to be patient and let it fade on its own.

My phone buzzed on the nightstand, startling me from my drowsy reading. Glancing at the clock, I saw it was past ten pm—an odd time for someone to be texting. I reached over and grabbed my phone, squinting against the bright light of the screen. A new message from Chris awaited me. I swiped it open, curious about why he would be texting so late. "Hey, did you drop Eve off at my apartment? Cause she isn't here," the message read. Confusion washed over me. Earlier, I had heard Eve mention on the phone that she was at my house. Clearly Chris had forgotten in his exhausted state. I typed back, "She's asleep on the couch. Did you forget already?" He read the message but didn't respond. I wondered if I had pressed a nerve, but knowing Chris and his tendency to take on too much, he was likely just overwhelmed and had too many things going on to remember where Eve was. With a sigh, I tossed my phone back onto the nightstand, the buzz of the unanswered text lingering in my mind. I turned off my Kindle, giving up on reading for the night, and settled into my blankets, hoping sleep would come easily despite the confusion of Chris's message.

#bad omens rpf #noah sebastian fic #bad omens smut #noah sebastian smut #Chris Motionless fic #Chris Motionless smut #ricky olson smut #ricky olson fic #miw band #miw #chris motionless #chrismotionlessfanfic #motionless in white fanfiction #motionless in white smut #polyverse #scorpionandthescales #why choose

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