#anyway!! guess who's caught up with sundowning now

[solivagantingrebel]

fuckin' criminal, i tell you.

[blindseer0]

Echo: November 1st

Happy Day of the Dead everyone. It’s the 16th* anniversary of Chase and Leo hooking up (in universe), so I felt like I’d do a long, rambling post about that day. For fun. Hopefully you find something to enjoy here.

First thing of note is that, in “Route 65”, November 1st, 2008, was a Friday. In our world it was a Saturday. Not super important, but as someone who pretty vividly remembers that day, it stands out.

(Well, the day before. My friend had invited me to her Aunt’s Halloween Costume wedding, which turned out to be at a strip club. There were poles but no dancers, unless you count the guests who were dressed as Sexy Devil in a speedo, sexy police women, and two sexy Borats in swimwear.)

Anyways, back to Echo. TJ was 13, Carl was 14 (though they imply 15 a few times), Chase was 15, and Flynn was 18. We don’t know the exact ages of any of the other characters, though we can guess. It’s implied Flynn is still in school, which probably means he’s in 12th grade, Leo in 11th, Jenna in 10th, Chase/Carl in 9th, and TJ in 8th.

Interestingly, TJ talks about how he talked to Flynn and Leo at lunch, which means either the schools are really close together and have open campuses, or they go to a combined Middle/High school (I assume this wasn’t intended).

Micha is implied to be in a grade below Chase, meaning he would have been an 8th grader. Jenna says in her route that he and Leo have a 3-year age gap. Micha also says in that route that he’s “almost 21”. Which means he’s either 13 or 14.

In Flynn’s route its mentioned that Leo is a year younger than Flynn and his birthday is in February. What that means is he’s either 16 or 17 (you can decide which age gap is worse/you prefer).

Usually the bus also carries (at least) Heather, Jenna, Jeremy, Clint, and TJ (no mention of Micha or Clint’s sister). We know Leo drives, and we can assume Flynn does as well. (It’s possible Micha hitches a ride with Leo, but no proof.)

Jenna didn’t go to school and TJ got a ride home from his mother. Jeremy was at school, but we don’t know how he got home. We don’t know if Clint or Heather went to school that day, though we do see Heather at the party.

November 1st is also Chase’s parents’ anniversary. That’s why they were home to catch him with his pants (literally) down. He says his mom is usually gone by five and his father by six, implying they caught him after six.

He says it takes about 45 minutes to get from Echo to Payton, so since school in the USA usually starts between 7:30 am and 8 am, we can assume they caught him around 6:30 am. (Now for the return timeline). School usually ends between 3 pm and 3:30 pm (though it obviously varies). 45 minutes back (plus time for the students to get on the bus in the first place) means the earliest they’d be getting off the bus is 4 pm.

We see the sun start to set while they’re driving back and while they’re walking to Carl’s house. Carl’s house is on top of a hill, so they walk up to it, walk back down, and then go to Jenna’s house. By the time they get there, Jeremy is back and lying on the couch in his underwear.

It’s hard to tell when the sun has fully set in game, but by the time they’re on their way to the factory, its officially night.  Sundown on that day was between 5:30 and 6 (depending on state). That means another hour and a half had to pass.

If we assume at least 20 minutes per mile (and arguably more for casual pace, uphill, and probably no sidewalks), then that adds at least another hour (plus talking to Jenna), which would get them right to when the sun is set.

(Chase and Carl aren’t mentioned to have their school stuff on them during the party, so we can assume they dropped them off at Carl’s before heading back down.)

Then the Parsons factory is three-ish miles away. Again, we can assume an hour to an hour and a half walk, putting their arrival between 7-8 (including hesitating at the entrance). They go in, things go bad, and Chase gets punched.

He wanders around in a haze for a bit before finding Leo and Micha in a van by the road (not that he remembers). Leo brings him back to the factory, finds TJ being dragged around, and kicks the shit out of some people.

By the time Chase wakes up, the blood on Leo’s hands is dry and TJ’s mother is on her way to pick him up. Carl has also run far enough away to regain cell service. We have absolutely no idea how long any of this actually takes.

While Leo and Chase are coming back from the factory, the sun is starting to rise, which means its probably around 6/6:30 (sunrise was 7 am ish that day, depending on state). This leaves like 6 hours unaccounted for.

(Again, I am putting more thought into this than the creators probably did, and definitely more than they should be expected to). The point being, Leo and Chase’s Anniversary was officially November 2nd (which means this post is still on time).

(In a previous route, I think Leo’s, its mentioned that their first kiss was actually in summer, which this story definitely isn’t. Not an issue, just something I think is interesting.)

Chase mentions on the way back that he’s been up for almost 24 hours, and that’s before they get to the train tracks. So in conclusion Route 65 (probably) takes place from roughly 4 pm to 7:30 am.

Thank you for joining me for this long, rambling journey. Hope everyone had a better Day of the Dead than our favorite unlucky friend group.

[sailorsenshishitposter]

MGR office au part 6 - a day in the life of Jetstream Sam

After that awkward encounter with his boss, Sam got dressed and then double jumped onto the roof. He needed some space and didn't want to think about what had just happened. He gazed down the deadly height noticing a new face that he had never seen before. "What a pretty boy. I should go meet him." He then jumped all the way down and did a super hero landing, causing the earth to shatter beneath his feet. Since this was Denver, all the locals were used to strange events and paid no attention.

He ran towards the intriguing man and then stood in front of him. "Excuse me but would this happen to be you?" There was a poster in bold writing that said "HOT, SEXY CYBORGS IN YOUR AREA" The man responded back "Sorry. I'm from Liberia. You must have the wrong guy." He tried to walk away until Sam grabbed his shoulder. "Did it hurt?" The other man was now totally confused. "What?"

"I said did it hurt. When you fell. From Heaven." Sam then gave a massive shit eating grin and winked. The man let out a disgusted noise. "Ugh. What are you even supposed to be with that green exoskeleton? Shrek?" Sam chuckled. "Human Shrek I hope." He gave another smile. The other man became flustered. "You're impossible to get rid of!"

"No I'm Samuel Rodriguez but you can call me Papai ;) What's your name blondie?" The other man groaned. "I guess you won't leave me alone. My names Raiden all right? Not blondie!" Sam laughed. "Whatever you say pretty boy." As the two men were chatting, his colleagues began to wonder where he went?

Suddenly a voice came over the intercom. "Due to recent events, today's plans are cancelled. Next week we will be having a lesson on sexual harassment in the work place. Thank you all for understanding and good day." "Look at what you got us into Sundowner!" said Monsoon. The cyborg began to protest. "Hey, I got today's plan cancelled. More time for me to watch info wars. Besides, Sam's not here anyway!"

"While that may be true, we still won't be receiving payment today, no thanks to your actions and Mistral still wants to hang your corpse above her fireplace." Sundowner gulped. "Speakin' of which, where is she?" He carefully tip toed around the room only to nearly be caught by a whip. "MERDE! I ALMOST HAD YOU!" Sundowner then grabbed Monsoon. "Let's get outta here and find Sam!"

Soon they were outside of headquarters. "Okay, I think I'm safe now." The bald man let out a breath that he didn't realize he had been holding. "What the- Is that good ol' Sammy!" Monsoon used his vizor to zoom in. Low and behold, there was Sam along with some stranger. Without thinking, he blatantly asked "So Sundowner, who do you think is the top?" His coworker was now totally confused. "Why the hell are you bringin' up clothing?"

"...Nevermind. Let's not have another repeat of yesterday shall we? Anyway my Intel is telling me that the man he is with is a infamous cyborg called Raiden. Otherwise known as Mr. Lightning Bolt-" "No fuckin' way! They really call him that?" Sundowner was now on the ground cackling. Monsoon sighed. "If you will let me finish, he's a skilled child soldier from Liberia, directly took on the patriots and has-.... child bearing hips...?"

"What in the fuck man!?" Neither of them could believe what they just heard. "All right, change of plans. We'll observe them from afar." Ten minutes later and Sundowner had acquired a giant Amazon warehouse cardboard box that the two of them managed to fit in. "What's happenin'? How are you supposed to see what they're doing?" The other man grew tired of his coworkers idiocy. "You know very well that I'm blind and can't see. I'm going to try listening in on their conversation."

Monsoon detached an ear and carefully maneuvered it forward. Once he had it in range he careful set it down where the two men wouldn't notice it. "So what do you think about getting something to eat?" "As long as it doesn't taste like gunpowder it should be fine." "Wait, what-" Suddenly he couldn't hear them anymore. Sundowner looked outside and noticed that it had started to rain. "Whadda we do now?"

"Wind blows, rain falls. It's simply how things are. I'm not so weak as to quit from the threat of a mere storm." He called his ear back. "I'll simply use my electromagnetism to my advantage. Watch and learn." Sundowner nodded. "If you say so." Soon Monsoon had shouted "Lorentz Force" and then there was a change in the air. "What's happening to my body!?" shouted Raiden. "Hey I think it's workin' Monsoon!" The man gave a smug grin. "Of course. Soon I shall orchestrate my utopia of death!"

It seemed the force was perhaps too strong. The next thing they knew, Raiden became stuck to Sam's body. "Did ya mean for this ta happen too er..?" Monsoon took the box, threw it on the ground and started to repeatedly stab it with dystopia. "I didn't know how much you liked me blondie?" Raiden wanted to scream. "I don't, it's this stupid body. Something must be wrong with it. DOKTER!"

Suddenly a holographic image of a German man popped up. "Ah, Raiden, what zeems to be de problem-" He took one look and then blushed. "Oh my, I zeppos I haught you at a bad time yah..." He then promptly ended the transmission. "DAMN IT!" Sam chuckled. "Is it really so bad being this close to me?"

"YES! NOW HELP ME! THERE ARE TWO PEOPLE OVER THERE AND I DON'T WANT THEM TAKING PICTURES!" Sam sighed. "And just when I was starting to have fun. Alright. What do you want me to do?" Raiden then explained that they should be able to change the polarity if Sam turned around. "Hopefully this should fix everything. Now get moving before I die of embarrassment!"

Somehow Sam had managed to turn around but there was a new problem. They were still stuck together and in a even more compromising position. Specifically it looked like Raiden was giving it to Sam from behind. "Heh. Didn't know you were into this?" Raiden doubted his face could get any redder. "ARGH!!!" Sam then had a thought. "You know I won't be mad if you want to test the merchandise. I can assure you, it is of very high quality."

"OH MY GOD WILL YOU PLEASE JUST SHUT THE FUCK UP!" Raiden was just hoping that something would kill him at this point. "Hey, I know those guys!" Raiden's lone eye went wide open. "YOU WHAT!?" "Yeah, they're my co-workers. Maybe they could help us get unstuck. And perhaps a picture to remember you by?" Jack was close to coming out. "Calm down, I was only kidding." (He wasn't)

"HEEEEEYYYYY, HEEEEEEYYY OVER HERE!" Sundowner scratched his head. "You don't think they're talking to us do you?" Monsoons anger soon washed away once he noticed all the yelling. "I guess we better fix this." They went over and released the two men from the magnetic grip. "Thanks guys. I knew I could count on you. By the way, this is my boyfriend Raiden." Sundowner and Monsoon began to clap. "Congratulations."

Suddenly Raiden was right behind Sam. "And when was I going to be made aware about this?" he said with an icy tone. Sam began to sweat profusely. Next thing he knew, Raiden's eye began to glow red and he took out his blade. "Did I ever introduce you to Jack?" Soon Sam was running away from the mad man known as Jack the ripper.

Sundowner laughed. "All's well that ends well. Speakin' of which, why do I feel like I'm forgetin' somethin"?" Half a second later and Mistral used her whip like Spiderman to hurl herself forward and then flung her foot into Sundowner's crotch. "Mon fucking Dieu! These bitches gay! Good for them!"

[ramblin-tiger]

Another hoard was going to pass through the community and everyone was prepping their homes. No one was really running, just moving with a purpose. Windows were being padded and boarded up, doors frames relined with their own thick padding, vents covered with fine mesh. You would have thought that people were simply soundproofing their homes for some odd reason.

"Hey!" A voice called out, causing you to turn your head. A younger man was coming over to you, a new person to the place, hauling a cart full of bankets. "What do we need all this for anyway? Couldn't we just board everything up 'till the hoard passes?"

You chuckle a bit and head over to help him. "Well yeah, we could, but that wouldn't help for the other half of the problem."

He gives you a quizzical look before you go on. "So, I'm guessing you were previously a wanderer? Never really stayed in place for long?" After getting a simple nod in response, you let out another small chuckle and lead him to a nearby group of people who take the cart with a smile full of thanks. "Well, if you haven't noticed by now, then you will tomorrow. Because over there-" you point off to a darkened part of sky in the distance, "over there is where the hoard is. Where the sound is coming from..."

A few moments later you watch a look of realization spread across his face as a light bulb goes off in his mind. "The buzz... is coming from that direction? That low buzz I've been hearing all day?" You nod, a grim smile on your face. "Yep. Prepping for the zombies is the easy part. Board everything up and stay inside and they'll usually leave us alone provided no one does anything to get noticed. Prepping for the flys though. That's the harder part. Making sure they can't get in is actually fairly easy. It's the soundproofing that's hard."

You pause a moment as the two of you help secure some panels over a window with a fellow neighbor before continuing. "See, as it sounds now we have... oh maybe a day and a half, two days tops before they get here. The closer they get, the louder it's going to be. We'll probably be able to see the dust cloud by sundown. When they actually get here though... you ever been bugged by mosquitoes, like when they buzz around your ear nonstop for a few minutes?" The man nodded before you continued. "Well imagine that being the only thing you can hear, even if you were screaming at the top of your lungs. Imagine you could physically feel the buzzing all the way to your bones..." looking at the man again you could see the terror in his now pale face. He jumps as you let out a sharp laugh.

"Don't worry, as long as we pad up these places we'll enough the most you'll have to worry about is just some annoying buzzing, if loud, for a day or two then we'll be back to normal. Or at least as normal as things are these days." The man seemed to recover a bit and you changed the topic back to general working and helping the others prep. You decided it best not to tell him what would happen if you were caught outside when the hoard got there.

Because even if the zombies didn't find you...

The flys sure as hell would, and they wouldn't be shooed away like they used to be....

If zombies were real, you wouldn't first be warned by the approaching horde by their smell, by their groans, not even a cloud of smoke of the dust they raise coming closer from the horizon. It would be the flies. Hordes and hordes of insects, corpse-flies laying eggs on the carcasses of people who still walk, eating the eyeballs from their sockets, climbing across their unfeeling leathery skin. And the buzzing. The inescapable, deafening buzzing. Everywhere. Like you did not just kick a hornet's nest, but the very ground you walk on was a hornet nest, and each step caused another explosion of insects.

Insects, corpse flies, the buzzing. Their swarms blacken the skies, more horrifying than their migrating meals. The deafening cacophony of constant buzzing, the horrid noise of the living who feast on the dead who feast on the living. The buzzing.

The endless, inescapable buzzing.

[sirgiant-blog-blog]

Since we were meant to live in a garden, and that's what I understand from the story of Adam and Eve, I find it to be no surprise that we all gravitate toward gardens.

So, since we are meant to be in a garden, what do you suppose we are meant to do while we are there?

I guess I would be making art and making music.

Maybe you would prefer to be throwing a ball, or flying a kite, or just sipping on a glass of iced tea.

Either way, it all sounds pretty nice.

But it HAS to be in the daytime. That means our garden would have to have a closing time. I'm not sure anyone would want to be in the garden at night anyway.

But that is the only rule.

No, wait. I have another rule.

NO SELF BOASTING!

I would hammer a sign into the ground at the entrance to the garden. It would read, "Enter the garden and enjoy all it has to offer. Please follow our two rules:

1. Leave the garden at sundown

2. NO SELF BOASTING ALLOWED

Yes. That would do it.

You can brag about OTHER people, but not yourself.

How nice would THAT garden be?

Oh, and ALSO no fishing for compliments. That's the second cousin to self boasting.

And now, since I have posted the rules, I have to create some kind of a penalty for breaking that rule.

Hmm.. What should it be?

Let's say someone gets caught boasting about himself. Let's say it's me (so as to not hurt anyone's feelings).

I have just bragged about my incredible ability to _____ (fill in the blank). Should I be banished from the garden? If so, for how long? Forever?

And, by the way, who makes these decisions? Do we vote on it? Do we appoint someone to make the decisions for us?

And what if we are wrongly accused? What if the boasting was not boasting at all? What if I need to defend myself?

Do we have lawyers in our garden? If we do, how do we know them? How do we know which ones are good? Do they have billboards all over the garden? Are they BOASTING in those billboards?

Well, they CAN'T be boasting. That would violate the rules of the garden.

Not to mention that all those billboards are ruining the way our garden looks.

But there's the promise of a fat settlement. Maybe we can look the other way because they will represent us and we will have enough money to buy our OWN garden!

Think of it. Your OWN garden! You make the rules, you can boast ALL YOU WANT! You can decide who gets into your garden and who stays out!

You can even be in the garden AT NIGHT!

Hold on. I have to take a breath.

Phew.

I thought this garden thing was going to be stress-free. I thought everyone in the garden would be supportive of one another.

Well, once again, the garden has become corrupt.

Damn it!

Why does this ALWAYS happen?

I think I'll go to bed.

Maybe if I go to bed I'll wake up to a nicer garden. The morning is always so peaceful. So quiet. So still.

Maybe the daylight will crest over the mountains and light up a green grassy field.

And maybe there will be a beautiful violinist in a white dress playing the melody to Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah."

Yes.

Maybe things will be better in the morning.

I titled this painting, "Mine Is The Morning." It is a line from "Morning Has Broken."

I painted this on Procreate with the dry brush and the turpentine brush.

[ro-is-struggling]

Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man || TASM!Peter Parker x Reader

Pairing: TASM!Peter Parker x Female Reader

Word count: 17000+ (okay, hear me out! the story is split into parts so you can close it and come back later and you won't miss anything)

Warnings: this is inspired by some of Peter 3 lines in No Way Home (about how he stopped pulling his punches) so there’s a lot of sadness over Gwen’s death, hurt/comfort, Peter being a flirty bastard, the reader doesn’t know Spider-Man’s identity for the most part, mentions of blood and injuries, Peter being scared of feelings, the reader getting attacked in the streets (but it’s very quick and nothing happens) and I think that’s it. But if I missed anything let me know!

This is just a bunch of cute scenarios with Peter and the reader comforting each other and developing feelings all while she doesn't know who’s under the mask, it’s really fluffy in my opinion so enjoy I guess

English is not my first language so there could be a lot of grammar mistakes in this.

Summary: Spider-Man was doing his night patrol when he heard the sobs of a lonely woman sitting on the sidewalk under the rain. He went over to help her, unaware that by doing so he was also helping himself. 

Or the one where two lonely souls find comfort in each other.

(I’m so bad at summaries I’m so sorry)

Notes: This is my first time writing tasm peter and I tried my best to capture his playful and flirty personality (that in my opinion peter 1 & 2 don't have). Also this fic was so much longer that it is right now. In my head this concept was better as a series, but I don’t have the time to write one right now so I edited it to fit all in one story. So if there are parts that don’t make sense or are worded a little weird that’s probably why! I tried my best to make this look good as a one shot, I’m sorry if it’s trash.

Also, can you guys tell I have a thing for hands?

I hope you like it! Likes, comments and reblogs are very much appreciated!

Peter was doing his usual patrol through the streets of New York. It was a quiet night, probably because of the rain that had been falling intermittently since sundown. In his years as Spider-Man he had found that rainy days tended to be quieter because there were fewer people on the streets. People who could stayed dry and safe in their homes, and those who were outdoors took refuge in cabs or public transportation to get home. He usually went out into the streets anyway, ready to help anyone in need, although he paid less attention to his surroundings, expecting less danger than usual. 

Despite the noise of the water droplets hitting the pavement he was able to hear a sound that caught his attention. He stopped swinging between the buildings for a moment to pay attention and discovered that what he heard was sobbing. Someone was crying, no doubt in need of his help, so Peter hurried to get to that neighbor in distress. He bounced from building to building, passing a few lamp posts and traffic lights, imagining the scene he would encounter when he landed. 

Maybe it was someone who was lost. Or maybe it was someone who was being robbed and crying in fear as they were stripped of their belongings. It wouldn't bother him if that was the case.He was eager to relieve the tension that was building up in his shoulders and so far he hadn't had the opportunity to engage in hand-to-hand combat with any criminals. Well, actually only one, but the police interrupted him before he could take out his frustrations on him. He held so much anger and resentment inside him since Gwen's death that he found it difficult to live his normal life as Peter. He needed to work through his emotions somehow and he had found that beating up criminals helped him. 

He landed in a dark, smelly alley and walked into the street very carefully, following the sound of the sobbing. He hoped he could surprise the criminals that way, save the victim and take out his frustrations before the police arrived to break up the fight. But, as he emerged from his hiding place he discovered that the street was deserted except for a couple of people walking quickly so as not to get wet under the rain. There was no armed bulky man attacking an innocent person or any other kind of disturbance. But what he did see was a girl sitting on the sidewalk crying in the rain. 

Every muscle in Peter's body relaxed at the realization that he wasn't supposed to engage in combat and his expression softened under the superhero mask. He wasn't sure if it was appropriate to approach her to ask how she was doing. He didn't want to frighten her or pry into matters that didn't concern him. But the more he thought about it, the more he realized that something bad would have to have happened to her to end up crying audibly in the rain so late at night. Someone in that condition definitely needed Spider-Man's help, so he approached her.

Maybe she wasn't in the kind of imminent physical danger he had imagined, but saving someone from such a situation wasn't the only way to help them. Sometimes a couple of words of encouragement spoken at the right moment were just as important. So Peter walked over to her and asked if she was okay, resting a hand on her shoulder to get her attention. She was startled, but didn't answer him, choosing to concentrate on wiping away her tears rather than speaking.

"Is there anything I can do for you?" he insisted in a soft tone, trying to evoke calmness with his voice. 

"Can you be my friend?" she answered with a sarcastic snort. 

Peter was pretty sure she wasn't serious, but she really seemed to need a shoulder to cry on. So he sat down on the sidewalk next to her.

“That I can do! I am the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man after all.”

The young woman looked at him with a mixture of surprise and confusion. She didn't expect him to take her words seriously. She was pretty sure that a woman crying in the street didn't require the presence of a superhero like him. He must have had more important things to do, more important people to save. 

"You don't have to do that, Spider-Man. I'm sure there are plenty of people who need your help more than I do."

“Nah, I went around the neighborhood a few times today and apparently crime took a night off so I'm sorry, I guess you're stuck with me," he said and she let out a laugh that sounded more like a huff than anything else, shaking her head slightly. 

"I'm fine, you can go," she insisted, wiping the tears and water droplets from her face, thankful that it was finally stopping raining. At least she had that going for her.

"I'm not so sure of that. I mean, in my experience people don't sit on the sidewalk crying under the rain because they're happy. So...what happened to you?"

A silence formed as she contemplated her options. She didn't want to discuss her problems with a complete stranger whose face she couldn't even see. She didn't care how friendly and supportive Spider-Man was, talking to him about her personal problems was ridiculous and pathetic. He wasn't a therapist -at least she didn't think he was. He wasn't even her friend. He was a stranger brave - or insane - enough to put on a flashy suit and swing through the streets of Queens in search of danger. He was definitely not a suitable person to tell her problems to. 

But as she looked around she realized that she wasn't much better. She was crying in the middle of the street at 11 PM sitting in the rain. And all because she had missed the bus and now had to wait who knows how long for the next one.

Well, that wasn't entirely true. That was just the situation that had caused her breakdown, but it was far from being the cause of her tears. It had been a difficult time for her. Over the course of a couple of days she had been fired from her job, had failed a project she had been working on for weeks and had gotten into a fight with her best friend, the last close person in her life she had left. Her life was a complete mess, so perhaps she wasn't the best person to judge others. 

"Have you ever felt lonely, Spidey?" she asked him sourly. "But really lonely, not bored or sad, but pure, crushing loneliness. To the point of not having anyone to celebrate with when something good happens to you. Or who to share movie tickets with. Or who to call when you're sad.... I do.

She didn't bother to hide her tears or the pain in her voice. She figured there was no point, he had already heard her cry. She had no way to sink any lower, so she didn't bother to maintain any semblance of stability. Besides, she wasn't sure she could hold back the tears even if she tried. She had repressed her feelings for so long that now that she had finally snapped she had no way of going back. 

"You know what the worst part is? That it's my fault. I mean, it has to be. It's the only explanation I can find as to why everyone I love ends up walking away from me sooner or later," she added sobbing, not daring to look at the superhero next to her. "I don't know what I do to push people away so I can't change it. I just have to accept it and watch them go... I don't know... I must be a terrible person." 

The girl's words echoed in Peter's mind, his heart shattered not only by the sadness he heard in her voice, but also by the familiar feeling she described. He knew very well what loneliness was. It was one of very few emotions he felt since that tragic night when he had lost everything. Anger, guilt, resentment and loneliness had become his intimate friends, the only ones who accompanied him in the crushing emptiness that was his life. 

He knew all too well how horrible it was to have no one to call to celebrate moments of joy or share sadness because the one person he wanted to talk to was no longer there to answer him. And it was all his fault. Not a day went by in which he didn't remember it, the images imprinted in his memory with fire, impossible to erase. He knew what he had done wrong and had spent the last few years thinking about what he should have done to avoid it. But none of that mattered now, because Gwen wasn't by his side and there was nothing he could do to change that. 

"You're not a bad person," Peter said as soon as he found his voice. He hoped he didn't sound as terrible as he felt inside. He wanted to be a positive figure for her at that moment, to encourage her to stop crying. Something he wouldn't accomplish if he started talking about his own traumas. So he cleared his throat and made an effort to put aside his own emotions to concentrate on hers.

"You don't know that," she said, wiping her tears with the back of her hand. "You don't even know me."

"That's true, I don't know you. But in my experience bad people don't question whether they are good or not. Let alone to the point of crying in the middle of the street, so I think you're safe."

She let out a bitter laugh and turned to look at him for the first time since seeing him sit next to her. She was surprised to notice how expressive the mask could be considering it covered the entirety of his features. The large eyes took up most of the upper space of the face and even though she wasn't able to see what was hidden behind it, she was able to feel his gaze on her. The superhero was watching her with his head tilted slightly to one side, giving him a curious expression. He was probably studying her, analyzing her face to find out how mentally unstable she was. At least that's what she thought.

"Maybe," she muttered with a shrug.

"Oh I know I'm right," Spider-Man replied. "I'm sure you're a good person because my spidey sense tells me so."

"Spidey sense?" she asked, looking at him with confusion. 

"Oh it's this thing I have, like a sixth sense that activates to alert me of danger and bad people nearby. And it hasn't been activated in all this time we've spent together, so you'll have to believe me when I tell you that you're a good person."

Spider-Man's voice sounded amused, to the point that she could have sworn he was smiling under the mask. His good humor was infectious and his words of encouragement helped her feel a little better. 

"Maybe I am," she finally admitted, letting out a sigh. "A very lonely good person, though."

"Who isn't lonely these days?"

"Touche."

"Besides, you're not lonely anymore, you have me. I'm your new best friend. So if at any time you need someone to talk to just go over to your window and yell as loud as you can. I promise I'll come running, or well, swinging I should say."

The young woman burst out laughing as she imagined that sequence. If there were any neighbors left who didn't think she was weird or a crazy hermit she would probably convince them otherwise if she started screaming for Spider-Man out her window. She could think of a couple of neighbors who would call for her eviction from the building immediately because of the excessive noise. And she didn't even want to imagine what it would be like to endure the barking of her neighbor's poodle, who seemed to think any sound was worthy of an hour-long concert of uninterrupted howling and growling. Although she had to admit that being kicked out of her home over having Spider-Man for a friend sounded fun and kind of tempting, despite how insane it would really be. 

Hearing her laugh filled Peter with happiness. He always felt a strange combination of euphoria, relief and pride when he helped someone in danger, but this time it was something different. This time he wasn't saving someone from falling off a cliff or stopping a bus with his bare hands. He was sitting next to a girl who in some ways felt as lonely and broken inside as he did. It was nice to find the words to help her in that dark moment of her life, giving her the comfort he was unable to give himself. 

"What if I want to go to the movies?" she asked, imagining how comical it would be to enter the theater with Spider-Man at her side. 

"What about that? I can see perfectly well with the mask on," he answered as if it were obvious. 

"Do you think they'd let you come in dressed like that?"

"If we go to the movie theater a few blocks from here, yeah. I stopped a robbery there a couple of months ago and they're very grateful to me. In fact, I think I might be able to get us a couple of free tickets."

"It's okay, you don't have to do that."

"Why? Are you embarrassed to be seen with Spider-Man at the movies?" He said, pretending to be offended. "Is it the colorful suit? Because I can wear a more neutral one."

"No, of course not!" she was quick to affirm, laughing at the dramatic tone in the superhero's voice. "And for the record, I think your costume is great."

"Thank goodness! Because there are endless common activities I can do with the suit on. It's not limiting at all if you stop being afraid of other people's opinions. So I hope you're not uncomfortable with people looking at you, because I can assure you that everyone's eyes will be on us." 

"You don't even know my name!" she exclaimed in amusement, reminding him how ridiculous it sounded to make plans to go out together as if they had known each other all their lives. 

"What's your name?"

"Y/N."

"Aha, I knew it! You look like your name is Y/N."

“Wow you are so full of shit”

“No, It's part of our connection, I could sense your name before you told me. Face it, Y/N, we're best friends."

Y/N let out a laugh, shaking her head slightly in amazement at his insistence. His cheerful personality was infectious, making it impossible for her not to smile at his comments. Spider-Man seemed genuinely interested in improving her mood and had succeeded. It was hard to resist when he acted with such determination. 

She would be eternally grateful to him for stopping to talk to her. He could have ignored her. She was a complete stranger and he was a superhero with far more pressing situations to attend to than her bad day. However, he had taken the time to sit and listen to what an emotionally unstable girl crying in the rain had to say. Not only that, but he hadn't stopped until he made her smile. That kind of treatment he displayed with the people he helped was what told her he was a good person. 

"Thank you for everything, Spidey," she thanked him as soon as she calmed her laughter. "I really appreciate you taking the time to talk to me, I really needed it." 

"That's what I'm here for," he said, tilting his head in a subtle bow. "Is there anything else I can do for you? Maybe walk you home or something? It's late, you shouldn't be out on the street alone.” 

"Oh, no, I'm fine. You've done too much already. The bus should be coming by in a little while, I live a couple of stops from here."

"I can take you faster," he said, pointing at his wrists. 

"I'm sure you can, but your method is too risky for my taste. It would involve being suspended several meters above the ground, hanging by a small thread in the rain."

"It stopped raining," he corrected her, as if that would make any difference. "Besides, my webs are very strong."

"I believe you, but I'm not ready to test them for myself yet."

"All right, you win," Peter said, throwing his hands up in defeat. "We can walk."

"It's like 30 blocks."

"I don't mind walking, but if you get tired I can carry you on my back."

Y/N was tempted by the offer. She had to admit that the opportunity to be carried home by a superhero didn't present itself every day. She wondered how it would feel, but she didn't want to cause any more inconvenience. He had done enough for her.

"I still think the bus is faster." 

"Are you sure? Because we've been sitting here talking for like fifteen minutes and there's no sign of it showing up," he said, getting up from the ground to look off into the distance in search of the bus. 

Y/N let out a sigh knowing the superhero was right. The bus line he used was often a mess, especially during the evening hours. The vehicles would pass by spaced out for hour-long periods of time or more, if she was lucky enough to have them pass by at all. She already had one bad experience where the bus left her stranded when she left a friend's house late. And she didn't want to go through that again. 

"We can walk a few blocks and if we see the bus show up I promise I'll stop it with my bare hands so you can get on, what do you say?" Spider-Man offered, seeing the doubt in her expression. 

Y/N wondered if it was appropriate to tell a complete stranger where she lived, worried that it was dangerous. And maybe it was, but there was something about Spider-Man that inspired her trust. This was the first time she'd come across him. So far she'd only heard his name on the news or read about his deeds on social media, where people he'd helped told of their experiences. But despite that, she felt safe next to him. So when he held out his hand to help her up, she took it without a second thought.

"My hero!" she exclaimed in amusement as she imagined him chasing the bus to let her get on at a street where there was no stop. "Are you this kind to everyone you meet on the street or only to those who are having a mental breakdown under the rain? "she added as they started walking. This time it was Peter who let out a long laugh. 

"Only if they're pretty like you," he replied in a flirty humorous tone.

She knew he wasn't serious, but she still couldn't prevent from blushing at the compliment. Peter looked at her in amusement as he realized how easy it was to dye her cheeks pink. He had to bite his tongue to keep from blurting out similar comments throughout their walk, suddenly interested in testing her limits.

They walked through the streets of New York at a leisurely pace taking advantage of the fact that the rain had stopped. Y/N was glad she accepted the superhero's offer, not only because she didn't see a single bus pass by during the entire journey, but also because the walk helped clear her mind. Talking with him about trivial matters allowed her to let go of the negative thoughts and frustration that had taken hold of her. He made her laugh and knew how to keep the casual chatter afloat which made the walk seem shorter than it really was. Y/N didn't notice they had reached their destination until she found herself standing outside the door of the building she lived in.

"Well, we are here," she mumbled, not quite sure how to say goodbye. A kiss on the cheek seemed silly since he was wearing a mask, and a hug was too personal. But she didn't think it was appropriate to disappear behind the doors of the building with a simple goodbye after all he had done for her. So she stood there, fiddling nervously with the edges of her jacket sleeves, not knowing what else to do.

"Thank you for everything," she thanked him again, giving him a genuine smile.

“You don't have to thank me, it's my job," he told her even though they both knew it wasn't true. He decided to take care of the well-being of the people of New York, but it wasn't his responsibility. He was just a nice guy. "Now go home, relax and try to get some sleep. Everything will be better in the morning."

"Whatever you say, Mr. Spidey!" she exclaimed, holding a hand to her temple as if he was an army general and she was his subordinate. He laughed and began to walk away towards the sidewalk. She took the opportunity to walk up the steps of the building, struggling to find her keys in the dim light of the night. 

Before entering her home she turned to look at Spider-Man one last time. He gave her a wave, to which she returned with a smile. Then she watched him throw a spider web into the air, sticking to some light pole or wall opposite him. 

"Don't forget to yell for me if you need me!" was the last thing she heard him say before he disappeared into the darkness of the night.

Peter thought that would be the last he would see of Y/N. It was not uncommon for him to lose contact with the people he helped. Sometimes he didn't even get a chance to ask them their name before they fled in fear to a safe place. Maybe if he was lucky he would run into her at some point as he roamed the neighborhood, though he hoped it wouldn't be under dangerous circumstances. So that night before going to bed he asked the universe to be good to her, thinking that would be it.

However, the next night he was greatly surprised to discover that his body ended up leading him to that bus stop where they had met. He didn't do it consciously and he didn't think it was very likely that they would meet again either, but apparently his mind hadn't completely forgotten the whole thing. He had a strange need to know if she was all right and he didn't quite understand why. 

He suspected it had to do with the way he identified with her words. He knew very well the hell that life could become when one felt alone. He had spent the last years of his life trapped in that dark, empty hole, accompanied only by guilt, pain and resentment. He was still trapped in that black hole and that was why he wanted to prevent her from ending up like him. No one deserved to go through that.

So he waited for Y/N sitting on the ledge of a building and when he saw her appear in the distance he didn't hesitate to climb down to approach her. The girl was surprised to see him there, but greeted him with joy. They chatted about their day as they waited for the bus to arrive. Peter noticed that she was in a better mood than the night before, although he could still distinguish some sadness in her eyes. He cracked a couple of jokes to hear her laugh and when the bus appeared he let her go, knowing he would do the same thing again the next day and every day after that until he no longer saw the sadness hidden in her eyes. 

Their friendship grew with every little encounter they had. Peter learned her routine and whenever he could he would stop by the bus stop to talk to her and find out how she was doing. Sometimes he would even walk over to her college to join her from there so they would have more time to chat. He discovered that he enjoyed her company. She was a nice, friendly and fun girl, so he went out of his way to maintain their friendship. Even if that friendship consisted of short casual encounters in which he remained anonymous, hiding in his superhero costume. 

He had thought about revealing his true identity to her a couple of times, but always came to the conclusion that it was better that she didn't know. Telling her his secret would make their relationship much more personal and then she would be in danger. He couldn't let anything happen to her, especially not because of him, so it was better for things to remain as they were. 

Peter waited for Y/N in the same building as always, keeping an eye out for the movement of people on the street in case she showed up-or someone needed his help. However, the minutes passed and there was no sign of her. He thought that perhaps her class had been extended or maybe she had stopped to talk to a classmate. He considered approaching the college to make sure she was okay, but in the end decided it would be best to wait where he was. If she had already left and he was moving they might miss each other on the way.

At the hour mark Peter began to worry. All logic disappeared from his mind as a voice inside him wondered if there was any chance she was in danger. Perhaps she had been attacked on the road. Or maybe she had suffered some kind of accident and was in the hospital. Or maybe...

"That's enough!" he whispered in an attempt to control his thoughts. "She's all right."

That seemed to keep the voices in his head at bay, but the idea was already planted in his mind, the worry increasing with every second. He couldn't help it. Panic would overtake him every time one of his loved ones didn't answer his calls or didn't read his messages. He was used to expecting the worst in life after everything that had happened to him. So he decided the best thing he could do at a time like this was to go to Y/N's house to check on her and make sure she was okay to calm his panicked mind.

He swung down the street quickly and without being very careful. It wasn't the first time he had gone to her house. He had accompanied her on foot a couple of times so he knew the way by heart. When he reached his destination he climbed up the fire escape until he reached her window. He was glad to see the faint glow of light behind the curtains because it meant she was home safe.

He tapped his knuckles on the glass a couple of times, being careful not to use too much force so as not to damage the window. He waited a few seconds, listening closely to the muffled noise coming from the other side. Then Y/N's face emerged from the curtains, looking at him with a mixture of surprise and confusion.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, opening the window and stepping aside to let him through. "I don't remember yelling for you."

"No, no, I know. It's just that I was waiting for you and you didn't show up. I got worried and stopped by to make sure you were okay," he explained, hoping the desperation wasn't clear in his voice. 

"Oh, I'm sorry about that. I didn't go to class today, I wasn't feeling very well."

Y/N walked over to her bed, sitting down on the mess of disarranged sheets and blankets on the mattress. Peter took the opportunity to look around the room, immediately noticing the boxes of tissues scattered on the side of the bed. The small trash can next to the nightstand was overflowing with used tissues and a teacup rested next to the lamp, forgotten there for who knows how long. 

Outside of the clear signs that Y/N was ill, the room was clean and well decorated. The walls displayed a couple of posters of her favorite movies and artists. The desk was neatly arranged, with stacks of books and notes from her classes. On the small dresser on one side rested a couple of photographs of her friends and family. Peter smiled, it was just how he had imagined her room would look.

"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. How are you feeling now?" he asked, concerned about her condition. Even under the dim light of the night lamp he could see her red nose and tired eyes. 

"I'm a little better," she admitted, giving him a weak smile. "I took some painkillers and spent the day sleeping and that seemed to help a lot."

"Did you eat anything at all during the day?" Peter asked, sitting on the edge of the bed with her. Y/N paused to think about her day.

"Does tea count as food?"

"No!"

"I'm sorry, don't be mad at me," the girl pouted. "I was going to get up and make some soup, but I don't have much energy and my muscles hurt for some reason."

"How can you expect to have energy if you haven't eaten anything all day!" Spider-Man exclaimed with an angry motherly tone that put a smile on Y/N's face. He shook his head, silently disapproving of her behavior, and headed for the bedroom door.

"Where are you going?"

"To make you something to eat." 

He spoke as if that was a completely normal thing to do. As if having a superhero walking around her house preparing dinner for her as if he were her professional chef was something that happened every day. Y/N followed him into the kitchen, telling him he didn't have to do anything, reassuring him that she was already feeling better. But Spider-Man ignored her.

"It's my duty to protect the neighborhood and you are a crucial member of this neighborhood, so let me help you" he said in a dramatic tone that made her laugh. 

"You don't even know where I store stuff," she mentioned, reminding him that he had never entered her house before.

"I think I can manage on my own. I have a kitchen too, I know how they work."

"And you won't make a mess?" she asked, looking at him with a raised eyebrow.

"Of course not! I'm here to help," he replied, sounding offended that she had suggested such a thing. "Now go back to bed and let me work."

After giving her a couple of basic pointers on the organization of her kitchen Y/N went back to her room. She grabbed her cell phone from the nightstand and opened the camera. Then she slipped down the hallway trying to make as little noise as possible, and snapped a couple of pictures that captured the strange event unfolding in her kitchen. She didn't plan on showing them to anyone, it was mostly a souvenir for her. Evidence that Spider-Man really had come into her house to cook her dinner and that it hadn't been a dream or a hallucination due to a very high fever. 

While the superhero worked in the kitchen she tried to tidy up her room a bit. She threw away the used tissues that rested on her bed along with the empty boxes. She pulled back the sheets to make the bed look more presentable and fixed her messy hair from the hours she had spent sleeping. She'd gone through enough embarrassment letting him see her in that state, with a red nose and a raspy voice from the discomfort in her throat. She didn't need to add to it. 

Spider-Man entered the room shortly after with a tray in his hands. On it he had placed a bowl of soup with a couple of crackers, a glass of water and a couple of napkins. Y/N accepted the food gladly, realizing how hungry she was when she smelled the soup. She enjoyed the way the warm liquid ran down her throat, easing away the discomfort inside her. 

As she ate, Peter took the liberty of scanning the room more closely. He flipped through the titles in the stack of books on her desk, flipping through her class notes curiously. Then he moved toward the picture frames on the dresser, photographs that told the story of her life. He was amused to see that she had a couple of pictures from her childhood. He paid special attention to one where she was hugging another little girl and they were both smiling at the camera showing their missing teeth without any embarrassment. 

His eyes then moved on to another one in which she appeared to be in high school. She looked very different, with a different haircut and the pair of glasses on her nose framing her face differently. Although he couldn't say they looked bad on her.

"I don't talk to half the people in those pictures anymore," said Y/N from the bed, finishing her soup. "They're all childhood friends who I lost touch with due to the ways of life, you know. I don't know why I still have those pictures there. I guess they remind me of the happy times I shared with them."

Peter understood perfectly well what she meant. He still kept the photos he had of Gwen, although in his case he stored them in a drawer. But they served the same purpose: to remember her and how happy he had been with her. Sometimes he would spend hours admiring her smile in those photos, losing himself in the pain and nostalgia, remembering the way his heart would race when he heard her laugh. 

"I don't know, I think you look really cute in this one," he said, showing her a picture of her posing with a friend dressed as Britney Spears in the Baby One More Time music video. He couldn't help but smile under the mask as he saw the horror on her face when she realized which photo he was referring to. Her cheeks flushed red and Peter felt the urgent need to pinch them. 

"Oh God! I forgot that one was there," she exclaimed, embarrassed by the revealing outfit she was wearing in the photo. "It was for a costume party. I was Britney and my friend was Christina."

“Don't be embarrassed, you look pretty," he tried to cheer her up, but his comment only worsened her condition. 

"Well if you like it so much for next Halloween we can dress up as Britney and Justin in their iconic jean outfits." Peter let out a laugh, imagining himself wearing that hideous jean outfit. It would look completely ridiculous, but he wasn't opposed to the idea. He admitted it would be fun to laugh with her about those outfits for a while.

The conversation turned to the subject of Halloween after that comment. They discussed the worst costumes they had ever worn to a party and mentioned which ones they had always wanted to wear but hadn't had the chance yet. She told him about the wide variety of costumes she would like to wear but couldn't because she didn't go to many parties and because, in her words "they were too covered up and true to the original characters" to wear to a party. For some reason he found that comment adorable. In the end, Y/N seemed to be an antisocial hermit just like him. 

When she finished eating, Peter took it upon himself to carry the dishes to the kitchen, taking the tea cup from the bedside table on the way out. He returned a few seconds later with a glass of fresh water which he propped up next to the lamp so that she would have something to drink in case she needed it. Then he settled once again at the foot of the bed, facing her.

"Are you feeling better?" he asked, resting a hand on her leg.

"Yes, thank you," she said, nodding her head slightly.

The girl's eyes were fixed on the superhero's hand, which rested delicately on the area of her knee. She enjoyed the light touch despite the fact that they were separated by two different layers of clothing. Inspecting the suit more closely she was able to notice new details, such as the texture of the fabric and the exact shape of the web shooters. Though the detail that caught her attention the most was the almost imperceptible seam found on his wrist, indicating that what covered his hand was a glove and not the suit's sleeve. 

It was then that an idea formed in her mind.

"Can I see your hands?" she suddenly blurted out without realizing what she was saying.

"What?" asked Spider-Man in confusion.

"Your hands, I want to see them."

"Why do you want to see my hands?"

"I don't know... You know so much about me and I haven't even seen your face," she explained with a shrug. "Which is fine. I understand that your identity is personal and all.... But, I don't know, I thought seeing your hands would be the best way to know something about you without it being something too compromising like your face or your name. Unless you have any distinctive scars or birthmarks.... But in that case I promise not to use that information to investigate your true identity," Y/N rambled, nervously. She put her hand to her heart at the end of the sentence to show her honesty and Peter laughed. 

He analyzed the situation for a moment, wondering if there was any risk in taking off his gloves in front of her. He didn't have any distinguishing marks on his hands, and even if he did he knew he could trust Y/N. There was something about her, her aura, her demeanor, that inspired him with confidence. He was sure he could trust her with the secret of his identity if he wanted to because she would never give him away. She was that kind of friend, loyal and companionable. And maybe that was what drove him to her.

"Go ahead," he finally said, extending his arms to bring his hands towards her.

The young woman looked at him for a moment trying to read his expression through the mask. She seemed surprised that he had agreed to her strange request so Peter nodded slightly to reassure her that he was fine with it. And that gesture was enough for her to proceed.

She began by resting her hands over his, familiarizing herself with the fabric of the suit, tracing each line delicately with her fingers. Then she carefully tugged at the glove to reveal the skin hidden beneath. When his bare hand was exposed before her eyes Y/N let out a gasp of air she hadn't realized she was holding. Her eyes admired his palm as her fingers caressed the area delicately, going from his wrist all the way to the tips of his fingers. Then she turned over his hand and stroked the back of it, showing it the same delicate and affectionate treatment before advancing to the other hand. 

Her heart beat rapidly against her chest. There was something so intimate about what they were doing that she couldn't help but feel a tingle run through her body. It was almost as if she was doing something forbidden. She wasn't supposed to see his hands without the suit and the fact that he had allowed her to do so filled her with joy. He trusted her. That gesture, though small and insignificant to anyone else, showed her the depth of their bond. He was her actual friend and trusted her enough to show her a part of the real him, of the person who was hidden behind the red and blue suit. Thinking about it brought tears to her eyes. She wasn't completely alone after all.

The difference in size was the first thing she noticed as their hands intertwined. Spider-Man's hands were big, but they looked even bigger next to hers. He also had long, slender fingers decorated by short, well-maintained fingernails. And a couple of veins were marked on the back of his hands, creating trails that she followed with her eyes until they disappeared under the suit's sleeve. Y/N also noticed a couple of bruises and scrapes on his knuckles, the shades of red and yellow highlighted against his light skin. She had to restrain the urge to kiss the wounds, reminding herself that it would be too weird.

Peter watched her admire his hands closely. Electricity coursed through his body with every little caress she provided on his skin. She looked so absorbed, completely amazed to have the opportunity to intertwine their hands without the barrier of the gloves. The air caught in his throat and the blood from his entire body concentrated in his cheeks, suddenly embarrassed by Y/N's delicate touch. He had never gone through a similar experience before. No one had ever admired his hands with such devotion so he didn't know exactly how to react. He felt a pleasant tingling in his stomach and for a moment he wished he could stay there forever, reveling in the inner peace he felt from having their hands laced together like that.

"You have very nice hands," she said, looking up to meet his face.

"Are they everything you had imagined?" he joked in response, appealing to his sense of humor to hide what he really felt.

"Shut up!" Y/N exclaimed, looking away in embarrassment. She dropped his hands suddenly, as if they were burning her. She didn't want Spider-Man to think she was weird.

But then she felt the superhero's hands closing over hers. She looked up and her heart skipped a beat at the sight of their intertwined fingers. She relished in the warm feeling of his skin against hers. There was something so comforting about the way their hands fit together. She could very well stay in that pose for the rest of her life without letting out a single complaint. 

"I like your hands too," he said in an almost inaudible whisper. 

Y/N wondered if he felt the same electricity coursing through his body at her touch, if he found the same level of comfort in the way their hands seemed to fit together so perfectly. The girl wished at that moment she could see his face to read his expression, to search his eyes for something that would tell her he felt the same way she did. But when she looked up she met her own gaze reflected in the large eyes of the superhero's mask. 

The moment was interrupted by the flu attacking Y/N's immune system. Since Spider-Man's surprise arrival at her house she had been feeling so well that she forgot she was sick. But the itch in her throat that suddenly appeared forced her to break away from the superhero so she could cough. He gently patted her back and reached for the glass of water, prompting her to drink the liquid to improve her condition. 

"Better?” he asked as he took the glass from her hands and placed it on the bedside table. She nodded. "Cmon, let's get you into bed.”

Spider-Man helped her pull back the sheets and once she was back on the mattress he tucked her in, wrapping her in the fluffy blankets. He asked her a couple of times if she was comfortable to which she always replied positively. He then told her to try to get some sleep before heading for the window. He was ready to leave to let her rest, but Y/N's voice stopped him.

"Wait!" She exclaimed, forcing him to turn around. "I don't want you to go."

The room fell silent. It took Y/N a few seconds to understand why. But when she realized what she had said the blush rose up her neck all the way to her cheeks. She hadn't meant to say that. Well, actually she had, but not in such a direct way. She enjoyed his company, especially in the situation she was in. His visit had been the only good thing in her day. But she wasn't going to tell him that.

“I m-meant t-to say that I'm not feeling sleepy yet and that, umm... I-I'd like you to stay a little while longer. If you can, of course, I, um, I don't want to inconvenience you or anything," she babbled nervously, trying to get out of the embarrassing situation she had gotten herself into.

Peter wasn't able to resist her when she looked at him with those big eyes full of illusion. His heart melted with tenderness at the way she struggled to find the words to ask him to stay, the blush reddening her cheeks giving her an adorable aura. He had nothing better to do, so he walked back to the bed and sat on the edge, giving her room to lie down comfortably.

They talked for a while about everything and nothing, as they used to do whenever they were together. Peter noticed how gradually Y/N's eyes closed tiredly, her voice getting softer and softer and more and more paused. Until eventually she fell asleep. The faint sound of her calm breathing was all that could be heard in the room. He smiled as he saw her curled up in a fetal position under the covers, her hair spread out on the pillow as if it were a halo of light framing her figure. She looked lovely and Peter found it hard to look away from her. He admired the peace she radiated, silently envying how easy it was for her to surrender to the arms of Morpheus. Why couldn't he be the same?

It was approaching that time of year Peter dreaded so much. The anniversary of one of the worst days of his life. The date that reminded him of the worst mistake he had made since the first time he put on the Spider-Man suit. He couldn't escape the guilt that haunted him at every moment. The pain, a crushing emptiness in the middle of his chest that made it difficult for him to breathe. 

He dreamed every night of the last moments of Gwen's life. He saw her fall again and again, and despite all his efforts to reach her, he was never able to get to her. He watched her die continuously. And when he woke up, her figure would watch him from the foot of the bed. It was an illusion that lasted only a few seconds, but it was enough time for him to question his mental sanity. She always looked disappointed, sometimes angry. She blamed him for her fate, he could see it in her eyes. 

Peter knew it was all a product of his imagination. His dream-confused mind projected his feelings of guilt onto those images. But that didn't make it any easier to deal with. He didn't want to sleep because he knew that as soon as he closed his eyes she would appear in front of him. So he avoided it as much as possible. He spent his nights wandering the dangerous streets of New York, taking out his frustrations on the criminals who were unlucky enough to cross his path. 

He was not particularly careful with his attacks when he was in this state. He was too tired, too sad, to worry about such things. He would suffer the consequences later when he returned home bleeding and with his suit in tatters, but at least that gave him another excuse not to sleep.  

That night was no different than any other. His mind clouded by loneliness and exhaustion often made bad decisions. That's how he ended up in a situation more dangerous and complicated than he had anticipated. And even though he had emerged victorious, he didn't do so without taking a beating at the hands of his opponents. Dazed from the blows and bleeding from several open wounds, Peter used what little strength he had left to escape the scene before the police arrived. He planned to return home so he could heal and try to hit the streets for a couple more hours, but halfway through he changed his mind. 

He told himself that he was too weak, that he wouldn't make it home before passing out, that he needed to find a closer shelter. He convinced himself that it was purely a physical need and nothing more. Though deep down he knew that his real motivation for heading to Y/N's house and not his own was that he didn't want to be alone. He ignored that voice in his mind because he wasn't ready to listen to it. He wasn't ready to admit that he simply couldn't go on this way, pushing all his loved ones away to protect them while he suffered in silence. 

The poor girl was sitting at her desk, concentrating on finishing a paper for a class when she heard noises coming from the window. She paused the soothing music she had put on to concentrate and turned in her chair to inspect the strange sounds. She immediately encountered the figure of a man crouching on the other side and didn't have to pull back the curtains to know who it was. Y/N approached the window with a smile, happy that her friend had come to visit her. His cheerful presence was just what she needed at that moment. However, her expression changed completely as soon as she saw the state he was in.

"Oh my God, what happened to you?" she asked in horror as she helped him slip through the window. His suit was ripped in several places where the exposed skin was stained red from the blood pouring from his wounds. The gashes on his chest and abdomen appeared to be the most severe, but not the only ones. Y/N noticed a couple of cuts on both arms and one of his thighs. He moved with some difficulty and as soon as he passed the window sill he collapsed on the wooden floor of the room. 

"I'm all right. You should see the other guys," he said with a wince.

"You don't look so good."

"I will be. Do you have a first aid kit?"

Y/N nodded, but didn't move. It took her a few seconds to react and go find it in the bathroom, concern clouding her mind. Spider-Man was hurt and she had never seen anything like it. She wasn't an accident prone person, she hadn't even broken a bone in the years she had been alive, so she had never seen similar injuries. And the shock of seeing him in that state paralyzed her. Even though she knew that what he did as Spider-Man was dangerous, she had never thought about how risky it could be. Seeing him bleeding on the floor of her room had been far too real of an image, one she wasn't prepared to see. 

When her brain snapped back into action the young woman ran to the bathroom to get what she needed. She frantically flipped through the cabinet drawers under the sink until she found the small white box filled with medical supplies. She made sure to also grab a clean cloth before returning to the room where the superhero was waiting for her. He had shifted position, opting to lean his back against the wall under the window. Though the first thing Y/N noticed upon returning to his side was that he had pulled his mask up over his nose, leaving his mouth and chin exposed. His lips were cracked and bloodstained, but despite that she couldn't help but think Spider-Man had nice lips. 

"How do we do this?" she asked, kneeling down beside him, not knowing where to start. 

"I need you to help me take off my suit."

Peter instructed her to reach for the small zipper hidden in the back of the suit and she obeyed, approaching him with trembling hands. He leaned forward to give her room to pull the zipper down the length of his spine, enduring the stabbing pain that awakened. He felt the delicate touch of her fingers on the skin of his back. One hand worked on the zipper while the other removed the suit from his shoulders. Peter took a deep breath, enjoying the freedom he felt with the spandex no longer tightly hugging his body. He let himself fall back against the wall once more, letting out an involuntary grunt of pain. 

"Are you sure you wouldn't rather go to a hospital?" asked the girl as she gently tugged on the sleeve of his suit to free his right arm. 

"Yeah, it's fine, don't worry. My body heals faster than normal," he reassured her. He removed the rest of the top part of the suit by himself until it became a pile of crumpled fabric on his hips. "We just have to get the bleeding to stop and then close the wound. My body will take care of the rest."

Y/N nodded. She wasn't entirely convinced this was a good idea, but she didn't say anything. Instead, she took the clean cloth she had brought with her from the bathroom and pressed it over the wound on his abdomen. Spider-Man let out a groan of pain and she quickly apologized, worried that she might have hurt him. She had never treated a similar injury before, so it was very likely that she was doing things wrong. She was about to remove her hands to release some of the pressure she was putting on his body, when she felt the superhero's hands closing over hers. She looked up to look at him and he gave her a weak smile to indicate that she was doing a good job. 

It was a subtle smile, his lips barely curving upward, but it was enough to make Y/N momentarily forget the circumstances she found herself in. A strange tingle ran through her body as she realized that this was the first time she had ever seen him smile. Her gaze lingered on his lips for longer than it probably should, admiring every little detail she was able to catch in case she never got the chance to see his smile again. When she realized what she was doing she looked down, embarrassed. She felt the blood rush up her neck to spread over her cheeks as she prayed he hadn't noticed her behavior.

Returning her attention to the wound, she noticed that the cloth under her hands was rapidly turning red. She could feel the warm, thick blood under her fingers. There was a metallic taste in her mouth, though she wasn't sure if that was due to the particles of the superhero's blood traveling through the air or her lower lip that she had caught between her teeth, biting down hard. 

She was nervous and somewhat embarrassed to have Spider-Man half naked in her room. The situation was horrible and stressful, but despite everything a part of her couldn't help but admire his abdomen as if it were the most beautiful piece of art she ever laid her eyes on. She told herself it was because she was amazed to see a part of his body that wasn't covered by the suit, but that was a half-truth. 

"I think the bleeding has stopped." Spider-Man's voice brought her back to reality. She carefully removed the cloth from the wound without daring to look up, embarrassed by her thoughts. 

"What's next?" she asked him in a whisper, assuming he knew more about first aid than she did.

"We have to clean the wound so it doesn't get infected and then close it."

"Close it as in stitch it up?"

Y/N knew the answer to her question, she just wasn't sure she was capable of doing something like that. She was not trained to stitch a wound. She was not a nurse and had never been in a similar situation before. The only medical training she had came from the first aid course she had attended in high school several years ago and what she had seen on Grey's Anatomy, though she doubted that would help her now.

"Don't worry, I can do it myself," Peter said, reading the panic in Y/N's expression. "Just pass me the first aid kit." 

"No, no, it's okay. I can do it," she said, clearing her throat to make her voice sound firmer. 

"Are you sure?" he asked and she nodded.

"I want to help you." 

She gave him a small smile, hoping that was enough to convince him. He nodded slightly and she took that gesture as a sign to start working. She grabbed a gauze pad from the first aid kit and soaked it with the antiseptic liquid before pressing it on the cut. Peter hissed in pain and she looked at him apologetically. 

"I'm sorry," she apologized, moving the gauze over the wound more carefully.

"It's okay, it's not your fault. You're doing a great job."

It was a simple comment, but the compliment helped her gain a little more confidence in her actions. She cleaned the wound with firm hands, but applying a delicate touch. When it came time to stitch the cut, she let him guide her through the process. Watching the needle pierce his skin was a strange and not at all pleasant sight, but she got used to it faster than she expected. Spider-Man would utter words of encouragement from time to time, reassuring her that she was doing things right and thanking her for her help. She could feel his intense gaze on her as she worked, but she was able to keep her composure, enjoying his compliments.

"See, that wasn't so hard," he said when she announced she was done. "You did a great job." 

When she finished properly bandaging the wound on his abdomen Y/N moved on to the small cuts that adorned the rest of his body. Her confidence grew as she worked, certain that there was nothing she could do to hurt him further. She carefully disinfected and bandaged the gash on his chest and then moved on to the cuts on his arms. She took her time with each wound, working gently to avoid causing him more pain and discomfort than he probably already felt.

"You have to be more careful," she told him as she finished cleaning a wound on his shoulder. 

"I'm usually more careful. This was just a small mistake, there were more men than I expected." 

"Yes well, a small mistake that left you sheared like cheese." Peter let out a laugh that turned into a whimper of pain halfway through due to the tension the muscle movement generated in his wound. "Do I have to worry about you being followed and my life being in danger?"

"You are safe. I would never have come if I suspected there was the slightest possibility that you were in danger," he replied in a serious tone that showed Y/N how honest his words were. "I took care of them."

"You took care of them?" asked the young woman, looking at the superhero with a raised eyebrow. The way he pronounced those words sounded a bit sinister. 

"I didn't kill them if that's what you're thinking," Peter clarified. "I knocked them unconscious and I'm pretty sure the police were on their way to arrest them." 

"Oh. Good," she muttered, not sure what else to say. She proceeded to wipe the blood from under his nose and at the corner of his lips. She cupped his face with one hand, fingers closing over his chin so she could tilt his head in her direction. Then she slid the gauze across his skin gently, making sure to remove all traces of blood from the area. She slowly moved down to his mouth, being very careful as she touched his injured lips. Though despite her precautions, he let out a hiss of pain when the liquid made contact with the irritated skin. 

"I'm sorry," she murmured apologetically. She offered him a small smile before blowing lightly on the skin of his lips to soothe the sting.

Peter accepted the gesture gladly. Her breath was warm, providing great relief to his irritated skin. Y/N leaned towards him to be more precise, and then he realized how close they were to each other. Their noses, separated by barely a couple of centimeters, almost bumped into each other. The scent of her floral perfume flooded his senses, clouding his mind. The brush of her fingers on his chin awakened a strange tingle on his skin, and the warmth of her body enveloped him in a comforting embrace.

Overwhelmed by his feelings, Peter closed his eyes in an attempt to gather his thoughts. A sigh escaped his half-opened lips and it turned into a whimper when he stopped feeling Y/N's breath mingling with his own.

"Better?" she asked, forcing him to open his eyes again and snap back to reality.

Peter nodded slightly since he didn't trust his voice to speak. He swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing with the action. Y/N's eyes followed the small lump, distracted for a moment as she admired the veins marking on his neck, before returning her attention to his face. 

When she finished wiping away the blood, she kept her hand on his chin for longer than necessary. Her thumb brushed his lower lip, eager to discover its texture. Despite being injured, the skin of his mouth felt soft against her fingertip and Y/N couldn't help but wonder if it would feel the same while kissing him. 

Luckily she regained control over her body in time and was able to stop herself before she did something she would later regret. Spider-Man was her friend. Someone who protected her on the street and with whom she talked about her day and nothing else. She didn't have a crush on him and she didn't want to kiss him either. Of course not! That was ridiculous. She hadn't even seen his face. Developing feelings for a complete stranger was stupid and irresponsible.

Although he wasn't a complete stranger. Not to her. She knew things about him despite never having seen his face, things that made her feel a certain way. 

"You're all done!" Y/N announced, stepping away from the superhero as far as she could to keep her feelings at bay. She began to pick up the things from the first aid kit scattered on the floor to occupy her mind on something else, taking the opportunity to clean the blood from her hands. 

"Thank you," he mumbled, struggling to get up from the floor. Seeing how hard it was for him to move, she ran to his aid. She took him by the waist, putting his arm around her shoulders to steady him. 

"You need to get some rest," she scolded him.

"I'll be fine."

"You're not planning on going out on the street like that again, are you?"

The disapproval was clear in Y/N's voice. Spider-Man was silent for a moment before repeating: "I'll be fine. The night is young, I'm sure there are plenty of people who need me."

"You can barely walk," she replied as she helped him get into his suit. "Please don't go out again. You'll end up even worse than you already are and as much as I've done a fantastic job healing you now I don't think I can help you if you show up with your guts hanging out. I'm not that good." 

Y/N spoke with humor in her voice to hide the fact that she was terrified of the idea of Spider-Man getting hurt on the street. She was afraid to show him how important he really was to her in case he thought it was strange. Over time they had shared several special moments that assured her that he liked her, but she didn't know exactly how much. She saw him as a friend, probably because he was the only person she had left, but maybe he just saw her as someone he could hang out with. She found it hard to believe that someone like him would be all that interested in someone like her.

However, seeing that he didn't seem to want to change his mind she had to put aside her fear of being exposed and vulnerable. She had to somehow convince him to stay and rest for his sake and hers.

"Wait!" she said, taking him by the hand to prevent him from escaping through the window. "Please don't do this. I'll sleep a lot better knowing you're safe. Maybe this time Spider-Man can go home early."

Peter's eyes flicked over their joined hands, admiring them silently for a few seconds before he looked up to meet Y/N's face. She looked worried, the fear in her eyes almost enough to convince him not to leave. Almost.

The problem was that he couldn't go back to his house. It would be impossible for him to sleep and he would end up staying up all night, tossing and turning as he wailed in the dark. He simply couldn't be alone, he couldn't stand it. He had to do something to distract himself, otherwise he would end up losing whatever little sanity he had left.

"I can't go back home," he muttered without even thinking about what he was saying, his voice cracking. "I don't want to be alone." 

Hearing that confession broke Y/N's heart into a thousand pieces. Spider-Man sounded so devastated, she found it hard to believe it was him. In the time they had known each other, he had always appeared as someone cheerful and fun who did nothing but make her laugh and give her words of encouragement when she needed them. As strange as it sounded, the superhero had become her rock, her support. She found it hard to believe that the same man who kept joking with her was capable of sounding so sad. 

Y/N shortened the distance that separated them by taking a couple of long steps. She took his face in her hands, placing a hand under his lowered chin to force him to look at her. She was only able to see her own face reflected in the eyes of the superhero's mask, but something told her that he had his gaze locked on her. She could feel it through the fabric barrier that separated them.

"You don't have to be alone," she told him in a soft tone. "I'm here. You can stay with me." 

"N-No, I don't want to bother you," he said, embarrassed as he realized what he had said.

"You're not bothering me," she assured him, interrupting him before he could continue. "I want you to stay with me. I want to help you like you helped me. Please." 

Peter wanted to reject her, to swallow his feelings and escape out the window before it was too late. But when he opened his mouth to speak, no sound came out. Y/N was looking at him with pleading eyes and he simply couldn't refuse her. He was tired and hurting, and her presence was the only thing that seemed to help him when he was in that state. So he nodded his head and let himself be guided to the bed by her, where they sat side by side 

"Do you want to talk about it?" asked the young woman, a bit unsure. She wanted to help him, but she didn't want to pressure him into doing something he didn't want to do. She was more than willing to spend the whole night hugging him if that was what he preferred, but she thought she would give him the option to talk to her first.

"It's complicated."

"Sometimes it's better to talk about our problems. Putting into words what bothers us helps to understand it, to free us from some of the burden on our backs," she encouraged him to open up, placing a hand over his in support. "I promise I won't judge you. I'll just listen to you if that's what you prefer. Maybe that will help you feel better." 

"There's nothing that can make me feel better," he said, looking down at his hands. "It's a particularly difficult time for me... i-it's... it's the anniversary of the death of someone very close to me... s-someone I loved very much." 

"Oh," said the young woman, not knowing how to react. For some reason that was not what she expected to hear him say. She didn't know exactly what she expected him to say, but those words took her by surprise. "I'm so sorry for your loss," she added, giving his hand a light squeeze.

"Yeah, I'm sorry too," he mumbled more to himself than for her to hear. "You know what the worst part of it all is? That it's my fault... I couldn't save her."

"Oh, I'm sure you did everything you could...."

"It wasn't enough!" he exclaimed, raising the tone of his voice. Y/N would have been startled by the sudden change if it weren't for the sheer pain she could hear in his words. "I didn't get to her in time... I couldn't save her."

Spider-Man's voice sounded broken, and Y/N didn't need to look into his eyes to know he was struggling to hold back tears. She could sense it in his posture, in the bitterness in his voice. It broke her heart to see him like this, but she didn't know what to do to make him feel better. She was very good at listening to other people's problems, being the shoulder everyone cried on, but not so good at comforting sad people. Let alone in such extreme situations. She couldn't even begin to imagine the pain he was going through. Nothing she could say to him could fill the emptiness in his chest. There were no words to comfort such sadness. So instead of talking she decided to show her support in a physical way.

She approached him quietly and put her arms around him with a bit of shyness. It took Peter a few seconds to react. He held his arms firmly on either side of his body, posture rigid as stone, while his brain processed the situation. He finally gave in to her embrace, melting into the warmth of her body. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close against his body. She stroked his back in reassurance, her fingers tracing imaginary figures on the fabric of his suit. And it was that simple gesture that pushed him over the edge. 

Peter broke down, hiding in her arms. The emotions he had repressed for so long finally coming to the surface in the form of sobs. He hid his face in the crook of her neck, inhaling her scent as he cried, letting her closeness comfort him. 

She hugged him tighter, trusting that he did not find her actions strange. She whispered words of reassurance in his ear, prompting him to cry into her shoulder, assuring him that it would help him feel better. She continued the caresses on his back, moving up his spine, past his neck until she reached his suit-covered head. She let her fingers trace the lines of the mask before moving back down to his back. She repeated that action until she felt his sobs stopped and his breathing normalized. 

"How about I make us some tea, huh?" she asked him without separating from his body. "I have this tea that's supposed to help you relax. I always drink it when I'm stressed and it helps calm my nerves. Then we can keep talking or do something completely different, it's your choice."

"Tea sounds good," he replied, emerging from his hiding place on her shoulder. "Thank you," he added, embarrassed. He hadn't meant to lose control like that. The situation had gotten the better of him. He was so tired of repressing his emotions, of suffering alone and in silence, that when Y/N hugged him he found it impossible to contain himself. With that simple gesture she was able to tear down the walls he had carefully built around his heart. 

"Well," she said, taking him by the face and wiping away the couple of tears that had rolled down his cheeks beyond the part covered by the mask. "I'm going to make the tea. You can go to the bathroom to wash your face or wait here, okay? I'll be right back."

Y/N gave him a smile before disappearing behind the door. Peter stood staring blankly at the wood, his mind overwhelmed by the mix of emotions that haunted him. When he summoned the strength to get up he headed for the bathroom. He locked the door to make sure no one entered before removing his mask, and looking in the mirror he saw that his eyes were red and swollen from crying. He could still feel the path the tears had made as they fell down the skin of his cheeks. Letting out a sigh he took off his gloves and turned on the faucet, bending down to splash water on his face. 

He let the water run for a few seconds as he contemplated what he was doing. He felt sad and somewhat pathetic, but at the same time relieved. He had repressed his feelings for so long that he forgot how good it felt to let them out, to share his pain with someone else. It was as if some of the weight he felt had been ejected from his system through his tears. He felt lighter, calmer, although deep inside he could still sense the pain and guilt that always accompanied him. He could never get rid of them, but at least they were pushed to the background, overshadowed by the support and companionship that Y/N had offered him.

In a better mood, Peter turned off the faucet and dried his face and hands. He adjusted his suit, leaving his mask pulled up over the bridge of his nose, before leaving the bathroom. When he returned to the room he found that Y/N was already there. She had propped a tray with the tea cups on the bedside table and sat on the bed waiting for him. She gave him a smile when she saw him enter and motioned for him to sit down next to her.

"Do you want to talk about it some more?" she asked in a soft tone, handing him a cup of steaming tea. Peter was silent for a moment, contemplating his answer.

"No," he finally said, shaking his head, "I want to forget about it for at least five minutes."

"Are you sure? Because I can listen to you talk for as long as you need." 

Y/N wanted to make sure he wasn't saying that out of embarrassment or fear of making her uncomfortable. She was willing to stay up all night by his side if he asked her to. She would do anything for him, to help him feel better and give him back that cheerful, positive personality he always had when they were together. She wanted more than anything in the world to be able to erase the pain and guilt from him. If she could she would trade places with him in a heartbeat if it meant he could rest for a while. 

However, when the superhero nodded indicating that he didn't want to talk about it any further, she didn't press him. She was worried about him, but she didn't want to make him uncomfortable. So instead, she offered to do something else to distract him. The first thing that came to her mind was to watch a movie because that was exactly what she did when she felt bad. 

"What do you want to watch?" she asked, grabbing the TV remote from the nightstand. "What's the Spider-Man comfort movie?"

"Whatever you want to watch is fine," he replied with a tired smile.

After thinking for a while she decided to put on a couple of episodes of a show that was on the list of titles she used for moments like that. It was simple and entertaining, so it always did a great job of distracting her and making her feel better. She just hoped it would have the same effect on her friend.

By the middle of the first episode they had both finished their cups of tea. Y/N took the empty ceramic pots and placed them on the tray where she had carried them before settling down on the bed. She leaned back on the pillows, making sure she had a good angle to watch TV. Then she motioned for Spider-Man to join her. 

"Doesn't it bother you that I'm lying in your bed with my suit all dirty and bloody?"

If it were anyone else in any other circumstance she would have said yes. Normally it wouldn't even have occurred her to let someone sit on her clean sheets if they were half as dirty as he was. But Spidey was different. He was her friend, the one who had helped her in a time of need. He was the man occupying her thoughts at all times since she had met him. She couldn't deny him anything. 

"I can change the sheets tomorrow," she shrugged in response. "Now come here."

Peter couldn't say no. He settled down beside her, letting her arms wrap around him in a warm embrace. He relaxed under her touch, reveling in her company and the closeness of their bodies. His chest still ached, the guilt clinging inside him refusing to leave him. But despite everything, it was the first time in a long time that he didn't feel alone. 

Y/N was happy to hear him let out a muffled laugh. The sound traveled through her ears and lanced into the center of her heart, quickening her pulse and awakening a familiar tingle in her stomach, the one that always coursed through her body when she heard him laugh. She felt good knowing that she had managed to distract him from the pain that haunted him at least for a little while. After hearing him cry his laughter was music to her ears, the most perfect melody she never wanted to stop listening to. 

However, by the fifth episode of the series, he stopped making sounds. Her first reaction was to panic, thinking he had fallen victim to the negative voices in his head once again. But as she listened more carefully she realized that he was not focused on his pain, but had fallen asleep. Y/N smiled, completely forgetting the show playing on the television to admire the figure lying next to her.

Spider-Man's lips were half-open, exhaling puffs of air with each deep breath he took. Her fingers traveled to his cheek, caressing the soft skin of his face gently so as not to wake him. She brushed the fabric of the mask a couple of times, but held back the urge to move it out of her way. She wasn't going to betray him that way. If she ever saw his face, it would be because he had shown it to her.

Sure, she was dying to know the rest of his features or find out the color of his eyes, but in the end none of that mattered. She loved him even though she didn't know who he was under that suit because she didn't need to know his name to really know him. She knew the kind of person he was and that was more than enough.

Eventually, Y/N fell asleep next to him. The television was forgotten, reduced to mere background noise as she adjusted herself on the bed carefully so as not to wake him. She let his calm, deep breathing relax her, guiding her slowly into the arms of Morpheus.

When she awoke the next morning she couldn't help but be disappointed to notice that she was alone in bed. The open window and the first aid kit on the floor were the only evidence that Spider-Man had been there with her the night before.

A month.

A whole month had passed since the last time Y/N had seen Spider-Man. A month in which she had done nothing but worry about him. She waited for him when she got out of class, at the bus stop, or when she walked the streets of Queens. She had even slept with her bedroom window open, waiting in vain for him to appear in the middle of the night. However, the days passed and she still had no news of him.

The first few days of his absence she thought maybe he was busy. He was a superhero after all. Maybe a new supervillain had appeared or something. But seeing nothing in the news to support her theory she began to think that maybe that wasn't the reason for his sudden disappearance. Her mind continued to come up with increasingly improbable, but terrifying explanations. She felt helpless, frustrated that she couldn't do anything to find out the whereabouts of the superhero. She came to think that something terrible had happened to him and that no one had found out because no one knew who Spider-Man really was.

Though her worries proved to be in vain one morning when she read a news story that mentioned Spider-Man preventing a bank robbery. She let out a sigh of relief when she saw the superhero's picture in the article. He was alive after all. But then, why wasn't he communicating with her? Didn't he realize how worried she was? Didn't he think about how much she missed him?

The realization of the truth hit her with the force of a freight train. Spider-Man was just another person she had trusted who left her. And this was another instance where fate was proving to her that for some reason she was no good at maintaining close lasting bonds. Another moment in which life reminded her that she was destined to live in loneliness, suffering from passing relationships that she was not capable of sustaining. 

Y/N didn't know that Peter was frightened by how much he cared about her. She didn't know about the sense of peace he had felt waking up next to her that morning, with it being the first time in a long time that it wasn't his nightmares forcing him to open his eyes. She didn't know about the sheer terror he had of losing her or the guilt that haunted him for finding someone who gave him hope. She wasn't aware of any of that because instead of telling her Peter had decided to run away like a coward. And now she blamed herself, as she was so used to doing.

Peter told himself it was for her sake, that he was protecting her by walking away, saving her from the terrible fate his Uncle Ben and Gwen had met. He was lying to himself because it was easier than admitting that he was actually protecting himself. What he felt for Y/N frightened him and he would rather run away than face reality. The problem was that it was impossible to hide from his own emotions, but he was willing to try. 

He didn't stay away from her completely. Occasionally he would pass by her house and stare at the lights on in her window, wondering what she was doing. Other times he would wait for her at the bus stop, watching her from a distance to make sure she was safe. She was always looking for him, her eyes scanning the streets thoroughly, desperate to find a sign indicating that he was there. Peter had to fight every instinct inside him that told him to run to her, reminding himself that no matter how much it hurt, things were better this way. She would be safe and he...well, he would be happy knowing she was okay.

However, life was never that simple. Fate was never on his side. And just as expected, it had plans very different from his own. 

Y/N had left class later that night. The teacher had forced everyone to stay after hours to finish the lesson. And as if that hadn't been enough, on her way out she ran into some classmates from another class who delayed her even longer. By the time she managed to leave the building it was 11 PM. The streets, though not deserted, were quite empty and dark. She walked with her backpack close to her chest, keeping alert of her surroundings. 

It was only five blocks from where she studied to the bus stop and she walked them peacefully for most of the time. At least that was until she passed a group of men sitting on the sidewalk as they chatted. They were talking and laughing loudly and Y/N noticed from afar the multiple beer cans surrounding them. If she could have, she would have crossed the street. But the bus stop was only a few feet away from the group of men. 

She thought it would be fine, that they would go about their business while she waited in the street for her ride. She thought maybe she was being paranoid as she walked past them, staring into the horizon, trying hard not to make eye contact. Her body tensed and she held her breath without even realizing it, subconsciously looking for any mechanism that would allow her to go unnoticed. 

She could feel their gazes on her back, but she tried to ignore them. The avid conversation they were having was interrupted and Y/N was unable to hear more than incomprehensible mumbling over the rapid beating of her heart, the sound echoing in her ears loudly.

For a brief moment she thought she was safe. She let out a sigh of relief as she noticed that only a couple of steps separated her from the bus stop. In the distance she could make out the figure of the vehicle, stopped a block away by the traffic light at the corner. She was one step away from complete safety.

But then she heard a whistle coming from behind her. Closing her eyes she cursed to herself and picked up her pace. She ignored the strangers' calls despite their insistence and was ready to run out of there when she felt a hand closing over her wrist.

"Are you deaf, doll?" asked one of the men, tugging on her arm to force her to turn around.

Y/N froze, her mind blank and her heart beating a mile a minute against her chest. The three men surrounded her, blocking all possible exits. They continued to talk, but she was unable to hear anything. Their voices sounded distant, muffled. All she could think about was that she was in danger, but her body did not respond to the commands of her mind, which was screaming at her to run away from there. 

"Let me go," she managed to say in a whisper.

"Oh, come on, doll, you don't have to be like that. We're just talking," exclaimed the man to her right, the alcohol in his breath assaulting her nostrils. 

"Let me go," she repeated louder this time. She tugged on her arm to break free of the stranger's grip, but he only increased the pressure, making her yelp in pain. 

Y/N panicked, her breathing became faster and faster. She tried to break free once more but it was unsuccessful. The men were still talking, she could see them moving their lips but couldn't hear anything. Her mind was moving too fast to be able to process her own thoughts, much less the conversation they were having. The only thing she was able to process was the fear she felt. Tears stung her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. 

Suddenly, an external noise was able to make its way into the bustle that was her mind, gaining her attention. It was the distinct sound of something traveling through the air, cutting through the rushing wind that was heading in the opposite direction. Then her arm was released. She heard a dry thud against the floor before she recognized a familiar voice.

“The lady said no!”

Looking up, Y/N was met with the figure of Spider-Man, who was making use of his webbing to incapacitate one of her attackers. The other two moved away from her to defend their friend from the superhero and she watched as he took them down one by one while her brain struggled to comprehend what was happening. She flinched at the sound of the blows, letting tears roll down her cheeks without realizing it.

"Oh my god, Y/N, are you okay?" she heard Spider-Man ask her in horror after dealing with her attackers.She didn't answer him. She didn't even look at him. Her eyes were fixed on the figures of her three attackers, now unconscious and tied up with the spider webs. 

"Please talk to me!" insisted Peter, grabbing her face to force her to look at him.

"I-I'm a-okay," she managed to say, her voice cracking. "They didn't do anything to me... y-you... you... you saved me."

The young woman burst into tears and Peter wrapped her in his arms, holding her close to his body as she had done with him in the past. She sobbed in his arms, her brain finally realizing the gravity of the situation. She was safe, but she might not have been. If Spider-Man hadn't arrived, who knows what would have happened to her.

They stood there, hugging in the middle of the street until she managed to control her crying. When she separated from his body he wiped away her tears with his thumbs while assuring her again and again that she was safe. He was partly doing this to soothe her and partly to soothe his own troubled mind. He offered her a ride home and she accepted before she realized what that entailed. 

Y/N clung to Spider-Man's body tightly as soon as her feet left the ground, hiding her face in his neck so she couldn't see how high up they were. The free-falling sensation of swinging over nothing was strange and unpleasant, but she had so much adrenaline coursing through her veins that she barely noticed it. She concentrated on the words of encouragement that Spider-Man whispered to her from time to time. His voice inspired confidence and reassurance, helping to calm her nerves. 

They reached her building in no time. The superhero helped her get her keys and rode up in the elevator with her. In any other circumstance she would have laughed at the image of Spider-Man standing next to her, leaning against the elevator wall as they waited to get to her floor. They were lucky that no neighbors interrupted their short trip, otherwise Y/N wasn't sure how she would explain the situation.

Once at her apartment he took her backpack and jacket, helping her slide it over her shoulders before hanging it on the coat rack in the entryway. He then guided her to the couch in the living room, inviting her to sit down.

"Are you all right?" he asked her for the thousandth time, the concern still clear in his voice.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine," she assured him, clearing her throat to speak. "I'm just a little shaken up, that's all."

"I'm so sorry, Y/N. This is all my fault."

"You saved me," the young woman said, looking at him with confusion.

"But I should have been there to stop it from happening. I'm so sorry."

Y/N didn't blame him for what happened. There was no way he could have foreseen that she was going to be attacked. And it wasn't his duty to save her either. He was Spider-Man, but at the end of the day he was just a man with a suit and powers similar to spiders' abilities. He couldn't be looking out for the needs of an entire city. It was impossible, even with his abilities. However, she took advantage of the situation to get answers about his sudden disappearance.

"Why was that?" she asked a bit shyly, hoping it didn't sound like a complaint. "Why weren't you there with me like you used to?"

Peter stopped pacing nervously around the room to look at Y/N for a moment. He wanted to lie, to make up some story about a top-secret issue that Spider-Man was taking care of. But as he looked into her eyes and noticed the pain and confusion in them he was unable to do anything but let out a long sigh. He couldn't lie. Not to her.

"I thought it was for the best... I thought I was protecting you."

"Protecting me from what?"

"From me," he blurted out, struggling to keep his voice steady. "I don't know if you've noticed, but I care about you Y/N. A lot. And the last time I felt this way about someone I had to watch them die. That's why I walked away, to protect you. But in the end you ended up in danger anyway, so I don't know what to do."

Spider-Man dropped onto the couch, visibly frustrated. Y/N leaned towards him, admiring his figure as she processed the meaning behind his words. He didn't disappear because she did something wrong. He ran away because he cared for her, and that frightened him. Despite the sad nature of the conversation she couldn't help but feel a tingle spread throughout her body at such a revelation.

"I don't want you to protect me if that means I can't see you again." 

"She said the same thing and I was weak. I let her into my life and now she's gone," he replied with a bitter chuckle, remembering how Gwen wouldn’t listen to him. "I don't know what to do, Y/N. All I know is that staying here is dangerous and it scares me, but I can't bear the thought of walking out that door and never seeing you again."

Y/N could hear the doubt in his voice, a perfect reflection of the conflict within him. A battle between his brain and his heart that seemed to have no end. It crushed her soul to see him like this, haunted by the ghosts of his past. Even though he wasn't crying it was a sadder sight than the last time they had been in a similar situation. That night he had cried because of the pain he felt on the anniversary of the death of someone he loved. But now he was showing her how deep his wounds really were. And as much as she understood that the situation he had gone through was terribly tragic, she never had imagined that it had led him to pause his life in such a way.

"Then stay," she implored him, praying that his heart would win the battle against his mind. "I want you to stay. Please."

Peter knew the rational part of him had lost the war the moment Y/N opened her mouth. There was no way he could walk away from her when she was asking him to stay using that tone. His heart wouldn't let him. He was tired of living a miserable and lonely life. He wanted to be with her and his head would not be able to convince him otherwise.

"If we do this I want to share my whole life with you, not just the Spider-Man stuff," he finally spoke and he could see Y/N's face light up with joy. He brought his hands to his face and began to lift the mask up by his chin. He had barely gotten to uncover his lips when she suddenly stopped him. 

"Wait!" she exclaimed, alerting him. "Are you sure about this?"

Y/N didn't quite know why she stopped him. She supposed it was because she wanted to make sure he wasn't making a mistake. She had dreamed many times of that moment, finally seeing his full face. But as excited as she was about it, she also knew that his identity was a sensitive subject. She didn't want him to feel like he had to reveal who he was to her. She didn't want him to regret it. She needed to make sure he was one hundred percent okay with her seeing his face.

Spider-Man nodded, giving her a smile, the biggest she had seen him form on his face so far. Y/N mirrored him, happy to discover that he did in fact have dimples marked on his cheeks, one on each side of his big grin.

"Can I do it?" she asked him then. He immediately agreed, moving a little closer to her so that she could resume the task he had left incomplete. Y/N's hands traveled up to his face. One caressed his cheek while the other slowly removed the mask. Her heart was racing with every inch of skin she uncovered. When she reached the bridge of his nose, she lost her patience and used both hands to pull the rest of the fabric off. And just like that, the face of the anonymous superhero appeared in front of her eyes.

"Hello," he said in a shy voice. "I'm Peter Parker."

She remained silent, admiring every little detail in his features. He had the biggest, deepest brown eyes she had ever seen. They stood out because of the special sparkle she saw in them. A sparkle that immediately captivated her, making it impossible for her to look away. He was looking at her with puppy dog eyes and his smile looked even more adorable now that she saw it in conjunction with the rest of his features. His brown hair, long and messy from wearing the suit, begged her to bury her fingers in it.

"Hello, Peter Parker," she whispered, testing the way his name felt on her tongue.

Peter blushed, suddenly overwhelmed by the closeness. Y/N's fingers kept providing delicate caresses over his cheeks, slowly moving up to his temples and back down again. It was such an intimate touch that he couldn't help but lean over her hands, closing his eyes so he could enjoy the caress without thinking about the nerves eating him up inside. 

It was different being in front of her without the mask. He felt vulnerable, unprotected. The confidence and outgoing personality he exhibited wearing the Spider-Man suit was almost completely gone. He retreated into his awkward and weird personality, nervous under Y/N's observant gaze. He didn't feel judged, at least not in a bad way. But he wasn't used to seeing the level of admiration that Y/N's eyes showed when someone looked at him without the suit. Peter Parker was a nobody, someone people didn't look twice at. But now that she had him in front of her, mere inches away, she did nothing but focus her attention on him, admiring every little detail of his face. He was flattered, but nervous so he closed his eyes to hopefully keep his face from ending up red as a tomato.

Eventually he opened his eyes again and it was then that he realized how close their faces were. The tips of their noses were brushing against each other and he could feel Y/N's warm breath crashing against his skin. The girl's eyes lowered to his lips for a moment before returning to his gaze. It was a split second, but it was enough to spark courage in Peter, who used the new surge of confidence to close the little distance that separated them. 

It was a short kiss, barely a brush of lips. They were testing the waters, unsure of how to proceed, but curious to discover what it would feel like to meld in such an intimate way. Feeling confident, Peter captured Y/N's lower lip, molding his mouth to hers and sucking on her sweet taste. She let out a whimper of pleasure, relishing in the softness of his lips, the way they caressed hers so delicately, leaving her wanting for more.  

The electricity that coursed through their bodies at the touch and the feeling of euphoria that traveled through their veins even after they separated was all it took for them to understand that they were doing the right thing. They were meant to be together, it was impossible for them to deny it any longer. Y/N rested her forehead on Peter's, catching her breath. She took advantage of the closeness to look into his eyes, searching them for something that told her he felt the same warmth inside. She smiled as she saw them ignite with the flame of happiness.

"It's good to finally meet you."

[my-insanity-is-an-artform]

Anon who said poly wild and twilight is a genius

Guess who caught COVID and is now on Day 3/7 of Isolation! At least this'll give me a chance to clear out my inbox a bit lol. (I am alright though. Fortunately, it was just Bad Cold level of symptoms but be sure to look after yourselves guys!)

Wild was up a tree, peering through the treeline before sighing. Down below, there was a rustle of bushes. "Anything?" He called down.

From amongst the undergrowth, Wolfie emerged then reformed into Twilight in a flurry of shadowy magic.

"No. How in the name of Ordona did we get this lost?" Twilight growled to himself as he scuffed his boot.

Wild shimmied down the tree with ease. "I kind of expected this from me, but I kinda figured you'd know the way back." He patted himself off.

Twilight huffed again. "Must've gotten turned around when we were chasing that deer."

It'd been nearly a month since you had confessed your feelings towards both heroes and had gone on your first date. Things had been going smoothly since then as well. Kisses and hand holding and other ridiculously cheesy dating activities between the usual travelling had become commonplace between you and your partners.

There was one thing that had been bugging both Twilight and Wild. Neither of them had managed to gift you something that wasn't a necessity.

There simply hadn't been any time since your first date.

So when you'd mentioned missing a particular stew recipe, both of them had latched on to it. While Wild would be doing the majority of the cooking, Twilight was more than happy to help with the actual hunting and gathering part.

That morning, they had volunteered to go hunting for the day and agreed to meet the others back at the camp.

It was now mid-afternoon.

If the rest of the group ever found out that they had gotten lost, they'd never let Twilight hear the end of it. Nor give Wild any slack that his ability to get lost was contagious.

Just as Wild was about to scale another tree, there was more rustling from the undergrowth.

You emerged, ruffled, covered in leaves and almost on the business end of two swords. "Guys!" You beamed at them.

Wild swept you into his arms quickly while Twilight ran a critical eye over you, checking for injuries.

"What are you doing so far out here?"

"I came looking for you two! After you were gone all morning, Time let me come find you. He did say if none of us were back by Sundown, they'd all come looking for us and Warriors lent me the fire rod to set off as a signal." You pulled out of Wild's hug and ran your own eyes over them worriedly.

Both heroes paused.

"Why didn't I think of that?" Wild pondered as Twilight snorted.

"Because you would've started a forest fire." He ruffled his hair playfully.

Wild batted him away with a scowl even as you giggled.

"What kept you guys anyway?" You managed to intervene before it escalated into playful roughhousing.

There was a thoughtful pause before Twilight crossed his arms and smirked at you.

"A surprise."

Wild nodded quickly even as you looked between them.

"Okay..." YOu said slowly. You weren't sure how to feel about the secrecy but you did know that the smirks they were now wearing were very attractive.

Even as you were about to wipe them off.

"But, do you guys know which way is back to camp?"

(It was two very sheepish heroes that followed you back to camp. You were rewarded with kisses for your silence over their lost state and they were rewarded with extra kisses when they presented you with your favourite dish.

So in your mind, everyone won.)

[letstalkaboutshtufff]

A Bad Feeling Pt 1

Levi x Reader

Part 1

Paring: Levi Ackerman x Cadet reader

Warnings: 18+ attempted rape/assault, cursing, mention of injury, violence

Summary: Reader feels uncomfortable around a overly friendly captain. Are they just over reacting? Or is there something else going on. What will Levi do when he finds out?

***************************************************

A.n. ok so I literally wrote this in one go, it's probably trash but I wanted to post it anyway. Please lemme know what you think in the comments! Thank you!

"Y/n! captain Oro is asking for you" you did your best to hide the discomfort Armins words made you feel.

You smiled what you hoped was a convincing one and nodded. With a deep breath you made your way to Captains Oro's office.

Ever since you had been introduced to him those few weeks ago, he had taken a special liking to you. At first you had been excited, having such a highly skilled and well known captain take notice of you was one of the best feelings. Especially since your squad leader, Levi wasn't exactly heavy on praise.

Everyone loved Captain Oro, he was known for his strength and stamina on the battle field. He was both charismatic, and charming. Your fellow cadets practically swooned over him. You couldn't help but also get caught up in his perfection. At first that is..

Over time you noticed things about your meetings that put you on edge. An unnecessary shoulder touch here, a too low pat on the back there. Something was off. And although you had done your best to distance yourself from him, it was hard when your squads often had to work together.

But it was hard to say anything against him because even your cold blooded captain seemed to enjoy his presence.

Once you brought it up to your friend Sasha, about how you felt he was being too friendly. But she waved her hand and basically said you were worrying for nothing, he was just a friendly guy. And you were being dramatic.

Maybe you were overreacting? If captain levi approved of him, surely that meant he was a decent person right? Maybe he was just being really really friendly.

You decided to give him a chance and knocked on his door when you finally arrived.

"Come in" a muffled voice came from the other side.

With a click you entered the candlelit room. It was nearing sundown after all.

"Ah cadet y/n! Perfect, I was wondering if I might ask your opinion on something?" He smiled angelically and gestured towards a parchment on his desk.

"Of course sir" you nodded and approached him, reminding yourself of what sasha said. Just relax.

From the way the parchment was positioned you had no choice but to come to his side of the desk.

"Do you see this area here?" He gestured to what you now saw was a map. "What do you think of leading a squad through here instead of what we originally planned?"

The next 30 minutes you spent completely and professionally discussing strategies. Being the member of your squad that was best at this, made him asking for you completely justified. You felt bad for ever doubting his intentions.

"Thank you y/n, I think I have a better idea of what course we should pursue on our next expedition" he smiled sincerely.

"I'm glad I could be of service" you nodded and allowed a relaxed smile to pass your features. Feeling stupid you had judged him so harshly.

" If you wouldnt mind just one more thing?" You nodded as he pulled out a stack of papers.

"If you could look over this report of the last mission before I send it out? See if theres anything else to add?"

"Sure, I'd be happy to Captain" you grabbed the stack.

"And please if you can, return them to me tonight, I'll need them for the meeting bright and early"

"Yes sir, I'll finish it asap, good evening" and with that you exused yourself.

Tonight? It was already sundown. Well whatever, hes so busy he probably doesn't know what time of day it is.

You found a quiet spot amonsgt the crowds in the common room and got to work.

************************************

"Oi brat, it's passed curfew, go to your room now, we have important work tommorow" the unmistakable voice of your captain rang through the now empty hall.

You looked up in surprise and meet his usual scowl, not even realizing how late it had gotten.

"Hai, s-sorry captain, I'll go now" you gathered the report and quickly left, not wanting to receive another scolding for taking too long.

Oh crap you still had to deliever the report. Changing routes you snuck quietly down the familiar hallways. Not particularly feeling like running into Levi again. Something about him always made you act just a little dumber and it was definitely not because of your non existent crush on him...definitely not.. he was just intimidating is all.

*knock knock*

You waited patiently but there was no answer. Crap did he already go to bed? But he knew I was coming? Ugh what should I do? He needs these reports..

With a sigh you change direction again and head for his personal chambers. There was no way you were getting in trouble for not delivering these reports on time.

You smiled when you saw dim light flood from beneath the door.

Lightly you knocked, "Captain Oro, its y/n, sorry it's so late but I have the rep-" you were cut off abruptly when the door swung open and there stood Oro.

Except he looked nothing like the Oro you were used too seeing. His hair was loose from it's normal slicked back do, and the edges were dripping slightly. His shirt was loosely thrown on revealing a decent amount of skin. He must've just bathed.. you could see why the girls were so obsessed with him. He was, platonically speaking, a very gorgeous man.

You were taken aback but reminded yourself that you did knock after hours so of course he wasnt going to be all soldiered up.

"U-um s-sorry Captain, I have the reports" you averted your eyes and shoved the reports in his direction.

"Ah y/n, thank you, would you please put them on my table? My hands are still slightly wet." He laughed holding them up innocently.

"S-sure" god why were you stuttering so much, you fight goddamn titans for a living?! But somehow you were more nervous now than when a 10meter was clawing at you.

You entered the room and tried to avoid looking around too much.

You always wondered what the inside of the higher ups rooms look-

*click*

You whipped around, alarm bells suddenly back in full force.

"Captain what are you-"

"You're such a good girl, you know that y/n?" Oros whole demeanor changed and you cursed yourself for not trusting your earlier instincts.

"U-um" you really did not know what to say or do as he took a couple steps closer.

"Always so obedient for me, I think you deserve a reward don't you?"

Shit

"That's not...that's not necessary captain, I really should be going" you tried to lunge for the door but he was quicker and much much stronger.

"I don't believe I dismissed you cadet..." he purred pinning your arms to the door in the blink of an eye.

You were by no means weak, but your struggles were useless against him.

"Let me go" it took all your strength not to stutter in fear.

"How adorable, you know I love it when you follow my orders so well, but I think..." you shivered in disgust as you felt his lips near your neck and press down.

"I'd like to see you fight me as well" you whimpered as he sucked and bit down on the soft flesh.

"S-stop it, p-please" he smirked and looked into your fearful eyes with his lustful ones. "Stop? But that's not what you really want is it? You see I know exactly how girls like you are" he chuckled darkly and moved one of his hands to grip both your arms, while the other slid lower. You gasped when he cupped your breast. "S-stop! I'll, ill scream If you don't!" You felt a tear slide down your shaking form.

"Scream?" He snickered like you had told the funniest joke.

"Go ahead and scream doll, itll be very interesting to see what happens"

"W-what?" You were utterly confused.

"Think about it, if someone walks in on us, what would they think? Seeing a cadet after hours in her superiors chambers?"

"B-but I! I was bringing the reports i wasn't-!"

"Do you honestly think theyll care what you have to say? Who do you think theyll believe y/n? You a nobody cadet who's been fighting titans for 3 seconds? Or me, a selfless hero whos saved countless of scouts lives? All I have to tell them is that you came into my room and tried to seduce me. When I tried to restrain you, you screamed. Who do you think theyll listen too? Why else would you be here so late at night?"

"Y-You're..you're insane, you're not a hero, y-you're a coward who-" he grasped your jaw harshly causing you to wince.

"I'd watch that mouth of yours y/n" he squeezed harder. I am your superior after all, and we wouldnt want any nasty rumors going around that would have you suspended from the survey corps now would we?" He bent down and to your horror pressed his lips against yours.

Fuck fuck what do I do?!? Hes blackmailing me now. I cant fight him, hes too strong, think think think.

But your mind was blank when his cold lips pressed against your lips again. "Open your mouth" he ordered in a voice laced with animilistac lust.

You abruptly turned your head away desperate to get away.

"Heh, always such a tease" he traced a finger up and down your cheek, flipping over your lips. "I'll enjoy this-"

"CAPTAIN ORO, COMMANDER ERWIN REQUESTS YOUR PRESENCE IN HIS OFFICE IMMEDIATELY" a voice shouts from the other side of the locked door.

With an annoyed sigh, Oro pulls away slightly, "Did he say why?" He lazily looks over in the direction of the door.

"NO SIR!"

"guess it can't be helped... Alright tell him I'll be there shortly" he yelled out.

"Hai" the footsteps recended and you stood deathly still.

He pulled away from you and you immediately pulled your wrists to you, they were an angry red, and it scared you how much strength he had so effortlessly displayed.

"Sorry doll, it looks like we'll have to continue this another night" he stepped away and began dressing normally as if he hadn't just been assaulting you 5 second ago. You quickly make for the door but his voice falters your step, "Oh and y/n?"

You dont look at him, but fear held you in place until he finished, "If you mention our little moment to anyone, you know what will happen" you nodded quickly, anything to appease him and get out.

When the door shut behind you, you felt the flood of tears break through.

D-did, d-did that really happen?!?

You held a hand to quiet your sobs and quickly dashed through the hallways.

You're heart thumped and you felt the need to vomit. You hadn't felt this way since the first time youd encounted a titan. All you wanted to do was get to the safety of your room, just through the hall.

It felt like a bucket of cold water had been thrown on you when a cold voice shouted out and halted your movements. Please not now, oh god any time but now.

"Oi cadet y/n are you deaf as well as dumb? I asked you a question.

"Why are you out past curfew?" he sounded definitely annoyed and you gathered all your strength to hold the sobs out of your voice.

Without turning around you answered, "I-I had to deliver some r-reports..I'll head to my room now.." you stepped forward hoping he would let you go but you were not so lucky.

"Oi brat, did you hit your head? I didn't dismiss you yet. Not to mention you haven't even addressed me properly, maybe some time cleaning up horse shit will remind you how to respect your superiors" fuck he was definitely angry now.

Still you didn't turn around, you couldn't..."S-sorry Captain Levi, I'll do better in the future.." you barely could even focus on the words coming out of your mouth, your heart was beating a mile a minute. Please just leave me alone!

"Hahh" Levi uttered in disbelief and severe annoyance, even the most novice of cadets turn around when being spoken to by a superior. "Are you trying to piss me off brat?!?"

"No sir..." still you didnt turn around, but gulped in fear when you heard sharp footsteps near you.

"Cadet y/n, you have three seconds to turn around and salute me properly before I throw you into the cells for insubordination" he ordered in his dangerously calm voice, that you never thought would be directed at you.

Having no other choice you slowly turn around, hoping to god the darkness of the room would be enough to hide your current state.

You kept your head down, letting your hair fall over your face, but gave a proper salute. Hiding the Wince that came when the tender flesh of your wrist had to bend.

Your eyes were trained on the floor. And you tried to remember how to breathe normally again.

"At least you remember how to-" abruptly his harsh scolding stopped.

Why did he stop?! Fuck did he notice something. No no calm down, he probably just is coming up with another punishment...right?

Wrong...

Levi was far from being done with dicisplining you but he caught sight of your bruised wrist and furrowed his brows immediately. He knew for a fact the last time you spoke in the hall those had not been there. He was quick to take in the rest of your demeanor and knew immediately that the reason you were acting disrespectful was because something was wrong.

"Cadet y/n.." he said suspiciously slow and not full of anger anymore.

"Y-yes?" Please dont ask me, please dont ask me, please dont-

"Look at me"

*******************************

Part 2 here

Okay so that's part 1! Please comment and lemme know what you think🥰also I'm super sensitive so please no hateful comments. Thanks for reading!

[sunlightwoo]

Come Back Home

☀︎ pairing: hidden king!Sunwoo x queen!fem.reader

☀︎ genre: there’s fluff for a small part of this, but there is more angst because of the inspo that I got this idea from hehee. WARNING: there are mentions of blood, wounds, and killing in terms of it being a war and a major character death will happen in this.

☀︎ wc: 4.7k

☀︎ plot: The king that the people see in the kingdom that is ruled by him is not the true king, but rather someone else. However, when the life of the king that has been playing the role for his friend’s life is endangered at the stake of a war, what will Sunwoo choose when he knows that he’d have to come back home to you unscathed somehow?

☀︎ a/n: i’ve had this idea back when the music video dropped for Come Back Home by Oneus last july, and loved it as this plot has been collecting dust since then from the switching and changing characters to stopping the kingdom come series that this originally would’ve been for. however after watching the road to kingdom stages i thought that this was fitting after their mama stage too and decided to post it for Sunwoo. anyways happy sunwoo day and hope you guys enjoy this one!!

[ gina is listening to: Come Back Home - Oneus ] [ the spinoff ]

Here comes the king!, the familiar four words that he was used to hearing all the time when he looks over to the man that was walking towards the throne that was on the other side of the ballroom. He watches from a balcony up above, watching the grand man closely as he waited for today’s round of laws to pass by for today. 

As though, he was the true king after all hiding in disguise.

His eyes are cast upon his companion, Juyeon who regally sits on his throne for him and connects a short gaze as he goes on with his day helping him out with more laws to go through and be signed. The reason for it; his own safety from the general public. 

Ever since the early days of the previous king and queen’s announcement of the regal heir that was yet to take over their place when they passed, nobody knew who the individual was as it was kept a secret in fear that the enemies would use him as a leverage. It was up until he had turned the age of 18, a month after a war that his parents bravely fought in and died in honor of the kingdom that he had to step up and play the role of the king. 

However, he couldn’t risk his own identity just yet because he knew that there were enemy lines speculating his friend’s true identity. Hence why he had never revealed his true identity as the king with the royal bloodline that ran in his name, nor had he acted like he was the king whenever he was in the castle since he disguised himself as the royal guard to keep an eye out on the front lines of the kingdom. 

Until he had met you. 

It was quite coincidental that you, the adopted sibling sister of a friend of Juyeon’s, had walked into the office one day to overhear their plans of making Juyeon play the role as the king until his time was done and you were the least to say shocked. Your reaction to finding your brother negotiating with the true king, Sunwoo, was rather confusing considering you had no other input towards the matter after being in the same room as the man that you had thought to be the royal guard.

Truth be told, you had always thought of him very highly from afar as you thought that for a person that had such high standards and sight in the kingdom, he was rather playful and had lots of charisma for someone that was raised as a king in secret. It took him three months since then to finally court you and eventually marry after having to somehow find a way to have you be Juyeon’s fake queen for the kingdom to rely on when they needed one. 

All of the plans were perfectly planned to the brim and executed well, where Sunwoo was rather happy with where he was in the present today, even if he had to hide in secret like he was at the moment on a balcony. It wasn’t until hours later when Juyeon finishes that he looks out the window, noticing how the sun was already on the brink of sundown that he remembers today’s plans with you as he rushes to your bedroom almost immediately.  

He makes it into your bedroom after knocking first, hearing a soft hum to allow him inside while he enters to see you sitting on your balcony with a smile on your face as you look at him. Sunwoo lets out a soft chuckle at your idea of a date for this evening as he walks over to where you were sitting on top of a blanket that you had prepared, a quiet picnic just for you two to enjoy. 

“You seemed to have remembered about our date this time.” You say as he playfully rolls his eyes at your words and the raised eyebrow look that you were currently giving him.  

The golden yellow hues of the sun setting were perfectly reflecting against Sunwoo’s skin, you thought to yourself, as you admired how he looked at this hour. You weren’t sure how you had gotten lucky with having to marry the king, as you were once a noble woman that came from a family that wasn’t as well off as the other ones that you had known of. However you could recall that night when he was supposed to pick who he had wanted his queen to be, as though the flower festival of the week for him to get to know all the other women had been tossed to the side as he chose you that night. 

“I was helping Juyeon wrap up the last of the laws that had to be seen out tonight. Have I kept you waiting long?” He asks sitting as you shook your head in response, smiling as he already found purchase in laying his head into your lap, curling his body up into a ball as you were finding yourself playing with his hair out of habit. 

“Long enough for my stomach to grumble because I wanted to be nice and wait for you,” You grin and look down at him as he was already staring back up at you with a soft smile on his face, “But I guess I can make some exceptions for you, your majesty.”

For whatever reason it may be, whether it was the stars and fate or even the coincidences that you both were given, Sunwoo felt as though everything was perfect even if it may be a bit misfortunate on his end. Although he could not properly tell the world that you were his, he knew that he was still yours in moments like these when it was just you two and the golden hues of the sun that were setting on you both. 

“I love you.” 

His random confession of love takes you off guard while heat is already rushing to your cheeks as you look at him, looking into his lovestruck eyes that were boring right into your very own gently but deeply. You think that this must be what it was like to fall in love with your soulmate, feeling happy that Sunwoo was the one person that you could only want in this life and the next. However, it had caught you off guard because he was rather someone that showed his love language through touch instead of words of affirmation, which made you confused at the sudden confession. 

“I love you too, my love. Why the sudden confession?” You say to him teasingly with an undertone of confusion, continuing to play with his hair as he lets out a soft breath while holding your hands that were now no longer playing with it. 

“Moments like today makes me really want to tell you, rather than just showing you that I do since I don’t say it enough. I love you, Y/N, and I’d rearrange the stars and the universe into your eyes and heart if I could to show you that I do.” He says, leaving small kisses right on your knuckles until he reaches your ring finger and leaves a soft, but lingering kiss right on the ring that he had proposed to you with just about a year or two ago.

There was a warm feeling in your chest as his hand was still holding onto yours, as if you were to leave at any moment now but you felt like you were at home. With him you felt like you were continuously falling in love with him more than the last sunset, and with the warm golden hues that the sun was giving off at this time, you wouldn’t want to be anywhere else if it wasn’t with him by your side. 

“Cheesy.” You mumbled jokingly and suddenly felt your weight being shifted to where you were now sitting in his lap, his arms wrapping around your waist securely as he rests his head on top of your shoulder so that you wouldn’t go anywhere. 

“That may be true, but you love it anyways,” He says while grinning widely and you turned your head to give him the same look that you always gave him when he started to get greasy, up until he suddenly steals a kiss from your lips that made you blink from the spontaneous act. 

“Come on, let’s finish up the food before it gets too cold and the sun leaves us alone in the dark.”

He was the gift that you never expected to receive in your life.

Today you felt as though there was a heavy feeling on your chest. You were currently sitting at the throne next to Juyeon, listening to your scribe explain to you what has been going on with the surrounding kingdoms around you both from the last few weeks and you could’ve sworn that you were going to give out from boredom right in that moment. 

It was one of the rare occasions that you had to be seen with Juyeon, considering you had finished up your financial affairs with the ambassadors that came from those foreign kingdoms days ago after your picnic date with Sunwoo. However you weren’t sure what this could mean for the future of your own kingdom, considering the events of then did not exactly end up on completely good terms. 

“Your majesties!”

The sound of the door being barged open to the chambers echoed as the person who had interrupted your meeting, not that you had minded, came in rushing in with hurried feet. You notice Juyeon rise to his feet with a stern look on his face and grabbed his wrist as it made him turn to look at you with a confused look, however you made a small notion for him to leave it as a gesture of boredom was passed onto him from the thoughts that were forming in your head. 

Your eyes turn back to the individual rushing in and you noticed that it was one of your generals and good friends, Changmin, and you knew that he wouldn’t have arrived frantically if it weren’t an emergency. His eyes screamed urgency as he attempted to catch his breath and you were almost concerned for how crazed he had seemed, which meant that this was bad. 

“King Hyunjin has declared war on us.” He breathes out and there was silence as your stomach churned at the words he had mentioned. 

War.

You were almost certain that you had been allies with the kingdom that King Hyunjin had ruled, knowing that he had been a good friend of yours with the rest of the Hwang family. However, an unexpected war seemed almost conspired as you turned to look at Juyeon with a scared look on your face. He seems almost taken aback had he not composed himself from the sudden news, eyes looking off to a distance that you knew was a hidden balcony for Sunwoo to sit in and listen. 

But there was no telling what the two could think of, because it was all so sudden. 

“Did he say why, or have sent for someone that he wants to declare a war?” You say while standing up from where you were sitting, not caring about how improper you might’ve seen at the moment because of how fast your mind was already racing at the speed of light. 

It wasn’t until he motions for you to go with him that you realize it must’ve been even more serious, and you could only assume the worst from the situation. Bidding a muttered excuse from Juyeon and the scribe, you head out of the royal chambers to head out and walk with Changmin towards your office quarters knowing that you could only get privacy there, even with the rambling inevitables that were making you spiral from how anxious you were progressively getting. 

With the door shut behind you, you noticed that Sunwoo had already met you there as he stood in front of the chairs that were in front of your desk with his arms crossed in front of his chest. Both of you looked over towards where Changmin was still looking distressed and it wasn’t until he locked eyes with you that you knew why. 

“He knows about Sunwoo’s true status, doesn’t he?” You whisper quietly and he nods in response, nervously looking between you both with so much stress that you could’ve sworn he would’ve exploded right then and there in front of you. 

“He wants the war to happen in a week’s time.” Changmin whispered, and that was when the atmosphere fell into a deadly silent room, if it were even possible from how much tension that was also being put into it. 

Sunwoo’s identity wasn’t meant to be exposed, which was why you felt a wave of emotions that included fear and betrayal from how someone would stoop so low that they would risk a king’s life for their own. You knew that, and there was also the acknowledgement of Sunwoo having the urge to leave as well knowing that his pride wouldn’t let him just sit back and let the war happen because of him. 

However you had your reasons this time around for him to not leave, and you were adament on him not leaving, especially after Changmin mumbles to himself that he was going to dismiss himself after the loud silence engulfing the atmosphere. 

“Sunwoo, you can’t go out there into the war, no matter how serious it may be.” You say, sternly looking at him the moment that Changmin shuts the door behind him while crossing your arms in front of your chest assertively. 

“Y/N, I know you’re scared-”

“No, I mean it this time, Kim Sunwoo. At all costs, I’m not going to let you go out there and risk your life dying, when you could be safer here. What if going out there is a trap to get you to get into your coffin?” You retort and you could tell that he was thinking about it from how quiet he was being. 

The war was due in a week’s time, and only time could tell what could happen in a span of a week because of everything. You blink for a second to realize that Sunwoo is walking up to you with a heavy heart in his hand, the same hand that cups your face momentarily before stroking your cheek for a moment and it took everything in you to not give into his warm and gentle touch. No matter how much you loved him, you still had to stand your ground and be selfish by telling him to not go. 

“I won’t go, only because I love you.” He concludes, making your heart feel a bit at ease in the moment as you looked into his eyes for that clarity that he had meant it. 

However it was in the time that he kisses you with the same amount of love and passionate that you were so used to feeling everyday that surpassed all the negative thoughts and placed them onto a shelf. He was here now, the kiss seemed to express, and you wanted to hold onto that grain of hope that was filling into your thoughts, but you could only wish that it were true until then.

“I love you too, idiot. Just stay here a little longer… with me.”

“Do you think she’d actually let me go?”

Sunwoo looks over to Changmin with a pained look on his face, one that expressed how dangerous the plan that they had in mind was going to be, but it had to be done. It had been three days into the war that King Hyunjin had declared onto your kingdom and it wasn’t until one of the soldiers that was a close friend of theirs, Jacob, had come back scathed to tell that Juyeon had been killed off after being ambushed during the first night full of snow. 

“I don’t think we have a choice… He won’t stop killing our numbers, unless you’re there.” Changmin says as the written paper that was in Sunwoo’s hand felt heavier than earlier. 

The written note that he recognized to be Hyunjin’s handwriting demanded that he should show up, along with the additional information that had passed on by Changmin that he had Juyeon at hostage in the snow. The thought of his friends’ lives being put on the line of life and death made him sick and guilty, knowing that this war was specifically targeted towards him and that he wouldn’t be able to do anything if he were to stay back and watched it all happen from the sidelines as he usually would.

“Give me an hour and I’ll meet you outside with my gear.” Sunwoo mumbles almost inaudibly, avoiding the eyes of his best friend with his head in his hands as he could hear him let out a hum in response, feet heading towards the door of Sunwoo’s office while leaving. 

In that moment, he felt as though he had just been set up for inevitable death. There were hundreds of thoughts as to how betrayed he had felt about the fact that the war was happening, along with the mourning emotions that filled his heart because he knew that Juyeon might die because of him. However there was still you, who was still waiting for him to fall asleep with you in bed because it was nearly three in the morning. 

He was fearful, scared of the fact that he would lose you in the end of all this.

He knew that you didn’t want him to go because he would leave you alone with a king to rule by your side, and that wasn’t seen to be fit for any kingdom whatsoever considering it would be considered unruly. Yet he also felt as though he had to go off and stop the war once and for all against Hyunjin, to find the real answer as to why he was so insistent on exposing Sunwoo’s status to the rest of the kingdom as it was. 

The stuff that Sunwoo would’ve needed was just in the room next to his office with a letter that was ready to be addressed to you, everything already having been packed since the first day of war in case Juyeon had died, and he felt his chest grow heavy at the thought of it. He gets up from where he sits in his office to head over towards the room when he flickers on the light to see you standing next to all of his packed gear with the letter opened in your hand. 

“You almost forgot something.” You mumbled quietly and tossed him a small item that was in your hand over towards him, and it was the sight of it that made his heart drop into his stomach as you were already on your way to leave the room. 

“Love, wait-”

“When were you going to tell me that you were leaving, Sunwoo? Before or after I had found out that you took off the ring and left without another word?”

The ring that was in his hand was accompanied by the one that he had once placed on your hand, both small objects having such a large impact on how everything was going downhill from here and it was like he was caught red handed. You were beyond livid at the fact that he had taken off the ring in the first place when you had gotten up to get a drink of water, seeing as though a letter of his writing  saying that he had to make things right had accompanied it, and you felt it get worse as your thoughts were everywhere because of the anger and hurt that you were ready to unleash onto him. 

“I thought we trusted each other enough to the point where we could tell anything, Sunwoo, but you lied to me. You said you weren’t even going to leave, but here you are getting ready to go ahead and hurt yourself because you’re scared-”

“I’m not scared of anything-”

“Then let’s just skip our excuses and divorce, if you’re willing to give up your ring so fast.”

Tears had already been glossing in your eyes as the evident twisted pain in your heart was pounding loudly in your chest, your breath not even wavering in the slightest as you looked at him. In his eyes, he felt as though he had already been stabbed in the heart because of those three simple words, because he never would’ve thought that you would actually want to divorce him after everything that the two of you had gone through.

“You wouldn’t-”

“Then don’t leave me here alone without you,” Your voice cracked, tears finally streaming down your face as you could already feel yourself slowly breaking away from the fact that he was going to go anyways. 

“If you leave right now, then don’t bother coming back home if you lived to see the light of day.” 

Sunwoo wants to reach out to you, to wipe away the tears that were falling down the apples of your cheeks because of the pain that he had caused. He wants to tell you that he was going to make it home safely and that he promises to come home, but he couldn’t find it within himself to hold such an empty promise as he moves almost past you to hoist his bag over his shoulder and turns to look at you with a heartbroken expression on his face. 

He takes in every inch of your face one last time, every curvature that he has kissed once in this lifetime and the eyes that he came to love every time that they looked at him with such love, outlasting the entire galaxy and universes that could possibly shine brighter than yours. With a heavy breath that brushes past his lips, he walks over to you with a shaky movement of his hands holding your cheeks with fragility, fear as he is scared for himself. 

He knew was going to lose you to the universe in this life, and he doesn’t want you to be taken away from him.

With a final kiss against your lips, he lets out a final breath as he leaves while placing both rings into your hands as he closes the door behind him, blocking out the sobs that he was able to hear from you in the closed room that he just left. He meets with Changmin outside on his own stallion and leaves with him as the two went off into the wintery night to where the war was yet to be finished in this night of time.

He didn’t even say ‘I love you’, when he had left for good.

“Y/N, we need you to make an announcement today.” You hear Chanhee, one of your close friends say from behind you and there was a beat of silence as you were staring off past your window to look at the crowd of people gathered in front of the palace.

“He’s going to come home soon, I know it.” You muttered back, more toned to convince yourself that he was actually coming back as you hugged your stomach closely to yourself.

A week has gone by since he had left, you noted to yourself since then as you had been awake for endless nights waiting for the soldiers to come back home; at least someone to make sure that they were alive. You grew anxious as you fumbled with the necklace that was around your neck, a simple string with a wedding band attached to it as the growing fear of him actually not making it back home continued to settle in your stomach. 

It was over, you remember hearing as the scribes from Hyunjin’s kingdom had come to say as you were on the edge waiting for any sign of life. However, nobody has come home as you could feel the tears prick at the corners of your eyes. He had to be alive, you tried to convince yourself as you turned to look at Chanhee, who had been giving you a solemn expression on his face with something in his hand. 

“Y/N…”

The feeling of dread suddenly fills your heart as you noticed that the letter in his hand was addressed to you in a familiar handwriting, one that you never wanted to see once again. There was a sharp intake of a breath that you made, realizing what it must’ve been considering there were blood stains on it as you looked up at the latter with teary eyes. 

“Changmin was the only survivor… He came back home last night when you slept, and wanted me to give you this.” Chanhee says, walking over towards you with caution as you glanced between both him and the letter.

He leaves you alone in the room with the letter in your hand, your own instincts debating on whether or not you should open it as you knew what this had meant. Your hands were shaky as the weight of the light parchment felt heavy in your own possession, not wanting to open the blood stained letter that can only mean one thing. 

Sunwoo’s last words.

The moment that he had written them was one of the most unforgettable memories that he would definitely remember in his next life. The night that he had faced Hyunjin in the snow, the strength that he gathered from the anger of seeing his friends and soldier’s brave deaths because of him, he went down in pride and in pain knowing that he had used you as a way to unleash the last few moments of life and death between the war. 

“It’s a shame that you won’t be able to see your beloved queen again, Kim. Maybe she’d be better if she were with me, wouldn’t it?” Hyunjin’s words taunt him just as Sunwoo finally paints his blood onto the snow, his breaths uneven as he finishes him off and looks at his lifeless eyes staring back at him. 

“Never in a million years, will I ever lose to you again, Hwang.”

Sunwoo stumbles back to his tent, seeing Changmin already there healing and his friend was ready to treat his injuries when he shakes his head in response. Both Changmin and Sunwoo share a glance of unspoken words that were exchanged, until Sunwoo grabs a sheet of parchment and ink to write down everything that he had been meaning to say to you even if he was bleeding out on that winter morning. 

“Sunwoo, you have to save your energy and let me-”

“I’m bleeding out too much, Changmin… Just let me do this and die in peace,” Sunwoo murmurs, already feeling his life being taken away from him as he grew weaker while ending his letter that was supposed to be addressed to you.

“Just make sure that she gets this.” 

To you who has always been the golden highlight of my life, the hues of love and adoration in the confinements of the yellow sun to my dark shades of the moon…

I knew what I had forgotten that night., and I should’ve said it before leaving. 

I’m not coming back home, my love… and I’m sorry.

We won, and I know that if I were to see light of day tomorrow, you would still let me in despite the fact that you probably hate me at the moment. But you have my ring and that’s all that matters, because only Changmin will come home, and I made him promise that he would take care of you no matter what.

You don’t need a king to prove that you are strong, Y/N, and I know that you are the greatest queen that this kingdom will be ruled under, because you are the strongest person that I’ve ever met in my life. 

I don’t regret loving you, marrying you, spending all of our picnics in the hues of the golden sunset in secret, because I knew that I was yours, just like you knew that you were mine.

But don't miss me too much, please. For us.

And I knew what I forgot to say,

I love you.

We will meet again.

[darkficsyouneveraskedfor]

Into The Woods

Warnings: noncon sexual acts; vaginal, anal.

This is dark!Lumberjack!Bucky and explicit. Your media consumption is your own responsibility. Warnings have been given. DO NOT PROCEED if these matters upset you.

Summary: You’re sent to make a delivery to the man in the woods.

Note: This is for @imanuglywombat​ and @nellblazer​‘s Lumberjack Challenge. I couldn’t see if they were accepting dark fics so if they aren’t, I guess it’s just another fic lol. But anyways, the challenge inspired me.

Thank you. Love you guys!

As always, if you can, please leave some feedback, like and reblog <3

“You sure Dezy isn’t going to make it?” You asked as you helped Gerry load the crate onto the trailer. 

“I’m sorry, I got all the other deliveries sent out with Milo but this one’s too far for him.” Gerry grunted as he closed the back of the open-top trailer. “I don’t know what’s gotten into Dezy. Second day in a row and yet I hear he’s down at the Horse every night.”

“Well, he’ll run out of beer money sooner than later,” You sighed as you pulled on your gloves. The air was starting to bite as the brief autumn was turning. “You sure you can manage without me?”

“Slow day in the shop,” He shrugged. “You just be careful.”

“Alright. I’ll do my best.” You climbed up onto the four-wheeler and fumbled with the thick key with the grizzly bear charm attached to it. “Maybe next time give me the easy ones.”

“I’ll tack an hour of overtime on your pay, how about that?” He chuckled. “You need to get out anyway. I know this place is small but you can’t spend all your time reading those harlequins in the dry good section.”

“They’re not harlequins,” You turned the engine and raised your voice as you gripped the handlebars. “They’re fantasy, Ger.”

“Sure, sure,” He backed away. “You go or you won’t make it back by sundown.”

“Never far off these days,” You mused as you revved. “See ya, Gerry. Don’t forget to down stock the fishing wire.”

“Which one of us is the boss?” He called after you as you pulled out, the small trailer rumbling behind you.

You turned off at the end of the street, past the business fronts that looked like cabins. The town looked straight out of Western but with more snow. The first of the annual powder had yet to fall but you could feel it coming. You headed over the lumpy tundra past the sparse trees that grew thicker the further you got. The paths turned narrower and you steered slowly through the damp forest.

You only went so far out when your uncle took you ice fishing and rarely in this direction. You slowed as the path grew more uneven, carefully traversing the thick roots and deep valleys. The noise of the engine bounced off the trunks of trees around you. It was more than an hour before you reached your destination. At least, you thought you were in the right place. Weren’t too many cabins hidden in these trees; well not many still inhabited.

You pulled into the clearing and killed the engine. You hopped off the ATV and stretched your legs, your thighs tingled from the rumble. You went to the trailer and open the door and slid out the heavy trunk. You braced yourself before you lifted and gave a grunt. You’d packed the load yourself. You carried it past the old motorcycle and the neat stack of wood which marched the way to the broad front porch. You slowly ascended the three steps up and set down the heavy crate beside the door.

A bench made of logs, likely by hand, stood just a few feet from the front door, a woven blanket folded over the seat. The curtains were drawn within and you started to wonder if there was anyone there or if this was just another forgotten scene. It all seemed so eerily still.

You knocked and waited for an answer. Nothing. You tried again with the same result. Then, after a cold silence, you heard a door open and snap shut but it wasn’t the one before you. You turned as a man appeared beside the far corner of the porch. He appeared disturbed by your presence as he emerged from the old shed, his flannel jacket marked with patches of dirt and his dark hair poking out from beneath a woolen cap.

“He usually just leaves it there,” He clapped his gloved hands together as he brushed away the filth. “Thanks.”

“Uh, sorry,” You turned and ambled down the steps. “I didn’t realise.”

“Don’t be sorry,” He stayed near the corner, kicking his foot up onto the stump where an ax waited to be used. “Better get going before the sun beats you.”

“Sure,” You went back to the four wheeler. His eyes bore into you as you climbed up. “I didn’t mean to disturb you. I just--”

“Thanks,” He said again. “Driving out here all this way. Appreciate it.”

“No problem,” You turned the key. “Have a good day, sir.”

The engine roared to life and you carefully turned around, the empty trailer clattering behind you. You couldn’t help but feel him watching you still. You wanted to look back, but didn’t. You twisted the throttle and delved back through the treeline. You hoped Dezy would get his shit together, you weren’t keen on doing deliveries.

🪓

The next day, you were back to your usual fare. You stood at the long counter of Elk’s General, watching the locals as they wandered in and out, perusing the aisles of groceries, clothing, or novelty goods. You rung them through on the outdated till and smiled after them as they left with their paper bags.

The usual midday lull came and you pressed flat your latest read on the counter. You crossed your arms over the edge and bent over the pages, losing yourself in the fantastical medieval setting. Gerry didn’t mind so much as you kept an eye on customers. 

The rusty bell above the entrance tinkled and you looked up suddenly. You turned your book over before you could lose your place. You stood up straight and smiled at your newest customer but froze as his eyes met yours. It was the man from the day before, to whom you had delivered the weeks worth of goods.

He ignored your usual greeting and marched over to you. He planted the bill for his delivery on the counter.

“I ordered six cans of maple beans. I have only four.” He said plainly.

“An oversight. I’m sorry, sir. Just a moment.” You gulped and flitted off to check the shelf. There were only the tomato beans in stock. You went to the back room and checked there. Nothing. You returned to the counter. “Looks like we’re all out but I’ll make a note to have them delivered when we get more. Or we can remove the charge from your bill.”

“Keep ‘em on,” He said as he reached into his pocket. “I can wait.” He unfolded the worn leather wallet. “I have to pay my account anyway.”

“Sure,” You reached to slid his bill closer and keyed the amount into the machine. “You could have called--”

“I don’t have a phone,” He growled as he counted out the bills. “I don’t like to be disturbed.”

You took the money and counted it. You avoided his gaze guiltily. You sorted the bills in the cash door and handed him his change. His gloves brushed your skin and he tucked the money away with his wallet.

“Good book?” He pointed to the novel.

“Alright, so far,” You answered quietly.

“I read his other one. The one set in Ancient Egypt. It was… interesting. Not my usual reading material though.” He tapped his fingers on the counter. “You have a good day, miss.”

He turned and left you as you returned his farewell. The door snapped shut behind him and you looked back down at the book. You opened the front page and read the list of works by the same author. You’d have to look into them.

🪓

Several days late, you were helping Gerry restock shelves with the newly acquired truck. The night before, you’d helped unload it and left it for the next day to sort through. Dezy sat behind the counter, half-keeled over on the stool, trying not to puke into his hands.

“Damn shit is hungover again,” Gerry muttered. “I got a whole list of deliveries today and he can’t even stand straight.”

“I can do it,” You offered. “Long as he can manage the till.”

“I don’t know if I even trust him to do that,” Gerry said. “You sure you wanna do the deliveries?”

“We got any of the maple beans on the truck?” You asked.

“A good amount.” He said.

“We owe two cans to-- well, I didn’t get his name. The man who lives way up in the trees.” You frowned, only then realising you new nothing about him. In that town, everyone knew everyone.

“Mr. Barnes?” Gerry reached over into the box and moved around several items before pulling out a can. “Quiet man. Doesn’t like to be bothered. Must’ve scared Dezy good to get him to shut up.” He took out two more cans. “If you’re willing to head up that way, you give him and extra can on me. He’s the only customer in town who pays on time.”

“Sure,” You stood, thankful not to be forced to kneel all day at the shelves. “The list?”

“Pinned up behind the counter as usual,” He caught a box of Corn Pops he hit with his elbow and swore. “Take a radio. Snow’s comin’.”

“Will do,” You said. “I should be that long.”

“Chill blowin’ in from the lake, bundle up before you go too.” He said.

“You sound like my mother.” You laughed.

“I feel like you’re mother,” He shook his head. “Now go, before I get sentimental.”

🪓

Gerry was right, it was cold. The four-wheeler seemed slower as the wind swirled around you. You stopped by each house and knocked before leaving your haul. You smiled away tips and bid each resident a good day before you rushed away under the protests of another delivery ahead of you.

Your last would take the longest, though it was the smallest. The tree cans rattled around the trailer so you stopped at the shop before you continued on and detached it. You placed the cans in a small box and secured it to the seat behind you with bungee cords. You fixed your gloves and pulled your cap over your ears before you set out once more.

The sky grew paler the later it got. A harbinger of snow. You took the same route as before, getting off once to push the ATV over a fallen branch caught beneath it. You carried on, the frigid air lashing your cheeks.

You drew up to the clearing as you had before. The motorcycle was gone, likely pushed into the shed in preparation for the first snowfall. The piles of wood had grown taller and the front door was open, the screen door a poor barrier to the looming winter.

You unhooked the box and climbed up the steps. You bent to set it down and be off. You looked up as you sensed something on the other side of the screen door. The man, Mr. Barnes, stared at you through the mesh, a mug in hand. You stood and smiled nervously.

“Your beans. An extra can for the inconvenience.” You said. “Have a good day, sir.”

You turned but caught yourself before you made it down one step as he spoke. 

“It’s pretty cold.” He remarked as he took the box in his free hand. “You like coffee? I just made a pot.”

“I appreciate it,” You turned to him. “But I don’t mean to impose on you.”

“I wouldn’t ask if you were,” He said stiffly. “I’d feel worse letting half a pot go to waste.”

“I don’t know, I should--” You glanced behind you at the trees.

“You came all this way to give me beans in this,” He held the door with his elbow and stepped through. “You don’t like coffee, I got tea.”

You took a breath as you looked back to him. “Sure. I’ll have some coffee.”

He nodded and stared at you. He blinked and moved to hold the door open. “Well, you wanna come inside? Or do you prefer your coffee frozen?”

“Uh, yeah, okay,” You kicked yourself and stopped right before the door. You smiled awkwardly and offered your name. “I just… figured you wouldn’t want a stranger in your home.”

“Bucky,” He returned and waved you inside. “Not many strangers in town. Not really.”

You entered and he followed you. The entryway was lit by an antique lamp and the front room was entirely dark. You knelt to unlace your boots as he stepped around you. You kept your coat on as the wind continued to seep in behind you.

“Kitchens just down the hall past the stairs,” He said as he continued across the wooden floor. 

“Okay,” You slid your boots off and stood, following his shadow to the kitchen. 

As you passed through the doorway, he placed his mug on the table and went to the cupboard. He took down another thick ceramic cup and sidled over to the stove. He filled it from the percolator and returned to the table to place it before you.

“Milk? Sugar?”

“I’m fine, black is good,” You accepted as he slid the cup over to you.

You sat, hesitantly, and removed your gloves. You tucked them in your pocket and wrapped your hands around the steaming cup. He pulled out another chair and sat. He looked into the mug and slowly drank from it.

“I didn’t know anyone still lived out here.” You said.

“Sometimes,” He answered carefully. “Spring and summer I spend working the lumberyards south of here.”

“And you live all the way up here?” You wondered. He gave you a sharp look. “Sorry, it’s just… curiosity.”

“I like it,” He shrugged. “It’s quiet.”

You nodded and resigned yourself to silence. You listened to the wind outside and looked around at the tidy kitchen. Most of the original structure remained, renovated but not replaced. Even the curtains seemed to be of another era; faded but without holes or tears. All the way up here, time always seemed to stand still.

“You finish your book?” His voice jolted you.

You looked back to him and sipped the hot coffee. You nodded again.

“I did.” You answered. “It was alright.”

“Just alright?” He asked. 

“I’ve read better and worse,” You said. “It was… entertaining.”

“Mmm,” He mumbled and drank his coffee. You mimicked him, eager to leave.

Ten minutes of silence and stunted small talk left your mug empty and your stomach gurgling. You stood and nervously teetered on your feet.

“I should go. It’s snowing already.” You glanced out the window.

“Sure,” He rose and gathered up the mugs and took them to the sink.

“Thank you.” You said and turned rigidly to head through the door. 

You trod down the hallway and stopped to pull on your boots. You adjusted your cap and shoved your gloves on. He neared and you pushed open the door and glanced back at him.

“Coffee was good.” You said.

He caught the door behind you and you marched across the porch. You rushed down the steps and shivered as you neared the four wheeler.

“Be careful,” He said in monotone. 

“I will, thank you,” You called back as you climb onto the seat. “Enjoy your beans.”

He waved and you turned the engine. You backed up and turned around. The snow had already left a thin powder across the ground. You steered into the trees and carefully began to weave around the trunks and along the uneven forest floor. 

The snow thickened the more it fell. You had to slow as the ride became more precarious. The downfall formed a thick carpet beneath the tires and soon, even beneath the shroud of branches, the snow formed a curtain all around you, making it nearly impossible to see. You stopped and left the motor rumbling.

You pulled the radio from its holster down beside the wheel well and turned the dial until you picked up the signal. It was static and crackled.

“Gerry? Gerry!” You held the speak to your lips. “Gerry?”

“Yeah, i--me, ---okay?” His voice went in and out.

“I’m okay but the snow is… I can’t see. It’s going to take me a while.”

“Wha-- breaking up--” The radio broke off with a high pitched scratch.

“Damn it!” You shouted and tried fixing the dial. It didn’t help.

You sat for a moment and put the radio back. You couldn’t stay and let yourself get snowed in. You’d have to keep going, slow but steady. You carefully pulled past the trees, blinking away the flakes as they gathered on your lashes. You stopped again to pulled your scarf higher over your cheeks and pressed on.

The third time you paused, you realised you were lost. A brief lull allowed your vision to clear and you had no idea where you were. You kicked the side of the ATV and cursed. You grabbed the radio again and turned it on.

“Gerry?” No answer. Several more tries with nothing but static.

You hung your head and clicked the radio off. You gripped the handlebars and looked around. You’d have to turn around and try to trace your way back but the snow was starting to get heavy again and--

“Hey,” You jumped as the voice sounded from behind you. “You okay?”

You turned to find Bucky standing by a tree. “How--”

“Looks like you just went in a big circle,” He said. “You’re about ten minutes from my place.”

“What are you doing out here?” You asked.

“Wanted to grab some kindling before the storm got too bad, then I heard you.”

“Kindling?”

“Dry it out, obviously, but might run out of what I have before this clears,” He looked up. “Look, it’s only gonna get worse. Why don’t you wait it out?”

“I don’t-- I can’t--”

“There’s more than enough room for both of us. Might be a bit dusty but… Wouldn’t feel right letting you get lost out here.”

You exhaled and looked at the radio.

“Alright,” You relented.

“I’ll lead the way.” He came up beside the ATV and passed to the front. “Just don’t get too close.”

“Okay,” You turned the throttle just a bit and kept a snail’s pace as he guided you.

He barely seemed bothered by the gusts or the deepening snow. Even as the air turned almost completely white, he didn’t waver though you squinted to keep an eye on him.

“You like beans?” He yelled back to you as he broke through to the clearing around his house.

“Maple beans?” You asked dryly.

“They go great with toast,” He said as he continued onto the shed and unlocked the wide doors. “Warm you right up.”

🪓

You sat at the table, alone. Bucky had excused himself after clearing his own plates. You still picked away at the beans and sausage, listening to the movement above. You scooped the last few bites up and swallowed, washing it down with a gulp of water. You stood and went to the sink to rinse your plate. As you set it in the rack, you were startled by a creak behind you.

“I cleared a bedroom for you. It’s a bit dusty around here.” Bucky said as he leaned against the door frame. “Bit cold, too. Sorry about that.”

“It’s alright,” The windows shuddered. “Better than out there.”

“I put some clothes out too. Might be a little big.” He explained. “Dinner okay?”

“Yeah, it was…” You tried to smile. “Alright. Um, just one second.”

You neared him and he moved aside. You went down the hallway to where your jacket was hung and pulled the radio out. He watched you as you fiddled with it and the speaker crackled on.

“Gerry?” You held it to your lips.

“Kiddo?” He said, clear but not entirely.

“I’m okay,” You said slowly as you held the button down. “Staying until storm clears. Call in morning.”

“Roger, kiddo,” He returned. “Be safe.”

You turned off the radio and placed it back in your coat pocket. You looked up at Bucky as he stared at you dully.

“Just wanted to make sure someone knew,” You said. “Wouldn’t want them to worry.”

“Of course not,” He said. “You want a beer?”

“What?” You were thrown off by the sudden offer.

“Beer. If you want you can grab a book from the study,” He pointed to the doorway opposite the front room. “Sit in front of the fire where it’s warm.”

“I’ll take the book,” You said. “I’m not much for beer though.”

“Hot chocolate? Tea?” He stepped a little closer.

“I’m fine,” You squirmed. “Thank you.”

‘Just let me know if you need anything,” He said softly. “Haven’t had a guest in a while but… I can be accommodating.”

🪓

You read three chapters before you found your way upstairs. Bucky showed you the room he’d prepared for you but didn’t say much more before he closed himself into his own. You changed into the long sleeve tee he left you and the jogging pants with the drawstring waist. You tucked your feet into the wool socks and rolled under the blankets. You were still cold. The top floor was entirely untouched by the fireplace below.

You drifted into a shallow sleep. Maybe an hour or two before you woke, shivering. You sat up and  reluctantly climbed out from beneath the covers. You took one of the blankets and wrapped it around you as you shuffled to the door. You slipped through, carefully not to let the hinges whine and plodded through the dark down the stairs.

In the front room, the fire burned a low amber. You crept over to it and took a log from the wrought iron basket just beside it. You placed it over the coals and stoked it with the poker until flames began to lick. You held your hands to the glow until you were no longer shaking.

You took a cushion from the couch and dropped it on the carpet. You laid down before the fire, wrapping yourself in the blanket as you basked in the warmth. You listened to the violent winds outside, softened by the heaps of snow which had gathered all around the cabin. Your eyes closed as you began to sink into the darkness around you.

You dreamt of the four wheeler, of the snow swirling around you, of losing yourself in the pure white. The trees curled and clawed at your as you were thrown from the seat. The snap of twigs filled your ears and your eyes snapped open. The fire popped as it burned, the room lighter but not much.

There was a heaviness around you. More than just the quilt, the thick arm wrapped around your middle held you close to the warmth at your back. Startled, you wriggled against the body and a groan slithered along your ear.

“What the--” You hissed as you grasped his wrist, his hand tucked beneath you. “What are you doing?”

“It’s cold,” His breath was hot as it seeped into your scalp. “You were shivering.”

“Let me go,” You tugged on him.

“Shhh,” He hushed. “It’s early.”

“Dude, not cool,” You pulled harder on his arm.

“Stop,” He said more firmly. 

“Get off of me.” You growled.

“You’re not a very gracious guest,” He snarled as he retracted his arm, only to grab your shoulder and push you flat on your back.

You latched onto his wrist, he was strong. He didn’t budge.

“You’re scaring me.”

“Scaring you?” He removed his hand. “How? What do you think I’m gonna do?”

He sat up, his broad shoulder stretched the waffled shirt he wore as he rubbed his eyes. He pushed his head back and took a deep breath. You pushed yourself up slowly beside him.

“What do you want me to do?” His hand settled on your thigh and he squeezed.

“Stop,” You tried to push his hand away and he flipped it to grasp yours. 

His grip slipped to your wrist and he twisted. He wrenched it over your head until you were forced onto your back. You cried out as he leaned over you, the blanket slipping entirely from your bodies.

“Came all this way for a few cans of beans,” He whispered. “Really?”

“Stop!” You repeated. “Please.”

“But you’re cold,” He uttered as he leaned closer. “You need to warm up… you’re shivering…” His nose touched yours. “Or… shaking?”

“Get--” His lips smothered yours as he shifted his body atop you. 

You struggled as he released your wrist and reached down to grab your knee as he forced his legs between yours. He bit your lip as he pulled and his hand clawed at the waist of the loose pants. He pulled until he snapped the string within and you kicked around him.

“What are you doing?” You beat on his shoulders. “Stop! Stop!”

“I don’t talk to people, they don’t talk to me,” He snarled. “I keep to myself. Even that dumb delivery boy of yours knows better.”

“No, no,” You slapped his chest as he sat up suddenly. 

He tore the pants down your legs until they were around your knees and pushed them up. The fabric kept you trapped beneath him, legs bent to your chest as he leaned over your once more. He brushed his nose against your cheek and snarled.

“You asked for this, honey,” He sneered. “You just couldn’t leave me alone… The way you smile at me, I can see it.”

“I was just--” You pushed against him. “--doing my job. Please, get off of me.”

He moved against you, his thighs pressed to yours as he felt between you. He pushed his own pants down and you tried to shove him off of you with your legs. You only made yourself dizzy.

The fire flickered against you, setting shadows across his features, his blue eyes caught the flame and glowed sinisterly. His rough finger tickled your cunt as he guided his cock along your folds. You grunted as you fought harder beneath him. He pressed along your entrance and you gasped, a horrified scream as he impaled you in a single thrust.

“Go on and scream.” He said. “No one will hear you. No one but me.” He jerked his hips and you cried out again. “I kinda like it.”

He moved his hips in sharp, short thrusts. He grunted with each, lower and lower, almost like satisfied purrs.

He sat up and hugged your legs to his torso as he rutted faster. He clung to you as if he was desperate, as if he couldn’t get enough. You scratched at the carpet. You whimpered each time he slammed into you, each tilt of his hips harder than the last. The clapping of your flesh mingled with your voices. You closed your eyes, holding back the sobs that threatened.

And then he stopped. Suddenly. He stayed inside of you as his grasp on you loosened. His body quivered and a low growl rose from him. He pulled out of you and pushed your legs aside to that you fell onto your side. Shakily, you pushed yourself, on knees and elbow you tried to crawl away, your pants tangled around your feet.

He grabbed your ankles and dragged you back as you slipped onto your stomach. He climbed over you, pinning your legs between his. He kneaded and pinched your ass, dusky, thick breaths rose from him. 

He pressed his thumb between your cheeks and you reached desperately for anything to get away. The edge of the carpet rolled in your grasp and you kicked your feet with a panicked whine. He pressed his thumb against your asshole and you shook your head as he buried your face in your arms. He pushed inside and you let out a shrill cry.

He poked in and out of you, your tight ring burned around his thumb. He withdrew it and forced his index finger in, then added his middle. Your pained groans only seemed to encourage him as he stretched you around a third finger.

He pulled his hand away and bent his arm over your shoulders as he lifted himself over you. He lined himself up with your ass as his hair hung around his head and brushed the back of yours. He took a breath and you held one in. He entered you slowly, letting out a choked grunt as you strained around him.

The tears pricked at your eyes and your arm shot up as you blind grabbed at air.

“Please, please, please. Stop.” You begged. “I can’t--”

He pushed deeper and your voice fizzled. He pulled back and thrust in again. Every time, he went a little further. Soon he was buried in you to his limit and you couldn’t breathe or move. He held himself inside of you and shuddered.

He began to rock and you moaned. Despite the pain, the fire that radiated from your core, it felt good. The more he did, the better it got. The pressure built, unlike any you’d felt before, and you gulped and groaned against the carpet. Shocked by him, by yourself.

He got faster and faster. Louder two as his snarls filled your head. You tensed and then in an instant, your strength drained from you. You came, harder than you had ever in your life. You murmured as your head lolled and he kept going.

He lifted his head and his fingers gripped the back of your neck as he lifted himself over you. He hammered into you from above as you lay prone and helpless beneath him. He exclaimed and you felt a warmth flow into you. 

He stopped and fell atop you. His weight held you down, suffocated you. His arm stretched up and he grabbed your hand, twining his fingers with yours.

“Stay as long as you like,” He rasped. “Snow’s not letting up anytme soon.”

[moral-turpitudes]

Little White Lies:

Masterlist | Rules | Peaky Prompts

Trigger Warnings: Angst, Dysfunctional Family, Unsupportive/Jealous Family Members, Fighting, Swearing, Fluff, etc.

Word Count: 4,266

Characters: Thomas Shelby x Female!Reader 

Requested: Yes

Requested by: Anon, you can find it here. (this was such a fun request, I hope I did it justice lol)

Summary: From dealing with unsupportive and envious family members, to being caught in a lie, Y/N is forced to face her family and confront her feelings about her boss, all thanks to a wedding invitation.

“What do you mean you’re working as a secretary? I put in a perfectly good recommendation for you last month at the hospital!” Y/N’s father yelled as she made her way into the living room of her parents house. The old walls poorly concealing their loud arguing.

“Did you stop and think about how maybe I don’t want to follow in you and Margaret’s footsteps? I thought you’d at least be happy I’ve found something I like! But no, it’s not good enough for you aye? Nothing I do ever is...” Y/N yelled back, crossing her arms over her chest.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” He asked, his eyes boring into hers.

“Let’s face it, you and mum both like Margaret better because she has a “respectable job” as a doctor just like you. You pushed her off to the best schools, and only approve of her boyfriend because he’s a classy businessman.” She said lighting a cigarette.

“See? You’re already picking up bad habits Y/N. We just want the best for you.” Her mother said, plucking the cigarette out of her fingers and throwing it into the fireplace as her father looked to the ground with his arms folded.

“A secretary job is respectable. I keep the company from crashing down half the time.” She said.

“And what company is that? One where they shove you in a dark room to type papers all day?” Her mother scoffed back.

“Shelby Company Limited. It’s quite nice actually.” She said with a smirk.

“Isn’t that where the Peaky Blinders run the streets? I bet you’re dating one of them for christ’s sake!” Her father yelled, turning away from his daughter in disgust.

“What if I am?” She asked, balling her hands into fists at her sides.

“Who is it? I’ll get you transferred out in no time. No daughter of mine is working as a damn secretary in fucking Small Heath.” He said.

“Thomas Shelby.” She said, his name escaping her lips before she could think about what she’d done.

Her father tensed up at his name. His face paling in complexion as he sat down, his wife eyeing him with concern.

“The Thomas Shelby?” He asked, more quietly than before as if he was being watched.

“Mhmm. What is there a problem?” She asked, folding her arms over her chest.

“No...are you sure it’s him? He practically owns half of Birmingham. Although his reputation is not something I’m fond of...I guess if you legally work for him that’s...respectable.” He said, his tone softer and more accepting than earlier. 

“Right, so now that I’m dating an infamous businessman, I’m more respectable as a secretary? Why the sudden change? I’m doing quite well on my own with this job.” She said as she observed his rigid body language. He hesitated to speak, remembering when the two older Shelby’s came in half-alive after being shot up by a rival gang.

“Well, given his reputation and my practice, I may have had a few run-ins with him at the hospital. It’s common knowledge not to get in their way but I did. I made him and his bastard of an older brother stay a week to heal after saving their asses.” He said, an annoyed look on his face.

“He threatened your father Y/N. We couldn’t even tell the coppers. But...please don’t get too proud over your position there darling. Your words could come back to you and he could find someone else by sundown.” Her mother said with a nice tone, trying but failing to take the sting out of her words.

She’d always been jealous it seemed. Seeing her daughters getting to achieve things that she couldn’t. Being led to a life of homemaking and hosting parties for her wealthy doctor of a husband. They never amassed the wealth like the Shelby family had, but they were able to afford a decent sized house in London, if that was any indication of her family’s status.

After a long, tense silence, she decided to leave. Saying a quick and frustrated goodbye to her parents before heading back to Small Heath. Her heart racing at the realization that she just openly told her parents she was dating her boss. It wouldn’t be as much of a problem if it were true, but alas it was nothing but a white lie. She had always been quiet on the subject despite them getting along well. Polly could see a connection, which she’d mentioned to her over tea various times, but she always shrugged it off. And now she knew it was only a matter of time before she had to tell him the truth.

As a few weeks passed, she continued with her clerical duties. Filing papers and reporting things to Thomas as usual. Until she got a call from home once again, requesting her presence immediately.

“Why do you all need me here anyway? I could be working right now.” Y/N said, impatiently tapping her foot on the lavish rug lining the hardwood floors of the living room.

“We wanted to give you this.” Her father said, flicking an envelope at her that she barely had time to catch.

The envelope was a light green color - her older sister Margaret’s favorite - with an intricately written invitation inside.

“Thomas Shelby and Y/N Y/L/N,

We cordially invite you to attend the union of Matthew Reynolds and Margaret Y/L/N. Formal attire will be expected at both the ceremony and reception.”

Her eyes grew wide at the invitation as she realized her parents must’ve told her sister about Thomas. Knowing nothing she did was ever kept private, unfortunately. But in that moment she knew she messed up, thinking about how she’d have to tell them it was all a lie. That she wasn’t dating the infamous gang leader. A feeling of panic and embarrassment washed over her as she realized the gravity of the situation.

“Are you alright? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” Her mother said.

“Y-yeah. Wasn’t expecting Margaret to invite me, let alone um...Thomas to her wedding. Are you all attending?” She asked nervously.

“Well of course! We can’t miss our best daughters wedding day.” Her mother said, not knowing how her words cut into Y/N.

“You’re loved as well. Your mother didn’t mean that. No one would dare disrespect a woman associated with Thomas Shelby. Right dear?” He said, hastily reassuring his daughter and looking at his wife with a raised eyebrow.

“Oh darling I didn’t mean it like that. We love both of you. I’m sorry...I’ll do better I promise.” She said giving her daughter a light hug.

“Please do. I’ll see you at the wedding.” Y/N said harshly, leaving the house in a hurry as she clutched the green envelope in her hand.

A week had passed since she’d set the invitation on her desk at work. The paper easily seen from anyone near her desk as not many envelopes were that color. It cost too much to make them given the financial troubles of the past few years, but of course her sister could afford it.

It was midnight though when Thomas walked by her desk out of habit, the lamp still on while Y/N had left for the night. The faint yellow glow illuminating the envelope as he raised an eyebrow at it. He quickly picked it up, reading the intricate handwriting on the letter inside as he noticed his name next to hers.

The next morning, Y/N walked to her desk to see that the invitation was missing. Her stomach doing flips as she wondered where it had gone.

“Y/N, can I see you in my office?” Thomas said as he leaned against the doorframe, his tailored suit catching her off-guard for a moment as she glanced at the man her heart ached after. Polly giving her a questionable glance and a small, knowing smirk as she walked reluctantly into his office.

He knew. He knew about the letter and she was dumb enough to leave it there last night. Dumb enough to lie to her parents. Dumb enough to harbor any feelings for the man who certainly wouldn’t admit any himself.

“Y/N...” He said, his low voice ripping her from her racing thoughts as she stood by the door.

“Y-yeah sorry. Busy morning. What do you need Tommy?” She asked, nervously fiddling with her hands.

“I need to discuss something with you. Please sit.” He said, walking over to his plethora of whiskey glasses and filling two of them with the brown liquid he loved so much. If anything, he’d probably marry a bottle of whiskey if he could.

“What is it you want to discuss?” Y/N asked, sipping from her glass as it burned its way down her throat.

“I found this on your desk. I know it wasn’t my business to go taking things, but I couldn’t help but notice my name was mentioned with yours...so now...it is my business.” He said, observing how she grew uncomfortable under his gaze, drinking more as she shifted in her seat.

“It’s a long story.” She said blankly while setting the glass down, wanting to flee out the door never to come back.

“And for once I have the time.” He said leaning backing in his chair and lighting one of his many cigarettes.

Y/N sighed and relaxed back into her seat, her heart skipping a beat as she thought of the best way to explain it to him.

“Alright...so my family is a bit backwards as you know. And happen to just adore my older sister Margaret. They funded her schooling, attended her graduations and awards ceremonies, and they uh...like that she’s dating - I mean - engaged to a businessman now. He’s what they consider successful.”

“Successful aye? What...they don’t think some razor-gang from Birmingham is successful?” He asked.

“No.” She answered, looking out the window as she continued.

“Anyway, when I visited them, they started saying things about the company and how my job wasn’t respectable. I tried to shut them down but um, my father accused me of dating one of ya, like it was a disgrace to the family. So I panicked and said that I wasn’t dating just any of them, I was dating you.” She said, looking down at the nearly empty glass in her trembling hands.

“What’d he say to that aye?” He asked, a small smirk playing on his usually stoic face.

“Oh his whole demeanor changed. Looked like he’d seen a ghost. He um...said he knew of you. Said he treated you and Arthur for a week after a bad night on the job.” She said, nervous he’d go after her father.

“Aye I remember him. A bit mouthy that one.” He said.

“You threatened him though. Why?” She asked, her nervousness turning to a bit of anger at the thought of him harming her parents, even if they weren’t the best.

“They wanted to report it to the coppers. And as you know now, we don’t deal too kindly with snitches. So I had to threaten him. To keep the peace.” He said, blowing a cloud of smoke towards her.

“I wouldn’t say peace. Fear would be a better word.” She said, sipping the last of her whiskey.

“It’s worked out for me so far.” He said.

“Yes it has Tommy...but I have one question.” She said.

“Mhmm?”

“Are you wanting to go to this bullshit wedding or not?” She asked bluntly, hoping her interrogation would be over soon.

“That depends. Are you going? You don’t seem too fond of your family.” He said.

“I’m only going out of love.” She said.

“Well in that case, I am too.” He said, jotting down the address to the ceremony on his calendar with a star on the day, his heart racing despite his cold exterior. He’d harbored feelings for her too, and Polly could see it, often questioning him when Y/N would leave for the night, but he always blew her off due to peaky business.

“Wait...you actually want to go to such a horrid thing...with me?” She asked.

“And pass up a date with my favorite secretary? Wouldn’t dream of it.” He said, a small smirk hinting at his lips which seemed almost out-of-place.

“Date? Are you sure this isn’t some small business deal? You aren’t just agreeing for money or to pity me?” She asked.

“No Y/N...I’m agreeing because I like you. Always have...just never had the time to tell you till now. Now go back to your work before Polly gets even more suspicious.” He said, admitting his feelings like it was nothing as she stood there dumbfounded.

“R-right.” She said sheepishly as she made her way back to her desk, a small smile on her face as Polly watched her. Knowing something had finally gone down between them.

A week into their newfound relationship, the day had finally come and Thomas escorted her inside the wedding chapel, her black dress complimenting his suit nicely. Her mother scoffing as she sat near her, wondering why the hell she’d wear a black dress to a wedding.

“You know black is for funerals...didn’t I teach you anything?” She asked quietly to where only Y/N could hear.

“I’m just marking the death of any peace that was left between this family. I know you both will start hounding me with questions in no time now that Margaret’s spoken for.” She said quietly, staring into her mother’s cold eyes. There’s always been a tension between them, but it seemed even a joyous occasion such as this couldn’t cut it.

“You alright love?” He asked, holding her hand in his as she stared blankly at the alter, waiting for the ceremony to start.

“It’s just my mother. She can’t put aside our differences for one fucking day.” She said quietly. Her mother leaning over to insert herself into the conversation.

“It’s nice meeting you Mr. Shelby. You’re more than welcome to sit with us at the reception.” Her mother said as she watched her daughter talk to the infamous blinder.

“Thank you Mrs. Y/L/N, we’d love to. Right Y/N?” He asked, squeezing her hand reassuringly.

“Love is one word for it I suppose.” She said, her jaw tensing as she saw her father approaching their seats.

“Glad to see you again Mr. Shelby, given this time it’s under better circumstances.” He said, shaking his hand firmly.

“Indeed it is Mr. Y/L/N.” He said, pulling a cigarette out of his pocket and sticking it between his lips.

Her father soon resigned himself from the tense situation by sitting near his wife, who was eyeing the dashing blinder who smoked where he pleased.

“Can you believe she’s dating him? They look like they’ve only just started.” She whispered to her husband.

“If I have to accept him for professional reasons, you can accept him for our daughter. Enough with the snide remarks. Our lives might as well be at stake if he were to hear us...his threat still stands.” He said, knowing that his youngest daughter and her mother always had a tense relationship since her birth. It wasn’t particularly successful, only saving them in the knick of time from complications. Little did he know he was more so the heart of the family, albeit a dysfunctional one.

“They’re talking about me I know it.” Y/N said, fidgeting with her hands as they waited for the ceremony to begin. Margaret taking more than her sweet time getting ready.

“Let them talk then. It can only hurt you if you let it.” He said.

“Now, she better be dressed to the nines because this is the longest I’ve ever waited for a wedding ceremony.” He added, seeing a smirk forming on her face.

“Oh just you wait.” She said jokingly. The music catching everyone’s attention as they all looked on, and surely enough she was dressed to the nines, the whole tailoring industry probably coming together to complete the lavish gown.

“What is this the royal fucking wedding?” She asked, hearing him chuckle quietly under his breath.

As Margaret neared the altar with her father handing her off with a kiss on the cheek, she took a look at her fiancé and then turned toward Y/N, giving her a small smirk that made her stomach churn.

“What was that for?” Thomas whispered quietly, noticing the interaction.

“She’s rubbing salt in an old wound. She’s as bad as my mother.” She said, flicking her off silently. Thomas quickly placed his hand over hers to stop her from escalating the already tense situation. Her mother giving her a scolding look that she ignored, her blood boiling with the fact she was flaunting her status in front of her.

It seemed like forever before the vows ended, the tired crowd clapping and dispersing after the couple ran happily out the door of the church and to the nearby reception. With Y/N and Thomas lagging behind, not wanting to enter the horrendous venue.

“We can leave the reception early if you’d like. Maybe go somewhere more entertaining.” He suggested as they watched the couple parade around the room. Her sister quickly bringing her husband over to where they were standing.

“Y/N, love I’m happy you made it! We were scared you weren’t going to show.” She said giving her younger sister a careful hug as not to disturb her dress.

“Why wouldn’t I? You’re my sister...I can’t exactly avoid you forever.” She said a small smile on her lips.

“You never told me you snagged such a......man. Where did you two meet?” She asked, shaking Thomas’ hand as her husband did the same. Margaret wary of the cold stare he gave her and Matthew.

“At work.” Y/N said shortly, not appreciating her attitude.

“Look at that, my baby sister finally has a job. What is it? A teacher? a factory worker? a nurse perhaps?” Margaret asked.

“A secretary.” Y/N said, staring the bride down the best she could hoping her gaze could silence her before she made a show of it all.

“A secretary? Hmm. Well that’s good I guess. Just be careful though, those secretaries have to sleep their way to the top you know.” She said. Y/N’s face burning as she turned away from Thomas, wanting to run out and never look back.

Thomas cleared his throat and put his hand on the small of her back as she tensed her jaw, reluctantly turning back to her snake of a sister.

“How would you know? Is that how you got to your position?” She snapped back, the anger rising in her chest. She wished she could have captured her sisters expression in a photograph, her words finally cutting into her like she wanted.

“I assure you she isn’t doing anything of the sort. In fact, she’s an integral part of the company already. But if I were you I wouldn’t say too much else.” Thomas said, a dark tone to his voice as he kept a level head between the sibling rivalry that was happening by the second.

“Oh and who are you to threaten me? What’s this company you speak of? My parents never mentioned it.” She said, her husband whispering in her ear that they had to go. The poor man hated the situation just as much as Y/N.

“That was probably to protect you Margaret. You see...you’ve always been a bit reckless with new information. So I doubt you knew what father got himself into.” Y/N said.

“What are you talking about?” She asked, grabbing a glass of expensive champagne as the server walked by.

“He got in my way...and no one gets in Thomas Shelby’s way. It cost me some of my men. So, like I said, if I were you...I wouldn’t say much else.” He threatened again, her fiancé swallowing hard as he led his flustered wife away to mingle with the other guests.

“Why can’t you both get along?” Her father asked, walking over to the pair.

“I’ve done my part with both her and mum. But...I’m not staying where I’m not valued. I love you all but, we have to go. Send Margaret and Matthew our....warmest regards, yeah?” She asked taking Thomas’ hand and leading him out the door. Her father stood there with a tense look on his face, knowing his family had gotten themselves on bad terms with the Shelby’s once again.

With frantic footsteps she walked to the car, tears flooding down her face as she got in herself, not bothering to wait for him to open the door.

“You didn’t have to stick up for me, but thank you.” She said wiping her tears away as he started the car.

“Yeah.” He said, lighting a cigarette before taking off. He wasn’t much for accepting thanks, at least since the war.

“Are they like that all time?” He asked after a long pause.

“Mhmm. Now you see why I don’t see them unless I have to. They just remind me of everything I’m not.” She said, looking out the window at the evening sky.

“That I do. I’ll be sending them something later, don’t worry.” He said.

“What do you mean?” She asked, her stomach dropping as she pictured him killing her family.

“You’re not going to kill them are you?” She asked.

“No...they’re not worth my time. At least not now anyway. And besides...I wouldn’t want to hurt you more than they already have.” He said, blowing a cloud of smoke from his lips.

“Tommy look, I know my father got in your way on a mission and I know he made you stay longer than you wanted to...but you can’t blame him for doing his job. He was trying to help. He may not be the best, although he’s far nicer than my mother and sister, so if anything, please spare him at least. That’s all I ask.” She said.

“Like I said, they’re not worth my time now, love. If they continue bashing you and my family for how we do business I’ll let you know first alright? But I can’t let them off without a warning, so I’ll send them a letter alright?” He said.

“Well it better be good then. That’s the last I want to hear of this feud. I can deliver it to them if it will help...to make a point at least.” She said.

“Take this then, it won’t be good.” He said giving her a handgun from his jacket.

“I’m not shooting my family Tommy!” She said loudly as they approached the Garrison.

“It’s not for them. It’s for you. They’re not the nicest people and I want you safe. Especially since you work for us now. If they hurt one of us they hurt all of us alright? I know that’s not what you want to hear but it’s how this business works. Now...let’s go have some fun aye.” He said, helping her out of the car and into the bar that was teeming with people from the shop.

“Oi! How’d the wedding go? You’re both home early.” Arthur asked, handing them both a glass of whiskey.

“Terrible. Tommy’s writing a letter tomorrow to put them on their toes.” She said.

“Did they say summin’ about ya?” He asked.

“Yes...and about the company.” Thomas added.

“I thought we told him last time that we’d blind him.” Arthur said, an angry look in his eyes.

“Aye we did. But that didn’t account for her mother and sister. They have a way with words don’t they love?” Thomas asked.

“Mhmm. I’m delivering it, maybe then they’ll take what they say more seriously next time.” She said.

“We can only hope.” Thomas said, snaking an arm around her waist as they spent the rest of the night at the Garrison before going to their respected homes, too worried about the mission to do anything else.

The next week, Thomas signed the end of the letter, his hand cramping from the amount of things he’d written. Wanting to make sure his threat came off clear as day.

“Here Tommy, put this in with it.” Y/N said, handing him a lone razor blade, making him raise an eyebrow.

“Just in case they want to make anymore remarks, they can do us a favor and blind themselves. Like you said, they’re not worth your time now.” She said with a small smirk.

He took a sip of his whiskey and pointed to her with a grin, ushering her to come over to him.

“I like how you think.” He said, pulling her close and kissing her lips ever so lightly. The feeling between them almost electric as they departed.

“I’ll go take care of this, you go on with your business.” She said, as he handed her the letter.

“You know how to shoot?” He asked.

“Mhmm. Been practicing with John.” She said with a smirk.

“Alright, love you.” He said, as he caught himself muttering those words out sooner than he wanted to. But the truth was he couldn’t stand to see her go, not without knowing she was safe.

She stood there for a moment, looking at him as a smile spread across her face.

“I love you too.” She said before walking out the door to drive to the dreaded house she grew up in. Hoping this letter would keep them at bay for once in her life. Knowing her only chance at freedom from her family’s binds were through the doors of the shop and in the arms of the man she loved.

Thomas Shelby Tag List:

@msbzowy, @nofckingfighting, @aranoburns, @sighonahurricane, @ugly-crying-over-bucky-barnes, @gaytommyshelby, @wowjeena, @fifty-shadesof-tommyshelby, @inglourious-imagines, @thebloodyshelbys, @tsolomons, @blinder-secrets, @reveparade, @shelby-fanatic, @ta-ka-shi-ma, @psychkunox, @peakyxtommy, @captivatedbycillianmurphy,@dreamwastakenx, @lovemissyhoneybee @thomashelbyswhore, @xxbeckybeexx-blog

If you’d like to be added/removed, just send me an ask/message! :)

[heylookafanfic]

Title: What Could Go Wrong?

Pairing: Aaron Hotchner x daughter!Reader, 

brief summary: With your dad, Aaron Hotchner, being the BAU unit chief, he did whatever he could to protect you. When you get invited to a party for the first time, sneaking out doesn’t sound so bad. What could go wrong?

word count: 3,706 words

requested: Nope, original! (send in those requests!) 

warnings: cursing, getting roofied, getting yelled at, predatory men

Your dad, Aaron Hotchner, was extremely protective over you not only because his job can put you and your brother, Jack, in danger but he already lost a family member and refused to lose another. Having an overprotective father meant you had a list of rules.

The door was to remain completely open when your significant other came over and no sitting/laying on the bed

No leaving the house after sundown

You can’t sleep over at anyone's house, they had to sleep over at your house

You have to ask to go somewhere

If your dad wasn’t home and the doorbell rang, you couldn’t answer it

And that is just the surface. You understood why your dad was so strict but you never got to have a life. To make things worse, your friends always post pictures from parties on Instagram and all you could do is sigh and keep scrolling knowing you’ll never get to go to one.

One day, you were in communications class listening to the professor lecturing about the upcoming semester project. Luckily, you got to pick your group for it and when they dismissed the class to find partners, you quickly turned to your best friend,Vanessa.

“I guess we’re partners, huh?” you chuckled

“Of course!” she said

“So, what do you want to make our project about?”

“I have no idea. I barely paid attention this chapter”

“Try to think out of the box a bit. What’s gonna make ours stand out?”

“Since the class is about communications, how about human interaction?”

“What about it?”

“Like how you haven't had any human interaction lately” she said with a smirk

“You know my dads strict. I can’t even breathe without him being on edge” you said

“You need to live a little Y/N. You’re in college and you’re still being treated like a kid.”

“I know, I know but I don’t know how to convince him to let up a bit”

“Here’s the thing, I’m going to a friend's kickback tomorrow night. This is your chance to finally hang out with someone who isn’t me, Jack or your dad ”

“He’s gonna say no regardless even if I tell him that you’re going with me.” you said

“I’m not saying to sneak out but...” she said with a shrug

“You know he has cameras around the entire perimeter of the house, right?”

“Just say you’re sleeping over at my house”

“Can’t do that either, remember? All sleepovers have to happen at my house”

“I understand having to be cautious because your dads in the FBI but doesn’t he realize that you’re in college?”

You thought about it for a second.

“That’s it! How about you sleep over but I’ll say that you forgot your meds. That’ll give us an excuse to leave”

“Won’t he be suspicious though?”

“Probably not. He trusts you out of all of my friends”

“You’ve got a point. What time am I coming over?”

“What time does the kickback start?”

“9 pm”

“Come over at 7. We’ll be finishing up dinner and it’ll give us time to get ready”

“Awesome”

The both of you packed your backpacks and went home. This would be the first time you’d be sneaking out and you were pretty nervous because so many things could go wrong but you’re with your best friend so, what could possibly go wrong?

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

*Hotchner Household- The next day*

You were in your room finishing up your psychology homework when your dad called you and Jack down for dinner

“Y/N and Jack, come down for dinner” he yelled from the kitchen

“I’m almost done! Give me two more minutes!” you shouted

“Come down now before it gets cold”

You sighed and closed your laptop. As you were walking out of your room, you saw Jack coming down the hall.

“I’ll race you to the dinner table. Loser has to wash dishes tonight” you challenged

“You’re gonna lose like you did last time” he said

“That’s only because you pushed me, short stuff” you chuckled

“I won fair and square though, didn’t I?”

“Anyway…ready, set, go!”

The both of you raced down the hallway and downstairs. Your dad heard all the stomping and already knew what was up. You lightly pushed Jack and he tumbled towards the couch by the living room. Your dad had his hands out by his sides, waiting to see who would finish 1st. You ran and tagged in, winning.

“You pushed me!” Jack complained

“I won fair and square though, didn’t I?” you chuckled

“Dad, Y/N cheated and they said that I’d have to wash dishes after dinner”

“Karmas a bit-” you were cut off

“Enough you two. Go wash your hands and make your plate” your dad said

*During dinner*

“So, how was everybody’s day?” he asked

“I found out that we’re dissecting a frog in class next week” Jack said

“They still do that?” he asked

“Yeah, everyone in my class thinks it’s cool but I’m not looking forward to it”

“Why is that?”

“Because, it’s gross. I asked if I could do an extra credit project instead but my teacher said no”

“Sorry bud. How about you Y/N? How was your day?”

“It was okay. We were assigned a group project yesterday so Vanessas coming over later to study. Is that cool?”

“Which Vanessa?”

“Dad. You’re kidding, right? The same Vanessa I’ve been best friends with since kindergarten?”

“Oh, her. Yeah, she can come over. What’s your project about?”

“It’s a research slideshow about human interaction”

“If you have time, you should drop by the office and ask your aunts and uncles for help. Especially your uncle Spencer. He’ll tell you everything you need to know; easy A” he said

Suddenly, his phone chimed.

“Work?” you and Jack ask

Your dad shook his head and took one last sip of his drink before getting up from the table. He was running around the house grabbing his go bag and work essentials.

“I don’t know when I’ll be back but if I’m not back later tonight, Y/N you know the drill” he said

“Close and lock all doors and windows, don’t answer the door, Jack is to be in bed by 9:30 and lights out at 11” you recited

“And Jack?”

“No video games or TV until homework is done and Y/N is in charge” he groaned

“Good. Y/N?”

“Yes?”

“Vanessa is the only one permitted in the house. Understood?”

“Yes sir”

“Alright, bye! I love you two!” he said

Your dad rushed out the door, hopped in the car and sped off to work. Your dad pretty much being on call can be annoying sometimes because he’s usually away for a few days and misses out on family time. Usually, it’s a bummer but tonight, it was working in your favor.

“Now what?” Jack asked

“How about we finish up dinner and I’ll help you with your homework so you can have the rest of the night to yourself?”

“Sweet!” he responded

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

*Later that night*

Vanessa had already been at your house for 2 hours and while Jack was getting ready for bed, you were about to leave for the kickback.

“What time did you say your little brother goes to bed?” Vanessa asked

“9:30”

She sighed

“We’re going to be late by then. Can’t we leave earlier?”

“We can’t. If I’m not here to make sure he’s asleep, he’ll be up all night”

“Jacks like what, 10? He’ll be fine. Plus, it’s a Friday night. It’s not like he has school tomorrow.”

You gave it a second thought. Jack is old enough to put himself to bed and the party wasn’t going to be worth going to if you were late.

“Fine. Give me a second and then we can go” you said

You walked down the hall to Jack’s room and knocked.

“Come in” he answered

“Hey bud, are you almost ready for bed?” you asked

“Yeah, I gotta brush my teeth though.”

“Listen, Vanessa and I are going out for a bit tonight. Would you be okay if you were by yourself for a few hours?”

“You can’t leave! Remember what Dad said? ‘No leaving the house after sundown’ ?”

“I know, I know but it’s only for tonight and since Dad’s out at work, I’ll let you stay up and play video games until I get back”

“Won’t we get in trouble? If he finds out, we’re gonna be grounded”

“He won’t find out unless we tell him….which we won’t. Right?”

Jack thought the situation through for a second.

“Right” he said

“Cool. Vanessa and I are leaving in about 5 minutes. Rules still apply to you though. I don’t care who rings the doorbell. If it’s not me or Dad, don’t answer it. Understood?”

“Yeah”

“Alright, all the doors and windows are locked so you’re safe here as long as they stay closed. I’ll be back in a few hours. Love you!” you said

“Love you too!” Jack responded

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

*At the kickback*

This was your first time sneaking out of the house and honestly, you didn’t think your plan would work. You thought that by now you’d be at home getting an earful from your dad because you got caught but, what perfect timing?! Your dad getting called into work the same night?! It’s actually kind of funny how things work out. What could go wrong?

You and Vanessa pulled up to the party and parked in the driveway

“You ready Y/N?” she asked

“Yeah. I just can't believe our plan actually worked”

“I know right? You’re old man needs to let you live a little. You deserve to enjoy your youth. Now c’mon”

As you two walk in, loud music blares from the speaker and there’s people everywhere. Beer cans on the floor and furniture, red solo cups spewed about the floor, the smell of weed in the air and you can tell every guy is wearing cheap cologne because of how musky it is. You thought parties like this only existed in movies.

You knew a few people but due to not being the biggest social butterfly, you decided to cling to Vanessa all night.

“Y/N, this is my old theatre buddy, Vaughn. Vaughn, this is my best friend Y/N!”

“Hey, nice to meet you!” he welcomed

“Nice to meet you too!”

“Vanessas told me all about you”

“She has?”

“Yeah! Best friends since kindergarten?! You two go way back”

“Definitely!”

“This is actually Y/N’s first kickback!” Vanessa chimed in

“Your first? You’ve never been to a party?”

“Not really, my dad’s very overprotective so I never get the chance to really hang out”

“What changed his mind?”

“Actually, he’s out of town at the moment so, he doesn’t even know”

“Ahhh, sneaky you!” he chuckled

“Hey, I’m gonna go get a drink really quick. You guys want anything?” Vanessa asked

“I’m good but thanks” you said

“I’ll go with you” Vaughn said

“Y/N, I’ll be right back but in the meanwhile, go get out of your comfort zone a bit” she said

“Nice meeting you….”

“Y/N” you said

“Y/N! Right. I’ll see you later” Vaughn said

Vanessa and Vaughn made off into the kitchen and that left you to your own devices. You still weren’t comfortable enough to go and be social so you made your way to the couch. Luckily, you spotted the host’s dog and whistled at it. It trotted over to you and jumped up into your lap. This would be your comfort zone for the rest of the night.

*An hour later*

The host's dog had surprisingly fallen asleep while you scrolled through your phone. You weren’t gonna lie. You were sort of envious that it could sleep through all the noise. As you continued scrolling you noticed someone heading your way.

“Is anyone sitting here?” a voice asked

You looked up to see a tall figure with broad shoulders.

“Uh, no. You’re good to sit”

“Thanks” he said

You resumed scrolling on your phone

“Nice dog” he said making small talk

“I’d say thanks but it’s not mine. It just curled up next to me and fell asleep” you spoke

“With all this noise?”

“Exactly what I’m saying!” you chuckled

“I’d kill to be a heavy sleeper” he said

“If only, right?!”

You two sat in silence for a second

“I’m Brady”

“Y/N”

“Nice to meet you. So, how’d you find out about the kickback?”

“My friend is friends with the host so she invited me”

“That’s a good friend!”

“Yeah, this is my first party actually”

“Really? How?”

“Overprotective parent”

“Ah, I know your struggle. Well, if you don’t mind, how ‘bout we drink to that?”

“Uh- okay. Thanks!”

“What’s your poison?” he asked

“I’ll take a beer please”

“A beer? Ooh, so you like to play it safe huh? I’ll be right back”

Brady got up and walked into the kitchen. You were actually excited because not only is this your first party but someone came up to you instead of the other way around.

“There you are! I’ve been looking everywhere for you!” a voice said

You turned your head and it was Vanessa

“What took you so long?”

“I was getting a drink, remember?”

“It took you a whole hour, 60 MINUTES, to get a drink and find me?!” you joked

“This place is huge”

“It’s a condo ‘Nessa”

“Anyway, you’ve been sitting by yourself this whole time? I thought I told you to go and socialize!”

“I did! I met this guy, Brady, and he’s getting us drinks”

“Oooo! I know you had a little game in that beautiful brain somewhere. Well, let me go before I ruin your moment. I’ll be in the living room if you need me” she said

Vanessa ran off again. Just as she left, Brady came back with drinks.

“Una cerveza for the party virgin” he said

“What?” you chuckled

“One beer like you asked” he chuckled

“Oh, thank you!”

“To your first party and to many more” he toasted

You two clanked your cups together and took a swig

“For someone who seems to be so sheltered, you sure downed it with no problem” he said

“Well, my Uncle Dave is italian so everytime we go to his house, he cohearses my dad into letting me have a little wine. He says the drinking age in Italy is 16 so, why not?” you chuckled

“Lemme guess, he’s the crazy relative in the family?”

“No, that’d be my aunt Penelope but he’s a close second”

The two of you talked about family, your dream career and your taste in music for about an hour. You were starting to think that maybe it was a good idea to sneak out. You would have never met Brady and the more you found out about him, the more you started catching feelings for him. Or maybe that was the beer talking. Speaking of beer, you were starting to think that that beer didn’t sit right with you. You started feeling dizzy and sick to your stomach.

“Hey Brady, I gotta go talk to my friend really quick but I promise I’ll be right back”

“You okay?”

“Yeah, yeah. I’m just not feeling the best”

“Do you want some water?” he asked

“I’m fine. I need to find Vanessa though”

You stood up and immediately sat back down

“Are you sure you’re okay? Do you want to lay down?” he asked

“I’m fine” you said

You didn’t notice but you started slurring your words. Things were going downhill and fast. Brady didn’t….no, he couldn’t have. Things were going so well with him and you thought you could trust him. He couldn’t have possibly done that to you. You couldn’t yell for Vanessa over the loud music let alone stand up without falling over. This wasn’t good. This wasn’t good at all.

“Come on. I’ll take you to one of the bedrooms and you can lay down there until you feel better” Brady said

Fuck. You knew what you wanted to say but you couldn’t speak without slurring your words. Everything you said came out as incoherent. Brady stood up and helped you stand up, using him as a support. He started walking you towards the back until you felt a hand yank your hand

“WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU THINK YOU’RE DOING?!” a voice yelled

Vanessa. Wait.. the voice was masculine.

Vaughn.

“I’m just helping them lay down. They’re tired” Brady said

“Leave them the fuck alone” Vaughn said sternly

“Mind your business dude” Brady retorted

“I know them so it is my business. I’m not going to tell you again. Leave them the fuck alone”

Brady dropped you but Vaughn quickly caught the rest of your body.

“Have fun with them, douchebag” Brady stormed off

Vaughn fireman carried you into the living room and sat you down

“Hey Y/N. It’s Vaughn. Are you okay?” he asked caringly

“Mmmrrmgh” you slurred

Shit.

“I’m gonna get Vanessa. I promise I’ll be right back, okay?” he said

Your head lulled around and you couldn’t move your limbs. All your energy was draining. This made him panic. As he tried to get you to squeeze his hand to get a response out of you, everything faded to black.

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

*45 minutes later*

You woke up but everything was blurry and everything sounded muffled. You were laying down but your sickness was worse because you were being jostled around.

“There they are. Hey sweetheart. Sir-” a voice said

You looked up and saw a dark figure. Your head was on someone's lap.

“Y/N? Come on sweetheart, keep your eyes open for me” the voice said

You took a few shallow breaths before attempting to sit up

“No no, stay still, okay?”

That voice was way too familiar and it made you feel at ease. There was only one person that could clear the clouds out on a rainy day with just their voice

“Aunt Penelope?” you softly spoke

“At your service!” she said

“Y/N?” another voice said

“Dad” you cried

“How’re they doing?”

“They opened their eyes a bit and heart rate is still pretty high but they’re stable” Penelope sighed with relief

“Dad? What’s happening?”

“Y/N? Can you hear me?”

You nodded your head.

“That’s an affirmative” Penelope relayed

”Listen, we’re heading to the hospital right now. You were drugged and you stopped breathing. We’re almost there so just hold on for me, okay?” he said

His voice was borderline quivering. He was scared but wanted to stay strong for you and the team. He already lost Hailey and lord forbid he was going to lose you too

Penelope rolled the window down a bit  so you could get some air but right before she could touch the button, your eyes closed again.

“Sir-”

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

*At the hospital*

You opened your eyes and saw a handful of blobs that got clearer as your eyes adjusted to the light.

“There they are!” said Rossi

“It’s about time” said JJ

“You were scared us for a second there, kid” said Morgan

Your whole family was there, excited for you to finally pull through

“Y/N!” Jack said excited

He hugged you and you had no choice but to hug him tighter. On any other day you’d be wrestling him for the remote but considering what happened to you tonight, you needed a hug from him

“For the record, I didn’t tell dad” he stated

Everyone laughed

“I got you lavender and chamomile tea, your favorite” Reid said popping his head in

“Uncle Spence!” you said

As you grabbed your tea, you saw your dad out the corner of your eye. Uh oh.

“Can we have a moment, please?” your dad asked

Everyone filed out and the door closed. He walked over to the blinds to close them.

“How’d you find out?” you softly asked

“Vanessa called me practically screaming that you were dead! You’re lucky that the case we’re working is local! What were you thinking?! You lied to me, waited until I left the house to sneak out to a party and thought ‘what could go wrong?’ ?!” he raised his voice

“Dad, I’m-”

“What? You’re sorry?! Y/N, before we got there, you died in Vanessa’s arms! How do you think I felt? I couldn’t get to you fast enough. I had to push my way through a bunch of teens just to find my kid dead”

“What do you want me to say dad? I’m sorry that you’re still dealing with trauma from mom dying, so much so that you’ve become a helicopter parent over Jack and I? If that’s what you’re looking for, it’s not my fault that she’s dead. ”

The room went so silent you could hear a pin drop.

“I didn’t mean-”

“I know”

Your dad started tearing up

“When I saw your body laying there, all I could see is your mom all over again. I was afraid that I’d have to tell Jack that his only sibling is gone, plan another funeral, and spend a lifetime beating myself up for not being there quick enough.”

“Dad, it wasn’t your fault though. It’s Foyet’s. He’s long gone now and you did what you could. This? This was my fault. I never should have snuck out. I never should have lied to you. Had I listened, none of this would have happened”

“None of this is your fault. It’s whoever did this to you’s fault.  The sneaking out part, I would have found out eventually and you would’ve been grounded until eternity but to find out this way? I could care less about punishment right now, all I care about is that the Hotchner kids are safe. The BAU might be my job but being a dad comes before anything”

He hugged you and squeezed you tightly.

“I love you more than you’ll ever know Y/N. Don’t you ever scare me like that again”

“Yes sir and I love you too”

A knock came from the door before being slightly opened

“Garcia wanted me to let you know that Quantico PD has the perp in custody and he’s being processed at the station” Prentiss softly said

“You hear that?” your dad said

You smiled

“I get to have a field day with him tomorrow. He has no idea what he has coming to him”

[whenimaunicorn]

The Heart of Admiration - Part 7

Charles Vane x OFC

In which some things are left unspoken that perhaps should be said, and others are uttered that definitely should not have been.

Prompt:  “Looking for mermaids?” Content: introspection, sex-negative attitudes, crass objectification, angst, angst, angst. Catch up here.

Notes: I’m embarrassed to admit how long it’s been since I posted the last part, so I’m not even going to look up the date. Especially since this chapter resumes right where the last one left off! I hope you can remember what was going on with all that “Mrs. Vane” nonsense, because none of the other characters are letting Hope (or Charles) forget it... Also, fair warning, this ends on an cliffhanger, but I do have most of the rest already written and hopefully will be able to put it out in a more timely manner. Words: 2300

It's so much worse than she had thought. Bad enough that Captain Vane might now have the impression that she feels some romantic inclination towards him, but to learn that it’s spread to the entire crew, too? Jack’s words have set her to brooding all the more intently. Hope barely even noticed him depart.

Because . . . she doesn’t feel that way about Charles Vane. Does she? What face could she be making, that Jack thinks he sees longing in her eyes when she contemplates their captain? A ridiculous notion.

And yet. Hope has never believed in lying to herself. A capable woman faces all of the facts head-on. To do otherwise would leave a lady trapped. Outmaneuvered. Society thrives on the soul-numbing lies it requires women to tell themselves. And Hope’s most fervent promise to herself was to leave that sort of thing behind.

No self-deception, then. When she thinks of Charles Vane, her chest warms. His presence on deck sets her heart beating faster, and the effect is not solely due to his authority, is it. He doesn’t speak much, but when he does she listens eagerly, interested in every rare glimpse into his mind.

Bother. Jack might be onto something. 

Those stray thoughts she suffered through in the wee hours last night may not only have been sparked by Vane’s unusual proximity. The warmth in her body spreads lower.

When she turned to piracy, leaving Society, she abandoned its restrictions. This included a short period in which she satisfied certain curiosities. So her maidenhead is gone. Its passing was . . . anticlimactic. She hasn’t thought much about sex since then. Pities the women required to perform that marital duty on a nightly basis, if she’s being honest. And she’s quite motivated to keep to her course now, a life of independence that will hopefully culminate in the acquisition of a small fortune sufficient to set up her own comfortable retirement by the time age starts to stiffen her joints.

She’s surprised, then, to find the notion hidden in the depths of her mind that with Vane, such intimacy could be different. The way his hand had molded itself around her thigh last night, the feel of his arms around her and his breath against her neck when he’d smelled her perfume. Her body had responded so much more vigorously than expected.

But it was probably just the drink. And reactions such as those are always fleeting, aren’t they. Such feelings are not an acceptable reason to risk her respectful place on this crew by tumbling into bed with its captain.

Hope turns away from the rail, puts her back to the sea and gathers her thoughts into a forceful summary of conclusions. Yes, it seems she is harboring a certain affection for Charles Vane. But it’s manageable. Not something she is going to allow to interrupt her plans. If she can just figure out how to wipe the dreamy schoolgirl look off her face that certain perceptive members of the crew have apparently noticed, she should be fine. Because it’s not like her feelings are returned. He would have made a move by now. She remembers her early suspicions, that Vane might be attracted to her, but things had settled, quite comfortably, between them since then. She’s almost embarrassed to have been prideful enough to have thought it.

That issue being settled, she marches herself back up to the helm to adjust their course and sets her thoughts to things that are truly important.

~*~

Fellows pulls through; the cache is there, and no soldiers in sight. They make quick work of hauling it all onto the Ranger. The sun is slanting low by the time they’re done; they’ve had to swing around the long way to avoid being spotted by anyone that could later connect their ship to the theft.

Days like these remind Vane why he’s so grateful to have such a skilled navigator, who can locate their position so precisely that they can leave the sight of land and come back in at such an exact, advantageous angle. Swoop in on the cache from nowhere, and swoop right back out again. They’re like ghosts today.

Rich ghosts. He’d never hear the end of it if he ever drove her away with his clumsy, misguided affections.

Vane knows he will have to be very careful tonight. Their ship could not be seen returning from the location of the cache, and there was not enough time to return Mr. Fellows home from a more roundabout angle before sundown. Which meant their guide was spending the night on the ship, bunking with the crew, and Hope . . . Hope would of course be sleeping in the captain’s quarters with her “husband.”

Vane exhales, fingers gripping the railing as if the wood might impart some of its steadfastness. To have had her unexpectedly in his arms was one thing. A pure, heavenly moment that had caught him by surprise. It was quite another to know that she was to spend the night with him again. How could he possibly stay calm, and feel her body just beside his, in his own narrow bed?

It would be a simple thing to sneak a hammock into his quarters, of course. He feels his face burn a bit as he becomes aware that he’d like to pretend that particular solution had just never occurred to him.

Hope’s smart. She will definitely think of it herself, anyway.

~*~

Hope finds herself down by the guns. It’s not her turn to help with the cleaning and re-setting, but she doesn’t want to be anywhere near Fellows, or Vane, or the boisterous crew in the mess. Besides, she likes being seen doing extra work; helps combat many of the prejudices about a lady on board. She settles in next to Stevens, one of the handful of her old Starling crew that had been accepted with her into the Ranger’s fold.

“Mrs. Vane,” he says by way of greeting just as she starts the scrubbing. He doesn’t say it like the other crewmen had. There’s scorn in his voice, and perhaps a hint of a question.

Hope scowls. “Not you, too.”

Stevens nods, as if she’s passed his test. They work in companionable silence for a while, until the only other man on this deck stretches, stows his tools, and exits via the ladder. Probably sneaking off now that Hope has effectively taken his spot. Only then does Stevens speak. “Been hopin’ you’d come talk to me.”

Hope looks up, without pausing her work.

“Seem to be finding your place here.”

“Everyone has use for a good navigator.”

“More than that. Look like you’re fitting in.”

“Do I?”

“Or is this just what you do. Make people like you. Find your way to the top, the inner circle, even if you’re just making the best of it.”

There’s a bitterness to the way he’s speaking, but Hope doesn’t feel like it’s directed at her, necessarily. Stevens has always had friendly feelings for her, that’s why he followed her to this crew. She decides to say very little, invite him to say a little more. “Can you blame me?”

“Guess not. You’ve always had a way with people.” He glances at the hatch, though there’s no one there. “Big take today,” he comments.

Hope grunts in agreement.

“Biggest we’ve had, since leaving Nassau.” He puts a little more oil on his rag. “Big enough to make up for the Starling.”

Hope’s hands stop moving. She forces them to continue. “I . . . hadn’t thought of it that way.”

Stevens sniffs, a sudden rush of nose-clearing air. “We have. Me and some of the boys.”

He has to mean the rest of the Starling crew. There’s four more of them, those that Vane hadn’t seen a need to punish for her brother-in-law’s stunt, fine seamen who hadn’t seemed like a mutiny risk to Jack when he recruited them out of the splinters of that disbanded crew. Hope had even vouched for them.

Apparently Jack can’t be right about everything.

“With your help, Hope, it’d be easy.”

~*~

Vane’s quiet contemplation is interrupted by Jack’s voice. “Looking for mermaids?” he asks, joining his captain on the deserted stretch of deck and staring down into the dark waters alongside him. The ship is safely hidden in a cove, and most of the crew are down in the mess for their nightly meal.

Vane replies with a rather rude gesture.

“No, there’s only one maid you’re interested in.”

Vane looks up sharply.

“Has a nice ring to it, ‘Mrs. Vane.’ I suppose that’s why the crew can’t seem to stop saying it.”

He grunts. “Torturing her.”

“Maybe just a little.”

Jack lapses into silence, but Vane is certain that won’t last for long. Maybe he should walk away now, avoid the question that is sure to be coming next. However . . . Vane can’t stop asking it of himself, either. So he may as well just let Jack say it.

“I’m out of more subtle advice,” Jack says. “And you never were one for subtlety, anyway. So here’s this: if you want her, just take her already.”

Not exactly what Vane thought he’d hear. He shifts, looks more squarely at Jack, and plays dumb with his reply. “I have.”

“Not onto your crew. It’s obvious how much you want her in your bed.” He’s eying Vane closely.

Is this what Jack thinks of him? He’d always pegged Jack as a bit of a romantic, seeing how well he treats Anne. He’d been bracing himself for a conversation about deep feelings. Not this crassness. “And as a member of my crew,” Vane growls in reply, “she’s got full rights here. I can’t have her by force.”

“Who says you need to force her?”

This is not what Vane wanted to hear, either. The last thing he needs is to build up a false hope. “Lay off, Jack. You don’t know what you’re talking about.” He turns squarely back toward the water.

“You really can’t tell.”

“I’ve tried flirting with her, Jack. When we first got her. She rejected me quite squarely.”

“Sometimes I wonder what it is you consider to be ‘flirting,” Charles, when most of your experience is with whores who already know how your coin spends.” Or girls looking to yoke his power, but at least Jack was kind enough not to mention that part. “Is it possible your approach lacks a certain . . . art?”

“Don’t say you’re offering to teach me,” he growls.

Jack’s hand flutters in the air. “You’re a lost cause anyway.”

“I’ve already resolved to never try again.”

“But why?” Jack leans over the rail, seeking his eyes. “She’s as smitten as you are; I don’t see how you can’t see it.” He sighs. “You’re too much alike, too proud and too timid, both at once, to see what’s right in front of you.”

“I know what’s in front of me,” Vane retorts, choosing to ignore the accusation of cowardice. Because he likes Jack. He’s let him get away with worse without rearranging his face over it. He can let this one go too. He takes a deep breath, and feels himself scowling. “I’m not going to say anything to her. Leave it, Jack. You weren’t there this morning. When she woke up and found herself in bed with me . . .  she made her lack of interest abundantly clear.”

Jack is shaking his head. “I can’t believe that. More likely you’ve scared her off with your extreme stoicism. How is she to know of your interest, if you’re not giving any signs of it?”

Vane looks over from the corner of his eye. “If I’m not giving any signs, then how can you be so certain that you know my heart?”

Jack claps him on the shoulder. “Because I know you too well, Charles. I know your tells. And you’ve gone through too much trouble to capture this bird.”

Vane growls his disagreement with that choice of phrasing.

Jack keeps barreling on. “Yes, yes. She’s a great value to the crew. But that’s not why you took her.”

“Don’t say it like that.”

“Is that not what you did? You saw what you wanted, and you got control of her. We didn’t have to come down so hard on the Starling. But you needed to stake your claim. Now I feel like we’re all just holding our breaths. I’ve never seen you like this. You took her, I don’t understand why now you won’t take her. Tough as she is, she’s too much a maid to be the one to take the initiative. She might even be a virgin still. In need of a strong, experienced hand like yours to guide the way.”

Vane grunts, he can’t help it. He’s been trying so hard not think this way, but Jack’s words bring unbidden images to his mind. Hope’s wide eyes, looking up at him from his pillow. The softness of her flesh; the sounds she’d make if he—

Jack’s still talking. “God knows you both could use it. And she won’t be getting it anywhere else, not with you looming over her as you are. So why don’t you get on with it? Scoop her up and throw her in your bed. Hope’s not more than a bird you’re keeping in a cage if you keep going on like this.”

“Is that what I am.” Hope Wickham herself materializes from the shadow at the end of the deck. How long had she been standing there, listening, fuming? Long enough, judging by the look on her face. Charles Vane feels his heart sink down to his knees.

On to Part 8

Taglist is open: @navigatrixnarrations​ @ladyhubris​ @summertimesadness101 @23orso @n3rdybird​ @bitchyikes​

[japannkenn]

(Luca) Summer Heat (rated M) (unpublished/random pieces that I wrote)

Luca doesn’t like children, which is weird, because he technically is one? (He hadn’t been eighteen for that long, and things still felt the same) He does feel bad about it. He’d dealt with them over his years of study in Genova which was always a hassle, but it wasn’t his fault.

He didn’t know why he was intimidated by a couple of adolescents, just on the brink of consciousness of the world around them. Not old enough to worry about things bigger than how fast they can eat their gelato before it melted in the summertime heat.

He guesses he’s one to talk. Even if it’s been three years, he doesn’t feel like he knows anything. He may not be much better than these kids. He doesn’t know who he is. He thought he did. He thought he was starting to figure it out.

That’s why it’s so shocking to see how second nature Alberto is around a band of rowdy twelve year olds in the water, teaching them how to swim. And maybe they weren’t rowdy—just much too much for Luca to handle. He can’t believe how patient he is, how he humors their antics and how easy it is for him.

And he can’t believe how good he looks in that tiny red Bagnino tank top, iridescent purple scales shimmering in the sunlight, practically calling him.

Luca knew this was going to happen, so he brought a book to look down at if Alberto happened to turn back and steal a glance, lest he be caught staring. Because that would be the end of the world considering some of the things they’d done already.

There was a squiggly, fine line to their relationship.

And besides, he wasn’t good with kids. But it was fun to watch anyway. It doesn’t mean he didn’t feel bad.

“Va bene,” Luca hears him laugh from the water, a young girl looking up at him with a red tinge to her cheeks that definitely wasn’t from the setting sun. “If you can hold your breath for ten seconds, I’ll buy you another gelato.”

“Really? And I can pick the flavor?” Her eyes sparkle.

Alberto pauses comically. “No, no. I still get to pick the flavor,” his voice is giggly, and Luca’s heart wants to burst with affection and love.

“Hey! Non è giusto, you have to buy me one too!” A little boy pops up from under the water, eyebrows furrowed up at Alberto.

“Twenty seconds, then?”

“See that one right there?” He points to the same ragazza that he promised a gelato after he’d come back on the shore for a short break, sitting down beside Luca in the sand.

“Uh-huh,” he watches her as she makes a show of back stroking, glancing curiously at Alberto.

“She’s got a massive crush on me.”

Luca scoffs, rolling his eyes. “Ah, I bet that gets your ego nice and excited doesn’t it?”

“Oh yeah,” he jokes, unwrapping an energy bar from his bag. He takes a bite, a quiet moment passes by and Luca awkwardly looks back down at his book. “Nah. I’m just wondering what I did to make her see me that way.” He says idly.

Luca chews his lip anxiously, incredulous. He starts to wonder if this was a trap. What was Alberto trying to do to him?

Whatever it was, it was working.

The Vespa was surprisingly still in commission, ready for a summer of rides down The Downhill, through the narrow roads, twists and turns to the piazza.

But Luca preferred Giulia’s bike whenever he could if she wasn’t using it. But he’d never admit it out loud that the reason he likes pedaling instead is because he thinks it’ll help him become more like Alberto. Physically, anyways. He was quite jealous, really, in this delicious, sensual way.

Actually, he thinks he’d tell Alberto the reason, if only he would ask. He wishes he would ask. He probably never would, because it was almost like he already knew.

“Don’t you wanna ride your fancy Vespa instead? Why do you need my bike?” Giulia even asks one day, putting Luca on the spot as he’s hopping on for a twenty minute cycle around the piazza.

“Let him use it. He needs the exercise,” Alberto says coolly from the porch, Machiavelli slung helplessly over his shoulder as he’s bringing him back inside from a bath.

Luca’s heart drops, his face burning red.

It’s almost annoying how bold Alberto is about it. No, it definitely is annoying. And Luca is tired of being constantly envious of his ever growing muscles. “Everyone’s bodies are different, you know?”

Luca glares at him. He’s trying to wash the dishes and not even Alberto was a fun distraction anymore. Just plain annoying. Stupid, dumb Alberto. “Haha,” he sulks.

“What works for me may not work for you,” he shrugs, scratching at his chin and appraising Luca’s body for a moment. What’s worse is that Luca can feel it, each little thought in his mind. What’s even worse is that in a matter of days, he’d become so self conscious about something he hadn’t ever thought about for more than five minutes.

Sure, he’d done his fair share of comparing himself to people, and especially Alberto. But he’d always had a summer fixation, whether that was a good or bad thing depended. It was always Alberto. And it wasn’t always good.

“If you’re really that worried about it, I can help you.”

Luca pauses, squeezing the sudsy dish sponge in his scaly hand. His first thought is to be defensive about it, and he is, but it’s a much lighter approach when he says with a little chuckle for good measure, “I’m not that worried about it.”

“But you are,” Alberto outsmarts him in that easy breezy way, winning another point for the Fluster Luca game. “Just a little. Right?”

When he turns to glare at his asshole of a friend again, he’s got that grin on his face, like he’d proven something, caught Luca in another lie the same way he could when they were fourteen, knowing and unbothered. It’s annoying.

Grumbling, he forces his attention back to vigorously scrubbing some dried alfredo off of a dinner plate. “I could give you training lessons. Just me and you.”

To keep from short circuiting, Luca laughs again, awkwardly.

Training started at eight in the morning the next day, on the beach. Alberto says they need open space to promote a healthy work environment, but Luca just feels put on the spot. He relied on the fact that Portorosso was a sleepy town, and it was unlikely that anyone would be awake this early. Besides the pescheria. Which is probably eighty percent of this town’s population.

Carp.

“Like this?” He asks breathlessly, trying to keep in tune with a swift jog in place, his entire body burning for all of the wrong reasons, not that he feels his ten-pack forming, but he can tell Alberto is watching him. Hard.

Alberto hums, scratching his chin. “No.”

***

Ferragosto this year is when he platonically-maybe-not-so-romantically falls in love with Alberto and Giulia all over again. They’ve got her old radio blasting the anthem of summer’64, il gatto e la volpe, and Luca can’t explain how excited he is to hear it again.

Fireworks burst over the astounding view from The Downhill. They’re finally old enough (well, excluding Giulia, but two legal adults were enough) to be out on their own under the influence of at least two glasses of wine.

It wasn’t that much, but Luca can’t help how giggly he feels, throwing his head back to sing, “Noi scopriamo talenti e non sbagliamo mai,” at the top of his lungs, delighted when Giulia takes the next verse.

“Noi sapremo sfruttare le tue qualità!” Her voice is shaky and cracks unexpectedly, but to Luca, it’s like music to his ears. Another firework rockets to the sky, bursting loudly.

“Dacci solo quattro monete e ti iscriviamo al concorso,” Alberto sings next, stumbling over the words and his voice is incredibly off key, but Luca beams at him, suddenly wanting to cry.

“Per la celebrità!” They all sing together, bursting into a fit of uncontrollable giggles.

He never wants this to end. He wishes this bottle of wine were bottomless, so that the three of them could lay here in the grass forever underneath the inky black sky, lit up by colorful explosions, wiggling his toes freely in the wet grass, his two favorite people in the entire world right by his side, just like every summer.

But it’s going to end. It always did. That was the reality of it, and he always faced it. But just for a little longer, he could enjoy it knowing there was always next year. For now, he could be irresponsible and enjoy this. A little longer.

He reaches over, turning the radio up to the highest volume, cheering loudly over it.

Lui è il gatto ed io la volpe, stiamo in società

Di noi ti puoi fidar,

di noi ti puoi fidare,

di noi ti puoi fidar

There’s plenty of places to makeout in Portorosso, but somehow they’d ended up behind the house because—oh, now he remembered—it’s almost time for dinner, and they wanted to be back before sundown.

Admittedly, Luca was disappointed that nothing intense had happened on their little day trip to Isola del Mare, and to him it was a waste. He never did well with mixed feelings, and he couldn’t help not being talkative on the walk back to the Marcovaldo household.

If Alberto asked, he’d just say he was tired. Which wasn’t exactly a lie, just not the whole truth— because, merda, the swim there and back really isn’t a cakewalk or anything. He felt near exhaustion, leaning slightly against Alberto as they stumbled down the narrow road, street lamps lighting the dusk night.

He doesn’t know what kind of person he’s becoming, but it most definitely isn’t practical.

He stumbles to trail along when Alberto unexpectedly yanks him behind the dark alley-like space between their house and a neighbor’s and Luca groans confusedly because he’s already a little frustrated with Alberto, even if it’s childish and petty.

“What are you—,” A flame ignites like an explosion in his chest when Alberto roughly slams him against the concrete wall by the shoulders, sucking in a deep breath when he feels his chest pressing firmly against his. “Why—,”

All Alberto does is laugh, and Luca would punch the stupid grin off of his face if he could see it in this light. “What’s that you said earlier? Sono felice? If that’s true then why haven’t you said anything since?”

Luca grumbles. “I’m just tired.”

“Uh-huh, right,” he says knowingly, releasing his tight grip on Luca’s shoulders to drop one arm by his side, the other hand planted firmly on the wall by his head instead. It makes Luca feel worse (better? He doesn’t know), the choice to leave or stay looming over him like a playful tease. “You’re upset I didn’t put my hand down your pants earlier, aren’t you?”

“Don’t make fun of me.” Luca’s face heats up and he makes a weird noise of repulsion. “It’s stupid of me, I know,”

“I’ll tell you what…”

Sometimes or more often than not this summer, he doesn’t recognize himself as a top student in Genova, or a loyal son who herded goatfish for most of his life. It’s weird feeling different and thinking about himself like this. And Alberto, his dear friend who showed him this new world above the surface, is now his lover, a little more than just a friend, all and everything in between, and he’s different.

It’s strange.

This was certainly… unexpected.

When they finally come inside right in time for dinner, they’re skittish, and Giulia gives them a look that’s definitely more knowing than confused, but she’s uninformed nonetheless, and Luca can’t help but giggle. He feels like a brat.

He accidentally bumps into Massimo, rustling away from Alberto’s tight grip on his arm. He mumbles a quick mi scusi, sitting down in his seat. “Lo giuro, ragazzi,” Giulia grumbles exasperatedly, setting down cups of water around the table.

Luca steals a glance at Alberto as he picks up his cup for a sip, darting his eyes away quickly when they make eye contact.

“Ragazzi.” Signor Marcovaldo says sternly, and Luca and Alberto flinch. “Help set the table.”

“Certo, certo, sorry about that, papà,” Alberto rushes to the counter, leaning over to take two plates at a time. He sets them on the table, getting the last two. Right as Luca decides he should get up and help too, Alberto is on his way back to the table and they narrowly miss stumbling into each other, Luca letting out a strained little chuckle as they stare stupidly at each other.

Giulia clears her throat loudly, arms crossed.

Luca and Alberto immediately look at her, breaking out into awkward laughs.

“What is it with you two? Veramente,” she takes a seat beside Alberto after he finishes setting down the plates. Luca is next to stand beside Massimo at the counter, grabbing silverware. He can feel his heavy gaze burning holes through his head as he quickly rinses them in the sink, and if he just hurried then—!

“Luca.” Massimo grumbles. Luca flinches again, willing himself to look up at the man towering above him.

“Si?”

“Calmati.”

Luca shivers, drying the forks quickly in a towel. “Oh, sì, scusa,” he rushes back to the table, giving everyone their silverware before shakily taking his seat again. He catches Alberto staring at him again, and he slightly raises his eyebrows like asking stai bene, and Luca nods quickly.

“For dessert, it’s tiramisu,” Signor Marcovaldo says as he sits down, and Alberto’s eyes light up and he gasps excitedly. “For that, you have Giulietta to thank.”

Alberto frowns. Giulia grins smugly at him, and Luca lets out his first real laugh of tonight. “Ah, come on. Can tonight get any worse?” Alberto groans half heartedly, absentmindedly twirling some pasta onto his fork.

“Sure it can. I helped strain the noodles,” Giulia jokes, her mouth full.

“Oh, is that why you’re feeling so tipo tosto tonight?”

“Of course. It’s more than you ever help out around here.”

[annabethy]

here we mark the price of freedom

in which Percy and Annabeth meet in World War II, and they learn that freedom comes at a price,, percabeth 10k

December 22, 1941

Percy is sitting on the ground outside, watching as other soldiers surrounding him mess around. It is rather cold outside, but the people around him have smiles on their faces, and it warms his heart from the icy fear that he has felt for the past few weeks.

A pack of food is in his hands, but he makes no move to eat it. He doesn’t think that he could eat even if he tried — maybe everyone else could dismiss the things going on, the things that they would soon have to face, but he couldn’t. They were here for a reason, after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. This war was not going to be smooth sailing, and though he doesn’t know how it’s going to go, he knows he’s not going to like how this ends.

He’s going to come out broken or dead. He doesn’t know which one is the better option.

Percy glances back towards the barracks, contemplating heading inside for the night. He is so tired that he could curl up on the ground and fall asleep like that, but he can hear the noise and complaints from here, and he decides against it.

It’s hours spent like that, staring off into the sky, before the sun begins to settle slightly. The wind blows here in the Pacific theater, and he is well aware that he needs to head inside soon before he gets in trouble for stepping out of line. Nightfall is the prime time for attack, but he stays anyways. Just a little bit longer.

Percy finally rips open the military dinner, and the packet of M&Ms that falls out brings him a memory of his mother. She was probably worried sick, not knowing where he was anymore. He thumbs the wrapper, giving himself a chance to miss her, before he settles it beside him and decides to eat his dinner. He chews in silence, only a few stray people still out in the winter air, just thinking. It was all he ever did anymore, thinking. He wishes he could shut off his brain sometimes, like the other soldiers were able to do.

He blinks in surprise as someone slides onto the log next to him. He doesn’t make immediate eye contact, in fear of who this person was, if they were here to purposely torment him, to make his eyes fill with fury.

Instead, when he shoots a glance their way, he sees a head of blonde hair. He still doesn’t make direct eye contact, and that is when this person hangs their head into his vision, looking up at him with a smirk.

“Hello?” the girl says, a teasing tone to his voice. “Anyone home?”

Percy gives her a scolding look, but he’s so confused that it doesn’t have much effect other than making the girl laugh out loud. He decides he likes her laugh, so smooth and melodic, a laugh he can get used to.

“Are you okay?” she asks. She rips open a pack identical to Percy’s and pulls out her own food, choosing to nibble on the edge of a soft granola bar.

“Are you?” is all he can say, still blinking at her with curiosity. “Why are you over here?”

She looks around before glancing back at him and shrugging in mock neutrality. “Am I not allowed to be over here, or something?”

“I— do I know you?”

“You’re great at making friends. Has anyone told you that?”

“Now you’re making fun of me.”

“Only a little bit,” she agrees. Percy looks her in the eyes, and his breath catches on her striking grey eyes. She’s beautiful, and Percy begins to wonder why she was here, in such a dangerous mess. “You looked like you could use company.”

“So you’re giving me pity,” he says.

“If you want to call it that, then sure. I didn’t want to be alone either, though.”

“A match made in heaven, then,” Percy says. “Now do you want to tell me what you really wanted?”

“Well,” she starts, waving around her granola bar. Her hair is in her face, blowing in the wind. Her clothes are a little baggy and dirty, but he can’t blame her. He doesn’t look any better. “I had to eat dinner, and I saw you over here by yourself and thought, ‘why don’t I eat with him?’”

“You were supposed to eat before sundown.”

“I could say the same for you, Percy.”

Percy starts, an unfamiliar bubbling in his stomach. “You know my name,” he states.

“Everyone here knows your name,” she answers. “You’re very well known. From the way this conversation is going, I can’t imagine why.”

Percy can’t help the slight grin. “Well, now you’re just not giving me a chance. You caught me off guard is all.”

“Off guard is apparently when you look best,” she says, leaning forwards to whisper in his ear. When she speaks, he can feel her hot breath on his ear. “People think you’re attractive. All the girls in my barracks won’t shut up about it.”

“I had no idea I was such a popular soldier.”

“You have to give them a break, though,” she says, munching down on another bite of her food. “Chances are that a good portion of us are going to be dead once this war ends. We all just want to live while we still can.”

“And what about you?”

“What about me?”

The sun has settled more now, and she is with the moonlight shining down on her, illuminating her golden curls. Percy has to swallow before he can speak. “Are you just trying to live while you still can?”

“Of course,” she says. “That’s why I’m here.”

“Talking to me?”

“Yes, but…” She gestures broadly to the distance around them. “That’s why I’m here. I’m going to die eventually, but I’m not afraid of death, so… I want to live. Do something with my life. Maybe save a few lives while I’m at it. Really get the chance to live, you know?”

“I get that,” Percy says.

“Is that why you’re here?”

“God, no,” Percy breathes. “I was drafted.”

“Oh,” she says. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s life, I guess. When has this country ever been fair?”

“That’s not talk I’d ever hear come from an American soldier.”

“Yeah, well, this soldier life isn’t exactly the most entertaining.” He snorts. “I think you may be the first real conversation I’ve had since I’ve left.”

“That’s depressing,” she says, setting her food to the ground. She picks up his packet of M&Ms, and her jaw falls open. “Of course you’d get the good candy.”

Percy is oddly endeared by her as she twirls it between her fingers, grey eyes analyzing every detail of the wrapper. “You can have it,” he finds himself saying.

Her eyes meet his and a flash of thanks passes over them. She positions her fingers on the paper to rip them open, but she pauses. “Are you sure you don’t want them?”

“I’m sure,” he says. Eating them now would probably make him sad anyways as he remembered his mom. It’s worth it when she tears it open and pops one in her mouth, a soft smile taking over her face.

“It tastes like back home,” she explains. “My brother and I used to take turns trying to steal bits of chocolate from a bakery.”

“Where are you from?” he asks.

“San Francisco,” she says.

Percy has never been, but there’s something about this girl that makes him wish he had.

“How about you?”

“New York,” he says. “Just another boring city.”

“Boring?” She raises an eyebrow. “You, Percy Jackson, are anything but boring.”

It takes him a moment, but he realizes that he still doesn’t know her name. She’s breathtaking, especially now that he can barely see anything except the shadows of her face, and he desperately needs to know her name. He wants to feel her name on his tongue, rolling over the letters, feel how it sounded in his throat, in his own ears.

“I hardly think it’s fair that you seem to know everything about me,” he says. “Why don’t you tell me a little bit more about yourself?”

“I’m not all that interesting. You’re much nicer to discuss.”

Percy leans forwards. “Come on. Humor me.”

She smiles, and his heart skips a beat. “I’m Annabeth.”

It starts like this.

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[ultraintrovertedgryffindor]

Sweet Pandemonium - Gally (The Maze Runner) Part 2 of 16

(Not my GIF)

~~~~~~~~~~

Everything started to spiral out of control when a new Greenie came up in the Box, Thomas.

You didn’t know him, but you felt connected to him somehow. Why? You had no clue. It’s almost driving you crazy that you can’t place why you felt this way, and if you were being honest, it almost scared you.

Thomas felt this way as well. He felt that same type of connection to you. He never spoke of it for the sake of him sounding crazy, well, even more crazy than everyone else already thought him to be.

All it took was a simple glance in each other’s direction to realize you and Thomas felt the same way about each other.

“Y/N!”

Gally’s irritated tone snapped you out of your daze. “Sorry, what?”

Gally rolled his eyes. “That’s the third time you’ve dozed off today. Get it together, will ya? This shack needs to be built and I don’t feel like getting scolded by Alby because you didn’t do your part.”

You tried not to blush as the rest of the Builders looked at you with amusement, probably glad that they’re not getting yelled at for once.

Gally noticed your eyes traveling to the other Builders and huffed. “Get back to work, you shanks!”

You almost could’ve laughed at how fast they went back to work because they were pretty much scared of the boy.

“What’s up with you today, huh?” Gally asked, surprising you with his slightly softer tone.

You sighed, biting your lip in thought. “I don’t know. I guess it’s just one of those days.” You lied, partly. You truly didn’t know why you felt the way that you did, but had a feeling it was because of the new Greenie. But you didn’t need Gally to know that, especially after he’s expressed so many times about how he didn’t like Thomas.

Yeah...he didn’t need to know.

Gally raised his brow, clearly not buying her reasoning, but he decided not to push it. “Well, just, get back to work, okay?”

“For sure, Captain.” You fake saluted, a teasing smile tugging at the corners of your mouth.

Gally rolled his eyes as he shook his head, struggling to hide a smile. “Shut up. Just get building.”

You sighed as you sat down in your hammock in the Homestead, relieved to have finished that new shack for the Slicers by sundown. After that talk with Gally, you made sure to focus extra hard and you managed to do more work than you thought you were capable of.

Your muscles ached badly. You needed a shower asap.

You tried not to scream when you bumped into a Glader, realizing it was just Thomas. “Oh, hey, Greenie.” You chuckled breathlessly.

Thomas’ face visibly from relaxed to one of irritation. “I have a name, you know.”

“Right. Right. Sorry. Guess I’m just happy that I’m not the one being called that anymore.” You chuckled, clearing your throat seconds after. “I was just heading to the showers so...”

Thomas blinked rapidly, quickly moving out of your way with a slight blush dusting his face. “Uh, Y/N?” He voiced, causing you to look back up to him with a smile. You noticed Thomas’ face contorting in thought. “Uh, sorry. Never mind.”

Before you could say anything, Thomas walked off in a hurry, causing you to tilt your head in confusion. But the aching muscles in your arms and legs begging for the coldness of the shower water caused you to shrug it off quicker than you normally would.

You tossed and turned that night, which was unusual as you normally were able to fall asleep in a matter of minutes.

You felt like you woke up as soon as you fell asleep, the opening of the maze doors woke you from a less than pleasant dream. Yet again, the dream you had left your memory as soon as it appeared. The one thing attaching itself to you from the dream was a face. Thomas’ face.

You groaned as the rest of the Gladers started to get up for the day, knowing that you must’ve gotten an hour of sleep, if even that. You just accepted that it was probably going to be a shit day.

The Builders didn’t have much to do surprisingly, only needing to touch up a few things. But you absolutely didn’t mind the shorter work day, having the night that you had made it difficult to focus on anything. Even Gally’s pretty face.

Still, you didn’t want to be a useless shank. So, against your better judgement, you decided to help out Newt, Zart, and Thomas in the gardens.

You were tired as hell, but you wanted to talk to Thomas eventually, and befriending him felt like the best way to go about doing so. Plus, Newt was an absolute delight to be around.

“Eyo, Y/N.” Newt smiled, “Gally finally given ya a break?”

You laughed softly. “Nah, just a smaller work load today.”

Newt nodded. “Because you work so hard, no doubt. Things are gettin’ built a lot faster ever since you came up, love.”

You rolled your eyes playfully and grabbed a little basket to help pick off some ripe fruit. “I’m just good at following orders, if that’s something to be proud of.”

Newt chuckled. “You give about as many orders as Gally does nowadays. If anything, you seem to be partners.”

You knew Newt probably didn’t realize his phrasing, but it still made you blush nonetheless. “Gally’s an asshole.” Thomas muttered out.

You tried not to laugh loudly. “He has his moments, for sure.”

“Gally’s an alright bloke, he just has issues with change. He’ll warm up to ya eventually. He even avoided Y/N the first week and a half she got here. It’s just how he is.” Newt said.

“You seem close with him now.” Thomas said, looking at you.

You shrugged. “Uh, I’d say we’re friendly. Well, I guess my definition of friendly anyway.”

“Do us a favor, get us some more fertilizer.” Newt asked Thomas.

“Uh, sure. Where is it again?”

“Show him, will ya, Y/N?” Newt asked.

“Yeah, sure.” You nodded. “Let’s go, Greenie.”

“You really think Gally’ alright?” Thomas asked once you both got a few meters into the woods.

“Yeah, I think so. Like Newt said, he’s just scared of change. I think it’s understandable when you live in a box that you can never leave, unless you wanna get horrifically murdered by Grievers.”

“When you put it like that, then yeah. I guess change would be pretty scary.” Thomas paused, “I just, I don’t understand how you guys have been here for three years without making any progress.”

“You’re acting like it’s easy, Thomas. I’m no Runner, but I can tell how hard it is to run a changing maze every single day, having to map it, fearing for your life in the process.”

Thomas stayed silent after that, only speaking up when you both passed the Deadheads. “Who was George?” He asked.

You shrugged. “I wasn’t around when he died. He was the first one to get stung by a Griever from what Newt told me...he wasn’t too eager to talk about him anymore after that.”

“Y/N?” Thomas started, “I don’t really know how else to put this without sounding crazy but...I feel like I know you from somewhere. I know how it sound but-”

The look on you face stopped Thomas from speaking any further. You couldn’t even describe how you were feeling. Almost like relief, but fear, all meshed together in some sort of weird understanding. “You feel that way too?”

A sudden snap of a twig caused the moment between you and Thomas to end abruptly, you both twisting around to see another Glader. “Ben?” Thomas asked.

You eyed the Glader up and down, noticing how frightening he looked. Black and purple veins protruding out all over his body. His eyes red, almost bloodshot. His heavy threatening gaze on you and Thomas.

He had been stung.

You never saw how anyone looked after being stung, not really. You imagined horrible things, things more horrible than how Ben looked now. But seeing him like that disturbed you to no end.

“Ben...” You said slowly. “Are you okay?”

Ben grunted in response, looking in between you and Thomas like he couldn’t decide who to look at. “You did this.” He whispered harshly.

You brows furrowed in confusion. “What? What do you mean?”

“You did this.” Ben raised his voice. “I saw you. Both of you! This is your fault!”

You gasped when Ben suddenly charged at you and Thomas. All the breath being knocked out of your lungs when he body slammed you into the ground.

You and Ben struggled on the floor, him quickly gaining the upper hand and placing his hands firmly on you throat. “Get off her, man!” Thomas yelled, tackling Ben off of your smaller body.

You coughed violently, gasping for oxygen as the pressure on your windpipe finally disappeared as Thomas saved you from being choked to death.

You looked around to see Thomas hit the infected Glader with an animal skull just in time, him quickly pushing a now disoriented Ben off of him and soon helping you to your feet. “Go, go!” Thomas yelled in your ear.

You didn’t have to be told twice.

You and Thomas took off in a sprint, adrenaline pumping through your veins as you feared of being caught by the fellow Glade member. The confusion taking a hold of your mind as you ran, still having no idea why Ben seemed so hateful towards you and Thomas.

Thankfully, you didn’t have to think about it anymore. Ben ultimately catching up to you both due to his Runner status and tackling you and Thomas down a hill.

You groaned in pain, feeling your body topple over and landing on your arm painfully.

Thomas, yet again, helped you get to your feet, making sure you didn’t get left behind. You yelped in pain as he grabbed your now aching arm, pulling you along as he yelled for help as loud as he could.

You almost felt relieved when you saw the Gladers running to your aid, but it was short lived.

Ben grabbed your bad arm and pulled you back, making you fall on your back, but he still went after Thomas first. “Hey!” Newt’s voice filled the air, then a sickening thump, Ben immediately falling to the ground.

Newt quickly ordered the Gladers to hold down the struggling boy, Thomas quickly rushing over to you. “Oh shit, are you okay?”

You nodded, sitting up with a painful groan. You looked down at your arm to see it bruised and bloody, short jagged cuts deep in her skin.

Ben screamed bloody murder over and over again, so loud and animalistic that it even your throat hurt, even though it already hurt from being choked before.

After being taken to the other Med-jacks, it didn’t take for Gally to barge into the room, an almost angry look on his face. “How’s Ben?” You asked.

Gally could’ve scoffed at the question. Obviously Ben wasn’t okay, but you asking about him first was the reason he could’ve thrown a fit. He had seen you at the scene, wanting so badly to go to your aid first, but he needed to help the Gladers get Ben to the Pit. “Seriously? How are you? You were hurt.”

“She’s fine.” Jeff answered for you. “A sprain, and some marks from Ben’s nails.”

Gally would’ve sighed in relief, if Thomas wasn’t there too. “Why were you even with that shank anyway?” He asked, acting like Thomas wasn’t even there.

“What? Just because you don’t like him, that means I can’t hang out with him?” You sassed.

Gally glared at you and Thomas. “Ben’s gonna get banished at sundown. Do me a favor and stay away until it’s over.”

You rolled your eyes as Gally exited the room, trying not to cry at the thought of a Glader getting sent to their death. “What, banished?” Thomas asked you.

You closed your eyes with a heavy sigh. “You know there’s cure for getting stung...it would be too dangerous to keep him here.”

Thomas quickly left the room, probably leaving to see what was going to happen to poor Ben.

At first, when Gally told you to keep away from the banishment, it just made you want to go just to spite him. But you had seen a banishment before, and it was horrible. It still haunted your dreams sometimes. You really didn’t feel like reliving that again, so you listened.

That, of course, didn’t stop you from finding Gally after the fact.

“Hey...” You said softly, running up to Gally to walk with him to the wall of names.

Gally didn’t say anything, he just kept his gaze ahead of him. You knew he was hurting. Ben was his friend after all. You looked down at his hand that wasn’t carrying a torch, and your hand twitched forward, gently grabbing his large hand.

You could sense that Gally tensed at first, but he didn’t pull away. Instead, he squeezed you hand, letting you know it was okay.

“Hold this please.” Gally said, barely a whisper, handing over his torch to you.

You held the torch up as Gally reached up, placing his chisel at Ben’s name to cross his name out.

Another day, another death.

“I’m sorry, Gally.” You whispered, placing a gentle hand on his board shoulder.

Gally simply nodded, giving you a weak smile as he walked away, leaving you at the wall with only the torch as your light in the growing darkness.

~~~~~~~~~~