#but in the moment i will not be immune to anyone being in tears

[lovecolibri]

SaL anon here friend, hoping your in the mood for some incoherent Friday rambling because that's where I'm at right now and have been for days. First off, i think we should both thank and curse the new intern 911 hired, who apparently switched out the promo team's decaf for some Columbian dark roast. Seriously after spending the first half of the season practically catatonic between episodes suddenly we can't catch a break for even 24 hours before the next unhinged thing comes out. Next, let's

thank Mr. Ryan Guzman for looking at his character's scene notes, apparently rolling his eyes, and deciding to take matters into his own hands. Look, I'm not trying to say the rest of the 118 doesn't look devastated, but Eddie looks like he's about to start bawling on the floor and that's the real reason he grabbed Chim. I'll come back to this but his moments sure don't hit like pure platonic concern, there is some real desperation there. Also not to bring up KR rambling but lady if you were so surprised by Ryan's performance and didn't want it to come across like THAT, aren't you in charge? Couldn't you make the call and say "I need you to give me less"?? Anyway, the parallels between this and Eddie's shooting are ridiculous, so I also gave to think if this isn't going somewhere what the fuck is the point?? Why go through all this trouble to make it so obvious and heartfelt and hurt so much if it just goes back to business as usual?? That more than anything would piss me off. Yes, let Buck learn a thing or two about his own worth (we've only been waiting SEASONS for it), but also can we stop pretending putting these two specific characters in these life and death scenarios where they have to watch the other dying and their whole world looks like it's coming apart doesn't mean anything?? Finally (for now) here's what I'd like to see next episode. We know Buck is going to see the people he loves but not in the way he knows he knows them. So I'd love to be what prompts him to wake is seeing Chris. But not just any version of him. This Chris is an orphan, his mom died and there wasn't anyone to save his Dad from getting shot. He lives with his grandparents (pre Ramon reckoning), he had to go to them since there was no other parent in Eddie's life to take care of him. So this bright, brave kid is now sad and scared of the world, and Buck knows its wrong. I'll leave you with this mess of thoughts 😭.

Hello friend! We had people over this evening so I'm trying to get this done before I get to bed because I really do need to clear out my inbox (RIP to everyone who came to be salty with me and KR's interviews because we immediately got sneak peeks and poker stills and DO MORE, and my brain went offline).

Seriously, I don't know who started slipping the promo team cocaine but damn. Let us REST for a second! Between them and the fandom coming out in FORCE to wreck us or be horny on main, it's A Lot and I need sleep!

Ryan is out here giving us The Most and KR acting *shocked pikachu* about it just shows how much she sleeps on Ryan as an actor and Eddie as a character.I rewatched 6x10 and like, I know he's got a lot next episode but for a premier maybe we could have checked in with him and Chris since we checked in with literally everyone else at their homes? I'm trying not to be too negative because after s5 and 6a, this is THEE most excited I've been in awhile and I really do think the show is at least trying to course correct after....whatever TF 6a was and the weirdness of s5.

And the stuff with Eddie, it's like, you're right they COULD tell him to do less! They could say "this is what we're looking for" or at least "this is what we're NOT looking for" but clearly his actions were signed off on and made it to air knowing full well what people would see when they watched it. And what you see is a man desperately broken by the possibility of losing his partner. Which is GREAT if the show is working on a s7 Buddie reveal plan (I'm with @outrunningthedark I don't think they want to overshadow the Madney moment coming up which is fine), but it's....disappointing when there is so much good stuff going on right now and all KR wants to talk about is how much fun they had forcing Eddie "they're not really my type" Diaz to casually date randos because that's something he's ever been interested in doing. He really seems like a guy that enjoys wasting his limited free time meeting lots of new people only interested in getting into his pants instead of taking care of his partner who literally died for several minutes, and doing things with his son. Sure Jan. FFS, read the room! Or read the character profile before you start throwing storylines at the wall to see what sticks (lookin' at you sperm donor plot that is apparently giving Nothing). Yeah, yeah, managing expectations with a showrunner like her is good, but it's also a lot of whiplash right now between what we're seeing on our screens and what she's trying to TELL us we're seeing on our screens. I'm just so sick of them giving what should be THEE moment for Buddie only to follow it up by shoving some woman between them like "oh, nothing to see here!" Give me a break. And then what are they going to do for the actual reveal? How are they going to raise the stakes AGAIN? How are they going to be like, "yeah this is the 5th time one of us has almost died, but THIS time it's allowed to be an "Oh" moment for us because TPTB finally signed off on it!" 🙄🙄🙄 On the bright side, the Buddie of it all has kept the show trending off an on for almost two weeks and will certainly continue through next week so at least whoever is paying attention to that stuff and saw how dead everything was after the finale has some comparison to work with!

ANYWAY

Sad an lonely Chris would be HEARTBREAKING and my heart couldn't take it! 😭😭😭 That boy deserves ONLY good things! I will say I am a little...not mad but I am certainly side-eyeing this coma storyline seeming to be about how Buck's work as a firefighter is what changed everyone's lives because like, YES him being at the 118 changed everything for everyone, but also this is the guy who panic-sued the department to get back to work because he felt worthless if he wasn't doing his job. Which we then found out stemmed from childhood trauma and neglect, but right now, for where he's at, he's not questioning his choice of job so he doesn't need a push like Eddie to come back to where he belongs. And he's already wrapped up in a storyline that SHOULD be about him giving up parts and pieces of himself to make other's happy at cost to his own happiness (though right now we don't know WHAT it's suppose to be about since he's not going to struggle with walking away per Oliver and he's not learning anything so what's the point?). So how is better for him to be facing a life where Daniel lived and he's loved and happy (which is what they've been making it sound like) but everyone at the 118 is a mess without him, proving that it's better for everyone ELSE if he sacrifices everything and doesn't get the happy life he always dreamed of? Like I'm not trying to be negative and I'm still REALLY excited about the episode (as you can see from my unhinged posting this week) and I just KNOW everyone's performances are going to slay us, and this storyline might go differently than I'm expecting and be something really great! But I'm just...getting my side-eyes out because if KR has proved anything it's that she can't plan a fucking arc for shit, and she lacks a basic understanding of the trauma and driving forces behind the characters.

Final note because I didn't want to end on that one, I think everyone in the firefam deserves an Emmy for what they're going to give us and I am READY for their reactions to rip my heart out and stomp on it. It is TIME Buck wakes up with his REAL family around his bed and knows how very much he is loved for just being Buck and how hard they fought to bring him back to them, because he's their family and they CHOOSE him. Buck is always the one being left, but he's going to wake up and hear how everyone he loves begged him to stay with them. It's going to be *delicious*

[izvmimi]

cw: breakup mention. alcohol use. hurt/comfort.

When Katsuki shows up to the exact location you provided him, just minutes after you’d called him out of the blue at 3 am, not even the excuse of being under the influence available to you given the three pathetic sips you’ve had of the can of beer in your right hand, you realize you hadn’t exactly thought this far.

You hadn’t expected him to pick up, and you hadn’t intended on leaving a message. Not from a number he couldn’t possibly know given you’d changed it about two years ago, and definitely not from you, not after the way you’d severed ties with him abruptly and mercilessly. 

In his opinion.

… Okay, perhaps yours, too.

You had expected the half-groggy, half-livid way he’d answered, the hothead in him not immune to a call that would annoy literally anyone with a modicum of sense, but you hadn’t expected his voice to so immediately soften at the sound of yours, to recognize you so readily even.

And now watching him touch down from the sky to where you sit on a park bench, just several feet away from a 24 hour convenience store, you realize you’re not sure what to say.

Still, you’re happy to see him. Enough so, that for a moment, you blink back tears in your eyes, precluding you from seeing how uncharacteristically gentle his red ones are. 

He tries to play it cool, shoving his hands into the pockets of his dark gray sweatpants, a slight hunch in his back accentuated by the snug fit of a black hoodie. A skull insignia covers the front, and you wonder if he’ll ever grow up. 

That was one of your points of contention when you were once an item. Growing up. 

“Hey.”

Katsuki is careful; reticent in his speech as he moves towards you, and you can see him ponder before he takes a seat by your side. You clutch the can of beer in your hand a little tighter, resting your arm upon the knees you’ve folded and raised onto the seat of the park bench. His posture is still closed, hands in his pockets, and he stares straight ahead. He lets out a sigh.

“Why’d you call? Get dumped or something?”

You scoff as you say, “yes.”

Katsuki did not actually expect you to say that and turns to look at you, which has you amused, if only for a second. You’re not drunk, but you sure are acting it, you think, but perhaps madness from your bout of depression is really settling in.

“Months ago, though,” you add. You take another sip of your beer, and he watches you wince. He knows you’re not actually a fan of it at all, and plus there’s nothing intelligent or safe about drinking in the middle of the night without a companion, without a definite way home. 

He remembers he actually doesn't know where your home is these days.

“Why did you need to see me?” he asks firmly now, his eyes still focused on the can because he’s afraid of looking at your face and letting old love resurface.

You smile and look at him, resting your head on your knees.

“I didn’t expect you to come,” you admit.

“You called.”

In another world, he’d then roll his eyes at you, but tonight he looks at you steadily and seriously. Perhaps he's the one who has matured, and you haven’t. He remains your longtime crush and your longtime crutch, even now, as you feel yourself lose your grip on sanity, embracing madness, regardless of how transient it might be.

It’s quiet for a few more moments, save for the rustling of leaves as the winds of the witching hour pick up between you, and you let out a soft sigh, realizing he won’t say anything else to fill the silence. Letting your feet fall flat to the ground, you shrug.

“I couldn’t sleep and I thought of you,” you admit. 

Katsuki’s eyes slide away from you quickly, his fingers curling around the edge of the seat at his sides, as if bracing himself.

“It’s been years,” he reminds you. You nod, without looking at him.

“My heart remembers.”

It’s cheesy and he doesn’t mock you for it. Instead, he crosses his arms over his chest.

“I see.”

You’re suddenly embarrassed, face warmed from toes to nose. He sees. What does he see? That you’re pathetic? That you’re needy? That perhaps you were wrong all these years and even if he’s flown back to see you, you’re the one crawling back to him? 

You remain in disquiet now, your arms wrapping around yourself for support. You can hear it now -  If you wanted someone to pat your ass, should have called damn Deku or Kirishima. I’m not a goddamn booty call. You lost your chance with me ages ago. Don’t fucking call me again.

Instead, he takes the can of beer you’ve set beside you and takes a sip first, then downs it as you watch. Just as soon as he’s done, he crushes the can and throws it into the nearest recycling bin. 

He doesn't miss.

“You’re not an alcoholic. No use pretending to drown your sorrows,” he says. “Either talk about them or don’t. I’m already up anyway.”

It’s not meant to be a joke or a jab, just a statement. 

You’re surprised for a moment but an unwitting smile comes to your lips.

“Are you sure you want to hear me complain in the middle of the night? I have a lot to say.”

Katsuki gives you a look, a raised eyebrow reminding you not to ask any more silly questions, and it almost makes you laugh.

As if you intend to be considerate now of all times.

“Well, it all began with the day I was born…”

He lets out the softest of groans and lets his head hang back in a dramatic fashion, arms still crossed over his chest, and legs spread. This time your laugh is loud.

It’s unfair and unreasonable that he still makes you laugh without trying.

And yet he does anyway, and he listens to you speak until the sun comes up.

[gay-dorito-dust]

YOOO I SEE U FELLOW UNUS ANUSER🫵🫵 i fucking love ur works keep at it bestie pls feed our delusions😫😫

may i ask for, dan heng, blade and jing yuan with a sweet and kind s/o but the moment theyre (the characters) are talked to in a disrespectful way, s/o is immediately turning into a guard dog with a “i’ll tear out your guts with my hand showed down your throat”? idk i just love feral but also gentle s/o tropes so much😔

Thank you 🫵 my fellow Unus Anuser for the ask and enjoying my writings, despite me thinking half of them could be better but I’m not going to complain if ppl enjoy them regardless.

Dan Heng:

He’s taken aback by your sudden threats of violence towards a random pedestrian for intentionally bumping into him.

He was more use to Caelus rummaging through trash cans before waxing poetry about them and whenever March 7th going off on her own as it was expected of their characters.

You however? His sweetheart, his precious jewel and beloved partner? It was extremely unexpected. Dan Heng had to physically stop you from actually fulfilling your threat by holding you against him before putting a good deal of distance between you and the rude individual.

He’s not against you defending his honour, he just doesn’t want you engaging in fights with random people just because they said something about him that you didn’t like. He didn’t want you to stoop to their level and become like them, no matter how good your reasonings for doing so may be. Dan Heng just wants you to be better than them and not give them the reaction that they needed to fuel their own narratives.

That and Dan Heng knew that you could easily kick their ass but he didn’t felt like dealing with being chased by the authorities for unprovoked acts of violence. However some exceptions can be made to this but Dan Heng would much rather that you kept out of trouble, just for his sake and his sanity as he didn’t want to make breaking you out of jail a reoccurring thing.

Jing Yuan:

His interest is peaked.

Who’d knew that someone as sweet and kind as you had such a vicious side, waiting to come out.

Jing Yuan didn’t care for much what others said about him, but having you come to his defence without hesitation had him smiling with pride. His reputation precedes him wherever he went, so naturally he wasn’t going to be easily intimidated by senseless yapping of others, especially those who had not even the slightest clue of the things he’s put himself through in order to get where he was.

While Jing Yuan appreciates your need to stick up for him, he didn’t think it was necessary for you to waste your time and energy on those who lack the capacity to listen to a voice that wasn’t their own.

‘Always pick your battles wisely my dear,’ he said all the while looking at the person who insulted him dead in the eye with that half asleep expression of his, ‘for most aren’t worth fighting in.’ He finishes before gently pulling you by the waist and walking away.

Blade:

He had an inkling that there was more to you than meets the eye. However he didn’t expect someone who went out of their way to feed stray kittens and puppies, patch up his wounds despite knowing he could heal, would ever spout such detailed threats towards another person.

He didn’t give two shits about what people said about him that he hasn’t heard before, he had long grown immune to ignore the comments from those who didn’t know him nor his past. Yet he couldn’t help but revel in the look of surprise on the persons face the words left your lips, chuckling softly at the countless possible thoughts that must be running through their head in that moment.

It was always the sweetest people that everyone was the least suspicious about, it was near enough impossible to fathom that they were capable of hurting anyone.

A wolf in sheep’s clothing is what described you best in this moment as Blade watched you with new found interest. He found this side of you rather exciting and wanted nothing more than to help you hone in on this side of you and use it to your advantage; Yet he found another part of himself wanting to be the one inciting violence, as he refuses you to tread the same path he did, he wouldn’t allow it.

After all he was the weapon.

He was the one stained in the blood of others.

He was the one that inflicted pain onto others and himself and it was something he will continue to do until death was finally granted to him in whatever form that may be. Blade will refuse you from ever embracing that side of yourself if it meant sending you on a projectory much like his own.

You were his light in the dark for a reason and while it was reassuring to know that you had what it took to fight back, Blade would much rather be the one to fight instead and to be the one to keep your hands clean of blood and violence overall.

[mayrose713]

Beautifully Cruel World-Chapter 1

Series Masterlist | The Pack | Next

ABO Non-Idol Stray Kids Universe Poly OT8 x Reader 18+ MDNI

Here's the first chapter of my ABO SKZ series. Just reminder this is both my first SKZ and ABO story. So please be kind. As of right now I don't fully have a schedule for posting, but I'll try to post as often as I can.

Warnings in the Series Masterlist as well as any other information needed

Chapter 1

“The family and pack will be better off without you anyways, you little bitch.” An older male alpha yells at a female omega as she runs from the house and quickly gets in her car. 

Y/n starts her car and speeds off without looking back. She wasn’t able to grab anything as she left, she barely even managed to grab her car keys and most differently didn’t have time to stop and grab her shoes having run out of the house barefoot. 

She wipes away her tears unsure where she’s even going. She’s just been kicked out of her family and pack which in reality she doesn’t care about as there was no way in hell she’d be going back willingly anyways. But she has nowhere to go and no plan of action.

Y/n drives as far as she can until the car dings at her indicating she’s moments away from running out of gas and pulls off to the side of the road in front of a park as she has no money. She takes in a deep breath before letting out a blood curdling scream and hits her steering wheel a few times, not able to hold back her tears anymore. Y/n slumps in the driver seat and cries, unable to believe what her life has come to.

This world is cruel, especially for omegas. A hundred years ago a deadly disease caused the almost extinction of omega’s. Only less than a quarter of the omega population who were immune survived and were taken and sold to hopefully produce more. Over those hundred years the omega population has risen but not enough that it became common practice that a pack would share an omega among the alphas and betas if they were lucky enough to get one. But because of the still rarity, omegas are treated as possessions and slaves to most packs, whether bought by the pack or born into it before they are sold. 

It’s uncommon for any omegas to be somewhat free and after Y/n had presented and was kept under close watch by her family and pack and kept her life more low key, all she dreamt about was being free and maybe being able to find real love, maybe even her true mated pack but as she got older she knew that’s all it was, a dream. Something she could only read about in books. The moment she presented Y/n’s family who is made up of mostly betas with a few alphas knew they had to do anything to keep her true presentation a secret. Including giving her omega suppressant injections every month that will calm her scent to almost beta like and keep her from having heats or omega tendencies. An injection that Y/n is supposed to get another dose of in a few days before her scent will start to fully normalize back to her omegas. 

A male alpha and two male betas walk through the park taking a nice stroll, the betas talking excitedly as the alpha follows behind them fondly watching his two mates. It isn’t until the betas smell a change in their alpha’s scent that they turn to see the older male had stopped a few feet back and seems tense.

“Channie hyung, what’s wrong?” Felix asks, grabbing Jisung’s hand walking back to their mate. 

“I smell an omega in distress.” Chan says while looking around the area. 

Both Jisung and Felix take in a deep breath sniffing around and they smell what their alpha is smelling. It’s faint but no doubt about it being an omega in distress which causes Jisung to whimper. Chan grabs Jisung’s hand that Felix isn’t holding onto and drags the two along while he follows the distressed scent. The closer they get the stronger the scent gets for the two betas.

“What are we gonna do when we find the omega?” Jisung asks, looking around searching for anyone who seems to be upset.

“I don’t know yet.” Chan answers as he zeros in on a car parked on the side of the road of the park noticing a crying female slumped in the driver seat and realizes that’s where the scent is coming from. “All I know is we need to help her before some ruthless alpha catches her scent and tries to do something to her.”

Chan doesn’t exactly say what it is other alphas could do to the omega not wanting to upset or scare his two betas but there isn’t a need to as they understand what he means as the alpha drags them to the parked car. Once close he lets go of Jisung’s hand, walking up to the driver window and knocks softly which causes the crying omega to jump and turn to look at him. 

Y/n stares at the alpha for a moment scared as to why he’s there and berates herself for having not smelled his presence sooner but reminds herself that her last suppressant injection is still effective for at least a few more days so he most likely isn’t knocking because of her being an omega. It’s when she sees the concerned looks of what she assumes are two omegas holding hands behind him that she finally wipes away her tears and rolls down her window a bit, only enough to be able to talk to each other through. It’s then that she realizes she assumed wrong but the two behind the alpha is for sure a beta and possibly still an omega but she’s unsure.

“Y-yes?”

“Are you okay?” He asks, resting his arm on the top of the car and leans in a bit.

“Yeah, yeah, I’m okay.” She sniffs and tries to sound convincing. “Just had a bit of a shit morning is all and I’m about to run out of gas, there’s not enough to go anywhere.”

“How can we help?” Chan taps the top of the car not fully believing the girl.

“There’s no need.” She shakes her head. “I can figure it out, don’t wanna be a bother to you guys or anything.”

Chan gives her a sad look. “It wouldn’t be a bother to us. And it isn’t safe for an omega to be out here alone like this.” Y/n tenses up at this, unsure how he knows she’s an omega, her scent should still be beta like for a few more days at least. “Is there someone in your pack we can call? Do they know you’re out here?”

Chan doesn’t miss how the girl tenses up at the mention of her presentation and how terrified she looks when he asks about contacting her pack. And that’s when he notices the bruises on her wrists that she’s hiding in her lap. Based on the lack of a matting bite on her neck Chan knew she hasn’t been sold to a pack by her family yet. But based on her condition he assumes her family pack isn’t much safer for her anyways. 

Y/n shakes her head no, looking both scared and sad. “There isn’t anyone you can call.” 

“Let us help you in some way.” Felix steps forward with a desperate look. He has this deep feeling that she belongs with them somehow and knows the other two feel it too. 

Jisung then steps forward as well. “Do you have anywhere to go?” 

Y/n hesitates as though she’s thinking about her answer before sadly shaking her head no and looks down at her lap when she notices her bruised wrist is visible to the alpha and covers it as subtly as she can. Something in her is telling her she can trust these men, that they won’t do anything to her. 

Chan notices her movement with a frown. “Why don’t you stay with us tonight? We can help you figure out what to do and where you need to go.” 

“We won’t hurt you.” Felix says. “Chan's younger brother is an omega as well as one of my sisters. We’re very protective of omegas because of it. As well as the rest of our pack, another one of our alpha’s has an omega brother. We’ll help you, I promise.” Y/n realizes then that he, who she had assumed was possibly another omega, is actually a beta who seems very omega-like.

Chan understands why she still hesitates to agree. His heart sinks when she rolls the window back up thinking she’s denying them but sighs in relief when she turns the cars engine off and unlocks the doors. He steps back a bit and opens the door for her to step out, he is shocked when he sees she’s barefoot. 

“Do you have a bag or anything we can grab from the trunk?” Jisung asks, also frowning at her being barefoot. 

“N-no.” She stutters and watches in confusion as Felix moves and crouches in front of her.

“Hop on my back, I’m not letting you walk to our car barefoot.” 

“That’s okay, I’m probably too heavy for you to carry anyways.” She starts to walk around him but the alpha stops her by grabbing her waist and hoisting her onto the beta’s back who quickly grabs her legs wrapping them around his waist as he stands and she quickly wraps her arms around his shoulders to stabilize herself.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about ‘being too heavy’?” Felix starts to walk. “I’m Felix by the way. The alpha is Chan and the other beta is Jisung.” 

“Y-Y/n.” She stutters and turns to look at Chan as she feels calm being carried on Felix’s back and actually enjoys how he smells and how safe she feels right now. “I have to ask… h-how did you know… that I’m an-an omega?” 

Chan and Jisung look at her confused and she feels Felix’s body go a bit rigid. 

“What do you mean? I can smell your omega scent. I smelled that you were distressed and followed it. I know how rough it can be for omegas in this world so I knew I needed to help.” Y/n looks at Chan shocked and confused. “Why did you think we wouldn't be able to tell that you’re an omega?”

She goes deep in thought about the situation. She knows for a fact that the injection is still effective for a few days. She gets it done on the first of every month even though the injection is effective for 35 days. And tomorrows the first of the new month, meaning she still has at least 5 days until it wears off, which she doesn’t know what will happen then as she’s never missed an injection. The only way anyone could smell her through the suppressant is if they are her fated mates. But that’s impossible right?

Let me know if you want to be added to the tag list for this series

Tag list: @estella-novella @mbioooo0000

[sleepyangelkami]

I am completely obsessed with your Ellie stories. I beg you, please... Write more!!

HAUNTED DREAMS e.williams

 ☆ WORD COUNT - 3.2K

ELLIE WILLIAMS X FEM!READER

  ☆ SUMMARY - you had always found it difficult to sleep but when ellie's there, it's like all the bad dreams go away. one night she takes night patrol and when she returns, she realises that the dreams have snuck into your mind while she's been gone.

 ☆ WARNINGS - reader has a nightmare, mentions of character death, mentions of reader's family dying, ptsd, reader having sorta a panic attack, violence + gore, comfort, suggestive joke in the beginning, use of y/n, petnames, use of good girl (not sexually), intended lower case, nothing i write is ever proofread 🩷

your parents died before you got to jackson. in fact, when you'd found yourself walking in the gates, you were covered in blood from head to toe, your arms shaking from around you. you'd lost the only people that meant anything to you after the world had gone to shit. the people of the town had let you in. some asian kid opened the gates, he'd soon become one of your best friends. you were appointed to maria and tommy who, of course, let you stay. they took you in as one of your own.

ellie williams followed to the town soon after you did. at this stage, you were already best friends with dina and jesse, they had become the family you only could have dreamed for, it was all you needed after everything had happened.

back then, you were too shy to talk to the pretty auburn haired girl. she looked so cool, so fearless. she quickly became friends with jesse after being on patrol who then introduced her to dina who then introduced her to you.

you and ellie hit it off like no other.

quickly, you became inseparable. best friends, so they called it. you two were practically attached by the hip. she got you and you got her, there was nothing more about it. some people (jesse, single handedly jesse) would tease you for closeness to ellie, tell you that you must have a crush on the girl if you missed her the second she leaved and fawned over her the moment she returned. then again, jesse had always known you better than anyone else, seemingly more than yourself did at times.

jesse soon turned out to be right and by seventeen, you and ellie were just smitten for each other. when you guys got together, you went through a phase where you didn't talk. i mean, of course you talked, you hadn't gone mute. but what you hadn't talked about was everything before. ellie seemed pretty open when you guys started dating, she began spilling everything about her past, the present, everything with the fireflies, her immunity, joel's lies. everything just spewed from her mouth and into your arms. you? you picked her right up and comforted her that night that she told you everything, tears trickling down her face.

you never could talk like her though.

she knew you used to get really bad nightmares of that night, the night that everything happened, the night that you're life seemingly ended. she knew that these dreams seemed to always sneak up on you at the times that she wasn't around which was why she did everything she could to be around. it'd been years since you met ellie, you trusted her more than anyone else you've ever met. but there were just some words that you simply couldn't get out. ellie was okay with this, never pressured you. if anything, she'd kiss your head and let you know that when you were ready, she'd be there. even if it were mere loose words falling from your lips, she'd string up sentences and make a story for you both. she was so good.

then, maria had the bright idea of putting ellie on night patrol.

"do you have to go?" you spoke, your chin on her shoulder and all pouty as you looked up at her with her doe eyes. you and ellie spent every single night together, covered in one anothers embrace. she made all the problems in the world go away by simply being there. the nightmares, at least.

ellie sighed, turning her head to you with a look of guilt across her face. she really didn't want to leave you alone for the night but nobody could argue with maria. "i'll be as quick as i can, baby." and you believed her, but that didn't mean that it didn't suck.

"I know." you snuggled yourself into her, nuzzling your head into her neck. her scent filled your nose, wood and cologne, it was enough to have your legs wobbling. her arms were around you, holding you close as her hands trailed up and down your back, underneath your her shirt. her hands were warm, they reminded you of the summer, heating you up even when the harsh winter invaded your skin. you loved jackson but god was it cold.

she let a couple moments pass before sighing, glancing up at the clock. "i really have to go, sweetheart." because as much as she'd love to spend the rest of the night with you, she knew her patrol partner would soon worry as to where she'd gone.

you pulled yourself out of her embrace, blinking heavily. it seemed as though you were already pretty tired. "i know." you murmured again, as much as you didn't want to accept it.

when ellie had found out she had night patrol, the first place she went was maria's, telling her she couldn't do night patrols, not now, not ever. maria understood, she tried sympathising with her and with you, who at the time had no idea of the situation. but ellie didn't need the sympathy or the pity, she merely grumbled. she got a little angry, stating that maria didn't get it and that ellie couldn't go on night patrols, not when she knew you'd be sat inside your shared home while curling up into yourself. ellie had listened to your 'it's okay's and 'just go, it's fine' one too many times only to find you in the living room, staring into space with teary eyes. she wouldn't leave you alone for another night again, not when she knew how it'd end every single time. maria could only sigh, telling her she'd see what she could do. soon enough, she informed ellie that she wouldn't be put on night patrols again but tonight there simply wasn't anyone to cover for her. so, she'd give up tonight to save the rest of the nights. but that didn't mean it was any easier.

"hey." ellie caught your chin between her thumb and pointer finger. "you're gonna be fine, okay? jus' get some rest, sweet girl, i'll be back before you know it." her mouth leaning forward to press a kiss against your warm lips.

and so, she was gone.

without her, the room felt so cold. without her presence heating it up, it felt damp almost. there was something eerie about it that had you folding in on yourself. you were dressed in her boxers and her sleep shirt, using it so you could soak in the smell of her. you thought it'd help, it didn't. without her, you were sort of lost.

you felt a cold shiver run up your spine.

no, no you couldn't do this.

you quickly sat up on the bed, switching on the lamp next to your and ellie's bed. the bedsheets were a light pink, dark pink hearts dotted across the sheets, your wallpaper was pink again, with flowers across it. ellie wasn't a fan of anything in the room really, but it made you happy and that was all that mattered to ellie. you soon found out that you cold get anything you want just by smiling at her, you were her inseparable.

but as of right now, nothing felt warm and fuzzy. and you couldn't bring yourself to smile, even when you were thinking of the most beautiful, gentle, perfect girl in the world, your ellie. oh, how desperately you needed her home.

you shut yourself down, shaking your head. one night, you reminded yourself, you had to get through one night without her. you suddenly felt like a baby for even being scared in the first place. nothing could hurt you here in jackson, not like what could outside, not like what hurt your family all that time ago.

you blinked harshly, trying to erase the thoughts from your head.

a book sat on your bedside table, you'd read it a thousand times. or, well, ellie had read it. you merely listened as you forced her to read it, batting your lashes and telling her please. you just needed a bedtime story and ellie wasn't exactly the most creative. the last time she tried making up a bedtime story it ended with her pushing your two plushies in front of you, imitating your moans from the night before. this, of course, had earned a swat into the back of the head and a whine quite alike 'ellieeeuyh! you're supposed to be making a good story!' to which she was awfully offended. 'this is a good story! see, i'm bear ellie fucking bunny y/n.' putting on weird voices for each character.

you'd picked up the book, sitting it in front of you and focusing your mind on the words. this time, you wanted to be good for ellie. you wanted her to be able to come home and just sleep. if you focused on the words, distracted yourself enough then you could stay up as late as you pleased, you would only go to sleep after she's returned home.

you thought the plan was great.

staying awake until she got home. staying awake until she got home. staying awake until... you were so tired.

you were so tired that you hardly noticed your mind slipping and your eyes fluttering shut. your sleeping mind didn't register the way that the book slowly fell from your hands and onto the side of the bed, eyes screwed shut and breathing becoming softer, slower. suddenly, you were in a deep sleep and you had many hours to go before your girlfriend comes home.

seconds passed, turning into minutes and then the blur of at least two hours.

you were still passed out in the bedroom. in your sleep, you'd managed to move so you were laying against the soft, fluffed pillows that elevated you a little. your body had found itself engulfed in the blankets that surrounded you, ellie's scent filling the room.

but even the familiar scent of your girlfriends clothes you wore couldn't pull you out of the dream that had snuck it's way towards you now.

the eerie feeling creeped through your body, sending shivers throughout you as the hair stood on your arms. it snuck it's way through towards your head, seeping into your mind. before you'd fallen asleep, you'd almost assumed that the warm light of the room would keep the monsters and demons in your head at bay. but of course, without ellie, you were seemingly trapped.

ellie found herself making her way towards your guys' house a while later. it was late, so late, the sky had darkened completely, a black blanket enveloping the town of jackson. her jacket was covered in snow, little flakes draw across the material. she'd barely made it inside the house when the real snow began, she knew jackson like no other and she knew that by morning, the entire town would be covered in snow. she wasn't a fan but you adored it. you thought it was the most beautiful thing you'd ever seen, she thought the same about you.

making her way inside, she kicked off her boots, tossing off her jacket and letting her bag fall against the ground. it was quiet, she took this as a good sign.

her sock covered feet trailed themselves towards the living room, peeking her head in and not spotting you anywhere. she supposed, that was also a good sign. perhaps you'd done what she asked and gotten some sleep for yourself.

before she left the living room, she made sure to put another log on the fire, knowing it'd be the last one for the night and hoping that it'd keep the house warm for a while. you'd mentioned lighting the stove in the kitchen earlier but ellie shrugged you off, stating that you both would be just fine with the living room fire. of course, you were right, you were always right and as her arms wrapped around herself, she realised she better start listening to you more.

she found herself walking up the stairs, reaching the top and flicking off the light. you were always too scared to do it by yourself, she couldn't help but smile fondly at the thought.

ellie's eyes glanced towards your guys' bedroom door, peeking inside. she could see that the bedside table lamp had been turned on and she found herself walking towards it, spotting you. you were all wrapped up in the blankets, your hair covering the only part of your face that had been visible. she couldn't see your face, however, she still managed to press a little kiss against your forehead, petting your head slightly. then, she grasped the book that was sitting next to you, it must have fallen. without a second thought, she took it from your position, placing it back on the table and then grasping the blankets, taking them down from your face and tucking them around your body. she pushed the hair from your face too, seeing your beautiful features suddenly come to life. she wondered how on earth she had gotten so lucky.

at this point, her eyes were almost fuzzy from tiredness so she hadn't noticed the way your brows were scrunched together, lips strewn in a pout. turning off the only light in the bedroom, she moved away from your body, grasping her jumper and pulling it off her body. she stayed clad in her sports bra, her hands fumbling with the buttons of her jeans, letting them fall off her. it wasn't until she was stepping into her sweatpants that she heard it. a noise fell from your lips, a little whimper.

instantly, her ears perked up, turning her head in your direction. you'd moved from where you last were, almost shoving your face in the pillows beneath you. then, she heard it again, that loud, prolonged whine.

and she knew, it wasn't right.

she was rushing towards you in seconds. getting up onto the bed and her hands finding your body. "hey, hey, wake up, baby." those blasted nightmares that she wished she could get rid of. her poor girl didn't deserve such things. "c'mon, angel, wake up." she tried, her hands pushing at you, shaking you gently albeit.

"please." you mumbled, all broken and soft as you pushed your head into the pillow impossibly more. though, your eyes were still strewn shut, ragged breaths falling from your lips. "please no."

and ellie's heart broke impossibly more. she knew what you were dreaming of, those clickers, those stalkers, the infected, taking your parents and piecing them apart piece by piece all in front of your eyes. their blood spewing onto you. you'd tried so hard, fought for them and in the end you were left with dead clickers, though your parents weren't in any better condition. "wake up, sweet girl." though her voice was slick with stress, trying to will you awake.

when you did wake, a scream was ripping at your throat. you were up in seconds, your breathing laboured and whimpers falling from your lips. ellie's arms were wrapping around you so instantly, you found yourself clawing her off. "please, please, stop, don't―" you couldn't see that it was ellie in the darkness of the bedroom, only feeling arms engulfing you.

"hey, hey, it's just me. 's ellie." she wrapped her arms around yours, strapping them down so you didn't flail them, hurting her or yourself in the process of waking.

you stopped moving, although your breathing was still laboured, breaths shallow and uneven. "ellie." is all you mumbled, so confused. everything had felt so surreal, as if you were there in the moment once more, now that you were back in the bedroom with ellie by your side, it just didn't seem real.

she'd placed your back against her front, sitting behind you as she held you close. "'s okay, sweetheart, 'm right here, ellie's here." but she could hear the way your breathing only picked up, your mind flooding with thoughts of the nightmare. "i gotchu, angel, calm down, alright?" but you couldn't, you tried, believe me you tried but your breathing wouldn't stop, you couldn't catch your breath. ellie knew what to do, noticing the panic attack that was stringing upon you. "hey, c'mere." her hand fell down to your own, clasping it softly, she brought it up to her lips, pressing a kiss to it before placing it on her chest. "y'feel that, honey? 's my heart, 'm here and so are you." she placed your hand over to your own chest, feeling the harsh beat of your heart against it, it was a stark contrast to the soft one of her own. she moved downward slightly, pulling you with her so she could lay on her back, laying your head against her chest. "jus' match my breathing, baby, you've got this." and you tried, wheezing your breaths out. "jus' like that, such a good girl. where are you, sweets?"

you let out a shaky breath. "h-home." you managed to get out, your eyes still welled with tears.

she hummed, agreeing with you. "whose home?"

"ours." you spoke softly, shutting your eyes and breathing out. you attempted everything in your will to stop the rapidness of your heartbeat. but ellie didn't pressure you, making sure you took your time.

"my smart girl." she mumbled. "'s right, you're home. we're home, okay? there's absolutely nothing for you to worry about, nothing can get you here, you're safe."

"els." she hummed, waiting for you to finish. "w-was s'scared." this was when your breathing had returned to normal but the tears willing to break free were still embedded into your eyes.

"oh, i know, honey." feeling her heart break for you. she held you close, pressing kisses into your hair. she wished she could help more, she felt utterly useless just keeping you in her arms. though, her fingers soothed up and down your back, trying to comfort you. she'd never know just how good of a job she was doing. "but there's nothing to be scared of anymore, 'm here, okay?"

you nodded, breathing out as you placed your head in the crook of her neck, she could feel your steady breaths against her skin. "feel safe with you." you told, fluttering your eyes shut. suddenly, the world didn't feel so scary, the past didn't seem so terrifying. with ellie, being truly safe seemed possible.

"you are safe with me." she informed you, fingers pressing shakes onto your skin. "what happened to you was... awful." your chest ached at the thought of that night with your parents. "but nothing more is going to happen to you as long as i'm here."

you pulled your head from her neck, looking up at her with those watery eyes. "promise?" voice bleak and broken.

ellie smiled softly at you. "I promise." pulling your head towards her to capture your lips in a soft kiss. you melted into her, allowing her to heal you with her touch, her hand against your jaw. when she pulled away, she was pulling the hair away from your face, big green eyes looking at you so full of admiration and love. "'s me 'n you against the world, baby."

never in your life had you been so sure of something before.

main masterlist/ellie's masterlist

[niniblack]

Cherik Fic

I've been looking through my old Cherik fic and found this in my drafts. It's complete enough to share, but not really worth posting on AO3. Set-during X-Men Apocalypse, a what-if Nina lived, but Magda didn't. What would Erik's next move be?

---

Charles senses Erik as soon as he turns onto the drive up to the school, and freezes, dropping the chalk he’s been writing on the board with.

“Professor?” one of the students asks.

“Um,” Charles says, trying to get over his shock. “Class dismissed. We’ll pick this up tomorrow.”

The children don’t argue, rushing out of the room as quickly as they can gather their things together. Charles weaves through them and makes his way towards the foyer. He gets outside just as the car Erik’s driving pulls to a stop in front of the fountain. (It’s old, with rusted wheel wells, a dented back door, and half of the front bumper missing. It’s the sort of car Erik had always turned his nose up at, during that road trip so many years ago, saying it was a crime to let a perfectly good car get to that state. Might as well melt it down for scrap at that point.)

Erik climbs out of the driver’s side and crosses his arms against the top of the car, looking over at Charles. “Hello Charles” he calls out.

“Hello, old friend.” It takes Charles a minute to tear his gaze away from Erik—he looks good, a bit scruffy and with a beard coming in, but then Erik always looks good. He’d come out of ten years trapped in an underground prison and he’d still looked good. There’s another person in the car, a child, and Charles doesn’t do more than brush against her mind. She’s tired and a bit scared, but awed at the size of the house.

Erik swings his car door shut and comes around to open the passenger door, saying something to the girl that Charles can’t hear. He takes her hand and leads her up the steps until they’re standing in front of Charles.

“Charles,” Erik says, “I’d like you to meet my daughter, Nina.”

Charles can’t help but stare. Of all the ways he’d ever thought about Erik coming here—and he’d thought of it frequently, at first, and less so as the years had gone on—he’d never considered this scenario. He swallows, and says, “Hello Nina.” He smiles at her, trying to look friendly and welcoming and not as surprised as he is. She looks to be about eight or nine, and doesn’t resemble Erik much at all. Perhaps she takes after whoever her mother is.

“Hello,” Nina says, voice quiet.

Erik lets go of her hand in favor of resting his hands on her shoulders. Nina leans back against him. “I told her you were a professor,” he says. “And that we’re old friends.”

Charles looks at Erik for a long moment before turning back down to Nina. “Your father and I have known each other for a long time now,” he says. “And this is a school.” He glances up at Erik again, but he’s as unreadable as ever. Charles doesn’t quite dare to try and read him with his telepathy. “Would you like to see it?” he asks. The question is aimed at Nina, but he feels like he’s really asking Erik.

He’s not sure why Erik has brought her here. And if he’s learned anything, it’s that being unsure of Erik’s motivations and plans never ends well for anyone involved.

It takes a moment, but Nina finally nods. “Papa said it’s for mutants.” Her English is heavily accented, something European. It’s different from Erik’s accent, but Charles can’t place it immediately.

“Show him what you can do,” Erik tells her, squeezing her shoulders encouragingly.

Nina points to the bushes along the edge of the porch. “There’s a rabbit over there.”

Charles turns to look, but of course the animal is hiding. “You can sense animals?”

“I talk to them,” Nina says. “She’s looking for food to take back to her burrow for her babies.”

Charles turns back to her. “Really? That’s extraordinary.” He’s never encountered a mutant who could speak with animals before. They’re immune to Charles’ own powers. He grins at her. “It’s totally rad.”

Nina looks confused by the slang, but smiles at the praise.

“Come along,” Charles says, turning his chair around and nodding towards Erik in thanks when he waves a hand at the door to swing it open. “I’ll show you around. We have lots of students your age, and I think you’ll enjoy the back lawn and the lake especially. We get lots of furry critters out there.”

Nina and Erik follow him inside as Charles keeps playing tour guide. He tries to treat it just like he would any parent who’d brought their child to visit, but the curiosity about what brought Erik here, now, won’t leave him alone.

- - -

Charles doesn't find out why Erik’s here until that evening. Erik’s been upstairs putting Nina to bed in the room Charles had found for them, and Charles isn't surprised in the slightest when he wanders downstairs to Charles’ study.

“This looks different,” Erik says, surveying the room. Charles has replaced the desk with one that's more comfortable to sit at in his wheelchair, and there’s more space between all the pieces of furniture, less clutter.

The chess set is still there though, and Erik gravitates towards it.

“Did you want to play?” Charles asks, stacking the papers he's been grading into a neat pile to deal with in the morning.

Erik’s answer is to sit down in front of the chess set and spin it around, offering Charles white.

Charles pours them both a brandy before joining him. Erik closes his eyes as he takes a sip, and Charles can't help but watch his throat work as he swallows. “You always did have the best alcohol,” Erik says.

“There are some things that one shouldn't skimp on,” Charles tells him.

Erik tilts his head a bit in acknowledgment, but doesn't quite smile. “Your turn,” he says.

Charles moves a pawn without really thinking about it. It's going to come back to bite him in the ass, but this game isn't really about winning or losing. Chess has always been more of a conduit for them, an excuse to spend time together, deep in conversation.

Erik’s quiet this time though, concentrating on the game, and Charles isn't sure what to say so he waits as patiently as he can. He finishes his drink before Erik has even drunk half of his.

Erik moves his rook, capturing one of Charles’ pawns, and says, “My wife died.”

Charles, who was about to take a sip of his second glass of brandy, nearly drops his glass in surprise. A wife… He should say something comforting, he thinks, but what comes out of his mouth is, “You had a wife?”

Erik nods, not looking up from the board. His mouth is set in a straight line, the non-expression he always uses when he’s trying not to acknowledge how much something is affecting him.

“I…” Charles starts, then closes his mouth, unsure how to proceed. “What happened?” he asks.

“Some coworkers saw me use my powers and figured out who I was.” Erik leans forward over the board for a moment, as though studying it closely, then sits back and looks up at Charles. “They shot her. With a wooden arrow, so I couldn't stop it.” His expression doesn't change, but his eyes do, welling up a bit before he blinks rapidly and looks away, raising his glass to take a long sip.

Charles feels like every response he thinks of is inadequate. What can he possibly say that won't sound like an empty platitude?

“I'm so sorry, my friend,” he finally says. He can't think of anything to add to it. He is sorry. Erik’s been through so much already, and it seems impossible to Charles that the universe could let anything else happen to him.

Erik meets his eyes again. “I killed the men who did it.” Charles doesn't say anything, so Erik adds, “I won't apologize for that.”

“I wouldn't ask you to,” Charles says. He glances back at the board, but can't summon up the desire to figure out his next move.

Erik takes a deep breath and blows it back out, not quite a sigh. “I need— Nina needs someplace she’ll be safe. If anything happens to me…”

“She’ll always be safe here,” Charles promises. “That's what this school is here for.”

“And when they come for your school?”

Charles doesn't ask who they are. “I won't let anything happen to the students here.” He catches Erik’s gaze again and says, “I can promise you that.”

Erik raises an eyebrow. “You can't promise anything, Charles,” he says. He raises his glass again, gulping down the rest of his drink and not quite slamming the glass down onto the table before he stands up. He leans forward, moving his queen. “Checkmate in three moves.”

Charles looks back at the board, startled, then back up as Erik steps away.

“I'm going to bed,” Erik says.

There's a long pause before Charles says, “Goodnight.”

Erik nods but doesn't turn back, leaving Charles alone in his study once again. Charles looks back at the chess board. Sure enough, Erik had led him into a trap. He raises his glass and takes a long drink.

REMEMBER HOW CUTE NINA WAS?! HOW DARE THEY KILL HER OFF!

[phantoms-lair]

Recovery Girl better sleep with one eye open

Continues from here

It took him a bit longer than he wanted to get back to the kids, but he didn't think it would help their peace of mind for him to show back up covered in blood. But he had made absolutely sure Overhaul was not getting up again. The remains were being brought to a crematorium he'd bribed for disposal purposes. Not even enough left for a Pit to revive. He was glad to see several of his men still there, on the outside and more in the interior.

They were guarding the kids. Good.

Eri had fresh bandages, and they were placed locally, rather that covering half her arms and legs. it seemed her injuries were more on her wrists and elbows. Her legs were bare, showing old scarring and not fresh wounds. Maybe an incentive not to run? Hood regretted not killing Overhaul more slowly.

The boy had his gloves off and his hands were mangled. "Did Overhaul do that to you?" Hood growled.

Deku shook his head. "No sir." he answered in English. Jason mentally kicked himself for forgetting to talk to the kid in his own language. "My quirk used to break me. It still does if I push it too far. Eri's power in the only reason I was able to use so much and not be injured." He smiled brightly at the small girl next to her."

"Your own power did that you?" Dr. Thompkins asked softly.

"Yeah," Deku ducked his head. "I'm sorry and I'll try to be a lot better about it. I have gotten better, it's just Overhaul was so overwhelming, if I didn't go all out I would have died and Eri would have died, and I'm not being reckless, really I promise I'm doing my best." Try as he did to hold them back, tears sprang unbidden from his eyes.

Eri reached over and hugged him, looking warily between Hood and Leslie. Right, she probably didn't speak English and had no clue what was happening.

"Hey, Kiddo, breathe." Hood used his gentlest victim voice. "You did good. You saved Eri. You were no more reckless than anyone else who puts on a costume, got it?"

"I'm sorry, I really am trying." He wrapped his arms around Eri, rubbing her back comfortingly.

"Who said you weren't trying." Hood said, keeping his tone light, but the moment the words left his mouth they suddenly felt heavier. Because that was it, wasn't it. Kid had had a major victory tonight, even if Hood had dealt the finishing blow, but rather than celebrate like the Titan would have his first instinct was to plead that he's done his best and was putting effort into what he was doing. Someone had told this kid he wasn't good enough. Frequently.

"Well it's true, isn't it? I need to be better. Aizawza-sensei said my not being able to control my quirk is an excuse and I need to be better. And Recovery Girl, our school nurse (she's got a quirk that can fast heal anyone's injuries just by kissing them, it's so cool), got so fed up with me she said she wouldn't heal me anymore if I hurt myself with my quirk."

"She said WHAT!"

Hood had thought he'd seen all the different flavors or tired, overly annoyed, and frustrated Dr. Thompkins had. He'd not seen this one before. He could see her pupils constrict, her breathing quicken, and suddenly wanted nothing more than to get out of her way.

"She said her healing me was enabling me in being reckless, so she wouldn't be a part of it anymore." Deku said softly, as if he was ashamed and not the so-called nurse.

"Did she offer you any resources to help you?" Leslie pressed.

"Resources?" Deku looked confused.

Leslie exhaled deeply. "Hood, Eri has been very sheltered and her immune system is not used to Gotham. I know you center around Crime Alley, but if you have any safe houses in upper middle class areas or better yet out of Gotham, that would be preferably till she recovers more fully." Leslie than switched to Spanish. "And when you find a way back to where ever they're from, let me know."

"What makes you think I'm letting either of them go back?" Hood responded in kind, once he confirmed Deku didn't seem to understand what she had said.

"They're not. I am." Dr. Thompkins was resolute. "I have a 'school nurse' I need to have some words with."

[floralcavern]

Ship alphabet

Benlor

Affection:

Absolute cuddle bugs, these two. Always have to be touching, whether is be hand holds or back rubs. Taylor’s go to is caressing Ben’s cheek and Ben’s is nuzzling into her hair.

Bashful:

Taylor’s pretty confident and self assured, so she doesn’t tend to get bashful. Ben, on the other hand? Flustered so, so, so easily.

Cuddle:

Taylor is definitely the big spoon. Ben is super warm, too. Which is great, because Taylor tend to get cold easily!

Dancing:

Ben likes to dance to old jazz. Like, slow dance, yknow? He just wraps his arms around Taylor’s shoulders and they sway around a bit. And then Taylor grabs his arms and spins him around when the beat picks up.

Ending:

They’re not the type to break up because of high emotions. They would probably come to the realization that the spark is just gone and come to the agreement to break up. But I think Ben would take it the hardest.

Fiancé:

Ben proposed to her at a robotics competition that she had won. Taylor says that her day went from 100 to 100,000 in that moment.

Gentle:

Oh, they are both so gentle. If Taylor was excited, she would just squish his cheeks and giggle. If Ben were excited, he’d be literally vibrating until Taylor gave him permission to shake her around, which he does by grabbing her by the shoulders and shaking her very softly as to not make her too dizzy.

Hugs:

The two best hug givers in the group. The two of them hugging is so comfortable it may tear this world apart. Ben’s gentleness, size, and warmth meet Taylor’s softness and firm grip. They also have very long hugs, I think.

I love you:

Ben likes to tap it out in Morse code on Taylor’s palm or the back of her hand, just casually. They could all be hanging out as a group and he’ll just do it completely randomly. Taylor says it every night when they’re on the phone and they’re about to hang up.

Jealousy:

Taylor doesn’t tend to get jealous, but when she does, she becomes really salty and then she gets really guilty that she’s really salty because she knows she’s overreacting. When Ben gets jealous, he practically slaps himself because he doesn’t want to be an overly possessive boyfriend.

Kiss:

Such soft kisses between these two, omg. Taylor probably initiated their first ever one and Ben just melted into it because he hasn’t been given such sweet affection in so damn long.

Love language:

Ben’s love language is 75% quality time and 25% physical touch. Taylor’s is 50% quality time and 50% gift giving.

Marriage:

Ben totally cried at their wedding. Absolutely. A RIVER of tears. Taylor had an absolute blast planning the wedding, as well.

Normalcy:

Their sense of normalcy is going on walks and watching silly little romcoms (their favorite would be When Harry Met Sally) and cuddling.

Open:

Ben has to take a while to be open with Taylor, but once they’re further into the relationship, he occasionally vents to her or cries into her shoulder. Taylor is also pretty open with Ben, talking about her worries for Tyler and her mom. They’re both great listeners, too.

Past relationships:

Ben has never dated anyone, but I think he’s had one or two past crushes before. But after the incident, he’s had trouble getting close enough to anyone to catch romantic feelings. Taylor has probably dated one guy before, I imagine he was a friend of Tyler’s but she dumped him.

Quiver:

Taylor doing literally anything makes him weak in the knees, omg, he is such a lover boy. Taylor finds herself becoming absolutely weak when Ben plays guitar or hums.

Realize:

Taylor realized she had feelings for Ben one day when she saw him being a good big brother to Lily. Something about him being such a caring sibling and good with kids just awoke something in her. Ben realized his feelings at the arcade.

Sick:

I imagine Ben has a very bad immune system, especially after he moved to Georgia, probably because he’s not used to the new plant pollen that’s in the air. Taylor has the immune system of a god, though. She never gets sick. Probably because she’s always working out in her shop (she also gives me the vibes of a kid who probably ate dirt growing up 😭)

Talk:

They talk a lot about nothing. Late night talks and giggles and tons of inside jokes that they like to tell each other through Morse code.

Ugly:

I literally don’t think Ben can think of a single thing he would find unattractive (neither physically or personality wise) about Taylor. Taylor doesn’t either, but she does wish Ben would cut himself some slack more often.

Vanished:

If Taylor disappeared? ….I don’t want to think about the people Ben would hurt to figure out what happened. If Ben disappeared? Taylor is going feral, 100%. Remember when Tyler was in the hospital? That’s going to be her same reaction if Ben goes missing.

Whole:

Ben tries his damn hardest to not be codependent, but damnit, he cannot feel whole without Taylor. She is his other half, part of his soul. Taylor feels relatively whole without Ben, but Ben is still just a little piece in her heart. He’s still part of her. He’s her person, yknow?

Xtra:

The two like to babysit Lily together. Lily thinks of Taylor like a big sister. I think Taylor would even take her on a girls’ day.

Y me?:

Ben literally has to ask Taylor almost every day if she still likes him. He does NOT feel worthy to be her boyfriend. Taylor feels no sense of that kind of feeling, knowing she’s happy with Ben and Ben is happy with her and in the end, that’s all that matters.

Zzzz:

So sleepy, these two. Taylor has her arms wrapped around Ben’s stomach and Ben is completely nuzzled into her neck. Sleepy guys, these two.

[aectpen]

cool in my book - loser sung hanbin x boxer reader

m.list

pairing: sung hanbin x fem!reader

synopsis: reader helps hanbin get revenge on his bully

words: 1.3k

you were doing your usual routine of roaming the halls during the lunch period at school. you told yourself it was calming, and you didn’t need to spend lunch with anyone. but it was because you kinda, no not kinda, you literally had no friends. 

you weren’t friendless in a “oh she’s so shy, i feel horrible for her” way. people thought you were mean and intimidating off of the first glance. sure, you did play into it with your not so nice attitude. getting yourself into plenty of fights, but hey it was always their fault.

you could hear whimpering coming from around the corner. you contemplated walking in the other direction, not wanting to go by them. but, your curiosity got the best of you. who was crying? you wanted to be nosey and guess what happened to them.

once you turned the corner and caught sight of who it was, you stopped in your tracks. the boy from your math class. why would someone have a problem with him? he only comes to school to do his work. he has a reputation of being the quiet, nice guy.

he glanced up at you, his nose and lips smeared with blood, clutching his stomach in pain. while you were known for being quite mean, you weren't immune to moments of vulnerability. seeing his quivering lips and his tear stained cheeks evoked an unavoidable sense of guilt.

after debating on walking away from him, you finally decided to help him, dragging him to the nurse’s office. you sat next to him while the nurse gave him an ice pack and returned to her desk.

 “you could come in with a gun shot wound and they’ll give you frozen vegetables.” you commented, earning a faint giggle from him. “who did that to you?”

“you can just go now.” he looked away.

“come on, i won’t judge.” you nudged him.

“yoon jihyun.”

you looked at him in disbelief. “you’re telling me you let that scrawny ass boy beat you up?” 

“hey! you said you wouldn’t judge!”

“okay, i’m sorry. but why would he do that?” you couldn't help but wonder how he managed to find himself in such a situation when he had his nose buried in a textbook 99.9% of the time.

he scratched the back of his head. “well, i said no to cheating on a test for him.”

“come on.” you pulled him up from the chair.

“where are we going?” he jerked his arm back.

raising an eyebrow, you replied. “we’re gonna jump him.”

“i don’t know who you think i am, but i don’t do that stuff.”

“okay, whatever. meet me right after school at the front gate.”

he wasted no time, practically sprinting to the school entrance the moment classes ended. he didn't have the slightest idea about your intentions, but he had no intention of either wasting your time or incurring your wrath.

"good, you're on time. i like that," you commented casually as you walked right past him.

he trailed closely behind. "where are you taking me?"

"you just love asking questions. what's your name?" you inquired.

"sung hanbin."

"my name is—" you began, but he interrupted.

"yn. everyone knows your name."

"now, can you tell me where we're going? this is the opposite direction of my house, and i have to get home to study," he said, glancing at you as you cranked up the music blaring in your headphones.

you finally disclosed the destination to him once you were down the street from it, nudging him to get his attention.

"a gym? i really don't have time for a workout," he said, considering walking away.

"next time you let him beat you like that, he'll do far worse than leave you with cat scratches and a belly ache," you reasoned. "i'm a boxer, i can teach you a thing or two about fighting back."

upon arriving at the gym, you guided him to the octagon. "take it all off," you instructed, gesturing to his school uniform.

"all of it?" he felt a slight blush tinting his cheeks.

“no, dipshit. leave some room for imagination.” you began putting on sweatpants and discarding your dress shirt and blazer.

he hesitantly took off his dress shirt, shoes, and blazer. “seriously, are you gonna beat me up next?”

he sounded extremely genuine. you couldn't help but laugh.

the rest of the afternoon was dedicated to teaching him various fighting techniques, but you noticed his gentleness. he wasn't a terrible fighter; he simply held back, unwilling to inflict harm on anyone.

“i don’t want to hurt you!” he held his bands behind his back.

“hanbin, i’m asking you to throw a punch. it doesn’t have to connect” you pulled his arms from behind him.

“but what if it does, then you start bleeding. then you’ll hate me.” he pouted.

hanbin’s mannerisms did warm your heart. at least there was still good people out in the world.

after the training session, you sprawled out on the floor, munching on a granola bar. rolling over, you glanced at hanbin, who sat there with his tank top clinging to his skin, his hair damp, and his gaze fixed on the wall. you had to admit, he looked hot. the school uniform certainly didn't do him justice.

you were oblivious to the fact that he had returned your steady gaze, your eyes moving over his biceps and tracing the veins that snaked up his hands.

"is there something on my face?" he asked in a soft tone.

you couldn't help but laugh at the striking contrast. "if our classmates saw you like this, they'd be all over you," you remarked boldly.

he scratched his head, asking, "is that a good or bad thing?"

you stared at him in disbelief. "i've never met someone simultaneously so smart and dumb, sung hanbin. i was saying that you look really attractive."

“oh! thank you,” a wide smile spreading on his face. “i mean, you’re really.. pretty.” he awkwardly looked away from you, twiddling his thumbs.

the next day, during the lunch period, you concocted a plan to get revenge on jihyun for hurting hanbin. after spending the day with him, you only felt more angry that he left hanbin crying in the hallway.

"wait right here," you instructed as you left hanbin in an empty room.

"sure thing," he replied, taking a seat at one of the desks.

you walked to the cafeteria and scanned it for jihyun, quickly hearing his loud voice. “jihyun! can i talk to you for a second?” 

surprisingly, jihyun followed you to the classroom where hanbin was waiting. he pointed at hanbin and asked, "what's this about?"

you rested your hands on your hips. "i'm giving you a chance to apologize to him."

“since when did you of all people become mother theresa.” he laughed. “and you. don’t you feel embarrassed? you can’t handle your stuff like a man? don’t make me bitch you again.”

“don’t talk to him like that,” you punched him square in the jaw.

he looked at you with pure anger before lunging straight at you. pushing you against a desk.

but before his fist could connect, hanbin held his arm back and forced him to the ground. jihyun tried getting up, but hanbin repeatedly punched him. 

you stood off to the side wanting to stop him from sending jihyun to the hospital, but you were highkey impressed. he definitely always had that in him. 

hanbin stopped once jihyun stopped fighting back.

“damn, hanbin. not bad.” you held out your fist.

“i’m telling the principal. i’m getting him expelled!” jihyun cried out.

you saw a flash of panic on hanbin’s face. the last thing he wanted was to get in trouble in school. did you corrupt him?

“you’re not gonna get in trouble,” you reassured him. “i’ll take the blame.”

“no, you can’t. it’s my fault you’re in this mess anyway.”

“my highest grade is a D+. i don't think they’ll lose sleep if i get into another scuffle."

“you people make me sick.” jihyun held his nose and ran out the room.

you two laughed at his dramatic reaction. 

“hanbin, you’re cool in my book.” 

“you were always cool in my book.” he responded.

[quack-quack-snacks]

Star Crossed - Chapter 7

| Prologue | Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 | Chapter 10 |

The Star Crossed Masterlist

My All Of Us Are Dead Masterlist

My Navigation and Masterlist

Warnings: Normal AOUAD things Word Count: 5,362

“I mean… I wanted to bite her.”

“N-no. But you didn’t!” You tried weakly to protest. 

“I shouldn't stay with you any longer. If I hadn't come to my senses, I would've bitten her.”

“No, wait. Stop!” Su-hyeok tried but she just took a step towards the door as she spoke with determination. 

“I'll go.”

“Please wait,” On-jo begged, stopping Nam-ra in her tracks. She then turned to Cheong-san. “You saw Gwi-nam get bitten by zombies?”

The boy rolled his eyes before answering. “I told you a hundred times, yes.”

“And you saw Gwi-nam turn?” She questioned.

He paused for a moment before sighing. “No, I didn't. I was busy running away.”

On-jo then turned to Su-hyeok. “Su-hyeok, you definitely fought Gwi-nam?”

“Yes, I did,” he confirmed. 

“There's no reason for either to lie,” she started. “Maybe Gwi-nam was bitten but was not affected. In the movies, there are always people who are immune, remember?”

“We shouldn’t rely on movies for our information. Those are fiction, this is real life,” you whispered sadly and On-jo looked at you empathetically, also knowing what it was like to lose your best friend to this god-awful virus. 

“And still, she tried to bite her,” Ji-min announced and your head shot over to look at her. “She could have bitten her for real. Regardless, she isn't normal, so I'm not going with her.”

A tear streaked down Nam-ra’s face and you grabbed her hand, squeezing it gently but she shook you off and your heart broke when she scrambled to take a step back, flashbacks of when Gyeong-su turned presenting themselves in your mind. 

“Ji-min, stop,” On-jo pleaded. 

“What? Are you saying that I'm wrong?”

On-jo paused as she debated in her mind over what to say. “Maybe… I really don't know what we should do.”

“We can't pretend she's fine,” Ji-min insisted with an angry glare towards her. 

“Enough!” Nam-ra called out and everyone fell silent, the only sound being the soft groans from the turned students out the doors. 

“Please don't fight. Leaving will solve everything,” and with that, she quickly started walking towards the door and before you could run after her, On-jo already had and grabbed ahold of her arm. 

“Don't go! Where would you go?” She cried out as Nam-ra struggled to set herself free from her grasp. “Stop it. Please!” Nam-ra finally stopped and they stared at each other. “I don't want anyone dying.” On-jo’s hands glided down Nam-ra’s arm until they reached her hand which she gently held in her own. “Hyeon-ju and I-sak… They're hands were very cold before they turned,” she turned around to face everyone else, one of her hands still holding Nam-ra’s as she spoke again. “Nam-ra's hands are warm,” she explained her point. “She isn't a zombie. So cut it out, and let's talk about how to get to the roof.”

“No,” Ji-min stubbornly demanded. 

“Ji-min!”

“No way! She may be fine now, but who knows what's gonna happen when she turns?” She looked around for help as everyone else had remained quiet for the entire quarrel. “Guys, say something. This is wrong,” everyone remained quiet at her pleas. “She said herself that she wanted to bite her. She has zombie blood in her veins. Zombies killed my mom and dad,” she paused for a moment and your eyes widened as you looked at her sadly in sudden realization. “My mom…”

Seeing a break in the talking, you looked around for something that could help you and keep your friend by your side. Finding it, your eyes lit up and you walked over to where it was. Picking it up, you walked back over to Nam-ra and gently grabbed her hand, starting to tie the curtain tieback around her hand. 

“What are you doing?” She asked in confusion and you looked up at her for a second before turning your head back down to focus on the knot you were tying.

“I’m tying us together.”

She struggled and tried to pull her hand away from you, not willing to allow you to let yourself die if she did end up turning. “Stop it. Stop!”

You gently grabbed her other hand and placed it down, her struggling stopping as you looked her deep in the eyes. “Hold still, I don’t want to make it too tight for you,” you looked back down and tied to the fabric around your own hand as Su-hyeok came up to stand beside you.

“(Y/n), I don’t think this is-”

“Su-hyeok, respectfully, stay the fuck out of this,” you interrupted him as his hand reached out to stop yours and he sighed before stepping back in defeat, knowing he wouldn’t be able to convince you to stop no matter what he said. 

This was your best friend after all. 

You turned back to the group and held up your, now-connected, hands with a sarcastic smile. “Are you happy now? Now you don’t have to worry. If she turns and bites anyone, it’ll be me and not any of you.”

You saw some of the group’s eyes tear up but nobody spoke out to protest. 

You sat with Nam-ra to your left near the window and Su-hyeok to your right. No matter how much convincing you tried to give him, he wouldn’t leave to go sit on the other side of the room with the rest of the group. It warmed your heart but annoyed you nonetheless at his stubbornness.

You couldn’t really speak though with how stubborn you were being with Nam-ra. He was probably just being a good friend just like how you were being to Nam-ra. He’d only said it once but you knew he meant it. 

~364 days ago~

You walked to the cafeteria by yourself like always, passing by the group of friends Su-hyeok had gathered after leaving Myeong-hwan and his little band of bullies. You sent a subtle smile towards him when he looked at you and he returned it full force, not trying to hide it in any way so you immediately looked away and plugged your headphones in. You were still terrified by the thought of Su-hyeok getting caught up in the way people thought about you, he didn’t deserve that. 

You let out a little gasp as a hand grabbed one of your wrists and your waist before pulling you into a broom closet that was to your right. You rolled your eyes after you got past the surprise, knowing it was him. You turned around to find him grinning at you so genuinely that it almost made you forget your annoyance.

Almost. 

You slapped his chest and he winced slightly. “Su! I told you about this, what if someone sees us?”

“And I’ve told you about this, I don’t care who sees us. I don’t care about my reputation. I just want to hang out with you,” he reassured but you rolled your eyes despite the heat rising to your cheeks that wasn’t visible under the dim lighting of the closet. 

“Well, I do. I don’t want you to be seen with me,” you told him with a stern tone and he just looked at you with a sad smile. He wrapped his arms around your waist and brought you in for a hug that you instinctually returned. You sighed as he rested his head on top of yours. “I know you have your own reputation. I know that… but I don’t want it to be any more tainted by the fact that you hang out with the school bully’s little sister. That… that would just hurt you and your friends,” you pulled away so you could look him in the eyes. “I like your friends. They’re good for you and they’re kind. So, I don’t want them to be caught up in it either. I don’t want them to leave you over a silly fact like someone you’re friends with.”

He shook his head with a frown. “(Y/n), if they choose to leave me over somebody that I am friends with who they don’t even know, I don’t want to be friends with them anyways.”

You still didn’t look convinced at his words and plopped your forehead against his chest. “But they’re becoming your real friends! Friends that you need after… everything. You should keep them.”

He placed his hands on your cheeks and forced your head up so you could look at him. You tried to avoid eye contact because of how intimate the position seemed but he tapped your cheek and you sighed, complying. He smiled when your eyes met and your heart fluttered. 

Stop it. You know he doesn’t like you like that.

You mentally smacked yourself for giving yourself false hope but stopped when he spoke. “(Y/n). They might be my friends, and I might need them in my life,” he paused to place a lock of hair behind your ear. “But you’re my best friend. I don’t want to have a life without you in it.”

You smiled despite yourself and just wrapped your arms around him again. 

Even if it never becomes anything more, at least he considers me his best friend.

~Present~

You were brought back to the present when he rested his hand on yours and squeezed it. You looked over at him with a smile but it faltered when you thought of something. Putting on a fake teasing smile that he didn’t seem to realize wasn’t genuine, you spoke. “So…” You leaned over to elbow him gently. “I saw you drew a picture of a girl in your notebook,” his face flushed and he looked at you with a panicked expression. “She looks familiar, who is it?” Your tone turned into genuine curiosity as you were able to hide your disappointment. 

He let out a sigh that seemed relieved but also disappointed. With a blush, he looked away from you and spoke, “She’s just a drawing, nobody really…” 

He didn’t seem too convinced of his wordings but you decided to let it go with a slight push of your shoulder against his and he smiled. Right as you were about to speak again, you heard banging from across the room. You looked over to see Dae-su ramming his body into the storage closet door. While he did, the zombies got more aggressive and tried to come into the room. Everyone else noticed this and started yelling at him to stop. As he calmed down and slid down the door, you turned back around to face the window, not bothering to turn around when soft music started playing behind you. 

As Ji-min started to talk to the camera, you remained facing forward looking out to the blue sky. The camera passed around, each person leaving their message for their parents or what they wanted to be known for if all went wrong. After On-jo’s message to her father, telling him how much she loves him, she stood up and walked over to where Nam-ra, Su-hyeok, and you sat. She held the camera out to Su-hyeok who was closest to her. 

“You guys can leave a message as well if you want to.”

Su-hyeok took the camera and looked at it for a moment. “I don't really have anything to say,” he turned to you and Nam-ra. “Do either of you?”

You looked at Nam-ra and she shook her head. Looking back at him, you spoke. “No.”

On-jo looked from you to Nam-ra, to Su-hyeok, and then to the tie that held you and Nam-ra together, then back to you. “We trust you. You can untie it now,” after that, she walked away to retreat to her chair on the other side of the room. 

Su-hyeok placed the camera on the table behind you and you hesitated before reaching over to grab it. 

Opening the camera and flipping the screen so it faced you and you could see how you looked while recording yourself, you hesitated before pressing the record button. 

“It is currently day two of being trapped in the school. None of us have had water since the apocalypse started so we’re all tired and dehydrated,” you took a deep breath before continuing. “I’m scared to go to sleep and realize that I won’t be able to wake up,” you felt tears well up in your eyes as you thought about what you were going to say next but you blinked them away. “My brother… the high school bully… the one who always woke me up in the mornings an hour before my usual wake-up time by smacking me with a pillow. He… he was bitten by zombies and bit my best friend. I guess he’s still sentient even after being infected and that got passed to her since she hasn’t turned yet either and it’s probably been at least half an hour. I-” You got cut off by your voice breaking and you took a moment to collect yourself. “Gwi-nam? I know there’s no way you’ll ever see this… but I cannot believe what you’ve become. I stayed silent for years when you joined Myeong-hwan’s group because you told me it was to protect me. To protect me not only from them but also from Dad. He only focused on you and how badly you did in school. But, after a while, it stopped being about protecting me. Even though I know you were still scared of them, both Dad and Myeong-hwan, you liked doing it. You liked hurting the kids of the school. I wish I had said something sooner so you would have stopped before it’s too late but here we are,” you raised a hand to gestures around you with a frustrated sigh. “I’m stuck in a classroom and my best friend has been infected. Because of you, nonetheless. I don’t know what to do anymore,” you sighed again and a tear streaked down your cheek. “I already lost Mom to the pressure of dad’s expectations, I don’t want to lose you too,” you sobbed once and closed the camera. 

Neither Nam-ra nor Su-hyeok said anything and you wonder if they even heard it from how quietly you were speaking. You placed the camera back onto the table behind you and after a few seconds, Nam-ra picked it up and faced the screen towards herself. She seemed troubled, like she was seeing something that no one else could see, and you grabbed her free hand gently. 

She looked down at your hands, seeing the red fabric still tying them together. “I don’t understand why you’re doing this, (Y/n).”

“I’m doing it because if I didn’t then the people over there,” you gestured to the group with your free hand. “Would have kicked you out… I know it was your choice, but I just couldn’t allow it. You’re too important to me Nam, don’t you understand that?”

She looked down at her lap for a minute before asking, “You know how I said I wanted to bite you earlier?” 

“Yeah, I know. But you didn’t, and you won’t,” you insisted and she nodded but still looked grim.

“It felt like I was dreaming. You were just giving off such a beautiful scent,” she said seriously but you couldn’t resist the temptation to playfully flirt with her or tease her. 

“Well, if you liked my perfume that much, you could’ve just asked,” you winked at her mischievously and she shook her head with a smile. You went back to being serious as you asked her your next question, “What kind of scent was it?”

“I'm not sure. It was something that I had never smelled before. All I could think about was eating you… How much I wanted to bite you. Bite you and eat you. But then I heard your voice saying my nickname,” she looked at you and smiled. 

“So you’re saying I brought you back?” You teased and she scoffed with a playful eyeroll

“Yes. I am saying that it was your voice that woke me up.”

You smiled and looked down when suddenly she looked over her shoulder at the door and stood up. 

“What is it?”

“I heard something strange…” She started walking towards the door and you, still being connected via the curtain holder, walked after her, Su-hyeok following loosely behind. The group started walking towards the two of you as you did and you heard indistinct talking which you couldn’t make out. Nam-ra stood for a second and listened. “I hear it.”

“You hear what?”

“What?”

“What do you hear?”

You, Su-hyeok, and On-jo all spoke one after another. 

She paused as she listened again. “I think someone is puking,” she paused before continuing. “It stopped.”

“What stopped?” Su-hyeok asked from behind you and you turned around to give him a disappointed look. 

“The sound of puking,” you told him and he oohed while you shook your head.

“Yes. It stopped,” Nam-ra confirmed. 

“Stop it. You're scaring me,” Hyo-ryung complained and Nam-ra turned to look at her, confused.

“Don't you hear it?” She asked but everyone shook their heads. 

“I'm not hearing anything,” Hyo-ryung told her again and breathed heavily. Nam-ra’s eyes dilated for a moment as she stared at her. “What? What?” Hyo-ryung asked, obviously scared which kind of ticked you off. 

“Are you scared?” The girl connected to you asked. 

“Stop that.”

“It's just… you're the one breathing the loudest.”

“Do you hear that?” On-jo whispered loudly to Hyo-ryung and Dae-su.

“All I hear is that zombie,” the boy responded. 

Nam-ra looked around, focusing on some things you couldn’t see or hear. “We should go. It's weird here.”

“We can't just leave,” Cheong-san stated. “There are zombies out there.”

“We should've gone to the roof when the music was playing. Shit,” Dae-su groaned and sat down in one of the chairs. 

“Music. Wait a minute. We have music!” On-jo exclaimed excitedly. 

“What? What music?” He asked.

“I heard some music playing a while ago, do you mean that music?” You asked and she nodded before walking over and picking up the video camera still resting on the table. 

“I have an idea. We're going to have to build a tall barricade here,” she walked around and gestured a line down the middle of the room. “And then we lure them in with music. Use the instruments too.”

“We could also use the instruments as a source of noise for the zombies to hear us and come after us,” you suggested and she nodded at your idea. 

“Yes, that could work well! If we leave the door open, they'll follow the music in. Once it's clear, we take the back door up to the roof,” she continued to explain the plan only to receive a couple of confused looks from her classmates. 

“Am I the only one who’s lost right now?” Wu-jin asked and Dae-su raised his hand in agreement. 

“Basically, we are going to build a barricade in the middle of the room by stacking the chairs and desks here, open the front door, before running out the back door once the zombies have all gathered into the room,” you looked back at On-jo for confirmation. “Right?”

“Not here. Farther back. We need more room on this side,” she corrected and you let out an ‘oh’ while nodding. 

“And why is that?” Dae-su asked, not getting it.

“There aren't that many of us, but there are lots of zombies,” she explained and Dae-su closed his eyes with his head facing upwards.

“Ah…” he sighed out in understanding. “She sucks at school, but she's pretty smart,” he backhandedly complimented her. 

“Hey!” She growled at him and he held his hands up in surrender.

“It's a compliment,” he defended and you rolled your eyes with a scoff.

“It’s a backhanded compliment,” you pointed out but he just gave you a confused look.

“What’s that?”

“It basically means a compliment with an underlying insult. ‘You’re pretty strong for a girl’ is an example of a backhanded compliment. It’s degrading the person you told it to and setting them on a different level than the rest. In this case, it’s just insulting,” you explained with a wink at the end while he just looked at you in shock. 

“Wow, (Y/n), I never knew you were so smart. I always thought you were quiet because you didn’t know anything,” he told you and you rolled your eyes.

“Another example of a backhanded compliment,” you stated and he just rolled his eyes with a playful dismissive wave in your direction. 

“Let's give it a shot,” Cheong-san commented after he saw the conversation/argument between Dae-su and yourself end. “We can figure out the rest later,” everyone nodded at his words.

“We have a TV too,” you pointed out. “If we can maybe connect the camera to the TV it might be louder than just the camera by itself.”

“I can do that!” Joon-yeong blurted out. “I will have to look for the cord though. Hey, can you help me look, Ji-min?” 

The girl nodded. “Sure,” they both went to look for the cord and Hyo-ryung quickly followed behind them. 

On-jo walked up to where you and Nam-ra were standing side by side. “We should untie that,” she pointed to the knot and then reached forward to untie it when you lightly knocked Nam-ra’s hand back away from On-jo’s outreaching one with your own.

“It’s okay, On-jo,” you gave her a small, although genuine, smile but she just frowned. 

“She'll never be able to get close to the others this way. And no one will approach her,” she mentioned and you nodded for her to continue. “Hatred is contagious… but so is trust.”

She reached forward again and this time you let her, holding your hands out so it would be easier for her to untie it. 

“You should've been the class president,” Nam-ra told her with a genuine but still monotone voice and On-jo just looked down as she smiled. 

As you and Nam-ra just watched On-jo leave, Su-hyeok jogged over to stand beside you and placed a hand on your shoulder. “Come on, let's help out.”

You nodded and the three of you went over to assist. Finding whatever you could to help create a strong barrier, you pushed and pulled desks and chairs and instruments and cabinets to wherever it was needed. 

“It's looking great,” Dae-su examined the work done with a proud expression and you took a step back to do so as well. 

“Alright. I think this is good enough,” On-jo explained with a worried face after checking the situation outside. 

“Okay,” Cheong-san agreed before Dae-su called for the rest of you on the other side of the wall near where the exit was supposed to be. 

“Aren't you guys coming? We left a gap over there for you.”

“Let’s go,” Su-hyeok directed, looking back and forth between everyone before grabbing a chair and walking towards the gap in the door. He placed it down before stepping onto the desk and hopping over the gap. You helped Nam-ra and On-jo hop across, Su-hyeok doing the same on the other side, until you saw Cheong-san stop, not hopping over himself. 

“(Y/n), you go,” he told you and you nodded before hopping over yourself, Su-hyeok’s hands landing on your waist to help you even though for the previous girls he only held their hands. You and On-jo looked back to see Cheong-san still hadn’t jumped over, standing on the other side looking like he had no intention of crossing the barrier. 

“Why aren't you coming over?” On-jo questioned. 

“Well, someone has to stay to open the door.”

“Fuck…” you cursed. “We totally forgot about that…”

“Couldn't you have come up with a better plan?” Dae-su complained and you smacked his arm which he dramatically grabbed in pain. 

“It's okay,” Cheong-san reassured. “I'll come over right away.”

“Wait,” you protested. “I'll come,” you told him and pressed your hands up on the cabinet to lift yourself up when hands grabbed your waist and pulled you back down. 

“It's fine.”

“Like hell, you will.”

Cheong-san and Su-hyeok both spoke at the same time and Su-hyeok lightly pushed you back as he jumped over the cabinet himself. You let out a sound of complaint but he just poked your nose which succeeded in rebooting your brain for a second. 

“It’ll be okay,” he promised and you pressed your lips together as you debated if you should let him go but knowing you were on a limited schedule you just sighed and held out your pinkie. It was childish and something you hadn’t done in years but he just laughed and interlocked your pinkies. You smiled at him before backing up, making sure to give plenty of enough room for them to jump over when they had the door open. 

After a while, Cheong-san came back alone but the door was yet to be opened. You decided not to say anything because you knew two people on that side would just be too many people to get out. 

Seconds later, the door opened and Su-hyeok ran to jump over the cabinet, using the window sill to give himself an advantage before you pushed a desk placed on its side where the gap was. You held it there as Dae-su, Cheong-san, and Su-hyeok pulled a bookshelf over and pushed it to where you once stood before moving out of the way while Joon-yeong started the music. Zombies flooded into the room and you all held it there before On-jo ran to the window to see how much you all had succeeded in your plan. 

By her face, it wasn’t good. 

“Dae-su, you gotta make some noise!” She instructed and Dae-su took a deep breath before screaming. 

“Die, zombies! Fucking die!

“Do it one more time!” She ordered desperately. 

“Shit! Stupid zombies, motherfuckers!”

On-jo grabbed an instrument and started hitting it, creating a loud banging sound and the girls followed suit as Wu-jin ran over to the window to see if the halls were clear. You stayed and held onto the bookshelf, keeping it there as the zombies piled and started to climb over. 

“Wu-jin!” Cheong-san screamed in distress but he shook his head.

“We can't go yet! Not yet!” He looked back in anguish and all the girls ran back to help support the barrier, hitting the zombies that had climbed over back to the other side. 

As a zombie had crawled over the rest to where Nam-ra had run back over to help, you quickly looked around and picked up a drumstick that was lying on the floor and then ran back over to her. “Nam-ra!” You screamed as you stabbed the zombie through the eye with the drumstick along with other zombies that had started to climb over and they fell back down the crowd in a lifeless heap. 

As you saw Cheong-san do something similar for On-jo, you heard Hyo-ryung shouting at Wu-jin despairingly. “It's not going to hold up!”

“How much longer is it gonna take? Let's go!” Dae-su called out but the answer was the same. 

“A little more. Not yet!”

‘A little more’ became ‘just a few more’ which became ‘they’re still coming’ until finally it stopped.

“Clear. We have to go now!” Wu-jin shouted as he opened the door to find no zombies roaming the hallway. “Hurry!”

Hyo-ryung was the first to go, followed by Ji-min, then Joon-yeong and Nam-ra, and then On-jo. Su-hyeok, Cheong-san, Dae-su, and you were the last of the bunch. 

“(Y/n)! Go!” The three boys seemed to yell out simultaneously and you would’ve laughed given another situation but you just squeezed your eyes tight as you continued to push against the barrier to hold it up. 

“Fuck off and save yourselves first!” You screamed back at them. 

“Dae-su, go!” Cheong-san tried again but to a different member. 

“You go first,” when Cheong-san nor Su-hyeok nor you responded, he yelled out more strainedly, “I'm gonna shit my pants. Go!”

Su-hyeok reluctantly left but not before grabbing you by the wrist and dragging you out of the room. You turned back just in time to see Cheong-san drag Dae-su away from the barrier and the barrier collapsed. You turned back around to focus on running and hurried after the others who were headed for the roof. 

As you all continued to run up the stairs, Su-hyeok, who was still holding onto your wrist for dear life, tripped and almost brought you down with him if you hadn’t caught yourself in time. You reached down to hold his hand and drag him up. “Hurry!”

You all reached the top and you saw Cheong-san twisting the handles to no avail as the doors didn’t give way. 

“Come on, open it!” Dae-su whined, looking behind him in fear of anything there. 

“It's locked,” Cheong-san breathed out in disbelief. 

“What? Move!” Dae-su pushed Cheong-san out of the way to try himself, slamming his shoulder into the door in an attempt to open it but to no success. 

“Wait. Get back. Move,” Choeng-san told everyone as he ran towards the keypad to try and enter any code that might work. 

As they started to call through the door in hopes of someone being on the roof, you looked over to see the sign written on the door and sighed in anger. Anger at the situation, anger at the door, but also, anger at yourself. 

You had known the rooftop was always locked, your brother had told you time and time again but in the moment you had completely forgotten. 

Su-hyeok and Cheong-san had gone down the stairs with their makeshift weapons and you looked back and forth between them and the door. Nam-ra had announced that the zombies had arrived and you quickly decided to try every combination on the keypad that you could. It wasn’t great but it was something. Thank god it was only 4 digits. 

That’s still 9,999 codes though.

You could hear the zombies as they screamed and growled but you just focused on trying the codes. Nam-ra had the great idea of throwing a tarp over to hold back the zombies and it did an amazing job, only a few zombies got passed which Cheong-san and Su-hyeok dealt with accordingly. 

Dae-su and Wu-jin fell to their knees, leaning against the door as they gave up on using brute force to wrench the door open. You watched from the corner of your eye as they ran to help with the tarp but just remained focused on trying to wrack your brain for the code. They changed the code every day but you just knew you had seen it. Gwi-nam kept a paper in his room that held the number combinations to open the rooftops because of how often his group went up there. You had seen it once and even took a photo of it, just because you wanted to. You’d never done anything with it, you just had it, looking at the codes now and then as you debated whether or not you should go up there. You decided against it every time. 

8834

Just as you had remembered it and you almost laughed with glee, you heard Nam-ra say something from behind you and it made your heart stop. 

“Why didn’t you die?”

You looked behind you just in time to see your brother get sent slamming down onto the blue tarp. Your eyes then locked onto Nam-ra’s and she looked at you with the same amount of shock you were looking at her with. You shook your head in dismissal of the situation, the zombies below still coming and cornering your group. “Guys! I’ve unlocked it! The door’s unlocked! Let’s go!”

On-jo was the one to push open the door and you waited until everyone piled out onto the roof, saving Cheong-san and Su-hyeok for last before you followed them out. Just before running through the door to escape the inbound zombies, you saw a withering bouquet of flowers leaning against the corner of the wall.

They were your favorites.

~~~

| Prologue | Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 | Chapter 10 |

~~~

Taglist!

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Lmk if you want to be added!

[philomenie]

Shadow Warrior

Hitman! Jolly - Part 2

CN despair, grief, mention of abortion, mafiatheme, violence, sexual tension, cheating, guilt, +18

If I forgot to mark something as CN, please let me know so I can add it!

@nojoyontheburn @jilliemiw86 @dsireland86 @aubrey-melinoe

ONE

“Doc Olivia, Doc Olivia....” excitedly, the boy scurries through the waiting patients to the registration desk, stretching his neck to find the doctor. “Carlos, what is it?” he can hear her warm voice through all the commotion in the emergency room of the pro bono clinic. Almost immediately, she appears in his field of vision. Tall, her slender limbs are clad in green surgical trousers and a green surgical gown, over which she is wearing a white doctor's coat, which urgently needs to be changed as there are various blood splashes on it. She has tucked her long, unruly, dark curls under a surgical cap.

“My mom... she's outside, in the car.... She's screaming!” Carlos chokes out excitedly, ”The baby......” “Fuck....” escapes Olivia and she quickly organizes two nurses and a stretcher so that Carlo's mother, who is probably in labour and too early, can be taken to the hospital's delivery room. She also hastily paged a midwife and the gynecologist. Fuck, if this really is a premature birth, they're not equipped for it here... the child and the mother will have to be transferred to another clinic.... But then what about the damn costs... Olivia thinks feverishly while the crying woman is brought into the delivery room. After making sure that Carlo's mother is being cared for, she goes to a quiet corner of the clinic, pulls out her cell phone and, after a moment's hesitation, dials the contact.

“Olivia.... I thought I wouldn't see or hear from you again so soon after our last meeting....” smiles the charming, soft voice of the man she would have liked to strangle again with the first word. “Noah.....” growls Olivia, who has taken on the pseudonym of Nobu Seiichi Doi, the now head of the Yakuza in America, partly to annoy Doi, who prefers to hear her say his real name, as he has confirmed to her several times. “Well, dearest Olivia... what can I do for you? That's why you're calling and hardly to hear my voice... or to accept my dinner invitation after all....” Noah explains with a smile. “I have a pregnant woman here who is suffering a premature birth.... A premature premature birth!” growls Olivia, immune to his charm, ”I need your help!” “What am I supposed to do?” Noah Sebastian Davis aka Nobu Seiichi Doi wants to know from her, irritated. “Have her taken to your private clinic...” Olivia explains curtly, ”Neither the child nor the mother can be adequately cared for here, you know that!” “Liv.....” sighs Noah, getting no further. “Don't you dare call me that!” Olivia hisses tonelessly.

“Sorry, Olivia.... I can barely get ANYONE treated at my private clinic... Last week the accident on the construction site, then that idiot who shot his own face off....” growls Davis. “A PREMATURE BIRTH! The child must have a chance!” Olivia hisses back angrily. “Ok.....” sighs Davis, ”You're having dinner with me for this....” “No way!” growls Olivia, but at the same time she's feverishly wondering if it's not worth it. “Come on... just dinner... Nicholas and Nadja are there too!” Noah asks. “Nick is here again?” Olivia wants to know, who has become friends with the Cuban after all the events of the last two years.... God, has it really been two years? Olivia's heart clenches, as it always does when she thinks of Joakim. A tear steals down her cheek and drips silently onto the floor..... Joakim.... Automatically, she reaches for the ring she wears on a chain around her neck while on duty... her engagement ring in the shape of a star... the North Star... That was her, his North Star, the one he would always return to.... That's what he had sworn to her. But Joakim will never return to her in this life, as his mortal remains lie in the cursed graveyard, deep down in the earth.... His body, shattered by an explosion, rots in a coffin. Olivia has to pull herself together, can't break down crying again here and now.

“What now?” Noah tempts her. “Well... if Nick and Nadja are there, the invitation stands,” growls Olivia harshly. “Wonderful!” smiles Davis over the phone. “What about the child, the mother?” Olivia follows up. “I'll send an ambulance with an incubator, let my doctors know!” promises Davis, ”And please be on time, 9 pm, evening dress is appropriate! I'll send someone to pick you up!” Before Olivia can say anything back, Davis has hung up. Stunned, with a mixture of anger and disbelief, Olivia stares at her black display.... FUCK, she feels like she's been conned. But now she can hardly cancel. When she leaves the clinic later, it's already dark, and walks to the parking lot, she has that tingling sensation on the back of her neck again, as if she's being watched. It is particularly intense today. The hairs on the back of her neck and the fine hairs on her arms stand up and she gets goose bumps. Startled, she turns around and looks around nervously... Nothing.... Nevertheless, she can't shake this feeling of being watched, of being followed. FUCK, you're getting paranoid, Olivia tells herself, turns around again and continues on her way to her car, gets in unchallenged and drives off. His warm green-brown eyes are fixed on the car as it drives away. The tall, slim man steps out of the shadows a little, pulling his baseball cap down over his face. He has also pulled the hood of his hoodie over it, turned up the collar of his jacket and his hands are once again deep in the pockets of his black cargo pants. His entire outfit is black, as are his shoes.

He blends beautifully into the darkness as he retreats back into the shadows of the blocks of houses that surround the clinic where Olivia works. Slowly, he turns and walks to his car, sits in it, starts it. He doesn't have to follow Olivia's car on sight because he knows exactly where she's going. Home to the small suburb where she lives in a little house... alone, except for her roommate, Milo, a pit bull mix, who is staying with a neighbor while Olivia works. The man drives up to the house at a leisurely pace, stops not directly in front of it but a little further away and switches off the engine. The house is brightly lit and he can see that Olivia is upstairs, as her silhouette is visible behind the curtains. She is getting changed, then probably takes a shower, as she always does when she comes home from work.... Then she puts on comfortable clothes and, if she doesn't cook herself, has something brought in by the delivery service. Preferably Asian.... Asian of all things.... The man grimaces as he immediately thinks of Doi. His anger at the head of the Yakuza has not diminished in the year he has not seen him. He simply cannot forgive him for his actions. The very actions that have more or less forced him to live in the shadows. Since he has officially declared him dead, dead to the world, dead to the underworld, dead to Olivia... his Olivia, his Liv, his North Star. Joakim has to breathe in and out deeply to calm down again. After he was finally able to move again, to walk, one day he disappeared from Doi's house without a sound. The bastard had taken him there after he had been discharged from hospital. Doi made sure that he got everything he needed to get fit again. Still, for not telling Olivia that he survived the damn explosion, Joakim just can't forgive Doi. Doi didn't just make him suffer, no, he almost destroyed Olivia with that news. Joakim's plan was actually to go to Olivia immediately, take her to him and disappear with her... but Doi had sown deep doubts in him as to whether it wouldn't be better for Olivia if he stayed dead, so that she would be safe.

In addition, his physical condition, his different appearance due to the scars, also prevented him from doing so, as he was afraid Olivia would shy away from it.

So he disappeared alone for a while, had to sort himself out and rethink a lot of things. To do this, he flew to Sweden, back to his home country. He stayed there for almost a year and bought a farm a little away from civilization. He got the money for it from Ruffilo. The Cuban supported him in everything he planned. A friendship has developed between the two men in the meantime and Nicholas has also encouraged him to come back and fetch Olivia. Which was actually his plan. But Olivia has also moved on, as Joakim discovered. She has left her job at the research institute and moved out of the new apartment. Instead, she is working in a clinic again, a special clinic, a clinic supported and financed by Doi. Back in the cursed city that has meant so much suffering for him, but also immense happiness..... because he found his Liv there. He has now seen Doi and Olivia together several times. Joakim feels sick when he thinks of every single time. How obliging Doi is towards her.... And Olivia doesn't seem to be averse to his charms either. Nobody knows that he's back.... Well, Ruffilo will probably suspect it, but he hasn't told him, Nadja or Alexei about his plans.

The fact that he has limited contact with Nadja again, and currently none at all, is due to Ruffilo. The two of them now have a relationship, a very intimate one, and Joakim is delighted that Nadja finally seems to have found happiness. Her marriage to Sergei is a sham and only serves as security for both of them. Nadja to support and secure her position, Sergej to live undisturbed with his lover, who is officially his bodyguard.

Shortly before the wedding, Sergej confessed his homosexuality to Nadja and Nadja was incredibly relieved because she was already madly in love with the Cuban. Joakim snorts in amusement, Nadja and really in love.... Who would have thought it? He knows that he owes his life to her and Ruffilo. If it hadn't been for both of them and their tenacity, he would have died under the rubble, the dead Kolja on top of him. The fact that he also owes his life to this shitty little asshole of all people still seems like sheer mockery to Joakim... but well.... He can't remember anything else, only that he woke up at some point, in pain, unable to move and his first thought was Liv..... He didn't really realize at first that he had been in a hospital, nor exactly what had happened, as he kept dozing off in the early days, after the month-long coma he had been in. What came afterwards was no less bad.... Especially as he now had to experience and suffer it while fully conscious. But the worst thing about it all was that his Liv thought he was dead... he had to endure it all without her. She was also his only motivation to get back on his feet, even though the doctors didn't give him too much hope as he had suffered multiple fractures. In fact, there wasn't a mendable bone left in his body. But he still made it. You can hardly see it now, only those who know him or observe him closely can see that he still walks with a slight limp and occasionally his body starts to shake uncontrollably. But even that is getting better and better, only when he is tense does it happen more often. However, the other scars that now cover his body will never go away. The large, long scar on his face is particularly troublesome.... That's why he now wears his hair almost exclusively loose, usually with a baseball cap pulled low over his face.

Suddenly Joakim is startled out of his thoughts and up, as Olivia is just about to leave her house. His mouth is open in amazement, she looks simply stunning.... He has to swallow and sits up to get a better look at her. She is wearing a dark green, tight satin dress. High-necked, long with a slit at the side. Satin pumps in the same color. A black jacket over it and a black clutch, discreet silver jewelry. One side of her hair is pinned back, the other falls lush and curly over her shoulders. God....she is simply beautiful, Joakim thinks and his chest tightens as he stares at her. A black limousine approaches her house and stops in front of it. Joakim's heart stops for a moment when he sees WHO is getting out and walking towards Olivia, hugging her. DOI.... Joakim would like to storm out and beat the bastard to a pulp, but instead he clenches his fists and realizes how tears of anger and despair burn in his eyes. Damn... Doi and Olivia? As the limo drives away with them, a tear rolls down his cheek. Damn.... Did Doi end up taking Olivia after all? Has Olivia succumbed to his charm? Is he too late? The questions gnaw at him and he feels miserable. What should he do now?

Beaming, Doi looks at Olivia, who avoids his gaze. “You look really charming tonight.... Appropriate for the occasion!” smiles Doi. “You said evening wear!” Olivia shrugs unimpressed, ”A bit over the top for a simple dinner in my opinion... but well, I know by now that you're a bit eccentric at times!” “Oh, it's really not a simple dinner!” Doi laughs. Olivia narrows her eyes, “What's that supposed to mean? WHERE are you taking me?” “To a banquet....” smiles Doi.

“FUCK, NOAH!” Olivia roars angrily, ”You set me up... I'm your fucking escort for a fucking banquet???” Grinning, Doi shrugs his shoulder, brushing back his now shoulder-length hair, “I needed a presentable escort, it's a banquet at the mayor of our fair city after all, and I'm invited as the guest of honor..... Therefore.....” “Noah, you really are an asshole.... Stop the car, I want to get out... I'm not playing your fucking games!” Olivia hisses angrily. “No... you're going with me and I'll tell you why, because you're going to get so many donations and sponsors for your clinic. I've already made sure of that in advance and when the gentlemen see you tonight, their wallets will be all the looser!” Doi explains calmly. Olivia glares angrily at him, “I'm so disgusted by these machinations ....” she chokes out. “Well, everything's a business, you know that. You're not stupid!” smiles Doi ”And you know how important donations are... if I'm the only one funding the clinic all the time, some people will probably notice and they'd better not... SO it's safer for you!” “I should never have gotten involved!” growls Olivia. “What....” Doi looks at her, waiting. “On everything.....” she hisses angrily, ”On you.....” “You got involved in all this when you got involved with HIM....” Doi snorts. Olivia's features freeze, she looks at Doi icily, “HE has absolutely nothing in common with YOU, the one here.... HE was forced to live like this, YOU want to live like this, really enjoy it!” she spits at him. “And yet he killed ruthlessly when he was told to... probably innocent people too!” Doi points out. “God... I loathe you more than I can say right now!” Olivia chokes out.

“That didn't stop you from getting into my bed... sort of business and also...” Doi doesn't get any further as Olivia gives him a resounding slap across the face. “That's something I'll never forgive myself for!” she hisses ”And it will never happen again!” Doi looks at her like a predator before leaning towards her in a flash, cupping her face in his hands and kissing her greedily. Olivia is frozen at first, but then she pushes him back with all her might, “Let me out... let me out now!” she hisses and punches him in the face again. Doi grabs her hand before she can strike a third time. “No.... We'll go to the fucking banquet now, you'll smile, collect money, enjoy yourself... and after.....” Doi tenderly strokes her cheek, her neck.

Olivia frees herself from his grip, “Never again in this life....” she glares angrily at him. “Never say never.....” Doi smiles and reaches for Olivia's hand, which she immediately snatches from his grasp. “Noah...” she warns him urgently. Apologizing, he raises his hands, “Sorry... I'll behave myself from now on, I swear!” Olivia presses her jaws together. It's hard to describe her connection with him... on the one hand, she hates his guts because she holds him primarily responsible for Joakim's death. On the other hand, this man exerts a kind of magic on her that she can't completely escape, culminating in them ending up in bed together. Before that, they had argued, as they always do, and when Olivia got violent, Doi kissed her and she kissed him back. One thing led to another and after they both practically tore each other's clothes off, they had sex.... Good sex, as Olivia has to admit. Doi is an experienced and talented lover, knew exactly what he was doing.

Afterward, Olivia was devastated... she betrayed Joakim.... That was all she felt and thought and Doi knew it the moment he looked at her. He left without a word and didn't contact her again for a long time... until weeks later and since then their relationship has cooled even more than before. It all happened a quarter of a year ago and Olivia still doesn't know exactly why she fell for this man, as she still loves Joakim more than anything and has no intention of letting another man into her life. Well, except for Doi, who forces his way into her life, and in a way she lets him.

When the limousine pulls up outside the front door of the magnificent estate, Olivia has to swallow. FUCK, what the hell has she gotten herself into, she thinks to herself in despair. Doi gets out, opens the door to her side and gallantly holds out her hand, which Olivia studiously ignores and gets out of the car without any help, ignoring him and walking towards the entrance. Doi hurries to her side and places his hand on her lower back, causing Olivia to flinch and take a small leap forward. “FUCK, Noah...” she hisses angrily, ”Leave it!” He leans towards her, “You're MY escort today and I'm the only one allowed to touch you.... Do you understand?” he whispers harshly in her ear. Olivia's eyes widen in understanding, “Otherwise I'd be fair game, so to speak, at this damn banquet?” she hisses. “That's one way of putting it, yes.....” smiles Doi. “The evening can't get any more disgusting....” growls Olivia, but no longer fends off Doi's hand, instead enduring it against her body..... or rather, his touch sends shivers through her body, completely upsetting her and she would have done anything to make his hand disappear.

As they both enter the hall, Doi is greeted by various people, mostly men. Olivia watches the spectacle with lowered eyelashes... most of them she knows, at least by sight, the mayor, various city councillors, senators, then the head of the local police department, just to name a few. When the handshakes and introductions are finally over, Doi has really introduced her to all these men, they can finally go to their table. “WHERE is Nicholas and Nadja?” snorts Olivia irritably, as she can't spot them anywhere. “I'm sure they'll be here....” Doi seems just as irritated by this as she is, as they both sit down. Just as the first speeches are about to begin, they both dart into the hall, head straight for Olivia and Doi and sit down. Nadja beams at Olivia next to her and takes her hands in hers, “Nice to see you again, it feels like it's been ages!” Olivia smiles at her just as warmly, “I know... busy... you probably are too!” “Oh yes.....” Nadja laughs. Nicholas smiles just as warmly at her, “It's good to see you, Olivia, especially to finally see you laughing again!” Olivia has to swallow at these words, she grits her teeth and nods at him. Nicholas knows immediately that he has made a mistake and looks at her apologetically, “I didn't mean to... oh, damn it!” he growls. “It's okay, I'm really happy to see you... what are Nikolaj and Zoja doing?” she wants to know.

Ruffilo has taken in the two little orphans and is raising them together with his own children. He wants to give them what Joakim wanted for them. A quiet life, away from violence and crime, with love and security.... As much as you can ask of a Yakuza arms dealer. But that's exactly what Nicholas wants for the children, as well as for his own. Doesn't want any of them to follow in his footsteps.... “Oh, Nikolaj is a whirlwind, he and Tajo keep everyone on their toes and Zoja is just a piece of gold!” beams Nicholas. “Good grief.... They're children!” Doi rolls his eyes, who has little use for children. “Of course that comes from YOU!” Olivia hisses at him and Doi rolls his eyes again. The speeches drag on and Olivia feels like she's really wasting her life here. She struggles to stifle a yawn. Nadja leans towards her, “I need to talk to you.... Urgently!” she whispers to her. Olivia looks at her questioningly. “Not here... let's go to a quiet corner later...” Nadja whispers and leans back in her seat. Before Olivia can think about it any further, everyone starts clapping and Olivia hopes with all her heart that the speeches are over now, which fortunately they are.

The food is served quickly and everyone is busy with it for the time being. Olivia only now realizes how hungry she is and eats gratefully. Out of the corner of her eye, she notices Nadja poking around listlessly and barely touching a bite. Suddenly she stands up and hurries out of the room. Doi looks after her, frowning, “What's wrong with her?” he wants to know from Ruffilo, who just shrugs his shoulders, clueless and confused. Olivia stands up, “I'll go and look for her!” she declares, earning her a grateful look from Ruffilo. Olivia doesn't have to search for long, she finds Nadja on the terrace of the estate, where she breathes in the fresh night air. Concerned, she puts an arm around the smaller woman, “Hey, what's wrong? Are you feeling sick?” “Yes..... all the time.... For fuckin 6 weeks....” Nadja blinks against the tears forming in her eyes. Olivia turns pale, “You're pregnant.....” she whispers. Nadja nods silently, the tears now rolling down her cheeks, which she wipes away in annoyance, “I think I'm about 10 weeks....” “You haven't been to the doctor yet?” Olivia asks, stunned. “No! That's why I wanted to talk to you....” Nadja looks at her pleadingly. “You don't want to keep it....” Olivia swallows. “I can't keep it!” Nadja cries, ”Everyone would immediately recognize that it's not Sergei's if it's in the world. And then I'd have a huge problem!” “Why?” Olivia wants to know.

“Because some will be bothered by it... God, Sergei is blond, fair-skinned, like me and Nicholas..... well, you know what he looks like... The child will surely take after him!” sighs Nadja, ”I could dig my own grave if I keep it..... Especially because the Italians are getting cheeky!” “Come to the clinic tomorrow, I'll make sure you're examined, Anonymous! And then we'll figure out what to do together!” Olivia nods, ”Nicholas doesn't know about this?” Nadja shakes her head, “No.... And he mustn't find out either.... It would break his heart!” “Nadja....” Olivia looks at her pleadingly. “Olivia, please.... He mustn't find out!” Nadja chokes out. “Certainly not from me. I'm also bound by medical confidentiality, because you're my patient!” Olivia assures her. Nadja hugs Olivia gratefully, “I knew I could count on you!” she sighs with relief. “Always!” Olivia nods, ”But let's go back inside when you're well again, so Nicholas doesn't get suspicious!” They have already moved on to dessert in the hall and Nadja feels sick again just looking at the chocolate mousse. So she pushes the plate away from her, which earns her a questioning look from Nicholas. “Is something wrong? You've hardly eaten anything.....” He leans towards her, concerned. “No, I'm just feeling a bit sick, that's all....” Nadja evades him, beaming at him, ”Don't worry, I've just got a bit sick to my stomach!” “Should we go home?” Nicholas wants to know immediately. “No, everything's fine!” Nadja assures him. Nicholas doesn't really believe her and watches her closely. Doi gives Olivia a questioning look, which she ignores. Sighing, he stands up and holds out his hand to her, “Come on, let's raise some money for your clinic, introduce you to a few more important people!” With flashing eyes, Olivia takes Doi's hand and stands up, “I hate being shown off!” she hisses. “You're not being shown off, I'm just helping you make important connections, connections that could be very useful to you!” he explains quietly. “I want absolutely NOTHING to do with this dirty business!” she hisses. “No dirty business, I promise you... very few people here know WHO I really am. To them, I'm just Noah Sebastian Davis, a successful businessman with a clean slate!” smiles Doi. “God, do you actually listen to yourself talk?” growls Olivia in disgust, ”You're so smug.....” Doi stops short, “Olivia, I'm doing this for you....” he tenderly brushes a strand of hair out of her face.

“You don't think I believe you.... I'm sure there's something in it for you too!” she hisses at him, ”And leave my hair alone!” Doi laughs softly, “All right, I get it! Come on then... let's shake some more hands!” “Fabulous!” Olivia rolls her eyes, but then puts on a smile, ready to keep shaking hands to raise money for her clinic. Because she knows that without more sponsorship and donations, she will hardly be able to keep the clinic going as more and more patients need to be cared for there. Exhausted, Olivia later lies down in her seat in the limousine. Doi leans over her, caresses her cheek and Olivia immediately grabs his hand. “Noah, one more move like that and I'll strangle you today!” she hisses at him. “I'm sorry... but it's just really hard for me....” Doi sighs and drops into his seat, smiling apologetically at her. “Leave it... really!” hisses Olivia angrily, ”I just want to get home and into my bed now!” “I was hoping you'd still come with me.....” smiles Doi. “GOD, NOAH!!! NO!” Olivia screams at him, ”THERE IS NOTHING BETWEEN US AND THERE WILL NEVER BE ANYTHING BETWEEN US!” “That's a shame!” sighs Doi, ”You really are the first woman I've ever wanted to settle down with...” “You're so predictable....” hisses Olivia, ”You only want me because I don't want you, that's all!”

“No!” Doi shakes his head sternly, ”I really care about you, Olivia!” “Don't talk nonsense, Noah.” growls Olivia, ”There's nothing between us and there never will be!” “We'll see.....” Doi shrugs his shoulder with a smile. His thoughts, however, return to the conversation he and Nicholas had when Olivia was away with Nadja.

Nicholas had asked if he was still in contact with Karlsson, just in passing, which had caught Doi's attention. To be honest, Doi had banished Karlsson from his thoughts since he had disappeared off the face of the earth. Doi was only right when he realized over time that Karlsson did NOT show up at Olivia's, taking her with him... So he could make his move on her... FINALLY and without having a guilty conscience towards Karlsson. So Doi narrowed his eyes and denied the question and immediately asked a counter question, “Why the hell do you want to know NOW?” “Well, just like that....” replied Nicholas evasively.... “Just like that... uhum.....” snorted Doi. “I'm a bit worried about our Swedish friend!” Nicholas had then sighed.

“Worried? Why? He's been off the face of the earth for ages... probably in hiding!” Doi shrugged his shoulder “I was in contact with him... now he's really disappeared......” Nicholas replied seriously. “In contact.....” Doi was speechless for a moment, as he had known absolutely nothing about this. “Yes... you know that I would have been dead long ago without him! And I'm a man of my word!” rumbled Nicholas. “FUCK, Nick..... I've done everything I can to get him back on his feet!” Doi spat at him in response. “Yes, absolutely, Nobu, and at the same time you took away the most important thing in the world from him... Olivia, by declaring him dead.... And now you're courting her like a rooster!” Nicholas hissed angrily. “FUCK... she was finished.... No one thought the bastard would survive... and if he did, he'd be a moronic cripple with the injuries!” Doi hissed angrily. “He survived, though, and far from being a moronic cripple, he's more dangerous than ever, if you ask me. You took away the man's future... with her!” declared Nicholas coolly. “So you want to warn me about Karlsson....” Doi was speechless again. “Well, at least you shouldn't come between him and Olivia if he turns up here. Good advice!” Nicholas made it clear. Before Doi could answer, Nadja and Olivia returned and the conversation was over. Nicholas could never forgive him for telling Olivia that Karlsson was dead. Nicholas was about to tell Olivia everything, which Doi narrowly managed to prevent, as Olivia was safer that way... Although he is exposing Olivia to great danger himself, if you look at it the right way, because he is showing himself in public with her. But Doi has now decided to send several men to watch out for her safety. The conversation just now has supported him in his decision. If Karlsson really does turn up here again, he wants to be forewarned.... And then he'll have to see.... “What are you thinking about?” Olivia's voice cuts through his thoughts. “Hm?” Doi looks at her, startled, ”Nothing more... just what I have to do in the next few days!” “Just keep it to yourself!” snorts Olivia, ”I don't want to know!” “Of course!” smiles Doi, looking out the window of the limo, ”Oh we're almost there.... You probably don't want to invite me to your place for a coffee....” The look Olivia gives him speaks volumes. “Okay, I get it! I hope we meet again soon!” he smiles charmingly. “I hope not!” Olivia murmurs grumpily, but before she gets out, she kisses him quickly on the cheek, ”Thank you.... For your help!” Doi holds her hand for a moment, looking at her seriously, “Always.... You know that!” Olivia nods, getting out quickly as her heart races. FUCK, what were you thinking, you stupid cow, she scolds herself as she walks to her front door, doesn't turn around again and with trembling fingers puts the key in the lock and unlocks it. Inside, she leans against the front door, exhausted. FUCK.... She mustn't see Doi again... that man is just a walking red flag! She reaches for her ring, strokes it... Fuck Joakim.... Why aren't you here, she swallows in her mind and hot tears stream down her cheeks until despair hits her again so hard that she slides down against the door, sobbing and curling up on the floor, wailing and whimpering. Milo, who has noticed this, comes to her whimpering, gently sniffs her hair and lies down next to her, his dog's snout pressed into her stomach. Crying and trembling, Olivia embraces her dog, hugs him to her and lets her tears and despair flow freely.

[billys-pretty-babe]

I'm sorry to bother you but do you take requests for lil insecure anon here? You're You're amazing writer btw...

If you can and would like to, can you pls write something about Billy being hella sick, can be after or before the events at star course, and for once someone is taking care of him, aka someone being his girlfriend that is also his best friend (sorry I just live for the hcs that billy would date his best friend).

If you don't feel comfortable is fine really! I hope you're having a good day

Hi baby, I take requests from anyone and everyone! Don't ever be afraid to request something from me (it may take a few days depending on how my week is going). I'm so sorry that this is almost a week late.

Let Me

Pairing : Billy Hargrove x Fem!Reader

Summary : ^^^

Warnings : Vomit and swearing

Word count : ~ 1.02k

A/N : Requests are open

His entire body shook as he coughed. It had been almost a month since Starcourt and Billy's immune system was still weak. He groaned, his throat sore, his nose runny and his head was pounding. "Baby," he called out as best as he could, he knew you were somewhere in the house but he wasn't sure where.

The bedroom door pushed open as you held a cup of water and placed it beside him before pushing his sweaty hair back as you felt his forehead. "Baby, you're burning up. You wanna take a bath or shower?" He shook his head and you helped him take the blanket off considering he was shivering and complaining that he was cold not even ten minutes ago.

"Here, drink some water." He nodded and groaned, his body was aching, everything just hurt and he wanted to cry from the pain but he knew if he could face death at eighteen, he'd be fine with whatever sickness he was dealing with at the moment. You helped him sit up as he drank the cold water, letting his eyes flutter shut as the water helped soothe his throat momentarily before he put the glass down.

"Want something to eat?" He shook his head because he knew he wouldn't be able to stomach it, hell, the water made him feel nauseous. "You'll have to eat soon, B." He nodded and laid back down, spreading out as you wiped his sweaty skin with a wash rag. You gently rubbed his cheek, feeling bad for him. "I'll be back to check on you, take a nap, okay?" He nodded and you left the room and he fell asleep.

30 minutes passed and you decided to check on Billy. You walked into his bedroom to see his head in his trash can, his body lurching forward. You hated vomit, always ran when someone would merely gag but this was Billy, the same boy who risked his life to save teenagers a month ago.

You walked over and moved his hair back from his face as you gently rubbed his back. He finished emptying everything in his stomach before you took the bag from the trash can and quickly ran it outside before putting a new one in the black trash can and you grabbed a rag and dampened it with cold water. You hummed as you walked back to him, cleaning his face and wiping the tears under his eyes.

"I fucking hurt," he said, his voice straining. "Want some Tylenol? It might make your fever go down too." He nodded and you searched his cabinet before finding a bottle of Tylenol and you gave him two pills and handed him his water as he swallowed them. He groaned, his head on his headboard as he looked up.

He reached for you, he just wanted to be comforted but he wouldn't allow you to sleep beside him or kiss him because he didn't know what he had and he couldn't bare to see you in the same position he was. You moved closer to him as he held your waist. "Come on, let's get you a bath." He nodded and you helped him to his bathroom as he sat on the toilet lid as you prepped the bath for him. "Make it cold, please." You looked back, your eyes sad for him.

"Billy, it can't be cold, baby. It'll make you shiver and make your fever worse." He nodded and you tested the temperature of the water, making sure it was warm but not too hot or too cold and you helped him strip before putting him in the tub. He sighed and relaxed, shutting his eyes. You wet his hair and washed it for him, knowing the sweaty strands were aggravating him.

He twisted so his arms were on the side of the tub as he groaned and coughed as you rubbed his back. His coughing fit stopped and he put his head on the side of the tub as you gently rubbed his cheek as you talked to him softly, trying to provide comfort for him as you washed his sweaty skin.

"Let me get your clothes, okay?" He nodded and you left the bathroom and found him a pair of sweatpants. "B, do you have any boxers?" "Hamper," he called out as best as he could. You found the hamper with his clean clothes that you had washed two days before and found a pair before going into the bathroom. You grabbed a towel and helped him out of the tub as you handed him the towel and he dried himself off as you unplugged the drain of the tub.

You plugged in his hair dryer and he cringed before you turned it on. "I know baby but I'm gonna try and make it quick. You can't have wet hair or you'll feel worse." He nodded and slid his boxers and sweatpants on. You grabbed the damp towel and slid it under his hair. "Put the towel over your ears so it'll muffle the sound." He nodded and covered his ears with the towel and his hands as you put the dryer on hot and on the lowest setting so the motor wasn't as loud as you quickly dried his curly hair, using the end of the towel to aid you with the excess water.

You finished his hair and dried off his torso and despite being sick he smirked at you in the mirror. "No, you're sick. Go lay back down." He huffed and walked back to his bed and he laid down and covered up. "I'm cold again." You nodded and put the blankets on him as you sat beside him, moving his hair back. "Want me to lay with you?" He shook his head, "Don't want you to get sick." You nodded, "Okay." His hand found yours, his skin scorching hot as he intertwined his fingers with yours, making you smile.

You continued playing with his hair until he fell asleep. You leaned down and kissed his forehead, "I love you," you softly said, your lips brushing against his clean skin.

[bluebayousblog]

RUMOR HAS IT (pt. 8)

(Drew Starkey one-shot)

This is not a full on story but if you want more l'll be happy to add on upon request

Plot: in which drew and isobel address a false rumor in the most abstract of ways

Setting: dinner with the cooper's and starkey's + post dinner

Disclaimer: Isobel is an OC, 18+

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

PART SEVEN

Drew was sat at the Cooper’s mahogany dining table, the light from the crystal chandelier bouncing off the gloss and practically illuminating the plates of food sitting in front of them. He’d awkwardly walked into the room after his father, and chugged his water to try to clear the lump in his throat. The conversation with Charles still fresh on the boy’s mind.

He was sat between his brother and his mother, leaving the woman that had been the subject of his father’s implications to be sitting across from Drew. A blessing because he didn’t have to make a noticeable effort to look at her beautiful face, but a curse due to the man sitting at the end of the table with eyes on his every move. Drew had been confident that he successfully convinced Charles there wasn’t anything going on with him and Isobel, but with every glance or word spoken to her in front of him made it feel like he was looking right through him.

His father’s eyes had always made Drew feel completely exposed growing up, like he could see every thought running through his mind, or sense every word before it left his lips. He just had a way of looking at him and making all of his emotions come to the surface, and it was something Drew had to learn to immunize as he got older.

Drew had never had a problem with anyone knowing about him and Isobel until now. From that first kiss they shared he never felt that urge to keep things quiet like she did because Isobel wasn’t something to hide. Every intimate moment that he’d shared with her thus far felt like a step in the right direction, and for once he felt he made a decision his father would be proud of without his intervention.

Everything about this dinner felt different, usually he would be getting scolded by his mother for being on his phone entertaining some random girl—but now the girl he wanted to talk to was seated in front of him. And it felt like torture not to converse with Isobel like they’d been doing these past few weeks. With both of their families’ present it felt like even a simple utter of a word between the two would give them away.

“Isobel, how’s school treating you?” Drew’s father asked before taking a sip of the whiskey from his glass.

Though Isobel was trying her damnedest to avoid her gaze falling on Drew she was slipping up at times. It took her everything to tear her eyes away but she didn’t miss how his eyes rolled at Charles’ question. She knew the son and father had their problems, but to her Charles was the only other man she felt she could fully trust besides her own father. In the past she would find their little arguments to be petty especially since the reasoning always involved the family company, now she wanted to hear exactly what was on his nerves. They stayed back in the den for a minute, and now seeing Drew visibly bothered was the only thing she could focus her mind on.

“I aced all of my final exams.” Isobel smiled not able to contain just how pleased she was with herself with the accomplishment as she bared all of her teeth.

The table was promptly filled with congratulations, glasses clinking together in cheers as everyone took a celebratory sip, Isobel and Chandler having sips of water of course. One thing she learned early on was that she didn’t have the desire to drink around her family again because when she did have a little bit too much she always became the butt of the joke that never died.

Everyone’s eyes were on her, filled with pride and admiration and then there was Drew. He looked at her with a knowing look in his eye, with a subtle smirk on his plump lips that only she could notice before dropping his dark stare back down to his plate.

“We expected no less, no distracting little boys to throw her off course, right darling?” Isobel’s father, Richard, assumed as he always did since her last breakup.

The table seemed to have gone still at his question, her love life had never been a topic of conversation until she started dating her ex-boyfriend Grayson. And the messy ending she endured put everyone on edge at the idea of her getting into another relationship. For the men at the table it came from more of a protective standpoint while she thinks her mom and Catherine were just interested in who she would date next.

Two weeks ago she could’ve confidently answered his question with an innocent nod without worrying about if anything was giving her away. Now she was overthinking and hopefully not visibly hesitating as she lied to her father in a hum of agreement.

“What about you, Drew?” His mom asked politely behind a napkin.

His eyes snapped to his father who was already looking at him as he leaned back and crossed his arms against his chest. Drew could feel the burn of Isobel’s gaze and it was taking everything not to steal another glance.

“What about me?” He asked around his fork, he wasn’t sure if she was referring to him having a girlfriend or the outcome of the fall semester. For him both of the answers to either of those questions heavily revolved around Isobel.

“Are things going alright for you at school as well?” His mother asked with a smile.

Alright was an understatement for how he felt things were going for him at the moment. Never had he felt so stable in his emotions in his life. When he thought of school he now thought of Isobel. The parties that he always found himself thinking of her for majority of the night, wondering if she was okay before he got distracted with a random girl. The classes he sometimes found himself being late to because he insisted on walking Isobel to her’s after crossing paths. The exams that he almost studied for her with but ended up making out with her instead. The truck his father had gotten him after accepting the job offer at C&S that he made her moan his name in on that chilly night outside the library during finals week.

He’d never returned from school and felt so at ease, never felt so content with where he was. That feeling of needing to get back to some thing or someone at school never settled over him because everything he needed was here in this room.

“Better than ever, Mom.” Drew answered.

The entire dinner Isobel’s body had been hanging on to his every word and movement, no matter what he did her body reacted. And the way he was running his fingers around the rim of his glass while glancing at her while he spoke had goosebumps shooting down her arms.

She felt the implications in his words, it was laced in his body language, in his blue eyes, in the tension exuding off of him. It was tension that only the two felt, and for Isobel it was feeling like she was going to be burned.

“No girls I presume?” Charles knowingly asked behind his glass.

The tips of Drew’s ears heated at the question, he was beyond confused on what his father’s game exactly was. He let the conversation in the den go pretty easily. His accusations were so vague and Drew assumed it was his way of saying a relationship with Isobel would ruin his chances at the company—but with the way he was sitting at the end of the table with that smug look on face had Drew shifting uncomfortably in his seat.

If he wanted to see if he would lie about dating Cooper’s daughter right in front of the man’s face, he was going to get nothing less. If Isobel wasn’t comfortable with them knowing about their relationship that was final, and his obnoxious father wasn’t going to get in the way of keeping her happy.

“No, I’m just trying to put all my focus into C&S, Dad.” He promptly answered, knowing it would please him, and hopefully shift the topic of discussion from his dating life.

There had been a point when all of Drew’s worries consisted of finding a girl to occupy his time, and barely getting his assignments in before the deadline—but things were so obviously different. He’d accepted the job offer from Cooper & Starkey, and everything seemed to fall into place like finding the first piece that starts that first cluster of a puzzle. Finally signing away his life to the family company seemed to have opened his eyes, so he could actually see Isobel. To Drew it felt like his body and mind locked on her when it knew he could take care of her in someway. That was one of his main worries now besides the company, doing everything he could not to disappoint her.

“That’s what I like to hear, but remember it’s okay to find that special someone to share your life with, Drew.” Cooper insisted, his swaying voice capturing the attention of everyone at the table. “It feels good when you start earning your success, but it’s nothing in comparison to having someone standing proudly by your side when you finally get there.”

Though Cooper was speaking to Drew his eyes were on Lora who sat adjacent to him who was gazing back with so much love in her stare. His mother, Catherine, was doing the same, smiling sweetly at his father who seemed to have shed that hard exterior he was always putting forth as he gave her a wink. Drew couldn’t help but think of one woman as he contemplated Cooper’s statement and when he looked up to put a face to the name circling in his head, she was already staring right at him. He hated that no one at this table thought that Isobel could be that special person for him, and it just made him want her more.

Isobel could sense there was something on his mind, her eyes struggling to break from his even with her brain screaming for her to look away. Everyone was distracted by her father’s words, and they were taking full advantage of the heavy moment. As anxiety inducing as it was for Drew to have that dark gaze on her so openly at the table it felt right—to be finally seen by someone she’d shared dinners just like this with so many time before. And for the table conversation to be consisting of talks about building a future, actively seeing understanding form in the eyes of the man that was warming her bed and coincidentally her heart sent heat coursing through her veins.

Everyone had veered off into their own conversations she’d noticed when a clang of a fork hitting the dinnerware knocked her out of a Drew induced trance. Her father and mother and Charles and Catherine muttering things to each other she had no interest in deciphering. Isobel was tired and her dress was feeling a tad bit more uncomfortable then before the dinner began and Drew eventually took his seat across from her.

She was thinking of a respectful out to the rest of dinner just as her mother beat her to her first excuse. “Do you boys think you can help with the set up tomorrow for the business cocktail? We just need the table and chairs placed onto the floor.” Lora sweetly asked, and though she would end up moving things around to her own liking no one was going to object. Isobel sighed to herself knowing getting into business event territory would stretch the dinner time at least half an hour.

Drew immediately agreed, the ‘of course’ he supplied making her fidget in her seat at his raspy voice. Damn her straps were really starting to feel like they were sticking to her skin. She made sure her mother’s attention was occupied by Catherine who was scolding Chandler for his disinterest in helping with setup before she tried to discreetly adjust the fabric on her shoulders. Not being able to garner much of any relief with her own fingers the material snapped against her skin as she released it with a huff of air that she abruptly swallowed once she realized Drew had been watching with tinted eyes. It was that moment the tightness of the her straps transformed into the feeling of a flames searing into her flesh as he focused his attention on the area. His pink lips twisted while his jaw clenched outlining the ruggedness of his facial structure and so clearly highlighting his obvious frustration before he looked away once more.

“Not to rain on the event planning parade, but I told you guys the senior winter bonfire is tonight and I’m going to be late!” Chandler announced and pushed his chair back causing the most ear wrenching screech to sound in the room as he successfully dodged agreeing to help prep tomorrow.

“Is it eight already, honey?” Catherine questioned her youngest son, obvious shock in her voice from how fast time had slipped by. In the contrary Isobel felt like she had been glued in her seat for a never ending five minutes not the hour and half that it had truly been. “Half past actually, I love you all dearly.” Chandler bid a farewell before Drew clamped a hand on his shoulder and stopped him from getting out of his seat.

“Thank you for spending a little extra time with us, buddy, we know you have plans.” Charles reveled at his obvious favorite offspring then fell back into conversation with Isobel’s father.

“You are very welcome, old man, now Drew if you would just let me be on my way-“ He said as he tried to roll his brother’s tight grip off his shoulders before Drew interrupted.

“-Agree to help Lora and Mom tomorrow with setting everything up and you’re free to go.” He squeezed Chandler’s left shoulder tight enough to make him uncomfortable while also letting him know there was only one option to get him to let go.

His bratty, little brother begrudgingly rolled his eyes before finally relenting, “I’ll be there tomorrow as soon as you need me.” He mumbled, but straightened under an annoyed look from Drew, “Promise! Now I really have to go!”

“I’ll walk you to the door.” Drew offered and got out of the seat walking out of the room before Chandler finished saying his goodbyes.

He used the time alone in the hallway to adjust the bulge that had been stretching out his slacks since Isobel came down those stairs, Chandler appeared behind him just as he dropped his hands back to his sides.

They walked to the main foyer in silence, Drew stuffed his hands inside the pockets of his pants, contemplating if he had the energy to scold his brother about helping out his parents every now and then.

“I see you’ve come to your senses.” Chandler smirked while rubbing the shoulder he had been abusing earlier.

Drew’s eyes furrowed in confusion, “Be more specific, Chan.”

His younger brother’s smile had now turned into a full shit eating grin as he stared back towards the dining room and shook his head, “Specific like how fucking good that little black dress looks on Isobel, or how you couldn’t keep your eyes off her towards the end of dinner tonight?”

Fuck.

“Isobel has always been gorgeous.” The man tried to deflect, this was the second family member to try to make presumptions, and he was starting to see why Isobel was so adamant about them putting a pause on things until after break.

“But she’s gorgeous and sexy—the whole fucking package—when I realized that she was also sexy among everything else things were never the same, you know what I mean?” Chandler smiled to himself, that one image of Isobel in that black bikini from two summers ago probably burned into his memory.

Drew knew exactly what he meant, and the shared sentiment was more aggravating than endearing. He hated that he’d shared a similar revelation in regards to Isobel that someone else had.

The way it happened would be something he would never forget. Isobel pulling open her door on a random day in December, her pretty face a pleasing sight to see just as it always was. In his head it was like there was a blur between the time he’d deemed her as just a stunning woman to when those looks suddenly turned tempting. That moment his eyes swept over her body in concentrated interest was so intense every platonic or familial feeling he had for her before ceased to exist. That’s what it felt like to be with Isobel, what it felt like to be with someone you once considered a friend and now craved.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, be careful tonight.” Drew responded, giving Chandler a smack on the chest and turned to head back to dinner.

“Okay but remember you snooze you lose, and according to my driver’s license I’m now of age to wine and dine her fine ass.” Chandler sang with a smirk before slipping out of the door.

Drew heaved a sigh as he locked the door, all this speculation being thrown at him was wearing him out. When he eventually made his way back into the dining room two seats were empty excluding his own leaving the parents to be giggling over some glasses of red wine, “Where’s Isobel?”

“She’s in the kitchen, why don’t you make yourself useful and help her with the dishes?” His father suggested. Drew had no problem being subject to his father’s rudeness if it meant he could have a moment alone with Isobel.

He couldn’t help but chuckle as he heard Lora give him a thank you followed up with a wine induced giggle. Shaking his head in amusement, he entered the kitchen to find Isobel standing at the kitchen sink washing the plates that they’d been eating off of with carefulness. She was wearing an apron most likely to avoid ruining her dress, the knot she made in the back to secure it to her body causing the silk to ride up in the back, exposing more of her soft looking thighs then she was probably aware of.

Isobel was trying to get the dishes done as fast as she could without breaking her mother’s beloved glass wear. The quicker she could get upstairs to her room and avoid any potential temptation the better. She hated that just thinking of his dark stare was enough to lose a handle on her self control.

Just as she was rinsing the soap off a slippery plate under the kitchen faucet the feeling of a hand tugging the skirt of her dress further down her behind caused her to unexpectedly inhale a breathe of air and the plate to slip from her fingers at the suddenness. The front of her body was then pushed flush against the sink as a hard chest and stomach pressed into her back and reached around to swiftly catch the plate that was seconds away from shattering.

She immediately recognized the hand in front of her and the feel of how his body always fit so well against her own. “You look so domestic, Izzy.” He mumbled lowly into her ear before moving to her side to grab a hand towel to start drying the clean dishes.

The never ending supply of nicknames and the way they always seemed to leave his mouth in a raspy drawl was going to be the death of her. She loved that he always had her name in his mouth, like he couldn’t get enough of saying it, like he knew the affect it had on her.

“I just didn’t want to get wet.” She countered referring to the frilly apron she was wearing, but regretted the words as soon as they left her lips and she definitely regretted them when their fingers brushed during the pass off of a crystal glass—she fumbled the ridiculously expensive cup and he of course caught it on instinct.

Drew cleared his throat ignoring the unintentional innuendo and the vivid image of that night in his truck that had him clenching his jaw as he focused on the task at hand.

“They’ve opened another bottle of wine in there.” He shared and gave her a playful nudge of the elbow to her side, hoping a lighter subject change could get their minds out of the gutter.

“That bottle could end up being the point of no return, we can’t let them finish it.” She giggled and picked up the pace on the dishes then moved to help him dry the rest of the dishes, “Then again it will be funny to know you have to drive your drunk parents home.” They’d experienced plenty of nights witnessing Lora and Catherine resorting to horrible karaoke for post dinner entertainment.

“I’m not worried about that, you know Charles doesn’t do more than two drinks.” Drew trailed then finished off the rest of the work, liking the way Isobel relinquished her duty and rested her back on the Island as she watched him, “Plus I’m not leaving tonight.”

Her back straightened at his words, “You’re not?”

“I’m not.” He repeated as he turned to face her. She was overthinking, he could tell by the way she was biting her bottom lip and fiddling with the hem of her apron.

Isobel was currently trying to convince herself that she could spend another twelve hours under the same roof as Drew and not be completely consumed by him. That she could lay in her bed and not think about the fact that he was just one floor below her for the entirety of the night. That she could go this entire vacation, and not break the rules the first fucking night.

“Isobel, I’m just tired and don’t feel like driving to a bed when I can go straight to one here.” Drew reassured her, wanting to see if he could get her to relax. He had no problem going home if this made her uncomfortable.

“That makes sense.” Isobel nodded, she wanted him here, she just hated how much she actually wanted him to be here with her.

It was silent for a moment between the two, Drew watching her until she caught his gaze and offered a shy smile—his favorite smile. The sound of rowdy laughter in the other room made Isobel jolt, he couldn’t help but grin in amusement as she groaned and put a hand over her heart.

He followed her movement when she reached behind her back and pulled the string to the apron she was wearing that was protecting her from water—that was putting a needed barrier between his eyes and her body. She pulled it over her head, and suddenly Drew wasn’t so sure if staying here made any sense at all.

For the second time that night he drunk her in, this time with no shame because it was just the two of them. His hand squeezed into a tight fist at his side as he observed the way the dress hugged her figure. A dress like this left nothing to the imagination when you knew exactly what the fabric was sticking to underneath. Her soft skin that always smelled of vanilla, her breast that fit perfectly into his hands, and every single place her body curved and dipped. He then took his time studying the way the silk clung snugly to her hips, the fabric slackening in that area solely because of the swell of her ass. The thought made his nails dig even further into the skin of his palms, “Fuck.”

Her eyes followed his gaze down to her lower body and heat bloomed deep in her belly, “Drew.”

He should leave and go home with his parents, they both knew that. There was nothing stopping him, if he was tired he didn’t have to drive his father would. He’d left his truck here plenty of times before, and his family would be back here at the Cooper’s tomorrow before they left for the business cocktail.

It was a bad fucking idea, they both knew it. They hadn’t touched once, and it seemed like things were still spinning out of control. It felt like watching a wild animal trying to be contained until they eventually snapped. That’s where they were heading straight to, unhinged territory that they could never come back from if they didn’t release, if they didn’t give in.

It was just a matter of who would give in first.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

PART NINE

[shmaptainwrites]

𝐁𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐌𝐄 𝐇𝐎𝐌𝐄 [𝐁𝐎𝐁𝐁𝐘 𝐍𝐀𝐒𝐇]

PAIRINGS —  Bobby Nash x GN!Reader

SUMMARY —  Bobby goes to Venice beach after a hard 48 hour shift

WARNINGS — mentions of death, angst, sadness

NOTE — This is a lot shorter than what I normally write but I had an itch to write something based on My Heart is Buried in Venice and this scene came to my mind hope you guys enjoy being hurt as much as i do ._.

My Heart is Buried in Venice | Ricky Montgomery

The waves crashed quietly against the shore while the water reflected the sparkling stars. Bobby dropped his phone in the sand and sat down facing the ocean. He hadn’t slept properly in 48 hours, the end of a long shift filled him with restlessness and an inability to close his eyes. So he stared at the horizon, where the water met the sky and the stars and moon danced in their reflections.

It had been a difficult few days, the team was all feeling it, he only hoped that after taking the time to speak with each of them they felt a little better than he did.

He felt the sand shift next to him and when he turned his head he saw you squatting down into a seated position to join him.

He frowned, he hadn’t told anyone he was coming here.

“How did you know I was here?” he asked simply, turning back to look at the rippling water.

“You always come here when you’re upset,” you shrugged. “Thought it was worth a try.”

He nodded his head and continued to stay silent. You gave him a moment to adjust to your presence before carefully moving closer to him and holding his hand that was nearest to you, fingers intertwined.

You knew why he came here. Somewhere that seemed so unlike his usual scene. He said his heart was buried here. You never really knew what that meant, but it made it a little easier to find him on days like this.

Bobby leaned a little closer to you, his head finding a comfortable place to rest on your shoulder. His attitude over the years had changed so strikingly compared to the closed off, reserved, and efficient fire Captain you had first met, and for that you were grateful. You held him close and pressed a kiss to his temple,

“You don’t have to be strong for me,” you whispered. “Not like you are for everyone else. You know that.”

He nodded his head slowly, his composed façade cracking with every word and action of compassion and comfort.

“It’s his birthday today, isn’t it?” you asked and Bobby nodded again, a few tears managing to slip through.

“He would have been 17,” he whispered, the first time he had spoken up since you first arrived. “I used to promise him and his sister that I’d bring them here someday.”

He sniffed and squeezed your hand a little tighter, shutting his eyes so his tears couldn’t glisten in the moonlight.

“I wish I brought them here when they were still alive,” he choked slightly on his words, “But all I ever did was spread their ashes here.”

You shut your eyes, fighting back your own tears while he trembled against you.

“I’m just so tired,” he broke down into tears, hiding his face in the crook of your neck.

You let go of Bobby’s hand and pulled him closer to you, cradling his head gently.

“I’m sorry,” he apologized. “I-I’m-,”

“Shh,” you hushed him gently. “It’s okay. It’s gonna be okay.”

Bobby was always everyone’s shoulder to lean on, but that never meant he was immune to what came with the job. Just maybe a little better at hiding it than everyone else.

“You’re allowed to be tired,” you told him. “Allowed to not be okay, you’re allowed to miss them, Bobby. But you’re not allowed to deal with this alone. There’s always someone out there who cares for you, whether it’s me, or Buck, Chim, Hen, Eddie. We all love you. I love you.”

It wasn’t an uncommon exchange of words between you and your teammates, but something this time made it feel different.

Bobby nodded his head again and wiped away his tears with the sleeve of his sweater.

He lifted his head from your shoulder and turned to look at you. It was clear you could both do with a little rest and relaxation, but this was one of those moments where life goes on, with or without you.

He gently cupped your cheek with his hand and leaned down slightly to press a kiss to your forehead.

“I love you too.”

You closed your eyes for a moment at the sound of those words. It was the best way he knew how to say thank you for looking out for me. You took his hand in yours again and pushed yourself up off the sand.

“Come on, let’s get you home.”

He followed your lead and grabbed his phone from next to him, before walking with you, side by side away from the shore.

All those times, spent alone by the water and all he ever really needed was someone to bring him home.

[wordy-little-witch]

Okay ficlet I threw together bc I wanted to give a present to @beanghostprincess

Vampire Buggy, non-explicit sex but it's definitely happening so graphic content 😗, Shuggy hours

I hope you enjoy it, beanie baby, and let yourself rest, you're perfect and very much loved ♡♡♡ drink water, have a snack, and if anyone is mean to you I'll eat their bones

Kissing him felt like midnight storms and silk shearing blades held poignantly to his throat. The warmth of lips, hungry and devouring, filled his head with sea foam and endless clouds, stealing his breath and leaving him yearning, wanting, needing more. The nip of teeth at his skin sent shivers up and down his spine, arcane fingers carved with ice and molten lead caressing his vertebrae and veins, weaving his entirety into a tapestry of devotion the likes of which he could never explain.

Kissing Buggy was like death and birth in one singular heartbeat.

Shanks would be the first to admit that he was enamored by Buggy - enthralled, bewitched, obsessed, yes, yes, yes - but he never felt more secure, more grounded, more free than in the moments he felt calloused sea salted skin beneath his lips and tongue and teeth. Buggy was benediction, was damnation, and he was the altar at which Shanks would kneel forevermore.

That sentiment held true even as - especially as - tentative fangs cut the skin of his neck, carefully nursed by tongue and lip before piercing into his veins.

Buggy was a warm weight on top of him, a riotous mane of blue curls flowing over one side like a waterfall, a canopy to enshroud their love from the prying eyes of the universe. Thick thighs bracketed his waist, his hand clutching tightly to the other's bruised hips even as the man atop him rocked down. Shanks tilted his head further with a soft exhale, pressing deeper, deeper, deeper into the warmth above him, around him. His eyes fluttered shut, a pleased sigh as he felt Buggy shiver, felt the other's whimper as he pressed down harder, as he drank his fill, calloused hands clutching desperately at Shanks's shoulder, his chest, his hair, scrambling between the filling warmth of feeding and the inferno of their other activity.

Shanks grinned warmly, tilting his head further, fondly shifting his chin to rub affectionately at the other's ear. The high whine he received was music to him, fueling the mischief as he shifted his hold, held tight, and yanked the other down, disrupting their rhythm.

Buggy choked, head springing back with an arc of scarlet around his mouth, twinkling in the moonlight as he cried out sharply, tears beading in his brilliant eyes like diamonds around a pale sapphire, like a band of promise, like a vow in his very being.

Shanks surged up, bucking his hips once more, and he sagged as arms and legs shifted, clinging around him, nails biting his flesh as bloodied lips parted with sounds of absolution and temptation dripping like honeyed poison from his teeth and tongue.

Shanks swallowed it all with a satisfied smile. He'd certainly have built an immunity by now.

[stuffymcstuffsworld]

No, I'm not dying

The flu was nothing new to humans. They had been dealing with variants of it for centuries despite what some assumed. So, really, you calling in a sick day and locking yourself inside your room so the kids didn't get it wasn't a big deal. Or so you and Iruma had thought.

Apparently, it was a big deal to demons. Your phone received hundreds of different texts and calls the main culprit being Balam, who was practically a hysterical when speaking to. Why in Devi's name did he think you were dying?

Asking what he should do for your human burial rights and everything. It kinda pissed you off that he had so little faith in your immune system! And if Balam was being dramatic, Sullivan was being 10x worse.

Balling his eyes out and rambling about not wanting to lose his baby. Honestly, what a headache. It wasn't until after you woke up from a nap that you saw a text from iruma that made you think twice.

'I think there's some kind of misunderstanding. Maybe flu means something else here?' You thought back to all the crying and excessive messages. That might explain something. But you still had 2-3 more days for recovery.

So you simply texted back. 'Kindly remind your grandfather that we are not demons and therefore will not die from demonic disease.' Then you shot a quick text to the sniveling demon outside your door. 'I'm not dying for devi's sake. I just need rest!'

Then you called Balam and demanded he come over now if he was going to be so emotional about this. The large demon was outside your balcony in minutes. You swung open the doors and gave the sharpest glare you could muster with your stuffed up system at work.

"I'm gonna make this very clear, so listen." Your voice a little nasally, but luckily, it wasn't too bad. "I'm not dying. I will not be dying. Humans have dealt with this for generations. it's a part of life. Now stop fussing. All I need is bed rest for 3 more days max and then I'll show you that I'm still alive and will beat the ass of anyone who says otherwise."

You coughed a few times, but the glare you gave when the large demon reached out stopped him in his tracks. "I'm kicking you out of the nest till I get better." He gasped "what no please what if it gets worse or-"

You gave him a look. "I am fine. I will be fine. You can ask questions and give me a full check-up when I am better." You slammed the door back into place. Knowing that if he wanted to, the demon could easily rip it off its hinges. But also knowing he wouldn't.

A knock at your door reveals a tear stained Sullivan looking at you. Or well, it's more like through you. "Humans are so delicate." He murmured. You snorted.

"Of course, we are compared to demons. That just makes all of our accomplishments more amazing! Watch me, Papa, I'm gonna get better, then I'll be kicking down the doors to babyls again in no time." You flshed a cheeky grin.

***72hrs later***

You race down the stairs, wishing the kids good morning. Bestowing hugs and kisses freely as you went. Leaping past a shocked opera and into the dining room where a sulking Sullivan sat.

You started texting your colleagues that you were fine as you made your way over to the slim demons side. "Papa, I'm feeling lazy. Will you carry me to school?" You teased. The demon perked up and looked at you.

You smiled and twirled in place a moment. "Hurry, Papa, I have so much to do before classes start." Sullivan scooped you up immediately spinning you around the room.

Laughter filled the room. Later that day, just as the bell rang for first class to start, you kicked down Balams door. Students shocked yet egar to see you. "I lived bitch!" You shouted before striding over to the trembling demon and pulling him in for much needed cuddle time.