#but all i want to read from now on is twins in the future fics
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wolfiesmoon · 1 year ago
Text
Ratted out
sometimes friends and family accidentally (or purposefully) reveal things they shouldnt :)
characters featured: Leona, Kalim, Jade, Jack
ufff idk whats wrong with me but i ended up creating an entire (unrelated to this fic) movie plan related to twst this is mentally stable activities, truly
also unrelated but the new event got me SCREAMING how do they look so goodđŸ˜«
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ᐟᐟ☆àč‹àŁ­ ⭑໑ Leona Kingscholar
when hanging out with your boyfriend Leona, a little lion boy suddenly jumps him and he immediately lets you go
who is this child???
"Uncle Leona!" the boy clings onto him and you can feel the annoyance eminating from Leona
it's like its own aura thats how annoyed he isđŸ„Ž
so his nephew (you presume) looks to you all of a sudden and asks "who are you?" with an innocent look on his face
"I'm his lover...?" you said, a little unsure. But when you looked to Leona, he had a look of pure horror on his face...? What is even going on?????
"What?! No way, you're dating Uncle Leona?!" the kid got all excited and ran off somewhere before you could stop him
"...What have you done?" Leona hissed at you through clenched teeth, holding his forehead
you do realise you just revealed that he's dating you to the most big mouthed child in the world, right? that his whole family will know in a matter of minutes, right? that you've basically just invited yourself to every future family gathering at once, right?
and sure enough, in a few minutes he got a surprised text from his brother which he left on read 💀
"Damn brat..." he muttered under his breath, you still confused over what just happened
ᐟᐟ☆àč‹àŁ­ ⭑໑ Kalim Al-Asim
let's be real babes there is nothing for his siblings to rat him out on because he immediately told his family he was dating you
however....😈
his siblings happened to overhear a little something...
"Hey, hey." one of Kalim's younger brothers pulled your sleeve, wanting to tell you something
"yes?" you answered absentmindedly, thinking he's going to start talking about a strange thing he saw today or something
"Kalim's gonna marry you." he whispered to you, looking around to make sure no one heard
You laughed a little. "If you think so." you pat his little head
"No, he was like, asking mom if he can marry you soon. We heard it." another one of his brothers joined in after hearing the tea being spilled
"What?! Really?!" you're both extremely surprised and happy and mad at his brothers for ruining the surprise right now
oh well, what's done is done, and now you know Kalim is SERIOUS about you
that gets you thinking about wedding stuff now...đŸ€”
What none of you know tho is that Jamil overheard all of you
"Okay, maybe we need to scrap the whole surprise wedding proposal thing..." he sighs, making a mental note of it and preparing to dissapoint poor Kalim
ᐟᐟ☆àč‹àŁ­ ⭑໑ Jade Leech
jade is like... oddly nice to you after you first meet him
you're a little wary of him considering his reputation but he hasn't done anything weird at all so... might as well accept his gifts?
one time he approaches you with jade in tow and you think absolutely nothing of it since they're together like 90% of the time anyways
"Hello there, are you enjoying your lunch?" he just sat down next to you without asking if he can at all 😔
"Uh, yeah, I suppose." you didn't really know what to tell him and it seems he doesnt know how to continue the conversation either so u just kinda... stare at eachother while Floyd casually steals a bit of ur food
"Maaaan, aren't you like, supposed to be crushing on Little Shrimpy or something? Then taaalk about stuff, I'm bored." Floyd looked bored when he saw the two of you didn't start talking about weird stuff
Jade simply smiled at you, telling you to ignore Floyd
But on the inside he was planning approximately 10 ways to... get rid of someone without others noticing
or alternatively, just beating the everloving crap out of his twin brother if the first plan is not a possibility
"Do you have a crush on me?" you wanted to know now...
"That's for you to think about." he smiled oddly eerily, but then just started talking abt something mundane đŸ˜„
ᐟᐟ☆àč‹àŁ­ ⭑໑ Jack Howl
You're visiting him for the first time because you got curious what his family is like
OF COURSE HE'S AN OLDER BROTHER IT ALL MAKES SENSE NOW
his younger siblings immediately ambushed you with their little sniffer noses as soon as you stepped in the houseđŸ€”
"Who are you?" they asked, always curious about anyone that Jack brings over
When you told them who you were, they immediately ran away to "TELL MOM" and were literally screaming that the two of you are dating so loudly that the whole neighborhood could hear
You could also hear some woman (who you presume is his mom) laughing from somewhere in the house so uhhh.... atleast she isn't mad about it?
You looked back at Jack who seemed more annoyed than anything
"Aren't you gonna... go stop them?" you asked, raising a brow.
"Nah, I was gonna tell mom I'm dating you anyways. I'm just mad that they beat me to it." he crossed his arms, huffing in annoyance
"Actually, speaking of, isn't me dating you kinda a big deal? You told me before that wolves have one partner for life." you actually got kinda nervous, i mean, you gotta impress his family good now
"It is. But I think everyone's just happy I got someone at all." Jack looked at his overly excited siblings who were still celebrating
"Wow, that's sad." you sassed him 😝
"...I shouldn't have brought you."
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abbyslovergirlxo · 10 days ago
Text
Same Damn Time
Caitlyn Kiramman x Reader x Ambessa Medarda
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tw; Dom!Ambessa, Dom!Caitlyn, sub!reader, rough sex but they’re not so mean towards the end, wlw, sadism (cait/bessa), choking, slapping (everywhere lol), knife usage, blood kink??,masochism (youđŸ«”) , crying, reader has a mouth on her and then folds (typical😒), idk why i made cait psychotic but oh well, oral, degradation, crumbs of praise lmao, ALL SEXUAL INTERACTION IS CONSENSUAL, I am not someone who writes noncon
Word count: 7.8k

 = time skip
a/n; whewww! like what can I even say, this fic is crazy asl. Like I actually think they’re gonna bring back stoning people just for this. Lowkey deserved. But I know there’s someone out there who’s gonna match my freak 😭 i had tooo much fun writing this while listening to the song, made me think of them đŸ˜©lots of tw!! so plz read that before scrolling!!! I feel like this is something you’re either really going to love or really going to hate sooo idk. Also I was literally fixated on Sevika/Ambessa and one edit drove me to madness so here we are, getting double teamed by Commander Kiramman and General Merdarda đŸ˜© They’re both evil twins in this but Caitlyn is the more evil twin but no seriously read the tw
. anyways enough of my my rumbling, this fic is long enough lol.
Your ear shot up, body reacting involuntarily to the large grey door opening. Heavy echoing footsteps, hushed whispers, and then a closed door.
“ This is the one?”
The judgemental tone would’ve sent you spiralling, had you been anywhere else. But menacing glares and sharp words would do little for you here. The lights were dim, unfavorably so, only illuminating distinctly right above your chair that you sat in.
Their voices held unyielding authority. Everyone from topside did to be fair but something about these two gave away their status. Their faces were shielded slightly, your eyes squinting in an attempt to see who they were. That attempt was shot down, the small space of darkness they stood in protecting them.
You cursed yourself for not having been smarter that day, faster. For if you had been, you’d never know what the inside of Stillwater’s interrogation room looked like.
“ Yes, General. My enforcers found her near one of Jinx’s old hideouts. From the items that were taken from her we can safely say this one knows something. She knows Jinx. My men attempted to speak to her a couple of days ago but nothing came of it.”
You thought back to the ‘men’ who questioned you, hammered you with prompts that you refused to answer. The bruises on your back proved how badly they wanted to know but you never relented.
“ I don’t know anything.” A lie. A clear one. Both of the women ignored you, tossing back and forth bits of information. You tugged at the shiny metal cuffs, now wishing you’d taken Vi up on those lock picking lessons. I’m so fucked, you thought to yourself. The room was a bit cold and you weren’t exactly dressed for the occasion when they snatched you. So, somberly you shook a little, giving up on listening to whatever they were saying.
You weren’t going to rat. You knew that much.
Your head was hung when you heard them get closer to you. Not bothering to look up, you heard two chairs groan from being pulled, until they sat down from what you assumed.
“ Name?”
Finally you peered up. Your expression faltered for a second, not expecting the sight in front of you. Their outfits clashed and blended seamlessly all at once. One sat in an all black attire, her long blue hair hanging down. The other was engrossed in clads of gold and red.
Sitting right across from you, they both had menacing glares. Well, the glares you expected. Not quite the faces. Shamefully you imagined seeing them somewhere else, maybe in The Last Drop? The younger, sharp features and pinched eyes, looked at you with a particularly hateful look. That didn’t bother you though, she was as intimidating as the drunk men you’d fought with in the undercity. Pretty though, you thought. The other one was a different story entirely.
She was tall, you could tell from how she towered even sitting down. Something about her was elegant. But she looked dangerous. Growing up it was quite necessary to assess who you could and couldn’t take on, and the moment your eyes locked with hers, you knew. The scars on her face also gave way to what she was capable of. She was a problem, even if her stare wasn’t as heinous as the woman beside her.
“ Name?” She pressed. Her voice was calm but she didn’t look like someone who didn’t know how to raise it.
“ I don’t know anything. I don’t even know who Jinx is.”
The blue haired girl scoffed, clearly unimpressed. Her companion remained analytical of you.
“ You’re a terrible liar.” Her voice came off unforgiving and brutal. You’d be lying (again) if you said you weren’t slightly offended. But you kept a neutral face, ignoring her.
“Listen, this doesn’t have to be rough. How this goes depends entirely on you, you choose. We know you know Jinx. We know that you know something. The information you have is quite important to me,”
The older woman paused for a split second, her stare unwavering and promising. She looked over to the younger one before looking back at you.
“ to us. So we’re leaving this room with something, I can assure you that. But I can also assure you that if you help us, we will help you.”
Her voice was smooth, like wine. Well according to what people say about wine, you’d never had it. She was firm in her words, almost as if she herself knew the power behind her promise. That would’ve reassured you had it not been for the fact that she was after your fucking friends.
You looked between the two of them again, assessing the scene in front of you over and over. You were unimpressed, if you were being honest, something you hadn’t been since these cuffs first touched your wrist. Sure, you could tell they meant business but this was futile as an interrogation tactic.
Good cop, bad cop?
While the older wasn’t exactly nice, you expected a missing eye, pulled nails and burnt skin. What you weren’t expecting was two, unfortunately attractive, topside pigs to do a century old method. If anything they should’ve switched, you thought to yourself.
Maybe then they’d get somewhere.
“ Still don’t know who Jinx is or why I’m here.”
“ You’re lying, again. And protecting a known fanatic and criminal. Tell us where we can find Jinx.”
You furrowed your brows, annoyed with her insults and claims. Who is she to tell you that were lying? Well, you were of course. But regardless, the tone in the blue eyed woman before you made you unsettled.
“ I’m not lying.” You gritted out. “ I’ve been detained wrongfully. You’re wasting your time. I don’t know anything.”
“ Yes, you do.” Her voice was firm, final. You scowled at her, but it was nothing in comparison to how she looked at you. Constantly her jaw flexed, on edge and angry. But she had no right to be angry in your mind, after all you were the one chained to a table being talked at rather than talked to. Secretly you wished for the older woman to speak again, at least she wasn’t such a bitch.
“ Are they your friends? Is that it? Because I promise you that we will find Jinx, it will just be a whole lot messier without your help. I don’t mind that. But I’m sure you will.”
You fought the urge to wipe that domineering tone and look off her face. You’re never going to find Jinx! You’re nothing but a power hungry topsider who doesn’t know the first thing about friends! I’m not telling you shit. Was what you wanted to say. But instead,
“ I don’t know Jinx or whatever else you people plan on asking me. Like I said, you. are. wasting. your. time.”
You put emphasis on each word, tired of repeating yourself. But to your un-satisfaction she rolled her eyes, shaking her head.
“ Look
 I shouldn’t be here. I can’t give you anything because I don’t kno—“
“ Right.” She cut you off, so obviously tired of your insistent lying, even in the short minutes. “And you’re not an undercity animal.”
“ And you’re not a topside pig.”
In all fairness it came out before you could stop it. You weren’t used to being talked to like this and keeping quiet, it almost came out of pure instinct. But if you were surprised by your words you didn’t show it one bit, a small smile almost playing on your lips.
Her nostrils flared slightly, her breathing elevating. For a moment you thought she’d explode before the other woman spoke.
“ Kiramman.”
You memorized the name, not sure if it’d be useful later once you escaped but just in case. She simply collected herself, nodding at the woman who she called ‘General’. Maybe this is where you went wrong, your natural element slipping out, your ego on its way to arriving.
“ You should learn to control yourself, ya know
 during interrogations and such.”
“ Shut your mouth.” It was harsh and whispered. This is when you should’ve stopped but you didn’t.
“ You must be new, since you need a supervisor to help you.”
“ Shut it.”
“ You guys have nothing on me. You’re fucking desperate. I’m n—“
Mistakenly you were so focused on Kiramman that you hadn’t been prepared for the harsh grab of your chin. It was quick, unbelievably fast and that scared you more than anything. The strength of which she used to crush your face also attributed to the pit in your stomach.
“ You’ve chosen miserably.”
Her voice was meaner now, she talked as if you were nothing. Like you were stupid. Instantly you regretted wishing for her presence.
Embarrassingly you struggled against her trying to pry away but it was useless. She effortlessly held you there, your cheeks red with humiliation and anger. You tried to ignore the victorious face planted on Kiramman.
“ She said shut your mouth so you shouldn’t be doing anything but that.”
“ Thought you w-wanted me to talk, which one is it?”
You half expected her to break your jaw or lash out like the woman beside her. Instead she remained calm, eerily calm. Anyone with such strength and patience was someone who got what they wanted. But, you weren’t going to talk, you reminded yourself.
She pulled you closer, not without the rebellious tug from you. Silently she analyzed you, staring into your eyes painstakingly long. You squirmed and averted your gaze. She let you go with a ‘hmph’.
“ She won’t talk, not like this.”
The blue haired girl whipped her head towards her, then back to you, a blue fire blazing in her eyes. From the short time they’d been in the room it was clear the older woman held a higher position, authority oozing from her undoubtedly. But now you noticed something dark about the Kiramman that you should have picked up on before.
She was angry, unreasonably so. There was something constantly threatening to set off inside of her.
“ Everyone talks. There has to be something that’ll make her.”
The General hummed. “ I agree, but not like this. She’s loyal to them and she’s prepared for a cell if not this. She’s attempting to use our anger to distract us. She needs something else.”
The goosebumps from the cold air became accompanied by ones born from anxiety. Your mind went into a dark place, worried you’d never leave Stillwater. What if they starved you? Kept you locked in some cell as your body slowly decayed while you still lived? True fear found its way to you for the first time, the unknown overwhelming.
Kiramman seemed to hold back a sigh, instead taking a moment to actually listen to her superior's words. You couldn’t tell what she was thinking but from the firm nod she let off to the General, you knew it wasn’t in your favor. The grey haired woman stood now, making your heart race. Desperately you tugged at the chain once more, attempting to repeat your overdone line.
“ Look, I really don’t know anything.” Ignored.
The blue haired girl remained seated, leaned back slightly, watching silently as the older woman walked around the table. She walked to you with a certain prowess about her. She was taller than you’d expected, to your dismay. You refused to look at her when she was finally standing beside you, face aimed at the grey table.
You pinched your eyes waiting to be hit, choked maybe, or stabbed if they didn’t mind the mess. Your breathing raised as you tried to silently comfort yourself through whatever pain soon awaited. You held back a flinch when you felt large hands pulling at your chains.
It’ll be okay. It’ll be okay. It’ll be okay. Fuck.
*clink*
You snapped your eyes open, seeing your handcuffs now undone.
“ Stand up.”
You took in a breath, silently grateful that you hadn’t been harmed. You stood now, relieved. At least whatever they were going to do wasn’t happening in the now you thought. You looked towards the giant closed metal door, expecting your arm to be snatched as she led you to your dark cell. But to your surprise she simply spoke again.
“ On the table.”
You looked between the two of them.
You shook your head, not even at them, it just shook. No way in hell were you going to lay down on some metal table while these two psychopaths did whatever they wanted to you. You weren’t exactly happy about the bruises that already resided there, definitely not hoping for extras.
“ 
No.”
You hadn’t wished to say it but you couldn’t bring yourself to willingly place your body on that table before they hurt you.
“ You misunderstand the situation. You’ve chosen already. So get on the table.”
You didn’t choose shit. That’s what you wanted to shout, to scream at them until your bones betrayed you. A million emotions rushed through your head, clenching and unclenching your hands. Instead you remained silent and unmoving, your refusal to acknowledge was saying ‘no’ in its own way.
“ Fucking impossible
”
You didn’t even have a moment to react to the words before you were pulled. A grunt left your mouth as your hair was gripped painfully. Anger coursed through you upon seeing the black uniform in your peripheral. You used your now free hands to try and pry her hands from you but she only gripped impossibly tighter, your scalp beginning to burn. She was swifter than you’d imagined she’d be, strong too, grabbing both of your hands with one, pinning them. This somehow was worse than cuffs.
“ Fucki— let me go!”
Ignored. Why did they ignore everything?
“ Where do you want her?”
Her General's eyebrows raised, but you didn’t see surprise. Not even disappointment. Content, maybe? You didn’t put it past her.
“ Let's put her on her back to start.”
She moved without question or affirmation. Irritation was clear across your face now, upset at the stinging that wasn’t letting up on your scalp. But clearly the woman behind you didn’t care, roughly forcing you onto the table. She wasn’t as tall as her companion but she was taller than you and it wasn’t an advantage on your part. The force behind her movements were unsettling, you hadn’t thought she was powerless at first glance, but her grip on you was unnerving compared to what you thought she was capable of.
The cold metal wasn’t welcoming. It felt like a million needles were puncturing your skin causing you to shudder. Your tank top strap had fallen off your shoulder amidst the struggle, close enough to slipping down making you wish your hands were free.
“ Give me her wrist.”
They swiftly transferred your hands, the Generals grip matching hers but you could tell there was more strength to be given behind it. You didn’t want to imagine her really trying to squeeze you. The cuffs you were free from moments ago encased you again, and you didn't miss the two extra notches she clicked causing your bone to shift uncomfortably with the metal. You scowled.
“ It’s too fucking tight.”
Not even a pitied glance, nothing. Ignored. Again. You shifted your wrist again, overwhelmed and upset. And this bitch is still gripping my hair, using her other hand to keep your shoulder on the table casually. So easily, and that made you feel vulnerable, helpless. And your now restrained hands weren’t helping, the slight burn making something in your throat want to creep up but you wouldn’t dare allow it, deciding to instead take it out on them.
“ Let go of my hair, you bi–”
You hissed, the stinging sensation pulsating across your cheek. It wouldn’t leave a bruise but you damn sure felt it.
“ Mind your tongue.”
The General ignored the glare you sent her straight from hell, instead taking off her jacket revealing a dark sleeveless sort of top. You couldn’t begin to imagine or decipher the detailing of it, topsiders always dressed too flashy in your opinion, too stuck up. Her arms were as big as you'd thought. Both being ridiculed with scars.
Then, another sharp crack resounded through the dark room, a quick punishing tug to your scalp. This one would unfortunately leave a bruise. You could tell. You didn’t hiss this time, too stunned, on the verge of groaning from the way she used your hair as a plaything.
“ What she said.”
Kiramman finally let go of your hair, the residue of her strength still pounding through your head. You tried to sit up but she instead used both of her hands to hold you down. With only your legs to move, you kicked but the General shut that down as soon as it started. Effortlessly she used only one hand to keep them pinned down, now looking over you and at Kiramman.
What now? You thought. Cut my skin until I fess up? Break my bones until I don’t have any? Beat me bloody while I lie on this cold table? Are they going to kill me when this is all over, when I don’t say anything? I’m going to die here, aren’t I? I’m going to die and nobody’s gonna know.
It’ll be ok. It’ll be ok. It’ll be ok. I can take it. I can take it.
Eyes suddenly squeezed shut, recited echoes of wishful thinking, a scratchy throat. You braced yourself.
“ Last chance. Tell us where we can find Jinx and I’ll send you back to your cell. Untouched.”
Your voice came out a little exasperated, anxiety and anger laced into it. You kept your eyes shut.
“ I don’t know who Jinx is so I can’t tell you that. I don’t know anything.”
Your shoulder crushed more into the table, pale hands squeezing.
“ You continue to choose stupidity, insolence. No more of that.”
Suddenly the grip on your legs were let go and you opened your eyes. She was still at the head of the table staring down at you. For a moment you considered kicking again but as if she read your mind

“ Kick me and I will break every bone in your knee.”
Her tone wasn’t intimidating, demeaning absolutely, but not intimidating. The certainty in her voice made you throw away any ideas of using your legs. You liked your knees to say the least. You peered straight up to see an upside version of Kiramman, her long blue hair creating a shadow around her neck, her jawline distinct. Even without seeing her face, only the outline of lips and nose, the anger radiated off her body.
“ What now?”
The General looked over you, straight at her.
“ We’ll need to take her pants off for the next part.”
You and Kiramman spoke at the same time.
“ Wait, what? My pants?” “ Her pants?”
The older woman simply gave a one word reply, meant to supply both of you with a firm answer, ‘yes’.
“ Wait, wait.”
She looked down at you, eyebrows raised.
“ Do you remember something about Jinx? Something you’d like to tell us?”
You listened to the flickering sound coming from the light above you. One by one you let them pop into your head. Jinx, long blue hair and wild face as she hugged you. Vi, stuffing her favorite foodsin your face. Isha, making paper airplanes with you. For a moment you thought a tear might slip but it didn’t. You drew in a shaky breath, ignoring the sting on your wrist.
“ No. I don’t know anything. I just
”
You averted your gaze.
“ Is it going to hurt?”
A stupid question in your mind. No doubt torture hurts. But something in you needed to ask, needing some sort of certainty in what was to come.
“ That depends on you entirely. I’ll give you pain when you give me insolence. But when you give me answers, I’ll give you
 ”
She suddenly ghosted a hand over your calf.
“ Relief.”
You shuddered a little, her graze unexpected. But you didn’t dare move your leg, not wanting to test what qualified as a kick to her. You didn’t want to imagine what she meant by relief, because it couldn’t mean that. It couldn’t mean that.
“ How does that sound?”
“ It sounds like I have nothing else to say to you.”
She hummed. Without another word she slipped her large hands in your waistband, pulling them down to your ankles. You wanted them back the second your bare thigh touched the cold metal. A click echoed and you looked to see a blade in her hand, small in size but formidable in design. Gold snakes seemed to embroider its handle. You sucked in a harsh breath at the sight, your eyes locked on it.
Your eyes flicked up at the blue haired woman, her position now changed so that you could see her face again. Her eyes almost beamed? For the first time an expression other than anger displayed itself on her features. Now she looked almost
 pleased. Excited.
It’ll be ok. It’ll be ok. I can take it. I can take it. I can take it. Hopefully.
You ignored the last words, watching as the General kept her eyes trained on your plump thighs. Opening them, she traced it right on the inside of it. Immediately you could tell it was sharp. Too sharp. It was cold against your skin, not as harsh as the table but unforgiving nonetheless. Anticipation rushed through you. Hands clenched within its restraints, the light flickering and flickering, her soft hands on your shoulder, icy metal on your skin, her hand slipping onto your thigh and then
.
“ Ngnh!”
Your head pressed into the metal slightly. You’d have been embarrassed by your whimper if it wasn’t for the sudden warm drip down your thigh. Blood, you assumed. You’d been through worse but you still squirmed at the cut now adorned on your skin. She pushed down on your thigh, not fond of your squirming. Then she continued, tracing the blade across your thigh, waiting until your body finally relaxed, stopping itself from that state of bracing. And right when you did, she’d swipe a quick line across your shaky, burning legs. Always between your thighs, always.
It felt like electricity was rushing through you, it was all so overwhelming. You felt like you were being swallowed alive and they had barely done anything. The cuts burned and sent a rush of pain through your nerves and skin. Everytime you looked at Kiramman her face was becoming alive with intoxication. It’s like she couldn’t pull her eyes away, trained on the way your leg wobbled under her General’s hand, how you whimpered lowly, the light trace of blood on the expensive blade. You jolted again, particularly harder this time.
“ Relax. It's just a little cut, you're a big girl.”
It continued like this. You tried your best to stifle the whimpers coming from your mouth. The last thing you wanted was for them to hear what they were doing to you. Over and over she painted your thighs with your own crimson, and it hurt. It hurt, it did. And that's all it should be.
But your stomach kept getting that feeling. It burned, like the surface level cuts she gave you. It burned every time her calloused finger swiped across your sliced skin, collecting blood. It burned when she smiled suddenly, as if proud of her work. And it was scalding when you looked up and saw those blue eyes entranced. But it wasn’t pain. It wasn’t
anger. It was something else. Something that made you want to release that feeling in your throat, made you wish she meant something ungodly when she offered relief.
“ What's this?”
Your skin was hot to the touch now, sweaty. Trembling slightly, you looked up at her. For a moment you couldn’t begin to imagine what she was referring to until you traced her eyes. You silently prayed that it wasn’t what you thought. But from the way she asked, you knew.
“ What is it?”
Kiramman asked, curiosity clear in her voice. The older woman smirked, staring down at the wet spot in your panties.
“ It seems her body is more honest than she is. I think our little prisoner likes this. Her panties say so at least.”
Your face burned so hot that it rivaled the sun itself. You considered saying something, protesting and denying it. But what was the point? It did feel good, the burn felt good. And she had the evidence right in front of her. You couldn’t meet either of their gazes, looking to the side in shame. Kiramman laughed, the vibrations reaching you through her touch.
“ I knew it, she was whimpering like a dog. Isn’t that right?”
You shook your head, still refusing to look. But she wasn’t having it, using one of her hands to pull your chin. Even upside down, she looked menacing. She forced eye contact. Her face was rampant with mocking undertones, sadistic glares.
“ Is that why you’ve been so rude? You wanted us to give you a little pain, show you a good time? You really are pathetic.”
“ That’s not tr– n-ngh!”
A stinging pain after a quick slap to your clothed cunt made you whimper louder than anytime the blade touched you. It felt like a live wire tapping your skin, your legs snapping shut. The wet spot in your panties grew, your breathing uneven.
“ Insolence. Tell the truth.”
I can’t. You thought. Telling them that you’d enjoyed it, even a tiny bit, seemed more daunting suddenly than ratting.
“ I’m not ly– f-fuck
”
You weren’t sure if you’d ever be allowed to finish a sentence, her hand opening your legs followed by another slap coming down. Your eyes fluttered for a moment, your face squeezing with pain and pleasure. Kiramman used the hand she never removed to guide you. A smile was now on her lips, wide with genuine amusement.
“ Oh god, did you just
 moan? You really are something aren’t you? Is that what it’s going to take? A few more slaps to your cunt and you’ll be blabbering? Or maybe
”
She lowered herself, close enough that her hair brushed against your face. You whined again, another unsuspecting smack from the older woman. You hadn’t even done anything, she just liked the way your panties got damper with each hit. Kiramman almost thanked her for it, relishing in hearing the noise even closer. She whispered to you.
“ If I make you cum enough times you’ll remember something. I bet you’d like that, letting a
 what was it that you called me
a topside pig make your cunt cry?”
Finally, you gave way to the ache in your throat. A tear fell down your face suddenly. Another burning sensation forming in your stomach at the feeling of the General toying with the rim of your panties.
“ Please
”
It was quiet, almost matching the decibels of the wind. But you knew she’d heard it. It was obvious from how her grin widened, her eyes looking like ones of a deranged woman.
“ Please what? Please
make me cum? Please
let me go? Please fucking what?”
In this small moment of time, you almost felt like you were watching your dignity physically leave your body. You imagined telling her to let you go, that you didn’t know anything and a few cuts to your legs wasn’t going to change that. And you considered it, over and over. Then something played in your mind, a sick fantasy woven in desperation. In it, you asked her what you really wanted to. And in it they kissed you until you couldn’t breathe, made you finish until you didn’t know how to walk. You considered both. But only one of them made your core ache with desire. Your eyes were even glossier now. Suddenly you were working yourself up for a new kind of courage.
I can take it. I can take it. I can take it.
“ Make me cum please.”
“ Please who?”
I can take it.
“ Please, Kiramman.”
“ That’s it. Finally something coming out of your mouth other than horseshit. But you still need some manners
”
The grip that had left your ears ringing suddenly came back, her pale fingers peeking through your hair. She pulled your head up, forcing you to look at the General. You groaned, arms thrashing slightly, the sting of the metal never relenting.
“ I’m not the only one here. Go ahead, ask General Merdarda too.”
You gritted your teeth. This was already humiliating, and she was just reveling in it. Your legs were already spread, panties damp, dried crimson on your skin, hands bound above your stomach. You’d already asked, multiple times. And now you had to say it again, with a death-like grip on your hair and those hazel eyes peering at you, awaiting.
“ 
but I already asked y—“
The slap was even stronger this time , the force of it driving your body insane. Merdarda grinned at you, even laughing a little at the noise you made. Another tear fell down your cheek but Kiramman was quick to wipe it. Right before she licked her finger.
“ But you didn’t ask me.”
If she slapped your cunt again you’d probably start grinding against the table, somehow making you look more pathetic than you do right now. So you gave in.
“ P-Please General Merdarda, will
”
I’m never speaking about this if I get out of here.
“
Will you please make me cum?”
“ Well would you look at that, that’s all you had to say little one. But what do we get in return? Surely you can’t expect us to make you cum with nothing given back.”
“ 
But
I already said I don’t know anything.”
Kiramman scoffed.
“ Even after you soak your panties from a little cut, you still have the ability to lie. I’m almost impressed.”
She let your head drop back onto the table.
“ Almost.”

.
For a second you thought she’d kiss them.
At first glance it seemed so, her soft lips trailed over the red raised wounds, her nose spilling cold air on them. You reveled in it, an ember threatening to go a blaze within you. That was until she nipped at it, a hiss leaving your mouth. You couldn’t see her smile but you felt it sweeping across the throbbing skin. You cursed under your breath, the force behind her bite growing more rabid. She slapped the thigh she wasn’t ravaging, quick and harsh.
“ You like that, don’t you?”
There that voice was again, smooth and sultry. You weren’t sure if she was referencing the strike on your leg or her roaming fingers but murmured yes anyway. Yes to all of it. She had your shirt hitched up, breast exposed. Every once and awhile she’d toy with them, trace an outline around your nipple, wait and then pinch. So often though she found herself distracted, your features giving away how desperate you were.
Merdarda found enjoyment in watching your contort every time Kiramman did something to you, anything to you really. You were like a tight coiled spring, threatening to snap at any given moment. It's like every touch has you ready to risk everything. And you learned quickly they were into this a little more than you, mania clear across their faces. You were trembling, Kiramman taking advantage of how sensitive your legs were.
“ C’mere.”
You felt a little dizzy, seeing her lift her head up from between your legs. She grabbed your cuffed hands, pulling you up to meet her face. It all happened so fast and you winced from the strain in your shoulders. She was closer now and it was just now that you noticed the traces of blood on her lips. You hadn’t expected a kiss this time around, but it happened. It wasn’t gentle, if anything it felt like she was trying to cannibalize you with her tongue. Shamefully you pushed against her, sick to your stomach at how good she tasted. Hints of copper on your tastebuds, her wandering hands. She pulled back, being sure to bite your lip before doing so.
“ You taste that? It’s you.”
She dropped her eyes to your thighs, licking over her lips once more. A trance almost seemed to describe the hunger behind her stare, but you couldn’t be sure. You didn’t care either way, you just wanted her to do whatever was on her mind to you and soon.
“ fucking delicious.”
The whispered lust in her voice rivaled the reaction brought out from Medardas heavy hands.
“ You should taste her General. She’s sweeter than that filthy mouth of hers.”
Wordlessly, she captured your lips next. Her movements were more experienced, methodical and you felt as though you melted into her due to it. Ruby lipstick smeared onto you, a groan slipping from her as she made sure to taste everything you had to offer. The metallic tinge on her tongue made her pull in deeper. You whimpered, dizzy from lack of breath and insatiable roaming hands.By the time she pulled away your eyes were low, an unfocused look about you.
“ I wonder if her cunt tastes even better.”
Kiramman smiled sickly to herself, her gapped teeth giving you a warm tinge to your cheek.
“ We’ll know soon enough.”

.
Your wrist were nearly rubbed raw with all the thrashing you were doing. Time and time again you made attempts to close those abused legs of yours, in hopes of protecting your cunt. Unfortunately, Kiramman wasn’t pleased and she slapped it raw until you cried enough apologies. She mumbled something along the lines of ‘can’t be stupid and greedy’. But you somehow continued to be prove to be both, whining endlessly about the torture of her tongue. She never let up though, only unlatching from you to say obscene things or mark up your poor legs.
It seemed the pair held similar views, sick desires. Medarda would litter your neck and breast with purple marks shamelessly. She smelled of some expensive plant you’d never heard of, all you knew was that it made you whimper everytime her skin was pressed onto yours. She’d whisper siren-like words to you, etched in sin, rough kisses between them all. And yet you drank them into your ears like milk and honey.
“ You just came, didn’t you? Nasty girl.”
“ Do you remember anything now, hm?”
“ Don’t be so dramatic, keep your legs open for her.”
“ You must spread yourself open often. You’re a natural.”
“ Your cunts almost as noisy as you, dear.”
And when her tongue wasn’t making you drip onto the table, Kirammans words were just as wicked, if not more. Her posh accent was a coverup for all the nefarious things laced into it. A very, very poor coverup.
“ I said— keep. them. open. Unless you need a second pair of cuffs? 
 No? Then fucking listen.”
“ Go on, you can cry. I know it feels good. Yes filthy girl
just like that. ”
“ You’ve made a mess. Say you're sorry.”
“ Quit it, you can get a break when you remember something.”
“ Don’t act so sweet now— had quite a lot to say earlier. Isn’t that right?”
This was wrong, every bit of it. There was nothing exactly right about two high ranking officers of Piltover and Noxus eating you alive in the depths of Stillwater. The thought alone should send you running. It should have you drinking hot flashes of anger, leaving a bitter taste in your mouth. But it didn’t. It only made you spread your legs wider and beg shamefully for more kisses.
It all felt so good. They felt so good and a redeemable, rational part of you hated that. But every time rationality tried to sink itself into you, Commander Kiramman and General Merdarda were right there to sink into you faster. And by god, they made you feel more full than any morale.
You were so sure you were going to die before. And that thought that hadn’t been removed just yet, except now you thought you’d pass away from all the onslaught orgasms caused by the ravenous women beside and inside you.
“ a—angh! oh god
pl–please”
Kiramman held back a sly smile, seeing the way you twitched, body so sensitive. Her fingers were drenched with you, now gloveless. Initially her signature black gloves dug inside of you but the minute she tasted you she knew she didn’t want it anywhere but on her skin. Quite roughly, she had pulled three orgasms, somehow each one more intense than the last. But that wasn’t enough, not to them. Nothing was enough until those pretty lips whimpered something they could actually report back. And even then she wasn’t sure she’d want to stop.
“ Are you going to make a mess again for us?”
Pathetically, you fought back the white of your eyes before looking down at her. She couldn’t help but grip your thighs tighter at your teary face, nodding exhaustingly down at her. Medarda kept you slightly upright, your back arching into her bicep while she sucked on your breast. Honestly she hadn’t a clue how long she’d been at it but by the rate she was going you’d look a fucked out mosaic by the time they were done. She laughed to herself but you knew it was at you. And that fact only made you rut against the table more.
“ This is going to be your fourth one dear. We’re never going to leave this room if you keep being so stubborn.”
She trailed her kisses up your chest. A peck here and a peck there. The slow ascend of her affections compared to the rapid thrust of the others fingers made you bite your lip, the skin pulling between your teeth. By the time she was up to your ear you were practically panting.
“ Or is that what you want? For us to keep making you cry until you can’t anymore?”
They’d never know it and thank god for that but you almost whispered a yes.
Kiramman couldn’t hear what was spoken but she definitely felt it. You clenched around her even harder, a long mewl spilling from you. She creased her blue brows slightly as she sped up her fingers, making sure to never be gentle with that special spot, secretly itching to hear just how loud you could get whenever you came. Her counterpart was just as wanting for it out of you, a more balanced desire about her. Even in spite of the way she pulled you in for another kiss when she heard you sob, “ ‘m s-so close..”
This time Kiramman both felt and heard it, her fingers happily accepting the tight squeeze of you. She latched back onto your clit which was practically begging to be consumed again, if you asked her. Immediately you tensed, using every ounce of self restraint to not slam her cheeks with your legs. It also got devastatingly hard to keep up with Medarda’s mouth, she pressed into you like she forgot you needed air, like you only needed them. And as the coil in your belly grew and the sloppy sounds of her eating away filled the room, you did need them.
A muffled moan ricocheted into Merdarda and she invited it wholeheartedly. When she finally pulled away, you used your bound hands to grab at her hand groping you. You squeezed it the second you felt Kiramman offer a grunt inside of your cunt. She licked you like she was rabid, lost in whatever drugs your pussy clearly had laced in it. Merdarda found it all so nasty, so amusing. Seeing the renowned Caitlyn Kiramman so cruel but so feral, and you with your slick mouth gone and lips swollen, made her clench around nothing.
Even if nobody in the room spoke it, you were all enjoying this ‘interrogation’ a little too much. That manic laughter that constantly filled Kirammans head, those stupid pigtails and flashy gadgets, had even subsided for a moment. She still wanted nothing more than to rip that smile off her face, but the way the tears journeyed down your face so easily made her want something more.
Right now all she wanted was for you to cum on her face, and she nearly keeled over when she finally heard you sing that song for her. A moan that could only be replicated in the best whorehouses of Zaun left you. The pair both smiled the moment they heard you whimper what they already knew.
“ i th—‘m gonn—“
You could barely manage a single word, back practically ingraining itself in her arm the way you arched over it.
“ Let it out, make a mess.”
Your body truly was more honest than you and clearly obedient because the second she said it you did. Your self restraint abandoned you, left you on that table shaking and crying. Your bruised legs kissed her cheeks (not so gently) as she ate and thrusted at the same pace she did before, never letting up. Even with your legs shaking and around her she just drove in deeper. The pleasure slipped into overdrive making you shake your head, trying your best to pull away, use your hands, anything to make her stop. But Merdarda snatched your cuffed hands.
“ kira—kirammannn!”
Wow, that’s the only time she’s heard her last name and wanted to hear it more. But she ignored you, knowing you were begging for her to stop. By now your legs had dropped, too weak to hold up. Your whole body practically vibrated as you lost your breath. Maybe it was the burning sensation ripping through you or the cotton in your head but you stupidly turned your head to look up at Medarda.
“ help
me
gonna fu— die!”
First she looked at you, toyed with your nipple as your hands fought against hers. So pretty and so pathetic, she thought. Then looked down at Kiramman, whose eyes now opened and met hers. An amused glint was in her blue tinted stare and suddenly Medarda couldn’t think of a single reason she’d help you.
“ She’s eating child, don’t be so rude. Have some manners.”
She was looking at you when she said it, but from the mockery in her tone you knew it was meant for more than just you. And it was confirmed when a smile traced itself onto your throbbing cunt. But it quickly went away. She was eating after all.
“ i canttt! pleasee!”
Kiramman didn’t stop until you went silent, unable to speak, inconsistent babbles of nonsense here and there. You weren’t even shaking now, just twitching and breathing like the oxygen in the room had been sucked out. When she finally got up from between your legs she couldn’t help herself and gave two quick bites. A strangle mix of a hiss and moan could be heard as you watched her stand. She lifted her fingers to your mouth, shoving them inside.
You expected her to be rough and jam them down your throat but to your surprise she simply swirled them around your mouth. Despite that voice in your head you sucked at them tiredly hoping to please them. And pleased they were. They both watched as you weakly licked her fingers clean. By the time she pulled away they both knew that previous orgasm just couldn’t be the last.
“ Do you remember anything now?”
You were fucked out, but not that fucked out.
“
no”
Thank god, they both thought in unison.
“ I guess it’s my turn then.”


BONUS
Kiramman walked with pure candor on her face. She heard the whispers as she walked past but she ignored them. What was the point in entertaining fools? Besides, the moment her eyes met theirs they always went silent. Always. Today hadn’t been the best day for her. Most days weren’t, hunting for that psycho and her friends wasn’t an easy job or a fun one. But she wouldn’t rather be doing anything else. Well
maybe someone else

“ Don’t let anyone in.”
The guard nodded dutifully.
By the time she reached the room, she was already imagining her sweet song. She didn’t have to wait long to hear it in person because it was practically blasting throughout the room the moment the door opened. She closed the door behind her, smiling deviously as she placed her heavy cape onto the chair.
“ She’s even wetter today, if you can believe it.”
She laughed softly, “ Oh I can believe it. How many has she got so far?”
“ Just two. Don’t worry, you didn’t take too long.”
“ God, I know. I got caught up with that fool Salo.”
Medarda laughed now, knowing all too well how annoying he could be.
“ medardaaa”
Your toes curled, struggling to handle the two large fingers inside of you. Both were devastatingly skilled with their fingers but hers were undoubtedly bigger. Way bigger. And if the size wasn’t agonizing enough, she was hitting that spot over and over. This time your hands were free, and you used them to grip her bicep.
Suddenly your throat had a new necklace. Not a very nice one. She squeezed her free hand around your throat, speeding her fingers. Clearly she wasn’t a fan of your interruption, despite the way her cunt ached when she heard her name in such a filthy way.
“ Can’t you see us talking? And you didn’t even greet your Commander. She came all this way to see you.”
You thought you were going to pass out, the squelching sounds and sultry insults becoming distant. Your mind and body gave into her once the resisting clearly wasn’t doing anything. And you loved it. Each filthy posh coated word, lingering touch, rushed collided lips left you undone. The strength behind their hands made you want to never be without it. And for the past two weeks it continued to, leaving you right here in this room on this desk, unable to breath, only able to cry and spread your legs wider.
Medarda let go, allowing Kiramman to finally slip beside you. As much as she loved the song you offered, she wanted your lips. You gasped into her, them giving you no time to actually catch a breath between the transfer. Lightheaded, you still pushed against her, wetness dripping from your face to hers. She pulled away, licked the rogue tear from the corner of your mouth.
By the time she was looking at you, you were heaving, clasping onto her bicep instead of Medardas now. She watched with such marvel as your face contorted into those beautiful expressions, such a drastic difference from the stupid girl she interrogated. Logically she knew she couldn’t call what all of you were doing an interrogation. So she opted to saying ‘some investigating work’ the few times someone inquired about her abrupt departures. It wasn’t a complete lie, her and Medarda were investigating something every couple of days. your cunt
Her gaze traced to the brown fingers moving in and out of you, then to glisten on her General's hand and finally to your thighs. They were healing nicely. Unfortunately for her they wouldn’t leave a scar according to the doctor she took you to. She almost frowned at the thought.
But then she heard you whisper a quick, “ h-hi Kiramman
”
She smiled at you, a warm thought coming to her.
“ Hi, filthy girl.”
We’ll make sure they scar next time.
P.s. They had the officers who beat you killed 😜
817 notes · View notes
classypauli · 11 months ago
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She’s the Man
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Pairing: Jenna Ortega x fem Reader Summary: With the new university Y/N meets new opportunities, plays on the football team, meets new people, makes new friendships, and maybe finds something she didn’t think would find.... But being dressed as her brother can create little problems in the future. She’s the Man AU A/N: So this fic will be based on the movie She®s the Man, it won®t follow every step of the story, I had it in mind some time now and have been thinking about if it is a good idea or not but well, here goes nothing
 Not forcing anyone to read this, idk just wanted to try something new. Warning: first time writing, bad grammar and punctuation in complex sentences, spelling errors, boring and awkward Word count: 5k I DON’T OWN THE MOVIE THIS STORY IS BASED ON OR ANY OF THE CHARACTERS THAT ARE IN THERE. IT’S ONLY FICTION AND NONE OF THIS IS REAL.
Chapter 1
Y/N is sitting in her brother®s room, eyes wide open  „You can®t be serious! How am I supposed to do that?!“ she shouted at him. „I®ll be thankful to you till the end of my life.“ well, that won®t be for long if she decides to kill him right now. „Charlie-“
„Please Y/N you are my only hope, you know I®ve been wanting to go to this festival for so long, you know what it means to me, please.“ he puts his hands in a praying position, and now his puppy eyes are the only thing his sister can see. „Ew get away from me.“ she pushed him into the chest as he stumbled back.
Charlie, Y/NÂŽs twin brother, wants her to impersonate him. Yeah, you heard it right, he wants his sister to go to his school and act like him this whole time that he will be on tour. He is in the band, their parents arenÂŽt really happy about it, they say that music wonÂŽt get him anywhere and he should concentrate on the more important stuff. Y/NÂŽs sad because she was always like if something makes you happy, thatÂŽs all that matters, right? But he isnÂŽt giving up, he still hopes that he can convince them about being serious with music.
And donÂŽt get her wrong, sheÂŽd do anything and everything for him, he is her brother, her twin, but this... SheÂŽs not so sure, itÂŽs just too much, what if they find out? What if she isnÂŽt good enough and mess up? What would their parents say? Oh God too much pressure on her shoulders and she didnÂŽt even say yes.
But his sad and disappointed eyes are her last straw. „Gosh.... m'kay.“ Y/N whispered under her breath almost unnoticed. Charlie®s eyes lit up like Christmas lights and started running to his sister yelling „Thank you thank you thank you! I promise I®ll do anything for you!“ He almost suffocated her when they hugged. „Careful with your words and now get off I can®t breathe!“ he immediately pushed himself off and started his little winning dance.
She rolled her eyes at him „So how we are going to do that? I mean, I need to look exactly like you, act like you, talk like you, and EVEN SMELL like you? Well now I®m not so sure if I can do this I mean-“ she looked at him and scrunched up her nose. „Oh, you didn®t you f-“ he hit Y/N with the pillow in the head. She started laughing at her brother's offended face. „Just kidding stop being a baby.“
He stood up and started thinking „Well we look alike, like a lot, so there won®t be much work in the face-“ „What?!“ „-but you need to learn how to walk like me and dress like me. Stand up we are having our first lesson.“
They were practicing her walk, or more like his walk, and she got it pretty right. Clothes wonÂŽt be a big problem cause they wear uniforms and wearing baggy clothes is one of the most comfortable things for her. She doesnÂŽt know how she will do it but for her brother, she needs to at least try.
A couple of days passed and now Y/N is sitting in the passenger seat, Charlie is behind the wheel. Sun is shining through the windows of their parent's car. She is wearing her school uniform and her leg is bouncing up and down in black uncomfortable shoes.
„Stop Y/N it will be okay-„ she turned to him „Well it®s easy for you to say! You aren®t the one dressed as me!“. Okay maybe she®s a little dramatic but she®s shitting her uniform pants right now, oh God please let this be over already.
Y/N didnÂŽt even notice and they were already in front of the school. Students were walking back and forth, laughing and greeting each other after the holidays. The girl wasnÂŽt a social kid growing up. I mean she doesnÂŽt have a problem with talking to others, the problem is in the start of conversations. She can try as hard as she can but she never knows how to begin. Her mind suddenly stops working and becomes quiet. SheÂŽs not shy, at least she doesnÂŽt think she is. For the longest time of her life, she thought that she was an introvert but as she was getting older she realized maybe sheÂŽs just a quiet extrovert. Y/N likes to listen to people more than talk to them. She likes to be by herself but also enjoys the company of the right people.
„Okay we are here, “ Charlie said „Just try to enjoy it, it will be fun“. Yeah, his twin is boiling with excitement.
They got out of the car, her brother went to get her bags from the back and she just stood there. Just like a kid for the first time going to school, doesnÂŽt know what's waiting for them. She just realized that this is real and that what is she going to do is a crazy idea.
„Ch-Charlie I think I changed my mind I can®t do this-“
„Y/N STOP-“
Walking to her dorm room is the next thing, bags in hands trying to find her room. Finally, she sees the right numbers and she canÂŽt wait to put these heavy bags in there. She unlocked the door and walked straight to the room.
„Oh hi!“ Y/N heard from the other side, looked up and her eyes met with the unknown boy.
„I®m Percy.“ he walked up to her and offered his hand „I®m guessing you are my roommate?“ He was a little taller than her and had long brown hair.
„Yeah, nice to meet you my name®s Y-Ch-Charlie, my name®s Charlie.“ she said as she shook his hand. Damn! She needs to concentrate more.
„Well Charlie pleasure to meet you“ he smiled „I®d like to sit and talk with you but I have to go now, you can put your clothes right there, and on the left side of the door is the bathroom, thankfully every room has one so not all students have to share the same one.“  Well, at least it would be easier for her to shower. Y/N thanked him as he walked away. With a sigh, she fell right into her new bed. She started unpacking and soon walked out of the dorm. She doesn®t know where is she going but she will find out. Silently cursed at her new roommate for rushing away even though he knew she was new. Y/N was in her world passing around the corner of the hallway until someone smashed into her.
“Oh shit I’m so sorry!”
The girl moved her gaze to the voice and there was a guy, he was taller than her and looked like he was in a rush, he was holding some clothes which were probably PE uniform.
“I didn’t mean to do it I swear I didn’t see y-“
“Hey it’s okay nothing happened but damn you are in quite a rush”. she laughed and he started to rub his neck.
“Yeah, I’m heading into football practice and I’m late again, oh God my coach is going to kill me, last time he said if this happens one more time he will kick me out of the team.” he kept rumbling but the only word Y/N could catch in his sentence was “football”.
“But hey at least you are okay, I’m glad nothing serious happened-“ she cut him off.
“Wait you play football?”
“Uhm yeah, doesn’t it look like it?”. He asked in a small voice as if he was sad about it. What? He definitely looks like someone who does some sport, he is big and tall with his big arms wide shoulders, and athletic legs.
“No I didn’t mean it like that-” he kept watching her with curious eyes “-I just used to play football too and yeah, I don’t even know why I react-“ his face lit up.
“You can go with me! We have enough space in our team!”
“Thank you but am not sure if-“
“No! Please! I’m not going to force you but you can at least come and look, please-“ he was giving her puppy eyes now “-if you come with me then the coach would forgive me maybe if I said I was bringing you-“
“So that’s what it is about!”
“No! Well- maybe- but it would be cool to have someone new on our team! And we are missing a midfielder because of his injury, so you could fill up his place”. Well maybe it wouldn’t be the worst idea, she can at least try. Y/N looked up at him and nodded.
“YES! Come with me- wait my name’s Mason”
“Charlie” she introduced herself with her brother's name.
They shook hands and started to walk into a field.
„You are new here, right? I don®t think I saw you before.“-
Y/N was now standing inside the cafeteria, she was looking around for a spot when suddenly she saw Percy, he was sitting in one of the middle tables with some of his friends. Before she could do anything he looked up and saw her.
„Charlie!“ he waved his hand for her to come over to the table, his friends already looking at her. Well, there®s no way to go back now.
„Hey, I wanted you to introduce me to my friends.“ he said smiling „This is Hunter and Georgie.“ Y/N shook their hands and took a seat.
„Nice to meet you, Charlie, “ Hunter said, „so how®s the first day goin®?“
„Well I®m just warming myself in here but so far I don®t have any negative words.“
Georgie took a sip of something he had in his cup and looked at her „That®s good, if you have a problem with something just ask.“
Hunter laughed at Georgie „Yeah but I don®t recommend asking Georgie for help with a class, he is the one who should seek help with that.“
„I®m not!“ he said offended. Y/N could only laugh at their bickering. „Don®t mind them-“ Percy wanted to continue with his sentence but his eyes caught something more interesting. She followed his gaze until she was met with three girls who walked into the cafeteria. They sat opposite their table and were discussing something that Y/N®s ears couldn®t hear because of the loud noise of other students in the room. She knew that Percy knew them or at least one of them, she would be an idiot to not catch that stare he was giving them but she was fighting with inner thoughts if she should ask or not. Before she could even decide Hunter saw that and turned around to look.
„Oh, “ he said, and soon Georgie followed Hunter's action and started laughing. „you may wonder why is Percy stuck. “ he said to Y/N. „Well Charlie, the one girl in the middle is Jenna, and Percy here has been trying to get with her forever but with no answer “. Oh, so he was looking at her. Yeah no wonder, she caught Y/N®s attention pretty quickly. She was really attractive even from this far. „He tried everything.“ Georgie continued „from writing her letter and getting it into her locker, drawing her portrait and leaving it on the seat she used to sit at to ask her in person but nothing!“ he laughed and Percy punched him into his shoulder. „This is not funny! I don®t know what to do anymore!“.
„Have you thought about that maybe she didn®t see you in that way?“ Hunter asked as he turned back to him.
„Of course you idiot but at least she could give me a chance“ 
„Well, I don®t know I mean... it®s a little strange I can®t even remember if I have ever seen her with someone. There are lots of guys who wanted to get with her but she turned them down, maybe she doesn®t want a relationship now-“ Hunter still kept looking at him with a serious face „-Or maybe she just thinks you are a creep.“ Georgie said and started laughing again. Percy groaned and put his head in his hands. Y/N could only smile at this boy, he was hilarious.
They were sitting there and talking mostly about classes and professors in school. She learned that Percy is in an art club and loves to paint. That would answer the question of why he has so many paintings on the walls of his side of the room, Y/N must admit he is talented and has a unique style. Hunter and Georgie, the two boys she just met, were friendly, they always tried to keep her in a conversation and asked her questions about her last school, hobbies, and family. The girl may donÂŽt know them for too long but she can already say that she feels comfortable with them.
Y/N was speed walking out of her last class, she had a long day and couldn®t wait for it to end. Tomorrow she®s going to have her first training and she wanted to get herself some sleep. She was thinking about things to do when suddenly her body crushed into someone. Yeah, again.  She heard a small ugh and the sound of books falling on the floor. Well only her luck. She picked herself up and looked at who was the other person. She didn’t know if her eyes were making some magic on her or not. She realized what happened and started picking up her books from the ground.
“I’m so sorry- I didn’t mean to!“
“No no, it was my fault.” Y/N looked at her and was met with big doe eyes. Her brain couldn’t process what was happening. In front of her was Jenna, the girl from the cafeteria, she was wearing a school uniform and stood shorter than Y/N, her dark brown eyes, which she couldn®t see a couple of minutes ago clearly, matched her long hair.
Suddenly the door from a principal’s office opened and he walked out. „What is-?“ he started but as he looked at the scene in front of him he smirked. „Getting to know the opposite sex, are we? Male-female dynamics. All that sexual tension. It's all part of the high school experience. So continue. Please. But keep it clean, though. OK. Abstinence is key. Abstinence is... the best way to not is to not... yes.“ he slowly took back steps and closed his door.
„Well“ Y/N sighed and looked and the other girl „That was awkward... is he always like this? Friendly?“ she asked her. Jenna softly laughed „Are you kidding? That®s him being rude“.
„Okey... ehm... I®ll continue with my way.“ She didn®t know why she was acting like this. „Here are your books.“ She handed her them and shot her apology for eyes „Sorry again I didn®t mean to.“
Jenna only looked up at her with wide eyes „It®s okay, nothing happened “ she smiled „Hope to see you again“.  Y/N quickly walked away leaving the other girl behind her. Damn, she needs to put herself together.
The next day Y/N felt a lot more relaxed, she spent almost all afternoon with Mason and she decided that he just become her favourite person. He was so kind. Keeping an eye on her and always asking if she needed anything. He was outgoing and even though her new friend was the polar opposite of her social life, Y/N couldnÂŽt help but feel comfortable with Mason.
The whistle was heard from the football field and Y/N was trying to find her way of getting the ball into the net. God, she missed it so much. Her legs were running like there was no tomorrow, others got in her way to stop her but they never succeded, Y/N was too good. She knew that. In the past, when she used to play, she was one of the best, if not the best, in her team. She truly enjoyed it and now that she finally had the football ball on her foot there was no way to stop her. Y/N shot the ball into a net and it flew straight to the right top corner of the goal.
„What? Charlie! How are you this good man?“ Mason ran to her and grabbed her shoulders smiling. „And here you wanted to decline my offer!“
„Well I got a little lost.“ They started walking slowly to get their water as they got a quick pause from the coach.
Some people were sitting on the tribune but she didnÂŽt mind. This wasnÂŽt only a football field, there were a lot of sports grounds and right now there were a lot of athletes too. She scanned the chairs when suddenly she caught the girl. The same girl she saw for the first time in the cafeteria and the second time ran into. She had books on her knees and a bag beside her, her hair was waiving in soft wind. But there is no way that she came to look at the football training, right? She was waiting for someone, maybe her friend. But as she kept looking, their eyes met and Y/N quickly looked the other way. This was embarrassing. Luckily she was saved by the whistle and that made her jog her way to the coach.
At the end of her training coach called the girl on the side „Good job today Y/L/N, I would be glad if you come next practice.“ he said as he waited for her answer.
„Yes, you will see me, thank you for having me.“ He only nodded his head and walked away. Mason came to her side and was smiling widely „You impressed him today, I wouldn®t be surprised if he let you play in our next game.“ his eyebrows went up and down.
She was glad that she let herself be talked into this, Y/N hadnÂŽt felt this alive since she could remember. It was for sure a good idea and couldnÂŽt wait for the next practice. As she was walking back she shot one last glance at the tribune only to find the spot Jenna sat in empty.
Y/N was leaning on a table, they were waiting for their professor to start a class. SheÂŽs standing beside Percy, Hunter, and Georgie. They are talking about plans for the weekend. Y/N doesnÂŽt really listen she just looks like she is listening.
She was thinking about her brother and how she would call him when her class was over. He already texted her, asking how it was going and if she had any troubles. She misses him, but she wonÂŽt tell him that of course, and how could she not, he is her twin, her other half.
The teacher walked to their group with a bucket in her hand. „Everyone, please take a slip and read off the name of your lab partner.“ Percy was the first one who grab the folded paper, he got Emma Myers. Emma was one of the group of girls they saw in the cafeteria. „Oh you are lucky, she®s cool.“ Georgie says and Hunter nods at his words.
Y/N unfolded her paper “Jenna Ortega” she says out loud and Jenna immediately looks at her with a smile. “You know each other?” Percy hissed at her. “No, not really” quickly turned away with a slight hint of red cheeks. “Switch up with me please” he went to grab the paper with the girl®s name on it. “I can’t! She already heard me, what would she think?” the girl grabbed her things and went to her new lab partner.
“Hi.. so you are my lab partner?” “Yeah,” she said smiling.
„I don®t think we introduced each other the other day.“ she was hitting on the day they both ran to each other. „No we didn®t, I®m Jenna.“ she grinned. „I®m Charlie.“ She almost forgot about her brother. Y/N felt Percy®s gaze but didn®t mind him. It®s not her fault that she got lucky to get her as a lab partner, right? It happened because of something she can®t control.
“You know ehm... the whole dissecting thing kind of freaks me out. So, think you may have to take the reins on this one.” she said slowly.
Jenna leaned into the table with her eyes still on the other girl.“Wow, no guy would ever admire that” Oh f- Y/N quickly realized her mistake. What is she even saying? “Shit, you are right” Her hands started to sweat but before the inner thoughts and anxiety could grow even more the brown-haired girl grabbed her hands. “No! It’s okay you don’t have to be embarrassed, it’s cute”
Y/N moved her eyes from their hands and looked at her. God her doe eyes, they were beautiful, so innocent and pure. She lowered her gaze at her smiling lips and then her dimples, at that action Jenna smiled even wider. “So today we are going to-“ she quickly pushed her own hands away and looked at the professor acting like she wasn’t just drooling over her classmate. This will be long.
“So how it went?” Percy asked.
“What do you mean?”
“The talk with Jenna, how it went? What were you talking about?” Y/N turned to him placing books on her table. They were in their dorm right now since their classes were over. “Nothing, just school work” Well she wasn’t lying. They were just talking. He was silent for a minute, looking out of the window.  “What are you thinking about?” the girl questioned him but his eyes were telling that his thoughts were elsewhere.
“Charlie I need you to do something for me” Well this doesn’t start well. “ Can you convince her to go out with me?” “Who?” He turned to her. 
“Jenna of course! It’s just I’ve been into her-“ yeah she had noticed “-for so long and this is like a perfect opportunity for me that she will finally say yes to me.” he sat on her bed and looked up at her. In this position, it seemed like he was giving her an ultimatum like there was no other answer than the one he wanted. And like dude, there may be a reason if she didn’t say yes to you yet. He keeps looking at her waiting for the girl's answer and to be honest, for some reason, she doesn’t really like the idea of him with Jenna together but on the other hand, she can’t just say no to him. Why is she always the one who needs to please someone's needs?
“Well, I’ll see what I can do”. Y/N nodded her head and Percy instantly got up.
“Thank you Char you are a lifesaver!” he smiled wide at her and went to his bed as she just stood there looking at the ground.
At night Y/N couldnÂŽt sleep, she was thinking about what Percy said and she didnÂŽt feel good about it. Because of something, it felt a little disrespectful towards Jenna, almost unfair. But she already agreed. She will just say something nice about him and see where it will go, she canÂŽt influence JennaÂŽs decision after that and Percy canÂŽt be mad at her if this doesnÂŽt work.
She picked herself up and went to the bathroom, silently thanking God above that this wasnÂŽt a public bathroom, and could shower without being scared that someone could see her. She doesnÂŽt even know what she would say if someone finds out the twinÂŽs secret. But she doesnÂŽt want to think about that option.
A couple of days passed. The classes were good but the football practices were her favourite. Coach wants her to play in the upcoming game and she just canÂŽt wait. Mason is her right hand and he is always supporting her, now when she doesnÂŽt have her brother near, the boy is playing the role of her twin. Today she and Jenna have class again. They are talking a lot more. Y/N liked her, she was sweet and always smiling, she also found out that Jenna likes to listen to music and loves acting. She even recommended some of her favorite movies which Y/N didnÂŽt see yet. They spend a lot of time together, besides being together in class, they also sometimes hang out in the cafeteria and walk together to classes, and sometimes she even sees Jenna watching her practice. Y/N doesnÂŽt know how she found out about her being in the team but she isnÂŽt even sure if the brown-eyed girl is sitting there every practice for her.
„What?“ Jenna was shocked „How come you have never seen that?“ they were talking about films, the movie Scream to be exact. They were sitting under the tree on some bench. Students were walking around chatting, birds were singing in the trees and the sun was shining through the holes of the leaves. Y/N was walking out of class when suddenly she saw the other girl. Jenna asked her if she wanted to grab coffee since they had some free time. So now they were sitting next to each other, talking about everything.
„I have heard about it but didn®t see that, don®t know why.“ Y/N shrugs her shoulders. Jenna only shook her head at the girl.
„That®s a mistake, it®s so cool, the actors, plot, cinematography, blood-“ she started to mumble about the movie when suddenly an amazing idea crossed her mind „we can watch it together sometime!“ she let out and looked at Y/N for an answer. She only kept her gaze on her if she heard it right. She wanted to say yes but there was something in her telling her that it would be unfair for Percy.
„Yeah sure, that would be awesome“ Y/N said smiling. Jenna shot her smile back.
„Okay, so this friday?“ she asked the other girl. Y/N looked at Jenna, she didn®t know this girl would be so fast, she thought they were just talking about the possibility, not that they were already making plans.
„Yes, I should be free.“
„Great, can you give me your phone?“ Y/N gave her phone to Jenna „Here, you better text me football player.“ she said smiling as she stood up from the bench and started to walk away. Y/N laughed softly.
„Of course.“ she whispered under her breath and kept staring at her back until she couldn®t see her anymore. She picked up her phone and looked at the new contact. Jenna xx.
It was already the end of the week Y/N was getting ready to hang out with Jenna, and she texted her about the details. They are going to watch the film in the other girlÂŽs room since her roommate is going to a party. She walked out of the bathroom and saw Percy, she didnÂŽt tell him about her going out. ItÂŽs not like she has to say it to him, right?
„Hey you planning to go somewhere?“ he asked.
„Uhm... yeah, some boys from the football team asked me about hanging out with them.“ she said. Y/N hated lying but what would he say if she told him she was hanging out with the girl he had a crush on? It®s not her fault that Jenna invited her, or is it?
„Oh okay, we are going to the party some students are throwing, wanted to ask you if you want to come but it®s good.“ he only smiled at her. She thanked him and he soon left the room. It was already time to go so she picked up some snacks she bought and left the dorm.
“So? Your rating?” Jenna turned to face the other girl. They just finished watching Scream and all Y/N can say, it got her. They were sitting on the small couch, snacks around them, she faced Jenna and only the light from the TV made her see her. The girl®s hair was loose on both sides of her face, she was not wearing any makeup and her bare face only made the girl’s heart skip a beat. It was refreshing seeing her like this and also Y/N felt proud because this meant that Jenna felt comfortable around her.
“It was pretty good, not bad not good.” Y/N acted unbothered.
“Oh yeah? That’s why you didn’t blink the whole movie?” she smirked at Y/N, she squinted her eyes at her “Be honest.”
“Okay! I enjoyed it so much and actually liked the plot, that’s what you wanted to hear?”
Jenna tilted her head “That’s what I thought. What can I say
 I have a good taste.”
They kept silence between them, it wasn’t embarrassing or tense silence. It was comforting. They were looking at each other.
“Tell me about your family.” the brown-eyed girl said softly, holding gaze with the other girl.
“Well, I live with my parents and my twin sister” Jenna raised her eyebrows.
“You have a twin?” Y/N nodded at her question.
“What is she like?”
“Well
“ she didn’t know what to say, it felt weird talking about herself as if she was talking about someone else “She is cool, likes to keep things to herself most of the time, likes reading and writing poems
”
“She sounds interesting, you could introduce us to each other sometime.” she smirked at her.
“Yeah, I think she would like you”
“You think?” Jenna straightened her back “I’m amazing! Of course, she will!”
Y/N throws her head back with a laugh.
“How can you be so sure that you will meet her?”
“Oh believe me” Jenna smiled at Y/N “I know.”
Y/N felt the vibe of the room change. When she was with Jenna she almost forgot about everything and everybody, her brother, her parents, school, her and Percy®s deal, her impersonating her twin

But only almost.
next chapter
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maidragoste · 1 year ago
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The Parent Trap: Chapter Two
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Aegon Targaryen x Velaryon!Reader x Aemond Targaryen
Summary: After the disastrous divorce between Aemond Targaryen and Y/n Velaryon the twins Baelon and Aemon were separated. Each was raised by one of their parents. Baelon was raised by his father while Aemon was raised by his mother. Years later they both meet at a summer camp and discover the existence of the other. The twins realize that there are many secrets in their family, eager to discover their past, they put together a plan to deceive their parents.
Masterlist
Thank you for your support, I was nervous that people wouldn't like it because the fic wasn't the same as the movie so I'm very happy to read all your comments. REBLOGS, comments and likes are always appreciated đŸ„°đŸ„°đŸ’•đŸ’•đŸ’•
Btw, I made two playlists for this fic. One is from Aemond and the Reader and another is from Reader and Aegon. As I keep writing I'll probably add more songs or even delete some, who knows. If you have songs for me to add or are curious to know why, you are welcome to write to me in my inbox.
Disclaimer: English is not my first language so I apologize for any mistakes.
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Ten years earlier
Your leg kept moving up and down. Your eyes are constantly directed to the door, expecting that at any moment Aemond would return home. You tried to distract yourself by watching TV but you were too anxious. Your mind couldn't focus on the stupid movie because all you could think about was the positive sign on the pregnancy tests you had taken that afternoon with Rhaena and Jace by your side. You regretted telling them to leave. If they were with you they would be preventing you from locking yourself in your own mind. They would make you tell them your fears and they would try to calm you down. The three of them would be making plans. You might even be practicing with Jace how the hell tell Aemond they were going to be parents.
You and Aemond would be parents. You would be a mother. You always knew you would have children, you wanted the happily ever after with the wedding and children like they always showed in the movies, but now you are terrified. It wasn't supposed to be like this. You're barely twenty-three years old, you haven't even finished your second year of editorial editing. It was assumed that when you had children you would be at least over twenty-seven, your career—a career you were truly passionate about—would be finished, you would have a good job, and you would be married. You tried to console yourself by telling yourself that at least you're in a stable relationship. You and Aemond have been dating for three years. You two knew each other since you were little because your godmother is Aemond's older sister and then you ended up attending the same school so you spent a lot of time together. You still remember like it was yesterday how nervous you were when you first kissed Aemond during New Year's. You were afraid of ruining your friendship and that things would become awkward but he didn't pull away when you kissed him he grabbed you by the waist and pulled you closer to him. That night they hid from everyone and spent the rest of the celebration kissing. The next day they started dating. From there everything was wonderful. Like any couple, you and Aemond have your run-ins—like when you argued because you didn't like the way he behaved with Jace, your best friend, or when Aemond got mad at you because you made the two of you leave the restaurant you were having a date at. to pick up a drunk Aegon in a bar again—but there was definitely more joy than displeasure in your relationship with Aemond. You saw yourself having a future with him, you could see yourself perfectly next to him in your white dress. You can imagine Aemond putting a baby to sleep while he lulls it to sleep in High Valyrian. Are you sure you want a future with Aemond. But you're terrified of his reaction to this unexpected news. What would you do if Aemond didn't want to keep the baby? You would have to break up with him. Even though you were scared, you knew you wanted to keep the baby. That was clear to you.
You heard the door open and it didn't take long for your boyfriend to enter. You got up from the couch and went to hug him. Whenever he returned home you welcomed him with a hug and kisses. This time you held on to him longer than usual, wanting to remember the feeling of Aemond's arms around you in case this was the last time.
You were about to kiss him but he turned your face away from him making your heart skip a beat. Before you could move away he gently grabbed your chin and studied you carefully. Of course, he had realized something was happening to you when you were clinging so fiercely to him.
“What's wrong?” he asked. Aemond first wanted to know what was happening to you before you kissed him.
Once again you regretted kicking Rhaena and Jace out. At least you should have taken advantage of this time alone to practice in front of the mirror how to tell your boyfriend that you are pregnant. Or you could have called your parents to help you. Although knowing them they would tell you to keep the secret so that the three of them could plan a big announcement together. But you couldn't wait, you need to know now what Aemond was thinking. You needed to know whether or not he would be with you on this trip.
“Y/n?” Your boyfriend called you, feeling his concern growing with every second that you remained silent.
“I think I'm pregnant” You closed your eyes feeling frustrated with yourself and hurried to correct yourself “I mean, I'm pregnant” You tried not to panic as you felt him move away from you “I haven't had any blood tests done yet but I'm One hundred percent sure I'm pregnant. I took five pregnancy tests and they all came back positive.”Your nerves were evident because you were talking faster than normal and you couldn't stop gesturing with your hands.
Aemond felt as if someone had thrown a bucket of cold water on him. This was not in his plans. Right now he was focused on opening his own publishing house, he needed to focus all of his attention on that, he didn't need a distraction and a baby would be that. Taking care of a child would take up too much time. But I couldn't tell you that. I'd be an idiot if I told you that. His mother didn't raise him to be an idiot.
“Marry me,” he said, knowing it was the right thing to do. Besides, ever since you two moved in together, he knew you were going to get married. He knows that he wants to spend the rest of his life waking up next to you, he wants your face to be the first and last thing he sees, he wants to come home and always be greeted with your kisses, he wants you to tell him about your day while the two of you have dinner, He wants to hear your theories about the TV shows you watch together. Aemond wants everything with you, even the most mundane things like going grocery shopping or walking the dogs. He loves you. The only reasons Aemond hadn't proposed to you already was because he wanted to wait until you finished college and he wanted his publishing company to be established. Planning a wedding was a big deal and you two didn't have time for that. But now it didn't matter anymore. “Marry me,” he said again with a smile as he saw how you opened your eyes and looked at him as if he were giving you the moon.
You couldn't help but laugh at yourself, feeling like an idiot for doubting Aemond. Maybe it wasn't the romantic proposal you had dreamed of but you didn't care. You were so relieved and so glad you didn't have to do this alone.
“Yes,” you responded with your heart racing and tears in your eyes. “Yes!” you repeated louder this time before throwing yourself into your fiancĂ©'s arms. You began to laugh as Aemond picked you up and spun you around. Your fears were forgotten. The only thing you felt at that moment was happiness.
Present
Aemon found it strange that when he arrived at camp Rickon was not waiting for him at the entrance like the previous years. He assumed this time that the trip had tired him too much and he went to take a nap in his cabin. So he decided to go there first instead of searching for him throughout the rest of the camp. If Rickon wasn't there at least he would leave his suitcases so he could walk comfortably.
When he entered the cabin he expected to find it empty or his best friend sleeping. He never imagined that an almost exact copy of him would be found walking back and forth all over the place. Aemon is not proud but his first reaction is to scream and throw his suitcase at him with all his might.
“Dude, what the hell?!” his copy shouted, barely managing to cum in time to avoid being hit.
“What happened?!” Rickon asked, also screaming, running out of the bathroom. “Aemon you finally arrived!” He ran to hug him.
Aemon barely moved his arms to hug Rickon but his eyes did not leave the other boy who was too similar to him. The copy of him didn't stop looking at him either, the two of them were studying each other. The only difference is that the stranger had much shorter hair than Aemon and did not have tanned skin like him. But Aemon knew that if he hadn't been sailing in the sun with his grandparents just a few days ago then he would look just like the copy of him.
"Who is he?" Aemon asked breaking the hug, no longer able to stand his curiosity. If he had encountered the copy of him years ago he would have thought that it was some kind of prank by Rickon or that maybe it was an evil clone but now he knew that it didn't make sense. The only logical explanation he could think of was that he had a missing twin but that didn't make sense because his mom would never hide something as big as this from him.
“Aemon do you need glasses? It's obvious that he's a copy of you," said the dark-haired boy, earning an angry look from the other two boys. “Don't do that, it's weird,” he complained.
“I am not Aemon's copy. In any case, he is my copy,” declared the short-haired boy.
“I met Aemon before so you are a copy of him.”
“Wait, why does he know my name?” Aemon interrupted before the other two continued fighting over who the copy was. He needed to know what was going on before he gave him a headache. Although since he saw the stranger he began to feel bad. It was disconcerting to see someone just like himself. He made him feel uncomfortable. Not even Joffrey looked that much like him, and she was his brother.
Aemon wanted to know who this boy was, why he looked so much like him, and why this was the first time he had met him. But at the same time, he was afraid. He could already sense that his life would be different after this camp. He decided to sit on the nearest bed to avoid running out and ask one of the caregivers for his cell phone to call his parents to come back to look for him. Maybe he should have let Mom walk him to the cabin like she wanted.
“Your friend thought I was you, he came up shouting your name when I was with my uncle Daeron. My uncle said that he knew you and that I should stay with Rickon until you showed up. Now I see why he insisted so much."
Aemon was sure he had heard Daeron's name before but he was sure he had never met him. Without realizing it he began to move his leg up and down trying to remember that he knew about Daeron but nothing came to mind.
“I am Baelon Targaryen,” the boy introduced himself, looking at him with concern and Aemon squeezed his leg to prevent himself from moving it further. “I think I'm your twin.”
“No,” the long-haired boy denied instantly.
“Dude, we're literally copies of each other!” Baelon said, frustration evident in his voice, pointing at Aemon and then at himself.
Rickon gave Baelon a look telling him to shut up. In the few hours that he had known him, Baelon had never seen Rickon so serious, so he crossed his arms indignantly and watched silently and attentively as Stark sat next to his twin.
“I know it seems crazy, Aemon, but I really think Baelon is right,” said the dark-haired boy, looking at his friend with concern. Rickon wouldn't know how to react either if he suddenly found out that he had a twin. “The two are copies of each other. Besides, he grew up without knowing his mom and you grew up without knowing your dad. I don't think it's a coincidence. Just like I don't think it's a coincidence that Baelon's uncle knew you."
Aemon looked at his best friend before turning his attention to his possible new brother. “When were you born?”
"June 20th. I guess just like you," said Baelon, and was satisfied when he saw that his twin nodded. "I have a photo of Mom!" He suddenly remembered the photo that he had stolen from Dad a long time ago and that he had hidden in his luggage. “You can see her and confirm that she is our mom,” he said excitedly, thinking that this way Aemon could no longer deny his relationship. He couldn't help but be excited at the thought that he was no longer alone, he had a brother. He had always seen how close his uncle Daeron was to his dad and his other uncles and he remembered wanting to have the same.
Baelon ran to grab his suitcase and began to take out all of his clothes, not caring about the mess, until he found the latest Boku no Hero manga that he was reading and triumphantly pulled out one of the pages the photo of her mother with him in her arms while she kissed his cheek, her eyes were only on him, not caring to look at the camera.
“Look,” he said, handing the photo proudly to Aemon. The photo wasn't complete, it was obvious that someone had cut it in half but Baelon didn't care. That photo was one of his most prized possessions. He looked at her every day before going to sleep because he reminded him that his mom loves him.
“Oh, shit,” Aemon muttered before handing the photo back to him.
“It's her, right?” Baelon asked, watching with anticipation as it was now Aemon who was searching for something in his suitcase. Aemon, unlike him, was not throwing his clothes everywhere. He felt his heart race when he saw how his twin took out a notebook and took something out of it.
“Is this your dad?” Aemon asked, giving him a photo. Baelon nodded several times, unable to say anything out of emotion. His dad wasn't looking at the camera but he wasn't looking at the baby he was holding either. He just looked to the side with a smile.
Baelon took both photos and placed them side by side on the bed. The photo was now complete. Dad was looking at Mom. If Baelon hadn't been so engrossed in looking at the photo then he would have noticed Aemon and Rickon exchanging glances.
“I told you we're twins!” Baelon said with a big smile once he snapped out of the shock of nudging Aemon.
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oatmealdaydreams · 2 months ago
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Y'all wanted the lore, so here ya go!
@localcanadiancreature62 tagged as requested
These are both variations of the Timestuck AU, so keep that in mind. Made these two AUs yesterday in the same hour of each other because I have brainrot and there's this really good timestuck fic I've been reading that got my brain rolling (Stan Overboard by itS_JuSt_a_thought on ao3).
Teen Dreams AU
Teen Ford ends up in 2013 with old Stan. Old Ford ends up with teen Stan in the early 1970s. The teen twins are from about a year after the science fair incident; so, teen Stan is a year into being homeless & teen Ford is a year into being in Backupsmore. No one knows how the fuck the Fords swapped places in time, but they need to get them back to their own timelines. This is all about two weeks before their birthday. Old Stan gets to see how teen Ford genuinely missed him back then. Old Ford gets a little glimpse of how teen Stan's situation was for him (this is during Stan's salesman days, think around the time he got banned from New Jersey and is heading to Pennsylvania). Teen Stan learns how much Ford cares about him and is protective of him, and he learns how to let someone else take care of him for a change. Teen Ford learns how much Stan truly cares about him and never meant to actually hurt him, which helps makes his grudge look pretty stupid in the long-run. Might have some 13 yrs old Dipper & Mabel help out in 2013. Would be interesting for teen Ford is get to know his future twin niblings & also talk about them to teen Stan when he gets back to his own timeline. PLENTY of moving parts via angst and hurt/comfort and the idea of Stan & Ford's inner-teen getting healed a bit.
Teenage Challenges AU [may change the name later, idk]
This one is the longer thought-out au, so buckle in! 13 yrs old Mabel and Dipper end up back in time with teen Stan Twins. Early 1970s an entire year after the science fair incident & Stan getting kicked out. Dipper ends up with Stan, and Mabel ends up with Ford & college Fiddleford. Fiddleford is about a year older than Ford because I say so. Their dymanics with their future niblings are more like older siblings and younger siblings than uncles and nibling because of being closer in age. Reminder that everyone is still in their teen years. The young Stan twins are between 18-19, and Fiddleford is about 19-20. So, in this context, there's like a 5-6 year age difference between the Stan twins & Mabel and Dipper. ANYWAY: Stan thinks Dipper is some homeless kid and he can't just leave him on the street in the cold, especially not when he kinda reminds him of his brother. Dipper mentions just wanting to get back to his twin sister, and well that's hits Stan's heart because that sounds a bit like himself in regard to loyalty to family. On the other side of things, Mabel has this very broken Time Tape she needs to fix to get back home. She mentions needing to find her twin brother, and with the fact that she reminds Ford of his time's Stan, well he's conflicted with feelings but he does his best to help her anyway. Fiddleford and Mabel get along quite well, especially when Mabel suggests a few ideas for his death bots that he "may never use but keeps the blueprints for because he may snap one day" & Fiddleford thinks her ideas are genius. Ford starts to see a little of himself in Mabel with her optimistic outlook when it comes to discovery and circumstances. She's also pretty good at certain math stuff and Ford admires her intellect. There's so much more with this, but this is so long already.
There, it's a post now. Have fun! And if anyone wants to write something or draw something for these, feel free to do so! All I ask is that you tag me 'cause I wanna see it :D
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fadedin2u · 1 year ago
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pick up and roll the dice (ch. 1)
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read in between the lines, i know you love me

Summary: You’ve been best friends with Ellie since she moved into your neighborhood in elementary school, and now, you’re sharing a dorm room together at college. What could go wrong when you both start reading between the lines? Based on the song Hold On by The Internet.
word count: 2.5k
content: childhood best friends!au, dealer!ellie, fem!reader, college!au, modern!au, hurt/comfort, ellie’s a little bit of a player, ellie is a simp (not surprising), art major!ellie, kinda slow burn??
warnings: sexual harassment (mentioned), drug usage (weed), lots of cursing (what do you expect), men (mentioned), expect nsfw chapters in the future so MDNI 18+
notes: this is my first fic i’ve written for tlou, and it’s about damn time bc i’ve been lurking in the ellie williams x reader tags for months lmao, hope you enjoy! next chapter should be out by the end of the weekend! reblogs/likes are much appreciated :) let me know if you want to be added to the tag list!
You’re welcomed into your dorm room by the smell of pot smoke. You walk in, already in a foul mood, shaking with adrenaline and anxiety. You drop your bag on the floor and kick off your shoes.
Ellie, your roommate and close friend since childhood, is sitting on her twin bed, leaning out the window as she smokes a joint. She’s dressed casually in a pair of old sweatpants and a t-shirt, her auburn hair haphazardly thrown up into a half-bun, most strands too short to all be gathered into a single bun. When she catches sight of you, she immediately can tell something is up.
“You okay?” Ellie asks, tapping the ash from her joint out the window.
You walk over to Ellie’s bed and melodramatically collapse face-first with a “Hmmph.”
“I’m dropping out.” You deadpan, your voice muffled by Ellie’s duvet.
Ellie takes a long drag from her joint and exhales a puff of smoke before turning to you, her eyebrows raised. “Huh? What?”
She sits up, holding the joint between her fingers before she gestures for you to clarify.
“You can’t drop out. What’re you gonna do all day? Sit around and eat Oreos?”
You stay face-planted onto Ellie’s bed.
“Yup. And I’ll be lazy and happy.” You say.
It takes every ounce of self-restraint inside of Ellie to not shove you off of her bed right this second. Instead, she leans forward and nudges your shoulder with her knee.
"Babe. Honey. Sweetie. Angel-Face. Get up. You sound like a dumbass right now.”
You roll over, and Ellie notices that your eyes are red and puffy, clearly having cried before coming back to the dorm.
“Hey! I’m having a crisis!” You exclaim, folding your arms over your chest.
Ellie’s face softens and her eyebrows furrow, concerned. “Hey
 What’s going on? Want some of this?” She offers the joint to you.
You take it gratefully, taking a long drag. You shake her head, looking down at your miniskirt. “I really need to stop wearing this skirt in public
 When I was walking back here, two dudes started following me and saying weird, gross shit. I tried telling them off, but I must have looked so pathetic that they just laughed
 They followed me almost the whole way here.”
You pass the joint back to Ellie, saying sarcastically, “So, yes. In conclusion, I’m dropping out.”
Ellie is stunned silent. Her high buzz instantly fades and she reaches out to put a comforting hand on your shoulder. Ellie doesn't say anything at first, but she looks down at you with a worried expression on her face.
She puts out her half-finished joint, and scoots forward on the bed towards you. Her expression is stern and angry, and she seems utterly furious on your behalf.
“Did those fucking pieces of shit touch you? Did you call the cops?”
As she’s speaking, Ellie’s entire demeanor changes, and it’s obvious how upset these men made her. Ellie always seems to have a lot of rage built-up inside of her, but it’s amplified now.
You bite your lip, looking down.
“They didn’t touch me
 I didn’t call the cops. I wasn’t thinking clearly, I should have called someone, but I was so freaked out, and
 I’m sorry, Els.” You say quietly.
Ellie grabs your arm and pulls you towards her.
"It's okay, babe. It's not your fault."
Ellie leans forward to hug you tightly, rubbing your back.
"Those dickwipes should have never said anything to you. Let alone touched you. If they ever do that again, you tell me, and I'll take care of it."
Ellie takes a deep breath and sighs. She leans back against the wall and pulls you with her, keeping you close. You allow yourself to be pulled into Ellie’s hold, grateful, and you feel tears press at the back of your eyes.
“I’m sorry, I really don’t want to cry again.” You say, hiding your face in Ellie’s shoulder.
Ellie wraps her arms around you tighter, comforting you.
"Hey. It's alright to cry. Let it all out." She murmurs soothingly. "Don't be ashamed. You were just fucking harassed."
She holds you, continuing to rub your back and kissing the top of your head. Ellie feels sick at the thought of you hurting or struggling alone.
You sniffle as a few tears run down your cheeks, still hiding your face in Ellie’s shoulder.
“I just don’t understand what I can possibly do in those situations. And I feel like they happen all the fucking time.”
You wipe your face, “Like fucking yesterday! When I got catcalled at 8AM by the construction workers working on the new science building, and I was just trying to get to class!”
You shake your head, “I just feel so helpless in those situations, because they don’t even see me as a real person.”
"Well, you gotta make them see you as a force to be reckoned with." Ellie says, her voice stern.
She pauses, and lets out an exhale.
"These guys obviously aren't going to stop catcalling and harassing women, so either we ignore the comments, or we learn how to respond. It's a fucking shame that it has to be this way but..."
Ellie sighs and leans back. She rubs your shoulder with one hand, and her other hand gently rests on your thigh.
You feel your cheeks go hot, hyper-focused on Ellie’s hand on your leg.
“But, Els
 I can’t fight for shit. There’s no way those guys could ever be intimidated by me the way you can intimidate them.”
You wipe your face, embarrassed by your tears. “Like, how could they possibly see me as anything other than a ‘slut who’s asking for it’, if I recall what they wouldn’t stop saying to me correctly.” You say, quoting the men who followed you home.
Ellie leans in a little closer and rests her head on your shoulder.
"I think that my girl can kick ass and dish it out as good as she takes it." Ellie's expression looks serious, and she gently squeezes your thigh as she speaks.
"Like, have you ever seen those videos on Instagram where girls absolutely own some big dudes? That'll be you, dude. Trust me, I know exactly what you're capable of. You just gotta learn how to take up space."
You laugh a little, wiping your face again.
“Is this you telling me that I need to take a boxing class?” You ask, raising an eyebrow.
Ellie chuckles, and smiles as she squeezes your leg again.
"Hell yeah. Take a boxing class. I wanna see you punch a fuckin' guy's lights out the next time he wants to harass you."
Ellie pauses and takes a deep breath.
"If you're worried about money for lessons or fuck-all, you know I got your back, right?" Ellie says earnestly. "And if there's any guy who's giving you problems, just say the fucking word and I'll kick their ass for you."
You laugh again, sniffling as you hug Ellie.
“My knight in shining armor.” You joke.
You pull back, taking a breath. “Thank you though, seriously. Today was just an overall shitty day, and I’m just glad that I get to come back to our dorm and be with my best friend.”
"Anytime." Ellie's expression is soft as she smiles at you.
Ellie glances at the joint on her bedside table, and glances back at you.
"Wanna hit that? Or are you tapped-out?"
You go to pick up the joint, and use Ellie’s lighter to re-light it.
“Me? Tapping out? Please-“ You say as you smile at Ellie, taking a drag.
Ellie chuckles, watching you with a fond smile.
You pass the joint to Ellie. “Besides, I’m chilling the fuck out tonight. Today was garbage, and I don’t want to keep thinking about anything.”
Ellie chuckles and shakes her head as she takes the joint.
"I feel so bad that you had such a fucking awful day. I know you've been going through some stuff recently, so today was the absolute last thing you needed."
Ellie inhales a long drag, and looks down at you.
"Can I ask you something, though?"
You nod, “Yeah, what’s up?”
You take the joint, hit it, and pass it back to Ellie.
Ellie takes another inhale and holds the smoke in for a moment.
"Do you ever just... like... hate men?" she looks at you. "I mean, you know... with everything you experience, and the guys you described today. Like, you ever just look at a guy, and immediately start hating him?"
Ellie pauses, taking another hit, "I mean, it's all I can think about, half the time, and I just... I can't fucking stand them most of the time."
You sigh, taking a hit from the joint and nodding.
“Yeah. I wish I didn’t. I wish that most men didn’t act the way they do, but they do. It’s kinda hard not to hate people who objectify and demean you every day of your life just for existing.”
Ellie pauses before speaking, "Do you think that Joel might ever be like that? I mean, I don't think so. He's a good guy and all. Just... you never know."
Ellie pauses and sighs. She's obviously been worrying about this for a while.
"Am I being dumb? Am I being stupid for thinking like that? I don't know. I just
 I'm worried that, one day, people I love like Jesse and my dad are going to turn out to be a couple of fucking perverts."
You pause, having known Joel for years, taking a hit from the joint.
“I- I don’t know. I think they’re good people, especially Joel, but you never really know, until they slip up,” You say.
You squeeze Ellie’s shoulder, “I do really think that Joel is one of my favorite people I’ve gotten the chance to know, and I have crazy high standards for men. Your dad would never do anything to hurt you, and I don’t think he’d do anything to any one else either.”
You pass the joint to Ellie.
Ellie takes the joint and inhales, then passes it back to you.
"Yeah, you're right. You're totally right, and I know that. It's just hard, because I have such a negative image of guys right now, but you're right."
Ellie leans back and relaxes, "I just feel like I've been having some trust issues lately, and it sucks, and I've been
 paranoid about people."
She pauses, and her voice starts to falter. "I just don't want to be let down like I have, you know?”
You nudge Ellie’s leg with your knee, “Hey. I won’t let you down. Or, at least, I’ll always try to not let you down, no matter what.”
You smile at Ellie, “We’re a team. Always have been, always will be.”
Ellie's eyes light up, “That's right. We will always have each other's backs. We’re always going to be there for each other."
Ellie takes a hit from the joint, and leans back. "I love you, you know that? Even though I've been a total bitch, these last few weeks
 I need you more than you could possibly know."
Ellie pauses and looks down at you. "You are, without a doubt, the best friend I've ever had in my whole life."
You take the joint from Ellie, hitting it with a smile on your face as you internally curse yourself for getting flustered. Your head feels fuzzy from the weed.
“The feeling is mutual.” You say, passing Ellie the joint.
“I never got to ask, by the way, but how was your date with that girl
 Kaylee? Karlie?” You ask to change the subject, trying to remember the name of Ellie’s latest of many campus flings.
Ellie laughs, "It's Kylie." she corrects, smirking and nudging your thigh.
"The date was a fun distraction, even though Kylie is a complete airhead. And, uh..." Ellie pauses, her face warming with embarrassment.
"...she tried to kiss me, and I completely froze.”
Ellie takes a hit and shakes her head, "I can't believe that I turned her down! She's cute and a fuckin’ cheerleader. I should have gone for it, I probably ruined my chances with her."
You laugh a little, pushing down the spikes of jealousy piercing your chest.
“Ellie Williams froze when a girl tried to kiss her?” You tease, knowing that Ellie is normally fairly bold.
“What happened? Were you too nervous or something?” You ask, taking a hit from the joint and passing it back to Ellie.
Ellie's face is a mix of embarrassment and frustration as you tease her. Ellie pauses, thinking.
"...Well, I froze because... I
 I don't know. She seemed like a nice girl, but she's so... shallow."
Ellie sighs, taking a hit from the joint, and leans back.
"I'm a horrible dater, I know. I just have such a hard time connecting with people, I don't know."
You frown, “Hey. Don’t beat yourself up. She just doesn’t sound like the right girl, and that’s totally fine. You don’t need to get mad at yourself for not having an instant connection with a girl just because she’s hot.”
You pass the joint to Ellie, “Okay, you have the rest.”
Ellie smiles at you as she takes a hit and holds it in.
Ellie lets it out and shakes her head. "...Yeah, you're right. I just think I'm just trying so hard to find a connection with someone, y'know?"
"It's just hard to really trust someone new
 I've been hurt by a lot of people in my life, and the last thing I want is to get hurt again." Ellie explains, her freckled cheeks rosy.
You sigh, “It is really scary to be vulnerable like that with people, I
 I really fucking get that.”
You play with the hem of your skirt as you talk, “But there are people who are good, and trustworthy, and won’t leave you in the dust. I mean, you’re proof of that for me.”
Ellie's expression softens as she looks over at you
"I guess we are really similar in that way. We're both traumatized, we're both paranoid, and we're both distrustful. Fuck, who could blame us?" Ellie says with a shrug.
Ellie pauses, "I'm just glad I have you. You're the only people who I think I can really be myself around. Everyone else can fuck off. But not you."
Your stoned, hazy mind is thankfully quiet as you lean against Ellie, the two of you sat side-by-side on her bed.
Ellie’s cheeks get more pink as you do, her eyes half-lidded and red as she pulls you into her.
“Just
 Relax. You really fucking deserve it.” Ellie says softly, her voice low and raspy from the smoke.
You nuzzle your face into her shirt, closing your eyes as you melt into her, and everything is good.
Ellie looks down at you, her pupils dilated and cheeks flushed. She looks back up at the ceiling, clenching her eyes shut as she thinks, I’m fucked.
chapter 2
texts with ellie and reader
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crazybth · 7 months ago
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JJK Fic Idea
SI OC - King of Curses Itadori Jin
Even after he realizes who he is reincarnated to, it’s never too late. Itadori Jin regained his past life memories and knowledge of this world in one of the famous manga he used to read. He is already married and has a child. He shuddered by his wife who had a stitch mark on her forehead. He managed to survive the car accident and escape from Kenny. Jin thought that was all and took his heart and soul to watch over his precious son along with his dad. He now commits to being a secret overprotective helicopter dad just to make sure his Yuuji never gets near the dish soap fingers and the white paintbrush head man. It all seems fine until it’s not.
Like Gege didn’t want happiness or faith to need the same outcome despite taking a different part. To the king of curse to live on and walk on earth once again.
He almost forgot who Itadori Jin truly is.
It is him swallowing Sukuna’s finger instead.
When two were a half once split. One became two and now two becomes one once again.
But once a father, always a father. He will protect his child, even from himself.
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SUMMARY:
SI OC is reborn as Itadori Jin. He survived until the canon and successfully raised Yuuji without dying himself. Deemed to protect him from the cruel cursed world, instead, he takes Yuuji’s place by being the one to eat Sukuna’s finger. His soul merged with Sukuna and gained his powers, and unfortunately, his memories. He followed Yuuji into the world of sorcerers. While others believe he exorcised the king of curses by eating his fingers and Sukuna never awake in the modern world, he also tried to fool himself and deny what was left of the calamity imprinted on his soul. And of course, the title of the king.
P.S. I wonder why there are not many talking about him that much. I mean, he is Sukuna's twin reincarnate and technically his other half. So I came up with what if Jin is alive, being the one who eats fingers instead and they merged. And with SI Oc shenanigans with canon knowledge. Chaos insured. Twin becomes one once again and The Dad king would not let anyone touch his kid.
Just my concept story for now and might add more in the future
Thanks @overly-verbose I got major inspiration from you 😆
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the-colourful-witch · 5 months ago
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i'd love to know more about astrid cresswell if you're willing to tell us more. such as her family, is she dirk cresswell's daughter? what's her wand like? what year was she born? etc
Hiya! I can't believe you found her! I forgot I shared an illustration of Astrid on my page a long time ago :) Astrid Cresswell is my OC. And yes, I did take inspiration for her name from Dirk Cresswell, who is an Auror at the Ministry. He was one of the Aurors who was supposed to arrest Dumbledore if I remember correctly. In Order of the Phoenix. The two of them have no relation, actually. I took the last name when I was toying with the idea of her being the daughter of Dirk, but I went in a different direction. The last name kind of stuck, oops :) Anyway! Astrid!
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Astrid is a Slytherin, in the same year as Fred and George (born 1978). My story for her is:
She was raised by her dad, who is a Healer at St Mungo's, in the permanent ward. Her mother was a Muggle, who died in childbirth. Robb Cresswell, Astrid's father, never told his girlfriend he was a Wizard. Astrid grew up with her dad, who was always working. They lived in the hillside village of Ottery St Catchpole where a few more magical families were housed in the hills. Robb regularly dropped Astrid off at the Weasleys, where Molly was more than happy to look after Astrid when he went to work. And so Astrid grew up with her two best friends: Fred and George Weasley. But that friendship didn't last very long after Astrid got sorted into Slytherin House. From that moment on, Astrid and the twins became rivals. They will do anything to destroy each other, both on and off the Quidditch pitch.
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Astrid is a Chaser, the only girl on the Slytherin team. She's constantly dealing with Marcus Flint's sexist antics but is determined to play. She has something to prove, after all. Her patronus is a fox and her wand is 9 1/2 inches, Aspen wood with a dragon heartstring core. It stylishly resembles ivory; excellent for duelling and charm-casting. It's a wand made for revolutionaries but can be temperamentful, reacting to uncontrolled emotions. Astrid has two best friends: Maeve and Dorian, both Slytherins in her year. Dorian plays on the Quidditch team with her, as a Beater. He wants to be an Auror, like his father John Dawlish and is ahead of everyone in their class in all subjects. Maeve is the oldest of seven girls and the only one sorted into Slytherin. Hogwarts is the only place where she doesn't have to be a parent to her sisters. She enjoys reading and is Captain of the chess club. Oh, and she has a pet: a tubby black and white cat named Tibo. Tibo likes treats and scratches behind his ears. He has one of those loud purrs.
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Astrid herself has a toad, which is a surprisingly uncool pet for a girl of her status. He's called Samuel the Second. You don't want to know what happened to the first. Sebastian usually hangs out in Astrid's room, but she takes him with her to the greenhouses sometimes when she's doing extra credit work. And Astrid is popular! After finding out she wasn't ever going to fit in with her Gryffindor friends (not really friends anymore), she decided to really embrace the Slytherin identity. She is clever and cunning. She knows how to get what she wants. To everyone who does not know her, she is perfect. Prefect, Quidditch player, star student. Behind the scenes, it's a little more rough... But she tries. She wants to become a Healer, after a successful Quidditch career, of course.
I am still figuring out Astrid's story, but it's fun for me to work on her every now and then. I admit, it's been a while. I dream of writing a fic for her one day, but I am not much of a writer. I start with something and then I can't finish, because I get distracted and instead draw my characters. What can I say, I like to draw! Maybe one day I'll actually finish a first draft :)
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(an older version of Astrid - I don't love how I drew this)
I would like to share some more OC work in the future, but it's been a while since I worked on my characters. All the existing HP characters take up a lot of my time at the moment. One day :) I hope you like this. I'm happy to answer more questions if you have them <3
Magical wishes, Fleur
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Some more earlier concepts of Astrid..
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taurusdaylight · 11 months ago
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our rendezvous
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summary. being lost in the horizon sounds scary, but not when you're hand in hand with your lover.
pairing. boyfriend! jaehyun x implied fem! reader
genre. established relationship! au, fluff
word count. 4,021
warnings/tags. as far as i know, nothing :) it's only a little angsty because of uncertainty about the future, but nothing too intense! very very fluffy,,,, maybe a lil pda (oh?)
a/n. ur resident valentine is back! i'm so sorry for going off the grid, my life has been a blur over the past few months
 i did nothing and everything. anyway, this is inspired by none other than horizon (soty!) and i was very lucky to have had the opportunity to visit florence, where the horizon mv was filmed, so i knew i had to write this! after finishing it, i realised it's rather similar to my first fic but what can i say, i love jaehyun travel! aus, plus, jaehyun and forever just go together. <3 hope the new year is treating everyone kindly, and as always, have fun reading~
–
Navigating life after graduation was akin to walking through a maze, struggling to find a way out. Growing up, you always thought that everyone’s life had already been nicely written out since there were only two things that truly mattered: school and work. The adults always preached about how good academic records would land you a great job. All your life, you never failed to achieve and maintain stellar grades so you never doubted that you would get a job. Yet, as the day of your graduation approached, you started to worry that you might not end up finding a job. Or at least, one that was to your liking.
The thought of working for the rest of your life sounded
 boring. Perhaps an oversimplification, but you always made sure to put a hundred percent into your studies, so you felt like you never really had the chance to live your life the way you wanted to. You weren’t a party animal per se, but you wouldn’t hesitate to skip a night out with your friends if you had an important deadline to meet. It was always academics over everything else. Apart from meeting expectations that others had on you, the fear of failure haunted you too. More often than not, the urge of wanting to disappear creeped into your mind. It didn’t seem like a bad idea, running away to some random part of the world where no one knew you. Once you’ve spent enough time there, you could easily travel to another city and explore till your heart’s content. That was the dream. Unfortunately, this particular dream of yours never came true.
That was, until now.
Treading the path of adulthood was admittedly scary, you could slip and fall at any given moment and not know how to pick yourself up. But, you weren’t on your own. 
Jeong Jaehyun, your boyfriend of two years, shared the same sentiment. Sure, he was ambitious and had his goals set out. Like you, however, working himself to death wasn’t one of the things on his list. Jaehyun believed that it was important to strike a balance, to not throw yourself into something so deep that you would get lost in it. Working may be important but it would never hurt to have a little fun whenever time called for it. 
You first met Jaehyun in Introduction to Film Studies. Both second-year students, you and Jaehyun clicked extremely well with each other as you bonded over your shared love for films. What started as study sessions to help each other with assignments eventually progressed to warm, cosy movie date nights that also involved cuddling under a fluffy blanket on Jaehyun’s couch. 
While there have been minor arguments over those two years, you and Jaehyun always made sure to communicate. After all, a couple is supposed to fight the problem, not each other. The both of you understood that. These disagreements never bothered you that much because you believed that they were part and parcel of every relationship. Instead, you wondered more about how lucky you are to have found someone like Jaehyun. As you liked to put it, Jaehyun was your twin flame. He spoke to your soul in a way that no one else could.
Instead of taking the conventional route of starting a full-time job after graduating, you and Jaehyun booked one-way tickets to Rome the week after your final exams. How long the both of you were going to stay there for, that was a question for another time. The plan was to have no plan, going wherever your feet took you. Both of your parents weren’t exactly agreeable about this idea, nagging about how irresponsible and irrational it was. But what could they do? It’s not as if they could physically stop two grown adults from going. Eventually, they were able to come to terms with it and simply asked the both of you to stay safe. 
It’s been about three weeks or so since you two arrived in Rome. Tranquil mornings without a blaring alarm was something that you could really get used to. The icing on the cake would be waking up to the sight of Jaehyun sleeping peacefully next to you, an arm securely draped around your waist. His lips would slightly jut out, you would sometimes sneak a kiss or two because he simply looked too adorable to resist. 
A day out together would look something like sitting by an artwork in a museum, coming up with various interpretations or hopping from cafĂ© to cafĂ© to try out different desserts (which were often, gelato), you couldn’t count with your fingers the number of times the staff had to chase the both of you out because they were closing. Time is said to fly past when you’re having fun, but even more so when you’re spending it with the love of your life. At least, that’s what you think. 
The both of you woke up earlier than usual today because you’d turned in early the previous night, probably exhausted from all the walking. The sun wasn’t up yet, which meant that there were limited stores that were operating during this time too. It felt like a waste to sleep in and laze around in the apartment, so came the impulse decision of buying last-minute train tickets to Florence. 
“C’mon baby,” Jaehyun half-shouted, his gaze flickering between you and the platform located at the other end of the station.
Hands intertwined, you and Jaehyun were sprinting as fast as your legs could carry you in order to catch your train that leaves in approximately two minutes. Or rather, you were doing everything in your power to match Jaehyun’s speed because why was he running like he was competing in the Olympics? So much for wanting an athletic boyfriend. 
You were almost out of breath from running, you didn’t even have the energy to give Jaehyun a verbal answer. Instead, you tried to speed up like he told you to. After what felt like a hundred miles, the both of you finally reached the platform, boarded the train, and settled down into your allocated seats. 
“Oh my goodness. We are never doing that again,” you said, panting. 
Jaehyun shot you a wide grin. “Now that’s what I call an intense leg day.” 
You were rendered speechless. Here you were, thinking that he was going to agree with you. But you also remembered that Jaehyun was a gym rat first, your boyfriend second. Jaehyun goes a little over the top with exercising, you could tell that much just by looking at his physique. Though, you wouldn’t say that it was exactly a bad thing. In fact, what a sight for sore eyes he was
 
Before you had a chance to respond, Jaehyun used his other hand to push your head towards his shoulder. “Go to sleep, doll. Don’t want you feeling cranky in the middle of the day because you didn’t get to take your daily nap. I’ll wake you up when we’re reaching.”
Despite not being able to see him, you could hear the smile in Jaehyun’s voice, which caused you to grin too. Perhaps it was Jaehyun’s shoulder that made you comfy, but you could feel the sleepiness slowly start to envelop you, so you snuggled even closer to him.
“Good night, Jay,” you said before falling into slumber.
–
The train ride took faster than expected, probably because you were asleep throughout the journey. Upon alighting, you and Jaehyun walked aimlessly along Via Faenza. You stopped in your tracks when you caught the pleasant aroma of coffee beans coming from a café, it was so inviting that the both of you had no choice but to enter.
Save for the long line of people in office-wear queuing to get their morning coffee fix, there was no one else occupying the seats in the cafĂ©. Wanting to be away from the crowd, you and Jaehyun made your way to the corner booth seat situated all the way inside after getting your order. You sat next to each other, with Jaehyun's arm wrapped around your waist. Your torso was slightly exposed because of the cropped top that you wore, and Jaehyun’s fingertips easily found purchase on your skin. Soft traces all over, which oddly enough, made you feel tingly and warm simultaneously. 
“Jaehyun,” you called out.
He turned to look at you. “Hmm?” 
“Do you regret being here with me? Don’t you feel like you’re wasting your life away?”
Jaehyun halted his movements, but he did not loosen his grip on your waist. His answer was written all over his face, from his creased eyebrows to his frowning lips. 
“Of course not, baby. Did I do or say something to make you think that way? I’m sorry if I did,” he said sincerely. 
“No, you didn’t do or say anything of that sort!” you quickly clarified. “I think I’m just worried about the future, you know? Once all of this is over
”
A small smile played on Jaehyun’s lips as he removed his arm from your waist. He cupped your face in his hand, sighing. “I wish you could see yourself the way I saw you, because then you’d have nothing to worry about at all. You’re going to do great things, ____. I’m sure of that. But for now, just let loose and enjoy yourself, okay? You deserve to have a break.” 
Jaehyun’s words could bring you to tears. He radiated so much positivity that it naturally rubbed off onto you, especially with the amount of time that you spend with each other. However, there were still moments of weakness, like now, where you’d inevitably think about how things could possibly go wrong. Before you could spiral into a whirlpool of negative thoughts, however, Jaehyun would pull you right out of it by telling you exactly what you need to hear in order to help get you through these times.
“Thank you,” you whispered, leaning in to place a gentle kiss on Jaehyun’s cheek.
Jaehyun made a sound, as if to signal that he was pondering. He pointed at his cheek and tapped on it with his index finger several times. “One more?”
You couldn’t help but giggle at his request, but who were you to deny him? Since you were feeling generous and grateful to your boyfriend, you quickly moved closer to give him two more kisses. One on his cheek, and the other on his lips. The best part was seeing the Cheshire cat smile appear on his face after he’d received his well-deserved kisses.
For the rest of the time at the café, you and Jaehyun were people-watching through the glass window while sipping on coffee and feeding each other small spoonfuls of pastries. At some point, random passer-bys became a part of a guessing game that started out of nowhere. Dating or siblings? What would their coffee order be if they came in here? The both of you had a lot of fun making up stories to back up your answer, boisterous laughter sounding through the place. 
Afterwards, you and Jaehyun continued wandering through the streets now that more stores have opened. An apparel store selling headwear caught Jaehyun’s eye, and he spent about twenty minutes or so looking through the bucket hats. Taking one in his hand, he tried it on and started making silly faces at you while dancing. 
“Stop it, you’re embarrassing me.” You reached a hand out in an attempt to remove the hat from Jaehyun’s head, but he swiftly avoided you.
He held on tightly to the hat. “I think this was made for me. I’m definitely getting it.”
The hat didn’t look bad on him, but it was still
 questionable. A helpless sigh escaped your lips when you knew that nothing you say would change his mind. “Okay
 as long as you’re happy.” 
Fortunately, Jaehyun didn’t have thoughts of wearing the hat there and then. Because if not, you would think twice about walking next to him.
The next few stores mostly sold vintage items and souvenirs. You and Jaehyun ended up getting matching gnomes that had the initials of your first names carved into it. While checking out at the counter, the cashier made a comment about how cute the two of you look together and that the gnomes were such fitting choices, so much so that they looked like mini versions of you two. With shy smiles, the both of you thanked her before exiting the store. You also noticed the tinge of red on Jaehyun’s ears, but kept quiet about it since you were most likely a blushing mess yourself. 
Then, it was time for lunch. 
You and Jaehyun had previously crafted a mini bucket list, and one of the things on the list was to try the various types of pasta while you were in Italy, so that’s what the both of you had for lunch. It appeared that all the shopping must have taken up a great deal of your energy because the both of you still had an appetite for dessert afterwards, or, rather, gelato was considered a staple so there was no way that dessert could be skipped. 
Although it was sunny, the summer heat wasn’t unbearable so you two were at the outdoor seating area of the gelato cafĂ©. Within the vicinity of the cafĂ©, there was a group of children playing catch with one another. After finishing the gelato, Jaehyun dragged you along to them. 
“Ciao! I’m Jay,” he introduced with a friendly smile. 
You introduced yourself to them too and stood behind Jaehyun, hiding slightly. You didn’t have anything against children, but you still considered them to be strangers, and you always had a hard time talking to strangers due to your reserved nature. You barely had any experience with children too so this was still foreign to you.
On the flipside, Jaehyun adores children. You could see it in the way his eyes would light up whenever he interacted with him. Not to mention, he was great with children (an understatement, if you had to be truthful). Seeing Jaehyun with children always made your heart swell, in a good or bad way, you weren’t sure
 The only thing you were certain of was that you definitely wanted to have his children.
While you were spacing out, Jaehyun was quick to ask and memorise the names of the children. He played around with them for a bit and made sure to include you as well, the game of catch was never so fun before. However, it wasn’t long before you got tired, so you opted to sit at one corner to watch them. You whipped out your phone to capture this moment, giggling at how precious Jaehyun looked. Happiness looked great on Jaehyun, and you hoped that it would stay on him for a long, long time.
All of them grew tired after a few rounds too, putting an end to the game. While they were busy running around, you discreetly returned back to the café and told the cashier that you would be paying for the children to get gelato. You also grabbed a bottle of water and gave it to Jaehyun, who was perspiring profusely; indeed, an intense leg day it was for him. 
Through body language and very poorly spoken Italian, you tried to tell the children that they could go pick out the flavours that they wanted at the café. You were far too preoccupied with communicating that to them, the endearing look that Jaehyun had on his face went unnoticed by you. Thankfully, the cashier was there to bridge the language barrier and they managed to get their gelato without any hiccups. Before leaving, each of the children gave you and Jaehyun a hi-five, a word of thanks echoing after one another.
Having spent almost the entire day in that area, you and Jaehyun decided to explore another part of the city before catching your train back to Rome. Long before this trip, you happened to stumble upon a website about the top spots that offered a picturesque view of the city. One of which was a twenty minute bus ride away from where you and Jaehyun were currently at. 
When the bus arrived, you and Jaehyun entered by the back door and sat down. You were busy admiring the old architecture of the buildings outside until you felt Jaehyun’s hand touching the side of your face. You realised that he was trying to put one side of his wired earpiece in your ear, which caused you to turn and face him, and you saw that he already had the other side of the earpiece in. Jaehyun was smiling so widely that his dimples were showing. You brought a hand up to poke it, feeling a sense of victory because you were one of the very few people in the world whom he allowed to touch his dimples.
Shyly, you took Jaehyun’s hand and interlocked your fingers together. No words were exchanged between the both of you, but there was a mutual feeling that this exact moment perfectly encapsulated the love you and Jaehyun have for each other. Tender, somewhat otherworldly in a way where everything, like the chatter of the other passengers on the bus, seemed to fade out in the background. 
As Can’t Take My Eyes Off You started playing through the earphones, you took it as an opportunity to mouth to Jaehyun, “I love you.”
Jaehyun’s dimples became more prominent at your sudden declaration. He made sure not to break eye contact with you before he mouthed back, “I love you.”
–
“Look!” you exclaimed, pointing toward the replica statue of David. It was the first thing that you saw after alighting from the bus.
Jaehyun turned his head to look at what you were pointing at. “Wow, it’s stunning."
The both of you hurriedly walked over to take some photos, which ended up in you and Jaehyun bursting into fits of laughter because he was imitating the statue and posing in the same way. It definitely earned you a few stares from the other visitors, but you and Jaehyun were too busy laughing to even notice that you two were getting judged. 
After snapping a few more photos, you and Jaehyun went to the other side of the square where you could see an overview of the city. It was breathtaking, to say the least, the both of you concurrently marvelled in awe at how it looked like a scene straight out of a movie. You could even spot the street that you two were at earlier in the day, as well as many other famous landmarks. Not to forget, the surrounding trees and mountains made it feel more complete, it was a perfect getaway from the bustling city for some peace and quiet. 
The both of you were standing at the top of the stairs, and you saw that there was a walking trail below. Due to time constraints, however, it seemed more logical to sit and admire the view, since neither of you knew how long the walking trail was and where it led to. Besides, it was a perfect spot to catch the sunset before you had to leave for the train station, so you two sat on one of the steps near the top where you had an unobstructed view of the city.
Like before, you and Jaehyun were listening to music together while holding hands. Other than humming along to the song, Jaehyun would also sing some of the lyrics to you, especially if it was a sweet or cheesy line. 
“Can’t believe I get to be here with you.” Even after some time had passed, you were still greatly impressed by the scenic view, in disbelief about how you could share this moment with your lover. The bright orange hues of the sun added more colour to the backdrop, it felt surreal watching it slowly go down.
“Me too,” Jaehyun replied almost immediately. “It feels like a dream
” 
“If this is a dream, I don’t want to wake up from it,” you said while shifting closer to Jaehyun’s side. “Like, ever.”
“I want to stay here with you forever.” Your voice came out as a whisper, because deep down, a part of you was afraid that this happiness would be taken away from you abruptly. 
Yet again, Jaehyun made one of those sounds to indicate that he was thinking, which made you gasp in response.
“You don’t want to be with me?” you questioned, a look of betrayal on your face.
“No, silly,” Jaehyun chuckled. “Of course I want to be with you.”
Jaehyun let out a deep breath, as though he had to brace himself for what he was going to say next. “The thought of eternity feels scary. But if I know that you’ll be there with me, then
 there’s nothing to be scared of. I think, for me
 forever is where you are, wherever that may be.”
Silence ensued, music playing through the shared earphones being the only source of sound. Jaehyun gulped awkwardly when he noticed that your gaze was fixed on him, but you weren’t saying anything. “Did that come out wrong? I don’t even know what I’m saying sometimes. But I guess I was trying to say that–”
You cut Jaehyun off with a kiss. He smiled against your lips, causing you to do the same. Jaehyun’s hand travelled to the small of your back to pull you in before he tilted his head to the side for better access, going straight for your upper lip to return the kiss. It was slow, delicate, and everything you could ever ask for. You sighed when you felt Jaehyun’s hand running over your skin; he knew exactly what he was doing. Every kiss that you shared with Jaehyun never fell short of being exhilarating, which was one of the great things about love
 or Jaehyun. Perhaps, both. 
He was the first to pull away, staring intently at you with a cheeky smile on his face. Jaehyun leaned in closer until he could bury his head into the crook of your neck, leaving another kiss on your collarbone. You wrapped your arms around his frame, hugging him as tightly as possible. You and Jaehyun stayed like this for a while until you heard a lady yelp from a distance away, her loud voice grabbing your attention.
As you looked up to find out what the commotion was about, tears immediately filled your eyes and you had to do everything that you could to hold them back. 
The said lady was standing by the railing, both hands covering her mouth. In front of her was a man, down on one knee, holding out a box with a diamond ring. You tapped Jaehyun’s shoulder so that he’d sit back up, and he turned to see what you were looking at. All of the other visitors were also invested, as everyone patiently for the lady's answer. 
Everything happened so quickly. The lady nodding and getting pulled into a hug by her fiancĂ©, the crowd erupting in cheers and applause–a truly sweet moment to witness. Without thinking much, you blurted out, “that’s going to be us.” 
Jaehyun diverted his attention back to you, shaking his head. Seemingly biting back a smile as his lips formed a thin line, Jaehyun jerked his head to motion at something behind you. “That’s us.”
You were about to protest, pop another question that was something along the lines of whether or not he was planning to marry you. However, you remained quiet and decided to take a look at what he was referring to first. 
Well, it looks like the urge to complain has completely disappeared. How could it not? Rather than dissatisfaction, your heart leapt with joy when your eyes landed on a couple standing hand in hand at the other end of the steps from where you and Jaehyun sat; they were having their pre-wedding photoshoot.
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emisprocrastinatingbywriting · 2 months ago
Text
Alone and Forsaken
Chapter Summary:
Four years later and Joel cannot believe the way his life has turned out. As he prepares for what he hopes is one of the best nights of your lives, will his fears get in the way of his future?
Warnings: Fluff, Smut, Soft! Joel, Possessive! Joel, Talks of Past Trauma and Character Death (Minor), Neither Joel or Reader Need a Hug For Once, Talks About The Future, Love <3.
A/N:
Hey y'all, I've missed you and this story so much that I decided to write an epilogue. This has a bit of a time jump and we are checking in on them four years after the last chapter. I won't ruin it for you but heads up, this is a whole lot of fluff and a whole lot of smut. I do fill in some blanks for you all since the dust has settled a bit, but I also wanted to feed my readers some filth after tormenting you for twenty chapters. If you guys want to see this pair again, my requests are always open but until then, that's all folks! I will starting a new series soon so stay tuned if you liked this one. Thank you for reading my first fic, I know it isn't perfect, but it has been a blast. Love ya <3
Epilogue: Alone and Forsaken, No More!
An amused grin stretched over Joel’s weathered face, his eyes following the little girl with a wild mane of curls as she chased a stocky boy across the backyard. Ellis’s chunky little legs worked hard, hard enough to keep him safe from the snake Alba was taunting him with, but he wasn’t quite as nimble as her. She screeched in delight as she gained on him, laughing maniacally at his terrified screams. If he were a better parent, perhaps he would have scolded her antics, but it was hard to do that effectively when he himself couldn’t hold in his own laughter. 
Even after four years, Joel found himself in constant awe of the dumb luck he had stumbled upon. Finding you had changed everything, leading him down a path that was more interconnected than he could have ever imagined. It had been almost ten years since he lost Ellie to the fireflies and condemned himself to a lifetime of solitude, and even longer since he had lost Sarah. Although the two girls still held their rightful places in Joel’s heart, he no longer let the sting of losing them eat him alive. Ellie and Sarah hadn’t been squished to the side with the arrival of the twins, rather his heart had expanded so that it could fit everyone inside. 
There were still days where Joel missed them so much that getting out of bed seemed impossible but instead of keeping it all in, he talked about it. Speaking about his girls breathed life into them once again and allowed their siblings to get to know their sisters better. He smiled with each question the twins threw at him about their favorite colors or their favorite books, willing to go on for hours if they wanted him to. The simple act of remembering, a feat that had once terrified him, was the thing that patched the holes in his aching soul. That, and the love of the one person who had been able to peel back the steel welded around his heart. 
Without his mate, Joel would be nothing more than the grieving shell of a man you had found waiting to die in the woods. It was bizarre for him to think about that day, and how different his life had become because of it. That morning his nightmares had pulled him out of sleep, just like they had for the past twenty four years. What had he been dreaming of? Joel couldn’t remember, all he knew was that whatever it was had served as yet another painful reminder of his failures. The morning was a blur to him now, but he would never forget standing over that trap, lifting his nose in the air as notes of lavender and peppermint drifted over to him from the river. With so much time in complete solitude, Joel remembered thinking he had finally gone insane, before a quiet whimper had smacked him in the chest and dragged him towards the rushing waters. 
After that day, Joel was in a constant state of awe at how ridiculously fortunate his life was. How could a sad sack of shit like him happen upon someone so beautiful, so understanding? It seemed impossible. And the fact that you loved him back? Well, that was a shock that he was sure he would never shake off. During the time at the cabin, the first home you shared together, Joel felt like he was always waiting for you to change your mind, like at any moment you might come to your senses and abandon him. But now? After everything the two of you had been through, he was pretty sure he deserved this slice of peace. He deserved to grow old with you at his side, watching as his children actually surpassed their teenage years and became adults. 
Five years ago, with a fresh bite mark proudly adorning his neck, Joel had gone to the river to refill the bucket after a failed breakfast attempt, only for the but of a rifle to slam into his face and knock him out. The next few weeks had been hell, followed by even more hell once he finally found you hacking soot out of your lungs as you crawled out of a burning chapel. He shivered, thinking about how his heart had broken in two as he cracked your ribs under the weight of his CPR compressions. It was like Joel was dying alongside you but the second you opened your eyes, gazing upon him for the first time in weeks, he felt himself come back into his body once more. 
The chaos that ensued after your near death experience was still something Joel couldn’t quite wrap his head around. Paul’s remaining men coming after the two of you as you healed in a lumpy childhood bed was one thing. But the cult that had stripped you naked and tried to bleed you dry in an abandoned pool? If Joel hadn’t seen it himself he would’ve thought it was bullshit. And just when he was sure he had you secured within the safe embrace of Jackson’s walls, his future had almost been snatched away again. First by the ghosts of your shared pasts, and then by the residents who had shown up to the house with pitchforks. 
Joel chuckled, thinking back on that day with kinder eyes now that a few years had passed. One thing about life was that it was filled with ups and downs, with hard losses and victories. And it just so happened that for whatever reason, mother nature had been on his side that day when the both of you were thrown face first into carnal need. Nobody could have predicted it, especially since you had only gotten the go ahead by the former town doctor to get down and dirty if you so dearly pleased. But for whatever reason, your heat had come back with a vengeance, tearing a rut out of Joel like it was nothing. He remembered you climbing him like a tree in front of the frustrated group of locals, growling at them and begging him to take you inside regardless of the crowd. 
The brief interview the both of you had been forced to sit through after Maria sent the residents away was a blur now. All Joel could remember was feeling extremely uncomfortable that his little brother and sister in law were around to see his cock straining against his jeans as he tried to muscle through the biological response you had ripped out of him. Meanwhile, he had also been tasked with trying to keep his heat fueled mate from ripping everyone’s throats out. Luckily, the small group of people you called family had come to defend Joel’s family, an act of loyalty that he would never be able to fully thank them for. 
With the looky loos dispersed, the next three days had been intense, filled with Joel trying desperately to stake his claim on you, as if he could somehow fuck a protection spell over you in case the worse came to pass. And you were no different, spouting possessive words as you marked in any way you could. He wasn’t entirely sure, but the event seemed to have prolonged the experience, so much so that the two of you had been dehydrated and exhausted by the time it finally petered off. There was no conversation about the situation during the relentless bouts of pleasure, only a silent understanding that whatever happened, you would deal with it as a team. 
Nevertheless, Joel had been sure that he would be lugging bags across Wyoming when the dust settled. Of course he never told you that, preferring to leave it until you had both regained some sanity, but he couldn’t help the feeling that he was running out of time in the home the two of you had made. The anxiety that had plagued his being had fueled his depravity, as he tried not to think of the impossible task of keeping his two newborns warm and above all else, quiet, as the two of you returned to the cabin. Joel didn’t even want to go there, he wasn’t sure what sort of state it was in or how many supplies he had left, but it seemed like the only option if Jackson ousted his family. Nevertheless, when the dust had settled and his rut had finally quelled the heat raging inside of you, he was surprised to find that the sky had not fallen during his time away. 
Joel had prepared himself for a war to protect his family from the scorn of Jackson. He had grimaced when you suggested a walk to the center of town, preferring to get it over with rather than wait it out, but what else could he do? After picking up the twins from Jake’s house, another factor that had him on edge, the two of you had set off to find Jackson’s fearless leader. Joel held Alba tight to his chest, so tight that the normally feisty newborn seemed to sense her father’s discomfort and relaxed in his arms. 
Every passerby was a possible threat and Joel remembered asking you multiple times if you needed him to take Ellis. It wasn’t because he thought you weren’t strong enough to carry an eleven pound sleeping pup, it was because he was convinced the both of you would be sprinting out of town the second Maria caught wind of your freedom. Joel was the muscle, but you had all the speed, which meant that the twins would be safer in his grasp while you covered him from any incoming danger. As much as he hated to think about going to war with his mate, he trusted in your abilities to fend for your family. Except the fight that Joel was so sure of never came to pass. Upon reaching the main square and approaching his brother’s terrifying mate, he was shocked to find that his family was old news. 
The incessant complaints of more than a few residents had dogged Maria at every turn while the two of you were indisposed, which had forced her to make an executive decision. There weren’t many options, either she tore her own family from their homes in the middle of what was the most intimate of times between mates, or she followed the path of least resistance. Maria had swiftly dismissed the two of you outside the dining hall that day, ignoring the questions sent her way about what the future would hold. Although she had been quick to dismiss any questions about nepotism, given the fact that the path she chose to follow just so happened to benefit her own family through marriage, Joel had his doubts. 
Tommy too left the two of you wondering, as the beta was uncharacteristically silent on the matter when approached thereafter. Maybe Maria wasn’t quite as unbiased as everyone believed Jackson’s fearless leader to be, or maybe she just hated the thought of separating two pups from their parents. Either way, Joel knew that he’d spend the rest of his life being thankful that she had opted for the option that kept his family away from the horrors of the outside world. 
The tale that had been concocted was just what the Jackson residents needed to spice up their monotonous lives, like something out of one of the many teen dramas Sarah used to make him watch. It featured the classic archetypes. There was your mother, the woman who had abused for so long that when her daughter went missing, she finally snapped. And there was Cooper, the incessantly disparaged younger brother who had almost had everything taken by Paul. A deal was supposedly made in secret once the two collaborators within Jackson were found, one which led to their eventual deaths. The entire town ate every bit of it up and gossip about the incident flooded the streets for months afterwards, each version getting more extreme than the last. 
Joel almost wished he had been there to see the trial, but he knew that it was probably for the best that he had been too wrapped up in his rut. It would have been hard to watch two innocent people take the blame for the crimes he had committed, and even harder to keep you from jumping to their rescue. Not that they needed saving. 
Much to Joel’s amusement, the town didn’t blame either parties for slaying the men that had worked alongside Paul’s former group of assholes and Aspen’s remaining faithful followers. All they got was a sharp slap on the wrist in the form of community service and a quick rise to the status of local legends. He tried not to be too miffed about it, reminding himself that he should be thankful that the two were willing to brave the extra attention for the sake of the people he held dear. Plus, Joel couldn’t get around the fact that at that time, his track record in Jackson was pretty awful, with everyone still remembering his grief fueled, drunken antics from years before. Still, the fact that they would’ve easily written his family off because of him had agitated him a bit, but he let it go. 
Luckily, since that fateful day four years ago, Joel’s image had been slightly refurbished, which he attributed a large chunk of to his family’s reputation. It was hard to believe that Joel was a complete monster when his mate was the town doctor and the twins were so damn cute. And with his slight reputational rehabilitation, came a small perk in the form of a new job. Taking on the role as the handyman for Jackson was not something Joel had seen himself doing, especially with how most residents had avoided him like the plague during the first year of coming back to town. But after the relentless fighting he had faced for decades and two backbreaking years with the twins running circles around him, he was exhausted, and not just physically. 
Joel was tired of kissing you goodbye, knowing that you would be worried sick until he rode through those gates again. He was tired of the forever changing patrol schedules, of leaving his family alone in the dead of night or on hectic mornings when neither of the twins felt like cooperating with their parents. He was tired of missing things whenever something went bump in the night outside of Jackson’s walls, like the time he had missed Ellis standing for the first time while he was taking down a wayward group of infected. So, after a long conversation with his beloved sister in law that had ended with him literally begging her, he gave up his spot on the patrols for simpler employment, the kind he had done before the outbreak. 
There was a never ending list of things for Joel to tinker with in Jackson and for the first time in a long time, he was actually proud of his work. Sure, it wasn’t the most glamorous job, but it was what he knew, and he was good at it. He spent his days filling an endless supply of work orders, fixing broken things and supervising construction jobs until he could sprint home to his family. It was a perfectly uncomplicated life, one that he had assumed to be off the table for him since that devastating day in 2003, and he fucking loved it.  
Despite the fact that raising two rambunctious kids was at times back breaking work, Joel tried his best to rise to the occasion. There had been multiple occasions where he felt he might crack under the pressure, but luckily he had a good foundation. He had you, someone who walked by his side, unshaken by the things that would make even the mightiest of alphas shake in their boots. It was because of you that Joel was sure he could do it all and more. The two of you had formed a united front for the rowdy pups that were weaving between the trees in the backyard, giving what the other lacked so that the twins would never go without. Which was why Joel wasn’t surprised to hear your concerned voice come from behind him as Alba shoved Ellis into the dirt with a wicked grin. 
He didn’t blame you for worrying about their wrestling, you had never had a sibling to fight over toys with. If only you had seen him and Tommy at their worst; practically strangling each other over shared action figures, or shoving the unexpecting party into a pile of horse shit when mom and dad weren’t looking. Perhaps then you would understand that the harmless tussling of two four year olds with weak limbs was nothing to write home about. In fact, as long as it didn’t get too rough Joel sanctioned it, knowing that it would make bedtime ten times easier. 
“Shouldn’t we be doing something about that?,” you asked, making him turn from the scene unfolding outside. 
Joel lit up at the sight of you clad in a set of light blue scrubs, beautiful as ever. He smiled wide, unable to tamp down the giddiness he felt as he stepped forward to embrace the woman that had set his soul ablaze. Dropping a loving kiss into your hair, he indulged in a heady whiff of your scent, as if it had been days rather than hours since he smelled it. There was a slight bite of chemicals, likely from the antiseptic used at the clinic, but he ignored it in search of a hit of the good stuff, of the delicious smell of his scent nearly overtaking your own for the first time in four years. Joel’s scent mostly cloaked your own as it pumped out of your pores, signaling to everyone in town that it was his pup you were carrying. And if his scent wasn’t enough, the swell between your hips was getting harder to ignore, proudly boasting yet another addition. 
This pup, much like the last two, had taken you both by surprise. Except that it wasn’t like before, when Joel had deluded himself into thinking everything would be fine each time he spilled inside of you, only to freak out when nature came knocking. He didn’t fear being a father anymore and after the twins had surpassed the terrible twos, he even humored your subtle hints about adding another to the mix. However, after four years of constant lovemaking, whether it was fueled by hormone induced mania or not, there was no sign of another life. It didn’t matter that Joel had stopped trying to pull out mere months after the twins were born, or that you locked your ankles around his waist to keep his cum plugged inside almost every time; your womb remained empty. 
Joel had chalked it up to his age, assuming that his swimmers had probably gone dormant with time. He was aware that before the outbreak there were some alphas who were crazy enough to have kids well into their eighties, but after a lifetime of endless physical injuries and the inability to test his sperm count, he convinced himself that his reproductive abilities had somehow been compromised. Who knows? He had been stabbed and shot so many times in the abdomen, maybe something had gotten nicked. There would be no way of knowing if Ellis and Alba were miracle babies, and with you being a perfectly healthy candidate for motherhood, he knew that it had to be him that was the problem. 
Which was fine, Joel didn’t mind the twins being the only children he would have with you, they were more than enough. Still, he couldn’t help feeling guilty about not being able to give you the one thing you wanted, the one thing he was specifically designed to give his mate. Although you had adamantly claimed it was fine, that you were perfectly happy with the life you had been given, he saw the yearning you felt as you walked by one of the few pictures of the twins that hung along the walls of the house, especially the one that had been taken when they were barely a month old. Or the jealousy that you had tried to hide when Maria gave birth to a little girl two years earlier. Or the way you looked at even your best friend’s incessant additions to his family. 
The longing on your face was enough to break Joel’s heart and so he kept trying for you, even though he was sure it was a lost cause. What else could he do? To reject your attempts would be to admit the truth, that the likelihood of another pup was probably slim to none and that it would probably be best if it was dropped altogether. Nevertheless, you remained persistent, ignoring every sign that the attempts were futile for yet another year, until he had completely forgotten why you were so keen on jumping his bones to begin with. Which of course, was when it happened. 
After an exhausting illness had knocked you down at the end of May, accompanied by a familiar distaste for meat, it became clear that a test needed to be taken. Joel had dropped the twins off at Tommy’s that night, terrified of what the fallout would be if you weren’t pregnant. However, nothing could have prepared him for what he came home to that night. He had been ready for an average, vaguely tense stroll to the clinic with his mate, only to be forced into a set of dark clothes so that he could sneak through town like some sort of burglar. 
For the last year, the clinic had been run by a new head honcho, you. The training with the previous doctor had been completed just before the twin’s second birthday, allowing the elderly woman the luxury of finally being able to retire. It had taken almost a year for you to get the hang of handling the ins and outs of being in charge, which was why you didn’t want to shock the nurses who had just gained trust in their fearless leader. According to you, there was no reason to start a panic about maternity leave for what could be the flu. So, the two of you had used the cover of night to sneak through Jackson, infiltrating the clinic like it was some sort of grand heist rather than a trip across town for a pregnancy test. 
Of course, that was the day where the clinic was fresh out of tests, meanwhile the ancient ultrasound machine had broken for the millionth time. With no other option, you decided to do it the old fashioned way, hoping like hell that you were far enough along for there to be a heartbeat. Joel had sat patiently as you dug the stethoscope out of your desk, grumbling about the clinic’s lack of supplies until your hands slid across the cold metal. He took a deep breath as you shoved the buds in your ears, watching as you pressed the circular end to your abdomen. It took a few slight adjustments but then he saw it, the way your eyes lit up with a gasp before you tore the ear buds out so that he could listen. With shaky hands he had taken the stethoscope, straining to hear it. You shifted a bit and there it was, a little heartbeat fluttering in his good ear, a new life carving more space for themselves inside of his chest. 
The two of you had cried, holding each other and making nonsensical promises that ended in a round of passionate lovemaking against your desk. It was stupid to fuck in your workplace, especially when any nonsuspecting Jackson resident in need of medical attention could waltz in, but neither of you cared, too hopped up on the good news to stop. Joel had plowed into you with abandon, incessantly praising you as his cheeks burned from smiling so hard. 
That night had been one month ago and Joel was still riding that high as his two four year olds battled in the yard. It was different this time around. The first time he hadn’t been ready to be a father again. He was scared shitless for your entire pregnancy, constantly doubting himself and praying that he wouldn’t fuck it up again. Tragedy had chased him before and he was convinced that at any moment, his life would collapse in on itself yet again. But none of that happened, Joel had two healthy pups and a woman who loved him. And in four to five months, there would be another pup for him to care for. There was nothing for him to fear anymore, only the satisfaction of having a life that was truly worth living. 
“Joel?,” you huffed, breaking Joel from the spell he was under. 
He hummed, “They’re fine baby, best they get it out now before bedtime.” 
A frustrated sigh fell from your lips, but after one more glance towards the backyard, you nodded. Joel kissed your cheek, trying to distract you from the wrestling pups. They would be fine. If they truly needed a time-out from one another, he knew that one of them would have already started screaming at the top of their lungs. 
“How are my girls today?,” Joel murmured, pressing his hands against the bump to hold his pup. 
You snorted, “Puh-lease, you always think it’s going to be a girl.”
“I do not.”
“Mm hmm, yeah you do. It’s exactly what you said last time,” you pointed out. 
“I mean
 I was kinda right though,” he shot back. 
A snort came from you, followed by a smack to his arm that made him squawk and chuckle. With an almost audible roll of the eyes, you brushed past him to get a better look at the pair that tussled in the grass. 
“Only half right,” you grumbled as you peered out at them. 
The snake had been long since forgotten, probably yanked from Alba’s hands by her older brother once it had gotten too close to his face. Although Ellis had been screaming bloody murder just moments before while his sister was chasing him, Joel knew all too well that his son had been blessed with his father’s temper. A fear of snakes could easily be overcome once a certain threshold had been reached, a threshold that Alba loved to test at every turn. 
Ellis wasn’t like his sister, he wasn’t sporty or sociable. He preferred to spend his days quietly coloring or pretending to read books that were far too advanced for his age, though Joel had a sneaking suspicion that he knew more than he was letting on. If Ellis wasn’t somewhere with a book, he was shadowing one of the grownups in his life, either following you through the clinic like he was some sort of intern or watching Joel fix something in his workshop like he was learning the ropes. It was crazy how much of a little man the boy was. There were times when Joel wondered if his real son had been swapped at birth for a younger version of himself. He couldn’t help it. Every time Alba’s antics were shut down by a pointed look from her older brother, all he could see was himself and Tommy. 
However, unlike her Uncle Tommy, Alba didn’t often push for more than Ellis could give. Usually, one outburst was all she was looking for, as if shattering the illusion of his maturity was the only thing she was after. She was smart enough to walk the line of appropriateness like a tightrope to keep herself from getting in trouble. When Alba wasn’t picking on her brother, she spent most of her time tracking down one of her parents to play whatever needlessly complicated game she had made up at the top of her head, or begging anyone that would listen to take her to the park so that she could blow off some steam. Joel was close to building her an at home gym so she could exhaust herself, anything to keep her from bouncing off the walls. 
They were complete opposites, which meant that a bit of tussling was necessary to keep any grudges from forming. Joel peered out the window, chuckling a bit as Ellis finally gained the upper hand in the brawl. It took a lot to get his son to engage, but Joel was glad to see him rough house like a regular four year old. They fought over a toy, forming a small heap of flailing limbs as they grappled with each other. It made him laugh to see the doll being fought over, especially since he knew Ellis didn’t give two shits about it, likely trying to get a bit of revenge on his sister for bothering him. The kicks were a bit more enthusiastic than before, teetering on the verge of parental intervention, but Joel held back to allow them the chance to correct themselves. 
“I don’t like it when they play like that,” you commented, the small crease between your brows deepening as you watched the twins roll around in the dirt. 
Joel sighed and stepped closer, wrapping his arms around you so that he could bring his chin to your shoulder. He smiled at the two, remembering the scar on his left elbow that he had earned from a particularly rowdy game of Kill The Carrier with Tommy and the neighborhood kids. 
“Relax honey, s’not like that. They’re brother and sister, a bit of play-fighting is good for them. Plus, if one of them wasn’t keen, you know that we’d fucking hear it. Hell, the people manning the gates would probably hear those two hollerin’,” Joel pointed out. 
Alba was the worst for it, but both of them had the strongest lungs he had ever seen. During their time as toddlers, Joel was perpetually thankful that the hearing in his right ear had all but disappeared in the years since settling in Jackson, as it ensured that their shrill cries were at least somewhat drowned out by years of damage. Meanwhile, you had been left with ringing ears and splitting headaches that were so bad that tylenol had become your best friend until they grew out of it. 
“I guess you’re right,” you sighed, melting back into him. 
Joel leaned down and kissed your cheek, ghosting his lips over your neck for a second for another hit of the delicious aroma you emitted. He smiled against your skin as you tilted your head back a bit, allowing him more room to peck at the sensitive skin. His mouth watered as he peppered kisses all over, trying to keep his groans to a minimum so that the moment wouldn’t be over before it had even started. Lately, the twins seemed to have a second sense for when their parents were about to engage in some much needed adult time. Joel knew that, but he was hoping that if he stayed as still and silent as one possibly could while sucking hickeys into their mate’s neck, he would fly under their radar. However, the warning you let out soon pulled him from that fantasy. 
“J-Joel, wait. You’ve gotta - shit - gotta cut it out. We’ve got incoming.” 
“Mom! Dad! Alby’s mean, she chased me wib a snake!,” Ellis exclaimed, causing his sister to immediately come to her own defense. 
“Well Lis is a stoopid butface who's scwared of snakes AND he took my dolly!,” Alba shouted back, sticking her tongue out at him for good measure.  
“You’re the butface!,” he gasped indignantly, like being called a butface was some affront to his personal character. 
At times, Joel had to remind himself that he was the adult, which meant that he couldn’t laugh at the petty arguments of two wound up four year olds. Plus, he was not completely without blame for the situation at hand, as quite a few cookies had slid their way after he picked them up. Joel couldn’t help it, all it took was one flash of the puppy dog eyes and he was folding like a piece of wet paper. Still, he knew that he had to stay strong before the two of them started screaming about who was the biggest buttface of them all. 
“Alba Miller, that ain’t a very nice thing to say. And what have I told you about buggin’ your brother? If Ellis doesn’t wanna play, you gotta let him be. Now, say sorry to him,” Joel admonished from your side. 
“M’sorry Lis,” Alba mumbled, kicking at the carpet as she stared at her feet. 
He nodded at his daughter’s apology, “Thank you sug’, now how about you Mr. Man?” 
Joel turned towards his son with a raised eyebrow. Ellis sighed, stubbornly flashing his eyes at his father’s request. It had always been that way, from the second Ellis refused to take his first breath, to when he had ignored Joel’s attempts to get him to look up during tummy time, to his adamant rejection of any set of clothes that wasn’t picked out for him by his mom. Whereas Alba didn’t care enough to be tied down by a simple apology, or the slight corrections from either of her parents, Ellis was tougher to break. 
Well, for Joel at least. The both of them listened to you unconditionally, while he often felt like they were only humoring his corrections. He didn’t blame them, he too hung off your every word. 
“I’m sorry Alby, you’re not a buttfwace,” Ellis gritted out, glaring at his father one last time for good measure. 
Being chased around by a snake and then tackled to the ground wasn’t typically what the four year old boy preferred to be doing, so Joel allowed his poor excuse for an apology slide. If the discarded coloring book and crayons that laid against the lawn were any indicator, it had been an ambush. 
“Why don’t you two go get cleaned up? I brought home some chili that Uncle Jake made for supper,” you suggested. 
The pups looked at each other, raising their eyebrows in question before they tore out of the sunroom like two bats out of hell. They shoved each against the table in the breakfast nook, against the walls, against anything that could slow the other’s pace as they raced towards the stairs. It was only when you chastised them that they slowed down, although Joel knew that it was all for show. The second that they passed the dining room, which marked them as officially out of their parent’s sight, the pace picked up once more. 
“God, they’re going to make me go gray,” you groaned, sighing as you turned back toward him. 
Joel snorted, “Guess that leaves me shit out of luck then, I’m already there.”
What little brown Joel had left in his hair when the two of you met was almost gone, as the salt had started to completely cover the pepper, but he couldn’t complain too much about it. At least he wasn’t balding, and you didn’t seem to care. Plus, there was something about seeing himself grow old that felt like a victory. He never thought he’d live long enough to see it.  
“I love it, you’re my handsome silver fox baby,” you cooed, lovingly raking your hands through his curls, “I wouldn’t want you to change a thing, just keep being your sexy self.” 
“Whatever you say darling,” he hummed, eyes sliding closed as you rubbed circles into his scalp, “I’ll dye it fucking pink if ya want, just keep doing that.” 
A giggle came from you as Joel slumped forward, pressing his face into your neck so he could huff at the skin there. The magic of your fingers soothed each muscle in his body, until he felt like he was practically asleep standing up. Joel could spend eternity as he was, basking in the scent of his pregnant mate while she rubbed all his aches away. But he knew that with two pups, that was a pipedream. 
Until the kids were grown, Joel would have to make due with these scattered moments. But oddly enough, he didn’t mind being resigned to a few seconds of solace each day. It just made the time all the more special. And in that particular moment, with all of his strained muscles being addressed, he couldn’t help but smile at how perfect this small piece of the puzzle was. 
“Did you fix the breaker in the schoolhouse?,” you asked, speaking directly into his left ear so that he could hear you properly. 
Joel nodded groggily, “Yeah, it didn’t take me long. S’why I picked ‘em up so early.” 
“You know,” you chuckled, “Most dads would be thrilled to have some downtime. You could have left them with my mom and gone home to take a nap. With how late you stayed up with Ellis last night, I wouldn’t have blamed you for it.” 
How terrifying had it been for Joel to wake up as he had the previous night. The first thing he had seen was a small face that resembled his own, peering down at him with the focus of a deranged serial killer. Without even blinking, his son had stood there in complete silence, causing Joel to nearly jump out of his skin. Close to cardiac arrest, he had almost lunged at the small demon in front of him to protect his pregnant mate that was asleep beside him. 
But as the post-dream haze faded, Joel was relieved to find that it was just Ellis who had crept into his room after a bad dream. So instead of chanting the tiny bits of scripture he could barely remember from Sunday school to ward off a child-shaped demon, Joel spent his night reading to his son. He held Ellis close to his chest for hours, rocking him and whispering about Amelia Bedelia’s adventures until the little boy had finally dropped off around four thirty that morning. 
“Wasn’t so bad, he had another bad dream about fucking David Bowie,” Joel groaned, shaking his head at the thought of Ellis’s blubbering about the goblin king, “Plus, I wanted to see them.” 
“We shouldn’t have let them go see that stupid movie,” you sighed, “But in my defense, I had never seen Labyrinth before! Tommy said it was supposed to be for kids.”
Joel had a cheeky response, but a loud BANG echoed from upstairs, signaling that at least one of the human tornadoes were on their way. Given the swiftness of the little feet and how the steps halted at the room next to the bathroom to pound at the door until a muffled voice snapped at her to cut it out, it had to be Alba. 
“Well, I guess I can’t be mad at you for wanting to spend time with them,” you sighed, feigning a disappointment that caught his attention, “It’s a shame though, I heard you had left work early, so I thought I’d join ya. Had something special planned but whatever, there’s always next time.”
He blinked, “What? What did you have in mind?” 
“I thought we could pick up where we left off this morning.”
Joel choked on his own spit, his eyes widening as he thumped himself on the chest to cough it back up. Face was beet red, he finally caught his breath and narrowed his eyes at your sly grin. It had been far too long for you to be poking the bear, especially with how close he had been that morning. The two of you had gotten up early, both half dead from lack of sleep but desperate as he shimmied you out of the baggy sweatshirt of his that you had slept in. 
Neither of you had cared about how tired you both were or the morning breath, all that mattered was finally getting to feel each other after weeks of failed attempts. Joel had almost made it, teasing your drenched slit with his throbbing cock when a flurry of fists had slammed against the locked door. The doorknob had shuddered from one of them trying to figure out a way to break in and he sighed, groaning as he felt the moment slipping away. With no other choice, he had pulled away and dressed the two of you quickly before they beat down the door. 
Joel was quite literally starving, ready to die if he didn’t feel the tight embrace of your walls around him soon. He didn’t know how many times he had given himself a pitiful release in the few spare moments he had, holding up a pair of your used panties to his nose as he imagined what it would be like to have you splayed out for him once again. It was starting to get downright pathetic. And there you were, waving a first class dinner right in front of his face like it was some sort of joke. But little did you know, he already had a plan set in motion for tonight that would ensure the two of you got some much needed alone time. 
“Christ honey, ya can’t just say things like that to me. How am I supposed to live with myself knowing that I could be breakin’ that sweet pussy open right now?,” Joel whined.  
“Guess you’ll have to make it up to me with a little midnight snack,” you giggled, nipping at his throat in a way that made his stomach clench, “I just hope they actually stay in bed this time, it's been too long baby.”
Joel smiled wide, thanking his lucky stars that he had secured a babysitter as another playful nip to his pulse point had him close to laying you out on the ratty old futon in the sunroom. It’s not like it would have been the first time he had fucked you on it, but he refrained. Now was not the time for a quickie.
“Don’t you worry sweetheart, we just gotta put ‘em down. I’ve already asked and your mama is gonna do the rest for us,” Joel murmured. 
“My mom? What? Why?,” you asked, abruptly pulling back from his heated skin. 
He shrugged, “Figured we could use some alone time honey, so I called in the big guns. Been too long, I need ya all to myself. Wanna take care of my girl tonight, without anyone interrupting us. S’that alright darling?” 
Joel smiled at your enthusiastic nod, leaning down to steal one soft kiss from your lips as two sets of uncoordinated feet touched down on the first level of the house and sped towards the kitchen. The two of you broke apart with matching sighs, giving each other one last longing glance before turning towards the door. He motioned for you to go first, watching your hips sway as you left him behind in the sunroom. It took all of his strength not to lunge forward and tear your jeans off with his teeth, but the two little gremlins that raced into the room put any thought of that sort to bed. There were more important tasks that needed to be attended to, like getting them to sleep so that he could whisk you away for the night. 
After dinner, Joel was meticulous with how he spent the rest of the night. He kissed you on the cheek, promising to watch them while you did some self care until your mom came. First, he challenged the twins to a race in the backyard, which inevitably led to multiple rounds due to the fact that they were almost as competitive as their mother. All he had to do was lose a couple times and they ousted him from the activity, labeling him as a slowpoke before they continued to fight it out for number one. As they exhausted themselves, Joel cleaned the discarded toys around the yard, biding his time until one of them said uncle. In the end, it was Alba who won the final round, as Ellis had finally decided that the bragging rights were not worth the effort. 
Next, Joel worked through a plethora of books, trying to tire their minds as much as their bodies. He kept going until they slumped against the couch, their eyelids starting to flutter as they fought sleep, which signaled that they were ready for the final step. After filling the tub with the salts you made him use when his back hurt, Joel placed them in the warm water and watched as every bit of fight left in them melted away. They were both so out of it that they didn’t even react when their grandmother knocked on the front door, too busy trying to keep themselves upright to notice the muffled sounds of the two of you talking in the entryway. 
Joel gently rinsed the shampoo from their curls, chuckling at their little yawns and sleepy sighs. As tired as they were, it was easy for him to maneuver them however he wanted, which thankfully cut the usual bath time in half. It didn’t take long for the twins to begin to sway and he plucked them from the steaming water, chuckling as they groaned through the process of him drying and redressing them. 
Even with as tired as he was, Ellis refused to go to bed first, clinging to one last bit of stubbornness for the sake of reasserting his place as the eldest. Alba was too sleepy to argue, already gone by the time her head hit the pillow. She didn’t even react as Joel drew the sheets up around her and placed a kiss against her chubby cheek, completely dead to the world. He whispered a soft -  love ya sugar - before he pulled away, smiling as Alba snuggled deeper into her pillow in lieu of a response. It was only when he turned around that he noticed that Ellis was also fast asleep at the foot of her bed, too overcome with exhaustion to stay awake despite his adamant refusal just moments before. Joel smiled at the sight of the two of them, shaking his head as he slipped his arms under his son to carry him towards his own bedroom.
Since their third birthday, the twins had started to sleep apart. Ellis had been placed in the room next to the plum bathroom, as he was more likely to need it in the middle of the night. Which left Alba in the room at the end of the hall, due to the fact that she slept like a damn log no matter what. A storm could blow through the house and she’d be none the wiser. It had been a hard separation, one that neither of them particularly liked at first, but the change was necessary. 
Their petty arguments and late night shenanigans had started to get out of hand. All it had taken was one midnight adventure into the backyard for a game of tag and the line was drawn. Joel had almost passed out when he had passed by their empty room that night, letting out an actual cry for help that had lifted you from the depths of sleep in an instant. Half cocked fears had driven him to a state that he hadn’t been in for years as he tore through the house, tears threatening his waterline as he convinced himself that the past had somehow finally caught up to him. Meanwhile, you had been ready to call in the calvary, rightfully believing the same as him. However, after the two of you had looked outside and seen them playing in the dark, the decision to separate them had been made in an instant. 
Plus, with another Miller on the way, their old room would soon find a new occupant. It still looked the same as it had when they were infants, although it had gone through a couple much needed updates for the incoming pup. All of the sets of two had been split apart, with the extras carefully stowed away in the basement in hopes that another surprise addition wasn’t on the way. A new coat of paint brightened the walls, along with a few paintings that their excited siblings and cousins had made for them. All the room needed now was the pup. 
As Joel walked into Ellis’s new room, careful not to trip over the art supplies and books that littered the floor, the pup let out a small whine. He slowed as he neared the bed, trying not to jostle his son as he lowered him onto the sheets. A hand came up and gripped Joel’s collar, as if even in sleep Ellis knew that his father was trying to make a hasty escape, and he smiled. Stubborn didn’t even begin to cover it when it came to this one. 
“S’alright buddy, your Papa’s gotcha. M’here sweet boy,” Joel mumbled into his son’s ear as he slowly pulled the tiny fist away from his chest, “I love ya buddy, but ya gotta relax. S’alright, your mama and I will be back before ya know it, just sleep Ellis.” 
Ellis relaxed at his father’s words, completely knocked out by the time the quilt was drawn up under his chin and a kiss was dropped into his hair. With both of the twins asleep, Joel eased himself down the hall, careful to avoid all of the creaky spots along the way. The last thing he needed was a restless child coming back from the dead while he was trying to make a break for it with their mom. As quietly as he could, Joel slipped into the bedroom, holding his breath for a moment after the door clicked shut. When two sets of feet didn’t come bursting down the hall, he sighed in relief, thanking his lucky stars that the plan actually worked. 
“Did they give you any grief?,” you called out. 
Joel walked over to the bathroom, leaning against the door frame with a grin on his face as you smeared a clear goop all over your face. It was the sweet smelling stuff that you coveted, forever trading far too much for a small bottle in order to ward off any wrinkles. He had laughed when you told him the reason behind the pricey trade, only to be snapped out of his joking mood by the glare you had sent his way. Joel had switched gears after that, reminding you that you were the most beautiful woman in the world, while also jokingly pointing out the fact that his own aged face was basically made of leather. That had earned him a smile, but the goop remained a part of your routine and he learned after that to keep his mouth shut about it.
“As much as I appreciate the down time, I can’t believe you managed to get them both in bed that fast completely by yourself. What did you do? Bribe them? I read two full chapters of my book AND did a full in-depth shower before my mom came, that literally never happens.”
He laughed, “Nah, I tired them out with some laps around the backyard and a bunch of books. All they needed was a hot bath and boom, out like a light. Ellis was asleep before we even got back to his room. He did stir a bit just before I got him down, but he was out again by the time I tucked him in.” 
“Hmm, I bet he was faking it. Ten bucks says he gets up and sneaks in with his sister again tonight,” you challenged. 
Joel laughed and shook his head.
“You don’t have ten bucks baby and even if ya did, what the hell would I do with it?,” he shot back. 
“Shit, ten kisses then?”
“Yeah, alright sweetheart,” Joel agreed with a lovesick grin, ready to give them to you either way, “I’ll take that bet.” 
You smiled and turned back towards the mirror to finish your routine. Meanwhile Joel drifted over to the sink, not to halt your movements, just simply wrapping his arms around you so that he could watch from over your shoulder. He took note of every step, following your fingers as they dotted some of the thicker goop under your eyelids. The soft circles you rubbed into the sensitive skin below your eye had him in a trance, a low hum rumbling in his chest as he slumped into you.
Joel’s chest tightened as you pressed back into his embrace, the warmth of your body against his chest making him sigh. The look you gave him in the mirror was worth a million words, a million lifetimes filled with nothing but utter bliss, but he’d have to settle for trailing loving kisses down the side of your neck for now. 
The beauty of holding you in his arms was not lost on Joel, you were the only person who had ever crept through the cracks of his gnarled soul to catch a glimpse of the truth of his being and understand it completely. To be seen for who and what you are, that’s something people dreamed of even before the outbreak, or at least he had. The minx you were, you had come when he least expected you, infiltrating his self imposed imprisonment to tear open his chest and engrave your initials on the inside of his ribcage, forever marking him as yours. It made Joel want to swallow you whole, to weld his arms around you so that he could forever be a part of you, but he couldn’t. You were the sun, the stars, and everything in between, all a mortal man like him was bound to do was worship you and pray that it was enough.  
“How am I supposed to focus when you’re doing that?,” you chuckled, sighing as he snuffled at the bite mark he had left years ago. 
“Mmm, I have faith in ya honey. Just do your thing and I’ll keep lovin’ on ya,” Joel mumbled, voice muffled against the crook of your neck as he continued to nip at the skin there. 
“Alright cowboy, how about you focus on getting ready, hm? I doubt my mom is going to be too happy if she hears us banging up here when we’re supposed to be heading out,” you reminded him, drawing him out the ocean of love and lust that your presence drowned him in. 
“Yes ma’am.” 
Joel gave you one last kiss, lingering for a few seconds longer before he abruptly slapped you on the ass and walked away. A faint whine slipped from your lips and he paused in the doorway, throwing a smug grin over his shoulder that had you rolling your eyes despite how flustered you were. Joel laughed and drifted over to the dresser, filled with nerve racking excitement for the night he had planned. He tugged off his dirty clothes with a cheesy grin still plastered on his face, slipping into a cleaner pair of jeans and one of the only shirts he owned that didn’t double as work clothes, only for a singular glance into the mirror to shatter his confidence. 
For the first time in his life, Joel found himself wondering if his outfit was okay. He stared at himself, tugging at the fabric around his midsection and legs that had grown tighter in the last few years. It wasn’t that Joel was particularly unhealthy or overweight, his job in Jackson ensured that his body had remained strong. Nevertheless, four years of proper food and a comfortable life had left him with a softer tummy and thicker thighs. A flash of anxiety tightened all the muscles around Joel’s heart, ancient worries nipping at him that he tried his best to brush off. It was way too late in the game to be worrying about if you thought he was handsome or not. For Christ’s sake, you had birthed two of his kids and had another on the way. He shook his head, trying desperately to get it together before he let the panic get the best of him and called the whole thing off. 
A frustrated sigh fell from Joel’s lips and he paused, dipping his fingers into the gel he had borrowed from Tommy to tame his curls. He raked his hands through the silver strands, downright disgruntled as he tried to convince himself that he didn’t look completely absurd. Sighing at the sight of himself, he decided to leave it and moved back out of the bedroom. If you loved him as much as you said, he supposed that his newly acquired thickness and aging features wouldn’t bother you. 
Joel crept down the stairs, careful not to alert any restless pups as he made his way to the first floor. Babysitting the twins could be a handful, and he had promised that they would be asleep for your mother by the time she came. The last thing he wanted was to leave her with two excited grandkids after she had already been the one tasked with watching them all day. Especially with all she had done to ensure his plans went off without a hitch. 
“Has she figured it out yet?,” your mother called from the couch as he touched down onto the first floor, marking her place in her book so that she could look up at him. 
Joel shook his head, hoping like hell that he was right. Tonight had been a bit of an all hands on deck situation, which meant that he had to trust not one, but five other people to make it happen. Sure, he knew that Cooper, Maria, and even the woman in front of him could probably be trusted enough to keep a secret. But with two chatty-cathys like Jake and Tommy involved, Joel was in utter disbelief that the whole thing hadn’t fallen apart on day one. 
“I think everyone kept their word but Jake and her are like two peas in a pod, so I ain’t completely sure,” he sighed, “Who knows, the clinic has been so swamped that she’d probably forget it if he did tell her. Reckon I could’ve left the damn thing right on the dresser and she’d probably would've walked right by it on the way to bed.” 
She scoffed, “I’d prefer if you kept the ring somewhere safer than that until you have the chance to give it to her. I didn’t bring it halfway across the country and save it for over twenty years, hiding it from her stepfather and then those sick pricks who kept me in that damn brothel, just for you to lose it by being careless.” 
“Yes ma’am, I-I didn’t uh
 That was a dumb joke, I wouldn’t do that,” Joel answered quickly, face flush from the shift in her tone.
The woman could still be as ornery as ever, but Joel knew enough not to fight her on the subject. He was right, it was a dumb joke to make, especially when he knew how precious of a thing it was that she had given him. In the time since her arrival to Jackson, your mother had softened a considerable amount, especially for her grandkids and the daughter she was still trying to mend fences with. The kindness had even been extended to Jake’s family, as well as Tommy’s, but Joel was still kept at an arm’s length. 
Joel didn’t blame her, he probably wouldn’t have liked anyone his older daughters introduced to him if they had made it that far, and he had a funny feeling that the same would be true for the twins. Who could possibly be perfect enough to deserve his kids? They would have to be a world class children’s surgeon, who somehow doubled as a school teacher and volunteered with the elderly, all while curing every disease known to man, in order to get his approval. Afterall, they deserved the best. Still, Joel knew that there was no way your mother hated him entirely. If she did, she wouldn’t have given him her most prized possession. That had to count for something. 
“I went up there to help Jake with a few things and it,” she stopped and cleared her throat, “... It looks nice Joel, really nice. I think she will appreciate it. After everything that I
 Well, all I was ever worried about was keeping her alive, so much so that I couldn’t see how miserable she was. I’m glad she has someone who does things for her, someone that keeps her safe AND happy.” 
The compliment was rare, so rare that Joel wasn’t sure what to say for a moment. Some of the ice in her eyes had melted and for the first time ever, he could see a small twinkle of something. A quiet excitement radiated off of her, so subdued that the untrained eye would have missed it, but it was there. A veil of grief still masked it, like many of the other positive emotions she exuded, but he could see how happy she was for you despite her own pain. Joel understood that grief, could sense how hard this was for her as someone who had lost the only man she had ever loved, and he wished there was something he could say. But Joel only knew of the past from your perspective, and he knew even less about the father you had lost well over twenty years ago. There were no words that could fix that type of pain, so instead he refocused on her praise. 
“Thank you, I want it to be perfect. I love her so damn much and I uh
 Well, I know that it ain’t much but I want her to feel um - to feel
,” Joel trailed off, slightly uncomfortable gushing about his mate in front of such a severe woman. 
She waved off Joel’s attempts at an explanation, giving him a look of understanding that calmed his frayed nerves. 
“It isn’t about material possessions,” she sighed, looking away from him, “Her father and I never married, but that was my choice. Abe showed his love in other ways instead. He built me a house, he let me pursue my career over his, he gave me a daughter who is so much like him that it hurts sometimes
 The ring didn’t matter to me and he knew that.”
“So why did you keep it?,” Joel froze as her gaze snapped back towards him, fearing he might have overstepped, “I mean, shit. I’m sorry ma’am, I don’t know why I asked that. That’s not really any of my business, I just meant -” 
“It’s fine, you should know if you’re going to give it to her. I hated the thought of it, being someone’s wife just felt like admitting defeat to me. She never met my parents, but they were hard people, very strict and religious. God, I hated them so much but it’s funny, you always end up becoming the one thing you never wanted to be,” she chuckled. 
Joel felt his heart break for the unfortunate woman, standing there in silence as she worked through the past she tried hard to avoid. He wondered if you knew any of this. There had been many conversations, hard and awkward as they may be, between you and your mother since settling in Jackson. It had helped the two of you to come together, but he knew there were still a lot of things she hadn’t been able to fully express to you just yet. 
“Anyways, none that matters now I guess. I met her father and I finally had a family. He understood, so he never pushed me to marry him
 Even if his mom was always asking when she’d see us under the chuppah,” she laughed, softening as she remembered your grandmother, “When she died, Abe took her ring for our daughter. She was the only granddaughter so
” 
“So, he figured it should go to her someday,” Joel finished. 
“Yes, but it was more than that. She’s not like me, Joel. Even as young as she was when he died, Abe knew that she’d want it someday, that she’d want all of the romance that came with a commitment like that, just like he did. That’s why he kept it, because he knew her
,” she said wistfully, getting a little quieter as she added, “He was always so good at knowing people.”
A beat of silence filled the air and Joel didn’t move to fill it, letting her have a chance to breathe. This was the most your mother had ever spoken to him about
 Well, anything. And the information session on the family you barely remembered? That was priceless. There was no way Joel was going to ruin it. He watched as she straightened up and peered into his eyes, looking directly into his soul as she continued. 
“Everything good in her, all of that hope she has, comes from him. She is completely of him, not me. When Abe died, I promised to keep it for her until she found someone that would love her. I never gave it to that bastard Paul, I’d sooner toss it in a lake. I have made a lot of mistakes in my life, but giving you that ring was not one of them and I know that her father would agree.”
Another beat of silence passed, one where Joel stood in quiet astonishment of your mother’s words. Never had any of that information been divulged to him. Of course you had told him stories about the father you had lost over the years but not many, which he attributed to either the pain that still lingered or the simple fact that you had only been five years old when he died. There were stories about ice cream trips, dressing up in silly costumes for Purim, and how he treated your family with such care, but that was it. Joel had been able to put together that he was a good man, but to learn more about him from an adult’s perspective, someone who could actually paint a picture that wasn’t faded around the edges, that was everything. And to be given the blessing of not just your mother, but the man who had loved you both so much? It was everything to him, as your mate, as a father himself. 
“I
 Thank you, I never knew any of that. She hasn’t uh
 Her memories of him are few and far in between I think, so I still don’t know a lot about him, other than that he was a good man and that he really loved you two. I wish I could have known him,” Joel admitted. 
She nodded, her mouth twisting in a way that made him want to reach out and hug her.
“You do, in a way. He was
 warm, like her. And she knows people, just like he did, so much so that it used to scare me but now
 Now I think it helped her figure out what she wants. That’s why I know she’ll say yes, she’s known what she wanted since day one,” your mother said. 
“I-I don’t even know what to say, other than I love her and I promise that I won’t ever hurt her. All I want is to make your daughter happy,” Joel vowed, trying to keep himself from getting emotional in front of the stoic omega. 
Above all else, even if your mother still absolutely hated Joel as she had after their first encounter in the arena, he needed her to understand that he would never do you harm. If it came down to it, he’d die before he ever let anything bad happen to you.  
“I know,” she nodded, “Although, perhaps you should get better at giving explanations if you want her to say yes. The stuttering doesn’t sound very convincing and you should probably promise her more than just ensuring her safety. I think we both know she can hold her own.” 
Joel chuckled, shaking his head at the dry jab, “Yeah, maybe you’re right about that.” 
“Right about what?”
Whirling around, Joel was met with a sight that made him weak in the knees. The last days of June had been warm, which caused you to swap the scrubs out for a pair of shorts that 
perfectly framed your ass, the denim tapering off mere inches away from the swell of it. If that wasn’t bad enough, the tighter than usual t-shirt you wore nearly drove him up a wall, as the evidence of his claim on you was straining against the fabric around your tummy. That and the deep v-neck almost gave Joel a stroke, but the presence of your mother kept any lewd thoughts from turning into actions. However, he couldn’t entirely let your beauty go unaddressed and marched over, greeting you with a kiss that certainly teetered on the edge of appropriateness. It was over much too soon but he made sure to make it count, even sneaking in a small dip that made you squeal and break away from him. 
“Wow, what was that for?,” you panted, giggling as he pulled you back up. 
“Y’look real pretty baby, just had to kiss ya.” 
Entranced by the way you beamed at his compliment, Joel leaned back in, completely forgetting where he was. All he could focus on was your lips, so pretty and soft, practically calling to him. How could he leave them unkissed? Refusing to kiss the one who brought him back from the depths of hell would be a sin. However, when a throat was cleared Joel halted mid air, inches from reaching the plushness of your mouth once more. The two of you turned, breaking apart at the sight of the severe woman who cocked her hip out at the affectionate display. 
“Ugh, please go,” she muttered, grimacing as she turned back towards her book, “The twins will be fine, I can watch them until noon if you want to sleep in. For the love of everything that is holy, just get out of here before you blind me. There’s only so much a woman my age can take.” 
“Thanks mom,” you said with a sheepish grin, gesturing for Joel to follow you towards the door. 
Joel nodded, thanking your mother one last time before the two of you practically sprinted out of there. He grabbed your hand as you stepped out onto the street, squeezing it every now and again in lieu of chatting. The summer air was the perfect temperature, not too chilly and not too hot, which soothed his dilemma about slipping a pair of jeans on rather than his only pair of shorts. Sure, you loved when Joel wore them, but who was he kidding? He was not a shorts type of guy and he was pretty sure the only reason you liked them so much was because they were much too tight around his crotch. 
“Are you going to tell me where we’re going?,” you asked excitedly, making him chuckle and shake his head, “Because we passed the cafe, town hall is playing Footloose tonight, which I doubt you want to see, and considering the fact that you don’t drink anymore and we already had supper, I can’t see us going to the Bison...” 
“Ever heard of a surprise?” 
You scoffed, “Yeah and they piss me off. C’mon, just tell me baby.” 
Joel rolled his eyes, zippering his lips with one hand before he pretended to toss the key over his shoulder. He laughed as he felt you begin to drag your feet, leaving him no choice but to pull your dramatic ass along until you stumbled back into a normal pace. The sigh you let out as he forced you to walk normally was long and drawn out, but he knew that your own curiosity would be enough to convince you to follow him in the end. 
“Guess this is it then, you’re finally going to murder me. You’ve played the long game Mr. Miller but here we are, five years later and the final phase is in motion at last,” you lamented.  
Joel shook his head, keeping his mouth shut despite the fact that he knew you were trying to break him. The stable was in view, all he needed to do was keep your interest up long enough to get you on the back of a horse and outside of Jackson’s walls. If you would just stop rambling about his supposed plans to assassinate you, then maybe he could get you to the surprise without losing his mind. 
It was a field trip Joel had thought about for quite some time but after much deliberation, as well as a quick logistics session with his brother, he had figured out how to do it in a way that was safe. While the pregnancy had made him more nervous about it, Tommy had promised to be nearby for the night with Cooper, the two of them holed up in a lookout tower with a walkie talkie in case anything went sideways. Aside from a few scans over the area every few hours, the agreement was that they would keep a wide berth so the two of you could be loud if need be. Joel was incredibly excited and terribly anxious about it, feeling like he was burning from the inside out while you continued to push his buttons for information.
“Listen honey, I ain’t telling you nothing. M’just gonna take ya on a little ride and then I’ve got a few things planned, s’all I’m gonna say. Now, I know you’re itchin’ to know but let me do this right baby, please,” Joel cut in, which thankfully silenced your long winded murder accusations. 
Another look of skepticism was thrown his way but you nodded, allowing Joel to lead you into the stables and towards the jumpy horse that was somewhat of a family pet. Rusty still refused to take any other riders, but he seemed to understand that the twins were an extension of his owners, since they were the only other people that didn’t get immediately bucked off of his back. Meanwhile, the rest of Jackson remained shunned by the timid horse. Joel rolled his eyes as you approached the stallion, cooing at him like he was a sweet little puppy, rather than the grumpy brute he was. 
“Don’t baby him darling, asshole nearly tore Eugene's arm off the other day when he stuck his hand in to give him a carrot. Fucker didn’t even care that he was getting a treat,” Joel warned, keeping an eye on the finicky beast as he secured a saddle overtop of him. 
“Sh, don’t listen to him sweetie. I’m sure you had your reasons,” you murmured. 
Joel rolled his eyes as you placed a kiss on Rusty’s muzzle, which was answered by a series of excited little nods from the horse that made you smile. He sighed and patted Rusty's side in defeat, shaking his head at the way you babied him. Someone as ancient as Eugene most certainly did not deserve to be whipped around by his coat sleeves, especially when all he was trying to do was give the stallion a treat, but Joel supposed that there was no use in keeping a grudge on an animal that had never shunned him or his family.  
“Spoiled rotten,” Joel tsked, chuckling at the way you swatted at his arm in response. 
Shaking his head, Joel led Rusty out from the stables, giving him one last look over before he pulled himself up into the saddle with an audible grunt. He hauled you up next, placing you directly in front of him rather than behind so that he could wrap his arms around you as he steered the two of you towards the gates. 
“Ready darling?,” Joel whispered into your ear, noting the way you squirmed at the proximity. 
“I-I’m ready,” you stuttered, giving him the green light to head towards the exit. 
The guards at the gates had already been notified of the trip, which thankfully meant that the two of you were simply waved off rather than subject to the usual line of questioning. As he veered off to the right, Joel breathed a sigh of relief, letting the night air soothe his nerves. Would you like what he had planned? Fuck, he hoped so. Everything with the two of you had happened backwards, which meant he never really got the chance to try his hand at the whole romance thing. Not that he had ever been known for it before the outbreak, the best his hookups ever got from him was the usual aftercare and an offer of a paid cab ride home. And after the world ended? Well, let’s just say the quick fucks Joel had squeezed in here and there were dirty, more of a mean’s to an end. But once he met you, his soul mate, he suddenly felt the need to try. 
There had been attempts. Joel had carved that rose years ago, but he had given it to you after he had fucked the shit out of you for days on end. Even after that, when he thought that he might finally have a chance to woo you, to show you how much you mean to him, the two of you had been separated for weeks. Hell, by the time Tommy had found the two of you entangled in the ski lodge, any thought of pursuing cutesy little things had gone out the window. The growing life inside of you had been his only concern, and after they were born, the twins took up any remaining free time that either of you had. There had been small gestures, like the desk he made you for your office at the clinic, or the breakfast he made you each morning, or the song he wrote you for your last birthday, but it wasn’t enough. You deserved more. 
Joel needed to get better at the grand gestures, especially since his competition was you. In a world where so many commodities had become unavailable, one might think that gift giving would be nearly impossible, but you were annoyingly creative. Whether it be the long lost Fleetwood Mac CD you had found for him, or the way you had reinforced his favorite brown coat with fleece for the wintertime, or the lunch box you packed for him every day, you continuously bested him in making an effort.
It was his last birthday that had kicked Joel in the ass, and he had vowed that day to find a way to top it, even if it was the last thing he did. At first he had thought it was just a notebook, something he could use for jotting down measurements and supply lists for his job, but after some urging from you to open it, he was stunned into silence. A small collection of pictures, all taken from his brother, had been arranged for him in a small book that he now kept in his nightstand. It had a few pictures of the twins, of you, of Sarah, as well as a couple shots of the family he grew up with, but it was the last picture that had made him dissolve into a puddle of tears. 
There, on the very final page of the book, framed with terrible drawings of rockets and other space themed decorations, was a picture of Ellie. His mouth had dropped open, pure astonishment splitting his face wide open as he looked down at the girl he thought that he’d never see again making funny faces in a series of photobooth snapshots. He had no idea that the picture existed, or who the other girl was in the photos, but he swallowed it all down to ask: 
“How?” 
“Tommy said she left it in the room she stayed in. He kept it thinking she might be back for it someday but then ah
 That didn’t happen so
,” you explained, trailing off when you caught the look on his face. 
Fury had whipped through Joel in that moment, deepening all of the lines in his face and darkening his eyes. All he could feel was pure rage, not towards you, but towards the brother who had kept such a treasure away from him. How dare Tommy hold on to this, especially when Joel had devoted his life to grieving her for four years. How many bi-yearly visits had his brother sat on this information, babbling about Frankie while Joel floated above himself and tried to make all the appropriate noises that an older brother should? Not once had Tommy said a single word during his lowest period, but it was that exact thought that snapped him out of it, forcing him to grit his teeth and swallow down his resentment. 
There was a reason Tommy hadn’t told him. Two things could have happened to the picture. Either Joel would have vehemently refused it in his initial drunken stupor, cussing his brother out for thinking he needed the reminder of his failure, or he would have begrudgingly accepted it later on and left it with the rest of his things at the cabin. There would be no getting it back, not when he had two living pups that needed him alive and a mate that would be broken by a pointless death. Understanding this, Joel had taken a deep breath, drinking it all in for another second before he turned to you and began to cry. 
“Darling, I-I can’t,” he groaned, his brain unable to keep up with the wave of emotions that washed over him. 
Without even thinking about it, Joel launched forward and welded his arms around you, squeezing you so tight that all of the air rushed out of you. 
“Fuck, I’m so sorry. If you don’t like it, I totally get it. This was supposed to be a happy gift. God Joel, I didn’t mean to cross a line by digging up all of this shi-” 
“No,” Joel whispered, pressing a kiss to the side of your face for good measure, “It’s perfect honey. The best gift I ever got, promise.” 
That was months ago and yet, Joel still couldn’t get over the enormity of the gesture. That was why, as he neared his destination, he felt like he was about to implode. He wanted, more than anything in the world, to make you feel as special as you had made him feel that day. Joel had worked hard, scrounging up what he could and planning for months, but he was still nervous. What if you laughed at his efforts? Or worse, rejected them entirely? Sure, you had never done that before, but there was always a first time for everything. Afterall, Joel was not exactly known for being great at expressing his feelings. He tried to keep his head on straight for the last few minutes of the ride, even though he was sure that you could feel the layer of sweat that had soaked through the front of his shirt, but it was getting harder the closer the two of you got. 
“Honey, I uh
 Well I wanted to do something nice but if you don’t - I mean, if it fucking sucks, we could always do something else. I don’t want you trying to spare my feelings alright? I’m a big boy, I can take it and if this ain’t -”
“Joel,” you called, breaking him from the spiral. 
“Yeah?”
“You’re better at this than you think. Everyday you make me and the twins feel so loved, it’s just what you do baby. I’m sure whatever this is, I’ll fucking love it,” you softly encouraged. 
Joe smiled, feeling his chest crack open and all of the tension rush out at your words. He pressed a small kiss to the back of your neck in thanks, nuzzling it for a moment before he straightened up in his seat. It was your words that pushed him through the last bit of the journey, giving him just enough strength to veer off into the clearing he had scoped out where Rusty could graze. 
“Alright, this is it,” Joel announced as he jumped down, holding out his arms for you to leap into. 
But you didn’t move. Eyes going cartoonishly wide at the forest that Joel had to admit, somehow looked ten times more terrifying at night, you whipped your head around before looking down at him with a raised brow. He chuckled, reaching forward so that he could yank you off of Rusty’s back and wrap your legs around his waist. 
“You’re really not beating the murder accusations Joel. I mean, all you need is a machete or something, and you’d be set to star in the world’s first post-apocalyptic slasher movie,” you teased as you pinched his side. 
Joel barked a laugh, shaking his head at the slight sting as he set you down in front of him. There was a mischievous look in your eye, one that made his heart skip a few beats. He leaned in, brushing his lips over yours for just a moment before he pulled back with a sly grin. 
“Machete is overdone, I’d be more original than that.” 
That made you laugh, a true laugh that puffed Joel’s chest up a bit despite the anxiety that still weighed it down. The fear of rejection still wriggled like worms in the pit of his stomach, but the sound of your laughter was making it a bit more bearable. 
“Oooh, like maybe your whittling tools? That could give it a little personal touch. They’d call you the Wayward Whittler,” you tried, nose scrunching up as it rolled off your tongue, “Bleh, forget that one. That sucks. You need something better, maybe something like
” 
“The Crazy Craftsman?,” Joel tried, which earned a cackle from you. 
“Yes! That’s perfect,” you laughed, throwing your head back in a way that made his heart soar, “Well, we’ve got it all figured out. Guess it’s time for me to die now, do your worst.” 
Joel shook his head, smiling as he held a hand out for you to take. A matching grin graced your lips as you took it, giving him the last boost he needed to direct you towards what could either be a romantic night, or a travesty of his own creation. 
“Sure thing sweetheart, but I was thinking we could go for a little walk first,” he joked, tugging you behind him as he weaved through the trees. 
From just beyond the treeline, Joel could hear the rushing water and he hastened towards it, wanting to get it over with before his heart gave out entirely. The two of you broke through the forest, coming out along the side of the river that powered Jackson. It was further upstream than the dam, a conscious choice he had made to ensure that no confused workers would stumble upon any intimate scenes. That, and the fact that it was tucked away, hidden from any of the usual groups of raiders or infected that passed through the area. Plus, the swimming hole just before the bridge was a nice touch. Once upon a time, Joel had promised to take you swimming in the river he had found you by when the summer came. Although this was a substitute, the waters were just as cool and the company was just as gorgeous. 
On the other side of the bridge, a lodge was built into the side of the rocky hillside. The wooden structure was slightly worn, the logs having been washed out by years of harsh weather, but the big windows and near perfect interior still boasted a rare beauty. It was the type of place where snobby rich pricks had probably escaped to when the stress of their fancy high rise had gotten to them, but not anymore. Now, it was just a beautiful building hiding in the middle of nowhere, waiting for someone like him to take advantage of it. There was a warm glow of candles coming from inside, beckoning the two of you inside. Joel turned to you with a hopeful smile on his face, praying that you weren’t completely apathetic towards the spot he had found.  
“Oh wow, this is beautiful,” you gasped.
The look of wonder on your face was something to behold and Joel tried to burn it into his memory with all of his might. This night wouldn’t necessarily change things between you, but he wanted it to be an experience that you thought about from time to time, smiling to yourself as you completed whatever mundane task life in Jackson threw at you. He wanted it to be a story that the both of you told an edited version to the kids someday, so that they could understand just how much their parents have always loved each other. So, as the look on your face filled him with hope, he took one last deep breath and began. 
“We met for the first time by a river,” Joel said, leading you across the bridge, “And I know that everything got messed up out there, but I still think about how it was at first, about how happy we were out there. That place was the first home we had. It was nothing but a coffin before you came around, but then it became a home, you made it a home.”
“Joel, this is so
 What is this?,” you asked, voice thick with emotion already. 
“Hush baby, I’m gettin’ there. Look, I know the cabin is miles away and that it didn’t exactly,” he gestured towards the polished lodge, “Well, it didn’t look like that, but I wanted to take ya back. That was the place where I met my favorite person, it was where we fell in love, it’s where we bonded. Fuck, who knows, it could be where our pups were made. Honey, it’s our start.”
“Baby,” you squeaked, eyes brimming with tears that quickly spilled over onto your cheeks. 
He shook his head, pressing a chaste kiss to your forehead before he continued towards the lodge. 
“Not yet sweet girl, there’s some more stuff inside first,” Joel implored, to which you gave a shaky nod.  
Coming to a stop at the door to the lodge, Joel gave you one last hopeful look before he opened it up, gesturing for you to go first. His heart clenched as you stepped in, the sound of a sharp gasp falling from your lips making his head spin. He followed, desperately hoping that it was a good surprise as he carefully closed the door behind him. 
Flowers, courtesy of the talented gardener your best friend was married to, covered nearly every surface. The air was filled with the smell of gardenias, dahlias, peonies, and a few more that Joel couldn’t quite place. Candles were scattered throughout the first floor, giving the room a warmth that made everything feel more intimate. There was a table filled with treats that you mooned over for more than a few seconds, eyeing all of the chocolatey goodness that was left for you with a small smile before you turned towards him again. 
“Joel, you shouldn’t have. This is way too much,” you admonished, though there was no real heat behind the words, just a flustered warmth that made him blush. 
“I wanted to baby, you deserve a little pampering every now and then. And I know you probably wanna dig into that chocolate, but there’s more to see upstairs first,” Joel directed, nodding towards the stairs to the second floor. 
However good the first floor looked, nothing could have prepared either of you for the second. Although Joel had given his helpers a plethora of instructions, he was shocked at how closely they had recreated his over the top imagination. He hadn’t expected them to be able to meet half of his requests, knowing that his need for perfection was completely unreasonable in a post-apocalyptic world, but they had followed every single directive to a T. There was even some artistic license that Joel couldn’t find it in himself to hate. 
More flowers highlighted the beauty of the open concept room, along with an obnoxious amount of petals all over the bed that reddened the tips of Joel’s ears. He certainly didn’t have the guts to ask for that, but he also had a feeling that they were courtesy of your excitable best friend. The candles around the room burned low, casting a sensual glow to the room that ticked the room temperature up by a few degrees. Even with the door to the balcony open, the fresh air wafting in from outside and the sound of rushing water, it was sweltering. However, given how hot and bothered the two of you had been lately, he was pretty sure the candles had nothing to do with it.
Awestruck, your jaw popped open as you looked around. Each time your eyes met Joel’s, a few more tears would fall, but it was the little memories that he had given his minions to leave out that started the real cries. The first thing you came across was a replacement of sorts. The small rose Joel had once carved for you was long forgotten at the cabin, along with many other precious things, but there it lay on a coffee table. Or at least, a replica did. It had taken him far too many times to get it right. Not that Joel would ever admit it, but there was a closet filled with failed recreations in his work room back home. Nevertheless, the endless trial and error was worth it to see your reaction. 
“I thought I lost it,” you sobbed, clutching the rose to your chest like it was priceless. 
Joel stepped forward, grabbing your face so he could brush the tears away as they fell. He kissed your eyelids, cooing at the small whimper that bubbled to the surface in return.
“That ain’t the original baby, I made another for this. Thought you might like to remember that day
 It uh, well it was a really good one for us.” 
You blinked, slowly remembering how that day had played out. The rose, the morning chores, the fight by the river, and then

“We bonded that day.”
Joel nodded, feeling sheepish as he remembered alongside you. He didn’t mean to be an ass that day, all he had wanted to do was unwind the clock a bit, to be the chivalrous gentleman you most certainly deserved. What Joel didn’t realize at the time was that you didn’t want that, you wanted him as he was. One frustrated argument was all it had taken for him to realize it, which had ultimately led to the love making session that had ended with you sinking your teeth into his neck. 
“That day was one of the best days of my life darling,” he admitted, though he was sure you already knew that. 
You smiled, “Me too.” 
Another nudge from Joel and you turned back towards the room, reaching another artifact he had left out. Although this one was a bit unclear, with the colorful case and upbeat soundtrack listed on the back boasting a mix that he would usually steer clear of. He cleared his throat, chuckling at your look of confusion. 
“Um, this is from
 Well, it wasn’t exactly the best time. I mean, we had almost just died but you brought one of these mix CDs with us for the drive to Jackson and it was the first time in a while that I was happy. I mean, things got pretty crazy after that first day on the road but just for a second, everything felt okay. We were together again and it felt so fucking good.” he explained. 
“Even after you had to listen to my horrible rendition of the Spice Girls?,” you teased. 
Joel laughed, “Yeah baby, even after that.”
You set the CD down, smiling as you dragged your finger over the cover for another second before turning back towards the last bit of scattered memories. As you walked over to the small collection of things that covered the desk in the corner, Joel took a deep breath and readied himself. Pictures and keepsakes were strewn across it, showcasing the life the two of you had built together in Jackson. A few pictures of the twins as infants, toddlers, and even one taken a couple months earlier at Tommy’s birthday party were placed in the center, showcasing the center of both of your lives. Perhaps in a different life there would be a sonogram for him to add, but for now all he could make do with was one of the many drawings the pups had done for their incoming sibling. 
Around the edges, there were a few of the notes Joel had left you over the years, the ones you had hidden from him in the box on the bookshelf, as if he didn’t also frequent the library in his own home. You giggled, plucking a few from the desk and reading them, letting more tears flow as he got into position. He watched as you picked up one of the very few pictures of you and him, the only one that he looked semi-decent in. It had been taken at the twin’s second birthday party by Maria of all people, after the two of you had snuck into the backyard for some much needed alone time while all the kids and parents were too distracted by the chaos. 
In the picture, Joel holds you close, one hand on the small of your back while the other cups your face. His face is lit up, uncharacteristically lively as he stares into the eyes of the woman he loves. Even his mouth, so often found in a grim line, is spread wide with a grin that makes him look ten years younger. But it was you that stole the show in the photo, clad in a baby blue sundress that had driven him wild as he watched you host what turned out to be a jam-packed party. Your hair is slightly tousled, probably because Joel had his hands in it just moments before when he kissed you, but it makes you even prettier. And the look you're giving him in the picture, god, that look made him more sure of what he was about to do than anything else. 
“Hmm, you look so handsome in this one baby. It’s a good thing Maria came out of the house when she did, or else she would’ve gotten quite the show,” you laughed, shaking your head as you turned, “Do you think that she saw when you - Joel? What are you doing?” 
The way you stared down at him on one knee, cocking your head at the gesture like it was the strangest thing in the world, nearly made Joel lose his nerve but he pushed through. It was now or never. 
“Honey, I-I need to tell you,” Joel stopped, taking a deep breath to steady his pounding heart, “Before I found you, I was perfectly fine dying alone. Fuck, I was ready for it even. Anything would be better than feeling so god damn miserable all the time.” 
Fat globs of tears sprung from your eyes and Joel winced. Maybe starting with how miserable he used to be wasn’t the best move, especially when he was proposing to his very pregnant mate. As you bit down on your trembling lower lip, desperately trying to keep in the shaky cries he knew were seconds away from breaking free, Joel switched gears. 
“Sorry, that was a bad start. Let me try again. For years before the outbreak, I dreamed of what it would be like to meet my person, to fall in love with someone and be a family. Then, after everything that happened, I started to think that it was just a fantasy. Or if it was real, that I’d never find someone who’d be crazy enough to love someone like me, but then I met you.” 
A cracked sob echoed throughout the room, fallen from your lips as you shakily lowered yourself onto the floor. Joel chuckled as you got down on his level, gripping his shoulders to keep yourself upright as you gazed at him through a heavy veil of tears. He lifted your left hand, pressing it to his lips before he rubbed at the finger he hoped would soon be adorned with a ring. 
“I-I don’t understand Joel, what is this? I mean, this is all so
 F-Fuck, it’s so amazing baby, but why are we on the floor?,” you blubbered. 
Joel laughed, a true, full, belly laugh as he shook his head at your utter confusion. It had never once occurred to him that you might not understand the tradition of getting down on one knee, but he was a man of his time and he’d be damned if he didn’t do it for you. 
“Everything I have is because of you babygirl. My pups, my home, my fucking sanity, I wouldn’t have any of it if it weren’t for you. And I will spend the rest of my life loving you as best as I can. My heart is yours honey, now and forever. So, will you marry me?”
Joel slipped the ring from his pocket, wishing like hell he could have found a box for it in time, but the sentiment would have to do. Plus, he had to admit, the family heirloom was pretty damn impressive. An emerald sat at the center, wrapped in a thin line of peridot, with a thin gold band that glinted in the candlelight. 
“W-Where did you get this?! This is my grandmother’s ring! I don’t understand. M-My dad was supposed to save it for me but then the world ended and he
 Well, he fucking died. How the hell do you have this?,” you stammered, astonished by the small piece of jewelry. 
“Your mama kept it,” Joel answered with an earnest smile, “She said that he wanted you to have it someday when you found the right person, so she um
 She gave it to me so I could ask ya darling. I know that I never knew him but I
 Well, I hope that’s okay.” 
“Oh my god, Joel!,” you cried out as you threw yourself at him. 
A small oomph came from his lips, the force of your body hitting his chest nearly knocking him to the floor, but Joel managed to get his balance. He wrapped his arms around you, allowing you to weep into his neck and babble about how overboard everything was. 
“So, uh
 Is that a yes?,” he asked, unsure if the display of emotions was a positive thing or not. 
As quickly as you had nearly tackled him, you were pulling away, placing a plethora of kisses all over Joel’s face as you repeated your answer again and again. 
“Yes.”
A kiss to the forehead. 
“Yes.” 
His nose. 
“Yes.” 
Both of his cheeks. 
“Fucking a million times yes.” 
The last kiss was dropped onto Joel’s lips, effectively sealing the deal and forcing his heart to strain against the confines of his ribcage once more. He dove into it, allowing himself to get lost in the feeling of your tongue sliding against his, in the way you tugged at his hair and moaned into his mouth. All consumed by you, he could hardly keep in his pained whine when you pulled away much too soon. However, when you extended your left hand to him, fluttering your fingers with an excited grin, he couldn’t find it in himself to be annoyed. 
Instead, Joel grabbed your hand, placing a kiss to the back of it before he carefully slid the ring on. He held his breath, praying that it would fit, only for it to slide home like it was meant to be there all along. The air in his lungs halted when he looked down at it, a chemical reaction going off in his brain that had moisture gathering in his eyes as his cock simultaneously twitched to life in his boxers. 
“I love you sweet girl, more than anything,” Joel breathed, completely in awe at the sight of the ring glimmering in the candlelight. 
“I love you too Joel. I never thought I’d meet someone who loved me so much, someone so
,” you sighed as you cupped his face, “Perfect for me. I mean, I never thought I’d be able to choose. Then there was Paul and that stupid wedding. Fuck, I never even said yes but it didn’t matter.” 
Joel growled, a deep resentment for that awful man bubbling up to the surface. It didn’t matter that the piece of shit had been dead for years, his ghost still managed to stir up some rage. 
“Baby, I need you to understand that I will never treat you like that asshole did. I love you, I’d rather fucking die than hurt you. And if anyone ever threatens you or our pups, I will kill them myself,” he hissed through gritted teeth. 
“I know Joel, that’s one of the many reasons I’m saying yes,” you grinned, rubbing a hand over his chest until he released the tension there, “For most of my life, I felt like I was sleepwalking, but then I met you and you changed my life. You understand me in a way that nobody ever has, you showed me that I had a voice, that I could choose and I choose this. I choose you, forever.” 
“Oh sweetheart, you’re giving me waaaay too much credit. That was all you, my strong girl. You found your own voice honey, not me,” Joel admonished, heart swollen with pride as he thought about the confidence you had gained in the past five years. 
“Maybe, but I couldn’t have done it without your help. All I had ever heard was that I was worthless, that I was stupid, that I didn’t deserve respect. But you? You actually listened to me and for the first time in my life, I had someone who loved me, someone who didn’t tear me down. I might have found my own voice but Joel, it was you who gave me confidence to do it.” 
“Goddamn honey, how am I supposed to follow that? I can’t believe you’ve outdone me at the proposal that I planned,” Joel groaned, making you giggle at his theatrics, “I can’t even begin to explain how proud I am to call you mine. You’re the smartest, kindest, most beautiful and strong person that I know. And until I die honey, I’m yours. I love you so much.” 
“I love you too, now kiss me.”
The two of you met in the middle, a surge of electricity setting all of Joel’s nerves alight as his lips moved against yours. His hands grabbed at your ass, kneading the flesh beneath his fingers as you tugged on his curls like you could fuse the two of you together. Sweat formed at his hairline, the heat of the room turning downright tropical as his greedy hands grabbed every part of you he could reach. One twirl of the tongue from you and Joel was done, grunting into the kiss as he picked you up and walked to the edge of the bed. He bit your lip, causing you to whine unabashedly and grind down against the bulge in his jeans. The zipper dug into his hardened length, the sensation only worsened by the sound of your pretty moans riling him up even more. 
“Do you like rubbin’ that little cunt all over me? Tell me, who’s making that pretty pussy gush? God, she’s just so needy, isn’t she? Talk to me sweet girl,” Joel panted, unable to keep himself from shivering as you licked a stripe up the side of his neck. 
“Shit, you Joel. Only you. Need you to - ah - need you to fuck me,” you keened, already gone despite the fact that he had barely touched you yet. 
Joel grinned wolfishly, allowing you to grind against him as he sucked at the skin along your neck. His hands wandered under your shirt, drifting over your hips, across your belly, and up under the swell of your breasts. Joel nudged the pesky bra aside, sneaking his hands into the cups so that he could toy with your nipples until they were swollen and stiff. All he had to do was bite down on the sensitive skin a bit harder while he plucked at your overly sensitive peaks and you were done, letting out an uncharacteristic low warning growl. He grinned, loving how worked up you got when he toyed with you like this. 
“Are you trying to kill me?,” you grouched, all flushed and sweaty as you glared at him, 
He laughed and shook his head, “Quite the opposite sweetheart.” 
The moan you let out as Joel’s lips crashed into yours was better than any symphony, causing his knees to almost give out from the sheer beauty of it. For two weeks, the forces of life had kept him from having you this way, forcing him into a state that was embarrassingly needy. Joel needed to hear more, to tear that blinding pleasure from your core until all that could be heard throughout the room was the muffled cries as you released again and again. It riled him up just to think about it. With his cock beginning to ache against his zipper, he flung you onto the bed, fumbling with the buttons of his shirt as he watched you bounce against the mattress. 
“Take it all off. Need to see all of you honey. Shit, you’re so fucking sexy baby,” Joel commanded, his tone somehow both domineering and desperate.
Shaky hands peeled off your scant layers one by one, revealing a sight that Joel could only describe as excruciatingly beautiful. His eyes burned as he gazed upon your naked body, almost as if his retinas knew that what they were witnessing was the embodiment of divinity itself. It was as if you had fallen straight from the heavens, kindly enough to grant him a small glimpse at paradise. 
Joel stared at your soft skin, entranced by how smooth it looked compared to his. He trailed his gaze downwards, practically foaming at the mouth as he watched your pert nipples harden in the air. His mouth watered as he imagined himself launching forward, sucking and biting at them as you squealed in delight, but he had to wait. 
After two weeks with nothing, Joel wanted everything. He wanted to flip you over and drill into you like a maniac, tugging at your hair as you begged him to pump you full. He wanted to throw one of your legs over his shoulder and ease into you, kissing every inch of your face as he listed the many reasons he had fallen for you. But more than anything, Joel wanted control, to be precise in his movements in order to bring you the most pleasure he possibly could. And based on the dark look in your eye as your hips bucked up against nothing, there was only one way he could do that. You wanted him to be fucking filthy. 
“Touch yourself for me sweet girl, play with yourself just like we practiced,” he drawled, stepping forward so that he had a clear view of what lay in between your thick thighs. 
What Joel expected you to do was rub your slick cunt, perhaps stopping to tweak at your nipples first to playfully tease him. But what he didn’t expect was for you to bat your eyelashes at him, smiling as you shoved two fingers into your mouth. His eyes bulged out of his head, cock jumping at the sight of his mate fucking her own mouth with one hand while squeezing her breasts with the other. The noises you were making were lewd, the soft gagging making him sweat and regret all of his decisions immediately, but he stayed rooted to his spot. He couldn’t move even if he wanted to, the sight alone was enough to make him cum in his pants and he was worried that any slight movement would make him explode. 
“Jesus fucking Christ baby, just like that. Like choking yourself honey? Bet you wish it was daddy doing it for ya. Shit, you’re such a dirty girl, so good for me,” Joel groaned, his pained voice almost getting lost by the whines you let out around the digits. 
Nodding, you let the hand tweaking at your sensitive nipples drift downwards. Joel swallowed hard as you opened up your legs for him, revealing the drenched slit that begged for his attention. The smell of your arousal hit him like a freight train and he quickly unleashed his cock, squeezing it around the base to calm himself down. Grinning around the fingers that continued to thrust away at your throat, you reached down to toy with your neglected clit. Gentle fingers brushed over the swollen nub again and again, until slick was dripping down your wrist. He watched as you started with small circles, teasing yourself into the pleasure just as he had taught you, until you were ready for more. 
“C’mon darling, I can tell that she’s fucking starving for something inside of her. Be a good girl and give her two of those pretty fingers, wanna see her cry for me,” Joel ordered, although with how turned on he was, it sounded more like a whine. 
“Mmm-hmm,” you replied through a full mouth, thrusting two fingers deep inside of your pussy without another word. 
Joel groaned at the way your walls immediately clenched around the digits, sucking them in as you started to fuck your needy cunt. Slick dripped down from your quivering entrance, ruining the sheets below, but he didn’t give a shit. He’d happily sleep in the wet spot if it meant he got to witness such a erotic display. The way your garbled moans spilled around your fingers as you pressed a thumb against your clit almost brought Joel to his knees. Completely entranced by your pussy, he didn’t even notice that you had taken your drenched fingers out of your mouth until you called out to him. 
“Come here alpha,” you sighed, heavy lidded eyes staring him down like he was the prey. 
Those words hooked into Joel’s chest, leaving him no other choice but to stumble forward like a fool the second he heard them. He had almost rounded the bed when he saw your spit soaked fingers trail down, reaching past your pussy to toy with that tight ring of muscle that you had allowed him to take a handful of times. A flash of heat burned through Joel’s lower abdomen as he realized what your intentions were, forcing him to halt and squeeze the base of his cock again to keep himself from cumming like some sort of riled up teenager. If that wasn’t enough, the sound of the guttural groan you let as you slipped one, then two fingers inside of your ass could have killed him right then and there. 
“Jesus honey, what are you trying to fucking do? Kill me? S’not playing fair,” he moaned, almost losing it when the fingers in your ass started to thrust in time with the ones in your pussy. 
“Who s-said anyth- fuck - anything about playing fair?,” you breathily teased. 
Joel cussed, kicking himself for teaching you his ways as he tried to keep himself from dissolving into a mess of desperate pleas. He growled and shook his head, trying to remember the original request you had made for him to join you. Every step of the way, his eyes darted from your overstuffed core to your flushed face, his mind spinning with all the filthy things he wanted to do to you. By the time he got there, he was semi-convinced that he was dreaming. It was all too good to be true. 
“Closer,” you whined.
It was so desperate, so wanton, that Joel had no choice but to abide by it. He shuffled closer, until his thighs brushed against the sheets and his cock nearly touched the side of your head. 
“Where do you want me sweetheart? Fuck, just me where you need me and I’ll be there. Is this what you mea- hey! Oh shit,” he groaned, his eyes rolling into the back of his head as you turned and captured the reddened tip between your lips. 
A sweat broke out on Joel’s forehead as he looked down, watching with a slack jaw as you took him halfway down your throat and swallowed around him. He didn’t know what to say, so shocked by your actions that he couldn’t even reprimand you for foiling his plan. Instead, he hissed through his teeth as you started to bob your head, his gaze frantically switching between you fucking both of your holes with abandon and the sight of you taking his cock down your throat like a pro. 
“F-fuck yeah baby, that’s it,” he cussed, reaching forward to brush the hair away from your face, “Got all of your slutty little holes filled, hm? How’s it feel to be such a fucking whore for daddy? Oh my god, that’s it - ngh - just like that. Bet she misses me, pussy loves when I stretch her out.” 
The noise you made around Joel’s cock was nearly incoherent, but it sounded vaguely like a yes. He chuckled, locking eyes with you as he started to thrust in and out of your mouth. Keeping it slow for the first few strokes, he grinned at how well you took him, with nothing but pure lust staring back at him through unshed tears. You were just as famished as Joel, practically begging him with your eyes to be a little rough, to remind you how much he yearned to be inside of you at all hours of the day. So after your throat relaxed, he picked up the pace, groaning at the feeling of you moaning around him as he fucked your face.  
“Nngh, oh darling, look at how wet she is. That pussy is just beggin’ to cum for me, isn’t she? F-Fuck yes baby, c’mon. Fuck her a little harder for me,” Joel taunted. 
The way you fought against the tears in your eyes, batting them at Joel so prettily as you gagged around the big cock that slammed into the back of your throat with each animalistic thrust was too perfect, and he found himself moaning embarrassingly loud. With your thighs shaking, fingers thrusting desperately in and out of your gushing cunt, he could see that you were right on the edge. All you needed was one last push to launch you into space so, he did the only thing he could think of. 
Sputtering as Joel tore his cock away, you cried out, blinking wildly as you tried to comprehend what was happening. But before you could, he grabbed your face, leaning down so that he could look you right in the eye. 
“I think I know what ya want honey, but I’m just checking. Are you okay if I get a bit rough? I promise I’ll make you feel so good baby,” he asked, gently wiping some stray tears away.
A chirp of excitement came from you, along with an enthusiastic nod as you nuzzled the hand that cleaned the fluids from your face. 
“Good girl, just tell me if it gets too much,” Joel cooed, giving you one last soft caress before he hardened his stance again, “Now, open that mouth for me.” 
You obliged, even rolling your tongue out in a way that made Joel suck in a harsh breath between his teeth. He gathered all of the spit in his mouth, letting it drip down into your own. Without even having to be asked, you snapped your mouth shut, waiting patiently for him to tell you to swallow it. The way you looked at him was downright filthy, but not as filthy as the wanton moan you let out when he suddenly reared his hand back and slapped you straight across the face. He didn’t do it too hard, just enough so that the sting would add to the pressure growing between your legs. 
“Swallow it,” he snapped. 
You did, whimpering as you opened your mouth to show him that it was gone. The fingers in your core were halted, which made him tsk. 
“I never said you could stop.” 
Joel swooped down so that he could look you in the eye as your fingers started moving again, covering your mouth with his palm to muffle your high pitched whines. The wet sounds coming from your core increased the harder he stared, the fingers in your holes trying desperately to bring you up over the edge. Despite his cruel demeanor, he smiled when he felt your lips pucker beneath his palm, unable to keep himself from softening as you kissed his hand.  
“Aw, so sweet f’me honey. Such a good little slut. Fuck, always look so sexy playing with your holes. I bet that little pussy wants to cum, doesn’t she baby? I can see her twitching.That's alright, cum for me darling, want to watch her cry.” 
Joel didn’t look away from your face as you came, unwilling to miss a second of it. He watched as your face scrunched up, tears falling from your eyes as they rolled back in pleasure, taking note of every expression so that he could use it for later. With how frequently the two of you fucked and how often he found himself taking mental snapshots of your blissed out face, it was a wonder Joel got anything done with how large of an archive he had acquired over the years. Could he remember what he had for breakfast that very morning? Hell no. But could he remember exactly how many times he had made you cum and in what positions on your birthday three years ago? Absolutely. 
“Fuuuck, Joel,” you cried out as his hand left your face, followed by a sharp gasp as he ripped the fingers from your core and climbed over you. 
“I know baby, did so fucking good for me. My mate, my omega, my fucking wife, all mine. You hear that honey? Nobody else can have you like this, s’all for me,” he rambled, cock twitching at the sight of the ring wrapped around your drenched fingers. 
A gasp, followed by a litany of swears came from you as Joel leaned down and clamped down on your gland, worrying the skin under his teeth in a way that had you both making obscene sounds. He wasn’t sure what it was, but all he could think about was the day that the two of you bonded, the day that his life had come together again in a way that finally made sense. It was enough to make him bite down even harder, rendering you absolutely useless by the time he pulled back to stare at you through heavy lidded eyes. 
“I fucking love you sweetheart, so good for me. Always so fucking beautiful - shit - you drive me insane. Fuck, just wanna make you feel good, wanna keep that pussy stuffed like she deserves forever,” Joel growled, wrestling with the remainder of his clothes so that he could feel every inch of your skin against his. 
“Joel, fuck. There could never be anyone else baby, it’s you, you’ve ruined me,” you whined, reaching out to him with a pained expression, “But I love it daddy, love the filthy things you say, the way you love me, how your big cock feels inside of me. P-Please, I need it, need you alpha.” 
The last part was spoken not as a request, but as a call to his very nature. It awoke something ferocious inside of Joel, the same something that screamed at him to keep you swollen with his pups every single day of his life. His sanity drifted away, replaced only by the need to heed the call of his desperate omega that needed him to fulfill his duty. And you were no better. By the time his pants finally hit the floor, you were gone, bucking your hips at him and writhing against the drenched sheets as you wailed. The air had grown thick, both of your scents mixing together in a way that had his mouth watering and his cock aching, but the loud cry of his name you let out snapped him out of it. 
“Hush now baby, s’okay. Daddy’s gotcha, m’gonna make it all better,” Joel promised, leaning down to press a chaste kiss to your forehead before he pulled your hips towards him. 
Dragging your hips upwards, Joel kneeled against the mattress and ripped your legs apart. He placed them on each of his shoulders, rendering you absolutely useless as he laid you back against his thighs. The weight of his cock was heavy against your mound, providing the both of you with the jaw dropping sight of just how deep he was about to spear into you. With your shoulder blades pressed into the bed while your lower half was held up by nothing but his brute strength, Joel was seconds from passing out. He couldn’t get over how enchanting you looked with your back arched against his thighs, body on full display for his ravenous gaze. 
“Look at that baby, see how deep she's gonna take me? Fuck, always so tight. Such a pretty pussy, so wet and ready for me every time,” he moaned, panting as he dragged himself through your sticky folds, “What more do I have to do? Already fucked another baby into her but she wants more from daddy, doesn’t she?”
“Please,” you breathed. 
“Please what sweetheart?” 
“Please, may I have your c - oooh fuck,” you squealed, choking on air as he buried himself all the way to the hilt. 
Before you had a chance to catch your breath, Joel was off, lifting you up and down, using you in a way that had your pussy twitching around him in seconds. With how sensitive the pregnancy had made you, he wasn’t surprised that you were already so close. Each thrust hammered against your g-spot, dragging you towards an even more explosive end. He chuckled as you tried and failed to speak, amused by how easy he could take you apart like this. And Joel was no better, chewing on the inside of his cheek as he watched your tits bounce, the swollen nipples almost as enticing as the protruding belly that he had given you. 
Joel was so wrapped up in the way you shook and moaned beneath him that he didn’t even realize how close you were until you suddenly let out a pinched whine, glossy eyes begging him for something, anything. His lungs burned from his relentless pace, sweat dampening his hairline as he continued to plough into you but he kept going. It was not usual for him to have you like this, so wanton and open, with no fear of anything or anyone interrupting and he needed to take advantage of it properly. There was no need for him to worry about the bed slamming into the wall, or the sound of his thighs clapping against the cradle of your hips as he drove into you, he could fuck you just how you wanted.
“I know, I know babygirl. She’s so desperate isn’t she? Can’t even let go unless daddy tells her to. S’alright honey, cum for me, I know you want to,” Joel demanded, hissing through his teeth when you answered by spraying him with a stream of slick, “Fuuck, just like that honey.”
Joel fucked you through it, uncaring of the way your body twitched from the overstimulation as he continued to jackhammer into you. It didn’t matter to him that you were barely cognitive, a mess of slick and tears as he pulled you up from his thighs and wrapped your legs around him. What mattered was making you understand just how obsessed with you he was. If it were up to him, this would be his job, pulling as much pleasure from your core as you would allow whenever you needed. 
A scream was muffled against his mouth when Joel pulled you up, the new angle somehow making him spear into you even deeper than before. The tip of his throbbing cock kissed your cervix, causing you to shudder and clamp down on him like vice. He whined at how tight your walls hugged him, clutching your hip hard with one hand while the other buried itself in your hair. Joel made a fist with your messy strands, tugging on your hair so he could hear the litany of curses you spat at him as even more slick dribbled into his lap. 
“Shit darling, love this, love you so much. So pretty, so smart, so sweet, I can’t - fuck - can’t believe you’re mine and I’m-  ungh - I’m yours. Never gonna want anyone else, never needed anyone else before you, my sweet girl, my wife - oh fuuuuck. You’re gonna be my fucking wife.” 
The feeling of your warm breath against his neck was driving him crazy, along with the way you moaned oh so sweetly as you came around him yet again, your walls weakly clutching at the base of his cock, trying desperately to tease his knot inside. Teeth buried themselves into his gland and Joel made a warning noise, his thrusts stuttering for just a moment before he got himself back in check. He was a man possessed, completely deranged in his incessant need to bring you mind numbing pleasure. 
Joel wasn’t sure, but he had an idea of what was making him so feral. Each flash of the rock on your hand made his cock scream for release. The rock, the bite mark he had left on your neck, the pregnant belly he had given you, the way you looked up at him oh so lovingly, it all spoke to the beast within. A possessive streak bubbled up from deep inside, making Joel absolutely insatiable despite the crescent moons you dug into his skin as another wave of pleasure soon followed the last. As your orgasm petered off, he pulled his glistening cock out, ignoring your choked sob as he flipped you over onto your hands and knees. 
“No, no, no, no, no, please. N-Need you daddy, Joel, alpha, please, I c-can’t,” you cried, dutifully folding over the pillow he shoved underneath your belly to protect it as he forced his way back inside. 
A garbled scream was muffled into the sheets as Joel slid home, followed by a desperate whine as he pulled your cheeks apart to look at the hole he had been neglecting. 
“M’not going anywhere sweetheart, gonna make you cum until you can’t see. Then m’gonna give you want, gonna fill you up so good that you’re leaking for days,” he promised, chuckling at the way you clenched around him as he teased the puckered skin. 
“Please,” was whispered into the mattress, followed by a broken wail as Joel started to thrust once more. 
One hand snuck into your hair, forcing you to arch against him so that his cock nailed that devastating spot every single time. Joel gritted his teeth, the sound of your high pitched mewls and his heavy sack slapping your clit making his stomach clench. He groaned as you started to throw yourself back onto him, so far gone that he wasn’t even sure you were speaking English anymore. Chuckling at the endless stream of nonsense, he continued to tease your back entrance, pressing tight the ring of muscle until you let out a garbled demand that forced him to shove two fingers inside. It was quite the stretch, with his thick fingers more than double the size of your own, but the wad of spit he let fall from his mouth eased the glide. 
“More, more, more, more,” you sobbed, legs shaking as he started to thrust his fingers in time with his cock. 
Joel swore, “Such a slut for me, aren’t ya? Both of these greedy holes are filled up baby, what more do you want? What does daddy need to do? Want me to take you the Bison and you fuck you on the bar? Want me to break that little cunt open in front of everyone? Show the whole town just how good that pretty pussy is at taking daddy’s cock?” 
A broken cry tumbled from your lips, rivulets of your cum running down his thighs as you reached your peak, this one even more brutal than the last. How many times had Joel made you cum so far? He had lost count, all he knew was that he needed to keep going. The pleas you were letting out were getting downright sinful, nothing but jumbled nonsense that made his balls draw up, forcing him to chew on the inside of his cheek to work through it. The sweet, nonsensical pleas would have broken his heart, if he didn’t know how much you fucking loved it when he treated you like this. After spending the day calling all of the shots, running the clinic, while also being a mom, what you needed was for someone to take the reins. 
And Joel was more than happy to. The way you undulated beneath him, working yourself back against his steadily throbbing cock, made him want to propose to you all over again. You were slack jawed and shaking with every brutal thrust Joel gave you, making him thank ever higher power above that his stamina hadn’t wavered despite his age. He didn’t care if it killed him, he would continue fuck you into the mattress until his legs gave out. It didn’t matter that his cock was aching, knot demanding to be locked inside as he continued to fuck you silly, what mattered was making good on his promise to break you into a million little pieces. That’s what his mate deserved, what his wife deserved. 
“J-Joel - mmfph - I can’t, need more,” you choked, gripping his arms hard as you tried to muscle through the sharp bolts of pleasure Joel was pulling from your swollen pussy, “Need you closer, want you close to me, please daddy. I can’t - I don’t wanna, not without you, please, please
”
The desperation in your voice this time was different, like you would die if Joel didn’t give you a taste of adoration, and he quickly pulled out so that he could flip you around again. However, upon turning you over, he immediately regretted the decision as he grabbed the base of his cock to stave off the cum that threatened to spurt out of him. Sweat glistened across your skin, illuminating your figure beautifully in the soft candlelight. 
If Joel was a smarter or more creative man, he would write poems about the gorgeous woman beneath him. You were ethereal, glowing with the pregnancy and drenched in lust, all while you looked at him like HE was the perfect one. It broke through every single one of his defenses and set his heart on fire. The hand adorned with a glittering ring reached out to Joel and he smiled, plucking it from the air so that he could kiss the back of it. You tugged on his hand, letting out a soft come here that had him climbing over you in seconds. 
“Darling, I could live a million lives and still never get over how fucking beautiful you are. Like a goddamn goddess babygirl, and I don’t tell you nearly as much as I should. Just so, so sexy. And you want to be with me forever? Fuck, I’m a lucky man,” Joel praised as he placed a smattering of kisses over your face. 
You giggled at his soft touch, “You tell me every day Joel, I think you’re in the clear.” 
He shook his head, giving you a cheeky grin before he said, “Then I should tell ya twice.” 
The laugh you let out in response was cut off by Joel easing himself back inside. He smiled as you wrapped your shaky legs around him, allowing him to slide in just a few more inches. His forearms bracketed your head, giving you no choice but to look him in the eye as he started at a slow but forceful pace. Each thrust knocked the air out of your lungs and forced a small squeak from your lips, which he couldn’t help but think was so goddamn cute. 
“That’s it sweetheart, take it like I know ya can,” Joel sighed, letting his hands roam all over your sweaty body.  
The way you squeezed his cock and scratched at his back told him you were close. Joel pressed his mouth against yours, nipping at your swollen lips and sucking on your tongue until he was sure you were on the edge. Pulling away, he grunted at the feeling of your walls tightening up even more, hugging him almost painfully hard and knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that he was doomed the second you let go. 
“Let me have it baby and I’ll give you what you want, shit. Dammit, I’ll fill that tight little pussy up so good sweetheart, just fucking cum for me. Know ya can do it, fu-uck, please. Christ honey, need to feel you choke my cock. Please, please, please,” Joel rambled, the desperation in his voice evident as his cock started to twitch. 
A squeak came from you, followed by a full body shudder as you released so hard that Joel had to trap you against him so that the force of it didn’t push him out. He groaned as you came, eyes rolling into the back of his head as your cunt greedily milked his reddened cock. With his lap soaked and your walls clenching around him so good, he couldn’t handle it anymore, thrusting forward so that he could lock himself inside. Joel let out an uncharacteristically high pitched whimper, calling your name like a goddamn whore as he released inside of you, right where his seed belonged. Thick torrents of cum spurted out of his cock, making you both moan as you both shook from the overwhelming surges of pleasures that just kept coming.
Again and again, Joel flooded your womb, until he was sure that if it was possible for him to somehow get you pregnant again, he would have. It was all so mind blowing that he found himself shaking under the weight of his own body, close to collapsing as the two of you were thrown off the edge once more. He groaned, rolling the both of you onto your sides so that he didn’t squash the precious bump that stuck out from your midsection with the next round of mind melting pleasure. 
“Oh fuck, Joel, I d-don’t, shit. Baby, that was so, oh my god,” you stammered, shaking like a newborn deer as you came down from the last wave. 
Joel held you close to him, tangling his legs with your own while he drew shapes on your hip bones and played with your hair. He nuzzled your neck, kissing the thin skin there until you had caught your breath and called his name. After giving your gland one last peck, he pulled away, coming face to face with a more disheveled version of you than he had seen in a while. The sight of it made his heart soar, knowing that it had been him who fucked you so good. 
“Beautiful honey, just the prettiest woman I’ve ever seen,” Joel confessed, unable to keep all the gooey-ness from spilling from his lips with how exhausted he was. 
“I love you,” you whispered, which only caused his heart to burn even brighter in the solace of the quiet lodge. 
“I love you too,” he answered, like it was the only thing in his life he had ever been sure of. 
And to a certain extent, it was. Joel’s love for you had been one of the first things he had been sure of in over twenty years. A light had filtered into his life again with just one smile from you, knocking him on his ass and driving away all his demons in an instant. Everything that had come since then, the bond, the twins, the home the two of you had made in Jackson, it was all a derivative of the love Joel had been so afraid of for decades. 
So, as Joel knocked his nose against yours and sighed at the way your fingers made soothing circles across his scalp, he couldn’t help but feel victorious. There was nothing else he had ever longed for as much as a family, a partner to love him as much as he loved them, a home to call his own, perhaps even a few pups that bore his image. But after the world had ended, after his first daughter had been torn from him so cruelly, he had resigned himself to a life of pain. And after Ellie died? Fate seemed to be giving him the middle finger, laughing at him for allowing himself to fall for it again. Joel had tucked away his sense of self, his hopes, his dreams, his humanity, anything that could possibly make him feel. 
But you? You had changed the game, stumbling into Joel’s life and unknowingly jumpstarting his heart in a way that had scared the absolute shit out of him. And after everything; the kidnapping, the arena, the cult, the traumatic birth of the twins, the murder of the two men that had threatened his peace, holding you in post engagement bliss made him want to gloat. It had taken fifty six years, but Joel had found a home, and he had you to thank for it. Laying one last kiss into your hair, he let himself drift, feeling like a champion of the odds for the first time in forever. 
- You - 
The nap that you had taken was necessary, given the relentless pounding Joel had rained down on your poor pussy after you had said yes to the proposal. It had been so mind breaking that you had awoken groggy and disoriented, unsure of where the hell you were until you caught the sparkling ring that now adorned your left hand. As carefully as you could, you disentangled yourself from Joel, wanting to get a better look at the heirloom that had been hidden from you for decades. 
The candles throughout the room flickered still, although most had gone out since you fell asleep. Padding towards the staircase, you stopped before the first step, casting a glance back at the devilishly handsome man that was your mate. Joel hugged the pillow that had just cradled your head, snuggling it closer to his chest as if it was you as he muttered nonsense in his sleep. That man loved you so much that it was surreal, like looking at the sun for too long as a curious child and coming away with dizzying holes in your vision. With one final glance, you turned back towards the steps, not wanting to wake the alpha that had so kindly fucked you into another dimension just a few hours earlier. 
Joel had been running on little to no sleep lately, too stubborn to wake you in the middle of the night when one of the twins came knocking. And with how many times he had just made you cum, you decided to let him rest for a bit longer before you jumped his bones again. Although, you had to admit that it was hard not to with how handsome Joel looked, naked and splayed out against the sheets. 
The first floor was slightly brighter, with many of the candles still going strong and the moonlight leaking in from the huge windows. You toyed with the ring as you drifted over to the table of treats, snagging the bowl of chocolate covered fruit to munch on as you stared out at the scenery. The trees shuddered under a gust of the humid wind, the warmth of it creeping in through the cracks of the molding. The quietness reminded you of the peaceful home that you had once shared with Joel in the forest. All of the memories, both bad and good, rushed over you in an instant, and  you couldn’t help but smile. It had all been worth it. 
Absentmindedly, you brushed a hand over the growing swell between your hips, smiling at the small kick that nudged you. There was a part of you that wanted to leave the comfort of the lodge so that you could bask in the cool waters and enjoy the sanctity of the forest, but you refrained. The last time the two of you had been separated in the woods, it hadn’t ended well and you weren’t willing to risk it again in the state you were in. The last thing you needed was the father of your children having a stroke when he realized that you had left the lodge without him, especially with how your last pregnancy had ended.  
Joel had relaxed some since then, but that didn’t mean he was particularly keen on letting you wander too far with how traumatizing the birth of the twins had been for the both of you. This time around, he stayed close, glaring at anyone in town that stared at you for too long no matter how many times you reminded him that he wasn’t hated in Jackson anymore. It was hard for people in town to stay mad at Joel when he had two pups who so clearly worshiped the ground he walked on, who babbled excitedly about their days to him as they strolled through the streets, all while he hung off of every word. He was a good dad, anyone could see it, and it forced everyone who once hated him to see the man he was, the man you loved. 
Plus, with how ruggedly handsome Joel was, you guessed it had something to do with that as well. He was the town handyman, and you knew just how good he looked while he worked, all sweaty and flushed as he put something back together. With how jaw dropping he was and how attentive he could be towards his family, you weren’t surprised how many residents suddenly needed various home appliances repaired. You didn’t mind. They could look all they liked, just so long as they also got a good look of Joel kissing you in the street, holding the swell that he had given you. Just so long as everyone in town knew that the sexy handyman belonged to you. 
Not that you were worried. With how relentless Joel’s public displays of affection had been since he found out about the newest edition, you were sure that the entirety of Jackson was well aware of the bond the two of you shared. He was so excited that it made you giddy, and it also made the pregnancy a lot less nerve racking than your first. That and the fact that you were pretty sure that there was only one pup this time around. Although you had no way of knowing, you remembered how much larger the bump had been and how drained you had felt growing two pups instead of one. Sure, there had still been the month of morning sickness, along with the unusual cravings and the mobility issues that came with growing a new life, but you were relieved at how much easier it was to only house one. 
Four years after the twins had come into the world and the fear that had once plagued your union was all but gone. Joel had become the man you knew he could be, the one he had always been capable of being but was too scared to after everything terrible that had happened to him. A part of you would like to think it had something to do with you, with how much the two of you loved each other, but you couldn’t discount the work he had put in. Being a dad again had terrified him, yet Joel had shown up for his pups and you every single day. You could tell that the responsibility of caring for Ellis and Alba at times felt like an anvil hanging above his head, could see it in the layer of sweat that glistened on his skin during the days that his past haunted him, but his broken heart had somehow started to mend around the people he loved. 
And now Joel was your fiance. Or was he your husband now? You had no idea how this was supposed to work. The only weddings you had been to had all been awful, including your own travesty that had ended with you being shoved out the window by the two women in your life that loved you the most. Was the puffy white dress and boring churchy vows what you wanted? Surely not, but you had never experienced anything else. Not to mention the fact that the proposal had taken you completely off guard. Regardless of the few comments Joel had made over the five years of being together, along with the matching bite marks and house filled with his kids, you were never sure if it was something he truly wanted. Hell, you weren’t even about it until you saw the beautifully broad man down on one knee. 
Although the purpose of such a gallant display had eluded you, the sight of the ring had drawn something out, the ghost of a memory long since forgotten. It sent you back to a time before Joel, or Josiah, or even Jake, when the world had been free of infected beings that shambled around in search of fresh meat. It was then that you had watched your parents laugh as they danced around the kitchen, had seen the princess meet her prince charming in one of the few films you were able to squeeze in before the world fell apart. As any little girl would, you had begun to dream of Prince Charming, someone who would love you unconditionally and be your best friend for the rest of your life. Never once had the younger dreamed that you would find him in the way you did, but every day since the first had proved to you that dreams could come true. 
Even if one of the many adversaries had succeeded, at the very least you would have been able to say that you had been truly loved and known by someone beautiful. The way you felt about Joel Miller was intense. It was like being in love with the wind itself. He was all encompassing, wrapping around you during every storm and carrying you away from the merciless talons of reality. But it could also be gentle, soothing you on days when it felt like everything and everyone was against you. 
Joel knew every piece of you, even the pieces that you had tried desperately to hide, and he loved them all. He could take you apart and put you back together without even breaking a sweat. And you tried to do the same for him, every single day. Which was why you didn’t care if Joel wanted a big ceremony, a small agreement in front of the family, or just a set of rings for one another. He was your mate, the love of your life, the father of your children, and your fucking husband as far as you were concerned. The specifics meant little to you when the end result was spending the rest of your life being loved by such a goddamn hunk. 
“How’d I know you’d be down here getting into the chocolate?,” a syrupy voice, still thick from sleep, drawled from the bottom of the stairs. 
The smile that spread across your face was involuntary, along with the small flutter of your heart. That was the effect Joel Miller had on you. Even after five years, two rowdy kids and another on the way, he could still make you weak in the knees. Before you had a chance to turn, Joel was already at your side, spinning you around and bending down to kiss you. He flooded your senses as his lips moved against yours, leaving you dazed that you missed when he snuck a hand into the bowl of sweet treats you held and stole one. As Joel pulled away, you laughed and beamed up at him, admiring how his curls looked all tousled from sleep. Although it had only been a few hours, he somehow looked completely refreshed, like all he had truly needed was a few hours buried in between your thighs and a quick nap to rejuvenate. 
“Hm, maybe don’t knock me up if you want me to stay in bed and wait around for your ass to wake up babe. Mama was starving,” you shot back, giggling at the wary look he sent your way. 
“Last time I checked, it was you that was begging me to cum inside and get you all round again. It takes two to tango sweetheart,” Joel joked, shaking his head at the jab, “You know, you could’ve woke me up honey. I would’ve gotten you something to eat, s’not good for you or her to wait if you’re hungry.” 
“Roger that cowboy, no naps for you,” you teased, getting up on your tippy toes to press a kiss to his lips, “Don’t worry Joel, I was fine. Plus, I really just wanted to get a better look at this bad boy. It’s just so pretty.” 
Joel grinned at that, plucking the hand in question from your belly to examine it himself. The way he lit up - god - it made you want to rewind time so that you could see it over and over again. He kissed the finger that he had adorned with the ring, admiring the shiny jewels for another second before he placed your palm over his steadily beating heart. 
“M’glad you like it sweet girl. I wasn’t sure how you'd feel about it all. We’ve never really talked about getting married, especially not since Ellis and Alba came, but I knew that if I didn’t ask I’d regret it for the rest of my life. You’re my missing piece honey, and I want to be yours in every single way I can,” Joel admitted, his words hitting you square in the chest. 
“Baby,” you admonished, “I can’t believe you thought I’d say no. It’s only ever been you and I’d like to keep it that way. You’re a part of me Joel, it feels like I can’t breathe when you’re not around. All I do while we’re apart is think about you and how much I love you. Fuck, or how good it feels to have you love me back. There’s nothing I’d rather do than - ah!”
You squeaked as Joel abruptly picked you up, kissing every inch of your face and neck as he carried you across the room. The nearly empty bowl was torn from your grasp, slammed down onto the coffee table before he fell back onto the couch with you in his lap. A series of giggles came from you as his mustache tickled your skin, only intensifying as Joel laid you back against the cushions and relentlessly tickled your sides. His laugh bounced off the high ceilings as he playfully wrestled you into a mess of breathless cackling. It was only when you begged him to stop that the assault finally ended. He pulled back to let you get some air, leaning over you with a soft smile as he did. 
“I know that you love me darling, I just get nervous sometimes,” Joel said as he knocked his forehead against yours, “A good nervous honey, like I’m going to go nuts if I don’t remind you how much that I love ya. I just
 I needed it to be perfect baby, you deserve nothing less.” 
“It was Joel, I loved it. And for the record, I would have said yes if you asked while I was on the toilet. Don’t get me wrong, this is probably the most romantic thing I’ve ever experienced, but all I need is you baby. That’s all there has to be for it to be perfect Joel, just you,” you cooed. 
And it was true. The grand gesture was heartwarming and amazing, but unnecessary. Joel could have asked you at the Tipsy Bison over greasy steak sandwiches, he could have asked you at the end of dinner while you both cleared the table, he could have asked you when you were curled up in bed with your reading glasses on while you thumbed through a book, or hell, like you said; he could’ve asked you on the toilet. In any scenario, you would have accepted and remembered the moment as one of the top ten of your lifetime. Joel was what made the whole thing special. 
“Christ darling, I’m the luckiest man alive. I thought for sure you were gonna say no when you started asking me what the hell I was doing, damn near shit my pants,” Joel laughed, letting the weight of the admission roll off of his shoulders. 
“To be fair, you don’t usually get down on your knees for me,” you chuckled. 
The look Joel gave you at that statement was pointed, as if to say, do you wanna bet? It made you flush and giggle, rolling your eyes at his innuendo. Of course, he did get on his knees for you quite a bit, more so than you did for him as of late, but that wasn’t what you had meant. He wiggled his eyebrows at you and you groaned, playfully shoving at shoulders until he relented. 
“Okay, you do get on your knees for me quite a bit. My bad baby, that was a poor choice of words. What I meant was
 Well, you don’t usually get down on one knee for me. I didn’t understand what you were doing. For a second I thought that you were trying to help me take my shoes off like you used to when I was pregnant with the twins and I was about to tell you to get the hell up but then you started saying all of these incredibly sweet things,” you explained. 
Joel guffawed, “Have you really never seen anyone do that? I guess I don’t really know what people do nowadays, but that used to be what ya did when you proposed. It’s tradition.” 
Scrunching your nose, you tried to pry out any memory of the odd practice from your brain but came up blank. Perhaps you had seen it in passing on a TV show as a kid, but any recollections of that were long gone. All that remained were the memories of various community members, your mother, Jake, Cooper, and finally yourself, being dragged towards the council to be matched up with someone. It never mattered to those people what anyone thought about their designated match. Paul never got down on one knee, he just made a shady deal with your stepfather and boom, he was assigned to be your husband. 
“No, I’ve never seen it. Where I’m from, alphas would never get down on their knees - in any context - for their omega. They just bought them by making a deal with someone on the council and then there would be a wedding. Nobody gave a fuck what we thought,” you admitted quietly, sighing as your past bubbled up from the depths once more. 
The way Joel’s face dropped made you frown, but he was quick to haul you up, maneuvering you until you were straddling his lap again. His face was wide open as he gazed upon you, uncaring of the mess the two of you were as he brushed his hands over every inch of your naked body. Peering at Joel in the soft light, he too was a mess of sweat and cum. It didn’t make you nervous to be so bare in front of him anymore, he had seen it all by now. In fact, it made you feel like you were on solid ground, like the two of you were equals in the soft glow of the candlelight. 
“M’sorry baby, I didn’t even consider that,” Joel sighed, “I guess that I always just dreamed of doing it that way. It’s a real old tradition that’s supposed to be a sign of devotion, of love, which is why I thought it was fitting. There’s no one else I’m more devoted to, or love more than you honey. You and our pups, that’s it, s’all I need.”  
A rush of dopamine filled you, his sweet words making you practically glow. Perhaps Joel was not the Prince Charming most people would dream of but he was yours, and he somehow always knew just how to make you squirm like a lovestruck teenager. 
“Please don’t apologize Joel. I didn’t understand, but I still loved it and I
” you trailed off, unsure of how to finish the sentence. 
With nothing else to say, you pressed your lips against his. Joel hummed, cradling your face as he allowed you to take charge. The kiss was slow and loving, leaving the both of you yearning to weld yourselves to one another so that you’d never have to part. If you could, you’d keep him in your back pocket instead of leaving for the clinic every day but that was impossible. Joel had a job to do and the twins needed parents that weren’t so busy mooning over each other that they forgot to feed them. But you supposed that these moments were for that, cherishing one another in the solitude of a paradise found. 
“Darling, whatever you need, I’ve got you,” he sighed as he pulled back. 
You grinned and nuzzled his jaw, breathing his scent for another few seconds until the spicy aroma coated the back of your throat. Pulling away, you smiled at his heavy lidded eyes, reveling in the fact that you could get Joel drunk off of you with just the briefest of touches. The air was thick, the candles and your overheated bodies seeming to make the summer night even more stifling, but you didn’t mind. With sweat covering every inch of you, along with a steady stream of his cum trickling down your thighs, you looked out at the fast moving waters outside. 
“What do you say we go for a dip?,” you asked as you turned towards him with a grin, “You did promise to take me swimming once.” 
Joel answered your grin with an even bigger one, nodding wildly as he pulled the both of you up from the couch. In seconds, the two of you were scampering towards the door, laughing like kids as you hurried towards the ultimate cool off. There was only one pause, when you begrudgingly slipped off the ring and left it on the table by the door to ensure that it didn’t get swept away, but then you were both back to racing towards the water. 
“Geronimo,” Joel called, his voice muffled by the heavy stream pounding off the rocks as he leaped from the bridge. 
You came to a halt at the very edge, waiting for him to surface before you followed him in. It was a bit daunting for you to jump into water without him, especially with the memory of your last dip in the moving waters of Montana still fresh in your mind. The grin he gave you when his head breached through the water was infectious, but that didn’t stop you from glancing at the edge of the swimming hole, remembering how you had almost drowned before being flung into one that looked just like it. 
A sinking feeling crept over you as your eyes followed the current, thinking about how you had shivered and puked after dragging yourself up onto the bank. You remembered crying out for Joel, despite the fact that he was nowhere to be found. Those memories were ones you tried hard to avoid, but the sight of the rushing waters flung you into the moments after you first jumped in and you drifted away from the man in the water who grinned at you.
The shock of the cold held you down beneath the waves and you felt your body quickly torn away from the shore. You flipped and somersaulted weightlessly in the rushing waters, every attempt at paddling to the surface useless against the current. More pain erupted from your side as the river slammed you against one of the rocks and a groan was muffled by the water. Desperate to breathe, you sucked in a mouthful of the frigid water but it stung your chest. Panic bloomed from within at the realization that you were drowning. 
Your lungs screamed for oxygen but you were stuck, shoved against the solid stone and weighed down by the rapids. Opening your eyes didn’t help, as all you could see from the bottom of the river was black. Was this it? Was this how you would die? You were infuriated at the thought. How could this be the thing that killed you? After everything you had been through, drowning seemed absolutely ridiculous. No, this couldn’t be it. Not with Joel somewhere alone and in pain. Not when you finally had a home.
“Come on sweetheart, what’s the hold up? Are ya chicken or something?,” Joel’s cut into your panic fueled remembrance, snapping you back to the present in an instant. 
You focused on the way Joel smiled at you, letting it bring you back down to earth. Joel Miller was right in front of you, he had survived the arena and you had survived going after the people that had made the mistake of taking him away from you. As scary as almost drowning had been, you didn’t die that day. And if Joel’s face wasn’t enough to soothe the swirling memories that locked you in place, all you had to do was look down at the swell sticking out from your tummy or think about the twins back home with their grandmother. They wouldn’t even exist if the worst had come to pass. A midnight swim in the river with the love of your life was not going to be the thing that killed you, the universe would have to try harder than that. 
“Not scared baby, just taking it all in,” you answered him, taking a deep breath before you leaped in behind him. 
There were no excruciating pins and needles from the temperature this time, nor were there ice chunks thumping you in the back, just a cool embrace that immediately shooed away the overwhelming heat that plagued you back in the lodge. That and the man that grinned at you as your head broke the surface made it perfect. Joel swam over in an instant, pulling you into the shallow end so he could wrap your legs around him. The two of you bobbed with the waves and you breathed a sigh of relief. The night had gotten progressively more humid, signaling an incoming burst of rain, but the water was perfect and so was he. 
“See, s’not so bad, is it sweet girl?,” Joel teased, whispering it into your ear as he nibbled on your neck. 
“Hmmm, nope,” you answered, tilting your head so that he could get better access to his mark, “Plus, the company is pretty good. I never thought I’d get to see you run but-ass naked into a river and yell geronimo, but now you’ve truly sold me on this whole marriage thing. My husband, the absolute dork.” 
He snorted, “Takes one to know darling.” 
With that, Joel bit down on your gland hard and you moaned. It was maddening how easily he could get to you, as you could already feel all of the tired muscles in your abdomen that had been fucked into submission tighten up again at the small move. He wasn’t ignorant of his abilities either. Each move by him was incredibly precise, like taking you apart was down to a mathematical equation that only he knew the answer to. The way Joel laved his tongue over the indents he made over your skin, his fingers digging into your asscheeks to keep you still as your hips began to twitch, all worked in tandem to have you dripping for him in seconds. 
The water, once so refreshing to the both of you, was now in the way of the heat growing between you, and Joel wasted no time pulling you from it. He laid you out against the soft ground, keeping his lips on yours the entire time. His tongue teased the seam of your mouth and you gladly let him in, sighing in frustration when he continued to err on the side of caution. Exasperated, you wrapped your legs around Joel and flipped the two of you over, straddling him just as a crack of lightning flashed through the sky. 
“Christ baby, maybe we should - ungh - oh fuck me,” he groaned, eyes going round as you grasped his length and dropped down hard. 
“I don’t care,” you snapped, lifting yourself up so that only the tip remained before you slammed down again. 
The pace you set was rough and desperate, Joel’s cock making your mind go completely blank as you rode him into slack jawed submission. He gripped your hips, your breasts, anything he could reach as raindrops started to fall from the sky. And still, you kept on going, moaning and throwing your head back like a depraved whore as another crack of lightning illuminated your bare skin. The rain started as a sprinkle at first, but it soon picked up, drenching the two of you as he grabbed your hips and began to help you ride him. 
“Fuck, just like that babygirl. Ungh, so fucking tight every time. Can you hear how wet she is for me? Goddammit, such a needy thing aren’t you? Can’t even wait to get inside, gotta have it out here. Christ, I fucking love you honey, such a good fucking girl for me,” Joel groaned. 
The words made you throw your head back, pace faltering slightly as your walls clenched and unclenched around him. With the curls around the base of his cock tickling your clit, his strong arms forcing you to stretch around his wide girth with every downstroke, you couldn’t help but lock up. A garbled shriek fell from your lips, dwarfed only by the sound of thunder, so close that it almost shook the ground. Still, you couldn’t find it in you to care about the danger, not when you were cumming and falling over him as you tore at his graying curls. 
“Joel, I can’t, ohmyfuckinggod, yes, yes, yes,” you mewled, shaking against him as the orgasm tore through you. 
Joel grunted as he flipped you over, tearing his cock out of you the seconds that the last vestiges of your orgasm petered away. Before you even had a chance to whine about it, he had already plucked you from the ground. He ignored all of your nonsensical pleas for him to release you, letting out a low growl when you tried to wiggle out of his grasp. That stilled you, along with the dark look he gave you. 
“Nope, stay fucking still,” Joel snipped, readjusting so that he could carry you bridal style towards the lodge, “S’not safe for you two out here. It’s way too dangerous, shouldn’t of even let you start but fuck, that pussy is just so fucking perfect. How could I say no to her?” 
“Joooel, c’mon, it’s fine!,” you pleaded, letting out a yelp when he leaned down and bit the spot on your neck that sent a wave of tingles down to your core. 
“Enough honey, I need to keep you safe - fuck - need to protect what is mine. My pup and my fucking wife can’t be out here in the storm. Need to take care of ya, so hush up,” he stammered, the truth behind his hardened features peaking through. 
The alpha in your mate was ready to breathe fire, causing Joel’s chest to rumble with useless threats pointed towards a force of nature of all things. He wouldn’t be soothed until you and his unborn pup were out of danger, even if the likelihood of you actually being struck by lightning were slim to none. Still, you didn’t fight him on it, too distracted by the way he continued to nip and suck at your neck each step of the way. As miffed as you were about the quick venue change, you had to admit, it was sexy when Joel let himself be overcome by his instincts. His need to fulfill his biological duty made you squirm in excitement, and you quickly decided to rile him up just a little bit more. 
“Shhh, I know baby,” you cooed in between soft moans, going crazy at the way Joel continued to spit possessive mantras between his teeth, “You’re so good at protecting us, so glad that’s I’m yours Joel. And you’re mine, do you hear that? Nobody else can have you - fuck - I fucking love you.” 
Joel let out a pained whine and pulled his face away from the love bites he had left as he neared the door. Any of the brown in his puppy dog eyes were gone, replaced by a pitch black that was ravenous for every inch of you. He ripped open the door, practically tearing it off as he marched inside and kicked it shut behind him. Ignoring the treats and the ridiculous amount of flowers, he hurried over to the couch so that he could throw you down against the cushions. 
“I’m yours darling, nobody else can make me feel like this,” Joel admitted, clambering between your thighs and tearing them apart so he could stare at your drenched slit, “And look at that, she’s still so fucking needy. Fucking hell, I gotta taste that sweet little pussy on my tongue.” 
Before you even had the chance to respond, Joel had lifted both of your legs up over his shoulders and was devouring your pussy like it was a four course meal. A slew of curse words fell from your lips, followed by a drawn out wail as he suckled your throbbing clit into his mouth. Joel chuckled against your folds as you pulled at his hair, yanking the strands and squirming so much that he had to double down on the hold he had on your hips. The way he was building you up was too much, sucking your nub even further into his mouth so he could bat at it with his tongue. The pressure inside of you continued to build, until you were sure it was going to kill you, but Joel knew you too well. Just as you started to suppress the urge to explode, he had already reached up to tweak at your nipples, giving you just enough stimulation to break.  
“Oh my god, f-fuck yes. Please daddy, m’gonna -  ouu shit,” you shrieked, shaking as liquid ecstasy flooded your veins. 
The way Joel groaned into your sopping cunt, his desperate sounds vibrating against you, had you twitching as the pleasure washed over you. He was relentless, sucking up every bit of moisture as slick poured out of you with each devastating wave. And just when it had petered off, when you thought he might let you go so that he could slam his cock back inside again, you felt him double down on his efforts. A choked whine was torn from your throat, ignored by Joel as he used you however he damn well pleased. It was only worse when you looked down and caught a glimpse of his pinched brow, moaning at the sight of his closed eyes as he focused all of his attention on forcing you into another orgasm. 
“D-Daddy please - ungh - SHIT baby, just like that. Fuck, you’re gonna make me cum again already. Ooooooh my fucking god!,” you cried out, thrashing against his hold as your walls began to clench around nothing. 
A request was on the tip of your tongue, but Joel was much too attuned to your every desire. As the storm raged outside, the rain now pounding against the windows and the thunder making the foundation shudder, the embarrassingly loud praises were drowned out as he slipped two, then one more finger inside of you. With how soaked you were, the three digits slipped in and out easily, working you into a frenzy as the rough pads rubbed so attentively over that sensitive spot inside of you that had your legs shaking over his shoulders. 
The command for you to cum was muffled into your folds, almost drowned out by your relentless babbling, but you caught it. All it took was one particularly harsh thrust of his fingers, combined with a devastating suckle and flick combo from his mouth, and you were gone once more. Every thought flew out of your mind, the pleasure burning so bright, spreading out from your core until you were boneless and sobbing. As you orgasm petered off, you pushed at Joel’s head with more insistence, signaling to him that you were much too sensitive for a third. 
“Mmmm, fucking delicous babygirl,” Joel sighed as he pulled away, shoving his fingers into his mouth the second they were released from your twitching core. 
Watching him through hazy eyes, you couldn’t help but moan at the show he was giving you. It was so filthy, so downright depraved, that you couldn’t help but buck your hips up at him. A breeze filtered in from outside, hardening your nipples in a way that had Joel licking his lips. You reached a hand out to him, the desire in his eyes making you squirm, but he didn’t grab it. Instead he stared at it for a moment, letting out a frustrated noise before he was suddenly retreating. 
“J-Joel? What?,” you called, lifting yourself up onto your elbows to watch him go. 
Joel ignored your soft voice and you whimpered, desperate for him to return despite the fact that he hadn’t even left the room. Naked and splayed out, pussy crying for attention from the man with the monster between his legs, you were a disaster. But he was too busy, completely ignoring you as he headed towards the door. Tears blurred your vision at his refusal to say anything, a deep seeded desperation coming from within, and you cried out.  
“Please,” you squeaked, overwhelmed by the pangs of desire that came from your very being. 
It wasn’t just Joel’s cock you needed. No, it was his touch, his gentle words, his loving gaze. All of him was so perfect that you knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that you would yearn for his presence until the day you died. But with his attention elsewhere at that moment, you felt like you were going to wither and die. 
“Hush now darling, m’right here. You’re gonna be okay baby, I’ve gotcha,” Joel cooed, dropping down onto the couch so he could blanket himself over you. 
The weight of his heated skin against yours was one thing, but the smell of him was another. As you shoved your nose into the crook of Joel’s neck, taking in lungfuls of the delicious scent that was forever entwined with yours. A heavy sigh came from him, followed by an excited little chirp from you when he pulled back to kiss you on the tip of the nose. 
“Wasn’t going nowhere honey, just wanted to give ya this,” Joel chuckled as he held up the ring you had slipped off before heading out to the river. 
“Mmm, I guess I can forgive you, ring pleeease,” you giggled, fluttering your fingers at him until he grabbed the hand. 
The ring slid back onto your finger so perfectly that you couldn’t help but grin. It was toothy and wide, much too dorky to be sexy but Joel didn’t seem to mind. Instead, he matched your energy, looking like a kid in a candy store as his nose brushed yours. However, the second you felt his forgotten length rub against your core, reminding you of how the two of you were but naked and pressed together against the couch, the mood changed. The gaze upon you went from light and loving, to possessive and so devoted that one could mistake it for insanity. A shiver inched up your spine, goosebumps prickling the skin he brushed his hands over again and again. 
“Fuck baby, this is how I want you from now on. No clothes, just that fucking ring. God, s’like the mark, drives me wild every time I see it. Just another reminder that you’re fucking mine, mine to fuck, mine to take care of - shit - to marry, oh sweet Jesus,” Joel groaned, his words working the both of you up. 
“I want to get you a ring too,” you rushed out, hissing through your teeth as he started to rut against you, “Want to see it every single day, want everyone else to see it too, want all of the people in town to know that you’re my alpha, my mate, my husband, you’re mine too Joel.” 
That tore an animalistic groan from Joel and he nodded, grabbing the base of his cock so he could place it at your entrance. Even though he had just been inside of you, he halted for a moment, looking at you for confirmation that this was what you wanted. It filled you with warmth, your sweet alpha always checking in on you no matter how obvious it might seem to anyone else that you wanted him. And you knew that Joel would stop if you wanted him to, no questions asked. He only ever wanted to make you feel good. 
“Please baby,” was all you had to say and then Joel was pressing into you, draping himself over your nude form as your mouth dropped open from the stretch. 
You felt every ridge, every throbbing vein of his thick cock. A grunt came from you as Joel’s reddened tip brushed against your cervix. He pressed a line of kisses into your neck, ending it with a final peck to your swollen lips. A breathy whine tumbled out as he started a slow pace, circling his hips into the cradle of your own on every downstroke. The way his pubic hair scrubbed at your oversensitive clit was perfect. That and the way you panted into each other’s mouths, sharing breaths in between desperate kisses as strings of arousal dribbled down both of your thighs. 
“Pretty girl, my girl, so good for me, TOO good for me,” Joel joked your legs up a little higher around his waist, drawing a breathy moan from you as he slid a little deeper, “Just like that, hm? Is that the spot? Right there honey? Feels so good, you’re so good, shi-it.” 
“Yes, right there Joel. S’good baby, you make me feel so fucking good,” you answered, tearing at his shoulders with your claws as he dug into you a bit harder. 
The air was sweltering as you writhed against one another, every inch of your bodies pressed together so perfectly. Keeping a passionate pace, Joel grabbed one of your hands, the other slithering down to cup the growing life between you. Tears sprung to your eyes at the simple gesture and when you looked into his eyes, you saw how his glimmered as well. Ever the caretaker, Joel made a sympathetic noise and bent down to kiss your eyelids, doting upon you despite his own swelling emotions. 
“I love you Joel,” you whispered, heart bursting at the seams. 
“I love you too darling, so much that it scares me sometimes. I’d die for you, I’d kill for you, fuck - m’gonna live for you. My whole life is yours baby, gonna keep you nice and full, gonna take care of you - ohmygod - gonna make sure you never need a thing. I’ll give it to you baby, anything you fucking want, just ask,” Joel rambled. 
“Kiss me, make me feel it,” you whined, not even fully sure what it was you were asking him for. 
The whine Joel let out as kissed you was pornographic, so much so that you wished you had the means to record it. Although you had heard about the joys of sex tapes and somewhat understood how the vague concept of the internet had revolutionized the masturbation of many. However, you had never truly understood the appeal. It all seemed so crass and disconnected. Why would you want to watch two strangers fuck when you could go find Joel? However, the first time the need for him had hit while your mate was too busy with work to do anything about it, you couldn’t help but wish you had some footage to aid in the experience. Fuck, who were you kidding? You didn’t even need a video, just the sound of his deep grunts as he thrusted into you would be more than enough to get you there. 
“I w-wish I could take a video of us like this,” you admitted when he pulled back, too drunk off of him to censor yourself, “Would be so fucking hot, I’d watch it every - gah mmph - every single day baby. God, all I need is the audio and I’d be happy, wanna listen to the sexy noises my husband makes when he - oooh fuck - when he fucks me.” 
Joel chuckled, pulling back so he could look you in the eye as he said, “I don’t know how sweetheart, but m’gonna make that happen if it’s the last fucking thing I do.” 
The response you had died on your lips as the angle of his thrusts changed, his cock now brushing up against every pleasure spot inside, lighting up all of your nerve endings like the fourth of July. A wicked grin came from Joel when you let out a throaty groan, your head thumping back against the cushion as slick gushed from your throbbing cunt. 
“Oh, that’s it, isn’t it sweetheart? Did daddy find the spot? Fuck yeah I did, can feel her squeezing me like a goddamn vice. Choking my cock so fucking good, like you were made for it. Love it, love you so much baby,” Joel keened, his voice going up a few octaves with the strain of holding off. 
“G-Gonna cum, shit, gonna cum Joel,” you warned him. 
A choked noise came from your mate, followed by a litany of broken whines as Joel slammed his knot into your silken walls. You howled, exploding around the thickness of his flared base in a way that had you both boneless and wailing as his cum started to pour into you. His fingers dug into your hips, keeping them still so he could grind up into you, prolonging each and every release until you disintegrated into an overstimulated mess. The pleasure was so intense that you clamped down onto Joel’s shoulder, muffling your whines into his skin as you were thrown into space. By the time you were done cumming, he had filled you up so much that you were sure it would be leaking out of you for fucking days. 
“Holy shit,” Joel panted, rolling the two of you over so that he could steer clear of squashing your abdomen. 
A chuckle was all you could give, too fucked out to do anything else but rub his scalp in the way you knew Joel liked. Moaning from the attention, he melted into you. He nosed at your breasts, sighing into them as you pressed a kiss onto the top of his head. It didn’t matter that the couch was slightly cramped, or that there was a storm slamming into the sides of the house, or that the two of you were covered in sweat, what mattered was the way he hummed in satisfaction as you whispered a soft I love you baby into his curls, quickly answering it with his own slurred admission of adoration. 
Soon, Joel’s knot would go down and the two of you would drag yourselves off to bed, perhaps even going a couple more rounds before you had to return to Jackson. But for now, with your bodies entangled and your hearts one, you couldn’t think of anywhere else you’d rather be. As Joel dozed, his hands cradling your tummy as he dreamt about god knows what, you smiled to yourself. Despite everything that had taken place, you had made it. In that moment, with the two of you snuggled so close and the rest of your family waiting back home, you realized that neither of you were alone anymore and you’d never have to be ever again. 
The world was a ruthless place and many times your spine had almost snapped under the pressure but luckily there was someone who made it easier. Joel lifted the burden that came with existence, a cross which every human being was forced to bear, by simply existing. All of the chains around your soul had been torn off by that man, freeing you in ways that even he could never fully understand. Joel Miller was the first good thing in your life and after years of nothing but horror, you finally had proof that it wasn’t senseless to hope, to dream, to want something more for yourself. It was rare, but sometimes good things did come for those with the stomach to wait for it. So many times you had wanted to give up, to throw away any chance at happiness for the sake of comfort, but you hadn’t. 
And now, with the home you had always dreamed of embodied in the man who brought color into your life, you knew that it was all worth it. The two of you had felt the sharp sting of rejection, of loss, of grief, of spite, that sting had been the only thing keeping either of you alive before meeting each other. The tragedy of knowing true pain, not the kind that people mentioned in passing, but a true overwhelming grief surrounding the wretchedness of one’s own existence, had driven you both to the point of madness. It had seemed like hope was lost, only for the impossible to become reality in the blink of an eye. 
Fate had brought you both to the river that day, braiding your souls together so painfully tight that they could never possibly be torn apart again. And as the night slowly bled into dawn, you found comfort in the knowledge that the two of you finally had a life of peace. The world would turn in on itself as it always did, ensuring pain and perhaps even violence in the futures of many, but you were unshaken. Joel was your future. The family the two of you had built together with blood, sweat, and tears was your future. 
In a world poisoned by such constant agony, one might wonder what the point of any of it was and whether anything really mattered at all, but not you. No, you had learned first hand how to appreciate the simple things. 
The masterpiece of unending devotion that was created between two lovers. 
The divinity in a broken spirit when it finally loves and is loved in return. 
The violence that could come from protecting the person who made life more than just surviving. 
The transcendence of becoming the person you always wanted to be, the person you were always meant to become. 
The wholeness that came as a result of it all. 
To have Joel, to love him and be loved by him, was worth whatever price. There was nothing else more noble, more commendable to fight for than the gift that was true love. So as the man in question muttered in his sleep, yanking you even further into his embrace, you went willingly, allowing yourself to relish in the victory that was being happy in spite of it all. With Joel, you were home, the rest of it was meaningless. 
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nimmie-nugget · 1 year ago
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~Reincarnated as a Knolastname~
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Note: HAPPY SPOOKY MONTH!! đŸŽƒđŸ‘» gonna be honest- I actually think Crimson might have cared atleast a bit for Moxxie when he was a child 😭 Anyway~ take some reincarnated Moxxie’s Sister Reader Headcanons!! đŸ„ł Do keep in mind that characters may be ooooooooc, and when there’s 8 O’s you know it’s extreme đŸ€Ż. Also I haven’t been doing Tokito Twin’s content for a while so I just wanna reassure that I have some HCs coming up for them đŸ˜«!! Enjoy!
P.s in the back flashes of EXES AND OOHS I think Moxxie was 4? Yeah so that makes you 7, your 3 years older 😋👌 tho age is not mentioned at all- and I will make fics of this đŸ˜€
Warnings: a lot of slang(not rlly a warning, just thought I’d mention), ooc, may have punctuation, spelling grammer/etc errors,
Info: idk man just wanted to add this 😐
Edit: HOW DOES SOMETHING LIKE THIS- A POST I BARELY PUT ANY EFFORT INTO GET MORE RECOGNITION THEN THIS POST, THE ONE I ACTUALLY PUT EFFORT INTO đŸ‘čđŸ‘č I appreciate the likes tho don’t take it in a bad way- 😭👌
Edit#2: I recommend u don’t read 💀👍
Helluva Boss Masterlist
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~Reaction to being Reincarnated~
-long story short you don’t know how you ended up here but you found yourself being the daughter of some random old ass guy that’s gonna be the main reason for your character development arc.
-at least that mom with an unknown name will provide you sweets and shit-
-gonna put sum realz shizz on this family fr.
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~Death~
-isn’t this Tumblr? Yeah long story short this turned into a Wattpad story for a second and the famous Truck-kun killed you 🗿 but you forgive Truck-kun since Truck-kun’s just being Truck-kun 😌.
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~Inside a Mansion~
Yup this “Mansion” is someone’s womb, zamn how da heck do you still have memories of your past life? Also why does your very tiny unformed body kinda look like an imp? Just like one from your favourite show Helluva Boss? How can you even see??? It’s pitch black bro- meh it’s whatever đŸ€·â€â™€ïž it’s fun kicking at least-
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~Borth~

I’m not even gonna explain this đŸ«Ą but just so you know Crimson was not there for your birth đŸ˜¶
-at least you still have the same Borthdah as you did before you were reincarnated???
-Girly just 🖕 this bullshit why’d you have to be re-born in this family out of all the ones in Helluva Boss? I mean- you don’t mind being Moxxie’s gay emo sister but like- Crimson
CRIMSON. Tho make sure to start those teenager phases early so no one becomes suspicious of you when your going through the teenage thinga ma jig 😔
-but yay! You bet that Moxxie’s mom- well basically your mom now, WILL BE THE BEST đŸ˜©
-but girly you weren’t even fazed when reincarnated- just accepted it like a champ 😎
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~Crimson’s First Thoughts On You~
-Absolutely nothing- 😃
-only thought of you as his heiress and DEFINITELY to lead his Mob in the future 😔
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~[Unknown]’s First Thoughts On You~
-this is the Mom btw 😃
-gonna be honest I don’t know much since we’ve never really gotten a FULL view of her personality- all that I know is that she’s kind? đŸ€·â€â™€ïž Yuh so I won’t really directly say what she thought but I guess I can just- I don’t know man just read I guess 😃👌
-101% THOUGHT YOU WERE CUTE AF!! what happened to infinite%? 😱
-she felt a warm and fuzzy feeling inside, something she never felt ever since she married Crimson 😔.
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~Moxxie’s First Thoughts On You~
-‘Guppa duppa poo daaah dooo’
-don’t tell me you actually expected a real thought from him- Broski was just born 😔
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~Your First Thoughts On Moxxie~
-‘zamn bro’s crying on his borthduh I could never 🙄💅’
-girly he’s like a few minutes old what on Satan’s ass are you talkin ‘bout? 😀
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~What Crimson Thinks Of You~
-your a nuisance, like- what do you mean when you say “put those dawgs away💀”
-yeah you definitely got in trouble so many times- this stupid MF can’t understand slang and just thinks your insulting everyone around you đŸ˜¶
-forget about you being his heiress, might as well make Moxxie his heir instead 😠
-Now take a very ooc dialogue 😋 btw this is after the Mom’s death 😃
-“[Name], cut it out. That will happen if you don’t stop.” He says calmly, too calm for you to know he’s pissed. (he was implying that he will drown you just like he did to the Mom btw-)
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~What [Unkown] Thinks Of You~
-Loved you from the moment she layed her eyes on you đŸ˜© (cheesy much đŸ˜¶)
-wrote more then a dictionary just to prove how much she loves you 😔
-yuh that’s all I got 😐
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~What Moxxie Thinks Of You~
He’s 4 rn-
-HE LOVES YOU!!
-your his sister why wouldn’t he- ?
-your basically his partner in crime 😈 both of you steal treats from the kitchen when your not supposed to đŸ˜€đŸ‘
-if the Mom found you 2 being naughty then sorry to tell you but yer’ both getting a time out 😔
-
BUT IF CRIMSON FOUND YOU- yuh that’s somehow gonna become a family issue problemo đŸ˜¶đŸ’Š______________________________________________________________________
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I sometimes forget writing is for fun- but I certainly had fun writing this 😎 now I’m gonna tag this in some tags that this doesn’t even relate to which will make everyone hate me but they will soon worship me after reading this masterpiece. Praise this shit rn *points gun at you*
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224 notes · View notes
darkinfinity · 9 months ago
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Hi, happy 28th! I decided to join the 28th appreciation, so here are all the fics I read and enjoyed in the past month! Fics are organised by word count :)
đŸŒ·Tell me it's the strongest shape by @louandhazaf (E, multi, 73k)
Nick and Elgar have it all. They’re famous, successful, and engaged to be married—and sometimes they play with others.
When uni student Louis gets street cast by Elgar for a GQ photoshoot, he's drawn into Nick and Elgar’s complicated relationship.
They've always invited mates into their bed. It doesn’t ever mean anything. Until
 it does.
đŸŒ·A crown of heartache by WordsInBloom28 (E, 70k)
The Royal Tail: an alpha den, a strip club, a place where secrets are concealed and consent is medicated. It’s also the place Harry has been trapped for the last three years.
Through luck or fate, Harry finds his way to Louis, a kind alpha who offers safety and comfort. After being freed from the confines of the den, Harry struggles to shake the darkness from his past.
He has a choice to make. Live in a mental prison of his own making or find the strength within himself to face his demons head on with Louis at his side.
đŸŒ·In the still of the night by @jacaranda-bloom (E, 68k)
In a society where omegas are expected to follow a predetermined path, Louis strives for more; for his voice to be heard, for recognition, for true love.
In a world where your past defines your future, Harry fights against the system; for equality, for a different life, for acceptance.
When their two worlds collide, will they be beaten down by conformity or will they rise up and forge a new path together?
OR the Dirty Dancing AU where Louis is a feisty omega who wants to change the world, Harry is an alpha from the wrong side of the tracks, and nobody puts Louis in a corner.
đŸŒ·Chasing, searching, dreaming by @parmahamlarrie (E, 46k)
Everyone is chasing, searching, dreaming of their soulmate.
Harry has known who his soulmate is since he was twenty years old, and ever since, he has been waiting for Louis to be ready for him. The unexpected passing of Louis' mum, and the fact that now he is the guardian of his twin two-year-old little siblings, just means that Harry is going to have to wait a bit longer.
A soulmate AU full of cute kids, house building, therapy, and a lot of dreaming.
đŸŒ·Four, five, finished? by @beanno28 & @lalalaartje (E, multi, 45k)
Now that they've all settled down in their relationship dynamic, Zayn, Harry and Louis agree it's time for the next step. A new phase in their lives, so to speak. They're having a baby! Or well. That's the plan. As usual for the three of them, nothing goes as planned.
Adjustments have to be made, emotions have to be lived through and discussed and all in all, our three boys need to buckle up for the ride and hope to reach their final destination without major figurative car crashes.
đŸŒ·A hopeless connection by @parmahamlarrie (E, 34k)
In a world where everyone has a soulmate, what do you do when you don’t have one?
As soon as Louis Tomlinson was born, his Timer, the one that determined when he would meet his soulmate, was already at zero. He’s spent the last twenty-five years of his life looking for that void to be filled with faceless strangers. Can he still find love?
đŸŒ·Santa baby honey by @sadaveniren (E, 29k)
“Let’s cut right to the chase,” Niall said, loading the powerpoint, which was just one page, comprised of Louis’ face and the words How do you solve a problem like this asshole? “It’s the beginning of November and Louis is already being a fuckwit. How are we gonna have him knock that shit off this year?”
aka Louis is the CEO of a toy company and Christmas is a stressful time of year so his assistant decides the best way to make him chill out is by getting him laid through a Secret Santa
đŸŒ·Thespian sweetheart by orchidsinnewyork (16k)
Harry definitely was not. He’d stopped listening.
Across the room, someone had caught his eye. 
The stranger’s light brown hair fell into wisps, framing his mask. His cheekbones could be seen even with half his face covered, and his slender fingers were brushing along the buttons of his coat. He was smiling even though he had no one in company. He seemed to glow as he stood under a chandelier, the fragments of glass reflecting bursts of light onto his frame.
Harry had never seen someone like that before. He’d been staring for too long, completely ignoring Count Paris as his gaze focused on the stranger. And he hadn’t realised it until the stranger turned his head, and their eyes met.
Harry saw his lips part, and curled into a small smile as he removed his mask. Staring back at Harry were a pair of brilliant blue eyes, twinkling at him like twin stars. The stranger winked at him, and his head felt giddy. 
~
Uni AU where Harry participates in a Theatre production, and is supposed to perform a stage kiss that winds up becoming quite real. Featuring awkward encounters, insane dreams, OT5 and peanut butter.
đŸŒ·I'll look after you by @elmeiko88 (M, 15k)
I mean, when Harry inherited his late uncle's hybrid, he didn't necessarily expect this...
Where Louis is a nice hybrid cat who's never lived with anyone but an old man, and who discovers the freedom of living with Harry...
đŸŒ·I dig your cinema by @silverstuff50 (E, 13k)
It wasn’t that Louis didn’t want to see Harry’s latest film; it was a tragically pathetic fact that Louis had watched every single show and film, every interview, every red carpet that Harry had done since his ex-boyfriend had decided to leave Uni in the second year and pursue an acting career.
It's just that he wanted to watch it on his own, in his flat, with a soft blanket, beer, ice cream, and a large box of tissues.
đŸŒ·licking sugar off taboos, we pour wild honey and wine over the walls by @larentslovebot (E, 10k)
Louis Tomlinson is a big name in the industry. A lyrical mastermind, who does not appear in public and dedicates his existence to music. Deciding to find aspiring musicians for his label, he expected to tutor young talents and make them the next heads of show business. What he didn't expect was to meet Harry Styles, omega with attitude and a captivating scent.
đŸŒ·Woke up feeling knotty by @jaerie (E, 8k)
Beta Louis has a kink for knotting and the secret aesthetic porn blog he runs about it is more than proof. When he accidentally finds out his alpha best friend Harry is one of his biggest fans, he knows he has to come clean after everything that has already happened between them. Harry just might be willing to help him out anyway.
đŸŒ·I'll keep you warm by @parmahamlarrie (T, 6k)
Louis is the kind of guy who keeps his head down and minds his own business. He’s lived on the same street for years and barely would recognize the buildings, let alone his neighbours. That’s all about to change however, due to a broken key and an unexpected snow storm.
đŸŒ·Pretty and preposterous by @brightlyharry (5k)
Harry donates a copy of Pride and Prejudice to his little free library. He never expects what comes next.
đŸŒ·What the silence said by @larrysballetslippers (E, 3k)
“Our lives were just beginning, our favourite moment was right now, our favourite songs were unwritten. ‘Love is a mixtape’, Rob Sheffield.”
Or, Louis has tried to ask Harry, the quiet and cute librarian at his local library, out for some time. He never expected that quoting Harry's favourite books work so well for him. A very silent Valentine's day fic.
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apollosgiftofprophecy · 1 year ago
Text
ToA Theory 1 - Apollo's Waking Visions
First official theory post, here we go! :D
Alright. So. After rereading The Dark Prophecy, I started wondering about something. In TDP, Apollo experiences waking visions, where he conks out for a bit and has prophetic visions.
I found this interesting because, well...isn't Apollo supposed to be cut off from prophecy? With Python back in control of Delphi?
Because think about it. Python controls Delphi, the root of all earthly prophecy. This would include Dodona, Trophonius, Herophile, and Sibyl - sure, they aren't strictly connected to Delphi, but it's pretty heavily stated that Delphi just straight-up Makes The Future. It's prophecies are The Big Deal and you Should Listen.
Meanwhile the other Oracles seem more guiding and "beware!" instead of "this is how it's gonna be".
(sidenote: found out there are MORE oracles and I wanna know WHERE THEY ARE IN RRVERSE CANON because I want my boy Branchus okay??? Okay. Branchus's oracle was second only to Delphi let's give Apollo's first boyfriend the attention he deserves!)
So of course, like all great members of this fandom, I started thinking.
Let's do a little family history first. ;)
Buckle up. We go down a deep rabbit hole 😎
Apollo and Artemis are twins, born to Leto and Zeus. Zeus's parents are Kronos and Rhea. Leto's are Koios and Phoebe.
Rhea has connections to Dodona, as we learn in-series, but she doesn't really seem to be all that involved with prophecy.
Her siblings, meanwhile...ho ho ho, they are a WHOLE NOTHER STORY!
Let's start with Phoebe. Phoebe, like all first generation Titans, is the daughter of Gaea and Ouranos. She married her brother Koios. Her children consist of Asteria, Lelantos, and Leto. As well as Artemis and Apollo, her other two grandchildren are Hecate (Asteria) and Aura (Lelantos).
Her name means "bright" and is the root of Apollo's most famous epithet - Phoebus. She is often described as "golden-crowned" and is the Titan of bright intellect, the overseer of Earthly Prophecies, and is the second guardian of Delphi, after her sister Themis. She gifted Delphi to Apollo for his birthday after he defeated Python.
Classic grandmother move.
Anyway. There's a bit of Phoebe lore. Time for her elusive husband :3
Koios. His names means "question" or "questioning", probably because he's the Titan of inquiring intellect. He's also the overseer of Heavenly Prophecies, and has an oracle up in the North Pole guarded by an earth-dragon - you'd know this serpent by the name of Draco, the constellation btw. Additionally, Hyperborea (where Apollo goes in the winter times) is part of his domain.
eyes
Unfortunately, we have very little mythological lore on these two, and even less in the RRverse (I cling to that one (1) Koios scene) which sucks because I love them already BUT it does give me lots of legroom to mess around with canon >:)
Back to the theory now. As you may have guessed, I'll be taking us in a direction concerning Apollo's mysterious grandparents. But what does this have to do with Apollo's visions?
Well. Remember when I mentioned that Delphi is the root of all earthly prophecies?
...look at Phoebe's paragraphs. She's the overseer of Earthly Prophecies, right? So it makes sense she's been affected by Python's takeover too.
(if you've read my fics you'd know this already lmao)
Asteria, Apollo's aunt, is a little trickier. She, too, has a hand in divination, but mainly through the night/stars and dreams. <-will come back to that later.
Koios, again, is overseer of Heavenly Prophecies, and is heavily implied to be able to commune with Ouranos's spirit. This is, apparently, a Big Deal because nobody else is mentioned to be able to do this.
...Except...remember this throwaway line in The Hidden Oracle?
Tumblr media
^Apollo can see Ouranos too.
Within this theory is a sub-theory, so to speak - that immortals with the gift of prophecy can see Ouranos, since they can see what cannot be seen. This would include Phoebe, Asteria, Koios, and Apollo.
And it'll make sense why they'd keep it to themselves. Kronos wouldn't have been happy to hear his dad was still around. Neither would Zeus, for that matter.
So here I was. Contemplating. Wrote a few fics based around this idea. And one in particular got me thinking (fic in question being When The Stars Align), and a little ways down the road I realized something.
If Phoebe, the overseer of Earthly Prophecies, would have been affected by Python's takeover...was Koios? Could he even be affected?
Because here's the deal: Koios is the overseer of Heavenly Prophecies. Prophecies from the Sky.
Phoebe's are of the Earth - the Earth that Python has taken control of. And Delphi is the root of Earthly Prophecies - not Heavenly.
That would be Koios's oracle, up in the North Pole with Draco.
...So that means Heavenly Prophecy must have still been in business during ToA.
But then comes the question: If it was still within the gods' control, why didn't they use it?
Well...Draco's there, for one. He's probably the Python-equivalent of the North, and clearly he's still there since no myth has spoken of his death (that I know of).
If you ask me, I just think the gods are too nervous/afraid to try Koios's oracle. They were too scared to face Python, after all, until Apollo arrived. I think they'd be scared of a serpent who comes and goes from the stars as he pleases.
And as for why Apollo hasn't done anything about it...well, I think his fight with Python left him rather scarred, don't you think? He probably went "yeah grandma's oracle is enough" and the only time he ever got close to Koios's was during his time in Hyperborea.
So getting back to the main theory now. (So many rabbit holes to dive into with this post. The ADHD Urge is real)
Since Heavenly Prophecies is still active, but Earthly is in Python's control, I conclude Apollo's visions come from the Heavenly source.
Could they have come from the now-working Dodona? Maybe. But Dodona's all about those windchimes and trees. It doesn't have the Vibe, so to speak, for granting visions.
And remember. Trophonius, Herophile, and Sibyl aren't destroyed/freed yet. They have Zero connection to Apollo at this point because Python cut him off from them.
...but he didn't from the North. From Koios's divine power.
Because remember. Apollo is the god of prophecy.
Not of Earthly Prophecies, like Phoebe.
Not of Heavenly Prophecies, like Koios.
Not of nighttime divination and dreams like Asteria.
Of. Prophecy.
Prophecy as a whole. The entirety. The whole enchilada.
Every part of prophecy he's the god of, be it tarot cards to the Oracle of Delphi itself.
In my opinion, I think whatever Koios's Oracle is, it has just as must power as Delphi. The only problem was that...everybody just left it be. Nobody considered it because:
1) scary dragon
2) scary titan ruled the place
3) honestly at this point I think it's just straight-up forgotten about. Like Branchus's Oracle. I think at one point Apollo himself mentions there are other Oracles besides the ones in-series, but there's so many that his mortal brain cannot comprehend how many.
If the Grove of Dodona nearly faded into obscurity, then I think it's entirely possible Koios's Oracle was forgotten about (or so we think...I'm gonna be chewing on this for a while.)
Coming back round to TDP...I think this is a reasonable explanation about Apollo's visions. To summarize:
Apollo is cut off from Earthly Prophecy, his usual source of foresight that he gets from Phoebe
The unused, near-forgotten-about Heavenly Prophecy side of Apollo ignites to steer him on the right path
This is possible because Apollo is the god of prophecy itself, and not a single subset of prophecy, so he's not limited in the same way Phoebe is
Koios's Oracle is still out there and kicking and I will die on this hill
One problem. What about Asteria? She can interpret the future from the stars...aka the Sky. Like Koios. So couldn't she provide some insight to the future, since she, too, is connected to Heavenly Prophecy?
This is where things get a lil' tricky. And where I really slap on my tinfoil hat and start headcanoning my way through lmao
Basically, I think that since Asteria became the island of Delos (long story) a good chunk of her power is ingrained there. She's not as strong as she used to be, so her foresight isn't as strong.
This, in turn, I think could also serve as a reason why Koios's Oracle is "asleep" so to speak and nearly lost to memory in the RRverse - in fact, I think Asteria and Phoebe are the only ones who bother to remember its existence.
And Leto, of course. But I don't think she wants her son to know of another Oracle with a giant snake guarding it. She's had enough heart-attacks, thank you.
(Same with Lelantos, tbh.)
Canon is my sandbox and I am making some sweet sandcastles out of it XD
TL;DR
Apollo's visions in TDP stem from Koios's source of Heaven Prophecy because Phoebe's source of Earthly Prophecy (Delphi) has been taken over by Python. Koios's source firmly knocks on Apollo's mental doors and decides to kick back into gear to help its titular patron's grandson out. Because Apollo is the god of prophecy itself - every bit of it.
Extras:
I find it fascinating how magic and prophecy are both part of the same family tree (Hecate & Apollo).
and yes. You should expect a fic concerning Koios's Oracle at some point. but no promises on when :3
Thank you for coming to Insane Theory Time With Alder. I hope there will be more lmao
Websites you can look into:
Koios (Theoi)
Phoebe (Theoi)
Hyperborea (Theoi)
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typicalopposite · 2 months ago
Note
I know you’re writing your amnesia fic right now (which i love btw) but can we have a snippet of chapter 10đŸŒđŸ‘€
Well yes you most certainly can! đŸ˜­đŸ«¶
(And for anyone wanting a Pregnant!Tommy mpreg fic from before pregnant Tommy was cool đŸ€Ł read it from the beginning here!)
đŸ«¶đŸ«¶đŸ«¶đŸ«¶
Tommy lays on his side in his hospital bed, staring at the door to his room, waiting for Evan to come back. He runs his finger over the crisp edge of the pillow case of the pillow he is clinging to, takes the edge and folds it into a point then runs his finger over that
 a little grounding stim he does absentmindedly when he has nothing better to do with his hands
 At the moment he has nothing better to do with any part of his body. The one thing he was good for postpartum is going to waste
 painfully building up and leaking out instead of going to Robby and Rochelle who need it. 
They need him. 
Yet they are at home, and he is here
 All because his body— his stupid stupid useless body— decided maybe it really wasn’t cut out to be a carrier. He felt so empty after the twins were born
 Now he feels hollow.
A choked off sob escapes and he buries his face in the pillow. He really doesn’t want to start crying again. He had already spent the majority of the night crying— until he finally cried himself to sleep— and then he woke up and cried some more. 
After he passed out in the ambulance, the next thing he remembers was waking up to Evan hovering over him, his hands running through his hair, and tears stains streaking down both cheeks. “H- Hey
” he said softly, kissing Tommy’s forehead, giving him the cliche ‘don’t you ever scare me like that again’ spiel. 
“What happened?” Tommy asked, and Evan gently explained he had in fact suffered a rupture of his internal incision. He said they thought they might have to do a hysterectomy, and Tommy’s heart had momentarily stopped until Evan corrected himself and explained they were able to stop the bleeding without that
 but—
There is always a but. 
Tommy almost laughs in spite of himself
 because just after Evan said he wasn’t left infertile, a doctor comes in and runs a knife through the sliver of hope Tommy had been clinging to. 
Unwise; that’s what the doctor called any idea of future children. He was too old. He already had two— a boy and a girl at that. It would be senseless to try again. An extremely high risk
 His absolute favorite term. Tommy took it all in and forced himself to swallow it down. Evan tried to console him— not that he outright let himself grieve at first. He called Lacey who put Delores on the phone to tell him those are just statistics, and should be taken with a grain of salt. He should let his body heal
 and when he’s ready to consider more children then worry about those statistics. 
He thanked them, and settled into the mattress
 pushing everything out of the way so he could put on a brave face for a FaceTime call to his mom. But Ro was screaming when she answered— he knew it was Ro because her cries are much louder and angrier than Robby’s despite her smaller size. His mom looked frazzled and tired, but smiled and told him not to let it get him upset; Ro would be fine— she, Athena and Bobby had it under control. 
He tried to not let the cries bother him but the louder she got the more his chest began to ache as his body went into overdrive wanting to nurse her— except she wasn’t here, neither of his babies were. He was a terrible carrier that couldn’t successfully do the exact thing his body was meant to do; a terrible husband that would never be able to give his Evan any more children; a terrible— terrible father
 who’s baby is crying out for him and he’s not there

It was after he hung up the phone with his mom that the dam finally broke and he allowed the weight of everything happening to drag him under. He carefully curled himself into Evans' side and cried himself to sleep. 
Now he is curled around a pillow, trying not to start bawling again, while Evan talks with the doctors about letting the twins come up to be with him. 
He loses the battle just as Evan opens the door and steps back in. “Oh Tommy,” he says softly, quickly crossing the room and climbing in the bed to hold him. He kisses the top of his head and rubs up and down his back until he is calm. He wipes his face off with the back of his hand, accidentally pressing on the IV in it and hissing at the little bit of added pain to what he is already in. “Hey,” Evan whispers, taking his hand to kiss over the now sore spot. “They said yes.”
“R- Really?!” 
“Yep,” Evan laughs, wiping a tear from Tommy’s cheek. “Your mom is bringing them right now.” 
đŸ«¶đŸ«¶đŸ«¶đŸ«¶
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radiantrosaa · 2 months ago
Note
Hello, Rosa! I really really like all your work, seriously! If you let me, I'll give you a little idea: Stanley x Reader or Ford x Reader, to me, it doesn't matter, I would like them both, or just one, you can choose. The idea is, the reader is a Italian 20s girl, and she's their new neighbor, maybe, I just thought that would be great to see her teasing them speaking Italian. I don't know, sounds good to me. Thank you for your fics! I luv them, bye! 💖
I adore you, thank you! There’s no NSFW in this one but if you want a part 2 with smut, just say. I know how some people feel uncomfortable about the twins being intimate with a partner, didn’t want to risk making anyone feel iffy. Also, I didn’t proofread this.
-ˋˏ àŒ»âàŒș ˎˊ-
Stanley&Stanford x Italian!Reader
Context: Reader moves to Gravity Falls and ends up being neighbors with the Mystery Twins. Read more to see what happens.
Reader goes by She/Her pronouns.
-ˋˏ àŒ»âàŒș ˎˊ-
Moving day. Boxes piled high in the corners, your hands dusty from hauling your life into this new place. The old home creaks and settles like it’s welcoming you, or maybe just warning you of the mysteries your future holds. Either way, there’s no turning back now—you’re here, and this place is finally yours.
You step onto the wrap-around porch, brushing off your hands, and glance across the street. That’s when you spot them: two men in their sixties, standing on the lawn of the quirky home across the way. They couldn’t look more different if they tried. One has a sharp, scholarly air, dressed neatly and carrying an air of curiosity, while the other, a bit rougher around the edges, eyes you with something between amusement and intrigue. They’re twins, but the years seem to have carved their faces in opposite directions.
You can’t help but smile a little, curiosity sparking as you realize they’ve noticed you. One of them, the one with the grizzled stubble and mischievous grin lifts his hand in a friendly wave.
“Welcome to Gravity Falls!” he calls, voice rough but friendly.
You nod, letting a smile spread over your lips. “Thanks! Looks like I’ve got interesting neighbours, at least.”
The scholarly one chuckles, his gaze sharp behind his glasses. “You’ve got no idea.”
It’s then that you realize this small town might just have more in store for you than you’d ever expected.
· · ─ ·𖄞· ─ · ·
It’s been a few weeks since you moved in, and the quiet little town of Gravity Falls is starting to feel more like home. You’ve gotten into the rhythm here: walking down to the diner for coffee in the mornings, exchanging nods with familiar faces, and even giving a polite wave to the occasional cryptic figure who disappears into the woods now and then.
Today, though, the weather’s finally on your side, so you decide to tackle a few projects around the house. You’re in the middle of trying to repair a stubborn shutter on your front porch when you hear a low, familiar chuckle behind you.
“Need a hand with that, kid?” It’s Stan, leaning against your fence with his usual self-assured grin, his hands deep in his pockets.
You glance back, brushing a stray hair from your face, a little embarrassed he’s caught you mid-struggle. “Just trying to make sure this place doesn’t fall apart before I can settle in.”
Ford, who had apparently wandered over alongside Stan, gives you a nod, looking up at the shutter with a hint of amusement in his eyes. “I’d suggest securing that with something stronger than those flimsy nails. I could bring over a toolkit if you’d like.”
Stan rolls his eyes. “Or we could just nail the thing in, quick and easy.” He gives you a wink. “But hey, up to you. You want perfection or good enough?”
You laugh, realizing that between the two of them, they’ve got a rhythm going: Stan’s laid-back practicality, Ford’s precise attention to detail. They’re an odd pair, but somehow it works.
“Alright alright,” you say, holding up your hands in surrender. “I’ll take both of you up on it, you’re the experts around here.”
Stan climbs up to the porch, giving your tools a critical look. “Let’s just say we’ve fixed a lot worse. Your place’ll be good as new by the time we’re done.”
Ford joins him, setting down a toolkit and slipping into his typical focus. “If you’re going to be in Gravity Falls long, you’ll want to be prepared. Strange things have a way of finding us here.”
“Oh, trust me,” you say with a smirk, “I’m starting to get that impression.”
Stan chuckles, glancing at you with a twinkle in his eye. “Yeah, well, stick with us, and we’ll make sure you survive it.”
You watch as Stan and Ford both focus on fixing the shutter, each working in their own style. Stan’s approach is fast and easygoing, while Ford takes a more careful, almost scientific method. You can’t resist a little smile as you watch the contrast between the two—such different people, yet here they are, side by side, arguing about screws versus nails.
“You know, you two make quite the team,” you tease, leaning against the porch railing with your arms crossed. “Like an old married couple.”
Stan snorts, straightening up and tossing you a wink. “Hey, don’t lump me in with Mr. Perfect here. I’m all for quick solutions, Ford just likes to make things complicated.”
Ford adjusts his glasses, giving Stan a look before turning to you with a half-smile. “Complicated, sure, but effective. If you’d prefer to keep this place standing, my methods might be worth a try.”
You laugh and switch to Italian, letting your voice dip into a playful tone. “Siete così testardi, entrambi. È adorabile.” (You’re both so stubborn. It’s adorable.)
Stan pauses, his brow lifting. “Whoa, hey, what’d you just say? That sounded way too nice for us.”
Ford’s eyes light up in interest, clearly intrigued. “You speak Italian? Fascinating. Care to translate?”
You give them a cheeky smile, pretending to be coy. “Oh, you know
 just saying you’re both very determined men.”
Stan raises a skeptical brow, clearly not buying it. “Yeah, somehow I doubt that’s all you said. Feels like you’re keeping secrets from us, kid.”
With a smirk, you lean closer to him and murmur, “Maybe I am. Better stick around to find out.”
Stan lets out a chuckle, crossing his arms as if sizing you up. “You’re full of surprises, aren’t you?”
Ford, meanwhile, seems charmed, though he tries to keep it subtle. “It’s a rare talent around here—multilingualism. Maybe we’ll have to study up so we can keep up with you.”
You glance between the two of them, feeling that electric mix of challenge and curiosity. “Guess I’ll have to keep throwing a little Italian your way, then. Keeps you both on your toes.”
Ford nods, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. “I think we can handle that. But watch out—it only makes us more curious.”
Stan grins, tapping his chin as he eyes you. “Yeah, and you’re not the only one who knows how to keep a few secrets around here.”
The three of you share a knowing look, and for a moment, it’s like the rest of the world fades away—just you and these two impossible, fascinating men. There’s an energy in the air that’s almost
 electric.
· · ─ ·𖄞· ─ · ·
Days turned into weeks, and before you knew it, you’d started to find yourself looking forward to the times you’d see Stan or Ford wandering over with some excuse to “check in.” You noticed their visits followed a sort of rhythm, like two sides of the same coin.
In the mornings, you’d often catch Ford on his way to the Mystery Shack, holding a well-loved book tucked under his arm, his glasses perched just so. He’d always greet you politely, offering a small smile that held a flicker of something he wasn’t quite sure how to express. Sometimes he’d surprise you with phrases he’d learned from an old Italian grammar book, trying his best to say “Good morning” or “How are you?” with a shy confidence that made you smile.
“Buongiorno, come sta?” he’d ask, his accent a little stiff, but endearing.
You’d chuckle, responding in perfect Italian, a few phrases more complex than what he could keep up with. His eyes would widen, and he’d offer a bashful laugh. “I think I’ll need a bit more practice. You’re
 quite the teacher,” he’d say, glancing away with a bit of color on his cheeks.
Stan, on the other hand, would usually stop by in the evenings, his sleeves rolled up and his swagger just as bold as ever. He’d knock on your door with a mischievous grin and a glint in his eye, bringing you little offerings like fresh coffee or a toolbox he insisted you’d need.
“Thought I’d bring the essentials,” he’d say, setting the items down with a proud nod. “Gravity Falls can be a real fixer-upper kind of place, and I’m just your guy for that.”
Sometimes, you’d tease him in Italian—little phrases just to get a reaction. “Sei troppo sicuro di te, Stanley,” you’d say with a smirk, watching his brow knit as he tried to guess what you meant.
He’d raise an eyebrow. “Yeah, yeah, I bet you’re saying I’m handsome and charming. No need to play coy, kid. I get the message loud and clear.”
Every now and then, they’d both show up together, neither one having realized the other was already on their way over. One Saturday afternoon, you were pruning some stubborn ivy around your porch when both Ford and Stan turned up at nearly the same time, each holding something to “help out”—Stan had brought a pair of work gloves, while Ford held an old gardening book he thought might interest you.
“Oh, hey, didn’t know you’d already be here, Ford,” Stan said with a playful smirk, crossing his arms.
Ford raised a brow. “I thought I’d lend a hand since someone hadn’t yet. Besides, I’m sure she’ll find this useful.”
You had to bite back a laugh, watching the two of them with that same look they always gave each other—friendly competition masked by an underlying respect.
“Oh, ragazzi,” you say with a grin, drawing their attention. “La mia squadra personale di soccorso.”
Stan’s brow shot up. “Now that
 I know youïżœïżœïżœre calling us something good. I’ll take it.”
Ford chuckled, glancing your way with a more genuine smile. “Our rescue team, is it? Well, I suppose we are.”
You let them help you that day, bantering back and forth as the three of you worked together to clear the ivy and tidy up the porch. Every so often, they’d glance your way with that look you were coming to recognize—a flicker of something curious, like they couldn’t quite figure you out. And honestly, you kind of liked it that way. You could feel the pull of something building between you, something almost electric.
As the sun started to dip and the evening set in, you found yourself lingering, unwilling to end the day just yet. When they finally said their goodbyes, each offering a warm smile, you felt an ache in your chest—a reminder that, somehow, this strange little town had already started to feel like home.
· · ─ ·𖄞· ─ · ·
A few months in, Gravity Falls had become more than just a fresh start—it had become home. And Stan and Ford? Well, they’d become something else entirely. Every time you saw them, you felt a little spark, something that had slowly grown into an undeniable warmth in your chest. And from the way they both went out of their way to see you, you could tell you weren’t the only one feeling it. So, one chilly afternoon, you decided to have a little fun.
Stan had shown up with some firewood, tossing the logs down on your porch with a confident grin. “Figured you’d need a little help keepin’ warm. Winter’s no joke around here, kid,” he said, dusting his hands off with an air of importance.
Not five minutes later, Ford appeared, holding an old, leather-bound book and a steaming thermos. “I thought you might like some company, actually,” he said, a bit more reserved but with a warmth in his voice that made you smile. “And some hot cocoa—my own recipe.”
You couldn’t help but chuckle as you watched them, both clearly pleased with themselves. So, with a mischievous glint in your eye, you leaned against the doorframe and gave them both a look.
“Che uomini premurosi, both of you,” you teased, letting the Italian words roll off your tongue, your gaze lingering on them just long enough to make an impact.
Stan raised an eyebrow, an amused smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Oh yeah? That Italian for ‘ridiculously handsome’ or what?”
“More like ‘thoughtful gentlemen,’” you said with a smirk, taking a step closer. “Although, if I wanted to call you both affascinanti, I could do that too.”
Ford’s brows furrowed with interest. “And that means
?”
You leaned closer, your voice dropping to a murmur. “Charming.”
Ford looked almost flustered for a moment, and Stan let out a low chuckle, his eyes glinting with playful mischief. “Careful, kid, keep talking like that and we might start gettin’ ideas.”
“Oh, you’re allowed to have ideas,” you teased, standing between them now, feeling a rush of warmth in your cheeks. “I don’t mind keeping you guessing.”
Stan gave you a look, his grin widening. “Oh, you like keeping us on our toes, huh?”
“Only because you make it so easy,” you shot back, meeting his gaze with a playful smile. Then, turning to Ford, you placed a gentle hand on his arm. “You know, Professor, I’d love to hear more about what’s in that book of yours. Maybe
 over a nice, warm fire?”
Ford cleared his throat, nodding with a shy but pleased smile. “I’d be more than happy to. I’d
 love that, actually.”
You glanced back at Stan, who seemed just as intrigued, and gave him a wink. “And as for you, Stan
 that firewood better live up to the hype.”
He laughed, crossing his arms. “Trust me, sweetheart, it’s gonna be the coziest fire you’ve ever had.”
And as the three of you settled in, you couldn’t help but feel a thrill at how close they both were. Sitting between them, sharing warm drinks, laughter, and those lingering glances, it was all too clear—whatever this was, it was starting to feel like so much more. And honestly? You liked it.
The fire crackled softly, casting a warm, flickering glow across the room as the three of you settled in together on your couch. Ford was beside you, engrossed in his book, pointing out little passages and explaining things to you in that charming, intellectual way of his. Stan lounged on your other side, sipping his cocoa with a relaxed grin, occasionally chiming in with his own commentary, though his eyes kept drifting back to you.
You felt that warmth again—coming from them, yes, but also from within yourself. The way you were sitting between them, close enough to brush shoulders, each of them stealing these little glances your way, it all felt
perfect. Natural. Almost like you’d always belonged here.
“Alright, Professor, enough of the lecture,” you teased, nudging Ford’s arm gently. “I think I’m starting to get the point. You’re a man of many talents, but I didn’t know you were such a romantic.”
Ford blinked, clearly caught off guard, before a soft blush crept up his neck. He cleared his throat. “I
 didn’t realize you’d find my book recommendations so
charming.”
You smiled sweetly, leaning in just slightly, your voice playful yet soft. “Oh, it’s not just the books. It’s the way you speak, the way you get so passionate about..everything.” Your eyes met his, holding it for just a beat longer than normal, watching his breath catch in that way that made your heart race just a little.
Stan, sensing the shift in the atmosphere, leaned forward, his grin widening. “Hey, don’t make Ford all shy now. He gets this way when you compliment him.” He turned his gaze toward you, that playful look never leaving his face. “But don’t think I haven’t noticed, either. You’ve got a way of making everything sound way more interesting than I thought it could be.”
You raised an eyebrow, looking over at Stan. “Oh? You think I’m making things interesting?”
“Definitely,” he replied, his voice lowering a bit as he shifted closer, just enough to make the moment feel a little more intimate. “You’ve got this way of making everything feel a little more alive. It’s kinda hard not to notice.”
You leaned back slightly, just enough to let the tension build without fully breaking the spell. The air between you three felt heavier now, charged with something more than just the warmth of the fire.
Ford, sensing the playful tug of your words, cleared his throat again, looking away for a moment before meeting your gaze with a softness that made your heart flutter. “Well, I..enjoy our time together. All of it.” His voice was lower now, warmer, like he was finally letting himself say more than just the academic words he usually favoured. “I think it’s easy to forget how nice it can be to just be present with people who understand you.”
Your heart skipped a beat, the weight of his words settling in your chest as you held his gaze. “I understand,” you whispered, your voice softer than you’d meant it to be.
Stan glanced between the two of you, then leaned forward, his face just a little closer now. His voice was a touch huskier than usual, teasing but with an edge of something more. “So, uh, I’m not supposed to be the only one getting special treatment here, right?”
You smirked at him, tilting your head. “What makes you think I’m giving Ford all the attention?”
Stan’s lips curled into a grin, his eyes darkening just slightly. “Let’s just say, I know when I’m being noticed.”
There was something in the air now, something undeniable, like everything that had been building over the last few months was finally coming to a head. The quiet glances, the subtle touches, the way they both lingered just a little longer than necessary when they were around you. It was all leading to this moment.
“I think you both deserve attention,” you said quietly, your voice steady as you locked eyes with both of them, feeling the electricity in the room build.
Ford’s fingers brushed against your hand, a gentle, tentative touch that felt like it was asking for permission. Stan, never one to hold back, leaned in just slightly, his breath warm on your ear as he whispered, “Then make it worth our while, sweetheart. We’re right here.”
-ˋˏ àŒ»âàŒș ˎˊ-
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falling-star-cygnus · 5 months ago
Note
Actually here's another Billy angst idea just with him being a cyborg/robot, what if he glitches out and is out of commission for days maybe even weeks and then he powers on to see everyone's shocked faces
oml, this has been sitting in my inbox for FAR too long. -> i am so sorry TT^TT
side bar, i was just introduced to the wonderful WiseBilly and BillyBelle agenda, so maybe there will be some of that in the future :D -> not in this fic tho, in case shipping isn't your style
someone legit sent in an ask a few days ago asking me to tag my works with 'fanfiction' so that they could block them all 😀 bc 'they didn't want to block a million different fandom tabs' -> BUT THAT'S LITERALLY WHY I USE A 'KEEP READING' CUT. SO THAT IT'S BITESIZED TO SCROLL PAST 😭 Master List
Something was very
very
wrong.
Currently, it was 8:24 in the morning. Nearly an hour past the time Billy normally woke up. And almost excatly the time he knocked on Nicole's door each day to tell her breakfast was ready.
Nothing had crashed yet.
Or shattered. Or banged. Or 'thudded.' Or 'thwacked.'
No one had started yelling.
It was quiet.
Too quiet.
Nicole stared at the ceiling and ignored the growing worry in her gut. It was probably nothing, she conceded. He had used a lot of power yesterday, so... the android was probably just taking an easy morning. God knows he deserved it after everything that had been going on.
Maybe he had found a movie to share with Anby.
...yeah, right. The boss of the Cunning Hares' bursts into quiet giggles thinking about it. Those two couldn't share that old thing to save their lives. It's why the schedule was made.
Her alarm clock buzzes. 8:30.
He'd come knock any second now.
Annny second.


8:31 blips on to the alarm’s face.
8:32.
8:35.
Nicole can feel her limbs growing cold- despite the relatively comforting warmth of her bed- and it cements in her stomach like gum.
8:44.
She was being ridiculous.
8:50.
Just because the android wasn’t knocking didn’t mean anything was wrong. Billy wasn’t required to do so by any means, it was just a habit he had picked up to make sure they all ate.
8:52.

but he did like his routines.
8:55.
Was he mad at her?
9:00.
Nicole throws herself out of bed decisively and slams open her door.
“Where’s Billy?”
He's not with Nekomata or Anby, from what the boss can tell from her survey of the room. The two smallest members of the Hares' were cuddled together on the couch. Which was frankly- adorable. In any other situation.
But she had an android to find.
"Billy hasn't come out of his room yet," Nekomata answers, looking somewhat weary of Nicole's warpath. Anby pauses next to her.
"Really? He hasn't?"
"E-eh?"
The cat thiren suddenly looks very uncomfortable as the Demara's pin her with twin stares.
"There was a rerun of a Starlight Knights special playing this morning, it's why I came to bother you," Anby continues, ignoring her former cuddle buddy's squawk of indignance as she moves to stand up.
"Wh- what? I thought you said you wanted to bond!"
"I can want two things."
"Anby!"
Nicole leaves them to their squabbling, striding towards the android's room with deliberate steps. It was far too early for this sort of worry, he better be fine in there-
His door isn't fully closed when she pushes on it. He didn't exactly have a 'room' like the other Hares' did- he didn't exactly need one- but it was sort of mutually agreed that the garage was his domain.
Billy wouldn't leave it open like this if he could help it- not when it could mean unwanted visitors got inside.
Maybe she had a valid reason to be worried...
Or maybe not.
The android is still plugged in and leaning against the wheel of their car, not a scratch on him. His eyes are slanted in as closed as they can get, and his signature red jacket is hung neatly off the ground.
He looked fine.
So-
Why wasn't he awake? Why would he miss an airing of his favorite franchise? Why couldn't the boss hear the familiar whirring and clicking he always gave off?
Something wasn't adding up.
Nicole is pressing her ear to his chest before she can even process she's moved.
The metal is cold as it bites into her cheek, and it's silent.
Anby and Nekomata peek through the doorway, for once taking due care to make their presence loud enough that Nicole can hear them approach. Probably for the best, the boss of the Cunning Hares' felt like a fraying thread about to snap.
There was a burn under her chest, nestled into her ribs like a hot coal she'd been forced into swallowing. Billy didn't move.
Calm down, she scolds herself, There's a perfectly reasonable explanation for this. He's not dead.
She hoped he wasn't dead.
Wordlessly- because she didn't trust herself to speak yet- Nicole begins checking his dormant form over. The other two join in with a silent nods towards each other.
Anby carefully tilts his head from side to side to examine his neck.
“Wires are fine here.”
There's no damage to his auditory processors either, or his faceplate, or any of the joints visible to them. And they resolutely refused to take his pants off. It didn't matter if he didn't have anything down there- maybe he did, they wouldn't know- that felt... too invasive.
Unless absolutely necessary, that was a bridge that would remain uncrossed.
"Oh-! There! His charging thingamajig!" Nekomata suddenly exclaims, somehow having weaseled her way behind Billy, "It's all burnt around the edges!"
"Burnt!?" Nicole all but flattens the thiren against the wheel as she takes a look for herself.
Sure enough, the silver metal around the cable was a charred black that flaked off onto her fingers. Hm.
The boss of the Cunning Hares finagles the cord out of the port, and yelps when Anby grabs the back of her shirt to fling her away. Nekomata lands next to her.
"Anby! What the hell-" the boss is cut off when she sees the white... powder? Paste? Thing that bubbles up out of the opening. It smells foul, whatever it is, and clings to her tongue in a way that makes her sick.
"That's battery acid," Anby explains, jaw tight in a way that was usually reserved for boss battles, "Given the burn marks, it's likely his battery fried itself and exploded. We shouldn't touch it barehanded."
Billy's battery had what.
"Exploded."
Oh, Nicole said that out loud.
"What do you mean exploded," she demands, getting up to her feet.
The smaller Demara throws a pair of latex gloves Nicole's way in lieu of answering. Out of all the Cunning Hares, Anby really was the only one who knew shit about batteries. Well- Billy did too, of course, but..
"It happens when they get too overrun with electricity. Considering that Billy used a lot of power yesterday, only to get accidentally tased by Phaethon right after, there's a 98.96% chance that he overloaded his battery by charging it. If we take care of it before it can corrode any of his wiring, we should be able to minimize the overall damage."
That... sort of made sense. Right. They had an objective now.
Nicole can feel her title as the boss settle over her like a second skin, clarity cutting through the haze of morning and worry like a cut from a blade. She knew what they had to do, now to execute it.
"Ok then," Nicole nods once, overcome with a false sense of confidence, "You're the expert, Anby, what do we need to do?"
For a moment, things don't seem so bleak. Everything was going to be fine, and Billy would be back to his rambunctious big-brother ways in no time.
They end up not having the means to replace the battery- or the skillset to open the android up and remove said battery- so...
"We can't take him to Grace," Nekomata insists, something like a shudder rolling it's way through her spine and tails, "She's so- so weird about him."
"Agreed." Anby nods, crossing her arms sagely, "Grace is out of the question. But we need to get this fixed somehow, and Belobog is the only group close enough that has the skillset we need."
Nicole couldn't help but agree. The last time they had interacted with the eccentric mechanic of Belobog Heavy Industries she had practically glued herself to the android's hip! It didn't matter how many times he had edged away- or downright hid behind one of the girls, she just kept coming on to him!
It didn't help that she also referred to Billy as an it at first; even if she took it in stride when the Hares' had corrected her. Swiftly and firmly corrected her. Anby style.
Billy was not an it.
"What about Phaethon," Nekomata pipes up, her tails moving in swishing waves, "they might know someone!"
"That's right!" Nicole snaps her fingers, and ruffles between the thiren's ears for her good work, "Our dear proxy is sure to have some better information."
In the spirit of fairness, she pats Anby's head too. The smaller Demara had been the one to point out the problem with the android's battery, after all.
Nicole looks to the downed member of their team.
And pats his head.
It felt... wrong, somehow, to leave him out when he was like this.
"Don't worry, Billy," the boss whispers, in some vain hope that it'll reach him, "We'll get you fixed up in no time."
.../^\...
Nicole doesn't realize how badly she'd miss this part of her routine until it was gone.
It'd been three weeks since Billy had gotten repaired.
Three weeks of waiting, three weeks devoid of Starlight Knight references, three weeks of radio silence.
By all accounts, it should be peaceful. But.. in the end, she just missed him. For all her scolding, it had never really been an issue to listen to him ramble. And his optimism always stopped anything from feeling too hopeless on a mission.
Anby had stopped doing the little braid in her hair, the same as she did when that scrapper had taken the android for parts, and even Nicole had stopped putting her own hair in it's little half-up half-down pigtails.
She'd had them even before Billy came barreling into her life, of course, but there had been numerous occasions where she simply felt too tired to want to deal with the hassle of taming her bedhead.
Two black strips of cloth sit innocuously on her nightstand.
"We have to meet up with that contractor today, remember Boss?" Billy had said one morning, as he began to brush through pink frizz- starting at the bottom and slowly worked his way up until it was all neat and shiny.
Nicole hadn't even realized what happened until her hair was already tied up with cute bunny ear bandanas and the android was clipping in her usual barrettes.
That was the moment that had won her over, she thinks privately, as she fiddles with an errant strand.
Her clock buzzes for 8:30.
Time for another quiet day...
knock, knock.
....huh?
The boss of the Cunning Hares throws herself out of bed, praying to whatever higher power that would listen that this wasn't some sort of cruel joke.
knock-
She flings the door open, with maybe too much desperation, but she can't really bring herself to care when-
"Oh- morning, Boss!"
"BILLY!"
Metal bites into her cheek as Nicole wraps her arms around his lanky build and squeezes until her arms ache. It hurts for a second and it's real, he's real, and he's warm, and he's loud. There's no stench of acid, or charcoal, just the dim whir and click of machinery under his plating.
"Boss-!?" the android startles, hands hovering uselessly around her back before settling gently on her shoulders, "did you.. have a bad dream?"
Something like that, she thinks.
And really, Nicole is more than willing to write it off that way.
bonus: *a few weeks later, after a taxing raid on their resident android* *Billy is sitting in the Remodelling Shop* Enzo, patting Billy's shoulder and wiping his hands clean: Battery's all good. Billy: uh... Boss? Is this really nec- Anby, Nicole, and Nekomata: Yes. Billy: ...okay.
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