#anyways these are my thoughts on the manner : Also my shoulder hurts now be back soon

[medicalunprofessional]

“”employees”” attempt to stage revolt, goes terribly wrong, massive fail : (

[fizzing-imagines]

Threats | Gareth Emerson x Reader

Notes: I need more Gareth GIFs

Warnings: Language

Word Count: 1.1k

"Gareth." A fry hit him in the face, pulling him out of his thoughts. "Jesus, why are you always throwing shit at me?", he said in a tone that was more aggressive than joking. You weren't used to that. "Sorry.", you mumbled, clearly noticing his tone. Why was he so angry? "I just wanted to ask you if you can lend me some paint for my figurine.", you mumbled. He was growing distant in the last few weeks, not talking to you outside of Hellfire, never asking how you are, not even helping you with your D&D character like he always did with his usual enthusiasm.

Gareth was angry. Not angry at you, but angry at the world. How could it set such a considerate, funny, charming and overall perfect person in front of him but not have them like him back? He wasn't angry at you - but you were the next best person to get angry at, even though he didn't want to be. It wasn't your fault you didn't like him back. At least he thought that. "Uhm, sure. I can bring them with me tomorrow.", he said. You quietly nodded your head before looking down at your fries again. The other members of Hellfire noticed your behaviour, but didn't comment. Not yet.

"You okay?", Eddie asked you while walking you to your motorbike. "I'm fine.", you said, but he didn't believe it for a second. He knew about your little crush on Gareth for a while now, but he also knew something you didn't know.

Eddie wanted to make sure you truly didn't want to talk. "I don't know why Gareth acted that way. It was wrong." He could read you like a book, always did. "You don't need to act like you're fine. If he hurt you, just be honest and I'll rip him a new one." That made you chuckle a bit. The two of you arrived at your bike, you opened its trunk to grab your helmet. "It's okay Eddie, really.", you reassured him. Once again, he didn't take it for a second and made a plan in his head. But he wouldn't tell you that. "Drive safe, I'm not scraping you up from the sidewalk." Eddie patted your shoulder before walking off to his van.

But his van didn't drive to the trailer park. It drove straight to Gareths place. His 1975 Chevy Silverado was already parked in the driveway, the door to the garage was open in which he saw his friend playing the drums in an aggressive way. "Didn't know we're supposed to treat our crushes like shit.", Eddie said while walking up to Gareth. He stopped in his tracks as he saw his friend approaching. "I don't have a crush on her.", he replied. But the fact that he already knew who Eddie was talking about gave him away. "Fuck off, I can see it in your eyes when you look at her." He took the drumsticks out of Gareths hands and pointed them at him in a threatening manner. "You're gonna go over to her place right now and apologise. And if you're not a pussy, you're finally going to confess. I'm not watching this shit for another six months." Gareth felt a bit threatened, so his tone changed. "Why would I confess if she doesn't like me anyways." His voice was quieter now and seemed more insecure overall. Eddie clicked his tongue before turning and pacing in a circle. "Listen man, I confessed to her three months ago and you know why she turned me down?" The fact that Gareth just now found out that Eddie has had a crush on you as well confused him even more. "Because she likes you, you stupid shit." And now his mind started racing. His body acted faster than his head and he sprinted towards his truck while looking for his keys. While unlocking his car, he realized something and looked back at Eddie.

"Why did you confess to her if you knew I liked her?", he asked. Eddie rolled his eyes before saying "I was high as shit, now drive!" and swatting him away with his hands. Gareth did as commanded, got into his car and drove to your house. The usual 15 minute journey only took him 10 minutes as he ignored stop signs and red lights. There was something more important than traffic signs; You. He did a full-stop in your driveway, his squeaking tires already announcing his arrival. You heard it and looked out of your window, barely making out the figure of your crush through watery eyes.

You've been crying your eyes out ever since you came home. You have been for days, but today was bad. Especially after Gareth treated you the way he did today. But after hearing a "Sweetie, Gareth's here!" from your mother you quickly whiped the tears from your face and made your way downstairs. He was standing in the doorway, out of breath and face flushed as he was trying to breathe. "Are you okay?", you asked him with your eyebrows knitted.

"I'm in love with you.", he spurted out. "Like, bad. I'm so madly in love with you (Y/N), it's not even funny anymore. Eddie makes fun of me for it at this point and I've been acting like such a dick because of it." Your mother was still standing next to the door, listening to his full rant while you stood there and didn't even know what to do next. "Let's go outside.", you said after a while before stepping through the door and closing it behind you. It wasn't until now that Gareth realized what he had said to you. Again, his body moved faster than his brain did. "I'm sorry.", he said then. "For what?", you replied. "Gareth listen, I need to tell you something too." His face was flushed, he looked beyond stressed, nervous sweat was collecting on his forehead and making his hair stick to it. But he looked so beautiful. "I'm in love with you, too. And I'm down so bad that Eddie is gonna add it in his next campaign." A small laugh left your mouth. "And I've rejected guys over it, spend nights imagining you were my stuffed animal so I wouldn't feel alone and-" Gareth cut you off by grabbing your face and smashing his lips onto yours. This is all he needed. You.

"Shit, please be my girlfriend. Please be mine.", he whispered once the kiss broke. Gareth kissing you took the breath out of your lungs, so you couldn't give him more than a nod for now.

It was enough for your now-boyfriend.

[moonsaver]

Hi! It’s @pix3lplays! (On anon because I have another account and I can’t switch which account I’m asking from haha)

I wanted to say thanks for being so nice when I responded to your comment on one of my posts~I really appreciated what you said hehe, definitely made me feel bit more confident and inspired me to keep writing :)

So I thought I’d throw an ask out since requests are open~

If you’re not interested no problem but I’ve thought about it a little and I thought maybe you’d have some thoughts.

Yandere!Sunday when his darling somehow gets seriously hurt, how do you think he’d feel, what would he do?

Personally I think he’s a complete control freak already when it comes to reader, so it just gets WORSE…ANYWAYS I wanna hear YOUR thoughts if you’re interested in the prompt hehe~ also if you’ve already talked about this oops I must’ve missed it, sorry in advance-

But yeah thanks so much, it was really cool to talk to you, take care of yourself, please!!

Hello Pixel! Thank you for sending in this ask, you're very sweet haha <3 i like your writing and im glad i helped you become more confident in it. Also,same issue here, i cant send asks from this account specifically, so i use anon or just use my personal blog to send asks.

Anyways, onto the request,

Ooh, my Yan!Sunday brain is ticking.. he really is an absolute control freak, and is a bit of a mess when he sees you seriously injured. A miscalculation, ignorance, negligence, or perhaps just.. an oversight from his part? Whatever the reason is, he's in high-drive now, and absolutely stressed about it. He only has a worried and distant look on his face, and at this stage he's prone to easily snapping at anyone, but his mind would be on a completely different level of stress. How dare they? How dare anyone lay a filthy inch of a finger on you? To stain you with their sins, and to breach your skin in such a grotesque manner.. he's absolutely enraged.

He insists on tending to you himself personally, unless it's so serious paramedics have to be involved. Stays by your side until he cant, sitting on the egde of the bed, body turned halfway to face you, fingers ghosting the edge of your face with tenderness.

However, this tenderness is only limited to your recovery period.

After you wake up or recover a bit, practically any freedom you would have had is gone. Completely.

Scolds you, borderline yells at you, holds you still with a deathly tight grip on your arms, forcing you to look into his eyes. This happened because you left. This happened because you were out of his watch. This all happened because of your freedom. Don't you dare even bother mentioning going out anywhere. You will be surveillanced almost all the time. He spends a suffocating amount of time next to you, harshly spitting back whenever you try to protest or reason with him. His words aren't gentle at all, and you're getting on his nerves. Perhaps he should just look over you himself, force you into a borderline coma in the dream fluid, and deal swiftly with the perpetrators.

Robin catches wind of this at some point.. she tells you that he's just worried, and there's a lot of people that don't quite hold The Family in high regards. Just.. its okay. Let him do this.

Let him pick out your clothes, brush your hair, check your healing wounds, gently ebb the water over them as you bathe, and kiss the skin of your shoulder when both of you stay silent after another argument.

If you still continue arguing.. he doesn't have a choice. He slumps a bit, a hand coming up to massage his temple as he sighs, and tells you in a softer voice that he's terrified. The worst thing that could happen did happen. He almost lost you. Can't you just go with it and let him be assured? You're dragging it out much more than it needs to be. He's spent many sleepless nights, ideas of dreamscapes turning into nightmares as the image of your hurt face flashes in his mind. Just cooperate, for Aeons' sake.

And no one speaks after that. He emotionally blackmails and manipulates you as a sort of final resort. Surely, you'd understand. It's not like it's far from the truth anyway. He is scared. But more than that, he's enraged this happened in the first place.

Adding on more to it,

Once things calm down.. in a twisted sort of way, he realizes just how perfectly he can get you under his complete control from these events. He may even not so subtly orchestrate similar events to scare you, to keep you in check, forcing you to rely on him completely, as he swoops in at the right time, acting as some kind of a "savior". Its a sick mindset, and he's not ashamed of it. Oh dear, you were just so pleasantly compliant after that event. And it just solidifies his statement that you shouldn't be going outside anymore, or be constantly accompanied by the Bloodhound Family guards, after only a few incidents of various threat levels.

In the end, it's a cycle that repeats up until you finally give in and let him take any and all freedom you have. He sets down your hairbrush with a gentle 'clack', kisses the crown of your head, and tells you it's alright. He will take such good care of you. Just listen to him. Listen to his every word. He has your best intentions in mind. Don't think about anything, anyone. You're a smart girl, surely you understand?

[hope-you-brought-kneepads-bitch]

Killing Wanda Pt 3

Summary: You couldn’t figure out what to do, you’d gone from seducing Wanda to basically bullying her and leaving her with a confused Yelena, you couldn’t think straight and just wanted to forget things, why did you have to be attracted to some hot redhead that you had to kill? It really puts a dent into trying to bed hot women and kill people in between.

Words: 3,000 (or so, probably more)

Warnings: 18+ only Minors DNI, sexual innuendos On Carols part because she’s desperate in this (sorry 😬) angst and upset Wanda and confused Y/n

A/n: Oh you thought I forgot about killing Wanda? Never! I’ve re written this about 4 times so that’s why it took so long sorry 😬 I need to post it, it’s good I like it but I keep putting it off but here it is! As usual any mistakes are my own and I’m gonna stop making my chapters so long because honestly I lose track of what I’ve said 😂

Forget what you said about walking in the dark, you hated it, hated the noisy animals, hated the wind in the trees, stupid trees, again you reached your destination at another door, why were you walking so much now? And why was your side hurting??. Oh right you got shot, anyway not the point

You banged on the door waiting for Maria to open it, when she finally did you stormed past the poor woman and fetched some whisky from the liquor cabinet. But before you could drink it it was snatched out of your hands by Natasha “didn’t your mother teach you any manners?”

You scoffed “wouldn’t know Natty never knew my mother, just a man and woman who moulded me into an assassin then made me move in with two Russian women with anger issues”

You tried grabbing the bottle but a pair of hands grabbed you and pulled you down onto the chair making you shout in pain from your side “fuck off Maria why’d you do that??!”

You tried wriggling away but the woman wouldn’t let up “why do you have dried blood all over your shirt?”

She finally let you go and your curled up on your side trying to ease the pain that was returning “didn’t Yelena tell you guys? She normally does”

Nat rolled her eyes giving Maria the bottle to put away and looked back to you “she did tell us, she also sent a text recently saying you told her to take Wanda to the safe house and not to speak to her at all until you got back”

“Oh good I don’t have to recap everything then” Maria returned with a syringe full of something and you jumped up backing off “what’s in there? Are you gonna sedate me? You can’t do that without my permission you know”

Nat wrapped her arm around your neck from behind surprising you and holding you in place while Maria lifted your shirt and injected the area around your wound, after a couple of minutes the pain stopped and you relaxed feeling pain free again

“Feel better?” Natasha relaxed her hold on you and kissed your cheek you didn’t respond so she just dropped you letting you stand on your own

“Yel also texted about Wanda crying her eyes out” you paused sighing and holding your head in your hands “want to explain that?”

“Why do I need to? She’s a target like you said, targets don’t get sympathy” turning around you went to the front room slumping down onto the couch and closing your eyes

Natasha followed close holding her phone reading the text message from Yelena out loud

“Bozhe moy Sestra I don’t know what Y/n said to this girl but she’s crying her eyes out in my car I just got my seats cleaned!

She said Y/n told her the threat for her life wasn’t real and the shooter was planned and that Y/n owns Wanda and she needs to stay at the safe house for her own protection against Y/n because she’s pissed off, silly if you ask me, Y/n was basically writing love letter to the woman”

Natasha rattled off the messages while Maria tried comforting you sitting next to you rubbing your shoulders “come on bunny tell your mommy what’s wrong, daddy and I are here to listen”

You held back the vomit in your throat when you lifted your head glaring at the woman “never and I mean never speak like that again, I don’t like your sweet and soft innocent act it’s so fucking strange”

She laughed “yeah sure okay, I was just trying to make you smile, so tell us why you’ve done a complete 180 about this woman”

You sat up sighing “I’d gotten shot, but the position the shooter was in and where they shot from it should’ve been for Wanda, if she was standing it would’ve gone straight through her forehead, Maria it was for Wanda and I know it’s from the people who want her dead and I’m taking too long, that’s why I switched up on her and I needed her to think I was lying about the whole thing so it didn’t stress her out more”

“Okay” Maria said holding your hands “I need to tell you that with all the love in the world you’re an absolute idiot”

Natasha laughed out loud and covered her mouth holding in anymore laughs while you blushed in embarrassment “what? Why am I an idiot??”

“You scared the poor woman, plus according to those text messages you also threatened her pretty harshly apparently”

You scoffed jumping up from the couch and barging into Nat who wouldn’t let you past “I don’t think so Y/n”

You pushed back against her “what the hell do you care?! You pushed a knife into her throat nearly killing her!”

You jabbed her in the chest with your finger and Nat grabbed it bending it back making you yell out “yes I did I also had you behind me with a pistol in the back of my head and you were so close to pulling the trigger I felt it, I felt all the emotion you had holding the gun, so don’t you dare try and tell us you don’t care about Wanda”

She let go of your finger watching you hold it gently and bending it back into place “so? Are you gonna say anything?”

“I’m going to get drunk, you two are boring”

You pushed past the woman ignoring Maria trying to shout for you and took off into the city “I swear to god I need better friends”

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

“Lady Y/n! Here to waste your life away again?” The man behind the bar called Thor hadn’t seen you for weeks and obviously he missed you “yeah whatever hi Thor, give me my usual”

“Of course! Anything for my favourite murderer!” He was so much larger than life with no indoor voice “Thor! Will you shut the fuck up about things like that, you’re gonna get me jailed”

You slid onto a bar stool at the end of the bar accepting the whiskey given to you, how cliche of you, a depressed assassin drinking whisky in a dingy bar “don’t look now Y/n but your fling just walked into the bar” the man gestured behind you but you didn’t even need to turn around to know who it was, her strong frilly perfume invaded your nose well before she entered to bar

“Hey kitten” she hovered over you from behind purring into your ear her greeting “I’ve missed you, my toys don’t satisfy me like you do, how about you come home with me” you shrugged the woman off and turned around in the chair “Sharon you’re so desperate it’s embarrassing, no I don’t want to fuck you, you’ve probably slept with everything that has a pulse like the whore you are, so fuck off and leave me alone”

You knew she didn’t listen, she likes being degraded, a bit deranged actually if you thought about it

“You’re so hot when you’re angry, I’ve missed it” she started kissing your neck and wrapping her arms around your waist as you finished off your whiskey trying to ignore her kisses getting heavier “you’re like a damn dog in heat it’s so embarrassing”

“Come on baby please? I’ll do whatever you I’ve just missed your body so much, you’re the only one who uses knives too”

“I use knives because it shuts you up and lets me finish without your annoying voice”

“I promise I won’t say a word, you can tape my mouth shut for all I care I promise I won’t make a sound”

You rolled your eyes glancing up at Thor looking disappointed in Sharon’s desperation and that made you laugh actually “fine Sharon, I’ve had a rough day though so you better keep your promise about keeping shut”

You stood up from the bar stool but Sharon gave you no chance for much else when she jumped into your arms wrapping her legs and arms around you kissing your face all over “I promise I promise I’ll be quiet, I’ll even ask permission to cum because I know you like that”

You groaned holding onto the woman so she didn’t fall and made your way out of the bar throwing Thor money for the drink “enjoy your night lady Y/n!”

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

Wanda hadn’t said much since she and Yelena arrived at the safe house, she only thanked Yelena for the dinner of macaroni and cheese then sat on the couch just staring at the wall, sometimes she would cry for a while then go quiet and Yelena wasn’t too sure of what to do

“Hey Wanda, did you know the human body is mostly water? That’s cool right?”

Wanda shrugged “maybe if I keep crying then I’ll eventually run out of water and die”

Yelena was shocked, that was a little dramatic, even for an assassin to hear, at least she was talking though that was something she guessed “sure sure that’s something to say I guess, soooo what-

“Is there someone after me?” She cut Yelena off which she thought was very rude but she guessed after everything she’d been through she’d give Wanda some leeway

“Why do you ask?”

“Just tell me?” She simply asked

“Whatever Y/n told you is the truth, she says she lied then she lied obviously, I don’t know anything” her reply was cold but she didn’t want to give away much and cause trouble

“Cut the bullshit Yelena you tell me the truth right now!” Yelena opened and closed her mouth a couple of times trying to rack her brain for something to say when a shot rang out and she found herself clutching her shoulder “I hate being shot at!” She jumped behind a wall and watched for Wanda who didn’t move

“Are you stupid Wanda?! Get down!” She tried reaching out for the woman to pull her down but Wanda just moved closer to where the bullets were coming from “what’s the point Yelena? If the threats fake they won’t hit me and if they’re real they will, either way I’ll find out the truth!”

Yelena couldn’t believe it, what the fuck was going on?? God she’s gonna have to save the suicidal idiot

“Fine!” Yelena jumped back up earning another shot in her side to push Wanda behind the couch hiding them both unfortunately she wasn’t as quick as she thought hearing Wanda yell out as she tackled her to the floor

“Did they get you in the arm?” Wanda nodded “yeah but I’m okay”

Yelena rolled her eyes “you won’t be if you keep ignoring me, now stay down or I swear to satan himself I’ll kill you slowly and painfully”

Wanda nodded keeping her mouth shut and closing her eyes to wait out the shots firing through the house.

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

“That was amazing, you’re so good” Sharon’s mumbling went unanswered as you put your clothes back and picked up your things to leave, but you weren’t a man so you did go back to Sharon and kissed her softly, tucking her into bed and getting her a glass of water “well done for being quiet, sleep well princess” you left with a final kiss to her lips, she’s good to be around when she doesn’t talk much

You left the house locking the door with the spare key and posted it back through the letterbox, you fished your phone from your pocket seeing missed calls and messages from Yelena

“Y/n I swear to whatever god is out there answer your damn phone, where r u??????”

“She’s feisty, she wants to see you and not in good way either!! She is mad at you for lying!”

“How does she know ur lying you ask?? She’s been shot at again and hit in the shoulder! Nat here now and cussing you out so get here!?!?!!”

You couldn’t finish reading instead running straight to the safe house, getting there you saw the doors open and Maria coming out with blooded bandages and your heart sank “Wanda?” You were out of breath and tired but you wouldn’t be able to take it if all that blood was hers

Maria saw your panicked face “no Y/n it’s okay she’s fine, this is mostly Yelena’s, her shoulder and side took a beating”

You hoped she was okay but you were so relieved Wanda wasn’t the most injured, you ran into the house seeing Nat attending to Yelena and Wanda in the other corner drinking a glass of water “Wanda, Wanda are you okay?? Is your arm okay??

Wanda didn’t look at you instead just looked straight on “you lied to me” she whispered

“What?”

“You lied to me Y/n” her voice didn’t waver “all you’ve done is lie, convincing me that there’s no one after me then Yelena gets shot in the shoulder, someone is out to get me and I don’t know why you tried to gaslight me and scare me like that”

You accepted what was happening and moved in front of Wanda making sure she looked at you “Wanda I’m sorry these last 24 hours have been very difficult, I just didn’t want the shooter to actually get you, he would’ve done Wanda if I wasn’t there”

“Doesn’t explain it Y/n we’ve never had a good relationship but I seriously can’t do this anymore, I’m going to the police and getting them to figure out who’s after me” she stood up removing the towel from her shoulders and walking off not bothering to look at you

Maria slapped you on the shoulder “go after her! If she goes to the police they’ll get you too, I’m pretty sure an assassin doesn’t get caught”

You weren’t even thinking about the police finding you, you just couldn’t believe you were losing Wanda “oh shit!” You ran after the woman leaving Maria to laugh “she’s an idiot”

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

“Wanda! Wanda wait!” You yelled after the woman in the streets like a creep, god if someone were to come up and punch you in the face for following someone at night you wouldn’t blame them honestly

“Wanda come on please!” She finally stopped and you nearly crashed into her but steadied yourself “what do you want?”

You took in a breath, god why were you out of breath? Maybe the hole in your side but you couldn’t be sure of course “you can’t go to the police”

“Oh yeah? Why not? Nervous that you won’t get your payment for killing me?” You were gobsmacked, you didn’t want to kill her that was the whole point! You’ve literally been trying to prevent that this whole time!

“Wanda if you go to the police and they start digging around they’ll find me and then I’ll get thrown in jail or given the electric chair” you took a hold of her hands and kissed them in your own “please let me take you somewhere away from here, I’ll keep you safe”

Wanda snatched her hands away and you knew you’d said something bad and instantly regretted it “keep me safe? You made me fear for my life! Both when you told me you’d been paid to kill me and when you claimed me as your own like a predator and their prey!”

You noticed a couple of people gathering near you guys and you just smiled at them “it’s okay everyone she’s a little drunk that’s all I promise we’re okay” you offered people your fakest smile and some accepted while others stayed watching

“Come on Wanda we’ll need to go home now okay?” You subtly grabbed Wanda and brought her into a hug kissing her forehead “she’s a lightweight” you laughed off dragging her away forcing a kiss to keep her quiet

When you both got further enough away your grip loosened on Wanda and she was quick to push you away and walk in front of you “Wanda I need you to listen”

“Get fucked Y/n”

“By you? Absolutely! But it’s not the time please just listen to me”

Wanda stomped to a stop and turned around crossing her arms at you “what”

You sighed “I’m sorry I lied we’ve been through this I know, it’s a stupid fucking excuse but I was trying to protect you and you know if you don’t want to talk to me? Fine! But you need to go to our bosses safe house its safer than Fort Knox”

Wanda didn’t move, didn’t even look or acknowledge you in any way so you dug around in your pocket for your bosses business cards and held out your hand for her to take the card “take it” she didn’t move

“Fucking take it Wanda and I’ll turn around right now and never see you again, just take it”

She gently reached her hand out and took the card carefully not to take your hand with it

“Good, goodbye Wanda” you turned around on your heel and walked off in the opposite direction, you did hear a weak attempt at your name but you refused to turn and kept walking, you’d go to the people who wanted her dead by your hands and use your hands to kill them, they’d regret the day they asked for your help.

[spnjediavenger]

It Won't Last Forever (Chapter 1)

Title: It Won’t Last Forever (Chapter 1)

Type: multi-chapter; father!Hotch x teen!daughter!reader, some bau x teen!reader (platonic!)

Warnings: canon-typical Criminal Minds sadness and/or violence, blood, light injury description

POSSIBLE TRIGGER WARNINGS: panic attack description, flashbacks, alludes to PTSD, family death

Spoilers: S5 SPOILERS

Notes: I changed the end of the episode a bit. Sorrynotsorry.

The panic attack and PTSD description is a mix of my own experience and some I read online - this is not how ALL panic attacks and PTSD are experienced.

Y/n/n is a general nickname, N/n is going to be a nickname only Spencer uses for Y/n

Information creds at the end; I took some info verbatim to use in some of Spencer’s info dumps

As always, love and/or constructive/friendly criticism is welcome and encouraged!

Word count: 3,169

“Sometimes the loudest cries for help are silent.” Harlan Coben

The scene the team walked into wasn’t quite what they expected it would be. Hell, it wasn't what Hotch expected it would be. Not in the end anyway. He expected the blood on the floor. Even on the walls. But he thought he would walk in and find Foyet and be part of the final fight. What he didn’t expect was to find his daughter slightly beaten standing in the bedroom with a gun in her hands and Foyet dead on the floor - a bullet hole dead center in his forehead. 

Hotch quickly went to check that Jack was ok and send him out of the house with JJ before coming back to see his daughter. 

Y//n heard his movement and spun on her heel, gun pointed at him, eyes wild and body shaking.

“Y/n, honey, it’s me. It’s dad,” he said, holding his hands up in a calming manner. 

“Daddy?” she whispered shakily, body still trembling. 

“That’s right, sweetheart. It’s ok now. I need you to drop the gun, honey.” Hotch had tears running down his face from grief and he couldn’t hide that right now. But he also needed to talk Y/n down, who was clearly in shock. 

The girl’s eyes flicked down to the weapon in her hands and she began to shake more. She looked back up at her dad. “I worked the case, too. I… I had to… I couldn’t let him hurt Jack too…” she trailed off as she turned her head to the ground and saw her mother’s lifeless body laying there. 

“I know, honey. It’s ok. But I need you to drop the gun now, ok? It’s all over.”

She looked down at the gun again, to Foyet’s body, then her dad and finally dropped the gun. Hotch was quick to kick it away and pull his daughter into his arms, glad she was safe. Her arms stayed at her sides and she stared straight ahead into the hallway. Hotch pulled back and tried to look into her eyes but they were devoid of anything. He called Morgan back into the room and asked him to take Y/n outside to have her looked at and informed him that she was in shock. Hotch walked over to Haley’s body and Morgan put an arm around Y/n’s shoulders to lead her to the ambulance outside. 

Each member of the team watched her, ready to offer comfort and condolences but Y/n just stared empty ahead. They looked at each other, concerned, but chalked it up to her being in shock. Some might think this day would be the eye of the storm. But the storm was just getting started. 

Hotch did his best to be there for his kids through losing Haley while not neglecting his own feelings and need to cope. Jack was so young that he didn’t fully understand what was going on; Y/n, though, should have been showing signs of coping. Or even just feeling. But she didn’t. For a teenager who just lost her mother, she was surprisingly calm. Hotch hadn’t seen her cry once since her death. And frankly, he was concerned. He tried approaching her and getting her to talk but she just kept telling him she was fine. She put on a happier façade around Jack but Hotch could see right through it. The rest of his team, when they would visit, noticed too. They were all worried. 

One Saturday, Hotch had to go into work. Jack was over at a friend’s house and would be sleeping over so that would leave Y/n by herself. 

He stopped by her room and tapped his knuckles on her door. A very quiet ‘come in’ sounded and he opened the door to find the girl sitting in the window seat staring outside, arms hugging her knees to her chest. 

“Hey, sweetheart. The team and I have to go into work. Do you want to come with me? Say hi to everyone? They all miss you. Might be a good idea to get out of the house for a bit with Jack at his friend’s,” he suggested.

Y/n let out a sigh through her nose and reluctantly nodded. She grabbed a hoodie and her mini backpack. Hotch held an arm out and she let him wrap it around her shoulders and lead her to the car. 

The ride to the BAU was quiet and uncomfortable. Well, it was uncomfortable for Hotch anyway. He spared glances at Y/n as she stared blankly out the window as they drove, no emotion to her features. 

As they entered the bullpen, all eyes looked up and smiles appeared on everyone’s faces. 

“Heeey! What’s happening Y/n/n?” Morgan said, getting up and opening his arms for a hug. Y/n returned the hug to a bare minimum and remained quiet. 

“Hey, how’s it going Y/n?” Emily was next, rocking her a bit as they hugged. The girl shrugged and let Spencer hug her next. 

“I think I found the perfect book for you to read next,” he said. Y/n forced a half smile and nodded. 

JJ came up next but decided against saying anything, noticing her reactions, or rather, lack thereof. 

“Oh my goodness gracious did I hear that baby Hotchner is here?!” Penelope’s voice rang through the room. She ran over and practically crushed Y/n in her arms. “Why did no one tell me our favorite Hotchner was coming?! Oh uh, no offense, sir,” she added, looking at her boss. 

He gave a small, humored smile. “Non taken.”

Penelope looked back to Y/n and frowned. “Oh my sweetness. What’s going on? Talk to Auntie Penny.”

“I’m fine,” she said quickly, then turned to her dad. “I’m gonna go to your office.”

“Alright, sweetheart.”

The team watched as she ascended the stairs, accepting a hug from Rossi as he came out of his own office, and shut herself in her dad’s. 

Morgan looked over to Hotch as Rossi came down. “She still isn’t saying anything?”

Hotch shook his head. 

“Have you tried taking her to therapy?” Rossi asked.

“She won’t even talk to me, Dave. Why would she talk to a stranger?”

“Because it’s not you. You should know that sometimes it’s hardest to open up to those you’re closest to.”

Hotch sighed. “I don’t think she’d take to the idea. She won’t even admit to anything being wrong.”

“Could she still be in shock?” Morgan offered.

“This far away from the trauma? It’s been a couple weeks - is that common?” JJ asked. 

“Typically, emotional shock lasts for minutes to days, but can last for weeks to months depending on the severity of the trauma. And considering there are multiple sources of trauma for Y/n that her mind is pulling from it’s actually not surprising that she’s still experiencing symptoms,” Reid came in with an info dump. 

“As much as I’m worried about Y/n, I’d like to get this case out of the way,” Hotch said, trying to change the subject. The others nodded slightly solemnly and got to work. 

A few hours into the visit, Y/n left her dad’s office to grab a snack. She passed the round table room and heard snippets of the team talking. 

“He may have the same mask but this man is nothing like Foyet.”

Y/n froze and almost tripped over her feet. Her breath caught in her throat and she shook her head to try and clear it. 

The movement caught Morgan’s attention and he tapped Hotch to stop his mention of Foyet. 

“You ok, kid?” Morgan called out to her. 

Snapping out of her thoughts, Y/n nodded. “Yeah, fine,” she said, and continued walking. The team shared looks but continued their work. 

Y/n bounced down the steps to the break room. She grabbed a glass from the counter and filled it with water and went to get a snack from one of the cabinets but the door was stuck. She groaned and gave a harder tug. With a bit too much momentum, the door flew open and the corner caught her under her eye. She gasped and dropped the glass, causing it to shatter on the ground. This caught the team’s attention from upstairs. 

The sting under her eye sent her back two weeks and suddenly Foyet was in front of her. 

“You weren’t the one I was figuring on fighting. But I’ll take it,” he smirked, punching her again. She fell to the ground, hands getting cut on the glass under her. But she didn’t notice. 

She kicked his knee, sending him to the ground with her. He grabbed his leg and she had the chance to get up. 

“Y/n.” That wasn’t Foyet’s voice. 

She grabbed the gun that had fallen out of her hands and pointed it at Foyet. He grabbed her legs and pulled them from under her. She gasped as her head hit the ground. 

Hotch tried grabbing Y/n’s flailing limbs to keep her from injuring herself further. He was trying to get through to her and get her to open her eyes but it was like she didn’t hear him. 

Y/n kicked her legs at him and landed one in the face. She took the moment to stand once more and shoot him square in the forehead. 

“Y/n!”

Y/n sucked in a deep breath as her eyes opened and she saw her father in front of her, his familiar grip on her wrists. 

“Daddy?” she whispered. Her body was shaking. 

Hotch swallowed the sob his body wanted to release at the familiarity of these events. “That’s right, sweetheart. It’s ok now.”

Y/n glanced around the room to remind herself where she was and saw blood on the ground. 

Haley’s body lay on the floor, blood seeping through her clothes from multiple gunshot wounds. She let out a broken gasp and moved away.

She jerked and tried to back away but Hotch kept his grip on her. She began hyperventilating. 

“Y/n, honey, everything is fine. That’s your blood, you cut your hands. You’re at the BAU.” He tried to keep his tone light but he was desperate to help his little girl. He didn’t know what to do.

“Hotch, maybe let me try?” Spencer spoke up. 

“She’s my daughter,” he defended. 

“Aaron, she needs someone who’s level-headed right now,” Rossi said. “Let the kid help.”

Hotch gave Spencer an apologetic look and nodded. Spencer hobbled over and carefully knelt down to Y/n’s level. 

“N/n, it’s Spencer,” he said gently. “I need you to look at me; can you do that, sweetheart?”

Y/n’s ears picked up on ‘N/n.’ Only one person ever called her that. Her wild eyes looked around until they landed on the youngest member of the BAU team. 

“Spencer,” she gasped, still hyperventilating. 

He smiled a bit. “That’s it. I need you to try and breathe for me ok? You’re having a panic attack. Can I help you move away from the glass?”

The girl nodded and Spencer guided her away and into a chair that Rossi had pulled out for her.

“Good job. Now, follow my breathing ok? Breath in for four, hold for four, let out for four.”

The girl nodded but as soon as she tried to take a deep breath, a sob came out making her practically choke on it. Hotch held a hand over his mouth and turned away, unable to stand seeing his daughter like this. 

Spencer rubbed Y/n’s back soothingly as she coughed. 

“Alright, that’s ok. Put your head between your knees instead. Putting your head below your heart will increase blood circulation to your brain and keep you from getting dizzy or passing-“

“Reid,” Morgan interrupted him, afraid his info dump would make things worse. 

“No,” Y/n whimpered. “Keep talking.” Listening to Reid talk was actually helping and giving her something else to focus on.

The boy nodded and kept guiding her actions as he continued talking, keeping a gentle tone instead of the usual teacher-like one his info dumps typically sported. “Morgan, grab some ice,” he said over his shoulder then turned back to Y/n. “Panic attacks are common for a number of psychological illnesses and can be connected to trauma. There are different types of attacks and I’m assuming this is situational-induced attack; these occur as a response to something specific and expected. They can happen in anticipation of a trigger or immediately after exposure to it. Triggers from traumatic events are quite common. Thanks, Morgan. Here, hold this. One way to stop panic attacks, especially when steadying your breathing is difficult, is to stimulate the senses. This works to interrupt the automatic reactions to the panic attack to snap the body out of the symptoms. Smelling something strong or holding ice are common methods and usually the most helpful. And one of the most important things to remember,” he added as he saw she finally began to relax, “is that while panic attacks may feel like they are never-ending, they usually peak within 10 minutes. It won’t last forever.”

“It won’t last forever,” she whispered after him. 

Spencer nodded and pushed some hair out of her face when she looked up. “It won’t last forever. You did great, N/n.”

The girl gave a small smile. It was the first real one Hotch had seen since before Haley died. He let out a relieved sigh and Rossi squeezed his shoulder. 

Spencer glanced at Hotch and looked back at Y/n. “Can you let your dad clean your hands and eye up, Y/n? Those need to be taken care of.”

The girl nodded and Spencer smiled and kissed her head as he stood to walk away. Hotch put a hand on his shoulder and gave a gentle squeeze. A silent ‘thank you.’ Spencer patted Hotch’s shoulder and left the room. 

Y/n’s eyes drooped a bit as tiredness overtook her. The panic attack had drained a lot of her energy. Hotch let her sit in silence as he tended to her wounds, not missing the flinch when he first touched her eye. But he wouldn’t bring it up now. He now knew he couldn’t wait for her to be comfortable talking but he would at least wait until she had more energy.

After wrapping her hands and cleaning her eye, Hotch took Y/n home. The team was just about done for the day anyway and the others told him that Y/n was his main priority right now. He thanked them and left.

It was around dinner time when they arrived home so Hotch suggested Y/n get changed into some comfy clothes and take a nap while he ordered takeout. She wordlessly nodded and went to her room. Hotch sighed and grabbed his phone to get working on dinner.

When the food came, Hotch and Y/n ate in silence save for the TV in the background. Y/n seemed to be a little less tired but Hotch could tell she had a lot of things running through her mind. 

Once they finished eating and the dishes were taken care of, Hotch approached Y/n before she could retreat to her room.

“Honey? Can we talk please?”

Y/n looked at her father and saw hope in his eyes. But almost in a pleading way. She weighed her options in her head but soon gave a resigned sigh and nodded. She took her dad’s outstretched hand and let him lead her to the couch. Y/n hugged her legs to her chest and Hotch brought a leg up so he could face her.

“Y/n…you don’t have to share anything you don’t want to…I don’t want you to be uncomfortable. But sweetheart, you have to let something out. Anything. I was going to let things go until you weren’t in shock but after today I don’t feel comfortable considering that luxury anymore. We’ve all been through a lot and you’re no exception. Keeping things bottled up isn’t healthy. As much as I hate to see you upset, it’s worried me that you haven’t cried once. Please just tell me something, honey. No one can help you if you don’t let us in.”

As Hotch talked, Y/n could feel the slightest sting begin behind her eyes. In all honesty - she was worried about her lack of emotion too. But she didn’t have it in her to say anything about it. It took too much energy.

She let out another sigh and looked down at her hands. “I haven’t said anything the past two weeks because I haven’t felt anything the past two weeks,” she said quietly. “It’s like my mind was a void. I put on a happy face for Jack because I know he needs me. But the rest of the time I just couldn’t be bothered. But today…”

Hotch watched her as her voice drifted off. “What happened today?” he asked gently.

Y/n took a shaky breath. “I heard someone say his name and I froze. I don’t know why. But I couldn’t move for a second. Then in the break room the stupid cabinet was stuck then it hit my eye when I tried jerking it open and all of a sudden I was back there. He was in front of me. It was like I was living it all over again.” At this point, her voice started shaking and tears were glossing over her eyes. “He had punched me when I threatened him and that’s what I think brought it on. It was in the same place the door hit. I could hear you calling my name sometimes but it sounded far away. But I saw everything again and I…I felt. I think it happened too fast the first time and my brain couldn’t catch up, b-but this time…this time it could.” She turned her red eyes up to her father’s, which were also beginning to redden. “I-I shot him, dad. I killed someone. And mom-” a cry escaped her lips and Hotch wasted no time in pulling her into his arms.

Ugly sobs forced their way out of Y/n’s lips as she clung to her father for dear life. Her fingers dug into his shoulders but right now he couldn’t care less.

“I couldn’t save her, daddy! I tried!”

Hotch started crying harder at seeing Y/n breaking down. “I know- I know you did, sweetheart. It’s ok. It wasn’t your job to. It’s not your fault.”

Y/n buried her face into his shoulder, soaking his shirt with tears and snot. They both wrapped their arms around each other tighter and cried. Hotch held her head with one hand while the other remained on her back, rubbing up and down. 

Nothing else was said. Right now, nothing else needed to be said. The Hotchner family had each other’s backs. They had a long road ahead of them, but they would get through it. Together.

Misty Copeland once said: “Be strong, be fearless, be beautiful. And believe that anything is possible when you have the right people there to support you.”

(Chapter 2) ->

Creds: how-to-stop-a-panic-attack-5202930

anxiety-101-how-stop-panic-attacks-their-tracks

[aloesarchives]

JJK Drabble #3

Head empty with no thoughts other than thinking about in my “Toji Lives” AU, Reader/you has only imagined a life with Toji and ONLY Toji. It’s to a point that you never seen a future without him or have one with anyone else that wasn’t him. Because if not, your life wouldn’t be like what it is now…which meant you wouldn’t have Megumi nor Tsumiki if you haven’t met Toji.

Anyway, someone randomly mentions how there’s a possibility that in an alternate universe/timeline you and Toji wouldn’t be in love, married, and have a family. Stabbing the knife in your heart even further by mentioning Toji might have another family with another woman with Megumi as their only child. Furthermore, not only isn’t Toji not your husband in another universe/time but he would have another life without you in it.

The thought of in another reality Toji isn’t with you, has another family which also means Megumi and Tsumiki are not your children…Fuck, it hurts you so much to think about such a concept.

What makes it worse is that reality IS POSSIBLE and CAN HAPPEN(referring to the canon timeline).

So now, you’ve become high-key depressed and heartbroken because you are now overthinking about the idea your little family isn’t yours. The more you imagine that prospect, the more your overthinking thoughts make your heart throb with pain as an icy chill washes over you. Numbing you to your current reality that THEY are your FAMILY in this universe/timeline. But your head was too focused and wrapped up that it’s slowly kills your happiness.

Literally everybody is worried about you because this is the most devastated they’ve seen you at all. Satoru and Suguru hunted down the idiot who thought it was a good idea to even say something or gave that idea to you. Everyone else is trying to cheer you up but you brush it and tell them not to worry, which makes them even more worried about you.

Tsumiki and Megumi were the most concerned because that’s their mama who’s so heartbroken and it hurts them to see you so down in the dumps like that. And knowing their mama, the only other person that could get to you that either of them is their one and only papa, Toji. So the kiddos tell Toji your heartbroken state and how worried they are even after trying to make you feel better.

Toji is literally the last resort hope. He goes and finds you, having a pre-occupied stare and looking extremely out of it. He doesn’t want to startle you so he comes up behind you with a gruff but soft “Hey Doll”. Placing his hands on your shoulder and back so you can face him. Rubbing them in a comforting manner.

“Hey, heard you weren’t feeling yourself today? You think you could tell me what’s got you so down?”

You don’t say anything, but the way your eyes start to water and your bottom lip trembling gave it away. Toji would have gently coaxed you on so he can understand what’s got you like this. Then suddenly, you wrapped your arms around Toji’s neck, pulling him into a tight hug. The man doesn’t questioned it and holds you tightly, knowing you need it because he can tell you weren’t ready to tell what’s wrong yet. For some time, Toji lets you hold him tightly because he knows it brings you comfort and eases your stress.

“Anata…Do you think in another life…We would still be together…?”

The way your voice teetered of uncertainty and softness, and that nickname used you for him… Now he has a general idea of what made you so heartbroken because “Anata” is a nickname only reserved for Toji when it’s only you and him alone and either both of you are vulnerable.

“I don’t know for certain, Hon. I’d hope so every time…But I do know is in this lifetime, I will always find you and love ya to the end of my days. An’ remember, Tsumiki and Megumi are here with us too. Your family is here with you, (Y/N). We love you, don’t forget that, please…”

And that was enough to break the spell that held your mind captive. You ease up, calming down, pulling away slightly from your dear, loving, handsome husband. Looking at him so fondly and with much love.

Toji SMILES back at you, cupping your face gently with his callous hand. Using his thumb to softly wipe away the stray tear that fell from your pretty eyes. Leaning into his hand, holding it with both your own. You relish in Toji’s strong but gentle hold, his warmth always brought you great solace in ways no one else can.

Everyone sighs in relief, knowing you’re in a better mood and returning back to your regular self. Especially Megumi and Tsumiki, there’s something about seeing you genuinely smile and looking at their dad with such tenderness they know is only reserved for Toji and him alone that makes them smile to themselves and sigh in relief. The two of them walk up to you and Toji to which you opened your arms out to your children. Tsumiki and Megumi will never deny a hug from you so they go in and you hugged them both tightly against you, kissing their foreheads while saying loving affirmations to your children.

Toji smiles at his family before joining in on the hug, wrapping his huge muscular strong arms around you three. Basking in your husband and kids warmth, you didn’t know why you hyper-focused on the ‘what ifs’ of possible realities when this one you were living in, with your husband and kids, is YOUR current reality. So why fuss over the others when you have this one which is the one you wanted.

If there’s a possibility for them to not be your family in other realities, wouldn’t that mean there are possibilities where they’ll be your family too in other realities/timelines/universes too?

Bonus: Toji asks Satoru and Suguru if he can join them in ganging up on the person who did this to you. Man wasn’t letting anything slide if you were put into a distressed and/or heartbroken state.

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Tags w/ links:

@luqueam @ploylulla @tqd4455 @wolywolymoley @captainbabybear @ravenswife

Tags w/o links:

@szillx @SleppyAnn @g0th1xac1d @kneelarhmstrung

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I literally wrote this on my phone late at night because it was keeping me wide awake lol. Sorry for the sloppy rushed formatting!

[e-dubbc11]

You’re Mine…I’m Yours

Photos are not mine. They are courtesy of Pinterest/Google.

Pairing: Billy Russo x F! Reader

Warnings: Some swear words, possessive behavior by both reader and Billy in a semi serious way and a playful manner, little violent, fluffy bunnies and unicorns, little bit of smut (18+ please or I’m telling on you)

Word Count: 3.9k-ish

Summary: You have a weekly outing with your co-workers. Billy doesn’t really like it. He doesn’t like other men looking at you especially when he’s not there to put a stop to it but tonight he decides to do a little bit of a checkup on you.

A/N: This one has been done for awhile, I’ve just been so busy I haven’t had a chance to put it out yet, I haven’t had a chance to do much lately so I’m sorry for being behind on my reading also but I digress. I hope you enjoy it! Oh and this will probably be my last fic until my 400 follower celebration is finished, plenty of time left to come say hi so please do! ♥️

As always, thank you for reading!  I appreciate it so much and comments, reblogs are welcome and encouraged. Don’t be shy to tell me your favorite part. 💕💕 💕

“Do you have to do these so often, baby?” He asked.

Your expression softened and you walked from the kitchen to the living room and sat down next to him on the couch. The suit jacket he wore to work was cascading off the back of the couch, he had rolled his dress shirt sleeves up to his elbows and he was holding the crystal glass with the dark amber liquid inside.

Billy tilted the glass back and forth, watching it glide from side to side when a stray piece of his ink colored hair dipped into his eyes.

“Do what, handsome?” You asked softly as you gently scratched his scalp with your fingernails. His onyx colored eyes fluttered closed as he lost himself under your loving touch. You moved the stray hair away from his eyes, those beautiful dark brown eyes that now gazed at you with a touch of sadness to them.

“Ya know, the work outing you guys do every week.” He said.

“It’s just a couple drinks after work with some co-workers, baby. And I still usually get home before you do anyway, Billy.” You stated. “Tell me the real reason you don’t really like me going out after work.”

He shifted his weight on the couch and set his drink down on the coffee table while you climbed into his lap and snaked your arms around his neck.

“I know you have trouble telling me stuff that bothers you, Billy but it’s just us here. You can tell me.” You said while gliding his striped tie in between your fingers.

The muscles in his shoulders stiffened as he brushed his beard with his long fingers.

“I don’t like…” He paused to think hard about what he wanted to say. “I just don’t like that I’m not there with you, ya know, to protect you.”

“Baby, what do you think is gonna happen to me? I’m with co-workers and friends.” You said with a smile, trying to make him feel at ease.

“Sweet girl, you are VERY beautiful. You think I don’t notice the way men look at you when we’re out? So I can only imagine how they look at you and act when I’m not around.” He said. The tone of his voice wasn’t angry but it was stern.

Billy’s worst fear was someone hurting you or taking you away from him. He often had nightmares about it so he was somewhat overprotective of you, jealous, and possessive, at times.

Not only did the nightmares scare him but they also scared you too because you didn’t always know what to do or how to help but you did your best. Billy said just you sleeping next to him helped him immensely.

Your presence helped to the point that he had them less often or they were less severe which he was so grateful for. So the thought of losing the one person that meant everything to him and that loved him even with all his faults to someone else, terrified him. He would do whatever he had to, to hold on to the most precious thing he’s ever had.

And Billy’s methods weren’t exactly conventional when it came to deterring the unwanted attention of men toward you, they were more like…unreasonable.

Most of the time he would notice before you did…a young frat boy staring at you from across the bar, a suit from Wall Street at the next table checking you out while out to dinner with clients, and even a couple of his own employees were fired because their gaze lingered just a little too long for Billy’s taste.

It was always just a quick glance at first, then a second time to confirm that they really were looking at you. With his long slender fingers wrapped around a beer bottle, a glass of bourbon, or a fork at dinner, his knuckles would start to show white the tighter he held on to them.

His dark chocolate colored eyes narrowed, and with a scorching glare he would size them up, stare them down until they either averted their eyes or doubled down, which Billy loved.

Like an evil cat, he prowled. Billy stalked his prey, he acted like a wild animal hunting for its food. He would wait until they went to the restroom or outside to smoke a cigarette and he’d growl in their ear “You look at my girl like that again and you’re gonna lose your two front teeth, do…you…understand?”

His lips curled back to reveal gnashed teeth and you knew they felt his hot breath against their ear, making the hair on the back of their neck stand at attention.

Billy never struck first. Sometimes they would make that mistake, especially if you were out at a bar together. He knew the rules, don’t hit first but you can defend yourself or in most cases, defend you.

And they’d always say the same thing to him, almost like they all gathered together at some point and agreed on the one phrase that would send Billy right over the edge. “Oh yeah? And what are you gonna do about it, pretty boy?” And try to force him backwards by pushing against his chest.

Big mistake.

Yes, Billy was incredibly handsome but he hated being called “pretty.” And only you and his best friend Frank knew why. It enraged him. That term made his eyes glow with savage fire and caused his voice to harden. “You have about 30 seconds before I mop the fuckin’ floor with you.”

He warned them but they’d never heed that warning and they had no idea what he was capable of. As the saying goes, they “fucked around and found out.”

“Where are you going tomorrow, sweet girl?” He asked.

You pondered for a minute, trying to remember the place you all agreed on and then it came to you. “Oh! Ocean’s 8 Billiards. It’s on Flatbush Ave. in Brooklyn.” You replied.

Billy had a surprised tone to his voice. “You’re goin’ to shoot pool? As in, you’ll be bent over a table where every man in there can check out your ass?”

“Billy!” You snapped.

The heat radiating off his chest could be felt through his shirt as his cheeks flamed with anger. His eyes darkened, his pupils were wide and unfocused as you tried to bring him back by brushing his beard with your thumbs and reassuring him that he had your heart and no one else.

“Billy, have I EVER given you any reason not to trust me?!” You asked.

His agile fingers wrapped around your neck and pulled you close to him. There was a touch of acid in his tone and when he spoke you could feel his warm breath against your eyelashes. “I don’t trust any man that’s not me…around you.”

“You can’t control who I talk to, Billy Russo!” Easing your body away from him, you tugged slightly on his hair, tilting his head back so he was looking up at you.

He gazed up at you with a smug smile on his face. “No, but I WILL control who talks to YOU.” He growled.

The guttural moan that escaped your lips was involuntary and it shouldn’t but it made you wet when he talked to you like that. Grinding down into his crotch, you could feel his cock hardening underneath as you started to loosen his tie and unbutton his shirt. It turned him on when you talked back, he loved the push back.

“Oh yeah? You think I like it when I see women throwing themselves at you? Waiting until I go to the ladies room so they can try and make a move.” You hissed in his ear, biting down gently on his earlobe, and feeling his length strain against his suit pants.

Biting down on his lower lip, his eyes traveled the length of your body and back up to meet your gaze once again while his hands extended underneath your t-shirt to brush the smooth skin in the middle of your back, along your spine.

Goosebumps erupted across your skin which caused your nipples to harden and Billy swiftly pulled your t-shirt over your head and threw it across the room.

“And I’ve never given them the time of day, have I.” He said, burying his face between your breasts, his tongue tracing the skin across your collarbone before biting down hard on the spot on your neck that made your vision go white.

“You better fuckin’ not, Mr. Russo because I…don’t…share!” You said against his mouth before his lips collided with yours. Billy’s kisses were all tongue and teeth as his hand unhooked your bra to have your bare breasts pressed firmly against his body. Calling him “Mr. Russo” made him absolutely feral and reassuring him that he was all yours caused him to snap.

You made quick work of his shirt and tie before he carried you off to bed. You lost that battle, the war will have to continue tomorrow.

**********

After work the following day, you met your co-workers at the pool hall for your usual once a week bitch fest and enjoyed a couple of beers in the process.

“…Yeah I don’t think they shut up the entire time they’re in the office and if you gonna have meetings on speakerphone, how about you go into a conference room?” You said to one of your cubemates, talking about the people in the cube next to you.

Leaning over the table to line up your shot, you could feel eyes staring at you coming from all directions from a group of guys a few tables over. After sinking the ball in the side pocket, your friend walked over while you were lining up your second shot.

“Those guys over there are staring at you, one guy in particular.” She said.

Your second shot was a miss.

“Ya know how you can FEEL someone staring at you? Yeah I can definitely feel it.” You replied.

While chalking up your cue, you took a sip of your beer and looked around nonchalantly, trying to not give that group of guys any sort of attention and keep your focus on your friends but it was starting to feel uncomfortable.

But out of the corner of your eye, you also noticed a tall slender man, wearing a dark blue suit, with raven colored hair and a well-groomed beard walking toward you.

Biting down on your lower lip to keep the smile from spreading across your face, you shook your head back and forth as he came closer, and smiled that perfect smile of his only for you.

“Freeze, soldier! This group activity is for government contractors only!” You shouted with a smile.

Billy pulled you into a firm embrace by the waist so you were flush with his body, looking down at you with his million dollar smile and love in his eyes, he planted a kiss on your lips.

Resting his hands on your hips, his tongue swiped across his bottom lip, probably tasting the beer that was on your tongue moments before he kissed you. The spicy scent of his cologne hovered in between your bodies as he placed a gentle kiss on your forehead and then cupped your cheeks to kiss you again.

Billy loved touching you in every way possible because it reiterated to him that you were real, you were right in front of him, and it comforted him.

Touch was his love language whether it was brushing your legs with his fingers while watching tv, holding your hand while he was driving, or keeping you close while you slept. You were his in every way and he would never let anyone put their hands on you.

“Ok, well what if I tell you that you look really pretty today? Can I stay?” He asked, flashing that perfect smile at you again.

That smile would be the death of you. How were you supposed to say no to him?

“Maybe…what are you doing here, Billy?” You asked as you set your pool cue down and folded your arms across your chest.

“Would you believe me if I said I was in the neighborhood?” He asked, as a devilish smirk stretched across his lips.

Narrowing your eyes at him you replied. “Uh, I think you’re full of shit, lieutenant so no, I don’t believe you.” Your voice dripped with sass, as you lightly poked him in the chest. “Are you spying on me?”

With a sly smile, he tilted his head up and quickly glanced at the ceiling, he knew he was caught and flicked his gaze back to you.

“Is it so wrong of me to not want another man to try and put his hands on you in a place like this?” He said, gritting his teeth and whispering in your ear.

You pressed your tongue to the roof of your mouth before telling him. “And what makes you think I would let another man put his hands on me, Billy?”

“Like I said last night, sweet girl. I can control who talks to you.” He said in that soft sexy voice of his. The words fell like warm honey from his lips and soaking your panties in the process. “You don’t know the vile things all these guys in here are thinking.”

“Oh and you do? Maybe you should add ‘mind reader’ to your list of special skills.” You said sarcastically with wide eyes.

He started to shake his head and press his lips together in a straight line before saying. “Always with that smart mouth, huh baby? Ya know I could think of a few other things you can do with that mouth of yours and talkin’ back to me ain’t one of them.” He hissed in your ear.

Smoothing his hair, you gently pulled down on the back of his neck so his ear was close to your mouth. “Stop turning me on in front of my co-workers, baby. I mean it.” You said as a sly smile tugged at the corners of your mouth.

Billy knew exactly what he was doing to you.

“Ever been fucked on a pool table before, princess?” He purred, his breath tickling the side of your neck.

You playfully smacked him on the shoulder and lightly shoved him away from you. This was bonding time for you and your co-workers, he can talk dirty to you at home.

“Alright, alright! Go get a beer, actually get me one too please and I’ll let you stay.” You said, giving him a wink as he turned and walked away toward the bar.

Continuing the game with your friends, you noticed one of the guys from the “frat pack” a few tables over started walking toward you while Billy was gone. Before you could stand up after sinking your shot, he “bumped into” you. His crotch grazed your ass as he did and then acted like it was an accident.

You turned around quickly, breathless with anger and a thread of warning in your voice. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?!!” You yelled.

He stood in front of you with a smug grin on his face, trying to act apologetic. “I am…SO sorry! I didn’t see you there but you are even prettier up close. I was watching you from a few tables over. How ‘bout I play the winner?” He said, looking at you and then at your friends.

You caught the strong scent of beer on his breath as he stood in front of you, trying to inch closer but you wouldn’t let him, and he tried to reach out to grab your hips but you backed away even further. In your peripheral, there he was, taking long strides to get to you as fast as he could and leaving the beer on the first table he passed.

Billy must not have seen when the stranger put his hands on you because he would have been laid flat out if he did. You didn’t hear him approach from behind but you felt him, you knew he was there however light on his feet he was.

It was almost like a sixth sense you had when it came to him and before you could say anything else to the rude stranger, Billy was standing in between you and the handsy frat boy.

Silently communicating with your friend that saw the whole thing, you shook your head at her basically telling her NOT to tell Billy that guy put his hands on you.

“What’s goin’ on here?” Billy asked, glaring at the stranger. “She’s taken.” He said, shielding you with his arm to stay in back of him.

The stranger moved from side to side trying to get a better look at you. “Well she hasn’t said anything about being taken, have you beautiful.” He said.

His compliment made you nauseous, your stomach immediately started churning, and you felt like you needed a shower after what can only be described as he was undressing you with his eyes.

“Well, I said she’s taken. Do you know what that means? Get…fuckin’…lost.” Said Billy.

The stranger stepped into Billy’s personal space and you waited for it. You waited for those words to be said because you knew they were coming.

“Oh yeah? Are you gonna make me…pretty boy?” He said in a wicked hissing whisper, giving Billy a slight shove to the chest.

The stranger kept poking, he kept provoking Billy into a fight but he wouldn’t budge. Never swing first. And he finally did, he took two swings at Billy which he dodged both of them, kicked him behind the knees and smashed his face into the wooden pool table which you were sure the entire pool hall heard.

It didn’t knock him out but it did knock him to the ground and the hit to the head probably gave him a concussion. With the frat boy writhing around in pain with a bloody nose and an egg starting to form on his forehead, Billy squatted down lower to the ground and with hell burning behind his dark eyes and acid in his tone said.

“Who’s pretty now?!!”

When the stranger took his first swing at Billy, you had moved out of the way, and while you were huddling with your co-workers, one of them said “Maybe it’s time to go?” Everyone cracked a smile and after he hit the ground, Billy walked away and over to you.

Everyone else was fine, except the guy who was prone on the floor with his face turned to the side. His friends rushed over and tried to help him stand up but you were sure he was seeing stars while employees of the pool hall asked them all to leave.

“Are you alright, baby? Is everyone ok?” He asked with concern in his voice. “Asshole, got blood on my shirt.”

“I’m fine, handsome.” You said as you turned to your friends to say “Same time next week, right?”

“Definitely!!!” Your cubemate exclaimed.

You said your goodbyes to your friends and told them that you would see them tomorrow and apologized for the extra action on their Wednesday night.

They all said the apology wasn’t necessary, they had a great time and even asked if Billy was available next week to be their bodyguard. He shyly turned away and you knew it was because he didn’t want everyone to see him blush.

Putting his jacket on, Billy turned toward you. “I can’t leave you alone for five minutes, can I?”

“Technically, my love, everything turned to shit when you showed up soooooooo.” You said with a coy smile.

“There’s that smart mouth again.” Billy said.

A few tables over, you noticed a group of women checking Billy out, batting their eyelashes, laughing and tucking their hair behind their ears while taking sips of their drinks.

“You have some admirers, soldier.” You huffed.

“I didn’t notice…but that’s because I belong to someone else. And she doesn’t like to share.” Billy said. He winked and smiled at you, pulling you in close. “Right, sweet girl?”

You snaked your arms around his neck and gently tickled the back of his neck with your nails. Goosebumps pricked his skin as you closed your eyes and pulled him toward you so you could rest your forehead against his.

Billy claimed your lips like he had so many times before, the butterflies in your stomach made your body shudder every single time.

“You’re all mine, Billy.” You said, tugging gently on his hair.

He looked down at you with his hypnotic brown eyes. “And you say I’m possessive.” He said.

“Well I guess we’re both a little uh…domineering, huh baby?” You said with a warm smile.

Billy chuckled. “That’s just a fancy way of saying we’re both a couple of jealous assholes.”

“Maybe it just means we really really love each other?” You said.

He shrugged and smiled. “Sure, baby. I like the sound of that better, anyway. I do really really love you, y/n.”

“I really really love you too, handsome.” You said as you placed your ear against his chest, forgetting all about every other person inside the pool hall.

Billy Russo was a marine, you wouldn’t know that by looking at him now in his designer suit, his $500 tie, and sterling silver monogrammed cufflinks.

Those were products of the hard work he put in, first as a marine and second as a CEO. He had been fighting off bullies for his entire life, even as a small child when he shouldn’t have had to.

He should have been protected and loved but neither of those things happened for him although it made him the strongest person you’ve ever known.

You finally understood why he was so overprotective, why he was so possessive of you and it was because no one had done that for him.

Every day that you told him you loved him, every time you smiled at him, every time you told him he was good enough, and that he was wanted, it helped to heal the broken little boy that was still inside.

The empty space in Billy’s chest that craved love was finally full and that was because of you. The lesson he was still trying to learn was that he didn’t have to hold on so tightly to keep you. You stayed with him because you wanted to, and the fear of abandonment he held close was slowly peeling away as you gained more and more of his trust.

Billy’s eyes shone like two pieces of onyx as he peered down at you, his intense brown eyes doing the smiling instead of his lips as he whispered in your ear. “Let’s go home, baby.”

You looked up at him through your long dark lashes and with a devilish grin on your face, you asked him. “Ok, my love. Did you come up with some other things I can do with my smart ass mouth?”

He let out a sharp exhale against your lips. “Oh I have a couple ideas, princess.”

Tag List: @mindidjarin @saintmurd0ck @wheresthesunshinesblog @rafaelakelley @idaoftheburningmind @snowkestrel @xdervyxccgh @mattmurdocksscars @fakehappy27 @music-indie-tv @fictional-hooman @kayhi808 @munsonownsmyass @gijos @celestialams @idek-what-to-put @anastasianeedstoread @ratsys @k-marzolf @nutmeg17 @rosaleenablack @vaguekayla @qu1etwolf @danzer8705

Others that might enjoy: @itwasthereaminuteago @fluffyprettykitty @jvanilly @russosafehaven @mrsbillyrusso @imagine-a-fictional-boyfriend

If you’d like to be added (or removed from) my tag list(s) for the ever so handsome Billy Russo, just let me know and thank you again for reading! 💕💕💕 If I tagged you but you didn’t want to be, just let me know and I’ll never do it again.

[synnamonroll666]

Soft & Squishy

Prompt 30: Nipple Play Pairing: Syzoth X Fem!Reader Description: Being Zaterran, Syzoth never got to see a human female's nipples before. It had him curious, and all these thoughts circulated through his mind for years: were they like his? Were they soft? Were they squishy? How did they taste? When he accidentally walks in on you naked one day, he finally gets answers to some of those questions... Warnings: Nipple Play, Breast Massage, Implied Sex... Word Count: 1k A/N: So we are finally making it to the end of this kinky journey! Even though tomorrow is technically the end of Kinktober, I will be taking a few days to finish the last prompt. I want to make sure it is absolutely perfect for the end of Kinktober 2023. 🤭 Also, I've seen some people getting really bent out of shape over people writing Syzoth as inexperienced when he had been married and fathered a child in the past. Can I just remind these people that in some fics where he is more innocent, the reader could very well be his late wife? If it is that big of a deal, it can be taken that way. But just remember, if you don't agree with something that someone is writing, just don't read it. There is no reason to get so aggravated and lash out at people over it. But anyway, I actually wrote this before Kinktober and for some reason, I saved it in my drafts until now. 😅 So I hope you all enjoy it. 💚 Main MasterList: 🖤 Kinktober MasterList: 🖤 Synny's Angels: @lorebite, @mornandil, @queenkhepri, @bihansthot, and @mmeerraa.

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"Woah—" Syzoth gasped as he stumbled backward and tore his eyes away from my naked body. A pine tint stained his cheeks instantly as he began muttering apology after apology. Though I was greatly embarrassed by the little accidental show I had put on, I merely chuckled at the situation.

"It's ok, Syzoth." I stated while wrapping a towel around my frame. "It was only an accident. You can look now."

He hesitantly let his eyes slip back to meet me again, and his shoulders sank as he heaved a relieved sigh. Rubbing his hands down his face in an attempt to hide the blush that was clear on his skin, he breathed one more apology before glancing back over at me and huffing a short laugh.

"I didn't mean to stare for so long," he proclaimed. "I just haven't seen a human female—" His words caught in his throat, and he began to glow with a deep blush once again. Swallowing thickly, he rearranged his sentence to an awkward, "You know..."

"You've... Never seen a human woman... Naked?" I asked hesitantly, and he nodded slowly in an almost embarrassed manner.

I realized that Syzoth did seem kind of curious about it, and I knew he would never hurt or disrespect me in any way. So I decided to let my guard down as well as my towel.

"Do you want to see it?" I sighed, and his eyes widened as he let out a very startled and shocked, "What?"

"A female body?" I elaborated; just saying the words had my heart pumping quicker with excitement and also anxiety.

He gave me an unsure look for a moment before nodding shyly. I took a deep breath for encouragement and slowly unwrapped my towel, letting it fall to my feet. Syzoth's eyes went wide as they took their time to move down my form, the dark pupils centered within the lime green irises studying all of its features.

I expected to feel embarrassed in this situation, but oddly, I felt comfortable under his curious gaze. His hands raised as if he had the intention of touching my breasts but then stopped half way, hovering in the air for a moment as he peered up at me with a questioning look in his orbs.

"Can I touch?" He asked as the flushed tint on his skin grew deeper. Then he began to ramble. "I've just never felt a human female's nipples before. They look so soft and squishy. And I want to see if they feel like mine—"

"Sure," I said casually, cutting off his rant. He looked dumbfounded by how open I was to this idea, but regardless, he followed through with his plan.

He placed his hands on my breasts and began carefully inspecting them with his touch. The feeling of his palms pressing into my nipples was quite pleasurable, and I had to bit my lip to stifle myself from showing any signs of it. After all, this was only a learning experience for him and nothing more.

He gazed down at my chest with a look of wonder in his eyes, like it was the most interesting thing he had ever seen. I found it quite comical since he appeared as a grown man who you'd suspect has had experience with at least one pair of breasts in the past.

"Heh, squishy—" he remarked while continuing to kneed the soft flesh in his grasp.

He seemed so entranced by my body at the moment. It was as if I were the most interesting thing he had ever set his bright green eyes on. I watched his hands fondle me gently for a few more minutes before looking back up to his face to see that the expression he held changed into something different... That immature innocence in his eyes was long gone and replaced with something different—something hungry.

"(Y/N)?" He spoke in a new tone that I had never heard from him before. It sounded many octaves lower than his usual one and had a certain roughness to it that sent shivers right down my spine.

"Yeah?" I answered through a shaky breath as I watched his features carefully. He began squeezing me a lot harder, and it seemed less like he was doing it to get to know me and more to make me feel a certain way.

"You're really pretty," he rasped as his body began to lean closer into my own. Soon after, it was pressing tightly against me, allowing me to feel all the muscles in his chest against my bare skin. "If you don't mind, I'd like to explore more of you right now."

His words sent heat coursing through my veins, up to plant color in my cheeks and down to ignite arousal within my core. I released another trembling breath, trying hard to keep my mind sharp and not let it float into a thought-blinding fog.

"Y-Yeah?" I responded just barely above a whisper. Luckily, not all the confidence and boldness got knocked from me, so I was able to make the next move as I wished. "T-Then, what are you waiting for?"

Smirking, Syzoth pressed his lips against mine. Later, I would find out that that was his first kiss with a human. And I would also discover that he had been intensely studying the gesture for months through movies that Johnny had shown him, with the intention of showing me the skills he had learned later on.

He could've fooled me, because when his tongue wiggled past my lips and into my mouth to tangle around my own, I was sent to the heavens. Sure, this man was inexperienced, but inexperience definitely does not mean that someone isn't born with the natural skill to make you feel just right. Syzoth proved this to me even more when he laid me down and showed me a night of true passion and ecstasy. It was like nothing I had ever felt before—it was magical.

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[cloudninetonine]

Angsty thought that’s been running through my head for a while now… Just player being a dumbass

•

It had been several weeks with the chain, you really loved this group, you watched them every day act like brothers. Always ready to protect a successor or predecessor, you found that awfully kind and even cute.

But you were an overthinker…

and stupid.

You did not want to be a reason they suffered when you returned home.

So you didn’t blend into the chain. You always walked behind, always kept your distance and always kept so quiet sometimes they forgot you were even there and forgot to give you dinner. You acted as if they were a bother.

And they returned the sentiment.

“Thanks” You muttered when Wild passed you a bowl of soup for dinner —you acted rude but you had manners— which he answered with a huff.

You were sitting on a rock outside the circle they gathered in around the fire. Wind was telling a story, which the others had already heard, but the teen’s enthusiasm made them feel like they could listen to it a thousand times more.

Honestly, you could too.

“Ugh, kid, don’t you think you talk too much? it’s like the third time you tell that exact story” It hurt you and you knew it would hurt Wind too. But this was just your life now.

“Shut up, you are not even listening.” Wars argued while Wind had your back facing you, but you knew was now lowering his head.

You huffed, acting annoyed. “Of course I’m not listening, it’s a dumb story, get over it”

“Why are you like this?!” Twi joined in, standing up, a hand on the sailor’s shoulder.

“So you’ll kick me away, that way I won’t be forced to stand you every day.” You begin sarcastically “As far as I know, you are keeping me here against my will just because you’re afraid some lizard may get information about you from me. That’s the dumbest reason I’ve ever heard!” Even if it happened, you’d take that information to the grave, you wouldn’t put them in such a risk.

“Enough! Twilight, sit down! Warriors calm yourself! [name] shut. the fuck. up. and Wind, please continue.” Time yelled before softening and encouraging the sailor. No one dared to point out the usual ‘Language!’ even he sometimes received.

“Nah, I guess you’ve indeed heard it a lot of times” came the sailor’s voice quietly.

You could feel the glare of the entire Spirit of Courage and the Fierce Deity on your neck as you huffed and went to lay down in the captain’s bedroll, not even finishing your meal, you didn’t deserve it.

You also didn’t feel like you deserved the bedroll but, until they could get you a bedroll of your own, they decided that you couldn’t sleep on the floor, so they let you sleep on the bedroll of the person who’ll take the first watch, and when they finish it, they can sleep in the empty bedroll when they wake the next hero up. So the warrior had first watch tonight. They didn’t like you, but they were still heroes and good people who didn’t wish bad on anyone.

You admired that of them. Another thing you didn’t deserve.

Later that night, you couldn’t sleep, but stayed in the bedroll as you tried to. You heard shuffling behind you and light footsteps head some direction.

“Hey wars.” You heard Wind’s murmur.

“Hey, li’l brother, can’t sleep?” answered the oldest.

There was silence for a few moments before you heard the youngest’s voice again. “Am I really that annoying?” The question was so quiet you almost didn’t hear it. Your heart shattered.

“No!” Warriors whisper-shouted “Your stories are amazing and… look, your enthusiasm makes them even better, I feel like I could hear them tons of times. Don’t listen to what that jealous jerk says” Okay, you deserved that.

“hm…” Was the only answer you heard.

“Speaking of, since you can’t sleep, why don’t you finish it for me?” The captain offered softly.

You listened the entire rest of the story (again. You liked it anyways), your heart squeezing even more as you heard Wind gradually speak more excitedly. Then you heard Wind go back to sleep and you let your own eyes fall shut finally on their own.

You apologized deeply. Only in your soul.

You let yourself finally fall asleep, trying to convince yourself that tomorrow would be another day.

•

I am so sorry, Wind 😿

(-Inspired for some reason, E.L.)

E.L WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS TO ME!? I AM IN PAIN PLEASE IT HURTS- MY POOR BABY BOY WIND AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

"Am I really that annoying?" HITTING TOO CLOSE TO HOME FR

[maximoffswriter]

Looks Can Be Deceiving.

warnings: slight mentions of self harm.

pairing/s: larissa weems x student!reader

genre: fluff/mild angst(?)

summary: reader is burnt out, and has been struggling with their mental health, and the only way they cope is by hurting themself.

disclaimer: this is written in omniscient point of view. ALSO THIS IS MY FIRST TIME WRITING IN SUCH PLATFORM AND ENGLISH ISN'T MY FIRST LANGUAGE SO PLEASE BARE WITH ME.

word count: 584

you do NOT have the permission to steal, copy, or repost this and claim my work as your own.

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

As a gifted student, y/n's parents expect a lot from them. Straight A's, perfect attendance, and perfect manners. They comply to all those. Well.. they try, but trying to be the best isn't enough. They thought they had to be the best, so did their parents.

Though burnt out, y/n still tries, harder and harder each day.

The principal soon noticed. The tiredness in their eyes that was always plastered with a smile. It wasn't easy to notice, as y/n was such a happy student... or so everyone thought. Their arms, which were usually covered with their sleeves, had scars. Some healed, some new. This is how y/n copes. They say the pain gives the comfort, and a break from the numbness they feel most of the time. "I deserve all the pain." they thought.

Every time someone asks how they're doing, they're response is always "I'm doing good" or "I'm doing amazing!", even when they're not. y/n is also the type of student who'd rather spend time at the library, studying, than eat lunch. This was their usual routine for lunch. Study, review, and read. "I don't deserve to eat anyways." were the words their mind repeats.

Back to present. y/n was speaking with Enid, when Principal Weems called them to their office, they bid goodbyes to Enid, and walked to the principal's door, and knocked. "Come in." Principal Weems' voice called from the inside. y/n opens the door, then enters. "You called me?" They asked, "Yes. I'd like to talk." Larissa's voice was stern yet soft. "Come sit here." She smiles. y/n walks up to the chair in front of the principal's desk, and sat, just as they were told. "What would you like to talk about, Ms. Weems?" They ask, playing with the rings on their fingers. "Well, we all know that you're one of the best students in Nevermore." She started, y/n's anxiety was through the roof, has she heard the false rumors about them sleeping with a teacher to get better grades? 

"I've noticed the look in your eyes, dear." They stare at her, puzzled. "Get some rest, okay? I'll take care of your teachers." She says, almost demanding. "I can't. My parents will be extremely disappointed. I appreciate your offer though." They smile. "Your parents? Are they forcing you to be the best?" She asks, worry laced in her voice. y/n did not know what to say, so they stayed quiet, tears welling up in their eyes, as they tremble. "Love, come here." the principal calls with open arms. y/n comes to Principal Weems, and hugs her, nearly breaking down. Unshed tears makes their eyes glimmer, as the light hits them. "You're safe with me, I'm here." Principal Weems say. With that, y/n crumbles. The tears that were threatening to fall, now do, rolling down their cheeks.

Heartbreaking sobs leave y/n's lips, as Larissa hugs them tighter. Her heart hurts more and more as the student shakes in her arms. "I-I'm sorry, you shouldn't see m-me like this.." y/n stutters, as they try to pull away from Larissa's arms, but Larissa held them tight, wanting to give them the comfort they need. "Shh, stay with me until you've calmed down, love." She shushes them down, and draws patterns on their back. "Principal Weems..." y/n mumbles against Larissa's shoulder. "Yes dear?" She says, voice soft. "P-please don't let go." Larissa smiles at this. "I won't, I'll hold you until you don't want me to anymore." She says, kissing the top of the students head.

[heliosthegriffin]

Shadow Knight and Magical Girls XIX

Ao3 link

Chapter 19

----

Yellow floated aimlessly across the sky, feeling tired and achy across her body, all from the new training regime Ms. Purple and her family had been putting on her and the rest of the Magical Girls. A couple weeks ago, she might have been angry, at the idea that they needed to improve, but recent events had shown her the what a blunder that thinking was.

Though, she felt somewhat cheated, held back by the way they taught her. Her dad and mom had been teaching her all her life, Uncle Qrow too, and Ms. Goodwitch was a ok teacher too, but they all lacked something in they're teaching her.

An energy signature then touched her senses, hidden as it was (Which was weird, as souls all had either lock or unlocked energy levels, so the fact his soul was managing to blend in was just strange.) Yellow had been improving her Soul Perception and managed to locate him.

Floating down gently, she called out in a calm, friendly manner. "Freeze, criminal scum!" Then ducked, as she felt a surge of aggression, a slug of metal flying over her head.

"Oh, it's you." He said tiredly. "What brings you over?"

Shadow Knight looked a little different tonight, Yellow thought. He was wearing a lot more metal, kinda like a actual Knight, well if a Knight also wore tactical gear on and underneath it, so more like a modern knight, than a geezer in a armor.

Now that she thought about it, Shadow Knight was a mouth full, she needed to give him a nickname. Something that wouldn't take all Knight. She giggled inside at the unintentional pun.

"Gee, is that anyway to greet your favorite flying friend?"

"Friends? I don't know about that, allies? Yes. Friends? I don't trust you that much."

Yellow floated down to the street, clutching her chest. "Oh, you wound me! You've had me pinned on the ground, struggling and panting, and you won't even say we're friends, Shady?" She said the nickname without thinking twice, not that it seemed to bother him, so she'd keep rolling with it.

He cocked his shotgun menacingly. "And, I'd do it again." Not following for her bait.

Yellow pouted, though, Shady wouldn't see it through her magic obstructing her form. "Pout as much as you like, but don't feel insulted. I'm not a good friend, so you're not missing out." Or so, she thought.

"How do you know I'm pouting?"

"Your body language makes it obvious, I can't see your face, but that doesn't mean I can't ready you."

"Woah, spooky." Yellow walked over to him, slightly spooked that he could do that, but also a bit impressed. "So, what are we doing tonight?"

"We? I'm taking down any Grimm I find, you should probably go find your friends," He looked at her harshly. "Property isn't going to damage itself."

She tried to clap his shoulder, but he nudged out of the way. "Come on, don't be that way! I'm trying to do better!"

"You nearly hit me with a fireball last time, I let you follow along."

"And, I said, I was sorry! How am I going to get better, if I got nobody who will treat me seriously and like an equal, but is also slightly afraid for their life, to help me?"

"I'd say more majorly afraid, but I see your point." He sighed, his voice muffled by some device in his helmet. "Alright, we'll do this again, tonight, but if you blow me up, I'm calling it quits for good."

Yellow felt herself fuss a bit, worried about keeping her side of the bargain. "Deal."

Shady nodded his head, and Yellow realized he was listening to someone else. "We got Grimm about a mile north of here." He took off at a dead sprint that frankly surprised her at how fast he moved.

Still, Yellow is a Magical Girl and catching up to him was child's play. "So, what kind of Grimm? How are we going to clobber them?"

Without breaking stride or taking a breath. "Unclear, but what we're doing is limiting as much damage as possible, and making sure not to hurt anybody."

"Well, duh."

"I'm saying this for your benefit, not mine, I can't shoot fireballs out of my palms."

"Ok, fair."

"Here's what going to happen, I'll distract them, and if they're are any civilians in trouble, you'll get them out."

"Shouldn't I run distraction? Why you get them out?"

"I tend to be a bit surprising to see the first time I walk up to somebody. You? You're a bit more inspiring to see, and a Grimm existing a couple extra seconds is a small price to pay for someone's life."

Yellow slowed for a second, stunned at the the sincerity of his words. "Woah, aren't you selfless?" She still couldn't help snarking a bit.

Shady laughed for a second, catching Yellow by surprise. "No. I'm as greedy as they come, It's just looks selfless. Devious, right?"

Yellow chuckled a bit. Yeah, no way someone could do this entirely pro bono, right? Even, though her gut wasn't convinced.

They arrived on the scene, with only a three pack of beowolves for company. Three low-level Grimm, nothing to Yellow, but a decent challenge for Shady, especially with no civilians nearby. The Pack were crawling around the entrance to an alleyway, sniffing around, eyes glowing in the dark.

Without missing a beat, at a speed that Yellow wouldn't have been able to follow without her Aura and Magic, Shady unslung his shotgun, still running and blasted the mask off a Beowolf. He fired twice more, and the Grimm fell over headless.

This caught the attention of the two other Beowolves who charged at him, Yellow put her hands out ready to blast them into oblivion, but held back her fire at the last moment as Shady was still fighting. Letting her for the first time really watch him fight. In her day to day-life Yellow did boxing for fun and sport, her dad did it and her uncle did MMA, so she knew what skill looked like. She had some herself and had won many medals over the years in the girl's circuit around Vale.

Shady completely outclassed her. His movements were efficient and practically, while still retaining a sort of coolness and awe that for a seconds at a time completely absorbed her into watching him. Her parents and family, they had the same skill, but they lacked the grace he moved with, the utter control he had over the fight.

It was like he was dancing with the Beowolves, the Grimm completely stuck under his tune as he moved. In the almost the same movement, he had shouldered his shotgun, while taking out his ax and shield. The Grimm swung it's claws at him, but it might as well have read him a script of how it was going to try and kill him, because he read it a mile away.

Shield interposed, the claws slid off it's surface, not even leaving a mark, and left the arm open. The ax came from the side, serving the arm at what would be the elbow, then came the back-swing, and the other arm was gone too. The Grimm lost balance, as the other crashed in behind it, the two balling on the street, as Shady put distance between himself and the ball of Grimm.

Yellow realized it was her turn, as he looked at her and nodded, then dove behind a corner. He wanted her to destroy them, but not cause any collateral damage. Hmm, how was she going to do this? The Beowolve's were starting to get untangled, but she couldn't just douse them with fire.

Then Yellow thought for a moment, she need to concentrate her fire, wait, concentrate fire. She shorted. Making a finger gun, and using her other arm as support. Yellow pulled for her magic, letting it build up at her fingertip, but instead of letting it burn out like a flamethrower, she condensed it, like a bullet, holding it in her mind.

She smirked at the tangled Grimm. "Bang!" A yellow bullet of sunlight was shot at the Grimm, lighting up the street for a brief second and making Yellow look away. Then came a loud pop, and when she looked back, all that was left of the Grimm were a greasy black stain, and some burn marks on the ground.

Shady looked at the stain, then back to her. "Good job." Yellow preened. But, before she could say anything, he held up a finger, nodding his head. "We got more, you ready?"

Yellow nodded. Ready to pop some more Grimm.

----

Ren was practically dragged down the hallway by Nora, scratch that, he was being dragged. "Nora, I need to change." He pleaded with her, he had just got done with sparring practice for today, and he really needed to clean up.

"Not now Renny! I got to show you something~!" Nora exclaimed excitedly.

Ren resigned himself to his fate. He had the better part of a decade of mixed martial arts training, several feather-weight medals, and he was still powerless before Nora. Though, to be fair, Jaune was weighed more than both of them combined, and he still stepped lightly around they're diminutive forever-friend.

Nora dragged him to a nondescript door, and he dreaded for a moment what was behind it. Nora had a horrible talent for finding things he wish he never saw. Like his parents in the buff, or Jaune's parent's in the buff, or they're middle-school principle with the science teacher in-

"Woah." Ren said. Nora opened the door, and it was full of Shadow Knight pictures and paraphernalia. With the rare videos that existed of him playing on a screen. Jaune was also in there, sleeping at the table, while a Rabbit Faunus drank from a cup humming lightly.

Then stopped, turning red, seeing that she had visitors. "Hu-Hello!" She said nervously, her ears twitching quickly. Nora quickly becoming enthralled by the sight, but Ren was stronger willed.

"Sorry to bother you," He bowed.

"No- no, no problem! All are welcome in the Unofficial Shadow Knight Appreciation Club! Are you here to look around, exchange information, or maybe, possibly, you want to join?" She asked timidly.

"YES!" Nora cheered, as she zoomed around the room oohing and ahing at the displays.

Ren shook his head. "I'm afraid, I'm just here to look around."

"Perfectly fine, no problem at all!" She shook her head, ear's bobbing, Ren started feeling his very will be attacked by the sudden motion, but held strong. He had seen Nora dress up as a unicorn, this was nothing to him.

Ren looked at his male best friend, sleeping like a log and twice as still, which was to anyone else, might have been more than a little concerning. But, even though, Jaune had changed alot over the last year, he still was a deep a sleeper as ever.

Ren chuckled aloud, as he remembered their first sleepover, shortly after they first met. When his mother came to wake them up the next morning she about had a heart-attack seeing Jaune sleep like the dead, only for the blonde boy to get up like nothing was the matter.

It had taken some convincing to his mother to let him sleep over again.

Walking around the room, Ren studied the pictures of the Knight. He wasn't a big fan, but he had nothing against him either. He watched a video of the Shadow Knight fighting five men at once, nodding in approvement. Though, the Knights fighting style left a lot of openings, he noticed, but given he was wearing armor, it wasn't too much a issue to him.

Ren took a seat next to Jaune, having seen enough, even though, Nora was still taking it all in. The Faunus jumped as he sat down though, surprised for some reason.

"I'm sorry, but have I seen you before?" She asked politely.

Ren thought about that for a moment, then remembered when he had forced into drag. "No. Just your imagination." It wasn't the first time he was put into drag, it had happened at the Arc house too, over the last several years. He might have broken in and burn the pictures, if Jaune hadn't done it himself. The more that Lily Ren was known the more powerful she became. But, the less it was remembered, the better.

"But, I could have sworn-," She stopped herself, shrinking in on herself, under Ren's unyielding stare. "Sorry!" Ren undid his stare.

"You probably just saw me around the school, is all."

"Yeah... Must have been that." She sounded unsure of that, but she didn't press the issue. "Thank you for coming to my club." She said a moment later. "I don't get many visitors."

"A shame, your display is very nice." Ren really meant it too, her collection was very impressive, especially considering how niche her topic was.

Her ear's perked up. "Thank you," Her smile was bright. "It's my passion project, and I wouldn't want it to do it any injustice! The Shadow Knight is such a ... Inspiration."

Ren smiled a bit. "I wish you good fortune," He turned to his sleeping friend. "What's your relationship with Jaune?"

She blushed. "Relationship? I wouldn't say that we're in a relationship," She noticed the look on Ren's face. "Oh, he helped me, help get my purse back, the poor crook never had a chance."

Ren felt a surge of pride, and then pity for the crook, when they were younger he and Jaune used to spar for fun. Boy's being boys, except even when they were younger Jaune had a lot of natural strength, so to put it simply, Ren had gotten on a first name basis with the ER staff.

Now, that he had taken advantage of that, training that strength and bulking up? Ren almost paled at the thought. If the man wasn't dead, he'd probably wish he was.

"So, I invited him for tea as thank you, and he's been taking naps in here during free time. Not that I mind! I enjoy his company, and he always there to listen, and-"

Ren nodded. "I get it," He looked at Nora staring at a blurry photo of the Knight being tossed by a explosion. "He's a good listener."

"Yeah, I am," Jaune mumbled groggily, getting up. He stared at Ren. "When did you get here?"

"Oh! They just got here." The faunus chimed in. "One of them would said they'd like to join, too!"

Jaune seemed bothered by that fact, looking at Ren, then Nora, then sighing. "That's nice, Velvet." He looked at his scroll, and swore. "I got to get going."

"Wait!" Velvet called to him as he was getting up. "I was wondering, if, maybe, you were free this weekend?"

"Yeah, I am." Jaune said, without missing a beat. Not seeing the implication she was putting down. Before then turning around and walking toward the door.

Ah, the infamous Arc denseness, Ren thought, he had only heard of it in legends and tome.

"Wait!" Velvet called out, rabbit ears twitching. "There's a historical exhibit at the Vale Exhibits, I was wondering if you wanted to come?"

Jaune paused at the door, hand on the door-knob. "I-"

"We'd love to go!" Nora said. "It'll be a great friends day out!"

"Nora,-" Jaune began, but was shot down by a look from Nora.

"Come on, silly bones! When was the last time we hung out as friends!" She appeared behind Velvet. "Do you really, want to leave this cutie by herself, you monster!?"

Jaune looked to Ren, eyes pleading.

Ren smiled gently. "I mean, you're not a monster, right?

Jaune slumped slightly. "No, not entirely."

------

Black and White floated calmly across the night sky.

"So, still rich?"

"Yes, why would that change?"

"Maybe, your father finally grew a consciousness."

"About as likely as Yellow learning self-control."

"That's actually possible, though."

White snorted. "Maybe."

Then down on the ground, a odd sight appeared before them. The Shadow Knight was running, chasing after some small girl carrying a parasol.

White smirked. "Finally! We can bring this ruffian into justice!"

Black looked at her. "Who says ruffian, anymore?"

"Quiet! We must pursue them!"

Black was hesitant though, something was off about this situation, but followed after White anyway.

Despite how fast they could move, the two evaded they're pursuit. Black's sense of unease growing. "White, somethings off."

White slowed down, then stopped. "I think you're right,"

They're pursuit had lead them to the Musuem, the girl with the parasol waiting in front coyly, the Knight nowhere to be seen. Gone like a ghost.

White called down to her, while Black stared at the Museum.

"You, girl! Where is the man that was following you?"

She battered her lashes innocently, twirling her parasol, before pointing at herself.

"Yes! You, please answer our inquire."

She shrugged in a carefree manner.

"You are being very unhelpful, I'd appreciate it if you were to communicate with us."

She shook her head, getting up and walking away, with a skip in her step.

White narrowed her eyes, pointed her finger at the concrete, and create a wall of ice to trap her for questioning. Instead, the girl skated forward up the wall effortlessly, waving at the two, clearly amused.

Then disappeared, skating straight up into the air. Her Soul's signature going with her. White looked at Black. "Did that really happen? Or am I experiencing psychosis?"

"No, it happened."

"Then why do you sound so calm?"

"Because, I have something bigger to worry about."

"Which is?"

"Look at the Museum, look for traces of magic."

"Fine." White did so, looking at where the girl was first, noticing a faint, quickly fading trail of magic. Well, that proved that, she was something unnatural. "That girl was using Magic, Black!"

"Yeah, uh, just look at the museum."

"Alright, but I can't see what is ... so ... important. Black. Please tell me, I'm experiencing, psychosis. I'd really appreciate it, right now."

"Sorry, but we're both still sane. Or mostly sane."

"And, the Museum is lit up with enough magical power to flatten the city."

"Growing, it's still growing."

"Oh. That's bad, that's very bad. We need to get in there now!"

Black shook her head. "Bad idea, this amount of power? We go in, and we might set it off by accident, we need to investigate this, calmly and carefully. I think we still have time, too. It's power is growing, but it looks stable."

White grimaced. "I suppose, but it looks like we have a week at best, before whatever power this is activates."

"Then, we get in there this weekend, all of us, and investigate." Black said with finality. "Unless, we want Vale to be decimated by eldritch power?"

"No, I do not want that. I have investments here."

"Really? What kind?"

White thought for a moment. "It's a charity."

Black smiled. "That's nice."

"I also own several franchise through the city."

"Ok, richy-witchy."

White shrugged. "If the shoe fits, lets go find the others, they need to know."

Black nodded, and they took off.

At the same time a man with Grimm mask stalked shadows around the building, accompanied by a several beowolves, as he eyed the building. "Soon, payday, is so soon."

He looked up at where his mother slept in the sky, her pale face slowly slipping into darknes. She was waning, and soon, it would be a new moon, and his power would be at it's greatest, at least for a night, with no cursed lighted weakening him and his pets.

But, until then, he'd have to wait for payday, and make do with little jobs.

Then he turned around, stalking back into the city, looking for more treasures for himself.

Across the City, the short-woman with the parasol watched as The Shadow Knight and Yellow fought a group of Grimm, only for Yellow to stop.

"I gotta go," She said hastily, feeling the approach of her fellow magical girls. Yellow didn't want to get Shady involved with them right, now. Especially, considering the last time he met all of them at once. "I'll see you later!" Then took off.

The Shadow Knight gave her a wave as she left, then jerked his head, to make eye-contact with the Imp from last week. "What do you want?"

She smiled harmlessly, pointing at herself.

"You've been following me for awhile now, and I don't like that."

Parasol nodded, a smile on her face.

"I'm not some show for you to watch."

Parasol gave a patronizing smile, spreading her arms out in carefree manner. Then she ducked, as a slug ripped into the concrete next to her. She seemed shocked by the sudden violence, his barrel pointed at her.

He spread his arms out carelessly. "Oh? Did that bother you? It's just a game, you know? Nothing to worry about."

Parasol looking more amused than before, she gave him a shining white smile, with teeth that were too perfect to be human, blue him a kiss, before disappearing.

Shadow Knight sighed. "Why, do I know, this isn't the last time I'll have to deal with her?"

------

Omake Two: Giant (Arc) Dad

At the Arc Catacombs, Jaune crawled bloody, near-death, but not beaten. He pulled himself down the cold stone stairs, a trail of dark blood behind him, he pulled too hard, throwing himself down the steps in a mess of limbs. He hit the ground hard.

Around him, spectral faces looked at him, as the Oldest walked towards him, her flaming skull looking at him with pity. "I need strength," He breathed raggedly.

The Oldest nodded, and he floated behind her, into a dark room within.

Outside, forces of Villains and Grimm waited for the Knight to return, so they could end him once and for all.

Then they heard it, the clank of armor, and the sound dub-step blaring from the tomb. Fear began to consume them, as the bronze mask of Father stared back at them from the darkness, he stepped out of the darkness.

He wore heavy, stone plate armor, that was so old it appeared green from the moss that grew on it. The plates themselves easily several inches think, it was beyond any rational thought any mortal man could wear such armor, as he moved light as feather.

In his right hand was oversized sword, known as a zweihander, holding it aloft with ease, glowing with chaotic flames.

On his back was light sheild that glowed with a faint green power, that flowed into his back.

He stopped moving, holding his arms out to the world as if to say, 'well, what is it?' Then asked a dreadful sentence. "What rings you got bitch?"

The gather foes fled for their lives, even the Grimm, as the sound of dub-step increased, and he swung his Zweihander, saying, "Fire up the base-cannon!"

There were no survivors.

[tetsunabouquet]

Heir To The Lands Chapter 42

The Wrong Instincts Masterpost

Dru looked at him, before looking around her at the empty path just to be sure. She didn't knew what to say. Ash had saved her, seemed to have taken a liking to her when they first met and had called a truce between him and Kit. But he was also working together with the Princes of Hell and had left Jaime to rot in prison. Yet Dru couldn't help but feel like she should trust him, like there was something good in him. "What are you doing here?" She asked, deciding to cut straight to the point. He slauntered over to a tree strunk, which seemed to morph into a throne as he approached it. He sat down on it, his wings seeming to retract into his back from slits within the beautiful suit he wore. "I was just checking after wether you returned safely. It seems the First Heir is gathering troups now." Ash drawled, trying not to sound too interested in how much they knew of his plans. Dru tried not to swallow at the revelation he had been spying on them, and probably for a long time. She wondered if he was the reason why they knew Kit had fled to England. "I have returned safely, didn't knew you were stalking Kit though." Dru retorted as she crossed her arms. "Ah… Kit." Ash tried out the name, having only really paid attention to the boy's last name. "You know, you'd think a prince would have been taught better manners," she remarked as she studied the way he seemed to try and impress her with his demeanor and magical abilities. "So you find my manners to be lacking, how amusing. Did you not break into my room the first time we met?" "You probably know by now that was a magical accident." Dru clarified, not wanting to make him feel like he was special, something that seemed to go against her instincts that were praising Ash for saving her that day. "I assumed it was, but still, you shouldn't have been toying with magic like that. How did you fall into the realms of Faerie though? I always wondered about that." "A magical object-" Dru cut herself off, realizing she was giving his information he was clearly fishing for. Yet, her instincts were telling her it was okay, that she should trust him with the information, that it was useless and that they would find out anyways. It felt wrong, to doubt her instincts yet Dru knew she had to. Kit, her brother and everyone could be in danger if she wasn't careful. Ash looked at her as if he were a little disapointed with her reaction, a little hurt that she would refuse to trust him. A tiny sparrow fluttered closer to Ash and seemed to cosy up to his shoulder resting on his treetrunk throne, almost as if to console him. "You know, you could just surrender before things are too late. I am certain your aunt Clary would love to have a bond with you." Dru tried, and noticed he perked up. He pursed his lips in thought, before saying, "Well, I think I will get to know my aunt regardless of whoever wins." Dru suddenly felt a little bit chilly, and she knew it wasn't the English weather which for a change wasn't gloomy or rainy, or both. "But don't you want to meet her when no one is fighting and she is meeting you with peace in her heart?" Ash hardened before her and stood up. "She'll be peaceful enough. It's not like any harm would ever come to her." Dru shook her head, "If you think a world were the Princes of Hell will rule will be a world with millions suffering for it, will bring her peace, or your grandmother, or any of us that could be your friends if you just choose any differently, then you're dead wrong." Ash wandered over to her with his hard green eyes that looked so like Clary's and yet entirely different. "I can make you peaceful." He said and Dru could feel it. Could feel his magical charm make her thoughts go soft, her body at ease. He could keep people at peace like this, obedient like this… Dru's mind snapped as a mundane bicycling with a babbling baby wedged in a seat at the front towards them allowed her to see how dangerous the effect was getting to her and she grabbed her grocery bag before running off in the woman's direction, off to Devon.

[sea-side-scribbles]

Solas wakes up in the strange new world of his own making and it terrifies him. Ridden with guilt, he joins the Inquisition and begins his lonely research in order to correct his mistake.

He doesn’t expect to find consolation in the presence of a human who wields ancient elven magic without knowing it. Who is way too gentle for an elgar’thanelan, but doesn’t know that either.

Solas, for his part, doesn’t know how to stay away.

Dorian wonders if the mysterious elf just enjoys playing with a Tevinter. He wouldn’t expect anything else.

_____________________

Chapter 1- 13 | Right after uthenera, Solas is found by a Dalish clan. This goes well until it doesn’t. (Basically my excuse for world building and hilarious misunderstandings.)

Chapter 14 | Solas joins the Inquisition.

Chapter 20 | Dorian appears in Haven.

After waking up with a hangover, followed by fussing around with potions and other measures, it seemed like everything went back to normal. No quarrelling with Solas, no disgusted looks out of squinted eyes, no awkward tension and no pressure on Dorian to impress or avoid disappointment.

Actually, the preferred outcome after all they've been through.

Solas visited him again that day, sooner than expected, seeking him out in the Chantry for this purpose alone. This time, he was all calm and mellow, taking one humble step backwards after approaching him in the polite manner of Ferelden that Dorian hadn't witnessed to be directed at himself until then. He acted all courteously, but never in a submissive way, with his hands behind his straightened back. His expression became mildly confused when Dorian floundered, trying to make up for his terrible behaviour the last time they met in the Chantry, gesturing and stuttering nice nonsense. If anyone had watched them, rumours would've spread about the Tevinter fawning upon an elf. Not that it would've helped his reputation.

In the end, Solas had come to tell him that the required Lyrium supply had finally arrived. Apparently, the apostate now combed Haven giving everyone instructions for the ritual that would close the Breach. He was all but soft and friendly as he told Dorian how to channel his magic through the mark on Ellana's hand, with no comments on the Circles' lacking education in that regard. Dorian felt even tempted to pass a comment on his own, but luckily managed to stop himself.

Solas' thoughts revolved around the mark, anyway, and the Herald herself. There was all that responsibility on her shoulders and it made complete sense for Solas to focus on her. Because of that, their conversation was kept short.

Admittedly, also because Dorian had been out of things to say. He could've asked Solas to smile at him more, but that would've been ridiculous.

He could've said something about being excited to finally see the Breach for himself. Or scared, depending on what he'd expect to happen the moment they meddled with it. But to be fair, Solas handled the matter well, giving everyone the impression that he had it under control. And thus, people trusted him. Him, the strange apostate that came out of nowhere to save their ungrateful asses.

Dorian had to admit to himself that he was still struck by Solas. And he couldn't help the wistfulness settling in his chest.

It didn't feel good to be right.

To have known all along that it had been nothing but an accident. As much as he could've blamed Solas for losing control – and it did hurt, even thought he'd never admit it – he blamed himself even more, for giving in to the temptation. There had been everything wrong with this situation, any fool would've seen that. His better judgement should've told him to resist, to excuse himself, get the blighted sleeping potion and go back to bed. But no...he had acted like an imbecile and lied to himself. Again. About an elf even, as a Tevinter. There was no way there would ever be more than polite tolerance between them.

He even pitied Solas, for having been surrendered to a Tevinter. No wonder he had been uptight the entire time. No wonder it had looked like the Tevinter did this to him, since he would've never entertained the idea himself.

And now, Dorian was left to lick his wounds. To pity himself for having been involved in this, when all he wanted was to help the Inquisition. But his self-pity didn't win over his self-loathing, and in the back of his head a thought took hold: He deserved this.

On the faithful day, when the Inquisition's inner circle travelled to the Breach, along with Cullen's troops, Leliana's rogues and Fiona's mages, Dorian's mind was elsewhere. His vital position right next to Ellana, who needed all the support and optimism he could give, kept him within earshot of Solas, who, undoubtedly, was the most important ally in this moment. Ellana hung on his every word, drilling him with questions about the mark, the veil and the fade. All topics Solas was glad to help with.

Dorian shot glances at the two elves whenever he could handle the sight. They surely had a lot to talk about, having a lot in common, more than their ears. Dalish or not. And granted, they looked good together His stomach cramped when Solas wove a few elvhen words into his explanations and she answered in kind. Trawling through his own memories, he found a few elvhen phrases, hastily scribbled down when he had been Alexius' apprentice. After a thorough debate with himself, he gloomily concluded it wasn't worth the effort. Redundant at best, offensive at worst.

When they entered the ruined temple, where the walls grew like teeth biting into the air, he regretted refusing Solas' invitation. The apostate, having proceeded to answering Cassandra Pentaghast's questions, had been right. There was no time to fully satisfy his curiosity now. The Breach wasn't stable and could collapse any moment. Its humming began to press against his ears with a force that unsettled him. So close to it, even the ashes seemed to whisper. Sadly, the clanking of armour plates and boots on stone made it difficult to listen.

Eventually, Cassandra left to speak to the troops and Dorian saw his chance. Quickening his pace, he noticed to his embarrassment that he was out of breath when he reached Solas. The elf's eyes widened a little. Dorian dared to assume that he worried about him. “Are you alright, Dorian?” Dorian's heart skipped a beat. Perhaps his assumption was right. He attempted to say with nothing but professional curiosity: “Splendid, splendid! This is a terribly interesting place. I believe I can hear the ashes whisper.” His voice cracked a little at the end, but after all, he was exhausted.

“Memories leak into this place...”, Solas confirmed without hesitation. “And they are many. Every soul in the conclave left its imprint in the fade. This is what you hear...” He sounded calm and a little dreamy as if they were witnessing the beauty of a sunset. The phenomenon didn't trouble him at all. “So if we would listen to all these voices, we would reconstruct what happened here.” Dorian's excitement for this place came back. Solas regarded him with a - pitiful? - smile. Dorian puffed his chest, convinced that his suggestion had been very helpful. “Memories are easily muddied, just like the events described in history books”, Solas explained carefully. “They contain some truth, but reason and sense are required to extract it.” Dorian opened his arms. “And there you have both, reason and sense, at your service, embellished with dazzling beauty. Could you ask for more?”

Idiot, he thought right after, with his heart pounding in his throat. Solas never approved of coquetry.

This time, however, the elf's smile didn't fade. It shifted to one side, as if preparing a witty remark. Dorian couldn't get enough of his smirking, slightly narrowed eyes.

But their magical moment was ruined by Grand Enchanter Fiona, who called for Solas, and he, sadly, complied promptly. Dorian frowned at her, unnoticed. Who did she think he was? Some kind of elven servant? His asserted reason answered a moment later. She needed him, just like everyone else, mages and soldiers as well, needed him now. If not the Herald, who they silently prayed to as she walked ahead of the procession, a glowing symbol of hope. Dorian sighed and yielded to his fate.

During the ritual, he did as he was told by the booming voice of Solas, who took the leash out of Cullen's and Fiona's hands as if he was used to do that. Perhaps he got encouraged by the silent outcry of all the mages who focused on him anyway. Dorian felt the pull of the mark itself when Ellana directed it at the Breach. A force that was able to channel all this energy...he still wondered how Solas contained it in her hand.

As the Breach finally closed with an eruption, the recoil knocked everyone onto their backs, including Dorian who coughed and cussed in Tevene with his mouth full of ash. But then it was over. No demons appeared, no curse came upon them, almost disappointingly so. The first silent cheers developed into a roar of hundreds of voices, people clapping backs and hugging each other, with the Herald in the middle beaming at Cassandra.

“Is it done?”, The Lady Seeker turned to Solas, her stern face betraying worry and fatigue. For weeks now, she had delved deeper into the matters of the fade than she had ever wished to. To her, it was nothing but the realm of demons, unpredictable and deadly. Solas eyed the sky. The clouds still swirled around a shade of green where the sky had been torn open. “A scar remains but it will heal over time”, he confirmed with a faint nod. “The Breach is sealed.” She closed her eyes. Her lids twitched like the corners of her mouth. “Thank the Maker!”

That was all there was to say.

While the people celebrated in Haven, Solas kept to himself, his mood not quite so solemn. The veil was sealed once again and although he welcomed not having to worry about more demon outbreaks, the ritual had left a bitter taste in his mouth. The fade had been so close, almost within reach. Now, this accomplishment was undone and the hope of ever opening again lay behind an obstacle that posed a danger even for his agents. It lurked out there somewhere, hidden from him even in the fade. Today's victory was only a tiny step on the long way ahead and only he knew what this young organisation was up against. Amidst their laughter, he considered to leave them. To find another way.

The Herald had done all she could as she closed the Breach. She would never gain control over the power that ate into her hand. Never understand it.

As he watched these people dance and sing, he realized he'd remember them – their courage, their faith, their laughter. His heart sank as he sighed out a heavy breath.

From among the crowd, a man caught his attention, chatting and joking around with the others. His white robe made him easy to recognise. Solas had to smile when he saw him, out of relief and with a sense of melancholy. Now he knew that he had terribly misjudged the Tevinter all this time. With his behaviour, he had humiliated himself more than anyone else. His hands clasped his staff tighter as he thought about it.

But it seemed that the scars were healing now. Pavus looked happier, finally able to apply himself to the people he belonged to. Solas kept his distance and it seemed to work. He would remove as much of himself from Pavus' life as possible. The man would never know the truth, but it was better this way. Solas would leave no open wounds departing from Haven. He tensed when he noticed that Pavus made his way through the crowd into his direction.

Dorian didn't exactly think this through. It was only that his eyes had met Solas' and the elf had granted him yet another overwhelming smile. He just wasn't used to a smiling Solas yet. He looked so genuine. And so very inviting. It only made sense to be curious. To want more. More friendly conversations, of course. Nobody else occupied Solas for now, so he thought he better took the chance as long as it lasted. Motivating himself like this, he went up the stairs to test the waters.

Standing in front of Solas, his mood dropped a few levels. Now from up close, his smile looked rather stiff. Did he misjudge the situation again? But there was no way out anymore. With the most appealing expression he himself could manage, he handed Solas the mug of mead he had snatched for him. “I saw you empty handed and I thought – why keeping your throat dry on an evening like this?” Solas' slim fingers curled around the mug. Dorian of course didn't stare, but noticed. The hands of a mage. Curious, how an apostate living in the wilds managed to keep his hands so...tender. He probably solved most issues with magic, that he had also mastered somehow without proper education by a Circle.

Solas' heart fluttered at the gesture. Not because of it alone, it certainly meant nothing. Handing out drinks at a party in a courtesy way, that was just what people did. But because of what he knew about Pavus. The Tevinter cared about people. It was perfectly possible that he would look after the well-being of others, even an elf. He worried about the Herald. Him and Sera got along well, too. For some curious reason, he made no difference between elves and humans and it seemed to come effortlessly.

“This is the third time you provide me with a drink, Dorian Pavus. Are you really from Tevinter or is this your pick-up line?” The words were out before he could stop himself. But Pavus lightened up. “I don't believe it would work very well on elves”, he quipped. Solas couldn't help eyeing the twirls of his moustache that were lifted by his smirk. “I did not say it would be a good idea.” Both of them began to chuckle. Solas was out of words already, thinking that they amused themselves over an inside joke and nobody dared to say out loud. “But to satisfy your curiosity, I am from Tevinter, born in Quarinus, before it was renamed Ventus”, Dorian rescued him from his own embarrassment, implying a bow. “The coastal city?”, Solas blurted out. “You must terribly miss the ocean then.”

“Well...” Before Dorian could ramble on about how he actually despised the ocean, especially on a ship, or ask why an elven apostate knew a city that no Fereldan had ever heard about, he was interrupted by a ring of bells. The music stopped and Commander Cullen's voice rose above all the others. Solas and Dorian both hurried to see what was going on.

[greywolfheirs]

Send me Malkolai prompts!

@scorpiomindfuck Hi yes hello, I apologize for the delay and for the fact that this is 2k unbeta'd words I whipped up in an evening. I've been dying to write but life has been hectic. Anyway, I loved your prompt and I hope you like what I did with it. I love YOU forever for the prompt <3 (to my other prompters...I'm working on it)

***

It was an odd decision, Mal thought, for he and Alina to realize their feelings were simply love towards a friend nearly immediately after an adrenaline and power-filled kiss post-hunt. In the end, though, they both (awkwardly) admitted hoping for someone else to kiss in that moment. The difficult thing for Mal was that his desire was for one of the witnesses of that kiss. At least Alina’s crush wouldn’t be confused with sudden flirting.

Not to say that Sturmhond was showing any sign of confusion—the captain took it in stride. The problem was, he seemed to interpret it as their regular banter. Or was their regular banter just flirting all along? Mal dismissed that idea. Sturmhond had refused to learn Mal’s name when they’d started bantering—no way his new approval was flirting—he just considered them friends. Which, they were, except that Mal suddenly had an increasing desire to kiss his friend, which was getting harder to ignore by the second.

Now, as Mal watched the captain order the Hummingbird around, he couldn’t help but linger on the way his golden locks shimmered in the air, or how dashing they looked being rustled by the squaller’s wind.

“You should go talk to him.” Mal startled at Alina’s sudden appearance at his side. Yes he knew where she was at all times, but it got a little fuzzy at close distance. He certainly hadn’t been distracted.

“And say what?” Mal asked, feigning calm. “He doesn’t need a compliment. His ego’s already too big.”

“Perhaps a compliment from you would be different.”

Mal gave her an incredulous look but Alina simply shrugged. Well, that and she nudged him slightly closer to the approaching captain. Oh, Saints, the captain was approaching.

“I’ve just been informed that the Fold is nearing,” Sturmhond announced. He looked over his shoulder at the ever increasing darkness. “As I’m sure you can see. Destiny is in sight.”

He said that last part with a nod to Alina, who nodded back and said, “I’d better prepare.”

Before either man could respond, she began to walk to the other end of the Hummingbird. Mal knew she had nothing to prepare, but he couldn’t show his frustrations without revealing why he was frustrated.

“I wasn’t aware she needed practice,” Sturmhond mused.

“Well, she probably has to get used to the new extra power…or something.”

Stormhund hummed. “Suppose that leaves you and I to make our own preparations.”

“Which are…?”

Grinning as widely as ever, Stormhund pulled out a flask. Mal desperately hoped his slightly darker skin tone hid the blush at the ensuing wink. Still, he managed to shoot back a grin of his own and shake his head.

“Are you sure you don’t want a clear head entering the Fold?” he asked.

“I’m sure that I’ll need some liquid courage to get through this encounter,” Sturmhond said breezily. He knocked back a drink before offering it to Mal. “I’m also sure my already courageous friend doesn’t need more but it can’t hurt can it?”

Mal hesitated only for a second before taking the flask from him. Before taking his own sip, he shot back, “Your friend needs all the help he can get.” He nearly choked on his sip, throat burning all the way down. “Saints, what do you have in there?”

Sturmhond laughed. “You think I’d drink anything less than the best? You truly don’t know me, Malyen Oretsev.”

Mal handed back the flask before casually yet carefully asking, “And what if I’d like to?”

Sturmhond paused, both their hands still brushing. “Get to know me?” he swallowed in an uncharacteristically unsure manner. “I’m not sure you’d like what you find.”

“Can’t hurt to try, right?” Mal asked. He hoped he wasn’t imagining the smile curling on Sturmhond’s lips.

Before he could respond fully, there was a shout from Tamar. The fold was upon them.

One crash later, and Mal was watching Alina throw a punch at Prince Nikolai Lantsov, formerly known as Captain Sturmhond. Honestly, he was surprised it wasn’t his own punch. This pirate—privateer—had simply been an illusion. All this time he’d been a prince playacting like a child. The only reason Alina had gotten to him first was because Mall had too many warring emotions in his head swirling around fast enough to make him feel sick.

He’d been flirting with a prince of Ravka.

Mal processed all of this silently as Alina negotiated her way out of her own anger by talking to the prince. Angry as they both were, they did still need an audience with the king, and what better way to get there than through his son? Wrapped up in these thoughts as he was, Mal didn’t notice the negotiations end as Alina rode ahead.

“I did warn you,” Sturmhond—no, Nikolai—said suddenly.

Mal kept his expression and tone neutral as he replied, “That you were a prince?”

“That you may not like me once you get to know me,” Nikolai corrected.

“Apparently, everything I have known is a lie,” Mal said icily. “So, really, I don’t know you at all.”

“Sturmhond wasn’t a lie,” Nikolai countered. “He was a dream of what could be.”

“Lies we tell ourselves are still lies,” Mal shot back.

Nikolai sighed. “Look, I don’t intend any harm to come to either of you. You can trust me as much as you trusted Sturmhond.”

Mal finally turned to face Nikolai as he replied, “I never fully trusted Sturmhond. He seemed like he was hiding something.”

Mal sometimes hated how his life had turned out. True, he wouldn’t trade his friendship with Alina for anything, but honestly did it have to be one crisis after another? Soon after their arrival to the palace, Nikolai announced the darkling’s return, and Mal wished that were weighing on his mind more than the discussion that happened after. Mal’s best friend being proposed to—even politically—by his…by Nikolai? It just wasn’t fair, his lot in life.

“Marriage!” Alina scoffed after Nikolai left. “Like I’m just some pawn.”

“I’m surprised you didn’t break his nose,” Mal managed to joke. It went poorly.

“I’m surprised you didn’t!” Alina exclaimed. “I don’t understand how you seem to be taking this better than I am, when—”

“When what?” Mal scoffed. “Just because I fell for a mask doesn’t mean I like the face underneath.”

Alina gave him a look. “And what if Prince Nikolai is the real mask?”

Mal shook his head. “Still doesn’t matter. He’s a prince, I’m an orphan, and we’ve got worse things to worry about.”

“Mal,” Alina insisted. “This won’t be our lives forever. And even if it is, promise me you’ll try to find happiness for yourself.”

“I’ve found it,” Mal said, taking Alina’s hand and swinging it gently. “You’re my best friend, and that makes me happy.”

But Alina wasn’t taking no for an answer. “Then promise me you’ll find more.”

Mal sighed. “I promise.”

Later that night, Mal was in his new quarters, stewing. He’d stayed to watch the engagement announcement but excused himself immediately after. Admitting why he was frustrated just made Mal angrier. He’d somehow placed his happiness in a prince of Ravka and the impossible dream that maybe this could all be over eventually. Mal wasn’t sure which one was more ridiculous, yet here he was stuck trying to keep an impossible promise.

Taking a deep breath, and forcing a mask of calm so he could return to the festivities, Mal walked over to the door—only to find Nikolai Lantsov, his hand raised to knock.

“Oh, er, hi,” the prince laughed, his dashing smile on full display as Mal stepped aside to let him in. “Alina said you might be here.”

“Shouldn’t you be out there doing whatever it is princes do?” Mal asked, genuinely confused.

“Yes, well, part of that is strengthening alliances,” Nikolai said. He cleared his throat and sat down in a chair. “And ensuring those alliances…still exist.”

“Nervousness is not something I expected of you,” Mal said with a badly suppressed grin. Instead of sitting down, he crossed his arms.

Nikolai huffed. “Mal, please, I just wanted to talk to you. I’m truly sorry for lying to you, but it was for—”

“The people you love, yeah Alina told me,” Mal agreed.

“Then you also know that I truly want to have an alliance,” Nikolai pressed. “More than that, though. I want to get to know you, Mal.”

Mal sucked in a surprised breath at that. Here was Prince Nikolai practically begging to be friends with an orphan. Promise me you’ll find happiness for yourself.

Mal let out his breath and began speaking before he really knew what he was going to say. “I haven’t really had the happiest life. Sure, Alina was almost always there for me, and I can’t say there haven’t been some truly incredible things I’ve experienced. Overall, though? Could be a lot better.”

Nikolai was enraptured, but Mal felt like he needed to sit down. The weight of his next words were like a physical presence.

“Being at sea was the happiest I’ve ever been. I never knew life could be so rich yet full of peace at the same time. Part of that was the sea itself. Another part was the crew. But the biggest part was Captain Sturmhond. I’ve never been more jealous of a man in my life. Not only leading the life he lived, but doing it with more charisma than I could ever imagine. At least I thought it was jealousy. After the Sea Whip, I realized what it was. I was falling for Sturmhond.”

Nikolai blinked and sat up straighter at that, but Mal put a hand up. He wasn’t finished.

“The thought of being with a man like him—living that life together—that made me feel excitement like no other. But just when I started to think it could happen, Prince Nikolai pulled the plug on that hope. It’s not that I hate you. I don’t think I can even be angry at you. I just can’t look at you without seeing everything that I’ll never have again.”

“I didn’t realize,” Nikolai said, standing with sudden emotion. “Alina—?”

“Is a friend,” Mal answered. “We realized it pretty quickly after the Sea Whip.”

“Then, Mal,” Nikolai began, stepping cautiously towards Mal. He didn’t back away. “You should know how much I wish Sturmhond could be who I truly am. I love Ravka, yes, but the freedom I had on that ship was like no other. If I didn’t feel an obligation to help my country, I wouldn’t have sought out the Sun Summoner. If I’d known what she and her friend were really like I’d never have done what I’d done. But by the time I knew that, it was too late.”

Nikolai reached out to take Mal’s hand. For his part, Mal couldn’t speak what with his heart in his throat as it was.

“I’ve never met anyone like you, Mal. You have to know that your feelings were returned. Are returned, if they still exist. I know my station may prove difficult for a relationship, but I’d like to try. Alina may be my fiancé but I need you to know that it’s you who has my heart.”

Promise me you’ll find happiness for yourself. “You talk to much,” Mal whispered around his heart.

Nikolai’s returning nervous grin was still just as dashing. “Speak for yourself.”

Except Mal couldn’t because his mouth was busy pressing itself against Nikolai’s. He should have known a prince’s lips would be soft, but Mal wasn’t used to palace life. He would make sure to never get used to it, if it meant he felt this way all the time. Nikolai’s lips against his lit a fire in Mal that contrasted the peace of Sturmhond’s sea, yet gave him the same excitement. The same peace. The same hope.

When they pulled apart to breath, Mal lost himself in the blue of Nikolai’s eyes. That is, until the prick spoke.

“Seriously, that was the most I’ve ever heard you speak,” he teased.

“Shut up and kiss me again,” Mal breathed. He surged forward before Nikolai could reply, but that was alright. He felt like there would be more opportunities in the future.  

[aidanchaser]

Song fic based around The Butterfly Effect by FJØRA

Read on Ao3

Read Chapter One: Verse One on tumblr here. Read Chapter Two: Chorus on tumblr here. Read Chapter Three: Chorus (2) on tumblr here. Read Chapter 4: Verse 2 on tumblr here Read Chapter 5: Chorus (3) on tumblr here Read Chapter 6: Chorus (4) on tumblr here

Chapter 7: creature of the new below the cut

When Adrien wakes, the first thing he thinks is that it doesn’t hurt to move.

you’re free now you The dream is already fading. Rapidly, the memory of his body falling apart under the weight broken magic and his mother’s edge-of-death state become nebulous and impossible to articulate. He thinks perhaps he ought to write the dream down to try to make sense of it, but even that thought evaporates as he tugs on his shoes. The things that linger are his memory of pain with every step, even if he quickly forgets why, and of a young woman who he was wholly in love with, even if he can’t quite remember her name.

His father’s voice calls from the kitchen a loud warning that he’s nearly late for school and Adrien hurries down stairs.

As he hurries into the kitchen where his parents are, the grief from his dream rears its head in his chest. He smiles at them, unsure how to put into words how glad he is to see them when he doesn’t quite have words to explain why.

“You know,” his mother says, “you don’t have to go to school. You’re already very nearly late. Just stay home with me today.”

But Adrien does have to go to school. Nathalie had fought hard for him to be granted this freedom. Almost as hard as she had fought against the sickness that had slowly overtaken her.

He goes to school for himself, but to honor Nathalie, in a way. She’d always been the person holding the gate to freedom open whenever his parents tried to keep him close. He’d never quite appreciated just how much she had done for him until she was gone.

Adrien shovels a stack of pancakes into his mouth as his mother tuts at his manners. His father warns him that he’s about to drip syrup on his shirt—heaven forbid he stain his father’s brand—and hastily wipes Adrien’s chin with a napkin, like he’s a toddler who can’t keep his own nose clean.

Adrien can’t get out of the house fast enough. He loves them, truly, and in a way he’s grateful for his terrible dream to remind him how much they matter to him, but he also needs his own space.

He grabs his schoolbag and kisses his parents goodbye. He notices, as he turns to go, their hands curled around their coffee mugs and their wedding rings glinting in the morning sunlight.

But he can’t remember why that’s so important.

you shed the old the empty When Adrien arrives at school, he hurries into the courtyard in search of the girl from his dream. He doesn’t even know if he’ll recognize her, but he hopes he will. Surely she’s real if she appeared in his dream.

His eyes linger on a girl with long dark hair, but as she turns, he sees the purple streak and recognizes Juleka. She’s too tall anyway; the girl in his dream was shorter.

He’s so intent on his search, he doesn’t even see Chloé until it’s too late. She has her arms around his shoulders and is planting a kiss on each cheek before he has time to steady himself.

“Good morning to you too,” he says.

“You were almost late today,” she says.

“Sorry—got stuck in a weird dream and couldn’t wake up for a minute.” He remembers, quite suddenly, and automatically says aloud, “You were the black cat superhero in my dream.”

Chloé tips her head back and laughs. “Was I a very sexy cat superhero?” She purses her lips and twirls a finger through his hair.

He pulls away and starts to climb the stairs to their class. “I can’t really remember,” he says. Because he doesn’t remember any other details about Chloé, but he remembers quite suddenly that the girl he loved in his dream was also the ladybug superhero.

He holds the door to their class open for Chloé and takes his usual seat next to Nino. Nino lifts his fist in greeting, but doesn’t take his eyes off of the back of the head in front of him—Alya Césaire.

“Are you going to talk to her today?” Adrien asks, and grins as Nino’s ears darken.

“Shut up, dude,” Nino grumbles and pulls out his notes. He tears his eyes away from Alya and glances at Adrien, who is entering “Ladybug superhero” into a search engine. “Are you into Scarabella now?”

But Adrien’s heart sinks as he skims through the pictures of Scarabella. She isn’t the hero from his dream, and he doesn’t see anything about a superhero named Ladybug. Was she really just from his imagination? Created from some sort of longing or pining he wasn’t even aware of in his waking life?

“I had a dream that Chloé had the Black Cat miraculous,” Adrien says, and Nino chokes.

“Chloé as a superhero? That sounds more like a nightmare.”

And Nino’s not wrong; there were a lot of parts of his dream that were more nightmarish than dream, but being in love had felt so real and so wonderful. He wants to believe that the girl in his dream is a real person, that something in his dream mattered.

But no one in their class makes him feel the way Nino must as he stares at Alya’s red curls and fidgets with the ring on his finger.

Adrien sighs and takes out his own notes as Mme Bustier begins class. The seat beside Alya’s remains empty, and Adrien can’t explain why that hurts.

you know what to do Nino snatches his tablet on their way to lunch before Adrien can put it into his bag. He grins as he runs out of the classroom, forcing Adrien to chase him.

It feels good to run. Adrien doesn’t know why it feels so good, like he hasn’t done it in years, but he laughs as he chases Nino down the stairs, apologizing as he slides past Alya, who rolls her eyes. He thinks he hears her mutter, “Boys,” under her breath.

He follows Nino down the street and is surprised when Nino turns a different corner, away from Adrien’s house. If they don’t take lunch in the cafeteria, they’ll usually go to Adrien’s place—his parents prefer him to take lunch at home as often as possible—so this break from routine surprises Adrien.

“Where are we going?”

“I heard Alya talking about this bakery with Mylene,” Nino says, slowing down to a walk. “I want to try it.”

Adrien snatches his tablet from Nino’s hand as they cross the street and the gold lettering of the boulangerie and patisserie on the corner comes into view. Adrien’s heart pound. Anticipation builds in his chest like his body knows something is about to happen even if his mind doesn’t.

Nino pushes open the door and the shop bell jingles.

Adrien sees the girl behind the counter and his heart stops.

you creature of the new She glances up as the bell rings and hastily closes her phone, but not before Adrien sees what was on her screen.

She was looking up pictures of him.

Nino is already perusing the display, but Adrien and the girl at the counter are still staring at each other, and Adrien’s dream spirals out before him. He remembers all of it. He remembers the pain in his body, the desperation as he used and abused a pair of magical gifts, and he remembers how much he loved Marinette Dupain-Cheng.

He shakes his head as he approaches. Surely he didn’t just psychically link to this girl in his dreams last night. Perhaps he had filled her name into his memory after seeing it on her name tag just now, and he had used the shop name to guess her last name. He’s rewriting his dream as he goes about his day; his dream couldn’t have had any basis in reality.

But he does notice, since her hair is pulled back into a bun, that her ears are pierced.

“Hi,” he says as he approaches the counter.

Her cheeks are bright pink and she stammers, “H-help—I mean—Hello! What can you do for me—I mean—How can I help you?”

He doesn’t know what to say. He doesn’t know if he wants to prove his dream true or false. If something in it was real, if everything about this girl is what he dreamed, does that mean the nightmarish parts are true, too?

“Could I have a pastry?” he asks, failing to put anything in his head into real words.

“Of course,” she says, and blinks at him. “Um—what kind of pastry?”

Adrien doesn’t know. Can’t think of a single name of any pastry ever created. Instead, he blurts out, perhaps desperate to be denied, “Did you design the bakery uniforms?”

She looks down at the pink apron she’s wearing, with the ruffles on the sleeves, the neat bow on the waist, and the intertwined “T” and “S” in gold lettering, surrounded by wheat leaves.

“Oh—It’s just a hobby,” she says. “I’m sure it’s nothing compared to what your father does—I mean—You—You are Adrien Agreste, right?”

He swallows and nods. “And you’re… Marinette Dupain-Cheng?” He flinches even as he asks it, realizing suddenly that his name is famous; hers isn’t. “I just—your nametag—and the shop name—I thought—”

She swallows and her voice is a little breathless. “Yes, that’s my name.”

There’s an awkward silence between them until Nino interrupts to order a small assortment of macarons and a couple of savory stuffed croissants. It’s a small lunch, but it’s something.

As Marinette bags their order, Adrien asks, “Do you… go to school?”

She shakes her head. “No; ever since Maman passed, I’ve been helping Papa at the bakery.”

“I’m sorry—”

“It’s okay, really. Working here helps her feel close,” and she smiles.

Adrien blinks and bites his tongue to hold back his next question, but it bursts out of his chest anyway. “And—you’re really happy?”

She frowns, and he knows the question is an overstep, but he has to know. Because he remembers the end of his dream, when Marinette promised that she would set his life right. And things in his life seem okay. But if it cost her happiness…

“Sure,” she says, but he doesn’t know that it’s true. What else is she supposed to say to a stranger who just appeared in her bakery to ask invasive questions about her personal life.

And Adrien decides to let the matter drop. It was just a dream. He’s being ridiculous.

But as he and Nino thank her and turn to go, she asks, “And—are you happy?”

He stops and turns. “Me?”

“Do you… do you have everything that you want?”

of the new

[supalonely17]

Music Through Media

Blonde - They Both Die at the End

Song 2.

Welcome to another part of music through media as we continue the story of Mateo and Rufus. And before I begin if you enjoy this post please give it a like because that’s the only way I know if this series should go on or not. Anyways before we can introduce Mateo we must focus on Aimee for her one and only song on this album…

Ivy

Beginning the song we start with the lines

I thought that I was dreamin' when you said you love me. The start of nothin'. I had no chance to prepare, I couldn't see you comin'. The start of nothin'

This phrase is repeated throughout the entire song but don’t be fooled with the first sentence this is not a song about a perfect love story. As once you move down to the next sentence stating that this relationship was the start of nothing this song grows much more depressing. The idea that this relationship brought nothing to both of the parties. However it could also be interpreted to the fact that the relationship was doomed since the beginning. This idea resulting in the fact that both parties ended up hurting each other, unable to patch up the relationship. Aligning with Rufus and Aimee’s relationship as the two of them were destined not to get back together since even before the book.

Ooh, I could hate you now. It's quite alright to hate me now. When we both know that deep down. The feeling still deep down is good

The next couple of sentences jumps into the story of the moments near the end of their relationship or during it. The time of when this hatred has arrived is never disclosed, however for the case of Aimee we will say this hatred arrives after the relationship. The idea that Aimee hates Rufus after beating up peck, and the idea that she wouldn’t care if he hates her, but the fact is that he can’t take that rage out on peck. And then finally the line of the fact that “The feeling still deep down is good”. Ending these couple of sentences with the fact that it’s clear that Aimee and Rufus still love each other most likely in a more platonic manner even after all of this.

If I could see through walls I could see you're faking. If you could see my thoughts you would see our faces

Aimee has a history of knowing when Rufus is lying able to see past the walls he put around himself. However if Rufus could see past Aimee’s walls he would probably be able to see that she still wants for them to be together.

Safe in my rental like an armored truck back then. We didn't give a fuck back then. I ain't a kid no more. We'll never be those kids again

Moving on to the next couple of lines we begin with the idea of being safe. Each day without the call is a day with safety, the idea that a home can protect you calls to the idea that putting up walls metaphorically can also keep you safe. As we move through the lines of sentences we move down to “we didn’t give a fuck back then”. Calling to the fact that the two didn’t care about making the most of the day and did what they want because the day was literally guaranteed. Finally “We’ll never be those kids again”. The idea that all of the Pluto’s have grown up and so they have to move on from their childish ways.

In the halls of your hotel. Arm around my shoulder so I could tell how much I meant to you, meant it sincere back then. We had time to kill back then. You ain't a kid no more

As we move to verse 2 we’re faced with memories of their love but the biggest line in this verse is also the most important sentence in this entire song. “We had time to kill back then”. Aimee and Rufus had time before this day but no longer do they have time and the end reinforces this with “you ain’t a kid no more” meaning that it’s ready to move on.

All the things I didn't mean to say. I didn't mean to do. There were things you didn't need to say. Did you mean to? Mean to? I've been dreamin' of you, dreamin' of you

Finally as we reach the outro of the song we are brought to the regret of now losing Rufus. But also the fact that they both share regret with the line “there were things you didn’t need to say”. Rufus didn’t need to beat up Peck but he did however Aimee searches for an answer, a reason why he would even do that. And finally with the line “I’ve been dreamin’ of you”. We end the story of Aimee for now as she goes to sleep, passing out from exhaustion and leaving Rufus on delivered.