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the-cheese-writes · 4 years ago

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Makeover ~ Prinxiety

TW: Deadnaming, transphobia, mentions of dysphoria, one use of bad language

Word count: 3148

A/N:

Virgil is mtf and lesbian and Roman is now a girl called Rowan :3

Hope you enjoy this fluffy fic that was actually inspired by a scene from Burlesque.

~ Bre

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“Virgil! Can you help your father with something please?” Cringing at her deadname, Vera closed her notebook and stashed it away before calling back to her mother.

“Coming mum!” When she got downstairs, she saw her dad holding up a shelf on the wall and holding out a screwdriver for her.

“Virgil!” She cringed again. “There you are. Come help me with this,” her father said. Taking the screwdriver, she grabbed a few nails from the box and screwed them into place, twisting firmly until they were secure.

Stepping back, she smiled a little at her dad and handed back the tool. “Thanks son. You seem to know the basics, which is great! Diy skills are a great trait to have in a husband. Whoever your wife will be one day will be happy.”

Though she was crying inside, Vera nodded and plastered the best smile she could for her parents before turning around and quickly heading back up to her room. She was on the brink of tears and as soon as she closed her door, she broke down, feeling an overwhelming wave of discomfort and utter hatred for herself and her body wash over her.

Her parents would never understand. How could they? They were cisgender heterosexuals; they could never fully understand the dysphoria people like her had. How damaging it was, how detrimental it could be to her and her mental health and how pronouns were so much bigger and meaningful than mere words.

Knowing she couldn’t take this alone, Vera texted her best friend, Rowan and asked if she could come over. Within seconds, she got a reply and Rowan, being the gracious princess of a girl she was, said that she could.

Grabbing her hoodie, Vera made her way down and out the door, telling her parents where she was going before she left.

“Mum, Dad, I’m going to Rowan’s,” she said as she grabbed her keys from the shelf.

“Okay sweetie! See you later,” her mum replied. For a moment, Vera thought she had survived and quietly exhaled relievedly. But unfortunately, her satisfaction didn’t last long.

“Bye son!” She heard her father call just before she fully closed the door.

And that tipped the scale.

A waterfall of silent tears plummeted down her face as all her pent up feelings of bitterness and disdain crashed down with them. She sobbed soundlessly through the streets all the way to Rowan’s house, her hood hiding her face and tears from everyone who passed.

Those who gave her a small look, whether it be from sympathy or disgust, didn’t bother talking to her, but that was just as well, because she couldn’t deal with social interaction at that moment. All she cared about was reaching Rowan because, as far as she was concerned, she was the only person who would be able to comfort her and know what to do.

Vera considered knocking at the front door, but then she realised that Rowan’s parents might be home, and she definitely didn’t want them seeing her in her ruined state. So she climbed in through the window, as she usually did, because if you don’t go into your best friend’s home through the window, are you guys even best friends?

Hearing rustling outside, Rowan smirked and turned around on her chair after she heard her window open.

“Really? Coming in through the window? Why did you need to put in all that effort when you could have just simply walked through the door…” Rowan’s voice trailed off once she saw Vera’s tear stained cheeks and messy hair through her purple plaid-pattern patched hood.

“Virgil?” She instantly ran forward and hugged her.

Vera knew she meant well, but Rowan accidentally deadnaming her only brought forward more tears to the table and she broke down in her friend’s arms.

They sank to the floor, Rowan holding her the whole time and when they eventually pulled away from the hug, Rowan took Vera’s hands in her own and lowered her hood.

“Hey, hey,” Rowan said softly, rubbing the back of Vera’s hands with her thumb, then wiping away a few tears from her cheeks. “What’s wrong hun?”

Looking down at their hands, Vera stared at them and blushed a bit at the feeling of Rowan’s gentle, ever-comforting touch on her skin. She gazed up at the gorgeous girl in front of her and shook like a leaf as she considered telling her best friend her biggest secret.

Revealing to Rowan what Vera had been wanting to tell her for so long could potentially put a strain on their friendship and Vera had such a strong bond with Rowan - she didn’t want to lose it. But she figured that one day, Rowan would find out the truth, so why not now, when they were in their teen years and could still live life to the fullest?

“I…” Vera began and Rowan leaned in in anticipation. “I was… deadnamed.” Holding her breath, Vera anxiously glanced up at her friend through her bangs. Rowan’s expression was unreadable at first, but then a confused look was painted across her face.

“Deadnamed… but that’s what happens when-” she mumbled, then cut herself off, realising what Vera had just told her. She stared at her with wide eyes. “Are you saying that… that-”

Vera nodded, bucket loads of tears springing through her eyes. “I’m trans.”

She cried into her palms and braced herself for the worst, knowing what Rowan’s reaction would be.

‘You’re trans? How can you be trans? You were born a boy so you’ll stay a boy.”

“Trans? But you’re 16 you’re just confused. Give it a few more years you’ll grow out of it,”

“Are you sure you aren’t just interested in girl stuff?”

“How can you expect me to just suddenly use these pronouns for you now? Do you know how hard that is?”

She would be just like her parents and then she would lose everyone. Her loved ones, her friends and most likely her home. Frantic thoughts churned around her mind as she quietly cried.

‘I’ll be homeless, unloved, forgotten, discarded, abandoned I’ll never-’

A pair of warm arms wrapped around her shoulders and pulled her in for a kind embrace, halting her train of worries. Weeping into her friend’s shoulder, Vera allowed Rowan to hold her, stroke her hair and comfort her, washing away all her negative thoughts with a single touch.

“I’m so sorry I deadnamed you. You’re no more different to me than you were before. I still see you and view you exactly the same,” said Rowan in a soft voice, calming Vera’s frenzied nerves. “You’re my best friend and I’d never trade for even the biggest diamond in the world, even though that’s already you.”

Taking Vera’s face in her hands, Rowan wiped away more tears from her cheeks and this time, they finally stopped falling. There was a beat of silence. Vera hung her head and steadied herself and her breathing.

“Do you have a new name?” asked Rowan after she saw Vera compose herself.

“Yeah,” she answered, fidgeting with her hands. “It’s Vera.”

Rowan gasped and smiled, placing a hand to her chest. “Girl, that’s a gorgeous choice.”

Hearing Rowan nickname her ‘Girl’ sparked a new and welcome feeling in Vera. It felt freeing, ecstatic, joyous and her whole soul was more jubilant than it ever had been before.

It’s funny how much one small word can affect a person.

“Thanks,” she beamed. “I wanted to choose something unique and interesting. ‘Vera’ just stood out to me.”

“And it fits you like a glove,” Rowan added almost instantly, without any hesitation. Blushing, Vera looked down and hid her face.

“You can still call me Vee though. I always liked that nickname,” she said, laughing softly.

“Whatever you want, Vera,” said Rowan, smiling and Vera delightfully grinned back. Suddenly, Rowan’s face fell and raised a hand to her cheek. “Oh no. Your concealer and eye shadow’s wiping away…”

“It’s nothing, just makeup I’ll live,” Vera chuckled softly, holding Rowan’s hand on her face.

“Nothing? Nothing?? Makeup is more than just nothing. It makes us feel dazzling, beautiful, stunning and just downright gorgeous.” Raising her hands and moving them flamboyantly, Rowan stood up and walked to her drawers and opened the top one. She seemed to be searching for something, Vera noticed, hearing the rustles and movement.

“Hmm,” Rowan hummed quietly. Vera tilted her head, intrigued.

“What’s up?”

“I’m running low on eyeshadow and other makeup supplies.”

“Wait, didn’t you just buy some new ones 2 months ago?” asked Vera. Rowan just went silent.

“Your point being?” she eventually replied, turning around with her hands on her hips and Vera giggled. Smiling at her laugh, Rowan then grabbed a bag from her chair - that was unsurprisingly already packed - and took her best friend’s hand.

“Where are we going?”

“Out. I’m giving you a makeover,” Rowan said with a smirk, before pulling Vera out the door with her.

After she grabbed her keys and said goodbye to her parents, the two girls walked to the town centre, discussing Vera’s sense of style along the way. Rowan seemed to understand her preferences and when they arrived at the mall, she got to work straight away buying all the clothes that would look great on her.

“Vee look at this!” Holding up a black skirt, Rowan showed it to her friend, who beamed at the sight of it.

“Ro I love it!” She then lowered it to her waist to measure.

“It seems like it’s your size. Wanna try it on?” All of a sudden, Vera’s anxiety spiked. It was then that she remembered that, though she was a girl, she still looked like a boy to those around her.

“Are you sure that’s a good idea? I mean…” she gestured to herself and Rowan’s eyes softened in sympathy. Gently, she held Vera’s shoulders.

“I understand Vee. I’m not gonna ask you to do anything you’re not comfortable with yet. We can just try it on back at my place,” she reassured comfortingly in a soft voice, melting Vera’s heart and walls. She blushed and smiled back, then Rowan held up the skirt. “So we’re getting it?” she asked eagerly and Vera nodded.

After around an hour and a half later of shopping, Vera looked down at the three bags they had. They didn’t buy a lot, since she had found a way to reuse most of her old clothes, but purchased a decent amount of new, more feminine clothes. To finish their shopping spree, they were lastly going to buy some makeup for them both.

But Vera felt a little guilty seeing that Rowan had spent all her savings on her. She knew that Rowan wouldn’t want her too, but she couldn’t help it.

“Hey Ro?” Vera said. Rowan hummed in response and turned her head. “I appreciate all of this, I do. But you really didn’t need to bother yourself so much with me-”

“Ahem? Back. The hell. Up.” Rowan suddenly stopped in her tracks and raised her free hand, pointing up her index finger. Vera couldn’t stop the smile etching onto her face from her amusing actions as she turned around to her. (She had stopped a couple steps ahead.) Rowan was always an extravagant queen; Vera didn’t know why she didn’t expect this to happen.

“I very much did need to bother myself with you,” Rowan stated, taking a few paces forward towards her. “This shopping session was to help get your mind off all the current shit happening in your life, since it’s not fair that it’s all happening to you. I’m here to help build your confidence, however I can, and obviously clothes play a big role in it.” She held up the bag she was holding and Vera chuckled. However, her face quickly fell.

“But.. your money-”

“Was well spent. Whatever I was saving up for doesn’t matter anymore and in actual fact I can’t remember what it was, nor do I even care now! All I know is that I spent it well and on a beautiful, gorgeous, caring, sweet girl,” said Rowan, emphasising the word ‘girl’ and making Vera beam. She hugged her friend tighter than she ever had before and when she pulled away, a bold thought suddenly crossed her mind as their eyes met, but she hastily swiped it away.

“Come on.” Rowan took her hand and led her to their last store. “Let’s finish our shopping session.”

***

“Are you done yet?” Rowan called from outside her room. Vera was inside, trying on the clothes they had bought and this was her final outfit. She was so excited to see her new friend in all her gorgeous glory and Vera had teased that this was definitely her favourite clothing combination. Rowan waited impatiently for her, tapping her feet and leaning against the door.

“Almost!”

After around 15 more seconds, Vera finally said, “Alright! You can come in now!” and Rowan wasted no time in opening the door. She gasped and froze in shock and awe.

“Vera… you look so marvellous,” she said, barely any louder than a whisper. Vera had managed to steal her breath away, merely by just standing there.

She wore a purple, oversized printed t-shirt accompanied by the black and white grid skirt they saw earlier. A pair of black lace-up boots sat at her feet and black mesh tights covered her legs, and to top it all off, Vera wore a few silver chains around her neck, accentuating her whole look and a couple of silver earrings too.

To put it simply, Rowan was starstruck.

“Thanks,” Vera said shyly, looking down to hide her burning blush. “I wish my hair was a little longer though.” Blowing a few chocolate strands out of her view, Vera reached up a twirled a couple as Rowan took some steps closer.

“I think you’d look exquisite either way and, to be honest, I kinda prefer this look more with a pixie cut. It suits you,” she said with a sweet smile, which Vera returned.

“Thank you Ro.”

Rowan then pulled her over to her bed and sat her down as she searched in their bags for their newest makeup items. She handed Vera a brush and her concealer and foundation, but Vera pushed them back.

“Actually, can you do it this time? It’s not that I’m uncomfortable or anything, but I just wanted you to do it, “ she said innocently, gazing up with wide eyes.

“U-uh. Sure. Okay,” Rowan stuttered. Gingerly, she reached up and brushed Vera’s hair out of her face, their eyes momentarily locking, then gave her a headband to wear. “What do you want?” she asked after Vera had put it on.

“Um, I dunno. Surprise me,” Vera winked and Rowan smirked, then set to work.

The two played Disney songs as Rowan worked and sang to their hearts’ content, but occasionally smudged a few aspects of the look in doing so. Rowan didn’t mind though. As long as they were having fun, she didn’t mind if Vera accidentally messed it up a thousand times. As long as she got to see her smile.

When she was finished, Rowan got a mirror and handed it to Vera. “Take a look.” And she did, gasping quietly as she admired her eyeshadow and most of all, her lips. They were a kind of ombre tone - lined black and gradually fading into a subtle burgundy red.

“Jee-muh-nattie Ro, you really outdid yourself here. Colour me impressed!”

“Thanks Vee,” Rowan grinned. “The lipstick should be dry by now.” She then started tidying her things and packing up her brushes and new palette, storing them back in their drawer. Vera was still admiring her appearance in Rowan’s full-body mirror when she finished cleaning up. Truth be told, Rowan loved how much Vera was loving her looks and who she saw in the mirror. It wasn’t every day that she was so confident, and Rowan was so glad to see a shift in her self-esteem.

“You look absolutely stunning, you know,” she complimented as she sat back down on her bed, making Vera’s face instantly flush.

“Thank you Ro, for everything you’ve done for me today,” Vera said as she joined her.

“Ah, it was nothing,” Rowan waved it away, but Vera shook her head.

“No, seriously. You don’t know how much it’s helped me.” She took her friend’s hands in her own. “I don’t know what I would do without you, I’m not sure what I would have done in that moment if you weren’t there to help me. Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart Ro, for all you’ve done since day one.”

Tilting her head slightly, Rowan smiled kindly at her best friend, feeling her face heart up the longer she stared. “And thank you for being the incredibly charming little cherub you are!” she replied, booping Vera’s nose and causing her to giggle.

Her expression soon turned to concern however, as she remembered that Vera didn’t actually live with her (unfortunately). “Vera, what are you going to do when you get home? Won’t your parents think spitefully when they see you like this?”

Looking down, Vera furrowed her eyebrows worriedly, all the while grasping Rowan’s hands. “I’m not sure. I don’t really know what I’m gonna do, because they obviously are too scared to accept me.” Rowan nodded understandably. “But, right now I just want to focus on now, and being here with you and spending the best minutes of my life with you.”

“As do I,” replied Rowan, raising Vera’s knuckles up to her lips and kissing them softly, flustering her.

Then their eyes locked, again, and they lost themselves in each other’s eyes. Suddenly the world was still and quiet, the wind stopped blowing and the room around them faded away. And before they knew it, they were kissing.

It was sweet and juvenile, like them, and their lips moved perfectly together, fitting flawlessly like pieces in a puzzle. Rowan raised a hand to Vera’s cheek, slowly sliding it down to her neck, whilst Vera grabbed her opposition’s waist, pulling her in closer ever-so-gently.

After a couple minutes they pulled away, muted by shock and the butterflies dancing in their stomachs. Rowan was the one to break the silence, laughing breathlessly and grinning, Vera soon doing the same. She hesitantly looked up, their eyes meeting again and Rowan grazed a tender hand on her cheek, which Vera leaned into.

“You don’t know how long I’ve been wanting to do that,” she said lovingly, completely entranced. “Be my girlfriend?”

“Of course!” Vera replied excitedly, almost instantly and lunged at Rowan, encasing her in a hug but causing them to tumble off the bed and onto the floor in a laughing heap.

#sanders sides #fanfic #sanders sides fanfic #brewrites #virgil sanders #roman sanders #prinxiety #hurt/comfort

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bonjour-rainycity · 4 years ago

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The Long Way Around ~ Chapter 8

Link to previous part: https://bonjour-rainycity.tumblr.com/post/623476978292555776/the-long-way-around-chapter-7

Pairing: Jasper x Reader

Word count: 2191

Warnings: None

Jasper’s POV

It doesn’t take long for us to get to the waterfall. I had been careful, keeping us deep in the woods so the chances of running into a human were slim. Really, I probably shouldn’t have taken the risk, but Y/n seemed so happy at the prospect of leaving the house. And, I really love this spot, so I was eager to show her.

It’s dark when we arrive, the moon high in the sky and stars twinkling all around. Y/n, of course, loves it. She gasps, immediately running to the edge of the pool to let the waterfall splash droplets into her face.

“Jasper, it’s beautiful.”

I close my eyes, enjoying the way she says my name. So soft, so sweet, and without any judgement or fear. I find myself wishing she would say my name more often.

She tugs on my hand, pulling me out of my thoughts. “Let’s go to the top.”

We have to let go of each other’s hands to climb the steep rocks, and I’m surprised to discover I don’t like the loss of contact. What’s that about? Y/n sees my frown and I feel her insecurity. I mentally kick myself. Stop being so obvious with your feelings. Get it together.

We reach the top and I force a grin, trying to even out my behavior and squash my nerves. “What do you think?”

She chuckles, still on her guard. “I think we’re very high up. If I was human, I’d be terrified.”

As it is, I can still feel some fear. Using my ability, I push it away. Suspecting I’ve intervened, she smiles. “Thank you.”

She plops down on the top of the wet rock and, once again, I mentally curse myself. I should have brought a blanket or something. She doesn’t seem to mind but still, I feel guilty. One would think I haven’t an ounce of chivalry.

“So how does the mood control thing work anyway? Like can you only calm people down or is it a little bit of everything?”

I sit next to her, surprised we’ve never talked about this before. “A little bit of everything, though I try to stay away from some of the more manipulative emotions. It’s not right to mess with people like that.”

I feel her interest. “Manipulative like what?”

I take a breath, hesitant to make her aware of the more dangerous aspect of my ability. But she asked, and it would be selfish to deny her. “Fear, mostly. Lust, love…” I trail off, feeling the nearly imperceptible shift in her emotions. She’s intrigued.

“Can you make me feel something right now?”

At my immediate shake of the head, she rolls her eyes. “Nothing extreme, just something everyday. Like you’ve done before. I want to see if I can tell your influence from what’s natural.”

Seems harmless enough. With a sigh of reluctance, I nod. She grins in anticipation.

It doesn’t take much effort to make her feel calm and lethargic; I’d done that many times before. Still, it’s a bit unnerving to see her posture slump as the force of my ability hits her. So, I switch to something more positive and make her feel giddy. She breaks out into delighted laughter, only some of which is my doing, and claps her hands.

“That’s so cool!”

I smile, a spark of pride running through me.

She shakes her head, her disbelief coming through. “Gosh, how do you do it all day? Feel everything. I would go crazy.”

My smile turns a bit rueful as I look off into the distance, contemplating. “It is a lot, sometimes. Most days I can tune it out, though I can never ignore it completely. It’s just like a constant presence in addition to what I feel for myself.”

Y/n follows my gaze, going quiet. At first I worry that I’ve upset her somehow, but a quick check into her emotions tells me that’s not it. She’s hesitant, nervous. I can feel her psyching herself up and, perhaps unethically, I push courage her way. I really want to know what she’s thinking.

She doesn’t look at me when she finally speaks. “How do you differentiate, then? Like, how do you know something you’re feeling is yours and not the influence of someone else?”

I pause, wanting to take the time to explain correctly. What she’s asking is valid, and something I considered often during my early days. “Everyone’s emotional climate is uniquely theirs. It’s more difficult to discern what’s mine and what’s not when I’m with a crowd of strangers, because I don’t know them well and can’t…” I struggle for the right word, “learn them, so to speak. But with people I’m around often, it’s as easy as breathing. If you’re upstairs and I’m in the basement and there’s a houseful of other people with their own emotions between us, and there’s a change in all of your emotions at the same time, I would know which was yours and which was Emmett’s and Esme’s and so on. Each of you has a distinct feel to you that I’ve become accustomed to. I don’t even have to think about it anymore.”

She nods, and I feel her fascination as well as her…tenderness?

Instinctively, I know that now is the right time. With great effort not to project my own nervousness onto her, I reach over and grab my backpack.

“I uh, got you something while I was out earlier.” Ugh, why do I sound like that? I find myself wishing there was someone out there to control my moods.

Y/n smiles shyly, her emotions indicating hesitancy and anticipation. Okay, nothing alarming.

“You did?”

I shake my head, suddenly feeling very shy myself. “It’s nothing special, just…well.” I take the jewelry box out of my bag and put it in her hands.

She gives me a quick, nervous glance before opening it, and then I suddenly feel much, much better about my decision.

She gasps in delight and her happiness overwhelms me. “Oh my gosh, Jasper…” She pulls the necklace out of the box and holds it up, allowing it to catch the light of the moon and sparkle.

The necklace is simple, really. The gold, braided chain is unassuming and the butterfly pendant, relatively small.

Her smile softens, as she strokes the butterfly carefully. “You remembered…”

And I did. All that time ago, when she had mentioned her love of emeralds, and a little later when she sat in awe as a flood of butterflies darted past us, I took note. I had gone to town hoping to find something to give her, not really having any idea what. The necklace practically smacked me in the face when I saw it, it being so perfect. And although she hadn’t mentioned liking diamonds, I figured it wouldn’t be bad to include just one, and the salesman agreed. We decided that the small, oblong diamond making up the body of the butterfly wouldn’t be ostentatious and wouldn’t take away from what made up the wings.

Y/n exhales, her disbelief apparent. “Jasper, are these real?” She holds the necklace closer to her face, getting a better look.

I rub the back of my neck, suddenly sheepish. Technically, yes, everything in the necklace is real, but I know to what she’s referring. Her attention is caught on the clusters of twinkling emeralds that make up the butterfly’s wings.

I nod, not trusting my voice.

Without warning, she throws her arms around me with a force that nearly knocks me to the ground. I grip her waist, steading us. She sinks deeper into the hug, nearly in my lap now, and I allow myself to wrap my arms around her and pull her close. I don’t want to move. I don’t want to do anything that could cause her to pull away because this is the most amazing thing I’ve felt since…since ever. Nothing has ever felt so right. Her emotions support my wild hope that she’s feeling the same way, that she’s enjoying being close to me as much I’m enjoying it with her. We stay like that for a while, and I let my head fall into her shoulder, taking in her scent. It’s comforting, and a little intoxicating. If hugging her is this wonderful, imagine-

And I stop myself right there. Y/n is still so young to this life, and it would be ridiculously wrong of me to burden her with my budding feelings. She has way too much to focus on right now without worrying about her best friend trying to get with her.

So I reign my emotions in, hoping I haven’t unintentionally projected anything onto Y/n. Her emotions tell me no, and that, thankfully, she hadn’t noticed my sudden shift in demeanor. I try to dispel my regret and pull back from the hug.

She’s smiling, and it’s a beautiful sight. I can at least allow myself to acknowledge that.

“Help me put it on?”

She turns and holds her hair up, giving me room to gently clasp the necklace in place. I make a special effort not to brush my fingers against her neck, knowing that would only torture me.

She sits next to me, holding the necklace carefully. “Thank you. I love it.” She means it, and it lightens my heart to know so.

We sit in comfortable silence, her admiring the gift and the night, and I admiring her. After a while, she pulls out the Harry Potter book, and I find myself grateful that she had the forethought to bring it. I lay back on the rock, enjoying the lilt to her voice as she reads softly. The Harry Potter’s are fine, really, but I wouldn’t have finished the series if we weren’t reading together. It’s just nice to enjoy the quality time.

Two chapters later, she turns to me with a grin. “Do you want to jump off the waterfall?”

Our excitement mingles and I can’t help the wide smile that spreads across my face. “Definitely.”

We stand, quickly pulling off our clothes so we’re in our bathing suits. I make sure to keep my gaze is respectful, desperately not wanting to freak Y/n out or make her feel uncomfortable. She, on the other hand, refuses to look at me, and my insecurities rush to the surface. I know my scars are bothering her.

But she holds out her hand, and that soothes the wound somewhat.

“You promise we won’t die?”

I chuckle, taking her hand in mine. “Promise.”

With that, we fling ourselves off the cliff.

Water hits us from all directions but, being virtually indestructible, it doesn’t cause any pain. It’s just fun.

Y/n laughs wildly as we fall, only stopping when we break the surface of the water. We sink deeply, and it’s a good thing we don’t need to breathe. As humans, we would never make it to the surface in time to get air.

Y/n releases my hand to swim deeper underwater, apparently intent on reaching the bottom. I follow, her excitement contagious. The bottom is rocky and slimy with algae, and she makes a face when her feet make contact. I burst out in laughter, the last remnants of my air escaping to the surface as bubbles. Y/n rolls her eyes in mock annoyance and reaches out to tug on a strand of my hair, which is long enough to float in the water. I only laugh though and push more water in her direction which, of course, does nothing. With an impish grin, she swims to the top, leaving me no choice but to follow.

She breaks the surface only a second before I do, gasping for air out of habit. “Being a vampire does have its perks.”

I wipe the water from my eyes. “I’m inclined to agree.”

The sky begins to lighten. I hadn’t realized how long we’d been here.

Her thoughts match mine. “We should head back soon. We’re already pushing the time needed to hunt and you,” she eyes me playfully, “still need to lighten those eyes.”

I nod with mock seriousness. “Yes, ma’am.”

The burst is so quick I almost miss it. Almost. For a split second, attraction becomes Y/n’s dominant emotion. But as soon as I notice it, it’s gone. I must’ve made it up or accidentally projected it onto her. Whoops.

She smiles, feeling a bit nervous. “You ready?”

No. “Yes.” In all honesty, I would quite like to spend days here in the water with her. But, I agree that it will be suspicious if we stay away too much longer, so I get out of the water after her. I climb up to the top once more to get our stuff, then drop down beside Y/n.

She rolls her eyes without annoyance. “Show off.”

But I only grin and take her hand, feeling much more confident in the action now that she’s initiated it so many times. I feel her contentment, and can’t help but feel at home.

A/n Hello hello! Let me know what you think so far and if you would like to be added to the tag list!

xx,

Bjr

Link to next part: https://bonjour-rainycity.tumblr.com/post/623756834957885440/the-long-way-around-chapter-9

Tag list: @puer-de-infinitate @charliestuff @hindustani-diaspora @one-thread-can-save-a-life @salsameter @meashy-moo @sana-li @enchantedcruelsummer @femflorals

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melancholymaz · 4 years ago

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UNFORESEEN (3)

Pairing: Natasha Romanoff x fem!reader (past), Natasha Romanoff x Steve Rogers, Wanda Maximoff x Reader, Tony Stark x reader.

Warnings: Steve x Natasha fluff and angst, reader x Natasha fluff also reader on a date!

Summary: Y/N starts to move on from her relationship with Natasha, but Natasha can’t help but be stuck in a pit of despair as things start coming back to her.

The early morning sun peeks through the blinds, the sound of cars and early birds come through the large windows. A strong arm sits on her waist as the large body lays behind her, his hot breath fanning on the back of her neck, a feeling sits deep in her body, a feeling of regret and guilt. Guilt for feeling content in that moment considering the heartbreak she caused to be in that situation. The red head knows that the other members of the team ask themselves if she feels bad for what she did to Y/N, and the answer has always been the same. Yes. She thinks about it every day, and can still see the pain in the Y/C/Hs eyes when she saw the couple together for the first, and tears spring to her eyes if she always thinks about it for too long. It’s been 6 months since the gala where Y/N admitted to Natasha she was going to propose. Natasha may have another body to love and appreciate, but she never forgets the woman who not only she loved but who loved her back with no regrets. The way she loves Steve is so completely different to the way she loved Y/N. Steve and her’s relationship was built off of getting through a bad time together, finding a new light to see and really seeing who that person really was. But with Y/N, it was meeting someone by accident, them getting to know a complete fake, then still trusting and finding love in someone despite finding out about their real past. Steve knew Natasha’s past wasn’t pretty and that loving someone like her was going to be difficult and Natasha would be lying if she said Steve didn’t struggle to love her properly, but with Y/N it almost came effortlessly for her to love Nat, she handled every nightmare, bad days and Natasha’s distant time-periods almost perfectly and never made Natasha feel bad for the consequences of her traumatising upbringing. Steve can sometimes get frustrated when Nat gets distant after a bad mission, and Nat would sometimes find herself staring at the elevator button to Y/N’s floor contemplating on whether or not she should take comfort from her ex lover, knowing that Y/N would hold her for days despite her own pain.

“Good morning Nat.” Steve’s thick with sleep voice interrupts her thinking, rolling her over and she can’t help but smile at his bed hair and sleepy grin.

“Good morning Captain.” She replies, giving him a sweet kiss before wrapping her arms around his neck to hold him closer, pressing soft kisses to his neck and shoulders. “Pancakes?”

“Pancakes.”

Y/N sits in the booth of a dim lit diner, lightly sipping her soda as the brunette woman across from her continues to chatter on about something Y/N lost interest in minutes ago.

“And that’s why I decided to become a vet!” Lucy, Y/N guesses, concludes her story, clapping once before shoving a handful of fries into her mouth with little to no gracefulness. Y/N smiles and nods, before subtly looking down at her phone, sending a SOS message to the group chat including Wanda and Tony, the two people responsible as to why she was on her fifth date that month.

Smelly 🦠

Please come save me

Lucy then starts to go on about her pet rat, and Y/N couldn’t be more grateful that Tony had replied 10 minutes later, the fastest he’s replied in forever.

Toeknee 💸

We’re out front sweet cheeks

Y/N mentally cringes at the situation she’s put herself in, she hates to be that girl on the date that leaves so abruptly, but this date had been the worst she had ever been on and could not stand to be in that mangey diner any longer.

“Look Lucy-”

“Lauren.”

“Lauren, I’m sorry, but I really have to leave, there’s been an emergency at home and I got to go sort it out.” Y/N offers, smiling awkwardly, not even giving Lauren a chance to reply before she slaps down enough cash to pay for the bill plus a generous tip, before dashing out the diner doors straight into Tony’s car. She sits back and takes a deep breath before she opens her eyes to see Tony’s and Wandas amused grins staring back at her.

“You guys are jerks.” Y/N chuckles as the other two laugh, Tony reversing out of the parking spot before driving back home. It’s not long before she’s falling into her bed and putting on her favourite TV show, falling asleep quickly as it plays in the background.

Natasha, however, couldn’t believe what she was hearing, her heart was pounding in her chest, and she couldn’t really see past the tears in her bright green eyes. Her mouth opens and closes, trying to find the words to say to the tall blonde in front of her.

“W-What?” She stutters, she can feel her throat close up, and now she realises that if this was bad, what had Y/N felt when Natasha had completely shattered your heart?

“I can’t do this anymore Nat, I just don’t see us working long-term.” Steve says quietly, running a hand down his face. “I knew I shouldn’t have let it get as far as it has.”

“Are you being fucking serious right now?” Natasha’s angry at that comment, she couldn’t believe the nerve that Steve had. “From the get-go you didn’t believe it was going to go very far? So you let me destroy my relationship knowing it wasn’t going to be worth it? I thought this could have been different Steve! I loved you!”

“I’m sorry, okay?!” He replies, not wanting Natasha to get too angry that the rest of the Avengers would come to see what’s going on, seeming how it’s 12am on a Wednesday and nearly everyone would be asleep besides vision, Tony and Bruce maybe.

“Sorry isn’t going to cut it Steve!” Natasha shouts, she falls back to sit on the chair behind her, holding her face in her hands as she takes in what just happened. “Oh my god i’m such an idiot!”

Before the tears start coming down like a waterfall, she quickly takes her leave, leaving Steve standing there feeling just as guilty. Natasha tries to keep her emotions at bay but she can’t help it, as the elevator door’s open on your floor she can’t help but let the sobs rack through her body, her hand shaking as she reaches up to knock twice on the bedroom door. Natasha hears a ruffling of blankets and light footsteps before the door swings open, Y/N’s once half asleep eyes now fully aware of a sobbing Natasha with her arms wrapped around herself tightly. Y/N immediately pulls her into her bedroom, shutting the door behind her before pulling the red-head to her chest. Natasha’s sobs become louder and stronger, and Y/N can’t help but want to wrap her up in a million blankets and hold her forever if it meant Natasha never cried like this again in her lifetime. Y/N gently rubs Natasha’s back, whispering gentle words in her ear until she starts to calm down. Y/N gently picks Nat up, carrying her to the bed, laying her down and pulling the blanket over her before climbing back into her side of the bed, pulling a sniffling Natasha into her arms once again.

“I’m so sorry Y/N.” Natasha’s weak voice whispers into the dark room, resting her head on Y/N’s chest, listening to the calm beating of Y/N’s heart.

“Never apologise to me, Nat. I know it wasn’t a nightmare, so what happened?” Y/N replies gently, combing her fingers along Nat’s scalp, knowing it would calm her down the easiest.

“Steve broke up with me, said he shouldn’t have let our relationship go as far as it did.” Nat says after a few moments of silence, now regretting running to her ex about the man she left her for.

“I’m sorry sweetheart.” Y/N replies sympathetically, pressing her lips to her head. “You know I’ll always be here for you, no matter what.”

“I still don’t understand how you’re treating me so well after what i did, especially now that it happened for nothing.” Natasha admits, slowly moving her arm to sit over Y/N’s body.

“It was a very shitty thing to do, and I’d be lying if I said I was over it. But I still love you more than anything, and I think that there could be us again potentially in the future.” Y/N says simply, wrapping her arms tighter around Natasha as she readjusts to lay down. “But we’ll talk about that another day, okay? Get some rest love, I’ll still be here with you in the morning.”

Natasha smiles softly, whispering as she lets sleep take over her tired body. “Goodnight, Y/N, Thank you.”

A/N: Ahhhh I couldn’t help but end it in fluff!! I hope you guys enjoyed this part!

#natasha romanoff x reader #imagine natasha romanoff #black widow x reader #steve rogers x natasha romanoff #wanda maximoff x reader #tony stark x reader #avengers x reader #scarlett johansson x reader

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katymacsupernatural · 4 years ago

Text

The Proposal Part 5

Jensen Ackles x Reader

Story Summary: Jensen needs help keeping his life in order. To keep the media off his back. In order to do so, he comes up with a plan. Y/N, just a producer’s assistant, is pulled in to play a part she never thought she would have. Jensen’s fiancee. Only will it stay as a part to play, or will she start to want more?

Catch Up Here: Masterpost

(still in love with this header by the talented @impala-dreamer)

________________________

Your jean-clad knee continued to shake up and down, your foot nervously tapping the floor of the airplane. Your hand was clasped tightly on the armrest, your breaths coming quick and short.

Jensen leaned over, whispering in your ear. “Relax.”

“I hate planes,” you muttered, barely glancing at him as another round of turbulence had the plane rocking slightly.

“You haven’t flown much have you?” He asked, trying to pull your attention away from your fear.

Shaking your head, you let his mossy green eyes pull in your attention. “Never really had the money, or need to,” you answered, your grip relaxing slightly.

He frowned slightly. “I’m sorry to hear that. Is that why you took the money?”

“Can we not talk about that,” you insisted. You didn’t want Jensen to feel sorry for you, or know more about your private life than he needed to. Especially since he had made it adamant that this whole thing was going to be strictly business.

“Of course,” he agreed quickly. “Did you look over the notes I gave you?”

You had. His family seemed nice from what he had written down in his notes. You had spent most of the night awake, too nervous to sleep, and had done more research than just his notes. You had scoured the internet, finding pictures, looking over articles there hadn't been much, but you felt better for the effort.

"Good. I just wanted you to have a heads up. My family is nice, and they’ll welcome you in, but I have a feeling this proposal is going to be a little bit of a shock.”

“Why? I mean beside them having never met me,” you mumbled. “But Jensen, I still can’t get it. You’re...well you’re you. There has to have been someone you...cared about.”

His smile faltered. “There was. But she’s long gone, and that’s why I wanted to do this. It’s simple. Gives me a chance to breathe without all those freaking questions. I hate lying, but this is better.”

You didn’t know what to say to that. This handsome, highly sought after man forced to have a fake proposal just to get some relaxation. You felt sorry for him.

The plane landed not too long after that. Jensen kept you close to his side while you shuffled past the rest of the crowded airport. Neither of you had packed more than an overnight bag, so you were able to skip the baggage claim and head right out front. Then it was finding an Uber. Jensen had assured you that he had a place down here in Texas and that you would have your own room. But you hadn’t expected his place to be huge. It was two stories, the front a mixture of stucco and stone. He parked in the garage, and you stepped into the house to see a huge, open floor concept.

“Kitchen’s over there,” Jensen pointed to the left. “Should be fully stocked. The living room as you can see is there. Then there is the game room and my study. Upstairs is four rooms. I had the first one on the left made up for you.”

You followed him up the winding staircase, staying back as he pushed open the door to what was going to be your room. For this weekend, and whenever you had to travel down here with him. The room was large with a beautiful hand-carved wooden headboard. A nightstand and dresser were the only other furniture in the room. A door on the left led to your own personal bathroom. Everything was done in neutral tones and was immaculate.

“If you don’t like this one, I can…,” Jensen started to say, rubbing the back of his neck nervously.

“No, it will be fine,” You assured him, setting your bag down beside the bed.

“Great,” he sighed. “Listen, I’m going to work in the study for a little bit. There’s a pool outback. Why don’t you swim for a little bit and relax? We won’t leave for a couple of hours yet. I’d like to get to the brewery, check out things before dinner.”

He left you alone in the room, and you took a deep breath, trying to relax. Today had been a little overwhelming so far, and a swim sounded like a perfect way to let go of some of your nerves. Pulling your simple black one piece from your duffle bag, you quickly changed, putting your hair up out of the way.

With a plush towel from the bathroom and your flip flops on, you went back down the staircase, turning left towards the french doors at the back. Jensen’s voice could barely be heard through the thick oak door. For a moment you wished he would stop and join you. He seemed like he needed the relaxation just as much as you did.

Stepping onto the deck, you were amazed at his backyard. Lush and well-manicured, there was a large deck and entertaining area. The pool was good-sized, with a waterfall at one end. Lounge chairs were placed close by. “Wow,” you whispered.

Toeing off your flip flops, you dropped the towel on a chair. Sitting down on the edge of the pool, you dangled your feet in. The water was cool and felt wonderful against the warm Texas sun.

Sliding in, you went completely under, letting the water wash completely over you.

You lost track of time while enjoying the pool. Swimming up and down, floating and letting the sun warm your skin. You couldn’t even remember the last time you had been able to swim.

“It’s nice, isn’t it?” Jensen spoke up, standing at the edge of the pool. “Just being able to let the water wash everything away.”

“Yeah,” you agreed. “What time is it?”

“Just enough time for you to take a shower and get ready,” he answered, moving over to the lounge chair, holding up your towel. You climbed the steps, walking over to Jensen. His eyes raked over your swimsuit-clad body, his jaw clenching for a moment before he wrapped the towel around you. His eyes were unreadable as they stared into yours. He let go of the towel, and you caught it, holding it together under your chin. Tugging his bottom lip between his teeth for a moment, he sighed. “Go get ready,” he ordered, and you were quick to comply.

Read Chapter 6

Dean/Jensen Tags: @acortez82 @acreativelydifferentlove @adoptdontshoppets @a-girl-who-loves-disney @akshi8278 @bi-danvers0 @cap-just-said-language @colette2537 @deansgirl215 @flamencodiva @hamiltrash1411 @its-not-a-tulpa @jerkbitchidjitassbutt @justanotherwinchester @just-another-winchester @karouwinchester @keikoraventeller @krys198478 @librarygeekery @magssteenkamp @misspygmypie @mlovesstories @mrsambroserollinsacklesmgk @mrspeacem1nusone @nothinbuttrouble2 @ria132love @ruprecht0420 @screechingartisancashbailiff @sortaathief @superseejay721517 @squirrelnotsam @team-free-will-you-idjiot @thing-you-do-with-that-thing @torn-and-frayed @tricksterdean @wonderfulworldofwinchester @woodworthti666

The Proposal Tags: @supraveng @vicmc624 @lottieellz101 @impala-dreamer @maddiepants @emilyshurley @tonystark-makes-me-cry @starryeyeseunbyul @rach-12 @spnfamily-j2 @ima-be-a-mongoose @flamencodiva @compresshischest09 @parinarain @stoneyggirl @tftumblin

Forever Tags: @aditimukul @alexwinchester23 @algud @amanda-teaches @andreaaalove @artisticpoet @atc74 @be-amaziing @camelotandastronauts @caswinchester2000 @cpag7 @chelsea072498 @closetspngirl @deanwanddamons @docharleythegeekqueen @emoryhemsworth @ericaprice2008 @esoltis280 @foxyjwls007 @gh0stgurl @goldenolaf25 @growningupgeek @heartislubbingdubbing @heyitscam99 @hobby27 @horsegirly99 @imsuperawkward @internationalmusicteacher @iwriteaboutdean @jayankles @jensen-gal @justsomedreaming @just-another-busyfangirl @karlee-fay-my-wayward-son @linki-locks11 @littleblue5mcdork @lowlyapprentice @mersuperwholocked-lowlife @mogaruke @monkeymcpoopoo @musiclovinchic93 @nanie5 @percussiongirl2017 @plaid-lover-bay25 @roonyxx @ronja-uebrick @roxyspearing @samanddeanmyheroes @sandlee44 @shamelesslydean @simonsbluee @sillesworldofwriting @sgarrett49 @spnbaby-67 @spn-dean-and-sam-winchester @spnwoman @superbadassnatural @thatcrazybookwormgeek @thewinchesterchronicles @vvinch3st3r @whimsicalrobots @winchester-writes @zombiewerewolfqueen

#the proposal #jensen ackles x reader #supernatural x reader #supernatural rpf #supernatural reader insert #katy writes #spn fanfic #jensen fanfic #jensen x y/n #y/n #jensen #fanfic

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gusu-emilu · 4 years ago

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Follow Your Arrow (Part 2): Jiang Cheng / Wen Ning

(Cloud Recesses Era, G, 2.6k, CW: non-graphic bird hunting, read on AO3)

Jiang Cheng and Wen Ning accidentally go to the same spot in the Cloud Recesses to practice archery.

< Part 1 (although this part can stand alone too)

* * *

Shooting at rocks in a waterfall is not Jiang Cheng’s ideal form of an archery competition. Wen Ning is closer to the waterfall, which doesn’t necessarily put Jiang Cheng at a disadvantage, but it does mean that Jiang Cheng has to see Wen Ning in the corner of his eyes every time he tries to aim. It's irksome. Jiang Cheng has always competed better when he doesn’t have to watch his opponent.

Not that watching Wen Ning affects his performance. Sure, Wen Ning is a decent shot. When he’s relaxed and his hands aren’t fidgeting, his archery skills might even be called impressive. The rocks blown to bits by his arrows seem to testify as much. But he's not that good.

Another rock shatters with the impact of Wen Ning’s shot. Jiang Cheng is still adjusting his aim when the periphery of his vision is filled with Wen Ning grinning to himself, and inadvertently his eyes wander over to the sight.

Yes, that’s enough shooting at waterfalls.

“Stop here,” Jiang Cheng says, lowering his bow. He straightens his posture once Wen Ning looks over in confusion.

“H-Have we finished the competition?” Wen Ning asks, leaning to the side slightly as if he needs to look around some barrier to see Jiang Cheng, even though the length of riverbank between them is unobstructed. Somehow that makes Jiang Cheng feel exposed, that Wen Ning is paying such careful attention to him.

“No,” Jiang Cheng says. “We’re not finished. Haven’t started, actually.”

All Wen Ning returns are wide eyes and a soft little “oh?”

“That was the warmup.” Avoiding Wen Ning’s gaze, Jiang Cheng slings his quiver over his shoulder and strides toward the woods lining the riverbank. “For the competition, we’re going to hunt birds.”

After a few moments, there’s a shuffling sound and scurrying footsteps behind him. Wen Ning catches up to Jiang Cheng just as they enter the forest, sidling up next to him. Jiang Cheng picks up his pace.

“Hunting birds?”

“You have a problem with that?”

Wen Ning stumbles as he tries to keep up with Jiang Cheng’s ever-quickening pace, but he regains his balance and appears back at Jiang Cheng’s side. “No. I just don’t usually shoot animals.”

Wen Ning's hurried steps beside Jiang Cheng keep him in the corner of his vision again. It’s irritating. Like a ghost Jiang Cheng knows is there but can’t fully capture in his sight. He stops abruptly and turns to face Wen Ning head-on so he can at least see the nuisance in his entirety. Wen Ning trips again, steadies himself, then clutches his bow in front of his stomach, his hands close enough together for him to nervously rub his thumb over one of his knuckles.

Jiang Cheng studies his scrunched posture, his pouty face, his long fingers curling around the bow. “Then it’ll be all the more of a challenge. You wanted help getting over competition anxiety, didn’t you?”

“I—y-yes, I suppose so.”

“Okay. Anywhere in this section of the forest is fair game.” Jiang Cheng gestures at the shady expanse of forest in front of them. “Meet back at the river. Whoever catches more birds wins.”

Wen Ning nods a little too eagerly, still staring at him.

Jiang Cheng rolls his eyes. “Go already.”

“Oh—oh.” Wen Ning hesitates for a few seconds, then bolts away.

Jiang Cheng scoffs. Weirdo. No wonder he gets along with Wei Wuxian.

That thought bites. Wei Wuxian has been fluttering from disciple to disciple nonstop since they arrived in the Cloud Recesses, gravitating farther from Jiang Cheng and revolving in tighter circles around people from other clans, like Nie Huaisang, who—if Jiang Cheng is honest—he doesn’t mind that much. But Wei Wuxian has also attached himself to this strange one Wen Ning, who of course also happens to be from an enemy clan. And Wei Wuxian has been clinging most of all to that insufferable Lan Wangji…

Anyway. Bird-hunting.

This choice of competition was intentional. First, it’ll let Jiang Cheng get Wen Ning out of the corners of his vision. Completely out of his sight. Wen Ning’s absence feels much better already. Second, he’ll be able to show off the birds he catches to Wei Wuxian and maybe squeeze out a few compliments for hunting an extra dinner for them, as well as get a rise out of Nie Huaisang for turning cousins of his prized avian pets into prey.

Following the calls of birds, he stalks through the forest, scanning the canopy of trees. A flash of wings on a branch to the left. He creeps closer, stringing an arrow and drawing it back. He sets his aim, gets the tension just right—

The bird plops to the forest floor.

Jiang Cheng’s arrow hasn’t left his bow.

His brow furrowed, he steps forward to stand over the bird and inspect it. Wen Ning arrives at the same time, holding his bow up guiltily. His arrow has been shot.

“What way to play is this?” Jiang Cheng shouts. “You have the entire forest! You can’t hunt the same birds as me!”

“S-Sorry…” Wen Ning looks down at the creature, his eyes downcast.

“Just, hunt somewhere farther from me! Okay?” Jiang Cheng says, trying to soften his voice and not succeeding at it.

Wen Ning is quiet for so long that Jiang Cheng’s throat begins to itch.

“Well, it’s just that…” Wen Ning finally says, only to trail off.

“What?”

“W-Well, if I want to become better at competing without feeling nervous,” he meets Jiang Cheng’s eyes, “won’t I get the most competition if I steal your shots?”

Jiang Cheng’s eyebrows shoot up. He reigns his facial expression back in immediately, but not soon enough, because Wen Ning is staring right at him when a traitorous heat flushes across his cheeks. “I’m not helping you that much! Go somewhere else!”

Wen Ning nods sullenly and walks away.

Steal my shots! The nerve! He shakes his head. These Wens are unbearable.

Wen Ning’s idea makes sense, of course, and his gut twists at the realization of how seriously Wen Ning is working to get an advantage over him. He didn’t expect he’d have to be on his guard this much.

Is Wen Ning only trying this hard because he wants to overcome his fears?

Most likely.

Jiang Cheng thinks that incident will be the first and last time Wen Ning shoots down a bird before he even has the chance to set his aim.

It happens a second time.

“Wen Qionglin!” He stomps over to where Wen Ning is hiding behind a tree and grabs him by the collar of his robes. “I told you to hunt birds somewhere else! Do you want me to shoot at you instead?”

“S-S-Sorry—”

Somehow, without noticing, he’s pulled Wen Ning closer. Or he's stepped closer himself. He lets go of Wen Ning’s robes with a shove, turns around and storms away because this time he is not letting the heat in his cheeks be seen. Especially since it shouldn’t even be there.

What is he so embarrassed about? That Wen Ning has been following him and timing his shots to land right before his own, at the exact time that would frustrate him most?

The answer rises into his mind unbidden.

He is embarrassed about that.

Dang it.

The next bird he targets, he resists the tingle in his fingers that urges him to rush through the shot and strike the bird before Wen Ning has the chance. Instead, he positions himself for the shot, slows his breath, steadies his arms, and drops his gaze away to scan the shadows in the forest surrounding him. The pest is bound to be around here somewhere.

His gaze settles on a dark spot in the bushes that seems especially unwieldy. Was that a pair of eyes blinking back at him?

He adjusts his fingers on the bow and arrow, builds up pressure in his back muscles. He'll change directions at the last second. Fire an arrow toward Wen Ning and give him a scare.

He draws—

Shing!

His head jerks up to follow an arrow that whirs past his hair ornament and lodges into a tree trunk behind him. His own arrow releases into the dirt at his feet.

Wen Ning shot at him first?!

"Wen Qionglin!" he bellows.

"I'm s-sorry! I didn't m-mean to—aaaah!" Wen Ning drops his bow in the grass and sprints away, because Jiang Cheng is chasing after him and Jiang Cheng is going to catch him.

All those times he chased down Wei Wuxian have proven useful. A matter of seconds and he's close enough to grab Wen Ning's arm and yank him to a stop. Unfortunately, Wen Ning is heavier than he expected. He loses his balance. Overshoots a bit. Falls to the ground and pulls Wen Ning on top of him.

"J-Jiang-gongzi!"

"Get off me!"

"Jiang-gongzi, I didn't mean to—"

Jiang Cheng is sick of being at a disadvantage, so sick of it. He pushes Wen Ning off, slams him into the ground beside him. He climbs on top and pushes Wen Ning's shoulders down, flattening the weeds underneath his shoulder blades.

"First you shoot at my birds, then you shoot at me?!"

"I-I didn't—that was an accident—"

"Oh, wonderful! Please tell me how that could possibly be an accident!"

Wen Ning stares wide-eyed at one of the hands Jiang Cheng is digging into his shoulder. A few locks of his hair, too soft, are tangled between Jiang Cheng's fingers. Wen Ning meets his eyes, looks down at his chest for longer than is comfortable, and back up to his eyes. Heat rises to Jiang Cheng's face again. This time he has nowhere to hide.

"I...I..." Wen Ning says quietly.

"You what?" Jiang Cheng's voice cracks on the word what, jumping to a pitch much too high, as if he hasn't already been humiliated enough today.

"I was..."

"Spit it out!" He shoves Wen Ning's shoulders down harder for good measure, but that only makes him blush more fiercely. He freezes, fearful that one more motion, one more twitch of muscle, and his face would light on fire.

"I was aiming at the b-bird above you and then..." Wen Ning tries to look away. But there's a person on top of him. Anywhere his eyes go is somewhere on Jiang Cheng's body, and that definitely does not make Jiang Cheng shiver.

"But then I was w-watching you instead of the bird, so my arrow..."

The rush of understanding is like a punch in the gut. Had the wind been knocked out of Jiang Cheng before this moment? Or is it just now?

Wen Ning was staring at me so much he ended up aiming at me.

What the heck.

He wrenches himself away from Wen Ning and plops onto his backside in the grass next to him, resting his arms on top of his bent knees, his mind fuzzy.

"Why?" As soon as the words come out, Jiang Cheng bites his lower lip and presses his mouth closed, clenches his jaw, but he's already asked. He hadn't wanted to ask that.

"Umm." Wen Ning sits up a bit, propping himself up on his forearms, still lying on the forest floor. His feet splay outward from each other. His fingers dig into the grass. "What are you asking?"

Jiang Cheng would sooner plunge one of his arrows into his own chest than explain what he meant.

"W-Well..." Wen Ning sits up fully now, positioning himself cross-legged in front of Jiang Cheng, like they're about to have a meditation session together. His hands are a little jittery and he stutters his words, but overall he looks gentle and calm, which should be impossible given what just happened. If Jiang Cheng didn't know better, he'd be jealous.

"I guess I just," Wen Ning continues, his eyes fixed down in the dirt, then lifting to graze over Jiang Cheng's face, "think you're p-pretty."

An arrow does plunge into Jiang Cheng's chest.

His heart races. Fights against the tightness constricting his windpipe. His whole body is going to burn up.

He really had to choose this word? Pretty?

Jiang Yanli is pretty. Wen Qing is pretty. Even Nie Huaisang and Lan Wangji are pretty. Hell, Wen Ning is pretty.

But Jiang Cheng?

Whatever mortified expression he's making right now, he can't wipe it off his face, and it's definitely not pretty.

He jumps to his feet. "That's—that's dumb."

Wen Ning gapes up at him. "It is?"

He just stands there with his fists clenched like an idiot.

Gods, why can't you just say something properly? Something nice. Why are you acting like this?

"You can't go around shooting arrows at people and telling them it's because they're pretty!" he says, trying to swallow the words back down his throat, but they come out anyway. "Who does that?" You do! You were going to aim your bow at him yourself!

"Oh," Wen Ning says, still sitting on the ground. He's started fidgeting with his hands. "Jiang-gongzi...should we finish the competition?"

"It's finished!" Jiang Cheng shouts. "You've already won, haven't you?"

"I have?"

Jiang Cheng sucks in a breath and turns his face away. "Clearly!"

Wen Ning stands up. He takes a step toward Jiang Cheng, then wavers and returns to stillness. "So what happens now?"

Jiang Cheng glares at him. "I'll...I'll..."

I guess I just think you're pretty.

It's humiliating. So much worse than when Jiang Yanli tells him that he's handsome. From Wen Ning it feels so genuine and awkward and nice and makes his skin boil and his body sink into the ground.

And Wen Ning really did perform well in their competition. During the "warmup" he was already nailing every two or three shots, and during the hunt in the forest—Jiang Cheng hates to admit it—he put up a challenge. For someone so outwardly meek, Wen Ning is plucky. After all, only one of them had caught any birds. If Wen Ning had been trying to impress him...it had worked. Ironic, embarrassing, that was, because Jiang Cheng had been the one trying to impress him.

"I'll treat you."

Wen Ning raises his hands and shakes away the offer. "Oh, no, n-no need to trouble yourself. I don't want anything."

"What?" Jiang Cheng scoffs. "Don't want my company?"

"That's not what I meant."

Jiang Cheng is ready to leave. He's ready to get out of the forest and far away from the aftermath of this cursed competition. They need to settle this now, because he's ready to leave, and absolutely not because his heart is fluttering.

"Wei Wuxian is bringing Emperor's Smile to our room tonight." He jerks the strap of his quiver over his shoulder and grips down hard on his bow, straightening his posture and raising his chin. "Either show up, or don't."

Wen Ning gives a small smile. "I-I'd like that, Jiang-gongzi. But...my sister says I shouldn't drink too much."

"Then don't drink anything. What do I care?"

""Okay." Wen Ning's smile grows a little bigger, and Jiang Cheng just about dies inside. "Thank you."

"You're welcome," Jiang Cheng says, the words catching in his mouth a bit. He turns around before his face can betray him again. "You better show up."

Jiang Cheng heads up the trail to the center of the Cloud Recesses, his face burning, his archery skills insulted, and his lips quirking into a smile.

* * *

Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this story, you can be a supportive sibling like Jiang Yanli by visiting me on AO3!

You can subscribe to my degrees of separation series on AO3 to get a notification whenever I post the next part. I have ideas for a follow-up thanks to suggestions from @qi-ling (who also has some excellent fanfics!)

And if you have your own ideas...my ask box is always open 👀

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s1cparvism4gna · 4 years ago

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I Like You A Lot

WARNINGS: cursing & angst

Pairings: Chloe Frazer x Nadine Ross, Sam Drake x OC

Tags: @desertvvitch, @courtenbae, @ammaliatrici

A/N: I will fix the read now later today

Chapter 18

Sam’s POV

I sighed as the wind pushed back my hair, air drying myself and my clothes a bit. Also it was hot as hell. So this nice breeze was doing me a great service. I wiped the shmutz off the tinted glass of a pair of aviators I happened to find in the back seat. “These are nice, heh?” I said, examining the quality and putting them on my face before turning to Sunny with a rather charming smile (if I do say so myself). She didn’t even move. She stayed with her chin resting in her hand as she leaned on the side of the car; Staring at the Indian wilderness as it passed by, wind pushing at her curls. I huffed and shook my head, noticing Chloe glancing at us from the rear view mirror. She frowned a bit and then returned her eyes to the rocky path before us.

“Look! Railroad tracks!” Nadine pointed out. Sunny’s head shot right up as she moved to the middle seat to lean forward for a better look. Right ahead in the distance was a bunch of abandoned cars on the tracks.

“We’ll stop here, then.” Chloe said, pulling on the hand brake and the car skidded in the mud for a second. All of us hopped out of the 4x4, our boots landing on the ground heavily. We all groaned. I was sure all of our bodies were aching— I, myself, was tired and sweaty. My hands were dirty and bruised (much like the rest of me) with a few cuts that had yet to be looked at. And I mean the way my knees felt after that simple jump… but it was better than being left to drown in a flooded chamber, I’ll tell you that. Luckily, my cigarettes had dried so immediately I pulled one and lit it. I needed one. With the way Sunny was acting and how this job was going, I needed a bit of nicotine in my system to help me along.

“Asav will definitely have lookouts throughout the area.” Nadine told us.

“Best be careful then, huh?” Sunny commented, adjusting her jeans.

“Right, right, right… And then we lose the tusk.” I added sarcastically. Sunny made a face. One I knew all too well. One she tended to make when she was done with whatever “pessimistic” outlook I tended to have on things.

“Jesus Christ, Sam—” Sunny groaned, rolling her eyes in annoyance.

“Ay— I’m just bein’ realistic here!” I retorted. Nadine chimed in as well, also rather fed up with me.

“You’re welcome to stay behind if you’d like.” She said. I made a sarcastic expression, mocking her.

Chloe calmly hushed us up, shaking her head, tired of the ongoing arguments and petty comebacks between us all.

“All right, all right… Less talking, more walking.” She said before hopping off the cliff. Sunny looked at me in disbelief and forced out a rather derisive laugh.

“Sounds good to me.” She said, following Chloe off the cliff. I groaned stressfully; letting smoke fill my lungs and exit my nostrils as I watched her walk away, dropping down to the next level. I picked up my pride and began to follow them as well.

“So all that time with Asav and you couldn’t get any intel on the buyers?” Nadine asked me.

“He’s uh…. he’s a cagey one, Asav is. Never talked shop in front of me really.” I answered, adjusting my newfound sunglasses in the sunlight.

“Gee, I wonder why not…” I heard Sunny comment sardonically ahead of us.

“Sunny, you’re being very puerile right now.” I said to her.

“Ooo, look at the ex con using his big boy words.” She replied with a rapid fire tongue. I rolled my eyes and took another drag. I decided I’d be the grown up here and ignore it… Sort of.

“Hey, he believed me long enough to think I was an expert in all this Hoy-sah-la crap.” I said rather pigheadedly.

“It’s Hoysa-lah. Not Hoy- sah-la.” Sunny corrected me.

“All right, Hermione.” I shrugged, trying my best not to let her get to me. But, boy, she was really working on my nerves.

“Thanks for keeping him busy for us.” Chloe said suddenly, taking me out of my thoughts and smiling at me as she looked at me with those stunning blue eyes. It was clear to see why I slept with her to begin with. There was a calm about her that tended to ease even the most chaotic of souls. I wanted to be calmed too. I wanted to be near that energy for just a moment. But in retrospect, it wasn’t worth it. Not to have Sunny this upset with me. I’d take it back if I could… I ran my fingers through my hair nervously and nodded, feigning a confidence that wasn’t really there to begin with.

“Yeah, I mean, I knew everything would work out…. I just wanted to buy you guys some time…. in case you were coming to get me.” I said, looking over the edge of the next cliff. She placed a gentle roughed up hand on my arm and squeezed it.

“Of course we were!” She grinned. Her energy brought a faint smile to my face and I forced a laugh, leaning towards her.

“Seriously, though. Thanks. I thought I was a goner.” I whispered to her.

“I wouldn’t let that happen. Sunny wouldn’t let that happen.” She said, nodding in her direction. I sighed. Even being upset with me, she once again saved my ass. “And your brother would never let me hear the end of it.” She added. I burst into laughter as I followed her across the cliff. Sunny and Nadine both looked back at me. Neither was very happy with me. They seemed to be talking amongst themselves. I could only imagine what about.

We walked along the green grass, looking out at the tracks that hovered above a misty and grassy wetland. It was rather nice if I was being honest. India had spectacular views and I was glad I got to see it all. That Sunny got to see it all. She deserved to see the world more than anybody. I finished my cigarette and tossed the filter over the edge as we came upon a waterfalled cave. Looking in, there was a mudslide inside. “Let’s find out where this goes.” Chloe said before jumping in and sliding away. I stepped aside and gestured to the cave.

“Ladies first.” I sighed. Nadine glared at me, bumping her muscular shoulder into me as she passed, knocking me off balance.

“Very mature.” I grumbled as she slid down after Chloe. Sunny just walked by and slid down without even really looking at me. I took a deep breath and slid down after her.

“I found the train tracks! Sort of….” I heard Chloe say as I approached the bottom. Sitting at the door of the hill were a bunch of broken slabs of wood. The cave probably was once part of a train route from what I gathered. As we came out onto the sunlit cliff, we could see more tracks in the distance.

“It’s weird to see everythin’ sorta go back to normal… After bein’ around Hoysala ruins all day. More modern structures are showin’ up now.” Sunny said as she looked around. I took the opportunity to attempt a conversation again.

“Well it’s either British or Portuguese. So not quite modern. Probably around 18— aaand you don’t care…” I said, biting my lip. Sunny grunted as she dropped to the ground to follow Chloe. I threw my head back in discouragement. Nadine shrugged as she looked at me and began to go behind them. Then she stopped in her tracks and turned to look at me, her bright brown eyes narrowed.

“You did a stupid thing, Drake. She’s hurt.” She told me. I blinked at her a couple times. It seemed like she was maybe trying to…..help me. I wrinkled my bushy brows as I continued to listen to her. “I don’t know why but… she loves you. And she won’t say it. Not to your face. But I know she does care a great deal about you. Just give her some time.” She said. I was surprised. When did she start to care about how Sunny was feeling? Regardless, I took the advice and pushed on. Just as I jumped down, I watched Sunny be the first to cross a wooden beam. Immediately, that familiar niggling feeling kicked in.

“Sunny, what the hell?! Is that thing even stable?!” I yelled. She just kept going until she got to the other side.

“It’s fine. Hurry up and cross it before it’s not. Your luck, it’ll break in half.” She retorted, climbing a wall and crawling into a tight space. As she disappeared, I couldn’t help but to be surprised. Heights weren’t her thing. Now all of a sudden it’s “Balls to the Wall”, “No Guts, No Glory”? Maybe the job had cured her of her acrophobia. Or maybe I pissed her off that much…

I followed the girls across the beam and through the crawl space (And no. It didn’t break). Above us, the sound of a chopper could be heard. The winds from its propellers pushing the treetops about, shaking loose leaves to the ground. As long as we stayed in the shadows and tree lines, I knew we’d be fine. “Asav thinks we’re all dead. Let’s keep it that way.” Nadine said, before heading up more rocks. It was interesting seeing her on the other side of enemy lines. And even better, without a gun to my head. Or a knife to my throat. Maybe if I asked the right questions, I could find a glimpse of a person inside that walking dead shell.

“So, Nadine—” I began but she growled and folded her strong arms across her chest.

“We are not on a first name basis.” She said. I chuckled.

“Okay, fine… I heard you worked for Asav, too?” I asked, carefully.

“What about it?” She grunted, narrowing her eyes and cocking a thin brow.

“I mean… How did you deal with the torture?” I asked.

“Wha… Did he torture you??”

“Oh yeah...” I groaned in all seriousness. He didn’t torture me physically but he might as well have. “Wouldn’t stop talkin’ about himself or his cause. Like, I get it, man. You don’t gotta sell me on it— I’m just lookin’ to make some scratch, y’know?” I chuckled lightly. Chloe shook her head and groaned.

“I can’t stand when people prattle on incessantly.” She said, climbing the next short cliff ahead.

“God, me either.” I agreed. Then Sunny walked by making some odd noise of disgust.

“Wow, you have so much in common.” She said, staley before climbing the cliff behind Chloe. I took a deep breath to calm myself. At this point, she was really just irking me. I’m not exactly what you would call a patient man. But I was enjoying the job, to be honest. And I damn sure wasn’t gonna let her ruin it.

We followed Chloe up the inside of a waterfall’s cave and out through thick vines. “If I had known, I would’ve packed my machete.” She said simply, herself and Nadine pushing the vines apart. The way Sunny’s face lit up when she said that, almost made me forget I was in hot water for a moment. Her big brown eyes, widening and practically shimmering as her freckled cheeks fattened up when she gave that dazzling smile. I could feel my ears burning up and I turned away to light myself a cigarette. Chloe gave her a doting smile as she passed between the vines.

“You have a machete?” She asked, softly.

“Tell you what. We make it out of this alive? I’ll mail it to you.” Chloe grunted as she struggled to keep the vines apart. She nodded to Nadine to go next but just to be an ass, I slid in at the last second.

“Thank you, good gentlewomen.” I grumbled as I weaved my slender limbs through to the other side. Sunny just crossed her arms and scoffed at me. I huffed, dropping my shoulders and gesturing to the vines. “They’re gonna need someone to hold open the other end!” I said, trying to cover myself. But truthfully, I wasn’t a total ass. “Come grab the other side.” I told her as I let my cigarette hang loosely between my lips. I grabbed a vine towards the middle and began to pull.

She stared at me a moment and groaned lightly as she came to grab the other vine. She grunted as she began to pull as well, her muscles taut and flexing as she did as much as she could. Just then Nadine had come out, then Chloe. Soon as they were fine, the path was pretty clear. Even for Sunny, who had already run and jumped across the rushing ravine and was starting to climb up the seeable handholds. I rushed across after her just to make sure she’d be okay. She made it up and over the cliff with no problems. I was impressed. It was like for the first time, I was seeing Treasure Hunter Sunny Spurrs. She didn’t need me. She was excellent all on her own. Which in a way made me feel stupid for thinking my selfish thoughts before. I climbed over the cliff and Sunny reached out a hand to help me up. Just then, I could hear rocks crumbling below us. I looked down to see Chloe falling into the ravine and sliding down off a cliff. All I could hear was her screaming. The both of us (and I’m sure Nadine) gasped, calling out her name.

“Shit!” I exclaimed. But Nadine raised her hand to us a moment and listened closely. I guess she could hear something we couldn’t.

“She’s okay!” She yelled to us. “I’m gonna follow her! You two stay close! We’ll meet up!” She said before jumping into the ravine and down the mudslide, after Chloe. I could hear Sunny groan and swear loud as hell like she couldn’t stand to be with me or something. That was the straw that broke the camel’s back for me. We didn’t have time for this.

“Alright, ENOUGH!” I barked, tossing my cigarette off the edge, forcing out the excess smoke from my lungs through my nostrils in an ire manner. I stood up and turned to look at her with a screwed up expression. Sunny looked at me like I had lost my mind. And maybe I had… I wasn’t so sure. “You’re gonna have to talk to me sometime...” I told her. Begged her, really. She shook her head, chuckling at me. She placed her hands on her hips and bit her lip, standing her ground.

“You really wanna do this now?” Sunny asked me, raising her voice as she approached me slowly. I nodded. I was amped up and tired of the third degree.

“When the hell else are we gonna be able to do it, Sunny?! Yeah! Yeah, I wanna do this now. Right now!” I said in an authoritative voice, puffing my chest out a little. A snarl curled at her lips as she boldly looked me in the eyes.

“Alright then, let’s fuckin’ get to it!!” She shrilled, angrily. Last time she yelled at me like this, I had left for Libertalia without her and we both thought Nathan had gotten hurt. She was just as scary as I remembered. Maybe I shouldn’t have picked this fight so soon. But it had to happen. We needed it out of the way so we could work without distractions. Most of all…. I just wanted my girl back. For real this time. Sunny looked up at me, her eyes never leaving mine, nostrils flaring like an angry bull and her lips pursed; possibly biting her tongue from starting off with the hard hitting questions right away. But this is Sunny we’re talking about. She couldn’t help it. It just wasn’t in her nature to be subtle or tactical in any way. She had to attack it head on.

“Chloe? Really, bro? No offense to Chloe at all, but how desperate are you?!” She exclaimed. I had to laugh. Never in my life had I been before called….

“Desperate?! No, sweetheart. I ain’t desperate—” I chuckled, raising my voice in irritation, both of us beginning to lose our temper.

“So then what the hell, Sam?!” She shouted, furrowing her brow at me. That wasn’t fair. She’d been holding onto this anger about me and Chloe for so long. Yet she hadn’t brought a word about herself to the table.

“What about you?! Huh?!” I shouted, opening my arms to her, welcoming any excuses she could give me. I might be a hardass but I do have my feelings, too. “You don’t get to yell at me about sleepin’ with other people, Sunny!”

“And why the fuck not?!” She yelled. Since we were putting it all out there, I didn’t think it’d hurt if I begged the question.

“How long you been sleepin’ with him?” I asked in a tone so calm, it even scared myself. I stared her in her eyes, waiting for an answer I thought already knew. Her expression never faltered though.

“Who?” She asked, playing dumb. But she knew exactly who I was talking about.

“Erik.” I said, firmly. After I brought it up, my heart began to speed. To be honest, I was a little scared to know. But I could see she really thought I was oblivious to it all.

“Sam—” she began.

“Do I look stupid to you?! Eh, do I?!” I interrupted. “D-Did ya think I didn’t notice? That I didn’t see it? All those little looks he gave you? And still gives you! The way he hugs and kisses all over you? ‘My little Sunflower’?!” I bombarded her with information and evidence that didn’t take me long to pick up during my week of being in San Francisco. She and everyone around her was an open book. The look on Erik’s face when he looked at her like she was the last source of water on earth. Like he was absolutely infatuated— no. In love with this woman. I knew it well. It was the face I made at her quite often.

“Sam, I told you he’s my best frie—” she started but I didn’t want excuses.

“Just answer the goddamn question!” I snapped. She was talking around in circles and I didn’t have time for it. We didn’t have time for it.

“Since long before I met you.” She growled, staring me deep into my eyes. I stared her down and she looked right back. I wasn’t intimidating her for anything. Why I thought I could for a moment, I didn’t know. Nobody scared Sunny Spurrs. Something about knowing officially that she slept with Erik… It hurt more than I thought. And suddenly, I began to understand how she must’ve been feeling. On the other hand though, I couldn’t help but wonder… I winced before bringing up my next question. This one I hoped wasn’t true.

“So you’ve been leading him on? Have you been leading me on?” I asked. I couldn’t be lead on. I didn’t have time for it. I was a grown man with grown man shit to do, treasures to discover. Putting energy into something that wasn’t going anywhere was the last thing I wanted to do.

“Sam, you fucked several girls in several countries. And you fucked Chloe! You don’t get to be pissed over the one guy I fucked, out of your seven! Did it really take so many girls to realize I was waitin’ on you?!” She exploded, throwing her arms about. Her brows knitted together and her lips curled into a snarl. I was shocked…. but she was right. As I looked into her now watering eyes, I lit myself another cigarette and shook my head. She continued on. “All summer…. I did nothin’ but think about you and your sorry ass!” Tears began spilling past her cheeks as she spoke. Here we go: I’d done it.

“Yes. I did fuck Erik. I fucked him as soon as we got back from Libertalia. One time! It was routine. He was safe, he was my friend. And I love him so much but… I’m not in love with him. After the one time we slept together, I called it off. I couldn’t do it anymore…. I just kept thinkin’ about you. So what’s your excuse asshole?!” Her lips trembled and she crossed her arms over her chest protectively, running her hands down her arms to calm her raging nerves.

I really didn’t know what to say… I began wrestling with my feelings, tapping the ashes off of my cigarette. If I kept her around, that was bye bye freedom. If I didn’t tell her how I felt, I’d lose her forever… Once I weighed these options, I knew then what I had to do. “You have no idea… how hard I tried to forget you.” was what came out. For some reason, when I argued with Sunny, things tended to come out far different than intended. In all actuality, she was the intimidating one. She made a face at my sudden comment. And I knew how it sounded already, so I took the time to get ahead of it.

“I tried... so very hard to get over you. I didn’t want that attachment— I didn’t need it. Not when I’d just gotten my life back! Not when there was still so much to do... Selfish thinking: I thought you’d only slow me down.” She looked hurt. But I had a point to all of this. I just had to get it together. “As cheesy as it sounds…… ugh…. my heart had other plans for me. I always thought the guys in the movies were overdoin’ the whole ‘missing you’ thing but…. Every time I turned around, you were there. In a beer, in a song, in some crappy silver diner menu… some stupid bracelet...” I began, chuckling nervously as I gestured to the jewelry on her arm. She didn’t laugh but a twitch came about the corner of her full lips. She looked down at her wrist and touched the bracelet a moment as if she’d forgotten it had been there all along. I didn’t know if anything I was saying was getting through to her, but I continued anyway, just bearing my feelings to her.

“Some girl tried talking to me once… All I could see in her eyes were yours. It annoyed me to shit, so I fucked her. Hoping that just maybe… I’d stop thinkin’ about you. And it worked… Not for long though. It wasn’t until I called someone else your name that I—”

“Wow, Sam. Is that supposed to make me feel better? That you called some other girl my name—” she said, starting to storm off but I grabbed her by the arm and ran in front of her to keep her from going anywhere.

“Sunny, let me finish!” I snapped. I didn’t mean to be so aggressive about it. In all honesty, it was the nerves. I couldn’t fuck this part up. I couldn’t afford to. I couldn’t afford to lose her on behalf of my stupidity. This was the important part and I needed to say it. I felt like my heart was going to jump out of my chest. Her expression was as still as stone but she stayed quiet and let me continue as I struggled to make sense of things.

“Chloe was like a wake up call for me. And I realized…. when it didn’t feel right… that I only wanted you. I didn’t care how— I just wanted you. And then back there, I thought you were gone…. I’d never been so worried to lose someone…. Y’know, it’s been a while since I’ve dated anyone and I was scared.” I said.

“Scared of what?” She asked.

“To feel…” I answered rather quickly. I hated to do it but if there was ever a time that I needed to be vulnerable, it was now. “I was scared to care… I didn’t wanna face the inevitable that I would hurt you somehow… Or that I wouldn’t be able to care for you like you’d want… I might’ve gotten what you wanted a little confused. But I think I get it now...” Her expression softened a little and I approached her, linking my large pinky with her small first finger, gently swinging out hands between us. I chewed on my lip and looked off a moment before staring into her hypnotizing brown eyes. It was time that I owned up to my mistakes…

“I shouldn’t have expected you to wait for me… I guess I just thought that maybe when I was done with my foolishness that you’d still be there. Which was stupid of me— gorgeous as you are.” I babbled. I stared at her beautiful face and began to let the apologies pour. I’d lay it as thick as I need to. I just wanted my girl back. “I screwed up, Sun. I know that. And I know… I haven’t exactly been the best character in your life… But every second I spend with you means more to me than you even know and I can’t lose th—” Before I could even finish, Sunny placed her hands on either side of my face and brought me down to kiss her warm lips. I could feel a faint smile on her as she kissed me. I seemed to melt into her as my hands circled her waist, pulling her closer and deepening the kiss. I rested my forehead against hers, parting our lips to give us a moment to breath.

“I wanted you from the moment I laid eyes on you. Whether I liked it or not. Although, you kinda didn’t give me a choice so...” I laughed and a small giggle sprung from her lips. One that sounded like music to my ears. It made me smile. A bout of seriousness came around as I spoke. “I need you, Sunny. And I was wrong. You don’t slow me down or hold me back. You’re in this with me. And you can hold your own. I won’t doubt you again, sweetheart.” I told her. I could see her eyes dart over every feature of my face as her thumbs stroked at my cheekbones.

“I forgive you…. and I’m sorry—”

“No, no, baby— don’t be sorry. I understand why… I really do.” I cooed, caressing her cheek and staring into her eyes. “Hey… let’s table this for later, eh? Catch up with the girls, go make some money? Maybe stop an arms deal or somethin’?” I asked, running my hands down her arms. She gave the airiest giggle. Boy, it was much better to be on her good side than bad. The whole silent treatment/ cold shoulder shit? Brutal.

“Sounds like a plan.” She said as I threw an arm around her. Suddenly, she shoved me and leaned back away.

“What?” I asked in confusion. She tuned up her face and covered her nose with her hand.

“Ross was right. You smell like ass.” She croaked our. I burst into laughter.

“Oh fuck off, loser!” I grinned, flipping her off. She just interlocked her fingers with mine and kissed my cheek.

“Let’s go do work.” She said with a smirk. And with that, we were off to finish the job.

Read More on AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/26555698

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ashintheairlikesnow · 4 years ago

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Dark AU: The Problem

In an alternative universe where @untilthepainstarts‘s Lev married (and murdered) Martin, his captor, only to prove a thoughtful, fascinating criminal mastermind... in a timeline where @whumpiary‘s Cass becomes Cassius Bergen, who takes over the Estate after Christopher Bergen goes mysteriously missing... so there is also a Kauri.

Friendly, charming, engaging, flirtatious, this Kauri is a live-in stray at the Bergen Estate, known to come and go as he pleases. He spends an awful lot of time in Cassius Bergen’s office, and rumor has it he’s not in there to perform administrative duties.

Dot, Nell, and I have had fun along with our group of friends talking out the idea of the Dark AU, and honestly, I couldn’t resist seeing where Kauri might fit into it. I even wrote a thing, which I have been given permission to share here!

So, without further mucking about trying to explain it... here is Dark Kauri. Just sit back and enjoy the pretty.

---

CW: Referenced past noncon and pet whump, hints of fucky headspace regarding spice, some low-level spiciness (like PG-13), conditioned behavior

“Take it off.”

“Mmn… no.” Cass kept his head tilted to the side, watching Kauri stand frozen in the doorway, one hand resting lightly on the frame. Lithe and willowy, the Bergen Estate’s fascinating, gorgeous semi-permanent ward looked every inch the gangster’s moll today. Impeccably dressed, like Cass himself.

Cass wore a black suit over a deep purple pinstriped button up loosely unbuttoned just enough to show off the wide-banded black satin choker he wore around his neck.

The choker was what Kauri’s eyes were locked on, slightly widened.

“Take it off, Cass.” Kauri’s voice caught this time, just slightly, and Cass felt like a shark smelling blood in the water. He could feel the way Kauri’s wants poured out of him, a waterfall of nerves and fear and dark places he was desperate to keep hiding from. “I mean it.”

“Lev’s coming over later, you know,” Cass said, voice light and airy. The blade he cut with, in moments like this, was nearly invisibly thin.

Kauri bled, just the same, whenever and however Cass wanted him to, and somehow he never ran away, no matter how hard Cass tried to push him.

Mostly, he didn’t. Mostly he liked being a safe place for Kauri in a world that had very few of them. But some days Cass felt restless, angry, hungry to prove to Kauri and everyone else that he was exactly the monster he should be.

One day he’d find the thing that chased Kauri away.

Today, he was trying this.

“Do you think he’ll like it?” Cass gave Kauri a half-cocked grin, beautiful poison, crooked two fingers to ask him to come closer even as he wanted to say, Run away this time and stay gone, it’s only what I deserve.

Some of the fear settled, and Cass felt the pulse of his desires begin to shift, to change. Kauri didn’t have what Cass had, but he could read some things, too, in his own way. Instead of turning to leave, Kauri braced himself and stepped forward, moving across the room with each step placed with careless grace. “What? You want me to ask if Lev Viklund-Reid will like your collar, Cass? After he had to wear one?”

“Yeah.” Kauri stopped next to his chair and Cass swung it around to face him, legs apart, sitting back and looking up at Kauri, head tilted. “I want to know if he’ll like my collar. Saw it in a shop two days ago and it made me think of you. And him.”

Kauri’s face didn’t change, but Cass could feel the way his desires twisted, shifted, became darker and started to turn on themselves. Anger, justifiable and justified on every level, was there. But stronger than the anger…

“You want to put one on me, Cass?” Kauri asked, and his voice was low, too deep for how pretty he was, as he moved forward to stand briefly framed on either side by Cass’s suit pant-clad legs. Then he climbed up into the chair, straddling him, the pressure where their hips met entirely too pleasant.

This… wasn’t quite what Cass had expected him to do. “... no, Kauri,” He admitted, and some of the easy confidence was lost, in that moment. The power balance shifted as Kauri rocked his hips forward, rolling them, as his hands laid flat on Cass’s stomach over his shirt and then slid slowly up.

Kauri took over, somehow, in the way his body could light Cass up without even touching bare skin.

Cass cleared his throat. “This isn’t-... Wasn’t my plan.”

Kauri laughed, low and husky, and the spikes of disgust generously ladled over the darker wants that curled around the two of them were heady, making Cass feel half-drunk and outmatched. “What was your plan, then?”

Hands traveled slowly upward, skimming to the sides under his suit jacket to press against his ribs through the silky-smooth fabric of his shirt. They paused over his chest, pressed against his collarbone and then around behind his neck. He felt his curly hair, soft against Kauri’s hands, shift over his neck as he met the warm, wide blue eyes of a runaway pet, someone else’s escaped whore.

Cass knows the feeling, although he didn’t escape - he became the whoremaster instead. Sort of. Sometimes it felt like being whoremaster, trying to hold the Bergen Estate together.

Sometimes, though, Kauri looked at him like this and Cass felt less like he had control and more like Kauri could have shredded him and he might have thanked him for the touch.

“...I wanted to hurt you,” He admitted, not sure why he spoke the words out loud when he didn’t mean to speak them at all. “And Lev. Wanted to see if I could.”

Kauri rolled his hips forward, and the pressure coiled heat low in Cass’s belly, setting the constant low pulse of arousal he felt nearly every time Kauri entered a room into a flame. He hadn’t even felt the pet undo the choker’s little buckle at the back of his neck, blinking in surprise at the feel of the satin sliding away, leaving his neck bare.

“You’d only hurt me if you put it on me,” Kauri said, voice low, husky, warm with need. He held up the strip of silky cloth right in front of Cass’s eyes and tore the buckle off the end in a sudden burst of violence, dropping it with a clatter onto Cassius’s desk.

His smile widened even as Cass felt his smile returning. “I wouldn’t, you know, Kauri.”

“Wouldn’t what?” Kauri knew the answer, but still wanted to hear it out loud. Cass could respect that.

“Collar you. I would never collar you, you know that.”

“Do I know that?”

“Yes.” Cass’s voice cracked, caught, and he repeated, insistent, “Yes, you do.”

“You might, one day, if you wanted someone to see you do it. I’d let you, too.” Kauri shrugged, seemingly unmoved, even as Cass felt the stir of fear that ran through him and around him, half-buried by want for other things but still there, a thread he could pull, unravel, undo if he wanted.

He wanted. And Kauri knew it.

Cass stared with a mouth suddenly too dry for speech as Kauri simply bent himself over backwards, his knees still on either side of Cass’s thighs, and arched his back until he was looking upside down at the industrial-strength shredder Cass kept next to his desk, reaching one arm out while the other went palm-flat to the floor.

Cass’s hands moved fast to grip onto Kauri’s hips and hold him steady as the other man fed the band of shining black satin, torn at one end where the buckle had been, into the shredder. It kicked on automatically, a high roaring whine as it fought to destroy threads instead of paper.

Kauri’s position was nearly obscene, his own growing hardness pressing against Cass’s, shirt riding up to show a flash of pale skin. Cass wanted suddenly to lick his way up or down and he wasn’t sure which or if he would ever stop once he started.

He could see the faintest outline of a bruise along one hip showing above the waistband of Kauri’s pants, his own teeth indented there in a deeper purple surrounded by red and yellow. Biting down had made Kauri scream for more.

If his mouth had been dry before, it became the fucking Sahara when the shredder finished its work and Kauri’s stomach muscles tightened, simply rolling himself back up, curving back to sitting in Cass’s lap again.

He leaned forward, sliding his arms around Cass’s neck, mouth moving against his ear. His teeth nipped lightly at Cass’s earlobe as he whispered, “I’ll wear anything and nothing you want me to wear, Cass, but I won’t let you collar yourself. Now fuck me before Lev gets here or don’t fuck me at all today.”

When Lev arrived, Cass was seated right behind his desk, his shirt wrinkled and suit jacket misbuttoned, half-cocked grin right back on his face, a red mark blossoming along the right side of his neck.

Kauri answered the door for Viklund-Reid with a flush in his face and a swollen look to his lips as he held out his hand. His sweater was on backwards and inside-out. It might have looked accidental, if you didn’t know Kauri.

Which Viklund-Reid didn’t, although he didn’t look surprised, either.

Lev looked to Cass first, eyebrow raised, and he only shrugged in return, giving him a rakish, devil-may-care grin. “Have you met Kauri, yet, Viklund-Reid?”

“I haven’t,” Lev responded, voice warm and slightly lilting, shaking Kauri’s hand without the faint curl of his lip in disgust that some of the others did, either unbothered or just incredibly polite. “I haven’t had the pleasure.”

Kauri shot him a smile, sunny and winning, and leaned up to kiss Lev on the cheek, fingertips sliding down the lapel of his suit. “You will,” He murmured against the faintest hint of stubble on Lev’s skin, and then moved past him out the door.

Lev and Cass both stared, for a second, in silence at the slight sway of his hips before the ex-pet disappeared around a bend in the hall. Cass let himself soak up the hint of Lev’s desires in the air - they weren’t too far off from his own, although Lev’s were far subtler, buried.

Lev turned back, pressing invisible wrinkles out of his suit. “Are we going to have a problem?”

“Nope,” Cass responded, sunny and bright. He felt a low throb at the spot where shoulder and neck met, a growing hickey that would be a dark bruise by night. He was surprised they hadn’t heard him react to that out in the hall. “What possible problem could there be?”

Lev gave Cass a flat stare and said dryly, “I think I see why you couldn’t wait until after my visit.”

“Wait for what?” Cass asked, innocently.

“Bergen-“

The shredder kicked on, surprising them both as it spat out the last few black satin threads into the trash bin below it. Cass slid the collar’s broken buckle, with its bit of tattered fabric clinging to it, carefully into one pocket.

#erase to control au #dark timeline #dark timeline au #Cass the Disaster Lad #lev is my favorite #whumpiary #untilthepainstarts #referenced past noncon #referenced past pet whump #collaring #super fucky headspace regarding spice #consensual spice tw #but like only a little bit #like a hint of paprika spice

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funkymbtifiction · 4 years ago

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Si-Te or maybe just Si-dom in general

Well… Since there is one for Ti-Se, I think sharing how Si-Te works might be a nice idea. Disclaimer, it’s not pretty. It’s not wonderful. Si-Te can be a pain but it also is an asset. I want to share it to you guys the reality of being an ISTJ. I’m not here to debunk any myth. I’m only saying it as it is to me… So, let’s go, shall we?

First, what is Si-Te. If I would describe it, it is a slow-starting stallion. In my experience (it might vary between every ISTJ out there), before I can ever do anything well, I need shitload of trials and errors. I cannot really innovate or running on the flow. I need to learn thing from the very smallest piece and slowly piecing it all together into a full picture. It’s incremental, it takes time and it’s seriously slow.

The process of learning through slowly adjusting and experimenting every route possible – especially if there is no one to guide you at all – leads to internalization exactly what I perceive of that knowledge. It imprints clearly in your mind that you can pick it up as it is years later. It becomes a picture in your mind of what is the ‘truth’. The accumulated experience that rinsed up into a pack of worldview of how the world works. Every Si-users are different and each of us perceives and rinse different information into their own unique brand of world view. But it shares the same theme ‘experience from repeated trials and errors that can be pulled out in times of need’. It is what you might called ‘wisdom’ or ‘lore’. Think about some specialists who know everything about the woodland and all stories and beliefs related to each component. That’s high Si.

When it comes to Si it must be followed by Te. Te is not just about fact and organization. It is about seeing ‘tangible’ and ‘measurable’ potential in given information and how to apply it. It is when you see some gall bringing in gold dust from a stream behind your house and immediately realize you can make a gold rush out of that stream. For me, Te is a useful tool to accomplish things in the real world. It’s a tool to apply your experience in a real problem solving and both Si and Te are working together though Si sorts of controlling Te thus, Te is limited by Si-internalized knowledge. So, the way Si and Te working together in very simplified term is ‘organizing the real world based on my knowledge of how the world works’.

Other theme I can think of that is actually Si but is typically mistook for Ni is mythology making. You see, for Si users, everything has a story attached to it. Every knowledge, everything has its own mythology and story embedded within. This will be a bit odd. I have some knowledge on traditional massage and medicine. Even if I don’t remember them word by word. In the end, I find myself having story of reference to every component of my knowledge. Like, I know how to massage. My friend asked me how do I know that I need to start from shoulder to hand and pull fingers. My first instinct is, because body is a stream. In my head, human body is like a stream that fall from top to bottom. Each nerve is a path way that is connected so when one massaged it is precisely tampering with the pathway itself. The pain or ache are a result of stagnant in pathway so one need to clear it downstream and open some ‘tunnel’ like one near the base of the hand to open the blood flow. See? It’s not verbatim fact. It is the experience accumulated into a picture, a story. I can’t even remember where I learn it tbh. It comes from so many sources. (Oh, and I told my friend, ‘body is like a waterfall, it starts from the top’). But I know it’s a fact because I can do it. See?

One example I want to share is when I reference my knowledge on field-working. I study Anthropology and field-working is a frequent event. Typically, my chosen field is ethnic groups thus I will often find myself in the village of some ethnic community. Like … my latest field is last week’s Urak Lawoi’ village in the south. The place is a community of Urak Lawoi’ people and in general they are quite distinct in belief systems to Thai people. They believe in spirits but much more internal than Thai people so … yeah, you get the picture.

When I got there, I first self-referenced back to my survey trip. I referenced back to the people I knew from the last trip and contacted them. Then I proceeded to talk to them (actually I organize the trip for my project, so there’s total 27 people there but I’ll focus more on my fieldwork rather than the organization itself). I recounted the information I learned last time, I referenced stories I heard last time. Things went on. Then, I brought my teammates to the dam uphill. It’s around 1 km. from the village up in the mountain. I can remember the way to the smallest details. I recounted my experience last time (like almost getting lost up the mountain before coming down to the correct turn) and tell them the story of what this place was used. It was a place used to prepare woods for boat-making ritual, there’s even some wood bark left. And I guided them to the stream behind the wood. Last time I went here I can remember it was very refreshing. Then I guided them up hill. Last time I struggled a lot, but this time I just knew where to step and how to speed up. I learned from the last time I came here. Soon, after we walked up and down a hill, we arrived at the dam. I could recall the refreshing wind and so on.

Then, a day later, I went to the ‘pléw’ or the graveyard. I needed to see the place because my project was about who this people are and because I needed to know more about their belief system. So, I went. But before I went, I told my team “Only 2 or 3 people please. And if we get there, be respectful toward the dead, don’t shout, don’t joke around, ok?” for me, it has been internalized that the place was for the dead. I must be respectful and quiet around the place. Because the dead are resting. It’s been like a ‘teaching’ in my head “Be respectful in that place”. Then I went there with some of my teammates. Before I get down to the graveyard, I stopped and asked for the dead’s permission first. It was just something I knew I needed to do. Then I went down. After that, when I climbed up, I crossed the line in my mind and walked over it. I remembered that to Urak Lawoi’s before one stepped up from the ‘other world’ like in Pracak ceremony where they sent their ancestors on a boat down the sea. They will draw line on the sand and walk over it to cross back to living world. I did precisely that, only in my mind. I learned from my Grandmother (she studied these things) that ‘you don’t need to actually do it, but do it in your mind intently enough you can feel it. The dead can sense it, too’. And I did just that. Because it was what should be done. Other thing was language, I soaked it up like sponge. Just two or three days I can understand what they are talking though I still cannot speak competently (I referenced it back to Bahasa Indonesia, it is closely related language) And list went on…

Good things aside, I want to mention how I fail gigantically to organize the project. I don’t know how to fix many unexpected problems because frankly I didn’t know what to do. Now I’m making up for my mistakes. It was a biggest downside of being Si-dom for me. This is my mistake, individually and I will not blame my type. I don’t know how to fix something I’ve never encountered before. But I needed to learn and I’m learning from my mistake and don’t repeat the same mistake again. The mistake here piled up so high that now I lost my friends and many people. It pained me so much just why cannot I be smarter, quicker to catch on things or react faster and sharper to the problems. But it was all because of my arrogance that I failed. I was too secretive and too in my head. Instead of consulting people, instead of letting people have freedom. I over controlled and pulled everything to myself. I chilled me to my bone, thinking back. Right now, I tried to open myself up more and giving people freedom to create. It is incredibly hard but I am trying my best to do it, to fix it and be a better person.

So, here I am. That’s something I want to share. Being Si-dom is not fun. I’m slow, I need a lot of time to learn something but I don’t really feel bad about it. Even if I make a lot of mistakes, I don’t think it’s really typed related. It’s only because I fail and I will need to learn to be better for it. Just some message to other ISJs who struggle out there. Just don’t give up. We are slow, but we can reach the same level of proficiency as anybody out there. 😊 We just need to walk at our own pace, that’s all.

Some random ISTJ guy …

Btw, do you have any leadership advice for ISTJs in general? And is it normal for 1w2 to avoid facing their mistakes (or imperfection) and needs a lot of things to ever push them to realize and finally actively fix it?

Mod: 1s hate to think they did anything wrong, so they generally don’t take it well when others correct them, infer they made a mistake, etc. They can become ‘reactive’ and defensive when they feel ‘accused.’ It’s important for them to realize this defense mechanism is just their instant insecurity about having been ‘bad’ -- it’s an irrational response, because ‘a mistake’ does not equal ‘bad.’ A flaw is not the end of the world. They should learn to combat their anger with humor and chuckle about their need to be seen as ‘good’ all the time. (This moves them closer up their line 7 to where they can have fun and have a sense of humor about themselves.) Leadership in general... uh... be considerate of all the needs present and realize that not everyone will live up to your high standards of performance; cut them some slack where it’s needed, and make sure to tell people they did a good job when they did one. Others need more affirmation than most 1w2 STJs.

#question #submission #istj #mbti #enneagram 1 #enneagram

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1zashreena1 · 4 years ago

Text

No Shame -2

Pairing: M/F, nebulously OC/Priest!Diego Jimenez [Starz Power] AU IMAGINE

Rating: LITERAL FILTH

Warnings: Power imbalance, astronomical blasphemy, Diego’s pornographic mouth, old timey woman related bullshit, set some time before 1900 in what will be present day Mexico

A/N: I guess I’m just gonna keep writing until it stops?? I am an atheist so please keep that in mind as I unintentionally mangle Christianity in general and Catholicism in particular. This was prompted by an ask, you know who you are >.>.

Tag a friend! @girlpornparadise @nicke0115 @fleurfatale89 @mandoplease @heresathreebee @chensingmachinee

It takes some effort to lace up a steel boned corset by yourself while wearing it, but you manage.

"He already admitted to liking you, honey, calm yourself." Your father laughs uproariously at the ridiculous display of cleavage.

You shrug helplessly, Dress to impress and all that, you suppose. Besides, I want him to suffer. This time you do wear all the underpinnings deemed a requirement by polite society. You are going to make him work for it.

This was a mistake.

He had sent a cabriolet with its driver, that should have been your first clue.

The hacienda is a sprawling estate, acres of land carved from the surrounding jungle and most likely painstakingly maintained. You pass through meticulously flattened fields with small cabins for workers and then gently rolling pastures closer to the main house. There is a large stable and an adjacent training paddock where two exquisite horses are being worked. You ache to see the beautiful animals, they had always been beyond the means of your family.

Several other carriages are already here. Oh no.

This is so far above your station that you feel sick. This is a world of landed gentry, of manners drilled in by formal boarding schools and titles you could never aspire to touch. You have severely misunderstood what it meant to be a Don.

Why did he do what he did in the church? Why invite me here? Why ask my father to court me? I am nothing compared to this. You despair silently, your father oblivious next to you.

The servants seem to know who you are, And isn't that terrifying?, and you're led into some kind of sitting room with other guests. Your dress must be incredibly out of fashion, people are staring. Although it could be the vast stretch of cleavage on display, you make note that most of the other women are significantly smaller than you. Their brightly colored dresses are trimmed in lace with subdued skirts, your skirt has rather a lot of flounce to it and the lilac color seems so… bland. Their hair is combed and neatly contained, artfully placed solitary ringlets that you know were made with curling tongs. Your natural curls are wild and expansive, the single twist at each of your temples combined into one long braid down your back only to keep it out of your face. There is a family of blondes, but everyone else is brunette. Your deep red hair is garishly out of place.

I do not belong here. You are desperately trying to fabricate some excusable sickness to beg off and escape when you see him. He has a smartly dressed woman hanging off of each arm and is gesticulating wildly while relaying some story. Dressed in garments so fine you do not even know what the material is, the sight of him makes your womanhood clench and your nipples pebble.

Ridiculous.

He catches sight of you as you are turning away. You spotted some books on a shelf in a corner and are about to seek refuge when he breaks away to head straight for you. For the first time in your life you opt for cowardice and run. From the edge of your vision you can see that all it does is lengthen those stalking strides. The books that were meant to be your salvation are, of course, in Spanish. Well damn.

An extremely large hand lands on your lower back and your heart leaps. He rumbles much too closely for polite company, "Buenas noches, Señorita. You look ravishable."

Did he mean ravishing? You make the mistake of looking up into that painfully handsome face. His grin is pure predator. No, he did not. Your temper flares with your desire.

"Good evening, Father." You hiss quietly. "You have a lot of nerve." Is it rude to immediately insult your host?

"Me? But yet, here you are. Tell me, little girl, did you wear anything under your skirts this time?" Those dark eyes twinkle happily. He is enjoying this. You lean down to place a book on the end table and his gaze drops to your chest. Licking his lips, he mutters under his breath, "We have a selection of proverbs here. Somewhere."

This man is infuriating.

"Do you expect to find out?" The question is meant to sound condescending, it seems a tiny bit hopeful. Your brain is muddled by his proximity, the scent of expensive toiletries is highly distracting. You bathed outside under a spring fed waterfall this morning. What am I doing?

"I suppose that depends on how sinful you have been today. If you have yet to sin, may I offer my hand in assistance?" Diego leans closer with his seemingly solicitous offer. You are struck by the near perfect arrangement of his features, the tiny crinkles at the outer corners of his eyes only adding to his appeal. His lips are framed by perfectly trimmed facial hair, the smooth cheeks a sign that he must have shaved today. His smirk reminds you that you’ve been staring at him breathlessly.

"I am sure I can handle myself." You smile beautifically. He exhales in a huff, his shoulders dropping in surprise at your innuendo. Then he smiles a real smile.

You are devastated. He is a very attractive man, but this, this is blinding. Your heart stutters, your stomach drops, and you nearly whimper.

"I, I saw your horse." What? WHAT? Why did you just say that? "And the others, outside, on our way in." If you could melt into the wall and disappear that would be wonderful.

The hand on your back rubs a small circle comfortingly. Diego steps closer yet, his hip brushes your elbow and you curse your stature. He quirks a brow with his next question, "Do you like to ride?"

He is fairly excited at the prospect of your answer but you have no idea why. You cross your arms to get a tiny bit of space from him, it only amplifies your bust. Sighing, you answer, "I do not know. My family was never in a position to own a horse." There. Now he knows how poor you truly are, just how far below him.

"A shame." He murmurs, "You are built for it." His hand sinks lower to the very top of your buttocks. There is something you are definitely missing here. Brow furrowing, you look up at him. His expression softens at your obvious confusion, but he is still quite pleased. His subsequent offer is charming, "After dinner, would you like to tour the stables?"

Your whole face transforms as you smile broadly. "I would love that." The wonder in your voice is unmistakable.

"It will be my pleasure, little girl. Now, if you will excuse me, my sister is demanding my presence." He purrs. You follow his line of sight to a woman who looks vastly different from him, but has the same eyes. She arches a brow, just as Diego does, and gestures sharply.

"Of course." You answer softly to no one as he is already strolling away. The loss of his presence makes you feel cold and very alone.

------------------

Dinner is an ordeal. There are several courses, foods you cannot identify, and no less than three spoons. Dessert induces discreet gagging on your part as flan is very… jiggly.

Careful observation is enlightening, you learn that several other guests are Dons of neighboring towns. Their wives accompany them, but you get the distinct impression that the unmarried sisters and daughters are on display. You come to understand that Diego is the only bachelor Don of majority age in a 300 mile radius.

This is a competition that you have no business being anywhere near.

And just how old is he?

You are sipping chocolate next to an archway in the open air courtyard, attempting to ignore the stares, when a dark voice assaults your ear temptingly.

"Are you ready, little girl?" The purring rattle makes your knees shake and your mouth salivate.

"Oh yes please thank you now." Relief palpable, you whip around to find Diego looming over you, the one hand being held out in invitation is now firmly squashed into your generous bosom. His brows climb to his hairline as you clear your throat. "I- yes."

He wiggles his fingers in your cleavage and you take his hand with more force than is strictly necessary. He grins down at you, "Very good, little girl."

You whimper. You cannot help it, the tiniest of noises, soft and high pitched, your lips do not even need to part for him to hear it. Please no, not here in front of all of your peers, you silently beg. Except, his face goes slack and his fingers tighten around yours.

Oh. Do your noises have an effect on him? Is this power that you have? Experimentally, you lick your lips. His gaze drops and his pupils widen as he mimics your movements unconsciously. Oh yes, that curl of power surfaces again in your belly. This you can work to your advantage. You smirk, "Shall we?"

His dark gaze is hungry as he glares at you, displeased with the reversal in the play of power. He growls, "Yes, you shall ride."

You are drug off before you can protest about your attire not being made for such activities. You have a sneaking suspicion that his only suggestion would be to remove it. You are having trouble remembering why that is a bad idea while your hand is tucked into the crook of his massive arm, fingers curled around bulging muscle.

You need to clear your head.

The stables are dim in the evening light and the smell of grain strong. Your only pair of nice shoes clicks on the wooden floor as you pull away from him to look around. Diego releases you but watches closely.

The horse's names are engraved on plaques above the stalls. Your casita does not even have a street address. I do not belong here. Your hands reach out to touch and a large nose appears over the stall door. "Hello," you check the plate, "Dante." Of course this is his horse.

The gray muzzle is soft as velvet and the stallion huffs at you in a blast of air that blows your hair back. The horse darts forward and you realize just how big he is. One step backwards to retreat lands you squarely in the middle of a broad chest.

"I will show you." Diego states simply. He reaches up with both hands on either side of you and takes the halter in his grasp firmly. With a gentle tug, Dante's head comes down and Diego curves over you to touch his forehead to the horse's. "Now you, little girl."

You reach up to take Dante in hand and the stallion rushes to do the same with you. His forelock tickles and you laugh delightedly.

"He likes you." Diego declares.

"How do you know?" Intelligence shines brightly in the animal's eyes and you pet him.

"He bites everyone except me." Diego shrugs.

Oh. You hedge softly, "Maybe he senses that you like me." Diego snorts above you. Snippily, you elaborate, "Beg pardon? Are you often in the habit of asking to court women you do not like?"

"I have never asked to court another woman."

The rumbling admission gives you pause. Those massive hands settle on your hips and squeeze tightly. You continue petting Dante resolutely, determined to remain stoic. The hands slide inward, around your hips to spread wide over your entire abdomen. Everything inside you is aflame. Ever higher, his touch travels until he cups your breasts firmly. There is no give in the steel boned corset and the large man behind you growls in frustration.

"Why would you wear such a thing?" His voice is rough with want, it makes you gasp.

"For p-precisely this situation." Your retort is less bite and more whine. "You must understand that I am not some, some, plaything to be had, available at your beck and call."

His beard scrapes your neck as he leans down into you to whisper, "Are you certain, little girl?"

"I have already been the laughingstock of one community. I refuse to be the joke of another." Your voice shakes with anger. Or perhaps anticipation. It is difficult to tell as he licks your ear.

"Does this feel like play?" He growls as you are pressed to the stall door at your front. His hardened length bites into your lower back and he grinds his hips harshly. Your soft wail startles Dante and he shies away.

"You will ride Dante and then you will ride me. After that, I will have my answer." He sinks teeth into your bared neck. What was the question? Your thoughts have stalled entirely.

"I, I do not know how to. To ride." Rubbing your legs together, you keen quietly. Your center contracts down on nothing angrily and your fingers claw into the wood.

"I am quite certain that I can teach you. After all, you are a quick study." Diego releases you suddenly and your body trembles. He goes about the business of saddling his horse while you continue melting as you watch his muscles work.

Fully tacked and waiting, Dante snorts at you as Diego beckons. His dark eyes dance with mischief, "Come mount, little girl."

You set your shoulders with stubbornness and stomp to him. Motioning to the stirrups you bark, "I am too shor--"

Diego picks you up like a child and you scramble for the saddle. Your skirts get tangled between your legs and crushed underneath you when you sit. The feel of the saddle pressed hard to your core means that you do not care. Every time you shift or Dante moves the leather rubs you pleasantly. There is no escape from the stimulation and you can feel yourself becoming wet. You have no idea how much time has passed while you tried to acclimate to this new development.

"Shit." Your unladylike hiss is deafening in the empty stable.

Diego doubles over in booming laughter and you suddenly remember the source of your current vexation.

"A warning would have been nice." You snap. He looks up at you with tears, his face scrunched up adorably. Your heart stops as you realize how beautiful he truly is.

"How do I warn for something I have never experienced?" He chokes and resumes laughing gleefully. Truly, an overgrown child.

You sigh, but pick up the reins determinedly and look down at him expectantly. Smiling broadly with your taunt, "I await your instruction, Father."

Those brown eyes flash with fire and you wonder briefly if you should be playing with that. He licks his lips but goes on to correct your seating, show you the proper way to utilize the reins, and then leads you out into a small paddock behind the building.

Walking is a noticeable feeling. Trotting is just painful. A canter is delicious torture. The stride is smooth and rocking, your exhilaration is twofold with dual excitement. Dante is responsive and feisty, you enjoy his personality and try not to examine why too closely. Diego intervenes occasionally to make small adjustments but has proclaimed you a natural with great enjoyment.

It is almost dark when he leads you back inside the stable, your face beaming. You struggle to dismount, Diego simply hauls you off and plops you on the ground… Except your legs collapse.

Diego, The absolute cad, uses this opportunity to crush you to his chest and stabilize you by sliding a long leg between your own. The moment the pressure occurs you feel a vast amount of wetness. That cannot be good, you panic and shove away from him, stumbling over to a chest to sit. Your wild hair is a disaster and you hide behind it as you check your layers. Relief washes over you as the outer skirt is dry, only the three inner layers are soaked through.

"What?" You whisper to yourself in confused terror. Is this normal? Do all women have this response? Is there something wrong with me? Am I hurt? A shadow falling over the skirts pulls your attention as Diego kneels in front of you. His smirk eases your fears.

"Do you have a problem, little girl?"

"You knew what would happen." You accuse softly. He does not even attempt to feign innocence.

"Oh, of course." His pleased rumble is accompanied by a toothy grin. Your hand flashes out faster than you can see. The crack of the slap on his cheek is muffled by all of the equipment that lines the walls.

Oh no.

He lurches forward and you shriek. His left hand encircles both of your wrists and he slams them to the wall above your head. The right hand hits your center with considerable force. Your legs jump, but he has the left pinned and his bulk squeezed between.

"I did not me--" He does not let you finish.

"I know what you meant. But do you?" Diego growls. You shake your head, a single tear slipping out. "Oh, but you are wet, are you not?" His fingers locate that pulsing bundle of nerves and he rubs slowly from side to side. Just as you had done in the confessional.

"S-stop. The other p-people, my skirt, it is. P-please do not ruin me like this." You beg as tears drip steadily down your cheeks, eyes squeezed shut. The hand retreats, your skirt rustles as he slips under all of the layers and returns to you. The heat of his hand is like an open flame on your oversensitized center.

"It is simple. Do you want this or no?" The decision is anything but simple. You want it, you want him, even now as he restrains your body and threatens your reputation. Your fear is sharp and sour, you had hoped to start over here. A new home in a new country far from your disgraced status. You miss your mother. She would shake her head over it but tell you to chase happiness. What do I have left to lose?

"Do you truly mean to court me? It is not s-some cover to use me this way?" Why? Why do you have to ask these things? Why am I like this?

His fingers press harder and you writhe. It would not take much to break you, I wonder if he knows?

"I rather enjoy your company. Intelligent, you speak your mind, you respond beautifully, and you took my cock so very well, little girl." His praise is followed by a drastic increase in pressure and you sob your answer with your release.

"Yesss, yes, oh yes, please, yes. Yesyesyes. I want. Ohh, I want you." Your body seizes as you bear down on nothing, the pleasure almost painful. The sobs are cut off by Diego covering your mouth with his. He forces you wide open and licks everything he can reach, all you can do is give in to him. The hair on his face burns and you moan.

He breaks away, pulls you to your feet, and then directly into an empty stall. Your legs falter but the momentum puts you exactly where he wants you.

Which is straddling his lap. What is he-- OHHH. The feel of his straining manhood poking up into you makes everything clear. You brace on his shoulders as his hands dive beneath your dress to rip open the bloomers and then free himself. He is lying back on a bale of hay, your feet are flat on the floor to either side. You know when his pants are down because the heat of him is molten. His fingers stroke over you from bottom to top, you are dripping, then he angles his length and-

"Ahhhhh!" Your shriek is piercing.

"Ohhhh, sí, little girl. So tight for me. Such a grip." He groans and drops his head down limply. You cannot see anything through your layers and he feels enormous.

"Wait, wait, please." You pant and he freezes to look up at you. "I have never, I did not even know you could, in this way. What do I do?" Terrified, you place your trust in this man who tricked you but made you feel so very good.

"Knees. Kneel, here." He hisses and pats next to his waist. You both moan as you shift and wiggle to position yourself. As you settle you bounce a bit, he bites his lip and digs fingers into your thighs. You try it again, the friction of him slipping out of you is good, but when you ease back down, well, you both make noise.

"I, I think I see." You grit out. With the corset on you cannot move your upper body much, but your hips are free. Your eyes close and you let the sensations guide you. Your hips bounce, your rear bounces, faster feels better, if you lean forward onto his chest you can move your pelvis quicker. A hand fists in your hair and he pulls, Oh, that feels good, you open your eyes. He is staring up at you, pupils gigantic, panting harshly.

"You. You are a very, very, good girl." He marvels. You keen and go faster, the praise makes everything feel better. His other hand reaches between you, finding your pleasure again as you shudder above his big body, dropping your weight to impale yourself entirely as you convulse around him.

"Ohh, oh. Yesyesyessssssss." Your whining cries seem to please him, he works you over again and again. You have never experienced anything like this, you are starving for it. He releases your hair to burrow both hands under your skirts and reach around to grasp your rear. You yelp, "What are you--"

He slaps you with intent, you lurch up his chest from the force, then he yanks you back down to be filled decisively. You have not been spanked since you were ten, this is catastrophically better.

"Again!" You demand hoarsely. Diego laughs but repeats the maneuver. You yelp with each slap, then moan every time he fills you.

"Does my bad little girl need punishment?" He rasps into your hair. Nodding deliriously, you claw into his muscled chest, whimpering for more. "Do not fret. Father will take care of you."

"Oh yes, please. Please. Please, Father!" You have lost the last shred of control over your own tongue. Those strapping hands secure your hips and he snaps his own up into you. He hits something deep inside that makes you collapse and he does it repeatedly until you flutter around him weakly and bawl into his ruffled shirt. His movements become stilted as he grunts above your head. A few more vicious thrusts and he groans loudly while holding you fast to his pelvis.

You can feel him emptying into you. This, too, is not new to you but very much more intense than ever before. He is prodigious. That big body goes boneless below you and he sighs contentedly.

"That was far better than dessert." Diego declares.

You snort, then giggle, and the giggles morph into hysterical laughter before you know it. He slips out of your quaking body, it is a distinctly odd feeling, when he joins your mirth. You prop up just enough to see his face, laugh lines frame those deep eyes and he has dimples! This is unfair. The man is a work of art.

You try and fail to sit up.

"I. Um. I cannot seem to stand." The confession is small and self-conscious. You are deeply embarrassed.

"Then do not. It is raining, no one will come out here until it stops." A big hand strokes over your hair and you fight down panic. He breathes deeply, raising you with every inhale. The heartbeat under your cheek is strong and steady, inescapable as a force of nature. Slowly but surely the tension leaves your spine and you drape over him.

"I did not know it could be done that way." You admit. Stroking rhythmically over his arm is soothing.

"Your husband must have been quite unimaginative." His remark is offhand, thoughtless. It stabs into your chest and you remember your situation. You pull back and manage to sit upright this time, he allows it but does not fully release you.

Shaking hands reach up to touch his face. Diego arches a brow but remains still while you trace over his features. Your heart fills with dread but you have to know. Voice unsteady, you clarify, "Did you mean it? You want to court me?"

"I do not say things I do not mean." His eyes bore into you. Diego pinches your chin gently, "I believe you can appreciate that philosophy."

Your eyes slip away as you swallow nervously. "But, you would consider me still married, would you not?"

The soft chuckle catches you unawares, "You are not Catholic. Why would the rules of the church matter to you?" The question is rhetorical, but you have an answer.

"But you are." Turning back, you blink with the burn of tears. This is it, you think, He will agree and then toss you like the trash you are.

"Little girl. I can assure you, the church has written me off as unsalvagable long ago. I ceased adhering to their silly rules well before that. This is a different country with different laws. In fact, the church would not even recognize your marriage as it was done outside the bonds of Catholicism. You worry needlessly." It is obvious that he means to be comforting despite his flippant tone. He has put some thought into this topic.

"Well, in that case." Tracing a thumb over his lower lip, you lean down for a kiss. Diego attacks your mouth ferociously, all teeth and tongue and leveling maelstrom. All you can do is allow the storm to roll over you.

-----------------

It never does stop raining. In fact, lightning and thunder come in off of the ocean. The two of you have to make a mad dash for the main house. His sister intercepts him in the courtyard to yell at him in Spanish until she sees you hovering just inside the shelter of the roof.

"Oh!" She gestures to you in frustration. "I see what you have been doing! Truly, Diego? I mean, look at her!" The dismissive tone hits you like a slap in the face. Locking your jaw, you step forward only to be blocked by Diego’s broad back.

"Do not! She is under my protection!" He roars. His sister steps back in shock. She peers around his bulk to look at you, then back to him.

"Your protection? What does that even mean?" She sounds flabbergasted and insulted by the feeling, at that.

"She has accepted my offer of courtship. You will treat her with the respect that is due." He snarls.

Oh.

No one has ever come to your defense before. Gratitude closes your throat with warmth. She stomps off in frustration only to usher your father through the doorway.

"I knew you were here somewhere. Ah, were you still out in the stables when it began to rain?" Your father smiles fondly at your soggy appearance.

"Uh, yes. Unfortunately." You clear your throat and glance to Diego. His lazy smirk is of no assistance.

"Come. You should get out of those wet clothes." His offer is sweet, but you can hear the unspoken '... And into my bed'.

His sister returns with a towel and a steaming mug of tea. She assesses you with a critical eye before announcing, "We have guest rooms. I would not send you home in this."

You are unsure if she means the storm or your attire; either way, you follow her through the house. She leads you to a spacious bedroom complete with a sleigh bed and water closet. It is pure luxury. She pauses at the door to sniff before leaving you, "Diego's rooms are directly across the hall. I will put your father in the other wing. I know how loud my brother can be."

The sound of the door closing behind her is deafening.

-------------

You wash up, but have nothing clean to wear. Additionally, your seat is throbbing. Touching yourself to bathe was excruciating with actual pain and such intense memory that you are exhausted when you slide under the covers nude. Your only good dress is in a ruined heap on the floor. Just as you should be, a lowly tramp.

A knock sounds and the door opens before you can respond. The source of all your woes strides in confidently and proffers a black garment. Not knowing what else to do, you take it wordlessly while clutching the sheet tight to your chest. It is a shirt, one of his shirts if the scent is any indication, and you assume you are to wear it.

Only he is not leaving.

Diego watches you with hungry eyes, waiting for the sheet to drop and reveal your naked body. An absolute cad.

"Is there any chance at all that I could at least have the illusion of privacy?" You ask dryly.

"Fine." He huffs and spins in place. Then stands there, waiting. Resigned, you whip the large shirt over your head as quickly as possible, then pull the sheet back up over your legs. The shirt tails fall just lower than your buttocks, you suppose everything important is covered.

"All right, I am dece--" He is climbing into the bed with you. Oh my. You squeak quietly, "What are you doing?!?"

Lying down next to you on top of the covers, he smiles at you and holds the arm closest to you wide open in invitation. He is well aware of how good he looks. How tempting.

"Come. You must be cold." It isn't exactly an order, but it is firmer than a request. It is the tone of a man used to issuing commands and never doubting that they will be obeyed. Oh, what the hell, he was inside me not less than two hours ago.

You crawl over the silky sheets and let him tuck you into his side. You are at a loss as to what to do with your hands.

"This, too, is a first for me." You admit haltingly.

"Was your husband demented?" The matter-of-fact tone sends you into a fit. You bury your face in his side to muffle your tired laughter. "Why do you do that?" Diego asks softly.

"Do, oh goodness, do what?" You chortle softly then compose yourself as best you can with no pants.

"Hide your mirth. Cover your laugh. Turn away when you smile." He is looking down at you in serious consternation. And awaiting an answer.

"It is considered rude for a woman to be loud with any emotion where I am from." The quiet explanation only serves to confuse him more.

"That seems tiring. You most definitely have feelings. Why are you forbidden to express them?" It is such a foreign concept to him, he is puzzled. You lay a hand on his chest cautiously. He does not flinch.

"I cannot say. I know that my mother raised her girls to be subdued and accommodating. I, of course, was a failure. My laugh is too loud, my voice too strong, my desires too ambitious. My own grandparents were shocked when I was married off. They assumed no man would tolerate me." I wish that man had ceased tolerating me sooner.

The hand on your back circles idly. It is lulling you to sleep.

"I forbid you to hide from me." He declares in complete seriousness. You are too tired to bother arguing.

"Fine. May you live to regret it." The last thing you know is his scent filling you to bursting.

------------------

You wake up on your back. Odd.

Your legs are spread. Very odd.

Luscious wet heat is washing over your aching center in waves. Oh no.

You come to full awareness in a panic. There, between your spread legs in the growing sunlight, is Diego's head, nodding rhythmically as he licks you.

Frozen in shock, you can only watch for a timeless moment as he laves over your womanhood leisurely. Long, decadent laps from bottom to top and then over again. You feel wetness dripping down between your cheeks, there is a sticky puddle under your behind. How long has he been down there?

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" You shriek. Lurching upward, you hit the headboard. His arms are wrapped around your thighs, strong as cable, and you fully understand your predicament. You are trapped.

"Mmmm. Is it not obvious?" The vibration of his rocky voice on your most sensitive parts is going to make you swoon. He resumes enjoying you noisily while you flail about uselessly. The sounds are obscene and offensive, you can feel yourself growing wetter. He moans appreciatively, "Yes, little girl. Soak my beard with your arousal."

You tremble in excitement and fear. If you are caught with him in here like this…

"Come for me and I will fill this pretty little cunt." He rumbles on, poking his tongue inside your entrance then gliding upward to stimulate your little nub of pleasure. You are going to, you can feel it building inexorably. There is no escape from his soft tongue, scratchy beard, and burning hands.

Your hands dig in the bedclothes as you keep in mind his decree. It is a struggle not to cover your mouth, but you are rather distracted. Your back arches steadily higher and you sink down onto his face. He moans happily and applies more pressure yet.

"Oh, oh my, you. You are. What is. I, I, please, oh please, do not stop." Almost. You are teetering on the edge of insanity when he pulls back. Nononononononono!

"Come for me, niñita. Come for Father." He attacks the bundle of nerves and you shriek as your body seizes. The contractions of ecstasy blind you momentarily while you sob blissfully. Your core clenches tight, shutting down your worrisome brain. He never ceases his licking, drawing it out until your legs twitch spastically and you push at his head weakly.

He sits up and licks his lips ostentatiously. It is a show for your bleary gaze. You notice his shirt is gone. The wide expanse of his body is bare to you for the first time. Oh. OH.

His shoulders and chest are well defined, muscles bunching and rippling on that broad frame. His torso is solid, his hips lightly cut out from his belly, and that thatch of hair begins at navel. You have never seen such a perfect specimen of malehood.

You must be gawking because he preens happily, puffing up under your favorable assessment. Surely he knows how he looks? His beard glistens in the warm light and you whimper.

"Now, roll over." Excuse me? His eyes crinkle in amusement at your confusion.

"What?" You blurt. Very sophisticated.

Big hands land on your hips and he urges you to turn to your left. Memories of every other time he has positioned you and the subsequent pleasure make you follow his lead. Flat on your belly, the borrowed shirt pushed high up your back, you squirm under him.

"What are you doing?" The question is quiet, but fearful. He strokes up your back firmly and you melt under his touch. His hands span your entire back and you rather like the feeling of being covered in him. He moves down your back to grip great handfuls of your rear. You squeak, but it feels so very good after the saddle yesterday. He growls approvingly as you arch into his touch.

"Yes, raise your hips to me. Now spread, there you go, relax here, there. Perfect." He manipulates your body to his liking until your hips are high in the air, your back sunk low, and your shoulders remaining on the bed. The narrow pelvis nestles up to your buttocks as his knees land between your own. A draft flits over your center and you suddenly comprehend what he intends to do. He is going to take you from behind, like an animal.

Are you insulted? I will reserve judgment until he finishes, no need to be hasty. You chastise your own impatience. Have you no shame?

He certainly does not.

"You are trying to be so good for me. Wicked little girl, dripping for my cock." He purrs above you, hands petting your derriere. You shake and squeeze hungrily. "I can see that." He moans.

Painfully embarrassed, you hide your face in the pillow without thought.

"Ah, ah! Bad girl!" He reprimands you roughly and slaps your right cheek. You yelp, he laughs lowly. Curving over your back, the heat radiating off of him is suffocating, he threads fingers into your hair and pulls until your head is tilted far back. He informs you ever so graciously, "I will help you behave."

"Oh, I, I am sorry, please." You babble, mindless with the pleasure of his hands on you.

"Yes, so repentant, I remember. You are very good at atonement, little girl. Now take this sacrament." He groans as he pushes into you. So thick, hot as fire, you twitch madly until the wide head is swallowed by your body. He does not stop, sinking into you for what feels like forever, until you feel the tickle of his hair. You worry he might come up your throat.

Rippling around him illuminates that you are stretched to the limit. He tugs your hair sharply and moans, "Are you taunting me purposefully?"

"I, no? Not, n-not taunting." You wheeze. He grinds deep and you see stars while your eyes are open. "Is that, it, not n-normal?"

He holds very still and demands quietly, "Do it again." You squeeze tight, he chokes above you, "You, Dios mios, you are doing that yourself?"

"I- yes? Sh-should I not be able to do, that?" Your question is baffled, Am I abnormal?

"Oh, little girl. Perfect, tight, wet, little, girl. Give yourself to me." He drapes his big body over you and turns your face to the side to receive a demanding kiss. He pulls back only to thrust home forcefully and you squawk into his mouth. The retreat makes you whine and clutch at him, when he slams forward you howl with how good it feels. Each thrust hits deep, it hurts and pleases you simultaneously, you cannot fathom what is happening. You clutch the pillow and sob happily.

Diego bucks into you at a breakneck pace, the bed creaks and you nod for more. You are stuffed full, unbelievably wet, and out of your mind with bliss. You want more, is that allowed?

"H-harder. Can you. Do more?" You stutter tentatively, afraid of offending him.

"Oh, yes, you sinful little creature. Take it, take it, take it." He growls in a rolling chant, snapping his hips harder. Your eyes roll back and you shudder through another climax, then a second, and a third, all one after another. You collapse limply, uncaring of his rough usage of you at this point. He bucks frantically, pumping deep to reach release.

"Oh, ahhhhh, yesss. Good girl. Good. Girl." He moans raggedly, filling you yet again. You did not realize men could do it so many times and so frequently. He pulls back and drops to the bed at your side. One large arm loops under your pelvis and he topples you over to crash against him. "Take a nap, little girl. You have earned it."

Your angry retort is cut off by a huge yawn. He strokes down your side endlessly, it does the trick and you drift off.

-----------

When you wake up again it is midmorning. You stretch happily in the sunlight, until your hips protest. Everything from navel to knee is sore. You sit up in a huff, wincing, only to realize that you are alone.

There is a plain skirt and very nice leather belt on the dresser, it is embroidered with a beaded pattern in green, yellow, and blue. The skirt is a little long, but you are rather short. Combined with his billowing shirt, you look like a child playing dress up. Your dress is gone, so this will have to do.

A servant leads you to the kitchens, she smiles broadly and points to your hair with a tiny voice, "Bonita."

"Thank you." You nod, unsure how to respond. Your father is at a large butcher block table, socializing easily with a young mother and her toddler despite the language barrier.

"Good morning. I apologize for sleeping so late, I must have been more tired than I realized." You announce your presence as casually as possible.

Diego's sister breezes into the room and announces that the carriage is ready whenever you are. The barb does not go unnoticed. You thank her sweetly for the hospitality as she herds you outside and sees you off as quickly as possible.

You wonder if Diego even knows you are leaving.

I still do not know why he pretended to be a priest.

#damnit diego #ok but this time its literal #starz power diego jimenez #diego imagine au 1 #maurice compte #zash writes #dick with side of feels #i would apologize but im not sorry #how dare you sir #anybody else remember the 90s tv zorro show?#because apparently i do

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elliethesuperfruitlover · 4 years ago

Text

Alternative Conditioner

A/N: This is going to be another Robbie fic, but I’m thinking of another person. Emotion and feelings are what I base my writing off of, that’s why it’s so vivid. Enjoy!

Warnings: smut, lots of grinding, dry humping, unprotected sex, rough sex, choking, use of weed

You have emotions, so does everyone else. Nobody is going to stop you from feeling how you want to feel, or something that moves you in a certain way. Feelings are feelings. Emotions are emotions. And, by now, you should’ve learned, Robbie Sheehan wearing only bamboo underwear around the house is Robbie Sheehan wearing only bamboo underwear around the house.

“Robbie!” you yell to him from the bathroom.

“Yes!” he shouts back, pausing what he was doing to listen to what you needed.

“Can you come help me get my hair washed?” you replied, holding your shampoo bottle in your hand, preparing your microfiber towel and conditioner in front of you.

His reply was his feet pattering along the rug of your hallway, and he was tying his hair up. He reached out, but you stopped him, urging him to wash his hands.You’d been loving with Robbie since just about when quarantine started. Your house was mostly for when Robbie’s house smelt so much like sex that you had to travel over to your own abode for some time. Half of the both of yours’ time was spent either being intimate, or just having sex. The rest is spent sleeping, cuddling, or eating. It didn’t take the two of you too terribly long to open up to each other, and your relationship was going quite well.

“But they’re gonna get washed anyway!” he whined, still turning on the faucet to clean his fingers.

“I’ve no idea where the fuck your hands have been, and my hair must stay in tip top shape. None of your dick germs must reach these beautiful tendrils.” you say, doing a hair flip.

He mumbled something that sounded like “not like I haven’t spunked in your hair before, not a big deal.” Okay, he’d run out of places to release himself, and it was right there, so he thought fuck it. The next day was a hot fucking mess, to say the least. He almost came at the sight of you, but you had other fish to fry. Your hair was already wet, so all Robbie had to do was put just the right amount of shampoo on your hair, then just massage it in. He sniffed the bottle, accidentally huffing some of it, then checked the ingredients to make sure that no harmful sulfates were going in your hair. Once he was sure that everything was in the right place, he poured an extremely generous amount of shampoo into your quickly drying hair.

“Robbie, I-. How in the name of Jesus Harold Christ did you manage to put a third of the bottle of shampoo in my hair?!” you said, looking at it coating your hair, slowly dripping back into the sink.

“Hehe, oops.” he said, pushing the bottle away, and getting it away from him. He didn’t want to spill the remaining contents on the floor, and or your or his eyes. He began to rub it into your scalp, trying not to tangle your hair too terribly badly. You toweled away the excess, and wrapped it around your neck to avoid the entire wet t-shirt situation. Robbie began to slowly tease you, nipping at dry spots on your neck, and kissing them softly. He tongued them afterwards, and he lost focus on your hair, and began to give you hickeys and lovebites, moaning into them. He looked you in your eyes, piercing them, and leaning his head back.

He continued his motions, and whenever you let out a noise, he mimicked it, grinding into your ass, your shorts not doing much to hide the feeling. It was hot at the moment, and the air conditioner was quite poor at its job. You ground back into him, sending him into a fuss of whimpers, and your hair sat forgotten, the shampoo soaking into your roots. You straighten yourself out, and he uses one hand to grab your hair, pulling it, then reaches the other into your shorts, delving into the heat he’d made you create. You moaned earnestly, and Robbie placed his feet on the other side of yours’, getting better leverage to get himself off. Two fingers made their way into you, covered in your excretions. He scissored them in and out of you, his thumb flicking at your clitoris, eyes rolling back into your head. Robert arched his back, then started dry humping you, and you bent over, taking it like he wanted. There the two of you were, getting off on each other, closing in on your orgasms. The edge was getting closer and closer, like a kayak on the river rapids, rushing towards the waterfall. Your euphoria stretched itself out, and you yelled Robbie’s name into the air. He kissed along your neck, and when you tried grinding back into him, he pushed your hips away, then made quick work of your hair.

You made no big deal of Robbie’s lack of orgasm, sometimes he liked to be teased to the peak, only to be worked back up again. You rinsed your hair for the last time, then put a towel over it to help the drying process. You were quite hungry, and in your post-orgasmic haze, you ate an entire apple, and sat on the floor, still suffering aftershocks. On the patio, the birds chirped, and cicadas buzzed, calling to their brethren from the trees. The trees swayed, and the sun beamed on the grass, creating an illusion of rainbows on the ground. For a while, you sat there in the majesty of nature, taking small breaths, letting the sun soak into your skin. Your hair had long dried when you emerged from your relaxing moment, and the house was the same from when you abandoned it. However, Robert had other plans.

“Oh! Yes, right there!” he said from somewhere in the house. So he was trying to reach his own orgasm. He really is horny all of the time, it seems. You slowly made your way to the hallway, your feet becoming a whisper of their usual yells. The bathroom door was cracked, and just through it, you saw Robbie touching himself, and he was grinding against the side of the counter, peeking his eyes out to look at himself.

You opened the door completely, and stepped as quietly as possible towards him, and you held your breath. You snuck up from behind him, and he didn’t notice. You were so close to him that you could see every hair of peach fuzz on his lightly tanned face. His long eyelashes fluttered delicately on his skin, eyes wrinkling when a finger brushed against his balls, making him let out a gasp. You looked down at his sex, and saw the beads of pre cum spilling from his tip, lubricating his length. His thumb swiped along the tip, just as it did to your bundle of nerves just a little while ago. You took a risk, and breathed on his neck, causing Robbie to open his eyes, their pupils wide with lust, the green and gold sparkle barely visible. His hand sped up, but you had other plans for him. Your mouth found its way to his neck, biting the skin taut, and licking it after its torture was over. Breathy moans left his mouth, and his hips thrust up into his hand, causing a chain reaction. You kiss down the side of his body, your swollen lips meeting his hip bone.

Your knees bent in front of him, then took his length whole into your wet awaiting mouth. You licked his tip, dipping it into the hole leading to his urethra. You kissed his cock gently, like you did his neck after you attacked it, and he whimpered at your actions, his hand going to the counter for leverage. He thrust into your mouth, and your lips closed completely around him, and you took him deep, handling him to the very hilt. His eyes closed shut, and his cock twitched as he released his seed down your throat, and you almost choked on his semen, but swallowed the warm liquid, and you kissed his tip one last time before leaving him to his devices in recovery. You walked down the hallway, then collapsed on the couch, your hand covering your face.

Robbie’s underwear clad ass was sitting directly in front of you when you woke up, and you thought that you were being pranked. Turns out, he was just practicing his yoga, and trying to calm his fast nerves. Those were the simple things that you enjoyed with your relationship with Robbie. The two of you could just walk around the house naked, or with you topless, and there would be no bullshit over it. Home is somewhere that you two were free to say what you wanted, and do what you wanted, without societal pressures or judging eyes. Neither of you wanted to be that asshole, and just purely respected each other’s likes and dislikes.

Which was why you smacked his ass when it got even closer to you.

“Hey! What the hell was that for?” he said, rubbing his bottom, and looking around to face you.

“Y’know waking up with an ass in front of my face isn’t horrible, but I would appreciate it if I wasn’t at constant risk of getting farted on.” you replied, smiling sarcastically at him.

He giggled, then went forward to kiss your lips, his slightly chapped ones smacking quietly against yours. The two of you sat there for a moment, making out, and exploring each other once again. He climbed onto the couch, and stuck his hands in your hair, traveling to your ass, which he grabbed and smacked to his content. You did the same, running your nails down his back when his hands neared your pussy, already becoming soaking wet for him. You sat on his lap, and began grinding into his crotch, lifting yourself up and down on his quickly hardening length. The two of you quickly undressed, and your nipples brushed against lightly muscled chest, and he tumbled on top of you, giving your eyes a quick look, silently asking for consent. You gave him full eye contact, and he looked down to level his cock to your hole, pushing his head in very slowly. He thrust in inch by inch, little grunts making their way past his parted lips. You whined at the intrusion, and he moved hips in pace with your heartbeats, taking his time to please you. The noise of his cock penetrating you became louder in your head. Your hands made their way back to his bottom, and they pushed him further into you, urging Rob to speed up.

“Patience, my dear. You can’t always get everything you want.”

“But you know what I want, and you also want that. I want you to fill me, and fuck me, and let your balls slap against me please. And thank you.” you said into his ear, biting it after your words.

Robbie shuddered, then tucked his head into your neck, and your feet found their way to the arm of the couch. He was shocked at your flexibility, but began to pound you into the cushion. The sound of the springs squeaking at the speed of his thrusts filled your ears, and his moans joined in the chorus. The house was soon filled with noise, and the beautiful thought of sex was heavy in your heads. He began kissing along your clavicle, and bit it at the peak of his own release. His cum filled you, and spurted from the tip of his dick. He moaned and his eyes rolled into the back of his head, his back arched, and his chest touched yours. He pulled out, then made very quick work of you. His head shoved itself between your legs, and he ate his cum out of you, every last drop, and his face was covered in it. His fingers splayed across your breasts, squeezing them, and spanking them. Your toes curled by his head, and his tongue slurped along your walls, collecting your soon-to-be release. You were whimpering at his antics, and he looked up at you with such a dirty touch in his eyes, and sent you over the edge. You came into his hair, fully soaking him with your liquids, making him laugh.

“What’s so funny? I mean, I’ve squirted before.” you ask, confusion on your face.

“Now I’m the one who has to wash his hair. It’s all over my face.” he says, smile decorating his wet head.

You join in on the laughter, and call it a day. You could stand, and Robbie smacked your ass when you began heading for the bathroom to shower. You chuckled at him, then spent the rest of the evening trying to figure out, still, how his cum ended up in your freshly washed hair.

Masterlist

#robert sheehan smut robert sheehan x reader

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let-it-show · 4 years ago

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Wet

So I was actually at a swimming hole today when I got inspired to write this...its good to post something in between parts of my new story (new chapter soon!) Anyway I had intended for this to be a cute, short drabble of these two just having fun but the thing ran away from me and got incredibly horny wtf. There’s no actual smut, though, SORRY. Random Elsanna scene go!

No matter how secluded it was, no matter how warm it was, none of Elsa's words had worked on Anna. While Elsa had absolutely no trouble melting off her dress and dipping herself into the cool water completely naked, Anna wasn't willing to go farther than her bloomers and her undershirt, because what if someone did come along?

"Nokk led me here, and is watching for our safety but I'm telling you, Anna, we are far from any camp. Come in here with me," Elsa tried to tell her.

"You just want to leer at me," Anna had replied back while she examined their admittedly secluded surroundings. The wonderful little pools of water were between large rocks, surrounded by not only tall grass and bushes, but the forest as well. Upstream from where they were at the moment, multiple little waterfalls fed into the water flow.

There was nothing but nature.

Elsa smirked at her. "And is there really anything wrong with that? I do see and touch your naked body often."

Anna blushed and just shook her head while Elsa shrugged and started down to the water.

The water looked cold, and that didn't help. Cold didn't bother Elsa at all and especially when temperatures were up she wanted to be in a shower of snow or ice cold water. Anna, not so much. She liked to cool off by swimming but sometimes river water just looked too chilly.

She did lean against the side of one of the boulders to watch Elsa. Her sister looked like some kind of mythological beauty swimming in the water like that, her white-blonde hair spreading around her and seeming to float. She was like a gem in the river...

A sexy gem with gorgeous breasts that were going to be dripping wet. Anna couldn't wait to rub her hands over them, nevermind Elsa's stomach and thighs. Knowing how good she looked made her feel even more on alert for anyone who might spy. There wasn't a single person out there aside from herself that deserved to see Elsa like that.

While she waited, and to distract herself, Anna found a little pool of water that came up a little past her ankles. It felt very nice. The coolness was refreshing. Still...if she went swimming, that was cold water on her whole body, and on top of that Elsa might prank her with even colder water.

Elsa swore she just liked to see Anna's nipples hard but Anna knew she found the squealing and colorful language adorable. Then Elsa would have the nerve to act all graceful and above such silliness when Anna raged at her. She would then kiss Anna, nudge her legs apart and, well...

"Changing your mind any?" Elsa asked, climbing out of the pool, coming up at her like a damn goddess. Anna's eyes were immediately drawn to the glistening pearls of water on her skin and the way her wet hair draped over her shoulders, dripping down her chest.

Would it be weird to have sex on a giant rock in the forest? She was tempted to shove Elsa against the rock and kneel between her legs for a little afternoon delight. Elsa always tasted so amazing...and thinking about her only made Anna feel hotter. She was not doing herself any favors.

She took a deep breath and focused. "You done already? You just got in," she responded.

"I'm going to climb over this rock to get to the other pool, it's a little wider even if not as deep," Elsa explained. "Maybe you'll come in then?" she asked, giving her a pleading look.

Oh that look was hard to turn down when Elsa was naked! "Maybe," Anna grumbled, because it was not fair, not fair at all.

Elsa stepped closer to her, until their faces were inches apart. "What, am I distracting you? Don't say its not fair. I told you to take off all your clothes and you won't." She said it with such a smug, queenly look.

Anna wanted to wipe it off her face with a well placed bite on her breast, but she resisted. "And I still won't," she declared, staring Elsa down. Being difficult with Elsa was fun sometimes. Elsa would take out her frustration by doing certain wonderful things to Anna's body...

She needed some self control that's what she needed. Relief flooded through her when Elsa rolled her eyes and turned away to face the steep, light grey rock she needed to climb up in order to access the next spot. She walked toward it and looked down to place her feet safely.

Then she bent over to keep her balance.

Her ass was like a beacon to Anna and before she could stop herself, her legs carried her forward, out of the shallow pool. Elsa was going to be an obnoxious tease? Well, Anna knew how to deal with that, and her hand was raised as she closed in.

Elsa had started to go forward when Anna's open palm connected hard with her pale butt cheek, nearly sending her face forward into the rough ground. The wet, sharp sound of the perfect smack echoed around them briefly along with Elsa's yelp of surprise at her backside being suddenly attacked.

Anna bounced back on her feet. That had been one good sounding smack and even if her hand stung a little, totally worth it! The light shade of red on Elsa's bottom? A mark of success! She laughed loudly. "Yes!"

"Really!?" Elsa asked, glaring over her shoulder and still appearing stunned.

"Well you can't just stick it in the air like that and think I won't do anything!" Anna declared, oh so pleased with herself. She stuck her tongue out.

Elsa turned and looked at her, and that's when Anna backed up a little. Her victory was probably about to be short lived. She didn't dare run either, because the slope of the solid ground was uneven, easy to trip and hurt herself on terribly. She'd have to take whatever punishment Elsa gave her.

The good thing was, as Elsa came closer once again, Anna had an idea of what to expect. A bite, a pinched nipple, iced body part, a long kiss that left her unbelievably turned on before Elsa walked off again - she could deal with it all. As a result, she stood proudly when she could back up no more.

Elsa closed the distance, snaking an arm around Anna's waist. Anna could already feel the tickle of ice on her skin, but she didn't budge. "Very bold of you to come after me like that," Elsa whispered in her ear, body almost pressed against Anna's own.

"Bold of you to be naked around me and not expect shenanigans," Anna retorted, placing her hands on Elsa's damp, cool hips. Oh they felt good, so good! Maybe Elsa would punish her by shoving a hand down the front of her bloomers and doing...stuff. Her brain was already shorting out.

"I suppose that was foolish of me," Elsa purred, dipping her head down to kiss Anna's neck lightly. She didn't suck or bite, only kissed, and Anna made a content little sound. Elsa prodded her to turn in her arms and Anna complied, eager for what could be next.

Her back pressed against Elsa's generous chest, and Elsa continue to neck her as she fondled Anna's breasts through her shirt. She squeezed and grabbed, breath hot on the crook of Anna's neck. Elsa knew just what to do to reduce Anna to a needy mess. Anna was shifting the way she stood, trying to cope with just how wet she was starting to get.

And that was when it happened. Elsa suddenly tightened her grip around Anna's middle and starting walking forward forcefully, toward the first pool of water she'd been in. Anna's eyes went wide and she realized she couldn't stop them with the momentum Elsa had given them. "Elsa no-nono no no Elsa hey no ELSAAAAAA!"

That was when Elsa half shoved and half threw Anna into the water. It was so cold as her body crashed through the surface and Anna spun around trying to get her bearings!. Good thing it was somewhat deep. She could find the bottom and she could stand on it with her head poking above the water, but her eyes were half open and she was coughing and sputtering and glaring.

There was Elsa, sitting with her legs dangling in the water and once again looking super proud of herself. "How's the water?" she asked innocently.

"It's-it's just fine!" Anna declared angrily. Being in it a few seconds was all it took for her body to get acclimated and it was actually quite pleasant. She could float around in there for quite a while. But she wasn't going to say that!

"Bet you wish you'd gotten naked," Elsa teased and Anna fumed. She supposed Elsa could tell she was slightly pissed, because she sighed and dropped the attitude. "Well, Anna, are you okay?"

"...Yes." Anna knew that if she did get hurt Elsa would drive herself crazy apologizing. Elsa liked to have fun with her, but didn't go too far. "I'm fine."

"Are you sure?" Elsa questioned, tilting her head.

Anna blinked, swimming closer to where Elsa was perched. "Yes? I think so?"

"So...you probably don't need mouth to mouth?" Elsa asked, and smiled so sweetly at her.

That little...! Well, that was fine. Anna grinned. "No, but you might."

Then, before Elsa could question it, Anna grabbed her pretty ankles and pulled hard. It didn't really take much. With an undignified shriek Elsa was yanked into the water, and Anna laughed.

#Elsanna #ficlet #Elsa the stinker #Anna the stinker

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redundantz · 4 years ago

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Found an old write up of my Star War OCs Backstory and info 🤔

I’m not really a writer and usually don’t enjoy it at all so this is pretty big for me ahha

Yanna Sen'ka

Born on a distant planet, not uncivilized but not refined. A place full of plant life living in a small village on the edge of a forest near a large river.

She is an only child raised by her mother and father.

Her strong force sensitivity was noticed early on by Supreme Leader Snoke. Moulding and manipulating her thoughts and actions. Small whispers in her ear, little seeds of doubt, fear and anger. Building on her childlike fears and worries.

She clashed often with her strong willed mother. Who became distrusting of her daughters troubling and sinister behaviour. Only growing worse when she would go to her father for everything and get dotted on by him. Jealousy bloomed. Her mother was jealous of the great attention she got from him. And how she never came to her for help or comfort. All the while Snoke fanning the flames of your bitterness and resentment towards her. Becoming a dark ball of hate whenever near her. Often causing Yanna to lash out or run off sometimes for days.

Growing up in the forest she knew her way around well. What plants to eat and how to trap animals for food. She could spend days by herself. And she did. Not entirely out of her own desire. The other kids were also wary of her.

Her unstable behaviour and rumours surrounding her that strange and awful things happen.

On one of her outings by the waterfall, she was practicing her use of the force. Stacking rocks, building a little dam to catch the fish in the pond.

One of the village boys came through the brush spotting her using her powers. Startled, and still very angry the rock she had been floating flung into him with a startling velocity and power. So much so that his gasp of surprise was cut short and his limp body fell to the ground. In shock, she could only gape as blood started running down the stones into the pool. Dying it red.

Snapping out of it she started to panic and breathing hard, tears welled up in her eyes.

In shock, she just stared as the blood washed away. And a small consciousness came into the back of her mind saying. "You did nothing wrong my child. He saw you, you know what they would do if he told everyone. Imagine how disappointed your father would be if he found out? You don't want that....

Now, imagine how glad the other children will be now that he's gone. He was a useless boy, did nothing of value and lorded his false power over others.

And you my child have true power. Look what you did without even trying. Imagine what you could do with my full tutelage.

All of them would listen, never question you.

Your scum mother would never dare raise her voice at you...

And your papa would be so proud to look upon such a strong and accomplished daughter.

Now.... get rid off the body!”

Still horrified by what she's done yet with new found resolve she moves over to the corpse. Grabbing him by the back of his shirt she hauls him into the pool to be carried down river.

Washing away any of the blood on the stones and the evidence of her presence there. She glances at the body as it bobs down the river out of her sight before darting into the woods.

Frantic, she just couldn't get away from there fast enough still terrified by what she's done. She ran and wandered until her legs ached. The sun was setting causing the shadows in the forest to deepen before she climbed s tree to find a safe perch for the night.

Finally settling down and alone with her thoughts. The edge of panic had creeped off and she was surprisingly calm and serene. a voice in the night whispered "you've done well child...."

Looking up to the small group of stars she could see through the thick canopy. The fear and panic from earlier settled into the back of her mind she could only think of how glad she was rid of the boy.

None in the village could figure out what happened to the boy but everyone was on edge. And Yanna was put under more scrutiny. She couldn’t understand why everyone was so upset over the useless kid. Getting more and more withdrawn and angry.

Her mother was getting even worse to her as she got older and she got confronted by her if it was she who was the cause of the boys disappearance. Yelling and screaming, calling her a cursed child and that she stole everything from her. She was holding a knife in defence afraid of her own child or ready to attack..? Yanna looked for her father but he just looked at her with fear and uncertainty in his eyes. She felt despair. But really he was looking at his wife, maybe with clear eyes for the first time. As she went in to the attack, Yanna was able to avoid and fight back for the most part but her father tried to intervene and save her getting stabbed in the process. He wasn’t critically injured but she saw red and high pitched screaming filled her ears. Next thing she woke up to was her fathers body shielding her and the house, the village, and forest was on fire. Her mother was dead and her father was dead. Her mind was blank.

“It’s time”

When Snoke came to get her she was alone in the forest she couldn't stand to be around what she had done. Refusing to think about it as her rage died down. She couldn't. She just repeated what leader Snoke said to her before.

The code of the dark side.

Her only salvation.

She met Kylo Ren when she was 14. Only a few years older than her he was gangly yet exuded a great sense of power that radiated from him crackling and angry. He was reckless and had a childlike temperament.

She got on his nerves a lot and not always in purpose. Unlike him she has learned to focus her anger and fear. Her calculated control bothered him as she would look down on him every time he would throw a fit.

Often it would cause them to fight.

She wouldn't admit that she just liked to get on his nerves and show him how little control he had by flaunting hers. Also that she wanted to help teach him to master himself. Even though it should have been the other way around.

She knew it was not in her best interest but she grew quite attached to him. She was a decent comrade to the others. Especially Kuruk ren. He made her laugh with jokes and a sick sense of humour. Always having the most ridiculous of stories to tell. He even wanted to get in her pants a few times. She was tempted to be sure. Mostly to just get it over with and see what it's like. She really didn't enjoy his company "that" much. In either case she has never felt more included. she's finally a part of a group and working towards something bigger than herself. She was determined to be useful and prove herself. She wanted to make leader Snoke proud. He was the only one there for her her whole life guiding her, who truly understood her.

Master Snoke would train them all when he could but for the most part it was up to them to keep up their practices. Their fitness, saber wielding, meditation and use of the force. Most of the Knights would work independently as comradery was not something adherent to their teachings. Mostly sparing together to blow off extra energy and test their might.

Kylo was the over all strongest beating most of the Knights easily. A few where much more adept at swordplay and gymnastics each having their own strong suit . Some even preferring blasters and other physical weapons.

Yanna was not the best at swordplay, but was quite nimble and able to move around with a purpose from many years in the forests.

She would focus and use of the force to read movements and work around them. Reading their minds or just straight up using her powers to physically beat them or trip them. Usually that wasn't allowed in sparing but she didnt always listen.

Snoke chose Kylo to be the Master of the Knights of Ren and it must have been for a good reason. She just couldn't help but let a small part of herself felt slighted and jealous.

She was there when they helped kill all the Jedi training under Luke Skywalker. Snoke told her about Luke and how Kylo trained under him until he was shown the way to the dark side. How he was the cause of Vaders death. The Shinning example of pure darkness.

As a part of the Knights they all admired him greatly. None more so as Kylo. Not quite sure how deep his attachment goes.

They wore clothes and helmets in honour of him. Hoping to take up where he left off. Show the universe what true power is.

She has a special way she typically used her force powers. By exploding people's hearts. Not very messy but effective. Didn't require her to use her sword which was more for defence and secondary offence than anything.

Where would your character fall on a politeness/rudeness scale?

In the middle, she respects her elders and superiors but holds nothing back for her peers and children. Most rudeness is nonverbal just ignoring or blatant disregard.

How many friends does your character have?

Virtually none. The Knights of Ren are her closest allies. Kylo in particular and Kuruk. Leader Snoke himself has been her closest friend and Mentor.

Also Captain Phasma share a fun friendship the rare chance the meet.

How many friends does your character want?

She would say none. That ties to others always just end up in pain and are a weakness. In reality a few close good friends is what she wants and needs. People to share experience with and shared ambition.

How does your character feel about sex?

Not something she's particularly interested in. Neither is romance. Her life has been to driven and hectic to think of such things. Even being older it’s not really on her mind. If the fancy ever struck her she wouldn't say no. A few men/women and even the other Knights have tried. All their efforts just irritate her.

She does masterbate now and again, for release only when she's sure no one would know.

What was the best thing in your character’s life?

Her Father was her best friend and mentor. He would teach her all about living in the forest and wouldn’t treat her like a child. letting her figure stuff out on her own and make mistakes but always there to help out. But was also there to comfort her but was also a bit of a coward when it came to standing up to his wife.

#star wars #star wars oc #oc #yanna sen'ka #my writing #backstory #long post

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solavillain · 5 years ago

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Pas de Deux Ch 6: Together

+pairing: Spinel x fem!Reader +genre: Drama, romance, angst, slow burn, enemies to friends to lovers +warnings: None (for now) +word count: 6.5K +Chapter 6 / ? previous || next

Read on AO3!

Spinel was in awe, to say the least. It felt like every point of contact with you was on fire, every nerve in her body was heightened. It had been so long since she had contact like this with someone...in fact, had she ever had anything like this? She can barely think of anything else but you right now. The soft, steady sound of your breathing as you sleep, the small noises you make as you shift against her, and the way you sigh happily when she gives you a little squeeze.

She can almost forget how she’s probably messed everything up with you. All she wanted was to be your friend, at first, but now...is it possible to want something more with you? Even though it’s impossible for you to want the same?

Spinel sighs, and tries to clear the panicked thoughts from her mind. She could worry later. For now, she wants to just enjoy this night with you in her arms...

x * x * x * x * x

You wake slowly, your body totally relaxed, feeling incredibly well rested. It takes you a moment to register where you are, and another moment to realize what- or who- you're resting on.

Spinel must have moved you in the night; you’re no longer on her left side with your head on her shoulder. Instead you’re sitting in between her legs, head tucked under her chin, right near her gem. You blink in surprise as you look at it- you've never seen it this close before, and hadn’t realized how faceted and large it really is in comparison to the lanky Gem.

In that moment, Spinel shifts and squeezes you slightly, prompting you to close your eyes and smile slightly to yourself. No matter your conflicted feelings towards her, you can’t deny that this level of contact just feels wonderful. It had been a while since you’d gotten to spend the night with someone like this, and even though these were bizarre circumstances, you can’t help but feel happy here.

Spinel doesn’t seem to have realized you’re awake yet, and you're considering pretending to still be asleep, when a shiver wracks your body, making you sit upright involuntarily. You realize Spinel had basically unwrapped herself from you at some point, save for her arms around your waist a few times around. It had stopped raining, so she must have assumed you would be warm again, but hadn’t considered the early morning chill. From what little you could see of the sky in your lean-to, it couldn’t have been later than 5 or 6 am, the sun hadn’t been up long enough to warm the island up.

“Oh! Uh, good mornin’,” Spinel says, meeting your eyes after you sit up.

“Hi,” you say plainly. “Sorry if I startled you, I guess I got cold again...at least it stopped raining though?”

Spinel nods and answers, “Nah, you’re fine, just wasn’t expectin’ you to be up so early. The rain stopped a few hours ago I think...I kinda lost track of time.”

You give her a sleepy smile and stretch your arms above your head with a yawn (not noticing Spinel’s eyes grow as wide as dinner plates) and stare out to the campsite, mourning your poor fire.

“Wish I’d been able to bring some sweaters or something,” you mumble to yourself, wrapping your arms around your knees.

Spinel winces visibly and reaches out a tentative hand to you. “Well, I- If ya wanna go back to sleep, you can...” she trails off and looks down at her hand, and you quickly realize what she means.

“Oh...thanks, Spins, I think I’ll just stay up for now...” you glance back outside, “Actually, I might walk around a bit, see what else I can find in terms of food or other stuff?”

You climb out of the lean-to as you’re talking, prompting Spinel to follow you.

“Y-yeah, okay! D’ya want me to come with?” Spinel asks eagerly, following you around the camp as you pick up debris from the storm.

At her question, you stop what you’re doing and turn to her. “Oh, uh...I was hoping I might have some time alone, if that’s okay? I just... I need some alone time every now and then.”

You offer her what you hope to be a sympathetic look, as you know that doesn’t sound great after literally spending the night together.

Spinel’s face turns a pale pink as she blanches and crosses her arms. “That’s...fine,” she manages to get out. You can tell she’s wary at being left alone, but you really do just need some time. Time to yourself, to think, to figure everything out.

“I won’t be more than an hour or so,” you tell the Gem, and you see her relax slightly.

“That’s good,” you think, slightly surprised at how easy that conversation went compared to last time, when she had been rejuvenated and Steven was leaving her behind. “She definitely seems to be trying to work through her issues.”

Once you’ve cleared the camp of most of the fallen leaves and branches, you grab a banana from the small storage lean-to. Miraculously, most of the bananas are fine, save for a few that have fallen out of the wrapped leaves. You bid Spinel goodbye for now, and make your way to the beach.

You had told the Gem you wanted to look for supplies, and while that was true to an extent, now you want to just lie on the sand in the warm sun. You finish your banana, toss the peel, and plop down, spreading your arms out and soaking in the morning rays.

Back in Beach City, you were used to spending a lot of your time alone. Sure, you had your coworkers at the café, and you hung out with the Gems when they were free, but you really valued the time you had to yourself. You would frequently take walks on the beach or boardwalk at night, listening to music or just gazing out at the moon-lit sea. You had a collection of books that you loved to take to the café when you weren’t working, and enjoyed just sitting, reading, and sipping on your drink of choice for the day. Hell, even when you would spend time with Pearl, you two would often just co-exist in the same place, Pearl working on something in the house while you read a book or surfed the various apps on your phone.

Having Spinel around...was nicer than you thought it would be, especially last night, but even now she’s acting like you’re the new Steven, like you’re her new best friend. You can’t tell if she genuinely cares for you or if she’s just so incredibly lonely that she’s latched onto you for treating her differently than everyone else had. You wish you could believe it was the former, but...you just have no idea.

“Ughhh,” you groan, and sit up in frustration. Why does everything have to be so complicated with her?

You think back to how you felt last night, and this morning, waking up in her arms. That...didn’t feel so complicated at the time. It just felt nice, and comforting. Why couldn’t it feel that easy all the time? Why did your brain have to constantly remind you of what she’s done, of how she really is? Or was, at least. Spinel has definitely been keeping her anger in check since that first day, and you can tell she thinks about her actions as much as you do, if not more.

“Why can’t I just let myself forgive her?” you think, burying your face in your hands. “I guess...I just need more time.”

Shaking your head, you stand up and walk towards the water, wading in up to your ankles. The water is fairly warm around this time of year, so you’re grateful that you won’t be freezing if you ever decide to go for a swim. Suddenly, movement to your left catches your eye- a reflection off of a few fish in the sun, swimming close to shore with the gentle waves.

An idea pops into your head- something that will give you and Spinel something to do other than mope around, and at the end, you’ll possibly have a new source of food.

x * x * x * x * x

You make your way back to the camp, eager to tell your idea to Spinel. Luckily, she hasn’t wandered off to another part of the island.

“Spinel!” You call out as you approach the camp. You hear the popping before you see it, but as you come into the clearing, you can clearly see the roaring fire in the center radiating warmth.

“Oh, wow, you got the fire going? Thank you so much,” you say gratefully to the Gem, who is sitting by the small waterfall.

“Eh, no problem, Y/n. Figured I could do something while you were out, too,” she says happily, looking proudly on the lit fire. Her eyebrows furrow and she looks back to you, confused.

“Say, weren’t you gatherin’ stuff just now? You didn’t come back with anything.”

“Oh! Right, that,” you say with a chuckle. “I was going to look for more leaves and branches and stuff for the lean-to and the fire, but I went to the beach and I saw fish!”

You grin expectantly at her, but she still looks confused, standing up and scratching her head.

“Uh...what’s fish?” she asks simply.

“O-oh, right, Gem and all. I forgot,” you say, excitement not deterred by Spinel’s lack of fish knowledge. “It’s just something that lives in the sea, but if we catch them and cook them, I can eat something other than bananas!”

Spinel gives you a slight smirk, amused at your enthusiasm. “Well all right, let’s go get some fish!”

The two of you make your way back to the beach, and you’re relieved to see the fish haven’t swam off. In fact, there seem to be more shimmering fish than there were earlier. You’re incredibly thrilled at the prospect of eating something other than bananas, so you look around for a stick you can whittle into a point.

After you find one near the edge of the trees, you grab a rock and head back down to the waves, where Spinel is inspecting the water.

“Oh yeah, I guess you haven’t had much time to check out the ocean,” you remark, sitting down and sharpening the end of the stick.

“It’s certainly interesting,” Spinel remarks, bending down to inspect some shells left behind by the tide.

You watch her while you whittle and smile to yourself. Seeing Gems learn about Earth for the first time has always made you appreciate your home planet more, but something about seeing Spinel like this makes your heart happy.

After a few more moments, you inspect the end of your stick, and decide that it’s to your liking.

“All right! Let’s get this show on the road!” you announce, standing in what you hope to be an authoritative pose.

“Oh yeah? What show? All I see is you,” Spinel teases, snorting in laughter.

Your pose falls, and you give her a teasing roll of the eyes. “Ahh, you’re no fun. I am the show, baby!”

With that you make your way slowly into the water, careful to not disturb the nearby school of fish. You realize Spinel is still standing on the shore, and you turn back and cock an eyebrow up at her.

“Well? You coming in or what?”

Spinel looks from you out to the distant waves, then back to you, and grins. She begins wading in, flinching slightly when a wave breaks over her legs, and you giggle at the Gem. She’s definitely not quite used to all the oddities of your planet, but in a way, you’re proud of her for trying to adapt so quickly.

After a moment she’s in the waist high water with you, and you send a playful splash over her way, a teasing grin on your face.

“Heh, hey darlin’, thought you were gonna catch some fish? Don’t get distracted now,” she teases back, her eyes slightly narrowed.

You chuckle and nod, “All right, all right. Food now, play later. Let’s hope I’m coordinated enough for this...”

You make your way over to where the school of fish is swimming, being careful not to disturb any of the sand. You pick your target- a larger fish in the center of the school- and ready your stick above the water.

“All right...and...”

You strike down hard- too hard. The fish moves before you can spear it, and the force of your swing sends your feet flying out from under you and plants you face first into the water. A wave breaks over you in that instant, and you’re having a hard time getting to your feet, when-

“Y/n!!”

Spinel lifts you up from behind, supporting under your arm with one hand and steadying your back with the other.

“Are you okay? That looked...not fun,” Spinel remarks in a worried tone.

But you just burst out laughing. Of all the things to do...of course you would fall face first in the water. You know you must have looked ridiculous, and can’t help laughing more at that mental image.

“W-what? Well I guess you’re okay, doll...” Spinel says, a smile easing onto her face now that she knows you’re okay.

“Hah...oh man...yeah, I’m fine, Spinel, thanks,” you say as the laughter dies down. “Oh gosh...I can’t believe I just did that. I mean, the ocean can be a bitch, but it’s so calm here and...ahh, that was hilarious.”

You take note that Spinel still holds onto you, and you can’t help but flush at the contact, reminded of spending last night in her arms. It feels like your every nerve is on fire when she touches you...

“It did look pretty funny,” Spinel says with a laugh, bringing you out of your thoughts. “You just kinda...plopped forward! It was great!” She’s full on grinning now, and it’s infectious- you can’t help but grin back and start laughing again. Suddenly, all cravings for fish forgotten, you get an idea.

“Oh yeah? I was funny, huh? Well how bout this?” On your last word, you send a giant splash her way, giggling at her taken aback expression when it washes over the top of her head.

But when the water clears, you literally take a step back at her expression, eyes going wide. She looks positively mischievous, her eyes narrowed and a wicked grin on her face.

“Now now, dollface, d’ya really wanna mess with me?”

She giggles in a devilishly playful way, and begins to spin her torso and arms around, not unlike a spin top, sending water flying every direction, including directly at you. You can hear her laughter above the other sounds, and you can’t help but join in, even as she inches closer to you, prompting you to cover your face in surrender, still laughing.

“All right, all right, I think you made your point, Spins,” you call out, ducking your head to avoid getting saltwater in your eyes. The nickname is certainly very fitting for the current situation. The pink Gem slows, still wearing a huge grin, and looks triumphantly down at you.

“Ha! I win!” She exclaims in a sing song voice, folding her arms in front of her.

You chuckle and take her by the hand, leading her back to shore. “Yeah, you win. Don’t rub it in, hmm?” you say with a shake of your head.

Once you arrive on shore, you look back out to the water and sigh.

“So much for delicious fish...”

“Aw, don’t worry about it, yeah? We can always try again some other time,” Spinel says, patting your back gently. You look up at the taller gem and offer her a small smile.

“Yeah, that’s true. I can live with bananas for now, anyway.”

After all that work and fun, you wish you could just lie in the warm sand and take a nap, but your clothes are soaked. You want them to be dry by nightfall, so you know it’s time to head back to the camp. Besides, you need some more water and bananas.

“Well, let’s head back for now,” you say to Spinel, “I’m getting a bit chilly, let’s sit by the fire.”

Spinel shoots you a shy smile and nods, following you back through the trees to your base.

“It’s so interesting learnin’ about humans,” Spinel remarks, “I mean, stuff like rain, the ocean, the cold...it doesn’t really affect me, y’know? Seeing you have to deal with all that, it’s kinda weird, but intriguing at the same time. I almost want to know what it feels like,” she finishes with a chuckle.

“What, being cold? Or just weather in general?” you say teasingly.

She snorts in response. “Nah, just...being human? I guess? It’s dumb,” she says, ducking her head in shyness as she sits down by the fire.

Your eyebrows shoot up at her admission- you can’t ever recall hearing a Gem talk about wanting to be human, not even Amethyst or Lapis. Spinel must really be hurting inside to want to just...be something else entirely.

“Ah, Spinel...”

You wring out your wet shirt and shorts to the best of your ability before sitting down beside her. You hesitate before placing a hand on her upper arm, wanting to reassure her that you’re here.

“I know that with everything you’ve been through...it must be so tough to just exist for so long, I guess, but being human isn’t all that great. Hell, it’s not all that different from being a Gem. Well, besides the aging and the weather and...no cool powers...”

You stop yourself, sighing and looking down. “Ah, I’m crap at this, I’m sorry. I’m just trying to say...you’re great the way you are, Spinel. And hey, you’re on Earth now, you can still experience all this stuff, even if it’s not in the exact same way that humans experience it.”

You offer her a patient smile, which she returns happily.

“You’re not so bad at this, Y/n,” Spinel says softly, wiping at her eyes. “And uh...I’m glad I’m experiencing stuff now. Here.”

You nod and gaze into the fire, mind racing a million miles a minute. Finally, you find the words to reply, “Yeah. Me too.”

x * x * x * x * x

After your clothes have dried (it took longer than you expected- you knew it would have gone faster if you’d taken them off but you were not about to strip in front of Spinel), you and Spinel stay out by the fire a while longer, until well past sunset. You munch on bananas as you talk, telling her about your childhood, how you visited Beach City every summer with your parents, and couldn’t keep away after you left home for college. She told you about what little time she’d spent on Homeworld, but she mostly recounted more of her days in the Garden with Pink- how looking back now she could see that Pink had been uninterested and even annoyed with her antics sometimes. But what was she supposed to do? It was what she had been made for.

You both fell silent for a while after that, you being unsure how to comfort the Gem, and Spinel simply lost in her memories.

The minutes pass, and you can feel your eyes grow heavier with sleep, but some part of you doesn’t want to go into the shelter alone just yet. You try to force yourself to stay awake, to stay out here by the fire with her. But just as it had the night before, your head lolls to the side onto Spinel’s shoulder...

“Woah there, you okay?” Spinel asks, cupping your head with her left hand.

“Hmm?...O-oh!” You shoot up, extremely embarrassed, and you can feel your face flushing like hell. “S-sorry, Spinel, I got warm and sleepy, I’m sorry...”

“Hey, no need to apologize, darlin’. You seem tired, yeah? Wanna go to bed?” she asks in a comforting voice.

“Mhm...yeah, I think I need to,” you reply, standing up and stretching with a yawn. “Goodnight, Spinel.”

You send her a soft smile before heading into the lean-to, thoughts racing.

“She keeps calling me all these pet names...is it just a habit? Because of how she speaks? Why do I care?”

You plop to the ground with a groan and try to get comfortable on your leaf bed for the night. You can’t deny that you feel like something has changed today, with your feelings towards Spinel and the way she’s acting...but it’s just too confusing to think about. It can wait until morning...

x * x * x * x * x

When you wake, it’s not a stream of morning sunlight that greets you, but soft moonlight. You’re facing the center of camp and the fire has died down slightly, but luckily, it’s a warmer night so you barely notice a chill. But you can’t see Spinel anywhere...where is she?

Before you can start to panic about where she might have gone, you hear a voice from just outside the tent.

“I know I never should have done all this, but...I was scared, Y/n,” Spinel says. It seems like she’s continuing some conversation...has she been talking to you while you slept? You don’t know if this counts as an invasion of privacy, but you want to know what she has to say, so you make sure to stay very still and act as if you’re still asleep.

“I was scared that no one could ever like me for who I am, so I lashed out. But then...you seemed to like me. Even when I was annoying and innocent, you were patient and kind to me. And then I go and do this...”

She trails off, and you hear her sniff- she's crying softly. Your heart aches; you want to go out and comfort her, but you’re frozen in place. Too scared to face her right now, you stay and listen.

“I- I just care about ya so much, and I’ve never...felt like this before. So when Steven...when I thought he was gonna make me forget again, I just panicked and took you and ran. You were right that first day- I didn’t think anything through. I just wanted to have you around, but...”

Spinel sighs, “I don’t know why I’m even doin’ this...I can’t seem to talk to ya when you’re awake, not to say the things I really want to say, so...what’s the point.”

She picks herself up off the ground, and moves back by the fire, stoking it until the flames grow again. You can’t bear to watch her anymore, so you turn around to face the wall of the lean-to, wondering how you’ll ever get back to sleep with this new information rattling around in your head.

“I guess this answers the question of how she feels about me...”

When the morning comes, your stomach does flips at the first sight of Spinel, who is just arriving back from a walk as you emerge from the shelter. You try desperately to hide any emotion from your face, but you can’t help giving her a small smile as she heads toward you.

“Mornin’, Y/n!” Spinel says cheerfully, any hint of the sadness from last night gone. “Took a walk around again, and I even took a crack at makin’ ya something...”

She pulls out a newly whittled fishing stick from behind her back, and you grin.

“Think I should try again, huh?” you remark, taking the spear and inspecting it.

“Hey, I saw all those faces you were making eating those bananas last night,” she replies with a giggle. “Figured it couldn’t hurt to keep at it, yeah?”

You nod enthusiastically in reply. “Yeah, for sure! Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy bananas, but...eating them for 3 days straight has been very...odd,” you inform the Gem, “Let me just get ready and we can go try again!”

After a while, you head over to the beach where you saw the fish yesterday. It’s cloudier today, so it won’t be as easy to spot the shimmering scales without the sun. Spinel heads right into the water to help, able to get a great vantage point if she stretches her legs. You can’t help but stare at the Gem now towering above you.

“Gosh she’s pretty,” you think almost involuntarily, and then make a face at yourself. “The hell? Ugh, what is happening to my brain...”

But still, you can’t tear your eyes away from Spinel, who’s oblivious to your gaze. She’s completely focused on her self-assigned task, and you can’t help but recall when she used her stretchiness the other night to help you in a different way.

You’re pulled out of your thoughts by her voice from above, calling out that she’s spotted some fish a little further down the beach. You head over, once again careful not to disturb the sand.

You get into position slowly, and make your swing at a random fish, but once again, you’re too slow. Luckily this time you don’t plummet face first into the surf, but you’re disappointed all the same.

“Aw, Y/n, it’s okay,” Spinel says, snapping back to her usual height and walking over to you. “We can try for as long as ya like, ok?”

You sigh and agree, trying not to be too discouraged. Spinel squeezes your arm once and rushes forward, eager to keep scouting. You blush and follow her, realizing that you may need to figure out your emotions eventually.

“I can’t keep ignoring this,” you think, your heart pounding fast.

The following hours are rather grueling for you, especially as the sun starts to come out from behind the clouds and heat the island up. While that makes it slightly easier to spot fish, you still need Spinel’s help for some of it (and it’s definitely not an excuse to stare at her while she can’t see you).

All the while you’re trying to work through your thoughts and feelings towards the Gem. Logically, you know you should still be wary of her, but since that first day she’s not given you any reason to distrust her or even fear her. And she clearly regrets what she’s done...though that makes you wonder why she hasn’t chosen to take you back.

“Maybe something happened to the injector when she left it somewhere?” you rationalize while following a school of fish. You shake your head and try to focus, thinking of how delicious a nice warm fish would be to end the day.

You pick out your target and once again swing down, hoping...

Squish.

“Oh! Oh!” you cry out happily as you pull your stick from the surf. Sure enough, there’s a fairly big fish impaled at the end, and you managed to get it so that there’s plenty of fish left to cook.

“Did ya get something?” Spinel calls out, heading over to you from her spotting position.

“Yes! Ahh this is great!” you say, jumping up and down with joy. “And it only took four hours!”

“Seriously, great job, doll,” Spinel compliments, “You worked hard for this.”

You give her a grateful smile. “Well I’m glad to have had your help, Spins. Couldn’t have done it without you.” You nudge her with your shoulder as you both head back to shore, prompting her to blush and scratch the back of her neck.

“Aw gee, it’s no problem...like I said, can’t stand seeing ya make those faces at the bananas anymore,” she jokes halfheartedly. You can tell she’s flattered, though, and the thought makes you feel all warm and happy.

As you both walk back to the camp, slimy fish in hand, you’re struck with an unfortunate thought- you have no idea how to cook a fish, at least not well. Every fish you’ve ever eaten has either been at a restaurant, or already skinned, frozen, and cut in a nice filet, ready to pop in the oven.

“I’m just gonna have to wing it,” you figure.

Thankfully only your bottom half got wet from the waves this time, so no need to dry off before doing anything. You get right to it- attempting to fashion some sort of table atop the fire to place your fish on, wrapping it in leaves, and then you wait. You have no idea if this will work or not, so you’ve resigned yourself to bananas in the off chance it ends up being a bust.

In the meantime, you sit in the shade by the waterfall, sipping and trying to cool down. Spinel sits next to you after adding more twigs to the roaring fire.

“Well, that was a productive day,” you remark as she seats herself next to you.

“Tell me about it,” Spinel replies, “I’m all stretched out!”

She strikes a dramatic pose, hand to her forehead, and then deflates into what can only be described as Spinel spaghetti.

You crack up at the sight, endlessly amused at the different ways she can use her stretchiness for so many different things.

“Damn, Spins, that looks...interesting,” you say through your laughter, causing her to spring back to her normal self.

“Hey, I get the feelin’ that ‘interesting’ meant something else there, toots,” she says with a teasing smile, her eyes narrowed. Your heart jumps at the look she’s giving you, and you have to look away, her gaze becoming too much for you.

“H-hey, just saying what I’m thinking,” you reply, staring down into the pond and blushing.

“That’s somethin’ I like about you, Y/n,” Spinel replies, her tone completely serious now. “You’re never one to beat around the bush. It’s admirable. It’s...something I wish Pink would have been able to do for me.”

She leans back on her hands and sighs, staring straight ahead. You place a tentative hand atop hers in what you hope to be a comforting gesture.

“I understand,” you say simply, “but...I’m not Pink, y’know? I get that she hurt you, but it’s over now...you don’t have to give her the power to hurt you anymore.”

Spinel’s eyes widen, and you’re surprised to see that for once, she doesn’t cry when Pink is brought up. Instead she smiles, the kindest, gentlest smile you’ve ever seen, and her eyes light up as you gaze into them.

“Thank you,” she whispers. “I-”

She stops herself suddenly, a confused look falling over her face. “What’s that smell?”

You sniff the air as well, and bolt up when you realize what it is.

“Ah, damn it! Nooo,” you cry, trying to move the hot leaf-wrapped fish from the makeshift grill you had crafted. It’s incredibly hot, but you grab another nearby leaf and shimmy the fish onto that, making sure not to drop it into the sand.

You let out a sigh of relief as you open the leaf and see that the fish is cooked and not, in fact, burnt. The leaf is slightly burned through at the bottom where it was facing the open flame, but peeling that off peels off some of the fish skin, and you can see that the meat underneath actually looks decently similar to fish you’ve eaten in the past.

“Success!” you cry triumphantly, grinning back at Spinel. She watches you bemusedly, not moving from her perch on the rocks.

“Well, go ahead, try it!” she encourages.

You do- and it’s amazing. The skin left on leaves something to be desired, you’d normally eat around the skin or opt for a skinless fillet at home- but beggars can’t be choosers, and you’re grateful to have a hot meal for the first time in almost a week. It’s flavorful, too, probably thanks to the combination of it being so fresh, the open flame, and maybe even the leaf you wrapped it in for cooking.

“That good, huh?” Spinel remarks as you let out an involuntary sigh of happiness. “Maybe I’ll have to try somethin’ one of these days.”

“Hey, you can try some of this if you want,” you reply, offering the fish to your companion.

But Spinel makes a face as she stares at the cooked fish, and you giggle in response.

“Maybe I’ll try a banana or something tomorrow instead,” Spinel comments, shuddering while still staring at the fish. You laugh out loud and go back to your catch of the day, pleased with the way everything has turned out so far.

x * x * x * x * x

A while later, you’ve finished your dinner and the sun has started to dip below the horizon line, making your section of the island rather dark. You’re doing some last minute clean up with Spinel when she suddenly stops and turns to you.

“H-hey, do you wanna go for a walk while we still have some daylight?” she asks.

“Sure, that sounds nice...let me just finish piling up this extra kindling,” you reply, and try to hurry the task along. Spinel stands at the edge of the tree line, fidgeting and looking nervous for some reason. You stride over her and try to give her a comforting look, but she won’t meet your eyes anymore. The thought that you might have done something wrong makes your heart sink, and you follow her to the beach without another word.

As you break through the tree line to the shore, Spinel turns abruptly and begins walking, her longer legs making it difficult for you to keep pace with her. You walk behind her for a few minutes, fretting about why she might suddenly be acting this way.

“What did I do? Did I make her mad somehow?”

You run through every little interaction you’ve had in the past few hours, but nothing stands out to you as something that could have angered the pink Gem.

After another few minutes of quick walking, you call out to Spinel.

“Hey, can you...can you slow down, maybe? I can’t keep up, is something wrong?”

You try to keep the worry out of your voice but you can hear that you fail. Your voice sounds small and meek, and suddenly you don’t care anymore. You just want to know what’s wrong so you can try to remedy it. You don’t know when exactly you started caring for Spinel so deeply, but in this instant, you realize that the past...what she’s done to you...it doesn’t matter anymore. You’ve seen her regret and you’ve seen her trying to grow and change for the better, and you just want to see her happy. And maybe one day, she can be happy with you...

“N-nothin’s wrong, Y/n,” Spinel replies shakily, “Listen, I...”

She sighs and wraps her arms around herself, her posture looking strangely human.

“I’ve been thinking that...there’s no point to you staying here anymore,” Spinel finally says, looking downcast. “I can’t keep you here forever and you deserve to be with your friends, with people you care about, with...food you can eat that isn’t bananas or fish,” she continues with a sad chuckle.

“I’ll take ya back to Beach City, Y/n.”

You can feel your mouth drop open, trying to find the words to reply. This is not at all what you had expected her to say. Take you back...?

“Spinel, I...” you start, and then something registers.

“You said you’d take me back. What about you? Will you come back with me?”

Spinel shakes her head sadly, and turns to the sunset, the sky a beautiful vibrant orange. But in this moment it only feels gloomy.

“I- I can’t go back there. I’ve done so much bad in the short time I’ve been on Earth, and the way we left...I’m better off being alone where I can’t hurt anyone else. Including you.”

You shake your head vigorously and rush to Spinel’s side, willing her to look you in the eyes.

“Spinel, you don’t know them like I do, if we all sit down and talk about everything and show them that you’ve changed, it will be fine! They’ll forgive you and you can have a chance to start over!”

Spinel rolls her eyes and rounds on you, her eyes wild and sad. “Changed? I haven’t changed! I’m still angry all the time, Y/n! I’m still miserable all the time! How can I show them something that hasn’t happened?”

Tears well in the corners of her eyes, and your heart breaks. You take her hands and squeeze, trying to ground her.

“Spinel, you have changed. I know it’s hard for you to see it, but even when it’s just us talking, I can tell you’ve been getting better. You didn’t even cry when we were talking about Pink earlier,” you point out, giving her a hopeful smile.

A small sob wracks the Gem’s body and she turns away, shutting her eyes.

“I just...can’t go back there right now.”

You nod in understanding and let go of her hands as you watch the emotions subside.

“Then I’ll stay here with you.”

Spinel’s head whips back to you in surprise, her eyebrows raised in disbelief.

“What...? Y/n, you don’t have to do that for me,” she replies softly.

“I’m not doing it for you,” you reply plainly, “Or at least...not totally.”

You flush as you try to find the right way to phrase this, to tell her about what you’ve been feeling the past few days.

“Spinel, ever since I met you, you’ve felt...different, than anyone I’ve met before. And that’s not just because you’re a Gem- I know loads of Gems back in Beach City. They’re some of my best friends. But when I met you the first time, before you were rejuvenated...I could see the pain in your eyes, in your actions. I was scared of you at the time, but I was also sad for you. Then meeting your ‘past’ self, you were just so full of life, of energy. And a little mischievous,” you say with a laugh, earning a chuckle from Spinel as well.

“But when I learned what had happened to you, I can’t tell you how that felt. I thought I was going to throw up or pass out from the pain, and I can’t even begin to imagine how that had felt for you. How it must have caused your form to change...” you glance sadly at her gem, before continuing.

“And yeah, you may have messed up by bringing me here, and I know I was mad at you for a while, but...I’m not anymore. And I don’t even want to just be friends with you, I...I want something more,” you confess, the last few words quiet.

“But I know you and I see who you are and I just think you’re wonderful-”

And suddenly, you find you can’t speak anymore.

Because Spinel is kissing you.

#spinel #spinel x reader #spinel steven universe #spinel x reader fic #spinel fanfiction #steven universe #pas de deux #spinel x reader fanfiction #spinel reader #spinel fic

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