#but i went with my gut when making my choices
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every word was a proper slap in the face. the sharp truth of most of them pressed into his gut like a blade, over and over and over. it wasn't just the words she hissed and spat, either. it was the way she looked doin' it, eyes wild and glassy, cheeks flushed red as poppies, the whole look of her feral in a way that actually made him step backward when she stepped forward.
"i... that's not-" words failed him. his tongue felt like dead weight in his mouth, too thick and turning all his attempts into gibberish. didn't help none that his accent seemed to coat the words too, makin' him practically non-sensical.
"weren't even.. y'aint be knowin'..." his eyes flashed blood-bright, gleamin' like a ruby burstin' with light. he was mad but it wasn't at her, he just couldn't help the anger pulsing through him.
"a'ight you wanna know me?! once i thought i loved her, when i was just a dumb kid who didn't know no better, but we didn't get hitched 'cos i loved her. we got hitched 'cos our guilds forced that shit. didn't matter how i felt then, i was jus' doin my part and i still fucked it all up! i fuck it all up, everythin' i touch jus' goes to shit!"
he was turning now to pace, his fury in revisiting the past makin' his fingers feel hot with the energy beggin' to be released.
"yeah," he stopped sharp and turned to point at rogue. "i sure did make a vow, like a good fuckin' soldier and then her dumb ass brother went an' challenged me in front'a everyone an' y'know why i can't go back to new orleans, huh? 'cos i fuckin' killed him. it was him or me an' i made my choice. all that effort bein' loyal an all it got me was a marriage i didn't want none and blood on my hands in the end. there. you know, judge away!"
which she could do all on her lonesome because he was done. he needed air, he needed to release the pent up rage burning hot in his fingers.
remy turned and left just as scott came in, lookin' a little disgruntled at that.
"what is going on, rogue?"
He pursued rather than turn tail and run from her anger. Meant Remy was braver or dumber than a lot of the people sheâd met in her lifetime. Even so, Rogue withdrew, stepped back and away to escape his attempt to touch her. Now it wasnât just about keeping her crush safe from being harmed. Oh no. Now Rogue felt her skin crawl at the very fact she desperately wanted this man to touch her. Even now. Even knowing what she did.
âYâthink I care about eyes of the law?!â Somehow that was the point Rogue managed to be able to articulate. âI was raised by two women whose love wouldnât be recognized in the eyes of the law even if they werenât fugitives on the run!â
All her hurt and anger bubbled inside her gut threatened to erupt. Because even what she had done so far wasnât damn near what the southern gal l actually could do in a rage. The tears were back, shamefully, but what was the point of wiping them away this time if they were going to keep returning like a bad habit.
âBut you vowed to love her right? Honor her cherish her, whatever phrase you picked? âTil death do you part?â The traditional sort of thing said at weddings. She had not caught the whole story with brothers dying and running off, but she had been able to infer one thing. âAnd you didnât leave her âcause you didnât love her.â
Remy had looked like her hated Belladonna, but somehow that disturbed Rogue more. Indifference to the woman would have been better, because hate? Oh hate was a passionate thing that was just one breath, one touch, one kiss, away from love. Hate meant there had been a powerful affection before. Case in point? How Rogue was feeling towards the Cajun right now.
She advanced a step, chin tilting up so she could glare into Remyâs entrancing eyes with her own acid look. Her voice was lowered now, but no less furious. âScoundrel? Cruel? How the heck am I supposed to tell the difference? I donât even know you. Never did I guess.â
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Zero Day (2002)
#movies film cinema#zero day#ben coccio#I actually talked to the director on Facebook super nice guy and he told#me a lot about the filmmaking process and even helped me with tips on directing non-actors and new actors#I remember him telling me to always be supportive and tell your new actors they're doing a good job even if they aren't in the first take#cause you can instill confidence and still reshape and change their choices and mistakes later#Sometimes I'd message him for advice when I was running into problems on some of my early projects#he told me once ''did ya choose to collaborate with this actor cause you were lonely or you guys had passion and chemistry''#âcollaborating is like a relationshipâ and he was so right#there's nothing worse than working with people you disdain cause there's no communication and no trust.#he told me how he wrote the first couple of drafts of Place Beyond the Pines but his take on the 3rd act wasn't clicking for the director#so he took the script and went and had another writer rewrite the 3rd act but he liked the process cause he learned a lot and still got pai#but I'd still like to see Ben Coccio's take on Place Beyond The Pines he says the 1st and 2nd act are mostly unchanged#Ryan Gosling's scenes are still mostly the same he said but he couldn't tell me too much cause of the NDA he signed#The bloopers of Zero Day are hilarious his tip he gave me about being supportive#âThis is actually great but can we-â and Cal interrupts him âHe says that no matter what if you're doing good or bad!â and everyone lols#I hope I can make it and ask him to collab with me on a script#He's such a nice dude compared to the harrowing film he made.#I wish there was BTS but he had only one tape to film on and this was made when digital camcorders were infants#I think he had only one 2 hour tape that's how low budget#The bloopers is just Cal or Andre secretly filming and Ben getting annoyed âIs it recording?â and Cal going âNah..."#Cal is such a funny guy IRL I wanna see him act more cause he's so good. He was so great at playing a sadistic psychopath in this.#the final shooting is so harrowing and disturbing#I told Ben he srsly gut punched me/disturbed me and this is what made him really open up.
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i love it when shit happens in my life that dredges up old wounds and coincidentally im re-experiencing the media i intrinsically link it to cause then i get to remember exactly why i love it and find it so meaningful all over again. there's a fucking reason ill always say Berserk [& RGU] both came into my life at a perfect fucking time and holy shit they fucking resonated with me so hard and as much as life can suck ass and lovvves kicking me in the balls when ive just recovered from last time i a least get to remember how & why i love something so much.
#thebirdspeaks#ive been trying to make a coherent post about Berserk and specifically the duality of Casca and Guts as victims post eclipse#because there are issues but also it resonates so well with me regardless#i cant word it pretty but i think its something about Casca and Guts both being victims and responding in opposite ways#and because they are so tightly linked you can almost see them as one victim experiencing the duality of victimhood#as an internal struggle made into two separate people#i flip flop between who i relate to more in relation to my own trauma#and there is plenty to criticize with the writing choices around Casca dont get me wrong#but as much as people criticize her mind breaking and turning into a shell of herself that needs constant help as something entirely negati#i sure as fuck was not given that space and care to be broken#its very nuanced but i think so few people write victims sympathetically that as much as turning into a mess can appear overdone#being cared for and given space and help and being allowed to be a burden is a powerful thing#and i find the expectation to be strong in the face of what you went though is much more common and damaging to me#anyway as many issues as i have i think Casca being allowed to be a victim as much a she was is why i love Berserk so much and while i thin#it could be better if some things were changed#but im not sure if it would have hit as hard and meant as much to me when i was wobbling between mindless rage and want for revenge#and just being broken and tired and weak and scared#reading Guts protect Casca like he did#showed me that that part of me could protect and is better off channeling the mindless rage into protecting whats important to me and what#needs it#letting me demand protection and love and sympathy for my weakest self in my darkest hours#i know im far from objective & my opinions are not universal#but the fact Casca is allowed to be a victim so fully and not just a hashtag girlboss who struggles her way out#well i wouldn't call Guts a girlboss but actually i think that's why it worked.#because between the two they cover the two ends of the common depictions of victimhood: forced to stay strong and allowed to be weak#anyway im about to hit tag limit i love you f you read this far and if you think this is horseshit then please don't say#if you think im right and sexy about it pile the love on meee<3
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Knock, Knock
Billy Loomis x Fem!Reader x Stu Macher
(NSFW)
This is my first time writing oneshot, let alone smut. English is not my first language so bear with me.
Warning: Reader is a Virgin, Cussing, alot of cursing, knife play, mask kink, bondage, fingering, cunnilingus, deep throat, anal, threesome, and double penetration.
*Bold - Voice modulator, Italic - inner voice
âHello?â
âHello.â
You furrowed your eyebrows. You didn't recognize this deep voice talking to you.
âWhoâs this?â Instead of hanging up, your gut feeling tells you to continue the conversation with this stranger. Maybe youâll get something out of it.
âYou donât need to know about me. I just want to talk to you.â
âNow why should I do that? Stranger danger. Didnât your parents teach you that?â You saunter around the kitchen counter and stare at the sets of kitchen knives. You pull out a cleaver and wait for them to reply.
The stranger chuckled, amused with your response.
âJust want to call you so I get to know you better.â
You poked your tongue inside your cheek. You put the knife back in its place, humming to yourself.
âAlright, Mr Stranger. You got my attention and I'm bored as hell. Shoot your million dollar question.â You leaned your back on the counter, hand in pocket while another's still holding the phone.
âTell me, do you like scary movies?âÂ
âUhh, yeah.â
âWhatâs your favorite scary movie?â
âDoes The Addams Family count? 1991 is the best.â You shrugged, checking your nails. The voice grumbled, annoyed with your movie choice.
âThatâs not even a scary movie. And itâs a kid show.â
âExcuse me, that movie is my fave and you donât get to judge my beloved Morticia Addams just because I watch a âkid showâ. Besides, that movie is still considered horror okay. Take examples like Tim Burtonâs production. Even though most of his movies are suitable for children, he still wants to insert horror elements so they could find comfort and wonât make them feel scared anymore. You should try Nightmare before Christmas or maybe Edward Scissorhand for starters.â you jested. Â
âNot my kind of style. Edward is weird as fuck.â
âOh now youâre crossing the line Mr. Nobody. Fun fact for you, Johnny Deep with or without heavy makeup is hot as fuck. Hell, if thereâs any Johnny copycat out there, Iâll ride his dick straight away.â you mused. The audacity of this guy.
The stranger hummed.
Is it creepy that I can see him smiling through the phone?
âYou should be careful what you wish for. It might come true.â
âThen, Amen for that. I ainât regret what I said so if you have a problem with it, you jerked your tiny dick somewhere else.âÂ
He chuckled darkly.
âSo, do you have a boyfriend?â
"What if I have one? Or maybe a girlfriend? What ya gonna do about it?â You rolled your eyes.
The phone went dead silent until a deep growl came out on the line. His voice changed to menacing.
âYou donât have a boyfriend. Youâre not even lesbian.â
âSlow down tiger. I can change my preference wherever I want. Anyway, congratulations! Youâre successful become from a total stranger to a fucking creep. Now no more games with me. What do you want?â You huffed, getting annoyed and a little creep out with his manic voice.
âOh baby, you think this is a game? Iâll play a real game for ya. Knock, Knock.â
You yelped when you heard someone banging on your front door.
Shit. Wrong move.
You pull out a metal bat under the counter like you knew this would gonna happen and check around, especially every closed door inside the house. You already watched too many horror movies with Randy that you even know where the killer always comes out from.
âI ask you want more time. What the hell do you want from me?â
âYou wanna know, you have to play the game with me.â
You jumped when you heard another banging. And this time, at your backyard.
âKnock. Knock.â
You gulped and took a glimpse at your back. As you saw nobody's there, you pressed your back on the wall and focused on the front door.
âWhoâs there?â
You make sure all the doors and windows are already locked as your father went out training with his buddies. He says he will be coming home late. Â
Double. Shit.
âJohnny.âÂ
You innerly scoffed. Oh he likes this game too much.Â
âJohnny where?â
âClever girl. Guess.â
You rushed to the front door and took a look outside from the window. No one was there. You blurted out the answer.
âThe backyard.â
âWrong.â
You shrieked as the sound of a crash came out from the living room. You ran there to see a big gape hole at your now shattered window. You scanned the whole room. Only one wooden chair and shattered glass all over the floor.Â
He couldnât make it inside that fast. You raised the phone as you heard his voice.
âI give you a second chance. Knock, knock.â
âOh fuck you with your knock knock shit game! What do you want from me?!â
âI want youâŚto ride me.â
You inhaled sharply at his answer as you turned around with a bat raised in front of you.Â
âYouâre messing with the wrong person here.â You spitted. He chuckled mockingly, amazed that you still have a bit of spite even though you know you're about to lose the game.
âYou should be asking where I am, (Y/N).â He enunciated your name deeply.
Sweat trickle down your temple as you took a step back one at the time. This stranger knowing your name just shot up your nerve haywire.
âWhere the fuck are you shithead.âÂ
âBehind you.â
You turned around and hit the phone right to the side of his face.
His Ghostface leather mask to be exact.Â
He covered his head from the hit with his gloved hand and you took that opportunity to bash his head with your metal bat. He doubles in pain as you hit his back with more force and knocks his feet to the floor. He lay on his back, gripping his back painfully as you stepped on his body.
âNow letâs see who's behind the mask.â
Before you could bend down to grab his mask, the air got knocked out from you as someone rammed from your side. Your head got slam on the floor hard followed by a body that stumbled right above you.Â
Thereâs two of them?!
You tried to pry him off from you but it was no use. You could see from your blurred vision that two masked men were now crowded right in front of you.Â
The first guy above your head took both of your hands and held them tight, giving out a painful moan from you, while the other one sat on top of your low waist between his thighs, securing your legs from moving.
You tried to trash your body only to feel a sharp knife under your throat. You looked up to see the second guy shaking his head.Â
A warning.
âLooks like you lost the game.â Second ghostface seems satisfied seeing you beneath him. The knife in his hand trailed lower and lower to your neck. You could feel a prick of pain as the knife cut deep at your collarbone.
âLosers need to pay the price.â The first ghostface giggled, bringing out a rope from his black robe and tied your hand above your head.
âTwo against one? Really fair, does it?â You gritted your teeth. Even though youâre already at their mercy, your mouth still runs like a goddamn sailor.
âDidnât know this should be a fair game.â Second ghostface shrugged, still lingering his knife around your neck area.Â
âSo what? You gonna kill me?âÂ
âCareful, you shouldnât challenge a killer with a knife. Now you said it, that does sound tempting.â The killer dragged down his knife to your waist. The cold of his blade sent chills down your spine as it put pressure on your stomach, emphasizing his words.
You gulped as you eyed the two ghostface. The one that sat on top of you seems like a person you donât want to mess with. The way his voice held authority, meaning if he wants to kill you, heâll make sure youâre good as dead. Even though heâs wearing a mask, you could feel his hot gaze on your throat to your collarbone that already bleed out from the small cut. His gloved hand reached out, smearing your oozing blood with his thumb. He loves it, you can tell.   Â
Another one above your head, however he's a different kind of persona. He seems to like goofing around and having fun stabbing his victim. More sadistic, more of an unhinged bastard. If he takes his mask off, you bet he'll be that funny, easy going guy. His head tilted to the side, staring at your body in awe. Like you'll become his biggest meal tonight.
"But since you beat my friend here, I'll give you a chance. If you want to live, you need to do something for me." He hinted at the end of his sentence. The first Ghostface started to laugh hysterically.Â
Somehow you know what he meant, knowing what they're gonna do to you.
"What do you mean?" You shuddered.
In a split second, he pulled your body and switched position, making you on top of him. You could feel the bulge between your legs as his hands gripped your waist.
"You know what I meant."
Your whole body shivered in fear and excitement. You donât know why your body react that way. Fear, yes but also excites you?
You already soaked in your panties, though it was the adrenaline of the chase.
You subtly rubbed yourself on his groin. He sighed in content as you kept rubbing his hard on.Â
âThatâs it, babe.â His breath ragged as both his hands moved your hips and pressed deeper to his crotch. His hips thrust to your core, making you let out a soft moan.Â
You feel someone's hand held the back of your head, turning you to meet the first Ghostface. His gloves were already gone from both hands, as heâs working on to half-done his zipper jeans.
âOpen your mouth, kitten." He slipped his thumb, pressing your lips to open. He inserted two fingers in and out as you swirl your tongue around his fingers. They were so long that you gagged as it reached at the back of your throat. When he pulled out his fingers, a string of saliva coated them.
âIâve never done this before.â Your face was red, embarrassing to admit that you never had sex before.
âWe know youâre a virgin.â He whispered. His thumb stroking your lower lip, his mask titled to the side.
âDon't worry about that. We promise to make you feel good, m'okay?" The Ghostface under you sat up, his hand tugged teasingly at your waistband while the other one caressed your cheek. His deep voice is surprisingly tender, luring you in like a moth to his flame.
Without thinking, you nodded at his words.
Beneath those masks, their smirk grew wider, finally getting you hooked with them.Â
"Lift your hips for me, baby."Â
He tore his gloves from his hands and guided your hips upward. As you stand on your knees, he tugged down your shorts and panties in one go. You gasped at how rough, desperate he wanted to strip you naked.Â
He took out his knife and started to rip them in half. You shiver from the cold as your clothes discard aside.
A pair of hands from behind reach out to your breast and fondle them. You whimpered as he pulled and squeezed your nipples. Another hand slipped to your wet cunt, thumb circling your clit.
"Gosh, your pussy is so wet for us. We're just getting started." He mused. Slowly, he inserted two fingers inside you, thumb still rubbing your clit. You shuddered, your back laid on someone's chest, who still continued grasping your breast.
"Look at you, seeking pleasure from two psychotic serial killers. Ain't ya a dirty little slut." The one from behind cackled in manic, enjoying seeing you completely vulnerable for him.
You subconsciously ride your hips with his fingers inside you, reaching your high. Your tied arms pressed in front of his chest as his friend from behind starts to dry hump your ass. You could imagine how big their dicks are, one pressing from the back while the other one underneath your pussy, still finger fuck you.
As if they knew you're about to come, he pulled out his fingers. You let out a small whine, feeling the loss of your pussy to be filled. He dip his finger beneath his mask, groaning in pleasure as he tasted your juices with a mix of blood.
Your hair got clutched from behind and dived you to his tent. When he pulled down his boxer, you were awestruck at how thick and veiny his hard rod is. He tapped his dick on your mouth, precum smeared at your lower lips.
"Like what you see?" He chuckled, seeing you looking at his cock like that got him more turned on.Â
You flustered, eyeing the two black holes resemble eyes staring at you, silently to gain his permission. He nodded, pushing his tip further into your lips.
You subtly open your mouth, licking his precum and heard his deep groan in return. This made you sucked and licked his tip and moved your hand up and down his length.
He tilted his head back. Though you couldn't see with his mask on, a sense of pride grew in you, pleased to see him feel that way.
"You're sure this is your first time? Fuck, this feels amazing." He bucked his hips in your mouth.
"Open your mouth wide open, tongue down. I'm a deep throat till you swallow all of my cum." You do as he said. He thrust his dick deep in your throat, making you gagged but you held it in.Â
He fucked your mouth relentless, both his hands keeping you in place. Tears pooling down your face as saliva spilling from your mouth until your nose touches his pelvis. You tapped his thigh, coughing up when he pulled out his dick from your swollen lips.
You're too focused on the man in front of you, that your ass was raised in the air and gasped as you felt a tongue licking at your entrance.
"Damn I can eat this pussy all day." He growled from behind, licking and biting your clit. Your eyes roll to the back of your head as his tongue does wonders to you.Â
You gagged as he pounds in and out of your mouth, while from behind a tongue lick deep in your entrance. His nose teasing your clit, earning you a moan vibrating through the dick in your mouth. Both of them release low moans, reaching their high.
You tap his thigh, pull you away from his dick as you feel a knot in your stomach.
"I-I some-something d-down there." You cried out, feel his friend's wet tongue thrust in and out of your cunt. You gasped from sensation, as he's licked your rim hole.
"Then cum all over his mouth, princess. Let him taste every drop." He strokes his dick as you stick your tongue out to his tip. You feel your release as the man behind lapping your juices clean.
"God, she tastes so good. I wanna fuck her wet cunt till she's scream."
The killer in front of you didn't say a word, staring at his friendÂ
"You can't have her. She beat you up, remember?"
"The fuck that's supposed to mean? We won, she lost."
"Correction, you get beat to a pulp and I'm the one stopping it. So, I get the prize and you just, I don't know. Enjoy the show?"
"I'm already hard and youâre telling me just to watch you all over her? Hell no man!"Â
They way they're talking about you like you aren't there bothers you, but at the same time kind of hot.
You could tell his friend was frustrated, agitated while him with you on his lap stroking his tip to your folds. You whimpered as he nudged his face mask closer to your neck. You could feel his wet tongue licking and sucking at the cut he gave you.Â
Deep down you know your choice terrifies you but you don't want his friend left behind.
"There's two holes for a reason, ya know." You mumbled low, but somehow both killers caught on to what you said. They both were stunned. Not long after, the one you sit on his lap snickered darkly.
"You're one dirty little virgin. Didn't know you're into that." He gripped your hips closer to his already hard crotch. You blushed at his indication.
Truth is, you stumbled upon a porn magazine from Stu's wardrobe, asking you for his sweatpants as he was in the bathroom. Curiosity kills you when you open the magazine, the page showed a blond woman penetrated by two men, dick in her cunt while another in her ass.
The image haunted you yet deep down you want to know how it feels like, to get banged by two. As you stare at her lustful face, you jump when you hear Billy's voice from outside Stu's room. So, you threw away the magazine and hastily grabbed his shorts. When Billy enters the room, he stares at you intensely. He always does every time you're in his sight. He raised an eyebrow as you gave the shorts, muttered, "Give it to Stu, he wants it." and you made a mad dash out of his room.
You know for the fact that the chances you're getting DP is slim to none. But seeing as of now, your fuzzy brain was like why not.
"You're an angel, you know that? That's why you're perfect for us." The frustrated Ghostface was now like he's in cloud nine when you told him that, hugging you from behind.
"You're meant for us, (Y/N). Remember that." The one with you on his lap was now laying down on the floor, bringing you with him so that your pussy was placed right on his outstretched cock. As his tip penetrated your entrance, you whimpered as the slight discomfort got you. As your tied arms gripped the black cloth of his front, his hand teasing your clit, trying to distract you from the pain.
As he is completely inside you, the discomfort was replaced slowly with pleasure, fullness from his thick length. His sighed in relief, loving his dick snug deep in your pussy like a vice.
"Fuck you're so tight, baby." He rasped as he helped adjust his length inside you. When he felt you ready, he slowly thrust in and out of you, making you moan.
"You like that? You like riding this cock?" His slow thrust became erratic as he rammed your throbbing cunt. Your mouth gaped open, couldn't reform words when he hit you at the right spot.Â
"Y-yes, right there. Shit! You're so big." You uttered breathlessly, bouncing his dick as he thrust deeper in you.Â
As you ride him, you feel another one trying to penetrate your asshole. You jumped at the sudden intrusion, stopping you as he continued to push in, hissing at your shoulder.
"S-shit! My cock gonna cut in half if you keep squeezing me like that." He buried his face on your neck as he roughly thrust you in one go, making you scream.
"M'sorry babe. Can't help it."
You try to glare at his face, or more precisely his mask. You could imagine his stupid grin, staring at you adoringly.Â
This is too much. For you, a virgin and never been fuck let alone anal, this is a lot to take in. You could feel their dicks stretched inside every hole of you down there. You try adjusting to this new stimulation. Theyâre both moving in sync, in and out of you, feeling both of their dicks rubbing your wall one at the time. It makes you see stars as they fasten their phase.
Skin slapping filled the room, with your moan and their groan in a mix.
âFuck fuck fuck Iâmma cum!â You feel his hand gripping your hips as his thrust turns sloppy. Your body started to shake as the one beneath encircled his arms around you, keeping you close to his chest as he slammed you hard on your g-spot.Â
You nearly scream from pleasure as orgasm washed over you, followed by the one behind, pumping his seed into your throbbing asshole. Your pussy tightens is all it needs from the one beneath you to paint his cum on your walls.Â
He gave his one hard, second thrust at your asshole then pulled out his softened cock. The way he stared at his cum spilling from your ass stirred something inside him.
His fingers subconsciously slipped his overflow cum inside your hole. For some reason, he doesnât want a single drop of his seed leaking out of you.
You take a deep inhale as your eyes flutter close, trying to calm from your euphoric state. You could hear his heartbeat thumping as your head laid on his chest, with him too catching his breath.
The only thing you remember is feeling a peck on your forehead and a kiss from your nape, with a deep raspy voice you manage to hear before exhaustion overtook your body.
âThatâs my good girl.â
After you pass outâŚ
âMan, thatâs the best thing happen in my life!â Stu sighed, satisfied as he pulled off his Ghostface mask and slipped in his now soft dick in his pants. He looked over at his friend who was still lying on the ground with their favorite girl on top of him.
âYou're lucky I came up with this plan. Knew it our girl had same fantasies like us.â He grinned, smiling like an idiot, while Billy too slowly took off the mask.
âIf you didnât pull out that porn magazine, she wouldnât even think about it, genius.â He murmured as he stroked your arm. He sighed in relief with his eyes closed, hearing your soft snores calmed him.
Maybe they could pay you another visit, and it will be on nice bed this time.
And sure as hell he'll make sure of that.
#billy loomis#stu macher#billy loomis x reader#stu macher x reader#ghostface x reader#poly ghostface x reader#billy loomis x reader x stu macher#billy loomis x stu macher x reader#scream 1996#scream fanfic
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TeeâŚ
Iâm now on my hands and knees BEGGING for bully Gojo who is (secretly) DISGUSTINGLY IN LOVE over the reader PLEASE ANY CRUMBS I WILL TAKE
(you donât actually have to write this it was just a nice thought)
idkkkkk if itâs rly bully gojoâbut heâs definitely a real cunt for sure.
i just think about an asshole! gojo a lot like heâs ur lab partners or something and he does that stereotypical jerk move where heâs like âseriously ?? her ??â when heâs first paired with you. and heâs just naturally an douche, yk ?? wears sunglasses indoors and makes jokes at the professors expense under his breath that gets him snickers and snorts from his frat guys in his class. has to be asked more than once to âplease keep it down in the middle of classâ by wtv prof heâs in class with.
and he ofc makes u do all the work bc he canât be botheredâand on the rare occasion that he is bothered, he just does a poor job thatâs the bare minimum and sloppy enough that ur like wtv iâll just do it myself. and then ofc sometimes u donât have a choice but to meet up to finish something after class every now and thenâhe wouldnât care to, but he actually needs to know the stuff for the final report he has to write individually, so he begrudgingly meets up with you, and sometimes you notice his friends give you an amused look when he walks up with them. they snicker before they leave as he sits with you. sometimes they make a snide comment here and there like âhave fun with ur super hot dateâ that makes him roll his eyesâhe doesnât do much to hide the look of distaste on his face.
but thenâand he doesnât even know when it happensâyou start to slowly grow on him. because ur actually pretty snarky urself, sometimes making a dry comment here and there about the professor and his stupid bald headed self. sometimes a girl in the distance laughs too hard a group of guys that u roll ur eyes and mumble how âif i had a voice like that iâd never laugh in publicâ and it makes him snort a bit without meaning to. sometimes you stare daggers at the person who has their music so loud thru their headphones they canât help but notice u and turn it down in embarrassment. ur actually not as much of a pushover as he thoughtâyou just genuinely think heâs too incapable to help u out that youâve just shrugged him off and started doing his part. itâs an easy weekly lab class anyway, you donât need himâand then he realizes that u rly just donât care for him. his little snickers at u with his friends and their snide comments roll off ur back bc wellâŚheâs himâan asshole little frat boy and u didnât expect anything better from him. so it makes him a little intriguedâmaybe a little wounded in his pride, deep down, because no one has ever been indifferent to him before. theyâre either madly in love, or they hate his guts, or they follow his lead. either worksâhe still gets the attention he craves.
but u just donât rly care. and ur actually pretty cool, and kinda sorta funny in a way no one else is. he likes itâŚand fuck, now heâs starting to like you. he can tell bc when his friends ask how his little date with you went, he starts getting a bit huffy ab it bc they donât need to talk about you. they donât even know youâŚbut alsoâŚ.its not a date. and thatâs the worst part. sometimes it feels like a date. almostâsometimes you both decide to take a break in between and go get a coffee or a light snack. sometimes heâs even paid (to which you look mildly shocked before politely thanking him) and you both walk back to the library while u make light banter and itâsâŚwell, fun. and nice. and your laugh is pretty. and your smile is kinda cute and he (though he hates to admit it) rly likes it when u laugh because of him.
and then things start to get messyâreally, he didnât mean for it to start this way. he really was meaning to ask you in a genuine manner to see u again once the semester was finished. because heâs actually started pulling his weightâhe wants u to see him for someone whoâs smart. satoru is actually rly rly smart and no one knows it because he doesnât rly show it but he is. he wants u to see that side of himâsomehow thereâs some sick validation he rly needs from you knowing heâs not a dense frat guy who drinks and fucks until 3 am every night. so he starts doing his parts and actually communicates with u about sections. so starts ur texting routineâsometimes a little longer than u rly need to for just doing a lab together. sometimes itâs âdid u hear ab that girl in our class getting dumped in front of the kfc ??â and sometimes itâs âgod our prof rly needs to get some pussyâ and other times itâs âlook what the guy who sits behind us just posted on his storyâ and it leads to a few long convos that admittedlyâŚare rly fun. ur so fun. he likes it. he rly does like u and he thinks maybeâŚ.maybe heâs grown on u too and you know what ?? satoruâs always a jerk but ur nice and whoâs to say he canât be nice too ?? just for one person. for u, he can be a nice guyâu carried lab all on ur own long enough that u deserve it anyway.
until he gets swayed in that way only a coward can. in that way you do when ur used to being âthe manâ around ur friends and ur too pressured to keep up that energy for appearances sake bc u donât wanna be the laughing stock who softened up for âsome nerdy chick whoâs a nobody.â so he laughs when they laugh at the fact that ur probably âstill a virgin whoâs never touched a guy beforeâ and then theyâre patting gojo on the back and shoving at his shoulder as they laugh harder and suggest that âyâknow what would be so funny man ?? if u took her virginity. you could probably do it.â
the thought is sickening becauseâŚsatoru wouldnât want to fuck you like that. god, you have him caring about when and how he fucks youâin fact, just thinking about you lewdly makes him feel guilty. disrespectful, even. youâre more than a fleshlight for his dick. since when did he become so respectful ?? but he doesnât know how to say no, especially when everyone starts agreeing one after the otherâand oh no, now theyâre betting on how quickly he can do itâŚ.and oh, now itâs not just fucking. now itâs âhow long until you think sheâs head over heels for you? man, that would be a sight, huh ??â
andâŚ.well, satoru decides it couldnât hurt, right ?? he does want to be romantically involved so that would include you being head over heels. hopefully. fingers crossed. and he doesnât rly want to seem lame in front of the guys either, so he gets to keep both sides of the coin, so is it really that bad ?? maybe not the right idea but certainly the right execution. heâll treat you wellâthat much heâs confident of. so he forces out a laugh and says âgimme a month or two, youâll see.â
and a month or two they give him. and a month or two it takesâbut not for you to be head over heels. itâs him whoâs utterly and completely obsessed and fallen head first and whatever else they say to describe love because wow. this must be what it is. this must be that stupid fairytale shit they always talk about because fuck, no one has ever looked at him like that. like heâs some miracle to this earth and some wonder only you know ofâlike you hope it stays that way and that heâs yours and yours alone and no one else comes in to take him away. satoru really likes being yours, it kinda feels better than you being his. being yours means you hold him like that at night and wake him up to a kiss between his brows and sometimes, when he gets those migraines heâs prone to getting, you always seem to know. always seem to understand when to close the blinds and keep quiet and wrap him up in the covers as you rub your thumbs over his temples soothingly.
he almost forgets about that silly little bet he made two months ago when heâs around you. actually, he forgets everything when heâs around you. heâs only ever thinking about you, you, you. when he comes back to his frat house, on the other hand, theyâre all gathered around waiting for the newest details. how you mustâve been so pathetically star struck by him. how you must be embarrassingly bad at kissing. how you must stutter over every other word around him. how you must be making a complete and utter fool of urself trying to impress him and be someone youâre not bc the real you would never pique his interest.
theyâre wrong ofc. if anyoneâs star struck, itâs satoru bc how the hell are u soâŚcool ?? and so funny and witty and carefree ?? and youâre good at kissingâhave him chasing your lips with a whine every time. sometimes you even chuckle at him when he does and make him blush a bit. heâs the one who stutters over his words when he sees you in your little date night outfits. sometimes he watches you drink from your straw and his brain short circuits a little until you snap at him and ask him in confusion if heâs alright. but the real kicker ?? itâs that if anyoneâs pretending, itâs satoru. youâre always just youâunapologetically so, that itâs endearing and beautiful and so unearthly he wonders how he got so lucky. but him ?? heâs always acting like some guy heâs not. some chivalrous guy who opens doors and pushes out seats and kisses the back of hands and waits at least a few dates before even considering fucking. some nice, sweet, genuine guy whoâs deserving.
heâs not thatânever was. if you knew the real him, youâd leave in a heartbeat. itâs a scary thought. a raw feeling he doesnât like. makes him feel all self conscious and insecure and all that weird shit he never thought heâd feel.
he tries. so hard, he tries to make them forget about that silly little bet and just slowly drop it and maybe even forget ur dating so he can just stay living this peaceful little fantasy with youâbut thatâs stupid. thatâs naive. itâs been 4 months and enough is enoughâthe guys need to see the look on ur face when u realize what a fool ur being and satoru is âbeing a lazy ass whoâs too comfortable not having for work for pussy these days.â so then thereâs a video going around. itâs everyone gathered around on the couch drunk and talking about you. and satoru. you both, in fact. how itâs been two months and u seem desperate for his attention with the shrill little voice you use to call him toru, baby! itâs so, so fucking embarrassing, they say. how you think he likes it. (he does. god he does so much, it hurts. he loves it, actually, when you call him that. makes him feel special in a way he never has.) but then, the worst, most disgustingly nauseous part of the whole thing is when satoru laughs along and plays into their awful words. just lets them talk about you like youâre some piece of meat. something for him to chew up and spit out after he has a taste or you. not even worth savoring and enjoying. he laughs along and agreesâyouâre nothing special and he canât wait until heâs free of you.
that part hurts. that part sucks the mostâwhen he acts like he didnât tremble under your touch every time you kissed him. like he didnât beg you to stay just five more minutes! before walking out the door to go home. he acts one way in front of you and one way in front of them and whatâs worse ?? you donât know which one is real. couldnât tell even if your life was on the line to decide. because thereâs no way heâs that good at pretending to be desperately in love, no fucking way. but thereâs also no way he can be in love if heâs talking about you like that. thatâs not what love isâthatâs not what love feels like. thatâs not what it means to someone.
you donât know which satoru is the real one, but you know that neither is worth your time. not if he canât stick to it.
itâs terrible thingâthe way you break up. itâs messy and teary and heâs begging, heâs actually begging. he never thought heâd do that. but he doesnât even hesitate to plead for you to hear him out. baby, please let me explain. wait, please donât walk awayâplease just listen! i can explain.
he canât explain, though when you as him to. stands there with a bitten bottom lip and teary eyes that are pleading you to just stay with him. to overlook this and just ⌠ignore it like itâs nothing. like what he did and said was just nothing and you can shrug it off like youâre nothing too. like your feelings are nothing and so is your worth and thatâs why you should just ignore the way he absolutely destroyed your pride and reputation and dignity and worseâŚ.every ounce of your love.
such deep, raw, pure loveâitâs almost enough to heal every dry crack and crevice of this earth and bring it back to life.
you look at him with teary eyes and something so broken, it makes him feel like dirt beneath your feet.
âitâs embarrassing, satoru,â you hiss that night through tears, âyouâre in your twenties getting a degree and youâre still just a high school bully. lifeâs really gonna kick you in the ass some day.â
lifeâs already kicking him in the ass as soon as you walk out. the air is colder. the world is dimmer. food doesnât taste as good and fuckâthere is just so much loneliness when you have no one to be yourself with. when thereâs no you.
but he supposes youâre right thoughâhe is just a bully. itâs pathetic, really. and maybe itâs for the best. maybe you donât deserve someone whoâs only ever known how to feel good because someone else doesnât.
#bye#this is so obnoxiously long for a silly little jumble of thoughts#maybe iâll flesh it out and make it an actual fic tho#bully! gojo tag
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Popular Hades & Persephone "retellings" are, rightly, getting dunked on all over the socials right now and, as a Pagan who has an altar to the Queen, I could not be happier. But also, I feel like a lot of people miss WHY they're bad - aside from just plain bad writing and lazy tropes. Which are, yeah, also REALLY bad.
Pretty much all retellings try to wave away, or excuse, or twist the whole kidnapping bit. And I actually do have sympathy and understanding for why, when speaking from a modern perspective.
But honestly...you gotta get over it. There are other stories to play fix-it with, not this one.
The Abduction is The Thing.
Were I a little more sober I could bring up chapter and verse of the Hymn to Demeter but frankly, if you know even the middle school mythology curriculum version of the story, you SHOULD know the themes. The story of Persephone was one mothers and daughters in the ancient world held dear, because it was a reality: you will, one day, be swept away from your home to go cleave to a man you most likely know nothing about. You will miss your mother, but chances are very good that he will be a good husband, once you get to know him, certainly better than Zeus or Ares, and he will make you a queen of his home.
Leaving home to marry was often scary, and violent (look up the history of the tradition of Bridesmaids, if you don't already know it - they were originally decoys on the marriage road). Centuries later we'd have tales like Beauty & The Beast serving the same function: comfort, hope, you are leaving your safe loving home to figure life out with a (often older, powerful) stranger. Your trauma over this sudden ending of your childhood made manifest in a Beast, or a God of The Underworld.
It's wonderful that we don't NEED stories like this anymore to comfort us (here, at least, in this culture). But if you try to force them into modern vernacular it just will not work, not really, because you're gutting out the whole point just to have a more tidy romantic male hero.
I have read MANY very good ...novelizations? fanfic(? however you would frame them, but they're certainly not "retellings"), etc. that simply take advantage of the blank spaces in the myth, and there are many!
It's not explicit that sexual assault happens - "The Rape of Persephone" as a title was coined in much earlier eras, when the word was just as often used to simply refer to abduction.
"She was starving!" the gods didn't need to eat. So it's easy to read her eating the Pom seeds as a deliberate choice on her part. Like, shit, people, scholars have written whole papers on the symbolism of this moment, between marriage rites and even yeah, Seph choosing both worlds with her husband's knowing consent.
And that, I think, is the real heart of the thing. People want an utterly mundane, spelled-out story here, as opposed to what it really is, has always been, just like any other myth or religious parable: IT'S A METAPHOOOOOOR.
They don't need to be destined, or meet at a goddamned BALL and then CONSPIRE to fake her kidnapping, or shit, I once saw one where Hades got MIND CONTROLLED by Zeus?! Jesus.
Persephone was yoinked into the Underworld against her will.
That's how it went.
I don't mean this in a "stay out of my belief system!" way, shit I'm a white American chick with delusions of witchery. I mean this in a "stop stressing yourself out trying to make things palatable" way:
This is a very real, very precious myth to many people, BECAUSE for at least that one event, Persephone had no autonomy, BECAUSE for thousands of years most women had no autonomy. Erasing that, sanitizing the fact that a girl is ripped out of the spring, from her mother's arms, is erasing the thing that gave comfort to women for centuries. And people can and should still find power and healing in it now!
Fill in the blanks the story leaves in whatever manner seems fit to you, there's plenty of room, but. Come the fuck on.
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It All Comes Crashing Down
Pairing: Simon 'Ghost' Riley x Reader
Genre: Hurt/Comfort
She presses the metal radio against her lips and mumbles her final words, hoping that although he has not spoken, he would hear.
"I love you, Simon.
A/N: The classic 'bomb my location' fic you've all been waiting for! This has been sitting in my drafts for weeks, so I'm glad I finally got it out- I'm thinking about a part 2 where she wakes up and it's some extra fluff, maybe?
Masterlist
She takes a shaky breath in as her hands grip her rifle tighter, but when she speaks her voice is as steady and firm as ever.
"Bomb my location."
The words are acrid on her tongue, but they feel right to her heart. Her mind is in disarray, trying to piece together any other solution that won't have her ending up under dead under pounds of rubble, but she knows deep down that there's no other way out of this.
An entire enemy organisation eliminated at the expense of one soldier.
It was a win-win for everyone but her.
And that was alright. She's made her peace with it, made it the moment she signed her name on those documents giving her life away to the tang of blood and the scent of gunsmoke.
"Level the building." She continues, wincing at another hail of fire that rains upon her. Heavy footsteps and orders barked in Russian move around her location. Steadily being surrounded, there was little hope for a smooth extraction or escape anyway. "Have Soap blow the charges, Captain. Then send in the airship and raze this hellhole to the ground."
"Like hell we're doing that." Gaz's voice comes through her comms, frustrated. "We're not leaving her, Price." They must have rendezvoused successfully, because Gaz doesn't speak through the comms, rather it sounds as if he's turning away his head to speak to the man directly.
It brings a small smile to her face despite the circumstances. Her boys would get out of this, at least.
Simon. Her mind flashes to her Simon and she thanks whoever's above that they had split up before everything went to shit.
It had been fine at first. She was setting the charges they needed to bring the building down while he fetched the intel from somewhere else, and really, she should have been suspicious when it all went smoothly.
She'd planted the last charge before the enemy started closing in.
Like rats, they seemed to emerge out of nowhere shooting her down and pinning her until she had no choice but to slip away and barricade herself in one of the nearby rooms. The entrance and exits were likely swarmed with people and here she sat, in the heart of it all.
Unreachable, untouchable.
She sort of tunes out the muted conversation on the other end, lets the ringing on her head take over. Loud angry cursing, yelling in distinctive Scottish, the harsh rasp of her Captain telling everyone to calm down...it all floats through her mind.
Everyone but Ghost.
She doesn't hear his voice...but he was alive, wasn't he? She'd seen him slip out of the building through the window in front of her, so she knows he must have gotten out. The thought makes her gut curl up, brings her back to the present.
"Negative, Sergeant." Price's voice cuts through her thoughts, much louder than the others. "We're mapping out a route to come get you-"
"Price, it'll be suicide." Perhaps it's the way her voice softens and quiets, the gentle way she talks so different from the harsh way she's spoken earlier. It's as if she's accepted it, is content to lay down and allow herself to be swallowed by the dirt she came from. "I'm one soldier. Don't make yourself visit more than one coffin."
"I'm going to-"
"Set off the charges."
There's a beat of silence, painstaking silence where nobody speaks. Even the gunfire outside the room she's barricaded in seems to fade out for a moment.
"Copy."
A death sentence coming from the man she considered family.
It cracks a smile out of her. She squeezes her eyes shut, lets her head fall against the blood spattered wall behind her.
"Make sure my replacement's just as much a pain in the ass to you, alright?" If the way her voice breaks at the end of her last sentence is noticed, it's not brought up. "Simon's gotta have someone to push around, yeah?"
"There's no replacing you."
There's arguing. Soap and Gaz are yelling, and it's startling because she's never heard either of them shout the way they are, at their Captain nonetheless.
It's comforting to know she was cared for, even if she's about to die.
A sudden bang on her door makes her jump. Muffled Russian filters through the old wood. Someone ramming at it with something, trying to break it down.
But it doesn't really matter, does it? She'll be going out on her own terms even if they find her now.
Ghost...Simon. Where was he? If there was one thing that'd settle her mind right now it'd be hearing that gravelly voice, even if it was merely yelling at her, telling her how stupid it was to suggest what she has.
A desperation claws at her chest, deep down. She wants Simon, wants to spend the night in his bed again, wants to hug him, feel his skin, wants to see those rare smiles of his one more time.
Just once.
Just one more time before she-
"Charges setting off in 5-"
How cruel was the world?
She hopes Simon knows that she didn't mean to leave him. That she wanted him to go on without her, to not fall into the void of 'what-if's.' It wasn't his fault.
Her eyes burn but she refuses to let out the helpless sob clawing its way up her throat. She wants...she wants so much. Wants to do so much more, wants to live, and breathe and smile and laugh and experience and live. Simon. She wants to tell him so much more.
If she could go back in time and fill their silences with all the words she wants him to know right now, she'd do it in a heartbeat.
It's an impulsive decision, how her hand shoots up to grab at her radio frantically. Switching it to the private line between just the two of them, she presses the metal against her lips and mumbles her final words, hoping that although he has not spoken, he would hear.
"I love you, Simon."
The ground crumbles beneath her, the world turns to black.
                 ¡ ¡ âââââââ ¡đĽ¸Âˇ âââââââ ¡ ¡
Slipping out of the small shed, he tucks the papers into his vest. For a multi-national organisation, they sure were stupid as hell when hiding their intel.
Scanning the grounds for any movement, Ghost moves out, keeping to the shadows until he reaches the edge of the field that morphed into the woods farther down.
"Intel secured, moving to rendezvous point now." He says into his comms. He frowns when he doesn't get an answer back, grabbing his radio and speaking again, casting a glance back into the foliage in the distance where he knows the others have staked their place to operate from.
Price, Gaz, and Soap were operating remotely, dealing with drones and distant detonation devices, whereas the other two had infiltrated the building separately.
Plant the charges and secure the intel. Simple tasks made difficult when they both realised that the intel wasn't in the building, but instead in the shed attached to the side of the complex instead. Splitting up had been the most logical thing to do, even when Ghost had refused at first.
"It'll be fine. Quick and easy, right?" She'd told him with a grin. "Get that intel before I'm out of the building and maybe I'll give you an extra treat when we get back." Ghost had rolled his eyes at her suggestive wink.
"Does anyone copy?" He says into the object. He's met with nothing but muffled crackling and garbled speech, tinny and indecipherable. Ghost scowls at the machine, ripping it off of his vest and turning it over. It crackles and pops with bursts of sound but nothing cohesive enough to interpret
"I-...ou...Simon"
"Fucking thing's busted." He mumbles to himself, shoving the item back into his vest, his hand brushing against the folder of intel he's successfully recovered from the shed attached to the main building.
He can spot one of the convoy vehicles near the edge of the woods, but he doesn't let his guard down even as he crosses the field towards it.
Ghost barely takes a step through the dead grass before the building behind him goes up in an explosion that makes even him unsteady with the force of it. Flames lick up the east side of the massive structure and Ghost takes a second to watch as it crumbles in on itself sending up clouds of dust and debris.
Good fucking riddance.
He's looking forward to getting the hell out of this place once he rendezvous with everyone else. This mission had stretched on for far longer than it should have, the elusive bastards slipping away through their fingers time and time again with dirty, underhanded tactics.
The foliage grows thicker as he steps into the woods, rifle at the ready. A click of a safety had him raising his weapon and spinning around immediately.
When he sees a very familiar mohawk, however, he lowers his weapon instantly. "Blue!" He says loudly, bringing up a hand to half Soap. "Just me, Johnny."
Soap follows suit and lowers his weapon, his shoulders visibly relaxing the tiniest bit. "Welcome back." He says, but something about his voice makes Ghost uneasy. "Price and...and the others are prepping exfil." He gestures towards the clearing.
"Everyone else made it back?" He asks as they push through the meager trees and into the open space where soldiers are rushing around tying up loose ends.
"Aye." Soap chokes out.
Ghost would question it, but he's too busy doing a sweep of the clearing, putting names to faces. Price and Gaz were there, going back and forth over something. It strikes him a little odd how furious Gaz looks, Price looking so resigned but he pushes it away in favour of catching a glimpse of the person he's more inclined to spot.
"We tried what we could, but she was pinned down." Soap breaks the silence, misinterpreting the reason behind his silent staring at Gaz and Price. "We didn't...Laswell's insisting immediate evac, but Gaz wants to at least find a body to bury." A bitter laugh that makes Ghost's stomach drop like a stone.
"What?"
Soap rakes a bloody hand through his hair, shakes his head, and continues on like he's in some sort of shock. "I don't want to. I think she'd rather us leave her buried there than dig out bits and pieces and bury her again." His voice cracks.
Bury...?
There's only one woman in their team.
There's only one person he hasn't accounted for in the clearing.
There's only one person he hasn't reached on his comms before they broke.
The world spins, his mind screams and falls silent, a crescendo of noise and denial. The ground shifts beneath his feet, rocking him into a state that makes him feel like he's walking on string.
"MacTavish." His words are so calm and even, it's eerie. "Is my girl still in the building?" He feels detached from himself, perhaps a way to distance himself from the pain of the implied.
Soap looks at him for a long moment, then croaks out one, broken word.
"Was."
And it all comes crashing down.
He's been through torture before. Had his skin marred, his fingernails torn off, been hung from his ribs but nothing, nothing has ever come close to the way his heart twists.
Nothing had ever made him panic in a way that has his throat closing up.
"Christ." Johnny breathes, and it's a sound that drags him back from the brink of something horrible. Soap's eyes are fixed on the empty spot on his vest that holds his radio on normal days, horrified. "You didn't bloody know." He states.
Wasting time answering is useless. Talking, speaking breathing is useless because not a moment later Ghost is sprinting towards the rubble.
The rubble that he had just watched fallen. The building he'd stood there and watched fall down, had felt pride and relief in seeing.
His gear digs into him, the air thickens with smoke and dust but he doesn't stop. Vaguely he hears people yelling after him, hears Price and Gaz and Soap and every other motherfucker who stood by and detonated the charges. Friend or foe it didn't matter to him right now. If someone dared to get in his way he'd mow them all down, grind them into nothing and keep going.
They blew the charges.
The airship would be here any minute to finish the job.
No, he'd get to her by then. Ghost slams down into the ground somewhere near where they split off. He'd find her by then, and he'd bring her back, bring her to medical and she'd be fine in a week or two.
There was no other fucking option.
The debris rakes off the fabric of his gloves, splits the skin on his fingertips as he hauls and pushes and pulls and digs through stone and metal and wood, leaving evidence of his efforts in the form of his own blood behind.
She had to be okay.
Not her. Not like his mother, not like his brother, not like his nephew.
Not her.
He digs, calls out her name until his voice is hoarse, pulls away piece after piece of rubble until his fingers are torn to shreds.
Just as he hears the sounds of incoming aircraft, he spots something that makes the knot in his chest slam against his ribcage in pure and utter terror.
It's been a while since Simon has felt fear this pure.
Hair that he's familiar with, strands that he's gripped and gently soothes his fingers through peek out from under the piece of metal he's just lifted.
Unable to breathe, his attempts at moving the earth increase tenfold. He picks off stone after stone, brick after brick until more of her body is uncovered. Still, unmoving, bleeding. Once he's gotten her top half free, he hesitates for one horrible moment because what if he looks down to see a still chest?
Steeling himself, he bites the bullet and curls an arm around her waist, pulling her out of the debris.
The relief that slams into him when he feels her shallow, breaths against his palm is almost enough to send him to his knees.
"I've got you, love." He mumbles, half to himself as he adjusts her in his arms. She's dead weight, pulse barely there but present.
Cuts and bruises, Ghost can name at least five lacerations and countless other places she's bleeding from, a broken arm, leg, and who knows what kind of internal bleeding.
Alive.
But still alive.
And that was enough because like hell Ghost was going to let the one good thing in his life slip through his fingers ever again. He'd drag whoever he needed to her aid, he'd go to hell and back just to make sure she got to open her eyes again.
With limps that ache and a heart that's heavy, he quickly moves them out of the rubble, just in time to see two aircraft circling their location. They hadn't dropped any explosives yet, which a far part of Simon's brain thinks might be Price's doing.
Uncaring of whoever was watching, because frankly everyone could fuck off right now and it would be preferable, Ghost presses his lips to her hair as he moves into the clearing with her.
"Medic!" He barks out. "Right fucking now!"
He ignores Gaz's strangled gasp, ignores the way the entire team approaches them and tries to help. Ghost is a little concerned that if he let the adrenaline that's pumping through his veins go, he might just collapse as well, and that was unacceptable at the moment.
A weak hand grasps at the front of his vest, his eyes snapping immediately to her at the movement.
"S...'mon?" She says, words so faint he barely hears them?
"I'm here." He confirms, pressing his face to her hair harder. "I've got you, darling." He whispers. "I've got you."
It soothes her, because she nods against him and lets herself relax. It's only then that Simon notices she's holding something in her good hand in a deathly tight grip.
Upon closer inspection, it's a radio.
"I-...ou...Simon"
Fucking hell. His grip on her tightens.
She'd been trying to contact him in what she thought were her last moments, and he'd never have known because his fucking radio was broken.
It doesn't matter, he tells himself, chants it over and over again in his mind. He's got her again, and like hell is he ever letting go now.
When the medics bring out a stretcher, Price has to talk him into letting her go down into him, practically ordering him to let the bloody medics do their jobs. He doesn't stray far, however, keeping a hand on her at all times. Sat next to where they were working on her in the helicopter back, never once do his eyes stray from her unconscious form.
She wakes up once or twice, whines, and fights against the medic's hands with a panic-induced haze. Every time Simon is there, holding her hand, muttering rough, soothing praise and assurances.
It calms her down immediately, the trust in those far away pain-addled eyes when they meet his is enough to make his heart twist.
Simon stays with her the entire time, and then takes residence in a seat next to her hospital bed on base, ready for when she wakes up.
Hell would freeze over before Simon would ever let them be apart again.
If that makes him selfish, then so be it.
Requests Are Open! Reblog, Like and Comment!
(12/08/2023)
#ghost cod#cod mw ghost#ghost call of duty#ghost modern warfare#ghost mw2#ghost simon riley#ghost x reader#cod ghost#mw2 ghost#simon ghost riley x reader#simon ghost riley x you#simon ghost x reader#simon ghost riley#simon riley x reader#simon riley x you#call of duty modern warfare 2#modern warfare x reader#angst#x reader#x y/n#fluff#simon riley#simon riley fluff#simon riley imagine#call of duty modern warfare#call of duty modern warfare ii#modern warfare#cod modern warfare#modern warfare 2#modern warfare ii
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Dolly (Pt 2)
Human Alastor x Housewife!Reader
Pt 1, Finale
Tw: Murder, Forced Cannibalism, reader is described as a woman, dumbifying reader, mention of pregnancy, pregnancy.
Note: I guess Iâm making this a series? I really want them to meet in hell. Also I really havenât made it obvious bc I donât want to erase Alastor being aroace. The way I see it, heâs kinda just toying with reader and grew obsessed once reader became a murderer.
âââââââââââââââââââââââ
The morning after your delightful meal, you found yourself puking your guts out. The food did not agree with you at all. You wonder how Alastorâs body did not reject your food. Maybe it was all guiltyâs conscience, but youâre not guilty for what you did.
Alastor holds your hair back, rubbing small circles on your back. âOh my, what a way to start the morning. It makes me wonder if youâre perhaps pregnant.â
You shoot him a look, âPlease do not say that, I beg of you.â No, youâre not pregnant, and Alastor knows youâre not pregnant. But if you are. . . That means youâre all to himself. You will have no choice but to depend on him even more. Even if you decided one day to leave him, you canât. Nobody other man wants a tainted woman with children. Maybe one day he should get you pregnant.
Oh he absolutely knows that his dear wife has committed something awful and heâs proud of you, although he wonât admit it, yet. For now, heâs here to support you through the aftermath of your actions.
He could even recall his first kill, it was messy and uncoordinated, and the gore did not sit right with his stomach. But he hopes that his wife does not meddle in the business no longer. All you must do is sit pretty and be the doll you are. The sweet wife who cleans the house and cooks for him and cares for him dearly while being oblivious to the fact that your husband is out and about, killing many people.
But heâs curious. You might be just like him and the thought of that makes him want to grasp you in his hands tightly. To keep you all to himself and keep you away from anything that could take you away from him. At the same time, he wants to test you, push you further into insanity until thereâs no more turning back and youâre addicted to the feeling of blood on your hands.
Youâve made a decision, youâre going to confess to Alastor. You canât just keep him the dark about what youâve done. âAlastor dear, so about Linda. . . Iâve. . .â
âNo need to say more, ma cheri. I know.â He says, acting sympathetic towards you. He pulls you into a hug and you canât help but burst into tears. He pats
âMy dear, youâve had such a bad morning so I believe you should go out and treat your pretty self with something,â He hums, combing your hair back.
âBut-â
âI insist dear. Allow me to tend to the home and when you get back, youâll be treated to a nice meal. How does that sound?â
Your lips pursed in thought. âFine, but only because you insist.â
The phone rings.
âIâll take that, mon cheri. Now Iâll allow you to get yourself all pretty and Iâll get you some money for you to spend.â He kisses your head and leaves you be.
âââââââââââââââââââââââ
An outing is just what you needed, although it was not to relieve your nerves. You only felt guilt for having stained your hands with red. That matters not, anymore. Alastor says to relax and enjoy your outing and that is what youâd do.
Now that youâre out, Alastor prepares to go out. He puts his gloves, âI should prepare a freshly cooked meal for my dear wife. Itâs about time I went hunting.â He hums to himself and leaves the house.
âââââââââââââââââââââââ
The sound of chopping is heard through the kitchen. Chopped vegetables are put aside and Alastor is seen kneading a sort of meat. After heâs satisfied, he chops the meat and sets it aside.
âLet us see,â He says, squatting down to the body by the kitchen island. He reaches inside the abdomen, a squelch being heard as his hands move deeper. âAh, there it is!â He says cheerfully as he cuts out the intestines.
After squeezing the contents out of the intestines, he looks up at the clock. âOh dear me! Itâs about time my dear Y/N comes home!â
Itâs already 5 and he expects you to be home in about an hour.
He continues to grind away the other organs and meat before stuffing the intestines, making the sausages for the jambalaya.
After an hour has passed, you are back home. As you were about to reach for the handle, the door opened, revealing Alastor. âWelcome home ma cheri!â He greets you with a smile, pulling you in for a hug. You reciprocate and kisses his cheek. âWhat have you got there?â He asks, motioning to the bags.â
âOh Iâve only bought a few dresses. Nothing out of the ordinary,â You shrug, putting the bags down.
âThen I should expect a show from you then, is that correct? Give me a little twirl in each dress?â His voice deepens as he tilts your head up to look at him.
âIf thatâs what my dear husband wants,â You say, almost as if youâre purring.
Alastor hums in approval and pulls your lips into a kiss. His arm around your waist, pulls you in, pressing your body against his. âOh my pretty doll, youâve got me all distracted.â
âAnd it is my fault?â She chuckles.
âYes dear, itâs your fault for being so gorgeous, however I cannot complain about that. Come now, Iâve made jambalaya. Let us eat before it gets cold.â
You follow him immediately to the dining room. âHow I love jambalaya. Iâm grateful youâve introduced me to one of your favorites.â You smile as you sat down. âYou didnât put shrimp?â You ask.
âIâve decided to add some meat instead,â Alastor says, placing some food on your plate.
âWell anything you cook is delicious. Iâll enjoy every bite!â You beam.
The two of you continue to eat and chat. While doing the dishes, the door bell rings. âI wonder who that might be?â You say confused, not expecting any visitors.
Alastor goes to the front door and opens it with a smile. âHello, how can I help you fine gentlemen?â
âWeâre with the police, Iâd just like to ask about your neighbors.â One of the officers say.
âWell of course!â Alastor remains to smile, however he is irritated, not that anyone notices.
âWho is it Alastor, dear?â You say, walking behind him. âOh! Well hello officer!â You immediately put a bright smile. Alastor wraps an arm around your waist.
âYes, you must be this fine gentlemanâs wife. Weâd just like to ask if you folks know anything about Mrs. Linda and perhaps Mr. Connor?â The officer asks.
âConnor? Well what could have possibly gone wrong?â Alastor says in confusion.
âWell officer, last night we got a call from dear Connor and just earlier before that, I believe during the afternoon, Linda paid me a small visit,â You answer.
âIs that so? Well maâam, did she enter the home?â
âYes she did. Just for a couple minutes though.â
âAnything in particular happened? Arguments, anything?â The officer pushes on.
âOh of course not! Linda and I may only be acquaintances but I do not harbor such ill feelings for her.â
Alastor squeezes your waist, âYou see, my dear wife is far too good for her own good. Far too oblivious to the world, but who can blame her. Sheâs a doll after all.â
You smile at the officers, looking very innocent.
âWhy, I see why you married such a beautiful lady,â The officers chuckles. âWell did she say anything before she left?
âNo sir. . . Well she did complain about how she suspects her husband of have a mistress,â You answer.
Alastor adds, âThe couple do tend to have a tendency for infidelity. Thereâs neighborhood rumors of one of the kids not even being Connorsâ! Itâs no surprise though. They say Linda sleeps with other men.â
You gasp, âYou mean that man she was with that one day-!â
âOh no need to worry your pretty little head about it. That is not our problem,â Alastor says.
âAnd the call you received from Mr. Connor?â The officer asks.
âOh he just called to thank my dear wife for her generosity. She was kind enough to bake the family a pie. Sheâs a rather good cook,â Alastor answers with a smile.
âWell you see, both of the couples are missing and have left their kids unattended.â
âOh thatâs awful! Are they okay?â You ask with worry.
âThey sure are. If you happen to hear anything about them, please do give a call, thanks for your time,â The officer nods and leaves.
After Alastor closes the door, you immediately broke into a sob. âTheyâre out to get me Alastor! Theyâll get me!â You cling to him.
âMy dear you wonât, I promise you they wonât. Iâd do anything,â Alastor says in a hushed voice.
âI-Iâm the last to have seen Linda and Connor! Now Connor is gone too! What if they think I am the one who killed him!â You cry hysterically.
âMy dear, have you not seen yourself? No one would believe that a small thing like you could have possibly killed someone,â he reasons.
âAre you sure?â
âOf course dear.â
âââââââââââââââââââââââ
âMust you really go, Alastor?â You plead, grabbing his hand.
âIâm afraid I cannot skip out on work today, mon cheri. But what if they get me? What if I canât see you again?â You say with worry.
Alastor chuckles. Your clinginess used to be something that annoyed him but not finds adorable. âRemember what I said last night?â
You nod.
âSo youâll let me go right?â
You nod and let go of his hand.
âGood. Now Iâll be back later, my dear.â He kisses your forehead and walks out the door.
He in fact did not come home that night. He was found dead, a bullet to his head. You never landed on the suspect list, as Alastor was found to be the serial killer of New Orleans.
#alastor x you#hazbin alastor#alastor x reader#alastor#hazbin x you#hazbin x y/n#hazbin hotel x y/n#hazbin hotel x you#hazbin x reader#hazbin hotel x reader#hazbin hotel#hazbin hotel alastor
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Choke On The Sun
PAIRING: John Price x F!Reader
SYNOPSIS: You'd known John ever since the Academy, and even after losing touch, the love you had for one another was never gone. Like a snake, it had stayed hidden in unseen places. But it was always there.
WORDCOUNT: 13.8k
WARNINGS: Blood, intense gore, torture, detailed descriptions of torture i.e. electrocution, loss of a finger, gunshot wounds, knife wounds, discussion of torture, canon-typical violence, death, near-death experiences, guns, weapons, abductions, betrayals, intended for mature audiences, happy ending, etc.
*I do not give others permission to translate and/or re-publish my works on this or any other platform*
You remember a story youâd been told when you were a rookieâfresh off the cut and eager-eyed with far fewer scars. A more of a glass-half-full type of outlook on life, unknowing of what youâd experience during your years with the SAS: what choices you would have to make.
It went something like this.Â
There was a herd of deer that had jumped over the side of a bridge. On either end of that bridge, there were two trucks with their high beams onânot moving but sitting there; the deer got pressured. Spooked. One by one they justâŚhopped over and died on the rocks belowâno noise above the breaking of bone and the clatter of antlers shattering to pieces.Â
You have to wonder if it was the fault of the first one who had jumped over for leading the rest to a quick end, or the drivers of the cars just trying to get where they needed to go; ignorant of the way theyâd been ogling to see the panic in wide, black eyes. Either way, a whole herd of ten met their fate and left their bodies to feed the larvae and the birds.Â
The story had been told over drinks at a pub, at the time youâd taken an interest in it with no more than a slow comment of âpoor thingsâ before youâd brought your glass to your lips. You don't know why youâre thinking about it now.Â
The timing could have been more opportune.
You send a bullet into the manâs kneecap, hearing the bone disintegrate and the flesh open like a flower. His scream follows, loud and hoarseâsobbing trapped behind a bitten tongue that drips blood down his chin.Â
Hand snapping up, you grasp the lower half of his face with a grunt, head shoving itself forward until you lock onto fluttering eyes and get consumed by a whining sob.
âI asked you a question,â you lick your lips, tasting sweat as it slithers down your skin. Your voice is slow and even, grip tight. With a shove, you push back the manâs face, wrist limp with the Basilisk as you wipe at your nose with it, unblinking, when you get to your full height.Â
The room wasnât anything different from a million other black sites youâd been to. A single chair where your mark sits tied up, a desk that had been pushed to the wall, and a single door placed into the cracking foundations of a concrete wall. No windows. No vents.Â
Hotter than hell, too, and that place was something you were acutely in tune with.Â
âAnthony,â you say, waving your free hand as the scent of blood gets stronger, pools of it already on the hard floor. âIâm gonna call you Tony, alright?âÂ
Tony yells, wrenching his arms against the zip-ties and screaming until his voice is hoarse.Â
âDamn you! I told you I donât know anything!â He sobs. âMy legâI canât feel my leg, oh, God it hurts.â
You frown, glancing at the door.Â
âStop lying to me,â you look back, eyes unblinking in the low light. âYou still have one leftâtell me where your buyer is and I let you keep the ability to walk upright with a cane.âÂ
âI donât know his nameâ!â
âI donât need a name, Tony,â you growl, irritated. âI need a location.â
âCopenhagen!â He wails, body spasming and hair dancing atop his head. âThe warehouse is in Copenhagen, please, thatâs all I know!â
You blink.Â
âDenmark?â You mutter, brows furrowing.Â
âFuck!â Tony screams long, his skull tilting forward as he releases his guts to the floor through quick gasps. Backing up a step to stay out of the spray, you watch him silently; thinking. The flood of the manâs crimson fluids ripples. âFuck, fuck, fuck!âÂ
âDenmark,â grumbling to yourself once more, you shake your head and sigh aggressively. âOf course.âÂ
Without another glance, you turn and exit the room, pushing your Basilisk into its holster as the gear on your chest clinks lightly like the sound of rain hitting a metal roof. The door closes behind you, voice calling to one of the guards as he looks up quickly. His face is pale. Tonyâs wails still echo out; water filling a bucket.Â
âGet a medic,â is what you settle withâslipping past on a fleet foot and new intel to pass on to Laswell. Sheâll be intrigued, no doubt.Â
One step closer, your mind hisses to you. Just a little bit longer.
Itâs too late to gain a conscious now.
Emmett Kinsman had been dodging you for yearsâdodging the Task Forceâbut with one of his suppliers giving away a location youâd been unable to pin, there was hope for a swift resolution to this mess.Â
The radio on your chest sizzles to life.
âHart, sit-rep. Howâs it lookinâ on the black site.â Kateâs American accent leaks into the earpiece attached to you, the cord looping the back of your neck and inserted into the shell; a device of black metal and plastic.Â
âI have a location for Kinsman. Copenhagen,â you ease out, moving a finger to the earpiece and pressing. Glancing at the rows and rows of doors in this endless hallway of dark smoke and obsidian mirrorsâyouâre eager to get your boots to the ground. Your other hand snatches at the rag swinging from your belt, taking it out and rubbing at your face with it until the stain of oil and flecks of blood smear like frosting on a cake. âWhere are the boys? I need to be wheels-up to meet them ASAP.â
âComing to you.â Â
âTheyâre here?â Your face twists as the words settle in, confused. âWhy? Thought they were tracking another lead in Romania.âÂ
Kateâs voice is smooth in your ear, moving like water as you turn a corner, stuffing your rag back into your belt.Â
âAre you surprised?â The woman jokes in a monotone; youâd only taken it as such because you knew her dry state of humor. âReally, Hart, you know he canât stop until youâre back at his side. I was going to tell you sooner, but you wereâŚoccupied.âÂ
Your feet pause for a moment at the beginning of her sentence, instinctual heat moving the length of your neck until you clench your jaw and continue onward at a slightly slower paceâeyes narrowed on the floor ahead of you.Â
âIt isnât like that, Kate,â you mutter. A low hum echoes the line and you fight a scowl as a group of soldiers walk past. Itching at your forearm, you shake your head. âJohn just likes having everyone together on missions like these. If it had been different, Iâm sure he would have told me to fly back to them regardless of the intel. Weâre tight on time.âÂ
âIâve known you both for more years than I can remember,â Laswell sighs. âDonât try that with me, Captain.â You frown, clicking your tongue. âTheyâll be arriving on the tarmacâget ready for a quick exit. We need Kinsman by monthâs end.âÂ
âCopy,â you utter, removing your hand from the earpiece and glaring ahead of you. A still-air silence envelopes the hallway, the only sound of your boots to the concrete and the reverberation that booms after.Â
It was so quiet here.Â
John PriceâCaptain Priceâand yourself had a⌠complicated history. Youâd joined up together; gotten through SAS selection neck-and-neck until time and its grubby fingers had forced your lives in different directions. Like two vines of reaching ivy, it had only been three years ago that youâd seen the other again, though youâd heard stories as youâre sure he had about you.Â
Hart: not the kind that beats but the kind that bleats, you had to explain to mostâyou werenât unknown to the darker side of the job and the people that specialized in it. Your file was stretched with so much black ink that when youâd gotten the call on your phone, an unknown number, youâd recognized the gruff voice behind it and the first question youâd asked was how the hell heâd gotten clearance to track you down.Â
âNo hello, then, Hart?â
âNot one for pleasantries, John. Explain. Quickly.â
âBusiness as always.â Heâs wasted no time, voice going to a low grumble over the line that day. âLaswell took in a favor. Youâve been busy, LoveâŚRoom for one more joint-Op?â
It hadnât panned out to only âone more joint-Opâ.Â
After the mission was over, it had been raining on base. The sky had shed tears from clouds deeper than the gray shades of your gear, splattering packed dirt and concrete. Above your head, the thin overhang off of the armory door had spared you some of it, but when the wind had shifted your clothes absorbed specks of water like spots on a fawn. Your eyes had been looking outâexpression open.Â
When the man exited the building and came up beside you, you both didnât speak for a long time. You had been aware of his form, devoid of vest and gear, while yours was still layered with it to the utmost degree. Youâd expected to leave that nightâa good old-fashioned Irish Goodbye with a C-17 already waiting for you to board. To carry you off to another hellish deed done with ravaging cruelty for the sake of people who would never even know you existed.
The storm had stopped youâŚor, maybe something else had.
âGood to see you again, Hart,â John had stated, still not looking over at you as his arms had crossed, feet situating themselves. âBeen too long.â
You had stayed silentâwatching. The drain across the street was flooded. Sticks and leaves stuck at the drain as a whirlpool formed; only dangerous to bugs and the bits of garbage blown in by the wind.Â
Only after the wind shifts again did you speak.
âAnd what has John Price been up to in that time?â Your eyes had slid to stare, piercing in the low illumination of the armoryâs outside light.Â
A huff of a chuckle, the one youâd remembered in the days of selectionâcoated in mud from crawling through man-made trenches and a sharp smirk of a snap when the barbed wire had grazed his back.Â
There were too many stories here. Too many. So many it became impossible to wonder what could have been and what couldnâtâall that existed were the little moments of fondness.
The two of you were nothing else but souls long past redemption; stuck on that knifeâs edge and waiting for the hand to shake and send you through it.Â
You are made of memories.Â
âThatâs a story told over bourbon,â Johnâs lips had flickered, and youâd blinked slowly, head tilting. âNot anything worth reliving, yeah?âÂ
âEverything is relivable, Captain. You just need to find a reason as to why.âÂ
The man had nodded his head your way, conceding with his blank eyes ahead to the rain. A rumble of distant thunder had flown out, making your ears twitch. You couldnât stop watching him now that you had the chanceâthe brunette strands; the fatigues, and that accent. The muscle you donât remember him having in that specific place all those years ago. The wrinkles on his forehead from age and stress are shown in yours as a mirror.Â
Tall; formidable.Â
There was a tension in the air that you chose not to dwell onâthe same that had been brewing for as long as youâd known him.Â
âI want you to join up with me,â the sudden comment had made your body tense, eyes snapping away. In your pockets, your fingers twitch with surprise.Â
âJoin?â
âThought Iâd catch you before you disappeared again, yeah?â A sheen of slight embarrassment is over your skin. John chuckles again. âExtend a formal offerâLaswell was the one who suggested it.â
âWell,â youâd huffed, licking your lips. âNow Iâm surely not accepting.âÂ
âLet me fuckinâ finish, Love,â Johnâs lips were pulled in a slight smirkâbeard shifting. A pause as the wind whips again, shaking the trees before he grunts. âOne-Four-One. My Task Force. Been thinking Iâd need someone like you, but I knew youâd never agree to it.â
âOh?â Your brow raises.Â
âNot bloody stupid.â He sighs. âThought Iâd ask anyway. Give you a proper goodbye if you werenât so keen on handing it out.â
âI donât like goodbyes,â you mutter, hearing Johnâs feet shiftâhis boots scraping.Â
âI know.â Itâs low and evenânot a prod or a dig. An observation.Â
A hand is moved out to you, hovering.Â
There isnât any need for words when you glance down at it, and then up at him; staring into those blue eyes that so perfectly illustrate the hues of a roaring river, hidden away in the confines of a verdant forest.
A slow smile pulls at your lips, and you see the corner of the manâs eyes soften.
âKnew Iâd get one out of you again,â he mutters as you slip your hand into his, a firm and all-encompassing heat of flesh and care.Â
âDonât get used to it, John.â Shaking his hand, you smirk, legs shifting.Â
âNever,â he chuffs, squeezing your limb.Â
You donât know why you stayed under that overhang with him that night. You donât think youâll ever be able to explain it as you had looked up and seen the C-17 fly off without you in its cargo hold, hands resting on your vest collar and blue eyes watching you, slightly narrowed.Â
You never even verbally told him you were sticking aroundâŚit had happened like a stray cat under the porch of your childhood home; taken in and cared for. Just the same, John never mentioned it beyond paperwork.Â
Shaking your head, you blink back to the black site, turning that last corner and making it to one of the exits. Pushing the metal-reinforced door open, you shift outside and move a hand to cover the glare of the setting sun from your eyes, grunting.Â
Laswellâs voice peaks back in as you jog toward the far-off body of a whirling plane, three figures just managing to walk down the ramp.Â
âHart? Itâs Laswell.â
âCopy,â you say, knees taking the brunt of the heavy items you carry in pouches and have strapped to your form. âWhat is it?âÂ
âThe Task Force is a go for Denmarkâwhen you get there, I need everyone searching; we canât lose him again.â
âAffirm. Iâm on it, Kate.â You breathe. âJohn and Iâll get him. Itâs personal for us, you know that.â
âThat I do. Make sure to keep your heads on with this, Hart. Out.â
You lick your lips, nodding even if she canât see you.Â
Slowing as you near the plane, friendly smiles spark up from the two Sergeants. Gaz comes over, grasping at your shoulder and speaking above the engine behind him.Â
âMaâam! Good to have you back.â Soap chuckles, tilting his head your way as you grasp Kyleâs forearmâsqueezing in greeting with a twinkle in your eye.
âSurprised to see us?â The Scot calls.Â
You scoff. âLaswell gave you up.â
âDamn,â Kyle moves back, fixing the cap atop his head and glancing back at his fellow Sergeant. Simon nods from behind the two to which you respond in like. âShe bloody betrayed us.âÂ
âNot as much as Kinsman,â the mood sours; lips thinning as you speak firmly. âWhereâs John?âÂ
âRight here,â the man in question comes down the ramp, blue eyes meet yours. A second of inspection passes, eyes from both parties flickering up and down forms for any mistreatmentâany ailments. âKate already told me. Weâre leaving now that we have you.â
Bumping Simonâs fist with yours as you pass him, you ascend the ramp, Soap muttering under his breath about the flight time from behind.Â
Standing beside John, you pause like a bird, eyes half narrowed. âYou didnât have to pick me up, you know? I could have gotten another plane.â
The man the same rank as you hums, making sure the men are all inside and taking one last look out to the black site, eyes missing nothing down to the concrete structure to the lights that will soon illuminate the pure nothingness of the fields of this area.
âWait time would have put us back.â Tiny eyes blink, a hand coming up to rest on his collar as his face shifts to you. âYou good?â
âAlways,â you mutter without hesitation. âNothing from Romania, then?â
He grumbles, clenching his jaw and taking in your words. âNegative.â
A silence settles in which you quirk your browâa small flicker of a smirk makes him turn away and stalk back into the hull, grunting in annoyance. You follow on silent feet.Â
âThatâs it? It must have been horrible, then. Care to explain?âÂ
âGet in your seat, Captain.âÂ
You hold back a low chuckle, walking beside him until you both come to the back of the planeâeasing back into the hard plastic, you huff as you clip in your seatbelt.Â
Itâs all relative silence until the large metal beast is in the air; everyone's bodies shifting as the floor evens out. John and you take long breaths and, feeling the occasional jostle of the plane, you occupy yourself by picking at the dried blood all over your hands as the flight beginsâTonyâs blood.Â
Blue eyes blink down at you, watching from the side.
âHe know anything important?â You stifle a yawn on your lips, one hand coming up to cover the open-jawed expression of tiredness.Â
Glancing, you shrug with a slow response of, âOnly a location. Even then I donât know if itâll pan out like we want it to, John.â
Everyone had been hoping for more, but they also knew that you were the best at interrogations and information retrieval. If you had called it that the man only knew a city and nothing else, John wasnât one to question you. He knew better.Â
A large hand shifts to grasp your right bloody one, picking it up and bringing it to his lap. You let him do it without protest, shoulders loosening at the roughness of his calluses moving across yours until the familiar ritual begins to take part like a black mass.Â
Fingers twitching, you hear a hum as John takes out a rag from his pocket, opening it with a flick of his wrist. Moments later, the water bottle on the seat next to him is taken and the droplets that are left are scattered like rain over the fabric until they absorb.Â
âAll dirty, Love,â he grumbles as your eyes soften, watching him trace the lines of your palm with the wet ragâdabbing away the beads of red. Watching, you listen as he continues. âWeâll figure it out, eh?â
Blue locks with you, holding your gaze until the permanent set of his brows slowly loosens. âWe will,â he reaffirms firmly.
â...I should have shot him when I had the chance,â you whisper to John, words low and tone nothing more than a mouseâs murmur; a small pebble hitting the ground. âDonât lie and say it wasnât my fault.â
âYouâre going to fucking ruin yourself with that, Hart.â He advises, his cleaning of blood coming to a slow halt. âYou did what you thought was best,â John leans in closer, not blinking as you try to move your head away with a half-hidden scoff. A damp hand grabs lightly at your chin, shifting it back as you blink in mild shock into Johnâs face. He doesnât falter. âItâs all any of us can do, yeah?âÂ
As if it were nothing, he lets you go and shifts his focus back to cleaning your hand. You watch for a long moment, oblivious to the elbows hitting sides from farther down the hull, quick glances tossed between Sergeants and a Lieutenant who quirks a brow under his mask, huffing a sound in his throat.
âIf I had,â you force back the stutter in your voice. âMore people would still be alive.â
âMaybe,â John tilts his head, the rag brushing the length of your fingers. âMaybe not. We donât know that, do we? No use wasting our breath talking about it then. What matters, Hart, is how we fix this.â
You sigh, repressing a shiver as his thumb brushes scars and blemishes, moving like moss over stone.Â
âAnd we donât leave our bloody problems for the next poor bastard, do we?â You puff air from your nose, shaking your head at the smirked comment. You watch Johnâs beard move with itâtaking in the crinkling of his eyes and the way his knee hits yours.Â
âWonderful pep-talk, Captain.â You lean your head back against the netted sides of the aircraft, letting your eyes flutter shut; oblivious to the way he watches you. âThe service is lost on youâtherapist is right up your alley.â
âFuckâs sake,â John scoffs. âIâd sooner go back to the academy than that.âÂ
âThe food was utter shite, wasnât it?â You agree.
âNo need to bring it up,â John comments lowly, amusement thick in his words.Â
You donât know when you fell asleep, but you do know that the pressure around your limb stayed there for a long whileâthe rag moving over every sliver of skin until only the base was left behind; like a painter creating an ocean scene, shrouded in mist, every bit of red was gone.Â
Your dreams are plagued by Emmett Kinsman. His sharp face; his sly eyes and his knack for being undetected.
Heâd been a part of your and Johnâs class in the Royal Military Academyâwhen all was done, heâd graduated and begun to serve in the 22nd SAS Regiment just as the both of you had. There was never much interaction there, beyond shared drinks and a few good words, a single operation, but the bonds of brotherhood run deep. If given the chance over any deployment or service, John or yourself would have given your lives for himâfor the boy youâd bled and persevered with to a point of utter loyalty akin to beasts; unrestrained by any threat of violence, sharp attitude, or past faults.
And in the end, heâd thrown that all away to get into bed with terrorists.Â
Location: London, England
Time: 1718
Operation: âPurple Clothâ
Your eyes rest behind the glass of the bookstore, gazing out over the street from the second floor with a level of new-found skill and a surety in yourself. Fresh off the cut, you arenât overly eager for this, but youâre assured in your abilities.Â
There can be no failure.
Emmett is down below, sitting at a cafĂŠ and sipping tea as John is stationed at a building farther down the street; waiting. Another man, directly relaying information to Emmett, is at the cafĂŠ as well, sitting in the corner reading a newspaper and facing the individual youâre supposed to follow. Only the four of you for this, and youâre not overly familiar with half of them. John was your only shining grace.Â
âTargetâs getting the bill,â you shift your head into the collar of your shirt, muttering. âHeâll move soon.â
âHe carrying?â Johnâs voice slithers in, a soft murmur.Â
You stare, expression lax at the large body that shifts and stands with a tight shirt on, waving off the barista when she tells him to have a good day. âIf I had to guess? Negative. Nothing bigâno bulge at his spine. At the very opposite end, Iâd say an X13 could be concealed and accessed via a slit in the pantâs pocket and in a holster at his thigh. Theyâre baggy enough for it, but the draw timeâll be longer. Drug runners are sloppy.â
John grunts, and you address Emmett. âHow are we doing, Mate?âÂ
A smooth, suave, tone moves into your ear. âNot too bad, Sweet Thing. Else, I'd be better if you were sharing a drink with me before I disappear.â
âOnly in your imagination, Kinsman,â John interrupts, unimpressed drawl taking your attention. âKeep on it.âÂ
âI swear I rank the same as you, Price. Where do you get off ordering me around like your dog?â The comment is so easily dismissed as a joke between comrades that thereâs no hostility there.
âSince I was given oversight,â the amusement is easily taken in Johnâs voice. âIâm the one keeping your arse alive, eh?âÂ
The other addition to your team speaks up, a voice that in the future youâve already long forgotten. He says to cut the chatter, and you have to agree.Â
Emmett and the target are nearing an alley.Â
âIâm heading down,â you utter, already turning and heading to the stairs, swiftly moving down them and exiting the building.Â
âCopy,â Johnâs voice fizzles the line. âIâll head them off.â
âEmmett,â you move to link up with the fourth member of the team as he joins at your side, both of you sharking a glance and a jerk of your heads. âKeep him away from civilians. We canât deal with casualties in this populated of an area.â
âHe wonât have a chance to shoot them,â the comment makes your brows furrow, the tone not a cocky gloat but rather...quiet. A moment of silence wafts out. âWhat in the bloody hell is that supposed to mean, Kinsman?â You frown tightly, your gut swirling with something unidentifiable. The X12 in the back of your baggy sweatshirt is heavyâsuddenly ten times more so.Â
In the corner of your eye, you see John far across the way shift, leaning before on a trash can, now standing upright. You swear you lock eyes with him, both gifted in all sense when it comes to war. Perhaps it was ingrained into both of your DNAâa knowledge of all things deadly; of threats unseen. Some primal and horrible understanding spanning back to when man had first raised a fist to another.Â
âOi,â your voice pushes. âWhat does that mean?â Feet pivoting, you move closer to the alley where the light shade of hair disappears.Â
The line is silent.Â
Silent before a loud gunshot rings.
Birds scatter, and you instinctively duck down, hand snapping to your service weapon as your eyes go wide. Head snapping about, you dash to the alley opening above the screaming; pushing past fleeing people.
âHart!âÂ
âHeâs in the alley!âÂ
âDo not engage until I get there, do you hear me?!â Youâre already at the entrance, X12 ahead of you, and the safety flicked off with a heavy finger. âHart!â
The body of your mark is on the groundâa bullet in the back of his skull.Â
âFuck!â You shout, feet slapping the concrete as you zoom past. âPriceâtargetâs down, Emmett shot him in the damn head, on his tail now.â
âFucking hell.â The man is growling out at you, voice heated.
Your eyes snap this way and that, weapon at the ready as you take a sharp turn. At the very end of the opening, you see him.Â
Kinsman slips his service weapon back into the base of his spine, pulling at his shirt to cover the grip as a mass of the crowd is just behind him. He rushes quickly on long legs.Â
âEmmett!â Your voice makes him freeze. Thereâs a long pause before anything is spoken; you have your sights trainedâa perfect line-up to the roundness of his skull.Â
âI had hoped to be fast enough,â the man tells you, head tilting to the side, âbut I should have known youâd move head-long into danger without backup.â
âHart,â Johnâs voice nearly startles you from the line. âSitrep, now!â
âWhy would you do that, Emmett?â
âThereâs more to this than being pawns, Hart,â Kinsman growls at you. âI play my game right, I always come on top. I needed to earn their trust; our target had a price on his head and no one else could get as close as me. Well,â he pauses, âus.â
âIâm taking you in,â you grit your teeth, hands tight on the gun. You donât even want to think about what he means by âtheirâ or his âgameâ. It was always word puzzles with this manâone second you had the right piece, and the next the entire picture had changed like sand in the waves of a tide.
âAre you really that torn up about a drug runner?â A scoff makes you hold back a snarl, but your resolve is shaking. This was a man you had trustedânow fast can something that was forged with steel break?
âHe was just some filthy nobody, Hart.â Emmett starts walking into the crowd ahead of him, and in your mind you know if you take that shot you run the risk of shooting an innocent civilian. âIâll be more than a nobody. Or a grunt soldier. People are going to know me.âÂ
Bodies flee quicklyâscreams. Mothers, children, husbands.
Kinsman smirks, and as your finger tightens on the trigger, heâs already swallowed by the hoard.Â
âIâll be seeing you.â
John and you sit in the safehouse, for a moment, surrounded by quiet and the smell of hot tea. One week in Denmark, and you have no leads. The other three are away, sleeping in the rooms down the hallway.Â
âYouâre still thinking about him,â John speaks up, eyes on you. Itâs blunt, but that was just how he was.Â
You peek your eyes open slowly, your body slouching in the chair and feet outstretched under the table. Your boot lightly touches Johnâs own. A long sigh exits your nose, grumbling on your tired lips.Â
âJohn,â you level, drawing the name out like the years of your life. A thin warning.Â
The man clenches his jaw slightly, bringing up his cup and taking a slow slip. You see the flesh of his throat bob with the liquid as it goes down, the overhead light of the kitchen only a single bulb of warm glow.Â
âBeen chasing him for years, Hart,â he says when the item is back to the woodgrain. Voice a deep murmurâa scrape of vocal chords. âWe both have.â
âHe knows too much,â you reply. âI canât let him get away again. Strategies, operators, everything.â Your eyes shift as your head raises, blinking away the sleep in your glinting orbs. âFor years heâs been under our nose, getting away with who knows whatââ
âHart,â your rant is interrupted, and you stop with a snap of your teeth. Blue eyes lock a concerned sheen to them. âBreathe.âÂ
Your face moves away, arms loosely crossed over your chest tensing.Â
Johnâs body shifts to you, leaning forward until his elbows are resting on his knees. He stares, brows a line on his flesh. You send a swift glance, lips pulling.Â
â...Stop that,â your voice murmurs, echoing off the walls of the kitchen. John blinks, not speaking as you move in your seat. The man tilts his head, a slow something making his lips go back slightly. Gradually, your face goes hotter, blinking at him a few times; sucked in like a fox to a trap. âJohn, quit it.â
âMânot doing anything, Love.âÂ
âBullshit,â you try and glare at the looseness of his expression, his smirk that makes your gut tighten. Goosebumps move up your arms. âYouâre a horror.â
A low chuckle wafts out, John shrugging casually before he leans back.Â
He takes up his cup again and takes down the last of the remnants. âGo to sleep,â hits your ears as your pounding heart takes a breather. Itâs a grumble on the airânot as much an order as it is a suggestion. âItâs late.âÂ
You decide to sip at your own drink as well, eyes drooping at the steam that wafts around your face, nose twitching to the scents.Â
âYou?â John hums, looking you up and down; seeing the fatigue you carry. Youâd been relentless for the week youâd all been here, holding the few strings of the lead you had to your chestâfive-fingered grasping with a desperate prayer to all things unholy. Â
âIâll be here.â You tilt your head his way, eyes still half-closed in your seat. Your answer is easy, pushed out in a slow sentence.Â
âThen so will I.â
John sighs under his breath. Itâs a moment before an exasperated chuckle moves through your earbuds. You smile, eyes slipping closed fully.Â
Yet, they startle back open as the cup is taken from your hands, your chair moved back firmly.Â
âUp you get, then,â John grunts, and his arms snake around you. Blinking quickly, your jaw is slack as you get taken up into a tight carry; Johnâs chest firm and your nose brushing the side of his chin.Â
Air getting sucked into your lungs, you stifle a hitch in your breath.Â
Itâs only after he starts walking forward, hiking you farther up into him, and his fingers gliding over your clothes, that you start to relax. His heat seeps like a warm fire.
Head sagging to the side, you grumble into his neck as you miss his eyes looking down at you, eyes soft in a way only you would have been able to see. âCan walk, yâknow.â
He hums, head shifting back to the hallway as he carries you to the last door on the right, bumping into the wood with his shoulder and shifting to walk in sideways so you donât let your legs on the frame.Â
âRemember Preu? 05â?â John asks you, moving over to the bed and setting you down slowly, a tiny huff exiting his mouth. Your body sinks into the mattress, head to the pillow as your hand comes up to rub at your eyes. The man moves to grab the blanket at the end of the bedâknowing your trained habit of sleeping atop the comforter on operations; not tangled up in sheets just in case. He slips off your boots. âCarried you two miles.â
âI recall it,â you grunt, a tired flicker coming to your lips. âBleeding out and all.â
âWell,â John hums, quirking a brow. âWasnât about to let my Hart die on me. Blood was the least of my worries.âÂ
Your pulse flutters at the title, even if itâs just your codename and not the beating muscular organ inside of your breast.Â
My Heart.
But itâs never that simple.Â
A hand moves up your cheek, a kiss pressed to your forehead.Â
The both of you already know you love each other. It wasnât a secret. You were smart; eyes sharper than a bladeâyou caught the way he watched you, saw the softness of his expression, and felt the drag of his hand. Just as he caught the way you stayed beside him, an ever-present pair of eyes watching his six. The content nature that only you showed him.Â
With feet so eager to leave at any moment, it said much that you chose to exist near him simply because you wanted to.Â
You loved each other.Â
Boil it down, and youâd both known even back in the Academy that it would be the two of you at the end of all things. The rivers said your name. The valleys rustled with the breeze of your breath. You saw John in the bits of water that sloshed the rocks and in the earth beneath your palms.Â
Over the years youâd been apart, the yearning hadnât been any less sharpâany less potent. In every birdsong, the echoes of the other's voice flew and disappeared on wingbeats. In everything that existed, there was a fraction of what should be.Â
What should be.Â
âJohn,â your voice is a whisper, nothing more than a rustle of a cloth. He keeps his lips to your forehead, resting there for a moment against all sense and responsibility. Johnâs eyes droop down, lashes resting on the swell of his cheeks. âYou know I love you.â
He takes a breath. Rain is in the airâthe movement of a stormâs wind. A leaving C-17.Â
Itâs a low mutter into your flesh.
âI know.âÂ
You grasp at his wrist, pulling lightly. Without a noise, John slips in beside you, kicking off his boots with a single clop of the soles to the wood and the movement of your blanket. He grunts, pushing his nose into your scalp, arms going around your middle. Your head slots under his chin, lips to his Adamâs apple.
The house is silent beyond the murmur of the pipesâthe buzz of awaiting electricity.Â
So many memories. So many lost dreams. It was akin to two skeletons lying in a grave of their own making, forever holding the bones of the other. Duty and honor are etched into the fractures.Â
But he still holds you, he still murmurs into your ear, âSleep, Love.â
âAnd you?â You ask, mirroring the conversation in the kitchen.
Johnâs lips move along your flesh, moving into a soft smile as he glances down at you. His beard scrapes you delicately.
âIâll be here.â
Then it is here youâll stay, dreaming of deer and the way nothing could compare to how he held you in his arms.
â
âI have eyes on,â your head snaps up, blankly staring ahead as your fingers hover over the hanging beads of a wind chime. You stand outside of a restaurant in the heart of Copenhagen.Â
Laswell had sent in more eyes for the Task Force to useâlocal soldiers that knew the layout of the city better and where would be a good place to look. For days youâd been moving through the streets; far-off storage units and hidden buildings providing fruitless harvests. Anthony had said a warehouse, but that was panning out as nothing as well.
False information? Possibly, but unlikely. The man had been genuine in his pain and pleading, and it only served to confuse you more.
You had Gaz with you and five others, taking over as the leader of this fireteam while John headed the other with Johnny and Ghost. They were on the opposite side of the city, and you canât help but compare this to the moment Emmett had become an enemy.Â
But divide and conquer was the only option in times like these.
Emmett had become someone, just as he said he would. The man was in charge of supplying arms to terrorist organizations all over the world, and with his knowledge of how the SAS operates as well as any number of special forces, heâd utterly disappeared off the radar.
A wraith of lies and murder.
He had locations all over the globe with his goods, shipped out for money and power.Â
And now you have a positive ID.
âWhere are you,â your voice is hard and stiff, the body already moving back from the chime and leaving its little bits and bobs swinging.Â
âCafĂŠ down the street,â feet nearly locking together, you continue down the street to where you know Gazâs last position was. âHeâs justâŚsitting there.â A pause. âYou want to know what itâs called in English, Maâam?â
âThe cafĂŠ?â your brows furrow, jogging across the street.Â
ââThe Warehouse.ââ Growling under your breath, you shake your head and send a curse into the air after a pause.
âI think the man thought he was clever,â Kyleâs voice is smooth and teasing.Â
âShould have shot his other leg,â you grunt. âYou told Laswell? John?â
âNegative, Iâll get on itââ
âIâll do it,â you interrupt. âTell the others to group up at your position and spread out to create a choke point; we canât let him get away.â
âRog. Will do.âÂ
You patch into Johnâs frequency.
âWe have him,â you instantly breathe out. âDown HolbergsgadeâcafĂŠ called âThe Warehouseâ.â
Itâs swiftly that an answer hits you. âGet him surrounded, weâre coming.âÂ
Your heart is moving rapidly, fast in your chest as you pass people and business quickly. You didnât like thisâdidnât like the similarities, theâŚnostalgic dread that builds. A cafĂŠ of all places? Sitting down? Waiting?
It was so ironic it made alarm bells go off.
âJohn,â you lick your lips, glancing at faces as they pass. âI think he knows weâre here.â
âExplain.â
âA cafĂŠ?â Johnâs low grunt lets you know he understands. âJust sitting there? He knowsâheâs not dumb enough to throw away all of his secrecy just as we so happen to get here and begin looking for him.â
âHow sure are you?â The man takes your words into account, and you hear his breath puffing as he runs to your location.Â
âNinety,â you breathe.Â
âThen Iâm callinâ it off.â Your eyes widen, feet skidding as you come to a stop.Â
You have no clue as to how far John will go to keep you safeâeven if it means potentially letting one of the SASâs highest HVTs go. There wasnât anything that could compare to the thought of you getting in harm's way. Not you.Â
John had spent his whole life watching soldiers die in the worst ways possible; they haunted his dreams and he knew theyâd follow him to his graveâmen heâd led down paths that they never should have been on.Â
Not you.Â
Losing you would break what little was left of him, the remnants held on by tape and sheer stubbornness. One of the last old faces he could still look at anymore; could draw comfort from in the thin hours. To hold and to love.Â
You both knew you wouldnât stand for it.
âNo,â your voice cuts across, monotone. âIâm not allowing that.â
âBloody hell, Hart, listen to meâdo not,â John growls, making your spine tingle, âgo after him. If he knows weâre fuckinâ here, we need to pull back and close off the area.â
Youâre walking forward, that same pressure of a gun at the back of your spine. It was almost poetic.Â
A thought sparks. Years of knowledge and understanding lighting up.Â
Emmett was a snake.Â
A snake that liked to play games and prove points; greed stuck into his brain for reasons you canât quite say for certain. Even if you did catch him, he would never tell the locations of his goods or the buyers.
But there was one way to find out. One way this might turn.
âThereâs a tracker in my arm,â you speak, growing more sure of your actions with every fast movement of your body. The cafĂŠ is just up the street, and a head of blonde hair is a knife to your vision. âI asked Laswell to insert and monitor it years back when I had to infiltrate a cell before I joined up with you again. Cautionary procedure since I had to forgo my rig and gear.â
A sharp bark. He knew what you were insinuating. âHart!â You were going to get yourself taken hostage.
âGet Kate to watch it, John.â You move off his frequency before he can comment again, half of a roaring refusal cut off. Speaking to Gaz with a restricted throat, you say, âKyle?â
âRight here, Maâam.â
âGood. Donât engageâIâm moving in.â
A stiff breath is taken in. âWâŚwhat was that?â
You donât reply, only saying, âWhatever happens, I order you and the others to stay back, yeah?â
Your hand pulls the earpiece out and shoves it into your pocket right as you slip into the chair directly across from Emmett Kinsman.Â
âEmmett,â you say in greeting, moving up a few fingers to a barista with a low call of your order. The individual nods and moves off before you lock on green eyes; they nearly make you flinch.Â
You can only imagine what Gaz is telling John right now.Â
Kinsman blinks at you, but he isnât surprised. You were right.
âHart,â the man smiles. His voice is still the same, though he looks older. âPleasure seeing you again. Enjoying the sights of the city?â
âNot particularly,â you stare at him.
He chuckles, tilting his head before he brings his drink to his lips. He swallows and continues.Â
âYou always were serious. No fun.â You take the insult without any emotion, blinking at him slowly. What was his play?
âWhy?â
âYou already know why,â he shrugs, dressed in a nice suit. âIâve made a name for myselfâmy name will be remembered for ages.â A twinkle in his eye. âSAS soldier turned weapon supplier; isnât it exciting.â
âItâs a disgrace,â you lean forward, only stopping your voice from rising as a cup is placed down in front of you by the barista.Â
Your face plasters a fake smile and you nod, moving it in front of you. Emmett watches with a smirk.
âI call it a change of heart.â He sighs, smirk simmering to a casual smile. âBut I am glad to see you, youâve been creating a big mess of things and I took it upon myself to have a meeting between us as old friends.â
âIâm not your friend,â you growl. âYouâve killed innocent people for no more than a fucking paycheck.â
âWell,â he snorts. âI donât kill anyone. Iâm the middle manâthereâs a difference.â
Rage makes your eyes go to slits.
âAnd innocents, Sweet Thing?â Emmett leans in closer, face so smug and open you want to pull your weapon on him and worry about the consequences later. âWhat do I call what you do then?â
âA necessary evil,â you huff. âOne I carry on my shoulders just like every other soldier does. One that was far better than supplying terrorists.â
Kinsman shrugs, moving back and picking up his drink, swirling it. âIf you say so.â He hums. âYou have to try the pastries here, you know. Theyâre very good.â
âI know youâre here because you expected us to find you, what I canât figure out is why you broke your cover in the open instead of turning yourself in.â You look around at the faces in the outdoor seating, studying them trying to pinpoint if theyâre civilians or in league with Kinsman. âTell me before I decide to shoot you right here and now and end this regardless of hidden goods.â
âYou already tried that, Hart,â Emmett laughs. âPointing a gun at me didnât work last time.â
âIâm not going to use a gun,â you ease out. âIâm going to take the butter knife on the table and slit your throat.â
âUncivilized,â Emmet grumbles, frowning at the silver object near your hands. âIt isnât even sharp.â
âGood.â Green eyes narrow, unimpressed. He sighs, fingers moving in an outward gesture of exasperation.Â
âIf you must know before the main finale, I wanted to bring you here to say that Iâm thoroughly impressed with your drive.â You try to stave off the shock in your stomach at the words coming out like a charmerâs flute. Raising a slow brow, youâre caught off guard. Emmett chuckles. âYou nearly caught me at several instances throughout our game of cat and mouse. Many times I forget who the assigned roles were even given to; Iâm telling you that I had fun.â
You stare, face tight.Â
Emmett hums and his eyes go to slits.Â
âBut every game has to come to an end. Iâm growing tired of it.â
The building across the street erupts into a great ball of fire.
â
John hears the explosion in the air, the shockwave that leaves his body halting to look into the sky in time to see black smoke.
âFuck,â he says under his breath. âFuck!âÂ
He rushes into the panicked crowd, memories stuck in his head and a bone-deep fear heâd been feeling since you cut the connection in your earpiece. Gaz had been relaying to him what was going on action for actionâa football game, only the difference was that your life was on the line.Â
âKate,â John shouts. âGet the authorities down here now! We have an explosion on Holbergsgade.â
âExplosion?â The womanâs voice is sharp and disbelieving. âWhatâs going onââ
âHartâs in the bloody crossfire, thereâs no time!â Johnâs face is tight, wind whipping past his ears as screams fly on the wind; crying. âThe fool is trying to get herself taken fucking hostage for intel!â
Whatever else was said was lost to the windâGaz comes over the line, calling to him in a panic as Johnny and Simon join in.Â
âThe entire building just went up inââ
âFucking Christââ
âPrice, what is this?â
âAll of you get down here!â John sprints past people on the ground, ripping his gun out of the back of his waistband. Thereâs no arguing.Â
When the Captain turns the last corner, carnage greets him.Â
The building across from the cafĂŠ was reduced to nothing but rubble and a still-burning flame. Eyes wide, John only looks at it for a few moments, too preoccupied with you.
Where were you?Â
His jaw clenches, eyes burning with rage. Such a perfect soldier yet such a flawed sense of teamwork, he had a feeling youâd try something like thisâhad left Gaz with you for that very reason. Fuck he should have been at your side. He should have known.Â
A low grumble moves through his lips, head snapping all around. There are bodies on the ground. Blood pooling under thick building materialâfabric in the breeze.Â
âHart!â John yells, running to the cafĂŠ and seeing the remnants of a fast fight.Â
The Captainâs heart drops to his feet, face burning with hellfire so much that a sheen comes to his cheek. His hand moves out to touch the handle of a butter knife that had been slammed into the table now half-fallen over, eyes stuck on only one thing on the ground under it.
Through the wails and the call of sirens, the man stares at the two long fingers sitting in the dust.
Never in his life had he felt a fear like this.
â
âI wanted to be kind about this,â Emmett fiddles with the wrappings of his bandaged left hand, only three fingers remaining. âI was going to make it quick.â
Youâre locked in a cell-like room, head to the side and blood leaking out of a cut face. Burns travel up your arm, the sticky puss leaking out only serving to make you shiver. You donât know where you areâdonât know what happened after you severed Kinsmanâs fingers with that knife.
But you know the pain isnât something that you havenât already gone through before.Â
Your voice is hoarse but firm as it leaks out of you, vision spotty. Youâd been thrown in here after a ride in the trunk of a car. The ground is concrete.Â
â...Donât make me laugh.â
Emmett growls, eyes wide with hatred.Â
âPathetic!â He barks eyes looking you over with disgust. âLook at what you did to my hand!â
His other hand connects with the bars of the cage, producing a metal ringing sound as you push yourself up with one arm, eyelids flinching in pain. Sitting up, your body falls back to the wall behind it, and you grunt when the air in your lungs is expelled. You lick at your dust-coated lips, your head ringing and your focus failing. Concussion.Â
âLeast of your worries,â you roll your jaw, a wave of pain making your body seize up and your hands tense with quivering shakes. Your mouth opens with sharp pants. Bile pools in the base of your throat.Â
Itâs nothing.Â
John will come soon. The tracker. If Laswell can get it working again, youâd be out of here and you would have whatever this location turns out to be and the intel that it can offer youâcomputer databases would be a one-and-done game. You would get names, coordinates, and buyers. It could all be over.Â
Your clothes are melted into your skin, and when you move, they peel away with the remnant of your epidermis. The flesh of your left thigh and arm had taken the worst of itâand the cut from flying debris over your left cheek hasnât stopped bleeding.Â
Blood drips from it, and a loud ache makes your head pound all the worse.Â
Youâve gone through worse.
âI donât know why I bother,â Emmett snarls, the crimson bandages thick over his hand. âBut it isnât a problem,â he says, moving his other hand to slick back his hair. âIt isnât a problem,â the man utters again. âYouâre going to help me. YesâŚIâve made up my mind. I need you to understand why I do the things I do.âÂ
Your brows furrow, but above this burning in your head, itâs hard to understand whatâs being said to you. Shadows move and Emmett orders one of his men to open the cell door.
You fight the black dots at the sides of your vision, leaking until youâve accepted the reality of yourself going unconscious. As your body slouches to the side, hands ruthlessly grasp under your arms and drag you to your feet.Â
âEveryone has a breaking point.â
â
âWhat do you mean,â John glares at Laswell, his arms crossed over his chest; hands tightly grasping at his biceps. âYou canât find her?â
âThe tracker was old, John,â the woman tries to explain, furiously typing at her computer that rests on the table in front of herâher spine bent over as the rest of the One-Four-One stay in a limbo of anxious looks. âTo get it working again, it would need something to restart it. I donât know if you can see,â Kateâs eyes are hard as they lock with his, âbut I canât do anything if sheâs not here first.â
âWell of course sheâd not bloody here Laswell, fucking Kinsman has her!â He shouts, hands moving out in a display of aggression.Â
âCaptain,â Kate rises to the challenge, hand moving flat to the table and glaring with the heat of a thousand missiles. âDo not take that tone with me.âÂ
John snarls and jerks his head away, feet on the ground trading weight.Â
The man was borderline feralâall snapping teeth and sharp glances. Gaz had seen him like this only a handful of times, MacTavish even fewer. Ghost, of course, knew, but even his brown eyes wouldnât leave his Captain, absorbed in the way he was unable to stay still for even a moment. He was in full gear, too. Had put it on directly after returning to a local base.Â
John was ready to go to war, down to the rifle that swung from a strap at his side, the ammunition stuffed to his chestâsidearm at his thigh. A rabid dog with intelligence and the knowledge of where teeth needed to be applied to a neck for a clean kill. Simon doubted he wanted it to be clean.
John was ready to rip people to pieces.Â
âGive me something,â the Captain says in a low growl, beard shifting. âGive me what I need.â
Kate splays her hands. âAll we have is surveillance of a car leaving the areaâthe smoke covers all chances of the drone we had flying picking up a clear picture. John,â Laswell eases, standing up, âthereâs only so much we can do. We need to waitââ
âWe canât bloody wait,â Gaz speaks up, âWhatâll he do to her in the meantime?â
âGarrickâs right, we need to be on the ground with this.â Johnny nods, mohawk bobbing. âThatâs one of our ownâweâre not sitting around with our thumbs up our arses, Laswell. Not with Hart.â
Simon blinks, humming. Laswellâs eyes shift to him, near pleading for one to be on her side with this and see sense. Ghost shrugs. âIâm with them. Hartâs one of our own; weâll do what needs to be done.â
Johnâs chest swells with pride while his eyes get stuck on your file on the table, your printed picture, and your black inkâheâd never loved an image more, but nothing could beat the real thing. He needed you back. Heâd gone through hell with you for his entire life; youâd suffered with him and only locked your hands together and held on tighter.Â
That was loveâthat was duty.
John Price wasnât against skewing his morals for the sake of your safety. You would always be his most important mission. The man didnât want to think about what might happen if he found you too late.
âGive me the video of the vehicle,â he grunts, jaw tight and his eyes beady. His body slightly leans forward to Kate, love going lower. âOr Iâm going out there myself.âÂ
Laswell frowns tightly at him.Â
âI just sent it into forensicsâtheyâre trying to get a match. Go out if you want, but I wonât be able to stop the firestorm that comes out of it.â
She closes her laptop and moves past him, sending one last comment into the stone man as he towers ever taller.
âSheâs strong, John. If youâre smart, youâll keep yourself out of the crossfire until we have a definitive hit.âÂ
Her voice echoes from behind him as his hands slowly move to clench into knuckle-whitening fists.
âIf Kinsman gets a tip weâre still onto himâyouâll never see Hart again.â
â
Day Three:
Your days start blending. One moment you hear the snapping of your bones, and then the next youâre wasting away in this cellâears ringing and eyes buggy. So much blood. Blood on the wallsâblood on the chair they strap you into in the other room; even stuck in the groves of your flesh.Â
You donât think you can stop closing your eyes and seeing a deer at the bottom of a bridge drop-off. Itâs stuck in your head like a virus; those car lights in the back of your mind just waiting for you.Â
Thereâs no sense as to what they do to youâall its purpose is, is to prove a point to Emmett. A sort of broken retribution for your interference and his fingers.Â
Vain man, really. Youâd told him as much when he was watching you get your own finger torn off my pliers; spit it at him as the blood from your bitten tongue stayed his suit. You remember the feeling of the knuckle popping first, and then the burning heat of the flesh being twisted to the side. Two firm yanks and the flesh had sprung like elastic, fissuring, the tendon snapping.Â
You think you blacked out after that, but you canât be sure. All you remember doing is screaming.Â
You woke up with your left pinkie finger completely gone, resting outside in the hallway to mock you from past the bars. Your eyes could see the bone sticking out of it, and all that was left on you was a badly cauterized stump.Â
When Emmett had come to gloat, you started slurring out laughter.Â
âIâm going to rip you apart.â Your broken body had jerked back and forth like a marionette doll, only succeeding in spreading more red over the floors as green eyes widened and went dumbfounded.Â
It sounded like a choking fish.
All heâd done was left, quickly passing the pinkie left limp on the ground.
Day five:
You canât move your body as they dump you back into the chairâthe drain below you flooded over with crimson and bits of hair; vomit and torn-off fingernails. Youâre unable to open your eyelids fully.Â
A hand grasps at your face, yanking it up into the overhead light until a bucket of water is dumped directly over your head. Your body jerks, coughing and darting forward until youâre shoved to the back of the chair and the rope is tied around the front of your shoulders, the second at your wrists.
Trying to suck down air, you shiver with the strength of an earthquake. Whoever said that they would never be afraid while being tortured was a liar; whoever thinks that they would be able to push through itâa fraud. Emmett was right, everyone had a breaking point.
But you admitted yours would only come after your death.
Your legs are seized, bent up as you hiss as well as youâre able, teeth snapping.Â
Theyâre dumped back down into a bucket of ice-cold water as droplets drip from your noseâwet skin for the moment only holding streaks of gore. Even with your scattered mind, you know what this means.Â
Heart tight and eyes widening, you try to push back in the chair; try to fight the rope and the way your body wonât respond.Â
A battery is rolled up beside you on a metal cart. Jumper cables.Â
Thereâs a low chuckle at the way your face goes fearful.Â
â
John shoves open the door to Laswellâs temporary office, already talking before it hits the far wall.Â
âDo we have her?â His hands move beside him, brushing the grip of his sidearm. He hadnât been out of his full gear for more than five minutes in days. Waiting day and night for any word; sleeping in it, eating in it. The forensics team had been stumped, unable to get more than a model out of the picture.Â
But this might finally give him something to act on.Â
Kate is moving, grabbing documents and her laptop, speeding past him and out of the door.Â
âKate!â John shouts, following after. âHey,â he calls, grabbing at her arm to stop her.Â
The woman only halts to say, quickly, âWe have a hit. Follow me.â
Johnâs heart is rampaging, pulse wild under his skin as his gloved hands twitch. Finally. He can only smoke so many cigarsâonly think of so many scenarios until he feels he needs to vomit. Youâd been gone for too long. Every moment had been like trying to walk with a cloth over his head; lost.Â
Heâd grown stiff. Stiffer than normal. Everyone had seen it.
âWhere is it, then?â John asks as Laswell pushes open the door to the meeting room, the other three already inside.
âA property outside of Copenhagenâbought through a proxy on a fund that was linked to blood money in South America; it all went directly back to Kinsman. It was found only ten minutes ago.â A pause. Electricity in the air. âBut thatâs not how we found it.â
âHow,â Simon asks, moving closer.Â
John gives the woman his full undivided attention, hands moving to rest at his collar in a soothing gesture.Â
âHer tracker came back on.â Eyes go wide, all sharing rapid glances as Kate opens her laptop and opens a man, turning the device for them to see. âSame location.â
Johnny blinks, his eyes narrowing. âAnd what does that mean?â
âThat canât have just done that by itself,â Gaz mutters, brown eyes sliding over to John whoâs stiller than a wolf. The Sergeant pauses.Â
His eyes are dead set on that screen. His thighs were so tense it was nearly like the Captain was about to sprint out of the room. Kyleâs face goes blank at that, never quite seeing the extent that your disappearance had on the man. His superior had bags under his eyes; far more pale than usual. His apparel was ruffled, too. Even in the more serious of situations, the Sergeant had never seen John soâŚout of it. He was always the one with the even head, even if he had a short fuse with certain things. Nothing was ever done without thought, he should say.Â
But this is something else.Â
âTorture,â Simon gives his two cents and Johnâs cheek twitches at the word. âElectrocution. They jump-started it and didnât even know.âÂ
âBloody Jesus,â John breathes. Everyone had already had a hunch, but no one had wanted to name it.Â
Itâs a low rumble that makes the rest of them freeze, though. It was so dead in tone that it even made Kyleâs spine lock up; Johnnyâs eyes went a smidgen upward. Simon, although his face was covered, felt his lips twitch.
John looks at nothing but that dot on the computer screen.
âAm I green, Laswell?â
Kate looks at John. Itâs like setting a hellhound loose.Â
âYouâre green, Captain.â
â
Youâre tossed into the cell and your body rolls along the floor, bouncing and flinching until your back slams into the wall. Air is forced from your lungs, coming out in a loud grunt before you land on your stomach in a heap. Staying there, your nerves are fried.Â
Every moment you think the twitching of your fingers will stopâthe dance of your muscles responding to the aftereffects of electrocution, it only starts back up again. Your eyes blink rapidly; your clothes have the scent of smoke to them.Â
Gasping for breath, you feel like youâre drowning and being set on fire all at once.Â
Yet the question in your head was a simple one, one youâd been asking for days.
Where was John?
Emmett enters the cell, clicking his tongue as the metal hinges squeak.Â
âIâm not surprised itâs taking this long,â he explains. âBut I am surprised youâre still alive, admittingly.âÂ
A boot comes out and places itself atop your shoulder, pressing down slowly until its full weight is on top of you. Your mouth opens in a shuddering sound of a dying animal, blood dripping from your ears and nose.Â
âI know youâve taken torture beforeâeven taken a part of it,â Kinsman sighs. âBut, shit Hart, you really do scare me when I know youâre strong enough to get through thââ
Your body jolts up, grappling Emmetâs leg and twisting it to the side. Regardless of painâof agonyâthereâs such primal rage inside of you that what little adrenaline you can bring forth is all that more addictive.Â
The man collapses in a heap, gasping, but youâre already on top of him, wrestling your hand to his neck, missing finger and all. Blood moves, staining his precious suit and dripping from your mouth into his hairline. You bare down your weight on him, teeth clenched and eyes wildâone orb holding nothing but red from burst veins and the other full of a vicious gleam of ferality.Â
Hands snap up to your wrists, mouth opening in flapping panic.Â
But Emmett has grown weak; heâs out of practice. All of those years out of the SAS, giving up on the training of the body to match the mind. The idiot wasnât even carrying a gun when he walked into the cell of a charging stag, its antlers dripping gore, sharper than any knife.Â
When the flaps of his eyes fall thereâs no gloating speechâthereâs no snort of a tall and proper victor. All you do is take the front of his face, grasp it, and start sending his skull back into the concrete floors.Â
Crack.
âŚCrack.
âŚ.Crack.
Only when the sound of his head breaking open meets your ringing ears, do you force your wheezing lungs to take a large breath.Â
Emmet Kinsman died as he lived.Â
A fucking piece of shit.
âFuck you,â you spit on his corpse, saliva bloody; his jaw is loose as you release the manâs face, eyes bulging. Falling to the side, you groan in pain, your body curling into itself until you resemble a sleeping fawn. Youâre shaking more and more with every second, coughing with the force of an earthquake until your shredded vocal chores force you to stop.Â
But the brain is a funny thing.Â
In times of danger, survival is the only thing that takes priority. It was why, in a long shove of your hand to the floor, with your bones creaking and your vomit meeting the ground, youâre able to stand. It isnât enough to help you heal the snapped bone of your right leg, however, and in a steadily failing stupor, you drag it behind you. In this state, nothing else matters to you besides a simple command: get out.
Your shoulder slaps the metal of the cell as you stumble out of it, careening into the far wall and letting out a loud shout.Â
Eyes fluttering, you connect your temple to the cool concrete, trying to breathe.Â
It hurts too much, your mind says. God, I canât feel my limbs.Â
A long trail of blood follows you down the hallway as you slide along the wall, using it as a brace.Â
You want to see John, you whisper inside of your head. You want to be held by himâbe taken into his chest; cared for away from all of this fighting.Â
A trip back to Herefordshire with him, to go deep into the country together; rest in the green grass where no one can find you for just a few good hours. It didnât have to be forever, you would say. Just a few hours. A few hours of sky and earth wrapped in a time loop of just your own.Â
You want to kiss him there. In the open, out in the wild. You want to stay by his side, your mind thinks as you stumble over the three dead bodies in the left corridor, bullet wounds in their heads. You want to be by his side forever, no more gaps in years, not more longing. Itâs so close you can nearly reach out and grasp itâ
Your name is yelled on a heavy breath, and hands capture your shoulders as you fall straight into them with no more strength.
Blue eyes lock with yours as youâre hurriedly settled to the ground, body limp and eyes trying to stay open.Â
Blue eyes on a grassy hill.
âHart, fucking hell.â Hands move your body, pressing and slidingâfinding every opening and spreading blood like water. âFucking hell! Hey!â
Youâre yelled at, and the ripping of pouches and the familiar sound of bandages being wrapped come to the back of your brain. A hand shakes your head, locked under your chin as you take slow, broken, breaths.Â
âPlease, fuck sake, please,â itâs a desperate growl, so familiar and yet a world away. Your body is moved and manipulated as every leaking wound is packed with so much gauze it hangs out of you like youâre a mummy. The burns along your flesh are crust and infected, open skin peeling back.Â
But the pain is lesser now. Easier to manage.Â
Thereâs such a ruckus that itâs hard to focus on Johnâthe man on the hill. In the grass and the wind. Brown hair moves in the breeze as white clouds roll past. On the air, thereâs the scent of rain, and in the far distance, you can see a group of ten deer grazing, ears twitching.
Maybe youâll ask them if they blame their leader, or the two trucks on the end of a bridge.
âKeep your eyes on me!â You blink into Johnâs tiny blues, that mist rolling back. You stare for a moment as he frantically screams into his radio; night vision rig on his head and all-black gear covering him from you. His face is pale, his eyes glossy. âLook at me, hey,â he blinks as he notices you watching, surging forward. âHey, keep 'em open, yeah? You keep them fucking open, Love.âÂ
Your chest is heavy.Â
âJohn,â you push out a flicker coming to your lips as your vision slightly unblurs itself to the sight of a flood of blood on the manâs bodyâan unimaginable amount.
âIâm âere,â his accent grows deeper with emotion, one hand holding your cheek and the other at your shoulder, keeping you still to stop any additional damage. âIâve got you, you understand me? Iâm not letting you go, so donât you think that I will.âÂ
Itâs a double-edged sword.
A smile peels back your chapped lips, red running from the corner of your mouth. You glance at his stained gear again. The abyss swirls at the corners of your eyes.
âIs that your blood, or mine, John Price?âÂ
You hear him scream for a medic, and then it all goes numb.
â
You dream of deer on a hill, but every time you search for John, he isnât there. You go past riversâ
âSheâs dropping!â
âGet me the defibrillator!â
âpast copses. Your voice goes high and low, but all the while you look, thereâs nothing but a nagging feeling in the back of your head that you shouldnât be here.
âAgain!â
Itâs a strange nagging, truly. Like falling asleep in the middle of the day and waking up in the night without any remembrance of what had happened prior. A displacement of the mind.Â
âWeâve got a pulse, Doctor, do we stop andââ
âNo, I need to finish off the internal bleeding or else she wonât make it another day. Get me the cauterizer, now.â
You blink and grip your chest, a sudden pain sharp in your heart as the grass moves about your ankles. Coughing, you bend over, your eyes fluttering rapidly. In the deepest part of your eardrum, you hear a murmur of a voice you canât place.
âThe man came back, again. Heâs been out there for days. He justâŚsits there, waiting until someone tells him something. He canât come in, and Iâm sorry about that. Iâm sure hearing his voice would help more than mine, but youâre in too much of an unstable condition for that. If you get another infection, you wonâtâŚhm, I shouldnât talk about that. Everyone in school said only to talk positively to patients when theyâre like this. IâŚIâm sure heâll be able to come in soon. I think everyone calls him John if that rings a bell?â
âJohn?â Your eyes flutter open, sharp light above you making you snap them back closed. No one answers.Â
Itâs a long moment before you find the strength to breathe in the oxygen from the mask over your face, taking a long and deep inhale before a slight cough makes your abdomen tight. You flinch at the pull of stitches, all coming from so many places, that itâs unwise to move too much.Â
Gradually, you open back up your eyes, pushing past the sting. Inside of your throat, the skin is so dried out you can feel it cracking at every articulation of your words.Â
âWhere'sâŚJohn?â When you shift your head to the side, no oneâs there. No oneâs even in the room, either.
Blinking through the haze, your lips twitch on your face, skin tight. With a slap of your weak hand, you grasp the oxygen mask and pull it down to your neck, grunting in mild annoyance at the medicated numbness of your form.Â
Your leg is in a castâand your left side is tightly bound by wrappings to hide away the burns where skin grafts most likely live. With a glance, you see the missing pinky and the bandages that cover the strange remnants.Â
The facial wound will scar, you know, but right now itâs patched over and healing. Thatâs all you can ask for.Â
Sighing long, you blink slowly at the ceiling, licking your lips. You need water.
Outside, the murmurs are missed to you as your unmarred hand reaches for the nightstand table, where a half-drunk bottle of water sits next to a tray of food. Even if your stomach rumbles, water takes precedence. Your throat was like the Sahara desert.
âForget something, John?â
âBloody fork. The bastard gave me the slip. Dropped mine, needed to go back and grab another.â
âOh, thatâs alrightâyou could have asked one of us to get one for you. Weâd hate for you to miss any time for visiting hours.â
âItâs fine; gets me moving, eh?â
âJust grab us if you need anything else!â
A low grunt is accented by the opening of the door; immediately you tense and pause, neck fighting itself to shift forward once more.
Wide blues lock with your own, and itâs like every pain fades away.Â
Johnâs jaw is slack hidden under the layers of his beard bristles, brows going atop his head in an instant. The sound of a dropping metal utensil echoes through the room.Â
You both stare at one another for a long time, and the murmur of nurses accumulates to some peaking through the crack; their expressions also going to shock. A few scurry off, probably to get a doctor.Â
âWhat?â Your hoarse voice asks, unnerved by this.Â
At the sound of your voice, John flinches forward on his boots. The nurses get shut out with beaming faces as the barrier closes with a small click of metal.
Walking to the side of your bed, John clears his throat, eyes looking you up and down in two glances. A million things are hidden in them. After an opening and closing of his mouth, which you watch closely while squinting, he speaks.
âHow are we feeling, then?â You breathe slowly and in tiny puffs. John looks at the oxygen mask as if telling you to put it back on, but you refuse for a moment.Â
âLike shit,â you utter, voice cracking.
With a huff, John pushes away your reaching hand and gets the water himself, unscrewing it. Bringing it to your lips, you take it down as he speaks.
âEasy, Love.âÂ
When youâd had your fill and the ache settled, you brought a hand to your head and rubbed at your injured cheek before John sighed and grabbed at it, intertwining his fingers with yours and lowering the limb back to your chest.
You stare at him, and he stares at you.Â
âI donât know what to ask,â you confess.Â
âYou donât have to ask anything,â John mutters, and his face is tight with worry. âYouâve been in a coma for three weeks, all you need to do is ease back into it.â
Your eyes snap back.
âTell me if it hurts,â He speaks slowly, moving on one word at a time so the realization doesnât dwell in your brain. âI can get someone to come in, yeah?â
Your hand in his burns, and John pulls at the chair by the nightstand until heâs able to sit down in it fully with a tiny grunt.
âNo,â you say, âno, itâsâŚIâm fine.â
Better now that youâre here, but your body is tense. Three weeks?
âJust need to take it easy,â the man states, thumb running up and down your knuckles. âYouâll be better soon.â
A dry look is sent his way, and he hides a soft quirk on his lips. âYouâll be better, Love.â
You hum, head moving back more heavily into the pillow.Â
âWhen do I get to go back?â
âWhen youâre healed,â he grunts. âNot a fuckinâ moment sooner.â
âWe get anything on the other locations of theââ
âHart,â youâre interrupted. Blue eyes stare at you heavily, digging past every shield youâd put up and every fear. What happened was still heavy in your mind; it pained you to imagine it, even the way John had found youâeven if it was all glimpses. âSlow down. Thatâs not an order coming from a soldier, itâs a caution from an old friend.â John says, squeezing your flesh. His other hand comes to your shoulder, sitting there heavily.Â
âBreathe,â he orders, face gruff. âWe always figure it out.âÂ
You close your eyes and sigh, frowning.Â
A low chuckle moves along the air a second later.Â
âNever sit down, do you?â A flicker dances over your lips like a butterfly. âImpossible, you are.â
âYouâre one to talk,â you huff, eyes shifting back to him.Â
Heâs smiling at you, and you canât help but mirror it right back at the sight. Your facial injury pulls and tightens, but you would welcome an ache like that for as long as it stayed. A scar born of the stretch of lips is one well-earned. Only John could ever make it a reality.
The man stares at your lips, his wide build eager to stay over you in this state. He canât stop himself from caressing your skin; to feel you alive and breathing. Talking.
âScared me,â John admits under his breath.Â
You blink, your smile fading slowly until it was like it was never there. Your body builds with guilt; also something only he could bring. âIâm sorry, John.âÂ
A small thinning of his lips is what you get, accented by a hum.Â
âHart,â he grunts. âIâŚâ
Johnâs eyes closed for a moment before opening back upâspearing you with their gaze. Your tired eyes crinkle in confusion.
âWhat is it?â Over the tingle of your flesh from where he touches you, it isnât hard to forget the world is around you when heâs here like this. Youâre nearly trapped by his eyes, yet you welcome it eagerly. His voice moves out, accent and natural gravel, all.Â
âI love you.âÂ
Your nose lets a chuff exit. Was that all?
âI love you, too, Johnââ
âNo, Hart,â he pushes slightly harder, moving closer and licking his lips as he glances away. âNo,â John looks you dead in the eye as you lay here battered and broken within an inch of your lifeâa risk that you took willingly as if it had meant nothing. The both of you werenât new to this; you both knew that on any day you or he would do it over and over again until it resulted in death. That was the way of this game; this trial.Â
You had both always been content with that, but when had it changed?Â
Why was the thought of losing you more fear-invoking than anything else heâd ever encountered?
You watch him as his lips utter the words, lips close to yours and your eyes locked.Â
âI love you.âÂ
Your voice is caught in your throat, stuck in the throws of a quick gasp. Not blinking, the man waits for youâwaits for an answer to the earth-shattering confession. But it all came far easier than you would ever admit to anybody besides him. It was already known, after all.Â
All that remained was the pesky words.
âI love you, too.â You beam, words low with intimacy. âI think I always have.â
John chuckles, a large smile pushing at his reddening cheeks. âGood,â he nods, clearing his throat. âGood,â he says again. âWell, Iââ
You softly connect your lips with his, and you feel him pause, breathing you down for a moment as hearts beat at the same tempo. He sighs, one hand coming up to capture your cheek, holding it there for you as you sag into it and live in this everlasting moment.Â
Itâs there you had a revelation.
It was never Hart to him. John had never been calling you that.Â
Heâd always just been saying Heart.
You breathe out a laugh, when you separate, beaming in a happiness you thought was long gone from youâstolen in the dark nights and sold through even darker deeds. Neither of you was worthy of this, of the love that breeds in broken things. Yet, here it is regardless. Here, among blood and the blue eyes of a man youâd known since knowing anything became important. You had always known it was John. And finally, finally, finally.
âI would marry you in an instant, John Price,â you breathe when you separate, not weak enough to stop the words from exiting from the deepest part of your soul.
His crinkled eyes watch, reverently gazing at every blemish and mark; everything he could learn new again. Johnâs eyes are as soft as you ever imagined them to be, and he gives them over freely to you.
He kisses you again and leaves the taste of his heavy, happy, chuckle tingling across your lips.
âSeems Iâd better get on that, then.â
A/N: This fic is strangely nostalgic for me even if I just wrote it - I remember the first ever fic I posted on here was a rescue fic, as well as a John Price fic; it's amazing to see how far I've come in regards to overall content/story building and how my understanding of the character has evolved. This might not be the best work I've posted on my blog, but I'm glad to say I'm proud of myself and how far I've come. It's so wonderful that I can have this feeling for such a big moment and still feel so drawn back to the past at the same time. Totally not tearing up at the thought rn.
Thank you all very much for your support.
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#cod#cod x reader#cod x you#call of duty#x female reader#cod mw22#call of duty x you#mw2#mw2 2022#cod john price#john price#captain john price#captain price#cod price#john price call of duty#john price cod#john price x reader#john price x you#captain john price x reader#captain john price x you#cod mw#cod x female reader#john price x female reader#x fem!reader#captain price x female reader#female reader#cod mw x reader#mw x reader
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bts fics that give me life in a drought
(aka my favorite fics of all time) pt. 2
didn't expect to make a part 2 so soon but seeing how much recognition the first one got, here we are! some of these contain a hearty amount of angst, and oh they're just simply divine :( once again, please make sure to show your love and support to these lovely authors if you enjoyed any of these reads as much as i did!
âş knifeâs edge - by @readyplayerhobi
| jungkook x reader, jimin x reader | 141.8k
mafia au, fluff, angst, smut, violence, series
>> summary: "the jeon clan is family, built on blood and loyalty. itâs been an unspoken fact that one day you will marry the heir to the clan, jeon jungkook. you would be a fool to deny that you love him, but what happens when you meet a blue haired man who offers you a chance at normality?"
this fic absolutely BROKE ME. i was so conflicted all throughout and deadass went through all the 50 stages of grief. the angst was unparalleled. the fluff had me giggling like a madman cuz jk is an absolute sweetheart :( jimin is too :(( y/n is dumb and so is her situation :((( i cherish this fic sm
âş novocaine - by @kinktae
| jimin x reader |
1990s au, exes au, angst, eventual smut, series
>> summary: "going home was hard â painful even. but falling back in love with jimin, the boy you left behind? downright gut-wrenching."
âş ghostin him- by @adonis-koo
| namjoon x reader (taehyung x reader) | 26k
angst, angst, as well as angst. comfort too dw, one-shot
>> summary: "life is nothing more than dull colors for you, your world shattered and laying in the shards of what once was rather than focusing on what is. that is until you meet kim namjoon, who is immediately taken by you without realizing youâre a girl with a whole lot of baggage, through tears and many sleepless nights youâre faced with a choice of hanging on with bleeding hands, or accepting what is, and letting go."
ohmygod the writing hello? the amount of soul, depth, and sheer utter beauty in missy's words are beyond me. had me sobbing every other line and my heart aching all throughout and boy was it worth it.
âş take five - by @jiminrings
| yoongi x reader | 10k
angst, fluff, unrequited love, pinning
summary: "dr. min yoongi's a board-certified dermatologist; skilled, renowned, and in-demand - oh and also, he's divorced."
âş page turner - by @gukslut
| taehyung x reader | 13.6k
teacher!tae/ librarian!reader, fluff, smut, minor angst
summary: "corny romance and a zillion cheesy Romeo and Juliet quotes and references."
my tainted hopeless romantic heart ugh. they're so cute.
âş bloom- by @hobidreams
| namjoon x reader | 20.7k
assassin!reader x florist!namjoon, smut, angst, action, sprinkles of fluff
>> summary: "family is who you kill for. who you die for. in this society, you and your kin are shadows, clinging to the darkness to obey orders absolute. but when such orders command you to abandon what little honor remains for wealth and notoriety, you find yourself lost in lonely uncertainty about the only vocation youâve ever known. that is, until you meet a man with gentle hands, a poetâs heart, and a love for coaxing the world into bloom."
âş counterfeit culture - by @ggukcangetit
| seokjin x reader | 29k
modern day au loosely based on jane austenâs pride & prejudice, e2l, fluff, smut, comedy
>>summary: âfor as long as you can remember, youâve always known right from wrong, good from bad, and woke from entitled/ignorant. but when you continue to cross paths with Kim Seokjin - the apparent antithesis of everything you believe in - certain walls begin to crumble. and over time, you come to realise that the world isnât black and white, first impressions can be misleading, and that you are just as guilty as each person youâve judged so harshly. realisation brings acceptance, and maybe, just maybe, acceptance can bring something more.â
âş if i told you - by @gukyi
| jungkook x reader | 22k
friends to lovers!au, college!au, fluff, comedy, angst
>> summary: "in order to pay for university, jeon jungkook decides to market his most valuable asset to the wealthy socialites of campus: himself. donning a suit and tie, tousled hair, and glasses (to look smarter), he becomes every rich daughterâs dream: the perfect boyfriend to bring to balls, dinners, and business gatherings. all while you watch from the sidelines, only able to dream of having that much money to buy yourself what you really want: him."
âş to hold a dragon's heart - by @softlyjiminie
| taehyung x reader | 19.1k
dragon prince!kim taehyung x warrior princess!reader, smut, angst, fluff, forbidden romance, dragon shifter!au, royalty!au, enemies to lovers!au
>> summary: "two kingdoms, two hearts and the world between them. your whole life has been a challenge, never an easy moment on your road to becoming queen but will one decision, one encounter with the man you were destined to hate, change the fate of your worlds, forever?"
#bts fic rec#fic recs#bts fic#bts fanfic#bts x reader#bts x oc#bts angst#bts smut#jungkook angst#jungkook smut#taehyung angst#taehyung smut#jimin angst#jimin smut#yoongi angst#yoongi smut#bts fan fiction#fic rec list#namjoon angst#namjoon smut#hoseok angst#hoseok smut#seokjin angst#seokjin smut#bts masterlist#jungkook x reader#taehyung x reader#seokjin x reader#hoseok x reader#namjoon x reader
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is it freedom?
âšâ spiderverse (future) found family x platonic!reader
âšâ summary: after losing everything, you struggle to accept the one thing you needed all along.
âšâ a/n: ok i have been enabled by exactly two (2!) people. (thank you both) SO dare i start a spiderverse series??? IF YALL WANT MORE OF THIS⌠I WILL DO IT. this is really just a set up thing idk but i feel like arachnid has potential for further parts and ACTUAL found family!! also havenât tagged people on my general taglist bc idk if you guys want to be tagged in ALL works or just all pedro works :(
âšâ warnings: slight across the spiderverse spoilers, not really found family yet, injuries, blood, treating own injuries, stitches, fighting (canon-typical violence yall), dead parents (mentioned a LOT), a whole lot of angst (itâs a spider-person so what do we expect), reader has a whole lot of bad thoughts, loneliness, isolation
masterlist PART TWO
âââ§âââââ âââââ âââââ ââââââ§ââ
Had you known what this, this thing, would lead to, you would have never started it. Not that you had done so purposely, at least to begin with, more so happening as an event of pure chance. You were in the right place at the right time, and since then, you had been addicted.
But if you could go back, look at yourself just a year younger than you are now, tell that kid what would come if you went through with saving a life for the first time, you wondered. It was a question that scratched deep in your brain, sending you off balance the more you thought about it; would you have still done it? Would you have saved that personâs life, knowing it would lead to your own falling apart?
You would like to think yes. In fact, you know that back then, when your eyes were bright at the prospect of helping people, when you still marvelled at the world like it was good, you would have been certain that it would be worth it. Why should that person die, just to save you? Itâs a harrowing realisation. A conclusion that makes your fingers tremble, your voice shake. Now, youâre not sure you would do it. You donât think you could bear to face that decision knowing what you know of the world around you now.
Itâs something cruel, really, that the spider that bit you gave you these powers, and nothing to go back and fix your mistakes. Your perceived victories. Your losses.
But the worst has already happened, and the only one left to die is you, so you carry on. You don the suit every day, you sew up your own injuries on the top floor of the abandoned offices that youâve claimed as your own. Each day, you wake when you choose, you sleep when you want to, and you work yourself down to your very bones with nobody to object.
The hollow feeling in your gut is a pain you have no choice to ignore, to smother with assurances that this is freedom. What else could it be? You do whatever you so please, you spend your time swinging through the streets of New York rather than doing schoolwork at home, you eat all the junk you could ever have wanted.
Itâs freedom. It has to be.
You tell yourself that you donât miss the home part of having to do schoolwork, promise your heart that you donât miss home-cooked meals as opposed to greasy food that leaves you unsatisfied. You swear that you like having nobody to tell you what to do. Thereâs no other choice, after all.
And each day, when you spend a little bit longer out on the streets, getting yourself into needless fights that the police could certainly handle, you tell yourself itâs because youâre protecting the city. You convince yourself that itâs not because of having an unending rage to satiate, or a permanent feeling of breathlessness when you leave police to handle anything, as if you could relive the moment your father, the captain, was left to handle something he couldnât.
So, youâre almost relieved by the appearance of something⌠strange. Something dangerous. This is what you live for â this is your job.
You crouch against the wall, fingers splayed and suit itching where you had crudely sewn it back together across your ribs at an almost too-close call. You hold your breath, you watch. The lenses over your eyes shield your sensitive sight from the harshest colours of this new opponent, who looks almost⌠unreal. Too different to be a part of reality. He yells out, seemingly glitching? A distorted scream of what is apparently pain, accompanied by flashes of colour that are unfamiliar to you.
âWell, that doesnât look good.â You comment, eyebrows raised beneath your mask, and the strange looking guy snaps his head towards you, long hair slapping across the goggles over his eyes. He bares his teeth at you, something almost resembling a grin marring his face.
âSpider-man!â He yells triumphantly, cackling as he wipes the hair away from his face, tendrils unfurling from behind his back and lifting him into the air.
âNot quite!â You call back, dodging below the metallic arm that shoots towards where your head was, crumbling through the wall. You try to think back to the jokes you used to tell to rile up whoever you were facing, but find your mind is blank. Instead, all you can think of is questions. âWhere the hell did you come from, anyway?â
The man follows you as you spring from wall to wall, heading towards the center of the building where it tunnels up for about forty floors, balconies overlooking the fountain below. âA new spider, eh? Well Iâll take you down just as easily as I have the other!â He tells you, though youâre immediately suspicious of his statement. Youâre the only Spider-related hero around, and even if you werenât, you doubt this guy could squash a worm, let alone you.
âSure thing, man.â You say, sighing, already exhausted by the repetitiveness that comes with every fight. Your opponents always say theyâll beat you, kill you, squish you, take you down, and yet you always get back up at the end of the fight, and they always remain defeated. When you started doing this, you never would have thought youâd get so tired from winning all the time.
And yet here you are, slipping further and further up the building with the octopus-looking guy chasing after you, metal arms crumbling walls and bannisters on his way up. He falters once more, another one of those glitch-like movements sending him down a few floors, but heâs quick to recover. Of course, it wouldnât be that easy.
You crouch down on one balcony, somewhere around the thirty mark floor-wise, peering down at the guy as he shakes lingering pain from his body. He charges upwards, aiming to reach you quickly with an almost predatory smirk on his face. Before he can even get close to you, however, youâre back on the move, setting a trap for him that he doesnât even seem to notice.
Itâs only when a group of late workers emerge on what youâre pretty sure is the twenty-first floor that you become more anxious about this fight. You donât like when civilians are involved.
Thereâs about a dozen of them crowding the balcony, looking up to where youâre facing off with octopus-man above, some having begun to descend the stairs to the next floor before catching on to your presence. You try not to draw attention to them, but their pointing and whispering sets the Spidey-sense off, ringing loudly between your ears, almost deafening in its intensity. Maybe you underestimated this guy. The flash of a camera sends the last hope of him not noticing down the drain, and he grins at you as he switches targets, climbing down towards them with some semblance of caution.
Youâre much faster than he is, dropping down and using a web to catch yourself rather than having to climb. Itâs hard to stop yourself from yelling at them, cursing them out for being so damn foolish â who in their right mind would stick around a very dangerous fight to take pictures?
Instead, you choose to yell, âGet out! Go, go, go.â And usher them down the stairs, but itâs not difficult to realise that this guy is going to get to them before they manage to descend to the bottom. You shouldnât be surprised, really. Nothing is ever as simple as it could be, not for you.
The split second decision to drop down and form a net-like web low enough to catch the workers worked out for you in the end, as you swung back up and pushed the workers off of the balcony and stairway just as the octopus man was reaching them. He cursed at you, refocusing his efforts on you as you vaguely noted the workers clambering down after their screaming had stopped. Honestly â did people really have so little faith in you? Had you ever sent anybody to their death before?
âYou are just as pesky of an insect as Spider-man!â He growled out, teeth gritted, and came after you with renewed force. He kind of reminded you of that doctor you faced not long after getting your powers, but this guy looked completely different. The doctor you faced â aptly named Doc Ock â had turned himself into some form of a mutant, he had reinforced tentacles which sprouted from his back. Was this guy some kind of copy cat? Maybe he was just delusional.
âI donât know who Spider-man is, man!â You shout to him as you ascend the building again, trying to figure out the best way to take this guy down. His tentacles seem electronic, so surely you could disable whatever machinery resides on his back?
âThatâd be me.â A voice came from above you, two floors ahead of your position. Your head snapped towards it, seeing a man in a blue and red suit, framed by a burst of orange behind him. He didnât linger up there long, instead moving to leap down to the guy who had turned his attention to the new guy. The closer you looked at this new guy, the more similarities you saw to yourself â his webs looked remarkably similar to your own, the pattern that went across his suit matched your own, even the wide white lenses that shielded your eyes on your mask. Who the hell was this guy?
The octopus man grinned widely, shaking greasy hair from his face. âAh, finally! The real Spider-man. Got yourself a new protĂŠgĂŠ, I see.â He drawled, dodging this new guyâs hit straight off of the bat. You tried not to get annoyed at being referred to as a protĂŠgĂŠ, considering as far as you were aware, you were the only Spider-person around. Where was this guy when you were holding a bridge full of civilians together? Where was he when you took down villain after villain, never once failing to get the guy? No â you were the real Spider-man, if anyone.
âI donât know who you are, man, but Iâm handling this just fine.â You call to the guy, swinging down to rejoin the fight, webbing the villainâs metal tentacles to the wall behind him, before dropping down to kick him towards the wall.
âOh, so you know how to send this guy back to his own dimension?â Spider-man asks you, eyebrows raised beneath his mask, and as if on cue, the guy glitches once more, ripping his arms away from the wall and just about catching himself on a balcony below before he could fall into your net.
You gape at the new guy, glancing back up to where the burst of orange remains opened, and is that a portal? Is this Spider-man from another dimension? Is that why youâve never heard of him before? God, if your mother was alive, sheâd kill to find out about this. Inter-dimensional travel was something she had spent her life researching. If you didnât remain so bitter toward her even after her death, you mightâve been sad she wasnât alive to see this.
But you were bitter, and it made the experience all the worse.
Because youâre pretty sure that that bitterness takes the place of grief within you. Itâs hard to understand why you crave to feel that pain, that grief, as opposed to the aching resentment that floods you with the thought of her. Itâs such a sharp contrast to thinking of your father, your kind father, the man who threw himself into a battle he couldnât have hoped to survive, just on the off chance he could save somebody. You hope you take after him.
âWaitâ youâre from another dimension?â You question anyway, eyes flickering between the battle and the looming portal above. In fact, youâre so distracted by finding out about that tidbit of information that you miss octopus man aim a tentacle for you, and it snatches you around the ankle. âOh, you gotta be kidding meâ!â
The man waves you around like some kind of rag doll, and you try not to be too bitter about being caught off guard. You should probably learn that getting caught up in your little pity party always ends up badly, always distracts you from that renowned Spidey-sense. You formulate a plan in your mind when the drip of blood around your ankle draws your attention back to the battle at hand.
You web the wall opposite and hold on tight, pausing the movements and letting the dizziness that had come over you fade away. The man growls out in annoyance, and gets closer to cut the webs with another tentacle, which is exactly what you planned for. The tension from the webs launches you towards him when you let go, and in his surprise, the metal tentacle releases you. You wrap around him, and start webbing up the machinery embedded in his back as Spider-man distracts most of the tentacles, keeping them from pulling you off.
His tentacles start faltering, clearly not obeying his movements, and you wrap them up where they emerge from his back, continuing along until the movement is so limited that he has to use them all to clutch onto the nearest balcony.
You crawl up the tentacles in the very same spidery manner that youâre known for, and crouch, watching the octopus man struggle as Spider-man observes from the balcony opposite. âYou wanna finish this one off, Spider-man?â You ask, unable to hide any bitterness from your tone at his mostly unhelpful actions throughout the battle.
âHey, not bad!â He praises, and it annoys you. Youâre good at what you do â for the most part. You manage without help constantly, and thatâs the way you prefer it. âYouâd make a good addition to the Spider Society!â
Now, you donât know what the Spider Society is. But honestly? You donât care. You donât need help, and you prefer working alone, and you certainly donât like feeling patronised.
âWhatever, man. Just send him back to whatever dimension he came from.â You tell the guy, and drop down as you hear sirens outside, landing on your injured ankle and just about stopping yourself from cursing. Through all the adrenaline and fighting, youâd forgotten about the way the metal had ripped into your skin, drawn blood. Itâs just be another place youâd have to sew up your suit with itchy, uneven stitching. âOfficers,â You greet as they open the doors, guns drawn, radios murmuring. âAll taken care of. Civilians okay?â
âShaken up, but fine.â The leading police officer says, immediately relaxing and holstering his weapon. You wish it reassured you that the police trusted you now, but it didnât. Nonetheless, the other officers follow suit. âThank you, Arachnid.â
The name your world has bestowed upon you has yet to grow on you, but you nod your head regardless, and salute them as you make your way out, swinging across the city, trying to put the existence of the multiverse and inter-dimensional travel out of your mind. Surprisingly, itâs pretty easy when you have a busted ankle to fix up.
âââ§âââââ âââââ âââââ ââââââ§ââ
Youâre halfway through stitching up your suit, having already sewn your skin back together with as much skill as you possessed in the matter â which was, not much. But the bleeding has stopped, and your stupidly slow healing will take care of it within a few days. You know that the itchy stitches on your suit will just irritate the injury, and though you wouldnât lose anything if your identity was revealed, it doesnât feel right to go out into the city with any part of you on show.
No, you wear the suit for a reason. You keep every part of yourself covered because nobody can know itâs you underneath the suit. Not because you had anything to lose, no, you had already lost everything. It was because then you could never make a mistake, you would have to be absolutely perfect, flawless, to make up for the fact that it was you underneath the layer.
So, you settle with a sewn suit that will itch and make the stitches on your ankle sting.
However, when thereâs a burst of orange across the room, you have no choice but to forgo the suit, to simply drop the needle and thread and hover your fingers over your web shooters. You wait, nervously, for some other villain to appear. Youâre not sure if Spider-man appearing would be better or worse.
But when a foot steps through the portal, itâs nobody familiar. In fact, itâs a suit you have never seen before, made up of dark blues and bright reds, sharp edges and long claws. Itâs⌠unnerving, and considering the silence coming from the person wearing it, youâre not entirely certain of what theyâre here for.
A moment later and another person steps through, a woman, with bright yellow lenses across her eyes that filter her irises into an amber. She steps forward, standing beside the person who had stepped through first, and if she hadnât showed up, you wouldâve been tempted to attack. With that being said, you remain on edge, but thereâs something⌠comforting about her presence. Like her presence softens the manâs jagged edges.
She says your name, and then adds, âArachnid.â
You furrow your brows and curse as you glance back at the suit so crudely laid out on the floor. Still, it doesnât explain how she knows your name. Was it an inter-dimensional thing?
âSpider-man told us about your work in capturing Doc Ock earlier.â She tells you, as if that explains their presence. You did what you were supposed to do, which was take out the bad guys. âWeâre here to offer you a place in the Spider Society.â
You canât help but wonder if this is some kind of good cop, bad cop thing. She presents an offer which doesnât sound too bad, and then her sharp-edged companion presents all the drawbacks and the catches. They donât seem like the type to take no for an answer, either way. You still donât even know what this Spider Society was! Was it some kind of multi-dimensional cult?
âI already told Spider-man that I wasnât interested in joining whatever cult youâve got going on.â You practically hiss, though you didnât exactly tell him in such blatant words. You were more dismissive earlier, so youâd have to be clear now.
âItâs not a cult,â The man speaks, voice harsh and sharp much like the blades that branch from his forearms. âWe work to protect the multiverse from anomalies that threaten to destroy it.â
The woman glances at him in a way that you translate as being vaguely annoyed, like he wasnât approaching you in the way she had wanted him to. âHe means to say that itâs a big job, and we need all the help we can get.â She says, softer, but only in comparison to the manâs harshness. âListen, kid, youâre good at what you do. We need that kind of talent.â
âYouâll have to find it somewhere else.â You say firmly, because why would you want to leave your universe? This was a lot to think about when you had only learned of the multiverse existing mere hours ago. Regardless, you werenât about to abandon your city just to go across the multiverse to help other heroes who couldnât keep a leash on their own villains.
The two of them shared a look, a mere glance, before the woman heaved a sigh. âLook,â She sighed, heavily, like whatever she was about to say was something she didnât want to be voicing. âBefore you make your choice, you should know, your Green Goblin is currently terrorising another universe.â
You couldnât work out if this was some kind of recruitment tactic, or something. That just wasnât possible. You had put Gwen Stacy in the highest security prison after all antidotes to her goblin-tech failed. She was stuck in there â permanently. There was no way she had gotten out, let alone gotten out to another universe.
âŚRight?
Itâs hard not to think of the memories at the mention of herâGreen Goblin, not Gwen Stacy. Never Gwen Stacy. You wonder if this is where your fear comes from, the terrifying fact that you are remembered only for your mistakes. Because before she was the Green Goblin, she was Gwen. She was everything to you. She was the sun you orbited, the stars that charted your path. And it hurts, it hurts that you can only remember the blood and the dust and the destruction when you think of her.
People arenât born as monsters, are they?
Like the spider that bit you, that invertebrate that so many fear, it was born the way it was. It was born with those fang-lined maws, with those eight legs and dozens of eyes. It was made into the monster it became, artificially crafted to deliver a venom that changed you forever. But it wasnât born that way.
Surely, Gwen wasnât either. She was kind. You remember that about her. You can remember her soft hands that used to hold your own, the loud laughter that always ended in a snort when she laughed at her own jokes, the gentle eyes that stared into your very soul. But those eyes are the very same ones that let her see through your mask, let her see exactly where to hit you to make it hurt. Was that what she was born as? Or is that what she was made into? A killer. A monster.
âShow me.â You say, because what else could you possibly respond? If what theyâre saying is true, if the Green Goblin is loose once more, then people will die.
You canât let her get fresh blood on her hands. Not when somewhere, deep inside your chest, so far down itâs almost unreachable, you have hope for her. You have an innate desire to look for the best in her, even when the Gwen you knew was the first life that the Green Goblin took.
âââ§âââââ âââââ âââââ ââââââ§ââ
If thereâs one thing youâve taken from being Arachnid, itâs to expect the unexpected. And you go through the orange portal after Jessica Drew and Miguel OâHara with that exact mindset about you, staring at where an orange watch-like device is wrapped around your wrist.
Itâs in your nature to be suspicious, and these people werenât an exception to that.
In fact, their presence only heightened that behaviour. After all, what were you to expect from two Spider people, who supposedly came to you for your help?
You werenât blind, you saw the aged lines of their faces the moment you got close enough to see them clearly, away from the dim lighting of the building. They were adults, adults who had clearly been doing this type of thing a lot longer than you had. You, who was barely bordering on adult, who had fought enough battles already to last a lifetime â so why would they need you?
It didnât feel right.
And when this Miguel person summoned Lyla the moment you walked through the portal, it felt all the more wrong. She was a hologram of some kind, much higher tech than the kind of thing you saw on your earth. But then again, you had never really been in high tech labs back in your earth. Still, it unsettled you. âLyla, get me the location of Green Goblin, Earth 5011.â He commanded, and they argued in hushed voices for a moment, before a wider hologram appeared, stamped at Earth 3899.
âHow did she get to another universe?â You ask, then, because it doesnât make sense, and youâre shaking underneath the thin material of your suit. Youâre hyper aware of each drag of stitching against the wound on your leg, each patch of fabric you had sewn on in hopes of the suit lasting you just a little longer, because you didnât have the resource to produce a new one.
âItâs an anomaly.â Jessica Drew tells you, her tone softer than youâd heard it, as if she was attempting to reassure you in some way.
It didnât help. But how could it? The last time you had faced Gwen StacyâGreen Goblinâ you had lost so much. It had been the beginning of the end of everything good in your life. The explosion she had caused at your motherâs laboratory was the very same one that killed her, the very same explosion that sent you and your dad miles apart all while living in the same home. And still, you found a way to hope that there was something to salvage within Gwen.
But not only had you lost your mother, and not long after â your father, you had also lost your closest friend. The one person you had confided in, who knew you from your surface to the deepest level, and she had used that against you the moment the Goblin had taken over.
It had taken everything in you to beat her, back then.
And that was on home turf! How did these people expect you to do that a second time, in a completely unfamiliar place?
âSpecifics arenât important right now. Jessica, you take Arachnid. Lyla, send another one of the teams.â Miguel instructed, dismissing your questions right off the bat. It was frustrating. They were leaving you completely in the dark, and sending you to fight the worst enemy you had ever faced, and they were sending you alongside others like you from different universes. It was like asking you to bare your soul in front of them, to reveal your secrets, your deepest regrets, everything that you wanted to stay buried.
You knew Green Goblin. You knew thatâs exactly what she would do. She would undermine you, she would lay your life out in front of you like tiles on a scrabble board. In the end, none of it amounted to much.
Jessica Drew made her way out, glancing at you and nodding for you to follow along. Your moment of hesitation had drawn Miguelâs attention, and he called out to you after a moment of hesitation. âWeâve all faced one like it, kid. Itâs easier with others.â He told you, though he held a pained expression on his face all the while. Instead of admitting to the way he had hit the nail right on the head, you simply nodded and followed after Spider-woman.
It was a whirlwind from there.
Meeting up with others. Travelling the length of the so-called Lobby to wherever it was that Jessica was taking you. When you finally arrived, she offered an empty glass box with a mannequin inside, bare. She gestured towards it like it shouldâve been self explanatory, but soon realised sheâd have to spell it out for you.
You shouldnât have been so upset by the offer of a new suit.
But you were.
This suit was your life. You had nothing outside of it, not anymore. You couldnât just throw it away, as if it meant nothing, as if every rip and patch and wonky stitch didnât mean anything. These were proof that what you were doing was real, that it was worth something. Each stitch proved you had value. You werenât about to throw all of that away, especially for whatever overly technical suit these people would provide.
You had everything you needed.
And so Jessica led you to the next destination: Earth 3899.
The moment you stepped through the portal, it was like you were hit with a wave of familiarity. And not in a positive, slightly nostalgic way, noâ this was chaos. This was the state your world had been in when Green Goblin ran riot, unchecked. She had torn apart buildings, blown up parks, she had set New York City aflame. And she was doing exactly the same here.
It was more contained here than it had been on your earth, and you had to assume that was thanks to the Spider-man already on site, coordinating police, ambulance and fire responses to douse the fires as quickly as she set them. If only the police in your city had trusted you so much, back then.
âWhere is she?â You ask, the moment you get close enough to speak to the resident Spider-man of the universe. He looks at you as if youâre familiar, but doesnât comment, instead just pointing a finger toward a skyscraper just a short way ahead. Youâre gone the moment he tells you where to go.
She had the uncanny ability to stay quiet. It had freaked you own back on your own earth, but it was even more terrifying here, where things were ever so slightly different.
âArachnid.â Gwenâs voice called, and for a moment, you could forget. You could forget every horrible thing the Goblin had done, and you could remember your friend, your Gwen, who had called out to Arachnid more than once without knowing it was you behind the mask. Whether it was for a story or to provide information on your most recent opponent, the voice calling your alias was familiar. But then there was that crackle of laughter, an unnatural gurgle in the way it left her throat, and you turned to see the green-tinged pallor of her skin. âI was so hoping youâd show up.â
You didnât know how much her appearance would effect you, until you were stuck to the side of the building, staring at what had once been your best friend. Youâre so choked up that you canât even formulate a response, because you want that to be Gwen so badly, but you know it isnât. The more you look at her, the more Goblin you see, the more you know that the Gwen you love is never coming back.
âNothing to say?â She asks, and then says your real name, the name she used to say down the crackle of a phone line, or across the school hallway, and she smiles. âI thought youâd be happy to see me.â
âYou shouldâve stayed in prison, Gwen.â You say, your voice unsteady as you say her name aloud for the first time in what must be forever. She seems to relish in the tremble of your voice, and you have to curse yourself for being so stupid, for already showing the vulnerability she was so easily able to pick out.
The Green Goblin tutted at you, stood atop her glider, but the smile you saw didnât belong to Gwen. âYouâre pathetically predictable, you know. Youâre like a moth to the flame.â She tells you, and you fear that sheâs right, that youâre the same person you were back when you fought her, back when she almost won. She sighs, like something heavy is weighing upon her, but it turns wistful in the blink of an eye. âIâm just glad your dad isnât here to see this. Heâd be so disappointed.â
âArachnid, focus.â Jessicaâs voice interrupts, before you can spiral down that rabbit hole. How did Gwen even know about your father? She was in prison long before he died. It didnât make sense.
âMaybe,â You say, that familiar tremble around your words. âHe did always hope for the best for you.â
She bares her teeth at your words, the only visible reaction before her mask is slipping over the bottom of her face, stretching out up to pointed ears, all metallic and tinted a murky green. Then, sheâs attacking.
Itâs muscle memory, mostly, you think.
If you donât think too hard about it, it could be like playing a game with a longtime friend from your childhood. You know the moves to make, you know how sheâll respond. Itâs a constant push and pull, a balance which leaves only destruction behind, the path of the Green Goblinâs wrath tangible in each battle scene the two of you leave behind. You canât beat her like this.
Itâs her glitching that gives you a slight upper hand â and you send her careening off of her glider to the ground below.
Your heart squeezes suddenly in your chest as you watch her fall, her eyes wide in what could almost be perceived as fear. If you didnât intervene, would she die? Would you have put an end to her story, once and for all, when you secretly hope thereâs a cure out there for her? You canât bear the thought of finding out, of watching her die, and so you foolishly dive after her.
A web to her midsection allows you to grip her before she hits the ground, and you set her down with a far more gentle hand than you would ever admit.
She says your name, then, a whispered version of it that sounds like Gwen. You think you can see her in those wide blue eyes, in that stare, and you approach with some caution. âGwen,â You say, more of a question, âYou with me?â
âIâm with you,â She answers, as you reach her side, as you resist the urge to pull off your mask. Youâre so preoccupied staring at her expression that you donât see the blade until itâs too late, your Spidey-sense failing you as you wallowed in your search for someone who was gone. âYou sweet, predictable bug.â She spits then, twisting the blade she had sunk deep into your side, and you writhe, trying to move away from her.
âArachnid!â Jessica Drew calls out, drawing the Green Goblinâs attention, allowing you to pull away from her slackened grasp. You leave the blade where it is, knowing your only slightly enhanced healing wouldnât make up for the onslaught of blood that would pour from the wound. âI think thatâs enough, Green Goblin.â Jessica says, riding a motorbike that you swore she didnât have earlier. Nonetheless, she uses it to put even more space between you and your villain.
âYou need a hand, kid?â A new voice asks, and a gloved hand reaches out for you where you had knelt against the tarmac. You look up, seeing a new Spider-man, but this one has his mask up, showing off his aged face and the bags underneath his eyes. You wave him off, staggering up to your feet, and clench your jaw as you stare at Green Goblin, watch as she pulls bombs from her waistband, barely the size of a chocolate bar, but capable of causing irreparable damage. âGet back to HQ, Arachnid, we can handle this.â Spider-man tells you, in what you suspect to be a fatherly voice, but you ignore him.
Time flies, slips out of your grasp, and you donât know how long you and the others spend fighting Green Goblin, but she proves to be just as difficult of a foe for them to face as she was for you. Each time the three of you manage to get the drop on her, she slips away before she could be caught. Itâs frustrating, and you can even see the way irritation thickens in the air, tangible.
Spider-man, or Peter, as Jessica had called him, is with you, focusing on trying to take Green Goblin down, whilst Jessica Drew is focused on damage control, blowing up Gwenâs bombs before they could hit their intended targets. Youâre pretty sure the resident Spider-man is around here, too, pulling any lingering citizens out of harms way before Green Goblin could end them. Youâd admit, it works better than you had done alone back on your own earth.
But it doesnât work well enough, and more than one building is damaged almost beyond repair, and in the dust and rubble, Peter was distracted by the few citizens poking their heads out of the gaping hole in the side of their apartments. He didnât see Green Goblin coming until it was too late, until she had thrown two of her bombs, one towards him, and one towards the already wrecked building.
Your throat dries up as you try to figure out what to do, who to go for, but in the end, you donât have to choose.
Beams of glowing orange webs shoot into the bombs where they arc towards their victims, blowing them up and leaving both Peter and the civilians in the apartments without a scratch on any of them. Well, nothing that wasnât already there before. You see him then, running alongside Jessica Drew, none other than Miguel OâHara â who clearly didnât think that the three of you were capable of handling Green Goblin.
âWeâve gotta end this.â Peter tells the three of you, glaring over at Green Goblin after coming so close to one of her bombs.
âYou distract, Iâll go in.â You say, the only plan that makes sense. The only plan thatâll work. You wouldnât be much use as a distraction, not with the blood still pooling around the blade hanging from your side, but you could beat her. You knew you could.
Peter nodded, and he, Jessica and Miguel went in one after another, landing hits on Green Goblin before she could even think to withdraw another bomb, or land a hit of her own, whilst you made your way behind her, swinging as high as you dared to go in your state. She was getting angry, you could tell, a distinct flush rushing up the back of her neck, a tell that Green Goblin shared with Gwen.
It was only when she was starting to turn the tide that you jumped down from your spot against the side of a building, looking for your opening.
She sent Jessica Drew tumbling off of her motorbike, which was your chance.
Green Goblin heard you only a moment before you were on her, not giving her a chance to make a countermove. Instead, you were curling your arms around her, as tight as you could, holding her hands away from her waistband. You gripped the blade in your side and yanked it out, holding it to her chest, breathing heavily through the pain as you bared your teeth at her, her face beside your own.
âDonât make me kill you.â You say, and try not to hear the pleading in your own voice, the distinctive tone of a beg. You may have the upper hand on her, but as always, she had the power. âDonât.â You repeat, because you can feel it in your bones that you would do it. If it was the choice between her or the hundreds that she would kill on this world, it would be those hundreds. There was no doubt about it, no questions to be asked.
You may have resented your mother, but she wasnât the only one who died because of the Green Goblin. You wouldnât let that happen again.
Perhaps she heard the plea in your voice, the giveaway that you werenât bluffing, because she went still in your arms, still enough for the other Spiders to approach with some caution, eyes on her hands where you held them away from any weapons, using your forearm connected to the hand holding the blade to her chest to keep her left hand from grasping anything.
âI wonât be asking again.â You tell her, which is as much of a threat as you can muster. Or, more so, a promise.
As Miguel pushed you back with a firm hand, throwing a machine at Gwenâs feet, you think she understands. If the two of you are ever in that position again, there will be no hesitation about it. You will kill her.
âGood work, kid.â Peter says as Miguel and Jessica get to work with getting your Green Goblin through a portal to the HQ. He glanced down at where your hand is now pressing into your side, blood pouring steadily. In your other hand, you still hold the blade that had pierced your own skin, that would have killed Gwen Stacy had she not surrendered. He winces as if itâs him who got hurt, and guides you through the portal after the others. âCâmon, weâll get you checked out. You not got enhanced healing?â He asks, though you suspect he doesnât expect you to answer, and youâre glad.
âââ§âââââ âââââ âââââ ââââââ§ââ
âI can do this myself, you know.â You sigh, wincing as a Spider-man â who apparently is also a doctor and works in the Spider Societyâs infirmary â stitches up the wound on your midsection. Itâs uncomfortable, though less painful that when you do it yourself. Still, itâs uncomfortable to accept help from these strangers.
âOoh, shouldnât say that to him.â Peter B. Parker laughs, one of the many Peter Parkers of the Society, but the same one who had fought Green Goblin with you. âHeâll lecture you on proper healthcare for days if you give him the opportunity!â
The Spider-doctor glares at Peter, or you assume he does, from the slight squint of the lenses of his mask. He kisses his teeth under the mask, tutting, muttering about âSpiders and their complete disregard for their health. Lucky you havenât died ten times over from infections.â But he doesnât say anything that requires a response from you, and he soon finished up the stitches. He goes to offer to fix up the injury on your ankle, but youâre up on your feet before he can even get the words out.
âNow, I gotta get back home to the wife, but Miguel wants to see you. Heâll take you home,â Peter tells you as he walks out of the infirmary by your side, but he stops you in the hallway with a hand on your shoulder, surprisingly gentle. âIf thatâs what you want.â
Your eyebrows furrowed before you could stop them, and the confusion over his words mustâve been written all over your face.
âWhy wouldnât I want that?â You ask, defensively.
Peter opens his mouth, but nothing escapes. Instead, itâs his expression that tells you everything heâs thinking. The crease between his brows screams pitying, or sympathetic. Heâs talking about the way you live back on your earth, about the life you lead, Arachnid by day, and by night. With no room for you, no room for your secret identity. Heâs thinking of the way youâll be returning to a world with nobody awaiting you, with not a soul to look out for you, to stitch you up after a battle. Nobody but yourself, anyway.
You pull away from him, brows furrowing further, into an almost angered expression, and you donât watch the way his hand falls away from your shoulder back to his side. He sighs when you turn away, scoffing as you make your way through the hallways of the Lobby towards where you think Miguel will be.
Itâs overwhelming, all of these people. They all believe that they know you, that they know your circumstances, your story, but the truth is that they donât. Nobody does, and thatâs the way you prefer it. You donât need a Society of Spiders surrounding you, breathing down your neck, telling you theyâre sorry, or not trusting you to handle yourself in your own fights, because you can handle yourself. Youâve spent the last year of your life trying to prove that, trying to prove that you can do good things, that youâre worthy of the title Arachnid. You certainly shouldnât need to prove that to a whole Society of people like you, most of which had been doing the job a lot longer.
Youâre capable and youâre content.
You donât need a life as your secret identity to be content, in fact, itâs better without one. You donât have to tell so many lies, donât have to worry about hurting the people you love, because there are none of them left. Thereâs nobody to hurt, and thereâs nobody to lie to. Why would you want to change that?
The hallway ahead looks familiar, and you follow it until you enter a room where Miguel stands, looking at orange tinted screens on a platform halfway up the room. You enter with the absolute certainty that you want to return to your own earth, and youâre not going to let anybody stop you.
âIâm ready.â You tell him, expectantly.
He scoffs, saying nothing, still staring at the screens in front of him. For whatever reason, the reaction makes you angry â inexplicably so. Youâre slinging up to the platform before you can have a second thought about it, and youâre pushing his shoulder so heâll face you, so heâll acknowledge you.
He stares at you, unimpressed.
âSend me back to my earth.â You press, brows furrowed beneath your mask, but youâre sure he can see the anger in the way your shoulders tense up.
âSure,â Miguel said blankly, staring at you as if youâd suddenly change your mind or something. âBut you know, thereâs a lot more like her.â He added on when you said nothing, waiting for him to send you back to your world so you could give him back the stupid watch still wrapped around your wrist.
You stared at him like he was speaking a foreign language. âThere are no more like her.â You respond, feeling that hot press on your chest. You donât want to talk about Gwen Stacy anymore than youâre sure heâd like to talk about whatever he had gone through in his life. Hell, you donât even want to think about her, but you know that nobody else you would ever have to face would hurt you in the way that she did. In the way that having to see her as an enemy, rather than your friend, had hurt. So, yeah, there was nobody like her, not for you.
Miguel seems ready to let you go for a moment, but then heâs shaking his head at you. âYou have a place here. You can be with people like you. You donât have to do this alone, anymore.â He says, and you think that is ironic, because you donât see anybody else in here. To you, it seems like he is doing exactly that; doing the job alone. You can practically see the weight of the world on his shoulders.
âI prefer being alone.â You tell him, and it has to be true. It has to be.
His jaw sets, acceptance, you think, and he nods. He glances past you, to where a portal was open on the floor below. Considering that you hadnât seen him set up the portal, youâd wager that his AI Lyla mustâve listened in and done it for him. You pull the watch off of your wrist, relishing in the way your very atoms seem to sag with the weight of being in another dimension.
âThanks.â You say, and drop down, landing on your sore ankle but not murmuring a word about the pain. You walk back to your world with your head held high, despite your tattered suit and multitude of wounds that would take days to stop hurting.
Miguel stares after you as the portal closes, eyebrows furrowed. He barely acknowledges Jessica Drewâs arrival in the room, already having known she had been lingering in the hallway, listening in. âWell, that went well.â She comments, glancing between where the portal had been and where Miguel stands, brooding. She knows how much pressure he puts on himself, and she knows that he cares about each and every Spider-person in the multiverse. It doesnât take a Spider-sense to see the way in which you struggle. Itâs a familiar struggle, sure, but there were so many Spiders across the multiverse who had a shoulder to lean on in their hardest times. Who did you have? There was no Aunt May for Arachnid, or Gwen Stacy, or Harry Osborne, or, well, anybody.
Jessica thinks that if anybody were to know exactly how that felt, it would be Miguel.
#heartpascal writes#across the spiderverse spoilers#atsv spoilers#spiderman atsv spoilers#miguel oâhara x reader#miguel oâhara x you#miguel oâhara x platonic reader#jessica drew x platonic reader#peter b parker x platonic reader#peter b parker x reader#spiderverse x reader#spiderverse x platonic reader#spiderverse x you#spiderverse imagines#spiderverse one shot#spiderverse imagine#spiderverse angst#miguel oâhara angst#struggling idk how to tag with a new fandom shhh
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HiďźI really like ur story.And I was wandering if u could write about konig or ghost being jealous đŤ
my call of duty masterlist
reader referred to as a girl, called feminine terms, and afab.
Ghost
⥠ghost is an aggressive jealous. especially once you've been together for a while and he gets really attached. its definitely romantic but sometimes can drive you mad.
⥠one time, you and the rest of 141 were out at a bar, taking a load off after an intense mission. you went off to the bar to grab drinks for everyone and of course, ghost kept his eyes locked on you the entire time. as you stood there waiting, you rocked back and forth on your feet. a somewhat attractive man approached you and started up a polite conversation. the man didn't even have any ill intentions, he simply saw a pretty girl at a bar and decided to try and flirt... it's literally the whole point of bars. ghost watched with clenched fists, ready to storm over there and drag you back to their table, but soap convinced him to calm down. you were allowed to talk to other people. he hated the way you were laughing at whatever the prick was saying to you. you must have said something hilarious because the man laughed, reaching out and placing his hand on your shoulder. you immediately felt your gut sink, knowing what was about to happen. "might want to remove your hand before i decide to break your wrist." it was ghost, looming behind you. the man quickly retracted his hand, holding it up in defense. you turned to face the giant brute, "simon, he was just being nice," you whispered to him. "s'not nice to touch ladies without their consent," he growled, his eyes still locked on the poor man behind you who should have ran out the door by now if he had any brains. your eyes darted sidelong to soap, silently pleading for his help. within seconds, johnny was grabbing the man behind you and edging him out of the bar, telling him it was for his own good. you blocked simon's way, grabbing his sleeve and pulling, making him look down at you finally. "please, simon," you said breathlessly. "can we not ruin this night?" his face softened, his big hand coming up to caress your cheek, his thumb stroking you. "m'sorry," he said before placing a kiss on the top of your head. safe to say, he was glued to your side the rest of the night.
⥠ghost had gotten jealous of your relationship with the other members of 141, though this was more towards the beginning of your relationship, when he still didn't trust the guys with you--but now, of course, he trusts them with your life.
⥠ghost wasn't keen on the nicknames the guys would call you. but sometimes, he didn't really have much of a choice. when price would call you "doll", he would just silently glare at him. soap liked to call you "lass," and while that wasn't anything out of pocket, it still infuriated ghost. gaz sometimes called you "love," which drove ghost mad. you had to remind him that these were just terms of endearment because the guys cared about you, not because they were interested in you. he still didn't like it. and even months later, when he learned to trust them with you, he would still clench his jaw and fist whenever someone referred to you by anything but your name.
⥠he would even get jealous before you were together. one time he had overheard johnny inviting you out. he was in fact inviting you out to join him and the rest of the crew (including ghost), but ghost didn't hear that part. later that day, he slammed johnny against a wall, his forearm crushing him with such force even soap was surprised. "words, ghost. use your words," soap choked out, trying to shove the taller man off of him. "the hell you think you're doin?" he reluctantly released him from his hold. "what the bloody fuck are you talkin' about?" "invitin' her out?" he managed through gritted teeth. soap couldn't help the smirk that played along his lips. "whats it to ya?" ghost moved to step closer to him, his fists clenched. soap raised a hand in defeat. "bloody hell, mate. i was invitin' the lass to come out with all of us." ghost awkwardly shifted his stance, making soap crack a grin. a plethora of snarky comments rose in soaps throat, but ghost stopped them before they could come into reality. "not a fuckin' word about this, johnny, or I swear to god."
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⥠ghost was occasionally known to fuck the jealousy out of his system. (im sorry, but this idea is just so hot to meâŚ)
⥠simon was not happy when he found out you had a "work husband." and i feel like thats a pretty fair thing to get upset over. âNo, no, simon! Heâs married! It just means we bicker and act like an old married couple at work. It has nothing to do with actually liking each other,â you pleaded. That didnât really help your case. Like at all. It was a silent car ride all the way home. And once you got inside, simon had you pinned against the door, your hands trapped beneath his over your head. You let out a sharp gasp. âEver imagine him while youâre fucking me?â his voice was low and scary, his lips coming down to tease your neck. You knew he was just trying to get himself worked up. âNo! God, no, Simon. I would neverââ he rolled his hips against you, cutting your sentence short. He nipped the skin along your neck making you hiss. He dragged you to the bedroom, tearing your clothes off, not being gentle at all. He didnât have the patience to be. âBet he wonders what color underwear you got on,â he mumbled more to himself than you. His fingers hooked along the band of your panties, teasing you. âToo bad for him, heâll never know.â you gasped when simon abruptly shoved two fingers inside of you with no warning. He smirked. âAnd heâll never know what kind of sounds you make.â he climbed up between your legs, intensely watching your face as his fingers pumped inside of you. âOnly i get that honor, donât i, pet?â Youâd be lying if you said this side of simon didnât turn you on. Your mind was already blanking as you panted, simonâs magical fingers working wonders. He stopped moving. âDont i?â he asked again with more aggression this time. âYes. only you!â you whined, bucking your hips up into his hand. Normally simon would chuckle, admiring how desperate you were for him. But right now, all he felt was jealous rage. Simon settled himself above you, his pants shedded. He peeled your panties off, licking his lips as he did. âGonna fuck you so good so that prick never crosses your mind.â âHe already doesnât cross my mind, simâoh fuck!â simon thrusted inside you, cutting off your rambling. He wasnât gentle as he began to rock against you. âSay my name, love,â he demanded. âOh god, Simon,â you babbled, already cockdrunk. âThatâs right, baby. I own this pussy, donât i?â You nodded your head hurriedly, your nails digging into his back. As much as simonâs jealousy drove you crazy, you fucking loved moments like this. Simon pounded into you, relentless as he claimed you, coming inside you just to prove to himself how you were his. And only his.Â
KĂśnig
⥠konig my sweet gentle giant. I do think heâs a bit insecure so when he gets jealous it more so makes him sad rather than mad. (i hate to paint him like a helpless, sappy baby, but i cant help it im so sorry.)
⥠âkonig, whatâs wrong?â youâd ask him, seeing him act more reserved than usual. You stood between his legs as he sat on a barstool. He was always shy in public, especially when you all went out to the bar, but he was acting it more so than usual. ânothinâ , liebling.â he takes a strand of your hair and twirls it in his fingers. âKonig,â you plead, clearly seeing something is bothering him. His eyes drift, unable to look at you when he speaks. âJusâ didnât like seeinâ you talk to that guy at the bar.â Your face would heat up, upset that you might have hurt him, but also warming at the idea of konig being jealous. You rested your hands on the tops of his thighs, pushing yourself up so you were inline with his lips. âHeâs not my type.â âYeah?â âYeah. heâs no where near tall enough.â konigâs ears pinked. âAnd he doesnât call me liebling in that god damn accent.â youâve managed to turn konig into a blushing mess. Even if youâve been together for awhile, whenever you compliment him, he gets all bashful.
⥠heâll do simple things when heâs jealous. Like if he starts to get annoyed that some guy is acting a little too touchy or comfortable around you, heâll come up behind you and wrap his arms around your chest. He would literally engulf you. Just that simple action would send any smart man running as he loomed over you and stared them down.
⥠he is also not one to be into PDA, however, that is not the case when heâs jealous. Especially at base, with so many deprived men around, he tends to get overly protective of you. Whenever he spots you talking to someone thatâs not him, heâll come up to you, give you a kiss even if youâre in the middle of talking, and walk away. You always get flustered when he does that, but it gets the message across that youâre his. No one would dare mess with something that belonged to konig.
⥠there is a man on the team that takes interest in you, likely not knowing that you and konig are together. He begins to help you train. Eats lunch with you. Saves you a seat at meetings. And you think heâs just being friendly. Youâre actually happy you made a friend. So it throws you off when konig confronts you about it. âI donât like you spending so much time with that guy.â âWhat? Why?â you turn in his embrace to face him. âHeâs clearly into you, liebling.â âHuh? No heâs not! Weâre just friends.â you say, your mind going over your every interaction now that konig brought this up. âYouâre naive if you think he just wants to be your friend.â he says it in such a soft way that youâre not even upset at him calling you naive. Heâs clearly just concerned. You shake your head, not wanting to believe what konig is saying. âHave you even told him about me?â âYes! Iâve definitely brought you up.â âBut did you mention we were together?â You bit the inside of your cheek. âNo⌠I guess I never specified.â you realized that konig was probably right. You had no idea you were leading this guy on because you genieuly thought he was just being friendly. âOh, shit. Konig. Iâm so sorry,â you said clearly upset now. Konig cupped the back of your head and pulled you into his chest, placing a kiss on the top of your head. You felt a chuckle rumble through his chest. âDonât apolgize. You havenât done anything wrong.â âIâll make sure he knows iâm with you next time i see him,â you mumbled into his shirt. Konig spotted the man walk into the room you and konig were currently huddling in. perfect timing. âorâŚâ he said, making you tilt your head to look up at him, arching a brow. The man looked over and spotted the two of you, so Konig bent down, lifting his mask so only you could see, and kissed you. It was more than a peck. He pulled you into him, his hands wandering down to your waist. When you pulled away breathless, konig smirked. âI think he got the message.â
⥠he often got jealous when others would gawk at you when you werenât looking. There had been plenty of times where you were working out and konig watched as other man checked you out. He could feel his fists clench, trying to prevent himself from getting upset. It wasnât your fault. And he wasnât about to make you cover up just because men liked to be creepy.
⥠it isnât until after one workout that you see konig huffing on the bench. âBad workout?â you asked him, sitting across his thigh. His hands immediately went to your waist. âJusâ sick of those guys oogling over you,â he muttered. You looked over to see the group of men konig was talking about. You were sporting a tight sports bra and tight spandex shorts, showing more than you usually would. âLet emâ look,â you replied. Konig looked at you, his frown deepening. âThey can see me like this all they want. But only you can see me naked,â you whispered in his ear. Konigâs hands tightened on your waist, his pupils dilating as he stared at you. âDonât start something you canât finish, liebling.â his voice was darker now. Not with jealousy, but with lust. âOh, I donât plan on it,â you said, reaching down and palming him through his shorts. Konig immediately shot up, making you land on your feet, but his hands still firmly gripping you. âYour room. Now,â he demanded. He always got nervous when you spoke to him like that in public. But this was the first time you touched him in public. And konig was throbbing in his shorts, wanting you so desperately he already forgot about the other men.
đđđ
đ đđđđđđđ đđđđđ
⥠after a night out with the gang, partying and drinking, you and konig found yourselves back at your hotel room. You had no idea he had been jealous all night long until he scooped you up as you entered your hotel room and tossed you on the bed. He had to watch as you danced and let loose, enjoying yourself, while the men around you watched you just as intently as konig was. Every time you bent over, he had to stop himself from punching every man in your vicinity. âKonig,â you said breathlessly. He loomed over you, grabbing the hem of your dress and pushing it up your thighs until it bunched around your waist. âYouâre mine,â he growled. You were slightly shocked at his sudden change in demeanor, not as used to this side of konig, but not hating it either. You nodded your head as konig pulled your panties down. You were already so wet for him. It made him smile. He quickly connected his mouth to your throbbing core, his tongue devouring you. Your hands slid into his hair on reflex, your head falling back, silently mouthing his name. âI want everyone in the fucking hotel to hear you scream my name,â he grunted against you. Your eyes widened, looking down at the man buried between your thighs. His hands gripped your ass and pulled you closer to him, making you yelp. âEvery. Single. Person.â You quickly nodded, calling his name out as he began sucking on your clit. His tongue teased your entrance, his cock throbbing as he listened to your pants. âMine,â he said against your cunt, making you moan. âAll fucking mine.â
#ghost#simon riley#konig headcanons#ghost headcanons#konig#simon riley headcanons#smut#ghost cod#ghost x reader#simon riley x reader#ghost mw2#ghost smut#simon riley smut#kĂśnig#headcanon#headcanons#konig x reader#konig x y/n#konig mw2#konig fluff#kĂśnig smut
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and your daddy don't like me
phillip graves
cw: age-gap, pwp/smut, daddy kink, "brat" taming, semi-public sex, airplane sex, bimbo-appearing!reader, authority kink like the fic? request your own! really like the fic? leave a comment! reblogs are always encouraged!
it was cut and dry, get you from location a, onto the plane and then to location b. graves knew that it was that simple, while he thought it was a little ridiculous that your father was paying this much to get you from point a to b, the pay was nothing to scoff at.
that was the plan, until he laid eyes on you. pouty lips, bratty demeanor, the aura on you that said that you always got your way. it stopped the man dead in his tracks when he saw you. it made something twist in his gut when you started to verbally tear into one of his men.
"excuse me, girlie." he said as he put his hands on his hips, "i don't quite appreciate the way you are talking to my men." he tilted his head to the side, "no need to be a brat, ma'am."
you looked to him and stepped forward, your heels clicked with the floor. you almost stood at eye level, but the dark look on his face made you frown, "are you in charge here?"
"yes ma'am, just as your father instructed."
"i don't need a small army to get to singapore. it's a flight and the old man is paranoid." you replied. you had your hands on your hips and philip was itching to just grab your waist.
"ma'am, we're just doing our job. your father has a big amount of money in his bank account. the last thing he wants is to pay your ransom."
you sighed, "then i guess it should only take one man to get me there." you looked at the other shadows, "right?"
graves smiled, stroke his ego a little harder and see what happens. he gave the signal for his men to shuffle out. they went through all the effort to get to you, but their services won't be needed. he put his gun in the holster on his thigh and held out a gloved hand. he smiled at you, "well then." he said, "i guess we should be heading to the airport."
you placed your hand in his, and he led you to the car with you carrying your belongings in a bag and suitcase. he was even nice enough to put your luggage in the back of the car before he opened the door for you to get in.
once he started to drive, that was when the sexual energy started to form. he could see how your dress hiked up when you moved in the backseat. he could see your lovely thighs and wondered as he pulled onto the highway, what color were your panties?
you looked at him, that innocent look in your eye was masking your devilish nature. you'd be a good girl for him, right? let him do his little task to get you to sinagpore.
"mister..." you said.
"philip graves." he said, he looked at your briefly, "is something the matter?"
"oh, nothing." you blushed and looked away.
he reached out and touched your thigh, "are ya scared of flying?" he asked.
you nodded, "yeah, ever since i was little." you frowned at him.
"well don't worry, it's my job to keep ya safe. you don't have to worry about anything ma'am." he gaze you a charming, boy-next-door grin as he pulled into the parking.
you giggled, "thank you, sir."
-
you hated your father, you found him to be an obnoxious pig. he thought less of you because you were a woman. like you couldn't make your own choices! but when you were seated in the private plane with grave, you realized you had many choices during this flight.
graves was even nice enough to buckle you in before take off. you fluttered your eyelashes at him and smiled, "thank you, sir. may i hold your hand?"
he chuckled, "of course, ma'am." he held open his hand and you took it. he noted how smaller your hand was to his. he found it cute.
you held on tightly to his hand as the plane too off. your nail dug into the flesh of his hand. when the plane was safely in the air, you cuddled up close to him, "it's a long flight."
"yes it is. but don't worry, it'll go by fast." he wrapped an arm around you. you looked up at him, at least he was getting the memo.
coyly, you leaned in and kissed him gently on the lips. you said, 'i've never met a gentleman like you." then giggled.
he chuckled, "well, i'm not like most men." he reached out for you and combed his fingers through your hair, "i just think a girl like you should get the attention she needs." you kissed once more.
"there's no one but us and the pilots." you remarked.
"that is true." he touched your face, his calloused fingers grazed your soft cheek, "why don't you get a lil more comfortable." he reached over and undid your seat belt, "i have to make sure you get there safely."
you giggled, "if my father found out what you were doing, he'd have you killed!" your face was close to his again, you reached out for him.
"aw, don't worry. your daddy doesn't need to know anythin'. just make sure my cum doesn't spill out when you see him." he laughed and gave you a wink.
you leaned in and kissed him on the lips. once unbuckled, he lifted you onto his lap and pushed up your skirt. he smirked against your kiss when he felt you were wearing no panties.
"were you hopin' to fuck my men today, ma'am?" he asked, "
"no, sir. why would you suggest that?" you looked down at him, your perfectly manicured nails in his hair, you pouted a little, "my daddy says i'm a good girl, so why would i want to fuck your men?"
he looked up at you and smirked, "oh silly girl." he said slyly, "i know you better then your daddy knows ya." he started to undo your blouse, "i was wonderin' on the ride to the airport what colour they were. but, i should've guessed there'd be none." he laughed.
the sight of your thin white bra made him salivate like a dog. his cock stirred in his pants. you gripped his hair and tilted his head back. you made eye contact. you said so sweetly, "i am a good girl."
he patted your ass and chuckled, "of course, doll. the best girl there ever was. i'm just teasin'." then gave you a nice broad smile.
you lifted your skirt to expose your pussy to him, "do you want me, mister graves."
he chuckled, "of course. now be good for me." he reached between your legs and gave it a gentle touch before he undid his pants and got his cock out, "now why don't we get a little more acquainted."
you leaned in once more and kissed him as you slowly sank on his cock. he groaned into your kiss as he felt your tight heat wrapped around his cock. it felt electric.
"promise you won't tell my daddy?" you asked, your lips close to his.
he smiled, "of course, doll. it'll be our little secret. but i have to know, do you do this for all of the men who fly with your overseas?"
you shook your head, "no sir... well, maybe if they're handsome. but mostly they're too rough and hurt me."
"ah well." he chuckled, "i'd never hurt ya. pretty things like you need to be kept safe from big bad men." he then exhaled deeply as you started to move your hips. it almost took the wind out of him.
you held onto his shoulder, the roughness of his shirt contrasted with the softness of your hands. you knew how to work your hips, you didn't make it so far with daddy's money alone.
he held your hips and felt his heart race as you rode him. he prided himself as being a man who protected. he made sure little angels like you were out of harms way. the world was a big scary place and you needed a guiding hand to keep you nice and safe.
you continued to move your hips and felt his cock deep inside of you. you were impressed by his size and it had your heart racing as you gave just the cutest little humps.
he watched your breasts bounce with all of your movements. he leaned in and kissed at your chest, trying his best not to leave marks. he didn't want yer daddy to know.
you fucked like a couple of bunnies in the lavish seat of the plane. you felt your body grow hotter. you could admit that graves was handsome, more handsome than some of the men that your father sent to you.
he was pretty in an all-american way. but if you got too close, he'd devour you whole. your hips bounced on his cock and his dug his fingers deeper into the flesh of your hips. he loved when he was feeling and seeing.
he took in the sight of you, this was the best task he had in a long time. he got paid handsomely by your father and he got a good feel of your sweet sex. maybe he'll get more chances to taste and fuck you.
you yanked on his hair and pouted once more, "i want to do it differently, sir."
"no way, i want to see you orgasm like this. i want to see your 'o' face.' he chuckled as he started to thrust up into you. he continued to watch you move against him as the two of you fucked on the leather seat.
it wasn't long before you felt the heat of orgasm in your gut. your nails dug into his shoulder you watched him with your tongue partially out of your mouth. you felt like such a slut! you were a good girl!
he humped up into you. he grit his teeth before he climaxed inside of you. the thought of pumping you full of his seed made his cock twitch before it grew softer.
you rode it a little bit more until you finished as well. you squeezed your eyes shut and let out a high pitched but sweet noise. you fell into his arms and held onto the front of his shirt.
you rubbed your pussy up against his soft cock. you let out a sweet chuckle as you looked up into his eyes. all he saw was the softest eyes and glossed full lips.
he played with your hair and smiled, "well then. why don't you get comfortable. you'll need your sleep to see your daddy."
you giggled, "well... i only have one daddy now." then rubbed a little harder.
graves believed himself to be a gentleman so who was he to deny such a lovely girl another round of the mile high club.
-
"he was alright, daddy." you said on the phone in your hotel room. you looked at your nails and sighed, "how much are they paying you? right.. right.."
your father talked on the other end, he asked questions about graves as you looked out onto the port. you sighed and crossed one arm, you tilted your head to the side, "no, daddy. i didn't have sex with him!" you were obviously lying, but it was bad enough you were doing your father's dirty work, "maybe i can get some liquor into him on the flight home. but you better send me to puroland for this!"
the sex was the icing on the cake. your main objective was to milk graves for all the information he was worth. you played dumb for him, make him feel like the big strong man! it wasn't hard, actually it was too easy.
but you learned long ago that most men are stupid. it just happened that graves was also a good fuck too. <3
xoxo, bunny
#bunny writes#call of duty#reader insert#call of duty modern warfare#call of duty smut#phillip graves x reader#phillip graves smut#phillip graves#graves smut#graves x you#cod graves#graves x reader#call of duty fanfic#commander phillip graves#cod modern warfare#cod smut#graves pwp
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5: the oblivious // series m.list
note: okok... i'm sorry i have to taint them. i jus think... HE DESERVED THIS !!! ahwuhaksjf srsly i tried so hard to keep this fic pure n fluffy ,,, mebe next time LOL
warnings: jk fingers oc in the library :') ,, dirty talk ,, oc cums !! implied smut thru/out their convo ?? yeah ...
taglist request: send a request with the title of this fic âaaoâ // DO NOT comment here or on the masterlist . it gets confusing and i prefer answering and tagging through asks !!!
đˇď¸ permanent taglist: @joonsjuice @taetaecatboy @pb-n-juju @miss-rainy-days @firesighgirl @whoa-jo @vantxx95 @pamzn @kakixaku @casspirit0705 @tae165 @defzcl @sopebubbles @leefics @ggukkieland @bebebutbetter @yoongimentita7 @boraength @era-genius @4ksj @vampcharxter @miss-jupiter @floweryjeons @taegijns @jeonqkooks-main @rrosiitas @jkslvsnella @parkinglot-nights @kissyfacekoo
//
âHey, you.â
Before you can turn your head, itâs like your heart already knows who it is. Actually, itâs pretty much a given on who it is.Â
Jungkook catches up next to you, snaking his arm around your waist. He pulls you close and kisses the top of your head, followed by a tight hug. He squeezes you until you squeal free from his grip.Â
âThereâs a kinder way of greeting me that doesnât involve squeezing my guts out,â you criticize him half-heartedly. "What ever happened to just saying hi?"
He chuckles. âIt went down the drain after the first time I kissed you."
âYou always wanna kiss me, huh?â
Pretending to be offended, he shoots you a glare. âNow, now⌠Donât act like you didnât come running back for a goodnight kissââ
âOkay, okay,â you yield. âI get it. Can youââ
Without hesitation, Jungkook takes your tote bag off of your shoulders. Along with your books in your hands, he tilts his head towards the library, assuming that's where you're headed. You nod in response. Like second nature, he offers you his hand.
You take it.
With a smile, he adds, âLet's go. I got it, mi.â
Confused, you tilt your head at him. âMi?â
He then scrunches his nose at you. âFigure it out.â
You huff but mutter an âokay, fine.â Although, you don't really think about it. You have a feeling you already know what he means.
With that, you continue to walk towards the library. As you do so, Jungkook walks beside you, happier than ever. He smiles brightly when you ask him about his day. To which he replies that it was the same old same old. He states that the only exciting part about today was that he got dismissed early from class because his professor had an appointment. Hence, him being able to catch up to you on time. On Monday's, you're usually at the library by 2PM sharp. He usually joins you at 3PM, making today an hour more special than usual. You laugh, joking that he's too into you. Jungkook doesn't deny it. Poorly, he utters under his breath; âlike you wouldnât do the sameâŚâÂ
You laugh because you heard it.Â
But more than that, you laugh because itâs true. If the tables were turned, youâd be in his position. Youâd be the one looking for him. In all honesty, you don't know when that started... But it has and you wouldn't have it any other way.
Jungkook likes the mood right now. Itâs a lot like the end-of-spring weather today. Itâs playful and sweet. Moments like these are exactly why he gets so many butterflies when heâs around you. Maybe itâs because he finally feels like things are moving forward between you two. Maybe itâs because he feels your effort. Maybe because itâs finally happening.Â
You have butterflies too.
They say love is only really made up of two things: choices and timing. With your entire heart, you can't help but feel hopeful that this is that.
This is it.
When you two make it in front of the library, Jungkook holds the door open for you. Happily, you head to your spot only to find it taken.Â
âOhâŚâ you frown. âThatâsââ
âDo you want me to ask them to move?â Jungkook suggests. "I can do it."
He says it nonchalantly like it's no big deal.
That's the difference between you and him. For many things, Jungkook's approach is much more confident and not personal. You on the other hand... Would rather eat the wrong order than correct the workers. It's difficult for you to feel like you aren't inconveniencing others. It's easier for you to suck it up and move on.
With wide eyes, you shake your head. âWhat? No. That spotââ
âIt's yours if you want it... I know you want it. I can get it for you." He repeats himself. "Just tell me to, baby. I got it.âÂ
Your heart is touched by the way he validates your feelings. More than that, your heart is touched by how he understands and protects what matters to you. There's kindness in his actions. There's thoughtfulness and in a way, it makes you wonder just how well he knows your heart. Though it's just a spot in your favourite library; it's also where you feel the most safe. That's all he really wants... To be with you wherever you are the happiest. He wants it so bad. He just wants to sit with you.
When that realization hits, you can't stop it.
Your heart skips a beat.
âItâs⌠Okay, fine. Y-yeah, it is my favourite spot but it's also whatever," because wherever you are is my new favourite spot. "We can sit somewhere elseââ
His eyes light up.
âI know a spot.â
âYou do?â
âMhmm.â Jungkook nods towards the other end of the library. Before you can think twice, he takes your hand and tugs you to follow him.
And so that's what you do.
You hold his hand tightly.
You follow him.
You set your butterflies free.
Jungkook leads you to the corner of the library. Itâs a little secluded, bordered by bookshelves, and only lit by one big window. Your usual spot is right in the heart of the library. Where the high ceilings look magnificent at every time of day, and the busy atmosphere motivates you to keep going⌠This part of the library is sleepier. Itâs hidden. Itâs a littleâ
âI-is this where you go to make out with your girls?â you attempt to joke your nervousness away.Â
Jungkook grins. âJealous?â
âOnly if itâs true.âÂ
He shakes his head, completely impressed with how you answer him. Itâs times like these where he has no doubt that he likes the wrong girl. This is it. Youâre the best match for him. He wonât have anyone else.Â
He refuses to.Â
Jungkook pulls you down to his lap, and as you settle in, he kisses your neck. Out of reflex, you hesitate when someone walks past you two. They chuckle at you two as if they know the spot... As if they know Jungkook.
You clear your throat and shift away.
Instantly, he notices and sighs. He isn't disappointed or annoyed, he knows you're shy. He knows you need reassurance. He knows to listen to you.
â___, if you think this is some fuckboy move Iâm pulling⌠Youâre right. But itâs not my move. Itâs Jinâs.â He confesses. âIâve never made out with a girl in the library. Never felt like it⌠Like, itâs just so boring and like⌠The lowest level of an exhibition kink.âÂ
âWhatâs the highest?â
Jungkook blanks out.Â
âDonât edge me like that,â he warns you. âDonât ask if the answer has nothing to do with you and me.â
More than his head and heart, Jungkook feels like his dick might go crazy.
You laugh, as you get up from his lap and sit on the chair beside him. He groans and keeps his hand on your wrist as you move. Jungkook only lets go when you reach over for your bag and begin to unpack.Â
He watches you as you prepare your notes in front of him and turn your laptop on. In complete disbelief of the direction of the conversation, he canât take his eyes off of you.Â
Itâs like heâs in a trance. He doesnât know if heâs even blinking. He must be, right? Youâre the only thing that he sees. The only thing he can think of lately... And to see you so close to him? It feels surreal.
Heâs so lucky.Â
Heâs so in love.
Thereâs no other way of putting it.
Over these past few months, youâve made it incredibly difficult for him to deny his feelings. He canât even suppress them anymore like the good subconscious fuckboy he is. You have not only captured his heart with your gentleness, but you have him mesmerized with every single part of yourself that you give to him. As time goes by, he isnât sure how much more he can hold out before a kiss turns into something more or how many words he has left to use before the words âmarry me,â escape his lips. Itâs just so easy with you.
Itâs so easy to feel loved and be in love.Â
âStop staring at me,â you hum as you read through your articles. You donât even glance at him, but you feel it. You feel the desire to. You should give in⌠Right? Maybeâ
âGod, you have no idea how hard Iâm trying.âÂ
You turn to look at him, lips curved into a small smile. âT-try harder⌠Like me.â
This time, Jungkook is caught off guard. Maybe you aren't as oblivious as he once thought you were.
âWhat do you mean?â he asks, moving his seat closer to you. You sit back and lean in towards his body. It's as if the work you prepared to focus on has completely lost its significance.
It has.
âI think youâre handsome,â you admit. You say it so gently that it comes off a little timid... Sure nonetheless. âBut you donât see my eyes popping out of my headââ
âYou think Iâm handsome?â Jungkook chuckles, feeling flattered with the way you're trying so hard to get past this nonchalantly. Nice try, ___. He plans to milk this out as much as possible. âWhat else?â
You scrunch your nose at him. âA little annoying to be honest. This is my study time, and youâre acting all cute.â
âSo you think Iâm handsome and cute?â
Rolling your eyes, you push away from him playfully. âI think you know know what you are.â Â
Instantly, he hates the distance you put in between you two. You were just close to him⌠Why move away? He moves closer to you. You giggle as you feel him moving your hair from your neck. Sweetly, he kisses your neck and behind your ear.Â
âJust means more coming from you⌠You know? Makes me happy when you think of me.â
âI always think of you,â you breathe, pushing him away again. He gives you a lazy smile and you squish his lips together into a pout. ���Are you done? Stop staring at me. Stop trying to make out with me. Stopââ
âWhy?â Jungkook tests you, removing your hands from his face. Youâre tongue tied. â___, if youâre in love with me, fess up now. Arenât we supposed to be doing that honesty thing?â
âThat was more for you than it is for meâŚâ you remind him. âNow, get it together or get out.â
âYou canât kick me out of the library. You arenât the police. If you are, show me your handcuffs.â Jungkook demands. âPlus, this is my spot.â
With an annoyed tone, you sit up and argue back. âYou took my spotââ
âShhh,â he cuts you off by pressing a kiss on your lips. Your lips chase his as he pulls away. You let out a whine and furrow your eyebrows together.
One more, please.
One more kiss.
Jungkook settles back to his seat and takes his books out. Ignoring your pleas, he places his hand on your knee (like he always does) and hushes you one last time; â___, get it together or get out.âÂ
Jungkookâs hand on your knees somehow made it up your skirt.Â
Letâs not talk about it. Instead, letâs just accept that this is whatâs happening now.
Even so, you admit that a part of you should have seen this coming⌠Nevertheless, you arenât mad that itâs happening. Youâd be lying if you never went through your ovulation and didnât think about Jungkook⌠Besides, heâs been so good to you. He deserves this!
God, did he deserve this.Â
He has wanted this for so long. Aside from being mindlessly in love with you 24/7, he has thought about it. Of course, he has. At the end of the day, his heart can't be the only thing that's in(to) you. He's a nice guy, meaning heâd rather service you first.
Mark his word but the day you and him actually do sleep together and it's you doing things to him...
It will be unforgettable.
It will be incomparable.
It will be everything.
For now, this is it. His hoodie sits on top of your lap as his fingers are up your pussy. You two are still in the library at his spot. Everyone has left to eat dinner. The only ones at the library are the workers and the try-hard students in the main rooms.
Besides⌠Youâre close.Â
Really fucking close.
As his fingers pump inside you, you squirm in your chair. Leaning your forehead against his chest, he rests his chin on top of your head and utters; âtake it, baby. You can do it. Make me proud.â
âI c-canât,â you cry, feeling it in your bones at this point. His fingers curl inside you, and you practically jump out of your seat when he adds his thumb to rub onto your clit.Â
âWish it was my mouth,â he whines. âCan I do that next time, baby? Can I suck your cunt? So fucking swollen right now... You thinking of me eating you out, baby? Wanna lick that pussy so bad.. Ahh, fuck.â
âM-mnhmphh,â you moan at the thought. âKiss me, p-pleaseâŚâ
You tilt your face up and pursed your lips at him. Jungkook lowers his head and kisses you, deep and slow. Itâs a contradiction to how he picks up the pace and fucks you with his fingers. You gasp, mouth opening for him. He catches your tongue and sucks on it.Â
Pulling away, you grab a handful of his shirt and tug on it. Holding onto it, you pant and feel the tingles in your body intensify.
âThatâs it, ___. Clench around my fucking fingers,â he hisses. âBe an angel and cream them, yeah? Fuck my fingers back if you want. Iâll let you.âÂ
You shake your head. âN-no. You started this, you finish it.â
He grins. âWhat my girl wants, she gets.âÂ
He keeps going, fucking you with his fingers. They curl, searching inside your pussy as if thereâs something to fucking find. Actually, maybe heâll find your dignity in there. You must have lost your mind to be fingered in the fucking library!
Your thoughts are cut off when he pulls his fingers out and rubs your folds. You almost cry when you feel him pinch your clit.Â
âJungkook,â you whine, feeling yourself climax.Â
âJungkook,â he mocks, as he feels your upper body collapse against his.Â
As you feel yourself cum, you gather the strength to stick up for yourself. âS-shut up.â
He laughs, and kisses the top of your head as he pulls his fingers out. He murmurs between kisses; âGood job, baby⌠Did so good. Proud of you.â
Your heart flutters as you catch your breath and straighten your posture. With Jungkookâs free hand, he reaches in his bag for the little packet of tissue (that you had packed in there a few days ago because you noticed he had a runny nose) and nonchalantly wipes your mess.Â
âYour fingersââ
Jungkook shoves them in his mouth, sucking on your cum. As he cleans them off, you glare at him.Â
âDon'tâoh my god," you huff. Suddenly, you feel embarrassed about everything that just happened. Jungkook laughs and leans forward. He kisses your cheek, asking if you're okay. You nod and feel yourself beginning to blank out.
"You're nasty."
He cups your face and kisses your lips. âYeah, yeah... But, baby, I wasnât the one that came in the library.â
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Second Choices
Pairing:Â Cassian x Reader
Masterlist
A/N: I hope this makes sense lol. I opened my planning doc for the next part of Triad, read the three sentences I had written there, and then closed it and went back to a random drabble in my notes app that exploded into this. So⌠enjoy, I guess? There will be three parts of this total, so click here to be added to the taglist to be notified when those go live!
Warnings: Angst, drinking, drug use (slightly forced, if you squint?), a little hint of smut at the end but it doesn't progress very far
âY/N is a bitch,â Braelie whined, voice echoing out from the restroomâs open door. Mor sighed, snapped the cap back onto her signature red lip gloss, then turned towards Cassianâs female-du-jour. She was pretty, in an artificial sort of way. Her foundation, a shade too light, was caked on with a thick layer of matte powder that swallowed the light when it hit her face, leaving her skin dull and sullen. The dark eye makeup and too-bright lipstick made her look like a doll, and not the kind for children.
âListen, Brae,â Mor hoped that using a nickname would soften the major blow she was about to land. She reached out and laid a light, comforting hand onto one bony shoulder. âY/N and Cassian have been friends for a long time. I wonât lie to you, sometimes the lines get blurred when theyâre both single. Sheâs probably having some complicated feelings, since youâre so pretty,â Mor rushed to add that last part when Braelinâs lower lip wobbled. Then she prayed to the Mother for your forgiveness and said, lowering her voice to a whisper, âsheâs probably just jealous.â
That put a spark back into Braelieâs eyes, and Mor cringed. She added Cassian to her list of prayers as Braelie flounced away in search of him.
Cassian hovered with his hand on the doorknob, ready to duck out the side door to sneak in a quick smoke break while Braelie freshened up with Mor.Â
Braelie was hot, sure, but Cauldron she was dumb. If Cassian had to hear the words, âwait, really?â one more time, he might not make it long enough to get her into his bed tonight. Just a few puffs of mirthroot would dull the edges of his brain enough to find her cluelessness endearing.Â
She wasnât the most exciting company, but she was reliable, and he needed that. Heâd broken things off with Skyla three weeks earlier and knew that he was dangerously close to doing the one thing he wore heâd stop doing, so he went out one night, alone, and found Braelie.Â
After overhearing Morâs words, he felt guilt roiling deep in his gut. So he smoked half a joint and headed back inside. He danced with her and thought of you. Walked her home and thought of you. She invited him in for a drink and pressed her too-pink lips against his.Â
He thought of you.Â
Afterward, he wrapped one arm around her shoulders and waited until her breathing slowed before sneaking out through the window. He shoved off of the sill and let his wings fully expand, catching the wind and sending him soaring into the early morning sky.Â
â
You hadnât meant for Cassianâs latest fling to overhear you calling her a âCauldron-damned floozy,â but it had happened anyway.Â
âSheâs soooooo annoyingggg,â you slurred, taking another swig from the wine glass in your hand. You let your head fall back until it landed on Azrielâs shoulder. He chuckled and you felt his shadows nipping at your cheeks, lightly scolding you for being bitchy. They tickled like tiny, ice-cold kisses, but that wasnât enough to stop you. âSeriously, Az. I dunno what Cas sees in her. Sheâs just another Cauldron-damned floozy, good for keeping his bed warm and not much else.âÂ
Mor had managed to redirect Braelie towards the restrooms after that, leaving you alone in the booth with Az, completely oblivious.Â
Azrielâs shadows had alerted him to her presence, and a smirk graced his lips. He sensed some major drama brewing and relished in his position at the sidelines.Â
âWhy, Y/N, if I didnât know better, Iâd say you sound jealous,â he drawled. You let your head loll to the side so you could glare at him, which coaxed a bark of laughter from his lips.Â
â
The first coherent thought you had the next morning was water. I need water. You dragged yourself out of bed and trudged into the bathroom, gulping mouthful after mouthful straight from the faucet.Â
But water could only do so much for a hangover, so you threw a robe over your pajamas and tiptoed down the Townhouse stairs. It was nearing noon but, based on the disheveled state everyone had returned in last night, you didnât want to risk waking anyone and incurring their hungover wrath.Â
Outside the kitchen, you heard low, muffled voices and paused to listen before entering. Mother forbid you end up interrupting Cassian and Braelieâs post-coital feast. Cauldron, even her name was annoying.Â
âI just donât understand why Y/N would say something like that,â you heard Cassian say, wincing as memories from last night flooded your brain.Â
âLook, Y/Nâs your best friend, Iâm sure sheâs just feeling put out now that youâre spending so much time with Braelie,â Az said, careful to keep his tone neutral.Â
âWell she doesnât have to be such a bitch about it.âÂ
You turned away and snuck back up the stairs to change into real clothes, deciding that breakfast at your favorite cafe was in order. Preferably paired with a mimosa or five.Â
âÂ
Az sighed and took a sip of tea to buy himself some time to think. Heâd stayed up with Mor until sunrise, talking about their clueless friends.Â
While your comments about Cassianâs love life had been funny the first few times, after more than three decades, it was getting old. They recognized a pattern repeating itself ad nauseam; Cassian gets a new girlfriend, you distance yourself from him and start grumbling about the girlsâ flaws, then when Cas eventually dumped her youâd be back to being best friends like no time had passed at all. And if you both happen to be single, well, sometimes after smoking too much mirthroot youâd end up all over each other. In a friendly way, of course.Â
This time, though, youâd been much more open about your hatred for Braelie despite the fact that she was one of the more tolerable âflooziesâ theyâd had to deal with over the years. She was dumb but harmless, and soon enough Cassian would tire of her, resetting the cycle once again.Â
So theyâd decided to divide and conquer; Mor was going to try and get it through your thick skull that youâre in love with Cas, while Az was tasked with showing the General what was right in front of him.Â
Easier said than done. So he decided to go for the jugular.Â
âWell, itâs not like you have the best track record with females. Maybe Y/Nâs gotten tired of playing nice when youâve got someone new on your arm every other week.â
âLast I checked that wasnât a crime.âÂ
Az held his hands up, raising one eyebrow at Cas.Â
âDonât shoot the messenger. If itâs really bothering you, why donât you talk to her? Iâm sure if you asked her to lay off Braelie she would.â
Cas ducked his head to hide the heat rushing to his face and mumbled something incoherent into his chest.Â
âSorry, brother, what was that? I couldnât hear you over the sound of my shadows laughing at your blush.â
âI broke up with her this morning,â Cas growled, tightening his grip on the mug in his fist.Â
Azriel cackled, laughter only growing louder when Cas glared at him.Â
âItâs not funny,â Cas insisted, launching his teaspoon over the table. Azâs shadows caught it before it could make contact, turning Casâs glare into a downright glower. Â
âAlright, alright, itâs not funny. Youâre just predictable, thatâs all.âÂ
After stewing in silence for a few minutes, Cas felt his self control crumbling. Words bubbled up from his chest, through his throat, and then he was rambling.Â
âI overheard Mor telling Braelie that Y/N was jealous of her,â he pushed his chair back and started pacing back and forth across the kitchen. âAnd at first I thought, no way, thatâs crazy, if Y/N was jealous I would know. But I couldnât stop thinking about it. She always gets weird whenever Iâm dating someone, right?â
âMaybe you should talk to her about it,â Az suggested, leaning back in his seat. Just a friend offering a casual, off-the-cuff solution to a problem he knows nothing about.Â
âYeah, maybeâŚâ
â
Mor tracked you down later that afternoon, sprawled out on a blanket next to the Sidra and halfway through a bottle of vintage red imported from the Summer Court.Â
âHeyyy,â you greeted her, pushing yourself up into a sitting position and holding the bottle out towards your friend. âCome to join the pity party?âÂ
Mor eyed you, curiosity and amusement sparking behind her honey brown eyes, and she accepted your offering.Â
âAnd why are we having a pity party?â she asked, plopping down next to you and taking a long pull from the bottle.Â
âCause I fuck everything up, duh.â You flopped back down, this time onto your stomach. âCassian hates me, but whatever. Iâm sure he and Braelie are going to be very happy together.â
Mor had to force her eyes not to roll at your drunken dramatics.Â
âIâm gonna find a boyfriend, that way when they break up Cas canât come crawling back to me with his dick in his hand. See how he likes it.â You made grabby hands for the bottle but Mor shook her head, keeping it held just out of your reach.Â
âOr you could try telling him how you feel?â She suggested, casually, as she took another sip.Â
You scoffed, hiccuping giggles following as you struggled to keep your composure as mixed emotions ebbed and flowed through your body.Â
âTell him how I feel? Should I tell him it makes my skin itch whenever he dances with another girl? Tell him that I havenât been able to finish with anyone else since the first time he fucked me? Or maybe I should tell him that heâs my mate, good idea, Mor. Maybe that will make him fall in love with me!âÂ
Mor let her eyes roll this time, patting you on the back. But when you flipped onto your back, she saw the pain and longing etched into the lines on your face and stared deep into your eyes, waiting for you to laugh and say it was just a joke.Â
Unease settled in her stomach.Â
âWait, youâre serious, arenât you?â she asked.Â
âHeâs my Cauldron-damned mate, and he doesnât even know it. Heâs too busy burying himself in the hordes of females fawning all over him to notice how much it hurts.âÂ
âY/NâŚhow long have you known?âÂ
âFour years,â you whispered, throwing an arm over your eyes to hide your tears from your oldest friend.
âOh, babe,â she sighed, tugging you up into her arms. The dam behind your eyes broke and sobs wracked your body while the gears in Morâs brain started turning.Â
When you finally settled in her lap, tears dried up, she hauled you to your feet. âCâmon, letâs get you home.âÂ
All you managed to mutter was, âNot the Townhouse,â before she winnowed you away. Â
â
Cassian dodged Azrielâs attempts at cheering him up in favor of sulking at the kitchen table all day, waiting for you to wake up.Â
When it was nearing dinner time, he sighed and put together a tray of tea and pastries to bring up to you as a peace offering. But after knocking politely on your door for five minutes straight, worry started worming its way into his stomach and he threw open the door to reveal your bed, perfectly made and empty.Â
âFuck,â he growled, throwing the tray down the hallway where it crashed against the wall, broken bits of pottery clattering to the ground. Heâd wasted all day waiting for you when you were out doing Mother knows what with Mother knows who.Â
Screw apologies, he was on a warpath now. Â
He trekked through the busy streets of Velaris looking for any sign of you, starting at Amrenâs apartment and making his way through your favorite shops and restaurants with no success. Just when he was about to give up, assuming you were holed up with a male somewhere, he saw Mor ducking into one of the small cafes near the Sidra.Â
âMor!â he shouted, jogging to catch the door before it closed behind her. She turned around, and a look of shock flashed across her face before it smoothed into cool indifference.Â
âCassian,â she said, nodding at him before turning to the hostess stand. âIâm here to pick up a takeout order for Morrigan.âÂ
The hostess nodded and disappeared into the kitchen to grab the food. Cas reached out and grabbed Morâs wrist, tugging her around to face him. Â
âWhere is she?â he asked, barely able to contain the rage flowing through his veins.Â
âNot now, Cas,â Mor sighed, wrenching her arm from his grasp. âTrust me. Just give her some space.âÂ
âI canât,â he growled, siphons glowing as if they were attempting to warn her that his magic was sizzling just beneath the surface. It felt like something was pulling him along, the desire to find you growing stronger the longer he looked. âI need to find her. Please, Mor.â
The hostess came back and handed a bag to Mor, who promptly turned around and dumped it into Casâs arms.Â
âFine, then you can take this up to the House of Wind for me. I have some errands to run, you have an hour.â Casâs face relaxed and he nodded, about to open his mouth to thank her when she waved a hand at him to dismiss him.Â
But when they were back outside, she turned around to flash a sickly sweet smile at him.Â
âOh, and Cassian?â His eyes widened as he froze in place, wings spread and ready to take off. âIf you hurt her, I will feed you to Bryaxis.âÂ
With that, she disappeared and Cassian took to the skies wondering what would be waiting for him when he arrived.Â
âÂ
On the back deck of the House of Wind, you stood leaning against the railing, music swirling around you as you watched the sun sink behind the buildings of Velaris below. Lights blinked on one by one until the whole city was filled with twinkling stars.
With a joint in one hand and a glass of wine in the other, your mind was finally, blissfully, numb. Only the subtle ache deep in your core served as a reminder of your unfortunate situation, but even that was starting to dull.Â
Of course, your peaceful night had to be ruined by the one male you had no desire to see. The sound of flapping wings and rushing of air past your face gave you a split-second warning, and then Cassian dropped to the ground behind you.Â
You turned around and held the hand with the joint lazily balanced between two fingers at your forehead.Â
âGeneral Bloodshed, or whatever the fuck,â you said, wobbling on unsteady feet as you saluted him. Then you lowered your hand and took a long drag, holding the smoke in your lungs for as long as physically possible before letting it out in a steady stream pointed in his direction. âCome to fight for your fair maidenâs honor, or just to rub it in my face that youâre getting laid and you donât need me anymore?â
âY/N,â he said, all the anger draining from his body as he took in the bags under your eyes and the heavy winter clothes hanging off your frame even though Summer was right around the corner. It was like he was seeing you for the first time after a long mission away, noticing how much weight youâd lost, how tired your body looked.Â
He set the food down on one of the lounge chairs and took slow, careful steps towards you.Â
âY/N,â he repeated, âWhatâs going on?â
âNothinâ, Cassie, nothinâ at all,â you said, pausing to hiccup before continuing. âI donât care about Braelie, I donât care about you, I donât care about anything.â You thrust your arms out wide and turned to face the sunset, which was now casting a golden glow onto Velaris. âIâve got a hot date with my fingers later, and I probably wonât even think about you.â
Cas ignored the heat flaring up low in his belly at the mental image that flashed behind his eyes.Â
âHey,â he whispered, coming up next to you and prying the joint from your hand. âGimme that.âÂ
You turned to face him, lower lip stuck out in a pout.Â
âWhy? So you can leave me here and go get high with Braelie? I bet sheâs real mouthy. You like em loud, donât you? Like when females beg for that big Illyrian cock?â
Your voice got higher and higher, becoming breathless as you rambled on, letting all of your deepest, darkest, pent-up thoughts and feelings fall from your lips. Even though you knew youâd regret it in the morning, in the moment it felt so good to let them go.Â
âY/N, stop, just take a breath. Iâm not going to leave you, okay!â Cassian stubbed out the joint and tossed it aside, putting his hands on your shoulders to force you to look at him. âIâm not going to see Braelie, I broke up with her this morning.âÂ
Your eyes glazed over as you looked him up and down, a lazy smirk blooming on your lips.Â
âOhhhh, I see how it is,â you drawled, waving a hand to summon the joint to you. Snapping your fingers to spark it back to life, you took another deep hit and then stuffed the unlit end into Casâs mouth. He tried to protest but you held firm until he finally inhaled. Its effects hit immediately, and you watched as his shoulders drooped, muscles relaxing. With a wicked grin, you dropped from his loosened grip to your knees, palming his dick through his leathers. âWant me to kiss it better, put your broken heart back together?âÂ
A war waged behind Casâs eyes; on the one hand, the mirthroot was clouding his judgment and lust threatened to take over at the sight of you looking up at him with wide eyes. Â
On the other hand, he had set out to make things right, to talk to you and figure out the true nature of your feelings for him. Sleeping with you would send the wrong message.Â
âY/N, stop,â he grunted, pulling his hips back and shoving your hand away.Â
âWhat?â you asked, your pout back in full force. âWant me to beg for it first, cause you know I will? Know Iâll give you anything you want?â You shoved yourself up to your feet, pushing onto your tiptoes so your narrowed eyes bore right into Cassianâs.Â
He felt the tension that had been building all day melt awayâthe anger, the frustration, the confusionâall of it was gone with a snap of golden magic that flooded his body.Â
You felt it, too, from your side of the bond, could see the moment it registered behind those hazel eyes. It felt like the bond was on your side, snapping just in time to help you prove a point.
âIâm done being your second choice, mate,â you snarled, plucking the joint from his hand before turning around and stalking into the house, leaving him stranded alone in the darkness.Â
#acotar imagine#acotar headcanon#acotar fanfiction#acotar fanfic#cassian x reader#cassian x you#cassian#cassian imagine#cassian imagines#cassian fanfiction#cassian fanfic#cassian acotar#imagine#imagines#angst#imaginesandbandfiction
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Trying to make an entry for the jam made me confront a question: how does one inject flavour and evocative writing in an RPG when there is little to no space for flavour text?
I ended up unable to add any writing that wasn't rules without going over the 200 word limit, outside of maybe the naming of some mechanics, but I went in thinking that being able to provoke the imagination would be the difference between an ok entry and a really good one.
How would you do it?
(With reference to this post here.)
The customary answer in the one-page-RPG sphere is graphic design, but here you can't do much of that, so you need to rely on phrasing, rhythm, register, word choice, and yes, game-mechanical jargon. Indie RPGs are often mocked for using their own idiosyncratic terminology rather using the "standard" jargon developed by Dungeons & Dragons and its various direct imitators, but there really is a point: even something as simple as the level of formality of the mechanical text can have a huge impact on how a game comes across.
Let's look at an extreme example â my own recent experiment in fitting a complete game into a single Bluesky post:
CREATURES Need: 3d6 Character * Skills: Hands, Feet, Mouth, Guts; assign 3, 2, 2, 1 * Traits: claws, fangs, fins, horns, shell, slime, tail, tentacles, trunk, wings; pick 2 Conflict * Roll dice=skill * Highest: * 6: Yay * 4â5: Okay * 1â3: Uh-oh Scenario * escape maze * eat wizard * profit!
This one only has three hundred characters to work with, and consists almost entirely of rules text, yet the structure and word choice convey a very clear idea of who the player characters are and what they do!
It can be helpful to bear in mind that the separation of rules text and flavour text is an artificial one, adopted by long-form games where mixing mechanics with microfiction can make the former difficult to when there's three hundred pages of the latter to comb through. You don't really need to worry about that in a very short game, so you're free to have the same text play both roles.
#gaming#tabletop roleplaying#tabletop rpgs#game design#game jam#tumblr 200 word rpgs 2024#tumblr 200 word rpgs#200 word rpgs#violence mention#death mention#cannibalism mention#anthropophagy mention
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